Laurel of Northeast Georgia Oct 22

laurel of Northeast Georgia

from the publisher

Hey!

As I write to you this morning, it was a crisp and cool 48 degrees, autumn has arrived and I’m kinda glad to see her. With her arrival comes the pumpkin spice season. I am a fan of pumpkin, in fact I picked up a loaf of pumpkin bread made by our own Dianne at the Clayton Farmers’ Market last weekend and it was perfect to usher in this new season (see the article on the farmers’ market in this issue). I also brought home some pound cake (best ever), brought home dehydrated mushrooms and some fresh turmeric root. They’ll be there through the end of the month, if you get a chance, go!

This month there are some great events happening, along with pumpkin spice it’s fall festival season, life slows down a little this time of year and it’s perfect weather to get out and explore a bit. I am already seeing the Sourwoods and Poplars changing on the mountain where I live. By mid month the mountainsides will be a cascade of color. I say this every year, I am a leaf enthusiast. The colors delight me and always have. I am sad when their show is over in late November but until then I am in hog heaven!

We think you’ll really enjoy this issue, although last month’s history issue is a hard act to follow. Our cover this month is a photo by Peter McIntosh taken down at the Chattooga between Earl’s Ford and Sandy Ford off the Bartram Trail. My family’s stomping grounds for many generations. You can look for another cover from Peter next month and we’ll tell you some things about him that you might not know.

Be sure to check out the recipes and ladies if you haven’t done so please schedule your annual mammograms.

What a wonderful time of year, despite the chaos around us there is always something to be thankful for and remember you use fewer muscles to smile than to frown. I’ve always heard that, I wonder if it’s true? Either way it feels better to smile, so just do it.

Hugs from here, Tracy

STAFF

Publisher/Editor - Marketing - Tracy McCoy

Laurel of Northeast Georgia

Contributing Writers:

Jones, Jan Timms, Dick Cinquina, Nancy Boger, Tori Carver, Tricia Moore, Jaime Smoot Speed, Liz Alley, Mark Holloway, Lorie Thompson, Kendall Rumsey, Sean Dietrich, Caleb Smith, Ginny

Director - Dianne VanderHorst

- Lucas McCoy

& Office Manager - Cindi Freeman

Office Manager - D’Anna Coleman

Associate / Writer - Michael Detrick

- John Shivers

Writer - Peter McIntosh

Contents Outdoors

Rabun

Rooted

Arts & Entertainment

Artist

Cabe

Georgia Arts Guild

Fare

Appétit

Family Table

Hollifield

Live Healthy and Be Well

Cancer - Facing

Blalock

Health

Faith in Christ

Friends

Our History

- Stanley Hicks

County

Mountain Homes

Things Considered: This Home Delivers

the Most Unique Home in Rabun

You

Glenn Team:

a Difference in Real Estate

Around Town

Landscape Design Co.

on the Map

These Mountains

Farmers’

Chance Rescue

Scott

Inn

MarketPlace

Suites

Mountain

Mountain

Just Thinking

the

Chalet

and Nora-Kate – libarary

Journey Short Trek – Parson’s

Autumn Road

Adventure Out – Autumn Road Trip

By Peter McIntosh

On this adventure we’re hitting the road for a leaf peeper loop tour that takes us from Rabun County to White County to Towns County and back to Rabun. And since this is a loop, you can start anywhere, Helen/Robertstown, Hiawassee, Clayton or any community nearby. I’m starting in Clayton, with all the roads being major thoroughfares so you can follow this route with a simple map or GPS. And you hikers fear not, there are several great hiking excursions along the way.

Let’s get started. From downtown Clayton, we’re heading south on Main Street which is also Old Hwy 441. in 2.5 miles we come to Tiger Mountain Vineyards where you can stop in for a wine tasting or a snack at the Red Barn Cafe. We continue south on Old Hwy 441 to the four way stop in Tiger. We turn right on Bridge Creek Road and in 4 miles we come to another award winning wine location, Stonewall Creek Vineyards. A beautiful setting with lovely wines and small bites. Charcuterie anyone?

Tiger Barn

Now we continue on Bridge Creek Road until it dead ends into Burton Dam road where we take a right and head over to Hwy 197. We turn left on Hwy 197, heading South for 3 miles to the

Peter McIntosh is an accomplished professional photographer. His photography is displayed in collections across the country. His passion for nature and the outdoors is what fuels his column. His work is available as fine art prints. Peter offers one on one and small group instruction on camera operation and photography. To see more of Peter’s photos, or if you have a question or comment, visit Peter’s website: www.mcintoshmountains.com

Anna Ruby Falls

intersection with Hwy 356. We turn right on Hwy 356 following the signs to Unicoi State Park. (Please keep in mind this adventure is about the journey, not a destination, so take it easy, pull over to take photos, etc.) After 9 miles on Hwy 356 we come to Unicoi State Park, crossing over Unicoi Lake. There’s a parking area on the far side of the lake that offers access to the Lake Loop Trail, a 2.5 mile footpath circling the lake with some nice bridges and fishing docks along the way. Anna Ruby Falls is also nearby and is well worth a visit.

We continue on Hwy 356 to its end at Hwy 17/75. Just before this intersection, look for Fred’s Famous Peanuts on the right, a great place to stop for a snack. We turn right on Hwy 17/75 and go north for 1/2 mile, the intersection with Alt. Hwy 75 on the left, crossing over the Chattahoochee River. There’s a flea market here and a zip line course that takes you back and forth across the river. We turn left on Alt 75 and go a little over 2 miles to the intersection with Hwy 348 on the right, aka the Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway. In 1.7 miles on Hwy 348, look for the Dukes Creek falls parking area

on the left. (another hiking opportunity, 1/2 mile each way) Continuing on, it’s about a mile to the Raven Cliffs parking area, also on the left. (This is a moderate trail, 2.5 miles each way, leading to Raven Cliffs Falls. This is a beautiful footpath with several cascades along the way. If the trail is open of course.) Onward and upward we come to a scenic overlook on the left but go just a little further to a much better overlook, offering the same view of Mount Yonah and the foothills below. Higher up we go and soon come to the high point on the road, Hog Pen Gap and the Appalachian Trail. Now the road descends down to its termination point at Hwy 180. (Lots of pretty views on this section of road.) We turn right on Hwy 180 following the signs to Brasstown Bald, Georgia’s highest mountain. In a little less than

Raven Cliffs

9 miles, we reach the access road to Brasstown Bald on the left. It’s 3 miles to the parking lot and a 6/10 mile steep hike to the observation tower at the top. During the day, from 10:00am to 5:00pm, there is a shuttle to the top. There is a visitors center/gift shop and restrooms at the parking area. There are restrooms and a theater at the top. The 360 degree view from the platform on the top of this 4,784 foot mountain is spectacular. Looking north, if it’s clear, you can see the white quartz rock on the top of Bell Mountain, our next destination.

Now back down to Hwy 180 where we go left, heading back to Hwy 17/75. (The sign says Helen but we’re not going that way.) At Hwy 17/75, we turn left again, going north towards Hiawassee and Highway 76. At the intersection with Hwy 76, we turn left and head west for 1.3 miles, looking for Shake Rag Road on the right. This is the road to Bell Mountain Park. There is a convenience store at the intersection called the Lake View Store and a power substation, just across the road. Shake Rag Road is a single track paved road leading all the way to the top, 3 miles from Hwy 76. Stay on the paved road as there is a sign, about 2.5 miles in, where Shake Rag Road bears off to the left. Stay on main paved road. This is a very steep road so don’t try it if you don’t have good brakes. It’s steep coming down as well! There is a new park at the top with an observation platform offering stunning views of Lake Chatuge and the surrounding mountains. If you look to the south-southwest, you can see the tower on the top of Brasstown Bald Now we head back down, slowly and carefully, to Hwy 76. Now we turn left, heading east.

We ascend to Dick’s Creek Gap where we again cross the Appalachian Trail and then descend. After about

5 miles, look for the Popcorn Overlook on the left, one of my favorites. Now back on the road and back to Clayton where you can celebrate your adventure at one of the town’s many fine eateries. Happy driving!

And now it’s time for my October rhyme: A great autumn to see leaf peeping finery, And stop on the way to visit some wineries. There’s plenty of places to get in some hiking, Or just make it a road trip if that’s to your liking.

To see more of Peter’s photos, or if you have a question or comment: www.mcintoshmountains.com

Tiger mountain Vineyards: https://tigerwine.com/ Stonewall Creek Vineyards: https://stonewallcreek.com/ Unicoi State Park: http://www.gastateparks.org/Unicoi Brasstown Bald Info: 706-896-2556

Bell Mountain

Brasstown Bald Sunset

Firmly Rooted

By Tori Carver

It’s officially Autumn, my favorite time of year. The cool evenings and crisp days mean I can finally pull out my sweaters, scarves, and boots. In my opinion, nothing beats being curled up on the couch with a cup of warm apple cider, soup simmering on the stove, and a fire slowly burning while watching Anne of Green Gables for the hundredth time. But as relaxing as that may sound, it’s also time to consider spring flowers.

Have I mentioned flower farming never really ends? If I haven’t, let me memorialize it here: Flower farming never ends…there may be slow times, but never an “off” season. If you are an avid home gardener, the same is true for you as well. We must always plan for the next season.

If you have followed me on social media for any length of time or read my previous articles in The Laurel you know that tulips were my first love. I have been gardening since I was in my late teens/early twenties and tulips have always been a mainstay in my flower garden.

If you are new to gardening and specifically to tulips or daffodils, they need to be planted in the Fall, so now is the time!! In our area, that means anywhere from mid-October to Thanksgiving depending upon the variety. Without getting too much into the weeds, tulips require anywhere from 12 to 19 weeks of cooling time to properly bloom (the time varies upon variety). Proper cooling occurs when the soil temperature is 55 degrees or lower. So the earlier you plant in our Zone, the better.

Here are a few pointers for the home gardener if you are interested in growing tulips:

1. Plant tulips 4 to 6 inches deep in large groupings for a stunning effect (I plant in trenches because of the volume of tulips I plant)

2. Plant tulip bulbs very close together (a inch or so apart)

3. If you have trouble with moles or voles make a “basket” with wire mesh (smaller than chicken wire) and plant the entire “basket” in the ground

4. Plant double what you think you want because you’ll want to cut some to bring inside to enjoy

If you are planting daffodils, follow the same instructions as above, but space them 2-3 inches apart because they naturalize and need room to make more baby bulbs. Moles don’t bother them so don’t worry about the mesh basket either.

If you are interested in planting biennials like foxglove or sweet William, now is the perfect time to get them started as well as many other spring annuals that prefer cool weather like snapdragons, feverfew, strawflower, and so many others. It’s also the best time to plant perennials like sedum, phlox, salvia, and peonies.

If you are interested in specialty tulips like I grow (parrot, double, and fringed) and specialty daffodils (don’t forget the daffodils) check out my website at www.firmlyrootedflowerfarm.com for a wonderful curated collection. If you are unable to purchase from me, I strongly encourage you to seek out other flower farms and purchase from them instead of big bulb companies or big box stores. When you purchase bulbs from a flower farmer, you are encouraging and supporting a dream.

Victoria (Tori) Carver is a flower farmer. From the thousand bulbs and plants that she puts in the ground each year she creates lovely bouquets. Many enjoy her flowers in their home each week. She has established a subscription program for her customers or a honor-system bouquet sales for random purchases. Tori and her husband and children make their home in Clayton, where they are a treasured part of the community. If you are interested in Firmly Rooted Flower Farm please reach out by email to firmlyrootedflowerfarm@gmail.com or phone 706-490-0041. You will also enjoy their website at www.firmlyrootedflowerfarm.com

Paper Roses & God’s Grace

BFeatured Artist - Betty Cabe by Tracy McCoy

etty Cabe is an artist. What is on her art table today? Quilling. This ages old art, thought to date back to the 15th century, is believed to have been created by French and Italian nuns. The definition of Quilling is the art or craft of making decorative designs out of thin strips of rolled paper. While that sounds simple enough, there are at least 15 different types of quilling. In this article we’ll talk with Betty about how she got started, what types of quilling she does and where you can see more of her work.

I always like to start at the beginning. Betty Cabe grew up on a farm in Macon County. Her father was a farmer and like most they lived modestly. “When I was growing up, if we wanted it, we had to find a way to make it,” she said when we spoke recently. “So, I’ve been making things all my life.” Betty is among other things, a textile artist. She has made clothing, quilts, wall hangings, and embroidery art. She has made corn-shuck dolls, painted gourds and dabbled with paintings on canvas. She loved sharing her art with young people to inspire them to create so when she had the opportunity to volunteer at the Macon County Fair, she jumped at it. This was something she enjoyed year after year. Betty has done

multiple art exhibits with her textile art including one called Preserving Our Heritage One Piece At a Time.

