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from the Publisher
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hat better time to celebrate the lakes than summer! Summer on any of our mountain lakes is just idyllic. The family gathered on the dock while the kids swim, jumping off and splashing into the water only to crawl back up and do it again! The little bream and perch nibbling at ankles causing squeals from the little ones. The grill is fired up and the burgers are patted out and stacked on a plate, ready to sizzle. The adults are relaxing in the Adirondack chairs, watching the boats go by as the ice melts in their glasses. The sights, sounds and smells scream lake living. Meanwhile a boat sits still in a cove as two friends cast their line and wait on a nibble, the live well almost full. A fish fry is planned as the day comes to a close; it's been a good day on the lake. In a town far from the mountains the silver haired grandmother shares stories with her grandchildren of growing up on the lake, tales of slumber parties and sunburns, staying in swimsuits all summer long and forging friendships that have lasted her lifetime. Memories are made and good times are had around the water. This is what we celebrate in this issue.
Photo by Jim Kane
Georgia Mountain Laurel Mailing: PO Box 2218, Clayton, Georgia 30525 Office: 2511 Highway 441, Mountain City, Georgia 30562 706-782-1600 • www.gmlaurel.com
June 2020 • Volume Seventeen • Issue Six 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
The recipes are ready for your summertime meals, we suggest you try them ALL! We know that it's been a difficult year so far, but we hold hope that the light is shining at the end of the tunnel and that we are learning how to navigate. And while normal may have changed, mountain people are some of the strongest you'll ever meet. We know how to withstand difficulties and come out on top. Our ancestors were resourceful and inventive and that innate ability is in our genes. I have felt a pull back to simpler times and that has been a positive. Learning to trust more and act less, be kinder, do what I can to help others and "smell the roses". These have all been positives. We have to focus on the positives more than the negatives. There are a lot of positives. My heart goes out to the families who have lost loved ones to this virus. My hat is off to the healthcare workers on the front lines who have seen more death in a day than they would normally see in a month or even a year. There are no words. For now, let's look forward with hope and live the best days we can. Love one another (Jesus said so) and if you can't say anything nice, keep your mouth shut (Mama said so). Be a good human, Tracy
Contributing Writers: Karla Jacobs, Richard Cinquina, Susan Brewer, Jan Timms, Lorie Thompson, Emily Jane Gipson, Avery Lawrence, Dr. Stephen Jarrard, Dr. Mandy Pileski, Liz Alley, Emory Jones, Noel Shumann, John Shivers
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 At the Lakes 9 10
Mud Filled Memories Rabun County Historical Society Burton: The Town Under the Lake
The Arts 12 16 18
Cover Artist - Jim Kane from the North Georgia Arts Guild Letters from Guild Members on COVID-19 The Art of Growing Dahlias
Faith 40 42 44
I Hear You and I Get It Rabun for the Gospel Now, More than EVER, We Need to Seek God River Garden
Outdoors 46
Adventure Out
Health & Wellness 53 54 58
How You Can Help Find a Solution to COVID-19 Live Healthy & Be Well Coping During COVID-19
A Taste
Life and Leisure
Affairs to Remember
Mountain and Lake Homes
22 24 29 30 34 36 38
Bon Appetit The Family Table It’s Grilling Season New Hours at Andy’s Market What’s Happening July 4th Clayton Farmers’ Market Opens Rise Up Rabun
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60 62 64
66 70 74
Never Invite Your Cat to Coffee Break Where’s That Cop When I Need Him? By The Way Coping with COVID, my wife, and Cunningham
Sanctuary Awaits on “Looker’s Beach” Living “ON” the Water Doesn’t Get Any Better! Beautiful Lake View Living
Photos Jim Kane
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Mud Filled Memories
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By Karla Jacobs
he ambush was a surprise, as ambushes so often are. In the fog of battle, I don’t remember who threw the first mudball (it was a boy) or who it hit (one of the girls), but I do remember how it ended. The entire North Hall High School cross country team was covered from head to toe in mud. It was in our hair, our shoes, our clothes, our noses, our ears. Wet, sticky Georgia red clay. It was the summer of 1985 before school started my sophomore year, and we were on a retreat at Lake Rabun for a mix of workouts and team building. My family had recently bought a tiny 2-bedroom, 1-bath fishing cabin with our friends from Gainesville. Built more for function than a layout in Architectural Digest, it had a large fish cleaning sink set up outside the front door as you came in. The lake was much quieter back then. In our section between the Narrows and the Big Basin, the shoreline across the way was nothing but trees, and there were few houses on the Brandon Mill Road side of our cove. It was a Saturday. The morning’s workout was 10 driveway sprints up the long, steep dirt driveway, and Coach sent us out in a steady rain for a long run after lunch. It had been raining all week, and the road was a mud pit in both directions. Inspired by Rambo, the blockbuster in theaters that summer, about a half mile into the run the boys coated themselves in mud camouflage and laid up against the mud banks waiting for the girls to catch up. We were doing more talking than watching where we were going, and when we got close, the boys jumped out of the bank and started throwing mud at us. We threw mud, knocked each other into puddles, dropped handfuls down the backs of shirts, and made mud angels. We were filthy and enjoyed every minute of it. The run was scrapped. Who wants to run in squishy, muddy shoes? We waited what we thought was an appropriate amount of time and headed back to the cabin. We had a double decker pontoon at the time that was tied up to the plain wooden dock. The boys took turns jumping off the top of the pontoon and seeing who could make the biggest mud ring when they hit the water while the girls grabbed life jackets and swam to the other side of the neighbor’s boathouse to get the mud out of the inside of our clothes. The miles from the missed workout were tacked on to Sunday’s long run, or we had to do extra driveway sprints— memories are hazy on the specifics—but the punishment was worth it. The down time between workouts was why
we were there. Lazy stretches of laying out on the dock, evenings full of games and stories, and nights of sitting on the back porch talking about our plans for the future bolstered a feeling of belonging that made us more than a group of athletes. We became close friends too. We were fierce competitors. Both the boys and girls teams made it to the State Cross Country Championship that year. However, the competition was just part of it. We were a group of kids who loved each other, were accepting of each other, and supported each other. We enjoyed being together, and for many of us, that bond started on our retreat at the lake. We’d fought side by side in an epic mud battle after all. Lake Rabun has changed a lot since then. The once empty shoreline across the water is filled with houses now. The tiny fishing cabin and dock are gone, replaced by two respectable houses and their corresponding boathouses. The lake is much busier now too, both in the water and on the roads. Those kids have changed as well. We grew up to be teachers and writers, actors and small business owners. One of us followed a career in the U.S. Army and served two tours in Iraq. Another is a Superior Court Judge. We scattered after high school, each following our own path, but we are bound together for a lifetime through friendships forged in the heat of competition and memories infused with more than a little lake magic. Karla Jacobs is a freelance writer, a soccer mom, and a community volunteer with deep family roots in the North Georgia Mountains. When not writing about pop culture, policy, and politics, she can often be found hiking backcountry trails with her family. She lives in Marietta, Georgia with her husband and their two teenage children.
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The Rabun County Historical Society Burton: The Town Under The Lake
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By Richard Cinquina
n a moonlit night on Lake Burton, some say you might hear the pealing of a church bell. The sound would not be coming from a nearby church. Rather, the mournful tolling is said to be an echo from 100 years distant when that bell was ringing in Burton, the town that lays submerged under the lake that took its name. Originally called Powellsville, Burton was founded by Scotch-Irish settlers in the early 1800s. The town straddled the fast-moving Tallulah River, where Dick’s and Timpson creeks flowed into the river. The community’s name later was changed to Burton after Jeremiah Burton, a Baptist preacher and owner of a general store. By that time, Burton was the largest town in Rabun County. And the town was isolated, requiring a full day to travel the 15 or so miles to Clayton by horse-drawn wagon. The center of community life in the fertile Tallulah valley, Burton was a prosperous town. Large homes stood along the river. The town boasted Baptist and Methodist churches; two general stores, one of which housed the post office; and a sawmill, gristmill and syrup mill. The pride of the town was the steel bridge built across the Tallulah River in 1899 at a cost of $1,925. It was a prime meeting place for the community. Burton’s schoolhouse was known as Tallulah Academy or central school. In 1913 the school had 60 students in seven grades with two teachers and was stocked with maps, blackboards and about 100 books. The school board spent $400 a year on county schools, with parents paying an additional $5 for each child. Farming was the lifeblood of Burton, and the river bottoms were ideal for corn, tobacco, vegetables, fruits and walnut groves. Other business activities in Burton included sawmilling, small-scale gold mining and moonshining. Gospel singing conventions were a main form of entertainment for Burton townspeople and other nearby residents. Accounts by former Burton resident Willie Blalock Elliot from a 1982 interview provide an inkling of what life was like back then. She said each family took a dinner to church in homemade baskets every Sunday. She remembered a waterfall across the road from her house that the family used for refrigeration by storing food behind it on the cool rocks. Ms Elliott concluded that the people of Burton had “a good life.”
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Bridge at Burton Dam But this bucolic life changed suddenly and forever in 1917. Georgia Railway and Power Company, the predecessor of Georgia Power, was requiring steadily increasing amounts of electricity to power the streetcar system it operated in Atlanta. To meet this need, the company completed the Tallulah Falls dam and hydroelectric plant at the head of Tallulah Gorge in 1913. It was the third largest hydroelectric facility in the country. Five additional facilities were planned along a 28-mile stretch of the Tallulah and Tugalo rivers. Planning for the dam that would form the Lake Burton reservoir began in 1917. It was not intended originally as a hydroelectric generating station but as a storage and flow-regulating facility for the Tallulah Falls plant downstream. J. E. Harvey of Tallulah Falls was hired by Georgia Railway and Power in 1917 to acquire the entire town of Burton and much of the surrounding land. Sixty-five property owners eventually sold thousands of acres to the company. The single largest purchase consisted of 1,000 acres from the Gennett Lumber Company that became the site of the dam. Willie Blalock Elliot recounted: “I reckon my daddy was fairly well satisfied, but dozens of people never were. It just ruined their lives. They were never satisfied.” Some of the folks who sold their land moved to higher ground in the valley; others went to nearby Tiger, and many migrated to Habersham County. However, at least one landowner, a Dr. Murray, did not sell. Owning about 400 acres, he only agreed to give the power company the rights to back water
up to his property line but not to submerge his land. Murray’s Cove on Lake Burton is named for him. Construction of the 128-foot-high Burton Dam was completed in December 1919, and the reservoir was completely filled by the following August. In anticipation of the coming floodwaters, houses had been torn down or moved and cemeteries were relocated to higher ground. In a 1933 interview, Bennie Eller recalled: “It took us about a year-and-a-half, cutting all the timber and clearing it off before they turned the water on to fill it up. What was fit for anything they took out for lumber, and what wasn’t fit for nothing, they just rolled it in big log piles and burned it.” Any buildings that had not been torn down were washed down to the dam. One story has it that a church steeple floated in the lake for a year before finding a landing spot on the shoreline.
