Georgia Mountain Laurel October 2018 by The Laurel of Northeast Georgia

Visit Historic

LAKEMONT VILLAGE

Lakemont, Georgia

Publisher/Editor - Tracy McCoy Art Director - Dianne VanderHorst Office Manager/ Account Executive - Cindi Freeman Account Executive - Melynda Hensley Account Executive - Cindi Freeman Photographer/Writer - Peter McIntosh Writer - Lucas McCoy Contributing Writers: Mark Holloway, Susan Brewer, Steve Jarrard, MD Lisa Harris, John Shivers, Emory Jones Lorie Thompson, Kendall Rumsey, Joel Hitt,

Georgia Mountain Laurel Mailing: PO Box 2218, Clayton, Georgia 30525 Office: 2511 Highway 441, Mountain City, Georgia 30562 706-782-1600 • www.gmlaurel.com Copyright 2018 by Rabun’s Laurel Inc. All rights reserved. The Georgia Mountain Laurel Magazine is published twelve times per year. Reproduction without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. The publishers and editors are not responsible for unsolicited material and it will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication subject to GML magazine’s right to edit. Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, photographs and drawings. Every effort has been made to assure that all information presented in this issue is accurate, and neither Laurel magazine or any of its staff is responsible for omissions or information that has been misrepresented to the magazine. The Georgia Mountain Laurel maintains a Christian focus throughout their magazine. Rabun’s Laurel, Inc. reserves the right to refuse content or advertising for any reason without explanation.

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In This Issue Arts & Entertainment 12 16 18 20

Cover Artist - Bill Lea North Georgia Arts Guild Great Opportunity on Lake Burton Fire & Light Art Glass Celebrates 38 Years

A Taste 24 28 32

Bon Appetit The Family Table Karan Cooks!

Outdoors 34 36 38 40

Adventure Out Hitt Outdoors Protecting Your Pets Happy Trails & Horeseback Riding

Faith in Christ 44 46 48

R4G - Pastor Kevin Hurt River Garden Bless Your Heart

Life & Leisure 52 54 56 58 62 64

Rescue Star Notes from a Southern Kitchen By the Way Lovin’ the Journey Mac & Butters Blue Ridge Toys

Affairs to Remember 66 68 72

Sky Valley Car Show and Fallfest Event Calendar Clayton Rotary Casino Night

Mountain Homes 76 80 84

Harry Norman Featured Home GMHBA and REALTORS® Christmas Raffle Poss Realty Featured Home

Health & Wellness 88 92 8

October 2018

Live Healthy & Be Well Domestic Violence

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Bill Lea Chasing Light by Tracy McCoy

ou know the quiet moments just before dawn, before the day begins with its noise and distractions. A whitetail rises and makes its way into the fields of a hidden valley and a black bear stretches out against a poplar to nurse her young on a ridge high above that same settlement of long ago. When you hear the birds sing as the sun rises you see a man exit his vehicle, unload his gear and set up to shoot. His name is Bill Lea and behind the lens of his camera he will capture moments and images that the rest of us would likely never see. Bill’s life’s work has revolved around nature. Protecting creation, understanding the creatures and how we fit into their world. His photography is meant to educate, to enlighten and to engage its viewers. He is a gentle spirit with a kindness that comes from deep within his soul. His reverence for all life and our Creator is apparent in his work. He has a passion for bears and is dedicated to educating others on their nature and how to interact with them. You see Bill Lea spends 3-4 months a year living among the bears in nature and he has done it for many years. He is not a wildlife biologist, rather he is a steward of God’s creatures and he is a student of nature. For two decades, Bill Lea has been presenting educational programs across Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee in an effort to dispel the many myths and untruths about bears. He is an advocate of these animals and feels they are misunderstood. He has appeared on shows like Dateline NBC, National Public Radio, Midwest Outdoors, Animal Planet, many local radio stations, news stations, and on a variety of other programs. His knowledge on the subject of bears is vast and a direct result of first hand experience. Bill worked for the US Forest Service retiring in 2005. Born in Illinois and raised in Florida he jokes that he is a traditional “half-back”. Having lived in Franklin, North Carolina, Bill and his beautiful wife Klari moved to eastern Tennessee to be closer to the valley that claimed his heart, Cades Cove. “I believe the Lord has blessed us with so much wonder in the world. My photography focuses on the vast components of His Creation. He is the Master Artist. Perhaps these images will help inspire a greater appreciation for our natural world and a deep reverence for all life.....I hope so.” Bill Lea 12

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I can certainly understand that because I feel the same way about this magical place in the Smoky Mountain National Park outside of Townsend, Tennessee. Bill shoots with a Nikon camera and has captured thousands images. He loves early mornings, dusky evenings, rain and overcast skies because he prefers to shoot without a flash. He believes the natural light is more beautiful and illuminating. Therefore he says he chases light. He does what it takes and goes where he must to get just the right photo. For his last book that was a compilation of images shot in the Everglades, Bill lay on his stomach for nearly a day and a half for the right shot of a gator. When asked by ABC News if he was afraid of being alone in the woods with a bear, Bill responded that downtown

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Atlanta scared him much worse. He said he’d be more afraid shooting a wedding, that a bride scared him more than a bear. His work on the Everglades book stemmed from the realization that this is one of the most endangered eco-systems in the states and he hoped the book would create a connection for people and raise awareness so that people would take action to help in whatever way they could. The book is titled The Everglades – Where Wonders Only Whisper. He sees the area as underappreciated and the beauty of it has been grossly undiscovered even by Florida natives. “The smartest photographer knows when not to take a photo”, Bill says. He would rather wait until the conditions are right before he releases the shutter. Patience is key to great photography. Bill would

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COVER ARTIST Bill Lea Continued...

like to see nature photographers find a cause they believe in and use their talents to impact the natural world in a positive way. This has been his goal with his photography. He has published photography books with his first being Cades Cove – Window to a Secret World which along with exceptional images included a history of the valley. The story makes the images come alive. He also produces a Cades Cove calendar each year. His other books include Great Smoky Mountains Wildlife Portfolio and two other books he co-authored with like-minded photographers. You guessed it, a bear book is on the horizon. Speaking of bears is something that Bill truly enjoys “As we move into their territory, we owe it to them to co-exist peacefully.” Bill explains that there are simple things we can do to, small adjustments that will make that possible. He says bears are extremely intelligent animals with distinct personalities and are very misunderstood. Bill has traveled extensively to photograph and study bears. Bill and Klari and other like-minded individuals formed a non-profit organization American Bear Association and they use photography to make a difference by educating people about the bear habits and nature. Bill does photo tours throughout the year. His groups are small to minimalize the impact on the animals. He shares bear photography most days on his facebook page @BillLeaPhotography with a message about the photo. I have enjoyed learning through his posts and of course his images are intoxicating. We are honored to have Bill’s photography on our cover and look forward to learning more about bears from Bill Lea. His books and prints are available for purchase from his website www.BillLea.com, at Barnes & Nobel or on Amazon.com.

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October 2018

NORTH GEORGIA ARTS GUILD An Incredible Lightness of Being in the Pottery of Marcia Scroggs By Susan Brewer

n the porch of Marcia Scroggs’ pottery workshop a gallery holds clay art made by a grandchild, a friend of a grandchild, a niece who survived breast cancer, a sister, fellow artists (dear friends), a sister-in-law, and a daughter. Pottery, like blood, connects these women and ties them together. A native of Rabun County, Marcia lives in Alto. Her work is folk art based on Southern identity and character, memory, and interpretation of a way of life: the farm animals, pigs, sheep, chickens, cows, are an example. A tiny platter I own is baby white in color with a blue bird and soft blue dots that rim the edge and outline a broad leaf. Peaceful. It’s peaceful for me to look at. Her work also includes foxes, horses, even long-necked red-necks and black mammies, frogs and burros and rabbits. All free to be what they are, they are what she makes of them. No more, no less. At the same time her work is gently questioning. That is Marcia’s nature, while poking fun or being serious. The interesting thing about her drawings is that she can’t draw on anything but clay, for whatever reason. “Isn’t that funny that that would happen,” she said. And the work is a slow process.

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The message her art creates is medicine useful to herself. Her husband, Joe, has suffered for some time from a disability, CTE, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, brought about by sport’s related head trauma. “I pray for patience. This is my patience,” she says of her art, “I come out here and work like crazy.” Another part of her medicine is the inspiration she takes from the work of others. We laughed about one crazy photo from a pottery show of her work and others she visited the day before. The picture was of a bust whose hair in the back of its creepy head was made of perhaps twenty small heads. It was strangely delightful, shocking – a wonder of viewpoint it holds and questions it raised. She enjoys the fun in her own work, too, but is sensitive to how it is received. “When Carolyn and I do a show that turns out not as successful as we like, we ask ourselves, “What did we do wrong?” She reflects and generates thought and shapes new ways of seeing, a process for Marcia that is ongoing. She is on a quest for Southern identity in this new age that is right for today. Her resume deserves quoting: she was a Girl Scout leader for forty years; she was president of Rotary Club and traveled to Africa in that role; she’s owned five different businesses (The Broom Company and The Basket Peddler were two). These make up her BP life – before pottery. Now her daily duties include gardening, working with clay, looking after and spending time with her husband, and co-cooking nightly dinners for sixteen (sixteen!), a crowd made up of her husband, daughter, son-in-law, grandkids, plus another grandkid. That kitchen, like her work, is a recipe for strength, for wholeness. Christmas is coming, she reminds me. In no time, she will have a hundred pieces ready for the next round of shows. Look for her and plan a visit, or contact her by emailing spud2@windstream.net. gmlaurel.com

October 2018

Great Opportunity near Lake Burton by Tracy McCoy

f you’ve ever dreamed of owning your own business this location could not be more perfect and the business is already established. Beyond established, it is a favorite of many locals and visitors to the area. It has even been coined a destination.

In the Lake Burton community a builder by the name of Jack Alexander was building a lot of houses. In the early 90s Jack’s health became an issue forcing him out of that industry. Jack was an incredible artist, so in 1993 one last building project was underway. Jack built Burton Gallery, one of his many masterpieces in the Lake community. The gallery was built well, a total work of art, the attention to detail and how Jack pulled it all together with expert landscaping and even a Koi pond on the property was astounding. Starting small it was one good sized space and he began to fill it with his art and some from regional artists he knew well. The gallery was well received by the Lake residents and in no time was in need of expansion. Two additional rooms were added to hold the growing number of artists on display. Jack’s health continued to decline and art enthusiast Marlene Eck was seeking a new adventure. Marlene had a rich history in the art community. She had worked with the Hambidge Center and Georgia Heritage Center for the Arts. In 2004, Jack was ready to show down and appreciated Marlene’s interest in the gallery. Marlene and husband Chip had been longtime customers of Burton Gallery. Marlene had a clear vision for the gallery that included fine art paintings, folk art, jewelry, pottery, carvings and wood turned items, metal art and more. It has evolved beautifully under her ownership. Soon Southern Living noticed and came looking to feature the gallery in their magazine calling it “One of the best galleries in the state.” Marlene treasures the time she has spent at Burton Gallery and has met some of the most incredible people along the way. Earlier, in this article, I mentioned location. Burton Gallery is situated on Burton Dam Road where it intersects with Scenic Highway 197 (beside Brooks’ Store). The gallery is easily accessed from either road and easy to get to from all three lakes. Marlene has clients from Clayton, Clarkesville, and Helen not to mention the thousands of travelers who have discovered the gallery while traveling the historic and highly popular Highway 197. The reputation of the gallery is such that people visit based on what they’ve heard about the art collections there. Marlene has serviced Lake residents and she is now working with the next generation to find the right piece for their lake homes. (CONT... )

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October 2018

Burton Gallery - Great Opportunity

As they say, all good things must come to an end and Marlene is ready to scale back and retire. Looking forward to having time to travel. She has listed the gallery for sale with Tina Anzo, longtime Lake resident and REALTOR® with Poss Realty in Clayton. Recently the three of us talked about all of the options the new owner would have. It could remain Burton Gallery, it could easily be transformed into a Bistro, a Salon and Spa, a Gift Shop, an office for an Architect or Builder, it could even be a private residence. The 1500+/- square foot building is sitting on just over an acre of prime real estate in an ideal location. The affluent Lake Burton community is ideal and residents appreciate local businesses and love local art. The opportunity is incredible and the time is right. If you are looking for a goldmine, this is it. Interested parties are encouraged to contact Tina Anzo by calling 404.964.2363 or 706.782.2121. Burton Gallery is open everyday but Tuesday from 10:30 am – 5 pm. The address is 150 Burton Dam Road, Clarkesville, Georgia 30523.

Anniversary Event at

Fire & Light Glass Studio October 8 – 13

ire & Light Glass Studio is celebrating their 38th year in the Art Glass Industry this month. A celebration is planned for the week of October 8th - 13th including their biggest sale of the year. Unique items and other merchandise from 38% - 50% Off. There will be door prizes and free samples from Olympic Kiln, Johnson Manufacturing, Armor Glass and more for customers who visit during the event. In stock for the anniversary celebration is a new shipment of Bullseye Glass, Special productions, Curious and stained glass from a combined 50 years. Art glass artist and Fire & Light Glass Studio owner John Phillips invites you to visit during the week-long event. John is an incredibly gifted artist and instructor. Classes are offered at his studio throughout the year and those interested in creating art with glass are encouraged to stop in and do just that any day they are open. John has a lot of valuable information on his website at www.fireandlightglass.com or you can follow the studio facebook page by searching Fire and Light Glass Studio. Be sure you plan to visit their location at 9788 Georgia Road, Otto, North Carolina 28736 during their anniversary event.

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Bon Appetit

Let’s Go To the Game! by Scarlett Cook

o matter what colors your blood “runs” these recipes will have you at the game in plenty of time to enjoy all the festivities of the pre game parties. Most of these recipes are prepared ahead and some don’t need refrigeration or reheating. So grab some of your favorite beverages and head to the game.

