Georgia Mountain Laurel February 2020

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from the Publisher

L-O-V-E, that beautiful four lettered word that can make us feel emotions we’ve never felt, both bad and good. This is the month that we celebrate it! Whether you have just fallen in love or fall in love over again each day OR have glorious memories of a love that has passed, all of these things are a huge part of why we are here. Created to show love and accept it, actually commanded to love by our Creator. Love goes beyond the one whose hand you hold and lips you kiss. It is also a part of our friendships, our families and mankind as a whole. I try to show love each day and like a kid with a triple decker ice cream cone, I lap it up! Love hugs and pecks on the cheek, really, who doesn’t?

This issue speaks of love in many different ways, from filling bellies at The Family Table with Lorie Thompson to exploring with Peter McIntosh, we share the love. We talked with some fantastic folks at the Rabun County Senior Center about “courting”. Today things are much different than it was back in the day.. This issue will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy for sure!

We’d like to wish you a Happy Valentines Day and hope that you are loved and cherished by someone special.

For our single readers don’t feel left out, celebrate with friends. That is some good love too!

Don’t despair, spring is on its way and who doesn’t LOVE spring? In the meantime get out and explore this pleasant place we call home.

XOXO

Georgia Mountain Laurel Mailing: PO Box 2218, Clayton, Georgia 30525 Office: 2511 Highway 441, Mountain City, Georgia 30562 706-782-1600 • www.gmlaurel.com

February 2020 • Volume Seventeen • Issue Two Contributing Writers: Steve Jarrard, MD, John Shivers, Emory Jones, Jan Timms, Lorie Thompson, Liz Alley, Dick Cinquina, Dr. Amanda Howard Pileski

Tracy Publisher/Editor - Tracy McCoy Assistant Editor - D’Anna Coleman Art Director - Dianne VanderHorst Graphic Designer - Lucas McCoy Office Manager/ Account Executive - Cindi Freeman Account Executive - Melynda Hensley Photographer/Writer - Peter McIntosh

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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In This Issue Mountain History 10 14

Courtin’ in the Mountains Rabun County Historical Society Long Before Clayton, There was the Dividings

Arts and Entertainment 16 18

Celebrate Clayton Arts Festival NGAG - Skye Love

Affairs to Remember 20 22 23

Mountain Happenings - Area Calendar Rabun County Civic Center presents The Malpass Brothers Towns County Events

Outdoors 24 26

Adventure Out PAWS for Life

Faith in Christ 30

River Garden

Outdoors 34 38

Lake Rabun Home For All Styles of Living Tate City Property Offers So Many Options

Health and Wellness

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Live Healthy and Be Well Rabun County Mental Health BeeHive Homes

A Taste 48 50 54

Bon AppĂŠtit

Family Table Restaurant Review - Iron & Oak

Life and Leisure 56 58 8 - February 2020

My Brother

By the Way

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The Love Stories of a Great Generation – Courtin’ in the Mountains

by Tracy McCoy

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had just put one guy ‘on the road’ when two fellas pulled up to talk to me and my cousin. I didn’t know that this would be the love of my life. He asked if we wanted to ride around and I told him that I didn’t ride around with strangers. He said his name was Wayne and he just wanted to talk to me. I told him I was headed to Main Street and I’d park in front of Belk’s and he could come up there and talk to me. He was from Franklin and I didn’t know him. He followed us up town and we parked and talked awhile. I had to be home by midnight, but I reckon he liked me ‘cause he asked if he could come back the next night to see me. I told him ‘If you want to see me, you’ll have to come to my house and meet my mother.’ He asked me if he could follow me home so he’d know where I lived.

I told him that’d be ok. I didn’t know if he would show up but I got ready anyway. He came and he met my mama and they started talking and figured out they knew a lot of the same people. They talked and talked and I decided I better get him out of there before we ended up kin!” This was the beginning of what would go on to be a wonderful marriage between Marilyn Mitchell and Wayne Ballew. They married in Walhalla, South Carolina at the court house like many couples. The Ballews went on to raise two children, Russell and Deborah. “We were married for 43 years. When I lost Wayne I lost the greatest love I’ve ever known.” Marilyn said.

Dating today is very different than it was in those days. There were hoops to jump through and parents to meet. Intentions had to be stated before a young lady was permitted to get into your car and go anywhere. Curfews were strict and parents waited up to be sure they were met. Relationships may begin with a glance across a full sanctuary or by carrying her books from class to class. The first kiss was never given on the first date and holding hands was a big

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deal. In Rabun County one of the best places to meet a girl was the Mountain City Playhouse. On Friday and Saturday nights young and old would go to dance and mingle. It was there that Albert Thrasher first saw Peggy Pleasants.

Albert was home from Georgia Tech and he and a friend came to the popular Playhouse. It was there that he saw her, “She was tanned and beautiful with those long legs. I mean she was a real looker!” Albert said with a grin. When he inquired about who she was his friend said, “She is not your type, you are wasting your time.” Well, Albert was so taken with Peggy that he struck up a conversation, they talked and danced. Weeks later when the night ended he asked “Can I take you home?” and she agreed. He carried her to her mother’s house and walked her to the door. “I hoped for a peck on the cheek but didn’t get it. She stood on the doorstep till I left.” The rest of the story was that Peggy’s mother was out of town, she didn’t want Albert to know that her mother was not home so she didn’t invite him in.

In fact she was to stay with her grandparents, so in the dark she walked to their home. Albert didn’t give up, he courted Peggy Pleasants and found her to be “fearless”. He finally got some “sugar” on the porch of Ma Clyde’s (Peggy’s mother) house. Feeling quite accomplished he leaned up against the porch post which gave way, sending him into the bushes where the chickens had roosted. It was an eventful night for sure. Peggy could cook, she wasn’t afraid of anything, she was and still is the most beautiful girl Albert has ever seen.

The couple celebrated 60 years in September of 2019. They have a son, Albert (Al) Thrasher, III and a daughter, Julielynn Stuckey.

Beverly Mitchell was not as fortunate as her twin, Marilyn the first time around. She found herself a single mother of

three children, Sonya, Shelia and Les. For twelve years Bev worked and raised her children. Marilyn’s husband Wayne came to her and told her he had a guy she should meet. She declined and continued to do so for six to eight months.

Wayne was insistent about what a great guy this fellow was and how he’d be perfect for Bev. There was a singing planned at the Shirt Factory park and Wayne brought his friend to meet Bev. She arrived and walked down into the park and met Lewis Mason, the man who would steal her heart. The couple hit it off even better than Wayne thought they would and began dating. “He never once raised his voice to me. He loved me and I did him and my kids loved him.” Bev told me. “We decided to get married but didn’t want to do it close to Lewis’ birthday which was April The Mountain City Playhouse was the perfect place for dancing and Courtin’.

9th. Our friends Lane and Paula told us if we’d get married on April 9th we could go with them on a trip to the Amish Country for a “honeymoon”. Lewis and Bev got married in the park where they met in a sweet but simple ceremony with family. The twins and their spouses traveled together over the years. Lewis and Bev had been married for 15 years when he passed away. Today Bev and Marilyn spend their time together and stay close.

Lillian Darnell was a beautiful young lady raised in the Betty’s Creek community. She attended Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School where she played basketball. Jack Smith was a young serviceman who had just came back from serving in Korea.

Stationed in Valdosta, Georgia, Jack had come home for the weekend to see his folks. He was in Clayton and saw a girl he had met a year earlier and he asked her to dinner and she agreed. The couple went to Twin Lakes in Tiger for dinner.

Jack still has the toothpick holder from that night. He went back to Valdosta and each weekend he came home he would see Lillian. A favorite spot was the Mountain City Playhouse.

When it came time to meet the parents Jack remembers pulling up to the house, walking across the bridge under the trees where the chickens roosted. He walked around to the front door and saw her Granny Norton sitting in the corner by the window. He went in and met her mother and sister, Jackie, and then got to talking to her granny. She had been raised in a stillhouse at the head of Betty’s Creek and they hit it off real well. They talked about making liquor and dogs.

He dated Lillian and married her six months later.

Jack and Lillian’s car, decorated by friends.

After Jack and Lillian got married she moved with him to a trailer in South Georgia. One night he caught an alligator that was crossing the road and put it in the trunk of the car to bring home. “She liked to have left me,” he said with a chuckle. “I had a lot of friends in the park and we liked to hunt. Well, I brought a couple of baby coons home one night that were on their own. Lillian got an eye-dropper and fed those baby coons. We decided to move home, so I packed up the Ford Coupe and put the alligator in the trunk and the coons up front. We tied the ironing board across the back bumper and hit the road. We warmed milk on the heater and pulled off to continued on page 12

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Courtin’ in the Mountains - continued feed the coons,” he said. When Jack and Lillian came back to Rabun County they moved in with his parents until they could set up housekeeping. He put the alligator in an old trough and gave the coons to his daddy. The alligator didn’t make it and the coons wandered off.

