Georgia Mountain Laurel January 17 by The Laurel of Northeast Georgia

From the Publisher... Happy New Year to you! It is incredible to think that 2016 is behind us and 2017 is here! I am always excited when the new year rolls around. There is something about that clock striking midnight that creates a sense of hope and excitement. January brings colder temps and a chance of snow. You might want to be sure you are stocked with marshmallows for the hot chocolate and vanilla for the snow cream. Crock Pots will be filled with homemade soups, spicy chilis and pork laden pinto beans to warm the tummy and sooth the soul. It’s winter in the mountains. While we want you to enjoy this season and take advantage of the unobstructed views of mountain vistas, also keep in the back of your mind that spring less than 80 days away (March 20). Winter is a good time to plan that patio, pond, renovation and even outdoor fireplace to enjoy when the temps are warmer. You can’t forget Valentines Day, well you can but you might find yourself “out in the cold”! If cabin fever sets in get out and visit a gallery, do some shopping, enjoy lunch or dinner with friends or strike out to discover any of our neighboring towns. A day trip in any direction is a great cure for the winter blues. We appreciate you reading our magazine, we love to hear how much you enjoy it and we want to thank you for supporting our advertisers. Mention that you saw their ad and thank them for their advertising, it is what brings this magazine to you. Again, wishes for a great year and bless you all!

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

January 2017

Copyright 2017 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.

January 2017

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January 2017

On our Cover...

In This Issue

Tiffiney Addis

Health & Wellness

Tiffiney Addis is a photographer, mother, wife, and PURELY oil advisor. She was born and raised in Westminster, South Carolina where she lives today with her husband and two children. Tiffiney attended college at Clemson University where she majored in graphic design, which ignited her passion for photography. In her third year, Tiffiney transferred from Clemson to the University of Nations and Youth With A Mission. Her travels included New Zealand, China, Australia, Norway, and Brazil. During these travels she studied culture and linguistics and taught phonetics to traveling missionaries, while continuing to explore her passion for photography.

PURELY Essential Oils

Live Healthy & Be Well

Life & Leisure 14

Lovinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; the Journey

Sheriff Chad Nichols

Arts & Entertainment

After returning to the states she opened a photography studio in Westminster, Tiffiney Photography, specializing in infants and weddings. She quickly became known for her exceptional lifestyle imagery and customer service. As Tiffiney became a mother, she gained interest in essential oils to keep her daughter healthy through her first year of public school. At this time she was introduced to PURELY essential oils even before they were available to the public. She loved the quality of their products, the opportunity to replace many of the chemical products in her home with something more natural, and the results she was getting were overwhelming. As an entrepreneur the business model of PURELY was most enticing in that she could share with her friends through the home party where hosts earn free and half off items easily. A great low investment opportunity for those brand new to essential oils. She has loved watching PURELY grow into an industry leader in essential oils and pure products. As one of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lead advisors, Tiffiney has 100 teammates and a nice residual that allows her to photograph from home, where she spends most of her days as a mother and PURELY leader. She loves her life in leadership with PURELY, making a positive impact in the lives of other men and women pursuing their own freedom and better health, and she is looking forward to the opportunity for travel again soon. The photo on our cover is one of a line of product shots that Tiffiney has photographed for PURELY. Tiffiney also hosts a group page on facebook called Aroma Droppers where she offers tips and answers questions pertaining to essential oils. Her video segments are both informative and interesting. You can find it by visiting www. facebook.com/aromadroppers or you can reach Tiffiney at www. bepure.ly/tiffiney, aromadroppers@gmail.com, or 864-280-6280. 6

January 2017

On Our Cover - Tiffiney Addis

North Georgia Arts Guild

Affairs to Remember 21

Mountain Happenings Event Calendar

Prevent Child Abuse Habersham

Faith in Christ 24

Life is a Blessing

River Garden

Bless Your Heart

A Taste 32

Bon Appetit

The Family Table

Outdoors 40

Adventure Out

Mountain Nature

Yesterdays 46

Wheels - Jeff Hurndon

By the Way gmlaurel.com

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PURELY™ Essential Oils – Simply Pure by Tracy McCoy

“A pinch of oregano, a sprig of peppermint, the zest of an orange. If you have ever enjoyed a meal seasoned with fresh herbs or garnished with fruit peels, then you have experienced essentials oils. Take a walk through an evergreen forest and the woodsy smell you enjoy is essential oils.”

The quote above comes straight from the PURELY™ product catalog. Essential oils and their use can be traced back to biblical times. When you consider that they are plant based one could say that they likely originated in the Garden of Eden. Throughout history the uses of essential oils have evolved and in recent years began to gain popularity in the mainstream, Today many homes have oils diffused into the air, dabbed on the bottoms of little feet and big ones too. They can be added to lotions, teas and massaged anywhere on the body. More and more people testify to their benefits. PURELY™ is a leader in the essential oil industry and I’ve learned that their name is woven through their business practice from the way they extract the oils, the way that they encourage education to learn the benefits and uses of their products to the way that they do business. The company clearly states, “Simply Pure™ is the core of our entire company. It is the essential idea behind everything we do. Yes, we promise a 100% pure products, but Simply Pure is also our guarantee that the ideals and principles guiding us are free of impurities as well. You will not find us using kitsch marketing language or sourcing from factory farms or using harmful chemicals. What you will find are people dedicated to doing things right, not doing things easy. Simply Pure™ means a purity of spirit within our company – our intentions, our practices and our products. We keep it simple to ensure that we have taken every measure that you receive the purest line of essential oils and natural health products to improve your life. This is our way. This is our promise.” I think I was most impressed by the transparency of the PURELY™ company. Their practices are explained in great detail and their direct marketing plan is easy to understand. Like many other companies who see the benefit of “face to face” sales in homes across the country, PURELY™ rewards their hostesses generously and offers friends and family a fun way to earn free product as well. PURELY™ says “you invite your friends and we’ll bring the fun!” For those looking for a business opportunity this is perfect to supplement or replace income for both women and men. PURELY™ offers a great customer program called Pure Perks for those who use the products and want an easy way to save money and ensure they never run out. There is no commitment or obligation and changes can be made to orders prior to shipping. The company is always looking for advisors who promote their products. While PURELY™ states that essential oils are not intended to treat or cure serious medical conditions and are never a substitute

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for a consultation with a competent physician for any matters concerning your health, they do recognize, as do I, that essential oils can be very helpful in some cases. Many people find great relief from adding them to their routines or using them to ease symptoms. PURELY™ essential oils can be diffused, applied topically, inhaled with steam, added to your bath, and ingested (following directions carefully). The PURELY™ lineup includes single oils or blended oils, both well labeled. They also have a line of men’s care products including aftershave, beard and tattoo oil, shaving soap, a shaving brush and a bath bar. For the ladies they have a body polishing mask, silk shaving soap, pure argan oil, pure hyaluronic acid (to keep us looking young) and natural deodorant. They offer goats milk and olive oil bath bars, a luxurious goat milk hand and body lotion and some amazing bath bombs! Also for your bath, PURELY™ offers spa experience grade Dead Sea bath salts. Most recently the company has introduced a skin care line that is natural and good for your skin. You will also find a beautiful line of diffusing lockets and chains so you can take your favorite oil with you throughout the day. The lockets can all be personalized with the addition of birthstone charms. The new year is the perfect time to make positive changes and make a difference in the world. The PURELY Foundation™ is that mission in practice arm of the PURELY™ family. Through regular charitable donations to organizations dedicated to ending the enslavement of some 30 million men, women and children currently held captive around the world. PURELY™ believes that with your help they can make real progress towards correcting this horrible injustice. If you’d like to find out more about this opportunity, enhance the quality of your life, enjoy the relaxation and beautiful aromas of natures most powerful products, PURELY™ could be just what you are looking for. If you are interested I recommend that you first visit their website at bepure.ly.

January 2017

Live Healthy and Be Well!

