So, this happened....

 

Thursday night. This poor guy, under strict instructions to follow the navigation system installed in his truck by his employer, somehow ended up on Halls Chapel Road. The back of the trailer--carrying 46,000 pounds of lumber--strayed off the pavement going around a sharp curve. The ground gave way and the trailer slowly rolled onto its side. 

 

South Toe Fire and Rescue showed up 10 minutes after the 911 call. A state trooper followed. The driver and his wife were both fine, if a bit shaken. Eventually Bobby Decola came with the monster wrecker, got everything upright and back on the road (the load was still intact).The trucking company booked the couple a room at the Comfort Inn in Mars Hill and the trooper gave them a ride.

I talked to the driver the next day. There were cameras and data loggers in the truck that showed that he was driving slowly and following the company's navigation system. Not surprisingly, it also showed that the system was malfunctioning. So he still had a job.

Remember, kids, carry a road atlas when traveling, and question your GPS if it tells you do something that seems suspicious.

Robin plants garlic

 

Robin helped me plant my garlic last month.  I have been thinking about those cloves everyday, underground, as certain as they can be of spring.  (By the way, Robin's response to this photo was, "Is that guy oblivious to the fact that the sky is on fire?")

Polar Express in chalk

Locomotive enthusiast Nico made this great drawing of the Polar Express. What's happening when you get to the front of the train? That the engine's headlight shining through a tunnel!

Boring Lights Night

 

Steve Hill reporting from Boring, Maryland. 

Tough name to have to put on your event.

Stuff We Missed, Pt. 2: The Temple Burning

 After a long day and getting home late, I foolishly didn't attend the temple burning, but there were pictures. Loretta, Dave, George, and Whitney organized and hosted the construction of this little temple made in honor of everyone we have lost lately. People were invited to fill it with rememberances. And then it was burned.

Astra posted these pictures.

Loretta sent this one. Look for an image of a big hand in the smoke just to the left of the fire!

Stuff We Missed, Pt. 1: The Errant Glider

A couple of weeks ago, when I was out of town, Miika texted these surprising pictures.

 

Here is her explanation: "The glider flew very low over us on our deck. We figured it had to come down in the soccer field. It was apparently an unplanned crash landing. The plane belongs to a young executive type from Atlanta. It’s his $300k toy. Says he misjudged. Flew up from Marion. A couple of visiting camp counselors took him there to get his vehicle." 

Here are some Perrins checking out the $300,000 toy.

Here's the toy disassembled and going back into it's case. 

I hope the owner makes a nice donation to the Friends of Camp Celo scholarship fund.

Only happiness and joy

 

Hear no evil

 

Bob and Mike holding a roll of fencing in place with their knees while Jeff sets a t-post to keep it there. The post pounder makes quite a loud noise. 

 As your attorney, I advise that you never pass up a picture like this!

Just Say No to Fall

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Personally, I love the fall, but Jen Rambo sent this picture for those who would rather do without.

'smile in the sky' revisited/ correction

 a circumhorizontal arc:

is not the same thing as a circumzenithal arc:

Earlier in the summer, I posted the first image from Carly Todd at Camp Celo.  I mistakenly called it a circumzenithal arc.  It is actually something more rare: a circumhorizontal arc.  How can we tell?  Take a look at the order of the colors in the first image.  The red is on the inside of the arc, which is the opposite of a regular rainbow (red on the outside of the arc).  Compare Carly's with the image Kirby sent me (second one above).  The circumzenithal arc has the red on the outside like an upside down rainbow.  (Did you remember that red is on the outside of a rainbow? I've been seeing rainbows all my life, and I had to double check because this whole thing got me really turned around.)  Below are two diagrams showing the formation of these and the reason for the difference in color order (from this excellent site). Why does this matter?  Because it makes me look at rainbows more closely. But why is looking at rainbows closely valuable?  It helps me feel just a little more love for everyone and everything. That includes you, weather nerd or friend who is still reading this. And while I'm at it, a big thanks to Carly and Kirby.

