Georgia Mountain Laurel March 19

From the Publisher

L

iving in the mountains of Northeast Georgia or Western North Carolina is a privilege. There is just a peacefulness here that you don’t find everywhere. There are communities of people who understand hard work, helping out and being a great neighbor. Our towns are small, sidewalks lined with extraordinary shops, galleries stocked with local art, and restaurants that pride themselves on serving fresh and local food. Life is grand in these hills.

If you have ever dreamed of living here either part time or full-time we invite you to discover all that makes it so special. The land and homes are plentiful and our excellent local Real Estate professionals are ready to help you find your perfect place. We have provided a directory of local service oriented businesses, all members of the North Georgia Homebuilders Association.

This is an issue to keep handy for when you need them or are ready to proceed with that big or small project you’ve been thinking about.

Tracy

2 - March 2019

March 2019 • Volume Sixteen • Issue Three Publisher/Editor - Tracy McCoy Art Director - Dianne VanderHorst Graphic Artist - Nikki Dunbar Office Manager/ Account Executive - Cindi Freeman Account Executive - Melynda Hensley Account Executive - Calin DeFoor Photographer/Writer - Peter McIntosh Writer - John Shivers Writer - Luke McCoy Contributing Writers: Jan Timms, Mark Holloway, Steve Jarrard, MD, Lisa Harris, Kendall Rumsey John Shivers, Emory Jones, Lorie Thompson, Susan Brewer, Joel Hitt, Beth Fierberg

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

Copyright 2019 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.

8 - March 2019

In This Issue Mountain Homes 12 14 16 20 24

Change Your Address...

Take the Waters at MountainSpring Poss Realty - Featured Home Harry Norman REALTORS® - Featured Home Georgia Mountain Home Builders Association

Arts & Entertainment 28 32 35

Cover Artist - Chris Barth, AIA North Georgia Arts Guild Celebrate Clayton

Affairs to Remember 36

Mountain Happenings Event Calendar

Faith in Christ 40 42 44

Bless Your Heart River Garden R4G - Head of Tennesee Baptist Church

Health & Wellness 46 48 50

Live Healthy & Be Well Kitty Flewelling - No Pain Big Gain Mental Health & The Human Condition

Outdoors 52 54 56 58

Adventure Out Hitt the Outdoors Out of the Blue Ridge Paws 4 Life

A Taste 60 62 64

Bon Appetit Farm to Cocktail The Family Table

Mountain Life 68 70 72 74 76

10 - March 2019

Notes from a Southern Kitchen Rabun County Historical Society Happy Birthday Mary Lou Lovin’ the Journey By the Way

Photo by Alicia Smith

Change Your Address to a Mountain Home

by John Shivers

A

home in the mountains. Has a nice ring, doesn’t it?

Paints a nice word picture, too. Can’t you just visualize it? A massive, lodge-style structure that overlooks lakes or sweeping mountain vistas, or the tree-laden lands of the National Forest Service, with its four seasons of attire, is the dream of many. Those who live in the flatlands, by the ocean, or in the frozen north with only two seasons often dream of a home in the southern Appalachian Mountains. The lure of blooming beauty in the spring, long hazy, crazy days of summer, the patchwork kaleidoscope of autumn, and the pristine qualities of winter in the hills broadcast a siren call to outsiders.

Many of those outsiders answer. For many, that dream is reality. They’re getting their mail delivered to places like Clayton and Franklin, Toccoa and Clarkesville, and Blairsville.

They’re immersing themselves into the modes and excitement of laidback mountain living, community festivals and drama troupes, and farm to table cuisine and art and creative attractions. All of this for several very good reasons:

Habersham County When your new homestead is in Habersham County, Georgia, where 44,567 other folks were living as of 2017, you have the choice of Clarkesville or Cornelia, or one of many small

12 - March 2019

community crossroads found in the county. Clarkesville is the county seat, with a historic downtown area, while a large apple on a pedestal anchors downtown Cornelia, giving a nod to the town’s historic past.

The breathtaking Tallulah Falls is located in the Habersham – Rabun County area, plus the Soque River affords many opportunities for outdoor activities. Camping, fishing, boating, hiking, museums provide something for everyone to enjoy.

Into ziplining, horseback riding, ATV or fly-boarding? Check out Habersham County.

Scenic Highway 197 bisects the area and is lined with many art galleries and craft stores, including the Mark of the Potter, the oldest continuously operating craft store in Georgia.

Scattered throughout the 279 square miles are numerous locally-owned restaurants and quaint one-of-a-kind shops, in addition to the renowned Piedmont College and North Georgia Technical College. Habersham County is home to some of the most breathtaking natural, hometown kind of beauty you’ll find anywhere.

Macon County Just across the Georgia line into North Carolina are Franklin and Highlands, a destination for tourists and year-round

residents alike. In 2017, the population of Macon County in 1816, and is located just off Highway 123, near the state numbered almost 35,000 individuals. While the Nantahala line. Earliest settlers and newcomers alike find that Stephens River that runs through the region is one of the most popular County feels like home. whitewater rafting destinations in the nation, if shooting the Towns County rapids isn’t on your bucket list, despair not. There’s more.

In Franklin, the county seat, gem stones, mining, and the finishing of those stones is a big draw. The region’s rich Scottish heritage is reflected in the Tartan Museum. Highlands, southeast of Franklin, reached via the River Road that parallels much of the twenty miles of the beautiful, tumbling waters of the Cullasaja River, is a Mecca of arts and fine dining and specialty shops.

In both towns, and throughout the county, beautiful homes, condos, and cabins with unique laurel branch embellishments and other mountain architectural elements await those wanting to settle in Macon County. It truly is a place that’s easy to call home.

Rabun County Nestled snuggly in the extreme northeastern corner of Georgia, Rabun County hugs both North Carolina and South Carolina.

With 377 square miles, it ranks as one of the largest counties in the northeast Georgia / southern North Carolina regions.

Thanks, however, to the three large recreational lakes – Burton, Rabun and Seed - and the many acres that lie in the U.S. National Forest, the year-round population was only 16,602 in 2017.

Those who settle in Towns County can be on top of the world, so to speak, every day of the year. Brasstown Bald at 4,783 feet elevation, also known as the highest peak in Georgia, is located in the southern end of the county. And while no one can live that high on the mountain, life is just as good farther down in the towns of Young Harris and Hiawassee.

With only 172 square miles, and a resident population of slightly more than eleven thousand people, this county offers the best of mountain living and lakeside lifestyles. Anyone who revels in hiking, camping, fishing, boating sports, and good eating can find all this and more in Hiawassee, the county seat. High Shoals Falls, Bell Mountain, and Blue Shoals Falls are just a few of the many outdoor venues, in addition to Lake Chatuge and the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds.

Young Harris is the home of Young Harris College and offers programs, exhibits, and performances of a creative and artistic nature. And when you get your mail in Towns County, all of this and more is right outside your door.

Union County

Blairsville is the county seat of Union County, which lies due west of Towns County and hugs the North Carolina line.

Or to put it another way, it’s the best of both worlds. Those trees According to the most recent count, some 23,459 people call in the National Forest take on a new persona with each season, this land of mountains and water home. and the lakes offer twelve month living, so you’re there to enjoy From its downtown historic courthouse, to the Byron Herbert all four seasons.

Reece Farm and Heritage Center down at the foothills of Clayton, the county seat, is located along Highway 441 that Blood Mountain beside Wolf Creek, heritage is a big factor runs north and south and bisects the county. Rabun is the farm in everything that happens in this county of 329 square miles. to table leader in Georgia cuisine and agricultural tourism, and numerous art galleries and outlets can be found along 441 from Union County claims some of the bragging rights to Brasstown Dillard on the North Carolina line to Tallulah Falls on the south. Bald, since the mountain straddles the Union-Towns County line. The list of other attributes reads like a Who’s Who of Call Rabun home and settle in. what makes this place home material. Vogel State Park, Helton Creek Falls, Meeks Park, Desoto Falls, archaeological ruins, the Stephens County Walasi Yi Center, the only place where the Appalachian History, hiking and biking, hometown flavor, and homesteading Trail passes through a man-made structure, and many are the drawing cards for this northeast Georgia county of some other places contribute to the checklist of positives that 27,798 individuals as of the last counting. Bordering South make a place a home.

Carolina on the east, Toccoa, the county seat, and Stephens County, is home base for Currahee Mountain. In addition to its magnificent vistas and various hiking trail, the mountain is famous for its Camp Toccoa location, where paratroopers were trained during World War II. The Currahee Military Museum in town, in the restored train depot, continues to tell the story.

If these newcomer-welcoming communities have whetted your appetite to get your mail in the mountains, it’s easily done. Between numerous real estate agents in the various counties who stand ready to assist you in making the move, and contractors and home builders, who will build that dream lodge in the place of your choice, what more could you ask Other hiking and outdoor adventure options exist at the for? You’re almost ready to book the moving van, and start Panther Creek Trail, and on parts of the Appalachian Trail and filling out those change of address notices.

Chattahoochee National Forest. Lake Hartwell, which straddles Life in the mountains is a destination. A house in the mountains the border between Georgia and South Carolina, is both a is truly an unforgettable home. There’s a key to a home in recreational opportunity and a popular location for many who these hills waiting with your name on it. Aren’t you ready to call the area home. take a look?

History buffs will find the Traveler’s Rest Historic Site east of Welcome to your mountain home. What took you so long?

Toccoa to be a destination. This historic inn was first opened

March 2019 - 13

“Take the Waters” from MountainSpring

by John Shivers

O

nce was the time when hot tubs and the rushing waters they contained was sought after by only distinct groups of people. Some would have called them hippies. But that was then, and this is now, when million dollar homes and homes of the middle class alike, have something that falls under the broad heading of a hot tub or spa. And this holds true most especially for mountain homes, where sometimes the tub literally straddles the line between summer and winter, inside and outside. Thanks to the practicality and portability of today’s tubs, even renters can enjoy the benefits, and take them to their next apartment as well.

Nowhere has the enthusiasm of the hot tub fan club become more heated than in the counties in Georgia and North Carolina surrounding Franklin in Macon County. It’s there that MountainSpring Spas and Pools has been selling, installing, servicing and ultimately replacing these founts of relaxation for thirty years. Ther many repeat customers tell the tale.

The earliest hot tubs were the collapsed mouths of volcanoes into which hot stones were placed to heat the water. Fast-forward to the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and locations in this country where natural hot springs existed, became a destination for the wealthy and the infirm, who traveled there in order to “take the waters.” Managers of those springs heavily promoted the healing qualities of their often mineral-laced hot water. While the statistics didn’t always support those advertising claims, it has since been proven that they were actually on to something.

In addition to the recreational and pleasurable aspects of a home spa setting, there are also very real health benefits. One of the biggest payoffs is the relief afforded to muscle tension, headaches, fatigue and soreness. Soaking in the hot and frothy waters can minimize the pain of arthritis. Studies have shown that spa treatment can lower diabetic sugar levels, and promotes weight loss, and lowers blood pressure. And at the end of the day, spa activities aids in sleeping more soundly.

In its most basic form, a hot tub is a large tub or small pool full of water used for hydrotherapy, relaxation or pleasure. Or all three.

Some have powerful jets for massage purposes, and hot tubs are sometimes also known as spas.

It wasn’t until the 1940s, in the wake of World War II, as America began to rebuild and expand its horizons that individual hot tubs began to appear on the landscape. Those first tubs were wooden, and over time, tended to deteriorate and leak. Fiberglass shell tubs came onto the scene around 1970, and were soon superseded by cast acrylic shells. Where the first tubs basically offered only swirling hot waters, as time went on, jets were added, and seats were installed to make hot tub use a group event. These tubs are often located outdoors, and enjoyment of the warm waters when the ground is snowy all around is a treat unto itself.

MountainSpring Spas and Pools is a dealer for HotSpring Portable Spas and Free Flow Spas, which offer a wide range of tub options as well as accessories for all models. Their store is located at 611 Highlands Road in Franklin. Their phone number is 828.369.2871. Operating hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 am ‘til 5:30 pm and on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. ‘til 3:00 pm This year MountainSpring Spas and Pools celebrates 30 years in business. They have put all of their 2018 models on sale to make room for incoming 2019 models. They invite you in to explore the possibilities. MountainSpring Spas and Pools appreciates the community support that they have enjoyed over three decades and this alone speaks volumes about their reputation and the quality of their products.

14 - March 2019

March 2019 - 15

Are You Seeking a Coleman River Road Life?

by John Shivers

C

oleman River tumbles out of the North Carolina mountains and into the sheer beauty of extreme northwestern Rabun County. The waters work their way south around boulders that would bar passage, through groves of seasonal mountain laurel, into some of the most natural, rugged, unspoiled landscape and lifestyles to be found.

It’s a lifestyle that whoever owns the keys to the home at 523 Coleman River Road in Clayton can experience year-round, right outside their own doorstep. It’s definitely a one-of-a-kind property in a much to be desired homestead destination.

Ownership opportunities knock infrequently here.

The two level home that blends with its surroundings offers more than 4,700 square feet of prime living opportunity. Located on Lot #16 in the Falling Waters development, this flexible floor plan allows for one large family to live comfortably yearround, with ample room for all ages to interact. Another option is for the two-bedroom, fully-contained lower level to serve as an in-law suite.

Over ten acres of the pristine Coleman River area lands are a part

16 - March 2019

of this home’s perks, and the large, spacious, walkable yard surrounding the house makes it suitable for many outdoor activities. As a part of this extreme livability, is a six hundred square foot covered, timber frame pavilion, perfect for July 4th and family reunion celebrations. The space is adjacent to the house and the kitchen, making convenience the name of the game.

Stone entry pillars at the public road announce the home’s

presence, and usher you and your guests onto the property, where the house that was built in 2005, boasts a total of five bedrooms and four baths. But beyond the requisites, there’s so much more, beginning with a floorplan that is anything but cookie cutter. Instead, the layout lends itself to gracious and comfortable living.

