Vintage–Asheville—Inspiration!

Yesterday my friend Betty of Fishbone Studio and I went on a little adventure…. some call it a day off …i called it a vacation! We drove 2 1/2 hours through the beautiful Nantahala region following the river which was misty and magical. As usual a few wild ones were out there kayaking those wild rapids…… we had plenty of time to catch  up on our girl talk…..then the adventure.

Once we parked we were intrigued by all the vintage shops  here’s a sampling of what we saw!

This little gal sews it all…..she was quite eclectic herself and her shop was delightful!

The streets in hip little mountain towns are always filled with interesting sculptures ..inspiring and fun to see….

Ideas for promoting LOCAL…..

This is what i would have looked like 30 some  years or so ago in a cute little vintage get-up….i love vintage , ruffles , layers, fun and of course groovy glasses how about the HATS and check me out sporting my sweet little vintage cap with my oh so appropriate modest veil!!

We had lunch at a fun little cafe and of course we downed a couple of local beers- hey come on it was hot! The streets were crowded and we visited every single gallery in that town to see what the locals were up to…..we laid on the floor looking up at the art and sat in the token bench across from a painting as we tried to see the deeper meaning in the piece….we even smuggled  a few pictures to bring home for inspiration! We felt in  the end happy about our work as artists and our contribution to the arts in our little towns here in North Georgia! but alas as i dropped Betty off and cruised on home a smile came over my face –happy to be back here in my own little Utopia looking forward to seeing Maya and Grace as i pulled into the driveway–caught up with Rick because  a lot happens in one day her at The Martyn House…..and i look forward to another vacation maybe not too far in the future!

Agua

Pure water dripping dripping…cleansing ..refreshing..what a week -with our Farm To Table theme all about the elements and this past dinner all  about WATER i just had to write to you! We partnered with Jennifer of Little G’s Nursery.  Water Water every where. We have fountains, overflowing jugs and stone pools. We have a tower of art …we have an old copper wash tub spewing water ..but most of all i was motivated to complete yes you got it my outdoor bathroom…..i created walls of gnarled wood and vines..hung iron chandeliers…planted wisteria and other vines… i have candles and lanterns…i even have a shower….hmmmmm the delights of nature..my first bubble bath with champagne in hand was the other night right after a rain storm..the air was crisp and clear the sky turning to dusk..the deer were coming into the meadow as i sunk deeper into the tub…..the sounds of night beginning to fill the quiet spaces in between my own breathless ahhhhhhhhhh…i knew then what it felt like to experience the magic of The Martyn House

Farm to Table

I am committed to Farm to Table and every day I am reminded why….Recently we had some guests here from Hollywood that stumbled on a cherry tree in the yard in full fruit bloom! One commented to the other “look this looks exactly like cherries” ..upon a nibble or two she remarked “it even tastes like cherries” and as I rounded the corner in full smile I said “why yes that is because they are indeed cherries and yes cherries grow on trees!” And potatoes grow in the ground..and pesto is made from basil which is a plant….and thyme, tarragon and marjoram  were once live plants- not always dried in jars…I could go on and on…..blueberries and strawberries and raspberries do  not grow in little cardboard boxes on the grocery store shelves.

People are planting tomato plants in the city instead of a rose bushes. In a very small area you can grow food and if well planned, with good soil and compost you can introduce your family to the joys of growing and harvesting your own food.

There is a difference between eggs gathered right from the chicken coup in the barnyard vs the hen houses where 100′s of hens are crammed together with 1 token rooster!….In 1940 there were 4,600,000 small dairy farms in the US in  2007 there were  53,324…. We need to support these small farms wanting to bring us organic vegies and hormone free animals. Yes it will cost more but what is the price for good health?

Save the money you spend on boxed or canned foods, fast food, soft drinks and invest in your future and a better life style we call it farm to table! Find your local growers and herdsman and invest in your and your families well being today!

This year we have themed our dinners around the 5 elements. Last Sunday our Brunch was about AIR. Imagine life on earth without it?  We take air so for granted. We enter this world with our first breath, we go through life sometimes holding our breath. We then fall in love as he/she takes our breath away. We leave this world on our last breath. We are reminded by the tinkling of our wind chimes and swaying of our trees during a wind storm of the force in air. We are building wind turbines to capture the power of air. So take a deep breath.. relax…and enjoy life as the lovely magical ..mysterious journey that it is unfolds before you and just breathe.

This month July 17th we will celebrate WATER..imagine life without it…… We will be building Water Sculptures created by Little G’s Garden center  all over the property. These sculptures will be for sale and for your enjoyment as well! They will stand to remind us of the relaxing feeling just the simple sounds water can make or the visual dance that water can perform.  We encourage you to come and be a part of one or all of our dinners. September brings FIRE and fire dancers will perform for us! October honors EARTH as we gather at the supper table with our farmers who share their stories and the small part they are playing locally to bring us a better and healthier lifestyle.

Eat Local…..Shop your Farmers Market….Educate Yourself on what goes in your mouth….Be kind to your body you only get one…..

