European alliances in 2022...FYI

 Today's image for your information:

For your interest in NATO and The European Union...

European Union and NATO member states

• In both EU and NATO
 
• In EU only
 
• In NATO only

• Notes: The United States and Canada are also NATO member countries.

  Source: European Union, NATO

  Credit: Nick Underwood/NPR

And here's a map with the names of the countries!

Link to Community Gardens post

 Here is yesterday's post with the Community Gardens, as they looked Mar 22, 2022!

A walk around the Community gardens

 Here's the link to my other blog.

Sorry I am getting lazy, but this way you can see all those pictures I took on my walk!

From the other blog

 Walking Along

Black Mountain early spring views

 

The first Forsythia that I've been able to capture!

Next to a parking lot on Sutton St., just downhill from the Center for the Arts.

A bit of man-made sculpture in the catch basin which is home to lots of cattails and other swampy organic vegetation in spring through fall. This is located behind Thai Basil and next to the Clay Studio.

A popular yarn shop moved last year to be next to Tyson's Furniture.

The signature shop at the junction which forms downtown Black Mountain, Town Hardware. It's more for tourists than the fixer-upper person in a family, but they've always got what I need for my home.

Today's quote:

The simplest questions are the most profound. Where were you born? Where is your home? Where are you going? What are you doing? Think about these once in a while and watch your answers change. -Richard Bach, writer (b. 23 Jun 1936)

Catching sight of some beauty

 In 2 days (Correction, tomorrow) we're due for snow. And of course a few frosts at night before that.

So when I was in town yesterday, I clicked the old iPhone camera toward just about any and all color I saw!

Some crocus have already been hit by cold!

There were 3 Lenten Roses that I saw

I think these are sort of Hyacinths

As always, I can't get this kind of focus to work on the dogwood buds.

Sweet tiny grape hyacints.

Today's quote:

A memory may feel abstract or immaterial, but it is actually a biochemical process taking place in the brain. It involves neurons communicating with each other via the “wires” or synapses connecting them. 

The pathway an electrochemical signal follows as it continually travels from neuron to synapse to neuron constitutes a memory. Whenever you have that memory, the same pathway gets activated. And the more it’s activated, the more it becomes hardwired into the brain’s circuitry. Eventually, it becomes a long-term memory. 

Activation also requires enzymes, molecules that set off chemical reactions. The problem is that these enzymes don’t exist for longer than a week. If a memory is to endure, it would seem that the enzymes would have to remain functioning for years or even decades. 

Once the enzymes turn off, one would expect the memories to go with them. “This became a holy grail in neuroscience,” Lisman says. “How can a molecule in your brain serve as a memory? How does nature accomplish this?”

—John Lisman 

Acknowledging the original people

 

Sharing with Signs2 this week.

Blooming first

 I happened to turn onto Church St. the other day, from downtown Black Mountain. I was surprised to see a beautiful blossoming tree!

It was only March 5th. What's going on?

It was already evening so I didn't get that wonderful of photos...

So I drove by again on Sunday, Mar 6...

A friend suggested it's a Bradford Pear, which are usually the first blooming trees around here. But the shape is wrong. It's still possible though.

Today's Quote:

Being able to listen well is a superpower. While listening to someone you love keep asking them “Is there more?”, until there is no more.

Learn how to learn from those you disagree with, or even offend you. See if you can find the truth in what they believe.

 Kevin Kelly

Kevin Kelly is founding executive editor of Wired magazine, and a former editor/publisher of the Whole Earth Review. He has also been a writer, photographer, conservationist, and student of Asian and digital culture.

Update on Lakehood house building.

 The new house in the Lakehood...I blogged about it a couple of weeks ago HERE.

But it really belongs in my Black Mountain blog.

It's a tight squeeze next to other properties.

But down that hill is the dam for Lake Tomahawk. 

There wasn't anyone doing construction when  I was there...and rain had blown in on the floor. But the sun was back out, and more dry days were forecast soon.

Today's quote:

The softer you sing, the louder you're heard. -Donovan, musician (b. 10 May 1946)

Ole's daffodils

 Oh joy. A favorite restaurant has daffodils blooming today (March 1, 2022)!

It's right where I usually park for my take-out order.

I wonder what law of physics make the wind blow them around whenever I point a lens at them!

It's just about spring. Of course another blizzard could happen this month. Or maybe even next. Our normal (what used to be) last frost date was Mother's Day...second Sunday in May!

Most of us have been putting little plants outside before that.

Welcome if you're here, Ms. Springtime!