Blue Ridge blog

The View from downtown Valle Crucis

Yeah, life gets just a little better when I pass this view each day while taking my youngest child to school . The light was finally right today. Stepping out the front doors of the Mast Store Annex, this view smacks you full force (except for the little steel building across the road). The mountain peak is called Hanging Rock and on the backside is a town called 7 Devils and a ski resort called Hawknest. My girls and I tried to climb to the top several years ago, but they just didn't have it in them to hike all the way. Supposedly, it is easier with better marked trails from the other side.

INDECISION

The sun and clouds had a difficult time yesterday trying to decide who was going to ultimately rule the mood of our particular place in the world. The sun finally won out yesterday, but today, clouds have leap-frogged in front again. Kinda like my moods have been swinging the past couple of days. I even had a difficult time deciding if I liked the composition of this photo. The puddle on the lower right hand corner bothers me, but I can't decide if I am just trying to be a perfectionist. I give up, you decide. This is a barn in Valle Crucis not too far from the old Mission school.

Hey ya'll, Ana has another blog called Trip Report. It is a more specialized blog devoted to Photography. Hopefully it will develop into a spot where photogs meet and ask each other geeky questions . I look forward to participating.

3 o'clock in the morning...

I was fully awake at 3 am this morning...but now at 9 am, I am not. The photo is of our newest snowfall as seen through the window of my 'Sun-less' room . Notice the little tracks (not made by my critters) that came to inspect our trash pile.

The New River...like it is

There's been a big campaign in the last couple of years to keep the New River untouched and unspoiled. Yeah right! Call me a skeptic but I don't see it much happening. Folks are naturally drawn to it's beauty, as were the native Americans eons ago who found the banks of the New equally enticing. In the spring, I'm planning to canoe the New from my office building until I reach the tiny town of Todd at the far reach of Watauga County. I am looking forward to my photo journey in hopes of preserving images of the New, as it is...so later I can point to the photos and show folks the New, like it was...

A Snowman Protest

I was driving down the road on my way to an ASU basketball game earlier today and saw this snowman in somebody's yard. Look's like everybody's protesting something these days. I couldn't help but notice the one eye had fallen out of it's socket and now lays upon the ground.

Baby Blue Eye

This colt runs along the banks of the New River (see previous photo) but on the other side. Yesterday, my eldest daughter and I stopped by to visit Blue Eye and share some apples. At almost 7 months old, Blue Eye is full of himself and definitely gets by with more antics than he should by the other 5 horses in the field.

Finding Color

My goal today was to somehow find colors amid the gray and white of a newly fallen snow. I had seen this patch of yellow grass several days ago in a field near the banks of the New River. I knew that eventually I would find a way to capture the color. Today was the day. I don't think the photo translates the vivid yellow color of the grass but I like the quietness of the scene.

Who'd a thunk it?

I was looking at my Strange Little French Man's recent envelope and saw this stamp fixed upon it. Who knew that the French Government would put out a stamp with our mountains upon it? Just thought I share this.
Snowblink recently gave me a lot to think about regarding Photoblogging. One question he asks are about the photobloggers intentions when posting. He also wonders if people are too polite to post negative critiques and if this actually harms the photographer in the long run. Read his post--it is food for thought. Regarding my blog and your comments about my photos, I request complete honesty. If you have suggestions...great, I welcome any help in improving my photography skills. If you just don't like something, again, great, tell me why. Blogging is highly interactive and besides, I'm in the news business and developed a thick skin eons ago. Bring it on! We'll have fun and hopefully learn something in the process.

Look Ma! No Snow! (right now)

Having a hard time jugglin' the mom job, the day job and the blog desire so in the last day or two I have put my desires to rest...but I am back. Looky here! We are in a brief thaw on the mountain top with no snow in this Sugar Grove scene. However, if I had widened the image just a wee bit, there would have been a patch or two. I've noticed slight changes in the trees lately...a little reddening as if the sap is starting to rise and the buds getting ready to form.
I received a package in my old box yesterday. It was from my Strange Little French Man. I met the acquaintance of my Strange Little French Man about 5 years ago when he wrote a letter to the Watauga Democrat inquiring about information written by the paper on the subject of the film "Where the Lilies Bloom'. The book was written by Vera and Bill Cleaver in 1969 and the film was shot up here in the 70's .
The Strange Little French Man's letter was in french and it was by luck that I was at the receptionist's area checking for messages when she asked me if I knew in what language the letter was composed . I majored in French/Int'l Econ so took over and responded to his inquiry. I send him a CD with current photos of places where the film was shot and in return, he sent me petit cadeau from Alsace-Lorraine.
He still sends me little presents such as books, sheet music, topo maps, photos... I know that he is a confirmed batchelor. I know that his father was a P.O.W. in the USA in WWII. He is also a proud uncle who works in an aerospace factory. He does not have access to the internet. He does not speak English, but understands both French and German. After receiving one too many gifts, I inquired with a friend of mine who visited him a couple of years ago. She regards him as harmless and a perfect gentleman. My husband and children think he is just a Strange Little French Man. Whatever my Strange Little French Man is, I do know that he is cultured and simply desires a bit of interaction with others.
Yesterday he sent me a wonderful CD Marin Marais- La Reveuse & autres pieces de viole and a book en francais- Poemes de Emily Jane Bronte. The poems of Bronte are so different when read in French.

Doc Watson-a life of achievement

Congratulations Doc Watson on receiving a Life Time Achievement Award at the Grammy's tonight! Doc is a resident of Deep Gap, NC in Watauga County. He is married to Rosa Lee. Doc is not Hollywood nor is he Nashville. Doc plays the music of his bretheren and does it with pure meaning and a buttery voice. If you don't know Doc's music then you have missed out. Check out the website for the The Doc Watson Music Fest which is about 2 miles from my home. If you prefer a more star-laiden appearance then check out the Merle Fest