Just a little bit of news this morning.....
Our fourth granddaughter was born early this morning to our daughter and her husband, Janelle and Matthew Anderson. Chloe has a little sister!
Her name is Ella Nicole and she weighed 7 lbs 3 oz. Jennie was scheduled to have a C-section on Monday, but went into labor yesterday, and was able to have Ella naturally.
Jen called us about 7:15 this morning and sounded over the moon. They'll be able to go home on Sunday. Matt's mother will be with them this week and I'll be going up next week.
I only wish my Mom and Dad were here to share in this joy.
Pictures to follow!
Friday, September 19, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Manville School
This old school building sits about a two miles up the road from Aunt Monnie's house. My mother and her younger siblings, at least, went to school here in the 1930's and 40's. Aunt Wanda told us about walking down to school from their house on the ridge, and carrying their good shoes, because the dew was so heavy on the grass. The building is now used as a community center and is maintained by the Manville Ruritan Club.
All kinds of events are held here. The Ruritan holds a fish fry every month in the summer, and breakfasts in the winter months. It's also popular for reunions. Tom and I went to the Penley reunion in August, and the Peters reunion is coming up this weekend. A memorial service for the Pendleton-Lane Cemetery was held in May, which we also attended. These events are covered dish socials, and we have had some really great meals here.
I never go into this old school without thinking of my Mom.
This is a photo of the upstairs hallway.
We had a tour of the building the very first time we came down here, when we met Rayford Pendleton, in the picture above with Tom. Rayford was doing some work and invited us in to look around. This auditorium is on the second story and has a sloped floor, which was pretty novel in its day. The whole building is beautifully cared for by the Ruritans.
All kinds of events are held here. The Ruritan holds a fish fry every month in the summer, and breakfasts in the winter months. It's also popular for reunions. Tom and I went to the Penley reunion in August, and the Peters reunion is coming up this weekend. A memorial service for the Pendleton-Lane Cemetery was held in May, which we also attended. These events are covered dish socials, and we have had some really great meals here.
I never go into this old school without thinking of my Mom.
This is a photo of the upstairs hallway.
We had a tour of the building the very first time we came down here, when we met Rayford Pendleton, in the picture above with Tom. Rayford was doing some work and invited us in to look around. This auditorium is on the second story and has a sloped floor, which was pretty novel in its day. The whole building is beautifully cared for by the Ruritans.Uncle Fred at the Fold
As part ot Uncle Fred's birthday present, we promised him a night out at the Carter Fold and a few weeks ago, we were finally able to take him. He had finished his radiation treatments and was feeling pretty good, but we took his wheelchair along just in case he got too tired. We posed for a shot with A.P., Sara, and Mother Maybelle before it got too dark.
Rita Forrester, the daughter of Janette Carter, and granddaughter of A.P. and Sara, was nice enough to sit and have a chat with Uncle Fred. She also gave him a book written by Janette Carter about her family and life here in the mountains of Virginia. She is a sweet lady, and tickled Uncle by giving him a kiss on the cheek.
The band for the night always does a few Carter songs, and Rita sings along. Wild Turkeys played this night, and they were really good. You can usually tell by the dancers. If the regular dancers, all jump up when the music starts, you know it's a good band!
This is the original sign from when Janette opened the Fold in the 1970's. The price has been raised to $5.00, but it's still a great bargain.
A.P.'s store sits right next to the music theater - or I guess really, the theater was built next to the store. Anyway, the store is now a museum, and has some great exhibits in the original glass cases from the store. There are lots of photos, dresses belonging to Janette, Maybelle, and June Carter Cash, a suit of A.P.'s, dishes and household items, just lots of things belonging to the family. It is really, really neat.
This is the cabin where A.P. Carter was born. It now sits near the store, though it was moved from another location. The store and cabin are always open before the show and during intermission.
Handicapped seating is in the front row, and we took advantage of it. It was great for watching the cloggers. We've set a deadline - by November we're going to get up and clog!
This is a bad photo, as the flash didn't go off, but I'm posting it anyway. Uncle Fred and I got up for just a minute to do a little two-stepping. It meant a lot to me - and I hope it did to him, too.
Rita Forrester, the daughter of Janette Carter, and granddaughter of A.P. and Sara, was nice enough to sit and have a chat with Uncle Fred. She also gave him a book written by Janette Carter about her family and life here in the mountains of Virginia. She is a sweet lady, and tickled Uncle by giving him a kiss on the cheek.
