At the Doctor's office

A view that nobody sees usually, the end of the office building. They had a fire here several years ago, and while the building was being rennovated, I was seen in some rooms that I hadn't ever visited before. Then all was refurbished and I was back into the same consultation rooms.

These days my doctor is on leave, until November. Some kind of family emergency is what people say when asked. Someone knows, but it's not talked about. I can guess.

Anyway, the office continues to work with 2 Nurse Practioners seeing patients, and their NP students learning along side of them. I also still have my Physician's Assistant as my phone consultation once a month. They all have access to all my records....such as they are kept. On this visit I found that one medication I've taken for years wasn't indicated on my list. It was one that had just been increased in dosage.

I balked last time I was seen, that I didn't want to have a student treat me. She said, ok, you'll have to wait till the NP is done seeing other clients. What, I thought? I had an appointment too! But she got the message, and this time she was there for all the things we discussed and decided.
 

I've had many a mammogram in a mobile unit in their parking lot but not this time! This time a new vehicle was a trailer parked and running on this system of batteries. Since I know it has chilly air-conditioning, that must be one drain of electricity...then there are the X-ray machines which capture the bumps and blobs within our mammary tissues on digital films. I was interested to see this is how it all is being done these days.

Well, that was the day I stopped taking one drug, and started another (antibiotic) on Tues. this week. I haven't responded with any great decrease in coughing, nor the tiredness it brings on with just the antibiotic, and wish I had the addition of a sterioid boost too. I'll call them tomorrow and see if it's possible to get that addition to the antibiotic treatment. 

Note: They couldn't find room in schedule to see me on Fri, and I found out they won't write any prescriptions without seeing someone. Grrrr.

And looking at promises of rain for Saturday, and my health issues, I've canceled being at the Tailgate Market this Saturday.

I've given lots of details of my Friday experiences over in "When I Was 69" yesterday.

Today's quote:

Nobody has the slightest idea how anything material could be conscious. Nobody even knows what it would be like to have the slightest idea about how anything material could be conscious. 

So much for the philosophy of consciousness.

 

—Daniel D. Hutto
An Ideal Solution to the Problems of Consciousness

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

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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)

Last Saturday's pottery I brought home

 That's the trouble with bringing pots to market. You have to wrap and cart them home again when they don't sell.

Here are a few that were there and now packed in my trunk of my car all week.

A simplified monarch mug

Things still have the red tent reflection sometimes...there is no red on any of these pots!

A great pot pie or soup bowl

 

I brought the Monarch wall pillow home again. I didn't feel that anyone was going to like it as much as I do.  It is wired to hang on a nail or picture hook, and of course is safe outside as well as inside.

Doesn't everyone need a blue bird of happiness?

I was happy to see how many people picked up the calico kitty, but then they put it down. I bet they think small means it should be cheap. But just think, it's wheel thrown, adjusted, trimmed, added ears and eyes, then glazed in 4 different colors all applied by hand. Is $15 out of line?

but then again, it's at a Tailgate Market!

These are the cheapest things on the table...tiny vases for $10...again thrown, trimmed and glazed!

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And for those who are interested in stopping the Heritage Foundation's influence on Project 2025 and the GOP platform for this election, I found this:

 "Did you know that you can directly oppose the Heritage Foundation? As a 501c3 corporation, the Heritage Foundation is not allowed to participate in politics, let alone publish political manifestos. You can download Project 2025 pdf from the website and attach it to IRS Form 13909 and challenge their tax exempt status.

Here's their EIN # 23-7327730

Money is the only weapon. Here is your second American Revolution. Right here. It doesn't take that long to file.

Christopher DiverThe People's Project 

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Today's quote:

I dream of giving birth to a child who will ask, "Mother, what was war?" -Eve Merriam, poet and writer (1916-1992)

Some of my pottery and health update

 These are the things I'm trying to sell. At reasonable market prices at the Tailgate Market, each Sat. just for 3 hours, 9-12. (I usually post pottery on my art blog, but feel this is easier for you all to see on this one.)

A pair of brown bowls with leaf designs.

This larger  bowl has chop-stick resting grooves along the top edge.