Three gas-log fireplaces, in the great room, the master bedroom, and the great room on the lower level, create not only cozy winter evenings, but back-up heat during extreme winter weather. A 25kw generator is yet another hedge against the weather.

Need a home office? This house offers the perfect space on the main level, and the room is complete with custom built bookcases and plenty of light. This is a home that screams “live in every inch of me!”

Spacious, covered porches, including one that opens off the master bedroom, offer both a place to sit and gaze out over the adjacent U.S. Forest lands, and to enjoy alfresco meals. Inside, in addition to a spacious great room and an adjacent dining room that easily seats large families, is the kitchen that any family chef will love.

Plentiful, dark wood cabinets, solid-surface tops that provide generous work spaces, an island and a full-complement of stainless appliances make cooking in this kitchen a joyous task. A breakfast bar that is an extension of the kitchen allows for additional seating as well as a great place to assemble buffet items for that tailgate party or Christmas-eve social.

The four generous-size baths include hard surface countertops, and the home’s laundry room is spacious and airy. A double drive-under garage is part of the lower level.

Outside, a finished thirty by sixty foot metal building offers many opportunities. With three drive-through doors, including one that would accommodate a motor home, there are so many different directions the homeowner can go with this added bonus.

When you get your mail at this Coleman River Road address, it means you’re in for a mountain adventure in living.

Listing agent for this property is Poss Realty agent Sam Rumsey, who can be reached at 706-982-9673 or 706-782-2121. Reference MLS #8468585.

March 2019 - 17

18 - March 2019

March 2019 - 19

All Routes Lead to Home by the Lake

By John Shivers

N

ever judge a book by its cover, the old adage goes. But every rule has its exceptions, and the home at 493 Deer Hill Road west of Clayton on Lake Burton, near Jones Bridge Overlook, is definitely one of those detours from the norm.

The first clue you have that this home might be “the” special house, a home that would cater to your every dream and every need, comes when you pull into the drive. To your left, you’ll catch a glimpse of those Burton waters, but it’s the one-of-a-kind canopy over the front entryway that commands your attention.

Four massive, turned-by-nature tree trunks twist upwardly, an invitation to come closer and discover all that lies beyond. Indulge your curiosity. You won’t be sorry.

Outside, the marriage of native stone and Hardiplank® siding gives a strong hint to the overall marriage of contemporary and rustic that exists throughout; a union that gives life to a truly unique home from front door to back deck, to boat house and into the beautiful lake waters beyond, all against gorgeous mountain views.

Thanks to its many windows and their calculated

20 - March 2019

placement, as well as oversize sliding doors, this home brings the outdoors inside in ways that are both subtle and dramatic.

Think cathedral ceilings, wood floors, shiplap walls, clean lines and open concept great room, and you’re on your way to visualizing yourself making coffee or creating special feasts in the adjacent professional kitchen and separate wet bar area with wine cooler.

Relaxed living could be the unwritten theme of this home, with four bedrooms and five and one-half baths. You’ll have ample room for family and guests, especially when you factor in the generous bunk room that can accommodate several kids, or even adults. From the screened porch with a fireplace, spacious open decks, a hot tub, and two-stall boathouse with al fresco dining opportunities up top side, the ways that this home may be enjoyed are varied and memorable. Enjoy the water in your own boat, swim in your secluded cove, or stay high and dry, but very much a part of everything, whether you’re inside or out. The flat, attractively landscaped lawn is the conduit to life on the lake and its breathtaking sunset views.

And when you’re finally ready for privacy and alone time, there’s always the spacious, private master suite where you can relax in your own spa-like bath. With its own private doors opening onto the rear deck, the view and the magic from this secluded suite are literally yours for the enjoyment. A spacious laundry room takes the drudge out of that chore, and there’s generous closet space. A bonus room offers several options; you decide!

To house the family fleet, there is a triple garage and the drive and parking area offer still more opportunities for guest parking.

Entertaining for an evening or a weekend will be a breeze. With ease of maintenance, the multi-faceted opportunities for gracious and laid-back lake living, and the chance to own a one-of-a-kind home, this house goes above and beyond.

“One if by land and two if by sea” was the advisory on how the British would arrive in Concord in 1775. Your visitors will have the option of arriving by land and by water in 2018, and you can easily roll out the red carpet at both the front and back door.

How much better could it get?

For additional information on MLS #8507908 offered by Harry Norman, REALTORS® Luxury Lake and Mountain, contact agent Evelyn Heald at 404-372-5698. The office number is 706-212-0228.

March 2019 - 21

22 - March 2019

Home Builders Promote Industry, Protect Home Owners

T

by John Shivers

he northeast Georgia counties are a prime location for home ownership, whether it’s your primary residence, or a second home where you escape from the rat race. But when it comes to building that home, remodeling your quarters, or enhancing your property, there’s a right way and a wrong way.

One of the worst wrong ways is to employ a non-licensed workman to execute your plans and dreams. A licensed professional, on the other hand, will have the appropriate credentials, carry the necessary types and levels of insurance to protect the homeowner, handle the necessary permitting, and by following good business practices, be more likely to finish the job right the first time.

So how do you find that right professional to ensure that you’re not disappointed? In Rabun, Towns and Union Counties, you need look no further than the Georgia Mountain Home Builders Association headquartered in Clayton.

This non-profit, 501 C(6) trade association represents and unites the building industry in these three counties. They provide

Builder Members Rabun Austin & Butler Builders, Inc. Jeff Butler 706-490-1360 jeff_butler@windstream.net Bear Gap Timber Structures Chrissy Laws 706-968-0775 chrissy@lawsrealty.com www.beargapcabins.com Bill Griffin Construction Inc. Bill Griffin706-982-0259 wng@windstream.net C.H. Builders Inc. Andrew Hunt 706-982-1700 chbuilders@windstream.net Charles Moore Builders, Inc. Chuck Moore 706-490-2098 cmbuilders@myemc.net

24 - March 2019

educational programs, keep members abreast of technology improvements, building code changes, and provide a forum for social interaction and involvement. GMHBA strives to create a favorable climate for quality construction.

The payoff benefits both builders and homeowners, and homeowners have a resource to locate the correct contractor for their job, and they can feel comfortable that the providers they hire are qualified and capable.

In addition, the Association, which is located at 837 US-76 #113, Clayton, GA 30525 works closely with state and local lawmakers to help bring about legislation that supports local economies without doing harm. GMHBA members are also members of the Home Builders Association of Georgia as well as the National Association of Home Builders.

Learn more about the Association by logging onto gmhba@ georgiamountainhba.com or by calling 706-782-9260.

Georgia Mountain Home Builders Association members who work to create and promote a favorable climate for quality construction and the best value on supplies and services in Rabun, Towns and Union Counties include…

Clay Contracting Chris Clay 706-982-2793 clay_chris@yahoo.com www.claycontracting.com

Faletti, Inc. Paul Faletti 404-234-7987 pfaletti@bellsouth.net www.rockfordfarm.com

Covenant Homes Inc Scott Williams 706-968-4833 swilliams@covenantcom.net mycovenanthomes.com

GVickers Enterprises, Inc. Gregory Vickers 404-427-1140 greg@gvickers.com www.gvickers.com

David Dickerson Builders LLC David Dickerson 706-490-3953 ddickersonbldrsllc@yahoo.com

Jeff Eller Construction Jeff Eller 706-490-2683 jeffellerconst@yahoo.com

Dennis Thompson Construction Jamie Thompson 706-490-0064 DTCCI@windstream.net www.lakemontdrydock.com

Kilby Construction, Inc. Jerry Kilby 706-746-2459 salk@windstream.net

Dresser & Associates Jay Dresser 706-490-2742 dresserj@windstream.net

Little River Home Builders Inc. Chet Darnell 706-982-9235 chetdarnell1@gmail.com McCracken Builders, Inc. John McCracken 706-490-1976 mccrackenbuilders@gmail.com Morgan Fazzary Fine Homes Morgan Fazzary 706-308-3557 morganfazzary@gmail.com R & B Concrete Company, Inc. Rick Buchanan 706-490-2626 rickbuchananconstr@windstream.net

Larry Gipson Construction Larry Gipson 706-782-2448

Rabun Builders, Inc. Kurt Cannon 706-746-3723 rbi@rabunbuilders.com www.rabunbuilders.com

Larry Horton LTD Larry Horton 706-782-6735 hortonltd@windstream.net www.hortoncustomhomes.com

Rabun County Board of Commissioners Erik Blalock 706-490-1555 eblalock@rabuncounty.ga.gov

Rabun Co. Habitat for Humanity Marcus Booker 706-782-9203 mkbooker@windstream.net Rabun Remodel, LLC Jim Bogle 706-982-9114 www.rabunremodel.com Wood Brothers, Inc. Barry Wood 706-782-5689 abarrywood@gmail.com www.woodbrothers.org York Builders Tommy York 706-782-7422 twyork@windstream.net Towns Brown Haven Homes 706-970-2456 info@brownhavenhomes.com www.brownhavenhomes.com The Dernehl Co. Bob Dernehl 706-970-0176 Email: bob@dernehlcompany.com www.dernehlcompany.com Union Calvin Collins Construction Calvin Collins 706-745-8498 cccinc@windstream.net Combs & Son Construction Inc. Jimmy Combs 706-781-5746 Associate Members Appliances City Plumbing & Electric Supply Co. 706-746-2890 www.cpesupply.com 4505 Highway 441 North Rabun Gap Ga 30568 Automotive Duvall Automotive John Bradshaw 706-982-0929 jbradshaw81@hotmail.com www.duvallautomotive.com Banking First American Bank & Trust 706-782-3232 www.firstamericanishere.com 550 HWY 441 S, Clayton, GA 30525 Oconee Federal Savings and Loan Association 706-782-3738 www.oconeefederal.com 221 Hwy 76 E, Clayton, GA 30525 www.oconeefederal.com

Rabun County Bank Dan Free 706-782-4571 dfree@rabuncountybank.com www.rabuncountybank.com 121 Rickman Street Clayton, Georgia 30525 South State Bank Shanon Stewart 706-782-1010 shanon.stewart@southstatebank.com www.southstatebank.com United Community Bank Kayla Pitts 706-782-7100 kayla_pitts@ucbi.com www.ucbi.com

RJ’s Concrete Inc. Ronald Brewer 706-982-0049 Taylor Concrete Foundations Max Taylor 706-782-4652

Byers Well Drilling Inc. Lon Dillard 706-781-4582 byers@brmemc.net www.bryerswelldrilling.com

Disposal/Site Recycle

Grading

Metro Site, Inc./Metro Site Recycle Fred Mansfield 706-335-7045 fmansfield@metrositellc.com www.metrositellc.com

Nichols Contracting, Inc. Will Nichols 706-782-7798

Mountain Lakes Rolloffs Steve Jones 706-949-9845 mountainlakesrolloffs@gmail.com

Building Supplies Harbin Lumber Company Doug Tillman 706-356-4300 dtillman@harbinlumber.com www.harbinlumber.com Pella Windows & Doors Terry West 404-759-3864 twest@pellasoutheast.com www.pellasoutheast.com Reeves Building Supply Steve Weinelt, David Ramey, Jeff Godwin 706-782-4219 sweinelt@reevesacehardware.com www.reevesacehardware.com Supply Mart Randy Humphries 706-782-4495 supplymart68@gmail.com Cabinets & Countertops Gillespie Cabinet Shop, Inc. Danny Gillespie 706-490-1911 dannygillespie@windstream.net www.gillespiescustomcabinetry.com Ramey’s Custom Cabinets, Inc. 324 Babe Ramey Road Clayton, Ga. 30525 706-782-6384 www.rameyscustomcabinets.com

Geothermal

Drywall Kilby Construction Inc. Jerry Kilby 706-746-2459 salk@windstream.net Electrical Supply City Plumbing & Electric Supply Co. 706-746-2890 www.cpesupply.com 4505 Highway 441 North Rabun Gap Ga 30568 Electrician Burrell Electric Ronnie Burrell 706-782-1650 Mountain NRG Electrical Contractors Brian Stephens 678-776-8849 b.stephensnrg@yahoo.com mountainrge.com Excavating McCrackin Contracting Madison McCrackin 706-782-5087 Exterminating

Heating & Air Northeast Georgia Heating & Air Randy Speed 706-782-7825 negahvac@windstream.net www.negahvac.com Home Technology Systems SoulCraft Systems Justin Vogel 404-590-7685 justin@soulcraftsystems.com www.soulcraftsystems.com Insulation-Spray Foam AirTight Insulation of Northeast GA Chad & Kay Keller 706-202-7043 kayckeller@bellsouth.net www.insulationnega.com Go Green Spray Foam Professionals Greg Reece 706-633-7591 gogreensprayfoam@gmail.com Insurance A W Adams Insurance Agency Allen Adams 706-782-5100 awadamsins@windstream.net www.awadamsins.com Ash/Welborn Insurance Tim Smith 706-778-2244 info@ashwelborn.com www.ashwelborninsurance.com Wayah Insurance Group Hunter Strickland 828-524-4442 strickland@wayah.com www.wayah.com Painting

American Pest Control Tim Culpepper 706-782-4113 timc@ampest.com www.ampest.com

JMZ Painting Co 706-982-1906 jmzpaintingco@gmail.com www.jmzpainting.com

Bleckley Concrete Foundations, Inc. Scott Bleckley 706-782-9979

Floor Covering-Wood

Paint-Retail

Morgan Concrete Co., Inc. John Morgan or Adam Brady 706-746-3011 or 706-969-8429 adambrady@morganconcrete.com www.morganconcrete.com

Richard Riggs Country Wood Works Wood Floors & More 706-778-WOOD(9663) 706-424-2689 m www.countrywoodworks.com

Clayton Paint & Flooring Center Keith Toller 706-782-2741 135 E Savannah St, Clayton, GA 30525 claytonpaint@windstream.net www.claytonpaint. benmoorepaints.com

Concrete Foundations

continued

March 2019 - 25

Reeves Building Supply Tommy Shriver 706-782-4219 118 Chechero St, Clayton, GA 30525 tshriver@reevesacehardware.com www.reevesacehardware.com Sherwin Williams Jasen Meil 706-782-5930 120 E Savannah St, Clayton, GA 30525 www.sherwin-williams.com Plumbing All American Plumbing of Clayton Henry Radford 706-782-9804 allamericanplumbingofclayton@ windstream.net www.aapofclayton.com

Real Estate

Utilities

Georgia Mountains & Lakes Realtors Association 706-776-1551 information@gmlrealtors.com www.gmlrealtors.com

Blue Ridge Mountain EMC Sonny Mahan, Darrin Ingram 706-379-3121 sonny.mahan@brmemc.com www.brmemc.com

Remodeling Dresser & Associates Jay Dresser 706-490-2742 dresserj@windstream.net Morgan Fazzary Fine Homes Morgan Fazzary 706-308-3557 morganfazzary@gmail.com www.morganfazzaryfinehomes.com Roofing

Bleckley Plumbing Bryan Bleckley 706-782-7132

Georgia Mountain Roofing Jerry Taylor 706-490-1121 jerry@gmroof.com

Propane Gas & Appliances

Stonework

Blossman Gas & Appliances, Inc. David Deal 706-782-8305 ddeal@blossmangas.com www.blossmangas.com

Classic Rock, LLC Will Clay 706-212-0369

26 - March 2019

North GA Stone, Inc. Bob Kaser 706-745-5532 Email: rckaser2@gmail.com

Georgia Power Company 1-888-660-5890 www.georgiapower.com Georgia Power Land Dept.

