The Holler 2025_Jan 7

In a nutshell

Christmas is over but we're still thinking about Thanksgiving...

Grassy Creek hosted a big crowd from all over this year. The "Rand Clan" (Betty Coward Stillwell's family from central NC) made the trek up to gather with their mountain cousins. We hope they come back soon!  

It was great to see so many new babies and kids up at the Creek making memories.

In the great American tradition, the turkey was deep fried. No one lost life or limb.

We've put up some pics from the fun on the website. We've also added some pics of the work that's been going on up there over the last few years. Please go take a look!

Meet a cousin

5 questions for Natalie Dillard

1.    Where are you on the family tree?

I am ol’ Lee Dillard’s youngest daughter, Roger Dillard’s granddaughter, Mary Jane Coward’s great-granddaughter from whom I hail my middle name, Jane. 

2.    Do you have a favorite spot at GC?

My favorite spot at grassy creek is the spring with the ladle. My first memory at GC is drinking from the ladle with dad and my sister, a young inauguration to the Creek.

3.    It's dinner time. Plate on your knees on the front steps or elbow to elbow at the dining room table?

Plate on my knees on the porch!

4.    What's your vision of GC in the future?

Number 4 is a big question. One of my visions for Grassy Creek is more family reunions. The whole (almost whole) group coming together in July of 2023 was awesome. I would love to see more of that. It was really cool to see all the people only I hear stories of. So this would be number one on my list.

5.    If you could be any piece of GC furniture living or gone to the big burn pile in the sky, what would you be?

If I were a piece of furniture at GC, I’d absolutely be the old blue stove and cooktop that sits (or sat) in the middle cabin (now the cabin to the far left) I adore that thing! 

On the horizon

On February 1st, 2025, at 11AM we'll host an all family meeting. All family members and partners are welcome. The live and in person meeting will take place at the Sylva law office, and we'll send out a zoom or google meet link for the rest of us soon. Watch out for an email.

Join the board! If you're interested in getting more involved in the nuts and bolts behind Grassy Creek, please join us for our monthly board meetings, every 2nd Tuesday at 8:00AM. We help steer the budget, make sure the roof doesn't leak (too bad) and plan for Grassy Creek's future. Write to grassycreekcabinnc@gmail.com (which is really just Natalie A) for more info.

State of the coffers

 To those of you who've pledged and given this year, THANK YOU so much!

To those who haven't gotten around to it yet - and there are quite a few of us who've pledged but not given yet, myself included - please do! As you can see below, we have yet to get to our goal.

You can write a check or give through paypal. All instructions are on the website.

We're still working on closing the 2024 books, but we will give a full update as soon as we do, and talk about it at the all fam meeting on Feb 1.

I don't want to say too much about the 2024 finances before the final numbers are tallied, but the fact remains that we have a budget that's larger than what we've put into the coffers and we're working on figuring out where to tighten our belts. We will give the detailed 2024 accounting as soon as it's available.

Again, Grassy Creek isn't magically funded by wood sprites. We have to all chip in - at whatever means we're able - to keep it up. Every little bit counts! If you're feeling daunted by the costs or like the amount you put in doesn't make a difference, believe me, it does.

In 2025 we're looking forward to less costly repairs and renovations, which means it'll be a great time to come up and enjoy this incredible space we're lucky enough to steward. Come drink from the spring, rock on the porch, hike to the top of the ridge. Let this place and the spirits of all who've held Grassy Creek together through the years come wash through you. There's nothing like time spent up at the creek to rejuvenate the soul.

Love to all and see you at the creek,

Nat and The Board