Jack attended North Georgia Technical school, studying both plumbing and to be an electrician. He was the only one in the county who could do both and he stayed busy!

Lillian and Jack had two beautiful girls Gail and Tina. Lillian worked many years at the telephone company. The couple was married for 61 1/2 years.

Rodney Coleman and June Grist grew up together. They both graduated from Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School a year apart. Rodney volunteered for the Korean War; he was in the Airborne. He came home on the weekends and went to see June each time. He was six months away from being discharged and June asked Rodney to marry her. He asked to think about it overnight and the next day he said, “Yes.” They got married on Sept 11th of 1949. She moved with her Army husband to North Carolina. Rodney applied to the University of Georgia through the GI Bill. He was accepted and earned a degree as an Entomologist. June attended LaGrange college. She enjoyed buck dancing and was a talented pianist. After graduation, Rodney went on to teach Entomology at UGA. Rodney and June were married for 50 years before she passed away. The couple had three daughters and a son.

Bob and Jean Dennis were both born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina. Bob had a buddy named Butch who was Jean’s cousin and Bob met her when she was 14 years old. Jean and Bob were sweet on each other and began “courtin”. Two years flew by and when Jean turned 16, Bob asked her to marry him. The couple went to her mother and she agreed to sign for Jean to get married. They lived and raised their two children in the Greenville area.

They now make their home in Mountain City. They’ve been together for 63 years and are the proud grandparents of five grandchildren.

Each of these couples went into their marriages with a forever mindset. They worked through hard times, alligators, raising children and coons, earning degrees and roosting chickens. They spent a lifetime or as long as the good Lord gave them being faithful, respecting and loving their spouses. Their memories sustain them and while they miss their husbands and wives, they are thankful to have known such great love. There is much that could be learned from those who opened doors and asked permission.

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Rabun County Historical Society

Long Before Clayton, There Was The Dividings

By Dick Cinquina

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oads passing through Clayton—Highways 441/23 and 76 and Warwoman Road—are daily reminders of a distant past when the Appalachians in northeastern Georgia were known as the Cherokee Mountains. And in the land that became Rabun County, the major Cherokee trails, which are now our highways and byways, converged at The Dividings in present-day Clayton.

Early explorers and settlers classified the Cherokee into three groupings, depending on their location and dialect: Lower, Middle, and Over-the-Hill. Rabun County was home to at least four Cherokee settlements. A Middle settlement was located on Stekoa Creek, southeast of Clayton. An Over-the-Hill settlement called Tallulah was situated on the upper portion of the Tallulah River to the west.

Two other Cherokee settlements are of unknown grouping: Chicherohe (Chechero), located along Warwoman Creek east of Clayton and destroyed during the Revolutionary War, and Eastertoy (Estatowee) several miles to the north near Dillard.

There is no evidence that The Dividings was a Cherokee settlement. Instead, it was a key intersection of five major Indian trails that linked the Cherokee in and around Rabun County to such points south as Charleston, Augusta and Savannah and areas to the north in western North Carolina and Virginia.

Clayton’s Warwoman Road follows one of these trails. (Route marked A on accompanying map). Running eastward out of The Dividings, the trail passed through the Cherokee settlement of Chicherohe and followed Warwoman Creek to a ford across the Chattooga River into South Carolina. It then proceeded over the Oconnee Mountains and branched into trails leading to Charleston and Virginia. Warwoman was an honored title among the Cherokee. It was their custom to take a woman along on war parties to cook and sew. When one proved her mettle on multiple expeditions, she was given the honorific “Warwoman.”

A second major Cherokee trail out of The Dividings led to the southeast toward South Carolina. Highway 76 East from Clayton follows this trail today. (Route B on map).

Highway 441/23 heading north from present-day Clayton was built upon a third Cherokee trail out of The Dividings.

(Route C on map). The trail, which connected Cherokee

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settlements around Franklin, North Carolina, passed through Mountain City, originally known as Pass Over since it was located in the valley passing through the Blue Ridge. The trail then proceeded through Rabun Gap and on to Franklin.

In 1827 the Georgia legislature appropriated money for the construction of a north-south road through Rabun County.

Following Cherokee trails, this road was known as the Locust Stake Road since a locust stake marked the end of the road at the North Carolina state line. The legislature mandated that all people living within five miles of the road were liable to help with its construction.

Highway 441/23 South follows a fourth Cherokee trail out of The Dividings. (Route D on map). After about one and onehalf miles south of The Dividings, the trail branched into two paths. One branch led to the southwest, following the course of the old Tallulah Falls Railroad to Tallulah Falls and then to South Carolina. The second branch led south to Toccoa and then to Augusta and Savannah.

Highway 76 West follows the fifth Cherokee Trail out of The Dividings. (Route E on map). Known as the Hiawassee Trail, it led westward through the valley along Timpson Creek, crossed the Tallulah River at a point that is now the northernmost arm of Lake Burton, and proceeded to northwest Georgia. There is some evidence to suggest that Timpson Creek was named for John Timson, a Cherokee who allegedly was the first convert of Baptist missionaries in this area.

Although not technically a part of The Dividings, a sixth major Cherokee trail in Rabun County connected present-day Rabun Gap on the trail headed north from The Dividings with the Hiawassee Trail to the southwest. (Route F on map). This is thought to have been a short-cut from Cherokee settlements around Franklin, N.C. to points west.

Fast-forward several hundred years. The land that became Rabun County was ceded (a polite term for a forced transaction) by the Cherokee to the state of Georgia in 1819. The county, named after Governor William Rabun, was organized later that year. Claytonsville, named after a prominent jurist and congressman, Judge Augustin S. Clayton, was founded in 1821 as the county seat. The town was incorporated in 1823 and renamed Clayton.

In 1830, President Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act, which gave the federal government the power to exchange Native-held land east of the Mississippi for land to the west in the Indian Territory, now present-day Oklahoma. By 1838, only about 2,000 Cherokee had left their Georgia homeland for Indian Territory. President Martin Van Buren sent General Winfield Scott and 7,000 soldiers to expedite the removal process. They marched the Indians more than 1,200 miles to Indian Territory. Whooping cough, typhus, dysentery, cholera and starvation were epidemic along the way, and historians estimate that more than 5,000 Cherokee died on the infamous Trail of Tears.

The Cherokee are gone from northeast Georgia. The Dividings became Clayton. But a visible part of Rabun County’s Indian heritage lives on. We drive on Cherokee trails every day.

Native Americans ceded all of their homelands in Georgia to the colonial and state governments during the roughly 100-year period between 1733 and 1836.

The Cherokee ceded the land in far northeastern Georgia that became Rabun County in 1819.

The county was established that same year.

Map: Ed Jackson

Become a member of the Rabun County Historical Society and help keep our history alive for generations to come.

Memberships and complete information about the Society are available at www.rabunhistory.org.

Our museum at 81 N. Church St. in Clayton is open 10-2 every Monday and Friday and admission is free. You also can visit us on Facebook. The Society is a not-for-profit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, making your membership dues and donations fully tax deductible.

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Celebrate Clayton Art Festival – Celebrating Fine Art Since 1999

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t’s Winter – cold, damp, and dreary. But before you know it, Spring will greet us with balmy days, colorful flowers, and, best of all, the 22nd Annual Celebrate Clayton Art Festival, April 25 & 26 on Main Street in downtown Clayton.

Presented by the North Georgia Arts Guild, the popular family-friendly event welcomes you to stay all day or all weekend. Looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift? Decorating the cabin or lake house? Browse the Artist Market where more than 100 artists exhibit their original art and fine crafts. Hungry? Food stands are scattered throughout offering sweet and savory fare. Ready for a break? Take a seat on the lawn and enjoy live music from the Rock House stage. Bring the kids to the Kids Corner to make and take their very own hand printed artwork. And while you’re there, see the work of Rabun County’s talented young artists exhibiting in the student art competition.

Finding Art

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The North Georgia Arts Guild is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Festival proceeds fund scholarships for Scouts, and artistically talented high school seniors, and art programs for the community. Your support and sponsorship help to continue the NGAG Scholarship and Outreach Programs.

If you wish to exhibit at Celebrate Clayton, visit celebrateclayton.com/apply. To support your community as a sponsor, contact Kathy Ford, Celebrate Clayton Chairman, at 706-212-9958.