Betty was involved in an accident that left her with some after effects that still linger today. This accident changed her life and could have left her unable to do her art, but she is cut from a different cloth. A farm girl with a determined spirit that won’t allow her to quit. It was quite a journey to get to where she is today, still facing some limitations but working around them. While some of the things she enjoyed are not possible, she found another that she could do. “Creating beautiful things makes me happy. I searched for something that I could do that was different.” She applied for a grant from the North Carolina Arts Council to get started in her new venture. She was awarded that grant and she was able to buy all of the supplies she needed to start Quilling, including two books that taught her so much. Betty has certainly put that money to good use. She has mastered quilling.

“I love nature and color, so I began creating images with flowers and leaves in

bright, bold colors,” Betty said. “Then I began trying other things like quilt patterns, birds and even a duck. Then I got the idea to take a photo and use it, adding quilling to it. I had a photo of my grandson (Clint) helping a friend (John) plant corn. Then, I took a photo of my son Warren’s corn field and quilled over the corn. It turned out very good,” she added. Betty has an enthusiasm that you can hear in her voice. In a sense, quilling has helped replace some of the joy that the accident took from her. She gives God all the glory for it all. “God has given me something else to do,” she said.

Her art has even evolved into multi-dimensional pieces such as quilling over gourds and eggs and then sealing them. “Who knew that strips of paper could create such beautiful art. Rolled up strips of paper and glue are the basis of it,” she said. Somehow I think there is a lot more to it than that. I’d venture to say that the eye of the artist and her hands are what creates such lovely pieces. Janice Cummings of Creative Framing introduced us to Betty, and I am very glad she did.

The Macon County Library located at 149 Siler Farm Road, in Franklin will host a Quilling Exhibit showcasing Betty’s art during the month of October. A reception in Betty’s honor will be held on October the 8th from 2pm – 4pm. I hope you get a chance to see her work. She told me that she would consider doing commissions if anyone has something special they would like. Betty’s is a story of hope. No matter what you are facing you can still find joy, even if you find it in paper roses!

Creativity Unleashed: A Look Into the Magical World of Eric Hollifield

By Tricia Moore

Walking into Eric Hollifield’s workshop gives the impression that one has entered some sort of fantasy world where creativity runs rampant. Monster themed papier mache’ masks made with toilet paper, plushies, toys made from various other materials, including resin, rubber and latex, and stylized drawings for comic books are just a few of the creations one encounters here. Eric has even created his own unique cardboard backed plastic bubble packaging for some of the toys Eric also uses a number of other mediums in his creations, including acrylic paint, spray paint, colored pens and inks, and stickers. He is truly the consummate multi-media artist. Eric states that he especially loves working with molds. He also uses a 3-D printer for some of his designs. Using his computer and a software program

that instructs the printer, he draws an image on the computer and prints it out as a 3-D object. His excitement was apparent as he talked about this process and how he truly feels that the use of this would grow exponentially in the future

Eric is training his young son Oryn to use his own creative abilities, and at the tender age of eight, Oryn has already collaborated with his father in several father-son projects. Oryn has even been the mastermind behind some of these! Eric’s love and affection for Oryn is obvious when he talks about his son. Eric’s wife Jessica has also been drawn into participation in the world of fantastic toy creation by sewing the plushies he designed.

As with most artists, Eric has always been interested in creating, even though he states that he kept art at an “arm’s length” for most of his life. In high school he did yearbook covers and page

Tricia Moore is a retired teacher, having taught both English and Art in public and private school settings. She is currently an active member of the NGAG and has held several positions on the board. With her background in both art and writing, she feels that writing the NGAG featured artist article in the Laurel of Northeast Georgia is a good fit and something that she will greatly enjoy doing.

illustrations and in college, he “hung around the ceramics department.” But he states that art was “stigmatized back then” so he earned a Masters in Ed ucation from UGA with an emphasis in counseling instead of studying art. He has spent almost thirty years mentoring teenagers in various boarding facilities. However, Eric relates that a few years ago a friend challenged him when he told people “as sort of a sad joke” that he didn’t know what he wanted to do when he grew up. His friend replied, “Eric, you always wanted to be an artist when we were kids. You still do.” Eric states that that “hit him like a ton of bricks,” and since then he has tried to do something creative every day.

One can see many cultural influences in Eric’s work. He states that he was inspired by street artists like Banksy, KAWS, Shepard Fairy, Big Daddy Roth, “lowbrow” art from the 50’s and 60’s, Tales from the Crypt, Stephen King, Mattel’s Master of the Universe, Conan the Barbarian, vintage Dungeons and Dragons, and Godzilla.

Eric’s prolific creativity includes toys, comic books and films. He just had a limited run art toy called “The McAngel of Death” featured at San Diego Comic-Con. He and his wife made a bunch of original plush toys (plushies) in 2019. They even did design to order for a few birthday parties. He prototyped a line of action figures called “Champions of Eternity” and shopped a two-headed elf named “Naughty and Nice” to Hasbro. He also did some art trading cards for Island Dreams and development samples for a trading card RPG (role playing game). He is currently working on, among other things, an independent film he scripted called “Dead Format.”

Some of the objects Eric creates are intended to make a statement or are critical of something in our society. Two examples of this are his “McAngel of Death” and “California Raisin.”

Eric’s work can be found at Doubleheadart on Instagram, and he can be reached at Doubleheadart@gmail.com. He also has an E-store that can be found at doubleheadart.gumroad.com. Eric’s artist statement, as creative as his work, is as follows:

“Doublehead” was born to the dirt roads and creatured wilderness of the Southern Appalachians. Following work, his family bounced

through central Florida for much of his youth. As a perpetual transfer student/latch-key kid/only child, science fiction novels, horror movies and action figures became his social network. Not much has changed.

“The art of Doublehead is a mixed media exploration of 80’s and 90’s commercial youth propaganda. Cartoons, toys, food adverts… What is their effect on developing personhood? How do we evolve beyond nostalgia?”

Bon Appétit

– Let’s Cook out of our Pantries

By Scarlett Cook

With all the activities happening the last thing that you want to add to your schedule is a trip to the grocery store. I know that you have to shop for all the paper supplies, pet food, cleaning items etc. so let’s cook with things we have on hand. If you don’t have what these recipes call for you can substitute what you do have.

Honey Chicken Serves 6

6 Boneless skinless chicken breasts

Tablespoons butter

1/2 Cup honey

1/4 Cup spicy mustard

Teaspoon salt

Teaspoon pepper

Preheat oven to 375°. Grease an 8” baking dish. Melt butter and add honey, mustard salt and pepper. Roll chicken in mixture to coat both sides. Arrange chicken in pan and pour sauce over it. Cover pan. Bake for 1 hour until chicken is tender and glazed.

Rice Casserole

Serves 4

1 Stick butter

2 Cups uncooked brown rice

1 Large can button mushrooms, well drained

1 Can beef consommé

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease 8” baking dish. Sauté rice in butter.

Pour into baking dish.

Combine mushrooms and consommé; pour over rice. Cover and bake for 1 hour.

Marinated Beans

Serves 6

1 Can French green beans, well drained

1 Can English peas, well drained

1 Can lima beans, well drained

2 Stalks celery, finely chopped

1 Small jar pimientos, well drained

1 Medium onion, chopped

1 Cup rice vinegar

1/2 Cup sugar

1/2 Cup oil

1 Teaspoon salt

1/4 Teaspoon pepper

Combine all veggies.

Combine vinegar, sugar, oil, salt and pepper; pour over veggies and stir.

Refrigerate overnight.

Mayo Muffins

Serves 8

1 Cup self-rising flour

1/2 Cup milk

3 Tablespoons mayo

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 12 muffin pan.

Mix ingredients well and spoon into muffin pan.

Bake 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

Poppy Seed Cake

Serves 12

1 Box Duncan Hines butter cake mix

1 Small box instant vanilla pudding mix

1 Cup water

1/4 Cup poppy seeds

1/2 Cup vegetable oil

4 Large eggs

1/4 Teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour Bundt pan.

Stir the cake mix, pudding mix and poppy seeds with a fork in a mixing bowl.

Add oil, eggs and salt and beat on medium speed 8 minutes.

Bake 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out with few crumbs.

A Taste of the Mountains

The Family Table

By Lorie Thompson

Fall! I say it every year: October is the best month of the year! Cool-weather. Fire in the fireplace. Sweaters. Apples. Pumpkin everything. Vibrant color on the mountains. Fall brings newfound joy to me each year!

Fall is also a busy season. The terrorist (oh, excuse me. I meant the tourist) are here in full force. Working seven days a week during this season is not uncommon, so easy meals I can dish up quickly become necessary. Let me share one of my favorite easy dinners with you. This Teryaki Beef and Broccoli will become one of your family’s favorites. I double this recipe to make sure there are leftovers!

To make the Teriyaki Sauce, stir together 1/2 C Low Sodium Soy Sauce, 4 Tablespoons of brown sugar, 1 tsp of granulated garlic, 1/2 tsp of ginger, 1/2 tsp of crushed red pepper flakes, 1/2 tsp sesame oil, and 1 tsp of sesame seeds.

Toss one pound of beef, sliced for stir fry, in 1/4 C of corn starch until the meat is completely covered. In a large skillet or wok, heat 3 T of oil until the oil is hot. It is ready when the oil starts to shimmer in the pan. Add the meat a few pieces at a time, browning on all sides. Remove the beef to a plate and hold. The sauce you add at the end will have enough salt for the entire dish.

Add one whole sliced onion and cook for 2-3 minutes or until the onion is starting to get soft. Add 3-4 C of broccoli florets and cook until they are beginning to change color. Add the meat back into the pan. Add the sauce and simmer for 2-3 minutes or until the sauce is just starting to thicken. Serve over rice or noodles.

If you buy the pre-sliced beef, chopped Broccoli, and a boiling bag of rice, you can have this supper on the table in less than 30 minutes. You can streamline your evening meal by making the sauce and rolling the meat in the corn starch ahead of time. London Broil or Sirloin are easy to cut into beef strips for the stir fry if you see those on sale.

Add a delicious homemade dessert to this meal, and your family will think you are a magician. My Mother-in-Law Carrie always served a No Bake Cream Cheese Cherry Pie at holiday meals. I had never made it until recently, and I know now why she always made it. It is so easy to make!

Buy a pre-made graham cracker crust, or make your own. Using a food processor makes a crust easy to make. Place 12 full sheets of graham crackers in the food processor bowl and process until they are finely ground. Add 1/3 C sugar and 6 T of unsalted butter. Process until thoroughly mixed. Press into a 9” pie pan—Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool completely before filling.

To make the filling: Use a mixer to beat an 8 oz block of cream cheese until smooth. Add one can of sweetened condensed milk, 1/3 C of freshly squeezed lemon juice, and 1 tsp of vanilla flavoring, and beat until smooth.

Pour cheese filling into the baked and cooled pie crust. Refrigerate for at least two hours.

Top with the canned Cherry Pie Filling or a fruit filling of your choice. Serve chilled.

No Bake Cream Cheese Pie is one of Mountain Man’s favorite desserts. He will pass on the homemade cakes and go for this pie every time. Please don’t tell him how easy it is to make!

I used a gluten-free pre-made crust in the photographs. Use whatever type of crust you choose.

This Fall, make time to go outside and enjoy this beautiful area we call home!

May God bless you with great food at your family table!

Lorie Thompson is a REALTOR at Poss Realty in Clayton, Georgia. Her expertise in her industry is second only to her culinary talents. Lorie is a dynamo in the kitchen. Honestly if she prepares it, it will likely be the best you’ve ever had! Lorie and her husband, Anthony (Peanut), make their home in the Persimmon Community. She is the proud mother of Joe Thompson and Kendall Thompson.

Facing a Giant Breast Cancer

By Tracy McCoy

Cancer sucks! Just the word makes me nauseated. Every woman who goes for her annual mammogram holds her breath until the letter comes in the mail. With trepidation she opens that envelope and breathes a sigh of relief when it says normal. What about the woman who doesn’t get that result? Her heart skips a beat and she must feel terrified. She is asked to come back in for a more in-depth screening, an ultrasound, MRI or biopsy. She then gets a call from her doctor and hears the word cancer. An appointment is usually made with a specialist, likely an Oncologist, the doctor nobody wants to have to see. Sleepless nights, thoughts of her children, husband, all of the things she hoped to accomplish down the road. A bucket list begins to form in her mind, she’ll write it down in the morning. What about those grandchildren she doesn’t have yet but has always looked forward to. She tries to calm her mind and think positive, but it is so hard. Maybe she calls her best friend or maybe she keeps it to herself and doesn’t tell a soul.

