Father Tim's Church in Mitford! (Blowing Rock, NC)

Readers of the beloved "Mitford" Series of books by Jan Karon will recognize the St. Mary's of the Hills Episcopal Church of Blowing Rock, NC as the home of "Father Tim". (Could it be Father Tim mowing the lawn?)

Julian Price Lake on Blue Ridge Parkway

View of Grandfather Mountain from the Blue Ridge Parkway and Julian Price Lake. Our friend Amy Dietrich from Jackson visited us at our cabin in Beech Mountain for a few days!

Linville Falls along Blue Ridge Parkway

Darrell and I enjoyed a visit from Amy Dietrich from Jackson! Elaine and Amy went exploring along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The "Wee Kirk" Presbyterian Church is in Linville and we visited Linville Falls - a beautiful double falls!

Markus' football practice

Markus is playing Junior Football this year - it was fun to watch the practice in Huntersville, NC!

NASCAR Museum in Charlotte, NC with Wennborg's

The Wennborg grandchildren enjoyed visiting the NASCAR museum in Charlotte, NC! Darrell with Kitty, Linnea, Emma and Markus! The kids would make a great pit crew as they race against the clock! And Elaine waves the checkered flag!

We all drove race simulators! Great fun! Elaine and Emma like Jeff Gordon! The Buffalo Wild Wings for lunch!

II NASCAR Museum in Charlotte, NC with Wennborg's

More photos of the NASCAR Museum in Charlotte, NC. The museum had many interactive features and hands on activities for all! The young and old kids all had a good time! The entrance to the museum show how the track has evolved from a flat road to a 30 degree slant in the turns at Bristol - (the kids are hanging from the turn). And of course - the number 3 car is featured.

Our Grandchildren in Columbia, SC

Lindsey and Matthew are growing so fast! We enjoyed the back yard while visiting Matt and Susan Christian in Colombia, SC! Plus Lily the dog!

Hike on Appalachian Trail

Fun day with the Beech Mountain Hiking Group! We hiked part of the Appalachian Trail in Tennessee - at Watauga Lake. Along a pristine lake on the Appalachian Trail to the highest earthen dam in the United States. 4.2 miles with lunch at the picnic area at Watauga Lake!

Bluegrass Concert in Boone, NC

Appalacian State University's Summer Music Festival featured a joint concert with Cherryholmes and Dr. Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys! Fantastic Bluegrass - foot stomping!

Cherryholmes is a family group actually their last name is Cherryholmes - Mother/Father and 4 young adult children. Each are amazing musicians - if it has a string - they can play it!

Dr. Ralph Stanley is a legend in Bluegrass - he is 83 and puts on a wonderful show with his Clinch River Mountain Boys.

We had dinner at Vidala in Boone. Darrell had Dirty Dog "Raging Bitch" Belgium Style IPA beer - (that is a mouthful - but it was actually good). My grouper was wonderful.

The Best Cellar in Blowing Rock

Wonderful dinner with friends David and Janice Fite in Blowing Rock at the Best Cellar Restaurant on Thursday July 29th! The Fite's home is beautiful - located near the golf course at the Blowing Rock, NC Country Club. They have a wonderful view of Grandfather Mountain!

We had our rehersal dinner at The Best Cellar when we married in 2003!

Ragtime the Muical

We enjoy summer theater in the mountains! Lees Macrae College in Banner Elk produced Ragtime - we went on 7/27/10 = a wonderful production!!
Dinner at Louisana Purchase with a wonderful Pinot Noir!

Life in the Mountains

It's always fun to come back to beautiful Beech Mountain - we relax, read, enjoy the cool weather and play a little golf! We had fun playing golf at Red Tail Country Club in Mountain City, TN - about 1 hour away from our home in Beech Mt with our friends from Jackson, TN. Liza and Woody Forbes and Ruffin abd Jenny Craig. Dinner, lots of wine, lots a laughs after golf! And deer in the yard - we see deer everyday!

Symphony of the Mountains at Blowing Rock 2

More images from the Symphony of the Mountains concert at Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock

Symphony of the Mountains at Blowing Rock

Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock hosted the Symphony of the Mountains to perform on the grounds! A beautiful setting and wonderful weather - almost a full moon! The mustic was great - a huge crowd. We took wine and then had dinner at Chetola. Hot air balloons and Fireworks afterwards were spectacular.

Chetola has a special place in our hearts - we were married at Chetoa 7 years ago!

Beech Mountain, NC

Darrell and I are spending 5 weeks at Beech Mountain, NC - The highest city in the Eastern half of the USA. We enjoyed 18 holes of golf at Beech Mountain Country Club yesterday - 68 degrees plus a breeze! It is fun to hit down the hill! But then the next hole is up the mountain!

The photo is from the #10 hole - the tee box is on top of a cliff - then you take switchbacks down the mountain to the fairway!

Li'l Abner (JTG) "Namely You"

Lauren is Daisy Mae and Sydney Burngasser is Abner - in Jackson Theater Guild's production of Li'l Abner. We are so proud of Lauren our Daughter in law!