The band for the night always does a few Carter songs, and Rita sings along. Wild Turkeys played this night, and they were really good. You can usually tell by the dancers. If the regular dancers, all jump up when the music starts, you know it's a good band!
This is the original sign from when Janette opened the Fold in the 1970's. The price has been raised to $5.00, but it's still a great bargain.
A.P.'s store sits right next to the music theater - or I guess really, the theater was built next to the store. Anyway, the store is now a museum, and has some great exhibits in the original glass cases from the store. There are lots of photos, dresses belonging to Janette, Maybelle, and June Carter Cash, a suit of A.P.'s, dishes and household items, just lots of things belonging to the family. It is really, really neat.
This is the cabin where A.P. Carter was born. It now sits near the store, though it was moved from another location. The store and cabin are always open before the show and during intermission.
Handicapped seating is in the front row, and we took advantage of it. It was great for watching the cloggers. We've set a deadline - by November we're going to get up and clog!
This is a bad photo, as the flash didn't go off, but I'm posting it anyway. Uncle Fred and I got up for just a minute to do a little two-stepping. It meant a lot to me - and I hope it did to him, too.
Little things....
While Tom and I were looking at a house last weekend, a man came by in a truck. His name was Charlie Grizzle, and we had a nice talk with him. His name struck me, as my great-grandfather Abe Lane's second wife was Florence Grizzle. So, I asked him.....and sure enough, Florence was his great-aunt. I did some checking later on Don Lane's wonderful genealogy CD, and I am related to Charlie at least three ways, not including Florence! If we are lucky enough to buy the house we were looking at, Charlie will be our neighbor, and I'm real excited about that. When he was about to leave, Charlie asked us if we liked country eggs, and we said, yes sir! So he reached down beside his seat and pulled out a bag of six big brown eggs and gave them to us. He had just taken them from the coop. We had them the next morning with biscuits, gravy and bacon, and boy, were they good!
We've had pears, blueberries, peaches and tomatoes from Bob and Wanda; zucchini and yellow squash, and tomatoes from Helen and Calvin Calhoun (she was my mother's first cousin); corn on the cob from Anna Bell, next door; and marigolds and tomatoes from Mary, also next door on the other side. We have eaten well.......
....as does just about everybody down here. The photo below was taken from our laundry room window. Several deer have been coming down into the yard in the wee hours every morning to help themselves to apples from the big tree out back. Sometimes it's two, sometimes four come together. This lone little buck came in the daytime and I grabbed the camera. We've seen them stand up on their hind legs and paw at the apples to knock them down. Tom took a few apples and put them up closer to the house, near our bird feeders, and sure enough, the deer have been coming right up to get them.
We've had pears, blueberries, peaches and tomatoes from Bob and Wanda; zucchini and yellow squash, and tomatoes from Helen and Calvin Calhoun (she was my mother's first cousin); corn on the cob from Anna Bell, next door; and marigolds and tomatoes from Mary, also next door on the other side. We have eaten well.......
....as does just about everybody down here. The photo below was taken from our laundry room window. Several deer have been coming down into the yard in the wee hours every morning to help themselves to apples from the big tree out back. Sometimes it's two, sometimes four come together. This lone little buck came in the daytime and I grabbed the camera. We've seen them stand up on their hind legs and paw at the apples to knock them down. Tom took a few apples and put them up closer to the house, near our bird feeders, and sure enough, the deer have been coming right up to get them.
Happy Anniversary
Cousins Bob and Wanda McConnell celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on August 16, 2008. Their children, Lisa and Jeff, and grandchildren, Madison and Matthew, hosted a party for them at the Anderson Blockhouse at Natural Tunnel State Park. Bob and Wanda have dedicated lots of time and energy the last few years to make the Blockhouse project a reality. As you can see by the picture below, their efforts are much appreciated.
I didn't take many pictures at the party, as I was too busy gabbing, but I did catch the happy couple cutting the cake. The cake was made according to an old recipe and had raisins and currants in it. Tasty! It was made by Lisa's husband, Chris.
This picture shows the Blockhouse in the rear. We all gathered at the pavilion adjacent to the Intrepretative Center near the Blockhouse. Jeff took lots of old family photos and made a DVD which was shown during the party on the large screen TV in the center.
I didn't take many pictures at the party, as I was too busy gabbing, but I did catch the happy couple cutting the cake. The cake was made according to an old recipe and had raisins and currants in it. Tasty! It was made by Lisa's husband, Chris.
