Pumpkins, A Hike and A Festival

It was cold this morning. Not just chilly, but downright cold. I think it was 37 degrees when we woke up, although I will say, playing pickleball was wonderful because the sun was shining bright on the courts. Folks came bundled up yet before long, jackets, sweatshirts, and gloves were shed. You know me, I was thrilled to be cold instead of hot. 

Here's a little something funny to report while making a little fun of myself. Patti called on Saturday while we were at the festival saying, "Gail, I just picked up seven newspapers from your front porch." Well, but of course they were there because when we booked the cottage it was only until the end of September, but when we discovered how much we loved it here, we extended our stay until they had their next booking. and I completely forgot about the paper. The good news is that Nancy took all seven because she loves the crossword puzzles so all is well that ends well.

That will catch your attention right? Big bright orange pumpkins signal the end of the heat, or so one would hope. So does the appearance of mums, although I think these are a very small variation on that theme.

We stopped by a farm store where the sell pig's ears of all things. There was a huge open box of them and I suspect the owner was amused at my ignorance when I asked what they were for? Dog chews as it turns out. Learning new things is good when one is approaching one's eighth decade of life.  Should we ever have a large dog, we will be sure to give him pig ears for a treat. Probably not.

We went on another hike at Jackrabbit Mountain Recreation area in nearby Hayesville. Used by both mountain bikers and hikers, there are five trails of varying links. On this day we chose one that out and back is about three miles long through the forest and up hills and in general, just lovely. I suspect you are interested in how the leaves are changing and in some places they are going gangbusters,

or my definition of it anyway. Others not so much but holy cow I am in love with the scenery.

This is taken at the trailhead and then into the forest you go. We encountered only a handful of people as we walked with mostly the only sound being our own footsteps. As you can imagine, I am super pumped when we come across mushrooms, especially this cluster type. Scratch that....I love seeing any type!

At one point we could just make out the water down below as these trails are on a peninsula in Lake Chatuge which you are familiar with having read about all of the nearby dams in my last post. Oh wait, you didn't read it? Well, my dear friends, here is your chance.

While it isn't the easiest activity for us, we are getting a little better each time.

The stars of this post though come from the John C. Campbell Folk School's 47th Fall Festival. That's quite the mouthful, isn't it? I am so delighted that we were here for it for all sorts of reasons which will become quite clear as you follow along with us.

The morning was crisp and sunny, ideal for a festival. Following a quick stop at the farmer's market, we took the advice of Linda, one of our friends, who suggested we go the back way in order to avoid the inevitable backups at the entrance. Not only was it a beautiful drive with barely a car sighting, we had three cars in front of us before we headed into the parking area! Free of course, although there was an entry fee to the festival of $10 per senior. I am imagining this is their major annual fundraiser. If so, with the size of the crowds and the 200 artists and crafts people, hopefully they will meet their goals. Sunday we talked to a few people at church who waited in line more than an hour to park! 

We arrived a wee bit early and now we know that when we go again that is the way to do it! As an aside, we have met two other Gails while here, one of whom told us yesterday afternoon that she arrives very early as she is a local and knows all of the tricks.

What follows is, well there is no way around it, loads of photographs because there was just so darn much to see beginning with the opening parade of bagpipers. Oops, a neighing pony instead.

Alrighty then, here they come...

and here is a good view of the kilts.

Is there any more plaintive sound than that of a bagpipe? This was a group from nearby Andrews that played multiple tunes to kick off the festival.

The festival celebrates all things Appalachian including this group of young musicians who played and sang for the crowd in the festival barn. Loads more photographs to come from that location, a very challenging light situation for a photographer, I will say that much.

Who or why that young person is crawling on the stage, I cannot say! 

You want to know who else were stars? The port-o-let attendants who cleaned the potties after each "customer." It was amazing, and a first for this seasoned festival goer/exhibiter!

We were on our way to see this familiar man whose work we have watched being created!

You might remember him as our "neighbor"? Indeed it is John, who in reality is our landlord, but is fast becoming a friend. All proceeds go to local children's charities which is really something because we know just how much work he puts into his creations. Not only did he have a fantastic location, but he also had fantastic sales, a winning combination.

