Laurel of Northeast Georgia April 23

laurel of Northeast Georgia

April 2023 • Volume Twenty • Issue Four

from the publisher

Oh, for the love of art! From some of Georgia’s finest artists to amateurs like myself, this part of the world is rich with creative minded people. Many years ago, things like quilts and clothing were made out of necessity but today we consider quilts fine crafts and their patterns a work of art. Nothing is more magnificent than a handmade piece of furniture just take a look at Dwayne Thompson’s work at Timpson Creek Gallery. Art is therapy, offering an escape from the stresses of life. Most any artist will tell you that a canvas and brush is their most tranquil place. This issue is will celebrate the creativity that is so prevalent in these southern Appalachian mountains.

On April 15 & 16, 2023 Dahlonega will host their 25th Annual Bear on the Square Festival. It’s an incredible weekend of music and art with the Appalachian tradition of storytelling to entertain audience members of all ages. There will be free concerts by nationally recognized musicians preforming bluegrass and old-time music. All free!

Plan to attend the Sassafras Artisan Market April 29 & 30 at the Rabun County Civic Center. With a new name, in a new place but offering the same great experience this welcomes many of the same great vendors who came to the mountains each year for Celebrate Clayton. An indoor and outdoor event offering fine art and craft, music and great food! Come hungry and bring your purse! Enjoy artist demonstrations, make and take projects and shopping with excellent vendors.

May brings the Of These Mountains Spring Marketplace. The outdoor event has been a huge success and enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. So mark your calendar for May 13th 2023 10am – 5pm. To experience the flavor of the festival visit Of These Mountains’ retail location on East Savannah Street and stop in to Nina’s Milkshake Bar and Pizzeria next door. We appreciate all of our readers and advertisers. We ask that you visit them and shop local every chance you get.

So it’s gonna be an artsy April!

Get out and enjoy spring!

Tracy

PS. The little bird on the cover is the Eastern White-breasted Nuthatch known for snatching seeds and nuts from feeders, which they are easily attracted to and wedging them into the bark’s crevices. The birds then use their very sharp beaks to break the shells and retrieve the contents. Smart birds and how they got their name Nuthatch!

Laurel of Northeast Georgia

Mailing: PO Box 2218 - Clayton, Georgia 30525

Office : 2511 Highway 441

Mountain City, Geo rgia 30562

706-782-1600

www.laurelofnortheastgeorgia.com

Contributing Writers:

Tricia Moore, Tori Carver, Lorie Thompson, Dr. Sue Aery, Jaime Smoot Speed, Dick Cinquina, Roger Glenn, Joey Thompson, Mark Holloway, Jonan Keeny, Liz Alley, Flashback Article by ?

STAFF

Publisher/Editor - Marketing - Tracy McCoy

706-982-9197

Art Director - Dianne VanderHorst

Graphics - Lucas McCoy

Marketing & Office Manager - Cindi Freeman

706-982-0216

Assistant Office Manager - D’Anna Coleman

Writer - John Shivers

Photographer / Writer - Peter McIntosh

Copyright 2023 by Rabun’s Laurel Inc. All rights reserved. The Laurel of Northeast Georgia Magazine is published twelve times per year. Reproduction without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. The publishers and editors are not responsible for unsolicited material and it will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication subject to the Laurel of Northeast Georgia magazine’s right to edit. Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, photographs and drawings. Every effort has been made to assure that all information presented in this issue is accurate, and neither Laurel magazine or any of its staff is responsible for omissions or information that has been misrepresented to the magazine. The Laurel of Northeast Gorgia maintains a Christian focus throughout their magazine. Rabun’s Laurel, Inc. reserves the right to refuse content or advertising for any reason without explanation.

The Arts

On Our Cover

Jonan Keeny Sees the World Through a Different Lens

On 7/7/77 in Topeka, Kansas a drummer was born. At five years old, the parents of this little drummer boy moved from Kansas to Pennsylvania, where he would grow up walking to his own beat. Music has always been a part of Jonan Keeny’s life, so when it was time to decide what he would study in college and where he would go, a degree in Music Performance at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania was the plan, which was followed by further study at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He gained a great group of friends at UNCG during his time there, including an adorable brunette named Mary Lauren. After earning his Masters degree and then working on a Doctorate, Jonan made the move to New York City. Living a half block from Times Square, he had definitely put himself in a creative space and a competitive environment. He played music around the Big Apple and gained some “real world” experience. Jonan went on to teach the art of music at the college level up and down the east coast of the United States for about 15 years.

While living in New York, he remained in touch with his college friends at UNCG and saw a social media post about his friend Mary Lauren, also a music teacher, bringing students to New York for a trip. He jokingly messaged “Are you coming to see me?” Her reply was positive and they did connect while she was in New York City, which was the beginning of something very special. Jonan eventually moved back to North Carolina to pursue music, as well as Mary Lauren. Might have been his best move ever.

Life for Jonan Keeny is an adventure. He is so hungry to experience it all. “My goal list is never complete”, he related when we sat down to chat in early March. I caught on to that fact early on. Filled with a desire to live life to the fullest, this father of two adorable boys and husband to his lovely Mary Lauren continues to explore and do all of the good he can in this world. Jonan and Mary Lauren have made it a priority to teach their two boys, Wyatt and Miles, how fortunate they are and that when we see people struggle, we should help them every chance we get. Jonan’s passion for helping those less fortunate has resulted in him organizing winter clothing drives for the homeless, as well as providing food and other assistance to those in need. On his travels, Jonan makes it a point to help people in as many ways as possible. He feels lucky to count among his friends homeless people living in Greensboro, New York City, Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Atlanta, New Orleans, and Phoenix, and he looks forward to meeting and making new friends in the future. When we talked about his photography he told me, “I was always the kid on the field trip with a camera in hand frantically searching the gift shops for flash cubes rather than souvenirs.” I believe his ability to see the world through a different lens has lended itself to some interesting and outstanding photography. Music has always been his passion but photography is a close second! He calls his photography business My World Pics, with the M and W standing for Miles and Wyatt who he describes as “my world”. The Keeny’s were living and teaching near Charlotte, North Carolina when the pandemic began. Mary Lauren’s family had owned a cabin in the Sylvan Lake Falls community for quite some time and they visited as often as they could. As the pandemic unfolded in 2020 and death tolls began to climb, the young family “headed for the hills”. While here they seriously discussed a permanent move. Mary Lauren was hired to teach music at Tallulah Falls School and Jonan was hired as a Communications Specialist at First Presbyterian Church of Highlands, North Carolina. Jonan manages the church’s social media, creates newsletters, sends postcards, created and maintains their website, as well as provides photography and videography. You can also find him teaching Percussion a couple days a week at Rabun County High School.

It was after the permanent move to Rabun County that Jonan picked up his camera again and decided to explore it further. With time on his hands and lockdowns underway, he spent time in creation with his boys and his camera. Nikon and Sony cameras take up space in his camera bag these days and he says they both do a great job. The eye behind the lens is always 90% of the creativity of a photograph, and Jonan has a great eye! He has had the pleasure of photographing for the Song of Atlanta Show Chorus, who recently finished in third place in international competition. He may have had a solid reason for taking that job, as his wife sings with Song of Atlanta! He has also done some product photography and food photography, which we agree is the lifeblood of good marketing. He currently has his photography on display in Gallery 441 in the Heart of Dillard building. His online portfolio can be found at www. MyWorldPics.com.

“I am like the all-in-one guy who can streamline web design, social media, photography and videography management for businesses, churches and other organizations. I can offer what is needed for each on a case-by-case basis. Not everyone needs website management but maybe they do need help with social media or they can use a library of great photos for use in various ways. I may be the ‘freelance guy’ they have been looking for,” Jonan shared. He has such a fun and approachable personality and zest for life. I can imagine him lying on the ground by two blonde headed, blue eyed boys watching bugs carry sticks, as he shares in that childlike wonder. “I think music and photography can be vehicles for change. Both can bring healing,” Jonan said. I asked what music was his favorite and he responded, “If I had to listen to one musician/singer the rest of my life it would be John Denver, who would just barely squeak by Phil Ochs and Bob Dylan for the number one spot.” When talking about drumming, he expressed thankfulness for parents who could listen as he beat the devil out of his drum set in the basement so many years ago. I am also glad they didn’t discourage him from expressing himself and exploring!

If you are in need of photography or media consulting, are interested in prints of his photos or just want to meet a really amazing guy give him a call at 917-538-7592 or e-mail Jonan@ myworldpics.com.

North Georgia Arts Guild

Nicole Tomaszewski’s Alcohol Ink and Resin Creations

By Tricia Moore

he use of alcohol inks is relatively new in the creation of fine art and is a medium that can be difficult to control. But Nicole Tomaszewski is an artist who has mastered this medium. The fast-drying, highly pigmented, alcohol based inks can be used on any non-porous surface, and Nicole has used these inks on many of them. Yupo paper, photo paper, Ceramic tiles, which Nicole uses to create colorful trivets and coasters, and glass are some of the surfaces used for the application of these inks.

A native of Michigan, having been born and raised in Flushing, Michigan, Nicole worked at an auto dealership as a teenager doing bodywork, including the painting of cars. This sparked her interest in paint and color. However, her first creative art form was floral design. She states that she lived in an area where hunting was popular and many people had parts of animals such as bones, antlers and pelts. She used many of these items and other objects from nature to create unique wreaths in the late ‘90s and early ‘20s. She also “dabbled in watercolor and acrylics.” Still, her true passion for art did not come into play until four years ago when she discovered alcohol inks.

In 1996, Nicole moved to Georgia, where her aunt and uncle lived, to escape the cold and snow of Michigan winters. She had trained as a Medical Transcriptionist, and was able to secure a job at a local hospital. She met Median Von Thorne, her life partner and fellow artist six years ago. Together, they decided they would like to bring back the “true art store” and began the search for a place nearby to do just that. The Von Thorne Art Emporium opened its doors for business on April 16, 2022 in Clermont, Georgia. The building had previously housed a rock shop for many years and was ideal for their vision for a gallery.

In addition to their own work, the gallery carries the work of other artists and craftsmen, and they even carry handmade soap, cheese and honey! Nicole considers the making of cheese and harvesting honey to be art forms in their own right and they represent some of the diverse crafts in the area. Various classes are taught in the workroom/studio adjoining the gallery including alcohol ink, resin, mozzarella cheese making, and soap-making workshops.

Tricia Moore is a retired teacher, having taught both English and Art in public and private school settings. She is currently an active member of the NGAG and has held several positions on the board. With her background in both art and writing, she feels that writing the NGAG featured artist article in the Laurel of Northeast Georgia is a good fit and something that she will greatly enjoy doing.

Nicole’s journey with alcohol ink started when she attended an alcohol ink demonstration at the Dahlonega Science Club Festival. She was so drawn to the medium that she took workshops in it at the Canvas and Cork Art Gallery in Dahlonega and found that she absolutely loved working with the inks. When asked what she loves best about them, she replied without hesitation that it was the vibrant color of the inks and the many different surfaces that can be used with them. Nicole loves to experiment and push the limits of the medium and has created many of her own techniques. One particularly notable technique is using fire on the inks to create interesting patterns. Adding glitter to the process makes it even more striking. She uses resin to coat the tops of the tiles she has painted, giving her work a sophisticated, polished look as well as a durable surface. It took one and half years of “blood, sweat and tears” and much trial and error for her to develop the beautifully unique sculptures she now creates using alcohol inks and resin. She state’s that these sculptures are her “pride and joy.”

Nicole says that she has found that people tend to like “functional art” and are more likely to purchase a piece if it is something that is useful as well as beautiful. Most of her sculptures also incorporate this functionality in the form of vases or containers.

The Von Thorne Art Emporium is located on North Highway 129 in Clermont, Georgia. It is well worth the trip to Clermont to visit the gallery, meet the owners and find out what classes they offer that you would love to

Sassafras Artisan Market – April 29 & 30

Introducing the ART Treasures Raffle!

Our 2023 show features the ART Treasures Raffle. Two lucky winners will receive an LL Bean, zippered canvas tote filled to brimming with Art Treasures. The totes are beautifully hand painted by our excellent NGAG artists, Penny Bradley and Kathy Beehler. Each contains 20+ pieces of original art with a total value over $600. Art pieces are created and donated by talented NGAG painters, clay artists, jewelers, woodworkers and more! To see the list of artists and artisans who have donated their work, go to SassarasArtisanMarket. com

Be sure to purchase tickets to win! Raffle tickets are $20 each, or 3 for $50 and can be purchased before the show on Saturdays from 10am to 2pm in front of Butler Galleries, Main Street, Clayton. Tickets will also be available during the 2 day festival. Two winning tickets will be drawn on Sunday, April 30. You do not need to be present to win. Delivery is available to winners in Rabun and adjacent counties.