Burton Dam under construction in 1918
It was not until 1927 that the Lake Burton hydroelectric generating station was placed in operation. Although the town of Burton was submerged out of the need for electrical power, none of the electricity generated by this plant benefitted Rabun County and other north Georgia locales. Every kilowatt was transmitted to Atlanta. It was not until the late 1930s that electricity started coming to this area through financing by the New Deal’s Rural Electrification Administration. Once where there was farming and a centuryold community is now a 2,775-acre recreational lake with stately homes studding its 62 miles of shoreline. So listen carefully the next evening you are boating on Lake Burton. You just might hear a church bell echoing from the past.
Filling Burton
Learn more about our history by becoming a member of the Rabun County Historical Society. Membership and complete information about the Society are available at www.rabunhistory.org. Our museum at 81 N. Church St. in downtown Clayton is currently closed due to the COVID-19 situation. Once we are able to reopen, you can visit the museum Mondays and Fridays from 10:00am - 2:00pm and Saturdays from 11:00am - 3:00pm. 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.
Town of Burton General Store
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On Our Cover – Jim Kane’s Photography
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have had the pleasure of speaking with and interviewing many artists and photographers in the 14 years that I have been the Publisher of the Georgia Mountain Laurel. The talent I have witnessed is humbling and the skill, simply amazing. The mountains are such a creative place in part because of the natural beauty that is so abundant. If I had to choose the best, it would be impossible to do. If I had to choose the most accomplished that might be a challenge as well. I can, however, tell you that the most excited and eager photographer that I’ve met is Jim Kane. A passion he shares with his son, Tony, photography is threaded throughout each day for Jim. Whether his camera is in hand or not he’s always looking for the perfect shot. He sees the way the light hits the subject, the intensity of the color in the morning sun or the shadows created as the sun sets. Most men and women who spend any time behind the lens look at life differently. It is key to their photos and tells a story or speaks to hearts, but it’s the wonder of the opportunity that sets Jim apart from other professionals. Where I may have driven to the lakes that so graciously sit amongst our hills and parked roadside with my camera and taken some photos, this guy will canoe, climb, hike and even crawl to capture a photo for you and I to enjoy. That’s truly his goal. Oh Jim sells his work and even custom builds frames for his photos, but the sale is not why he does it. It’s the pleasure that he sees in the eyes of those he shares his work with that fuels him to go that extra mile and do it differently than most would. He is exploring drone photography and was willing to provide some aerial shots for our June issue. Should you find one that speaks to you and that would be perfect in your home or as a gift, contact Jim at mountainimagery76@yahoo. com and he will get to work!
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June 2020 - 13
Finding Art
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June 2020 - 15
North Georgia Arts Guild “Letters” from Guild Members on the COVID-19 Coronavirus By Susan Brewer
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n March, at the time this article was being written, COVID-19 became the focus of the nation and the world. The North Georgia Arts Guild members share words on what the coronavirus means to them. I’ve added notes of my own in italics. Marcia Scroggs: I hope everyone is safe and doing okay. Since the art festivals have all been cancelled, I have plenty of time to make lots of pottery. I’m loving it and feeling more creative since I don’t have to rush. I fired a lot of bisque and am just now getting into the glazing mode and hope to have a load to fire again soon. It will be fun to get together again when they set us free! That freedom will come! I love Marcia’s enthusiasm. Marcia has managed the care of her disabled husband for decades, yet still possesses joy in the gifts that are part of her life. Sandra Copenhaver: I lost my husband May 3, 2019 and therefore am going through the COVID-19 experience on my own. Since I am at risk with an autoimmune condition, I have been home since March 14. I have done Walmart pickup twice— something I would’ve never done but really isn’t that bad. Tricia Moore I can’t find inspiration to paint since Jimmy died, but I still love art and hope that I will be able to go back to the brushes and knives someday soon. I’m sending in an oil painting of a bear that was one of Jimmy’s favorites. Another member, Randy Sells, told me that she, too, lost her husband, Skip; he died recently. She has adjusted with the help of neighbors she walks with—at a safe distance, of course—and she also has the help of a friend and helper.
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Joni and Gary Mitchell: Susan, the pandemic has made Gary and I very sad for those who have lost their lives and for their families. We think about all the healthcare and support personnel—the direct-care people, the EMTs, doctors, nurses, and support staff—they will be struggling to overcome the trauma of these events for years to come. We feel traumatized, too, and I have not felt like creating jewelry. Somehow it feels disrespectful.
I wanted to volunteer at CareNet, but Gary is in the highrisk group, so I make full face-covering masks with filter pockets and wire-bridged noses to be snug to your face. They’re reinforced to be washer/dryer safe. They’ve gone to Rabun Animal Hospital, our chiropractor, friends in high-risk categories and many-many to the Franklin House Nursing Home. I’ve also sent them to people we know in Texas, Florida, New York, and New Jersey. My mother used to say, “It’s an ill-wind that can blow no good,” meaning there’s always good that comes from everything. Gary and I both hope that maybe we will learn how inter-dependent we are on one another—we need to. Joni, Gary, and I are cut from the same cloth—we are believers in “we” and “us” that describes a whole, compassionate world view. Tricia Moore: The coronavirus is a phenomenon the likes of which we as a nation have never experienced before. The effects will linger on for years to come. This is a time when people should forget their differences, political and otherwise, and pull together in unity to help bring us out of the ill effects of this virus. God can and will bring good out of this. I think we should concentrate on that positive aspect and look for good and look for ways we can be instrumental in bringing that about. Perhaps the isolation has helped us to appreciate things we took for granted before. We have the time now to attend to things we should have, but never found time. Perhaps this has made us more aware and sympathetic to the struggles of others. We have quickly adapted to the problem of social distancing by technological means. People who never dreamed they could use apps like Zoom and Messenger to connect faceto-face are doing so now. Many businesses and schools are adapting by using online resources. If you have a phone, computer, iPad, etc., you don’t have to be isolated. No, it doesn’t take the place of seeing loved ones in person or those special hugs we all need, but it definitely helps. I have taken this opportunity to do some sewing and lots of art. I pulled out my sewing machine and found a pattern on Pinterest to make cloth masks for friends and family. And I have enjoyed the doing of art like I haven’t in a while – drawing, cardmaking, collages, and even a bit of “papier-maché”. I have made many cards to send to those I care about, incorporating my own drawings, stamping, stenciling, embossing, watercolor painting and coloring with Copic markers and colored pencils. I have taken this opportunity to play using my art materials. There is a real freedom to creating without worrying whether your work is “perfect” or sellable, creating for the pure joy of it. Tricia’s strength is her positive gentleness that is both kind and clear-sighted. She has faith in God and in people to overcome their differences. Let us hope she is right.
Silke Cliatt Silke Cliatt: Susan, I am spending my days making masks for my friends and family, for the EMTs of Clayton, for the Post Office employees, for FAITH, and for the correctional facility in Clarkesville. I give them away when the opportunity arises, such as when a repairman comes to my house. Do you want or need any? For Silke, giving freely and loving others without any kind of “payback” is the most elevated connection to life there can be. Silke quoted theologian and writer, Rev. Dr. John Watson, DD who went by the pen name, Ian Maclaren: Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. In November, a presidential election will take place. Will the difficulties we are navigating now help us find goodness and compassion in one another? Will it heal our fear and distrust, or will fear and distrust grow? Both… without a doubt. Our troubles, though, may allow us to rediscover that goodness, mercy, and love are worth the fight, too. 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
June 2020 - 17
DAHLIA-ING Let’s get planting! With Jen, Cindi, and Tracy
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onestly I am not bragging but I have some of the most talented friends you’ve ever seen! One that is my point of reference for this article is a true “Jen of all trades”. What does Jack know anyway, he has never created a one of a kind flower! Well, Jack is actually not real, but Jen is and we’ve been friends for decades and Dahlias are just one of the things she is good at. Her beautiful arrangements were the inspiration I needed to con my husband into building me a small (I want it bigger) flower bed so that I could plant my own Dahlia bed. I did this last year and after grabbing miscellaneous bags of tubers and putting them in the fresh black dirt, the adventure began! “People think it is hard to grow these flowers, but it’s not!” Jennifer Schmitt recently shared with me while helping me plant a new Dahlia bed at Sunshine & Sawdust, the DIY studio began by Cindi Freeman and I last year. We videoed our conversation with Jennifer and shared it on our Facebook page in lieu of an actual class, as we had originally planned, due to Covid-19. We are however planning a flower arranging class at the end of summer if it works out. So plant your bed now following the instructions here and watch the video on www.facebook.com/ sunshineandsawduststudio. You will love and I do mean LOVE these flowers! Your friends and family will too because Dahlias are a giving flower. They show us how we should all live, I know that might sound a little deep but just listen… or read on. Dahlias grow from tubers, not bulbs. Tubers produce nodes, buds or “eyes” all over their surface, which grow up through the soil surface as shoots and stems, or down into the soil as roots. Because of their high nutrient content, many tubers, like potatoes, are grown as food. As tubers mature, new tubers may form from their roots and stems. To prepare to put our tubers in the ground we put some landscape mesh down. Stakes are necessary with Dahlias; flowers can range in size from the petite 2-inch lollipop-style pompoms to giant 15-inch “dinner plate” blooms. Most varieties grow 4 to 5 feet tall. The height of these plants and the size of their blooms dictate that stakes for support are necessary. You want to put them in first either by the hole you plan to plant the tuber in or you can create a system to support your garden which is what we did in our garden. With six sturdy wooden stakes in place we cut out dinner plate circles in our landscape mesh and Jennifer with shovel in hand went to work digging holes around 6-8 inches deep and slightly larger than the tubers. We added Bone Meal to the holes over top of the tubers with “eyes” pointing up. We covered the Dahlias and put mulch over them. Spacing is important because they grow wide and tall. We put at least a foot between each plant. Once planted we took twine and about a foot up the stakes we wrapped it around the outside of all six stakes, then we criss crossed the twine back and forth creating a support system for our plants. As they grow we may need to go back and add another layer of twine further up the stake. Your Dahlias do need full sun and mulch is
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not necessary but may protect your tubers during winter if you don’t dig them up. Jennifer saves her tubers from year to hear and digs up the tubers and stores them in a cool dry place around 40 degrees. Cold winters can damage the tubers and you’ll lose them but if you dig them up and store them, when spring arrives you can separate the new healthy tubers from the parent tuber and make more. This is where Jennifer shines. She has done this year after year and she sells her tubers. This year she planted over 200 in her garden! That is a lot of hole digging! One of the many interesting things that she shared with Cindi and I is that once your flowers are done blooming you can cut the flowers that remain off at the top and put then on newspaper while they dry. You can then harvest seeds by rubbing the flowers center back and forth between your forefinger and thumb. The seeds will fall out and you can save them and plant them in the spring. What you’ll get is a one of a kind Dahlia that no one has ever seen. Why? Well thank the bees, they pollenate all of the flowers and combine a bit of each one to the other creating a one of a kind. After your seeds germinate and grow you’ll harvest the resulting tuber and voila another Dahlia is born. No wonder that there are over 60,000 named varieties of this plant. I neglected to mention that the soil must be above 60 degrees and danger of frost past before you put your tubers in the ground. Don’t add water to the holes because this encourages rot, you wait until they poke their beautiful heads through the soil to water them. The Almanac shared this bit of “Wit and Wisdom” about the Dahlia: • The dahlia was named for Anders Dahl (Swedish botanist), born on March 17, 1751.
