Peach Picking at Fisher’s Orchard

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Summer can be just peachy, especially when some nice juicy peaches are ripe for the picking! At Fisher’s Orchard located in Greer, you can pick until your heart is content and they have sweet deals on peaches as well as nectarines. Centrally located, you can find the orchard easily in less than 20 minutes from downtown Greenville at 650 Fisher Road in Greer. But before you decide to head to the farm, be sure to check the website for their picking schedule as availability of peaches changes throughout the Summer season. www.fisherorchard.com 

 Being that we had family from Florida in town, we had to give the kids an opportunity to pick peaches since it’s not something they can do back home. We made sure they were wearing sneakers and socks, sun-block, and water bottles. Once we arrived at the orchard, we stopped by the little stand out front to get our baskets. Inside the stand were jams and jellies for sale as well as already picked peaches. We then drove down to the designated area to begin our picking. Even though it was a hot Summer day, the rows of peach trees did offer some shade as we made our way down the rows. Some of the trees were literally overflowing with peaches but we made sure before we pulled any off, that they were ripe and ready to go. If you are interested to know what types of peaches you are picking, they have a chart you can refer to on the website. Once we had filled our basket to the brim with peaches, we made our way to the nectarine trees. It was not very crowded with other pickers, and we were able to get all of our picking and of course photo ops in under in an hour.

 We then took our baskets back to the stand to be weighed and we were amazed at how much we got for such a great price! With all these peaches, we were ready to start making peach cobbler for dessert. I highly suggest picking up a box of the cobbler mix on your way out of the farm at their other storefront located on 504 S. Buncombe Rd in Greer. In addition to the cobbler mix, you will also find an assortment of fruits, vegetables, jams, jellies, honey, and juices. It has become my new produce one stop shop. Don’t forget to get the kids some honey straws also. You could easily have a half-day of family fun on the farm without breaking the bank and the kids will make some sweet and lasting memories.

Have a "Zen" like float down the French Broad River at Zen Tubing

Looking for a relaxing way to spend the day in nature? You will certainly find it at Zen tubing just south of Asheville. When we first relocated to the area, someone had told me about Zen tubing and we were anxious to give it a try!

Zen Tubing is about an hour from Greenville, an easy drive up HWY 25. They have two locations to “drop in” your tubes for an easy going float down the French Broad River. I highly recommend looking over the website to pre-plan your trip as you will notice they have not only general information but also up to date weather, which is a key aspect to the trip. https://zentubing.com/

We decided to get there right when they opened at 10 am and I’m sure glad we did, because as we left at around 1pm, the parking lot was jam packed on a Sunday. Upon our arrival, we were asked to sign waivers and were given information as to what to do in the event of inclement weather. The total trip time varies based on the water level but it’s typically around 2-3 hours total. The cost per tube is $20 per person unless you have your own tube (which we did) and the cost is only $10. For coolers, you can even rent a tube for $10 and bring all your snacks, lunch, and adult beverages (as long as they are in cans). You will also want to make you have sunscreen, hats, rash guards, and water shoes. Don’t be fooled by a cloudy day, we learned that the hard way with a touch too much sun after our trek. After we paid and signed our waivers, the kids were then suited up in life vests as we waited to board our shuttle to the drop off point. The shuttle was about 10 minutes and a bit bumpy so make sure you and the kiddos have eaten a solid meal.

Once we were brought down to the entry point of the river, we had given the folks at Zen our tubes to blow up and then selected our cooler tube. They also gave some information regarding the “frequent floater” program where you pay for two floats and the 3^rd is free! After some safety tips, it was time to get in the water. We had a fairly large group of 8 so we roped all of our tubes together so we could begin our journey down the river together. The water was cold but not too cold and the current was slow and relaxing. The water is also very shallow so if you need to for some reason get out of your tube, you would be able to walk if necessary. The kids enjoyed looking for wildlife on the riverbanks. We spotted turtles, birds, and geese along the way.  There was also little pull off spots for photo ops as well as a rope swing. Floating down was very serene and peaceful. It was truly a “Zen” like experience for the whole family.

You can find unicorns and more at Hidden Pasture Farm in Fountain Inn, S.C.

 You don't have to travel to the end of a rainbow to find a unicorn, it's right outside of Greenville! Hidden Pasture Farm https://www.facebook.com/HiddenPastureFarm/ located in Fountain Inn, SC was the perfect birthday surprise my unicorn obsessed 7 year old.

