Mountain Times with the Grandchildren

The historic Mast General Store, Valle Crucis, North Carolina

I’m in North Carolina at our cabin  enjoying my three grandchildren, my daughter and daughter-in-law and sweater weather. Well,  it just doesn’t get much better than this.  The only things missing are our three guys, Bob, Ryan and Harvey, all at home working hard.

Yesterday was  chock full of activities.  We spent time at the famous, original Mast General Store which has been in operation at the same location since 1883.  There are others in downtown Boone and Waynesville, but they cannot duplicate the charm and history of this historical building.

Laurel, 6, Alastair 18 months, Robert, 5. We have a 1988 photo of Rebecca sitting on this same swing drinking a soda. She attended a summer camp just down the road from the Mast General and Candy Barrel. After we picked her up from the healthy-eating camp, she chose this as her first stop.

This remnant of early 20th century mountain life features creaking wooden floors and stairs, shelves stocked with mason jars of homemade corn relish, pickles, blackberry jam and other preserves, bins of nails, sensible clothing, a vintage 1883 working post office,  an ancient reach-in, waist high Coke cooler stocked with cold sodas.

Touring this old market was a great history lesson for Robert and Laurel.

To his mother’s relief, he spilled the almost full bottle shortly after the first photo was taken.

For Alastair, it was his first taste of soda, Cheerwine.  He liked it.

Neither my daughter or daughter-in-law of  approved, but I played my seldom used Nana trump card and led them down the path of dietary evil.

Later, we continued that journey.

Alastair looks a little dazed after all that Cheerwine.

Our next stop was a veritable walk into the den of nutritional iniquity.   The Candy Barrel at the Mast Store Annex is a sort of mercantile Sugar Plum Tree.

Laurel asked what Chesterfields were.  When told they were cigarettes, she said, “Then why do they say they are best for you?”  From the mouths of babes…

Big lollipops. Cool.

We have several more days to climb Grandfather Mountain, go gem mining, visit the kid museum and hike our own Seven  Devils  Mountain.

It was Tuesday morning when we began the 12 hour road trip.  Bob had loaded the Expedition with Robert’s teddy, Laurel’s blanket, Alastair’s diaper bag and potty chair, boxes of kid activities including a stack of dvd movies, 3 i-phones, books, games and toys and enough food to keep us fat and happy for a trip to northern Canada.

Of course, there was no room in the SUV for multiple changes of  bulky clothing for all climate possibilities, so we towed our little utility trailer.  Whew!  We were off!

Thankfully, the children were absolutely marvelous, cooperative little travelers.  For 12 hours they were strapped in and rarely complained.  Of course, riding in the equivalent of a DisneyWorld auto they were well entertained.

After one day here, Robert announced that “This is a good cabin.  It has a good loft.  I’m glad we came.”  So am I.  And there is more fun to come.

Of course, I brought along smocking and some other hand work.  But if it doesn’t get done, I don’t care.  I’m in Nana mountain heaven.