My Smoky Mountain Memories

The people were warm and friendly always offering advice and help. I hadn't experienced this kind of generosity in other places I lived. They were proud of where they lived and would spend time telling of their ancestors who had settled there. Their stories were interesting. Their lives were enriched by the stories that had been passed down through the generations. They were the latest of many generations making the mountains their home. Their stories made the mountains rich and alive. Mountain people are fiercely loyal to family as well as to their way of life. I learned this while working a part-time job and got a close-up view of their ways. One day a young man in the office came in 45 minutes late. When asked why he was late, his reply was: "My granny didn't feel good so I had to gather the eggs before I left." Another time a different young man came to work about an hour late. When questioned he replied: "I was on my way in but I decided to stop and take a swim in the creek." I knew it was the truth because his clothes were wet. Mountain ways don't change quickly. They live life to a different set of standards. I soon learned that life lived in the Smoky Mountains was very unique and beyond what I had ever experienced or expected.

image from morguefile.com

It's difficult to think about the mountains without hearing the sounds of mountain music. I am very fond of dulcimers and fiddles. Their sounds send me back to the mountains and remind me of the times I spent there. The songs they played were stories of their ancestors and the good times they shared. Their music is played everywhere: storefronts, shops, and many a front porch along with the local entertainment that celebrates mountain life. The musicians seem to bleed bluegrass music; it's just part of their culture.

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I moved there in the springtime. I had never been at this time of year. The back-roads were alive with spring flowers. I was taken in by the dogwood trees, the flowering red-buds, and wild flowers along side the country roads. I was surprised to see farmers tilling gardens with mules and outhouses that were apparently still in operation. I had stepped into a land that I thought no longer existed in America. Nevertheless, the mountains were beautiful and magnificent in so many beautiful shades of spring green. I fell in love with the mountain laurel and rhododendron when they graced the mountains. This was a side of the Smoky Mountains that I had never experienced. It was very uplifting to watch the hills bursting forth in color. When you live in the deep south you miss out on the changes of seasons.
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I've always been fascinated by rocks! It started as a child and I never outgrew it. I am prone to pick up interesting rocks wherever I am. My time in the mountains was no exception. Just so you know, I was good. I never carried any rocks out of the National Park. That's a no-no! But when I was near a stream outside of the park, I was always looking for that next beauty! I still have many in my possession today. One of my favorites is a large almost black rock about 6 inches across that is absolutely heart shaped. It was smooth from the water running over it. It called to me to pick it up. Who could resist? I enjoyed going to the local mines and looking for treasures. This was my way of getting down and getting dirty and loving every minute of it.
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Peaceful Waterfall
by caroline collections on Zazzle

I am happiest when I can be outdoors and enjoying nature at it's finest. But sometimes those "finest" moments come with a price. I had never encountered chiggers and I had never encountered poison ivy. If you spend enough time in the great outdoors you may very well meet up with them. I went with a friend to pick wild raspberries that I had spotted on the road to my newly-acquired land. I said: "Let's get a bucket full for some pies!". We brought home a big stash of berries, enough for both of us. Not long after that I discovered what else I had brought home. Chiggers. Yeesh! Those things are awful. The local people told me the remedy for them. I am sure they spoke from much experience. The next time I found a bunch of blackberry bushes growing wild, I could not resist the temptation. I was careful about the chiggers. I was ignorant of the poison ivy. Soon my arms were itching like no tomorrow and I had spread the stuff to my face, neck and other places. I learned to watch out for those leaf clusters that want to reach out and touch you. If you ever need to know how to deal with chiggers and poison ivy, just ask me and I can tell you.
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Peaceful Waterfall
by caroline collections on Zazzle

The towns surrounding the mountains are blessed with so many talented craftsmen and artists. I really enjoyed visiting the local art galleries and seeing their interpretations of life in the Smokies. My home is blessed with these reminders. I spent a lot of time watching the woodworkers and potters. When I roll out a pie dough or biscuit dough today, I see the face of the old gentleman that turned my rolling pin from a nice piece of weeping willow wood and my biscuit cutter from poplar. You see them in the picture below. What nice reminders of the years I spent there. My hand-carved fruit bowl takes center stage on my dining room table.
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caroline collections

You can't just live near the Great Smoky National Park and not spend time there. It's always in view and it's always calling to you to come and see what it can show you today. It's ever changing with the seasons and each one brings a show that's unforgettable. I really enjoyed walking the trails looking for wildflowers, climbing in the streams, watching the leaves change from spring green to the glorious fall colors. The fresh snow in the Park was especially beautiful along the streams and on the peaks. Cade's Cove was a wonderful place to visit. You could see scores of deer on almost any given day. But the one place that evokes the strongest and most special memory for me is at Clingman's Dome. On the path to the top just before you reach the observation tower, there is a stand of balsam trees and the aroma of them is the most heavenly thing you could ever experience. I think it's akin to stepping into heaven itself. It's worth the hike to just stand there and drench yourself in its fragrance.
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I spent 7 years in the mountains. My memories will always be with me. My home is filled with momentos of those years. But if you've ever lived in Florida you know there's a old saying that once you get sand in between your toes it's hard to leave. I did leave but I returned. I have since morphed back from being a mountaineer to a flatlander. My time in the mountains has enriched my life. I have the Smoky Mountain web cam site bookmarked on my computer. I go there almost every day to see what the mountains look like today. Today I saw them covered in a beautiful blanket of snow. It still warms my heart to see them. You can get Florida sand in between your toes; and you can get the mountains in your heart. And in both cases, you'll be richer for their memories.

Smoky Mountain Memories was updated May 29, 2012.