With October 2009 almost gone, I am not sure where the time disappeared. I keep hoping I can find just an hour or so, maybe with the time change . . .
It has been a busy month, Bedknobs & Broomstiks, is finishing up a couple of teenage girls rooms, and will have the pictures of Savannah's Style Safari and Sidney's Mango Madness posted soon on theoldstarkeyhouse.com website some of my favorite projects to date.
The main chick was able to get away for some much needed creative rejuvenation, stick collecting, and mushroom hunting. The leaves had not all changed, however, the mountains of western North Carolina were beautiful, full of color, and there was a reprieve in the relentless heat of Florida's long hot summer.
On my first ever mushroom hunt in the woods surrounding Nancy Mountain, the morning was cool, and our excitement spilled into the field like school children on the first day. We had been briefed by our expert, Grey Carter, of Deep Woods Mushrooms, we had our baskets ready, the craziest multi tools most of us had seen, and our very limited knowledge, away we went. After several hours of hunting, we did not produce the great abundance we had hoped for, however, our group (actually my brother Chip, with advice from his sister) did manage to dig up a few oyster shrooms located on some old dead logs. They were delicious sauteed simply in olive oil and sea salt. We spotted quite a few puff balls, all too far gone for the fry pan, however, our guide provided a beautiful specimen that we cooked up upon arrival back at the base camp, they are nothing to look at, but oh how delicious. . . what happens to the Ink caps in the mountains, stays in the mountains. We concluded our day with enough information to make us dangerous, or at least sick, a Shitake mushroom log to take home, and a few more stories to tell.
The following morning after another loaf of Braken brown, from the bakery, and another cup of the Brown Bean's Morning Glory we headed off to Hendersonville and Flat Rock. We always feel the need to visit Mast General Store, and this trip was no different, always a nostalgic stop. Then it was on the the Flat Rock Bakery for the best brick oven pizza, I have ever tasted, ooh goat cheese, artichoke, and sun dried tomato, is my drug of choice this day, and I think I ate the entire thing. A little shopping in the Wrinkled Egg and off to the Flat Rock Theatre for a little Marty Robbins, where oh where did I leave my 8-track, it concluded a fabulous day in Hendersonville.
The next morning the boys headed for the Davidson River for a little talk with some beautiful Rainbow Trout, I think the trout did most of the talking. There are pictures to prove at least one beauty, good job Chip. The girls and Woody headed into Asheville for the Annual Great Shoe Shop and Apple Pick, I know, I can't believe there is such an event either, but there we were right in the middle of prime time. There were Gala, Cameo, Arkansas Black, Ariac, and Born, we were in our glory . . .
I hated to end our trip, it seemed so short, and I am already planning the next, perhaps the Spring, I am drawn to the mountains, like horses to water, I love the local food, the cool mornings, and the forest thick with mountain laurel, it sounds like the perfect vacation, and helps to keep me going until the next time.
