Leisure Guy's Guide to the Smokies

I walked out on my porch today and it was one of the clearest mornings I can remember in a while. The air was crisp, the humidity was low, the clouds were high. Had I awaken a little earlier, i might have been treated to some sunrise pictures, but I chose to stay in the dark of my apartment and eat breakfast instead.

The moon was just a sliver last night, but it came in full view as I was taking some sunset pictures. A cloudy night can actually produce a better sunset picture than a clear one. Yet, a clear night has its own magic.

I took a look at some photos I took in August during a near full moon on a clear night. They were taken without benefit of a tripod, and taken at faster speeds because birds were in flight. The moon on its own was not that spectacular, but the moon and a few birds can be breathtaking.

Today started out clear, but as I write, clouds are gathering in the west and rain is expected later in the day. It takes both clear and cloudy to make a life full.

The rain cleared up yesterday and left us with crisp, beautiful, fall weather.

I took a long walk around Lake Junaluska and was almost sorry I wore shorts. By the evening I needed a sweater outside, and as I awoke this morning, there was the feel of fall in the air.

The sun is shining amidst the clouds, and the temperatures are holding in the 50's this morning. It is what I have come to expect here.

The elevation of Waynesville is 3600 feet above sea level. The highest point in North Carolina is just under 6700 feet (which is also the highest point east of the Mississippi). We are surrounded by mountains that near 6000 feet, that means clouds settle in our valley on a regular basis. If you wake up this time of year and you don't see clouds, it means a storm just passed through.

Hope your week is off to a great start!

It was a wet weekend in the Smokies. Rain fell on Friday, Saturday, and then again on Sunday. It rained hard in some places and there were lightning storms all over the mountains. As I write the skies are beginning to brighten.

Weather is a regular topic of conversation in the mountains. We can spend hours talking about the rain, the wind, the temperature. When I think about it, most polite conversation begins with the weather. This is certainly my Southern roots at work, but I think it is accentuated by the rapid change in weather that happens here.

This past week I remember the temperature starting out at around 40 degrees, rising to nearly 70 degrees, and the most beautiful skies. The next day starts out nice and moves into light rain. The temperature rose and the skies opened up with buckets of rain. They say the temperatures will go lower tonight as beautiful skies return.

I was told I missed a beautiful sunset in east Tennessee...I couldn't see it through the clouds and rain where I live.

I am currently working at the Haywood County Public Library. I spend time here regularly because the scenery is better than my apartment, and today the internet is more reliable.

Last night I returned to my apartment to find my cable internet down for about the 3rd time in 6 weeks. I am certain I am on the list of dissatisfied customers who call in and complain to Charter. Last night the guy would not even try to defend the company and basically said, "I know, this company is not too swift." This after he told me it might be a week before I get service again.

I am considering a new plan for internet service...I will call it the Leisure Guy's Free and Mostly Reliable Plan...

The library is open to 9:00 PM, 5 nights a week and is a 5 minute drive most of the time.
Cool Beans cafe will let me have all day access for $3.00 dollars and it includes a cup of coffee.
Lake Junaluska Assembly has wireless access in their hotel lobbies (a 2 minute drive).
If desperate, i can act like I am checking in at the Motel Eight Near Wal-Mart and use the wireless in the lobby.
I discovered one afternoon a place where I can get a wireless signal in a residential area while sitting in my car

At least with the Free and Mostly Reliable Plan I am not frustrated talking to an agent in East DesMoines, IA about my service in Haywood County and I can live by the mantra: "You get what you pay for."

Tonight feels like a fall evening in the mountains. I went out in short sleeves but as the sun went down behind the mountains I was wishing I had taken my fall clothes out of storage. The air is crisp, no humidity , and though the temperature has not fallen below 60, it won't be long. They are saying it might be 45 by the morning. The first official day of fall is just days away.

There are a number of signs that fall is on its way in the mountains...

*Football teams are hunkering down to their regional schedule and folks start worrying about play-offs and the like (though they are not talking much about it in Waynesville).
*The fall tourist guides are out in plentiful amounts
*The Asheville Citizen-Times publishes its leaf watchers guide (came out in Monday's paper)
*Apples and apple cider are for sale on the roadside
*The firewood pile near Ammons Drive-in starts getting smaller
*Flannel becomes a regular sight
*There is a lull in traffic throughout the county (until the leafers arrive in October)

In was asked the other day about what the allure was about living in the mountains. Thought I might try to elucidate.

