Pack Square on Sunday

Sunday morning is a great time to stroll around Pack Square in Asheville, North Carolina.

There are bronze sculptures and fountains throughout the park in the midst of 1920's 'skyscrapers' and huge gargoyles jutting out from the top of the Jackson Building.

Another view of the Jackson Building. Read more about the wonderful Asheville architecture here.

During the Great Depression, so many despondent people jumped from the top of this building, a target was installed on the sidewalk. 

 

The corporate office for Biltmore is located here in the square.

One of the bronzes along the way. This one is dedicated to childhood.

As Pack Square's public space ends, there is a huge fountain that always has many people gathered around sitting in the sun or playing with their children in the water in warm weather.

 

After our walk, we had a wonderful brunch at one of our favorite Pack Square restaurants. Posana Café also has sidewalk dining, but we ate at our usual window table inside to watch the passers-by, who often smiled at us. 

 

Today's dress is by Chaps, and the sunglasses are Vera Wang, both from Kohl's. The sandals are by Kenneth Cole Reaction via T.J.Maxx.

Thank you for reading about our weekend getaway for Mr. Mickey's birthday. We love sharing our adventures with you, and we hope you can also get away for a fun weekend soon.

Dinner on the Terrace

Saturday was warm and sunny, making it a great time to have dinner on the Sunset Terrace at the Grove Park Inn.

Later in the evening, I needed that jacket I am holding. You've seen it before here.

This was my view at dinner.

This was Mr. Mickey's view.

The Legendary Grove Park Inn Golf Club

The Grove Park Inn celebrated their one-hundredth year in 2013. If you haven't been there recently, you will be amazed at all the updates and renovations underway. They have added new restaurants and lounges, and the great hall and the Sunset Terrace have all been renovated. We are looking forward to staying there again soon to take in all the new things to see and do. Their Spa is world-class.  

"Top 20 Resort Spas in the U.S."
-Condé Nast Traveler 2013 Readers Poll

I wore a navy knit wrap dress from Stein Mart, which you have seen before here. This time I paired it with studded sandals by Kenneth Cole Reaction via T.J.Maxx and a longer silver link necklace. Since the necklace is quite bold, I am wearing simple diamond stud earrings. 

Thank you for reading. I hope you have a great day!

The Albemarle

A three day weekend away is as close as we ever get to an actual vacation.

 

During this getaway for Mr. Mickey's birthday, we stayed at the fabulous Albemarle Inn located in Asheville, North Carolina.

 

The one-hundred-year-old house and the grounds were so amazing!

The staircase was fantastic... this shows only half of it.

We had breakfast on the sun-porch each morning.

The gardens were a delight to the senses.

The Corinthian columns spoke to my Scarlett O'Hara soul.

The dress is by Dana Buchman from Khol's. The shoes are BOC last year from Stein Mart. 

Thanks for reading! 

This is the first of several posts I will share this week. There is too much to share in just one.

The Olde Farm

In celebration of Mickey's birthday, dear friends treated us to dinner at The Olde Farm last evening. 

Since we were going to be dining in the more casual venue at the Party Barn, my outfit is black pants from Chico's and a lightweight wrap style top from Coldwater Creek. The shoes and necklace are from Stein Mart and the clutch bag is from T.J. Maxx.

This is the Party Barn on the grounds of The Olde Farm. 

Thank you for reading. I hope you have a great day.

Drive Your British Car Night

One never knows what wonderful car you will get to see when you attend the show, "Drive Your British Car Night."

As I was quickly getting dressed for this evening, I tried on many outfits before running out of time and had to settle on the one I wore. Normally I would not wear pants with a cuff or a wider leg; however, the high heels seemed to balance things. We would be having dinner in the restaurant later in the evening, so I had to wear something appropriate for the show and dinner. 

The reason my hair looks really strange tonight... we arrived in Mickey's non-British convertible. 

My attire includes the champagne-colored swing coat you have seen before, worn with an off white tank top and off white pants, which were a gift from my sister last year. The shoes are by Vince Camuto, and the clutch bag was found at T.J. Maxx a few years ago. 

The Steeplechase

One of our favorite spring traditions is to attend the Block House Steeplechase running in Tryon, North Carolina.

This event ushers in spring with picnics, sundresses, elegant hats, and tailgating as we view the thoroughbreds thundering past striving for a win. The day started out quite cool, so I am wearing a sweater poncho here. As the afternoon progressed, the sun warmed us enough to shed the layers. Our parking space partners were the most charming people! We loved visiting with them and hope to continue our new friendships for many years.

At the beginning of the festivities, there is a hat contest to award a prize to the most appropriate hat, the funniest hat, and the best kid's hat. 

Here I am in the hat parade wearing the white dress I told you about earlier. (I did not win, but it certainly was fun!)

  

Here are some of the other contestants in their lovely hats.

The Block House is the longest-running steeplechase in the state of North Carolina, occurring continuously since 1947. Crowds of 18,000 to 20,000 attend the Block House Races annually. 

This 1949 Bentley was in the space in front of us. The owner is the fellow standing behind the car. He told us that his father bought the car new and that his grandchildren are the fifth generation to ride in the car. He drives it regularly.

We always stay at the 1906 Pinecrest Inn. This is later in the day at the gazebo in the lower gardens on the Inn's property. We are on our way to cocktails on the terrace, so I have switched to a more subdued animal print ribbon trimmed straw hat for the afternoon. When wearing a hat, I wear few other accessories. The effect can be quite matronly if you add large earrings, a necklace, and glasses. The soft white knit dress is from Stein Mart.

Later in the evening, I wore another red knit dress from Stein Mart to dinner. This is a record for me... bare legs with a dress twice in one day! Normally I would not be so daring, but it is my vacation after all.

The next morning, I wore this wonderful fuchsia blouse, which was a gift from Foxcroft. I paired it with khaki Capri pants from Talbots and Kenneth Cole Reaction sandals via T.J. Maxx. This Foxcroft blouse will be one of my spring favorites! You will see it often. It is the softest non-iron fabric I have ever worn. Normally no iron blouses are too stiff to be comfortable. This one flows across the body in a perfect drape.