By the lake last summer

  

All these bushes have been removed. Sorry to lose the flowers as well as where birds sang to us. The dogwood trees are still there however. Apparently the bush removal was to deter thefts from cars in the parking lot.

Instead of a quote today, I am listing the organizations against gun violence. It was at the end of yesterday's post on my other blog...John Pavlovich's blog actually.

(Here are some organizations who are helping make this country safer. I am actively supporting two of them. It's the least I can do!)

Moms Demand Action
Everytown for Gun Safety
The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence
Violence Policy Center
Gabby Gifford’s Americans for Responsible Solutions
The Brady Campaign 

Sharing with Floral Friday Fotos  

Spring from years gone by

  

Sharing with Garden bloggers Bloom Day

Today's quote:

When we contemplate the whole globe as one great dewdrop, striped and dotted with continents and islands, flying through space with other stars all singing and shining together as one, the whole universe appears as an infinite storm of beauty.
—John Muir

Spring from last year

Happy Valentine's Day...a day to honor the deepest and most beautiful emotion in a human being...which has been subverted by advertising and retail sales of little value beyond contributing to an economy based on greed. Nope not going to go there. Love is the focus for today!

Weather yesterday turned out balmy, though of course it was a bit chilly in the morning when I went to AARP for free tax preparation at the library. Renewed acquaintence with a lovely woman who happens to be married to a blogger, Mike Brubaker of temposenzatempo.blogspot.com. He and I are regular contributors to Sepia Saturday, where old photos, old stories, and some really fun things happen each Saturday. I wish more folks would contribute what they've got stashed away somewhere. I did more paperwork when I got home, and really need to get to housework now...groan!

Today's quote:

Neither great poverty nor great riches will hear reason. 

-Henry Fielding, author (21 Apr 1707-1754)

Follow your heart, forgive, trust in love

 A lovely video (10 min.) by a man who trusts in love...and follows his heart.

https://grateful.org/resource/trust-in-love/?mc_cid=2204418445&mc_eid=5cde476be7

Green Renaissance produces gorgeous short films that uplift the personal stories of ordinary people, with the goal of sharing ideas and inspiring change. We feel hugely blessed to feature video-stories that filmmakers Michael and Justine capture with exquisite expertise, and which so beautifully illustrate Grateful Living principles and practices. In this short film we hear from Nick Nyalungu.

No quote needed today...the video says it all!

However, I do have a thought to share...somewhat related. As yesterday we celebrated that two very famous men, who probably never knew each other, were born on the same day...I thought how each day this might still be happening. Not just two people but many who will grow up to change the world  in major ways (like Lincoln or Darwin). And since I agree with Buckminster Fuller's philosophy that the universe supports those who are working toward a better more creative future of its very being...these many children born today, or maybe 10 or 20 years ago, might tip the balance between movements toward peace, environmental stability, and a healthy sustainable life for all. If a Lincoln and a Darwin managed to grow from the same date of birth in 1809, just think of the possibilities for children born in the twenty-first century! Yes, we are living in exciting times!

Day before the storm,* (yesterday Feb 11, 2023) (*just a bunch of rain)

More moss...which I've become strangely aware of for the first time. Of course I've always loved tree roots that look like humpback whales here, breaching in a mossy ocean.

 After a good week or maybe 2 where it's only gone below freezing at night maybe for a couple of hours, and been sunny and 60 degrees F several days. I had to go take these spring buds' photos.

And of course I'm interested in the moss that's growing everywhere.

Downstairs from my apartment...there's another apartment whose front door opens at that level, and I noticed out my window yesterday there was a clump of daffodils blooming. So I started to walk towards them, in a cold and windy day, with my hood up of my coat.

And look at this delicate little lady!

More little tiny flowers. I really was careful where I stepped.

And there they are. Blowing wind of course.

The closest one changed directions constantly, but I was thrilled to see gradations in the yellow, which haven't come through in past photos by the iPhone of daffodils. It was a cloudy day, so maybe that helped.

This shot is the north facing ground outside my front door.  It's a real mishmash!

By 7 pm last night the storm wasn't going to go below freezing here (but the whole day would be around 35 F.) And only a short portion would be snow...and the freezing rain would be starting about the time I was writing this. So I'm homebound, and have such a list of things to do in the house!

