St. Mary in the Hills

August 30th:
Part I: St. Mary's in the Hills

The sun cracked through the mountains like fire on stone, as the blue sky colluded with gray clouds, conspiring for rain.  The gray coolness of the last Sunday in August was like water in the desert - the air and trees felt alive with the moisture - the cool wetness welcome from the hot humidity of Raleigh's scorching temps.  I find a peace in the cloudy days in the mountains - the smoke rising in the clouds has a mysterious knowing to it - the clouds call us to search our own hearts and minds - while making peace with the things we fight against.  There is nothing cleaner and more invigorating than a mountain rain.

My mom and I enjoyed a breakfast of cereal, yogurt and fruit at the Ridgeway Inn before embarking to St. Mary's of the Hills for Sunday service.  This beautiful stone edifice, located in the heart of downtown is a space alive with grace and hope.  The church's architecture reflects the contemplative spirit of the mountains and invites travelers into the peace of God's SPIRIT of Light.  I loved the mountain architecture and old world charm of the edifice - while a church cannot be defined by its grand style - it does reflect the active community oriented parish that make Blowing Rock their home and serve their community with love and compassion.

The name St. Mary's of the Hills struck a particular chord with me as I have a strong devotion to Mother Mary - who was a light who followed God's will and said 'yes' to God.  Mary is a tender mother who God entrusted with HIS very self in the incarnate word and St. Mary's of the Hills reflects the humility and fortitude of Mary and points the way to Christ, her son, our LORD.

Built in 1918, St. Mary's of the Hills instantly invokes a sense of contemplative wonder in embracing grace and worship. The church is home to Madonna of the Hills, a master work by former congregant and internationally renowned artist Elliott Daingerfield.  The church also features glorious stain glass windows and handcrafted Stations of the Cross.
http://ncpedia.org/biography/daingerfield-elliott

The service included uplifting hymns and a thought-provoking sermon about embracing desert times and our call to provide nourishment to others in their desert times - I have been in a desert time in my life and the imagery of the sermon and scripture spoke to my heart - I felt the Holy Spirit at work.  Receiving communion I prayed in thanksgiving for God's nourishing love and grace in desert times and the blessing of my life and hope for the future.  How can I build God's kingdom?  Where have I kept my feet secure in Him, and where do I let fear paralyze my soul?



After church, my mom and I ate a hearty meal at the Town Tavern.  The rain had tapered off, so we decided to sit outside.  The Town Tavern is a popular spot for locals to listen to local musicians play cover tunes and originals while enjoying drafts in a family friendly atmosphere.

I ordered a locally bred grass fed organic burger with NC bacon, cheddar cheese and BBQ sauce with a side of got to be NC home sweet potato fries.  My mom and I split a yummy salad - loaded with tomatoes, carrots and cheese.

Stuffed and ready to explore the mountains, my mom and drove eighteen miles west towards Linville NC to Grandfather Mountain.

Grandfather Mountain is arguably the icon of the North Carolina mountains, it is a place that crosses space and time - a common anchor in the tapestry of North Carolina myth, lore and adventure.   Grandfather Mountain is a converging ecological region where alpine extremes meet with wildflower valleys and unique geologic wonders.  Grandfather Mountain is truly a place where wonders never cease...stay tuned for my blog on our trip to Grandfather Mountain.

Bumming around Blowing Rock

August 29th 2015:

I had the privilege to spend my 31st birthday enjoying a mountain retreat in historic Blowing Rock.  The mountains ignite my soul and Blowing Rock's southern rock charm blew us away.    

Nestled in the heart of North Carolina's Appalachian Blue Ridge, the hamlet of Blowing Rock is a thriving community reflecting the heritage and mountain spirit of northwestern North Carolina's High Country region.  

Blowing Rock is a mountain oasis, a quaint walk-able village bustling with culture, good eats, shopping and recreation.  The village a living story book, lined with bed and breakfast craftsman bungalows and Old Manse style  inns, book shops and boutiques, gardens and stone churches - each edifice tells a story - a history that lives side by side with the vibrant present.

My mom and I arrived at Blowing Rock just after 3 p.m, the sun peaking out from the clouds; the air a perfect seventy-six degrees with a breeze.  We checked into the historic Ridgeway Inn, conveniently located a stone's throw from downtown shops and eateries.  The Ridgeway Inn has the distinction of being the first inn in Blowing Rock to provide accommodations - it is rustic high end charm for a moderate price.  Each room is uniquely decorated with mountain ambiance and solitude luxury.

The inn features a wine and cheese hour nightly and a continental breakfast in the common area.  My favorite part of the inn are the lovely garden sitting areas on site, perfect for enjoying a glass of wine or in my case a butter beer (Hogwarts style) and a good book in the cool crisp mountain air!  

After unpacking the car, my mom and I hit the pavement and explored Blowing Rock's quaint downtown - perusing the diverse array of shops...I liked the offbeat garden shop and French shop...Blowing Rock's shops reflect the passion of shop local - with businesses owned by people who care about their community and offering eclectic and practical items for high brow travelers to back country hikers.  The downtown is family friendly, connecting directly to Broyhill Park - where outdoor concerts, family festivals and fun occur throughout the year.  

Per the suggestion of locals we ate at a restaurant tucked away in the woods, called Bistro Rocca.  My mom had eaten at the restaurant years ago and loved - so we thought we'd indulge for my birthday.  While the views from the restaurant were stellar - Bistro Rocca disappointed - I will assume it was an off night but the Gluten Free pizza tasted like paste - I make a better GF pizza - they also put salad dressing on my salad and I am highly allergic to salad dressing - the waitress was rude about having to remake the salad...the gluten free torte was bland and dry - nothing to write home about...it was so bad I could not help but laugh - I did see the steaks being served to a nearby table and they looked scrumptious.

While Bistro Rocca did not merit a * rating - Blowing Rock is teeming with awesome restaurants - we just picked the wrong meal and wrong venue...I look forward to trying the other yummy culinary hot spots in the area on this trip and in the future.  

My mom and I treated ourselves to Kilwin's delicious hand spun ice cream for a late night treat.  I got the caramel cluster flavor - it was scrumptious.  Ice Cream is my favorite meal of the day.

We concluded our evening by strolling in the brisk night air on the wandering hilly streets of Blowing Rock before relaxing in the hotel room.  I enjoyed a good book and a hot bath with some bath salts.  I could not imagine having a more blessed birthday - the biggest blessing was spending it with my mom - without her I wouldn't be here!