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

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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.

Holly Jolly in Black Mountain NC -before dark!

  Starting at the Black Mountain Center for the Arts... here clay studio students and teachers display and sell their works. (I have been a member of that clay studio many years, and know these are really the best deals in town).

I park in the bank parking lot across the street kitty-corner. And then start strolling down hill. This is State Street (aka US 70).

I you don't have room for a whole Santa, here's a bust of one!

At the corner of Cherry Street, I turn to go downhill for this long block. I headed straight for my friend's pottery Shop, Sunshine Pottery.

Sarah Vekasi and I have been friends, and for a while were even neighbors since she moved here...and now she' had her own pottery shop for 2 years!

I walked down Cherry Street around 5:30. I'll have to cut off some of my photos and share them tomorrow. But this gives you an idea of all the activities...and all my friends who I saw (at least 7 from church!)

And more potters that I knew well...up those stairs. On the right will be My Father's Pizza, which is always a good place to eat! 

To the left is Geoff Bird's pottery store, which includes works by Blair and Matilda...a kind of co-op of potters.

This is a unique outdoor store...so only open on good weather days usually!

I asked Matilda to twirl around to show off her velvet coat and hat.

So Geoff did too, though he was talking on the phone!!

Their patio has one of the best views of Cherry Street.

Here come the Owen High School Cheer Girls

Some children are really shy of the strange man in red with that fake beard. I heard some big sisters say to the little girl in the family, "he's a fraud." What language from a 6th grade size girl. I can imagine what her family says while they watch the FOX news! But the dad did say to the little tyke, "These men (he didn't even call them Santas) are here to help gather the wishes for the real Santa at the North Pole."

More of the stores which had goodies free outside or inside, to entice customers of course.

A friend has been mentioning this little place (also up stairs) to try out sometime.

The "blue tree" global apparel would be of interest to browse on another day.

A group was trying to get kids to hula hoop, or grownups to throw the hoop over a wood tree to win some prize or another. I passed on both opportunities. 

At this tea and spices store, I saw friends Dawn and Tina checking out something.

There's more to come...

Today's quote is a Stop action animation ad from Apple -  have some tissue nearby!

On Cherry St.

  

Something about a moose for this store...

I seldom go into the various "touristy" places where you can get things for your mountain "cabin" that might well be a second home, or vacation spot. Or maybe something to take home to the person watching your dog, or watering your plants while you're gone! I do that whenever I go someplace else!

There's a new Tee-shirt place where I used to like to shop for pretty women's clothes...a very tiny store.

Today's quote:

One of the sanest, surest, and most generous joys of life comes from being happy over the good fortune of others.

ARCHIBALD RUTLEDGE

Downtown poseys (posies?)

A bit different from the Lake Tomahawk venue, these were the only chairs set up at 6:45 for a 7 pm concert.  At the lake there would have been people walking around it, and kids on the playground. And it would have been cooler with a breeze off the water.  This Thursday the concert was again here on Sutton ave and cherry St. Next week it will be back at the lake, which has undergone some major changes!

The Buncome County NC manhole cover. I recently heard that the PC term will no longer call these manholes.  I wonder if they will be person-holes!

Cards and soaps etc

Mountain Spirit shop was closed the morning I was looking for a birthday card...which I searched through another 4 shops before finding the one I wanted.  When they are open, I know it is a lovely store to shop in!

For a peak at another NC town nearby, go to my other blog here, to see my visit to Marshall, NC.

Quote for the day:

The world is holy. We are holy. All life is holy. Daily prayers are delivered on the lips of breaking waves, the whisperings of grasses, the shimmering of leaves.

Terry Tempest Williams, from Talking to God: Portrait of a World at Prayer (anthology)

Cherry Street welcomes you

Several stores on Cherry Street, downtown Black Mountain.

A great little store for those of us who like hand crafted pottery.  

This post is being submitted to Friday My Town Shoot Outs.
Come over to see what else is happening!