Sitting in the chair across the desk from the man in the white coat, with all of the awards on his wall, is so uncomfortable it’s hard to breathe. She sees his mouth moving but her mind is reeling from the diagnosis. She hears words like mass and stage and radiation and chemo and metastatic and she is trying to keep from crying. This is the day she never wanted to have. Numb, she goes in to the exam room drops the shoulder of the gown and stares straight ahead while the doctor examines her breast. He shows her the films from her mammogram and points to the white cloudy spot. She dresses and leaves knowing she has decisions to make and a hard journey ahead of her. Once in her car, she sobs, ugly cries, beats the steering wheel and asks God why. This is the reality of 287,850 women in America in a year. Of that number it is estimate that 43,250 will die.

While that is startling and very sad, 244,600 of these women

will become breast cancer survivors. They will dig deep and find a way to fight. They’ll find a network of friends or other women who are in the fight and find support and love. They may have surgery, undergo treatments and take hormone therapy, targeted therapies, and what ever else they can to stay alive. Cancer treatments have come a long way. Today there are many preventative measures women can take, from examining her own breasts to yearly mammograms. Early detection increases the effectiveness of treating breast cancer and should be a priority for all of us. Many breast cancer symptoms are invisible and only detected through professional screening, but some symptoms can be caught early just by being proactive.

There are at least 12 different types of breast cancer, some invasive and some not. Staging the disease is a complex process. There are many factors but basically the number is an indicator of how many sites the cancer has spread, but even that is not easy to understand. There are many myths about breast cancer, like that finding a lump means you have cancer, it does not. It is a myth that men do not get breast cancer, they do. Some have heard that mammograms can cause breast cancer to spread, that is not true. The notion that your antiperspirants and deodorants cause breast cancer has been suspected, but researchers at the National Cancer Institute have found no conclusive evidence linking the two.

I found an abundance of valuable information on the National Breast Cancer Foundation’s website (www. nationalbreastcancer.org). The first thing is to do your monthly self checks, have that mammogram, stay on top of preventative measures and talk to your doctor about any concerns you have. This fall wear some pink in honor and memory of our sisters and brothers who have faced this battle. Say a prayer for those engaged and those who have survived. Remember the families of those who didn’t.

Diane Blalock

CelebratingTwo Anniversaries!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and Rabun County local and 20 year breast cancer survivor

Diane Blalock is in our spotlight this month. She is a Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School and North Georgia Technical College graduate. After studying Cosmetology and earning her Master Cosmetologist license Diane began her career which has now spanned 50 years!

When Diane opened her first salon it was located in her home in Tiger, Georgia. This was convenient because it allowed her to provide for her family and stay home in support of her children. Eventually Diane moved her shop to Clayton, where she still serves her clients today. Two of her clients, Janie Parker and Patsy Lovell have been with her the longest. She has seen those who were children when she began and they are now grandparents!

During her scare with breast cancer, she drove herself to treatments and back home to work the rest of the afternoon. Not much keeps her down, she has a bright smile and a determined spirit. Still working Tuesday – Saturday, Dianne is incredibly devoted to her craft. She has made some “house calls” over the years when it was necessary, and many times has made her customers beautiful for the final time for their funerals. She has been honored to perform this service.

Her goal remains to continue to serve Rabun County for years to come. She loves her clients deeply. Diane is a proud mother to three sons; Mike, Jamie and Woody Blalock. She has nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Diane is deeply devoted to God and believes every day is a reason to smile as He has saved her life.

A few of Diane’s favorites are the Rabun County Wildcats (two grandchildren, Trea and Huey Blalock play basketball), the Georgia Bulldogs, all things Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe. Her favorite car is a 1955 Chevy, which she has owned two of and in fact one was her first car!

Diane is a much loved member of the local community and will leave quite a legacy. We are pleased to celebrate her in remembrance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Her salon is located at 67 Oak Crescent Circle in Clayton, Georgia. Give her a call at 706-

Your Pet’s Health Fighting the Bugs!

By Dr. Jaime Speed

They are a part of our life, everywhere we go. They are important to our ecosystem (such as flowers) and our food supply (such as honey) ….but my goodness do we hate them sometimes!

Over the decades our pets have come closer and closer to us, emotionally and physically. This physical closeness even means sometimes they sleep in our bed, or even eat off our plate! They are often companions to our children who are not always the most responsible with hygiene. Yet every day I hear people say they are not worried about the parasites their pet could carry. From fleas to ticks, protozoa to helminths, our pets are homes to many disgusting bugs. No pet, even if inside their whole life in a gated community on the 3rd floor of a mansion in Alaska, is immune to parasites. Where you live does however determine parasite load and species that are most common. That is why we recommend speaking to your Veterinarian about which parasites your pet will most likely come into contact

with. With that being said, it is extremely important for those with children, the elderly, or the immunocompromised to make sure their pets receive monthly parasite treatments and preventions and are checked yearly to monitor for resistance or parasite reservoirs in your environment, both for their protection and ours.

The gross factor…..

Most parasites in dogs and cats are either teeny tiny or can only be seen by the microscope. These parasites evolved for centuries to live in or on a host without anyone even knowing. So imagine this, you are cuddling in bed with your favorite cat, they are rubbing up against you and they kindly stick their tail in your face, and what do your wandering eyes see but a white tapeworm under the tail. Then imagine the microscopic things that could be coming out of that area that you can’t see. “But I keep prevention on him every month religiously?” When you give that prevention, it deworms for 3 days. What happens those 27 other days? Bugs take a ride on your pets paws and tongue, then if not attacked by the immune system or a medication, they will grow in the intestines, making babies and secreting eggs, until the next dose of prevention. This is a part of life. I’m not sure about the rest of you, but I will fight on, with parasites and bugs inside and out everyday, while appreciating the fruits of their labors. Ask your Veterinarian about how to fight the good fight for your pet.

Jaime Smoot Speed was born in West Virginia, went to James Madison University with a BS in molecular biology, then worked at Johns Hopkins doing research until attending UGA for Vet School. She graduated 2010 and moved to Clayton with her husband who is a native five years ago. She works part time at Rabun Animal Hospital. She opened Claws & Paws in December 2020. You can reach Claws & Paws at 706-212-7322 or visit their website: claytonpawsandclaws.com or on facebook and instagram: @claytonclawsandpaws

Old Friends

By Sean Dietrich

Ialmost didn’t write this, but I changed my mind. It all started when I dialed him by accident. His number is still in my phone. I haven’t spoken to him in years.

“Who’s this?” the voice said.

We laughed. We called each other by old nicknames. We spoke about his kid, his life.

I asked how his wife was.

Silence. The heavy kind.

“Don’t guess you’ve heard,” he said in a low voice. “She passed away, man.”

A gut punch.

She was the light of his life. The voice of reason in a world of idiots wearing tool belts. The woman who married a snuff-dipping foulmouth and turned him into a decent human.

I was at their wedding reception, long ago. He was skinny. She was

out of his league. They paid for the party themselves and held the shindig in a bowling alley.

Pitchers of beer, billiards, nachos. You should’ve seen the bride bowl in her wedding dress. I lost a lot of money betting playing pool that day.

We whip-creamed his truck and tied tin cans to his bumper. They moved to Atlanta. He got a decent contracting job. They lived in a peach-colored house with a nice backyard and a porch swing.

He had a freezer in the garage, deer hunts on weekends. She had girls trips to New Orleans. Theirs was the all-American dream— complete with throw pillows from Target.

She got pregnant. They obsessed over names. Their baby was healthy. Their nursery was bright-colored. Their life was pure sunshine.

The company promoted him; more money. They moved to a nicer house; all hail square-footage. His daughter was learning the alphabet. On a whim, his wife went to the doctor for an exam.

Breast cancer.

The details don’t matter. But it spread fast. She was gone almost a year after diagnosis. Their life together was an afterthought. He was sleeping alone in a king bed. His toddler curled beside him. That was twelve years ago.

His daughter is in middle school now. She’s on the volleyball team—a winning one. She has her first boyfriend. She is taking driving lessons. I feel like Mister Magoo.

My friend has a new wife—she is a gift from On High—and beautiful stepchildren. He’s made a lot of changes.

He quit his old job for a low-stress gig. He drives a 2003 Ford and works four days per week. Nobody’s getting rich, everyone is happy.

He plays with his kids in the afternoons, he has a dog, he even teaches Sunday school—if you can believe it. I can’t.

Like I said, I wasn’t going to write about him, his life is none of my business. But then, I’m not doing this for me. I’m delivering a message for a late friend.

“She would’ve loved you writing about her,” he said. “But will you say something for her?” Anything.

“Would you say something about how women need to get regular breast exams? Karen hardly ever went to the doctor. Breast cancer sucks man, she might be here today…”

This, followed by a long pause. A few sniffs.

Listen, I have no right to tell you what to do with your life. But if you’ve read this far, you ought to know something.

There are a lot of people in this world who love you so much it hurts.

I’m one of them.

A doctor’s appointment never hurt anyone.

Sean Dietrich is a columnist, novelist, and podcast host, known for his commentary on life in the American South. His work has appeared in Newsweek, Southern Living, Garden and Gun, The Talla hassee Democrat, Good Grit, South Magazine, Alabama Living, the Birmingham News, Thom Maga zine, The Mobile Press Register, Laurel of Northeast Georgia and he has authored thirteen books, and is the creator of the Sean of the South Podcast.

SCARS

By Caleb Smith, River Point Rabun Community Church

Scars.

Most of us have them on our bodies. Some with funny stories, others with lessons learned. Eventually, the pain goes away and the only remembrance of the pain is the scar left behind. There is one type of scar though where the pain usually stays for a long time – Emotional Scars. Scars left by a wrong done from a loved one or family member. A betrayal that will never be forgotten. A lie that can never be taken back. A stab in the back that still feels like the blade is slicing you.

Usually, antibiotic ointment along with some stitches or bandages will help with the healing of the external wounds but they won’t work on our emotional wounds. Those stay around a lot longer and usually hurt far worse than our external wounds.

God never intended for us to walk around with the hurt and scars from emotional damage. He spoke about this in Matthew 18 when asked: “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? As many as seven times?” – “I tell you, not as many as seven,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven.”

Jesus didn’t mean that we should forgive up to 490 times but on the 491st time, THAT’S IT! He wants us to be as full of forgiveness as he is Love for us. For some of us, the scars we have on the inside still hurt because we haven’t forgiven the person who left them. The pain is still there because we still dwell on what happened. We refuse forgiveness because it is easier to be mad or to hate that person. Jesus’ challenge wasn’t an easy one, but it wasn’t an option. Jesus knew that if we refused to forgive someone when they hurt us then we would be condemning ourselves to a lifetime of scars that never fully heal and hurt that never fully goes away.

Forgiveness doesn’t always mean forgetting, though. The memory of the event may be with us forever but the hurt doesn’t have to. There is freedom in forgiveness. Freedom from regret, from anger, from hate, from guilt. God desires for us to live in freedom, not bondage. Who do you need to forgive? What scars still hurt because you aren’t allowing them to heal? Do you need to seek forgiveness from someone that you hurt? Don’t delay! You could help someone find freedom through forgiveness.

The best forgiveness comes from the one who bares the scars of our betrayal. Jesus continued to carry the scars of the cross even after he conquered death. I believe it was because he wanted us to remember that even though it was our sins that held him there, his forgiveness was still available. You can receive that forgiveness today by trusting in Jesus and his work on the cross and resurrection from the grave.

Caleb Smith is Pastor at River Point Community Church located at 70 Old Livery St. in Clayton, Georgia. River Point is a non-denominational, community-driven church committed to leading people into a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. Pastor Smith and his family have made their home in Rabun and are happy to be part of this mountain community. If you’d like additional information please call 706-960-9275 or message

Stanley Hicks, Storyteller and Instrument Maker

Adapted from Foxfire, Fall 1974

Original article by Ray McBride

Hicks lived in Wtauga County, North Carolina, where many of his family members resided on and around Beech Mountain. The Hicks were well-known for their musical ability and their penchant for spinning tales. Stanley’s cousin, Ray, was known as the “Storyteller of Beech Mountain,” but Stanley could have easily been called the same. He was featured in the Foxfire magazine in 1974 for his skill at building banjos but later was highlighted on It Still Lives, a record by Foxfire Productions for which the organization’s current podcast is named.

Stanley

The following are excerpts from the 1974 article and stories from his interviews:

Stanley Hicks could have kept us entertained for months—if any of us had had the time. That, of course, is the frustrating thing about the kind of work we’re in. We seem to always be on the move.

