Words on Wednesday and Signs2

 Made it through a wet Tuesday, did sort most of my photos into files, staying inside, and didn't lose elec.

From a wonderful movie "The Help" 

Serious construction stopping device...all automated!

When I stopped for gas and a break from driving here, I laughed. I remembered I'd named my car when I got it the "Blue Ridge Roadrunner." It's been running just fine.

The following came from a Facebook post...pretty good info I think.

"Why should we pay cash everywhere we can

with banknotes instead of a credit card?

- I have a $50 banknote in my pocket.

Going to a restaurant and paying for dinner with it. The restaurant owner then uses the bill to pay for the laundry. The laundry owner then uses the bill to pay the barber. The barber will then use the bill for shopping.

After an unlimited number of payments, it will still remain a $50, which has fulfilled its purpose to everyone who used it for payment and the bank has jumped dry from every cash payment transaction made...

- But if I come to a restaurant and pay digitally - Card, and bank fees for my payment transaction charged to the seller are 3%, so around $1.50 and so will the fee $1.50 for each further payment transaction or owner re laundry or payments of the owner of the laundry shop, or payments of the barber etc.....

Therefore, after 30 transactions, the initial $50 will remain only $5 and the remaining $45 became the property of the bank thanks to all digital transactions and fees.

Small businesses need your help and this is one way to help ourselves too. Pull small draws of cash out at a time and use that instead of tap, credit, etc.

When this is put into perspective, imagine what each retailer is paying on a monthly basis in fees at 3% per transaction through their POS machine.

If they have, for example, $50,000 in sales & 90% are by Card, they are paying $1500 in fees in ONE Month. $18,000 in a year! That comes out of their income every month.

That would go a long way to help provide for their family."

That last article is being shared on my other blog today as well...in case you think you're seeing things double!

Sharing with Signs2 over at Tom the Backroads Traveler

Signs2

 

I admit to staying  up many a midnight hour looking at the ancestors who lived before me! What an interesting bunch of people they were!

This is probably why my ancestors are such interesting people!

Today's quote:

I think that I shall never see / A poem lovely as a tree. 

-(Alfred) Joyce Kilmer, journalist and poet (1886-1918) 

A special gift of this season, one I attribute to Solstice, Jethro Tull sings Ring Out These Bells.

Winter Solstice is tomorrow

Christmas is 5 days away.

While this didn't get added to the Signs2 meme, it is there in spirit.

I'm traveling south today and tomorrow, at 70 mph and stops for my 81 year old body's needs, it is a 9.5 hour trip that I'll easily need 2 days of driving to accomplish. I'm being careful, following the law, and hoping that everyone is also who's on the highways this week with me.

I do hope I can find a room at the inn tonight, I'm not very good sleeping in the car...what's that, you have barn room at half price? Mmmm, maybe. Depends on the animals. I cuddle with selective little animals, preferably cats.

Signs2 This Wednesday

 

Former blogger John Bauman (former potter also!) posted this on Facebook the other day.

A friend who opened her own pottery business 2 years ago in Black Mountain....Sarah Vekasi.

Autumnal decorations at the welcome sign.

The hub of our mail in Black Mountain.

Sharing with Signs2

Today's quote:

Awakening is to realize the infinite value of each moment of your own life as well as other beings, then continue to act accordingly.

KAZUAKI TANAHASHI 10 more days till winter solstice Celebrating the return of the light with santa lucia - at UUCSV in 2010!

Illustration by Louis Wain 

17 more days till Christmas

Seventh Night of Hanukkah

Signs-2 Tuesday

 

No idea which sad corner these signs are on! And the following are admittedly somewhat hypothetical.

Today's poem:

HOMO SAPIENS: CREATING THEMSELVES
by Pattiann Rogers

I.

Formed in the black-light center of a star-circling
galaxy; formed in whirlpool images of froth
and flume and fulcrum; in the center image of herring
circling like pieces of silver swirling fast, a shoaling
circle of deception; in the whirlpool perfume of sex
in the deepest curve of a lily’s soft corolla. Created
within the images of the creator’s creation.

