HN Lake Team
May 2019 - 3
HNR Evelyn
6 - May 2019
HN ie Cheryl & Jack-
May 2019 - 7
From Tracy Oh the lure of the lake... whether you are a fisherman, a boat enthusiast, a part time or full time resident or just enjoy holding down the dock in an Adirondack chair with an ice cold glass of something... it’s nice to be near the water. Northeast Georgia and Western North Carolina are fortunate to have many bodies of water, all man-made, with fishing shacks and luxury homes lining their shores. This season finds families enjoying themselves and visitors to the area who are discovering the mountains for the first time. Buckets of bait and stringers of perch, bream and bass are hauled in and out each day. Boats traveling at all speeds make their way up and down or across the water from daylight to dark. There are private docks and public beaches on each lake and stories galore are shared among friends. It is after all the season!
May 2019 • Volume Sixteen • Issue Five Publisher/Editor - Tracy McCoy Art Director - Dianne VanderHorst Graphic Artist - Nikki Dunbar Office Manager/ Account Executive - Cindi Freeman Account Executive - Melynda Hensley Photographer/Writer - Peter McIntosh Graphic Artist/Writer - Luke McCoy Contributing Writers: Mark Holloway, Susan Brewer, Jan Timms, Cyndy Brogdon, Carlton ;) Steve Jarrard, MD, Amanda Howard Pileski, PhD, Beth Fierberg, Peter McIntosh, Karla Jacobs, Kitty Flewelling, John Shivers, Emory Jones, Rebecca Peterson , Kendall Rumsey, Lorie Thompson
Georgia Mountain Laurel Mailing: PO Box 2218, Clayton, Georgia 30525 Office: 2511 Highway 441, Clayton, Georgia 30562 706-782-1600 • www.gmlaurel.com
We welcome back out part timers and embrace visitors and travelers. Business is in full swing and we are grateful for all the bounty it brings. For you the visitor you can expect to find the sweetest tea, quaintest towns, nicest strangers and abundant natural beauty. From our front porch swings to our pontoon boats we welcome your company and invite you to discover all that is the mountain lifestyle. Enjoy a delicious farm to table meal with a glass of local wine, take home a jar of honey, a fine art print and make a new friend before you return to your city life. Don’t be a stranger because there is always plenty to do here (see our incredible event calendar). We dedicate this issue to our friends on the lakes. Oh and enjoy your Laurel! Grateful for you.
Tracy
Copyright 2016 by Rabun’s Laurel Inc. All rights reserved. The Georgia Mountain Laurel Magazine is published twelve times per year. Reproduction without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. The publishers and editors are not responsible for unsolicited material and it will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication subject to GML magazine’s right to edit. Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, photographs and drawings. Every effort has been made to assure that all information presented in this issue is accurate, and neither Laurel magazine or any of its staff is responsible for omissions or information that has been misrepresented to the magazine. The Georgia Mountain Laurel maintains a Christian focus throughout their magazine. Rabun’s Laurel, Inc. reserves the right to refuse content or advertising for any reason without explanation.
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HN - Sarah G
May 2019 - 9
In this Issue Arts & Entertainment 12 18 20
4 Lake Artists. North Georgia Arts Guild Book Event at Sky Valley
Affairs to Remember 26 28 30 32
Lake Burton Fun Run Commemorate 200 Years Rhapsody in Rabun - Habitat for Humanity Mountain Happenings Event Calendar
Mountain Homes 36 40 44 46 48
Harry Norman REALTORS Featured Home Defining Quality - Ramey’s Custom Cabinets Poss Realty Featured Home John Dinos - LakeHomes.com GA Mtn Home Builders Association
Faith in Christ 50 52 54
Growing Up Joyful R4G - Clayton Baptist Church River Garden
Outdoors 56 58 60 61
Adventure Out Our of the Blue Ridge Paws 4 Life The Fur Ball
A Taste 64 68 70 74
Gatherings from Lake Rabun Bon Appetit The Family Table Farm 2 Cocktail
Health & Wellness 76 78 80
Live Healthy & Be Well The Benefits of Forgiveness Deciphering Your Body’s Messages
Life in these Mountains 84 86 88 90
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Bob Vickers - Rabun County Historical Society Notes from a Southern Kitchen By the Way Lovin’ the Journey
May 2019 - 11
12 - May 2019
4
Lake Artists -
Libby, Ginny, Betty & Barbara
Hidden along the shores and aroun-about our lakes are some incredible artists. Here are four that I want to share with you. Each of these women are beyond talented, at various stages of their art journey and each one different from the other. Let’s begin with the artist on our cover…
Libby Mathews
Libby Mathews began her formal art education in an Early Admission Summer Program at the University of South Carolina. Then in fall of that year, she attended at the University of Georgia to continue her study in art. In her senior year, she attended Georgia State University majoring in printmaking. After graduation, Libby worked for the Georgia Council for the Arts doing Printmaking Residencies around the state and taught Printmaking at the Governor’s Honor’s Program. Libby studied with Marc Chatov at which time she learned color with a traditional Russian pallet by painting the figure from life. Libby said, “I looked at the land as if it were a figure and began painting land, sea, lake and mountain scapes often with an architectural element such as a house or a boathouse.” In more recent years she studied through association with Ann Templeton as her teacher, mentor and friend. in 1991 Libby, a Hambidge Fellow, became a full time resident of Rabun County. She said, “I feel that living and painting in the mountains of Northeast Georgia with its incredible lakes, streams, mountains and gorges has been the most important move of my life.” She went on to say that she has lived in and traveled to many places before and since her move in 1991 and there has never been a place that has captured her heart like this one. “I am content to stay right here and paint these mountains and lakes.” Her studio is located behind Timpson Creek Gallery, where you can find her painting and teaching students. Libby is living her best life at this point in her life. She finds peace and has established relationships and a lifestyle that keeps her centered. Her beautiful soul shines through her smile and her brush strokes. Those who follow her work have watched it evolve to near perfection. One can see more of Libby’s work at Timpson Creek Gallery
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Virginia “Ginny” McClure Artist/Owner at Lakemont Gallery, Ginny is eager to start her 10th season in Lakemont. This will be her 3rd season at 8488 Old 441 S between the landmark deli/restaurant/store, Open Door at Ol’ Alley’s, and Lake Rabun Trading where Mary Boland has gone solo with her gift and decor items She has set up a painting work area too, so, Ginny is excited to have another working artist in the neighborhood, after all it is the “Historic Lakemont Arts District.” Ginny has a studio area in the gallery so she can work there while minding the shop and get feedback from visitors and patrons. Lately her work has taken new directions. Last fall she joined a group of artists organized by Plein Air Magazine on a trip to the Canadian Rockies and now has several paintings from that experience of a lifetime trip includ- ing yellow aspens in the snow. One thing she learned is that it is never too cold to paint outdoors (until your paints freeze). Also new this year are a series of still lifes and floral paintings. This direction came out of the mandate to “paint directly from life” (as opposed to using photos) so, after a most dreary wet, winter when going outside was not desirable, indoor subjects were favored. This influence comes from coach Stefan Baumann of Mt. Shasta CA, known for his PBS TV show, The Grand View, who acts as a motivational and technical coach. Ginny hopes you will come visit her at Lakemont Gallery where she hosts 3 makers of twig furniture, 3 potters, and wood crafts, in addition to 3 painters including herself. Beginning in May Ginny will offer painting classes Wednesday afternoon and evening.
Betty F. King Betty Felker King lives on Lake Rabun in Lakemont, Georgia. She remembers drawing as a child and delving deeper into art in high school and then studying drawing and painting at the University of Georgia School of Art graduating in 1979 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in drawing and painting. She attended UGA’s Study Abroad art program in Cortona, Italy during college. Life happened and Betty met and married Rob King became a full time mom to four amazing children. Raising a family became her priority and when her youngest started school she found the time to get back to her painting. Betty is a figurative, still life and landscape oil painter finding the human form particularly fascinating. Her portfolio includes images of children playing on the beach to lush marshes on Georgia’s coast. She spends her days painting in her home studio where she is happiest. Occasionally Betty joins other artists at The Bascom in Highlands for art workshops. Finding beauty in the North Georgia mountain lakes has been an inspiration for her paintings Betty’s works are impressionistic in nature and she recognizes artists like Carolyn Anderson, Kevin Macpherson, Marc Chatov, Dan Gerhartz, Quang Ho. and Johanna Harmon for providing not only inspiration but instruction along her way. I encourage you to visit Betty’s website at www.bettyfking.com to appreciate her art and learn more.
Barbara Stanfill There are people in your life that you will meet and never forget them. Their kindness and nature leave a lasting impression, this is the case with Barbara Stanfill. She and her REALTOR husband Tom Stanfill were residents on Lake Burton for several years before moving to a mountaintop home in Tiger, Georgia. She and Tom have two sons and one daughter and eight grandchildren. Barbara has always had a very creative nature but about fifteen years ago two friends got her started painting, she jokes that she quickly realized she knew nothing but she knew some great artists! She began taking classes from artists like JoAnn Williams Walker, Ann Blair Brown and Geido Frick. She was drawn to Impressionistic painting and that is an accurate description of her art. “In the beginning, I didn’t know what I didn’t know” so I signed up for a class with Geido Frick and I was not ready for him. I wanted to hide when he walked by. He was very sweet with me and I realized I was a work in progress. Barbara became aware that God has her learning at the pace that He wants her to learn. After a house fire, this artist re-evaluated many things and it was then that the pressure came off. She learned to hold things loosely and lightly always giving God the glory. She strives to honor God with her art and find joy in it. She loves color and uses intensely pigmented shades in her paintings. Flowers are her passion and what she enjoys painting most. She relishes learning and will likely always be a student of the arts. Barbara’s art has been displayed in Appalachian Gallery, Ann Irwin’s gallery and most recently Burton Gallery but is not currently in a gallery. If you see something here you like she may be contacted by e-mailing tostan@ windstream.net
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16 - May 2019
Finding Art
May 2019 - 17
Opals and Cats in the Spirited Collaboration of Joni and Gary Mitchell By Susan Brewer
18 - May 2019
J
oni and Gary are a team, and opals are their shared passion. Following their later-in-life marriage in 2005, they began a jewelry endeavor called Spirit Spun Design. The name refers to “the many spirits which influence our lives… including Mother nature, love, history, and most important, the Divine Spirit.” Five treasured four-legged souls, their cats, also infuse their creativity. The sound of purring thrums throughout the house and studio to create a space that exudes rare amounts of devotion and love. Both Joni and Gary are “escapees from the world of corporate mayhem.” Gary is retired from US Air. Though he began doing lapidary work in the seventies, the interest lapsed; it was resurrected after meeting Joni. Joni worked for FedEx. She began her artful efforts making cards and paper creations. Jewelry took over when she shifted to producing earrings and pins as additions. As Joni and Gary’s lives blended, their parallel interests became the collaboration seen today. Both have taken classes at the William Holland Lapidary School in Young Harris and go to the Gem & Lapidary Wholesalers Show in Franklin and another in Tucson. Their artist profile states that “using their combined skills, the Mitchells collaborate to create classic jewelry designs using opals, semi-precious stones, and fine materials. As all opals are unique, each design strives to enhance the individual stone’s characteristics.” Boulder opals from Australia are their favorites. The thin layers of opal are backed by dark and reddened ironstone which gives contrast and emphasis to the play of light they capture. These artists work from their forever-home perched on a mountainside in Franklin, North Carolina; the house on a rock serves as a useful metaphor. Joni and Gary sustained an unbelievable string of events before and during its construction. It began with the death of Joni’s parents: her father died in 2003 and four and a half months later, in April 2004, Joni’s mother died. Joni inherited their home/business in Cape Canaveral, Florida off the coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean: the Cape Canaveral Trailer Village. This was where Joni was born—it became hers to care for. Sugary sand, sun, and sea breezes filled days, but months following her mother’s death, the Florida coast was besieged by not one but four hurricanes: first Charlie, then Frances, then Ivan, and Jeanne. The park and its forty-two sets of tenants were Joni and Gary’s responsibility – in addition to their own trailer. “Even if you don’t get a direct hit the cleanup is unbelievable,” Joni said. Gary added, “There’s your lifetime investment just sitting there at the mercy of the winds.” The boarding and packing up, then returning home and cleanup—four times in one year! More followed: “Then we had Fay, and then we had Matthew, and then we had Irma (in 2014, 2016, 2017, respectively)….” Each event meant a major weeks-long struggle that threatened Joni’s life investment. It was too much. Building their home in the mountains and investing herself in their collaborative art venture meant Joni was able to let go. She sold the park last year. In betwixt and between has been the art. Gary will eye a cut, or slab, of rock. They work together getting to know it, to guess how to reveal its secrets from tell-tale surface clues. The surprises are endless. He and Joni map out the shaping as he grinds and polishes the free-form cabochons. This freedom, this exploration, comes with rules, though. Joni needs smooth edges of a certain depth to secure the stone in place with wire wrapping. She uses combinations of round, half-round, or square wire in three ways: in silver, in silver with gold accents, and in all gold. The wires come in varying degrees of hardness and different gauges, or thicknesses. Joni shapes them into an irresistible look that draws the eyes of viewers and patrons in. Joni and Gary’s art is a study of contrast: rock-hard and fluid, carefully defined and shaped, and gently shimmering and fiery and . . . beautiful. Their art is, in the end, a restoration of peace through challenges of great proportion. To contact them about their work, email jonissmith@ msn.com or call 407.810.4800. 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 and world views.
May 2019 - 19
The Summer I Met Jack Meet Michelle Gable
O
f Michelle Gable’s Nantucket-set third novel, The Book of Summer, The Wall Street Journal quipped that she “moved in on [Elin] Hilderbrand’s home turf with a humorous and smartly written story of two generations of love and vacations.” She does it again in THE SUMMER I MET JACK bringing “her flair for multigenerational stories rooted in New England summers”* to this “riveting tale about America’s most romanticized family,” the Kennedys. Based on a true story, Gable recounts how Alicia Corning Clark (then Alicia Darr), a beautiful, Polish refugee arrives in Hyannisport, Massachusetts, begins work as a maid for one of the wealthiest families in America, and is immediately charmed by the large and charismatic family, Jack, in particular. Alicia and Jack are soon engaged, but his domineering father forbids the marriage. And so, Alicia trades Hyannisport for Hollywood, and eventually Rome. She dates famous actors, athletes, and royalty, including Gary Cooper, Kirk Douglas, and Katharine Hepburn, all the while remaining close with Jack. A decade after they meet, on the eve of Jack’s inauguration as the 35th President of the United States, the two finally confront what they mean to each other.
