The Thanksgiving Jam brought together many familiar family faces.  Too Tall and the band (Danny, DeAnne, Dean, and Cap’m Bob) entertained well into the twilight.

A windstorm on the 9th of December topped several large pines in the Hollow,  as well as many abroad.  Electric power is a commodity taken for granted until lost..

Dean and Michele showed us how to solve that problem by installing solar panels (on their trailer).  Way to go, D & M!

Work on John’s (Smiley’s) cabin resumed,  as well as many other winter preps.  Everyone jumped in and helped complete them Linda donated funds to insulate and underpin the bar and other funds were made available to get production into full force on the cabin.

On the 14th of December TTT had surgery to remove (another) intestinal blockage that left him hospitalized for a week,  and out of commission for another 6 weeks.

Cap’m Bob and AnnE continued their assault on the Dutchman (trailer).  The winter weather has slowed progress,  but they hope to be in by spring.

Alice and Flynn have given the Ponderosa a charming warm glow in heavy contrast to the solidly frozen pond. 

The rain kept coming and the temps kept falling.  On the 18th we were in for another surprise.  Sixteen inches of snow, severing the umbilical cord (to civilization) once again.  This time for only 24 hours.  Pine cones fell abundantly as mother nature took care of her own.

Karen, Smiley, and Danny enjoyed a nice warm Christmas vacation when they joined Ike and Brenda at the beach house.  They visited many family members along the way. 

Christmas Day left us without power for the third time in two weeks.  Two inches of rain, followed by an ice storm coated the six inches of remaining slush with ice.  New Year’s Eve was a little smaller than usual, but just as spirited.  Rob Stimson took the reigns,  accompanied by John Smiley on drums and Sam Cox on bass,  aided by the antics of Mushy Mike and friends,  it turned out to be an all night jam.

January 1st brought the Deepwoods Freeze,  with temperatures hovering in the teens for days at a time, and nighttime lows in the single digits,  as low as 3 degrees.  We broke records in many places for the longest cold snap,  with below freezing temps from the 1st to the 12th of January. Smiley praises Danny’s plumbing prowess as near-freezing water continues to flow.

After several more light bursts of snow,  Downtown is still covered in a white winter blanket.  They say in the mountains, when the snow lays on the ground like this that it’s “just waiting on more.”

On a broader note, we are continuing our efforts to recycle everything,  but we are in dire need of large recycling bins.  Suzi asks that you save all your depleted candles and bring them with you to Spring Fling so she can melt them down and recycle the used wax into new candles for Deepwoods.

Spring Fling will be April 30th, May Day Weekend.  In closing, we greatly appreciate the warmth, fellowship and support that each of you bring.  We hope to see ya soon!

Hillbilly....  Peace out!

No, those are not paranormal orbs. It’s dust falling from the rafters at Smiley’s cabin as work continues on his new bedroom.

Upcoming projects include the construction of another rest area, the construction of new campsites, stage reconstruction, home insulation projects to prevent pipe freezing problems we are plagued with every winter, and the rebuilding of the barn.

If you have access to free building materials, such as left overs from  finished

construction sites that you might otherwise donate elsewhere,  please think about donating them to Deepwoods instead.  We have people all over the South who might be able to pick them up if you cannot deliver them.

We can use all kinds of things including lumber, nails, screws, tools, plumbing, electrical, windows, doors, plexiglass, storage shelves, cabinets, shelf brackets, pegboard,  appliances, TVs, stereos, you name it! 

And of course, we can always use cash! 

And of course, if you have access to stage lighting, musical equipment and the like and would like to donate it to Deepwoods,  Contact Smiley.  We need YOUR help!

Here at Deepwoods we are very concerned about the environment. You may not know it, but this area of North Carolina is home to some rare flora and fauna, and it’s our goal to preserve it. 

Please do not dump cooking oils, motor oil, other liquids or trash into our streams, as they are the source of our water supply.  Do not cut down trees or bushes.  Dispose of your trash safely and in an environmentally friendly way by bagging it and taking it with you or leaving it at the front of your campsite when you leave so that we can collect it and take it to the dump.

Do not burn laurel or rhododendron wood,  as it emits toxic fumes when burned!

Campfires are only permitted when conditions permit.  Please check with Smiley or one of the crew before lighting that fire or you may be asked to extinguish it.  When the woods and undergrowth are tinder dry,  all it takes is one spark to start a forest fire or brush fire that can damage property or injure people and animals.

