Georgia Mountain Laurel February 18 by The Laurel of Northeast Georgia

From the Publisher

iving in the mountains of Northeast Georgia or Western North Carolina is a privilege. There is just a peacefulness here that you don’t find everywhere. There are communities of people who understand hard work, helping out, and being a great neighbor. Our towns are small, sidewalks lined with extraordinary shops, galleries stocked with local art, and restaurants that pride themselves on serving fresh and local food. Life is grand in these hills. This issue pays homage to our part of the world. If you have ever dreamed of living here, either part time or full-time, we invite you to discover all that makes it so special. The land and homes are plentiful and our excellent local Real Estate professionals are ready to help you find your perfect place. We have provided a directory of local services from building to plumbers to an accountant. This is an issue to keep handy for when you need them or are ready to proceed with that big or small project you’ve been thinking about. Winter has been a cold one for sure thus far. I, for one, am looking for a reprieve and some sunshine. I know there is more snow and cold likely, but let’s be sure to get out and about and enjoy the nicer days. Don’t forget your Valentine! Last month we printed a shopping directory to find that perfect gift… if you need ideas we’re here for you. We hope you have a wonderful February and hope you’ll take a look at the mountains!

Publisher/Editor - Tracy McCoy Assistant Editor - Luke McCoy Art Director - Dianne VanderHorst Graphic Designer - Nikki Dunbar Office Manager/ Account Executive - Cindi Freeman Account Executive - Melissa Williams-Thomas Account Executive - Melynda Hensley Photographer/Writer - Peter McIntosh

February 2018 • Volume Fifteen • Issue Two • Copyright 2018 Georgia Mountain Laurel Mailing: PO Box 2218, Clayton, Georgia 30525 Office: 2511 Highway 441, Mountain City, Georgia 30562 706-782-1600 • www.gmlaurel.com Contributing Writers: Jean Hyatt, Mark Holloway Steve Jarrard, MD, Lisa Harris, Emory Jones, Lorie Thompson, Susan Brewer, Pastor Cliff Lewis Kendall Rumsey Copyright 2018 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.

Happy Valentines’ Day,

Tracy McCoy

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THE LAKE TEAM mobile: 706-715-5550 office: 706-212-0228 laketeam@icloud.com burton-rabun.com

THE LAKE TEAM Lake Specialists for Lake Rabun, Lake Burton & Seed Lake

Michael McGaughey

Sarah Gillespie

Craig Kettles

Brad Fisher

Our magnificent lakes, located in the mountains of Northeast Georgia, have provided an escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life for generations. Over the past ten years, we have been involved in over $250,000,000 in sales on Lake Burton, Lake Rabun, and Seed Lake. Our ardent intent is to help both buyers and sellers navigate the complexities associated with the purchase and sale of these unique properties. Our team strives to go above and beyond in delighting clients with our services. We invite you to view our website burtonrabun.com to explore the ultimate in lake living!

In This Issue Come to the Mountains 10 14 16 18 22

Look At Us Now! Luxury on Lake Burton On th Home Front Service Directory This Tract Has It All

Outdoors 24 26 27

Adventure Out Mountain Nature Celebrate Clayton

Arts & Entertainment 28 32

Cover Artist - Robert Stephens North Georgia Arts Guild

A Taste 36 38

Bon Appetit The Family Table

Faith in Christ 44 48 49

Bless Your Heart River Garden R4G - Rabun for the Gospel

Just Thinking... 52 54 56

Notes from a Southern Kitchen Lovinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; the Journey By the Way

Health & Wellness 60

February 2018

Live Healthy & Be Well

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Northeast Georgia & Western North Carolina Look at Us Now! by Tracy McCoy

Photography byPeter McIntosh (www.mcintoshmountains.com)

oving to the mountains may sound like only a dream to you, but it has become reality for many Atlantians and families from Florida. More and more concrete and asphalt may mean for some a stronger desire for dirt-roads and mountaintops. If a slower pace, fresher air, friendlier faces, quaint city streets lined with eclectic shops and restaurants serving the freshest locally grown foods possible sounds good to you, then welcome to the mountains! Our part of the world stretches from Long Creek, South Carolina west to Blairsville, Georgia, north to Franklin, North Carolina and south to Baldwin, Georgia. As I write, I am sitting right near the center of this special place in Clayton, Georgia. I’d like to share the mountains with you...

The Mountains I am a mix of native and northerner. Born in Michigan and raised coming to Rabun County, Georgia as often as we could, I realized the uniqueness of this place. So when I talk with people who have chosen to make the mountains their home and they can’t find words to describe the “magic” that led them here or keeps drawing them back, I get it. For those who were fortunate enough to be born and raised in Northeast Georgia or Western North Carolina, you are the envy of many. My grandparents lived in a modest home where they raised twelve of the thirteen children born to them. They lived off the land with my Grandpa finding work where he could. He did what it took to feed his children and provide the bare necessities. My Granny made their blankets and clothes were handed down from one child to the next youngest. All were washed in the creek on a washboard. Play only took place when the chores were done if daylight 10

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held out to afford it. There were no school buses, few formally educated teachers and schools were community based. My dad walked 10 or 12 miles to school and back each day. This was life in the early 40s.

Through the Years The 50s and 60s brought about many changes in the mountains. My dad headed north due to lack of viable work opportunities. Many men made the choice to do the same or head south to Atlanta for work in the automobile industry. Downtowns were made up of family owned stores, a local diner, movie theater, post office, hotel, car dealership and a tavern or two on the outskirts. Many communities had a general store with staples, basic hardware items, local produce, tonics and salves and such. Most community school kids now rode buses into the towns for schooling, but the bigger cities still held promise for young graduates and our area was still a hidden treasure. The 70s, 80s and 90s brought with it the evolution of the mountains. A side by side comparison of the days of my father’s youth and that of my child’s would leave one speechless yet the simple living and warm hospitality remains a constant. Visitors and those who return to the mountains during the warmer months would agree that the people and their lifestyle are the prominent draw. And what is the lifestyle here? Those homes from the 30s still stand near the more modern architectural masterpieces along the shores of our lakes. Produce markets and honey shacks line winding mountain roads and some of those general stores are still operated by members of the same families. Storefronts have changed somewhat, updated and offering one of a kind items not found elsewhere but are well stocked with Patagonia and Columbia, Broyhill and Bassett.

On our Tables Restaurant offerings range from a “meat and three” with southern delicacies like fried chicken, turnip greens and peach cobbler to more gourmet options like pan-seared trout with garlic and basil, herbroasted fingerling potatoes and balsamic brown butter roasted asparagus. Outdoor dining with mountain views, sports-bar settings and well known family-style restaurants as well as Italian, Mexican and Chinese cuisine give plenty of options to locals and travelers . gmlaurel.com

February 2018

ridges and valleys that are so plentiful here. Adventurers will find mountain climbing, zip-lining, whitewater rafting, fishing, and miles of trails more than enough to keep them busy. Monthly in our magazine Atlanta native and professional photographer Peter McIntosh leads the way to waterfall excursions offering excellent photos of the paths to find these hidden gems. He also will tell you how rough the trail might be and what you might encounter on the way.

On the Green

In our Glasses If you are a connoisseur of fine wine, craft beer or locally distilled whiskey and bourbons you can find wineries, breweries and distilleries all across the area. Out of mountain vineyards come award-winning Georgia wines. Our beers are crafted in small batches and flavored with everything from peaches to coffee and pine resin to lemons. The popularity is astounding and these locally crafted ales are on tap in many popular watering holes and restaurants. The area is known for whiskey, it has been made in these hills for hundreds of years. The whiskey of today is not corn liquor or apple brandy that was hauled at night in the trunk of a car, drunk straight our of the jug or Mason jar. Today’s mountain whiskeys and bourbons are a bit smoother and served in thick glass tumblers. They are made with quality ingredients like muscadine, apple, vanilla and corn, wheat and barley and aged in oak barrels.

If golf is your passion the mountains are definitely calling your name! From private clubs to county courses the greens are lush and the fairways offer incredible views. A weekend away with your favorite golfing buddies is just what you need. Each county offers at least two courses, some even more. Most offer golfers lodging and dining opportunities and that refreshing stop after the last hole. Every club has a golf pro who can offer lessons and insight into the challenges of the course. Golf is plenty here, pack the clubs and come on!

What we Make

Outdoor Adventures

If you are are an art lover you will never run out of local and regional artists, galleries, villages and festivals. You’ll find woodworkers, artists and potters with work on display as far away as New York City or in the finer galleries in Atlanta who have found respite here. Folk art is very popular in Appalachian culture and there is a wide variety on display across the region. Local art guilds such as the North Georgia Arts Guild, the Blue Ridge Arts Association and the Macon County Arts Association organize art events and offer online and brick & mortar galleries housing a plethora of “should be famous” works.

The main-stay is and has always been the roaring rivers, cool mountain streams, hiking trails, lakes and waterfalls, scenic

Preserving our Past History buffs will be in heaven up here. Did you know there are 93 places listed on the National Register of Historic places in the counties we cover alone. That is amazing! Boring Saturdays in the mountains? Never! Habersham County has a whopping 35 to offer history enthusiast! Foxfire in Mountain City, Georgia offers visitors a look into Southern Appalachian living. This non-profit organization has a rich history of preserving the past for future generations. They often have live demonstrations of everything from weaving to blacksmithing and their museum and heritage center is a must-see.

