Fun over the 4th

This year for the July 4th weekend, we decided to go to Asheville NC since we've never been but heard it's a fun place.  It's only about a 2 hour drive from our house up to the mountains.  We left on Saturday the 2nd and spent that day walking around Asheville.  It was a great place for people-watching and outdoor music.  We stopped for a while at a few different parks that had free concerts going on. 

The next day we went to the Biltmore Estate.  It's the largest home in America and is open for tours of the house, gardens, winery, and farm.  It was built in the late 1800's.  It was very hot on the day we were there, but surprisingly fairly cool in the house, considering there was no air-conditioning.

We took several pictures inside the house until we noticed that no one else seemed to be using their cameras.  Whoops!

Ceiling in the atrium

Organ above the dining table

 Matt outside on one of the many balconies.  There was a great view of the mountains behind him.  We also saw a "swimming pool" room, a bowling alley, and a huge library in the house, but by that point, I was a little nervous taking pictures so we didn't get any of those!  But they were very impressive. 

At the farm, they had lots of the original equipment on display. Reminded Matt of life on the farm!

Rockin' it Southern Style

As my siblings all know, I played piano for many years when I was younger but quit when I was in high school and never looked back, despite many threats by my parents that I would one day regret it.  Well...I haven't.  But I have been thinking for several years about learning a new instrument, and recently I finally did something about it. 

I'm taking fiddle lessons - I think I've had about 5 or 6 lessons since June.  I can now play about 3 1/2 songs very slowly!! :)  It has been fun learning to play something new.  I like listening to bluegrass - Matt and I listen to it a lot on his XM radio when we travel - so I am learning some bluegrass songs. 

My teacher (who is only 16!) is in a local bluegrass band and we went to watch her band a few weeks ago.  She keeps telling me I sound good but I think I'm pretty squeaky most of the time.  Speaking of that, I better go practice now - I've got a lesson in 2 days!