Yesterday, today and tomorrow

 From yesterday (first off) here's an article about "Intheoaks" that was written before it became Montreat College in Black Mountain, as I posted in yesterday's blog.

Yesterday

And more recently another auto manufacturer (VW) became unionized by its workers.

I'm quite interested in news about the students' demonstrating on various college campuses and how various armed law enforcement personnel confronted them on Thursday, April 25. The students started weeks ago demonstrating against the hostilities killing innocent people in Gaza. Then the Jewish students were asked to study remotely by the administration of a few universities, to protect them from any "anti-Semitism."

So on the NBC news on April 25, I saw a long article about the college demonstrations all over the US. The UCLA demonstrations have meant they canceled the commencement ceremony. I also saw police arresting many students and faculty at different colleges. Then I wrote my son to see if his two college students were involved. He said yes, the daughter attending George Washington University, in DC, was right in the middle of things. (photo below)

Needless to say, this grandmother is feeling proud but a bit worried about her well being. I'm proud that she's demonstrating for a cause that is to promote peace, in stopping the war in Gaza. I'm worried that the violence from law enforcement isn't interested in peace as its goal.

The very short clip of the Ohio State University demonstrators (below) looked pretty orderly. I don't think my other granddaughter is involved, or her father would have told me. I'm going to see her graduate in a week.

Today (above)

Tomorrow?

Montreat College in Black Mountain

Montreat (just north of Black Mountain) is the home of the college of the same name, as well as vacation and retirement homes (mainly for Presbyterian ministers and their families.) But in the last year or so, Montreat College opened another campus which had formerly been a retreat and before that had been a private mansion and grounds. That story needs telling in a separate post. But here's a good article I found on the internet "Intheoaks"

As the sign says, there are atheletic fields here, which are missing in the original Montreat College, just a couple of miles a way. The "Manor House" is probably the old mansion, I'm guessing.

The drive takes one back through heavily wooded areas, then there are parking lots available for students, and other smaller buildings.

The Manor House

These little shabby shelter buildings may be left from the last "retreat center" days...or earlier.

Today's quote:

“It is good to love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is well done.”

Vincent Van Gogh

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.