Y ’all Come… If you are looking for a weekend away whether that means 5 or 500 miles, you will find all that you are looking for here. Award-winning Bed & Breakfasts can be found in each of the 12

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seven mountain counties in our area. Cabin and vacation rentals are also abundant. The new trendier Airbnb where you can rent homes or rooms has locations in Northeast Georgia and Western North Carolina too. Hotels, motels and inns range from family owned to franchises. Camping parks range from State Park scenarios to luxury and homespun camp communities offering many amenities. Consider this an open invitation to visit the mountains and explore!

...and Stay! If relocating or retiring to our area is something you’d like to know more about, our local Real Estate companies offer the most insight for you. There is a home for every budget and whether you want to be “in town” or “out in the boonies” you can easily find either. Maybe you always hoped to build that mountain log cabin and you are in search of the perfect land, they can find it. A lake home, mountain top cottage, farm in the valley, no matter what you imagine it is waiting for you. The benefit of using a local Reator® is that they know the communities and most likely the families who live there. They can tell you the best spot on the lot to build that home or which lake suits you best. I am sure it is going to sound as if I am bragging, and I am… we have some of the most trustworthy agents and brokers anywhere. The companies represented are solid, reputable firms. A great place to start looking for your dream home or property is right here in your hands! If you don’t find what you are searching for here, visit the websites for each company or better than that give one of them a call. You’ll love calling the mountains home!

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February 2018

Harry Norman, REALTORS® Luxury Lake and Mountain

Luxury

on Lake Burton

lending perfectly into its natural surroundings, this 5 bedroom, 4.5 bath Lake Burton lodge rests on a desirable 1.42 acre level lot with lake, mountain and sunrise views. The refined rustic interior mixes reclaimed heart pine with painted tongue & groove to create a warm and relaxed atmosphere. Arched doorways and repurposed antiques add to the nostalgic ambiance. Upon entering the 3,761 square foot home’s heart pine foyer through double doors, visitors are greeted by a cozy family room with a vaulted heart pine ceiling, 2-story stone fireplace and wall of glass doors leading to a lakeside screened porch with fireplace. The open floor plan provides for easy entertaining with the family room, dining area and screened porch all within view of the chef’s kitchen. With stainless steel Jenn-Air appliances including a 48” range, the well-equipped kitchen offers a Kohler farmhouse sink, walk-in pantry, and wrap-around granite counters providing plenty of space for prep work. A free-standing wet bar with prep sink, ice-maker, and under counter fridge doubles as a serving buffet for the lakeside dining table that opens to a flagstone patio and grilling area. A half bath, coat

closet and laundry room are located down a hallway off the kitchen, as well as entry from the carport. The private main floor ownerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s suite features a private lakeside screened porch and a charming bathroom with built-in linen closet, double vanities, water closet, claw foot tub, separate tiled shower, and walk-in closet. Two guest bedrooms are provided on the opposite wing of the main floor. One offers a lake view and private bath, the other, fully clad in reclaimed heart pine, includes a private bath and access to a private lakeside porch. Upstairs, 2 guest bedrooms share a full bath with double vanity and shower/tub combo. A spacious media room offers guests a place to get away and relax after a long day on the lake. A small door off the stairwell leads to converted attic space finished in wide plank pine that currently houses gym equipment but would make a great bunk room. The original cabin still rests on the property, and has been converted into a detached game/media room finished in wide plank pine throughout. The grandfathered cabin with screened porch does not have any plumbing, but functions well as a rec room, and would make a great gym. Finally, natural stone pavers lead from the house down to a 2-story boathouse and swim dock with sweeping lake views and a close-up view of Charlie Mountain. This home is listed through the Harry Norman, REALTORSÂŽ Luxury Lake and Mountain office. If you would like a closer look at this incredible lake home, please contact Julie Barnett at 404.697.3860 or Leigh Barnett 404.931.3636. The home is listed under GAMLS# 8204421, and is offered at $3,495,000.

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February 2018

On the Home Front

Georgia Mountain Home Builders Association “Every man owes a part of his time and money to the business or industry in which he is engaged. No man has a moral right to withhold his support from an organization that is striving to improve within his sphere.” Theodore Roosevelt.

embership in the Georgia Mountain Home Builders Association GMHBA is three-fold. Rarely does a trade organization offer such an enticing offer. You see when you join GMHBA you also become a member of the Home Builders Association of Georgia (HBAG) and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The benefits of membership far outweighs the expense of joining. Members of GMHBA are privy to discount programs through NAHB from companies like Verizon and AT&T, Jeep and Chevrolet, UPS and many others. NAHB attorneys, financial experts and economist are within members’ reach for counsel and advice. On the local front, builders can save through GMHBA Member Rebate program with 54 participating manufacturers that they use everyday. Around 70% of the organizations’ membership received back more than their annual dues through this arrangement alone. Monthly meetings, dinner meetings, social events, holiday parties and the annual golf tournament offer excellent networking opportunities between members and their guests. Members can increase their business’s visibility and credibility by sponsoring an association meeting or event. What you’ll find in this situation is a captive audience eager to hear your latest idea or product. Members are continually promoted and encouraged to network and establish relationships that are beneficial to both businesses. By joining GMHBA businesses are showing concern and support for their industry and the trade association gives added credibility that can set you apart from others. Like most other trade associations, GMHBA offers members educational seminars, targeted meetings and programs that offer updates on industry news. They provide excellent resources to stay current on Georgia licensed builder continuing education requirements with CE classes

taking place at most general membership meetings. Our meetings give members a competitive edge in the industry. There are a plethora of laws, legislation and regulatory policies that are constantly changing on the national level. Membership ensures that your best interests are protected through the work of the National Association of Home Builders. The NAHB leverages the power of more than 140,000 members to effectively lobby on their behalf. The GMHBA and HBAG work with local and state code officials to help provide members updates and training, working on behalf of their members and consumers to ensure fair changes that benefit all. HBAG also works on member’s behalf to promote legislative and regulatory issues beneficial to building and remodeling. Lastly, your membership will include two free magazine subscriptions. Builder magazine keeps members up to date on floor plans, building materials, new products, industry news and analysis. A valuable perk to membership. Also joining gets you a subscription to Georgia Builder Magazine, a publication that focuses on what Georgia home builders are interested in most: legislative issues, codes and hot topics sensitive to home builders in the state. Just another reason to put joining GMHBA on the top of your todo list. It is impossible to not realize the value to your business. Take action today by calling 706.782.9260 or for more information visit www.GeorgiaMountainHBA.com or email: gmhba@georgiamountainhba.com Publisher’s Note: This article is the first of a series of articles to educate our readers on issues of interest to the building industry and our communities.

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Service Directory Accounting Bethel and Co. Clayton, GA - 706.782.4531

Architect Eric Watson Lakemont, GA - 706.782.1731 www.ericwatson.com

Appliances / Appliance Repair Antique Appliances Clayton, GA - 706.782.3132 Deal’s Appliance Service Wiley, GA - 706.782.3760

Building / General Contracting Austin & Butler Builders, Inc. 706.782.9294, 706.490.1360 Bella Builders and Renovations Hiawassee, GA - 706.835.5900 bellabuildersga.com

David Dickerson Builders, LLC 706.782.6366, 706.490.3953 David McCay Builders Clarkesville, GA - 706.754.5411 davidmccaybuilders.com Dennis Thompson Construction 706.782.8354, 706.490.9964 www.lakemontdrydock.com Dresser & Associates 706.782.0072, 706.490.2742 Horton Custom Home Builders Lakemont, GA - 706.782.6735 hortoncustomhomes.com Jeff Eller Construction 706.490.2683

SnK Specialties Clayton, GA - 706.782.2033 snkspecialties.com

The Summer House Highlands, NC - 828.526.5577 www.summerhousehighlands.com

Timberlake Builders Hiawassee, GA - 706.896.8919 timberlakecustomhomes.com

Woods Furniture Clarkesville, GA - 706.754.4144 WoodsFurnitureInc.com

T. L. Thompson Construction Hiawassee, GA - 706.897.2204

Electrical Services

Wood Brothers, Inc. Tiger, GA - 706.490.2051 www.woodbrothers.org

JMS & Associates 706.782.9807

Cabinets / Countertops

Kilby Construction, Inc. 706.746.2459

Gillespie Cabinet Shop, Inc. Mountain City, GA 706.746.2209, 706.490.1911

Larry Gipson Construction 706.782.2448

Brown Haven Builders Hiawassee, GA - 706.896.0891 brownhavenhomes.com

McCracken Builders, Inc. 706.782.6991

Charles Moore Builders, Inc. 706.782.7543, 706.490.2098

MoreSun Timber Frames 864.647.1669 www.moresunwoodworking.com

Chatuge Custom Homes Hiawassee, GA - 706.897.1527 chatugecustomhomes.com

Morgan Fazzary Fine Homes Rabun Gap, GA - 706.746.5698 morganfazzaryfinehomes.com

C H Builders Inc Clayton, GA - 706.782.0801

Mountain View Home Builders Clarkesville, GA - 770.654.3435 mvhomebuilders.com

Reeves Furniture Clayton, GA - 706.782.4253 www.reevesacehardware.com

York Builders 706.782.7422

Bill Griffin Construction, Inc. 706.982.0259

Clay Contracting Clayton, GA - 706.212.0369 claycontracting.com

Rabun Builders 706.490.1490 www.rabunbuilders.com

Mountain Works Service Co. Clayton, GA - 706.782.9930 mountainworksserviceco.com

Ramey’s Custom Cabinets, Inc. Clayton, GA 706782.6384, 706.490.1682 www.rameyscustomcabinets.com

Best Electric LLC Hiawassee, GA - 706.896.2094 bestelectric.biz Burrell Electric 706.782.1650 Gragg Electric 706.782.5903 Hanson Electric Clayton, GA - 706.782.1638 Jeff Hunter Electric Clayton, GA - 706.782.6277 MCW Electric Hiawassee, GA - 706.896.2661

Decorating Services Furniture / Window Treatments

Ready Electric Clarkesville, GA - 706.754.8234

Budget Blinds 706.212.0078 / 706.745.0009 www.budgetblinds.com

Superior Custom Installations Clarkesville, GA - 706.612.7392

Christine’s Home Decor Otto, NC 828.524.7007, 866.968.2557 www.ChristinesHomeDecor.com Dutchmans Highlands, NC - 828.526.8864 www.dutchmansdesigns.com

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Equipment Rental, Sales & Service Amrine Equipment Rentals, LLC Clayton, GA - 706.782.3157

Flooring Country Wood Works Cornelia, GA - 706.778.9663 countrywoodworks.com gmlaurel.com

Clayton Paint & Flooring Clayton, GA 706.782.2741, 706.490.4821 www.claytonpaint.benmoorepaints.com Rabun Flooring Clayton, GA - 706.782.4706 Southern Tradition Floors & More Clayton, GA - 706.212.2801

Furniture Stripping & Repair

Lorenzo’s Landscapes, LLC Clayton, GA - 706.490.2202

Haygood Plumbing Mt. Airy, GA - 706.754.3924

J& C Roofing Clarkesville, GA - 706.754.8907

Mashburn’s Lawn Services Hiawassee, GA - 706.896.2336

Holcomb Waste Systems Clarkesville, GA - 706.754.1366

Spas and Pools

Rustic Countrysides Tiger, GA - 706.212.0490 rusticcountrysides.com

Plumbing Twin Hiawassee, GA - 706.896.2098

Southeastern Design Clayton, GA - 706.782.2046

Furniture Barn Franklin, NC - 828.524.5293 www.thefurnitureman.com

Southern Grace Landscape Co. Clarkesville, GA - 706.768.6079

Grading / Excavating

Trophy Landscaping Clayton, GA - 706.754.0085

Dakota Freeman Enterprises Clayton, GA - 706.982.4502 McCrackin Contracting Clayton, GA - 706.782.5087

Yard Smart Lawn Care Hiawassee, GA - 706.809.0243 yardsmar4.wixsite.com

Painting

Nichols Contracting, Inc. Clayton, GA - 706.782.7798

Clay M. Nash Painting, Inc. 706.782.7411, 706.982.0380

HandyMan

JMZ Painting 706.982.1906

All in One Renovations Hiawassee, GA - 706.970.0279

Heating and Cooling Northeast Georgia Heat & Air Rabun Gap, GA - 706.782.7825 R&M Heating and Cooling Clayton, GA - 706.490.2383 randmheatingandcooling.com Webb’s Heating & Cooling Clayton, GA - 706.782.1703 webbsheatingandcooling.com

Insurance Georgia Farm Bureau Insurance Clayton, GA - 706.782.4422

Landscaping B&B Landscaping Clayton, GA - 706.782.3102 bnblandscapeservices.com Lawn & Land Scapes Hiawassee, GA - 706.896.4997

Max Lovingood House Painting Hiawassee, GA - 706.896.6634 Mountain Painting Company, Inc. 828.342.9844 - mtnpainting.com

Pest Control American Pest Control, Inc. 706.782.4113 www.AmPest.com

Plumbing Services

Roto-Rooter Clarkesville, GA - 706.839.7277 Sewer Shark Plumbing Clarkesville, GA - 706.982.2107 Tony’s Plumbing Hiawassee, GA - 706.896.5634

Propane Gas Appliance & Service Blossman Gas Clayton, GA 706.782.8305, 800.349.8305

Lorenzo’s Landscapes, LLC Clayton, GA - 706.490.2202 North GA Stone Blairsville, GA - 706.745.5531 northgastone.com

Storage Hometown Storage Rabun Gap, GA - 706.746.3508 www.all-safestorage.com

Waste Containers and Hauling Rabun C&D 706.490.5552, 706.490.5556

Property Management

Metro Water Filter of the South 706.499.5146, 1.888.604.8043 www.metrowaterfilter.com

Fresh Start 706.782.0868, 706.490.7060 Mountain Works Service Co. Clayton, GA - 706.782.9930 mountainworksserviceco.com

Porch and Patio Enclosure Bill’s Aluminum Products Inc. Franklin, NC - 828.524.8074

Affordable Plumbing of Clayton 706.782.1031 All American Plumbing Clayton, GA - 706.782.9804 www.aapoofclayton.com

Roofing

David Smith Plumbing 706.782.5800

Stonework

Tugalo Gas Co., Inc. Clayton, GA 706.782.4543, 706.782.4544 www.tugalogas.com

Michael’s Screen Service, LLC 706.982.1553 www.michaelsscreenservice.com

Bleckley Plumbing 706.782.7132

Mountain Spring Spas & Pools Franklin, NC - 828.369.2871 www.mountainhotspring.com

Georgia Mountain Roofing Tiger, GA - 706.782.0046 706.490.1121 - www.gmroof.com Habersham Roofing Clarkesville, GA - 706.754.5131

Water Filtration / Purification

Well Drilling Byers Well Drilling, Inc. 706.745.2166, 706.781.4582 www.byerswelldrilling.com Davidson Well Drilling, Inc. Turnerville, GA - 800.204.1483 Sam Davis Well Drilling, Inc. Wiley, GA - 706.782.3782

Welding and Metal Work Clayton Welding Clayton, GA - 706.782.3431 www.claytonweldingsupply.com Rabun Metal Products Tiger, GA 706.782.4224, 706.490.4522 www.rabunmetal.com

Halbrook Quality Roofing Clarkesville, GA - 706.968.0800

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This Tract Has It All!

Perfect Horse Farm or Mountain Restreat

ne of the draws of living in the mountains is the views and it is rare that you find a piece of property the size of this Scaly Mountain tract with pasture land, woods and a spring head. Locating 13.56 acres, an equine owners dream, with multiple breathtaking views is like finding gold. In one direction you are stunned by the view of Rabun Bald and just a heads turn away is the valley of Scaly Mountain, just two of the views you’ll have from this land with elevations up to 3,500 +/- feet. One might think with this elevation you’d be looking at

mountainous land but that is not the case, what you have here is mountaintop meadows and forest with the property actually being considered “rolling”. This land has been owned by the same family for generations. It is gloriously secluded yet is perfectly located between Dillard, Georgia and Highlands, North Carolina. This tract is zoned Agricultural/ Residential and could be used for a primary or second residence, farming, recreation/ hunting, a beautiful location for a retreat or lodge. There is more than one spot on this property

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for the home youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve dreamed of and your most difficult decision will be which one to choose. There are many fantastic opportunities to buy mountain homes with valley views or to find land in the valley with mountain views but this tract has it all and it is available through RE/MAX of Rabun for $350,000. For additional information or to schedule a visit we ask that you contact Gail Hopper 706.490.2152 or Rodney Hopper 706.490.0701. There is a virtual tour online at www.gailhoppersellsrabun.com simply search for MLS#8055440.

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February 2018

Adventure Out

Amicalola Falls State Park by Peter McIntosh

e’re sharing this issue of the Georgia Mountain Laurel with our friends on the north side of Atlanta, and with that in mind, coupled with the fact that it’s Valentine’s month, we’re visiting a state park that’s easy to get to from here in northeast Georgia, and also close to the Atlanta area. It’s also a nice destination for a romantic road trip. It’s Amicalola Falls State Park, featuring Georgia’s tallest waterfall, tumbling a precipitous 729 feet from top to bottom. After entering the park, I encourage you to stop by the visitor’s center and pick up a map, which details the various spots where you can access the waterfall. From the bottom parking area, there is an amazing and strenuous stairway (425 steps) which takes you from the base of the cascade to the to top, with a couple of footbridges that get you up close and personal with the falling water. If you’re not feeling athletic, no worries as there is level access at a mid point of the falls and from the top. The views from all these spots are amazing and worth checking out, even if you don’t hike the whole

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way. This park also features the approach trail to Springer Mountain, the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. And if all this exploring makes you hungry, there’s the Maple Restaurant, located in the Amicalola Falls Lodge. The restaurant is open, spacious and is all widows on one side, offering beautiful mountain view dining. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, mostly buffet style, seven days a week. And if you’re making this a romantic getaway, the rooms at the lodge are lovely as well. The lodge was featured in Robert Redford’s 2015 film, “A Walk in the Woods.” There’s a scene early in the film where Redford is checking in at the front desk and there’s a photo of a waterfall behind the clerk. That’s actually Minnehaha Falls, near Lake Rabun, and the photo was taken by yours truly. (It’s a fun movie by the way, and Redford looks at postcards at the end of the film that are also my photos.) You won’t see the photo there today, as it was only used for the movie. Amicalola is a beautiful waterfall, a beautiful park, and a great place for nice mountain getaway. Happy hiking! No need to be frantic, here’s my poem romantic: Don’t let the cold weather keep you inside, Just get your special someone and let’s go for a ride. A vigorous hike, take your time, don’t be speedy, And when you get to the top, you can smooch with your sweetie

