Celo Photo

Horseshoe crab pirate

2012-01-17T07:12:00.000-08:00

We were at Tybee Island in Georgia for a week, and Tammy spotted this pirate, perhaps left over from Hallowe'en.

Note the excellent use of beach detritus, in this case the shell of a horseshoe crab.

DJ is 80!

2012-01-11T08:08:00.000-08:00

Today is January 11, 2012, which means that my remarkable mother, Donna Jean Dreyer, is 80 years old. Here she is at Tybee Island, Georgia, blowing out the candles on her birthday pancakes.

Happy New Year, y'all

2012-01-05T15:02:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone who helped put on and everyone who attended and everyone who couldn't attend and everyone who didn't want to attend but thought something nice about the thirtieth iteration of the fabulous Dreams Die Hard Diner--here to serve you once a year, since January 1, 1983.

A special tree

2011-12-23T12:43:00.001-08:00

On Hwy 19-E.

Tramping around Colbert's Creek

2011-12-19T04:52:00.000-08:00

Gib compares the map to the territory up in the Colbert's Creek watershed.

Here's a little waterfall on the south fork of Colbert's Creek.

I wonder who Colbert was.

A good reminder

2011-12-14T03:26:00.000-08:00

This suggestion from a Pred Fest past is now hanging in Paul's shed. Such possibilities are worth keeping in mind as we head into the shortest days of the year.

Hello, little cloud

2011-12-09T08:38:00.001-08:00

S#*! My Dad Loved

2011-11-28T03:55:00.001-08:00

A Studabaker in the Rankin St. parking deck in Asheville. This would have sent my father into a paroxysm of nostalgia.

Flavor coated

2011-11-14T12:21:00.000-08:00

Who can resist anything that's coated with flavor?

Overlook closed

2011-11-10T04:40:00.000-08:00

And I was so looking forward to the view.

When November comes, we remember summer

2011-11-08T04:19:00.000-08:00

Click image to see it move.

Welcome to the Core Show

2011-11-02T17:15:00.000-07:00

My friend Ian Henderson is part of the Penland Core Fellowship, which is kind of like a full-time work-study program. Each fall, the core fellows have a show of work they made during the year (always a highlight, you should come next year). Ian spent I-have-no-idea-how-long making this crazy machine for this year's show, and my co-worker Wes made this video (because a still picture doesn't really tell you much in this case). The only function of this piece is to provoke wonder, which it does quite well. It's made from steel wire, with porcelain gears, and it's powered by an electric fan.

The Pizza Shop returns!

2011-10-29T08:05:00.000-07:00

Chad Mohr and Jen Rambo reopened The Pizza Shop in Spruce Pine last night (Friday, October 28). They have renovated the old store/gas station right next door to their old location on Upper Street. They pulled off a bit of a miracle this past week. This is the dining room on Wednesday of this week.

This is the kitchen on Wednesday.

Here's Chad, painting lines in the parking lot on Wednesday night.

And here's the kitchen in action on Friday night. They are serving bottled beer at the moment. Chad's first run of house-made beer will roll out for the grand opening on November 12.

The dining room on Friday.

As part of the renovation, they created a nice kids area. My hat is off to Chad, Jen, and crew. Hey, they must be the job creators we keep hearing about!

Today's last spot of sun

2011-10-22T17:09:00.000-07:00

Hwy. 226

Remember Summer? Farm Olympics at Green Toe Ground

2011-10-11T07:32:00.000-07:00

Saturday, 6:20 PM

2011-10-10T18:20:00.000-07:00

Which means it's almost rodeo time at the R-Buckle Rodeo (on Arbuckle Road).

Neurotransmitter Vesicle Recharge

2011-10-02T19:49:00.000-07:00

Robin Dreyer, Fort Fisher State Park, September 30. 2011, 5:17pm

It Was 20 Years Ago Today

2011-09-28T12:50:00.000-07:00

Apparently, the 20th anniversary is the china anniversary. Margot says it's also the coffee anniversary, but, then again, she says that about all anniversaries. This comes from being a 2nd grade teacher.

