The Class of 2000

~ l to r, JW, Dustin, Daddy, Steve ~

Fourteen years ago, my oldest nephew was graduated from high school. I've been de-cluttering and throwing away a bunch of stuff and found his valedictorian address:

"The class of 2000! Whether we are the last class of the 20th century, or the first class of the 21st century, it doesn't really matter. What really matters is the experiences we've shared -- the prom, skip day, growing up together, making mistakes, fighting, forgiving, and fighting again and in the end, being there for each other. The kind of friendship I believe we have here at the Academy is much like the one portrayed in this story of a WWI soldier.

He asked his officer if he might go out into the "No Man's Land" between the trenches to bring in one of his comrades who lay grievously wounded. "You can go," said the officer, but it's not worth it. Your friend is probably killed and you will throw your own life away." But the man went. Somehow he managed to get to his friend, hoist him onto his shoulder, and bring him back to the trenches. The two of them tumbled in together and lay in the trench bottom. The officer looked very tenderly on the would-be rescuer, and then he said, "I told you it wouldn't be worth it. Your friend is dead and you are mortally wounded."
"It was worth it, though, sir," he said.
"How do you mean, 'worth it'? I tell you your friend is dead."
"Yes, sir," the boy answered, "but it was worth it, because when I got to him he was still alive, and he said to me, 'Jim, I knew you'd come.'"

That's the kind of friends we of the class of 2000 are...in time of real need we are there for each other. I am proud to be a part of Amelia Academy's class of 2000 and of the friendships I've made over the years. After all, friendship is one of the foundations of life. 

We are now going our separate directions -- some to further our education, others to the job market and some are still undecided about immediate plans. But the skills we've developed making friends here are the Academy have laid a good foundation for making friends wherever we go. The ability to make new friends is as important as keeping contact with old friends.

How do you know real friends? They are the ones who, when you make a fool of yourself, don't think you've done a permanent job. It has been said that false friends are like a shadow, keeping close to us while we walk in the sunshine, but leaving us when we cross into the shade. Oscar Wilde, however, said a true friend always stabs you in the front. I guess I have felt a few of those stabs from time to time. chuckle

Before long we will be in "the real world", as our parents and teachers call it. It is a new beginning--an exciting beginning! It is a time of new opportunities and of exciting adventures. This is the time we have looked forward to and we are ready -- I think! While there will be moments of doubt, and the phrase 9 to 5 will take on a new meaning, life is meant to be lived and our lives are out ahead just waiting for us!

As hard as it might seem right now, with time, we may even wish we were back at good old Amelia Academy. And that's one of the special features of our school. We can come back when we want to and when we need to and know that we are always welcome.

I would like to thank all of our teachers and staff at the Academy for helping me when I needed help the most. I would like to thank my parents and grandparents for all of their hard work enabling me to attend the Academy and also for their support and encouragement.

WOW, the class of 2000! In just a few moments we will be alumni. I trust that we will always be friends. Make plans now to attend our first class reunion! But until then, remember that friendship is on of the foundations of life, whether a student, or a part of "the real world!" 

I'm proud of both my nephews; both are gainfully employed and one is expecting his first child. One served in the US Air force, one serves his community and both of them enjoy a well deserved good name. Both of them are the kind of friend mentioned in the text above; both of them are the kind of men that make families proud. 

Blessings ~ two excellent nephews ~ friendships ~ friends ~make new friends but keep the old. one is silver, the other is gold ~

Saturday Night Cook-out

 Burning the brush pile so we can have a cookout.

Erik uses the chain saw to cut up downed tree limbs...

and on the tractor with stacked fire wood in foreground.

 Always enough good food!

 Big B's usual look when someone says something he thinks is stupid -LOL-.

I was going to say I almost didn't recognize Daddy John out of his bibs but then thought again. smile! What I mean is, we hardly ever see him in a pair of jeans; looks good, doncha tink?!

 Little Miss loves to bedevil Erik and Daniel; here, she's stealing Erik's hat. We told her it was a dirty, nasty hat but she wouldn't listen so then we told her to throw it in the fire...but she wouldn't listen.
Just think Daddy John and Ashley...wonder what she's going to be like in another ten years?! 