This picture shows the Blockhouse in the rear. We all gathered at the pavilion adjacent to the Intrepretative Center near the Blockhouse. Jeff took lots of old family photos and made a DVD which was shown during the party on the large screen TV in the center. It was a good day for two wonderful people.
By the Side of the Road....
These are just some pretty pictures we took at an overlook in Wise County, about half an hour north of Gate City on Route 58 between Big Stone Gap and Norton. Sometimes we just like to put the dogs in the car and drive....even with outrageous gas prices, a Sunday drive down here is good value! As Tom has been saying, "there's not a bad view anywhere," and that's pretty much the truth. 
A closer view of the rock outcroppings.....
A view of the valley....
This is Route 58 which we drove up one afternoon. Nice place to walk the dogs, isn't it?
Tom is sleepy and Chotti wants a drink. Cindy just wants to stand and look.....
A closeup of the far hills.....
Scenery like this is one reason we moved here!
A closer view of the rock outcroppings.....
A view of the valley....
This is Route 58 which we drove up one afternoon. Nice place to walk the dogs, isn't it?
Tom is sleepy and Chotti wants a drink. Cindy just wants to stand and look.....
A closeup of the far hills.....
Scenery like this is one reason we moved here!
Monday, August 11, 2008
A Quest
Aunt Wanda, Nila and Judy came for lunch a couple of weeks ago, and we looked at old pictures. The photo below is one of my mother, Zella Mae Peters, on the left, and her sister, Floy. As I didn't know just where it was taken, I asked Bob, the fount of all knowledge down here, and he told me it was taken in the Smokey Mountain National Park. I did a little quick research on the web and found it was located on the line between North Carolina and Tennessee. So, Tom and I set off to find it.
And we did! Here I am at the same spot. If only my cousin, Susan, Aunt Floy's daughter, had been with me. I'm going to have to track her down and see what we can do. Of course, Mother and Aunt Flo look like they were barely out of their teens in this photo - so I am old enough now to be their mother. But let's not think about that too much....
The park is about two hours from our house and can be a day trip - as long as you don't go on a Saturday in July. Which, of course, is when we went. We had lots of time sitting in traffic to gawk at the beach-like atmosphere of Pigeon Forge. It was full of amusement rides, Ripley's Believe It or Not, hotels, souvenir shops, and one building that, I swear, was upside down. I never did see what it actually housed, as all I could do was stare. I want to go back in November and explore the whole town! I was too stunned to even take my camera out of the case, but I promise, next time I will.
In the actual park, I regained my composure enough to take a few photos. It was a speedy trip, and I quite literally hopped out of the van to snap these, and then hopped back in. So these are the kinds of photos you can take in Smokey Mountain National Park without even trying. On a Saturday in July.
The dogs had to go along, of course, and they were really, really good. They are such good travelers. The only problem we ever have is that Minnie and Chotti fight over my lap. Did you ever hold a dog in your lap in the car for eight hours? I have.
But one look at this face, and you can see why we couldn't leave them at home.
Now that we're down here, we're finding that there is so much to do and to see. Every few days brings a new discovery, opportunity, or adventure. Even if it's only in the backyard.
And we did! Here I am at the same spot. If only my cousin, Susan, Aunt Floy's daughter, had been with me. I'm going to have to track her down and see what we can do. Of course, Mother and Aunt Flo look like they were barely out of their teens in this photo - so I am old enough now to be their mother. But let's not think about that too much....
The park is about two hours from our house and can be a day trip - as long as you don't go on a Saturday in July. Which, of course, is when we went. We had lots of time sitting in traffic to gawk at the beach-like atmosphere of Pigeon Forge. It was full of amusement rides, Ripley's Believe It or Not, hotels, souvenir shops, and one building that, I swear, was upside down. I never did see what it actually housed, as all I could do was stare. I want to go back in November and explore the whole town! I was too stunned to even take my camera out of the case, but I promise, next time I will.
In the actual park, I regained my composure enough to take a few photos. It was a speedy trip, and I quite literally hopped out of the van to snap these, and then hopped back in. So these are the kinds of photos you can take in Smokey Mountain National Park without even trying. On a Saturday in July.
The dogs had to go along, of course, and they were really, really good. They are such good travelers. The only problem we ever have is that Minnie and Chotti fight over my lap. Did you ever hold a dog in your lap in the car for eight hours? I have.
But one look at this face, and you can see why we couldn't leave them at home.
