Down a Winding Mountain Road…

What’s a few more miles under my feet??

I’ve been itching to jaunt around with my friend Martha and when she suggested a country drive over to Mountain City, Tennessee for a round of antiquing fun and lunch out – a great way to explore roads I’d not been on, see the fars and the wildflowers, rivers, creeks, and abundant green – how could I say no?

She showed up bright and early yesterday at Quiltville Inn, helped me unload Charlotte's treadle machine into the Post Office, and down the road we went – oh what an adventure ahead! Across the Virginia state line back into North Carolina and not a far piece off – Tennessee.

Oh, old homestead – what is your story?

Can you see the green appearing?  It’s so bright and fresh – things are a few weeks behind up in this elevation what they are at home in Wallburg, NC.  It’s like revisiting spring’s awakening all over again.

Gorgeous old stone church with dogwoods in bloom.

My two choices for this day were – Stay at home and catch up on deskwork, or wander – is it any wonder that wandering won out?

I just love this little church!

Perhaps this was – we are guessing – a boarding house at one time?

My favorite stop of the day – Highway 88 grocery!

There are little places like this tucked around bends, at crossroads, and at places you don’t expect to find them.  Can you see the couple of old gents in the door way – one sitting, one standing?

It’s what we do in these parts. 

Martha told the story of stopping here every chance she gets just to do her part to keep this place open.  A Dr Pepper, a Little Debbie’s oatmeal cream cookie.  A “How’re Youn’s Doin?” from the old guy behind the counter letting us know that we are in Tennessee country – a bit different from the “Y’alls” found further south east.

I grabbed my bottled iced tea, followed her purchase with my own and we were back on our way. “Have a great day!” we waved as off we drove.

If you see little independent places like this – STOP! It’s worth it.

Oh – you can also get bait, tackle, and ammo here should you need it.

Antique Mall Ahead!

Oooh….SO MUCH HAND QUILTING!

This maker understands my need to piece.

Beautiful!

Oh, lovely!

Look what she did with a very meager scrap bag, alternating pink backgrounds with muslin ones.

Tiny quilting stitches with black thread through warm, thick batting.

Winters can be cold and snowy in these parts.

Do you see the dancing girl?

This was stamped on the back of the quilt – part of the home-dyed backing fabric – was it part of a feed sack?  We couldn’t find a label anywhere- just this one lone fancy girl.  I love how delicate this dancer is, all in lace and ruffles – at a time when times were so hard and quilts were made by every scrap you could possibly glean, hoping it would come together in something pleasing to the eye.

Look at those stitches – so even and straight.  I would love to meet this quilter!

And then for those seams that refuse to lay flat – LOL.

Oh honey – you poor thing!

The take up lever was broken off – this one will need serious love and care -

It stayed behind.

Pink dogwoods from underneath -

Pink dogwoods from above -

Isn’t it obvious why these are my favorites?

Fun humming bird or periwinkle star – it goes by both names.

Both Martha and I loved this setting and the hand quilting!

Methodist church

(also seen at the top of the photo)

The little country churches just touch me – this is where the heart of the people have come for more than a century.

Old abandoned place up the road from the church.

We spotted it from the church parking lot.

How imposing are these chimneys!

Oh, I wish I knew the story.

While this place was once abundantly grand -

Many made a wonderful life in places like this.

And I smiled at nature’s carpet of abundant green sprinkled with yellow wildflowers and wondered who cooked inside this cabin, smoke curling gently, escaping upwards through this chimney built by hand.

I love this corner where Tennessee and North Carolina join together at the Virginia border.  This is Appalachia.  This is magic.

Some sewing happened last night.

I am in love with these blocks and hope to do more today.

Maggie Malone's 5500 Quilt Block Designs book shows a similar design as Jack's Delight. This is slightly different than the traditional Anvil block and I am in search of other sources!  Whatever it is, it has captured my fancy and the need to make more is consuming me.

I cut these out the last time I was up here at the cabin, and I just felt the need to sit and stitch a couple. Recycled shirt plaids, utility muslin, shirting prints and whatever scrap I have on hand in my Scrap User's System that compliments the block colors as the center.

Today is my day to sew.  Late this afternoon I am headed back to Wallburg, NC to spend tomorrow packing for our trip to Mackinac Island.

This came up in my news feed on Facebook today -

Flash back to 5 years ago!

Remember when the lake was still clogged with ice and we had to take a prop plane from St Ignace to the island because the ferries couldn’t get me there?  This year should be DIFFERENT!

It’s my 3rd time back – I am so excited to be going.  I am looking forward to seeing so many of you there!

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

Let your first thoughts about yourself today be kind and encouraging!

Have a wonderful Wednesday, everyone!