Pie!

 Judy. As I mentioned in my last post, one of the nice things about being in Asheville is its proximity to Atlanta. Still, you get the mountains and a smaller-town feel.

So when my friend and fellow actor Ingrid announced she was moving to Asheville to open a pie shop, I didn’t worry she’d disappear from the stage or screen. What I didn’t know what that her shop would be as successful as her stage career.

If you’ve ever seen MENOPAUSE, THE MUSICAL anywhere in the country, you’ve probably seen Ingrid as the Earth Mother. If you’ve seen any musicals in Atlanta, or attended cabarets, you’ve heard her incredible voice. She’s a delight to watch on stage and a joy to hear sing.

I’d actually forgotten the Baked Pie Company was in Asheville. I thought it was in Greenville, South Carolina. A friend reminded me it was here and that she’d heard it was fabulous.

She heard right.  

With Ingrid at Baked Pie Company

A few years ago, Ingrid’s sister opened the first Baked Pie Company, using her family recipes for the pies they’d always enjoyed: blackberry, apple, honey pecan, chocolate chess, quiches, and so many more. It became so popular that she asked Ingrid if she might be interested in opening a second location in the Woodfin area of Asheville. Ingrid jumped at the chance.

We arrived one afternoon when I knew Ingrid had returned from a month-long performance in Atlanta. Not having her present contact information, we decided to surprise her, and got a huge hug and lots of pie!

A really big pie flight

The shop itself is a delight—next to the spot where you pick out your pie is a cozy room full of books and vintage items, so you feel right at home. Ingrid told me any item was available for purchase. We immediately bought a “pie flight” of several pies with ice cream, and coffee, and settled in with our forks. Each one was delicious, with flaky crusts and tasty fillings. Obviously we couldn’t finish our flight, and were provided with individual containers to take them home. That was dessert for the next TWO nights! Even the coffee was good and hot—not always true in some restaurants.

You can also order lunch: quiche, salad, and, of course, dessert pie.

While we enjoyed our treats, a young woman came in with her toddler. As her order was being filled, she was directed to the “Magic Suitcase” to pick out a stuffed animal for her son to take home. When you come to the Baked Pie Company, you are treated like family!

Check out the website to drool a bit: https://www.bakedpiecompany.com/ (and... by the way, they ship). 

For those of you who ever head this way, I highly recommend a stop at the Baked Pie Company. If you’re lucky, Ingrid will be in that day, and will settle you in for a surprise snack and a tour of the books and toys. And maybe she’ll burst into song.

Being There

Judy. Remember that Peter Sellers movie, Being There, about Chauncey the Gardener, which was filmed at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville? While we decided not to revisit the Biltmore House while here, we did plan to enjoy “being here” in Asheville.

One of the reasons we picked this city for a visit was its proximity, not only to Atlanta, but also to some dear friends. And it’s a good thing! Seems like we were always running, and so glad we were nearby to do so.

We have two long-time friends within a three-hour drive who have been quite ill, so visiting them is a high priority. I have a close cousin, Sue, who lives in Charlotte, and who had some serious surgery last winter. I’ve been trying to get to see her for months, and we finally drove over to spend the night with her. Sue kindly passed on

Sue and her quilt

several family heirlooms, including a magnificent quilt she embroidered for her mother over fifty years ago.  

About a week after we arrived, we got a text from our son Stefan. Remember that new baby we dashed home to see? He caught a cold, which turned into a viral respiratory infection, and spent a few days in intensive care. Off we dashed again, to care for Oliver, Stefan and Sarah’s 2½-year-old, while they stayed with Baby Callum. I have to hand it to Scottish Rite, Children’s Health Care of Atlanta. They did a super job both with the baby

So many tubes!

and his parents. We loved spending so much time with Oliver, and, while I watched him on Sunday, Ted was able to go to our home church, St. Matthew’s, for the fortieth anniversary celebration. That afternoon Sarah, Stefan, and Callum came home, and we returned to Asheville on Monday.   