Save the Date
20 - May 2019
What a life Gable imagines for Alicia Corning Clark, in this meticulously-researched (Gable read well over 200 biographies, memoirs, and novels, some of which are detailed in her Author’s Note, to get the facts and fictionalization just right), immersive, and romantic new novel.
About Michelle Gable... New York Times bestselling author of: A Paris Apartment I’ll See You in Paris and The Book of Summer Michelle Gable graduated from The College of William & Mary. After a twenty-year career in finance, she now writes full time. Michelle lives in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California, with her husband, two daughters, and a lazy cat, feisty bunny, and newly adopted dog.
Praise for The Summer I Met Jack “This novel is based on the real story of Alicia Darr, a postwar refugee who worked in the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port, Mass. From there some imagination takes over as Gable recounts this unlikely love story of a future president’s romance with the European maid.” New York Times Book Review, New & Noteworthy “A splendid portrait of a spirited survivor thriving in a man’s world...this sparkling novel will enthrall readers.” - Publishers Weekly “Compassionate and intelligent...[THE SUMMER I MET JACK] offers massive cross-genre appeal.” - Library Journal, STARRED review
Author Michelle Gable will speak at an author luncheon at Sky Valley Country Club on May 28. Festivities will begin with a “meet and greet” at 10:30 am, followed by Michelle’s presentation, lunch, and book signing. This event is open to the public and ticket reservations are available by calling 706-746-5302 or emailing Betty at bettylakelanier@aol.com.
May 2019 - 21
22 - May 2019
Downtown Clayton
24 - May 2019
May 2019 - 25
Lake Burton Fun Run
T
he Lake Burton Fun Run was founded in 1984 by Robert Nichols to raise money for Wildcat Volunteer Fire Department. Since 1984, the Fun Run has grown from 85 participants to over 1,000 participants each year. The Fun Run begins at Moccasin Creek State Park and travels 2 miles along scenic Highway 197 beside Lake Burton to the finish line at LaPrade’s Marina. In 1998, the course was certified by USA Track and Field to allow runners to use their times from the Fun Run to qualify for sanctioned events. Participants of all ages and from various areas run in the Fun Run each Fourth of July weekend. Since founding the Fun Run in 1984, Robert Nichols has emphasized that the event has “taken on a life of its own.” The loyalty and support of the runners, volunteers, sponsors, LaPrade’s Marina, and Moccasin Creek State Park have made the Fun Run at Lake Burton tradition unlike any other. The Fun Run is a family-friendly event where moms and dads can be seen pushing strollers alongside world class runners. Each year the Fun Run Board of Directors, an all-volunteer board, designs a t-shirt and plans the event. The finish line of the Fun Run provides runners and spectators the opportunity to visit with several vendors from the Lake Burton area, many of which are sponsors of the Fun Run.
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Major sponsors of the Fun Run include LaPrade’s Marina, Springer Mountain Farms®, Georgia Power, Lake Burton Civic Association, Georgia Mountain Laurel Magazine, Harry Norman Realtors, and WCON Radio. Thanks to the support of our sponsors and runners, the Fun Run has donated thousands of dollars to support the three Lake Burton Volunteer Fire Departments, Rabun County Search and Rescue, and the Rabun County Sheriff’s Canine Corps. The 2019 Lake Burton Fun Run will be held Saturday, July 6th at 9 a.m. Online registration is scheduled to begin on Monday, April 1, 2019. If you would like more information on the Fun Run or are interested in joining the Fun Run board, please visit www.lakeburtonfunrun. com and be sure to follow the Lake Burton Fun Run on Facebook and Instagram.
May 2019 - 27
Commemorate 200 Years Buy-A-Brick
R
a b u n County is celebrating its 200th anniversary throughout 2019! As part of ongoing festivities, the City of Clayton and the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) would like to invite you to join your friends and neighbors in creating a permanent link to our future by purchasing commemorative bricks engraved with a personal message. Commemorative bricks will be placed as part of the streetscape improvement project that will include the new Dickerson Bicentennial Park and pedestrian walkway located between Church Street and Wilson Alley in Downtown Clayton. Your participation will enhance the charm of our community while helping to beautify Downtown Clayton in a way that will shape our future and acknowledge our past. **The names, dedications, and words you choose to engrave on this special part of history will become part of the City of Clayton and Rabun County’s legacy for generations to come. We encourage you to honor and memorialize loved ones including your ancestors, pets, acknowledge your business, inscribe positive words of encouragement and help us ensure that we are creating an area filled with positivity and honor. In the event that more bricks are sold than are needed for this initial project, the City of Clayton and Downtown Development Authority are working to develop a plan for a larger streetscape improvement project for Clayton with specific location details to follow. With your involvement and dedication, many will walk upon and enjoy the charm and beauty of the area for generations to come. Hurry and purchase your commemorative bricks today! This will make a great, unique gift that will last lifetimes. If you wish, you can also purchase a certificate and/or duplicate Brick to help remember your participation in this historic opportunity.
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To order your commemorative brick, visit:http://www.bricksrus.com/donorsite/cityofclayton For more information email: buyabrickcityofclayton@gmail.com If you’re paying by check, please mail your payment using the following information: Downtown Development Authority 837 Hwy 76W, Suite 101 Clayton, GA 30525 **Inscriptions will be reviewed and monitored for spelling mistakes, profanities, vulgar or political statements. Donors will be notified if any content is questionable and will be asked to make modifications as necessary.
May 2019 - 29
Rhapsody in Rabun and Habitat for Humanity of Rabun County
®
“Building the Future, One Family at a Time.”
Marcus Booker with Tammy
Tammy with her children
lease mark your calendar on Saturday, August 10, 2019 to attend the Rhapsody in Rabun gala. Rhapsody’s “Taste of the Mountains” partners with Habit for Humanity® of Rabun County for a wonderful evening of friendship, dining, dancing and exciting fundraising auctions. This year also celebrates 30 years of Habitat building in Rabun County.
Joseph, are excited to be partnering with Habitat on building their home. Tammy’s husband passed away in 2015 and her eldest son in 2016. She credits God and the Rabun community in helping her family survive the turmoil. “We love Rabun County. The schools here are great. They are what made us decide to make Rabun our home. I love that the police in our county do their best daily to make it a better place,” said Tammy. “During a very hard time for my family, several families stepped up and helped my kids and made the holidays great when I couldn’t be here to do it. I will never forget that and there isn’t anything I could do to repay what they did for my kids and me. So, I’ll take this moment to thank everyone who has been there.”
P
Habitat for Humanity® of Rabun County’s goal is to build one new house a year. They accomplish this with funds generated by the payments to mortgages by recipient families, by funds raised from the ReStore, by private donations, by donations from local businesses and from an annual fundraising event. This year that fundraising event is the Rhapsody in Rabun gala. Each year the Habitat Board of Directors appoints a Selection Committee to select a deserving, qualified family for the new home. Each aspiring candidate fills out a detailed application which the Selection Committee reviews and validates. Criteria for selection include level of need, ability to repay the mortgage and their willingness to partner with Habitat to work on their home and those of others. In addition to signing and committing to paying back a nointerest mortgage, each homeowner must take a course in Financial Management and provide a required amount of sweat-equity during the construction of their home. In this way, the homeowners become invested in their home and their community. The 2019 Habitat family, Tammy and her children, Abigail and
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After years of renting apartments, having a place of their very own is more than a dream come true--it is a promise kept. Tammy had promised her eldest son Morgan before he died, that she would get the family a house. Finding out the family had been chosen as the 2019 Habitat Recipient was keeping a promise to her son. “When the Habitat committee came for the second home visit and gave us the good news, the joy in Joseph and Abigail’s face made me feel like I had kept my promise to Morgan. He was with us that day in spirit.” One key to producing a quality home at an affordable price is Habitat’s reliance on a network of volunteers. Habitat volunteers work with the Habitat Recipient to see their dream become reality. Marcus Booker has volunteered for nine years, has been chairman of its building committee for eight and this will be his 14th Habitat home. He keeps at it because, “I enjoy giving back, meeting the
needs of people. I meet these folks out in the community and get to know them really well. I keep up with them and their kids. Several of our homeowners give back when they can.” Marcus takes pride in each Habitat house he built. “I want the community to know we build a quality house and we are providing houses for people who couldn’t otherwise afford them which is a stabilizing force in our community.” During the construction phase, Habitat volunteers perform tasks such as framing, installing roof trusses, siding, appliances, caulking, painting, etc. Typically, the volunteers work two mornings a week amid organized chaos, laughter, good donuts, friendship and hard work. And while Booker has a good core group of seasoned volunteers, he is always looking for new volunteers to come help. In 2018, Tammy was one of Marcus’ volunteers and worked on Habitat House number 34. Marcus said she volunteered for jobs that no one else wanted to do. She is thrilled this year to work on her own home number 35. “This year is going to be the start of new things for my family and we are very humble and grateful.” You, too, can help make this dream come true by attending Rhapsody in Rabun on Saturday, August 10th, 2019 and being a force in: “Building the Future, One Family at a Time.” To learn more about Rhapsody 2019, visit https://rhapsodyinrabun.com/attend-the-gala.
May 2019 - 31
Mountain Happenings STEPHENS COUNTY May 4th Toast of Toccoa Downtown Toccoa Info: mainstreettoccoa.com May 18th Pancake Breakfast & Historical Talk Traveler’s Rest Historic Site, Toccoa www.gastateparks.org/travelersrest
May 11th Spring Bierfest Festhalle, Helen Info: 706.878.1908
June 1st and each Saturday Ida Cox Music Series Historic Downtown Toccoa Info: idacoxmusicseries.com
May 25th The Crusher Vineyard & Trail Race Yonah Mountain Vineyard Cleveland Info: 706.878.5522
June 13th North GA Technical College Program Preview Currahee Campus, Toccoa Info: 706.779.8102 The Ritz Theater Toccoa Info: www.ritztheatretoccoa.com May 11th Southern Gospel Music - Georgia May 17th - The Huntertones June 6th and each Thursday Summer Movies at the Ritz June 14th Southern Gospel Music - Isaac’s Well HABERSHAM COUNTY May 4th and each Saturday through September Clarkesville Market Place Old Courthouse Parking Lot Clarkesville Info: 706.754.2220 May 18th Mountain Laurel Festival Historic Square & Pitts Park Clarkesville Info: 706.754.2220 May 18th FREE Concert - Aaron Tippin Downtown Cornelia Info: 706.778.8585 May 30th - June 2nd, 6th - 9th “I Do, I Do” Habersham Community Theater Clarkesville 706.839.1315 habershamtheater.org WHITE COUNTY May 4th and each Saturday Saturday Evening Music Concert Series Unicoi State Park & Lodge Helen Info: 706.865.5356
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May 4th WineFest Habersham Winery Helen Info: 706.878.9463
May 25th Bavarianfest Festhalle, Helen Info: 706.878.1908 May 30th - June 1st Helen to the Atlantic Hot Air Balloon Race Helen Info: 706.878.2271 SNCA Sautee Nacoochee Info: 706.878.3300 www.snca.org May 1st and each Wednesday Intermediate Watercolors May 4th and the first Saturday of each month Blacksmithing Demonstration May 7th and each Tuesday Basic Drawing Class May 25th Pig Out and Pickin’ BBQ June 14th - 16th SNIFF - Sautee Nacoochee Infinitesimal Film Fest June 22nd Cheri Luhn in Concert Hardman Farm Historic Site Sautee Nacoochee Info: 706.878.1077 May 11th Annual Spring Concert May 18th Farm Animal Fun Day May 18th, June 8th Emory Jones Book Signing June 15th - Dairy Day June 23rd - Farm Camp
RABUN COUNTY May 4th and each Saturday Bluegrass on the Square Tallulah Falls Opera House Tallulah Falls Info: 706.212.0241 May 4th and each Saturday through October Clayton Farmers’ Market Food Bank of NE Georgia Clayton Info: 706.782.0780 May 4th Old School Garden 2nd Annual Spring Plant Sale 76W City Hall Complex grounds Clayton Info: 706.782.9730 May 4th Cinco de Moonrise Celebration Moonrise Distillery Clayton Info: 844.994.4759 May 13th Junior Chef Afterschool Foodbank of Northeast Georgia Clayton Info: 706.782.0780 June 1st 7th Annual Fur Ball Rabun County Civic Center Clayton Info: www.rabunpaws4life.com June 1st Mountain Ivy Garden Club Sidewalk Sale Rock House, Clayton Info: 706-202-3184 June 1st and each Saturday Community Market June 22nd Grand Opening Celebration Old School Park, Clayton Info: 706.782.5271 June 22nd Heritage Day Foxfire Museum & Heritage Center Mountain City Info: 706.746.5828 www.foxfire.com Tallulah Gorge State Park Tallulah Falls Info: 706.754.7981 May 4th, 5th, 11th, 12th, 18th, 19th Aesthetic Water Release May 18th, June 17th Full Moon Suspension Bridge Hike
Hatch Camp and Art Farm Clayton Info: 706.782.3747 May 4th - Spring Fling May 18th - Concert TOWNS COUNTY May 31st - June 2nd North Georgia Highlands Seafood Festival Mayors Park, Young Harris Info: 706.897.6179 June 8th - 9th Home & Garden Show 2019 Towns County Recreation & Conference Center Young Harris Info: 828.321.2111 June 29th - 30th Made in Georgia Festival Towns County Rec Center Young Harris Info: 706.896.4966 Crane Creek Vineyards Young Harris Info: 706.379.1236 May 3rd and each Friday Friday Evening Tapas & Acoustic May 18th - Clusterfest Young Harris College Young Harris Info: 706.379.4307 May 3rd “Rock the Dome II” at the Rollins Planetarium May 3rd, 5th Mountain Community Chorus Concert
UNION COUNTY
CLAY COUNTY, NC
May 4th and each Saturday Live Music Paradise Hills Resort and Spa Blairsville Info: 706.745.7483
June 7th and each Friday Night during the Summer months Friday Night Summer Concert Series Historic Courthouse Square Downtown Hayesville Info: 828.389.1181
May 11th FOCUS Festival 2019 Union County Farmers’ Market Blairsville Info: 877.745.5789
