Fall Colors

I am a bit delinquent in posting these autumn pics which I took in late Oct. and early Nov. Some of these were taken around First St. in Winston-Salem, and some others were taken in the general area of Kernersville. Enjoy. "I think that I shall never see a poem as lovely as a tree..."

Tobacco

I don't know that I have ever paid attention to what tobacco looked like after it had been harvested. I know that "harvested" isn't the term that the farmers use--they call it "primed." There are a few patches of fields that have been left for some time now (close to my home) as I took one of the pics in the middle of the summer, and the other was taken this holiday weekend. I really don't know that much about farming tobacco--I did learn everything I really want to know about it just listening to other people talk about it. They tell me how gummy your arms and hands get when you pull the leaves and stick them under your arms as you move from plant to plant. I hear how hot it gets in the field and in the barn when you hang it. Of course no one told me about how back-breaking (sorry Dave) it can be in the fields bent over for hours at a time. If anyone has a job that seems somewhat unpleasant or unrewarding, just consider the task of the tobacco farmer. Just maybe you have it a bit better than that.

Matches

Well, you know I am hurting for material for this blog when I write about my collection of matches. I have pics of only a few of the ones I own here. (What good is a collection if you can't show it off, right?) With the proliferation of disposable lighters it seems that it is harder to get a good collectable matchbook these days. In the top photo, you see a book with wooden matches, and it appears that it is from Paris. (The back is shown in the next to the bottom shot with the "Marlboro." For some reason when I upload these pics, I can't get them in the correct order that I want.) The second pic shows a red-cover book with gold matchsticks and the wish, "Merry Christmas" inside. As you can see in the next shot, we have a Hard Rock Cafe book from Paris. And in the last photo, you see Steak and Ale, Plantation Kitchen from Murrell's Inlet, Roberto's Pizza from Tabor City, NC, and last but certainly not least, Captain Bills from Morehead. Of course I have many more, too many to show in pics and bore everyone to tears. Should I show a few baseball cards next time? Maybe that's not such a good idea.

Casino Royale

Well, you know its not like Bond to talk about himself, but I feel that I should at least mention that there is this new guy playing me in a remake of a 1967 movie. I think that he, Danny Craig, makes a good Bond actually. Sure he is a bit shorter than most of the others, but so what. Don't snub this chap before you even give him a chance. This is where it all started; this shows how I became a 00 agent. For some reason, the origingal movie has not been considered as one of the Bond series. Many do not know that both Peter Sellers and Ursula Andress played 007 in it. But I don't mean to confuse anyone here. As far as I can tell, this remake is going to make it. I know it is hard to believe, but I have seen only a few clips so far. (You would think that I would have clearance to see the entire flick already.) Oh, and by the way, it opens here this Friday.

Beetles

Last weekend I was working in the yard, and checking out a stump of a tree that I had cut down a few years ago, and I came across this beetle. Speaking of the Beatles, I did my share of listening to their music back in the day, but I digress. This particular beetle was living under the bark of the tree, which was now peeling away because of age and deterioration. (I did place the little creechtur back in his natural habitat. No animal life was harmed in any way, at least so far as I could tell.) Now I just read that there are more species of beetles than there are species of plants! There are about 350,000 named species of beetles in the world! So unless there are any experts in the field (no pun intended) who read this post, I don't suppose we will have anyone to offer the exact name of the little guy. I have a book in which I will attempt to find him, and get back to all of you curious readers. Do you know what kind of beetles you have in your back yard?

Ghost Rider

Looks like Nicholas Cage is starring in a very touching and heart-warming movie again. It is called Ghost Rider. He plays the part of Johnny Blaze, a stunt motorcyclist who gives up his soul so that he can fight the son of the devil himself, Blackheart. Does anyone out there think this is a must-see?

Day on the Parkway

Last weekend we took a trip on the parkway and although the leaves had past their peak, it was a beautiful day. We started out going past Pilot Mountain (not to be confused with Mt. Pilot,) and then on to Mabry Mill. I have shown a shot of some cows and ducks, but the really interesting part of the trip was visiting the Peaceful Heart Alpaca Farm and Store at Mile Post 204 on the Parkway (in Fancy Gap.) They have been there only since February, but you could tell they really enjoyed taking care of these animals. Inside the store you may purchase alpaca sliver or yarn (made locally) or garments or other items made in Peru. Again, this is another area of textiles that I had studied years ago, and after all these years I finally take my first field trip. (Most likely I would have had to go the Andes Mountains in Peru in the 1970s to view these animals.) Like they say, you learn something every day.