From the Publisher This is our Giving Thanks issue which focuses on Jesus who gave His life for all. Faith has always been a part of these mountains and we pray it always will be. Never intending to offend only wishing to share, we hope you will enjoy this issue and the spirit of love behind it. This issue also has threads of gratitude to Veterans as this is the month that they are recognized and honored. We know that thank you is inadequate yet that is what we offer for those who have and are currently serving all across the world. Your sacrifices = our freedom and for that we are grateful. We’d like to thank our readers and our advertisers for their support as this year nears its end, we encourage you to shop locally and support your neighbors and friends in the northeast Georgia and western North Carolina area. So put the turkey in the oven and make plans to visit with family and friends as we offer up thanks for all we’ve been given and for this wonderful place we call home.
Happy Thanksgiving! Tracy
November 2018 • Volume Fifteen • Issue Eleven Publisher/Editor - Tracy McCoy Art Director - Dianne VanderHorst Graphic Designer - Nikki Dunbar Office Manager/ Account Executive - Cindi Freeman Account Executive - Melynda Hensley Photographer/Writer - Peter McIntosh Website/Writer - Luke McCoy Contributing Writers: Kendall Rumsey, Scarlett Cook, Annie Williams, Tracey Burnett, Aaron Alford, Bobbie Carter, Irene Faith, Everett Lampros, Joel Hitt, Mark Holloway, Susan Brewer, Steve Jarrard, MD, Lisa Harris, John Shivers, Emory Jones, Lorie Thompson, Beth Fierberg
Georgia Mountain Laurel Mailing: PO Box 2218, Clayton, Georgia 30525 Office: 2511 Highway 441, Mountain City, Georgia 30562 706-782-1600 • www.gmlaurel.com Copyright 2018 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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8 - November 2018
November 2018 - 9
In This Issue A Taste 12 16
Bon Appetit The Family Table
Affairs to Remember 22 25 52
Mountain Happenings Event Calendar Cage Free Boutique Christmas Display to benefit F.A.I.T.H
Arts & Entertainment 24 26 30 32
Around Back at Rocky’s Place North Georgia Arts Guild Rabun Event Venues Book Review - Marywinn Lent
Featured 36 38 40 42 44 46 47
Hipster Hate Notes from a Southern Kitchen Lovin’ the Journey Remembering Grandpa Watts Mill By the Way Veterans’ Day Sunshine & Sawdust
Mountain Homes 50 52 54 58
Harry Norman - Featured Homes Emery’s Wood Works Poss Realty - Featured Home Poss Realty Comes Full Circle
Faith in Christ 60 62 63 64
Bless Your Heart R4G - Zack Ford - Grace Bible Church Life is a Blessing River Garden
Outdoors 66 68 70 72
Adventure Out Paws 4 Life - Everett Lampros Hitt the Outdoors Back Country Horsemen of Northeast Georgia
Health & Wellness 74 10 - November 2018
Live Healthy & Be Well
November 2018 - 11
Bon Appétit Thanksgiving – YUM! by Scarlett Cook
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hanksgiving arrived before Halloween was even here if you believe what you see in the stores! This menu will make the day less stressful – is that even possible??? Maybe some of these recipes will help you have time to enjoy your guests or maybe this is the year that your family goes solo. Take a deep breath and start your grocery list.
The Simplest She Crab Soup Serves 8 3/4 Cup chopped onion 1 Tablespoon butter 1 Tablespoon olive oil 5 Tablespoons butter 1 1/2 Pounds crabmeat – real, imitation or a combination – it’s your secret 2 12-Ounce cans evaporated milk 4 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 2 Tablespoons lemon juice 3 Tablespoons sugar 1/8 Cup sherry 1 Teaspoon onion powder 1 Teaspoon salt 1 Teaspoon pepper 1/2 Teaspoon celery salt 4 Cups milk In a 6-quart stockpot, sauté onion in butter and olive oil until transparent. Reduce heat to low and add 5 tablespoons butter. When butter melts, add crabmeat and stir well. Add evaporated milk, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, sugar, sherry, onion powder, salt, pepper and celery salt; stir well to combine. Add milk and simmer over low heat, stirring often.
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Tomato Aspic Serves 10 – 12 1 Large can tomato juice 1 11-1/2 Can V-8 juice Juice of 1 lemon 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning 3 Dashes Worcestershire sauce 5 Envelopes unflavored gelatin 1 Bay leaf 2 Teaspoons vinegar 2 Tablespoons sugar 1 Tablespoon horseradish Salt & Pepper 1/2 Medium onion, sliced 1/4 Cup diced celery Soften gelatin in the V-8 juice. In a saucepan squeeze and quarter the lemon into the tomato juice and add the remaining ingredients. Bring to a simmer and stir occasionally for 5 – 6 minutes. Add the V-8 gelatin mixture to the tomato juice. Remove from heat and stir well. Strain the mixture into an oiled mold and add the chopped onion and celery. Chill until aspic is set.
Broccoli Salad Serves 12 2 Pounds broccoli florets, cut into small pieces 2 Cups shredded Cheddar cheese 1 Cup crumbled cooked bacon 1 Medium red onion, chopped 1 Cup raisins 1 1/2 Cups mayonnaise 3/4 Cup sugar 6 Tablespoons red wine vinegar In a large bowl, combine broccoli, cheese, bacon, onion and raisins. In small bowl, combine mayonnaise, sugar and vinegar whisking until smooth. Pour over broccoli mixture and stir well to combine. Chill at least 4 hours before serving.
Moist Turkey Breast Serves 8 – 10 1 5 – 7 Pound turkey breast with pop-up timer, thawed if using frozen 1 Cup cider vinegar 1/4 Cup olive oil 1 Tablespoon salt 1 Teaspoon pepper 2 Teaspoons freshly chopped parsley Preheat oven to 300˚. Place turkey in oven baking bag. In small bowl, combine vinegar, salt, pepper and parsley. Pour over turkey and seal bag. Place turkey in baking dish and pierce bag several times on the top. Bake until thermometer pops-up about 1 1/2 hours. Coconut Topped Sweet Potato Soufflé Serves 8 – 10 2 Eggs, beaten 3 Tablespoons butter, melted 1/2 Cup milk 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract 3 Cups cooked, mashed sweet potatoes 1 Cup sugar 1/2 Teaspoon salt
Chocolately Pecan Pie Serves 8 1 Cup sugar 2 Tablespoons plain flour 1/2 Teaspoon salt 2 Eggs, beaten 1 Cup chopped pecans 2/3 Cup evaporated milk 2 Tablespoons butter 1 6-Ounce package semisweet chocolate chips 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract 1 Unbaked 9” pie shell
1 3.5-Ounce can flaked coconut 1 Cup chopped pecans 1 Cup brown sugar 3 Tablespoons butter, melted 1/2 Cup plain flour Preheat oven to 350˚. In large mixing bowl, combine eggs, butter, milk and vanilla. Add sugar and salt. Fold in sweet potatoes; stir well to combine mixture. Pour into greased baking dish. Combine coconut, pecans, sugar, butter and flour and mix well. Sprinkle over soufflé. Bake 35 minutes.
Preheat oven to 375˚. In large bowl, combine sugar, flour, and salt. Stir in eggs mixing well. Fold in pecans and set bowl aside. Combine evaporated milk, butter and chocolate chips in top of double boiler. Place over medium high heat and beat with a whisk until chocolate melts. Stir in flour mixture and then add vanilla. Pour into pie shell and bake for 35 minutes.
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Dining
Drinks
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Turkey Tip: Before putting it in the oven, make sure the skin of the turkey is as dry as possible, and then rub it all over with butter or oil. For even moister meat, place pats of butter under the skin.
November 2018 - 15
The Family Table by Lorie Thompson
hen November rolls around, I begin to feel excitement for the upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas season. Thanksgiving represents the best part of life to me; time spent with family, sharing great food and contemplating with gratefulness our everyday blessings.
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I have many reasons to be thankful. I had parents that were blessed to be able to always provide for me. I have never really lacked anything that I truly needed. There has always been great food at my table for my family. While there have been lean times in my home, I have never known a single day of hunger. That is not the case for many families here in Rabun County. We live in an area with a vast disparity in income. There are some of the wealthiest families in the State who live here as well as many families who live below the poverty level. Here, in this beautiful community, some people are hungry. It is hard for me to believe in this age of everyday excess that there is hunger right in my backyard, but there is.
With this knowledge, I have felt a burden to help. I would like to share information with you on how you can make a difference locally, for the children and families who are hungry. The Northeast Georgia Food Bank, here in Clayton serves our community as well as neighboring communities. Please consider a donation of your time serving as a volunteer, your money or even food items. They make it very easy to get involved. Call them or connect through social media. My friend and the editor of Georgia Mountain Laurel, Tracy McCoy sent this scripture to me as I was working on this article. Talk about a God wink! Yes, Lord. I hear you loud and clear… Isaiah 58:6-8 “Set free those who are held by chains without any reason. Untie the ropes that hold people as slaves. Set free those who are crushed. Break every evil chain. Share your food with hungry people. Provide homeless people with a place to stay. Give naked people clothes to wear. Provide for the needs of your own family. Then the light of my blessing will shine on you like the rising sun. I will heal you quickly. I will march out ahead of you. And my glory will follow behind you and guard you. That is because I always do what is right.” Yep, God made us a promise. If we do what he tells us to do, he will shine the light of his blessing on us like the rising sun! Wow! What a promise! The folks out at the food bank may never get me to go home. Now, let me tell you what I am cooking for my family this month. I am making a rich and hearty stew. I made mine using venison that my man, The Deerslayer killed, but you can use beef stew-meat if you do not have a successful hunter at your house For the stew, begin by rough chopping the vegetables you would like to include. I used 2-3
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carrots, 2-3 small onions, 2 large parsnips and lots of garlic. I love baby turnips in this stew but I did not have any. Use them if you can find them. You can dress this stew up with small boiler onions, whole button mushrooms, and fresh herbs or keep it very simple. You can also add 1/3 Cup of barley if you want a grain included. Chop the stew vegetables into pieces similarly sized to the stew meat. Not too small or they will overcook and become mushy. Use a firm textured, low starch potatoes, like Yukon Golds or red potatoes. Next, very finely chop and reserve, two stalks of celery, one small onion, 3-4 garlic cloves and one carrot to use in the browning process to build flavor in the stew. You will need 3 pounds of 1-2� cubes of meat. You can buy the stew meat already prepared, or you can have your butcher chop a Chuck Roast for you. Blot the cubed beef with a paper towel to dry it as much as possible. It will help in browning. In a large stew pot add 1-2 T of oil and brown the stew meat, turning it to brown it on all sides. Lightly salt it, and it will release more liquid. Allow all of the liquid to cook out of the pan while continuing to stir. Add the finely chopped onion, garlic, and carrot into the browned meat. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the onions are beginning to turn translucent. Add 1-2 T of tomato paste and 1T of Anchovy paste. (both are optional but do add a nice punch of flavor. My husband likes stew without any tomato sauce, but I like it. It brings a little sweetness to the stew.) Allow the tomato sauce to caramelize in the hot pan while stirring slightly. Deglaze the pan with 2 cups of red wine. Add the large-chopped vegetables to the pan and salt them before mixing them in. Add a 32 Oz box of beef broth or stock, 1-2 bay leaves and the pepper of your choice. (I am allergic to black pepper, so I only use red peppers.) Add 4 cups of water. Allow the stew to simmer on medium-low heat, keeping it covered, for 2 to 2/12 hours or until the vegetables and meat are tender. Stir occasionally. Before serving, in a separate pan, melt 3T of butter and add 3T of self-risingflour. Cook and stir this roux until it has reached a golden brown color. Add it into the stew pot and cook for an additional 3 -5 minutes in order for the roux to slightly thicken the stew. Serve with a sprinkle of fresh or dried parsley and a great bread. continued
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The Family Table
I grew up eating cobbler. My Mama would have us picking blackberries and huckleberries all through July. She made jelly and jam, but she always canned or froze some of the berries for winter-time cobblers. There were peaches, strawberries, and huckleberries in her freezer and they made great pies. Cobblers are easy to make and offer great flavor. My basic cobbler recipe is the same, whatever type of fruit I am using. I may add a little more or less sugar based on the tartness of the fruit, but otherwise, I use the same basic recipe for fresh or frozen fruit. Here is a great blueberry cobbler: For the filling, use 3 Cups of frozen blueberries. To the berries, add 1 T of self-rising flour and 3/4 cup of sugar. Stir to blend. Add 1 cup of water and stir. For the crust, mix 1cup of self-rising flour, 1/4 cup of sugar, 1 stick of butter, melted and 1cup of milk. Stir and pour gently over the fruit. Cook in a 375-degree oven for 50- 60 minutes. (Cook time can be decreased if you are using fresh fruit rather than frozen.) Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream. Your family will love this and will never know how effortless it is to prepare. I am excited to be offering a class at the Food Bank Teaching Kitchen on November 7th. I hope to help make this Thanksgiving meal the easiest and best ever for the people who come by giving them a timeline and how-to instructions of how to prepare Roast Turkey, Cornbread Dressing, Giblet Gravy, and home-made Cranberry Sauce. So far, most of the people I know who are coming are accomplished cooks, and so, I am a little nervous. Send me a good thought or even a little prayer on the 7th, if you think of me. This class has a $30 fee, but 100% of that is going to local food initiatives. Many of the educational and fun classes at the Teaching Kitchen have the proceeds benefiting local projects. Com and join us for this class or pick another that suits your interest. The classes offer a great way to support the Food Bank while learning and enjoying the company of others who love to cook. Spend Thanksgiving counting your blessings and offering gratitude to the great provider, and it will be fantastic. Choose to be grateful and provide your help to someone in need. Claim God’s promise made for feeding the hungry and caring for the needy: “Then the light of my blessing will shine on you like the rising sun!” I wish you and your family your best Thanksgiving ever!