• In the 16th century, dahlias grew wild on the hillsides in parts of Mexico. There, they were “discovered” by the Spanish, who remarked on the plant’s beauty. • Both dahlia flowers and tubers are edible. The tubers taste like a cross between a potato and a radish. As my little Dahlia bed grew at my house last year I found that each morning I was waking up and looking out to see how many blooms I had. Remember when I said that Dahlias are a giving flower, well this is how God made this lovely plant a sure way to make friends, the more you cut your Dahlias, the more they bloom. If you don’t cut them you limit their potential (there’s a life lesson). If you cut them and enjoy them or share them you are rewarded with more (another life lesson). Their uniqueness and beauty are astounding and they will bring more joy than you can imagine! I found this descriptive online at www.gardenerdy.com and had to share it with you it explains why these flowers are so unique and it parallels my friend Jen. “Dahlia flowers are often associated with various meanings that may range from messages of enduring grace to signals of warning. They symbolize elegance, inner strength, creativity, change, and dignity. They are also known to represent one who stands strong in his/her sacred values.” If you take the Dahlia plunge and start your own Dahlia bed, please share photos with us. We’d love to see them! Cindi left our planting day with some of Jen’s tubers and planted her bed. I’ve included some photos of Jennifer’s and my own Dahlias from last year. Stop by our office and Sunshine & Sawdust and watch our garden grow! If you want some unique tubers or a gorgeous arrangement this summer, my friend Jen’s the one to call 828-200-0188. Jennifer also recommends visiting www.swanislanddahlias.com as a good resource for tubers and Dahlia planting and care.
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June 2020 - 21
Bon AppĂŠtit Make Ahead Lunch By Scarlett Cook
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sn’t it nice to have warm weather for a lunch with your family? These recipes are make-ahead so that you actually have time to be together without being in the kitchen alone. Make these recipes the morning of or the night before so that you have time to be with your family. Just add some sweetened tea with (or without) lemon and the meal is complete.
Wild Rice & Chicken Bowl Serves 8 2 Cups uncooked wild rice 2 Cups shredded, cooked chicken breasts 1/2 Cup golden raisins 1/2 Cup chopped red bell pepper 1/2 Cup chopped red onion 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 Tablespoon olive oil 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 Tablespoon honey 1 Teaspoon vinegar 1/2 Teaspoon salt 1 Tablespoon chopped fresh mint 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley 2 Tablespoons sliced almonds, toasted Cook wild rice according to package directions. Combine cooked rice, chicken, raisins, bell pepper and onion in a large bowl. Whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, mustard, honey, vinegar and salt. Drizzle over rice mixture stirring to coat. Stir in mint and parsley. Cover and chill until ready to serve. Before serving sprinkle with almonds.
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Bleu Cheese Lettuce Wedges Serves 4 2 Heads Romaine lettuce; cut in half, washed and well drained 3/4 Cup Bleu cheese salad dressing homemade or bought 1/2 Cup crumbled Bleu cheese 4 Bacon slices cooked and crumbled 1 Medium tomato, finely chopped 1/2 Small red onion, finely minced Freshly ground black pepper Place lettuce on four serving plates. Pour salad dressing over lettuce. Sprinkle cheese, bacon, tomato, onion and pepper over lettuce.
Basil & Garlic Bread Serves 6 1/2 Cup melted butter 2 Teaspoons dried basil 1Teaspoon garlic powder 1 Loaf Italian bread Preheat oven to 350Ëš. Stir together butter, basil & garlic. Cut bread in half horizontally. Brush cut sides with butter mixture. Wrap bread in aluminum foil and bake for 10 minutes.
Chocolate Walnut Pie Serves 8 1 Frozen deep dish pie crust, thawed 1 Cup sugar 1/2 Cup plain flour 1/2 Cup margarine, melted 2 Eggs, slightly beaten 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract 3/4 Cup chopped walnuts, toasted 3/4 Cup semisweet chocolate morsels Preheat oven to 350Ëš. Stir together sugar, flour, margarine, eggs and vanilla until well blended. Stir in walnuts and chocolate. Pour into piecrust and bake for 30 minutes on lowest oven rack.
June 2020 - 23
The Family Table
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By Lori Thompson
une 2020 is a notable month for me. Mountain Man and I said our “I do’s” forty years ago this month. I am finding it hard to believe it was that long ago. I make a point to tell my children that I was barely out of diapers, and he was a cradle robber when he swept me off my feet. Surely, I am not old enough to have been married that long! We have had a wonderful life and a great marriage. I would marry him again if we had a “do-over.” Mountain Man likes my cooking. I have broadened his taste over the years, but his favorites are still the foods he grew up eating. I can always please him with a meal that includes fish. We are blessed to have a pond at our house that we keep stocked, so we eat a lot of Trout. Smoked Trout is one of my favorites! I almost always have one in my refrigerator. If you don t have a smoker, you can use a kettle grill with a small number of coals and wood chips on one side of the grill, for slow fire, and the fish on the other side. If you don’t have the benefit of a trout pond in your yard or your luck on the river was not great, Andy’s Market has beautiful, locally grown Brook Trout for sale at their meat counter. Trout has a delicate flavor and texture that the smoke enhances. Begin by using a sharp knife to split along the backbone, laying it open. Make an aluminum foil boat with a piece of parchment paper between the Trout and the foil. Season the skin side of the Trout with salt. Place thin slices of lemon under the whole Trout. The lemon slices will create an area for smoke to circulate under the Trout as well as providing moisture and flavor. Season the meat side of the Trout liberally. You will pull the backbone and ribs out when you serve it, and most of the seasoning will come off with them. I use different seasonings as suits my mood, but a good base is garlic salt, dill, Old Bay, and a dash of pepper. I’ve used some Habanero Lime seasoning and a big squeeze of lemon. Drizzle the Trout with a little olive oil. Another flavor profile is salt, Cayenne, and a drizzle of Honey. Be creative! Mesquite wood chips are my favorite. They have a strong flavor, so you don’t need many chips. Soak 1 cup of chips in water for 1 hour before cooking. Add the chips to your smoker box or directly on your coals if you are using a grill. Smoke at 175-200 degrees for 2-3 hours or until the meat is firm and will flake with a fork. Don’t overcook it. I use Smoked Trout in different ways. It is terrific on a salad, served as an appetizer with crackers or on breakfast bagels with cream cheese and capers, but my favorite way to eat it is atop Avocado Toast. If you ever have leftovers, cream an 8 oz block of room temperature cream cheese with a mixer until smooth. Add 1 cup of sour cream, 2-3 chopped green onions, 1/2 tsp. of dill, and granulated garlic. Add 2 tsp. each of lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce. Blend all ingredients until smooth. Gently fold in by hand 2 tsp. of capers and 1 cup of flaked trout pieces. Refrigerate for several hours before serving to allow flavors to combine. Serve with toast points or crackers.
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Birthdays were a big deal in my family when my Mom was alive. She would host a family birthday party for each person, and you got to pick your menu. One of my favorite birthday cakes was my sister-in-law Ruth Ramey’s specialty, A Busy Day Cake served with Chocolate Syrup and Vanilla Ice Cream. Ruth’s recipe for the Cake is simple, quick, and easy. It is one every working Mom should have in their repertoire. It is perfect with ice cream and a spoon of Strawberry Freezer Jam or Ruth’s Chocolate Syrup below. Let me tell you how to do it. In a large mixing bowl, add all ingredients and stir with a wire whisk until smooth; 1/3 C cooking oil or melted butter, 1 3/4 C self-rising flour, ¾ C sugar, one egg, 3/4 C of milk, 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla. Stir until smooth and pour into a greased and floured, 8-inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. For Ruth’s Chocolate Syrup, in a medium-sized pot, add 2 1/2 C of sugar, 2/3 C of cocoa powder, 12 oz can of evaporated milk. Stir and heat until the sugar crystals have melted. (It will only take 1-2 minutes once the mixture is starting to boil) Remove from heat. Add one stick of butter, a dash of salt, and 1 tsp. of vanilla. Stir until the butter has melted. Serve warm over the Cake and ice cream. Mountain Man loves ice cream, and I make it often. I used to make the custard-based ice cream that requires tempered eggs, heating heavy cream, and “ripening” the base in the refrigerator overnight before churning. Just like the Busy Day
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The Family Table cont. cake and the quick Chocolate Syrup above, I found an easier way to make home-made ice cream. In a bowl, mix, one can of sweetened condensed milk, two cups of heavy whipping cream, and 1-2 tsp. of vanilla. Churn in your ice cream maker according to your machine’s directions until frozen. It could not be simpler, and it is delicious! One scoop on top of Busy Day Cake and a spoonful of Ruth’s Chocolate Syrup and you are sure to be a hero to your family. I hope you will enjoy these simple recipes. The Busy Day Cake is versatile and goes with many different toppings. The Chocolate Syrup is easy and inexpensive to make, and the home-made ice cream will make you look like you are a slave to the kitchen, and only you will know it took less than 10 minutes to prepare. Rock your family with your now famous, home-smoked Trout. It is healthy, easy and delicious. Hoping you and your family will have many happy Summer days filled with great food and great times together! If you see Mountain Man this month, tell the old cradle robber, “Happy Anniversary”.
