Grove Park Getaway

Around Thanksgiving, as we faced another holiday at home without visitors, Tim and I decided a quick trip after Christmas would be a great idea for all of us. We managed to reserve a couple of nights at the Grove Park Inn, which felt like just the right amount of distance: far enough to feel like we were truly getting away, but close enough to not spend the whole day getting there.

We headed into downtown Asheville first, wandering around the eclectic shops and art galleries - and discovered Chicken Alley!

We were pleasantly surprised to find a fair amount of snow on the ground, which really added to the wintry experience. This was especially scenic as we hiked around the grounds of the Biltmore Estate the next day.

I have been smitten by the Grove Park Inn since Tim and I first visited it for dinner with my parents nearly 20 years ago. The fireplaces in the Great Hall (lobby), the stonework, the views! Truly incredible, and especially magical at Christmas.

Christmas 2020

It was a bittersweet holiday for sure, but as has been the case for much of this year, we made the best of it. The fact that we captured a pretty decent family photo with our timer speaks volumes!

CTK worked so hard to offer a multitude of safely distanced masses, and we managed to snag a 6pm slot - in Kenny Hall, but better than nothing. We later enjoyed our usual fried shrimp and twice baked potatoes, and then mixed things up with a few rounds of UNO before packing everyone off to bed.

We are thankful to have so many memories of holidays past, but made a few new ones, too!

Clare’s Senior Night for Swim

So many things have been canceled or drastically altered due to Covid, but we fully embraced Senior Night for the Marist Varsity Swim Team! Those photo buttons that had accumulated over the years came in so handy! Being the only swim meet that allowed spectators this season, we made sure to take full advantage.

We also loved seeing her giant, badass poster in person!

 If you had told me years ago that Clare would be a four-year Varsity athlete, I don’t know that I would have believed you. Watching her develop her athletic side, which doesn’t come as naturally as academics, has been a joy (even when there were tears). 

We also appreciate what a source of deep friendship the swim experience has been.

We are so very proud of our War Eagle!

Our 2020 Tree

This was not a tree we were excited to buy. It didn’t help that Clare, who really wanted to join us for her last (!) time to select a tree, had received word earlier in the day that she needed to quarantine due to Covid exposure at swim team. So she had to stay home. (She has since tested negative, thankfully.) The rest of us headed to Home Depot, where I was ready to persuade Tim that a 12-foot tree was required. Too bad there weren’t any to be had. The tree we settled for is *maybe* 9 feet on its tiptoes. 

On the positive side, I figured I could do the lights by myself, so the next day I got those done nice and early and we were ready to decorate by early evening. And since Clare couldn’t go to swim practice, we got started! It didn’t take long to get this tree decorated, so we enjoyed our usual buffet as a picnic, admiring our work. Although I had dubbed it the Tree of Disappointment earlier, the (many) lights and ornaments really transformed it in true Charlie Brown style. 

So as usual, we are counting our blessings instead of sheep, knowing that there are many.