Blue Ridge blog

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. 

 

Ramping things up....

 

Gotta dust off the old blog and take it out of hibernation.

I know it is spring in Valle Crucis and here's how I can tell. During a walk in the park I witnessed:

•  Charles Church tilling the broccoli bed near the Watauga River.
• The forsythia overlooking the creek near the Mast Annex is blooming.
• The trout fishing peeps are out in force in the river.
• The birdhouses in the park are being reclaimed quite aggressively by the swallows.
• I could hear children laughing during recess at the elementary school.
• A young mother played with her toddlers in the small pools at the river's edge.

In other doings:

 I was fortunate to visit my pal Sally and husband Gary at their Forkridge Farm out Bethel way Saturday. Sally and I took off into the woods on a quest for ramps. For the next couple of weeks, this potent wild onion will grace the woodland floor. We scored plenty and later that evening I cleaned them and have been using them in all kinds of dishes. I am particularly fond of having them grace the tops of deviled eggs, that and throwing a couple of raw ones into a batch of homemade hummus I made. 

Also while at their home I met their new unnamed puppy. While Sally contemplates it's appellation, I've dubbed it Gary's dog because it is quite apparent the little black and white fur ball has already lick her way into Gary's heart.

The mountains are full of activity. Folks are out working in their yards and gardens, the bugs and bees are flying, and I am definitely more inclined to go out and take photos...

 

In another galaxy...

If only all mornings could be like yesterday.

I woke at my leisure to enjoy a cup of coffee with my husband. We disbanded to venture onto our selfish projects for a few hours. My husband cleaned because he enjoys it more than me.

My plan was better.

I escaped to Valle Crucis park where I stared entirely too long into a pool of leaf-filled water backlit by the sun. For a few moments I pretended I was witnessing a Hubble telescope moment...a world unknown. I returned the camera to the Jeep and while still jazzed by both caffeine and inner peace, I ran 3 miles.

Camera fun then run...the best way to start my days.

Wow. That might become my new daily mantra.

Fleeting..

I was searching for dogwoods and instead, found a rainbow. Looks like the pot of gold is smack dab in the middle of Valle Crucis Park. No surprise here. As I crossed the Watauga River bridge today, I noticed a woman in the middle of the road. I wondered for a moment what she was doing.
Did she need help?
I looked in the direction she was staring.
Whoa! Rainbow!
I braked, backed up my Jeep, pressed my hazard button, grabbed my camera and tumbled down the side of the mountain to capture this image. Oh yeah, I also bellied 'neath the electric fence. The rainbow was fading so I only managed a couple of shots before it became history. With muddied jeans and soggy shoes I crawled up the grassy slope and dearly hoped the photo would show how fun the moment was.

On the homefront:
My youngest daughter returned home this evening. We visited on the deck for about an hour before her 'home friends," caught wind of her arrival. Her cell phone went wild and it wasn't 30 minutes later before she asked if she could leave for the evening.
Oh how the glorious, colorful rainbows are fleeting...

**I changed photos on this post. I like this shot better.**

Dutch Creek redux....

Sometimes I forget that Dutch Creek doesn't end at the Mast General Store Annex, but instead parallels the Valle Crucis Park meandering on a journey through the Valle until it empties into the Watauga River. I don't recommend this adventure because not only is it private property, but even in winter, the flood plain/field is filled with ankle-twisting holes and skin tearing thorns. I did not come out my recent trek unscathed. And, I shudder to think of the snakes that slither through this marshy area home in spring. Stick to the banks of the nearby Watauga River where it is just a scenic and safe. The Valle Crucis park offers public access.
 I am likely the only person in the High Country (besides the skiers) hoping for a extra large dump of snow early next week. Yet I am specific. I want heavy snow followed by a day of blue skies and warm temperatures as it is the weather combination which yields the most sought after images. <Keeping my fingers crossed>
*And I hope to see you through the viewfinder at the double-header Appalachian basketball game this afternoon.

Flipping Rocks....and flipping off poachers....

 


I'm sure it isn't on your list of major holidays, but to me, International Rock Flipping Day is the perfect excuse to don my water shoes, tripod and circular polarizer, and head to Valle Crucis park to turn over rocks on the edge of the Watauga River just to see what I could see. What the heck. The holiday is relatively new, starting only last year with this blog post on Via Negativa.
I sloshed through the waters looking for rocks which slurped up to where land meets liquid. I noticed oddles of waterbugs, minnows and honeybees enjoying calm little puddles. I did not flip too many rocks because I really didn't want to disturb too much of the life underneath. But I didn't feel bad at all about messing with the numerous snails I saw. I can not seem to identify them, but there were tons of the mothers. I've heard rumors of bad snails occupying the Watauga, but have no way of knowing if these are the bad guys or not and would appreciate any help. The little dude in the top photo is the largest. Don't know what that orange glob in the bottom photo is. It is underwater.

This final photo is one of my four-pronged ginseng babies. I gathered the ripe berries to stratify and replant at later times. The bright red berries attract the attention of poachers this time of year and after several years of unwanted wild crafters wondering our woodlands, I'm learning to get ahead of 'em. Additionally, I shared my knowledge with a young friend and gave her berries and pointers on how to spread the ginseng love 'round the area.

Swallow this...

Annie and I walked in Valle Crucis park yesterday after work. It  was there we discovered a common fascination for the swallows currently nesting in bluebird boxes. The swallows glide over the grassy fields in search of food. Their movements captivate Annie's mind as she contemplates their potential capture. My allure to the avians is more errant. I take perverse pleasure in saddling up to the boxes and riling the protective parents into dive bombing me till I either get the photo I want. I'm such a giant:)

I'm listening to Janis Joplin this morning which fuels my rebellious mood.
I would love to be able to scream like Janis...It would make me feel good.
Whatcha listening to?

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.