Outside my apartment and the glass blowing place

We all have many aspects to ourselves - integrating these parts into wholeness is an important step in healing.

My kitchen window has this glorious bush of azaleas under it. Which I can't see, but my across the courtyard neighbors can! (And these photos were taken before the last rain!)

Another huge bush is under the next neighbors kitchen window down the hill.  Here are the iris too!

 

While stopped at the light on State Street last week, I saw the new addition to the site for a glass blowing studio and gallery. It may open this summer. I hope so!

A small and well contained honeysuckle bush was by the parking lot behind the Swannanoa History Museum. I remembered the joy of pulling the bottom off a bloom and sucking the honey, many times. The natural plant has become a bit of a nuisance as it vines all over the place often.

Today's quote:

You may want to press the fast-forward button through your pain, but in doing so you would miss out on important learning.

PS: All the new leaves and blossoms on trees outside my apartment window have hidden my view of I-40 already. Soon, I'll loose sight of the ridgeline on the other side of the valley for about 5-6 months.

Lake Tomahawk and approaches to it - April 2024

 Driving to the Tomahawk Senior Center, I was thrilled at the springtime beauty. Here are shots through the car window, on a day when I could stop without traffic behind me!

And construction continues, but the lake is refilled to it's normal level. The dam is still off limits, so no walking around on the 0.55 mile loop, just walk halfway then back. 

From the top of the stairs at the Lakeview Center, 4.20.24

Below the dam, 4.22.24 Photo by James Polling

And from on top of the dam at the barricade, by Bob Nagan, 4.23.24

View from by the lake 4.22.24

View from top of stairs at Lakeview Center 4.22.24

Today's quote:

Most truths are so naked that people feel sorry for them and cover them up, at least a little bit. 

-Edward R. Murrow, journalist (1908-1965)

Sharing with My Corner of the World

Greening of the mountains

 I've reveled in seeing the slow (sometimes overnight!) movement of trees' turning green up the slopes from the valleys this spring.

So a few days ago (not on a weekend) I drove up on the Blue Ridge Parkway to see what there was on higher slopes.

Haw Creek Valley overlook from the Blue Ridge Parkway. Most greenery was evident on south facing slopes, or where the roadway had allowed more sun to hit the trees.

I continued to the next, my favorite, overlook.

A panorama shows the little curb of the extension of the overlook, which is designed for disabled access. I saw a jet plane off in the distanced higher than those clouds. And then suddenly the distant sound hit me, somehow carried over many miles, and it was gone again before the plane was out of sight.  A few minutes later I looked straight up and another plane was going overhead quite tiny to see, and I had it's sound just for a brief moment.

Somewhere in that distance is Black Mountain, but it's behind a ridge I think.  I consider this my backyard. I'll take my little chair up here and enjoy the changes through the seasons a few times this year. Once I brought a book. Nope, don't want to look at anything except this immensity of trees, and earth and rocks thrown up into mountains. It's about as far to drive from my home as it is to a doctor's office in Asheville. Guess which one I like to do most!

There are wonderful breezes that come and go on an afternoon. I thought I should have brought sunblock, though the sun was mostly behind me at around 3 pm.

This is my temporary header photo. Since I change the header all the time, I want to keep it here in a post.

I was glad to see a bit of dogwood in bloom. It was hard to get a photo of it, because you can't exactly pull over along the parkway. There are specific pull-out places where people park to go hiking, so those were the only choices besides the overlooks.

Slowing down and taking this through the windshield left a lot to be desired.

Today's quote:

Our brokenness is also the source of our common humanity, the basis for our shared search for comfort, meaning, and healing. Our shared vulnerability and imperfection nurtures and sustains our capacity for compassion.

BRYAN STEVENSON

Celebrating Earth Day

 Early morning (for me) up at 8. Made coffee. Checked stuff on computer while nibbling on granola, blue berries and yogurt. It was raining. It was just 46 degrees F outside. My mini-split unit on the wall was heating the apartment a bit.

The dogwoods have been losing their petals, so I walked between beautiful pale pink snow on the ground outside my door. 

Facebook video of Earth Day

My friends from the Climate Conversation group hosted an interactive display again at Lake Tomahawk. I was unable to attend due to cold wet weather, which makes my COPD and coughing worse.

Annelinde Metzner led the Sahara Peace Choir in singing some Earth Day type songs.

If I can download the photos I took with my iPhone, I'll add them tomorrow.

These were from my friend Kevin Jones, who showed folks how to make Kieffer.

Otter know better!

  Otters anyone?

I adore these playful critters! And here's a video where house crows interact with them as well.

"Bandit" Baker showing just how fierce he is.

Sharing with Saturday Critters.

OK OK, here's a photo I took myself...just to show I'm still walking around looking for critters in real life!

Our maintenance man leaves his window down in his car, so Puff, our resident kitty, decided to explore inside his car the other day. She stayed a while, and I doubt that he ever noticed!

Today's quote:

Courage is what love looks like when tested by the simple everyday necessities of being alive.

DAVID WHYTE

Paired people

Twosomes for April, as our Sepia suggested meme. 

This week a couple are sitting on deck chairs.  But my collected sepia photos yields some interesting famous, or infamous people.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony by Napoleon Sarony, c. 1870. National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution.

Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, her husband

Marie Curie Right. Albert Einstein Left. In the Year 1927, at Solvay Conference on Quantum Mechanics

Two sisters, Florence and Susie Friermuth arrested for moonshining during the Prohibition, 1921.

John Muir & Teddy Roosevelt 1903 Yosemite

Union and Confederate Civil War Veterans shake hands in peace at the 1913 Gettysburg reunion. These are the only seated pair for my sharing today...no deck chairs here!

A debutant ball in Harlem, 1940s. Here are many young couples paired off for dancing.

Today's quote:

When we experience change in our life, we only can control our response and reaction to the changes that are happening.

Come see what others are posting on Sepia Saturday (mainly tomorrow!)