A Pioneer Festival

 Once again, we headed up to the mountains for a wonderful festival.  You can see just a few of the leaves changing.

 We drove through some really cute towns.

 With very cute houses.

 And a sure sign that Fall is here.....pumpkins for sale everywhere.  Even in gas stations!

 We drove past fields of beautiful sunflowers.

 The festival was so much fun.  Here we have men showing how to build stone walls. Click any pic for a closer look.

 This boy was roasting coffee just like the pioneers used to do.

 Animals in the woods!

 A bear!

 These animals met their fate with this trapper .

 An example of how to make aroma extracts from native plants.

 Making apple butter.  You can buy a slice of freshly baked bread with this slathered on it for 1.00.  We did!

 You can see all of the ingredients and the step by step way in which apple butter is made.

 Tables are set up so you can drink your roasted coffee while you eat your bread with apple butter.

 Soaps and balms and lotions made from natural ingredients.

 There is entertainment set up throughout the woods.

 Wonderful pottery....

 and wheel demonstrations.

 You can even hitch a ride if you get tired from all the walking.

 A sugar shack.  We didn't stop here since I probably have more maple syrup than they do.

 Handmade buckets.

 You can meet the cooper and see how he makes them.

 There were lots of weavers selling their wares as well as demonstrating.

 Dulcimer music which added to the mood.

 Rifle makers.

 A sauerkraut expert.

 Dyed fabric.

 And a demonstration on how to make dyes from woodland plants.

 A teepee made from pieces found on the forest floor.

A local Native American making baskets.

I have lots of pics to sort through and I will show you the coolest crafts person I have come across in a long time.  That will be posted tomorrow.  Meanwhile, we are off to another festival.  It's that time of year!