The children's table.












Last of the campfire.

Little Miss and Daniel watching the last sparkler.

This past weekend was FULL...of delight, fun, food, company, festival, sparklers, beverages and good cheer! Autumn brings a chill and, until it turns cold, we're going to have a cookout each month. Saturday was so much fun; everyone who came had a great time, ate way too much good food and we sat around the campfire until we were stiff with cold. There was a LOT going on this past weekend; more to follow!

Blessings ~ help ~ good equipment ~ campfires ~ friends ~ sparklers ~ good food ~ marshmallows ~

Longest, Saddest Day of the Year

~ early sunrise ~

Mercy! Is it hot where you live? It's h.o.t. here and makes anything take longer, I use more energy, drink more water and even naps aren't all that interesting. Did I mention it's HOT? I'm getting up around 5 or 5:30 so I can feed the kitten, get treats for the dogs, read my Bible, sometimes listen to preaching but, more than likely, go to the pastures so I can chop thistles in the cool of the day. Dave used pesticides but I'm not a big fan. As a matter of fact, they frighten me no matter what I'm told. When Dave would call me a cynic, I'd tell him, "a cynic is a realist with more information." He'd laugh but, I don't know, I'm willing to be wrong but doesn't it seem like there's a huge increase in life threatening illness of all kinds? What's the connection? Is there a connection?


Anyway, I take a hoe and the dogs, go to the pastures and start chopping thistles. My attitude is, it's good exercise, I'm getting rid of thistles and working out anxiety. It's all a good thing.


I'll chop thistles for an hour, perhaps a bit more, before coming to the house to eat breakfast. Then, it's computer time, working on the estate, making telephone calls and doing desk work. Last month, I had a computer outage and can't access my photos so, on the agenda this week is, hopefully, getting the desk computer up and running. 

Some of the dogs and, sometimes, Gypsy sit on the sun room porch and sniff the air. I'd love to know what they smell, at least, I think I'd love to know. Two nights ago, the coyotes were closer than they have ever been; even the neighbors said they were concerned. We're not sure what the coyotes were doing, it sounded dreadful and imagination doesn't bear working.


I hope you're staying cool, not getting overheated; it sure seems like summer is early this year. Summer solstice is today, and it is a day early because of 2012 being Leap Year. The North Pole is tipped more toward the sun than at any other day during the year, it's the exact opposite in the Southern Hemisphere. This means there's more sunlight today than any other day, making it the longest day.


What makes it the saddest day, for me anyway, is this is the longest day with the most sun. That means tomorrow we start losing daylight. Anyone else feel the same way?


Of course, there's plenty of summer left for gardening, putting up hay, gathering in the garden harvest, putting up the garden. 


"Summer afternoon, summer afternoon. To me, those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language," so said Henry James. Although American and born in New York City, James settled in England and became an English subject where, I suppose, those shorter English summers were more greatly favored. Had James spent a summer in the South, he might have revised his opinion. 


There's a proverb that says, "Summer friends will melt away like summer snows, but winter friends are friends forever." Ah, there's more truth in that statement. My mother used to say if a person could count their friends on one hand, they were blessed. She's right. If you've got folks you can call at 3 a.m., folks who'll answer the phone and either listen or come over, you're blessed indeed. How many such people do you have in your life? Not enough, I'm willing to bet; none of us have too many of those kinds of friends.