“Make health and wellness a year-round resolution” by Stephen Jarrard, MD FACS As I write this, we are entering that time of the year when we like to make New Year’s Resolutions and really set some good goals to help us do better. Maybe we want to stop smoking, lose weight, be kinder, be on time more often or finally take the trip we’ve always wanted. The bottom line is that we pick the New Year as a start date and resolve to do better or accomplish a worthy goal. We all need to do this with our health, and the start date needs to be the first day of every month of every year. One of the best ways to improve overall health, wellness, optimize your body for a longer life and improve the quality of that life is to maintain a healthy weight. There are no “magic pills” for this, unfortunately. “Fad diets” are just that – and rarely give you a lasting result. Ultimately, it comes down to math – you have to subtract more calories than you add over time. This means that we need to “burn” more calories than we consume. However, we find that harder and harder to accomplish as we get older, right? It can be so easy to put on five pounds and so hard to take off two or three. There may be some tricks to help us do this a bit better and at the same time reduce our risk of a cardiovascular event – such as heart attack or stroke. Many of us have been taught over the years that fat and cholesterol in our diets are bad and this is the “enemy” with regards to heart health. Well, no doubt it is a factor, and how to deal with that will be the subject of a future column. But, remember there are two kinds of cholesterol – “bad” (LDL) and “good” (HDL). An elevated HDL can actually help mitigate LDL, so if your total cholesterol is high because of HDL – this is not such a bad thing. Triglycerides are another type of fat in the blood that should be kept under control. While there are prescription medicines that can help reduce these numbers, we should always try more natural remedies first – such as a high fiber diet and Omega-3 (fish oil) supplements. Both help to lower bad cholesterol and triglycerides, and can elevate good cholesterol. Not all fat is “bad fat” and you need some fat in your diet. “Good fats” are unsaturated and come from such foods as nuts, avocados, olive oil and fish. “Bad fats” unfortunately, come from many of the foods we love and taste so good – bacon, French fries, fatty meats and cheese. These fats are saturated, and if consumed consistently, will elevate your lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides). This does not mean you can never have bacon and such, but just have the knowledge that these fats are not the best for you. There are other factors that have much to do with our cardiovascular risk – inflammation in our bodies, effects of sugar, and genetics. Inflammation in your system can damage the walls of blood vessels, which will be repaired with scar tissue and change the “flexibility” of the vessels and also provide a focus for cholesterol plaques to form. Sources of inflammation can come from acute events such as a sinus infection or bronchitis. These are usually short term and limited – and can be more easily treated and controlled. Chronic sources of inflammation come from conditions like arthritis, colitis or inflammatory bowel disease and gastritis. These are harder to manage, but you should talk to your doctor about limiting the effects of these conditions. Consuming more foods high in “antioxidants” and Omega-3 supplements can serve to limit the effects of and repair the damage of inflammation in your body. If there is a single “enemy” in our diet that works against our maintaining a healthy weight, it is sugar. If you are diabetic (elevated blood sugar), you know this well and may avoid sugar and take medicines to help keep your sugar under control. But even if not diabetic, you may be “pre-diabetic” and need to be careful. Sugar is rampant in the American diet – and all the producers of food know that we like the taste of it and they use it in almost everything. Southern sweet iced tea is delicious on a hot day, those sauces you love at a restaurant really make the food taste so 10

January 2017

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much better, and there is probably even sugar in the batter of your favorite drive thru fried chicken! Sugar is good for quick energy. But, it also seems to send signals to the body to “store this as fat” instead of “burn these calories”. If you are having trouble losing weight, avoid sugar and you will see a difference. But beware sugar is in almost everything we buy. We are all a product of our genetics and cannot do too much about what we inherited from our family line. But, one thing you can do is know about these risk factors and try to manage that risk. If there is significant heart disease or diabetes in your family, try to do all you can to limit the effects or avoid developing these conditions yourself. Talk to your doctor about checking for these things. Check out a customized lifestyle type program offered by someone like bostonheartdiagnostics.com – many are covered by your insurance. Just a couple of last things to mention if you are having trouble getting where you want to be, but feel like you are really trying. First of all, hang in there and keep trying! Talk to your doctor about checking some basic blood work. Check on your thyroid – if it is not functioning well, it could be a factor. Also, drinking alcohol frequently can also put weight on you and limiting or stopping this habit can also help you get to and stay at your goals. Make your health and wellness a real priority all year ‘round. Learn about it and work at it constantly and you will reap the benefits in quality of life, and lower your risk of adverse events. This month and year, and every one to follow – live healthy 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. Like and follow our Facebook page at facebook.com/rabundoctor. Until next month, live healthy and be well!

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January 2017

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January 2017

Lovin’ the Journey Grab Hold of Some Life by Mark Holloway

’m not sure what makes me sound old...complaining how time flies by or explaining ‘oldies’ are not hit songs from the late 90s.

I have however, discovered the secret to aging gracefully: set aggressive goals and chase after them. I imagine being 70 and heading out on an easy 10 mile run, inviting my future grandkids to join me. Staying healthy is my plan. Staying fit isn’t an option. I must. So another year has flown by and January’s calendar greets us with new promise. It’s as if the Lord has this canvas with fresh colors coming alive and he sets us into the story. It’s tempting to chase the whimsical notion of youth and the myth that I can look younger. It’s an expensive illusion. Our culture seems to lure us into a mirage: if we appear younger, we will live longer. Thankfully my wife keeps me in clothes that are a lot more current than if I were left to my own lack of fashion. I’ll stay more relevant and thriving if I focus on my spiritual, mental and physical conditioning. Young men and women in their 30s seem ancient to middle schoolers. And folks in their 70s are looking younger and younger to a man in his midfifties. The dates on graves stones are less important than the hyphen in the middle. My first breath and last are only my book ends. There is a whole lot of breathing to be done between them. 14

I’m not sure what’s worse, wasting a life on risk-free mediocrity, dying little by little, unchallenged in a safe place, or a life shortened by bad choices. There is a third option: abundant life. I’m not ashamed of a single year I’ve been given. So I’m not bashful about my age, not now. Not ever. Some folks seem petrified or offended to tell you how old they are. I suppose if someone is busy squandering life, then the prospect of eventual death is quite terrifying. But heaven is no threat to me. I embrace all the life yet to be lived and look forward to a future home the Carpenter is busy building for me. The most efficient way to a sad and empty life is ignoring several realities. First, I must shun the Architect and the amazing trail laid out for me. Secondly, I must neglect and abuse my earth suit so my body will fail long before its expiration date. Thirdly, I must cease to grow and explore beyond what I presently know and quit being a life student. As a new year unfolds, I encourage you to charge ahead in your journey. Love the lovable, and love the unlovable. Discover your God-wiring if you haven’t and renew a passion to steward the body you’ve been given to walk around in. Find a trail to explore. Find a friend who needs a trail. Embrace the abundant life Jesus promises you. Do all of this so when 2017 wraps up, you’ll look back with no regrets. See you on the trail.

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January 2017

Sheriff Nichols Takes Office in 2017

by Tracy McCoy

here’s a new Sheriff in town and his name is Chad Nichols. Chad was born in Clayton, Georgia at the old Rabun County Hospital in 1978. Dr. John Fowler was the attending physician and how proud he would be today of Chad and the position he will assume. Chad grew up in the Five Points community just east of Clayton, the son of Kenneth and Judy (Lunsford) Nichols. He graduated from Rabun County High School in 1997 and went on to Gainesville College to study criminal justice. Soon Chad secured a job with the Rabun County Sheriff’s office working part time. Part time worked into full time and Chad put college on hold while gaining real life experience. A better offer came from the City of Clayton and Chad moved to that office. He always had a vision and a servant’s heart and aspired to become sheriff.

offices within our county and surrounding counties. This is key to a crime-free and safe county.

Rabun County Sheriff Chad K. Nichols.

In 2012 Chad ran for the office; the race was very close with just 276 votes keeping him out of the position. He knew then that he would run again because he felt he had a great vision for Rabun County. After the 2012 election, Chad went on to seek a managerial position where he could learn more about the executive role in law enforcement. He was hired in January of 2014 as assistant chief of the City of Baldwin and in a very short time he assumed the role of chief.

Sheriff Nichols is married to Dr. Jamie (Bleckley) Nichols. She is a fifth grade teacher in the Rabun County school system. Chad and Jamie are parents to a beautiful five year old daughter Joslan and will soon welcome a son into the world. The children of our county and their safety and well being are very important to Sheriff Nichols and are most certainly a driving force in his determination to make positive changes and serve our county. Our new sheriff can run the office but he wants more than that. Sheriff Nichols wants to make history. He wants to be known as one of Rabun County’s most effective sheriffs. His motives are not selfish or ego-driven; he wants to make our county better for you and your family!

