DOUBLE INDIGO 666 WORLD TOUR
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It’s that time again, friends:
Now that I have your attention, I’ve got some very special pics for you, today. You may recall that I work at the Inn on the Biltmore Estate. “Wtf is the Biltmore Estate?”, you’ve probably said to yourself. Biltmore is the largest private home in the USA. It was built by George Vanderbilt, the descendent of a transportation tycoon who was one of the robber barons of the industrial revolution. It is a French style chateau, on a still considerable parcel of land that once included the majority of Western North Carolina. Biltmore is unique, because the family has turned it into a profitable enterprise by selling tickets to enter the house and grounds, and it continues to be privately owned and operated by the family, and their ~2500 employees. The Estate was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the infamous landscape designer who was also responsible for Central Park, in NYC.Enough history. Today, after work I went over to the Biltmore House to snap some photos of the Chihuly glass installation that will be on the Estate until October. I have seen his art before, but it’s always a treat to see in person, and I knew the forum would enjoy a look.
My favorite part of Biltmore is definitely the Conservatory, which is an original greenhouse structure that looms over the gardens, and houses amazing mature tropical plants. 
i didn’t capture the scale, but those leaves are about 5 feet long! Up on the library terrace there is also a canopy of some type of creeper that is very well established.
A little zoomed-in selfie I shot over one of the Chihuly pieces:
Heres a couple of detail shots, though I know my crappy iPhone pics do the work no justice, it really is some of the world’s most remarkable blown glass.
That’s all for today, folks! Til next time, I’ll just be here snugglin’ chihuahuas. 
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Spectacular @sabergirl ! :o Beautiful glass. Lovely views
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Chihuly stuff is always fascinating, and pictures never do it justice.
Oh, and I love the Biltmore House…
(North Carolina pride, baby!) -
Thanks, everyone!
You should see inside, @Fadez it's very opulent. They also have an indoor swimming pool, an indoor bowling alley, and elevator, electricity, and hot water, all of which were things not very common for the 1890s when it was constructed.
@Chris do you have any family in NC, anymore? Ever swing through? I have a love/hate relationship with my home state: it's a very….special place....
The Chihuly exhibit will only be up until October 7th, I believe. They're also opening the gardens at night, and the installation will be all lit up. Even as an employee, I would have to purchase a ticket for that, so I'm not sure I'll make it.
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@Chris do you have any family in NC, anymore? Ever swing through? I have a love/hate relationship with my home state: it's a very….special place....
Mom, dad, and my sister and her family still live in Charlotte. My brother and his family are in the process of moving from Raleigh to LA, so they're almost out. I usually visit once a year or so. This year, I'll be there around Thanksgiving.
I know what you mean about the love/hate relationship. I couldn't wait to leave, but after nearly 20 years away, my feelings have changed a bit. There are plenty of cool things about the state, once I got some perspective. Though I have considerable issues with the way the state is being run these days…
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Thanks @sabergirl But I’m gonna pass. I’ve got some denim to break in and I just don’t have time
With the new job to take photos and stuff. -
So just in time for building season, right? That works out pretty well.
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I'm excited to see Norway! Great job @sabergirl !
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World tour jeans FTW!!! Straight outa North Carolina and all the way to northern Norway.
It’s 18 months since they were last here and they are looking absolutely glorious. The forum does not play. Proper pics with a proper camera later but here are some quick iPhone snaps:
The colour is a little off, the worn areas are whiter than they appear here, but you get the idea.
I think I may take them to FnC in a couple of weeks. The crotch is looking vunerable. Maybe @Giles can throw a few stitches in while I’m there?
Also thank you very much @sabergirl for the little surprise, a pair of coasters upcycled from firehose. Trés cool. They will see action in the course of the next hour or two [emoji1]
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Glad to see they arrived safely, @neph93. Can't wait to see what you get into. I'm glad they're going to make it to Fish & Chips! Enjoy the coasters, and use them as often and irresponsibly as possible (which is a total contradiction since coasters scream responsibility, don't they?).
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So I’m not planning on doing a daily blog by any means, but I thought I’d take you through the first 24 hours of the jeans’ second visit to Norway by way of an introduction to my neck of the woods.
For those who don’t know I live in Bodø which is capital of the first arctic county in Norway, Nordland. There are two more arctic counties, Troms and Finnmark, even further north. Unlike Sweden where the north of the country is sparsely populated, arctic Norway (everything above the arctic circle) boasts a number of small cities, industry and hundreds of towns and villages at these latitudes.
Bodø has a municipal population of around 50,000, a major hostpital, a University, two high schools, a top tier football team and the strongest «whirlpool» in the world nearby. The last time the jeans were here it was December and they did not see the sun, on account of it not rising in December. On this leg they won’t see a true night as the sun will not fully disappear under the horizon again until the end of July. While I’m sure this sounds appealing to many, it’s worth remembering that this far north, June is essentially a spring month. Only six or seven weeks ago the temps were around zero, the ground was frozen and there was nothing green on the ground or trees. So at the moment there’s a lot of rain, birch pollen and temps between 7-10C.
Yesterday was no exception, piss wet and gloomy. I’ve time-stamped some photos from the living room window to give you an idea of how the light can work while the weather is shite. Excuse the mess, I’m building.
As you can see the last pic taken shortly before midnight is darker but by no means dark. An hour later it started getting lighter again. Hopefully I’ll be able to show you all a true midnight sun later.
Yesterday was otherwise spent watching football and drinking beer while enjoying the jeans and my most excellent new coasters courtesy of the talented @sabergirl .
Today was better weatherwise and I’ve spent it in the local neighbourhood playing with my smallest kids. Inbetween drinking beer and watching football obviously. Don’t judge, I’m on holiday [emoji8]
Alfred (2yrs) went up and down this slope at least 20 times. He’s a speed freak.
And a daredevil.
Edward (1yr) mostly just makes his Dad do dumb shit then laughs at him.
My older, hairier offspring were off being older and hairier some place. More of them later
To finish, tour jeans in the arctic sunlight:
And my grim mug [emoji847]
