John Lennon Educational Tour Bus

The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus was recently in Asheville during one of the many festivals in the city. It has a state of the art recording studio for music and video.  Staffed by some 20 somethings who travel the country from coast to coast.  They sleep on board; bathroom but no kitchen - they eat out at restaurants.  For more info see http://www.lennonbus.org/about_the_bus

A view of the interior of the bus showing some of the recording equipment.

Chicken Hill Residence

This residence is located in the Chicken Hill neighborhood which is adjacent to the River Arts District in Asheville.  The exterior finish is called pebbledash - stucco featuring exposed aggregate.  The roof is metal, adding to the sustainability of the architecture.  To the right of the picture is a vegetable garden and if you look carefully you can see some chickens near the bottom left of the picture.  Overall a rather interesting house with a dose of whimsy. For more info on the area see http://www.chickenhillnc.com/about.htm

Thyme in the Garden

Today's temperature was in the 70's (F), sunny with a slight breeze and no rain in the near forecast.  A perfect afternoon for a Sunday drive outside Asheville - just outside - to Woodfin and a visit to a very interesting garden and gift shop.

Interesting items for the home, lots of plants, a babbling brook and some chickens out back.

I will be back. For more info check out the link http://thymeinthegardenasheville.blogspot.com/

Lots of plants and containers of all sizes.

Earth Day 2010

Earth Day was celebrated early in Asheville last Saturday - the official day is April 22nd.

The faithful gathered at Martin Luther King Jr Park and took part in music, food, beer and enjoyment.

A nice clear day with a hint of whimsy in the air.  Hempcrete, solar panels, natural food....

Hula hoops were a big hit with all ages.

Something about the folks in Asheville....

Gothic Birdhouse

As is the garden such is the gardener,

A man's nature runs either to herbs or to weeds.

Francis Bacon

The School of Athens

The School of Athens was painted by the Italian Renaissance artist Raphael between 1510 and 1511 in the Apolostic Palace in the Vatican.  This recreation is in the Cafe of the student union at the University of North Carolina in Asheville. Under the leadership of S. Tucker Cooke, retired UNCA art professor, students, faculty, alumni and community artists spent over 18 months and 15,000 hours to recreate this masterpiece on 60 separate canvases.  In true artistic license two English bulldogs were added to the lower left corner of the mural as a tribute to Rocky, UNCA's mascot.

A close up of the mural - each 4 foot square panel was painted by a different artist.

Public Service Building

The Public Service Building, constructed in 1929 just before the Stock Market crash, has a beautiful terra-cotta exterior in a neo-Spanish Romanesque design. 

The stone and tile work at the top of the building is very

intricate and exceptional.

Kanuga Cottages

I recently came across these cottages in Hendersonville, NC in an area of town known as the Kanuga Cottage district.  These cottages have been painted in bright colors (inside and outside) and house a bookstore and a specialty fashion shop.

A painted car with part of a painted lady in the back seat.

Beaver Lake Path

I stood upon a path today,

and realized that the fork

I followed led away

from hearth and comfort.

I strode on into chaos.

seeking for adventure,

swept up in currents

of destruction and despair.

I struggled forward

against the howling storm

until—exhausted—I stopped

and realized I was a fool.

I stayed my course no more,

turning back, and hurried home

to you—sped onward by

remembrance and dreams of warmth.

The Path

Rie Sheridan Rose

Grove Arcade

The Grove Arcade was once owned by the federal government but has been reborn as a multiuse building with retail, restaurants, offices and apartments. See the link for more  http://www.grovearcade.com/