The end of false spring

Sometime today a cold front will arrive and there will be frost by Friday morning!

But the other day on the way home from lunch at the Senior Center, I slowed enough to capture a few of the early blossoms.

The chair volleyball game was still going when I got there. Menu today was chicken parmesan with spaghetti and roasted Brussels Sprouts and a dinner roll, with milk and a cookie. That day I remembered to bring my own silverware so I didn't use the plastic-ware which is provided. An attempt to help the planet one fork and spoon at a time!

And the Bradford Pear greeted me as I swung into my own driveway.

The faded colors are through the windshield.

Though the sun is playing hide and seek with possible showers (none have appeared yet) I saw these lovely little blueish purple goodies...not violets I think, but...?

Oscar Wilde was right, “It is what you read when you don’t have to that determines what you will be when you can’t help it.”

Thankful Thursday!  Floral Fridays!

Lakeview Center today

 

This is what remains of the downstairs of the Lakeview Center...flooded from Hurricane Helen, but needing much more repair than just the flood damage due to inadequate repairs after a fire years ago. The reflections as I looked through the door were pretty strong, sorry.

There were still two mallards in the swimming pool.

Various Black Mountain town employees have made the lunch site upstairs into open offices since their own offices haven't been repaired from flooding yet. All this falls into the city's budget, while the fire house also needs to be updated.

But many seniors come to pick up a lunch still just inside the door.

Malinda (who didn't want her photo taken) hands out the lunches most of the time.

Many of us from the western North Carolina mountains are wearing shirts and jackets to encourage each other as the long haul of rebuilding after the hurricane continues.

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Personal update:

If you missed my replies to comments, or visits to blogs, it's because I was dealing with pneumonia, which came on suddenly Wednesday night, then to hospital for 2 nights. I came home Saturday afternoon, a bit weaker, but still getting more meds and lots of rest, then rebuilding energy! It's a job sometimes

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Today's quote:

To have and not to give is often worse than to steal. -Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach, writer (1830-1916)

Today's Art:

Frida Kahlo, with Diego Rivera painting the mural Nightmare of war, Dream of peace, Mexico, 1952

Family Album:

Zulieka Granger Swasey, "Dear Nan," Gummy's mother 1858-1935. My great grandmother.

Clouds and the pool

 

Back a few weeks ago, I took these pics through the windows of the Lakeview Center. Here's a view of one of the parking lots and part of the playground...but what most caught my eye were the reddish leaves on the dogwoods. First color I've seen of fall. Though a lot of leaves have begun to drop.

You might say the skies were moody, or at least misty!

Same view, without the balcony fencing. Which do you prefer?

Without fenced balcony?

...or with the balcony?

And I noticed the pool is closed and tarped up for the winter. It will be 8 months before it comes out again. Considering how short the season is for swimmers, I dare say the serious swimmers are enjoying the gymn of the YMCA, which has a heated indoor pool. Maybe I'll try it one of these days.

Today's quote:

In our world, there is always someone in need of our best efforts to rally a group of helpers and healers.

Midsummer at the Center

 Hydrangeas by the entrance to the Lakeview Center.

This corner used to always get slammed with water pouring off the roof 2 stories above it...each time it rained. I hope this little evergreen can keep that from happening. It's been really a headache for the landscape efforts.

Today's quote:

Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.
-Joseph Addison, writer (1 May 1672-1719)

Wet day at the lake

Heavy rain often washes the gravel path into Lake Tomahawk, and then the bright pylons are put out for walkers to avoid the crevices that are left. The Lakeview Center is to the right (before they took down the holiday (I almost said Christmas!) decorations.

Fall foliage North Carolina!

you already saw some of my Rockies photos HERE.
And up on Mt. Pisgah Here, on the Blue Ridge of the Appalachians.

So today is more around my neighborhood of Black Mountain NC!

 Tailgate Market Oct 12, lots of brown leaves still on the trees, and huge leaves under the pottery booth.

 My lavender plant was blooming again!

 Some good color on just a few trees...

 A grey day at Lake Tomahawk's center for active aging.

 The rain had passed, and there was a bit of color as I went to Lakeview Center for lunch... Oct 22.

 The Red Maple in my apartment complex!

This view is from the upper parking lot looking down the slope to the lower parking lot, behind the Clay Studio of BMCA (Black Mountain Center for the Arts.)

 This van just parked here and blocked the drive from one parking lot to the next...I called the non-emergency police...and they were dispatching someone right away!

These were taken in mid November...and now most of these trees are bare or close to it!