When the women were cooking (finally) on stoves

Thanks to Appalachian Coalfields spot on Facebook!  I tend to share these great collections.  But the ones I've gathered to share here are 1. in case you don't have Facebook, or 2. some comments about the cooking methods women have used through the years.

I love looking at the kitchens of yesterday.  We've come a long way...(think how many years women stooped by a fireplace to cook!)

A woodburning stove offered a hot top to cook on (standing up!)

Preparing the food in a home with electricity...notice the little fan behind granny.  These kitchen dressers/pantries are such a great design to help women cooks.

Yes, that's how you got the hot water for use in the hand cranked washing barrel.  This stove had a hot water heater attached behind it, but I think it was still coal or wood fired.  Wouldn't have needed that chimney otherwise.  Not likely to have electricity but that photo has a lot of light in it, so maybe the house was wired.

Shorpy Historical Photo Archive :: Mrs. B. Bakes: 1917

A kerosene stove, (on left) according to comments on the Facebook post.

A bit more modern, with an electric stove.  Women were still canning the fruits and veggies.  And that's a pressure cooking canner, much faster, but you had to know what you were doing.  Notice the hot pads hanging by the stove...just like we used to make as children on these little looms with loops of colored materials.

Within my lifetime, many areas of the Appalachians received electricity, when the TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) ran poles and wires up into the mountains...(40s and 50s).  So the old coal, kerosene and wood stoves gradually were replaced.  But many women preferred to use propane, and had tanks right outside that were filled by trucks.

I'm pretty confused today...didn't I post this on another blog already?  Silly me.

Little Switzerland for a moment

starting soon, my traveling photos will be once again over at my other blog, Living in Black Mountain, NC

Rock House at Linnville Falls turnoff

One of the many reasons I like traveling with Helen, she saw this heart stone included in the wall.

Our choices of pie and coffee were served in one of the 3 counties which the restaurant straddles.

There are hilarious signs so you can choose which county to sit in.
The table next to us had a sign over it which just said "Lier's Table."

If you're traveling up Highway 226 toward Linville NC, or just going to the Falls, don't miss this lovely family restaurant.

Stopping when we felt like it

Off in the distance, I could see, but could not capture, a streak of white, as if a mine or a bluff were there...but it was way too far for a photo.

We didn't even get out of the car, but took shot through the open window, which was thrilling because we couldn't see the pretty clouds from inside, and there they were framing the two trees.

I loved this bluff, as we approached the Altapass area, where we'll be going for apples soon.

Another year older

What makes this potter happy as a lark?

Meeting other potters who do production work!

Hi there Michele Hastings! We drove to Seagrove so I could meet some of my blogger friends.
And my dear friend, Martha, was great to drive me around to find the studios I wanted to visit...as well as the Pottery Center Museum. (We had to limit to just a few stops this time!)

I love!!! my new gingko mug~!!! It will remind me of our visit each time I have coffee!

 A working studio/shop combines different pottery needs.

And THEN...

 We were welcomed at Whynot Pottery by Meredith Haywood!

 Remember the old saying (which is absolutely true)...Potters are the friendliest people around!

And to remind me of my visit,  I have a new little tile of a giraffe which can hang somewhere at home.

Then we got a quick tour of the studio, and met Mr. Haywood (who was busy making pottery!)

I was interested in seeing how Meredith paints her tiles, on a cone 6 red clay with various commercial and mixed glazes.  Beautiful and detailed work!

I'll share a bit about the Pottery Center in Seagrove later...