Blue Ridge Parkway East Hall Ghost Story and The Word Man gets Published Again!

My Artwork

Nan Beau   Original    20"x18" Oil Painting     $740

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

A favorite portrait of my sister with the only dog she had growing up.  Beau was an exceptionally sweet dog!

Tech Duck Pond    Original Oil Painting has been Sold

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

The V.P.I. and S.U. duck pond is a favorite place to walk and fish in Blacksburg, VA!

East Hall Ghost

East Hall Dormitory is on Appalachian  State University.  The story began in the 1960's.  A student took her life on the lowest floor of the five story section. The cause is not remembered.  She hung her self with a long silk scarf in the basement restroom.

Ever since then students have reported strange happenings. Whispering in the hallways, strange balls of light hovering near the ceiling in the dorm rooms, and one man claimed a ghost toppled him over after he heard the words, "My Dorm."
T
he strongest presence of a ghost is felt in the basement where the girl died.  Students have reported seeing a blue mist about the size of a human being moving through walls and always ending the walk at the bathroom.

Whatever is going on, there seems to be an affect on the students that live there.  There have been a lot of psychotic episodes and the school's mental health services  keep a close eye on the students in this dorm and they are always on the look out for early signs that a student that has gone East!

I got this story from North Carolina Ghosts and Legends on the online publication Stories from the Mountains

Life with The Word and Bird Man - Clyde Kessler

Once again The Word Man has published his work!  I am very impressed with how frequently he is publishing his poetry these days!   He is not sure how many times he has been published but he knows it is more than 200 times in small press publications!

This time three of his poems will be in The Kentucky Review!  They will appear in the online publication  soon and the printed publication in January 2015. 

Way to go Word Man!

Blue Ridge Parkway Biltmore Ghost and My Latest Pawleys Island painting!

 My Artwork

I am very pleased to present the first of my latest shore scenes from beautiful Pawleys Island!  I love the shore and we get there once a year.  South Carolina has great beach resorts but my favorite is Pawleys Island.  

One of my best-selling prints, Marsh View at Pawleys Island, is one of my favorite paintings!

Pawleys Island Sunrise on the Sand is a sumptuous look at how the light reflects off the wet sand.  In this sunrise there is more morning light on the sand than the water, hence the title.

Pawleys Island Sunrise on the Sand    Original 30"x40" Oil Painting      $2430

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

Breakers at Pawleys Island   Original Painting has been Sold

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

The Biltmore Ghost

The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina was home to  George Washington Vanderbilt who was one of the heirs to the Vanderbilt industrial fortune. He was born into a mountain of money and never had to work a day in his life.

When he was  26 he traveled to Asheville with his mother and loved the area so much that he purchased 126,000 acres and built a fabulous vacation home there The house is so big that one could sleep in a different bed room each night and not sleep in one twice for a year!

George was an avid collector of books, art, and artifacts and had a huge library.  He and his wife had lavish parties and he usually had to be called out of the library to greet guests.
When he died in 1914 the estate passed through his daughter to his grand sons.  They decided to open the house to the public. 

It is the largest privately owned home in America and the setting for a number of successful movies including Being There, starring Peter Sellers.

Today there are reports of ghosts on the premises. George is said to be seen in the library where he often retreated during storms.  His wife's voice has been heard asking him to join his guests.  The parties seem to still be going on. People sometimes hear laughter and loud voices at the pool which is no longer in use.

I got this ghost story from Stories from The Mountains online publication

Life with The Bird and Word Man - Clyde Kessler

Yesterday I listed books on Appalachia that The Blue Ridge Discovery Center suggests for great reading about this gorgeous area of the world! 

 I forgot to mention A Natural Sense of Wonder by  Rick Van Noy includes a chapter on Clyde.     Rick Van Noy is very impressed with the naturalist work my husband does and we were pleased he included him in his book!

Here is the list again!

For the Blue Ridge:

• Hollows, Peepers, and Highlanders - An Appalachian Mountain Ecology, George Constantz 
• A Fly Fisherman's Blue Ridge, Christopher Camuto

Other must reads:

• A Songbird Journeys - Four Seasons in the Lives of Migratory Birds, Miyoko Chu
• The Trees in My Forest, Bernd Heinrich
• Winter World, Bernd Heinrich
• The Beak of the Finch, Jonathan Weiner 
• Home Ground - Language for an American Landscape, Barry Lopez, Debra Gwartney

• A Natural Sense of Wonder, Rick Van Noy

Blue Ridge Parkway Valle Crucis Ghost Story and Blue Ridge Discovery Center books!

