... due to a good tail-wind, I visited South and North Carolina. More South than North. Left home much too early in Friday morning, hoping to get on the far side of Atlanta before traffic got snarled, at the peak of chaos in the rush to work/school.
I try to get up to SC about once a month to visit/spend the day with my pen pal. The letter-writing, pen and paper part of our relationship pretty much one-sided, as he claims his handwriting has gotten so shaky he does not correspond any more than necessary. We had a nice day, ate tomato sandwiches for lunch. I walked in the door with my road map, asking him about the best way to get from Greenville to Brevard. So he took me on a tour, showing me the best route, working our way across town, around by Bob Jones U., because you know we all navigate by landmarks before searching for street signs and highway numbers.
I spent the night in Simpsonville, just south of Greenville with my cousin. We had a good visit, but fell into bed pretty early due to plans for early-rising on Saturday morning. I only had to make two U-turns to get out of town and on my way north on Saturday... a pretty good average in my opinion.
He said it would take me about 90 minutes to get to Brevard, and I allowed another half hour, to get waylaid, traverse winding mountain roads, detour for sightseeing. A pretty drive up through the Blue Ridge Mountains on twisting two lane highways. I passed a place where there were several cars pulled off, parked in a graveled area. Slowing, and looking out to the right, I could see a wide, treeless area, fairly smooth, rocky overlook, that I guess would be called a 'bald'. Possibly rock-climbers, or just sightseers who came with blankets and coffee for early morning view. I should have allotted much more time for stopping to gawk.
Passed a sign that said 'Asbury Retreat', and had to make a U-turn (#3) for that. Could not get into the Retreat area due to a locked gate. So I turned around and took the other arm of the 'Y' in the road. A pretty little isolated community of cottages, reminding me of Montreat houses, places that have been sitting there so long in the woods and weeds they look like they have 'taken root'. Under low-hanging trees, surrounded by undergrowth and ferns, with moss growing on the roofing, almost an 'enchanted' air about them.Wide screened-in porches to catch cool breezes, for kids to play board games, adults to sit late at night conversing sugar-sweetened iced tea from a glass dripping condensation, in an era long before television, electronics, internet. Twisting narrow, gravelled roads, with houses up on the hillside, back ends dug into the mountain, or hanging over on pilings at precarious angles. At the lowest point of this grouping was a small clear lake, obviously much frequented by summer residents,when they would 'resort' to the mountains.
Got over the mountains, and upon crossing from South to North Carolina, I discover I just passed over the Eastern Continental Divide. And into Transylvania County. I'd planned to meet my friend from north North Carolina at 9:00 and visit a bit, maybe find a coffee shop. We did all that, plus a craft show in the Masonic Lodge, and farmer's market in the parking lot. Roamed the streets, ate at Mayberry Sandwich Shop.
I was hoping to be back in Decatur by 2:00, not allowing for late-leaving in NC, or twisting roads coming down out of mountains with top speed of 25 mph. So it was right at 4:00 before I got to Atlanta. But safe and sound nonetheless.
Monday, September 14, 2015
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
you may have heard...
... the expression: 'rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic'? Indicating someone performing a pointless, useless, worthless, hopeless, fruitless task. I have spent several hours covering slightly inflated balloons with squares of tissue paper, painting on watered-down glue to secure the paper to the curved surface of the balloon. Making papier mache balloons.
As I was sitting Tuesday afternoon and again today, covering my five balloons with white tissue, the expression came to mind. Anyone who saw me diligently at work, trying to add another layer would surely think: crazie person. But there is a method to my madness. Involving a plan I hatched nearly a year ago, and procrastinated so perfectly, I am just now putting my thoughts into action.
Going to the Lantern Parade on the Beltway in Atlanta on Saturday night. And had this brilliant idea that I would hang some lights from the framework of an umbrella. And make some little papier mache things that would look like jelly fish, suspended from the edges of the umbrella frame, also lit up with glow sticks inside.
Waiting for the paper to dry, and me to feel like there are enough layers for the mache to hold it's shape without the balloon on the interior for support. I plan to poke a hole in the smooth curved end, and stick a string in, tie on a toothpick to hold it in place. And suspend the mache form from the spokes of the umbrella frame. Glue on some curling ribbons to look like those long languid floating streamers you see on jelly fish, and insert a glow necklace through the little hole in the bottom, where the balloon was tied.