Happy birth anniversary to Lincoln, born in a log cabin, read by firelight, and oh yes, freed the slaves. A million people are descendants of those people who had no last names when they were set free, who had nothing but the clothes on their backs, and depending upon their owners who suddenly were forced to see that these were equal human beings, might also have a continuing job with some kind of wages. If they were farm workers, they might be given an area where they could continue farming and pay the owner of the land (no longer owner of themselves) a portion of what they chose to raise. (Sorry, I apparently really identify with this, as I had ancestors who owned slaves.)

Today's quote:

Men of lofty genius when they are doing the least work are most active. 

-Leonardo da Vinci, painter, engineer, musician, and scientist (1452-1519)

Automobiles

 For Sepia Saturday this week, we get to find old pics of cars.

What's the difference between a car and automobile? No, I don't know the answer.

I'll share some old photos that I posted to another Sepia Saturday about a year ago.

But I also will give the link to a 2021 gas shortage post.

The following photos are the Rogers' family Studebakers, as well as some members of the family!

My father is Jr. and may be the one standing outside the car. His younger brother James would be driving, and Gummy (my grandmother who never drove) would be the passenger, wearing a hat.

In 1942 my grandparents stand as bookends for my father, in front of a Studebaker which looks very much like the one in the first photo. What do you think?

Here my younger sister and myself are standing in front of the Studebaker when we lived in St. Louis about in 1950.

Above, another Studebaker, and another set of Easter clothes (complete with hats) as my sister and I stand  on the campus of Principia, where we each attended from 1950 on, graduating from high school there, and attending 3 years of college before we each quit. 

This may have been my father's last Studebaker. It was sporty two tone with dark blue on top and a pale blue bottom. On the left hand photo you can see my grandfather and my little sis, and maybe myself in the window. On the right side I'm pretending to drive, well before turning 16 when I would finally learn how (in another Studebaker of course!)

I greatly enjoy different museums which have been visited by another blogger, so try going to 

Big Daddy Dave's post on art in automobiles.

or even better, Big Daddy Dave's visit to the Studebaker Museum

Yesterday we had some sunshine and at 60 degrees around 3 pm I ate my lunch in the car at the lake. The wind was pretty cool. One radio-controlled sailboat out there, and a trio of Mallards with the aim of making little ducks. I wonder if this weather brought them into season. Tomorrow night is due to get back down to freezing as we go through rain and maybe snow. We shall seee, grasshopper, we shall see.

And to carry forward from yesterday having my (new to me) car checked out, I anticipated that in March I'd have to have it inspected prior to getting my new license plate tag (sticker with the year's date on it). Thus the state of NC has done previously. But today I got the bill of all taxes, local and state for the car, and it said my car didn't need to be insepected for NC. Wow! So I got a freebe yesterday of the look-over, and won't have to get the $30 inspection at all next month. Whoopee! 

Today's quote:

If we are to have another contest in the near future of our national existence, I predict that the dividing line will not be Mason and Dixon's but between patriotism and intelligence on the one side, and superstition, ambition and ignorance on the other. -Ulysses S. Grant, military commander, 18th US President (1822-1885)

Cold falls, moon, summer flowers, and Superman

  Memories of blooms and other things will show in my posts for a while.

Hooker Falls in DuPont Forest, NC

I don't remember when, but a partial eclipse of the moon.

Sharing with Skywatch Friday (of course)

Flame Azaleas are native in the Appalachian woods in spring.

Sharing with Floral Friday this week!

Weather here yesterday was windy with some rain forecast, but by noon it hadn't arrived. I took car for oil change and asked the owner to drive me next door to the Moments Coffee shop. He did, and I had a very nice scone with cinnamon and nuts. I met a woman and shared the good thing of his driving me over, and we talked about car repairs a bit. I admitted I'd gotten out of breath just taking out the garbage.

 So when R.T. called to say my car was ready (he also had checked it out to see if all the car-things were functioning correctly) this new friend, Marie, offered to drive me back over next door so I wouldn't have to walk through the weeds. I was very grateful. And the car was ok too! I had also been very shaky and spilled some of my coffee because of that, while commenting on the young man with a curl in the middle of his forehead. I told him about my son's veneration of Superman as a boy and insisting of having a curl on his forehead also. So then of course we (there were 3 male staff behind the counter) talked about all the Clark Kents among us! A good morning!

