girlfriend?". A woman working at Red Barn Hollow General Store asks a white haired lady. The lady sighs a little tired and says, "Been to physical therapy.". People are making way to lunch, foraging through an array of snacks, beverages, and sundry-save-the-day items like charcoals for cooking out, Jersey workgloves, fishing pole and split shot.
Some raspberry Italian ice, perfect in a sun that holds getting work done days open. In mountains it's not "attitude" when anybody working on anything stays on-focus to achieve. Mountain places especially run on tight schedules of delivery and pack-ins; visitors coming and going in every direction, but here they are friendly too.
About two weeks from the Friday before the Fourth, here, the Red Barn Cafe is going to open. Kristen Johnson will be managing the cafe. "Diner-type setting," she nods a little as she decides what style of cuisine. "We're gonna do breakfast and lunch."
Kristen says it's an old building. Used to be a gas station and garage. Though she's "been up" since November the cafe was just not functioning during Covid. In 2017 it was big doings, opening a restaurant in big mountains. They had "broasted" chicken. Different than roasted chicken in that it's pressure deep fried, Kristen explains. As we are talking I see that the local newspaper is The Graham Star.
I'm cool to sit in the dining room and reckon with such different terrain. 28 runs east and west but I'd just been on a spit of road that put me going south, north, and west all at once. And the altitude changes conditions of machinery as well as organics.
The cafe's ceiling is plank board sloping up to center beams which are, in fact, de-barked tree trunk. The tables and chairs are a sturdy sit; hardwood squared to perfect comfy-casual tabletops and stickwood seat backs. Lightbulbs in Mason jar chandeliers ambient while wall to ceiling windows mix in the natural lighting passively. Ferns common to North Carolina and Tennessee but maybe some called "New York ferns" can be seen out picture windows.
The good eatin' will include menu items such as...
Kristen's daughter Katie, mother's helper, lets me preview a menu.
The Momma's Boy--Two eggs any style, two slices of bacon, two sausage patties, and your choice of two pancakes or two slices of French toast.
The Tornado Omelet--Ham, bacon, sausage, tomatoes, peppers, onions, & cheddar cheese with a side of hashbrowns.
Lunch appetizers will include onion rings and beer battered mushrooms. Burgers and sandwiches will include a Catfish and Philly Cheesesteak. There will be salads, entrees, and dessert! I was imagining the chocolate lava cake as a customer came inside to pay for gas.
Above the register is a sign that reads: PUBLIC NOTICE, due to recent budget cuts, the rising cost of electricity, gas and oil, plus the current state of the economy, the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off.
Outside an American and a North Carolina flags on a gold-ball-topped pole that seems as tall as the mountains behind them.
A stop at the 129 Hub to smile at the "Save the Stick" campaign logo and I am OFF!!!!!
For me driving the Dragon is more thrilling than maybe 94 or 87% of life.
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