Cheryl Parker 706-782-1450 Water Filtration/Purification Metro Water Filter Co. Tom Matthews 706-499-5146 www.metrowaterfilter.com Welding Rabun Metal Products, Inc 706-782-4224 www.rabunmetal.com 4428 Old 441 S Tiger, GA 30576 Well Drilling Byers Well Drilling Inc Lon Dillard 706-745-2166 byers@brmemc.net www.byerswelldrilling.com

Sam Davis Well Drilling, Inc. Brian Jordan 706-782-3782 waterwells@windstream.net Windows & Doors Reeves Building Supply Steve Weinelt, David Ramey, Jeff Godwin 706-782-4219 sweinelt@reevesacehardward.com www.reevesacehardware.com Woodworking/TimberFraming/ Carpentry Work MoreSun Custom Woodworking Inc. Stephen Morrison 864-647-1669 steve@moresunwoodworking.com www.moresunwoodworking.com Otis & Company Keith Ivester 706-754-8332 Email: hww@windstream.net Yonah Mountain Timber Frames Neal Binder 706-282-0047 info@yonahmountaintimberframes.com www.yonahmountaintimberframes.com

March 2019 - 27

Cover Artist

A “

– Chris Barth, AIA

by John Shivers & Tracy McCoy

rchitecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness.” Frank Gehry

“I value the tradition of fine architecture, and use of hand drafting and modeling techniques in my design,” says Charlotte, North Carolina architect and part-time Lake Burton resident Chris Barth. Chris, who received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of North Carolina in 2010, knew from his middle school years that he wanted to design structures. His interests encompass every aspect of the design process, from gaining insight into the client’s mind, to inspecting the site and preparing schematic drawings, to working with contractors through the process, until he and the owners are able to walk through the door of the finished home.

Chris pursues his passion as one of a team of thirteen architects with the Charlotte architectural firm of Meyer | Greeson | Paullin | Benson. It’s been forty years since Jim Meyer and Sam Greeson established the firm, designing high-end homes in the Charlotte area. Their work also included commercial design, and they established quite a portfolio and a solid reputation for exceptional design. Mark Paullin joined the firm in 1984 and Matt Benson came aboard in 1998. Chris Barth became part of the team in 2012.

This group includes some of the area’s most talented designers, who not only make the impossible possible as part of their regular tasks, but do it incredibly well.

There’s more to the design process than one might think, Chris explains, as he talks about the profession itself, his passion for each project, and how he incorporates his understanding of the building environment. As he talks, one comes to see how he captures his client’s vision and moves their project from dream to reality. Chris has worked on new builds, remodels, additions, commercial projects and complete renovations.

While Chris is originally from New York, transplanted to Charlotte for some 25 years, there’s a place in Rabun County, on Lake Burton, where he and his wife, Kelsey, spend as much time as possible. Their home in the Perrin Cove area, was originally built by his wife’s great-grandfather in 1920.

That home has also been one of the projects he’s been most passionate about. The house had the character of a traditional lake home, but needed updating and enlarging. Chris created a plan for a master suite addition that looks as if it’s always been there. Structural integrity and sustainability are integral to a great design, and is something that MGPB and Chris Barth recognize and respect.

Their greatest compliment comes through repeat clients and

28 - March 2019

referrals and constitute a large percentage of their business.

Their attention to detail, craftsmanship and quality that lasts generations, combine as a recipe for success.

Chris loves historical preservation and classical details, as his clients throughout the Southeast -- in Atlanta, Cashiers and Highlands – can attest. Chris speaks to the diversity of each home he’s been part of: each project as unique as the client and the setting. Both the typography of the site and the design of the home must complement the other, Often there are situations and problems that the client may not recognize.

An architect able to think critically can identify those issues and find solutions, and is key to a successful outcome. MGPB’s commitment to these precepts is why they’re at the top of their game and have established such a solid reputation.

Chris and Kelsey look forward to meeting their Rabun neighbors.

He sees the shores of the lake and the mountains that surround it as the perfect setting for your home, and he’s excited to work with clients in the region. To reach Chris Barth to discuss your vision call 704.375.1001 or email Barth@MGPBA.com. For additional information visit www.mgpb.com.

March 2019 - 29

30 - March 2019

March 2019 - 31

North Georgia Arts Guild Metalsmith Dietrich Hoecht Get it Hot, and Hit it Hard…

I

by Susan Brewer

n October, North Georgia Arts Guild member Dietrich Hoecht spoke to two art classes that Amy Jarrard teaches at Rabun County High School. Dietrich is a metalsmith. His presentation to the students was of his world, a universe focused on art. He included in his demonstration repoussé work on a silver pendant, using a blowtorch to keep the underlying pitch pliable, then gently “deforming” the surface with hammer and a punch tool. For the last fifteen years making art has been central to his life. Before that, he worked with Scientific Atlanta as a mechanical engineer on satellite communications and telemetry gear.

Dietrich was born in the heart of Europe, in Füssen, Germany. After high school, he worked for three years in a trade apprenticeship in welding and joining. This introduced him to job skills he applied later in creating art. Amy Jarrard spoke up to say her son was in a program at the North Georgia Technical College in Clarkesville learning the same thing. It will earn him a two-year certificate and job credentials. “It’s a good way to make money,” Dietrich said, so Amy’s son is following an early path similar to Dietrich’s.

He shared with the students background information he had carefully collected, and also his knowledge which placed metal art in context.

Take a look at his works assembled here, including the coffee table – a solid cherry slab with an iron and patinaed bronze base, knives forged of high alloy stainless steel and etched with designs, and jewelry – neckpieces and cuffs.

He used a phrase: “Gotta keep it hot.” Red and orange hot is what it takes to forge and form steel, brass, copper,S and silver. Cutting, punching, ‘moving’ metal and shaping takes place during heating and after cooling. ‘Butter-soft’ is the consistency metalsmiths like to look for in the metal while they work it.

Repoussé, mentioned in the opening, means working with small punches on a sheet metal piece turned bottom-up. Chasing is working on the top surface of the piece, though the term ‘repousse’ is generally used for both methods. Often a deformable base, such as pitch, supports the metal during this process. Periodically the metal needs to be heated to re-soften, i.e. anneal it, since the hammering work-hardens the metal. To finish a piece of silver, it’s put in a warm ‘pickle’ bath. The oxidized metal therein is cleaned of blackening and soldering residue to render it shiny.

Dietrich mentioned his heroes, like metalsmith Steve Midgett, who is an authority on layered and subsequently deformed metals, i.e. on mokume gane (he is famous for his wedding rings); Valerie Ostenak, who combines silver and forged iron in her sculptural jewelry; Albert Paley, who ‘graduated’ from goldsmithing to world renowned creator of monumental sculpture; and Louisiana’s prominent blacksmith and artisan, Rachel David. Dietrich’s message to the students: be inspired by the work of

32 - March 2019

NGAG

others. An artist should learn how to promote him/herself – “You gotta hustle,” and don’t make the mistake of thinking you’re the gift to the world. To live off selling art one also has to know how the business end of it works.

This was the first of three presentations the Guild and Ms. Jarrard have planned for the school year designed to showcase creating art. The goal is for students to consider art as a career, to understand the joy and the difficulties, and to learn that they can apply for the Guild’s art scholarships awarded to graduating seniors to use in their first year of college.

Dietrich’s email address is potsniron@ windstream.net. See more of his works here: http://northgeorgiaartsguild.com/ portfolio_page/dietrich-hoecht/.

A member of the North Georgia Arts Guild since 2016, Susan spent almost twenty years in branch banking with SunTrust Bank in Atlanta. She began writing for the Georgia Mountain Laurel and The Clayton Tribune about guild members and events in April 2017. The writing brings together her love of art and curiosity about people, each unique, to understand world views.

March 2019 - 33

34 - March 2019

Celebrate Clayton Art Festival

April 27 & 28 – Benefitting Our Community

T

he last weekend in April, thousands of visitors will be attracted to Clayton and Rabun County. Why? Because, that’s when our town hosts the Annual Celebrate Clayton Art Festival and continues the tradition of bringing art and fine crafts to the mountains of North Georgia.

The popular family-friendly festival, welcomes visitors to stay all day or all weekend; dine and shop throughout the community. The festival offers much to do and see: shop in the juried Artist Market lining the center of Main Street where more than 100 artists and artisans exhibit their arts and fine crafts; treat yourself to tasty, traditional festival fare; relax on the shady Rock House lawn and enjoy live local music; and be sure to visit the kids art corner and student art competition in Veterans’ Park.

their time planning and working the festival is great. And the list of generous sponsors is long.

We invite you to join the ranks of volunteers, sponsors and donors to support your community and give back to Rabun’s youth. If you cannot volunteer your time, please make a donation, perhaps in honor of a scout, friend or family member.

Celebrate Clayton is presented by the North Georgia Arts Guild, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. All donations are tax-deductible. For more information, visit CelebrateClayton. com or contact Kathy Ford, Celebrate Clayton Chairman 706212-9958.

Proceeds from the festival fund scholarships for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and artistically talented high school seniors. Your support and sponsorship helps continue the North Georgia Arts Guild Scholarship Program No event of this magnitude can succeed without the support of the community. The number of volunteers who dedicate

March 2019 - 35

Mountain Happenings March 22nd - 31st Wine Highway Week 2019 Wineries in Northeast Georgia Info: www.georgiawine.com STEPHENS COUNTY The Ritz Theater Toccoa Info: www.ritztheatretoccoa.com March 8th Millennial April 12th Mark Nizer 4D HABERSHAM COUNTY

Hardman Farm Historic Site Sautee Nacoochee Info: 706.878.1077 March 9th; April 13th Emory Jones Book Signing

Peacock Performing Arts Center Hayesville Info: 828.389.2787 thepeacocknc.org

March 23rd Remarkable Georgia Women

March 21st - April 5th YHC Student Juried Art Exhibition

March 8th - 10th, 15th - 17th “Come Blow Your Horn”

April 13th Farm Animal Farm Day

March 23rd Georgia Guitar Quartet Concert

March 23rd The Legacy Motown Revue

April 27th Farm Camp

March 28th Piano Ensemble Recital

March 30th Johnny Peers & The Muttville Comix

April 4th YHC Concert Band Concert

April 13th Radio Zydeco

April 7th YHC Percussion Ensemble Concert

April 20th Song Writers Showcase 26

April 12th - 13th Acapalooza

MACON COUNTY, NC

BabyLand General Hospital Cleveland Info: 706.865.2171 March 16th St. Patrick’s Day Celebration

April 27th Flavors of the Foothills Downtown Cornelia Info: 706.778.8585

RABUN COUNTY

March 23rd Drunk on the Wind April 13th Country River Band with special guests The Rocky Creek Band WHITE COUNTY March 30th 30th Annual Helen Trout Tournament Chattahoochee River Helen Info: 706.878.1908 Unicoi State Park & Lodge Helen Info: 706.865.5356

April 13th Magical Easter Eggstravaganza

April 27th and each Saturday through October Clayton Farmers’ Market Food Bank of NE Georgia Clayton Info: 706.782.0780 April 27th - 28th Celebrate Clayton Main Street Clayton Info: www.celebrateclayton.com TOWNS COUNTY March 1st and each Friday Friday Evening Tapas & Acoustic Crane Creek Vineyards Young Harris Info: 706.379.1236 Young Harris College Young Harris Info: 706.379-4307 March 3rd Community Band Concert

March 7th Taste of Town

March 4th Chamber Winds Concert

April 27th and each Saturday Saturday Evening Music Concert Series

March 4th - 5th An Evening of One-Act Plays

36 - March 2019

CLAY COUNTY, NC

March 19th Faculty Artist Recital: Dr Richard Knepp

April 5th - 7th, 11th - 14th Play: “Deadly Murder” Habersham Community Theater Clarkesville Info: 706.839.1315 habershamtheater.org

Grant Street Music Room Clarkesville Info: 706.754.3541 www.grantstreetmusicroom.com

March 7th Spring Choral Concert

April 15th YHC Jazz Band Concert April 16th YHC Guitar Ensemble Recital

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

April 30th YHC Pops on the Plaza

March 9th For King & Country

Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds Hiawassee Info: 706.896.4191 georgiamountainfairgrounds.com March 16th The Drifters, Cornell Gunter’s Coasters and The Platters March 23rd The Price is Right Live April 13th Big Daddy Weave - Alive Tour UNION COUNTY April 12th - 13th Georgia Mountain Storytelling Festival Union County Fine Arts Center Blairville Info: www.gamountainstoryfest.org April 25th Trout Dinner Fundraiser Meeks Park Blairsville Info: 828.837.5414

March 15th - 16th Disney’s The Jungle Book Live!

