Reflecting Our Culture of The High Country

 

Music, Memories, and the Nashville Handshake: A Conversation with Fiddle Player Alan Johnson

If you ever find yourself wandering through Avery County, North Carolina on a lazy Sunday afternoon, do yourself a favor: pull over at the historic Pineola Inn. Follow the rich, flying notes of a fiddle, and you will find Alan Johnson sawing away on his fiddle for a captivated crowd.

Alan might just be the busiest musician in the entire High Country. In fact, if you ask him exactly how many bands he currently plays in, he will look at you, smile, and give you a perfectly honest answer: "I don't know."

When we sat down to chat with this local legend, we quickly realized that Alan’s deep musical roots stretch far beyond our mountain ridges. He carries with him a lifetime of stories, including a remarkable connection to Music City royalty.

A House Filled with Sound

Music was a family affair for Alan from the very beginning.

"I had a brother ten years older who wanted to play rock and roll, and a daddy who played the fiddle," Alan reminisces. "So growing up, there was every kind of music in the house. I picked up the fiddle around age nine and have never really put it down."

That early, eclectic exposure paid off. Today, you can catch Alan sharing his gift across the region with the David Wiseman Band, the Johnson Brothers, and Woody and the String Band. But before becoming a staple of the local mountain music scene, Alan took a leap of faith that led him straight to Tennessee.

Mastering the "Nashville Handshake"

At age 29, Alan packed his bags and moved to Nashville, driven by a dream and a fiddle case. Like many aspiring artists, he quickly learned the hustle of the town.

"I handed out my card left and right," Alan says with a grin. "They called it the 'Nashville handshake.' That's when you shake a person's hand and palm them your card."

The music industry is notoriously tough to crack, and the silence can be deafening. For six months, Alan’s phone didn't ring. "I promise you, I was about ready to pack it in and come home," he admits.

But destiny had other plans, and it arrived in the form of a legendary mentor.

An Unexpected Call from John Hartford

Unbeknownst to Alan, he had an incredibly powerful ally in his corner: John Hartford, the brilliant, Grammy-winning songwriter behind the masterpiece Gentle on My Mind.

"He befriended me when I first arrived in Nashville," Alan shares. "Almost exactly six months to the day I arrived, the phone rang, and it was Hartford."

Hartford wasn't calling with a gig; he was calling to check on Alan's spirit and make sure the young musician hadn't given up on his dream. That single, encouraging phone call shifted the universe. Within a single week, Alan booked three gigs—and the rest was history.

Some of Alan’s fondest memories of those years aren't from the big stages, but from the quiet moments. He smiles warmly recalling how he and Hartford would sit together for hours inside Hartford's home, trading tunes and playing their fiddles simply for the pure joy of the music.

The Gift of Ear

Despite his success and undeniable reputation, Alan remains incredibly humble about his craft.

"I am not the greatest fiddle player in the world," Alan insists. "Those guys sit and practice all day long, the way a golfer hits a thousand practice balls a day. That's just not me."

What Alan lacks in rigid practice routines, he more than makes up for with a rare, innate genius. Growing up, if he heard a complex lick played by one of his musical heroes—like bluegrass icon Doyle Lawson—he didn't need sheet music or a lesson. He could instantly play it back, perfectly, note for note.

It is that raw, authentic talent that makes Alan’s music so magnetic. He isn't just playing notes; he is channeling a lifetime of heritage, grit, and passion into every stroke of his bow.

Next time you are in Pineola on a Sunday, pull up a chair, grab a cold drink, and listen to a master at work. Just don't forget to offer him a handshake

 

 

Stitching the Truth: Our Quest for the Ultimate Quilt Pattern

Every great road trip starts with a friendly argument. For Jason and me, it was a genuine dispute about quilt history. Having spent years in the antique business selling vintage textiles, I know good and well which quilt pattern folks ask for the most. But, of course, Jason didn’t believe me.

Click Here to See there was only one way to settle the bet: put the question to the women who would know for certain.

Meeting a Room Full of Firecrackers

Our quest took us straight to the Avery Riverwalk Quilting Guild. Walking into that space, I knew instantly we were surrounded by immense talent—my own wife used to be a guild quilter, so I recognize the real deal when I see it.

Our primary contact was Cindy, and let me tell you, that woman is a little ball of fire. When Cindy pours her energy into a project, the results are first-class every time. She can run a local raffle you'd figure might raise two or three hundred dollars, and doggone if she doesn't pull in two thousand instead.

