Nine Brazilians and a Corgi

 Twas the day before Christmas. Yes I'm finally writing about that day.

Warm weather, about 70 I'd guess by 3:30 and I just had to go somewhere.

Maybe walk around Lake Tomahawk? But as I drove to the turn off to the lake, 5 other cars took that turn. Nope, I didn't feel like dealing with a busy lake and parking lot. So I stayed straight, going to Black Mountain proper.

It was deserted almost. I noticed the parking was aplenty, and a few tourists were walking along the sidewalks. My friend Sarah Vekasi had her pottery shop open and I parked in front of it. I walked easily across US 70 (State St.) to Kilwins, a chain unfortunately, but it has two things worth my patronage. Ice cream and fudge. I told my patient clerk I was glad she was working today, but I was also sorry she was working today. She confessed to looking forward to 5 pm when she'd go home to a loan soak in a hot bath.

I noticed a whole bunch of people standing near Sarah's shop, but they were focused mainly on themselves.

Once I decided on which ice cream (Butter Pecan) and fudge (dark chocolate walnut) and paid my way, I sat down outside in shirt-sleeves to watch the world go by. And a big bus from the women's prison did go by, with women pounding on the grilled windows and shouting happy Christmas as they drove by. 

Some nice furry friends stopped to say hi.

And then the Brazilians sat down on the remaining spots on benches.

Nine of them. They looked at their phones mostly. I did ask where they were from, it being a southern thing and they were obviously tourists! Brazil! Well, I said, you missed out on getting cold weather this year! 

What was striking about them was not the global phone thing, but their body language. They just sprawled all over the sidewalk area. People walking by had to detour out into the street. Not just one, but everyone! There was a kind of ignorance that anyone else needed to use that space. Maybe an urban thing...maybe South American. But it was obvious to me. Welcome to Black Mountain, and just take over!

They were obviously visiting someone here...I thought. Maybe  that was who went inside Kilwins.

And after I finished my ice cream and no conversation...I crossed the street, read the menu on the new restaurant "Tuscan Table" and took photos of their exterior.

Sharing with Monday Murals.

Then I had a nice visit with my former neighbor Sarah, in her pottery shop.

My little slice of fudge provides me a daily bite...such sugary joy!

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Today's goddess:

Clay goddess figurine, dated ca 4400–4200 BC found at Strashimirovo on the north shore of Varna lake, Bulgaria. It is 11.3 cm high  TMG

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While we might feel small, separate, and all alone, our people have never been more tightly tethered. The question’s not if we will weather this unknown, but how we will weather the unknown together.

AMANDA GORMAN

A day to remember

 My 81st birthday was just sliding into a new number, my next trip around the sun.

But I was showered with good wishes, a bouquet, a gift card, calls and texts from almost all my family, lunch at my favorite restaurant, and lots of birthday cards. What unexpected fun.

Fortunately I've never looked like that...but the thought was...

So now I have to consider my sassy self. Not sure I've looked hard at her before!

The requesite selfie. See, no photos of Ole's Guacamole, where Suzanne treated me to a taco salad with grilled shrimp. Sorry, no photo even of those huge shrimps!

An unexpected treat was driving up to Montreat... 

And following directions as Suzanne drove...

...to a natural spring where she gets her drinking water every week. Ah, a good idea for when I don't use the Britta filters in a small pitcher. With all the water I've been drinking lately, I would like to try this. And actually I don't mind Black Mountain water, though it's been chlorinated and floride added.

I love the gift of flowers! They are so cheerful in my home, in my biggest vase (made by me)!!

On my Thursday excursion in the heat of noontime (what was I thinking? - that it would be hotter later) I passed by this interesting Roberta Flack mural. Though she was born here, she was raised elsewhere, so we're really stretching things to claim her!

I found street side parking, and reminded myself how to parallel park. Did pretty well I'd say. Then finally got to Kilwins for my birthday treat for myself. Fudge. I didn't want to try to eat ice cream outside in the heat, and they no longer have any tables inside. I had wanted dark chocolate walnut fudge...but they had either English Walnut or Dark Chocolate. So I got a piece of each. Then the clerk told me when you buy 2 you get one free. So I chose a turtle fudge, with pecans and caramel added.

I was so dedicated to my pursuit of fudge, I skipped going to the library. I didn't want the fudge to melt. And I'd forgotten to eat lunch also, so I made myself drink a protein drink before my first taste. Walnut fudge does not disappoint. 

Here's a sweet birthday card with bling, giving more decoration to the fudge box.

 

I am so grateful to have this little porch where geraniums and coleus, and basil and lavendar and mint and orchids have been happy all summer.

All in all, the first day of being 81 isn't so bad.

Today's quote:

And, "There is no reason why a great poet should be a wise and good man, or even a tolerable human being, but there is every reason why his reader should be improved in his humanity as a result of reading him."  Northrop Frye,