Stuart Hough, Sunnyside Trading Co.

Spring is finally here in western North Carolina! We are getting warmer, brighter days and with them, glimpses of gorgeous flowers and blooming trees. One of my favorite things to do, and for most of the folks who live around here, is hike, and there is no shortage of trails in this area. This is a picture of me at Craggy Gardens, which has trails that I visit quite often.

Our area has some wonderful ways to help hikers of all levels find the right trail and join others on a hike. Here is one that I have found to be a great tool and wanted to share it with you.

I do some of my best thinking while hiking. In fact, it’s almost as if while I wander, my mind senses that it is free to do the same. And that enables other stuff that I might have been pushing to the side to come to the surface, and finally, to make their way on out. Spring hiking, for me, becomes a great time to check in with myself, including any intentions I have set and whether I want to make new ones. A regular intention that I continually repeat and try to practice is one of kindness – to myself, others and the planet.

Even if you are unable to get outside and enjoy these beautiful Blue Ridge trails, I’d like to invite you to join me in reflection, considering what intentions you might want to continue or change for the season ahead.

Although I have been able to traverse the mountain ridges around here, I have been unable to travel to China since the pandemic. My hope is to make a buying trip there later this year. During our last trip in the summer of 2019, I discovered a few pieces of antique furniture of a style which was previously unknown to me from the province of Xinjiang, China. “Xinjiang” means “frontier” in Chinese and is in the westernmost part of China.

Xinjiang stands at the crossroads of China, India, the Mediterranean, and Russia and has, since the Bronze Age, played a pivotal role in the social, cultural, and political development of Asia and the world. Xinjiang was once a hub of the Old Silk Road and the conduit through which Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam entered China. The principal ethnic group of Xinjiang are the Muslim Uyghurs, a predominately Turkic-speaking ethnic group, who migrated from Central Asia and developed a unique culture due to their long history and role as traders and connectors between different civilizations. They have made significant contributions to Asian literature, medicine, architecture, music, song, dance, and fine arts.

The antiques from Xinjiang, which are beautifully and profusely carved, feature differing geometric motifs and convey a Central Asian – Moorish – Indian energy, closer to Islamic design than Chinese. While it has not been easy, I have been able to locate and purchase several pieces of antique Xinjiang furniture over the last two years. This newsletter showcases several that have just arrived. As you can see, they are truly works of art. We hope you will stop in and view them whenever you are able.