Smoky Mountain Art Retreat

The Art Gang

Fun in the Kitchen

Relaxing on the Porch

Fran and Pat Creating

Cathy Painting

Art

Our five days in the moutains were full of fun, family, art and adventure.  Andrew Goldsworthy was our feature artist – I’d heard of him, and seen a couple of his rock installations, but I gained I new appreciation.  He doesn’t have a website – check Wiki for info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Goldsworthy

As always it was a delight to be in the mountains, particularly as we had excellent weather.  The season was just tipping to fall, and a couple of nights were rather cool. Apples were just right for frying. We had a family lunch on Tuesday and our cousins and aunts brought delicious food of all descriptions.

We visited with Arnold of Smoky B’s honey and learned about capturing swarms and making the most of the brief sourwood season. We toured Bryson City and Franklin, and make a stop at the Mason Mine gem store on route 28. 

And everyday we worked at water colors, conte crayon drawings, fabric art and environmental sculpture.  It was a grand time, a satisfying interlude, a rejuvenation of the resiliant resources of art. Thanks to my sister for making it happen!

Mountain Visit

David and the New Roses

Mountain Laurel

Out for a Family Swim

Boiled Peanuts!!

BarBQue Wagon

Silver

When my brother said he’d swing by the Mountain House on his way back to Northern Virginia from the panhandle of Florida, I jumped at the chance to meet him in the Smokies!  We had a very quick visit, but as always it was good to be there.  I was pleased that a couple of our cousins were around, so we had a chance to visit with them.  We did a tour of Bryson City and Cherokee, and made the mandatory purchase of boiled peanuts.  Also enjoyed some of the BarBQue Wagon specialty, and even had a chance to see the Lone Ranger and Silver!  They’re part of the entertainment on the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad.

The weather was warm during the day, and cool at night – the best of the moutains!  Everything was verdantly lush – rain has been plentiful this year.  Hope it continues thru the summer sufficient to banish the many spring failings and well challenges experienced last year.

Mountain Honey

Smoky “B’s” Mountain Honey

Smoky’s Tobacco

Smoky and Laurel

Queen Bee

When my honey supply gets low, I know its time to go back to the Mountains of North Carolina, more specifically the environs of Bryson City. Along Brush Creek I make a stop at Smoky “B’s” Mountain Honey establishment, run by Arnold and Laurel Burnette, and stock up! This summer he has a limited supply of blackberry honey, the first he’s had. Delicious! Makes up for the paucity this year of sourwood. My favorite, tho, is wildfower. Yum, yum, yum. It was a tossup whether Grandson Eli was more fascinated by his display hive, or Arnold’s guitar pickin’.