The bee visitor

 

This little bee decided the fabric of a tote bag was very interesting. At one point she just went round and round on one of the circles. 

Then my attention went elsewhere. I met a new member of our little group, the daughter of another Mud Buddy. 

Genevieve brought some earrings and worked on making some hot/cold bags that were full of rice.

After the market, as I packed my tote bag, I noticed complete stillness in the bee, no more walking at all.  So I carefully tilted her into the grass, whether she was alive or not. 

Today's quote:

When we are in the presence of what inspires us, we hear our inner guidance more clearly.

Sharing with Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday)Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday)

Where's this anyway?

 

Driving by this field and grassy area on Sunday May 19, 2024, it's hard to believe that under the trees on that grass just the day before had been the busy Black Mountain Tailgate Market.

Tailgate Market, May 18, 2024.

OK, there are days when I gird my loins (do women do that?) and go to a big ox store (typo intentional.) I just was waiting and took these shots...BIG is certainly the best way of looking at it. Babe the Blue Ox comes to mind from my typo.

I was amazed that that Milk sign came so clear in the photo from the very front of the store...and you might also note all the men in the grocery aisles! I think a hike in those big outside aisles is clearly over a mile. The only problem is people getting in your way!

I like these pretty flowers. 

Does this give you a good enough hint where I was shopping on Tuesday, May 21? I didn't buy either flowers or watermelon. Just thought they were good photo subjects.

Sharing with Thankful Thursday

And Little Things Thursday 

And Floral Friday Fotos

Today's quote:

YOUR LIFE IS AN ART PROJECT! Put the emphasis on the quality of your adventures as much as on what you produce. Regard your life as a noble and inspiring work of art.

Tony Clennell (potter/blogger in Canada)

Mud Buddies Pottery and the Black Mountain Tailgate Market

 Last week I posted my joy at being back at the Tailgate Market in Black Mountain NC HERE.

Being a returning Mud Buddy to sell my pottery is a lot more work than just sitting there, or standing and talking to people. The weather has been just wonderful, though of course thunder storms are due sometime today...(writing this a few hours after I got home.)  

The other member of our group that is there is Amelia Packer. She's wonderful at setting up the little red tent, as well as bookkeeping our sales. I unload my car on First Street, right behind our booth, and she moves it into place, then I set up table and my and Cathy Babula's pottery.

My pots this week. 

Cathy Babula's pottery.  Cathy is out with an injury still, but has many people asking after her. She doesn't have many pieces for sale at this point.

Amelia's pottery

More of Amelia's pottery

A very popular booth with tie-dyed clothing.

A nice raised bed flower garden at the main entrance from the parking lot.

Since I'm so bad with names, I kept notes of people who asked me to say hi to Mud Buddies who weren't there today. As well as connections to other potters in the area. Whew, this little introvert made more effort today to be sociable.

I tried to help Ellen, who has Gaia Rising booth next to ours, with the result of my pinkie getting snagged in a pole connection. Ouch! Nice swelling and bruises, and I'm typing without using it.

There are only a few produce items for sale this early in the year, so plants and baked goods are selling well.  But both Amelia and I sold some pottery, so it was a good day for us. I've now got the touch payment thing working on my phone, so we had a sale each with credit cards. Others are happy to pay in cash since they know we pay a fee to have credit purchases.

I could relax some of the time and enjoy the wonderful oaks that embrace the marketplace. Thank heaven the pollen was low today! (Just Thursday night the pine pollen really hit me hard.)

My favorite shot of a market-goer today!

And a good friend who visited too. She wasn't the only one, I just forgot to snap photos of others!

Today's quote:

Gratefulness opens me up to receive the flow of blessing and connects me with the source of that flow.

RABBI SHEFA GOLD

Just a few of my canine friends from last week

 At the Tailgate Market in Black Mountain, many people bring their dogs. They have to behave...in all good doggie fashion.

It was a sunny cool morning...just right for a stroll around the market.

This sweet blue tick hound sends hi to my granddog, Zora, who lives in CO.

Then there was the man in a kilt and sneakers, and a tee shirt that said Coonhounds.

He said his hound had ADHD and was focusing on one thing at a time. She sure did, making sure she was quite comfortable while he stood in line for baked goods. (wouldn't it be nice to have folks stand in line at our pottery booth?)  And he had no Scottish accent either.

I'm pretty sure this was Rosemary, who's mother makes her dresses. (There's a pet store in Black Mountain (Bone Afide) with everything imaginable, I wonder if these are there...)

I was at an interesting booth selling pottery every once in a while...but had plenty of time to snap some of the pooches. Actually, these are only the first batch!

This lovely lady (Shirley, Shelly?) sat behind our booth at the sidewalk wall. Her family parked there a while and ate.

See you next week!

Sharing with Saturday's Critters.

Today's quote:

Courage has nothing to do with our determination to be great. It has to do with what we decide in that moment when we are called upon to be more.

RITA DOVE

Last market for 2023

My friends drove over an hour to purchase their wreathes from Urban Farm Girl. I was really tempted. The dried flowers were wonderful in wreathes! Friends also wanted to reconnect with friends here!

Though I didn't get involved in the pie tasting, I did support the market by purchasing a nice yellow tee shirt with a sunflower on it.

The Mudbuddies had to keep holding the legs of their pop-up when wind gusts would blow through. Everyone was well tied down, with so many tents it was good.

I supported Girl Scouts and a local cheese vendor, as well as one selling Elderberry syrup.

My lunch at the Black Mountain Bistro consisted of seafood chowder and a half chicken salad sandwich, a few diet cokes, and some home-made chips. There were some salads also among our lunch choices. And there were some Berry Pie deserts as well as one Bistro Bites...little brownie bites, heated with ice cream on top. I didn't look at it while my friend ate it.

The good friends sitting across from me. I had two shy friends sitting next to me. It was great to be with them all again...all Mudbuddies through the years. 

Today's quote:

One does not ask of one who suffers: What is your country and what is your religion? One merely says: You suffer, that is enough for me. -Louis Pasteur, chemist and bacteriologist (1822-1895)

I met this cute spaniel on my way into the market...there were a few dogs, a few strollers, and a few younger people. But I kept seeing my friends, most of whom I must admit are qualified to be called elders.