Lorie Thompson is a REALTOR® at Poss Realty in Clayton, Georgia. Her expertise in her industry is second only to her culinary talents. Lorie is a dynamo in the kitchen. Honestly if she prepares it, it will likely be the best you’ve ever had! Lorie and her husband Anthony (Peanut) make their home in the Persimmon community. She is the proud mother of Joe Thompson and Kendall Thompson.
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November 2018 - 19
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Mountain Happenings November 9th - 11th 2018 Northeast Georgia Arts Tour Locations throughout Habersham, Rabun, Towns, Union & White Counties in Georgia and Clay County, North Carolina Info: artstour.org STEPHENS COUNTY November 30th - December 1st ChristmasFest & Lighting of the Tree Downtown Toccoa Info: 706.282.3269 December 1st Toccoa Christmas Parade Toccoa Info: 706.491.7718
The Ritz Theater Toccoa Info: www.ritztheatretoccoa.com November 3rd Mainstreet - A Tribute to Bob Seiger November 10 ; December 8 Southern Gospel Music
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November 13th Chuck Nation Band & Truett McConnell Choir November 17th David Lee in Concert - Ultimate Elvis December 6th, 13th, 20th Christmas Movies at the Ritz December 7th - Kevin Max December 13th It’s a Wonderful Life: Live from WVL Radio theatre HABERSHAM COUNTY November 22nd - January 1st Christmas Lights Spectacular Cornelia City Park Cornelia Info: 706.778.8585 December 8 A Downtown Clarkesville Christmas Clarkesville Info: 706.754.2220 th
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December 31st Dropping of the Edelweiss New Year’s Eve Event Helen Festhalle, Helen Info: 706.878.1908
December 15th Habersham County Christmas Parade Cornelia Info: 706.778.8585
BabyLand General Hospital Cleveland Info: 706.865.2171
Habersham Community Theatre Clarkesville Info: 706.839.1315 habershamtheater.org
December 17th Pancake Breakfast with Santa
November 23rd Movies on Main: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
December 8th Christmas at the Inn Traveler’s Rest Historic Site Toccoa Info: 706.356.4362
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December 13th - 15th Christmas in the Park Big City Park Cornelia Info: 706.778.8585
November 17th Appalachian Christmas Celebration and Pancake Breakfast with Santa
Smithgall Woods State Park Helen Info: 706.878.3087 November 3rd - Fall Hayride
November 29th - 30th December 1st, 2nd, 6th - 9th Play: FrUiTCaKes
December 15th Christmas in the Cabin
WHITE COUNTY
Sautee Nacoochee Center Sautee Info: 706.878.3300
November 3rd Live Music at the Pavilion Habersham Winery, Helen Info: 706.878.9463 November 23rd Annual Lighting of the Village Downtown Helen Info: 706.878.2181 November 23rd Open House and Mistletoe Market Helen Arts & Heritage Center Helen Info: 706.878.3933 December 1st - 2nd, 8th - 9th 11th Annual Christkindlmarkt Downtown Helen Info: 706.878.1908 December 1st Christmas in the Mountains Celebration & Lighted Parade Courthouse Square Cleveland Info: 706.865.5356 December 7th - 8th, 15th - 16th A Victorian Christmas Hardman Farm State Historic Site Sautee Nacoochee Info: 706.878.1077 December 8th Christmas Parade Helen Info: 706.878.2181
November 3rd; December 1st Blacksmith Demonstration November 4th; December 9th Classical Music Series November 8th; December 6th, 13th Holiday Gift Making Class November 17th - 18th Lilies of the Valley November 24th; December 22nd Community Contra Dance Info: 706.754.3254 November 30th - December 1st Sautee Star’s Fall Production of Fairytale Theater December 15th Roxie Watson Concert Unicoi State Park Helen Info: 706.878.2201 November 3rd Unicoi Critters Meet & Greet November 10th - Lantern Hike November 17th Migration & Hibernation November 18th - December 8th Festival of Trees December 16th Breakfast with Santa December 31st New Year’s Eve Celebration
RABUN COUNTY November 8th 20th Annual Veteran’s Dinner By Rabun Co. Chamber of Commerce Rabun County Civic Center Clayton Info: 706.782.4812 November 18th Children’s Party with Santa Preview of The Trees Rabun County Civic Center Clayton Info: rabuncountyeventvenues.com November 22nd Turkey Trot for Clayton Cluckers 5K Begin at Fromage, Clayton Info: 706.982.1284
Rabun Arena Tiger Info: 706.212.0452 November 10th - Junior Rodeo November 11th Barrel Racing Exhibition November 30th - December 1st 2018 Appalachian Food & Wine Trail Participating Vineyards in Union and Towns Counties: Odom Springs Vineyards, Paradise Hills Winery Resort, Crane Creek Vineyards, Hightower Creek Vineyards Info: 877.745.5789 TOWNS COUNTY
November 23 - 24 Holiday Art & Craft Expo & Festival of Trees Rabun County Civic Center Clayton Info: rabuncountyeventvenues.com
November 3rd and each Saturday Saturday Night Music Mountain Home Music Theatre Hiawassee Info: 706.896.3624
November 23 Christmas in Downtown Clayton Downtown Clayton Info: visitclaytonga.org
November 6th - 10th Theatre Mainstage: “Blithe Spirit” Young Harris College Young Harris Info: 800.241.3754
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November 3rd Lake Chatuge Shoreline Clean-Up Towns County Swim Beach Hiawassee Info: 828.837.5414
December 1st Holiday Open House in Lakemont Lakemont Info: 706.960.9333
December 10th Harlem Globetrotters Young Harris College Rec Center Young Harris Info: 800.241.3754
December 1st Christmas Parade Downtown Clayton Info: 706.782.4812
O. Wayne Rollins Planetarium Young Harris College Young Harris Info: 706.379.3111
December 7th Christmas Tree Lighting on Tallulah Falls Lake Tallulah Falls Info: 706.754.4318
November 8 Perfect Little Plane th
November 9 Skies Over Georgia Observatory Open House th
Tallulah Gorge Park Tallulah Falls Info: 706.754.7981 November 3rd - 4th, 10th - 11th November 17th - 18th Whitewater Release November 3 - 4 , 10 - 11 November 17th - 18th Whitewater Watching Hike rd
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December 1st Christmas at the Gorge
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November 16th - Dwight Yoakam November 17th Blue Oyster Cult and Mark Farner November 22nd - 24th and each Thursday through Saturday until December 29th Mountain Country Christmas in Lights December 15th A Shagging Christmas Concert: The Tams, Swingin’ Medallions & Clarence Carter UNION COUNTY November 1st and the first Thursday of the month Shop Late Thursday Downtown Blairsville Info: 877.745.5789 November 2 - 3 Everything Christmas Sale Union County Library Blairsville Info: 706.745.7492 nd
November 30 Christmas Tree Lighting Dillard City Hall Dillard Info: www.DillardGeorgia.com th
Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds Hiawassee Info: 706.896.4191 georgiamountainfairgrounds.com
November 30th; December 7th Let it Snow: A Holiday Music Journey Season of Light: Special Holiday Presentation Crane Creek Vineyards Young Harris Info: 706.379.1236 November 2nd and each Friday Friday Evening Tapas & Acoustic December 31st New Year’s Eve Party
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November 3rd Salute to Veterans Car Show & Fund Raising Auction Blairsville Farmers’ Market Blairsville Info: 863.414.5276 November 3rd Dancing with North Georgia Stars Towns/Union Union County Schools Fine Arts Center, Blairsville Gala to follow at North Georgia Technical College, Blairsville Info: dancingwithnorthgastars.com November 8th Cornerston Chorale & Brass Concert St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church Blairsville Info: 706.745.6400 November 17th - 18th 18th Annual Mistletoe Market North Georgia Technical College Blairsville Info: 706.896.0932
December 1st Kris Kringle Mountain Market Union County Farmers’ Market Blairsville Info: 877.745.5789 December 1st Christmas Parade Downtown Blairsville Info: 706.347.3503 December 8th 2018 Holly Jolly Christmas Breakfast with Santa Union County Community Center Blairsville Info: 706.745.5789 December 8th Christmas Tree Lighting Vogel State Park Blairsville Info: 706.745.2628 Paradise Hills Resort Blairsville Info: www.paradisehillsga.com November 4th and each Sunday Live Music November 23rd Black Friday “Sip and Shop” December 15th Open House - Cookie Contest CLAY COUNTY, NC John C. Campbell Folk School Brasstown Info: 800.365.5724, folkschool.org office - 828.837.2775 November 6th, 13th December 4th Beginner Contra & Square Dance November 3rd Blacksmith & Fine Craft Auction November 9th Butternut Creek & Friends November 15th Geoff Hohwald & Rick Taylor November 17th Contra & Square Dance
November 30th - December 1st Blairsville Holiday Stop & Shop Union County Civic Center Blairsville Info: 770.789.2044
November 30th Howard Rains & Tricia Spencer
December 1st - 31st Tour of Trees Union County Community Center Blairsville Info: 706.745.5789
December 7th Brasstown Ringers Holiday Concert
December 2nd Fireside Sale
December 15th Holiday Kids’ Party
November 2018 - 23
Mountain Happenings Peacock Performing Arts Center Hayesville Info: 828.389.2787 thepeacocknc.org
Cowee School Franklin Info: 828.369.5595 coweeschool.org
November 3rd The Return, A Tribute to the Beatles
November 17th; December 15th SEBA Jam
November 10th Wyatt Espalin & Austin Coleman
December 1st Cowee Christmas
December 22nd It’s A Wonderful Life, Love from WVL Radio Theatre MACON COUNTY, NC
Smoky Mountain Center for Performing Arts Franklin Info: 866.273.4615; 828.524.1598 GreatMountainMusic.com
November 8th - 11th Highlands Food & Wine Festival Highlands Info: 828.526.2112
November 3rd Mountain Heart Band
November 10th All American Bazzar American Legion Post 108 Franklin Info: 828.341.4164
November 24th A John Berry Christmas
November 10th Toys for Tots Cruise-In Countryside Chevrolet Franklin Info: 828.524.0734 November 23 Cashiers Christmas Tree Lighting / Visit with Santa The Village Green, Cashiers Info: 828.743.5191 rd
November 24th; December 1st Winter Wonderland Nights Downtown Franklin Info: 828.524.2516 November 24th Highlands Christmas Tree Lighting Kelsey Hutchinson Park, Highlands Info: 828.526.2112 November 25th Franklin’s Annual Christmas Parade Downtown Franklin Info: 828.524.3161 December 1st Highlands Mountain Christmas Parade Downtown Highlands Info: 828.526.5841 December 31st 5th Annual Franklin Ruby Drop Downtown Franklin Info: 866.372.5546
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November 16th The Bellamy Brothers
December 1st A Rocky Mountain Christmas by Jim Curry featuring the Music of John Denver December 6th - 8th The Best Christmas Pageant Ever December 18th A Christmas Together: An Evening of Stories, Songs and Family December 21st A Bluegrass Christmas with Sierra Hull Highlands Performing Arts Center Highlands Info: highlandspac.net November 3rd - NTL: Julie November 10th - MET: Marnie November 17th - NET: King Lear November 23rd Christmas with the Nelsons December 1st MET: The Magic Flute December 8th NTL: The Madness of George III December 13th HCP: Holiday Reading December 15th MET: La Traviate
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around back at Rocky’s Place
t all started with a single face jug! The owners of Around Back at Rocky’s Place, Tracey Burnette and Robin Blan became collectors nearly 30 years ago. What started out as a face jug obsession quickly spread to paintings, then woodcarvings, metal pieces and so forth. With such a wide collection, they were asked to be pickers for a couple of galleries in the Atlanta area. Then, collecting reached a new high when they discovered the work of John “Cornbread” Anderson. The folk art train doesn’t end there, but speeds up at a breakneck pace when the two established Around back at Rocky’s Place in 2002. The gallery was born out of a dream and found its way to the backyard lawn mower shed. Repurposed as a gallery, this shed housed the works of 24 artists at its inception, with Cornbread being the mainstay. The growing list of artists necessitated the need for a much larger gallery space, adjacent the original space.Now one can easily see the works of 300+ artists to date. The gallery prides itself on its quality of work. Some of what you will find on a visit to the physical gallery or on the online website include pottery from the leading folk pottery families in the Southeast. You will find work by the grandfathers of folk art, R. A. Miller, Howard Finster, Mose Tolliver and Jimmy Lee Sudduth. A large majority of artists, from all mediums have works in the Smithsonian and other major museums and collections around the world. Not only will you see work form these masters, but from new, emerging artists. The gallery is not just a place to visit and buy cool folk art, but also it is a source for education. Over the years Rocky’s has hosted art classes taught by the actual folk artists for both adults and children. The gallery has also exhibited and shown in art centers and colleges in the North Georgia area and shown at festivals. That is but a brief history in Around Back at Rocky’s Place 16-year run. As they begin their 17th year it is anybody’s wonder what will be in store. Many folks from all over the United States make Rocky’s Place a destination. Don’t miss your opportunity to come by and see what it’s all about. around back at Rocky’s Place is located at 3631 Hwy. 53 E. at Etowah River Road in Dawsonville, Georgia. Contact them at 706.265.6030 or website: aroundbackatrockysplace.com
