August 2009 – Tapestry Life's Blog

I had hoped to send this out with my newsletter, but time is wasting so I’m going to blog it until the newsletter is finished. Don’t miss these fun things to do in western NC during August and September.

Warp & Weft Newsletter article:
I had a positive reaction to my stay-cation column last month, so I decided to extend it into August and September.

I’ve added more cool things to do in our own neighborhood. Daytrips are fun for the whole family or just as a break for yourself.

I’ve only repeated events that occur in August or continue on additional dates. Check our archives for the older article in the July newsletter.

Ongoing

<Old Salem, Winston-Salem Old Salem was founded in 1766 by the Moravians. The settlers were respected for their architecture, and visitors enjoy seeing the attention to detail the Moravians gave to the buildings in the Old Town, where costumed tradespeople recreate the life of the 18th century community. The site also includes four unique museums and eleven period gardens. If you’ve only visited Old Salem with a school group, you’ll enjoy seeing it at a more leisurely pace. It’s open Tues. -Sun.

Pack Place Located in downtown Asheville, Pack Place is the home of the Asheville Art Museum, Colburn Earth Science Museum, Diana Wortham Theater, YMI Cultural Center, and The Health Adventure. They have a variety of exhibits and activities, the admission is reasonable, and although they are getting a facelift, they are open throughout the week in the summer.

Western NC Nature Center Also in Asheville off I-40 exit 53B, the WNC Nature Center has a main exhibit area, a predator habitat, an otter habitat, nocturnal hall, petting area, nature trail, and educational farm. It offers many programs for children and adults. It provides a home for injured, orphaned or imprinted animals that could not survive on their own; this facility is also one of 28 in the country participating in the red wolf re-introduction program.

Emerald Village, Little Switzerland My ancestors are from Little Switzerland, so I am partial to the place. Emerald Village is a gem mine where you can dig for your own gems, watch artisans shape the gems into jewelry, or tour the exhibit of gems and minerals native to the area. There’s an indoor and outdoor area, and they guarantee you’ll find a gem. The cost is reasonable, and it’s a different sort of outing for the family.

Special Events
47th Art in the Park, Blowing Rock, Aug. 15, Sept. 12, Oct. 3 Blowing Rock is fun anytime, and the temperature is usually about 10 degrees cooler than it is in Hickory. The little village has shops, antique stores, restaurants, and an outlet park on the main highway. Art in the Park, which happens once a month in the spring and summer, is a special treat with about 100 juried artists and craftspeople exhibiting jewelry, pottery, woodworking, painting, photography, fiber and glass. The times are 10am -5pm in downtown Blowing Rock. Make a day of it.

120th Soldiers’ Reunion, Newton, Aug. 13-23 The Soldiers Reunion in Newton features different events each day. The most well-known is on Thurs., Aug. 20, when all-day activities on the square around the Old Courhouse culminate in a Parade at 5 pm. Other popular events include the Crusin’ Car Show on Aug. 16, Beach Music on Aug. 18, and a street dance on Aug. 19. For a full schedule, click the link above.
Note: Julie and I will be doing chair massage on Aug. 20 all day until the parade. Come and check out our booth.

Mile High Kite Festival, Beech Mountain, Sept. 6 Beech Mountain is the highest city in the eastern US, so it’s cool in the summer. The Kite Festival is an annual event during the Labor Day weekend that offers kite enthusiasts the rare chance to fly a kite at a mile above sea level. Richmond Air Force, Wings Across Carolina Kiting and Okra Society Kiting Clubs will be exhibiting. and kite building and decorating clinics will be offered, so be sure to bring your supplies.

Last month I went to two continuing ed classes in one week. I attended a hot stones class taught by Darinda Davis at the Privai Academy in Asheville, and then I was a teaching assistant at the Craniosacral Therapy I class in Raleigh taught by Tad Wanveer of the Upledger Institute. Both were amazing.

I wanted to go to the hot stones class because I wanted to learn the safety protocol. I’ve had hot stones massage and watched videos. I felt reasonably confident that I could give the massage (although my gracefulness in applying the stones needs more practice), but I wanted to be sure that I understood about temperatures and cleaning so that I would not only give a good hot stones massage, but a safe one.

Darinda Davis was a wonderful teacher. She covered all the things I wanted to learn and more. I learned to heat the stones with both wet heat in a roaster and dry heat with a griddle. I learned to season my stones with oil, much like one might season an iron frying pan, and to place them in the roaster according to their intended use. I learned how to set and gauge the temperature of the roaster and stones for safe application and how to clean the stones during and after the massage.

Most importantly, I learned to apply the hot stones to my client in a manner that minimizes discomfort and injury and maximizes pleasure and health benefits.

Since the class, I’ve given five hot stones massages to my most regular clients who graciously consented to be my practice guinea pigs. All of them enjoyed the way the heat of the stones penetrated to the bone. One said that the massage made her feel more energized than my normal Swedish massage. Another left the office, talked about the massage at her next stop, and made a referral for me.

I’m still working on a graceful application, but I am confident of understanding the safety issues. I’ve really enjoyed doing these massages– even in the hot weeks of August. In fact, I plan to take Darinda’s Advanced Hot Stones Massage class in the fall and Janet Blevins’ Advanced Native American Hot Stones Massage and her Facial Massage with Gemstones in November at the Southern Spa and Salon Conference.

I love learning new things. Learning the safe way to do a hot stones massage has been great fun, and giving the massages expands my expertise and lets me offer my clients more relaxation and a greater health benefit through a different modality

Month: August 2009

Take a “Stay-cation”: Cool things to do at home.

Learning Hot Stones Massage