Stanley and his family live on the top of a ridge far back in the mountains. From his little shop comes a stream of fine banjos and dulcimers, all the result of orders he gets from across the country, even though he never advertises his work through the many craft guilds and co-ops in the hills.

He learned how to make banjos and many other useful items from his father. His father also made his own tools, many of which still

hang in Stanley’s shop.

“Dad used to make ladles and spoons and forks [out of wood] and pack them across the Beech [Mountain]—put him a sack full and put them on his back and walk ‘em out. Be gone, maybe, ‘til late of a night. And then we used to peel tan bark and haul it with an old yoke a’cattle t’Elk Park. We’d leave, take an old lantern—and it’d get cold sometimes. And we’d get in the wagon and the old steers’ tongues would hang out about a foot. And we’d take a load of tan bark out there and then we’d camp that night and get back in the next night.”

“But I helped my daddy make banjos. I don’t know the cats I got for him [for the hides]. I had the best cat dog that could be got. But I’ve been making banjos for about twenty years. That’s my hobby. I ain’t worked on a job in about six years. Kidneys went t’th’bad and I just do this for a hobby, and it helps me out [financially]. And then I farm. My wife works every other day at the hospital. There was a boy here one time, young-like feller, and said, “What you get for them?”

I said, “Sixty dollars.”

“God,” he says, “I’m a’goin’ home.” Said, “I can get rich. I can make one of them in a day.”

I said, “Y’can? Well, when you get that, you come and let me know. I need to know how you do it. I need more money.”

He never did get nary one together. Worked at it about four days and laid it down and quit.”

In his work, Stanley is painstakingly careful. He refuses to be pressured. Of course, the other thing that slows him down is that every few moments, he stops to tell another story. Like this one he shared with us as he was sawing slots for the frets on a dulcimer fingerboard. If he had to stop telling stories, he’d probably have to stop making instruments as well, for the two are inextricably linked:

“Be about like one time, there was an old man had a boy who was crippled. Been crippled for years and couldn’t walk. Come two old Irishmen

along and they was wanting something to eat. They asked for something to eat and the man said, “Well, my wife has t’take care of the crippled son. She ain’t got much time.”

They asked, “What’s the matter with him?”

“Well,” said the man, “he’s been crippled for years.”

“Well,” said the Irishmen, “we’ll cure him if you’ll give us something to eat.”

The man agreed. The old Irishmen, they went in and got ‘em something t’eat. “And now,” said the man, “you’ll have t’cure my son.”

They told him, “Put him in a room where he can hear us.” So they put him in a room by hisself and the old Irishmen in one next to him. And they got ‘em a butcher knife apiece and they started a’whettin’: “R-r-r-r-r, whetty-whet-r-whet, whetty-whet r-r whetty-whet-whet.”

Said, “Sharp enough t’cut his head off?”

Said, “No, not quite.”

Boy had raised up, y’know. Watched ‘em through a crack.

“R-r-r-r-r, whetty-whet-r-whet, whetty-whet r-r whetty-whet-whet.” Said, “Sharp enough t’cut his head off?”

“No, not hardly.”

Well, they looked through the crack and he was almost raising up in the chair. And they started again. “R-r-r-r-r, whetty-whet-r-whet, whettywhet r-r whetty-whet-whet.” Said, “Sharp enough t’cut his head off?”

“Yeah, I think we’re sharp a’plenty.” Said, “Jerk th’door and let’s go get ‘im.” They jerked the door open and he run out the other and as far as I know he’s still running yet! He just cleaned the door hinges off and got out of there!

That’s the way this is, [sawing frets for the dulcimer].

R-r-r-r-r, whetty-whet-r-whet. I guess a man would feel kind of funny, you know, them whetting on knives. They said it was true…”

Hear more tales from Stanley in Foxfire Story: Oral Tradition in Southern Appalachia, available at www. foxfire.org or in our museum shop. Listen to Stanley tell the story of the stinger snake, featured on “It Still Lives,” the Foxfire podcast, available wherever you stream podcasts and on our website.

Cover of original vinyl album “It Still Lives”

Stanley Hicks sawing frets

Stanley Hicks working on the top of a banjo

Stanley playing one of his banjos

Rabun County Historical Society Dr. J.C. Dover Rabun County’s “Horse and Buggy Doctor” for 67 Years

By Dick Cinquina

e has never turned down a call. Cold winter nights, bad roads, long distances, have not kept Doc indoors when a call came. He feels as much urgency of the need in a shack twenty miles back in the mountains as on Main Street; and ministers with as much care to a grubby patient under an old dirty quilt as to one in the finest house in town. In the old days he went from end to end of the county in his buggy, or on horseback in bad weather, then a Model T Ford…there have been many times when Doc has walked the last mile or two and even today, in his seventies, he still does when there is no road (as sometimes there is none) to the house where he is needed.”

“H

This glowing tribute was sent by a Clayton civic organization to the American Medical Association in 1947 to persuade the AMA to nominate Dr. Jesse Carlton Dover for its general practitioner award. We do not know if he was accorded this honor, but even if he wasn’t, “Doc” was hailed as “the first citizen” of Rabun County for both his medical practice and multitude of civic activities.

Medical Practice Opened in 1899

Dover was born in Clayton in 1875. After high school, he worked at several community schools to earn enough money to attend Young Harris College in Young Harris, Georgia. Following college, he enrolled at Atlanta College of Physicians and Surgeons (now Emory University School of Medicine) in 1897 to earn his M.D. The newly minted doctor returned to Clayton in 1899 to open his medical practice. Actually, Dover began practicing a year earlier. His oldest record book shows that the fledgling doctor delivered a baby on May 9, 1898. His fee was ten dollars for “midwifery” since he did not yet have a physician’s license. Dover once remarked that he began his Clayton practice before the horse and buggy days. “There was no buggy, just a horse. I finally moved up to the horse and buggy, then the Model T Ford, and then right on up to the present.” His office was at the rear of Dover and Green’s Drugstore that he owned with Dr. J.A. Green.

Dr. Dover and his wife, Mary, on their wedding day in June 1903

Dover’s office hours ran from 10 to 2 and then from 4 “until the waiting room is cleaned out.” He made house calls as needed during the day and night. Dover was known never to have refused a house call, regardless of the weather or time of day. He also treated his patients regardless of their ability to pay. It is said he never sent a bill to many of his patients, who could not afford his services.

His wife Mary reminisced in a 1975 edition of the Historical Chronicles of the South, “I used to worry about him when he’d go off in the country and stay two or three days waiting for a child to be born…I guess I’ve waited for him 50 of the 52 years we’ve been married…he never would leave a patient that needed him.”

Amputating Arm on Kitchen Table

Given the absence of a hospital until 1952, a Rabun County doctor back in the day was expected to treat more than head colds, rashes, cuts and bruises. Among his medical capabilities, Dover performed many surgeries. He once recounted the story about

Dick Cinquina holds graduate degrees in history and journalism, making his work for the Rabun County Historical Society a natural fit for his interests. He is the retired president of Equity Market Partners, a national financial consulting firm he founded in 1981. In addition to writing monthly articles for the Georgia Mountain Laurel, Dick helped produce the Society’s new web site and is involved with the renovation of the group’s museum. After vacationing in this area for many years, he and his wife Anne moved to Rabun County in 2018 form Amelia Island, Florida.

Dr. Dover with his wife, Mary, and their extended family in 1953

a man who had been shot through the elbow. Dover traveled 10 miles to the man’s home, where “I had to clean a pot to boil water, and I had to wash off the kitchen table. I gave the patient ether and then got somebody to hold the (ether) mask while I amputated the arm and made him a pretty good stump. I thought he would die but he didn’t.” In recalling a similar operation, Dover said, “He didn’t even flinch during the amputation.”

In a 2001 issue of the Clayton Tribune, Dover’s grandson remarked, “It seems that Dr. Dover once amputated a man’s arm and buried it in the backyard of his office. A few weeks later, the man came to see him complaining of terrible pain in his arm, the one that had been amputated. He proposed that Doc had buried it crooked and begged Doc to dig it up and straighten it out. Dr. Dover did just that, and the man had no trouble after that.”

The Tribune reported in 1958, “The Clayton doctor is hep to the newest medicines and keeps abreast of them all, including tranquilizers.” In the article, Dover commented, “Tranquilizers are filling a niche in medicine when there is evidence of neurasthenia and psychosis. They do some good. I’ve started prescribing them.”

It seems the country doctor knew a thing or two about psychiatry.

Known for Erratic Driving

Dover was said to have been one of the first people in Rabun County to own a car. That was in 1913, and stories about his erratic driving are legion. Since Dover started driving before Clayton had traffic lights, it was said he saw no need to stop for a red light. His grandson remarked, “Just about everyone remembers something about him running into someone or running a red light or a stop sign. He’d run over signs and hit things and take it over to Derrick’s (garage on Main Street) and get it fixed.” After getting into a fender bender, he would give the driver of the damaged car a repairman’s name and instruct him to send him the bill.

He made his first house calls by automobile when cars were a novelty on Rabun’s mountain roads. On the way home from one

call, Dover said he stopped to give a woman a ride to Clayton. “When she got out, she said ‘Thank you’ and I said ‘Don’t mention it,’ and she looked at me cautiously and whispered, ‘I won’t if you won’t.’ ” On another occasion, Dover recalled, “I overtook an old countryman and gave him a ride…I was driving a Model T and every time I went down a grade, the front spark plug would foul with oil. The motor would go out, and I’d have to crank (start) it again. After we stopped and cranked several times, my passenger asked, ‘How far does it go on one winding?’ ” But even as cars became more reliable, roads in Rabun County did not. When snow came to the mountains, Dover had to garage his car and depend upon his horse for making house calls.

Business and Civic Leader

Busy as he was with his practice, Dover found time for a multitude of civic and business activities. He was a founder of the Bank of Clayton in 1904 and served as its president for years. Dover sat on the county school board for over 50 years and

Dover and Green Drug Store on South Main Street in Clayton, 1914

The Dover House on North Main Street in Clayton, 1950. The house is no longer standing.

was chairman for most of that time. He also served several terms as Clayton’s mayor and was a trustee of Young Harris College.

He became chairman of the Department of Family and Children’s Services at its founding in 1937. During World War II, Dover headed the Red Cross fundraising campaign as well as the war bond drives. He also was president of the county Medical Board and a staff member of Rabun County Memorial Hospital.

“I haven’t any plans to retire,” Dover was quoted as saying when he was well into his eighties. “I wouldn’t know what to do with myself.

The people may retire me, but I’m not going to let it happen voluntarily…If the time comes when I don’t have any patients, I’ll open my office anyhow and read a little bit. I can’t sit and hold my hands.”

Dr. Dover wasn’t kidding. He practiced medicine virtually until the day he died at 91 in 1966.

Learn more about our history by becoming a member of the Rabun County Historical Society. Membership and complete information about the Society’s museum are available at www.rabunhistory.org. The newly renovated museum at 81 N. Church St. in downtown Clayton, which houses the Southeast’s largest collection of Tallulah Falls Railroad artifacts, is open Thursday-Saturday from 11 to 3 and Sunday from 12-4. The Society is a not-for-profit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, making membership dues and donations tax deductible. Visit us on Facebook and Instagram

Dr. Dover on a house call at age 80, pictured with Frank Gibson and his granddaughter

Services

for your Home & Property

All Things Considered: This Home Delivers

By John Shivers

Rabun Gap features some of the most breathtaking mountain landscape in all of Rabun County. The three-story log home located at 1050 Chestnut Mountain Drive offers its owners an abundance of that four-seasonal landscape. It’s a one-of-a-kind home that’s as distinctive as its location.

It is simply a fantastic opportunity. For anyone looking for a tranquil getaway that checks all the boxes, the search stops here.

This 3,500± square foot home is secluded on 15± acres adjoining U.S. Forest lands, ensuring both privacy and beauty. But it’s the grounds right around the home that add that extra degree of perfection. Every possible inch is landscaped and showcases an assortment of plants and greenery, along with more than 90± rose bushes and beautiful water features.

The home itself, built out of round logs, is snug up against the mountain. Porches run around the two lower floors, and offer a front row seat for those gorgeous four-season views as only Mother Nature paints them locally. Picture yourself in your favorite rocker, a refreshing beverage within easy reach, and nothing to do but take in all the beauty and chase out all the stress. Just sit back and enjoy relaxation as only Rabun County delivers.

Four bedrooms, three full baths, and a half bath form the backbone of this home. If your angle is to have your own piece of mountain paradise, this home has a lot of angles of its own. From the vaulted great room, to the exposed interior dormers, the slope of the ceilings and the angled beams and rafters create an interesting architectural tapestry. A whole lot of good living can happen here.