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North Georgia Arts Guild

Skye Love – Detail and Color in Clay

By Susan Brewer

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kye Love is a twenty-one year old ceramic artist who introduced herself last November to North Georgia Arts Guild members during the monthly meeting. Her grandmother is Grandma Lee, whom the guild knows as Laura Loveless; she’s a guild member and master potter. At her urging, Skye spoke for ten minutes to the assembled artists and asked for feedback and pricing suggestions, while wondering aloud about the possibility of becoming an artist full time.

With surprising skill, her works transform traditional clay shapes into worlds alive with vibrant colors. Her three dimensional designs are carefully crafted and balanced. One built-up surface represents a seabed; another, the forest floor. Richly textured sea barnacles seem wet, and there are toadstools, dragonflies, moss, clams, jellyfish, and swirls of water. The lips of coffee cups and other edges offer pop-up surprises of their own that include snails and more toadstools. There are also fairy home coffee cups and coffee cup hobbit dwellings. These delicate objects are comfortable to feel and hold. The decoration rests on a body that is light and thin.

During the interview, Skye described how she assembles these works: “I’m really good at score and slip, though here is an early work where the pieces popped off.” Scoring refers to scratching into pieces of wet clay so to join them together using a glue-like clay and water paste called slip. Frequently, she is not one to follow rules. “Don’t mix your

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NGAG

glazes” was suggested to her by Grandma Lee. Skye made clear the opposing view, “I like to break the rules. For instance, I broke the rules by mixing all my colors together to see what would happen. So now, I have a lot of colors.

With pottery, you never know what you’re going to get… but now, I know.” She prefers doing things this way, finding out for herself.

When I suggested she seemed to have a great deal of focus, she laughed. “I’d say I’m all over the place! I have always been a person of self-expression. I think that is how (and why) I got into art. I’ve always liked doing what other people don’t do. I’ve learned to take a medium I like and bend the rules with it.” Ah, bending the rules, that’s it!

As she described how her works came about, I learned that she had been working two nights a week when most of these were made. She is working three jobs now. Will that put the brakes on her work? Maybe. Her art, though, is established; it has developed deep roots early. This isn’t the result of college training. She wasn’t a fan of high school and left after two years, though later she got her GED. She traveled to New Zealand for nine months and worked as an aux pair. She’s traveled around the country and spent time with her partner Nathan in Miami. There they went snorkeling and Skye explained to me how that experience has affected her art. “It’s easy to notice texture variations of the living world. I love the weirdness. You know, I don’t believe in aliens, but the ocean to me is an alien world with so many textures and colors. It’s so artistic and beautiful—it’s perfect.”

We talked for a moment about our shared concern over the dying sea and the damage mankind is doing to the planet. The truth was painful for us to think about. Skye balanced this thoughtful moment by mentioning the nature of man: facts are impossible for humans to grasp unless they are immediate, here, and impossible to ignore. That is true. Why is carbon and the impact it has upon the planet so hard to understand? What will Skye’s life face, that we’re not preparing for right now?

Skye is considering a move to Asheville in a few years. She travels there a lot and is excited about the art community which is part of that scene. Currently, she lives and works in Clayton. Wish her the best! I know I do.

Susan Brewer has been writing articles featuring North Georgia Arts Guild members since April 2017. Email your comments/questions to her at sbrewer991@gmail.com

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Mountain Happenings

February & March 2020

March 20th - 29th 2020 Georgia Wine Highway Week Wineries in Northeast Georgia Info: georgiawine.com STEPHENS COUNTY The Ritz Theater Toccoa Info: www.ritztheatretoccoa.com February 8th Southern Gospel Music Richard South and Singers February 13th Milkshake Mayfield March 6th A Night of Jazz with TFC March 14th Southern Gospel Music The Troy Burns Family March 19th John Conlee HABERSHAM COUNTY February 1st Habersham United Way Night at the Derby Cornelia Community House Cornelia Info: 706.778.0620, 706.809.0139 February 6th - 9th, 13th - 16th “Number The Stars” Habersham Community Theater Clarkesville Info: 706-839-1315 www.habershamtheater.org February 22nd Mardi Gras Main Street Clarkesville Info: 706.754.2220 WHITE COUNTY February 8th - 9th Faschingsverein Weekend Helen Info: 706.878.2181 February 15th - 16th WinterFest Arts & Coach Tour Sautee Nacoochee Center, Sautee Unicoi State Park, Helen Helen Arts & Heritage Center, Helen Info: winterartstour.org February 15th Fasching (German Mardi Gras) Festhalle, Helen Info: 706.878.1908

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March 14th St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Babyland General Hospital Cleveland Info: 706.865.2171 cabbagepatchkids.com March 22nd - 23rd Alpine Helen Songwriters’ Festival Helen Info: 706.878.2181 March 28th 31st Annual Trout Tournament Helen Info: 706.878.1908 Hardman Farm State Historic Site Sautee Nacoochee Info: 706.878.1077 March 1st Hardman Farm Opening Day Farm Animal Fun Day Emory Jones Book Signing March 28th Remarkable Georgia Women RABUN COUNTY

February 21st Lorinda Jones & Na Skylark February 28th Berea College Bluegrass Ensemble March 21st Empty Bowls Fund Raiser Peacock Performing Arts Center Hayesville Info: 828.389.2787 thepeacocknc.org February 8th Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’ Blues March 6th - 8th, 13th - 15th “Out of Order” March 28th Vintage Vixens MACON COUNTY, NC February 15th and the 3rd Saturday SEBA Jam Cowee School - Arts & Heritage Ctr. Franklin Info: 828.349.1945

February 8th Sweetheart Ball Rabun County Civic Center Clayton Info: 706.782.1003

February 22nd Mardi Gras in the Mountains Downtown Franklin Info: 828.369.0092

March 14th The Malpass Brothers in Concert Rabun County Civic Center Clayton Info: rabuncountyeventvenues.com

Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts Franklin Info: 866.273.4615; 828.524.1598 GreatMountainMusic.com

TOWNS COUNTY February 15th Concert: Mickey Gilley, T.G. Sheppard, Johnny Rodriguez Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds Hiawassee Info: 706.896.4191 georgiamountainfairgrounds.com CLAY COUNTY, NC John C. Campbell Folk School Brasstown Info: 828.837.2775 February 4th and each Tuesday Tuesday Night Contra & Square Dance

February 13th - 15th “Let the Good Times Roll” A Dinner Show February 21st Ashley Campbell February 29th Newsboys United Greatness of Our God Tour with Mandisa & Adam Agee March 27th - 28th Disney’s Aladdin Jr. A Youth Theatre Production Highlands Performing Arts Center Highlands Info: 828.526.9047 February 1st The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess

February 7th Riley Baugus in Concert

February 29th Handel’s Agrippina

February 13th Curtis Jones Concert

March 14th Wahner’s Der Fliegende Hollander

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Rabun County Civic Center presents the Malpass Brothers

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f you like cornbread, hush puppies, sweet tea, barbecue, collards and corn puddinn’ at a homecoming covered dish, you’re gonna love the Malpass Brothers.

That’s a promise. And you don’t lie about a covered dish supper. This is the real deal, folks. There is no pretense. This is music steeped in the legacy of the Louvin Brothers, Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, Hank Williams Sr. and others. Count on classic, real country. Count on new Malpass tunes. Count on a couple of old-time traditional gospels. County on giggles between brothers.

You can even count on some big hair, fancy boots and maybe even an Elvis twitch or two.

As young boys, Christopher and Taylor Malpass soaked up the music of their grandad’s phonograph records. Christopher earned his first talent show trophy at age 7, and Taylor was playing mandolin by the time he was 10. Today, they promote the work and music of classic country artists they treasure while creating new music and making their own mark in the lineage of a rich American cultural heritage.

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With sincerity, honesty and an utter ease on stage that belies their years, their smooth vocal blend and skillful musicianship layer infectiously into the deep respect they pay to legends who have paved the way. Add the funny, off-the-cuff quips between the two 20-something siblings, and the engaging concert becomes a magnetic time-traveling journey to when a calmer rhythm reigned supreme.

The Malpass Brothers toured with the late Don Helms, former steel guitarist for Hank Williams, have opened for music legend Merle Haggard on multiple tours and appeared on stages from the Shetland Islands to Ryman Auditorium to Merlefest. Gifted musicians and songwriters, the brothers have shared billing with artists including Ray Price, Willie Nelson, Doyle Lawson, Rhonda Vincent, Marty Stuart, Doc Watson and more. The title cut video from their “Memory That Bad” album hit CMT Pure Country’s Top Ten. Their most recent self-titled recording, produced by bluegrass legend Doyle Lawson, was released by Crossroads’ Organic Records in 2015.* Rabun County Civic Center is thrilled to present the Malpass Brothers this March 14, 2020! *themalpassbrothers.com

Wildcat Mountain Sunset

Adventure Out

Wildcat Mountain Overlook

by Peter McIntosh ince this is Valentine’s month, we’re taking a nice short hike up the Appalachian Trail to a rock outcropping along the ridge line of Wildcat Mountain. A great spot to share with your special someone. The trailhead is at the high point of the Richard Russell Scenic Highway at Hogpen Gap. There are a couple of nice roadside overlooks near Hogpen Gap, both facing southeast offering a nice view of Mount Yonah and further in the distance, Currahee Mountain.