Cage-Free Boutique Moves to New Location
H
illary Allred and Kimberly Ramey were working together at a local restaurant when the idea of opening their own business came to mind. In no time, Cage-Free Boutique was a plan on paper, and soon, a reality, opening in 2015. Hillary and Kim were excited to bring new options to downtown. They have done an amazing job offering premium womens’ clothing that have been thoughtfully selected to include size 0 to size 3x. In addition to the clothing, they also offer alteration services. They quickly built a clientele who ultimately demanded more! So when a larger space across the street from their store became available, they were ready to make the move. Their new location is 55 North Main Street in Clayton, located between Main Street Gallery and The Sole Place: Western Wear Store. Double the floor space allowed Hillary and Kim to increase their inventory. To complement their hand-selected line of clothing, shoppers will find handbags, shoes and boots, jewelry and a line of candles. All of which are available online at www.cage-freeboutique.com The upstairs space at Cage-Free Boutique has taken on its own identity as A Soiree on Main, a modern event venue suitable for intimate events such as Bridal and Baby showers, parties and meetings. The owners will host Crafting workshops and classes weekly. A calendar of upcoming events will be available on the website, www. asoireeonmain.com Both businesses can be found on Facebook and Instagram and are definitely worth a like and a follow! Two friends with a dream = a great place to shop and play! For more info please visit the store, websites or call 706.782.6155.
November 2018 - 25
North Georgia Arts Guild Donna Persinger’s Encaustic Teaching and Art by Susan Brewer
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our years ago, Donna Persinger was on a trip to Portland, Oregon to celebrate the wedding of her daughter and there made a discovery: encaustic works of art, which were featured in galleries throughout the local Art District. Donna’s inspirational visit to Portland was on the back end of a thirtyyear career as a special-ed teacher and recreational therapist. The possibilities for an art adventure quickly took shape in Donna’s mind. The look of shimmering beauty and transparencies in the works she saw combined with the art’s celebrated history (see End Note). They moved Donna to begin an encaustic journey she brilliantly shares with clients and students today. Encaustic medium is unique. It’s derived from bees and trees. Bees contribute wax which is heated and mixed with damar (or dammar) resin, a sap from trees native to the rainforests of India and South East Asia. The solid medium is heated to temperatures approaching two hundred degrees, where it takes on a fully liquid state. Blow torches or heat guns allow working with thicknesses ranging from over-warm butter, to thick or thin syrup, to water. At a certain point heat fuses the surface to the one below and locks it in place, creating the layers. Color and opacity are easily manipulated, too, in a range from a clear state to lightly colored transparency, to a fully saturated, opaque state as the artist decides.
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Donna spoke before the North Georgia Arts Guild in September and told a story about a trip to the art supply store at home in Anderson, SC. Encausticos (a brand name) was heated and on display, and the smell of it permeated the space. It called to her, drawing on memories like “that rush when you open a box of 64-count Crayola Crayons…. It’s something from childhood, a comforting thing, an inspiring thing.” Her webpage hopes to suggest to others to take this journey with her: “My passion,” Donna says, “is to inspire people to connect with their intrinsic nature, to be a creative soul. If you have not tried encaustic art, you must experience the sensuality of this lovely warm wax luminosity. Pictures cannot do it justice.” Techniques and materials can run the gamut: stencils, incised lines, photo transfers, oil sticks, mica, reactive foil, fabric, wire, Citra Solv papers, feathers, rust . . . you get the idea. The options are endless. And the teaching tools –the griddles, blow torches and heat guns – limit her class sizes to no more than eight or nine persons. They are posted to her Facebook page: Donna PersingerHeart Root Arts. Her art is there, too, both 2 and 3-D works. “Bees and Honey Combs” has bees coming to life in three dimensions. This theme is a favorite, a play on the nature of encaustic works, showcasing oozing, dripping, golden honey. “Three Eggs in a Nest” showcases colorful green eggs resting handsomely in a nest guarded by a single tall feather. Another pop-out piece features a wire tree, the sun and land, a theme she likes. The leafless tree stands in solitude among earthy fingers and an autumn sky.
Clayton, Georgia Welcomes You!
Donna would love to hear from those interested in her art or classes. Call (919) 414-228 or email heartrootsarts@ gmail.com. End note: Google the Fayum Burial portraits for the 1st Century “selfies” that are so amazing. They were precursors of encaustic art today.
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Finding Art
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November 2018 - 29
Get To Know Rabun Event Venues By Annie Williams
W
hile dining at my favorite restaurant at their “community” table, I met two visitors to Rabun County. “We want to retire here”, the lady told me, “but there isn’t a community house or anything like that. I want a center of interaction.” “Ahh, but we do have that!” I told her… Rabun County Event Venues serves as our community house. These are the dwellings where we all come together. Rabun County Civic Center, where community fundraisers and large celebrations are held; the Historic Rock House, where meetings and intimate gatherings take place; and our Conference Center where group learning and meetings are held, even our talented Arts and Quilting Guilds gather here! And, as the saying goes, our home is truly where our heart is. And Rabun County’s heart is an actual strong core of people that pour their hearts and souls into our county and the activities that enrich us: fundraisers, music, art, litter pick-up, family services, the list goes on. These volunteers help support our residents while creating memorable experiences. Just as when my boys were in elementary and middle school, every time there was a party, field trip, festival or can food drive, there was a core group that would pitch in and get the job done. We just knew we could count on each other. We do have a Community, a Heart, a Home. Rabun County.
Rabun County Event Venues are available to our community for their events. If you are planning a wedding, reunion, fundraiser or gathering of any kind please call to reserve one of our facilities. Follow our calendar of events so you don’t miss community interaction, a chance to support local charities or to have fun with your family. Also be sure to sign up for our newsletter. You can do all of these things when you visit our website at www. rabuncountyeventvenues.com or call for more information 706982-9432 Definition of community house. 1 : a center consisting often of a single building for a community’s social, cultural, recreational, and civic activities. Community building is a field of practices directed toward the creation or enhancement of community among individuals within a regional area (such as a neighborhood) or with a common interest. It is sometimes encompassed under the field of community development.
Happy Thanksgiving from everyone at the Georgia Mountain Laurel 30 - November 2018
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.� - Melody Beattie
November 2018 - 31
Marywinn Lent: The Sheep and Her Shepherd by John Shivers
“L
ife in its glory is extremely exciting at times,” Rabun County Bible scholar, educator and writer Marywinn Lent says in the opening line of her new book, My Precious Shepherd. This book is the first volume in “The Lord is My Shepherd” series. She’s at work now on the second volume. But life at times is also very difficult, Marywinn explains. And that’s where the shepherd comes into the picture. In the Bible, sheep are depicted as creatures that are easily led astray, and need constant protection. That’s where the shepherd steps in to provide food, ensures their safety, and leads them in the direction they need to go. God has been Marywinn’s shepherd for much of her life, and has led her through the extremely exciting times. But more importantly, He’s also been there to lead her through
those more difficult periods when things appeared dark and the way forward was unclear. Through the pages of My Precious Shepherd, she expounds and expands on this relationship that has sustained her through illness and death and disappointment and even at times, seeming disaster. But not in a preachy way. Instead, through her descriptions of troubling pregnancy and miscarriage, career detours and delays, potentially terminal illness, dreams seemingly denied, and roadblocks that erupted when she thought she was following God’s path, emerges a real person with a real story, related in a way that the reader can not only grasp, but cling to and be encouraged. That was her goal in writing the book. To make the God that has sustained and nurtured and loved and guided as real to others as He is to her. As an offshoot of the book, Marywinn has created the alter-ego “Grandma Tilly,” who, through her monologues, brings the message of the book into three-dimensional reality. Marywinn and Grandma are both available to speak to various groups, but they are a package deal. When one goes, the other will be there. Kind of like the Good Shepherd and Marywinn! It might appear while reading the book that writing it must have been a snap for the woman who had long maintained that she had no writing ability. And it was a snap, but only after a long time of futile attempts and agonizing, when
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Marywinn says she simply had to get out of the way and allow God to write through her. It was just one of the many self-discoveries that emerged from that writing process and something she will touch on in the next book. Marywinn Rentz grew up in Savannah, Georgia, met George Lent at college, married him, and accompanied him for more than fifty years. That journey has only deepened their love and devotion. From Georgia to Hilton Head, South Carolina, to Rabun County, with side trips to Russia and other points in this country, this couple has traveled far under the guidance of the Shepherd. Along the way, they established Christian schools, and the woman who couldn’t have children acquired five little Lents. They in turn have given their parents seventeen grandchildren. In addition, five orphans whom they adopted in their hearts in Russia, along with a Liberian young girl they met and “adopted” there, have given them six more grandchildren. It’s impossible to explain in a few hundred words the magnificent story that Marywinn Lent unfolds for her readers. It’s also impossible to put that story down once you begin reading. If her goal was to make God real, she has accomplished that task in so many different ways. Purchase copies of My Precious Shepherd through Amazon. To book “Grandma Tilly” to speak to your group, contact Marywinn at lent11@windstream.net.
