Town Smokes by Pinckney Benedict

Pinckney Benedict's Town Smokes is a collection of his short stories published in 1987, when he was only 23 years old. Pretty impressive to have a collection out at that age, and with praise on the back cover from both Eudora Welty and Joyce Carol Oates. Narrating in first person dialect is a difficult task, not recommended for amateurs, but Benedict pulls off this point-of-view/voice technique effortlessly. 

The Sweet By & By in Bynum

Spending some Mother's Day Weekend time with Alison and Becky in Bynum. Yesterday we enjoyed some Bynum Beverages on the front porch, and listened to the Boys of Carolina bluegrass band across the way, as they kicked off the 2011 Bynum Front Porch Music Series.

We strolled around Bynum and harvested a wee bit of cilantro from Alison and Becky's plot in the community garden, and I was able to get a closer look at some of the Clyde Critters.

The Garden Plot

Two black swans, situated among the raised garden plots at the community garden.

Community garden garnishes

Clyde Jones is a local artist who creates unique critters from scraps of wood and found items. Many Bynum residents have his critters in their front yards, and you can also find Clyde's painted artwork on various surfaces around town. Bynum hosts the annual ClydeFest every April.