 My Artwork

Butterfly Bushes  Original 20"x24" Acrylic Painting     $960

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

Sunset on The New River   Original 7"x9" Oil painting    $136

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

Valle Crucis Ghost Story

Another frightening story from Valle Crucis in The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina!

The name of the town comes from two streams that meet at right angles in the middle of the valley.
Two men were driving by an old stone church on highway 194  when a huge dog with gleaming eyes jumped out in front of them.

The dog was a big as a man and had bristling fur and massive yellow teeth. The driver sped away only to see the dog in the rear view mirror following and actually keeping up with the car that was going 80 miles an hour!

The men really believed this dog was from Hell so the driver hit the accelerator one more time and sped over the bridge that goes across the two streams.

The dog stopped following them and the men wondered what it was about the water that stopped this supernatural dog!

The writer of the story claims he knew the driver of the car and considered him to be an honest man. 

The writer is very cautious about traveling near the graveyard of the old stone church and counts the seconds before he gets to the bridge!

I found this great ghost story on Stories from the Mountains online publication

Life with The Bird and Word Man - Clyde Kessler

On The Blue Ridge Discovery Center Website there is a great list of books for people interested in this beautiful mountain region!

For the Blue Ridge:

• Hollows, Peepers, and Highlanders - An Appalachian Mountain Ecology, George Constantz 
• A Fly Fisherman's Blue Ridge, Christopher Camuto

Other must reads:

• A Songbird Journeys - Four Seasons in the Lives of Migratory Birds, Miyoko Chu
• The Trees in My Forest, Bernd Heinrich
• Winter World, Bernd Heinrich
• The Beak of the Finch, Jonathan Weiner 
• Home Ground - Language for an American Landscape, Barry Lopez, Debra Gwartney
• A Natural Sense of Wonder, Rick Van Noy

Blue Ridge Parkway Chimney Rock Ghosts and Shoot that Sand!

My Artwork

Monarch  Original 15"x21" Acrylic Painting   $670

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards  Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

Blue Ridge Meadow  Original Oil Painting has been Sold

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards  Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

Little Boy on The Beach

Yesterday I managed to go to the lake and swim for a while.  While I was resting on the beach

I had a great time watching a toddler with a water pistol almost as big as he was.  

He was shooting the water, any vacant float he could find, and the sand!   I love to watch kids!  That one was really taking care of things!

Glad I wasn't one of the targets!  Good parents!

The Chimney Rock Apparitions

Chimney Rock near Asheville, NC has been the home of some of the strangest apparitions ever recorded in North Carolina.  A little girl saw a man on top of the rocks in 1806. She told her brother who refused to believe her.  He went to the site and saw thousands of apparitions flying in the air!

The children called their mother who also saw the apparitions that seemed to be clothed in white and were all ages.  In all, six people saw the flying beings.  The account of this strange event was printed a few weeks later in the Raleigh Register and Gazette.  

In the summer of 1806 people reported seeing  groups of beings that seemed to be in battle with each other that included horses!

Newspapers across the state carried reports of this strange battle and today many people consider the vision to be of the not-so-distant Revolutionary War.

Who knows what really happened.  Today Chimney Rock is a beautiful park with many visitors.

I found this legend on the online publication, Stories from The Mountains.

Life with The Bird and Word Man - Clyde Kessler

The Bird Man is very happy to hear of one definite siting of the Metalmark butterfly in The New River Valley by the Virginia Natural Heritage Program.  

This butterfly is having a hard time surviving and Clyde has been working on improving habitat for this beautiful insect.

Conservation is extremely important to our welfare.  As one ecologist put it, you can't keep taking bolts  out of an airplane and expect it to stay in the air.

Last I heard, China is now spending a fortune on cross pollinating crops by hand since the honey bee has died out there.   Conservation is also about money.

Blue Ridge Parkway Judaculla Rock and I Love it!

My Artwork

Golden Farm Scene    Original Oil Painting has Been Sold

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

King on a Leaf   Original colored pencil drawing has been Sold

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

I found another Blue Ridge Parkway Creature Tale!  This one is a giant in Jackson County, North Carolina.

