FRIDAY APRIL 4, 2014 STONE MOUNTAIN, GA.

Beautiful, partly cloudy, cool day!!!  Bob Avella drove us to STONE MOUNTAIN VILLAGE PARK.  Oh, what a hunk of granite!!!  Supposedly formed after volcanos over 8,000 yrs ago.  Cherokee Indians called the mountain "Thenefthotkee", or bald mountain.  By 1830's most of the mountain had been bought by Andrew Johnson.  The beauty of the area attracted people from everywhere.  For  50cents a round trip from Atlanta to Sone Mountain folks could picnic and enjoy the out of doors for a day.  After several name changes and owners, the state of Georgia bought the land and forbade the KKK from using the mountain any longer, as they had used it for 40 years.  The interest in carving began after the  book GONE WITH THE WIND, in 1937.  It took over 66 yrs and 3 sculptors to complete the project due to financial, political and artistic problems. In 1958 park construction around the mountain began.  In 1964, work began again on the carving , which had begun from the conception about 1909 as a memorial to the Civil War.  The carvings had several directiors over the years and was dedicated about 1970.

Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee and Andrew Jackson.

There is a flag and marker of each state which seceded from the U. S.  Texas was on her own for 9 years before rejoining the U.S.

 Yes, Phyllis and us rode to the top!!!

here are Phyllis and I at the top!!!















When I turned around, the wind was right in my face..... lot cooler and very windy up there.


















Below is a mold of the carvings.  Watched 2 films about the construction and about the Civil War in Ga.  Much Memorabilia to see in the museums.



















Went to the Antebellum Plantation and toured 14 acres of slave quarters, smokehouse, the 4 holer, schoolhouse, gardens and the Dickey House circa 1840.



























Mike says I talk to everything..... animals, plants, trees......yep, he's right, I do!!!!!





















The dogwoods are beautiful everywhere here!!!!!!!!!!!






Finally,, the Dickey House, circa 1840.  All these buildings were found elsewhere and moved to this location.

         
Then, finally went to eat about 4:00 at a German restaurant.  Very good!!!!!

APRIL 3, 2014 MARIETTA, GA.

Out again by 9 a/m/!!!  Off to see Civil War and Locomotive Museum in Kennesaw.    Very interesting. In 1862, 22 northern soldiers, dressed as civilians, came south to steal a train engine, led by Andrews.  Under the nose of the conductor of THE GENERAL ,   the soldiers unhooked the engine and took off stopping at a RR camp stealing tools to disable the tracks for anyone chasing them.  The conductor, William Fuller, led townsmen to capture the engine back.  The soldiers dropped RR ties on the tracks to slow Fuller down.  The whole time, Fuller was running another engine in reverse to catch the theives!!   All failed and the General was recovered by Fuller.  The great locomotive chase!!

We then drove up Kennesaw Mountain which was pretty much a battlefield in the Civil War, 1.5 miles
 Had lunch at Hemingways out on the patio.

This was an old hotel during the civil war, now a museum in Marietta.  Just visited gift shop there.










Visited the GONE WITH THE WIND museum and here we are as Rhett and Scarlett!!!!!

We heard about the BIG CHICKEN!!!  What;s that?. you ask???  It was an old cafe that was to be torn down and the towns people got upset and didn't want the chicken demolished.  Sooooo, KFC bought it and here it is!!!!!  Beak and eyes move!!!!  We went in to get a drink and by George<  they had a gift shop!!!!!!!

APRIL 2, 2014 MARIETTA, GA.

Travel day to Victoria Campground in Marietta, Ga., about a  4-5 hr drive and without incident!!  Corps of Engineer park right on the lake and beautiful.  Dogwoods and redbuds are in bloom!!  Dogwoods are in the residential areas as well as redbuds.   I fed us a spaghetti supper then we walked down to the lake which we can see from our coach.  Guess what!!!!!  it's spring break!!!!   Lots of kids runnin' and ridin' round!!!

APRIL 1, 2014 ASHVILLE, N. C. BILTMORE

After all day at the house and gardens yesterday, we saved the ANTLER VILLAGE  at BILTMORE  for today!!   Got there about 9:30, few people, well, almost none.  We were then told nothing opened til 11:00!!!  We looked around, watched a film about the farm aspect of Biltmore and looked at old farm equipment.  The film was very interesting, as George Biltmore wanted his acreage run as self sufficient and it was.

 To the right is the original hayloft structure, just remodeled for tours.












You think my tractors sexy????

And now.....the winery.  

 You know I asked our wine consultant for HIS Id!!!!  We had so much fun tasting and shopping in the wine store......we forgot to take the wine tour!!!!!

By this time, we were hungry.  Mike immediately headed for the Tavern and ordered his beer tasting.  

 

 Decided that would be a good place to eat so got a table outside.  The Whatweather could not have been better!!   We then went in to the Life and Legacy of the Biltmores display and film.  From all seen, the Biltmores were not "put on " people.  Seemed very down to earth and involved in the community.  Someone I would love to have known.











What a great day!!! Goodbye BILTMORE!!!

MONDAY 31, 2014 ASHVILLE, N. C.

  Sunday we visited at the Trinity UMC in Ashville.  Lovely, large, old church.  A member told me that after the artisans finished at Biltmore House....they came over and built that church.
Stop at Walmart.....after finding it, then home to do laundry at the campground.  The Avella's went to visit relatives.

Monday...a day at BILTMORE.  I was so excited as I've always wanted to go and had heard how beautiful it is. The Avella's heard the Butlers Tour was the one to take, besides the HOUSE TOUR.   It is just beautiful as you turn the corner to the House.  Breathtaking!

We got our tickets at the campground, 2 days for 1 day price.  Got the Butler tour extra when we got there as well as adding audio to our house tour.  Still early for Butler tour so looked around in the Carriage house which is now shopping....and boy do they have shopping.
Butlers tour was very interesting. We saw servants quarters, as they were of old, kitchen for servants, the grand dining hall complete with huge pipe organ and gorgeous.  The table has leaves to seat 50 people!!  Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and fun.  No photos could be taken in the house.  Even went down to the boiler room where coal was used to heat the water and the house.  From the beginning, Biltmore House had electricity and running water!!  All furniture is original to the house as no one ever left to move anything!  We saw where the mens quarters were as George was a single man at the time Biltmore was built so he invited all his friends to come and stay.  There is a gun room, billiard room with 2 tables, libraries, smoking room, swimming pool and 2 bowling lanes.  The pool had to be emptied every 2 days as it became a science experiment by then!!!  All they could do and no one knew how to sanitize the pool!!  We saw George Vanderbilts bedroom and Edith's bedroom.  He had married while on a trip to Europe and notified the house maid, Emily, to have the Mrs. a room ready in 4 months. As we were told by the guide, Emily was the head house maid.  We saw her living quarters and were told she could look out the window and see who comes in late!!

 This is the Carriage House with patio and Shops.

  Here we are on the Butler tour on a balcony of the Mens wing for George's guests.  Behind Mikes right shoulder, is the only addition to the original house....a sleeping porch added at the request of Edith.  They had one daughter, Cornelia, who was born in the house in a special bedroom which we saw.

The gardens had not one blade of grass out of place nor any old blooms.  Immaculate!

Several large greenhouses, one of which was all orchids.  All the florals in the house are real not silks.  On entering the house, there is an atrium with many orchids, large trees and almost any potplant you can think of. 

 These are Winteria vines not in bloom yet.

And......this is Mike.....well, what can I say......being Mike!!  Much walking and stairs but worth it!!!