BEWARE THE EVIL CAT!!!
"Hairy" chases his ribbon toy.

Hairy seeing red.
















Had a little snow last week. BUT, today, January 27, beautiful day, almost 60 degrees, massive sunshine---the quiet before the storm-you know, the one in the Texas panhandle that is dumping a foot or more on them - it's headed our way with love and 6-10 inches of snow for us, and maybe some sleet first!!!
Bring it.

The Gypsy Queen

Meet Chef Suzy Phillips! A Lebanese chef who moonlights as the best breakfast/lunch waitress at the Corner Kitchen in Biltmore Village. Suzy is going to open her own Lebanese deli/market (Zeytoon) soon. We can hardly wait. But will she teach me how to cook in my tangine?? Married to Gabriel Shaffer, artist extraordinaire. See article in Bold at www.boldlife.com, type in Chef Suzy in search.

Founder's Scottish Ale

Was in Atlanta this past weekend, and, as usual, at The Brick Store in Decatur. Bar tender suggested Founder's Dirty Bastard, a Scottish Ale, and by far the best I have ever had. A high gravity beer that is so smooth and creamy-left 5 Seasons Brew Pub the next night to go back to The Brick Store to have another; well, maybe two.

March snow.
Same tree, December 18, 2009 snow

The Wolfe House, early on in the storm.

Looking SE from 12th floor of Renaissance.

Those condos, looking NE towards Reynolds Mtn.

Had a snow event last weekend. Up on the mountain, somewhere between 12-15 inches. Sure was pretty, but we sure were here for a couple of days!

Why don't we go ahead and paint while we're down here????

Discovered a little mold in the downstairs, so here we go with the Clorox/water! Well, since we have the furniture moved, why don't we paint??? Well, why not? (I could tell you why not), so away we go!! A little interruption for some football, but always supervised by Hairy, here perched on his temporary throne.

Keep your eye on these two photos. The next painting post will reveal some drastic changes!

Sinful Pleasures!

Men and pedicures just don't seem to add up. Get one and then see how the math works!
Ah-h-h-h, the massage chair, the foot spa, the gentle massages! Sinful pleasure! It was worth the effort! And I recommend it to even the most macho of men.

Visit to Helen, GA
Advice to the traveler!: Take your cooler/beer and your sandwiches! This town is a RIP OFF!

The river walk is very nice (free), and the tavern at the end of town (the Black Dog Bistro) seemed pretty reasonable. BUT, most of the gift shops did not offer high quality gifts produced in Germany or Austria.
Not saying the food was not good, just way too expensive for the locale.
That's my sister Kitty and her hubby, Bob, getting ready to enjoy some expensive sandwiches!



The blue/white building is the most photographed building in
Helen, so what the Hell, why not include it?

MR. DOMESTIC!!

Check out the canning/freezing guy!
Tomatoes from the garden, and fresh basil processed to pesto!

More from FLA and HHI

The most interesting site during the week was this woman standing in the surf reading a novel.
More photos from the trail. Some from downtown, on the way to the bay, others from Clearwater area. And another from the Bamboo Beach Garden!

A Little time off in FLA

Spent a week on Treasure Island, riding the bikes (note old fellow on new bike with new helmet and new gloves!) on the Pinellas Trail (now extends to the bay on the south side), visiting some old, but remodeled haunts (Bamboo Beach Garden, nee, the Bamboo Beer Garden), and cooking some fine seafood.
Ended the week at HHI at the Jazz Corner. Hedonism at its best!

Sandy's Birthday!

We celebrated Sandy's xxx birthday early, with a short run around town and then a trip to the terrace of the Flat Iron building for coffee from World Coffee Cafe, to whom we are deeply indebted for allowing us there so early in the morning; later in the evening Patsy and John held a catered bbq in her honor on the grounds of their lovely estate. Lots of folks for that, including the late guy, Cooper, who came in a tux!
The dawg pak has voted that World Coffee Cafe is in sole position as the number one cinnamon bun provider in the city of Asheville.

IN MEMORIUM

CASIE CRAIG, May 2000 - June 25, 2009

CASIE CRAIG passed away this morning after a short battle with cancer.

She was 9 years old-far too young for a sweet kitty to pass away.

Casie will be missed by all who knew her, as she truly never, ever met a

stranger, and loved everyone she met, happily jumping onto any lap and

settling there to purr.

We will miss her, lying on our chest early in the morning before dawn, just

as a reminder that she was there to love us at the start of each new day, as

well as at the end of each day when she would lie in bed next to Jackie and purr

and purr, and then, when I got home, run down the hall and bound up on my

bed, ready for bed-time treats before taking her place next to me for the night.

Her days were filled with cat naps, often on the deck in the sun, or in my chair at the table, or sitting across my “mouse” arm at the computer, and with chasing her favorite ball around the house, usually losing it under the cupboard. She tolerated well her house mates, Smokin’!, Grover, and Hairy, who will surely miss her in their own kitty sort of way.

We thank God for her all to short, but happy life, and especially for the joy and love

she brought to our home.

We would also like to thank the Drs. and staff at North Asheville Animal Hospital

for their excellent care of Casie, and their heart-felt compassion for all animals.