Tracy McCoy Publisher/Editor
Cindi Freeman Office Manager Marketing Executive
Dianne VanderHorst Art Director/ Designer
From the Publisher
Melissa Williams-Thomas Marketing Executive Writer
Also on board...
H
ere comes the bride... Whether you are planning a traditional ceremony in a large chapel; a small intimate wedding in a small country church, a waterfall wedding, or blue jeans on top of a mountain, when those vows are exchanged it is a magical moment and you are forever connected to another person. Honestly I don’t know of another spot more beautiful than the mountains to have your wedding. The choices for a mountain wedding are plentiful from inns to resorts to a barn; a venue is an important choice to make. The flowers, the cake, the photos, the officiant, the dress... lots of decisions to make! We can help you both in print and online (gmlaurel.com) with to-do lists and lists of vendors. In this issue we have shared some beautiful love stories, the how’d he propose stories, from Dwayne and Megan on our cover to a lovely couple from Chicago, yes by way of Lake Burton, we are sharing weddings! Year after year we hear from brides, grooms and their families about how they used our magazine to plan their event and choose the people who could help them pull it off. The mountains are a destination for beautiful, memorable weddings. We want to hear about yours... e-mail us at gmlmagazine@gmail.com. Enjoy and don’t forget your Valentine this month!
Copy Editor/Writer - Jan Timms Photographer/Writer - Peter McIntosh Marketing Executives (Advertising) Melissa Williams - 706.982.4777 - melissa@gmlaurel.com Cindi Freeman - 706.782.1608 - cindi@gmlaurel.com Contributing Writers: Jean Hyatt, Melissa Williams, Carla Fackler Mark Holloway, Bob Justus, Jo Mitchell, Steve Jarrard, MD, Lisa Harris, Kitty Stratton, John Shivers
Check out our all new website! A great source for information, event info, additional content and our digital issue and our business directory! Great advertising possibilities! The Georgia Mountain Laurel is a publication of Rabun’s Laurel, Inc. Mailing: PO Box 2218, Clayton, Georgia 30525 Office: 633 Highway 441 South, Clayton, Georgia Phone: 706.782.1600 Website: GMLaurel.com • E-mail: gmlmagazine@gmail.com
Tracy
February 2016 • Volume Thirteen • Issue Two • Copyright 2016 Copyright 2016 by Rabun’s Laurel Inc. All rights reserved. The Georgia Mountain Laurel 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 GML 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 Georgia Mountain Laurel maintains a Christian focus throughout their magazine. Rabun’s Laurel, Inc. reserves the right to refuse content or advertising for any reason without explanation.
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Julie Barnett
Leigh Barnett
Cell 404-697-3860
Cell 404-931-3636
REALTOR速
REALTOR速
141 S. Main St. Clayton, GA
706-212-0228
www.lakeburtonhome.com for VIRTUAL TOURS FEATURED HOMES
WinsHill on Lake Burton $5,900,000
Windrush on Lake Burton $4,100,000
New Construction on Lake Burton $3,895,000
Narnia on Lake Burton $3,795,000
Lake Burton Farmhouse $2,695,000
Four Bear Lodge on Lake Burton $2,675,000
Memory Maker on Lake Burton $2,495,000
Somerset Cove on Lake Burton $2,425,000
Summerside on Lake Burton $1,945,000
Highview over Burton at Waterfall Club $1,895,000
The Boathouse on Lake Burton $2,195,000
The above information is believed to be accurate, but is not warranted.
The High Life on Lake Burton $1,450,000
The Lake Burton Magic $1,495,000
Dearing Junction on Lake Burton $1,699,000
Forever Young on Lake Burton $1,050,000
Back to Basics on Lake Burton $1,145,000
Laurel Cottage on Lake Burton $1,297,000
Frederick's Fancy on Lake Burton $770,000
Mountainside Retreat over Burton $799,000
Hidden Hollow on Lake Burton $899,000
Boathouse and 1+ Ac. on Lake Burton $395,000
Seabrook Cottage on Lake Burton $525,000
14 Ac. Mini-Farm in Wiley $330,000
3 ac. Burton Access lot w/ Boat Slip $165,000
Escape Hatch 2 mi. from Burton $175,000
Cute Cabin 1 mi. from Lake Burton $199,000
www.lakeburtonhome.com
for a complete listing of properties and VIRTUAL TOURS Office - 706-212-0228 • Julie - 404-697-3860 • Leigh - 404-931-3636
The above information is believed to be accurate, but is not warranted.
141 S. Main St. • Clayton, GA • 706-212-0228
IN THIS ISSUE 2
From the Publisher
Mountain Weddings 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26
Plan Your Mountain Wedding Dwayne & Megan Hunnicutt Ancient Floral Customs & Traditions John & Neena Chestnut Bed & Breakfast Weddings David & Paula Near Choosing the Venue Andrew & Jessica Contino Celebrating the Bride & Groom Bon Appetit
Arts & Entertainment 30 32 34
Cover Artist - Valerie Smith North Georgia Arts Guild Book Review
Affairs to Remember 38 40
Event Calendar Sportsman’s Banquet
Faith in Christ 42 44 46
Bless Your Heart River Garden Second Chances
The Great Outdoors 48 50
Adventure Out Mountain Nature
Life & Leisure 52 54 56 58
Let Me Introduce You Lovin’ the Journey Good Work Frank the Pig
Health & Wellness 62 66
Live Healthy & Be Well Nutitional Deficiencies
Home & Garden 68
Hardwood Flooring
Yesterdays 74 76 78 6
February 2016
Foxfire Wheels Exploring Northeast Georgia
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Plan Your Mountain Wedding
Y
ou turned around and there he was on bended knee, your heart leaped out of your chest and started beating faster than it’s ever beaten in your life. Tears started flowing and you said YES! The rest of the day was a blur; you called your parents, your best friend, posted a photo of your ring on Facebook and on twitter, instagram and all of those other places you share the important moments of your life. Your mind is ablaze with one burning question, how do I plan a wedding? Then one question leads to another and another - Where do we start? Who pays for what? Indoors or outdoors? What kind of dress? What flavor of cake? How do I choose a maid of honor? Your head begins to swim just as you doze off and then you have a dream that you walked down the aisle carrying weeds, naked. Welcome to the ranks of the engaged! The months that follow will be some of the most exciting you will ever experience. What you are going to realize is this is really your day and it’s all about you and your betrothed and everyone wants to make it special for you! Don’t be reluctant to let them, remember there is a lot to do. Lists, lists, lists, that’s the key. Begin with a list of what you and your fiancé want, what ideas do each of you have? What about your mother and his, what do they want and what are their ideas? Once your list is made then get a notebook or calendar and that’s where we can help... We have compiled a list of some of the things you’ll need to do, when to do them so that when the day comes it is all done and you can enjoy the day. Some of these things might not apply to you and that’s ok, mark them off, the ones that do get them done or delegate and mark them off... this can make your life much easier, after all we want you to enjoy the engagement too!
First Things First...
Ready, Set, Check...
12+ months before your wedding Congratulations! Announce engagement. Choose a date. Talk budget and determine who is contributing what. Decide on a wedding style - Western, traditional, contemporary, etc... Choose Wedding Party Maid of Honor and Bridesmaids, Best Man and Groomsmen, Flower Girl and Ring Bearer. Get engagement ring insured and consider purchasing wedding insurance. Take engagement photos. Begin compiling your guest list. Research ceremony and reception venues. Research wedding planner and vendors, photographer, videographer, caterer and musicians. Research wedding dress and veil styles. Sign up on Pinterest and create wedding style/idea boards. Start pinning! Order Save the Dates. 10 –12 months before your wedding Mail Save the Dates. Research florists. Choose bridal party attire and accessories. Book ceremony and reception venues. Book officiant. Book photographer, videographer, caterer, musicians and planner. Purchase wedding dress and veil. Establish a fitness routine. Establish a skin care/beauty routine. 8 – 10 months before your wedding Research three hotels, B&Bs or inns for out-of-town guests. Finalize guest list. Set up three wedding registries. Book a florist.
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6 – 8 months before your wedding Research wedding Invitation designs. Research favors and thank you cards. Research wedding day hair and makeup styles. Meet with officiant to discuss plans for ceremony. Reserve rentals: chairs, linens, lighting, décor, etc. Begin planning honeymoon. Choose cake style and schedule tastings. Choose groomsmen attire. Book ceremony musicians. Book transportation to and from venues. Purchase wedding bands. 4 –6 months before your wedding Choose flowers, wedding party, venues, cake, and servers. Plan welcome baskets for out-of-town guests. We are glad to provide magazines for this. Schedule dress fittings. Prepare {play/do not play} playlists for DJ/band. Book honeymoon flights and hotels. Book room for wedding night. Order wedding cake. Order wedding Invitations. 3 months before your wedding Plan ceremony and reception seating arrangements. Experiment with hair and veil with stylist. Finalize readers and readings. Book rehearsal dinner venue. Purchase: toasting flutes, serving pieces, guestbook, flower basket and ring-bearer pillow. Finalize reception menu. Order menu cards and other reception Items. Order favors and thank you cards Crunch Time... 2 months before your wedding Mail Invitations.
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Develop system for organizing RSVPs. Begin writing vows. Review ceremony details with officiant. Lay out the content for wedding programs. Apply for marriage license; order 2-3 extra. Finalize wedding day timeline. Finalize seating arrangements. Finalize playlists with musicians. Finalize fittings and attire for wedding party and parents. Create “wedding day” schedule and send to vendors and officiant. Create honeymoon itinerary for family at home. Decide on “Something Old, New, Borrowed, Blue.” Book spa and beauty treatments for you and bridal party. Book wedding day transportation. Purchase gifts for attendants. Order wedding programs. 1 month before your wedding Call vendors to confirm date, times and location. Final dress fitting. Confirm honeymoon reservations. Pick up wedding rings. Pick up marriage license. Pack for honeymoon. Write thank you notes as gifts are received.
The Big Day...
Happily Ever After...
2 weeks before your wedding Follow up with guests who haven’t yet RSVP’d. Give final count to caterer. Update registries. Begin breaking in wedding shoes. Make arrangements for the caring of pets and plants while on honeymoon. Get final haircut and color. Get playlists to DJ/Musicians. Delegate wedding day duties: gift table, guestbook, etc. Delegate someone to return tuxes, rentals and tend to wedding dress. Send directions to wedding day limo/transportation driver.
The day before your wedding Deliver welcome baskets. Get mani/pedi/massage. Attend wedding rehearsal. Have fun at the rehearsal dinner. Get to bed at a decent hour!
Eat a good breakfast! Allow yourself plenty of time to get ready. Give wedding rings and officiant fee to the Best Man. Congratulations! Relax, smile and soak in every incredible moment. Say “I do!”
Down to the Wire...
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1 week before your wedding Prepare final payments to vendors + cash tips for service personnel. Lay out wedding clothes. Give readers their scripts, if necessary. Give photographer and videographer your image and video requests. Get spa treatments for you and the bridal party.
After the wedding Return tuxes, rentals. Get wedding dress to preservationist or cleaners. After the honeymoon Send thank you cards as soon as possible. Get your wedding photos professionally framed, put on canvas or fine art paper. Enjoy your marriage! To make selecting professionals a bit easier we have prepared a list for you of local vendors; you will find that list on our website www.gmlaurel.com, along with other valuable information for making this time enjoyable. By Tracy McCoy
February 2016
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Dwayne & Megan Hunnicutt
M
egan Brown and Dwayne Hunnicutt are both natives of Rabun County. They went to the same babysitter and attended school together. In the 10th grade they had some classes together and became good friends. Throughout the rest of high school they spent time together - with other friends. After graduation Megan went to Toccoa Falls College and Dwayne went to work. In her sophomore year Dwayne called her and asked her if she’d like to hang out. He drove down and picked her up and they went to Sonic for a burger and talked for hours, catching up. The first official date was a trip to Longhorn and then home to watch a movie. The couple began dating.
married behind Dwayne’s grandparent’s house in the Persimmon community. A pasture beside the river was the perfect place for the wedding. Megan and Dwayne each have large families and they all came together to plan a precious wedding. Megan’s cousin, Lisa Welborn directed the wedding and served as the wedding planner. Lisa’s husband Greg performed the ceremony. Megan’s sister Ashley Brown Stephens was by her side all the way, as it’s always been. Her aunt Regina Bedingfield made the wedding cake and instead of a groom’s cake Dwayne opted for a
Being together just seemed like a perfect fit. Dwayne and Megan had talked about marriage after dating for a while. Megan said she should have seen the proposal coming but she didn’t. For Christmas Dwayne had bought his mom a ring and wrote a letter to her to accompany his gift. The letter thanked his mother for the kind of woman she is, the upbringing she gave him and told her how much he loved her; it also said he wanted her to be the first to know he planned to ask Megan to marry him. That was December 2014 and less than a month later Dwayne and Megan went to church together and after church decided to ride around. One of their first dates had been a trip to Black Rock Lake where they sat and talked. This evening Dwayne headed in that direction. It was pretty cold so when her boyfriend stopped the truck and asked her to get out she refused saying it was too cold! He convinced her to get out and beside the lake he asked Megan to be his wife. She said yes! The wedding planning was soon underway. The date October 17, 2015 was set and the couple decided to be
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table filled with all of his favorite delectable desserts from various family members. The wedding photographer was a friend from high school and sister Ashley’s pick at her wedding, Valerie Shelton. Valerie is the owner of Valerie Shelton Photography and our cover artist this month. Dwayne’s close friend Ethan Phillips played the guitar and sang at the wedding. Megan’s sister Ashley was her Matron of Honor and Dwayne’s dad Charles Hunnicutt was his best man. The couple had three flower girls, Nora Stephens, Madison Brown and Ava Gragg. Colton Gragg was the ring bearer. Megan’s mom Jerri Crane Canup died when Megan was a teen, Megan told me that Dwayne’s mom Anita was so helpful and of course her grandmother Peggy as well. Megan has always been her Grandpa’s (Tommy Crane) special girl. They’ve always been extremely close. He had the privilege of walking his granddaughter down the aisle that day, a task he didn’t take lightly. Megan made it clear to everyone involved in the wedding that punctuality was very important to her. Running late is a pet peeve. Everyone was on time except some of her guests. When her grandpa drove her across the field in Charles’ 1970 Ford pickup they had to sit and wait for guests to be seated. The moments with her grandpa were an unexpected gift. Looking over at him she said “Grandpa, I am nervous.” Joking he replied “We can drive away in this old truck, right now,” of course Megan said laughing “No, I am just nervous.” Looking out the window Megan saw Lisa motion for them to come on. “Ok, it’s time” Megan said and Grandpa not normally given to emotions leaned over and kissed his granddaughter on
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the forehead and said “Ok babe, here we go.” The wedding was as precious as can be and the couple is too. They have built their home on Black Rock Mountain near Charles and Anita. Megan is finishing up college and will soon have earned her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education and Dwayne is employed in the Archery and Outdoor Center at Reeves Hardware. We wish this couple the best in life and thank them for allowing us to share their wedding story. By Tracy McCoy
February 2016
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Floral Customs & Traditions
Ancient
T
he mother of the bride said to me recently “I’d like for my daughter to do some of that.” She’d just seen Carrie Ann’s tussie mussie in wedding pictures and said “I think it’s fabulous. Those kinds of things brides don’t know about- from back in the day. A revival, of sorts.” Maybe I can help with that ‘revival’?? While I am totally sold on tradition, I am also just as convinced that our ancestors would approve if we update those traditions just a little. What say you? We all know about Something Old/Something New, Something Borrowed/Something Blue/and a Sixpence in her shoe. We’ve created really unique and wonderful ways to bring old/new/borrowed/blue to our weddings so surely we can create new ways to observe ancient flower customs. Although some days I feel like I might’ve belonged in an earlier century, I wasn’t around when most of these customs were started – some are medieval (500AD – 1500), most are Victorian (1837 – 1901). And different cultures and countries had different customs. Did you know that brides didn’t start customarily wearing white dresses until Queen Victoria wore white for her wedding in 1840? Before that, they were mostly blue, which was the color signifying purity. (I know it has nothing to do with flowers but I thought it was interesting.) Now… about bouquet traditions: Some thought that the early bridal bouquets were a matter of necessity. They were comprised of fragrant herbs and branches so that the fragrances would draw attention to the lovely bride. Personal hygiene back then wasn’t quite the same as it is today. It was also strongly believed that the herbs that healed all sorts of ailments would surely ward off any evil spirits and bring all good fortune to the new bride. History indicates that mostly, brides carried only herbs and leaves, twigs and branches until, again, Queen Victoria’s wedding. Then flowers became more popular. I don’t know about you but I could be quite happy with an updated version of the herbs/ twigs/branches/leaves bouquet. And what if we added SUCCULENTS? Or AIR PLANTS? A beautiful bouquet without a single bloom. Hmmm…. let’s try that! Tussie mussies were quite the rage for a while. To start with, a tussie mussie was small enough to pin to a garment. Evolving into a small bouquet, they were traditionally a big central flower with herbs and leaves arranged encircling the bloom. Sometimes they were placed in holders so that the bouquet would last longer and be easier to carry. Other times they were just wrapped in a doily. But they almost always contained fragrant herbs and flowers like tansy, thyme, sage, mint, rosemary, feverfew, Artemisia and roses.
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Photos by Jenn Mac Photography
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John & Neena Chestnut
T
his month and many others, I have talked with brides and they have shared with me the details of their love story. For this story I talked to the groom John Chestnut. John was born in the Philippines, but has lived many places. It was while living in Atlanta, Georgia that John met Neena; they were 11 years old and quickly made friends and remained friends throughout middle and high school. Halfway through high school, John and his family moved to Japan where he graduated high school. The two stayed in contact throughout the years. John entered a university where he studied physical therapy and Neena attended the Medical College of Georgia where she studied dentistry. John was working in London as a physical therapist when he heard from Neena who was graduating and prior to starting her pediatric dentistry residency in Chicago, was looking for a travel buddy. They visited their friend working for Care in Mozambique then travelled, just the two of them, in South Africa. It was there on the coast of the Indian Ocean that John and Neena fell in love. After the trip they went back to their lives and successfully maintained a long distance relationship between London and Chicago for quite some time. John’s family owns a home on Lake Burton. The home and coming to the mountains of Northeast Georgia has been part of John’s life for many years. He comes to Lake Burton as often as he can. It has always been a special place for the entire family and Neena as well. As the couples’ romance continued the miles between them seemed to grow harder to bear, John and Neena decided that someone had to move and it made more sense for John to come to the states. Living in Chicago, the couple was together at last! John and Neena adopted a dog whose name was Clayton – it was meant to be! Each day they took Clayton to a dog park by the river to walk. John soon knew that he wanted Neena to be his wife, so he picked out the ring and put a plan into motion. Some of John’s family were visiting the couple in Chicago and had been there for several days. The night before they were due to leave, Neena said her goodbyes as she had to work the next day. Little did she know they were part of John’s plan. They did leave and went to the home of Neena’s cousin where they hoped to celebrate later that day. Neena came home and the couple readied Clayton for his walk. John had been down to the dog park earlier where he had written his request on the side of an old building in chalk, “Will you marry me, Neena?” With the ring in his pocket the couple and
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Ancient Floral Customs & Traditions cont...
Emily by Audrey Fotografie
Carrie Ann had been given this tussie mussie holder years earlier by her aunt, who said “You can use this for your wedding bouquet.” Carrie Ann had saved the silver holder for just that and brought it with her to our first appointment. I felt it my bounden duty to create something that looked like 2015 but give a proper curtsy of respect to Victorian times. Carrie Ann’s November wedding was the perfect time for the orange roses and I even included feverfew and acacia for fragrance. If you have a small bouquet in your wedding day vision (as did Kate Middleton) then you’ll love a tussie mussie. And the holders are as varied as the flowers that they can contain. Look around for an antique if you like the idea of a small bouquet. Consider, too, a tussie mussie for the mothers to carry – instead of wearing flowers at the wedding. Tussie mussies were in their glory days when flowers, and even certain plants, were given special meaning so that there could be an unspoken message in a floral bouquet. Fun, huh? Here are some popular wedding flowers and their meanings: Rose, red= passionate love Rose, white = purity Hydrangea = perseverance Orchid = delicate beauty Anemone = fragility Gypsophila (aka Baby’s Breath) = festivity Queen Anne’s Lace = delicate femininity Ranunculus = radiance Ivy = fidelity Calla = regal
When a bouquet was given as a gift, the flowers were chosen based on their meaning and a card was usually attached (handwritten, of course) to tell of the reason and meaning of the chosen flowers. Ever wonder why RED roses for Valentine’s? Well… now you know! Different cultures assigned different meanings over the centuries. Imagine receiving a bouquet of ranunculus from your suitor/beau/ boyfriend/groom to tell you just how radiant he thinks you look!
While the custom in some cultures was for the bride AND groom to wear a floral headpiece, brides are now being drawn to the flower crowns and headpieces. They can be worn as a crown – on the crown of the head or around the forehead, even on a barrette or comb. They can be simple and small or luxuriant and full. Ancient Greeks and Romans wore crowns of laurel, oak, herbs, grapevine and myrtle. Wreaths signify eternity. Men and women participated and wore them mostly for celebrations and holy days. Thinking of holy days makes me remember a ‘crown of thorns’. So…tradition lives on! Traditions and customs in flowers, style and colors are still popular choices today. And so is individuality and uniqueness. Your personal style should always be apparent in your wedding décor. But a nod to the past can bring special meaning to everyday but to a wedding day in particular. And let’s keep dreaming up new ways to honor where and who we’ve come from. I’ll be happy to help that mother of the bride with a ‘revival’ and add more meaning to an already meaning-filled day! Let me know how you bring the past to your wedding. I’d love to hear! I’m on Facebook at Twigs, Leaves & Flowers. By Cyndi Israel – owner of Twigs, Leaves & Flowers, wedding planner and harpist
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John & Neena continued... Clayton headed out to walk. Thankfully Neena said “yes” to John and a celebration with family and friends ensued. The couple decided that they would marry at Lake Burton and chose Waterfall Country Club as their venue. John’s pastor from London came to perform the wedding. Over 150 friends and family attended the wedding. Former classmates and friends served as Neena’s attendants and the same for John. The couple used local and Atlanta area vendors to pull off their special day. Friend Claude Rickman helped the couple locally. The day was
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perfect and the couple is very happy. Today they continue to make their home in Chicago. They enjoy spending time with friends, traveling and are planning an official honeymoon trip to Belize in the near future. We certainly wish this lovely couple the best! by Tracy McCoy
February 2016
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Bed & Breakfast Weddings S
o you’re recently engaged or soon-to-be and now you’re looking at all of the daunting details that loom over your big day… Now what?
Well, aside from choosing who your spouse will be the next biggest decision you make is where you will celebrate the best and most important day of your life thus far. These days there are many options for brides and grooms from the ceremony location, to the reception, to lodging. As the world we live in gets smaller and smaller and more of us move away from our hometowns, or have family that spreads out across the country, it is becoming more and more important for brides and grooms to be able to bring everyone together to celebrate their wedding in a setting where genuine time can be spent with their loved ones. Choosing a bed and breakfast to host your wedding is the perfect choice to do exactly that! A bed and breakfast can provide everything from lodging your wedding party and family under the same roof leading up to the wedding, to the ceremony itself to the reception afterwards. A lot of couples are opting for delayed honeymoons for reasons like their finances or vacation leave from work, but they still want to have a special wedding and honeymoon feeling after their big day. A B&B provides that as well! Come early, stay at one place throughout the wedding festivities and have your family and friends with you and then stay a little longer as a couple and be pampered and enjoy luxury and ambiance as Mr. and Mrs. Having a staff at a B&B also provides you great peace of mind knowing that you do not have to worry about orchestrating deliveries from all of the different vendors to only having a short time frame to decorate exactly how you envision your special day to be. Everything and everyone is under the same roof with unlimited access, not to mention having B&B staff on hand to help assist you every step of the way. It is obvious why more and more couples are choosing bed and breakfasts for their wedding venue. You simply cannot beat the intimacy and special feeling that you get having all of your loved ones under the same roof with you. And the amount of stress that is alleviated by having everything in one location with a staff available for assistance the entire weekend is invaluable. Bed and breakfasts are an obvious choice for a wedding destination and we hope that you will come and see us at the Rabun Manor. We would be honored to be able to serve you and care for you on the single most important day of your life thus far! By Nancy Childress – Rabun Manor – www.rabun-manor.com Photography by Kurtis Miller - KMpics.com
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February 2016
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David & Paula Near It’s Real!
“I
arrived at the restaurant first and waited in my truck. I felt a little anxious but was excited to meet her. Paula had told me what she would be driving and when I saw her car pull in I got out of the truck and stood beside it. She got out and when she walked around that car, I was blown away. I knew right then and there that this woman was special. I can’t describe what I felt, but it was incredible.” David Near told me when I asked about the couple’s first date. David and Paula met on Match.com, an online dating site. Their first date was at a local Mexican restaurant. Ironically, it turned out that David and Paula lived within a mile of each other in the Marietta/Kennesaw area. “We spent the entire meal talking and sometimes just staring at each other,” David laughed, “Paula and I talked about everything that evening; it was so natural and felt so comfortable.” The new couple spent time together every day for the entire week following that first date. “I just couldn’t get enough of her, I still can’t, but it seemed overwhelming for both of us so we decided to pull back and see if this was as real as it felt.” Two weeks later the couple picked up right where they had left off and have been together ever since. “David and I both have been through so much during our lives that we knew in our hearts that this was real.” Paula actually shared her first love story with me. She had been married to her best friend Michael the father of her two young sons and with the man whom she thought she would spend the rest of her life. Unexpectedly, Michael was taken to Heaven leaving Paula and their son Grant who was six years old. She was also 19 weeks pregnant with son Hollis when Michael passed away; she was devastated. What was apparent is that Paula has incredible faith and she looked to God for strength to go on. “It was a very hard time for us but I knew I had to keep going,” she said. Paula loved being married and while she didn’t know how she could ever begin dating again, she knew that she didn’t want to spend the rest of her life alone. Paula’s sister Allyson encouraged her to find someone who could make her happy. “My sister was my first best friend and we were very close. Shortly after the one year anniversary of Michael’s death, my sister passed away. I wasn’t sure how to go on at that point, it was unbearable at times, but again I looked into the faces
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of my two little boys and I knew I couldn’t give up.” Paula and David had been dating awhile before she introduced him into the boys’ lives. “The boys and I had planned to go to Cracker Barrel one morning for breakfast and once we were in the car I told them I had a friend named David and I thought we’d pick him up and he could go eat with us. Hollis was too young to care but Grant agreed and when I saw how David interacted with my boys and how they responded to him it made me realize that this was meant to be.” “I was divorced and had two daughters of my own Sydney and Emily. We took baby steps there as well and we continue to strengthen our family bonds even today. I’ve learned so much about life and what’s important from Paula. All she has been through has only made her stronger and increased her faith in God,” David said. “We knew that we wanted to get married and had been to look at rings. We both fell in love with the same ring and had it custom ordered. Paula had won a trip to Hawaii and so the plan was that we’d go to Hawaii and when I found the perfect place, I would propose. Well we were due to leave and the ring had still not arrived. I had to have it sent overnight and we literally picked it up on our way to the airport. Once I saw the ring, I was in awe of it and knew I couldn’t wait. Instead I got down on one knee as we were waiting at our gate to board the plane and proposed right there! Once we got to Hawaii every beautiful place we went I proposed again.” They both laugh at those memories. So the planning began as soon as the couple returned from their trip. They began searching for a venue and found Sugarboo Farms in Blairsville, Georgia. They made plans to go tour the farm and when they did they discovered it was the perfect setting for their weekend wedding getaway. “We were initially planning an intimate ceremony thinking we’d have maybe 25 people, but it began to grow and we ended up with 75 close friends and family who would be part of our day,” Paula said, “and there were enough cabins for everyone to come for the weekend. I am not really a DIY kind of person but David is and we wanted this day to be so special. We wanted to make it our own so we spent hours on Pinterest looking at ideas for the wedding”. “We painted mason jars, made hand-painted signs, designed our own invitations and I also built a custom arbor as a gift to Paula that we used at our wedding. Today the arbor stands on our patio as a daily reminder of our special day,” David told me. The couple says that doing all of this together just added to their relationship and really made their wedding even more special. David and Paula found their photographer Eric Haggart from Franklin, North Carolina, on a bridal website. They drove up and met Eric at the farm and it was an instant click. “He seemed so interested in our story, what we wanted and spent a lot of time talking with us and asking questions. He told us he would be at our disposal. Eric was so genuine and he and his wife make a great tea; they were just fabulous!” Paula told me. Eric has been a cover artist and is how we met Paula and David. So Friday they drove up early and worked to set everything up and that evening as family and friends arrived they had a “rehearsal cook-
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out” with burgers and hotdogs. Sugarboo Farms also has an outdoor movie screen where we played a movie for the kids and everyone enjoyed a wonderful evening under the stars. “It was a very family oriented weekend,” Paula said. Saturday was such a great day for everyone and before they knew it the hour had arrived for the wedding. The wedding was perfect. As this couple pledged their love to each other a family was blended and God restored lives and hearts. Paula told her son something very important that day, “I told Grant that his Dad had taught me that true love exists and David continues to show me that every day.” Today the Nears live in the Marietta/Kennesaw area and they are currently looking for their future home. The family attends Piedmont Church, they work full time and spend a lot of time with the children. David just accepted a position helping coach Grant’s flag football team and he helped coach Hollis’ soccer team last year. This is a for real love story and it’s our pleasure to share it with you. By Tracy McCoy
February 2016
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Choosing the Venue for your
Mountain Wedding
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nce you are happily engaged and have set the wedding date the next big step is choosing your venue. Your venue is an important aspect as it will set the tone for the rest of your wedding plans. There are many important steps to choosing a venue that will make your day exactly what you want! In order to effectively choose you first need to create a realistic budget and stick to it! Secondly, the size of your potential guest list will determine the size of the venue you will require. After you have worked out these two steps, the search begins! The internet has many helpful sites to narrow down venues, whether you are getting married in the city where you live or a destination wedding either close or many miles away. In researching venues your vision will begin to come together as to exactly what you desire for your ceremony and reception. This may actually end up to be something completely different from what you have been planning for your wedding since childhood. Start to narrow down your venue search by location and then the type of venue. A popular choice for bride’s today is a “mini” destination wedding (no more that 2-3 hours away) that can provide a place for your guests to stay onsite and host multiple events over a weekend. When you find a venue that interests you, send an inquiry form from their website for more information. You should then receive more detailed information concerning pricing and packages. Find out as much about the venue as you can before making an appointment for a site visit. The obvious determining factors will be the price and size. Remember to stay within your budget so you don’t end up without enough money for the DJ, flowers and other things you will need for your reception! Other factors to consider: What does the venue include with their fee? Is there a setup fee? Is there and onsite coordinator? Do they provide catering and Bar services? What perks do they have for the Bride and Groom? Is the date you have in mind available? Do you connect with the salesperson/onsite wedding coordinator? You may or may not be able to find a venue with everything you are hopingfor, however look at the big picture and can you see yourself getting married there and proving an incredible experience for your family and friends? If so, I say go for it! Rabun County (Georgia) is home to Kingwood Country Club and Resort. Kingwood is a private country club located just 2 miles from the town center of Clayton Georgia. Kingwood offers a beautiful mountain setting for wedding day nuptials and an elegant Lodge as reception venue. Kingwood is an all-inclusive venue handling all aspects of your wedding day from start to finish! Contact Kingwood at 706-212-4100 or visit them on the web www. Kingwoodresort.com for more information about weddings, golf outings and so much more! By Elizabeth Raymond Director of Sales – Kingwood Country Club and Resort
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Andrew & Jessica Contino
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essica Anne Smith and Andrew Nathan Contino were high school sweethearts. Andrew was a friend of Jessica’s brother and they courted under the watchful eyes of her parents before they had a real date. She remembers their first real date being a trip to Texas Roadhouse and a movie. They dated for about a year and then sadly they broke up. A year went by and Andrew joined the Navy. Jessica also joined the United States military as a Marine. On the day he graduated from boot camp Andrew called her and asked her out. A month later Jessica left for Marine Corps boot camp. The romance was on again with both dedicated to serving this great country. When Andrew decided to ask Jessica to be his wife he chose a beautiful location tucked under Sunset Cliff in San Diego, California. Jessica was stationed at Camp Pendleton and Andrew at the Naval Base in San Diego. Andrew had chosen a beautiful ring and on bended knee with secret photographers nearby to capture
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the moment, he asked Jessica to spend the rest of her life with him. She accepted Andrew’s proposal as the waves crashed against the cliff. Both Andrew (son of Darren and Lori Contino) and Jessica (daughter of William “Dub” and Catherine Smith) are natives of Georgia so they knew they wanted to get married in their home state. They chose Sautee-Nacoochee where Jessica’s grandmother lived as their location but it proved to be very difficult for them to make plans from California. With a date of December 27, 2014 on the calendar, Jessica’s mother Kathryn Smith and her “Nana” Nancy Smith took over much of the planning. Nancy lives in the Sky Lake community in the Nacoochee Valley of White County. She found the perfect church for the wedding located on a hill in the center of the valley.
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The Old Nacoochee Missionary Baptist Church welcomed the couple and the church community was helpful and accommodating. Jessica’s grandfather Pastor Scott McClintock performed the ceremony. Jessica wore her grandmother Paulette Heidel’s wedding dress. The rehearsal dinner was held at the Sautee Mountain Resort and Conference Center. The caterers were Tim and Harriett Williams of Green Gables. Classical guitarist Cliff Eckenloy played for their guests. The décor for the rehearsal dinner, the wedding and reception were compliments of Nancy and her close friend Alene Kelly. The ladies decorated with cedar, red berries and burlap. Jessica handmade her invitations herself. The bride’s bouquet and other wedding floral designs were also the creation of Tim and Harriett of Green Gables. Jessica spoke of how fortunate she was to have the assistance of her Nana and her mother when planning this special day. The work they put into the event was appreciated by the bride and her groom. The wedding was lovely and very meaningful. Jessica’s wedding pictures were made by Melissa A. Henderson Photography. Melissa captured the essence of the day beautifully. The reception that followed was an incredible gift from a dear family friend. It was held at the Sautee Mountain Resort as well with Green Gables as caterer. The cake was elegantly simple with three tiers and an anchor cake, in honor of Andrew’s service in the Navy, served as the groom’s cake. Pastor Tony Hamilton of Clermont provided beautiful music at the reception and it was a wonderful end to a perfect day. Andrew has been serving in the Asian Pacific for the past year with Jessica still stationed at Camp Pendleton in southern California. The couple values the weeks they get together as Andrew serves his second year abroad. They plan to have a “real honeymoon” when he returns although they have made some short trips while he was on leave. A military couple whose love is spanning many miles – thank you Andrew and Jessica Contino from the Laurel and our readers! by Tracy McCoy
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Celebrating the Bride & Groom
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o wedding is complete without a reception to celebrate the new couple. The wedding reception is the place where the bride and groom dance together for the first time, eat cake, converse with guests, break a glass for luck, get hoisted on chairs, or complete any number of other cultural rituals depending on the type of wedding they are having. A successful wedding reception is key to having a successful wedding. Thus, choosing the right wedding reception location is vital. You typically want the wedding reception location to be close enough that guests can get there quickly from the ceremony. You also want to make sure it is roomy enough to accommodate all your guests and that it looks pretty. Doing all this on a budget can be difficult, so it is also essential to know how much you can afford to spend before you go looking for a reception location. You also need to consider related factors, such as the rules of the possible location. For example, some wedding reception venues will allow you to bring in your own food or caterers. Others will require that you use theirs. Some will permit you more leeway and freedom as far as decorations, while others have more stringent rules. Make sure you ask all of these questions when you pick out your wedding reception location so you aren’t disappointed after you put the deposit down. Time is also a factor as well. Many of the best or most popular wedding reception locations book up early, sometimes as early as years in advance if you want to get married on a popular day (such as Valentines Day). If you are planning a last minute wedding, this means that you may have to be less choosy when it comes to a wedding location. Wedding Reception Location Options The wedding reception location options available to you depend a lot on the size of your wedding and your budget. Possible options include: • Banquet Halls • Country clubs • Hotels • Event Centers • Vineyards/Wineries • Your Home or a Family Member’s Home
12 Spies Vineyard 550 Black Branch Rd, Rabun Gap, GA 30568 813.335.2886 - www.12spiesvineyards.com
Waterfall Country Club 1105 Waterfall Dr, Clayton, GA 30525 706.212.4000 - www.thewaterfallclub.com
Andy’s Trout Farm 115 Andys Trout Farm Rd, Otto, NC 28763 706.746.2550 - www.andystroutfarm.com
Oconee County, South Carolina Chattooga Belle Farm 454 Damascus Church Rd, Long Creek, SC 29658 864.647.9768 - www.chattoogabellefarm.com
Beechwood Inn 220 Beechwood Dr, Clayton, GA 30525 706.782.5485 - www.beechwoodinn.ws
Habersham County, Georgia
Betty’s Creek Barn 271 Big Creek Road, Rabun Gap, GA 30568 706.982.9192 - www.bettyscreekbarn.com
Glen Ella Springs Inn & Restaurant 1789 Bear Gap Rd, Clarkesville, GA 30523 706.754.7295 - www.glenella.com
Chapel of Sky Valley 817 Sky Valley Way, Sky Valley, GA 30537 706.746.2999 - www.skyvalleychapel.com
The Community House 601 Wyly St, Cornelia, Ga. 30531 706.778.8585 - www.corneliageorgia.org
Chota Falls 1810 Rickman Airfield Rd, Tiger, GA 30576 Phone: 706.490.5557 - www.chotafalls.com
Towns County, Georgia Brasstown Valley Resort 6321 U.S. 76, Young Harris, GA 30582 706.379.9900 - www.brasstownvalley.com
Rabun County Civic Center 201 W Savannah St, Clayton, GA 30525 706.212.2149 – www.rabunciviccenter.com
Crane Creek Vineyards 916 Crane Creek Rd, Young Harris, GA 30582 706.379-1236 - www.cranecreekvineyards.com
Rabun Manor 205 Carolina St, Dillard, GA 30537 703.851.9338 - www.rabun-manor.com Kindwood Resort 401 Country Club Dr, Clayton, GA 30525 706.212.4100 - www.kingwoodresort.com
Hightower Creek Vineyards 7150 Canaan Dr, Hiawassee, GA 30546 706.896-8963 - www.hightowercreekvineyards. com
Splendor Mountain 359 Eastman Mountain Rd, Tiger, GA 30576 404.218.7638 - www.splendormountain.com
Ridges Resort 6321 U.S. 76, Young Harris, GA 30582 706.379.9900 - www.ridgesresort.com
Stonewall Creek Vineyard 323 Standing Deer Ln, Tiger, GA 30576 706.212-0584 - www.stonewallcreek.com
Macon County, North Carolina (Franklin) Cat Creek Lodge 109 Holly Springs Village Rd, Franklin, NC 28734 828.524.0991 - www.catcreeklodge.com
Tallulah Falls Wedding Chapel 101 School Rd, Tallulah Falls, GA 30573 800.711.0372 – 706.490.1484
Snow Hill Inn 531 Snow Hill Rd, Franklin, NC 28734 828.349.9009 - www.snowhillfranklinnc.com
The Dillard House 1153 Franklin St, Dillard, GA 30537 706.746-2038 - www.dillardhouse.com
Of these, obviously your own home is the least expensive, while country clubs and hotels may tend to be more costly. Your wedding planner can help you determine costs, evaluate wedding locations and make the right decision about which wedding reception locations are right for your big day. We have included a list of local event venues that may work for you. We have separated them by county and we have included websites (so you can gain more info), addresses and phone numbers. Don’t thank us, we are happy to help!
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Rabun County, Georgia
Stephens County, Georgia
The Farmhouse at Persimmon Creek Blue Ridge Gap Rd, Clayton, GA 30525 706.782-9834 www.thefarmhouseatpersimmoncreek.com
Georgia Baptist Conference & Retreat Center 462 Sonrise Way, Toccoa, GA 30577 706.886.3133 - www.mytoccoa.com
The Pavilion at Lake Rabun 1757 Lake Rabun Rd, Lakemont, GA 30552 706.782.6110 - www.lakerabun.org
Toccoa Falls College – Toccoa Falls 107 Kincaid Dr, Toccoa Falls, GA 30598 706.886.6831 – 1.888.785.5624 - www.tfc. edu/weddings
Tiger Mountain Vineyards & Red Barn Cafe 2592 Old 441 S, Tiger, GA 30576 706.782.4777 - www.tigerwine.com
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Bon Appétit
You Can Never Have too Much Chocolate!
F
ebruary brings us Valentine’s Day and to most folks that is synonymous with chocolate. While it is wonderful to get a beautiful red box full of luscious chocolates, a homemade chocolate gift is even better. These recipes are easy enough for anyone to make and will win you lots of “brownie” points. Wrapped in clear cellophane and tied with a big red bow can earn you even more points. by Scarlett Cook
Million Dollar Cake
Semi-sweet Chocolate Pound Cake
Cake 1 Cup butter 2 1/2 Cups sugar 5 Egg yolks, beaten 3 Cups plain flour 4 Heaping tablespoons cocoa powder 1 Teaspoon baking soda Dash of salt 1 Cup buttermilk 5 Tablespoons strong coffee 2 Teaspoons vanilla 6 Egg whites, beaten
Cake 2 Cups plain flour 1 Teaspoon baking soda 1 Teaspoon baking powder 1 1/2 Cups water 2 Tablespoons instant coffee granules 6 Ounces unsweetened baking chocolate, chopped 2 Cups sugar 1 Cup butter, softened 1 Teaspoon vanilla 3 Eggs
Preheat oven to 350˚. Grease and flour 3 9” cake pans.
Combine flour, baking soda and baking powder.
Cream butter and sugar together. Add beaten egg yolks and mix well.
In a small saucepan, combine water and instant coffee and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add 6 ounces of chopped chocolate. Stir until smooth and set aside.
Preheat oven to 325˚. Grease 10” fluted tube pan.
In different bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. Combine buttermilk, coffee and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients to the creamed batter alternately with buttermilk mixture mixing well after each addition. Fold in beaten egg whites.
In mixing bowl cream sugar, butter and vanilla until smooth. Add eggs and beat on high speed for 5 minutes. Beat in dry ingredients alternately with the melted chocolate mixture. Pour batter into pan and bake for 50 – 60 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pan 5 minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely before glazing.
Divide batter into the 3 pans and bake for 20 – 25 minutes.
Glaze 2 Ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped 3 Tablespoons butter 1 1/2 Cups sifted, powdered sugar 2 – 3 Tablespoons milk 1 Teaspoon vanilla
Cool layers in pan for 5 minutes and then cool completely on wire racks before frosting. Icing 1/2 Cup butter 1 Egg yolk 3 Tablespoons coffee 1 Tablespoon vanilla 1 Box confectioner’s sugar 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
In medium saucepan over low heat melt chocolate and butter stirring until smooth. Stir in powdered sugar and enough milk to make glaze spreadable. Stir in vanilla. Drizzle over cooled cake.
Cream butter; add egg yolk, coffee and vanilla. Add confectioner’s sugar and cocoa. Blend well and spread on cooled cake.
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Chocolate Caramel Brownies 1 14-Ounce bag caramels, unwrapped 1/3 Cup evaporated milk 1 Package German chocolate cake mix 1/3 Cup evaporated milk 1 1/2 Sticks margarine at room temperature 1 Cup chopped pecans 1 16-Ounce bag semi-sweet chocolate chips Preheat oven to 350˚. Grease 9”x13” pan. In double boiler, combine caramels and 1/3 cup evaporated milk. Heat until caramels are melted. Combine cake mix and 1/3 cup evaporated milk and margarine. Stir in nuts. Press half of the mixture into the bottom of prepared pan. Bake for 5 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over crust. Pour melted caramel over chips and crumble remaining cake mix mixture over caramel. Bake for 15 minutes more.
Easy Chocolate Pie 1 Large Hershey chocolate bar 2 Tablespoons instant coffee 1 Tablespoon water 1 Large tub Cool Whip, thawed 1 Chocolate pie crust Melt chocolate bar in microwave and stir in the coffee and water. Fold into the Cool Whip and mix well. Pour into curst and freeze. To serve, remove from freezer 15 minutes before using.
No Fail Fudge 4 1/2 Cups sugar 1 Large can evaporated milk 1/2 Pound margarine 18-Ounces chocolate chips 1 Tablespoon vanilla 10 Ounces miniature marshmallows 2 Cups chopped pecans Line a 9” x 13” pan with foil. In a large saucepan, blend sugar, milk and butter. Bring to a boil and boil for 6 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add vanilla, chocolate chips and marshmallows. smooth. Add nuts.
Stir until
Pour fudge into pan and cool to room temperature to prevent graininess. Wrap well and store in refrigerator.
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A Taste of the Mountains
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Cover Artist
Valerie Shelton – Lovely & Organic
O
ur cover artist this month is Valerie Shelton, a very talented photographer. Valerie was born and raised in Rabun County. She attended high school in Highlands, North Carolina where she graduated in 2011. She continued her education at North Georgia Technical College attaining a degree in Commercial Photography. Her first camera was a pink Barbie camera that she was given as a gift when she was only seven years old. She says that is probably the beginning of her fascination with taking photos. Valerie remembers loving vintage photos growing up; she would sit and look through old family photos even at a young age. Valerie’s father is very artistic in his furniture restoration business and she believes that is where her creativity comes from. Your first impression of this successful young lady would that she is somewhat shy, very modest and so genuine. Her photography tells stories; she strives to achieve this in every session. Valerie enjoys watching couples in love and works to capture those glances, touches and moments that show that love. Valerie looks for the shots others might overlook. She enjoys the casual nature of photography today, preferring it over staged photos, I think we all do! Valerie works with couples and families for all of those special moments. She especially enjoys engagement and wedding photography. The children and families are also fun to do and Valerie wants to meet with families, getting to know them and following them through all of life’s events. Organic is best described as real and that is the best description of her work and what Valerie likes best. She believes that photography is an art and when an artist loves their work it shows.
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I ask most photographers what they shoot with and what their dream camera is. Valerie purchased her dream camera which was a Canon 5D Mark 3 while in school. She, like most others, has a nice selection of special lenses to achieve the look she is after. Valerie can work with most budgets and says she wants everyone to have beautiful images that they will treasure for a lifetime. She offers different packages with either digital or print images. She provides images on a custom wooden flash drive for safe keeping. She encourages her brides and grooms to get prints and even their favorite image on a wrapped canvas. Printing is very important and Valerie has a company who meets her expectations time after time. Valerie expressed how thankful she is to God for the talent He has given her; she is grateful for her family and her boyfriend for their continued encouragement and support. She hopes you will visit her website: valeriesheltonphotography.com. You can reach Valerie by e-mail at valeriesheltondesigns@gmail.com or by calling 706.982.5739 or look for her on Facebook.
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North Georgia Arts Guild
Gail Watson – Harmonious Magnetism
W
hen you stand in front of a watercolor by Gail Watson, it’s as if you’ve gone to visit a new friend — then something special clicks and you don’t want to leave. The colors — jewel-like or subtle as a sunrise through morning mist, are just part of the magnetism. Whether the subject is flora or fauna, the composition is flawless, harmonious and the overall effect is a visual and mental treat.
subject. Even with all the planning, my paintings rarely turn out as I envisioned, but that’s the best part. I really enjoy how the colors mingle on the paper and the lack of control. Q: How would you like viewers to react? A: “Wow!” would be great, but I’d be content for them to stop long enough to study the technique, the nuances of color or connect with the subject. I really enjoy when asked, “How did you do that?” Q: Please describe the process. A: I lean toward realism. The paintings derive from my own photographs, edited for composition and value pattern. I use varied techniques: glazing layers for rich colors, watercolor pours, on gesso surfaces and even batiks. Q: Goals? A: In 2013, I became a signature member of the Georgia Watercolor Society —my biggest goal. Since then, I’ve been accepted in juried shows in Georgia and surrounding areas. Next I’ll try larger shows and hope to become recognized in my field. Q: What is most gratifying? A: Creating from things I enjoy-- why I rarely work on commission. It’s great to be able to decide which technique works best for each subject; sometimes using different techniques and colors for the same subject.
Gail’s interview:
Gail’s husband launched her career with a set of paints and enrollment in a class with Dianne Mize. She later took workshops with Atlanta Q: Where do you get your ideas? instructors in Gainesville. More recently, she began weeklong A: Luckily, most come from looking out my studio windows, on my workshops with renowned artists. daily walks or hikes and in travels. Gail’s paintings may be seen at: The Studio, Toccoa; the Sautee Q: What emotions occur Nacoochee Art Center and (varying times) the Oconee Cultural during the process? Art Center, Watkinsville, A: There is always a Georgia. sense of excitement, especially as the painting Two of Gail’s paintings emerges. Also a sense were exhibited last year of contentment with in the National League of doing something I love. American Pen Women; When it’s done, I can’t three in the national juried wait to share it with my show for SAAG in Blue family and friends, great Ridge; two into the GWS supporters! member show, one with honorable mention and Q: Do you plan your first place in the Currahee paintings? Do they evolve Artists Guild fall show. differently from your original vision? You may contact Gail via: A: I plan entirely starting www.gails-art.blogspot. with a value sketch, then com or gailwatsonart@ a detailed drawing, color gmail.com selection and lastly, the Created & Edited by best technique for the Jo Mitchell
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Finding Art
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February 2016
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Make Sure This Book is On Your Dance Card A Review: The Valley Where They Danced
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n theory, good writing is supposedly 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration. If so, then Cleveland, Georgia author Emory Jones has nailed it with his first historical novel The Valley Where They Danced. A 1980s newspaper story about a local mystery was the germ that started it all. For years the ideas tumbled in his subconscious, until finally, about four years ago, he got serious. His wife’s “encouragement” as only a wife can urge, spurred him on. The result is a story as graceful as a waltz, but with the frantic urgency of a polka, and as beautiful as a ballet solo. Dr. Tom Garrison and Lenore Conley’s beautiful tango is based around the
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legend of two star-crossed Native American lovers, for whom the Sautee and Nacoochee Valleys were named. Any story that grabs you and won’t let go, is the kind of story you hate to see end. One of the reasons this book has been praised so highly, is the authenticity of even the most minute facts. Emory had knowledgeable people in many different fields to vet and advise. It was his aunt, the model for Lenore, who set him straight on the sizes of lard buckets. He was determined that all historical fact would be accurate. Emory spent his lifetime day job writing what other people told him to write, but that’s changed. He’s already working on a second volume of the story, and foresees a third volume. One of the most interesting aspects of this story set in Northeast Georgia, on the heels of World War I, is that Dr. Tom and his lady are fictional characters, as are many others. But other personalities actually existed. It’s impossible to discern who was birthed in Emory’s creative imagination and which were plucked from history to complete the story. That is the
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magical quality of the story, and testimony to the word weaving skills of the author. This novel may be Emory’s first stab at historical fiction, but it’s far from his first writing rodeo. Following a UGA cum laude graduation that gave him a union card into a journalism career, he joined Gold Kist, Inc., an agricultural co-operative, where he held various positions with the company’s four publications. What followed is a lifetime career with various agricultural and business-to-business endeavors. In addition, since his return to his White County, Georgia roots, the name Emory Jones has appeared on a number of historyrelated books, numerous articles and newspaper columns. But it’s his latest project, the story of two sweet lovers, for whom life had so much to offer, that has grabbed his readers and won’t let go. “Jones has created a classic without intending to do so,” one reader reported. “It’s been a long, long time since I read a book as captivating as The Valley Where They Danced,” another said. “This is seriously good literature…. This touching story will pull at your heartstrings,” yet another reader enthused. And how can heartstrings not be affected, when a smitten young physician confesses to the young woman with the limp, that he knew from their first meeting they would marry? When profession of his love brings on a dance with the woman who should never have known such magic, readers are literally dancing with them. But eventually, all dances must end. The newlyweds follow a popular custom and honeymoon at nearby Tallulah Falls. From that charmed setting, worlds collide and produce yet another dance that will forever alter lives and futures. After Tallulah Falls, neither the dance nor the dancers would ever be the same again. By John Shivers Readers may purchase the book by logging onto www. yonahtreasures.com, at local bookstores, and on Amazon and Kindle.
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Clarkesville, Georgia
February 2016
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RUTH CAMP
PO Box 519 - 132 E Waters Street Clarkesville, GA 30523 706.754.5940
706.499.4702
ruth@ruthcamp.com www.ruthcamp.com
VIRTUAL TOURS AVAILABLE
PRIVATE GETAWAY! 128 acres of IF LOCATION IS IMPORTANT! UPSCALE MOUNTAIN HOME! views, trails, woods, flowers, mounTraditional brick ranch home w/exposed wood beams, tain lake w/trout, Craftsman Style Daylight Terrace level w/finished finished terrace level, Home, workshop and 60 x 40 barn. rooms. 7 acre estate w/beautiful spacious workshop Possible Owner Finance. $1,699,000 views. $648,500 on 15.5 acres. $445,000
NO HEMMED IN FEELING HERE!! Overlooks the 3rd hole and 2 lakes, in The Orchard Golf Community, finished bonus room over the 3 car garage. $525,000
GOLF COURSE LIVING! Recently renovated! Screened back porch overlooks 12th Fairway. 5BR/3.5BA. $349,000
LAKE BURTON FEE SIMPLE! Two for One bungalow cottages. $889,000
LUXURY! Brick & stone home on 5.3 acres., creek frontage, 3rd garage w/bonus room and workshop, upgraded throughout. $396,000 gmlaurel.com
STUNNING! Custom home, gourmet kitchen, master on main, end of road privacy. $647,900
706.499.4720
bill@billcamp.net www.billcamp.net
SOUTHERN LIVING! "Crabapple Cottage" Plan, 10 acre estate with barn. $699,000
BRICK HOME! In The Orchard LAKE FRONT SETTING! Golf Community, overlooks Overlooks lake, 17th tee and mounmountain lake, seasonal tains. Large back deck w/views mountain views. $424,900 close to club house. $359,000
UNSURPASSED MOUNTAIN VIEWS! 4BR/4BA Craftsman Style Home sits on 5 acres, backs up to National Forest. $699,500
Non-Traditional Ranch in Orchard ORCHARD COMMUNITY Golf Community. Gourmet kitchen, HOME! Man made rock wateropen spaces, media room, huge fall w/pond, master w/bath on workshop. Private. $695,000 main. 3 car garage. $499,900
BILL CAMP
CUSTOM MADE LOG HOME! CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER Located on 5.4 acres, constructed FRONT HOME! with 15" to 24" logs, over 2000 Gated Community between ft of porches, 3 outbuildings w/ Clarkesville and Helen, recently power and water. $899,500 refurbished. $549,900
ONLY THE BEST! Located in EASY COMMUTE, to Gainesville, Skylake, walking trails, Cornelia or Toccoa. Formal DR, eat-in waterfalls, swimming, tennis, kitchen, 2 FPs, oak floors, 9+ ft ceilings, fishing & boating. $715,000 Fiber Optic to work remotely. $379,900
SPLENDOR! FOUR SIDED BRICK RANCH! Overwhelming charm, invitWhole house generator, long ing casual elegance. Mountain creek frontage, parking for RV, views, custom build-ins and fencing, green house and much much more. $445,000 more on 6.28 acres. $399,000 February 2016
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Mountain Happenings February and March, 2016 March 19th - 20th, 26th - 27th Spring Wine Highway Weekend Various Northeast Georgia Counties Info: 706.878.9463 www.georgiawine.com STEPHENS COUNTY February 13th Experience Toccoa - Local Artists Mitchell Allen Memorial Hall Toccoa Info: 706.282.5055 February 15th and the third Monday of the month Career Coach Stephens County Library, Toccoa Info: www.gmrc.ga.gov/Workforce Development.htm The Schafer Center Toccoa Info: www.negaconcerts.com February 11th Milkshake Mayfield February 13th Melinda Doolittle February 25th A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline March 18th The Young Irelanders
February 6th Clarkesville Mardi Gras Gala Clarkesville Event Center Clarkesville Info: 706.754.2220 February 20th North Georgia Winter Jam Grant Street Music Room Clarkesville Info: 706.839.7467
Valentine’s Day
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March 12th Mommy and Me at the Zoo March 24th - 27th Easter Festival March 29th - April 3rd April 5th - 10th Springtime Festival
March 26th 27th Annual Trout Tournament Chattahoochee River, Helen Info: 706.878.1908
BabyLand General Hospital Cleveland Info: 706.865.2171 www.cabbagepatchkids.com March 12th St. Patrick’s Celebration
Yonah Mountain Vineyards Cleveland Info: 706.878.5522
March 19th Magical Easter Extravaganza RABUN COUNTY
February 14th and the second Sunday of the month Reserve Wine Tasting
March 10th - 13th; 17th - 20th “Always....Patsy Cline”
February 13th - 14th March 12th - 13th Junior Rodeo Rabun Arena, Tiger Info: 706.212.0452
Smithgall Woods Cleveland Info: 706.878.3087 www.smithgallwoods.com
February 8th – 13th Friends of the Library Membership Drive & Bake Sale Rabun County Library, Clayton Info: 706.782.3731
February 6th Fun with Falconry March 5th Volunteer Training
Helen Arts & Heritage Center Helen Info: 706.878.3933 www.helenarts.org
March 5th - 6th Bouncing Babies
March 12th Cultural Landscape Study Hardman Farm, Sautee Info: 706.878.1077
February 5th – 7th; 11th - 14th “Harvey”
February 20th; 27th Sneak Preview Days Porcupine Quill Jewelry & Art Class
March 1st and each Tuesday and Friday through August Bingo Helen Festhalle, Helen Info: 706.878.1908
March 19th Flies and Fly Water
February 6th Fasching Helen Festhalle, Helen Info: 706.878.1908
February 21st and the third Sunday of the Month Behind the Scenes Tour
February 20th - 21st 41st Annual Fireside Arts & Crafts Show Unicoi Lodge, Helen Info: 706.878.2201
Habersham Community Theatre Clarkesville Info: www.habershamtheater.org
WHITE COUNTY
Don’t forget that special someone.
February 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th Winter Wonderland Tours
February 19th - 20th Sautee Nacoochee Center Art Festival Sautee Nacoochee Center, Sautee Info: 706.878.3300; www.snca.org
February 13th Movie Night
HABERSHAM COUNTY
February 14th
North Georgia Zoo & Farm Cleveland Info: 706.348.7279
February 17th - 20th Helenblitz Mini Cooper Car Show Helendorf River Inn, Helen Info: 706.878.2271
February 18th North Georgia Arts Guild Program Ingrid Bolton - “Pysanky-Ukrainian Easter Eggs” UGA Extension Rabun County Conference Room, Clayton Info: www.northgeorgiaartsguild.com March 11th - 13th; 18th - 20th “The Importance of Being Earnest” North Georgia Community Players Dillard Playhouse, Dillard Info: www.ngcommunity players.com
February 21st White County Student Art Competition & Reception
March 24th 12th Annual Easter Egg Hunt Rabun County Recreation Department Tiger Info: 706.782.4600
March 10th “Shades of the Mountains” Art Exhibit Opening & Reception
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March 18th The Los Angeles Guitar Quartet
March 25th - 27th Easter Weekend Celebration River Vista RV Park, Dillard Info: 706.746.2722
March 29th Concert Band March 31st 9 String Theory
Tallulah Gorge State Park Tallulah Falls Info: 706.754.7981
February 13th; March 12th Hidden Gem Hiking Series
John C. Campbell Folk School Brasstown Info: 828.837.2775; 800.FOLKSCH www.folkschool.org
February 22nd; March 23rd Full Moon Suspension Bridge Hike
February 4th Hamilton County Ramblers Concert
March 24th Sunset Easter Egg Hunt
February 13th; 27th; March 12th Contra & Square Dance
February 7th; March 6th Sunrise Hike
Rabun Trout Unlimited Meetings Info: www.rabuntu.org February 6th Annual Planning Meeting Dillard House, Dillard
March 12th Empty Bowls 2016 MACON COUNTY, NC Smoky Mountain Center for Performing Arts Franklin Info: 866.273.4615; 828.524.1598 www.GreatMountainMusic.com
February 18th Chapter Meeting Rabun Gap Presbyterian Church Rabun Gap
February 5th - 6th “Once Upon a Wish”
February 25th Board of Directors Meeting Rabun Gap Presbyterian Church Rabun Gap
February 13th Little Anthony & the Imperials February 20th Tim Tebow
TOWNS COUNTY
February 26th Red Head Express and Mountain Faith Band
February 5th - 6th BBQ Championship & Winter Throw Down Brasstown Valley Resort & Spa Young Harris Info: 706.379.4612
March 5th Hotel California: A Salute to the Eagles March 12th Natural Bodybuilding Physique Second Annual Championship
February 13th - 14th Sweetheart Show Brasstown Valley Resort Young Harris Info: 706.897.6179
March 18th - 19th Treasure Island, The Classic Adventure
Young Harris College Young Harris Info: 706.379.5114, www.yhc.edu
Martin Lipscomb Performing Arts Center Highlands Info: 828.526.9047
February 11th Faculty Artist Recital
February 6th National Theatre: Coriolanus
February 13th Unlucky in Love A Cabaret Fundraiser
February 13th National Theatre: Les Liaisons February 27th National Theatre Live: As You Like It
February 19th; 26th; March 18th “Stars: The Powerhouses of the Universe” Rollins Planetarium Info: 706.379.5195
March 5th MET Opera: Puccini’s Manon Lescaut - New Production
February 24th - 27th 9 to 5: The Musical “Pay What You Can Preview”
March 11th - 13th; 18th - 20th Highlands Cashiers Players Mystery Dinner Theater
March 3rd Five Grands Fantasia
March 27th Bolshoi Ballet: Spartacus
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Rabun County Sportsman’s Banquet
T
abernacle Baptist Church started the Rabun County Sportsman’s Banquet (RCSB) 14 years ago as an outreach to give back to the community. Tabernacle supports missionaries all around the world, but wanted to do something for our local area also. Thus the birth of the RCSB. At the event you will meet old friends and make new ones. You will enjoy eating wild game such as bear, wild hog, deer, rabbit dumplings, deer link sausage, grilled chicken, baked beans, coleslaw, potatoes and delicious deserts. We have had the Foxfire Boys Band and the Curtis Blackwell Band as our musical entertainment over the years. We have speakers each year who share their stories and professional careers with the crowd. In the past we have had speakers such as R. G. (Dick) Bernier, an outdoor writer, whitetail consultant and nature photographer. Billy Shaw, an all pro football player who is the only professional football player in both the AFC and NFL Football Hall of Fame. Rodney Dillard who played one of the Darling family on the Andy Griffith show and his Band the Dillards. We have also had a professional juggler, a professional baseball player and Joey Hancock, a professional turkey hunter and stand-up comedian. Last year we were privileged to have Clay Dyer, a pro bass fisherman who was born without legs and only a partial right arm. Instead of letting this get him down he gets up and goes. He drives his own Toyota Truck, bass boat and ties his own hooks while praising God and sharing the Gospel with everyone he meets. This year’s speaker is Team Fitzgerald, a father and son bow hunting team that travel the globe bow hunting. Dan Fitzgerald had one of the first deer hunting shows on television. When they’re not hunting, they travel sharing their love of bow hunting and the Gospel with outdoor enthusiasts around the country.
