Wednesday, December 23, 2015

An Appalachian Christmas...

Appalachia is not just a place ... it is a heritage. A heritage that defines a people and their way of life.  Living in Appalachia is to live among places of incredible beauty, vast open spaces surrounded by mountains and hills, valleys that ring with the history of those who first came to this country and settled here to make their homes and raise their families.  We recently visited the amazing and beautiful Museum of Appalachia during their special holiday season.  The pioneer settlement there was all decked out and decorated just as our great great grandparents would have done all those many years ago.  My holiday gift to you is to share some of these holiday photos of our wonderful day at this incredible place...

 the pioneer settlement 
at the museum consists of more than
30 cabins...
each of them were a picture postcard
of holidays
 in years gone by...

follow us along as we tour the cabins
and wonder at the simple but beautiful
holiday decorations...









loved the display of 
vintage toys..
 






loved this wreath
hung on the outside of one of the cabins...





this photo would
make a beautiful Christmas card...


simple, beautiful, elegant... 


 loved the nature
holiday decorations of this
mailbox



you just know 
that my heart beat faster
when I saw this little bird nest 
in the holiday
display... 




 such a beautiful mantle display...


the settlement at the museum
includes a historic 
old church..



there is also an old 
schoolhouse...

how beautiful is this
tree decorated
with children's handmade
ornaments...



the schoolhouse diaplay
was one ofour
 favorites..



in addition to the pioneer settlement,
the Museum of Appalachia
also has 2 amazing
 exhibition display rooms.
~
this pretty kitty
 followed me around inside the
display areas--
he was my little tour guide!

My Christmas wish for you is to enjoy peace and love this holiday season... may you feel the joy in your home that you have shared with me throughout this past year.  This is a joyous season to take a step back from our busy lives and enjoy time with our loved ones. Best wishes to you and yours...
Love,love
Vicki

ps -- I'm taking a little break from my blog as I work frantically to complete the last little details on the newest nest design.  Those of you on the waiting list for the "Snowbird " nest will be hearing from me soon.  30 little winter nests are almost ready to fly out the door soon!  I'll be back to share photos when they are completed.
xoxo
V. 

25 comments:

kathyinozarks said...

Merry Christmas Vicki-I loved this so much thank you for sharing with us

Seawashed said...

What a wonderful Old fashioned Christmas this post is. Thank you for sharing it with us. It reminds me of Little House On The Prairie which is always in my thoughts during this time of year. The simple gathering of family- giving, caring, loving and enjoying one another is what makes Christmas meaningful.

A Merry Christmas to you.

Farmhouse prims said...

Everything is so gorgeous. Thanks for sharing, Wishing you a Merry Christmas! Lecia

Julie said...

Blessings to you and your family this Christmastime.
What an adorable tour guide!
Such a fabulous place to visit, i've really enjoyed walking in your footsteps and seeing the sights you saw.

Julia said...

Thanks for sharing an Appalachian Christmas with us Vicki. We used to decorate with some similar decorations many years ago.
Wishing you God's choicest blessings for Christmas and the New Year.
Hugs,
JB

Julie Marie said...

Dear Vicki... your photos are just breathtaking!... I have always wanted to visit there, and now, thanks to your post, I feel as if I have... love every single photo... especially the one with the little nest in it!... all of this touches my heart so... thank you for sharing your photos, your love, and your beautiful spirit with me for all these years... wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas, filled with family,friends,peace,love and abundant blessings, xoxo... Julie Marie

Dirty Martini Queen said...

Vicki,
I can't decide which is my favorite cabin because they all look picture perfect to me. Thanks for taking us along with you. Your guide kitty looks like he'd be a purrrrfect tour guide.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Gracie Saylor said...

Thanks for the photos in your last two posts, Vicki. I am just catching up. I'm glad the craft materials are bring joy to the children; and the less is more beauty of the cabins is a lovely gift to behold. Thanks for sharing. In my last post I described some of what our family did when our power was off for nearly eight hours on Monday. My iPhone still worked but the pause in power in our home helped me appreciate more the many comforts we have. Seeing the simply beautiful cabins elicits a similar response in me. I hope you have a good pause in your blogging, wonderful times with family and friends, and fun nesting :) Love, Gracie xx

suziqu's thread works said...

What an amazing place to visit Vicki! Life would have marched to a much slower pace in those days. Everything looks simple and made with beauty and strength to last.
Enjoy this precious time of year with your family and I look forward so much to your new nest "snowbird" to be revealed in the near future. I can only imagine all the white beauty we shall see!
Love and hugs sweet friend,
Suzy

Elderberry-Rob said...

What a beautiful place with the most simple but warming scenes, Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Blessings in 2016. Betty

Quinn said...

Any museum with feline tour guides is my kind of place, plus I have always loved being surrounded by wood, so all the buildings look very homey to me. Although they also look spotless, which is more than I can say for my own little shack in the woods! Merry Christmas to you and yours, Vicki :)

Magpie's Mumblings said...

You said that one of your photos would be nice as a Christmas card and I have to respectfully disagree. ALL of your photos would make beautiful Christmas cards!! Happy wishes for a lovely peaceful and caring Christmas to you Vicki - and to those you love.

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

The schoolhouse is certainly the most colorful. Looks like a lovely place to visit. Thanks for sharing! Christmas blessings to you and yours. Tammy

Mereknits said...

Merry Christmas Vicki!
Hugs,
Meredith

Joyful said...

Though I've never been there, Appalachia has a special place in my mind. I grew up listening to the likes of Loretta Lynn and so heard about this are long ago. Your photos are a wonderful tribute. Just stopping by to wish you a very Merry Christmas Vicky. Enjoy your holiday. xx

gigi knits said...

Merry Christmas to you & your family.
There is nothing like spending Christmas with your family & loved ones.
xoxo

Little Wandering Wren said...

Wonderful photos and of course my favourite is the bird nest!
Have a wonderful Christmas, see you when you get back from your blogging break, although sounds as if you'll be flat out busy as usual!
Wren x

Sue Kosec said...

Indeed, just a beautiful place to visit. Thank you (once again!) for such beautiful photographs. Almost like being there.

Christmas is past for this year so I hope yours was the best ever. Now on to a joyful new year full of blessings and good health.

Hugs
SuZeQ

Bohemian said...

There is something quite Timeless and Inviting in such Simple and Natural Surroundings... Beautiful in it's Simplicity and Function because so few distractions exist to compete with Relationships... Blessings from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian

Angela - Garden Tea Cakes and Me said...

What fabulous photos. Looks like a wonderful museum, they have really captured the heritage and atmosphere of the period. I love seeing anything Pioneer related, not something I get the chance to see here in the UK.

Angela
Garden Tea Cakes and Me

yaya said...

I think all of those photos would make wonderful Christmas cards! What a lovely and humble way to remember this beautiful season. It's good to see that it doesn't take a laser display of lights and tons of glitter to bring the message of Christmas. I hope you had a great holiday and Happy New Year!

Marlynne said...

OH Thank You So Much for the pictures of beautiful simplistic Christmas decorations! Made My Heart Sing!

Thistle Cove Farm said...

VGicki, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and the Gardner. May you celebrate both in good health and happiness.
Yes, I am proud to be an Appalachian American of, possibly, the 8th or 9th generation.

Eugenia Maru http://lulurulitos.blogspot.com said...

Hermoso lugar. Se ve muy acogedor.
Las guirnaldas me recordaron mi infancia, cuando las hacíamos con papel de volantín.
Un abrazo
Maru

Tanya said...

TRULY the BEST Christmas displays I saw this year...I love everything about this. Thank you for always taking your camera along. XOXO