Photo Gallery from the 2014 Fearrington Folk Art Show

Late afternoon Montreat trail hike

After a day of running holiday related errands I took Asta for a short hike around 4 PM, giving us a few hours of daylight. We started at the end of Appalachian Way in Montreat, taking the spur trail up to intersect with the Old Mitchell Toll Road and the East Ridge Trail. Here's a description of the Old Mitchell Toll Road, taken from a Montreat Trail Guide:

After logging operations on Mount Mitchell were shut down, a venture wanted to build a tourist road for automobiles along the route of the old railroad bed. Montreat wanted the road to be moved to the other side of the ridge to minimize noise and traffic in the valley. Montreat won a court decision, and the road was re-routed in several places.

The trail went up the western side of the ridge, and by the time we reached to Toll Road and East Ridge Trail, the sun was low in the west and the light was fantastic. Here's some photos from the hike. 

Asta on the Old Mitchell Toll Road. We're on the eastern side of the ridge in the shade.

Looking east from the Toll Road with Hawksbill Mountain and Table Rock in the distance.

A closer took at Hawksbill Mountain and Table Rock.

The sunset bathed everything on the western side of the ridge in a rich orange light.

Interior Shots

Some random still life photos.

Study chair in the morning sunlight.

Lamplight reflection.

Same plate, different angle.

Slightly distorted lampshade frill.

More lampshade frilly stuff.

Purple rubber bands.

Foggy afternoon hike

We took a late afternoon hike on the Mountains to Sea trail on Saturday, strolling through fog for several hours. We stretched the day out as long as possible and finished the last bit of the hike with the help of flashlights. This stretch of the MST goes beside several creeks and through balsam groves.

A freshly-cut spur trail led up a creek to two waterfalls.

Waterfall, foggy day.

 

Drooping balsam branches cover the trail.

Balsam trail cover with some post-production with the fog in the distance.

Edwin and the photogenic tree.

Another view of the waterfall.

Studio Stroll in the River Arts District

Asheville's River Arts District is a cool and funky area of industrial reclamation in the name of art. Set in a former industrial district along the French Broad River, the RAD features a number of old warehouses and industrial sites that have been reclaimed as artists' studios and galleries, with a brewery and a few eating establishments tossed in for good measure. The New York Times even noticed, adding this account about the RAD in what appears to be an actual Travel section dedicated to Asheville and our environs.

The artists in the RAD host a Studio Stroll twice a year, and yesterday we spent the cool and overcast afternoon walking from studio to studio. Here's a few images from our afternoon.

We started our afternoon at the Riverview Station, an old warehouse converted to studio space and galleries.

Where we were.

Upstairs in Riverview Station. Some areas are lightly covered with art with plenty of "old warehouse ambiance".

Old warehouse wall with umbrella.

Hula hoops and hose beside an indoor dog agility track, down the hall from art galleries.

This dog didn't appear to be competing in the agility trials.

Metal bug eyes beside a garden, with Barrie strolling in the background.

Artist below the stairs.

Man with camera in round mirror.

Barrie taking photos.

Sparkling things abound.

Globe light with Australian accent.

This is in an old industrial district. A railroad roundhouse is just down the road. The rails are still active, and you can see....

...fully loaded coal trains running right beside artists' gallery spaces.

I love Barrie's expression! Besides that, this photo is a model of bad composition, featuring the iconic "tree coming out of the head" 

More shiny art.

Goodbye!

Autumnal photos from the NC mountains

We moved from Blacksburg to Black Mountain this summer, and slowly discovered that relocation takes an amazing amount of time. Between packing, moving, unpacking, and settling in, it seems like the summer and fall flew by. While I took a lot of photos I haven't posted that many. Yet. Here's a bunch of photos from various places in our extended NC mountain neighborhood.

View east from the Craggy Gardens parking lot on the BRP.

Barrie and Cindy hiking.

Barrie on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Buddha on the potting bench

Ray of sunshine backlighting a leaf on the trail near our house.

Flat Creek in Montreat. Our "quick n' easy" nearby hiking trail.

Pond across the highway from our little neighborhood

Asta hanging out on the floor in my study.

On the roof of our rental house. The meditation room is on the right.

Our living room. The house was constructed using the windows and flooring from an old church. 

View of the UNCA quad from the library's front steps. Mt. Pisgah is in the background.

Window in my study.

Catawba Falls.

Illuminated Edwin on the Catawba Falls trail

Double rainbow