Georgia Mountain Laurel November 16 by The Laurel of Northeast Georgia

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November 2016

From the Publisher With the holidays right around the corner, I am making my list and checking it twice... turkey, dressing, sweet potato casserole, green beans, cranberry sauce and pumpkin crunch! Oh you thought I was going to say pie but I have a favorite Thanksgiving dessert and it’s easy and delicious! (See below). I think I shared it with you last year but it is good enough to share again.

This is our Giving Thanks issue which focuses on the Giver of all things, the Creator of the universe and all that is in it. I have said it before and I’ll say it again, one cannot adequately reflect these mountains without acknowledging who put them here. 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 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 area. So mix up the pumpkin crunch 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

Pumpkin Crunch Ingredients: 1 box yellow cake mix 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree 1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk 3 large eggs 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup chopped pecans 1 cup butter, melted Heat oven to 350˚F. Grease bottom of 9” x 13”″ pan. Mix pumpkin, milk, eggs, sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Pour mixture into greased pan. Sprinkle dry cake mix over pumpkin mixture and top with pecans. Drizzle melted butter over pecans. Bake 50-55 minutes.

November 2016 • Volume Thirteen • Issue Eleven • Copyright 2016 Publisher/Editor - Tracy McCoy Assitant Editor - Nikki Dunbar Art Director - Dianne VanderHorst Office Manager/ Account Executive - Cindi Freeman Account Executive - Melissa Williams-Thomas Account Executive - Louis Dunbar Copy Editor/Writer - Jan Timms Photographer/Writer - Peter McIntosh Writer - Luke McCoy

Georgia Mountain Laurel Mailing: PO Box 2218, Clayton, Georgia 30525 Office: 2511 Highway 441, Mountain City, Georgia 30562 706-782-1600 • www.gmlaurel.com Contributing Writers: Jessica Phillips, Jean Hyatt, Mark Holloway, Jo Mitchell, Steve Jarrard, MD, Lisa Harris, John Shivers, Emory Jones, Lorie Thompson, Leigh Johnson, Michael Darby, Stephen Kelly, Mary Winn Lent

Copyright 2016 by Rabun’s Laurel Inc. All rights reserved. The Georgia Mountain Laurel Magazine is published twelve times per year. Reproduction without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. The publishers and editors are not responsible for unsolicited material and it will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication subject to GML magazine’s right to edit. Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, photographs and drawings. Every effort has been made to assure that all information presented in this issue is accurate, and neither Laurel magazine or any of its staff is responsible for omissions or information that has been misrepresented to the magazine. The Georgia Mountain Laurel maintains a Christian focus throughout their magazine. Rabun’s Laurel, Inc. reserves the right to refuse content or advertising for any reason without explanation.

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November 2016

In This Issue To Begin With 8

Honor for Our Veterans

Faith in Christ 10 12 14 20

Bless Your Heart First Impressions/Amazing Grace For Unto Us and Always Life is an Exhilarating Whirlwind

Arts & Entertainment 26 28 30 32

Cover Artist - Ethan Phillips North Georgia Arts Guild Book Review - Still Waters Featured Artist - Celia ‘Tiby” Durand

Life & Leisure 36

Lovin’ the Journey

Yesterdays

40 42

Foxfire Wheels

A Taste 44 48

Bon Appetit The Family Table

Affairs to Remember 50 54 57 58 60

Holiday Shopping Mountain Happenings Event Calendar Holiday Shopping Extravaganza Festival of Trees RUCF and Charity Lane Celebrating the Season

Outdoors 68 66

Adventure Out Mountain Nature

Mountain Homes 70

Beside Still Waters

Health & Wellness 74 78

Live Healthy & Be Well Wellness in Plain View

In Closing 80 6

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By the Way gmlaurel.com

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November 2016

Honor for Our Veterans By Michael Darby

Dear GML Reader, “A veteran is someone who, at one point, wrote a blank check made payable to the United States of America for an amount of up to and including their life.”-author unknown. That is Honor, and there might be way too many people in this country who no longer understand it. That was my pledge, 60 years ago (and still is!), when I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1956, at age 18. My dad was a Marine veteran of WWI and WWII. He died when I was only 13, but I loved and respected him so much that I decided then that I, too, would serve our country as a Marine. I still wear my dress blues to the Rabun County Vets Dinner each year, on November 11th. In fact, a plug right here to encourage every local veteran and spouse to sign up at the Chamber of Commerce! I try to attend with three of my favorite vets, Colonel Guy Gober, Major Steve Jarrard and Sergeant Charlie Brundage. Most of us feel, in spirit, that we are still 20 year olds, trapped in our 50, 60, 70, 80+ year old bodies! No problem, we still celebrate every year and pray for those in harm’s way, protecting our still great nation.

It is the VETERAN who serves under the Flag, ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD, AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM. So please join me, fellow Rabun County friends, in saluting our veterans, on Veterans Day... and every day! God bless you and God bless America!!! 8

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Most of you probably do not know that the USMC birthday is just one day before Vets Day, on November 10th. The Marines will be 241 years old, having been founded in 1775 at Tun’s Tavern in Philadelphia. Just about every single thing I do in life has been shaped and molded by my experiences in the US Marine Corps. It was in the Marines and in athletics that I learned about teamwork and discipline. Both are absolutely necessary for success in the real world. I still practice many of the disciplines I learned and developed in boot camp and on my tour in the Corps. In every occupation I worked, I held leadership positions of some kind. I tried to develop my “Team” as if they were a well oiled “fire team.” I never did anything without a clear strategy for victory and accomplishment, always challenging those who worked for me to give their absolute best for the team. As a result, with God’s help and direction, my teams were successful and in the top percentages in my company or ministry. It reminds me of boot camp where our drill instructors did the exact same thing. We were the honor platoon at graduation in 1956 & I was chosen to be in the graduation Honor Guard. I try to lead by example. Just as in the Marine Corps, my children were raised with standards, disciplines and character. Today they are all successful and passing those same things on to their children. I think that without my military service I might have produced mediocrity in many areas of my life. I am so thankful for what the Marine Corps gave to me and grateful for the opportunity to have served a country that I owe much more to than I have given! Since 1776, more than 40 million Americans have served in the armed forces. We honor all of our Veterans for the sacrifices they have made so that we may live in freedom. “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” -John Fitzgerald Kennedy, 1963 P.S. To borrow some words from another friend and veteran, I would be terribly remiss as a Christian, if I failed to pay tribute to the Ultimate Warrior who fought victoriously not just for our nation but the world. He took on the enemy who has been the driving force behind names like Stalin, Lenin, Hitler, Chairman Mao, Pol Pott, Bin Laden, etc. and now despotic and nefarious forces bent on our total destruction. I fall to my knees at The Memorial which is the symbol of ultimate victory and real life…The Cross of Calvary. Do you know His Name? Jesus Christ died for me and you. He is now wonderfully alive. He is coming back to clean out all those graves of all who fought the good fight and paid with their lives and knew Him as their Commander and Chief. Today is not an ordinary day. It’s a privilege and honor…to enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness! Semper Fi!-Michael Darby-USMC-1956-1961 gmlaurel.com

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Bless Your Heart - A Time for Everything S by Lisa Harris

he leaned back with her head resting against her ‘comfy chair’ as her husband always called it. Sadie had purchased it several years ago during a fabulous clearance sale at Macy’s. It was over stuffed and married together with several different prints of fabric. Definitely, a country French style that called her name. It was delivered a few days later and gently placed in the Keeping Room next to the kitchen, the heart of their home. They had their routine, Sadie and Steve, as she woke up at 4:00 AM to start her day with scripture and prayer, then writing in her journal, an intentional keepsake for their child. Steve, on the other hand would rise at 7:00 AM, push back the covers and hang off the side of the bed for several moments, then slowly make his way to the kitchen to make the second pot of coffee for the morning. By nine o’clock, Sadie was in her office working on her next story and Steve was positioned behind the pharmacy counter, counting out pills for the sick; a career he loved, and received great satisfaction from. Their lives were ‘normal’ if that’s a word you can use to describe a family nowadays. Two hardworking people, carving out lives, raising their child and saving for the unknown. They had met later in life, Sadie 30, and Steve was 35, both marrying for the first time. Their only child came within the first year of marriage, Evie, who was the delight of their hearts. The years clicked on by…every year they became faster, almost as quick as Sadie’s hair grayed and Steve’s fell out. But, no matter, laughter was the cure, it was the essence of their home. Evie grew up, and no matter how hard Sadie tried to stop the growing process, she grew without fail. She flourished into a lovely young woman who met and married a man that they loved and admired. Life was good. Life was golden. Life was changing. Sadie shuffled around in her ‘comfy chair’ trying to rid herself of the headache that plagued her. Her favorite pen, a fine point with just the right shade

of blue ink fell out of her hand onto the notes she had written. She still believed in the written word, the sweetness of opening up a letter and holding it in your hand to read. It said to the receiver, you were worth the effort and I love you. Steve wrote notes and hid them. Sadie smiled just thinking about all the notes she had found through the years and put them in her ‘Sunshine’ box. This box contained all her special letters, notes, cards from people she loved. On occasion, Sadie would re-read and her heart would be full with, well sunshine. Sadie looked over at the pot of coffee she had made, and forced herself to get up and pour another cup for a possible jolt of energy. That was what she was lacking now was energy and she was only in her mid-fifties. These were the fun years she was told, the years of travel and trying new and different activities, tastes and sounds. Not that she was much of a traveler, no Sadie was a professed homebody, but not Steve, as he was the adventurous type always keeping a constant twinkle in his eyes. That’s why his customers loved him, he had such kind eyes. Looking over the house as she walked with her cup of coffee, Sadie laughed at the mess he had made by his chair. His Bible with notes on the floor, a coffee cup that never made it to the sink and his reading glasses sitting by the phone, as they were the last Americans to still have a landline. Sadie left it, dusting around the cup and glasses, it was familiar, it was home. Sadie picked up her cell phone to check the time… rarely did you ever see anyone look at their wrist for the time, it was almost like watches were becoming a thing of the past. That was kind of how she felt, a throwback from the past, wondering about the future. Their future, hers and Steve’s. Sadie sighed and picked up her Bible and walked back to the bedroom. It was time to read to Steve, yet his eyes said he was no longer there, the twinkle was gone. The horrible illness stole everything from him giving no quality of life. It was a matter of time they said. That’s what life’s about…time. The Bible says there is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance... (Part of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8) Sitting by his side, Sadie opened to those scriptures and read with a fresh understanding. Gratitude to God was what she chose except for the one regret her heart held onto knowing it would be the last to go. Sadie leaned over Steve and for the hundredth time whispered…I wished I had met you sooner, just so I could have loved you longer.

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November 2016

First Impressions/Amazing Grace

Work Ready Clothes Closet & Amazing Grace Clothes Closet is celebrating their one year anniversary! For those who do not know, First Impressions is a workready clothing ministry of the seven United Methodist Churches of Rabun County. Their primary purpose is to provide job seekers clothing suitable for job interviews and a beginning wardrobe for clients who find jobs. All of the clothing is given at no charge. An average of 50+ people are provided with clothing each month in the store. Also, First Impressions provides 24+ individuals a month clothing through a mobile ministry for Stephens County and Habersham County where these individuals are ready for a new start in life. The Amazing Grace Clothes Closet provides five pieces of casual clothes per month, a pair of shoes and a winter coat. First Impressions participates in a job fair every quarter where they take the clothes to the Goodwill Career center

Melinda Crunkleton, Frances Wilson, Todd Crunkleton, Pam Buchanan, Janine Bethel and a generous donor/volunteer.

of Cornelia. In the month of October, the mobile First Impressions’ efforts at the job fair were able to help 12 individuals with interview clothes and most of them received jobs or 2nd interviews. “We’ve met a lot of the needs here in Rabun County and surrounding areas, with the continued help of clothing donations and volunteers in the shop we are able to do what we do.” says Pam Buchanan. This is only a glimpse into this special ministry we have here at First Impressions/Amazing Grace. Come by sometime and you will get a blessing by reading the scripture on the wall or speaking to the volunteers, who carry the love of our Savior in their heart and pass it on to each and every person that comes through our door. They are located at the Covered Bridge Shopping Center in Clayton, GA; store hours are 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Monday through Thursday. If you have any questions contact Pam Buchanan at 706.782.1530 or 864.612.9164.

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November 2016

For Unto Us and Always A CHRISTMAS CARVING JOURNEY

by Stephen Kelley

et me introduce myself. I am a creator of things that have been created before. I write what others have written before. I tell stories that have been told before. I dream what others have dreamed before. And none of them can I take credit for. I simply hold the tool, the pen, the word and the dream and let God do with them as he pleases. Mine is not the job to do a noteworthy thing without Him or ahead of Him, lest they be just another something. Better I would stay out of God’s way while I watch Him at work on and through me – and oh how I fail to do so, so very often, for I fall short of the glory of God every day. This, then, is why I am not writing a Christmas story that you already know so well. I will allow the Nativity Carvings to speak for themselves. Instead, I am sharing words that God gave others, each conveying an “Everyday is Christmas” message, although assigned to Christmas Day in old I recall the 1973 day my wife and I opened our front door to a Bison vacuum cleaner salesmen – a door-to-door specialist with the most unexpected greeting. “Blessed be your home but I think it could be cleaner!” And so his pitch began, ending with the purchase of our first Christmas present to each other. Clean carpets in the morning and glory hallelujah – although God’s life-cleaning Christmas gift was forever more powerful. “Tidings of glory! All the sky aflame, all Heaven hymning one imperial Name! Radiant glimpses of a Throne, a Crown, all splendor focused on one little town! Tidings of joy, good tidings of great joy! Supernal ecstasy without alloy! The death of sorrow and the end of pain, the bliss, bliss, bliss eternally to reign! News of Salvation! Jesus, Savior, Christ, bearer of mercy ample, and unpriced herald of freedom from the chains of sin, come to our hearts, Lord Jesus, enter in! Tidings to all the people, yea, to all! To kings and shepherds, to the great and small, to rich and poor, to ignorant and wise, to each his blessings from the liberal skies! O for the ready eye and quickened ear, the Advent light to see, and song to hear! To every man and woman, girl and boy, in all the world, Good Tidings of Great Joy”. “Springs In the Valley”, Amos R. Wells, December 25, 1939 I never wore a uniform, I never set foot on battlefield, I cannot count the times I risked my life for another for I have 14

devotionals and read at this time of year by those who came long before us, eloquently penned and to be buried in our hearts forever – words that I pray I have conveyed in the work of my hands as He leads them, carving the Christmas story verse-by-verse. These passages are taken from Stephen’s collection of antique devotionals and his archive of 2,700 handwritten Fanny Jane Crosby hymns. never been called to that duty. But those who fought for me in my times of trouble and those who battle on for us everyday – I love – especially the One who came our way one Christmas Day, only to give His life for us. “During the war, a man had an only son. The father was a banker and, although he consented to his son’s going, it seemed as if it would break his heart to let him go. He became interested in every soldier, and whenever he saw a uniform, his heart went out as he thought of his own dear son. He spent his time neglecting his business, gave his money to caring for the soldiers who came home injured, but his friends chastised him, saying he had no right to neglect his business and spend so much thought upon soldiers not his own, so he fully decided to give it all up. After coming to this decision, there stepped into his bank one day before Christmas a private in a faded, worn uniform, who showed on his face and hands the mark of a field hospital, while offering a note. To him the banker said, ‘I cannot do anything for you today. I am extremely busy with holiday fusses. Go to your headquarters; they will look after you.’ Still the injured delivered the worn paper scrap, on which there were these lines written, ‘Dear Father, this is one of my comrades who was wounded in the last fight. Please receive him as myself.’ In a moment, the banker-father’s indifference toward those who were fighting for him gave way, until this

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new soldier son of his returned to battle again, imperiling his life for us and for our flag.” “Streams In the Desert”, Mrs. Charles (Lettie) Cowman December 25, 1925 My son’s first spoken words were Mama, Dada and no! And suddenly I wonder what our Savior’s first My Father words were. Oh how innocent, loving and powerful they must have been. Abba, Father. I love you. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, and there, even in you, will be power. The Crowned One, who is now upholding all things by the word of His power said, ‘I have given them Thy word.’ And those who have received this great gift not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God,’ know that there is power with it, because it worketh effectively in them.

“No Room Tonight” presents Joseph and Mary’s visit with the innkeeper and his invitation to spend their (and the world’s) most special time in a nearby stall. In those days, there were no inns as we know them to be. Most every home had a guest room for unexpected guests and all guests were welcome. This StoryCarving includes Joseph, Mary & donkey, the Innkeeper, the inn’s archway, a backdrop and a StoryCard. Maximum Height – 4 inches / price - $40.

They know its life-giving power, for they can say, ‘Thy word hath quickened me;’ and its life-sustaining power, for they live ‘by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.’ And we all would say, if we will, ‘Thy word have I hid in my heart, for the proportion as the word of the King is present in the heart, there is power.’ His word cannot fail, nor return void; it shall prosper in us – so when our words fall worthless on the ground, our bonds and our promises, it only proves that they were not His words.

“For Unto Us” celebrates the birthday of our Savior, completely swaddled, just like babies today are wrapped in their first bedding. With no outstretched arms or halo, both figments of ancient artists and stained glass window artisans, never mentioned in scripture. This set includes the stage that serves every Nativity Collection scene, Mary, Joseph, Jesus & Manger, 2 fence sections, a backdrop and a StoryCard. The stage,

So what we want at any age is not merely that His power may accompany our words, but that we may not speak our words at all without His words first and within. Go ye therefore – and speak.” “My King”, Francis Ridley Havergal, December 25, 1878

roof and column lay flat for easy storage. In the future, stage extensions will be available. Maximum Height – 12 inches with stage / price - $70.

I have committed too often to meaningless initiatives that cost me more than I can count in ways I cannot spend. I’ve stood tall for lowly things and low for purposes I should have raised myself to. Oh if only I could recover the days and reframe those goals that in the end meant nothing at all. Now, I thirst differently, but I ought to thirst even more than I do. “The grandest doctrine of the Word of God is the atoning sacrifice of Christ, following His glorious birth. I will contend for every letter of truth, but if I must give up something, I will hold tenaciously to this: ‘Without shedding of blood, His for us, there is no remission of sin;’ it cleanseth us, and that is sufficient, not our ambitions, nor our faulty goodness. Does this not satisfy you and remove your craving for everything less? Have you ever known any more perfect rest when restless was all there was? Would anything less content you more, even now? I am sure it would not. There is a thirst in the human heart that nothing can every satisfy, but ‘God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’” “Life’s Golden Lamp”, Charles H. Spurgeon December 25, 1889 gmlaurel.com

“Night Watch” presents father and son shepherds among many that night, immediately following the angel’s visit, what surely was a shocking event. And that’s why Stephen presents the young shepherd on his knees, frightened, yet reaching up to his father and out also to the lamb - just as we can do during our own troubled times - to God our Father and to Christ our Savior. This StoryCarving includes father & son shepherds with a lamb, 1 ewe, a backdrop and a StoryCard. Maximum Height - 4 inches / price - $40.

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Making a joyful noise unto the Lord is the best noise I could ever make. Except for “I love you!” - everything else seems to pale, no matter how well intended and purposeful they seem to be. Everything we lift our hand to, every vision and every endeavor, ought make a “telling of Him” sound, like a breeze moving through the trees, silently singing “All hail the power of Jesus’ name.” Tell of a babe in a manger born. Tell of His wonderful advent morn. Tell how in splendor a glory shown, brighter than day from the Father’s throne. Tell of an anthem that rent the sky, glory all glory to God on high. Tell how the faithful rejoice and sing, crowning with honor the new born King. Haste like a bird on its wings today. Speed on your mission away, away. Joy to the nations in darkness bring. Tell them of Jesus, the newborn King. “Sweet Beautiful”, Fanny Jane Crosby A Christmas hymn, 1896 Stephen, Stefano in the Greek, means “Crown of God”, and I don’t know what to do with that. After all, I fail to mirror that interpretation every day, if even in the most unnoticeable way, but unto God’s all knowing. I deserve a far less meaningful phrase, and “Who I’m Not But Ought To Be” would suit me quite well, while I aspire to His much higher calling. “Names are designed to distinguish and characterize; but names do not always well express and indicate the attributes of the bearer. But where God gives a name, we may be assured that the thing or person will correspond with it; and what was the name which was to be descriptive of Him whose coming we this day commemorate? Oh, it is a name as wonderful as it is delightful! ‘His name shall be called Immanuel,’ God with us. The Savior had often appeared in our world before His incarnation: ‘His goings forth were from of old, from everlasting; and He delighted in the habitable parts of the earth, and His delight was with the sons of men.’ What the body was which He assumed on these occasions, it is impossible for us to determine; but then, on that wondrous day, God manifested in the flesh; in the very same world, in the same nature, exposed to the same wants and sufferings with ourselves, answering to his name. “This day brings to us glad tidings that unto us ‘is born a Savior, – a great Savior, a mighty Savior, a willing Savior, a present Savior; and His name is called Immanuel, God with us; and His name shall be called Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.’” “Mornings With Jesus”, William Jay December 25, 1889

On many a family camping trip, Dad assigned one task always to me. “Mind the Coleman lantern and don’t let the light go out.” It lit our way around the grounds, in our evening tent and throughout our time together. Without it, we would have stumbled all along our way. 16

“Remember what Christ is called in John’s Gospel – ‘the Word’. A word is wisdom in utterance. Remember what Paul calls Christ – ‘the power of God and the wisdom of God’. Remember what is said of the Word in that first chapter of John; ‘In the beginning was the Word. He was with God, and he was God.’ ‘He was in the beginning with God.’ ‘ All things were made by Him.’ ‘In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.’ It is just exactly what is said of wisdom in Proverbs: ‘the Lord possessed me in the beginning of His way.’ ‘When He prepared the heavens, I was there.’ ‘Whosoever findeth Me, findeth life.’ See how the Word was just the Wisdom at last uttering itself to a need world – this divine love and grace and truth, which we have been tracing in creation and in providence, at last coming, that men might know them both perfectly, and putting on humanity, and becoming incarnate in Jesus Christ.” “Still Waters”, J. C. Wright December 25, 1903

On a granite mountain peak in Prescott, Arizona is a cleft in a rock where I placed a bouquet of spring flowers and a 38th anniversary card for the wife of my youth, while I prayed for one more moment with her, a whisper in the wind, a cloud in a clear day’s sky, a pinecone dropped at me feet. One moment later, a hiker appeared with no sight or sound of arrival. She said she was in the area looking for work and asked me what I was doing. After I offered a floral explanation, she whispered, “All is well,” - then left with no sign or sound of departure. “To many ears Christmas bells are set to a minor key. They awaken painful memories. Since last year’s happy reunion, something changed, a treasure is now in another place and there is a Christmas shadow around every corner. But in a whisper, ‘Be patient. Trust Me. Look up! Look up!’ ‘Who was temporal to you seen, is now unseen and eternal with Me.’ ‘Rejoice!” In this season, remember My gift to you. Those you love and Me.’ How blessed it is that this day points forward and upward as well as backward; that the eternal joy to which we are each

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drawing ever nearer is linked to earthly joy which has passed away. So let us do as Christ did: Give ourselves for others; deny ourselves that those who need may have a share in the good that has been given to us. Thus by giving we shall first know the joy of having, and we shall truly join in the chorus that sounded over Bethlehem on the first Christmas morning. Our deeds of help will have more music in them than cathedral chimes in the tower, or cathedral carols in the choir and from humble homes and happy hearts will sound the angel’s song. Bring holly and mistletoe, hemlock and cedar; festoon the walls with vines of smilax, soft and green and tender; scatter flowers; light tapers on Christmas trees; fill house and street and earth and heaven with shouts of exultation! “Consolation”, Mrs. December 25, 1932

Charles

(Lettie

Cowman,

And as Janda Sims Kelley said on the eve of her spending every forever Christmas Day in Heaven, “Rejoice!”

“The Carpenter’s Son” imagines a family day at work and play in Bethlehem. It is believed, but never shown in a Nativity setting, that Jesus was upwards of two years old when the Wise Men arrived (Luke 2:16). Certainly, Jesus was no longer in the manger. So, for the first time, the young child of God is more accurately portrayed as a toddler. The father and son hammers also suggest the importance of involving Christ in all our workplaces. This StoryCarving includes Mary, Joseph, Jesus, a workbench & two hammers, a work stall & awning, a backdrop and a StoryCard. Maximum Height – 5 inches with work stall & awning / $45.

Before I met Christ our Savior personally, Who I wish to know better every blessed day, I knew Christmas only by the size of the tree, the number of Clark Griswold lights on the house and the volume of gifts in the living room and I hoped one of them had a Red Rider BB gun in it. But what better gift than a Christmas babe? None but Jesus. “Christmas brings us hope of a better life in this world. Every good gift is from above. As the year brings round this Christmas season, we can rejoice that God sent, in the fullness of time, that Gift for all mankind. The star of the wise men still stands over every cradle. The angel song is heard in the heart of every parent. Christmas makes an aureole of heavenly light around all the infants in these lands. Christmas is a presage of the time when wars shall cease; when the whole Church shall be one; when the Christ of love and truth shall be everywhere accepted, obeyed and loved, and the knowledge of God shall fill the earth as the waters cover the sea.

“An Unexpected Visit” illustrates what likely was Mary’s gracious welcoming of the angel Gabriel into her home. In those days, the family often slept on the roof when cool evenings prevailed. The ladder against an interior wall supports that cultural anecdote and an opportunity for parents to offer thanks to God for good beds and pillows. This StoryCarving includes Gabriel, Mary, a table and bowl, an interior wall with ladder, a backdrop and a StoryCard. Maximum Height – 5 inches with ladder / $45

We rejoice in Christ’s hope for mankind; we are happy in His brotherly love; we are led by Him to His Father and our Father, to His God and our God; we join in the angels’ song, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to men.” “Messages of Faith, Hope and Love”, James Freeman Clarke December 25, 1895 I lifted more weight than I was built to heft on a 1996 gym day, when I twice bench-pressed 297.5 lbs, followed by a lightweight overhead lift that tore a muscle in my shoulder – the day I drew close to an orthopedic surgeon. gmlaurel.com

“For the King” features the arrival of the wise men after their meeting with King David, who sought to kill the Christ child. This StoryCarving includes 3 Wise Men, 1 chest, 3 camels, a backdrop and a StoryCard. Maximum Height - 4.5 inches with the camels / $55.

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But there is one far better lift with a far greater result. “‘We obey not that voice; … we trust not the Lord, we draw not near to our God.’ So what is our portion? But better things are unto us, for Jesus says if He is lifted up, he will draw all men unto Him – no doubt in the same way He drew his own mom and dad to Himself as they lifted their son from His manger. And it is the Jesus Himself who says, ‘Come ye near to unto Me, hear this!” No matter how far off you may be, this call of peace is to you who are far off. And if you hearken, then shall your peace be as a river. And if you have already come to Jesus, still He says to them that are nigh, ‘Now ye come nearer still, closer and closer to the Lord who loves you – not into the outer court of religious pomp and professions, but ‘into the Holiest,’ into the reality of most sacred nearness. Do not be discouraged from coming near because you fell far off. Take that as your very reason to move, for He says, ‘Hear, ye that are far off, what I have done for you!’ – come just because you are afar off. This is every man’s quiet calling, whether he hear or not! Never more distance or separation! Never any more wandering in the far country, but henceforth be a people near unto Him! No more strangers or foreigners or fighters, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, having found the very home of the weary heart, from which you shall no more go out.”

Gratitude can transform common

“The Royal Invitation”, Francis Ridley Havergal December 25,1860

days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.

William Arthur Ward

Meet the artist, Stephen Kelley, at an open house at Splendor Mountain, 359 Eastman Mountain Road Tiger, GA, on November 26th from 2 - 5 PM. Pieces will be on display and available for purchase on that day. For additional info call 404.218.7638.

