Iona Traylor

Amber Shehan's new character in Bombs Away Cabaret!

Asheville Herb Festival

Today my housemate and I went out to the Asheville Herb Festival. It was beautiful! So many colors and smells! There were so many people selling lovely plants that I didn't know where to start! Luckily we knew our friend Shannon Haun would be at the festival with her shop House of Herbs. It was great to see her and she was having an amazing time.
 
We wondered around the open air area of the Market checking out wares from so many different vendors that I lost count. Flowers, trees, seedlings, herbs, fresh veggies and fruit. These people are serious about their plants and you can tell. Even though its a little early, many people where selling strawberries and they smelled heavenly in the warm afternoon sun.

 We made our way up the hill to the main part of the WNC Farmers Market and took a look at the things that are there 7 days a week.  This part of the farmers market is a long, closed-in building, with most any type of local good you can think of in it!

There are so many things that I will be coming back for! This is just one half of the inside of the Farmers Market.  I could have spent hours wondering this place! We stopped to check out the local ASHE cheese vendor, yum! I got to try cheese curd and Jalapeno Cheddar!

Then we passed through a stall with all types of jams, jellies, pickled goods, and butters! The sun was shining in and it all looked so lovely! 

 I was pretty tuckered out after the three hours we spent there, time flies when you're having fun! We stopped by one last time to see Shannon and then headed home to enjoy some of the goodies we picked up today!

Fuchsia Flower

The View is Different Up Here

North Carolina Sunset

I recently moved to the mountains of Western North Carolina from the swamplands of Eastern Virginia. The change of experiencing a new landscape is amazing!

Everywhere I look there is a new plant or tree to learn about, and I haven't even spent my first spring here yet. I arrived here in fall and watched the woods on the surrounding mountainsides gradually shift from a vibrant green to a deep rust, fiery red and vibrant yellows. Something as simple as watching the leaves shift somehow has a new feeling to it in this place.  I have enjoyed watching many Septembers turn into a carpet of autumnal colors, but some how the mountains make it all feel more pronounced and meaningful.

Fall Tree's near Maggie Valley, NC

I had inquired with both locals and our friends that have migrated to this neck of the woods about the winters here. I was assured that anything more than a couple inches of snow is not common around here, but we received over 14" of cold, sticky snow right around Christmas. That was a fun first mountain winter experience, as we were snowed in with no power for 48 hours! I really do love the peace and quiet of having no electricity, but eventually my tech-driven side wants my computer to work!

Winter 2009 Candler NC

I can't wait till spring comes and I can go camping and explore the Blue Ridge parkway! Exploring the dark under the trees, finding waterfalls with friends and sleeping under the stars sounds wonderful.

It's also been great to see the strength of the local organic scene! There are impressive collections of local goods: Veggies, Mushrooms, Honey, and all sorts of yummy things!! 

Late Spring 2009 Candler, NC

• Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project: Guide to local farm markets and Appalachian-grown and produced products, support and resources for farmers

• French Broad Co-op: The local, wonderful food co-op in downtown Asheville
• List of Farm Markets from Explore Asheville       

I love healthy food that looks and taste good!!

I have been helping my friend over at Pixies Pocket with some new product photos. Her honeys are so yummy, and I love shooting all the warm colors in the dead of winter. She has Chai Honey, Vanilla Bean Chamomile Honey, Sister Health Honey , and Bunny Hunny just to name a few.  Mrs. Pixie wanted each photo to reflect how different each finished herb infused honey is even tho they came from the same bees!! All of Pixies Pocket's honeys are made from Haw Creek Honey, an Asheville favorite!!