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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It’s Grilling Season…
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hose mouth doesn’t water when they hear a big juicy burger sizzling on the grill? Be it Angus beef, Bison or Turkey, a burger topped with goodness is pure delight! So this month we looked beyond bacon, lettuce and tomato to some interesting toppings and how to make them. Don’t get me wrong I love a standard burger all the way but the thought of adding shrimp or homemade pickles does sound enticing! I am a huge fan of pimento cheese which is so good when paired with beef and my favorite brand, if not homemade, is Nadine’s Pimento Cheese that is made in Cleveland, Georgia and available at Jaemor Farms in Alto (worth the drive!). So no matter your passion when it comes to burgers, we invite you to try these three options and add them to what you already top yours with. It’s grilling season, so fire it up and enjoy!
Candied Applewood Smoked Bacon Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a small bowl, whisk light brown sugar, water, and ground red pepper until sugar feels dissolved. Set bowl aside. Arrange bacon in a single layer on the top piece of a Granite Ware Roaster/Broiler Set. Using a basting brush, generously coat each slice of bacon with brown sugar mixture, working from one side of the pan to the other. Once you’ve coated each slice of bacon, check the first piece; if it appears dry, it means the bacon absorbed the glaze and can be coated again. Repeat this step until all the brown sugar mixture has been used or bacon is coated to your liking. Note: Only one side of the bacon needs to be coated. Bake bacon for 20 to 25 minutes or until desired crispness and browning is reached. Transfer bacon to a serving plate. Let bacon cool completely before serving. This can be served with breakfast, top a burger of doggone just eat it!!
Cover bowl with a paper towel pressed directly against the surface of the liquid to keep cucumbers submerged. Wait at least 30 minutes before serving (do not drain brine). Pickles can be stored in their brine in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to a month.
Garlic Butter Sauteed Shrimp 1 lb raw shrimp 1 stick unsalted butter, 8 Tbsp 2 garlic cloves, minced seasoning1 tsp Italian seasoning ½ tsp salt ¼ tsp ground black pepper ½ tsp ground paprika 1 lemon, to taste
Quick Pickles! 2 cucumbers, thinly sliced 1 cup water 1 cup distilled white vinegar 1 tablespoon kosher salt Pinch red pepper flakes (optional) 2 medium cloves garlic, roughly sliced 2 teaspoons black peppercorns 2 teaspoons whole yellow mustard seed 2 sprigs fresh dill
Defrost shrimp and completely pat dry. Devein the shrimp and remove the tail Combine the ingredients for the seasoning: the Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and paprika. In a bowl, coat the shrimp with the seasoning and mix well. In a skillet, over medium heat, melt the butter and garlic, stirring frequently.
Place cucumber slices in a bowl that just fits them. Heat water, vinegar, salt, pepper flakes, garlic, black peppercorns, mustard seed, and dill in a skillet over high heat until salt has dissolved and mixture is simmering. Immediately pour brine over cucumbers.
Add shrimp and cook 2-3 minutes per side. Remove from heat and drizzle freshly squeezed lemon, mix to combine. Enjoy on top of a juicy burger, over pasta or in a salad! June 2020 - 29
New Hours at Andy’s Market Our Favorite Small Grocery
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ndy’s Market on Rickman Street in Clayton, Georgia has been a mainstay of Rabun County for decades. You know they have the best meats in town, fresh local veggies and local honey. With their signature line of jams and jellies produced right here in Rabun County and the best meat skins in a variety of flavors, why shop anywhere else? The customer service is outstanding because Andy and Deborah have poured their hearts and souls into the store for 36 years. They know most of their customers and welcome part-time homeowners year after year. With the recent virus outbreak, the Hunters stayed open to provide the community with a place to get the goods they needed. Trying to keep the shelves stocked was a challenge but they put the effort in and all the while keeping themselves and the customers as safe as possible. “We could not have done any of this without Dennis McClure, our butcher and his assistant Jessie Simpson. In the front working hard to bag and help us stock we had Grayson Carver and Joseph Gibson.” Deborah said. “Andy and I appreciate them all so much and all of us appreciate our customers.” Making the decision to change their hours to afford themselves time to restock and get a little rest was a tough one but proved to be beneficial. Closing on Wednesdays gave the couple time to put the fresh stock up and sanitize everything. It worked out so well that it has become the new normal at Andy’s. The new store hours for Andy’s Market are Monday – Tuesday 7 am – 6 pm, Thursday – Saturday 7 am – 6 pm and closed on Wednesday and Sunday. Serving the community has always been the goal and Andy and Deborah feel that this will allow them to do that even better. If Covid-19 has taught us anything it is to take care of ourselves, slow down a bit and appreciate others. I know that I am very grateful for Andy’s Market, the store is loved by all who shop there. We are fortunate to have a small family owned and operated grocery in our town. For more info call 706-782-3631.
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Bring Comfort Home. Downtown Clarkesville, Georgia 706.754.4144
Monday-Saturday 9AM-5:30PM
woodsmercantile.com
“RISE UP RABUN” – a healing festival……to promote unity and the appreciation of all we hold dear – loved ones, friends, neighbors and the beauty that surrounds us. Join us, July 11th (tentative date) at the Civic Center pavilion for music, food, games, kids’ activities, uplifting speakers. All merchants, restaurants, civic groups, churches, nonprofits are invited to be part of the celebration. To be included, or for more information contact Karen Bacon – 727-434-4499 or Kathy Ford – 706-212-9958.
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I hear You and I get it! by Emily Jane
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e’ve all been there: extremely stressed out; beyond over it; unable to professionally, or nicely, address others’ questions and concerns that we deem silly, unnecessary and at times even dumb. Now I know it’s not nice to call anyone or anything dumb, but sometimes it’s the most fitting adjective. We all get into the routine of thinking and expecting others to automatically know what we know, whether it’s as simple as expecting your spouse to know how to carry out a household chore you typically handle, or expecting the new cashier at the local store to just know how to work the register without any error, or the anticipation that all of the other licensed motorists on the road will simply know, remember, and carryout out all of the written and common sense driving “best practices”. Just when each one of us settles into that comfort zone of “expecting” what we all UNIQUELY, yet so wholeheartedly, believe SHOULD happen… here He comes, fully prepared to throw the infamous “curveball” we all get hit with when we make assumptions, plans, and expectations that lay solely in His hands. Allow me to share with you how God reminded me, LOUD AND CLEAR, that He is in control and I am merely along for the ride… First, I am in a “senior” position within my role at work. I have been successfully and consistently executing the job functions in my current position for over five years, while fine-tuning my knowledge base within the same company for over 17 years, an accomplishment not shared by many of my fellow “Millennial” peers. I am accomplished and adequately confident in my abilities to fulfill the requirements of my role, above and beyond expectations. I am also one that prides myself on presenting a very strong, put together, established, and not easily shaken person. After all, I can do anything with the right pair of heels!
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For the past eight months my team and I have been dedicated to executing a large project for our company. The project has required the team and I to work with ten or more internal and external teams, totaling well over 100 people, the majority of which have never executed such a project/mission before, although I have, many times. Fast forward from the “kick off” last July to the recent mind boggling, intensely stressful 12+ hour work days. Each day was filled with multiple simultaneous meetings, redundant and repetitive questions, and countless phone calls, as we approach the launch of this project faster than my southern aunt’s head turned when I suggested boxed Cornbread mix. Everyone is on edge, stressed out, and EVERYONE has a plan for what is going to play out in the next 21 days. I was certain that I couldn’t possibly answer one more “dumb” question. Not one more. I have answered them all time and time again and my patience wore thin months ago. WHY DON’T THEY JUST GET IT???? WHY don’t they understand? It’s simple. Just use your head and you will get it. Now, this happens, to all of us, in some degree, every single day; at work, in traffic, at the checkout line. You name it; we have all been there and had the thought, “Why don’t they get it? Why am I the only one that KNOWS the right way?” Well, I was there. I mean deeply embedded in that “I’m right and know the best way and everyone else should already know…” mentality. Then it happened. One day, an ordinary day, I set off to the office; dressed for my role in Corporate America, hair styled appropriately, makeup perfectly understated. Name-brand bag and caffeine in hand, I climbed into my luxury SUV and headed for the office where I would undoubtedly slay the day. I would juggle meeting after meeting with executives; I would command the attention as I shared my knowledge and experience in guiding how the next three weeks would play out. I would face any challenge headon and defeat any obstacle in my way. Except when I didn’t. That day was rough. I, my knowledge, experience and decisions, were all challenged and questioned by these people that had never done before what I have done so many times. I was irritated, frustrated, and I questioned why this was so difficult all day long. Despite all of this, I battled through the day and made it to see the end of the last exhausting meeting. I WAS DONE. That was it; I had given all I had to give that day. With my frustration and irritation with the fact that my every word seemed to be questioned, I packed up my laptop and notebook and decided to call it a day. Maybe everyone would all come to their senses and agree with me in the morning.