Here Kitty Kitty…

Like  all  homesteads we too have our token cats. When we bought The Martyn House 3 cats came with the farm. One was gone within a week and thus remained Sophie and Sahara ( which are the new names we gave them, as we never knew their names-they were mother and daughter) And here in lies the first perplexing thing about FARM cats- they seem to be drifters. They can disappear for weeks at a time no one seems to notice ..nameless creatures procreating everywhere but they do love those meeeeces….Our Sophie was gentle and  a people cat ….Sahara was the wild child you could not catch her and she was very afraid of people.

Then about 3 months ago Sophie never came home. Now we are not the typical have your brew of cats and dogs around and let nature take it course-these guys are our family so we were a bit distressed. The nature of nature is often hard for us to understand the whole food chain thing -hawks diving down and picking up critters to devour…..coyotes traveling in packs and quite coyly surrounding their dinner and boom its all over as they lick their chops….lions and tigers and BEARS oh my!!! Then there is the road kill and of course when your own breed turns on you —CAT fight!!!!

OK ..OK enough of the nature talk so in the absence of Sophie- Sahara became lonely and for the first time we were able to pick her up and actually sit with her:) So we decided she needed company fellow kitties which by the way there is no shortage of.

Last week they arrived a new mama and her kitty we named them Essie and Ruby. Essie decided right off when she saw those two HUGE labs that she would have to defend her new turf. Now mind you this new turf she decided would be the entire porch where Maya and Grace have lived for 3 years.  Essie declared war and Grace and Maya were up for the fight! This might be where i tell you what our two labs know about cats. Cats live up on the roof and every once in a while they would  jump down onto the porch and the chase is on….. the dogs go lickedy split after the cats who run and jump and finally land in a tree or some higher domain with two dogs looking up barking at them. Finally everyone settles down to the usual routine. What Grace and Maya have never know is what cats are really capable of doing. I guess your getting the picture here??? Right…

well when they dogs turned the corner and saw this kitty and mama the chase was just getting energized when Essies back went up and she squealed and ran but not away from them but straight at them…..WOW was that a sight as she raised her paw to strike Maya quickly turning toward  Grace another swat ..SHE RULED!!! We did not see Maya after that for nearly an hour and Grace would not come on the porch!  So we had to make some new house rules …We had to give them all ‘the we are family’ talk….Essie paced for a few days when the dogs were near …the dogs cowered when Essie was near ..they would not even look at Ruby.

Soon the porch had to be divided… cats to the left… dogs to the right. Then one day Ms Essie and Ruby decided they liked the dogs BIG bed they had on the porch and they curled up to take a nap. What a sight that was this huge 4 x 6 bed with two curled up kitties taking  up a weee bit of space on it…The dogs when they saw this became alarmed….they walked by with a little sniff…a little under their breath cussing and finally they seemed to all agreed to disagree and work on this new sisterhood thing!

So life at The Martyn house continues as always with a bigger family – a few new rules and lots more adventures to look forward to!

Got any good kitty tales?

Ceremonial Bliss

I love Ceremonies  …they are opportunities to take a moment or two  and reflect -whether on  a word like my own angel card ceremony every morning, or an event such as a wedding,  a person or  celestial being or WHATEVER…its a time to stop- let the world twirl around you but not invade your space at that moment in time!

We celebrated  a ceremony this weekend with Chip and Melody as they united with each other in holy matrimony don’t ya just love those regal words!. We also had our own little ceremony as we added them to our Martyn House Family album.

It was a perfect day despite the weather forecast…bo-kays, champagne, laughter, tears, hugs, rolling eyes, curlers, white shirts, tents, candles, anticipation, bewilderment, sangria colored gowns, tattoos, food, sunsets, music and so much more filled The Martyn House this past weekend.

There was not one hair out of place, not one hiccup, just the sweet sounds of love that filled the air and the knowing that all is right with the world…ceremony does that ya know!

As our evening came to a close we were happy to be such an important part of this day …..we felt the peace that a perfect day gives you…and we look forward to the next.

Lets rise our glasses …Cheers!!!! Here’s to a happy and adventurous life Chip and Melody – may  you always live with intention, be forever curious, choose with no regret, do what you love and always inspire those around you to live creative lives and live as if this is all there is- because it is!

best friends! goodbye—

I know it seems ridiculous that a place can be such a good friend…but indeed I have such a place ….a little bit of paradise on earth—when I was in Atlanta doing the $$$ thing I used to get so anxious as Friday arrived because this is what happened—- I would head out of the city right after noon to miss the traffic and head north…. soon I would leave 75 and on to  575 and then hit hwy 5 turn left onto hwy 2 up the mountain  to Dali gap down to Jacks river—ahhhh I could feel the excitement …the stress falling off…leaving the city behind…..and then I would be at the bank of the river oh yea!!! drive on through that baby and into the wilderness another mile…..forging a river was a first for me and when I first purchased the cabin my vehicle  was an audi TT ……aaaaaaa  that will not cross a river and later drive up a creek and so I purchased my first run- a-muck truck! ……..and then into the wild I went…..nothing  but peace and quiet and rushing water….rhododendrons led the way….then I was usually greeted by the resident blue heron as I turned to take a short drive up the creek and into my paradise….no cell …no TV …nothing but nature and the most peaceful centering feeling on earth—-  that was 8 years ago……and it was my ritual for the next 5 years…..until I bought The Martyn House…….

now best house friends are something like this…..they fill you with joy, they remind you what is important, they inspire you, they allow you to be whatever you need to be!

