At Lake Tomahawk

From the Swannanoa Valley Museum and History Center;

In the early days of 1913, there were plans to create a Methodist colony just northwest of Black Mountain. Part of this plan included the construction of Lake Tomahawk. However, when the colony's plans fell through, the town decided to use the area for a recreation center instead. With funding from the Civil Works Administration and later the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA), the town began developing the site. On Labor Day weekend in 1934, Lake Tomahawk and the Community House were officially opened with a fun-filled day of water sports. Unfortunately, a few years later in 1938, the lake had to be closed to swimmers due to water quality issues, and a pool was constructed to continue providing recreational activities for the community.

For my Sepia Saturday contribution (above) I show an old post card, undated. It was good to capture the history of the development of the lake. It's almost unrecognizable due to lots of bare areas without the current trees and homes. The roads ring true however. The dam is in the lower quadrant. Lakeview Center building had a red roof, and all along that north bank of the lake, a lot of little fingers of land had not yet been formed, nor the island.

There is little space in the aerial photo for the pool which was built on the landward side of the center building...but it's there now!
 

Looking up from the lake level at the bank that leads up to the swimming  pool. This bank has been planted with wildflowers. The building behind these photos is the pool house with showers.

The umbrellas and fence delineate the pool.

Yesterday while I ate lunch in the dining room on the second floor of the Lakeview Center, I saw a friend with her daughter and granddaughter at the pool. Unfortunately for them, a sweat bee got inside granddaughter's suit and stung her 3 times. It was the first time I knew sweat bees could sting when they feel threatened. Not the kind of thing one wants to learn!

I also learned that one should really not make big decisions when sick! Hey, I knew that!

I decided to use the last day of Amazon Prime's special discount days to purchase a new microwave. It's been a week without, and I really don't like living without one. So I picked one out, and a little boom box so I could play my CD's,  since all my current players have died.

I placed the order. Then when confirmation came it was all mixed up  (anything to do with my not having ordered often, or the sick brain?) There were two microwaves ordered, on two separate orders. And the boom box had been $37 on sale but I was being charged $46 for it. Not being in the mood to straighten anything out (it's impossible anyway) I just canceled the extra microwave and the boom box. Fortunately they don't place the charges until items are shipped! Then I remembered something else.

I hadn't paid that much attention to the size and they all look the same size in the photos on line. But I remembered 15 inches. So I got out my trusty yard stick, and found I barely had 15 inches clearance. Looked back at the model I'd ordered, and (you guessed it) it is 15.9"... so I canceled that microwave too.

And I checked on line this morning and there are no charges from Amazon!

Today's quote:

Everything you've learned in school as "obvious" becomes less and less obvious as you begin to study the universe. For example, there are no solids in the universe. There's not even a suggestion of a solid. There are no absolute continuums. There are no surfaces. There are no straight lines. -R. Buckminster Fuller, engineer, designer, and architect (12 Jul 1895-1983)

Sharing with Floral Friday Fotos and Sepia Saturday

-----------

Today's quote:

The man who has begun to live more seriously within begins to live more simply without. -Ernest Hemingway, author, journalist, Nobel laureate (21 Jul 1899-1961)

The sunflowers have it

 

In Cheshire Village (part of Black Mountain) there is a little parking lot behind the few stores and restaurants at the "entrance" to the village. And this bank of sunflowers has survived a very hot and dry June, to be captured early July by me.

Today's quote:

"Whatever the fight, don't be ladylike." Mother Jones, aka Mary Harris Jones, born to a tenant farmer in Cork, Ireland, in 1837. A charismatic speaker and one of the country's leading labor organizers, co-founding the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW).  Critic of child labor, she organized a children's march from Philadelphia to the home of Theodore Roosevelt in Oyster Bay, New York with banners reading, "We want to go to school and not the mines!"

Sharing with Floral Fridays Fotos

Where's this anyway?

 

Driving by this field and grassy area on Sunday May 19, 2024, it's hard to believe that under the trees on that grass just the day before had been the busy Black Mountain Tailgate Market.

Tailgate Market, May 18, 2024.

OK, there are days when I gird my loins (do women do that?) and go to a big ox store (typo intentional.) I just was waiting and took these shots...BIG is certainly the best way of looking at it. Babe the Blue Ox comes to mind from my typo.

