Some of the seminars I've designed are: Mountain Land, Mountain People, a week spent meeting and learning about people who grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  We hear from local families of Scots Irish descent, from an original African American family, and from a Cherokee family.  Teachers share the culture of the mountains while discovering similarities with their own culture.

 

I also designed Smoky Mountain Winter Traditions, a look at winter traditions in our mountains.  Winter time was mainly a time to rest and get ready for the coming year.  It was a time for family members to re-connect to one another and the continue tradtions that had been begun years ago.  Our teachers hear and participate in traditions such as making boxes from left over Christmas cards, making cinnamon ornaments, and making wreaths.  We visit a local Christmas tree grower for a glimpse of an industry which supports our local economy.  The highlight of our week is a visit to The Jarrett House, a bed and breakfast in nearby Dillsboro, NC for dinner and a visit to downtown Dillsboro for their annual lights and luminairrie, which occurs on the first two weekends of December. Over 2000 lights will luminate the streets of Dillsboro, all the stores will be open late with welcoming snacks, and each street corner will host music or other entertainment.

 

Another seminar I present is called Bringing Back the Wild, which encourages teachers to learn about wildlife habitat and the re-introduction of various species into the Smoky Mountains.  We learn why habitat protection is vital to the survival of existing species, and travel to see forestry management which encourages habitat protection. We travel to the Blue Ridge Parkway and see peregrine falcons which nest and reproduce on the slopes of the Devil's Courthouse.  We then wrap up the week with a visit to the Cataloochee Valley, where elk are being re-introduced into the Smokies.  We visit the holding pens where elk are kept prior to release, then have a summer dinner picnic while waiting for the elk to come into the lower meadows for their evening snack.  On our last visit, we not only saw the elk, but we also saw wild turkey, snakes, bats, and a bear!

 

My hobbies are storytelling, of course, and photography.  I enjoy traveling back into the mountains, visiting people and places.  Somehow these people and places find their way into my life, stories, and books.  I am currently working on a small book about the history and people of Dillsboro, NC, as well as a cookbook with recipes from Bradley's General Store family and staff. A second edtion of Granny Tales, as well as a volume of stories in collaboration with my brother, Billy Harris, are also planned.