After purchasing your coveted raffle tickets, shop the juried Artisan Market, where an array of 90+ artists and artisans will exhibit their original art and artisan-made crafts. You’ll find their booths in the Civic Center Ballroom, the open-air pavilions and on the lawn. You’ll find whimsical and functional pottery, art glass, jewelry, hand dyed and hand-woven clothing, leather goods, turned wood, bath & body, artisan made foods, and much, much more! Remember, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and graduation is just around the corner. Pick up the perfect gift, or a “happy” for yourself. Visit SassafrasArtisanMarket.com for the complete list of 2023 exhibiting artists.

Be sure to visit the Central Information Pavilion. Purchase T-Shirts and Art Treasures raffle tickets. Sign up for a workshop to learn a new art or craft taught by NGAG artists in a variety of mediums. Admire the art of future “Picassos” in the high school student art exhibit. And learn about upcoming North Georgia Art Guild activities and the benefits of membership.

The North Georgia Arts Guild is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Proceeds from the Sassafras Artisan Market and ART Treasures raffle fund our art scholarship, community outreach, and other NGAG programs. All donations are tax-deductible.

Contact us at SasassafrasArtisanMarket.com, or SAM Chairman, Kathy Ford 706-212-9958.

Spring Brings a Marketplace Festival that is OF THESE MOUNTAINS

by Tracy McCoy

When local entrepreneur and brand creator Kendall Rumsey had the idea for the first Of These Mountains Marketplace event, he wondered how it would go over. He had established a curated collection of local and regional vendors whose handmade creations joined his outdoor apparel brand in his store in Clayton, Georgia. The response in the store had been extremely positive and the vendors were so pleased to have a place to display their wares. “Why, I wondered, couldn’t I celebrate these artists and fine crafters and others each spring and fall and invite others to discover their products as well. So, I started in Fall of 2020 with the first ever Of These Mountains Marketplace at the Rabun County Civic Center Pavilions in downtown Clayton, Georgia. I was completely blown away by the success! We had nearly 100 vendors at our first show and have had over 100 at every show since.” Kendall shared. I personally know how successful it was because I attended as a vendor at the first event and it was truly a celebration of creative and incredible artists and business owners. I coin it a celebration because the atmosphere was alive with a vibe that commemorated the spirit of entrepreneurship and artistic endeavors.

This spring will bring to the community the 4th Of These Mountains Marketplace event. You will want to mark your calendars and save the date of May 13th (10 am – 5 pm) so you do not miss this event. Come hungry and bring your wallet because I guarantee you are going to walk away with something you’ll treasure. You will no doubt meet some amazing people and you will talk about it until the event returns in the fall. Kendall’s idea was a great one, welcomed by the community and embraced by the vendors. When you come, be sure to walk through downtown Clayton and discover some of the most eclectic shops, galleries, restaurants and stores anywhere! We are proud of our town and the experience it offers. I think you’ll see why hundreds of thousands of people visit each year.

The Rabun County Civic Center Pavilions are located at 201 West Savannah Street in Clayton, Georgia. Don’t forget to visit Kendall’s Of These Mountains store at 39 East Savannah Street, also in Clayton. Also visit www.ofthesemountains.com for more information or to shop! I felt compelled to share the brand’s mission as it resonates with me and so many others that were born here or have roots that run deep.

Of These Mountains was created as both a lifestyle apparel brand and a love letter to North Georgia, written through designs from local artisans. All of our unique outdoor t-shirts, stickers, and hats pay respect to the natural beauty and life that we are so fortunate to be able to experience here in our community. We believe good things come from nature and are dedicated to creating unique products and content that inspire others to seek new adventure and live their life to the fullest.

Clayton,DowntownGeorgia

Finding Art

Rabun County

Reeves – 706.782.4253 reevesacehardware.com

Lulu and Tully Mercantile – 706.960.9446 luluandtully.com

Dogwoods Home – 706.960.9232 shopdogwoodshome.com

Main Street Gallery – 706.782.2440 mainstreetgallery.net

Butler's Gallery – 706.212.0155 butlergalleries.com

Isadora Popper – 706.782.6986 isadorapopper.com

Crawford Art Gallery – 706.782.8379 crawfordartgallery.com

Sunshine & Sawdust – 706.982.0216

Gallery 441 - 770.634.2379 heartofdillard.com

Timpson Creek – 706.782.5164 timpsoncreek.com

Spool School – 770.315.4991 spoolschool.com

Lakemont Gallery – 706.424.7322 lakemontgallery.com

Cindy's Dragonfly – 770.601.1604

North Georgia Arts Guild – northgeorgiaartsguild.com

Tallulah Falls General Store – 706.754.4318

tallulahgeneralstore.com

Hambidge Center – 706.746.5718 hambidge.org

Habersham County

The Artfull Barn – 706.754.1247 artfullbarn.com

Hemlock Studio Art Gallery – 706.982.2604

Made Here Studio -706.754.4373 madeherestudio.com

Splashe Studio – 706.839.1595 splashestudio.com

Mark of the Potter – 706.947.3440 markofthepotter.com

JC Simon Fine Woodworking – 952.594.4858

Towns County

Slip Stitch Yarn Co. - 770.601.6687

Mountain Quilts – 706.896.3848 mountain-quilts.com

Many Moons Hiawassee – 706.970.3542

William Holland School of Lapidary Arts – 706.379.2126

Art Works Artisan Center – 706.896.0932 mountainartscrafts.org

Grahl Galleries – 706.896.2176

Bell Mountain Artisans – 941.302.4221

- April 2023

North Georgia

Angel Oak Home – 706.898.5427 angeloakdesign.com

After Hours Designs – 706.491.6440 afterhoursdesignsllc.com

Sautee Nacoochee Cultural Center – 706.878.3300 snca.org

The Artistic Box – 706.969.0151 theartisticbox.com

Around Back at Rocky's Place – 706.265.6030 aroundbackatrockysplace.com

North Carolina

Cowee Pottery School – coweeschool.org

Walker Quilt Co. - 828.349.3433 walkerquiltco.com

Silver Threads – 828.349.0515 silverthreadsyarn.com

Creative Framing – 828.349.4468 creativeframing.info

North Carolina Mountain Made – 828.524.7766

A Stitch in Time – 828.524.3300 astitchintimenc.com

Uptown Gallery – 828.349.4607 franklinuptowngallery.com

Doodlebugs – 828.634.0040

Poane Gallery Art – 678.508.3421

Jug Hill Art – 828.283.0867 jughillartgallerysylva.com

John C. Campbell Folk School – 828.837.2775 folkschool.org

Adventure Out Smithgall Woods State Park

By Peter McIntosh

Spring is upon us and it’s a good time to get out and stretch our legs. With that in mind we’re heading to a natural area with lots of nice level hiking trails and a few trails with some hills thrown in for good measure. I’m referring to Smithgall Woods State Park, located just a few miles northwest of Helen. Smithgall Woods started out as a state conservation area and many of the directional signs, pointing the way to the park, still read that way. But by any name this 5,663 acres of stunning mountain woodlands is a treasure. The primary feature of the park being beautiful Dukes Creek, which courses swiftly over rocks and shoals through the middle of the property. Smithgall Woods is a conservation park which means that only staff vehicles, hikers and bicyclists are allowed on the road system. All that means is a little more walking, or bicycling as the case may be. There’s a lot to see and do there, but on this trip we’re focusing on a pair of loop trails, The Wetlands Loop Trail and The Martin’s Mine Trail. Both of these footpaths are interpretive trials, which means there are numbers markers along the way that correspond with numbers on a free pamphlet you can get at the visitor’s center. These informative brochures describe the various flora and fauna found near the trail.

The Wetlands Loop Trail is located 1.2 miles down a paved road from the visitors center. There’s one moderate hill ascent right at the beginning but after that it’s level ground, so this an easy walk. (No need for boots here, comfy walking shoes are fine.) The Wetlands Loop is just over 1/2 mile in length and is almost level except for one small hill. There’s a little side trail about half way around that leads

Peter McIntosh is an accomplished professional photographer. His photography is displayed in collections across the country. His passion for nature and the outdoors is what fuels his column. His work is available as fine art prints. Peter offers one on one and small group instruction on camera operation and photography. To see more of Peter’s photos, or if you have a question or comment, visit Peter’s website: www.mcintoshmountains.com

out to the edge of a beaver pond. Near the end of the loop is an observation platform that extends out into the water. This is a great spot for birding. Great Blue Herons, Wood Ducks, Grey Catbirds, Belted Kingfishers and Barred Owls are just some of the feathered folks that visit this area.

The Martin’s Mine Trail is a little less than a mile further down the road, 2.1 miles from the visitor’s center. This loop is 9/10 of a mile in length. On this section of the road you’ll cross over Dukes Creek via a way cool covered bridge. And to get to this loop trail you’ll cross back over Duke’s Creek, this time on a footbridge that offers splendid views both up and down the rushing stream. After crossing the bridge and following the trail to the left, the pathway begins to ascend through a gulch that was part of the mining operation over 170 years ago. I won’t go into the history of this mine, it’s all in the pamphlet. Just over the high point on the trail is a small platform that allows you to look down into a vertical shaft. Kinda creepy! After descending, the path crosses a small stream and intersects with a side trail marked “Hydraulic Mining and Waterfall” It’s worth the short climb to see the remnants of mining done here and a very pretty little cascade. Now back from the waterfall, the trail leads through a stand of healthy Hemlock Trees. This is very rare due to the infestation of the Hemlock Woolley Adelgid. These trees are healthy because they were treated in various ways to protect them, and each tree has a tag as to the year it was treated. Kudos to the park workers and volunteers that did this difficult but very good work! A little farther and there you are, back at the beginning. There are plenty of picnic tables throughout the park so bring a snack to enjoy and celebrate your adventure. Happy hiking!

Now I hope you’ll adore my poem for month number four: Birds in a wetland and a cool covered bridge, And then to a waterfall beneath a green forest ridge. Whatever you’re looking for, this place has the goods, Go check out the sights at Smithgall Woods.

There’s a lot more to see and do at Smithgall Woods and for more information, visit their website at: www.gastateparks.org/ SmithgallWoods Or call: 706-878-3087

We have many great State Parks here in north Georgia so it just makes sense to purchase an annual pass. It’s convenient and the money goes to support to the parks.

Getting there: Getting there: From Burton Dam Road and GA 197, go south 3 miles to GA 356. Go 11 miles on GA 356 to intersection with GA 17-75 at Robertstown. Turn right and go north about 3/10 of a mile on 17-75 and turn left over Chattahoochee onto Alt 75. Go a little over 2 miles to just past the intersection with Richard Russell Scenic Highway (GA 348) on right. Smithgall Woods State Park is on the left.

To see more Peter’s photos or if you have a question or comment, visit: www.mcintoshmountains.com

Firmly Rooted

By Tori Carver

Typically, flower farmers across the country are seasonal growers. They are limited by their environment. If a farmer desires to extend their season (generally it runs from first frost to last frost) they have to build structures to protect their plants from the elements in order to start their crops earlier and keep their crops alive longer in the Fall.

But what about keeping their plants colder? Such is the case when forcing tulips. Generally we think of Amaryllises or Hyacinths when discussing forced flowers, but tulips can also be forced to bloom earlier (or even a little later) than those grown in the field or garden. The key is to mimic nature.

Since I began flower farming back in 2020, I have wanted flowers for Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. I don’t have a hoop house (those long giant tunnels) or a production greenhouse so having traditional flowers blooming by those holidays is impossible. Enter tulip forcing. Enter creatively mimicking nature.

I’d say that tulip forcing isn’t an exact science because you merely have to replicate winter conditions, but in actuality, it is. Tulips require very specific cooling times; they require and grow best at very specific temperatures; they perform best with very specific humidity levels; and require plentiful watering. If one of these elements is out of whack, the entire crop can fail. To add insult to injury, only certain varieties of tulips force well.