Li'l Abner (JTG) "Love in a Home"

Lauren Cleek and Sydney Burngasser in Li'l Abner - a production by the Jackson Theater Guild. We loved watching our daughter-in-law as Daisy Mae!

Jackson Sun Article about Li'l Abner

Does Daisy Mae win her man?

Get the scoop when Jackson Theatre Guild presents musical 'Li'l Abner'

By ASHLEY EDWARDS WALKER

jhillman@jacksonsun.com


In Dogpatch, U.S.A., a rural Appalachian town where pastimes include fishing and drinking kickapoo juice, residents look forward to the annual Sadie Hawkins Day Dance where the town's women can land the man of their dreams.

Dogpatch resident Daisy Mae thinks this is the year she is finally going to ask her secret crush Li'l Abner to the dance. That is until the government comes to town and declares Dogpatch as the “most unnecessary” place in the world.

With the government's plan to evacuate the town and use it for nuclear testing, the people of Dogpatch know they have to act fast to save their home. They head to Washington to show the government Dogpatch is indeed necessary, as its Yokumberry tonic is a cure-all for puny men hoping to bulk up.

But there may be a hitch in the plan if they can't save Abner, whose mother created the tonic, from the influence of Gen. Bullmoose and his shapely girlfriend who are trying to trick Abner into giving them the tonic's secret recipe.

Find out what happens when the Jackson Theatre Guild presents the musical “Li'l Abner” at 7:30 p.m. tonight and Friday, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Ned R. McWherter West Tennessee Cultural Arts Center, 314 E. Main St., in Jackson.

“Li'l Abner” is inspired by the classic newspaper comic strip of the same name written by Al Capp from the 1930s to the 70s.

“Al Capp has great sense of humor,” Director Scott Conley, said. “Satire was one of his main tools, and there was very little he couldn't find a way to poke a little bit of fun at.”

Conley said some musical productions presented by JTG, such as “Sweeney Todd,” have been a little darker, but “Li'l Abner” will return the musical to its genre's lighter roots.

“Being the kind of musical that it is, which is just a whole lot of fun, we do find a way to save Dogpatch,” Conley said. “We do find a way to get Abner and Daisy Mae together. But it's got lots of comic twists and turns in the journey finding that spot.”

Conley said he was attracted to “Li'l Abner” after seeing a movie version of the musical several years ago.

“There are lots of little laughs in the characters and the beliefs they bring to the plot of 'Li'l Abner,'” he said. “You can't help but see a lot of things about Dogpatch people that you both recognize, maybe in your neighbors, and that you wish you could be more like. They have their own way of doing things. They are a tight-knit community even though each and every one are very exaggerated types. It gives us all almost a dream of a place we wish the world were more like.”

Jackson-native Sidney Burngasser plays title character Li'l Abner in the musical. To prepare for the role Burngasser dyed his hair black and increased his gym time.

“It's a fun part to play,” Burngasser said. “It's definitely been a challenge because it's way out of my box.”

Burngasser said the musical numbers and choreography are the highlights of the family-friendly show.

“I think it's a show that lots of people will want to see, and lots of people will enjoy,” Burngasser said. “And I think that it's a good thing for our community that we can put on something so wholesome, and so family-friendly, but so entertaining at the same time.”

Lauren Cleek plays Abner's love interest, Daisy Mae.

“She's just like the girl next door, really sweet and nice to everyone and wants the best for people in Dogpatch,” Cleek said.

Cleek said she is excited for West Tennessee residents to see the play because many of them will be familiar with the musical's concepts.

“It's got a little southern flair to it,” Cleek said. “People can relate to it. It's like their own small town that they may have grown up in a long time ago.”

Tickets are $15 at the door, $12 in advance and $10 for seniors and students tonight and Sunday; $18 at the door, $15 in advance and $12 for seniors and students Friday and Saturday night; all tickets are $8 for Saturday's matinee.

Tickets are available at www.jtgonline.com or The Ned box office.

FYI

What: The Jackson Theatre Guild presents the musical 'Li'l Abner.'

When: 7:30 p.m. tonight and Friday, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

Where: The Ned R. McWherter West Tennessee Cultural Arts Center, 314 E. Main St., in Jackson.

Tickets: Tickets are $15 at the door, $12 in advance and $10 for seniors and students tonight and Sunday; $18 at the door, $15 in advance and $12 for seniors and students Friday and Saturday night; all tickets are $8 for Saturday's matinee.

_________________________________________________________________________________________



”

Li'l Abner - Lauren as Daisy Mae

Shots from the reception after the play - The final scene in the play - Lauren wears her bride's dress - Love that hat!! The cast gathers on stage after the reception for a director's adjustment! Opening night was a huge success - a full house - roars of laughter and a standing ovation for the cast!! The perfect summer musical!

Lauren is great! This is a demanding role - lots of dancing!! And singing!! and lines to deliver! It is so much fun to watch her on stage!