Young(er than me!) lovers - Barb and Marty

Marty, Russ and Tai, 2001 at Russ' wedding

Marty in his wild years - Navy dogtags?

Baby Marty 1964

More Navy years

Cub Scout Marty (probably 1972-3)

Marty Tai (in Peace Corps) and Russ 2000?)

Russ and Marty, Windsor CT, 1968-9

Marty has a wedding license! 2019

Barb and Marty

her sister posted this, Beverly Baker and Barb

Outdoor vending 2014- part 6

The Mudbuddies weekly work by two of us is setting up a tent, opening the 3 folding tables to their 6 foot length, and toting tubs of pots for 5-6 people, out of our cars or pick-ups or vans...we kept ourselves in some kind of shape through the summer.  And we made a lot of friends, not just the other vendors at the Tailgate market, but steady customers who came for local produce and pottery!

 But we still had a pre-summer meeting with food. This year Bette was the hostess, and gave us some beautiful and delicious food!

 Cathy wouldn't hold still for photos...as Marsha looked on.

 Pat was listening to someone else giving their opinion while Bette made sure to serve her delicious repast.

 See, there she goes...

 Someone  said, don't miss taking Barb's photo too, so here it is.

 Marsha's warm smile almost in focus!

Pat stopped playing with the cat long enough to get her photo in focus!

And every week a different entertainment was provided at the Tailgate (between 9-12)...I think mainly for tips.  There was a great variety.

 The flower vendors were always a hit.

One other vendor that usually had a line of customers waiting was Roger, the fish man.  He brought fresh fish that had been trucked in from the coast of North Carolina, fresh! Prices reflected the speed with which it was available on Sat. mornings.

 I'm matching this to the theme suggested at Sepia Saturday this week.

outdoor vending 2013 - part 5

Back in 2013, MudBuddies had been at the Tailgate Market for 2 years already!

So here we are at an event in September, 2013.  It was a fund raiser for the Tailgate Market of Black Mountain NC.  At a local brewery (and there are Many!) there was an outdoor stage that year. We had the food vendors prepare special dishes. And everyone there had bought tickets to support the organization (and there was free beer too.) I don't remember the entertainment.

 These items were for a silent auction, and most of the Tailgate vendors donated something for this. There was a minimum bid usually.

Below you can see a typical 2013 Saturday morning at the Tailgate Market.  That year the MudBuddies were under a red canopy tent, and had green table clothes on our 3 tables.
The girl sitting on the right was our live entertainer that morning in October

 The chair massage is centrally located, and most of us would find breakfast somewhere around.

 Far right is the greenhouse man, who seemed to always have some beautiful plants for sale.

Actually some of my pottery, though I don't remember most of it.  Fortunately most of it sold.

A more personal note...memory

Sure, we all think about how our memory isn't as good as it used to be...that is, we of a certain age.  But I woke up trying to remember a group of people, a location, and the experiences I had when living/working/playing in Jacksonville FL.  The thought was, "what was the UU church like there?"

I remembered that a small group (15-18) of women had meant a lot to me.  Rosemary was one. I couldn't remember the names of the others.  We had a class "Cakes for the Queen of Heaven." I started it. Then we did "Rise Up and Call Her Name." We became a close group of goddess oriented women...continuing to meet after the curriculae had finished. I even occasionally came to the church and the women's group after I moved to St. Augustine for the next few years.

But what about the Sunday services? And the building? I admit I'm an architectural nut, and tend to remember places rather than people (sorry folks, but that's my nature and I'm sticking to it.) I remember someone did fantastic floral displays each Sunday morning. And there was some minister that left a bad memory, but no clarity as to why that happened.

I couldn't remember the environment even. And I did remember some of the people, just not their names.  That is unusual for me.

So my first cuppa coffee and my trusty laptop went on line and found a great web site.  And I scrolled through, not finding photos of people...but some good shots of the building and one part of the grounds which triggered a memory.  The pond has apparently become a wetland, completely full of vegetation.  But the roof trusses inside the sanctuary and the windows...ah, now I remembered the place.

And then there were some disturbing things in reading about the events earlier in the year.  The church secretary changed her hours "for safety." What was that all about?  There were conversation circles for people to process their feelings, and 2 people had left.  Again, no idea what had happened.  Some district people came to talk with the congregation, which either was triggered by an unknown event, or maybe something that happened in the governance, also unknown event.

So I'm wishing that all is healing, and I'd kind of like to know the back story.

There doesn't seem to be a minister to the congregation, but lay leaders are listed as giving Sunday services.  That is always possible in UU congregations...though this one says it is a church.