I was amazed that that Milk sign came so clear in the photo from the very front of the store...and you might also note all the men in the grocery aisles! I think a hike in those big outside aisles is clearly over a mile. The only problem is people getting in your way!

I like these pretty flowers. 

Does this give you a good enough hint where I was shopping on Tuesday, May 21? I didn't buy either flowers or watermelon. Just thought they were good photo subjects.

Sharing with Thankful Thursday

And Little Things Thursday 

And Floral Friday Fotos

Today's quote:

YOUR LIFE IS AN ART PROJECT! Put the emphasis on the quality of your adventures as much as on what you produce. Regard your life as a noble and inspiring work of art.

Tony Clennell (potter/blogger in Canada)

Around Lake Tomahawk where seniors walk

 

Sharing with Floral Friday Fotos

Some local scenes, and notes about my life back in the 70s

 

Wisteria vines or trees gone wild...and a strange red blossom showed itself.

When a lot is allowed to go back to nature, soon the dominant vines take over. But there still remains a curb under the greenery, perhaps stopping more growth from going further.

Others choose to butcher their trees to keep them manageable.

On Vance Ave, Black Mountain, can be found this "Little Brown Church."

The joyful burst of citified dogwoods.

Louise's Kitchen (restaurant for breakfast and lunch) still had their shelter curtains down when I took this, but I noticed a few days later, those eating on the porch were open to sunshine and warm breezes.

The other side of Louise's Kitchen has these wonderful double blossom cherry trees.

Looking at the cherry trees from the side.

A dogwood against North Carolina blue sky!

And then we had a cold Sunday with rain last week. This is what happened at my apartment. 

Last night's national news showed more demonstrators being arrested on different campuses. And Columbia's shot showed the tents still up, though I was under the impression the day before they'd been told to disperse by 4 am.

I have no news as to the situation my granddaughter was in at George Washington University. But the shots on the news of arrests at Ohio State U. were disturbing. That's where I hope to go next week for my other granddaughter's graduation. As far as I know it's still happening.

I am reminded so much of the demonstrations against the Viet Nam war by students in the early 70s. I didn't take part, though I certainly supported them from conversations at work on  coffee breaks. I was a single working mother, so I limited my involvement so I wouldn't jeopardize being the bread-winner for my children.

But when selected for jury duty, I was among many who were questioned for a trial against students who had engaged in a sit-down demonstration in the middle of a busy intersection in Tampa FL. Each prospective juror was asked if they had any relations in the military, or in a university. If so they were released, as having prior bias. I wasn't selected, because I'd been a part time student near the place where that demonstration took place, as well as my ex-husband having served in the past in the military. I was really hoping I could serve on that jury, but admit that I was biased. Actually of the first 100 jurors called, I don't think anyone was seated. The students did have some fines against them, but I don't believe any were incarcerated.

Sharing with Skywatch Friday and  Floral Friday Fotos

Today's quote:

Grief and love are sisters, woven together from the beginning. Their kinship reminds us that there is no love that does not contain loss and no loss that is not a reminder of the love we carry for what we once held close.

FRANCIS WELLER

Some homes in old Black Mountain

 

Yes, the weeping cherry trees were still in bloom that week.

I don't know what this pretty pink bush was.

A Bradford Peat tree about to turn green

The first glance at a budding azalea. It looks pretty old with many prunings.

The (also old) azalea bush by my front porch, taken April 8.

Today's quote:

Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.

OMAR KHAYYAM

Sharing with Floral Friday Fotos

Sharing with Thankful Thursday

A tiny garden enjoyed by all

 On the corner of Walker St. and Old US 70. I've posted some shots of this lovely little garden and the hand painted fence before. 

The iris leaves are stretching towards the sunlight. Then in the photo below, the shade from a tree branch seems part of the scene on the fence, almost.

I liked seeing the little narcissus, which I used to force in a dish of pebbles and water indoors. They were very fragrant. Their daffodils have lost their blooms here. 

A flat of pansies, which was brought inside when we had a few cold nights. It's due to be planted near the back entrance to the Black Mountain Art Center.

And I must share a lovely pitcher full of tiny lilies of the valley.

Sharing with Floral Friday Fotos

Today's quote:

The basis of all animal rights should be the Golden Rule -- we should treat them as we would wish them to treat us were any other species in our dominant position.

 -Christine Stevens, activist and conservationist (1918-2002)