Julia sits in with the band

2011-09-14T07:40:00.001-07:00

The wonderful Julia Preston (daughter of Margot Atuk, Jeff Goodman, and Tom Preston) sitting in with the band at her wedding on Saturday.

The band was that old Predfest staple, The Horses of Butter (John Howard, Jody Pred, Andy Opel, and Paul Feldman) who hadn't played together in 10 years or so. They sounded great.

Brilliant

2011-09-05T16:10:00.001-07:00

This weekend, we went to the wedding of my cousin's daughter. It was a lovely affair, but as we finished dinner we looked around and realized that there was no evidence of a wedding cake--or any dessert for that matter. So, there were some toasts, the father of the bride sang a song, the happy couple did a little dance, and just as this was ending, there were bright headlights coming up the drive (this was in rural Virginia), and out of the darkness appeared...

An ice cream truck. All ready to serve cones, sundaes, shakes, banana splits, shaved ice, the whole deal.

A good time, as they say, was had by all.

Goldenrod below Mount Mitchell

2011-09-05T14:32:00.000-07:00

I had an experience yesterday that reinforced what I think about photography being a tool for attention. I went up to Mount Mitchell with Margot to pick blueberries - not many this year - and I purposely didn't bring my camera on our walk. I just wanted to see things without the mediation of the camera. Plus, it was raining and about to rain. On the way back, I was struck by this incredible view with flowers in the foreground against misty ridges partially obscured by fog. So, after we got to the car, I got my camera and walked back to the view, which, by now, had been replaced by socked-in fog. Alas. So I walked on a bit and came across a row of goldenrod along the edge of the path - which I suddenly saw anew as I was photographing them. What are these? Goldenrod? Are all goldenrod the same? What's the plant family? Who eats goldenrod? Etc. On returning home, I looked them up to get the Latin name and was amazed to find that there are 39 DIFFERENT SPECIES of goldenrod that grow in the Carolinas! 39! Of just goldenrod! I'm pretty sure the ones I was seeing were Solidago cutisii, very similar to the blue-stemmed goldenrod. If I'm wrong, I hope Don McLeod will visit me in a dream and tell me.

Anyway, my point is that, though we don't need any more images, the camera helped me stop and see and attend and name and wonder and burst with pleasure at the misty world. Isn't that, after all, what we're after?

Oh, yeah, by the time I returned to the scene that was the impetus for walking back with my camera, the fog had cleared, and I got the view I was originally struck by.

Those fab Levins

2011-09-01T11:40:00.001-07:00

The amazing Levin family at Rob and Wanda's 40th wedding anniversary party.

There were stories to be told--about twins and guitars and stuff like that.

Which kind?

2011-09-01T11:32:00.001-07:00

I wonder if this is the Van Morrison variety, the Paul Anka variety, or the Paul Simon variety?

Gratin au gardin été

2011-08-27T16:31:00.000-07:00

Eggplant, tomato, zucchini--you know, ratatouille sans mélange.

Joie de vivre

2011-08-22T13:58:00.001-07:00

I wonder if this was a big problem

2011-08-19T09:07:00.001-07:00

Our correspondent Charlie Hodshon sent this while he was on the road recently. It would seem, however that if you want to dig a grave by hand, you can just go ahead and dig.

Magnanamous

2011-08-13T18:30:00.000-07:00

Bumper sticker at Penland.

Horse Rock Knob: it's a different world up there

2011-08-05T00:06:00.000-07:00

While the valley sweltered in the full heat of mature summer, for much of the day August 4 the top of the Blacks was all roaring wind and fog.

Summertime

2011-08-03T18:08:00.000-07:00

Hornworm

Little dinosaur

RATATOUILLE!

(Shout it out; it's fun. All together, now...)

Evan at View Rock

2011-07-23T06:31:00.001-07:00

Evan Raskin takes in the view.

Reduced for quick sale

2011-07-17T15:42:00.001-07:00

Tammy I and just went through the food co-op and marked down every out-of-date item we could find, including organic balsamic vinegar (freshness dated--go figure). Most of these items will not be ordered again. Get 'em while they're lukewarm! Tell your interns! Call your cheapest friends! Take a chance on $1.00, Iranian, tarragon-flavored pickles! It's bargain time at Nine Thousand Six Hundred and Fifty Seven Things (name changed due to inventory reduction).