Buffalo Chicken Dip Serves 12

2 8-ounce packages cream cheese at room temperature 2 Cans shredded white meat chicken, well drained or leftover chicken chopped finely 1 Cup ranch dressing 3/4 Cup wing sauce, such as Texas Pete 1 1/2 Cups shredded Cheddar cheese Celery sticks Tortilla chips Preheat oven to 350˚. In a large mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, chicken, dressing, wing sauce, and cheddar cheese. Transfer to a greased baking dish. Bake 20 minutes or until heated thoroughly. Serve with celery and / or chips

Red & Black Salsa Serves 10 – 12

1/4 Cup olive oil 1/2 Cup fresh lime juice 1/2 Cup fresh cilantro, chopped 1/2 Cup fresh parsley chopped 3 Cloves garlic, finely minced 1 1/2 Teaspoons cumin 1 Teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 1 Teaspoon black pepper 1/2 Teaspoon salt 2 Cans black beans, drained and rinsed 1 Can white whole kernel corn, well drained 1 Red bell pepper, diced 1 Vidalia onion, diced Tortilla chips In large mixing bowl combine olive oil, lime juice, cilantro, parsley, garlic, cumin, pepper flakes, salt and pepper; mix thoroughly. Add beans, corn, bell pepper, and onion to marinate and stir well. Chill overnight. Serve with tortilla chips.

Sundried Tomato Spread Serves 6 - 8

1 Clove garlic 1/4 Cup fresh basil 1 Cup shredded Parmesan cheese 1/3 Cup sundried tomatoes packed in oil 2 Tablespoons tomato paste 4 Ounces cream cheese at room temperature 1/4 Cup sour cream Salt & pepper to taste 1 Teaspoon olive oil

Place garlic and basil in food processor and pulse about 10 times. Add Parmesan cheese, tomatoes, tomato paste, cream cheese, sour cream, and salt and pepper. Process while adding olive oil until smooth. Serve with crackers or veggies. October 2018 gmlaurel.com

Individual Game Day Meat Pies

Mud Cake

Serves 8 – 10

Serves 20

1 Pound ground chuck 1 Large onion, finely chopped 1/2 Cup canned mushrooms, well drained and finely chopped 6 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 Tablespoon mayonnaise 1 Teaspoon salt 1/2 Teaspoon pepper 2 8-count cans Grands biscuits

1 Box fudge brownie mix 2 Cups miniature marshmallows 1 Cup chopped pecans 1 Cup sugar 1/3 Cup butter 1/3 Cup milk 1 Cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 400˚. In skillet, cook ground chuck and onions until meat is browned. Remove from heat and drain well. Add mushrooms, lemon juice, mayonnaise, salt and pepper and stir well. Separate biscuits and flatten slightly. Spoon meat mixture onto one side of biscuits; fold in half and pinch edges to seal. Place on lightly greased baking sheet and bake 20 minutes or until browned.

Asparagus Rollups Serves 8 – 10

Prepare brownies according to package directions and bake in a 9” X 13” baking dish. Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle brownies with marshmallows and pecans. In small saucepan over medium-low heat, combine sugar, butter and milk. Bring to a boil and stir constantly for 1 minute. Remove from heat and add chocolate chips; stir until smooth. Pour over brownies and cool completely.

1 Loaf white bread 16 Tablespoons butter, melted 1/2 Cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 Can asparagus, well drained Preheat oven 350˚. Remove crust from bread. (Save and make croutons another day.) Flatten each piece of bread. Place each stalk of asparagus on center of flattened bread and roll up starting at one corner. Roll in butter and then in Parmesan. Place on baking dish and bake 20 minutes.

Nutty Fruit Dip Serves 24

1 8-Ounce package cream cheese at room temperature 1 8-Ounce container Cool Whip 1 14-Ounce sweetened condensed milk 1 Cup finely chopped pecans 1/2 Teaspoon cinnamon Zest of 1 orange Assorted sliced fruits In mixing bowl beat cream cheese with mixer until smooth. Fold in Cool Whip, condensed milk, pecans, cinnamon and zest. Chill overnight. gmlaurel.com

October 2018

A Taste of the

Mountains

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October 2018

The

Family Table

by Lorie Thompson

ctober! Just saying the name of the month evokes happy thoughts of cool weather, cozy evenings in front of the fireplace, fall harvest celebrations, and beautiful foliage on the mountains. I was born in October. My Mama told me she had me on the most beautiful day of the year and I await that day each year and celebrate the gift of life. My husband says I can drag out my birthday celebration for the entire month and I agree that I try to make it last. I love a celebration! October is a great month to entertain and I want to share an easy to make gorgeous supper. This meal represents the fall season on a platter. It requires a little prep work, but is very easy to cook. I hope you will enjoy the Pork Tenderloin and Roasted Vegetables with an Apple Cider Reduction. Begin by removing your Pork Tenderloin from the refrigerator and allow it to start coming up in temperature. If it has been vacuum sealed, remove it from the packaging and rinse with cool water and dry with paper towels. You will want the meat to be as dry as you can make it in order to help in the browning process. Start the Apple Cider Reduction cooking while you prepare the vegetables. In a large open skillet place 3 cups of Apple Cider, 1 T of Apple Cider Vinegar, 1 T of Dijon Mustard and 1/4 C of real Maple Syrup. Cook on medium-high heat until the liquid is reduced and thick and bubbly. (You can substitute brown sugar or corn syrup if you do not have maple syrup). When the mixture is bubbling and thickened, turn off the heat and whisk in one stick of cold unsalted butter, one tablespoon at a time until the butter is fully incorporated into the sauce. This apple flavored, caramel sauce is savory and sweet. For the vegetables, preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Place two sheet pans in the oven and allow them to preheat while you prepare your vegetables for roasting. Trim the ends off of the Brussel sprouts and cut them in half. Peel and cut carrots and parsnips into uniform pieces. Place the trimmed vegetables in a bowl and coat in olive oil. Spread onto a preheated sheet pan in a single layer. (I made two pans with all they could hold, as I love these roasted vegetables. You can make a smaller batch and use only one pan). Season the vegetables with salt, sage, and thyme, and your choice of pepper. Place the hot pan back into the oven and roast for approximately 30 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Having the pans preheated is the key to obtaining the roasted crispiness you want! After your vegetables have been placed in the oven, heat 2 T olive oil in a roasting pan, sized for the tenderloins. Brown the tenderloin on all sides, turning as needed. Remove the 28

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tenderloin and melt 1/2 stick of unsalted butter. Chop up 2 -3 apples and 2-3 shallots into the melted butter. Cook until the shallots and apples are starting to soften. Add the tenderloin back into the pan and season the meat with sage, thyme, garlic, salt, and pepper. Place the roasting pan into a 400-degree oven and cook for approximately 15 - 20 minutes or until the meat registers 145 degrees with a digital thermometer. If you time this right you can use the hot oven as you remove the vegetables. Do not put the meat into the oven while the vegetables are still roasting. The moisture from the meat will sabotage your vegetables from getting crisp. Cook the vegetables completely and remove from the oven before you put the meat in to cook. When the tenderloin is at 145 degrees, remove from the oven and cover the pan loosely with foil. Allow the meat to rest for 20-30 minutes before serving. Serve the tenderloin sliced and on top of the apples and shallots. Drizzle the Apple Cider reduction on the meat and the vegetables. A few roasted pecans and dried cranberries on top of the platter make it more festive and they taste great! My good husband plants greens for me each Fall. I buy grocery store Kale until my own gets mature enough to cut, but homegrown will ruin you! I am on a Kale and pear salad kick right now. Let me share that with you: Remove the stems from the kale and rinse in cold water. Dry, using a salad spinner or allow to completely dry on a kitchen towel. To make the salad dressing, in a blender or food processor, add 1/3 cup of white wine vinegar or champagne vinegar, 1T of dijon mustard, 1 whole shallot, 2 T of lemon juice, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1 whole pear, peeled and sliced. Blend until the pear and shallot are almost liquified. Slowly drizzle in 1 C of vegetable oil while blending until it is emulsified. Melt 2 T of butter in a non-stick skillet. Add 1 C of shelled pecans. Toast pecans in the butter for 3-4 minutes over medium heat while stirring. Add 2 T of sugar and a pinch of salt. Continue to toast for another 2-3 minutes while stirring. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Peel and thinly slice a whole pear. Place pear slices in a bowl of water with Fruit Fresh (or use 1 tsp of lemon juice) to prevent pears from darkening. Dry them as much as possible before placing in the salad. Combine Kale, sliced pears, toasted pecans, 1/2 C dried cranberries and 1/2 C of grated Swiss cheese. (I used Gruyere). Add salad dressing to suit the amount of kale you have used and to your taste. I hope you will enjoy these Fall recipes. May God bless you and your family this fall with warm days, cool nights, good health and great food! Lorie Thompson is exceptional in the kitchen. She is well known for her skill in cooking delicious meals and representing buyers and sellers at Poss Realty in Clayton, Georgia. Lorie and her family are natives of Rabun County and are simply some of the best folks youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ever meet. Check out her website at www.loriethompson.com. 30

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October 2018

Karan Cooks! by Tracy McCoy

here are those people, you know the ones, those who names are synonymous with what they do. One such person is the focus of this article. She has never saved a life, at least that I know of, although some may have felt like she saved theirs. This lady is modest to the point that she wondered why I was interested in talking with her. There are a few reasons why I found her a good subject. Her smile, her indestructible spirit, and her ability to find joy in each day. You see, Karan Cathey is an inspiration and she cooks like nobody’s business! I want you to know her if you don’t and remember her if you do. This lady is a master in the kitchen and she’s been cooking a long time. Born and raised in Rabun County, the daughter of Ellis and Kate Cathey, she is a graduate of Rabun County High School. After finishing she went on to West Georgia College where she began to study Science. But tragedy would change the course of Karan’s life. Her childhood home caught fire and it was a devastating fire that claimed the life of her father and left her mother badly burned. Karan, the only girl in the family, put her education on hold to come home to be with her mom and three brothers, John, Frank, and Dennis during this tragic loss. Years earlier, Kate Cathey built a small short order take-out style restaurant called the Villager, cooking burgers, hotdogs, and fries. After the death of her husband Mrs. Cathey wasn’t sure she wanted to return to the restaurant. Karan’s brother Dennis had a fraternity brother who stepped up and came to Rabun County to run the restaurant while the family got back on their feet. When Kate made the decision not to return to it, a couple named Earl and Jane Coleman took over running the restaurant for several years. When the Colemans left the business, Karan made a deal with her mother to run the restaurant for a trial period and that was 1976. 32

Kate taught Karan the basics of preparing meals, but when a talent is God-given, it just comes easy. Karan Cathey can flat cook! If there were measuring cups and spoons in her restaurant, my bet is they rarely got used. A true cook knows how much to get when they reach in the bag of flour simply by the way it feels in their hand. That is how Karan measures: by feel and by sight. She is good at what she does and has made quite a name for herself. It would be interesting to know what you think of when you think of Karan. Is it her Fried Chicken, Meatloaf, Buttered Potatoes or is it everyone’s favorite, her Southern Bread Pudding? Karan’s Cafe served breakfast and lunch MondayFriday for over forty years with little lull along the way. She knew when she got out of the bed just who she would see that day because many ate everyday or certain days when their favorite meal was served. The breakfast menu was your traditional breakfast items like gravy and biscuits, bacon, sausage, and country ham with as many eggs as you wanted, fixed to your liking. Grits or hash browns came along side with toast as an alternative to her homemade biscuits. Midday diners could expect a meat & three special or choose from things like a club sandwich or burger, or even a bowl of chili or homemade soup. The desserts were freshly made: things like pie with meringue piled high or cobblers and puddings. When I asked Karan what was her most requested or best loved recipe it was hands down her bread pudding with praline sauce. Heavens, it was so good you couldn’t hardly stand it. In our office, around 2 pm, we’d pick up the phone and place our order and drive from Clayton to Rabun Gap for those little styrofoam containers full to the top with it and we’d all but lick the box when we finished. In the late 80s a gentleman from the Sky Valley community that Karan knew as a customer asked her to fix the food for a

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surprise birthday party he was giving a friend. Karan insisted that she didn’t know where to start and he said these words to her that she’d never forgotten, “I trust you Karan, now you have to trust yourself.” She catered his event and thus was born Karan’s Catering. As expected, the party guests fell in love with Karan and her cooking and she said she practically lived at Sky Valley catering parties. The addition of catering was a great business move for her and one that only increased her customer base. Karan always gave back to the community through the Rhapsody in Rabun event and helping others where she could. As is the case as our birthdays roll past, our bodies suffer the wear and tear from decades of hard work and Karan is no different. Health concerns forced her to step back and put the restaurant in other’s hands, and now when you drive past the restaurant where thousands have enjoyed eating, the lights are off and the doors are locked. Karan has moved to Maryetta Hills, a personal care home near where she grew up in Mountain City. She has enjoyed sharing her expertise in the kitchen at Maryetta Hills. When she is able, she likes to help a lot and when she isn’t she offers her input from a chair nearby. You know what they say, you can’t keep a good woman down because Karan will always cook, thank God! I will speak for most of us when I say, thank you Karan you are loved by many.