A fluted serving bowl, with just one color. The sun reflected off our red tent.

A slightly wonky bread bowl. It's large, not perfect, but ideal for rising a double loaf...and not pink.

A white classical shape vase with red trim (no pink, remember the sun on the red tent reflecting down)

The base of the white vase....remember no pink!

Downward Cat mug

El Gordo Gato...fat cat mug...the face

And each side has a leg, with the tail by the handle.

A little sugar bowl with faceted sides

Me holding the lid and showing the inside is green glaze.

Top on the sugar bowl. 

I must mention Cathy's remaining little dishes with flowers and leaves glazed designs, and her little black bears, which bring smiles often to those who have encountered our local wildlife around their trash bins.

These overviews give better color quality. Sold the two little soap dishes at top middle.

And I sold one of the blue and white mugs in center left.

Personal note:

Thanks for all the well-wishes that I received the day before. Yesterday was more of the same conditions of my coughing, until I got to the Dr. office.

Saw Nurse Practitioner yesterday. Had a breathing treatment after she listened to my lungs. She reviewed what my pulmonologist had said last Fri when he started me on Singular, and upped the dose on my Advair inhaler. She said to try going without the Singular. 

It seems to have been an acute episode of bronchiectasis...so she's increasing all the treatments I have (but haven't been doing lately.) So nebulize not only with saline solution twice a day, but Albuterol also. And get back to using the therea-vest, which shakes my lungs to get stuff loose. I'll have to set that up again somewhere where I can sit comfortably for 15 minutes at a time, with lots of rumbling noises. And she started me on an antibiotic for 2 weeks, at which time I am to go see her again. I sure had a good thorough visit, including a student, and a couple of nurse assistants. 

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Today's quote:

There are stars whose radiance is visible on Earth though they have long been extinct. There are people whose brilliance continues to light the world though they are no longer among the living. These lights are particularly bright when the night is dark. They light the way for humankind.

 -Hannah Senesh, poet, playwright, and paratrooper (1921-1944)

By the lake

 

Lake Tomahawk may make it a bit cooler, but it was still in the mid 80s at noon yesterday, and thankfully cloudy so we weren't blasted by the sun.

These Queen Ann's Lace now exist where a lovely lavender plant once lived. 

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My coughing continues to knock me out, so I've tried calling everyone today (frustrating phone machine that just circles back to the beginning message at the pulmonologists!) Nurse at my primary doctor said if I have trouble breathing, seriously, go to ER. So far sitting upright works so much better than lying down, but eventually I'm tired, and have to lie down. Anyway I will see a Nurse Practitioner tomorrow.

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Sharing with Garden Bloggers Bloom Day (yesterday)

Today's quote:

You are the sky. Everything else -- it's just the weather. 

-Pema Chodron, Buddhist nun and author (b. 14 Jul 1936)

A lunch to enjoy

 

The Swannanoa exit from I-40 leads to the local home of Harley Davidson. But if you continue and take a right onto US 70, you'll soon see Oakie Dokies.

Oakie Dokies is only open for lunch now. That's alright, I wasn't in the mood for their ribs! But the pulled pork sandwich was delicious.

I met friends there and we caught up...hadn't seen them for a week, I guess.

My Saturday experience was ok, at the Tailgate Market. I started coughing, and continued through Sunday! Made a few sales. But feel pretty discouraged.

Saw the pulmonologist on Friday and he started me on a new med, but it hasn't had much chance to take effect yet. So the rest of the weekend was a wipeout.

I listened to a good book, at least. I'll promote it later!

Today's quote:

Trust is the first step to love. 

-Premchand, novelist and poet (1880-1936)

Cherry red car

 I stopped in Swannanoa the other day at my favorite auto mechanics for a new head lamp to replace the burned out one on my car. The owner parked this lovely one out where the US 70 drive-bys could see it!

Today's quote:

Marvin Bell said, "Much of our lives involves the word 'no.' In school we are mostly told, 'Don't do it this way. Do it that way.' But art is the big yes. In art, you get a chance to make something where there was nothing."

