Time well spent on a fall day in New Bern, North Carolina

This morning, I spent some time walking through town at Mumfest and also taking a turn at Farmer's Market and Poor Charlies Antiques.

Somewhere, while wandering in the fray of milling crowds, I managed to lose my debit card, a pair of silver earrings (bought this morning from a vendor) and my wonderful, supportive cane which has been helpful in keeping me on my feet (due to psoriatic arthritis issues in my legs).

On the other hand, I also spent some quality time talking with Portsmouth Island Author James E White, III (Mumfest vendor), Curtis Blake photographer (Farmer's Market), and Mrs.Dottie Taglieri, widow of our famed local artist Willie Taglieri (Poor Charlie's Antiques).

As I was feeling myself magnetically drawn into the Portsmouth Island vendor tent and speaking with Mr. White about Portsmouth Island, I almost burst into tears.   When I told Mr. White that I have never been able to get good photos at Portsmouth, he was more than surprised. "How could you not get good photos at Portsmouth Island"? (It is well understood that Portsmouth Island, NC is fragrant with a haunting beauty of remoteness and sea and sky and earth and God's wild creatures living in a safe and native way).  After a moment of reflection, I replied as honestly as I could to Mr. White, "I think I was traveling with the wrong people".  (Meaning that one must have silence, space, and freedom to see the right moment and to capture the elusive spirit of a place).   I think he got that because after darting a quick look at me to see if I was real he then let our a bellow of laughter. (You have to love something to take it's picture right--he got it).  He had some nice, moody photos of Portsmouth Island for sale.

Curtis Blake is a good photographer and he is always at Farmer's Market.

There is a booth in the back of Poor Charlies where a table sits laden with Willie Taglieri framed prints. Most of those prints are scenes of Christmas in New Bern.  Willie Taglieri was a prolific artist and it is evident in his art that every scene evokes a spirit of romance and beauty in New Bern.  I asked Mrs. Taglieri, "Willie loved Christmas, didn't he?" and her answer to me was quick, "Willie loved New Bern."  So evident.

Time well spent.
Lost and Found?

A self-portrait of Willie Taglieri as Santa Clause on the Taglieri table at Poor Charlie's Antiques.