In the Black Mountain Center for the Arts

I'm so honored to be part of the exhibit for winter in the gallery here in Black Mountain...among teachers and students.

 Moon Goddess

 Giraffe

 Poppy Plate (about 11 inch diameter)

Memories from a young couple's first house

I'm posting for Sepia Saturday this week, which has a nice bedroom scene from 1910.

Sepia Saturday informs us...

Bedrooms! We spend a significant part of our lives there, but they may not be at the forefront as far as the photographic record of our lives is concerned. We probably have more photographs of the garden shed in our collections than of our bedrooms! Just in case this applies to you and you want to join in with this week's Sepia Saturday, you can always follow the jug, or the carpet or the window - or whatever. Whatever you decide to go with, do it on or around Saturday 15th December and add a link to the list on the SS page.

None of my older photos show a bedroom.  Mmm. Guess the fact that everyone usually was outside to have family group pictures taken might be a clue.  

So my contribution has taken some head scratching.  That must be where I think my ideas and inspiration come from.  Here's a Home Blessing that I found...from when I last moved the place I lay my head every night.  That was about 3 years ago.

Russ and Michelle in their first house in 1981...just moving in!  I came to see on a weekend!

 And here's a bedroom photo of me!  I had no idea until I waded through a few hundred files before I found I did indeed have a bedroom photo!  The guest room was between the upstairs back and front stairs, and Michelle used it as her office also.

 Waiting for my flight home to FL...Russ and I enjoyed a few moments to say goodbye. I notice that pre-cell-phone-era I still wore a watch to tell time!

And here Russ and Michelle stand in the dining room, before her family's dining room furniture arrived, and they removed the wall with the door to the kitchen...as well as the wallpaper.  I share this shot especially because it comes back to the floral wallpaper in the Sepia Saturday picture of the bedroom!  They actually painted the walls tomato red and they looked great with the Mediterranean furniture.

My other grand-dog.

A few years younger than Cody of Columbus, is Zora of Cortez...and she's a girl too.

My youngest son has had Zora about a year now...maybe going on 2.  She's also known for barking at the wrong times, which my son has tried to cure her of.  I haven't heard the latest report.  And I haven't had a chance to meet her yet.  I am pretty sure the cat still lives in that household too.

I shared about Cody of Columbus HERE.

I've got 6 wonderful people-grands also...and my 3 sons, and their ladies!

My family is big and just right. I won't see any of them at Christmas, but I don't do much for that holiday anyway.  I'll be celebrating Solstice on Dec. 21, the experience of celebrating the return of light after the longest night.  I have, however, bought presents for all of the family, and am about to wrap them!

Today's quote:
Once a country is habituated to liars, it takes generations to bring the truth back. -Gore Vidal, writer (1925-2012) 

Norman Rockwell

A forgery story...
I love his works, and many others do too.

Recently on FBk under a group that likes Illustrations, someone posted this Rockwell. I didn't remember seeing it, even when I saw an exhibit of all his Saturday Evening Post covers at the High Museum in Atlanta. But then, there were a LOT of them.

By Norman Rockwell (1894-1978) 'Breaking Home Ties' f. Saturday Evening Post Mag. Sep. 1954

Here's the post about the forgery...interesting, and do you think it is a true story?

Norman Rockwell Mystery Solved

Giving back.

I've been receiving so much from my community.
I am giving back in whatever ways I can.

When the church recently went through some transitions, I've gladly filled in on some administrative tasks.

When I was asked, as potters frequently are, to donate an item for a charity (this time to help people receive heating bill assistance) I made a cat angel.  I don't know who or if anyone bought it.  But I have received heating bill assistance, so I thought it fitting to give an angel to the organization. At first I thought it was like asking the poor to help the rich, then I realized there are lots of people less well off than I am...so those are who I'm trying to help.  The affluent folks in the community dedicate some of their time to having these auctions and fund raisers to help the less fortunate.  I'd be pretty ungrateful if I refused.