Judaculla

There is a rock near Cullowhee North Carolina that has strange inscriptions on it. According to Cherokee legend these markings were the work of a giant named Judaculla.  Supposedly he lived in the region long ago.

The name literally means, "He has them slanting", which refers to the giant's eyes.  He was awful to look at with seven fingers on each hand and seven toes on each foot.  He was seven feet tall and very ugly.

Judaculla had control of the elements and all of the game.

There are many explanations for the markings on the rock.  One involves a fall that left impressions, in particular, a foot impression with seven toes.  Another is that Judaculla left hunting instructions on the rock as he was the master of all game and allowed the Cherokees to hunt.

The rock was an important focal point for the Cherokees and was the site of religious rituals until their forced expulsion in the 19th century.  It is now an historic site that people can visit.

I found this legend on Stories from The Mountains online publication.

Out of the Mouths of Babes

I love to laugh! I especially enjoy word play!  There was a great one today on Facebook.  

A small child says she has Grandma on Speed Dial!  She calls it INSTAGRAM!

A Beautiful Moment   Original  20"x16" Oil Painting    $670

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

Life with The Bird and Word Man

The next Blue Ridge Discovery Center Even is Almost Here!

BRDC at Independence Farmers Market

Fri, June 27, 9:30am – 12:30pm

Where	Independence, VA map
Calendar	BRDC Web Calendar
Created by	scott@blueridgediscoverycenter.org
Description	More kids oriented educational activities.

Blue Ridge Parkway Scalawag and Maybe it is Renting it...

My Artwork

Mountain Lake Evening   40"x30"  Original Oil Painting     $2425

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

Canoes, Mountain Lake     Original 30"x40" Oil Painting has been Sold

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting Cards Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

Mountain Lake in Giles County was the setting for the hit movie, Dirty Dancing with Patrick Swayze!

I found another paranormal tale about a wild man in The Blue Ridge Mountains!

The Scalawag from Blue Mountain

Jimmie Lee had heard tales about the legendary Big Foot or Sasquatch but never thought he would come into contact with the beast.  He was twelve years old and staying with his uncle and two cousins for the summer.

One morning his uncle told the boys he saw huge  prints near his apple orchard.   Jimmie and his cousins decided to pitch a tent to see if they could see Scalawag!  They were having fun and when the campfire got low they decided to go to sleep at around 11:00.  

About thirty minutes later, the narrator heard a strange hissing sound.  He woke his cousin up and they both heard limbs cracking outside.

They saw with the flashlight a huge mammal like creature with long red fur eating apples in a crouched position. The creature turned and stared at them and they could see a strange human-like face with a pointy head. 

The face was the only part of the creature that did not have fur and was an orange-brown color. It let out a screeching howl and ran off into the woods.

The next day they saw the huge prints with toes in the ground.  The uncle and aunt have heard the noise of the animal since this event and Jimmie Lee swears he has seen Sasquatch!

I got this story from About.com Paranormal Phenomena online

Life with the Word and Bird Man - Clyde Kessler

I have always been nervous about spiders since one of my childhood friends said she had a black widow spider in her garage.   I stayed out of there!  I am not that scared of them but I don't know one from the next so I am cautious.

The other day there was a small black spider in the computer room so I asked The Bird Man who is also very knowledgeable about insects to look at it.  I yelled from the room that there was a spider in the room and would he come check it out.

He asked me if it had it's own web.

I said I didn't know.  Maybe it is renting it.

The Word Man was not amused.

Blue Ridge Parkway's Devil's Tramping Ground and Worst Birthday Card Ever - But very funny!

 My Artwork

Here are some of my recent Kendall Expressions paintings!  Check them out and more in the Kendall Expressions folder on my website!

Shark Beauty  Original  16"x20" Acrylic Painting     $670

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting cards Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

Beauty and Danger  Original  16"x20" Acrylic Painting     $670

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting cards Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

Blue Tiger Original  16"x20" Acrylic Painting     $670

Prints on Paper or Canvas and Greeting cards Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

I am having a great time researching myths and legends of mountain sites that are near the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway!   Here is another Native America legend about the Devil!

The Devil's Tramping Ground

The Devil's Tramping Ground is located in Western Chatham county near Siler City.  It is forty feet long. The path forms a ring and is a foot wide. The center of the circle and the area around it is covered with grass and plants but nothing grows in the path.

If objects are place in the path at night they are removed by morning.

