Blue Ridge blog

This is a squirrelly post...

It is just hard let this one go.... While all the other grown-ups at graduation politely shunned the girl with a stuffed squirrel mounted on her mortar board, I could not ignore it. In fact, I was hypnotized. While the Lt. Gov. Elect was speaking and it was my job to capture all his wisdom in one shot, I constantly looked backward at the bobbing rodent as it's puppet master talked to her nearby friend. All I really wanted to do was to ask the girl with the rat hat why she chose to wear this varmit today. I imagined her answer to be squirrelly like: "This was my grandpa's pet squirrel 'Frisky' and I promised him when he died I would take him everywhere with me. Or perhaps, "I am a biology major and I am concerned with the recent death of the family Sciuridae. I never got the chance to ask the Graduate but I hope to god she has a good story. Otherwise, I pity her because she is going to end up just like me...

Working hard for apples....

I overheard this snippet of conversation yesterday :

Man 1: "My daddy always said there are only two kinds that work on Sunday; a fool and a maggot."

Man 2: "Well, that's me, man. I'm just a fool crawling from one shit pile to another hoping to grow some wings."

And I reckon I'm a fool 'cause I worked both Saturday and Sunday in orchard reclamation. I fought blackberry canes, some 20 feet long, liberating our apple trees from my years of neglect. Annie chased butterflies and delighted in uncovering  tennis balls left behind by Harley.

This morning I eagerly return to my day job. My arms are covered in scratches. I need to rest a bit and take photos.

The photo above is of the new barn quilt placed on the Sustainable Development barn in Valle Crucis last week. Thanks to Tom E. for the heads up. I also noticed a new quilt placed on the barn near the entrance of the Valle fairgrounds. I'll shoot out soon and photograph that.

Here's a link to the first Valle Crucis barn quilt. Here's a link to a map of Watauga County Barn Quilts. Note: It needs updating.

Potty Art

Art really can turn a frown upside down.
I was checkin' out the scenery on the Georges Gap Rd and passed by a display of toilets I've wondered about for years. See, if you twist your head just right, you'll catch a glimpse of what appears to be a row of toilets peeping over the yard's horizon. But to date there was never any context to make sense of the partial view. Still, even finally piecing together the puzzle doesn't necessary make the scene completely rational, so we'll categorize this yard as art.
How did I finally capture these images?
Previously I was too timid to stop and ask permission to take photos because a person who collects toilets in their yard, well, their personality is difficult to predict. But today was the day to solve this mystery. I reckon I was channeling my inner Nancy Drew. I pulled into the driveway and knocked on the door. No answer. So I took it upon my nosy self to walk around to the side and get a good look-see. The owner uses the toilets as brilliant little utilitarian planters. And they please me, too. I especially like the bag of manure in the foreground which is used to fill the toilets with the necessary brown gold.
Some folks may see toilet art as tacky and weird, but I see it as quirky, fun and now I can't wait to meet the artist.

Where Form meets Fun(ction)

So my new office chair and I took a nice stroll down an ASU path today in hopes of finding a pleasant spot to take in the fresh air. I wish my eldest could have seen me. I would surely have been greeted with multiple eyerolls. As it was, the exam weary students I did encounter smiled in my direction, but probably only because I was carrying a huge lens and wheeling a freaky chair around. I was completely out of context--just like the Ron Paul supporters on the sidewalk this morning.

I needed this chair. My backside has not been happy with the gov't issue much-more-expensive seats provided at the job. While shooting dancers several weeks ago, I noticed one of these chairs sitting at a professor's desk. I read more, even all the negatives said about the exercise ball chair and because I rarely sit longer than 10 minutes at a stretch, decided to go for it.

My verdict? It is comfortable, if not a little bouncy and perfect for this Tigger-like gal who can rarely sit still for long.

And on to even happier things. A past Sunday school teacher was awarded the North Carolina Sportswriter of the Year award. Kudos to writer David Shaw for accurately summing up A.J. Carr's personality.

Carr may feel antsy in the spotlight, but you'd never know it by his gentle manner and soft, smiling eyes. As a do-it-all sportswriter for the state's second-largest daily newspaper, he possesses a journalist's version of bedside manner — the ability to put you at ease.

"Well, that's one of the most important things about this job," he said. "You want your subject to be comfortable. You want to be trusted and liked."

Indeed. A.J. Carr is not only liked, but beloved.

And look! There's D.J., aka known as David Jackson, aka "The Voice of the Mountaineers." He also was recognized at the NSSA awards as the the NC Broadcaster of the Year.

Who says good things don't happen to fine people?

The Valle Country Fair is about community and so much more...

The Apple Butter Gang of Holy Cross
Ok, so the colors in these altered photos are garish, but so are fall's colors this year. I dedicate this particular post to Gary of the NC Mtn Dreams blog who wants to be from here more than anyone I've ever known. Hope you can make the VC fair next year, Gary!

Pressing Apples
The late frost killed our apple buds, yet the folks from Holy Cross used their state-wide connections to hook-up with off-the-mountain apples. Hot Cider drinking at the fair is a tradition.

My Friends
I was hungry at 9:30 a.m. when my friend 'B' was simmering onions and peppers in the Sausage Factory booth at the fair. It was everything I could do to keep my face out of that skillet. Her husband, 'F' thought I might actually do it which is why he is looking slightly amused in this image. If you look closely, there are at least 6 of my friends working in this Holy Cross Booth of charity--and that doesn't begin to count their prodigy working on the front lines. This is my favorite place to visit at the Valle Fair. I wouldn't trade all the M&M's and beer in the world for these people...

A monster in our midst-the metal, not the man
This is one of the many talented vendors at the fair. The dude makes amazing recycled metal art. I would say much more about his really cool work, but nevermind...

Local kids doing their local thing
I delight in watching my daughters' friends perform. These are some of the Valle's best. I enjoy the comfortable feeling of walking right up to them and pointing my camera in their faces and seeing their looks of recognition mirrored back by a slight shy grin. Goodness grows in Valle Crucis.

Hunt Hill Overlook
The secret passage way to Hunt Hill Overlook of the Valle Fair is a 6 inch board crossing the creek. From there you climb the hill slipping and sliding through fresh cow manure until you reach the sitting bench. The view is worth the dung.

Hope you like the photos, Gary.

The Liberty Day parade in Todd, North Carolina

Though I'm behind on posting photos taken on the fourth, I am compelled to share with you a virtual slice of Americana. A friend and I attended the community of Todd Liberty parade on the fourth of July. There was not one single fire engine seen or heard. And easily, there were more people participating in the parade than who watched it. But that was kind of the point. A poster announcing the parade describes the day:
"As Mr. Liberty and the Raindrops seek to unite with Mrs. Liberty and the River. Paraders will make a community pilgrimage with Mr. Liberty, experience the sound of Elk Creek, sing songs, hear poetry, all the while wearing outrageous costumes. Following the parade will be a community circus. ...so bring your talent! Anyone is at liberty to share their talent, be it whistling, popping your cheeks, rolling your eyes..."

Yes, I know the second clown photo looks spooky in John Gacy sort of way. But I like it.