Blessings ~ summer ~ light ~ my companions ~ friends ~ gardens ~ honest work ~

Sabbath Keeping

 

~ the eastern sky ~

 "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." ~ Matthew 5:16 ~

"For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends."    ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

"A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which said, "I am blind, please help." There were only a few coins in the hat.
A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around and wrote some words. He put the sign back so everyone who walked by would see the new words.
Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy. That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, "Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?"
The man said, "I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way." I wrote, "Today is a beautiful day but I cannot see it."
Both signs told people the boy was blind but the first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people there were so blessed they were not blind. Should we be surprised the second sign was more effective?
Moral of the story:
-Be thankful for what you have.
-Be creative.
-Be innovative.
-Think differently and positively.
-When life gives you 100 reasons to cry, show life that you have 1,000 reasons to smile.
-Face your past without regret.
-Handle your present with confidence.
-Prepare for the future without fear.
-Keep the faith and drop the fear."     ~ author unknown ~

"I believe in God as I believe in my friends, because I feel the breath of His affection, feelHis invisible and intangible hand drawing me, leading me, grasping me." ~ Miguel De Unamuno ~

"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." ~ II Corinthians 13:14 ~

Until next time,


Blessings ~ a good night's sleep ~ a good meal ~ eyes to see the morning ~ the light of Christ ~ you ~ friends ~

Thanks for visiting Thistle Cove Farm,
Sandra

Happy Thanksgiving!

~ Thistle Cove Farm, just before dawn ~

Hopefully, everyone had a delightful Thanksgiving, filled with family, good food and great memories. We spent the afternoon with friends who took pity on us, being orphans this Thanksgiving. For many years, our table has been open to anyone who dropped in; we'd share whatever meal we prepared, lift a glass of whatever to toast. I wasn't able to cook this year but the eye injury didn't seem to inhibit my ability to lift a fork...yet another blessing in my life -smile-. We shared a traditional meal complete with a wonderfully moist turkey and all the fixin's and are grateful to Nelson and Dianna for their kindness toward us.

The eye is healing but quite slowly; it still looks dreadful, all bloodshot, red, watery. I'm spending a lot of time sleeping and wear an eye patch in the cold, windy weather. Melanie asked what is it God is trying to teach me and I wonder. My block head doesn't seem to be able to figure it out...yet. Christmas is headed at us like a freight train and I can't see well enough to finish my sewing or knitting projects. I'm hopeful this won't prevent me from going to Russia, time will tell.

For each of you who read this blog, for those who comment...I am grateful for you. Your visit is a kindness in my life and greatly appreciated. God bless you.

Until next time,

Blessings ~ slow living ~ a good eye ~ great friends ~ HolyDays ~ Dave ~

Ocean for Mountains and Hand Crank Singer

~ Surfside Beach, SC sand dunes ~

~ Beach at Surfside Beach, SC ~

~ Condo away from home, lower right ~

We've been missing from the farm for a few days; we're in Surfside Beach, SC and having a lovely time. It's been splendid to sleep past the sun's awakening, to wander at will, find shells on the beach, eat delicious seafood, find bargains, and, best of all, visit with friend Sandra. Mom always told me if a person died with a handful of True Friends, they would die the most fortunate of folks. I've got just a bit fewer than a handful and all distant but these women make up for any loss I might think I have. Sandra is one of those friends and sometime later this week I'll blog about her amazing life and artwork.

When Dave and I travel, we usually find accommodations via VRBO or Holiday Lettings. We've found some incredible places to stay and have never, Thank God, been ripped off. We stayed at a 14th century apartment in Tarifa, Spain and never met nor spoke with the owner; every bit of our business was accomplished via i-net and Paypal. Our keys were left under the mat although we did have a "go to gal" in Tarifa should any problems arise. This time, we did speak with the owner as she lives in Ohio but we've never met her. We retrieved our keys from a rental agency so it's been just as pleasant but different. A good thing as the a.c. broke the second day and we had to have an emergency fix.


Sandra and I have a number of interests in common and one of the most exciting is frequenting thrift, consignment and antique stores. We both value old things and love to drag home our latest finds to, lovingly, restore to use and loveliness. Thus far this trip my Find has been this old Singer sewing machine. The box has some sadness but is still in, relatively, good shape considering it was made in either the late 1800's or early 1900's. I'm still not sure because I've done only preliminary research but did find a similar machine, circa early 1900's with rather dear price of $1200. OUCH!

