( Four bags waiting to be given to 4 great friends)
I am so far behind on my blogging. That's what happens when you spend 15 fabulous, wonderful, beautiful days in the Appalachian Mountains. More on that in the days to follow.
It was also a chance for me to meet 4 of my fellow bloggers face to face for the very first time!
Tipper of Blind pig and the acorn and I became friends about 4 years ago after I found her blog when returning home from John C. Campbell Folk School. I was searching for more information on that area. She writes about the history and customs of the people of Appalachia. Tipper's entire family is very talented and musical.
Our face to face meeting was during the Contra Dance held on Tuesday nights at the folk school.
Chitter and Chatter came along too. After all, the girls were doing the dancing.
Tipper was the recipient of the bag #1. The family later invited to us to their lovely mountain home on Saturday night for dinner. The food was delicious. The Deer Hunter grilled venison tenderloin. Tipper added a variety of dishes, along with warm homemade bread and warm apple pie!
On Saturday morning I drove to Bless my stitches quilt shop in Murphy NC. There I would get to meet Dana of Old Red Barn company, in person. She was having her first book signing. Her quilt, Bubbles, is featured in the book titled Modern Baby. I was afraid walking into the store she would recognize me. Especially since I wore a University of Missouri shirt, her Alma mater. I completely surprised her, when she asked how I wanted my book signed and I replied, Osage Bluff Quilter. She screamed in delight!
Dana received bag #2.
Then there was Jackie! Jackie who scared the #@?!#!! daylights out of me. She took took me up a mountain in her two wheel drive truck! It was a white knuckle ride! But in the end, her friend Pete came to the rescue and drove her truck up the mountain road. (That is after I bailed out on her)
This is Pete's little cabin in the mountains.
Here is the view from his deck overlooking Brasstown, North Carolina!
Pete was so gracious in showing us his property, including his adorable little cabin and the dance hall in progress. Be sure and check Jackie's blog out, Carolina Crafting. Click on her videos as she interviews some of the craftsmen in her area.
On my last day in North Carolina, I went by to tell Jackie good bye at her craft booth. She received bag #3.
The last of the four friends that I got to meet and the recipient of bag #4 was Lise (pronounced "lease"). She drove an hour to meet the blacksmith and me. Her blog is Lise's Log Cabin Life. She talks about the first year of living in her little cabin in the mountains. She and Johny love the outdoor life. They are gardeners too. She has a camera and carries it almost everywhere she goes. Her photography is beautiful!
She had been wanting to visit the campus of John C. Campbell Folk School. We visited every studio and saw their works in progress. I was her personal tour guide.
She was able to join us in the dining hall for lunch. I was so glad, because I didn't know what the main dish was, but she did. A pasta dish with asparagus, swiss chard, and a creamy white sauce. So yummy!
The afternoon flew by as we talked non-stop. Soon it was time for dinner. Lise inquired in the office if she could stay for dinner but it was too late to make reservations. When the blacksmith was finished with his class he asked her to join us for dinner and to help us celebrate our 43rd wedding anniversary. He was really needing a "meat fix", so he chose Rib Country, featuring some of the BBQ North Carolina is famous for.
What a great time it was to finally meet Tipper, Dana, Jackie, and Lise in person. We all met through our blogs years ago. Please take a little time to get to know these girls. They will tell you all about the people of the Appalachian mountains and their life styles.
THANK YOU girls! You made my visit to North Carolina complete!