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November 2018 - 35
Light
after the
by Beth Fierberg
Storm
“I
t’s the wee hours of the morning. I’m lying on the concrete sidewalk in front of the Banco Popular de Puerto Rico. I don’t know why I like this spot, but it’s mine. I lay here most nights. During the day humans come and go, but I avoid them. They frighten me. I’ve seen them take others just like me away in the past and I never see them again. The weather here in Puerto Rico is usually beautiful but now there is wind and something else; something is just not right. I feel unsure. The wind blows ever stronger and I close my eyes. I hear something. It’s a human’s voice and I think she’s talking to me. Should I trust her? I don’t want to but I’m afraid. The human says, “I’ll call you Mysha”, and I let her put me in a box and take me to a building where there are others like me who are also sad and very afraid. We are all put on to a big loud by Beth box that moves and which I have avoided all my life. It takes us to something the humans call a plane and I hear them say, ‘We are going to the mainland away from the ‘Hairy Canine’ which I thought was me. I am so confused…” Little did Mysha know, “Angeles sin Alas” (Angels Without Wings), a local non-profit animal rescue, received the help of one of only three municipalities in Puerto Rico, who had an animal rescue initiative working in conjunction with the Humane Society of the United States, to fly Mysha and twentyfour other dogs who barely escaped the ravages of Hurricane Maria, a category 5 storm that left thousands of people and untold numbers of animals dead, and devasted Mysha’s beautiful island. There to meet that plane, at a small airport north of Atlanta, were several rescue organizations, among 350 shelter rescue partners nationwide, who are Emergency Placement Partners with the Humane Society of the United States. Among them was the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society, “CHHS,” run by Executive Director, David Stroud. This wouldn’t be the last time the CHHS would reach out to help animal hurricane refugees. More recently, as Hurricane Florence threatened the Carolina coastline, on the evening of September 10, 2018, the Humane Society of the United States once again called into action their emergency placement partner, CHHS. David, his Shelter Manager, Kaitlyn Moss and Kaitlyn’s father, Derrick Moss, a volunteer who drove their mobile rescue transport trailer aptly called the H.E.A.R.T of North Carolina, (Humane, Emergency, Adoption, Rescue, Transport). They hit the road at 5:00 a.m. the following morning. They drove nearly nine hours to get to their first stop, the Outer Banks SPCA in Manteo, North Carolina. Kaitlyn explained, “What took the longest was getting all of the animals ready.” There were seventy-five animals needing evacuation. Many were ready to go, but Outer Banks wanted to make sure they were willing to take a three-legged cat who had his leg removed three days prior (Froggy) and a one-eyed cat (Jack). Kaitlyn said, “Of course! When you meet them, they are the coolest cats ever! As long as they are friendly we are good with it!” On the way back from the Outer Banks SPCA it took a lot longer because, amongst all of the organized chaos, they had to drop animals off in two separate locations. The first place was SAFE Haven for Cats in Raleigh, North Carolina, a no-kill cat rescue where they dropped off twenty cats and kittens. They left
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Raleigh and headed for Charlotte, North Carolina to drop off thirtyfour dogs and cats to Charlotte Mecklenburg Animal Control and Humane Society of Charlotte. CHHS did not return empty handed. 1,037 miles and twenty-four hours later, and with no rest, at 5:30 a.m. they returned with eighteen cats and three dogs. Normally they are filled to capacity with cats, but with a brand new Feline Adoption & Animal Care Center ready for occupancy in early Fall, there was now plenty of room. I had the pleasure of interacting with Froggy, One-eyed Jack and fifteen other felines as well as a hound dog, a shepherd mix and one of the cutest little pit bull puppies, who, at the time of this writing, were all available for adoption at CHHS. If you have any questions about adopting any of the amazing animals at the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society, or would like to volunteer, please call the shelter at (828)743-5752. CHHS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit no-kill shelter and will appreciatively accept your tax-deductible donation in support of the Hurricane Florence survivors and the many other wonderful dogs and cats in search of their forever home. In case you were wondering whatever happened to Mysha, why don’t I let her tell you… It’s December 23, 2017… “Oh boy, oh boy it’s almost Christmas! I don’t know what that means exactly but there’s a happy feeling in the air. Today is going to be a good day! I’m outside in the cool air playing on the grass with one of my buddies who came with me on the plane. Then two humans came up to the fence, and I don’t know what got into me! I said “Pick me! Pick me! But it came out sounding like woof, woof, woofff! The next thing I knew I got to give them sloppy kisses and I was running around wagging my tail like crazy! I think they liked it because I got to go home with them.” Mysha Fierberg found her forever home and became a much loved and spoiled member of our family. Among her adoption paperwork was a note from her rescue hero in Puerto Rico, Remie Sandra Roman, which allowed me to stay in contact with her and learn the details leading up to the dangerous night she was saved.
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Notes from a Southern Kitchen What Happened to Kindness? by Kendall R. Rumsey
O
ur world has become one of instantaneous reactions. Twentyfour-hour news cycles, social media platforms, phones, and computer keyboards have given us all the ability to express ourselves in ways that we never had before. If a topic hits the national radar, within seconds millions of people can express an opinion and share it with the world. I know for myself, my immediate reaction to a topic may not be the same reaction I will have after sitting back and evaluating the points for merit on all sides, but our ability to share those initial words can often lock us in to one side or the other. A quick scroll of any social media platform will leave you believing that we are a society constantly on attack mode. These comments often polarize our nation in ways that bring forth our darkest and most hurtful thoughts. The immediacy of the reaction often isn’t our best reaction. After several months of watching these expressions of hate, bigotry, and down-right nastiness towards our fellow man, I often wonder: have we lost our ability to be kind? And then, something happened in my life that renewed my faith in kindness, simple gestures that made me realize, we may not always agree, but we still have our ability to show compassion, love and support, one gesture at a time. Kindness does still rule, it sometimes just gets covered up in the histrionics of our debate.
I had people coming to my place of business just to give me a hug. I had people sharing their stories with me, stories they had never shared until I shared mine. I had people stop me in stores, hug me. I was showered with kindness. Those days immediately after my story was shared renewed my faith in the kindness of our world. It made me realize that yes, indeed we disagree and sometimes shoot from the hip with our words, in the grand scheme of things we are a kind people. We are people who can disagree, argue, yell, scream, and sometimes cross lines, but deep down, we are people who love one another and possess an overwhelming ability to be kind. Then as you look deeper into some of these very places where our debate can sometimes go off the rails, you will find small gestures of kindness and love everywhere. Maybe it is the little boy fighting cancer who wants to get a card from every state and is bombarded with hundreds of thousands of cards from across the world. Or the mom who is having difficulty feeding her family and a local business adopts them during the holidays. These simple gestures of kindness are around us every day. The young man who walks to work daily and is given a car by his boss.
I recently shared a post on my “Notes from a Southern Kitchen” blog that was difficult to write and even more difficult to share.
Victims of hurricanes and earthquakes and volcano eruptions provided a place to stay, food, water, money, and most of all, hope that they can and will rebuild a better life when things appear to be at their most dire.
It was a story of something painful in my life that happened when I was a child that I had only shared with two people ever. Hitting the “publish” button that morning was very hard, but I knew that I had to do it.
These simple acts of kindness are what makes our nation and our world great. The simple acts: saying, I love you and appreciate you, I will be here to help you up when you fall and celebrate your victory when you overcome.
I was afraid that people would look at me differently, that they would judge me or turn their backs on me. I was afraid that I wouldn’t be believed, and I was afraid that considering some of the things that were floating around in our political, social media, and dinner table debates I would be attacked as well.
Simple acts of kindness that often are overlooked by many but mean so much to the few who are being acknowledged.
None of those things happened. Within minutes of publishing, I was enveloped in love and compassion. I began to get notes and texts and comments and phone calls and emails from people who just wanted me to know I was loved.
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As you read this, we will be entering our Holiday season: Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. It is a time to celebrate and reflect, the time of year that we are our most kind, a time when we can put aside our differences and celebrate our commonality. I am happy to know that kindness is alive and well, sometimes
it just takes a reminder along the way to realize that. Thank you all for sharing your kindnesses with me over the last months as you read my monthly columns. Your words, thanks, and shared memories of your lives mean more to me than I can ever say. As we scroll through our social media feeds and tune into the news and vitriol we see around us daily, I encourage you to seek out the kind. It is on display everywhere we go, maybe not as obvious, but so much more rewarding. Kendall Rumsey is a resident of Clayton, GA. He is owner of imPRESSed, a custom imprint company and publishes the blog, Notes from a Southern Kitchen. www.impressedstyle.com • www.ofthesemountains.com • www.notesfromasouthernkitchen.com
Discover
Franklin, NC
November 2018 - 39
Lovin’ the Journey
My Top Ten Turkey List by Mark Holloway
I
wonder who gets to designate a special day on the calendar for the rest of us.
I have friends who refuse to participate in Valentines Day because to them it seems contrived. They celebrate their romance on a different day, choosing not to be taken hostage by a commercial machine. Has anyone ever told you it’s National Cranberry Day or National Blue M&M Day and you feel a tinge of guilt you’ve not consumed either? I made up both of those days. What exactly does it take for a National Day of Whatever to gain traction? Who was the first person to get pinched for not wearing green on a certain March day? And those red clown noses? That took guts to be the first person to step out in public looking like a clown...well, minus the actual costume. I suppose it gets down to numbers. Humans doing something collectively and repeatedly. The first pilgrims didn’t wear funny hats with belt buckles. Sorry. Those were the Quakers who somehow get credit for being pilgrims. I know, right? I’m fairly certain there’s not a National Quakers as Pilgrims Day. But there is National Chocolate Day, National Coffee Day, and even National Squirrel Appreciation Day. The squirrels should celebrate National Carol Squirrel Feeding Day. She calls them bird feeders. I used to call Carol’s bird feeders ‘squirrel feeders’. But now I just call them bear feeders. Thanksgiving Day seems to be catching on. This national holiday apparently has gained some traction in the hearts and bellies of many Americans. Some of my close training buddies will race the Tryptophan Half Marathon on Thanksgiving Day. In case you’re wondering, that’s the drug in turkey that makes you sleepy. I’m told you would have to eat 50 turkeys to get enough tryptophan in your system. Tryptophan does make for an entertaining name for a foot race. I’m gonna pass on this race and pass the gravy instead. George Washington and his Congress had a say so in the holiday taking hold. But Honest Abe gets credit for making it a really big deal. So, here’s a quick list of things for which I’m thankful...in no sensible order. First, I’m thankful I was born in these United States and not Lower Slobovia. George Washington, Abe Lincoln, and all those who set the table for my heritage are owed a debt of gratitude. Secondly, meeting Jesus when I was a wild teenager changed the course of my life. The mountains here come to mind next. The trails, peaks, waterfalls, rapids, rivers, leaves, and fresh air all find me grateful. Fifth on my list are my training buddies. Greg, Scott, Steve, Susan, Brian, and a host of other suspects keep my heart rate right.