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Over 90 businesses from all over the county give door prizes and money to help make this happen. Yes, Tabernacle Baptist Church sponsors the event, but without the help of local businesses we could not make this a reality. This is not a fundraiser for TBC as no money goes to the church from this. If we have any money left after all the bills are paid, it goes towards next year’s event. Reeves Ace Hardware and Sporting Goods has been a big part of the event since the start by providing the Grand Prize each year, and it’s always GRAND! They have given away a Big Green Egg Grill, a Yeti Cooler filled with hunting and fishing supplies, a $500 gift certificate, a pellet grill worth $900, muzzle loader guns, and compound bows, just to name a few. I am always amazed at what Jeff Houston comes up with for our Grand Prize.
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What I enjoy most is watching friends reunite and people making new friends and all the chatter of people just enjoying fellowship with one another. The banquet this year will be on Saturday, February 20th. The doors will open at 4:30 PM with the dinner beginning at 6:00 PM and ending around 9:00 PM. It is held at the Rabun County Civic Center. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at Reeves Ace Hardware, the Chamber of Commerce or Tabernacle Baptist Church. Seating is limited to 504 so be sure and get your ticket early. If you buy 6 or more tickets, we will reserve your seat so your family or group can sit together. The last several years have sold out, so come on in and enjoy meeting old friends making new ones. You will have a chance to see some great deer, bear, hog and fish mounts from local hunters and fisherman, enjoy some great food and meet Guy and Dan Fitzgerald. Hope to see you there. For more information or to reserve seating, call Tabernacle Baptist Church at 706.782.2734. by Paul Eden – Tabernacle Baptist Church
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Bless Your Heart
Life is Messy, Broken, & Wonderful
L
izzie stepped out doors feeling the grass between her toes, her skirt dragging just a bit but not really caring. She walked toward a stump that overlooked her lush and well-cared for garden. Hot tears rolled down her face, first slowly then sobs came. Gut wrenching sobs. She doubled over as if in physical pain, only it was worse, it was that penetrating emotional pain that comes with loss. The loss of her husband, the loss of her little girl, the loss of their life together. Where was God? Did He not care about her? Lizzie’s sobs turned into heaving, as she felt her fingernails piercing into the bark of the stump as if to hold on for life. But what was there to hold on for? Nothing. After a while, Lizzie could no longer feel the heat of the sun on her face. How long had she lain against the stump? Slightly disoriented, Lizzie pulled herself up and walked unsteadily to the kitchen door, trying to push it open but it seemed so heavy. Lizzie walked a few steps before collapsing onto the kitchen chair. More tears, more sobs, more questions to God. Her body was spent, her spirit broken and her heart shattered. Lizzie made her way to bed, clothes and all and reached for Timothy, but he was not there. She curled up and wished she had been buried to. Lizzie barely heard the loud knocks on her door but didn’t have the strength to respond. “Lizzie, it’s me, Sarah” “Lizzie open the door.” Sarah continued to shout until she remembered to use the key hidden under the pot. Unlocking the door she walked into Lizzie’s room and her heart broke for her best friend. Curled up in the fetal position, clutching a pillow saturated with tears, lay Lizzie. Sarah quietly walked out and went into the kitchen to clean it up so that Lizzie would be free of that chore. Then she sat and waited for her to come out. Glancing at the clock when it chimed two o’clock, Sarah decided to wake Lizzie and get her to eat a little something. Walking into her room, Lizzie woke out of her stupor and then closed her eyes back again when she remembered Timothy and Grace were gone forever. Hot tears flowed and Sarah knowing nothing she said or did would ease the pain; so she pulled the covers back and crawled into bed holding her best friend until the tears subsided and fell back to sleep. The months rolled by and the questions finally ceased in Lizzie’s head. She knew God didn’t take her husband and little girl to punish her. She knew He understood her pain and sorrow. She grasped to keep her faith from faltering. Lizzie was well in her second year of mourning and her numbness was ever so slowly thawing. She was looking forward to the day where spring would sprout in her soul. Lizzie kept herself busy running her baking business ‘Baking with Grace’ in town. She was probably the smallest baker around
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at just barely 5 feet tall and under 100 lbs. she looked fragile but she was anything but weak. She had thick masses of golden maple curls that caught the eye of both men and women, and it was the perfect frame for her lovely almond shaped brown eyes that held sadness but danced with kindness. Lizzie stayed busy but terribly lonely. No noise in the home, no mounds of laundry and no little Grace to help bake cookies or kiss at night, it was just…total silence. Lizzie hated going home and longed for companionship but felt so guilty to even think such a thing. --Hot coffee and a blueberry muffin, how could the day get any better thought Gatlin? He raked his hand over his dark hair that at thirty-eight had a touch of gray on the sides. Distinguished was the word friends sometimes use to describe him. He would just laugh and say it was another word for old. Gatlin never lacked for the female attention, he just never seemed interested. What he was interested in at the moment was this bakery that gave him a sense of belonging. Gatlin shifted and without thinking he stretched his legs out to ease a knee ache and instantly realized his mistake as the pint-size baker tripped over his leg losing her grasp of the cupcakes she was getting ready to deliver. Dazed, Lizzie groaned as Gatlin picked her up and sat her down in one swoop. “I’m so sorry,” Gatlin said sincerely apologizing. Lizzie tried gathering her wits about her before saying, “It’s alright, and no harm done…I think.” Gatlin told her to sit still as he got a wet towel to wipe her face. Lizzie protested that she was quite capable of getting up, but Gatlin put his hand on her shoulder and said, “Please sit still.” Lizzie did, surprising herself. But then, he had such a commanding presence about him that stopped her from protesting too much. Coming back he handed the towel to her and watched as she wiped her face. It was then he truly noticed her beauty. Lizzie gave a gracious thank you and stood up. Gatlin stood and introduced himself to Lizzie and gave one last apology. “Apology accepted,” Lizzie smiled as she shook his hand goodbye. As he turned to leave the bakery, Lizzie turned and quipped, “Keep those legs tucked next time.” Gatlin smiled back saying, “Oh, and there will be a next time, I promise.” Lizize grinned and tossed her hair as she turned. “Hmmm….nothing like a sassy, feisty woman to warm a man’s heart,” Gatlin thought. Lizzie headed back to the kitchen to bake a few more cupcakes and Gatlin headed back to the high school, as he was the new football coach.
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He was excited about his new position but he could honestly say he was far more excited about meeting the sassy baker. The kitchen was smelling heavenly, but Lizzie’s heart wasn’t in the baking, it was on Gatlin. He was the first man she even wanted to smile at and that caused feelings of guilt and a grief to shroud her heart. Lizzie cleaned up and headed home, but not before she called Sarah to meet her there. She needed some much desired friend counseling to help put her life in perspective. Sarah was willing to be her sounding board and as they settled in for tea, Lizzie poured her heart out. A couple of hours later, Lizzie felt a peace about going on with her life. She couldn’t bring back Timothy and Grace but with God’s help she would go forward. Gatlin was back at the bakery the next morning and the next. He had no intentions of making a move to ask her to dinner…yet. He had inquired around and learned she had lost her husband and daughter in an accident, so he wasn’t about to play with her feelings. Friendship for now, maybe more as time progressed. Friendship definitely blossomed along with a penchant for bantering. “You again?” Lizzie called out at Gatlin. “Yes, it’s me and do you have my usual?” “Your usual?” Lizzie played along. “Of course, the Gatlin special.” “Oh so now you’re special,” she said grinning. “Always.” Gatlin grinned back. Lizzie handed him his black coffee and blueberry muffin, and while he ate and checked his emails from school, Lizzie boxed up desserts for customers. In between, they discussed everything from food to futures. Lizzie was beginning to wonder if he was ever going to ask her out. Maybe he just wanted to stay friends, after all she really knew nothing about his past life, and at thirty-eight, she was sure he had one. That was exactly what Gatlin was thinking of doing. But, he knew her emotions had to be fragile from her heartbreaking loss. So, what was the best way to ask her out? Should he keep it as a friendship only? No, that wasn’t what he wanted at all, he wanted a relationship with Lizzie, and with that thought he made up his mind as to what he would do.
GOD IS LOVE 1 John 4:8
Lizzie had been working hard at the bakery and was exhausted to say the least. She had begun to dread the month of February. She desperately missed Timothy and Grace to love on. It was just a hard place to be during Valentine’s. When she drove up, Lizzie noticed roses on her front porch. Perking up a bit, she quickly parked and ran up the steps. The beautiful red roses had a note attached…. Roses are Red, Violets are blue, Will you be my Valentine date? For my heart chooses you. The note was signed Gatlin. Lizzie giggled like a school girl and took the roses inside. Her answer was yes as she ran to her closet to see what she had to wear for her Valentine date. She saw quickly that nothing would do. Tomorrow, she decided, she would head to the boutique and prayed the perfect dress was hanging in her size, along with shoes and a purse. Continued next month
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“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believed on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” John 3:16
A place where new life springs forth out of despair, failure and death. A place where God brings physical, emotional and spiritual healing to you.
God So Loved The World
* “He sent His Word and healed them”. Psalm 107:20 * “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made”. John 1:1-3 * “He was in the world, and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not.” John 1:10
that the Lord Jesus healed people while He was on earth, but some are actually trying to teach the Body of Christ now that healing is not for today even though Jesus Christ commissioned all of His followers and all of those who would be believers in the future so they would be able to lay hands on the sick and the sick would be healed. We see this in Mark 16:15-18. and I Cor. 12:9,28,30,31. We have been given the gift of healing to minister to the needs of others, we minister these gifts in love. We also minister to ourselves and others, speaking God’s Word into the situation.
* “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace Speak the following Scriptures out loud in the Name of the Lord Jesus and truth.” John 1:14 Christ over yourselves and others, calling the people by name: The living Word of God is the person of the Lord Jesus Christ! We have been taught that the Word of God is full of wonderful promises. There are about 750 promises in the New Testament alone and hundreds more in the Old Testament, they are all “Yes and Amen”. We use the Word of God to dominate the evil circumstances that come. Our faith in God and His Word that we speak can be used to triumph . God told Adam in Gen.1 and 2 that He gave Adam (and all mankind to follow) dominion, total authority, over all animals and all the earth and all that is therein. We have authority! The devil has tried to take over, but the Lord Jesus has won and God’s Word is more powerful. As we use His Word with authority over our situation, and the lives of those for whom we pray, we will see awesome results. We use the Word of God to speak hope, life and healing, and to take authority over storms and other dangerous situations which we may be faced with. The enemy sends storms and danger. Jesus Christ rebuked the storm with His Words in Luke 8:22-25. We can do the same! Your spoken confession of faith is the road that God uses to bring His blessings to you. We see in Mark 11:22-26 through faith in God and forgiveness of others and yourself, you shall have whatever you say. It is with this statement that many Christians miss it. This is not a “name it and claim it” teaching interpretation of the Bible. We must ask our Father for the things that are in His will for us according to the Scriptures. We will not ever rise above the confession of our lips. This is a spiritual law. The very moment you say “I cannot” or any other negative comment about your defeat in life, your health, family, finances, or job, then you are setting yourself up to fail and quit. “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me” Phil.4:13.
Ephesians 1:17-23 All who need wisdom about spiritual things Jeremiah 31:15-17 For wayward children and grandchildren Matthew 7:24-25 Any Christian marriage that is in trouble Mark 16:15-18 All Christians who need power to witness or minister Luke 1:45 All who believe in a promise from the Lord Luke 1:71-75 All who are oppressed by the enemy John 8:31-32 All who need to be changed from being a slave to something to becoming a free-born person John 14:13-14 All who need answered prayer II Timothy 2:24-26 All who need repentance as a gift from God I Corinthians 10:13 All who need an escape from temptations II Timothy 1:7 All who live in fear, anxiety and stress II Corinthians 10:3-5 All who are troubled by thoughts and fears Galatians 3:13-14 All who have sickness, family problems, financial problems, sorrow, grief and loss (which are the curse of the law according to Deut 28) Ephesians 3:13-21 All who need salvation and/or spiritual understanding Ephesians 2:8-10 All who need faith as a gift from God Ephesians 6:10-18 All who need strength, power and protection for life Philippians 1:3-6 For all members of the Body of Christ as a blessing Philippians 4:6-9 All who need a peaceful mind and a good life Hebrews 13:5-6 All who have needs and fears Jude 24-25 All who need assurance from God of eternal salvation Psalm 107:20 All who need healing
“He said unto them, but who say you that I am?” Matt 16:15.
