ADDITIONAL UPCOMING EVENTS

Our November 22 post, Holly Jolly and More, highlighted upcoming events in Black Mountain during the weekend of December 5-6. Here are a couple of other events going on that weekend as well, especially for those of you who are shopping for gifts:

• Biltmore Village Dickens Festival -- Biltmore Village, a village built by George Vanderbilt that contains a variety of shops, galleries and restaurants, will hold its annual Dickens Festival December 5-7. The Festival provides three days of merriment, music and memories, with horse-drawn carriage rides, seasonal Celtic music, trumpeteer Bill Ross, storytellers, carolers and other entertainers. Shops will be open until 7pm and all the Village is lined with more than 250,000 white lights. Many of the shopkeepers dress in Victorian-era clothing. For more information, call 828.274.8788.
  
  
• Holiday Art Show -- Several artists from the East of Asheville Studio Tour (E.A.S.T.) will have their local art on display for sale on Saturday, December 6 (10am-4pm) and Sunday, December 7 (12pm-4pm) at 260 Patton Hill Road in Swannanoa. You'll find ceramics, painting, mixed media, jewelry, fiber arts, woodworking and more, with plenty of gifts under $50. For more information, call 828.275.2080.
  

HAPPY PUMPKIN PIE DAY

Image from Recipe Goldmine

You know how people greet each other just before Thanksgiving with "Have a Happy Turkey Day!" Well, we prefer "Have a Happy Pumpkin Pie Day!" because for us, Thanksgiving is all about the pumpkin pie.

Turkey's a good thing, sure, and you have to love all those sides...sweet potatoes, candied yams, cranberry sauce, cornbread, mashed potatoes, vegetables galore...but nothing caps off a great Thanksgiving like a slice of perfect pumpkin pie.

So, on Thanksgiving, we're thankful for a myriad of things: our health, our fantastic family and friends, the wonderful guests we've met, and of course, we'll say a big "thanks" to whoever came up with the first recipe for pumpkin pie.

Ah! on Thanksday, when from East and from West,
From North and from South comes the pilgrim and guest;
When the gray-haired New Englander sees round his board
The old broken links of affection restored;
When the care-wearied man seeks his mother once more,
And the worn matron smiles where the girl smiled before;
What moistens the lip and what brightens the eye,
What calls back the past, like the rich Pumpkin pie?

~ John Greenleaf Whittier, The Pumpkin (1850)

NOT ALL THOSE WHO WANDER ARE LOST*

Image from the BBC website

Our handheld GPS receiver is scheduled to arrive today and we're about to embark on an adventure called geocaching, which is treasure hunting outdoors using navigational coordinates (latitude/longitude). According to www.geocaching.com, geocaching is "a sport in which you are the search engine."

A geocache, often shortened to "cache" (and pronounced "cash") is a hidden container placed by a fellow geocaching enthusiast. The cache contains a logbook, so that you can record your visit to the cache, and sometimes it contains stuff you can trade (and you should always leave something of equal or greater value). Once you find a cache, you're encouraged to log your experience on Geocaching.com and upload photos...but not give out any hints.

Caches also can contain items called Geocoins and Travel Bugs that you can take from the cache and drop into another cache. Entering the information online allows the item's travels to be traced online.

Some caches are Earthcaches, which are places registered for educational purposes. Earthcaches are organized and maintained by the Geological Society of America. When you find an Earthcache, you take your photo next to it to show that you were there. Andrews Geyser, which comes from our little lake, is one example of an Earthcache.

Caches are classified with levels of difficulty, terrain and size of the cache. You can see an example of an easy cache called Light Up My Life in Asheville. An example of a medium difficulty and terrain cache is 5000 above 5000, also in Asheville. A difficult cache example is Happy Hiker #1: The Ten Essentials in Old Fort.

According to Geocaching.com, over 688,000 geocaches are currently registered, placed in 100 countries and Antarctica (12,000 in North Carolina alone)...so we have a lot of geocaching to do this winter during our slow season.

If you want to go out geocaching with us, just let us know! Don't forget to bring your GPSr when you stay at the Inn on Mill Creek. We'll also be hiding our first cache soon. Since the Inn will be celebrating its 10th birthday in 2009, we're going to pack our cache with 10 items for trade as part of our The Inn Turns 10! celebration.

* a J.R.R. Tolkien reference for our friends Mark and Eileen in Bay Village!

HOLLY JOLLY AND MORE

For those of you who are looking beyond Thanksgiving for things to do in our neck of the woods, the town of Black Mountain has an activity-filled weekend coming up December 5-6:

Holly Jolly -- the wonderful shops in Black Mountain will stay open late on Friday, December 5, giving you a chance to cross items off your gift list. Many of the shops will be decorated with lights and holiday decor. This event is being organized by the Black Mountain Merchants Association.

Pottery Show and Holiday Sale -- Black Mountain Center for the Arts will showcase the pottery of student and resident artists on Friday, December 5. Enjoy live music as well. Visit www.blackmountainarts.org for more information.

Missions Holiday House -- Handmade gifts by local artists & craftsmen will be available for purchase on Friday, December 5 (9am-9pm) and Saturday, December 6 (9am-2pm) at the parsonage house beside Black Mountain United Methodist Church. All proceeds go to fund local and intermational missions.

Black Mountain Christmas Parade -- The annual Christmas Parade will start at 4pm on Saturday, December 6. The theme this year is "Music of Christmas" and Santa will make an appearance before heading to the North Pole to get ready for the big day. The parade will begin at Flat Creek Road and will proceed westward along State Street to Cragmont Road. This event is being planned by Black Mountain-Swannanoa Chamber of Commerce.

Circle of Lights -- Lake Tomahawk will be lined with luminaries the evening of Saturday, December 6, for your viewing enjoyment. The free event is sponsored by Black Mountain Recreation and Parks.

Christmas Gala -- Sponsored by the Swannanoa Valley Fine art League, this event will include an auction at White Horse Black Mountain, Black Mountain's newest venue. There is a $10 Entry Fee. Tickets are available at the Black Mountain-Swannanoa Chamber of Commerce (828.669.2300).

NO LEONIDS, GALAXIES INSTEAD

Unfortunately, it has been a bit too cloudy the past couple of nights for viewing the Leonids Meteor Shower. Brigette enjoys stargazing, so the cloud cover was a bummer, but the nixing of the meteor shower allowed her to spend ample time analyzing galaxies through one of her favorite websites, Galaxy Zoo. And Brigette is not embarrassed to admit that she has reviewed and analyzed over 650 galaxies, such as the one above. She is also participating in the merging galaxies project, in which volunteers review possible merging galaxies.


What do you think...are they merging?

Galaxy Zoo is nice because it keeps track of all the galaxies you've analyzed. Below we share with you some of the most recent ones that were really eye-catching. And to think, there are billions of these beauties out there:







Oh, make that 720 galaxies that Brigette has now analyzed on Galaxy Zoo.

LOOKOUT TRAIL IN MONTREAT

The part of the trail that Brigette and the innpugs
did not attempt; we sent Dave instead!

Earlier this week, we took the innpugs on a hike in Montreat called the Lookout Trail. Montreat is mostly known as being the town where Rev. Billy Graham lives; however, it is also home to 20 outstanding hikes.

Lookout Trail is a half-mile, moderate, 45-minute trail that crosses the Old Trestle Road, which is part of the logging railroad route from Black Mountain to Mt. Mitchell used in the early 1900s. The Trail then heads steeply up to the summit of Lookout Mountain (3,760 ft) that looks over Montreat and a range in the Black Mountains called the Seven Sisters.

Here's a screen capture from Google maps that shows Lookout Mountain (the red dot marked "A"). You can click on the photo to enlarge it. On the far right, you can see two ridges. The Inn on Mill Creek is located between those two ridgelines a little bit above where it says "Long Branch". The Town of Montreat, which led us to the Lookout Mountain trailhead, is to the left of Lookout Mountain.



The innpugs enjoyed their hike immensely. Since the trail heads up and up and up, several landscaping timbers form long stairs on parts of the trail. Csaba needed a little bit of help on the highest of the timbers, but Bugsy had no trouble at all, skipping along like a little mountain goat.



We highly recommend bundling up and going on a hike if you're in the area in late Fall. We'll be happy to help recommend a hike or two. Now that the leaves are mostly gone from the trees, the views are spectacular.

LATE NOVEMBER EVENTS

One of Brigette's favorite spots at Biltmore

As the Fall season winds down and the last of the leaves tumble to the ground (we love the sound of crunching leaves as we hike through the woods), you might think there's not much to do in Western North Carolina...think again!

• Thanksgiving is almost here, and several local restaurants will be open for those of you who don't want to cook (ahem, Brigette). You can see a list of Asheville restaurants here. Our friends in Black Mountain, Madison's and Red Rocker Inn, will also both be open. Keep in mind that advance reservations are often required at restaurants serving Thanksgiving dinner. And for those of you who are planning to visit family in the area, or looking to get away, please check our website for availability.
  
  
• Chimney Rock Park will offer its Color Me Curious Guided Hike on November 22, from 9am-10:30am, where you'll learn how leaves change color and what colors can be expected among our native trees. You must pre-register for this event, which you can do by calling 800.277.9611. Cost for adults is $20 ($5 for passholders).
  
  
• The McDowell Trails Association (MTA) is holding its first annual running/walking event, the MTA "Share the Dream" Fitness Challenge, on November 22. Get your running shoes and head to Point Lookout Trail (at the end of our road) for the 10k run, 5k run/walk and 1-mile walk/run along the beautiful trail. The registration fee includes a one-year membership to the MTA. For more info, contact Stacey Burch, Event Coordinator, at 828.442.0400. The McDowell Trails Association is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that seeks to partner with groups, agencies and organizations to establish greenways, blueways and non-motorized trails in McDowell County.
  
  
• Biltmore offers its new Wildlife Bus Tour at 3pm every Friday through December 12. The "Big Red Bus" will meander through Biltmore's east side in search of interesting wildlife. Knowledgeable guides will assist in the search for wildlife while pointing out fascinating examples of land and wildlife management practices on Biltmore.
  Cost: $20 per person in addition to daytime admission. Space is limited to 20 visitors per tour.
  
  
• Biltmore also has its Candlelight Christmas Evenings tour going on right now. Read more from our blog.
  
  
• Looking for more indoor activities? Grove Park Inn will once again host the National Gingerbread House Competition & Display, beginning November 17 and lasting until January 3. Contestants from across the country will display their entries at Grove Park Inn. For more information, contact the Gingerbread House Hotline at 828.252.2711 Ext. 1522.
  

BULBS AND BENCHES

Please accept our apologies that this post is coming to you on Friday rather than Thursday. We started it on Thursday, then had some foggy weather that hampered our connectivity. Although the weather is turning chillier, we are thankful that the temperatures are perfect for fall bulb planting!

One of Brigette's Fall projects is to plant about 100 Spring-blooming bulbs. This is a decrease from last year's 500 bulbs that she planted, but she's saving her energy for the White Garden that she wants to install next year. For those of you coming next March, April and May, you (and Brigette, who has already begun counting down the days until Spring) have a lot of flowers to look forward to, including these Begonia Tulips:



Meanwhile, one of Dave's Fall projects is to create benches with concrete molds to place in various spots on our property. The first one is almost finished and looks great (says Brigette...Dave is modest). These will be perfect for taking in the peaceful scenery of Pisgah National Forest and also for birdwatching.

CONGRATS!

Congratulations to our guests John and Ashley (pictured above, at the Inn) on their engagement! This was their first time staying at the Inn on Mill Creek. John proposed to Ashley at Chimney Rock with the beautiful backdrop of Hickory Nut Gorge, and Ashley said yes! We wish them the very best as they plan their big day and their lives as husband and wife.

We also take a moment today to express our appreciation to our past and present guests who are veterans and to all the other veterans out there -- thank you for your service!

KIVA UPDATE

As many of you know, we are big supporters of Kiva, a non-profit organization that works with financial institutions around the world to set up microloans between people like us who want to lend and entrepreneurs in developing countries who need a loan to start, expand or continue their small businesses.

Microloans are more than just charitable contributions -- the small business owners get a capital investment that enables them to succeed in business and lift themselves out of poverty, which on a larger scale helps their communities to thrive and succeed.

Kiva provides detailed summaries of each business owner, where they're from, and why they would like to receive a loan. So far we've participated in setting up microloans for six small business owners in Peru, Togo, Vietnam, Ukraine and Azerbaijan. You can read about our experiences here and here. Pictured below are a couple of our entrepreneurs:


Biakamangue, 33, has owned a general store in Togo for 10 years


Ngo Thi Tinh, 26, has a successful clothing shop in Vietnam

When the business owners pay back their loans, one option is to reinvest that money to help another business owner in another developing country. It used to be that Kiva would wait until a loan was completely repaid before releasing the funds. They now release the money whenever a payment is made, as the loan is being repaid. Since we've made more than one loan at a time, we've now received enough in partially repaid loan money to reinvest in two more business owners.

This time, we've decided to participate in microloans to two entrepreneurs in Afghanistan who, with a lot of ambition, are working to improve their lives and the state of their communities for the better. One business owner, Rohullamen, 33, is married and supports his entire family (wife, parents and three siblings). He's committed to growing the general store that he owns so that he can send his younger brothers and sister to school, where they can get an education and become successful, too. We appreciate that determination and bright, positive outlook on the future, especially given the fragile state of Afghanistan and since it wasn't too long ago that Rohullamen's sister would not be able to go to school at all because she's a girl.

Good luck to Rohullamen and our other small business owners!