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November 2016

Life is an Exhilarating Whirlwind! By Mary Winn Lent

ife in all of its glory is extremely exciting at times! It is so wonderful to be needed and realize that you have a wonderful opportunity when you influence the life of others in a positive way. HOW EXHILERATING! Since God has blessed us with twentythree grandchildren, I believe that He would have me be involved with influencing them and others in this next generation for His glory. Praise His Name! When our first few grandchildren were very young, I started praying that God would allow me to be able to “speak into their lives” in many ways. He answered several years later. Because He has allowed us to be so very blessed with many young people in our family, I knew that God wanted me to find a ministry to help them discover who He really is. The Lord had led me in fall of 2005 to start a new program of home schooling with three of our grandchildren and four students from the community. At the beginning of that fall, I was teaching them alone and realized a GREAT need for a helper especially since my age was increasing and their energy level would reach new heights every day. As the school grew in student numbers, the school year of 2009-2010 was the height of the best years of my home school. There were fifteen children ranging from four to thirteen years of age, two helpers, and myself. By this time, more of our grandchildren as well as others in the community were coming into this program. Using my degree in education, my helpers and I were exploring many avenues in order to teach in exciting ways about secular events, subjects of every kind and how each of these categories related to the Word of God. It was extremely exciting to me about what we were doing! Oh boy, “What a utopian life! Each new day had it heights, but at the same time this was extremely challenging and stressful to me to keep each grade on target at the same time. So my level of activity and emotional pressure increased greatly, but also more helpers were added. Other than being massively busy and at times overwhelmed with stress, my life was going well and it was extremely fulfilling. There wasn’t any reason to think that “Something is Coming”! In March of 2010 through the rest of the year, my family and I had many opportunities to rejoice in the Lord, count it all joy, and pray without ceasing! At first, I had been having issues with my intestinal tract and trouble specifically with 20

my stomach which were always looming in the background. Also, minor foot surgery was performed in February to help me to walk more comfortably. Shortly after that in March, our youngest son lost consciousness during the school day and was rushed to Northeast Georgia Medical Center where several tests were performed; also my husband had hernia surgery that May. Furthermore, there were pressures at church that were becoming overpowering considering all these other issues. After school was out in May, I began to be plagued with another major health obstacle. Since I had an injury to my back because of a chair being snatched out from under me as a young teen, I have had major issues with my lower spinal column. It continued until I was almost not able to sit very long or walk erect on rising. In the past I have had two surgeries to correct a condition that was caused by the severe injury to my pelvis and lumbar spine. In order to obtain relief from the pain, I had to commence a series of injections in my lower spine. These injections were performed several times starting in April. I could not understand how I would be able to teach that fall, BUT GOD! Yes, but God intervened and those injections relieved this condition enough to resume school in the fall. This was only the beginning of our trials, and then the “bottom dropped out” of our slightly ruffled family nest. At times, I was wondering why so many trials came at once. Then, I remembered a former pastor of mine said, “Good and bad run on parallel tracts and they usually arrive at the same time!” Since school was the most fruitful element of my life at that time, I should not have been shocked when I was blind-sided with other negative problems that would hinder my success. Every time that my mammogram was due, I refrained from having it for three years. The first reason for not having this test was because of being so very busy with school. Secondly, we did not have any insurance during those years so medical facilities would require a sizeable deposit before they would arrange for these tests. Meanwhile, my next birthday qualified me for a decent insurance plan. Oh, for joy! It was instituted in October 2010 so all the criterion for several procedures were gathered at once. What a busy and overwhelming several weeks! What will happen next! Oh well, this is life, every golden minute of it! Every time I completed one project, I checked it off my list of procedures for another year. Thank you, God! My mammogram was accomplished on October thirteenth and on the next morning, the center called to inform me that further testing was required. This was accomplished one week later along with an ultrasound.

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At six-thirty in the evening of the same day, my gynecologist called to report that the radiologist said that I had cancer of the milk glands in in the left breast. This alarmed me greatly because usually being so definite about the fact that it was cancer without a biopsy was terrifying. I thought that it must be severe if they were able to be so definite without gathering all the facts first. By looking at the tests and the size of the tumor, I was told that I was possibly at stage two or three with breast cancer. My doctor recommended a certain surgeon, but I was alarmed by a previous circumstance with that particular doctor, so I wanted to change to another surgeon. This surgeon had actually not been truthful with me about my hiatal hernia that began to develop after the birth of our first child. Because of this, I did not want to use him. I discussed with my husband as to which surgeon that I should pursue. Since my gynecologist had gone out of town for the week, I could no longer discuss this with him. I felt alone and confused about how we were going to come up with another surgeon. “Lord! What do you want me to do? I do not know how I am going to find a surgeon without my physician’s help!” I literally “cried out” to the Lord! I was desperate to receive an answer from God. During that night God awakened me at four o’clock in the morning, I knelt at my couch and prayed that God would show me what to do. An hour went by with frantic prayers and then God filled me with total peace so I returned to bed and slept soundly after that. The next morning as usual I “chauffeured” my grandchildren to school. All the other children arrived at school on time and all promptly commenced to study quietly. In my spirit I was praising God and resting in the peace of the Lord that “Something good is coming my way”! At nine o’clock that morning, my husband called to report that he had found a surgeon. My first question was, “How many weeks away is the appointment?” Then, he told me that it was THAT DAY at two o’clock. “This HAD to be The Hand of God!” I shouted! Now, I ask you, “How many people are able to get an appointment with a doctor THAT DAY?” My husband began explaining that we had to hurry in order for us to gather all the mammogram and ultra-sound results and to be at the surgeon’s office by the proper time. I also had to make arrangements for a teacher to come in and take my place for the rest of the day at school. I made one call and God provided that teacher. Praise His Name! On the way to doctor’s office, I prayed that God would lead me to the doctor of His choosing. When my husband made the appointment, the receptionist revealed the name of my doctor that I had previously visited. By the time I arrived at the office, this staff reported to me that they had switched me to another doctor due to the fact that my first doctor was going to be out of town for the next week and was not readily available. The original doctor concluded he was not confident that it was advantageous for me to wait for him to return. I was thrilled because I knew that truly God had chosen this particular doctor gmlaurel.com

just for me! I believe that the Lord moved in a very special way on my behalf about which doctor to choose. I rested in this decision and was not anxious about switching doctors. At that appointment on October the twenty-seventh, I was given a biopsy and ultra sound to determine exactly what kind of cancer with which we were dealing. On the third of November, the results of the biopsy were revealed. These results were horribly disturbing! I thought that God would be taking me home to be with Him, but I did not want to leave my husband, nor our children and especially not our beautiful grandchildren. The date of surgery was scheduled two days after the results were given. To me it was a miracle that I was able to accomplish so much in such a short time. Again, God intervened to have one person to cancel so that I could be added to the schedule for surgery that quickly. This, again, proved to me that GOD WAS IN EVERY STEP OF THE WAY! After a biopsy was accomplished on these four sentinel nodes that were removed at the time of the first surgery, it was concluded that there was a sizable tumor in the first sentinel node; so back to surgery eleven days after the first surgical procedure. Because of this lymph node tumor, the doctors recommended four chemotherapy treatments. I did not want to go through chemotherapy since my Dad had died with the effects of his first chemotherapy treatment many years before that time. His blood dropped drastically and it never returned to its original state. Death issued several months after that incident. Since I first realized that chemotherapy would be needed, my first prayer was, “GOD PLEASE SHUT THE DOOR if this is not Your will for me to proceed ahead with these treatments!” I had a friend in Atlanta that was sending me many books about how other people had cured their cancer by taking natural products. This was intriguing to me, but the books I read proved that the person was able to make up his own treatment and not even one book told details on what they did. Those books were not much of a help, in fact they discouraged me from thinking “out of the box”. My prayer continued, “Lord, please shut the door if you want me to change my approach of treatment!” My husband and I kept praying that particular prayer many times EVERY DAY. At first, there was not a specific answer from God. Because I did not get specific direction for many weeks, I had my first chemotherapy four days before Christmas. I had various side effects due to that treatment and was in severe pain all over my body. Every bone is my entire body gave me great pain. My weight dropped drastically during this time period due to the horrible sores in my mouth as well as my intestinal tract and every single hair on my head looked as though it had been burnt by fire. In a very short time, all of my hair fell out. This was very distressing! I was not looking forward to the next round of treatment, in fact, I dreaded it greatly! “Oh God, please don’t make me endure another treatment!” was my prayer.

November 2016

To be continued next month. 21

UpTown Franklin, North Carolina Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Miss our WINTER WONDERLAND - November 26th & December 3rd Visit TownofFranklinNC.com

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RUTH CAMP 706.499.4702

ruth@ruthcamp.com www.ruthcamp.com

PO Box 519 - 132 E Waters Street Clarkesville, GA 30523 706.754.5940

VIRTUAL TOURS AVAILABLE

BILL CAMP 706.499.4720

bill@billcamp.net www.billcamp.net

FOUR SIDED BRICK HOME WITH SCENIC MOUNTAIN VIEWS. 10 Acres with barn, RV parking, great garden area. Stone walls and decorative columns. Additional living quarters on terrace level. (8076495) $749,900

STEPHEN FULLER TREASURE ON 2 LOTS - In the Orchard Golf Community. Bring the family, 4 + bedrooms, finished rooms on terrace level with kitchenette and family room. (8078401) $599,000

LAKEFRONT BRICK HOME, With terrific lake and golf course views. Screen porches, 3BR's on main with finished rooms on terrace level. Enjoy dock at lake. (8078236) $489,900

TREE HOUSE FOR SALE! Contemporary architecture, spectacular woodland and golf course views. Babbling brook and art studio. Fronts 15th fairway and 16th tee in Gated Golf Community. (8077959) $649,000

RELAXED MOUNTAIN ELEGANCE, With wide open spaces, year round views, and Butlers Pantry with coffee station. Electric chair lift to finished terrace level. Finished workshop over 3 car garage. (8078140) $549,000

EXCEPTIONALLY Well loved and maintained 4 sided brick on 7 beautiful acres. Lush pasture and mountain views. Kitchen to die for, and light filled sun room. Day light terrace level with finished rooms. (7436232) $489,000

SMALL, PEACFUL COMMUNITY. Distinguished home for selective buyer on 6.5 acres. Separate artist studio and covered pole barn/workshop. Plantation shutters and central vac. (8071355) $339,000

ESCAPE THE NOISE OF THE CITY, In this picturesque mountain top home with exposed wood interior, Tremendous decking space to enjoy the views. (8003766) $475,000

MASTERPIECE On small mountain with 20.6 acres of fenced pasture. Extended views, and Garage has room for 8 cars/ RV or boats! Additional complete living quarters in workshop. (8069483) $799,000

UNCROWDED LIVING AREA, 3/4 BR Home. Wood flooring through out. Sun porch overlooking saltwater in ground pool. Trail waves high speed internet. Custom built-in's with guest quarters on terrace level. (8015687) $459,000

AUTHENTIC LOG HOME located high on ridge with views in Sautee Nachoochee Valley. Custom built to perfection. Rocking chair porch with wrap around decking. (7634969) $339,000

PERFECT COUNTRY ESTATE On 15+ acres. Stunning home with rock entry and hand crafted curved staircase. Barn built big enough to park 20 cars and offers living quarters above it. 5 stall horse barn, in ground pool. (8080478) $995,000

Cover Artist

Ethan Phillips Pencil to Pick, to God be the Glory by Tracy McCoy

than Phillips is in his junior year at Piedmont College in Demorest. Ethan will graduate next year with a degree in Graphic Design. Drawing and art has been a passion of this young man since he was a boy and he is very gifted. His designs can be found on paper, canvas and wood. Ethan says he was always the class artist with teachers and other students asking him to draw for them. In fact during his high school career, Ethan was asked to create two covers for the Foxfire magazine. Shifting gears has never been hard for Ethan as his artistic journey continues to evolve. Ethan went from drawing to digital graphics and woodworking. He went on to incorporate wood burning into his creations. With each class he has taken at Piedmont he has learned a new technique or art medium. When I talked with Ethan about how he planned to put his talents to work after he earns his degree, he told me he’d like to open his own graphic design firm. On another note, (pardon the pun) Ethan is a musician. He began playing the guitar in middle school, almost by accident. He was in a steel drum class and one day the teacher asked if there was a student in the class who could play Lynyrd Skynrd’s “Free Bird” on guitar to accompany the drums. Ethan had never picked up a guitar but volunteered to do it. He said he had to go buy a guitar and learn quickly in time for the school performance. So, soon after, he went out and bought an acoustic guitar and began playing and writing songs. I inquired about what music he liked and was surprised to learn he likes old country, like Don Williams but he also enjoys 70’s musicians such as Jim Croce and James Taylor. Ethan began playing and singing anywhere he could. He really enjoyed it. His mom Joy Phillips encouraged him to

play gospel music and he did it, but only because she asked him to. He didn’t necessarily want to play gospel initially, he wanted to play country music because he loved it. You’ve heard it said, Mama knows best, right? Ethan shared, “One day at school I just sat in my truck talking to God and I had a heart change, I had felt God working on me and I surrendered to him that day. I knew that I wanted to use my talents to honor Him and I began my own music ministry. I began playing at area churches, the first one was Battle Branch Baptist Church. I played “Farther Along” and I was so nervous but it felt so right and it just gets easier each time. One night I was playing at a church out on Persimmon. There was a girl sitting in a pew and I could see she was moved by the music so I just kept playing, When the Pastor gave the altar call she came

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forward and she gave her heart to Jesus. Afterward she came up and told me that my music really got to her. That meant so much to me, I remember thinking, why would God use me?” While Ethan has written many songs, his favorite is one titled “Saved by Grace”. He wrote the song with Mark Jones and Joe Kilby. The idea and melody for the song had been in his mind for some time, but the three musicians came together to put the finishing touches on it and he has since played it many times. Ethan has put together some demo CDs but has never had the chance to record an album; that is something he hopes will happen one day. Designing album covers is one of the ways Ethan has found to combine his two loves and he designed several for local musician Scott Streible. When Ethan is not creating or writing he likes to bass fish and this is not his first time in the Laurel. Mark Holloway wrote about Ethan a few years back for his Falconry. Ethan also works when he is not in school, you’ll see him if you visit Reeves on Main Street in Clayton, Georgia. When we talked about his future plans they included music and graphic design, drawing and woodworking. The exciting part is he is just getting started.