ONE MORE STOP With an hour commute home, I stopped in the ladies room on my way out. As I opened the door I realized it was the first time I had stopped all day. Still writhing with the frustration of having to deal with everyone else’s questions that I had deemed nonsense, I finished the “mission at hand” and as I was preparing to exit, I looked down to see the tags of my designer work pants staring back at me. Yep, at the end of the day, during which I had spent so much time insisting I was right about everything and was so focused on presenting the image of being so perfectly put together, I sat there and realized my pants were on backwards. They had been all day. I WASN’T SO PUT TOGETHER AFTER ALL. Some may have been disappointed in themselves, some may have chuckled, thankful no one noticed, and some may have never even noticed, but I did. I noticed. I did laugh at myself, but I also shared with others. Why? Why would someone ever admit, let alone publish, that they had worn their pants backwards all day in Corporate America? Because I didn’t. I didn’t put my pants on backwards yesterday morning. God did. GOD PUT MY PANTS ON BACKWARDS. He did so to remind me to be humble, that I should stop, step back and not judge. He did so to teach me that things aren’t always as they seem. He put my pants on backwards to show me that I have an AMAZING opportunity to teach hundreds of people about the things I already know in our business and that I can use my experiences to lead others to a successful launch of this project. Mostly though, God put my pants on backwards yesterday to teach me to laugh at myself, to not take life so seriously. So… I HEAR YOU GOD!! Thank you Lord for putting my pants on backwards to show me that NO ONE is perfect, that no one but You knows all, and for reminding me that just when we think we know exactly what will happen and we try to control that, You are ALWAYS here with us, to teach and lead us in the exact way we need to hear your message. I heard you God and I get.
Emily Jane Gibson has roots in Rabun County but resides in Ohio; She enjoys visiting her family here. Emily is the niece of Laurel publisher Tracy McCoy. When she isn’t wearing heels and carrying a briefcase, she enjoys concerts, camping, boating, DIY projects and relaxing with family and friends. Emily and her husband Chris are Buckeye fans through and through. They have two fur babies, Hunter is an English Bulldog and Lucy is a black Labrador Retriever.
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Rabun for the Gospel
Now, more than EVER, we need to seek God. By Avery Lawrence
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t seems that lately, we have become too busy to talk to God. A couple of months ago, my life was filled with all the “things” I needed to do, places I needed to be, and so many other obstacles that had me worn down. Honestly, I thought the world wouldn’t survive if I didn’t do all the things I was “doing.” Then, the world stopped. I found myself less Nawana, Anni, Casi, Homer Liam, Avery Lawrence important than I had ever been. People didn’t need me quite as much as I thought they did. I found myself with something gone for walks, played tag, hide and seek, and “pretend,” and I hadn’t had in quite a while...TIME. As I pondered what to laughed uncontrollably. In short, my family has had fun! Not do with all of my time, I realized that in the rush of things, I to mention, we have eaten. A LOT! We are spending time had neglected my family, my home, and more eye-opening, together; time that we didn’t know we had until now. my relationship with God. Now, don’t get me wrong, I was praying, and reading my Bible, and studying for each week’s During my alone time with God, I have spent a lot of time sermon and Bible studies, but it seemed that my time alone asking Him to help me as a pastor, to lead my congregation with God was suffering. I had been making time for everyone in a way that honors Him, and still provide protection for and everything and telling God that I would get to Him later, my people. Have I mentioned how much I love the folks when I was worn out and tired, and often at the end of the day. at Persimmon Baptist Church? They are more than I could ever ask for! They are simply the When I found myself waking up to best. We are navigating through God wants us to slow down a little. make the long trek to the kitchen bar to start my day with emails, Maybe He is calling us back to Him; uncharted territory during this time; marching off the map, you might I found myself communing with say. Overnight, pastors across to put first things first. God more often. As I would ponder the country became Facebook on what the day would bring, televangelists. Many churches are which parents I would call, which students I would email, using Zoom, Google, FaceTime, YouTube, and other streaming which teachers I would call or text, I found myself talking to services to provide access to live and pre-recorded sermons God. I would ask Him to bless my “kids” from school; ask and Bible studies. Most of us have never relied solely on Him to send me someone whom I could help, and praying for virtual meetings. This is hard on us as pastors. We rely heavily the safety of my daughter, who works as an emergency room on the feedback of the congregation (and speaking for myself, critical care nurse in one of the biggest corona hotspots in the FEEDINGS that the congregation provides!) I could eat my Northeast Georgia. I found my evenings catching up on things around the house...things I was too busy to do. I also found weight in my folks’ cooking right now! We miss the personal myself earning “brownie points” by catching up on some of touch...the hugs, handshakes, and smiling faces. We miss the things my wife had been wanting me to do for years. We hearing the rustle of restless children when it gets close to even remodeled the kitchen last weekend…. I found myself lunch time, and even the crying babies while we preach. I have having uncontrollable dance parties with Anni and Homer preached to an empty church for several weeks now, but the Liam (my favorite grandbabies). We have even had a water Holy Spirit still stirs. As I have pondered in my alone time with balloon fight, practiced piano, planted flowers (lots of flowers), God, I have come to the realization that maybe, just maybe,
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God wants us to slow down a little. Maybe He is calling us back to Him; to put first things first. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” The time that I have been able to spend with my family and with God, has renewed my spirit and mind! During these troubled times, many people are living in fear, anguish, and turmoil. Now, more than ever, we need to seek God. He is my source of comfort and peace. He is the Rock on which my house is built. He knows what tomorrow brings. And, He loves me in spite of my shortcomings. Do you know Him? He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He sent His only Son, Jesus, to be the payment for our sins. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believes in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.” My hope and prayer is that you will seek God with all your heart, repent and confess your sins to Him, and ask Him to save your soul. 1 John 1:9 says, “ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Avery Lawrence is the Pastor of Persimmon Baptist Church. Avery is a native of Rabun County and has a great love for Jesus and passion to share the gospel. Avery is the assistant principal at Rabun County Middle School and is loved by all. He is married to Nawana and is step-dad to Casi Best, but more than that he is “Poppy” to Anni and Homer Liam.
Persimmon Baptist Church
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Adventure Out Silver Run Falls By Peter McIntosh
n this adventure, we’re taking a road trip to an easily accessed waterfall in North Carolina called Silver Run Falls. The waterfall is a lovely thirty foot cascade that drops into a beautiful wading pool/swimming hole. A great place to beat the summer heat. Keep in mind that since the trail to the waterfall is nice and easy, it could be crowded on weekends. But also note that other than the narrow footbridge, the footpath is very wide so it’s easy to keep your distance from other visitors.
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From the well marked pull-off on North Carolina Hwy 107, the trail descends gently and, almost right away, you’ll hear the sound of rushing water. The footpath levels off to a wide, gravel trail meandering through the Rhododendrons. At my last visit, there was one large tree that fell across the path but it’s easy to climb over. Just before reaching the footbridge, you can see the waterfall through the forest. The bridge itself is fun and a little bouncy. Once on the other side, there are a few steps, some roots and rocks, and there you are, beautiful water falling into a cool, calm wading pool. Wear sandals or old sneakers so you won’t be afraid to get your feet wet.
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This trip is a little over 40 miles each way from Clayton and it may seem like a long way to go to see a little waterfall, but you can extend your adventure because the route we use takes us past several other scenic hotspots. Here are a few: Bull Sluice on the Chattooga River, Reedy Creek Falls, Oconee State Park, Burrell’s Ford and King Creek Falls, the famous iron bridge over the Chattooga River on Bull Pen Road (the Chattooga Ridge trail starts here) and Whitewater Falls. Lots of great places to explore, either on this trip or make notes and come back later. Happy Hiking! And not a moment too soon, my poem for June: Time to get off the couch, turn off the TV, And let’s go see some action in real life 3-D. The wading pool at the base may make you shilver, All part of the fun at a waterfall named Silver. Getting there: From Hwy 441 in Clayton, take Hwy 76 E towards the Chattooga River. After crossing the river, continue 2 miles to Chattooga Ridge Road on the left. Take Chattooga Ridge Road 5.5 miles to the intersection with Whetstone Road. Go right on Whetstone until it dead ends at South Carolina Hwy 28. Turn left on Hwy 28 and go 2 miles before bearing off to the right on Hwy 107. (There’s a Dollar General at this intersection, just FYI.) Stay on Hwy 107 for 15 miles to the North Carolina state line. From here it’s another 4 miles on Hwy 107 to the pull off on the right. To see more of Peter’s photos, or if you have a question or comment: www.mcintoshmountains.com
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Happy Father’s Day
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“If everything was perfect, you would never learn and you would never grow.” – Beyoncé
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Live Healthy and Be Well
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How You Can Help Find a Solution to COVID-19
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he human immune system holds important clues about how people naturally detect and defend against disease. For COVID-19, many people have been able to defeat the virus because of their natural defense systems. Now researchers are working to learn from these survivors’ immune systems to inform the development of new tests.
If you’ve been affected by COVID-19, you can help. A leader in immunedriven medicine, Adaptive Biotechnologies – which specializes in developing products based on the body’s immune response to disease – is working with Microsoft on the virtual clinical study ImmuneRACE. As part of the study, they are seeking 1,000 participants between the ages of 18-89 from major metropolitan cities in the United States who: • Currently have COVID-19 • Have recently recovered from COVID-19 • Were exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID-19
T h e global race for solutions. Because COVID-19 is a disease affecting communities around the world, stopping its spread requires solutions from every angle. It is the belief of Adaptive Biotechnologies and Microsoft that the answers may lie within the immune systems of those who have been impacted by the coronavirus. The de-identified data collected through this study will also be made freely available to the global scientific community to help develop other solutions. Article courtesy of Family Features
Understanding testing options. There are currently two types of tests for COVID-19: PCR tests that indicate the presence of live virus from a nose or throat swab and serology tests that indicate exposure to and potential immunity against the virus by measuring antibodies in the blood. A third type of test could help address current challenges with testing, resulting in these scenarios: • Complementary or alternative testing for individuals who have had known exposures or symptoms • Ability to triage patients and inform treatment strategies based on risk • Confirmation that individuals have recovered and are no longer infectious Such a test could also contribute key information as part of an immune scan. How you can get involved. To participate in the study or learn about more ways to join in the fight against COVID-19, visit www.ImmuneRACE.com. If you decide to participate and qualify for the study, a trained technician will travel to you to collect a de-identified blood sample in the comfort and safety of your home.