He asks for your support and prayers to accomplish all that he has planned. He is rolling up his sleeves and digging in, ready to work with an incredible team of officers who share his vision. It looks like 2017 will bring great things to the peaceloving residents of Rabun County. Sheriff Nichols welcomes your questions and hopes to address your concerns. We will keep in touch with the sheriff’s office and bring updates to you throughout the year. Happy New Year to you all!

Three years later Chad’s name was back on the ballot for the office of sheriff and this time he was voted in by the people of Rabun County. On November 16th Chad left for the SheriffElect Academy where he remained for four weeks training for the top law enforcement position in Rabun. He has since completed his training and is eager to take office. At the time we spoke for this article he had just completed interviewing officers both current and incoming as he works to form an effective team that will be dedicated to accomplishing the goals of the office and that is to keep Rabun County safe and secure. One of the biggest challenges the sheriff’s office faces is to fight the drug epidemic. Drug abuse is the primary cause of most crime and destroys families. Sheriff Nichols plans to establish a relationship between the residents and the sheriff’s office that will enable them to achieve all they have planned to cripple or eliminate the drug industry in our county. Chad has established a great working relationship with the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office and other law enforcement 16

Pictured from left to right: Sheriff Terry Deese, Peach County; Sheriff Chad Nichols; Honorable Hugh Thompson, Chief Justice, Georgia Supreme Court; Terry Norris, Executive Director, Georgia Sheriff’s Association.

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January 2017

North Georgia Arts Guild Patricia Short Holmes Passing Seasons

by Jo Mitchell

lifetime in the mountains of North Georgia comes with a knowing about nature, its whims and windfalls, its blessings of seasonal beauty and sometimes-harsh deprivations. From the delicate pastel tints of the first apple and wild plum blossoms, to an orchestral sunset over a snow-clad mountain, it’s all included. But when you’ve lived near water: Cape Cod and the marshlands of low-lying Massachusetts, as well as the jeweled waters of Florida and the Bahamas, your sense of nature may be colored by a different sort of vision. A brewing storm over marsh grass, cottony clouds punctuating indigo sky and dune grass, a crystal touch of autumn, a neon sunset, or calm skies of a tranquil meadow pond; they’ve all struck a chord, sending one questing to capture the vision, be it from direct experience of from photo. What shape will it take, how will color inform its message? For Patricia Short Holmes, whose love affair with art began with a box of crayons at 3, the changes of season and scenery opened her eyes to ranges of color that left an “indelible mark” and inspired her to “reach for beauty to share with others” via oil or acrylic paints on canvas. “Lost in the world at the tip of my brush…content to be in the moment,” Patricia wonders what surprise will come from the process, while the challenge to achieve the right color or emotion is constant. More often than not, Patricia starts with “no idea at all,” and simply begins applying paint to canvas to see what happens. Other times, she plans, but is usually not preoccupied with endless detail, other than to research for accuracy as to plant and/or wildlife. The idea, Patricia says, is to be able to create a painting that evokes a positive emotion or smile. The vital component of the process is working with color, trying to translate the beauty of nature to canvas, getting to the point where she can step back with a critical eye and have that “Yah” moment of “hitting the mark”. Creating the “perfect” painting, were it possible, would be great, Patricia says, but to simply enjoy painting and accepting imperfection is necessary. Patricia recalls admiring a painting in her home as a child and aspiring to also be an artist, but as with many people finding art later on, life happened. To her advantage, it was a life blessed with travel and living in many locations and a mother who taught her to “make a memory of every day” and that “there is something, no matter how small to be grateful for”. With this philosophy instilled in her early on, she believes her paintings have become the visual embodiment of this belief. She achieved Artist of the Month award at The Arts Alliance of Lemon Bay in Englewood, Florida before her move to Tiger four years ago, and was juried into a photography show at Selby Gardens, Fl. You may contact Patricia: Patriciarish7@yahoo.com; or by phone: 706.782.6708, or her cell: 774.212.1609.

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January 2017

FINDING

Art

January 2017

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Mountain Happenings - January & February, 2017 STEPHENS COUNTY January 14 and the second Saturday of the month Second Saturday Historic Downtown Toccoa Info: 706.886.2132 th

January 16th and the third Monday of each month Career Coach Stephens County Library parking lot Toccoa Info: www.gmrc.ga.gov/ WorkforceDevelopment

February 26th White County Student Art Competition - “Ties That Bind” Helen Arts & Heritage Center Helen Info: 706.878.39033 www.helenarts.org Sautee Nacoochee Center Sautee Info: 706.878.3300 www.snca.org December 30th - January 1st and each Friday – Sunday Discovery Tours

February 18th - 19th Valley Harmony Show

January 27th Shades of Buble` Info: www.negaconcerts.com

Yonah Mountain Vineyards Cleveland Info: 706.878.5522 www.yonahmountainvineyards.com

January 14th Joe Olds Band Grant Street Music Room Clarkesville Info: 706.754.3541 www.grantstreetmusicroom.com February 23rd - 26th, March 2nd - 5th The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Musical Habersham Community Theater Clarkesville Info: 706.839.1315 www.habershamtheater.org

January 7th - 8th and each Weekend Wine Cave Tour and Tasting January 15th and the third Saturday of the month Masterpiece Mixers January 23 3rd Annual Northeast Georgia’s Top Chef and Wine Tasting Info: 706.778.3100 rd

February 12th and the second Sunday of the month Reserve Wine Tasting Unicoi State Park and Lodge Helen Info: 706.754.5313 www.unicoilodge.com January 14th Hogpen Hill Climb

WHITE COUNTY

Smithgall Woods Cleveland Info: 706.878.3087 www.smithgallwoods.com

February 11th Valentine’s Celebration BabyLand General Hospital Cleveland Info: 706.865.2171 www.cabagepatchkids.com February 18th Fasching (German Mardi Gras) Helen Festhalle, Helen Info: 706.878.1908

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RABUN COUNTY

January 7th and each Saturday Live Music Saturdays

February 25th Clarkesville Mardi Gras Old Clarkesville Mill Ballroom Clarkesville Info: 706.754.2220

January 19th North Georgia Arts Guild Jesse Clay - “Transitioning from Illustration to Fine Art” The Amara Center Clayton Info: www.northgeorgiaartsguild.com Tallulah Gorge State Park Tallulah Falls Info: 706.754.7981

February 11th, 18th Dulcimer Making and Playing

CLAY COUNTY, NC Peacock Performing Arts Center Hayesville Info: 828.389.2787 peacockperformingarts.center January 21st The Sock Hops in Concert February 18th Mac Arnold & Plate Full of Blues John C. Campbell Folk School Brasstown Info: 800.365.5724 www.folkschool.org January 6th Rob, Angela & Brandon Song Swap Concert January 13th Erynn Marshall & Carl Jones Concert January 20th Riley Baugus

January 12th - 13th Full-Moon Suspension Bridge Hike

January 26th Karen Mueller Concert

Rabun Arena Tiger Info: 706.212.0452 www.rabunarena.com January 7th; February 11th Junior Rodeo

TOWNS COUNTY

January 1st Annual Hike to Duke’s Creek

February 11th Gene Watson & Earl Thomas Conley

January 1st Family Tradition First Day Hike

January 8th; February 12th Barrel Racing

February 18th - 19th 42nd Annual Fireside Arts & Craft Show

February 25th Volunteer Training

January 13th 38 Special in Concert

February 18th, 25th Sneak Preview Porcupine Quill Jewelry & Art Class

January 14th and the second Saturday of the month Southern Gospel Music

HABERSHAM COUNTY

January 7th and each Saturday through February Winter Wonderland Tours Winter Wolf Encounter

January 21st Get to Know Your Zoo

January 28th Sautee at Night with Vicki McMurrough

February 9th ABBA FAB Info: www.negaconcerts.com

Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds Hiawassee Info: 706.896.4191 www.georgiamountainfairgrounds.com

January 14th - 15th Winter Camp

The Ritz Theater The Schaefer Center, Toccoa Info: www.ritztheatertoccoa.com

February 2nd Milkshake Mayfield

North Georgia Zoo Cleveland Info: 706.348.7279 www.northgeorgiazoo.com

January 5th and the first and third Thursdays of the Month Plein Air Painters of Hiawassee ArtWorks Gallery & Gifts Hiawassee Info:706.896.0932 Crane Creek Vineyards Young Harris Info: 706.379.1235 www.cranecreekvineyards.com January 6th and each Friday Friday Evening Tapas & Acoustic January 7 and each Saturday Winery Tour / Vinekeeper’s Kitchen

