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!

The Black Bear in History and Break a Leg! Life in Radford near The Blue Ridge Parkway.

My Artwork

Egret Reflection    Original Oil Painting has been Sold

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

Heron's Cove  Original    20"x30"    Pastel Painting    $1230

Prints on Paper or Canvas Available at   KENDALL KESSLER ART

The Black Bear

I have been blogging about Cherokee legends regarding the black bear so I thought it would be interesting to write about the influence of the black bear on other cultures.  The Cherokees are not the only people that believe the black bear possesses healing powers.

This trait is said to be known by many cultures and it is believed this notion originated in the paleolithic period. The Ancient Greeks associated Artemis with the bear because of its self-healing properties.

There are many plants that are considered to be medicinal with bear in the name such as bear root and bear clover.

Some cultures believe so strongly in the bear's medicinal properties that the bear population is threatened by over demand.  China has bear farms but also poaches bears in the United States and Canada.

Now that the bear is making a comeback in its natural habitat it is in danger from poachers.

I found this information on the online publication, Interesting Facts.

Break a Leg

Yesterday I had my regular eye check-up here in Radford.  My doctor works out of two offices.  He is in Radford for two days and in Salem for the rest of the week.  Needless to say, his office usually has many patients.

Yesterday they were especially busy.  When the assistant got to me she said, "Welcome to the Mad House!"

A few minutes later I heard another assistant say they were so busy she needed roller skates so she could break a leg and go home!

Now, that is one way out of work!

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.

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