Early birthday gift

My cousin Sheri leaves late today to fly back to Ohio (and the cold weather that she is not really looking forward to having to deal with!).  We had a busy time seeing some of my favorite places in South and North Carolina.  She has been here before but usually spends the time at the beach with her family and does not venture out to see what else is here.    She did scope out a few places that were for sale..maybe she will move here when she retires if she can talk her hubby into leaving home.

This tea brewing cup that I admired at the Biltmore gift shop is an early birthday gift for me from her for being the driver and tour guide while she was here.   I know it will be used many times!

At Biltmore, there was an exhibit of the Vanderbilts wedding dresses.  The wife of the Vanderbilt that built the house is one and the other is a Vanderbilt bride who was a cousin to Jackie Kennedy and wore the same Irish lace veil belonging to  their grandmother for their weddings four years apart.    Photos in the extras.   The dresses were white but the color is not very good under the lights and glass.