January 2017

February 3rd Sara Grey Concert February 10th Jim Lloyd MACON COUNTY, NC January 21st and the third Saturday of the month SEBA Jam Cowee School, Franklin Info: www.coweeschool.org Smoky Mountain Center for Performing Arts Franklin Info: 866.273.4615; 828.524.1598 www.GreatMountainMusic.com January 21st The Lettermen February 4th Blessed and Unbreakable Tour Selah with Guest Speaker, Missy Robertson of Duck Dynasty February 10th The Booth Brothers February 18th We’ve Only Just Begun: The Carpenters Remembered

Evening of Fun Equals A Future of Promise Prevent Child Abuse Habersham’s “Top Chef and Wine Tasting Competition”

f you’ve never been a youngster hurting and confused, because an adult denied you a safe, nurturing childhood, say, “Thank you!” Then pledge to make a difference. If you’ve never questioned what you did to cause an adult to hit, demean or make you uncomfortable, be extremely grateful. Show your gratitude in a tangible way. If you’ve never struggled to banish, or at least overcome, emotional scars and handicaps that always accompany child abuse into adulthood, count your blessings. Then pony up for tickets to “Northeast Georgia’s Top Chef & Wine Tasting Competition”. This culinary-themed gala is hosted by Prevent Child Abuse Habersham which serves families in Northeast Georgia. You’ll not find an easier or more enjoyable way to create a win-win situation for yourself, abuse victims and those who battle uphill odds to make a difference. PCAH exists for those sillwalking victims of child abuse, and for those adults who might, without intervention, become abusers. It’s called “education”. The organization’s third annual gastronomical fundraising event is upcoming on Monday, January 23rd. Proceeds will make a lifesaving, life-altering difference for those threatened by the multitentacled monster called abuse.

This premiere evening of fine food and wine has exceeded guests’ expectation for two years in a row, when a full-house of 400 concerned individuals enjoy food from a number of the area’s fine restaurants. Wine pairings from local wineries provide the perfect accent for the evening. Yonah Mountain Vineyards, located at 1717 Highway 255 Cleveland, Georgia, continues to be the site for this stupendous event. Prevent Child Abuse Habersham is celebrating its 25th year as well as this past fall’s successful grand opening of its Family Resource Center, located in Clarkesville, Georgia, where families have access to the tools they need to build positive parenting practices and heal from past conflict through supervised visitation and therapeutic counseling. The generational cycle of family violence and child abuse can be altered through partnership, parenting classes, improved social connections, intervention, and emotional support. Tickets for the evening, which begins at 6:00 PM and runs until 8:30 PM, are $60 per person. As many as a dozen combined restaurants and wineries can participate. This evening of mingling and meeting, sampling area cuisine and wine selections in business casual attire, offers many opportunities. At 8:00 PM, a number of awards and recognitions will occur such as Top Chef, Top Wines, Top Décor and Business Advocate of the Year. The extremely popular “Wine Pull” activity will further enhance the enjoyment quotient and the bottom line. Picture it: for only $20 per pull, you get the chance to uncork a wine bottle. Numbers on each stopper correspond to a specific bottle of wine, each priced from $20 to about $60 that you win. How can you lose? How much of a difference can you make in combating child abuse? Good company and great times are a given. But behind the gaiety of the evening, even while the party proceeds, is the less than pretty truth that local children are in danger. That abuse sets the stage for those children’s tomorrows and the future of Northeast Georgia. But this isn’t to say the party shouldn’t happen. Instead, it MUST happen. Only through the actions of those who buy those tickets, attend and engage, will those who can’t help themselves have an opportunity for a future. If you’re a survivor of abuse, whether you talk about it or not, here’s an excellent way to make a silent but dynamic statement for good. Participate in the competition in some fashion. How rewarding could that be? Tickets can be purchased online via www.pcahabersham. org. Sponsor opportunities are still available. Restaurants and wineries not already committed, who are interested in making a positive difference in child abuse prevention, should contact Jennifer Stein at 706.778.3100. By John Shivers (December 2015) Updated by Jennifer Stein (December 2016) Editor’s Note: Writer John Shivers is himself an abuse survivor and a publishing author. Good can emerge from bad and even triumph!

January 2017

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January 2017

Life is a Blessing

Even When Hardships Come by Tracy McCoy

ith a new year at our doorstep, we feel a mixture of excitement and trepidation. Over the last five years the Georgia Mountain Laurel has endured its share of struggles and hardships. When businesses struggle, we struggle too. We have looked to each new year, new presidents, new ideas and each new day for hope. We have, as of this issue, produced 153 free magazines featuring local artists, businesses, our friends and our neighbors for you, our readers. We have printed your poems, your pictures, your stories and your artwork with the help of the local and regional businesses who support us with their advertising dollars. Truly the Georgia Mountain Laurel is your magazine. We’ve heard at least 10,000 times how much you love to read it. You’ve told us that you read every ad because they are interesting and eye-catching. Our advertisers report results from their advertising and in fact we often hear that the GML is the only place they do advertise. We are humbled by your kindness. It can be difficult to admit when things get tough. We are dedicated to this community, our advertisers and our mission which is to share God’s love and these beautiful mountains we call home. It is our hope to always be a beacon of light for visitors and a favorite read for our full and part time residents but without your help this might only be our dream. Each month we go to God in prayer for direction, wisdom and knowledge of His will for the magazine. We believe strongly that the Christian life is about more than Sunday morning worship. God’s word makes it clear that this life is about relationship with our Heavenly Father made possible through

acceptance of Christ’s finished work on the cross. This is a 24/7 relationship in and outside the walls of our churches, homes and businesses. We are called to be honest and so honestly we need your prayers and your support. Finding ourselves in this position after giving all we have had to continue the good work that was started 14 years ago could be discouraging, but we have faith, an incredible faith that God will supply our needs. He has carried us through some really hard places over the years and we feel that the magazine brings glory to Him and encouragement to many of our readers. We have tried to be a help, to give more than we have taken and to share all that God has given us. Some might say that our generosity is why we are facing tough times; perhaps that is right. We have given because that is the example we have aspired to follow both in the founders of the magazine and in the ways of Jesus. We do not know what our future holds, but we do know who holds our future. We will continue to serve Him and our community as best we can each month. I have personally seen God provide for us in the past and I believe that when we Christians endure hardships it is to build Christ-like character in us, to prepare us for all that God has planned for us. There is promise after promise in the Bible and descriptions of the life He wants to bless us with. There are also testimonies from people who faced giants, whales, lions and Satan himself and when they kept their focus on their Father they always came out on top That is the truth we hold to and the hope that fills us for the new year. We are human and often times fear creeps in and doubts overwhelm us but people God is bigger than the trials and hardships. Pray for our magazine, each of us and the counties we serve. Thank you for reading the Georgia Mountain Laurel and thank you for the continued support of our advertisers, they are the BEST and in our prayers each month. Thank you,

Tracy

January 2017

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January 2017

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.

Messengers of Warning God calls His people to become His messengers who He uses to warn of judgment to come. He wants to bless America, and we are to go before and make known the approach of danger that is coming. The Lord plans this so His people will be warned and ushered into a safe harbor for haven until the storm passes by. Those who bring warning are called Harbingers and according to the Random House Dictionary, the term Harbinger means “safe harbor”. The Lord always sends warning before judgment comes. There are people all over the world now who are sounding a message as Harbingers to those who will listen. The message is a warning of approaching storms, and protection which the Lord has already put in place for you and me. God’s protection is located in the safe haven under His shadow in a place just as close to the Lord as you can get! You reach that safe harbor through prayer, repentance and faith in Jesus Christ who is the only one who can quiet the storm and bring safety. Study Psalm 91 in detail. When people or nations turn away from God, He removes His protective covering from them and they become vulnerable to attacks from their enemies. America has foreign enemies who hate us, and we have many enemies within our country who want to take us down. Years ago, we began to lose our way as a Nation under God. America, once godly, is now receiving a warning from the Word of God not to go the way of Israel and Judah. Isaiah 9:8-21 tells a familiar story. It is from a Harbinger named Isaiah around 700 BC. Israel and Judah were warned by him that God’s judgment was about to come upon them because they had departed from the Lord. God’s protection had already left, and in an act of war, the Syrians and the Philistines attacked Israel, demolishing buildings and killing people much like it was in America on 9/11 and since then. “The Lord sent a word unto Jacob, and it has lighted upon Israel, and all the people shall know, Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart, The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones; the sycamores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.” Isaiah 9:8-10. Instead of crying out to the Lord in repentance and asking for mercy, God’s people rose up in pride saying they will rebuild it better with hewn stone instead of brick, and will plant cedars to replace the lowly sycamores. They were saying: “we are strong and we will build it all back better than before!” The outcome for the Nation of Israel was terrible, this was the beginning of the end for that nation. Israel was not at that time to be the great nation God had planned them to be. Pride and misplaced self-confidence took them down and their leaders were dishonest 26

