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Category Archives: Asheville Live

Local Disk Golf Courses – Asheville NC

Disk Golf - Asheville NCAsheville is host to many exciting outdoor activities. One such activity your friends and family are sure to enjoy is Disk Golf.

Disc golf got started in the 1970s, combining the basic elements of ball golf and Frisbee. The game is played on a nine- or 18-hole course by throwing a weighted disc, slightly smaller than a Frisbee, over fairways with the object of sinking it into special metal baskets in the fewest number of throws. Courses are usually in forested areas and use the trees, hills and other natural terrain to make the game more challenging.

Disc golf is played much like traditional golf. Instead of a ball and clubs, however, players use a flying disc, or Frisbee. The sport shares with “ball golf” the object of completing each hole in the fewest number of strokes (or, in the case of disc golf, fewest number of throws).

A golf disc is thrown from a tee area to a target which is the “hole.” The hole can be one of a number of disc golf targets; the most common is called a Pole Hole, an elevated metal basket. As a player progresses down the fairway, he or she must make each consecutive shot from the spot where the previous throw has landed.

The trees, shrubs and terrain changes in and around the fairways provide challenging obstacles for the golfer. Finally, the “putt” lands in the basket and the hole is completed. Disc golf shares the same joys and frustrations of traditional golf, whether it’s sinking a long putt or hitting a tree halfway down the fairway. There are few differences, though. Disc golf rarely requires a greens fee, you probably won’t need to rent a cart, and you never get stuck with a bad “tee time.” It is designed to be enjoyed by people of all ages, male and female, regardless of economic status.

The sport is also one that is played year-round, in rain or shine, snow or ice. When it comes to Disk Golf; the more natural hazards to contend with, the better. With at least 6 courses nearby, you can conveniently enjoy one of these wonderful locations:

For full details and directions see WNC Disk Golf

Richmond Hill Disc Golf Course, Asheville, NC is a heavily wooded course with elevation changes in abundance. A full 18 holes are available for play. Installed in 2001, this course was designed with the serious player in mind. The primary tee box placement is set for the advanced/professional player, although many holes contain alternate/amateur tee box placements.

Mars Hill College Disc Golf Course
-An 18-hole course in and around the Mars Hill College Campus. Check kiosk for details.

Black Mountain Recreation Park Disc Golf Course, Black Mountain, NC is a 9-hole course that caters to the recreational player. This course contains a mix of wooded and open shots. A river comes into play for many holes. Black Mountain technically challenges even the advanced player with tight skill shots.


Crookston Disc Golf Course, Fletcher, NC
is a professional caliber 9-hole course installed in 2001. The course is located at the Fletcher Community Park and contains many open shots as it meanders around a pond. There are professional as well as amateur tee boxes at every hole. Out-of-bounds comes into play throughout the course.

Western Carolina University Disc Golf Course
9 holes – Disc Catcher

Vance Street Disc Golf Course (Waynesville)
18 holes with 2 pin locations for each hole and a mixed bag of tee surfaces including grass, asphalt and concrete. The long pin total distance is 6692 and the short pin is 5010. The course is an open course with a few choice tree shots to give all who play it a good challenge!! Lots of O.B. to make it interesting including streams and creeks for plastic swimming!! The course offers some great views of the Southern Appalachians!!

Local Parks & Green Ways Near Asheville

OtterWow, check out this great directory of local parks and green ways around Asheville. You

Silk Dyed Easter Eggs – You've Got to Try This!

At the beginning of this experiment, I have to admit I had my doubts! Thinking: “there is no way this is going to work…” however it did work, and probably will work even better on my second attempt.

On this first batch, I did not use vinegar, or the second layer of white cloth; Both of which would probably make for better pattern transfer and brighter colors. Nonetheless it was fun, here are a few quick photos showing how the trial run turned out:

Silk Dyed Easter Eggs - Asheville NC

Silk Dyed Easter Eggs - Asheville NC

Tutorial by OurBestBites.com

Materials and Tools:

  • Raw Eggs
  • Glass or enamel pot (pretty much anything non-aluminum will work)
  • Silk Ties, Blouses, or Boxer Shorts
    (cut into pieces large enough to cover eggs)
  • An old white sheet or pillowcase
    (also cut into pieces to cover silk-wrapped eggs)
  • Twist Ties or String to secure cloth
    (I just tied the cloth around my eggs)
  • 4 Table Spoons of white vinegar
    (optional – but will give better colors)
  • Warm Water
  • Vegetable Oil (optional)
  • Paper Towels or Colander to dry eggs
  • Tongs or Spoon to handle Hot Eggs

1.) Remove seaming from ties & any lining inside. All you want is a piece of silk. Cut into a square (or any shape piece that will fully cover raw egg.

