Exploring North Carolina with KathieyV

Did you know that September is North Carolina Wine Month?  That's all the motivation I needed to take a drive to a winery I had heard about but never visited.  I set off for a little over an hour drive to Hurdle Mills NC to visit  Rock of Ages Winery    On my route, I saw beautiful old barns, rolling hills, and farmland.  I drove through one of my favorite towns Hillsborough NC.  There were a few slow-moving vehicles on the journey.  Instead of trying to pass them I took the time to relax and enjoy the sights of smells of the countryside. Before I knew it, I had arrived.  There it was the Rock of Ages Winery.  What a lovely building. There is nothing more inviting then a beautiful door. The building itself is beautiful. The stone and wood create a welcoming setting.  I met the owners, Kevin and Kim Moore.  They took the time to meet and greet everyone.   They know their wine and seem to enjoy sharing t...

Stephanie, Erica, and I wanted to go on an adventure.  We like tea so we decided to try  Afternoon Tea at the Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary. Here are a couple of quotes from their website... "Afternoon Tea is served in the lobby lounge, situated amongst the art adorned walls, enhanced by the hotel's Dale Chihuly glass sculpture. Afternoon Tea is a welcoming and elegant way to spend an afternoon socializing." "Afternoon Tea is served Wednesday - Sunday from 2:30-4:00pm."  "Live harpist accompaniment adds to the soothing environment."  Click for a  PDF of the menu  along with the types of tea they serve.  I chose the Earl Grey Tea.  It was lovely.  I think tea sandwiches are so much fun.  I don't know if I could pick a favorite they were all delicious. After the tea sandwiches, we were served a variety of scones. Yummy.  And yes, if you were wondering, we ate all of those too:-) Now it was time for the final ...

I had an opportunity to attend a  Kendra Scott  event a couple of weeks ago.  Yes, I did get free food and drink to cover this event, which was very nice.  It was held at the  Kendra Scott at North Hills in Raleigh . Just who is Kendra Scott?  Here are a couple of quotes from her website... "Kendra Scott is a loving mom, a driven entrepreneur, and a passionate designer who believes the truest form of success is giving back in a meaningful way." "Since she began her company, Kendra has lived by three core values: Family, Fashion and Philanthropy." My blogger daughter, Stephanie from  MomUnglued,  and I attended the event. With my camera in hand, we set out to explore all that Kendra had to offer. We were not disappointed.  There were many beautiful pieces. The store is beautiful.  It has a warm and inviting feel and is open and bright with many windows looking out onto the other shops at North Hills.   ...

I don't know how many times I have driven by  Tweetsie Railroad.   It is on the road that leads from Blowing Rock to Boone, both of which I have frequented.  I have heard a lot about Tweetsie over the years and of some of their annual events such as The Ghost Train during Halloween and Tweetsie Christmas.  They hold many other events throughout the year as well. My family and I were renting a house near Boone NC.  Caleb had just turned 6, and it seemed to be the perfect time to visit this theme park. Tweetsie Railroad opened in July of 1957.  That means it has been in existence for 60 years and still going strong.  Just like me...60 and going strong:-) Tweetsie Railroad sits on 200 beautiful rolling acres. They have several live shows, and places to shop, plus rides and other attractions.  I enjoyed the roaming characters.  You can see the dancers, saloon girls, and cowboys in the photo below.  Trouble is coming, looks like ...