“Violence shall no longer be heard in your land, neither wasting nor destruction within your borders; but you shall call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise.” Isaiah 60:18

liars and thieves. They did not repent of their sins and they did not return to the Lord for help. They believed they could do it alone without any help from God! This is insane. From 733 BC, the Nation of Israel has not only spent time in exiled captivity, but 2739 years in hiding as wanderers being known as other nations in Europe and around the world unto this day! The Nation of Judah (the Jews) kept their name and were treated badly every place they went all over the world. The Nation of Israel, ten tribes who numbered over ten million at the time, took on assumed names and have stayed in hiding for over 2739 years! How many could they number now? And where are they now? Fast-forward to 2001. Immediately after 9/11, political leaders were televised speaking for America: “There are some verses in the Bible that may comfort us at this time of attack and destruction, Isaiah 9:10 says ‘The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stone; the sycamores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars. We will rebuild…”. Hewn stone was placed as the corner stone of the new building, and a huge cedar tree was placed by a crane where the sycamores were cut down, fulfilling the word of judgment spoken over us. The cedar has since died (with no fanfare). Our leaders were showing God we have national pride and strength. God wants repentance and a cry for help. The bricks are fallen, but we have no repentance: God says to us “Therefore the Lord shall set up adversaries before and behind…, and they shall devour…” Isaiah 9:11-12. “For the leaders of this people cause them to err, and they who are led by them are destroyed” Isaiah 9:16. Wake up America! Americans elect National, State and Local officials to serve the people, believing they will keep America safe and strong, that they will preserve the U.S. Constitution, our freedom, and keep things running in an honest, good, ethical manner in government. It is all in jeopardy. We must pray in repentance to the Lord for what we have done and what we have not done to keep America a godly nation. We each know where we went wrong. God calls all of His people as Harbingers to warn others to pray for personal and national repentance. “His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still”. Isaiah 9:12

January 2017

RIVER GARDEN P.O. Box 112 Lakemont, GA 30552 706.782.5435 706.490.3063 gmlaurel.com

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January 2017

Bless Your Heart

“Grammy Knows” by Lisa Harris

alking into the house, Bitsy felt her past enter the present and tears welled up in her eyes. Her Grammy’s home was full of memories, and now it was her home. Just that thought alone brought joy and fear into her heart. The joy being that it was a quaint log home with only two bedrooms, a huge walk-in stone fireplace and a kitchen that took you back in time. The fear being that it was out in the middle of nowhere. Literally, the nearest neighbor was a half mile over the hill and around the bend. She was a city girl going country…or maybe, she was just going crazy. With a smile, Bitsy lugged her bags in, took a deep breath and muttered, “Dear Lord help me.” Changing into her sweatshirt and leggings and tossing her hair into a ponytail, Bitsy felt ready to tackle the kitchen and decide how she was going to bring it into 2017. The house was built in 1930 and had been well-maintained. Her Grammy insisted on staying on top of all maintenance, she just wasn’t the best at cosmetic updates. Bitsy cleaned for a good three hours before taking a break and making notes on new appliances, counter tops and backsplash. The flooring of wide plank pine and cabinets were just too perfect for the cabin feel. Although, there were things that didn’t need changing, and that would be flooring, cabinets and herself. Yes, herself. Her break-off from Jack had been painful but the right thing. His expectations, demands and dreams were more than she could accommodate. She was simple; a dreamer, a doer of good deeds and a barely successful writer/illustrator of romance books. Jack needed glamorous, focused and totally successful. Nothing too mid-grade for him. Being opposites attracted them but it couldn’t keep them together. He was not her soul mate. Grammy told her that and said she knew who would be her one and only. She just would never tell Bitsy who it was. “Oh well,” she thought, “since I’m now 33 he’s probably married with two kids by now.” Bitsy decided to gather some wood stacked outside the cabin and build a roaring fire. Well, at least she hoped she could get it to roar! Later she snuggled into a big cozy recliner, opened her laptop and begin to write. Being a simple kind of gal, she wrote simple and from the heart. Love stories were her thing, which was kind of ironic since she had never married. But, maybe that was a good thing she pondered with a smile.

Time always flew as she typed, and she was so very grateful Grammy had internet put in just for her. One more way her grandmother always showed her love for her. Looking at her phone, it said 4 o’clock but her tummy said it was time to eat. Bitsy stood up stretching as she walked over to the fridge. Why she bothered she didn’t know. It was empty of course. She forgot to buy food. “Seriously,” she thought, “how do you forget to buy food?” She stoked the fire, making sure it was safe to leave, then grabbed her keys, locked up and jumped into her jeep to head for the Piggly Wiggly for food. She was a Publix kind of city girl but out here the options were a bit more limited. It was all good, she already felt better, so maybe this would work out for her. Pulling into the parking lot she parked next to a huge black truck. “It must be one of those F-250 or 350 kind of trucks that can blow you off the road if you’re not careful,” she thought, “especially in this icy kind of weather.” Just as that thought left her brain, her foot slipped on a spot of black ice and before her back hit the pavement, large arms grabbed her and stood her upright again. “Oh my,” Bitsy stammered. “Thank you for the quick save.” The handsome man in a weathered sort of way, grinned a delightfully wicked smile, winked and said, “You’re welcome.” Bitsy turned around and headed into the store thinking, “Is swoon still a word?” If it was, she was swooning. --Dodge Heath climbed into his black truck thinking that was the prettiest woman he’d seen in a long time. At least the kind of pretty he liked…natural, soft looking and casual. Nothing too fussy and showy. Dodge drove off thinking about the new girl and wishing he’d gotten her name. But, his luck, she was probably married. They usually were. Dodge sighed and said a little prayer to God asking for another encounter. This time he’d be more on his game. The encounter came sooner than later. God is like that sometimes. --The next day, Bitsy called around to a couple of people she knew in the area for recommendations on remodeling the kitchen. Finally, after a few hours the only company that called back was the most well-known in town called, DTH Remodel, Inc. Bitsy set up a consultation on Thursday that week at 11:00 AM. “Perfect,” she thought. That would give her time to sleep in until 7:00 AM, shower and make sure everything was clean and put away.

January 2017

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The night before the consult, Bitsy decided to go through a few things of her grandmother’s. Pulling out her sketch pads, she caught her breath at the beauty of her Grammy’s portraits. She loved to sketch animals as much as people. Her talent was undeniable and she cherished these sketches. For one solid hour, Bitsy flipped the pages and pondered on each drawing. Some she had seen and some she had not. Putting them away, she promised herself to buy a fire case to keep them safe. The sketches were treasures she did not want to lose…ever. The next morning, Bitsy flew out of bed …late. The remodel guy would be there shortly and she had not showered. “Yikes!” she squealed as the hot water was a bit too hot, but scrubbed quickly, dried her golden reddish hair, applied mascara and gloss and literally threw on her blue jean leggings, boots and sweater. Looking at the mirror she thought, “Could be worse, could be better,” and with that thought Bitsy went to the family room hoping there were still some hot coals to get the fire going again.

Bitsy walked back into the room and said, “Well, this is the second time you’ve saved me from hurting myself.” Dodge turned around and grinned, completely disarming her with his dimples. “Well they say the third time is the charm.” Bitsy laughed, “Well, let’s hope you don’t have to rescue me again.” For a while they talked remodel and Dodge gave her his estimate to get the job done. Bitsy agreed and they settled on a start date of the coming Saturday. As Dodge was leaving, he turned to Bitsy and said, “If you don’t mind, I don’t feel you’re safe with this door. I easily shoved it opened; so, I’ll be installing you a new solid wood door with a strong lock when I come Saturday.” Bitsy who was a bit surprised and taken back replied, “But, I’m not sure I can afford a new door just yet.”

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“Maybe not, but I can,” he said with a wink and left.

Dodge drove up onto the woman’s gravel driveway. He usually gave these small jobs to the manager of his company to handle but he had a doctor’s appointment so unfortunately it fell on him. He was slightly aggravated due to the time factor, but his company was based on integrity and if an appointment was made, then it would be kept.