April 26th An Evening of One-Acts April 27th Sisters: Dynamic Harmonies & A Deep Love for Christ Highlands Performing Arts Center Highlands Info: highlandspac.net March 2nd MET: La Fille du Regiment March 14th - 17th, 21st - 24th HCP: Dinner Theater March 30th MET: Die Walkure

March 2019 - 37

38 - March 2019

March 2019 - 39

Bless Your Heart

Off to the Beauty Parlor

“G

r a n d m u d d e r, Noooo, please don’t make me go with you!” whined thirteen year old Emmie-Rose.

“Don’t be silly Emmie-Rose, you can manage a beauty parlor for a few measly hours.

Just take a book to read, like Little Women.”

“Little Women?” Emmie-Rose groaned louder, “No one my age reads that, it’s such an old, boring book.”

“How would you know? Have you read it?” asked her Grandmother.

Emmie-Rose just ignored her grandmother’s question and turned her attention back to the T.V. She decided to stop complaining and just deal with it, besides if her mom found out, she’d be grounded for disrespect. Ugh! Why couldn’t she just stay by herself? Afterall, she was thirteen, an official teenager. But, her grandmother treated her like a child.

Emmie-Rose was so engrossed in her teenage thoughts that she totally missed her grandmother’s phone ringing and ensuing conversation.

“Fannie,” Grandmother slightly raised her voice to her youngest sister, “What do you mean you can’t take me to the beauty parlor?

What am I going to do at this last minute?” Exasperated, she hung up the phone, mumbling, “Now what? It’s raining and miserable outside, no one will want to get out in this mess.” Walking over to her front picture window, she happened to look to the right at her neighbors house--the undertaker. Grandmother stood there a moment and pondered the situation then briskly walked over to the phone and dialed her neighbor’s number.

“Hello,” answered Martin the Undertaker. Martin Hightower owned the only funeral home in the county. He knew everyone - alive and dead. Martin was a rather short, stout man with a big ole’ heart. No one went through his funeral home with less than a decent casket and service. Not only kind-hearted, but generous to a fault. He turned down no one, especially Bea Underwood. She was the town’s matriarch, and besides that, he was just a wee-bit afraid of her.

“Martin, this is Bea. Do you mind giving me a ride to the beauty parlor in an hour?”

Martin hesitated for just a moment before saying, “Bea, I don’t have any cars available for today.”

“None?” she replied.

“Well, let me think,” as Martin pondered he realized he did have two vehicles gassed up and ready.

“Bea, get yourself ready and tell me what color you want to ride in, black or white?”

“Lawd Martin, just let me pull Emmie-Rose out the door and surprise me!”

40 - March 2019

Martin hung up the phone and just howled. He was going to enjoy this!

“Emmie-Rose, get yer shoes on and let’s go, I’ve got us a ride to the beauty parlor,” yelled out Grandmother.

Emmie-Rose groaned loudly as she rolled off the ruffled bed hitting the floor with a thud. Where were her shoes? She crawled under the bed, finally spying one tennis shoe, and then finding the other under the dresser.

“Emmie-Rose! Let’s go.”

Stomping the floor was as defiant as she dared. She grabbed her book-bag and followed her grandmother out the front door where she stopped suddenly and looked at the car then back at her grandmother.

“No way Grandmother, absolutely no way!” Emmie-Rose was practically gasping for air.

“I am NOT riding in a black Hearse! Absolutely NOT!” Bea looked over at Martin who was about to explode in laughter and then back at her granddaughter.

“Land sakes Martin, have you lost your mind? We can’t ride in a black hearse.”

“Would you prefer the white one, Bea?” asked Martin slyly.

“No.” she replied.

Emmie-Rose pleaded, “Grandmother, please don’t do this, I’ll just die!”

“No better place to die than in a hearse,” Bea laughingly muttered under her breath.

Martin looked over at the both of them and said, “Bea, do you want to get your hair done, or not?”

Bea looked over at Emmie-Rose and with her eyes dancing with mischief and said, “Get in girl, I have a perm to get done.”

“Front seat Martin?” Bea asked.

“Absolutely Bea, you and Emmie-Rose climb in the front.”

Emmie-Rose promptly sunk to the floor-board. How would she ever overcome this? She’d never get a boy to like her now, or ever.

She just covered her head and prayed for a tornado. Where was God when she needed an angry cloud to whisk her away?

--Taking a tissue, Emmie-Rose wiped a tear trying to trickle down.

She stood at the Pulpit with the microphone and in front and center was the beautiful cherry wood casket holding her beloved Grandmother Bea. How she cherished the honor of sharing their story, and oh, how the church vibrated in laughter, and so did Emmie-Rose.

You see, you do survive life’s challenges when you think you won’t.

Grandmothers may embarrass you and – Riding in a hearse while you’re breathing is truly NOT a bad thing.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

How precious to me are your thoughts,God! How vast is the sum of them!

Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sandwhen I awake, I am still with you.

Psalm 139: 13-18 March 2019 - 41

A place where new life springs forth out of despair, failure and death.

A place where God brings physical, emotional and spiritual healing to you.

Love One Another If we are smart, we learn not only from our own mistakes in life, but the mistakes of others. We must look into the history of America and other nations to discover just what things played a vital part in their demise or their continuance as a weak or a strong nation.

Can America learn from our past mistakes or the mistakes of others, or are we like those who believe we can keep doing the same destructive things over and over, expecting different results! History tells a strong story with very clear pictures of what not to do, and we will capsule a few of these stories in this teaching.

Almighty God taught His people from the very beginning to love one another and to care for one another. The Bible is fully loaded with scripture verses that teach us how to love and care for the people of our nation, and for those who are not citizens, but are visiting here legally. America has missed it! We have left what God commanded us to do, and have placed this responsibility on our government instead. The citizens do pay taxes to handle the cost of this, but the government bureaucracy does not have individual love, concern and prayer. God’s people miss out on a tremendous blessing that would come to us if we are obedient to the Lord’s command to love and care for one another. We wonder why there is no joy in our life – it is because we are not carrying out our God ordained duty, “Bear you one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” Gal 6:2.

The United States of America was established as a Republic, one nation under God with liberty and justice for all. We were warned by our founding fathers not to go into any democratic form of government. The founders warned that with a democracy, once the people found they could vote to elect lawmakers who would give welfare benefits to the poor and needy instead of this coming from citizens as God had commanded, that the nation would soon be bankrupted and fall. America has disobeyed God for years and left the care of others in the hands of big government. We have now been given a second chance to avoid the brink of financial holocaust we were headed for. What should we do now? We start by repenting to God for not showing love to our citizens in need! And for what our forefathers let happen in America, asking Him for wisdom and help.

In the housing collapse of 7 years ago, our government had stated that “all people should be able to own their home”, and the Feds directed the banking industry to change and lower the guidelines to qualify many people for loans who had never before qualified.

Therefore, many honest and sincere people were tricked by others into thinking they could finance whatever they wanted, and as long as the banks and other creditors would approve them, it would be safe.

Banks were caught in the middle when the homeowners struggled to pay those mortgages, and many banks went under. Sadly, many once happy homeowners lost their homes when they could not make the

42 - March 2019

”In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of refuge.”

Pro.14:26 payments. It is clear that government should not have acted as they did. If knowledgeable godly individuals were in charge of helping people buy homes, it would not have gone that way, and the people and the banks would not have been hurt. God’s word instructs us that all debts should be forgiven every seven years, and we are not to charge high interest rates. Under the Lord’s system, there would be no long term debt! Wouldn’t it be grand if we had listened to God to start with!

“For the poor shall never cease out of the land: Therefore I command you, saying, You shall open your hand wide unto your brother, to your poor and to your needy, in your land” Dt. 15:11.

We checked these definitions: Brother means “family, close friend or another Christian”; Poor means “weak or sick”; Needy means “poverty stricken”. Unless there is an awakening of the heart, unless Americans call upon God because we are convicted of grieving him by ignoring our brothers, our poor and our needy, judgment will only be delayed. We have looked the other way too long and God says, “Enough !”. How many bad storms, forest fires, illegal aliens storming our borders, committing insane murders and bringing bad drugs which kill 50,000+ Americans annually does it take before we have had enough! Why are “Sanctuary” cities in America? MONEY! These cities get millions from the US Government. San Francisco gets millions of dollars for their illegal immigrants, and in New York City it is said perhaps a billion. They do not want to lose that free money, they say it amounts to more than 10% of their city’s budget.

We have always wondered, WHY? It is greed! The LORD is calling upon us to help bring safety to the people of America NOW! As American citizens who want safety for all Americans, we must stand up and be heard! We must pray diligently for our precious America before this goes any further. God hears us and prayer works!

“But the end of all things is at hand, be you therefore, sober and watch unto prayer, and above all things have fervent love among yourselves; for love shall cover the multitude of sins”. I Peter 4:7-8.

Is each of us helping our brothers, and the poor and needy? Many in Rabun County and Northeast Georgia are working together to do this. You may want to volunteer with one of these groups, you are needed. “A new commandment I give unto you, That you love one another as I have loved you…” John 13:34 RIVER GARDEN P.O. Box 112 Lakemont, GA 30552 706.782.5435 706.490.3063

March 2019 - 43

Finding the Love of God

1

John 4:10, Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Romans 5:8, But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

In February, because of Valentine’s Day, many go to great lengths to show their love for one another. For some there will be flowers, cards, and gifts…phone calls, texts, and chats… fruit bouquets, chocolates and heart shaped candy. Others will get a babysitter so they can go have dinner and maybe see a movie. Perhaps, for others it will be as simple as saying “I love you”. There’s nothing wrong with any of those things, as long as those things are given because of the love you have for the other person.

God “commendeth” or “demonstrated” his love toward us by sending Christ into this world to die for us, even while we were in our sins. In other words, we didn’t deserve His love, but He loved us anyway! Christ was given because of the love God had toward us! But 1 John 4:19 says, “We love him, because he first loved us”. So, our love toward God ought to be motivated by the fact that He loved us first!

Our society today has become so unfeeling and insensitive toward the God of the Bible, that the attitude towards God is that of “What have you done for me lately?” For many, love for God is nothing more than a “spare tire” type of love. In other words, if I need you, I’ll love you, or, if you can offer me something tangible, I’ll love you.

Fortunately for us, the grace and love of God doesn’t work that way. God loves with no expectation of return. In other words, God’s love for you has never been, nor will ever be dependent upon your love for God. He just loves. As a matter of fact, the Bible says in 1 John 4:8 that “…God is love.” Our society has forgotten, or, at the very least, taken for granted the love that God has shown.

44 - March 2019

Gabe Southards Pastor, Head of Tennessee Baptist Church Dillard, GA However, I believe if we took the time to turn our eyes upon Jesus Christ, it wouldn’t take long for us to find the love of God again. It is an unending, unmatched, and undeserved love! John 15:13, Greater love hath no man that this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You’ll not find a greater love than the love of God! Christ was a…

Perfect Sacrifice – I Peter 1:18-19, “Forasmuch as ye know, that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold…But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” Our condition was irreversible except by a perfect sacrifice!

Pleasing Sacrifice – Isaiah 53:6, “…the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. v10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him.” The wrath of God had to be satisfied, and the only one qualified was Jesus!

Planned Sacrifice – Ephesians 1:4, “…he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world…” I’m glad he saw you and he saw me before this world was ever formed! In eternity past, he knew that Jesus would have to die for the sins of all mankind. If that isn’t love, I don’t know what is!

Finding the Love of God… John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

– He loved the world. Ephesians 5:25 – “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” – He loved the church. Galatians 2:20 – “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

– He loved me! – and you. Have a safe and Happy New Year, and love God because He loves you!

March 2019 - 45

Live Healthy and Be Well!

“Harmful effects of Nicotine” Stephen Jarrard, MD, FACS

I

n this day and age, the dangers of tobacco smoking are well known. Many of us remember when smoking tobacco was commonplace, and people smoked literally everywhere: movie theaters, restaurants, airplanes, and even in hospitals (of all places). The “Marlboro Man” was a folk hero, and movie stars all smoked and also advertised on TV and radio – Kool, Salem, and Lucky Strike ads were all over print media. Even those who chose not to smoke were subjected to “second hand” smoke in cars, buses, airplanes, offices, and in their homes. We’ve come a long way since those times, and although smoking tobacco is not illegal, those who choose to do so all realize and must (should) admit that it is not the healthiest habit.

Regular tobacco contains many substances that are harmful, such as tar, carbon monoxide, and even traces of things like cyanide. There is also a behavioral component to the smoking habit: something to do with your hands, rituals, an oral fixation even. Often, people feel compelled to smoke at certain times, such as after a meal, or when enjoying a drink socially. But, the part of tobacco smoke that makes it the most habit forming is nicotine.

Nicotine was first isolated from tobacco by two German physicians in 1828. They believed it to be, and developed it as a poison.

Indeed, it was used worldwide as an insecticide until not that long ago, replaced by other, cheaper products that were less harmful to other animals who ingested the substance. It is classified as a highly addictive substance which works in the body mainly through the nervous system. It also acts to increase the “feel good” neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain. Nicotine dependence involves tolerance (needing more over time to attain same effect), physical dependence (cravings during abstinence), and psychological dependence (feeling the “need” to smoke, especially at certain times/events). It is one of the most commonly abused drugs.

46 - March 2019

Studies over the years have found that nicotine adversely affects the heart, lungs, immune system, reproductive system, and kidneys. Even without the “smoke,” this substance can cause changes in your cells which increase the potential for development of cancers. It also causes increases in oxidative stress (accelerates aging changes), neuronal (brain) cell death, and DNA damage (which can pre-dispose to cancerous mutations).