Some people are attracted by the beauty. If you grew up as a flatlander, that first look at the Smokies (or the Rockies, or the Cascades, or wherever) is an amazing site. Looking up at the sky and seeing something other than clouds is a rush. To climb to the top of a mountain and look down is a bigger rush for me.

Some folks like the mountains because the pace is slower here. If you have experienced endless emails, conference calls, and deadlines, mountain life will wean you. It may frustrate the heck out of you too. I am discovering that folks don't check their email every day here. One business I called said: "Leave a message and we might just get back with you." Folks respond slowly to most everything. My son says that the band plays everything slow here--I remind him that they also speak slower, get used to it.

Some folks come because of the collection of artists and creative people that call this place home. It was a draw for me. But don't expect the creative types to be loyal friends, organized, or the most social. Folks get passionate about their craft and lose track of time. They miss deadlines, they don't return calls, they might blow you off to make some money with their talents.

Some folks come to hide. I heard the story this weekend of a guy who had built a tremendous business, had lots of loyal customers, and then the law discovered he was a criminal with a felonious past (Murdering a guy was not the best way to keep under cover). There are all kinds of folks who are not known murderers who hide in the mountains. Actors, authors, politicians, and other famous folks have found their way to Western North Carolina. Put on a ball cap, some jeans and a camouflage shirt, and you can blend in at the local diner at noon.

It has been awhile since I have written. A number of things happening on the home front related to my writing and my photography, so it has been busy. The bulk shipment of my books started coming in on Friday, so now it is time to get them in bookstores and then speaking about them in various places. If you would like for me to speak at your civic group, book club, or do a book signing in your hometown, just drop me an email (mike@theleisureguy.com)

I have been working on getting some photos ready for sale, and after this week I am a step closer. They will also be available like the books at the Seatomypants Store.

I went over to Tellico Lake in Tennessee for the weekend and have had a very relaxing time. That is what the Leisure Guy does best. Saturday was a great day. I took a ride over to Tellico Plains (site is under construction) which is known as the "Gateway to the Cherokee National Forest." It is a quaint little town with one of the best bakeries in the world (Tellico Grains) and a number of little shops that are owned by friendly folk. I recommend visiting the Scott Street Gallery (Tellico Bear Building) where you will find two of the friendliest cats on the planet. One of them weighs 25 pounds and enjoys being cradled like a baby.

The town is on the Cherohala Skyway which is a scenic route through the mountains from Robbinsville, NC to Tellico Plains, TN. There are numerous sites along the way, including an award winning restaurant- Bistro by the River.

A beautiful waterfall is not far off the main road easily accessible by car- Bald River Falls. I am told that you can drive the whole road in about two hours if you don't stop too often to take pictures. The part that I drove was in a scenic valley, but the map shows some steep climbs to outstanding mountain views. I was very impressed and will have to drive the entire road this fall.

Hope you had a relaxing weekend too...

I went to the Mountain State fair in Asheville on Monday night. I had not been to a State Fair for nearly five years while I was in Japan. I realized that my son had never been to a fair like this in his life (and he is nearly 13 years old). So it was about time.

A few impressions:

*Most of the rides have not changed since I was 13. Some of them appeared to have been in operation since I was 13.

*The carney games, nor the prizes, have changed since the 1970. Sad thing-I still can't win at pulling up a beer bottle with a ring on a string.

*Fair food is not healthy, but it sure is tasty. I didn't try it all, but I am particularly curious about the fried candy bar on a stick.

*The racing pigs were amazingly corny, and yet entertaining. I liked the touch of racing billy goats and ducks in this year's version.

*I got to meet Susan Reinhardt who writes for the Asheville Citizen-Times. She told me about getting hate mail from animal rights activists over her "post card from the fair" about eating a turkey leg. She is as funny and endearing in person as she is in the paper.

*The State Fair is still a good reminder that no matter how odd you might be, there are definitely some odder folks in the world.

I spent my Saturday at the 16th Annual Antique Tractor Show and Tractor Pull in the big city of Belwood, NC. When I lived in that community some 20 years ago, the population was a solid 500. In order to incorporate, they had to take in over 6 square miles of land to get that population and to be recognized by the state. At the time, Shelby, the county seat with the largest population, was only 4.5 square miles in size.

I spent my first summer there in 1983 as in intern from Duke University. Most of the interns that showed up in Belwood came from big cities and had to be introduced to rural living. I found myself at home in Belwood. I came as an intern and found a way to stay awhile.

I was told numerous times yesterday that they wish they had me around to haul hay this summer. I guess I must have hauled a bunch of hay in those 2.5 years I was in town. I guess it was a rarity among the interns that show up every summer.

We had plenty of laughs about the day in November when we killed cows for about five families' freezers. I barely remember the pick-up truck full of entrails and innards, but I do remember the shoes that I was wearing that day that were covered with juices of cow guts. I left my shoes hanging in a barn that fall in 1983, and it was just a few months ago when my shoes were finally thrown in the garbage. I guess they thought I might need them some day.

The tractor show was a great experience. Beyond the long hours of sitting and reminiscing, there was a field full of old tractors. On the softball field where I used to play shortstop and punch singles into the outfield, there were exhibits of all kinds of motorized machinery, and the occasional concession stand.

The highlight of Saturday afternoon was the children's tractor pull. Riding a pedal tractor and pulling a weighted sled, children from 3-10 competed for ribbons and Wal-Mart gift cards. I watched the grandchildren of my old friends win in their categories. If there is a future in pedal tractors, the town of Belwood is set with talent.

The winner of the three-year-old category nearly didn't compete. He was wearing an International Harvester cap and he told his mamma that he didn't "want to ride no green tractor." Blood ran IH red in that family. He was finally convinced that it was okay to ride a toy John Deere, and he jumped on and towed the trailer longer than any kid in his class. He hopped off and did not get his ribbon or Wal-Mart Card (at least not in public).

My Saturday was great. How was yours?

I had some time this evening so I put my camera down and went to the movies in the hometown.

It was Friday evening and the local football team had a merciful week off. Seems they turned out to see a football movie. The theater was full of high school kids, and a few of us crusty types, to see "Invincible."

It is a Disney feel-good movie for sure. The mostly true story of the 30 year-old bartender who becomes a professional football player and revives a city. Of course, some of the story is contrived and the historical facts have been altered a bit to sell to the public, but not a soul who sees it would say that it wasn't a powerful story of overcoming odds.

The closing credits offered an even more interesting story--the bartender actually played three seasons for the Eagles. One season seemed impossible--three seasons? Darned near a miracle.

It was a movie about heart and character during difficult times. It was a movie that I cringed through as actors crunched one another in football pads. It was a movie that made me glad that I will not have to do two-a-days tomorrow, and that my struggles will not be with 300 pound linemen.

It has been a long Wednesday at home. Lots going on. You might want to check some of it out.

1) Two of my books have been revised, and are now available for purchase online.
Read more about these books at:
Seatomypants Productions

2) These books are available at the Seatomypants Store where you can use the credit card of your choice or PayPal account to buy them. (You can also be the first on your block to own a destituteartist.com t-shirt when you purchase from the site).

3) News releases and sell sheets start going out tomorrow. Want a copy of either to share with your local bookseller or newspaper? Write mike@seatomypants.com and I will send them along.

And because it was evening, I spent time with my camera on the lake.

Hope you had a great day too...

The last two mornings I have awaken at Tellico Lake, TN. I have beeen getting up before the sun does. Sunday I went out to the lake, today it was raining a bit so I stayed in.

There is nothing like being out a half hour before dawn on a fishing lake. I was on a public boat dock and every few minutes a large bass would jump and splash nearby. I could hear the geese and ducks waking for the day. Song birds were alive and chirping in the trees, and the sounds of fisher-folk getting to their favorite spots were all around.

I was armed with my camera, and emboldened by my mantra of patience. Sunrise was at 7:11 on Sunday morning, but the best light came along about 7:35.

I had numerous shots from 6:50 to 7:40, but there was a window of about 5 minutes that was most enjoyable.

Today is Labor Day across the USA. It is a holiday. It is one of those small windows of enjoyment in a long year. Hope you were ready for it. Hope you enjoy...

It is Labor Day Weekend, and the skies are clearer, the temperature is cooler, and my Saturday has been lazy. I spent some time in a friend's garden with my camera, have spent time reading, and have just opened the laptop for a bit of writing. Not a bad way to spend a holiday.

There was a beautiful mandevilla plant (mandevilla spp.) that caught my eye this morning. It is also known as Brazilian Jasmine and is a warm weather plant that will die off in winter in East Tennessee, but grow back from the roots in spring.

I was fascinated with the colors on the inside of the flower that changed with the change of light. A bright ray of sun would wash the colors out, and darker light did not flatter those colors. But in the grey of a cloudy of morning the colors were brilliant.

I am not sure that a photograph could ever do this flower justice. I have yet to see a picture online or in a gardening book of this flower that catches the fulness of what the human eye can perceive.

I am not deterred. I will continue to make the effort of capturing images that represent what I have seen and experienced.