Used car

2011-07-16T07:27:00.001-07:00

You could be driving this.

Farm dinner at Green Toe Ground

2011-07-12T14:36:00.001-07:00

This could be the shortest possible distance from farm to table.

A magic night

2011-07-03T17:51:00.001-07:00

The Sketches of South Toe Festival, a.k.a. Sketchfest was oh, so good. Pete McGuire and friends kicked it off with some tasty string-band music (but I wasn't there to take a picture). Then Polly and the Posse did a set...

...for their adoring fans.

And then it was all about the jazz.

The Early Quintet was right on time--all night.

Polly joined in and wailed on some standards.

There was dancing.

It was a magic night. Special thanks to Polly, Miles, and Bob for organizing, all the musicians for their wonderful music, everyone for coming and making it a big time, and Jody and Jennifer for generously hosting.

And the mater sandwiches kicked ass.

Annie and Margot could be in a calendar!

2011-06-29T16:36:00.000-07:00

You may have seen this picture of Annie and Margot skiing on the Blue Ridge Parkway in the winter of 2010. I recently submitted it to the Ray's Weather Center Photo Calendar Contest, and it's in the finals for one of the winter shots. (On screen, they are very tiny off in the distance, though you can click for a larger view; if the photo gets in the calendar, of course, we'll all know it's them!) If you like this shot, you can vote for it here.

Belatedly: Memorial Day Picnic

2011-06-22T14:47:00.001-07:00

Daisy follows the route of the Brasington van odyssey as told through their souvenir patches.

A woodland jam session led by Jody Pred, rabbi of rock and roll.

Construction clouds

2011-06-22T14:44:00.001-07:00

Hospital room sunset

2011-06-16T17:50:00.001-07:00

Knife and Fork keeps winning

2011-06-11T11:10:00.000-07:00

Those who have been following the Knife and Fork team's progress through the WNC Chef Challenge probably know by now that they won again in the semi-finals. The final will take place on August 13 as part of the WNC Wine and Food's grand tasting event.

Tammy and I were talking about Nate and his team winning three in a row against teams from very good restaurants, and we were wondering why they've done so well. The obvious answer is that Nate is an exceptionally creative chef, and he put together a great team. But then it occurred to us that Nate has particular advantage--which is represented by this photograph of Wendy writing up the day's menu at the restaurant.

Knife and Fork sources most of their ingredients locally, and they change the menu every day, depending on what is available. Most restaurants have a set menu and a few daily specials. It's not that Nate doesn't repeat himself or have certain dishes that appear frequently, but he really is putting together a menu every day. And it changes--every day.

The WNC Chef Challenge works on an Iron Chef model, so on the day of each challenge, the teams are presented with an ingredient (at the last challenge, it was peaches) that has to be used in every dish. They are then given 30 minutes to come up with the dishes (three per team) that they will make using that ingredient and a pantry that is well-stocked but is not their own. It stands to reason that if you are in the habit of making up a new menu every day in response to what's locally available, you might have a bit of an edge.

Mammatus clouds over Spruce Pine

2011-06-09T17:25:00.000-07:00

The sky was amazing on Tuesday and for a while produced a crazy movie light. I didn't get any pictures of these terrific clouds, but Steve Hill hooked me up with some pictures taken in Spruce Pine by Cara McKinney. Steve identified them as mammatus clouds (you can probably guess why they are called that).

And Bruce is 60

2011-06-05T08:36:00.000-07:00

Bruce Greene singing and playing the fiddle late Saturday night during his weekend-long birthday celebration. Old Man Greene actually turned 60 back in January but decided to postpone the party so he could get some of his old friends together for the weekend. On Saturday night, all of the guests took turns entertaining.

Luminaries around the rock labyrinth that's in front of Bruce and Loy's house.

TTT Workday II: Where'd The Tree Go?

