Enjoy Cherokee Magazine — May/June 2023

Enjoy Cherokee Team

Randy Gravley, CEO/President

Jodi Drinkard, COO/Publisher

Bill West, Vice President of Sales

Jaye Grimes, Managing Editor

Bobbie Christmas, Senior Editor

Laurie Parente, Designer

Leana Conway, Writer

Rebecca Johnston, Writer

Cindy Pope, Writer

Shannon Sickmon, Writer

Emma Tyler, Writer

Ashley Velez, Writer

Susan Overcash Walker, Writer

Jennifer Allen, Account Executive

Robin Barnes, Account Executive

Will Cooper, Multimedia Content Coord.

Copyright 2023 by Enjoy Magazine Inc. (EMI). All rights reserved. Every effort is made to ensure the contents of this publication are true and accurate. EMI assumes no responsibility for misinformation. Correction requests are always welcome at SimplyTheBest@EnjoyCherokee.com. Reproduction in whole, or in part, without permission of Enjoy Magazine, Inc. is strictly prohibited.

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Courting Victory

River Ridge Lady Knights basketball team scores the state championship, and the Cherokee Warriors team makes school history with a championship appearance.

Motherhood Unfiltered Photographer Linnéa Geiger gets candid about the challenges of motherhood, multiple sclerosis, and meaningful artistry.

[special feature]

The Brotherhood of Dadhood

Jonathan Chambers plays a lot of roles—brand manager, entrepreneur, podcaster—but the most important is Dad. Now he’s building a support community for other local dads: Homedad.

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In this emotional and uplifting personal story, guest writer Todd Tyler reminisces about his mother, the late Dorothy Anne Tyler, and the values she taught him.

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The Buzz on Local Honey

More than a sweet treat, honey is a dietary powerhouse packed with nutrients. Learn more and find out where to buy local raw honey collected in Cherokee County.

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Sip Sip Hooray!

With a fresh take on a traditional business, Kaye Jackson developed The Random Whine, a wine label designed to spark fun conversation in spite of hard times.

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Hayden’s Review

Latitude Kitchen & Tap in Holly Springs serves up what may be our favorite mixed drink in the history of the Hayden’s Review series.

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Your Favorite Bookmark

Author Marie Bostwick and the team at FoxTale Book Shoppe in Downtown Woodstock discuss the importance of the creative community and independent bookstores.

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A NEW Champion

Cherokee County has been a wealth of girls’ basketball talent. With nine state titles by local girls’ basketball teams, fans across the state have taken notice of the dominant play found on the hardwood here. Despite recent playoff runs, it’s been more than fifteen years since a county team raised a championship banner. Everything changed when the River Ridge Lady Knights made school history by defeating the defending champions, Lovejoy Lady Wildcats, 68-50 in the 2023 Georgia High School Association Dr. Ralph Swearngin Basketball State Championship 6A girls’ division game on March 10 in Macon, Georgia.

Both teams ran through their opponents in the playoffs by winning all their games by double digits, setting up a rematch of last year’s quarterfinals during which Lovejoy knocked River Ridge out of the tournament.

Led by senior point guard Mataya Gayle with twenty-five points, River Ridge was able to outscore the Lovejoy team, which came into the championship game with an average point differential of +20.

River Ridge also got notable production from two sophomores: Kayla Cleaveland with fifteen points and eleven from Sophia Pearl. Kayla shares that her biggest takeaway from the season is chemistry. “I have learned how important chemistry is for a team. I think one of our best assets as a team was that we all played for each other and not as individuals.” Kayla also shares her favorite memory from the championship is running out on the court during the big game with the lights dimmed and the crowd cheering.

From The Ground Up

The Lady Knights were guided through the playoffs by Head Coach Jason Taylor. River Ridge Athletic Director Coach David Dyer says, “Coach Taylor is one of a few faculty members remaining from the opening of River Ridge and I believe the only head coach in his original position. I applaud and appreciate his efforts and patience in building this program. He truly did it from the ground up. He has a true understanding of what it means to be a high school coach.”

The excitement of the season’s success reached far beyond the gym’s four walls. The community support behind this team meant everything, Coach Dyer says. “The River Ridge community showed up in large numbers in the Final Four to support this team at the University of West Georgia [and filled] up our side at the Macon Coliseum for the State Championship. Our school is fortunate and grateful to have the community support we have.”

“He truly did it from the ground up. He has a true understanding of what it means to be a high school coach.”

Students, faculty, and alumni will long remember the feeling of achievement and respect for this season’s team for bringing home a historic win. Coach Dyer explains the season’s impact throughout the River Ridge community: “It was incredibly important for our entire athletic department, for all our student athletes and coaches.” He adds, “It was important for our River Ridge alumni, all the student athletes that competed during our lean years, as well as our recent graduates who laid the foundation and were a part of creating our current athletic culture over the last few years. It was an awesome night for the Knight Nation and River Ridge community.”

Will Cooper, Canton Resident

Photo Credit: Cecil Copeland/Official GHSA Photographer

—River Ridge athletic director David Dyer on the impact of Coach Jason Taylor, pictured in a huddle with the team.

PLAYERS

CHEROKEE WARRIORS ROSTER

Back in the

Cherokee High School has a long and storied athletic history. As the oldest high school in the county, more than fifty years of student athletes have paved the way for today’s program.

Recently the Warriors boys’ basketball program has been a staple in the playoffs with a four-year streak coming into 2023. With momentum building in the program, many fans thought this could be a breakout year, but no one could predict a championship game appearance.

The state championship appearance marked the end of a forty-year drought. Having reached the state title only one other time in school history, in 1982, the team’s success sent waves of excitement through the entire community. Each step of the way, through the Elite Eight and Final Four, the anticipation grew.

Cherokee faced Wheeler three times during the regular season before the state title game, of which Wheeler won all three. The Warriors quietly cut through West Forsyth and Berkmar at home before facing off against the Carrollton Trojans in the Elite Eight. With a four-point win over the Trojans, the Warriors punched a ticket to the Final Four to face the Norcross Blue Devils at the Convocation Center at Georgia State University. With an overtime win, the Warriors were set up for a rematch against Wheeler.

Cherokee entered the game as an underdog but found a way to keep the score close. Senior guard Braylin Giddens led the Warriors with seventeen points, followed by sharpshooter Cameron Pope with twelve.

HEAD COACH / Joe Veihman

Athletic Director Jeremy Adams reflects on the importance of this season. “It was an amazing experience not only for our athletic department and school as a whole but also the Canton community. It was truly incredible to see everyone unite behind this team, and we have seen it impact our spring sports as well, as they have fed off the success. As the saying goes, ‘Winning begets winning.’”

The difference maker for the success in recent seasons has been Head Coach Joe Veihman. In just two seasons as head coach, Veihman has created a new culture and ignited a new spark with the Warriors. The primary tenet that keeps the team driven is R.E.A.L., an acronym that serves as a reminder to the team to be Relational, Enthusiastic, Authentic, and have Leadership. For his exceptional leadership Coach Veihman was recognized as the GPB Sports Head Coach of the Year.

Athletic Director Adams shares, “The best thing about Coach V. is he is consistent every day. He is one of our top teachers. He loves kids and is an incredible family man. When he talks about R.E.A.L., it is truly not just a saying, but part of the everyday culture he has established.”

As with the other county teams, the support behind the Warriors was inspiring. Fans and families united to send the team off to each game and gathered en masse at local spots, including The Mill on Etowah, Dive Southern Coastal Kitchen, and Stout’s Growlers, to watch as the Warriors gave it their all for the state title.