I took a huge risk this winter and planted my first round of forced tulips in soil crates. It

Victoria (Tori) Carver is a flower farmer. From the thousand bulbs and plants that she puts in the ground each year she creates lovely bouquets. Many enjoy her flowers in their home each week. She has established a subscription program for her customers or a honor-system bouquet sales for random purchases. Tori and her husband and children make their home in Clayton, where they are a treasured part of the community. If you are interested in Firmly Rooted Flower Farm please reach out by email to firmlyrootedflowerfarm@gmail.com or phone 706-490-0041. You will also enjoy their website at www.firmlyrootedflowerfarm.com

wasn’t without incident (maintaining the correct temperature was our biggest hurdle) and I doubted my ability the entire growing period, but I’m thrilled to say I had tulips for Valentine’s Day!!! It was thrilling to say the least and I’m totally obsessed now. Our cooling unit, affectionately known as the “tulip trailer”, is still loaded with crates of tulips in hopes of a Mother’s Day harvest. In true fashion, I’m not holding my breath, but I’m being hopefully optimistic. Y’all probably know by now I love to grow flowers and forcing tulips is my jam. I hope to iron out all the kinks in the coming seasons and become better and better. Truth is I would rather harvest 10,000+ tulips in the comfort of my grow room than out in the muddy field where nature is not always friendly. I’m also planning on trying my hand at hydroponic tulip forcing next season so I’ll be sure and keep you posted.

If you’d like to follow along on our tulip forcing rollercoaster and all of our other flower growing successes (and failures), we’d love to have you. You can find us on Instagram and Facebook at Firmly Rooted Flower Farm.

P.S. It’s tulip season so Porch Pick Up is open every day. We are located at 245 N. Church Street in Clayton. The flower porch is at the little gray building at the beginning of the paved driveway. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at tori@firmlyrootedflowerfarm.com.

Finding a Best Friend for Life

By Tracy McCoy & Everett Lampros

You can’t beat a shelter dog! Many have lived the hard life, have been abandoned, abused or neglected and are truly grateful to be treated well. Recently I adopted a 6 year old Bluetick named Wilma. We are still adjusting to each other but she honestly looks at me with those sweet brown eyes and my heart just melts. She loves to be near us; greets us every time we pull back in the driveway, gets excited when we give her a treat. She is smart and as sweet as pie. We are sometimes all the hope these animals have and all they really want is a safe home, to be cared for and loved. Maybe for us to throw in a treat here and there. Isn’t that what all of us crave?

Rabun Paws4Life is a no-kill shelter full of dedicated staff and volunteers who give their all to see that the animals they care for find good homes. They need help from the community because the shelter is always at capacity. They have a wishlist on their website of supplies that are needed, but there are other ways to help. Recently they started a new program called Foster From Afar. It amounts to people who are willing to step up, select a dog or cat in the shelter who they’ll “foster” which means spending time with the animal. You can come to the shelter and walk them, play fetch, petting and brushing them, just helping to socialize the pet, preparing them for adoption. You might find this is a great way to find the pet you’ve been looking for or you may be able to share the dog or cat’s information with someone else who is looking. I think Foster From Afar is a great way to teach children to love animals and familiarize them with the concept of caring for them.

At any rate we want to introduce you to three Rabun Paws4Life long-timers. These are dogs that have been in the shelter for an extended period and are deserving of a home. If you adopt any of the three I want to know about it. Message me at gmlmagazine@gmail.com and send us a photo of you with your new best friend!

Ralph the Redbone

Ralph is a senior redbone coonhound. At 9 years old he was picked up emaciated near Heavens Landing. It took him a while to put his weight back on and therefore Ralph was not able to be shown for adoption for a few months. He is now as healthy as can be, minus a “dry eye” issue easily mitigated with inexpensive eye drops. He loves to run and go on long walks, and if you have trouble walking up hill, he will definitely help you get to the top! If you’re interested in opening your home to a senior, Ralph would be a good one! Please reach out to us at 706-7825422 or email elampros@rabunpaws4life.com

Mumsy the Terrier Mix

Mumsy is a medium sized terrier mix that was brought to us as a pregnant stray. She is a very scared and nervous dog that was probably on her own for quite some time. We are working tirelessly on getting her ready for adoption, but to no avail. If you have it in your heart to come spend some time with her you might very well be what it takes to help her find her family. Call the shelter and ask how to get plugged into our new Foster From Afar program or email Everett at elampros@rabunpaws4life.com

Noback the Blue Pitt

Noback is a sweet and beautiful female blue pitt that was picked up with a huge injury to her back, she had to undergo daily care, cleaning and wraps to get her back to good health. She is sweet with all people but does not like cats. She is selective with other dogs as she prefers to be dominant. She would be perfect for a family with a fenced in yard or someone who goes on daily walks as she loves everything to do with outside. If you are interested in meeting her email elampros@rabunpaws4life.com or call the shelter at 706-782-5422 and they will help you set up an appointment.

Family Table

By Lorie Thompson

Iam so excited when I have a recipe for a delicious and easy-to-make meal to share with you! This one is a goodie! Tear the page out or write the recipe down because your family will ask you to make this meal again.

I recently enjoyed a trip to Mexico with the Poss Realty group, and the best food we ate was the tasty tacos. I came home inspired to make a great taco. Here is my take on it. Start with a pork shoulder. Cut it into 3x4-inch chunks of meat. Using a heavy pot with a tight-fitting lid, brown each piece of meat in a small amount of oil. Season each piece with garlic salt as you turn it. Don’t overcrowd the pan. Remove each piece to a plate and hold until you are through browning all the pieces.

Into the pan, add 1-2 large onions roughly chopped. Add three (or more if you like spicy food!) Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce. Add meat back into the pot. Add one 17oz Mexican Coca-Cola to the pot. This coke is flavored using cane sugar versus the US Coke with high fructose corn syrup. Just spend the extra buck and get the Mexicoke.

Lorie Thompson is a REALTOR at Poss Realty in Clayton, Georgia. Her expertise in her industry is second only to her culinary talents. Lorie is a dynamo in the kitchen. Honestly if she prepares it, it will likely be the best you’ve ever had! Lorie and her husband, Anthony (Peanut), make their home in the Persimmon Community. She is the proud mother of Joe Thompson and Kendall Thompson.

Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid and cook in a 350-degree oven for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Check and stir the meat on occasion. Do not let it get dry. Add a small amount of water if needed. Remove from the heat as soon as the meat is fork-tender.

While the meat is cooking, thinly slice a large shallot or red onion and cover in red-wine vinegar and a pinch of salt. Allow to marinate until meal-time

Make a quick lemon vinaigrette using 1/3 C fresh lemon juice, one garlic clove, one small tsp of dijon mustard, 1 tsp natural sugar or 1 tsp honey, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/3 cup light oil. (I like vegetable oil for lemon vinaigrette but use what you want.) Whiz in a blender or finely chop the garlic and whisk until the lemon juice and the oil emulsify.

When ready to serve the meal, heat the tortillas (flour or corn as you desire.) Toss a couple of cups of fresh arugula with lemon vinaigrette until lightly coated. Layer the arugula on the warm tortilla. Place some of the shredded meat, onions, and peppers in too. Top with pickled shallots or red onions and Cotija Cheese. (Feta will work too.) Serve with a lime wedge for an extra shot of flavor.

The tangy lemon dressing and the bitter arugula create a perfect foil for the rich, sweet pork. The pickled onions and salty cheese take the flavor over the top. This economical meal is a winner. It will serve a large crowd or provide you with a couple of freezer meals.

Enjoy this at your family table. Hola, Amigo!

Sweet Art

I’ve always loved sweets. The more chocolate and gooey it was the better I liked it. I can remember that baked goods were a big deal around our house growing up. My sister, Patty made many of our sweet treats. A few of my favorites she made were No-Bake Cookies, Apple crisp, cakes and fudge! About as decorative as they got in the seventies was a thin layer of icing and some sprinkles or basic star shapes with the icing in the tubes you could find at the grocery store. Cupcakes and baked goods in general have come a long way since then.

Mile high icing, swirls of glazes, almonds or pecans sprinkled, caramel drizzled… baked goods are art. It begins with fresh ingredients and knowing how to put them together. Yes, that really matters. Then it is the thoughtful addition of the right spices or herbs to give it that “little something” that you can’t quite put your finger on. It is usually something you would never guess would be added. The toppings can change everything or complement an already exceptional dessert. The care taken to make a dessert beautiful is its presentation and it whets the appetite! The first bite is savored and tastebuds are in heaven as the different flavors are unleashed. Each bite should be enjoyed. Remember life is short, eat dessert first!

Garner’s Goodies – Jessica Garner

706-490-0916

Have you noticed the popularity of cupcakes these days? Not the basic cupcakes in the paper cups that I remember (fondly), rather these delicious little gems look like a total masterpiece. Decorated with billowing frosting shaped like flowers, sugar crystals and edible embellishments. I recently touched base with Jessica Garner of Garner’s Goodies, a home based side hustle for this busy mom of two beautiful little girls. Jessica told me that she has great memories of baking with the women in her family. Always in the kitchen with her mom or grandmothers, when she lost all three of them she felt that baking was a way to keep them alive in her heart. She bakes with her two daughters, making those same memories with them. “My oldest daughter Abigail, who is ten, says she wants to go to culinary school and own a bakery when she grows up. She has already picked out a spot on main street for her bakery, and has already asked me to work for her. My youngest Evelynn, who is almost eight loves to help too. We always talk about my mom and grandmothers, who they never got to meet.” Jessica shared. I must mention that her husband Russell is very supportive of her endeavor and is her main delivery man and head dishwasher!

Garner’s Goodies cupcake flavors include Banana Pudding, Italian Cream, Honey Bun and Expresso. A new flavor added is Peach Bourbon filled with a peach and bourbon puree. It’s one of Jessica’s favorites. These unique flavors join more traditional ones and icing choices are Butter Cream or Cream Cheese. Speaking of cream cheese, Jessica offers 10” New York style cheesecakes with graham cracker crusts decorated as beautifully as her cupcakes (optional). Garner’s Goodies also offers Chocolate Chip sandwich cookies and 10” Chocolate Chip cookie cakes. I would be remiss not to mention homemade Buckeyes by the dozen!

Clayton Cafe & Market

L&B Bakery

White Birch Provisions

Clayton Farmers’ Market Covered Bridge Shopping Center – Clayton, Georgia

A trip to the Clayton Farmers Market will temp anyone with a sweet tooth. There are slices of the best poundcake you’ll ever taste and delightfully tasty Sourdough Sweet Rolls and fruit breads, cookies, cupcakes and more. All home-baked and ready to take home and enjoy. After a discussion with my friend Dianne VanderHorst (a Laurel lady) who with her husband Brett, sell plants, produce and baked goods at the market on Saturdays I learned that making her breads and rolls is a labor of love. Sourdough begins with a starter and is “worked” all week and Friday is baking day so the items will be fresh for Saturday’s market. The market is open from April 1st to October 28 from 9am – 1pm each Saturday. There are a few dozen reasons to check them out beside the North Georgia Food Bank location in the Covered Bridge Shopping Center in Clayton.

White Birch Provisions

60 East Savannah Street – Clayton, Georgia - 706-782-2263

When shopping downtown you’ll find delectables made fresh daily, fresh brewed coffees, lattes, cappicinoos, in both hot and iced versions and a quiche of the day, some scones and more on the counter at White Birch Provisions located at 33 East Savannah Street. Their Chef, Charlie Million and assistant Brittany Ragsdale create some amazing gourmet quiches, scones, pastries, cookies and brownies and bars. They also offer mini cakes that have been a huge hit, larger than a cupcake and decorated to the hilt and so delicious. One of my favorites is the Almond Bars, seriously they are heavenly! It is good to know that you can pre-order baked goods for your special event, birthdays, anniversaries, even weddings! The store is such a pleasure to visit and offers many hard-to-find gourmet food items to enjoy at home. My favorites are the meals and cookie dough that is frozen for you to pop in the oven when you get home. A visit to White Birch Provisions would not be complete without checking out the Wine Cave! If you want to discuss a large custom order please call and ask for Ivy. She will fix you right up.

L&B Bakery

811 Hwy 441, Clayton, Georgia - 706-982-2713

When I stopped in to L&B Bakery in the Clayton Indoor Flea Market, I talked with Lisa Padgett and Betty Jo Blalock about their bakery. This mom and daughter team are the artists behind this family owned business. There have been some very creative cakes, cupcakes, cookies, cinnamon rolls and more come out of this kitchen. One can drop in and pickup a few cinnamon rolls (I just did that) or cookies or you can call ahead and order cakes, or treats for upcoming events. Lisa spends most of her time in the kitchen and has help from her family to keep the wheels turning. She is exceptionally creative in her baking and does a beautiful job decorating them. You almost hate to eat them because they are so pretty. For Easter she will have dipped strawberries in pastel shades, gorgeous Easter cupcakes and cakes. If you need baked goods for celebrations or events, Lisa is happy to help. Her cinnamon rolls are out of this world and come in an assortment of flavors. Do yourself a favor and follow her on Facebook @Lbbakingcompany. They are working to “bake the world a better place!”

