The last of March, a holy day for many

 Happy Easter to all who celebrate it.

This does not include the many people on this earth of non-Christian beliefs. For them, there are other springtime celebrations.

And an early Easter on the last day of March must have some meaning. Did you know the Christians still choose the date for Easter each year based on the first full moon after the vernal equinox. Very pagan, I'd say. 

And I'm rolling in joy with all the blossoms blooming around me.! Trees are pollinating (achoo!) and cars are suffering.

I begin with two side-shots...looking away from the banks of Flat Creek. Uphill behind the bamboo, stands a shed, which I believe once belonged to some potters who have since moved. Fun memory.

Walking down into a more flat area, we looked across the creek to see steps leading down to it. There were no buildings on that property, but it made us pause to think that at one time someone wanted to have access to the creek regularly...living perhaps in a house that is now gone. Creek water is nice to drink coming down from the mountains...though now days there might be fertilizer coming into it from a few homes upstream.

As Flat Creek passes by Ole's Guacamole Restaurant, there's a tree with a label.

There are many other treasured trees from a map that I saw at Lake Tomahawk in the bulletin board. I want to find more.

The Bistro restaurant is to the right (on State St,) while the welcome center is just beyond it.

I was stopped at the light in the center of town, and gazing around, noticed this fire hydrant had been decked out with a scarf, probably lost at some time by a visitor, who won't know where it is!

Not sure how this got in here! Makes sense...

The building in the back is Four Sisters Bakery - which has lots of goodies!

This is the Red Rocker Inn, a B&B, which has a dining room behind the many windows to the right.

Another town has a UU church with this outdoor gathering circle of benches.

Have fun, whether dying eggs and hiding them and having little ones find them, or feasting with loved ones! All our rituals do bring us together to enjoy life.

Today is:

Easter Sunday, 

National Prom Day, 

Crayon Day, 

Tater Day

Today's quote:

Novelist and poet Ben Okri, born in Minna, Nigeria (1959), lived mainly in England until he was seven years old, when his family moved back to Nigeria. Okri said: "Literature doesn't have a country. Shakespeare is an African writer. ... The characters of Turgenev are ghetto dwellers. Dickens' characters are Nigerians. ... Literature may come from a specific place, but it always lives in its own unique kingdom."

Short walk at Lake Tomahawk

 

Even on a grey day, one can find beauty at the lake. Reflections are softened.

This Canada Goose couple owned the right of way for walkers, but would let us pass if we didn't look too threatening. I do wonder what they think of the black cards/phones which people point at them like I did here.

The Mallard families waddled away from the lake, and I do hope they were cautious as they cross the road in the distance.

An Oak Hydrangea still had last year's blooms' skeletons, while the new growth is bursting forth!

What's the password please? 

And then there was the cherry tree.

Since the B&B beyond the fence is no longer in business, but sold to a private family, I do hope someone keeps these beautiful gardens up.

Sharing with Eileen's Saturday Critters.

Today is:

National Take a Walk in the Park Day, 

Doctors Day

Today's quote:

Don't ask me who's influenced me. A lion is made up of the lambs he's digested, and I've been reading all my life. -

Giorgos Seferis, writer, diplomat, Nobel laureate (1900-1971)

Going some new places (to me) in Black Mountain

 

As we sat munching delicious Reuben sandwiches, this overview of the Black Mountain Golf Course was on the wall above us. 

I'd been invited to try the Green Tea Room, the restaurant at the golf course.  Nice sandwiches, but too windy that day to sit on the terrace.

We drove down Old 70, and took a turn into Givens Highland Farms. This is one entrance, and we found quite a lot of construction going on. More places for seniors to live. I'm surprised they don't have a traffic light yet...but maybe there aren't that many who drive.

The back of the Monte Vista Hotel, showing the new wing that's been built.

The Black Mountain Library waiting for the dogwoods to bloom still.

These are just the first shots of cherry trees. A lot of them are very pale this year. I remember much brighter pink blossoms. Is this a trend?

I'll keep looking...

And remember these were taken the Saturday before a freeze on Mon. night.

Today is:

Good Friday

Mom and Pop businesses day

Sharing with Skywatch Friday

Friday Floral Fotos

Today's quote:

A teacher comes, they say, when you are ready. And if you ignore its presence, it will speak to you more loudly. But you have to be quiet to hear.

ROBIN WALL KIMMERER

Cherry blossoms on Cherry St.

 I asked the old-timers of Black Mountain at lunch one day, are there cherry trees on Cherry St? It's one of the main streets downtown with lots of shops, restaurants, a tavern, and at least a new art gallery.

They didn't know.

So after lunch I drove over there, and since it's a one way street going uphill, I was lucky to go really slow, since for once there wasn't a lot of traffic. I turned right from Sutton into Cherry St.

Across from the Chifferobe on the other corner, is Sassafras on Sutton. Their upper entrance, to the right as I started up Cherry St. has a tiny courtyard with a blooming cherry tree!

So that is a good start.

Then on the left is Cherry St. Square, with a couple of sad trees that have been pruned. But that's a tiny old cherry tree at the corner of Bone-a-Fide, where pet treats are sold.

Then I turned right into a parking lot which would show what was behind many of the Cherry St. stores...because I knew Sarah Vekasi's pottery shop had a cherry tree behind it.

These early blooming trees on Sutton, next to the railroad tracks, may be a kind of pear, or cherry.

A different day to try to capture the blossoms and the flag.

Today is:  Respect Your Cat Day

Sharing with:

Thankful Thursday

Little Things Thursday

Today's quote:

We all have bad days and within these days is usually a gem of a gift waiting to be opened.

Here and there

 a.k.a. Hodge Podge of spring blooms!

Sharing with 

Wordless Wednesday!

My Corner of the World

Today is:

National Spanish Paella Day, 

Manatee Appreciation Day (last Wednesday)

Today's quote:

When negative thoughts arise, it is best to address them rather than pushing them down where they will surface again. 

Recess - the new coffee house/bakery

 

Located on Black Mountain Ave. just down hill of the railroad tracks, and in the same block as Louise's Kitchen.

Outdoor seating was available, though it was a bit too cool for my comfort.

Owners, Lexi and Harrison were warm greeters. The coffee was very good, though people asked me later where it was from. I liked seeing some loaves of bread on the shelf behind them. 

The croissants and focaccia bread quarter-loaves were over to the right in a small eye level case, so you have to go behind the standing sign (don't even know what it said) to go see the small case of edibles.

I had an almond croissant at $6.50 which was pretty tasty though there were also plain and chocolate croissants. My second choice would have been the cinnamon roll-focaccia bread at even higher price.

 With the difficulty parking nearby, and the small baked selection at high prices, I may only go here occasionally!

It was certainly a morning when lots of the 20 year old crowd came out. I wonder if there was spring break that week...though a few of the older generation were also in evidence! 

Sorry to not get a shot of the indoor seating, which was adequate for a short time.

Today is:

 Epilepsy Awareness Day (also called Purple Day), 

National Spinach Day

Today's quote:

It is better to prevent crimes than to punish them. 

-Cesare Beccaria, philosopher and politician (1738-1794)

Sharing with Tuesday's Treasures (better late than never!