Flat Rock, NC Dec 21, 2016

Most of the "getting ready for Christmas" is done, so we thought we would continue our weekly road trip outings.  An article appeared in the paper about Flat Rock, NC, and it looked like a good place to visit.  The noted poet, Carl Sandburg, moved there from the Midwest in the late 1940's when he was in his 60's.  He bought a 200+ acre farm, and lived in a a beautiful home built in 1830 on the hill top, and his wife started a goat farm.  Descendants of the original goats are still cared for there.  The town also boasts a historic church, St John in the Wilderness.  The area is also noted for its apple orchards, when in season.  It was about a two hour leisure ride through pretty countryside, and worth another visit when apples are ready for picking next year.



 A distant view of the Sandburg grounds and house from the park entrance.

According to the news article, tours of the home and farm are available, but we didn't see any information about them.  We didn't intend to take a tour today, so that was just as well.

 There was no charge to walk the grounds

It's easy to see how a poet could be inspired in an idyllic setting such as this.

Not far from the Sandburg home is St John in the Wilderness.  First built in 1834 as a private chapel for the Baring family, the church was deeded to the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina in 1836.  Flat Rock, nicknamed the Little Charleston of the Mountains, grew as the low country folk came to the mountains to escape the heat and malaria found on the coast, and soon became "the" summer meeting place for prominent families from South Carolina, Georgia and New Orleans.  

 



Many famous persons are laid to rest here including 3 signers of the Declaration of Independence and the general who lead the Bataan death march in World War II.

 Red velvet covers seat cushions and is used as floor runners.  The box pews bear engraved plaques claiming seats for the prominent families  who were the early parishioners. 

Beautiful chimes and wood beamed ceilings adorn the old church.  Although a historic site open to the public, the church still has an active congregation of about 400 members.

Next, a look-see in the Wrinkled Egg Emporium...

a photo with Santa...

and

and a bite of lunch at the Village Bar and Café (where we learned of hangover cures around the world)  made for the end of a delightful visit.   By the way, the Polish cure is to have "a beeg glass of peek-el juice".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Early December 2016

Double Springs Fire Department hosted a pancake breakfast with Santa Claus the first weekend in December.  Gifts for the kids lined tables.  It was a very heartwarming time.   Unfortunately, the man responsible for making this event possible passed away recently and no one has as yet picked up the reins to keep this tradition going.

 

Double Springs is in the south west portion of Townville

Breakfast consisted of two pancakes, a sausage patty, oj and choice of coffee, hot cocoa or milk for $2.50.

Each child could pick any toy or his or her choice. None of the kids were rude or greedy.

It will be a shame if this event won't be continued.

 

After breakfast, Bob and I checked out a new indoor farmer's market near Double Springs.  Perhaps it was because it had just opened, or because there were so many other things going on around town, but there weren't many vendors and even fewer lookers.

 

That evening, Bob and I went back into old Anderson to celebrate the 31st anniversary of our meeting each other (which was actually December 4th).  It was a rainy evening, so we didn't walk around much.  We first went to Earle's Place, but we didn't like the bistro like décor and menu, so we went across the street to McGee's Irish Pub and Grill.  It wasn't very crowded, and had a nice warm atmosphere.  To our delight, caroler's came through and sang a few Christmas songs.

 









 



Townin' Around November 2016

After our trip to Georgia, Bob once again had a flare up of "indigestion".  After a trip or two to the ER, it was confirmed that his gall bladder needed to be removed.  It was severely infected which resulted in ecoli bacteria in his bloodstream.  Luckily all was caught in time.  He spent Veterans Day under the knife and the next day in the hospital with heavy doses of antibiotics.  It took a while for him to recuperate, but he is back to his usual busy self. With that and Thanksgiving and then Christmas on the horizon, we did not do a lot of exploring.  But here are some photos of this and that.



  Thanks to Roscoe and his daily walks, we get to enjoy the beauty of the campground.

The drought and the need for water for the power generators have dropped lake levels by 10 feet.

Roscoe doesn't care about the leaves or lake.  He wants to know where the squirrels are!

Well, Roscoe, while you are out for a stroll, they're on our deck...

using the covered bbq grill like a tanning bed!

 

For my birthday,  Bob treated me to a night on the town in Anderson.  By then, Christmas lights and decorations lit up Main Street in the old downtown section.

  We had not been into town at night.  It felt kind of magical, kind of like the feeling of going into New York City....

....like stairways leading down  into subways...

and ice skating at Rockefeller center...if you use your imagination, that is.