Snow and Valentines Day

Happy Snowy Valentines Day....

Mr Highlander and I although born in the south, both grew up in Chicago.  Like it or not, we grew to expect snow possibly from October through April.  The first year we owned our own home and Mr. Highlander was responsible for snow removal, it snowed 97 inches, and the first snow didn't melt.  We owned a 280Z and had a really, really long drive way.  The first snow he did the entire driveway, and the same with the next two. As time went on, the driveway got shorter and more narrow with each snow until the driveway became a snow igloo for the Z...and I didn't blame him.

We moved to the North Georgia Mountains in 1995, and the winters were wonderful, and over the past 15 years even though we moved on to far western North Carolina, the winters were still mostly mild with the occasional cold snap. I have always been able to talk to old friends in Illinois about how I don't miss any of that snow because when I want it all I have to do is go further into the mountains.  This year is another story.

This is the first year Mr. Highlander has had to do any real snow removal for over 15 years, nothing like Illinois, but no fun none the less. He has learned that there is a difference in shoveling snow on horizontal planes as opposed to a 45% angle.

Today is not only Valentines Day, it is my 35th Wedding Anniversary, the day we got married, it snowed knee deep, so with 3-4 inches on the ground, we are still not doing too bad, and our granddaughter loves to play in the snow.

Still can't wait for Spring, so I put out my sunshine in the flower barrel and focus on that....

Back to work, designing a new Highlander, plan on launching this Spring, so Spring can't come too quickly.

Christmas is in the Air in the Mountains

It is hard to believe this year is almost over. I for one would like to finish this year off with as much fun, happiness and good cheer as I can find.

Today we went to an open house at Doyle's Cedar Hill in Murphy, great food, great people, way to do it Jeremiah.

We would like to recommend three very special holiday events coming up this weekend.  All will put a smile on your face, and a glow in your heart.

Not to mention the Fireside sale can put really great presents under your Christmas tree.

Come Enjoy...Mrs. Highlander

 Santa on the Chimney  • December 5th & 12th • 11 am to 2 pm

Where does Santa go to practice for his journey on Christmas Eve...Santa practices on a 315-ft. Chimney Rock before climbing down millions of much shorter chimneys all around the world. We experienced it for ourselves, read the Highlander's take on this event, it is guaranteed to make you laugh.

Fort Loudoun 18th Century Christmas at the Fort  • December 5th 9:45 am to 6:00 pm

Travel back in time for an Authentic 18th Century Christmas. The daily schedule includes a Christmas church service, wassail tasting and a special candlelight tour of the fort. On this special occasion, the soldiers will perform a rare night time firing of the fort’s cannon. Another Highlander Tale...a must read.

John C. Campbell Folk School Fireside Sale • December 6th • 10 am - 5 pm

Enjoy the ambiance of live music and a crackling fire as you shop for artful treasures. Craftspeople will offer handmade items such as jewelry, weaving, forged iron, photography, quilts and turned wood. You're sure to find special, one-of-a-kind holiday gifts here!

We are in production of our 2009 Christmas Tale, in the meanwhile take a little time to wander through the Highlander's Collection of Christmas Tales, from A Merry...Humble Mountain Christmas to Christmas at the Biltmore, Gingerbread Houses at the Grove Park Inn and others...

Looking for other Events....Check out our Event Calendar for other Holiday Events throughout the mountains.

Spend the Holidays in the Mountains....you know you want to!

Thankful for our Forests

“In the year of 2008 CE, the United States experienced 8,856 wildfires burning 1,862,477-acres that were caused by an Act of Nature or natural order attributed to lightning strikes. Also in 2008 there were 70,093 wildfires caused by human activities burning 3,429,991-acres throughout the intercontinental US.  An amazing fact to consider is that 58% of human caused wildfires and 58% of acres burned from human caused fires were located in the South and Southeastern United States.”

Growing up I remember three great symbols that represented the spirit of the United States of America. The majestic bald eagle descending from the heavens with wings pulled back, head looking downward and talons spread wide open. Then there was that intimidating portrait of Uncle Sam in his big top hat and clothing styled after the colors of our nation’s flag, along with that commanding finger of his pointing directly at me I thought declaring “Uncle Sam Wants You.” “Wants Me,” I was just a little guy at the time, being a semi-dedicated Boy Scout was more than I could handle, my scoutmaster and Uncle Sam were both stern and demanding leaders and acted as though they both had the same mother, a woman I didn’t necessarily want to meet. Then there was that loveable Smokey Bear with his kind eyes, adorable smile and gentle demeanor. His low fatherly voice bellowed from the TV screen in those early days of television declaring that, “Only You (I) can prevent forest fires.” This was quite another tall order for a little guy who grew up in “the” major mid-western city. I took my orders from Smokey very seriously considering there were only three sizable trees on the property of the apartment building where my family lived...read on...

Great Smoky Mountains 75th Anniversary

History is fascinating, and each time we research a new story we learn so much about these mountains and appreciate them even more.

Saturday June 13th launches the celebrations for the Great Smoky Mountains 75th Anniversary with an Outdoor Concert in Cades Cove by the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra.

As the Great Smoky Mountains National Park celebrates its 75th Anniversary, the anniversary of one of America's most beautiful and majestic national treasures, we should all be aware that this particular national treasure came at a high cost, a renowned national park that almost never came into being. The cost was not only in financial value, but also the cost of persistent determination.

Read the Highlander's latest feature story "Jewel of the East." Learn how this great national park wasn't a favorite choice for the first national park in the Eastern United States. The people of these great mountains knew it was the right choice for many reasons, conservation being one of them...read on....

We were up all night working on our latest editorial on the Great Smoky Mountains 75th Anniversary, check it out and let me know if you think it was worth losing sleep over...