Alchemy of Clay

 Our buildings have smoke detectors, which frequently go off with cooking (don't they all!) But we don't have sprinkler systems, and the buildings are all frame.  So when the firetruck sirens come and park in our driveway, lots of us came outside on a twilight evening, to see the firemen walk into one of the buidings,and hopefully come back out again soon.

They were walking up the hill and everyone's standing in front of the office.  The red lights change our environment!  I took my photos and went back inside...didn't smell any smoke!

 Entering the Lake Tomahawk area, you pass a sweet rose bush.




 And these beauties are along the walk leading to my apartment.


More flowers anyone?  Sure, she said...manana! (I don't know how to get the ~ above the n)

Swannanoa River.  That's the valley in which the towns of Black Mountain, Ridge Crest, Oteen, and Swannanoa are located.

This sweet little river meanders a bit through greenery this time of year...but soon it will drop and there will only be a few bushes left with leaves still attached.

So why was I taking pictures of the Swannanoa River from this bridge?

One thing small towns have in abundance around here are railroad crossings.  So I was lined up with lots of other motorists waiting for the train to pass (which it had for this picture) and then the light to turn green at US Highway 70.

My new apartment is right up hill above the tracks, and therefore the river.  As the trees lose the leaves I am able to look across the Swannanoa valley and see the other ridge of mountains to the south.


Today's quote: