These Encore Azaleas are pretty awesome. They bloomed for the second time in late summer and are still blooming early November. Highly recommended.

NC Arboretum walk: we managed to thread the needle between the end of mountain laurel blooms and the start of wild rhododendron blooms, but we also dodged the rain. So overall a pleasant Father’s Day stroll.

Art restored. Mobile named “Unplanned” returned to its original form after winds and moving bent it. Fun recalling how I made it the first time, given its name.

AAA has come a long way technologically. Seen in Old Town Alexandria, VA

They call me, The Orchid Whisperer.

bsky.app/profile/scie... pity this didn’t exist 35 years ago.

🎉 The overall winner of this year’s #DanceYourPhD contest is Sulo Roukka, who meshed lab experiments with dance moves under flashing lights as sequined lab mates analyzed hot chilies and mint with fancy footwork.

Watch the winning work and learn more about the category winners: scim.ag/4lSpjCl

National azalea day at the NC arboretum. Endemic azaleas to the eastern seaboard only. Beautiful and a wonderful smell!

Learning the local flora near Asheville on a stretch of the Mountain to Sea Trail. Wild rhododendron, Iris, and blueberry.

On our near-term list, thanks. We visited several times pre-Helene, but it’s a new day.

What about organizations, facilities, display and performance spaces?

@asheville.bsky.social do you have suggestions for Bluesky threads to follow to get better connected to the local art scene? Thanks!

I wish I could line this more than one time. So many memories of pancakes with fresh mountain huckleberries.

When you worry that you're missing out on something by not making both choices simultaneously by quantum superposition, that's called phomo.

The Roads Both Taken
https://xkcd.com/3076/

When you worry that you're missing out on something by not making both choices simultaneously by quantum superposition, that's called phomo.

Explain xkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3076

“The Larch”

Four hours in the DMV getting our NC licenses, sigh. Sometimes a little more taxes is a good thing.

Lifting our heads up from opening boxes to go for a walk through the North Carolina Arboretum. We dodged most of the rain, and the mist lent a mysterious air.

On 29 March, we became residents of Asheville. Let the adventures begin!

And practice safe claxting (classified texting).

I wasn’t planning on putting any liquids in it, and I sealed it as well(though the sealing spray might not be food safe either!)

Second project is a 2 Tbs spoon for scooping coffee. Took way, way too long because I tried to do some overly clever for the bowl. Fell back to 18 gauge raised copper, brass handle from 1/4” brass sheet. Bowl is silver soldered and riveted in place. Will probably let it naturally patina.

Completed two projects before the move required me to tear apart my workshop for the move. The first is a raised copper bowl from 18 gauge copper. Holes drilled and sometimes filed to complete the embedded code. Sculpt Noveau blue patina applied with a sponge and clear sealant.

Plato would be jealous

Enjoyed a concert by Cherish the Ladies at the George Mason Center for the Arts. It is their 40th anniversary of playing Celtic music around the world. A lot of fun and very relaxing. Our last concert at George Mason, after 25+years of being a season ticket holder.

There was a time I could change a diaper on a squirming child blindfolded. Now I can similarly fold up a flatpack moving box. How times change.

bsky.app/profile/flav...

One can always dream.

My first car sleeps in Asheville tonight. Flying home to finish packing, then round 2.

Not quite done yet. A raised copper bowl with cutouts. Still working on patina application. I call it “Michael,” after my mentor who inspired it. Soooo much filing.

Enjoying our false spring. It won’t last, but who cares?