You are not alone! Ask and you shall receive. The word “heal” occurs many times in the New Testament. The Greek word used most in the Bible for “heal” is THERAPEUO, and it means “to relieve of disease, to cure”. From this we get THERAPEUTIC which RIVER GARDEN (706) 782-5435 (706) 490-3063 means “pertaining to the treating or curing of disease”. No one doubts P.O. Box 112, Lakemont, Georgia 30552
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Second Chances D
avid Bartlett was born June 20, 1970 in Albany, Georgia. He felt he had a fairly good childhood. His older brothers and sisters were into drugs and peer pressure led David to experiment with them too. At 14 years old, he started smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol. By 15, he began using cocaine. This led to his first run in with the law, at age 17; David was arrested and sent to a prison boot camp. God tried to reach him, but David would not listen. Upon his release, he was placed on probation. By the age of 22, David was on the run from probation. He was using drugs more than ever and had pretty much given up on life. Addiction was in complete control. He traveled to California and met up with some people using drugs and living in hotels and RV’s. This is where he met his son’s mother. They dated for a short time before she became pregnant. He was still on the run, so he kept moving. Addiction was growing stronger. David was absent the first 9 years of his son’s life. He knew where his son was during that time, but felt so unfit. He couldn’t take care of himself, let alone a child. This inadequacy was an excuse to use more. Addiction thrives on our weaknesses.
In October of 2002, David ran into some believers from Vacaville Church of God that were having church in a park in downtown San Francisco, David was high so he moved on. He continued to use drugs thru Christmas. He ran into the same group of Christians again and a couple of ministers Wayne and Dianne prayed with him. David said “something was special about them, when they prayed with me, I felt it.” Wayne asked him to come back in two weeks, claiming that it was very important. On January 10, 2003 David made his way back to the park where they were having church. Wayne and Dianne prayed over his life and the spirit of the Lord touched David’s heart. Through prayer and in the name of Jesus they called out the spirit of addiction. Dianne prayed a special prayer and Wayne laid his hands upon David and he was filled with the spirit of God and his life was changed. Within two weeks, David was off the streets and living in a home full of Christian students who were attending a Bible college nearby. They helped David and for the first time in his life he was serving the Lord. After seven months, he came home to clear up his probation and began attending church. He also attended a few 12-step meetings. A relationship with Christ was the key for David.
In 2000, David started mixing cocaine and methamphetamine and using heavily. He got busted for possession and it was then that the probation violation caught up with him. He served six months in jail and put back on probation. Upon his release, he had intentions of going to church, but addiction took control once again and he went back on the run. Like many addicts, David could only stay sober for short periods of time on his own. Without help from your higher power, sobriety is next to impossible. He made his way back to California, but this time he was homeless and living on the streets. San Francisco is an “easy” place to live if you are homeless because they have plenty of shelters, food kitchens and drugs.
Two years ago, he and Joel Winchester started Freedom Ministries, which ministers to inmates in local jails and residents in nursing homes. He and his son, a New Hampshire police officer, are now in contact and their relationship has been restored. Like David, his son loves the Lord. This past September, over Labor Day weekend, David married his lovely wife Hannah. David says, “My life now is blessed beyond measure. To see people get saved, to see people delivered from the clutches of drugs and alcohol, it is amazing!” David and Hannah attend church at Clayton Church of God and invite you to join them one Sunday; second chances happen every day. by Melissa Thomas-Williams
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Adventure Out
Warwoman Dell to Martin’s Creek Falls
F
ebruary is Valentine’s month and this magazine’s wedding issue. With that in mind we’re going to take a pleasant hike, about two miles each way, along the Bartram Trail from Warwoman Dell to Martin’s Creek Falls.
Warwoman Dell is a beautiful picnic area just outside of Clayton. For our hike, park in the first parking area and the Bartram Trail, (blazed with 2 X 6 inch yellow plastic rectangles) is just up the road on the right. There’s a small stream there, Becky Branch, and you can see the remnants of an old fish hatchery. After a ascending couple of short switchbacks, the trail opens onto Warwoman Road. There’s a historical marker there honoring our trail’s namesake naturalist William Bartram. After carefully crossing the road, you’ll see a blaze leading into the woods. You could go that way but what I recommend is going a little downhill and picking up another trail, paralleling the Bartram, on the other side of the creek. This is so you don’t cross over the small viewing bridge at Becky Branch Falls until the end of your hike. Ascending this trail, the waterfall comes into view and soon you’ll turn right on the Bartram Trail, away from the noisy stream. The trail now runs along the mountainside above Warwoman Road. There was a fire here sometime back so this section of the trail offers nice winter views. After crossing an old logging road, the trail now gently descends. After crossing another road, this one well maintained by the forest service, the trail leads you into some dense Rhododendron, along a stream, across a small bridge, across another small stream via stepping stones and away from Warwoman Road. After going into and out of several lovely forest coves, the trail joins an old roadbed running alongside Martin’s Creek. There’s a stunning rock gorge here with the stream coursing noisily through it. Enjoy this gorge from a safe distance please. Just upstream from the gorge is a nice little waterfall and an open camping area on the other side to the creek. The trail enters another open camping area, with a bridge crossing Martin’s Creek. But before crossing the bridge, look around, you’ll be returning to this spot from a different direction. After crossing the stream and ascending a little more steeply, you’ll see the creek scenically stair stepping down on you left. You’ll then come to a “T” shaped viewing platform at the base of Martin’s Creek Falls. This is a beautiful cascade, one of my favorites.
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Now departing the waterfall you can continue along the Bartram Trail, descending along the other side of the creek which will return you to the open camping area where you crossed Martin’s Creek. This is one of the few times I’ll ask you not to follow the blazes. If you start heading uphill away from the stream, you’re going the wrong way. Pick up the blazes leading downstream, and you’re now on your way back the way you came with a little stop off at Becky Branch Falls. This cascade is a nice reward, very near the end of you hike. After a well deserved rest at the waterfall, continue across the bridge and descend on the other side of the creek down to Warwoman Road and back to Warwoman Dell. And as a bonus, there’s a third very small cascade at the western end of Warwoman Dell. Just go up to the big pavilion at the end of the road and follow green blazes. The little waterfall was created in the mid eighteen hundreds when rock was quarried from this spot for the Blue Ridge Railroad. You can read about the history of the B.R.R.R. on markers in Warwoman Dell. And if you want to be romantic, bring some special treats and a thermos of something warm to share after your adventure. Of course you’re also minutes away from Clayton in case you want to get out of the cold. Perhaps a visit to Clayton’s newest restaurant, Clarks’ On Main, might be fun. Happy Hiking!
Trail Notes: You certainly don’t need a guidebook for this trip but if you’re interested in exploring the Bartram Trail, I highly recommend the spiral bound “Bartram Trail” by John Ray and Malcolm Skove. It’s available at Prater’s Collectibles in Clayton. The book is informative, easy to use and accurate. And the proceeds of the book go towards maintaining the trail. It’s month number two, here’s a poem just for you: Take a nice winter hike with one you hold dearest, To see three falls where the water is clearest. Perhaps bring along some chocolates and wine, ‘Tis a great way to romance your sweet valentine. Clarks’ On Maine: www.clarksonmain.com Phone: 706.212.0101 To see more of Peter’s photos or if you have a question or comment: www.mcintoshmountains.com by Peter McIntosh
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Mountain Nature A Lazy Winter Day
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write as I sit on this cold dreary day watching a squirrel munching, or at least trying to defeat a cheap, so-called squirrel-proof feeder left by my landlord or a former tenant of the house I currently occupy. The squirrel seems to have given up now, itself defeated. In the distance is a cold fog drifting toward us over the gray layers of mountains that seem to fade as they recede one over the other.
In January the Pine Siskins and American Goldfinches have arrived at all of our bird feeders that hang off the deck and primarily filled with Cole’s Blue Ribbon Blend bird feed. It is a mix of black oil sunflower, sunflower meats, white proso millet and cracked corn. This is what we consider a winter mix for ground feeders. The Pine Siskins and Goldfinches are loving the sunflower meats and also manage to crack most of the shelled sunflower. This leaves the other seeds for the other birds frequenting our deck. It is interesting. First the sunflower gets eaten. The Tufted Titmouse (or titmice, either spelling is considered correct) are also munching away at the seeds in the tray feeder and in the Squirrel Buster Mini birdfeeder, as well as the other feeder left by the owners. We fill them all regularly. Dark-eyed Juncos visit these feeders, too. They like the sunflower and the millet and may even eat some of the cracked corn in a pinch. On the joist above the deck rail hangs a Prop Suet feeder with two cakes of Coles Special Feeder Suet. This feeder is designed with an extended “prop” hanging below the suet. It is designed so woodpeckers can prop their tail against it like they would when perched on the trunk of a tree. We have had quite of few Downy Woodpeckers, Whitebreasted Nuthatches, Redbellied Woodpeckers, Carolina Wrens, Carolina Chickadees and Tufted Titmouse visit the prop this winter. When it really gets busy with the smaller birds we know it is time to check the other feeders because they likely are empty. Once most of the feed has been eaten what is usually left is the cracked corn. Most of the aforementioned birds don’t consider corn as a favorite. However, it is eaten regularly by Cardinals (aka Redbirds) and White-Throated Sparrows (these are here in winter and usually feed near the ground – not so much 30 feet in the air as is the deck here); likewise the Eastern Towhees find corn as a favorite when fed near the ground. So, in the end, mostly what is left is corn when the other seed is gone. I just toss it over the side for the sparrows, towhees and that fat old squirrel way down below. Moral of the story, if you want to feed birds up high, get a Squirrel Buster Feeder and fill it with Cole’s Special Feeder. It has oil sunflower, striped sunflower, shelled sunflower, safflower (for Cardinals), peanuts and pecans. If you get that and a Squirrel Buster, the “up high” birds will eat it all and the fat furry squirrel will have to live off the land and lose a bit of weight. by Richard Edwin Hyatt Richard and his wife Jean own and operate Mountain Nature in downtown Clayton. They can be reached at 706.782-.838. ** Don’t forget to turn off your outside lights at night. Use motion detector lighting, shields, and IDA-approved lighting so you don’t impose your light on those who want to see the stars. I believe God made night dark for a reason. Please help keep it that way. **
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Let Me Introduce You.... to Kathy L. Blalock
“T
he story goes like this, my daddy, Fate Long’s wife died leaving him with 4 children. It was a time when a man couldn’t hardly work, keep the farm going and tend to the house chores too, but he did his best. A man from Dillard came to talk to daddy about some business and said, “Fate, you need a woman around here. I have a sister named Sally, who is living and caring for this doctor n’ his family down there in Gainesville. Want me to ask her if she’d be interested in corresponding with you?’ Daddy told him he reckoned that’d be alright and so word got back that Miss Sally was alright with daddy writing to her. So they started writing back and forth a letter each week. Miss Sally put a Bible verse in her letter and asked Fate to find it in the Bible and send back the book and chapter. Which he did and returned the favor. Each week one challenged the other and this went on for months. One day a letter came for Sally and it said “Dearest Sally, I would like for you to be my bride. I will be at the train station in Gainesville, Georgia this Saturday. I will be wearing a dress hat and my Sunday suit and carrying a red rose. If you’d like to marry me you can meet me there and bring with you a red rose too. Saturday came and my daddy showed up at the train station and the platform was empty. No one was there but he stood there with his rose in hand and he waited. Soon enough a door opened and out stepped Miss Sally. Daddy married her and I was the third child she birthed with my daddy. I didn’t ever know my mama ‘cause she died a few months after I was born, but I’ll meet her in heaven one day.” - Billy Long This story was told again and again by Billy Long, and the tears would flow. His youngest daughter Kathy remembers hearing it for as long as she can remember. She always loved weddings and wonders if this might be the reason why. Kathy Long grew up in the Betty’s Creek community in northern Rabun County. She had a memorable childhood spending much time around family and having many friends. When Kathy was 17 years old, she had been living in Atlanta for the summer and had come home for the weekend. She went out to meet some friends at the Dairy Queen in Clayton and she ran into Jim Blalock and was struck by his beautiful smile. Jim and Kathy started dating. A year passed and Kathy had graduated at RGNS in June. It was September and she was to start at North Georgia Tech in October. One evening Jim had come up to Kathy’s and they were talking about her going to school. Jim told her there was no sense in her having to change her name in the middle of the year so they might as well go ahead and get married before she started. She agreed and Jim suggested they do it in one week. Is that not the most romantic proposal ever? Talk about throwing a wedding together... but anyone who knows Kathy Long is not surprised that she pulled it off! She became Kathy Blalock in September 1972, and the couple became parents three years later when their son Erik was born and three years after that daughter Amber was born. Kathy began playing the piano in high school. In the early 80s she was playing for a large wedding at Clayton Baptist Church and at the last minute a friend of the bride’s mom came in to town, who happened to be an excellent organist. They had no one to direct the wedding and Kathy begged the lady to play and this began her directing days. After that word got out and with the reputation of an incredibly talented woman who could get things done, she was soon asked to direct another and then another. She has traveled to Los Angeles, Palm Springs, Raleigh, St. Simmons and the list goes on and on. When Kathy sits down with a bride she plans to spend 2 – 3 hours listening and working on the couple’s wish list. She encourages her brides to bring photos of things they want from magazines or other sources. Together they work on a projection sheet and take a look at the wedding budget. She hands the bride a list of vendors and once the couple or family has made decisions on who they’ll use Kathy reaches out to each vendor to establish a meeting and the plan comes
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together. Some brides or parents of the bride tell her to “just do own and this year Ashley will marry Will Griffin at the Betty’s it” and she likes that. Others give her the colors, budget and style Creek Barn. This is a wedding that Kathy will be sure is as special they are looking for and leave the details up to her. Then some as the bride is to her. want to be in on every aspect. Kathy can work with all scenarios. In her spare time, which is at a premium, Kathy teaches In the 90s Kathy, together with the Reverend James Turpin Sunday School at Traces of Tiger; she plays the piano and leads opened the Tallulah Falls Wedding Chapel. The location offered the folks there in singing hymns. She enjoys this fellowship very brides an affordable place to have their weddings. The events much. She is active in her church, where she serves as church orcould be all inclusive or customized to the couples needs. As ganist and spends every spare minute with her family. We talked more and more brides chose to have their weddings outdoors use about a bucket list which led Kathy to tell me about a time in of the chapel waned. The team is looking at a resurrection of the her life when her children were small and she did wardrobes chapel this spring, offering indoor or outdoor weddings. in the film industry. She had the joy of working with Universal Studios, Warner Brother and a Canadian Film Company. She was Kathy has seen some incredible things over the years. She told me she comes prepared for anything. One thing she has costumer for Grizzly, Whiskey Mountain, The Four Seasons, and learned thru the years is, don’t dwell on the problem, dwell on Baker County, USA, and recently worked with the 40th anniverthe solution. She says everyone wants something different and no sary celebration of Deliverance. She met many movie stars and matter what event she is planning she studies the wish list, and treated them no different than anyone else. She enjoyed working then creates a reality list, layouts and diagrams and she works into on these films but a time came when she had to put her family the night to get it all ready, if necessary. They do a walk through first and that is a decision she has never regretted. Being a mother to make certain everyone knows their place and even then there and a grandmother is her greatest joy. I believe that no matter can be unexpected surprises but Kathy knows that these things what Kathy does, she does it well. She told me that her daddy become memories. She is professional yet comfortable and so was a farmer but he was the best at farming... seems this may be genuine. She truly wants her clients’ events to be memorable and a family trait. as close to perfect as possible. Kathy and Jim’s family has grown to include a daughter-inby Tracy McCoy law Becky Love Blalock and a son-in-law Adam Brady; the best part is the three amazing grandchildren that her children have To find out more about Kathy L. Blalock Weddings visit her given her and Jim. Adam and Amber have two fine sons Braxton website at www.klbweddings.com or as she says “When he gives age 10 and Brock age 6. Erik and Becky have a sweet little girl Kasi Jai who is 14 months old. Kathy has another daughter except you the ring, give us a ring” at 706.490.1484. this one she didn’t give birth to... she counts Ashley Dixon as her
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Lovin’ the Journey Stan the Man
T
here’s just something about lacing up your kix and putting some miles behind you. But figuring out why runners run is complex. I can’t decide if I run because it’s a hobby, an athletic event or the purist form of exercise for me. Maybe I run because my shoes take me places. Maybe I run because of the people I get to be with. Maybe running is about the places you see. I’ve traversed the sheep-filled pastures of Ireland and sucked in the thin air of the Andes of Ecuador. I’ve inhaled the city fumes in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam and paced from Hopkinton to Boston during a nor’easter. I’ve soaked in the sights and sounds running from Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and finishing in Manhattan’s Central Park. I decided to run from my home south of Tiger to the top of Glassy Mountain’s fire tower and back down. Maybe I run because I feel great while I am and when I’m done. I love getting close to my mentors. One of them is Stan Cottrell. He’s 72. Scientists say he’s a freak of nature. I say he’s a gift from God with lungs gifted by God. In 1981, he ran 55 miles a day for 80 days while German doctor Hugo Greiner drained daily vials of his blood looking for kryptonite…and for a reason why Stan is superhuman. The other day Stan and I carb’d up on breakfast at the Rusty Bike. I talked our wonderful server Kim Austin into standing on a chair to capture just the right angle of an ultra runner and his protégé. Thanks, Kim. Trying to fit just a gold nugget of Stan into this column is a bit of a challenge. His mind is like a Gatling gun, firing sayings at me like, “If better is possible, good is not enough.” Or, “As the mind flows, the body goes.” Stan returned to his roots a few weeks ago and raced a course which was once merely a childhood dare…a dare he couldn’t run from Horse Cave to Munfordville Kentucky. He did then and does still. At 72, be beat the entire field of runners. It’s now an annual charity race, Run for the Children, which puts warm coats on shivering Appalachian kids. Stan once had a dream to distribute Bibles in China. So while visiting with Billy Graham, the famous preacher picks up the phone and dials Ronnie. Billy then hands the phone to shocked and nervous Stan who explains how he’d like to run the entire Great Wall of China. Ronnie….Reagan, President at the time, opened that door and Stan would become a folk hero, warmly embraced by the country. Stan has pounded more than 250,000 miles of pavement and dirt since 1955. 39 countries and counting. Stan has run coast to U.S. coast multiple times. Stan’s East-West run set a speed record which lasted 30 years. He’s crisscrossed Europe, set ultra distance records, too many to describe here and he isn’t slowing down. His astounding body of work will soon include the Great
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Global Friendship Run. Stan’s life passion is being friends with kings and peasants and his Friendship Runs have opened doors diplomats couldn’t. He plans on running through every country on the globe to point hearts to peace and the Prince of Peace. His ultra running has sent him along hills and hollers, into palaces and the White House. But his heart has never wandered from his Hart County roots and he’s never lost his country boy wonder. I should probably tell you he was the first southerner south of the Mason-Dixon Line to run the Boston Marathon. That was in 1964. He hitched a ride from college on a cucumber truck from Bowling Green, Kentucky. He’s living proof running isn’t bad on the body, but good. Did I mention he’s 72? His book, No Mountain Too High will inspire you. I count myself humbly blessed just getting to be around Stan. He speaks into my life. He makes my 56th birthday in March feel like just a warm up. In fact he told me, “Mark, you are just now getting to the starting line. Your race has just begun. All the ingredients are on the kitchen table.” As for Stan, there appears to be no pause button on his brain or heart. He’s always dreaming, always planning, always developing, always chasing tomorrow. I’ll not be surprised if he arrives at tomorrow ahead of schedule. He’s got plans for his own brand of running shoe. Publishers have ideas for him too. But I’m content just to carve out time with this small giant. I’ll always choose to be influenced by an optimist. The alternative is far too dangerous. Sometimes, a man’s greatest contribution to community is realized only after he’s gone. Unfortunately, the depth of legacy can sometimes best be measured, as David Crowder says, “from this side of the dirt”. We are all influenced and formed by people and experience. We are the sum total of what we allow in. We are what we eat physically and wholly. I’m better for allowing a dynamo like Stan Cottrell to impact me.
