Blue Ridge blog

Cllinton and his jewels visit ASU

First. This isn't a political blog so I neither wish to endorse or detract from President Clinton's visit to Appalachian State University yesterday afternoon. But I would like to point out that Bill Clinton has been to the High Country more than our current Governor (publicly, that is) . Just noticing....
And, I must be shallow. One of the first things I noticed about President Clinton, besides that he looks exactly like he does on t.v., was the jewelry he was wearing. He sported a handsome Appalachian 'Block A,' on his lapel. That's a good look for him and he should continue wearing it. The other was the red and blue bracelet he wore on his right hand. I looked on the internet and found there are two different stories behind the wearing of the bracelet. Go figure.

Ronda, NC

The above is a roadside view of a barn in Ronda, NC. To capture this scene required one patient teenage, a husband willing to pull off Hwy 421 for 5-10 minutes, and the gumption to cross the busy highway and forge through a labyrinth of a young patch of poison ivy. Fun was had by everyone except my husband and teen.

Annie and the Watauga River

It was a big weekend, from a Friday evening affair in Boone and to a Saturday afternoon of laying floors and then a Sunday morning dance thing in G'boro, the weekend was packed with good times, hard work, and cockroaches.
FYI: the Comfort Inn @ exit 216 in Greensboro, NC is infected with "what the f-ers cockroaches?". I thought it was funny. Youngest lost her sense of humor about the time my husbund squooshed one above her bed.
I did find time on Saturday morning to take Annie for her first tromp around Valle Crucis Park and the Watauga River. She delighted at the offering of new smells at the park and on the water's edge. After our walk I wrapped a new gifted kerchief round her neck, an offering from one of the Mast Store fairies, and took her photo before she freaked out at being in the car. She still hates riding in a vehicle. She slobbers. She shakes. But is getting less so each time we venture out.

I wish there was a 'Kind of hush, all over the world."

Seems like I'm spinning my wheels these days. Between my new 8-5 job which often bleeds into Friday night and Saturday morning, working after hours on a construction project with my husband, and puppy training, there is little leftover time to think, much less to produce anything of bloggy quality.
But, after laying a tile floor yesterday evening, my husband were fortunate enough to sit on the deck and savor a Bar Harbour beer, purchased from Peabody's, and watch the sun set beyond Matney. Meanwhile, the cat played with a wagging dog's tail and the hummingbirds returned to their summer destination. All's still good in our world...

Mister Man to Puppy, "Do like this."

Mister Man is teaching puppy all kind of important new skill sets such as, climbing stairs and staring through a dirty kitchen door window.

Today's Tom Sawyer...

With apologies to the band 'Rush' for the title of this post, it is none-the-less more appropriate than any other. You see, today was Earth Day and I found The Last American Man working a piece of wild cherry into a utensil on Sanford Mall. Yup. I found Eustace Conway again. Don't know him? He founded Turtle Island Preserve This quote sums him up, almost:

"Like Thoreau, Eustace has gone to the woods to live deliberately, fronting only the essential facts of life, to see if he could not learn what it had to teach, and not when he came to die discover that he had not lived. He has lived in the woods for over 20 years. He learns by visiting extremes; once when Eustace severely cut his thumb, he sewed it back together with twelve stitches, and used plant medicine."

Most outsiders adore Eustace. The rest of us appreciate his marketing genius as well as his ability to turn  hillbilly living into a commodity. Heck, even Tom Sawyer could only convince others to do his hard work for a limited amount of time. Yet City folks still queue to have Eustace allow 'em to do the really grubby hard ass work of mountaineer living after a decade and half. Still, Blogs and the mainstream media continue to be amazed at his choice of everyday life.
But, who can blame them. Eustace has an affectious personality. Personally, I like his smile. Sigh.

( A personal note to Dr. Fletcher via the BRB from Eustace Conway: Dr. Fletcher, Your photography class still stays with me after all these years. It tickles me to be able to pass this message along to you through a blog, whatever that is. The word 'blog' sounds like 'blob,' like a mass bigger than I know what to do with. Still, I hope you are well. Eustace)

App Sign Version 738...

Cliche images become that for a reason--it is the spot where, for whatever reason, people connect to a place. In Boone, the waterwheel at Geno's Lounge is a photo curiosity for many. And if you are an App State alum, the sign on Hardin Street means something to many because folks gather 'round it daily to have their photographer made in front of it. My favorite photos are of large groups which cover up the sign completely. But whatever. I was out walking around campus and noticed the blossoming tulips and desired to have take my own sweet shot of the Appalachian sign since it plays a significant role in my life. Back in the 70's when I was on a Girl Scout backpacking trip along the Appalachian Trail, our van passed this sign. It was my first introduction to the university and was the moment I knew I would come to school here.
(The sign has long changed fonts and the 2007 Nat'l Championship should be added this century.)

He's such a tool...

Much ado this weekend. We went to Columbia, SC to watch eldest perform in the USC University Chorus. Later we de-lofted her room and fed her in places other than the campus cafeteria. In two weeks, after her exams, we have her much closer to home. This make me happy.

Today, my husband and I constructed. Not much makes my husband happier than when he teaches then watches me use new tools. I am unskilled free labor to him..and I'm a girl. He convinces me to help him, is seemingly patient, but laughs at me the entire time. Today, I was getting used to the router and planer when he chuckled as I glazed my finger by the router blade. "Did that get your attention?" he asked.
If it wasn't for our lovely children, I would have shimmed the 'on' button of the router and chucked the tool at his head.
He's lucky I love the idiot. That's all I'm sayin...

Oh and the leaves are peepin'.

Getting comfy and settling in...

So sorry for the confusion, but our dog's name is once again, "Annie." The name just fits the dog and no matter how hard I tried to call her "Maddy," I would either mistakenly say, "Annie" or "Puppy." So "Annie," it is.

Annie has a certain intelligence that Harley never possessed. Where Harley was patient and kind and gentle, Annie is not. She has spunk and spirit and a will which challanges my own. Additionally, Annie's nose rules her brain. Food, is of vital importance to her. Thus, our mountain is a puppy buffet filled which such exotic flavors as rabbit pellets and turkey doo.

And, I would like to thank my friends at the Mast General Store for leaving the package of "Puppy Crack" in my mailbox. Annie literally freaked to get into the doggie cookies and she will 'ho' for a nibble. She sits on command. I am working on teaching her how to ride in a car without slobbering and shaking. Maybe we need "Doggie Downers" for this task. After the first night or two, Annie seems much more comfortable here. And Mister Man has been a fantastic babysitter. Frankly, I believe he has missed Harley so much that he puts up with the little Miss out of boredom and loneliness.

My week has been busy shooting college students going through the rites of spring. The tree's leaves are threatening to make an appearance, but aren't quite there. I 'spect I'll get around to taking more nature photos as soon as my neck of the woods greens.

Life of the party....

I'm working on images to post. In the meantime, please know that if'n I was going to invite anyone from Boone to a party, it would be this guy. Seriously. He knows the difference between a uvular click and an alveolar click and this fascinates me:

Leave me alone, I'm practicing my alveolar click. It ain't easy and the puppy thinks I'm crazy....