~ Hand crank Singer Sewing Machine ~

~ Side view, showing hand crank and original attachment box ~


~ Original box of attachments including extra bobbins ~

~ Oil can held in slot in box top ~

~ Back view ~

This sewing machine is in excellent condition; the box has a bit of damage, probably due to heat as the wood is veneer and has popped loose a bit. Nothing that can't be fixed with a bit of glue. The gold detailing isn't worn at all and the silver plate on the back is practically pristine. I'm over the moon with my Find especially as it cost $30! The gent at the consignment shop was grateful to be rid of it, tried to sell me a few others as well, including a wonderful little Featherweight and metal table but, for me, this hand crank Singer was the one that needed to go home with me. Thank You, God!

Until next time,

Blessings ~ friends ~ sewing machines ~ vacations ~ ocean ~ sea shells ~ slow living ~ seafood ~

Living and Dying

~ Sugar maple leaves, forecasting autumn ~

Earlier this week, I stepped outside one morning to find the above. It's still summer, for a few days anyway, but the maple tree, apparently, doesn't know or either doesn't care, perhaps both. Leaves are beginning to turn, indicating autumn is on its way and in a hurry. I believe we're going to have a short autumn with a harsh winter to follow. I also believe we're going to get more snow and colder temps than we have in years. A lot of people said last winter was cold but that's not how I remember it. I remember a few cold days but not much in the way of extremely low temperatures. This winter, prepare for cold and a lot of precipitation. That's how I'm approaching it anyway and every trip to the grocery store has me buying more dried beans, rice, flour, coffee and other staples. We have to cross two mountains to get to the grocery and while we have four wheel drive in most of our vehicles, I'd rather be prepared than have to make an emergency run. There are folks who have to be on the roads in inclement weather, I see no need to add to the mix if I don't have to.

Today has been a flurry of activity. Ron and Bill are still here, preparing our heating pipes for winter and in doing so, have moved furniture and shown me dust bunnies I've not known about and, therefore, neglected to name. So much of our days are taken up with necessary busy work to keep hearth, home and farm together. I had to go to town today, so many errands on the to-do list and it's never a quick trip even when there are only a couple of places to visit or things to do. I was gone for almost three hours and still didn't get everything accomplished. Dave was having cabin fever so I sent him back to town with the remainder of the list. I've got a basket class tonight, with Mary M., and need to gather my things for that class. I'm also making shortbread as a snack for all of us.

~Mary with one of her alpaca "boys" ~

Peaches is lame, still, and we've decided to dry lot her so we can feed her hoof "meds" in a grain mix. I'm not quite sure why she's lame, there doesn't seem to be a ready reason...no stone bruise or something similar, yet she's tender in both her back feet. One of her front feet has always had a crack and we're trying to strengthen her hooves before attempting more serious measures. Peaches will be placed in a dry lot, along with her daughter, Lightly.

~Peaches, a Sabino American Curly horse, in the foreground ~

Lightly is my "easy keeper" mare and gains weight at the mere mention of the word "food" and is a roly poly kinda gal who needs to be ridden, daily, and that would help with the weight problem. Perhaps I could find someone who is willing to work with all the horses, daily, to keep them friendly and easier to handle. Because they are American Curly horses, or cross breeds, they are all easier than other breeds but still, animals need to be touched daily or they forget their manners.

~Lightly likes attention, second only to food ~

Barbara, at the feed store, is celebrating a birthday today. She's always so cheerful and friendly with a quiet demeanor and soft smile. She always has a pin, it's her 'fashion statement' and I always enjoy seeing what new, to me, pin she's wearing. You know how some women wear hats or scarves? With Barbara it's always a beautiful pin that matches her beautiful smile. I sang her Happy Birthday and she rewarded me with a hug; greatly appreciated as I'm not known for being able to hold a tune. As in my Christianity, I tend to make a joyful noise and hope that covers a multitude of situations. -smile-

~Barbara, the Birthday Gal ~

Mary M., basket maker and alpaca wrangler above, has been involved in hospice this past while. Bob McGraw passed away yesterday and will be sorely missed by a tremendous number of people. His wife, Anita, kept an online journal and it is heart searing and uplifting all at the same time. Please put Anita, family and friends in your prayers for a little while. Bob and I were friendly acquaintances and if we met on our various errands, would always stop and share a few words. He was kind and gracious and, somehow, kin to Dave; both shared the same Grandfather, eight generations ago. He told us once that was why he was involved in War Between the States reenactments; he felt a kinship with his blood and wanted to honor them and a shared way of life. It will be strange not seeing him around town, at reenactments with his hand crafted canon. God Speed, Bob.