Right after we walked in, I thought one of the ladies was actually wearing a full bed quilt. When she stood up, it turned out to be a uniquely styled pair of quilted overalls! She confessed she didn't make them herself—but proudly declared she sure could have, if she just decided to put her mind to it.

Samplers, Wonky Stars, and a Bit of State Pride

Another talented member, Karen, gave us the grand tour of their latest creations:

• The Patriotic Sampler: Karen walked us past a stunning display where every single block was entirely different, yet perfectly balanced to create a cohesive masterpiece. Check out our latest video to see how these individual patterns blended together.
• The Ohio Star: I practically had to cover my eyes when she pointed this one out. Come on, Karen! North Carolina has its own quilting star!
• The "Wonky Star": She showed us a pattern set on a sharp angle. It turns out "wonky star" is an actual, official industry term. Who knew?
• The New Christian Church Wall Hanging: We also got a look at a beautiful custom wall hanging the guild created and presented to the church as a thank-you for hosting their meetings every month.

How Quilting Has Evolved (But the Gossip Stays the Same)

Karen also caught us up on how the craft has changed over the generations. In the old days—long before Jason's or my grandparents were around—women would gather around a massive wooden frame with needle and thread. They would bring food, talk all day, and stitch a quilt entirely by hand.

The Avery Guild keeps that beautiful tradition alive, just with a modern twist. Members meet up at ten in the morning, run an educational program, share a massive potluck lunch, and spend the afternoon sewing on advanced, programmable machines.

And as for all the talking and neighborhood gossip during those sewing hours? This old boy knows better than to say anything about that!

3,000 Years of Cozy History

Here is a quick fact our ride-about partners might not know: humans have been quilting for over 3,000 years. It is an art form built to last. In fact, we have quilts in our own home that my wife's mother made sixty years ago, and they kept us perfectly warm against the elements again just this past winter.

But let's get back to the real reason we drove all the way to Avery County. We went to find out, once and for all, which quilt pattern reigns supreme. One of us walked away entirely right, and the other was proven dead wrong.

I’m not going to spoil the big reveal here—you’ll have to watch the video to see who takes home the bragging rights!

The Secret Life of Bees: Why These Buzzing Bundles of Energy Matter More Than You Think

If all the bees disappeared, mankind would have just four years to live. While many people attribute this ominous quote to Albert Einstein, its true origin remains a mystery. Fact or fiction, one thing is certain: our survival is deeply intertwined with these tiny pollinators.

Clicking on the image of local beekeeper Mary Morgan reveals exactly why the pollination work of bees matters to every single living creature on Mother Nature's green earth.

Drone Delivery: The No-Fly Zone in Your Backyard

If your neighbor calls to warn you about "drones" buzzing over your yard, don't panic. You are not being spied on, and you are definitely not getting bombed.

Those drones are actually male honeybees on a very specific mission: hunting for a virgin queen. You can leave your fly swatter inside because you face zero danger of getting stung. Swarming male honeybees have exactly one purpose in life, and nature did not equip them with a stinger to do it.

A Numbers Game Too Big to Picture

Mary is just one of roughly 125,000 beekeepers across the United States. The vast majority of these individuals are dedicated hobbyists rather than commercial farmers.

Yet, their collective impact is staggering:

• 2.6 million managed honey-producing colonies exist nationwide.
• 60,000 bees can live in a single colony at the height of summer.
• 100 billion bees make up the estimated national population.

Because counting one hundred billion buzzing bugs is impossible, beekeepers measure their success by tracking colonies instead of individual bees.

Winter Survival and the Ultimate Cliffhanger

Beekeeping is not for the faint of heart. Two massive challenges threaten hives every year: bitter cold weather and hungry predators. Mice, raccoons, deer, and bears all love the sweet taste of honey.

When you combine freezing temperatures with determined wildlife, many beekeepers lose up to half of their colonies every single winter.

But Mary is a fighter. She has mastered the art of keeping creatures big and small from robbing her hives. However, winter always tests a beekeeper's limits. During the recent brutal winter—where temperatures plummeted to a bone-chilling five degrees—how did her hives hold up? How many of her bees actually froze to death?

The Recipe for a Single Jar of Honey

To truly appreciate a bee's work ethic, look at a single worker bee. In her entire lifetime, she will produce just one-twelfth of a teaspoon of honey.

To fill just one single, one-pound jar of golden honey, an army of bees must execute an unbelievable logistical feat.