Circumhorizontal Arc formation (higher angle):

Circumzenithal arc formation (lower angle sun):

Nico's Smokestacks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nico, well-known as a train enthusiast, was sporting this special hairstyle the other day in honor of the Union Pacific Big Boy, the largest steam locomotive ever built. Among other qualities, the Big Boy engines had two smokestacks. Nico and family were on their way to see a model train exhibition at the Biltmore Estate.

Two-fisted squash

 

Luca with extra-large butternut.

Highly recommended

Bob Johnson's show at Blue Spiral Gallery in Asheville is absolutely remarkable. He was a visionary artist and a highly skilled painter on a mission to get the rest of us to see the natural world around us. We were blessed to have him as a neighbor and the world is blessed to have the legacy of his work. 

There may never be a better opportunity to see this much of his work in one place so close to home. All of the paintings and sketches in this show depict North Carolina's state parks. It will be on display through October 29, although we understand that a few of the pieces will only be on view until September 11.

Penland morning spider web

 

goodbye, dear friend

 

Robert Melville Johnson

January 18, 1944 - August 8, 2021

Travel safe, Bob!  Thank you for your kindness and generosity -- and for teaching us to look more carefully.  We must honor you by working to protect the kingdom.  You are loved!

smile in the sky

Carly Todd sent in this circumzenithal arc that was spotted from Camp Celo at 2:52 pm on July 18.  The phenomenon is caused by the refraction of sunlight as it passes through ice crystals high in the atmosphere.  The arc is a part of a circle with its center on the sun.  This one graced the first day of third session at camp.

Oh, behave!

If you are in a Buncombe County park, you'd better behave.

We've been looking for it...

It was at Maples in Micaville.

Tiki Week!

All you need is a little coconut.
 

Mighty Hedge

I love a good hedge. This one is in Weaverville.

In which Jeff removes the row cover from his brassicas to see what's going on in there.

Jody's Powercut in Late Spring

 

Awesome Tosser

Courtney is one with the crust.

Miika also likes clouds over the Blacks

 

Again with the clouds over the Blacks...

Just probably never going to get tired of taking pictures of clouds over the Blacks.

Virus Chalk Talk at the Co-op

This is easier to read if you click on it first. 

Tillerama

Spring Sunrise

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Linda Goodwin sent this picture taken looking toward Seven Mile Ridge on Monday. 

Tending Fire Sweet Lunch

 

Waltz in the Fen

 

Morning Reflections

 

Signs of Spring

The weather is warmer and musicians may safely gather outdoors again. 

Such a deal!

Fresh eggs and inner peace--$3.50!

If Empty

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This might be a good idea for your mind as well.

Last Pickle of Summer

 

This is the last kosher pickle (lactic, unprocessed) from last summer's garden. It was still delicious.

Immunity Acquisition

Bessie getting her second shot of coronavirus vaccine almost exactly 13 months since Steve Hill told me that the new virus we were hearing about might become a huge problem. It's nothing short of a miracle that people are already being immunized against this virus. Science!

The MCHP drive-through clinic was beautifully organized.

Just another insane Blue Ridge Parkway vista

 

House of House (colors of summer)

 

While it may be hard to remember in the monochrome of snow and winter trees, the earth is swinging back toward summer.  This is from July 8, 2020.

One and a half seconds almost every day 2020

 

Ingenious-ish

This package receptacle on Hall's Chapel Road is weatherproof and equipped with a cable and pulley system that allows the mail carrier to open it from the car.

At this point, one assumes, the mail carrier hurls the package from the car window into the package drop, so maybe there are still some bugs in the system. Or perhaps my understanding of it is incomplete. 

 

A Good Day to Be Alive

Collecting the rainwater at Clingman's Peak in the bright sun with six-inches of snow. I can report that the bears are still active, and a brisk walk on a cold, windless day can be a fine thing if you have enough layers.

Dreams to Go Bagel Take-Out Event

 

As most people seeing this know, a group of us have, for many years, put on a big New Year's short-order breakfast at Arthur Morgan School under the name of Dreams Die Hard Diner. We couldn't do it this year (because pandemic) but a few of us felt like we had to do something--to mark the turn of the year, to keep the tradition going, and to fight back, sort of. Here's a short report with music.