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Live Healthy and Be Well Diabetes Mellitus I & II By Stephen Jarrard, MD FACS
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hen I was growing up, I remember my grandmother would say that if we ate too much sugar and candy, we would get “Sugar,” or “Sugar Diabetes.” At the time, being a young person, I had no idea what that meant, or I thought that was something for “old people.” Let’s talk about “sugar,” – the different types, symptoms, causes, and most importantly, how to treat and manage high blood sugar if you have it. And, we will see it is not just an “old person disease,” but can occur at any age, and untreated can lead to a multitude of problems and complications.
Before we discuss the disease itself, we need to describe it accurately. Insulin is an important hormone made by the pancreas which allows the body to properly process dietary sugars. When sugars are ingested, insulin is normally released, which allows the sugars to be taken into the cells and absorbed like they should for proper nutrition and metabolism. If the pancreas produces no insulin, or not enough, or if the cell receptors which sense and respond to the insulin are gone or damaged – too much sugar stays in the blood and is not absorbed. This is what leads to the dangerous complications and outcomes of this disease. The proper medical term for “sugar” is Diabetes (“to pass through”) Mellitus (“from honey”) or DM for short. There are two types of this condition with different origins, although the complications and results are nearly the same. Type 1 DM is often called “Juvenile Onset,” as it tends to present in childhood or late teens. In this form of Diabetes, the cells which produce insulin have been destroyed or “knocked out,” so that no insulin is produced. The tendency to have this condition is thought to be genetically inherited or may be triggered by a viral illness which brings about the actual full blown disease process.
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Once these cells are non-functional, there is no cure, only management of the condition, requiring administration of insulin at regular intervals. Type 2 DM usually presents in an adult patient, often overweight, and results from the body’s inability to properly use the insulin that is produced. The receptors that “sense” the insulin may be damaged or insufficient, and the insulin that is produced is not able to be utilized properly. Another thought is that as obesity adds more tissue (fat) to the body, there are only so many receptors, and they may be somewhat overwhelmed as there is more body tissue to be “serviced” by the limited insulin receptors. Milder forms of this condition may be called “borderline” diabetes, while more severe forms will be obvious “sugar,” with all the symptoms, complications, and dangers of fulminant DM. So, eating sugar itself will not “cause” DM – but it can to the extent that too much can lead to being overweight – which is a definite factor. The symptoms of DM, regardless of type, are all related to the fact that the blood sugar is too high for the body to manage and handle. The “3-P’s” are common – Polydypsia (thirst and need to drink), Polyuria (frequent production of sweet urine), and Polyphagia (increased appetite/hunger). When the blood sugar gets too high, the kidneys cannot process well and begin to spill the sugar into the urine – this leads to frequent urination, and that results in the body’s need for more water and constant thirst. If the blood sugar becomes uncontrollably high, a dangerous condition called Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) may result which can lead to coma and even death in its most severe form. Even in milder forms, high blood sugar over time can lead to kidney, eye, heart, nerve, blood vessel, and other types of organ damage. It reduces the body’s ability to heal wounds and surgical incisions, and can lead to the formation of ulcerated “sores” that do not heal and may eventually become infected and require the amputation of limbs. If you have any of the above symptoms, or see them in your child or a young person, please see a provider and check the blood sugar level. If you are diagnosed with DM of either type, you will need to maintain tight control of your blood sugar. This may be accomplished with actual insulin, or other medications as needed. Managing your sugar within controlled limits is critical for your future health and wellness – so please do whatever it takes to accomplish that control. 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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Coping During Covid-19 By Dr. Amanda Pileski, PHD
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eople are wearing masks everywhere we look, the town restaurants are empty, and places of support are relegated to online platforms that feel impersonal and sometimes awkward. This COVID-19 pandemic is the biggest disruption to the global economy and American lives since WWII. We entered this time period assuming a duration of one month or less, and we now find ourselves beginning summer with continued restrictions. Our nation is facing financial stress, questions of job security, and health anxiety. Our schedules are disrupted, and we are all questioning “when will our normal return?!”
Quarantine Fatigue As a result of this overwhelming change, people are experiencing what psychologists call “Quarantine Fatigue.” This new term refers to restlessness, frustration, and a variety of other symptoms due to stay-at-home orders. Many people who previously had some degree of movement and routine in their jobs are now engaging in less physical activity. Decreased physical activity then contributes to less energy to cope with stress. Living in a time of constant change, disrupted routines, conflicting news, and continuous uncertainty takes a major toll on our ability to regulate emotions. Much of our cognitive space is also limited by worries about the future, so concentration is more difficult. These declines in functioning are also coming at a time when parents are expected to pull double duty of work and teaching kids from home. If you are experiencing concentration issues, preoccupation with news, irritability, sleep disruption, and/or lack of motivation – please know help is available.
Toxic Positivity Although many of us may want to overlook negative events and focus on what is positive, this approach may not serve us best during a true worldwide negative event of unknown duration. Cognitive behavioral therapy and positive psychology approaches work well for individuals with cognitive distortions (inaccurate negative thoughts), but what happens when there truly are concerning experiences occurring in the world? If we conceal our true human feelings with an excessively positive “everything is wonderful” attitude (Toxic Positivity), we will likely fall into a state of repressed emotions and denial. This later becomes very unhealthy for our physical bodies. Several research studies have shown how suppressing emotions causes increased sympathetic activation of the cardiovascular system (Gross & Levenson, 1997). Essentially, individuals who suppress emotions may appear calm on the outside, but the long-term physiological impact may be harming the body in other ways.
If Positivity Is Bad, Then What? A positive attitude is good for all of us, but like all things in life, excessive positivity (toxic positivity) can be harmful. Positivity in the form of gratitude is helpful because it does not invalidate other emotions unless you say, “I should not feel sad, I have so much to be thankful for.” You absolutely can feel sad about the grief people are experiencing during this time and the hardships of life, while also saying, “I am thankful for my blessings.” I also recommend utilizing self-compassion to validate, normalize,
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and support oneself during this time. I find it helpful to use a 3-point mantra developed by a psychologist named Kristin Neff. It goes: (1) This is a moment of suffering, (2) Suffering is a part of life, (3) May I be kind to myself during this time. Notice the difference in the earlier example I gave. Someone who has the mentality “I should not feel sad because…” will essentially be struggling against the emotion of sadness. When we try to suppress our feelings due to discomfort or the mentality that we “always” have to be happy, we turn to unhealthy ways of coping to numb or push away the difficult feelings. This is oftentimes why people have problems with overeating, alcoholism, workaholism, and ongoing relationship issues.
Post Traumatic Growth A friend on my research team in grad school completed her dissertation on something called Posttraumatic Growth (PTG). This generally is what I tend to think about when working through difficult life experiences such as the current pandemic. How can we validate the difficulty of what is going on, while also changing our narrative of the experience to include a better understanding of the self, others, and the world? Are we becoming more resilient and empathetic as a result? Do we forge deeper relationships and focus more on our connections? Is there spiritual and/or religious growth via developing a greater appreciation of life and our world? Essentially, I believe the challenges in life serve to highlight our true values, provide growth opportunities, draw us closer to our creator, and reinforce the understanding that we are only here for a short while. We must remember there was no promise of an easy life, but we are all capable of creating a meaningful life.
Coping Ideas People come to therapy wanting “relief” rather than to “feel” the difficult emotions, so the art of therapy becomes encouraging moderation and flexibility. We strive to provide relief from distressing symptoms, but also help patients gain the confidence to experience the difficult emotions. Below are a few strategies for coping during this difficult time:
“Sufficient sleep, exercise, healthy food, friendship, and peace of mind are necessities, not luxuries.” Mark Halperin
Maintain a Routine (especially your sleep schedule!) Stay hydrated (H20) and well nourished Practice Mindfulness / Guided Imagery / Progressive Muscle Relaxation / Box Breathing Exercise Regularly Journal – it feels a little less like Groundhog Day when you document changes in yourself a Connect with others via social distancing / phone / video chat a a a a a a
If you experience trouble coping and feel psychotherapy could be a benefit, call Dr. Amanda Pileski at 404-291-4018.