It’s interesting to note that both of these mountains have a military significance. The rock face on Yonah is where the U.S. Army Rangers learn technical climbing and, in case you don’t know, Currahee was the famous training center for the Army’s elite 10th Mountain Division as they prepared for the D-Day invasion. There is another overlook at the north end of the Hogpen Gap parking area, offering stunning views to the northeast where you can easily spot the observation tower on Georgia’s highest mountain, Brasstown Bald. Hightower Bald

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and the far mountains of North Carolina can also be seen from this spot.

At Hogpen Gap, we’re going to hike south on the AT. (2 x 6 inch white blaze) It’s actually west, but in AT terms it’s south.

After following the blazes on a grassy path, going south from the parking area, we cross the highway where the trail leads off into the forest and ascends via switchbacks about ¼ mile to the top of the ridge line. At the top of the ridge, the AT continues off to the right and a side trail leading to a shelter goes to the left. This is our trail, which we follow for about another ¼ mile until coming to an opening leading out to the rock face looking west. Cowrock Mountain is just across from you and to the northwest are the many layered mountains of the Nottely River Watershed and to the southwest are the Appalachian Foothills. This is a great place to watch a sunset, even better with a little wine and cheese... Or wine and chocolates if you

want to be romantic. If you’re going around Valentine’s Day it will surely be chilly, so bring a foam pad to sit on and maybe a lightweight sleeping bag to fend off the cold. The sunsets here can be spectacular so bring a headlamp or two so you won’t be afraid to stay past twilight. It’s an easy hike back out.

Now may I suggest you cap off your adventure by taking your Valentine to dinner at Clayton’s new steakhouse, Iron & Oak? Jen Tyler and her crew will take great care of you. (See their article and awesome pictures taken by me on page 54) Happy Hiking!

‘Tis no need to be contrary, here’s my poem for February: We’re going on a trip that has views aplenty, But do dress warmly just in case it’s a bit wintry.

Magnificent views you will soon partake, And then go reward yourself with a nice juicy steak!

Getting there: From Burton Dam Road and GA 197 go 3 miles to GA 356. Go 11 miles on GA 356 to intersection with GA 17-75 at Robertstown. (stop at Fred’s Famous Peanuts for some terrific garlic fried peanuts) Go north about 3/10 of a mile on 17-75 and turn left over Chattahoochee onto Alt 75.

Go a little over 2 miles to intersection with Richard Russell Scenic Highway (GA 348) on right. It’s a little over 7 miles to Hogpen Gap. There are two waterfalls along this route but we’re going for the overlooks on this trip.

To see more of Peter’s photos, or if you have a question or comment: www.mcintoshmountains.com Iron & Oak Steakhouse: In the old Granny’s location next to the Rusty Bike.

677 Hwy 441 South 706.960.9270 www.ironoakclayton.com

Appalachian Trail, Hogpen Gap Marker

View of Yonah and Currahee

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Hello Everyone, Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Eugene. It’s not my birth name; no one is sure what that was, but the name seems to fit me pretty well. I came to be Eugene when I was brought into the shelter as a stray a little over 600 days ago (that’s 4,200 in dog days). Currently I am the longest resident here at the shelter. I’ve made lots of friends, and I’ve seen lots of other dogs come and go when the right human decided to open their home and heart to them.

The highlight of my day is when I get to take Everett for his walks and I’m outside in the fresh air and sun. Oh boy sun – I LOVE the sun. It’s so warm and feels so good. I really want to run and play and play and run; a fenced in yard would be a dream come true!

When Everett and I take our walk I let him rub my belly and tell me how handsome I am. I enjoy that and I don’t want to sound vane but handsome pretty much does describe me. I mean look at these eyes.

To my best guess I’m around 7 years old. I’m a genuine Heinz 57 which I hear is a super special breed. If I had to do the whole ancestry thing, my best guess would be I have some Boxer and Hound in me. My coat is soft and brindle in color and I know I mentioned my eyes before but they are so beautiful I feel they deserve another mention.

When you come to meet me I am going to be very excited; it’s just I’m trying to make a really good impression. OMG I can’t wait to meet you!!!! You can come by the shelter first thing and let Everett know you are here for me; he will be just as excited as I am.

Love you already!

Eugene Visit our shelter at 261 Boen Creek Road, Tiger, GA 30576. Call us for information, or to report lost/missing/found animals in Rabun County 706.782.5422 Donations for the care of our animals are always appreciated.

Mail to PAWS 4 Life – PO Box 216, Clayton, GA 30525

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Tina Anzo REALTOR ® 404.964.2363

www.TinaAnzo.com

809 Hwy 441 South Clayton, GA 30525

Your Home is Waiting...

68 Old Bridge Ln Lake Burton MLS 8590996 $750,000

5050 Crow Creek Lakemont, GA Lake Seed MLS 8718570 $249,000

251 Shakespeare Dr Kingwood Unit: 321 MLS 8638337 $139,000

How hard will I work for you?

Glen Eagle Condo LISTED, UNDER CONTRACT & SOLD in 7 DAYS!!

This is what one of my Sellers had to say about me: “Tina did a fantastic job helping us sell our lake house. She is an energetic bundle of creativity and did a fabulous job marketing our property! She helped us price the house correctly and brought the tools and resources we needed to get it properly staged. We received competing offers in the first few days because of the advertising and momentum she created. If you are looking for an agent who will give your property the time and attention it deserves, Tina is the Realtor to choose! Thanks again to Tina and the entire Poss Realty Team!”

Build Your Dream Home on One of These Mountain or Lake View Properties

Parker Hollifield Lane Above Lake Burton MLS 8140952 $125,000

Highway 197 Unit: 2.52 MLS 8607758 $69,900

Charlie’s Way - Sylvan Lake Falls MLS 8381184 $44,000

0 Alto - Sylvan Lake Falls MLS 8373065 $27,000

I love what I do, give me the opportunity to work for you!

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Lake Rabun Home Ideal for All Styles of Living

by John Shivers

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he tri-level home at 3250 Brandon Mill Road in Lakemont offers three times the fun and livability on a small footprint, leading to a gigantic opportunity for a Lake Rabun residency.

If you’re looking for a great weekend place at a fantastic price, look no farther. And if your goal is to find a house with full-time potential, check out this property for sure. With a bedroom and full bath on each of the three levels, and two kitchen areas, this home packs a lot of wow into one custom package.

Outside, this home is clad in sturdy concrete siding with a country cabin color scheme that borrows its inspiration from the heavily wooded lot. The roof is standard composition. Two spacious outdoor living spaces, an open deck and a covered porch, expand the living opportunities, and lead to a staircase that opens up to the more than one hundred feet of waterfront that goes with this home. Consider the lake as your front yard!

There’s plenty of untapped possibility on this one-acre± lot, whether you’re looking to build a two-story, two-stall boathouse or a custom lakeside living area. Turn your imagination loose follow where it leads!

This home, nestled in a heavily wooded setting off Old Highway 441 in south Rabun County, means you’re almost in an exclusive world of your own. Yet you’re mere minutes from the shopping and dining opportunities in Clayton, by way of the Wiley Connector onto Highway 441. Talk about the best of both worlds! This three-level home with 1,768± square feet was built in 2003 and is the perfect family home for today. Plus it has great growth potential for tomorrow, should you wish to expand.

Looking at the home from the top down, the spacious bedroom found on the uppermost level nestled amongst the treetops is almost a sanctuary within itself. Complete with a small sitting area perfect for admiring the four-seasonal lake and mountain views or enjoying that great read, you’ve got privacy. Yet you’re mere steps from the main floor, the kitchen, and that snack you need to tide you over.

Both top levels feature naturally finished tongue and grove vertical paneling on walls and ceiling, which marries the home to the wooded nature of the site. The master bedroom and second full bath are on this level, along with a full kitchen and adjacent dining area. A built-in range and oven, refrigerator, dishwasher and microwave make meal preparation a breeze, and you’re only steps away from the center of all the action.

Two of the bathrooms include separate garden tubs and spacious shower stalls.

A vaulted ceiling crowns the many windows that open onto the deck that leads from the paved parking area, where multiple vehicles have room to conveniently unload passengers and groceries.