---

Dodge put the truck in park and gathered his clipboard and pen hoping this wouldn’t be a long consult. He knocked twice and waited, then knocked again. “Where is she?” he thought. It was just a second later when he heard a scream. Dodge jiggled the door knob and it opened with a hard shove, and there standing in front of the fireplace was that woman covered in ashes. “Are you alright?” he asked. Bitsy was in tears, “Yes, I’m alright, just overwhelmed with this blooming fireplace. It’s so incredibly big, and I accidentally dropped two logs into the fire and it all came back at me.” Dodge smiled and grabbed the poker, stoking the fire and assuring Bitsy it would be fine. Bitsy was completely embarrassed, but forced an introduction and Dodge did the same. “If you’ll excuse me for just a minute, I need to get these ashes out of my hair. I will be right back,” she said with a rather sheepish smile. Dodge said, “Go ahead, I’ll look at your kitchen.” Walking the five steps it took to get to her kitchen he couldn’t help but smile as he thought, “Well God, you came through for me, now I’ve got to do my part.” Back in her bathroom, Bitsy was looking at the soot on her face and ashes in her hair all the while having a wild conversation in her head. “Could your timing of looking a complete mess be any more perfect? Honestly, Dodge is going to think you’re a complete goof-ball.” Washing her face, combing out ashes and reapplying her gloss was as good as it was going to get. gmlaurel.com

It didn’t take long at all for a relationship to develop. Dodge did install the door; he also did all the remodeling himself. Bitsy knew this was not typical and was delighted to have him around. She wrote her stories and he restored her kitchen. This one week job took four weeks; however, she was good with forty years. Dodge loved their bantering back and forth. He loved her easiness, her beliefs, her political stance, her fun personality, her determination to do well with her God-given gifts but most of all he was falling hard for her. Bitsy on the other hand was overwhelmed with her feelings. She had been single for so long and her last serious relationship was a disaster on steroids. How would she know for sure that Dodge was her one and only? Grammy said she knew who it was, but refused to tell her even on her deathbed. Bitsy just wished she knew. Months went by and one evening Dodge said he had to go out of town for a couple of days to make a bid on a job. Of course, she understood, but kept staring at him to cement every detail of his face into her heart. His brown eyes with flecks of green in them against his weathered skin. He had such a gleaming white smile that drove her crazy with his infectious dimples. Lord knew she loved his thick, dirty blonde hair that curled up at the neck no matter how much he tried to keep it cut. How she dreaded this separation, but didn’t say a word except that she would miss him. Dodge checked all the windows, made sure she had plenty of wood stacked by the house and of course checked the security system that he had insisted be installed for her safety. All these things said I love you, but he still hadn’t actually said those words. The next day Bitsy didn’t feel like writing, she missed Dodge too much. “He hasn’t even been gone 24 hours and you’re practically immobile,” fussing at herself at the silliness of it all. Sitting by the fire, she picked up her Grammy’s Bible to go through. She always kept bulletins from her church stuffed in

January 2017

there, along with notes; tiny sketches she made in the margins before doodling became popular. Bitsy begin flipping through the pages, reading her grandmother’s remarks, her prayers she dated, underlined scriptures and people she prayed over. Her name had been written many times. Going page by page took hours and Bitsy stopped to make herself a cup of coffee. Settling back in for the finish, Bitsy turned to the maps in the back of the Bible and then flipped the last one over. On the back page was a sketch of Dodge’s face! The hair, the eyes, the dimples, the incredible smile. It was him. Bitsy was in total shock. Why was Dodge sketched in her Bible? What did this mean? She turned the page over one more time and read the words her Grammy wrote: Dearest Bitsy~ I have prayed since the day you were born for your one true love. The day I met Dodge Heath, God told me in my heart that he was your true love. I’ve sketched him in my Bible and written these words as a promise from the Lord. You are one of my greatest blessings and you will be his greatest blessing too. I love you…Grammy Sitting in shock, the tears flowed. Her heart was overwhelmed at God’s goodness, confirming her heart’s desire. Until the wee hours in the morning, Bitsy slept with her Grammy’s Bible tucked in her arms. --Dodge hesitated for just a moment as he fumbled for his key to Bitsy’s door. He hoped to get in, disarm the security, get the fire going before she got up and fix her breakfast. He loved taking care of her, he just couldn’t help himself. Just like he couldn’t help but to come back early. One 24-hour period was long enough in his opinion. Opening the door, he took care of the security and stoked the fire. There laid Bitsy asleep with her Bible in her arms. Her hair was still flowing around her face, a wool blanket covered her legs and her laughable bunny slippers peeked out. All he

wanted to do was pick her up and hold her, but he refrained. Giving the fire one more poke, he went and started breakfast. The aroma of sausage and coffee pricked her senses and Bitsy woke up. For a split second, she was bewildered at seeing Dodge, but it was only a second before she jumped into his arms. While she was in his arms, Dodge decided right then and there he couldn’t wait. He pulled Bitsy over to her chair and got down on his knee and proposed his love and devotion. The ring he pulled out made Bitsy gasp. It was an absolutely stunning ring. A perfect fit. Several minutes later, Bitsy pulled out of Dodge’s arms and grabbed her Grammy’s Bible, turning to the portrait. “Dodge, do you remember meeting my grandmother?” she asked. “I remember meeting her at a church social a few years back, we talked for quite a while, but it was only that one time. She was quite the character,” he mused. Bitsy handed him Grammy’s Bible and said, “Look at this drawing.” Dodge looked and stared in disbelief. “Why is my face sketched in your Grammy’s Bible? I don’t understand.” “Turn the page over,” she directed. Dodge turned it over and read the inscription. “You mean from that one meeting she knew I was meant for you?” Bitsy nodded, too emotional to say a word. Dodge grinned his delightfully wicked grin and said, “You will never hear me argue with God nor your Grammy’s promise from Him. I say we get married soon.” Bitsy’s eyes misted over and she just knew her Grammy was with her at that very moment. She also knew exactly what she was going to say to Dodge. “I say yes.”

January 2017

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January 2017

Bon Appétit

How to Warm up When it is Cold Outside by Scarlett Cook

e are all settling into our winter routines and what better way to warm up and make the house smell good than a wonderful dinner of pasta? Pasta hits all the right buttons – inexpensive, easy, warming and most importantly of all it tastes wonderful. It is amazing how just walking into a home with the scent of pasta dishes cooking makes the days’ troubles and cares go away. Some of the recipes may be new to you, but most require minimal work and will fill your family up.

“Special” Macaroni & Cheese Serves 6 1/2 Cup uncooked macaroni 1 1/2 Cups scalded milk 1 1/2 Cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese 1 Cup bread crumbs 1 Small jar chopped pimientos, well drained 3 Tablespoons melted margarine 1 Tablespoon dried parsley 1 Tablespoon grated onion 1/2 Teaspoon salt 3 Eggs, separated 1/4 Teaspoon cream of tarter 1/2 Cup shredded Cheddar cheese Preheat oven to 325˚. Cook macaroni; drain and set aside. Combine milk and 1 1/2 cups cheese and stir until cheese melts. Add macaroni, bread crumbs, pimientos, butter, parsley, onion and salt. Beat egg yolks and stir into mixture. Beat egg whites and cream of tartar until stiff but not dry and fold into macaroni mixture. Spoon into a greased 2-quart baking dish. Bake about 45 minutes or until set. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese and return to the oven for 5 minutes or until cheese melts. 1 6-Ounce can tomato paste 1/2 Cup water 2 Teaspoons sugar 1/2 Teaspoon salt 1 Bay leaf 1 12-Ounce carton cottage cheese 1 egg, beaten 1/4 Cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 Cup grated Mozzarella cheese 1/2 6-Ounce box lasagna noodles 1/4 Cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 Cup grated Mozzarella cheese Lasagna & Sausage Pinwheels Serves 8 1 Pound hot or mild Italian link sausage, cut into 1” pieces 3/4 Cup chopped onion 1 Garlic clove, minced 3 Cups tomato juice 32

Preheat oven to 350˚. In a large heavy skillet brown sausage over low heat; drain sausage on paper towels and reserve 1/4 cup drippings. In same skillet with drippings sauté onion and garlic until crisp tender. Return sausage to skillet and stir in tomato juice, tomato paste,

