Eating on high!

 Our Mt. Mitchell trip had a pinnacle event, (groan!) to have a picnic at the picnic grounds..

Plenty of tables, even handicap accessible, plenty of nearby parking. We ambled along until we found a shady spot with a view, and a bit of sun, since it was kind of windy at that point. (Thank heaven for the wind, which not only entertained us, but kept the tiny flies at bay - at least no biting!)

I tried making a 360 degree video...it isn't that great.

There are many dead trees in one area of the picnic grounds. The woolly adelgid continues to knock out perfectly healthy trees.

Aside: Adelges tsugae, the hemlock woolly adelgid or HWA, is an insect of the order Hemiptera native to East Asia. It feeds by sucking sap from hemlock and spruce trees. In its native range, HWA is not a serious pest because populations are managed by natural predators and parasitoids and by host resistance. In eastern North America it is a destructive pest that threatens the eastern hemlock and the Carolina hemlock. HWA is also found in western North America, where it has likely been present for thousands of years (See Wikipedia)

Evidence of HWA or Hemlock Woolly Adelgid - white patches on underside of branches.

 I thought at first this small rodent was a chipmunk...but no stripes. and a long tail.

So a baby squirrel with interest in the next table visited us, but was skittish enough to take off when we started talking about her.

Our prerequisite selfie...not sure who's on Teresa's shirt. I'm sure going to miss spending days with her and her granddaughter. But fortunately we can text, facetime phone visit, and phone call each other daily still! Making new friends (see below) but keeping the gold ones!

Wonderful young balsam trees growing. I could watch shadows of clouds crossing mountains in the distance all day.

I stopped for a shot with Madison after we'd had our lunches.

I found peanut butter and jelly on brioche bread were delicious, with a Coke Zero and Key Lime yogurt. Teresa packed PB&J and pickles, some pretzels and chocolate chip cookies for them. I shared some cookies I brought all around as well.

We ate "above it all!"

Yes, one of these vistas will become my header, when  I get tired of looking at the shot of Lake Tomahawk, which I just put up. Let's see, maybe a week from today? 

Sharing with Saturday's Critters (do pest beetles [woolly ageldids] count?) at least I found a wild squirrel!

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And oh yes, the fun part of Saturday (yesterday) was meeting Mary Moon and her daughter Jessie. Such a lovely time, even though short. Mary is just as she is on her blog, only taller than I thought she'd be, and oh so sweet, trim, beautiful, loving, and just the kind of friend who I hope I move next to in my new home. Can't I take her with me? Oh dear, guess her hubby might have something to say about that!

Barbara and Mary at Four Sisters in Black Mountain. (Soon to be thousands of miles apart, but still right here on their blogs!)

And yes, by 3:30 the dining table, two dressers and a book shelf had taken off in the Habitat truck. I tipped the workers $10 each and a Coke Zero...hope that was enough. Probably not... But they saw how I live, so most folks won't expect much from me. Just big gratitude!

The rest of the Weaverville day trip

  

We stopped at "All Good Coffee" to split a vegan pumpkin chocolate chip muffin three ways, as well as our choices of drinks. 

We then went to another gallery, where I found some cute earrings that matched the necklace I was wearing, fused glass in silver settings. The first photo on this post is outside their doorway. We had to read a lot of humorous cards, and purchase a few as well. Then it was time for lunch! Oh yes, the bakery called us!

 

Just the cakes...there are so many more pastries, one can just go crazy.

It was difficult to choose just which goodies to take home, as well as our lunch choices!

My "to go" slice of carrot cake, which has coconut in it. 

We love chatting, while waiting for lunch to be served!

My tuna salad and African Chicken Peanut soup...I took home half of each for later. They had a combo of two sides for $8. What a deal!

Helen's noodles and kale salad.

Teresa chose the soup with a grilled cheese sandwich (Gruyere cheese) and took some soup home.

Teresa's adult daughter gave her heck because she didn't bring her some treats for her family (but Teresa did bring home treats for her own family for later!) Can't miss Well Bred Bakery in Weaverville, NC

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Open Yesterday's Pages, my blog about history, featured a woman aviatrix you probably never heard of,  Beryl Markham.

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Today's quote:

Jackie Collins, novelist, said, "My philosophy for women is this: if you’re going to get married and have a fabulous marriage … then you’re going to have to do everything you’ve ever wanted to do before you get married."

Today's art: 

Looking Glass Falls, by Christopher Guilkey, 2021

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My family sharing for today:

Cayenne, William and Michael, children of oldest son, Marty. 2013, Tampa FL

Cinnamon and her daughter, Cayenne, by the back of her head, and pet Severus. (Stuffed moose is not known to have a name.) Cinnamon is my continuing friend, the mother of Will and Cayenne, and now Marty's ex-wife.  Riverview FL, Christmas 2023

Friends who share my life

Helen and Teresa at Looking Glass Falls 4.29.19

 Some of my good friends at UUCSV...all willing to be photographed, and then shared on Facebook. David, Tim, Scott, Susan and Norm.

I kept trying to get a good photo of Helen...so this is what she offered!

 The lovely decadent French Silk Pie...

My selfie with my lovely pie...oh well, it was delicious!

Cathy and Looking Glass Falls