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The great room is characterized by lots of windows, a free-standing stove with gas logs, and black wrought iron accents.

Custom-designed banister inserts echo the wooded nature of the lot. Convenience and livability are found throughout this creatively-designed home.

On the lower level, the third bedroom and full bath provide additional full-time sleeping space. With a functional kitchenette and the adjacent living area, this level is ideal for the teenagers or the in-laws. It’s rare to find such wide open spaces that deliver so much privacy at the same time. The home’s laundry room is also on this level that opens to the large, covered deck.

Harry Norman, REALTORS® Luxury Lake and Mountain Agent Sarah Gillespie represents this charming country cabin, GMLS #8643097. Contact Sarah at (cell) 404-735-6157 or (office) 706-212-0228 for more information and to view this property.

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Tate City Property Offers So Many Options

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by John Shivers here aren’t many real estate property listings that offer buyers a chance to catch native North Georgia trout from the privacy and comfort of their own front yard. But if hooking the big ones is your kettle of fish, you’ll definitely want to check out the more than seven acre country mountain estate at 2080 Tate City Road.

And if the fishing possibilities on some 700 feet of the Tallulah River don’t excite you, perhaps the accommodations for your horses might be more to your liking? The positive attributes of this property that actually lies just inside Towns County are many, in addition to the fishing and the equestrian aspects. For one thing, the tract has an amazing amount of flat, usable land nestled among the mountains that surround it.

In addition to the river, a burbling creek meanders through the back yard. Sit on your covered back porch with the laurel wood railings, within sight and earshot of the creek, and survey your definitely one-of-a-kind compound.

There are flowers and vegetables both in season, and the natural beauty of the north Georgia mountains is there year-round, as Mother Nature goes about her business. This property offers the owner just as much to do or just as little to do as you wish. Work or play, this remote sanctuary gives you the freedom to chart your own agenda and live life the way that best fits you.

Nestled beneath the mature trees that set this property apart, you’ll find the main house. Outside its rustic board and batten exterior is crowned by a long-life metal roof. The laurel wood railings only add to the charm, and front and back covered porches hint to the laidback lifestyle that awaits. A detached, oversize two-car garage is reached by a covered walkway.

And there’s even a covered shelter for your fifth-wheel, boat or RV. The expansive horse barn offers the chance for a business operation.

But you’ll want a place to lay your head at night, so you can recharge your batteries for another great day in paradise. Inside this well-maintained home that was built in 1999, you’ll find two large bedrooms and three baths. One bedroom is upstairs, overlooking the great room below, and is flooded with light.

Downstairs, another spacious, light-filled bedroom and bath give you the option of sleeping up or down. Much of the interior is clad in tongue and groove wood and provides a warm and welcoming setting for you and your guests. A mountain winter evening will always be comfortable and sheltering, thanks to the huge mountain stone fireplace with an insert. A second spacious sitting area with a wood stove adds to the home’s hospitality.

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And you gotta eat. The comfortable-sized kitchen with a full complement of appliances makes meal preparation a breeze. Cook inside, or throw some steaks on a grill outside and chow down. Inside, there’s a breakfast area as well as a generous-size dining area, making it easy to feed the crowd.

This property is a utopia, and is well suited for year-round living. The house is large enough to comfortably accommodate family and friends. But there’s also the easy potential to enlarge the home’s footprint to exactly fit your individual needs. The owner would entertain the possibility of a 1031 Exchange, in addition to conventional financing.

To visualize yourself sitting by the fire pit on a dark mountain night or listening to the music of rambling water, check out MLS #8864362. Contact Poss Realty Agent Larry Jarrett at 706-982-2265, at the office at 706-782-2121 or at larryjarrett73@gmail. com.

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Live Healthy and Be Well Pancreas Primer

by Stephen Jarrard, MD, FACS

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his month we will talk a bit about one of the less glamorous and possibly understated organs of the body, the pancreas. I also want to touch on three of the most common disorders of the pancreas so that you will know a little more about that. Most of the time, if all is well, you will never even know your pancreas is there, but it’s those times that you might feel it or know it that we want to discuss and provide some more information. Also, we’ll touch on the wellness aspect by discussing how to prevent certain pancreatic illnesses and keep your pancreas optimally functional.

The pancreas is a glandular organ located right behind the stomach that is part of both our digestive and endocrine systems. The head of the pancreas tucks into the “C” shaped loop of the duodenum, which is the first part of the small intestine as it leaves the stomach.

The body and tail stretch across the upper part of the abdomen to the left side and almost touch the spleen (see diagram). The pancreas is a digestive organ in that it secretes pancreatic juice which contains enzymes that assist in digestion and absorption

of nutrients in the small intestine. These are secreted via the pancreatic duct and empty into the duodenum, where bile from the gallbladder is also secreted. These enzymes help to further break down the carbohydrates, proteins, and fats in the food we eat. However, the pancreas is dual purpose, and is also an

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endocrine gland producing several important hormones, including insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, and pancreatic polypeptide.

These circulate in the blood and help to regulate other body systems and processes to keep the balance we need for proper health and wellness.

There are three conditions that we would like you to know about in which you will know your pancreas is there, and it will cause you some problems that require professional medical help. The first is pancreatic laceration or rupture. This is not very common, and usually happens in a trauma situation such as a motor vehicle accident (MVA), fall from a height, or a hard “hit” in sports such as football. If the pancreas ruptures, it is possible that the digestive enzymes it produces can be released into the abdomen and activated to cause “self digestion” of surrounding tissue. At a minimum, it would lead to intense inflammation in the upper abdomen which can affect other nearby organs and structures. In this situation, a CT scan could identify the problem and a surgical consult obtained in case this needs to be addressed with an operation.

The second condition that the pancreas plays a major role in is Type I Diabetes, or DM1. As you may recall from our previous

article on diabetes, there are two types, I and II. Remember that one of the endocrine functions of the pancreas is the production and secretion of insulin. If you do not produce insulin, you have DM1. You will need to control your blood sugar by taking insulin in addition to being careful about your diet. We believe that DM1

is caused by some insult to the pancreas, possibly a viral infection, which “knocks out” the insulin producing cells. This often presents in childhood or young adulthood when the patient, not suspecting anything, goes into diabetic coma (or DKA – diabetic ketoacidosis).

If a person has DM2 (Type II Diabetes), they do produce insulin in the pancreas, but the receptor cells in the body are not “sensitive” to the insulin. This condition can usually be controlled by weight loss, diet control, and medicines other than insulin (but sometimes requires insulin for severe cases).

If you have, or have ever known anyone who had pancreatitis, they will tell you they knew they had a pancreas, and it was painful! Acute pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas, is a very upsetting condition, which usually contributes to nausea and vomiting, and severe dehydration. In its most severe form, it can lead to the pancreas rupturing and causing all the problems described above. Most of the time, it resolves with proper treatment and close observation.

There are two major causes of pancreatitis in the United States, the most common being gallstones. In this condition, you may have a gallstone “pass” out of the gallbladder and block the common bile duct as it passes out into the bowel at the duodenum. If it also causes blockage and “back pressure” in the pancreatic duct which is co-located, this can be upsetting to the pancreas resulting in the inflammation. Once diagnosed (by checking some lab results), the pancreas will need to be “cooled down” with hydration, antiinflammatory medicines, and not eating anything to stimulate it for a couple of days. It is then common to remove the cause, by taking out the gallbladder, before the patient goes home from the hospital.

The other main cause of pancreatitis in the US is alcohol abuse. In our bodies, few organs operate on their own, but rather as intricate systems. Within these systems, an insult to one organ tends to have a “domino effect” on others involved with that system. Alcohol abuse is well known to affect many body systems and organs. It is mainly through its effect on the liver, a major player in the digestive system, that pancreatitis can result. In fact, if the alcohol abuse continues over time, a form of “chronic” pancreatitis can result – and these individuals will then have chronic abdominal pain to add to their list of other problems.

While there are other lesser causes of pancreatitis, such as high triglycerides and scorpion venom, the two listed above are by far the most common we see. Take care of your pancreas by taking care of yourself as part of your overall health and wellness program.

There is no such thing as “pancreas tonic,” but you can accomplish the same thing by eating a sensible and healthy diet (low fat, careful carbs, high protein, and high fiber), regular exercise, keeping fit and hydrated, and abstaining from alcohol, or at least using it with moderation.

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 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, and on Facebook see the page rabundoctor. Until next month, live healthy and be well!

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Rabun County Mental Health Initiative

by Dr. Amanda Howard Pileski

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rowing up in Rabun County personally and learning about rural mental health needs professionally, I was somewhat aware of the challenges facing our area prior to opening my practice. Since providing mental health services here for the last year, however, I am now acutely aware of the problems our county is facing. There can be extensive waitlists for services within the county, and oftentimes our residents are forced to seek support elsewhere. This then becomes an accessibility issue for many of our residents and families with limited resources.

