Blue Ridge blog

High Country Brew Fest

So if you wanna see a bunch of Mountaineers drinking beer and not at a football game, here's the album. Check it out. You might see your neighbor or boss;) 

By the way, I loved, loved, loved the music and the beer.

In the best of news, Appalachian beat the Mocs 42-41 in quite a come-from-behind battle. I was armed to cover the BrewFest and not miss the ASU football game by wearing my black and gold game day tie dye and a clip on AM radio.  I needed to hear David Jackson tell me about my Mountaineers. Sadly, the fellows choked in the first three-quarters of the game. Not sure what that was about. I used every blunder as an excuse to get in line to taste yet another excellent Belgian or IPA. At one point we were down something like infinity to zero. Yet, I've seen too many Mountaineer Magic Moments to give up on the guys and miraculously, they pulled off a win, scoring 4 touchdowns in less than 8 minutes in the last quarter. For the last quarter of the game I left the Brew Fest and was inside Ingles grocery store listening to my radio. I had everyone from the stock boys to random customers surrounding me and my radio as I searched for tater tots. We celebrated in the milk aisle as the Mocs failed their conversion attempt. I even got a hug from some random dude as well as an assorted number of high fives and Hey Yas!

Ah...Here's to life's common threads.

And my heart has somewhat recovered today.

P.S. Gnumoon is back!

 

Summer wanes over Boone, NC

The temperature moderates and Boone comes alive as the students return to campus. 

When I haven't been perched in a helicopter taking photos of cozy Boone, I've been harvesting the garden bounty and spending my evenings "puttin' it all up."  Between the day job, harvest and homey chores, I make dinner. Some evenings my husband, Mother-in-law and I enjoy a heady brew before toasting bread to host our homegrown tomatoes. Other evenings we savor shelly beans and taters with our friendly fried zukes. Either way, we take each bite with the intentions of remembering every morsel come the cold confines of February. I've become a fan of Tomato Candy. Seriously, this recipe can be frozen, or better yet, popped into the mouth straight from the oven, like a warm fruit cookie...

In other news: Joni's got a blog. She has retired and is traveling the world with her husband Peter... They are a few of my App Faves. I look forward to hearing more of their adventures...

 

As scene from Camp Yonahnoka in Linville, NC

I worked an event Sunday held in the pavilion at Camp Yonahnoka in Linville, NC. The weather was foggy, then sunny, then rainy, then foggy some more which is fairly normal for these parts. I had never been to Camp Yonahnoka before but had heard tale of it, most usually whenever somebody biographically mentioned Hugh Morton, as it was where he was first introduced to photography as a camper in his youth. I instantly saw the attraction. The setting is magical with a mountain lake, views of the peaks of Grandfather Mountain (when the lack of fog allows) and a lush lawn green lawn begging to be jumped in a burlap sack for shooting bows and arrows over. If spaces and places hold karma of those who have visited, then Camp Yonahnoka must have been a happy haven for many, many children.

 

A summer storm passes...

I've been away for the past couple of weeks. Now I'm back. Caught this little beauty after and a sunset storm this week.

 

Simply Summer

 

I scream, you scream.

It would be lovely to have a 3 day weekend every week, wouldn't it?

I savored a slow, chilled weekend with visiting friends. There was no agenda other than eat way too much and drink a little, then, do whatever it was we felt like at the moment. Mostly we felt like sitting on the deck, enjoying the cool breeze, and chit-chatting.

Lately I've been in home improvement mode, and sadly for me, improving the home is almost always deviant, as is my nature. When it came time to think about making a scarecrow for my garden it got me to question what might scare me from eating tasty tomatoes and tender squash. I eventually ruled out a zombies or extraterrestrials in favor of a 3-D inspiration of  Edvard Munch's apocalyptic painting "The Scream." I crafted this beauty out of paper mache (of the Mountain Times variety) and plenty of spar varnish over the month of June.