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Adventure Out O

Chau-Ram Park

n this Adventure, we’re heading to South Carolina to visit what many folks call one of that state’s best kept secrets, Chau-Ram Park. This little nature preserve is a county park in Oconee County, South Carolina, 23 miles east of Clayton, GA on Highway 76. The park is located at the confluence of the Chauga River and Ramsey Creek, hence the name. This is a family friendly place with lots of picnic tables scattered about at scenic locations, most of which come equipped with sturdy charcoal grills. There are also campsites available as well. There’s a pavilion if you have a large group of folks, a couple of gazebos, and a nice playground for the kids. Of course, in my opinion, this whole place is a playground. There are 4 miles of trails, including two well-maintained, easy loop trails and a very bouncy suspension bridge crossing the Chauga River. There are lots of rock shoals on both waterways and plenty of boulders to climb on and around. There are many beauty spots in the park and the first one you’ll see is Ramsey Creek Falls, which is right across from the lower parking lot. There is abundance of swimming holes and a few sliding rocks to boot. I know, this is October and it might be a bit chilly for a dip in the water, but this is a great time to explore this park and think about returning during warmer weather. Explore the trail leading down river as it takes you along numerous beauty spots. Don’t be in a rush. Take your time and enjoy this

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wonderful natural area. It’s easy to get to and lots of fun for kids and grown-ups alike. Happy hiking. by Peter McIntosh For you backcountry probers, here’s my poem for October: The cool autumn winds bring weather we’re liking, So lace up your boots and let’s get out hiking. Some nice falling water and a fun swinging bridge, To Chau-Ram Park, it’s just o’er the ridge. Getting there: From Highway 441 in Clayton, go east on Highway 76, just over 23 miles to Chau-Ram Park Road on the right. This road dead ends at the park. There is a $2.00 per car daily fee. For campsites, the fee is $20 per night for South Carolina residents and $25 for non-residents. The hours of the park are from 7:00 am until dusk. The gate is locked after hours. For more information, call: 864.888.1488 To see more of Peter’s photos or if you have a question or comment: www.mcintoshmountains.com

October 2018

Eastern Hemlock: Species in Peril? by Joel Hitt

’ve always felt drawn to trees. In my adolescent years of scouting, I remember that, second only to standing in right field in a baseball field, I loved being in the woods and learning about and understanding trees. This interest has remained constant through my adult years. So when Ceree and I began looking for a place to live in Rabun County, I was excited in particular about the presence of Eastern Hemlock. I already had a strong connection to this species (and to its cousin, the lesser populated Carolina hemlock) from years of camping in the mountains, and visiting state and national park sites in Georgia and North Carolina. Of course, the current status of Eastern hemlock is well known, and it’s not pretty. The species is falling victim to devastation by the Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), an invasive insect native to eastern Asia. This tiny aphid (only 0.8 millimeters in size) is born and dwells on these trees and attacks by sucking

fluids from the host, depriving the tree of its life-support. In its native range of east Asia, HWA is not a threat to the survival of its food-supplying trees. This is due to a natural resistance of the trees limiting the damage caused by the aphid, and active predators to the aphid built up over millenniums of time. HWA was first found in this country near Richmond, Virginia, in 1951. The pest arrived in shipments from Japan, and today affects close to 100% of Eastern hemlock stands, from Nova Scotia to north Georgia. Surprisingly, HWA has resided among western US hemlock species, probably for millenniums. There, however, it is well controlled by host resistance developed in western hemlocks, as well as natural predators, both of which are lacking in the eastern US due to the suddenness of HWA’s introduction. Control efforts in the Eastern US follow one of two forms: chemical (both toxic and non-toxic) controls, and botanical controls. The latter usually involves the release of a species of lady beetle over a wide forested area. The beetles attack the HWA population because the adelgids are part of their natural food cycle. For the individual landowner or for a limited area of acreage, though, the chemical control usually is the more feasible. This can take the form of annual sprayings of the tree, to once every several-year injections of a chemical compound into the immediate soil around the trunk of the tree.

One of the author’s own recovering Eastern hemlocks, 6 years after single treatment for infestation of woolly adelgid. Note: no trace of cotton-puff egg sacs on underside of needles. Return of adelgid infestation is expected in next 1-2 years, requiring retreatment. 36

October 2018

Earlier this year I heard Sara deFosset of North Carolina’s Hemlock Restoration Initiative. She was presenting at the Highlands (NC) Nature Center. She was one of the more positive presenters on the Hemlock decline I’ve heard, and is the primary influence to my gmlaurel.com

writing on this topic today. Similarly, in Georgia, we have Save Georgia’s Hemlocks (SGH), an active group headquartered out of Dahlonega, with Donna Shearer as the Executive Director. SGH has frequent informative group sessions across the northeastern counties to teach individuals about saving hemlocks in your area and especially on your land. They can also make arrangements for a group of trained hemlock treaters to inspect your property, then assist the homeowner in proceeding with treatment. For more on this option, go to their website or Facebook entry: Save Georgia’s Hemlocks. Finally, your county’s Extension Office can also give advice on how to treat your hemlocks, and in some cases loan out equipment for you to inject your trees against hemlock wooly adelgid. All things considered, I would say the future in our area for control of the outbreak of hemlock wooly adelgid is hopeful if uncertain. Also, I would project that my passion for trees is healthy and in no danger of demise! As always, please let me know if you have any questions or comments on this topic (joelhitt@gmail.com).

This hemlock is thriving after being treated by a professional arborist about 2 years ago. It is located at Parker’s Ranch, a favorite B&B in Clayton, and a meeting place for concerts and workshops as well as other gatherings. gmlaurel.com

October 2018

Protecting Your Pets by Jennifer Marcellino, CEO â&#x20AC;˘ Rabun Paws 4 Life, Inc.

Sponsored by

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e all love our pets... dogs, cats and all other types of critters. One way we show our love is to make sure they are safe from disease. Rabun Paws 4 Life is here to assist you with caring for your Canines and Felines! Rabun Paws 4 Life will be holding our Fall Low Cost Vaccine Clinic for dogs and cats on October 20, 2018 at the Rabun County Arena. We will offer not only the required Rabies Vaccine, but many additional vaccines, including the DHPP, Bordatella, FVRCP and FVRCP+FL (FVRCP+ Feline Leukemia). This has become one of the most successful events the staff and volunteers at Rabun Paws 4 Life hold twice annually. Even though the lines can be long, those of us that work the event - in the heat or cold, rain or shine - leave knowing that we have served the community with a very necessary service. The volunteers and staff work very hard to prepare for the event to allow it to flow as smoothly as possible. The shelter staff and animal control officers of Rabun Paws 4 Life assist Dr. Stephen Arbitter in administering the vaccinations. Dogs are usually vaccinated in your vehicle and cats are taken into our Paws Van so there is no chance of escape. At each of our Vaccine Clinics, we give 300 to 600 vaccinations to animals from Rabun County and surrounding counties. Not only do we want our pets to stay healthy, it is a Georgia State Law that ALL cats and dogs are vaccinated against Rabies, a deadly neurological disease that can be transmitted to humans through animal bites. This need was particularly noticeable this past summer when we had multiple attacks from rabid animals. Not only did some people require treatment for the bites, but there was one dog that had to be euthanized after an attack since the dog was not immunized against Rabies according to Georgia Law. Protect your pets… protect your family… protect your community! Put it on your calendar. Pack a cooler with some snacks and drinks and spend some quality time with your family and pets in the car, and do the right thing for you canines and felines! We’ll see you at the Clinic!

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Be sure to visit our Facebook page (Rabun Paws 4 Life Shelter) and our website (www.rabunpaws4life.com) for adoptable animals: cats and dogs! Visit our shelter at 261 Boen Creek Road, Tiger, GA 30576 Call us for information, or to report lost/missing/found animals in Rabun County 706.782.5422 Donations for the care of our animals are always appreciated. Mail to: PAWS 4 Life PO Box 216 Clayton, GA 30525

October 2018

Happy Trails A’winding Make a Great Day

by John Shivers

he lure of life atop a horse is a style of living that many people enjoy and many more yearn to enjoy. For those fortunate enough to have a few acres on which to stable their horses and ride them, there’s still the matter of same old same old. Eventually you’ll get tired of riding the same pastures and trails on your own piece of dirt. Then there are those whose love of everything you can do on horseback is more dream than reality. Perhaps they lack the space and opportunity to ride. Perhaps they even lack the horse. Fortunately, there are equestrian business that can deliver all the fun, without any of the ongoing expense and work involved in owning a horse. It’s the best of both worlds, and in Rabun County and in neighboring Macon County, North Carolina, there are several options to make that magical life from the topside of a horse become a reality.

Dillard House photo by Kurtis Miller Photography

The opportunities abound, and while many of these possibilities are similar, it’s definitely not a one size fits all. This is what makes the entire horse experience so interesting. It all comes down to what the rider, or rider-wanna-be, is looking for. If you already own your horse, then you’re half-way there. The question is, have the trails around your place begun to lose their challenge? Are you looking for greener pastures, so to speak? Do you just need a place to ride, some new ground to explore, and then you’ll go home? Or are you seeking more adventure? Perhaps you’d like to take your horse on an overnight camping trip? Maybe you don’t have a horse yet. For that matter, perhaps you’ve never been on a horse before. There are options for you as well. For the greenhorn who’s never settled into the saddle before, there are many places that offer lessons. Instruction from novice to experienced is available, where the student will be paired with an animal the instructor believes is the best “other half” of the horse and rider partnership. For the experienced rider, you can bypass the instruction and go straight to the main attraction. Whether that attraction is you alone on your rental horse, becoming one with your steed and nature, or as part of a group ride is up to you, and depends on the offerings of the particular facility. From well-traveled low-challenge trails to more rugged passage ways carved out of the mountainous terrain, there’s something for everyone. Bottom line: regardless of where along the scale you are, from novice rider to almost good enough to go pro, you can easily find enhancements and opportunities to take your skills to the next level right here in your own back yard. Here are a few of those opportunities. Randy’s Horse Camp Billed as the only Mom and Pop Horse Camp in Rabun County, Randy’s Horse Camp, located some eight miles from Clayton at 334 Henry Page Road, offers a variety of options to the horsey set. Some 16,000 acres of Wildlife Management area surround this equestrian Mecca, where 21 campsites with water and power, covered stalls, bathhouses, and a covered pavilion complete the physical attributes. From this base, there are many trails of varying difficulty for riding and wagon riding. Guides are available for those rides. During the off times, there’s fishing in Walnut Fork Creek, and plenty of natural beauty to please the eye and the soul. Contact the camp by calling 706-782-6118 or 706-982-0899. Check out http://www. randyshorsecamp.com/.

Randy’s Horse Camp photo by Brooke Teague

Backcountry Horsemen of Northeast Georgia photo from www.bchneg.org

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Willis Knob Horse Camp and Trails This camp, located some 12 miles east of Clayton, is near the GeorgiaSouth Carolina border, and holds the distinction of being one of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests most beloved horse-lover hideaways. Equestrian camping, riding and hiking trails, and fishing in the nearby Chattooga River are the attributes that have contributed to its popularity. From its location in a heavily-wooded area of the forest, amid deep canyons, Willis Knob is a reservation-only campground. A gate security code will be provided with the reservation confirmation letter. Campers have two access trails that connect to the 15-mile Willis Knob Horse Trail, which in turn connects to the 12.5 mile Rocky Gap Horse Trail in South Carolina by three official fords crossing the Wild and Scenic Chattooga River.

IAN ROSS-JOHNSON C: 727-459-8008

Ian.RossJohnson@HarryNorman.com LuxuryLakeAndMountain.com

JULIE BARNETT C: 404-697-3860

Julie.Barnett@HarryNorman.com LakeBurtonHome.com

706-212-0228

Single, double, and group campsites with water and electric hookups for both tent and RV camping are available, along with tables, lantern posts, and campfire rings with grills. Accessible flush toilets and drinking water are provided. Campers must clean up after their horses. An information number is 706-754-6221. The mailing address is Willis Knob Horse Camp, 801 Highway 441 South, Clayton, GA 3055. Check out this web site http://explorerabun.com/willis-knobhorse-camp-and-trails/. Dreams Come True Stables Located in Lakemont, Georgia in the south end of Rabun County, Dreams Come True Stables and trainer Kristen Smith offer both western and English riding lessons. They welcome beginners as well as advanced students, and teach the basics as well as advanced riding techniques, including professional show tactics.

Charming 2.87 acre Tiger Creek 2BR, 1b Barndominium, picturesque pastures. 3 horse stalls, storage and workshop. $299,000 | 8250260/8332458

The disciplines include: Barrel Racing, English Pleasure, Equitation, Family, Halter, Hunt Seat, Jumping Lessons, Pole Bending, Recreational, Untrained, and Western Pleasure. In addition, summer camps are offered for a limited number of participants. Call 706-9821174 or see www.dctstables.com for additional information. Dillard House Stables In the rolling hills of north Rabun County is the Dillard House Stables, where owner-operator Pam Thompson strives to keep the trail-riding tradition alive. Thanks to her 25 years in the business, Pam and her experienced staff offer the opportunity for a safe and enjoyable riding experience for every level rider from beginner to the experienced. Dillard House Stables is one of the only stables that offers riders the chance to actually ride down the middle of a river. The experience, according to those who have done it, is both exhilarating and thrilling. Traditional rides on dry land are also available, along with an educational program that creates a safe riding environment for all involved. Complete information is available by calling 706-746-2038 or checking out www.DillardHouseStables.com. Franklin, North Carolina Vicinity Two different horse-trail options within the Nantahala National Forest provide riders with experiences at elevations exceeding 4,000 feet. Southwest of Franklin in the Standing Indian area are more than 20 miles of designated horse trails. For a nightly fee, riders can set up camp at Hurricane Creek. Fifteen miles west of Franklin there are some 15 miles of trails in the scenic Wine Spring area. The adjacent Wine Spring Campground offers five sites equipped with horse-tethering areas. Reservations are required and can be made by contacting the Nantahala Ranger District Office at 90 Sloan Road, Franklin at 828-524-6441 Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. After a day on horseback, at the end those happy trails, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll realize thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something locally for every rider and every skill level. So saddle up, find your comfort level, and enjoy!

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141 S. Main Street, Clayton, GA 30525 | HNMTN@HarryNorman.com All information is believed to be accurate, but is not warranted.