The use of river stone creates a textural contrast between the exposed logs and drywall throughout. Marry those finishes with the use of large expanses of floor to ceiling glass, and you have a home worthy of a king or queen of the mountain.

The second level main floor includes a vaulted great room with a soaring mountain river stone fireplace that holds much promise for those extra-nippy Rabun winter nights. Nearby is the kitchen with a full complement of stainless appliances. A breakfast bar separates the kitchen and the dining area and provides additional seating as well.

The owner’s quarters are also on this level, and include a large en suite bath and spacious closet space, plus a healthy dose of those breathtaking daily views! Upstairs, two more bedrooms and a full

bath, connected by a catwalk that runs behind the great room chimney add additional sleeping space and privacy.

A second more casual living area is found on the daylight lower level, and includes TV viewing space and game space. A home gym, another bedroom, a combination bath / laundry room with laundry chute from the upper floors, and additional pantry/storage space are here as well. Thanks to its configuration, this entire floor has the potential to become a private, self-contained guest suite.

Outside, two outbuildings offer a number of options from gardening to hobbies, or just as additional storage. The thoughtful details and the care that’s been invested into this home are just part of the total package. But add in the views, the setting, and the cool breezes right out of the mountains, and you have found paradise.

This fantastic home is convenient to Clayton, the lakes, Franklin, North Carolina, Highlands, North Carolina and is just down the road from The Dillard House and Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School. This secluded piece of mountain paradise is GMLS#20052759. Contact Harry Norman, REALTORS® Luxury Lake and Mountain agent Jennifer Tyler for additional information. You can reach her at (cell) 706-968-8521 or (office) 706-212-0228.

Fall

By Nancy Boger

Fall. Ahhh — just the thought of it is glorious, like an elixir for body and soul. The cool, crisp air filling our lungs is invigo rating after the smothering heat of summer. The trees trans form before our eyes into a dazzling palette of gold and red, their leaves dancing on the wind and carpeting the ground. The dis tinctive scents of Autumn are intoxicating – the earthy notes of the woods, campfire smoke wafting on the chilly breeze, country-fresh hay bales and pumpkin spice. And of course, we have the flavors and foods of the season – all things apple and pumpkin, the spicy trio of cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger, perfectly browned marsh mallows, chocolate and caramel, popcorn balls and candy corn, chili, and brats. We wrap ourselves in comfort with cozy sweaters and fleece. And then, there is football. Oh, yes, football. What is not to like about Fall?

Probably because it’s my birth month, or maybe simply because it is true, I find October to be the crowning jewel of the Autumn season. It is a month of pure enchantment, and never lasts long enough. By the time October rolls around, we are well into the splendor of Fall. Here in the north Georgia mountains, the full range of foliage col ors unfolds during this majestic month. Local apple orchards, vine yards and pumpkin patches offer up the bounty of their harvests for our good pleasure. We don our college sweatshirts and head to the stadium, or stay home and holler at the TV, cheering our boys on, and protesting the referees’ bad calls. Evenings are cool enough for a fire, a cup of hot cider, and a flickering harvest-scent ed candle. The kids dash through corn mazes and choose their Halloween costumes. Pumpkins come to life with faces — cheery or scary — and glow in the night. Charlie Brown gets rocks, while Linus faithfully awaits the Great Pumpkin. Trick-or-treat brings out the princesses, super heroes, ghosts and goblins, as well as some oh-so-clever, laugh-out-loud costumes. Thankfully, our children can enjoy safe, fun, family-friendly candy gathering excursions in many of the local downtowns and churches. It can be an evening of mag ical make-believe, even for those of us long past the trick-or-treat years.

As the night wears on, the last masked ghoul straggles away, toting his sack of sweets. My own candy bowl is empty, and Jack’s internal flame is fading. This is the only part of October I hate. I wistfully say

goodnight to my hollowed-out gourd buddy, blow out his candle, and bid farewell to the calendar’s best month. Melancholy threat ens to overcome. And then I remember, tomorrow is November. Fall isn’t over after all. The leaves are still gorgeous, my team is still winning (hopefully), and Thanksgiving is around the corner. Grati tude wells up. Oh, there is still much of Autumn’s majesty to cele brate. Hallelujah to the Lord for all the seasons! “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” Genesis 8:22

P. S. Several years ago, I started writing a song about Fall. I had planned to introduce it to a group of friends (the “usual suspects”) who often gathered at our home for “Fire Pit Fridays”. I never re ally got around to finishing it, but I’ll share what I have with you. I think you’ll recognize the borrowed tune. Maybe you and yours can write your own verses to sing as you raise your mugs of pump kin nectar.

ODE to FALL

It's the most wonderful time of the year When the leaves are all turning and campfires are burning We'll be of good cheer

It's the most wonderful time of the year

It's the hap-happiest season of all With those October greetings and autumn-time meetings When friends come to call It's the hap-happiest season of all There'll be fire pits for hosting Marshmallows for toasting And singing the songs we all know There'll be crazy old stories And tales of the glories of our Youthfulness long, long ago

It's the most wonderful time of the year The wine will be flowing And hearts will be glowing When we're all gathered near It's the most wonderful time of the year

That’s it folks. If you write some more verses, I’d love to hear them. Please drop an email to nancyb@angeloakdesign.com.

Georgia native Nancy Boger is Director of Operations at Angel Oak Home in Toccoa. She and her husband Keith, who is an agent with Berkshire Hathaway, have made their home in Clarkesville for the past 22 years.

Let the Most Unique Home in Rabun Captivate You

By John Shivers

Everything about the home at 468 Falling Springs Drive north of Tiger, just three short miles from Clayton, is on the grand scale. And we do mean everything. Square footage? 4,100± square feet on three levels. Architectural style? Log cabin, but this cabin has full-time, open-floor plan living potential. Views? Tucked into the northern face of Tiger Mountain, those four season views that are so quintessential Rabun County are on full and magnificent display. There’s even a 24-foot cascading waterfall feature, and a creek. And privacy? Situated on 3.1± acres, you’ll feel like you’re alone on the mountain, when in reality, all the shopping, dining, and cultural offerings the county has to offer are right outside this mountain estate property.

Homes of this caliber are usually found in the pages of Architectural Digest. But act by the deadline, and this can be your place to escape on weekends, or the place you get mail every day.

Plus, the owner is an accomplished photographer and New York Times best-selling author. His personal collection of phenomenal photographs, unique furnishings, and many one-of-a-kind accessories will remain. Anything you don’t want can be sold at K&B Auction in Mountain City, and the proceeds are yours!

This could easily be Rabun County’s most unique property. The more you see, the more you discover, the more you can picture yourself in this mountain setting that delivers big time on the

opportunity to retreat and unwind.

That retreat begins at the automated security gate down a paved drive lined with native greenery and seasonal blooming plants. Closer to the house that boasts the traditional log façade with a green metal roof, manicured landscaping anchors the house. Crafted stack stone retaining walls lend further validity to the mountain ambience.

But while the outside, with its two awe-inspiring balconies with rhododendron railings off the main level, is traditional log cabin, the moment you step through the door into the main level great room, you immediately take a second look. From the light and brightness so foreign to many cabins, to the artwork, the furnishings and the many accessories, you’re captivated. You realize that this property truly is a gem within a gem.

Consider the 800± square foot master suite artfully crafted like a tree house that allows you to tower thirty feet above the forest. It‘s so masterfully constructed, you can leave the main house through a breezeway, walk up two steps and find yourself towering thirty feet above the forest. The adjacent master bath with its Chinese red oversize vanity and two matching red sinks reinforce the concept that you can live life like you’d like to live it, and still keep your feet solidly on the ground.

Most log cabins have a closed-up feeling, but not this one! The massive picture window in the great room draws your eye toward views that are thousands of years old. With three bedrooms and four baths, whether you’re hosting out of town guests for the weekend, or sleeping your family seven nights a week, you have the room you’re seeking. And be sure to check out the spectacular downstairs theater. There’s also a two-car carport easily adjacent to the kitchen.

And if you’re gonna sleep ‘em, you can feed them in the main level kitchen, well-suited for even a celebrity chef.

Poss Realty Agent Ronnie Owings represents this fantastic property, and can give you additional information. Contact him via cell phone at 404-702-3629 or at the office at 706-782-2121. A pre-approval letter is required to tour the property, and offers will be received through 6:00 pm on Tuesday, October 4th. Sellers will respond on Wednesday, October 5th

Brad

Services for your Home & Property

The Realtor Glenn: Making a Difference in Real Estate

By John Shivers

turned their sights on the extreme northeast corner of Georgia. However, the local landscape was already well known to them. Roger had been coming to the lakes for some twenty years and he and Laura hiked to the bottom of the Tallulah Gorge on their first date. When the couple decided to unite their two families “Brady Bunch” style, that happened at Chota Falls, south of Clayton. The attributes of Rabun were firmly fixed in both their rearview mirrors and their long-range view, and long before they actually settled here full-time, they took a leap of faith and bought a home in Persimmon, where they still live today. “We didn’t want to live in a big city,” Roger explains, and talks about how much they enjoy walking along the banks of the Tallulah River during their down time.

Both of them view property sales as a calling, and toward that end,

Roger & Laura Glenn - The Realtor Glenn

Real estate sales are a vital part of life in places like Rabun County, where new homes are being built daily, and existing homes are re-selling at an equally rapid pace. How else do newcomers from both near and far-flung places, who want to wear the proud designation of a local, find their perfect place to call home? After all, the people around here are known for the depth of their kindness and the extent of their generosity.

Enter real estate agents Roger Glenn and Laura Glenn who are, themselves, transplants from elsewhere. In fact, their life paths have taken them to many different places, before landing them in Rabun County, where they both match sellers and buyers with their next dream home.

“Be passionate about what you do,” Roger believes. “I didn’t get into real estate to make a commission,” he explains. “I got into real estate to make a difference.” Toward that end, both husband and wife are committed to doing the best job possible, whether their client is the buyer or the seller. They’re doing this daily through Poss Realty in Clayton.

In fact, if anybody knows what it’s like searching for homes and marrying needs with inventory, it would be this couple. In a previous career, Glenn, originally from Ohio, was professional military, and because of his work, he and his family were subject to frequent transfer. And when Glenn elected to leave the service, the couple

136 Cannon Street - Clayton, Georgia

they stress individualized service to their clients, whether they’re buying or selling. They’ve taken instruction in helping seniors to acquire property that fits their particular needs, and specialize in other niche areas that give their clients an added benefit.

One example is the small neighborhood of new homes currently being built by Patsios Homes on Cannon Street, mere blocks from downtown Clayton. Because of the builder’s commitment to design, architecture, and floor plan, energy conservation and the conscious effort to locally-source the construction materials he uses, Roger and Laura are proud to market these homes.

“These homes have a distinct look to them, thanks to the unique architecture. They maximize natural light and those memorable Screamer Mountain views, and even have grassy backyards and have all the attributes of a custom build,” Roger stresses.

People get into the real estate business often as a second career, and for many different reasons. This couple knew others who had suffered “bad” experiences while trying to buy or sell property. For Roger, it was his own father’s painful experience. Laura has her own bad memories.

For many years, Roger was a runner, which was one of the reasons he fell in love with Rabun County. Thanks to the back injury that also led him to retire from the military and change hats, he has had to slow down to walking, but he picks up roadside litter while he’s walking. He likes to write poetry, and if the day ever comes when he hangs up his real estate hat, he looks forward to doing more writing.

Both Roger and Laura appreciate the feelings of welcome and inclusion they’ve found here. “If we can work together,” he believes, “we can solve most of the challenges that confront Rabun County.”

148 Cannon Street - Clayton, Georgia

Founded

by President and CEO Mark Cohea in 1995 in Buford, Georgia, LDC (Landscape Design Co) is today a Lula, Georgia based company offering a multitude of services here in the Southeast. With over 20 years of passionate landscaping and nursery experience, LDC specializes in complex landscape projects including complete design and installation for both commercial and residential properties.

Voted Best of Georgia Landscape Architects, being in the business as long as they have and completing such a vast array of past projects has also given LDC an experienced edge in hardscaping. Beyond their landscaping abilities, LDC is also your expert choice for creating the perfect patios, pavers, waterfalls and ponds, and lighting and walkways.

With LDC specializing in overgrown landscapes but able to perfectly cultivate so much more, in 2021 Mark was a guest host on several episodes of the PBS series Garden Smart, where he was able to showcase his expertise to a national audience.

Following production of those episodes in 2021, he was approached by the Executive Producer of Garden Smart about helping to produce and film a series of episodes around Highlands, Cashiers, and Sapphire, North Carolina, further stamping out his ability to create incredible outdoor spaces.