January 2017

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water, sugar, salt and bay leaf. Simmer uncovered 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Remove bay leaf. Combine cottage cheese, egg, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, 1 cup Mozzarella cheese and salt and pepper to taste. Set aside. Cook noodles according to package directions and drain well. Spread about 1 tablespoon of the cheese mixture on each noodle. Roll each noodle up covering cheese mixture. Spread 1 cup of the sauce in the bottom of a 13” x 9” greased baking dish. Arrange rolls, seam side down in sauce. Spoon remaining sauce over rolls and sprinkle with remaining Parmesan and Mozzarella. Bake for 30 – 40 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Sour Cream & Noodle Bake 1 8-Ounce package egg noodles 1 Cup cottage cheese 1 8-Ounce carton sour cream 1/2 Cup minced onion 1 Pound lean ground beef 1 8-Ounce can tomato sauce 1 Teaspoon salt 1/2 Teaspoon garlic salt 3/4 Cup shredded cheese – Cheddar, Mozzarella, Pepper Jack – any or a combination Preheat oven to 350˚. Cook noodles according to package. Drain well. Fold in cottage cheese, sour cream and onion. Set aside. Cook ground beef until no longer pink and drain well. Add tomato sauce, salt and garlic salt. Simmer 10 minutes. Spoon half of the noodle mixture into a greased 2-quart baking dish. Top with half of the meat mixture. Repeat layers and bake for 30 minutes. Bake 30 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with cheese and bake an additional 5 minutes.

Cheesy Noodles & Mushrooms Serves 6 1 Pound fresh mushrooms, sliced 1/2 Cup margarine 1/2 Cup chopped onion 1/2 Cup chopped green onions 1 8-Ounce package egg noodles 2 Cups shredded Cheddar cheese 1/2 Cup half-and-half 1 Teaspoon salt 1/4 Teaspoon pepper 1/8 Teaspoon nutmeg 1 Tablespoon dried parsley Sauté mushrooms in margarine until tender. Add onion and green onions and cook 2 minutes more. Set aside. Cook noodles according to package directions in sauce pan; drain well and return to saucepan. Add Cheddar cheese, half-andhalf, salt, pepper and nutmeg and cook over low heat until cheese melts, stirring constantly. Add mushroom and onion mixture. Sprinkle with parsley and serve at once.

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January 2017

MOUNTAIN

DINING

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January 2017

The Family Table Happy New Year! by Lorie Thompson

ew Year’s Day brings big and loud excitement to my home! We ring in the new year with a bang (literally)! We shoot skeet in the empty pasture just down the creek from our house. We invite all the family and set up two skeet throwers and we make a joyful noise! There are some really good shooters in our family: my husband Peanut and both of my children Joe and Kendall are wonderful shots, as are many of my nephews and cousins. Hit or miss, it does not matter. We have a wonderful time making noise and being together. We leave the fields and head back up the creek to our house for a traditional Southern New Year’s feast of greens, beans, cornbread and pork. There are a lot of different ideas of what the traditional New Year’s Day foods represent, but at our house we believe the greens represent the “greenbacks”, the peas (or beans) represent the pennies, the cornbread represents the gold and the pork represents your luck for the next year. There is an old saying I have heard my entire life: “Eat poor on New Year’s Day and eat fat the rest of the year”. After the Christmas gift spending spree, eating poor on New Year’s sounds like a really good idea! When my kids were younger, telling them that the greens represented their money for the upcoming year might have been why they both love greens so much! Tee-hee. So, let me share some of my favorite New Year’s fare with you! Collard greens are king at our house! All of our family loves them. They take a little time to prepare, but you can double the batch and freeze the leftovers for another meal. They get better each time you re-heat them. The key to really great greens is in the prep work. Begin with 2 large bundles of collard greens. I strip the leaves off of the tough stem. Place the leaves into a large bowl of cold water and wash the greens. If they are very dirty, you may need to wash them 2-3 times. Keep rinsing until there is no residue of sand

January 2017

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in the bottom of the bowl. Drain the greens and give them a rough chop. Do not cut them too small. Rough chop a large onion and sauté in a large pot with 3 – 4 tablespoons of olive oil. Add 2 tablespoons of kosher salt and 1 teaspoon of crushed red pepper to onions. When onions are soft add 3 cloves of minced garlic. Cook for 2 – 3 more minutes and begin adding the chopped greens a handful at a time. Allow each batch to wilt down before adding the next batch. When all of the collards have been added to the pot, add 2 Tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar and 1 Tablespoons of hot sauce if you like it. Slice a round of Kielbasa Sausage on the diagonal and add to the collards. Cover collards completely with chicken broth and allow them to simmer on low heat, for 1 1/2 – 2 hours until greens are silky in appearance and liquid is reduced. If I am cooking a really large pot of collards, I will pre-cook the sausages on my smoker. It makes it even better!

they are tender. Remove potatoes from oven and turn wedges over. Season the back side of wedges with a small sprinkle of salt, red pepper and sage. Return to oven for 10 more minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle hot sweet potatoes with 1 Tablespoon of brown sugar and toss. Use Truvia Brown Sugar for a no-guilt treat. Serve warm. These dishes are budget-friendly and will taste wonderful alongside a pone of homemade cornbread on New Year’s Day or on a cold January evening. Happy New Year’s to you and those that you love! Make 2017 the year to build on your old family traditions or to start new ones that will enrich your life! May God bless you and keep you in His hand!

I have family who say these are the only greens they will eat. They really are that good! White soup beans with pork ribs are another winter family favorite. We do have black eye peas on New Year’s Day for traditions sake, but we also have white soup beans with pork. They are very simple to make. Rinse and “look over” 1 pound of white beans. I have never found anything in the beans but I have had people tell me they have found small rocks in them. Place beans in crock pot along with 6 cups of cold water, 2 teaspoons of kosher salt, 3 – 4 boneless pork pieces. I use boneless country style ribs. You can use pork ribs with bones in them, but make certain all of the bones are removed before serving. I add 2 dried cayenne pepper pods. I grow these and dry them in the summer for my cooking, but you can use a little crushed red or black pepper. Cook in crock-pot on high heat for 6 hours or on low for 8-10 hours. If you are in a hurry, these are perfect to cook in a pressure cooker or an Instant Pot. The beans will get better each time they are re-heated.

Lorie Thompson is a native of Rabun County and has spent many years in the Real Estate business in Northeast Georgia. She presently works at RE/Max of Rabun County, Georgia. Lorie is well known for her expertise in the kitchen and we are pleased that she is sharing her knowledge with us.

A perfect accompaniment to the collard greens and soup beans are oven-roasted sweet potatoes. Pre-heat oven to 400˚. Peel 3 – 4 large sweet potatoes with a vegetable peeler. Cut into uniform wedges, keeping the size as consistent as possible. Place wedges in a bowl and drizzle with 2 – 3 Tablespoons of olive oil and toss. Spread wedges on a baking sheet and season with a sprinkle of kosher salt, crushed red pepper and dried sage. Roast at 400˚ for approximately 25 minutes or until gmlaurel.com

January 2017

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January 2017

Adventure Out - Bell Mountain By Peter McIntosh

n this adventure, we’re visiting a recently, to me anyway, opened mountaintop park in Towns County that offers splendid views in all directions, but most especially overlooking the town of Hiawassee and beautiful Lake Chatuge. Our destination is Bell Mountain Park, located at the top of Bell Mountain. For many years, if you wanted to take in the views from this peak, you had to park and hike up a steep, muddy Jeep road to the top. Well now it’s paved all the way up, with a nice parking area and a two observation platforms. One of the platforms is adjacent to the parking area and is handicapped accessible. (There’s a nice plaque here dedicating the park.) The other is on the very tippy-top of the mountain, up a well constructed stairway. For a time, the top of the mountain was quarried for its white quartz and the rock that remains has been spray painted by countless morons. I’m not a fan of desecrating nature by any means, but these rocks have been painted so many times, it’s almost become artwork. But graffiti aside, this place is still well worth a visit. Off to the southwest you can see Georgia’s highest mountain Brasstown Bald and if you scramble up to the top of the painted rocks, you can see in all directions with Trey Mountain to the Southeast and Hightower Bald to the Northeast. But the view overlooking the lake is the real payoff. Do keep in mind this place is probably crazy popular in the warmer months, especially on weekends,

so I highly recommend visiting this spot during the week. This would be a great spot to stay and watch a sunset and the lights of Hiawassee slowly emerge in the twilight. Be prepared, bring a headlamp or two and some snacks, but leave the adult beverages at home since alcohol is not permitted in the park. Happy hiking! ‘Tis a brand new year and my first poem is here: We’re visiting a location with views that are swell, To ring in the New Year on a mountain named Bell. The views are spectacular and that’s for a fact, And you can be like Janus looking forward and back.