So now I've glued together some of the tidbits of my memory, and feel much better. And I'm ready for another cup of coffee and breakfast. It's watermelon today.

Outdoor Vending (2012-13 Part 4)

 The Tailgate Market was growing and thriving!

Pat got a hug from Gail (Director of the Black Mountain Center for the Arts).  We all had started as members of the Clay Studio at BMCA. So Mudbuddies were kind of a step-child of the center.


 Sharing another business meeting at Pat's home, a wee bit of wine to help. Barb, Marsha, Pat and Bette!

 

Outdoor Vending 2012 Part 3

Before the season started, we met to discuss any business things that we needed to decide as a group.

 Cathy, Pat, Elise, Bette, Marsha and Barb.

Often there would be lulls in business, and on a hot summer day Pat and Bette would relax in our pop-up chairs.

The Mudbuddies had business cards made. We still met under the red pop-up tent, but had changed to green tablecloths, because the bright sun on white ones blinded some people.

Outdoor vending (2011 -part 2)

Some of us potters who'd been working independently in the clay studio at Black Mountain Center for the Arts, wanted to sell our wares, rather than just give them to all our friends and relatives!

The Tailgate Market is behind the First Baptist Church, right on Montreat Rd and 1st St.

This is part of the 2011 crew. The market is every Saturday morning from 9-12, from early May till the date which seems to flex in the end of Oct, beginning of Nov.

 Marsha, Barb, Cathy and Bette
 And below in the green vest is Wendy...another MudBuddy.

The first year we joined, cars and vans parked right behind our booths with the canopy.  Later there would be another aisle added with booths on both sides of it, so cars were only allowed behind the furthest booths.

Outdoor vending journal (2010 - part 1)

The sales of pottery and clay objects is always a fun venture...if you like sitting/standing outside in unbearable weather! At other times it's a great way to meet the public, and find out half the town are actually acquaintances and friends. (Well, if you've lived here long enough.)

 Pottery students held a pottery market in June 2010 (perhaps in conjunction with some other sales event)  The students all had their work on display, and helped with sales.

Our booth next to the parking lot and road in front of the White Horse, downtown Black Mountain, August 2010.

Pottery booth outside the Clay Studio, August 24, 2010 Sourwood Arts Festival.  Not much foot traffic unfortunately!

Part of the hill separating the clay studio from the action of the Sourwood Festival.

All the clay students submitted some of their works to be sold, and took turns womaning the booth.

The landscaping of Blue Ridge Apartments

 The sterile looking mulch and trim landscaping on my front apartment side.

 My steps to a porch which is waiting to have flower pots to warm up my area.

The building right up the hill from mine.  There are 5 of these "patio" type buildings on the hillside...each with walk in to both upper and lower apartments.  Don't take a deep breath! Unless you like creosote odor...

Yearly physical

This morning, while the Dr. spends most of his time typing on a computer, I'll review (from my notepad on my phone) the various complaints that are current.  Strangely, some are completely new from last year, which will mean adding to the list he's typed up already.

I had my fasting labs a week ago, so he'll be able to tell me the chemical results from my blood-work.

I'm hoping the Dr. will find some ways to treat the new problems.  The old recurring ones will have questions answered by just saying keep on doing what's already been done.  I admit to not doing Physical Therapy exercises regularly.  They used to help with my hand cramping when holding tools, mainly for working in clay including sometimes just a tiny paintbrush.

So while I'm sitting here and the temperature outside rises above freezing, and the bright sun dries off the clouds that were here an hour ago...I bemoan the landscaping crew that has again made my environment hostile to creatures. Including me.  They shoveled and ladled a foot deep spread of mulch on all the beds around buildings, and next to driveways.  Only the plants which had already poked their green heads up were able to sustain themselves (bushes of course, and the ever present day lilies.)

Now April 2

Last week Mar 28

week before Mar 23

But that isn't the problem.  It's the smell.  The mulch has been treated to kill anything under it.  And it was made from wood with creosote.  Whether that's the "treatment" they talk about or just is coincidental, it stinks.  I know with time it will weather away.  In the meantime I cover my nose as I walk to and from my front door and car.

And of course the neighborhood creatures are also dismayed, since many of their food bugs and worms and nuts have been covered with the mulch.  Only grassy areas (which were mowed though not needing it) remain.  The edges of each stretch of pavement or walk were edged, and steeper slopes were weed-eaten. (There, I made a verb out of cutting with a weed-eater!)

Aren't you glad I can't share the smell of creosote with you?  I hope soon to be able to open my windows when it's over 60 degrees F outside again. Soon.