Earlier today, I told Mary if I was ever in need of hospice, it was she I'd want by my side, just after family. Mary is gracious, kind, soft spoken and a family nurse practitioner. In fact, she was the first health care professional I saw when first we moved to Tazewell County. In the intervening years, she'd moved on, as had I, and our paths didn't cross again for a long time. She's teaching a basket making class tonight and I am greatly looking forward to this time.

Until next time,

Blessings ~ caring health care and hospice professionals ~ Barbara ~ birthdays ~ Bob and Anita McGraw ~ summer ~ autumn ~ Mary ~

Making Hay While the Sun Shines

We have a window of opportunity for hay making; it's not supposed to rain until Friday so say your prayers and live right! Our alfalfa field is not quite ten acres but it's plenty for my eight horses and thirty-three sheep. Usually we even have enough to sell and John, our neighbor and Dr. Anne's brother, is the farmer driving the tractor and cutting our hay. He's a great young man and his wife, Ashley, works for Dr. Anne as well as tends their home and young son, John, Jr.
No matter how busy I am, there's always time to take pictures of the critters! Sam Spade, or Stubby Sam Spade as some are calling him, is the smallest and youngest...we think...dog and weighs just about ten pounds, perhaps less. He keeps up with the rest of us but gets tired rather quickly and will run to me and look up at me with those beautiful light brown eyes and say, "Please carry me!" Of course I do, how could anyone resist those soft eyes? He's a love bug and we've had a lot of people...after the fact, of course -smile-...say, "Oh, I would have given him a home." Well, too late people; Sam Spade has a home and it's in my heart; he's not going anywhere except with me and he looks plenty happy about it!

A great deal of Sam's time is spent playing with Sadiekins and I don't intervene unless I hear extreme yelps and growls. Usually, Sam Spade is the one egging Sadie on and Sam Spade is the one generally getting into trouble. Perhaps he knows he's the littlest and can get away with more. Sadie is, for the most part, gentle with him but even she has her limitations. Generally, when she's wanting a nap that's when Sam Spade says, "PLAY TIME!" Ole Sadie is patient and long suffering, for the most part.
Three of the four dogs are always with me; Gracie has old bones and she's more comfortable resting in the shade. I'll try and get a photo of her but, in the meantime, here's Abbie, close by as I'm hanging clothes on the line. Yes, as a matter of fact, I DO carry a camera in my pocket. I just never know when something will grab my atention and I'll need to record the moment.

We've been getting up around 5:00 a.m. but not heading down to the barn until around 7. When we first get up, the dogs all go outside, do their bidness and then it's breakfast for the youngins'. After breakfast, I'll either sit on the back porch and let the dogs play while I read or we'll go to the sunroom and they will play while I listen to Alexander Begg and others on the radio.

When we head to the barn, Ole Yeller and her kittens come to meet us. As you can see, no one is afraid of the dogs although I watch everyone carefully. The puppies aren't as aware of their strength and I don't want the kittens injured. Sadie and Ole Yeller say 'Good Morning' and it confuses Sadie when Ole Yeller won't run or hiss. Sadie is becoming used to the idea of a Flying Unicorn at Thistle Cove Farm so, thus far, things are working out quite well between all the animals.
Sam Spade, in classic play mode, wants the kitten to play chase. The kitten wasn't interested in chase; the kitten was interested in hugs and kisses.
Miss Fluff watches over all and is fairely disgusted with the idea of breakfast being late...again.
This is my usual view as we head to the barn...nothing but monkey butts!

Sam Spade knows a good lap when he sees it! He's tuckered out and needing some zzzzzz's so he can get into the game again.