Having been in contact with Kate, the owner, I had booked a 2 hour "unicorn" experience in which my daughter would have one on one time with "George" the unicorn. I couldn't wait to dress her up and bring her. Once we arrived, we were greeted by Kate who had a wonderful story about all the unicorns at the farm and how they came to Hidden Pasture. She told us about each of their stories, where they came from, and what type of unicorns they were. George, the imperial unicorn, Sapphire, the half pegasus unicorn who's wings can only be seen when it rains, as well as many other "half unicorns". We also were introduced to "Snoopy" the turkey who had more personality than most adults I have met. We started off holding a baby bunny while the unicorns were getting ready to meet our birthday girl and my son found a playground that overlooked the chickens, ponies, and riding circle. 

 In excited anticipation, it was time to meet the unicorn named George. He had blue eyes (as all pure bred unicorns do) a glittery horn, a wreath of flowers around his neck, and a big blue bow on his tail. Kate handed him off so my daughter could walk him out to the pine tree forest and snap some photos. She also gave her a brush to brush his hair. He was a very smart unicorn and understood many commands which made it easy for my 7 year old to lead him around. After George, we were introduced to two more unicorns, as well as some ponies that the kids were able to take a ride on.

 Having only rode a pony once before, the kids were excited to saddle up and ride around the circle. Even some of the chickens wanted in on the action and came up the steps to have a look. Kate took each kid around several times one way and then the other while the sun set in the background of the farm. It was beautiful. We still had more to see after the pony ride as we continued to tour the rest of the farm and made our way to the other unicorns, the chickens, and even the peacocks where the kids were given colorful feathers. 

                                            

 On our walk around the farm we found out that the farm not only does birthday parties which includes bounce houses, pony rides, and the full farm experience , but also some of the ponies are taken to nursing homes to help as emotional support pets as well. Kate made it a truly unique and wonderful experience and we can not wait to go back and visit all the new friends we made at this magical little farm.

Waterslides, Splash Pad, and Swimming at Lake Lure

After reading all about Lake Lure and it's nostalgic filming of the movie "Dirty Dancing", I was intrigued to make a day visit. From Greenville, SC ,Lake Lure is a little over an hour but well worth the beautiful scenic drive up into Chimney Rock State Park, NC. As you drive through the quaint little town, you will see an array of restaurants, shops, and gem mine stores for the kids. It has an old Western type feel with the picturesque backdrop of Chimney Rock in the background.

 Having arrived at the Lake around noon, we noticed that parking was filling up quickly but luckily there seemed to be several spots across the street in front of the historic Lake Lure Inn. Once we had parked and gathered our beach gear, we headed through the main entrance where we were banded after paying the daily fee. The admission for adults was $9.00 and kids 4 to 12 was $7, with under 4 free. You can find pricing and information on www.lakeluretours.com the price of admission includes the waterpark and beach access.


                                                   

 The kids had spotted the waterslides right as we entered and sped off. I noticed that at the bottom of the slides was a lifeguard in the water as well as a lifeguard stand by the swimming area in the lake. In addition to the slides and swimming was a splashpad, as well as a water balloon zone. You could purchase water balloons for an additional cost. There was also restroom facilities and showers. The water was roped for designated swimming and there were many people with rafts, and water toys. You could easily spend all day at the beach with plenty to do for kids and adults. And no trip to Lake Lure is complete without doing "the lift".

 On the way out from the resort area, there was a nice little surprise awaiting us, called The Flowering Bridge. www.lakelurefloweringbridge.org It is free to walk the bridge and is filled with gardens of all types of flowers, plants, and scenery. We all enjoyed reading the history of the bridge as well learning about the various flowers. There were little cutouts of secret gardens and sitting areas and was a perfect end to a perfect day at the lake.


                                                     

The Skinny on "Skinny Dip Falls" in The Blue Ridge Mountains

While it's name may elude to something less than kid friendly, Skinny Dip Falls in North Carolina is a perfect little Summer cool down spot for the whole family. We had started out our day on a mission to find a new swimming hole and after a few wrong turns and some rain showers, we ended up finding this amazing spot just as the sky cleared.