2011-05-30T08:33:00.000-07:00

After some discussion it was decided that, as part of the recent co-op workday, we would take out this tree, which drops branches on the roof and really does make the porch less inviting for socializing. Here's the story of the tree.

He shoots! He scores!

2011-05-27T15:32:00.000-07:00

Nate Allen and the Knife and Fork team won again in the quarterfinal of the WNC Chef Challenge. Thanks to brilliant dessert, they took it by a slightly wider margin than their first round, but, in the opinion of this eater, the competition was a bit tougher this time. Highlights? A quail dish that included an piece of parmesan crust and a bit of olive creme brulee (K&F), perfectly grilled octopus on an arugula salad (the competition), and the almost indescribable K&F dessert, which was described like this: Picholine olive and Marcona almond croissant with olive pit custard, almond honey, thyme blossoms, and deep-fried castelvetrano olives.

The semifinal is on June 6. More info here.

Miika x 50

2011-05-25T19:24:00.001-07:00

The remarkable Miika Rolett is 50. She is still, among many other things, a beautiful dancer, so her family celebrated with, among many other things, a dance.

Folk what can dance the hambo

2011-05-25T19:18:00.000-07:00

Miika and Fred at Green Cay.

Ten Thousand Things Food Co-Op Has a Workday

2011-05-17T20:00:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time there was a food Co-op, and they had a workday. Everyone came.

They came with power.

They came with wonder.

They came to paint.

They came to polish.

They worked high.

They worked low.

They cast spells with the wand of cleanliness

and prayed to the window goddess of transparency.

They came as families

and as friends.

The knew when it was time to work,

and time to eat,

when it was time to rest

and time to stare at the Swedish gummy fish.

Cosmo plots

2011-05-11T15:27:00.000-07:00

The newly-hatched Cosmo Evans plots his next move. That's his correct name, but, given that his mother is Astra Coyle, I'm going to have a hard time not calling him Cosmo Coyle because it sounds so darned cool.

Canoe Fun

2011-05-07T17:45:00.000-07:00

Tammy made this little video of Luca and me paddling around on the pond. Between the sun washing out the color and the cool guitar music she added, it reminds me of a scene from some old French movie--not that I look the least bit French.

A dainty eater

2011-04-27T14:21:00.000-07:00

It's a wonderful thing about being alive that you never know when you are going to see something you've never seen before. Like today at lunch (at Penland) when I noticed the person across from me eating a donut with a knife and fork. She wasn't trying to get anyone's attention; that's just the way she eats donuts.

By a pig's whisker

2011-04-22T09:04:00.000-07:00

This is Nate Allen making a few remarks just before it was revealed that he and the Knife and Fork crew (in the fork shirts and the far left) had won in the first round of the WNC Chefs Challenge--by a margin of .3 percent, a true photo finish.

Each team makes three dishes and every dish has to use the secret ingredient--it's secret in that the chefs don't know what it is until the day of the competition. In this case, the "ingredient" was a whole hog, of which every part was available to the teams. According to the vote, and the absolute consensus at the Celo table, this Nate plate was the killer dish of the evening: a savory waffle topped with pea shoots, crispy sunchoke slices, andouille sausage, and a tempura ramp. Yummy!

Knife and Fork competes in the quarter-finals on May 23. Tickets are available now.

Hail, yeah!

2011-04-12T08:19:00.000-07:00

As everyone undoubtedly noticed, we had a little bit of hail on Saturday afternoon and evening. But in Burnsville, they had serious, crazy hail. This is Schell McCall at around noon on Sunday with a chunk of amalgamated hailstones that were still piled up next to her back porch.

Cartoon trees

2011-04-07T08:29:00.001-07:00

I have a funny affection for the locally-beloved Bradford Pear tree. The remind me of cartoon trees, or maybe of every little kid's first drawing of a tree. This time of year, they keep me amused on my way to work.

Massive entertainment weekend

2011-03-30T14:37:00.001-07:00

Paul Feldman, Bob Early, and Lerin Williams cooking with high-test at the CCC on Friday night.

Polly and the Posse (yes, that's Bob Early again) tearin' it up at the Pump up the Posse concert and raffle at Penland on Saturday night.

Jeff Goodman and a bunch of Polly's friends (yes, that's Lerin again) raffling on Saturday night.

Ken Harvey telling a story about a peavy (yes, that's a peavy behind him) at Celo Moth Night at the CCC on Sunday night.

What is Ben McCann doing in Libya?

2011-03-29T11:51:00.001-07:00

Jay's typewriters

2011-03-18T07:05:00.001-07:00

I know that nobody who looks at this blog will have any idea who this person is, but I thought almost anyone could appreciate an obsessive collector of antique typewriters. When I was in high school at the North Carolina School of the Arts, this fellow, Jay Williams, was the school's in-house piano tuner and technician. He's also an excellent composer and trombone player and one of the more interesting people I've ever known. I spent a lot of time with Jay during those three years, talking about everything under the sun, listening to music, and occasionally serving as his amaneunsis (how often do I get to use that word?)--notating his music as he dictated from scores he had written in Braille.

Since that time, Jay has had a second career building mostly electronic prototypes for a company that develops new equipment for blind people. I lost track of Jay for a long time, but recently discovered that he and his wife are now retired and living in Marietta, Georgia. So last weekend, when Tammy and I represented Penland School at the photographic education conference in Atlanta, we stopped on the way to visit Jay and Kathy and, among other things, got a tour of Jay's fantastic collection of typewriters--he has 80 or 100 of them.

Look that this little beauty. A Blicksenderfer from the late 19th century. This crazy little machine had all the type on a cylinder that flipped around and changed angles to make the right letter--almost exactly like the famous IBM Selectric of the 1960s.

Carl Peverall and the Tone Drum

2011-03-15T17:24:00.001-07:00

Have you all seen Carl's tone drums and heard him play? Washes you clean. Below is a video Carl and I made last week that shows how he makes these remarkable instruments.

The Betty Oliver Project

2011-03-13T10:16:00.000-07:00

Ten years ago, the New York poet and artist Betty Oliver died after an extended battle with breast cancer, leaving all of her creative work in the care of Billy and Katie Bernstein. Betty was a frequent teacher at Penland and friend of many in this area. The Betty Oliver Project is Billy and Katie's effort to raise money to publish a book of her poems as well as an edition of single page fine art broadsides. Please check out the donations page at http://www.unitedstatesartists.org/project/the_betty_oliver_project

The smallest church in America

2011-03-08T04:15:00.000-08:00

Somewhere in Georgia, south of Savannah. The self-proclaimed Smallest Church in America.

Looking through the normal-sized doorway.

There are lots of people's photographs on the altar.

If you want to help out, this is how you should make out your check.

Just don't take the wood, OK?

2011-03-04T10:43:00.000-08:00

light after storm

2011-02-28T15:32:00.001-08:00

Did anyone else see the light after the storm just now 6:15 pm Monday, February 28?

Happy sunglasses users

2011-02-20T11:58:00.000-08:00

Event revived!

2011-02-18T05:18:00.001-08:00

Three cheers for the return, after a one-year hiatus, of one of the longest-running Cabin Fever events: The Mao Tse Tung Memorial Ping Pong Tournament at Steve and Bev Hill's house. Here is this year's winner, Bobby Schopler, during the final match with runner-up Gene Joule.

Frozen flow

2011-02-16T16:29:00.001-08:00

Here are some pictures from the Cabin Fever University hike on February 13. Our destination was Brown's Creek Falls. We hiked in from above Joe Hollis's place. We walked into snow when we got on the north side of the ridge and the falls were still nicely frozen. It was quite a sight on a warm afternoon.

Here's Jon Pertee recording the frozen-worm's eye view of the ice.

OK, we don't have glaciers around here, but this is pretty cool.

Another angle.

Here's the crew eating, as they used to say around here, "dinner on the ground."

Two from Tybee

2011-02-04T06:40:00.000-08:00

Tammy and birds.

Super-duper-sloooowwww-mo

Multiple Houses

2011-02-01T09:20:00.000-08:00

Two big-eyed House-Freemans at last Sunday's brunch at the community center.

A whole bunch of Houses hanging out.

