Monday, October 5, 2009

Mountain Folk Festival

My husband and I went to the John C. Campbell Folk School's Fall Festival, this past weekend, in North Carolina. Artist from around the southeast came to show their wares, and there were some beautiful and imaginative pieces of art on display. With just a $5.00 entry fee it was a real bargain! The artists were spread out around the campus in such a way that you could easily meander around and see all there was to see in as short or long a time as you desired. I purchased a piece of pottery from a potter named L. F. Long and I am so excited to own a piece by such a fabulous pottery artist.

The food was delicious as well. They were roasting a pig on a spit and were serving BBQ pork and chicken with slaw, beans, and cornbread. Yum!! They had the usual festival foods too such as funnel cakes, hot dogs, kettel corn, corn on the cob, and many other favorites. There were plenty of rest room facilities and hand washing stations. All in all it was a well set up festival and we hope to go again next year.

That night we stayed in Murphy, NC and had dinner at Murphy's Chophouse. We sat out on the patio area in a corner. It was around sunset and there was live music in the way of a single guitar player who sang wonderful soft music for our enjoyment. I had the Pecan encrusted Trout with mashed sweet potatoes and fresh green beans. They served a bread with an olive oil and herb spread that was out of this world good. For dessert Mike and I shared a Blondie with whipped cream and butter pecan ice cream. We were in food heaven!!

The next morning we were back to our usual fare of McDonald's for breakfast. Then we set off for the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest near Robbinsville, NC. The ride there, itself, was gorgeous! The trees have not yet changed over to fall colors yet but there was a hint of the change beginning. If you have never visited a primitive forest put this place on your list of must see places. The Joyce Kilmer Memorial is an over 3000 acre primordial forest of hardwoods. Untouched land purchased by the government and made into a Memorial in perpetuity so that generations may come and see the land as God had created it. It has never been clear cut as most of the Appalachian Mountains have been. The ride to the forest is beautiful on it's own as well but, when you drive into the Memorial Park area it is almost like entering a different world. It seems magical and mystical. A refreshment for the soul. It was the highlight of a very special weekend for me!