These upcoming episodes will feature things from the Joy Garden Tour, The Fall Leaf Festival, as well as local businesses, along with a lot of the beautiful scenery in the area. Filming began in February and should wrap up in October, so stay tuned!

Beyond LDC’s advanced repertoire of residential projects, they have also done more commercial landscaping installations than they can count. Whether you are looking for an enhancement to your existing facility or need a bid for brand new construction, LDC has you covered. And the services don’t stop there.

Unique to LDC are their signature Bobby Grace Putting Greens. Perfect for the golf enthusiast, you can turn a part of your yard into your very own putting playground! Mark and his team can create a one-of-a-kind green just for you, or replicate your favorite hole from the pro circuit, all constructed with precise undulations and bunkers.

With a vision to be your go-to choice for all of your landscaping/ hardscaping needs, LDC Groups exists to provide general contractors and property owners the best experience in landscape design and installation, done so by utilizing the most innovative equipment, efficient work methods, and leveraging technology in office and onsite.

Every client should be happy and nothing less.

Also important to LDC is their ability to give back. LDC proudly participates and supports groups and activities in North Georgia, upstate South Carolina, and western North Carolina. Proudly believing in all of their community partners and seeking to help impact those communities in a positive way, LDC invites you to visit their LDC Army website, where they showcase and profile their community and sponsorship involvement. ldcarmy.com

A Visit to Clayton

by Michael Detrick

In this series I will be traveling to the towns of northeastern Georgia and western North and South Carolina, sharing my adventures and discoveries as I meet the locals who make up the area. Hop in my Jeep and let’s hit the road!

Take 10: Clayton, GA

With summer ebbing away and a random turned leaf showing up at the end of a branch or on the forest floor (or in my Jeep because I left the roof off), I pondered where to chronicle this month’s explorations in southern Appalachia.

By and by, I decided to be wild and not go anywhere at all. Or rather, that I would not stray from my immediate local area. Let me give you a little history on that.

Raised on a canal that led to a bay that led to the gulf in Panama City, FL, after college I ventured to the West Coast, but eventually made my way back to the South, via Atlanta. After several years working in high-rise corporate America, I decided to get off the hamster wheel and out of the city and move to the woods and foster my creativity. My family has had a cabin in Clayton for years, so, last summer, I just put everything I owned (except my clothes and my record collection) in a storage unit and left the city of 71 Peachtree Streets for the backwoods of Rabun County.

I’ve been sharing my journeys and historical discoveries with you for 10 months now, so I thought I would share a little more about my personal history. Also, I have no balloon-faced bee stings or hissing timber rattler encounters to report, so things have been relatively calm here. Yay. I also want to preface that I could write a book about Clayton and the things to do and see here. Alas, this is a column, not a novel, so what you are reading is very abridged and particularly intimate.

With a 2022 census population right at 2,000, Clayton is the County Seat of Rabun County. Founded in 1821, the town today stands in what was long ago known as The Dividings, named so for being the junction of five major trails that connected the Cherokee of Rabun County to other places across the Southeast. In historic fashion, Clayton was just recently designated an official Trail Town by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. So, let’s go hiking!

Of the abundance of waterfalls in Rabun County, I first became aware of the two that are closest to our family’s cabin. More remote than most

and always a beauty to behold, deep in the Chattooga River Ranger District of the Chattahoochee National Forest you will find Holcomb Creek Falls and Ammons Creek Falls. You must travel to the first (Holcomb) to reach the second (Ammons).

Basically in my backyard, I owe these two a certain allegiance.

The 1.75-mile out and back trail that accesses these falls is considered moderately challenging and takes just over an hour for most to complete. The trail to the first falls is downhill on the way there and uphill on the way back. It is the opposite for the second falls, so picture the entirety of the trail like a bowl. It is often very narrow and rootladen, can be fairly steep, and incorporates a brief switchback footprint. It’s really not as treacherous as I make it sound, but it is definitely a workout.

Approaching Holcomb Creek Falls, the roar of water rings through the dense forest, and, rounding a final turn, a wooden bridge appears, which traverses Holcomb Creek. It is from this bridge that you can take in this spectacular 120-foot waterfall gushing down through the trees and rocky mountainside.

Crossing over the bridge and continuing up the trail, it doesn’t take too long to reach the also impressive Ammons Creek Falls, which cascades 40 feet, but seems like much more because you are so close to it. There was once a large observation deck, but only the remnants of its foundation remains today. There are large rocks from which you can still get a great view of the falls. Here you can really become one with nature; you can feel the mist on your skin. Invigorating.

I generally take our ATV (a Kawasaki Mule) to get to the trailhead of these falls, but you can easily find directions online. I will warn that the sign that once marked the trailhead is currently gone but use your GPS and look for a white stripe painted on large oak, and you have found it. (You will pass Warwoman Dell and The William Bartram Trail en route to my little piece of forested paradise. You should also check this area out.)

Moving out of the woods and into town, let’s crank up some Bobbie Gentry and hit the road!

Main Street and the outlying area of downtown Clayton has really revved itself up in recent years and seen a surge in the number and variety of businesses it showcases. Boutiques, outfitters, art and antique galleries, housewares stores, restaurants, an apothecary and curiosity shop, an old school soda fountain, a brewery, a wine bar… These are many of the diverse places you will find on a stroll down historic Main Street. While downtown has seen a surge in unique additions in recent months, there are some time-tested anchors that everyone who visits the area should not miss.

Likely the most iconic structure on Main Street is Reeves Ace Hardware Company. Housed in the Bavarian-inspired original building that got it all started back in 1928, Reeves today is much more than just a hardware store. While they offer the expected merchandise their name suggests, also within their hallowed three levels – which forms the largest contiguous retail space on Main Street – you will find an “ole tyme” general store atmosphere, as well as clothing and shoes departments, everything for your outdoor/camping and grilling needs, firearms and ammunition, a

Holcomb Creek Falls

Ammons Creek Falls

Black Rock Mountain State Park Overlooking Downtown Clayton

full service-furniture department, a fly, and sport fishing shop, and even a bridal area. Fourth generation family member and Human Resource Manager Savannah Reeves Page told me, “Reeves Hardware has been in business at the heart of Main Street Clayton since 1928. We love seeing all of our locals of 94 years, and also meeting new customers as they come shop small at Reeves.”

Another staple of Main Street is Butler Galleries.

Founded in 1996, Butler Galleries is a unique shopping experience. Housed in the historic red brick structure that was originally a Standard Oil, Goodyear, and Pontiac dealership, today the store is a fantastic place to go for anything from garden items, furniture, antiques, and more.

“The store has been here 25 years. I have been a part of Butler’s for 11 years, and I purchased it two years ago,” said owner Sam Dinos. “We have 19 individual vendors here, so you’ve got quite the variety of merchandise. Everything from antiques to baby clothes.”

As we look to our green mountains turning to all shades of red, orange, and yellow, Sam continued, “We’re getting ready for an incredible Fall. October is always our busiest month.”

Look for the mannequin out front, who, like the leaves, also changes her clothes for the season. And hats. And names. For Fall 2022, “Pumpkin” is ready to greet you at Butler Galleries, and she is looking mighty “Fancy”, as is brought to mind by Bobbie Gentry’s original, and Reba McEntire’s cover.

The shopping doesn’t end there, and the eateries are bountiful as well. On Main Street alone you have options for classic American bar food, BBQ, Cuban, oysters (high five from this Florida boy), contemporary farm-to-table, pizza and pasta, and another local landmark, The Clayton Café. Look for the vintage sign out front and take a step back in time.

Travel less than a mile to Hwy 441, and you’ll find one of the most popular dining spots in this part of the state. To enter Mama G’s Italian Restaurant and simply inhale is to fall in love. It smells that good. While I generally go for the lasagna or a calzone, you can’t really go wrong with anything on this menu. Bon Appetit!

Returning to the geographical nature of this town that I’ve made home – while technically located in Mountain City (the next town north) – Black Rock Mountain State Park is of necessary mention both because it is the highest state park in Georgia, and because it boasts several scenic overlooks and 80-mile vistas of the surrounding Appalachian Mountains.

I finished up this month’s local explorations atop Black Rock Mountain at 3,640 feet with a bird’s eye view and photograph of Clayton. It’s pretty fantastic up there.

Speaking of heights, and because this song in particular reminds me of our family trips to these mountains growing up, I’ll leave you some lyrics from the 1990s supergroup Damn Yankees:

“Can you take me high enough? Can you fly me over (fly me over) yesterday?”

Michael pictured with Courtney Carpenter and Emma King of Reeves Hardware

Pumpkin the Mannequin from Butler Galleries

Mama G’s Lasagna & Garlic Knot

Of These Mountains Fall MarketPlace Returns on November 5th

Kendall R. Rumsey

Returning to the Rabun County Pavilions the Of These Mountains Fall MarketPlace will be held from 10am until 5pm, on the first Saturday in November. With over 100 vendors from throughout the south-east, the event has become a must-see for local residents and area tourists. Vendors come from Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, with a special emphasis on local makers.

Produced by Of These Mountains, Rabun’s locally designed and created outdoor lifestyle brand, the event was first held in November of 2021 and again in May of 2022.

Just in time for some early Christmas shopping, attendees can stroll through the Pavilions and marvel at the amazing artisans, craftspeople, and makers. A snapshot of the available products includes pottery, paintings, sculptures, handmade candles, soaps, jewelry and more. An assortment of antiques, Farmhouse style décor and awesome food will await all who attend. This year’s event will feature many crowd favorites from past events as well as new artisans who will quickly become event staples.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held on Saturday, November 5th from 10am until 5pm. Join us at the Rabun County Pavilions for the Of These Mountains Fall MarketPlace. We will have something for every member of the family!

Of These Mountains was created in Rabun County in 2018 and has rapidly grown into a brand that salutes our mountain lifestyle. Designed and produced in Rabun County, the brand is now sold in retailers from California to Minnesota, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia and more. Visit the Of These Mountains store in downtown Clayton any day at 39 East Savannah Street. We look forward to seeing you on November 5th, if not before!

Kendall Rumsey is a resident of Clayton, Georgia. He is owner of the lifestyle brand Of These Mountains and author of the blog, Notes from a Southern Kitchen. www.ofthesemountains.com www.notesfromasouthernkitchen.com

Downtown Clayton

THE CLAYTON FARMERS’ MARKET

by Tracy McCoy & Ginny Blades

If you have never visited the Clayton Farmers’ Market you are missing out. I had an opportunity to go shop and visit a bit with each vendor. I took some photos and carried some really amazing treasures home with me. I regret not going each Saturday this spring and summer.

The Clayton Farmers’ Market is extremely cool and packed with amazing people making and growing incredible things and last weekend was the first time I’ve been all year! The first time I took time to stroll from vendor to vendor taking it all in. I came home with things that I’ve enjoyed all week. Items that you won’t find anywhere else. I loved the plants, fresh flowers, homemade goodies, fresh produce, fresh spices, herbal blends and hand crafted art but more than that I loved knowing I was supporting local makers and growers. I walked away to return to my car with a very satisfying feeling. I wish that I could write about each vendor that was there but space will not allow, you are going to have to experience it for yourself. You have this month to do so before cold weather shuts the market down for the season. BUT, next spring they’ll set up again and be there every Saturday morning from 9:00 am – 1 pm.

A bit of history on this market that sits alongside Highway 441 next to the Northeast Georgia Food Bank is important to share. Ginny Blades is the president of the market, and she shared a brief history

with us. Brett VanderHorst is the market’s manager and Nicole Kelley is in charge of social media and marketing. This group is a tight knit group who support each other and the art of farming.

Once apon a time a humble Farmers’ Market was formed; the brainchild of Joe Gatins (Satolah), Jane Nelson (The Rootcellar), Helen Meadors (Rabun Gap) and others. This was 2002. Originally located on the court house lawn, the market later resettled at the Train Station in Rabun Gap and then George Prater’s Shop, Butler’s Gallery and Clayton Municiple Complex, all in Clayton. A brief separation led to the formation of Main Street Market. In 2011, The FoodBank of Northeast Georgia asked the market to be part of its complex. Members agreed and here we are!

The market is comprised of sustainable and organic growers. The statement ”Know your Farmer” works well here. Aside from soil information, recipes are part of our mantra. We all know tomato sammys, but what about the fig pizza? Or mushroom risotto? As the season changes, so do the vegetables and fruit.

Value added products abound: Jams and jellies, bread, honey, tea, cakes, cookies, muffins, candy galore. We have artisans making soaps and salves, flowers for all ocasions, and to enhance your soil, “Bunny Bullets” (info. on request).

The market is held each Saturday from 9am - 1pm, April through October, with a Holiday Market held the 2nd Saturday in December.