The photo Oliver will hate us for

While in Atlanta, I auditioned for a small, independent film, and was cast, so we drove back to Atlanta for the day’s shoot in our third week in Asheville.

We had no idea how much time we’d spend away from our little “Treehouse” Airbnb in the Montford Park section of Asheville. Lynn and Steve, the hosts, were always welcoming when we returned, and it was great to settle into our little house again each time.  

The "Treehouse"

Tennant Loop Hike

Migrating Monarchs

Thanks, Hannah!

Despite our travels, we still managed to go to the Y for yoga and workouts; visit the Arboretum to see the Monarch tag and release; take several hikes (and experience the Monarch butterfly migration); have dinner with Hannah, our friend from Oaxaca days (and receive some of the bounty from the garden she’s caring for); tour the Brian Boggs Chair Workshop led by my Facebook friend, LA; take in the Greek Festival just down the street; enjoy the meditative Celtic Eucharist at Trinity Episcopal Church; and just enjoy “being there” in the beautiful city of Asheville.

OPA!! Greek Dancers

In yoga and in theatre, we talk a lot about living in the moment. If ever I’ve experienced that, it has been this month, as we are “being there” in the various places we’ve dashed to from this Treehouse. It’s a gift.

A glimpse of excellence

Ted. We were recently invited to tour Brian Boggs Chairmakers in Asheville as the guests of one of their employees; a woman named LA whom Judy has known for years.

LA and Judy in the showroom

It was a real eye opener to see that traditional handmade craftsmanship still exists in the 21st century. In this shop, we witnessed works of art being hand crafted using many techniques that are hundreds of years old. 

Brian began making simple ladder back chairs many years ago in Berea, Kentucky. He now employs a number of skilled artisans in a workshop located in the River Arts District of Asheville. 

Brian's first chair

They begin with sustainably harvested hardwood slabs; walnut, maple, cherry and others.

Using traditional tools (no robots here!), many of which are over 50 years old, they turn, shape and bend carefully selected pieces of wood to fit the images created in Brian's mind. While they are best known for their chairs, they also produce tables and custom pieces of furniture. 

Pieces of wood are steamed before bending

An ancient lathe still has plenty of life in it

The final results are incredible. Check out more images and videos at their website: brianboggschairmakers.com

A Cio Rocker

The Land of the Sky

Ted. Our three months in Georgia has come to an end and it was a great visit. We got all of our medical check ups taken care of. We also did a bit more consolidation of those items that we still have in storage. No – we haven’t gotten rid of all of our possessions yet, but we’re working on it.

Our 5 ft x 5 ft storage unit

Most importantly, though, we were able to spend lots of time with family and friends.  

Ted & Mavis (94 years young)

Getting to know our newest grandson and hanging out with the other three topped it all. 

Callum (1 month old)

Now we have moved to Asheville, North Carolina for a month. Years ago, the city adopted a nickname based on the title of a novel about Western North Carolina that was written in 1876 by Mrs. Frances Tiernan and titled “The Land of the Sky, or Adventures in Mountain By-Ways.” As Judy said, “We’ve gone from Big Sky Country (Montana) to the Land of the Sky.”

In 2017, Lonely Planet crowned Asheville as the #1 US Travel Destination. The city is known for the arts, crafts, music and craft beers, all found in the shadows of ancient mountains. We haven’t been here for 20 years, though so are pretty much seeing it for the first time. The weather is noticeably cooler, and thus more pleasant than Atlanta which is good because there is lots of hiking close to town. Also, Atlanta is not that far away so we can quickly drive back, should the need arise. 

We actually have a number of friends and acquaintances in the area so look forward to seeing them.  We have already had a rendezvous with Hannah, whom we first met two years ago while teaching English in Oaxaca, Mexico (if curious, see our blog archives for Oct/Nov ’17). 

Hannah & Judy, Asheville NC 09/19

En Via teachers, Tlacochahuaya, Mexico 10/17

Our Airbnb is great, we have already connected with some Servas hosts, and a "things to do" list is growing hourly. I think we're gonna like it here!

View from Craven Gap Trail