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November 2016

North Georgia Arts Guild Terri Johansson • Fused glass art by Jo Mitchell

ommonly held conceptions: glass is a clear pane between you and what you see; a landscape is a natural scene photographed or painted; a kiln is an oven to fire glazes on pottery and beads are round colored pieces for jewelry. What if you tossed these components into a magic basket and they became something else: landscapes, wildlife, natural elements made of glass and captured permanently within a pane of glass? Shards and tones of blue and white-bubbled foam, a glass wave in suspended motion. Shades of green or red, jeweled beads fused into vibrant spring or autumn landscapes; sunsets, glistening, transparent/translucent, vibrant. Meet Terri Johansson, who ‘paints’ with glass, in a method called kilnfired glass art. Living between North Carolina mountains and Florida waters, an outdoor/watersports adventurer, Terri finds inspiration everywhere. Terri’s free spirit mindset permits her to create from the heart. She feels she’s earned the right to set her own parameters after three years of immersing herself in every kind of information she could get her hands on regarding glass art, buying a kiln and diving in twelve years ago. Terri’s happy place is making art; finding peace in this crazy world we live in today. She launches her creative process reliving memories of places visited or remembered. When people see her work and say it feels as if they’ve been there, evoking a special time, Terri is thrilled. She has tapped into her mind photos, her relationship with nature the guide. Terri’s kiln runs 24/7 when she’s not traveling, to keep her inventory up. She’s gratified that most of her work doesn’t have time to make it to her website before finding a place in someone’s home. Receiving photos of her pieces from purchasers makes her feel connected with people who take home a “piece of my heart”. Terri’s biggest challenge 28

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is commission work, due to working with her “version of someone else’s vision”. With their photos to jumpstart the piece, she keeps them involved, inviting choices so they may participate in the ‘evolution’. Terri uses colored, crushed glass, from powder up to pea size and “everything in between”, layering to create the scene. Often she will utilize more than 20 colors for a single piece, which requires firing after each layer (3 to 22 times) at temperatures from 1250˚ — 1500˚. This is how the depth and detail is achieved. While growing up in Iowa, Terri was entranced watching the glass blowers at Iowa State University, College of Art and Design and during week-long celebrations each year. In the long run, Terri wants to focus primarily on work for homes and private collections, more installations, cabinet door inserts as well as pieces to fit in niches, windows and solo exhibitions. Terri’s art may be seen in shows in Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida, as well the The Bascom, Highlands, NC; and Tsartistry, Franklin, NC. She won Best in Show in a Dahlonega, GA competition. She may be contacted at terrijohanssonglassart@gmail.com ; 904.347.3142; www.facebook.com/terrijohanssonart or www. terrijohanssonglassart.com for a list of upcoming shows.

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November 2016

Book Review Still Waters is a Story You Will Not Put Down

by John Shivers

he back cover blurb about Mississippi author Teri Metts’ newest book describes it as a “Southern Heritage” novel. From the setting to the storyline to the nuances throughout, Lead Me Beside Still Waters more than lives up to its label. All families have their secrets, those hidden tidbits that, if revealed, might tarnish reputations or inflict pain. The same could be said of small towns. When setting and people converge around those foibles, the makings of a good story emerge. From her favorite writing place in the living room of a comfortable pastor’s home in rural Simpson County Mississippi, Teri Metts has crafted just such a story. This saga of six generations boasts layers of intrigue and heartbreak and euphoria, as well as many twists of tongue, ending in a later-in-life coming of age account of one Aubrie Grace Landry. Despite Aubrie’s protests to the contrary, her journey also transforms into a homecoming she could never have envisioned… physically, emotionally, and most especially, spiritually. Teri pulls from her own memory bank and experiences to populate the storyline of a young woman from Kansas who discovers, in a most jarring manner, that she’s adopted. She encounters family members who are strangers with even stranger ways, and the realization of her own lack of a spiritual anchor. Her gradual but extremely stubborn acceptance of a life she has never known in a place called Stillwater Springs, Mississippi, causes the pages of this story flip themselves. Readers will yearn for that next page… and the next. This is not the author’s first writing rodeo. Teri has written Bible studies and curriculum, as well as three books set in the Caribbean, where she and pastor husband Joe were Southern Baptist missionaries. But with their return to their native

Mississippi – they’re both Jackson natives, although they didn’t meet until they were students at Mississippi College – the idea for something different began to root and grow. The couple would go on to marry and are the parents of two sons, a daughter, and five grandchildren. She and Joe were living in their dream bungalow in D’Lo, Mississippi, anticipating retirement. But God had other ideas, and a little more than three years ago, they became the pastoral family at Dry Creek Baptist Church. She read Gone With The Wind when she was 12, and has always been a voracious reader. When fellow students were depending on CliffsNotes to get them by assigned reading, Teri was reading the entire book. “I love to read Christian fiction, and the Lord laid it on my heart to write a novel,” she explains. In the beginning, she told no one but Joe, and slowly the story began to form. Teri doesn’t have a formal office where she works. She does her best writing on the living room sofa, surrounded by her four-legged assistants, dogs Buddy and Slug, and Smokie, the new kitten on the block. She works most productively in the late morning, and considers 1,500 words a good day’s work, although she has been known to log twice that many. The next volume in this saga is already tumbling in her heart. Because this book’s story covers six generations, it is testimony to the writer’s skill and the Spirit’s leading, that she was able to weave so much so beautifully, so completely. She had known for some time that she wanted to write a southern-based story. When she “met” character Aubrie Grace in her mind’s eye, she knew she was on to something. During the writing process, other characters changed behaviors and philosophies, but Aubrie Grace remained steadfast. In some ways, the story turned out differently, but better, than Teri’s original blueprint. Readers will savor the unexpected account of Joseph and Lillie Mae Camden, Aubrie Grace’s great-great grandparents. Possibly the most passionate reader response, much to Teri’s surprise, has been about this story within the story. And the ending is nothing like she’d envisioned. “It’s better,” she confesses. Just like Teri and Joe accepted God’s plan for them to lead the Dry Creek Church family, she had to concede that God’s ending was also meant to be. Readers must agree. They’re finishing the book is just a matter of days. Even avowed non-readers are finding themselves hooked and will finish the 525 pages in a week’s time. To find out more about Lead Me Beside Still Waters, or any of her other books, contact Teri at terimetts@gmail.com. All of her books are also available on Amazon in paperback or as an e-book. But when you buy directly from her, you also get an autograph. Regardless of how you purchase, you’ll find yourself led beside still waters, but probably with tears in your eyes. It’s that kind of story.

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Thanksgiving

For each new morning with its light, For rest and shelter of the night, For health and food, For love and friends, For everything Thy goodness sends. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

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November 2016

Tribute to Tiby

Celia ‘Tiby’ Durand

By Jo Mitchell

“M

y work is not just about what I see through my camera’s viewfinder - whether a flower, bird, or place - but rather about what I feel at that exact

moment.

During that process, from reality to emotion, my images get transformed. Partly photographs, partly dreams, each of them is a world in itself. Colors and textures give form to those feelings and blend together to create a new image, an imaginary landscape made up of parts and pieces like the world around us. They tell about a moment, fixed in time, but open to be seen accordingly with our own experiences. They are just a point of departure, the start of a voyage that may take each of us to different destinations. Strange, enchanting, haunting - no matter how you see them, they are all transformed views of life.” Celia ‘Tiby’ Durand expressed these thoughts about her artist’s view of life in June 2015. On August 10th of this year, Celia lost a nearly yearlong, courageous battle against cancer. During that year, as a member of the North Georgia Arts Guild, she continued to extend her

loyalty beyond her own family to the family of art. Her husband Enrique put it this way: “Celia’s love and dedication to the guild and its people were such, that for many months, even ill, she kept an eye on its web and FB sites, sitting late at night at the computer or with her iPad in bed, contributing as much as she was able to.” Celia joined the guild in October 2007, and a year later redesigned its website from a single page to a multi-functional, interactive meeting place of information and beauty which included the carousel main gallery, individual artist’s galleries, art events, shows and opportunities to exhibit. It was with great reluctance that she ‘officially’ let go of this task after her diagnosis. “Celia has made an art of enabling communication and sharing of ideas among our artists.” (October 2015 NGAG featured artist article). Raised in Argentina, Celia earned degrees in teaching and journalism, but always had a hands-on relationship with art. In Buenos Aires she taught in a private school, and as a reporter, covered educational news. It was later on in NYC, where, while raising her young family, she also studied ceramics and sculpture, starting to hone her own style. Afterward, in DC, Celia immersed herself in computers and wrote software programs. Finally, in Atlanta, photography took hold. It was the melding of all these

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experiences that informed the shapes, textures and colors of her inventive, magical Pixelgraphs. From her Argentina roots, to her home in Atlanta, Celia was always the explorer. Her discovery of the “innovations and challenges” of computer software prompted her fearless journey to a place where photography, digital programs and an untainted imagination led to the production of the wondrous, stunningly vibrant images she has left as legacy. And yet, for Celia, the computer and its software were simply “tools,” and art was “not defined by the tools we use but by what we express with them”. “Often the memory of a certain moment doesn’t match the photo we took to remember it. And that’s because memories are made of feelings and photographs are made of details...I blend reality with fantasy. My PixelGraphs are partly photographs, partly dreams. Each of them is a world in itself, a new world in which colors and textures give form to my imagination,” Celia had explained. This past decade, explains Enrique, when Celia concentrated her search for beauty, with nature as inspiration, they were frequent visitors to the North Georgia Mountains that she came to love and where they both developed an “intense sense of belonging”. During the past year, in addition to her continued loyalty to the guild, Celia was steadfastly immersed in her art. She designed mini-calendars with a different Pixelgraphs for each month and mailed them to friends. She entered art contests and won 1st Place in the Atlanta Artists Center show in October 2015. Celia’s work has been represented at several online sites, and at MarketPlace 120 in Marietta. As part of the Atlanta Celebrates Photography—the largest community oriented photo festival in the U.S.—she last year presented her series: The Magic of Light. On September 3rd Celia was posthumously awarded first and third prizes and one honorary mention at the 2016 National Photography Show of the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association. Photographer Terry Barnes, acting in the capacity of judge, named the awards for Dandelion Wish (first prize); Aqua (third) and Okefenokee (honorable mention). Enrique was there and noted the tribute paid by BRMAA executive director Nichole Potzauf as a “touching moment” that “suddenly became a magical, incredible occasion.” To Enrique, part of what made Celia “extraordinary and unique was her humility” and knows she would have not expected, but would have been thrilled to be thus recognized. North Georgia Arts Guild has set up a scholarship in Celia’s name, which will be awarded to a recipient at the end of the next school year.

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November 2016

e all have our comfort zones. But sometimes those safe places can become an illusion of predictability. Hiding in a closet of same ol’ same ol’ can cripple us and be the enemy of an abundant life. Certainly there are risks when we spread our wings and fly beyond our self imposed borders. I’ve discovered the reward usually overshadows the risk. I think of the great explorers and adventurers who sailed, walked, hiked, swam, ran, climbed and flew away from the known realm only to discover their destinies. I got to meet Neal Armstrong when I was a boy. He was visiting the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City where my dad served as a military attaché. I marveled at a man who only weeks earlier had walked on the moon.

Lovin’ the Journey Big risk. Big reward. by Mark Holloway

Astronauts, I suppose, leave their comfort zones from time to time. Lewis and Clark ventured to the Pacific and back. Columbus sailed uncertain waters. Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were the first humans to stand on top of the world. Some of the best stories happen just beyond our own perceived limits. As winter approaches I’m reflecting on a recent trip Carol and I took which some consider too risky. We booked ourselves on one of Royal Caribbean’s jumbo, floating cities. We sailed the very waters Columbus charted. It’s fitting we chose the Adventure of the Seas, I reckon. As our trip approached, so did hurricane Matthew. Once aboard with our close friends, Bill and Carole Sweeney, we sailed east from San Juan to St. Thomas, St. Kitts Aruba, and Curacao. The eventual category 5 storm moved west, churning far south of us. Smooth sailing. We were joined by more than 4,000 other folks looking to fill our lungs with salt air, our eyes with the sun melting into the ocean’s horizon and our bellies with lobster, steak and world class deserts. The stars at night aboard a ship fill your heart and mind beyond capacity.

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Risking embarrassment and getting told ‘no’ is a real threat. Early on our trip I requested to interview the ship captain from the bridge of our massive billion dollar, high tech vessel. Boldly approaching the nice folks at guest services on Deck 5 with my request paid off. Several days later I was told the captain wanted to meet with me and Carol…on the bridge. The bridge is the quintessential front row seat. The massive span of windows gives you nearly a panoramic view of the high seas. The console and bank of screens, computers, controls, monitors, lights, buttons and switches are a bit overwhelming. This particular ship sports a peek-a-boo deck where passengers can peer down though windows and watch the ship’s top officers below doing their jobs transporting us from one pleasure port to another. Pretty cool. Who knew Carol and I would be the very folks being watched a few days later? Jesus had a younger brother named James. He said, “You have not because you ask not.” What was the worst thing I faced if the staff laughed at my request? What we faced was a security team who kindly hosted us through a series of doors and passageways leading to a door which required a pass card and code to open. I’ll never forget my heart suddenly in my throat when I looked above that doorway where a small red sign simply announced; ‘Bridge’. I knew Carol and I were about to walk into a new life experience. As we stepped into one of the most peaceful places I’ve ever been, and before we could fully be blown away, a friendly voice from the far starboard wing of the bridge warmly greeted us. There stood 49 year old Captain Shawn McDuff of Vancouver, British Columbia as he said, “Hello.” I’d promised to only ask a few questions and needed only ten minutes or so. The Captain was so disarming and friendly as he’d expounded on his life, sharing amazing stories of his journey…a voyage which finds him at the helm of one of the world’s largest ships. We were steaming across the Gulf of Mexico, and Shawn didn’t seem to have a care in the world. His first officer, Pavlo, was steering the Adventure, aided by the most advanced and expensive technology money affords. I asked the young captain, “Just how does it feel to command such a huge ship?” Shawn’s response, “I think it’s pretty cool. The company gave me a big white boat to play with. Picture yourself as a kid in the tub playing with a boat.” His kind and down-to-earth personality overshadowed his keen knowledge and understating of people. “A ship isn’t fast and fabulous because of the steel. Take the people out and that’s the heart and soul of the ship. We pick the right people and develop them. Managing the ship, sure, is top down. But bottom up is what changes the ship’s culture, and having a crew that is always doing extra.” Sixteen years ago, Shawn was so eager to leave his job in the ferry boat world; he would end up crashing Royal Caribbean’s computer system, repeatedly applying on line. His years at sea, advanced training and hard-earned Master Mariner License finally got the attention of the company. He was finally on his way in the passenger ship business. And now he’s in an elite group of leaders who command the company’s fleet of 25 ships.