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Charlotte Cook makes my list this Thanksgiving season too. Carol’s mom taught her to cook German food and prepare quite a holiday feast as well. I miss Oma. My passport takes us places. That’s number seven on my list. In 2007, I bought a humble power washer and started, almost accidentally, what would become a thriving and prosperous business 12 years strong. Our company holds the eighth slot. Tracy McCoy and her Georgia Mountain Laurel dream are blessings which I also count. I deeply respect this mountain hairdresser-turned-publisher. I remain thankful you invited me to join your party so long ago. Stay the course, Tracy!! My family finishes my top ten. Carol is still my trophy wife. Our kids, Victoria and Garrett, are still the twinkle in my eye. Carol’s dad, Gary, seems to be settling in quite nicely here too. Gobble on, my friends. 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
Grandpa Watts’ Mill by Bobbie Watts Dills Carter
M
y grandpa Allen D. Watts built the mill which is “The Mark of the Potter” now. I have so many good memories of it and all the surrounding area. The mill washed away before I was old enough to remember and my grandpa built it back. My mother (Roxie Lovell Watts) passed away when I was 3 years old, and my grandparents took care of my oldest sister (Margie Lee Watts Harkins) and I until my father (Frank Watts) married again. My youngest sister (Gaylon Watts Lusk) was 9 months old, so my dad’s brother Uncle Robert & Aunt Leta raised her.
My aunt got the fish started in the river before she had to sell out because of age & bad health. I don’t remember much about our stay with our grandparents, but my sister and I went back and stayed with them when I was in 2nd grade. That was the happiest time of our lives! My sister was an inside person, but I loved the outdoors and I would tag along after my grandpa every chance I got. Sometimes I would get down in the corn bins and help my grandpa dip up meal and put it in bags, any way when we left the mill my grandpa and I were both white all over from working in it. Then we would go pick up my sister and grandmother Tilitha Elliott Watts at my aunt and uncles house which was the house across the road from the mill, my uncle rebuilt that house later on. My uncle Robert’s store was just across the road from the old mill. My grandpa had put cement mill wheels in front of it and had benches for people to sit next to the Soque river and have lunch and just enjoy the scenery. My uncle had a spring out from the store with rock steps and lattice round it along with a gourd for people to get a good drink of cold water, it was a beautiful
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place. My aunt would keep the fish fed, the ducks, chickens and other animals. She would watch us three girls play in the water where it was shallow. There were some rock steps to go down to get in the water. We sure did hate to leave our grandparents, but we always went back every chance we got! Bobbie Carter is the granddaughter of Allen D. Watts. She wrote these memories down for her family and wanted to share them with our readers. Watts’ Mill is Mark of the Potter on Scenic Highway 197 today. Mark of the Potter is enjoyed by thousands of visitors each year, somehow learning the history of the family who built the mill makes it even more special.
November 2018 - 43
By The Way...
Never take a hog to a horserace by Emory Jones
L
ooking back on it, I may have made a mistake taking my pet pig, Cunningham, to the horse races a couple of weeks back. It seemed like a good idea at the time, although my wife, Judy, was bad against it. But then, she’s against any road trip involving pigs. I think that’s just a woman thing. Anyway, Cunningham was so excited about going that I just couldn’t say no. You see, he has racing in his blood. He won’t brag about it, but as a young shoat, he won the NASPIG Triple Crown. That means he came in first in the Sue Wee Stakes, The Running Ham Handicap, and the grueling Bacon Crisp Classic. He would have topped even that by winning the Swine Breeders Cup, but the track was muddy that day, and he got distracted.
That was fine with Cunningham—he doesn’t like the same kind of radio music Judy does anyway. Now, if you’ve ever been to Churchill Downs, home of the famous Kentucky Derby, then you know how strict they are about bringing food and such through the gate. Turns out, they have the same policy about pigs. “Whoa there,” said the gate attendant, keeping in horse racing character. “Is that a pig?” “You bet your jockey strap,” I said, going along with his racing theme. “He can’t come in,” said the attendant, a bit rudely “Why not?” I asked with unbridled curiosity. “He has a ticket.” “Manely because he’s a pig,” he said.
Of course, those events are held in Arkansas, what with pig racing still considered illegal in Georgia and all.
I thought “manely” was a stretch, but I let it go. “But you let horses in there, and pigs are smarter than horses.”
In the end, Judy agreed to let Cunningham tag along as long as we drove to Louisville in separate vehicles and on different weekends.
When he reached for his starting pistol, Cunningham, not wanting to buck the system, sprinted towards the stables. I was on the fast track to bribing my way back in, but I didn’t have any ones on me, and since Cunningham sometimes gets in trouble by himself, I bolted after him. It was a good thing, too; when I caught up, he’d already rooted a hole under the fence and had inadvertently wandered onto the track. His timing couldn’t have been worse either because the starting gate for the first race had just swung open. When I yelled at Cunningham to run, he heard the herd coming, too, and lit a shuck for the finish line with a dozen horses bearing down on him at a fast pace. The crowd and I both roared as Cunningham finished first by a snout in what the evening paper called the most exciting race since a horse named Sotally Tober ran around the track backward in ‘42. By the time I reached the winner’s circle, Cunningham, not understanding the refinements between horse and pig racing, had eaten half the roses they’d politely hung around his neck. But it didn’t matter much, because, as we shortly discovered, pig racing is considered illegal in Kentucky, too. In fact, one of the racing stewards and two stewardesses took back the half-eaten roses and ordered us off the premises. We got the last laugh, though. On the way out, Cunningham ran over to one of the horses sunning himself between races and planted a little sign that read, “Help! I’ve fallen and I can’t giddyap!” He laughed about that all the way home.
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Have gratitude for all that you have, and you can be happy exactly as you are. Mandy Ingber
November 2018 - 45
20th Annual Veteran’s Dinner Submitted by: Irene Bynum, Co-Chair Veteran’s Dinner Rabun County Chamber of Commerce
A
s we are coming to the home stretch of planning for the 20th Annual Veteran’s Dinner, I have been thinking back to my first experience participating in this touching event. You see, some of you may not realize, but Rabun County Chamber of Commerce sponsors one of the biggest and most spectacular Veteran’s Appreciation banquets in the State of Georgia I didn’t realize it until I was introduced to the event through my service on the Chamber Board several years ago. I had thrown events in my career and kept thinking silently to myself during the planning stages, “this is a piece of cake” and “how hard could this be”? Well, I quickly learned how much planning and support is needed to put this event on and put it on in Kathy Blalock style!
The first time I showed up to do my part in decorating the tables, I realized this is a BIG DEAL! I was given placemats, napkins and table favors to put out. No sweat right? I placed, folded and situated the table favors and kept going down the line. My Mama taught me how to set a table! There were several of us setting the tables for 500+ and we felt we could knock it out quickly. About half way through my second row, we hear this booming exclamation for us to “STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING NOW”! We looked around and that loud directive was coming straight out of the mouth of that cute, freckled face Kathy Blalock. Hands on her hips she began to proclaim, “Ya’ll this is special, this is for our Veteran’s, nothing is too good for them!” She proceeded to show us volunteers how we were to place the placemats flush with the table and center the favors a certain way and the napkin is to be placed so-so and then the chair is to be centered within this placement. She wasn’t being picky, she was right. Her placement instructions gave it that “finished” look and the WOW factor that would make anyone who walked in feel extra special. Of course, the event itself is so overwhelmingly special I can’t even describe. Watching proud veteran’s from all branches of services walking and some rolling in is quiet moving. Some dust off their uniforms and wear them with pride. I usually try to get selfies with all of them as it makes me proud for them. Widows and widowers of veteran’s attend and it is very poignant. My favorite part is when the flags of each branch of service is presented. The chants that come from these men and women as they are taken back to the days of service always chokes me up. You FEEL the brotherhood and comradery throughout the entire hall. I can’t even imagine how they feel, but I do know how proud I am to be an American watching them! If you have not been to one of these dinners I would highly recommend it. It will be held November 8th at 5:30 p.m. If you want to be involved you can in several ways--attendance, volunteering or sponsorship. You can sponsor a veteran through a memorial or honorarium and it will appear in our program. The support of our community is the key to the success of this event. To get information on how to participate on any level, contact the Rabun County Chamber of Commerce Welcome Center at 706/782-4812.
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Find your Happy Place at
S
unshine & Sawdust is a place where you can get together with friends, your better half, co-workers or anyone else you decide to bring along to create your very own ‘do it yourself’ (DIY) home decoration that you will be extremely proud of. Paint a canvas, sign, ornament or craft a piece of unique jewelry. “We welcome your ideas and are excited to explore your creative side” said Tracy McCoy, part owner in the new studio. “Cindi (Freeman) and I find our happy place is behind a brush or when we are working on a project, and we want others to do the same.” This new studio is scheduled to open in Mountain City, just a couple miles north of Clayton, in early November. Sunshine & Sawdust will provide all of the materials you need to create fun and exciting projects from scratch! You will have the opportunity to build and paint a customized wood sign with step by step instructions. Paint a canvas or board to keep or give as a gift. “I started making signs for my own home, because I found that I could make it my way, in my colors for less than I could buy it.” Cindi Freeman said. “My daughter D’Anna and I started a business called Just Cuttin’ Up and began doing parties. Now we can bring the party to you or you can come to us.” Sunshine and Sawdust will invite local artists and crafters in to teach everything from paintings to making candles. There will be parties you can come to or you can plan your own. You can grab lunch or pick up a pizza after work, bring whatever snack or drink you choose while you and your friends create a decoration you will be delighted to have in your home. The studio will welcome one or up to a dozen at a time. It’s gonna be fun, relaxing and an escape from the stresses of the day. It can be a family affair or a girl’s night out event. Bring your beau or your bestie, call and reserve or just drop in. You make the rules, you choose the project, and you create something wonderful. It’s a happy place to be and don’t we all need some Sunshine and Sawdust in our lives? Look for the studio next door to the Georgia Mountain Laurel office beside Expectations Beauty Salon at 2511 Highway 441, Clayton, Georgia (actually just inside Mountain City). To schedule a party call 706.982.0216 or find and follow us on Facebook.
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Thanksgiving is a time of togetherness and gratitude. Nigel Hamilton
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Professional Services
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Ready For Some Great Lake Living? by John Shivers
“W
e’re ready when you are,” one of the major airlines once proclaimed. In the case of the single family property at 3533 Blalock Goldmine Road on Lake Burton in Rabun County, this recently renovated home with high end finishes is move-in ready when you are. With five bedrooms and five bathrooms, this almost 4,000 square foot cottage or bungalow style home sits on 1.3 acres in an intimate cove just off Dick’s Creek west of Clayton, Georgia, near Highway 76. Originally constructed in 1989, the home has recently been freshened and updated, and provides its owners with a private, sloping backyard and both mountain and lake views. While the home itself nestles nicely into the mostly natural landscape, the many windows on the back side situate all who call it home right in the middle of that great lake lifestyle. Inside, the painted tongue and groove walls and ceilings in a snappy white and other neutral tones give an upscale
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lakeside cottage atmosphere to the entire house. Many windows of varying sizes and styles further increase the casual, laidback manner of living that is just one of the main selling features. With enough entertaining space for large parties and sleepover guests, the home also offers nooks and niches that allow for some one-on-one time. Whether you have a large family or many friends, how much better can it get? Space for spreading out and relaxing is evident everywhere you look, from the two-story foyer to the vaulted ceilings and the standard nine-foot ceilings. With its two large living areas, anchored by a central, double-sided native stone fireplace, a
fully-contained master suite and an adjacent library or office, and a kitchen any serious cook can appreciate, the main level is truly a place for gracious, comfortable living. A sunroom provides a place to kick back and enjoy a good book or a great meal, accented by a breathtaking view of one of northeast Georgia’s most beautiful water vistas. The kitchen, outfitted in a full complement of stainless steel appliances, includes a comfortable work pattern including an island, with a separate dining area and a spacious walk-in pantry / laundry room. The kitchen is adjacent to the two-car garage and affords easy access for groceries and people. A guest parking area and workshop space are right outside the door as well. Downstairs the great just keeps getting better with still another living area, as well as a bunk room that expands the comfortable living footprint. Outdoor living features include a screened porch off the main living room; a lower level covered porch with a hot tub; stone steps and a pathway that leads to a 2-stall boathouse that can accommodate a wakeboard or pontoon boat. The covered deck topside at the boathouse adds yet another venue for family fun or entertaining. In addition to the boathouse, there is the seawall and 230 feet of lakefront surrounding the boathouse and the adjacent swim dock. Farther back in the yard, an informal fire pit provides the perfect setting for those late evening sunset-watching sessions complete with s’mores or hot dogs. And everywhere you look, there’s another reason to get ready for great living on this property. Owners have use of the lake and the marina and there are no association fees. Rabun County public schools and two private schools make it easy to move your family to the lake full-time. For additional information on this classic piece of lakefront property, contact Harry Norman, REALTORS® Luxury Lake and Mountain - The Lake Team at 706-715-5550 and laketeam@ icloud.com, or call the office at 706-212-0228. Reference GAMLS #8457991.
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Emery’s Woodworks
ason Emery has always been an entrepreneur. While still in high school, Jason started a landscaping and firewood business along with working with his dad, Mel, doing construction. Together the two started building various furniture projects out of logs that Jason saved from the firewood pile. When the pieces sold rather quickly, the family decided to make a change of direction with the business and in 2011 Emery’s Woodworks was established in a location just south of East Wolf Creek Rd in Lakemont, GA. “Jason is very creative, if you show him an idea he will run with it”, says his wife Amanda. The business exploded and soon they were outgrowing the small wood shop. There was a much bigger location available and in November of 2017 the family took the leap and they went from 1,200 sq ft of shop space to 12,000 sq ft! One might call that a leap of faith! Utilizing wood from a shed at the old location Jason, Mel and Amanda’s brother Jacob built a wall dividing the new space into workshop and showroom and it has filled up quickly! Emery’s Woodworks offers custom home furnishings made from native trees. They specialize in dining tables and wood countertops but offer much more. The crew loves ideas and it seems they can do almost anything involving wood or metal. They have cut trees off clients’ property to create sentimental pieces of furniture or mantles. The Emery’s mill wood for themselves and others. They sell varying size slabs and dimensional lumber to builders, craftsmen or homeowners. The showroom is stocked with pieces Jason and Amanda have designed and there is a display of home décor by Coalley’s Creations and JW McGuffie. You will find lodge and farmhouse décor as well as modern styles. Today you will find Emery’s Woodworks at 5312 Highway 441 South in Tiger, Georgia (Formerly the North Georgia Food Bank building). Online you can visit www.emeryswoodworks.com or find them on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. I invite you to stop in and explore their showroom, meet the family behind this business and talk with them about that special project you have in mind.
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FAITH Gives Back To The Community
T
he holiday season is a special time of the year for families to be together for fun, laughter, good food and fellowship. At the present time there are families who are living in the FAITH shelter who will not have the same experience of a family Christmas as most of us will. The good people at FAITH try to make sure that all of their shelter families also have a wonderful Christmas and get to experience the joys of the season. The shelter is a safe place for these families where they can relax and be with each other. Santa comes to the shelter, even though there is no chimney, and the children have a wonderful time with gifts and stockings. The community lends support to these families by providing special gifts and lots of good food for all to enjoy. Everyone at FAITH would like to say thank you to all of you who do so much for their Shelter families and for supporting FAITH through the year. They all appreciate you! FAITH also wants to give back to the community so they have teamed up with Kirk Knous to provide a special holiday event. The event is “A Christmas Village for Hope and Healing�. It is a dazzling display of charming holiday villages that will delight children and adults of all ages. Mr. Knous has assembled what is believed to be the largest collection of miniature Christmas houses and holiday scenes in the State of Georgia. We invite you to come tour the exhibit on December 7,8,14 & 15 from 6 pm to 8 pm. The location is The Kirk Knous Building at 90 Tiger Connector, just up the hill from Goats on the Roof. Santa has indicated he may even be there on some of the nights.
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Door to Opportunity, Window on the World Home at 350 Whitetail is Your Passport by John Shivers
F
rom the moment you pull in to the rustic country cottage in a gated community near Waterfall and Lake Burton, some ten miles east of Clayton, you’re struck by the massive, timber-framed entrance. And while this charming home has great curb appeal, you ain’t seen nothing yet! The portico and the custom doorway beyond proclaim an unwritten invitation for you to alight and discover all that lies beyond. Chances are, you’ll be speechless. This three bedroom home is comfortably equipped for daily living both inside and out. And at times, thanks to an abundance of many energy-efficient glass windows and doors, it’s difficult to know whether you’re inside or out. Either way, it’s the opportunity for a lifestyle you’ll come to appreciate the longer you’re there.
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Located adjacent to the back nine of Waterfall at Lake Burton golf course, near Lake Burton and the U.S. National Forest, this truly is a home for all seasons. Even in the green of summer, there are windows through the trees that bring breathtaking mountain vistas right onto the spacious back deck, and into the Great Room and master living area. Inside on the main floor, tongue and groove vaulted ceilings, walls in the colors of nature, and massive, warm stone set the stage for casual, comfortable, yet exciting living. Trim work in stained hues of warm honey complete the picture. Wide plank floors are finished in the same honey stain, and sturdy manmade beams as well as natural timbers support the ceilings that reach to the skies, thanks to the generous expanses of glass that make the home and its owners one with nature.
In the kitchen, separated from the Great Room by a long breakfast bar, is counter space that far exceeds the normal kitchen layout. Cooking the Thanksgiving feast in this kitchen is something you’ll definitely give thanks for. With high end stainless appliances and a more than average wall cabinets as well, this kitchen also looks out on those views that money often can’t buy. In this case, they come with the house! A separate dining area ensures that you can comfortably seat and feed the multitudes. A fully-contained, oversized master suite anchors the remainder of the main level. The roomy master bath takes on a spa-like quality with both a shower and a separate garden tub that looks out onto the view. A powder room is also on this level. Downstairs two more generous-sized bedrooms and two baths ensure that family and overnight guests alike will be comfortable. A den and kitchenette allow the younger set to live and play to the maximum. Upstairs a deck on the back makes entertaining effortless. Downstairs, a screened porch ensures both privacy and safety for all. This home, located in the Chinkapin, a community with paved streets and underground utilities, sits on 2.35 acres. Water is from a community well and the home is on a septic tank. Two mountain stone fireplaces in the Great Room and in the den downstairs extend a warm welcome in both December and June. At 3,320 square feet, it’s large enough for a family year-round, and once you experience the four seasons at this address, you’ll definitely want to live here year-round. Completing the opportunities for outdoor living are the hot tub that’s sure to be a popular place and a fire pit, where you can cook out and stargaze year-round. Just think of it all as your passport to great living! Listing agent for this property now priced at $599,000.00 is Poss Realty agent Scott Poss who can be reached at 706-4902305 or 706-782-7133 or at possrealty@gmail.com. Reference MLS #8249084.
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Poss Realty Has Come Full Circle by John Shivers
T
here’s an old philosophy that says when something is replaced by a new and improved model, if you wait long enough, the old will come back into vogue. Another axiom says classic never goes out of style. In the case of one of Rabun County’s oldest businesses and a forerunner in the local real estate industry, both of these old sayings apply. Poss Realty has returned to its roots.
President and Broker Scott Poss, son of the late Ed Poss, the company’s founder, made the big announcement in early October that Edwin C. Poss Inc. is no longer associated with a national franchise and is doing business as Poss Realty. Nothing else, Scott says, has changed. The agency is still located at 809 Highway 441 South in Clayton, and he and the 23 agents and support staff can still be reached at 706.782.2121. Most of all, Scott says, “The core of our business, the excellent client service bringing us decades of repeat business and referrals, has not changed.” It’s been five decades since Ed Poss moved his family from Athens to Rabun County and first opened the doors of Poss Realty. It was the name Poss Realty that helped to grow the local real estate industry. Going forward, as signs on listed properties county begin to proclaim the “new” Poss name, they’re still growing their business and serving this community. Everything has come full circle. “What we found over the years is that people think of us as Poss Realty. It doesn’t matter which national umbrella we’ve operated. He stops to reflect on what’s he just said, then continues. “We’re part of the community. We know people and interact with them daily. This community is foremost in our mind.” When you are a Poss customer, Ed would say, “We’re married to you.” In addition to making customer service an attitude rather than a department, Ed also worked to build the county by referring local merchants, goods and services. Scott reaffirms, everything continues as before. He alludes to the team culture that exists among the Poss agents, some of whom have logged 15 and 20 years serving local property buying and selling needs. “We’re utilizing all our resources to maximum advantage for the benefit of our customers, to promote and sell properties, just as we always have.” A fiftieth anniversary celebration is in the planning, he adds.
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Bless Your Heart
Only in the South…
I
wanted to start this story out as a beautiful, fall crisp day where leaves were swirling, and the air was just cool enough to pull out the boots. However, it was a brutally hot summer day where you felt like Crisco melting in a black iron skillet. That was the day I chose to be a good daughterin-law and take Clara around her small town to run errands. When I arrived that Saturday morning, she promptly told me I was to drive her car. I didn’t know why and really didn’t want to, but after-all she was my mother-in-law… …and in the South, you do what your told. First, we stopped at the Piggly Wiggly. It is not one of your finer grocery stores but it’s enough and familiar (there’s a lot of comfort in familiar.) Clara was not one to grab a jar of jelly, or a box of corn flakes, nooo…we hauled cases to the buggy of whatever items she wanted. Mostly canned biscuits for her fried pies, dried fruit for her fried pies, at least 10 of the 10 lb bags of sugar for her fried pies. Get the picture? I was exhausted by the time I loaded all this in the back seat of the car. I never said a word, because in the South, you do as your told. We stopped at three grocery stores total to make sure we were getting the best sales. Then off to the bank to make a deposit and get a little bit of ‘running’ money. Then the gas station to fill up the car, check the oil, and talk to whomever passed by while we sat in the car. I was tired, hungry and frankly, a bit cranky. We finally get back on the road to head home, so I thought. When she pointed at the funeral home saying, “pull in there Lisa.” “Where?” I said, thinking I had misunderstood her. “There in the funeral home,” she said firmly. I looked up at the name on the sign and asked, “Do you know this person that died?” “No, I don’t but just pull on in.” she insisted. I live in the south and do what I’m told. I turned off her car and asked, “Why are we in the parking lot if you don’t know the person who died?”
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by Lisa Harris
About that moment, people started to come out from the afternoon visitation. Clara jumped out of the car, telling me to pop the trunk. …I did as I was told, I popped the trunk… and lo and behold were her fried pies, all wrapped and labeled, apple, peach, sweet potato, and chocolate. I was mortified! (You’re either mortified or delighted in the South—no in-between) She told me to stand there and make change while she sold them. I may be the last living woman to have sold fried pies in a funeral home parking lot, but all I can say is, In the South, you do as you’re told. --At least the first 20 years I knew my MIL (mother-in-law) she was a bit round and fluffy and low to the ground (short). So, clothes were just not her thing and she was never one to consider style until the last five years as the weight begin to fall off. That’s when Clara discovered ‘skinny’ jeans in her nineties. One day she came to my house in the most adorable white skinny jeans and her white tennis shoes. I made over her, so much so, that she promptly told me that she would go back to her favorite store and buy me a pair. A few days later she called saying with a lilt in her voice, “They didn’t have skinny jeans in that big of a size!” How she loved saying that! Southern women love to be small more than anything. They especially love standing by women who are bigger than they are. She went to Jesus wearing a size 4 petite. I hope she’s getting to wear her skinny jeans in Heaven.
I have seen first hand that when you reach the age of 90, you can say and do most anything. You’ve earned the right and if in the South, it will get repeated and possibly written about, as I am continuing to do… It was Clara’s birthday and I ran out to Party City to buy her a Happy Birthday Tiara that would set off her beautiful white hair. I bought the perfect one and we met the family at her favorite place to eat, Red Lobster, or as my sister calls it, the Dead Lobster. My husband and I walked in the waiting area and, sitting next to the lobsters, was Clara with her family standing around her. I stood by her daughter Judy for a few moments just staring at Clara’s eyes. I said to Judy, “Did Clara fall? Is that why she has two black eyes?” “No, she didn’t fall,” she said. “Well, how did she get her black eyes?” I persisted. Judy looked like she was going to bust out laughing and replied, “Today mother saw an info-commercial about how to have ‘smoky eyes,’ so, she thought she would try it.”