Now that we're down here, we're finding that there is so much to do and to see. Every few days brings a new discovery, opportunity, or adventure. Even if it's only in the backyard.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Clinch Mountain Music Fest
Why I thought the mountains would be quiet, I'll never know. There's always something or other going on down here. This event was held in the middle of June, and so this post is long overdue, but I thought I'd post it anyway for those of you who like good, old-fashioned music.
The Clinch Mountain Music Fest is a three day event held at Natural Tunnel State Park, downtown Gate City, and the Carter Fold, and features three days of - well, what else, music! Friday night's show is at the park amphitheatre, and the Carter Fold holds a show on Saturday night, with Gospel on Sunday afternoon. Saturday's main attraction is held in downtown Gate City, where the streets are closed, two stages are set up, and vendors come out to sell food and souvenirs.
Above, the Scott County Courthouse was the site of the stage on the west end of town.
Two blocks were closed to traffic for the festival.
The main stage was on the east end of town and featured bands all day long. I apologize, but I lost my program and I don't know who this band is. Shame on me! But they played some great tunes......
...enjoyed themselves.....
....and were really good.......
......you can tell, because the cloggers took to the street. Tom and I have been watching the cloggers at the Carter Fold. Our next-door neighbor, Anna Bell, is a great clogger and gave us a lesson the other night on the front porch in her barefeet. It's going to take us awhile to get it. But we will.
During a shower, Tom and I headed for the pickin' tent and ended up staying there longer than anywhere else. This is where folks brought their own instruments and sat down together to make music. It was great. Tom is already practicing for next year, and he will be playing at next year's Clinch Mountain Music Fest.
Y'all come.
The Clinch Mountain Music Fest is a three day event held at Natural Tunnel State Park, downtown Gate City, and the Carter Fold, and features three days of - well, what else, music! Friday night's show is at the park amphitheatre, and the Carter Fold holds a show on Saturday night, with Gospel on Sunday afternoon. Saturday's main attraction is held in downtown Gate City, where the streets are closed, two stages are set up, and vendors come out to sell food and souvenirs.
Above, the Scott County Courthouse was the site of the stage on the west end of town.
Two blocks were closed to traffic for the festival.
The main stage was on the east end of town and featured bands all day long. I apologize, but I lost my program and I don't know who this band is. Shame on me! But they played some great tunes......
...enjoyed themselves.....
....and were really good.......
......you can tell, because the cloggers took to the street. Tom and I have been watching the cloggers at the Carter Fold. Our next-door neighbor, Anna Bell, is a great clogger and gave us a lesson the other night on the front porch in her barefeet. It's going to take us awhile to get it. But we will.
During a shower, Tom and I headed for the pickin' tent and ended up staying there longer than anywhere else. This is where folks brought their own instruments and sat down together to make music. It was great. Tom is already practicing for next year, and he will be playing at next year's Clinch Mountain Music Fest.
Y'all come.
Uncle Fred and the House on Gravely Road
If you've read the previous post, you know that John Fred Penley recently celebrated his 80th birthday. Uncle Fred lived in Kingsport in his young life, and then moved to a farm outside of Glen Rock, PA, with his parents in the 1940's. This spring he moved back to Kingsport and is now living in Holson Manor Nursing and Rehab Center. Uncle Fred has cancer, but is doing pretty well. 
This is Fred and his wife, Betty Collins. They met while Betty was taking care of the children of Aunt Betty Forbes Maskewitz in Vermont.
Pictured below are John T. and Jennie Forbes Penley in front of their home in Gibsontown, Kingsport, TN. Unfortunately, this home has been torn down.
John and Jennie Penley and most of their family are shown on the steps of their Gibsontown home. Fred is the boy sitting on the bottom step on the left, Vernon (always called Cotton) is sitting right. Lovely is above Fred and Marge is above Cotton. The two little boys in the middle are Jimmy in the center, and Edna's son, Lee Peterson, to the left. Cindy's Dad, Roy, is standing left. The top row is Edna, Jennie, and John T. The only child missing from this photo is Bonnie, who was born in between Edna and Roy.
While living in Gibsontown, John arranged to build this house on Gravely Road. Naturally, it looks very different from what it looked like in the 1930's when it was built, but it's great that it's still standing. Uncle Fred and I knocked on the door and met the young man who lives their now. His mother lives across the street.
Although you can't see it in these pictures, there is small building behind the house where Grandma Penley used to house lodgers.
