Pawpaw Holler Home

Need a job? Are you close to the Smokies? Do you like outdoor work?

The National Park Service has job openings in the Great Smoky Mountains near Townsend, Gatlinburg and Cherokee.

Jobs available:

• Laborer
• Laborer (Trails)
• Laborer (B&U)
• Laborer (Roads)
• Maintenance Worker (Trails)
• Maintenance Worker Leader (Trails)
• Maintenance Worker (Roads)
• Maintenance Worker (B&U)
• Small Craft Operator
• Carpentry Worker
• Motor Vehicle Operator
• Maintenance Worker (Historic Structures)
• Animal Caretaker

There are 28 jobs in all, most are temporary and/or one year in length and starting pay is $13.00-$19.00 an hour, depending on the position. You can find them and apply online at:

USAJobs Great Smoky Mountains

If you’re interested, apply soon –deadlines to apply for each job are next week, January 12-14.

Blessings,

Denese

The Smokies are already white –will they get whiter?

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for the Great Smoky Mountains until 6pm tomorrow, Friday January 8. As of right now, the National Weather Service says up to 2 inches of snow is possible in the lower elevations of the Park and 3-6 inches in the higher elevations.

Smoky Mountains Forecast

Radar

Up on Mt. LeConte, third highest peak in the Smoky Mountains at 6593 feet, there is already 15 inches of snow on the ground. 

Here in the Pawpaw Holler, just outside the Park at 2230 feet, we still have a half an inch of snow -in spots (we’ve had snow every day this week).

No new snow as of this morning.

Road Closure Info

For a full list of updated road and weather information in the Smokies, call (865) 436-1200.

Blessings, stay warm and be safe

Denese

UPDATE: Daniel just came in and informed me, “Mom, it’s snowin’ and it’s stickin’!”.  (Oh, to be 8 again!)

Better go get your milk and bread!

According to Winter Caretaker Doug McFalls, it was -7 degrees on Mount LeConte this morning:

Clear, Sunny And Negative 7 Degrees Today

No warm-up in sight, more snow in the forecast for this week:

Smoky Mountains Weather Forecast

Blessings and stay warm,

Denese

Will we see some of this?

A Winter Storm Warning is in effect from 1pm this afternoon through Saturday evening for the Great Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee.

Heavy snowfall is expected with possible accumulations of 5-10 inches by tomorrow night.

Winter Storm Warning For The Great Smoky Mountains

Smoky Mountains Forecast

Travel is expected to become hazardous this evening and road closures are possible. For updated road and weather information in the Smokies, call (865) 436-1200.

Let it snow!

Blessings and safe traveling,

Denese

High winds averaging 70 miles an hour tore through our area yesterday…

Area Hit Hard By Rain, Winds

100 mph winds, trees down in Great Smoky Mountains

As a result, Laurel Creek Road and Cades Cove Loop Road in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are still closed today.

2 roads remain closed in Smokies; fallen trees being cleared

The roads are expected to re-open by this afternoon.

For updated road and weather information call (865) 436-1200.

Blessings,

Denese

The Smoky Mountains are white!

Snow is falling in the Knoxville area, higher amounts in Smoky Mountains

Rain turning to snow in some western NC areas; higher elevations under winter storm warning

No word on road closings, yet.

Great Smoky Mountains Temporary Road Closures

For updated road and weather information call (865) 436-1200.

According to the radar, the snow is moving out –but we may get some more the first of the week!

Smoky Mountains Radar

National Radar

Smoky Mountains Weather Forecast

We ended up with 3 inches…

Our view from the porch

Hazelnut tree blooms

A coooold marigold

Last of the blackberry (oops) maple leaves

Brrrr –it’s cold!

At least my flowers know what month it is now!

Blessings and stay warm,

Denese

Here we go again…maybe they’ll get it right this time!

A winter storm watch is in effect for The Great Smoky Mountains and parts of Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia. Snow is expected to move in tonight and last through Saturday, with accumulations of anywhere between 1-6 inches.

It’s supposed to clear out Sunday with more snow in the forecast for later in the week.

Winter Storm Watch For The Smoky Mountains

Smoky Mountains Weather Forecast

Smoky Mountains Radar

Although there are no weather related road closures right now, it’s possible some roads in the Smokies will be closed if it does snow (think Newfound Gap Rd.):

Great Smoky Mountains Temporary Road Closures

For updated road and weather information call (865) 436-1200.

It may move in quicker than the forecast says –it’s been mistin’ (or somethin’) all morning here in the Pawpaw Holler.

Go get your bread and milk before it gets gone!

Blessings and safe traveling,

Denese

As of today, the 7-day forecast for the Smokies is calling for rain most of the week –and snow on Thanksgiving! 

Smoky Mountains Forecast

Blessings,

Denese

Will you be in the Peaceful Side of the Smokies for Thanksgiving this year?

Do you have plans for Thanksgiving dinner yet?

Don’t want to cook?

Thanksgiving Buffet At Smoky Junction Restaurant

If you are going to be in Townsend for Thanksgiving, head over to Smoky Junction Restaurant  for their “Thanksgiving Harvest Table Buffet”.

Buffet is all-you-can-eat and includes ham, roast beef and turkey with all the trimmings, vegetables, bread and choice of pumpkin pie or banana pudding for dessert. Drinks are extra.

Cost: $10.95 for adults, $4.99 for children

Time: 11:30 am to 7-8pm (?) 

Reservations/Groups: No reservations are required, large groups are welcome –more than 12-14, please call ahead: (865) 448-6881

Smoky Junction Restaurant is located at 7753 E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy, Townsend TN (beside the train).

* Breakfast will be served on Thanksgiving morning.

Blessings,

Denese 

For those of you wondering about snow in the Smokies –there isn’t any yet, none even in the forecast!

Smoky Mountains Weather Forecast

That could change by tonight –here in East Tennessee the weather doesn’t always co-operate with the meteorologists!

It is very foggy today.

Blessings,

Denese