Looking back in time

As a docent at the Swannanoa Valley History Museum, I can share some of the exhibits with you.  The museum and history center is right in the middle of town in Black Mountain.  It's open Tues - Saturday, 10-5 during spring, summer and fall months.  The main display is about Beacon Blanket Mills, which I shared earlier here and here.

Today Old US-70 passes by the old entrance to this property, and there are schools across the street.  I never knew that it was the site of this WW II hospital.

A very modern Veterans Medical Center is located right down the road toward Asheville.

Bounty and Soul

Vounteers set up lots of food to be given to us "nutritionally challenged." At least I think that's what they call us.  They set up in different parts of town each day, giving fresh vegies and this week there are eggs too!

Day lilies

Some darker day lilies are near the office building at Blue Ridge Apartments.

Porch flowers in the rain

I'm posting this a few days to come (or back if you're actually reading this which I wrote several days ago!)

And maybe by Wednesday we'll be out of this rain cycle.  All grey days are not very inspiring!

If I open my bedroom window, that rain will come right in.  The other windows are sheltered by eaves of the roof, so can remain open during rain. However it's too chilly and damp to open them for very long.

RAIN and flowers

We've been getting a lot, and some areas of North Carolina have flash flooding. Not here, yet. And no mudslides, yet.

These earliest day lilies are Stella d'Oro. A smaller flower without the pointed edges, which usually has a curl to their edges.  Maybe when they dry out again.

more art by the tracks

This was last weekend downtown in Black Mountain.  I'm so glad that the rain which we're having now waited until after the craft show!

Healing woods or healing waters

Many times I come to this sweet little stretch of Flat Creek, just inside the gateway to Montreat.  I can't do much hiking these days, so it's nice to park right near the road and walk immediately into the woods and see running clear water.

I wasn't sure how much longer this bridge would be standing!  I didn't hold onto railings for any measure of support.

The bare roots that had tripped me as I stepped off the bridge a year ago are now covered by nice gravel.

The drainage pipe is almost invisible though it's in the center of the view below. Just above on the other side of the creek is a memory garden with various markers and cremated remains in a stone wall. It is a quiet meditation place with stone seats for remembering lost loved ones.  It's invisible from this side of Flat Creek.

Yes, there are fairies who visited me...in the forms of bright pale blue butterflies.

Art by the Tracks booths

Th

Some of these sweet placemats came home with me!

Grey Eagle park and BMCA Clay Studio

If you're climbing the driveway or the path from the lower to the upper parking lot, you see some gorgeous variations of shade tolerant plantings.

About halfway up, the studio comes into focus.  This is where I usually stop to catch my breath.  No stairs, but the climb is about the same as 2 stories in height.

Down by the tracks where there's lots of sun, pretty blooms have been planted.  And (besides the portapotty darkly hiding but being very necessary during the art show) there is a new (to me) sign.

Now this is Centennial Park, it says.

A grey eagle statue reminds us this town was once called Grey Eagle.

North Carolina flag to the right, American flag to the left.

Today's Quote:

I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness for it shows me the stars.

OG MANDINO