Clayton Cafe & Market

48 N. Main Street – Clayton, Georgia - 706-212-2233 | 706-960-9245

Clayton Cafe & Market has made quite a name for themselves with Bonnie Edmonds at the helm. The Cafe has always had wonderful desserts and offered custom orders, but the Market has tasty sweets made fresh daily as well. A step inside is a sensory overload that will tickle your tastebuds for sure. Step around to the right and you’ll see the daily offerings such as cookies, fudge, bars and muffins to accompany their specialty coffees and frothy goodness! There are some tables to enjoy a cup and a sweet treat with a friend or with a good book. A nice stop after a day of shopping downtown or to grab something for home. Clayton Cafe and Market also has make and take options for a quick supper, a day on the boat or that picnic you’ve been planning. Their Market side also offers some gift items and gourmet foods as well. It’s always good to grab a hug from the owner Bonnie Edmonds.

D&M Cake Design - 706-982-5861

A friend and family member, Donna Speed is known for her wedding cakes, but she offers so much more than that. If you have a celebration coming up and you want a sandcastle cake, or a batmobile or anything else you can think of, she can do it. She has amazed me more times than I can count. Her cakes are fantastic and beautiful to boot. She has been baking her cakes for as long as I can remember. She stays current on new techniques and tricks of the trade so that you will receive a work of art. You will second guess cutting it but once you do… you will marvel at how heavenly it is. Not long ago I heard someone say on the show True South, “the food was so good I hated to swallow!” That is true for Donna’s cakes.

You are now equipped with many options to satisfy your sweet tooth. All of them are great choices. I must also mention that Nina’s Milkshake Bar and Pizzeria just opened and from the looks of it, the milkshakes are simply masterpieces! If you have not seen or tasted the cakes that The Rusty Bike Cafe’s baker Karen is creating, you should! Choosing one to share with you was a challenge as they are all magnificent!

Enjoy dessert and don’t worry about the calories!

Nina’s Milkshake Bar and Pizzeria

The Rusty Bike Cafe

Food Ministry Rabun Gap Presbyterian Church

By Peter McIntosh

There are many definitions of the word ministry, one is and I quote “the act of ministering or serving.” And serving is what the good folks at Rabun Gap Presbyterian do once a month (Every third Saturday at 7:30 AM) with their food ministry. Working with the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia, the church distributes food of all kinds to families in need. On a typical Saturday, the hard working volunteers load up between 125 and 150 vehicles with canned goods, fresh fruit, vegetables and other various food goods. That equates to over 400 individuals.

This program started in 2007 as a quarterly event and one year later changing to monthly, with church and the Rabun County Realtors Association splitting the duties. Two years after that, Rabun Gap Presbyterian took over the program full time. The food ministry

has been a wonderful success and is now one of the top food distributors of all the counties served by the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia.

Here are some statistics: In 2022, the church distributed 582,845 pounds of food. The church purchases the food from the food bank. Their cost in 2022 was $15,618.96. The estimated retail value of the food was a whopping $1,119,062.40.

Thank you James Brim at the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia and way to go Rabun Gap Presbyterian, Pastor Don Barber and the numerous volunteers who show up before sunrise in service to our community. I was there in February to take photos of these good folks doing good work. Several friends of mine were there, donating both their time and their money towards

this good cause. It’s only fair that I give them a shout out: Chuck Williams, Bob Rose, Tom and Collin Lines and Dr. Laura West. It was biting cold that Saturday morning but I walked away with a very warm heart.

To find out more about this food ministry, how you can help or if you’re in need: https://www.rabungappresbyterian.com/

To learn about the Northeast Georgia Food bank: https://foodbanknega.org/

If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.

Mother Teresa

Gratitude Works

Joey Thompson, Pastor, Clayton Baptist Church

We all love to hear these words. Yet, these words seemed to be so absent in today’s culture - especially in the last two to three years. These two words can make your day, flip your lid, and help your business. What are they? The two most beautiful words in life, business, ministry, or any other relationship: thank you. We try to tell our kids and their friends as much as we can that most of being successful in this life is about being grateful which means saying…

Thank you! You will stand out from everyone else by having an attitude of gratitude. You will notice for centuries that people who have a habit of saying thank you have had thriving marriages, families, businesses, and ministries. Saying thank you with a smile on your face is infectious. Gratitude can spread like wildfire when expressed genuinely and freely.

No Thank You? We all know what it is like to do something for someone and not hear thank you. Hearing thank you after you have done something or given something to someone makes you want to give again or even more. Perhaps, there is a charity or a ministry that you have helped in some way. You remember them more if someone tells you thank you or sends a card. We show respect to others when we express our thanks. Someone who gives is called gracious. The word for an unthankful person is ingrate. Both words have the root word of grace, or gratitude.

Overflowing Gratitude. The apostle Paul said we were to be “having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. - Colossians 2:7. Think of all of the blessings that we have in our relationships, America, living in a great community like Rabun County. Just think if your circumstances were different. I get it. We are living in an increasingly busy world. We may forget to express thanks to someone for a kindness shown to us. We intend to thank them. We just don’t execute because we procrastinated or, her twin sister, we became distracted.

The Practice of Gratitude. I need some help sometimes. What are some practical ways to remember to express gratitude first to God for all that He has done for us in Christ, and second, to others that encourage me or that I want to bless.

• Invest time alone with God every day in His Word. Start with the Psalms or the book of John if you are a first timer.

• Pray. Pour your heart out to Him. Start thanking Him for who He is and what He has done.

• Make it automatic. Don’t even think about it. Just tell them thank you: God, other people. It’s contagious. Thank your server at the restaurant or when they help you at the hardware store.

• Use their name. I try to remember people’s name if I meet them for the first time. We have a lot of people moving into our area. Remembering their name shows that they matter and that you care.

The Source of Our Gratitude. Paul says it above: our gratitude comes from being rooted and built up in Christ. He created us to know and worship Him. This is the one reason that you were placed upon this planet in 2023. God created you for Himself. We rebelled against Him through our sin. Jesus chose to leave the splendor of heaven to become one of us. As the only innocent person to ever live, He died a criminal’s death, unjustly arrested and tried, on the cross for you and me. On top of that, He forgave us when we believed in Him. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you were given the Holy Spirit of God whereby you were permanently unified with Christ to never be separated again (not even death - Romans 8)! He promises a future with Him living and reigning with Him as He will one day rule this universe from this world. I may have problems. Sure, we all have issues. However, all of my problems pale in comparison to everything that I have RIGHT NOW in Christ. Next, think about your future. Paul goes on to say that we lack the physical and mental faculties to even picture the great future God has in store for us.

“However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”--the things God has prepared for those who love him.”1 Corinthians 2:9

The source of our gratitude is Jesus here, now, and the future. Will you trust Him today? We are here to help at claytonbaptistchurch.com.

Joey Thompson is Senior Pastor at Clayton Baptist Church located at 87 South Church Street in Downtown Clayton, Georgia. Known for preaching the Word and loving God, he is crazy about his wife and family. Pastor Thompson is an avid Bulldog fan and is also a fan of Star Wars. For more information about CBC visit www.claytonbaptistchurch.com or call 706-782-4588.

Collagen The Other Protein

Dr. Sue Aery

Aery Chiropractic & Acupuncture Elevation Chiropractic & Wellness

Collagen has been in the health headlines for a while now. Let’s look more closely at what it is and why it’s important for our health. Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body, making up most of our connective tissues, joints and body parts. There are many types of collagen, but the most common are types 1-4, making up the most important components of the human body and helping with gut function, skin health and bone structure. The collagen business has exploded over the past few years, boasting a huge economic surge in powder and capsule forms. Bone broth has also made big headlines during COVID as a great way to improve immune function.

Collagen, being a protein, can be broken down into amino acids and peptides, more easily digested in the smaller parts. This process is called hydrolyzation and can happen within healthy digestion and aided by vitamin C. Natural sources of vitamin C are most of your fruits and vegetables, which also add great benefits to your health.

There are sources of collagen in some foods, including animal skins, cartilage, found in foods such as chicken, pork, beef and fish. More recently, the supplement form has taken the front seat for more ease in sourcing on a regular basis. Some of the health benefits include skin health and elasticity, joint health and lubrication, eye health, heart health, gut health and bone health. These are all very important as we age and our connective and vital tissues such as blood vessels, begin to lose elasticity. Make sure that your sources are clean and backed by testing, whether you choose powder, capsules or bone broth. When taking supplemental collagen, give it about 8 weeks to make a difference in your body and improve your health!

Dr. Sue Aery is the owner of Aery Chiropractic in Highlands, North Carolina and Elevation Chiropractic & Wellness in Clayton, Georgia. Hours and availability are posted on the website, - www.aerychiropractic.com or by calling 828-200-4476.

Pet Health Heartworm Prevention

By Jaime Smoot Speed

Have you ever been overwhelmed with all the lingo out there regarding your pets? “Heartworm prevention, heartworm treatment, de-wormers, flea preventions, flea killers, flea sterilizers”? I would like to take a few minutes to break down the lingo, simplify the science, and try to help you, along with your regular Veterinarian, decide on the right product for your pet.

Let’s start with heartworm prevention. Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitos – yes, we DO have mosquitoes in the Georgia Mountains, particularly around bodies of water (like Lake Burton or Rabun). They take a little snack on your pet (particularly dogs and cats) and transmit a microscopic “worm” that grows up into an adult inside your pet. This worm goes to live in its heart. If your pet is not on heartworm prevention, then the boy and the girl worms have babies and make more worms. The more worms = the more damage to the heart and lungs. In Veterinary medicine our goal is to stop the worm breeding first, then to kill the adult worms if present.

Heartworm prevention is how we kill the baby heartworms, heartworm treatment is how we kill the adult heartworms. If we don’t kill the adults, then we just wait for them to die, which can take 5-10 years……meanwhile they are causing damage to the cardiovascular system. Heartworm prevention is ONLY available

at a pharmacy that sells Veterinary products and REQUIRES a prescription, which means you must have a physical exam by a veterinarian and a heartworm test in order to get a prescription. These products are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Most are given by mouth once monthly. There is also an injection that you give once yearly, and there are a few topical products given once every 1-3 months, mostly marketed for cats. Products that are eaten are generally more reliable than products that are placed on the skin. Prevention over the life of a dog is more cost effective and 100 times safer than having to treat a pet with heartworms (this treatment generally costs around $1000-2000 if done safely). It is also important to remember no product is 100%.

Fleas are teeny-tiny annoying black jumping specks that carry disease (ever heard of the plague? Or Cat Scratch Fever?) and bite our pets (their #1 preference) and then humans. Products that are applied to the skin to kill fleas are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA. Products that are given by mouth (a pill) are regulated by the FDA, meaning again, you must have a prescription, which in this case only requires a physical exam once yearly.

So let’s get into some of the most popular products. Starting with internal parasite prevention only, Heartgard has been around the

Jaime Smoot Speed was born in West Virginia, went to James Madison University with a BS in molecular biology, then worked at Johns Hopkins doing research until attending UGA for Vet School. She graduated in 2010 and moved to Clayton with her husband, who is a native, five years ago. She works part time at Rabun Animal Hospital. She opened Claws & Paws in December 2020. You can reach Claws & Paws at 706-212-7322 or visit their website: claytonpawsandclaws.com or on facebook and instagram: @claytonclawsandpaws

longest. It has a VERY low dose of medicine that kills the heartworm babies, which prevents infection. It also has medicines that treat some intestinal parasites (worms that live in the gut). There are a few “generic” heartgard products that go by different names, but are ultimately the same medication made by different companies. Then there are the “newer products” like Interceptor and Sentinel. These cover a couple more intestinal parasites than heartgard. These do NOT include medicine to kill fleas.

Next, I’ll name the flea killing products: Nexgard, Bravecto, Advantage, Frontline, Credelio, and Vectra. Finally, these are what we call the “combination products” which contain heartworm AND flea +/- tick prevention. These include Trifexis, Bravecto PLUS, Simparica Trio, Revolution, and Advantage multi. According to the American Heartworm Society, compounded products (so products that are mixed up by pharmacists) are NOT recommended.

So, clear as mud? Yes, it IS complicated, and it IS confusing. That’s why you should have a personalized conversation with your Veterinarian and Veterinary staff. We are constantly having continued education on new knowledge we find out about these parasites and changes to medication recommendations. What might be true one year may change a few years later. Parasites are AMAZING at replicating, surviving, and adapting to their environment….your Veterinarian should be keeping up with the latest information and products.

