Blue Ridge blog

BO

This is my friend, Bo. We've spent more than a decade working together--'cept he gets to works on the Goss Community Press and I'm only allowed to watch. I confess that whenever life in the newsroom gets a little too manic or boring, I slip off to the pressroom to visit Bo and the other guys. Bo always seems happy to see me. 'Hello darlin'" is how he greets me.  I watch Bo as he tames the mechanical beast. Bo is a fine tamer of the beast--and I supposed he has called it much worse than that when it has chosen to be persnickity. One thing you should know about Bo is this: He finds no humor to the cliche 'Stop the Press'.  This place ain't no movie and any editor foolish enough to run into Bo's Pressroom and shout such orders is likely to be booted out or worse.
Bo's my bud. I got his back and he's got mine. Any doubts?

Yesterday I asked Bo if he would pose for a series of bracketed exposures for me. He didn't ask any questions, he just said,
"Why sure," and that was all. I've been experimenting with HDR photography and he is my first portrait.
Kinda wild, isn't it?

The Mast General Store

I traveled with tripod all over Watauga county looking for photos. I went to the Mast store looking to pick up my mail and noticed I had hit it during a lull. I asked if I could bring in my tripod and take a few shots and was welcomed to do so. The above is one result of many. I liberally used the Photoshop dodge and burn tools (probably too much come to think of it) but I disclose this fact just so you know. There was also some selective desaturation/saturation of colors as well.
I'm playing with Photoshop CS2 these days so y'all will just have make nice/or not.

The New River

It is difficult to explain the odd lighting this morning. The winter sun shined through a thin veil of clouds causing only what I describe as flat yet vivid colors. I took a walk with my tripod and camera along the banks of the New River in Boone and was delighted by saturated reds, golds and blues. Winter was alive.
And when I returned to the office, I ate a candy cane for breakfast. Folks, it just doesn't get much better than that....

Frosty Morn

Looking out my window this morning, it didn't appear cold outside. However, when on my way to work I passed several barns and witnessed vapors rising from the roofs, I wished I had worn at least a sweater instead of just a long sleeved t-shirt...

The hills are alive...

...with the sound of cello music. After a long forced break, eldest has picked up her instrument and serenades my suppertime shenanigans with a song. For the past couple of years I have often contemplated her going away. For me, it will be a vacuum of silence she creates in our home as she packs her cello in it's case and carts it to college which causes me the most angst. I will especially miss her off notes. She is a Jacqueline Du Pre 'wanna be' who gets the last note wrong in the 'Elgar' almost every single time. Yet, she keeps playing.
I enjoy hearing her performances, but it is her practice sessions which play upon my heart strings. How many times have I heard her ask, "How was that , Mom?"
And oh how the honesty has ebbed and flowed from my lips....depending upon her particular need for the truth at the time.

..so dearest youngest, please don't quit dancing around the house for at least another year.

Please?

Photo is of the Mast Store Annex this afternoon as seen from Valle Crucis Park.

Thankful for....

There were many highlights from my few days away...
I drove alone from Valle Crucis to Soddy-Daisy, Tn. At first, the sight of snow upon Beech Mountain made me wish I could stay put for Thanksgiving.

Then....

Not far off in Carter County Tennessee I see places which make me stop my Jeep, turn around, and take photos. 'God Bless American' is all I could think at the moment I saw this place. Next thing I wondered was, 'How does one go about getting a beer wash?" Hmmmm....

Last, but not least was the opportunity to watch a three year old be a three year old.

...in a room full of introverted nuclear scientists, she was easily the highlight of our Thanksgiving party....I am thankful for her.

Traces of happiness...

It may be just a little bit of snow, but it went far in defining the upcoming week for me. After a late evening assignment tonight, I am officially on vacation and have every intention of kickin back and cookin for a good long while.... (above photo is Photoshopped)

You may or may not hear from me.

One thing is for certain....there is no way I'll miss watchin/working while MY APPs play Coastal Carolina Saturday. I was at the selection show yesterday and took this photo of Dexter Jackson's reaction to our ranking as #1 seed in the 1-AA playoff championship--or whatever the NCAA is calling it this year....

I'm smelling me some ski season...

Mother Nature blew some snow last night, yet the snow guns at local ski resorts have not yet cranked. I drove up Ski Mountain this afternoon and grabbed a shot to share with you'uns. I reckon I oughta bundle up for tonight's football game. Ya think?

Oh and, just in case you actually believe I just said Mother Nature snorts alot of cocaine (blew some snow) that is simply a colloquialism we use of here to refer to the making of snow, man-made or natural. Just so you know...

Naked Andirons...

Gaaahh! You just can't take me out into polite society. Even when I'm not trying, I find the most sexual item in a room to focus on. Last night my husband and I toured the Biltmore House after listening to my youngest daughter sing beautiful tunes within the walls of this four acre mansion. Big signs remind other folks that photography is not allowed. But, I know deep down inside, they really want me to take photos so I go into my private eye stealth mode with my D70 hidden beneath my pea coat. As we walk through the maze of rooms, I shoot from the hip. This is in the library.  I did not notice the naked pair of andirons adorning the fireplace until I got home and opened up the photo. Now, I can't take my eyes off of them. I'm such a low life...

And...how in the heck do I tag a post like this?

It is funny how spending $2.89 can basically change your life.

One day, about six months ago or so, our shower head became possessed by the devil. Seriously, my husband and I feared for body parts each and everytime we took a shower.

"Its like a being hosed down with a pressure washer," he said to me yesterday as he scooted away from one particularly vile jet of water.

I reckon he finally had enough. He went to the hardware store and plunked down a couple of bucks for a new shower head.

This morning, a gentle stream of water pulsed over my face and I did not fear one of my eyes might get poked out.

My morning mood was instantly lifted.

And, on a couple of sidenotes--we are traveling down to Asheville to see youngest sing at the Biltmore House this evening...Lots of rain overnight, and it now appears as though we will be making the return trip through snow.