Waynesville, NC

First, if you haven't seen Pat Kitano's World Trade Centers video (didn't know he was working in NYC when I went back there to visit my old business school which was in what used to be the Pan Am Building), here is a link for you.

Tribute to the World Trade Centers when they were normal.

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Next, suffice it to say Maggie’s Galley Oyster Bar in Waynesville, NC, at 49 Howell Mill Rd (Phone: (828) 456-8945‎) lured me in again last week. Actually it was my friend, Margie Casey's, fault. Hey, they close after leaf-looker season, so I need to get my fill. ;-) Directions to Maggie’s Galley.

You may recall I rave about Boyd Mountain Log Cabins and Christmas Tree Farm, a great place I recommend for friends and visitors who want to stay in beautifully furnished, conveniently located, authentic log cabins when they are in Maggie Valley or Waynesville.

“The cabins are nestled in a 130 acre cove overlooking the Smoky Mountains, stocked fishing ponds and our Fraser Fir Christmas tree farm. Cows in the meadow, horses in the pasture, ducks and geese on the ponds, and 3 friendly Jack Russell terriers to entertain you.”

When I rode to Boyd’s Sunday afternoon to see the last of our beautiful, colorful flowers, I happened to see more butterflies than I've seen all summer! The first 9 or so photos of my Butterflies and Flowers slideshow feature butterfiles on the flowers. Soon the Farm will be all decked out for Fall, and too cold for bikinis!

More Boyd Mountain Log Cabins and Christmas Tree Farm pictures, etc.

• Luscious Landscaping at Boyd Mountain …
• Snow on Boyd Mountain …
• Nothing Better for the Soul of a Cowgirl …
• ‘Real Estate’ in Maggie Valley …

If you love watching and feeding birds in your yard, and birdhouses, The Bird Place, located in Downtown Waynesville, sells bird food and feeders and birdhouses, among other items specific to birders and bird lovers.

We have many interesting birdhouses in and around Haywood County. Some are ‘production’ birdhouses, but many are handmade and unique to Western North Carolina. Driving through Brannon Forest Subdivision in Waynesville yesterday, I noticed this great birdhouse so I lurked in front of the ‘people house’ in my vehicle and snapped a few photos.

***Please click to SEE the UNIQUE BIRDHOUSE***

Get your Hi, I'm page.

Taken yesterday in Maggie Valley.

Original posted on Bucking the Real Estate Trend.

Bob Grytten, Photographer, held a photography workshop last Saturday at the Waynesville Armory featuring photographers Dennis Oakley and Jerry Stone. Bob, a very talented and experienced photographer (and artist), teaches numerous great photography classes every year, several of which I have been fortunate to attend.

Dennis discussed ‘post production’ issues and software (i.e., Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Elements, Adobe Lightroom, Apple Aperture, and Nikon NX2), raw vs. jpeg, workflow, etc. We all walked away with a great information packet from Dennis full of big gold nuggets of information!

Jerry reviewed HDR photography methods and software by way of an instructional CD and his own extensive experience, and he too provided us with many gold nuggets to help us through our first stabs at HDR photography on our own.

If you are interested in upcoming photography classes, you can reach Bob at 828-627-0245.

• Previous post about photography classes with Bob Grytten (May 2008).

Horsealicious.

Bucking the Real Estate Trend.

Breaking Asheville News.

Susie Blackmon – Profile.

Original posted on Bucking the Real Estate Trend.

Are you contemplating your Fall trip to the mountains of Western North Carolina to see the changing of the leaves? Lake Junaluska in Haywood County has a great package during the month of October: Leaf Lookers Railroad Excursion Special. Lake Junaluska is also a prime residential area if you are looking for your mountain home in a beautiful 'neighborhood' centered around the Lake.

If you would like to go for a ride along Lake Junaluska, here’s a video I filmed August 24th when I drove to the Lake to see the beautiful roses [again].

More Lake Junaluska pictures and videos:

• Heavenly Flowers at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina.
• What’s Happening at Lake Junaluska this July 4th?
• No Moonshine for Your Stroll Around Lake Junaluska at Dusk.
• Shut the Duck Up!

Horsealicious.

Bucking the Real Estate Trend.

Breaking Asheville News.

Susie Blackmon – Profile.

Original posted on Bucking the Real Estate Trend.