close-up | find beauty friday

I have been struggling with accepting the upcoming weather change since July.  Every year I wonder how am I going to survive yet another Winter.  And after last Winter, I am really dreading this one.  BUT I have to keep reminding myself that I still have a few weeks left of warm-ish temps before it even gets to the unbearable, hurts to breath cold that is always inevitable in the NW.  These flowers in my mother-in-law's garden certainly helped brighten my mood over the weekend and reminded me that there are still few weeks left of great weather.  

Other posts from flowers in my MIL's garden: here and here

Are you looking forward to the change of season?

What are some of your favorite moments you captured this week?

Linking up with Aimee today!

biltmore estate | travel tuesday

As I mentioned in my last Asheville recap, we were not sure if we wanted to tour Biltmore Estate but we decided to pay the $60 (per person) (when in Rome, right?) and do the tour.  We bought tickets online before hand, which I recommend because it saved us $10, grabbed some coffee, and headed back to Biltmore Village.  

^gorgeous bloom in Airbnb's garden

When we first got to Biltmore Village, we did what any 21+ year old would do at noon on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend.  We hit up the bar for a few Bloodys before heading over to the estate.  Of course I cannot remember the name of the bar, but we had a great experience over delicious chips and Guac.  

Biltmore was completed in 1895, after taking 6 years, for George Vanderbilt.  He lived there alone - among 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces - until he married three years later.  The grounds to the estate are immaculate and go on for what seems like forever. The views of the mountains in the distance are just stunning.  For someone who has only been across the big pond once, I have never seen a castle/mansion of this caliber in person before and it was quite impressive.  It is pretty amazing what people used to be able to create and build without today's modern technology (AND made even better than most homes are today).  We had a 3:00 house tour so we had an hour or two to walk around the beautiful gardens.  We had just missed the flower festival by one weekend but the flowers were still beautiful.  The boys meandered through the paths while I busied myself with taking photos.  

^Imagine taking a walk on a lovely Sunday afternoon and seeing lush green mountains for as far as the eyes can see. 

^the detail. 

^fountain, ivy lined path, and Biltmore from the Tennis Lawn. 

^i loved the lily pads with beautiful pink blooms.  

^the only photo I got of the inside

I am not much of a museum-y type of gal.  I mean, don't get me wrong, I appreciate history and a good piece of art.  I just don't like the idea of walking around from one piece to the next in a crowd - the older I get the less tolerance I have for crowds - with everyone getting in your way of what you are trying to see.  But I loved walking through the immaculate rooms with the style of clothes displayed in each room.  There is something about being in a place that has been around for over a 100 years that makes you feel as though you are part of history just standing in it.  I think my favorite part though was seeing the servants' quarters in the basement.  Ever since watching Downton Abbey, my interest for that time period and the servants/owners relationship has grown. 

Have you ever been to Biltmore Estate?

If so, what did you think?

Would you play $60 for the tour?

Linking up with Tiffany, Tori, and Bonnie today!

a favorite flower

As with most Sundays, we spent time at my in-laws this past week for drinks and dinner with the rest of the family.  They have some pretty amazing gardens spread out around their property. And every year, around this time, you are greeted with some of the most beautiful sunflowers I have ever seen as you enter.  This year they have a stalk that is at least 12 feet tall, no exaggeration, right in the middle.  Unfortunately I left my camera chip in the computer so these were only taken with my iPhone.  I hope to get some better shots before they are gone though.

I have been in search of a sunflower field for the past couple of years.  To photograph rows upon rows upon rows of sunflowers is on my photography bucket list.  Do you know of any sunflower fields in SW Pennsylvania?

What is your favorite flower?

Do you have a photography bucket list?

What moments did you capture this week?

Linking up with Aimee today!

walk

I took the Monday after the Pittsburgh 13.1 off.  I had a feeling I would be pretty beat up and knew it would not be a good day to be with my girlfriends.  I knew I needed to get the blood pumping through my legs to recover a little faster, so the husband (Mondays are his Sundays) and I took a walk to our local library.  

We live in Ambridge, PA, a suburb NW of Pittsburgh.  It once thrived as a steel town in the 50s, 60s, and 70s until the mills were closed in the early 80s.  While there is much character and history to this small town, most of the storefronts are bare and/or boarded up.   However, there are many streets and homes hidden from the main drag that are well cared for.  Those hidden streets are what make the walk through to town more enjoyable.  

Grape vines on the side of the Rapp House in Old Economy Village. 

The Laughlin Memorial Library is small but I love it's architecture.  So much character. 

There are also a few antique shops along the way that are always fun to walk through when you aren't with your husband have the time.  

As much as the city of Ambridge has deteriorated over the years, there is character.  With a local coffee shop a block from our house and yoga study opening in the heart of the town,  I have a feeling things are slowly starting to turn around though.  

Where are you from?

What are you favorite things about the city you live in?

Do you explore your city often?

Linking up with Shanna, Julie, and Melyssa today!

catching up {+ FBF cohost}

I know I have been absent around here for the past 2 weeks.  Instead of blogging I have been watching The Good Wife, doing laundry, catching up on photos, and watching more of The Good Wife.  Anyway, I finally got around to uploading my photos from our trip to Asheville, NC over the long holiday weekend.  Below is one of my favorites I took while walking around the Asheville Botanical Gardens. 

The boys were sitting in the sun while I walked around to grab some shots.  There was a significant patch of these beautiful and brilliant flowers so I spent the next five minutes photographing them.  While I think most consider these little guys weeds, I find them to  be beautiful.  The green and bright yellow scream Spring.  I really like the bokeh affect of the different colors as well.  

What are some of your favorite moments you captured during the week?

Linking up with Aimee and Jess today.  

An InLinkz Link-up