After stealing pollen from millions of blossoms and flying a distance equal to twice around the globe, the bees must still engage in a massive collective wing-flapping process to evaporate the moisture and create that sweet, semi-liquid gold.

Next time you drizzle honey onto your toast, remember the tiny miracle workers who flew across the world to make it happen.

Stinky Honey and Shake a Tail Feather

Mary also has a burning question for our ride-about partners: "Has anybody ever tried stinky honey?" If you have, drop us a comment below! But come on now, Mary—what kind of question is that, and is stinky honey even a real thing? Let's change the subject.

I need to level with you: the thought of sixty thousand bees buzzing and swarming around gives me the absolute heebie-jeebies. But when I think of Ray Charles and the Blues Brothers singing "Shake a Tail Feather," now that is cool.

Here is the connection: some beekeepers swear those famous dance moves were actually inspired by watching honeybees get their waggle on. Truth or fiction? I know not.

Step Inside the Story
Want to see the restoration firsthand? Watch the video here to step inside their historic cabin, discover the full journey of how it was moved, and catch a rare moment of Zack playing the banjo. Some places you simply visit, but this is a home that draws you in and makes you want to stay.

Finding Home: How an Asheville News Anchor Rescued a Forgotten Log Cabin

As a child, Maggie Palmer spent her summers under the shade trees of her grandfather’s cow pasture in Avery County. She and her cousins swung from long vines, playing Tarzan and Jane, tag, and hide-and-seek. Amid the laughter, Maggie made a silent promise to herself: one day, she would build a home and live in this pasture forever.

As she grew older, that dream evolved. While driving the back roads of Western North Carolina to help her grandmother locate an old log cabin for historical restoration, a new vision took shape. Maggie decided she would rescue a deteriorating log cabin, move it to her grandfather’s pasture, and make it her permanent home. Later, when her grandmother gifted her a handful of flower seeds, the final piece of the puzzle fell into place. Maggie now dreamed of a historic log home surrounded by a vibrant, self-planted flower garden.

A Detour from the Mountains

Life, however, had other plans. Following high school, Maggie left the mountains to attend UNC. Marriage, a family, and a busy career in journalism followed. She worked in the newspaper business across Rutherfordton and McDowell Counties before becoming a reporter for the Asheville Times. Eventually, she became a familiar face across Western North Carolina as a news anchor for WLOS Channel 13 in Asheville.

A Bequest and a Second Chance

Decades later, following the passing of her mother, Maggie inherited eleven acres of mountain land. To her amazement, the acreage included the exact cow pasture from her childhood.

As retirement approached, her childhood dreams came roaring back. However, she faced a major obstacle: most of the authentic, historic log cabins in Western North Carolina had already vanished.

The Hidden Cabin

Like all great stories, fate stepped in. While attending a Palmer family reunion in Cleveland County, her cousin Jim grabbed her by the arm.  “Come with me,” he said."  Jim led her off the main road to a hidden, rapidly deteriorating log cabin. The owner, a relative living in Pennsylvania, had no interest in saving it.  Jim turned to her and said, “Maggie, nobody wants it. You’re the only one I know who can save it.”  

Walking Onto a Magazine Cover

Today, that rescued cabin stands proudly in Grandfather Dellinger’s cow pasture, enveloped by a sea of blossoms. It is home to Maggie and her husband of forty years, Zack Allen. Driving through the dense woods toward their property, the anticipation builds until you clear the tree line. As my companion Jason remarked on our drive up, “When you reach the end of that driveway, the whole scene looks like it walked straight off the cover of Country Living magazine.”

The transformation was a monumental labor of love. About thirty years ago, Maggie and Zack transported the cabin up into the mountains, cleared a flat clearing, and bulldozed the foundation. Every corner of the homestead carries a piece of history. Their kitchen, for instance, is housed in a separate, historic outbuilding that once stored her great-grandfather’s thresher and seed corn.

A Living Landscape of Memories

The breathtaking grounds are entirely Maggie's own creation. Two decades ago, her cousin John showed up on the Fourth of July to help dig and landscape a beautiful fish and lily pond right outside the front door.

But it is the vibrant daylilies that hold the deepest emotional weight.

“The daylilies,” Maggie explains, “came from Mr. Weatherman over in Spruce Pine, a man who went to school with my father. He planted and tended a hillside of them in remembrance of his wife until he died at age 100.”

Standing in her yard among the endless blooms, Maggie smiles and says, “I want to be just like Mr. Weatherman.” Watching her surrounded by the paradise she built from a childhood dream, you believe her completely.

 

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