The Doak House Museum garden was alive with bright oranges, reds and gold colors as museum staff and students gathered in their produce during the final days of September. The corn and tomato crops did especially well this year, said Cindy Lucas, associate director.

Appropriately, the Museum is currently preparing for a showing of "Foodways in Appalachia," a traveling exhibit from the Carroll Reece Museum at East Tennessee State University. The exhibit will showcase tools, gadgets, pots and pans from the pioneer days to around 1930. It will be open to the general public from Oct. 1-Dec. 18 at the Doak House kitchen.

Freshman Museum work studies student Nicole Cox of Abingdon, Va. shucks corn from this year's crop.

A special program for 3rd-6th graders, "Spiders, Cranes, and Kitchen Things,"* will be held in conjunction with the exhibit. Students will get a chance to view the exhibit and get hands-on experience with common household objects from the late 1700's to the late-1800's, such things as apple peelers, coffee grinders and butter churns. Those interested may call Cindy Lucas at (423)636-7348 for more information.

*Please note: There will be no arachnids or water fowl involved in the children's programs. A "spider" is a term for a type of three-legged 19th century pot, while a "crane" is a kitchen hook.