****SIGH****- Holiday's over and Family Trip complete..............

So the Holiday's are over and our trip to the Biltmore in Asheville is complete.  I'm not quite back to some normalcy yet - Mr. Keith (my dear husband) is having shoulder surgery this Friday.  I don't think he's quite getting the whole extent of his surgery thing. I accidentally forgot and planned a quilt trip (local) and he said "just drop me off and go"- uh NO!.  Although I've always been ok after "drop off" - he is not as patient as a Patient.  "just sayin'".  I might drag him Saturday to Sanford to the show.  I haven't seen Julie and Peggie from Auntie Ju's for about a year.

I've started menu planning and exercise (swimming) planning for the week. Three years ago on January 3 I quilt smoking; now it's time to get this weight off.  Especially with a wedding coming up a year from June.  :)  No date or location set as of yet but that's the approximate timing which gives me plenty of time to reach my goal.

I wanted to take a moment and post some pics from Asheville.  This was the second time we went - last time we went at Christmas time as well.  I told Keith I'd like to go in the Spring with the Dowton Abbey Theme being presented from February through May.  It rained all day Fri (on our way out there) and Saturday but the weather was gorgeous yesterday so we stayed until 5pm.

On our way to Asheville, we stopped for gas (although Keith felt 1/4 of a tank would be enough to go 86 miles) and run through Starbucks. Next door to Starbucks was this place "Night Secret"  Keith somehow thought it was a Vietenamese Drive Thru Resturaunt.  

Nope-it was an Adult Store drive through.  That was a first.  

There was a french restaurant in downtown Asheville that Justin and Rachel had lunch at on Friday.  

It was so good we went back on Saturday and Rachel was soooooooooooo Happy because they were out of Mussels on Friday but they had them on Saturday.  Now her face doesn't appear happy but she was doing the happy dance in her seat while she ate.  That was an "I got this" face.  

Then Saturday night after the candle light tour of the Biltmore - (we could not take pictures in the Biltmore and it was raining outside so no pics) We went to another Seafood Restuarant - 

The Lobster Trap. If you go to Asheville, NC I would definately recomment this. 

Below is what all of us, excluding Keith, ordered.  It might seem a little pricy but if you put it in perspective it's really not bad.  And..................yes, they ate it all. 

The only thing that didn't get eaten was the Lobster Mac n Cheese and the Brussel sprouts which were the two sides we chose. 

LOBSTER BISQUE

Top of pic: One crabcake remained 

Right in Pic: Scallops wrapped in Bacon- they were gone. 

Bottom of Pic:  You can only see the crackers but it was smoked fish dip that was great. 

The Platter - Above! Each lobster was 1 1/4 lbs and there were 2 ; 2lbs of crab (that made Rachel very happy!); mussels; clams; shrimp.......................The Lobster Mac N cheese and Brussel Sprouts are in the bowls by the water glass.

Very Happy Rachel- 

Poor Lobster :(

 I turned the Lobster around that i set in the bowl to stare at Justin while he took apart the other one. 

Yikes......it's stuck!

Yum...Yum...Yum...my dad would be so proud of how well Justin eats the WHOLE lobster. 

Austin enjoying the peel n eat shrimp until his fingers becamse pruned.

All Gone!

Rachel in sugar trance......it was Derby Pie 

Basically a choc chip cookie with Pecans Pie and Vanilla Ice Cream. 

Mia had a "Tuxedo Cake" for dessert.  Top layer - chocolate mousse, then Cheese cake, and bottom layer was chocolate cake. 

The last day (yesterday) the weather was gorgeous- 61 degrees and sunny. Mia and Austin enjoying the fresh air at the back of the Biltmore.

Rachel using her new camera to take a scenic view. 

Keith, Justin, and Rachel afar - walking towards the gardens. 

Mia determined to get another picture of Austin.

The Biltmore House

We went to the Village at the Biltmore where they had goats and chickens and some cute shops. The animals looked and felt newly bathed.  I was pretty impressed.

Mia enjoying a hug with a goat. 

Keith checking out the old tractor.

It was overall a nice weekend. 

Now that all the holidays and vacationing is over for a while I hope to get stitching.............