After providing mental health services in Buffalo, New York, Baltimore, Maryland, and Atlanta, Georgia – I thought a smalltown practice would provide enough work to keep me busy, but I had no idea regarding the level of acuity and lack of referral resources I would be facing. I can confidently say the concentration of trauma survivors in this geographical region is largely disproportionate to other places. Just as we know suicide rates are higher due to firearm use in rural areas, the trauma caused by homicides/suicides within families is also much higher. The meth/opioid crisis seems to be contributing to even more violence and early childhood trauma of separation and loss. Finally, this area also has an extremely high rate of family violence/sexual abuse. We have a mental health crisis in this county and the larger southeastern Appalachian region which only keeps getting worse.

My goal is to attract more mental health professionals to this area and provide support to people who may be interested in pursuing advanced degrees in the mental health field. As a licensed psychologist, I could provide supervision for practicum

students, pre-doctoral interns, and post-docs to address some of the shortages in mental health care – but I currently do not have the resources required to expand my practice.

I hope to collaborate with other community members who have experience with grant-writing, working for non-profits, and know how to best access rural mental health funds within government agencies. Together, I hope we can better bridge the gaps in services for this area. As a result, I will be assembling a Mental Health Task Force to address the growing concern of mental health challenges in Rabun County.

It will be co-chaired by Jessica Robinson and Sunny Volano, LPC. Ms. Robinson has extensive experience in grant writing for government and non-profit agencies in Hall County. Ms. Volano is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who served on the Dekalb Community Service Board, a non-profit mental health agency in Decatur, Georgia. She worked on the APEX grant for school based mental health services and System of Care grant bridging mental health care for children and families. Additionally, the board will be composed of representatives from Rabun County Schools, Law Enforcement, Medical and Mental Health Professionals, FAITH (Fight Abuse In The Home), and Rabun County Division of Family and Children Services.

The Mission of the Task Force will be to understand the scope of the issues facing our area, identify possible sources of funding to address mental health needs, and collect and analyze data from local residents regarding unmet needs and requested services. Specifically, the needs assessment will focus on current accessibility, availability, and acceptability (stigma) of mental health services in Northeast Georgia.

Collaboration with our schools, along with state and local agencies and community stakeholders is critical to ensuring all resources and partnerships are on the table. A Town Hall Meeting in May is in the planning stages, where the board will provide a comprehensive review of the board findings and needs assessment results with local residents. If information is available, possible avenues of funding will also be discussed. During this meeting, attendees will have the opportunity to voice concerns regarding mental health needs and provide additional suggestions for improving mental health care in Rabun County. The time and place of the meeting will be announced in the next Georgia Mountain Laurel and other media outlets to be certain that the public has the necessary information.

If you have an expertise you believe would benefit the board and are interested in joining, please contact Dr. Amanda Howard Pileski for consideration. She may be reached by e-mail: mandy. howard.pileski@gmail.com or by phone: 404.291.4018 Please take a moment to complete this mental health survey online. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RabunMentalHealthTaskForce

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BeeHive Homes - The Next Best Place to Home

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ith locations in 20+ states in the US, BeeHive Homes is “The Next Best Place to Home”. This senior assisted living company didn’t begin like many of today’s facilities, there is a heartwarming story behind BeeHive Homes. A grandson looking for a suitable solution to a problem many families face as their loved ones age. Twayne Walker was helping look for a place for his aging grandmother to live her days out. She needed care that her family was not able to provide. Twayne wanted to find a safe, quality, clean place that would feel like a home.

When he couldn’t find it, he created it. The year was 1987 and the location was Idaho. The need was so great that once word got out that Twayne was building a new type of assisted living facility for his grandmother, that a waiting list took shape and by the time the first home was built, it was full!

The focus has always been on smaller facilities designed to resemble residential homes, the BeeHive Homes model is unique.

Dennis Toland recognized the void the BeeHive Homes assisted living homes could fill, and he partnered with Twayne to promote the finest quality care environment available. The BeeHive Home concept is simple and proven possible. It is a clean, comfortable family setting at an affordable price. Twayne expected this for his grandmother and he expects it for your family.

Since 1987 BeeHive Homes has spread nationwide with homes from west to east and north to south. In Georgia, you’ll find BeeHive Homes in Toccoa, Georgia.

These homes are filled with elderly women and men who have formed friendships, they enjoy activities and are encouraged to be as active as they can. The services offered to residents are medication monitoring and charting (per state regulations), homecooked and dietitian approved meals, assistance with daily living activities (per state regulations), daily housekeeping and laundry services, an emergency call system, phone and cable hook-up, private baths, all furnishings and individual and group activities. The most important thing that is provided these seniors is peace of mind, comfort and freedom. It truly is a unique and personal approach to assisted living.

BeeHive Homes provides long-term and respite care. Assessments are given at the time a resident comes to live in the home and periodically as assistance requirements advance. The intimacy of the setting is such that it is very reminiscent of true family life. The staff is well acquainted with each resident and care is individualized thus

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affording residents the quality of life they deserve with dignity and respect at the forefront.

Memory care and dementia services including Alzheimer’s disease became a growing need among every BeeHive facility.

The BeeHive Homes approach to memory loss assistance has proven an effective means to meet the challenges residents face with minimal angst or uneasiness. Safety is top priority for these seniors and families can rest assured their loved one is adequately cared for.

You are invited to visit BeeHive Homes in Toccoa, Georgia for a tour. You will find a wealth of information on their website www.beehiveoftoccoa.com where you will choose Toccoa under locations. There are videos of residents with interviews and a wonderful inside look at the BeeHive lifestyle. When it comes time to make those hard decisions, make the same decision Twayne made all those years ago, accept nothing less than the best for your senior. To schedule a tour or for additional info please call 706.898.6000 and ask to speak to either Ashley Krivsky or Amy Blackstock.

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Bon Appétit

Not Another Soup Recipe, PLEASE!

by Scarlett Cook

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f you are like me and enjoyed the holidays a little too much and now have eaten “stick to your ribs” soups and stews, you are ready for something a little lighter. These recipes should have your taste buds happy and your tummy, too. My daffodils are coming up but I know that winter is far from over and there is more cold weather on the way. So while we wait for spring, enjoy these recipes. Bon Appétit!

Mediterranean Salad Serves 4 3 Medium tomatoes, peeled and cut into wedges 1 Medium cucumber, seeded and halved lengthwise and thinly sliced 1 Small red onion, cut into thin wedges 12 – 15 Black olives, sliced 1/2 Cup Feta cheese Vinaigrette In large salad bowl combine tomatoes, cucumber and red onion.

Add vinaigrette and toss to combine.

Divide onto 4 salad plates and / or bowls.

Scatter olive slices and Feta cheese over salad.

Vinaigrette 2 Tablespoons olive oil 2 Tablespoons lemon juice 2 Teaspoons fresh oregano or 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 1/8 Teaspoon each salt and pepper.

In a leak proof jar, combine all ingredients and shake well.

Winter Fruit Bowl Serves 4 – 6 2 Cans pink grapefruit sections 1 Large can Mandarin orange sections 1/2 Cup brown sugar 1/2 Cup orange marmalade 2 Cups fresh cranberries 3 Medium bananas, sliced Drain grapefruit sections and save juice; you should have 1 cup but if not add enough water to make a cup.

In a saucepan combine the grapefruit juice, sugar and marmalade and bring to a boil. When sugar has dissolved, reduce heat.

Add cranberries and cook and stir for 5 – 8 minutes or till skins pop.

Remove from heat and let cool. Add grapefruit and orange sections.

Cover and chill at least 2 hours.

Just before serving, add bananas to fruit mixture.

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Chocolate Cinnamon Tart Serves 6 – 8 1 Unbaked pie shell

Italian Style Shrimp & Rice Serves 4 1 Tablespoon olive oil 1 Garlic clove, minced 3/4 Cup long grain rice 1 Can chicken broth 12 Ounces fresh or frozen, peeled & deveined shrimp 1 Can Italian style stewed tomatoes 1 Medium zucchini, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced 1/4 Cup sliced green onions 2 Tablespoon fresh basil or 1 teaspoon dried 1/2 Cup (or more) shredded mozzarella 1/4 Cup grated Parmesan cheese In a large skillet heat oil; add garlic and rice. Cook and stir 2 minutes.

Add broth; bring to a boil and reduce heat. Simmer covered 15 minutes or until rice is tender and broth is absorbed.

Stir in shrimp, tomatoes, zucchini, onions, basil and dash of black pepper.