Saturday in Black Mountain

Well, I'm over at the Tailgate Market of course, showing my pottery to the folks who just really have thought; "great aunt Gertie might like that and she's always got room for one more little piece of pottery"...or perhaps "that is just the thing I need for my ----!" Thinking positive this week!

I forgot to introduce you to our favorite critter visitor last week, this charming little grasshopper. She had really sticky feet, and when we tried to flick her off my finger, after she quite willingly walking on it from Amelia's arm, she held on for dear life. We finally gently put her in the bouquet of flowers that were displaying a beautiful vase.

Lake Tomahawk Canada Geese

The picnic shelter offered cool shade on Wednesday last week...and there was a great breeze off the water to increase the cooling of our 84 degrees of sunshine.

Better detail of the Canada Geese. They seem happy feeding in the grass, perhaps recently cut so there's lots of goodies. But they also are not-so-politely waiting for the folks picnicking in the shelter, as seen above in silhouette. The white ones often will waddle right into the picnic area looking for scraps.

Lake Tomahawk Dam

As of Wednesday last week, there were sprinklers working on the dam. Some of the grass looks a bit parched.

And for those thinking of fishing, it is allowed in the lake, with usual state licensing provisions, but I think kids can do so without a license.

10-30-1904 Hannah's Reef, Galveston Bay.

My grandfather, George Rogers was probably the smallest man there. And his sister Annie Lou might have been the person on the far left. I never saw my grandfather with hair, so he could perhaps have been the boatman on the far right. That gentleman isn't holding a fishing pole. But this is all conjecture, and I never bet on my own guesses. Don't they have a fine catch!

I prefer Norman Rockwell's version of fishing!

Today's quote:

When we offer nothing but excuses in our lives, we are not being honest with anybody, mostly ourselves.

Sharing with Sepia Saturday this week

and Eileen's Saturday Critters

North Carolina Town Named 'Most Charming Small Town' In The Entire State

 North Carolina is filled with stunning small towns across the state, destinations that offer a quiet beauty by letting the natural scenery, friendly atmosphere and unique attractions shine bright enough to draw you in and experience something you may not get in a bigger, bustling city.

Amateur Traveler Travel Podcast

According to a list compiled by AFAR, the "most charming small town" in all of North Carolina is Black Mountain, praised for its stunning mountain views, availability of live music and exciting and "whimsical" galleries.

Here's what the site had to say about the most charming small town in the state:

"Set in the painterly Blue Ridge Mountains, this folksy town of around 8,500 is only a 20-minute drive east of Asheville but feels a world apart. After ambling around Lake Tomahawk or hiking the 9.5-mile, out-and-back Graybeard Trail in nearby Montreat, enjoy a weaving or pottery exhibit at the Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center, shop for handcrafted jewelry and candles at Seven Sisters Craft Gallery, or go into carb-load overdrive at the Blue Ridge Biscuit Company."

FACT CHECK:

Sentence one  in last paragraph is ok. but sentence 2 falls off the track by confusing a museum in Asheville for the Black Mountain College of the 1930-1950 era with the 2 actual museums in  Black Mountain...one of history of the area, and one of Arts. It is correct that you can shop at Seven Sisters Gallery in Black Mountain, or enjoy good breakfast stuff at the Blue Ridge Biscuit Co.  I do lots of these things regularly myself in Black Mountain, except the old college museum down in Asheville, or the mountain hike in Montreat.

Incidentally, the photo included with the article isn't from Black Mountain either!

But hey, when you're named the "Most charming Small Town" in the Entire State, you shouldn't complain.

A real home in Black Mountain

Today's quote;

Each word we speak has a life of its own, a vibratory signature that creates waves into the expanse of the universe.

Potpourri

 

Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, 2022 

Black Mountain loves its library and librarians!

Linville Gorge

Holman Apartments, Black Mountain 1930s (no longer here)

This building has 2 apartments, 1 bedroom each. Near Lake Tomahawk.

I still miss the old gazebo at Lake Tomahawk, waiting for a new one.

A CGI video about Black Mountain HERE

Today's quote:

Courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace. The soul that knows it not, knows no release from little things. -Amelia Earhart, aviator (1897-1937)