Capture the Moment!
March 28th, 2012 | 
Author: | Photography Tips for You | |||
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March and April are busy at Highland Manor Inn as photographers from all over the country converge on the Smokies to capture our stunning wildflower display. Blooming dogwood and redbud trees inspire many of us to try to catch that beauty with our cameras. When taking close-ups of wildflowers remember that too many colors in one frame make the image hard for our brains to process. Try to emphasize the one or two dominant colors against a neutral background of grays, browns or greens. Also when photographing wildflowers, the closer the better. Try to fill the entire frame with one blossom. Then take a landscape photograph to show the profusion of flowers…Jennifer
What photography tip would you like to share with us?
The following photographers are coming to Highland Manor Inn this spring. To find out more about their workshops and view beautiful photographs of the Smokies, click below:
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Love is in the Air
At Highland Manor Inn we know that Valentine’s Day is a time to celebrate all of those you love. So whether it’s your mom or spouse or child, bring them to Highland Manor Inn for a wonderful cozy winter weekend in the mountains when you can enjoy the Smokies without any crowds. We are glad to arrange for any surprises you might like in your room such as flowers, candy, balloons, champagne or even an in-room massage. Call for special Valentine’s Day weekend rates!
And although you never know, if Valentine’s Day weekend follows this winter’s weather trends, it may be in the 50s or 60s!
Go to www.highlandmanor.com for photographs and more info… Jennifer
What special treat are you planning for your loved one?
Your Choice of Winter Festivals
The first weekend of February finds events for everyone going on in Townsend! The Winter Heritage Festival celebrates the natural beauty and cultural history of our town, Cades Cove, and the surrounding mountains with a variety of activities and programs. Then on Saturday the Tennessee Winter Beer Fest is a chance to sample some great brews and food for a good cause – New Hope Blount County Children’s Advocacy Center.
The Winter Heritage Festival will have hikes, demonstrations, storytelling, concerts, and more with a dinner and concert both Friday and Saturday evenings, and events all day Friday and Saturday. For a schedule go to www.smokymountainfestivals.org or call 865-448-6134 or 800-525-6834.
The First Annual Tennessee Winter Beer Fest will be taking place on Saturday in Townsend with one ticket getting you awesome brews from four local microbreweries, dinner, a pint glass and a t-shirt. There will be free shuttles from Highland Manor Inn, so that you can stay here for the whole weekend! Go to http://knoxbeersnobs.com/2012/01/02/tennessee-winter-beer-fest-february-4 for information about tickets.
A Native American in Cades Cove
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Handsome? Intelligent? Wily? Delicious? It’s November when our thoughts turn to that most amazing of birds – the wild turkey. Some only consider him when he is on the end of a fork and dripping with gravy, but for all of us who love the Smokies, turkeys are a wonderful glimpse of the natural world.
The American turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is found only in the New World and was extremely abundant when settlers arrived from Europe. However, habitat loss, overhunting and diseases spread by domestic turkeys caused the population to decrease until regulation was enacted that brought the turkey back to its current abundance. You may glimpse a flock in Cades Cove or along any of the roads that lead to Townsend. Turkeys (despite their reputation) are extremely intelligent birds, with keen eyesight, hearing, and the ability to run very well in addition to flying. At night they roost in trees and their plumage camouflages them perfectly in the woods. Thus they are protected from their primary predators – foxes, coyotes and of course, man.
Our owner, Don Headrick, has been a turkey hunter for about 6 years and expresses admiration for their survival abilities. He says, “They have such good sight and hearing if they could smell us there is no way we could ever catch them!”
Although the popular belief that turkeys will look up in the rain and drown is NOT true, rain in the springtime is a hazard to the new chicks. The little ones are covered with down and nest on the ground, so they are vulnerable to dying from exposure if they become wet and cold. Keep an eye out for this beautiful, intelligent and tasty native of our forests as you explore the Smokies this winter!…Jennifer |
Tickets for the Foothills Fall Festival
We have several extra tickets for the Foothills Fall Festival! These are the 3 day general admission tickets and we are selling them for the price we paid which was $57.50 ( $50 plus $7.50 service charge). If you want to pay with a credit card they are $60.00 apiece. Three days of great country music with Sara Evans on Friday, Reba McEntire, Steel Magnolia, and The Band Perry on Saturday night, and Chicago on Sunday! There are also Family Fun areas filled with rides and activities and a juried arts and crafts show with over 100 participants. Just call us at 865-448-2211 to arrange to pick up your tickets ASAP. The Festival is completely SOLD OUT, so this is a great chance if you don’t have your tickets yet.
July Fourth Festivities in the Foothills
The day we celebrate, and remember, our Independence from the British has finally arrived. For many of us that means having a family gathering, eating burgers/hotdogs and having a relaxing time around the pool. Keepking with tradition, this year will be celebrating 29 years of shooting fireworks for our guests. Since we began 29 years ago, we have added some great sponsors to help support this event. We are happy to have Bank East and the Townsend Volunteer Fire Department join us in offering this free show to the public. This year the fireworks will begin around 9:45 pm. There will be plenty of other things to do before the fireworks begin. There is a full line-up of some great bands/performers to entertain everyone. The schedule for the show is as follows:
The Waldens (from Parris, TN) 7:00 until 8:00
The Jeff Joplin Band 8:00 until 9:15
Tiffany Webb 9:15 until dark
Also there will be some refreshments available sold by the Townsend Volunteer Fire Department. We hope that you are able to come out, enjoy good music, have a good time, but most importantly remember the freedom which was given to us and that we are still fighting for today.
Oh Say Can You See?
