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!

February picnic

 

This was the day we planned to sit outside and eat by the lake. Cool 60s and wet showers. No thanks.

Next day, early morning windy showers! 

Then an unplanned sunny and 65 F, we just happened to run into each other, then sat in the gazebo to eat! It was very windy, but we enjoyed being able to be outside. So did the Canada Geese. I sadly had to avoid being in the sun thanks to antibiotic, and was pretty darn short of breath getting to and from car. Would I say yes again, of course!

This is the shot before I cropped it for the header pic, showing yes indeed, there were daffodils blooming in Feb. in my neighbors garden.

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A nearby construction (destruction of old trees fist) site. Here is planned to be the "main entrance" to Montreat College Black Mountain campus.

Last week...

You can just make out the "one lane bridge" sign on the right...which goes over the famously flooded Swannanoa River. The building down the road in the distance is the derelict one that will not be torn down before the new interstate entrance is built...I-40 is just beyond that!

This entrance is about 25 feet from the railroad crossing...which is where a traffic light exists on US 70. Blue Ridge Rd. is about to become a major thoroughfare.

This last week, showing some of the trees which have been cut, waiting to be hauled.

As you can see, the new main entrance on this plan is on the far left of the campus. Currently it is in a small neighborhood on the far right of the campus. 

All those dark grey areas are parking lots. And see the little blue stream bed of the Swannanoa River...just waiting to flood that new road. Fortunately there's a big hill that the actual campus sits on, so all the buildings are unlikely to be in a flood plane.  On the number 26 area are 4 baseball fields, part of Veterans Park...which was flooded badly in Sept. 2024.

I wasn't asked a thing regarding the increased traffic on our 2 lane road, where we already have to take turns to cross the one lane bridge. Just really looking forward to all the college kids zooming around in a year or so. The plans for an exit/entrance onto I-40 have been approved, so maybe they'll build a new bridge too.

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Sharing with Wordless Wednesday on Tuesday. 

OK, ready with snow equipment and winter clothing again this week!

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The truth isn't always beauty, but the hunger for it is.

 -Nadine Gordimer, novelist, Nobel laureate (1923-2014)

Picnic spot survived the flood waters

 

I met friends here for picnic lunches a couple of summers ago. Now I can't locate those posts! Mmm, strange. It was good to be in the shade, I do remember, so must have been in the height of summer. Sitting by the little creek was lovely also.

And I know I took some photos.

Sharing with Thankful Thursday

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Make all decisions from pure love and the world will change.

Summer Solstice celebration, completed!

 A picnic by a stream in the woods of Montreat NC. I'm bringing my own salad, and will share a nice hunk of stilton cheese...with crackers if others wish.

That's the reason I'm not posting until this afternoon. Here is my place of memories saved.

A site for a wonderful shady lunch! It was 89 when we came back down the mountain into town. I dare say it's hotter in Asheville.

Some of us wanted to check out the path along the stream...

I love this quiet little picnic area...it's near the campgrounds, but only one other family was nearby behind some trees.

One of us is a vegan, but finally had just a taste of my Stilton cheese with mango and ginger.

We shared parts of our lunches with each other.

The Rhododendron are about to bloom...here's a bud!

As we were chatting after lunch, a young man came walking up the stream, with a fly fishing outfit, and proceeded to catch a little fish right near us. He fortunately took its picture then threw it back in, and continued flicking out his bait.