This cabin is 500 sq ft of great energy and creativity and surrounded by nature…it sits in a ravine on a crystal clear creek and on either side of the property I own is where the wilderness begins on one side and the national forest on the other. What makes this so special is that there are VERY few pieces of privately owned property in the wilderness that requires very little work-  that sits right on a creek like this because it is now grandfathered in  because of new laws to protect the headwaters of the Jacks River!

The cabin is 500 sq ft and has a great room with new wood stove, and an old antique ship ladder that leads to a sleeping loft. The cabin is off the grid meaning no cell, no electricity however when the cabin  was remodeled we had electric put  in so you can hook it up to a generator if  the quiet is too much for you:)

There is a full kitchen with stove and fridge run by propane. A full bathroom with bath/shower and on demand hot water and indoor plumbing!. Bedroom and the guest house is a teepee!

Deciding to sell the cabin was the most difficult real estate decision I have ever made because it is so special. But our lives here at The Martyn House are so full and the cabin needed to be loved like I loved it when I went there every weekend. I even lived there for 3 months! Now there some tales to tell about that!

A house can be a good friend and like our friends we want the best for them and its best to let someone else love this cabin. I did take the tub from the woods: dismantled the outdoor bathroom I thought no one would really get that and I am reconstructing it here at The Martyn House so I can carry some of the memories here  be on the look out for my next BLOG Out door bathing!. So if you know of anyone that could really use a little piece of heaven on earth THIS IS IT !!! TRUST ME!!!

For more information Call 706-635-4759 or email us at info@themartynhouse.com

Where have i been?

oh where… oh where… have i been ?????

High Point North Carolina that’s where!

Twice a year we go up there to do a home furnishings trade show……

just me and a few other gypsies…

…..these are our tents we showed where we hosted a lovely party for Thom O’Brien an author and designer….he had a book signing ….

we spent the week talking tents and luxury in the garden

Its a Wonder

Its a wonder ……what a little vision and some serious creativity…. and great friends can do….We started out at The Martyn House with our ORANGE porta potties which i had hopes of making into an artistic expression!:)a little bit of this and a little bit of that…….and we were off …no rules…no pattern… just us and our oh so powerful spray guns!  Look  out!!

we used nature as our stencils and colors galore we layered and loved and laughed! Soon we saw shadows and shapes…we embellished and played ….with no rules! I do believe the end result will be an experience at the potty like non other before:) The magic took form for all to experience! My friends..Our love for art…and the perfect day brought perfect harmony ….

Living with Intention

I know I have been quite quiet lately! I’ve been BUSY…First– I do believe spring is here ..Yipee!!!!! sunshine yellow daffodils everywhere..wee bitty crocus poppin up and I LOVE those wild unpredictable flowers …then there’s the meadow -that winter earth tone coat is slowly transforming into a lush green…ahhh   I have mastered the art of transforming fallen trees into garden accessories–this little railing is an example of my handiwork- Join our Rustick Workshops Weekend  August 13-15

Pottery shop is in full creativity- brewing batches of soaps getting ready for our ARTIST STUDIO TOUR April 30-May 2nd and you will not want to miss the Culinary Event Friday night reservatiions required!

NEED I SAY MORE>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Join us Saturday night April 3rd for Ricks Opening Reception as the Resident Artist at Blue Ridge Arts Association!

Enough already—-lets go plow the garden, plant a few more seeds in the greenhouse and get ready for guests this weekend-YES our B&B is now officially open for the season…….Come GLamping! ……..its all about a unique experience

oh and one more thing…….we have partnered with 61 Main in Jasper for our Farm to Table Dinners

First one is a BRUNCH June 20th 12-3

Be on the look out for our Calendar of events…dinners, workshops, and lots more!!!

Hiding

I have been hiding from my computer-actually I have been trying to figure out what it is folks like to read about in blogs- so instead of writing them i have been reading them…pretty funny, interesting stuff out there-I laughed at heather of ‘haute n the  kitchen’ during Holi week http://hautenthekitchen.wordpress.com/ here’s someone who writes about her  adventures and food! She’s a humorous writer and I like that she seems to be able to transport the reader into her world you can taste the food! And she’s my daughter and sometimes that’s the only way I can keep up with her life!

Then there are blogs about art, lifestyles, politics, chickens, gardens, cars, dogs, religion— yea you can just about name the topic and someone is blogging out there— so this is what i want you to do send me your favorite blogs site…and why do you like it.

We have been transported into a virtual reality and i am curious what attracts us there-

I know this i am putting the holiday Holi  in India on my calendar for next year- so maybe its just that we finally are able to read about everyday people and their everyday life and the adventures they have and that makes us feel a little more hope for our own adventures and a little more connected to them!

Until we meet in the virtual world cheers! and send me those blogs! Have a creative day today!