Cat at the market!

From our vantage point at the entrance to the market, we see arrivals first.

A man pulling a pink wheeled case, the critter inside isn't a dog, it has whiskers!

On a leash, a tortoiseshell lovely looks about her.

Curiousity only, no fear.

Joannie, the market manager joins the owner in discussion of this phenomenal cat.

I apologize, I didn't find out her name.  Notice she has 3 colors.  All cats with 3 colors are female, don't you know?

Another apology, I've got my son, Tai's name as identifyer on these photos by mistake.  My bad!

Tailgators of Black Mountain: Farmer Jane soap

Goat Milk Soap...if you haven't tried it, your skin is waiting!

Tailgators of Black Mountain - MudBuddies

You are probably aware of our co-op of 5 potters, The Mud Buddies, who are linked by the Black Mountain Center for the Arts Clay Studio...where we either work, took classes, taught classes, or just hang around.

Checking out pottery means picking it up and seeing what the bottom looks like.  This lady is looking at a piece by Cathy Babula.

 In the foreground and below are pieces by Marsha Cozart.

The conversation in the middle includes gestures by Pat to our goat milk soap vendor, Jane.  On far right in hot pink, Better Potter Jones discusses her raku piece with our friend from the pottery studio, Bonnie. 

 More of Bette's raku pieces.

Pat's work on the left of this table, and mine on the right.

Look for our red tent as you walk into the sale area.  We'll be looking for you!
Every Saturday 9-12.  Just behind the First Baptist Church at the junction of 1st St. and Montreat Rd in Black Mountain, NC.

PS, I'm bringing new pottery out this week!  And a few sale priced pieces that need to go to their forever homes!

Tailgators of Black Mountain: Pies

Every Saturday during the summer months, Auntie M serves up pies at the Tailgate Market. Look for the Baptist Church on Montreat Rd going north from the center of Black Mountain, and park and walk to the grassy area under the trees.

Hot by the piece, or a tart, or take home a pie.  Or order something special for your parties.  Mmm!

Mention that you saw this blog and she may give you a discount.  It's like free advertising for her!  For me it's just sharing the goodies and the good people who are part of our village at our Tailgate Market.

Tailgators of Black Mountain: Chocolate

Homemade chocolate, with little samples for your en-JOY-ment.  This gentleman insists I have a sample every time I go by, until I take one!

Tailgators of Black Mountain: Jerry Pope

You may have heard (here, for instance) of the Tailgate Market, every Saturday during the summer months in Black Mountain.  I would like to introduce to you a different vendor each day for a while.  I wish you could visit them in person, and several have free samples.  All have delightful locally created arts and crafts, or locally grown food.

With a cool grey day, last week's Tailgate Market wasn't as well attended as most of us expected.

So I walked about taking some photos of friendly vendors.  Jerry is selling his children's books, his art postcards of area sites, and has this new book for sale as well.  He said if you mention that you saw this post on Living in Black Mountain's blog, he'd give you a 5% discount on any purchase.
I didn't charge him for this free mention on my blog either!  But I haven't read the book yet.  I'll do a review soon!

this photo by Rebecca Williams

New growth

There is the basil, and a marigold plant which I purchased at Painters nursery.  I've added some seeds to the soil a week or so ago.

Zinnias are coming along.  I know I have to cut a few out, because they all sprouted in one place.  That's thanks to the guy who used a power blower on the porch after mowing the grass, and blew most of my seeds to the grass.  But some were under the dirt and have sprouted.

Sound through the vale

Whether in an afternoon, or lonely sounding through the night, our moaning wail from the train is usually evident to most of us in Black Mountain.

And most of us feel that it means we're home.  When I first moved here it would make me smile, thinking of commerce traveling along the rails still.

At times it makes me so sad, thinking of the coal coming out of the mountains going to feed the power plant which relies upon it, so everyone can use electricity.

  We think we're using a clean source of power.

Like the diesel engines pulling the train that warns of its coming at each cross road.  Long toot, two short ones.  I think.

How many times a day does it pass?  How many times going east?  How many times going west?  I have no idea.  But I hear the sound echo off the humid mountains. 

New members

I won't proselytize about my church, The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Swannanoa Valley, here in Black Mountain, NC.

We have a web page which you're welcome to come look at to learn more about us. 

Last Sunday we welcomed new members.  It was a lovely gathering, and we enjoyed ourselves.  Just wanted to share that with you.

Lakeview Pool

Sure there's the lake year round.  And you can walk around it, around and around.

But only when school's out is the pool open. And this is the first week after school is out.  Finally.

Last night Park Rhythms started...a 2 hour free concert on the green looking over the lake.  Every Thursday evening during the summer.  It was cool and beautiful...and a couple of nice vendors sold food also.  You do have to get there early to park for the 7 pm concert.