A Few Birds...

I swear everyone thought I was nutty for standing on the deck, camera in hand, barely moving. But I had to get some shots of the birds. First thing in the morning, it was foggy...

...but then, it really wasn't a hardship! With a view like that, who could resist?

So, here you go -- this could be a female finch -- the yellow feathers are my hint.

And I liked this guy!

This fellow should close his mouth while he chews!

The hummingbird shots didn't turn out that well --

These guys really move fast!

I loved the colors of the seed, the sun, the soft brown of the birds' feathers.


And These won't rock your world, but they sure rocked mine!

Vacation. All over for awhile. But like all vacations, it nestles comfortably in the memory and brings smiles for a long time after the bags are unpacked and it's back to work!

So Many Stores, So Little Time

On my last full day in NC, we all went about our independent lives. Rick, of course, took to the mountains on the seat of his bike.

Kathy had a full day at work and Skip was at the Y. I went shopping! My first destination was an antique store in Foscoe, halfway between Banner Elk and Boone.

Let me say that I could just crawl into this booth and live there.

See those Fiesta dishes? A couple came home with me.

And I was only stopped from buying kitchen implements because I'd already hit the booths in the front of the store.

One had many French things -- tapestries (so they said)...

...books, tins, and a splendid box which appeared old, or at least used (and at $40, out of my range).

And I really wanted to buy this china -- but I needed another set of china like a hole in the head. Eight -- or is it nine? -- is enough!

And see that blue pitcher? I wanted that, too. I'd like to think I was restrained. I wasn't that much... but no dishes (except for those Fiesta bowls!)

Then on to the Mast General Store. It opened in the 1880s in Valle Crucis, NC and while it carries contemporary merchandise, it is very authentic.

And very old!

It hosts a working post office...

A bottle-top checker board (when I was here when the kids were small, Kevin and Rick enjoyed a game of bottle-top checkers; it was a fond memory) and a porch idea for setting a spell...

...and a great candy selection.

Among the many things I bought there were lots of edibles, table linens, and this oil cloth (the cherries on turquoise) for my art table. Time to start using the cutting mat again...

They have taken great pains to make the exterior as genuine as the interior with its Esso sign and tank...

And clean white wood.

When we were here so long ago, the US had just invaded Iraq. The headlines were far less dramatic...

And yes, it was hot!

I would have felt I'd deprived myself without a beverage from a bottle!

Off to Boone. This is the home to Appalachian State University and a fun city in which to kick around.

There were so many art co-ops I can't begin to count them all. Jewelry, pottery, cute little gift things, you name it. No photos from those -- I have the merchandise to remember those by! But I did love the Boone Drug Company (1919) -- and enjoyed a snack at the soda fountain!

And no, I didn't eat this cake. But I wanted to!

Back home, we enjoyed our final dinner -- Rick and I made his caramelized onion pasta and yes, I will post the recipe one day when I get it in my hands, not his head! As we talked we enjoyed a four-star sunset over the mountains.

Alas, the next day we had to leave -- but not before I spent a little time "shooting" birds -- you'll see those next time!

A Good Use of Funds!

No matter what your feelings might be toward the stimulus dollars, when I saw the sign below, I thought, "Now that's a good use of funds!"

I was on the Virginia Creeper Trail, a 17-mile downhill bicycle trail that starts (or maybe ends, depending on your point of definition) in Damascus, Virginia.

We left early and arrived in Damascus at the bike shop about 10 a.m.

After we "tried out" our bikes, our chosen model (big seat, please!) was put on the trailer and we took a very long van ride to the top of the mountain -- or, almost the top. (Your stimulus dollars were repairing the top of the trail!)

All started out well, though I crashed (gently, from a nearly-dead stop) and Rick and his dad took a look at the breaks. Apart from a yucky knee and some black and blue marks that surfaced later, I was good to go and having such fun, I didn't notice!

I have to say, as most of you know (or can guess), I'm no athlete. I leave that to my biker boy. But I was one happy camper that day!

The trail is gorgeous. It cuts throughMount Rogers National Forest with brief forays onto private land. You see views like this...

And this...

And this...

And this one, too.

There were benches for quick breaks (as Rick's dad and Kathy show, below!).

And beautiful bridges to cross, overlooking waterfalls.

Tall rock walls often surround the trail.

And now and then, there were flowers in bloom. Every bit was breathtaking.

We lunched at the Creeper Cafe, where Rick met a biker who rides with George Hincapie, a Tour de France mainstay from the U.S. This diner had wonderful milkshakes! (I have to stay, in every photo from my vacation, my hair is either wet or in this case, helmet hair.)

And we did find a Cafe Cat (Chat Cafe) who bore a striking (if slender) resemblance to one boy left behind. I don't know if that made me feel better or worse (but he was in good hands!)

More wonderful views.

I happened to love the kudzu, until I learned it is a creeping marauder that kills off everything in its rooty little path. Needless to say, I didn't bring any home, though frankly it could only help my back yard!

I can only say that if you are in this neck of the woods, whether biking is or isn't your thing, that you give the Creeper Trail a try. And even if you are with a more seasoned biker (like Rick), that's OK. He loved it too!