If the paper collapses when I pop the balloon, due to not having enough layers to be stable/firm, I guess I will try again next year. As well as wish I had gotten started sooner....
As I was sitting Tuesday afternoon and again today, covering my five balloons with white tissue, the expression came to mind. Anyone who saw me diligently at work, trying to add another layer would surely think: crazie person. But there is a method to my madness. Involving a plan I hatched nearly a year ago, and procrastinated so perfectly, I am just now putting my thoughts into action.
Going to the Lantern Parade on the Beltway in Atlanta on Saturday night. And had this brilliant idea that I would hang some lights from the framework of an umbrella. And make some little papier mache things that would look like jelly fish, suspended from the edges of the umbrella frame, also lit up with glow sticks inside.
Waiting for the paper to dry, and me to feel like there are enough layers for the mache to hold it's shape without the balloon on the interior for support. I plan to poke a hole in the smooth curved end, and stick a string in, tie on a toothpick to hold it in place. And suspend the mache form from the spokes of the umbrella frame. Glue on some curling ribbons to look like those long languid floating streamers you see on jelly fish, and insert a glow necklace through the little hole in the bottom, where the balloon was tied.
If the paper collapses when I pop the balloon, due to not having enough layers to be stable/firm, I guess I will try again next year. As well as wish I had gotten started sooner....
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
dessert pizza..
...made five times each day, over two days when I was cooking on Sunday and Monday. I would not consider making it unless someone was paying me to do it. What my peeps would call a 'hot mess'. I was telling customers all day long as I was serving the hamburger with pimento cheese and bacon and the "s'mores pizza" when they would stop for a taste: they really did not need a fork, as the plate held nothing but finger food,: but would definitely need napkins.
1 can refrigerated thin pizza crust dough
1/2 cup chocolate hazelnut spread (Nutella)
2 whole cinnamon graham crackers, finely crushed
1 cup semisweet chocolate morsels
3 cups miniature marshmallows
Preheat oven to 400. Unroll pizza dough and spread on round pizza pan or cookie sheet. Cook for about 10 min. until it just begins to brown. Remove from oven. Spread nutella evenly over crust. Crush crackers and sprinkle over, top with marshmallows and choc. morsels. Return to oven for 4 or 5 min. until marshmallows start to brown and puff. Slice immediately. Marshmallows get super sticky if you don't cut it right away. I have yet to figure out the best way to slice. Pizza cutter would not cut all the way to the edge, so I had to use a knife to get the squares separated, Sticky mess.
You need to make it when you can give it away, like take to a pot luck dinner, so you will not make yourself sick eating all that gooey stuff, rich, sugary chocolate gunk.
1 can refrigerated thin pizza crust dough
1/2 cup chocolate hazelnut spread (Nutella)
2 whole cinnamon graham crackers, finely crushed
1 cup semisweet chocolate morsels
3 cups miniature marshmallows
Preheat oven to 400. Unroll pizza dough and spread on round pizza pan or cookie sheet. Cook for about 10 min. until it just begins to brown. Remove from oven. Spread nutella evenly over crust. Crush crackers and sprinkle over, top with marshmallows and choc. morsels. Return to oven for 4 or 5 min. until marshmallows start to brown and puff. Slice immediately. Marshmallows get super sticky if you don't cut it right away. I have yet to figure out the best way to slice. Pizza cutter would not cut all the way to the edge, so I had to use a knife to get the squares separated, Sticky mess.
You need to make it when you can give it away, like take to a pot luck dinner, so you will not make yourself sick eating all that gooey stuff, rich, sugary chocolate gunk.
balloon trivia..
..found in a printed handout when volunteering at the fest at Callaway.
Weather is everything. The best times for ballooning are early and late: an hour after sunrise and two hours before sunset. Winds pick up as the sun heats up the earth and atmosphere, making it not so safe for floating. You can't really steer, though it's pretty easy to go up and down, depending on how often you heat the air inside the envleope with the butane burner. But the average size basket will hold four propane tanks, with about forty gallons. Which means the average flight will be about four hours, then you really need to be looking for a safe place to land: no trees, buildings, power lines,or traffic An open grassy area like a pasture or field is best, where you chase vehicle with trailer in tow can come and get your equipment.
