Wilderness Wildlife Week

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 since the park was established in 1934, but it never gets old to me.

We are always happy if we see one black bear; this trip, we saw eight. More photos later.

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Amish in Stantonville, Tennessee

Last week, my sis and her hub went with us to the Amish community near Stantonville, Tennessee. It was a beautiful day, and we love driving to new places and finding new treasures. We enjoy these mini-trips we take together, where we giggle a lot and get caught up on everything. Also, the squirrels ate all our tomatoes, so we needed to find some to buy. You know the food you are buying is fresh when they bring it from the field while you are standing there waiting for it. Here is part of what we brought home, and it was all delicious. Stantonville is located in McNairy County, Tennessee, northwest of Shiloh National Military Park.

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Out of the Dirt: Bragg-ing

Like every reader, I have my favorite writers. There have been so many that have stirred my emotions and made me a part of their world, and I'm thankful for that. The one is love the best, the one I cherish , is Rick Bragg. Yesterday, Rick was in our area. We were privileged to see a newly released documentary about his life called Out of the Dirt . Afterwards, he talked to us about family and roots. His first book, All over but the Shoutin' , was recommended to me years ago. Very early in the book, I was thinking, "Who is this? He is writing about me, about my family." I have never actually met anyone in the book, but they are all my neighbors and kinfolks. His other books are just as well-written. In his book, Writing for the Soul , Christian author Jerry Jenkins had this to say about Rick Bragg: I read other writers and strive to be like them. I read others, like Rick Bragg, the Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist, and simply surrender, knowing I will ...

Faith, Folklore, and Friends

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