 Being the over prepared mom that I am, I always have changes of clothes, food, water shoes, towels, water, and plenty of gas. Which is a good thing too because finding this particular swimming hole was a bit more challenging. We had started off in the Pisgah National Forest and drove all the way up past Sliding Rock until we reached the Blue Ridge Parkway. Having never been on the Parkway, we were excited to take in all the beautiful overlook viewing areas. Once you reach that point, you begin to head South on the Parkway passing by the most breathtaking views at an elevation of over 4,000 feet. There were no signs for "Skinny Dip Falls" but you will see a viewing area for "Looking Glass Rock" on your left. That is where we noticed people parking and happen to see several of them coming out from across the street. Low and behold, that was the path that would lead you to this incredible swimming hole.

  The path to get down to the falls was truly one of the most unique hikes we have taken so far. Filled with little streams, pebble staircases, and even a tree that we named "The Dragon Tree" which looks as if a mythical creature had been frozen into the forest. The hike itself was easy for kids of all ages and slightly under 1/2 a mile. We could hear rushing water the entire time which made the path feel like it was alive. The kids imagination was certainly running wild.

  Once we had reached the bottom, there was a little bridge that took you over to the top of the falls that cascaded down into multiple little pools. Of course we were excited to get in even though the water was most definitely chilly. There were several larger rocks that kids were jumping off into a deeper section of the falls, so mom had to give it try as well. Once we were in the water, we got used to the temperature but having a hoodie is always a good idea for the way back out. Because the area is so densely covered with trees, the sun was not as warming compared to some of the other swimming holes, but the scenery was just magical.

 Skinny Dip Falls, although a short hike to get to, was probably my favorite hike so far because it felt like walking in a storybook. The drive along the way to reach it was breath-taking, and the falls were for both the adventurous and laid back sort of folk. A perfect Summer adventure from start to finish.

If You Have Never Been to Downtown Greenville in South Carolina before, you are missing out!

If you have never been to downtown Greenville before, I highly recommend you make a visit.

It’s the perfect mix of new meets old where nature and city coexist in harmony.

It’s dog friendly, and the restaurants and shops are complete with dog bowls out front.

There’s live music venues, farmers markets, and trolley rides through Main Street.

In Summer you can take a stroll through the swamp rabbit trail and in

Winter you can ice skate under twinkling Christmas lights that line the streets while Santa rides his sleigh through town.

The Reedy River runs right through the center

 while a waterfall spills over and through the middle of a green space filled with flowers, ducks, and passers by.

The Peace Center and TD center add the element of entertainment with world famous shows and concert events throughout the year. 

It’s clean, safe, family friendly and I couldn’t possibly love it any more than I do!

Building A "Winterbrook" With Ryan Homes

After our family decided on the perfect place to call home in the beautiful foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, it was house hunting time. Having just sold our 1981 "fixer upper" in Florida, we decided that instead of spending every weekend (and every dollar) on an older home, it was time to look into pre-construction. The idea of being able to pick your perfect layout, colors, and lot was almost too good to be true. We had stumbled upon a small community in the perfect location with Ryan Homes. Our sales rep was so thorough and accommodating, she even became a friend. The initial consultation we were able to walk the Winterbrook model that had a full 2,000 sq foot walk out basement with a kitchen, bedroom, bath, and enough extra space for anything you can think of. This couldn't have been more perfect to have my dad down there since he was considering an "in law suite"upon his upcoming retirement. Once we decided on our model, it was lot picking time.

 The reason we chose this community was location yes, but 1 acre lot size was the icing on the cake. Not to mention mountain views! For us Florida peeps, we could not be more stoked. We paid a premium for our lot but it was the best lot in the neighborhood. Once the lot was picked, contracts were signed, color selection, and deposit was transferred,we scheduled our Pre-construction meeting. This meeting took place in the model and had all of our color selections and blueprints laid out. We went over each room and lay out as well as walking our lot to discuss the clearing and placement of the house. Our PM was very helpful and knowledgeable and informed us that each week he would send us updates and pics.Which brings us to the very first week of clearing and grading January 25th. I have read so many other blogs but they don't specify dates so I'm going to break down the timeline from start to finish as accurately as possible. Next up ... footers! Let's put out the "no rain " vibes!

Week 1 -Jan. 26th (Clearing & Grading)

We are officially cleared and graded! It is amazing to see the land in its raw form. It has been a run of great weather which I hope will continue over the next few months. They seem to be working very fast and I think since we are one of the last homes in the development, we are getting extra attention. Our PM has informed us that the footers will be on next week so lets pray to those weather gods.