Athletic Director Adams continues, “The support of the community was unbelievable. From David Booth buying hundreds and hundreds of tickets to the numerous parents and businesses that made sure every detail was covered; it was simply incredible. The pictures from The Mill on Etowah on the night of the game just left me speechless. It was incredibly emotional to see the amount of red and black that followed us to Macon. The workers asked if we left anyone in Canton.”

What’s Next?

Winning is infectious in sports, and both River Ridge and Cherokee have enjoyed the momentum of increased athletic success recently. Both schools have also established themselves as emerging baseball and softball programs, which is no small feat in Cherokee County.

Heading into the fall the Cherokee Warriors football team holds the longest playoff streak (five years running) out of all six county schools. The River Ridge Knights have also found success on the football field, making the playoffs in two of the last three years.

One thing is for sure: an evening devoted to watching Cherokee County sports is an evening well spent.

Photos courtesy of CHS Athletic Department

The Cherokee Warriors celebrate a Final Four win against the Norcross Blue Devils.

by Todd Tyler, Waleska Resident

My sweet mama, Dorothy Anne Tyler, was only seventy-eight when she passed away on Thursday, July 2, 2015, in Marietta. The same place where Mother brought me into this world, Kennestone Hospital, was also where she was pronounced as having left it. It’s hard to say goodbye. We wish we had more time and that we had spent more of it together. We wish that so much of her life had not been lost to illness, that things could have been different for her and for us. While we know that she is at peace and that her struggles are at an end, there is pain and sadness. But even though she is gone, she has left the legacy of her love and perseverance.

Among other words that come to mind describing her character, her uncompromising integrity and honesty have proven to be among the most important guides for me in my professional and personal lives. Whenever I face a situation where I am unsure about which direction to take, I have always had a tool to guide me in the form of a simple question: “Would I be willing to tell my mother what I have done if I choose this path?”

Life forces us all into positions of compromise and presents challenges to our honesty and integrity. I observed my mother rise and meet those challenges one after the other throughout my life with courage and a toughness and a sense of right and wrong that was awe inspiring. Her values and commitment to Jesus, her family, and friends aptly modeled for me a behavior pattern I cannot forget.

Many people don’t believe in God, much less in the name of Jesus. Many, if not most, of these people are good, loving, and hard-working folks who care about their families and communities and are generous with their time and resources. They just don’t buy into the God thing. I wish those people could all have known my mama. More importantly, I wish they could know my mom and dad’s story, especially as I have come to understand it through prayer and revelation. I think their story tilts the argument in the direction of a loving God who is nudging a very broken universe toward redemption for his glory. It is my sincere hope that by the end of what I have to say, this fact can be readily understood, and that it brings honor and glory to God in doing so.

I never considered having to face, feel, and certainly not share what you’re about to read. It’s like setting a broken bone. YES, it hurts—but the bone is realigned, and after healing, it’s stronger than before.

I’m about to say some things that I’m sure Mama would argue with if she were here. I take some levity to heart in knowing that if she’s listening, and if she wants to argue, Jesus may say, “Now, Dorothy, you just hear him out.”

You see, our mom used to say two things about herself that bothered me as a kid: “I’m not very tough” and “I’m not very smart.”

For much of my life it was easy to see Mom as the soft and tender one and Dad as the strong and determined one. By the time my sister, Gina, and I had made it into elementary school, the threat of a spanking from Mom would just make us chuckle. It wasn’t until I was older that I began to understand the incredible strength it took to manage all the elements of our family.

By the time I was old enough to really remember things, my older siblings, Debbie, Ted, and Tammy were teenagers. Some might say they were rather spirited teenagers, and—this may shock some of you—there was a time when my dad had rather strong opinions about the best way to live life.

We had conflict in our home just like many of you have had conflict in your homes, but one reason we loved each other at the end of most days was because of our mom and her faith in Jesus. The tension could be troubling to her, but she was still able to be the gentle anointing oil that made our family run smoothly.

Maybe she wasn’t tough in the Chuck Norris sense of things, but she survived diabetes, cancer, many deteriorating years of Alzheimer’s, and the loss of her daughter Debbie. She managed to intervene in more than a few sibling conflicts. She would tell us that everything would be all right and that she loved us, no matter what. She was tougher than Chuck Norris.

Mom was emotionally tough. Maybe she didn’t always seem so, when she second-guessed herself, got anxious about some mistake she thought she’d made, or thought she’d let us down in some way. Her true toughness was revealed in how she hung in there and loved us completely, regardless of how stirred up things could be. I know Mom wasn’t perfect, but I can’t think of a time when I needed Mom to show up that she didn’t show up and help me see that everything would be all right.

Maybe Mom wasn’t incredibly smart in the Einstein sort of way, although even there, she could baffle us. Mom could be funny and witty and at other times answer our questions in ways from her heart that were awe inspiring. Mama would tell us right from wrong and hold us accountable. Mama knew Jesus; she lived her love for him through the way she treated others. Mama was smarter than Einstein.

Perhaps we rarely asked her to help us with math homework, but our mom could be emotionally brilliant. She found ways to love and support each one of us in accordance with our unique needs and personalities. She did the same for sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, multiple grandchildren, and children she kept for others. Mama didn’t get as much love and support as she would have liked when she was growing up, so she always found a way to give more of it to us.

Mama, you’re wrong.

Mama took the call of Jesus to live a life characterized by sacrificial love. Our family was touched by her determination to live out this spiritual path, even when she got lost coming home from church as her disease progressed. It’s interesting to note that even though she once was lost, now she is found. Much of what I learned about what it meant to be a Christian came by watching how Mama loved others and how she loved Dad. Mom would not allow us to speak or act disparagingly regarding Dad, no matter the circumstance. She loved him deeply and tenderly in a way we couldn’t understand, perhaps not until each of us were married to our own true loves. She made sure we all knew her love for Dad in her way.

I am a simple man. I am a sinner, stubborn, ornery, and a bit opinionated about many things, a lot like my dad. My dad, through his love for Mama, his amazing care, tenderness, strength, and determination in being there for Mama through every single moment of her needs, acted in a way that was more like my Father in heaven than I have ever seen a man on earth act. Dad has shown us all an unconditional and true sacrificial love that makes me proud to be from him as my father on earth and want to be more like him. I desperately strive to be more like my Father in heaven and pray for my dad to get to know him in the ways I do.

Right now I’m imagining Jesus saying to Mama, “See, Dorothy, you really were a lot tougher and lot smarter than you gave yourself credit for.” I’m betting Mom is smiling. I also know that she knows even more of Dad’s love for her from where she is now. Dad’s determination and fight for Mama, especially in

the last few years of her life, has underlined for me the grace of a loving God who brought together two people who were tough in very different ways and who were smart in very different ways.

My parents both took God’s gift of each other and figured out how to help each other be formed more and more in the image of Christ over the course of nearly sixty years together.

Mother’s legacy is wonderful. It is a strong example to follow. Keep focused on what is truly important, not only when your life is easy, but when it is difficult as well.

Special thanks to Michaela Namynamik with The Flower Shoppe by 89th & Autumn for providing flowers, Workroom for photography space, M&M Mercantile Co. for Roycycled Dressform tissue paper, and to the Tyler family for precious photos and mementos.

by Shannon Sickmon, Woodstock Resident

Honey is more than a delicious, sweet treat. Despite the high sugar content—one tablespoon of honey has seventeen grams of sugar—honey is a nutritional powerhouse packed with antioxidants and micronutrients. Raw honey contains antioxidant compounds called polyphenols, which have anti-inflammatory effects that can be beneficial in protecting against several physical conditions. Raw honey is also a natural cough suppressant, and when specially sterilized, it helps heal burns and wounds.