Small Town Famous Meet Broderick Crawford

By Tracy McCoy

Twenty years ago, the founders of the then Rabun’s Laurel approached local resident and Wildlife artist Broderick Crawford to ask if he would be the cover artist for their first issue. He was happy to do so and the first Rabun’s Laurel featured his art. Since then his art was featured on our 5th Anniversary issue and in this our 20th year we feature Broderick in our Small Town Famous spotlight. Except, he is more than small town famous, his art is known nationwide but he is still the boy from Tiger who would pick blueberries at Arrendale’s farm to get the money for a day at the county swimming pool.

Award winning is an understatement, to date he has placed 1st in 14 National Open Competitions, he has won 5 State Conservation Stamp competitions and his art was represented on the 2022/2023 Delaware Waterfowl Stamp. Broderick has had 25 2nd place wins. While he is proud of his accomplishments, he remains humble and doesn’t love the attention these awards garner. As we sat together at Crawford Art Gallery, the creative space he shares with his photographer wife Michele, it struck me. Here I was surrounded by incredible artwork on every wall, talking with him about his roots here in Rabun which date back to at least 1886. He laughed as he relayed stories of growing up in Tiger, Georgia. He might be famous, but his heart is still right here in these mountains.

Broderick is the great-uncle of Chandler Patterson, who lost his life in a tragic boating accident on Lake Tugalo in June of 2021. The entire community mourned his death as he was one of a kind. Chan never met a stranger and loved most everyone he met. He left an impression on everyone who met him. “I watched him grow up. He was the grandson of my sister Carolyn. I remember when he was just 6 or 7 years old, he got up at church and asked to be saved, all by himself. Then he wanted to join the choir. Losing him was hard for not only his family, but Chan was a fireman for the City of Gainesville and his work family suffered right along with the rest of us. If you’ve never been to a fireman’s funeral, you have never witnessed anything like it. It was tough to hold it together.” Broderick shared. A nonprofit called Dude21 was organized by his wife and others to aid families of fallen firemen. Chan Patterson’s impact has been far reaching.

Now we speak of another famous Rabun County fellow who headed to Nashville to make his mark, Jeb Gipson. A country music artist, songwriter, and friend of Chan Patterson, Jeb recently wrote a song dedicated to his friend. The song titled “House in Heaven” brings the emotion of his grief alongside his passion for music, resulting in a raw and beautiful tribute. When cover art was needed for the release, Jeb knew just where to go. He called Broderick and forwarded him a copy of the song and asked if he would do the cover art. “I asked him what do you want it to be? He said he’d leave it up to me after I listened to the song. I’ll be honest, it was hard to get through the song. It took me 4 or 5 times to get all the way through it. In the end I painted the song, I added almost every element from the song into the

cover. I imagined my great-nephew walking into Heaven.” Broderick shook his head reminded of the emotion he felt.

The painting includes Chan’s great-grandparents: Mart and Eva Crawford (Broderick’s parents), and John and Burma Lou Patterson standing on the porch of the perfect mountain cabin. In the yard with a guitar is Chan’s maternal grandfather Lloyd Mitchell. All waving as Chan makes his way up the dirt path to Heaven. Meanwhile a deer is grazing, his dog runs to meet him, a boat sits on the pond nearby as geese fly overhead. Broderick easily captured the spirit of Chan and the heartfelt lyrics of the song Jeb wrote for him.

Broderick told me “This might be one of the most moving things I’ve ever been a part of. It was truly an honor to do this painting for Jeb in Chan’s memory. When he saw the painting I think he was pleased. Broderick will have open edition prints for sale in the gallery for anyone who might want one. The original painting is sitting on an easel in the gallery and is truly a sight to behold. Very moving indeed.

Crawford Art Gallery is located at 108 North Main Street in Clayton, Georgia. The gallery’s website is www.crawfordartgallery.com or you can call 706-782-8379. Stop in when in Clayton and look at all of Broderick’s art and Michele’s photography. Also Michele offers custom framing and does a beautiful job. If you stop you will stand in amazement and feel like you are visiting old friends.

Plans Underway for a NEW Clayton City Complex to Serve All

Ilove progress. It excites me and gives me hope for the future! So, when I was invited to visit with Clayton’s Mayor, Kurt Cannon, to discuss the plans for the new Clayton City Complex, I was delighted. I heard plans were underway to create a city complex for the community that welcomed residents and visitors. It would also be an amazing reflection of our city. My good friend and the city’s Mayor put it all into focus for me. I am pleased to share all that I learned.

Since coming into office, Mayor Cannon has worked diligently to bridge the gap between the City of Clayton and Rabun County. What he has found is a group of gentlemen who embrace working together for the good of our citizens. A willingness of both entities to work in unison for the greater good is the first step in getting some issues resolved and moving forward. Mayor Cannon expressed to me that he is very encouraged about the future of both the City and County governments.

One of the Mayor’s best moves was to put together a staff that shared his vision and had the professional experience to execute it. The addition of Clayton’s new City Manager, Trudy Crunkleton, Finance Director Patrick Vines, and retaining Public Works Director Jason Waldroup have put the city on level ground to move forward. “I met with other city and county governments across the state to see what they had put into place and how things were going for them.

I used these interactions to formulate a plan to bring our archaic system and dysfunctional system into a place where progress can begin. I am a resident and business owner in the City of Clayton, and I have a vested interest in a system that supports both”, Mayor Cannon expressed during our visit. He shared with me his vision for a city government that operates on the mission of clean, fair accountability with doors that are always open!

When we began talking about the Clayton City Complex, his excitement fueled mine and before our meeting ended I could see myself walking in the doors of this gift to not only the city but our county. “The building we are operating in is not sustainable. It was the old Clayton Elementary School, built in the 50s. The building is falling down, we have asbestos issues and it just is not feasible to continue housing our city government and police department. I imagine offering the residents so much more. This is their city!” Mayor Cannon said. He was introduced by a resident and friend to artist Kathy Fincher who, after meeting with the mayor, created a visual layout of the Mayor’s plans for the complex.

The complex would be a center for the City of Clayton’s City Hall, the Clayton Police Department, a theater for the creative arts, and a spacious lobby. Parking would be plentiful on all sides of the complex. The 18 acres available for the city complex would also include: an expanded community

garden area, a playground for children, Foxfire Village – a heritage and cultural center, a walking path along Scott Creek, a dog park, an event and concert field with a stage for events that includes an event barn that could accommodate a large number of people, a garden featuring plants native to Northeast Georgia, Bocce ball courts, Pickleball courts and a place to play volleyball. This plan will provide not only a place for Clayton’s City Hall and Police department, but it will also provide indoor and outdoor recreation opportunities for all of Rabun County’s residents and visitors to our area. A Clayton City Complex that serves all and welcomes all, after all as Mayor Cannon said repeatedly in our interview, this is YOUR city and our county seat! What a blessing it will be to have a place we can be proud of and enjoy.

So, you may be asking what burden will this place on city taxpayers? The good news is that there is a City Complex team of advisors that includes a very impressive list of residents who are determined to offset that burden with grants, donations, and community involvement. The advisory council includes Joe Lockwood, Bill Bennett, Kathy Fincher, Suzie Flaherty, Lisa Phillips, Jeff Reeves, Cheryl Webster, Caroline Wallis, and Andy Davenport. Contact has also been made to each group involved such as the Old School Community Garden, Foxfire, North Georgia Community Players, the Rabun Pickleball Club (who just had their first fundraiser in March), and others who will be hosting fundraisers to help pay for the facilities they’ll have a part in. “This is a combined effort of folks who see the value in a new, updated Clayton City Complex. The Clayton Elementary School, that I and so many others attended has been a center for growth, serving families and future generations for many decades, it only makes sense that we would carry that even further. My vision not only serves this generation but my future grandchildren and their grandchildren.” the mayor said. A sentiment shared by all who have embraced the plan and see the benefits of the complex.

If you are interested in investing in the project or being involved I encourage you to contact Mayor Cannon or anyone on the City Complex Team. A good place to start is Mayor Cannon 706-968-8007 or reach out to Trudy Crunkleton by phoning 706-782-4512.

The Old School Garden will have its spring plant sale on Saturday, May 6th, 9-2 rain or shine.

Location: 76W just past the Clayton library on the City Hall grounds

Contact: Joy Lewis

706-782-9730/407-227-7396 or email joyelewis@aol.com

Rabun County Pickleball Club Hosts Rabun’s First Pro Exhibition

What in the world is Pickleball? Complete with its quirky name, this eccentric sport has begun to enter American mainstream culture and has become the “new thing.” It looks a little like tennis, sorta like badminton and similar to ping pong. Pickleball itself with its patchwork assortment of equipment and rules borrowed from these other sports is all the rage.

What many might find interesting is how this sport came about in the first place. It was invented in 1965 just outside of Seattle on Bainbridge Island by three dads, Senator Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum who, as dads often do, decided to create some summertime fun for their kids. The first Pickleball court was constructed in 1967 at the home of Pritchard’s friend Bob O’Brian. In ‘72 a corporation was formed to protect the creation of the sport. The first official Pickleball tournament in the world was held at the South Center Athletic Club in Tukwila, Washington. Many participants were college tennis players who knew very little about Pickleball. By 1990 Pickleball was being played in all 50 states!

Fast forward 29 years and the 2021 Margaritaville USA Pickleball National Championships welcomed 2,300 registered players. The largest tournament in the world at the time. During the last couple of years media exposure has continued to fuel awareness of the sport including spots on Late Night with Stephen Colbert, Live with Kelly and Ryan, The Today Show, CNBC and BBC News. Publications including The New York Times, Vanity Fair, Allure, USA Today, Sports Illustrated and The Boston Globe raved about the “new”, but not so new, sport.

Places2Play.com offers a map for members to know where the courts are located by state. The sport continues to grow worldwide with many new international clubs forming. Today it is reported that there are 36.5 million Pickleball players nationwide. It is reported that America now has 38,000 places to play the outrageously popular sport. The Rabun Pickleball Club wants Clayton, Georgia added to the map!

The Rabun Pickleball Club is a non-profit organization created from the love of Pickleball. Their mission is to provide outreach to the community through activities that encourage group and individual participation in exercise and wellness activities. They are dedicated to donate and support other local charities through competitions. They are actively facilitating public and private partnerships to build Pickleball facilities for our community.

Fundraising efforts are underway to make that a reality. The club recently held their first event to raise funds for the building of Pickleball facilities for recreation and competition in Clayton. The Laurel of Northeast Georgia was proud to be one of many sponsors for their inaugural fundraiser, the first Pro Exhibition hosted by the Rabun Pickleball Club. The Pro Exhibition Matches were March 5th at the Rabun County Recreation Department. It was well attended and enjoyed by all.

The professional Pickleball players Mark Price, David Spearman and Shea Underwood came to Rabun for the event. These gentlemen have taken the Pickleball world by storm. The event was exciting, action packed and fun! You have the opportunity to join the Rabun Pickleball Club and find out more about what they have planned. Photographer Carson Sprinkle of CLS Films was there to capture the action for us. We are excited for all that the Clayton City Complex will add to our County, with Pickleball being one part of it. The project and the efforts of the Rabun County Pickleball Club are examples of positive change.

Veteran - Tom Randle

By Roger Glenn

Tom Randle’s life hasn’t been easy. His family story has more than its share of adversity, and from a young age Tom was intimately familiar with hardship. By the ripe old age of 17 he decided to enlist in the Army but as a minor needed the help of his Mother to do so. So in March of 1967 Tom began his military experience at Fort Benning, Georgia at basic training and then his Advanced Individual Training at Fort Stewart (also Georgia) to become a heavy machine operator. His first duty assignment was to Germany where as a lowly Private First Class he was given mess hall duty. But at that age (and arguably still to some degree) he has a propensity to speak his mind, and a run-in with his commanding officer’s wife landed him in the motor pool, and eventually a country in southeast asia, Vietnam.

During his tour in Vietnam Tom was assigned to the 60th Land Clearing Company and became the sole wrecker operator in his unit. The mission of his unit was to support combat operations by recovering and repairing Army vehicles that were compromised or damaged. And the majority of their operations were in areas where confrontation with enemy forces was commonplace. Obviously the Viet Cong didn’t want to allow American forces to be able to recover their vehicles, and so their efforts were nearly always contested, so much so that wrecker operators had a bounty on their heads. But ironically it was an accident that ended his time in theater when an engine block was dropped on his foot which eventually caused serious complications and required that he be medically evacuated back to Germany. By late 1969 Tom was back in the United States and discharged from the service. In one of the more poignant events of Tom’s life, his Mother passed away at the young age of 42 before he could make it home for a long-awaited reunion. The war had taken its toll on him mentally and emotionally, and after growing up without a relationship with his biological father his Mother was now gone.