Today's quote:

Everyday language is a part of the human organism and is no less complicated than it.

-Ludwig Wittgenstein, philosopher (1889-1951)

View from my window

 Again. I know, it's pretty dull.  But I do sit here and watch weather. The clouds that roll over the southern ridge usually bring some moisture or another. No snow to speak of this year.

If you look closely at the base of the far tree, the daffodils are poking up. And instead of grass, the entire area is now covered with moss. At least that's what it looks like to me.

Maybe something that will bloom

Definitely things that will bloom!

I walkedd to the top of our parking lot the other day when it was nice and warm! I've got maples outside my window, but up the hill are pines.

A sample showing 2 kinds of moss. Broom Moss and (not sure of the other one, something like delicate, fragile?)

Today's quote:

Everyday language is a part of the human organism and is no less complicated than it. -Ludwig Wittgenstein, philosopher (1889-1951)

Oh the honey bees!

 

What’s behind the widespread loss of honey bee colonies? A new study has some answers. 

I do love my honey. And I'm so grateful that I can purchase raw wildflower honey here, which helps my allergies to various pollens.

We probably all know that "Honey bees are vital pollinators for more than 100 species of crops in the United States." 

Treehugger published on 2/6/23 an article dated 1/31/23 by Melissa Bryer. In it there's a lot of detail of a new study that has also been published recently.

"...after a comprehensive analysis of data from the last five years, the Penn State study offers insight into what is killing the bees. Using novel statistical methods, the study is the first to concurrently look at a mix of honey bee stressors at a national scale. 

 Lead author of the Penn State study, Luca Insolia said:

"For this study, we integrated many large datasets at different spatial and temporal resolutions and used new, sophisticated statistical methods to assess several potential stressors associated with colony collapse across the U.S.”

The findings show that “honey bee colony loss in the U.S. over the last five years is primarily related to the presence of parasitic mites, extreme weather events, nearby pesticides, as well as challenges with overwintering,” writes Gail McCormick in a press statement for the study. 

..."They found that more than one stressor affected honey bee colony loss across the country, including the presence of pesticides—no surprise, given that the goal of pesticides is to kill insects—frequent extreme weather events, and weather instability. Additionally, not surprising given previous evidence and research, bees were also impacted by the presence of the Harry Potteresque parasitic mites, Varroa destructor. At just 1.1 millimeters long, Varoa is one of the most troublesome pests of the honey bee and is causing concern to beekeepers throughout the world. 

..."A beekeeper himself, Insolia adds, “These results also inform actions that beekeepers could take to help circumvent these stressors and protect their colonies, including treatments for the Varroa mite‚ especially in areas of weather instability. Beekeepers could also consider strategies to move their colonies to areas with high food availability or away from nearby pesticides or to provide supplementary food during certain seasons or months with frequent extreme weather events.”

The study was published online in the journal Scientific Reports.

My source was Treehugger Newsletter, 2/6/23/

Today's quote:

Gratitude is most powerful as a response to the Earth because
it provides an opening to reciprocity, to the act of giving back,
to living in a way that the Earth will be grateful for us.
ROBIN WALL KIMMERER

New Restaurant in town

 

The Taco Billy sign is right behing that SUV.

It is located in the old Seven Sister's Gallery. That's easy for locals to find.

And it's in good company. New Taco Billy on the left, then Black Mountain Kitchen entrance to its stairs going down to a cozy pub, and on the right, directly in front of us is the Veranda Restaurant, which often has people sitting on that bench waiting their turn for a table. 

I wonder how many will give up and get tacos instead!

And I just looked at Taco Billy's menu online! Or here it is as I downloaded it.

This menu must be from the Asheville restaurant, because the hours in Black Mountain are 8-8, Tues-Sat. and 8-3 on Sun.  At least that's what their site said. In winter in Black Mountain there aren't many things open at 8 pm.

Photo by my frriend Kathy Phillips...here is the breakfast taco "Billy Joel"

Today's quote:

Science is built with facts as a house is with stones, but a collection of facts is no more a science than a heap of stones is a house. -Jules Henri Poincaré, mathematician, physicist, and philosopher (1854-1912)