Photo Credit: Alicia Bailey/Buzzin’ Buddies Bee Co.

Life's a Stitch

IN2017 PubMed published research on the health benefits of raw honey that said, “Flavonoids and polyphenols, which act as antioxidants, are two main bioactive molecules present in honey.” It said because of the antioxidants in honey, it has protective effects for the treatment of diseases of respiratory, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and nervous systems as well as diabetes mellitus and cancer. In conclusion it said honey could be considered a natural therapeutic agent for various medicinal purposes.

In layman’s terms, the study states that honey has antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties that can be used in practical medical applications for everything from cuts to coughs. Some experts have speculated that honey may help with allergy relief; however, the evidence has been sparse and based mostly on anecdotal evidence. Nonetheless, the anti-inflammatory effects of honey could help relieve allergy symptoms simply because allergies are caused by an inflammatory response.

Bee Mine

Yes, honey is good for us, but its producers are also essential to agriculture. Honeybees pollinate the majority of cultivated crops. Almost one-third of the food we eat requires insect pollination. Globally three out of four species of cultivated crops rely on animal pollination, with honeybees responsible for the majority.

Blueberries, cherries, and almonds all require insect pollination. In the United States alone honeybees annually contribute about $20 billion to the value of crop production. In addition manufacturers use the wax and propolis (also called bee glue) to make candles, cosmetics, and a variety of health products. Honeybees are so crucial to the Georgia economy that legislators made them the official state insect in 1975.

Although raising honeybees takes commitment and the initial supplies can be expensive, here in Cherokee County apiaries abound, including Buzzin’ Buddies Bee Company, Weeks Works, and Bobbee MacBee’s, an award-winning veteran-owned apiary, all in Ball Ground; Emerald Hive and Honey of Acworth; and Cloer Honeybee Farms in Woodstock.

Honeybees make honey from plant nectar and store honey in the hive for use as food. A responsible beekeeper harvests only the excess. A beekeeper can get about fifty pounds (4.2 gallons) of honey each year from a healthy colony, but the yield can change from year to year and by location.

Ken Bobo of Buzzin’ Buddies Bee Co. serves up a sample of honey at The Mill on Etowah’s Wildlife Expo in March.

Buzzin’ Buddies Bee Co. beekeepers Roger Bailey and Ken Bobo work meticulously with the bees in their care.

Photo Credit: Alicia Bailey/ Buzzin’ Buddies Bee Co.

HOW to Collect Honey

The process to collect and extract honey is simple but labor intensive, and keepers must be sure not to take too much or harm the bees. The process goes like this:

• Beekeepers make hive boxes called honey supers, which contain frames of preformed honeycomb. The bees fill each comb with honey and seal it with wax, at which point it is ready for harvesting, usually mid to late fall in Georgia.

• Most beekeepers use a fume board, an extractor that helps remove the bees from the honey supers. It usually contains a nontoxic solution that bees dislike. Keepers place the fume board on top of the super. After a few minutes the bees move away from the smell and leave the honey super, which allows the keeper to remove the honey with as little fuss as possible. Beekeepers also might use a smoker to pacify the bees, but they use caution; too much smoke can affect the honey flavor.

• After removing the honey, beekeepers use a hot knife to cut the wax cappings off the cells of the honeycomb. The wax cappings, known as beeswax, can be used to make candles and other items.

• A honey extractor allows the beekeeper to reuse the frame. A manual or motorized extractor uses centrifugal force to separate the liquid honey from the comb without destroying the comb.

• Folks who want to go old-school or don’t have the proper equipment can cut the honeycomb out of the frame, crush it, and strain it through cheesecloth.

• After straining, the honey settles for a few days in a closed container, after which the honey is ready for bottling.

WHY Buy Local Honey?

In addition to supporting local businesses, buying local raw honey gives you a delicious treat and many health benefits that pasteurized honey doesn’t have. Local honey has unique flavors that grocerystore brands can’t match. One warning: people with sensitivities to bee stings may find allergens in raw honey. Buying local honey reduces pollution and saves resources, and more importantly, when you buy honey from a local beekeeper, you are helping local businesses and supporting local farms that rely on insect pollinators to produce food. Local honey may be more expensive, but it’s worth the buzz.

WHERE to Find Local Honey:

Weeks Works products are available at Publix on Highway 92 in Woodstock and on Holly Springs Parkway in Holly Springs. Cloer Family Honeybees products are available at M&M Mercantile at The Mill on Etowah in Canton. Bobbee Macbee’s products are used at Bizarre Coffee in Canton (and its Woodstock location opening in the fall). RockSolid Brewing Company of Ball Ground previously used Bobbee Macbee’s honey to make a special brew. Buzzin’ Buddies Bee Company products are used at Barrel House Coffee Co., Wilkes Meat Market, Clayton Homestead, and Ball Ground Barbershop, all of Ball Ground. Emerald Hive and Honey products are available at Busy B Plant Supply in Acworth.

#SHOPCHEROKEE

ACWORTH

Historic Downtown Acworth

Farmers Market

Logan Farm Park, Acworth

Fridays, 8:00 a.m. to noon

Open through October 27

BALL GROUND

Ball Ground Farmers Market

Ball Ground City Park, Ball Ground

Saturdays, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Opening Day June 3

Open through September 9

CANTON

Canton Farmers Market

Brown Park, Downtown Canton

Saturdays, 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Opening Day June 3

Open through September 2

Farmers Market

at River Church

2335 Sixes Road, Canton

Tuesdays, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Tuesday Market

The Mill on Etowah, Canton

Tuesdays, 3:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Open through October 24

BridgeMill Farmers Market

BridgeMill Athletic Club, Canton

Wednesdays, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Open through early November

WALESKA

Waleska Farmers Market

8891 Fincher Road, Waleska

Thursdays, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Opening Day May 4

Open through September 28

WOODSTOCK

Farm Fresh Market

Market Street, Downtown Woodstock

Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to noon

Open through December 30

Motherhood Unfiltered

by Leana Conway, Woodstock Resident

Linnéa Geiger paints with her camera. She uses light, shadow, angle, and observation like a paintbrush to capture human connections. She doesn’t pose her subjects or rely on props, matching outfits, uncomfortable clothes, or forced smiles. Linnéa documents life, and especially motherhood, as it is. She asks only that her subjects be fully present for relaxing and enjoyable photography sessions.

A romantic and realist, Linnéa wants to create “soulful memories” of real love, not fairy tales, yet her portfolio seems magical. World-renowned professionals agree, as her awardwinning work has been featured in Vanity Fair, Huffington Post, Today, and Buzzfeed, among many other national and international publications.

A recent challenging diagnosis changed things for Linnéa, but as she puts it, her health problems have only “increased the constant ache in [her] to create meaningful art.”

Meet the woman behind the camera and her vision.

Sitting in the shade of the big tree at Reformation Brewery in Woodstock, Linnéa and her mother, Britt-Marie Linblad, visiting from Sweden, talk about babies, motherhood, and how Linnéa got to where she is.

Swedish Roots

Linnéa was born in Norrtälje, Sweden. She spent her summers sailing the ocean with her family. In the winters, which she describes as “super dark, cold, wet, and very cozy,” she enjoyed downhill and Nordic skiing as well as ice skating. Linnéa says it was a comfortable childhood, and she remembers her mother working hard to ensure her little girl felt safe and secure in the world.

After high school Linnéa, a born traveler, went to live and work in China for two years. She returned to Sweden to attend college and then participated in an exchange program which brought her around the world to Mercer University in Macon, Georgia.

At Mercer Linnéa met a handsome young man named Casey Geiger. Casey is the son of local attorney Chris Geiger and Christie Geiger, both long-time Cherokee County residents.