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November 2016

Shawn was honored to help design the Oasis of the Seas which is now only surpassed by the Harmony of the Seas in size. At one point, the Canadian had to leave the bridge and take care of captain duties, telling us, “While I’m gone, just promise me you won’t push any red buttons.” A few moments later he returned to the bridge and visited with us seamlessly. Our ‘short’ interview lasted more that two hours. If the honor wasn’t enough to just have been on the bridge with such quality officers, out of the blue, Shawn invited me to sit in his Captain’s chair. Getting to be with Carol and friends, visiting foreign islands, safely sailing the open waters, eating like royalty, watching the NFL from a jumbo screen on the pool deck, listening to cool, live jazz in a ship pub are just a few of the rewards for taking a risk. And it’s a more affordable vacation than you realize. We safely returned to port and caught our flight home. The dangerous hurricane would affect our trip after all, cancelling flights throughout the eastern U.S. Our connecting flight back into Atlanta was scrubbed so we rented a car. No big deal. But our big comfortable cruise ship hardly seemed out of our comfort zone. See you on the trail.

November 2016

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November 2016

Foxfire The Art of Making Turkey Calls Dale Holland Article From Fall/Winter 2014 Adapted by student Jessica Phillips

started putting dates on them when I first started making calls. This says, “1/24/2004.” That’s when I made my first call, and all I had at that time to build a call out of was sandpaper and a table saw, so you can tell that it’s quite rough. I hunted with it several years, and I guess it’ll stay with me as long as I’m around. I hand-build my turkey calls. For example, a builder might have a tool that he can run a piece of wood through to shape the paddle, but I wouldn’t consider that hand-built. I get on my little sander here, and set in to sandin’ and sandin’ and sandin’ until its smooth. I feel like that’s hand-built even though I used a machine. I could take a rasp and rasp it off, but I sand each one by hand. That’s another part of the time that it takes to build one. From start to finish, it probably takes me three to four hours [to make a call]. By the time I get them finished and everything, [it takes] probably five to six hours. [I learned how to make calls] in my basement. The story behind the whole deal is that I worked for thirty-three and a half years for the U. S. Forest Service, and one of our fellas brought a turkey call in and set it up on his shelf. I said, “Where’d you get that?” and he told me who made it for him. I said, “You reckon I could get him to make me one?” and he said, “I don’t know.” When the fellow finally came, I asked him, “How much would you charge me to make a turkey call?” He said, “If you want to make a turkey call, make it yourself.” That was it. He never made me a turkey call, so I came home and I said, “Well, if he can make one I guess I can make one.” I sat in on a cold, January day and built this first turkey call. The first turkey call [I built] was made out of separate pieces. I just looked at a turkey call and saw the basics. And pieces being the bottom as a separate piece, the ends are separate pieces, the sides are separate pieces, and the top is a separate piece. That’s what my calls were for several years. Then, I started getting tools, and I started fancying [the calls] up a little bit. This is my 200th call. I kept it out of sentiment. This call is

November 2016

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half butternut, it’s half black walnut, it’s got mulberry down the middle, mulberry on the bottom, and it’s also got black walnut on the bottom. This is about the time that I started putting cork in my calls, and if you boys have ever made turkey calls, you know that they’re a friction call and you’ve gotta put chalk on the bottom of them. I started out just making a little chalk holder on my lathe to put my chalk in so that I’d always have it. I got to thinking one day, “Why not just go ahead and mount your chalk holder on your box call so you’ll always have it with you?” So this is my 200th call. I remember seein’ my first turkey after I went to work for the Forest Service, and that was probably in the mid ‘70s to late ‘70s. I really didn’t start turkey hunting ‘til the ‘90s. When I was a boy, I’d trail ‘em and track ‘em in the snow and try to kill ‘em and stuff like that. We live in a time where girls and boys have a challenge and a good enjoyable sport is turkey hunting. In a way, it’s kind of hard work. A lot of these people on these movies do their hunting on golf courses and cow pastures, but I’m a mountain turkey hunter. I’ve just about had to quit for a while, but this past year, I went to some places where I have not been able to go in four or five years, and there’s nothing like in the mountains.

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Curated with Flair

India Piper opens in Lakemont

f you’ve ever looked for a special gift, one you can’t find just anywhere, look no more! Valerie Lyle and Jane English had also faced that challenge and thus India Piper Society came to be. Named after Valerie’s granddaughter, when you step inside India Piper you will find gifts personalized to suit any need. Curated with flair, these gifts are unique and specialized, perfect for giving! Custom stationary, jewelry and embroidered items, sure to please. India Piper offers in store as well as online buying opportunities. They are located at 8416 Old Highway 441 South in Lakemont, Georgia or find them on Facebook and Instagram. Website is coming soon! For more information call 678.301.9774.

November 2016

Wheels Keith’s ‘Vette

by Luke McCoy

orvette is an old name, a proud name, it is set apart from other cars by its history and heritage. From the moment the first model rolled of the assembly line in 1953 the Corvette has enticed drivers across America and Keith Graham is no exception, but Keith’s car is a far cry from those original Corvette coupes with their white wall tires and small V8s. Keith’s Corvette is a 2005 the first year of the newly redesigned sleek and modern C6 model. It sports a 367 cubic inch 6.0 liter displacement LS2 engine producing 400 horsepower and 400 foot pounds of torque delivered to the wheels through an independent front and rear suspension. That perfect balance of horsepower and torque means that the Corvette is fast, how fast you ask, well Keith’s speedometer reads 200 mph and when the C-6 was first released, Chevrolet revealed track speeds nearing 190. An even more powerful C-7 Corvette was released several years ago, and has upped the performance envelope even more. Some say the Corvette’s acceleration is savage, akin to a jet at full throttle. A 21 year Air Force retiree and Vietnam-era veteran, Keith notes that he would have loved to make that comparison, but was not a pilot. “Maybe I’ll lend it to my friend and former F-101 fighter pilot, Ted Freitag, to confirm that analysis,” he said. Ted and Keith are part of a group of car enthusiasts that organized the car show portion of Sky Valley’s Fall Festival. But Keith’s car isn’t some stripped out track car without amenities; it has everything needed to be driven comfortably every day, and Keith does. He’s driven it every day since he purchased it 12 years ago. If you happen to find yourself driving near Sky Valley, Georgia and are passed by a growling black sports car rest assured that it’s Keith and his wife Susan enjoying the ‘Vette as many before them have and as many yet to come will.

November 2016

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November 2016

Bon Appétit The Coffee is Ready and so is Brunch By Scarlett Cook

ou probably are expecting guests over the holiday weekend and your mind is going in a million directions as you think about all the extra chores you will have. If you are lucky enough to go out for Thanksgiving, then you can move on to your next duties. If you are doing the cooking, some of the recipes will use up some of the leftovers and no one will be the wiser that they are eating “reruns”. A brunch does double duty as a late breakfast and an early lunch. These recipes include some that have to/ can be made ahead of time so that you get to enjoy a cup of coffee with your houseguests.

Pumpkin Waffles Serves 8 -10

Baked Hash Browns ** Serves 6 – 8

2 1/4 Cup plain flour 1/4 Cup packed brown sugar 4 Teaspoons baking powder 1 1/2 Teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 Teaspoon nutmeg 1/2 Teaspoon salt 4 Large eggs, separated 2 Cups milk 1/4 Cup margarine, melted

3 Cups frozen shredded potatoes 1/3 Cup margarine, melted 1 Cup finely chopped cooked ham 1 Cup shredded Cheddar cheese 1/4 Cup finely chopped green pepper 2 Large eggs, beaten 1/2 Cup milk 1/2 Teaspoon salt 1/4 Teaspoon pepper

Combine flour, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Combine, egg yolks, milk and pumpkin and add to flour mixture, stirring until just blended. Stir in melted margarine. Beat egg whites at high speed with mixer until soft peaks form; gently fold into batter. Cook in preheated, oiled waffle iron until crisp. Serve with additional melted margarine, syrup and toasted pecans if desired.

Preheat oven to 425˚. Thaw potatoes in a colander and turn out onto paper towels to get as much moisture out of them as you can. Press potatoes in the bottom and up the sides of an ungreased 9” pie plate; drizzle with melted margarine. Bake for 25 minutes or until lightly browned; cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Turn oven down to 350˚. Combine ham, cheese and green pepper and scatter over potato crust. Combine the eggs, milk, salt and pepper and stir well; pour over ham mixture. Bake for 25 – 30 minutes or until set. Let stand at least 10 minutes before serving. **This dish can be assembled up to adding the egg mixture and stored over night in the refrigerator. To cook, let crust stand for 30 minutes at room temperature and then combine the eggs, milk, salt and pepper and pour over ham mixture. Bake as directed above.

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Gingered Fruit Salad** Serves 8 1 8-Ounce package cream cheese, softened 1/3 Cup orange juice 2 Tablespoons sugar 1/2 Teaspoon ground ginger 3 Cups grapes – green, red or purple or a combination 3 Cups strawberries, hulled and cut in half 3 Granny Smith apples, cored and chopped 1 11-Ounce can Mandarin oranges, well drained Combine cream cheese, orange juice, sugar and ginger in a small bowl and blend well. Combine fruit and pour dressing and toss gently to serve. Serve immediately. ** Fruit can be prepared the night before and just before serving toss with dressing.

Sausage Muffins** Yields 1 dozen 1/2 Pound sausage with sage 2 Cups plain flour 2 Tablespoons sugar 1 Tablespoon baking powder 1/4 Teaspoon salt 1 Cup milk 1 Large egg, slightly beaten 1/4 Cup margarine, melted 1/2 Cup shredded Cheddar cheese Preheat oven to 375˚. Brown sausage in skillet stirring until it is completely broken apart. Drain well. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Combine milk, eggs and butter. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir just until combined. Stir in cheese and sausage. Line muffin tin with paper cups and spoon batter into cups, filling two thirds full. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden. Remove from pan immediately and cool on wire racks if not serving at once. **Muffins can be made one day ahead of serving and refrigerated. Reheat in 275˚ oven 10 minutes.

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November 2016

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November 2016

The Family Table

by Lorie Thompson

f you get an invitation to a Ramey family Thanksgiving dinner, take advantage of it! We all meet at Aunt Opal and Uncle Hugh Ivester’s home and EAT! The food is fantastic and the company is even better! We play games, visit and leave with full stomachs and warm hearts.

triumph, and because I stretch my ability often, I have had my moments of failure. (Ask my husband about my “Alligator Surprise “ LOL.) We all think of the perfect Thanksgiving meal being close to what we grew up eating. At my Mama’s table, Southern Cornbread Dressing was as important as the turkey! You can watch the cooking show but true, Southern Cornbread Dressing does not show up in any of them. So, here is how my Mama taught me to do it:

I had a memorable cooking disaster happen a few years ago at the Thanksgiving party. I made a fabulous White Chocolate Macadamia Cake with a raspberry curd filling. It was a foot high of stacked, gorgeous layers covered in luscious white chocolate frosting. I worked for hours making white chocolate For cornbread dressing you need cornbread! Not the sweet leaves for a stunning decoration on the top of my cake. It was flour laden cake that Yankees eat. This is the South and we a masterpiece! know what real cornbread is! Pre-heat your oven to 450˚. I kept the cake refrigerated until time to drive to Aunt Opal’s, so To make a 10” pone of cornbread, you will need 1 cup of it was nice and solid for the road trip. Upon arrival, I proudly cornmeal mix. I use Martha White Buttermilk Cornmeal Mix. placed it in the center of the dessert table. Even alongside Aunt For the purpose of making dressing, pre-leavened cornmeal mix Fifi’s homemade banana pudding and Aunt Net’s homemade is fine. Mix corn meal with 1.5 cup of whole fat buttermilk. chocolate cream pies, it looked marvelous. I was so proud! Stir until smooth. Pre-heat on your stove-top a 10” black iron As the morning wore on and rolled into afternoon, the house warmed up and so did my cake! That beautiful icing started sliding downhill. By the time the desserts were served most of that luscious white chocolate frosting and those magnificent handmade chocolate leaves were on Aunt Opal’s table-cloth, puddled around the cake platter. My family laughed with me and scraped the frosting off of the table cloth and ate it anyway. They were kind and told me how wonderful it tasted, even if it turned into a mess! I have had my moments of great culinary

skillet. Add 1/3 cup of vegetable oil to skillet and allow it to get hot. Pour hot oil into cornmeal and buttermilk mix and stir in, reserving 1 – 2 teaspoons of oil in the bottom of the skillet. Add 1 teaspoon of cornmeal into skillet and allow to brown a little. Pour cornbread mix into hot skillet and place in oven. Cook 20 minutes or until top of cornbread is browned and starting to split. Turn out on a plate and allow to cool. While cornbread is cooking, chop 1 large white onion and 4 stalks of celery to get roughly 1 – 2 cups of each. Melt 1 stick

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of butter in heavy pan. Lightly salt celery and onions and cook and giblets. Place in a stockpot with an onion, celery, carrots, black peppercorns, (I use dried pepper pods) and some sage. until they are just getting soft. Allow to cool. In a very large mixing bowl add three eggs and 1 can Simmer for 2 plus hours or until neck meat is tender enough to of evaporated milk. Stir to mix. Add 1 large package of pull off of bone and stock is reduced by half. This also makes a Pepperidge Farm Stuffing Mix. (My Mama placed her stale great addition to your gravy! Let me share my easiest dessert recipe with you. No measuring!! This is for two Perfect Southern Pecan Pies: Place two refrigerated pie crusts in 2 9” pie pans. In a mixing bowl add six whole eggs, I box of brown sugar, (light or dark, your choice) 1 teaspoons vanilla, 1 stick of melted, unsalted butter, 1 bottle of white Karo Corn Syrup and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Stir together until well mixed. Add 4 cups of shelled pecan halves. Stir. Pour evenly into pie crusts. Bake at 350˚ Mix all ingredients. You are looking for the dressing to be for 50 minutes to one hour. Remove from oven while center is fairly wet, but still able to hold its shape. Place in a buttered still slightly soft. casserole dish. Cover top of dressing with pats of unsalted May God grant to you an ever thankful heart! Enjoy this food butter and a few ladles of broth to help keep it moist. Bake, at your own family table! uncovered until dressing is set and starting to brown in 350˚ oven for 20 – 30 minutes. Dressing should still be very moist. Lorie Ramey-Thompson is a local realtor with Re/Max Of Serve warm. Rabun. Lorie is available by appointment as a private chef and To make the home made turkey stock, I buy turkey necks, wings offers cooking lessons.

bread and the heel off the loaves in a bag in the freezer before Thanksgiving. She would toast these and use in place of the pre-packaged stuffing mix.) To the stuffing bowl crumble up baked and cooled cornbread. Add cooked onions and celery and 2 tablespoons McCormick’s Poultry Seasoning. (This is a blend of seasonings with sage, thyme, rosemary, and nutmeg.) Add 4 cups of stock. You can use store bought chicken stock or homemade turkey stock.