“Let?” are you kidding? “Mother told me to stand back.” Once again—In the South, you do as your told.
One rare day Clara was sad. It was her wedding anniversary and her husband, Floyd had been gone for many, many years. But, this day she really missed him, she missed feeling that special love. She sat quietly in her chair—probably remembering the journey they had shared and the family they had raised. This went on for a while until she jumped up and got on the phone inviting her family, her neighbors, and her friends for a dinner party! You see, Clara knew Joy was a choice. You can sit and be sad or you can invite and be happy. She chose to live out joy. God gave her a passion for cooking and serving. That brought her joy, and she continually taught me about life. Our family will not have her this Thanksgiving—she’s way too busy serving God in her white skinny jeans and smoky eyes and doing so with unspeakable joy!
Seriously? Smoky Eyes?
I imagine she has God sitting down eating all her dishes she has prepared.
I had to laugh and said to Judy, “You let her do that?”
And I imagine He did as He was told…
Judy replied…
Because…isn’t there a South in Heaven?
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And I Will Give You Shepherds by Zack Ford, Associate Pastor, Grace Bible Church
I
t’s Thanksgiving season! That means football, food, fall weather, family, friends, and many more things that we all have plenty to be thankful about. As I think about thankfulness, nothing excites my heart more than being amazed and reminded of the grace and mercy of God to us — sinners who repeatedly and boldly rebel against Him. Recently, the Lord led me to a renewed thankfulness through these six words: And I Will Give You Shepherds. Some Context Let me give you a bit of context. These words come from the Old Testament book of Jeremiah. In chapter 2 of Jeremiah’s prophecy, God recounted how Israel had started strong in serving Him and being devoted to Him (2:2-3), but they did not continue strong. He says in Jeremiah 2:5 that the people “went far from me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless.” And if “becoming worthless” wasn’t bad enough, He goes on to recount how even the priests disregarded the Lord, those who handled the law didn’t know Him, the shepherds transgressed against Him, and the prophets even “prophesied by Baal” (2:8), one of the false gods of the land. On and on throughout chapter 2, God recounts how the people of Israel strayed away from Him, “changed their glory for that which does not profit” (2:11) and how they have “forsaken God” (2:13). Needless to say, things weren’t looking good for the people of Israel. Though they may have started strong at first in their devotion to God, chapters 2 and the beginning of chapter 3 make it very clear that they were doing anything but following the LORD now. An Important Shift But then comes an important shift in the story. A shift that no one would expect. If you were reading this story for the first time, you would expect verse 11 of chapter 3 to continue with the judgment of God that He’s going to pour out on these people. But that’s not what happens. Instead, God tells Jeremiah to proclaim to Israel that He is merciful and that they have a chance to repent and return to Him: “‘Return, faithless Israel,’ declares the LORD. ‘I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful,’ declares the LORD” (Jeremiah 3:12). He then calls them in verses 13-14 to repentance. And in these verses, God lays out very clearly what that repentance will look like. It should include confession, where they acknowledge their guilt (v.13), action, where they return to Him (v.14), and reconciliation, where God Himself will restore them because of His great mercy. And so it is with us. God promises His forgiveness and reconciliation to all of us who repent of our sin and turn to Him through Jesus Christ. No matter how many times we have forsaken Him, no matter how many times we have rebelled against Him, no matter how many times we, like Israel, have abandoned God, He is still merciful.
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And He still welcomes us to repent of that sin, turn to Jesus, and be reconciled. He is so merciful and gracious. And I Will Give You Shepherds Finally, in verse 15, He gives them this promise: “And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.” As I was reading through this passage and reflecting on this Thanksgiving season, this is what struck me the most about God’s mercy and graciousness in this passage. Not only was He patient with them in their rebellion (as He is with us through Jesus) … Not only was He long-suffering with them and chose not to consume them in His wrath because of their sin (as He is with us through Jesus) … Not only did He offer a way of reconciliation through repentance of sin and returning to Him (as He does with us through Jesus) … Not only did He do all of that, but He ends by graciously providing for them shepherds, men after His own heart, who would feed them with knowledge and understanding — His Word. And so He does with us. He has graciously provided us with men — pastors, elders, teachers — who are called and commissioned by Him to feed us with knowledge and understanding from His Word. This is a gracious provision of God, both to the hearers of Jeremiah and to us today! Praise the Lord for His precious provision and promise — “And I will give you shepherds.” In this Thanksgiving season, I am so thankful for the group of pastors who have partnered together for R4G and serve various churches in our community. I encourage you as well to express your thankfulness to your pastor, and if you are not actively involved in a local church, to visit one of our R4G churches and experience the wonderful blessing that the Lord has graciously provided. In this Thanksgiving season, may we not overlook the seemingly small or trivial things in our lives that our God has mercifully provided for us.
Legacy
L
et’s just start with this, I have been known for “overthinking” things. This week I had someone tell me I was a deep thinker. That sounds better I think, oh, there I go again. At any rate, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about purpose and direction. I like to accomplish things and am disappointed if the end result of my efforts is fruitless. I love selfhelp books because I am a constant work in progress, not sure what psychology there is behind that statement. My favorite selfhelp book is my Bible. Everything I need to know is in there from how to treat myself to how to treat others. What goals are most important and how best to achieve them, it’s all there. The best part is all that I really need to do is surrender my life and leave it all in God’s hands. Now, don’t misconstrue my words: daily effort is required and common sense is key. We all have daily goals, weekly goals, monthly and even yearly goals. I probably meet less than half of the goals I set for myself. Lately, it’s the big picture that I’ve been looking at. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the reality is I am half way to 104. Thus it is safe to say that I am on the downhill side of life and I wonder if I am on track to accomplishing all that God had in mind for me. What impact have I made on humanity and the world? What will my legacy be? I can guarantee you that at the celebration of my life someone will lean in to the person next to them and say “Ya know, she was always late,” followed by the proverbial, “Bless her heart.” Those last three words always buffer the negative. Maybe a bucket list is what I am entertaining. I just want my life to count for something. Recently I read a quote by Maya Angelo that stated, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” That led me to think about those people in my life who made me feel good about myself. People who invested in me, those who left their handprint on my life. There are many because God knew it was going to “take a village” to get me through life. I’ve had challenges and storms that I thought would overtake me; we all have, but there was always someone who stepped up and picked me up and dusted me off. People who pointed me down the right
It’s on my Mind by Tracy McCoy
path with their words or by their actions. Some purposefully and others who didn’t even know they were making a difference. There have been many that I’ve had the opportunity to say, “You have been a positive force in my life and I love you.” and others I never had the chance to tell, or put it off thinking I had plenty of time to do that. One of those people was my aunt Belle Taylor. As I write this article, I am preparing to visit with her family at the funeral home. She left this world for heaven a couple days ago. My aunt Belle was one of the strongest women I’ve ever known. She raised three girls on her own and had a hand in raising her grandchildren and great-grands. She loved Jesus and let her light shine. The beauty of it was she didn’t even know how brightly it was shining, she was just following the directions in the same self-help book I read, the Bible. She grew up one of thirteen kids raised ten + miles from town in the 40s. She loved her family more than most and invested her time and energy into them. She became known as a Godly woman because of the way she lived her life. She was beautiful in appearance, but more beautiful because of her heart. She could be tough and I am sure her girls would tell you that she made them cut their own hickory and she wasn’t afraid to use it. I bet they’d also tell you that she was a loving, giving, sacrificing mother who always put them first. She never won awards or closed a big business deal, but she could fry potatoes and make cornbread like nobody’s business. She taught her family well how to treat others and she had a solid foundation in God’s word and she was the real deal! I loved her very much and wish that I had taken the time to let her know how much of an impact she made without even trying. Her legacy is that she ran the race, and finished well and today she is with Jesus who she loved so much. I hope that I can be half as good as Belle Taylor. “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:6-8
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Adventure Out
Late Autumn Waterfall Tour by Peter McIntosh
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I
’m figuring the fall color will be a little late this year and there’s still time to catch some sweet autumn color. So on this adventure we’re taking a little road trip to see drive up waterfalls, Mud Creek Falls in Georgia and Dry Falls, Cullasaga Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls in North Carolina. You can do a little hiking at two of them, Mud Creek and Dry Falls, but I still call them drive ups. Starting from the intersection of Highway 441 and Highway 246 in Dillard, turn right on Highway 246 and go for 4.2 miles to Bald Mountain Road. Turn right on Bald Mountain Road and go 0.9 miles and turn right into Sky Valley, on Sky Valley Way and go 1/2 mile and turn right on Tahoe Lane. Follow Tahoe Lane 3/4 mile to dead end at the base of the falls. There’s a trail here following Mud Creek that will end near the Dillard Overlook on Highway 246 if you feel like hiking. It’s not a well maintained trail so keep that in mind. Now back to Highway 246, which is now NC Highway 106 (it changed at the state line) and turn right, heading towards Highlands. At the intersection of Highway 106 and Highway 64 in Highlands, turn left, heading west on Highway 64, 2 miles to Dry Falls and a well marked parking area on left. There are viewing spots that are handicap accessible and there are restrooms here. But if you don’t know, the big selling point of Dry Falls is being able to walk behind the roaring cascade. I suggest bringing a rain jacket as the mist from the falls is, well, very misty! So onward and downward we go, following along the Cullasaga River Gorge, to Cullasaga Falls. This waterfall is 5.5 miles past Dry Falls on Hwy 64 and is also on the left. The best thing to do is drive past the falls a short way down Highway 64 and turn around. Returning towards Highlands, pull off to the right, completely off road. Be careful here as this is a high traffic area. Now heading back towards Highlands you can drive under Bridal Veil Falls if you’re so inclined. And now after all this falling water, I suggest you top off your adventure with a visit to SweeTreats in Highlands for a yummy treat. Happy hiking! As autumn fades like a dying ember, here’s my poem for November: Let’s hit the road to see some color, Some are bright, the others duller. To see falling water at four different places, It’s good to get out in the wide open spaces. To see more of Peter’s photos or if you have a question or comment: www.mcintoshmountains.com
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Rabun PAWS 4 LIFE
“Just a Little Something” Everett Lampros, Kennel Technician, Paws 4 Life
can be worked through, like walking on a leash or being potty trained. One thing I think is important to realize is that most of us want our dog to bark or growl at an intruder, but it’s easy to misread a shelter animal because they don’t know who “their people” are, and they can bark or growl at the wrong time. That’s why it is important to take the time necessary to build that connection that allows the animal to know that it’s yours. I heard someone once say, “You can take a dog out of a shelter, but you can’t take the shelter out of a dog.” I have to disagree, and if we start to think that way then hope can be lost. In some cases, dogs can become unadoptable, but if we do a good job educating people on how they can help, as well as working closely with the community and our volunteers on how they, too, can help, it is less likely to happen. These animals just need a little guidance and someone that understands that you cannot erase the animals’ past overnight. I have seen the transformations first hand, as people bring their animals back to visit us. The difference can be overwhelming! With a little bit of time, patience, and love, it is amazing what can happen.
