Author: The WheatandTares

Tuesday’s Treats #180

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Downtown Chocolates

Location: Brevard, NC

Ok, so I don’t usually post a strictly dessert place on the blog, but this place is worthy! The chocolates are absolutely amazing!! They MAKE their own peanut butter. Now, look, I know when some of you read that, you think, “Like the grocery store, ‘grind your own pb’ kind??” NO! This is like silky smooth, best you’ve ever tasted kind! Wow!

They have short hours; so be sure to check the website or call to assure they’re open. *Note, FB hours state 10am-7pm, but we’ve been in town 3 different weeks when the hours have fluctuated. 😉

Friday Afternoon Serenade

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I read a beautifully written piece the other day by a fellow blogging friend, Modern Serenade, and as I was standing on my back porch this afternoon I thought I’d take his idea and write about my own Friday afternoon serenade.

An airplane flew overhead as the neighbor’s air conditioning unit seemed to kick into overdrive. The wind begin rustling through the trees, and the crickets began their evening rhythms. The dogs across the ridge must have seen a stranger or a critter run by, because they started up in a bit of a panic only to subside after a few minutes. Maybe it was a squirrel that crossed their paths, but his squawking was a bit delayed as he gave a good fussing to some young creature or fellow walking by. The wind rustled through the trees again, as if to attempt to quiet his tirade. I believe it worked. Then, the dogs barked a few times again, and our cats came swirling around my feet with a meow or two just to get some attention. A mosquito buzzed by my ear and landed on my hand as I swatted him. “Smack!” That will be his last bite today; unfortunately, he got me twice. I hear a car driving through the culdesac, probably a neighbor coming home from a long day’s work. The wind rustles a bit stronger through the trees, it seems to be telling the weary soul, “Welcome Home.” My son just joined the chorus as I hear the bass through the subwoofers booming a bit through the walls of the house.

Whish-bark-meow-buzz-smack-vroom”

Another mosquito says goodbye to this life, and I grab the bug repellent; so, I might enjoy a few more moments of the evening serenade before turning in. Even the spray adds a swishing noise to the symphony. The temperatures tonight are quite delightful. … There goes the wind and the crickets again.

“Whish-boom-smack-swish-which-chirp-chirp-bark-boom”

Ahh, there’s the little bird to join in while another plane travels overhead to it’s unknown destination, and finally, the cicadas have come to add their part to the harmony. I was wondering what was taking them so long.

“Whish-boom-chirp-chirp-bark-vroom-whish-tweet-tweet-chirp-chirp-buzz-buzz-cacah”

…a crow couldn’t miss out while he was flying by. 😂

A beautiful symphony given to us by our amazing Creator God. Sitting here, listening and watching just brings a sweet peace to my mind and a gentleness to my heart. It causes me to breathe deeper and smile a little longer. I’m so thankful for my restful place of solitude. It truly brings healing to a weary soul.

I hope you will step outside and listen to the serenade around you, and if it’s just too noisy with human chaos and manmade distractions, take a little drive to a park, an open field, a hiking trail, a lake or a waterfall. Get off the asphalt, and see what you might bring into vision with, not only your eyes, but with your whole being.

Happy listening, and Happy Friday! 😊

Satisfaction in the Small Things

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It’s so funny, but this little thing I did today brought such great satisfaction in a moment. Two years ago, I had bought one of those bulk packs of pens at Costco, and over time, the pens run out of ink, one by one. I kept them all in a drawer, as they are refillable. I just didn’t get the refills, because this was a bulk pack of 20; so, I had plenty of ready replacements.

As it probably happens for many, after loaning pens out, or having a pen in every notebook and journal you use regularly, that pack of 20 started to dwindle, and I kept seeing the pile grow in the drawer, knowing I needed to get the refills. Yet, I would remember at such inopportune times that I never made the order.

So this week, I finally bit the bullet and order the pack of refills. Tonight, I refilled all the empty pens in the drawer. It was quite a feeling of satisfaction knowing I have pens ready and waiting once again. Yeah, I guess, I’m a bit quirky like that. 😂

I’m curious to know. What’s some little thing that brings you a sense of satisfaction?

Tuesday’s Treats #179

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Cantina 76

Location: Greenville, SC

The downtown of Greenville, SC is a great place for shopping and eating; so, even pursuing TripAdvisor makes it tough to decide where to eat. (There’s only 711 restaurants from which to choose! 😳😜) Cantina 76 was listed in the top 200, and it was close there where we were walking; so, we decided to give it a try.