Linnéa needed help understanding the classes and getting around Macon without a car, and Casey was kind and helpful. Casey’s virtuousness seems to come through in pictures, although Linnéa didn’t know then how photogenic he was; it was a perk she discovered later. Eventually things turned romantic, and in southern style, Casey took Linnéa to Cracker Barrel for their first date. What girl can resist that kind of wooing? The relationship progressed, and Casey even went to Sweden on an exchange program.

In 2010 the couple married in Savannah, Georgia, then moved to Colorado, where Linnéa and Casey’s first son, Walter, was born. Motherhood initially didn’t go as Linnéa had hoped. Linnéa underwent an emergency Cesarean section, which she says left her feeling like she was “in the movie The Matrix, strapped to a board with wires and tubes everywhere and completely out of control.”

See more of Linnéa’s award-winning photography at LinneaGeiger.com.

After Linnéa’s disheartening birth experience, little Walter didn’t sleep. At all. Linnéa and Casey were exhausted and felt they had no support. Linnéa repeated the lament of most new mothers: “I felt I had no idea what I was doing.”

Linnéa’s mother, Britt-Marie, echoes the same sentiment from her own experience as a new mother. “Your first baby is like the first pancake you make; it’s a trial pancake; it’s your lesson pancake.” Britt-Marie laughs and looks at her first pancake, Linnéa, with such affection that it’s obvious she adores her.

A year after Walter’s birth, Casey gave Linnéa a camera as an anniversary gift; he recognized she had a good eye for taking photographs. The gift marked the beginning of Linnéa finding a way to express herself creatively and reclaim herself from the all-consuming task of being a mother.

With the pregnancy and birth of her second son, Theodore, in 2017, Linnea had twice the number of little photogenic models to capture with her camera. As her confidence and ability grew, so did her body of work, and soon friends began asking Linnéa to take photos of their babies and their children’s birthday parties.

Georgia on My Mind

The Geigers moved to Woodstock so Casey could join his father’s law firm, Geiger Legal Group. After moving, Linnéa became increasingly interested in birth photography, compelled to witness a better birth than

her own. She contacted a doula in her neighborhood to help her explore the idea. Before long, the doula—a trained professional who provides emotional, informational, and physical support before and during childbirth—and an expectant mother invited Linnéa to photograph a birth. Linnéa glows talking about it. “It was unbelievable, the mother [was] calm, and the doula took charge; and it was a completely different experience

The spunky sprite on top is Theo, with big brother, Walter, providing support.

Casey Geiger hangs out with his boys’ club.

Linnéa’s mother, Britt-Marie Linblad—lovingly called Mormor, the Swedish term for maternal grandmother—takes in cuddles from her summer guest.

than the one I had. It was the coolest thing I had ever seen.” Linnéa refers to her birth photography as the act of “photographing you meeting the love of your life.”

The move to Georgia also gave the family more support. Linnéa says, “Back in Colorado, anyone in our sons’ lives was paid to be there: babysitters, et cetera. Now there are two people—Chris and Christie, the boys’ grandparents—who love them as much as we do and want to spend time with them. Our family doubled; it’s really beautiful.” Linnéa loves getting photos of generations of family together whenever she can.

The timing of more family support for Linnéa and Casey was crucial when Linnéa began struggling with health problems. Anyone with small children will tell you they can be exhausting, but it felt like more than that to Linnéa. Getting medical answers took years; the boys were ages four and six when Linnéa finally received a life-changing diagnosis.

A Scary Diagnosis

On August 23, 2021, Linnéa was in Phoenix, Arizona, to work on a photo shoot for a hospital. She woke up in the morning partially blind in her left eye. Linnéa thought it was the result of the stress on her body from the plane ride. She completed the job but still had not regained her eyesight when she returned home from Phoenix. Linnéa and Casey began investigating with eye doctors. Finally a knowledgeable eye doctor recognized the situation as an emergency and sent her immediately to the Emory University Hospital Emergency Department.

From Linnéa’s perspective, photographs help her hold on to boys that just won’t stop growing.

MY PATH TO PHOTOGRAPHY WAS BORN OUT OF MY DEEPEST NEED TO HOLD ON WHILE LETTING GO. —LINNÉA GEIGER

Linnéa refers to her birth photography as the act of “photographing you meeting the love of your life.”

Casey’s grandmother, Vivian “BB” Geiger, soaks up Theo’s charm.

Because of the pandemic Linnéa was alone in a dark room with her eye patched, away from her children and Casey, undergoing testing, and becoming increasingly anxious.

The tests diagnosed Linnéa, then aged thirty-seven, with multiple sclerosis [MS]: a frighteningly unpredictable neurological disease wherein the immune system attacks the myelin sheath around nerve cells, causing communication problems between the brain and the body. Women are statistically two to three times more likely to develop MS than men. It is often labeled a “silent disease” or an “invisible illness,” as many people living with MS look no different but suffer from symptoms like vision problems, sensory problems, cognitive problems, and pain.

A diagnosis of multiple sclerosis brings you to a complete stop, and you reevaluate everything. As quickly as the click of a camera shutter, everything looked different. Linnéa now suspects she may have had MS for at least a few years before her disease was identified.

Ever the documentarian, Linnéa took a screenshot of Britt-Marie’s face when she heard her daughter’s diagnosis over a video call. Britt-Marie’s usually youthful, attractive face crumpled in grief and worry. Although she is back to her vibrant self, Britt-Marie’s eyes still reflect concern.

Because Linnéa received swift treatment at Emory University Hospital and the Atlanta Neuroscience Institute, her eyesight has returned to her left eye. However, her perspective—which comes from her soul, not her optic nerve—remains permanently altered. Linnéa says her diagnosis clarified what type of photography she wanted to pursue.

LINNÉA

MS has also changed the kind of mother Linnéa is physically able to be. Energy is in low supply. MS and heat are fierce enemies, which is not a great combination when you live in the South. Britt-Marie and Linnéa express thanks that Casey is an involved father eager to handle the more active parts of parenting.

When asked her hopes for this article, Linnéa responds, “I hope it gives mothers some relief to see a truer reflection of motherhood. Motherhood is hard; it isn’t what it looks like in most pictures. It’s a messy house, bottles in the sink, you still in your pajamas at five p.m., and piles of unfinished laundry. But the beauty is that you are trying, and you show up day after day.”

Linnéa’s work has become her absolution, as if by illuminating the challenges of the gritty day-to-day of motherhood she makes peace with the mother she can be: tired, grateful, frustrated, happy, in love with her children, overwhelmed, and in love with the role all at the same time.

Britt-Marie affirms, “Linnéa has always been a brilliant mother.” It seems to run in the family.

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I am even more interested in documentary-style or time-capsule photography: the small, mundane moments of motherhood—packing lunches, changing diapers, feeding the baby—that make up what being a mother is.

Kaye Jackson

They touched on everything: copays, prescriptions, light bills, groceries, rides back and forth.”

Through TRW sales and special events, including a fall gala, the company donated more than $20,000 to Loving Arms in 2022. The 2023 goal is set for $100,000.

Janet Graham, director of Loving Arms, describes Kaye as the best possible cheerleader for their organization. “Kaye has not only committed to donating a percentage of her profits to Loving Arms, she also is actively involved with our organization, board, volunteers, and support group clients,” Janet says. “The light Kaye shines on others is indescribable. She truly makes you know she cares about you through her actions and words.”

Kaye adds, “I believe when you get that [cancer] diagnosis, it’s about keeping that positive attitude as opposed to thinking about all the negative things that could happen. When we do fundraiser events with Loving Arms, it allows their clients to have that random conversation, to whine about cancer for a little while, but then we’re going to talk about something else. We get to have fun.”