Here is something a little crazy that I have only just discovered through research. We came across a quilting booth with very fun skirts.

I realize that her name is mostly illegible in this shot, but I have the luxury of being able to enlarge it so I did a little web surfing and lo and behold, I knew that name seemed familiar. By golly, when I was in the Orlando Modern Quilt Guild she was written about in the blog because she was a member for a short while!  But of course your favorite blogger had to comment on that very post! I am a commenter for sure. Can't keep these fingers off of my keyboard!

Although I did not photograph her a woman who was a knitter, also had woven pieces in her space made by a friend from wool that the she grew! Turns out her daughter is also a knitter, another daughter is a painter, a son is a banjo maker, and they all sing and were to perform later. My goodness!

The lines for food were crazy long so instead Bruce bought us a big bag of kettle corn that we ate sitting at a picnic table by fig trees, adjacent to the flower garden where there were a few blooms remaining.

My favorite view.

Of particular interest to Bruce was the blacksmithing demonstration.

There is a very large blacksmithing shop on campus where they recently filmed some episodes of the show Forged in Fire.  The young man drew a crowd with his excellent teaching skills as he was making a hook.  There were clay demonstrations, wood turning,

as well as carving and working with clay. I believe I heard the director say that they have something like 800 classes. That sounds like too many, but maybe I heard her correctly. There was an artist making a wooden bowl using all hand tools.

Our first visit to the folk school was a rainy day in June when we knew virtually nothing about what happens there. We were even more puzzled when we walked by a cabin-type structure, mostly open and set in the woods, where people were dressed in what to us looked like crazy outfits and were making a fair amount of noise. What the heck? We later learned that Morris dance is taught at the school and while we were at the festival it was our chance to witness it in action. Oh my goodness was it entertaining!

One of the main figures at the pickleball courts here is a man named Harry who teaches beginners and is very well regarded for his teaching skills both on the court and at the folk school, where he is a potter. He is also a Morris dancer, as is his wife. When we stopped at their excellent booth, she is a potter as well, we learned that they would be performing at 2:30 in the festival barn.  As we approached around 2:00 we saw them in the street from a nearby perch.

It is hard to miss people who are dressed in super colorful clothing, wielding sticks and wearing funny hats and face paint! This would be Harry.

Those sticks they not only beat them on the ground but beat each others sticks in coordinated fashion set to music.

All seats in the barn were full when we arrived for the performance. The hanging banners commemorate each year of the festival.

There was a very nifty band, made up of mostly old people, who are apparently staying young while playing music. 

The ladies below are doing another version of Morris dance which I have now learned is a very broad term. 

They were fantastic, wearing clogs like weavers did in England. I had some fun taking photos because, as I said the camera has a very hard time when facing light, so why not get a little creative?

It was something what a work-out it is for both styles of dance, the rag dancers are what are doing what is called Border because it was done on the border between England and Wales. The rags whirl about as they stomp and run with bells on their boots.

The band plays and off they go, prancing and banging sticks on the floor which is quite loud en masse.

Between acts Julie and another dancer came streaking by.

Oh yes indeed I was having fun taking photographs that I hope give you a sense of the movement.

Both of the acts were great and hopefully this won't be the last time we see them perform.

The festival has some regular sidewalks,

as well as a walk in the woods.

It was a glorious day to be out listening to music, seeing dancers, fantastic art and in general, what one thinks of when one thinks of a fall festival in the mountains.

At the same time there was an event coordinated by Laura in downtown Murphy that we had to miss because we were at the festival until about four in the afternoon. "Paint the Town Fall" was the mission and no one did it any better than John and Laura's 15 year old daughter who is one talented young lady. Paint was provided and a section of storefront blocked off for the participants. Although there were plenty of good ones, hers was the best!

I believe it was a timed event, so whether or not she finished I don't know, but how about that for a young woman who only turned 15 last week? She even did it on our favorite wine storefront! 

Hopefully tomorrow, during our last field trip for this stay, we will see even more color. I will keep you posted!

your friend,

Gail