More Mountain Time Tales...

This past year, so far, has been one of remarkable journeys. And this mountain-top expedition was no different....

In the middle of my mountain journey, we went into the neighboring town of Oxford. Away from the green mountains, small quaint towns dot the landscape. They are the exact sort of cute small towns that Hollywood seems to capture when they create the "perfect small town." Oxford seems to be the epitome of a simpler, old fashioned world, as charming shoppes boasted old fashioned whimsy, and the surrounding gardens and architecture boasted history and creativity. Old fashioned ice cream parlors snuggled alongside spunky art studios displaying eclectic but prideful work. Sleepy coffee shops boasted tasty fare and flower potted porches, old buildings mingled with Victorian reproduction architecture. Everything was well manicured, and reminded you of something you saw in one of grandma's scrapbooks. In fact, I dare say that I did spy rosy-cheeked children and neighborly folks for our jaunt into this ebullient place.

What we had come for was a folk singing show, put on by the local theaters and shoppe-keepers. Here's the trio, straight from Nashville.

Ruefully, I forget their names, though I could swear it was the "Waylands" or "Waygoers." They sang a sweet mixture of country, bluegrass, and whatever fun folksy tunes hit them....

 In between sets, I took the opportunity to photograph the lush town trappings surrounding me.

When I say "quaint," I ain't kidding, Folks! Remember the Old Fashioned Ice cream Shoppe? 

Ye olde bank building....I'm not sure, but am very curious, as to what it's used for today. Knowing how these sorts of towns work, I'm sure it's been spectacularly renovated to be a...bank building!

The fountain in the middle of the square where the folk singing was happening. I love these owl heads....

Houses around town square....

 

There seemed to be deep history in every structure in the place....

Meanwhile, the music flowed long and lush into the night. Twilight brought forth a burst of little brown bats. They whizzed, small daredevils, in the twilit sky, their tiny chirps heralding the dark. Meanwhile, the humans lolled happily at the music and friendship all around. Whole families camped out on old quilts and lawn chairs for this, probably a grand time, by this town's standards. I found myself feeling the same way. City girl or not, I guess it says something that I was impressed by what most city folk would jokingly call a "low-key affair.

Funny, I clearly was the odd (wo)man out, not one of these people looked like me, but there was a comforting, familiar feeling, which I always harken back to loving the country life. I was the misfit that FIT in here, somehow....

As a funny (or disturbing--you make the call) aside, Dean and June informed me of the local townie who had managed to lose his driver's license (at least that was the theory) and so took it upon himself to drive ALL AROUND TOWN in a John Deere tractor mower. He did this to the point, apparently, that he became the local legend/gossip/celebrity for doing so.

I wasn't sure if I totally believed this story--to be quite honest I thought this was a fun way to "pull the wool over the city girl's eyes"--except that on our way home from this magical night, we all spied THIS PARKED along the street with the rest of the cars!

I'll let you imagine how long we howled with laughter!

Neither Here nor There...

The next day, there was more beauty to behold in Ithaca's downtown area, where June and I headed for an "out of town" trip....

The parking garage seemed suddenly attacked by giant Lepidopterae!

In the area known as the Commons (signaling Cornell University's campus), also boasted another beast: a steel horse--

Then there was the farmer's market, which was our original  point of destination when driving for an hour into Ithaca. 

I actually realize that I ended up taking pictures, not of beautiful squash or festive farm stands, but of the ART  booths there because: 1. I'd never really seen a farmer's market that DID allow non-produce material to be sold and 2. All of the artwork was absolutely stunning! 

Here are TWO GLASS BLOWN TABLES. The colors are absolutely stunning, and the artist had many examples of unique glass blown objects on display!

There were plenty of folks that worked with wood, which was encouraging to yours truly. Wouldn't these be lovely to paint on?

Now, what can I say? A girl loves shoes, and I am sure they would be more "lovable" when hand painted!

 

There were so many splendid booths full of art and absolutely amazing foodstuffs, that I was too busy ogling to take any decent pictures. June, and I ended up feasting on a tasty Indian food lunch--papadams, fried veggies and coconut milk over rice and chick peas hit the spot. We also met various raw dessert connoisseurs, raw cheese farmers, veggie sellers of all shapes and sizes (the farmers AND the veggies), plant-mongers, herbalistas, folks selling a cornucopia of amazing items from honey to blackberries to duck eggs.  It was a fine time, a feast of senses, a carnival for the soul, being out there with the noisy earthy, friendly  artistic crowd. When I talk about "my people"--yep, these would be my folks!

Needless to say, it was almost impossible for me to leave. Something about this place makes my bones ache...though to be fair, I can say this about most of my travels into farm country. June and Dean-- like the lovelies in Iowa, like folks on farms I've visited in years past-- seem generous to a fault. Or, perhaps, that's the way it SHOULD be, and we've somehow convinced ourselves that miserliness, dishonesty and greed are "just the way things are."

But this was not the case in Greene. June and Dean are wonderful, fair people. I truly wanted to hide underneath the covers when it came time to return, hoping not to return to my "real" life in a city where reality bites. But such is life. I can say I will most likely be back here, to this wonderful mountaintop, if only for a visit. 

But there are secret things to tell you about, soon...and fun adventures, I think. But I will leave you in suspense, for now...

Perhaps in a few days I will let you know, and also show you some wee woolies in little stories....