June 30th Starstruck Highlands Country Club Highlands Info: 828.526.2695 Smoky Mountain Center for Performing Arts Franklin Info: 866.273.4615; 828.524.1598 GreatMountainMusic.com
May 11th Downtown Outdoor Movie Night Downtown Square, Blairsville Info: 706.347.3503
May 7th and each Tuesday Contra and Square Dance
May 18th and the third Saturday of the month Cruise-In On The Square Downtown Blairsville Info: 863.414.5276
May 10th Concert - Frank Lee & Allie Burbrink
May 25th Memorial Day Parade On the Square, Blairsville Info: 706.745.6341
May 16th - Brasstown Ringers May 24th Dulcimer Celebration Concert
June 1st Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives
May 25th - 26th 2019 Spring Arts, Crafts & Music Festival Downtown on the Square Blairsville Info: 877.745.5789
May 31st Concert - The Moon and You
June 13th - Mountain Voices
June 8th - 9th 16th Annual Blairsville Scottish Festival & Highland Games Meeks Park, Blairsville Info: 706.745.2161
May 24th - 26th May 31st - June 2nd “The Music Man”
June 21st - 22nd Blairsville Pro Rodeo Union County Saddle Club Arena Blairsville Info: 706.435.8298
May 17th June 14th, 21st “Planet Nine” at the Rollins Planetarium
June 22nd - 23rd 13th Annual Mountain Fling North GA Technical College Blairsville Info: 706.896.0932
Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds Hiawassee Info: 706.896.4191 georgiamountainfairgrounds.com
June 29th Lake Nottely Boat Parade US Hwy 19/129 Blairsville Info: 706.745.3638
May 17th -18th Georgia Mountain Eggfest
John C. Campbell Folk School Brasstown Info: 828.837.2775
June 29th - 30th Highlands Village Square Art & Craft Show Kelsey-Hutchinson Park Info: 828.787.2021
May 18th Outlaws and Renegades Tour
Chattahoochee National Forrest Fish Hatchery, Suches Info: 706.838.4723
June 1st Gene Watson and John Conlee
May 3rd Fishing Rodeo for Veterans
June 6th Gail Bliss in Concert
June 7th Fishing Rodeo for Seniors
June 8th Happy Together Tour
June 8th Fishing Rodeo for Kids 16 & under
May 3rd Concert - Boomchuck Swing Time
May 11th Friends and Family Day
Peacock Performing Arts Center Hayesville Info: 828.389.2787 thepeacocknc.org
May 2nd - Trace Adkins May 18th Candid Camera Live: Eight Decades of Smiles May 25th - Dailey and Vincent
June 28th Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone Cowee School - Arts & Heritage Ctr. Franklin Info: 828.349.1945 May 18th Concert - Sierra Hull
June 8th - Songwriter’s Showcase
May 20th Cherokee Wars of the Cowee Valley
MACON COUNTY, NC
June 15th Concert - David Grier
May 10th - 12th Mother’s Day Gemboree Robert C Carpenter Community Building, Franklin Info: 828.349.2090 May 11th Airing of the Quilts Downtown Franklin Info: 828.524.7766 May 17th and each Friday Friday Night Live Concerts Town Square, Highlands Info: 828.526.2112 June 1st and each Saturday Saturdays on Pine Concerts Kelsey Hutchinson Park Highlands Info: 828.526.2112 June 13th - 16th Taste of Scotland & Celtic Festival Downtown Franklin Info: tasteofscotlandfestival.org June 20th - 23rd, 27th Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story Highlands Playhouse, Highlands Info: 828.526.2695
June 29th - Contra Dance Highlands Performing Arts Center Highlands Info: highlandspac.net May 10th, June 7th Great Art on Screen Series May 11th Metropolitan Opera - Live via Satellite - Dialogues Des Carmelites May 23rd - 26th May 30th - June 2nd “Calendar Girls” Highlands Cashiers Players June 1st National Theatre Live - All My Sons June 16th Concert - Mark O’Conner featuring the O’Conner Band June 21st - 22nd Travis LeDoyt June 29th Broadway’s Next Hit Musical
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Let This Home’s “Soul” Speak to Your Soul by John Shivers
R
ose Tarlow, an interior designer of some distinction, said once, “If eyes are the windows to our souls, then windows are the eyes into the soul of a house.” She obviously had the new home recently completed at 9153 Highway 76 West, convenient to Clayton, in mind. Located in a secluded cove of Lake Burton ideal for swimming and other lake-living opportunities, this 2,834 square foot home offers so many options for year-round living. But it’s the many windows that you see at first glance, that offer a glimpse into the soul of this one-ofa-kind home. From the outside, where a gentlysloping 1.09 acre lot has been landscaped with an emphasis on the natural, you’ll find yourself torn between the water and the home itself. With its many distinctive
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windows, some with interesting “eyebrows,” and a boathouse that’s also a cut above norm, this is one home that proudly struts its soul. The outside color palette takes its inspiration from the wooded
surroundings. A combination of stone and painted board-andbatten siding, wood shingles, and dark-stained accent timbers that surround and enhance the numerous multi-shaped windows, pay homage to the home’s Craftsman design roots. Inside, a neutral but warm white color scheme throughout sets the stage for comfortable living. In an arena where bright and white are synonymous with gracious living, these rooms feature nine-foot ceilings, accented by dark-stained heart pine floors and beams that crown the great room ceiling. A massive stack-stone fireplace anchors the room, and the use of horizontal shiplap siding in some places and drywall in others creates interest and contrast in a subtle but dynamic rustic fashion. Built-in bookcases add additional warmth, and sliding barn doors make yet another statement about the home’s design heritage. The kitchen is part of the great room and easily lends itself to entertaining. A large showcase island with bar seating for four, hand-painted cabinets in a putty-tone, and a farmhouse sink all set the parameters for this deluxe space. With solid-surface counters, a breakfast area, stainless steel appliances, including a double oven with convection cooking, cooktop, garbage disposal, refrigerator with icemaker line, and an indoor grill, meal prep is most convenient. A walk-in pantry, and an adjacent mud-room / laundry room, complete the layout. With three bedrooms, two full baths and one half bath, there’s ample people space. The spacious main-level master
suite features his and hers walk-in closets, and dual-panel sliding doors lead to the covered porch right outside. The luxury master bath includes double sinks, an oversize glassed shower, and a private water closet. Two additional oversize bedrooms on the upper level share a full bath. A bonus room plus the loft offer additional sleeping space. On the daylight basement level, with convenient outdoor access, you’ll find a bath and a second bath roughed in, in addition to a roll-up door on the boat storage area. The main level includes attached two-car garage space convenient to the kitchen. The drive is paved and there’s ample guest parking. The two-story covered boathouse at water’s edge is a mirrorimage of the house in style, color and finishes. It features Brazilian wood decking, two roll-up doors, vintage fixtures and up-lighting. To add to the versatility of this structure, there’s pre-wiring for a flat screen TV. It’s much more than boat storage; it adds yet another option for living and entertaining. Is the soul of this home speaking to you? For additional information on this piece of distinctive lake property, contact Meghann Brackett with Harry Norman, REALTORS® Luxury Lake and Mountain at 706-968-1870, or call the office at 706-212-0228. Reference GAMLS #8524773.
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Defining Custom & Quality Ramey’s Custom Cabinets by Tracy McCoy
H
ave you ever met a guy that everybody likes. That fella who you’ve never heard anyone say anything bad about? Me either, till now. I’d heard the name Toddy Ramey for a couple decades but had never met him. I had been told what an incredible craftsman he is and had even seen his work but had never met the man behind Ramey’s Custom Cabinets. A recent visit to Michael “Toddy” Ramey and his wife Elaine’s home helped me understand why everybody likes Toddy. I entered the cabinet shop first where I was welcomed and directed to the Ramey’s house, it was lunchtime so I figured Toddy was eating lunch. Thinking that I probably should have chosen another time so as not to interrupt lunch, I knocked on the door. A man came to the door and opened it waving me in to follow him, “Come on in, I am feeding babies” he said. I followed him to the dining table (custom handcrafted in his shop, no doubt). Sitting in the center of the table was a granddaughter and a jar of baby food and at his feet a grandson, recently fed and grinning. He offered me a seat and picked up the baby spoon and resumed “lunch”. I liked this man already! I found him to be genuine, humble and real. So real! I began asking questions and could not help but notice their home. It was warm and beautiful and filled with the love of a close knit family. The craftsmanship and custom details were evident in every room (I took a tour). The wormy chestnut cabinetry in the kitchen and the built in bookcases and beams and doors and bathroom vanities and oh Lord, I could go on and on. All of course made by Ramey’s Custom Cabinets. The story of how Toddy got his start includes two of Rabun’s finest, one being his own father, builder “Babe” Ramey and the other, expert cabinet maker, Robert Garland. “I worked with my dad through high school and I learned so much from him about building. After Elaine and I got married I knew I needed more dependable work not dictated by the weather.
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So I told my dad I was going to work with Robert Garland in his cabinet shop. I took notes and I learned everything I could from Robert who was one of the best at his trade.” It didn’t take long for me to realize that Toddy Ramey is at the top of his field. His work is well known for quality and truly gives custom a whole new definition. You know the old saying that behind every good man is a great woman, well Elaine and Toddy make a team. The Rameys have two adult children Josie and Ben both married with children. They have three grandchildren who they adore and a family dog who doubles as a shop dog. In the shop are family and friends who have worked alongside Toddy for years. Also in the shop is.an abundance of really unique woods collected over their 33 years in business. There are pieces in varying stages of completion and tools from the most basic to advanced machinery. The professionals at Ramey’s Custom Cabinets
build exceptionally creative, quality cabinetry and furnishings. Toddy’s list of clients range from old friends and people he has literally known all of his life to famous football coaches and country music singers who live in the mountains. He has outfitted the finest lake homes with cabinets and custom furniture and with the same attention to detail he has crafted cabinets for the home of my own family members. The true measure of a business is repeat customers and Ramey’s Custom Cabinets certainly has many of them. Having built the cabinets of grandparents, parents and now the next generation is an honor and one that they don’t take for granted. Toddy and Elaine attend Chechero Baptist Church where he is a Deacon. They serve, plain and simple. It is apparent in their home life, business, church and community. You’ve heard the term “salt of the earth”, well that describes this family and I can say I’ve joined the ranks, I can’t find one thing wrong with Toddy, and I am very impressed with Ramey’s Custom Cabinets. If you can dream it, they can build it. Give them a call (706.782.6384) to discuss your plans, you’ll be thankful you did. For more info take a look at their website www. rameyscustomcabinets.com or follow them on facebook @ rameyscustomcabinets.
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Answer the Knock: Own a “Real” Log Cabin By John Shivers
O
pportunity often knocks but once, and he who hesitates… well, you know what happens. In this case, opportunity is knocking loudly at the door of an antique home at 58 Archery Circle off Warwoman Road, east of Clayton. If the prospect of owning a classic piece of “old” Rabun County is on your bucket list, you’ll want to respond to this knock. This authentic log cabin has crowned a knoll about seven miles out from Clayton for almost ninety years. But because the expression “They don’t build them like they used to,” definitely applies in this case, this piece of Rabun history is standing tall, proud and sturdy, still providing shelter nearly a century later. This cabin isn’t from a kit. It wasn’t produced on an assembly line of cookie-cutter cabins. Instead, it was built by hand, “from scratch,” from quality, old Georgia hand-hewn pine logs. While there is some discussion on exactly when the cabin was raised, the majority of the indicators say it was 1932. That it is one of the few authentic cabins left in Rabun County isn’t in dispute. Can you hear opportunity knocking louder, with more insistence? Over the years, strategically-placed additions that respect the integrity of the original cabin have been built. While the newer portions have increased the living space to more than 1,300 square feet, there’s much of the old that’s been preserved and left undisturbed. Central to any cabin of its day was the fireplace that often served several purposes. The massive stone fireplace in the main portion of the house is original, and close inspection reveals an iron crane that once swung out to allow a pot to be hung on it, before being pushed back over the fire. While it’s still possible to use the fireplace, the home itself is both heated and cooled by more modern means.
Can you hear it?? That knocking is becoming more persistent. With two bedrooms and two baths, this house is perfect for weekend retreats from the hectic pace of everyday life, and it’s also ready to house you full time. With a country kitchen and washer / dryer connections, you’re more than ready to call this place home. Your home. In addition to the large living room there’s a dining area adjacent to the kitchen, and the hardwood floors, some of them original to the house, complete the rustic cabin theme. Two bedrooms provide sleeping space for several, and there’s even a bonus room. What vintage home would be complete without accumulating some historical trivia? This cabin itself doesn’t have any distinctive baggage. But at one time, a relative of the real Doc Holliday, sidekick of the real Wyatt Earp, lived next door. A man also lost his head, literally, when his angry wife came at him with an axe. This property of some five acres borders USFS Land in the beautiful and historic Warwoman area, named to honor Nancy Ward, the widow of a Cherokee chief, who rose to prominence in the Cherokee nation. There’s a flat area for a garden, stable, a corral, or a workshop / garage for your big boy toys. Paved roads access the home site, but you can still sit on the front porch and enjoy the privacy and the scenic mountain views. Go back in time. Own a piece of Rabun County history, your own piece of county history. Opportunity is knocking now.
Listing agent for this property now priced at $219,000.00 is Poss Realty agent Debra Thonton, who can be reached at 706490-2712 or at the office by calling 706-782-2121. Reference MLS #8497627.