The Random Whine is now sold in more than fifty stores and restaurants in Georgia and has expanded to seven varietals. Kaye’s plan to expand The Random Whine includes development of new wines, including a luxury reserve called Kaye, and to find permanent partnerships with similar nonprofit organizations as the brand moves into other states. She also mentors budding wine entrepreneurs and produces content on social media, including a short #LetsWhineAboutIt Wednesday segment designed to spark conversation she describes as therapeutic. Kaye’s partnership with Loving Arms continues, including planning future fundraising events and the 2023 gala.

“When I go into a store I get excited when I see [The Random Whine] on the shelf because I think about who it’s going to benefit at the end,” says Kaye. “I believe everybody has something we want to gripe and complain about. We can whine for a few minutes and keep going. Let’s turn a woe into a win.”

Pair up it

THE RANDOM WHINE PINOT GRIGIO

PAIRING SUGGESTIONS FROM THE RANDOM WHINE

is delicate and neutral. The higher acidity and light body make it an excellent companion for seafood or lemony dishes. Avoid anything that’s too heavy. Mild goat cheese, brie, and gouda are delightful with our Pinot Grigio.

THE RANDOM WHINE PINOT NOIR

is complimented best with earthy ingredients. Think mushrooms, lentils, and truffle pasta. It is also delicious alongside salmon. The light-bodied and savory depth is also delicious with bruschetta pizza.

THE RANDOM WHINE RED BLEND goes perfectly with lamb or steak and is also a tasty complement to complex pasta dishes and Mexican food.

THE RANDOM WHINE SWEET RED is versatile and complements a wide range of food. It can be paired with steak, vegetables, rich seafood dishes, and roasted chicken, as well as chocolate torte or cheesecake.

THE RANDOM WHINE MOSCATO is already delightful by itself. Paired with dessert, it accentuates fruit flavors and plays nicely with figs as well as apples. A honeyed fig crostata with our Moscato is a chef’s kiss.

THE RANDOM WHINE BRUT is to be served cold at every celebration. A dry wine perfect with scrambled eggs, caviar, risotto, lobster, and even popcorn, potato chips, and nuts. One sip steps anything up a notch.

THE RANDOM WHINE BRUT ROSÉ

offers the acidity of white wine while having the fruit characteristics of red. This wine pairs beautifully with rich dishes as well as fresh and complex salad, charcuterie, or grilled fish. Grilled cheese may sound simple, but a grilled gruyere and sweet onion on buttery-crisp whole grain bread is divine with our Brut Rosé.

The Brotherhood of Dadhood

by Ashley Velez, Woodstock Resident

One of the greatest barriers to connection is the cultural importance we place on ‘going it alone.’ Somehow we’ve come to equate success with not needing anyone. Many of us are willing to extend a helping hand, but we’re very reluctant to reach out for help when we need it ourselves. It’s as if we’ve divided the world into ‘those who offer help’ and ‘those who need help.’ The truth is that we are both.

rom the first moment Jonathan Chambers began working for the Cherokee Office of Economic Development [COED], his willingness to extend a helping hand has been one of the most recognized and celebrated things about him. Now he’s extended those helping hands to fathers everywhere to connect them, make them feel comfortable in their role, and share tips and advice through his online community called Homedad.

These days Jonathan spends much of his time as brand manager for Reformation Brewery. You may find him collaborating with his team at the Woodstock location, but if you spot him behind the bar, he’ll offer you his kind smile, maybe a “Hiya, friend,” and a pint of whatever you’ve selected from the tap list. His new role is ideally suited to his penchant for storytelling and strong sense of community, but how did Jonathan’s journey of creating connection within the community of Cherokee County start?

Jonathan started as the community manager of entrepreneurship for the COED in 2017, where he took charge of entrepreneurship initiatives. He helped launch 1 Million Cups and the North Atlanta Venture Mentorship Service, grow The Circuit, and develop other community-building initiatives to spark interest in growth opportunities throughout the county.

After two years of bringing people together for COED, Jonathan then had to rely on the community to come together for him and his family in the spring of 2019. Jonathan’s wife, Allison “Allie” Chambers, was diagnosed with breast cancer a second time after having fought the disease in 2016. This time Allie and Jonathan chose to take a different path through her recovery journey through natural, alternative methods not recognized by traditional health insurance.

–Brené Brown

Brené Brown is an American professor, lecturer, author, and podcast host. Brené is known for her research on shame, vulnerability, and leadership and for her TEDx talk in 2010.

Photo Credit: Caleb Jones Photography

The community rallied around Jonathan, Allie, and their three daughters, creating a series of events to raise money and awareness for the family and their journey. Five public events at locations and cities around the county and several others orchestrated by private businesses helped Allie and Jonathan pursue a better alternative for her care.

Pulling at the Threads of Connection

In early 2020 the pandemic raced through our community and tore at the threads of connection that many had worked hard to build. Jonathan was still working his role with COED but with the flexibility of working from home. The summer of 2020 was compounded by difficult national events, which prompted Jonathan to flex his writing muscles and explore tough but necessary conversations.

Jonathan and Allie faced more struggles too. Allie was fighting new cancer spots in her body, so she and Jonathan worked together to determine an updated treatment protocol. The couple also planned a family vacation to Cape Canaveral, Florida, which they took in August. Just months later, in early December 2020, Allie lost her battle, and Jonathan’s family was changed forever.

Jonathan returned to work in January 2021 and realized something had to change. “There’s no way I could repeatedly retell my public grief story, so I finished my projects and ended my time with COED in February 2021.”

‘‘

’’

We believe that dads need to change and grow through every season alongside the growth, development, and change of their children.

— excerpt from the Homedad manifesto by Jonathan Chambers

The Chambers Family, November 2020

Photo Credit: Dolce Amore Photography

After several attempts to return to work, Jonathan quickly realized that work was not a good or healthy substitute for grief work. “You have to know what your heart can handle,” he shares.

In April he pulled back from all projects and took the rest of the year off. “So much of my identity is in my work, which was difficult. I wasn’t at peace with that decision until early summer of 2021.”

Jonathan spent the rest of the year traveling with his daughters. They camped, enjoyed trips to the mountains, beach, and Airbnbs, and created new memories as they learned to navigate life without Allie.

The Vision Begins

Jonathan always felt he wanted to support other dads. He shares that his vision for Homedad began in 2021. “My heart for dads goes back years,” he says. “We’re wired differently. Why do men struggle to seek and pursue friendships with other men? Finding the answer to that question is where Homedad came from.”

In January 2022 Jonathan began feeling the pull back into work. Most of his efforts were poured into Homedad, an online community offering support and advice for fathers in every stage of “Dadhood.” These fathers are intentionally trying to build their homes, care about their relationships with their spouse and kids, and hold to specific values. Building that idea and branding

Jonathan, simply put, is the kind of human being I think many of us are aspiring to be. The kind that, when life challenged him so unexpectedly, he chose to find ways to show up rather than give up. Again and again. For his family, himself and his community. Jonathan is a committed, compassionate, loving and comforting soul who finds such intentional ways to let you know that you are loved. Jonathan has shown me as a father, a spouse, an entrepreneur and a human being how to show up when grief and challenge threaten to overwhelm you. I am grateful to call him both peer and friend.

it pushed Jonathan to create the core of Homedad: fathers seeking help, friendship, and perspective.