But Tom’s life is one of resilience. Rather than become bitter, or losing faith he remained determined to make a good life for himself and his family. He began a civilian career predominantly in finance and eventually became the Chief Executive Officer of a credit union. When the recession hit in 2008, Tom retired and soon thereafter moved to Rabun County - a place he discovered because a former boss and then personal friend had a home in Sky Valley. Tom’s legacy is one of service, not only to our beloved country but also to his communityboth local and beyond. He’s written five books, one about his experience in Vietnam titled “What Did You Do In Vietnam?” Additionally, Tom has been a volunteer with the Court Appointed Special Advocates program and is still involved in a case involving a 13-year old. He’s also worked with Habitat For Humanity, the Rabun County Chamber of Commerce and several other local organizations.

Suffice to say that Tom is a well known character around Rabun County given his legacy of service. After many tribulations in his life, he remains quick to smile, fast to lend a hand, and positive about his humanity, all without losing his humility. Our community is blessed to have this Citizen-Warrior in its corner.

Original “Mountain Treasure”

Just about 200 years ago, in around 1829, gold was discovered in our North Georgia mountains, part of the first gold rush in the country, which started in North Carolina, and the second most significant, next to the famous California gold rush of 1849. During this time, people flocked to the area in search of “mountain treasure.” It is estimated the Georgia Gold Rush netted over 870,000 ounces of some of the prettiest gold ever mined, due to the fact that Georgia gold was close to being 24 karat, 100% pure.

The first discovery of gold in Rabun County was just north of Burton, at the confluence of Moccasin Creek and the Tallulah River. According to our own Rabun County Historical Society, “John Morris is believed to have made the first discovery of gold in Rabun County in the 1830s on a parcel of his land along Dick’s Creek, west of the town of Burton, which now is submerged under Lake Burton. Mining operations in this area ceased during the Civil War, but later resumed for another 25 years. The county’s other primary gold field was on land owned by James Stonecypher along Moccasin and Wildcat creeks, also on what is now the western shore of Lake Burton. At one point, Rabun County was home to almost 30 gold mines.”

When the gold yields started to play out in the mid 1800’s, commercial gold mining in the north Georgia mountains came to an end, as any

Engraving of Georgia Gold Prospectors

Sunset Overlooking Terra Incognita Vineyards

remaining gold would have cost more to get out than it was worth. Many of the Georgia miners moved on to the next great gold rush in the west. However, those that remained developed an appreciation for a different sort of “mountain treasure” they found here. It is this legacy that we value most today.

Today, people come to our area to find a treasure that may not fill their pockets, but it does fill their hearts. What we value today are the experiences we are able to have in these stunning mountains that we can’t get anywhere else. If you’ve ever seen the 100 mile, 360° views from the observation platform at the top of Rabun Bald, you’ll know what I mean. If you’ve ever felt the rush of adrenaline as you shoot the rapids of Bull Sluice on the Wild and Scenic Chattooga river, you’ll know what I mean. If you’ve ever had to stop and catch your breath both from climbing the Hurricane Falls Trail stairs and the majesty of the Tallulah Gorge, you’ll know what I mean. And if you’ve ever sipped a wonderful glass of wine while watching a spectacular sunset at one of our amazing mountain wineries, you’ll know what I mean. I could go on and on, but you get the idea.

Although today, our “Mountain Treasure” is less tangible than a nugget of gold, it’s no less real and just as valuable. It’s found all around us, in the beauty of a stunning sunrise over the mountain tops, the crashing thunder of a waterfall, the crisp fall air and the sparkling stars in a clear night sky, and in the laughter and good company you’ll find in the people of our community. And fortunately for us, this treasure is ours to keep, to cherish and to share. Whether near or far, we hope our “Mountain Treasure” will continue making your life rich!

Shooting the Rapids on the Chattooga River

Upper Moccasin Creek Falls by Mark Oleg Ozboyd

FLASHBACK to April 2013 Turned Funny

By John Shivers

Georgia Mountain Laurel magazine has finally made it into double digits. “The best @*%# magazine west of the Mississippi,” as someone once labeled it, has turned ten years old. (And because I’m more than six times as old as the Laurel, I can’t remember which reader it was who gave the magazine that particular tag line!)

I do remember when I was ten, however. It was such a confusing and complicated time. Somehow, adding that second digit to my age seemed to bring with it much inherent and often negative baggage. But just as we can’t rush the clock hands forward, neither can we turn back time. All we get it the present, warts and all.

The big one-o tackled me on October 10, 1960. As I typed the last line, I couldn’t help but feel the grip of Father Time clamping harder on my shoulder. For an old man, his bony fingers exhibit a surprisingly strong grip. Way too strong for someone so ancient. But his reminder that the clock ticks on, regardless, was also a not-so-subtle nudge that time waits for no man.

So what else happened on that autumn day in 1960, when a youngster of nine years suddenly morphed into a much older young man of ten?

My birthday was on Monday that year. I would have been in the fifth grade. And since my birth date still had not been awarded nation al holiday status, no doubt I was slaving away at the old grammar school on College Street in Calhoun. That school year was the first time I ever earned a failing grade on my report card, thanks to boring geography lessons. I mean, what ten year-old Georgia boy gives a hoot that Des Moines is the capital of Iowa?

Try as I might, I cannot remember anything memorable that happened on that tenth birthday. There was no party. Evidently there

was no gift major enough to stick in my brain, although I’m fairly certain that Mama would have baked my favorite chocolate cake. But nothing stands out. Elsewhere on the planet, the first Soviet Molniya rocket, bearing the first Earth probe of the planet Mars, was launched. However, control was lost five minutes into the flight. Another probe, launched four days later, failed as well. Probably because the people launching it hadn’t learned about Des Moines either!

Comedians George Carlin, 23 and Jack Burns, 27, made their national television debut that night, appearing as the team of Burns and Carlin, on The Tonight Show. Carlin is not deceased and one of Burns’ best known later roles was as bumbling Deputy Warren Ferguson on the Andy Griffith Show. Fergy boy proved less than popular as Barney Fife’s replacement and was dropped without explanation after eleven episodes. Boy do I ever understand how ignominious that must have been. I’ve been the drop-ee more times than I can count.

Then there was the Spanish actor and singer, Antonio Banderas, who was born in Malaga on my birthday in 1960. Right now, he’s still ten years younger and a heck of a lot richer than I am.

It would thrill me if I could report that my own tenth birthday was something to get excited about. Sadly, the fireworks fizzled, the gifts gave out before they ever got started and I turned another year older, but not necessarily even one second wiser. For all the perks that came with a double-digit age, I’d just as soon have stayed nine. In fact, given the chance, I’d still go back to nine. It would give me a heck of a chance to regroup, learn all those states AND their capitals and start over.

Who knows what lofty peaks Georgia Mountain Laurel will have scaled by the time it turns twenty? Who knows where I’ll be by the time I pack on ten more birthdays? In truth, I hope we’re both still around, because we each still have a lot to get done!

Publisher’s note: We are twenty years old this month, John Shivers is still writing for us, mostly from Calhoun and we are still close friends. He will celebrate another decade in October and he is still writing books! We are grateful for him and his humor and insight. We love you John Shivers and thanks for standing by us all these years!

Georgia’s Northern Border and Commissioner’s Rock A Brief War, Survey Blunders, a Mathematician and a Rock Marked “N X G”

By Dick Cinquina

Disputes over Georgia’s borders flared up periodically during the state’s early history. Most involved the 35th parallel north, which commonly was accepted as the shared boundary between Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee by the late 1700s. However, it was one thing to declare the 35th parallel a legal boundary, while it was altogether something else to know where it actually traversed the region. And no one knew for certain during the first decades of the 1800s, resulting in surveys that erroneously defined Georgia’s northern border. Commissioner’s Rock in Rabun County is a legacy of these mistakes.

The errors that were made in determining Georgia’s northern border resulted from crude surveying instruments and techniques, the difficulties of traveling through rough, mountainous terrain, and hostile Indians who did not welcome the presence of white men. Moreover, most surveyors lacked an adequate knowledge of mathematics and astronomy. These issues made accurate surveys the rare exception, not the norm.

Orphan Strip Controversy

The story of Commissioner’s Rock begins with one of the most contentious northern border controversies that erupted in the first years of the nineteenth century over a vaguely defined, 12-mile-wide piece of land claimed by Georgia and North Carolina. Known today as the Orphan Strip, this tract of land covers portions of several present-day North Carolina counties: Macon, Jackson and Transylvania, all of which lay to the north and east of Rabun County.

The Orphan Strip received its moniker because by the end of the 1700s, it was under no state authority. Neither North Carolina, South Carolina nor Georgia wanted to govern the lawless area, since it was inhabited primarily by outlaws, fugitives and renegade Cherokees. The lack of any state governance gave rise to festering problems as settlers from Georgia and the Carolinas started moving into the area. Around 1800, North Carolina finally stepped in and made the Orphan Strip part of Buncombe County, which then encompassed most of western North Carolina.

Congress Cedes Orphan Strip to Georgia

In 1802, Congress enacted the Articles of Agreement and Cession, under which Georgia ceded to the federal government the land that encompasses present-day Mississippi and Alabama. In return, the act extinguished Indian land titles in the state and awarded the Orphan Strip to Georgia. This was done notwithstanding that North Carolina already had taken possession of the Orphan Strip and that the area’s boundaries had never been determined by a survey. However, with the blessing of the federal government, Georgia created Walton County on the Orphan Strip in 1803.

Settlers with Georgia land grants readily embraced Walton County. However, those with North Carolina land grants strongly objected to the imposition of Georgia law and taxes. Pressure on North Carolina settlers to pay Georgia taxes led to an outbreak of violent altercations. North Carolina’s governor called out the state militia, precipitating the brief Walton War in 1804. Two battles were fought near Brevard, North Carolina with Georgia’s militia on the losing end. The conflict left the Orphan Strip firmly in the hands of North Carolina.

Dick Cinquina is the retired president of Equity Market Partners, a national financial consulting firm he founded in 1981. Holding graduate degrees in history and journalism, Dick recently published Mountains, Moonshine and a Railroad, which tells the always colorful, occasionally contentious and frequently humorous history of Rabun County and northeast Georgia. Dick also writes history articles that appear in the Laurel

Ellicott’s Rock on the east bank of the Chattooga River

Georgia Contests Area’s Ownership

Georgia continued to contest the issue. To resolve the dispute, a joint commission of the Georgia and North Carolina legislatures was established in 1807. The commission analyzed several crude maps of the area and concluded that the Orphan Strip was located north of the 35th parallel, making the area part of North Carolina. However, Georgia refused to abide by the commission’s report.

In 1811, Georgia hired Andrew Ellicott, one of the nation’s leading surveyors, with the clear intention of resolving the border controversy in Georgia’s favor. Despite Georgia’s motives, Ellicott determined that the Orphan Strip was, indeed, north of the 35th parallel, definitely placing it within North Carolina. Ellicott marked a rock “N-G” on the east bank of the Chattooga River, designating the 35th parallel and boundary between Georgia and North Carolina. Ellicott’s Rock, which still exists, is most commonly used today to mark the point where Georgia (Rabun County), North Carolina (Macon County) and South Carolina (Oconee County) converge.

UGA Mathematician James Camak

Upon reading Ellicott’s report, Georgia’s governor finally surrendered the state’s claim to the Orphan Strip. Unfortunately for the state’s history, Ellicott was not commissioned to conduct a survey going west from his marker to determine the exact course of the 35th parallel across Georgia. If the renowned surveyor had done so, perhaps future blunders might have been averted over the borders between Georgia and North Carolina and Tennessee. Absent Ellicott, James Camak, a University of Georgia mathematician, would play a central role in the forthcoming series of errors.

The Georgia and Tennessee legislatures agreed in 1817 to form a joint survey team that included Camak to identify the precise border between the two states. The survey began at Nickajack, an ancient Creek village on the Tennessee River that marked the westernmost point of Tennessee’s border with the Alabama territory. Due to Camak’s erroneous calculations, the surveyors incorrectly determined that the 35th parallel was two miles south of Nickajack. Based on this mistake, the surveyors continued eastward on a course south of the 35th parallel. After 110 miles, they stopped at what they thought was the eastern boundary of Tennessee and Georgia. In reality, they were nearly halfway through Georgia.