On Monday morning there's a flea market at the livestock market and Abbie and I usually go. We'll head to Hardee's first, share a ham biscuit then head down the road to buy veggies and see what other wonders are available. Today, Dave went with us and we were able to go to Hardees, the flea market and Dr. Anne's office before heading home. I picked up some kitten de-wormer and am thinking Miss Emma will benefit, greatly, from being de-wormed. I know Sam Spade has just about tripled his weight after de-worming and all in two weeks. I also got some kitten formula and will warm that for her; she's been eating tuna in water and drinking half 'n half but the de-worming and kitten formula should work a small miracle in her life.

It's a beautiful day - bright, sunny and hot and I've washed and dried half dozen loads of laundry. There's still a load or two to be done as well as vetting on the kitten and I want to clean up my old Singer treadle sewing machine table. The sewing machine itself is being fixed by my wonderful sewing machine repair man. A friend gave me the machine and it needs some work but Mr. H. said, "Bring it to me, I can fix it." I believe he can, too, as he's fixed two others for me. I wish I were a better seamstress...and indeed, that's giving me a grand title to make you think I'm a seamstress at all!...but, even so, I enjoy sewing. I don't sew great things, I sew with great love, to paraphrase Mother Teresa. Great love and great prayers that whomever receives one of my quilts or other offerings will be blessed by God in ways they won't even realize. Isn't that the case with all of us? We're all blessed by God in ways we don't even realize but, sassy us, sometimes think because we remember to say "thanks" for a blessing or two, we've done something big. It's humbling, isn't it? How blessed we are, all of us.

Blessings ~ great hay making weather ~ sewing machines ~ fresh produce ~ wonderful repair man ~ kittens ~ puppies ~ laps ~ wonderful John ~

Whitetop Mountain Ramp Festival

On the way to Whitetop Mountain two friends taking in the afternoon sun while another friend, below, watches peacefully.
Spring means growing things, things that my grand's ate to stave off winter's chill, to bolster their immune system and also just because they tasted so dang good! Branch lettuce, also called cress, dandelion greens, burdock greens, polk salad to name a few and, one of my favorites - ramps.

Ramps are a member of the onion, leek, garlic family only taste stronger and smell a lot louder. There's no in-between, a body either likes 'em or hates 'em. I loves 'em! Especially when friend with potatoes, onions, garlic and olive oil. HEY! There's got to be some additional healthful benefits, eh? They are best eaten when they have just first pushed their little heads out of the earth, best when spring is still new and the heat of summer isn't threatening.

All over the southern Appalachia's there are Ramp Festivals; one of my favorites is the Whitetop Mountain Ramp Festival on the Rooftop of Virginia. It's only 108 miles away, at the top of Whitetop Mountain the third highest mountain in VA at 5520 feet but it takes me close to two and a half hours to get there. For more than half the distance, the roads are two lane with more twists, turns, curves, S curves, switchbacks and the like to give a snake motion sickness. Sometimes there are guardrails. A large part of the drive travels along the stream that's tumbling down the mountain and, while it's beeeyouutifulll, my mind thinks 'snakes'. No, I can't say I'm afraid of snakes but I do like to give them a wiiiiddddeeee berth, especially the copperheads and the rattlers. I tend to let the garden snakes and black snakes live in peace, as long as they do likewise by me, but I don't hold with poisonous snakes. I figure they crawl on their belly for a reason and who am I to question God?

While I'm on the topic of the Appalachia's there's a question that's been bothering me for years. Probably all my life, really. Where are the Appalachia's? I've always thought they were those mountains that were not the Blue Ridge but in researching, I find I'm, somewhat, right. Apparently, there's a geological distinction. Virginia Places says the Blue Ridge are older, far older, than the Appalachian Plateau. The Blue Ridge core rocks are billion year old igneous rocks and the Plateau is far younger. Well, maybe or maybe not, but I do know God has made the simple things to counfound the wise and the beauty is there for all of us.

