John C Campbell Folk School

This morning after breakfast (Poached Eggs with Canadian Bacon and Parmesan Cream Sauce, Hash Browns, Fruit, Toast, Orange Juice and Tea - in case you were wondering) I drove to the John C Campbell Folk School. On the way I came up on a wagon trail, with horses and mules and wagons.


The drive to The Folk School took a little more than an hour. But I did stop in Murphy, walked around the downtown are, checked out the stores and had lunch there (supplied by the Lodge, it was a Ham and Cheese Sandwich on steroids and a cookie). At the School, I stopped at the Gift Shop first (of course) and looked at all the beautiful items made by the instructors at the School. The People there told me that I could walk the grounds, gave me a map, and told me to look in on any of the classes! Of course, that's exactly what I did.

The cabin is part of the museum, it's empty but still beautiful.

The School has a garden and this is the garden shed. Gardening is also a class that is offered.

This is obviously a very rural part of the country and the outhouse is also a museum piece. It is not the public restroom! That would be a lot more "country" than I could handle!

After a nice, long walk and a few very interesting peeks into class rooms, talking with the students and the instructors I went back to the Gift Shop. There they had an exhibit of basketry which was very interestung and amazing.

I then drove back to the Lodge and arrived about 45 minutes before dinner. I sat in the common room and knitted until it was time to eat. Dinner was:

Mushroom Soup with White Truffle Oil

Pan Roasted Quail Medallions on a Bed of Parmesan Risotto with Pomegranate Glaze

Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Sour Apple Demi Glace, Caramelized Onion and Sweet Potato Spoon Bread and Steamed Kale

Boubon Vanilla Creme Brulee

After dinner I took a walk on the property, up to the tennis courts and Sunset Point. There are many whimsical sculptures and a lot of frogs on the property.

The view from the path is amazing!

One of the fire places at the Lodge.

Going fishing with Daniel Boone

I met Daniel Boone this morning after breakfast (French Toast, Muffin, Fruit, Tea) at a picnic area near the Snowbird River. He was very nice, but did not wear a beaver hat the whole time we spend together. Somewhat disappointing! I told him about my great deal on last year's waders and he showed me his vest which was also last years model. The Fashion Police did not bother us and everything was good! Daniel gave me an all-day class on fly fishing, but told me that we would not catch anything today. Trout season had ended and the water was too warm for the trout. Also, the Hatchery stops adding trout in May and the only trout in there would be Wild Trout - and they are way too smart to be caught. I didn't really mind because to me, the point of the class was to get the basics, learning about the flies and the nymphs and how to use them, about rods and reels, and to have someone show me how to fly fish the right way. Daniel is very nice but he likes to talk. So from 9am until 5pm I listened to Daniel talk. A lot about fishing and quite a few wild fish stories. We had lunch together and he showed me his flies :). My lunch was Chicken Salad on Pita and fruit. Before, during, und after lunch, Daniel talked. I thought Fishermen were supposed to be quiet! We went back into the water and I caught a Wild Trout. It was very cool! Daniel was impressed and couldn't believe that I actually caught a Wild Trout! Beginners luck, I think. Around 5pm we finally got out of the water, changed shoes (and in my case, wrung out my socks!), and I went back to the Lodge for dinner. Daniel's wife Becky is the waitress at the Lodge and I told her all about the fly-fishing experience. Daniel had told me I deserved two desserts because I caught the fish, I told Becky and she really wanted to give me two! I was happy with one dessert, because there was so much food, I don't think I could have eaten another one. Dinner that evening was:

Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Baby Arugula with Greek Vinaigrette, Roasted Red Peppers, Feta Cheese, Artichoke Hearts, Shaved Red Onions, Cucumbers, Cherry Tomatoes, Kalamata Olives

North Carolina Mountain Trout Almandine with Low Country Beurre Blanc, Creamy Mashed Red Bliss Potatoes, Sauteed Haricots Verts with White Wine Sauce

Mixed Berry Cobbler with Vanilla Ice Cream

I made it to the Snowbird Mountain Lodge!

Chilled Melon Soup with Stoney Hollow Farm Berry Puree

Snowbird's Green Goddess - Chopped Romaine Hearts in Creamy Green Goddess Dressing with Granny Smith Apples, Toasted Almonds, Kalamata Olives, Sun Dried Tomatoes, Shaved Red Onions, Garden Fresh Cucumbers

Snowbird's Chicken Breast Under a Brick with Pomegranate Reduction, Sweet Potato Spoon Break, Sauteed Haricots Verts

Mixed Berry Cobbler with Vanilla Ice Cream

Going on vacation - again!

Finally, it is time to go on vacation again! This morning the three of us had breakfast at the Village Inn and then Patrick and I left. I was driving him up to Tallahassee for his next set of summer classes at FSU. After I dropped him off (kicked out of the car probably describes it a bit better) I kept going north. I spend the night in Perry, GA because it is too far to drive through to NC. So I went to the newly renovated downtown area to walk around, but never actually got out of the car. Downtown Perry is empty, empty buildings for sale or rent and empty of people. It was sad, there is absolutely no life in downtown Perry. I had dinner at Zaxby's - my favorite fast food place!

Knit N Knibble's 6th Birthday Party