Jonathan contacted friend and designer Scott Fuller of The Studio Temporary to create Homedad’s logo. Scott shares: “Every single logo, every design has a personal aspect to it. This project was no different. The house, chimney, and open door all portray the openness that Jonathan has always had. It reflects what he’s trying to do and what he’s going to do in the future. He’s building relationships between families that will last, and it makes sense that I built him an identity that will outlast him.”

Building the Homedad Community

Jonathan’s initial vision for Homedad was to share content on Instagram, followed by a blog series. The most significant medium, however, would be the Dadhood Podcast by Homedad, intended to discuss ideas affecting dads, and allowing them to connect in person and locally.

One of Homedad’s podcast guests, Kevin Monroe, a gratitude coach and curator of the Grateful app, cites the positive change surrounding connection and gratitude for fatherhood: “As fathers, or as parents—in those moments when our kids or life are just driving us to our wits’ end and we’re pulling our hair out—what if you could just stop at that moment and ask, ‘What is it about this child that I could appreciate and celebrate?’”

— Dr. Jerome D. Lubbe of Thrive Neuro Health in Atlanta, pictured here with Jonathan while recording as a guest on the Dadhood Podcast by Homedad in October 2022.

Another guest, Nick Carberry, father and vice president of operations for the nonprofit organization Circle of Friends, shares that Jonathan asked him to be part of an Instagram live discussion. During it, the pair conversed about the expectations of working dads. On this topic Jonathan notes, “Dads especially get into the performance trap—do better, work harder, go further. All the language of ‘notenoughness’ is built on performance, a trap that gets them stuck, and they move in circles rather than forward.”

What started as a conversation on careers and navigating the performance trap shifted into mental health, which opened up another topic that Jonathan has been transparently shedding light on to create more open, honest conversations for fathers and men in general.

The topics Jonathan speaks on and shares online are resonating with dads near and far. Ed Miller of Marietta shared on LinkedIn, “Homedad, I commend you for what you are doing, having been a ‘girldad’ [times two] and now [having] two granddaughters. The work you’re doing is noble.”

In response to a Homedad post titled “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay,” on the topic of leaning into emotions, allowing oneself grace, and permission to not be okay sometimes, Stephen Wiggins of Lexington, Kentucky, commented, “Thank you for posting this. As a stay-at-home dad it is great to be a part of a community that can talk about these things.”

Jonathan’s encouraging reply to Stephen included a reminder that “You are not alone. We need each other.”

Breaking through generational stereotypes has been one of the biggest struggles for Jonathan. His open, emotional approach to dadhood can be difficult for some dads to approach as a new idea. Jonathan, however, earnestly accepts his role as a guide for other fathers, embracing the struggle. He says, “Guiding dads uphill to get in touch with a side they didn’t know they could, or didn’t have permission to access, feels more human than gender-specific.”

Another concept Jonathan shares is the idea to “flip the script” in an effort to combat pessimistic perspectives. He gives an example of a sink full of dirty dishes. Rather than focusing on the negative, Jonathan suggests a mindset of “This is evidence of yet another family meal together.” On Facebook, Gabriel

Dr. Michelle Mathieson

Learn more about the Homedad initiative at Homedad.co or follow @homedadco on social media.

Arronte of Canton commented, “I love this! I constantly have this mindset and definitely need to learn to flip the script.”

For Jonathan, Homedad is two sides of the same coin. One side pours into dads, encouraging them to pursue friendships with other dads. The other side is helping the same fathers become better parents to their kids. “So much of being a better dad is learning to be in tune with your kids, be present, show up, and pay attention.”

Hustle culture and stereotypes can obstruct fathers’ abilities to connect with their kids, and many resort to the mindset of “I’ll just let my wife or spouse have the hard conversations.” Jonathan’s goal, though, is to encourage dads to have those hard conversations and lean into the initial discomfort to break through and create stronger connections with their children.

One way Jonathan creates these conversations at home with his three girls—now ages five, twelve, and fifteen—is with an exercise called High, Low, Buffalo.

“During the week we assess our day, and everyone shares their high for the day, a low, and a buffalo, which is a hard thing you had to face that day but got through.” Jonathan notes that this practice forces them to think through their day and give it purpose, wording, and a framework that illustrates how adulthood also has highs and lows—and plenty of buffaloes.

The Next Steps for Homedad

Jonathan has an earnest question to dads out there: “Who are you as a dad?” He explains further, “You are a dad because you have kids, [but] I think a lot of times, that doesn’t feel like enough.”

Homedad is both a community and a movement that instills in fathers that they’re already a parent without having to prove that identity. Instead Jonathan’s goal is to help dads focus on navigating through life’s tough and beautiful moments— learning to apologize, ask for forgiveness, and allow their kids to see them as human. Perhaps then fathers and their children can experience more joy—something everyone should create and explore in all of life’s moments: the wild, the precious, and the once-in-a-lifetime chances.

SUNDAY BRUNCH 10–3

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BACON BLOODIES & SOUTHERN BENNYS

Gallery

THE SERIES

by Rebecca Johnston, Canton Resident

GALLERY FOUR HIGHLIGHTS

FIFTY YEARS OF HISTORY

Gallery Four of the new Cherokee County History Center takes visitors on a journey through fifty years in Cherokee County that include the Great Depression, World War II, the days of the booming poultry industry, and the Civil Rights movement.

Two mini-theaters patterned after the Canton Theatre and Howell’s Drive-in show a documentary and historic short films that highlight the 1950s and 1960s. Visitors to Gallery Four will also learn about the impact Allatoona Lake has on Cherokee County and the changes in schools, medicine, and communications that impacted the era.

One of six galleries, each covering a specific chapter in Cherokee County’s history, Gallery Four is named for Dr. Thomas Jackson Douglas, a veterinarian who operated the Georgia Poultry Laboratory when Cherokee County was known as The World’s Largest Broiler-Producing County in the early 1950s, and his wife, Dorothy Walker Douglas.

Dr. Douglas, known as Jack, and wife, Dorothy, or Dot as she was fondly called, moved to Cherokee County in 1953 after their marriage in Greenville, South Carolina. Jack came to Canton to open the first poultry lab in Cherokee County for the state of Georgia. Georgia Poultry Improvement operated the lab under contract with the Georgia Department of Agriculture. The lab inspected poultry and identified any diseases before allowing chicken to be shipped for consumption.

Jack, a native of Brunswick, Georgia, attended Auburn University, where he got his doctor of veterinary medicine degree in 1948. He received post-graduate training at the University of Georgia in avian medicine and poultry pathology. Jack also served in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps during the Korean Conflict and was stationed in Chicago and St. Louis in the Veterinary Corps, serving mainly in food inspection.

Following his discharge from the Army with the rank of major, he worked in a private veterinary practice in Greenville, where he and Dot met.

Jack worked for the state poultry lab for six years before going to work for Gold Kist, where

he eventually became veterinarian director for eighteen years. Gold Kist, founded in the 1930s, grew into one of the world’s largest agribusinesses.

At Gold Kist Jack was in charge of the health of millions of chickens and swine throughout the United States. While there he helped develop numerous vaccines for poultry and traveled to the Bahamas, England, and other countries resolving poultry issues.

Jack spent the last ten years of his career working as a poultry consultant for A. L. Laboratories headquartered in Oslo, Norway. In this position he worked in the United States with companies such as Tyson and Perdue helping keep their food products healthy.

Jack was one of the earliest veterinarians in Cherokee County and was a licensed vet for more than fifty years. In addition to his regular job he provided indigent vet care for people who adopted dogs long before there were official “rescues” or a county Humane Society.

DOUGLAS Dot & Jack

Dot graduated from Greenville High School and attended Greenville Woman’s College, which later became Furman University. After moving to Canton in 1953 she worked in the accounting office of Canton Textile Mills and later served as assistant to the treasurer.