Uncle Fred said that he was about eight-years-old when this house was built and he was the "water boy." He ran down the hill to fetch water from a spring for the builders. A Mr. France was the builder, and Poppy, Edna's husband, Lee Peterson, and Marge's husband, James Edwards, helped to build it. Uncle Fred said that Poppy bought up several old houses that weren't being lived in, and used that wood to build this house.
I'm so glad that Uncle Fred told me this story, as I would have driven by this pretty little house and never known that it was part of our family history.
This is Fred and his wife, Betty Collins. They met while Betty was taking care of the children of Aunt Betty Forbes Maskewitz in Vermont.
Pictured below are John T. and Jennie Forbes Penley in front of their home in Gibsontown, Kingsport, TN. Unfortunately, this home has been torn down.
John and Jennie Penley and most of their family are shown on the steps of their Gibsontown home. Fred is the boy sitting on the bottom step on the left, Vernon (always called Cotton) is sitting right. Lovely is above Fred and Marge is above Cotton. The two little boys in the middle are Jimmy in the center, and Edna's son, Lee Peterson, to the left. Cindy's Dad, Roy, is standing left. The top row is Edna, Jennie, and John T. The only child missing from this photo is Bonnie, who was born in between Edna and Roy.
While living in Gibsontown, John arranged to build this house on Gravely Road. Naturally, it looks very different from what it looked like in the 1930's when it was built, but it's great that it's still standing. Uncle Fred and I knocked on the door and met the young man who lives their now. His mother lives across the street.
Although you can't see it in these pictures, there is small building behind the house where Grandma Penley used to house lodgers.
Uncle Fred said that he was about eight-years-old when this house was built and he was the "water boy." He ran down the hill to fetch water from a spring for the builders. A Mr. France was the builder, and Poppy, Edna's husband, Lee Peterson, and Marge's husband, James Edwards, helped to build it. Uncle Fred said that Poppy bought up several old houses that weren't being lived in, and used that wood to build this house.
I'm so glad that Uncle Fred told me this story, as I would have driven by this pretty little house and never known that it was part of our family history.Uncle Fred's Birthday
John Fred Penley celebrated his 80th birthday on August 5th, 2008, at Holston Manor Nursing and Rehab Center, Kingsport, TN. His sister, Lovely, was on hand for the festivities, along with her son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Sandy; sister-in-law Bertha Forbes, and her daughter, Brenda; and niece, Cindy, and her husband, Tom. Several staff members also stopped in to wish Uncle Fred well, and enjoy a piece of birthday cake. 
Tom brought along his guitar for a little music, and Uncle Fred joined in singing, "Keep on the Sunny Side," a Carter family favorite. We had the party in the home's lovely atrium.
Uncle Fred enjoys the music.
Aunt Lovely, Cindy and Tom pose with Uncle Fred, the birthday boy!
Two of Uncle's special caregivers admire his birthday cake.
Fred's nephew, Michael Templeton, and wife, Sandy, pose for a photo.
Fred's niece and cousin, Brenda, (it's complicated!) is in charge of Environmental Services at Holston Manor and keeps a close eye on him. Brenda is pictured with her mother, Bertha, who is the sister of Fred's late wife, Betty, and also the wife of his Uncle Simon Forbes.....which is why Brenda is both Fred's niece and his cousin! See, I told you it was complicated.
We all enjoyed cake, ice cream, coffee, music, and watching Uncle Fred open his birthday presents.
Tom brought along his guitar for a little music, and Uncle Fred joined in singing, "Keep on the Sunny Side," a Carter family favorite. We had the party in the home's lovely atrium.
Uncle Fred enjoys the music.
Aunt Lovely, Cindy and Tom pose with Uncle Fred, the birthday boy!
Two of Uncle's special caregivers admire his birthday cake.
Fred's nephew, Michael Templeton, and wife, Sandy, pose for a photo.
Fred's niece and cousin, Brenda, (it's complicated!) is in charge of Environmental Services at Holston Manor and keeps a close eye on him. Brenda is pictured with her mother, Bertha, who is the sister of Fred's late wife, Betty, and also the wife of his Uncle Simon Forbes.....which is why Brenda is both Fred's niece and his cousin! See, I told you it was complicated.
We all enjoyed cake, ice cream, coffee, music, and watching Uncle Fred open his birthday presents. Fred is the second son of John T. and Jennie Forbes Penley, the younger brother of Cindy's Dad, Roy Penley. He moved from Abbottstown, PA, to Kingsport just two weeks after Cindy and Tom moved from Dallastown to Gate City.
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