It is theorized that Munch's red sky was inspired by  the devastating volcanic explosion of on Krakatoa, which led to eerie crimson skies in the Northern hemisphere during the frigid summer of 1883, often referred to as The Year Without Summer. It is a theory. Nonetheless, I hope it scares the varmits out of my garden;)

In any case, I have done an extensive search on the internets and this is the one and only "The Scream" scarecrow in Valle Crucis and perhaps, anywhere. I did find blow-up dolls, but we won't go there...

 

A few photos from this evening at the Valle Crucis Park

They are Upright and Breathing... for real and good.

 

Not sure why the crowd sets up so far away from the stage..{perhaps they are leaving room for a dance floor} but this photo shows less than 1/5th the crowd gathered for the event. Folks bring wine, grapes, Doritos, hummus, grills, beer, dogs, kids, bikes, kites, etc...It is truly a free fun for all.

 

The stage is solar-powered and is named in honor of H.W. Mast.

 

And if'n you could care less about everything else happening in the park, just turn around and walk away. Peace is easily found here...

 

I'm in a Valle state of mind...

 

It is June. Summer has hit the Valle. For me it's about lifting morning fogs, hay cuttin' during the day then sipping moonshine wine on the porch in the evenings... 

Oh how I love living the unfettered life here.

Big doin's in the Valle this weekend. Tonight is the unveiling of the mobile stage in honor of the late H.W. Mast which will be used for the summer concert series and other community events at the Valle Crucis Community Park. I'm bringing my blanket (and camera!).

And tomorrow is the 12th annual Blood Sweat and Gears hundred mile ride which starts and ends at Valle Crucis School. More than 1200 cyclists will make a colorful ribbon of whirring wheels as they ride through Watauga county. 

 

I'm in a Valle state of mind....

It is June. Summer has hit the Valle. For me it's about lifting morning fogs, hay cuttin' during the day then sipping moonshine wine on the porch in the evenings... 

Oh how I love living the unfettered life here.

Big doin's in the Valle this weekend. Tonight is the unveiling of the mobile stage in honor of the late H.W. Mast which will be used for the summer concert series and other community events at the Valle Crucis Community Park. I'm bringing my blanket (and camera!).

And tomorrow is the 12th annual Blood Sweat and Gears hundred mile ride which starts and ends at Valle Crucis School. More than 1200 cyclists will make a colorful ribbon of whirring wheels as they ride through Watauga county. 

 

All these things I have done with y'all and all...

I have a full time photography job and then, I return home to my 60x20 job, The Garden. I love my works and have finally figured out why.  

My photography job allows me the opportunity to create with others as a team. We collaborate, we joke, we bitch, we moan, we rejoice and celebrate our successes and otherwise have a mighty fine time winging it on a daily basis.  Sure, there is the occasional work photograph which I own from concept to fruition, yet this is rare. I work with several talented, intelligent folk whose input at any point may change a doomed project 180 degrees in a better direction. I am blessed with a day job I look forward to every morning. Sincerely.

Yet, in contrast, I savor the time I spend (mostly) alone in my garden. My husband has helped me with the hardest of tasks and Annie is my happiness as she explores the perimeter of our land flushing rabbits from the brambles. My children have (mostly) left the nest so my tomatoes, muskmelons, cukes and beans are my new babies. I nurture them daily in playful, yet reverent solitude, pulling suckers, tossing them chicken turds and tickling their pumpkin flowers. Gardening can be a hard, dirty job, fret with problems such as addictions to weather radar on the iPhone, deer invasions and obsessions with worm castings (no kidding!) Still, I look forward (mostly) to the garden bootie/hard 'putting up' season come August, because it is a sign of a higher successful creative collaboration between me, Mother Nature and God. Truly.

Again, I am blessed.

More garden photos:

 

Half runners...

 

A picklin' cuke blossoms...

 

The Kitchen Garden, where I grow more than 200 garlics, kale, lettuce, a few tomatoes, squash and herbs...

 

A soaker hose hugs my precious pumpkin pie babe...

Gardening is a process. My biggest questions: 

Will you still love me when my squash crop comes in?