Bo Smith's Blog History

July 30th-August 14th
2010
(I'll work on getting the pictures to work!)
The Cabin: Micaville, North Carolina

Cabin in Micaville, North Carolina

View of Celo Knob from our back porch

August 14th (Saturday)
We got up relatively early so that Marianne and Lehman could get a good start. We consumed a breakfast of my southwestern omelets and rye toast with frog jam and then our good friends were off about 9:00. They are planning to drive to their home in Las Cruces, New Mexico in three days. We look forward to seeing them back in Jacksonville again in December. Tut and I took a discovery tour drive today getting back at the cabin about 3:00. After about an hour, Diana and I and the two puppies went to Burnsville for individual pizzas and beer/wine at "the Garden Restaurant".  We will probably share some wine with our next door neighbors, Daisy and Kenny Hoilman before turning in.  We are looking forward to a relaxing day tomorrow.

Tut and Little Bear on their first dinner outing.
August 13th (Friday)
We had a large breafast today of Bo's hashbrowns with poached eggs and toast and Smokey Mountain Frog Jam (Lehman has become a big fan of frog jam) to get ready for our mining trip to the Ray Mica Mine. The Spruce Pine Mining District was the national leader in mica production during the "mica glory years" of 1920s-1962 and is still producing mica products today. The Ray Mica Mine is one of the most famous of the area's many mica mines and is located on Pisgah National Park land so is accessable to the public. It is a relatively easy hike along a beautiful tree shouded path to the collecting area.

Collecting is done along a stream which flows through the tailings of the mine. You can either break the rocks with a rock hammer to see what is lurking inside as Marianne and Lehman are doing in this picture 
or you can process the straem gravel to look for aquamarine which has weathered from the parent rocks as Diana is doing in this picture.
On the way back from the Ray Mica Mine, we drove through the town of Burnsville, checked out the Kit n Kaboodle Antique Shop and got ice cream cones before continuing on our "discovery tour". Our discovery tour consisted of going on Route 80 South from Micaville to Blue Rock Road (The red and white '55 Chevy coope was still there) and then on to a special place called Quiet Reflections. Quiet Reflections is a beautiful location known to the local population for members of the community who know it's location to relax and reflect.

Marianne and Lehman walking from the chapel

Close up of Lehman and Marianne

Bo reflecting with cigar.

Gasebo with trumpet vine
Following our after mine tour drive, it was time to return to the cabin for showers and naps (Lehman has a few short naps in the car on the way back) before our dinner of Diana's superb wedge salad, grilled vegetables on (slightly burned by Bo), grilled ribeyes, and spinach souffle.
 After dinner, we sorted out our rock finds and examined them with an ultaviolet (short wave) light.
August 12th (Thursday)
We had a light breakfast of figs and toast in order to get a relatively early start for our trip to Mt. Mitchell.
We drove via Crabtree and McKinney Mine Roads to the Blue Ridge Parkway with a brief photo stop at Emerald Village for a photo of Lehman and Marianne in front of the Bon Ami feldspar mine. Then, we took the parkway south to the Mt. Mitchell exit.

Tne Barnes' at Bon Ami Mine-Emerald Village enroute to Mt. Mitchell

After a beautiful drive and a nice walk, we finally made it to the top.

The weather was cool and misty focing me to buy a long sleved shirt at the gift shop.

The visibility at the top was mostly obscured by mist and clouds but there was an ocassional break.

There were lots of photo opportunities om the walk back down to the gift shop parking lot.

Lehman quietly enjoying nature on a break while walking back down to the parking lot.
We stopped by the Mt. Mitchell restaurant about a mile or so on the way down from the parking lot.  We had a very nice late lunch about 2:00 or so.
Our return route was via Route 80N along the northeast side of the Black Moutains through Celo to Micaville. We stopped at Rob Levin's Glass Gallery. He wasn't there but we had a chance to look at some of his spectacular work. Check out his website.  After a brief nap for all, we enjoyed Diana's grilled shrimp, fish, and eggplant dinner.  Following dinner, we spent some enjoyable time on the porch!
August 11th (Wednesday)
After a relaxing breakfast, we were treated by a visit by Linda Stevens, her granddaughter Halley, and Ginger.  The reunion with the puppies went very well except that Bella was surprisingly aggressive toward Ginger so we put her in a crate.  Linda, Halley, and Ginger are returning to Florida so we won't see them for awhile.

Ginger is petite and very cute

Ginger with Halley

Diana with Ginger and Linda

Ginger playing with Tut and Little Bear
We met Lehman and Marianne at the Mountainview Restaurant at 6:30 for dinner (I had my camera but forgot to take a picture). We saw Linda Stevens and Halley there having their final dinner before returning to Fruit Cove tomorrow.
August 10th (Tuesday)
Today was a restful between visits.  We are expecting our good Jacksonville friends, Lehman and Marianne Barnes, for a short visit tomorrow. I brought my first three pottery projects home from tonight's class.

Bo's Bowl #1
Agates

Bo's Bowl #2
Garnets

Bo's Bowl #3
Pink Tourmalines
August 9th (Monday)
Diana and I took Barbara and Valentino to the Charlotte airport this morning. It was a very teary departure. We took the scenic route home, first going north to Statesville to have lunch at The Old Towne Restaurant and visit JR's Outtore and then up Route 321 from Hickory to Blowing Rock. We took the Blue Ridge Parkway from Blowing Rock to the Route 226/Spruce Pine exit. It was a beautiful drive past Green and Grandfather Mountains and especially the Bear Den Overlook.
August 8th (Sunday)
Today was a day of rest. We had a late breakfast of hashbrowns and poached eggs and watched a couple of Barbara's "Sweet Adelines" DVDs. Later, I took Tut and Bella on a trip to the post office with a side trip to a recently discovered local swimming hole called White Rock. It is actually located opposite a portion of Lud's property.