She was the first president of the Canton Jaycettes and a member of the Canton Service League. For sixty years Dot was a member and president several times of the Laurel Garden Club and served on the Cherokee County Garden Club Council, regional council, and state council of the Garden Club of Georgia.

She was one of the founders of the Cherokee Community Concert Association, which brought national artists to the county for years. She was involved in Cub Scout work and received the Merit Award from the Atlanta Area Boy Scout Council. Beta Sigma Phi honored her as Woman of the Year in 1981.

The Douglas Gallery is named for a true poultry industry leader in veterinary medicine and his wife, an outstanding community volunteer.

THE CHEROKEE COUNTY HISTORY CENTER is open Wednesdays to Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5:00 p.m.

Located at 221 East Marietta Street in Canton, History Cherokee provides free parking for guests. There is also a free public-use parking garage across from the History Center at 200 West Marietta Street.

Admission to the museum is $9 for adults and $7 for children ages five to fourteen as well as seniors over sixty-five. Admission for children under the age of four is free. All History Cherokee members also receive free admission.

For more information visit HistoryCherokee.org.

Making a Nonfamily Successor the Head of the Family Business

Set expectations and redefine roles.

For family-owned businesses, the dream is often for the next generation to continue the legacy. After all, your business likely represents a significant part of your family wealth, but it’s the most significant gain may come when the business is sold. So, it makes sense to ensure the longevity of the business and the transferability of its inherent value. This may mean considering a nonfamily member to lead your company into the future until you and your family are ready to sell it.

Succession should be part of your continuing dialogue with your financial advisor and professional team. The following guidance may help you set the table for those essential discussions.

Reframe ownership

A family-owned business doesn’t have to be a family-run business. The wealth of a thriving enterprise can provide heirs a foundation for launching new ventures; it’s not uncommon for industrialist parents to pave the way for investor children. Stewardship, not management, then becomes their primary responsibility to the family legacy. As owners, your family can continue to influence the business without the burden of executing leadership. As the business grows, so may its list of stakeholders who desire the stability and continuity that family involvement can provide while also preferring the acumen and experience of a nonfamily executive.

Manage expectations

By being upfront about your plans with your family and senior employees, you may be able to mitigate friction caused by dashed expectations. If you have an heir apparent, make it clear to others who may harbor a belief that they are next in line.

If you haven’t chosen a successor, make your preferences and criteria for selection clear. It’s best to avoid having a family member or senior employee discover they’ve been working toward something that was always going to be out of reach.

Established family governance documents and business governance structures can be useful tools formalizing decisions in a way that will be clear to all parties while protecting the integrity of the business. They won’t, however, replace conversations with your family about their personal goals, your expectations, and the business needs.

• Create family governance documents with your financial advisor, family members, and professional team

• Let leading family members and employees know your succession goals

• Have ongoing conversations with rising family members about their goals

Take the time

When preparing the field for your successor, take the time to foster a familiar relationship with your senior employees and family members. Prepare them to have a strong working relationship when you’re ready to step aside.

• Create opportunities for family members to be involved with the business

• Host social gatherings for family, senior employees, and potential successors

Manage your risks

Family governance and business governance documents, your estate plan, trusts, and insurance coverage all represent different facets of risk management when you are the head of your family and the leader of your business. If you were unable to continue in those roles tomorrow, what happens next?

• Review life insurance and beneficiaries

• Periodically review estate documents

Explore options

Business succession is a core business governance topic. Your financial team should have some recommendations. You may also decide that an outright sale of your business, partial sale, or licensing of intellectual property may be the better option.

• Seek advice from your financial advisor and other trusted business leaders

• Discuss alternative succession possibilities

Sources: World Economic Forum; Harvard Law School; Family Business Magazine; forbes.com

selected. Raymond James and its advisors do not offer tax or legal advice. You should discuss any tax or legal matters with the appropriate

by Jaye Grimes,

Resident

your favorite Bookmark

Meet

Esme Cahill, the titular heroine of Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly, the latest novel from historical and contemporary fiction author Marie Bostwick. Marie’s works, including The Second Sister, The Restoration of Celia Fairchild, and the Cobbled Court Quilt book series, have appeared on the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists.

Enjoy Cherokee was granted the opportunity to read a preview edition of Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly and interview Marie in advance of her book release.

Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly

Marie’s latest work introduces protagonist Esme Cahill at one of the lowest points in her life: on the heels of a divorce, having been fired from her job as a publisher in New York City, and grieving the loss of her beloved grandmother, Adele. The series of events and a final request from Adele lead Esme to return to her childhood home, a lakeside retreat her family runs in Asheville, North Carolina.

At the retreat she reunites with her cherished grandfather, George, and comes to terms with her estranged mother, Robyn. Together they set out to revive the once-charming retreat.

Along the way Esme discovers a collection of her grandmother’s quilts tucked away in an attic. The discovery prompts Esme to explore her grandmother’s past and the common threads between her grandmother’s untold story and her own.

Marie expertly weaves the women’s stories together, revealing the ways Adele’s past influences Esme’s future. Her writing style and descriptive imagery make it easy to imagine the shimmering lake, colorful characters, and creative quilts left behind by Adele.

young and old. The shop hosts a children’s storytime series called Storytime Live!, bookclub meetings, creative-writing classes, and a notable number of in-person author events featuring bestsellers and debut novelists alike.

The late Terry Kay, author of To Dance With the White Dog, was the first author to make an appearance at FoxTale Book Shoppe. Since then the store has welcomed many other wellknown authors, including Rick Bragg, Kristin Hannah, Karin Slaughter, Alice Hoffman, James Patterson, Nicholas Sparks, Mary Kay Andrews, Adriana Trigiani, Tom Watson, and more. It has also hosted up-and-coming authors such as Tristan Tuttle, Mia Tsai, and Dawn Major.

The FoxTale team is excited to welcome Marie Bostwick for her first in-person event at the charming shop. FoxTale owner Karen describes Marie’s work as “hopeful and humorous” and expects Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly to be a favorite of local readers in search of summer reads.

Beth Hermes, FoxTale’s writer-in-residence and bookseller, echoes Karen’s sentiments, describing

For the avid reader and book lover, there’s a special feeling that comes with entering a cozy bookstore surrounded by shelves of possibility. From poetry to prose such bookstores offer the chance to travel to new worlds, explore infinite timelines, and meet new characters dreamed up by treasured authors.

Marie Bostwick, Novelist

Woodstock

Bookmark it!

Marie Bostwick’s new novel, Esme Cahill

explores

Marie’s work as providing a “glimmer of hope and light in difficult situations, serving as a reminder to readers that when we look for the good, that’s what we find.”

Sweet 16

art

creative process behind it. You can also explore the crafts of sewing and quilting locally with History Cherokee. On Friday, May 19, visit the Cherokee County History Center in Downtown Canton for a cotton loom demonstration at 11:00 a.m. with Exhibits & Collections Manager Kaylee Johnson. While there tour the Life’s a Stitch: Household Textiles in Cherokee County exhibit on display in the History Center’s Byron Dobbs throughGallery May 29.

and

On May 4, FoxTale Book Shoppe celebrates sixteen years of welcoming bibliophiles and best-selling authors through its doors. In honor of this special anniversary, the shop will feature author appearances throughout the week, including Joshilyn Jackson, Patti Callahan Henry, Cindy Morgan, and Michael Farris Smith, one of FoxTale owner Karen’s personal favorite authors.

Celebrating sixteen years of serving the community is a laudable accomplishment for any establishment. For an independent boutique bookstore in the age of Amazon and large chain bookstores, the milestone is even more impressive.