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Getting there: Amicalola State Park is located 18 miles west of Dahlonega on State Highway 52. Just follow the signs. If you’re coming from another direction, just use Google maps. For more information: www.amicalolafallslodge.com/ga-state-park Phone: 706.265.8888 To see more of Peter’s photos or if you have a question or comment: www.mcintoshmountains.com

February 2018

Mountain Nature Homes for Birds by Jean Hyatt

hen we look for a new house, we want to be sure that our family will fit in it, that water and food are within a reasonable distance, and that it’s in a safe neighborhood. That’s pretty much what birds look for too. Those that live in cavities look for a birdhouse or an abandoned cavity in a tree. Some build their own nests and do not use a box. Some even lay their eggs right on the ground with just a minimum of nest arrangement. But unless you have a lot of undisturbed ground or meadow, you probably are going to get the birdhouse or nest builder types near you. Bluebirds, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, owls, and woodpeckers like to use cavities or nest boxes. Mockingbirds, hummingbirds, cardinals, and goldfinches build their own nests, usually in trees or thick stands of bushes. Wrens will build just about anywhere - in a wreath, a tin can, your infrequently used grill, or an old boot. Oh, and they use a birdhouse occasionally, also. Of all the species of birds in the US (about 850), less than 1/8 of them use nest boxes or tree cavities. February is the time of year we want to start getting ready for our nesting visitors. If you already have birdhouses, be sure and clean them out this month, as some birds will start looking early for their best option. Take the bluebird for instance. The male finds several houses if they are available and marks the ones he thinks are best by placing a blade of grass or small twig in the house. When the female is ready to nest, he will take her to all the houses he has chosen, all the while displaying and enticing her to choose him and his house. She will make the final choice, and will begin building the nest.

To encourage nearby nesting, you might try putting out short lengths of yarn or commercially packaged alpaca wool as nest material. These items can be placed in a suet feeder for easy access, or in a netted onion bag if you have a lot. Most birds use twigs, moss, leaves, grass, and feathers to line their nests. Do not use dryer lint, as it will become hard cold lumps when it gets wet, and does not dry quickly enough to keep the baby birds warm. Owl nesting boxes come with a bag of wood chips to simulate a chipped-out tree cavity. Other birds prefer to start with a clean floor and may build up to 4 nests high during their several clutches over the summer. Once a house is occupied, there is no need to do anything else to it unless you see distress in the parents or if it has been abandoned. If you have a problem with wasps building nests before the birds have a chance to claim a nest box, you can remove the wasp nest with a long stick, then coat the inside top of the house with petroleum jelly. This will disable the wasp’s ability to attach a nest. If you would like more information or help in choosing a home for your birds, stop by and see us. Jean and her husband Richard own and operate Mountain Nature in downtown Clayton. They can be reached at 706.782.0838

** 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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Getting Ready to Celebrate Clayton’s Art Festival

uring cold, wintry days we can only dream of Spring. Inevitably, it will come! We pack our winter coats, wave goodbye ice and snow, and say hello to warm, sunny days and Spring flowers. Best of all, Spring opens the outdoor festival season with the 19th Annual Celebrate Clayton Art Festival, April 28 – 29, held on Main Street in downtown Clayton. Presented by the North Georgia Arts Guild, the popular familyfriendly festival, welcomes you to stay all day or all weekend. There is much for you to do and see: browse the Artist Market down the center of Main Street where more than 100 artists and artisans exhibit their arts and fine crafts; treat yourself to tasty, traditional festival fare; relax on the shady Rock House lawn and enjoy live music; and be sure to visit the Kids Art Korner and student art competition in Veterans’ Park. The North Georgia Arts Guild is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Proceeds from the festival fund scholarships for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and artistically talented high school seniors. Your support and sponsorship helps continue the North Georgia Arts Guild Scholarship Program Booth space for interested artists is still available. Visit celebrateclayton.com/apply. To learn about becoming a sponsor, contact Chairperson, Kathy Ford, 706.212.9958.

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February 2018

On Our Cover The Solitary Traveler – Robert Stephens by Tracy McCoy

orn in Riverdale, Georgia, Robert Stephens has always had an explorer’s spirit. When he began driving, he would pick a spot on the map he had never been and travel there, just for the joy of discovery. With the advent of social media sites like MySpace, Robert began to share what his explorations uncovered, and began taking photos with a cell phone. People felt like they were traveling with him through his writing and images. Soon this aspiring self-taught photographer decided to purchase a digital point-andshoot camera and became unstoppable shooting landscapes all across the region, eventually purchasing his first digital SLR camera, a Nikon, in 2011. Robert studied techniques to improve on what was already astounding photography, and has since upgraded to a professional model as his capabilities increased. Now able to produce prints up to 40” X 60”, this equipment presented opportunities Robert only dreamed of. Robert’s mission is to seek beauty, capture it, and share it with others.

have chosen to make the mountains their home tell me that they got here as quickly as they could. This 40-something outdoor enthusiast living in Maggie Valley, North Carolina is also known by his nickname, “The Solitary Traveler.” He began traveling and exploring through the peaks and valleys of Western North Carolina and North Georgia with his camera, as the breathtaking sunrises, sunsets, and waterfalls he discovered begged to be captured. His social media following grew quickly as he shared his work, and in 2015 he launched his own website, www. solitarytravelerphotography.com. An artist at heart, Robert minimally enhances his images. He has learned by gaining experience in the field, camaraderie with other photographers, and online instruction. Robert believes that God has given him the gift of encouragement and teaching, and he offers private photography lessons and small group workshops. He has a natural way of articulating technique in language the amateur photographer can easily understand. Recently Robert ran into one of his students at a local

Robert Stephens made his way to the “Smokies” in 2014. Many people who 28

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framing shop and she was excited to share that she was named a finalist in the Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition. This is a competition in which Robert won both the People’s Choice and Landscape categories last year. His accomplishments are numerous and his work has been featured on the covers of many of the area’s tourism guides and state or local magazines. His images have become art on the walls of homes throughout the region. The photography of Robert Stephens can be purchased at https://1-robert-stephens.pixels.com or you’ll find his work in the following North Carolina galleries: Cedar Hill Studio in Waynesville, Carolina Creations in Maggie Valley, and Mountain Crossing Mercantile in Linville Falls. gmlaurel.com

February 2018

Finding Art

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You Canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Use Up Creativity The More You Use The More You Have Maya Angelo

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February 2018

North Georgia Arts Guild Jerry Williamson: From Living Tree to Treasures by Susan Brewer

erry Williamson creates wooden treasures, keepsakes he builds by hand into carefully crafted boxes. Some are designed to hold a promise: an engagement ring. Others hold on to goodbyes: wooden urns which are the final resting place for the dearly departed. His boxes can hold on to traditions, like his recipe boxes. And the smallest boxes are in the shape of hearts. They hold love, though Jerry knows small children like to use them to hold candy as well. Time has made Jerry wise in the ways of wood, but the work takes tools, too. When he spoke before the arts guild in December, he was asked about the equipment and overhead needed to pursue his interest. Surely, his supplies must have cost a lot. “Don’t tell my wife,” Jerry said. His wife, Nancy, spoke up. “I bought half of them for you!” Jerry went on to talk about his treasures. “My band saw is a Delta. It’s a hundred years old. My old belt sander – it’s an old Cincinnati – it’s a hundred years old, too. They’re both cast iron. You can’t break those things. They have their original motors. My drill press is probably eighty years old; my arm saw, fifty.” Their endurance and quality have a past that Jerry is proud of. It’s part of his work like the wood.

Pecan and white oak were once commonly used; they don’t sell well these days. Primarily he uses walnut, poplar, magnolia, maple, cherry, banana (yes—from the banana tree), purpleheart, and American yellow, which is a tree from Greece; it’s called mountain yellow by folks in Alabama. Luan, a material used for sub-flooring, he uses for box bottoms. Collected wood takes up temporary home in one of several storage buildings to dry. A piece of walnut, for instance, must drop from a moisture content of 32 percent down to 10 or 12 percent before it can be worked; that takes about a year. Other wood types dry a lot quicker. He cuts them into boards and even smaller strips and geometric shapes. Jerry assembles these into box lids or tray inserts. They create rich patterns, colors, shades, and shapes. The next step is to join the sides using dove-tail joints (made with a dove-tail jig), then the box pieces are glued together and squared up. Jerry uses Elmer’s Woodglue Max for that. Mixed with sawdust it becomes a filler for tiny gaps. Once the box dries into a solid shape, it’s cut into two pieces using a band saw, and reassembled using hinges and a latch. Jerry Williamson has grandsons following in his footsteps. Their efforts include designing and building a chess set, doing (and selling) paintings, and recently, making wooden bowls. One is a design engineer for Osborne Wood Products in Toccoa, GA. Another at Mercer (in Atlanta) has a degree in Mathematics, and is at work on his master’s degree. He plans to teach robotics. Imagine, 3-D printers, and robotics! Jerry wonders what will be lost in the doing of art. It’s a wonder. A grandson began to set Jerry up with a website, but that direction, Jerry decided, wasn’t worth pursuing. He has plenty of work already. “Like I told my wife, I retired from one job. If this turns into a job I’m going to retire again.” To him, passing down the arts and giving back are really important. He and wife, Nancy, make connections in the simpler way: they enjoy spending time around and building relationships with like-minded artists and craftsmen in person, at shows. Contact Jerry by calling 706.491.0543, or emailing jwwoodenboxes@gmail.com.