Montgomery Corner Mistake

Georgia’s Governor William Rabun then authorized a survey in 1819 to define the state’s border with North Carolina. Camak was appointed to represent Georgia on the survey team. Starting at Ellicott’s Rock, the surveyors proceeded west for 35 miles along a route south of the 35th parallel due, once again, to Camak’s incorrect calculations. At the 35-mile point, the survey team expected to meet the line previously surveyed from Nickajack. However, the westward line was nearly a half-mile south of the termination of the eastward line. Astonishingly, instead of trying to correct this error, the survey team simply ran a straight vertical line to connect the two survey lines. This jog or offset was dubbed Montgomery Corner after a member of the survey team. Shortly thereafter, the survey team reran the line westward from Ellicott’s Rock and still did not connect with the westward survey line. The jog at Montgomery Corner became part of the official Georgia/North Carolina border. It remains so today.

Commissioner’s Rock

On that second westward survey from Ellicott’s Rock, the surveyors set a stone 11 miles west of Ellicott’s Rock. Located in Rabun County on the south bank of Commissioner’s Creek (which crosses present-day Hale Ridge Road), this granite marker was inscribed “1819 NXG” to denote the North Carolina/Georgia border as determined by the 1819 survey. This stone marker became known as Commissioner’s Rock.

Commissioner’s Rock broke from its granite pedestal and was found lying in Commissioner’s Creek by a team of Georgia and North Carolina surveyors. After its retrieval from the stream, the rock was taken to North Carolina but was returned to Georgia earlier this year. Commissioner’s Rock now resides in the permanent collection of the Rabun County Historical Society’s museum in Clayton. The public is invited to view this important piece of history.

Learn more about our history by becoming a member of the Rabun County Historical Society. Membership and complete information about the Society’s museum are available at www. rabunhistory.org. The newly renovated museum at 81 N. Church St. in downtown Clayton, which houses the Southeast’s largest collection of Tallulah Falls Railroad artifacts, is open ThursdaySaturday from 11 to 3. The Society is a not-for-profit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, making membership dues and donations tax deductible. Visit us on Facebook.

James CamaK, UGA mathematician

Original Commissioner’s Rock on display at the Historical Society museum

This Home is the Best of Two Eras

By John Shivers

“Poplar Leaf,” the home at 36 Austria Lane on Lake Burton in Rabun County, was constructed in 1980. Recently, it’s undergone an extensive remodel and upgrading inside and out. The end result is a 2,300± square foot home with quality bones, plus the latest in décor, design, and function. Talk about a win-win!

With an exterior paint color and accents that blend with the home’s wooded surroundings, it presents striking curb appeal. Mountain stone gate posts welcome you to the quirky, meandering steps that lead to the covered front entrance. The landscape has been left natural, meaning little yard work, but just wait until you see the mountain laurel in bloom, or gaze upon the autumn color-fest.

At the same time, this family-oriented destination quietly, and unobtrusively, becomes part of the backdrop for so many exciting, lake living opportunities. The complete renovation package reflects minute attention to thoughtful detail inside and out. Lake waters mere feet from the house, and the renovated two-level, two-stall boat house with shake roof and exquisite lake views equate to water front living that just doesn’t get much better.

Rustic yet elegant Craftsman architecture sets the tone for this lake lodge that is distinguished by the quality of the workmanship and materials incorporated into this total-house revamp. The exterior enhancements of the home and the boat house include Pella® Architectural Series casement windows and sliding doors, new cedar shake roof, copper gutters and downspouts, and beautiful Bevolo Cooper® lighting.

The monochromatic interior of primarily wood-paneled walls and ceilings with generous trim moldings takes its inspiration from the surrounding landscape. The result is a comfortable, neutral canvas that allows the architectural detail and the décor enhancements to pop with eye-catching pizzazz. Differing levels and interesting room shapes yield intriguing angles that only sweeten the appeal. But behind the color schemes and the architectural extras, you’ll find a four bedroom, three bath home that you’ll yearn to call yours. Three mountain stone wood burning fireplaces with gas starters, one in the main floor family area, a second on the daylight terrace level that features a second family area, and a third on the covered terrace level deck, enhance the quality of living.

Genuine hardwood oak floors run throughout the main level, while the terrace level is floored in slate. Visual Comfort® lighting has been employed throughout. Mechanical enhancements include a new HVAC system, water heater, foam insulation, and encapsulated basement with dehumidifier, upgraded new electrical panel, and new plumbing.

Mere steps away from the family room are the kitchen and dining area. Quality cabinets with butcher block tops house new, high end stainless appliances including Sub-zero refrigerators camouflaged as part of the cabinetry. An under-counter icemaker and dual fuel range with gas cook top and convection oven make this a chef’s dream work space. Fixtures are by Kohler and a farmhouse apron sink make the fantastic even better. An oversize walk-in pantry mere steps away also houses a laundry room with new washer and dryer.

Three bedrooms, including the master suite, complete the main level. The terrace level includes a second kitchen and laundry room with mudroom, and one bedroom and bath. All the bathrooms sport Kohler® fixtures, slate tile, and soapstone counters.

Outside, numerous open and covered deck areas expand the living footprint, and help to marry the setting to the lifestyle that awaits the new owner.

Harry Norman, REALTORS® Luxury Lake and Mountain agent Molly Williams is ready to lead you on a tour of GMLS #20103947, and can answer your questions on how this fantastic home can be yours. You can reach her at (cell) 770-365-0816 or (office) 706-212-0228.

For Sale: POTENTIAL LIKE YOU WOULDN’T BELIEVE

By John Shivers

“

Waterfront lot on beautiful North Georgia’s Lake Yonah,” the real estate listing reads. Seldom have eight little words said so much. At the same time, those same eight little words don’t even begin to scratch the surface when it comes to describing this truly unique property. This is one of those chances that seldom come along, and it offers so much possibility, so much potential.

In a world where wilderness like space is rapidly disappearing before our very eyes, this listing is an opportunity to grab a piece of near-unspoiled landscape at 773 Lake Yonah Recreational Development. The .97± acre lakefront lot is located on the South Carolina side of Georgia Power’s Lake Yonah that straddles the Georgia-South Carolina state line. At 744.2 feet above sea level, this almost forgotten waterway will remind you of how pristine and unspoiled the area must have been when the early settlers first put down roots.

Talk about roughing it with potential for all the comforts of home. Your home!

Construction began on the 325 acre lake one hundred years ago, in 1923. With some nine miles of shoreline, this is one of six Georgia

Power hydroelectric lake projects, and the least populated. Even a century later, there are only 72 full-time and part-time vacation residences. The lake itself isn’t crowded, and is ideal for swimming, skiing, and boating. The bass fishing is phenomenal, and there are also picnicking and camping possibilities.

This property, which is basically a tear-down and rebuild your own dream lake home deal, is accessible by boat, and has fantastic views from the site up and down the lake. A private road offers limited access, the better to safeguard your privacy. Very little of the shoreline is developed, and the lake is surrounded by steep canyon walls of solid granite, providing a scenic backdrop for the seasonal beauty you have to see firsthand to appreciate.

There is an abandoned structure on the property, but it’s basically just a shell of a building, and was abandoned early on in the construction process. There’s no plumbing or wiring in place, and it isn’t suitable for habitation, but it’s your call as to what you do with it. Were it removed, a beautiful house site would suddenly open up. A permit for a two-stall, two-story boathouse and swim dock can be obtained.

This Georgia Power leased lot with 200± feet of shoreline, is a legacy lakefront lot for you and your family. If you’ve been looking for something where you can enjoy all the pleasures of lake living, but without having other homes right in your back door, Lake Yonah is something you really need to consider. You haven’t lived until you’ve viewed the night sky from the banks of Yonah, from your own lakeside retreat.

There are loads of potential here, but this is one property you’re definitely going to have to see in person to totally appreciate and fall in love with. Lake Yonah, which is part of the Tugaloo River, is located between Toccoa and Tallulah Falls, and is about 22 miles east of Toccoa.

Lorie Thompson, Associate Broker with Poss Realty, is ready to show this spectacular waterfront paradise, MLS #20103984. Her cell phone is 706-490-1820 and the office number is 706-782-2121. Contact her by email at rabunrealestate@gmail.com.

Brightness and Burton Abound in This Home

By John Shivers

Tucked away on a beautiful fee simple lot overlooking a quiet Lake Burton cove with jaw-dropping water views, is a stunning family home where sunlight reigns supreme. Thanks to a rear facing western wall of glass, and an interior that sports just the right warm hues of white, whoever lives in this newly-constructed home will own a perpetual lease on brightness and livability.

Architecturally, this almost 3,000 square foot tri-level home at 68 Cavalier Circle, less than fifteen minutes west of Clayton, is designed along farm house lines, with shiplap walls and hardwood floors throughout. But this house takes that concept to a higher plane with a couple of most intriguing contemporary twists thrown in. From the buttery-tan exterior, highlighted and enhanced by the sandstone façade and foundation, to the unique angles of the structure itself, you know already this isn’t just any ordinary house.

Constructed by a local builder, the home is a testament to craftsmanship, artistry, and design. What’s more, it’s being sold turn-key, with all the beautiful furniture and most of the furnishings. Bring your family, bring your friends, bring your pajamas and a toothbrush or two. Everything else is done for you.

While the pristine exterior is a definite hint, there’s no way to truly prepare for what greets you as you cross the rocking chair front porch. Thanks to glass in the front door, before your hand even touches the knob, you’re already mesmerized by the beautiful emerald green lake waters that greet you; you could almost reach out and bring back a wet hand.

With three bedrooms, large bunk room, and four and a half baths, not to mention twin levels of covered deck space that add significant usable square footage at least three seasons out of the year, you’ll be set to settle right in to Burton living. Waterfall Club is mere minutes away, and Clayton boasts top-rated farm-to-table eateries, art galleries, boutiques and more. The home’s living area, with more of those unique ceiling angles, includes kitchen, dining, and the great vaulted ceiling living space with a wood-burning fireplace. This open concept space extends the full rear width of the home. Also on this level are two bedrooms with a shared bath, and a half bath.

Gourmet Chef’s kitchen complete with Viking® stainless steel appliances, custom cabinetry with quartz countertops, pantry, and a beautiful oversized island featuring waterfall edges with seating for five, showcases those serene and captivating lake and mountain views. As if it could get any better, the upper level in the eaves is the exclusive province of the owners. Talk about a retreat, and thanks to the orientation of the suite, the sunset views are phenomenal. The master bath offers a large soaking tub, double sinks in custom cabinetry, and a giant tile shower.

A second living area with custom rock electric fireplace and a bunk room that sleeps six, along with a full bath with double vanities, is found on the terrace level, with more of those gorgeous views.

The single boathouse is located in a no-wake zone cove with deep water making it the perfect safe space for the entire family to enjoy. The brand-new 200 HP Bentley® Tri-toon boat with all of the bells and whistles is yours, when you buy this house!

68 Cavalier Circle is waiting for its new owners to begin living their lake life dream!

Contact Tina Anzo at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Georgia Properties with offices in Clayton at 37 S. Main Street and in Clarkesville. Her cell phone number is 404-964-2363 and the office number is 706-778-960-1941. Her email address is tina.anzo@gmail.com. This property is MLS # 10135443.

Lovin’ The Journey

Huey

By Mark Holloway

Some moments catch you off guard.

This happened to me the other evening while enjoying some state playoff basketball games on our home court at Rabun County High School. In round one, a particular player was so fascinating that I wanted the varsity boys to win for a selfish reason. If the Wildcats won, I’d get to watch this phenom play again. The home team would advance to the Sweet 16 by crushing Trion’s hopes 54-42.

My son-in-law Bret and I headed back to the gym for Round Two against the powerful and tall King’s Ridge Christian. Although the visiting team took down the Cats, that’s not the story. I compelled Bret to come and see what I’d discovered the week prior.

The first time I saw freshman Huey Blalock take the court, I was confused. I thought five-year varsity Head Coach David Adcock was starting a player too young and too small. As the game got underway, I was stunned. This young player was starting as point guard. That’s the same as a football quarterback.

Huey was calling the plays and directing his upperclassmen on the court. By halftime of the Trion game I was beyond curios. I asked my friend and courtside announcer, David Rogers, “Who is that kid?!” David said, “That’s Huey Blalock. He plays just like his dad Woody did.”

“He was so good in rec league, they changed the rules because he was so quick,” Katrina Blalock told me. “When he was only nine months old, he was already running and could throw a ball.” So it made sense he played up an age level, and even then his mom said he went first in the rec department draft.