It is believed to be the ground where the devil walks in a circle planning his devious tricks. His foot prints make the path.  He is gone by morning.  The devil's foot prints are so hot the ground is scorched so nothing can grow there. It is believed animals avoid the path.

Spooky!

I got this great legend from Cherokee Indians - Native American myths and legends online publication

Worst 40th Birthday Card Ever

I just checked out a Good Neighbors DVD from the library.  I love it so far!  The opening scene has a man with a birthday cake with one candle.  He opens a card and reads it.   

Mozart and Mendelssohn were dead by forty - Why aren't you?

Life with The Bird and Word Man - Clyde Kessler

The Independence Farmers Market is coming up June 27th!  This is another great event with The Blue Ridge Discovery Center!  There will be activities for kids!  Come on out!

BRDC at Independence Farmers Market

Fri, June 27, 9:30am – 12:30pm

Where	Independence, VA map
Calendar	BRDC Web Calendar
Created by	scott@blueridgediscoverycenter.org
Description	More kids oriented educational activities.

Blue Ridge Parkway Lover's Legend and Where does an Editor go for...

My Artwork

Old Fashioned Kitchen Again   Original 10"x8" Color Lithograph     $170

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

Sunny Old Fashioned Kitchen   Original 10"x8" color Lithograph   $170

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

Here are two of my color lithographs!  What a difference color makes in the expression of artwork!

Coneflower Dance  Original Oil Painting has been Sold

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

Oil paint will always be my main love!

The Legend of Blowing Rock

The town of Blowing Rock in North Carolina is named for a large over-hanging rock formation over a deep valley in the Appalachian mountains that has an upward draft. The draft is so strong that in winter snow blows upwards towards the rocks.

There is a story about this phenomenon that concerns two lovers from different Native American tribes.

Long ago a young chickasaw woman and her father moved deep into the woods to get away from the constant conflict between the Chickasaws and the Cherokees.  One day she was  in the woods gathering food when she saw a man that she feel in love with at first sight.  He was a Cherokee.

They met secretly for months and then one day they were drawn to a cliff to see a strange color in the sky.   The sun turned dark and became almost the color of blood.  The man knew this meant there was going to be a war between the two tribes and much blood would be lost.

He didn't know who is should be loyal to- his tribe, or his love.  His decision was to jump off the cliff and end his life.  His lover was horrified and prayed to the gods that controlled the wind that he wouldn't die and he magically came back up to her on the wind.

The two used the example of their miraculous love to bring peace to the Cherokees and the Chickasaws.

I found this great story on Stories from the Mountains online publication

Life with The Word and Bird Man - Clyde Kessler

My husband is always playing with words and cracking me up.  We haven't had to call 911 yet but I see that day coming.  Maybe one day I can laugh to death!  I think that would be a great way to go!

Anyway, he came up with one I really like a few days ago.  He was talking about revising different kinds of writing and came up with the word, revisal.

A revisal is where an editor goes to get religion! Love it!

The Blue Ridge Parkway Moon Eyed People and The Word Man Does it Again!

My Artwork

Here is one of my favorite Kendall Expressions paintings!  See more on my website in the folder of the same name!

Owls Electric  Original   9"x8"   Pastel Painting  $174

Prints on Paper or Canvas  Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

Porch     Original Hand Colored 8" x 10"  Lithograph   $180

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

Autumn Jewels    Original Oil Painting has been Sold

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

One of my favorite Autumn scenes!

More Appalachian Cherokee Legends!

The Moon-eyed people were, according to the Cherokees, a race of small men that  lived in the southern Appalachians. They were quite different from the Cherokee people in appearance.  Their skin was light and and they were bearded. 

They were called moon-eyed because they could only see at night.  Their sensitive eyes were blinded by the sun so they were nocturnal beings that lived in underground caverns.

Cherokee cosmotology is complex.  They believe they live with other supernatural beings but the Moon-eyed people are never described as having other-worldly characteristics so some believe they may have been European settlers that arrived before Columbus.

The stone wall of Fort Mountain, George is said to be associated with these people. According to legend, this great wall is left over from a war between the Moon Eyed People and the neighboring Creek nation. The wall is 850 feet long with varying heights between two and six feet high. 

Again, according to legend the Creek nation drove the Moon Eyed People off in a battle at night when the light of the moon was strong enough to weaken the nocturnal warriors.

I found this great story from the online publication Stories from the Mountains!