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o matter where you go in life, you tend to gravitate toward things that pull on your heart strings. I found early on my interest and love for music. I felt it the minute I first picked up a guitar. I have also always had a love for animals. At Rabun Paws 4 Life, I get to do a little bit of both. It’s nice to be able to share something so simple and yet it has so much power behind it. Music tends to calm most of the animals down. Some are curious, and a few.…it can just flat out scare. Like any musician performing on stage, it’s important to know your crowd. And while it might sound funny or contrary to popular belief, most of the music we listen to today would not pass the approval of our four legged friends! I have been with Paws 4 Life a little over a year now, and I was hired as a kennel tech. My job is to feed the animals, to clean up after them, and to learn each animal’s behavior. Eventually, in doing so, I can properly help place an animal in a forever home. The more we pay attention and learn the animals, the faster we can find a perfect match. The more we know about each animal will help assist in the adoption process. It is so important to understand that some s helter animals come with a few quirks. Some, as you can imagine, have trust issues and a disconnect with people. Some of these animals have been strays all of their lives, while others have been brought in by families changing course or downsizing to a place that does not accept animals. Whatever the reason may be, most of these problems
People often ask us how they can help. I always tell them that if we all do “just a little something” we can make a difference and make that change. There are many ways to help: you can volunteer, foster an animal, and even make a donation. Another way we can all help in the bigger picture is to spay and neuter our pets. Left unfixed, two animals turn into four, and four turn into TOO MANY real fast! It is the responsibility we take on as a pet owner. Paws 4 Life has the cost of spaying or neutering already built into the adoption price for each animal, and it’s great for the new owner to not have to worry about it. I’d like to invite and encourage readers to come in and see us sometime. We’d love to answer your questions and have you look around. Paws 4 Life is a very special place full of animals just waiting to be adopted and loved. These animals certainly pull on my heart strings. You might just find one that pulls on yours! Be sure to visit our Facebook page (Rabun Paws 4 Life Shelter) and our website (www.rabunpaws4life.com) for adoptable animals: cats and dogs! Visit our shelter at 261 Boen Creek Road, Tiger, GA 30576 Call us for information, or to report lost/missing/found animals in Rabun County 706.782.5422 Donations for the care of our animals are always appreciated. Mail to PAWS 4 Life – PO Box 216, Clayton, GA 30525
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A Bird, a Boy Scout, and the Birth of a Naturalist by Joel Hitt
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would like to share an unusual story. It involves something I did as a pubescent lad, that for many would be a non-event. It would be something that happened and was forgotten after a few days. Not for me! This became a major teachable moment in my youth. Consider an early teen in the 1950s. (For the younger audience: the answer is yes...the Boy Scouts did exist that long ago, as I did.) I was an avid baseball player looking for any way of practicing accuracy with long throws (After all, I was a right-fielder, and that peg to third base wins or loses games). One afternoon near our apartment, I grabbed a stone on sheer impulse and let it fly in the direction of a bird perched in a distant tree. Of course, I assumed my throw would be greatly askew, perhaps flushing the bird from the tree at the very most. But upon the release of that rock, I breathed the last calm breath I would draw for a quite a while that day. For to my disbelief, my rock found its target, impacting the bird and knocking her from her post to the ground below. After spending a long moment considering the situation I was in, I concluded that the bird must be close to death anyway and that I would serve her better if I hastened its arrival. The rock I had thrown fell not far from where the bird lay. So I retrieved it. I placed it firmly in my left hand (yes I was “wrong-handed,” the only lefty in my family) and I stood over the bird as I raised the stone high over my head. I brought my arm down with extra effort to make sure, this time, that I would complete the process that I had not asked for in the beginning. I released the weapon directly at the head of the bird. And I heard a loud gruesome “thunk” as the projectile made contact.
The author at the age described in this story.
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I don’t recall how long I remained at the scene after that. I believe I was in mild shock. I tried to understand all that had happened since I first saw this bird. I went to bed that night still immersed
her? (Correct.) Then, I was trying to hit her, indeed, kill her, and I missed? (Correct again, notwithstanding the fact that you hovered right on top of her!) And for the final kiss of irony, not only did my second effort miss the robin, but the impact of the rock hitting the ground next to her startled the birdie into action? (Thunk! Most assuredly, for she rose up and flew away in a flurry of wings when that rock made its noisy entry into the ground!) So it’s like I could not win for losing? (Perhaps think of it as you could not lose for winning!) It is not coincidental that since that event at age 13, much of my days are spent in The author today captures birds using binoculars or cameras. No more rocks! thinking, researching, and talking about the in this solitary debriefing, and to pray for this bird’s future health natural world. I may have professionally worked in the mental and wellness. Why would I describe my prayer in this manner, as health field, but I’ve had my eye on the robin since that event. though this lovely American robin’s life continued? She has become a symbol of the natural world to me. But it’s an Because it did. At the time I released that rock as I stood over the imperfect metaphor. For “sparing the robin” breaks down when robin, I must have closed my eyes briefly, to avoid the scene that you apply it to our treatment of the natural world. There are so awaited her...and me. Then when I opened my eyes, I discovered many ways we are consuming or damaging nature today. It’s as that unlike at a distance, my point blank accuracy was off the though we own nature as a thing. So I try to make my story of that mark! The “thunk” sound was the sound the rock made as it sank day in my youth a working metaphor for me to apply across the board. Will you help me spare the robin? into the ground, just adjacent to the skull of this bird! Let’s review, so that you have all of this clear (I’ve been reviewing it for decades now!). First I was trying to miss the bird and I hit
(To share any responses or send any questions, use joelhitt@ gmail.com.)
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Back Country Horsemen of Northeast Georgia by Tracy McCoy
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n the past few issues, we have been learning more about the horse riding community in the mountains. While researching information about riding trails, I learned about a local branch of Back Counrty Horsemen of America, a nationwide organization with a solid 40+ year history, committed to protecting the access of equestrians to public lands. This organization is comprised of volunteers who enjoy exploring new trails and are more than willing to maintain them, improving the riding opportunities for all who want to enjoy them. This article is about our local group, Back Country Horsemen of Northeast Georgia. One of only four chapters in Georgia, our local group, the Northeast chapter, was formed in late 2009 to better support publicly available equestrian trails known as Willis Knob horse trails. The group of volunteers works with the US Forest Service and other federal and state land managers, local governments, equine and other user groups to assist in maintaining and preserving access to public lands. Volunteers help maintain existing trails and create reroutes of trouble spots when needed. The chapter promotes Leave No Trace principals. These practices promote the responsible use and enjoyment of our forests and parks by trail riders and all outdoor enthusiasts.
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Through a volunteer agreement with the US Forest Service, this chapter has “adopted� the Willis Knob Campground in the Chattahoochee National Forest in Georgia. The members donate their time and resources to care for these public lands. The group has had extensive safety and other training that is offered to US Forest Service employees. Many of the members of this group are local business owners and contractors who utilize their own equipment to work on the trails. The members ride most weekends, weather permitting, and share a camaraderie that extends beyond the saddle. They enjoy their horses and being in nature and are willing to put the work in to continue with clear trails that are safe and well maintained. They deserve to be commended for their efforts. Many people enjoy the fruits of their labor without ever knowing why the properties are so well maintained. The chapter is always looking for new members and volunteers. Current members are kept well informed about upcoming events, work days, rides, and such. They share news and information that is of interest to the equestrian community. If you have an interest in joining The Back Country Horsemen Northeast Georgia visit www. bchneg.org for more information.
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Live Healthy and Be Well High blood pressure “The silent killer” Stephen Jarrard, MD, FACS
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s I write this, fall has just begun, the leaves are just beginning to turn colors, and Hurricane Michael is threatening the north Florida gulf coast – and may cause us some excitement, as well. It is hard to believe it is time for the November article already, and that the holidays are upon us. Let us take this time to discuss a very common condition that affects many of us – high blood pressure, or hypertension. This disease does not show itself dramatically. You may have it and not know, but over time it can be harmful to your organs, blood vessels, and heart.
the pressure in the arteries during the “rest phase” between each heartbeat. So, if you have elevated pressure even during that “rest period,” then your vessels and organs are subjected to a higher average pressure, and this is what will cause damage over time.
Hypertension is often called “The Silent Killer.” It may be smoldering in your system for years, doing damage, and by the time one finds out it is too late. Regular screenings and checks from your healthcare provider can discover this condition, and he or she can then help you manage it before it has a chance to do lasting damage.
Taking your BP at one of those machines in the pharmacy can act as a guide or help you see a trend in your pressure, but should not be thought of as an “official read.” This is something that has to be between you and your provider, probably getting information from several readings and not just one or two. Then, knowing your history, activity level, information about your diet, and other medications you may be on, he or she will be able to help you manage your BP if it does need treatment.
The heart acts as a pump to circulate blood through the “arterial tree” throughout your body. Blood pressure is the pressure in the arterial system that results from the force of the heart pumping, the amount of fluid (blood cells and plasma) in the vascular space, and is also directly related to the amount of “resistance” that exists to the flow of blood. Arterial blood flow is pulsatile, caused by the force of the heartbeat, and has a high side and a low side of each pulse. That is why we measure blood pressure using two numbers. The top number is called the “systolic pressure,” and is a “peak pressure” measurement as the heart beats and that pulse pushes the blood in the arteries to maximum pressure. The bottom number is known as the “diastolic pressure,” and represents the residual pressure in the arteries between heartbeats. While the systolic reading is important as it tells us the maximum force in your vessels, the diastolic is also important as it represents
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People often wonder what represents “normal” blood pressure. The number 120/80 is often used as a common average normal reading. These numbers use “millimeters of Mercury” as the unit of measure. But, as with anything else, normal is different for us all. If you are a thin, smaller person, a lower reading might be normal for you. A larger person might have a number a little higher than 120/80 and be okay. We can also be forgiving with older age – as your arteries tend to lose some of their elastic nature and that will increase resistance which raises the average pressure.
High blood pressure is dangerous because it has damaging effects to not only your blood vessels themselves, but also the organs that they supply. Your organs, such as liver, kidneys, eyes, and brain are made for a certain pressure that allows them to be supplied with sufficient blood for their purpose. If this pressure is too high, they will react to this over time and it will cause damage and loss of normal function. The heart itself can be damaged by the fact that it must now pump against higher pressure than normal. As the heart is a muscle, it does what muscles do when stressed – it gets bigger, a condition known as “cardiomegaly.” As it enlarges, it does not pump as effectively or efficiently, and the pump may begin to fail and lead to congestive heart failure and all its symptoms, or it may start to beat
out of normal (sinus) rhythm. If the pressure gets too high and stays high for a time, it can increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke in the brain. Kidney failure and blindness can also occur over time in those respective organ systems with longstanding hypertension. Lastly, constant high pressure in the large arteries over time can result in the walls thinning and bulging out, also known as arterial aneurysms, of which rupture is a great and often fatal risk. As stated earlier, there are many causes for hypertension, such as too much fluid in the system, smaller (contracted) vessels, stress and anxiety (causes the release of adrenalinelike hormones which can speed up the heart and contract the vessels), and uncontrolled diabetes harms arteries and makes them “stiff,” which increases resistance to blood flow and raises pressure in the vessels. With many such diseases, we often see a genetic component. If your parents had hypertension, you have increased risk of this condition. There are many different medicines that work in different ways – which is why you need to see a provider who knows the “big picture” by means of an accurate history and physical exam, possibly checking some labs, getting an EKG, Chest X-ray, or whatever is appropriate for accurate diagnosis. If you are diabetic, you need to check frequently and control high blood pressure if it develops. If you like to eat a lot of salt, realize that this can cause you to retain fluid which can also lead to increased blood pressure. Controlling and managing the amount of stress in your life, or learning effective and constructive ways to cope with it, will also pay dividends. If you smoke, well…..you know that is not helping you, either.
be reduced. These medicines should only be prescribed and used under the supervision of your healthcare provider. Please, do not start taking someone else’s blood pressure pills – as that may not be what is best for your type of high blood pressure, and could lead to unwanted side effects! It is never a good idea to take someone else’s prescribed medicine of any kind. 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!
If you have mild hypertension, you may not need medicine, and may benefit from diet adjustment, increased activity, and better habits (good advice for all). The medicines used to treat hypertension range from simple “water pills” which help you get rid of extra fluid in the vascular system, to others which work on the heart to slow it and remodel it making it beat more efficiently. Some work on other organs to regulate the production of enzymes which can lead to high blood pressure. Others work on the blood vessels themselves, relaxing them to allow the pressure inside to
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