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February 2018

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February 2018

Bon Appétit Call Your Besties! Valentine’s Day is Coming by Scarlett Cook

know that February is Cupid’s favorite month, but sometimes only your best girl pals are with you through thick and thin. So round up your besties and celebrate your way. These recipes are great for a covered dish gathering. Clean off all the junk mail and odds and ends from your table, pull out a tablecloth, and find some candles. Call your girls, assign them a dish, find the drink glasses and light the candles. Cheers and enjoy!

And to nibble with your margaritas...

Begin with…

Rocking Frozen Margaritas

Serves 4 – 6

Serves 6 Lime wedges Margarita salt or sugar in the raw 1 12-Ounce can frozen limeade, thawed and undiluted 1 1/2 Cups tequila 1/2 Cup Triple Sec Crushed ice Rub rims of glasses with lime wedges coat glasses with salt (or sugar). Combine limeade, tequila, and Triple Sec in blender and blend well. Add ice to fill blender 3/4 full and blend well. Pour and enjoy.

And for dinner… Serves 4 – 6

Baked Shrimp Starters

Preheat oven to 400˚. 1/2 Pound peeled and deveined shrimp 2 Tablespoons lime juice 1/2 Teaspoon salt 1/4 Teaspoon black pepper 1/4 Cup butter or margarine, at room temperature 1/2 8-Ounce package cream cheese, at room temperature 2 Tablespoons bleu cheese crumbles Warmed pita chips Spray 1 1/2 quart shallow baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Place shrimp in prepared dish and sprinkle with lime juice and salt and pepper. Combine butter, cream cheese, and bleu cheese and cream until smooth. Spread over shrimp. Cover pan tightly with foil and bake for 8 – 10 minutes.

Cornish Hens

1 6-Ounce package wild rice, 1 Teaspoon sage cooked according to package directions 1/4 Cup vegetable oil 4 Cornish hens 1/4 Cup lemon juice 1/2 Cup chopped onion 2 Tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce 1/2 Cup chopped celery 1 Teaspoon paprika 1 Tablespoon butter or margarine, melted 1/2 Teaspoon garlic salt 1/2 Pound mushrooms, sliced 1/4 Teaspoon black pepper 1 Teaspoon grated lemon peel Preheat oven to 325˚. Spray a 13 x 9 x 2 dish with non-stick cooking spray. If Cornish hens come with giblets, remove and save for another use. Rinse hens with cold water and pat dry. Sauté onions and celery in butter; add mushrooms and cook 1 – 2 minutes longer. Combine rice, sautéed vegetables, lemon peel and sage; stir well. Stuff hens with rice mixture. Combine oil, juice, soy sauce, paprika, salt, and pepper. Place hens in prepared pan breast side up. Bake 1 – 1 1/2 hours (depending on size of hens; leg joint should move easily when done); basting often with soy sauce mixture. 36

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Glazed Asparagus Spears

Pecan Muffins

Serves 6 – 8 1/2 Cup butter or margarine 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into thin strips Juice of 1 lemon 1 Small jar diced pimientos, drained well 1 8-Ounce can water chestnuts, drained and chopped 2 Pounds fresh or frozen asparagus, steamed Melt butter in large skillet; add pepper strips and lemon juice. Sauté until tender. Stir in pimientos and chestnuts. Pour over hot asparagus. Serve hot or at room temperature.

Makes 10 1 1/2 Cups plain flour 1/2 Cup sugar 1/2 Cup chopped pecans 2 Teaspoons baking powder 1/2 Teaspoon salt 1 Egg, slightly beaten 1/2 Cup milk 1/4 Cup vegetable oil Preheat oven to 400˚. Grease 10 cups of 12 cup muffin tin. Combine flour, sugar, pecans, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl and stir well. Combine egg, milk, and oil. Combine flour and egg mixtures just until moistened Batter should be lumpy. Fill muffin cups 3/4 full. Bake for 20 – 25 minutes. Remove from pan immediately and serve hot or cold.

Crunchy Chinese Salad Serves 6 – 8 1 Can French style green beans, drained well 1 Can mixed Chinese vegetables, drained well 1 Can English peas, drained well 1 Cup minced celery 1 Medium red onion, thinly sliced and separated into rings 2/3 Cup sugar 3/4 Cup rice vinegar 1/2 Teaspoon salt 1/4 Teaspoon black pepper Combine green beans, vegetables, peas, celery, and onion in a medium sized bowl. Combine sugar, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Pour over vegetables and carefully stir to combine. Cover and chill 12 – 24 hours.

Finish with coffee and….

Cheesecake with Cherry Topping

Serves 8 – 10 Preheat oven to 350˚. 1 Cup Graham cracker crumbs 3 Tablespoons sugar in the raw or regular sugar 3 Tablespoons melted butter or margarine 1/4 Teaspoon cinnamon 3 8-Ounce packages cream cheese at room temperature 2 Teaspoons lemon juice 1 Cup sugar 5 Eggs 1/4 Teaspoon salt 1 1/2 Cups sour cream 2 Tablespoons sugar 1/4 Teaspoon vanilla extract 1 21-Ounce cherry pie filling or any fresh fruit

And of course no girl gathering is complete without something chocolate!

Creamy Chocolate Pie Serves 6 – 8 1 Chocolate wafer pie shell 1 8-Ounce package of cream cheese at room temperature 1/4 Cup sugar 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract 2 Egg yolks 1 6-Ounce package semisweet chocolate morsels, melted 2 Egg whites at room temperature 1/4 Cup sugar 1 Cup thawed frozen whipped topping 3/4 Cup chopped pecans Combine cream cheese, 1/4 cup sugar, and vanilla; beat until smooth. Add egg yolks, beating until smooth. Stir in melted chocolate. Beat egg whites until foamy; gradually add 1/4 cup sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Gently fold into chocolate mixture. Fold whipped topping and pecans gently into chocolate mixture. Pour into pie shell. Freeze pie for at least 3 hours.

Combine crumbs, 3 tablespoons sugar, butter, and cinnamon in a medium bowl; mix well. Press into a 10” springform pan; set aside. Beat cream cheese and lemon juice until soft and creamy. Add 1 cup sugar, eggs (one at a time) and salt; beat on medium speed for about 10 minutes. Pour mixture into crust. Bake 45 minutes and place on a wire rack to cool for 20 minutes. Combine sour cream, remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar, and vanilla in a small bowl, stir well to blend. Spread over cheesecake and bake an additional 10 minutes in 350˚ oven. Chill completely before removing from pan. Top with pie filling or fresh fruit. gmlaurel.com February 2018 37

Family Table by Lorie Thompson

ebruary brings the promise of spring! It is a month of daffodils and crocus. It brings Groundhog Day, President’s Day and Valentine’s Day.

I recently discovered that Valentine’s Day had another name. I had never heard the term “Singles Awareness Day” until a few years ago. My daughter phoned and said she was headed out with girlfriends to celebrate the same. It was February 14th, and what I had always referred to as “Valentine’s Day” suddenly had a new name. I thought it was appropriate for a holiday designed by greeting card companies. While I am not big on cupids and hearts, February could use another little treat day in the middle of the month. It is easy in the hectic pace of life to forget to do something special for the most important people in your life. One of my favorite ways to do something extra special for the people I love is to cook for them. If you don’t have a spouse or significant other, invite some friends over to celebrate “Singles Awareness Day” and cook a great meal for them. Here is what I am serving for my family: I am starting with a Corn Flake Crusted Fish and Crab Cake, served with a Chipotle Mayo and a Creamy Shiitake Mushroom Risotto. This is an easy-to-prepare meal that looks like you cooked for days! I will end the meal with Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes. This meal can be prepped ahead of time so that your evening can be low stress. To make the Crab and Fish cakes, in a large bowl, mix 1/2 cup of mayonnaise, 1 egg, 2 T of fresh lemon juice, 1 Tsp of Dijon mustard, 1 tsp each of Old Bay Seasoning and parsley, 1/2 tsp of dill, and 3/4 tsp of kosher salt. Mix together and add 3 very thinly sliced green onions and mild or jalapeño peppers, if you like them. Gently fold in 1 can (16 Oz) of jumbo lump crab meat and 6-8 oz. of a fresh white fish, such as cod or flounder, that has been chopped. Very gently make a patty of the crab/fish mixture and roll in the Corn Flake Crumbs or the traditional, Panko Bread Crumbs. Don’t make these patties too thick as they have raw fish in them and you want them to cook thoroughly as you brown them. Place breaded patties in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or up to 5-6 hours. When you are ready to serve the meal, heat a heavy pan with 1/4 inch of vegetable oil to 350 degrees. Place crab cakes gently in oil, leaving room to turn. You will have to treat them very gently as you cook to a golden brown on both sides. The Chipotle Mayo is delicious! Mix 3/4 C of mayo with 1 whole chopped and seeded Chipotle pepper, (I used 2 T of Chipotle salsa, because I already had that.) 1 T fresh lemon juice, 1 T Dijon mustard. For the Risotto, add 2 T of olive oil and 2 T of butter to a heavy skillet. Over medium heat, add 1 large, roughly chopped onion and cook for 5 minutes or until onion is soft. Add 2 tsp of Kosher salt to onion. Add 1 full cup of Arborio rice to onion mixture and let rice sauté for 2-3 minutes. You are “toasting” the rice and allowing it a chance to absorb the butter and the oil. Add 8 oz of chicken stock, or enough to completely cover the rice. Continue cooking over medium heat until all the liquid is absorbed. Add another 8 ounces of broth and cook

