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'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.

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 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 Mountain Bear Man near The Blue Ridge Parkway and More Blue RIdge Discovery Center News!

My Artwork

Blue Ridge Meadow  Original Oil Painting has been Sold

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

The great Charlottesville patron that recently bought Blue Ridge Meadow emailed me to tell me it is stunningly beautiful!  Now that is what an artist that sells paintings online wants to hear!

 Road to the Blue Ridge    Original 18"x24"  pastel painting   $862

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at    KENDALL KESSLER ART

Wish I were on that road right now!

Here is another fascinating legend about the Cherokee Native Americans and the Black Bear!

The Bear Man

A Hunter shot one arrow after the next into a black bear and chased after it until the bear finally took the arrows out and told the man he couldn't be killed and asked the hunter to come live with him.

This bear was a medicine bear and could talk and read people's thoughts.  

The hunter was worried the bear would hurt him but the bear told him he wouldn't hurt him and there would be plenty to eat.

They came to a hole in the side of the mountain that widened as they entered.  It was not the bear's home.  It was a meeting place for bear councils.  The other bears were alarmed at the presence of the hunter but the medicine bear told them it was only a stranger come to see them and he should be left alone.

The bear took the hunter to his home and rubbed his stomach and then his paws were full of chestnuts.  He did this many times for different kinds of food and both he and the hunter had plenty to eat.  The hunter stayed with him and his hair grew so long he was beginning to look like a bear.

One day the bear told him it was the day hunters would kill him. He told the hunter to put leaves over his remains after the kill.  The hunters entered the hole, killed the bear, and then realized the hairy creature was a hunter that has been missing for some time.  They  left with big chunks of bear meat and the hunter.  

Before they left the hunter put leaves over the remains of the bear and as they were leaving the bear reappeared, shook off the leaves, and disappeared into the forest.

The hunter told the tribe to let him be by himself for seven days so he could shake off the bear nature and become a man again but his wife was so determined to see him that she went into him and took him home.  He never became like a man again.

Legend has it that if he had been allowed to be alone and fast for seven days he would not have kept the bear nature.

Life with The Bird and Word Man - Clyde Kessler

The next Blue Ridge Discovery Center Happening is this Friday! 

BRDC at Independence Farmers Market

Fri, June 6, 9:30am – 12:30pm

Calendar	BRDC Web Calendar
Created by	scott@blueridgediscoverycenter.org
Description