October 2018

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October 2018

Let’s Come Together! by Pastor Kevin Hurt

t was around a year ago (November 2017) that the Georgia Mountain Laurel did a fabulous job highlighting the newly organized R4G (Rabun For the Gospel) ministry. If you didn’t see that article, or you would like to familiarize yourself with the ministry of R4G, please check out the article at www.issuu.com/georgiamountainlaurel If you read that article, you will recall it opened with these very insightful words — “With divisiveness at an all time high in our country, it is comforting to see a group coming together for good like R4G (Rabun for the Gospel).” Those words, a year later, are truer than ever. It doesn’t take long, either through watching the news, checking your social media, or in your everyday conversations, to realize that there is a spirit of divisiveness and disunity in our culture. That is why R4G is such a precious gift to our community. In one sense, R4G is like a gardenia in a garbage can! I think it goes without saying that everyone wants unity. I mean no one likes disunity, right? There are plenty of people and movements — both in the secular and spiritual realm — saying that we need to come together. Unity must be a difficult thing, even for God’s people, since the Apostle Paul wrote a lot about it in the Bible. He wrote 44

and told Christians not to argue and quarrel and abuse each other, but to love one another and to pursue unity on every front. But without trying to sound divisive or mean-spirited, it is essential and of upmost importance for us to remember that the type of unity God wants us to have is not unity at any cost. Unity is not true unity at the expense of Biblical theology and doctrine (what we believe from the Bible). I think that if we are all honest and take a broad look at our culture — and often in churches — there isn’t a lot of effort today to bring together a visible unity around doctrine and the truth. There is a lot of effort to try to bring together a unity that wants to downplay or place any conversations about God and the Bible on the sideline because the truth divides. I mean, how are we ever going to get a real unity among Christians and churches when we don’t even want theology and doctrine to be an issue?! As Adrian Rogers once said, “It is better to be divided by truth than to be united in error. It is better to speak the truth that hurts and then heals, than falsehood that comforts and then kills.” So, what does it look like to come together? How can we experience true unity among fellow Pastors and churches from various denominations and backgrounds? What is it that makes a movement like R4G so unique in our divisive

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culture? Let me see if I can, in this brief article, list a couple of them. First, R4G’s unity and strength is built around our allegiance to the Gospel of Jesus Christ — Together we stand united because we really believe that the God of the universe was motivated by His love for a world of sinners. And as a demonstration of God’s love for sinners, Jesus became a man who lived a perfect life and died a cruel death on the Cross in the place of sinners. We passionately believe that because Jesus lived and died, and then rose again, that we are saved from the judgment and wrath our sin deserves. It is our profound joy to know that we are reconciled to the God we have offended, and now we are loved eternally by Him. And that, my friend, unites us together! Second, R4G’s unity and strength is built around our mutual encouragement, accountability, and insight from one another — We know that our churches are each unique and different in our styles of worship, the order of our services, the types of missions we do, and so much more that uniquely defines our local congregations. And we love that. So, when we come together in our monthly Pastor’s fellowship, we learn from each other and encourage each other as we learn and glean from the way we each do ministry in our local churches. I can’t tell you how many times we have left those meetings so encouraged and challenged to do a better job in our ministry to our local congregations. R4G has helped all of us as Pastors to be more committed to love and serve our people than ever before. And that, brothers and sisters, is the type of unity we need, and we are experiencing at R4G! What started out as a few Pastors with a passion and vision for this type of unity has continued to grow with more Pastors and churches coming together. I wish that more and more of our Pastors in Rabun County could experience the joy and encouragement that we have grown to have and love at R4G. So, if you are a Pastor, or if you are reading this and you think that this is just the thing your Church and your Pastor could benefit from, let me encourage you to do a few things. Check us out on our R4G Facebook page. Then make plans to attend one of our monthly R4G Pastor’s fellowship meetings or one of our bi-monthly R4G gathering of churches for a worship service. As we move forward, there is so much more that will be happening with R4G, and we hope that you will come together with fellow Pastors and Churches for the Gospel in Rabun County! Were it not for grace. Kevin Hurt is Senior Pastor of Grace Bible Church located at 235 Dotson Street, Mountain City, Georgia. Contact them at 706.746.5823, www.mygracebiblechurch.org

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October 2018

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

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

“Lo, Children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is His reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man so are children of the youth.” Psalm 127:3-4

Deliverance For Our Children Our God is calling all of His people into prayer for the children of America and the world. Prayer will bring help to those young people in America and every country across the planet where heartless drug dealers and other sick individuals are bringing down an entire generation of beloved children and adults who have been tricked by the devil with mind-altering drugs and other things. All over America and around the world, so many of our children have been captured by drug addiction and other harmful life styles. The annual statistics in America of deaths due to drug use and addiction are astounding! Some figures are running as high as 60,000 to 65,000 deaths per year in America alone. This does not include the huge numbers of drug-addicted ones who have not died yet, but have ruined their lives, their health and reputations with drug and alcohol addiction. We know that PRAYER WORKS!!! The following is a lengthy prayer that all of us can pray on behalf of those addicted and soon to be addicted precious children of ours. We pray for you now that our God will help us all to pray as never before, for our children and for others we know who need help. PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE FROM ADDICTION: Come to your Father God, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, ask Him to deliver our children from drugs and all sins, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and to do the following for them according to His Word. The “stranger” is anyone who is leading them astray. Ask the LORD to rescue them, and pray this over them daily. LORD, please do the following for our children: 1) Bind the strongman, Satan, who is trying to ruin our children’s lives. 2) Cast down wrong reasoning that they may begin to think straight. 3) Establish a hedge of thorns around them as You did with Hosea’s wife. 4) Let these thorns prick the “stranger” who is causing ruin in their lives. 5) Pray the “stranger” will lose interest in them because of God’s thorns. We win them back over to the right authorities of Jesus Christ and their Parents, by speaking the following Words over them and their situation in prayer to the LORD. Our children are called the 46

“prey” and the “lawful captive”. The “stranger” called “terrible” and “mighty” in the following scriptures: and can be evil man and/ or evil spirit. “Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? But thus saith the LORD, even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away (from him), and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contends with thee, and I will save thy children. And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob”. Isaiah 49:24-26. Almighty God speaking about our children: “ Behold, I will hedge up their way with thorns, and make a wall that they shall not find the paths. And they shall follow after their lovers, but shall not overtake them; and shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall they say, I will go and return to my (family); for then was it better with me than now”. Hosea 2:6-7. See backup verses of Hosea 2:823, and Hosea 3:1-5. “Thus saith the LORD: A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping: Rachel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not (not in the right place).Thus saith the LORD: refrain thy voice from weeping and thine eyes from tears, for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD: and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. And there is hope in thine end saith the LORD that thy children shall come again to their own border.” Jeremiah 31:15-16-17. Stand upon the Word of God and speak aloud all of these mighty verses in prayer over our children and the situation in the Name of Jesus Christ several times each day. AFTER ALL THIS OCCURS, we rebuild SLOWLY when they come to their senses, and SLOWLY, we re-establish the LORD in their lives. Our God gets the glory! God’s Word is more powerful than the enemy! Praise the LORD! The Army of the Living God goes to war through our mighty weapon of Godly prayer. Don’t stop until victory comes! River Garden PO Box 112, Lakemont, GA 30552 706.782.5435 706.490.3063

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October 2018

Bless Your Heart Unforgotten Words by Lisa Harris

itting on her outdoor swing, Hattie slowly pushed herself back and forth. This swing, this spot under their huge oak tree, was a special place. The breathtaking view of hardwoods changing into their fall wardrobe as the crisp air swirled and twirled them was almost magical. Every September they would breathe in the air and swear they could almost taste the fall air of October. Jim had made her this swing and if it could talk, the swing would have many special moments to share. But it couldn’t talk, and neither could Jim. Those moments were all tucked inside her heart…they were her memories to keep her going. Hattie pushed back her thick blondish hair, grateful for it, but then looked at her hands and sighed. At sixty, she was still quite attractive, but there was no denying the years as they crept from her hands to her face. No facials or creams or a magic wand could keep the signs of aging at bay. Just like there was no potion of any kind to keep loneliness from creeping in. Most days were okay, it was the nights that seem to drag on forever. She was grateful for her son Eli, their one and only child. Never a disappointment, always did the right thing. He married a lovely girl, Claire, whom she adored, and considered her a bonus to their family. She and Jim loved visiting before he became sick. Now the two-hour drive seemed difficult. Why, she didn’t know. Her forever friends tried to get her on online dating and Hattie would just laugh them off. No way would she do that. She had absolutely no intentions of ever marrying again, so why date strange men? Hattie was tired of letting her thoughts run amuck so she stood up, stretched, and headed back into the home that she and Jim had built. --Two hours away Eli staggered into the family room and fell onto the sofa. He knew his addiction to alcohol was well into the danger-zone, but he just could not get a grip. It stole every thought. Even in his dreams alcohol seemed to be the main feature. What he couldn’t figure out was why? His parents did not have a problem with drinking, but his granddad did. He actually never saw his granddaddy drink, but whispers from the kitchen would catch his ear, “What are we going to do about your Dad, Jim? Should we do an intervention? Bring the pastor in? I don’t know how much your mom can continue to take.” Eli ‘heard’ these whispers of angst, but his granddad was awesome! Whatever his problem was it didn’t affect their relationship. But, it was affecting his relationship with his wife, Claire. At times, he just could not figure out why? He was a ‘controlled’ drinker: never at work, never while driving. However, he drank every night until he was in a pickled stupor. Claire wouldn’t touch the stuff, and would she hardly touch him. She just stayed angry. It was not a good look for her, and he knew he was the reason, but he just could not stop. 48

Claire looked over at her husband and her eyes misted over with tears. Here it was, almost pumpkin season, her favorite time of the year. Mountains, apple cider, beautiful fall colors, decorating the house with cornstalks, pumpkins, and gourds. Fall was like Christmas for Claire, every day was a new gift from God, even down to the acorns that crunched under her feet. But, how could she enjoy the season with Eli plastered on the sofa every single night? She tried desperately to honor her vows and prayed for strength daily, but it was so very hard to stay. She loved Eli, or rather, she loved the old Eli. With one quick glance at Eli, Claire turned on her heels and left the room for bed. It was a lonely room, but it was her sanctuary for the time being. --Hattie tucked herself into bed, sliding her hand over to Jim’s side and telling him goodnight. She knew where he was, but it was just a comforting moment she developed during all her lonely nights. Time healed, but memories were her bedfellow. The next thing Hattie knew was waking up at 3 am feeling hopeless, like someone was in trouble, but she didn’t know who are what. “Lord,” she prayed, “Show me who to pray for.” A few minutes later after praying fervently, Eli weighed heavily on her heart. Eli? How could it be her son, her heart’s delight? She continued to pray until she fell into a deep sleep. When Hattie awoke in the morning, she grabbed her Bible and coffee, praying for answers. Should she call Claire, or Eli, or wait? --Eli finally was able to go to bed, quietly crawling in so as not to disturb Claire. She was way on the other side, so he didn’t think she’d flinch as he pulled the covers up to his chest. He sighed because he was so disgusted with himself. How did he get here? He knew how he got there. It started innocently enough at college, a few drinks with the fellas, always thinking he could put it aside like his friends did. However, he loved the taste and how it made him feel. He became a master of hiding his addiction; it became almost a game. His parents had no idea, and when Claire came into his life, she never once suspected. But now, ten years later there was no hiding because he just didn’t care. He cared more about his drink. He knew he was destroying his marriage, but he felt powerless. --Claire didn’t flinch at all. She knew exactly when he came home and crawled into bed. She wasn’t tired, but she was

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very, very weary. Weary of Eli’s games, his denials, his lack of responsibility, and his lack of care. He totally disregarded their wedding vows to honor and cherish her; therefore, her love was fading. She had no idea what to do, so at that moment she cried softly to sleep.

For many days, life was good again. He felt almost normal, like the old Eli before drinking became his god. Claire’s eyes glistened with hope for a renewal of their life together. They began going to AA meetings and Claire was learning so much she never knew.

---

Eli felt hope. He knew he was on a slippery slope, but every day he felt just a smidgen better. The only thing was his mom. She had said such harsh, hurtful things that he just could not speak to her. The pain was too deep. So, calls went unanswered and visits avoided. Claire tried to help, but realized she could not take away pain.

Hattie decided to call Eli and see if she could figure out what was wrong, however, the call did not go as she had hoped. Eli answered his phone with a muffled, “Hello.” “Eli, this is Mom, are you well? You don’t sound well.” Eli tried to sit up straight in bed. He looked over, and Claire had already left for work, so he pulled himself up further, so he could hopefully talk clearer. “Mom how are you?” Eli tried to sound cheerful. “Well, I’m fine but worried about you.” “Ah mom, there is nothing about me you need to worry about, I’m good.”

--Hattie was in total distress. She had not been able to talk with Eli since that day her tongue went raging. Jim would be so heartbroken over the words she had said. He had always warned her that ‘words cannot be forgotten.’ How true that was. Hattie decided to call Claire personally and see what she could do.

Hattie sat there a minute trying to discern the situation when it hit her. Jim’s dad was an alcoholic and sometimes it skips a generation.

“Claire, this is Hattie.”

“Eli,” Hattie said in her stern mom voice, “Are you drinking?”

Claire paused trying to say the right thing, “Hattie, I’m sorry but those words you spoke hurt him to the core. He loves you, he just needs some time.”

Eli squirmed in bed wondering how she suspected. He was a master at hiding it. At least thought he was. The pause was too long, and Hattie jumped on it. “Eli why are you drinking? You saw what it did to your granddaddy. You saw how it just about destroyed your dad as he watched on. Why would you do this to Claire? She’s a wonderful wife. Eli, answer me.” Eli just sat, feeling totally defeated.

“Not so good, Claire, I can’t get Eli to talk with me.”

Hattie acknowledged that, and they talked a little longer. Hattie invited them, as she always did, for Thanksgiving at her house. Claire accepted happily on the terms that Eli would come. As she clicked off her phone, Hattie became very depressed. He was her only child; how could she have spoken that way. He needed encouragement NOT condemnation. ---

Hattie continued when she got no response. “Eli, I am so very disappointed in you. If your dad was alive, he would be devastated, absolutely devastated.” Eli finally pulled himself together and replied, “Mom, I don’t want to drink, it’s just so hard not to.” Hattie sat there knowing that alcohol addiction was a disease, but she just could not keep her mouth shut. Afterall, shouldn’t he know her view on drinking? “Yes Eli, I’m sure it’s hard not to drink, but don’t bring it in the house, don’t go anywhere there is alcohol, just tell yourself NO! Honestly Eli, I had no idea you were this weak—I am just so disappointed in your choices.” Eli eyes were pouring tears. He felt as worthless as his mother described him to be. He whispered into the phone, “I’m sorry, Mom,” and hung up. Eli looked over to the window and watched the beautiful fall leaves drop off the trees as if being rejected. That’s how he felt, rejected, and even worse, a disappointment. That night Eli sat down with Claire as a broken man. He had cried out to God earlier for help, now he was crying out to his wife. Claire, whose love had chilled but never died, reached over and hugged him. Reassuring that she would stand by him and together would seek help.

