Final 17

Christmas with

By Carmen Eckard Photography by Jon Eckard traditions we’ve established, and
to linger on nostalgia, instead of
Christmas is a time to celebrate pushing it down and carrying on
family and traditions. It’s a time with our busy lives.
when we slow down and remember
who we are, and where we came He knows stories are important;
from. It’s a celebration of family
and traditions. not just his, but

everyone’s. His

A lot of people art encourages
associate Bob
Timberlake with people to tell
Christmas, and
part of that is their own
because he’s
painted some stories as well.
truly iconic
Christmas art What could
work.
possibly embody

Christmas more

than these

themes?

But, moreover, I Some of his
think it’s because best known
the themes of his Christmas works
art and his life are paintings
naturally meld of his collection
with the themes of vintage toys,
of Christmas. painted in a deep
window sill at his
Bob Timberlake is a man full of home. Part of
stories. He’s also full of love and what makes this series resonate
pride for his family, both those that with so many people is the all-
came before him, and the ones who American nature of the toys. They
came after him. His work asks us make nearly everyone think of their
to slow down, to look at the land own childhood, because who didn’t
that we live on, to celebrate the have a toy drum? Raggedy Ann
and Andy are ubiquitous, and you

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probably had a stuffed animal you
loved so much it became real. That
means when we look at this art, we
all can feel a sense of ownership. We
all remember a similar scene, and it
reminds us of the joy of Christmas
morning for children, and for their
parents, who are happy to give them
things they will cherish.

The bear featured in the painting
still sits in Bob Timberlake’s gallery
in Lexington (see display at right). In
the years since the paintings have
become popular, the bear has been
used to raise millions of dollars for
Duke Children’s Hospital, a cutting-
edge and life-saving hospital for
children.

You’ll notice the bear has been well-
loved. He’s missing an eye, and Mr.
Timberlake says, “A smart mom
realized she wouldn’t be able to
match his button eye, so she sewed
him an eye patch.” That eye patch has
come to symbolize the love children
can have for inanimate objects. As
much as the Velveteen Rabbit, that
eye patch is about becoming real, and
it resonated with people all over the
world.

Raggedy Ann and Andy are also
popular characters in Timberlake’s
Christmas painting. Raggedy Ann and
Andy are as American as apple pie,
and we don’t think it’s a coincidence
that they wear patriotic colors. The
dolls are based on a book series
that began in 1918, and by 1920, the
author had already patented designs

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for both Ann and Andy.
Author Johnny Gruelle
wrote at least one Raggedy
Ann and Andy book a year
until his death in 1938, and
at that point, he’d sold over
3 million books. Both dolls
have been inducted into the
National Toy Hall of Fame
in Rochester, New York,
and are a certifiable slice of
Americana.

So, it’s no surprise that
when the United States
Postal Service came to
Mr. Timberlake, asking
him to design a stamp for
Christmas, it was Raggedy
Ann and Andy that came to
mind.

The year was 1980, 41
years in the past now.
Timberlake’s career was 10
years strong at that point,
and he was starting to
garner much acclaim. He
would go on later to design
a total of four stamps, but
his very popular Season
Greeting Christmas Stamp
is the most well-known. His
work also included both the
North and South Carolina
commemorative Statehood
Stamps (1988, 1989), and
the bi-centennial postcard
for the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill in
1993.