In the short term, especially with high use, it can cause heart palpitations, GI upset, and anxiety. It is known to reduce blood flow to the coronary vessels, which could lead to chest pain and contribute to eventual heart attack. So, the dangers of nicotine are well known and widely studied, and except for its use in other forms (gum, E-cigarettes, etc.) as a “bridge” to smoking cessation, there are no beneficial uses of this drug.

I get asked often if the currently popular electronic cigarettes, which aerosolize a liquid to be inhaled, are safer than smoking tobacco? This issue is getting a lot of play as the use of these devices among teenagers is skyrocketing. Proponents of “vaping” tout that it does not contain most of the harmful components of cigarette smoke, is “just water vapor,” and therefore it must be safe. Granted, it does not contain some of the tars, carbon monoxide, and such – but it does contain nicotine. The jury is still way out as far as a definite answer to the safety question, but the best answer for now is probably that they are safer in some ways, but with regards to nicotine levels attained in the blood, they are being found to be worse than regular cigarettes.

The reasons why are several, but the most notable ones are the fact that people who vape tend to use them more than those who have to take a break and go out to smoke a cigarette. Because they do emit water vapor and don’t have the strong odor of burning tobacco, they are often used indoors, and vapers tend to keep them close and use them more often. They also, on average, “pull” longer on their device than smokers “draw” on their cigarettes.

This extra draw time, along with the more frequent use, allows the absorption of higher levels of nicotine into the blood stream.

In one study, plasma nicotine levels were nearly twice as high in frequent vapers than tobacco smokers.

The American Medical Association (AMA) newsletter recently reported on the prevalence of vaping among teenagers, especially in middle and high schools. It is becoming quite widespread, and there is concern as younger people are more susceptible to the harmful effects of nicotine. Smaller amounts of the drug will have greater impact on them. In some areas, there have been cases of nicotine poisoning among school age children using vape devices too much. The article went on to state that “vape rehab� is starting to be used for some who have become addicted to the point of ingesting almost toxic levels of nicotine.

If vaping could be used as a bridge to stop smoking altogether, this might be considered a beneficial use of these devices. But, if it is used as purely an alternative to regular tobacco smoking, it may not better overall. The most harmful, and certainly the most addictive part of tobacco smoking is contained in the vaping process: nicotine. And, often at higher blood levels in some vapers than in regular smokers, which makes it even more damaging in the long term.

As with anything else, use moderation in what you do. If you choose to smoke or vape, and truly enjoy it, exercise good judgement in your choice. Try to be in control of it, and not let it control you. Consider cutting back or quitting for better long-term health and wellness. Talk to your doctor about options to help with smoking cessation. And, if you would like more information on nicotine, there is a good article at the link: https:// www.ncbi.nim.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4363846/ 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!

March 2019 - 47

48 - March 2019

March 2019 - 49

Mental Health and the Human Condition: The Benefits of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

by Amanda Howard Pileski, PhD, LLC

T

oday I attended the funeral of my “biological grandmother.” I say “biological” because I always considered my mom’s deceased foster mother to be my grandmother. My biological grandmother had paranoid schizophrenia, and she was unable to raise her children because of her mental illness.

It was confusing to me as a child to have cousins with a living grandmother they referred to as my grandma. I called her Nellie, and I did not understand what seemed to make her so childlike, or why she mumbled to herself, or why she hit her leg often (this was tardive dyskinesia I would learn about years later in graduate school – a side effect of antipsychotic medication). I remember trying to connect with her and help her out of her condition, but of course this did not happen. I wanted to hear her story. I wanted her to help me understand what happened in her life to result in my confusion over whose granddaughter I was or who my mom really belonged to… these are just thoughts from my child mind. I know now, as an adult, many families are non-traditional and life circumstances create a lot of confusing situations too difficult for children to understand. But at the time, I thought there was an answer I could find and a world of reality I could help her find.

Nellie died a peaceful death in her sleep this week and for that I am thankful, and I do not feel sad about the loss of a woman I really did not know. I feel compassion and sadness for my mom, her siblings, and all children who grow up with mental illness in their families. I empathize with individuals like Nellie who lose almost everything because of mental illness, and yet they are blamed for their conditions. Because of the stigma, most relatives are also embarrassed to reveal family mental health histories. I, however, believe our stories and struggles connect us, heal us, and promote contribution to a better, healthier future for our children.

My cousin delivered the eulogy for the funeral today. He spoke truth about Nellie’s mental illness and how it is part of the human condition to struggle with some type of psychological challenge. Not every family is impacted by severe mental illness, but like my cousin said: “everyone has something.”

Life itself can be a challenge, and we often underestimate the negative impact stress and unhealthy coping can have on our physical health, wellbeing and relationships.

Nellie’s hardship affected her life, my mothers, and mine.

She is part of our story, and she will be remembered – even if I did not know her to be my grandmother. The tragedy of

50 - March 2019

her mental illness shaped a part of my desire to destigmatize psychotherapy and make it affordable for all.

Like most psychologist, my approach to therapy is integrative, but one approach I became particularly fond of in recent years and utilize with consistency is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). It is a therapy focused on treating the struggle of our human condition. Humans are genetically hardwired to focus on what is wrong. For example, it was functional for our ancestors to worry. This trait was naturally selected because the ones who were consistently happy and fearless likely did not survive. These days, however, our basic needs are provided for, we are not in immediate danger, and yet we remain emotionally and cognitively fixated on correcting what “feels wrong” and the pursuit of “happiness.” We search for said “happiness” in substances, food, materialism, and avoidance of uncomfortable emotions. These pursuits that give us immediate gratification or avoidance of pain often do not align with our true values.

Think about your life, what are you running from, fighting against, or struggling to overcome? What if you could observe your thoughts and feelings like the natural rhythmic flow of ocean waves without reacting to the stimuli, people, or situations that cause you to feel unsettled? What if you acquired the tools to ground yourself, observe your human nature, gain insight regarding your psychological blind spots, and act in accordance with your values. Would life be more enjoyable?

Would it be more meaningful? There are many ways in which having a meaningful life may not always be enjoyable – actually, it is often pretty uncomfortable. Most patients who practice ACT, however, would tell you it’s worth it!

I work with individuals in their efforts to overcome anxiety, depression, disordered eating, bipolar disorder, relationship issues, trauma, grief, and other presenting concerns. There are specific additional treatments I utilize for these issues, but I would argue an underlying similarity among them is the struggle against our natural human emotions. The avoidance of our emotions is often the source of our most significant suffering. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is a treatment, which not only eases your suffering, but promotes valuesbased living. If you are interested in learning more about ACT, you might benefit from reading “The Happiness Trap” by Russ Harris.

If you, or someone you love could benefit from psychotherapy and want to seek treatment with Dr. Pileski, call 404-291-4018.

March 2019 - 51

Adventure Out The Little Tennessee River Greenway

by Peter McIntosh

52 - March 2019

S

pring is again upon us, a time to start getting out more.

With that in mind we’re we’re visiting our neighbors to the north in Franklin, North Carolina and taking a stroll on the beautiful Little Tennessee River Greenway. It’s almost level all the way with lots of benches and picnic tables to rest and catch your breath. This is a great path for to get yourself ready for tougher ones you may have planned for the warmer days ahead. The greenway is a hiking, jogging, biking trail that runs 4 miles from the Suli Marsh, near the south end of Lake Emory, southward to a turnaround just past the confluence of the Little Tennessee River and Cartoogechaye Creek. Even in the winter months, there are numerous birds along the greenway, so bring some binoculars and a bird book.

The Suli Marsh (pronounced Sue Lee) features a wonderful boardwalk where you can get a close up and personal wetlands experience. From here the trail proceeds south on the western side of the river for one mile before reaching the playground at Big Bear Park. This is a modern, well maintained playground that kids are sure to love.

Now the trail crosses under West Main Street and then crosses East Main Street. Please be careful crossing this sometimes busy road. There on your right is the FROG Quarters, a coffee shop/gift shop run by FRiends Of the Greenway. Get it, FROG? You’ll see that word a lot on this trail. We cross over the river and continue south behind a shopping center.

Back on the well-groomed trail again it’s not long before you come to a stunning butterfly garden. The pathway soon gets wider at an open area where exercise stations are located.

About 1 mile further is the first of a few really nice foot bridges.

Looking south from this bridge, you’ll see the confluence of

the Cullasaga River, flowing down from Highlands, NC, and the Little Tennessee River, which originates in Rabun County’s beautiful Wolffork Valley.

Now the trail gets a little more wooded and the sounds of the busy lumber mill start to fade away. You’ll notice the path goes through a couple of old railroad cuts. These are from the Tallulah Falls Railroad which used to come this way many, many years ago.

Next you’ll come to an iron trestle crossing the river and then right along, another laminated wooden bridge. This one’s covered, crossing back over the river. Here you pass a Frisbee golf course and a community garden. The pathway continues a bit further, up over a hill, and comes to a big turnaround. If you started at Suli Marsh, you’ve walked 4 miles, so if you go back the whole way, that’s 8 miles. Keep that in mind as you walk along. There are mileage markers all along the pathway so it’s easy to tell how far you’ve walked. As I said before, if you’re looking to build up your hiking strength, this is a great place to train.

Happy hiking!

Getting there: There are many parking areas where you can access the trail. You can view a nice map on their website or stop by the FROG Quarters at 573 East Main Street at the river in Franklin, NC. Their phone number is: 828.349.8488 Or on the web: www.littletennessee.org To see more of Peter’s photos or if a have a question or comment: www.mcintoshmountains.com

March 2019 - 53

A Leaf in the Litter

by Joel Hitt

T

his opening announcement is not a news flash, but I must say it: Georgia has experienced quite a wet winter! I hope you have been able to find ways to prevent or to moderate that dark mood that can take over when seemingly every day is another wet one. At this writing, the past few days have given us a chance to dry out, and it’s been wonderful.

In addition to practicing what I used to preach to clients as a psychotherapist, I have also turned to nature for a lift in my mood.

For example, after sharing gifts on Christmas Day, Ceree and I took our trio of dogs to the Appalachian Trail crossing US76-West. We hiked a two-mile out-and-back to brush up on winter tree ID, and it was like a tonic to us!

Focusing on nature can be a “big” event. Arriving at an overlook on the AT and being able to see for miles, for example. But I also enjoy the “small” events in nature. I get excited about things that the unaided eye might pass right over. One of these has been something that occurred here on our property. I was pleased to locate a familiar leaf, not four inches in length, jutting up from the ground on a short stem. This was perhaps 4 months ago. I’d never seen this plant at this location, just inches inside our front gate. I could hardly recognize it. It was peeking out from a heavy ground cover of jettisoned leaves from the thirty-foot-high American beech overhead. Usually, these small plants come up in the more dense areas of forest with less sunlight than our front entrance receives.

This plant is Crane-Fly Orchid, or Tipularia discolor. Yes, I did say “Orchid.”

Usually, we expect a show of colors from a member of the orchid family. But ‘taint always the case. One of the cool things about this plant is that this leaf, it’s ONLY leaf per year, unfurls during the early autumn, persists over the winter, and withers in the spring.

Gone! Finito! Just the opposite of almost all deciduous plants and trees.

This solitary leaf has been manufacturing food for the as-yet-unseen remainder of the plant lying below ground. That shoot breaks the surface in mid-spring. Then there emerges a thin stem that will give way to an array of modest flowers, climaxing at a maximum height of two feet. These 20-40 flowers resemble crane flies, hence the common name of the plant.

Just as the single over-wintering leaf is inconspicuous during the cold season, so is the overall presentation of the crane-fly orchid during the spring and summer months. Not only its smaller size makes it easily overlooked, but the coloration of the stem and flowers (mostly greenish, blueish, or tan) blends in with the ground level herbs and litter of the forest. It’s sort of a camouflage effect that mother nature invokes quite often. But take it from me: after you’ve seen several hundred crane-fly orchids, they jump out at you from quite a distance!

So what’s with this therapeutic, relaxation effect I mentioned getting from this plant, anyway? It quite simple. This little orchid is one of the real successes of the smaller orchids in Georgia’s forests.

And to think of all the plants that dwarf even the crane-fly reassures me that in nature, as should be the case in society, the little guy has as much a chance of making it as the big guys do!

And speaking of survival, it’s always interesting to find out how a plant handles reproduction, especially the more diminutive varieties. Most pollination between plants occurs during daylight, right? Okay, after the surprises you’ve heard so far, if you are thinking now that pollination of crane-fly orchids occurs after dark, you would be right!

Crane-fly orchid leaf in December.

54 - March 2019

Night-flying moths, much like the ones that flitter about your porch lights after dark, are the guilty suspects. As they lite on each flower,

their eyes rub against a ¾ inch spur coming out of the flower. Those spurs are dripping with pollen. They then move to another cranefly flower and deposit the pollen on the next customer. The rest becomes history.

These are the highlights of a single “small” piece of nature, to go along with the massive, scenic views we also enjoy. I hope you share with me the awe that all of nature offers us! If so, stay tuned... there is more to experience as we go down this road together.

Crane-fly Orchid flowers, Spring-Summer.

March 2019 - 55

Out of the Blue Ridge

“The Mystique of Falconry” with Peter Kipp

by Beth Fierberg

L

et’s face it. If you’re like me, you see road kill and feel disheartened. Now I’m hopeful it will be fresh fodder for my new friend, Peter Kipp. Well not for him specifically, but his birds.

This month I followed the Curtis Wright Falconry sign on Dillard Road to the intersection of Rabun Branch and Ritchie Road in Scaly Mountain, N.C., and met four birds of prey: a Peregrine Falcon, Midas, Harris Hawks, Sirah and Sweetie Boy, and Rufus, a six-month-old Red-tailed Hawk.

Pete is their trusted caretaker who has been living in the Highlands, N.C. area for over forty-five years, before recently moving to Scaly Mountain. In 1981, he became a certified Master Falconer in a highly regulated profession; possibly the second oldest recognized working relationship between man and animal.

When I asked Pete when his interest in falconry began, he took me on a journey to his childhood as an eight-year-old walking through the forest near his home when he spotted a huge bird following him with blood red eyes and screeching from above. Then poof, it flew off into the forest and was gone.