Born with the same grimacing wrench of a tree-covered
cliff split wide suddenly by lightning and opened
to thundering clouds of hail and rain.

Cured in the summer sun as if in a potter’s oven,
polished like a stone rolled by a river, emboldened
by the image of the expanse beyond earth’s horizon,
inside and outside a circumference in the image
of freedom.

Given the image of starlight clusters steadily silent
above a hillside-silence of fallen snow… let there be sleep.

II.

Inheriting from the earth’s scrambling minions,
images of thorn and bur, fang and claw, stealth,
deceit, poison, camouflage, blade, and blood…
let there be suffering, let there be survival.

Shaped by the image of the onset and unstoppable
devouring eclipse of the sun, the tempestuous, ecliptic
eating of the moon, the volcanic explosions of burning
rocks and fiery hail of ashes to death… let there be
terror and tears. Let there be pity.

Created in the image of fear inside a crawfish
skittering backward through a freshwater stream
with all eight appendages in perfect coordination,
both pincers held high, backing into safety beneath
a fallen leaf refuge… let there be home.

III.

Made in the image of the moon, where else
would the name of ivory rock craters shine
except in our eyes… let there be language.

Displayed in the image of the rotting seed
on the same stem with the swelling blossom…
let there be hope.

Homo sapiens creating themselves after the manner
and image of the creator’s ongoing creation — slowly,
eventual, alert and imagined, composing, dissembling,
until the right chord sounds from one brave strum
of the right strings reverberating, fading away
like evening… let there be pathos, let there be
compassion, forbearance, forgiveness. Let there be
weightless beauty.

Of earth and sky, Homo sapiens creating themselves,
following the mode and model of the creator’s creation,
particle by particle, quest by quest, witness by witness,
even though the unknown far away and the unknown
nearby be seen and not seen… let there be goodwill
and accounting, let there be praise resounding.

Altapass Orchard visit

  

Altapass, North Carolina history

A repost from 2014 when using a camera before iPhone.

NOTE: 2023, I don't think the historic display is still up, at least I didn't

 notice it last year on my yearly visit. I think some of the information

 (especially about the Cherokees) isn't accurate. And there's now a

 separate building for dancing and music...lots more area to watch

 as well!

But the apple pie a la mode still is superb!

 I had to pause in enjoying my homemade apple pie a la mode to 

record this photo for you!  In no time there was just an empty bowl

...and smiling elder.

 While my much younger friend enjoyed hers, I spied the "history

 of Altapass" sign over on the post.  But I had to watch

 some of the more limber folks dancing to the music...Sunday 

afternoons at Altapass are live music and dancing! Free. And 

lots of those folks wore their clogging shoes (which are maybe 

like clogs, but I think more specifically designed for dancing.)

(NOTE: 2023...the following are mixed photos of the display maps,

 and aren't all that clearly defined. Sorry. I just wanted to keep 

them for my own historical interest.)

 It was a huge wall map, so I've tried to capture little bits in each photo.

 If you received any North or South Carolina history in school,

 you must have heard of some of the big Revolutionary War 

battles, of which Cowpens SC, and Kings Mountain NC are 

spoken of.  I learned of them through my various ancestors 

in my family tree (though I was raised both in Texas and 

Missouri, so didn't learn about this history in school at all!)

 I was particularly glad to see other elements of local history were 

also shown...here a little bit about the first Americans to live in this area...

 This is the weather we had for driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway...and I

A was so happy Teresa was driving this trip!

Sharing with Signs2 HERE.

Signs at the Lake

  Signs I saw...

by our Lake Tomahawk, from which I've shared many a photo.

This Flower Bed is maintained by Black Mountain Tennis Association

I do wonder if dogs have to hit the button to get a drink!

Sharing with Signs2.

Today's quote: 

You can pursue spiritual fulfillment while also gently promoting a healthy and harmonious career.