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Never Invite Your Cat to Coffee Break By Liz Alley
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hen I was young, every Wednesday, my mother and her sisters would have “coffee break.” This ritual rotated from house to house each week and the host would make a cake, something wonderful and homemade of course, and prepare an urn full of percolated coffee. The days of cakes from the grocery store bakery had not arrived and would have been unheard of amongst this family of bakers. I loved coffee break days, I long for them even now. Though, when coffee break days were hosted at our house, with them came extra chores such as mayonnaising the leaves of the house plants so they’d shine and dusting those blasted bookshelves that housed what felt like a million books. My mother, Shannon Alley, her mother, Nora Garland and my mother’s sisters, Lillian Hunter (Aunt Sissy), Winnie Ledford, and Laney Brown would gather around the table to discuss all manner of things. It could be Aunt Laney’s cake decorating class or the contraption Aunt Sissy built for her strawberries to climb. It could be Aunt Winnie describing the plastic she’d had attached to the seats in her car to protect the upholstery or my mother who unbeknownst to herself at the time, had the heart of a poet, not a seamstress, as she lamented the details of the dresses she was sewing for my sister Lynn and me. My Granny was usually quiet, listening to the lives of her daughters, I supposed. I remember the smell of the coffee wafting through the house, the delicate sound of forks on plates and my aunts soothing voices like the low hum of contented bees in their hive. When coffee break was hosted at my Aunt Sissy’s house, it was my chance to ride my older cousins’ bicycles that were twice as big as me. Not knowing how to use the breaks, I’d run into parked cars and trees which certainly stopped me but also turned me black and blue. It was at my Aunt Sissy’s house that I saw a very interesting poster in my cousin Pam’s room, it was of Burt Reynolds circa 1972 and that’s all I have to say about that. It didn’t matter which sister was hosting, us kids knew on no uncertain terms that we were supposed to stay outside and not be under foot. No matter the weather, hot or cold, they’d call out “close that door and stay outside!” This was of course when kids actually stayed outside all day, only coming in for a swig of Kool-Aid and a bologna sandwich. If we were too busy for that, we’d chug some water from the water hose. One summer morning, when coffee break was at our house, my girl cousins and I were playing in the backyard. My boy cousins were playing cowboys and Indians in the side yard and we could hear them shooting up the place with their toy
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guns. When coffee break was over, my cousins and I walked to the side yard where lo and behold we saw my cat, Tiger, swinging from our pink Crepe Myrtle tree. Tiger had been captured either by the cowboys or the Indians, I wasn’t sure. He had been tried and convicted for his crime which I could only surmise was “cat burglary” and evidently his punishment was death by hanging and I don’t mean in the way cats normally hang from trees. The boys stood in a stupor, the look on their faces like they couldn’t believe Tiger actually died from all the fun as I don’t think that was their real intention. I immediately fell prostrate on the ground crying at the top of my lungs. I admit at times I could be a dramatic child, though surely these circumstances called for a little drama. A huge commotion commenced as mama and her sisters came outside, demanded answers and upon not getting any threatened spankings which certainly did not entice any of the boys to fess up. So, in the spirit of fairness, they all got one. Still, no confession. Finally somebody cut poor Tiger down, probably Aunt Sissy since she was the most practical of the sisters, and put him in a shoe box. Tiger was then handed to my Granny Garland in order for her to lay hands on him and bring him back to life. My Granny could remove warts and take fever out of a body as you can clearly read about in Foxfire Volume 3, page 480, but I’d never known her to bring the dead back to life. This seemed like a bit of a stretch to me especially since I’d never heard of her having this gift before, but I thought hopefully “if anybody can do it, it will be my Granny Garland.” So, Granny took Tiger to her house and I was sure once she got home and could get alone with The Lord, Tiger would be as good as new. That night I asked my mama to call Granny and see about Tiger. She said she did but that the line was busy. I thought maybe Granny was calling everyone to tell them Tiger was alive and well, but then I thought that surely she would have called me first. This went on for a while, me asking about Tiger and all these vague answers coming back. No one wanting to admit that Tiger had indeed, bit the dust forever. Finally, as I’m sure they thought I would, I forgot about poor Tiger. What kind of mother was I to forget about my own cat? I believe that the hanging of Tiger really was an accident in that the boys thought it would be funny and then couldn’t get him down quick enough. We all survived the hanging; the sisters baked another cake and coffee break marched on.
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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Where’s that Cop When I Need Him? By Noel Shumann HOW OFTEN CAN YOU LEAD 100 CARS TO MCDONALD’S FOR BREAKFAST AND THEY DON’T EVEN KNOW IT?
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he simple explanation…they thought they were going to a cemetery to bury my best friend, Mac. Unfortunately, he couldn’t tell them because he had already passed through the veil. Mac was a well-known person in West Palm Beach with many families attending his funeral. They were somberly forming a funeral line and here I was leading them astray. Not only was I leading them astray, but I had a very angry motorcycle cop looking for me. When I found out Mac had died, my wife Terry and I had flown down to West Palm Beach from Atlanta, rented a car, and headed to the church where the funeral was being held. As we pulled into the entrance, it became obvious the place was packed. There was a motorcycle cop directing traffic into the parking lot. He stopped us before pulling in but quickly got distracted by the other traffic. I decided to just go ahead on into the parking lot to get directions to the wake but instantly realized this was not a good move. Once the policeman realized I had squeezed in, he came over to the car and firmly chastised me for not obeying him at the entrance. I explained that we were just trying to find the directions to where the family was holding the wake, as we were going to bypass the burial and that I thought it would be OK to go around his instructions. He quickly motioned to the funeral line and said that we were going to follow directions just like everyone else. He designated a spot for our car right near him, 8th in line. There was no way we were getting out of his sight. I somehow managed to get the directions to the Irish wake, so I was determined to skip out on the burial. I didn’t want to see my best friend buried. I dropped behind the line of cars a little so they wouldn’t notice my planned detour. I was hoping for a serendipitous exit when the traffic thinned down which was out of sight of the police officer and other people in the funeral line. I was hungry for an Egg McMuffin and knew we had some time to kill. I made a mad dash for McDonald’s. My wife, who happens to have the honorable title of the world’s worst back seat driver, soon realized my offensive driving had not separated us from the funeral line. As I was about to turn into the McDonald’s parking lot, my wife suggested I take a look in my rearview mirror. Unbeknownst to me, I had about a hundred cars from the funeral procession following me. I could tell she was enjoying my problem and strongly suggested I change my plans and get directions to the cemetery before I lead everyone astray. She followed up with a slight grin to her face, “or maybe they are going to join us for breakfast”. Not only did I have over 100 cars following me, but I also didn’t have the faintest idea where the cemetery was! Life’s darkest
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moment had arrived, where was that cop when I needed him? Sure enough, on the very next block, my friend the cop showed up on his motorcycle. The words he used on me could never be put in this publication, and steam seemed to be coming out of every orifice of his body. To make it worse, the cars were blinking their lights and communicating with their horns to tell me I was going in the wrong direction. At this point, the police officer hated me, and my wife wasn’t too fond of me either. The two of them were a match made in heaven…and it was beginning to look like hell for me. She had to take the reins and quickly. Sensing that I was on shaky ground, she leaned out my open window and informed the cop that she was going to take over the driving and that all our problems would cease to exist. The cop, recognizing their mutual anger towards me, agreed, and a bond was instantly made. Humility was the best course of action, so I hopped out of the driver’s seat and let my wife take over the wheel. I guess there was a little conversation on the police radio because we now had three cops escorting us. If I didn’t know the ugly truth, I would have thought I was a celebrity. Off we went…Peace settled in the valley. We now had a police escort and made it to the cemetery. I could no longer avoid the inevitable final goodbye to Mac. After suffering through what seemed like an eternity, we made our way to our originally planned destination. By the time we got to the wake, we needed no introduction; everyone already knew what had happened. I heard the buzz from family and friends speaking of our travels to some faraway lands (Bahamas, England, Paris, and New York) only to have trouble follow us everywhere we went. My police escorts attended the wake, and after a few drinks, we all made up and became friends. They too found humor in my “Mac” stories and listened with amazement as I told them the story of Mac throwing the visiting ambassador’s flag off the Eiffel tower while President DeGaulle was there eating dinner with another country’s ambassador. This insanity by Mac paved our way to the Paris police station. That was a wasted day of our trip. Mac was repentant as I guess he thought that flag would fly away under the radar. Mac would be proud of our visit down memory lane and of course I assured my police friends that they would get a copy of the book that I’m in the process of writing of the amazing adventures of Mac and Noel. I can’t forget Max’s funeral because my wife finds every opportunity to share my close-call with all who will listen.
Noel Shumann is a REALTOR, an author, a speaker and quite the entertainer. He is an excellent writer and the best part is, his stories are true. Noel and his wife Terry lived in Rabun but currently reside in the Atlanta area.
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By The Way
Coping with COVID, my wife, and Cunningham By Emory Jones
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everal of you have sent cards and letters expressing concern as to how my pet pig, Cunningham, is holding up during the recent stay at the house event of 2020. He’s fine, but this whole self-isolation thing has been hard on my wife, Judy. In her defense, I’ll admit that self-isolating with a pig is harder than you’d think. While you do tend to wash your hands more, not touching your face is difficult, although I’ve noticed Judy has learned a trick that seems to help with that face touching thing--she keeps a glass of wine in each hand. The other night she asked me why the television people keep calling it the “novel” coronavirus. I told her it’s a long story. Cunningham laughed, but she just rolled her eyes and went to bed. Anyway, I’ve been keeping her spirits up by cooking outside on the grill as often as possible. That gives Judy a break. After she gets the salad made, prepares the vegetables, makes dessert, and has the ribs ready to cook, I put the meat on the grill. Then, once she’s set the table and has the sweet-tea made, we eat. After dinner, all she has to do is the dishes.
Because of my love of good barbeque, Cunningham and I have both put on a few extra pounds during this crisis. The truth is, he’s become quite a porker! As a result, his pigiatrician at the hog hospital in Homer has put him on a strict diet of sweet potatoes and parsnips until he drops a hundred or so pounds. So, no more peppermint pig pellets for a while. My wife says I should go on a diet, too. She wants me to get down to what it says on my driver’s license, even though I keep reminding her that I have a condition that p r e v e n t s me from dieting. It’s called hunger. Besides, it took a ton of willpower to give up starving in the first place, and I don’t want to backslide. But I digress. I’ve enjoyed staying at home with Cunningham myself. If fact, it got me thinking about how the two of us met in the first place. Sometime back, I was driving my pickup around I-285, trying to avoid Atlanta, when I saw a pig hitchhiking. Right after I picked him up, a Cobb County cop pulled us over. “What are you doing with that pig?” he asked. “Just giving him a ride,” I said. “He was hitchhiking.” The deputy said, “We have laws in Atlanta. If you don’t take that pig to the zoo or someplace right now, I’m gonna’ give you a ticket!” Cunningham and I had such a good time at the zoo that I took him to a Braves game later that evening. We were coming out of the Chop House when Cunningham inadvertently caught a fly ball in his mouth. But he got so excited when they flashed his picture up; he swallowed the darn thing. Cunningham panicked and ran onto the field and around the bases squealing like a pig. That event still holds the record of being the Brave’s first “inside the pork” home run. He even got his picture taken with Bobby Cox, although Bobby wasn’t smiling in it. Anyway, we’re all fine. Especially Judy. She hasn’t touched her face in nearly a month now.
Emory Jones grew up in Northeast Georgia’s White County. After a stint in the Air Force, he joined Gold Kist as publications manager. He was the Southeastern editor for Farm Journal Magazine and executive vice president at Freebarin & Company, an Atlanta-based advertising agency. He has written five books, including The Valley Where They Danced; Distant Voices: The Story of the Nacoochee Valley Indian Mound; a humorous history book called Zipping Through Georgia on a Goat Powered Time Machine; White County 101 and Heart of a Co-op--The Habersham EMC Story. Emory is known for his humor, love of history and all things Southern. He and his wife, Judy, live on Yonah Mountain near Cleveland, Georgia.