Average cost of a balloon is between $15,000 and $100,000. The guys I was with on Friday night on teh beach did not say what that one cost, but I heard someone say $30,000. Pretty sure that does not include the trailer to haul it all, and certainly not the truck to use for pulling.
It takes about twenty to thirty minutes to fully inflate, have it ready to travel. First thing you do, before you even turn on your turbo-charged fan is be sure your balloon is tied to a truck.He said he usually travels with sandbags in his trailer, that provide ballast to keep it on the ground. But can you imagine: a horrible You-tube, cartoon gone wrong, when your balloon floats away with you looking up with your mouth agape. Stunned to see it leaving you on the ground...
You open the canopy up: spread the balloon fabric out flat, then have some one hold the bottom opening wide, like going to the dentist. The heavy duty powerful fan is started, filling the envelope with air. Once it is nearly inflated, held down by the weight of the basket, the pilot will start adding heat, turning propane burner off and on, careful to not set his expensive balloon on fire.
Balloons typically fly/float five to seven miles from liftoff to landing. You don't land in a place that as a 'large white sheet painted with a red X, indicating the landowner does not want his property to be trespassed. Or in a pasture with a large angry bull.
Weather is everything. The best times for ballooning are early and late: an hour after sunrise and two hours before sunset. Winds pick up as the sun heats up the earth and atmosphere, making it not so safe for floating. You can't really steer, though it's pretty easy to go up and down, depending on how often you heat the air inside the envleope with the butane burner. But the average size basket will hold four propane tanks, with about forty gallons. Which means the average flight will be about four hours, then you really need to be looking for a safe place to land: no trees, buildings, power lines,or traffic An open grassy area like a pasture or field is best, where you chase vehicle with trailer in tow can come and get your equipment.
Average cost of a balloon is between $15,000 and $100,000. The guys I was with on Friday night on teh beach did not say what that one cost, but I heard someone say $30,000. Pretty sure that does not include the trailer to haul it all, and certainly not the truck to use for pulling.
It takes about twenty to thirty minutes to fully inflate, have it ready to travel. First thing you do, before you even turn on your turbo-charged fan is be sure your balloon is tied to a truck.He said he usually travels with sandbags in his trailer, that provide ballast to keep it on the ground. But can you imagine: a horrible You-tube, cartoon gone wrong, when your balloon floats away with you looking up with your mouth agape. Stunned to see it leaving you on the ground...
You open the canopy up: spread the balloon fabric out flat, then have some one hold the bottom opening wide, like going to the dentist. The heavy duty powerful fan is started, filling the envelope with air. Once it is nearly inflated, held down by the weight of the basket, the pilot will start adding heat, turning propane burner off and on, careful to not set his expensive balloon on fire.
Balloons typically fly/float five to seven miles from liftoff to landing. You don't land in a place that as a 'large white sheet painted with a red X, indicating the landowner does not want his property to be trespassed. Or in a pasture with a large angry bull.
Saturday, September 5, 2015
scouting around...
...in my back yard. Looking for some sort of vining thing that would be long enough as well as flexible to twist into a circle. Some type plant: I was hoping for some wild grape vine/muscadine or honeysuckle that always shows up where you don't want it. Needing to make small hoops, relatively round to take to scout camp in a couple of weeks for crafting.
One of the projects we've talked about doing with older girls who have registered to be at camp over a weekend is something similar to dream catchers. The things you see in shops and catalogs full of Native American crafts advertised as made to hang over a cradle board to keep evil spirits away. I will definitely need to do some research to get more info., history/background and try to not include the part about 'evil spirits' but not sure about actual facts.
