I can't believe I ate the whole thing!

What a spread...and we ate it all. Okay, so it took us 3 days to eat all of the leftovers, or at least most of them; but we did it. I am heading home tomorrow with a full stomach and a lot of laughs. And unfortunately, a nagging cough as well.

As you can see, we ate pretty well...and you can not even see the dessert table!

From our family to yours....

Happy Thanksgiving, from the Cochran-King-Bryson family!

Thanksgiving Day, 2008
Pigeon Forge, TN

Have a safe holiday

Just a quick note to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday....or at least to those folks from the USA, who are celebrating our Thanksgiving this week. I hope you all enjoy some turkey and dressing! I will be traveling to my aunt's house this year for a big family get together....so if you don't hear from me for a few days, that is what is going on.

Gobble, Gobble!

On the way to my aunt's I got a nice surprise....snow! The top of the mountain was snowed over with a few inches. Nothing major, but a nice gift for the holiday.

Morning Bath

This little fellow was seen bathing in my yard this morning, so I went out and snapped his photo (does that make me a voyeur?).

The white-throated sparrow is a winter visitor to this part of the country. They spend their summers up in Canada and come down here to the southern US in the winters....just like so many other "Snowbirds", except that feathered ones actually fly down. Most of our other "Snowbirds" are found in their RV's.

Raccoon in the Closet

I woke up about 1/2 hour ago to a sudden clatter from a linen closet in my back hall. I wondered what it could possibly be, when I heard something inside the closet scratching. I knew my cat was sleeping in the bed with me at the time, so got a bit concerned. I got a flashlight and peeped into the closet to find a raccoon looking back at me! I shut the closet door to keep it from coming in the house and beat heavily upon the door to hopefully scare it back the way it came.

In the rear of the closet is a panel that gives access to the water pipes behind the shower. The small raccoon must have climbed up one of the pipes, and found a way beneath my bathtub, and pushed the panel out of the way and entered the closet. The critter took off, and I quickly reinforced the panel with a milkcrate filled with some weights that will hold the panel tightly in place when the door is shut. Tomorrow, I will cut a piece of 2x4 and nail it in place.

Ahhhh The joys of living in an older home!

It is raining pecans!

The pecan trees in my yard are beginning to drop their load of nuts in the wind today. I picked up about three-quarters of a five gallon bucket full this afternoon; although there are plenty more on the trees....and I only picked up the ones in the front yard. I have about 12 pecan trees surrounding my house, which is a blessing and curse. They are old trees, with huge branches that go out over the house. I am just waiting for one to come crashing through the roof, as it almost did a few years ago. I would cut them down, but I love the pecans and the shade that they provide around the house during the hot summers....so I risk it. I did learn one interesting thing about picking up pecans today.....cats are just no help at all.

Pottery Class at JCCFS

Above is a video of some more photos that I took while at the Folkschool last week (slower connections will take a moment to load the video). More photos can be seen by looking at the previous four or five blog entries.

Some older videos from my previous trips to the Folkschool can be found at the following two links:

Woodturning video with wildflowers (and same annoying music)

and here is another, when I took the Dulcimer class, with better music!

The Potter's Hands

Here are some shots of our hands at work from the pottery class:

Last day at the Folkschool

As that this is my last day at the Folkschool before returning home, I would toss out something from our first day...just to be odd. So here is a shot that I snapped of a group of students in my clay class wedging the clay. You have really work it in a different manner than kneading dough for breadmaking, if you are to get all of the air bubbles out.

I am heading home late today, and will post a photo of some of my little bowls and mugs in the next few days.

a mug in the making

This mug is still missing the handle, but not for too long. I am tired, but had a great time this week at the Folkschool. Too much of a good thing, I suppose. I know that my kitty will be happy to see me return home!

Fall Colors on a Summery Day

The weather has been exceptionally nice the past few days.....sunny and warm, with only a little chill in the mornings. The fall colors on the leaves have gone past on some of the trees, but a few of the oaks, maples, and hickories still remain bright and lively.

Foggy Morning in North Carolina

Another shot taken at the Folkschool. This is the view to the east on a foggy morning from Davidson Hall. Not that much to see; but sometimes, less is more.

Artwork on a Barn

Here is a bit of artwork that is on one of the studio workshop barns at the Folkschool. I thought it was beautiful.

Olympus Stylus 1010

f 4.3 1/250 sec

A morning at the Folkschool

I am once again up at my favorite "summer camp for adults", the John C. Campbell Folkschool for the week. This time, I am taking a pottery class. I really do not have much experience throwing pots on the wheel, but I am going to give it a try. Today was the first day, and we made some small cylinders before lunch, and then a few bowls afterward. Some of mine look ok....others, not so much. But I have no worries about it.

Here is a photo that I snapped before breakfast this morning out by the folkschool gardens.

Olympus Stylus 1010 f 3.5 1/200 sec