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As we sat waiting on our food, I was a tad blunt with this icon across the table. “Stan, longevity runs in your DNA. But I’m not willing to miss the opportunity to formally interview you. I don’t think I’d like to live with the weight of that regret.” And so we visited and talked... all over the map. He coached me on hydration, pace, vision, purpose, fuel, motivation and life. So much so, we gave up our table and moved to the chairs by the front door and we talked some more. I left the restaurant challenged to be great with what I’ve got, to be great with whom I am and how I’m made...to be great, not on a big stage, but on no stage. Stan’s been great on some very large stages. But his humble streak runs deep. Running puts me in special places with special people. Soon I’ll tell you about a recent trail run to Elliott’s Rock. This disputed location marks where Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina come together like the Hatfields and McCoys at a family reunion gone badly. I ran there with Coach Steve Patterson, Naval Academy athlete Will McDonough, and appellate court judge marathon buddy Brian Rickman. My wife Carol hiked in with Will’s sister Megan and joined us at this famous landmark along a beautifully remote section of the Chattooga River. I’m telling ya running takes you to great places with great people. See you on the trail. By Mark Holloway Mark is the owner of Fresh Start, a property maintenance company. He and wife Carol live a very active life, enjoying the outdoors, hiking, cycling, mountain climbing and exploring the Southeast.
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Good Work!
Sharing & Caring Has Long History of Serving
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abun County has a long history of self-sufficiency and of homefolks taking care of homefolks. One of those organizations that has been on the front line offering clothing and food, as well as household items, is Sharing & Caring Rabun County. From their modest tan frame building nestled behind the Rabun County Courthouse and the Rabun County Historical Society, Sharing & Caring has been helping residents whose needs outpace their resources for more than 30 years. It was 1984, and a group of concerned individuals from the local Catholic congregation saw those needs. A segment of the local population was going without adequate clothing, without enough food to properly feed their families and something needed to be done. Under that initial impetus, a group representing several area churches met at the Clayton United Methodist Church.
More than 100 families monthly depend on the Sharing & Caring Food Pantry. Food is always needed to replenish the pantry inventory.
Sharing & Caring, both as a concept and a reality was born.
until she got to feeling better. Now she feels better because she continues to show up each week.
Originally, the agency was housed in a building very near where Shadyside Drive comes into Savannah Street south of the courthouse. From that location, they began to work to resolve those problems that compromised quality of life for local citizens.
Some 110 families are served monthly, and qualification for help is processed by Ninth District Opportunity, Inc. in Clayton, which can be reached by phone at 706.782.3704. Appointments are necessary. However, if someone loses their home and possessions to a fire or storm, all they have to do is show documentation and the Sharing & Caring inventory is available to them.
The emphasis hasn’t shifted. “We don’t want anyone to go hungry,” affirms Linda Giles, president of the Sharing & Caring board of directors. She’s been involved with the agency for the past 16 years, and notes that many of their board members and volunteers have many years of service accrued. Sharing & Caring is totally volunteer run. Everyone donates time and services, and no salaries are paid. Seven board members are elected for two-year terms and enthusiasm for the jobs they all do is high and contagious. These people get their “payday” during the organization’s volunteer recognition banquet each year, when they all get to feel good about the difference they make. Jan Sheldon, who lost her husband in the past few years, explained it this way. “I’d much rather be here, doing something good, than spending money on doctors to help me get over my grief.” She said she initially planned to volunteer
That inventory includes a wide selection of women’s clothing, and to a lesser degree items for men and children. There are lamps, dishes and cookware and a variety of merchandise that families and individuals need. Food is distributed each Friday, and the quantity of food a person can receive is based on the number of people in the household. Food continues to be Sharing & Caring’s biggest need, although donations of clothing and household goods and money are also gratefully accepted. The agency receives no tax money support. Their entire operating budget is underwritten by donations and the sale of merchandise from the store. Sharing & Caring is located at 127 Hiawassee Street in Clayton, and is open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9:00 AM ‘til 12 noon. The phone number for more information is 706.782.6340. By John Shivers
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- Hiawassee -
Towns County, Georgia
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Don’t You Just Hate it When a Hog Gets in the house?
N
orth Dakota is a mighty flat spot compared to North Georgia, but it’s an interesting place, never-the-less. For example, did you know the geographical center of North America is in North Dakota? Well it is, and they have a tall stone obelisk marking the spot near the town of Rugby. I remember it so well because that was the first time I ever heard the word obelisk used in public. Also, North Dakota is the only state that’s never had an earthquake, and they have a law on the books that makes it illegal to fall asleep with your shoes on. Believe me; I learned that the hard way. But I’ll always remember North Dakota as the place where I first met Frank the pig. It happened while I was interviewing a corn farmer for the old Ah Shucks corn magazine. They say that the most common prayer in North Dakota is for summer to fall on a weekend. I’m not sure when it fell that year, but it didn’t happen while I was there because it was mighty cold, so we went to the kitchen for coffee. There we sat —the farmer telling me about his corn crop, and me taking notes when I glanced into his living room and spotted Frank. Having been an FFA Star Greenhand, (I cite that only to establish my credentials) I know a pig when I see one. Even if the swine I saw was stretched on a couch, covered with an afghan; its head on a pillow. Yes sir, this was a pig in a blanket alright Now I was raised to mostly mind my own business, but I couldn’t keep chatting about corn when there was a sow on the sofa. (Frank was actually a boy pig, but I really wanted to use that “sow on the sofa” line.) Still, I hesitated, because you wonder; does the farmer know about this? Will he be mad? Could this be a prank or per-
haps the result of a nasty divorce? Finally, I said, politely, “Sir, are you aware there’s a hog in your home?” “Oh sure,” he said. “That’s Frank! Would you like to meet him?” (At first I wasn’t sure if he said “meet him” or “eat him,” but I figured, okay was the right answer either way.) So we went into the living room, which smelled just fine by the way. (I know you were wondering) The farmer bent over the sleeping hog and whispered, “Frankeeeee…we’ve got companyyyy. Wake up and meet our new friend Frankeeee…” Frank got up off the couch and offered me a hoof in friendship while the farmer filled me in. It seems that a few years back, they’d bought a miniature Vietnamese Pot Bellied pig as a pet. By the time they discovered Frank’s DNA wasn’t programmed for petite, the kids were attached and Frank had literally grown on them. The farmer explained how smart Frank was, but I must have looked doubtful, so he said, “Frank, run out and fetch the paper.” Frank said no; I mean, he actually shook his head and grunted what sounded like, “NO WAY BIG BOY, IT’S WAYYYY TO COLD OUTSIDE! SUMMER HAPPENED THREE WEEKENDS AGO!!” The farmer said somberly. (They often speak somberly up there because of the cold) “Get the paper, Frank. If you don’t, you’re grounded.” (Pigs hate the word grounded.) I can’t repeat what Frank said next, but he was walking toward the door as he said it. Then Frank — squealing like a pig — ran down the driveway, grabbed the newspaper in this mouth and, shrieking shrilly, raced back to the house. But here’s the kicker; do you remember Mr. Charles Kuralt who used to travel the county interviewing remarkable people? Well, early one Sunday morning, a year or two later, I heard the voice on TV saying, “Stay tuned as Charles Kuralt interviews Frank, North Dakota’s only piano playing pig!” All of a sudden, there was my ole buddy Frank, hamming it up on the piano! I know pigs are clever, ranking just behind dolphins and slightly ahead of Congress, but I found that to be amazing. Because not once during my interview did Frank ever mention he could play the piano. Not all pigs are that unpretentious, you know. By Emory Jones Emory Jones is a gifted writer, husband, author of The Valley Where They Danced, Distant Voices, The Story of the Nacoochee Valley Indian Mound and several other books and looks a little like Santa Claus. His humor is extraordinary and we are pleased to share it with you, Emory’s books are available on Amazon and at www.yonahtreasures.com.
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Uptown Franklin
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Downtown Clayton
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A Great Place to Shop, to Dine, to Relax and Enjoy the Downtown Clayton Experience
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Live Healthy and Be Well!
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“You Take my Breath Away”
realize this is the February issue, and should be something about the heart, but I have had some questions lately about “COPD.” Chances are you may suffer from this condition yourself, or know someone or have a family member who uses inhalers and medicines for this, or possibly may even be on home oxygen. COPD is something that must be taken seriously, as there are few things that can make you more anxious than not being able to take an easy breath. There are two types of COPD that we will address, and their treatment and management for best outcomes. However, there is one important thing to know about both of them – they are largely preventable, and that is always the key to living healthy and being well.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
COPD stands for “Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease” and exists in two major forms - chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Both forms are caused by insults to the lungs, such as environmental toxins, industrial fumes, vapors, particles or most commonly, cigarette smoking. Some people may have a mix of the two conditions, but usually one of them dominates. The lungs react to these insults with inflammation which then limits both the inflow and outflow of air. The main and most notable symptom of people with COPD is called dyspnea, or shortness of breath. In the early stages, this occurs with exercise or exertion. As the condition progresses, it may be present all the time. Long term inflammation of the large airways results in chronic bronchitis. It usually causes a chronic cough with sputum production, as the lungs try to clear the noxious stimulus causing the inflammation. More mucus is produced
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to try and help clear the airways and protect them from harm. Over time, the bronchial airways become thickened from the constant insult and their lumens (inside openings) are narrowed resulting in the obstruction to airflow. People with chronic bronchitis have been referred to as “blue bloaters” because their lips and skin often have a bluish tinge (from hypoxia or lack of oxygen) and they also tend to also have a problem with fluid retention. Emphysema results from inflammation and damage to the small air sacs (alveoli) which are at the end of the bronchial pathways. The air sacs become enlarged, but the absorptive surface in their walls is destroyed, resulting in a less efficient absorption of oxygen. So, the lungs increase in size to try and compensate, but without the lining of the air sacs to do the work of gas exchange, there is actually now less surface area to do this necessary work. The lungs, although larger,
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become less elastic and functional and this also limits the ability to get air in and out. The airways in the lung are now more prone to collapse, from lack of support, which even further decreases the inflow and outflow capability. People who have had emphysema for many years are usually thinner in stature from the increased work they do to breathe, may have a “barrel chest” from the increase in size of the lungs and are sometimes referred to as “pink puffers” because of their tendency to exhale through pursed lips. This breathing technique increases the “back pressure” in the airways and prevents them from total collapse. Both types of COPD are very serious. It is the third leading cause of death in the U.S., and the economic cost has been estimated at almost $43 billion dollars a year in health care costs and lost productivity in the workplace. COPD is an uncommon diagnosis under the age of 40, but if you started smoking heavily at a young age, it must be considered if you experience the symptoms of dyspnea, chronic cough or sputum production, and/or a history of exposure to risk factors for the disease such as regular tobacco smoking, or industrial exposures. No single symptom or sign can adequately confirm or exclude the diagnosis of COPD and it requires specialized pulmonary function tests from a professional source to confirm and properly diagnose. If you have been diagnosed with COPD and you smoke, please stop to prevent rapid further progression. You will need to take better care of yourself, as something as simple as a cold or minor bronchitis can become very serious and have much
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more impact on a person with COPD. You should make sure and get your pneumonia shots, any vaccinations you need on schedule and use inhalers and medicines your doctor prescribes. At some point, you may need oxygen at home part or all of the time, but this will keep you in better condition and improve your overall quality of life and allow you to function better and do more. As with almost all diseases, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. If you smoke, stop, and if you don’t – don’t start! We really do enjoy hearing from you with any questions, concerns, or ideas for future columns and/or health and wellness related issues for the Georgia Mountain Laurel. Please send an email to rabundoctor@gmail.com or call us at 706.782.3572 and we will be sure to consider your input. This and previous articles can be now be found on the web at www.rabundoctor.com in an archived format. If you use Twitter, then follow us for health tips and wellness advice @ rabundoctor. Until next time, live healthy and be well!
