First, I LOVED being there. And I am definitely going to be returning. Taking paper making was way outside my box, but I thoroughly enjoyed the class and my fellow students and our teacher. (L to R - Andrea,Sally,Rajeania,Edna)
Here is an idea of a day at JCC. My alarm would go off at 7:15AM. People would already be up and off on a guided walk at that time. Not me, however. At 7:45AM, at the community room, Morning Song would be going on. Morning Song was a combination of singing and story telling. I went the first day to listen to the Director of JCC tell the history of the school and the women who started it. Everyday both the walk (weather permitting) and Morning Song would go on. At 8:15AM, the bell would be rung for breakfast. What breakfasts we had. The dining area was set up with tables seating 8 people. You could sit anywhere and it was encouraged to change tables every meal so as to meet lots of the students and teachers. This I did, and I met many very interesting men and women.
Classes started at 9AM and were located all over the grounds and buildings depending on what people were taking. We were in class until 12 Noon. The bell rang at 12:15PM for lunch. Then classes started up again at 1:30PM and ended at 4:30PM. Everyday you could attend a demonstration given by one of the teachers. I always went back to my cabin and stretched out on my bed!!! Sometimes I would even take a power nap. At 6PM, the dinner bell would ring, and off I would go along with everyone else to the dining room.
After dinner, there was usually something going on in the community room. One night I went to watch the Photography Instructor's slide show. He was a nature photographer, and his photos were beautiful. Another night I went to watch the local community dancers practice - clog dancing, garland dancing, and Morris dancing. That was fun. I also went to a performance of two Appalachian singers.
I need to tell you about our meals. All were served family style, with a vegetarian table set up for those who requested it. When we came in we could always get juice, water, oatmeal or grits, before sitting down. I brought my own mug and would then get coffee. Then platters and/or bowls of eggs, sausage, and homemade bread or biscuits, would be served and passed around. Those at the table would bus the table as people finished eating.
At lunch, salads, meat & potatoes or soup, and fresh bread would be served. When we bused the table, one of us would pick a tray of dessert. It should be noted that everything cooked at JCC was homemade, and in the spring, summer, and fall, they use what comes from their large produce garden, as well produce from local organic farmers.
At dinner, we would have casseroles, or meat and vegetables, or pasta and of course, fresh bread. Along with salad most of the time. The soups and casseroles were served in very large handmade pottery bowls, made on site. I don't have to tell you that everything was drop-dead delicious! And once again, we had dessert. On the wall, was either a cast iron spoon or fork or outline of a hand. That indicated what was being served for dessert. Very clever. Most of the desserts were squares, crisps,pudding cake, or cookies. Old fashioned recipes like my mother used to make.
There was always fruit available for anyone to take to the table, back to class, or to your cabin. Bananas, pears, oranges, apples, plums. That was wonderful.
Several times I sat with the blacksmith teachers, who were a hoot.
These rogues are the blacksmith assistant instructor - Anthony; and the master blacksmith, Clay. They were so much fun as were the guys that were taking the class. I went down to the blacksmith shop and took pictures and talked with them. They were teaching an advanced class and the students turned out beautiful round tables.
At the end of the week, Friday afternoon, we had a Show and Tell in the community center, and all the classes showed their creations, and the teachers and students of each one were introduced. It was quite amazing what we had all done over the course of five very full days! Weaving, soap making, rustic wood furniture, wood turning, paper making, clay, felt dolls, organic gardening, blacksmithing, jewelry, and bread making.
About a week before I drove down to JCC, I called and asked if I could be placed in a first floor bedroom, as I knew it would be much better for my left knee, which was healing quite well. And my request was granted. I stayed in a three bedroom cabin, called Little Rock House. There was a living room, a shared bath, and each bedroom had two beds and small closet and dresser. As it turned out, there were only two of us in the cabin. My cabin mate, Jo, is a JCC instructor, who came a week early to take a class, which unfortunately was canceled. We really liked each other, and had many a good talk after coming back to the cabin. This week she is teaching chair caning. Jo is a retired full colonel from the U.S. Army, as is her husband. She not only chair canes, but she is a writer, and both she and her husband belong to and take in rescued golden retrievers and labs. They live in Waveland, Mississippi, on the coast, and lost everything during Katrina. Only a few pieces of silverware and a cherished hat pin were found.
The grounds of John C. Campbell Folk School are rustic and beautiful. All around are flowers, flowering bushes and flowering trees. Many of the flowers are wild flowers that I remember from my youth, and some that I had never seen before now. There are also signs and sculptures made there. Paths lead to the cabins, work shops and other buildings. There are also fish ponds near the dining building. And a brave robin is building her nest in a holly tree right next to the railing going in to the dining hall.
Next up will be some pictures of the Show and Tell, and of the flowers of JCC.
Adieu, Adios, A Hui Hou,
I love you all,
Sally
1 comment:
Wow, Sally!! Just plain wow!!!
mar
Post a Comment