Faith, Folklore, and Friends

From March 18 through March 22, I was in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, for the 21st annual Mountain Quiltfest. This is my favorite quilt show.  It is not as big as some, but it is not crowded, and there are some unbelievable works of art here. I have been a quilter for a long time, but I can't make quilts like these.  At least, not yet.  I admire those who can, and they inspire me. I'm not sure how many years I've been to Mountain Quiltfest, but I would guess at least fifteen out of twenty-one.  The same people work the show every year, and I feel like I'm visiting old friends. Plus, in Pigeon Forge, there is plenty to do if you need a break from the quilt show. The quilt show is free.  If you have an interest in quilts, I would highly recommend that you attend this show. I don't know the dates for 2016, but it is usually the third week in March.  Click here  for more information. Let me know if you are interested, and maybe...

The National Quartet Convention, started in 1957, is an annual gathering of Southern Gospel performers and their fans. It was started in Memphis, then moved to Birmingham, then to Atlanta. It returned to Memphis in 1961 and drew crowds of more than twenty thousand in the sixties. It was moved to Nashville in 1972 and remained there until 1993. We were able to attend a few years while it was in Nashville. In 1993, it was moved to Louisville, Kentucky. It remained there until it was moved to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, this year. Many of the professional singing groups are from the Southeast, and they were thrilled that the convention moved to Pigeon Forge.  We were thrilled, because it is close enough to attend.    However, not everyone was thrilled.  The LeConte Center is a new facility in Pigeon Forge that seats 12,000 people, all on one level. It was sold out every night, and many people couldn't get tickets.  The parking wasn't great, and ma...