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Services
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Sanctuary Awaits on “Looker’s Beach” By John Shivers
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he cathedral-inspired home rests atop one of the finger-like peninsulas on Lake Rabun, its majestic presence soaring into the trees that cradle and caress. At first glance, the experience is almost Zen in nature, as you glimpse the many elements that compose this polished rustic palace that far surpasses the term “house.” Dark and honey-hued woods, vaulted heights and beams, mountain stone, loads of glass, clearstory windows, custom lighting, and massive, custom black wrought iron accents all define the luxurious laid-back existence at 321 Stillhouse in Lakemont. This could be your own private sanctuary, ‘cause you ain’t gonna be able to stay back in town after you’ve seen this home. And it only gets better, the more you see, the more “Wow” enticing top-drawer layout and architectural aspects you encounter. This home is a craftsman’s merger of rustic and contemporary that displays the best of both architectural styles to maximum advantage. This three bedroom, three bathroom home on 1.2± acres enjoys 455± feet of Lake Rabun frontage, from its promontory on the well-known “Looker’s Beach.” Few homes enjoy this distinction, and with 3,897± square feet all designed for grand living, this impressive lodge-like residence marries lake living with mountain living. It’s everyday life
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in a manner that sets itself apart in an unforgettable way. It’s difficult to say whether the house sits among the trees, or whether the trees are a part of the sprawling structure that marries the house with the lake in a seamless manner. Thanks to all the glass, the honey-toned interiors and the way the house is situated literally on the water, this home offers European resortlike amenities, with a northeast Georgia mountain flavor. The floor plan provides for zoned living at its best. The vaulted center of the home, just inside the two-story front entrance beneath a wooden shake roof, soars to the heavens over the glass-lined great room. A massive mountain stone fireplace anchors the room. Just feet away is an open dining area overlooking the lake, with space for many to enjoy the feasts that will emerge from the adjacent gourmet kitchen. Mellow toned wooden, furniture-style cabinetry and chefquality stainless appliances give meal preparation a whole new definition. A hidden refrigerator-freezer, a copper hood, a farmhouse sink, and an immense breakfast bar/island in a distressed robin’s egg finish complement the remainder of the home’s interior scheme. The home’s three bedrooms are housed in two different wings that follow the lake’s shoreline. The master suite anchors the north side of the house and overlooks the lake. The spacious room has its own wood-burning fireplace, a closet with custom-built drawers and organizers, and an en suite bath with an oversize soaking tub, separate shower, and double sinks to complete the master oasis. Also in this wing is the home office and adjoining bathroom, making this truly a flex-space. On the other side of the house, two bedrooms and a third bath complete the layout. Throughout the home, no detail has been spared, as seen in the stone and wide-plank wood floors, handmade rough-sawn doors and custom hardware. Outdoor fireplaces, and sheltered decks that extend to the roof of the boathouse, provide more living space on the same level as the main house, mere steps away. There’s a basement for storage and the mechanicals, and the front paved front entrance provides convenience and parking for multiple vehicles. A swim dock snakes out from the end of the point, and incorporates the lake into the everyday life of the people inside this mountain cathedral on Lake Rabun. Contact Scott Poss at Poss Realty to tour MLS #8778762. 706-490-2305 or at the office, 706-746-5962.
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Living “ON” the Water Doesn’t Get Any Better! By John Shivers
“I
’d so love to have a house on the lake.” Famous last words, usually uttered as you visualize how great it could be. How often have you said such and did nothing? However, if you pass on this home at 2162 Moccasin Creek Road, built literally overhanging the water on Lake Burton, you’re going to kick yourself. What began as a very rustic fishing shack in the mid-1930s has evolved, through numerous additions and remodels, into a truly custom home on 1.75± acres. They don’t build them this way anymore! Get off your procrastination and check this out, this truly remarkable home for which no cookie cutter exists. If you can visualize the casual serenity of a summer camp setting married to the style and panache of a luxury resort, you’ll be close. And if you make it a priority to tour this hybrid home, you’ll be hooked on the lakeside life you’ll discover. Because of the many additions that have transformed that once rudimentary fishing haven into a modern, relaxing but stylish five bedroom, three bath retreat, as many as sixteen can rest comfortably. And pay particular attention to the unique railings, massive stone fireplace, and other elements of the home’s past. This home is “vintage,” proclaims the antique Coca-Cola® sign on the end of the house. The color white became the great equalizer inside and the home flows with an easy attitude, imbued with splashes of
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texture. Various hues on the color wheel provide the spark, and thanks to the white backdrop and the home’s many windows, you feel as if you’re virtually sitting in the lake with its breathtaking four-seasonal views. Even the fully-equipped kitchen with top of the line stainless appliances, cabinet and workspace is open to the marvelous outdoor panorama. Master suite quarters on the main level include a bathroom with a custom-built oversize shower and ample closet space. A second but smaller bedroom is also on this level. Across the back of the home is a bunk room space that almost defies description. One thing’s for sure; between the recreational opportunities and the sleeping accommodations, your kids and their friends will most definitely gravitate here when they aren’t outdoors or on the lake. With eight ship-style built-in bunks, a double bed, and even a sleeping loft reached by means of a rock wall climbing challenge, this place is kid-central! A full bath with double sinks and shower serves this area. The versatility of this home makes it perfect for the large family, or the family with a large number of family and friends. Upstairs are two more bedrooms and a full bath. If ever there was a home that was perfect for both quiet family living and gracious entertaining, this 3,121± square foot cottage-style, rustic mini-mansion fills the bill. Outside, it’s just as good. Where else could you dangle your feet in the water without even having to leave home? Beneath the house, not only can you berth your boat with the aid of a hydraulic lift, there are two jet skis as well. Built-in daybeds provide the perfect place to grab some alone time, to read or nap, or just to feast on the eye candy of the lake. With open outside deck space, a beautifully landscaped lakefront with fire pit, ping pong table and lounging area with direct access to the swim dock, and a natural spring that flows into Lake Burton, what more could you want? If you’re ready for this enviable lake lifestyle, MLS#8777254, contact Agent Leigh Barnett at Harry Norman, REALTORS® Luxury Lake and Mountain at 404-931-3636 or at the office, 706-212-0228.
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Service Professionals
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Tina Anzo Home
Beautiful Lakeview Living By Deena C. Bouknight
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hile there are many country clubs in Georgia, the Waterfall Club’s dictum, “You have to see it to believe it,” rings true. Waterfall Club is a sophisticated, upscale North Georgia mountain retreat overlooking Lake Burton, a 2,775 acre reservoir with 62 miles of shoreline. The club earns its waterfall name designation due partly to the centerpiece golf course experience, which has as its hole number two, a par 3 with tee boxes atop a waterfall and a green 210 feet below. However, there are other impressive waterfalls and nature scenes, as well as expansive views of the North Georgia mountains. Plus, the club offers residents and guests a state-of-the-art athletic center with a spa, indoor pool, indoor and outdoor tennis and pickle ball courts, a lodge, and superior culinary experiences. In fact, because of its beauty and amenities, Waterfall Club is a top choice for weddings, receptions, and other important life events. Nearby is winter skiing and tubing, as well as endless hiking sites, including the famous Appalachian Trail, which starts in Georgia and ends in Maine. Finally, Waterfall Club is located in driving distance of just 90 miles to Atlanta and 100 miles to Asheville for diverse shopping, entertainment, and dining experiences. And closer is the quaint town of Clayton; just a 10-minute drive provides access to-farmto-table restaurants, live music, art galleries, craft shops, and specialty boutiques. Thus, the opportunity to live in the Waterfall at Lake Burton community
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and enjoy it full-time – or at least seasonally – is desired by many. Realtor Tina Anzo of Poss Realty pointed out that homes such as the one currently available at 235 Grey Fox Trail offers a comprehensive and remarkable experience. The home’s exterior curbside distinction is in the marrying of stonework, cedar shakes, and custom windows, and architectural details, such as an entryway with wide columns, a radius-style roof design, and a recessed dormer. Yet, the main exterior stunner of this home is the rear view from three floors of porches and decks – of the golf course’s 1st and 18th holes and the stunning Lake Burton and the Appalachian mountains framing it. The home is nestled among trees on a wooded, private lot, but the trees do not deter from the many accessible views. The breathtaking natural ambiance is carried inside this 7,180-square-foot home due to a large open floor plan with a soaring, vaulted-and-beamed ceiling great room that has as its centerpiece a massive stone fireplace. Visitors are greeted by an open staircase, floor-to-ceiling windows, custom-crafted woodwork and cabinetry, and reclaimed beams. While the home does not skimp on exceptional design details or sophisticated ambiance, it also has a floorplan that accommodates the needs of a large family, plus guests. There are two master bedroom suites, with the one located on the second floor sporting a focal point stone-wall fireplace, and four executive suite bedrooms. And, fun bunk room accommodates at least five single beds. An open dining area with a view is just off the spacious kitchen. A beautiful wood-paneled office/library has a half bath and is equipped with fiber optics to accommodate working from home. A bonus is the home’s lower level, which features a billiard room, second kitchen, large bar with wine cooler, and impressive, arched and gated wine cellar. The lower level also boasts an executive suite. Large stone-floor, screened-in porches present this home as an entertaining dream. But family members and guests of this home still have plenty of opportunities for down time in quiet alcoves, cozy decks, and off-of-bedroom porches accessible through massive sliding doors. Although the Grey Fox Trail home has plenty of privacy, it is still in walking distance of the Waterfall Club’s premier and less-formal restaurants. Plus, included with the purchase of the home is a Social Membership, which can be upgradable to a full, 12-month golf membership. Member provides such opportunities as recreational use of Lake Burton via the club’s private dock. Residents can rent a club pontoon boats or use their own boats, kayaks, paddleboards, etc. There is even a marina within a five-minute drive from Waterfall Club. Anzo pointed out that because of the layout of the home, its views, and the spacious accommodations, it works not only as a residence but also as an ideal corporate retreat site – with potential guests having access to team-building activities as well as plenty of personal, restorative downtime. To schedule a tour of this home please contact Tina Anzo at 404.947.2363. Visit www.tinaanzo.com for more photos and listing MLS 8778345.
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