Pete felt as though it had spoken to him, and in retrospect, it had been telling him “I have a nest nearby and if you come any closer, we are going to tangle.” That was the beginning of a life-long passion Pete has had with birds of prey.

“It’s funny how some moments can change your life,” said Pete. “I recall waiting for my Dad to come home from work to tell him about my first encounter, because I made up my mind at that moment, I wanted to catch a hawk. I bugged my Dad every day for the next four years until he finally relented.”

Fortunately, right up the street from where Pete lived, his neighbor, Farley Smith, worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and had caught hawks and knew about falconry. At the age of twelve, between Farley’s knowledge, research, and using time-tested techniques, Pete caught his first red-tailed Hawk, that he named Peggy, after one of his favorite Buddy Holly songs, “Peggy Sue”. Through his interaction with Peggy, Pete trained himself to fly her, hunt and release her.

When Pete was fourteen, he moved to Highlands where he met and apprenticed for several years under one of the founders of the North American Falconers Association, Dr. Herbert Keopp-Baker.

Pete said, “One thing falconry has taught me since childhood is responsibility.

They look big and powerful but they are fragile and someone who doesn’t know what they are doing can either harm or kill a hawk in a very short period of time.”

For love

56 - March 2019

the next thirty-two years, Pete took his knowledge and of birds to schools, camps, assisted living communities, and

libraries to talk about the environment and predator/prey relationships. Fortunately for Pete, while raising money for an environmental foundation, he met someone he had always looked up to; famous naturalist/zoologist and host of the Emmy Award-winning show, Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, Jim Fowler, who was on the board of the Foundation. To this day, they have remained friends.

Many hikers in the area are familiar with Whiteside Mountain.

In the early 1970’s when DDT nearly wiped out the Peregrine Falcon population and there were only thirty known pairs left, all of them west of the Rockies, Pete participated in the nationwide Peregrine Falcon Reintroduction Program to help save them from extinction. Cornell University provided six baby falcons and they were placed in a nesting box up on Whiteside. Since 1989, the falcons have been setting up their nests in this area and thriving.

As fate would have it, Pete met Jeff Curtis, an Asheville, N.C. outfitter who shares Pete’s love for birds of prey. Eventually they opened Curtis Wright Falconry with two locations; one in Asheville and the other here in Scaly Mountain. They are now in their fourth successful season.

The up close and personal experience with Pete and his birds is both educational and magical. He much prefers the “one on one” experience of falconry, as opposed to exhibiting to large groups of people. It is definitely more intimate and captivating when you can experience the whole mystique of falconry first hand.

gloved hand to hold small pieces of meat, because falconry is about two things, trust and happiness. If a bird doesn’t trust you it will fly away, the same will happen if it is not happy. But as usual, it all comes down to food.”

In the wild, of all the hundreds of thousands of birds of prey that were hatched this summer in the U.S., only ten to twenty percent will survive through their first winter. Eighty to ninety percent will die, mainly of starvation. Curtis Wright falconry does offer them food every day and they are well cared for.

Pete has been at this for forty-eight years and plans to keep on enjoying it for as long as he can.

If you’re looking for an educational, inspiring and breathtaking interaction with Pete and his birds, you can contact him by phone at 828-553-5063 or visit his Website at http:// curtiswrightoutfitters.com/falconry/ to learn more. It was a privilege and I highly recommend it!

Beth Fierberg enjoys the peaceful mountain life with her husband and three rescue dogs. She is an avid nature lover, photographer and writer, but her primary passion lies with saving abandoned animals and participating in many shelter and rescue projects. Beth can be contacted by email at bethegg@yahoo.com.

After giving you some background in falconry, including a synopsis of falconry history going back to ancient times, you are slowly introduced to his birds. He helps you to get comfortable holding the birds, pointing out that “through instinct and evolution, it is natural for humans to want to get out of the way when a big hawk is coming towards your face to land down on your hand.” You learn about the equipment used and are taught how to both release the bird and call them back to you. Training is done on a food reward basis, using a

March 2019 - 57

M

y name is Becca Neff and I am a Rabun County native. I have been working at Paws 4 Life since our opening in November 2012. I started out as a kennel tech, and with my work ethic and high drive, I worked my way up through the positions throughout the years. I have a wonderful husband (Craig Neff) and two teenage sons (Ely & Landon). I am extremely proud of my family.

I have recently been given the great opportunity of promotion to Shelter Director. I am excited to be in a position to push the shelter forward and continue our mission of helping/ saving all of Rabun County’s unwanted/lost/abused dogs and cats. We have an excellent staff, a great group of hardworking volunteers, and an outstanding Board of Directors. Together we will continue to grow and achieve our many goals.

We face many different situations from day to day at the shelter, whether it be dogs or cats that come in starving, neglected, abused, or simply cast out. Their success stories are the most encouraging. It’s very satisfying to watch an animal rise from near death, then begin to thrive, and eventually go to a wonderful home to be loved as they should have been from the very beginning of their life.

Meet Flamingo. She came to us in November 2018, malnourished and very shy. She was crippled, still carrying a very small deformed, useless rear limb. Even though she was shy, you could see the desire in her eyes that wanted so badly to connect. She was taken straight to the hospital for xray. The leg was probably broken when she was a young pup, and it was just left to mend on its own, untreated. Dr. Arbitter amputated the leg and we brought her back to the shelter to recover. She has since made leaps and bounds: her missing

leg does not slow her down. She is now very social, calm, and sweet. She gets along with all people, cats, and dogs. She is a 10-month-old medium-sized mixed breed. Please consider giving her the first real loving home she has ever had.

Visit our shelter at 261 Boen Creek Road, Tiger, GA 30576.

Call us for information, or to report lost/missing/found animals in Rabun County 706.782.5422 Donations for the care of our animals are always appreciated. Mail to PAWS 4 Life – PO Box 216, Clayton, GA 30525

Sponsored by

58 - March 2019

Bon Appétit Let’s Hear it for St. Patrick!

by Scarlett Cook bout this time of the year, most folks claim to have a least one Irish ancestor. Whether you do or don’t, St. Patrick’s Day is a good excuse to have folks in for a Sip & Dip gathering. All these recipes can be made ahead, so put your green on and celebrate! And Happy St. Patrick’s Day.

A

Broccoli Dip Serves 10 – 12 1 Medium onion, finely minced 1 Small can button mushrooms, drained and chopped 1 Tablespoon butter 1 8-Ounce package cream cheese, softened 1 Can cream of chicken soup 1 10-Ounce package frozen broccoli florets, cooked, drained and chopped Dash of each: Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and red pepper Salt to taste Nacho chips and / or crackers Sauté onion and mushrooms in butter.

In bowl, mix onion mixture and cream cheese, soup, broccoli, and seasonings.

Serve warm in chafing dish.

Jalapeno Pie Serves 18 – 20 3 – 4 Jalapenos, seeded and chopped 1 Large onion, finely chopped 1 Garlic clove, minced 1 Pound Mexican blend cheese, shredded 6 Eggs, beaten Preheat oven to 350˚ and grease a 9” pan.

Sprinkle peppers, onion, and garlic into prepared pan.

Cover with cheese.

Pour eggs over cheese.

Bake 30 minutes. Cool and cut into 1” squares.

Crabmeat Dip Serves 4 – 6 1 8-Ounce package cream cheese, softened 1 Small can crabmeat (make sure that there are no shell fragments) 2 Tablespoons minced onion 2 Tablespoons half-n-half 1/2 Teaspoon horseradish (or to taste) 1/4 Teaspoon salt 1/3 Cup toasted almond slivers Crackers

60 - March 2019

Preheat oven to 375˚ and grease a 1-quart baking dish.

Mix cream cheese, crabmeat, onion, half-n-half, horseradish, and salt and pour into prepared dish.

Bake for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with almonds to serve.

Sweet Potato Biscuits Serves 12 – 14 1 Cup plain flour 1/2 Teaspoon salt 3 Teaspoons baking powder 4 Tablespoons Crisco shortening 1 Cup cooked mashed sweet potatoes 1/2 Cup half-n-half Sliced ham Spicy mustard Preheat oven to 400˚ and grease cookie sheet.

Sift flour, salt and baking powder together.

Cut in shortening.

Add mashed potatoes.

Add enough half-n-half to make firm dough.

Roll out on floured surface and cut with biscuit cutter.

Place on sheet and bake 25 – 30 minutes until browned.

Split biscuits and place ham in them; spread with mustard if desired.

These are also good with turkey and instead of mustard, use jalapeno & raspberry jam.

Date Nut Bars Serves 10 – 12 1 Stick butter, melted 1 Cup sugar 2 Large eggs 1 Cup self-rising flour 1 Cup dates, chopped and dusted with flour 1 Cup chopped pecans Preheat oven to 350˚ and grease and flour wax paper lined 8” x 8” baking dish.

Mix all ingredients together.

Bake 20 – 30 minutes.

Cool in pan on wire rack before cutting.

Mini Meringues Serves 20 2 Large egg whites 1/2 Cup sugar 1 Teaspoon almond extract 1/2 Cup finely chopped pecans.

Preheat oven to 250˚ and line cookie sheet with waxed paper.

Beat egg whites until stiff. Gradually add sugar.

When mixture stands in peaks, add extract. Fold in nuts carefully.

Drop by tiny spoonfuls onto prepared sheet.

Bake 50 minutes.

These can be tinted with a few drops of green food coloring.

March 2019 - 61

V

Farm 2 Cocktail’s

isit Ireland by way of Cuba with this variation of a mojito. Farm2Cocktail’s Cucumber Mint Shrub is combined with simple ingredients to create this alternative to traditional St. Patrick’s day cocktails. A shrub is a drinking vinegar popularized during colonial days as a way to preserve fruit in the off-season. Sugar and vinegar were added to the fruit to help preservation. As a result an acidic syrup was born thus known as a shrub; from the Arabic sherab (meaning beverage or to drink). They are great with just soda or add your favorite spirit for a refreshing cocktail.

In a desire to introduce a local twist, I have substituted Moonrise Distillery’s Corn Squeezins corn whiskey for the rum to bring your flavorful travels back home to Rabun County.

Moonrise Distillery’s, Doug and Jennifer are passionate about their artisan spirits and are dedicated to offering premium experiences to their customers. Visit their distillery for souvenir tours, tastings and their cigar social group. It’s truly a blast!

You will also find Farm2Cocktail shrubs on location. Try this special holiday drink, right on the spot.

The Cucumber Mint Shrub Mojito also provides great pairing with traditional St. Patrick’s Day Irish foods. The comfort combo of potatoes, beef and cheese in a shepherds pie along with stewed cabbage are lightened with the refreshing nature of a Cucumber Mint Shrub Mojito. Eat, drink and repeat!

Cheers, Carlton

62 - March 2019

Cucumber Mint Shrub Mojito 1 oz Farm2Cocktail Cucumber Mint shrub 2 oz Moonrise Corn Squeezins .5 oz lime juice 1-2 tbsp sugar Fresh spearmint (10 leaves) Fresh lime (3 slices) Soda —-muddle solid ingredients in shaker, add liquids, ice, shake, top with soda and pour —— *If you prefer a mocktail (non-alcoholic beverage), simply replace whiskey with white grape juice.

March 2019 - 63

The Family Table

by Lorie Thompson

arch in Rabun County can be the end of winter, the return of spring or both in the same week. “In like a lion and out like a lamb” is often true, but sometimes we see it in reverse. We have had ferocious late winter storms and the most significant snowfalls near the end of March. Who knows what to expect? Regardless, the bad weather days of March offer a great time to try something new.

How about baking homemade bread?

M

Bread baking for me began with a gifted cup of sourdough starter. Given to me by my great-niece, Lauren Ramey-Bailey, one fresh loaf and I was hooked! Lauren is the real-deal “Mother Earth” Mom. She is a working mother who grows her own veggies, bakes wonderful homemade bread using whole grains, fruits and nuts, and cooks wholesome meals for her family every day. I admire her greatly. She brought homemade bread to the family Christmas party a few years ago, and after the rave reviews from my crowd, I knew I had to invest a little time to learn this art. She shared her starter with me, and the basic “how-to” and my love for bread baking was born.

The sourdough starter is easy to make using wild yeast and bacteria in the air. It requires patience and daily investment of time and flour to “feed” it. If you have a friend who makes bread, beg a cup of their starter from them, and you can be up and baking sourdough bread the next day. All sourdough starters taste different. A mature starter has more complex flavors, and starters from different homes will taste different.

They are each unique in flavor, but all should deliver that pungent “sourness” to the bread.

A beginning starter may also be purchased online. King Arthur Flour Company offers one and culturesforhealth.com is an excellent resource for all things “home cultured.”

To begin a sourdough starter at home, in a glass or plastic 2 qt vessel, mix 3/4 C of unbleached bread flour or whole wheat flour with 1/2 C of chemical-free, room temperature water and stir until well mixed. Cover with a kitchen towel, coffee filter or a paper towel. Place a rubber band around the cloth to keep it tightly capped on the bowl, but do not cover with

64 - March 2019

anything airtight. Feed your starter every 12-24 hours. After the second day, discard 1/2 of the starter before feeding. After the starter starts bubbling and looks active, build the amount up so that you can use 1-2 cups per day. (or have some to give away.) To build it up, increase the feeding to 1 C of flour daily and 3/4 C of warm water. Keep the starter in a 70 degree or warmer room if possible. If your house is cold, it may take up to two weeks to get a new starter up and running. Be patient and keep stirring and feeding.

If you miss a day feeding the starter, there will be a clear liquid form on top of the starter. This is a natural formation of alcohol.

Pour off the “hooch” and skim any crusty starter off the top.

Give your starter a good stir using a wooden spoon and feed it. The hooch forms when the starter needs feeding. Feed it a little more often, and it will come back to life. If you are going to be out of town or just have no time to bake, refrigerate the starter and feed it once per week to keep it alive. Before using it, allow it to come to room temperature, feed it, and let it get active again.