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Healthy and Well
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How Nutrient Deficiencies are Killing your Health Potential
K
ey nutrients are cornerstones of good health, yet deficiency among Americans is skyrocketing. Are you unknowingly suffering from a nutrient shortage?
gans into chemical work inside the cell,” Hoffman explains. There are more than 27,000 published studies on omega-3s showing the benefit of omega3s, from brain and heart health to boosting mood and skin health. Omega3s are particularly notable for cardiovascular health. The American Heart Association recommends at least 1 gram of omega-3 EPA and DHA a day for those with established coronary artery disease.
Dr. Ronald Hoffman, medical director of the Hoffman Center in New York City and host of the radio program “Intelligent Medicine” points to three major vitamin deficiencies affecting people today. He offers his expert insight on each and what you can do to fix the problem. Omega-3s “Many North Americans are omega-3 deficient because we eat highly processed foods that lack essential fatty acids and not enough oily fish,” says Hoffman. “The problem is particularly acute for vegetarians, those who prefer not to eat fish or are allergic and young people who are picky eaters.” In the U.S. up to 91 percent of Americans are omega-3 deficient and a Harvard study ranked omega-3 deficiency as the eighth leading cause of preventable death. Omega-3s are considered “essential” because the body cannot make them and must ingest them from external sources. Omega-3s benefit the body in countless ways, including the optimal functioning of cell membranes. “The cell membrane is responsible for translating messages from adjacent cells and or-
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“Fish like salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines provide the most omega-3s,” says Hoffman. “I also recommend supplements in soft gels or liquid form, or gummies and emulsions for kids.” He notes when selecting a supplement, freshness and dosage is crucial. “Processing, packaging, quality control, proper inventory management and distribution make a difference. I recommend Nordic Naturals because they are vertically integrated from boat to bottle, ensuring the absolute freshest and purest omega-3 products in a wide variety of delivery systems,” Hoffman says. “I recommend that the average person take a dosage of 1 to 2 grams daily.”
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Vitamin D Because people can produce natural vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) with sunlight, many assume they get enough. In reality, vitamin D deficiency is widespread. Up to 36 percent of Americans are vitamin D deficient and up to 91 percent of pregnant women in the U.S. aren’t getting enough of the sunshine vitamin. “Vitamin D is actually more than a vitamin,” Hoffman explains. “It’s a ‘pro-hormone’ and modifies the expression of many genes. This means it plays a powerful role, not just in building bone, but in the body’s immunity, muscle strength and even mood and cognition.” Many factors affect a person’s ability to make enough vitamin D, including age and location. During sunny seasons, 10 to 45 minutes of direct sun exposure daily can help maintain adequate vitamin D, but for many people this is not possible all year long and supplementation is necessary. “Current recommendations for vitamin D are 600 IU for ages 1-70; for pregnant or breast-feeding women and individuals over 70 it’s 800 IU. But this dosage could short-change many individuals with special needs or who have inadequate sun exposure,” says Hoffman. “The best bet is to measure vitamin D in the blood and supplement until an optimal blood level of 40-60 nanograms per milliliter is achieved.” Magnesium Most people have heard of magnesium but are unsure how it impacts their health. An estimated 50 to 80 percent of Americans are deficient in magnesium, mostly due to a diet of refined foods. “Magnesium is an essential mineral that is a co-factor for literally hundreds of biochemical pathways in the body,” Hoffman explains. “It is particularly crucial for energy production in the mitochondria, tiny powerhouses within the cells. Therefore, inadequate magnesium can be responsible for physical fatigue and mental depression.” He also notes magnesium, along with calcium and vitamin D, is essential for bone health. You can correct a deficiency by eating a diet rich in plant-based, unprocessed foods like nuts, leafy greens, avocados and dried fruit. However, many people require supplements to reach optimal magnesium levels. “Check labels for the amount of elemental magnesium in each supplement and shoot for 200-500 mg daily. Be sure to meet with your doctor prior to taking any supplement,” says Hoffman. Article Courtesy (BPT)
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All the rage: What’s Trending in Hardwood Flooring
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fter months of online browsing, you’ve found the perfect, wide plank hardwood flooring. Or so you think! You absolutely love the look, but how can you be sure it’s the right product for you? Ask the pros. In order to make an informed, purchasing decision, Linda Jovanovich of the American Hardwood Information Center, (www.hardwoodinfo.com) suggests you do your research. “All hardwood flooring is not the same,” she says. “Consulting with the experts will help determine if your product of choice will perform well in your unique home or office environment, and in your part of the country. And a little extra due diligence will eliminate guess-work, and the pain of an improper product choice.” Getting started The pros at Tennessee-based Mullican Flooring (www.mullicanflooring.com), offer this need-toknow information regarding the differences between solid and engineered hardwood flooring and the appropriate applications for each.
All the rage and so inviting! 8-inch satin finished walnut flooring by Shannon and Waterman.
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Solid hardwood flooring is just that, solid wood milled to a threequarter inch thickness that can be installed only on a subfloor of wood, plywood or oriented strand board. Because of its thickness, it can be sanded and refinished over several generations of use. As a natural product, it will expand and contract with the humidity changes in your home or office. To compensate for this movement, installers should leave an expansion gap between the wood flooring and the wall, and install baseboard molding or quarter round to hide the extra space. Remember, solid hardwood flooring cannot be glued onto concrete, does not perform well in high-moisture areas and can require up to 14 days of acclimation time.
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Engineered hardwood flooring is not one solid piece of wood, but rather a cross-layer construction of five to nine layers of hardwood, bonded together using heat and pressure. As a result of this process, engineered flooring is less likely to be affected by changes in humidity, reducing expansion and contraction. In most cases, it can be sanded and refinished, however special care must be taken with the thinner profiles. And it can be glued onto concrete, making it an appropriate choice for all levels - upstairs, ground level and basements - and a great choice for what’s all the rage these days, wide plank flooring! Another great resource The flooring professionals at the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA), www.nwfa.org, concur. Requests for wider boards, random widths and rustic species full of character and color continue to dominate the hardwood flooring marketplace. “It’s a significant trend that will likely continue for quite some time,” says Brett Miller, NWFA vice president of Education and Certification. “And it is a trend that can present certain challenges, especially if the installation is subpar and the end-user is uninformed.” So, act wisely and be in-the-know. Engaging the services of professional certified flooring installers will ensure your gorgeous flooring will stay that way. These knowledgeable craftsmen understand the importance of acclimation and the control of temperature and relative humidity. They in turn will pass that information on to you, the end-user. An educated customer is a happy one. More on what’s trending Other trends being followed by NWFA member companies, especially custom, wide plank flooring manufacturer Shannon & Waterman (www.shannonwaterman.com), include a continuation of gray stains and finishes, texturing of wood versus smooth finishes, utilizing random widths in a single installation, a preference for rustic species, selecting boards based on significant character inclusions like knot holes and saw blade marks and a return to oil finishes.
Services
It’s spicy. It’s classy. And it’s all the rage! Visit www. HardwoodInfo.com to see more on flooring, cabinetry and other products made from American Hardwoods. Locally, we recommend you to visit Rabun Flooring. Mike and Sandy Hyer are great about helping customers select the perfect flooring to meet their needs. They have an outstanding selection and professional installers who can get the job done for you. Rabun Flooring is located at 57 West Savannah Street in Clayton, Georgia. Give them a call today with any questions you might have, 706.782.4706.
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for your Home & Property
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Foxfire
Aunt Arie, “He married me, and he died with me”
“M
e and Ulyss’ use t’ go t’gether even before him and his first wife was married. We’d go t’ church t’gether and come back, and I would get dinner and then we sat for th’ rest of th’ day. We would stay in th’ house, and if we didn’t stay in th’ house we stayed on th’ porch. We had a’ ol’ pump organ, but I couldn’t play it and neither could Ulyss’, so we just sat
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and talked. Then he got in with Ada and married her, and they went off t’ th’ state a’ Washington. Mommy had died then, and so I had several other boyfriends. I had s’ many boyfriends I couldn’t tell you who they all were! I went with one man—I guess he’s still livin’—and his mother lived right down th’ road, and she said he had a apron full a’ money and she wanted me t’ marry him. I said I wadn’t goin’ t’ marry anybody for their money. If you children marry, be sure you marry someone you love and somebody that’ll be good to you. If y’ marry someone for their money, ever’ bit of it has wings and will fly away. You girls remember that. His mother wanted me t’marry him, but I said, “No sir.” I went with many a boy though. “After Ada died, Ulyss’ come back here and th’ first thing he done, a’ course, was t’ come up there where I was at. I was still single, and th’ next thing y’ know we was married. It just happened. I had cared for him for such a long time, though. “We went t’ Georgia t’ be married. Got married there at Dillard. I was wearin’ blue serge. I always heard if y’ marry in brown, you’ll live in a frown; if y’ marry in gray, you’ll go far away; if y’ marry in yellow, you’re ashamed of your fellow; if y’ marry in green, you’re ashamed t’ be seen; if y’ marry in white, you’ve chosen all right; if y’ marry in blue, you’ll always be true. People believe in all that. Why, you couldn’t hire some people t’ marry in yellow t’ save your life. I reckon I believed all that, too, ‘cause I was married in blue. After we married, we went back t’ my home on our weddin’ night and then moved here t’ Ulyss’s home, and we stayed here since th’ first day that we came up here. Then Ulyss’ died and left me by myself. He married me, and he died with me. Just as happy as he could be. He was. Just as happy as he could be.“ Adapted by Foxfire student Jessica Phillips from Aunt Arie: A Foxfire Portrait, pgs. 53-76
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WHEELS - A Warwoman Strip-down
…The story of a much-loved Ford Model A Truck
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hey gathered in Arthur Speed’s workshop to remember a multiyear A-Model strip-down, as it was known in the southern Appalachians. Arthur Speed, Ken Ramey and Danny Bleckley all have ties to this vehicle and had stories to tell. The strip-down, as Arthur Speed explained, is a homemade utility vehicle. Rudimentary in design, it was often the only transportation a mountain family had and they considered themselves fortunate to have it. It was a multi-purpose vehicle, modified to haul pulpwood, dogwood and cross ties off the mountain, to make the occasional trip to town for supplies, to carry the family to church on Sundays and even to the occasional picnic. Arthur Speed’s father owned this vehicle many years ago. From him, it passed to the James Turpin, who then sold it to John Bleckley. This is when Danny Bleckley entered the picture. Danny bought it from his Uncle John when Danny was in the 5th grade. He paid $50 for it and paid it off in $10 installments. He and his brother Bobby Staton, and many of their friends drove the strip-down all over the mountainous Warwoman Community of Rabun County. The number that learned to drive using this vehicle is uncertain, but likely most of the boys in this community in that era had their time behind the wheel. There were stories of driving it, low on gas, and having to back it up a hill to ensure the fuel that remained was available to the engine to get back the strip-down back down the hill and stories of inconsistent brakes and the use of gears to bring it to a stop. Another story was of Bobby, behind the wheel when it backfired, set the woods on fire. It was a well-used and well-loved vehicle, and harkens back to a less complicated time. As the boys of Warwoman grew up, married and began raising families, the old strip-down was left abandoned for over 30 years in the woods near Danny Bleckley’s home. Ken Ramey and Arthur had partnered to restore three remarkable vintage vehicles and after many visits by Danny to the shop where these restorations were taking place and his continued insistence that they restore the old strip-
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down, it was reclaimed from its quiet rest in the woods and towed by Arthur and Ken to Arthur’s shop. The old strip-down had made its return home, and a vintage restoration began. Arthur and Ken’s strip-down is made up of parts from 1929, 1930, 1931 and 1932 Ford Model As, hence its multi-year lineage. Arthur and Ken rebuilt this vehicle from the ground up, including a complete rebuild of its 4-cylinder, flat-head, 24-horsepower engine. Arthur Speed, Ken Ramey and Danny Bleckley, all friends for life, still live in the Warwoman Community and still sit and share their great memories of the old strip-down and the sweetness of a simpler time. By Larry and Gail Allgood
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Exploring Northeast Georgia
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Fort Hollingsworth White House
o describe Fort Hollingsworth White House as anything but a Georgia state treasure and national treasure would be wrong. This building has stood the test of time since 1793 and Willette White Mote who was my guide for part of an afternoon certainly agrees that this property should be cared for and protected for many generations to come. Not only was Willette my guide but she is also one of many generations of the White family who still own and lived most of their lives on this beautiful North Banks County property. Wilette’s great grandfather Joshua White was the first member of her family to purchase the property and create additions in the 1860’s. One of my first questions was to ask her why the property was named Fort Hollingsworth White House. She explained that Joshua White had added a dog trot or covered walkway to the property and rooms off to the side of the original fort. While walking through the dog trot I was fascinated to see the original logs with axe marks still visible and the white chinking between the logs was the original white clay used from the creek across the road.
tribes were no longer a concern and the string of frontier forts were no longer necessary. The forts soon became log farmhouses. The “Four Mile Purchase” of 1804 was created when the Cherokees ceded a strip of land four miles wide (from the Habersham – Banks County line on Baldwin Mountain, to Line Baptist Church on old Hwy. 441) and 23 miles long extending from Currahee Mountain to the head waters of the South Oconee River. A line of felled trees twenty-feet wide marked the line, which became a “no man’s land”. The United States agreed to pay the Cherokees $5,000 and $1,000 per annum for the property rights.
Fort Hollingsworth original fireplace.
Fort Hollingsworth White House With Dog Trot to the left and original fort to the right. Jacob Hollingsworth was the original builder of the fort in 1793. He was a pioneer from North Carolina, who was granted land in North Georgia after the Revolutionary War. Unfortunately after they settled into the fort they found out they were across the line, agreed upon in a treaty with the Cherokees. The Cherokee people in the area did not appreciate this disregard to the terms of the treaty and Hollingsworth and other families found themselves in a position of having to defend themselves. The original fort had no windows downstairs except for a small one next to the chimney built from local field stone. Families in the area would seek protection in the fort during troubling times. By about 1796, conflicts with local Indian
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In the time period between Hollingsworth and the White family John Lane was an early owner of the fort. He was killed in the Civil War not long after purchasing the property. The property was divided between John Lane’s sisters and so the story comes round to Joshua White, whose wife was a sister of John Lane. Although John Lane was killed and buried in Tennessee there is a memorial to him on the grounds of the property. Fort Hollingsworth White House is located off of Highway 441 between Baldwin and Homer. The address is 2307 Wynn Lake Road, Alto, Georgia 30510. For more information you can visit the website at www.forthollingsworth-whitehouse. com. Although the property is not open on specific days you can email to fort@forthollingsworth-whitehouse.com or call either 706.244.1239 or 706.499.8579 for more information or to arrange a tour. Fort Hollingsworth-White House looks very much today as it did in the 1860’s. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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By Kitty Stratton
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“Snowy Creek ” - Terry Barnes Photography (tbarnesphotography.photoshelter.com)