Last week was a busy week....not only was it the last week on our project here at Doe River Gorge in Elizabethton, TN, we crammed a lot of activities in along with our work! On Tuesday, our group traveled to Jonesboro, TN, home of the International Storytelling Center. Since the "season" was not officially opened, we experienced storytelling in a quaint little coffee shop called "The Cranberry Thistle." As you can see, we were in a lot of discomfort (??!) while we listened to several different "tellers".....
....and the cranberry scones were yumtidelicious! It was a neat experience, and Jonesboro is one of those little towns that just begs to be explored....so a couple of us are going back on Tuesday to do a little of that exploring and have lunch. Should be another fun experience!

On Thursday, we took a train ride up the gorge.....what a beautiful day, and the scenery was even better. Mark, the train "conductor" (for lack of a better word),
shared a wealth of knowledge about the origins of the railroad here and pointed out a lot of scenic high points.....too many to share with you here, but here is just a sample of some of that beauty that God has created. (Will post more photos later.)

Friday was designated as the day that Lee, Esther, Willie and I were going to walk to the trestle bridge and back.....well, we started out great, but about two-thirds of the way there, Esther and I decided it was time to head back to the campground. Lee came along (to serve as our protector?), and Willie continued on....and on....and on! He went past the first trestle, past the second trestle.....well, actually he said it was a good thing I didn't see him as he picked his way around the trestles....might have had heart failure! He finally made it into a little wide spot in the road called Blevins....one of the goals he set for himself since we have been here. Even tho' we didn't make it all the way, I still took lots of pictures along the way!

(MY mountain man!)

This is just one of the many beautiful rapids on this stretch of the Doe River.

Willie wasn't too excited about our plans for Saturday night....traveling to Hiltons, VA and watching the show at the Carter Fold....bluegrass music is not our favorite, but we decided we wanted to experience the happenings at the Carter Fold! We knew that the bluegrass band from ETSU (East Tennessee State University) was going to be performing....WOW....did they ever perform! Several of the members were super talented....the guitarist and the banjo player, just to name a couple. We had thought we would probably leave early, but stayed until the very end....they were awesome, and we had a great time. (Oh, except for the driver that was going 10 mph when the speed limit was 40 mph....on a two-lane road with virtually no passing zones!) Everyone there seemed to be having a wonderful time, and the floor in front of the stage was usually full of cloggers....and anyone else who wanted to get up and dance!

Now it's time to start packing up and thinking about moving on to our next project....Horton Haven, TN (southeast of Franklin). It will be nice to be close enough to visit with Mom and Dad....and Jon....on the weekends. But before then there is a lot to be done (cleaning, packing, exploring)....I'll share more in the next few days. In the meantime, I'll also be getting to work on some LFI (Loaves and Fishes International, Inc.) business.....why don't you check out the website and see how God is using just ordinary people to do His work? If you'd like more information, just leave me a comment, and I will be glad to get back with you......there are a lot of exciting things starting to happen!

Until next time, have a blessed day, and may you be a blessing!