The Ramsey House recently invited Appalachia Bare to attend their annual Celtic and Appalachian Music Festival. So, we packed our modest gear, threw in a few lawn chairs, and headed that way. The event was held underneath a large tent, sheltered from sun and/or rain. Food trucks were on hand,Continue Reading
I have a few pronunciation pet peeves. My language grievances may sound sanctimonious, especially to some folks who view Appalachian English as everything “un” – uncouth, unsophisticated, and uncivilized. Nevertheless, I cringe every time I hear: “I axed a question,” or, “He excaped through the window.” I’ll add to theseContinue Reading
Emmett Machinists of Knoxville vs. the Quicksteps of Spring Hill Though the Saturday afternoon in August was hot and sunny at the Historic Ramsey House in Knoxville, Tennessee,1)The Ramsey House was built in 1797 for Col. Francis A. Ramsey, the patriarch of one of Knoxville’s early prominent families. the weatherContinue Reading
Professional sculptor and mixed media artist Mary Ruden recently invited Appalachia Bare to attend the historical marker unveiling for suffragette Lizzie Crozier French. Our Admin, Tom Anderson and I stepped into Knoxville Tennessee’s Old Gray Cemetery and were greeted by a wonderful group of individuals, many wearing suffragette white. MaryContinue Reading
Some years ago, my family and I visited former president Andrew Johnson’s home in Greeneville, Tennessee. The tour was interesting, as all historical places are, but I felt a heavy presence throughout the house. Perhaps that feeling had something to do with a sort of transposed shame that Andrew JohnsonContinue Reading
How many of us when we were children, and, for some of us even as adults (ahem), have done this: We often overlook this widespread flower powerhouse. But the dandelion is an impressive and beneficial plant with quite an interesting history. Join Appalachia Bare as we unearth the dandelion –Continue Reading
Welcome back to the second part of Appalachia Bare‘s exclusive information gathering from “Rider,” an old time member of the Southern Sons. We took a little pit stop for a few nights and now we’re heading down the valley toward our destination. Gear buckled, helmet fastened, let’s crank up thatContinue Reading
Things happen at night in the holler. Bad things. Of course, that goes for big cities, too. But we all know hollers have no street lights or city lights and nighttime is pitch-black along those meandering dirt roads. Nightfall covers a multitude of sins like a cozy patchwork blanket. It’sContinue Reading
The dream of Narrow Ridge started in the late 1960s and began to approach a reality in 1972 when founder Bill Nickle purchased 40 acres of steep mountain land in the Hogskin Valley area of Grainger County, Tennessee. With roots in the philosophy of Martin Buber and others, Bill’s initialContinue Reading
Today has been National Korean War Armistice Day, where the nation remembers and honors Korean War veterans. The Koreas are situated smack dab in the middle between China, Russia, and Japan, and have been “caught up in their conflicts” for centuries. Japan controlled the country from around 1910 to 1945,Continue Reading
