The High Country

North Carolina's High Country is only about an hour and a half drive away from my home. Yesterday we took a drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway to the town of Blowing Rock and stopped for dinner at one of our all-time favorite restaurants.

The weather was perfect, with clear blue skies and warm sunshine. It allowed me to wear one of the dresses I found this week. This navy and white wrap effect dress is by Dana Buchman via Kohl's. The Vera Wang sunglasses are also from Kohl's. The handbag is from Stein Mart. The sandals are by Kenneth Cole Reaction via T.J. Maxx.

The churches in the village of Blowing Rock have the most beautiful shade gardens!

We love to dine on the terrace at The Artisanal in Banner Elk. The amazing view of the manicured grounds, including the woods beyond, is so peaceful and serene.

This is the view from our table. 

You can almost see the creek just on the other side of those steps.

This evening we both had the wonderful Alaskan halibut with wasabi foam.

The diners at the next table were a wonderful Italian family. This is the grandmother with their adorable grandson. Note that he is also abiding by the rule that gentlemen must wear a jacket. As the family raised a toast, he also raised and clinked his sippy cup with them. He was so well behaved. Obviously, he was well accustomed to fine dining even at the ripe old age of two and a half.

This is the hostess who always greets us with a hug. 

She is so beautiful! My rosy cheeks are a result of too many glasses of Chardonnay. The Italians kindly sent me another glass when I had already had enough, but I graciously drank it as well.

Note the sculpture of the horse behind us. The artist created it with twigs and branches of trees. The theme throughout the building and grounds is one of a barn on a farm. There are two other life-size horse sculptures on the grounds as you enter. A spot set aside for helicopters to land for special arrivals by diners who normally reserve the wine seller for dining in complete privacy is also a spot set aside for helicopters.

The restaurant was built by the Diamond Creek Golf Club owner, a private gated community nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains on over a thousand acres. 

As we leave the restaurant and approach the main road, we see the Sugar Top Resort. It is perched at 5,000 feet above sea level on Sugar Mountain. This structure brought about the Mountain Ridge Protection Act of 1983, which prevents a building, structure, or unit from protruding more than 35 feet from the crest of a ridge.

I also asked Mr. Mickey to take me to the top of Beech Mountain to show me the chalet he built there in the early eighties.

Thankfully I remembered to bring a light cable knit navy cotton sweater with three-quarter sleeves. The temperature at my home today was 88, and the temperature on Beech Mountain was 59 when this picture was snapped.

Daylight has still not faded even at 9 PM on the top of Beech Mountain.

 

I slipped on these nude heels by Impo and my navy cable knit sweater to have dinner.