Two Holt: Our little mountain cottage
  • Two Holt: The story begins
  • More "Before"!
  • Two Holt Blog
  • FAQ: Why did you name your cottage "Two Holt"?
  • Sights, Hikes, and Food!
  • Two Holt Recipes
  • 2012 Highlights
  • 2013 Highlights
  • Instant Pot Recipes
  • Girls Only Hikes!

More Phlox, Please!

4/28/2018

0 Comments

 
After seeing the gorgeous stands of creeping Phlox in full bloom around town last year, I knew I had to have these pretty plants tumbling over our rock walls. Last spring we added about a half dozen pink Phlox and half a dozen blue Phlox. I always reserve judgement on a plant until it’s gone through one of our winters. This past winter we had a few snowfalls including the 15” accumulation which we thought would never melt and leave. All of my Phlox returned beautifully and it’s the first of my perennials to put on a bloom show which lasts a few weeks.
Picture
This picture was taken across the road. You can see the splashes of color that make me want to add even more Phlox.
Picture
Pink Phlox beginning to cascade down the stonework.
Picture
The blue Phlox has grown well. I put out very small containers of it last year to test it.
I bought 15 pink Phlox and three blue Phlox this year. We added six of the pink Phlox to our garden bell garden at the road...
Picture
Phil started the planting, but, I promise that I planted the others!
Picture
Phil added another pink Phlox to the top of the wall.
Picture
Isn’t it lovely?
We added nine pink Phlox to the middle stone wall which leads to our upper drive.
Picture
Pink Phlox along the middle stone wall.
Picture
It won’t be long before this Phlox takes off!
I want drifts of Phlox at the upper driveway stone wall, too. I noticed how lovely the blue Phlox was in front of the yellow Goldmound Spirea and planted the three last Phlox there.
Picture
Blue Phlox and Goldmound Spirea
We have three Goldmound Spirea shrubs in this shrub garden so I wanted more blue Phlox to add in front of those shrubs. I made a quick run to the plant nursery but wouldn’t you know it—- they were sold out of the blue Phlox. It’s been popular this year. Oh well. There’s always next year.
0 Comments

Plateau Pickup 2018

4/21/2018

0 Comments

 
Phil and I signed up for Highlands' Plateau Pickup event several weeks ago. On this day each year dozens of volunteers come together to clean up the Gorge Road which winds down the mountain to Franklin, North Carolina. The amount of litter tossed from cars and trucks traveling up and down the mountain is frustrating. We live in the gorgeous western North Carolina mountains and we all strive to keep this area pristine for local residents and for thousands of yearly visitors.

Phil injured his shoulder while hanging laundry room cabinets so he couldn't join me today, but I knew I'd see friends and make new friends, too, so off I went. A volunteer drove me a good ways down the targeted road and dropped me off with a safety vest, my trusty litter pole, and a bright orange trash bag. I met a few other volunteers already cleaning up litter. The couple pictured below own a local gas station/mini market. She shared that it made her sad to see all the beer cans because she suspected a lot of the construction workers who daily drive back and forth from Franklin to Highlands were among the culprits. They buy a lot of beer from her store each afternoon.
Picture
Plateau Pickup volunteers at work
After an hour or two I noticed I had covered a lot of ground, but it was quiet. I looked around and didn't see anyone. It's kind of scary walking on that road alone so I crossed the road and started picking up trash on the other side as I made my way back to town.
Picture
Where is everybody?
After we finished cleaning the roadsides, the volunteers were treated to lunch. Thanks, Fressers Eatery for grilling hamburgers and hotdogs for us!
Picture
Our grill master for the day
Picture
Everyone enjoyed lunch
Our mayor's truck was loaded down with some of the trash bags collected.
Picture
I found my neighbors, Pam and Roger and John and Sally with their sister, Mary. These are some of my very favorite Mirror Lake neighbors and it was great to eat with them.
Picture
My favorite volunteers!
Picture
Pam and Roger
We were given t-shirts as a thank you gift.
Picture
A clean scenic road, a delicious lunch, meeting new friends, visiting with old friends, and a t-shirt... success! Sign us up for next year, please!
0 Comments

We've Got Mail!

4/1/2018

0 Comments

 
During our renovation of Two Holt, the contractor had a little accident and knocked over our old mailbox. It never really recovered and we lived with a wobbly old box for a year. We kept promising the mailman we'd get a new one up soon.
Picture
Wobbly old mailbox...sorry, Mr. Postman!
I looked all over the Internet until I finally found a black bear mailbox on Etsy. Phil and I tackled the job of replacing the box on Easter Sunday afternoon. The weather was glorious-- just right for an outdoor project.
Phil got busy digging the new hole...
Picture
Digging a new hole
We got the post up, leveled it, added the house numbers...
Picture
House numbers going up
...and here's our new beary special mailbox!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Isn't he so stinkin' cute? I can't wait to plant a few things around him. Happy spring, y'all!
0 Comments

    Phil & Sharon

    Married 40 years and hoping to enjoy many more!

    Archives

    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012

    Categories

    All
    Easter Decorations
    Garden Signs
    Shadow Of The Bear
    Whiteside Mountain

    Categories

    All
    Easter Decorations
    Garden Signs
    Shadow Of The Bear
    Whiteside Mountain

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.