Pawpaw Holler Home

In the Townsend area?

Treat your sweetheart to dinner this weekend at Smoky Junction Restaurant:

Blessings,

Denese

The Townsend Winter Heritage Festival takes place this week, Thursday through Sunday, February 4-7, 2010.

A celebration of the history, people, and traditions of Townsend TN, Cades Cove, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

All programs require pre-registration.  Most are free;  events with food will have a charge, so call the host businesses to make reservations.

Schedule is subject to change.

There will be presentations, exhibits, hikes, demonstrations and much more.

Download the full program booklet (PDF) here:

Winter Heritage Booklet 2010

Please call the Townsend Visitors Center at (865) 448-6134 or (800) 525-6834 for more information.

Blessings,

Denese

Need something to do today?

There will be an Open House/Craft Fair today, January 31st, 2010 from 2-4pm at the Highland Manor Inn Conference Center in Townsend, Tennessee.

Several vendors will be there including; Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, Premier Designs and Southern Living. You’ll find homemade and gift items such as jewelry, hair bows, baby items, and many more.

Everyone is welcome and there will be refreshments and door prizes.

Traveling north through Townsend on 321, Highland Manor Inn is located at 7766 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy -on the right, just past the Valley View Lodge.

In case of bad weather, you might want to call the motel to be sure the Open House hasn’t been cancelled –(865) 448-2211.

Blessings,

Denese

We’re still waiting on the big snow storm here next to the Smoky Mountains. The current forecast is calling for 4-9 inches total for Townsend and  6-14 inches in the Park –but you never know, it could be a lot less or a lot more.

Smoky Mountains Weather Forecast

Radar

Are you prepared if the power goes out?

Staying Warm

If you have a woodstove or fireplace, make sure you have enough wood to last a few days, and stack it somewhere out of the weather –it’s no fun digging out wood from under 3 feet of snow (did that during the blizzard of ‘93). Same thing if you use a kerosene heater -be sure you have a few days supply of fuel.

Here are some ideas to stay warm, if you don’t have an alternative heat source:

• close off all but one room of your house
• cover all your windows and doors with blankets
• share body heat –dress warmly and pile up together under blankets
• stay with a neighbor who does have heat

Eating

If you have a woodstove or fireplace, you should have no problem –just cook right on top of the woodstove or on the coals in the fireplace.  You can also heat food on top of a kerosene heater, depending on how hot it gets. Do you have a BBQ grill? You can cook on that, too (outside).

No way to cook? Just make sure you have plenty of food stocked up that you don’t have to cook.

Some examples:

• cold cereals
• canned tuna
• crackers
• peanut butter
• bread
• granola bars
• fresh and canned fruit
• Vienna sausages
• Beanie weenies
• lunchmeats –ham, bologna, turkey, etc.
• cheese
• salad vegetables –carrots, celery, cucumbers, etc.

(Be sure you have a manual can-opener)

And, if the power does go out, don’t worry about your refrigerated or frozen food –stick it outside in the snow!

Water

Be prepared by jugging up some water, anywhere from 1-4 gallons per person per day for drinking, cooking, washing, and using the bathroom (and don’t flush the toilet each time you go). If you have pets, you’ll need water for them, too.

You can also melt snow (it takes a lot) or get water from a creek for your bathroom needs (8 drops of bleach per gallon will purify water for drinking –or boil it, which is best).

Be sure you have a big pot to heat water in (if you have a non-electric heat source).

Light And Communication

Be sure to have on hand:

Candles or oil lamps (and lamp oil)

Battery operated radio

Extra batteries

If you have a cell phone, be sure it’s completely charged (and have a car charger in case the battery runs down)

Above all, stay safe and don’t go anywhere unless it’s an emergency (life or death situation) –and don’t bother the police with trivialities.

Blessings,

Denese

The Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center in Townsend, Tennessee is hosting a free event this Friday and Saturday January 29-30, 2010.

Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center to host ‘Hurry-Back-Spring-Fling’

The Heritage Center is located at 123 Cromwell Dr. in Townsend (just off Hwy 73, between the traffic light and GSMNP entrance) and is open 10am-5pm.

Please call (865) 448-0044 for more information.

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 

Every Saturday night, in season, you can enjoy free music at the Pickin’ Porch, located behind Wood ‘n Strings Dulcimer Shop in Townsend.

Tonight, listen to Native American flute music performed by Randy McGinnis –music starts at 7:00pm.

Wood ‘n Strings is located at 7645 E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy. in Townsend.

Blessings,

Denese

The Little River Railroad and Lumber Company Museum in Townsend will present two special tours this Saturday.

There will be an  “Old Town” tour at 9:00am, focusing on the old lumber mill in Townsend, and a tour of the old logging camp at Tremont will start at 10:30 am.

Townsend museum hosts special tours Saturday

There is no charge for the tours and they are repeated on the fourth Saturday of every month.

Blessings,

Denese

Are you in the Townsend, TN area? Do you have little ones?

Every other Tuesday through May, the Mary E Tippitt Memorial Library in Townsend holds preschool and afterschool children’s programs.

Today’s preschool program is from 10:15am to 11:30am and is about shapes, colors and numbers.

The afterschool program, from 3:15pm to 4:15pm, is about  transportation and people you respect.

Programs include storytime, craft projects and fun!

The library is located at:

120 Tiger Drive
Townsend, TN 37882
Phone: (865) 448-1441

There is no charge to attend the library programs, you don’t have to be a Townsend resident to attend and if you live or own property within a 45 min. drive of the METM Library, you can apply for a free library card.

For more information:

Mary E Tippitt Memorial Library Children’s Programs

Blessings,

Denese

Don’t forget, today is the Book and Bake Sale at the Mary E. Tippitt Memorial Library in Townsend.

Here are just a few of the homemade goodies that will be for sale:

Sale is from 9am to 5pm, go early for the best selection.

Blessings,

Denese