I did not find the vine-y stuff I had hoped for (and hope I do not find myself consumed with red bugs at bed time). But did trim the forsythia that has long arc-ing branches to see if that might work for the frame on which the girls will tie threads/string/beads to make the dream catcher. I snipped about thirty pieces and sat in the back yard, unintentionally feeding the mosquitos, bending the branches into sorta-kinda-mostly round'ish loops to see how that will do. I actually made one with some heavy string to remind myself how to do it. It looks pretty good, for not having done it in years. Found a few cheesy beads to add, and wishing for some tacky colored feathers to finish it off.
Have to give them a few days/week and see if they will be satisfactory when they dry. I noticed several places nearby where kudzu drapes on trees along right-of-way, so I might go whack some of that and possibly find a decent purpose for the bane of the south. Let's find something useful for kudzu besides feeding goats. Remember back in the sixties when people were smoking it?
One of the projects we've talked about doing with older girls who have registered to be at camp over a weekend is something similar to dream catchers. The things you see in shops and catalogs full of Native American crafts advertised as made to hang over a cradle board to keep evil spirits away. I will definitely need to do some research to get more info., history/background and try to not include the part about 'evil spirits' but not sure about actual facts.
I did not find the vine-y stuff I had hoped for (and hope I do not find myself consumed with red bugs at bed time). But did trim the forsythia that has long arc-ing branches to see if that might work for the frame on which the girls will tie threads/string/beads to make the dream catcher. I snipped about thirty pieces and sat in the back yard, unintentionally feeding the mosquitos, bending the branches into sorta-kinda-mostly round'ish loops to see how that will do. I actually made one with some heavy string to remind myself how to do it. It looks pretty good, for not having done it in years. Found a few cheesy beads to add, and wishing for some tacky colored feathers to finish it off.
Have to give them a few days/week and see if they will be satisfactory when they dry. I noticed several places nearby where kudzu drapes on trees along right-of-way, so I might go whack some of that and possibly find a decent purpose for the bane of the south. Let's find something useful for kudzu besides feeding goats. Remember back in the sixties when people were smoking it?
balloons, part 2...
...occurred this morning when I got up at five o'clock to drive back up to Harris County. Serving as a volunteer to be useful at Callaway Gardens: for day two of the weekend long Balloon Fest. Where balloonists, maybe a dozen or so, would tether their wicker baskets to several vehicles (three seems to work well) and offer pedestrians rides up in the air as far as the rope would allow. Hang suspended for several minutes as the air in the canopy slowly cools, then gently drift into the arms of gravity. Ten dollars for adults, five dollars for anyone under age ten, including babies and dogs.
I got there in the dark.. It was about 7:30 before the first of the balloons inflated ,(having learned last night to never use the term 'blow up!) It had a big REMax sign on the side so was obviously there as advertising/commercial for real estate sales. Probably half a dozen were inflated and offering rides, when the wind picked up, and pilots began to feel it was unsafe to lift off. So though there were possibly well over a hundred people waiting in line to make a five minute tethered ride, the balloonists began to deflate and let the balloons slowly settle back into the grassy field.
It's not an instant process, takes time and manpower to accomplish. The basket has to be safely anchored before you can open the top of the canopy and let the air escape to collapse the balloon. In an open area without buildings or trees that otherwise might cause damage to the very expensive synthetic material. Otherwise the envelope will come down on top of the pilot in the basket, or other passers-by, possibly tearing holes in the balloon. A co-volunteer was telling me that one of the balloons on the beach last night was damaged by the propane burner, causing the balloonist and crew to not be able to inflate. They just loaded it back up into the trailer. Maybe left instead of devoting their weekend to wasteful occupation of observing.
I was there until around 9 a.m., when the pilots concluded the wind was sufficient for the balloons to be risky. Even though the passengers were required to sign a release/waiver before getting into the basket, there is, I suppose, more than enough liability to go around, and the risk of damage to life and limb, as well as high-priced equipment not worth taking a chance as the weather changes.
I got there in the dark.. It was about 7:30 before the first of the balloons inflated ,(having learned last night to never use the term 'blow up!) It had a big REMax sign on the side so was obviously there as advertising/commercial for real estate sales. Probably half a dozen were inflated and offering rides, when the wind picked up, and pilots began to feel it was unsafe to lift off. So though there were possibly well over a hundred people waiting in line to make a five minute tethered ride, the balloonists began to deflate and let the balloons slowly settle back into the grassy field.
