Lady In Red

Tractor Porn, Waynesville, NC  -  2015

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A single tractor on was on display at the Appalachian Lifestyle Festival in Waynesville last Saturday. It was parked way down at the far end of N. Main, away from all the music stages, food vendors, and artists selling their wares. It was as if to say, "We'll have one old tractor for those of you that are into that kind of thing, but let's keep it away from the family area." Call me weak, but I couldn't resist. I just had to walk down there and have a look.

What's in a name?

Mean Mary, Waynesville, NC  -  2015

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Her real name is Mary James; I didn't learn why she calls herself Mean Mary. I just know that she's a very talented bluegrass singer and musician.

Preserving Traditions

Camp Fiddler, Waynesville, NC  -  2015

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Playing Some Oldies

Camp Musician, Waynesville, NC  -  2015

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A Lighter Shade Of Flame

Flame Azalea, Haywood County, NC  -  2015

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When we visited Craggy Gardens a couple of weeks ago, we were still able to see some Flame Azleas at a few places on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was past peak bloom time for this variety, but I found some that were still in prime condition. This one was a little more yellow than the usual deep orange I'm used to seeing. We saw some that were more of a school bus yellow. I was surprised at the variety of shades I discovered when I really started looking at them.

Is It Real?

Play It!, Waynesville, NC  -  2015

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A few friends have given me some good natured ribbing recently about my sometimes extreme photo manipulations. Yeah, sometimes I get a little carried away, but a hobby is supposed to be fun, right? However, most of the time I'm just trying to make a good shot better, or a mediocre shot passable.

This photo is from a performance by the Travers Brothership on Memorial Day weekend. The original background was the usual street festival confusion, so I blacked it out. Real? Not quite. Realistic? I think it can pass.

Visit To Craggy Gardens

Mountains Of Rhododendron, Buncombe County, NC  -  2015

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We got to the Craggy Gardens area along the Blue Ridge Parkway just after a passing rainstorm. The rain had flushed away the weekend crowds, and so only a handful of people were in the area. The rains left some pretty clouds drifting among the mountians. I liked the way this bush mimicked the shape of the peaks in the background.