Margot and Emma look at contrails

2011-01-30T15:53:00.001-08:00

Horses of Butter planning session

2011-01-29T07:02:00.000-08:00

The members 0f the seminal rock and roll band the Horses of Butter work on a set list via Skype.

Friends and family weigh in on the merits of the long jam.

Snowball igloo

2011-01-21T08:29:00.000-08:00

Penland core fellowship students Leah Frost and Ian Henderson with the fabulous snowball igloo they made near the Penland iron studio. They are going to have an art show in and around the igloo on Saturday, January 22 at 5:00 PM. Everyone is invited. We're hoping the weather stays cold until then.

Here's Leah inside.

Praying mantis

2011-01-12T15:11:00.000-08:00

Praying for....

Dreams Die Hard

2011-01-06T10:07:00.001-08:00

Thanks to everyone who attended and/or helped put on the Dreams Die Hard Diner. Another year, we're still dreaming.

Supplies.

The potato-hearted setup crew.

Grill action.

Steam action.

Yeah, that's what it's about.

Me, getting the eyes.

There's so much going on in this picture, I wouldn't know where to start.

The Matrix in snow

2010-12-29T12:15:00.001-08:00

Even Jesus loves a bargain

2010-12-28T10:49:00.000-08:00

snow tubing in Silver Cove

2010-12-26T13:13:00.001-08:00

Christmas Day snow with Julia and Kirby

2010-12-25T20:16:00.000-08:00

Penguin.

Exuberance.

Happy Holidays, whatever they may be

2010-12-24T07:48:00.001-08:00

A bit of a capella carol singing at Tim and Astra's.

Herb using supplemental lighting.

In honor of Festivus, carol singing was followed by thumb wrestling (our feat of strength). Tim would probably like it mentioned that he beat everyone--although his final victory over Gib was hard won.

Crazy

2010-12-23T18:16:00.001-08:00

So Donna Jean had her book made into an e-book file, we put it on Amazon and then I downloaded it to my iPod. Crazy, huh?

Of course, I don't really need it on my iPod since I've read it about six times, but I wanted to make sure it worked. As a side note, you'd think reading on one of these things would be ridiculous, but the screen is sharp and contrasty, you can make the type whatever size you like, you kind of get used to swiping over to the next page every 30 seconds, and it's not bad.

One Year Ago

2010-12-22T09:58:00.001-08:00

This is from December 20, 2009. Obsession with the past. Does a winter tree feel nostalgic about its summer leaves now gone? Are the chattering birds discussing their youth? Does the root cellared cabbage remember the light?

Wood-grain ice

2010-12-20T18:26:00.001-08:00

The Parkway in Snow

2010-12-13T09:15:00.000-08:00

12/12/10 7:30 AM

2010-12-12T12:58:00.001-08:00

12/12/10 7:30 AM from Robin Dreyer on Vimeo.

Ingles pileup

2010-12-12T09:42:00.000-08:00

Courtney Martin took this picture in Ingles.

Hanukkah Hematoma

2010-12-09T04:00:00.000-08:00

Although this neighborhood hematoma had nothing to do with Hanukkah per se, it did, apparently, come into being on the third night of the Festival of Lights; and, as it promises to last through Advent and well into the new year, it has become a minor symbol of judeo-christian understanding.

Turkey Trot

2010-11-26T19:00:00.001-08:00

Randy and Nancy hosted another Thanksgiving Turkey Trot run/walk down Hannah Branch and back through the woods. It was a beautiful morning and there was a surprisingly large turnout for a neighborhood event that's not exactly advertised. What a great excuse to get outside with a bunch of friends. I was glad to see my old pal Cindy. We walked the loop, and none too fast as we had some catching up to do.

Here's the crowd heading across the bridge.

And here's the finish "line."

Jeff sells the maids

2010-11-21T13:39:00.000-08:00

Jeff Goodman, auctioneer extraordinaire, sells the cleaning services of the fabulous Arthur Morgan School French Maids at Friday's excellent AMS auction (which was at the Burnsville Town Center this year). In honor of their Frenchiness, he auctioned this lot in Euros (helping with conversions along the way).

