In Praise Of Alleys

An alley gateThe alley is a thing of the past, at least as far as modern zoning and subdivision codes are concerned.  Not allowed.  The term "alley" has taken on a negative, and sometimes menacing connotation.  But here in my town, in the older section where I live, we have alleys, and the alleys have their good points. The alleys are where the utility lines run, so that many streets are free of telephone poles and such.  If your lot backs onto to an accesible alley, that is where trash is collected -- no garbage cans on the street on trash days.  And alleys are a great, low-traffic places to walk your dog.

Click on any image for a larger view

Alley with gravelled way

Paved alleywayTree-lined alleyWalking the dogStreet with no utility lines -- alleys on both sides

Seagrove Potters Promise Great Shows November 21-22

If you like North Carolina pottery, then Seagrove is the place to be on the weekend before Thanksgiving.  This small town in the middle of the state features two major pottery shows on that weekend -- the 28th Annual Seagrove Pottery Festival and the second Celebration of Seagrove Potters. 

(Click on the logo to link to the Celebration of Seagrove Potters Web site)

North Carolina is unique for having two substantial communities of working potters, those located in and around the Piedmont towns of Seagrove and Sanford, and those located in the Catawba Valley of the western mountains.  In both of these communities, pottery traditions have survived in an unbroken line from the Colonial Backcountry times to the present day. 

The multi-faceted Seagrove Pottery tradition includes earthenware and stoneware, utilitarian wares and art pottery, and both salt-glazed and art-glazed wares.  Seagrove potters fire their products in anything from modern electric kilns to bus-sized wood-fired groundhog kilns. 

Since the revival of Seagrove pottery took off in the early 1980s, a diverse group of potters has been attracted to the community and some now feature new forms and methods including raku and crystalline-glaze pieces. The two Seagrove shows each present a fabulous bourse of contemporary North Carolina pottery.  Whatever your taste in pots, you'll be hard put to come away empty-handed.

Rack Day IX

Rack Day IX -- the end treatment of Cycle 3.  Nothing out of the ordinary, if you consider this kind of thing "ordinary." Benadryl fog, of course, and The Tiredness.  Still suffering the same litany of side effects (very dry skin, thinning hair, and so on). Otherwise -- just another day at The Rack.

Jax at the Beach

The Yorkie, Jax -- first time at the beach.  Dig, dig, dig, dig . . . .

Plus a few pics of the beach and some neat trees.

Click on any image to view a larger version

Click to read more ...

Fall Color From The Oaks

The maples are down, but the oaks are still hanging in and providing patches of color.  If we get a sunny day or two soon, I'll get more oak shots.  They are not as showy as sugar maples, but the oaks do extend the season, if you take the time to appreciate their muted colors.

Click on any image for a larger view.

Apple Jax

Our dog Jax loves apples.  He likes a hefty slice of apple and he really prefers that you hold it for him.  If I cut some apple into small pieces, he's not interested -- he wants to gnaw apple bits off the big piece. Needless to say, we suspect he's getting a bit spoiled.

Click on any image for a larger view

Click to read more ...

Turkey Vultures

Our area is in the path of a migration route for several species of raptor, including black vultures and turkey vultures.  This past weekend a sizeable flock of turkey vultures arrived, kettling above the ridge near our house where two cellphone towers are located. 

Click on any image for a larger view

Click to read more ...

Mason-Dixon Poll on Virginia Election -- McDonnell Lead Holding

A Mason-Dixon poll reported today in our local newsrag shows Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell maintaining a strong lead over Democrat Creigh Deeds. Poll Shows McDonnell With  Double-Digit Lead Over Deeds. The poll results have McDonnell up by 12 points, with only 6 per cent of voters undecided.  These numbers are almost exactly the same as the aggregate of eight earlier polls analyzed in Friday's report, Virginia Election -- A Hammer And Tongs Finish. 

{To continue click HERE}

Another Round of Fall Color

The maples and other showy trees are done now.  The weather has turned dour again and the maple leaves are falling fast.  These are pictures taken around town near the end of the high season.  Most are maples, but there are other trees, including a cherry and a willow oak.  The oaks are coming into their own, and although they are not as flashy as maples and dogwoods and such, they have their own palette of muted tones.  If the weather breaks, I'll shoot a few.

Note: Click on any image for a larger view

{To continue click HERE}