The Clayton Farmers’ Market Family

Two Tiger Lillies Farm, “A Small Boutique Farm”

Ginny and Suzi Blades

Herbs, Some Veggies and Fruit, Figs, Baked Goods

Nancy Garrett - Salve & Soaps, Pottery, Plants

Ladybug Farms - Terri Jagger Blincoe

Heirloom Vegetables, Flowers, Herbs

Facebook: ladybugfarmsga

Paul’s Pretty Good Honey

Paul Vonk - Raw, Local Honey from Rabun Gap

Peaceful Valley Farms

Brett & Dianne VanderHorst

Greenhouse & Bedding Plants, Produce, Breads

Rebekah Bowman

Baked Goods, Floral Arrangements, Iris Paper Folding Handmade Cards

Sour South Bread

Sierra Patterson - Sour Dough Bread & Pastries

Facebook & Instagram: soursouthbread SourSouth.com

Little Bee Body Care

Nicole Kelley - All Natural Skin Care - Soaps & Serums, Beeswax Candles - nicolelittlebee@gmail.com

Jack Blades - Wood Flag Art - Phone: 561-398-1113

Fox and Feather Apothecary - Hannah Jackson

Dried Herbs, Herbal Remedies, Hand Dipped Candles

Midnight Mushrooms - Mathew Kelly

Fresh Mushrooms, Mushroom Growing Kits, Spice Mixes

Kringle Trading Co. - Tim & Melissa Pace

Freeze Dried Candies - kringletradingco.com

Peach House Farm - Stephen and Annie Dobek

Flowers & Produce - www.peachousefarm.com, Phone: 706-946-7173

Sukhin Chawla - Indian Food - Phone: 762-500-3139

Lynne Lancaster

“Bunny Bullets”, Feed Sack Tote Bags, Breads

Curly Top Mushroom Farm - Pete and Therese Chomout

Fresh & Dehydrated Shiitake Mushrooms, Veggies, Eggs, Birdhouses - Facebook: curlytopmushroomfarm

Mill Gap Farm - Chuck and Amy Mashburn

Vegetables, Peanuts, Canned Goods, Bread & Rolls

Another Chance Rescue, Rehab and Sanctuary

Four legs, Wet Noses and One Huge Heart

Few people have the heart for animals that Tonya Roane has, it is what makes her special. She shares statistics like 3.3 million dogs enter shelters in the U.S. each year. 670,000 dogs are euthanized each year due to overcrowding/space issues. She believes that every dog deserves a second chance, and so do we. For this reason, Devon Cutshaw (CEO) started Another Chance Rescue, Rehab and Sanctuary. Another Chance is a 501c3 charitable organization dedicated to saving dogs from euthanasia in overcrowded humane shelters in Georgia. Tonya is the director of the sanctuary and in charge of animal welfare.

Another Chance’s mission is to provide safety and care for all dogs. Every dog that passes through their sanctuary can look forward to a forever home and family. Since opening in 2018 they have saved the lives of 1,042 dogs. In 2021, 202 dogs came out of Rabun County alone. The generous donations of the community and Tonya’s supporters are what helps keep Another Chance’s door open. Much goes into the care of these animals. There is feeding, watering, cleaning, bathing, treating for fleas, ticks and any ailments or injuries that the dogs may have. The supplies to carry out these tasks can add up quickly. Tonya is their primary caregiver although there are many who donate items and even their time to help her out.

Tonya follows a network of shelters and when it is posted that a dog is scheduled to be euthanized, she finds a way to save it. Again and again doors and hearts open up and dogs are saved. Many times dogs that enter shelters are not spayed or neutered, therefore it is not uncommon for females to come in pregnant which means more mouths to feed. Currently they have 56 dogs in their care and several of them are medical cases. Before going to their forever homes all Another Chance dogs are given medical care, chipped and spayed or neutered. Many people work hand in hand with Tonya to provide foster homes for the dogs until they find their forever home.

Another Chance works completely from donations, there is no assistance from any county or state organizations. Every donation is appreciated and Tonya wanted to thank everyone who has volunteered to help with the dogs. Without help from the community they could not do what they do. She especially wanted to thank the doctors and staff at Rabun Animal Hospital and Clayton Veterinary Hospital. Fosters, volunteers and supplies to care for the dogs are always needed. Things like puppy pads, wet and dry puppy food, bleach, laundry detergent and paper products are just a few of their daily needs. If you are interested in adopting a dog through Another Chance please reach out to Tonya for an application and to discuss which pet would be a good fit for you. There are many precious fur babies awaiting your call (706-970-9489). You may also follow Another Chance Rescue, Rehab and Sanctuary on Facebook or visit their website www.anotherchancerescuerehabandsanctuary. com. They are located at 612 Connector Road in Lakemont, Georgia. If you feel inclined to help you can send a check or send a donation through PayPal (anotherchancesanctuary2018@gmail.com).

Rabun County Comes Together for Wes Scott at Mountain City Playhouse October 15th

OnOctober 15th, 2022, a benefit fundraiser will be held for Wes Scott at the Mountain City Playhouse. The event is hosted by Ooshie Life, owned by Mountain City Playhouse owner Suzie Flaherty. The event has been organized by a group of Wes’ friends who have seen his struggles and wanted to help. Wes moved to Rabun with his family, Father Harry and mother Shaleen Scott in 2001. He graduated from Rabun County High School in 2003. Wes went to work straight out of high school and in the next few years he married and started a family. He and his wife Leslie had plans like most young couples do. He has always been a hard worker and in 2019 he started his own company BDM Construction, doing remodel work and building small projects. Life was good and he had plenty of work. He liked staying busy but like most of us when the pandemic hit everything slowed down. He was fortunate to still have work, but then in 2021 Wes contracted Covid-19. Of course the virus went through the entire family but Wes just couldn’t shake it, the virus destroyed his lungs. He got Covid pneumonia and spent a few days in the hospital and was released on oxygen in August 2021, he would remain on oxygen for six months. When it would get to the point where it seemed impossible to breathe he would seek help. He was seen at a couple area hospitals and they noted that his white blood cell count was through the roof but no one investigated further. He ended up seeing a lung specialist in Gainesville who referred him to Oncology just to be sure there wasn’t something else going on. “Until this virus hit me, I had never had any health problems,” he told me recently. “I just needed answers to get better so I could get back to work and take care of my family.”

The Oncologist diagnosed Wes Scott with Stage 1 Leukemia in April and he came off of the oxygen. “I was relieved to finally have an answer as to why I could not get over it. I was ready for an action plan to beat Leukemia,” Wes said. He suffered yet another bout of pneumonia and the cancer progressed. He has taken radiation medication and is on his second cycle of Chemotherapy. He is facing 3-4 more cycles of treatments at least. The Leukemia has progressed to stage 3. Doctors at Northeast Georgia Medical Center and Emory University Hospital are working together to save this young man’s life. He is a 37 year old husband and father to three children. He is a young man who has always made his own way. He has never really had to ask for help and it was hard to do. His friends could see the worry in his eyes and the burdens he was carrying and decided to organize a benefit to help this family. Of course if you know

Rabun County, then you know that people opened their hearts and have donated some incredible items to the benefit. There will be a silent auction set up at the benefit, with baskets and fit certificates and individual items donated by local businesses. There will be tickets sold for a flat bed load of firewood (delivered) and a ¼ cord pallet of kiln dried firewood. Also, tickets will be available for a dump truck load of gravel, a custom maple slab coffee table, a Stihl chainsaw (MS 170), a 50/50 raffle and a Bond Arms Grizzly .45 caliber pistol.

We are also have 100 chances on a weeks stay in a condominium at St. Simons Island, Georgia. The vacation rental is booking into 2023 at this time and the stay is subject to availability. It is however a Saturday – Saturday rental for up to four people. These tickets are available for a $100 donation to the benefit.

All tickets are now available. If you are interested please contact Kim Jarrard at 706-490-0159.

They have assembled quite an impressive list of musicians who will be on stage for live music all day (see box). There will be cakes included in the silent auction as well and hotdog plates will be served throughout the day (until they run out). For the kids, Suzie’s Tumbling studio will be open with entrance for a donation of any amount. Face painting will also be available. We invite you to come out and join in a day of family fun to help a family in need. Please help spread the word. Bring your family and bid on some wonderful items, buy your tickets and listen the music. It is impossible to include a thank you to everyone who has generously donated, but we will. For now we say thank you!! If you would like

to donate a silent auction item contact Tammy Jones at 706-9824797 or to make a cash donation, please do so at Rabun County Bank either by stopping by or you can mail your check to the bank made to Wes Scott Benefit - Rabun County Bank PO Box 845. Clayton, Georgia 30525. You may also donate through the Venmo app @Kim-Jarrard-1 and all proceeds from every donation goes to Wes Scott.

You Are Sure To Be Impressed

At Impressed there is always something new on the Wildcat Wall from apparel to license plates to insulated tumblers and hats, they have some very unique Rabun County Wildcat fan gear. The Wildcat Wall is just the beginning, this custom printing store has been creating custom apparel for organizations, businesses and individuals since opening in 2016. In 2020, Della Ammons and her daughter Kaitlyn Silvenell took over the business and have added many new options for customers. Impressed has the ability to offer embroidery, direct to garment printing, laser engraving, make signs/banners and more.

Their design staff is incredible, Kaitlyn and Meredith Byrd create some incredible graphics to print on their quality apparel and hats. Engraving on wood is mind blowing, options from your grandmother’s favorite recipe engraved in her handwriting on a cutting board to custom coasters for wedding gifts and 3D engraved maps. There have never been more options to market your business and outfit your employees and Impressed is a great place to discuss all of your options.

With the holidays coming up there are so many phenomenal gift options as well. Give the gift that will never be forgotten or duplicated. Gifts for showers, anniversaries, and birthdays are endless. Bring your idea through their door and they’ll impress you again and again. Impressed is located at 621 Hwy 441 S., Suite 1 in Clayton, Georgia. Visit online at www.impressedcustomprinting. com or give them a call at 706-212-2818. Be sure to follow them on Facebook (@impressedrabun) and TikTok (@impressedllc), instagram (impressed.clayton) and to shop online at our Etsy shop (Beimpressedofclayton)

Quality Inn & Suites Mt. Chalet

If you’re looking for a memorable North Georgia experience at a great value, look no further than the Quality Inn & Suites Mt. Chalet in Clayton. This conveniently located Highway 441 address means you’ll have easy access to a variety of local sites, activities, and attractions right here in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.

When owners Sunny and Jessica Patel took over in 2015, they had a vision they have been working towards ever since.

To create an atmosphere that they could be proud of, and their guests could truly enjoy, a near full remodel was in order. Thus, they put in all new flooring, new carpeting, invested in all brand-new furniture for both the guest rooms and the lobby, installed new exterior lighting, had the entire driveway and parking lot repaved, and put a 50” flatscreen in every guest room. Each guest room also has a microwave and refrigerator and features local photography of the area’s waterfalls and other geographic features.

Featuring 57 guest rooms, of these the hotel boasts 10 suites – each with an electric fireplace, and some with jacuzzi tubs. The suites also have a back deck with Adirondack chairs.

As a guest here, you’re sure to get your money’s worth with their exemplary service and great amenities, including free Fiber Optic Wifi, continental breakfast including waffles, seasonal outdoor saltwater pool, BBQ grill and picnic tables, and benches and swinging benches to relax after your drive.

Quality Inn & Suites Mt. Chalet in Clayton is a family friendly, no smoking and no pets property. FEMA approved for government travelers.

Georgia Mountain Fair & Fairgrounds It’s Happening Here!

By Tracy McCoy

Situated next to beautiful Lake Chatuge you’ll find The Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, site of the annual Georgia Mountain Fair, Hamilton Gardens, a campground and Anderson Music Hall. First opened in its current location in 1978, the first Georgia Mountain Fair took place as a three day agricultural expo on the Towns County High School campus in 1950. Growing from 2,000 guests at the first event to 100,000 in the 70s, organizers knew it was time for a larger venue, so with the support of the Lions Club they purchased the land where they currently reside. Today, the fairgrounds is open year-round and has become the place for entertainment and events in northeast Georgia.

Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds is host to art festivals, concerts, dance shows, wine festivals, visiting conventions and car shows. Their 189 camping and RV sites are perfect for overnight guests, offering spectacular views of Lake Chatuge. The fairgrounds, or sections of it are available for rent for private events. It is a wonderful resource for family fun in the mountains.

Hamilton Gardens was established on 20 acres of the fairgrounds. Lush with native plants such as trillium, shooting stars, trout lilies, native azalea and 1,500 rhododendrons, it attracts birds, butterflies and guests from all over the southeast. Boasting the largest collection of native plants in the Southeast, the gardens are a draw for visitors throughout the growing season. They are open year round from 8am – dusk. Admission and parking for Hamilton Gardens is free, but donations are appreciated. No pets are allowed for obvious reasons. The 2023 Rhododendron Festival runs for five weekends during peak bloom time, see the website listed below for those dates.