A month ago I had been volunteering as a docent at the Swannanoa Valley History Museum.  They have closed for the winter, but I'll be doing that again in the spring.

There are so many volunteers among us.  When I used to go to the lunch program provided for seniors by the Council on Aging, many of the seniors were doing serving. I just found out that another church member volunteers for the  Bounty and Soul and Manna Food Bank distribution, which also gives free produce here at my senior apartments. It's a wonderful program and helps my weekly budget immensely.

And many of my friends volunteer to serve a free meal once a week at another church here in Black Mountain (contributions of $2 accepted.)  There is a very active social action committee at our church, providing support and outreach to many of the other local non-profits.

Did I mention that I volunteer once a week to open the pottery studio and provide information to other potters.  Lately I haven't been as active in the studio due to health issues.

Many senior friends help other seniors, in just pitching in whenever we meet.  I mentioned the woman in an electric wheelchair who's dog leash got caught on the axle Here.   This is a community of folks with helping hands.

I am not trying to shine my own halo, but just to give you a reminder that being elderly, broke, and chronically ill doesn't keep me from doing what I can.

... weather, and pottery sales

 Sally and her pottery sculptures and decorative pieces at the Owen Middle School Holiday Show

 My display of the minimal amount of pottery for this show...I just didn't feel like carrying more tubs of pots...perhaps a mistake.

 I had fun seeing many people I'd gotten to know at other venues, and oh, what fun the families coming through in the morning were!

 But by 1:00 pm, I was dragging, and it had started snowing. This is still just water on this car however. But I did leave early and came home to take a nap.  When I woke up, snow had started sticking a bit.  But the news was talking about the impending storm so much, over and over, we all had gotten quite tired of hearing about it when it finally arrived!  I remember this was the life when hurricanes were approaching in Florida.

This was my car around 7pm.  I wrote this around 10 pm, and there was much more, but I didn't bother going outside again!

Here's the first of 7 am...more to follow, as you can imagine. Once the sun comes out it will be pretty.

 The few lights through the trees would include cars/trucks on I-40, which are not moving by at this time!

News just said 8000 people are without electricity in the Asheville area.  I'm so grateful to still have power.

Today's quote:

There are many fine things which you mean to do some day, under what you think will be more favorable circumstances. But the only time that is yours is the present.

GRENVILLE KLEISER

A bicycle or what?

A vintage bicycle club.

And on a completely different topic, this photo was posted on FBk. (I hope it's not fake.) I loved seeing that Queen Elizabeth has a sense of humor, as her husband, Prince Phillip dressed as one of the guards but Elizabeth knew who he was. And he's not smiling, of course, being a guard!

I share this with Sepia Saturday this week.

I'm not quite sure what the man looking at his pocket watch might have to do with the large man on the bicycle...and apparently the one kneeling is helping him keep his balance.

I hope more people will be sharing on Sepia Saturday. It's been such fun getting to know the various people who've contributed from all over the world.

Owen Holiday Craft Fair

Sat. Dec. 8, 2018 10-4...

Owen Middle School's "Christmas in the Valley" Holiday Craft Fair is in its 15th year of providing an opportunity for local and visiting artists to share their art or handmade craft with the public. All art and crafts presented at the fair have been handmade by the artist. 

Charles D Owen Middle School

730 Old US Hwy 70, Swannanoa, NC 28778

Santa also makes an appearance each year, so bring your children as well!

Stacy of Redrock Photography shared this on FBk.

"I know that we have a major snow event heading our way this weekend, but it appears that the accumulating snow is not coming until after sunset on Saturday. So please come support all of the local artists and crafters at the Owen Middle School Holiday Craft Fair "Christmas in the Valley" in Black Mountain / Swannanoa from 10 am to 4 pm. 

Last year it was affected by the snow the same weekend, so it would be nice if people came out before this storm gets here. I will be there with my photography Red Rock Photography featuring all of the local landscapes you know and love."

**Please share this post to help spread the word!