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In the heart of Historic Waynesville
98 N. Main Street, Waynesville NC 28786
(828) 456-1940
Hours: Monday-Saturday 10:00-5:30
Sunday 1:00-4:00
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Dancing with Nature
November 2021 Issue 9 Vol 11
News, Life, and the Art Culture in the Smoky Mountains
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It has been an incredibly beautiful fall; the most striking in years. But now, the leaves are letting go, producing mounds of fluff and crunch on the sidewalks, gathering in a heap, waiting for the city to collect and throw into their composting pile, later offering to the community to cultivate into gardening projects. With every year, nature’s life cycle continues. Letting go, gathering up, renewal. |
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For this Thanksgiving, we will be traveling to Florida to lay my mother’s ashes to rest on family property that was her happy place. She passed away in 2020 so 2021 has been a process of letting go of the home and its possessions that my family has lived in, celebrated in, even married in, since 1954. That’s a whole lot of stuff and memories collected from a house of ten. It has been a process of letting go of our childhood, our adulthood, our life-hood, as the house will not remain in the family. The house and its possessions are only physical as we have wonderful memories to hang onto. But now, we will be letting go of her physically, as we gather, filled with her spirit, and move toward renewal in life without her.
With my extended family, this Thanksgiving gathering will be my first in 15 years, since we moved to North Carolina, and I have had a gallery commitment. Growing up, Thanksgiving was always a large holiday which through the years took on a variety of flavors. There were years the family from Winter Haven, FL would join, expanding the numbers. Thanksgiving Eve, we would gather in the kitchen to polish silver, cut apples for apple salad, and prepare for the feast gathering. For my mother, not particularly being a “cook,” this was a stretch. I remember making place cards for the table out of pinecones to resemble a turkey and some sort of pilgrim figure thing.
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My creativity has not expanded tremendously from that. The meal ranged from the traditional turkey to a gaucho asado (beef and parts cooked underground) to Peking duck with memories from NYC Chinatown. As married couples commandeered to host the event, we went back to the traditional turkey, and traditional sides finished off with a “turkey shoot” which consisted of aiming anything from a shotgun to a slingshot at a paper target, the winner claiming “Wild Turkey” bourbon for adults and a chocolate turkey for the kids. I think I have won once in all these years ….. and that was pure luck. An NC tradition that I thoroughly enjoy has been to participate in a Turkey Trot Thanksgiving morning. This year I will have to pass but I am hoping to gather my little turkeys, put on our Turkey Trot scarves, and gobble wobble around the pasture. Afterward, we will feast with family, 65+ of them. We will gather up, renew traditions, and let go. |
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As we approach the holiday shopping season, please consider your local, small businesses wherever you are. Fortunately, we (Twigs and Leaves Gallery) are not dependent on international shipments; our only issues are overtaxed artisans. We can make your holidays merry. Check out our website, give us a call. Speaking of shopping, a shout-out to two, new downtown businesses you need to check out. Axe and Awl ~ what an amazing renovation of the space and totally worth your visit, if nothing else, to smell the leather. Then, Sassafras on Main, our new toy/bookstore. They have done an incredible transformation job; there is a lot to see so set aside plenty of time to explore. For those that enjoyed Firefly restaurant … it has gone away but there is construction happening in the space and now I see that it will be a Thai restaurant, Suwana. Everyone is in anticipation of the New York Bagel Shop opening soon.
I am incredibly grateful for the tremendous support you have given us this year. We have had an amazing year and to show our appreciation we invite you to join us for our holiday thank you event on Saturday, December 11th, 12-3. See below for all the particulars as well as area bright lights and celebrations to participate in. I realize many of you are not available to attend our event but know we could not have made it without you.
Rumi said, “Be like a tree and let the dead leaves drop.” The trees are letting go so perhaps let us learn from them if there is something in your life that you are or need to be letting go of also. As you gather with family and/or friends this Thanksgiving, I wish you a celebration filled with gratitude, appreciation, and a side of traditions. Take some time to get outside and embrace the beauty nature has to offer. It’s good for the soul.
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May You Walk in Beauty ~ Carrie
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SPOTLIGHT ARTIST:
Marianne Weaver
of
Fiori dei Sentieri
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MARIANNE WEAVER is a retired geologist, flower enthusiast & photographer currently living in Asheville, NC. Her project Fiori Dei Sentieri (Flowers of the Trails) captures the magic of wildflowers found along mountain trails. Wildflowers provide an ever-changing backdrop, a tapestry of color and texture, through the seasons - the explosion of color and shapes of the spring ephemerals, the vibrant hues of summer and the final show of fall. Through her small-batch printings of greetings cards as well as works on glass, metal & canvas, she offers us an opportunity to slow down, appreciate & celebrate the intricate beauty of our world. |
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"A Night Before Christmas"
Downtown Waynesville
Saturday, December 11th
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An annual holiday tradition held downtown. Amidst the backdrop of hundreds of luminaries lining the brick sidewalks and twinkling balls in the trees and windows, lamp posts wrapped in red velvet ribbon and garland with huge bows, enjoy carolers, live music, Santa and Mrs. Claus, and horse-drawn old fashioned wagon rides. Visit the Living Nativity sponsored by First Baptist Church under the stars. Come for a delicious evening meal in any of our fine restaurants and eateries. Stroll through the shops and galleries open late. Musicians and entertainers perform on the street and within some businesses.
We are OPEN with special tidings of joy and wishes of cheer, as Christmas is the happiest time of year.
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Strand of Lights Drive-Thru Christmas & Beyond Light Show |
Haywood County’s very first Drive-Thru Christmas Light Show organized by The Strand at 38 Main. Tickets must be purchased in advance (online) for $20.
Guest will be able to reserve their day & 1-hour time slot.
Tickets are on sale here now and the first show is December 1st.
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Downtown Waynesville Christmas Parade
"A Winter Wonderland" theme
Monday, December 6th, 6 PM
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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Haywood County
Canoe Raffle
(click on image for more info)
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"Appalachian Christmas"
at the Shelton House
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“Appalachian Christmas” with Santa Claus and the lights of the Tinsel Trail twinkling all evening for everyone to enjoy.
The Appalachian Christmas Event will be held on December 5 from 5 pm to 7 pm but the Tinsel Trail will stay lit every evening from dusk till dawn through January 2, 2022, for all to enjoy.
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"Every Christmas Story Ever Told
(And then Some)"
HART Main Stage, December 10-19th
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We all love Charles Dickens’ beloved holiday classic, but sometimes we need to switch it up… and why tell one story when we can tell them all?! In this madcap holiday romp, three actors decide to perform every Christmas story ever told — plus Christmas traditions from around the world, seasonal icons from ancient times to topical pop-culture, and every carol ever sung. Hold on tight as you take a tinsel-covered roller coaster ride bursting with laughter, carols, and joy, and prepare to leave with more Holiday spirit than you can carry.
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Keep tabs on more upcoming regional events here
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Find Haywood County COVID19 Updates here
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98 N. Main Street
Waynesville, NC 28786
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