Return to boiling and cook covered 2 – 3 minutes or until shrimp are pink.

Remove from heat and sprinkle with cheeses.

Cover and let stand 2 – 4 minutes.

1/4 Cup sugar 2 Tablespoons cornstarch 1/4 Teaspoon cinnamon 2 Cups half-and-half 3 Ounces semisweet chocolate 1 Slightly beaten egg 1 Tablespoon butter or margarine 1 Teaspoon vanilla Whipped cream Preheat oven to 450˚.

Fill pie shell with parchment or aluminum foil and fill with baking weights or dried beans. Do NOT prick shell. Bake for 8 minutes; remove paper or foil and weights and beans.

Bake an additional 5 – 6 minutes. Let cool.

In a saucepan combine the sugar, cornstarch and cinnamon.

Stir in half-and-half and then the chocolate.

Cook and stir over medium high heat till thickened and bubbly.

Cook and stir 2 more minutes.

Remove from heat and gradually stir half of the hot mixture into the egg. Return mixture to saucepan and cook and stir till nearly bubbling, but DO NOT BOIL. Reduce heat and cook and stir for 2 minutes more.

Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and butter or margarine.

Pour filling into baked shell. Cover and chill at least 4 hours or until set.

To serve top each piece with whipped cream and if desired a sprinkle of cinnamon.

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The Family Table

By Lorie Thompson

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s I turn the calendar each month, I note the upcoming holidays.

Groundhog Day and Presidents’ Day may go unnoticed at my house, but Valentine’s Day will bring a special meal for my husband. We have a running joke that every time I ask him what food he would like for a celebration meal, his stock answer is, “Speckled Trout and Fried Taters.” Since Speckled Trout are hard to come by, I have learned to improvise.

Fish, prepared any way, is a favorite meal for Mountain Man. I have several different ways I make it. Let me tell you about Fish in Garlic Butter. It is a winner!

Use a mild fish like flounder or cod. You will need to adjust your cooking time based on fresh versus frozen and the thickness of your filet, but any fish will do — Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In an oven-proof skillet over low heat, melt 4T of butter. Add 4T of olive oil, 2-3 cloves of finely minced garlic, 1-2 tsp of salt, and 1 tsp of crushed red pepper. Allow the garlic to “bloom” in the oil for 1-2 minutes. Increase the heat to medium-high and add the fish filets. Cook for 2-3 minutes and turn over. On top of each filet sprinkle a layer of seasoned bread crumbs, a sprinkle of grated Parmesan Reggiano cheese, a sprinkle of dill and parsley. Place the fish into a hot oven and turn to Broil. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until fish will flake with a fork. This rich and decadent fish goes great with simple sides.

I learned a great cooking lesson from my son Joe. He loves to cook full meals on his grill. He served me meat, bread, and roasted vegetables, including potatoes (yes! grilled potatoes!), and it was marvelous! For convenience sake, he often

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uses frozen vegetables. I was skeptical until I tasted them. I had discounted frozen veggies as soggy and flavorless and rarely used them. Wrong! When Joe served grilled (frozen) broccoli, I was amazed at how good it was. The secret is to keep the veggies frozen until they hit the heat and then cook them hot and fast, allowing all of the moisture to cook out of them.

My oven roasted broccoli, using frozen, bagged florets, is quick and economical. Place the broccoli into the center of a sheet pan. Mound a sliced red onion and a thinly sliced Meyers Lemon on top. Drizzle with 1-2T of olive oil and toss.

Spread the vegetables out onto the pan into a single layer.

Sprinkle with seasoning salt of your choice, Steak Seasoning, Lemon Pepper, Lawry’s, or Cavenders Seasoning would be great. Roast in a 400-degree oven for 20 minutes. Turn the broccoli over and place back into the oven an additional 10 minutes or until the florets are developing a little brown on the edges. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with the grated Parmesan. Serve alongside the Butter and Garlic Fish.

Valentine’s dinner at my house will also include a decadent Ricotta and Lemon Cheesecake. I made my first ever Cheesecake this past Christmas. I made a Ricotta Cheesecake for its delicate taste with fresh Lemon Curd swirled in for a hit of big flavor. It was magical! The combination of the tangy Ricotta with the tart Lemon Curd was a winner. I’ve now made it three times, and it has turned out great each time. I hope you will make it and let me know what you think.

To make the Lemon Curd; In a medium saucepan, whisk together 1/2 C of fresh lemon juice, 1/2 C plus 2T of sugar, and three whole eggs. Add 4T of unsalted butter into the saucepan. Cook over low heat, while continuing to whisk until the curd is thick and bubbly. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer to remove any egg clumps. After straining, add 1 tsp of fresh lemon zest. Pour into a bowl and place plastic wrap directly on top of the curd. Allow it to cool. This curd will be thin, but it will be perfect in the Cheesecake.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. To make the crust, combine 5 oz of Graham Crackers (I use gluten-free) add 1/3 cup sugar and a pinch of salt into the bowl of a food processor. Whir until crackers are finely crumbled and blended with sugar. Add 5T of melted, unsalted butter and spin until the butter and crumbs are fully incorporated.

Press crust mixture into a 9-inch Springform Pan, covering the bottom and up to 1 inch on the sides. Bake in a 350-degree oven for 10 minutes. Remove to a cooling rack. Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees to prepare to cook the Cheesecake.

To make the Cheesecake, bring 16 oz of cream cheese, 16 oz of Whole Milk Ricotta Cheese, and four large eggs to room temperature. Using a clean food processor bowl, pulse the cheeses until they are thoroughly blended. Add 1 1/4 C of sugar, 1 tsp of vanilla, and stir until the sugar and cheese are combined.

Add the eggs one at a time while the food processor is running. Continue to mix until the mixture is completely smooth.

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The Family Table...

Place the springform pan on top of a baking sheet before filling. Pour 1/2 of the cheese mixture into the prepared crust. Layer one half of the curd on top of the cheese.

Layer the remaining cheese mixture with the final addition of the lemon curd to the top. Swirl the lemon curd with a thin-bladed knife. Bake for 1.5 hours or until the Cheesecake is solid for 1.5” around the edges and jiggly in the center. It will firm up as it cools.

Remove the outer ring when cool.

Mountain Man is not too big on red roses and candy hearts at Valentine’s Day, but I will get a beautiful, mushy card with a love note inside. Also, he will buy and plant the seeds for my Spring salad garden. Talk about a gift that keeps on giving! I think sweet thoughts of him as I pick my beautiful, early spring greens. Mountain Man knows the way to my heart!

Plant your Spring garden this month. Bake my Cheesecake and let me know if you loved it. Happy Groundhog Day! Happy Presidents’ Day! Happy Valentines Day! May God bless you and keep you.

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

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Offering New Dining Options

by John Shivers

C

hristmas is that time of year when fondest wishes and dreams often come true. That was the case for Jen Tyler, co-owner and manager of Iron and Oak, Rabun County’s newest eatery. For a couple of years, she’d nursed and nurtured a vision for a restaurant that included cast iron skillets. Christmas 2018 things began to come together when a friend abandoned plans to open what he was calling Iron and Oak. He gifted Jen with the concept and the logo he’d already created. It was a perfect fit!

The new restaurant features both booth and table service, and a full bar that offers craft cocktails and eight beers in tap on their own walk-in cooler maintained at 36 degrees. They’re open seven days a week from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. with traditional steakhouse fare. From 10:00 p.m. until midnight, they cater to “foodies” with such options as house rolled sushi, taquitos, and sliders a’many.

On the evening of Friday, December 20, 2019, even before they were officially open for business, Jen opened her doors for a special command performance. That evening, she and her new staff, led by Chef Alex Stein, served the Georgia Mountain Laurel staff and writers at their annual Christmas get-together.

New restaurants traditionally employ what’s known as “soft openings” to allow their staff to get accustomed to the process of serving their customers, and the Laurel event was just that. It was a chance for Jen and crew to ease into their accustomed roles, see where they needed to enhance and refine, and a chance for the Laurel folks to enjoy some really good eats.

And what good eats Chef Stein created for this special evening!

Iron and Oak appetizers include cheesy cornbread served in small cast iron skillets, three different types of deviled eggs, ‘tater skins, and fried ‘shrooms, all so creatively presented. And they offer homemade potato soup and French onion soup daily. In addition, all dressings and sauces are made daily in-house.

The keystone of their menu are the hand-cut steaks that include sirloin, filet mignon, New York strip, and ribeye. Diners can also select from hamburger steak, prime rib, salmon, and grilled chicken. All are prepared using cast iron skillets.

