Christa Patterson

So yea, if you didn't know my Gran died this past Wednesday in a an accident. It's almost funny how that is what was so amazingly shocking. At 76 years old you expect someone to pass because of age and health.  You expect the slow decay and to have some time to adjust to the idea (at least in theory, it will still always be a shock)
And I can see how some might struggle with this, but maybe it is better this way? I know my Gran and she would have hated to fade away slowly, losing herself. Bit by bit, day by day until she was a shell of who she once was. Barley recognizable as even a person. That was the hardest thing about my Great Grandmothers death. The was almost nothing left of Christine Helwig, at least that I could see. Some told me she would remember Ed (what a great love that must have been) and other small things from years far past gone. And I know that Gran would have hated that, and I don't think she would have wanted any of us to experience that for her, I don't think she would have wanted us to remember her that way, so is this better?
It's been an inspiration of thought about grieving and sadness when a loved one dies. Funny to think but while I understand the mourning of the dead it seems almost silly. Should we not celebrate the life she lived?  We cry for ourselves but maybe we should laugh for her. I think maybe she would like that (but then I could be wrong)

So pretty much, so many confusing feelings. So many questions that will never be answered, but isn't that always what happens when someone you know dies.


Keene Sentinel, Route 10 Crash

Rainy Day Musings

Funny how time gets away from you and while it may be said that it's too late
It never is.

It doesn't seem right to write about Pinewoods until I make some statements about my last (really) big adventure. So lets look back on April and May

The John C. Campbell Folk School

Just some recall, you know for the sentimental value.
Sometimes I think it's funny (and wonderful) how you can look back at something and remember everything wonderful and see the points of frustration and say, completely worth it.

Really it was amazing, if you want to do something different and have 9 weeks to spare, check it out (Folk School Work Study Link). Quick overview of how it works. First of all it's more of a work exchange than a work study. Mostly I got to work in the garden, so much weeding, moved a lot of mulch. You are housed in the top floor the of Main building and you get fed way more food than you could want. You work six weeks and take three weeks of class (dance, ceramics, wood turning, carving, blacksmithing, nature studies, the list goes on) you also get to jump into weekend courses that have space.

But the things that really stuck with me from the Folkschool-
~Riding in the back of a pickup truck at night watching the stars fly by while listening the the cold air rush by, cuddled up in the random warm items that were found to keep the chill at bay.
~Kitchen Junket and square dancing around the living room
~Pub night (joke night) and Campfires (uke, mandolin and singing)
~Using a Scythe for work, maybe not the most effective method but really, it can't be a bad day if you get to use a scythe at work
~Hanging out on the fire escape (the "work study deck") Playing and singing with The Emergency Exits our makeshift band
~Getting to drive a full sized pickup truck
~Riding around in the golf cart "always keep two wheels on the ground"
~The incredible people I met and knew while I was there
~Watching and photo recording a lady slipper blooming

This list could go on, but you get the idea

Seems past time

As per usual, but hey what can I say

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The  sadness when a moment in time comes to an end, but then the joy of a new beginning

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It's amazing how thoughts can spin so madly out of control and every time you try and grasp one it just flits away as a moth does when trapped in a room with single glowing lamp 

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What an incredible weekend, which I say even after my car breaking down, and somewhat because of that happening. Silly dances with nine people (the Prime Minister!) incredible music on the dance floor and off. Late night jams and singing, rain that would start and stop for the drop of a hat (never seen musicians move so fast) Joyously exhausted faces, waiting expectantly for the next set of calls

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Stories told, lives unfold, spin and turn, to see what comes nexts

Monday Adventure

There are spices and vegetables, that you can grow
Some are under the ground, some grow tall
They all have their qualities this you must know
But the garlic is best of them all

~The Garlic Waltz, Sally Rogers and Claudia Schmidt

It all began in the Garden Labyrinth (which I'm still a little dumbfounded by, because seriously, no)
So we are set to the task of weeding the Labyrinth, which is a thankless task. As we are nearing lunch time one of the work studies shares that some of the "weeds" she has been instructed to pull up is actually baby garlic! We still have to pull it up, but what a shame to just chuck it away. Obviously the answer is to gather it up take to to the greenhouse to rinse off and see if we can do something with it. So we spent some time cleaning it up, sorting out some of the better sized bulbs (this is not all that was originally), bunched it into bundles and hung it out to see what will happen. Who knows, I sure don't and I'm not completely sure that we went about any of this in the proper method but hey, we had fun.

So there you have it, the garlic adventure

Good Fortune Olive Sky

Is possibly the sweetest little kitten I ever could have imagined. She was found and rescued at the Folk School last week by a woman in my nature studies class and some sneaky work studies ;) She was found behind one of the guest houses on school property, absolutely skin and bones. Good Fortune also has the most ridiculous kitten mohawk (we suspect someone gave this poor girl an unnecessary haircut) This kitten is perfectly socialized and to meet her os to fall in love. So during my fourth week at the Folk School I hike a lot, often ate lunch away from school and helped look after this sweet girl. We are happy to say that she is with good people and I hope to receive happy updates soon. 

     

And in the Fourth Week

I finally get around to creating another post! Truly I was going to write something up last week but then there was much disaster in Boston and that was distracting.

But! Here I am, still in Brasstown at the Folk School, I have done three weeks of work (mostly in the garden) and this week have my first week long class. So I am taking a natures studies course on Appalachian plant life. So today we walked about the Folk School and identified (mostly) flowers. Which is very neat, I got to see almost several varieties of Trilliums (Yay!) and learn about the differences and similarities. The other exciting flower discovery made today is all the patches of lady slipper coming up (pictures to come soon I hope) So yea, very neat.

The other really neat thing that I did today was start teaching Nutting Girl (a Morris Jig) to a couple of my friends here. So of course happiness about getting to share Morris dancing with people.

Also I know I am only here for another three weeks, but postcards are neat if anyone wants to use the good ole' postal system....

Isabella Diemand
One Folk School Rd
Brasstown NC 28902

I will be honest I am in contra withdrawal, at one hour long contra dance a week, it is just not enough, and sadly no car to get me around to dances :'( So I need lots of dances for the short period of time I am free in NH and MA