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. 

Josephine's Children making crafts...

Josephine has shared some photos of the children making and using the craft items that you all so graciously donated and sent to them. We have had a difficult time getting these photos because Josephine's computer has not been working correctly.  I am so happy to finally be able to share photos of the children as they work on their crafts...

  earrings made with fabric yo-yo's

 a little vest made with yarns..

 this has been such an incredible project

for these children..

 so many wonderful crafting items

for them to use and enjoy..

 a beautiful necklace and earrings

 I'm loving this fashionable clutch bag --

so creative!

 the children are elated to be able to enjoy all the 

wonderful items that were donated

by so many of you..

working with the yarns..

 how fun it this!!

so many lovely yarns and threads..

 craft papers..

if Josephine is able to share more photos,

I will post them..

 sharing a few more photos

of the children enjoying their new

back packs..

 As the holidays approach and this season of giving begins,.... 

I just want to thank you all again for your incredible generosity and caring towards these beautiful children.  Their lives have been enriched and touched by your love and thoughtful donations.

On their behalf I want to say how very much that your gifts have been appreciated.  You guys totally rocked this project to  unprecedented expectations ---

 thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Love,love,

Vicki

 

Last colors of Autumn-- a hike in the woods

Winter is soon to be upon us -- although these last few days  have been unseasonably warm --- the cold is coming and Autumn will be just a memory. A few weeks ago we took off on a little last minute hiking trip to McCloud's Mountain in Duff, TN. On top of the mountain, 2700 ft in the clouds,... our walks in the woods were filled with color and brisk fresh air.  There are no words to describe the beauty that we found on top of that mountain. Come along with us on an incredible walk in the woods... 

 starting out early in the morning,

the air was brisk and clear..

there were no marked trails,

so we followed the paths

that led along the

ridge...

we followed the ridge

for hours,

the views of the valley below

were incredible...

the drive up the mountain 

is quite an experience!!

A little nerve wracking to say

the least!

~

this beautiful fence is

located at one of the overlooks

as you drive up the

mountain..

we spent two nights 

at the lodge on top of the mountain...

this is a sunset view

from the balcony...

  view of the valley below

as the late evening sun began

to set..

the day we arrived to the mountain

was rainy and overcast,

the clouds hung low...

~

this photo was taken from 

the restaurant near the lodge..

  I was a little disappointed 

that it was rainy the evening we arrived,

but when I say the low hanging clouds,

I could not stop taking photos!!

this photo was taken

from inside the lodge restaurant...

I snapped the picture just at that moment

when the sun peeked out

between the clouds and cast

an incredible glow over everything...

beginning our second day

of early morning

hiking...

 we took off

 on some of the old logging roads

that criss crossed the top of

the mountain...

we tried to drive down one of the roads,

in search of a rumored trail that led to 

an old stone chimney..

but the road got pretty rough,

so we parked and took off

from there...

we never found the stone chimney,

but we had a wonderful

hike through the woods...

(we will find it next time!!)

the sunlight made the colors

so bright..

it almost did not look 

real...

early morning sunrise

from our balcony at the lodge...

~

I posted this photo on my Instagram

page and it was featured by the

Official Tennessee Instagram page

on their site...

it had almost 5000 hits!

~

If you have an Instagram account,

I would love for you to follow me

there...

sunrise glow across the valley...

 a wonderful place to sip

an early morning coffee...

an amazing sky walk is located at the

top of the mountain...

over 32 stone chimney outcroppings

are located here on this property--

a beautiful sky walk traverses the 

stone chimneys and allows for

incredible views of the valley and mountains 

in the distance..

and then we heard this rumor

about a natural stone arch

that was located someplace on the mountain...

no maps, no trails,

just some scattered info that we

learned from a few folks that we talked to....

we didn't hold out much hope..

but.... we found it!!

down some rickety rusty old steps

and into a crevice between the mountains...

a beautiful natural arch...

a perfect way to end our

last day on the 

mountain!

 I wanted to share this photo

of this quaint little church

at the foot of the mountain...

one tiny little room..

there were 3 outhouse in the

backyard of the church!

Like a step back in time...

Notes from me...

Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving to you all.  I had to work on the holiday, those babies still have to have someone to take care of them, and this year it was my turn.  Our family and friends have given us tons of left overs and we will be eating turkey for days to come!  I am thankful for my family and friends,and for numerous blessings in my life.  My blogging friends are one of those wonderful blessings...thank you for being here for me and for allowing me to share with you as I do here on my blog.

For those of you who have followed along on the "Josephine's Children project".... Josephine has shared photos of the children using their craft items and making wonderful creations with the treasures that you donated for them.  I will be sharing those photos with  you in my next blog post.  

We are beginning to decorate for Christmas around here... 

xoxo,

Vicki