Faith, Folklore, and Friends

We were in Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg for a few days last week to enjoy all the Christmas festivities there.  On Thursday night, the Weather Channel said there was zero percent chance of precipitation.  The local news said maybe a dusting of snow.  When we got up on Friday morning, it had started to snow, and it snowed all day.  The temperature stayed around 32-34 degrees, so there was none on the roads.  It was a rare treat for us to be in and out of the snow, which was sometimes blowing like a blizzard. All these photos were taken early Saturday morning. The photos above were taken from our balcony at Mountain Loft resort in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.  The ones below were taken on the road going from Gatlinburg to Pigeon Forge.  You can see in some of the ones below that the sun was breaking through the clouds. We have been blessed to enjoy Christmas in the Smokies many times, bu...

Last week, we were able to spend some time in my favorite place, the Smoky Mountains.  We were there for Wilderness Wildlife Week, several days of events about Appalachia. It was held at the LeConte Center in Pigeon Forge.    Wilderness Wildlife Week was named top international event of 2016. People come from all over the United States and several foreign countries to attend this event.  It was started in 1991, and celebrated 27 years last week. There were stories and lectures about the folk life of the mountains.  We heard from writers, park rangers, hiking guides, photography experts, and crafts people on a wide range of subjects.  There was old and modern music on instruments one doesn't see everyday. Of course, there was some Appalachian  cooking, too! It was an amazing week.  Next year, the dates are May 8-12, and it is already on my calendar. These photos are from the Cade's Cove area.  It hasn't changed much sin...

This is the last day to guess the miles we traveled.  Winner announced on Monday.

Echinacea and Black-eyed Susans go so well together.  They are supposed to be easy to grow, but so far, it hasn't been easy for me. We plant them almost every year, but they never come back like they are supposed to.   In the picture above, you can see my one pitiful echinacea plant and one Black-eyed Susans plant.  They would not have been there except for the kindness of my friend, Steph, who shared her abundance. I'm pretty sure that next year will be the one where we have a beautiful border of these late summer bloomers.  I'm collecting the seed as they mature, and have a new place ready to plant them.  Maybe they will like it.  We will keep trying until we get it right.  In the meantime, we will just enjoy them in other places, like this roadside in Wayne County, Tennessee.