Holly Jolly - after dark

 

Another Jolly Old Elf (real beard and hair) was juggling some pretty balls.  He later told me about his toes growing up so he had to wear those shoes...being 1100 years old or so.

He did catch the attention of many little and big people passing by.

At the bottom of the hill is Sutton St, where the old train station - now crafts shop is.

This sign is posted outside our church also.  Here it's by the entrance to Chiffarobe...lots of fun things to look at!

Cheerleaders waited just as my group of friends did for the first part of parading High School Band to start...

And here comes the High School band! 

The turned up Cherry Street after starting on Sutton!

It was kind of small, and after they passed, I decided to start my long walk back to my car...up the hill!

And then the band turned around and came back down Cherry Street!

My little iPhone camera kept saying it needed 2 seconds to take these shots...but I got a lot of them surprisingly, though the kids had passed me by in the 2 seconds!

We're known as "The Little Town That Rocks." That means some decorated rockers are available (when dried off a bit) for those who were tired of walking!

In front of the Veranda Restaurant, the Swannanoa Valley Museum was hosting a coffee wagon, so I stopped for some decaf in order to get back up the hill. It really helped.

Almost back to my car, there's the Swannanoa Valley Museum entrance to the left, and the Black Mountain Center for the Arts with it's purple female figure hanging by its entrance.  I was pushing myself by the time I walked up to my car...counting my steps to take my mind off my fatigue. I did go home and have supper, it was only 7:30!

Today's quote:

We’re a nation hungry for more joy: Because we’re starving from a lack of gratitude.

BRENÉ BROWN

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!

Holly Jolly pottery sale at BMCA

The Black Mountain Center for the Arts 

225 West State St.

invites the public to visit upstairs 

for the Pottery Sales Showroom

 and the Pottery Gallery Show.

Student potters are happy to sell their work, which is diverse, beautiful, and economical!

Year after year this is a great venue, and offers refreshments as well!

No matter what the weather outside may be, from 5-8 pm on Friday, December 5, 2014, this is an important stop in the holiday party that Black Mountain throws once a year.  

Other shops may have interesting holiday goods, but this is the place for pottery!  Walk through the streets, but save space for our nibbles, as well as the fun of picking some gifts for others (or yourself!)  

All showroom sales contribute 50% to the Center for the Arts.

Visit BMCA home page HERE.

Holly Jolly Fri Dec 6, 6-9 pm

Come on over/down/up/sideways...and join the party tomorrow evening.  This is family friendly fun, with lots of streets closed so walking is easy between stores.

(Muffin just walked across the keyboard...in case you need a new password... 1000000000000000000000000000004)

I'll be waiting for you in the pottery sales room of Black Mountain Center for the Arts.  (I'm selling all my plates at 5 or 10 dollars.)

See what the gallery exhibit of the best of the students and teachers has to show this year.  (Here's the link for last year's show.)