January 2017

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Getting there: Bell Mountain is accessed via Shake Rag Road which is off of Hwy 76 W just east of Hiawassee. It’s 25 miles from Hwy 441 in Clayton. If you’re coming from Helen or thereabouts, Shake Rag Road is 1.3 miles east of the intersection of GA Hwy 75 and Hwy 76. There is a convenience store at the intersection called the Lake View Store and a power substation, just across the road. Shake Rag Road is a single track paved road leading all the way to the top, 3 miles from Hwy 76. Stay on the paved road as there is a sign, about 2.5 miles in, where Shake Rag Road bears off to the left. Stay on the main paved road. This is a very steep road so don’t try it if it’s icy and make sure you have good brakes. It’s steep coming down as well!

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

January 2017

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.â&#x20AC;? Helen Keller

January 2017

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January 2017

Mountain Nature Over-wintering Birds By Jean Hyatt

e are getting tons of purple finches at our bird feeders this winter! Perhaps not tons, probably actually less than a pound; but there are several of them. They are very welcome, as we have never seen so many at our house before. In the past couple of years, we’ve had some trees around the house cut, and I think maybe the feeders are more visible from the air now. The Latin name for purple finch is Carpodicus purpureus; the latter nomenclature doesn’t mean purple at all - it means crimson or red. Purple finches are an inch or so larger than goldfinches, and are a reddish raspberry color - the males are, that is. His face and cap (top of the head) are red, as are the breast, back, and rump. The wings are brown, and display scalloped edge markings when folded over his back. The female is brown and white with a heavily streaked breast and head. She has no red markings. She does, however, have prominent white streaks above and below the eye. Purple finches are often confused with house finches, but these facial streaks on the female leave no question in identification between the two species. As to the males, while both have red heads, the cap in purple finches is red, and in house finches, it is brown. And the male house finch coloring is more orange red than raspberry red. Purple finches generally come to this area in winter in search

Female house finch looks a lot like a pine siskin, but it is larger, and has a larger beak. Strong beaks are good for opening seeds. are spotted every winter, even on small lakes or ponds. I saw my first bufflehead (a small duck) on Lake Burton many years ago. Since I identified that first one, I now see them every winter somewhere in the area. Last year, we saw Bluewinged Teals in late winter. They are migratory, just stopping to eat for a few days before continuing further north. Other over-wintering birds that you might see from your own front window or at your feeder are the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, the White-Throated Sparrow, the Pine Siskin (I think I’ve seen enough of that one), three or four species of hawks and the Cedar Waxwing. While the cedar waxwing is actually here all year, they travel in large flocks in winter and you’re more likely to see them. We see them here in town every winter.

Two male house finches. Note the brown cap. of food. When spring arrives, they head back up to Canada and northern Minnesota to nest and raise their young. House finches are here year round, so if you see a red finch in summer, it is probably a house finch. The two species sometimes intermingle in winter in their search for food.

Don’t forget your day trip to see the Sandhill Cranes at Hiawassee Wildlife Refuge in Tennessee, located just northwest of Cleveland. The refuge supports the largest over-wintering population of these cranes in the Eastern US, with the exception of Florida. There is a viewing platform where it is possible to view hundreds, if not thousands, of the large

birds. Even when the refuge itself is closed, the platform remains open with parking nearby.

There are many other species of birds that are here for winter feeding as well. Lots of ducks, coots and other water birds

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. ** 44

January 2017

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January 2017

Wheels

1970 Mercury Cougar by Tracy McCoy

ost families pass down clothes when they are outgrown and family heirlooms are passed through generations but the Hurndon’s give hand-me-downs a new spin. In October 1970 Lloyd Hurndon helped his daughter Phyllis purchased her first car, a 1970 Mercury Cougar XR-7 2-door hardtop, from Willet Lincoln-Mercury on East Ponce de Leon Boulevard in Decatur, Georgia. The total sale on this ride was $4,829.51. The Cougar was built in Dearborn, Michigan in June of ‘70 and soon after delivered to the dealer. It had a 3.00 conventional rear axle, a 351-2V V-8 engine and an FMX select shift automatic transmission . It came in pastel yellow with tobacco leather interior and high back bucket seats. The car came with power front disc brakes, power steering, belted white sidewall tires, air conditioning, AM radio and an 8-track player. The Cougar was driven by Phyllis for about 10 years at which time she pulled it under a pecan tree in Lloyd’s front yard and bought her second car. The car remained there for a dozen years or more. Lloyd decided to give the car to his brother Joe in the mid 80s. Joe enjoyed tinkering with the car and driving it on the weekends. In 2008 Joe had the Cougar painted dark green, although he never really liked the color. Joe had some serious health issues and in October 2014 he talked with his son Jeff about re-painting the Cougar. He asked Jeff to pick the color of the car because he would hand it off to Jeff when he passed away. Jeff picked four colors and combined them to create the rich dark red/brown paint that is on the car today. Joe left this world behind in early 2015 leaving the Cougar to his son. Jeff has done a lot of work to the 1970 Cougar and has it looking really good. He enjoys taking it to shows and driving it on Sundays with his wife Judy McCoy Hurndon. Jeff has worked for 25 years for Delta Airlines at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and is also a professional photographer best known for sports and wedding photography. One will most certainly find a folder in his portfolio titled 70’ Cougar. The couple have family in Rabun and visit as often as they can. Don’t be surprised to see the hand-me-down Mercury Cougar cruising through the mountains some day. gmlaurel.com

January 2017

By The Way S By Emory Jones

mall towns are fine, as long as you wear underwear.

The only drawback I’ve found to living in a small town is that the newspapers have that little portion that prints all the police records, local arrests and such. Most of them call it The Blotter. Naturally, The Blotter is the first thing people read. They usually don’t mention names in The Blotter because they don’t have to. Everybody knows who it is just from reading it. That’s why a recent blotter item about my cousin Wayne hit so close to home. His mama never will get over it. The item was short. It just said that, out on the main highway, a deputy pulled over a “citizen” because he was driv-

ing down the road without a tire on one of the vehicle’s wheels. As part of the field sobriety evaluation, the deputy made the “citizen” jump up and down on one foot, which caused the man’s pants to fall down. Everybody knew it was Wayne because he never wears a belt or suspenders, either one. That’s sort of his signature. The family elected me to visit him in jail and as we suspected, the whole affair was just a giant misunderstanding. Like a lot of folks, my cousin fell on hard times after the woolen mill closed a few years back. Adversity struck again when a thief stole all four tires off his vintage, 1966 Ford Fairlane two years later. Wayne thought his best bet was to get the car to the outlet mall where he had a coupon for four like-new re-treads at Tony’s Tire Barn. Not having funds to hire a roll-back and being an innovative sort, Wayne took the three tires out of his wife Ruby’s flower bed along with one they’d tossed on the trailer to hold down some tin and installed them on the Fairlane. Everything went well until he turned on the paved road and the roof-tire blew. Wayne was trying to safely maneuver the Fairlane to the side of the road when the deputy happened along. An important part here is that Wayne is overweight due to a thyroid condition that causes him to crave Twinkies. His mama, bless her heart, has the same thing. But, Wayne had recently taken advantage of that television weight-loss special where they send you what you can eat in the mail and has dropped 47 pounds since June. The whole family is proud of him. Naturally, with all that weight loss, jumping up and down on one foot caused his pants to fall—that’s just gravity at work. Another problem was that since Wayne’s underwear no longer fit as snugly as it should, he’d decided to forgo wearing any that day. That could happen to anybody, but naturally, The Blotter printed that, too. Wayne says the deputy smelled alcohol on his breath because, with the afternoon being warm, he’d split a mango wine cooler with Ruby right after they finished rounding up the tires and putting them on the Fairlane. (The weight-loss program allows one-half wine cooler per week.) Still, after dropping that much weight, even half a wine cooler hit Wayne pretty hard. As I said at the trial, I believe the mere fact he was able to jump up and down on one foot long enough for his pants to fall down proves he wasn’t drunk. The judge didn’t buy it, but thank goodness his mama did. Anyway, the moral of this story is that if you live in a small town put good tires on your car and keep an extra pair of drawers in the trunk.

January 2017

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