Gaynelle and Jeanne were my company yesterday and I only hope they had as good a time as I. Jeanne is a city gal but has lived in a small town for a number of years, she's also a musician as are her menfolk. I knew she'd enjoy the music. Gaynelle is a country gal and mountain people are her people so I knew she'd be okay. And, me? I'm happy with all of it. These are my people, these old worn down smooth mountains are my mountains and I'm never happier than when I'm home in the hills. Give me some knitting or other handwork and I can sit and listen to folks tell tales for hours! To sit and watch mountain people play music and dance...God's in His heaven and all's right with my world. It's a sermon just to be in attendance, a prayer to simply watch and rejoice.

The Whitetop Mountain Ramp Festival is a benefit for the volunteer rescue squad and fire department and the day's activities include eating, mountain music and clogging. They were selling a half chicken -breast, wing, leg- and potatoes fried with ramps, green beans that tasted like they came from some Grandma's pantry, a roll and ice tea for $6. At the day's end they sold the chickens for $2 so folks could take supper home with them.

According to Southern Food, the ramp may also be called a wild leek although I've never heard it called that. It is native to North America and the name is supposed to come from "ramson" or "rams", from an Elizabethan dialect. John Mariani, author of The Encyclopedia of American Food and Drink" says the word was first in English print in 1530 but was used earlier by southern Appalachian folks.

I do know the Elizabethan dialect is still in existence in the southern Appalachia's. Dave and I have been to funerals, back in the hills and hollows, where it took three verses of Amazing Grace being sung before I recognized the song! The group of five men were singing acapella and it was beautiful but I'm far enough removed from the dialect that it took me a while to recognize the tune.

The youngsters started the ramp eating contest; first prize was $35 and a LARGE bottle of Scope mouthwash, second prize was $25 and a LARGE bottle of Scope mouthwash and third prize was $15 and a LARGE bottle of Scope mouthwash. Come to think of it, a large bottle of Scope mouthwash might have been too small! -smile-This AAAdorable lad was shoveling ramps down as fast as he could; ramp in one hand, water bottle in the other. They only had to eat the white part and could lay aside the green top. For this small gift, let us now give thanks.Volunteers make the world go 'round and this darling girl was dishing up ice cream. Yep, it was COLD but it's never too cold for ice cream! At least this year, we didn't have rain or snow.

This dear woman was, easily, the oldest person clogging. While I didn't get her name, someone told me she has more than 90 years under her feet and seemed plenty able to keep up with National Heritage Award recipient Wayne Henderson. He's a well known name in bluegrass music for not only playing but making instruments. He does a lot to promote mountain music, he has a music festival and this year is giving away $15,000 in prize money as well as one of his hand crafted guitars.


Some high stepping going on!
The word clog comes from a Gaelic word meaning time and this type of dancing has been done in the southern Appalachia's since the early 1700's. Or earlier, who really knows?

Here, a fine group of cloggers takes to the stage; please note the men have on their best bibs with pressed white shirt while the women look fine in their dark skirts and white blouses. All footwear have metal tapes to enhance the sound of the dancer's feet as they strike the stage.

There were several bands and a fine group of cloggers but my hearing isn't what it used to be nor did I write down what I thought I heard so you'll have to take my word for it all.

Ages ranged from young to youngish; clogging keeps the body limber, the blood pumping and smiles on everyone's faces! It's a combination of jigs from the Irish and Scots, English clogging, African high steps and a stomp attributed to native Americans. It's fun, lively, energetic and keeps the weight off and is a bit more structured than flatfooting. Whatever you call it, it's still mountain dancing but for more information, go to Bill Richardson and read his great article about clogging, flatfooting, 2-step and other mountain dances.

The cloggers line up to take a bow and then, still dancing, they exit the stage. The little gal on the far left is also an accomplished singer and guitar picker; I've heard she plays fiddle as well.
As we left Whitetop Mountain, I took this photo and it shows a portion of the Appalachian Plateau. Between the green and the clouds the Plateau stretches as far as the eye can see, as much as the heart can hold.

Blessings ~ mountain people ~ mountain music ~ mountain food ~ the Appalachia's ~ the Blue Ridge ~ cloggers ~ volunteers ~ ramps! ~