Life with The Word and Bird Man - Clyde Kessler

The Word Man has done it again!  This time  his poem, My Granny's Island has been accepted for publication by Leaves of Ink!  Yea Word Man!  The poem will appear in July's issue!

Blue Ridge Parkway Sirens and More Mirror Jokes...

My Artwork

I always work hard to put the "life" in still lifes!

Karen's Gift    Original  30"x40"  Acrylic Painting     $2430

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

Apple and Pear Twirl    Original 9"x20" Oil Painting   $360

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at  KENDALL KESSLER ART

Jogger  Original Oil Painting has been Sold

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

Blue Ridge Parkway Way Sirens

The Lorelei live in the pools of Ashville, NC and here is the Native America legend regarding their existence! They are said to live in pools of rapidly flowing water.

The Lorelei are sirens that appear to travelers that stop for a drink in the heat of the day.  They appear to be beautiful women.  It is said that soft music can be heard blending in with the sounds of the water. 

Travelers see a beautiful woman beckoning to them.  When the traveler reaches out their hand to touch the lovely image, they are drawn into the water by cold slimy hands. A skull appears, a loud laugh, and then silence.

Life with The Word and Bird Man - Clyde Kessler

As I have said before, I think my husband is very good-looking. He was when we were young and he still is now.  

He doesn't share that opinion and is always making jokes about his appearance.

The latest one is that the mirrors have 911 on speed dial and they hit it whenever he looks at his reflection.  The cops are really getting tired of answering all the calls.

Just three more Days until the next Blue Ridge Discovery Center Event!

Where	Mexican Restaurant in Independence, Va map
Calendar	BRDC Web Calendar
Created by	ecbaird@gmail.com
Description	For the next gathering I thought we'd meet around 5:00, June 19th at the Mexican restaurant in Independence. Please join us! Contact Eva Floyd with questions ecbaird@gmail.com 276.579.2464 The Beak of the Finch by Jonathan Weiner On a desert island in the heart of the Galapagos archipelago, where Darwin received his first inklings of the theory of evolution, two scientists, Peter and Rosemary Grant, have spent twenty years proving that Darwin did not know the strength of his own theory. For among the finches of Daphne Major, natural selection is neither rare nor slow: it is taking place by the hour, and we can watch. In this dramatic story of groundbreaking scientific research, Jonathan Weiner follows these scientists as they watch Darwin's finches and come up with a new understanding of life itself. The Beak of the Finch is an elegantly written and compelling masterpiece of theory and explication in the tradition of Stephen Jay Gould.

Blue Ridge Parkway Animal Legends and You just Proved Your Point!

My Artwork

Camellias    Original 13"x10"  Oil Painting  $272

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

One of my favorite florals!  I am especially pleased with the sensuous brushwork and color contrast of this painting!

Hikers Boards near Pandapas Pond     Original   30"x40" Oil Painting    $2425

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

These boards were place in an especially  wet section of the woods near Pandapas Pond in Giles Co.

Here is another great Cherokee animal legend from Lowell Kirk's online publication, Cherokee Myths and Legends!

The Uktena is a great snake with horns on its head and a blazing crest that looked a diamond on it's forehead.  It is as large as a tree trunk and  has scales that glitter like sparks of fire. It has rings or spots of color along the whole length and is considered to be a great prize to catch.

It can only be wounded on the seventh spot from the head which is where the heart and life of the animal are located. The blazing diamond is called Ulunsut'hi which means transparent.

If a brave wins the diamond, he is considered to be the greatest wonder worker because the light dazzles the hunter and causes him to run toward the snake.

Life with The Word and Bird Man  - Clyde Kessler

Age is relative. I have always wondered about people that think forty is ancient.  It  all depends on which side of the big 40 one is on.  Anyway, my husband and I would not be considered young by most people and we are starting to have a few memory problems.

Yesterday I mentioned a few memory problems that were bothering me.  Later I told him there was another age thing I wanted to mention but I forgot what it was.  He, of course, said you just proved your point!

Blue Ridge Parkway Bald Eagle Legends and a Fish Tale...

 

My Artwork

Eagle Fire  Original  20"x16"   Oil Painting     $670

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

One of my favorite Kendall Expressions paintings!  I will be getting back to these exceptionally vibrant works after I do some Pawleys Island shore scenes in my main style!