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Introducing
John Dinos Lake Specialist
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ith more than 25 years of industry experience and backed by the support of the nation’s largest lake-focused real estate company, I am proud to serve the Lake Burton, Lake Rabun, and Seed Lake areas. I am passionate about two things in life: selling the lake experience and helping lake lovers attain the lake lifestyle they have always imagined. Having been around Rabun County, Georgia as a property owner and resident for 27 years, I am intimately familiar with the many nuances of the area’s lakes and communities, and possess in-depth market knowledge about current inventory, pricing and how each lake compares to the overall Georgia lake real estate market. Lake properties are special; buying and selling them requires specialization. I have the specialized knowledge necessary to facilitate these purchase and sale transactions, which often involve elements not common to ordinary real estate. Through LakeHomes.com, and precision web traffic data, we pride ourselves in bringing national exposure to all listings. With tools designed specifically for lake real estate, we market your homes and land directly to those buyers most likely to make an offer, many of which come from out of state. Whether you’re just beginning your search or you’re ready to make the leap, I am happy to be your source for all things lake homes and land. And if you think you’re ready to sell, please call me for an appointment today. We are the lake people, and I would be honored to be YOUR local lake real estate expert. - John Dinos John Dinos ASSOCIATE BROKER REALTOR® Lake Homes Realty, LLC (404) 314-4575 cell (205) 985-2991 office Website: www.LakeHomes.com Email: Jdinos@lakehomes.com
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Licensed Builders Essential to Home Building Building a new home is the largest investment most people will make in their lifetime, so it is important to get it right the first time. Choosing the best home builder for you and your project is essential to its success. There are many benefits of working with a qualified, licensed builder when building a new home or remodeling. It is one place that you want to be very careful about cutting corners. So, if you are considering being an owner-builder or saving money by hiring an unlicensed builder/contractor, think again. When you’re ready to build or remodel be sure to choose someone that’s licensed in Georgia. Not only will they bring experience to the table, they’ll bring integrity too. They’ll pull all necessary permits, carry liability/workers compensation insurance, follow good business practices, and will be more likely to finish the job right the first time. How do you find the right professional for your home? Start with the list below. The Georgia Mountain Home Builders Association has an extensive list of members, including licensed builders and associate members that cover every aspect of building that will be happy to help you. Visit them online at www.georgiamountainhba.com or call 706-7829260. You can check to see if your builder/remodeler has a state license at www.sos.ga.gov. Builder Members Rabun Austin & Butler Builders, Inc. Jeff Butler 706-490-1360 jeff_butler@windstream.net
Faletti, Inc. Paul Faletti 404-234-7987 pfaletti@bellsouth.net www.rockfordfarm.com
Rabun Builders, Inc. Kurt Cannon 706-746-3723 rbi@rabunbuilders.com www.rabunbuilders.com
Bear Gap Timber Structures Chrissy Laws 706-968-0775 chrissy@lawsrealty.com www.beargapcabins.com
GVickers Enterprises, Inc. Gregory Vickers 404-427-1140 greg@gvickers.com www.gvickers.com
Rabun County Board of Commissioners Erik Blalock 706-490-1555 eblalock@rabuncounty.ga.gov
Bill Griffin Construction Inc. Bill Griffin 706-982-0259 wng@windstream.net
Jeff Eller Construction Jeff Eller 706-490-2683 jeffellerconst@yahoo.com
Rabun Co. Habitat for Humanity Marcus Booker 706-782-9203 mkbooker@windstream.net
C.H. Builders Inc. Andrew Hunt 706-982-1700 chbuilders@windstream.net
Kilby Construction, Inc. Jerry Kilby 706-746-2459 salk@windstream.net
Rabun Remodel, LLC Jim Bogle 706-982-9114 www.rabunremodel.com
Charles Moore Builders, Inc. Chuck Moore 706-490-2098 cmbuilders@myemc.net
Larry Gipson Construction Larry Gipson 706-782-2448
Wood Brothers, Inc. Barry Wood 706-782-5689 abarrywood@gmail.com www.woodbrothers.org
Clay Contracting Chris Clay 706-982-2793 clay_chris@yahoo.com www.claycontracting.com Covenant Homes Inc Scott Williams 706-968-4833 swilliams@covenantcom.net mycovenanthomes.com David Dickerson Builders LLC David Dickerson 706-490-3953 ddickersonbldrsllc@yahoo.com Dennis Thompson Construction Jamie Thompson 706-490-0064 DTCCI@windstream.net www.lakemontdrydock.com Dresser & Associates Jay Dresser 706-490-2742 dresserj@windstream.net
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Larry Horton LTD Larry Horton 706-782-6735 hortonltd@windstream.net www.hortoncustomhomes.com 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
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 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
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 Concrete Foundations Bleckley Concrete Foundations, Inc. Scott Bleckley 706-782-9979 Morgan Concrete Co., Inc. John Morgan or Adam Brady 706-746-3011 or 706-969-8429 adambrady@morganconcrete.com www.morganconcrete.com
Taylor Concrete Foundations Max Taylor 706-782-4652
Heating & Air Northeast Georgia Heating & Air Randy Speed 706-782-7825 negahvac@windstream.net www.negahvac.com
Disposal/Site Recycle Metro Site, Inc./Metro Site Recycle Fred Mansfield 706-335-7045 fmansfield@metrositellc.com www.metrositellc.com
Home Technology Systems SoulCraft Systems Justin Vogel 404-590-7685 justin@soulcraftsystems.com www.soulcraftsystems.com
Mountain Lakes Rolloffs Steve Jones 706-949-9845 mountainlakesrolloffs@gmail.com
Insulation-Spray Foam AirTight Insulation of Northeast GA Chad & Kay Keller 706-202-7043 kayckeller@bellsouth.net www.insulationnega.com
RJ’s Concrete Inc. Ronald Brewer 706-982-0049
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 Exterminating American Pest Control Tim Culpepper 706-782-4113 timc@ampest.com www.ampest.com Floor Covering-Wood Richard Riggs Country Wood Works Wood Floors & More 706-778-WOOD(9663) 706-424-2689 m www.countrywoodworks.com Geothermal Byers Well Drilling Inc. Lon Dillard 706-781-4582 byers@brmemc.net www.bryerswelldrilling.com Grading/Excavation McCrackin Contracting Madison McCrackin 706-782-5087 McKay Grading Warren McKay 706-490-3153 kwmckay@windstream.net www.mckaygrading.com Nichols Contracting, Inc. Will Nichols 706-782-7798
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 JMZ Painting Co 706-982-1906 jmzpaintingco@gmail.com www.jmzpainting.com Paint-Retail Clayton Paint & Flooring Center Keith Toller 706-782-2741 135 E Savannah St, Clayton, GA 30525 claytonpaint@windstream.net www.claytonpaint.benmoorepaints.com 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 Bleckley Plumbing Bryan Bleckley 706-782-7132 Propane Gas & Appliances Blossman Gas & Appliances, Inc. David Deal 706-782-8305 ddeal@blossmangas.com www.blossmangas.com Real Estate Georgia Mountains & Lakes Realtors Association 706-776-1551 information@gmlrealtors.com www.gmlrealtors.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 Rabun Remodel, LLC Jim Bogle 706-982-9114 www.rabunremodel.com Roofing Georgia Mountain Roofing Jerry Taylor 706-490-1121 jerry@gmroof.com Septic McKay Grading Warren McKay 706-490-3153 kwmckay@windstream.net www.mckaygrading.com Stonework Classic Rock, LLC Will Clay 706-212-0369 North GA Stone, Inc. Larry Oden 706-745-5532 Email: larry.oden@northgastone.com Utilities Blue Ridge Mountain EMC Sonny Mahan, Darrin Ingram
706-379-3121 sonny.mahan@brmemc.com www.brmemc.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 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@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
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Joyful Growing Up
By Karla Jacobs
much. I remember playing with him on the floor under the quilts Mom made. We felt like we were so safe under there. Mom seemed to always be singing.Dad worked in cotton mills in North Carolina at this time of our lives. –Claudine Cantrell Of the stories Granny Cantrell tells about her childhood, this one haunts me in a way the others don’t. The sadness and loss in this early memory tug at my heart. I can imagine my grandmother, a “little mother” kind of child, waking up that morning eager to jump into taking care of her baby brother. What a shock to find him cold and still in his crib and her mother in the next room too sick to get out of bed. She must have been frightened and confused, poor thing, so the only thing she knew to do was stay close to her mother’s side while her dad and older brothers went to Harold’s funeral. I want to hug that sad, scared little girl.
M
y grandmother’s childhood was one filled with hardship and grief, but she was able to find happiness and joy despite it all. She wrote the following in her prayer journal:
One of my earliest memories of my childhood was waking one morning to find my little brother, Harold, age 1 yr. old, fully dressed lying in his crib. He wasn’t moving, he looked like a big white wax doll. He had died the night before with pneumonia. I ran crying into the next room and found Mother in bed sick with the flu. She hugged and comforted me and told me my little brother was in heaven. There were a couple of women with Mother. I guess they were neighbors who were helping Mom. Later Dad bathed Joe and Bob and took them with him and the people who took Harold, my little brother, away. I remember staying by Mom’s bed until they got back from the funeral. I don’t remember Mom weeping in front of us children. Her steadfast faith helped us to accept the fact that God had taken Harold to be with Him in heaven. A year later, another little brother named Bryon was born. A picture of him hung on the wall in our home until Mother died. He was a beautiful child with golden curls and big brown eyes. I loved him very
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My grandmother was born almost a century ago in 1920. Her family was one of the working poor, her dad a cotton mill worker and later a sharecropper. They scraped by and didn’t have much, but they managed. Her family knew heartbreaking sadness. Four of Granny’s siblings died in infancy or early childhood—little brother Bryon with the golden curls died of diphtheria—and at fourteen, she became the caretaker of the family when her mother died. It would be easy to grow up hard and bitter after such early brushes with grief, but that didn’t happen to my grandmother. She was an open and loving person. She was sometimes sad, and she had bouts of depression from time to time, but she also had joy. That’s how I remember her—always filled with a quiet joy. I look to Granny Cantrell’s example when my life gets tough. My family has recently come out of a period of mourning. In the final months of 2015, my husband’s sister, Jean, was killed in a car accident just a few days after her youngest daughter’s wedding. For us 2016 was that awful year of grief that marks the firsts—first birthdays, first holidays, first family reunion—of the new normal. A year and a half after Jean’s passing, my father-in-law died and the cycle began again. Last summer we lost our beloved Boykin Spaniel, Dixie, to cancer—a different kind of loss for sure, but a fresh period of grief nonetheless.
We are on the other side of it now and living in the new normal. My mother-in-law has found a home in a friendly retirement community. Our kids are growing up and making amazing plans for their futures. We got a new puppy for my birthday. Time moves forward. We adapt. Grief and sadness are side effects of living and loving. The Bible and personal experience bear that out. That hollowed out feeling that grief brings is a witness to that special connection to another human being that shapes who we are. I once heard a preacher say that we often understand the depth of our love for someone in the pain of their absence. We grieve because we love. This, to me, is the lesson from my grandmother’s story. Although grief is an unavoidable part of living, we can choose to keep our hearts open despite knowing that losses are going to come. There is still much joy in the world. The sad, scared little girl who became my grandmother found it.
Karla Jacobs is a freelance writer, a soccer mom, and a community volunteer with deep family roots in the North Georgia Mountains. When not writing about pop culture, policy, and politics, she can often be found hiking backcountry trails with her family. She lives in Marietta, Georgia with her husband and their two teenage children.
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Why Church?? By Joey Thompson, Pastor of Clayton Baptist Church
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e hear it all the time. Perhaps, you have heard these statements or have said it yourself. “Why be a part of a church?”
“Can I not just check out so-and-so preacher online? “I had a bad experience at X church. I don’t want to go there again.” “Mr. or Mrs. __________ might be at that church. I just cannot be around them.” “I have other more important things to do.”
1.God is Our Creator. He is the highest good there is. God is the greatest Being there is. God chose to love us. Genesis 1; John 3:16 2. Man was created to have a special relationship with God which we all ruined by turning against Him in sin. Genesis 1:27-28; Romans 3:23 3. Jesus was the perfect God-man who died in our place for our sins. He rose again on the the third day after having being seen by more than 500 witnesses. Proof. Facts. 1 Corinthians 15
To answer that question, it may be helpful to rewind the clock in Rabun County 200 years.
4. We must trust Christ by faith because of the proof of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection to escape the eternal punishment to come. We then receive eternal life and increasing joy forever. John 20:31
200 Years…
These 12 members offer us a great example:
Our church family is excited about our bicentennial this year! Clayton Baptist Church began as Stekoah United Baptist Church on Saturday, August 14, 1819. Think about it. What was Rabun County like 200 years ago? First of all, there was no Rabun County. Rabun County would be constituted on December 21st. Secondly, try to imagine what the land was like then. We are talking a wild, beautiful frontier. The Cherokee called it home. A handful of people had also settled here who were part of a young country called the United States of America. (Remember 1776 from history class?)
So, Why Church?
This small church family had 12 members who covenanted together to worship God together, grow in their relationship with Christ, and share the message about Jesus with this part of the world. We are grateful for them! What message did they share?
The Good of Other Believers: I am committed to my fellow Christians to love them, to encourage them as I change and grow. Being together regularly is an opportunity to pour into one another. To deprive your church of your presence is wrong. The same is true in a biological
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My Own Good: Being a part of a Bible-believing church is an encouragement to your own soul, that you are not just making up what you believe as you go along. Other people are looking out for your own good as well. For example, I belong to a gym where other people who work out there cheer me on and hold me accountable when I am off. Nothing is more important than knowing God. I work out much more successfully with others than by myself. Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”
family or a team. Hebrews 10:2425 “let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” The Good of Unbelievers: For those who are not there yet, our togetherness in love is a great testimony to the rest of the world. “By this all people will know you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35 Loneranger Christians just don’t make much sense if they are going to reach a lost world. Why? I don’t know everything or everybody. But, someone else might help me reach the world with the gospel that I might not.
Imagine a Rabun County if there had been no churches here 200 years ago? God is using His people here! I encourage you to check out the claims Jesus made about Himself and what He did for you to have eternal life with Him. Find a Bibleteaching church to find out more and answer questions. Trust Christ today. You see, this is what happened in my life. A church reached out to my family when I was very young and made a huge difference in our lives. After I trusted Christ in the summer between high school and college, church took on a whole new meaning for me. So, what do you have to lose? Dive in and become a part of that church family. Make a difference for eternity in them, our community, and beyond. Love ya!
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“ We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven, we have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God…We have become too proud to pray to the God that made us.” Abraham Lincoln
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.
