Rock situating

 

At Town Square, as I sat at the red light, I observed a group of people situating some big rocks. I don't know if they are new, or just being adjusted. The people are probably members of the beautification committee.

Woman in dark coat arrives, and appears to give directions to the three men in orange.

I sure hope she's not expecting them to lift that rock and put it over there where she's indicating.

I'll have to drive by and look again soon to see the results!

March 19: First Day of Spring, (though the equinox is actually it's tomorrow, this year!) 

Certified Nurses Day, 

Let's Laugh Day

Today's quote:

The earth I tread on is not a dead inert mass. 
It is a body—has a spirit—is organic—and fluid to the influence of its spirit—and to whatever particle of the spirit is in me.
—Henry David Thoreau

Looking around me

 

The window painting at Pepperoni's Pizza.

I go up and down these stairs to the dining room at the Lakeview Center for Active Aging

Town Center Square in Black Mountain. The tower behind the buildings on the left serves the fire and police departments, and the little hut in the center of the park offers public bathrooms. 

----------------and to continue the thoughts about other kinds of intelligence I offer this:

 "In Nature Needs a New Pronoun, Robin Wall-Kimmerer says, “By learning from other species, we learn humility.” 

• • From what non-humans do you learn?
  • How has your relationship with Nature led you from self-centeredness to humility? 
  • How does that humility influence your work for climate justice? 

I’ve been asking myself and others these questions over the past week or so. Here are some things I’ve heard: 

• If you plant tomato seedlings too early, they get spindly and don’t survive. They teach me to not get too far out in the future.
• Honeybees thrive by relying on decentralized and collective decision-making. I want to do that in my work for justice. 
• Blue Jays teach me about protecting that which I love. 
• Still water teaches me that even in what feels like stagnation, water still gently flows. I need to remember that as I work for climate justice. 
• I learn from trees. They root down and rise up. That’s what I want to do. 
• I’m humbled by the cosmos. It’s so mysterious, and I remember I don’t know everything. 
• Maple trees teach me that there is a season for growth and productivity, and a season for rest and restoration.

 P.S. Check out this video that I keep replaying because I love it so much!  Woyaya recorded by Wiyaala"

---------------------------------

Thanks 

Rev. Kelly at Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth (UUMFE)

Today's quote:

There’s so much joy to be felt in slowness and softness.

RA AVIS

Happy November first

 Various religious groups have different celebrations this time of year.  So I'm just going to share some of the pretty fall photos around here, and hope everyone enjoys their holidays. Rabbit rabbit to those who do those wishes at the beginnings of months!

I walked around our Town Square the other day (Halloween to be exact) and found very few people about. It had rained off and on all day, but was a bit drier at this time.

This cute little ghoul has withstood a bit of rain, no wonder he looks kind of droopy! I think his sign says Black Mountain Elementary.

Our Black Mountain Logan is "The Little Town That Rocks" and these chairs are for photo ops

In the distance, across State St, are the Pure Station/Restaurant, then the Glass Blower mural, then the Yarn Shop.

Mr. Spider sits by the rocking chairs, with one leg on one of them, and the fire station behind him. I'll have another bit of news about it later this week.

A lovely wire sculpture of a young woman with a basket of flowers.

Poor old scarey guy has almost lost his boot. Someone wanted to see his ankles, I hope they're happy!

The fountain

Miss Scarecrow I think, based on her hat and apron...

Leaving the Town Square the gate opens onto Montreat Rd.

Wasn't that a nice walk through the little town square? The plantings are beautiful, and well cared-for by our Beautification Committee of volunteers (plus some grants that help with their new items like mulch and seasonable plants).

Today's quote:

Not being able to govern events, I govern myself. 

-Michel de Montaigne, essayist  (1533-1592)

Town Square changes

The guys working on the Town Square in Black Mountain were out again with their machinery last week.  Before it got cold and snowed, they poured some concrete around the "water feature."  Lots of concrete.  I guess it makes sense with lots of foot traffic expected.  I'm just sorry that our nice green area is turning into pavement.  They covered everything with tarps of plastic for a few days...the concrete that is.

Town Square arbor seat

This caught my eye driving by the new Town Square in Black Mountain, NC.  What on earth is it?  An arbor seat is the best answer I've come up with...done with Rhododendron vines.  Very local!  There is the Christmas tree raised in the center of the square, to the left in this picture.

Quote for Today:

One way to open your eyes is to ask yourself, "What if I had never seen this before? What if I knew i would never see it again?"

Rachel Carson

Town square developing

Slowly but surely we are having a Town Square that will be beautiful.

Stones, dirt and a tree trunk will be part of one garden area, shown here looking north toward the fire station..

There's a water feature as part of this "fabricated hill" which has some benches next to it. looking south from same position as previous photo.

 Walking around the hillock, now looking east, can you find the water yet?  Me neither.

Yes, there it is in the center (just ignore the photographer's shadow in the foreground, as well as the remaining piles of dirt scattered about!)

There we go, a great view of several levels of cascades, which will probably be well lit at night.

Town Square details

The plan for the Town Square, hanging from one of the tents so there's a rope holding either the plan or the tent down.

The concert on Saturday (see yesterday's post for more pictures) attracted more and more people as it continued for about an hour.

 

The Swayback Sisters entertained everyone.

 

An announcement was made that the bathrooms would be open this week.  This is the stage of construction at the moment of the announcement.  I decided you didn't really need a picture of the current facilities (blue plastic portable box stationed nearby).

Concert on the Square

Saturday I happened to be driving by the corner of US 70 and US 9, which is the heart of Black Mountain...Also known as State Street (the east-west street) and Montreat (the north-south street).
And that's where the Black Mountain Town Square (future) is located.  And that's where the concert was just starting!

The Swayback Sisters gave a very enjoyable performance in bright sunshine.

So bright and warm that some of us sheltered under the entertainment tent from the heat, but the cool mountain breeze was still enjoyable.

Woman in red shirt gave a clogging performance!

This concert was a fund raiser for the park which eventually will be built in this location.