Conversation while passing the hotel at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville:
Maggie: “Hey guys, you know what, it’s called a hotel because they do lots of things there!”
Sarah: “What do you do at a hotel, Maggie?”
Maggie: <pause> “I LIKE MONKEYS!”
Monthly Archives: June 2015
Asheville
Two nights and lots of fun in Asheville, North Carolina, while visiting our friends, Sue and Chris, and their three dogs, one cat, and six chickens. (Sadly, two chickens were nabbed by a raccoon on our second night, so now there are four, in a newly reinforced coop.)
Asheville has a lot to recommend it and we enjoyed a great tour with Chris while Sue was at work. Naturally, some of my best memories are dominated by food. Had some spectacular barbecue at 12 Bones, which is apparently President Obama’s top choice in town. Then, on our way out, we stopped for breakfast at Biscuit Head, which is in the running for my favorite breakfast restaurant in the world.
Below are an assortment of phone shots from our Asheville stint.
Chicago and Icees
We survived the night, dry and free of unwanted atmospheric voltage. Not a great night’s rest, alas, but we’re thankful for our new, more spacious tent.
Two quotes from our journey thus far:
Monday, 4:30 PM:
Maggie: “Griffin, laugh when I say ‘Chicago.'”
Griffin: “Why do I have to laugh?!”
M: “Chi–Ca–GO!!”
G: <no laughing>
M: “Laugh Griffin!!”
G: “I don’t want to laugh. Chicago!”
M <yelling>: “NO! I want to talk about ME!!!”
G: “Chicago. Chicago. Chicago.”
M <yelling>: “NOOOOOOO!”
Tuesday, 8:30 AM:
Sarah: “Ok guys we’re going to stop here because I need some coffee and Daddy needs to go to the bathroom–”
Griffin: “–and I need an Icee!”
Thunderous Beginning
Midsize thunderstorm on our first night, as we camp by a river that’s four feet over flood stage. Luckily, the deluge held off until after dinner and the weather reports suggest that it will be short-lived. (But wow is it coming down right now!)
Griffin: “I really, really like thunderstorms but I’m a tiny bit scared of them.”
New tent is keeping us dry thus far. 
Eastward Bound
The second epic road trip begins!
Mileage: 118454
First destination: Asheville, North Carolina
Froggy’s New Shoes and Poison
Griffin and Sarah had to go run some errands this evening, so I’m home alone with Maggie. She’s been more interested in stories lately and occasionally launches into one at the dinner table. On a lark, I asked her if she wanted to make up a story together tonight and she said yes. Here’s the result.
Original story and artwork by Maggie. Typing, scanning, and shoe-outlining assistance from Daddy.
Froggy’s New Shoes and Poison
Once upon a time, a frog was getting new shoes. The frog made new shoes. The shoes were pink and green and purple and yellow. He put his shoes on and he walk walk walk and he found his friends and his friends said, “You got new shoes!”
The frog got poisoned by an elf. He goed to the elf and he got poisoned. Then he go to a doctor and the doctor fixed him and he got green again.
Then he go back to home with his friends. Then them go to his little bed and go to sleep. His bed is pink like his shoes and soft.
The he got to our home. He dropped his shoes and he broke them. Then he couldn’t make some more. Then he was sad. Then he couldn’t make new shoes. Then Daddy fixed his shoes up in Mama’s sewing room and he got them fixed and the frog put them on and he go back to his home.
The End
