Braxton Dixon and Maryanna McConnell Dixon Revive a Vermont Dairy Barn

Master Builder and Preservationist Braxton Dixon continues to use his architectural gifts to bring a 200 year-old Vermont dairy barn to Sumner County. His re-invention will be a post and beam private residence located on a tree-surrounded hillside next to a happy creek.

We spent a good time one morning recently with Mr. Dixon, (also the builder of Thistletop) his beautiful wife Maryanna, and Debby Church, trading stories over hot breakfast at Cracker Barrel and marvelling at how much information is attatched to each historical artifact from the Dixon collection. The only item not permanent to the house was an amazing wooden panel from a Mississippi Riverboat. It was on display hanging from the rafters...along with a pinch of dust from another time.

 (You may click on a photo to make it larger)

Braxton and Maryanna are a treasure. Their partnership shares a focus and reverence for the found pieces and their relevance to the new construct.

 Maryanna's gifted singing voice is resonant in the crisp Tennessee morning. Sometimes pausing to describe a point, one thinks she might just break into a song by Jerome Kern or Cole Porter. We wish she would.

photos by Fred Peace

Fred Pierson Visits Thistletop

Award winning Tennessee photographer and International Traveller Fred Pierson has visited all three-hundred plus parks of America as part of his personal quest. Check out  http://www.nps.gov/index.htm

After his recent visit to Thistletop, he shared a few of his favorites for us to feature on our Blog. His love of travel and appreciation of the Earth makes him, in our opinion, a great American Ambassador. Yep, that's him walking with the Lion Cubs! We can't wait for him to return. (click on the amazing photographs for full view, please) All of these photos are by Fred Pierson.Thanks, Fred!!!

White's Creek Artist's Inspiration

Kerry Lee has more to share at fixmytrunk.com his website that highlights over twenty years of his art. Check it out as we did last Sunday afternoon. We were amazed at his collections and the Zen-like gardens and stonework of his home and studio at White's Creek, near the old hideout of the James Gang. We were first greeted by a peacock on a tree, then chickens and roosters and the occasional goat. Kerry's place has bamboo, goldfish, mission antiques, and cast-iron evidence of long-ago designs surrounded with a relaxing & creative natural canvas. We have some of Kerry's Artwork at Thistletop Inn (in the Taos Room) and would love to help you contact him!

photos by Fred Peace