A Nation Must Pray To those who have seen the ruins of numbers of ancient empires, they see that all those empires had one thing in common… They never imagined they would fall until it was too late! Sometimes destruction came slowly, sometimes virtually overnight. But come it did, and their world collapsed around them in a whirlwind of death, destruction and disaster. It is sobering to stand on the walls of these ancient cities and to wonder about the last thoughts of the terrified inhabitants as they saw the enemy approaching. What prayers did they utter for deliverance before their gods proved totally powerless? At what point did they realize their world was about to end? Sobering thoughts indeed! It is also sobering to realize that disaster doesn’t always come from the outside, but can as easily come from inside. One of America’s best loved Presidents, Abraham Lincoln, recognized this long before the bloody Civil War. While still a young man he proclaimed his concern for the future of his Country: “At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? By what means shall we fortify against it? Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant to step the ocean and crush us with a blow? Never! All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio River, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years! At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer: “If it ever reach us it must spring up amongst us … If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide”. Could a nation really die by suicide? Abraham Lincoln certainly believed so. This speech of warning launched a political career that ultimately took him to the White House. Another famous American president was Thomas Jefferson, one of the nation’s founding fathers and principal authors of the Declaration of Independence. He also understood the lessons of history and issued his own prophetic warning about our nation: “Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that His justice cannot sleep forever”.
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Today the United States stands at a crossroads, bitterly divided not only over its future, but over its past. We are in a cultural war with clear lines drawn. There are millions in our nation who want to rewrite the past and erase God from the future. When a nation once viewed as a shining city on a hill becomes more like Sodom and Gomorrah, and rotting in immorality, what does the future hold? What can we expect? In His Word, God asks an all-important question to a nation that once knew and had been greatly blessed by Him, but then turned its back on Him. “As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?” Ezekiel 33:11. God knows that a nation can commit suicide. He has seen it! When some nations that at one time knew Him, but they willingly choose to die rather than live! Since the end of World War II we have seen the strength of the oncegreat British Empire diminish in its territorial scope. Even the mother country itself is wracked with cultural disintegration and division as it has chosen a self-destructive path. The United States of America is following close behind. Abraham Lincoln’s warning was and is crucial. I also reflect with deep concern that America’s own people could be the “author and finisher” of their own national destruction, and with Thomas Jefferson, “I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that His justice cannot sleep forever”. These are sobering thoughts to contemplate. May we wake up to the growing danger before it’s too late and choose to turn to God and live! This has been a reprint of a very timely article: “Can a Nation Commit Suicide” by Scott Ashley. We need to be in prayer every day for our loved ones, for others in need who our God calls us to pray for, and for our precious America! RIVER GARDEN P.O. Box 112, Lakemont, GA 30552 706.782.5435 706.490.3063
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Adventure
Out
The Unicoi Lake Trail By Peter McIntosh
T
his month’s edition of the Georgia Mountain Laurel is the “Cabin & Cove” issue and with that in mind, we’re taking a walk on a nearby lake trail that features lots of coves and some nearby cabins. Cute little cabins you can rent, in fact. This month’s adventure is a nice and easy stroll on the Unicoi Lake Trail. This is a 2.5 mile loop trail that follows the shoreline around the beautiful 53 acre lake in Unicoi State Park near the alpine village of Helen. This trail is mostly level with a few small hills thrown in for good measure. In case you were wondering, Unicoi is a Cherokee word meaning hazy or fog draped, and I think these mountains are especially stunning when there is some fog clinging to the ridges. And there are lots of fishing / photography docks along this pathway giving you various perspectives of the lake. Before you set out on this trail, I strongly recommend you stop at the visitor’s center and pick up a tree identification guide. These handy booklets are free and correspond to numbered markers along the lake trail. It’s a great way to learn about the trees in the north Georgia mountains. There are several places to access this loop trail, one of which is from the parking area on the west side (towards Helen) of the dam. One reason this is a good place to start and stop is that there are restrooms at this location. The path winds along the lakeside, into coves and out to points and, as I mentioned earlier, there are lots of docks built out into the lake. Another cool feature of this trail is the floating bridge near the swimming beach. And if you want to do some more hiking after completing this 2.5 mile trail,
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drive up to the trail along Smith Creek leading to Anna Ruby Falls. Or if you’re really feeling athletic, try the Unicoi to Helen Trail or one of the many mountain biking trails. All of these trails are on the park map available at the visitors center. And non-motorized boating is allowed on this lake if you want to bring your canoe or kayak. This park features lodge rooms, cabins, campsites, picnic pavilions and much more. And there should be abundant wildflowers along this trail so you might want to bring a flower identification book with you. Happy hiking! P.S. After your adventure, may I suggest rewarding yourself with a relaxing message or other spa treatment at the Solasta Spa at the Valhalla Resort Hotel. The spa has a lovely “Quiet Room” that features a nice river photo by yours truly. See their ad on page 77. And now here on display, my poem for May: Spring is here and time to partake, In a nice pleasing walk around a clear mountain lake. Across the water you’ll see high mountain ridges, And fish swimming under the fun floating bridges. Getting there: From Burton Dam Road and GA 197 go 3 miles to GA 356. Turn right on 356 and go about 8 miles to Unicoi State Park. Unicoi State Park: www.gastateparks.org/unicoi 706-878-2201 Valhalla Resort Hotel: http://valhallaresorthotel.com/ 706.878.2200 To see more of Peter’s photos, or if you have a question or comment: www.mcintoshmountains.com
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Out of the
Blue Ridge
“The ‘Sole’ of a Horse with Pete Ramey” By Beth Fierberg
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any will agree that your quality of life can be directly proportional to the health of your feet. The same holds true for the hooves of a horse. Right here in Rabun County, Georgia, resides fifth generation Lakemont resident and predominant “horse podiatrist”, Pete Ramey,
How fortunate I was getting to know a true pioneer in the farrier and hoof rehabilitation business. Pete specializes in laminitis and navicular disease/syndrome and has worked on lame horses in over forty U.S states and seven countries. Pete’s ingenuity and dedication to his craft led to the writing of his book, Care and Rehabilitation of the Equine Foot, (Hoof Rehabilitation Publishing, LLC, 2011), in addition to creating instructional DVD sets on this subject which are often required education in farrier training and certification programs. Pete’s passion for all things equine began in 1994 while running a trail outfit business. At the time, he owned thirty horses but was giving all his money to a farrier. It prompted him to learn to shoe his own horses. Pete said, “In the beginning, I learned the basics of shoeing, but what intrigued me were the problems.” He became self-educated in hoof rehabilitation by going to a killer market in Tennessee. There, he would buy as many horses as he could fit into a long horse trailer; those that he thought were okay except for the foot problems. He gained knowledge by fixing their hoof problems and studying with many experts along the way. When Pete met his wife Ivy fifteen years ago, she helped change and improve his business tremendously. “At the time I met Ivy, I was maintaining 600 horses around this area. That is double what a farrier should be handling and what I handle now.” Ivy’s business acumen allowed Pete to diversify. He took on apprentices and built his website, hoofrehab.com, which allowed Pete to educate, hold clinics and make DVDs. This led to teaching engagements all over the world. “The whole thing took on a life of its own. It got really popular.” Equine nutrition is a huge part of his job. “I believe that over 90% of the hoof problems that I am called on are primarily due to nutritional problems. Educating horse owners on nutrition is most of it. A lot of people can trim hooves as well as I can, a lot of people can shoe a horse as well as I can, or better, but it’s that part that people miss, or they kind of are aware of it but don’t realize just how critical it is. “Mostly, a horse’s diet should be forage, grass, and grass hay. What I do is send off samples to a lab and do a custom forage analysis. Particularly, this area is blessed with very nutritious grass and hay. Wherever you go there will be tiny little [nutritional] problems (little holes) depending on where the hay was grown, where the grass is from, in that nutrition profile. Those holes wreck, not only a horse’s hooves, but skin, coat, ligaments, tendons, connective tissue, and immune function. Mostly what we are doing from a nutritional profile standpoint, is finding out what’s missing in the grass and hay, then supplementing that with individual vitamins and minerals. It usually saves people a fortune in supplements which contain a long list of nutrients that are not needed. That is half of it, and the other half of it is simple carbohydrate overload, which is the bad thing about our grass. It is very high in sugar. It is also really lush, and we have a lot of weather situations that spike grass sugars up and causes fluctuations which can wreck a horse’s hooves.” Pete says that analyzing the grass in your area or on your farm is easy and inexpensive. You can find instructions on where to send it by going to Pete’s website, hoofrehab.com, and scrolling down to his article entitled, “Feeding the Hoof”. “We are also in the fungal infection capital of the world, and it’s a big problem up here because of all the rain. Once again, nutrition grows healthier tissue, which helps to prevent it.” In addition to educating people on good nutrition, Pete and Ivy have also invented horse boots and shoes that are currently dominating the Tevis Cup, annual western desert endurance race: a one day, 100-mile race held in the northern California desert. Pete told me the high point of his career was when Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine conducted a scientific study based on Pete’s work called the Clinical Outcome of 14 Obese Laminitic Horses.” To Pete’s knowledge it is the only scientific study which proved “coffin bone rotation reversal” and “vertical sinking reversal” in all 14 horses in the study, all of which were restored to soundness. He said this is precisely why he will continue to do the work that he does. Pete made a life out of spotting problems in horses which makes it difficult, if not impossible, for him to watch horse movies or go to horse shows for pleasure. He is also at times a “ninja farrier”, who has climbed fences in the dark of night to trim the hooves of neglected horses. As I observed Pete work on horses, I was so impressed with the time he spent with them and discussing both their nutritional and operational needs with his clients. I asked Pete where he sees himself in the future. “I’ll probably write another book. After the kids are all grown, Ivy and I may travel the country, teaching clinics like we have in the past, but the more I travel, the happier I am being right here. There is no place on earth I would live other than Rabun County. Better than anywhere else. I’m just 51 years old, and my joints creak, but I’ve got decades of this left in me. I do this because I love 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.
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PAWS 4 Life By Mia Sharpton
I
t’s 5:27 a.m. and pitch dark with no sounds but a C-PAP blowing and light snoring. A small furry paw reaches out and touches my sleeping head. My eyes open and I am surprised to see that my cat, Zayda, has decided it is time for me to arise. Usually, my other cat, Trip, gradually wakens me early each morning by rubbing or leaning on my outstretched legs and saying “prrrrt” over and over. I appreciate my four legged alarms much more so than the annoying buzzing sound my clock makes! Has your family ever included a feline? Do you remember when you first brought a kitty home and they cautiously investigated every nook and cranny of their surroundings? Then, after a week or so of the newcomer settling in and getting used to the sights, sounds, and smells of the home, did they reward you by seeking you out? Maybe jumping onto your lap or sitting still enough for a decent head, nose, cheek, and ear massage? Creating lasting bonds with your four-legged friend is one of life’s true joys. If you haven’t experienced it, I highly recommend it. Each cat has their own style and unique personality. Most are quiet companions that don’t ask for much and are very independent. But when they come to you and look into your eyes, rub your legs and hug your calf with their tail, sweetly meow, and meet your hand halfway for a pat on their head, it is precious. Our family adopted Zayda and Trip from Rabun Paws 4 Life in January 2018. I believe one of the reasons we get along so well with our cats is because volunteers and kennel techs took the time to socialize with them. Our babies were some of the displaced animals at the shelter and living in a transient environment could stress them out. Everett, who loves on the animals, tested some of their likes and dislikes: would they allow a human to give them belly rubs? Could they be cradled in a human’s arms like a baby? Were they comfortable laying on a human’s shoulder and neck? (That last one reminded me more of a monkey than a cat, but what floats a kitty’s boat!) Volunteers were at the shelter oftentimes sitting in the cat rooms and playing with the
kittens, loving on the adults, wearing them like scarves, and being patient with the shy ones. Volunteers are the hearbeat of Rabun Paws 4 Life. They give unselfishly of their time by walking dogs during a Walkin’ Paws event or to play with puppies. Some are creative with a camera and introduce the shelter animals on social media. Others take part in large and small fund raising events, from the Fur Ball in June to an evening of serving and working for tips at a restaurant. Volunteers are much needed and appreciated during off-site adoption days as one animal is assigned per handler. Thank you to the Clayton business owners that volunteered their spaces for adoption events. Even if you want to help but maybe have allergies, you can volunteer by helping prepare the bi-annual newsletters for mailing. Every donated hour counts! I just want to say THANK YOU so much to the volunteers that came and loved on my fur babies while they were at Rabun Paws 4 Life. And Everett, neither of them mind belly rubs! Sweet! I have had the privilege of serving on the Paws 4 Life Board since late 2017 as CFO. As my time on the Board comes to an end, I’d like to acknowledge other Board members: Ara Joyce for asking me to consider the position and her boundless energy; Jennifer Marcellino for her encouragement and leadership; Carol Hughes for her friendship, database skills, and dry humor; Brenda Nash for her compassion and caring, Rebekah Krivsky for her dependability and faithfulness, Richard Moncus for his knowledge of laws and willingness to serve; and to those recently added Board members who said ‘Yes, I will serve.”, my heartfelt appreciation for your commitment. 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
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Join us for a wonderful evening…
A
re you ready to dance the night away, while shopping and dining? And the best part? You are doing this for a cause. So get your paws ready! It’s Fur Ball time! The Fur Ball is Rabun Paws 4 Life’s annual fund raiser. All proceeds go to benefit our shelter animals. We rely heavily on your donations to care for our abandoned, surrendered, abused, and neglected animals. Rabun Paws 4 Life is a no kill animal shelter that is dedicated to ensuring that all animals have a safe home. We
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By HollyBeth Anderson
provide education, spaying and neutering, as well as a place to volunteer that will calm you and our animals. For those in the community needing assistance with their existing pets, we aid them. We need you to continue our progress. Please consider donating and coming to our event. Please go to www.rabunpaws4life. com for all information and to donate. For more information please call or text: Terri Ryles at 850.830.2789 or HollyBeth Anderson at 706.490.1059. See you there!
Join us at the 7th Annual
Saturday, June 1, 2019 • 5pm • Rabun County Civic Center 201 West Savannah Street • Clayton, GA
Dinner • Wine & Beer • Live Music • Dancing • Live & Silent Auction • Sunday Attire Individual Reservations $40 • Children 12 & Under Free & 13 - 15 Years Old $15 Table Sponsorships • Four $250 • Six $350 • Eight $475 • Ten $600 Table Sponsorships • Each person at your table will receive a Free Beer or Wine ticket
Reservations Available On-Line at www.rabunpaws4life.com under Events, follow the link for Reservations Rabun Paws 4 Life Shelter • 261 Boen Creek Road • Tiger, GA 30576 • Mailing Address: P.O. Box 216 • Clayton, GA 30525 For information: Terri Ryles • 850-830-2789 • HollyBeth Anderson • 706-490-1059 The Fur Ball is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and its success is vital for us to continue spay/neutering all pets prior to adoption and providing the high standard of care that we demand for every pet at our shelter. We hope to see you there!
