Happy Halloween

From the Pisgah Inn looking toward Hendersonville, NC

Purple mountain sunshine

Contrasting the tips of the trees yellows is the lens changing sunshine to purple.

 Tree tops start the color change.

Fair in the fall

Come to Dillsboro, NC the first weekend in November, every year for the greatest collection of outdoor pottery booths ever! I am unable to attend it this year, so hope some of my friends will carry their cameras and share with me.

Looking out through Treehouse Shop window at the pottery fair in Dillsboro, NC

Quote for the day:

“To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter; to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird's nest or a wildflower in spring - these are some of the rewards of the simple life.” 

John Burroughs

They stayed open

The Pisgah Inn and restaurant were open on the Blue Ridge Parkway, during the government shutdown earlier this month.  First they were the only place open, then the government closed them, then they were open again.  They are privately owned and operated, so it makes sense.

A sweet little gift shop by the restaurant

Mt. Pisgah itself

Simple and clean lines of the buildings

The new name signs for motel area and restaurant are using Native American words, I'm pretty sure.

Restaurant entrance

Daily Specials...lunch from 11:30- 4, but they also do breakfast and dinner

Even on a grey day, the view on the porch is stupendous

Too much sun?

This would have been my first picture of gorgeous fall color, but the sunshine flashed it to white.  Those trees on the slope above the green ones by the road...well, you'll just have to take my word for it!

Proof of autumn

When I pulled over to look for better views of early fall folliage, my windshield was graced by a proof.

Rock garden

Early color on the rocks above the Parkway.  I keep saying I'll go back and take more pictures of this same rock face.  Maybe later this year, so you can see a progression of the colors.

Today's Quote:

Sticks in a bundle cannot be broken.

Bondei Proverb

 

Color slowly creeps along

Taken on Oct. 2, my sense is that in a week, all this will have turned more vivid.

So here's Oct. 9, but another location entirely.

Looking Glass Falls in the fall

Below the falls, the creek that becomes Davidson creek, I wonder if it's called that all the way up the mountain?

Stairs wend down to the observation area at the foot of the falls.  Going down is realtively easy.  You know the rest.

There are nice climbing rocks at the bottom, next to the shallow pool, so I ventured out as far as I could with dry boots.  Spray was sometimes blowing my way even then.  I found it interesting that my skill of rock hopping returned to me easily and coming back up was a breeze, because I could tell the rocks weren't really slippery from that angle.  Going down the rocks I was much more careful than on the stairs.

Sorry I called them Window Pane Falls the other day...I've corrected my mistake.  I've been getting those names confused ever since I first visited these falls in 2005 (I think).

Double post

Yesterday I posted today's blog...which you can understand in cyber-space.  I work ahead, and have the date scheduled usually...but messed up and gave same date to 2 blogs.
So please be patient, and if you missed one of yesterday's, go back to it today, and imagine that it was here on the right time at the right place.  That's how lots of things are being done these days.  It's not right in reality, so you have to imagine the rightness.

Little Switzerland's Used Bookstore

Sorry to have posted twice for today...my bad.  I am trying to get ahead because so much is happening before the middle of Nov...but I'm really spinning my wheels it seems.  Enjoy!

So

There's a used bookstore in Little Switzerland

Sorry for blur! Reading room in used bookstore Little Switzerland, NC

Lots of antique type things all around, see the chicken?

A small gallery with photographs of the area...and

knitted hats and scarves!

Across the street the Glassblower's hut

We did drive home on this route, and at the very end saw a group of motorcycles coming up it.  I would imagine they'd have more fun coming down, like we did.

The book store has a great gag out in the parking lot right under this sign. 

The diamondback!

This outdoor venue wasn't open for business on Wed in October.  Maybe on weekends however...

The bookstore has coffee for sale, a great porch to sit upon, and is next to a good restaurant, I hear.

And there are thousands of used books to browse through!  Room after room.

Even cute artifacts nestled among the books, I love Nefertti next to the ceramic cat and paper boxes.