Dreaming of living in the mountains?

Your dreams could become a reality........ and we have the perfect dream house for you. Did I mention in earlier posts that we have a master suite complete with custom made window seat and bookcases? Did I mention a Porcher whirlpool tub, skylights, speakers in the ceiling of the master bathroom, custom closets, french doors, built in custom made drawers in bedroom, heated ceramic tile floors, custom vanity, separate shower, Marvin windows? Yes, it's all true. But there is more - original red oak floors throughout the entire house. Five panel original doors throughout, original door hardware, french doors separating dining room and living room, and a fireplace with an insert and a custom built mantel and fireplace surround. Our fireplace has kept us warm many a night when we wanted a little extra warmth and the glow of the burning embers and the scent of the logs. hmmmm... I am yearning for winter to see that fire again. Well maybe not today on this cool summer evening but eventually when summer turns to crisp fall days, it "may" enter my mind, but until then we will continue to enjoy our little piece of paradise right here in the mountains of north carolina.

Check out the new photos of our house

An aerial view of our property

One of our favorite little spots - lower level terrace
surrounded by Wisteria, Bee Balm, Day Lilies
and Grapes

Can't you tell that I love this house the way
I paint it up with punches of color?
The clothesline too!

4 bedrooms
3 bathrooms
Upgraded features throughout
$495,000.

Updates on our house for sale

Improvements continue on renovating our
second full bath on the first floor.
It has taken longer than we expected but when it is done you
will see one spectacular space. We have chosen granite counter
tops, vessel sink, full size shower, ceramic tile floors,
high end chrome fixtures including the "on/off" levers
under the cherry wood floating vanity.
This will be so nice that I won't want to move.

Where will I find a place this beautiful?

Along with the reno of the bathroom we completely reconstructed the steps leading to the upstairs with new oak treads stained and painted and removed a door that used to close off the upstairs. It opens wide now and there are no squeaky steps anymore. So awesome.

After our trip to Costa Rica, who know?
we might want to move there.
Any buyers out there?

Winter Beauty in Saluda

If you are looking for a "change of seasons" here in North Carolina,
Saluda is the place to be. Just a little of this and a little of that creates
a pleasant mix that seems to be the perfect climate for a happy
existence.
Spring comes early to the mountains...

Followed by a sunny days and cool mountain evenings...
















Just when you thought summer was here to stay the
leaves start to change into bright vivid colors of rusts, crimson & ochres...
















Poooooof! A dusting of snow and winter appears.

Beautiful fall days in Saluda

Need I say more?

A bed full of Basil

So, what do I do with all this Basil in my garden?
There are several options for perserving basil; drying, freezing,and making a paste.
I do the freezing and the pesto. I make garlic butter and freeze it in ice cube trays and then transfer it to freezer bags. I use it throughout the year in pasta, soups, stews, rices, etc.
Same thing with the pesto. . . ice cube trays then into plastic bags for use throughout the year.
Freezing basil right out of the garden and into freezer bags works great because after it freezes it breaks off into little pieces that are just right for cooking.

You too can have a garden full of basil right here in Saluda. Our property has plenty of sunshine and plenty of trees.

Update on our house for sale!

YES, our house is still for sale and. . . . . we are willing to negotiate with anyone who may be interested. It's hard to believe after coming back from Chicago that I would still feel like I wanted to continue to try and sell this wonderful house in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Today I went outside and picked a huge bucket of blueberries

from our bushes on the property and yesterday my zucchini

was asking to be picked as well. It is always such a joy this time of year to reap the benefits of the springtime plantings.
All of that nurturing has transformed this 3 acre piece of property into a flowerful & colorful
well taken care of home.
At the time that we purchased our house it was not in a "love affair" with the owner and it didn't have the loving touches that we so eagerly had jumped in to do. It needed some new energy to bring it back to life, so after 14 + years, we are ready to
"pass the torch" so to speak, to some other loving couple. Maybe they can re-purpose that vintage barn and turn it into a studio. . .

just as I have had dreams of doing...
until every day life gets in the way,
or add that greenhouse onto the garden shed or add a guest house in the drying shed. You see? The dreams are still there but our energy has been waning. Plans, you ask? Not yet firmed up but it's likely that we will stay
here in Saluda and continue to grow "Random Arts "instead of 3 acres of manicured gardens.