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Gatherings at Lake Rabun Oh,You are Going to Want It! By Tracy McCoy
I
f you live in this county you know what can happen when a group of people come together for the greater good. It is commonplace in Rabun County, people helping people. The lake associations on Lake Rabun, Lake Burton and Seed Lake are notorious for giving outstanding scholarships to Rabun County Students. The Lake Rabun Association began a large project to raise scholarship funds about a year ago. A cookbook. Sounds simple but this is not your ordinary cookbook. First of all it is beautiful, one you’ll display on a shelf when you aren’t using it. Secondly there are nearly 500 recipes under eleven categories which is impressive in itself. The big kicker, the part that makes this cookbook so valuable is that there is not a single recipe in it that was not prepared and taste tested. The best of the best made it into the cookbook. It had to make the grade and please the tastebuds of some pretty discriminate testers. This was a group effort with shoppers, those who prepared the food, the testers who gathered to sample and then the organizers and the very important part of putting it all together into this attractive hard bound book titled appropriately Gatherings at Lake Rabun – A collection of Favorite Recipes Celebrating Family Ties and Friendships. The image on the cover of the cookbook was taken by none other than Peter McIntosh and it is a lovely aerial shot of Lake Rabun. Inside are beautifully designed pages featuring great recipes that you’ll be eager to try. Recipe tasting parties were held in many homes over several months, coordinated by Dee McElroy and Betty King who also coordinated recipe tastings over an eight month period. All of this was done under the direction of a committee with sixteen members. Volunteers chaired different sections of the book, from Breads & Breakfasts to Sweets and Treats. The Junior Chefs and Kid-Friendly. chapter was such a nice addition to this family treasure because teaching children to prepare good food has never been more important. The list of other volunteers includes over 200 people who worked on various committees under the direction of the overall Chairman, Mary Boland, who expertly published the book including layout and design on behalf of the Lake Rabun Association. One of their greatest resources was the North Georgia Technical College’s photography department. Instructors, Jim Loring and Melissa Henderson brought their students into the homes when the recipes were prepared. Lake Rabun kitchens became photography studios with umbrellas and lights and cameras and students going to great measures to get the perfect shot to whet the appetites of prospective cookbook buyers. They did not disappoint. The photography in the book is outstanding!
Glazed Strawberry Bread
PREP 40 minutes COOK 50 minutes to 1 hour MAKES 1 loaf Strawberries are in! That’s a rallying cry for local cooks who rely on Osage Farms’ open-air produce market in Rabun Gap, Georgia. The strawberries come from their own fields. This moist and delicious recipe was given to me by a New Orleans friend. - Dee McElroy Bread 1 tablespoon turbinado, or raw sugar, for dusting the pan 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1⁄2 teaspoon salt 1⁄4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 large egg, at room temperature 3⁄4 cup sugar 1⁄4 cup packed brown sugar, light or dark 1 cup buttermilk (no substitutions) 1⁄3 cup vegetable oil 2 teaspoons vanilla 11⁄2 cups fresh strawberries, rinsed, dried, chopped into small pieces 1 tablespoon flour to toss with strawberries Glaze 1 cup powdered sugar 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla 2 tablespoons heavy cream or milk Gather all the ingredients and prepare the strawberries. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. Dust with the raw (turbinado) sugar. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Set aside.
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In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg and sugars until no lumps remain. Add in buttermilk, then oil, and vanilla, whisking well after each addition. Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry mixture, whisking gently until smooth. Do not overmix, as this results in a tough-textured bread. Toss the chopped strawberries with 1 tablespoon of flour. Gently fold the strawberries into the batter and place the mixture in the loaf pan. Check the bread at 30 minutes. If it is browning too quickly, cover with foil until done. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until bread tests clean with a toothpick. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. When cool, turn out onto a plate or heavy-duty foil. Make the glaze by whisking the sugar, vanilla, and cream together until blended and creamy. Immediately drizzle the glaze on top of the bread.
Notes & Tips
Covered tightly at room temperature, the loaf stays fresh for up to 6 days. It also freezes well. This recipe can be made as muffins: place in muffin cups and bake at 350°F for 16 to 18 minutes. Cool and glaze, if desired. Instead of greasing and flouring a cake pan or loaf pan, butter the pan generously and then “dust” with a little turbinado (raw) sugar. It helps the cake or sweet quick bread to release easily and it adds a hint of delicious, slightly crunchy texture to the edges, making it extra special.
With a desire to keep the project local, the committee chose Happy Jack Graphics in Clayton to oversee printing and binding the books. They were more than pleased with the professionalism of Mark Waterhouse and his staff, mentioning especially Lee Carpenter who worked closely with them to achieve the product they hoped for. Bravo to Happy Jack on another job well done! The project, while extensive and no doubt a lot of work, is a huge success and believe me when I tell you that you are going to want a copy of Gatherings at Lake Rabun for your cookbook collection. Even if you don’t own a spatula and never go in
the kitchen, you still want to support this effort because in doing so you are investing in Rabun County’s young people. Thank you Lake Rabun Association for your efforts and all that you do for your community. You are appreciated! I chose a couple recipes from my copy (that wasn’t easy) to share with you. There are several ways to purchase your cookbook, one is through the Lake Rabun Association website (www.lakerabun.org) or you can pick up a copy in Clayton at Reeves Hardware Company, at Butler’s or at Mary’s Lake Rabun Trading Company NGTC Photography Class in Lakemont. The book is a great value at $29.99 plus tax and it makes a great gift! (Remember Mother’s Day is May 12).
Ginger Beer Pulled Pork
PREP 10 minutes, plus seasoning COOK 6 to 8 hours SERVES 10 So, so easy to do! This ginger beer pulled pork is a simple, prepare-ahead entrée when you don’t want to spend time in the kitchen. Serve with rice for dinner, or use the shredded pork for barbecue sliders, tacos, or burritos. A favorite recipe for parties, tailgates and picnics. - Mary Boland 1 (5-pound) Boston butt 1 cup spice rub (make your own rub or use a favorite brand) 1 large sweet onion, quartered 1 (16.9-ounce) bottle ginger beer 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon Barbecue sauce (optional) Pulled Pork Rub 1 tablespoon mild paprika 11⁄2 teaspoons hot paprika 2 teaspoons light brown sugar 1⁄2 teaspoon celery salt 1⁄2 teaspoon garlic salt 1⁄2 teaspoon dry mustard 1⁄2 teaspoon onion powder 1⁄4 teaspoon salt 1⁄4 teaspoon black pepper Rub the meat generously, using 11⁄2 tablespoons of rub per pound of meat. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours, preferably overnight, to let spices work into the meat.
Remove the meat from the refrigerator when ready to cook. Place the onion quarters in the bottom of a slow cooker large enough to fit the meat. Pour in the entire bottle of ginger beer before adding the meat. Stir in one tablespoon of ground cinnamon. Place the meat, fat-side up, on top of the onions to keep the meat off the bottom of the pot. Cook 8 hours on low (or 6 on high, but low is best). Remove the meat from the slow cooker and wrap tightly in foil. Set aside and let cool before pulling. When ready to pull, place the meat on a cutting board fat-side up and remove the top fat layer. Pull the remaining pork with two forks, discarding any fat pieces. Optional Step: While the meat is cooling, skim fat from the liquid in the slow cooker and reduce in a saucepan. Add a little bit of your favorite barbecue sauce to the liquid and put the pulled pork back into the sauce to keep it nice and moist.
Notes & Tips
For a super simple 3-ingredient pulled pork recipe, just place your pork butt in the slow cooker with a bottle of ginger beer, a spoonful of cinnamon and a few drops of liquid smoke. Enjoy a wonderful day on the lake and a fussfree supper. For an easy way to skim the fat, put a few lettuce leaves in the slow cooker and watch the fat cling to them.
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A Taste of the Mountains
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Bon Appétit Come to Brunch by Scarlett Cook
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ay is a busy month with graduates, brides, and of course, mothers. If you find yourself volunteering to host an event, one of the easiest to do is a brunch. Unlike a breakfast, not all of the food needs to be piping hot, so that makes it easier to visit with everyone and get to enjoy your event. Congratulations to all May’s honorees and best wishes from Scarlett Cook.
Rise and Shine Muffins Makes 14 – 16 muffins 1 Cup vegetable oil 3 Extra large eggs 2 Teaspoons vanilla extract 2 Cups grated carrots 1 Granny Smith apple, grated 1 8-Ounce can crushed pineapple, well drained 1/2 Cup chopped pecans 1/2 Cup sweetened shredded coconut 1/2 Cup golden raisins 2 1/4 Cups plain flour 1 1/4 Cups sugar 1 Teaspoon ground cinnamon 2 Teaspoons baking soda 1 Teaspoon salt Preheat oven to 350˚. Line two regular sized muffin pans with paper liners. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, oil, and vanilla. Add the carrots, apple, pineapple, pecans, coconut, and raisins and stir. In a medium bowl sift together the flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir just until combined. Fill the muffin liners about two thirds of the way full. Baked 30 – 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool pans on a baking rake and serve warm or at room temperature.
Italian Iced Coffee Makes 2 – 3 servings 2/3 Cup strong brewed coffee 2 Tablespoons Sugar in the Raw (or light brown sugar) 1/3Cup half-and-half 1 1/2 Cups ice cubes Cocoa powder Put the coffee and sugar in a measuring cup and stir until the sugar dissolves. Add the milk and pour the mixture into a blender. Add the ice and blend on high speed for 45 – 60 seconds (or until the mixture is smooth). Pour into 2 – 3 glasses and dust with cocoa powder.
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Tomato Salad with Ricotta Serves 6 2 Cups ricotta cheese 3 Green onions, white and green parts chopped 2 Tablespoons minced fresh dill (or 1 tablespoon dried dill) 1 Tablespoon minced fresh chives (or 1 teaspoon dried chives) Salt & pepper 3 Pints grape tomatoes 1 Teaspoon minced garlic 1 Tablespoons olive oil 1/2 Cup chopped fresh basil leaves In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, onions, dill, chives, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and set aside for 30 minutes. Cut the tomatoes in half. Place them in a bowl with the garlic, olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and set aside. When ready to serve, add the basil to the tomatoes and stir. Using a slotted spoon, place the tomatoes on a serving platter and spoon the ricotta mixture in the middle of platter. Creamy Bleu Cheese Grits Serves 6 1 1/2 Cups 5 minute grits 2 Cups half-and-half 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter 3 Ounces Bleu cheese, crumbled Salt & pepper
*This dish can be made early and reheated with a tablespoon of water to serve later.
Bring 6 cups of water to a full boil. Add 1 tablespoon salt and slowly add grits, whisking them constantly. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 – 7 minutes stirring occasionally until the grits have thickened. Add the half-and-half and butter and stir. Bring the grits back to a boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer for about 45 minutes stirring occasionally, until smooth and creamy. Remove from heat and stir in the cheese, 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of pepper.*
Roasted Shrimp Serves 6 – 8 2 Pounds large shrimp (16 – 20 count), peeled and deveined with tails Olive oil Salt & pepper Preheat oven to 400˚. Dry the shrimp well with paper towels. Place them on a sheet pan. Combine 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Pour over shrimp, coating well. Spread shrimp in single layer. Cook for 10 minutes until firm and cooked through. Serve hot or warm temperature.
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The Family Table by Lorie R. Thompson
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was fortunate to have grown up in Rabun County. My parents lived in the Wiley community, and I was surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles, and a multitude of cousins. My dad raised Black Angus cattle, chickens, hogs and a vast garden to supply our family with quality food. My Mother was an excellent cook, and our table was laden with great food. Now, the downside of these home-grown family foods were the chores. My chores included tending acres of field-corn grown each year for the horses and cattle, delivering hay bales, and carrying buckets of grain and water. I made many trips to the hog lot with buckets of food scraps and feed. While I didn’t always love the chores, I learned the reward of farming and having great food to eat and share. Sadly, I no longer have my dad to provide me with home-grown beef. He spoiled us with his quality beef. Grocery store beef does not have the same level of flavor, so I was thrilled when I made a recent discovery of Dixon’s Cattle Farm. Jordan and Samantha Dixon are a young couple carrying on the Dixon family’s tradition of Rabun County farming. They raise and sell their beef here in Rabun. I recently picked up a couple of Flank Steaks from Samantha to cook for dinner. I ended up having a larger crowd than expected and had someone pick up one more steak from the grocery store and we held our own taste test. My family agreed there was no comparison in the quality of taste between the steaks. The Dixon Cattle Farm flank steaks were outstanding. I was transported back to my parents home and the pleasure of eating home-grown, quality beef. Let me share with you a fantastic marinade and dry rub that you can use for beef flank steak, skirt steak or brisket: 2- 3 T fresh squeezed lime juice, 2-3 smashed garlic cloves, 3-4 T of olive oil, 2 tsp salt.
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Place steaks and marinade in a gallon storage bag and place in the refrigerator 4-6 hours. For a thick brisket, double the recipe and marinate overnight.
made with eggs and whole milk. It features layers of thin sliced, ripe bananas and crunchy Vanilla Wafers with a warm, sweet meringue on top. Let me share with you my family recipe.
To make the spice rub combine 1/4 C dark brown sugar, 3T dry mustard, 1T Kosher salt, 1T smoked paprika, 1T Ancho chili powder, 2 tsp granulated garlic, 2 tsp granulated onion powder, 1 tsp dried thyme, 1/4 tsp cayenne, and 1/4 tsp black pepper.
In a large boiler, add 3T plus 1 tsp of self-rising flour. (I know you would expect to use AP flour but try it with the self-rising) , a dash of salt (1/8 tsp), and 1 C of sugar. Stir the dry mix to incorporate the flour into the sugar until no lumps remain. Separate 4 large eggs, reserving the whites for the meringue. In a bowl add 3 1/2 Cups of whole milk and the 4 egg yolks. Whisk together the milk and yolks until thoroughly mixed. Add the milk mixture to the sugar and flour mix in the boiler. Cook over medium heat while stirring constantly, until the custard begins to thicken. Just as you see the first bubbles of a boil, remove from the heat and add 1tsp of vanilla extract.