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February 2018

again until completely absorbed. Continue stirring rice. Add in fresh thyme or 1/2 tsp of dried thyme. Add 1-2 cups of roughly chopped mushrooms. I used Shiitakes as they are loaded with flavor and very easy to clean. (To clean them gently wipe each mushroom with a damp paper towel and pull the hard, woody stem off.) Stir in mushrooms and allow to cook for 2-3 minutes while stirring. Add 8 oz of the stock and allow to cook until rice is dry again. (Risotto may be removed from heat here and held until time to serve.) To serve the risotto, place over heat and add the final 8 oz of stock, along with 1/2 C of freshly grated parmesan cheese. Heat to just warm, while stirring. It is ready to serve. I love to make the Chocolate Lava Cakes. They are so easy to prepare ahead of time and they make you look like a gourmet chef! I use a recipe from the New York Times. It is really easy and delicious! Buy the best chocolate you can find! In a mixing bowl add 2 whole eggs and 2 egg yolks, along with 1/4 cup of sugar and a pinch of salt. Beat eggs and sugar with an electric mixer until they are light yellow and thick. In a small, heavy pan over very low heat, melt 1 stick of unsalted butter. Add 6 ounces of chopped, semi -sweet chocolate. (50-60%) and very slowly melt. Allow to cool slightly. Fold chocolate and butter into egg mixture. Butter and flour 4, 6-8 oz oven proof ramekins. Evenly pour chocolate mixture into each dish. You can hold these at room temperature for an hour or so or place in the refrigerator if you are holding them longer. Bring to room temperature before baking at 450 degrees for 12 minutes, or until sides are solid but the middle is still soft. Remove from the oven and cool for 3-5 minutes. Run a knife blade around the edges and invert onto a serving plate. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream. Whether you are celebrating Valentines Day with your lover or Singles Awareness Day with your friends and family, make it something special! Happy February! Happy Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day! Lorie Thompson is a Rabun County native. She is a licensed REALTOR with RE/Max of Rabun and a dedicated wife and mother to two amazing grown children. Lorie loves to be in the kitchen and those who sit around her family table enjoy incredible meals prepared with loving hands.

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Eats&Such

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February 2018

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February 2018

Bless Your Heart

Fostering a Modified Way by Lisa Harris

tanding in the kitchen, I heard the door open coming in from the garage. I walked over to see who it was, and all I saw were two stocky legs darting up the steps to my son Luke’s bedroom. Not thinking a whole lot about it, I went back to cooking. Later that evening, Luke came to me and asked if his friend could spend the night. “Luke it’s a school night, he should go on back home, both of you will rest better if he’s in his own bed and you’re not up talking.” Luke gave me that, “Seriously, mother, I’m 17 and grown” look, and after another brief discussion, I gave in. This continued for several weeks. This young man who was 18 and a senior at Luke’s high school would come over every few days and spend two or three nights with us. I was a bit perplexed over his situation. When I would ask Luke, he would say, “Mom, his situation is not good, can we just help him out?” I would nod

yes, but knew at some point I would talk to this young man and find out his story. What I did know, however, was this young man was clean cut, handsome, great manners, polite, and very, very kind and gentle. His clothes were limited and at least one size too small. He kept his jacket on, no matter the temperature in the house, I suspect, to cover up the tightness of his shirt and pants. Both my husband and I had a calmness about him being in our home. We knew in our spirit it was okay. After a month went by and through gaining a few nuggets of information from Luke and a couple of others, I realized that this young man named Noah was a good kid trying to create for himself a stable future, so he could take care of his little ten-year-old sister, Lily. His grades were good and on track to graduate in the spring. He was what Noah called himself, a band nerd. He loved music and played nine instruments. Just a talented and gracious young man.

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After the family talked one day, we asked Noah to live with us until he graduated. We did have a guest room that stayed empty. We could offer him a safe place to sleep, to practice his music, to wash his clothes, and to share food and fellowship with us. We are all called to be the hands and feet of Jesus, right? I had no idea the impact of having him live with us would be. It was not easy having four grown men live in our home now; three were already a challenge and that included my husband! Our church community is HUGE on fostering. It is our biggest ministry, in addition to other missions we support. We, personally, never felt “called” to foster. The main reason being that my husband’s all-encompassing career keeps him busy at least 60 hours a week, along with my edgy health and low energy. We knew that in our late fifties fostering would be too much on us. All the couples we knew that took in foster children were in their energized thirties and forties, not fifties. We felt no urging to forge a new trail in our lives. But apparently, God felt differently. Ha! Noah ‘officially’ became a part of our family around Thanksgiving. I cleaned out my guest/craft room, fluffed up the bed, explained laundry procedures (meaning he had to do his own, like the other two sons), clean up after himself, and help with chores around the house. He happily agreed and was very grateful. At this point, we still did not know his entire story. We respected his privacy and knew in time he would tell us. He didn’t. I often forget how men do not “share” like women. I’m a fixer and I knew I could fix him if he would just let me.

Within a few short years there were twelve children in a very small house. There was and continued to be verbal and physical abuse. He had no consistent bed, no peace to study, and his grades suffered. My heart cried for him and his siblings. His brother fights the disease of addiction; however, he is back on track and has received his GED. Life is better for him now, as he left and lives with another family also. Noah chooses to fight to have a good life for himself and one day, Lily. There is so much more to this story. God is showing me that I cannot fix his life and make it all better. But God can. What my family can do is love, guide, and walk alongside as he makes tough decisions. Luke has seen firsthand how his life compares to Noah’s. He needs to see that not all have an easy life with supportive, loving parents. My thoughts with sharing this part of my life was to say once again what WE think and what GOD thinks are entirely different. God knew we couldn’t foster children like others in their younger years, but He said, “This is how you can foster in your (very) late fifties.” It’s more pouring in what wisdom you have learned, what God has taught you, and just being available. Noah is a part of our family now and testosterone may dominate this Harris kingdom, BUT no worries, I am still the Queen Bee…. Side note: We are helping Noah fight for his sister and other rights. As everyone knows it’s a lengthy process, but we have outside help and guidance, and most importantly God will have the last ruling. Prayers are certainly appreciated.

One day a little blip in our household happened, and we knew it was time for him to share. When I say we, I mean me. I knew it was time for Noah to open up, so I asked him to sit down and tell me his story. I was unprepared. Noah squirmed a bit, but settled down and said, “Okay, but some of my story I just cannot share. It’s too painful.” I nodded as I said, “You don’t have to tell me all, just the high points.” His story is not new. His story is his to tell. But, I can share bits of it. He was raised by a single working mom. She had a home bought in her name, a respectable job, and three children. She and the kids were abandoned by their dad due to drugs. He gave up all rights. They were doing fine, needed no government assistance, and life was stressful but good. When Noah was about seven and his sister Lily was just a baby, they were in an accident. Their mom was instantly killed. The kids were fine. She was only 38. The courts awarded Noah, his twin brother, and Lily to a young couple who had four children.

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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.

STAND IN THE GAP God is speaking: “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before Me for the land, and that I should not destroy it; but I found none.” Ezekiel 22:30. Stand in the gap with the LORD for people you pray for, and for the United States of America and our government. When we pray, we stand in the gap. The Holy Bible is precisely clear in God’s dealing with illicit drugs, and abused prescription drugs that become addictions. There are many passages that address this, and the Bible word for mindaltering drugs is “pharmakeia”. This is where we get our word “pharmacy”. God is not referring to clinical medicine given in the correct dosage by a trained good honest doctor to help you recover from illness. God is referring to something very evil in nature. The definition in the Strong’s New Testament Greek dictionary is “a drug, a spell giving potion, a drug maker or seller (dealer) of sorcery to drug someone”. The Book of Revelation is clear that all those who give drugs to others, or make or sell these drugs are sorcerers who are going to hell if they do not repent and turn to God. It also tells us that “by this sorcery (drugs) were all nations deceived”- the downfall of man! See Revelation 9:21, 18:23, 21:8, 22:15; Acts 8:9-24. The story of “strong man” Samson in the Bible is a perfect example of how toying with sin, like toying with drugs, can ruin your life. Delilah (a picture of drug addiction or anything that allures you) was an evil woman who took him by sexual allurement and when she had him in her clutches, she robbed him of all his renown strength and his eyesight. He was left completely helpless. Queen Esther, a godly woman who lived about 475 BC, was used mightily of God to deliver her people from certain death. She is a picture of a loving relative or a friend who wants to truly help someone who is caught in the death grip of addiction. She helped by telling her husband, the King, the truth and exposing the deadly undercover plot and the evil men who were behind it. She shined the light on the evil and brought it out into the open so it could be dealt with. Her husband got rid of the evil men promptly. We must sound the alarm! How do we come against this evil to defend those we love 2500 years later? We must do as Esther did, and report the entire matter to the King. Our King is King Jesus, our coming King, we are His bride. As Christians, we are God’s warriors in the warfare being fought against us and against those we love. This is where we stand in the gap for others. We are not fighting flesh and blood enemies, our enemy is spiritual. There is a young man in northeast Georgia whose testimony is that he was on drugs and headed downhill to destruction, but his family kept on praying for him and loved him enough to let him go to jail. That was the turning around point in his life. We are not to enable those we love by trying to protect them from the consequences of 48

“Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death...” Song of Solomon 8:6 their wrong life choices, we are to love them by putting them in the hands of God, and let God be God in their life. Today, this godly man is working with others who are struggling as he once was, and pointing them to Jesus Christ. Through the power of God he is making a tremendous impact on lives in this area! Relatives and friends who love you do not give you drugs! They always tell you the truth. As a friend or relative your part is to pray, stand in the gap for them without ceasing, call out to God for help, and trust Him that He will do it - PERIOD! Love them enough to let THEM come to the place where they will give the pieces of their life to Him. He makes all things new. Jesus is the Savior, not us. He knows how to rescue them from addiction. Trust Him and He will do what needs to be done. The Bible warns us in Ephesians 6:10-20 that our enemy in this warfare on drug and alcohol addiction is not flesh and blood. Our battle is spiritual and our King, Jesus Christ has already won! We stand in His might and in His victory. God is saying to you that you are His Ambassador and He is sending you out to speak boldly the words of the mystery of the gospel that He gives you to speak to others, and He will always tell you what to say to them. We often don’t know what to say, but He always does, and you will hear His words rise up in your heart. We are to love others as God loves us. We love others by praying for them, and standing in the gap before the Lord for them, and taking their case to the Court of Heaven. Drug and alcohol addiction is sweeping our land and unless we take a stand and fight as God tells us to fight there will be no victory in this battle. We are instructed to rescue the perishing. Many who are caught in the trap of addiction have no hope without the prayers of people who care and know how to pray effectively. The Lord is calling you, you are His Ambassador of love. We hear Him and respond: “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here I am; send me.” Isaiah 6:8 RIVER GARDEN P.O. Box 112 Lakemont, GA 30552 706.782.5435 706.490.3063

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“Jealousy is Good” by Cliff Lewis - Associate Pastor of Worship and Music Clayton Baptist Church

know what you’re thinking. He can’t possibly mean that. Jealousy isn’t good. What if I told you that I mean exactly what it sounds like. Namely, that jealousy is a very good thing. When asked, I believe most people would mainly have negative thoughts about the subject of jealousy. Some would immediately remember a past relationship where the other person was incredibly jealous, maybe even trying to control the relationship because of their jealousy. Some would think of another person who was able to accomplish something meaningful or get that job you wanted and those jealous feelings in yourself would emerge.

What about God? When you think about God, whether you believe in him and follow him or not, what would you say are some of his most obvious qualities? A believer would probably say his obvious qualities are his love, his power, his grace, etc. A non-believer might say that God seems distant, unbelievable, or maybe even harsh and unloving. Would there be anyone who would say that one of God’s greatest qualities is his jealousy? Would you say that? Even if you’re familiar with the Bible, you may have overlooked the importance of God’s jealousy. Right there in one of the most famous passages in the Bible, staring us in the face, is God’s jealousy. The second of the ten commandments that God gave to Moses and the Hebrew people says, “You shall not bow down to them (idols) or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God...” Later in that same book of Exodus God says, “For you shall not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” Did you catch that? This is not just saying that God is jealous, but that it is also his name. You don’t use a quality or subject for someone’s name unless that person epitomizes that subject. As a kid, I followed baseball very closely. I played baseball. I watched baseball. I collected baseball cards. I loved baseball. One of the best baseball players of the 80’s and 90’s was Don Mattingly. He played first base with the Yankees and was an incredibly consistent hitter, with a career batting average of .307. Everything about him said, “baseball,” so much so that his nickname among sports writers and fans was “Donnie Baseball.” And what they were saying by giving him that nickname was that baseball, in large part, defined Don Mattingly. So when God is called Jealous, and actually it is He giving himself the name “Jealous,” this is an issue worth trying to wrap our heads around. If we are naturally inclined to think of jealousy as a negative trait, why is that? I suggest that the gmlaurel.com

problem most have with jealousy is the problem of authority. Let me explain. A sixteen year-old boyfriend doesn’t have the authority to be jealous of all of his girlfriend’s time. They may be hanging out together or going to do things together, but he has not made any real commitment to her. And certainly we would not say that she is “his” in any sense of the word at all. Actually, in American society there is no real, binding relationship between a man and woman until the two say their marriage vows. In the marriage relationship, the Bible says the two people become “one flesh.” This means the bond is so strong that they become one unit. He is hers, and she is his. This has nothing to do with them being owned by one another, but that their relationship is as close as human relationships get. Yes, even closer than that of mother and child. With that marriage bond being understood, the concept of jealousy becomes a good bit more positive. A wife has the total right, maybe even the duty, to be jealous for the affections of her husband. He should have an eye and a heart for none other than his bride. Likewise, the husband should be jealous for the love of his wife. That love and that bond is not to be shared with anyone or anything else. Jealousy is a good and right thing for the husband-wife relationship. The question becomes, “Is it good and right for God to be jealous for our affections?” The simple and emphatic answer is, “Yes.” God made you. God loves you. He uniquely knows what is best for you. And He knows that what is best for you, and me, is to love Him above ALL things. People that get caught up in loving anything else above Him will see their lives become increasingly distorted. Loving God first and foremost sets everything else in its right place, and actually gives us the ability to love others more than we would have been able to if we did not love Him most. God is jealous for our affections because He knows our hearts will not be satisfied with any substitute.

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February 2018

Notes From a Southern Kitchen Love Those Mountain Views by Kendall R. Rumsey

s residents and visitors of the area, we are blessed by some of the most amazing scenery in the country just by stepping outside our doors. We are treated to babbling brooks, lakes, waterfalls, and stunning forests all around us. Everywhere we look there is beauty and the amazing handiwork of God. As beautiful as the scenery we enjoy daily is, for me, the most awe-inspiring are the mountain views. We are fortunate to be nestled at the base of some of the most amazing mountain ranges anywhere to be found. Those mountain ranges feed the lakes, rivers, and waterfalls that provide an active lifestyle for our residents and guests that have kept generations here and brought new residents that have enriched our community. From the stunning views at Black Rock and Popcorn Overlook, the multistate views of Rabun Bald, the Sky-Valley Overlook, and the Bartram Trail, our mountains provide a hiker’s paradise for any level outdoorsman. As incredible as these points are, my favorite is just over the Georgia state line into North Carolina: Pickens Nose. I was an adult before I was treated to my first Pickens Nose experience, but after the brief hike to the point, I have found myself there on numerous occasions. On that first trip, standing on the rock formation that gives the view its name, I felt closer to God than I ever had in my life. The trip to Pickens Nose is worth it. Located just inside North Carolina, a quick turn onto a dirt road, the drive to the summit is the most difficult part. Winding around the mountain, curve after curve on a small dirt road, meeting another car can be treacherous for the nerves. I have seen cars make the trip, but I would recommend an SUV to get up the mountain. Once you reach a nondescript parking lot, a hike of about 1 mile awaits you. Not difficult but challenging, up the mountain, the scenery is spectacular. Last year, when we were threatened by wildfires, Pickens Nose was in the cross-hairs of the flames. Thankfully, after my first trip back this past spring, I found little damage. The hike up the mountain is highlighted by beautiful rhododendron and wildflowers when the weather permits. As you find the “nose”, a heart skipping pass will take you directly onto the point. Once you have reached the ultimate destination, you can stand out on the rocks literally hanging over the mountains. When I have guests visiting from out of town, Pickens Nose is one of the highlights I always want to share. From the nose you can see mountain after mountain, covered by trees and beautiful wooded formations. It never fails to take my breath away. On numerous occasions when life is challenging, or decisions need to be made, I have gone to the mountain and sat. As I sit on the rocks, I often find my peace with the 52

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challenges of life and can feel the presence of God as I look out on the vista. Pickens Nose is a blessed place. A place unaffected by growth or expansion, a place where nature and God meet. Indeed, we are blessed to call these lands our home, and for me, a place that takes me to a point of possibility and peace is Pickens Nose. Kendall Rumsey is a resident of Clayton, GA. He is owner of imPRESSed, a custom imprint company and publishes the blog, Notes from a Southern Kitchen. www.impressedstyle.come www.notesfromasouthernkitchen.com

MAIN STREET FRANKLIN, NC

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February 2018

Lovin’ the Journey by R. Mark Holloway

omance is a curious thing.

I know roses grow from dirt, put on green leaves, and then dazzle us with bright red petals. But I have no clue why twelve of them make a woman swoon. Mix in some chocolate with the flowers, and you just might see a twinkle in her eye. At least that’s been my experience for 38 years. Good marriages and good relationships don’t take work. In case you thought that was a typo, I’ll say it again. Good marriages and good relationships don’t take work. That sounds unorthodox, but it’s true. Sure, bad marriages and bad relationships take work. But not good ones. Good ones require effort, but not work. A really good steak does not take work for me to enjoy it. It does take effort, but not work. I suppose to my friends who are grass eaters, eating a steak would be work. Carol is certainly worth the effort. Our investment in each other continues to pay dividends week after week, year after year. It doesn’t sound very romantic to compare my marriage to investments and dividends, but the analogy seems to work. I am not suggesting only people who have good marriages and good relationships live in La La Land. Actually La La Land gets most relationships in trouble. I know a couple who chose to live in La La Land while they were dating. But faking happiness finally took its toll on their marriage. Not being honest in a relationship is like the car salesman who doesn’t tell you everything about the jalopy you are about to be anchored to. Excessively sentimental is the definition of the word sappy. So this month I’ll tell you two sappy stories about love and romance. One

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account is recent and the other is from my Hall of Fame. I like to surprise Carol.