Two years ago, a much larger opponent fell hard on Huey and broke his wrist. A bad diagnosis had Huey playing injured for two months until Dr. Scott Beck accurately discovered his bone was dying. Some metal screws and surgery would fix him but permanently limit his range of motion.

You would never know it.

Huey plays with more than heart. He doesn’t play as though he is compensating for being 5’7” and 122 pounds. He just simply plays and plays at a high level.

“None of my players play for me for any other reason, except they’re the best. I play my best players. It is that simple,” says Coach Adcock. Starting and leading the team as a freshman isn’t new at the high school. In fact Huey replaces another athlete, Guy Hood, who started as a freshman and played all four years. Bailey Fisher and Gunner Stockton did the same on the Wildcat football field. But none of them were the size of this stick of dynamite.

I got to visit with this amazing ninth grader and ask him about this skill he’s cultivated for years. “I was honored to be asked to coach him in middle school. But all I did was send in the other players. Huey ran the plays and coached the team,” his dad told me.

If you aren’t tall, there are other assets a player can develop. Huey can already touch the rim. And his ball handling skills are mind boggling. Since he was five, he’s been dribbling two basket balls through his legs while going down court. I got to watch a video of him setting a world record for spinning a basketball on his middle finger while bouncing on a pogo stick held only with his knees. I also got the watch him eat from a bowl of cereal with a spoon with a ball spinning on the handle’s end.

I don’t know if Pistol Pete Maravich invented the no-look pass, but Huey whips a ball behind his head moving down court at full speed, passing it to a fellow player with the accuracy of a heat seeking missile...just like Pete did.

Mark and Carol Holloway are outdoor adventurers and love the thrills of rock climbing and hikes to waterfalls and exploring all of God’s creation. They own PropertyStewards.com and are passionate about delivering excellent care to the homes and property of their clients. For More Information call 706-949-5937

Imagine if the Bible’s David had played basketball against giants. That’s how it looks when Huey plays. I watched him drive the court, into a traffic jam of giants and score layups.

Coach Adcock says Huey and his best players practice five and six hours a day. Although I watched Huey drain shots from beyond the three-point line, his passes are what he prefers to do most. In basketball if you pass to a player who scores, it is recorded as an assist.

“I would rather assist than score. I like to be flashy, especially flashy passes,” Huey grins. His Coach interrupts and mildly rebukes his young gun and reminds him that good plays are expected, not flashy passes and plays.

I asked Huey where he wants his talent to take him. “My reward for my hard work will be getting to play at a high level at a Division I college.”

Katrina marvels at how Huey as grown through the trials of being small. “It’s impressive to see your kids find their voice.” Bigger players have attempted to bully Huey but, “...he’s clear what he will tolerate and what he won’t.”

‘Taking a charge’ in basketball is a big deal. You have to put yourself on a collision course with an oncoming player who has the ball. Often the defensive player takes a hit and goes down on the court. The referee blows his whistle and your team gets the ball back to shoot foul shots. In the past, Huey was reluctant to engage in head-on conflict with players a hundred pounds heavier.

“Huey is a different player now. He gets knocked down or thrown back, but he takes the charge. I try and make sure with Huey and all the players, I want them to all have confidence. But certain teams can humble us and bring us down. But that’s how you grow in sports and play teams which are bigger and better. I have my best guys playing travel ball at a high level. Once the season ended, we were right back in the gym trying to get better. You can’t make excuses. It’s all about heart, being willing to put in the work. It’s not about size. There’s only one person to blame if you’re not where you want to be,” Coach says.

It is tempting for me to say Huey Blalock is a player us sports fans need to keep an eye on. But that would be condescending, He’s not a player who has future potential and may merit our attention in the future. Instead, he’s already earned my respect and admiration in the present. I’ve seen him play.

Is Huey cocky? Maybe. Is he teeming with confidence? I’d say so. Am I looking forward to watching him play this coming season at Rabun County High school? Definitely. October can’t get here soon enough.

Steady forward, Huey.

See you on the trail.

HeARTstrings

by Jonan Keeny

My first recollection of my own heARTstrings was while I was in kindergarten, which my current RCHS students will gleefully agree must have been about six trillion years ago. Back in those days, I was an impatient color-er. I didn’t enjoy coloring, so I got done as quickly as I could, and the lines were irrelevant. So I am sure you will understand why I was given homework: At the request of my teacher, my parents sat me down with a coloring book and made me color, always staying inside the lines. I fondly(?) remember one winter’s eve, sitting in front of the television coloring. When my sly five year-old mind determined that my dad wasn’t looking, I prematurely turned the page and triumphantly declared my task complete with the following unfinished page as my bulletproof evidence that I had successfully, and deservedly, moved on. Dad, however, was wise to my ruse and double-checked my work. Busted. Once that hot-air balloon, so deftly created with a variety of shapes in a variety of sizes, was completely aglow in vivid, barely-hemmed-in-by-the-lines Crayola, my homework was indeed deemed finished. But let’s jump ahead a year or two to the present day...

As a lifelong musician, I have spent hoursdaysweeksmonthsyears re-creating. Be it on stage in a concert hall, beneath the stage in a theatre, or in a recording studio, I have spent most of my time interpreting and re-creating someone else’s work. Each work has typically been found in the form of dots on a page with various other alien-looking symbols and foreign words that musicians learn to understand in their native language without any problem. And it was time well spent! I have had the distinct honor and privilege of performing some amazing pieces of art, both as a soloist and in an ensemble. And I loved just about every moment of it. For the longest time, I could not have imagined anything more rewarding than when someone shared with me that what I/we had performed had had some effect on their heARTstrings. Regardless of the effect, it was the connection that was most important.

But a few years ago, for reasons that don’t matter at this juncture, I started creating things of my own, mostly in the form of poetry and songs, but sometimes also as a doodle or three. What a revelation! And this creative process started at a perfect time: My oldest son,

Wyatt (now 9), was observant enough and articulate enough to ask what I was writing in my notebook. So I told him. And after some time went by with him watching, he requested a notebook of his own so he could write songs, too. These days, a few years later, he doesn’t do as much penning of songs, but he enjoys writing stories, both for school and for himself. He often illustrates his stories as well. He’s smarter than his dad, though, as he typically opts for colored pencils whose exteriors are painted the same shade as the pigment contained therein, rather than using the just-as-decrepitas-my-kindergarten-crayons that are commonplace in our humble little home.

And what about Miles, my four year old? He knows the alphabet, a bunch of numbers, colors, etc. What do I say when he wants to draw a picture or color or otherwise create? “Yes,” almost always. Recently, on a particularly busy work-from-home day, I accommodated his request by taking the largest shipping box I believe I have ever personally received, breaking it down, and placing it on the floor so he could decorate it, with nothing to guide him but some pens and his own imagination. (Genius-level parenting, no?) And since that day, he has returned time and time again to said box. I love what this flattened rectangle of corrugated cardboard will become over time. I suppose the longer we keep it, the more of his artistic journey we’ll be able to trace. And there are no lines to govern his efforts, nor do I intend to add any. Of course, should his artistic endeavors, particularly those for school, ever require strict maintenance of formal boundaries, we’ll work

Jonan Keeny was born in Topeka, Kansas, he got older in Berwick, Pennsylvania, and then he lived a bunch of other places. A lifelong learner and a full-time dreamer, the prospect of grand new adventures gets him out of bed in the morning, with some additional assistance from his two blonde-haired, blue-eyed alarm clocks, of course! Jonan recently rediscovered his passion for photography, which keeps him quite busy tromping around the woods, stopping at random places on the side of the road, and uploading photos to his website, www. myworldpics.com, and his Insta, @dude4disney. When he isn’t wrangling two little boys, he’s likely hanging out with his wife, Mary Lauren, reading a book to learn something new, or dreaming of life’s next adventure and Walt Disney World. Regardless of the activity, he’s probably participating in it while wearing funky socks and a cool hat.

within those parameters. But…we’ll return to the unlined box whenever he would like. As long as the homework is done first, of course.

So here I often sit, around 4:00am, in a quiet house, writing, thinking, dreaming…Writing poetry and songs, thinking about my countless list of projects and how best to move forward with each of them, and dreaming not of what might have been, but of what still might be. What kind of artists might my boys become? What artistic heights might they achieve? Will the artistic side of one or both of them fizzle out and disappear? Alas, I am unable to predict what the future holds. But while I still can, I’ll enjoy and embrace all of the tugs on my heARTstrings as I watch my sons explore their own creativity. Blood, sweat, and tears? Well, hopefully not too much blood, but sweat and tears are inevitable, even in these early stages.

Over time, one thing I’ve learned is that lines are great for crosswalks, highways, and the attraction queues at Walt Disney World, among many other things. Lines are meant to guide us in a particular direction, to help us go with the flow in a uniform manner. In many cases, lines are helpful and necessary. But sometimes they aren’t. Sometimes they can hinder. Sometimes you have to make your own.

To my sons, and to anyone else who might need to hear it, I offer this: Mind the lines when it’s prudent, but make your own at every opportunity. Re-create using the lines, and create without them. You never know when either approach might touch someone’s heARTstrings.

(But that’s a story for another day.)

The Woman Who Lives Alone On A Mountain

By Liz Alley

Ithink about her, the woman who lives alone on the mountain. I watched a twenty-five-minute clip about her, not much in proportion to all this thinking I’ve been doing. Her mountain is different from mine; her mountain, along with what I presume is her religion, requires she go through her daily tasks with a scarf covering her hair. I wonder since she is alone, why? No man could be tempted to sin by gazing upon her hair. Perhaps it was because she was filmed. Also, she goes about her chores in a skirt. She chops wood, milks a cow, and builds a fire, all in a skirt. In freezing weather with blowing snow, she makes her way from her living quarters, a crude one-room cabin, to her food shed, about 500 yards away, in a skirt. And I, wrapped in a blanket on the sofa because the air conditioning has made the house cool, watch in awe.

The video is about cooking, about all that is required of her to make a simple meal. However, the video causes me to wonder about other things. Did this idea start in a boardroom? Did a room full of ambitious millennials come up with the idea? “Let’s find a woman who lives alone on a mountain and cooks!” I imagine someone yelling among all the possibilities. How did they find her? Did an American boy with a man bun knock on her cabin door with a translator saying, “Hello, will you cook and let us film you?” Why did she agree? Was it because whatever payment would help to buy things like the pig head I watched her cut into pieces? The pig head that sat on her table with what looked like a cartoon smile on its face, beside the vegetables. The head that looked like its smiling lips would say, “Tha, tha, that’s all folks!”

Though the pig and other unidentifiable meat parts grossed me out, I’m not surprised by them. After all, I am the product of mountain people, and although my mother was not the typical mountaineer, my father was. As pig ears are called in my mountains, “listeners” were

occasionally found in our refrigerator. Sometimes, bacon was sliced outside on the back porch from a hog my Uncle Bud had butchered. I have that mountain girl in me, but she’s been watered down by the softness of my mother and by living in the city.

This video’s title is straightforward: “Woman Lives Alone On A Mountain and Cooks.” I feel a sense of camaraderie with her about living alone. However, my alone is different. My alone is the kind that is peppered with a trot to T.J. Max and Target, then quickly back home to work, music, books, T.V., and sometimes a grandchild or two. My alone is in a hammock gazing at the night sky with hundreds of houses a stone’s throw away. Still, do we not gaze at the same sky?

The mountain woman was still on my mind as I made my dinner. I felt her presence in my modest kitchen, which I take for granted, and wondered if she would be in awe of its appliances or perhaps slightly disgusted. When I washed my hands, I was aware of my lemon and rosemary soap (procured by the trot to T.J. Max ) and of how much water I used when her water, brought in by buckets, was used sparingly.

When I finished my dinner with the groceries I had leisurely considered and purchased at Kroger, I brought it to my table in the living room and wondered where the mountain woman sits when she eats; the videos have yet to show this. I wonder if she enjoys the meal and is sad when it’s over especially given how much work she put into it. I often feel a little sad when my meal is over and sigh at putting the few dishes into the dishwasher and resent the extra step of jet dry that goes in along with the detergent. This awareness reminds me that I am a sturdy yet fragile person. Perhaps the mountain woman is also sturdy but fragile in a way that looks different than me. Her sturdiness is evident in her lifestyle, but her fragility may come from the need to be the woman on the mountain that lives alone.

Liz Alley was born and raised in Rabun County in the city of Tiger. She loves to write. She is an interior designer specializing in repurposing the broken, tarnished, chipped, faded, worn and weathered into pieces that are precious again. She is the mother of two daughters and has three grandchildren. She divides her time between her home in Newnan and Rabun County.

Liz would love to hear from you, drop her a line at Lizziewrites0715@gmail.com