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Shelter Dog Transport Alliance
If you are looking for a volunteer opportunity where you receive tail wags, kisses, and exercise, look no further than Shelter Dog Transport Alliance. Almost every week, The Shelter Dog Transport Alliance partners with over a dozen county shelter systems that are experiencing overcrowding and are in need of valuable space. When our shelters are at capacity, they safely transport at-risk dogs and cats to Northern rescue partners where forever homes anxiously await them. Because of strict spay/neuter laws, our Northern states have tackled pet overpopulation and are able to open their homes and hearts to our shelter animals in need.
Volunteers meet at Smokey Park Supper Club in the River Arts District of Asheville and spend an hour walking the dogs along the greenway to tire them out before their long van ride to the North. You don’t need to bring anything except yourself. There is no sign up, just grab a leash, learn your dogs name, and bring them back in an hour.
This past week I had the pleasure of walking “Honey”. She was so sweet, thankful, and fantastic on a leash. Honestly, I would have kept her if it were an option. The best way to learn about upcoming transports is to follow Shelter Dog Transport Alliance on Instagram or Facebook. It is one of the highlights of my week. See you there.
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I spy
I spy my old house. One of my former neighbors has enlisted me to sell their adorable bungalow in North Asheville. It made me so happy that they trusted me with their adorable home. Last weekend, my daughter and I went back to the old neighborhood and chatted with some of our old friends. We had the best time catching up and seeing that the more things change the more they stay the same.
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Paris
I had the best time taking my 14 year old daughter to Paris for a week in June. It felt great to travel and to get to spend some quality time with my main girl. We met my college roommate and her daughter and stayed in an Airbnb by the Louvre. I couldn’t have asked for a better trip. The weather was perfect with blue sky’s and not hot. Every morning, Elizabeth and I would run down the Seine to the Eiffle tower and back. We tried to do one touristy thing a day so that the girls weren’t worn out. It was Fashion Week and the Solstice so the city was alive with music and entertainment. Can Asheville Realty Group set up and office in Paris?
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Love
In honor of Valentines Day, I wanted to share a cool spot I found in the River Arts district. I went for a run along the new greenway and saw this spray painted container. It resonated with me because to know Asheville is to love it. The landscape, people and creativity are just a few of the fabulous things this community has to offer. We take pride in our little mountain town.
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Setting Up Shop In A New Town
Moving to a new town is hard. Let’s not sugar coat it. We can skip over finding a house, moving in and getting the lights turned on. What about the little things like where is the closest grocery store, who is a reputable dry cleaner, is it to late to get my child on a soccer team, just to name a few?
When I moved to Asheville, I had all of these questions. My daughter was 4 months old and I had no idea how to fill my days in a new city. One day while walking around Beaver lake with my parents, my mom said, “Emily, I am going to find you some friends”. She knew I was struggling and lost. Two young women were strolling together in the distance, my mom walked over to them and said, “My daughter is new to town and needs some friends. Y’all look nice.” Little did I know that my mother hit the jackpot. One of the women happened to be a Realtor and gave me her card. My husband and I were renting at the time and considering buying, so I gave her a call. Fast forward 10 years and I now work with that Realtor at Asheville Realty Group, our daughters went to the same preschool and now elementary school and we live in the same neighborhood.
The moral of my story is that you never know how one new person will change the trajectory of your life. My mom gave me the nudge to put myself out there and make new friends. Thank goodness we were at the lake that day. My Realtor showed me the basics of Asheville living and I couldn’t be happier.
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Why Asheville?
First blog, hmmmm. Where to begin? Perhaps why Asheville? What makes me never want to live anywhere else?
I have been fortunate enough to travel extensively throughout my 41 years. My family moved around when I was younger so I am no stranger to starting over. In my head I am a big city girl. I lived briefly in NYC, Atlanta for almost a decade and Charlotte as a small child. So these things do not equate to living in a small town for the rest of my life. But here I am, putting down roots in western NC. So why?
#1 The People
I am always amazed at the interesting people I meet in this town. This isn’t the easiest place to find a job so a lot of people bring theirs with them or piece together a few odds and ends to make life work. I find myself sitting at a dinner table with friends discussing how we got to this place. A vacation that felt like home. A love of outdoors. Born and raised and was drawn back. Everyone has a story.
#2 The Beauty
If you know me, you know I love to run and ride my bike. This is an athletes paradise. The Blue Ridge Parkway is in my back yard (not literally) but part of my usual biking route. Have you seen the views? Crisp fresh air, amazing climbs and descents, fall foliage people seek from all over the US, just part of my everyday routine. And lets not forget the trails. Before I moved here, I had never run on a trail. Strictly a road girl in the ATL. There is nothing like getting out in the woods to get away from it all.
#3 The Food
I like to eat and Asheville does not disappoint. It is nearly impossible to narrow down a list of my favorites. I love being a tourist and going to the spots you have probably read about in national publications, but you can’t forget the hidden gems and food trucks that make this place special. Need a recommendation? Send me a message and I will be happy to share.