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Mr. Timberlake’s original Christmas the contrast in the color scheme are
stamp include drawing of Raggedy refreshing, and weave Christmas
Andy, sitting in the familiar windowsill, together with nature.
on top of the vintage drum. The design
was accepted and printed, but then Bob Timberlake’s work has a way of
it was discovered that the stamp bringing nature to the forefront, no
would violate the
copyright for the matter what the
dolls. He went subject is. It’s clear
back to the drawing he understands
board, removed the connection
Raggedy Andy, and between people
created the iconic and the earth,
scene shown in and that it he
his stamp. The finds it endlessly
stamp was entitled fascinating.
“Wreath and Toys”
and was released Timberlake is not
on October 31, only an artist,
1980. but also a prolific
entrepreneur.
The stamp was
very well-received, His furniture
and many people career predates
wrote to him to his career as
tell him how much an artist, and
it resonated with furniture is in his
them. “That made blood-he made
it very, very special his first award-
for me,” he says. “I winning piece of
think it was more down-to-earth than furniture when
people were used to seeing on stamps he was only 14! His furniture line
back then. More realistic.” is the most successful furniture
line in the history of the world,
Over the years, Mr. Timberlake has and his innovative licensing in the
painted countless Christmas scenes, 90s and beyond helped reshape
as well as sweeping winter landscapes. what Americans expect out of our
companies. He was one of the first
“Christmas Cardinal,” at right, brings to pioneer a lifestyle brand based
the mind to yuletide North Carolina. on his own personality and style.
The simplicity of the holly leaves and His line was called “the antiques of
the future” by the media. That was

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particularly prescient, as his line is already incredibly collectible and resellable.
A particular favorite is his line of Christmas dishes. They’ve been retired for
some time, but you can find them at many vintage resellers, on eBay, and at
Replacements, just outside of Greensboro. There are also a large variety of
Christmas Ornaments. A Goebel/Timberlake collaboration has created a set of
ornaments based on old-fashioned quilt patterns. At the time, these were well-
received, but we like them more these days. That’s because they look like the
barn-quilts painted on barns all over western North Carolina, and so now they
carry a sense of place they didn’t have before.

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Mr. Timberlake continues to paint. We are Natural
enjoying watching the subtle changes in his work
over the decades he’s been painting. His most Elements
recent works seem alive with something new that
we really enjoy. OfN o r t h
Carolina
The painting at left is called “Studio Winter” and
it was painted in 2020. That year was a good bit We curate
lonelier than most, and that’s reflected in this products for
work, but it’s still got a warmth to it that’s hard to
put a finger on. a natural
lifestyle
Another new painting is “Clear Nite.” We’ve put
this painting on the cover of this issue because Our products
we feel it so thoroughly embodies Christmastime include:
in North Carolina. • A full-range of NC

We’re incredibly excited to work with Bob CBD products
Timberlake to release a limited edition print of • Elderberry Syrup
“Clear Night.” Ordering information is on the • Organic vitamins
opening pages of this issue, and a portion of the
proceeds will go to the nonprofit organizations & supplements
Empty Stocking Fund of Lexington and Foothills • Honey
Kids Magazine. In addition to the signed and • Jewelry
numbered limited edition prints, there will be • Essential Oils
a small number of framed and matted prints • And more!
with remarques, small original works by Bob
Timberlake, near the signature. To order, call 15 US Hwy 321SW
336.249.4428. Hickory, NC 28602

111 828/729/9868

221 NW Main Street
Lenoir, NC 28645

828/929/2420

Christmas with

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Bob Timberlake Recommends:

Wayne Lanning as Santa

Wayne Lanning was a loyal employee of Bob
Timberlake’s when they realized that he’d make a
mighty fine Santa. He was jolly already, but he
still needed a bit of transformational magic
to turn into Santa Claus. Mr. Timberlake
financed his Santa schooling, and even
bought him his first Santa suit. That was
many years ago, and Wayne has been
bringing joy to children and adults alike
for all this time.

If you or your organization needs a Santa
Claus, he’s the best one we know!

You can hire him by giving him a call at
(336) 239-6250.

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Acclaimed naturalist artists Bob
Timberlake and Clayton Pennell
have joined together for a wildlife
show at the Bob Timberlake
Gallery in Lexington. The
show features North Carolina
artifacts, like long rifles and
decoys, as well as turkey calls,
Native American artifacts, Annie
Oakley’s shotgun and more. The
show opened October 14th and
runs throughout December.

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Surprise Engagements...

We love helping with the planning...during
horse-drawn carriage rides around the farm,
or while visiting to pick you your tree, let
our team at the Nest at Steele’s Farm help
you make this holiday one to remember.

