Black Mountain

The greening of the mountains from Blue Ridge Rd, Black Mountain, North Carolina.

Wednesday, May 31, 2023

Cathy Babula's pottery again

 


Potters Market 2019 in Marion NC. And then everything was canceled in 2020.

Some low fired pottery for planters, by Cathy.


Here are some more of Cathy Babula's early work.


My favorite very big mug...for those kinds of mornings!

It also can look like 2 mugs coming and going.

A larger bowl in the design you've seen before.


A nice deep bowl...more than one serving of something.


A vase with whimsical leaves and berries.

And let's not wait till next week...here's the latest pottery by Cathy

A large vase by Cathy Babula...in her new floral design.


This was her display at the first Tailgate Market of the season 2023...first weekend in May! I dare say some of these pots are sold by now.

Today's quotes:

Truth may walk through the world unarmed.

BEDOUIN PROVERB

Those who are awake live in a constant state of amazement. JACK KORNFIELD 


I like talking about things that are taboo because it makes them not taboo anymore. -Sarah Silverman, comedian (b.1970)

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Taco Billy

 Helen and I finally had a chance to eat lunch at Taco Billy in Black Mountain NC. I started a few months ago as I drove by, clicking a couple of photos, and grabbing one from Facebook. And included the menu. HERE


It's sort of local, being an offshoot from another Taco Billy in Asheville.


This is one side of two dining rooms...this used to be the location of Seven Sisters Gallery. So maybe that's why one wall has all these old paintings with a billy goat snuck into each of them!


The owner said he painted this goat (Billy?) in a gown. The other restaurant of this name has a goat in a tuxedo.


There we are capturing the sign saying new hires may start at $17.50/hour. That's high for this area. And it's working, there were plenty of people serving us.


Today's quote:

How we respond to life is a testament to our humanity and individuality.

Monday, May 29, 2023

Pulmonologist visit

 

I actually didn't know what these flowers were, that's how bad my eyes are today. Either pollen or something, but they are at the worst I've had. Dry, itchy (mustn't itch) and my eyelids and everywhere is puffy. They've got to be roses, yes? 

I was impressed with the new ramp to the Pulmonologist's office. In the past they've sent any handicapped patients around to the back of the building. However I wouldn't want to try to even walk down that ramp. I might try going up though.

It's a strange looking old building, right down from the hospital, so must have been built for Doctors offices, I guess.

There are several other buildings of this vintage that I've seen nearby.


And the news from the spirometer? That test indicated I had a lower percentage of volumn for my lungs to inhale than I had 6 months ago. And the doc said I had a low rumble in my lungs. So I'm going back in 3 months. I agreed that exercise, just walking would be a good idea. 


Today's quote:

Finding out what connects us, revelling in our differences; this is the process that brings us closer, that gives us a world of shared values, of meaningful community.

BELL HOOKS

Sunday, May 28, 2023

From my neighborhood to a birthday

 


At home


Between my car and my home (in the distance)



This little promising avocado has already got the fungus going...see little white specks at each leaf node, and even inside the seed split. So I sent it to avocado seed heaven and a big sorry Charlie, don't need any more fungus among us.



So far the Jade plant has stayed healthy!


As well as the cactus of no known holiday.

So here's avocado seed number two. I threw away the seed from this week's avocado. I still need to repot 2 orchids, to I know not where!

Moved these three plants to the bedroom, though they'll go outside as soon as I feel like it.

Happy birthday to my eldest son.

He's on the right, with his dad and 2 sons. His daughter wasn't there for that pic nor his wife, but someone was taking the pic! However there's not an empty chair at that table, so perhaps a waitperson took it. He lives in a different city than me, so I see him through lots of photos, and phone calls!

Anyway, I'm remembering the day my first son was born! Whew. That was really something!!

Today's quote:
When we're holding ourselves back, it takes courage to recognize these patterns and to take steps to change them.




Saturday, May 27, 2023

Some of the cats in my life.

 My cats.

I shared earlier on  "Pets I Remember" a lot of photos which included at least one dog. HERE.

And here's an older post about "Last Day of the Month Animals" with my grandson's cats. He has another one, Alice, in addition to the two in that link.

 OH HERE"S ALICE GRANDCAT!


And here's the 2017 series of Yoga Cats. I chose two to keep for my own collection. 

Looking at both sides of this warrior pose. Having a tail sure helps!

Downward cat and modified tree pose.

Don't know if this pose had a name...but you'll recognize the headstand...again having a tail helps. J

Here are more photos of my felines in fur or clay!.

The cat mugs one. 

And yes I made clay cats of different forms. Here you can find mugs with kittens.

And various little critter cats

When I moved to Black Mountain from Tampa FL, I brought black Keptain and (Queen Calico) Muffin.
Keptain didn't live much longer, since he was already about 12 when we moved.

Muffin did have complete control of the house for her 18 years.
She had been born on my birthday in St. Augustine FL...and moved with me 5 times. Yes I am a bit of a wanderer.

Don't know how these guys got in here!




This is another grandcat, Bandit, who chose my new daughter-in-law and her sister to be his servants.




May I introduce Panther, my last cat. You never know that's going to happen.

Panther liked to watch the show "Nature." So I captured her on this post.







This series shows her love not so much of the fish, but of the fish food. One morning I found the open food container on the floor, and all that had spilled out had been licked up by Ms. Panther. I think she would have liked a fish too, but she turned up her nose at leftover salmon I gave her.




In all ways, Muffin remained the Queen. Panther wasn't ever very confrontive (that I saw) but also didn't get in her space either. Panther outlived Muffin by a few years. I treated Panther's thyroid problems for the last several months of her life...a draining experience that reminds me of how caregivers must be so dedicated to their patients, feline or human (or canine.)




The earlier cats in my life (a la sepia) were included in my first post that's linked above.

Sharing with Saturday's Critters

Check out Sepia Saturday for more!


Today's quote:

Blind faith in your leaders, or in anything, will get you killed. 
-Bruce Springsteen, musician (b. 1949)