Heather, You so deserve a night off. Your work sustains me in the fight. You work late at night most nights. I'm on the west coast; often I'm actualy waiting to go to bed to see if your piece drops. Thank you so much for all that you do!!!
Heather, You so deserve a night off. Your work sustains me in the fight. You work late at night most nights. I'm on the west coast; often I'm actualy waiting to go to bed to see if your piece drops. Thank you so much for all that you do!!!
Reading your posts under the covers with the shades drawn in the very red State of Idaho. If I can't keep my eyes open late enough, it's the first thing I read every morning. So grateful.
Ever been to Asheville, NC ? That's where Biltmore ( Vanderbilt family mansion ) House & Gardens is located. I had been there SO MUCH that I led a tour group around from memory once. They make a STRICTLY GINORMOUS production every Christmas, & they prepare for next year's after they remove the decor from last Christmas. Worth the trip.
I was raised in a small town not so far away from Asheville. The Biltmore House has always been my favorite place to visit. The grounds surrounding it are simply stunning.
I just went yesterday and visited the gardens. So beautiful. I relocated to the Asheville area from eastern WA, Spokane. I love it here but I do miss WA.
The Biltmore House is amazing! Christmas is spectacular! The family members who own it now have done a great job of trying to sustain their family legacy. After visiting At Christmas several years ago, I did further reading about the Biltmore House and the Vanderbilts, who owned it. 1) George Vanderbilt spared no expense in this property. He did not work, but lived off his inheritance. Eventually, it was realized, the money would run out, since he was not working to replenish the funds. 2) His daughter and only heir turned the property over to others to manage and lived in Europe. Her descendants handle the property now.
Reading about the Vanderbilts and the Gilded Age was fascinating. George and Edith Vanderbilt were appreciated by their employees because of their kindness.
They were approximately as wealthy as the Hearsts. & Biltmore was used as a location for at least TWO movies. I'm surprised that it wasn't used for Wayne manor in the Batman movies. It would've been PERFECT !
I've heard about the Biltmore House & Garden from a friend who would visit a friend of hers who lived in Asheville. She was impressed and insisted I visit someday. It's still on my list though you have reminded me of it. It sounds like something I would enjoy.
It is WELL WORTH the trip. It's very difficult to find your way off of the grounds after dark because there are 120,000 + tiny roads leading back to Asheville proper, making it easy to get sidetracked / lost.
It was late in the day when we ended our walk around the Biltmore and the shuttle had ended. We hitchhiked our way out of the grounds. The security guys picked us up and regaled us with stories of poachers and squatters.
& you could ride in these " birdcage " elevators. Over a century old. I was tempted to ask if there was a Batcave, where Alfred Pennyworth lived, where the Batmobile lived, really they could've filmed ANY VERSION of Batman there !
Off topic here, but - it's good to discuss something other than the runaway NRA or DJT. This will count as a" spa day / hour / half hour / 10 minutes ".....
We have friends on Little Puget Island ...we visit them often. It's the polar opposite of Phoenix, where we now live. Heather is very popular here by the way....
Congrats. I was researching retiring in Portugal, but then I met my wife 3 years ago and she won’t even consider it. So, we are in Western NC instead. I hope it’s as wonderful for you as I suspected it could be.
I befriended an archeology professor who lived there. He was in his 80's & selling a LARGE part of his collection on eBay & Yahoo Auctions. My dad always thought that he or his family was selling fakes, but yet I never saw " Made in Taiwan " stamped on his items. 🤔
Burmese jade, mostly. He spent YEARS in the Middle East : Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Greece, Italy, Jordan, although he had some Japanese & Chinese coins. He once sold a wheel from a Roman chariot & part of an Egyptian sarcophagus. I had LOTS MORE $ back then ( trust fund from an aunt ) & I WAS tempted, as well as having more room to keep it. I still have some faience " mummy beads " & Mesopotamian turquoise. Egypt would want anything larger back, I'm sure. The Professor was a great guy.
Amen to this. Her diligently researched letters are so appreciated. Sustaining is such an appropriate description. Thank you immensely for phrasing it as such.
Heather, You so deserve a night off. Your work sustains me in the fight. You work late at night most nights. I'm on the west coast; often I'm actualy waiting to go to bed to see if your piece drops. Thank you so much for all that you do!!!
Warmly,
Janet E. Ploss, MD
Seattle, WA
Reading your posts under the covers with the shades drawn in the very red State of Idaho. If I can't keep my eyes open late enough, it's the first thing I read every morning. So grateful.
🌹 Hugs.
Oh, bless you. I thought TN was bad …
me too - often first thing before i get out of bed...
Same here, either late in the evening, or reading this under the covers in the morning before I get up, like I'm doing this morning.
Same! Unless I’m up late enough for the post in California. If I see it I have to read it!
Here, too. Also near Seattle. :)
Ever been to Asheville, NC ? That's where Biltmore ( Vanderbilt family mansion ) House & Gardens is located. I had been there SO MUCH that I led a tour group around from memory once. They make a STRICTLY GINORMOUS production every Christmas, & they prepare for next year's after they remove the decor from last Christmas. Worth the trip.
I was raised in a small town not so far away from Asheville. The Biltmore House has always been my favorite place to visit. The grounds surrounding it are simply stunning.
