Downtown gardens

 On the ridge between two parking lots, and the slope below, are great gardens by the Garden Club of  Black Mountain.  Last week I caught this iris smiling at me as I gazed toward the railroad tracks below.  To find this lovely area, look on Depot St. where it meets Dougherty...behind the Center for the Arts.

Rhododendrons in charm

Montreat Campground - Part One

Before you arrive at the turnoff to the campground, basically crossing a bridge over Flat Creek, there's a spot where you can see the foundation for an old building, or perhaps bridge.

A private campground.  I wish I could have found one as lovely back in the days I was camping for months on end.  (Did it twice, once on the road in 75, and once  in 79...and fortunately had a camper van for both occasions.)

Half the sites are on the water, and half across the road in trees.

Quote for the day:

Eternal Spirit -- Earth-Maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver; source of all that is and that shall be; Father and Mother of us all. Loving God, in whom is heaven. The hallowing of your name echoes through the universe!

The New Zealand Prayer Book

Memorial day cemetery visit

Mountain View Baptist Church, Black Mountain, NC

Worl War I

World War I

World War II, Korea

World War II

World War I

I was able to only take pictures, and enjoy the view in 3 directions.  In one view I even was able to see the Burnett Reservoir.  Many of the people who lived before it was flooded are buried here.   I share just those whose headstones speak of their service in the armed forces...and these are just the few that I noticed.  I didn't take the time to look at all the graves.
Gratitude for soldiering that may have peace as its goal.

ZZZZ

On techno break.  Will be back soon.  Smiles, living out in the real world!

Parkway AND Tailgate Market

I promised you more pictures of my tour on the Blue Ridge Parkway, but Saturday morning I'm actually at the Tailgate Market in Black Mountain, NC.
From 9-12 the MudBuddies have pottery, and the other vendors have lots of other lovely things to eat, wear and plant.

I've got a completely new selection of pots for you to chose from, including over 20 tiny vases at $10 or less.  And here're photos from our market posted last week!.

OK, now the commercial message is over, let's see those photos! Tanbark Overlook Vista is where we left off yesterday.

It was bright and sunny, coolish once I was over 3000 feet, and there were all these different colors of green.  All bright new foliage on the trees and bushes.

Before I knew it I was at the turnoff to Craggy Gardens Picnic Area.  This is a favorite spot for picnics on Memorial Day (this Monday!)  Here is the lovely bed of Trillium across from the turnoff.

More Trillium tomorrow!  Then the picnic grounds!  What a surprise of wildflowers there!

Quote for the day:

Hope is the deep orientation of the human soul that can be held at the darkest times.

Vaclav Havel

A ride for a whim

Some days you just have a few hours that you could use to do the laundry, or you could go for a ride.
So yesterday I filled the tank with 8 gallons of gas...just under $30.  The guy who had been there before me used $75.  Glad I'm not driving what he is.

And I headed up north on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

My decision was based somewhat on the fact that I hadn't been there yet this spring, and this coming weekend is due to be a traffic snarl so I definitely didn't want to go then, (though I tend to avoid driving on weekends where tourists like to go)...and I could certainly do housework when the sun wasn't out and so on.

I drove into town and realized I'd forgotten my good camera.  This trip was not going to be shots with the iPhone.  So what's one mile in the greater scheme of things?  Drove back and picked up camera, and stopped at a fast food place for a bite for the road, and I was on the Parkway.  Wheee.

What's this?  Well I had to wait for my onion rings, so I got to take a picture of these roses growing by the fence.  And I had to say hi to Teresa at the gas station.  Then I was off to the Parkway...

One tentative plan was to sit here and just knit (I kid you not) in my sling chair since it was cool and sunny.

 But the chair was under some other stuff in the trunk, so I just kept on driving.  This overlook gives a view of the mountains around Black Mountain, midway to the furthest ridge.

I've got more pictures to post tomorrow!

Quote for the day:

Gratitude is the memory of the heart.

St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier
Motto for the Sisters of the Good Shepherd of Our Lady of Charity