Town Square changes

The guys working on the Town Square in Black Mountain were out again with their machinery last week.  Before it got cold and snowed, they poured some concrete around the "water feature."  Lots of concrete.  I guess it makes sense with lots of foot traffic expected.  I'm just sorry that our nice green area is turning into pavement.  They covered everything with tarps of plastic for a few days...the concrete that is.

Construction update

Tearing off the roofing, while watchers stand on the ceiling of the new kitchen area.  What next?

Ah, a new second story room also.  This is almost doubling the floor space of this house!  Whow.

Spring Party

Oops, is my face red...I was putting this together to be posted on the 28th...and it came up on the 27th.  So I guess I won't have a separate post on the 28th...this is it!

Linda had a spring/birthday party combination...and we had such fun!

Pot luck dinner, sitting outside on her porch as the sun set...

Life pushing out

That bud on the end of the stem is not in focus, and the silly green plastic tie to the stake is...sorry about that, a smart phone is only as smart as an average focus.

This new little tree is being helped, while an elder perches next to a stream where she's sat for probably 75 years.

People have been here

March 22 debris as well as stack of stones to the left in mid-stream, a cairn!

I caught a picture of the debris that's been piling against the rocks a month or so ago.  The new stack of rocks says someone felt like wading on one of our warmer days, and left a cairn.

Feb 23, 2014 debris lands against stones in the creek as floods come and go with rainfall

Clouds rolling in

Look past the foreground to the tops of those mountains...

Where there should be mountains is a wall of clouds pouring down into our valley

In the 10 seconds to take these pictures, at the red light, you can see how these clouds descended.  Didn't bring any change in the weather, but it was really neat to see temperature at work!

The train tracks go up to Ridgecrest, then over the pass to Old Fort to the east, with (I've heard) 11 tunnels many switchbacks between Old Fort and Black Mountain. 

Running water and daffodils

In honor of our waters

True Mac confessions

Slowly she crept, step by step...
do you remember the Abott and Costello skit about Niagra Falls?
My youngest did that line for a performance when he was in 6th grade.

So when I wanted "fast food" one evening, I was dismayed to find it slow to obtain.  And of course I was already in the part of the line where my order had been taken.  I could have driven away and left the orders out of order.  But they were obviously having some problems, probably those underpaid high schoolers trying to perform quick tricks with food, so I stuck it out...a whole 15 minutes before getting my food.

Picnic anyone?

Happy Spring Equinox, which was yesterday and just slipped right by me!

moon and rain

Yep, they're out there howling.  Full moon, and look at that mist.

You are looking at ice, not water.

Construction update

On the back of the house that's being renovated, a new living area is constructed.

That stump is probably going to be around for a while!

A peak at spring

Imagine me sitting in my nice wicker chair, sipping something cold, reading my book, and wearing sunblock, a week ago when it was 70 degrees for 2 days in a row.  Now we've got 2 days in a row of freezing rain.  (At least it's not snow, like fellow blogger from Ithica, NY, Gary Rith has!)

Teresa's granddaughter, Madison

Teresa, Sarah, and Chris (and Madison-to-be)

Teresa and Stephanie

Teresa, Sara and Steph

Wild "guess the girth contest"...with pieces of string

happy parents to be

I haven't been to a baby shower since my middle son's first was expected.  So Saturday was a fun occasion for me to join my friend Teresa and her daughters...with her family and his family all gathered to celebrate the coming birth of Madison.  I hope they can see these photos somehow.

I love St. Patricks Day

...from green beer to the great step-dancing to drumming.  Ahhh.
Shamrocks are beautiful, if somewhat weedy once they are established.  "Erin go bragh!"

I need to read seriously the Irish history which includes some of my ancestors, as well as the Scottish ones who were forced to move to Ireland by the British.  I don't know which side is right or wrong. And lots of wonderful music has been written.

I love the myths.  Bridgid.
The ancient sites.  Newgrange.

So I will salute St. Patrick's day, which was brought by the immigrants from Ireland to the US...and still goes strong each March 17.  Erin go bragh!

St. Patrick's Day Parade, Dublin, Ireland

And especially a toast to my son who was active celebrating St. Patty's day this weekend.  I hope he's feeling up to going to work on the real St. Patrick's Day!

Duplicate blogging today.  Gotta go...

Dam at Lake Susan

A favorite restaurant...The Veranda

At busy times, there is sometimes a short wait for a table.

During your wait, there's some fun stuff to browse through.

And you may notice the same two women who are standing in the first picture on the sidewalk, here reflected on their backsides.

It's on Cherry St., downtown Black Mountain, but not open on Sun
http://www.verandacafeandgifts.com/