I just went yesterday and visited the gardens. So beautiful. I relocated to the Asheville area from eastern WA, Spokane. I love it here but I do miss WA.
The Biltmore House is amazing! Christmas is spectacular! The family members who own it now have done a great job of trying to sustain their family legacy. After visiting At Christmas several years ago, I did further reading about the Biltmore House and the Vanderbilts, who owned it. 1) George Vanderbilt spared no expense in this property. He did not work, but lived off his inheritance. Eventually, it was realized, the money would run out, since he was not working to replenish the funds. 2) His daughter and only heir turned the property over to others to manage and lived in Europe. Her descendants handle the property now.
Reading about the Vanderbilts and the Gilded Age was fascinating. George and Edith Vanderbilt were appreciated by their employees because of their kindness.
They were approximately as wealthy as the Hearsts. & Biltmore was used as a location for at least TWO movies. I'm surprised that it wasn't used for Wayne manor in the Batman movies. It would've been PERFECT !
Lucky you! What was your reason for relocating, Dianna?
Unfortunately, it was divorce.
I understand that the actor / comedian Harry Anderson ( " Night Court ", " IT ", among other things ) lived there & is buried there.
Really? True?
Marlene, my father grew up in nearby Hendersonville; his aunt ran the Fassifern
School for girls (closed in the 1950s). I've been several times. A beautiful area.
I used to go to Hendersonville every summer. It is lovely there. I have a frind who lives nearby.
& you need GPS coordinates to find your way back to the main drag..... 😉🤔
I've heard about the Biltmore House & Garden from a friend who would visit a friend of hers who lived in Asheville. She was impressed and insisted I visit someday. It's still on my list though you have reminded me of it. It sounds like something I would enjoy.
It is WELL WORTH the trip. It's very difficult to find your way off of the grounds after dark because there are 120,000 + tiny roads leading back to Asheville proper, making it easy to get sidetracked / lost.
It was late in the day when we ended our walk around the Biltmore and the shuttle had ended. We hitchhiked our way out of the grounds. The security guys picked us up and regaled us with stories of poachers and squatters.
& you could ride in these " birdcage " elevators. Over a century old. I was tempted to ask if there was a Batcave, where Alfred Pennyworth lived, where the Batmobile lived, really they could've filmed ANY VERSION of Batman there !
Yes! It’s only 2 hours away. Christmas is beautiful, but really anytime is interesting. Most recently saw the “Downton Abbey”-themed exhibit.
When was this ? I haven't been outside of the Met Nashville area in A LONG TIME. Seems like geological ages.
I think it was maybe two years ago.
Off topic here, but - it's good to discuss something other than the runaway NRA or DJT. This will count as a" spa day / hour / half hour / 10 minutes ".....
I grew up in Seattle and now live in Belgium, where I read Heather's freshly posted piece over breakfast each day.
I want to be you … 😞
Where are you in Belgium? Literally in BXL?
I moved from Boston to the edge of the earth, aka, the mouth of the Columbia on the Washington side.
I used to spend part of the year in Belgium, NL and UK and miss my time there.
When asked if I am ever homesick for Boston, I often reply, I'm homesick, but for another "B"..."
We have friends on Little Puget Island ...we visit them often. It's the polar opposite of Phoenix, where we now live. Heather is very popular here by the way....
I’m in Seattle right now too, visiting my kids, but I’m from Virginia.
I'm in a community in Metro Nashville. One foot in Mayberry, the other in the early mid - 21st century.
Kalama, WA, too. Last thing I read at night.
From Olympia, retired in Portugal. Greetings Northwesterners☺️
Ciao from Italy. Retired, but still keep a small apt in Vancouver WA.
Hello in Portugal from Western New York (Buffalo) Glad to hear you've jumped the pond.
Congrats. I was researching retiring in Portugal, but then I met my wife 3 years ago and she won’t even consider it. So, we are in Western NC instead. I hope it’s as wonderful for you as I suspected it could be.
Well, western NC is pretty awesome. If only NC could get its politics settled…
I'd love to go to Brazil or Australia / NZ. No winters or frostbite. Very little anyway. Or Japan if Covid isn't widespread.
Me, too - on Orcas Island.
Been to Orcas many years ago. Stunning!
Me too…on Lummi Island!
I befriended an archeology professor who lived there. He was in his 80's & selling a LARGE part of his collection on eBay & Yahoo Auctions. My dad always thought that he or his family was selling fakes, but yet I never saw " Made in Taiwan " stamped on his items. 🤔
Hummm—no idea who that might be. But wait…Was his collection of old Asian/Buddhist art, per chance?
Burmese jade, mostly. He spent YEARS in the Middle East : Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Greece, Italy, Jordan, although he had some Japanese & Chinese coins. He once sold a wheel from a Roman chariot & part of an Egyptian sarcophagus. I had LOTS MORE $ back then ( trust fund from an aunt ) & I WAS tempted, as well as having more room to keep it. I still have some faience " mummy beads " & Mesopotamian turquoise. Egypt would want anything larger back, I'm sure. The Professor was a great guy.
Amen to this. Her diligently researched letters are so appreciated. Sustaining is such an appropriate description. Thank you immensely for phrasing it as such.
Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others. Booker T Washington, 1856 to 1915
A way for a physician to advertise for free. Look her up.