Pickin on the Porch and Dollywood

Here I am in Happy Hollow (Southern version of small valley) in the midst of the Great Smokey Mtns in Townsend, TN. My friends say that everything is done by "mountain time" here and after a few days I can concur with that sentiment.... On Saturday, 7/5, one of my friends noticed a sign at a local Dulcimer shop that there would be "pickin on the porch" later that night. A group of us went and were enchanted by the music of Joe Collins, the national Dulcimer Champion. What great timing that we were able to hear the sweet sounds of his dulcimer, voice, and guitar by the banks of the Little River in Townsend. Joining us was local author, Frankie Fonde Brogan, who regaled us with stories of her childhood in the mountains as well as lent me a copy of her book, "The Snare of the Fowler" - her personal account of experiencing her son's involvement in a cult and later recovery.

Sunday was devoted primarily to Dollywood, a theme park inspired by, you guessed it, Dolly Parton. It is a beautiful amusement park, wonderfully maintained, clean and landscaped and John Bates (Janice's husband and part time employee of Dollywood) hosted us to a wonderful day of rides, shops, lunch and two musical shows. The day was finished with dinner at Janice's friend and neighbor's home, Betty and Bud Jones. Their home is literally "above the tree line" in the Smokeys; I could sit on their back porch for hours watching the changing clouds in the sky, ridgeline of the mountains and the gathering blue mist.