Dream River     Original 25"x40"  Oil Painting   $2025  

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

Dream River is from my Dream Paintings series.  These are paintings that are based on paintings I did in my sleep!  If you would like to see more, here is the link!  KENDALL KESSLER DREAM PAINTINGS

Here are some more legends from the first people of the Blue Ridge Mountains!

The eagle was a great sacred bird to the Cherokees as it was to most tribes.  It was especially important in ceremonies, especially war ceremonies. 

The killing of an eagle was only done by a designated eagle killer to get the prized feathers. The eagle killer was specifically chosen and trained for that purpose.

He was taught how to kill the eagle and what prayers were to be said afterward to obtain pardon for the sacrilege and ward off evil.  Killing an eagle out of season could cause a front that would destroy the corn and the snakes to become more dangerous.

Eagle songs were sung only after the snakes had gone to sleep for the winter and only a warrior or medicine man could wear the feathers.

The Cherokee believed in the Nunne'hi  or immortals that lived  throughout the Highlands. They were spirit people that loved music and dancing as much as the Cherokees did. Many of their homes were said to be on the high mountain balds but there are a lot of stories that associate them with the ancient mount of Nikwasi which is in Franklin, North Carolina.

I found these legends on Cherokee Myths and Legends by Lowell Kirk online.

Life with The Word and Bird Man  - Clyde Kessler

A Fish Tale

As I have mentioned before my husband is not able to eat many foods most people can eat but there are some foods he just doesn't like but tries to eat for health reasons.

Fish is one of them.  He has to drown it in mustard but he is determined to eat something both my son and I love.

He is starting to get used to fish.  Yesterday he asked me if I noticed that he didn't say anything bad about the salmon.  I told him I assumed he didn't criticize the fish because he wanted to live to see another day.  A little marital humor! I couldn't resist!

Blue Ridge Parkway First People Legends and Blue Ridge Discovery Center Event!

Color Ripples on The Blue Ridge  Original Painting has been sold

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

This painting has been stumbling on Stumbleupon.com for a week now!  Check it out!

Snail Kite  Original 9"x11"  Mixed Media Drawing     $208

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

I am finding more interesting myths and legends from the first people of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  I especially like the stories about their interpretations of nature!

Cherokee Animal Legends

The Cherokees believe the sun was a woman that lived in the east and the moon was her brother that lived in the west.

The Redbird was the daughter of the sun and eclipses were from a giant frog that lived in the sky and tried to swallow people. 

The lightening and the rainbow were the dress of the sons of thunder that lived in the west above the sky vault.

There are several stories about stars.  One is that a dog stole some corn meal and was whipped.  The dog ran across the sky to the north and sprayed the corn across the sky which created The Milky Way.

The buzzard is an important animal in their mythology.  He made the mountains and valleys with his wings and is considered to be a doctor!  That certainly is a different view of this bird than the one many people have today. 

Unfortunately many people  consider the vulture to be a pest and a lot of locales work hard to drive them off which is a big ecological mistake.

I found these legends on Cherokee Myths and Legends by Lowell Kirk online.

More tomorrow!

Life with The Bird and Word Man - Clyde Kessler

I wanted to be sure to announce the next great Blue Ridge Discovery Center Event coming up soon!

Where	Mexican Restaurant in Independence, Va map
Calendar	BRDC Web Calendar
Created by	ecbaird@gmail.com
Description	For the next gathering I thought we'd meet around 5:00, June 19th at the Mexican restaurant in Independence. Please join us! Contact Eva Floyd with questions ecbaird@gmail.com 276.579.2464 The Beak of the Finch by Jonathan Weiner On a desert island in the heart of the Galapagos archipelago, where Darwin received his first inklings of the theory of evolution, two scientists, Peter and Rosemary Grant, have spent twenty years proving that Darwin did not know the strength of his own theory. For among the finches of Daphne Major, natural selection is neither rare nor slow: it is taking place by the hour, and we can watch. In this dramatic story of groundbreaking scientific research, Jonathan Weiner follows these scientists as they watch Darwin's finches and come up with a new understanding of life itself. The Beak of the Finch is an elegantly written and compelling masterpiece of theory and explication in the tradition of Stephen Jay Gould.

Cherokee Origin of Game and Corn and The Pasta Buster...

My Artwork

Here is one of my recent Kendall Expressions paintings.  I am going to go back to my main style for some shore scenes now!