2.) Wrap an egg with a piece of silk, making sure printed side of the material is facing egg. Silk can still be used if it doesn’t fit perfectly around egg. Just try to make as much smooth contact with the fabric as possible. The pattern will transfer much better if it is right up against the egg. Any part that is folded or wrinkled will leave kind of a tie-dyed pattern (which is still cool – see my photos). Secure the cloth with a twist tie or string. (if you do not mind tie dye effect just tie cloth around the egg)

3.) Place the silk-wrapped egg in a piece of white sheet, pillowcase, or old tablecloth and secure tightly with another twist tie or string. (I skipped this step)

4.) Place the eggs in the pot. Fill pot with water to cover eggs completely. Then, add the 1/4 cup of vinegar. (I forgot vinegar)

5.) Bring water to a boil, turn down heat, simmer for 20-25 minutes.

6.) Remove eggs from water with tongs/spoon and let cool on paper towels or in colander.

7.) Once eggs are cool enough to handle, remove the fabric.

8.) Freak Out – Because they look so AMAZING!

9.) Add a bit of luster by dabbing vegetable oil on paper towel and rubbing eggs.

Have fun and post some pictures of your Easter Eggstravaganza!

Fun This Week: Dyeing Easter Eggs

Organic Easter Egg Dye - Asheville NCNo matter what else you have going on, take some time this week to dye a few Easter Eggs.

Thanks to the numerous farmers nearby and the Asheville City Chicken movement, it should be easy to find some inexpensive fresh local eggs.

Keeping with the healthy theme this Easter, here are some great organic Easter Egg coloring recipes:

Crush ingredients and Boil in water for ~5 minutes:
(the longer eggs remain in dye the brighter the colors will be)

Orange: Paprika
Dark Orange: Chili Powder
Yellow: Orange/Lemon Peels, Shredded Carrots, Onion Skins, Cumin, Curry Powder, Turmeric
Blue: Blue Berries, Blackberries, Grape Juice
Green: Try spinach, Kale
Red: Organic Rose Hips Tea or Pomegranate Juice
Brown: Organic Coffee grounds or Used Tea Bags
Pink: Fresh Organic Beets or Cranberries
Lavender: grape juice + lemon juice + red onion skins

For the regular food coloring method, try these Easter Recipes for more exotic coloring. Following each color listed below, add the number of drops of each food coloring to about 2 – 4 ounces of vinegar for dipping:

Lime – 24 yellow, 4 green
Purple – 15 blue, 5 red
Cantaloupe – 24 yellow, 2 red
Jade – 17 green, 3 blue
Plum – 10 red, 4 blue
Spearmint – 12 green, 6 yellow, 2 blue
Raspberry – 14 red, 6 blue
Maize – 24 yellow, 1 red
Watermelon – 25 red, 2 blue
Teal – 15 green, 5 blue
Grape – 17 blue, 3 red
Fuchsia – 18 red, 2 blue
Orange Sunset – 17 yellow, 3 red
Jungle Green – 14 green, 6 yellow

Have fun and snap a few photos of your Easter Egg Masterpiece!
I’d love to see how they turn out.

The Haw Creek Black Bear Returns!

The bear that was in my yard a few weeks ago returned again yesterday and visited with us for a few hours around lunch time; peacefully munching old apples that are buried under our leaf pile. We were able to snap a few more photos, ~Enjoy:

Haw Creek Black Bear - Asheville NC

Haw Creek Black Bear - Asheville NC

Haw Creek Black Bear - Asheville NC

We watched in total amazement as she enjoyed her lunch. These creatures are truly incredible; we are so blessed to live in such a beautiful area rich with native wildlife. These photos were taken in Haw Creek, East Asheville near the Blue Ridge Parkway.

It seems I am not the only one with a Black Bear story. When Governor Bev Purdue visited Asheville, not too long ago, she had a run in with a bear outside the Western Residence. Security footage shows a Black Bear family exploring the property, even walking along her back porch on that very same weekend:

[SWF]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkhDolblMvE,425,344[/SWF]

For more information on North Carolina

Downtown Road & Water Interruptions – April 2009

For the next several weeks, the City of Asheville Water Maintenance Construction Crew will be installing new water lines behind City Hall. This work will impact access and parking for City Hall, Buncombe County Detention Facility and Buncombe County

Another Local News Source Suspends Publication

Its hard to know how to react when economic hardship strikes so close to home. Today the MountainXpress announces that they too are having to make adjustments to stay afloat in these hard times:

The Mountain Xpress, Asheville, N.C.’s, alternative newsweekly, took a remarkable step on Wednesday, ending its 14-year run as a print publication (today’s issue is their last), suspending its regular online news reports and converting its entire news operation to Twitter dispatches from staff and trusted community journalists.

Sad Sad News, but as a community we can overcome this given enough time. On a happier note, Asheville is now home to the nation's first twitter-powered newspaper. Welcome to the Asheville Twaper – For the full story visit: Mountain Xpress: Our Twitter Manifesto

 Here’s Jeff Fobes breaking the news on YouTube:

[SWF]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAjKCwXI_Io,560,340[/SWF]