Once you have an established starter, you can make sourdough bread, pancakes, cinnamon rolls, and much more. Using the starter in place of faster acting yeast brings a complex flavor to the to bread that is unmatched.

C of flour and mix at low speed until a dough is formed. Add up to 1 additional cup of flour, adding in small amounts and mixing at low speed until the dough has pulled away from the sides of the bowl and is not too sticky. I almost always use all of the last cup of flour, (cup #6). How much flour you will need at the end will depend on how thin your starter is and how much you used. You can adjust the flour and water until the dough has pulled away from the mixing bowl and you can handle it without it sticking to your hands.

Line a large, glass bowl with plastic wrap and spray it with a cooking spray before laying the dough on it. Don’t seal it with the wrap, it needs to breathe during the rise, but this makes turning it out into a smoking hot Dutch Oven really

If you have a stand mixer with a dough hook, making a sourdough loaf that is baked in a dutch oven takes only a few minutes to prepare. Begin with 1 C lukewarm water in your mixing bowl. In cold weather, I add 1/4 tsp of active dry baking yeast to aid the rise. I don’t use any yeast in warm weather. To the water, add 1C of sourdough starter. (This amount can vary if you used yeast, the temperature of the room is warm and the length of time you will let it rise. Try it with one cup and adjust if you need to up or down based on the rise you get.) Add 1 T of kosher salt. Mix water, yeast, starter, and salt until frothy.

Add 3 level cups of bread flour and mix on low speed. When the water is incorporated into the flour, add another 1 C of lukewarm water and mix until the water is combined. Add 2

March 2019 - 65

easy. Place dough in the bowl and cover with a kitchen towel.

Store in a warm, draft-free spot for 12-16 hours to rise.

When you are ready to bake the bread, place a well seasoned or enameled Dutch Oven on the middle rack of your oven.

Pre-heat the oven and the Dutch oven to 450 degrees. Remove the DO and carefully removed the lid. Add a splash of olive oil or cooking oil around the edges of the pan to keep the bread from sticking. Carefully lift the bread using the plastic wrap and roll over into the DO. Using a sharp knife, slash the top of the dough with 2-3 cuts to allow the bread expansion points. Sprinkle 1 tsp of kosher salt across the top of the bread.

Replace the DO lid and put back in the oven. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove the cover and bake for an additional 7-10 minutes until the top of the bread is browned. Remove from oven and turn out onto a cooling rack. Give your bread a good thump on the bottom. If it sounds hollow it is done. If not, place it back in the oven for an additional 5 minutes.

If you read this article and you want homemade bread tomorrow and don’t have a sourdough starter and/or a stand mixer, here is a no-knead, quick fix bread: In a glass bowl, add 3C of bread flour of your choice, 1 tsp of active dry baking yeast, and 2 tsp of kosher salt. Mix well. Add 1 3/4

In years gone by, my Ramey uncles were notoriously big eaters.

There are stories of my crazy uncles having an eating contest at my Grandmother’s Sunday afternoon lunches. They would weigh before and after the meal and compete for the most significant gain. I believe my Uncle Mike Ramey still holds the biscuit eating record at the Red Lobster in Gainesville.

My family came to my house on New Year’s Day to share in a traditional New Years Feast. I turned out the Sourdough Bread about a half hour before our meal. It came as no surprise that it never made it to meal-time. Most of the uncles are no longer with us, but the younger generation of Ramey’s and assorted in-laws did them proud. My family surrounded the counter, and the butter and honey were flying! Some of the family who were still outside missed the bread completely. The ones who missed having the hot bread will hang a little closer to the kitchen at the next family feast.

May Spring come early at your home this year. May you have warm bread and butter at your family table and loved ones aplenty to share it. May God bless you with his presence in your life. Happy March!

cup of lukewarm water and stir with a wooden spoon until a “shaggy” dough has formed. Line another glass or plastic bowl with plastic wrap or parchment paper. Spray the plastic wrap with a nonstick cooking spray. Place the dough into the bowl and fold over the plastic wrap, but do not seal it. The dough needs to breathe. Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel. Place the dough in a warm and draft-free location and allow it to rise for 12-24 hours. Bake in a hot Dutch oven as described in the sourdough recipe. Be sure to score the loaf and sprinkle a little salt on top.

This bread is good although it does not offer the flavor of the Sourdough. It is a good bread that bears the additions of herbs and/or cheeses. Try it with some fresh herbs such as basil and a cup of aged parmesan. Or, try thyme and goat cheese or rosemary with a drizzle of olive oil and some sun-dried tomatoes that have been rehydrated. To add the cheese and herbs. Stir into your dough at the very end. Turn this ordinary bread into something fantastic!

66 - March 2019

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.

March 2019 - 67

Notes from a Southern Kitchen 200 Years of Awesome

by Kendall R. Rumsey NotesFromASouthernKitchen.com

2

019 marks the 200year anniversary of Rabun County, this little slice of heaven that we know to be the best place on the planet to live.

Over the next year we will celebrate 200 years of Rabun, but if you take a moment to look around, we celebrate Rabun every day, through our actions, our care for each other, celebration of our resources and preservation of our core values. Rabun is a magical place to call home and it is because of the people and places we have that makes us so special.

As we mark our Bicentennial year, it is worth looking back on the history and people that have made our community such an amazing place to live. We have celebrated great highs and comforted each other through tremendous lows.

Sure, we have our problems, we have much to overcome, but I can’t think of a better place anywhere to call home.

We have grown into a spectacular community where everyone is welcome, one that celebrates our diversity while nurturing our history. We are an open-armed community that takes pride in all that we accomplish, but most of all we are a community of giving people who work hard, live by the Golden Rule and continue to move forward into our next two hundred years.

When Rabun County was ceded to the State of Georgia, by the Cherokee tribe, back in 1819, the county was comprised of 371 square miles and named for Georgia Governor William Rabun.

I imagine those early residents had no idea what Rabun would become.

We have hosted the world with Olympic and Eclipse celebrations. During the early 70’s the eyes of our nation were fixated on Karl Wallenda as he walked a tight-rope across Tallulah Gorge and Hollywood has come to our community on numerous occasions because of the vast landscapes, mountainous terrain, and scenic beauties we call home.

While we have been on the world stage many times, it is the day-to-day existence that we live here that makes Rabun such an amazing place to live, work and play.

The vast mountain terrain that feeds into lakes and rivers provides us with a way of life that is second to none.

We are now a destination for outdoorsmen, lake residents, leaf-lookers, and those looking to escape a more hectic way of life for the simple pleasures of mountain living.

While we certainly aren’t the same community we were 200 years ago, the core values of God, family, and community continue to guide us.

68 - March 2019

Over the next 200 years we will continue to change, we will continue to grow and when someone writes a column celebrating Rabun’s 400th Anniversary we certainly won’t look anything like we do today, but I am confident that if we keep to those core values of God, family, and community they will look back on us and say “job well done.”

A Bicentennial is a lot to celebrate and we can feel pride in knowing that each of us has had a part in moving our community forward, helping grow a community into one that we can be proud of, and I am sure that we will have many opportunities to gather together this year to pat ourselves on the back, but as we do, let’s remember those who came before, the ones who laid the cornerstones for us to be able to celebrate.

It is up to all of us to help move the legacy of Rabun forward in a way that honors our past, but also lays the ground-work for a successful future.

In a world that sometimes feels turned upside down, we are fortunate to live in a community that brings people together, a community where our lives are enriched by the talents of all who call us home and a community that lives by the values set forth for us 200 years ago.

It’s time to celebrate all that we are, Rabun County: a unique, diverse, loving community that honors the standards we were chartered with in 1819. We can be proud of what we have done over the past years and enjoy who and what we have become and then get back to work to make the next 200 even more special.

It’s our Bicentennial, let’s celebrate!

Kendall Rumsey is a resident of Clayton, Ga. He is owner of imPRESSed, a custom imprint company and publishes the blog, Notes from a Southern Kitchen. www.impressedstyle.come www.notesfromasouthernkitchen.com

The Way We Were Way Back When…

by Rebecca Peterson submitted by The Rabun County Historical Society

T

he story of Rabun County begins December 21, 1819 when it became Georgia’s forty-seventh county, nearly 200 years ago.

One wonders what was happening at that time and later. To get a sense of happenings “way back when”, a logical place to start would be the archives of the local paper. However, there was no local newspaper in 1819. Not until 1897 did The Clayton Tribune became a reality. The establishment of The Clayton Tribune is credited to John Reynolds of Demorest, Georgia. In 1897, he arrived in Clayton and brought with him his linotype to begin publishing a newspaper, The Clayton Tribune. The Clayton Tribune is the oldest continuously business operating in Clayton.

One Hundred Twenty Years Ago The Rabun County Historical Society’s earliest copy of The Clayton Tribune is from February, 1899. In 1899, The Clayton Tribune was the “social media” of its time. A resident of the many small communities such as Burton, North Chechero, Warwoman, Quartz and many others which may not be as recognizable, submitted the comings and goings of its residents. They shared who visited with whom, the marriages, the births, the deaths, and the status of the farmers’ crops and livestock.

An important responsibility of the paper was to serve as the legal organ of Rabun County. The Tribune published the county’s required advertisements of legal transactions as required by law. One notice

by Ordinary W. S. Long noted that sealed bids had been submitted for the building of a steel bridge over the Tallulah River at Burton.

The paper commented “that section is a heavy tax paying side of the county and they desire this recognition and we are glad they are to have a steel bridge” (remember this was before Lake Burton was created).

It was not uncommon to read in the paper of stills being raided and destroyed. The readers were warned that when the new penitentiary is finished in Atlanta, persons convicted of illicit distilling would endure hard labor from six months to two years for each offense.

The Years from 1900 to 1909 During these years, The Clayton Tribune news still included social news of Clayton and the outlying communities. If one had family living in Rabun County during this time, one might find out what they were up to by reading early editions of the paper! During this decade, The Clayton Tribune published what was not exactly a precursor to the current “blotter”, but it must have brought as much interest as the “blotter” does today. While it would be unheard of today, the Tribune published the names of persons who were registered at the Blue Ridge Hotel and other hotels in the area.

In August of 1903, the Tribune wrote that Professor A. J. Ritchie, professor of English at Baylor University in Texas, was retiring at the end of the present session and planning to return to his former home, Rabun County, Georgia. Professor Ritchie and his wife, Addie, realized the great need to provide the boys and girls of Rabun County with a practical education. Through their hard work and dedication, they established the Rabun Gap Industrial School in 1903. In 1905, the school was ready for its first boarding pupils, 10 boys and 10 girls. To be admitted, the students had to be of limited means, sound health, eager for an education, willing to work, and at least 14 years

70 - March 2019

Blue Ridge Hotel 1895 old. The school operated on the plan of a large family farm. Boys did the farm work and the girls were responsible for domestic work. The students attended school half a day and worked the other half. The school session lasted nine months. Students who could not afford the tuition would remain at the school during the summer and pay their tuition in work.

An interesting notice posted by M. H. James, Ordinary, was of an election to be held on December 10, 1907 to determine if the county seat should be removed from Clayton for relocation in Tiger. No newspaper editions after the election are available, thus the election results are left to speculation. However, one would conclude that election results were negative since Clayton is still the county seat.

It seems in 1908, as well as today, that anything with the word water attached to it makes its way into The Clayton Tribune. In 1908, twelve well-known residents in the county applied for a charter for the incorporation of the Clayton Light and Water Company. The purpose was the conduction of power and conveying and dispensing of water and light.

Further reflections on Rabun County through the decades will appear in future issues of the Laurel.

The Rabun County Historical Society is located at 81 North Church Street in downtown Clayton, Georgia. The museum and research library are open to the public Mondays and Fridays, 10:00am – 2:00pm. For more information call 706-782-5292 or visit rabunhistory.org

Courthouse on Main Street prior to 1908

Meet Mary Lou…

by Tracy McCoy

H

earing that someone was raised in Buckhead, Georgia might bring images of a privileged life, but this is anything but the life that Mary Lou started with.

One of eight children, she joked that her dad had to make two trips both ways in his Model T Ford to get the family to church on Sundays and Wednesdays. Her father avoided World War I because he was father to eight children. I received a call from a friend at Maryetta Hills in Mountain City that they had a resident that I should meet. Now, I am always game to make a new friend or chat with someone who has a great story to tell but when I heard that the lady was soon to be 103 years old, I scheduled a visit!

When I arrived Mary Lou sat with friends and family around the table at Maryetta Hills. She was engaging, interesting, funny and a joy to listen to. That Atlanta drawl and candor that can only accompany a lifetime of experiences and a whole lot of birthdays was charming to say the least. She decided we should start at the beginning which was March 18th, 1916

actually south of “The City” in Griffin, Georgia where she was born. When Mary Lou was two years old her father moved his family to Atlanta because he heard there was more opportunity there. Buckhead would be Mary Lou’s hometown, in fact she was raised where Phipps Plaza sets today. Her father left a cotton mill in Griffin and entered the grocery business. Before retirement age he worked for Rogers Grocery, Big Star, and Colonial. Mary Lou says they never went hungry, always had plenty to eat. She was brought up with four brothers and two sisters. Today she and her brother Ben are what’s left of that family. Ben lives in Florida and is a healthy 98 years old.

Mary Lou attended an all girls high school, “All they thought girls were good for was typing and shorthand; I couldn’t do either. I talked my parents into letting me take a course in operating a Comptometer, they agreed and I was very good at it.” She got her first job at Sears & Roebuck Co. working in a big warehouse on Ponce De Leon Boulevard. She remembers her father telling her “If you ever decide to get another job, always go up!” Her next job was with Western Auto as Comptometer operator in their warehouse. She then heard about a better job with Campbell Coal as a Comptroller. They were paying $20 a week, she called and went in for an interview and was hired on the spot. She met her husband Allen Saine while working at Campbell Coal. When she met him, she didn’t much like him, but he “took a fancy” to her.

“I couldn’t stand him when I first met him, but he had a car!