Week 2- February 6th (Ground Break)

I couldn't believe my eyes when I opened our weekly email. They had really got a ton done! We are moving along with not only the footers but also the basement walls are half way up as well. All in a week's work. Next up will be finishing the walls,concrete, plumbing, and backfill. I am anticipating at least a day of rain so we will see how efficiently they can work to get all of this completed before week 3. It is certainly a tall order for such a short amount of time, so I am anxious for next weeks progress.

Week 3 -Feb.11th (Foundation)

We have a foundation! They were able to knock-out the walls as well as the underground plumbing and exterior waterproofing. There has been a run of dry weather so they have been moving along quickly. Next week we may not be as lucky but my hope is to stay ahead since they have been so efficient thus far.If you notice the two-story house across the street, that house had not even started last month when we were up there so you can see just how quickly these guys are. I have read that the 3 F's are footings, foundation, and framing, so we are well on our way now! Hoping next week doesn't dampen our building plans too much.

Week 4 -Feb. 18th (Back-fill and rain delay)

 Well, just as I had suspected, the weather gods were not favorable this week. Inspections did not take place and since they have to have it dry in order to pour the slab, the week's worth of rain did not allow for much to be done. They managed to get the back-fill delivered but that's about it. I am confident that next week will be much more productive and hopefully it will get us back up to speed.

Week 5-Feb. 25th (Plumbing inspection,brick laid)

 So after crappy weather last week, they were able to get a jump early this week (before more rain moved in again). The plumbing has been done and passed inspection, back fill is done, and the brick was laid on the front of the house. (you can see it through the plastic) Unfortunately, the concrete that was supposed to be poured in the basement was delayed due to rain so next week will be top priority before moving on to framing. Once the framing goes up, I think the weather will become less of a factor for inhibiting production. Hoping to see that lumber up next week!

Weeks 6 and 7- March 4th-(Slab poured, Framing begins)

  I am combing these two weeks because my PM was out of town the last half of week 6 and I did not receive my update until the following Friday. It was torture for me to have to wait but it was worth the patience because as you can see, we now have an almost fully framed house! They were able to frame, backfill, and lay the brick in these past two weeks. They will be finishing framing over the weekend, adding the plumbing and HVAC on Wednesday of next week as well as electrical. In addition to all that, we have our official Pre-Drywall meeting date set for March 25th at 9:00 am! It's looking like great weather for the next week and we are so excited to get back to Greenville to the progress of our home. I am hoping that they will have our completion date for us at the time of the drywall meeting as well. For now, we are visualizing every room and the furniture (pre-shopping) has begun!

                                                     

Week 8- March 18th (Framing complete, roof, HVAC, electrical)

   In anticipation for our upcoming trip to Greenville this week, I have been particularly antsy to receive our weekly update. I have been checking the daily weather, reading other blogs, looking at furniture and planning our much needed hike! Living so far away through this building process and being so disconnected from our "new life" leaves much to the imagination. It is exciting and nerve wrecking all wrapped in one. Luckily, this week has been gorgeous weather and they have finished the framing, the roofing, inspections, electrical, and plumbing!  It is truly looking like a house now and we are so excited to have our walk through. I have our list of questions, things to look for, and of course our camera ready. With so many logistics to plan for our move, we are hoping to have a closing date from our PM when we see him so we can make arrangements within the next month. Our original closing date per our contract was May 1st, so we are hoping for that if not sooner!

Week 9 March 25th (Pre-Drywall meeting!)

  This was the moment we had been dreaming of for weeks! We were so excited to drive up and see what our property,home,view, and street looks like. As we pulled into the neighborhood, with the Blue Ridge in the backdrop, I was reminded of why we picked this for our new residence. Our street was the very last one to be completed so there was about 6 houses in addition to ours that are still under construction. All of which will be completed prior to ours,which means no construction once when move in! As we pulled up to our lot, there she was with that adorable front porch. The front of the house is misleading in it's stature because it looks so small. However, once we walked around back, it was like a wave of "wow" that hit me all at once! I could not believe how big our house was, but our backyard was even more amazing than I had ever imagined. Don't you love when things exceed your expectations like that? It is the best feeling. So much so, that I choked up and was literally speechless. Since our yard is on a slope, our PM was inventive enough to build us a really cool rock retaining wall. Needless to say, the kids can not wait to go sledding next Winter. Our PM walked us through the entire house room by room, and went over details of it's energy efficiency. He also let the kids sign their names in their rooms which I thought was so sweet. There were a few minor things that had to be adjusted with regard to the placement of electrical,but nothing major. He also told us his plan to grade a flat space at the bottom of the hill for a play area as well as pressure wash the rocks before they spread the seed and straw. In upstate,the ground is clay so Ryan Homes included the seed and straw for the yard with an option to purchase sod. We opted not to do sod. After the walk through, we were given the most exciting news...our closing date!! We will be closing on May 17th with our walk through on the 16th. Until then, we will be mapping out all the possibilities for our amazing backyard!

