For hundreds if not thousands of years, the practice of quilting has served as a source of comfort and beauty. Though the exact origin of quilting is unknown, it likely began in the Middle East and Asia before spreading to Europe in the Middle Ages. Quilting gained popularity in America in the early 1800s, with women passing along their skills to the next generations and incorporating complex patterning and designs.
Today, Cashiers Quilters in nearby Sapphire is one of many quilting groups across the country where women share their skills and discuss the artform. At their weekly meetings, anywhere from a few members to twenty will gather at the Saint Jude Catholic Church to plan for upcoming quilt shows, learn techniques from other members or a visiting teacher, or do a “show and tell” of their current quilting project.
The quilts they make are both intricate and entirely unique to the artists’ own styles. They range from cool gray gradients to warm peach tones, squares with crochet stitching to hypnotizing kaleidoscope patterns.
According to Linda Maddox, a member and incoming leader of Cashiers Quilters, their membership includes new and experienced quilters alike. What’s most important is enthusiasm for the craft. “We support each other by sharing our love of quilting,” she says. “There are many different types of quilting and everyone might have a skill that we all would like to learn.”
In October of next year, the group will host their biennial quilt show. Through proceeds from this event, they’re able to fund their charitable giving to a local library, senior center, food pantry, and more. “There is also a small group called Mountain Valley Quilters consisting of mostly Cashiers Quilters,” Linda says. “The members donate money and their own fabrics to be able to make quilt donations. A lot of our quilts go to REACH, a Domestic Violence Center in Macon County.”
Just like in centuries’ past, quiltmakers continue to fill a need—bringing warmth and comfort to communities, while expressing themselves through this vivid, lasting artform.
To learn more about Cashiers Quilters and find quilt shows in the area, visit cashiersquilters.com.
Spanning across 500,000 acres, the Pisgah National Forest is home to some of North Carolina’s most iconic and treasured scenery. From the rippling waters of Looking Glass Falls to the sprawling wildflowers of Black Balsam Knob, there is something for everyone among the natural wonders of this forest.
It may surprise readers to learn the origin of the Pisgah National Forest is linked to the history of another famous North Carolina landmark, the Biltmore. George Vanderbilt’s estate once encompassed 125,000 acres. He hired Frederick Law Olmstead to oversee the management of the estate’s lands, as well as the preservation of the area’s existing forests and the reforestation of other sections of the land. In 1898, the Biltmore Forest School, the country’s first school to teach sustainable forestry practices, was founded and located on the property.
The Vanderbilts weren’t alone in their concern for the preservation of forests. The Weeks Act was passed into law in 1911, which meant the federal government could now purchase and preserve private land. No property owners sold to them, however, until Edith Vanderbilt inherited the Biltmore and surrounding lands after her husband passed away in 1914.
In order to ensure the land remained protected and undeveloped, she sold 86,700 acres to the government so they could continue what the Vanderbilts began. The Pisgah National Forest was founded the very next year, becoming the state’s first national forest.
For those interested in learning more, the Cradle of Forestry is located a roughly 30-mile drive from The Greystone and provides interactive learning experiences about the beginning of forestry. The next time you find yourself in Pisgah, whether you’re driving through the Blue Ridge Parkway or hiking along mountaintops on the Appalachian Trail, know you’re among a significant piece of the country’s conservation history.
This autumn, explore Lake Toxaway and the surrounding mountains and trails by geocaching! A cross between a scavenger hunt and a treasure hunt, geocaching involves using GPS coordinates, maps, or other clues to find hidden objects. These objects can be anything, from small bottles holding the location tracker to intricate, multi-step puzzles.
On geocaching.com, searchers can find a map to 19,000 geocaches in North Carolina and nearly one million in the United States. A quick glance at the map reveals geocaches in nearly any public place, hidden in the hollow of a tree in the Pisgah National Forest or even by a city crosswalk.