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November 2016

Holiday Shopping

hanksgiving is right around the corner, and you know what that means: Christmas shopping! It is one of the most enjoyable parts of the holiday season, but it can also be one of the most frustrating. Driving long distances, competing with other shoppers to get that bargain on the popular gift idea at the big box store and fighting traffic can all turn a fun holiday shopping trip into a hassle. Why not shop local instead? There are really neat downtown areas right here in Northeast Georgia, within an hour’s drive. Here in the mountains, we have family and locally owned shops, boutiques and stores where you can find unique and even handmade gifts for your friends and family. Never before has there been such a variety of products and services offered so close to home! You can find clothing, sporting goods, home décor, scarves, handbags and other accessories, furniture and much more.

Shopping local also helps support your community and keeps the money right in your hometown or region. You can also help grow the businesses of your friends, families and neighbors who own them. How many times have you driven through a town that you are familiar with and actually stopped to take a look at what exactly that town has to offer? Taking a local holiday shopping trip can make discovering your town and region fun! You will discover businesses that you may not have known were available, or discover that a business you’ve visited before has more to offer than you realized. Imagine getting everyone on your list a unique, thoughtful, personal gift and supporting your local economy at the same time. What a positive impact you could make! In addition to the many exceptional businesses in our area, there are family and locally owned restaurants. Grab a bite to eat during your shopping trip, or pick up a gift card for a stocking stuffer or Christmas card. And let’s not forget our local service providers. There are hairdressers, massage therapists, gyms, automotive shops, nail salons and so much more, where you can find gift certificates that are not only thoughtful, but useful as well. We really encourage you to stick around the mountains this shopping season and show your local business owners your appreciation, while getting the perfect gifts for those who mean so much to you. You might even find a little something for yourself! Here are some local businesses where you can get your holiday shopping started!

Blackberry Market

Reeves Hardware

76 E Main Street Franklin, NC 28734 828.369.7880

46 S Main Street • Clayton, GA 30525 706.782.4253

Foxfire Museum 98 Foxfire Lane Mountain City, GA 30562 706.746.5828

8285 Georgia Road Otto, NC 28763 828.524.6842

Bumbleberry

Body Sense 2226 Ridge Crest Circle Hiawassee, GA 30546 706.896.6457 50

Culpepper & Co. Old School Knife Works

November 2016

1345 Washington Street Clarkesville, GA 30523 706.754.0462 gmlaurel.com

Britt & Capri

Impressed

136 N Main Street Hiawassee, GA 30546 706.896.6222

621 Hwy 441 S Suite 1 Clayton, GA 30525 706.212.2818

The Treehouse

Lulu & Tullyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

112 N Main Street Clayton, GA 30525 706.782.7297

11 N Main Street Clayton, GA 30525 706.960.9446

e r o l p x E

CLARKESVILLE, GEORGIA

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November 2016

Downtown Clayton, Georgia

November 2016

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November 2016

Mountain Happenings - November & December, 2016 STEPHENS COUNTY November 12th and the second Saturday of the month Second Saturday Historic Downtown Toccoa Info: 706.886.2132 November 12th and the second Saturday of the month Southern Gospel Music The Ritz Theater Toccoa Info: www.ritztheatertoccoa.com November 21st and the third Monday of each month Career Coach Stephens County Library parking lot Toccoa Info: www.gmrc.ga.gov/ WorkforceDevelopment December 2nd ChristmasFest and Lighting of the Tree Downtown Toccoa Info: www.mainstreettoccoa.com

Habersham Community Theater Clarkesville Info: 706.839.1315 November 25th Movies on Main: Elf December 1st - 4th; 8th - 11th “The Nutcracker” play & ballet December 15th - 18th HCT Family Christmas V featuring “A Charlie Brown Christmas” Grant Street Music Room Clarkesville Info: 706.754.3541 November 12th “The Southern Floyd” A Pink Floyd Tribute

December 3rd Christmas Parade Downtown Toccoa Info: www.mainstreettoccoa.com

November 19th Songs for Kids

December 11th Martin, GA Tour of Homes and Centennial Celebration Martin Info: 770.861.1955

December 31st New Year’s Eve - Steve Bryson Band

December 3rd Jonathan Ingram Band

North Georgia Technical College Clarkesville Info: 706.754.7716

HABERSHAM COUNTY November 24 - January 1, 2017 Christmas Lights Spectacular Cornelia City Park Cornelia Info: 706.778.4654 December 3rd (Rain Date December 10th) Habersham County Christmas Lights Parade and Christmas Village Festival Baldwin Info: 706.778.6341 December 3rd Christmas at the Fort Fort Hollingsworth - White House Alto Info: 706.244.1239 December 10th A Downtown Clarkesville Christmas Downtown Clarkesville Info: www.clarkesvillega.com

December 15th - 19th Christmas in Cornelia Cornelia City Park Cornelia Info: 706.778.8585

November 8th Personal Safety Training November 17th Paint Your Own Canvas - Winter December 19th Backyard Tour of Northeast Georgia #3 WHITE COUNTY November 4th – 6th and each Friday – Sunday Discovery Tours Sautee Nacoochee Center Sautee Info: 706.878.3300 November 5th 2nd Annual Wine Olympics Sautee Village Park Sautee Info: 706.878.0144

November 2016

November 5th (Rain Date November 12th) Rods on the Hooch Alpine Helen Fall Car Show Helen Riverside Park Helen Info: 706.878.2722; 706.878.2733 November 5th - 6th Civil War Reenactment Helen Riverside Park Helen Info: 706.878.2111 November 9th - December 10th Festival of Trees Holiday Inn Express & Suites Helen Info: 706.878.2111 November 13th and the second Sunday of the month Reserve Wine Tasting Yonah Mountain Vineyards Cleveland Info: 706.878.5522 November 19th Appalachian Christmas and Breakfast with Santa BabyLand General Cleveland Info: 706.865.2171 November 25th Annual Lighting of the Village Band Shell in Downtown Helen Info: 706.878.2181 December 3rd Christmas in the Mountains 2016 Festival & Lighted Christmas Parade Downtown Cleveland Info: 706.865.5356 December 3rd - 4th; 10th - 11th 9th Annual Christkindlmarkt Downtown Marketplatz Helen Info: 706.878.1908 December 10th Annual Christmas Parade Downtown Helen Info: 706.878.2181 December 31st Dropping of the Edelweiss Helen Festhalle Helen Info: 706.878.1908

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Helen Arts & Heritage Center Helen Info: 706.878.3933 November 10th “Chattahoochee Christmas” Holiday Art Exhibit Opening & Reception November 25th - 27th December 9th - 11th; 16th - 18th Alpine Mistletoe Market Info: 706.969.1688

November 26th Santa on Saturday Rock House Clayton Info: www.downtownclaytonga.org

November 5 and the first Saturday of each month First Visit Tours th

November 5th Advanced Land Navigation

December 3rd Annual Christmas Parade Downtown Clayton Info: 706.782.4812

North Georgia Zoo & Farm Cleveland Info: 706.348.7279

November 8 Mommy and Me at the Zoo November 19th - 20th Santa is Coming

November 25th - 27th Holiday Celebration & Live Nativity th

RABUN COUNTY November 5th and each Saturday through November Simply Homegrown Farmers’ Market Clayton City Hall Complex Clayton Info: www.RabunMarket.com November 5th Georgia Sky to Summit 25K/50K Sky Valley Info: www.skyvalleyga.com November 10th Veterans’ Appreciation Dinner Rabun County Civic Center Clayton Info: 706.782.4812 November 17th North Georgia Arts Guild Program and Meeting - “Creating Beauty in Leather with Tom Slavicek The Diner at the Rabun County Civic Center, Clayton Info: www.northgeorgiaartsguild.com

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Hambidge Center Rabun Gap Info: 706.746.5718 November 5th and the First Saturday of the month Grist Mill Visits November 19th and the third Saturday of the month Nature Hike Rabun Arena Tiger Info: 706.212.0452 November 12th; December 3rd Wayne Dutton Jr. Rodeo November 13th; December 4th Wayne Dutton Barrel Race & Roping Black Rock Mountain State Park Mountain City Info: 706.746.2141 November 4 ; 11 Ask the Naturalist

November 5th - 6th; 12th - 13th November 19th - 20th Whitewater Releases

November 5th and each Saturday Winery Tour

November 5th - 6th; 12th - 13th November 19th - 20th Whitewater-Watching Hike

December 21st Winter Solstice Festival

November 13th - 14th December 13th Full Moon Suspension Bridge Hike November 25th Walk Off the Turkey Hike th

December 3 Christmas at the Gorge

December 3rd - 4th; 10th - 11th “The Little Town of Christmas”

November 4th and each Friday Friday Evening Tapas & Acoustic

November 19th Tune Hall

Crane Creek Vineyards Young Harris Info: 706.379.1235

Tallulah Gorge State Park Tallulah Falls Info: 706.754.7981

November 27th December 11th; 12th Sunrise Hike

North Georgia Community Players Dillard Playhouse Dillard Info: 706.212.2500

November 20th and the third Sunday of the month Behind the Scenes Tour

November 13th; 20th Last Chance Hike

November 26 ; December 17 Hidden Gem Hiking Series

December 31 New Year’s Eve Bash River Vista RV Park Dillard Info: 706.746.2722

December 16th Lee Greenwood and Lorrie Morgan in “Patriotic Country Christmas” Concert

November 5th, 12th Tri State Hike

November 4th - 6th; 11th - 13th Pumpkin Smashin’ Fun

December 26 - December 30 Winter Break and Tree Toss

November 25th - 26th Festival of Trees and Holiday Arts & Crafts Extravaganza Rabun County Civic Center Clayton Info: 706.982.9432 November 25th Christmas in Downtown Clayton Clayton Info: www.downtownclaytonga.org

Smithgall Woods Cleveland Info: 706.878.3087 www.smithgallwoods.com

November 24th Clayton Cluckers Turkey Trot 5K Downtown Clayton Info: www.downtownclaytonga.org

TOWNS COUNTY November 5th Lake Chatuge River’s Alive Clean-Up Towns County Beach Hiawassee Info: 828.837.5414 November 10th; December 8th Awake America Prayer Meeting Towns County Civic Center Hiawassee Info: 706.994.8962

December 31st New Year’s Eve Party UNION COUNTY November 2nd and each Wednesday BINGO Haralson Memorial Civic Center Blairsville Info: 678.630.0452 November 11th Writers’ Night Out Union County Community Center Blairsville Info: 877.745.5789 November 19th - 20th Mistletoe Market Arts & Crafts Show Blairsville Technical College Blairsville Info: 706.896.0932 November 20th and the third Sunday of the month Shady Grove UMC Third Sunday Singing Shady Grove UMC Blairsville Info: 706.781.4729

November 11th - 12th; 18th - 19th A Grave Affair at Ivy Mount Cemetery Ivy Mount Cemetery Hiawassee Info: 706.896.4966

November 26th Union County Lions Club Annual Trash / Treasure Sale Union County Civic Center Blairsville Info: 706.374.6638

November 12th Art & Craft Fair Hiawassee Park Hiawassee Info: 762.500.2021

December 1st - 31st Tour of Trees Union County Community Center Blairsville Info: 706.745.5789

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

December 2nd - 3rd Blairsville Holiday Stop & Shop Union County Civic Center Blairsville Info: 770-789-2044

November 11th Jamey Johnson November 12th Mark Lindsay November 24 - January 1, 2017 Mountain Country Christmas Festival of Lights

November 2016

December 3rd Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting On the Square Blairsville Info: 706-745-5493 continued

Mountain Happenings - November & December, 2016 December 10th 2016 Holly Jolly Christmas and Tour of Trees Union County Community Center Blairsville Info: 706-745-5789 December 10th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Vogel State Park Blairsville Info: 706.745.2628 December 20 Old Fashioned Christmas Caroling on the Square Blairsville Info: 706.347.3503 th

Union County Schools Fine Arts Center Blairsville Info: 877.745.5789 November 5th Dancing with North Georgia Stars November 18 - 20 UCHS Musical: Grease th

November 4th and each Friday Friday Nights at Clay’s Corner Clay’s Corner Brasstown Info: 828.837.3797 October 1st and each Friday Music Night Eagle Fork Vineyards Hayesville Info: 828.389.8466