Imaginary Butterfly     Original 18"x24"   Acrylic Painting    $894

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

Blooming Apple   Original Oil Painting has been Sold

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

I am still finding great Blue Ridge myths and legends of the Cherokee people!   Such wonderful, magical stories!  I was pleased that my husband was not familiar with the one I posted yesterday about the chickadee!  I actually taught The Bird Man something! 

The Origin of Game and Corn

Long ago shortly after the world was made there lived a hunter and his family on Looking Glass Mountain in North Carolina.  The Blue Ridge Parkway can be seen from Looking Glass Rock.  They had one son named Good boy. His brother came out of the water where the first boy played.  They kept him and named him Wild Boy.  They knew he had magic powers.  The father always brought home much game for the family.  They always had enough to eat.

One day Wild Boy transformed himself into a puff of bird down on the father's shoulder  and followed him to a rock.  The father moved the rock and  deer came out and he killed one to bring home.

The next day the boys went to the rock and got game but forgot to put the rock back.  The father punished them and told them now they would have to hunt for game.

The hungry boys went home and asked their mother for something to eat and she went to the storeroom for corn.  The boys watched her rub her belly to fill a pot with corn and rub her legs to fill one with beans.

They decided she was a witch and she told them that when she died they were to clear the land around the home and they would always have corn.  They didn't follow her instructions carefully so that is why corn does not grow in all parts of the world.

I found this story on the online publication, Native Languages of the Americas: Tsalagi/Cherokee Legends, Myths, and Stories

Life with the Word and Bird Man - Clyde Kessler

As I mentioned before my husband is not able to eat many things most people have no problem with.  The tomato  is one of them but he can eat a small portion if it is cooked such as in spaghetti sauce.  I think I am becoming somewhat sensitive to tomatoes and now after spaghetti I feel like I am going to pop!

I told Clyde we needed to go on a Pasta Buster walk and he said that sounds like a rock song.  "Get outside and bust that pasta before they have to roll you out the door!"  Get outside and bust that pasta!  You know you don't need anymore!

I know the lyrics aren't much so far but maybe we will come up with more the next spaghetti night.

My Artwork

Tulip Flow    24"x18" Original Acrylic Painting       $896

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

This is my latest Kendall Expression painting!  I will be returning to my main style for a while to do some new shore scenes!

Osprey Evening   Original 8"x10' Oil Painting    $168

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

This painting has been stumbling for days at Stumbleupon.com!  Check it out!Color Ripples over The Blue Ridge         Original Oil Painting has been Sold

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at     KENDALL KESSLER ART

This beautiful mountain vista has also been stumbling since the middle of last week!

I came across a wonderful Cherokee legend about a witch in the Blue Ridge Mountains!  What a great tale!

A long time ago there was a witch that was like an ogre.  Her skin was like rock and could not be penetrated by any weapon  but she could magically appear as a nice old woman.  She ate human livers by putting her long stony sharp finger through a body and pull the liver out.  The victim did not feel any pain and oftentimes was unaware they were being attacked.  They would start to feel ill and waste away.

She would often fool little girls by offering to comb their hair and then cause them to fall asleep so she could steal their livers.

The council decided they must do something about this witch before she attacked everyone and destroyed the tribe.  They dug a deep ditch and placed branches and leaves over it so it could not be seen.  Then they set a fire to attract the witch.

She fell in but arrow after arrow just bounced off as she tried to get out.  A Chickadee bird flew into the pit and landed on her right hand.  The warriors aimed there and the arrow went into her heart that she kept clutched in that hand.

Cherokees believe the chickadee is a truth sayer and if one appears to someone on a journey they are sure to have a safe trip home!

I found this story on the online publication, First People, The Legends

Life with The Bird and Word Man - Clyde Kessler

I wanted to be sure to announce the next great Blue Ridge Discovery Center Event coming up soon!

Where	Mexican Restaurant in Independence, Va map
Calendar	BRDC Web Calendar
Created by	ecbaird@gmail.com
Description	For the next gathering I thought we'd meet around 5:00, June 19th at the Mexican restaurant in Independence. Please join us! Contact Eva Floyd with questions ecbaird@gmail.com 276.579.2464 The Beak of the Finch by Jonathan Weiner On a desert island in the heart of the Galapagos archipelago, where Darwin received his first inklings of the theory of evolution, two scientists, Peter and Rosemary Grant, have spent twenty years proving that Darwin did not know the strength of his own theory. For among the finches of Daphne Major, natural selection is neither rare nor slow: it is taking place by the hour, and we can watch. In this dramatic story of groundbreaking scientific research, Jonathan Weiner follows these scientists as they watch Darwin's finches and come up with a new understanding of life itself. The Beak of the Finch is an elegantly written and compelling masterpiece of theory and explication in the tradition of Stephen Jay Gould.