Once you come across a geocache, you can log it into the website or on a physical log included with the object. Just remember to leave the geocache where you found it, so everyone else can enjoy their treasure hunt, too.
Lake Toxaway is home to two geocaches of our very own! One is right by The Greystone, should you like to explore the area and have an outdoor adventure during your stay.
A holistic ritual for purifying and exfoliating the skin, dry brushing is a long-held practice that provides both health and beauty benefits. First developed hundreds of years ago in India, dry brushing may improve your body’s detoxification process while smoothing and polishing your skin. The bristles, made from natural fibers, gently scrape away dead skin, dirt, and other impurities that clog pores. This may better allow you to filter toxins organically.
Beyond natural exfoliation and detoxification, dry brushing is a sensory experience, akin to a massage, that even improves circulation. This act of self care, especially when integrated into a daily routine, can serve as a soothing, tranquil moment for meditation.
Before your shower, brush along your feet and ankles before sweeping the brush up your legs in sweeping motions. When you reach your torso, transition into rounded movements with your brush before moving to your arms. Step into a shower to wash away the exfoliated impurities, then apply moisturizer when complete.
A simple method with lasting effects, dry brushing is a rich experience where you can bring the luxury of a spa into your very own home.
In Black Mountain, North Carolina, cheesemakers and enthusiasts will gather at the Oak and Grist Distilling Company on October 6th for the annual Carolina Mountain Cheese Fest. This festival features tons of tasting opportunities with plenty of locally-made cheeses, wines, and other delicious foods. Purchase tickets here to experience the mountain’s best cheeses, or do some exploring on your own with these Western North Carolina ale and cheese trails.
In addition to hosting the annual Carolina Mountain Cheese Fest, the WNC Cheese Trail non-profit has created an interactive map of places to sample local cheeses and wine in the North Carolina mountains. Take a day trip along the WNC Cheese Trail and sample freshly-made cheeses that are truly a one-of-a- kind experience.
For rustic charm, visit the Looking Glass Creamery in Columbus, North Carolina. Located right by a beautiful sunflower field, this creamery is home to a restaurant where guests can enjoy their cheeses.
The family-owned FernCrest Winery, located in Cherokee County, also has a tasting room in Andrews, North Carolina. Here, they serve their award-winning wines and a selection of specialty cheeses from Ashe County Cheese.
While you’re out finding the best cheeses in North Carolina, hop on the Asheville Ale Trail to explore the standout breweries the region is known for. Encompassing the Asheville, Hendersonville, Black Mountain, and Boone areas, this trail offers a true variety—from the gothic-styled Burning Blush Brewery in Mills River to the small batch brews of Lookout Brewing Company in Black Mountain. Visit the Asheville Ale Trail’s website to see all the breweries’ locations, hours, and most well-known creations.
Add together the crisp mountain air, a comfy seat outside, a warm blanket, and a glass of wine, and you have the ultimate autumn-in-the-mountains reading arrangement.
Wild Woman: Empowering Stories from Women Who Work in Nature by Philippa Forrester What does it take for a woman to live or work in the wild? Which qualities help women to survive and thrive in the most challenging of natural environments? Taking an anthropological approach, Forrester considers the grit and determination required for women to maintain connections to wildlife.
All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker This novel, which has taken the 2024 literary world by storm, has been described as “A missing person mystery, a serial killer thriller, a love story, a unique twist on each.” Color us intrigued!
Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino This imaginative and tender science fiction novel inspects the fragility and resiliency of life on Earth through the lens of a gentle, unforgettable girl who possesses knowledge of a faraway planet.
The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes Based on a true story rooted in Depression-era America, this rewarding story follows the lives of five women and their remarkable journey through the mountains of Kentucky and beyond.
This Is Your Brain on Food by Uma Naidoo Dr. Uma Naidoo, a board-certified psychiatrist, nutrition specialist, and professionally trained chef, draws on research to explain the many ways in which food contributes to our mental health, and shows how diet can help treat and prevent a wide range of psychological and cognitive health issues.