Our country’s birthday is one of the best reasons to slow down, get together with family and friends and enjoy the summertime. Fourth of July is a wonderful holiday in Townsend with the coolness of the Smokies to enjoy during the day and then fantastic fireworks in a small town setting in the evening. The Townsend Fourth of July celebration actually takes place on Highland Manor Inn property, so our guests have the best seats in town. This year’s festivities will be starting at about 7:00 PM on Monday night with several musical groups performing, including the Jeff Jopling Band, featuring country/rock music. Then Tiffany Webb will present a short program of popular and patriotic songs right before the fireworks show, which is administered by members of the Townsend Area Volunteer Fire Department. What could be better than staring up at the night sky as the fireworks’ scream bursts into showers of color? Come and join us for the Fourth this year. We still have some vacancies and would love to have you celebrate with us!…..Jennifer
Flashes in the Night
![Sunrise_from_Newfound_Gap,_Great_Smoky_Mountains[1]](http://www.highlandmanor.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Sunrise_from_Newfound_Gap_Great_Smoky_Mountains1-300x225.jpg "Sunrise_from_Newfound_Gap,_Great_Smoky_Mountains[1]")
| A Chorus Line of Fireflies | |
| During mid-June an amazing show takes place in the Smokies, back in the woods behind Elkmont. The male fireflies who live there are ready to mate and trying to attract the healthiest and most beautiful female. To do this, they flash and flash. However, unlike fireflies in other places, our fireflies are “synchronized” or flashing in patterns all together. They are the only species in America whose individuals make patterns as a group. And what a show it is! To avoid traffic congestion and control vehicular lights, trolley rides are available for just $1/person from the Sugarlands Visitor Center parking lot. Seeing this breathtaking show is a great family activity for a warm summer night in June. The sound of the river and the occasional flash of cellophane-covered flashlights as everyone gathers in the darkness to watch this marvel of nature will never be forgotten. Go to this web address for more information from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park about fireflies: www.nps.gov/grsm/naturescience/fireflies.htm. ….Jennifer | |
Holiday Weekend in Townsend, TN
Memorial Day Weekend! Great time to gather the family together and have a picnic at the lake or in the Mountains, the Great Smoky Mountains.
Celebrating together
When I was a little girl Memorial Day was a holiday from school. I was raised in New Hampshire. Our school did not get over until the third week of June, so a day off at the last of May was wonderful. The end of May in New Hampshire meant the lilacs were in bloom. I always thought they were beautiful and they smelled so good. We would put vases full of lilacs on the soldiers graves in the cemetery. I did not have any kinfolk that were veterans, but I learned respect for their service to our country early on.
Americans have celebrated Memorial Day in May since the mid to late 1800’s. Congress passed the National Holiday Act in 1971 declaring the last Monday of May the Memorial Day Holiday. Take a look at this site for more information: http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html
There was always a big parade through town with horses and soldiers marching to the cemetery.
I was too young to ride in the parade so I always watched, and thought of the day when I would be old enough to ride my horse in the parade. One particular year my family and I went to Harrisville, NH to watch the parade. Harrisville is the town where my family would spend the summer. Our place was on the lake and we had so much fun with the horses and also the boats, but that is another story. Back to the parade… All of the marchers had gathered in the cemetery and the horses were lining up for the 21 gun salute. One horse inparticular was not wanting to stand at attention and was rowdy. The girl could barely make him be still.
The cemetery had an entrance that was lined with concrete posts and wrought iron rails with arrow like spikes coming up out of the posts every now and then. You probably would have had to have been there to understand, but it all made an attractive fence and gate for the entrance to the cemetery.
When the first round of shots were fired, the rowdy horse reared up, twirled around toward the gate and came down right on the wrought iron rails and arrow like spear heads that were placed as decoration on top of the concrete posts of the fence. You can imagine what happened next. Chaos everywhere. People trying to get out of the way and people trying to get the horse off of the fence where it had impaled the horse’s chest.
For others, the 21Gun Salute continued, but the celebration was already over for many of us near the entrance. My Mama came to get me and quickly took me away from the scene of the accident. I don’t remember what happened to the horse, but I want to think it survived to ride again.
Memorial Day will always be special as we remember the many men and women who have given their lives so we can have the freedons we enjoy. And I will always remember that one particular parade.
All of us at Highland Manor Inn hope you and your loved ones have a wonderful Memorial day Weekend.
Visit our web site www.highlandmanor.com to learn more about us and check for Sprcial Rates.
More than Meets the Eye…or the Ear!
By Louisa Stokes
The sun is shining down on the flowers and new leaves in Townsend as preparations are going on for the annual Spring Festival and Old Timer’s Day which takes place this weekend, May 6 & 7, 2011. Most of us think of the Spring Festival as the place to listen to the best local bluegrass music anywhere – both formal concerts going on all day and jam sessions everywhere on the grounds. But the Spring Festival is alot more than bluegrass music. Did you know there is a Storytelling Tent with activities going on all day ranging from pottery demonstrations, hands-on family art activities, Old Harp Singing, and of course, storytelling? Other performances include clogging, a parade and concert by the Knoxville Pipes and Drums to celebrate our Scottish heritage, and the Young Pickers Contest. There are wildflower walks, book-signings, artisan demonstrations, a square dance, cakewalks throughout the day, and craft booths if you ever want to take a break from the good music. Go to www.smokymountainfestivals.org/#/spring to view the schedule. Bring your Mom to Townsend for the day or the whole Mother’s Day weekend! And…if you have to miss this weekend, remember there is always the Fall Festival on September 23 & 24,2011. …Jennifer