Sometimes in life things come together at exactly the right time. That happened for my husband and me in 2011, and it’s how I came to live in both Asheville and Burnsville. It went like this …
The mountain is fully greened out, the sun is shining, bumble bees are buzzing … summer has arrived. One of the favorite summer pastimes for kids in Yancey County is jumping from the high rock at the swimming hole. Situated between two sharp bends on the South Toe River, the scenery is [...]
Every morning our friends Rolf and Diane Holmquist awaken and experience a brief moment when life is normal; then the realization hits. They remember that their daughter, Lisa Mederos, their granddaughter, Amber, and their great-granddaughter, Lilly, are gone.
A friend once invited me to a church service at Jubilee! in Asheville. I really enjoyed the singing, and the message of the sermon has stayed with me ever since. It was this: Make a list of the things that feed your soul, then do them. Last weekend I did one of the activities that is always near the top of my list … I walked in the woods hunting for wildflowers.
Since moving to North Carolina I’ve had the pleasure of learning some local history, Yancey County history, as told by Mr. Jake Blood, a history buff with a great speaking voice and a love of hiking. Jake recently organized a fundraiser hike to Mitchell Falls, the place where Dr. Elisha Mitchell (for whom Mt. Mitchell is also named) met his death. The falls are on private land so the hike was a rare opportunity.
Some people call him Happy. Some call him Stumpy. He told me his name is Earl, so that’s what I call him. Earl is a Biltmore Avenue icon, always at the same spot near Mast General Store, asking for money. When I first met him, in January of this year, he was standing with the help of crutches, using his “stump” to balance his body. I noticed him from down the street; what drew my attention was his smile.
I donned my protective suit, gloves, and helmet, checked the seals, and entered into Space. The atmosphere was filled with flying creatures … beautiful, colorful creatures. They hovered around me, wanting to know why I had entered their domain. They formed a barrier between me and their mother ship. Inside the ship, [...]
Driving home from my first session with Wayne Erben’s bluegrass jam group, the Log Cabin Band, I was so elated I had to share it with someone, so I called my sister in Florida. I remember telling her, “I think I just discovered what playing music is really about.” I was not new [...]
I first visited the Skinny Beats Drum Shop on Asheville’s Eagle Street during my vain attempts to photograph the barbershops in that area. The walls of the drum shop are lined with beautiful handmade drums and other traditional percussion instruments. I was excited about the prospect of photographing what to me are really works of art … but at that time I didn’t consider actually playing them.
Asheville is known for many things, in particular its culture, architecture, and art. But ask an Ashevillian about neighboring Yancey County and if they know anything at all about it, they’ll say “Mt. Mitchell.” Yes, Yancey is home to the highest peak east of the Mississippi, but you might be surprised to learn that it is also a hotbed of arts and crafts. In fact, Yancey has the highest per capita ratio of artisans in the United States. Yep, higher than Buncombe County.
Do you remember your first experience of Spring … the first time that you really noticed all the changes taking place in the natural world around you? I will always remember mine … I am experiencing my first Spring right now, here in North Carolina.
Once I’m home in Burnsville for the weekend, it nearly takes an act of Congress to get me to drive back to the Asheville area before Monday morning. But last weekend I had the opportunity to photograph young children taking their first steps … clogging and Irish dance steps that is. I couldn’t resist. So after being home for only half a day, I gathered up my cameras and tripods and headed to the First Presbyterian Church in Weaverville. The Spectacular Saturday Sampler was organized by the Joyful Noise organization, a non-profit group that offers traditional dance and music classes to children and adults.
I love photographing churches. I realize that appearance is not the main point of a church, but I feel sure that all those members who first dreamed of worshipping inside a grand structure, and then donated their hard-earned money to design and build it, would be glad of my appreciation.
Asheville is a great walking town. Wherever I look there are interesting people, architecture, and storefronts. I also enjoy strolling through Burnsville’s downtown. Admittedly, the people there are not as “eyecatching” as some in downtown Asheville, but the old buildings have just as much charm as the [...]
Yesterday was a special day in Burnsville. Hundreds of people descended upon the Town Center for RiddleFest … a celebration of the life and music of native son Lesley Riddle. Never heard of him? Don’t feel bad; many people haven’t. But perhaps you are familiar with a musical family by the name of Carter. The Carters had a repertoire of over 1500 songs, and Lesley Riddle was essential to the collection of those songs.
On a February Friday I woke up (late) to a bright blue sky and temperatures that even I, a native of Florida, considered warm. I put about 3 seconds of thought into what I wanted to do with the day and sent an e-mail to my boss saying that I planned to take advantage of [...]
I have always loved to climb. I can remember scrambling up trees as a kid growing up in a small town in central Florida. It made me feel independent, and special. With 11 siblings and assorted foster kids, I didn’t get that feeling very often. But up in a [...]
On a recent Sunday afternoon highlighted by gray skies, 40-degree temperatures, and a raw wind, I decided to leave the comfort of my rocking chair in front of the fireplace to join a guided walking tour of downtown Burnsville, in Yancey County. The walk was organized by the North Carolina High Peaks [...]
I’m sure you Baby Boomers remember the commercial … a woman lounges in the tub thinking “Calgon, take me away …” while looking ever so relaxed. But that was the 70′s, when few of us knew about phosphates (Calgon was full of them) or thought about water conservation, and the world wide web was still a gleam in the eye of Tim Berners-Lee, so we actually had free time in the evenings. That was then; this is now.
When was the last time you were in a real barber shop? You know, like Floyd’s in the Andy Griffith show, where men who have known each other for decades congregate to talk about the weather, tell stories, and maybe, just maybe, get a haircut. There is such a place in Micaville, [...]
I used to drive an hour and 10 minutes from Cocoa Beach to work in Orlando. After 3 years of that, I found a job closer to home, and swore I’d never commute again.
