From the left, Matt, Regie, Amy and I shamelessly posing on a dog walk. Spencer is barely visible in front of Regie and Bear is completely hidden other than his totally recognizable German Shepherd ears visible behind Abner. Getting all the people to look at the camera at the same time was an accomplishment. Hoping for cooperation of all the dogs was probably unreasonable.

These three shots are of Abner and Spencer playing after the walk. Bear started to get involved but wasn't sure how it would work with three dogs at the same time so he just kind of hung out and watched.

In what I hope will be an ongoing effort to show more of urban Asheville to those of you who haven't been here, I am starting with the Basillica of St. Lawrence downtown. This baby is a must-see if you come to town. Amazing dome.

Above is a shot of the Buncombe County Administration building with the new modern jail growing out the back. Below is one of many really wonderful examples of the success of the Art in Public Places program in downtown Asheville. I will post more as I get a chance to photograph them.

The shot above is looking south on Haywood Street, one of the principal downtown commercial streets. Almost all the buildings have housing above the street level. . .very renaissance. Below is a shot looking east from Haywood at the hills that separate downtown from East Asheville.

These two shots show the views up and down Lexington Avenue from the balcony of my new condo. The lower shot is looking north at the Kress building (now condos and artsy stores) and the hills of North Asheville in the background.

Above is Abner in the as yet unfurnished great room of the condo. I take him over there pretty much every time I go so he is getting used to being downtown. The photo below is of the gorgeous Art Deco City Hall.

Regie and I sometimes walk the dogs around Biltmore Forest where she and Eric live. It occurred to me that I have never posted photos of the Forest, or for that matter, much of town, so I am going to try to rectify that in the next few posts. The next group of houses are all in Biltmore Forest and will give you some of the flavor of the neighborhood.

The above photo is actually not a house, but the clubhouse for Biltmore Forest Country Club. I don't know why my camera decided to do this arty black and white shot with green being the only color that made it, but I liked the shot anyway.

This is, in my opinion, an excellent example of why there should be design review. The gargantuan house below which is, in my opinion, one of the greater architectural travesties in Buncombe County, was recently completed directly across the street from the house you see above. I feel sorry for the owners of the one above.

This is actually a gate house to a side entrance to Biltmore from Biltmore Forest. I am very enamored of the lanterns on top of the gateposts, one of which you can see below. Passholders at Biltmore get to use this entrance on days when the crowds are big enough to require timed entry into the house.

This is something I don't think I have shot or posted before. Even though Abner and I probably walk by the Winery at Biltmore roughly once a week, I don't think I ever shot the weather vane before. It was in the perfect position due to wind and sun so I finally got my shot. If you click on this one and blow it up, I think you will see the beautiful detail including the "V" for Vanderbilt cut into the vane. I don't know the history of this. The winery itself is a comparatively new rehab of the old dairy buildings and a great deal of what you see today is modern construction but I have a feeling this weather vane might be original. I guess I have to ask Ellen Rickman next time our paths cross.

This is some of the older artillery you can see at Fort Moultrie. You really should see the diagrams they have posted on what it took to move and aim the beast in the upper picture.

These are a couple garden and entry shots of pretty Charleston historic district houses. The pink one below is on the market for something in the $3 million range in case any of you feels the need. It is a deceptively big house with guest house behind but still. . .

These shots were all taken on our day trip to Fort Moultrie in Charleston Harbor. The photo of Jim simply screamed to be posted. Mea Culpa.