101 Nest Ln, Taylorsville, NC

www.thenestatsteelesfarms.com

(828) 71718 3-7449

2021 BLUE RIDGE REALISTS EXHIBIT

In 1968, an artistic movement emerged in the piedmont and western
regions of North Carolina known as the Blue Ridge Realists. Today
they continue to explore and share their artistic ideas of rural realism
to the world.

Join us at the Bob Timberlake Gallery in Lexington North Carolina for an
opening reception of the 2021 Blue Ridge Realists Exhibit. December
2, 2021, 4PM – 6PM

The Exhibit will run through January 29, 2022.

JACK GREENFIELD
BOB TIMBERLAKE

HAL BRYANT
WILLIAM MANGUM
FREDERICK CRAIG FRANZ

JASON DRAKE
GARY FREEMAN
SCOTT BOYLE
PHILLIP PHILBECK
RICHARD OVERSMITH
JEREMY SAMS

CHRIS BELL
CLAYTON PENNELL

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Grandfather's

Synchronous Fireflies

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The discovery of a special type of firefly on Grandfather
Mountain has experts aglow with excitement.
The nonprofit nature park in Linville, N.C., is officially home
to Photinus carolinus, the only species of firefly in North
America whose individuals can synchronize their lighting
display, meaning they can flash in unison.
Photinus carolinus famously resides in the Great
Smoky Mountains National Park, where it is a
major draw for visitors from late May through
early June. During that time, hopeful
spectators enter a lottery to win tickets to
witness the phenomenon. And with only
a limited number of tickets offered,
the spectacle has grown ever more
exclusive.
And now it’s grown a mile high.

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The revelation of Photinus carolinus’ all the diagnostic features for that same
existence on Grandfather Mountain species.”
comes courtesy of Dr. Clyde Sorenson, an
entomologist from N.C. State University. Sorenson later confirmed his findings with
While hosting a workshop on the mountain, East Tennessee naturalist Lynn Faust, a
Sorenson was invited to stay the night in the preeminent expert on the subject, who,
park’s guest cottage near the Woods Walk & among numerous other publications, wrote
Picnic Area. a field guide on fireflies, which Sorenson
described as “one of the best resources to
“I had the intention to see what kind of anyone who is interested in learning more
fireflies might be around at the high altitude,” about these critters.”
Sorenson said.
“You know, this is a really exciting discovery,
Around 9:30 p.m., he saw a few fireflies and on Grandfather Mountain, one of the
flashing and knew right away that it was exciting things about visiting the park is that
something special. you never know what you’ll see or find,” said
Jesse Pope, president and executive director
“As it got dark, the numbers steadily went up, of the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship
and between 10 and 10:30 p.m., there were Foundation, the nonprofit organization that
several hundred all around the guest cottage owns and operates the Linville, N.C., nature
and Woods Walk, flashing synchronously,” park.
Sorenson said. “I knew what to look for,
and apart from the flash patterns, which Sorenson is particularly excited, because
are species specific, there are neurological synchronous behavior is rare in fireflies.
features that are distinct. They were doing “There’s only a handful of species all around
what they were supposed to be doing, and the world that do this, and for a long time,
when I looked at them in my hand, they had this particular species, the phenomenon of

seeing large numbers of them synchronizing it would offer another opportunity to study
has been associated tightly with just a couple Photinus carolinus and observe one of nature’s
geographical areas,” he said. “But the species most marvelous light displays.
goes all the way from New York to Georgia.
Where they have been most widely known “Any time people can witness one of these
and recognized for so long is at Elkmont in really neat natural history spectacles, it
the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. increases their appreciation for the natural
But that’s at 2,200 feet. Where I saw them (at world and their interest in helping preserving
Grandfather) was at 4,200 feet.” it,” Sorenson said.