December 6th UCMS Band Christmas Concert December 8th - 9th UCHS Chorus, Band, Theatre: Christmas Show December 13 ; 15 UCMS Chorus & Theatre: Christmas Show th

Union County Farmers’ Market Old Smokey Road, Blairsville Info: 706.439.6043 November 1st; 8th; 15th December 6th Canning Plant December 2 - 3 Kris Kringle Mountain Market rd

Paradise Hills Winery, Resort & Spa Blairsville Info: 877.745.7483 November 25th Black Friday Holiday Wine Release Black Friday “Sip and Shop” December 9th - 10th Jingle Bell Wine Trail

December 8th - 11th “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” by the Licklog Players Creekside Circle Hayesville Info: 828.389.8632 December 10th Clay County Progress Christmas Parade Hayesville Info: 828.389.8431 Peacock Performing Arts Center Hayesville Info: 828.389.2787 November 12th Song Writers Showcase December 2nd “It’s a Wonderful Life” John C. Campbell Folk School Brasstown Info: 828.837.2775; 800.FOLKSCH www.folkschool.org November 3rd Concert - Kim Weitkamp November 5th Blacksmith & Fine Craft Auction November 11th Asheville Aces November 12th; December 10th English Country Dance Workshop Serie November 17th Concert - Geoff, Rick & Larry

December 4th 2016 “Fireside Sale”

December 17th Holiday Contra & Square Dance Party 2016

November 4th, 4-7pm Meet the Artist Poane’ Creative Framing 482 Depot St. Franklin Info: 828.349.4468

November 12th - 13th Candy Cane Market 1665 Mountain Harbour Hayesville Info: 828.3879.3704

November 19th Contra & Square Dance

December 9th Brasstown Bellringers Annual Holiday Performance

MACON COUNTY, NC

December 1st - 2nd UCMS Theater

CLAY COUNTY, NC

November 3rd; December 1st Rotary Club of Highlands Bingo Night Highlands Community Building Highlands Info: 828.526.2112 November 10th - 13th Highlands Food and Wine Festival Highlands Info: highlandsfoodandwine.com November 11th Highlands Veterans’ Day Celebration Kelsey Hutchinson Park Highlands Info: 828.526.2112 November 11th Veterans’ Day Parade Downtown Franklin Info: 828.524.2516 November 24th 5K Cold Turkey Run On the Greenway Franklin Info: 828.349.6262 November 26 Highlands Annual Tree Lighting Main Street Highlands Info: 828.526.2112 th

November 26th; December 3rd Winter Wonderland Downtown Franklin Info: 828.524.2516 November 27th Franklin’s Annual Christmas Parade Downtown Franklin Info: 828.524.3161

December 10th - 11th Highlands Community Christian Chorale First Presbyterian Church Highlands Info: 828.526.2112 Cowee School Franklin Info: www.coweeschool.org November 19th and the third Saturday of the month SEBA Jam December 3rd Cowee Christmas Smoky Mountain Center for Performing Arts Franklin Info: 866.273.4615; 828.524.1598 www.GreatMountainMusic.com November 4th - 5th, 11th - 12th Fiddler on the Roof Overlook Theatre Company November 18th Movie: Everest November 26th Mountain Faith: Sounds of Christmas December 2nd Michael O’Brien December 3rd Christmas with the Celts December 9th Christmas in my Hometown December 10th MercyMe! It’s Christmas December 16th - 17th The Nutcracker Ballet Martin Lipscomb Performing Arts Center Highlands Info: 828.526.9047 November 25th The Drifters December 15th Highlands Cashiers Players Holiday Reading

December 3rd Highlands Olde Mountain Christmas Parade Main Street Highlands Info: 828.526.2112

November 2016

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Holiday Shopping Extravaganza and Festival of Trees, 2016

he Holiday Shopping Extravaganza and Festival of Trees will held at the Rabun County Civic Center on Friday and Saturday, November 25th and 26th from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. This annual event gives residents and visitors of Rabun County an opportunity to shop in a festive environment and to have a wide variety of unique items to purchase for your holiday gifts. Many artisans and crafters as well as sought after brands will be present. Admission is Free.

The Festival of Trees is becoming a favorite fundraising event for the holiday season. This year the recipient is “Community Pantry”. There will be beautifully decorated trees ranging in size from 7 feet to 3 feet on display at the Civic Center, starting with the Preview Party on Saturday, November 19th from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Admission is $10 at the door for this event. The proceeds of this party and the auctioning of the trees will be donated to the Community Pantry. Each year the proceeds have increased, so we are anticipating a great year in 2016 for this year’s recipient. The Silent Auction will end at the close of the Holiday Shopping Extravaganza at 5:00 PM on Saturday, November 26th. Do not miss this opportunity to obtain a beautiful tree for your home or office. Delivery in Rabun County for the larger trees will be available for a nominal fee. For additional information about this event please contact Margaret Dunn at 706.212.2149 or by email at mdunn@ rabuncountygov.com.

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Downtown Clayton, Georgia

November 2016

Two Ways to Make a Very Merry Christmas RUCF and Charity Lane By John Shivers

hristmas is a season rich in tradition and celebration, and the countdown has already begun. In Rabun County, where a spirit of generosity lives year-round, at this very special time of the year, everything kicks up another notch. In this Northeast corner of Georgia, Santa has many helpers and many hands. Rabun United Christmas Fund and Charity Lane Festival of Lights are but two of those helpers. Both events provide the means for Rabun Countians to give a helping hand to their neighbors. Rabun United Christmas Fund Christmas is one of those times when it’s definitely more blessed to give than to receive. When children and others in need are on the receiving end, that giving sometimes strains the normal household budget. That’s where the Rabun United Christmas Fund can make a difference. Last year 161 families received help to pay a household bill, so that they had other income available for holiday purchases. This assistance also lessens the stress of keeping utilities on during the winter, when costs are higher. Payments are made directly to the vendors and each recipient receives the same amount of money. As long as you’re a Rabun County resident, have photo identification, all current bills, verification of all household income and documentation for all children in the home, you’re eligible to make application. Bills must be in a household member’s name. On Saturday, November 5th , from 9:00 AM ‘til 1:00 PM at the Clayton City Hall, representatives of RUCF will be available to meet with individuals and take their applications. This is the only time that applications will be accepted, but donations to the fund will be accepted through December 31st at United Community Bank or at RUCF, P.O. Box 90, Clayton, GA 30525. Funds to underwrite the awards come from donations made by businesses, individuals, families, churches and civic organizations, and from the Charity Lane Festival of Lights. The fund is administered by Community Partnership, along with a representative of the bank where the account is based. The bank also coordinates donor mail-out, flyers and ads to publicize both the program and the opportunity for donors to participate. Donations are collected through the end of the year, then

the total raised is divided by the number of applicants. Payments to the vendors are sent by the second Friday in January. It doesn’t matter if applicants have received assistance in previous years. Anyone who feels they need assistance in 2016, is encouraged to apply on November 5th. Charity Lane Festival of Lights For two weekends in December, the 6th Annual Charity Lane Festival of Lights will bring the yuletide season to northern Rabun County. Beginning on Wolffork Road just north of Mountain City on Highway 441, across from Don’s Mobil, a seven mile stretch of Christmas displays and lights installed by various community charities and homeowners will bring to life the beauty and glory of the holiday season. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, December 2nd, 3rd and 4th and again the next weekend, switches will be thrown and the Wolffork Valley will spring into colorful brilliance and beauty. The show begins at 5:30 PM and the lights will go out at 10:00 PM. This has become one of Rabun County’s finest, most memorable holiday events and is a true benchmark of the community coming together in order to give back. At the end of the sevenmile winding course, visitors are invited to end their evening of fun at the Dillard United Methodist Church on Highway 441 South in Dillard. There is a $10 suggested donation per vehicle at the start of the drive and these funds are shared among all the charities who participate. Wolffork Baptist Church will offer hot chocolate and caroling on both Saturdays. Dillard United Methodist Church will be open each night of Charity Lane 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM with over 100 nativity scenes on display as part of its annual “Come to the Stable” event. Children’s craft activities and refreshments will also be provided. Plus the Charity Lane Holiday Shop will be located in the Dillard United Methodist Church fellowship hall, with different organizations offering a variety of items, crafts and baked goods for sale each evening. Rabun County Band Boosters will have chili for sale in the Holiday Shop. For more information, please contact Community Partnership of Rabun at 706.782.8390 or rabuncpr@windstream.net or visit Charity Lane Festival of Lights on Facebook. Both Rabun United Christmas Fund and Community Partnership of Rabun will have displays along the Charity Lane route.

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November 2016

Celebrating the Season

he air is getting colder, the days are getting shorter, and the holiday season is upon us. This is the time of year when we pull our families a little closer and celebrate the holidays with those who are near and dear to us. The area is full of holiday events and festivities for you and your family. Here is a list of a few of the holiday happenings, including Christmas parades, and don’t forget to check our event calendar for more!

Rabun County

Santa on Saturday at the Rock House Rock House, Main Street, Clayton November 26 from Noon – 3:00 PM Contact 706.782.1520 for more information.

Christmas in Downtown Clayton Santa, shopping, refreshments, bagpiper and caroling. November 25 from 5:00 – 8:00 PM Contact 706.782.1520 for more information.

Habersham County

Christmas Tree Lighting Rock House Park, Main Street, Clayton November 25th at 6:00 PM Contact 706.782.1520 for more information.

Christmas Lights Spectacular Cornelia City Park Thanksgiving – New Year’s Day 6:00 – 11:00 PM daily

Holiday Arts and Crafts Extravaganza Rabun County Civic Center November 25th – 26th from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM * Preview Party: Saturday November 19th from 5:00 – 7:00 PM Contact Margaret Dunn at 706.212.2149 for more information.

Holiday Celebration and Live Nativity North Georgia Zoo & Farm November 25th – 27th from 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM Contact 706.348.7279 for more information. Stephens County Christmasfest & Lighting of the Tree December 2nd

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Towns County Mountain Country Christmas Festival of Lights Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds Thanksgiving – New Year’s Day Christmas in my Hometown Smoky Mountain Center for Performing Arts December 9th from 7:30 – 9:30 PM Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Vogel State Park December 10th from 4:00 – 7:00 PM White County Festival of Trees Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Helen November 9th – December 10th from 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM Annual Lighting of the Village Band Shell Downtown Helen November 25th from 6:00 – 8:00 PM Contact 706.878.2181 for more information. Macon County, NC Winter Wonderland W Main Street, Franklin, NC November 26th & December 3rd at 5:00 PM Mountain Faith: The Sounds of Christmas Smoky Mountain Center for Performing Arts, Franklin, NC November 26th at 7:30 PM Contact 828.524.1598 for more information. Clay County, NC Candy Cane Market 1665 Mountain Harbour Drive, Hayesville, NC November 12th – 13th from Noon – 5:00 PM Contact 828.389.3704 for more information. Parades: Rabun – Saturday, December 3rd at 5:00 PM, Main Street, Clayton, 706.782.4812 Habersham – Saturday, December 3rd 6:00 PM, 706.778.6341 Stephens – Saturday, December 3rd Towns – Saturday, November 26th 5:30 PM, Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, 706.896.4444 White – Saturday, December 10th at 2:00 PM, Downtown Helen, 706.878.2181 Macon (NC) – Sunday, November 27th at 3:00 PM Clay (NC) – Saturday, December 10th 11:00 AM, Downtown Hayesville on the Square, 828.389.8431

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November 2016

Adventure Out Appalachian Trail To Wesser Bald By Peter McIntosh n this adventure we’re taking a late autumn trip up to North Carolina for a moderate hike on the Appalachian Trail to the top of Wesser Bald. This mountaintop is similar to Rabun Bald in that there’s an old fire tower that’s been converted to an observation platform. The views form this platform are unparalleled, a 360 degree panorama with rugged mountains in all directions. Like I said, this is a moderate hike, (about 1.5 miles each way) ascending gently most of the way with a few level spots and a few steep sections thrown in for good measure.

From the trailhead at Tellico Gap, we follow the Appalachian Trail north. There’s a wooden sign here that reads “Wesser Bald - 1.4 miles.” On the official AT map it says 1.6 miles, so I split the difference and call it a mile and a half. Like all of the AT, this trail is very well maintained by hard working volunteers. The footpath ascends along the southwest side of the mountain which makes it especially beautiful in the late afternoon sun. The mostly hardwood forest along this trial is beautiful and hopefully there will still be some colorful autumn leaves. As you make it higher up the trail, the pathway becomes a bit more rocky so I do recommend boots or at least some kind of substantial footwear. Near the top of the mountain there are a few switchbacks and then there you are, the summit! There’s a north facing opening right there at the top where you can enjoy the scenery and catch your breath before climbing the steep steps up to the viewing tower. Now up to the platform and oh what a view, some of the prettiest mountains you’ll see anywhere. Just below you to the north is Fontana Lake, and the high mountain on the far side of the lake is Clingman’s Dome, the highest peak on the Appalachian Trail and the centerpiece of the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. To the east you can see Cowee

Lookout, Shepherd Bald and Jones Knob. To the south, the mountain with the radio towers on top is Winespring Bald. To the west is the Joyce KilmerSlickrock Wilderness with Stratton Bald and Haoe Bald being the high points. And do remember it can be chilly up on this tower, so you might want to bring a fleece pullover, a wind breaker or both. Take your time here, have a snack and soak up the views from this very extraordinary mountaintop. Happy hiking! 62

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A poem for Novembered? Of course I remembered: A nice moderate hike, on the AT we will go, To see layers of mountains in the distance below. Dress warmly my friends so you can stay for a time, The views from the Wesser Tower are truly sublime! Getting there: From Franklin, NC Take NC Hwy 28 North for 12.1 miles to Tellico Road. Stay on Tellico Road for 9 more miles. At 3.7 miles on Tellico Road it will turn to gravel. Pass the Tellico Trout Farm on your right and start the twisting climb, often under big power lines, to Tellico Gap and the rather large parking area for the “AT” and Wesser Bald access. To see more of Peter’s photos, or if you have questions or comments, visit: www.mcintoshmountains.com.