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“Hello, Hattie! How are you?”

Eli was feeling the best he’d felt in a long time. His relationship with Claire was being restored and his job was on the upswing. It was still tremendously hard, but between God, Claire, and his support group, he felt continued optimism. Eli climbed into his car and headed out to work enjoying the blanket of cool weather. --Claire heard the phone ring and ran to pick it up. “Are you Mrs. Anderson, Eli Anderson’s wife?” she asked. “Well…yes I am.” “I’m a nurse at Western Hospital, and we have your husband, he’s been in an accident, can you come?’ Claire hung up and rushed to the hospital where she was able to tell Eli, how much she loved him and how proud she was of him. He squeezed her hand ever so slightly and breathed his last breath. Claire collapsed onto his bed. --Months later, Hattie still sat in her swing immobile from the pain. The loss of Eli continued to be unbearable. She saw no end to her tears. If only she had realized… If only…he knew, Her love for him was more important than her reckless view.

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October 2018

Rescue Star H

Ginny Parker

elping homeless animals is a rewarding way to spend your time, as retired film and television actress, cabaret entertainer, and singer, Ginny Parker knows very well. Ginny has lived in Scaly Mountain, North Carolina, for the last six years. One sunny afternoon we met at her mountaintop cabin which she shares with her three rescue dogs, Lucy, a thirteen-year old black lab mix; Radar, an adorable, long eared, nine-year old, black mutt; and, after losing one of her greatest loves last year, Maya, a nine-year old pure bred Siberian Husky, she adopted Major, a three-year old American Eskimo, who found his forever home here, too. Ginny was born in Santa Ana, California, but at fifteen months old, she and her mother moved to Little Rock, Arkansas to live with her grandmother. Although Ginny enjoyed the neighborhood pets while growing up, she didn’t have one of her own until her early twenties. Ginny loved to sing, and at seventeen she auditioned for the USO shows that visited hospitals, which she recalled being a lot of fun. As fate would have it, through her time with the USO, she met another singer named Virginia Gumm, who happened to be Judy Garland’s sister. Virginia and her husband had written a show that was to appear in all the Playboy Clubs, and two weeks later, Ginny was singing in the show. One thing led to another and Ginny ended up spending the next twenty years in the Atlanta area working with a wellknown comedy troupe/cabaret group called the Wit’s End Players. “All original stuff and really, really good,” said Ginny. It was around this time, after a dress rehearsal, her then musician boyfriend presented her with her very first pet, a three-year old Lhasa Apso, with attitude, named Beau. By then, Ginny had an agent and did loads of television commercials and the like and continued to sing with bands around Atlanta. Ginny’s professional career expanded to acting roles in such southern television favorites as an episode of the Dukes of Hazard, (her first network role which she admits being completely petrified of the entire time), and three episodes of In the Heat of the Night starring Carroll O’Connor as Police Chief, Bill Gillespie. Ginny recalled a scene with O’Connor where she had played an old friend lying in bed dying of cancer, whom

Gillespie came to visit with rose in hand to discuss the old days before she passed away. The scene went late into the evening with no breaks during the day. O’Connor leaned over to give Ginny’s character a kiss goodbye, and as he did so, her stomach went verder-verder-verder-ver, the loudest gurgling sound she ever heard, and Ginny thought she and O’Connor were going to spit in each other’s mouths they laughed so hard! They had to shoot that scene again, but she said it was a hoot.

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There are many movies and other television shows to her credit, but arguably, the most famous is Fried Green Tomatoes filmed in Juliette, Georgia, where she played Ruth’s mother. Ginny finally hung up her acting shoes in the mid 2000’s. Although Ginny had adopted all of her dogs through rescue, with the exception of Beau, (often having three to five dogs at one time), becoming a volunteer at the Charles Smithgall Humane Society in Sautee Nacoochee, Georgia, near her home, was her first experience volunteering at a shelter. In the early 2000’s, Ginny spent a great deal of time at Charles Smithgall Humane Society, beginning with administrative work, greeting people, showing them around, and eventually administering medications, walking the dogs, doing evaluations, training, and socialization. Ginny eventually became President of the Board. When she moved up to Scaly Mountain, Charles Smithgall Humane Society presented her with a plaque of appreciation from all the animals, which she cherishes. Ginny believes the most important work at the shelter is finding the right people for the right animal. Often a potential adopter would come in looking for one type of dog and leave with a completely different one, because through experience, she was able to help make the right match.

laughs). I think people would really be surprised, and I mean you’ve got to do a lot of dirty work, but what the heck, you’re improving the quality of their life.” Ginny enjoyed every day at the shelter. About every hour she would walk through the kennels and just look at all the dogs and sing to them. The employees there thought it was funny, but it made her feel so good! Since moving to Scaly Mountain six years ago, the one-hour drive to Charles Smithgall Humane Society slowed her volunteerism down to two days a week and now she only makes occasional visits, however she remains good friends with the current Director. It is Ginny’s hope, retired or not, that she may have inspired you to volunteer, foster, rescue or adopt an animal in need in your community.

The Charles Smithgall Humane Society is located at 4823 Hwy. 75N, Sautee Nacoochee, Georgia, 30571 and is Open to the Public Tuesday – Saturday 10am-4pm, Sunday 1pm-4pm. Call them at 706.865.4135, website charlessmithgallhumanesociety.org

Fostering is another way Ginny has helped homeless shelter dogs. From a golden pitbull she named Baby, who one day appeared at her house out in the country and just made himself at home on her sofa, to a beautiful, intelligent, collie mix that was about to be euthanized that she brought home in the eleventh hour. These two and others she cared for eventually found loving homes. Ginny says what she would like people to know is what a fulfilling and joyful experience it is to work with these wonderful animals and to help them find their “forever homes.” “It’s just a joy to your heart. It’s a wonder what it does for you. It’s the most fulfilling thing and you feel uplifted and it’s fun. They’re so funny and they’re all so dorky and crazy, and they do the craziest things, and then of course you have some that are your favorites that you almost don’t want to adopt out (Ginny gmlaurel.com

October 2018

Notes from a Southern Kitchen - Fall Means Football By Kendall R. Rumsey

ach year as a hint of chill starts to fill the air and hues of orange, yellow and red replace the greens of our mountainsides, my mind goes to one thing: FOOTBALL! The onset of fall means Football Season and, as in most good southern households, football captivated my family’s lives. My family was drawn to this community when my dad was hired as Football Coach for the Rabun County Wildcats. In the summer of 1964, my parents packed up our station wagon with 3 young boys and brought us to a new land that would become our homes for generations to come. Only a few months old at the time, I don’t recall those early days, but my parents shared stories of how the community embraced us and soon made us “locals.” From August through November each year, our homelife lived football. Daddy would work with his players and coaches to put the best team possible on the field to compete. As my brothers and I grew, my oldest brother Tom became a fixture on the field. He was a running back and team leader. Tragically we lost Tom in a car accident before his senior year. Middle brother Sam played as well. He was a starting guard. Being the runt of the litter, I never played football past Little League. It just wasn’t my thing, but the love of the game was instilled in me and I learned the ins and outs of play and enjoyed it all the same. During football season, my mother and I were together a lot. With daddy and the older boys at practice and games, we spent our afternoons and evenings just the two of us. Those memories are some of my most treasured. Friday afternoon after school, mama would rush home and cook Cubed Steak sandwiches and fries before we headed out to the game. We would cheer on the Wildcats and travel from town to town to see them play. We continued our ritual year after year and once daddy stopped coaching he joined us. Saturday mornings were a very different routine in our house. Mama and Daddy would be up early preparing tailgate meals for us to travel to Athens for University of Georgia games. 54

There would be enough food packed into our car for all of Sanford Stadium. After finding a parking spot in Athens, we unloaded and ate, just to pack it all back up and return it to the car. In those early days, mama and daddy couldn’t afford tickets for four to go to a game, but we had a secret weapon, “Doc” Ayers. Daddy had known Doc since he was a teenager. He taught him to box and helped train Daddy for the Golden Gloves. Doc and Daddy had stayed in touch through the years and as Doc’s career grew he eventually became the Coach of the University of Georgia JV Football Team. As our secret weapon Daddy and Doc had put together was a scheme to get my brother and I into the games. As team buses pulled up to the stadium, daddy would have Sam and I positioned just outside the entry gate, as the team ran by, Doc would grab Sam and I and take us into the game with him. We would then meet up with mama and daddy on “the bank” at Sanford Stadium to watch the game. This routine lasted for a couple of seasons and then Sam and I eventually became “legal.” Over the years, those fall memories were enhanced by great high school and college games. We traveled throughout the state to watch the Wildcats and nationwide to see Georgia. As the leaves of fall colored and fell, football season grew to a fevered pitch, our routine was solidified and carried us into winter. Today, as I feel those morning temps fall and start to see the first bursts of color on the mountains, it takes me back to my younger days and those exciting times. Now, the Rabun County Wildcats are my primary focus. In the early years we didn’t often have a lot to cheer about as we came up on the short end of the stick more times than I want to remember, but today, our team is a powerhouse. We win, and we win big. The Georgia Bulldogs keep me entertained on Saturdays and as they have become more of a national power, those games are more fun too. I haven’t been to Sanford Stadium in years, but remember those days on “the bank,” and the incredible tailgates fondly. It’s fall y’all and football is in full swing. I’m going to enjoy the leaves and the beautiful scenery created by God’s handiwork, but on Friday’s and Saturday’s it will have to take a back-seat to the Cats and the Dawgs! Kendall Rumsey is a resident of Clayton, Ga. He is owner of imPRESSed, a custom imprint company and publishes the blog, Notes from a Southern Kitchen. www.impressedstyle.come www.ofthesemountains.com www.notesfromasouthernkitchen.com

October 2018

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October 2018

- By The Way PIG ON PARADE by Emory Jones

we locals call The Annual Parade to Kick Off Oktoberfest for short, but I let it slide. “I’ll check his calendar,” I replied. All he had on that date was a note to send acorns to a home for blind pigs, so I asked him if he’d say yes. “Grunt,” he snorted.

’m surprised my pet pig, Cunningham, hasn’t got the big head.

You see, after getting a speaking part as Joe the rooster in a recent play called Cheever, he was also asked to be in a parade in Helen. I guess somebody from The Hardman Farm State Historic Site saw the play because right after it ended, they called Cunningham. In the old days, he’d answer his own phone by knocking it off the hook and grunting into the receiver, but since the play, he expects me to take his calls. So I do. “Cunningham’s residence,” I said.

“I doubt they’ll agree,” I said. He gave me his pig eye look, so I went back to the phone. “He wants to be Grand Marshall.” “What?” “Grand Marshal. Of the parade. They always have one.” “Fine with me,” said the man on the phone. “He can call himself the Grand Ole Opry for all I care.” Cunningham held out for a bushel of apples and a free postparade mud bath. He’s been good at haggling ever since he read that Art of The Squeel book. They even agreed to hang his picture on the float. When the big day arrived, he tried to act all nonchalant, but I could tell he was thrilled. Being Grand Marshall of TAPTKOO is a big deal, I don’t care who you are.

“Is Mr. Cunningham available?” “For what?” I asked “To ride on our Hardman Farm State Historic Site float in the annual parade to kick off Oktoberfest.” “You mean TAPTKOO?” I asked. “What?” He had to be “from off” if he didn’t know TAPTKOO is what

When we pulled into to the staging ground, there was a crowd down by the river. Cunningham assumed it was fans who’d seen the play and started rooting around for that pin he uses to make his autograph mark. That’s when the crowing started. With that crowd cheering him on, the mayor of Cleveland—his rooster, Randolph Scott, on his shoulder—was busy attaching a little chicken coop to the lead tractor. “What are you doing? I asked. “Fixing a place for my rooster to ride. Randolph Scott is Grand Marshall of TAPTKOO.” “Since when?” “Since I signed the order.” “But you’re the mayor of Cleveland, not Helen.” “TAPTKOO is for everyone.” He had me there. “But my pig is supposed to be Grand Marshall,” I said politely. “I didn’t sign an order for that,” said the Mayor. At that point, Randolph Scott crowed again just to rub it in. The group in the decked-out 1960 ambulance mistook the crowing as the start signal and sounded their siren way too loud, making the rooster flap his wings and fly like a chicken. The mayor, bless his heart, ran after him; say what you want, but that man loves his rooster. I guess Cunningham’s chase instinct kicked in because he started running the rooster down, too. They were plum outta’ sight when the parade pulled out. The lead tractor was too far ahead, but I caught The Hardman Farm float and represented Cunningham by tossing apples at small children. Cunningham was pretty bummed when he got home. He not only missed TAPTKOO; he never even got his free mud bath.

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October 2018

Lovin’ The Journey

A Family Vacation To Remember

by Mark Holloway

y mom really took advantage of being a military wife. I’m so glad she did.

