Two Views, Same Place

 Many of these photos are from the internet.

Catawba Falls NC (not my photo)

 Catawba Falls, NC

From Asheville, 1893 and 2026...

Biltmore Village in 1893 and today. All Souls church was being built

Different views of Looking Glass Falls NC

Looking Glass Falls 1925. Asheville Post Card Co.

 Lower left corner shows photographer, Masa, numbering 0-5456.

This could be my photo, or one like it. This site is right next to US Highway 276 near Brevard NC.

Taken by drone probably...

Lady Liberty

Yellowstone Lower Falls, WY by Rob Moody

Yellowstone Falls in winter

From London England

The Temple Bar, the last surviving ceremonial gateway to the City of London

Sharing with Sepia Saturday

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A body of clay, a mind full of play, a moment's life -- that's me. 

-Harivansh Rai Bachchan, poet (1907-2003)

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Yesterday, February 20, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled tRump's tariffs were illegal.

"BREAKING: The U.S. Supreme Court on Feb. 20, 2026 ruled in a 6–3 decision that Donald Trump’s sweeping global tariffs were illegal because he exceeded his authority under federal law when he imposed them without clear congressional approval.

The Court held that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), the 1977 statute Trump cited to justify his tariffs, does not authorize the president to impose broad import taxes. Under the Constitution, that power is reserved to Congress.

Majority (6 Justices) Tariffs Struck Down

Chief Justice John Roberts (wrote the opinion)

Justice Sonia Sotomayor

Justice Elena Kagan

Justice Neil Gorsuch

Justice Amy Coney Barrett

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson

These justices agreed that IEEPA does not grant tariff authority and that imposing tariffs of this scope without clear congressional authorization violates federal law.

Dissent (3 Justices)

Justice Brett Kavanaugh

Justice Clarence Thomas

Justice Samuel Alito

The dissenters argued that the statute could be interpreted to permit these actions or that the majority misread the president’s authority under existing law.

What This Means

The tariffs Trump imposed under emergency powers, including wide-reaching duties on imports from major trading partners, are no longer lawful.

The Court did not fully spell out the refund process, but companies that paid billions in tariffs may now seek refunds.

The ruling represents a significant check on executive power in trade policy and underscores that only Congress can authorize new taxes or tariffs.

This decision is a major blow to Trump’s economic agenda and could reshape how future presidents approach trade authority and executive power.

Our beautiful world

 I think this is lovely

By Catherine Nelson from the internet

For Thankful Thursday

And Floral Friday Fotos

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The white flowers by the golfcourse.

Rhododendrons by the golf course

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Incidentally, the pneumonia came on  the very next day after I went to sit-r-cise. So maybe 1.) pushing myself isn't a good idea, or 2.) not wearing a mask and sharing breath with lots of older people - may give me these problems.  So I don't plan to attend any more.

But I do need to rehabilitate my lungs again! After the hospital stay, they gave me the antibiotic (Dicyclomine) which doesn't work any more, as well as continued a couple more days of steroids. So after a few days of trouble breathing, and vision difficulties, I asked for Levaquin again. The PA gave me a high dose for short time, so I took it while in Colorado. And still continued to nebulize every day, twice a day.

Levaquin has now been prescribed for another bacteria that showed in my lungs by a sputum test a couple of weeks ago (after I got home from my trip.)  I'm now on high dose for 2 weeks. So I'll be off it May 13. It has to be taken 2 hours before or after my other drugs. I tried taking it in the afternoon, and thought that was why I couldn't get to sleep. But now after taking it first thing in the morning, I have had 3 more nights of trouble getting to sleep.  Good thing I'm seeing my doctor next week for my physical.

It helps me to write this here, though I should move all the details to my personal blog. Since I can't do much of anything outside (sun sensitivity from antibiotic, thank you very much) and lack of breath for walking...I sit inside and listen to my Dan Brown book (Origin) on audio. It is somewhat tiresome to hear how convoluted he weaves his characters' lives and the cliff hangers of trials, but it's something to listen to while trying to be sleepy.

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Looking through the glass door of the downstairs at the Lakeview Center

A town budget here in Black Mountain where I live hasn't been focused on repairing the Lakeview Center, where flood waters from Lake Tomahawk damaged the downstairs areas. And when the walls were cleared, damage from a previous fire was seen, so the repairs will be more extensive than first thought. A lot of seniors attended the town meeting before the budget was passed, but so far nothing has been done to help this community gathering place. The nearby golf course is also damaged, and the town published to residents to not try to mow the overgrown greens themselves, as they might damage them (or themselves.)

Unused golf course gives a nice view of the Black Mountains where the Blue Ridge Parkway runs.

As these scars remain on our landscape, many lives have yet to return to their necessary living status...though efforts to share resources continue. Once a week Bounty and Soul comes to my apartment complex to give away free produce (usually past it's "sell date" donated from nearby grocers). 

The other day I arrived early to pick up my still-available hot lunch at the closed senior center, provided for discount by the Council on Aging. I wonder how long that program will survive with the current political attitudes. Being early I saw a line of people formed in front of the closed pool shower building nearby...mostly Latinos. Cars would drive up and drop off another mom and sometimes a child or an infant, and they would join the line. 

I asked a man standing sort of separate from the others, "What's happening? 

He said they were there to pick up apples and things.

I asked the coordinator of our lunch program the same question. She said a church in Hickory had been coming once a week with free food ever since the hurricane.  I knew that the same area had provided hot meals for a long time after the hurricane.

Yes, Mr. Rogers was right. Look for the helpers.

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Emergence Magazine sends out a newsletter to which I subscribe. Here's the short 12 minute film and poem about Being Part European. It shows many cultural artifacts housed in a warehouse. It's poignant and speaks to western civilization's privileged status.

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Today's quote:

A harbor, even if it is a little harbor, is a good thing, since adventurers come into it as well as go out, and the life in it grows strong, because it takes something from the world, and has something to give in return.

 -Sarah Orne Jewett, poet and novelist (1849-1909)

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I'm  also reminded of the empty US harbors since tRump enacted his ludicrous tariffs. The rest of the world may just going along blissfully while isolating the US.

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Eco-Watch article about Trump Shuts Down 25 USGS Centers That Monitor Drought and Flooding Throughout the Country

Hammer Creek in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania

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Thrown and altered medium size pitcher.