Now, if you know anything about cantinas, they’re typically a little more expensive than your local “authentic” Mexican fare, and Cantina 76 doesn’t disappoint. They even charge individually for salsa! However, everything was incredibly fresh, and they had a trio app that came with three salsa/quest choices. So, we decided to not resent the choices too bad. Lol.

Our oldest got the teriyaki chicken and buffalo chicken tacos (individual, not mixed). Wow! Crazy good!! Our youngest got rice and beans. My husband got 3 beef and cheese tacos, and I got one beef and one roasted chicken. Each of the tacos were great, but I would have to say the roasted chicken was my favorite. My husband and eldest son would say the buffalo chicken was the best. Our youngest would say the bean dip was the absolute best. oh, Ana the salsa is phenomenal!

There are a variety of tacos to choose, and there are a few other items on the menu, but you’re not going to find all the extensive “authentic Mexican” menu items.

Here is the website to find menu and location.

Thank You, America

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It seems to be a phrase that is ridiculed more than appreciated these days, but today, I will proudly say, “Thank you, America.” I don’t care who you are, or where you have come from, if you live in this country, and if you call yourself an American, then, you should say the same…and even though, it may not be a popular sentiment, even if you are not an American citizen, you should still say the same.

Too many in today’s culture take so much liberty in bashing the bad of this country. Too much joy is taken in attempting to destroy the history, and the heritage and the legacy upon which this nation was built. If someone stands for patriotism, freedom and anything “American,” too many snarks and ridicules can be made, and everyone is simply expected to accept it as some sort of tolerance and penance for years of a presumed “superior conceit.”

I will never attempt to argue the perfection of America, nor will I say it can do no wrong, but if you cannot take pride in the country in which you preside, why live there? Just as a mother has to admit the foolishness of her child if that child is to grow beyond the wrong; yet, it should never negate the love and protection that mother holds for her once newborn babe. Seriously. I could stop and restart a whole new blog on that little soapbox right there, but I won’t. Not today.

Today, I’ll just stop and say, “Thank you, America.” Thank you for every hardworking man and woman who seeks to serve and make this country a better place to live. Thank you for all those who put their “hand to the plow” and never look back, always striving to leave a better community for the next generation. Thank you for every person who hopes and dreams for a better tomorrow and instead of tearing down all shreds of goodness from yesterday, he or she digs deep to find a ray of sunshine within the clouds of gray. Thank you to every American who continually takes the next step toward life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; so, our children may dream and pursue those aspirations of their hearts just as our forefathers did so long ago.

Thank you, America, and God bless you!

Happy Labor Day to all! ❤️🇺🇸❤️

Hit By A Mack

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Have you ever felt like you were hit by a Mack Truck? Maybe you’re not familiar with the term. Growing up in a rural community in Northwest Florida, we used this term anytime we felt like a sickness had just taken hold of us, or maybe when someone had had a rough night of sleep (or sometimes, even with an alcohol binge). We’d say, “I feel like I’ve been hit by a Mack Truck!” Or “You look like you’ve been hit by a Mack Truck!” 😂

Now that I’m older, I’ve still used the phrase from time to time; however, once I realized what a Mack Truck really was, I’m kind of thankful that was just a phrase. For surely, being hit by a Mack Truck in reality would leave one much worse than what I have felt when using the phrase. When I’ve claimed this destructive weight has hit my life, I suppose, I’m almost whining in comparison to what it would really feel like for that 5-ton vehicle to slam into me.

Sometimes, we do overstate our life conditions, don’t we? Yet, when we’re in the middle of the storm, it’s often hard to see beyond the tornadic winds we are experiencing. So, if you’re feeling down today, or maybe you’re even feeling like a Mack Truck has invaded your solitude, just hold on a minute, and let the chaos pass.

You can make it through, if you’ll just not give up. If you quit now, you’ve let that 5-ton machine win, but it doesn’t have to end that way! Get up! Even if you have to crawl to the curb and signal for help. Sometimes, you may have to lean on someone to help you through rather than being “Mr./Mrs. Independent.” That’s ok, cuz we’ve all been there… both with the Mack Truck and with making it through with the help of a friend!😉

Tuesday’s Treats #178

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131 Main (@Biltmore Village)

Location: Asheville, NC

I’m not sure I can say enough GOOD about this place! Oh. My. Goodness! Everything was absolutely incredible, from the iron skillet cornbread to the fresh catch mahi mahi, from the Caesar salads to the cheeseburger and hickory plank grill salmon to the chef’s special filet medallion. Be assured, all the ingredients are fresh, even the seafood is shipped in fresh every morning from the coast, never frozen. The sides of fries, white cheddar grits and red-skinned potatoes were also delicious.