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So why are cast iron skillets so critical to the Iron and Oak’s menu? Steaks prepared on a grill, so that they get those pretty cross-hatch marks, also have hot and cold spots as a result. The cast iron evenly distributes the heat for more even cooking and a more consistent crust over the steak’s surface, which helps to seal in the taste and the juices.

Opening her doors to the magazine staff was the culmination of several years of dreaming, many months of planning and working in the location known for many years as Granny’s Kuntry Kitchen.

Jen, who has an extensive background in restaurant operations, teamed up with partner Paul Burns, who has a construction background. What resulted is an eatery that screams good taste in every sense of the word. The building has been completely remodeled, down to and including the bathrooms which are works of art within themselves.

Ending the evening, the Laurel crew enjoyed the restaurant’s custom desserts, apple crisp, chocolate brownie, pineapple upside down cake, and cheesecake, all served in the Iron and Oak’s distinctive skillets. And you haven’t lived until you’ve tried their white chocolate banana pudding. It’s not served in a skillet, but it is soooo yummy good you won’t care.

The address is 677 Highway 441 South in Clayton, and reservations aren’t necessary. If you need additional information, call 706-960-9270. All credit cards are accepted, and your entrée is waiting.

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There Once Was A Boy Named David…

by Liz Alley

W

e weren’t bosom buddies, my brother David and I; that would be him and my sister Lisa.

I’m not sure if it was because they were in the middle of the five of my siblings or if it had to do with them having the same birthday exactly one year apart. I tell this birthday detail to anyone who will listen, as I think it’s miraculous. But nobody in my family or otherwise seems to think it’s a big deal. I can see Lisa and David now, heads bent together walking up the drive to catch the school bus as they discussed whatever they didn’t want the rest of us to hear. No matter how cold it was David would have on his blue jean jacket and Lisa may not have had on a jacket at all. Lisa never liked and still does not like long sleeves of any kind. Lisa is particular about fabrics in general.

She was forever saying “that itches!” about all clothing.

David’s mission in life, or so it seemed to me, was to make mine miserable. It probably had something to do with the fact that I was scared of my own shadow and a tattle-tail. If I was standing in the hay loft of our grandmother’s barn, deciding if I could jump onto the hay below like all my cousins, David would be the one to push me.

He was the one who held my sister Lynn up in front of the bull in the pasture because she had on red tennis shoes. He hid my stuff just to watch me cry. He’d close all the bedroom doors so the hallway in our house was pitch black and he’d drag me in there kicking and screaming to tell me “The Vandiver Man” was after me. In other words, if there was a line, David was going to cross it. If there was a way to make me cry, he was all for it. I admit though, he was always remorseful and his antics were more playful than harmful. I can see his lopsided grin now as he’d say “don’t be mad at me Ponkey.” Ponkey, a nickname my Dad gave me when he couldn’t remember which daughter he was talking to - Lisa, Lynn or Liz. It was a name that stuck, especially from David.

When David turned sixteen and I was ten, I did all I could to never ride in a car with him. David had one speed and that was wide open.

One summer afternoon in June, I was at my friend Judy’s house when Mama called to say it was time to come home. I held the phone tight in my hand and whispered to my mother with all the fierceness of the desperate, “whatever you do, don’t let David pick me up.”

Outside Judy’s house, we turned cartwheels in the yard while we waited for my mom. Finally, our old station wagon pulled into the drive. I opened the door and who did I find behind the wheel grinning from ear to ear but David! He patted the passenger seat beside him and said, “get in Ponkey.” “Mother” I thought to myself “was a traitor!”

David backed up cautiously and drove slowly down the road to the stop sign. He put his blinker on in a mock show of consideration and turned left onto the highway. He placed his arm out the window and drove to Tiger at an average speed. As on most hot days, David was shirtless and wore cut off blue jeans which raveled in spidery webs on his legs. His feet were bare, his arm and leg muscles defined and tanned from working at the saw mill. He winked at me and patted my knee assuringly. I relaxed a little and thought “everything is just fine.” We sailed by the community pool and the Green Shutter Tea Room with the late afternoon sun peeking out from behind the mountains in what felt like a game of hide and seek.

As soon as we went through the four way in Tiger, David stepped on the gas with crushing force and we bolted down the highway like lightening! I have no idea how fast our station wagon would go but whatever it was, we were doing it. He never slowed or glanced in the direction of our house as we neared it, just blew by in a blur. The engine whined at the ferocity of speed as we headed to what we called “the stretch” on old 441, by the county graveyard. He slung the car into Rabun Metal Products parking lot and with the skill of a race car driver he laid three perfect donuts with the tires squealing in protest. Finally, in what seemed to be the longest few minutes of my life, the station wagon came to a screeching halt, rocking slightly from side to side as the smoke from the tires bellowed around us.

At this point I was in the floorboard. Seatbelts were optional back then and I’m not even sure our station wagon had them. I gazed up at David with fury while he calmly lit a cigarette and blew the smoke out the window. With a raised eyebrow and a mischievous grin he said “how’d you like that Ponkey Pinky?” I climbed slowly back into my seat listing all the things that I was going to tell on him for and how he was going to be in so much trouble! He waited patiently for me to regain my composure, then drove to Grover’s to get me a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup in order to buy my silence.

Neither of us could know then of course, that he would die at age 31 or that my children would not know him, that he would not be around with his lopsided grin to laugh at all the memories of brothers and sisters.

Most times when I leave Rabun County, I go down old 441. I grin a little when I get to Rabun Metal Products, I nod a little when I pass the family graveyard and, sometimes, I pull in and visit his grave. I allow all the memories of my childhood to replay as I pass houses of people I knew and spent the night with, the old Lakemont school building and Alley’s Grocery. I note the creek my sister Lynn got baptized in, but mainly, that stretch of road always makes me think of David and how much I loved him.

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

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By The Way...Never Take A Pig To The Library

by Emory Jones

I

don’t get to metro Atlanta much, but I recently got invited to a big book affair at the Decatur library. Decatur is a suburb of Atlanta which means that, while Atlanta is larger, Decatur has more cars.

When I noticed the other invited writers all had big books to talk about, I was afraid I might not fit in. My biggest one is 8-by-11 on the high-side, and you have to round up the fractions to even get that.

My wife, Judy, thought the invitation might be a mistake, too, but I told her that unless semi-prowrestler Emory Kabuki had finally finished his biography, I didn’t see how it could be. Having the same name, Emory Kabuki and I often get our mail mixed up. I haven’t said anything because he paid our electric bill once. Plus, he gets better magazines.

When Judy agreed to go, I promised her we’d find that spot where they filmed Ozark. Somebody said it was behind the Brookhaven Waffel House, but I later learned that’s wrong.

I wanted to take Cunningham with us, because, with this being a literary event, he could brag about it at pig camp this summer He had a terrible time last year because the mud pit was dry, and the Mayor of Cleveland wouldn’t let them hose it down.

Anyway, I “forgot” to mention Cunningham being under the seat until just before we were lining up on that big intersection the locals call Spaghetti Junction. You’d think there’d be a good place to eat there, but that thing comes up so fast, you don’t even have time to look.

Seeing Cunningham squeeze out from under the seat surprised Judy, but she graciously let him sit by the door and even cranked down the window for him. Like many pigs his age, Cunningham loves curves. In fact, he squealed so much that I circled back and went over Spaghetti Junction four times.

When I finally got onto one of those 16-lane affairs that passes for a side street in Decatur, I stopped at the red light to ask directions. The lady in the Lexus couldn’t get her window down, so when the light turned, I waved her on and motioned for the next car to stop.

Eventually, I gave up on that and turned left from the center lane.

“You just made an illegal left turn,” my wife pointed out.

“It’s okay,” replied. “That police car behind us did the same thing.”

When the policeman indicated he’d like to chat, we pulled over.

“Thanks for stopping,” I said. “Nobody else would. Can you tell us how to find the library in Decatur? I think it’s called The Decatur Library.”

He seemed perplexed. “How about the Brookhaven Waffle House then?”

Apparently, the library was downtown because that’s where the officer radioed he was taking us. Not wanting to trouble him, I pulled across the median in the direction he’d indicated. I have 4-wheel drive, but I noticed he mired up pretty bad making that turn.

I felt awful not stopping, but we were late, and I didn’t have my chain with me anyway. When we finally found the library, Judy opted to stay in the truck. Cunningham and I raced inside just as my turn came, so I stashed Cunningham in back and walked on up.

All went well until they handed me the microphone. Cunningham mistook it for one of those cattle prods he’d seen used on his daddy and charged onstage to protect me.

My attorney has advised me not to talk about what happened next until after the trial.

But I will say this; Decatur has some right harsh pig control laws, and the folks at the Brookhaven Waffle House have never even heard of Ozark.

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