Exploring what's possible with punctuation.
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Here are some pictures of a 1979 Blue Bird Wanderlodge that I wish I could buy. The WanderLodge was (and is) a top-of-the line moterhome and this one is equipped with all the bells and whistles that were available back then. It sold for $115,000 in 1979! This one is in mint condition and ready to roll.
If you have ever driven down Highway 501 on the way to Myrtle Beach, you have probably seen the signs advertising Sparky’s near Marion, SC. The signs appear every few hundred feet for ten miles or so as you approach from either direction. The thing that caught my eye the other day is the proclamation on some of these signs that “Sparky’s Got It All.”
Something about that bothered me. See, Sparky’s is the name of the place, so “Sparky’s Got It All” just didn’t sound right. I wasn’t sure whether that meant that Sparky’s (Has) Got It All or that Sparky’s Has Acquired It All. In all fairness I assume and am reasonably confident that the saying “Sparky’s Got It All” simply means that there is an entity called Sparky and he/she has a lot of stuff and that the writer of the ad is not too concerned with precise grammar. I decided that the next time I went by there I would stop and see if Sparky’s had or had acquired it all.
Here’s what I discovered:
Anyway, here’s some of the stuff that Sparky’s has:
Here’s some of the stuff Sparky’s doesn’t have:
Well, there you have it. Next time you’re down that way stop in and check it out. You might even see Sparky.
This is late news but it’s worth mentioning: the Sanford (NC) Pottery Festival was held on May 2 and 3. This event started in 2002 and has now become the largest pottery festival in NC. If you missed it this year (as I did) then try to make it next. You won’t be disappointed.
In a state known for pottery, Sanford and the surrounding area is probably the richest place in the world for this art form. I would hazard a guess that there are more potteries in and around Sanford, NC than anywhere else in the world.
And more than that, there are artists of all kinds living and working in this area. Painters, sculptors, wood-workers, musicians, jewelry makers, poets and writers all seem to be drawn to this area in central North Carolina. Maybe it’s the beautiful countryside with its gently rolling hills and deep rivers that attracts and then sustains these creative spirits; maybe it’s something in the water. Whatever it is, this place has a spirit and a charm all its own.
Go visit when you can but be forewarned: you may not want to leave.
For more information visit SandfordPottery.org and the Chatham Artist’s Guild web site.
I took these pictures during the recent storm in the Midwest. They were taken in Columbus, OH, West Carrollton, OH, and along I-75 from Dayton to Cincinnati.
It is quite a challenge to operate a big truck in these conditions safely, but I did and made it home in one piece and left no collateral damage behind me.
Just got back from New York and have to leave early in the morning for Louisiana. Have lots of notes and ideas for posts but no time to get them in. Hope to get a few days off next time around. Bye.
It’s time again for the annual Chatham Artist’s Guild Studio Tour. This event takes place every year on the first and second weekends in December.
Chatham County in North Carolina is home to astounding number of artists and craftsmen and the beautiful rural countryside of Chatham County, the rich variety of art on display, and the holiday season combine to make this event a pure delight. The artists open their homes and studios to visitors who, armed with their maps, roam the back-roads and by-ways of the county to visit.
Chatham County is located virtually in the center of North Carolina and the nearby towns of Chapel Hill, Pittsboro, Sanford, and Raleigh are also interesting and fun places to visit. Try to make it up if you can; you won’t regret it.
I travel a lot. Recently I took a trip along some back roads in Texas. The area I traveled through was a large chunk of territory from southwest of Fort Worth down to Houston. The first stop along the way was the small town of Tolar – home of a good little donut shop, the Tolar United Methodist Church, the Houston ranch, and not much else. The visit was interesting, though. I drove to the interior of the ranch where they are drilling for (and finding) oil. This was my first visit to an oil field and it was pretty neat. You can click on any of the pictures for access to my photo albums.
The next stop was Hico. I was passing through and the town looked so interesting that I had to stop and go back to take some pictures. I pulled over just outside of town in a wide spot and walked back. It was worth it. The town is full of beautiful old buildings, most of which have been or are being restored, and which are home now to some neat shops and restaurants.
I found out that the two heroes of the town are Cody Ohl, a six time world champion rodeo star, and Billy the Kid, alias Brushy Bill, who some claim lived in Hico and died there in the 1950′s. They have a statue of Billy in the town square.
Hico is one of those unexpected and delightful treasures that one can often find by traveling through the back roads of America.