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November 2016

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Call a Pro

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November 2016

Mountain Nature Fall Leaves Fall Or do they? By Jean Hyatt

hen we think of autumn, we think of cooler temperatures and the beauty of many different colors in the leaves of the trees. After October and the first part of November, however, not many leaves are left to fall. But many of you will have observed that not all deciduous trees drop their leaves in autumn and in fact keep them throughout most of the winter. Fall leaves do fall, but not all of them fall in autumn. This process is called marcescence and it basically means the retention of dead organic plant matter that normally would be shed. It is believed that where trees are concerned, it is a natural evolution to prevent large animals, such as deer and moose, from stripping the tender twigs and shoots the tree puts out for spring growth. A mouthful of dead leaves is not tasty to these mammals, and so they avoid marcescent trees. In our area, the most common marcescent trees are the beech, the hornbeam and some species of oak. In oaks, the young trees retain almost all the leaves over winter, but in older trees, only the lower branches keep their leaves. Trees are pretty smart to know which branches the deer nibble on. If you have a beech tree near where you live, you can likely hear the dry rustle-y sound of it when the wind blows. It is a different sound from the wind-in-the-pines music that I have known over the years, but is beautiful if you take the time to listen. The leaves of the beech are paper thin, and are a yellowish orange or brown in color. Near the end of winter, they get almost translucent and are especially pretty when backlit by the winter sun. If you are in Lawrenceville, Georgia sometime this winter, go by and check out Georgia’s Champion Beech Tree. It is 115 feet tall, a little over 14 feet around and the average diameter at the top is 90 feet. It should be really pretty this winter, and easy to find since it’ll be big and still have its leaves. I’m going to try to make it a point to see it this year.

** Don’t forget to turn off your outside lights at night. Use motion detector lighting, shields, and IDA-approved lighting so you don’t impose your light on those who want to see the stars. I believe God made night dark for a reason. Please help keep it that way. **

Jean and her husband Richard own and operate Mountain Nature in downtown Clayton. They can be reached at 706.782.0838, or www.facebook. Marcescent trees in February 2016. These are located at a picnic area on com/Mountain Nature & Wild Bird Supply. the old road between Toccoa and Hollywood Georgia. 66

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November 2016

Beside Still Waters By Heather Leigh Johnson Follow her on Instagram @lu2johnson

in console conceals the television while allowing an openconcept sight-line because Elizabeth loves ‘see-through homes’ where views remain unimpeded across a wide space. Just off the casual breakfast area, a large screened-in porch wraps around the front of the house and provides glorious views of the sunset and lake. Past the porch, an outdoor barbeque grill and flag-stone landing lead back into the kitchen through a Dutch door into the butler’s pantry. The kitchen itself boasts a large central island that holds the gas cooktop and seating for Elizabeth Darby designed the home with the help of Atlanta three. A baking center, wide butcher-block counters and glassarchitect Todd Pritchett. Together they maximized living space, fronted cabinets make the kitchen attractive and functional. views, gracious amenities and storage. Elizabeth has been The master suite stands on the opposite side of the house, told that she designed a home with everything in it a woman tucked quietly behind a recessed entryway and reading nook. would love. That includes bolstered window seats with views A large walk-in closet with built-in shelves offers enough of the lake in nearly every room, walk-in closets, storage space separate storage for any couple, and a washer and dryer to tucked under stairs and beneath the broad eaves and room to boot. Clustered around the mirror of the dual sink vanity are sleep over twenty guests. At the same time, Still Waters retains positive affirmations and Bible verses for good health and healing that again testify to the couple’s faith. an intimate sense of scale that doesn’t overwhelm. hen is a house more than a home? When it’s a mission that it be used as a blessing. Since 2000, Elizabeth and Michael Darby have used their home Still Waters in this way. The Darbys and their highly-attuned spiritual gratitude can be found nearly everywhere in their Lake Burton home. In fact, the twenty-third Psalm greets visitors upon entry. Hand-painted on a high wooden beam, the Bible verse sets the tone for the home which is peaceful and inviting.

On entering, the wide stacked-rock fireplace soars to the Former missionaries, Elizabeth and Michael designed the open-beam ceiling where flanking windows offer views of the downstairs space to host their discipleship ministry weekends. nearby lake. Beneath a grand antlered chandelier, a low built- The recreation area comfortably contains not only a pool

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table, but a ping-pong table as well. There’s also a generous seating area, a gift-wrapping station, laundry room, guest room with ensuite bath and a bunkhouse with custom-made bunks for eight on the walk-out level to the lake. Upstairs, the split staircase leads to three more bedrooms and full baths. A wide walkway unites the sleeping areas while offering a cozy reading area open to the living room below. And there’s more. A separate cabin on the property can house even more company. Originally the home’s garage, the Darbys created a charming cabin where they lived while their home was being built. Complete with a kitchen, full bath, separate sitting area and generous bedroom, the cabin with its flagstone porch is a rare amenity on the lake. The new twocar garage up by the main house offers its own office/guest room with a full bath.

The Darbys know they are blessed. Five years ago when the tornado tore down the shore across from them on Timpson Cove, they were largely spared. Elizabeth says she feels the home belongs to the Lord and they are blessed to be its stewards. This loving and gracious attitude infuses the home and brings peace to all who enter. Still Waters is offered through Tom Stanfill with Re/Max of Rabun. For information or to schedule an appointment to see the home please contact Tom at 770.355.0659 (cell) or 706.782.7133 (office) or visit www.tomstanfill.remax-georgia. com. gmlaurel.com

November 2016

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November 2016

Live Healthy and Be Well! “Gallbladder problems are not uncommon” Stephen Jarrard, MD, FACS

e have seen several patients recently with complaints that turned out to be related to their gallbladder. It reminds me of a patient in the past that had been having trouble with abdominal pain requiring admission to the hospital. After being admitted to the hospital for acute pancreatitis, we were asked to assess his condition by his primary care doctor. The goal was to help him resolve his pancreatitis episode, but we needed to know why he had pancreatitis, and solve that problem to prevent future recurrence of this potentially dangerous condition. In the United States, the two main causes of acute pancreatitis are alcohol abuse and gallbladder disease. As this man was a non-drinker, we focused with an ultrasound exam, and found him to have a sick gallbladder. After his successful laparoscopic gallbladder removal – he felt much better and should not have to worry about having pancreatitis again. The gallbladder is a small pear shaped organ that is attached to the underside of the liver. The word “gall” comes from the old English word gealla, which meant yellow. If too much bile builds up in your blood, you will become “jaundiced” or yellow. The word gall also described “bitterness of spirit”. In the old days, someone who was bitter was thought to have an excess of bile, or a “lot of gall”. Gealla was derived from the Greek word cholos, which referred to gall and wrath, from which another word for gallbladder – the cholecyst – is taken. That is why taking out the gallbladder is known as a cholecystectomy. The gallbladder acts as a storage reservoir for bile, a bitter, dark green substance which is produced by the liver and used as a “detergent” to help break down fat for digestion. Fat in its native form is not well absorbed in the gut, it needs bile to break it up so that it can be absorbed by the lining of the intestines and used in the body. Without bile, the oils and fats that we eat would literally “pass right through us” without being absorbed and we would begin to suffer malnutrition, as some fat is a necessary part of good nutrition, and the body must have it to function properly. When a fatty meal hits the duodenum, the first part of the small bowel after the 74

stomach, the body sends a signal which causes the gallbladder to squeeze out some bile to mix with the food and begin to make the fat more soluble to the bowel. If there are stones in the gallbladder, the lining of the gallbladder may become irritated and inflamed from this action, making you rather ill, give you a low grade temperature and elevate your white blood cell count – this condition is known as cholecystitis. If the gallbladder does not function or empty properly when it gets the signal, it may cause similar symptoms without the inflammation – this is known as biliary dyskinesia, both conditions may present the same as nausea and vomiting with right upper quadrant pain (just under the right rib cage) after eating a fatty meal. An ultrasound exam of the right upper quadrant area will show stones in the gallbladder, sometimes a thickened wall and even fluid surrounding the gallbladder in cholecystitis. If you have gallbladder symptoms and your ultrasound is “normal” (no stones or inflammation), a special nuclear medicine scan will indicate the dysfunction of the gallbladder. The treatment for both conditions is surgical removal of the gallbladder – which we will be happy to help you with! Once a big operation requiring a long incision under the ribs and several days in the hospital post operatively, the laparoscopic approach has turned this operation into a same day surgery procedure – in most cases. Don’t worry – if your gallbladder is removed, your liver will learn to compensate and produce more bile when needed to help you with digestion. After a brief adjustment period of two or three weeks, most people don’t even notice or think about their missing gallbladder. And, they usually feel much better without it as a source of pain, nausea and limitation to their quality of life. We really do enjoy hearing from you with any questions, concerns, or ideas for future columns and/or health and wellness related issues for the Georgia Mountain Laurel. Please send an email to rabundoctor@gmail.com, or call us at 706.782.3572, and we will be sure to consider your input. This and previous articles can be now be found on the web at www.rabundoctor.com in an archived format. If you use Twitter, then follow us for health tips and wellness advice @ rabundoctor. Like and follow our Facebook page at facebook. com/rabundoctor. Until next month, live healthy and be well!

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November 2016

Wellness in Plain View

Construction on the New Mountain Lakes Medical Center has Reached a Major Milestone

onstruction is underway on the Mountain Lakes Medical Center’s new facility; a $40 million investment in our community that developers say will change health care in Northeast Georgia for future generations. Excitement is rising as the exterior frame goes up and we prepare for the “Topping Out” Party! The 60,000-square foot medical center, to be located off Highway 441 near the North Shore Convenient Care Clinic, will be integral to its vision of patient-centered care. The new hospital is both a necessary and welcomed addition to Clayton. The development project will pave the way for the city to have a healthier economy – and a healthier population. Once open, the hospital is expected to create more than100 permanent jobs. Mountain Lakes Medical Center plans to hire an additional 50 employees and other affiliate companies will be hiring as well. Families in our community will experience benefits now and into the future. MLMC Construction Update City officials, developers and hospital administrators gathered September 13th with shovels at the 30 acre site on the crest overlooking Clayton. They broke ground and construction began moving forward. A month later the slab was poured and the new facility is taking shape. Scheduled to be completed in 2017, the hospital will give Rabun County the ability to better serve the area by improving access to emergency care, surgical services, advanced imaging and physical therapy. Ancillary services such as on-site laboratory facilities, respiratory therapy, radiology and a pharmacy will also be part of the new center for wellness. There will be 16 stateof-the-art patient/guest rooms on the top level, each with framed mountain views. The space aims to have a “soothing feel” creating an environment for healing.

November Community Events “We are moving forward on all fronts,” said Joe Forese, Chief Executive Officer of Mountain Lakes Medical Center. Forese goes on to say, “We’re hoping to involve the community in the project from the ground up. We would like for everyone to sign the steel beam that will be placed on top of the new hospital. Let’s sign our names and be a part of this historic event!” A “Topping Out” celebration will be held November 16th at 3:00 PM to place the final beam on the new hospital. Everyone is welcome! You also have an opportunity to see the architectural rendering of the building at an open house on November 10th from 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM. If you can’t make it to these events, just stop by Mountain Lakes Medical Center anytime during November 4th – 14th and sign your signature on the big, steel beam. It will be displayed in the garden near the front entrance of MLMC for eleven days before it is moved to the construction site for the “Topping Out” Party. Let’s make our mark on history together, by signing the beam!

Rendering of the patient’s room in the new hospital November 2016

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November 2016

By the Way...

If there’s one thing I hate, it’s something I can’t stand By Emory Jones

I try hard to remind myself that I do have lots to be thankful for. I mean, in a year filled with scandals, my name was never mentioned, even once—at least not on television.

verall, I’m a happy person—at least I used to be. And thankful too. I mention that simply because Thanksgiving is around the corner. That’s the delightful day we set aside every year when no one even pretends to diet. According to Erma Bombeck, that’s the reason they named it Thanksgiving in the first place. By the way, did you know that the average American consumes 4,500 calories on Thanksgiving Day? If you want to break it down, it’s 3,000 for the meal and another 1,500 for snacking and nibbling. That’s according to the Calorie Control Council. I know I should just let it pass, but it irritates me that we have a Calorie Control Council. It also irritates me that no one remembers Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade was once called Macy’s Christmas Parade. You can look that up if you don’t believe me. The truth is so many things aggravate me lately that I’m afraid I’m becoming a grouch. Advancing years do make one grumpier, but I try hard not to nitpick because I firmly believe you should never criticize someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes. That way, when you do criticize them, you’re a mile away, plus you have their shoes.

I’m also thankful for the Butterball Turkey hotline they operate every November. I call ever year just to say hello. They’re nice folks, and not a single tax dollar has ever been spent on that, either. Anyway, I hope all this crankiness on my part is just a phase and that I get over this when warm weather returns to the region, and it’s once again 66 in Cleveland, 65 in Blairsville and 64 in Blue Ridge. In the meantime, in keeping with the theme of Thanksgiving, I’ll end on a happy note with this little poem: May your stuffing be tasty May your turkey plump, May your potatoes and gravy Have nary a lump. May your yams be delicious And your pies take the prize, And may Thanksgiving dinner Stay off of your thighs! Emory Jones is a North Georgia author of several books including a recent novel called The Valley Where They Danced. To order his books visit www.yonahtreasures.com.

But am I the only one who hates it when the weather person on the radio reports that it’s 53 degrees in Athens, 52 in Helen and 54 in Gainesville? I mean, if it’s 52 in Athens, isn’t a reasonable person going to assume it’s right close to that in Gainesville? So, unless it’s 95 in Clarkesville and they’re issuing a frost warning for Clayton, a rough, regional estimate will do just fine. While we’re on the weather, why does that weather person start harping about the windshield factor every time we have a cold spell? I’m too busy trying to keep my feet warm to worry about how cold my windshield gets; I mean, unless it’s cold enough to crack it or something. Speaking of travel, what’s with all those DUI schools you see these days? Some of them even have an advertisement out front. Don’t we have enough trouble with drunk drivers without encouraging people to attend classes on how to do it? I don’t think we’re all digging in the same ditch here. 80

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