Wednesday, August 20, 2014

12 Bones and White Squirrels, A Weekend Vacation

School bells are ringing. Weather is changing. Folks run out of money after long trips. But don't despair the summer coming to an end. Make it last a little longer with weekend trips.  

Here in North Carolina there are plenty of weekends still ahead. Sometimes we head to the beach but this past weekend, we headed to the mountains to see my dad and his wife.

Nothing beats that first view of the mountains. Now, I know you western types are laughing. Those are mountains? Well, as my dad likes to say, yours are bigger but they're bald.  Ours have trees - and just wait until they turn!




The mountains of North Carolina around Asheville have plenty of great hiking trails. Asheville and the surrounding towns have great general stores, artist studios and antique shops. And there are always unexpected finds like this sage green dress from the 1870s. Several writer friends have already said they are claiming it for their heroine on their next book cover.


The restaurants range from home-cookin' to high-falutin'.  This visit we went to my favorite rib place of all time, 12 bones in Arden. The restaurant is in a rescued auto repair shop, stripped bare with papertowel rolls on the tables and plenty of seating. They need it. 12 Bones opens at 11am has a line out the door til 4pm.  Every day there is a selection of rib flavors. For your half rack (six bones) or full rack (12 bones), you can get nekked (my preference), brown sugar (ManO's fave), on up to exotic flavors like chipotle blueberry. All the sides are homemade from their collards to cole slaw to mashed sweet potatoes. And their baked beans, oh, their baked beans.  
Man's O's plate of brown sugar ribs. He got my cornbread.

Since my dad is recovering from heart surgery, we spent a lot of time just walking around the neighborhood and visiting, listening to family lore that stretches back to the Revolutionary War. I get my love of writing and storytelling from my dad. When you have Scottish rebels, Golden Knights, a dad who sang, with his church's kids' choir, to a hundred year old Confederate soldier, it's very entertaining.

And then there was dominoes. We always play dominoes when we go visit Dad and Selena.


The best excitement? The white squirrel arrived. He's a crafty thing who picks and chooses when he wants to show up but he did for our visit. These are not albino squirrels but a separate species and so plentiful the other side of the mountain, the town of Brevard has a fun White Squirrel Festival. I've been there and bought the tee-shirt, my grandkidlets' favorite.   


Before we knew it, the weekend was over and we headed back home. Full of memories and still money in our wallet.

So, what is your favorite weekend getaway in your neck of the woods? Do you have a favorite thing to do, restaurant or family tale to listen to when you're visiting? 

18 comments:

  1. aw man those ribs look delish! I like more ribs and some mustard potato salad and baked beans...that would be a perfect plate! :-)

    Susanna who's relieved we didn't get a recipe for white squirrel...hey you never know around here! but wondered since you're a bit north for that kinda eating...

    ReplyDelete
  2. LOL -- Susanna and the recipe for white squirrel comment. I would have been scandalized too! Didn't even know there were white squirrels in the world. Are they as cheeky as their black and red counterparts?

    North Carolina looks beautiful. I've read about it in fiction but never visited. We have a lot of interesting little towns around where I live that would make great weekend getaways plus lots of cottage country. There's always a fiddle festival in Pembroke at the end of the summer. Lovely old town besieged by fiddlers everywhere. You can't go a block without hearing a lively jig.

    Westport is in the heart of cottage country -- quaint town in beautiful surroundings and some great local shopping. But it's Perth I want to live in some day. It is a mecca for artists and crafts people. A heritage town voted prettiest in Ontario. Tons of galleries, studios and shops. Tons of opportunities to take classes in everything from painting to glass blowing to woodworking. Close to December the whole town turns into a Christmas marketplace. I could go on, but you get the idea. I really, really want to live there some day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow. That sounds great. I always find it interesting how artists move to small towns.

      Yes, that white squirrel scared off the gray squirrels. That feeder was all his.

      Delete
  3. Ribs. I love ribs. I love, love, love ribs. They make me smile!!!!! And they're so stinkin' messy, but they just delight me!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Here are some birthday ribs for you! These were pork ribs. Short beef ribs are just too short for me.

      Delete
  4. I love time with family. So special. And those quiet times. Enjoy every one of them, Julie!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yep, it was definitely appreciated this time as Dad was two weeks out from getting an emergency pacemaker!

      Delete
  5. What fun, Julie!! Yes, I LOVE those NC mountains. There's nothing prettier. Gatlinburg has been one of our family getaway places. My family can come from KY and TN to meet us there. So it's a nice vacation with a group!

    I would love to try that restaurant sometime when we're up that way!! It sounds amazing. I'll have to pull out a map and check it out. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There are two in the area. One in the River Arts District and one in Arden. We like the Arden location best.

      Delete
  6. White squirrels. I am astounded. And hungry now. Looks like a relaxing visit, Julie.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have been told there are also black squirrels somewhere in the US but I've only seen them in Switzerland. It was VERY relaxing, except for the wondering whether that white squirrel would show for our visit.

      Delete
  7. Love me some ribs! 'Specially when they're fallin' off the bone. Mmmmm....

    I've never seen or heard of a white squirrel, Julie. Very cool.

    Our weekend getaway is the ranch. Always refreshing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Very jealous. I think we need to have a Yankee Belle retreat out there but there is no way you are getting on an ATV!

      Delete
  8. A wonderful post Julie. And a lovely area!! I am so there in the fall...I love that kind of drive to see the leaves turn. I hope I get to do one this year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah, you're a leaf looker. As crowded as the Blue Ridge Parkway was, and with the predictions of a great "turn" this year, I expect it will be packed.

      Delete
  9. We had black squirrels in Goshen, Indiana. Tons of them! But I've never seen a white one.

    And I love your dad's comment about the mountains :) I love all the mountains. Even the ones in your neck of the woods!

    One of my favorite local poets, Badger Clark, used to say that the reason why the Black Hills are called hills and not mountains is because "it's better to delight than disappoint."

    BTW - I like my ribs any way I can get them :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Love that I finally found out about those Black Hills and where the black squirrels are.

      Delete