Monday, November 18, 2013

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

I gaze out my window at the Blue Ridge Mountains unfurling like royal ribbons.  Feather clouds dance through periwinkle skies and a wedge of geese resounds like a pow wow.

Oak leaves ride the wind like canoes.  Poplar trees overlook a cornfield.  Corn shocks rattle their fingers in the wind.  Soon Hub Cheeks will bring his combine and cut the silage.

A celery-colored hill peeks above Hyatt Mill Creek.  Black and white cattle huddle beneath a persimmon tree.

I recall Mama used to gather persimmons each fall and make preserves.  The bitter-sweet jelly tasted delicious on hot, buttered biscuits.

Something moves.  My friend, Nancy Simpson, says that to detect something moving is like another sense.  We have five senses:  sight, taste, feeling, hearing, and smelling. To sense something moving is almost another sense.

I do sense something moving.  I ease the curtains back for a better view.  Three deer glide over a split-rail fence then bound into the woods.  I wonder if they will escape the hunters this year.

Each evening same time, around dusk, five wild turkeys march up our neighbor's driveway.  The fowls strut in a straight line, cross Swaims Road, then disappear into the pine thicket with a gobble. At Thanksgiving these birds need to tone it down and hide.

At Thanksgiving, we need to count our blessings.  It's a time for recalling long ago falls of family fun and laughter.  It reminds us of good times and God's many blessings.

I hope all my blogger friends have a very Happy Thanksgiving.  I am thankful for my blogger friends and enjoy visiting your wonderful sites.



Tuesday, November 12, 2013

NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL

 
The Native American Heritage Festival was held at the Cherokee Homestead Exhibit in Hayesville, NC on October 19.  The festival featured artists demonstrating basket weaving with river cane, wood carving, beading, pottery, and stickball demonstrations.  Julie Reed and family served Cherokee food including frybread with a variety of toppings. 

 
A Cherokee corncrib is featured at the Cherokee Homestead Exhibit.

 
Students from Hayesville Elementary School take a tour of the Cherokee winter house.
 
 
A Cherokee summer house is included at the Cherokee Homestead Exhibit.
 
 
Ms. Sandy Nicolette explains the Cherokee game of stickball.
 
 
You'll find Cherokee masks at the Cherokee Homestead Exhibit.
 
 
You may purchase wooden masks, beads, and baskets at this booth.
 
 
This Cherokee lady makes beautiful beads.
 
 
Amanda Swimmer (on the right) is 91 and does pottery.  She's shaping a turtle in this photo.  Her granddaughter helps her with the artwork.
 
 
Tony Walkingstick (Mr. Carl Moses' adopted son), makes Cherokee jewelry, brooms, and tommy hawks. 
 
 
Diamond Brown is an entertaining Cherokee storyteller and educator who founded "Touch the Earth with Native People" which has been presented throughout the United States.
 
Dan Hollifield, a Clay County resident, played his own hand-made flute at the Native American Heritage Festival.  He's a member of the Cherokee Nation and belongs to the bird clan.
 
An art show was also held in the Clay County Old Jail Museum during the Native American Heritage Festival.  The work of regional artists included jewelry, baskets, paintings, wooden art, gourd art and fabric art.
 
This event was sponsored by the Clay County Communities and Revitalization Association and the Clay County Historical and Arts Council.
 
You may visit the Cherokee Homestead in Hayesville, NC. 
For information, call:  828-389-3045.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



Monday, November 4, 2013

VETERAN'S DAY EXHIBIT



 Uncle George Lee served in WWII.  He received a Purple Heart for serving his country.  Fellow veterans named the George Lee American Legion in honor of him.






The Hayesville, NC Centennial Display has featured an exhibit on veterans.  I thank Ms. Sandy Zimmerman, chairperson of the Centennial Committee, for allowing me to photograph this display.  This historical exhibit is open on Friday and Saturday, 9:00AM-4:00PM on the Hayesville Townsquare.