Marie, who will soon be visiting the store in Woodstock, says she recognizes the importance of independent bookstores in celebrating authors and literature of all kinds. She feels most at home in towns where “there are real people who in live in that town, who own that business, and are pouring their heart into meeting the specific needs of that community.” She also shares that she loves independent bookstores because “they know what their customers want.”

She explains further, “The reason independent bookstores are thriving is that the owners of those stores are keyed into their community and what that community wants and how to create community within their stores.”

Of independent booksellers versus online retailers, Marie says, “The great value [is that] you can talk to actual booksellers, and they can make really good recommendations for you. That’s what shops like FoxTale do. It is an irreplaceable service; there’s just no comparison.”

Connecting Threads

Marie, a lifelong quilter, often features themes of quilting in her works as a way of exploring generational connections, female experiences, and artistic creativity. In Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly, quilter Adele and writer Esme both mirror certain elements of Marie’s creative talents. She is passionate about encouraging creative people to follow their dreams. Her latest work is a heartwarming and pleasant read that serves as an inspiration for creative people who may doubt their talents.

Marie Bostwick is a USA Today and New York Times bestselling author of uplifting historical and women’s fiction, including the popular Cobbled Court Quilt and Too Much, Texas series of books.

Fails Spectacularly,

the

of quilting

the

Summertime Skewers

Ingredients

16 small fresh mozzarella balls (Ciliegine), drained

1 tbsp. balsamic reduction (purchased or homemade)

½ tbsp. Italian seasoning

1 tsp. olive oil

¼ tsp. garlic powder

¼ tsp. kosher salt

32 round cherry tomatoes

32 small fresh basil leaves

16 short skewers

Begin the Fun

1. Dry the mozzarella and toss in bowl with the olive oil, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and kosher salt.

2. Thread each skewer as follows: cherry tomato, basil leaf (folded in half), mozzarella ball, basil leaf, cherry tomato.

3. Place all skewers on a platter and drizzle with balsamic glaze. Serve immediately. Skewers can sit at room temperature for up to two hours. If making ahead, make no more than three hours in advance.

Breakfast for Mother’s Day Dessert for Father’s Day

Ingredients

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1 cup milk

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly, plus 1 tablespoon for griddle

2 tbsp. honey

2 tbsp. sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. salt Raspberries for garnish

Begin the Fun

1. Preheat griddle to 375o or heat griddle pan over medium-high heat. Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Add egg, milk, and two tablespoons melted butter. Whisk to combine. The batter should have small-to-medium lumps.

2. Preheat oven to 175o. Test griddle by sprinkling with a few drops of water. If water bounces and spatters, it is hot enough. With paper towel, brush ½ teaspoon butter onto griddle. Wipe off excess.

3. Fill a pastry bag fitted with a ¼ -inch plain round tip with batter; twist the end of bag and secure with rubber band. Working in batches, pipe heart shapes, drawing V-shapes of batter in center of the hearts to fill, on heated griddle. When pancakes have bubbles on top and are slightly dry around the edges, flip over for about two minutes. Cook until golden on the bottom, about one minute.

4. Repeat with remaining batter, using ½ teaspoon butter on griddle for each batch, keeping finished pancakes on a heat-proof plate in the oven until ready to serve.

5. When the pancakes are cooled, drizzle the honey on them and garnish with raspberries.

Slushy STRAWBERRY

Ingredients

4 eggs, room temperature

1 (18.25-oz.) package yellow cake mix

1 (3-oz.) package lemon-flavored Jell-O

1 cup powdered sugar, sifted

¾ cup vegetable oil

¾ cup water

4 tbsp. lemon juice

¼ tsp. lemon extract

Begin the Fun

1. Preheat the oven to 350o. Generously grease a twelve-cup Bundt pan with butter or nonstick spray.

2. In a large bowl, stir together the cake and gelatin mix. Whisk in the oil, eggs, water, and lemon extract until the batter is smooth and lump-free.

3. Pour the batter into greased pan and bake for forty minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan for five to ten minutes. Flip the cake onto a serving plate.

4. While the cake is baking, prepare the frosting: stir together sifted powdered sugar and lemon juice.

5. Pour the frosting over the slightly cooled cake. Let the icing set for thirty minutes before serving.

Ingredients

16 oz. frozen strawberries

6 oz. tequila 4 oz. frozen limeade concentrate

oz. triple sec

Begin the Fun

1. Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

2. Top the rim of the glass with sea salt or kosher salt and garnish with strawberries. Pour and enjoy!

Just Peachy Salad

Ingredients

6 to 8 cups mixed greens (preferably a mix of arugula and other greens)

3 small (or 2 large) ripe peaches

1 handful red onion slices

¼ cup sliced almonds

For the dressing

1 ½ tbsp. balsamic vinegar

1 tbsp. Dijon mustard

1 tbsp. maple syrup

¼ cup olive oil

¼ tsp. kosher salt

Fresh ground black pepper

Begin the Fun

1. Place the almonds in a dry skillet with no oil over medium heat. Heat, shake the pan, and stir often with a wooden spoon until the almonds are fragrant and golden brown; this will take about four to five minutes. Remove immediately from heat and transfer to a plate to stop the cooking.

2. Slice the peaches and thinly slice the onion.

3. In a small bowl whisk together the balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, olive oil, kosher salt, and several grinds of fresh ground black pepper until mixture is thick and emulsified.

4. To serve, top the greens with the peaches, almonds, red onion, goat cheese, and corn, and then drizzle with the dressing. Serve immediately.

For a little SWEET POP add a handful of CRAISINS!

THIRD ANNUAL BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL

BLUEGRASS MUSIC | FOOD TRUCKS | CRAFTS VENDORS | KIDS’ ACTIVITIES | MORE

Friday, May 12 5:30-9:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 13 Noon-9:00 p.m.

2-Day Tickets- $45 | Friday Ticket- $25 | Saturday Ticket- $35 Children (14 and under): FREE

New location! Funk Heritage Center Village. Maps and details will be emailed out before the event.

New this year: Free admission to the Funk Heritage Center with wristband during festival.

SCOTT THOMPSON & BROTHER MOJO

TUESDAY, MAY 9 | 7:00 P.M. FREE OUTDOOR CONCERT

Scott Thompson & Brother Mojo is a classic rock/soul powerhouse band that will have you tapping your toes and drifting away to Woodstock, Muscle Shoals, Laurel Canyon, and Austin.

THE WILDERMEN

Friday, May 19 • 7:00 p.m.

FREE OUTDOOR CONCERT by Reinhardt Alumni band, The Wildermen!

Tuesday Market

Shop fresh. Shop local. Shop on The Green for fresh fruits, veggies, jams, oils, meats, seafood, and oodles of other top-notch vendors. Tuesday Market runs through the month of October.

Tuesdays on The Green 3:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.

MINIS in MAY!

Grab your little ones and come to The Green every Wednesday in MAY. You will enjoy five inter active activities like story time, soccer, bubble party, and more! MINIS is free for little ones and their caretakers.

Wednesdays in May 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.

SAT., MAY 13 SAT., MAY 13 SAT., MAY 13

UPRIVER FEST kicks off with a late afternoon run/walk followed by an impressive array of Cherokee County musicians for the remainder of the evening. You’ll enjoy food, drinks, local vendors, a kid’s corner, and more at this high-energy festival.

Run/Walk

Benefiting Goshen Valley 4:00 p.m.

Kurt Wheeler featuring Haddy Nix 5:00 p.m.

Patterson 6:00 p.m. Ansley Fain 7:00 p.m. Cody Bolden 8:00 p.m Bent to Fly 9:00 p.m.

SATURDAY, MAY 13