The Holloways were always packing and traveling. We either were moving to lands far away or traveling in them. My dad’s career inspired me to work hard all my life. My mom’s love of travel and culture encouraged me to study languages and explore new territory. We may not be able to thank our late parents, but we can live thankfully. I’m thankful my mom instilled in me a passion to explore beyond my comfort zone. I’ve concluded being an extrovert often finds me in the intersection of Thrill and Adventure. I like to call it ‘playing in traffic.’ The Holloway Clan recently returned from perhaps our best vacation ever. Last Christmas, Carol and I surprised Victoria and Garrett. We filled two large jugs with Lucky Charms. I’d already hand painted the containers the colors of the Irish flag. As they unwrapped their gifts, our 28-year-old daughter caught on immediately and squealed with glee to her 24-yearold brother. “We’re going to Ireland!!” Within weeks, Carol and I would begin planning this getaway! Both of the kids gave us their blessing to pack as much into these eight days as we could. We couldn’t pass up a trip-within-a-trip to Scotland. So the challenge was set. I’ve kept a journal for years. On the flight home I wrote down my early highlights. First on my list: getting to enjoy our kids as they soaked up every nuance and flavor of two new foreign countries. If you’ve never been to Ireland, I suggest you go. If you’ve got any Celtic ancestors, and most mountain folk here do, you don’t need much motivation... Just a passport. Before the eyelids even had a chance to get heavy with jet lag, we burst onto Dublin’s streets after checking our bags into the hotel. We’d flown through the night and couldn’t fathom wasting a single moment of morning sunlight. The famous Guinness Storehouse was our first stop. I’d read a number of books over the years about Ireland. In Search of God and Guinness, written by my friend Stephen Mansfiled, tells the amazing story of perhaps Ireland’s most influential family. Founder Arthur Guinness’ vision and compassion rescued tens of thousands of souls from poverty, sickness, and death. The 58

success of his company and its legacy would even profoundly influence the gospel message worldwide for generations. Speaking of the Gospel, in 800 AD, some talented monks began painstakingly illustrating the four Gospels in color and are on display at Dublin’s Trinity College. They’re called the Book of Kells. Our jaws dropped and then dropped again, marveling at the written history before us. Before we could even calculate time zones, we were off to the Jeanie Johnston Famine Ship Museum. This boat is an actual floating memorial to the starving Irish peasants escaping to America during the 1850s. Greedy politics drove more than a million to their graves and many millions more to risk ‘coffin ships’ to America and Canada. The word pub comes from Public House and even a teetotaler’s visit to the Emerald Isle is enriched by the live Irish tunes. I ate more fish and chips than my family. I didn’t get my fill of Irish folk music either. Our next tour bus took us to Powerscourt and Gardens, south of Dublin. This privately owned palace is owned by golf’s Slazenger Family and is featured in the movie, Count of Monte Christo. We ate lunch in the charming and small country town of Enniskerry, enjoying more delicious food in their sidewalk seating outdoors. The sun was out more than we expected. Our rain jackets and umbrellas were certainly put to good use during the week though. A visit to Glendalough and a Vikings and Braveheart set was next. Then back to Dublin City. We ventured to the far northern coast to climb on the thousands of odd and rare six-sided stone columns of Giant’s Causeway.

October 2018

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October 2018

Lovin’ The Journey We walked parts of the Game of Thrones’ the King’s Road, visited Belfast’s Titanic museum, and met up with wonderful friends Roy and Yvonne Browne of Northern Ireland. (They hosted me on a mission trip there in 2003 and again in 2004 when Carol and I returned with a team of musicians.) Twenty dollars buys you an airline ticket on Ryanair from Dublin to Edinburgh, Scotland. Off we went to the land of Braveheart, kilts, and castles. The most besieged fortress in history, the Edinburgh Castle sits atop a rock mountain in Scotland’s capital. Highland Scots commanded the castle and ancient English soldiers and prisoners of war all called this majestic grandeur home. Mary Queen of Scots birthed her only son and future King in the castle. We only spent one night in Scotland and covered a lot of ground in a day and a half. We toured the Royal Yacht Britannia as well as the Palace at Holyrood. Queen Elizabeth still crashes there when she’s in town. We cruised in this history-laden city by double decker bus. Once again, the rains held off so we enjoyed outside and up top. We ate Italian that night at Vittoria’s. Our final two nights had us back in Dublin and on our way to Galway. This city of 80,000 is a proud ancient fishing village. I really struggle pinpointing a favorite day from a week of perfect days. But this visit to the country’s western shore sports quite a bit of shopping, charm and adrenaline. The Cliffs of Moher, along the Wild Atlantic Way, offer a foot path inches away from peril and death. The rugged and jagged rock faces span for miles and gravity threatens you with every step. The faint-in-heart need not leave the luxury tour bus. Many an unskilled hiker has perished off the Cliffs. But on our day there, we knew of only awe and marvel amongst the tourists.

On our return to Galway from the Cliffs (and eventually east to Dublin that evening) our group stopped into a tavern you need to know about. Gus O’Conner’s Pub has everything you’d imagine an Irish countryside should. The warm and inviting place offers the cold and weary traveler all the immediate comforts. The Beef and Guinness Stew arrived to my table before I did. The already-packed public house welcomed our additional group of 50 in stride. My mind drifted to the 1600s. I imagined salty sailors and old world pirates, shivering shepherds and kindhearted barkeeps... that’s when it really got good. Our guide and driver, Ritchie, warned us about tourist rip off pubs offering musicians for hire. The real pubs deliver ‘session’ fiddlers and pickers...folks musicians who only play for pints and praise. In the middle of nowhere in the coastal hamlet of Doolin, the music began to fill the tavern as the sun drifted toward the horizon. Our evening meal now graced our table. Just for a moment I’d wished to be a pirate, or a calloused, seaweathered fisherman, fresh in from a wave-tossed journey, drawing his family in close for a welcomed return to land, sheltered from the coming storm, warmed by the fire, food, and ale. Our memories of our voyage to the Land of Celts will not soon fade from our minds and hearts. Occasionally a Northeast Georgia mountain local will share with me his or her longing to see our ancestral home. There are no better memories built around the warmth of our own families and homes. But a close second is spending time in Ireland and Scotland with your kin. See you on the trail. Mark and his wife Carol are the owners of Fresh Start, a company dedicated to stewarding the property and homes of their clients. They aspire to be your eyes, ears, and hands while you are away, and your resource for anything you need, whether you are a full or part time resident of the area. Mark can be reached by calling 706.490.7060

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October 2018

Have you Met Mac and Butters? By Tracy McCoy

Photos by Kevin Croom

hink you are the talk of town? Guess again, it’s the guy with the big yellow snake. Who is he and where did he come from and why does he walk around with those big snakes wrapped around him? I wondered the same thing so I stopped and talked with him, keeping my distance from the big yellow python that was wrapping itself around some interested folks who had stopped to to the same. Then a friend and I visited Mac’s home and got the scoop and made a new friend. His name is Mac Cavanaugh and he moved to Clayton from Monroe, Georgia. Mac and his family originally came from Washington, Missouri.

The day photographer Kevin Croom and I visited, Mac came out to greet us. I saw a black snake stretched out along the path and watched as Mac leaned down and picked it up. I thought it must be one of his but it wasn’t it was a Rat Snake that had crawled into his yard. He carried it to the edge of the woods and gently placed it down. Kevin and I entered the home to find Butters, the Albino Labyrinth Burmese Python that is 11 ft long soaking in a large plastic container. Across the room in another enclosure was Eva, a BCI Common Boa who is 8 ft in length and out of the bedroom came Helios, a Sunfire White Phase Reticulated Python that is the youngest of them only months old and already 4 ft long. Mac’s mom bought his first snake when he was 5 years old. He is very comfortable with the snakes and commented that they are like his children. He is affectionate to them, takes very good care of them and that includes taking them out. When I asked if it was like walking the snakes, he said it was more like they walk him. He feels very confident that his snakes pose no danger to anyone or he would not bring them out. The temperature dictates whether they get to go for a walk, it must be warm for them. 62

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The response around town has been mostly positive but curiosity has led many, like myself to approach Mac and ask questions. Some even holding the snakes and taking a photo with Butters. Mac is kind and approachable and proud of his “kids”. You have to admit that it’s not everyday that you see a man wrapped in a snake walking through town. When you see Mac, welcome him to Clayton and whether you keep your distance or let Butters wrap around you, show some kindness and welcome him to Clayton. I did get my courage up to touch Eva during our visit, long enough for Kevin to snap a photo. Mac was kind enough to walk me to the car in case the “welcome committee” had crawled back out. Snakes are not my fancy, but they are Mac’s and I respect that.

PUMPKINFEST Saturday, October 20th Historic Downtown Franklin, NC

Franklin, North Carolina

TownofFranklinNC.com

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October 2018

BLUE RIDGE TOYS by Steve Glichowski

October 5, 2018 will mark the one year anniversary of Blue Ridge Toys.

ur mission was to create a store that was also an experience. Our first priority was always to be a neighborhood toy store. We wanted the kids, parents and grandparents of Rabun County to know that this store was designed with locals in mind. That said, we also know we have a large population of visitors during the summer and holidays, and it was important that the kids coming to visit would have a special experience here. Years from now, we want kids to remember that great toy store that they went to every time they visited Clayton. The most rewarding part of owning this business has been when our customers come back in and show us pictures or tell us stories of how much fun everyone is having with the toys and games they’ve found here. Throughout our first year in business, we’ve learned a lot. Sandra and I had no prior retail experience, so every day was a learning experience. The thing that stood out most to us, however, was the support shown by total strangers who’ve now become our friends. This community really wanted us to succeed and we, in turn, felt a responsibility not to let them down. As such, we’ve evolved a lot in our first twelve months. Anyone who came into our store on October 5 of last year would find a greatly changed store today. This was largely due to the input from our customers. Being a small toy store, we have the ability to rotate out items (and entire departments) 64

relatively easily in order to accommodate the demands of the community. We’ve become a go-to location for board and card games and much of our selection is based on recommendations from customers. Our selection of RC cars expanded to offer hobby-grade vehicles for the “big kids” out there that like fast toys. Our book selection has over tripled in size and continues to grow. We have big plans for this holiday season and will continue to strive to be a toy store that Rabun County residents will be proud to call their own. Blue Ridge Toys is located at 45 North Main Street, Clayton, Georgia. Contact them at 813.767.1033 or www.blueridgetoys.com

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.â&#x20AC;? - Stanley Horowitz

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October 2018

Sky Valley Fallfest and Car Show Scheduled for October 20th

he 5th Annual Sky Valley Fallfest is scheduled for Saturday, October 20st from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Visitors will be treated to hayrides throughout the day to the valley’s magnificent waterfall; a crystal clear falls with a vertical drop of 100 feet that flows into the beautiful Estatoah Falls.

The car show kicks off at 10:00 AM in the parking lot of the old Sky Valley Ski Lodge. Car lovers will enjoy getting up close and personal with some of the finest cars in the mountains. This year’s car show will honor the service and sacrifices of World War I veterans and their families as part of the 100th year anniversary of Armistice Day. The car show will include antiques, classics, hotrods, sports and other unique cars and trucks. The Mayor’s Choice awards will be given that day at 3:00 PM. The Fallfest has activities for all ages. Arts and crafts vendors will have their wares for sale. There will be plenty of food and kids of all ages will enjoy the pumpkin painting and inflatable games. There will be live music from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM providing festival patrons with entertaining and energetic music. Back by popular demand is the HOWL-o-ween Dog Costume Contest beginning at 1:30 PM and a silent auction to benefit Rabun Paws 4 Life. There may even be some furry little friends on site for adoption. Finally, you will not want to miss the return of the Hay Bale Trail, which features whimsically decorated hay bales scattered throughout the city. This is a timehonored tradition in Sky Valley since 1998 and a combined effort of the talented and imaginative people in the community. Everyone anxiously waits to see the creative displays and hay bales come to life each year. Fallfest activities take place adjacent to the beautiful Sky Valley Golf and Country Club. Parking shuttles will be available from the posted event parking areas within the valley. Admission is free and the photo opportunities are priceless. You will enjoy a day of fun amid the beautiful fall leaf display in the valley. For additional information please visit www.skyvalleyga.com or call 706.746.2204. The address for the Sky Valley Country Club is 568 Sky Valley Way #1, Dillard, GA 30537. This will put you in the middle of the action!

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October 2018

Mountain Happenings November 9th - 11th 2018 Northeast Georgia Arts Tour Locations throughout Habersham, Rabun Towns, Union & White Counties in Georgia and Clay County, North Carolina Info: artstour.org STEPHENS COUNTY October 5th - 7th Currahee Military Weekend Toccoa Info: 706.282.5055

November 22nd - January 1st Christmas Lights Spectacular Cornelia City Park Cornelia Info: 706.778.8585

BabyLand General Hospital Cleveland Info: 706.865.2171 October 27th Halloween at BabyLand General November 17th Appalachian Christmas Celebration and Pancake Breakfast with Santa

October 27th Movies on Main: The Shining

October 18th Pioneer Day Traveler’s Rest State Historic Site Toccoa Info: gastateparks.org/travelersrest October 27th - 28th Harvest Festival Downtown Toccoa Info: 706.282.3269

November 23rd Movies on Main: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

Sautee Nacoochee Center Sautee Info: 706.878.3300

November 29th - 30th December 1st, 2nd, 6th - 9th Play: FrUiTCaKes

October 7th; November 4th Classical Music Series

WHITE COUNTY

October 27th; November 24th Community Contra Dance Info: 706.754.3254

October 12th - 14th, 18th - 21st King Lear, Shakespeare

September 27th - October 28th Oktoberfest Helen Info: 706.878.1908

October 31st Costume Parade Downtown Toccoa Info: 706.282.3269 November 30th - December 1st ChristmasFest & Lighting of the Tree Downtown Toccoa Info: 706.282.3269 The Ritz Theater Toccoa Info: www.ritztheatretoccoa.com October 4th Joe Gransden Songs of Sinatra & Friends October 13th; November 10th Southern Gospel Music

October 31st Trunk or Treat, Carnival & Haunted House

October 6th, 27th; November 3rd Fall Hayride Smithgall Woods State Park Helen Info: 706.878.3087

November 3rd Blacksmith Demonstration

October 6th and each Saturday through November 3rd Live Music at the Pavilion Habersham Winery, Helen Info: 706.878.9463

November 17th - 18th Lilies of the Valley

November 8th Holiday Gift Making Class

November 30th - December 1st Sautee Star’s Fall Production of Fairytale Theater

October 13th Fall Clean up Day Begin at White County Chamber Cleveland Info: 706.865.5356

Unicoi State Park Helen Info: 706.878.2201 October 6th and each Saturday through October Concerts in the Park

October 26 - 28 Art-Oberfest Arts & Fine Crafts Festival Helen Arts & Heritage Center Helen Info: 706.878.3933 th

October 18th Edgar Loudermilk Band November 13th Chuck Nation Band & Truett McConnell Choir HABERSHAM COUNTY October 18th 12th Annual Habersham E-911 Childrens’ Fun Festival Habersham County Fairgrounds Clarkesville Info: 706.778.3911