Actually, I told her what type of clothes to pack and to include her passport.

I particularly like to surprise her with romantic getaways. As Valentine’s Day approaches, I’m reflecting on what we did this time last year. My good friend Jeremy Hobbs and I conspired to take our wives to the Biltmore House during Valentine’s. He and I got on a conference call with the nice people at the front desk and booked rooms for a quintessential romance trip. We then presented the trip as Christmas presents to Carol and Leah. We stayed on the property, toured the mansion, took in a wine tasting, even buying two bottles of wine to be opened a year later to celebrate that trip.

Early the next morning, we caught our flight. A bad rainstorm delayed our arrival to our connecting flight and we had to make a mad dash for the gate. At that point, I just knew she had seen our destination city on the big departure screen. As we ran through the skybridge, I hollered back over my shoulder to Carol, “So I guess you see where we are going?“

If you have never visited the Biltmore House, put it on your “must do“ list. The home is a testament to craftsmanship and big dreams. Allow yourself an entire day to soak up its majesty.

As our cross country flight began to approach the airport, the pilot announced our imminent arrival into Seattle. At that point Carol said, “Oh, so the passport was just to throw me off?”

Then there was the time I surprised Carol with a trip to Seattle, Washington. Our children were younger and a family friend showed up one evening at the door. (Ashley Batts would take care of the kids). We were student pastors at the time and it was not uncommon for one of our college leaders to pop in. Such was the case that night. My children were in on the surprise as I looked at Carol and told her to pack a suitcase. She had plenty of questions. My only response to her was, “That is on a need-to-know basis. And you don’t need to know.”

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I will never forget her answer. “No, because I’m too busy chasing after you!” She’s been chasing me a long time. Carol is quite an amazing catch.

At that point she deserved some answers. I told her about our day trip to Victoria, Canada by way of a fast boat. We enjoyed a tulip festival, Pike Place Market, sipping coffee at the original Starbucks, and staying at a suite in downtown. Good times. It took effort to pull off this surprise trip. But it did not take work. Sometimes bad paradigms change the course of our lives. I hope you will agree with me that a wonderfully blessed life does not require work, but effort.

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I can think of a way romance is made better...and that is getting to be in the mountains! See you on the trail. Mark and his wife Carol are the owners of Fresh Start, a company dedicated to stewarding the property and homes of their clients. They aspire to be your eyes, ears, and hands while you are away, and your resource for anything you need, whether you are a full or part time resident of the area. Both care for the properties entrusted to them as if they owed them themselves. Mark can be reached by calling 706.490.7060

By the Way...

A belated Merry Christmas! By Emory Jones

’d like to apologize for not sending you a Christmas card last year.

Many of you will respond by mumbling, “We didn’t expect a card from you, you idiot. We don’t even know you,” But, others will think, “You know, we didn’t get a card from Emory and Judy, did we?”

Regardless of which retort fits you, I know you didn’t get a card because Judy didn’t send any. I say “Judy” because the job of addressing, signing, and sending Christmas cards has, traditionally, been relegated to her. My role is to mumble encouragement from behind a newspaper. By the way, did you know that a man named Sir Henry Cole, (I suspect he’s British) mailed the first Christmas card in 1843? The only reason I know is that I recently read where that card brought 22,250 pounds at auction. The article didn’t say pounds of what so it may not be as much money as it sounds. But, I bet it was a lot because the buyer asked to remain anonymous. If you had received a Christmas card from us, it would not have been one of those family flyers some people send. You know, “Billy got an A in math, and I can’t tell you how much Edith is enjoying her new pick-up.” If we did send one of those, ours would be more like, “Aunt Agnus is almost out of rehab, and Uncle Caulder has decided to turn state’s evidence, and hopes to get off with time served.” Not mailing our cards this year is really not my wife’s fault; it’s our neighbor’s. Judy had them signed, sealed, stamped, and in a big box

right after Thanksgiving. When she asked me to take them to the post office, I put them in the back of the truck. But, before I could leave, the neighbor mentioned above stopped by with his new drone. Naturally, that distracted me. A day or two later, I was sneaking out to mail them again when I remembered that we’d been invited to the governor’s mansion for a Christmas a get-together. Naturally, we couldn’t miss that. Channel 2 was calling for rain, so I threw a tarp over the cards and told Judy to get dressed quick. I was excited about dinner with the Deals, but we must have gone on the wrong night because, when we got there, it was like they’d invited everybody in the state. You couldn’t find a parking place within a mile. But, in the spirit of Christmas, I took the opportunity to buy Judy a nice dinner at that upscale Krystal in Buckhead. Then we headed home. Channel 2 was right about the rain. Still, I felt the cards were safe and dry in the back. But, as we turned north on 400, the tarp blew off and attached itself to the grill of a big-rig. I felt it best not to mention that to Judy, but I was concerned that our Christmas cards might get wet. To avoid that, I increased our speed so the rain wouldn’t fall directly on the box. That worked for a mile or two, but as I explained to the deputy later, the increase in velocity caused an unanticipated lack of wind resistance. In layman’s terms, the box blew open, and all those hand-signed cards began streaming towards the Downtown Connector. Even though the ink had run some, I offered to blow-dry and mail the handful that stuck to the tailgate, but Judy said no. She said some other things, too, but I believe she was kidding. At least I hope so. Anyway, Merry Christmas belatedly. Author and speaker Emory Jones is known for his humor, love of history and all things Southern. He and wife Judy reside in White County, Georgia. Emory’s books are available across the region including the Georgia Mountain Laurel office.

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February 2018

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February 2018

Live Healthy and Be Well!

“Help your heart – you can’t love without it!” By Stephen Jarrard, MD, FACS

remember about five or six years ago my late friend Janie P. Taylor made the very valid suggestion that, in the “month of romance,” I should write about the heart. I am going to leave the more romantic issues of the heart to those with more literary skill and flourish. But, we must do the right things to make the heart available for those pursuits – and your overall health, wellbeing, longer life, and happiness.

If your heart stopped, or even paused a few beats, you would notice it immediately, and within a few seconds would be unconscious. Cardiac muscle is only found in the heart, and is truly a unique creation. A single cardiac muscle cell will contract or “beat,” and if you put several together, they will quickly synchronize and beat in a regular rhythm. When they are all together in your heart, they beat in a very coordinated and perfect fashion to take the blood back from your body’s vein system, push it to the lungs where it loses waste products and is replenished with oxygen, and then back to the heart to be pumped out to your body by means of your arteries. Your heart works very hard for you ALL the time, never resting (except between beats), and most of the time you don’t even notice it.

The heart is a muscle. It is a special type of muscle called “cardiac” muscle, or myocardium (the prefix myo- meaning muscle). Another type of muscle is skeletal, such as your biceps. These muscles move you, and allow you to be an active part of the world around you. Smooth muscle, the final type, is that which lines your digestive tract and helps it to function. Cardiac muscle has one vital function: to pump blood, which brings oxygen, nutrients, and healing to your entire system, and is truly your life force.

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Assuming a heart rate of 80 beats per minute, your heart will contract and relax over 115 thousand times per day, and thus over 42 million times in a year. Assume a lifetime of 75 to 85 years and well, you can see how much your heart is doing for you (over 3 trillion beats). My question to you, then, is what are you doing for your heart?? Some very basic self-care and prevention will ensure continued optimal function of the heart, which is always better than playing “catch up” after damage has occurred. Although the heart is the muscle responsible for pumping blood all over, it, like all your other muscles, needs blood itself to survive and function. It is when this blood flow to the heart, through the coronary arteries, is interrupted that heart damage occurs. This damage can result from myocardial ischemia, which is when the blood supply is not sufficient, and you may feel angina (chest pain or pressure) during times of high demand, work load, or stress. Angina is a dangerous warning sign of impending permanent damage, should more severe blockage or interruption occur. If this condition is taken to the extreme, actual cardiac muscle death occurs because of the lack of perfusion to the heart muscle. This is known as myocardial infarction, commonly known as MI or heart attack. In this case, the heart is now permanently changed and will not function as well as before. It may, with the help of medicines and lifestyle changes, be able to remodel itself and adapt, but never as well as before the damage. So, for your heart to be available for romance, love, and to share your “heart” and soul with the world and make it a better place, please take care of your heart! Basic things to do – you already know most of them – a good, nutritious diet low in fat and carbs and high in protein and fiber will help prevent high cholesterol. This can form plaques which will plug your arteries and cause the heart to have blockages itself, or to work harder to pump the blood to your body through a clogged arterial system. Regular exercise is essential to good heart health, especially in the form of cardio exercise, which will get your heart rate up and

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strengthen the muscle. If you are a smoker, you already know this is highly associated with heart and other vascular disease. If you are diabetic, keep your blood sugar under the tightest control possible, as high sugar hurts your heart, blood vessels, and other organs. If you have high blood pressure, see your doctor regularly to keep this controlled, as it can increase your risk of both heart attack and stroke. As far as any supplements beyond a good, nutritious diet, don’t get carried away by what you see on TV or in advertising, but Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) have been shown to be cardio protective, after studies found that Scandinavians have less heart disease in their population due to their diets being high in fish. Be aware of all your heart does for you, and take care of it so that you can extend the number of total beats in your life to be the highest number possible! Then, you can truly “get to the heart” of all other matters where your heart may lead! Start taking good care of your heart in your younger years by establishing healthy habits. Never think you are too young (or too old) to try and live healthier and be well. 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 month, live healthy and be well!

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February 2018

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