Another gal that I worked with had a crush on him and he and his friends would go to the Varsity for lunch. She wanted to go and he told her he would take her if she could get me to go. She begged me and I said I’d go. She jumped in front with Allen and I got in the back.” It didn’t take long for Mary Lou to work her way into that front seat and for Allen to win her heart. The couple married in 1941. “I didn’t learn to drive until I was 27 years old. I only learned because Allen was called up to go to WWII. He was leaving me his 1940 Ford and I had to get to and from work while he was gone.” She recalled. Allen wanted to be in the Air Force so he joined up and went to fight for his country instead of being drafted. After the war, the couple started their family.

Roy was born in 1945 then Linda and Robert in the two years that followed. Allen was a country boy and Mary Lou a city girl, He had played football in high school and was quite the star but in the summers he would visit family in Madison, Georgia. He decided he wanted to move there and buy a farm and become a farmer. His oldest brother was a dairy farmer and Allen followed suit. Being a Veteran, he was guaranteed a loan and he bought 200 acres. Mary Lou became a full time mother, cooking and cleaning, keeping the house and raising the kids. She remembers helping in the hay

72 - March 2019

field, driving the tractor. Eventually, while the kids were small, they decided to make a move to Athens where there would be more opportunity for the children.

Talking about the years while raising her kids, Mary Lou recounted a couple times that her husband lost his temper with their children. One in particular was when Allen had his original 1940 Ford restored and brought it home and put it in the garage. The kids were playing and found a new gallon of while enamel paint and painted the wheels on Allen’s car so he could have whitewalls . When he cut a switch off of the peach tree she knew they were in trouble. “I thought he was gonna kill them.” she said. It was usually Linda and Bob that did the deeds and Roy would tattle! The kids rode calves like horses and would play outside all day. Mary Lou would meet them at the door to rinse off their dirty feet before they came in. The nearest neighbors were a mile away but the community came together for fish frys and celebrations on holidays. Young mothers would get together to play Bridge and let the kids play.

Having three kids in three years and raising them up keeps a mother very busy. “They were good kids, they were all teenagers together; a blessing and a curse.” Mary Lou said with a chuckle. By that time the family had decided to move to Athens. Allen knew that Roy, their oldest who aspired to play professional baseball would stand a better chance at the University of Georgia. Roy and his sister Linda both attended UGA and although Roy didn’t pursue a career as a professional baseball player, he did receive an excellent education. Robert, the Saine’s youngest son, joined the United States Army and was sent to Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, then on to Panama where he spent four years. After returning home he was hired as a lineman for Georgia Power (the Southern Company). He was the 2nd oldest employee with Southern Company (in terms of seniority) when he retired at 66 years of age. Roy became a coach at Athens High School and then went to work for State Farm Insurance and worked for them for 35 years. Linda met her first husband at UGA and has one son.

Allen opened a restaurant after moving to Athens and I am told that if you know the college town, you know Allen’s Hamburgers that was located on Prince Avenue. The couple operated the restaurant for 17 years. Known for great burgers and frosty mugs of milk, Allen’s employed many young UGA students, one of which went on to become Governor of Georgia. Zell Miller walked in to apply for a job and became one of the cooks at Allen’s. “He was a good worker, and years later he came back as Governor for pictures with Allen and I in front of the grill.” she told me.

“I raised two boys and Linda and I knew more than these college kids thought I did. They’d come in with those fake IDs and I could tell by looking at them they were not old enough for beer, so I’d offer them a Coke, Pepsi or milk in a frosty mug. It was a good life; we worked hard and never worried if we’d have a roof over our head” she remembers. Every time the Saines got “a little ahead” they would buy a small house

in the Athens area. Sometimes just putting a thousand dollars down and assuming a mortgage. They attained four rentals and when they retired from the restaurant business, Allen managed the rentals as far as maintenance went and Mary Lou collected the rent and kept the books. When anything came up about the money side of their businesses Allen would say, “you better talk to Mary Lou”.

As the couple got older and health issues arose they sold the houses. Allen always told Mary Lou not to worry that they would sell and they did for ten times what they had invested in them. Allen still worked doing maintenance on sorority houses. He was a kind and generous man. Thinking back, Mary Lou said, “He never cheated anyone, in fact he’d be too good to them. He would come home and I’d ask what did you do today so I could send a bill and I know half of all he did we never billed out. He’d say well just $15 or $20 dollars. He loved to work and make people happy.”

Linda married again and was living in the Virgin Islands. Her husband became ill and they moved back to the states in 2002 and bought a home in Lakemont to be close to medical treatment and to care for her parents.. Her parents came to

Continued on page 75 March 2019 - 73

Lovin’ The Journey

Start Strong, Marriage Forever

by Mark Holloway

I

’ve never actually paid a quarter to see the fat lady at the circus. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a genuine circus freak.

Well, I’ve seen the Greatest Showman.

I’m old enough to have attended a few Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus performances. RIP. Sometimes I feel like Carol and I are circus freaks.

This summer we’ll mark 38 years in love with rings.

How? You might ask.

Easy.

I’ll go rogue early in my column this month.

Good marriages don’t take work. Yep, you read that correctly.

That seems unorthodox, right? But it’s true. Crappy marriages take work. Healthy marriages take effort. But never work.

A bad paradigm will lead you right into a dark cave.

A really good steak takes effort. You spend money on gas to drive to the restaurant, spend money to buy the steak, and then eat it using borrowed silverware and plates. Then your body begins the difficult task of digesting the meal. Never once have I enjoyed a great ribeye and whined about the experience.

74 - March 2019

If I see my marriage as work, I’m doomed. I also don’t try and win arguments with Carol. If I win, she loses. And if I were really successful, I’d end up being married to a loser. No bueno.

Instead, we simply purpose to respectfully be understood.

We keep our love on.

Our goal in conflict is to always keep our love on, no matter what. Danny Silk taught us that.

Thankfully, our marriage hasn’t been marked by conflict. Our romance hasn’t been marred by neglect either.

Carol and I get to coach young couples, guiding wide-eyed ladies and gents towards marriage.

We often get approached relationally by prospective hopefuls asking me to officiate their big day. I won’t unless they sign onto a series of hike/talks where Carol and I lead them to the land of discovery. It’s a big commitment they have to agree to.

It’s also a chunk of time resources extracted from our lives. But the reward is rich.

The national divorce rate is high and marriages following divorce are even at greater risk. Yet I remain puzzled at how careful and with OCD precision some brides plan a wedding and not a marriage. Some grooms pay big money to an architect to build an expensive home (they won’t likely own forever) yet throw caution to the wind at the altar. Go figure.

I once was asked whether I’d like to go to a lecture about the moon or hear an astronaut talk about being there. I choose the latter. I may not be a marriage expert, but I’ve been to the honeymoon a lot.

Much has changed since 1981 when Carol and I melted our hearts into one. I think there’s a lot more competition for our

souls. Modern conveniences steal our time. Lightning broad- Mary Lou - continued band speed, app tv rather than satellite, smart homes, and robot vacuums are supposed to free us up. But social media quickly hogs all our time. Some restaurants are banning cell phones so look at the home; her father declaring it was nice but that he people can exchange consonants and vowels and actual eye would not move to the mountains. A series of strokes altered and eventually claimed the life of Allen and Mary Lou was contact. alone living in Athens. Linda eventually brought Mary Lou to Our pastor challenged us to have no tv in our home for a year live near her at Traces of Tiger where she stayed for years before and never one in the bedroom. We tell young folks a tv isn’t moving to Maryetta Hills where she is very happy. Michelle needed in the playground.

Shirley, the owner of Maryetta Hills, offers an intimate senior Figure it out. care environment that is more like a private home, Mary Lou We also coach them to keep the bedroom light...free of heavy will celebrate her 103rd birthday on March 18th there. conversations. Reserve those times for anywhere else but the bedroom. And keep the bedroom clean and if you’re a hoarder/ Watching her memories flood back was an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon. I knew that to adequately share more than oinker, be messy anywhere else but the bedroom. a lifetime of living in this article was going to be a challenge The reason hypothermia victims must strip off wet, cold clothing is because those garments pull life-giving warmth away from and it has. There are so many stories that were shared around the vital organs. Stay away from cold, toxic marriages. Hang out the table that day. I thought that this was a good question to with healthy people in marriages that warm you, not chill you. ask, until I asked it. I posed this to Mary Lou, “What was your best day and your worst day in 102 years?” She gave that some Jesus attended weddings and He loves to be in our marriages. thought and shared this “My oldest brother was in a plane And that’s been key for us. As I draw closer to Him, and Carol flying over Germany in the Battle of Normandy and the plane does the same, we automatically draw closer to each other. It’s was shot down. He was captured and held for two years. We basic geometry. Chemistry is involved too. But I’m not a math were told we could send packages to him and we did. My and science guy. mother sent food and things to him. My best day was when my Discovering each other’s love language provides solutions not parents got word that he had been rescued and was coming problems. Learning to appreciate her personality rather than try- home. He kissed the ground of this country when he returned. ing to change it has kept sanity alive too.

We learned he never got a single package we sent.”

I’m afraid our increasingly entitled, snow flake, cake eating generation will only become more self-absorbed. We may see disil- With her head down she took a deep breath and told me lusionment set in faster and faster in young, potentially terminal about her worst day. “My worst day was when my son Robert marriages.

(Bob) came to my house and he sat down beside me and he But I’m hopeful more young couples will throw back to things touched my arm and he said ‘Mama, I am sick.’ I turned to him and asked ‘Son, what’s wrong?’ and he told me ‘I am that last, including forever marriage. very sick, Mama, I have cancer.’ I thought to myself, ‘Why I’m thankful my cell phone cranks my truck. I’m glad my truck God?’. I was there when my mom, dad and husband died but is cozy and my seats are warm waiting on me as I head out of nothing is as bad as losing your child.” the pain in her face was the woods on a cold morning. I’m glad my home alarm alerts crushing. The tears were brimming and ran down her cheeks. I law enforcement and the fire department. It’s cool Alexa turns on lamps and plays music and even turned off our Christmas reached for her hand wishing I had not asked but knowing that tree at bedtime last December. But technology and pop culture healing comes from won’t foster a healthy, happy marriage. A strong foundation will. sharing our grief.

Mary Lou Saine is a We cover a lot of ground on our marriage prep hikes. We ex- strong woman, she plore compatibility, baggage, money, and how to build great is healthy with few memories. So far, the time invested has proven fruitful. medical issues. I Carol and I certainly don’t have it all figured out. But what we am thankful to have do know, we share. met her and hope In 1981, I was 21. She was 18. In 2021 we will celebrate 40 to visit again. I’ll leave you with this years. We’re already planning something fun. wisdom from Mary So, yes. I guess we’re circus freaks. Send quarters.

Lou “Everything See you on the trail. has changed! I remember when you picked up the Mark and his wife Carol are the owners of Fresh Start, a comphone and dialed pany dedicated to stewarding the property and homes of their clients. They aspire to be your eyes, ears, and hands while you and got a person. I are away, and your resource for anything you need, whether you don’t know about are a full or part time resident of the area. Mark can be reached all this social media stuff, just give me by calling 706.490.7060 the good ol’ days.”

March 2019 - 75

By the Way...

Gout Hurts as Bad as Ever

by Emory Jones

M

y name is Emory Jones, and I have gout. Again.

There, I’ve said it, and it feels good to get it out in the open because, and let’s face facts here, having gout is embarrassing. I don’t know why it’s embarrassing, but it is. Gout not only causes you to ache beyond belief, but being called gouty only adds to the suffering.

Personally, I think that’s because of the name. I mean, “gout” doesn’t even rhyme with anything good: grout, snout, rout, lout, pout—see what I mean? Hemorrhoids get more respect.

I’ve always thought a great name for a horror movie would be, “The Creature from Gout!” I wouldn’t go, but a lot of people would.

As an experienced gout target, I can say with certainty that when you tell somebody you have gout, they’ll step back and ask, “People don’t get still get gout anymore, do they?”

When you assure them people do still get gout, they’ll suggest you cut back on your port consumption. When you tell them you don’t even know what port is, they’ll just laugh and post something silly about you on the Facebook.

I guess gout ignorance is normal. I fondly recall my own goutfree days. Back then, when someone told me they had gout, I would also snicker behind their back. Then I’d picture Old King Cole, resting his foot on a velvet cushion. He usually had a turkey leg in one hand and a bottle the other. Not that I think about it, that may have been port.

Believe it or not, one time a fellow congratulated me on having gout. “Such an upper-class ailment,” he said approvingly.

“Only the most interesting people get it, you know.” I told him you could say the same thing about syphilis.

Gout does seem to prefer the rich and famous—I don’t know why it chose me. A few of gout’s eminent victims include Beethoven, Christopher Columbus, Charles Dickens, and Benjamin Franklin. Old Ben described gout as “an enemy who would not only torment my body, but ruin my good name.”

Such was gout’s negative image even back then.

Several of our presidents have suffered from gout. Some say that’s what started the War of 1812. Calvin Coolidge, Martin Van Buren, and President William Howard Taft all had it, so draw your own conclusions. Taft was so mortified about it that he didn’t even want The First Lady to know he had it, let alone Congress. I understand—a person with gout gets no respect, even the President.

In fact, it’s probably in our national best interest to pass a constitutional amendment excluding anyone with gout from every being president. It should at least be grounds for impeachment, because nobody with gout should be allowed anywhere near the button.

If you are unfortunate enough to get gout, just know that your doctor will offer you several medications to find which one has the fewest side-effects. The doctor will explain that the mostlikely side-effects diarrhea, nausea, headaches, weight gain, weight loss, mood swings, osteoporosis, diabetes, cataracts, seizures, skin rashes, and kidney failure and something called Cotard’s Delusion. You won’t care.

The doctor will then refer you to a dietitian who will suggest you give up all foods except sugar-free peach preserves and black cherry pits. They will also suggest you cut back on your consumption of port.

76 - March 2019

March 2019 - 77

78 - March 2019

March 2019 - 79

80 - March 2019