Remove the beef from the marinade and pat dry with a paper towel. Coat the steak with a light layer of the Sugar and Spice Dry Rub. Grill over hot coals to the desired temperature. Allow the meat to rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Slice the steak across the grain and into thin slices. This is delicious served with a Blackberry, Balsamic and Port Wine Reduction Sauce.I shared that recipe in the Family Table article in the December 2017 Georgia Mountain Laurel magazine, and it can be found in their online archives. While I was on my trip down memory lane, I started thinking about my Mama’s Banana Pudding. Everyone who was raised in the South will have a favorite memory of their aunt, grandmother or mother’s Banana Pudding. It has been a staple at every family reunion and churches social my entire life. Sadly, this has changed in the last 10 years. Now, the Banana Pudding is served chilled, and it has box-made vanilla pudding and cool whip instead of warm, egg custard, and meringue. This new fangled, chilled pudding is okay, but it should have another name. It is NOT a real Banana Pudding. The Banana Pudding in my heart is served while still warm and has this ultra-rich and creamy vanilla custard
In an oven proof bowl or casserole, make a layer of 1/3 box of vanilla wafers and 1-2 thinly sliced bananas. Cover with 1/3 of the custard. Layer wafers, bananas, and custard until you have used all the ingredients. When making a meringue, the egg whites should be at room temperature. Make sure there is no yolk or egg shell in the egg whites. Using a clean mixing bowl and mixer, start beating the egg whites at medium speed. Add 1/2 tsp of cream of tartar. (The cream of tartar is optional, but it helps hold the meringue together.) Add 1/3 cup of sugar one tablespoon at a time. Continue to beat egg whites until stiff peaks are formed. You can tell this because the beaters start to leave a trail in the egg whites. Stop the mixer and pull up beaters to check. If the peaks stand up and stay up, it is ready. Spread over the custard
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and place in a pre-heated 425-degree oven until the meringue is browned. (This only takes a few minutes. Watch it carefully.) Serve warm if possible. Note that the photographs are of a double batch. This recipe is easy to double. I enjoyed my trip down memory lane while I wrote this and prepared this food. I miss my parents and my childhood home. I realize as a grown-up and nearing old age, that I was blessed in so many ways. I lived in an atmosphere of love and abundance. Always plenty of anything that we needed, some of what we wanted and always love and respect for each other. Our entire family worked hard, played hard, prayed together and shared many happy meals at our family table. We were abundantly rich and blessed in all that matters. May you and your family be abundantly rich and blessed in all that matters. Enjoy some warm Banana Pudding at your own family table. Lorie Thompson is a REALTORŽ at Poss Realty in Clayton, Georgia. Her expertise in her industry is second only to her culinary talents. Lorie is a dynamo in the kitchen. Honestly if she prepares it, it will likely be the best you’ve ever had! Lorie and her husband Anthony (Peanut) make their home in the Persimmon community. She is the proud mother of Joe Thompson and Kendall Thompson.
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May 2019 - 73
A Sip into the Past
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s Rabun County celebrates its bicentennial in 2019, it is worth noting the unique story of one of its distilleries. Located in historic Dillard, you will find a traditional copper pot distillery known as R.M. Rose. It is named for a Connecticut doctor that served in the Civil War with the Confederate Army. As the city of Atlanta began to rebuild after the destruction caused by the war, Dr. Rufus M. Rose applied his love of distilling small-batch whiskeys and founded R.M. Rose Company. Known as a perfectionist when it came to quality and taste, he is attributed to being the first to age corn whiskey using charred barrels in this region. Fun fact: one of the key differences between bourbon and whiskey is bourbon must be made from 51% corn and be aged in charred virgin American white-oak barrel, while whiskeys do not. Prohibition closed the distillery doors during the 1920s, forcing Rose to start again in neighboring Tennessee. With new legislation in Georgia over the last decade, the operation of distilleries to produce bourbon and whisky has become legal again. The R.M. Rose name was reborn and is operated by a group of investors. They are committed to producing the same quality spirits that Dr. Rose had become known for in the past. When you visit R.M. Rose, request a tour and sample their awardwinning whiskey and bourbons. Also, you will see their collection of clay bottles bearing the company logo, which were used to conceal the contents during its original operation in pre-prohibition Atlanta. In this month’s cocktail recipe, I am using a corn whisky named for the Sudderth family patriarch, George Sudderth, to make a mint julep (the official beverage of the Kentucky Derby). Try the recipe below using another local ingredient, Farm2Cocktail strawberry peppercorn shrub, as a variation to this classic cocktail. Cheers, Carlton
Mint Julep (the official beverage of the Kentucky Derby) Leaves from 4 to 5 sprigs of mint 1 ounce Farm2Cocktail Strawberry Peppercorn shrub 2 ounces George Sudderth corn whiskey or your favorite R.M. Rose bourbon Place the mint and shrub into a julep cup, collins glass or double rocks glass. Muddle to release the oil and aroma of the mint. Add the whiskey or bourbon. Fill with ice (preferably crushed) and stir well until the glass becomes frosty. Garnish with the mint sprig.
carlton@faarm2cocktail.com for cocktail classes, tasting events and special occasions
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May 2019 - 75
“Live Healthy and Be Well!”
Colorectal Cancer Awareness Stephen Jarrard, MD, FACS
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lthough you may be reading this in May, I am writing it in March – which is Colon Cancer (or Colorectal Cancer - CRC) awareness month. This is such an important topic, it is worth re-visiting it and putting out the word. For CRC, as any type of cancer, every month can and should be “awareness month!” We now consider CRC a preventable type of cancer. So, with proper diet, exercise, minimization of risk factors, regular checkups, and appropriate screening exams, your risk of CRC can be minimized or avoided altogether. CRC results from uncontrolled cell growth that usually starts in the wall of the large intestine (colon), lower in the rectum, or even the appendix, which protrudes off the first part of the colon called the cecum. CRC can be totally spontaneous in an individual or result from genetic predisposition. If you have a primary relative (parent, sibling, or child) that has CRC, your personal risk is increased by a factor of 2 or 3. You are also more at risk if you have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) such as Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis. Additional risk factors include older age, male gender, high intake of fat, consumption of alcohol and/or red meat, low fiber diet, obesity, smoking, and a lack of physical exercise – so adjust these in your favor as much as possible! CRC is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world, and the fourth most common cause of worldwide can-
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cer death after lung, stomach, and liver cancers. It is more common in developed countries – most likely due to diets containing more processed foods, fats, and less fiber. In the United States, 5% of people will have a form of CRC in their lifetime. It is currently thought that most CRC’s initially begin their course as small, pre-cancerous polyps on the wall of the colon or rectum. Over time (10 to 15 years), and with certain changes, these polyps may undergo mutation into malignant tumors which will then, through the process of uncontrolled growth, become invasive and can actually penetrate through the colon and invade nearby tissue or other organs. During this process of cancerous growth, the malignancy can also spread through the lymph node system and result in metastatic tumors far from the site of the original cancerous growth, for CRC this is most often in the liver, lung, and brain. Symptoms of CRC depend on the location of the tumor in the bowel, and whether or not it has invaded the wall of the colon and began to spread to other sites. Common symptoms most often include some blood in the stool, vague abdominal pain, anemia, worsening constipation or decreased caliber of the stool, and can be accompanied by unexplained fevers, weight loss, and night sweats. If you have any of these symptoms, please consult your health care provider for a more indepth examination (no pun intended). We find that the diagnosis is more common in the 7th decade of life (in your 60’s). Because of that factor, we believe it is best to start screening at age 50. So, when you turn the big Five-O, your birthday present from the house of medicine is a colonoscopy! This is an outpatient procedure that requires a pre-procedure office visit where your history can be obtained,
an general exam performed, and you will be given instructions and something to drink the day before your procedure. There are various ways to “prep” you for the procedure, but there is a need to have your colon as clean as possible to allow visualization through the scope. The procedure itself will be done under deep sedation and with some pain medicines, and you will not feel or remember anything. During your scope, if any of these small polyps are found, the doctor can remove them on the spot, thus preventing them from ever having the chance to “turn” malignant. Anything suspicious can likewise be biopsied to obtain a definitive diagnosis. As with all cancers, early detection greatly increases the chance of cure, so it is in all our best interests to do just that. As a final note, if you had a primary relative with CRC, you need to get your initial screening colonoscopy 10 years prior to the age your relative was diagnosed, just to be on the safe side. So, let any of the calendar months remind us to be aware of CRC! Eat a healthy diet, including high fiber and low fat (always good advice), get regular exercise, limit risk factors for CRC that are under your control, and get regular checkups, including a screening colonoscopy when you are due, and you will have the upper hand against colorectal cancer! 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!
Healthy and Well
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The Benefits of Forgiveness and In-Law Relationships by Mandi Pileski
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f all the relationships in family life, the one between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law can be the most tenuous. These relationships can be hugely complicated for a variety of reasons and perfect soil for growing resentments, which are difficult to forgive. Such resentments are often initiated during high stress transitional times like weddings and births. Of course, these times also trigger periods of conflict between biological parents and offspring and conflicts are not limited to these events. Other squabbles over money, land, funerals, and hurtful words abound, but I find the mother-in-law/daughterin-law dynamic most intriguing. I even joke with friends about offering pre-marital mother-in-law/daughter-in-law retreats because I believe so many uncomfortable feelings and dynamics between these duos need to be validated and normalized. Anger is a secondary emotion and usually follows an event triggering other feelings. It is easier to be angry with a motherin-law than to acknowledge difficult feelings of anxiety or worry about the wedding specifics. Similarly, mothers oftentimes experience a very real underlying feeling of “loss” regarding their child, but aren’t expected to be “sad” at weddings, so clearly subconscious frustration with the woman who is taking their child away is the perfect scapegoat. Also, these events such as weddings and births are steeped in traditions of families and cultures that sometimes vary between joining partners. There you have it – a perfect recipe for disaster! Births also evoke a lot of anxiety for in-laws. Did you know post-partum anxiety is actually much more common than post-partum depression? You take a mother’s insecurities and worries about raising her children and throw in a mother-inlaw’s desire to be needed and to help spread their traditions, and again you find yourself standing in a mess of a situation. Even being well trained in human behavior does not prevent the pitfalls of in-law relationships. I will spare you the details and just acknowledge my post-partum period after the birth of my daughter was a particularly challenging time in my family. Being from Clayton, GA and marrying a man with a mother
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from Long Island, New York – there had to be challenges, right?! We all know about the conflicts between North and South, and let us just say there are just as many opportunities for conflict between a Northern Mother-in-law and a Southern daughter-in-law. The “Stuckness” of an unhealthy family dynamic can feel overwhelming and impossible to mend, but I promise there is a way if both parties are willing. Eight years post marriage and three children, I am happy to report I have an authentic, loving relationship with my mother-in-law. I cannot guarantee she feels the same way about me, but that is her story to tell. My theoretical insights and personal thoughts on in-law relationships are below: 1. Have empathy for yourself and others: becoming a wife or a mother for the first time is not easy. Have empathy for your mother-in-law because gaining a daughter-in-law and/or the transition of a new grandbaby can be a challenging road too. Mother-in-laws, remember you once stood in their shoes. You may have forgotten about the vulnerabilities and fears of judgment when you married or became a mom for the first time. Be gentle and kind. 2. Do not be reactive: Allow your values of the type of motherin-law or daughter-in-law you ideally hope be guide your actions. If you react to your assumptions or your interpretation of your in-law’s behavior, you will likely end up less happy with yourself. 3. Treat others the way THEY want to be treated: Hurt feelings are often caused when we interpret the behaviors of others through the lens of how we feel people should be treated. When in doubt ask explicitly about the wishes of others, search for areas of compromise, establish healthy boundaries, and agree to disagree when necessary. 4. Understand the opposite of love is apathy, not hate: If you are feeling “hooked” into conflict with an in-law, this tells you somewhere within you there is care and concern for the relationship and person. Use this as a seed of hope in growing your relationship. 5. Do not give up too soon and conclude forgiving is not for you. Keep trying even when it is hard. A natural resurgence of unforgiving feelings is to be expected. It is like relapsing with
an eating disorder or alcoholism – relapse is part of a recovery process. Just because you have a setback does not mean you are not capable of forgiveness. Forgiveness is something that happens inside of you and allows you to let go of the conflict that causes undue stress. Research has shown that forgiveness such as this is linked to mental health outcomes such as reduced anxiety, depression, and major psychiatric disorders, as well as with fewer physical health symptoms and lower mortality rates (Weir, 2017). Like my parents always told me, you don’t just marry the person – in some ways you marry the entire family. This being said, I think the potential barriers also provide great opportunities for deeper, more satisfying, authentic in-law relationships.
If you or someone you love could benefit from psychotherapy and want to seek treatment with Dr. Pileski, call 404.291.4018.
It’s not selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself, and to make your happiness a priority. It’s necessary.
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Deciphering Your Body’s Messages
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met an oncology physician the other day. Let’s call her Dr. S. She came to me for a massage. As we discussed her needs for the session, she seemed scattered and stressed. She mentioned she just wanted to relax and said her tension tends to be worse in her shoulders and neck. When I asked her if it was easy for her to relax she replied, “Oh no, I can’t relax. It scares me because I keep hearing about mindfulness and how research is showing that it is as important for preventing illness as what we eat and how we sleep.” “What is mindfulness?” she asked looking puzzled and frustrated. “Where do I even learn about it?” I can imagine that the research available these days supporting spiritual practices such as mindfulness as essential for health and long life is puzzling to people that have had to push themselves through medical school & internships. I coach a lot of physicians, PAs and nurse practitioners that have experienced burnout and become disillusioned and detached from the reasons they wanted to become healers in the first place. They speak of their professional development as being traumatic and torturous. Luckily, there are others like me that have spent our careers learning and developing simple techniques for calming the nervous system through awareness and recognition. I guided Dr. S through the “Climbing Back into Her Body” technique while she received her therapeutic massage. You may recall the 3 easy steps from my article last month “Body Can Heal Your Soul”. Then I continued with a breath awareness helping her to exhale all the way and follow the natural rhythm. She deeply relaxed, maybe for the first time since medical school. After her session, we discussed how our body’s tension and discomfort is its way of communicating to us that balance is needed. She had never considered that our bodies have a language and that especially when it is in distress the communication is loving and trying to help us. This concept is counterintuitive and yet, is the biggest breakthrough in medicine today. In fact, the solution to harmful stress is so obvious, that we humans have a hard time believing it, nevermind practicing it.