2008 FALL FOLIAGE REPORT #5

The Allison horse farm near the Inn on Mill Creek

We anticipate the fall color to stick around a few more days at our elevation (2,300 feet), although the amount of leaves on the ground is rapidly increasing, and the oranges are turning to bronze while the brick reds change to rusty hues. Here are a few photos taken a couple of days ago:


A pocket of trees framed in orange


Our orchard with fall color in the background


Still lots of reds

This week, we again took the innpugs on the Point Lookout Trail, a new Greenway biking/hiking/walking path located in close proximity to the Inn (5-10 minutes drive). The scene was simply magical.


Color from the tops of the trees all the way to the ground


Bicyclists take advantage of the perfect weather


Lots of curves make you wonder what's around the bend


Csaba loves the new paved path


A golden section of the Trail

Coming to our neck of the woods this weekend or next week? A great place to go for the day is Chimney Rock Park, about a half hour south of the Inn on Mill Creek. Our friends at Chimney Rock share with us the following fall color update:

Chimney Rock and Hickory Nut Gorge are ablaze with color. The Park's colors should be at the prime this week and next with some color lasting through the Thanksgiving holiday. Chimney Rock is one of the best places to view fall color because every conceivable view is here. From high atop Chimney Rock, see the colors spread down the mountainsides to Lake Lure. For a more up-close and personal look at autumn's show, go for a hike along one of our trails. Plus, the Park's entrance road provides a nice look at the variety of trees showing off their "true colors."

We do keep a limited number of Chimney Rock tickets available right here at the Inn, so please let us know if you'd like to purchase tickets during your stay.

WINE TASTING IN BLACK MOUNTAIN

Merry Wine Market

A reminder for those of you who enjoy wine: The super friendly and extremely wine savvy folks at The Merry Wine Market on West State Street in Black Mountain hold complimentary wine tastings every Saturday in November and December from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. Plus, they offer a great selection of wine from local vineyards and from around the world.

CHRISTMAS AT BILTMORE

Now, we know what you're thinking. October just ended and people might be making their Thanksgiving plans, but why the mention of Christmas? Well...it's that time of year...Biltmore is just days away from inviting guests to America's largest home to enjoy the holidays Vanderbilt-style. The theme this year is “Christmas Traditions from Around the World” with a focus on countries where George Vanderbilt traveled. Our friends at Biltmore say it takes a year of planning and six months of preparation, then another three weeks to install the decorations inside the House. What you will see is nothing short of amazing.

Raising of the Banquet Hall Tree

The start of the Holiday season kicks off with the Raising of the Banquet Hall Tree on Wednesday, November 5, at 10am. Our friends at Biltmore tell us, "The 34-foot Frasier Fir will arrive in style as a team of Belgian draft horses pulls it to the front of Biltmore House. Guests will be able to watch as Biltmore staff carry the tree into the Banquet Hall and set it up."

The Fraser Fir was the most popular type of Christmas Tree when George Vanderbilt invited guests to Biltmore House's opening on Christmas Eve in 1895, and it continues to be so today because of its fragrance and long-lasting needles.

Free Seminars

Biltmore will hold several holiday seminars each day from November 7 through November 23. The pastry chefs will offer up their secret recipe for the gingerbread house at Biltmore, hosts will share stories about the Vanderbilt and Cecil families and their traditions, the Floral Displays staff will give out decorating tips, the Winery staff will teach you about chocolate and wine pairings (yum!) and more. Visit Biltmore's Christmas page for more information.

25th Annual Candlelight Christmas Evenings

From November 7 through January 3, Biltmore House opens its doors for Candlelight Christmas Evenings, where guests can take a self-guided tour of Biltmore House at a specific time during the evening hours. One of the best parts about seeing Biltmore after dark is seeing the fireplaces aglow while you walk past all the magnificent decorations. You really do get the feeling that you're one of George Vanderbilt's guests back when the house opened in 1895 on Christmas Eve. Part of the experience also includes roving carolers, live music, choirs singing European carols, and ballet dancers twirling in the Winter Garden.

Evergreen Forest

New this year is a sparkling forest on the lawn in front of Biltmore House. The centerpiece is a 55’ Norway Spruce, weighing 6000 pounds. The Spruce tree was chosen because it grows to a greater height than the Fraser Fir. It will be surrounded by other trees and shrubs adorned with lights -- literally thousands of lights -- on the front lawn of Biltmore House.

Tickets

Keep in mind that if you are our guest at the Inn on Mill Creek, you can purchase daytime admission tickets to Biltmore Estate (which includes the House, Gardens, Winery and Farm Village) at a discounted rate, and those tickets are good for two consecutive days. As a lodging partner with Biltmore, we also have the ability to upgrade your tickets for Candlelight Christmas Evenings. Please contact us at 828.668.1115 or e-mail us for details.