November 23rd Open House and Mistletoe Market Helen Arts & Heritage Center Helen Info: 706.878.3933

Habersham Community Theatre Clarkesville Info: 706.839.1315 habershamtheater.org

October 6th Currahee Challenge Base of Currahee Mountain Toccoa Info: 706.886.2132

October 31st Trick or Treat on the Square Downtown Clarkesville Info: 706.754.2220

October 6th - 7th and weekends through Ocober Visiting Artist Series

October 31st Halloween Safety Carnival Helen City Hall Helen Info: 706.878.2722

September 8th Night Paddleboarding September 15th - Night Canoeing September 22nd Outdoor Adventure Day

November 23rd Annual Lighting of the Village Downtown Helen Info: 706.878.2181

October 2018

October 27th - Fall Festival November 3rd Unicoi Critters Meet & Greet

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November 10th - Lantern Hike November 18th - December 8th Festival of Trees RABUN COUNTY October 6 and each Saturday Bluegrass on the Square Tallulah Falls Opera House Tallulah Falls Info: www.tallulahfallsgeorgia.org th

October 6th and each Saturday The Clayton Farmers’ Market NE GA Food Bank, Clayton Info: 706.782.0780 October 6th Foxfire Mountaineer Festival Rabun County Civic Center Clayton Info: 706.746.5828 October 7 , 14 , 21 , 28 Greif Support Clayton First United Methodist Church Family Life Center Clayton Info: 706.782.4426 th

October 13 Rummage Sale Tiger United Methodist Church Tiger Info: 770.335.4233 th

October 19th - 21st Full Moon Party II River Campground, Lakemont Info: 706.782.1625

November 8th 20th Annual Veteran’s Dinner By Rabun Co. Chamber of Commerce Rabun County Civic Center, Clayton Info: 706.782.4812 November 22nd Turkey Trot for Clayton Cluckers 5K Begin at Fromage, Clayton Info: 706.982.1284 November 23rd Christmas in Downtown Clayton Downtown Clayton Info: www.downtownclaytonga.com November 30th Christmas Tree Lighting Dillard City Hall Dillard Info: www.DillardGeorgia.com Hambidge Center Rabun Gap Info: 706.746.7324 October 6th and the first Saturday of the month Historic Gristmill Demonstration

October 20th Clayton Rotary Casino Night Rabun County Civic Center Clayton Info: 678.230.3970 October 20th - 21st Heaven vs Horsepower Heaven’s Landing, Clayton Info: email info@speedaddicts.racing October 21st Fall Festival Wiley Church, Wiley Info: 706.212.2809 October 27th Fall Festival The NE GA Food Bank Teaching Kitchen and Clayton Farmers’ Market Clayton Info: 706.782.0780 October 31st Trunk or Treat Rabun County Rec Dept, Tiger Info: 706.782.4600

October 20th - 21st Home & Garden Show Towns County Recreation Center Young Harris Info: 855.321.2110 October 20th Concert - Doctor Paul Music Barn, Hiawassee Info: 706.896.4966 October 31 Halloween on the Square Hiawassee Square, Hiawassee Info: 706.896.2203 November 3rd Lake Chatuge Shoreline Clean-Up Towns County Swim Beach Hiawassee Info: 828.837.5414

Tallulah Gorge Park Tallulah Falls Info: 706.754.7981

October 5th and each Friday Friday Evening Tapas & Acoustic

October 3 , 4 , 10 , 12 , 17 October 19th, 27th, 28th Aesthetic Water Releases th

November 3rd - 4th, 10th - 11th November 17th - 18th Whitewater Release

October 20th Annual Harvest Festival

October 12 - 20 Georgia Mountain Fall Festival th

November 3rd - 4th, 10th - 11th November 17th - 18th Whitewater Watching Hike

October 27th Appalachian Brew, Stew & Que Festival November 16th - Dwight Yoakam

Rabun Arena Tiger Info: 706.212.0452

November 17th Blue Oyster Cult and Mark Farner November 22nd - 24th and each Thursday - Saturday until December 29th Mountain Country Christmas in Lights

October 6 - 7 M&K Quarterhouse Show th

October 13th; November 10th Junior Rodeo

UNION COUNTY

October 14th; November 11th Barrel Racing Exhibition November 30th - December 1st 2018 Appalachian Food & Wine Trail Participating Vineyards in Union and Towns Counties: Odom Springs Vineyards, Paradise Hills Winery Resort, Crane Creek Vineyards, Hightower Creek Vineyards Info: 877.745.5789

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October 1st and each Monday (excluding holidays) Garden Tour The Georgia Mountain Research & Education Center, Blairsville Info: 706.745.2655 October 2nd and each Tuesday and Saturday through October Union County Farmers’ Market Old Smokey Rd., Blairsville Info: 706.745.5789, 706.439.6000

October 2018

October 6th Cruise In to the Union County Farmers’ Market Old Smokey Rd., Blairsville Info: 678.773.5934

October 13th - 14th, 20th - 21st Blairsville Sorghum Festival Meeks Park, Blairsville Info: 706.745.5789 October 20th Good Neighbors Car Show United Community Bank Parking Lot Blairsville Info: 828.837.8539, 706.745.3985 October 27th Fall Festival Vogel State Park, Blairsville Info: 706.745.2628

Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds Hiawassee Info: 706.896.4191 georgiamountainfairgrounds.com

October 31 Trunk or Treat for Halloween

October 5th and each Friday through October Friday Concert Series Old Courthouse, Blairsville Info: 706.745.5493

October 6th - 7th Indian Summer Festival Woody Gap School, Suches Info: 706.747.2401

Crane Creek Vineyards Young Harris Info: 706.379.1236

October 4th and the first Thursday of the month Shop Late Thursday Downtown Blairsville Info: 877.745.5789

October 6th and each Saturday Saturday Night Music Mountain Home Music Theatre Hiawassee Info: 706.896.3624

October 13th The Great ARTdoors

October 20th Sky Valley Fallfest / Cruise-In Sky Valley Info: 706.746.2204

TOWNS COUNTY

October 31st Halloween On The Square Downtown Blairsville Info: 706.347.3503 November 3rd Dancing with North Georgia Stars Towns/Union Union County Schools Fine Arts Center, Blairsville Gala to follow at North Georgia Technical College, Blairsville Info: dancingwithnorthgastars.com November 17th - 18th 18th Annual Mistletoe Market North Georgia Technical College Blairsville Info: 706.896.0932 November 30th - December 1st Blairsville Holiday Stop & Shop Union County Civic Center Blairsville Info: 770.789.2044 Paradise Hills Resort Blairsville Info: www.paradisehillsga.com October 6th - 7th and each Saturday & Sunday Live Music October 27th Hallowine Celebration November 23rd Black Friday “Sip and Shop”

Mountain Happenings CLAY COUNTY, NC

MACON COUNTY, NC

October 6th Steins & Wine around the Square Hayesville Info: 828.389.3704

October 5th and each Friday through October Friday Night Live Concert Series Town Square, Highlands Info: 828.526.5841

October 6th Hot Summer Nights Goldhagen Art Glass Studio Hayesville Info: 828.389.8847

October 20th - 21st Punkin Chunkin & Jeep Festival Hayesville Info: 828.389.3704 John C. Campbell Folk School Brasstown Info: 800.365.5724 folkschool.org October 2nd & each Tuesday Night Beginner Contra & Square Dance October 5th - Jones Brothers October 6th - 7th Folk School Fall Festival October 6th; November 17th Contra & Square Dance October 12th Andrew Magill & John Cloyd Miller October 19th Celtic-Confusion October 26th - 28th Fall Square Dance Weekend November 3rd Blacksmith & Fine Craft Auction November 9th Butternut Creek & Friends November 15th Geoff Hohwald & Rick Taylor November 30th Howard Rains & Tricia Spencer Peacock Performing Arts Center Hayesville Info: 828.389.2787 thepeacocknc.org October 12th - 14th, 19th - 21st Live Theater - “Angel Street” November 3rd The Return, A Tribute to the Beatles November 10th Wyatt Espalin & Austin Coleman

November 24th; December 1st Winter Wonderland Nights Downtown Franklin Info: 828.524.2516

October 5th - 7th Cashiers Leaf Festival Village Green and Commons Park Cashiers Info: 828.743.5191

October 19th Chilli / Anything Pumpkin Cookoff Hayesville Square Hayesville Info: 828.389.3704

November 23rd Cashiers Christmas Tree Lighting / Visit with Santa The Village Green, Cashiers Info: 828.743.5191

November 24th Highlands Christmas Tree Lighting Kelsey Hutchinson Park, Highlands Info: 828.526.2112

October 6th and each Saturday Night through October Pickin on the Square Downtown Franklin Info: 828.524.2516

November 25th Franklin’s Annual Christmas Parade Downtown Franklin Info: 828.524.3161

October 6th Highlands Community Health Fair Highlands Recreation Center Highlands Info: 828.526.1489

Cowee School Franklin Info: coweeschool.org October 20th; November 17th SEBA Jam October 20th - Highland Travelers

October 11th - 13th Autumn Leaves Craft Show Macon County Fairgrounds Franklin Info: 828.349.4324, 706.490.5144

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

October 19th - 21st Leaf Lookers Gemboree Robert C. Carpenter Community Building, Franklin Info: 828.349.2090

October 6th Chicks with Hits Starring Terri Clark, Pam Tillis, & Suzy Bogguss

October 20th Pumpkinfest Downtown Franklin Info: 828.524.2516

October 13th - The Willis Clan October 19th - 20th Mark Twain’s The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County

October 20th - 21st Art League of Highlands-Cashiers Fall Art Show Highlands Civic Center, Highlands Info: 828.526.2112

November 3rd Mountain Heart Band November 16th - The Bellamy Brothers November 24th A John Berry Christmas

October 28th Goblins on the Green Village Green, Cashiers Info: 828.743.5191

Highlands Performing Arts Center Highlands Info: highlandspac.net October 6th - MET: Aida

October 31st All Hallows’ Eve A Halloween Celebration Downtown Highlands Info: 828.526.2112

October 11th - 14th, 18th - 21st Highlands Cashiers Players: “Mauritius” October 20th - MET: Samson et Dalila October 27th MET: La Fanciulla del West

November 8th - 11th Highlands Food & Wine Festival Highlands Info: 828.526.2112

November 3rd - NTL: Julie November 10th - MET: Marnie November 17th - NTL: King Lear November 23rd Christmas with the Nelsons

November 10th All American Bazzar American Legion Post 108 Franklin Info: 828.341.4164

October 2018

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October 2018

Clayton Rotary Casino Night

he Rotary Club of Clayton is having its first Casino Night fundraiser on Saturday, October 20th at the Rabun County Civic Center in Clayton, Georgia. What a great time to be in Rabun County for leaf peeping during the day and then a fun evening while supporting our community. Proceeds will benefit the Food Bank of NE Georgia, college scholarships at Rabun County High School and community health related projects. One of the health-related projects involves teaming up with our local EMS to install AED defibrillators in some of our widely used public buildings. Local veterans from our own VFW post in Clayton will be supporting the effort by operating the cash bar. Last year the Rotary Club donated a video system to the Foodbank teaching kitchen so that attendees easily watch the chefs create healthy and fun meals. The Club also awarded college scholarships to seniors at Rabun County High School who have been active in community service projects. For decades the Club has awarded scholarships and, since 2005, over $250,000 in scholarships have been awarded. The Club has been in the community since 1948 and has always embraced the Rotary moto of “Service Above Self”.

The Club members and volunteers will operate the event under the Clayton Rotary Foundation Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Although the Club primarily focuses on local projects, they generously contribute monies to Rotary International’s mission to tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges including: • Promoting peace • Fighting disease • Providing clean water • Saving mothers and children • Supporting education • Growing local economies The most significant Rotary International project is eradicating polio in the world. Rotary, both locally and across the globe, is committed to service, fellowship, diversity, integrity, and leadership. Ticket sales will be limited, so order early at www.claytonrotary.com or by calling 678.230.3970. Please join us on October 20th for a fun evening and help us support this beautiful community.

October 2018

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October 2018

Hire A Pro

October 2018

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October 2018

‘Indescribable’

Best Describes This Property

Paradise for You and Your Horses by John Shivers

here are those properties that appear on the market once in a blue moon that are truly deserving of a label that hasn’t even been devised yet. “Unique” doesn’t begin to do justice, and “phenomenal” pales in comparison, when applied to 230 Owls Nest Lane outside Clarkesville, Georgia. The buyer of this 257 acre farm / retreat bordering the National Forest will definitely purchase a one-of-a-kind property. Are you that buyer? While the four-bedroom Tuscan style villa with it 5,134 square feet of executive living is a gem within itself, the list of all that comes with this compound, located only 90 minutes north of Atlanta, is hefty. In addition to the main residence, there is a conference and retreat complex, stables, two other smaller homes, a large, spring-fed lake, and beautifully landscaped grounds, all staged against a backdrop of natural beauty and mountain ranges galore. Wildlife, native foliage and chirping birds are a cornerstone of this package. This is a property that has to be seen first-hand. Ten miles of wood fencing, miles of trails for hiking on foot and on horseback, green pastures, and a 20-acre lake ideal for water training game retrieving dogs are main attractions. Whether you’re the owner or a guest, the opportunity for daily personal reflection and inspiration that this little piece of paradise in the Sautee Valley provides, is something that cannot be bought. 76

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Inside the villa itself, you’ll find floors of hardwood and Tuscan marble running throughout the four bedrooms, four full and two half-baths. Every room boasts of comfortable space and there is light throughout. Two kitchens with such amenities as custom cabinetry, sub-zero double refrigerator, granite countertops, and a full-range of top-of-the-line appliances make entertaining a breeze. A sunporch-style dining area, an office, kennel, laundry room, plus ample storage areas and a screened porch that overlooks breathtaking sunsets, rolling pastures, waterfalls and waterways, and four distinct seasons, complete the main house. Even the vehicles have an over-sized three-car garage and in a protected ell of the house is the heated swimming pool, situated to capitalize on the views that are so much a part of this property. On the other side of the lake is the 7,000 square foot conference center, where eight bedrooms, men’s and women’s bathroom facilities including private showers, a commercial kitchen, and a dining room overlooking the lake comprise the main retreat complex. The huge stone fireplace in the gathering room is a beacon for all manner of programs and activities. Office space, arts and crafts and break-out meeting rooms, a screened porch and laundry room are also under the same roof.