We had "Chicken Austin" for Barbara's last night at the cabin this trip.
August 7th (Saturday)
Diana took the day off for some much needed rest today. I took Barbara to the Mt. Mitchell Crafts Fair in Burnsville. We parked the Rodeo in the Ingles' parking lot. The fair provided excellent shuttle service to the town square.

Lots of crafts and interesting people
Live music, of course, and Hula Hooping

We needed time to rest and get a hot dog and a drink

On your next visit to the cabin, you will see this in our kitchen window!
August 6th (Friday)
I led another mine tour today. Diana and Barbara took Vanentino and Little Bear to the groomer and went to Spruce Pine to the Soap Shop, checked out a couple of antique shops, visited Maggie at The Richmond Inn, and had a mid afternoon lunch at DT's Coffee Shop; They were worn out from shopping!

Barbara and Valentino before grooming

Barbara and Vaeltino after grooming
Little Bear had just a "head, feet, and tail" grooming. We are letting his coat grow out. Notice the blue bow! (not my idea). Little Bear is still  available for sale.

I took the Donaldson Family on a Rock Mines Tour

Fonda, Logan (12, grandson) and Earl Donaldson.
Earl and Fonda are from Black Mountain, NC. Their grabdson, Logan, is from Columbus, Ohio

I normally start my tours out with a description of the pegmatite minerals and some of the area's mining history

We found the remnants of the mining tunnel at Mine #3 on this trip

We took the rope assist down to the South Toe River from Mine # 7

 

The South Toe River is beautiful and is on the boundary of Lud's property line along the mine tour

The tailings from the mines extend down to the river. I'm going to have to spend some time checking this part of the mine tour route more carefully. There might be some good stuff to be found here!

August 5th (Thursday)
Tut had his surgery today. He was neutered, had nasal surgery, and got a microchip. I led another mine tour today. Diana and Barbara dropped Tut off at the vet and then drove to Johnson City, Tennessee to get an approved air carrier for Valentino. Barbara loves Valentino and will be taking him back to New Jersey. Barbara and Diana got lost in Tennessee so I picked up Tut from the vet (during a hailstorm). We finally got everyone back together and had a delicious steak dinner.

I took the Nys family and Lud Leiner to the Crabtree Emerald Mine

John, Renee, Ivy, and Cara Nys

The Nys collection of emeralds
August 4th (Wednesday)
I led a mine tour from 10:00 to 2:00 with two families. Diana and Barbara did some shopping at Burnsville and had lunch at the Hilltop. After dinner, Diana and I went to our pottery class.

The tour consisted of two families- 9 people

Chris, Ken, Janet Cooley and grandparents 
Les aand Jean Kern

The Nys Family- Renee, Ivy, John, and Cara

Three nice samples of Aquamarine were found!
August 3rd (Tuesday)
 I went out in front about mid-morning to put a dog crate in the Rodeo in preparation for taking Tut to the groomer. I heard a snort behind me and there they were; two of the horses that had visited us previously. I got in the Rodeo and drove to Micaville to let the owner know that his horses were on the loose again.

The groomer did a great job! They said he was a bit wiggily but was trainable.

 

With short hair, Tut's body is similar to Bella. But, Tut's brown ears and moustache make him stand out. We were amazed that Tut's rear legs were quite long, like Bella's.

While Tut was at the groomers, we took a scenic ride to Linville. These amish barns are typical. 

Before picking up Tut, we had a nice afternoon lunch at the Mountainview Restaurant. What a view!
August 2nd (Monday)
 Diana and I had lunch and played bridge at the Switzerland Inn today. Barbara stayed at the cabin and played with the "doggies" and read her new book; "Step On A Crack", the first of three James Patterson/Michael Lewidge novels feathuring New York detective, Michael Bennett. We are having artichokes, leftovers, and salad for dinner. It has been cool and misty in the Blue Ridge today.
August 1st (Sunday)
We had a relaxed day today. The weather was better and Barbara and I went to the Grassy Creek Gem and Mineral Show for awhile. Other than that, we relaxed and enjoyed the puppies. It is Heartguard Day for the doggies and puppies.
We are planning a "surf and turf" dinner with my favorite salad.
 Both Barbara and I enjoyed going to thee Grassy Creek Gem and Mineral Show. I bought some crystals and stones for my pottery dish projects. Barbara purchased a necklace and earings; color? tourquoise, of course!
July 31st (Saturday)
It was a very late get up today with breakfast at noon. It was rainy for much of the day. So, we spent the afternoon relaxing and doing a few errands before going out for dinner at Mary Jane's, a small restaurant in Burnsville.
The dinner was delicious and the same band, Chalk Mountain Connection, that played at Ginny's wedding played and were great!
July 30th (Friday)
On the way to pick up my sister, Barbara at the Charlotte airport, I stopped by to see Chou-Lin and his new haircut at Daniel's.
Chou-Lin is such a cuttie and couldn't have a better attitude. We miss him but he has a good home with Daniel.
Barbara will be staying at the cabin for a nice long visit. After a welcome dinner at the cabin, we went to the Burnsville Town Center and saw "Balsam Range", one of the nation's best blue grass bands.
We arrived at the cabin about 5:15pm and Diana had this wonderful dinner of Cornissh game hens, fresh green beans and my favorite; iceberg lettuce, locally grown vine rippened tomatoes, Vidallia onions, and capers salad with Blue Cheese dressing! Yum!!
Balsam Range was, as usual, FANTASTIC!! Check out their website at http://www.BalsamRange.com
They will be back in Burnsville November 13th and you can bet that we will be there.