We had a splendid w-e in Asheville enjoying the mountains and all that Asheville has to offer this time of year. Saturday morning we did a run around Beaver Lake though it was quite cold and windy. I thought we did a good job considering that it was only 14 degrees and we faced a headwind at times. It was a gray day until later in the afternoon. We joined our friends Susan and Donna that afternoon for a hike at Lover’s Leap in Hot Springs followed by a soak in the tubs at the little resort there. It had been a long time since I’d been there (at least 7 months), and in the interim, they added a long white house for the check in desk and rooms for the massages. Before there was a dinky old building for the check in and trailers for the massage rooms. Now they have bottled water, a waiting area, and gear for sale. It’s almost even upscale.
I was struck by the loveliness of it all as we soaked in our little tub (#8) overlooking Spring Creek. We had the 5pm-6pm time slot so we were there while the sun went down. It was cold and still windy but the warm water was more than enough to keep us toasty. I just really enjoyed that view of the trees on the creek bank, getting blacker and blacker as the daylight disappeared. It made me very emotional to be there again-thinking about all of those hard days with chemo treatments for 2 hours in the morning and night-all necessary so that I could enjoy that hour of peaceful calm on the river bank. It made all of that tough stuff I put up with for 7 months worth it.
After our soak, the plan had been for the four of us to eat dinner at the Bridge Street cafe there in Hot Springs. They have great wood fired pizzas that we had all been looking forward to enjoying. But for some reason, they were closed, and we had to drive all the way back to Asheville for dinner. After a misstart at one restaurant that allows smoking, we ended up at another for sandwiches and sweet potato fries. What a great invention, sweet potato fries I mean.
Sunday morning we enjoyed coffee in bed while looking out towards Sunset Mtn. The woodpecker came to the suet feeder while the finches, chickadees, and sparrows enjoyed the food at the other feeders. Quigley nestled into the covers with us, and Gracie sat on the bed getting her pets. I felt like I was enjoying a holiday w-e at a cabin what with the old pine wood walls in the bedroom. I was struck by how lucky I am to have the Asheville house for w-e trips. It is so cozy and quaint. Again, I just really felt fortunate to be here, to still be here, to enjoy all the cool things about my life and all the special people I know. I am struck sometimes by the spirituality of everyday things-how truly fortunate we are to have so much, and so many people who love & cherish us.
Today's photo is some iceplant we saw when we were at the Wildlife Refuge outside of Arcata, Calif.
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