Also on the property is a fully-restored 1800’s log guest cabin overlooking the lake that includes a main living area with stone fireplace, kitchen, and a cozy porch. Upstairs, under the eaves, are two bedrooms and a bath. The second dwelling, a twobedroom, two-bath ranch-style home with its own share of the views. On the back side of the lake is the 5,400 square foot horse stable that originally housed Tennessee Walking Horses in its 17 stalls. Storage, tack, grooming rooms, and other support areas are contained under roof, ready for the new owner to move his horses in. This property, that was originally created to provide a peaceful haven for those looking for refuge from the hustle and bustle of city life, offers amazing possibilities for a new owner. A conservation easement designed to preserve the wildlife and foliage already exists. For additional information on MLS #8412773 offered by Harry Norman, REALTORS® Luxury Lake and Mountain, contact agent Julie Barnett at 404-697-3860 or by email at julie.barnett@ harrynorman,com. The office number is 706-212-0228. gmlaurel.com

October 2018

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October 2018

Christmas Raffle Funds Habitat Homes Home Builders, Realtors partner ®

by John Shivers

hristmas is coming, that time of gifting and receiving. In Rabun County, it’s also an opportunity to both give and receive, when you participate in the Annual Reverse Raffle Cash Giveaway & Christmas Party. For those not in the know, a portion of the proceeds from this yearly fun event benefits the Rabun County Habitat for Humanity organization, and could also easily put some additional money in your pocket. Either way, you’re going to feel good about the outcome! Sponsors of the undertaking are the Georgia Mountain Home Builders Association and the Georgia Mountains & Lakes REALTORS® Association. Between the two organizations, nearly 300 of your neighbors and friends are the guiding force behind this fun evening set for Tuesday, December 4 at the Dillard House starting at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are $100.00 each, and admits one person. In addition to dinner and door prizes, the admission ticket also gives the holder an opportunity to win either the $10,000.00 grand prize, or one of four $500.00 cash prizes. Not bad odds at all. Ticket holders may bring a guest for an additional $25.00. In addition, even if you can’t attend that evening, the purchase of a $100.00 ticket entitles you to be eligible to win some serious cash money during this season when a few extra dollars always come in handy. Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit housing organization working right here in Rabun County and in nearly 1,400 other communities across the United States, and in approximately 70 countries around the world. Whether local or on the other side of the globe, each Habitat chapter works with the same vision: the creation of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. This vision is realized by working with families who demonstrate a level of need, are willing to partner with Habitat to invest their sweat equity in the building process, and who are able to repay a mortgage through an affordable payment plan. Locally, 34 families have been able to realize the American dream of home ownership thanks to Habitat for Humanity that has been operating in Rabun County since 1989. Volunteers work twice weekly, along with the selected owners, to build a house. A typical crew of volunteers may number as few as six up to twenty or more. Habitat also operates ReStore®, a building supply thrift store open to the public, and proceeds from that help to fund their building projects. The Dillard House is located at 768 Franklin Street in Dillard. To purchase tickets or to obtain more information, contact the Home Builders at 706-782-9260 or the Realtors at 706-490-4383. And remember, you do NOT have to be present to win the cash prizes. Both the Georgia Mountain Home Builders Association and the Georgia Mountains & Lakes REALTORS® Association are IRS 501 (c)(6) not-for-profit organizations. 80 October 2018 gmlaurel.com

Hire A Pro

October 2018

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October 2018

Sit and Swing on Northridge in Tiger by John Shivers

othing proclaims a comfortable, laid-back, lowkey, pile-up-and-read lifestyle quite like the sight of a porch swing. When you step onto the front porch at 400 Northridge in Tiger, Georgia, there’s the first clue that this house is serious home material. Not only is a comfortable, inviting swing off to the right, there’s a rocking chair as well to tempt you to stop and sit a spell. But don’t. Not just yet. You know right off: the people who live here enjoy themselves. If they can, you’re inclined to believe you could duplicate that often elusive amenity, and when you do, you’re already half-way home! What’s not to like? From its location on historic Tiger Mountain, this home checks all the boxes in such rapid fashion, you’re going to need to collapse into that inviting swing to regroup and get your bearings. Sited on slightly more than three acres, this 5,354 square foot home on two levels offers a tremendous amount of living potential both indoors and out. From the over-sized screened porch, a view of the mountains that money alone can’t buy stretches out before your eyes. Included in that visual selection of eye-candy is the cross on Black Rock Mountain that people drive miles to see. Thanks to the wall of windows in the Great Room, you can enjoy that view day and night. Also outside is a wide expanse of paved parking leading to the

two-car garage on the main level, ample yard for children and pets, and low-maintenance landscaping that accentuates the comfortable informality of the house, and more of those views. When you step inside, immediately your senses are aware of two things. The first is space. Not only are the ceilings nine feet on the main level, but the rooms are oversize and at the same time, traditionally welcoming and comfortable. Whether it’s rooms, closets, or bathrooms, square footage was employed to enhance the lives lived here. The second thing you notice is the abundance of light that floods the entire house. Windows galore bring the outside indoors, and the buttery neutral walls against a backdrop of wood-tones creates perpetual sunshine around the clock.

October 2018

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With three bedrooms, three full baths, and a half bath, this floor plan lends itself to a family as well retirees who want space for their family and friends to visit and feel at home. The large Great Room adjacent to the kitchen makes entertaining a snap and being home alone comfortable and convenient. The dining room can seat more than the usual six or eight, and in the kitchen, abundant mellow wood cabinets topped with solid-surface finishes and an upper-range of appliances make cooking for two or twenty-two a most doable task. A spacious office located immediately off the front foyer makes business easy to accomplish. The master suite and one other bedroom are located on the main. The closet in the master bedroom simply has to be seen to be appreciated, and a dressing area, garden tub, roomy separate shower, and private toilet closet complete the suite. But donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t call the lower level a basement, because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so much more. Finished similarly to the main level, this area contains a large den, recreation room, a second kitchen, spacious third bedroom and bath, a kidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s room, as well as a workshop, single garage, and the mechanical room. And throughout this level, again there is light and space and so very much livability. Now you can sit and swing and contemplate living here. Listing agent for this property now priced at $499,000.00 is Poss Realty agent Scott Poss who can be reached at 706-490-2305 or 706-782-7133 or at possrealty@gmail.com. Reference MLS #8405797.

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October 2018

Health and Wellness

October 2018

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Live Healthy and Be Well! “Mental health is key to overall health” --Stephen Jarrard, MD, FACS

s we have discussed many times, the term “healthy” implies the absence of sickness or disease. But a true state of wellness only exists when there is physical health (as above), spiritual balance in life, and mental health or the absence of mental illness or maladjustment. While we have addressed the other two components on occasion, I am not sure we have ever addressed the importance of mental health and hygiene in more detail. Let’s do that this month, as summer fades away and the rich colors of fall are upon us once again. True mental health is not only the absence of mental illness, but is also thought of as existing in a state of psychological well-being. This describes someone who is at a satisfactory level of emotional and behavioral adjustment. It allows individuals an enjoyment of life, satisfactory and fulfilling relationships, and the ability to accept and successfully adapt to change as needed along the way. It also describes someone who displays mature mechanisms of coping with stresses and can work productively and contribute to a greater good such as their family or a community. Mental illness, on the other hand, describes a condition where there may exist one or more mental disorders, which include a multitude of diagnosable conditions that can interfere or cause alterations in thinking, mood, or behavior. We know

some of these: depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsiveness, bipolar affective disorder, self-harm, severe grief, PTSD, etc. These conditions may exist as mild, moderate, or severe, from causes of mild annoyance to actual impairment of functioning or the cause of bizarre behaviors. What is interesting to note and may not immediately come to most of our minds, is that mental disorders are much more common than cancer, heart disease, or diabetes. Believe it or not, almost 30% of Americans over the age of 18 are thought to have diagnosable mental disorders. The cost of this globally is over $3 trillion dollars per year and is projected to double by the year 2030! The good news, after presentation of the above facts, is that most mental disorders, whatever their degree of severity, are treatable and manageable. This may be through the use of or a combination of medications, therapy, and counseling. Treating these conditions may restore someone the ability to function better in everyday life, have fulfilling relationships, and be more successful overall in family situations, career aspirations, and social life. From my own research through our local practice, however, I have found somewhat of a scarcity of resources in our area. One day a patient came into the office and was in a mild state of “crisis,” being severely depressed and not sure where to turn or what to do. While not expressing any intention to harm self or others, there was still a need for some resources beyond what we have at the office. In making some quick calls around the area, we eventually came upon a workable solution that

October 2018

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the patient felt comfortable with: a plan to get some needed help, and most of all, that someone had “listened, cared, and taken action.” I am sure most, if not all, of my colleagues have had similar experiences and may have been frustrated at the lack of behavioral health resources to help deal with these types of situations. It also dawned on me at one point, “How many people are populating our jails that are not really criminals, but just need some behavioral health resources or treatment?” This is a good question to ponder as we assign tax dollars and resources in our communities. There are some resources available for those in need, and while I cannot endorse any one over the other, just know that there is help available if you or a loved one has a need. Your regular doctor is the best place to start and can provide a listening ear to find out the scope of the issue. All physicians are trained in some of the “basics” of diagnosing milder mental conditions and can even prescribe some medicines to this effect. If it exceeds his or her capability, they will let you know and refer you to someone more specialized in behavioral health, such as a therapist, pastor, counselor, psychologist (PhD), or Psychiatrist (MD/DO). The bottom line is that if you do not feel well adjusted, you are severely anxious and/or depressed, you cannot seem to find coping skills to deal with everyday stresses of life, or your relationships are suffering because of your inability to nurture or grow them, talk to someone. Let us get you some help so that you can function more smoothly, feel greater self-worth and love, and better accomplish your goals in life.

sure to consider your input. This and previous articles can be found on the web at www.rabundoctor.com in an archived format. If you use Twitter, then follow us for health tips and wellness advice @rabundoctor, and on Facebook see the page rabundoctor. Until next month, live healthy and be well!

And I want you to know that if you EVER feel so low or lost that you have any thoughts of hurting yourself or others, please get immediate help to include dialing 911 if needed. Do not adopt a permanent solution to a temporary set of problems. Don’t even entertain the thought that “the world and everyone will be better off without me.” It will not. You have great value and are one of God’s loved children. Don’t do it. 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

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October 2018

1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. October is breast cancer awareness month

October 2018

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October 2018

Domestic Violence by Caroline Wallis

ctober is Domestic Violence Awareness Month! Did you know that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have been victims of physical violence by an intimate partner within their lifetime? On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by their partner in the United States, equating to more than 10 million women and men during a one-year period. More than 20,000 phone calls are placed to domestic violence hotlines every day. More than half of American cities cite domestic violence as the top cause of homelessness. Even in highi n c o m e communities, d o m e s t i c violence is too often ranked as the No. 1 crime. According to the Allstate Foundation’s “The Economics of Abuse,” the total cost to the economy is $67 billion a year. In 1993, a group of concerned citizens in Rabun County established F.A.I.T.H. (Fight Abuse in the Home), a 501(c)3 not-for-profit, to provide an emergency shelter for women and children fleeing from abuse in their home in our mountain community. Too many victims and their children were forced to live in their cars or makeshift camp sites to stay safe. For 25 years, F.A.I.T.H. has offered a 24/7 hotline, emergency shelter, and supportive services to hundreds of domestic violence victims every year. Domestic violence does not discriminate. Every community is affected by this issue no matter what race, religious orientation, sexual orientation, nationality, or economic status may be. It results in injuries, trauma, and unfortunately deaths. F.A.I.T.H. advocates work hard to help victims stop the cycle of abuse that may span generations. F.A.I.T.H.’s Executive Director, Caroline Wallis, says the majority of the victims F.A.I.T.H. serves these days have a safe place to stay, but need assistance obtaining temporary protective or stalking orders, therapy, support groups, or safety planning. Ms. Wallis states, “Our shelter has been full all year long. We have had a 107% capacity rate this year and have had to find safe, alternative places for families to stay. However, it is the growing demand for services from our 92

outreach program that has us so busy every day and I worry we are still only assisting a small number of victims in our area. Our goal is for every household and even second home owners to know of FAITH.” Some examples of abusive tendencies include: • Telling the victim that they can never do anything right • Showing jealousy of the victim’s family and friends and time spent away • Accusing the victim of cheating • Keeping or discouraging the victim from seeing friends or family members • Embarrassing or shaming the victim with put-downs • Taking the victim’s money or refusing to give them money for expenses • Looking at or acting in ways that scare the person they are abusing • Controlling who the victim sees, where they go, or what they do • Dictating how the victim dresses, wears their hair, etc. • Stalking the victim or monitoring their victim’s every move (in person or also via the internet and/or other devices such as GPS tracking or the victim’s phone) • Preventing the victim from making their own decisions • Telling the victim that they are a bad parent or threatening to hurt, kill, or take away their children • Threatening to hurt or kill the victim’s friends, loved ones, or pets • Intimidating the victim with guns, knives, or other weapons • Pressuring the victim to have sex when they don’t want to or to do things sexually they are not comfortable with • Forcing sex with others • Refusing to use protection when having sex or sabotaging birth control • Pressuring or forcing the victim to use drugs or alcohol • Preventing the victim from working or attending school, harassing the victim at either, keeping their victim up all night so they perform badly at their job or in school • Destroying the victim’s property It is important to note that domestic violence does not always manifest as physical abuse. Emotional and psychological abuse can often be just as extreme as physical violence. Lack of physical violence does not mean the abuser is any less dangerous to the victim, nor does it mean the victim is any less trapped by the abuse. F.A.I.T.H.’s mission is to provide free and confidential services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse. If you or someone you know is suffering from domestic violence, please call F.A.I.T.H.’s 24/7, 365 day a year hotline 706-782-1338.

October 2018

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Health and Wellness

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October 2018