Yet, we’d have to say the desserts were rightly tied for the most delicious dishes. First, they were huge servings, and second, they were the best homemade brownie and key lime pie we think we’ve ever had (and we’ve been to The Keys)! Honestly, it was totally unexpected. Usually, you get a little slice of key lime and a generic type of brownie, but their desserts are all made in-house, and it shows! ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!!

Please note, the menu prices are not incredibly cheap; so, be sure to take your wallet. 😂 It’s so very worth it!!

Website

Tuesday’s Treats #177

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Ian & JoJo’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria

Location: Waynesville, NC

This place was AMAZING!! They have only been open for about four months (about 6 when this posts), and they’re doing a fantastic job! The restaurant has a nice comfortable feel, and there are both booths and tables and chairs from which to choose. They also have a large meeting room for big families or gatherings.

The food was absolutely incredible. We ordered the stuffed garlic knots to begin. Oh. My. I could have just made those my meal! The garlic and butter made the rolls delicious, but then add the mozzarella and pepperoni… Holy! Moly!

Our youngest ordered the pepperoni pizza, and our oldest ordered the fettuccine Alfredo. My husband ordered the chicken panini, and I ordered the lasagna. Everything tasted fresh, homemade, and incredible. We would have to say the lasagna ‘took the prize.’ You could taste each individual ingredient, but they blended to create a culinary ‘phenomenon.’ As our oldest said, “It’s like an explosion of flavor in your mouth!” DELICIOUS!!

The owner even came to our table after we were done to make sure everything was satisfactory. She was precious.

Website

Tuesday’s Treats #176

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KTCHN

Location: Brevard, NC

This place has a great atmosphere and really good food. The servers were nice, and we left full and happy. The vegetable beef soup we ordered as an appetizer was incredible. The special of the day was chicken fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and our son ordered “Lola’s Mac and cheese” with it. The chicken was a tad bit dry but had a great taste. The Mac and cheese was just like homemade and AMAZING. Our youngest ordered pepperoni pizza, and it was delicious. My husband ordered the prime rib sandwich, and it was very tasty. I had the chicken sandwich with bacon and an herb mayo. I don’t even like mayo, and it was incredible. They had several other items on the menu we’d have like to try. Maybe we’ll be back one day.

*Btw, yes, that IS the correct spelling! 😉

Website

Tuesday’s Treats #175

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Square Root

Location: Brevard, NC

We are here three times during our vacation. The first two times were absolutely amazing…the third time, maybe not so much. The atmosphere is great, but if you want a corner or wall seat, you need to make reservations or arrive early. It gets crazy packed. There is also nice outside seating for both lunch and dinner.

The pretzel barrel app is crazy good! The pretzel is delicious along with the smoked Gouda, Swiss, salami, ham, pimento cheese, and mustard…the fried black eyed peas weren’t quite my taste, but you might like them.

Like I mentioned, we ate here a total of three times. The salmon on cedar plank is so very good. The first time, my husband ordered it as it is on the menu, but the next time, he ordered it with pimento cheese grits. Oh. My. The egg battered fried grouper sandwich, on a pretzel bun, is very tasty. The burgers are amazing, and our son loved the kids pepperoni pizza.

The second time we were here, my husband had his salmon on the grits, and I ordered the chicken marsala, and both were Oh. My. Word. Amazing!!

The third time we ate here, the pretzel board and the pizza was still amazing; however, the grouper sandwich, BLGT (bacon, lettuce and fried green tomato) and rabbit gumbo, maybe not so much. The waitress was kind enough to remove the sandwich charge, and we went next door for chocolates; so, all is good. 😉 oh, and the sides were all tasty: sautéed zucchini, fries, salad, fried zucchini slices.

The desserts were scrumptious; even if the key lime pie didn’t have a stitch of key lime in it! 😂 It actually was an amazing taste of sweetened condensed milk creamy goodness on an Oreo crust. The tuxedo cake was also delicious with it’s three different, creamy chocolate-y goodness.

Website