To some people, Appalachia brings thoughts of coal mines, moonshine whisky, poor folks in shacks and dirty kids running around. Oh, throw in a strange mountain dialect and feuds. Some of that is true but certainly should not be a stereotype of the mountain people. They were and are proud, hard working, loved each other, loved their kids, loved their God and wanted to get the best of life they could glean. All in all, that is not much different from anyone else in the world. The name came from the Appalachian Mountains: Think Appalachian Trail. This picture accurately reflects part of an old farm in some holler(valley) in those mountains. This was before the name Appalachia was defined as a specific cultural region and carried with it the idea of poverty and backwards, including many distortions of the lives of the real people there today. This image would be where a family settled and determined to stake their lot to the land and hard work. Much of the history of the people was passed on by song. The accent was and in some areas still is Scots-Irish with words from the time of Elizabeth I and the occasional Anglo-Saxon used in normal conversation. I have been told today it is not so much mountain country talk but an older language I am not used to hearing. Sure, lots of folks there today talk almost like I do and I likely do not sound like you. I shot this photo at the Museum of Appalachia off I75 in Anderson County, Tennessee, USA. John Rice Irwin made this museum his wonderful accomplishment. The cabins, barns, sheds and many artifacts are real and old, with repair as needed in the authentic manner. Several acres house the old structures which have been collected, set into a real farm situation, with distances between buildings scaled down to easy walking distance. Certain times of the year mountain music and bluegrass rings from the stage, people make soap and sassafras tea while others sell wares reflective of the country and mountain life. I wander around and talk to the goats and sheep. I don't believe they know what I am saying. A picture or two more may be posted fairly soon.