One day when Abner and I were heading toward the Arbor Trace hike using the trail along the river, we encountered this view of some of Biltmore's Angus herd enjoying a mild winter day grazing.

At Riverbend Farm, there is an area where small numbers of livestock are held for visitors to have up-close contact with farm animals. One afternoon, a chicken that wasn't too swift turned into a meal for a local hawk. This was probably a little more of a nature lesson than some of the parents had expected their kids receive.

There are days in the winter that are so still that the Bass pond turns into a perfect mirror. I have shot the boathouse before, but rarely with the water so calm.