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This month’s practice is called Deciphering Your Body’s Messages. Once again, this technique is so simple and so effective. When your body feels uncomfortable, stomach is in knots, heart rate is rapid, your breathing is shallow, it’s a message to you is to stop whatever you are doing and take 3 conscious breaths and listen. These physical feelings are your body’s way of telling you that it is in “fight or flight” mode. So, unless you are being chased by a rabid wolf or jumping out of the way of a speeding vehicle, it is better for your health to get calm. I have shared this enough to know your next response! “I don’t have enough time to stop what I am doing!” I promise, this will take just a few minutes. It will make you more efficient and save you time. Give it a try. Deciphering Your Body’s Messages Step One: stop what you are doing. Step Two: Climb back into your body and feel your feet for 60 seconds. Step Three: Notice your breath. Follow your inhale all the way to where it becomes an exhale and follow your exhale to your inhale. If your mind wanders somewhere unpleasant, begin again until you can gently notice 3 breaths. Step Four: Ask your body what it needs and then give it. Notice, are you thirsty? Hungry? Exhausted? Ache? Give it water, food, rest, and movement. The answer to your wellness is so simple that you may not believe its true, but it is. Listen to your body! Want more? Send me an email and I will deliver more techniques and opportunities for wellness to your inbox. Kitty@KittyFlewelling.com www.KittyFLewelling.com - 828-200-0747
Kitty Flewelling is a Master Life Coach, Yoga & Pilates Therapist, Master Massage Therapist and Wellness Educator.
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From the Rabun County Historical Society
What’s an Ordinary?
Bob Vickers – 1930
Bob Vickers – 1945
t is likely, if you are not a long-term resident of Rabun County, a reference to an elected official known as the Ordinary seems mighty strange. The Ordinary was over the Court of Ordinary. He was to serve the needs of the ordinary person. He was available to the citizens to come and state their concerns and work toward reasonable solutions. In 1868, Rabun County elected its first Ordinary, W. H. Simons. In essence, he served the job of a one-person commissioner.
county had funds to build a courthouse, Daniel Love’s home served as the place to hold elections and conduct the business of the courts. Money for building the courthouse and jail was slow to accumulate. The census of 1820 counts only 524 residents, including men, women and children. The tax base for the county was very small. It was not until 1824 that the county was able to begin construction of a twostory log courthouse and a separate log-constructed jail. Both were located on Clayton’s Main Street and in the public square.
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The question arises, if Rabun County was established in 1819, who was taking care of county business before the Ordinary? When the county was created, the Georgia Legislature instituted an Inferior Court consisting of five elected justices to carry out county business. Among other things, the justices were responsible for selecting a site for the county seat and constructing a courthouse and jail. Until the
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By 1868, managing the county affairs through the justices and clerks of the Inferior Court was no longer adequate. The population of the county had grown and needs changed. The legislature formed a new form of government for the county authorities. The Court of Ordinary was formed and would be administered by a newly elected county official known as the Ordinary. In addition to proofing wills and
Vickers memorial stands across from the courthouse the current Ordinary, Frank A. Smith, who had been the county’s Ordinary for fourteen years. Smith and Vickers fought a “hot race” in the Democratic primary. Vickers won the primary by 300 votes and the office as there was no Republican on the ballot. The voting was not without controversy over absentee ballots. The Clayton Tribune reported that certain absentee ballots were not counted. Ballots that were not accompanied by a certificate of voter description giving name, age, color of eyes, color of hair, and approximate weight were rejected. Vickers went on to serve as Ordinary for nineteen years. Bob Vickers on his first day in office - January, 1953 administering estates, the Ordinary was given “powers in relation to roads, bridges, ferries, public buildings, paupers, county offices, county funds and taxes, and other matters, as shall be conferred on them by law.” The last Rabun County Ordinary was Robert (Bob) H. Vickers. After serving six years on the Clayton City council, he ran for county Ordinary as a Democrat in the 1952 election. He was challenging
As the job of managing county business was becoming too much for one person, the county went to a three-person Board of Commissioners. The position of the Ordinary and Court of Ordinary were replaced with a Probate Judge and Probate Court. Vickers took over the position of Probate Judge. He continued in that role for fourteen years. He died in office on November, 1984 just before his planned retirement. In his thirty-nine years of service, he never lost a political race. He followed in his great-grandfather and grandfather’s footsteps of public service. A granite marker across from the courthouse stands in recognition of Bob Vickers many contributions and dedication to Rabun County.
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notes from a southern kitchen Off to Boat Church Kendall R. Rumsey NotesFromASouthernKitchen.com
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his Memorial Day weekend, one of Rabun County’s most beloved traditions will set sail on its 47th year, Boat Church. Hosted by Clayton First United Methodist Church, the service began in 1972 when then Pastor Hal Brady came up with the idea to minister to visitors on the lake. Pastor Brady and then Church Secretary Sally Forlines put together the first services. Using an old barge held up by four oil cans and plywood. The church service was a huge success from the very beginning with almost 150 people attending the first Sunday. Homeowners and visitors to Lake Rabun were encouraged to bring their boats to the service and anchor along the barge, those who didn’t have a boat could listen to the service from the banks of the lake or at a boathouse donated by Betty and Guy Hall. In my teens, I spent most all of my weekends with the Wansley family at their home on Lake Rabun. The house was filled with rambunctious teenagers who spent our days on the lake swimming, skiing, and soaking up the rays on the dock. Saturday nights would find us at the Mountain City Playhouse often getting in well past midnight, but we all understood, no matter how late we got back to the lake, the next morning we were to be up and ready for Church and boat church started at 9AM sharp, which meant we would need at least 20 minutes boat time to get there, so no stragglers would be accepted! Sunday mornings we gathered with the adults onto a couple of boats and headed to Boat Church. Sometimes a little long in the tooth, but the cool morning breezes of Lake Rabun were sure to wake us up by the time we arrived at our destination. Those Sunday mornings adrift on the waters of Lake Rabun, listening to music and a message by the Pastor remain as vivid memories still today.
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There is something about the natural beauty of the lake that brings one closer to God and this simple church service on the waters helped create a community on Lake Rabun with people of all faiths, socio-economic backgrounds and community ties that for a few minutes every Sunday, felt special. Now almost 50 years later, Boat Church has become a staple of summer’s in Rabun. No longer held up by oil cans, the barge is bigger and probably much safer than it was in those early days. A new modern sound-system helps carry the message across the waters and people still line the banks and fill the boathouse each Sunday morning. And it isn’t just boats that bring worshippers to the service any longer. Today there are Jet Skis, paddle boards, canoes, and every imaginable watercraft known all sitting adrift in the waters of Lake Rabun. As a small chorus leads those in attendance in song, it is a truly heavenly sound hearing the melodies echo off the waters and surrounding mountains, just as it was back in the early days of the services. Boat Church runs each summer from Memorial Day Weekend until Labor Day Weekend and still begins at 9AM each Sunday. I doubt those who started Boat Church ever imagined it would still be going strong all these years later, but it is. Boat Church is a Rabun County tradition that continues to serve the community and those who visit our mountain lakes.
Kendall Rumsey is a resident of Clayton, Ga. He is owner of imPRESSed, a custom imprint company, and the creator of the mountain lifestyle brand Of These Mountains he also publishes the blog, Notes from a Southern Kitchen. www.impressedstyle.come www.ofthesemountains.com www.notesfromasouthernkitchen.com
By the Way
A Winter’s Tale or A Comedy of Errors? By Emory Jones
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fter being declined membership due to space allotments in several prestigious book clubs, I decided to start up my own. And, now, I’m pleased to report that the new “Fast Reads and Sloe Gin Book Club” had its first guest speaker the other night. Unfortunately, only two club members made it to the presentation. The third member, my cousin, Wayne, failed to set his alarm, so he missed out. (He still hasn’t adjusted to working third-shift.) I hadn’t had time to read the assignment, which was something called “Hamlet” by a William Shakespeare, but I figured I could fake it. So, I was there anyway along with Mrs. Harper Lee Ledbetter, our newest member, although I’m beginning to suspect Mrs. Ledbetter comes more for the sloe gin than the fast reads. Anyway, our guest speaker was the Shakespearian specialists, Dr. Emit Stonesifer of Stone Mountain. Dr. Stonesifer started his speech by asking if we’d all read “Hamlet,” which was the book he’d come to discuss. Mrs. Ledbetter nodded yes, so I did too. Besides, he’d drove all the way from Stone Mountain.
“Well, then, what is your overall impression?” asked Dr. Stonesifer. Not wanting him to think something was rotten in Denmark, I spoke first. “Overall I liked it,” I said. That seemed to please him because he smiled and said, “Never was there a tale so sad as that of Hamlet and his strange, strange, dad.” “So true,” I said. Then, wanting to change the subject, I asked, “Has Mr. Shakespeare written any other books?” For some reason, that question made the man mad. He drew himself up to his full height and proclaimed, “For your information, Shakespeare wrote 37 plays and 154 sonnets! Have you never heard of Macbeth?” I thought for a minute. “I knew a Mack Pritchett once,” I said. “And seems like there was a family of McBeth’s over on Shoal Creek at one time. They moved to Buford, though.” Mr. Stonesifer took off his glasses. “Why, Macbeth is the most prolifically produced play ever written,” he said. “It’s estimated that it is being staged somewhere in the world every four hours.” “Wow,” I said “Does that include holidays? Because I imagine most folks would rather go to a Christmas play at Christmas. I know I would. My wife, too.” Dr. Stonesifer shook his head and watched Mrs. Ledbetter pour herself another drink. Then he muttered something about this being like some sort of midsummer night’s dream. Since this clearly wasn’t going to get me home in time to catch the Bonanza Extravaganza on RFD-TV, I raised my hand again. “Surely you don’t have another question, do you?” “I do,” I replied, remembering something from eighth grade. “Didn’t Mack Beth stab some guy named Romeo?” I thought he’d be tickled I knew that, but Dr. Ledbetter just sighed again. “No,” he said. “Romeo killed himself.” “Why?” “Because he thought Juliet had died.” “Oh, my. Had she been sick?” Mrs. Ledbetter seemed concerned, too, but she didn’t say anything. I was about to ask another question when Dr. Stonesifer looked at his watch and suddenly remembered a meeting he’d forgot about back in Stone Mountain. He stopped at the door, looked at Mrs. Ledbetter again and mumbled something about this being much ado about nothing. After he left, I helped Mrs. Ledbetter get on her bicycle and got myself home in time to see Ben Cartwright’s eighth wife die of plethora. It’s not surprising—any woman who married a Cartwright never made it to episode two.
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Lovin’ the Journey Lessons learned By Mark Holloway
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y friend and CPA Richard Huckaby and I were talking the other day...about common South Georgia roots, the goodness of God, and life as business owners. We shared business lessons we’ve learned along the way. He encouraged me to share a few. Nearly 13 years ago Carol and I started our own business. Experts say if you can make it five years, you’ll most likely survive and maybe even thrive. Neither of us have business degrees. But we’ve picked up a few nuggets along the journey we’re glad to pass along. Tip 1: Hands down our first tip would be to honor the Lord in how we treat people. This is central to our business model. We own two companies and a log cabin we host on Airbnb. We’ve learned things go great when we treat others with kindness. When you’ve been in business this long, no doubt you’ve had opportunities to disappoint and make mistakes. But hard work and integrity win out.
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Tip 2: Know your worth. A mentor shared a truth early on. Mary Lou Falkenberry taught us: If you don’t value your time, no one else will. This remains central to our model too. I value my life. I intend to walk my daughter down the aisle. The many risks I take on high ladders and rooftops is often appreciated. When risk it not valued, I remind myself of Mary Lou’s wisdom. It’s not the businesses charging too much that go out of business. It’s the ones charging too little by cheapening their brand. Equipment, risk, payroll taxes, and business expenses are overlooked by some customers. Negotiating away your value is not a successful formula. Tip 3: No is not an option. A prospective client asked me if I cleaned gutters. ‘No’ wasn’t a possibility. I answered enthusiastically. I’d learn later when I met the client they were testing me to see if I’d even show up. That simple job opened the doors to many other opportunities.
We fell backwards into owning our own company. I bought a higher end pressure washer and began to wash my own home in 2007. I inadvertently refinished our cedar home. A man driving by to pick up his golfing buddy noticed. Before long, a Florida surgeon and owner of a nearby log cabin called me out of the blue. He asked me if I could make his cabin look like mine. I thought it was a prank call. We’d been in Rabun all of four weeks. We’ve lost count of the cabins we’ve refinished since that summer so long ago. Being willing to do what others won’t, builds a diverse client base, one that saw us breezing right through the recession. Tip 4: Be early for appointments. When meeting a new client, we show up early, not days late. You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. If you’re Michelangelo, maybe you can afford to not return calls, show up late, or not show up at all. But for the rest of us, it pays to honor your word. A client on Lake Rabun was thrilled with our work and rebooked us a year later to clean her windows. I scrolled though my phone’s calendar accidentally putting her appointment on the correct day and the correct month, but the wrong year. The day came and went without us showing up. When she called asking why we stood her up, I was embarrassed and took full blame. I explained how I’d booked her a year out by mistake. I took the mistake pretty hard and just decided to forgive myself and give it to the Lord. It wasn’t long before she called and hired us again. Since that time our relationship had only gotten better. Tip 5. Follow-up and be reachable. “We’re not done until you say we’re done”. That simple principle has brought a lot of comfort to our clients. Wrapping a job then disappearing before the project is fully completed isn’t the way to treat people. Tip 6. Don’t be bullied. There will always be bullies. For whatever emotional or psychological reason, some folks want to lord their station in life over people coming onto their property. Isaac McCrackin once told me, “When I get a bad feeling at a job, I probably need to walk away. “ I remain impressed with this young business man. He comes from good stock. Tip 7. Rest. We work hard to play hard and make no apologies for living in the shadow of God’s kindness. If we find our identity in what we do rather than in who we are, our product eventually suffers. There is no glory in being a workaholic. Rest is a weapon. Live with no regrets. Don’t wake up dead and wish you’d spent less time at the office. I’m sure I’ve got more tips. When I think of ‘em, I add to this list. See you on the trail. Mark and his wife Carol are the owners of Fresh Start, a company dedicated to stewarding the property and homes of their clients. They aspire to be your eyes, ears, and hands while you are away, and your resource for anything you need, whether you are a full or part time resident of the area. Mark can be reached by calling 706.490.7060
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