More Cheroke Animal Legends of the Blue Ridge Mountains near The Blue Ridge Parkway and Blue Ridge Discovery Event tomorrow!

My Artwork

For the last few days I have been blogging about Cherokee Animal Myths and Legends so I thought it would be a good idea to post some of my animal paintings from my folder Kendall Expressions.  

In these paintings I have let my expressive side take over!

Here is the link to this folder on my website      Kendall Expressions

Bear Beauty   Original 16"x20" Acrylic painting      $670

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

Antler Swirl    Original 20"x16" Acrylic Painting     $670

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

Galloping Red   Original 16"x20" Acrylic Painting      $670

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

Yesterday I blogged about some of the Cherokee animal legends and thought it would be a good idea to add some more!    I like to learn!

Cherokee Animal Legends

Yesterday I wrote about the skunk legend.  The Cherokees believe the smell is a deterrent to disease.  There is more to it.  During the small pox epidemic of 1866 the animal was hung up and sometimes it was cooked and eaten.  The oil was rubbed on the sick person's body because they believed the smell would repel the disease spirit.

The beaver is invoked when children are getting their permanent teeth since it has amazing gnawing ability.  When  children lose a tooth they run with it around the house four times and ask the beaver to put a new tooth in their jaw.

The dog does not appear much in their myths but some say it is responsible for the Milky Way.

Another myth says the dog drives the wolf from the home and takes the comfortable place by the fire for himself.

The elephant which some Cherokees saw in shows is called The Great Butterfly because of its large flapping ears and long trunk which resemble the wings and proboscis of the insect.

I got this information from the online publication  First People The Legends

Life with The Bird and Word Man  -  Clyde Kessler

I wanted to again remind folks of the next Blue Ridge Discovery Center event this Friday!

BRDC at Independence Farmers Market

Fri, June 6, 9:30am – 12:30pm

Calendar	BRDC Web Calendar
Created by	scott@blueridgediscoverycenter.org
Description	More kid events.

Cherokee Animal Legends and Vacuum Tales in Radford near The Blue Ridge Parkway

My Artwork

Blue Ridge Mist    Original 12"x16"  Oil Painting     $384

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

Liatris Flowers at Doughton Park    Original 30"x40" Oil Painting  $2425

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at KENDALL KESSLER ART

Near Pawleys Island    Original 11"x14" Oil Painting     $313

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

I still have Pawleys Island on my mind!  After I do some more shore scenes I will be getting back to large Blue Ridge Vistas!

I have put up a number of blogs on the Cherokee Native American legends about the Black Bear in The Blue Ridge Mountains and today I came across some other legends regarding other animals!  Interesting stuff!

Cherokee Animal Legends

The primeval animals are thought to have been larger and stronger than their present day descendants.

The rabbit is the most prominent animal in their myths.   It is a trickster and considered to be malicious.  It is often beaten at its own game by those it intends to victimize.  Ball players are forbidden to eat rabbits when they are in training because this animal seems to be so confused when it runs.

The meat of the common grey squirrel is forbidden to rheumatic patients because of the cramped position it assumes while eating.

The deer won its horns in a successful race with the rabbit.

The wolf is revered as a hunter and Cherokees abstain from killing it if they can avoid it.  They believe a relative of the slain wolf will seek out the hunter and kill him.

The odor of the skunk is believed to keep off contagious diseases.

I found this information on the online publication, First People , The Legends

Life with The Word and Bird Man

Over the years my husband and I have had a lot of trouble with vacuum cleaners.  I try to be very careful not to pick up anything that will break it but I seem to manage to break them anyway.  Either that, or they just break to spite me.

I am practically putting my head to the rug to check for objects since we bought a new one a while back.  It is under warranty and I have the box and everything in it.  This one will be replaced if something goes wrong.

The other day I was vacuuming our bedroom and my husband was standing nearby.
I said I checked and I didn't see any stupid thing  on the floor.

He said he was standing on the rug but he didn't think that would be a problem.  I didn't mean him!  He is always there with a word quip!  Keeps me laughing!