Don’t harass our wildlife and if you see someone doing it,  stop them.  This is another reason why we don’t allow dogs and children at our events!   Always remember,  the wildlife at Deepwoods is WILD and by trying to interact with them, you are putting yourself at risk for injury.      

As you will note,  full time residents of Deepwoods use clotheslines to dry their clothes whenever possible and try to be energy-conservative in their day to day living.  We want to leave as small of a footprint as possible upon our environment, and we ask that you do the same. 

We do not use treated wood unless absolutely necessary.  Most of the lumber we use to rebuild our structures comes from the property.  However,  there are some things we cannot get off the land,  like sheetrock and plywood. 

Linda Harmon,  one of our full time residents, is a budding horticulturist, so if you see a plant you would like for her to identify for you,  please don’t pick it,  just ask Linda to come identify it.  Remember, we have some rare and endangered plants growing around here and should not interfere with the course of nature. 

If you should come upon an injured animal,  please don’t try to help it.  Instead, notify a crew member.  We will try to determine what should be done.  Remember,  rabies is a naturally occurring disease, but it is also fatal to anyone who might accidentally come in contact with an infected animal,  and will require immediate treatment at a hospital.

It’s the goal of Deepwoods to become as close to totally self-reliant as possible.  If you have access to solar, wind turbine, or hydroelectric materials,  please contact Smiley.  We need deep discounts or freebies if we are to achieve this goal,  and we need your help.

Membership in anything is a privilege, not a right, and with membership comes responsibility and support. 

It is a member’s responsibility to remember that Deepwoods needs your financial support.  You can do that by paying your annual dues,  whether you can make it to the events or not.  That way, Deepwoods will be there for you when you need it to be.  It makes sense, doesn’t it?

Annual dues are still only $20, and should be paid before or by Spring Fling,  which is usually the last weekend in April.  Dues are separate and apart from the donation you give at the gate for Spring Fling and the Deepwoods Ball.  Dues are what make it possible to hold those events.

 The gate money goes to keeping Deepwoods running throughout the year.  That’s how it works.

You can pay dues by either sending a check or via Paypal.  The mailing address is P.O. Box 951, Bakersville, North Carolina 28705. You can also pay dues with your admission at the gate at Spring Fling.  We are currently revising our membership book, so don’t forget to do this or you will miss out on invitations to the events, and you don’t want to do that!  So stay in the circle of friends.  Please keep your dues current.

This page is reserved for YOU,  the Deepwoods Member,  to have some input.  If you have something to say,  email your commentary, articles, poetry,  or prose to our webmistress Suzi HERE. 

We’re trying to get our membership more involved in this website!  Just make sure you are the author of the material you supply us.  We do not want anything that may infringe upon someone else’s intellectual property rights.

All articles must be under 300 words and will be subject to editing for layout purposes.  Nothing libelous or slanderous, please!  

Okay all you Zombies,  it’s time to come out of the snow caves and to begin thinking about Spring Fling 2010. 

The date is April 30th - May 2nd,  rain or shine.  You know where, you know what, and you know how.

Make sure your guests are informed, ready and not on the banned list. The invitations are done and should be in the mail soon, if you haven’t already received yours.  Questions?  Call Smiley.

AnnE informed us that May 1st is the pagan holiday of Beltain, which is the origin of the May Pole.  Come join hands around the Maypole in a Circle of Friends and celebrate the fertility of the Earth and all of Earth’s creatures,  plants, and anything else you can think of. 

Both Too Tall Tom and Blair Jones are celebrating their birthdays on May 5th, which is the original date of Old Beltain, so we will be celebrating their birthdays as well.  Remember to say Happy Birthday to them over the weekend. 

The bands will be great,  as usual.  Several of the bands have CDs available, so be sure to ask them.  Prof and Tom will be handling the sound and recording.  We have CDs full of MP3s of past events.  If you are interested, they are $5 each and are available backstage as long as supplies last.

Remember to respect the environment.  Aluminum cans should be separated from the trash.  Clean up your campsite before you leave.  Don’t leave food or trash in the woods.  Remember, we have neighbors, so stay off their property. 

NO DOGS!  The dog population at Deepwoods has grown,  and we would like to respect our wishes not to bring your animals. 

Children under 21 will not be allowed!  Please leave them home with a sitter. 

And as always, you are responsible for the behavior and safety of yourself AND your guests.  Deepwoods assumes no responsibility for any injuries or mishaps that may occur on Deepwoods property,  so wear proper clothing and footwear, and be prepared for any kind of weather.

All that having been said,  we’re going to have a hell of a good time at this annual gathering of friends and relations!  Rock on!