Last week we had delicious tuna salad, (with wheat bread, lettuce and tomato for sandwich fixin'), potato salad, beets and vanilla pudding. Did I mention the suggested donation is $1.50 by the Council on Aging? Most of us leave $2 or more each day. The program is continuing to serve just those who were coming before Hurricane Helene knocked out the dining facility at the Lakeview Center for Active Aging. We aging folks are maybe a bit less active these days. I do miss the socialization.
There's hopes that the stretch between Asheville and the Pisgah Inn will open up this month, so we can take one of our favorite drives and see some of the vistas for which the Parkway is known. We have missed this scenic area for the last 10 months. Red is of course the closed portion.
Repairs on the Blue Ridge Parkway are steady but slow.
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Tiny little bursts of flavor, from last week's Tailgate Market
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Today's quote:
The kind of beauty I want most is the hard-to-get kind that comes from within. |
Ruby Dee An old photo: 
Sharing with Tom's Tuesday Treasures |
Today's quote:
One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. |
HELEN KELLer |
Lovely mama and baby photo. Unless they have been through a natural disaster, most people have no idea of how long the clean up and restoration take. What is that cute little figure on the side of the flower pot?
ReplyDeleteA little fairy that a good friend gave me, sits with the African Violet on the kitchen windowsill. Some natural disasters don't leave quite the impact that Helene did. Thinking of various hurricanes in FL where the repairs were quick and it was forgotten...but then there are those that impact a region for years!
DeleteLovely young mother and happy baby. That's a keeper.
ReplyDeleteLong ago when we were visiting st Augustine, we had to leave hurriedly for our next destination because I had a sudden onset of severe asthma. I think it was the vegetation. Too bad because I was wanting to explore this historic place.
So sorry asthma kept you from enjoying St. Augustine. I get a kick out of seeing my hair it's natural color for most of my life, with Tai's first little fuzz.
DeleteI would also be anticipating a nice drive in due course.
ReplyDeleteIt will be nice when the Parkway is open again.
Delete...St. Augustine FL is full of treasures! Barbara, thanks foir shariing and keep enjoying life.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the meme...a bit of my personal treasures today!
DeleteBeautiful you with new born. such a peaceful , lovely photo - shiny and sparkly.
ReplyDeleteYour senior lunch looks very good, I would leave a fiver for that!
I hope that your orchid appreciates the move and blooms heartily. Mine is not looking quite so promising.
Oh the orchid is not happy indoors, which has not only all the shade from the trees as well as being warmer. Her top is straining for light now, so I'll bring her out for a sunbath (if it's not raining too much) tomorrow.
DeleteHi Barbara, Love the violets. Haven't seen many in recent years. My grandmother and mother always seemed to have them around though. Didn't think about the Blue Ridge Parkway being washed out by Helene...WoW! Major project for sure. Memories sure can be sweet, especially those that are about family. Take Care, Big Daddy Dave
ReplyDeleteBetween the Parkway's difficulties and I-40's continuing to want to go swimming in the Pigeon River, our area has some limits to driving around. My mother had lots of violets. This one was a gift, and I haven't tried propagating more, like my mother did.
DeleteThat last photo is so touching. What love shines through!
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize that parts of the parkway are still closed. How sad. Just gives an even better sense of the damage you all had there. Terrible.
Downtown Asheville today was also somewhat sad...several stores we thought to visit were closed, or the restaurant we chose, which was listed still on the internet, had changed completely. Just many vacant shops also. But having a cool damp day may have had some influence too.
DeleteWhen I lived in Raleigh, NC, I travelled through that area many times. It's hard to understand the devastation. Beautiful orchid and love the last photo.
ReplyDeleteThe tourist business has suffered, though each little locally owned business is working to attract customers. Thanks.
DeleteAwww -mama and son. Just precious.
ReplyDeleteYour senior meal is so affordable! I think here they charge $7 and there is actually a waiting list for the program.
I loved each of my little babies, but somehow my last one was especially precious. We may have a waiting list also for the lunch program, but aren't taking any more people as the site is not open for "socialization." I do enjoy the food most days that I go pick up what they have on the menu.
DeleteThe pruple/blue flowers in your top pictures were my mother's favourites. We call them African or Usambara violets. So nice to see them.
ReplyDeleteYes, African Violets is the name I've always heard for them.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI like the shot of you and your son! The road work seems to take forever.
Your plants and flowers are beautiful. Take care, enjoy your day!
Thanks, I am so glad a friend took that photo of my newborn and myself. Glad you enjoyed the flowers too.
DeleteYoung mom and son, what a beautiful photo. Your pants and flowers are looking good. That's a great price for lunch and the food looks pretty good.
ReplyDeleteSometimes a simple lunch is really just the right thing. I enjoy sharing my plants (as always).
DeleteI’m sad to see that map. Craggy Gardens is a special place!
ReplyDeleteLoving the Blast From The Past Share and going thru your Archived Posts now I found your delightful Blog. That's a nice Meal for a couple Bucks. I don't know we have anything like that around these parts if you don't live in an Adults Only Retirement Community setting. I'm feeding Three Generations here anyway so we cook as if we're Jesus feeding the 5,000 with a couple loaves of Bread and some Fish, and make it work. *Ha ha ha* We did decide to do Retirement and Buy a Mini Farm in the City as our Forever Home so we could grow and raise everything we need and that's what is the longer term Goal... a small Organically grown Communal Farm and Selling our Overage or Trading it with Neighbors in our Mini Farm Community, which, already happens since this is a 1960's Oasis that got swallowed up by Urban Encroachment of a Metropolis, the best now of both Worlds.
ReplyDelete