                                                       Endless Possibilities back here!

                                                     
                                                You would never guess it's 4700 sq feet
                                                           

                                   
                                                              Claiming their room

                                                  Our open concept with mountain views!

                                                           Marlee gets the bigger closet

Week 9 April 1 (Siding and Drywall)

       Well we are moving into the fun part now and it's really taking on character! I was back and forth on the siding color for a while because you can't really get an accurate idea from a tiny swatch. However , after seeing the siding on the house, I am more than confident in my choice and  absolutely love it! The color was brand new also and since we are the last house in the neighborhood, we are the only ones with "evening blue". I am hoping to add a "craftsman" style wood door to the front as well as a decorative gate around the front porch. In addition to working on the siding, they have have almost completed the drywall and are moving on to paint,cabinets, and possibly tile by next week. Can not wait to see the inside!

Week 10 April 8th (Paint, cabinets,exterior)

  Heading into the 10th week and the inside is taking shape. I couldn't wait to see the cabinet color as well as our "craftsman" sinks! The basement kitchen cabinets are also in (darker color) than we chose for our kitchen and bathrooms upstairs. Once the white granite countertops are installed and the dark wood floors , it is really going to make the whole combination look amazing. Picking out all the colors and customizations has been such a fun experience. Next week will be floors, tile, and driveway. We are now 4 weeks from completion!


                                                             

Week 11 April 15th (Countertops, Deck, Trim, Stair Banisters)

 Well we are really picking up steam here in week 11. The biggest "wow" factor is most definitely our beautiful deck! We actually designed this deck custom because the standard deck just was not big enough for us. We like to spend most of our time outside. We can't wait to have meals on our deck while taking in our views of rolling hills and mountain ridgeline. They still have to pour the concrete underneath for dad's walkout patio which will be done next week along with the driveway. The countertops are in the bathrooms as well as the kitchen and basement kitchen. The stair banisters really made my day also. I just love the "craftsman" style railings and can't wait to string them with lights and garland for Christmas. We are in our last month and the countdown has begun! Next week,we should have a driveway, floors, and decorative trims.

Week 12  April 22nd (Driveway, floors, appliances, lighting

  I can't believe we are less than 3 weeks away from leaving the state of Florida and starting our new life in the Carolina's! I have had time to get all of our furniture delivery dates set, our appointments for utilities, as well as Summer hiking and local activities planned. We are so ready to get this Summer kicked off and take advantage of living in our beautiful new home while exploring both South and North Carolina. This week is basically the beginning of wrapping up the final items before completion. Our PM has been so informative,quick to respond, and gone the extra mile when it comes to accommodating our build. He even said he has a "surprise"for us next week. So next week will be landscaping, slab under the deck,trim,and final paint. They should have plenty of time for all the final touches within the next two and half weeks.We are in the home stretch!

                                         

Week 12 and 13 (April 29-May 6th)

  Well these last two weeks have been the most exciting yet! Not only on the inside of the house but also the outside. The last time we were up there it was still Winter and the trees and land were barren. Now that Spring has sprung it looks like a whole new surrounding. This is one of the many reasons we are excited to move out of Florida... seasons! The backyard is now filled with green rolling hills and trees. They have finished the wood floors, the bathrooms,the carpet,the basement,  all the trim,as well as the energy efficient NEST system. The landscaping is being finished up and the final grade has been done to the backyard. In 4 days they will be pressure washing and doing a final cleaning in preparation of the final walk through on May 16th.That's right.. we are moving in 6 days! In only 13 weeks from the time they broke ground and I have to say I have been thoroughly impressed by the process and communication with our project manager. He has been quick to reply and fix the minor mistakes. So far, the process of home -building has been much less scary than I initially anticipated. Now it's time to prep/pack/ and say good-bye to Florida and hello to our new journey in the Blue Ridge foothills!