These make me smile.

Last year when Tommy and I drove through Kansas (the Sunflower State) we hoped to see fields and fields of sunflowers. We didn’t. So this year when we were at Home Depot, I saw packets of sunflower seeds. I picked up some and planted them in the garden. They have just started blooming. So far it looks like we have three different varieties. They just make me smile! Click on the photos to see them really large and close up.

Do You Want to Know a Secret?

I love to take pictures of old things. Maybe that’s because as you get older you tend to look back at how things used to be thinking, “I remember that.” So when Tommy and I travel–even around town we are on the lookout for such things.

Last week when we were on our way to BG, we stopped on Highway 64 and took a picture of this place. Obviously it has been there for quite some time; I can’t remember when there was any activity there (and we started going past it in 1984).

Notice the lace curtain in the window?
Do you remember getting retreads on your tires?
I guess they sold dog food here. I don’t believe I’ve ever heard of Sportmix though.

4th of July

I love this country. In spite of all the stupid stuff going on, I really, really love my country.

We went into town yesterday for the July 4th festivities. We walked up and down the streets and looked at all the baskets, paintings, photographs, jewelry, pottery, etc. We wound up buying a basket made by a lady from Kenya. It is really pretty. We then walked down to see the antique (or just old) cars. There were about 125 cars there and some pretty cool looking ones. After walking the streets, Tommy and I met JC and Cathy for lunch at Dugan’s Pub. Dugan’s has recently moved to their new space. While they have more space, it has the look of just another chain restaurant. It has lost it’s “pub” feeling. The fish and chips were still good though, and Tommy still enjoyed the Guinness.

Don’t you just love to people watch?

Some of the old (but not antique) cars.These are some of the beautiful baskets that the lady from Kenya made. You can see Tommy in the blue shirt paying for the one we bought.Ahhh…..the pleasure of an ice cream cone on a hot day!

Another Flower

These daisies grow wild around our house in NC–until Tommy mows them down. They are no larger than a 50 cent piece. This is actually the same photo, but with different processing. I think that I like the second, softer version. As someone told me not long ago, flowers should be soft.

I’ll Follow the Sun

The hummingbirds have been very active. We have 5 feeders on the deck and the hummingbirds start feeding before 6 a.m. It’s amazing though that if I’m sitting on the deck with a book in hand they fly all around me. However, if I put the book down and get my camera, they scatter. Are they really that smart?
I’m so glad that Tommy has planted Purple Cone Flowers here. The butterflies love them!

Such a lovely day!

We decided to go for a ride today. The weather forecast was good, so we headed up to the Blue Ridge Parkway. But first before we started out, I had to hang out the wash. Tommy put up a clothes line for me so that we could enjoy the smell of fresh, clean sheets. It brings back so many memories.

I finally caught a hummingbird at the feeder. Unfortunately, I didn’t have my longer zoom lens on the camera so it’s not as close as I’d hoped.

Just a random horse not too far from the house.

This shot was taken from the Parkway. There is one spot that gives you a view of the Biltmore House, but there is no overlook to pull into. So, we stopped in the middle of the road. If you look really hard out in the distance you can see the Biltmore.

A picture of a lovely field of yellow dandelions! It really was pretty.

It’s a cool 76 degrees here now. I think we’ll enjoy our dinner of smoked ribs, hash brown potatoes and fresh green beans out on the deck.

A thoroughly enjoyable day. :)