It's not an instant process, takes time and manpower to accomplish. The basket has to be safely anchored before you can open the top of the canopy and let the air escape to collapse the balloon. In an open area without buildings or trees that otherwise might cause damage to the very expensive synthetic material. Otherwise the envelope will come down on top of the pilot in the basket, or other passers-by, possibly tearing holes in the balloon. A co-volunteer was telling me that one of the balloons on the beach last night was damaged by the propane burner, causing the balloonist and crew to not be able to inflate. They just loaded it back up into the trailer. Maybe left instead of devoting their weekend to wasteful occupation of observing.
I was there until around 9 a.m., when the pilots concluded the wind was sufficient for the balloons to be risky. Even though the passengers were required to sign a release/waiver before getting into the basket, there is, I suppose, more than enough liability to go around, and the risk of damage to life and limb, as well as high-priced equipment not worth taking a chance as the weather changes.
Friday, September 4, 2015
hot air balloons...
...were really amazing. I'm saying Wow and Holy Cow and Wow again. The sort of thing that even after you see it, you keep thinking: did I really see that?
Every Labor Day weekend for as long as I can recall, there has been a Hot Air Balloon Fest at Callaway Gardens. The people with (very expensive) balloons will come and spend their time inflating and deflating, unpacking and packing up the huge balloon envelopes (as big as a house when full of hot air). I know they offer 'tethered' rides', where the balloon is attached to a large vehicle so it won't float away, and visitors can pay to get in the basket and ride up to the end of the rope and back down again. Probably for about $15.
In the past there has been a planned event/chase, called the Hare and the Hounds, where one balloonist will leave ahead of the group, and the others try to catch it, landing as close as possible to the first one. There are, as you might imagine, many variables when you are completely dependent on the wind for getting from point A to point B. So each balloon needs a 'chase team' who can come to the rescue where ever the balloon comes down. And load all the hundreds of pounds of balloon shroud, basket with gas canisters and accoutrements back into the trailer for transport.
I forgot to take my camera. Rats. So was only able to snap a couple of photos with my old school phone, while adding my weight to the basket of the people I was assigned to assist. The balloonist guy was continually adding heat, by way of propane burner to the air in the canopy, causing the wicker basket to want to rise off the ground. And though it was securely attached to a large truck, and would not fly away, it did act sort of weightless, and needed the extra volume of bodies to keep it grounded.
It was really neat. There were seventeen balloons there, on the beach around Robin Lake. Colorful, huge, amazing. Well worth the trip. I know you have seen them on TV or calendars, so just imagine how neat it is to see them up close and personal. Wow.Holy Cow. And wow again.
Every Labor Day weekend for as long as I can recall, there has been a Hot Air Balloon Fest at Callaway Gardens. The people with (very expensive) balloons will come and spend their time inflating and deflating, unpacking and packing up the huge balloon envelopes (as big as a house when full of hot air). I know they offer 'tethered' rides', where the balloon is attached to a large vehicle so it won't float away, and visitors can pay to get in the basket and ride up to the end of the rope and back down again. Probably for about $15.
In the past there has been a planned event/chase, called the Hare and the Hounds, where one balloonist will leave ahead of the group, and the others try to catch it, landing as close as possible to the first one. There are, as you might imagine, many variables when you are completely dependent on the wind for getting from point A to point B. So each balloon needs a 'chase team' who can come to the rescue where ever the balloon comes down. And load all the hundreds of pounds of balloon shroud, basket with gas canisters and accoutrements back into the trailer for transport.
I forgot to take my camera. Rats. So was only able to snap a couple of photos with my old school phone, while adding my weight to the basket of the people I was assigned to assist. The balloonist guy was continually adding heat, by way of propane burner to the air in the canopy, causing the wicker basket to want to rise off the ground. And though it was securely attached to a large truck, and would not fly away, it did act sort of weightless, and needed the extra volume of bodies to keep it grounded.
It was really neat. There were seventeen balloons there, on the beach around Robin Lake. Colorful, huge, amazing. Well worth the trip. I know you have seen them on TV or calendars, so just imagine how neat it is to see them up close and personal. Wow.Holy Cow. And wow again.
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