Sourwood weekend

So many people come to town.
So many cars!
So few places to park!

There are 3 blocks of streets closed where now tents line each side of the streets, and we walk sweaty and looking at the fares along the middles...but there are too many people, some who just stop in the middle, blocking movement.  It's a stop and go stroll.

Fake plants in glass wall hangings...pretty, but...?

I went Sat. morning.  I had a package to mail, and was lucky to ferret out a parking place partially in shade.  Of course it wasn't really one, but no traffic was blocked and it was on the far side of the post office parking lot, which was completely full of tourists' cars.  Since I had a place to park, I decided to walk the 2 blocks over to the Festival.

I strolled around, mainly looking for pottery.  Found just one booth with some which I didn't recognize (from South Carolina) and kept on going.

A lot of wood working.  A lot of jewelry which looks good in the sunshine.  A lot of junk food, which smelled great - something fried at least.

I was surprised and not at all pleased to see the Black Mountain Police selling T-shirts which said "In God We Trust."  What?  How does a tax-supported arm of our public government get to give a religious saying on their T-shirts?  Their cooler even has a Bible verse listed in Genesis. I guess since it's also on our money, they feel entitled.  But I prefer to keep God in church, thank you very much.  And to have my tax dollars go to a police force that is professional and not using the name of God in their performance of duties.  Do they pray before they start meetings? I envision them sitting in their cars beside the road, holding a moment of prayer before they go after a bad-guy.

See, it just didn't feel right to me.  I believe firmly in separation of church and state still.

OK, other things I saw...lots of booths selling things for pets.

Finally on my last leg of the circuit, skipping a few of the rows of tents, I saw another potter...without many people looking at his wares.  Since I was so hot by then, I didn't either.

Next to the potter, some yard art...

I traipsed back up the hill to my car, and was glad I picked up organic Reeds Ginger Ale at the health food store, and some chocolate covered ginger bits.  That was all I wanted to bring home with me, besides the photos.

As the week moves along

Sourwood Festival...lots of tents, lots of strange and interesting crafts, lots of food and drinks, lots of people, lots of traffic.  These were taken Sunday morning before it really got crowded a week ago!

During this week we all were getting ready for an eclipse on Mon Aug 21.  I then will have an inspection  on Tues. of my apartment to make sure I follow all the rules and thus am eligible to live here.  And then on Wed. I turn another year older.  So this is a busy week.
Editors note: Being almost 75, I beg to be a bit forgetful.  The inspection is on Thurs, and my daughter-in-laws birthday is on Tues!

By Thursday when I go in the studio,  I'll be thinking of my daughter-out-of-law who's maybe visiting Cuba with her boyfriend, my son (or maybe they've already returned!)  At any rate, that's another August birthday.

What are you going to/or did you do for the eclipse?

It reminds me that at 5:30 am (when I wrote this on the 13th) I looked up at the sky to see if the Perseid shower was still happening.  We'd had rain off and on the day before, and early mornings in the mountains usually are cloudy.  Yep, that's what I saw.  Nice grey glow.

So I'll be happy if I see the sun at all as well as an eclipse.  I'll try taking some photos if I do.