Blue Ridge blog

On the Blue Ridge Parkway today...

I woke up extra early to go out to the Blue Ridge Parkway and catch some end of summer photos. I made an error in judgement and went to get onto the BRP from Bamboo Rd. Oops. I forgot the road was closed there and had to drive back on Deerfield Rd during the school traffic rush. I almost gave up because I thought I had missed the best light, but decided I had nothing better to do so headed south and picked up the BRP in Blowing Rock. I hit a dense fog bank near Julian Price Park and could tell that with a few more minutes of patience, I might sneak in a shot or two of pre-autumn delight.
So here you go...

(Scroll down on my sidebar and you might find a new photo of me, but shhhh...it's a secret.)

Is this blog looking like a tabloid newspaper yet?

Hark! Boone Mayor Loretta Clawson frees a moment from her busy schedule to indulge this photographer in a moment of playfullness. Mayor Clawson attended the grand opening of the Tot Lot version 2.0. And because this blog doesn't want to get bogged down in political bickering, let it be know to all that Clawson has an opponent during the next election cycle.

And the celebrity faces in the High Country continue...

Check out the adorable Tom Philpott and his crew at Maverick Farm in Valle Crucis. Tom, who writes for Grist was featured in the latest issue of Gourmet Magazine.

You want more scoop?

Do you remember when I wrote about Todd, North Carolina in recent posts? Remember me talking abou the lady in the funny hat? Apparently the New York Times thinks the community of Todd is kinda cool too.
Call me cutting edge;)

And the piece de resistance...

Last, but not least is a photo I did not take because I was on holiday, but my friend Brenda was. Here is a photo of "The Hill" at the presidential hopeful's tour of Blowing Rock last weekend. Westglow Spa was the site of the fundraiser....

Finally, you didn't hear it from me but, lean in closer and I'll whisper it into your ear...
I heard, and this is just silly hillbilly gossip, but Jane Fonda was recently at the Westglow. Next celebrity guest to visit Blowing Rock is this ex-The View hostess .

LOL

Dear Hillary,
Just got your lovely invitation in the mail. I'm afraid I can't quite afford to attend the Blowing Rock hootenanny fundraiser. $2,300 is a mighty large sum for my little hillbilly budget. But, I would like to extend the invitation for you to come on down to the Friday night Mountain Ruritan Fish Fry at the old Cove Creek Fire Department in the Sugar Grove sometime. I'm sure everyone would be right nice to ya. In fact, if you get bored with pressing all that flesh, why don't ditch the crowd and join me to see Wynonna?

Just give me a holler.

Sincerely,
Marie Freeman

Tweetsie Railroad

I spent an entire afternoon last week watching one of my favorite three-year-olds as he enjoyed Tweetsie Railroad. He loved the tiny airplanes that lift about 2 1/2 feet off the ground. The crowds were thin for that particular ride so he insisted on staying on, going in endless circles, and screaming 'WHEEE' at the top of his lungs, forever. But he was thrilled and we enjoy our three-year-olds more when they are content.
Tweetsie is mainly a wild west fantasy land for young children but I confess my youngest teen still enjoys visiting now and then.
Fifty years ago on July 4th, 1957, Tweetsie made it's inaugural run on one mile of track--and there has been no looking back, except perhaps by those who recognize the economic impact the theme park has had on the High Country for a half century.
Here's a few quick historical facts about Tweetsie
And here's one of my favorite shots of Tweetsie.

Tweetsie Railroad is a good place. If you don't believe me, just look at the face of this three-year-old:

or this face:

Footnote: Marie's favorite part of Tweetsie, besides the train ride and show is 'Goat Land.' Additionally, Tweetsie also sports the world's fastest spinning ferris wheel. I will never mount that sucker. Ever.

May your life be topped with colored sprinkles....

Give a 4 year old child (in this case my niece) a Blue Moon ice cream cone with sprinkles from Kilwins in Blowing Rock and get a smile. According to my eldest, 'Blue Moon' tastes like cake icing. Never mind the sticky sugar fallout destined to happen later, 'cause that's what parents are for. We call it round here the 'Sprinkle showdown' when the youngins thrash their sugared-up legs in the bed protest. Oh how I've easily forgotten those days...
May my eldest daughter's high school graduation on Monday be as sweet as eating a Blue Moon ice cream cone topped with colorful sprinkles. Come to think of it, her Watauga High School cap and gown are the same shade of blue.

Thunder Ridge Overlook

This is one of the views you will get traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway from Aho Gap to Blowing Rock, North Carolina. It is taken from the Thunder Ridge Overlook. Today, I hope to use my precious gas allowance venturing up to Grandfather Mountain. Time to see what's growing nearly a mile in the sky...

OK. Help. Blogger hates me. For the past couple of weeks I have been unable to post comments on Blogspot blogs despite numerous attempts. The Blogs of Mark, Melissa, and Magazine Man and many others simply will not take my Blogger id and password. Additionally, it will not allow me to comment anonymously. I signed up for a new Blogger i.d. the night before last and it worked one time on Mark's blog. But now, I get the same password rejection. Anybody else have this issue?
**Update**
I am able to comment again on Blogger. The whole problem was all me. Apparently I am a moron and don't read instructions.

They are in Wilkesboro now...

Ok, this image is for all three of you who aren't in the Blue Ridge Mountains today enjoying the scenery. Don't fret though. Today's weather looks just like this pretty photo I took on top of Rough Ridge yesterday. But we all know looks can be deceiving. Right now the weather outside is windy and the high temp may reach 50 degrees. So those of you not up here can smirk a little knowing you once again fooled Mother Nature by staying away. Oh, and if you are looking for fall foilage, you'ns may want to run down to Lenoir or Wilkesboro 'cause I think that is where the leaves blew during last night's windstorm. Sorry.

A Walk around Bass Lake

It wasn't a great day, but at least I was afforded the opportunity to walk around Bass Lake in Blowing Rock at the almost peak of the season. I'm not sure how any being could walk along the maple-lined yellow tunnels and not be struck with the awe at the season's colors. Really. Yet, one grumpy old man walked his old lady 'round the lane without cracking a smile. He held her hand the way a rottweiler walks his master. He saw my camera and high-tailed his way towards me barking orders not to take his photo. I looked at him and asked, " Why on Earth would I take your photo when your blushing bride is so lovely framed against the golden leaves?"
I got a grumble from him and a subtle Mono Lisa-esque smile from her. This is not the couple. ***cough cough***

I know I promised...

...to post earlier but the day/night/weekend job got in the way again. I attended the Eleganza Gala Saturday evening in Blowing Rock, NC.

**Update** I I deleted some of this post because everything was just a misunderstanding. No harm, No foul. And all is well.

This sweet West Highland Terrier was auctioned off for $2,600.  A lunch date with Joely Fisher goes for $10,000 as does the opportunity to be on the set of American Idol and possibly beat the living daylights out of Simon Crowell.

Wanna see who else was there?

Happy Belated Fourth!

Hope you all were as lucky to be lazy as me. I love parades so was delighted to be assigned to shoot our area parades. The cheesier and the dorkier the parade, the happier I am. I wanna see kids on bikes decorated with streamers rolling down King Street. I wanna see people I know waving at me from the Rescue Squad vehicle. I want sirens, I want politicians, and mostly, I want candy. And, fortunately for me both the towns of Boone and Blowing Rock host such Rockwell-esque hometown parades. This photo is from the Blowing Rock 4th of July parade. I messed with it in Photoshop hoping to make it more of an illustration. I really like the body language each of these parade-watching girls are sending. This is an honest image.