What makes Grandfather Mountain such “This goes hand in hand with Grandfather
a unique location, Sorenson said, is its Mountain’s mission — to inspire conservation
elevation range. Starting at a relatively low
elevation of 3,000 feet, the mountain of the natural world by helping guests
reaches up to nearly 6,000 feet. explore, understand and value
And while conducting a research the wonders of Grandfather
survey near the Mile High Mountain,” Pope said. “I’m
Swinging Bridge, Grandfather beyond excited about this
Mountain’s director of new discovery. And that’s
education, Amy Renfranz, something that makes
observed the same fireflies Grandfather Mountain
blinking synchronously. so special, that a visitor
could do the discovering.”
“At the top of the
mountain, they blinked in “It tickled me to no end,”
a slower cadence, because Sorenson said. “I was
the temperature was kind of giddy for a little
colder,” Renfranz said. bit.”
“Males were observed
flying low to the ground, Pope noted that
and females were perched Photinus carolinus is
along the ground. The wonderful addition to
groups of fireflies would the pantheon of plants
totally sync light rhythms and animals that call
with each other.” Grandfather Mountain
home.
During one survey, Renfranz
observed more than 1,000 With the fireflies now out
fireflies from one overlook on the of season, park staff is in the
mountain. process of organizing future
viewing events in which the public
“They could start down at the bottom (of the can witness the bugs in action.
mountain) very early in June and continue
well into July, as you go up the mountain,” “A lot of people come to the park, maybe just
Sorenson said, “which presents a really to cross the bridge or get close to an animal,”
unique opportunity for, perhaps, a lot more Pope said. “But while they’re here, they’re
people to see them over a much longer span immersed in a natural experience unlike
of time. Generally, at any given location, any other mountain on Earth.”
they’re really active for about two to three
weeks, and then they’re done for the year. The not-for-profit Grandfather Mountain
But again, because Grandfather has that Stewardship Foundation strives to inspire
great elevational span, it’s possible that the conservation of the natural world by helping guests
display could last for many weeks.” explore, understand and value the wonders of
Grandfather Mountain. For more information, call
This would be a boon for the scientific 800-468-7325, or visit www.grandfather.com.
community and spectators alike, he said, as

Dear Editor— Not believe in Santa Claus! You
I am 8 years old. Some of my might as well not believe in fairies.
little friends say there is no Santa You might get your papa to hire
Claus. Papa says, “If you see it in men to watch in all the chimneys on
The Sun, it’s so.” Please tell me Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus,
the truth, is there a Santa Claus? but even if you did not see Santa
Claus coming down, what would that
-Virginia O’Hanlon prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but
that is no sign that there is no Santa
Virginia, your little friends are Claus. The most real things in the
wrong. They have been affected by world are those that neither children
the skepticism of a skeptical age. nor men can see. Did you ever see
They do not believe except they see. fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course
They think that nothing can be which not, but that’s no proof that they are
is not comprehensible by their little not there. Nobody can conceive or
minds. All minds, Virginia, whether imagine all the wonders there are
they be men’s or children’s, are little. unseen and unseeable in the world.
In this great universe of ours, man is
a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect You may tear apart the baby’s rattle
as compared with the boundless and see what makes the noise inside,
world about him, as measured by but there is a veil covering the unseen
the intelligence capable of grasping world which not the strongest man,
the whole of truth and knowledge. nor even the united strength of all the
strongest men that ever lived could
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love,
He exists as cer tainly as love and romance, can push aside that curtain
generosity and devotion exist, and and view and picture the supernal
you know that they abound and give beauty and glory beyond. Is it all
to your life its highest beauty and real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world
joy. Alas! how dreary would be the there is nothing else real and abiding.
world if there were no Santa Claus!
It would be as dreary as if there No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives
were no Virginias. There would be and lives forever. A thousand years
no childlike faith then, no poetry, from now, Virginia, nay 10 times
no romance to make tolerable 10,000 years from now, he will continue
this existence. We should have no to make glad the heart of childhood.
enjoyment, except in sense and sight.
The eternal light with which childhood Francis B. Church
fills the world would be extinguished. Editor of the New York Sun 1897

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Thomas Nast’s Santa

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The first MerleFest was a smashing success,
but it was just a taste of what was to come. 33
years strong, this festival has helped shape the
musical landscape and foothills communities.

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When you are asking Santa for your
gift this year, make sure he can fit
down your new chimney instead of
your gift fitting under your tree.

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