No writer's block -- just stiff fingers

2010-11-18T10:21:00.001-08:00

Donna Jean Dreyer signing copies of her memoir Decrescendo after an excellent reading and book party at the Celo Inn on Sunday. It was packed.

There's lots of information about the book on her blog.

Huh?

2010-11-09T14:56:00.001-08:00

Our correspondent Tal Galton (who addressed his e-mail affectionately to the "weird photo guys") photographed this interesting pair of flags in Lee County, Virginia.

Discuss.

Devolution

2010-11-07T13:06:00.000-08:00

I spotted this truck in the old Taylor Togs parking lot in Micaville. How much do I love this? Words cannot express.

Jazz and the World Wide Food Forum at CCC

2010-11-05T20:28:00.001-07:00

Geniuses in our own backyard.

Our parents loved us, our children listen.

More Happy Hallowe'en

2010-11-05T12:36:00.001-07:00

Renowned aviatrix Amelia Earhart and her pal, the explorer Alfred Chumley second Earl of Strathbottom, on their way to the Penland Hallowe'en party.

And some fine Jacks from the Seven Mile Ridge Bridge. Thanks, once again, to Phillip Mitchell for organizing the massive pumpkin carving and display--he's created an actual tradition.

Pumpkin Pi

Yay, Celo 2010.

Happy Halloween

2010-10-31T21:20:00.000-07:00

Whazzat?

2010-10-26T09:02:00.001-07:00

Here's a daguerreotype I made last week. Anyone recognize this structure?
(A daguerreotype is a photograph made on a sensitized silver surface. it was the first practical form of photography--introduced in 1839.)

Grokfeast at AMS

2010-10-22T09:02:00.001-07:00

There's a nice account on a website called Mark's Daily Apple about a "Grokfeast" at AMS that was held back in September. The website invited folks all over the country to send accounts of their Grokfeast, these were put up for a vote; the prize was a cow. Well, all the meat that was once a cow, to be exact (this website is about "primal living"). According to to terms of the contest, a Grokfeast is a "primal feast" and has to involve "primal fun." AMS had a meal featuring local foods, some people wore funny clothes, and they played zoogle and boulder toss.

You can see more pictures, read all about it and see some videos of the games at Mark's Daily Apple.
(I stole this picture from that website.)

Brooklyn in Celo

2010-10-17T10:41:00.001-07:00

To my mind, one of the best things about the Celo Ten Thousand Things food co-op is the bounty of items from Sahadi's, Brooklyn's specialty and fine foods importer. Here Saturday storekeepers Theresa and Bruce marvel at the new shipment of hearts of palm, cherries, roasted peppers, smoked paprika, jams and dressings.

Goin' off the rails (literally)

2010-10-13T09:16:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered what happens when a train goes off the tracks? I never had until I was headed for work the other day and drove across this. What happens is, it makes a big mess. This event, according to the CSX guy I talked to, involved just two cars and two sets of wheels (on either side of a coupling). This is the spot where Penland road crosses the railroad right near the post office.

Which makes sense, if you think about it. I mean, if the engine went off it would drag the whole train with it and end up in a big pile--it wouldn't keep, um, tracking like this. And I would guess that if three or four whole cars popped off somehow, there wouldn't be nearly this much left. It would probably cut all the way through the ties or mince them to bits.

So now they've got a lot of new ties lying around this section of track. I don't know if they've started repairs yet because the damage extends out of sight in both directions. But they definitely have some work to do. Someone told me that the trains have been running very, very slowly through this section lately.

Robin flies a kite

2010-10-12T17:51:00.000-07:00

Robin prepares a kite.

Robin flies a kite.

Jeff flies a kite

2010-10-11T13:20:00.000-07:00

And what about the turkeys?

2010-10-04T13:58:00.001-07:00

Well, they just wanted to get to the other side.

Why did the cows cross the road?

2010-10-01T11:31:00.001-07:00

Careful herding.

Goldie in 3D

2010-09-29T16:18:00.000-07:00

Walkin'

2010-09-21T09:44:00.001-07:00