The day before grandson David went back to college, we had a family excursion to the Biltmore estate. David and I particularly wanted to see the Chihuly exhibit. Dale Chihuly is an American artist who creates works of art with blown glass. Our first close view was at the entrance to the mansion, both outside and from the inside.

The winter garden held the only indoor exhibit, for which John and David posed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My favorites from the Italian garden show David and John near the lily pads, a boat filled with glass creations, and a long view of the largest piece in that area.

Nathaniel and David agreed to stand with a display just outside the conservatory.

My favorite framed shot was in the walled garden.

On the opposite side of the walled garden was the display I voted most colorful.

After our long walk through the mansion and around the grounds, we went for a late lunch at the Moose Cafe. The meals there always start with a huge biscuit for each person, to which you can add sorghum molasses or their special apple butter. It is messy, but oh! so good! We chose chicken with dumplings, fried mountain trout, pork chops, and fried pollock. The young men fell asleep on the ride home, while I was glassy-eyed. They didn’t wake up when John and I stopped at the local produce stand to buy a huge heirloom Cherokee tomato for ‘mater sandwiches for supper. We ended with a juicy local watermelon, one of David’s favorites. We could have used showers after that messy meal.