Have you ever?

The boys and I spent the last weekend in April at the Exchange Place in Kingsport TN. We go each year and I teach each day on using herbs. This year I taught how to make compresses and poultices. The weather was wonderful on Saturday but Sunday loomed dark and ominous. We were promised severe thunderstorms….they were delivered. In the middle of the deluge, and during the time I was scheduled to speak, they held a Gee Haw Whimmy Diddle contest. Have you heard of one? I couldn’t imagine. The excitement was in the air because the WORLD CHAMPION Gee Haw Whimmy Diddler was there…he lives in our area…who’d a thunk?

Gee and Haw? It was ringing a bell…something to do with mules…

Dying to know by now?

The whimmy diddle is in fact an Appalachian folk toy that has been around for centuries. The whimmy diddle is fashioned from two sticks of laurel or rhododendron wood; one stick is notched and has a small propeller tacked to the end. When the notched stick is rubbed by the second, smoother stick, the propeller begins to spin. The art is in getting the propeller to both gee (spin to the right) and haw (stop and spin to the left); skilled diddlers can do it with either hand, behind the back, in under a second.

About 10 minutes before the contest, someone stuck a whimmy diddle in each of my younger boys hands. The WORLD CHAMPION gave instructions to the small crowd of whimmy diddler wannabes. My boys had the advantage – they stopped playing long enough to listen…aaahhh…the perks of homeschooling!

Here is Elijah practicing. He is “in costume” to help his brother “Tom Sawyer” sell cane poles and bean tee-pees that Josiah made from our bamboo grove.

Josiah and Elijah decide to collaborate and share hints and tips…shocking to others (brothers being kind and helping each other?)…. it paid off in the end.

Then came the contest…alas I was speaking and missed the whole thing. Older brother Jeremy was sent with the camera to record this for posterity 🙂

The judges are seated. Don’t ask about the hats…I haven’t a clue. The bearded gentleman behind Elijah is the WORLD CHAMPION! He is giving the rules before they begin. It was a hard decision I am sure…however….

I am the proud Mama of the Edens Ridge Junior Champion Whimmy Diddler of 2008. That’s my boy! Way to go Elijah! He got a basket full of ol’ timey toys. A cup and ball toy, Jacob’s ladder, marbles, jacks and of course a whimmy diddle!

Now…on to the adult competition (aren’t you just on the edge of your seat?)

There were men of all ages. Josiah was a bit surprised that at 14 he had to enter the grown-up competition. Did I mention that the bearded gentleman in the front, in the purple shirt, is the WORLD CHAMPION? Josiah gee’d and haw’d his heart out. Considering he had years 10 minutes of practice I think he did well.

Now he is attempting the fancy stuff – he isn’t showing off…they actually have to do this…

Behind the back…gee’in and haw’in! I was informed that some of the uumm…err….more portly contestants had to drop out during this portion of the contest…just couldn’t quite reach.

And the final outcome?

I also happen to be the Mama of the Edens Ridge Whimmy Diddle Champion of 2008. Where is a reporter when you need one?

As Elijah says, “Mom they were ASTONISHED to find out that we were brothers”. (I’ll just remind you that he is 10….there goes that homeschooling thing again!)

I am sure the rumor is that it “runs in the family”. And yes…that is actually a working Whimmy Diddle that can be removed from the base…try hard not to covet.

It was a day filled with old fashioned fun, eats, and friendly folk. Ya’ll should’a been there!