Monday - late post

 

Looking up at the steps I'm practicing on. I want to be able to walk up and down steps at the stadium for my granddaughter's graduation at Ohio State U. So my physical therapist suggested training to use my hiking pole to help with balance where there are no handrails! Thus I'm practicing on these steps at home.

Roses are already blooming.

I'm doing laundry this morning. Will join other seniors for lunch. I have all windows and doors open to nice breeze and hearing the birds. I can barely see the ridge tops through the trees, and can just barely hear traffic on various roads that I can't see. All the trees are green here, in different wonderful shades.

Today's quote:

Boundary setting is a communication skill that adds value to your life and allows you to experience less drama with others.

The view above the tracks

 Doughtery St. comes down the hill and makes a sharp turn into the beginning of Sutton St. At that corner above the tracks is now the Cove Auto repair shop. It opened in that location sometime since I' moved to this town in 2007...but I don't know what was there just before. The tracks haven't changed over the years.

A few weeks ago I showed a post card taken from the site of the Gladstone Hotel looking across the tracks HERE.

This early 20th century postcard captures the train pulling into Black Mountain station (coming from asheville) with the Gladstone (Gresham) Hotel perched on the hill nearby to the right. All the closest  trees on the left and the siding tracks are no longer  there.

"Hotel Gresham was located along the north side of the railroad tracks in downtown Black Mountain. Provided by Swannanoa Valley Museum."

"Built in 1882 as the Mount Mitchell Hotel, this structure served as the first hotel for the town. Unfortunately, the original building burned down in 1905 following a fire caused by sparks from coal being transported on the nearby train tracks. By 1911, a new hotel had been built at the same location, known as the Black Mountain Hotel. In time, this hotel was called the Gladstone - and later the Gresham. By 1947 this building had also burned down."

Source: Black Mountain News: Valley Rewind: Black Mountain's Hotel Gresham, details from Swannanoa Valley History Museum, April 1, 2024

Are you tired of seeing our dogwoods yet?

Looking the other direction, there's the same train depot, which now houses arts and crafts in The Olde Depot store.

As I stood near the tracks taking the above photos, I looked down to see this hardy volunteer plant.

The view looking down hill from the tracks, with an old stone building which might have been there when the hotel was.

Today's quotes:

History is all explained by geography. -Robert Penn Warren, novelist and poet (1905-1989)

Today I celebrate with all of you,
The miracle of sunlight,
The humble joy of being and breath
And the mystery and grace of each new day.
—Vincent VanGogh
The Field Next to the Other Road

Some local scenes, and notes about my life back in the 70s

 

Wisteria vines or trees gone wild...and a strange red blossom showed itself.

When a lot is allowed to go back to nature, soon the dominant vines take over. But there still remains a curb under the greenery, perhaps stopping more growth from going further.

Others choose to butcher their trees to keep them manageable.

On Vance Ave, Black Mountain, can be found this "Little Brown Church."

The joyful burst of citified dogwoods.

Louise's Kitchen (restaurant for breakfast and lunch) still had their shelter curtains down when I took this, but I noticed a few days later, those eating on the porch were open to sunshine and warm breezes.

The other side of Louise's Kitchen has these wonderful double blossom cherry trees.

Looking at the cherry trees from the side.

A dogwood against North Carolina blue sky!

And then we had a cold Sunday with rain last week. This is what happened at my apartment. 

Last night's national news showed more demonstrators being arrested on different campuses. And Columbia's shot showed the tents still up, though I was under the impression the day before they'd been told to disperse by 4 am.

I have no news as to the situation my granddaughter was in at George Washington University. But the shots on the news of arrests at Ohio State U. were disturbing. That's where I hope to go next week for my other granddaughter's graduation. As far as I know it's still happening.

I am reminded so much of the demonstrations against the Viet Nam war by students in the early 70s. I didn't take part, though I certainly supported them from conversations at work on  coffee breaks. I was a single working mother, so I limited my involvement so I wouldn't jeopardize being the bread-winner for my children.

But when selected for jury duty, I was among many who were questioned for a trial against students who had engaged in a sit-down demonstration in the middle of a busy intersection in Tampa FL. Each prospective juror was asked if they had any relations in the military, or in a university. If so they were released, as having prior bias. I wasn't selected, because I'd been a part time student near the place where that demonstration took place, as well as my ex-husband having served in the past in the military. I was really hoping I could serve on that jury, but admit that I was biased. Actually of the first 100 jurors called, I don't think anyone was seated. The students did have some fines against them, but I don't believe any were incarcerated.

Sharing with Skywatch Friday and  Floral Friday Fotos

Today's quote:

Grief and love are sisters, woven together from the beginning. Their kinship reminds us that there is no love that does not contain loss and no loss that is not a reminder of the love we carry for what we once held close.

FRANCIS WELLER

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.