This year saw the addition of Acoustic Sunsets at Hamilton Gardens beginning at 6pm on Thursday evenings. Art vendors and food trucks are onsite so bring a chair or a blanket and enjoy the concert and the sun setting on the lake. It is a rain or shine event and admission is free (donations are appreciated). Adult beverages will be available. The final concert of the year is October 6th. The event is hosted at the Pavilion at the Gardens at 96 Pavilion Way, Hiawassee, Georgia. The concert series is sponsored by local businesses.

The annual Georgia Mountain Fair, the event that started it all is hosted the last week in August each year. The 72nd Annual Georgia Mountain Fair will be held August 18-26, 2023. The fair includes carnival rides, arts and craft vendors, demonstrations, unique attractions, concerts and entertainment of all sorts. This event offers a glimpse into the rich history and culture of the mountains and has been loved and enjoyed for going on 72 years! There is an admission fee and hours are different for each event, there are family packs and all day passes which make it easier for families to enjoy the fair. This information is available on their website.

We are including a list of upcoming events for you. Plan to visit the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds this fall and in the years to come. You’ll find so much more about all they offer and how to buy your tickets at www.georgiamountainfairgrounds.com.

UPCOMING EVENTS AT GEORGIA MOUNTAIN FAIRGROUNDS

OCTOBER EVENTS

Acoustic Sunsets at Hamilton Gardens

Alicia Stockman - Final Concert of the Year

Thursday Oct 6th 6pm – 9pm

Georgia Mountain Fall Festival

Music, Arts & Crafts, Unique Attractions

Friday, Oct 7th, 2022 10am – Oct 15th 10pm

The Oak Ridge Boys

Front Porch Singin’ Tour

Saturday, Oct 8th 7 am - 11pm

Ashley McBryde

One of Country Music’s Finest

Saturday, October 15th, 2022

From 7:00pm to 10:00pm

Appalachian Brew, Stew, & Que Festival

Delicious Food and Craft Beer from GA, SC, NC, & AL

Saturday, October 22nd, 2022

From 11:00am to 5:00pm

38 Special Southern Rock!

Saturday, October 22nd, 2022

Starting at 7:00pm

Halloween at the Fairgrounds

“Fangtastic” Halloween at the Fairgrounds

Monday, October 31st, 2022

From 5:00pm to 9:00pm

NOVEMBER EVENTS

ZZ TOP

That Little Ol’ Band from Texas is coming to Hiawassee

Wednesday, November 9th, 2022

From 7:00pm to 11:00pm

DECEMBER EVENTS

Mountain Country Christmas in Lights

A Holiday Treat for the Entire Family

Thursday, November 24th, 2022 - 6:00pm

Closes Friday, December 23rd, 2022 - 9:00pm

Dailey & Vincent Christmasfest

Bluegrass, Country & Gospel Christmas music

Friday, December 2nd, 2022 - 2:00pm

Closes Saturday, December 3rd, 2022 – 7:00pm

Big Mountain Transportation Shuttles & Event Management and Bear Gap Outfitters

“M

y business has everything to do with having fun and moving people”, said Michael Crowe, the owner of Big Mountain Transportation Shuttles & Event Management and sistercompany Bear Gap Outfitters. The two businesses work well hand in hand.

“There are so many moving parts to our businesses it can be difficult to explain,” he added. As the one trying to do just that, I must agree with Michael. His excitement about what he gets to do on a day to day basis can only be described as infectious, and before we finished our interview my wheels were spinning.

I must start at the beginning. In 1992 Michael talked with a gentleman who was a close friend of his father, who owned a shuttle business in Atlanta. He told this man that he wanted to start his own shuttle service. Mr. So and So challenged Michael to buy a “bus” and he would give him the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel’s shuttle business. Michael did just that and began moving people. The business grew rapidly and served him well for a decade or more. “I wouldn’t change a thing about that time period because I learned so much,” he said.

In 1949, Michaels grandparents bought a home on Lake Rabun. Many summers were spent “playing” on the lake. It was your traditional lake home enjoyed by generations of the Crowe family. Fast forward to 1998 and Micheal is married to Kim and they begin thinking about making the lake their home. Within a few years they had sold their shuttle business, started Bear Gap Outfitters and in 2002 became full time Rabun Countians. That leads to the birth of Big Mountain Shuttles and Event Management. Moving people from one location to another is Micheal’s forté. Still offering transportation into the City, for events or to and from the airport, they wanted to add transportation around north Georgia and event management services. Twenty years later, Big Mountain Shuttles offers winery tours, wedding and event transportation and even something as simple as a trip from the lake to Clayton or Highlands for dinner and an evening out. An excursion such as this could be followed by a moonlit cocktail cruise before returning to your dock.

One of the stories that Michael shared with me was about a man who wanted to come to the lake to propose to his girlfriend. The couple had their first date 14 years earlier, which included a trip to beautiful Minnehaha Falls. He thought the falls would be the perfect spot to ask her to be his wife. He called to enlist Michael and Kim’s help. They choreographed the entire afternoon and evening. A bouquet of roses sat on a rock ledge at the base of the falls, and a photographer hid out nearby. After the proposal, they enjoyed a candlelit cruise on the lake and finished with a bonfire celebration. “It was such a pleasure to be part of this major life event for them. We have many stories like this one,” he said. A continuation of that story is that the couple now has three children and is building a home on the lake.

Bear Gap Outfitters supplies Lake Rabun, Seed Lake and Lake Burton with boat, jet ski, pontoon, canoe and paddle board rentals. This is another example of helping people have fun and enjoy life. These lake rentals can be guided or you can journey out on your own. The Crowes’ primary goal is that you have an outstanding lake experience. Floating on or paddling through still water surrounded by gorgeous mountain views is sure to erase the stress of everyday life and provide some time to recharge. The word concierge means “we handle all the details”, so all you have to do is enjoy yourself. Both Bear Gap Outfitters and Big Mountain Shuttles and Event Management provide that peace of mind for their clients daily.

Weddings are one of the major “people moving” events where the shuttle business is utilized. From lake weddings to mountaintop ceremonies, Michael and his team excel at providing transportation from the airport for out of town guests, from lodging facilities to the chosen venue, for wedding parties, whoever needs to get from point A to point B. When it comes to shuttles, they have SUVs to 28 passenger mini buses. The hospitality and customer service is over the top, it helps that Michael is such a phenomenal person and expects nothing less from his staff. The services provided by both companies could be called “a la carte.” Whatever you need, it is taken care of. Other events that might utilize the shuttle service include corporate events, anniversary celebrations, family reunions, you name it and you can leave the driving in their hands.

Bear Gap Outfitters also services lake Air BnB and VRBO rentals. So it is conceivable that you could book a stay, be picked up at the airport and transported to the lake, provided the watercraft of your choice, enjoy a cocktail cruise, a winery tour, venture to surrounding towns to shop and dine and return to the lake to sit on the dock and watch the sun set.

“We are always looking for ways to serve the people of Rabun and visitors to the area. I am active in Rabun County Search and Rescue and in our local community. Kim, our daughter Elizabeth and I have loved being residents of Rabun and have met so many great people,” Michael remarked. He has been featured on GPB and is an excellent resource for anyone interested in the lakes. You’ll find 600-700 reviews on the web for both companies. Their reputation is stellar and for good reason. “I am honored to be part of people’s stories,” he said. I am as honored to share a bit of Michael and Kim’s story with you as well.

Lawson and Nora-Kate

A Visit to the Library

By Liz Alley

was at war with my two-year-old grandson’s car seat, the car seat was winning. His sister, Nora-Kate, five going on twenty, was rattling off instructions as she observed my ineptness from her perch in the back seat. “Honey” she said “You have to mash that button.” I was mashing the button with all my might but the thing was stuck. Nora-Kate continued a steady stream of “helpful insight “ while Lawson looked at me like “Come on woman, get with it.” It had been a hectic morning and a fruit basket turnover of a night. Nora-Kate, who has been spending the night with me since she was a baby, was now learning to share me with her brother, Lawson. The night before was his first time spending the night with Honey Bee (that would be me) at the Beehive (that would be my house). I thought for sure I’d be taking him home before bed because that boy loves his mama and wants nothing more than to be wherever she is. However, I think because his sister was with him, he didn’t utter a peep about wanting to go home. It was either that or because I gave him whatever he wanted. I ended up on the sofa, not wanting to be far from my bed which the children had promptly taken over in their sleep. When I’d left this morning, I was feeling so accomplished at getting them both dressed, hair and teeth brushed, diaper bag ready, and not forgetting my purse. That feeling soon dissipated when I realized I’d forgotten to change out of my house shoes and into my sandals. We were headed to the library to watch a juggling show. It was in the parking lot that I went to war with the car seat. For a moment I considered the pruning shears I keep in my car to clip flowers from roadsides. I figured I could slowly hack away at the belt of the car seat and free Lawson. Finally, I got Nora-Kate out and while she pulled the belt, I pushed the button and Lawson was freed. I smiled at Lawson, “No, Honey” he said with disgust. Alrighty then.

Once we were seated in the library and the show was about to start, the librarian announced that there was a gold Honda CRV in the parking lot with the door open. “Oh for the

love of all that is Holy “ I thought to myself “couldn’t the person who noticed the door just shut it?” But no, so I gathered up my grands and off we went to shut the door. “Lawson” I said “do you want to close the door for Honey?” Lawson loves to close any door. He had, in fact, been closing doors that I didn’t want closed all morning. He looked at me hard and said “No Honey.” “Things are going so well,” I thought.

Back inside, we settled down again and just as the show was about to start, NoraKate had to go to the bathroom. I gathered up all the “stuff” again which included a diaper bag the size of New Jersey, my purse, Lawson and Nora-Kate and out we went to find the bathroom. Lawson and I stood outside Nora-Kate’s stall as she did her business while singing “Breadwinner” by Kacey Musgraves at the top of her lungs. When she emerged, she danced her way to the sink to wash her hands. Lawson decided he wanted to wash his as well. I lifted him up and handed him the soap. “No Honey” he said, deadpan. We got back inside for the third time just as the juggler was asking for volunteers. Nora-Kate had no idea what she was volunteering for, but her hand shot up like a rocket. She did a little jiggle dance just in case the guy didn’t notice her. He did, as there was no way he couldn’t, but he didn’t choose her. No matter, she shimmied her way to the floor, like she was doing the twist. That girl doesn’t have a shy bone in her body.

The Performer juggled his way into the hearts of the kids. Everyone was clapping and I noticed Lawson clapping too. When he looked at me, I prepared myself for a big smile but he noted my clapping hands and said “No Honey, which made me laugh.

Later that evening, after Nora-Kate cried to stay and Lawson did not. After I was driving down the dark road in blessed silence and looking forward to the blessed silence that awaited me at home, I was overcome with missing them. I’m not sure which is sweeter, seeing them come or watching them go.

Liz Alley was born and raised in Rabun County in the city of Tiger. She loves to write. She is an interior designer specializing in repurposing the broken, tarnished, chipped, faded, worn and weathered into pieces that are precious again. She is the mother of two daughters and has three grandchildren. She divides her time between her home in Newnan and Rabun County.

Lovin’ The Journey Short Treks - Parson’s Pub

By Mark Holloway

Anauthentic Irish pub in America is fairly common. That is mostly because so many folks have Celtic connections and either want to visit an Irish pub or own one it seems.

The word Pub comes from Public House, which a hundred years ago meant only the British government could legally serve ale. This al lowed the power brokers to control revenue and the people.

This didn’t mean folks across the Atlantic on the Emerald Isle actually obeyed the law. They’re probably the very same hard working immi grants who brought moonshining to these hills.

Recently Carol and I made our way home from an adventure-filled long anniversary weekend in Chattanooga. Our good friend Jim Horn told us he and his family had enjoyed Murphy, North Carolina and wondered if we’d ever ventured into the actual town.

With enough time left in the late afternoon, we took an unscripted detour into one of the most charming hamlets in these parts. Some body there really understands city landscaping and the power of street-lined flowers!

The little town doesn’t have a restaurant district. All of downtown IS a restaurant district.

I’ve always had a weakness for all things Irish. We’ve been to Scot land and Ireland a number of times.

So when my ancestral eyes landed on the Parsen’s Pub, Carol and I knew we’d found the perfect place to cap an amazing celebration weekend.

The pub’s door hadn’t even closed behind us before I noticed an upright base carefully set on the floor next to a guitar set on a rack.

It was a Monday evening and we were thrilled the restaurant was open and we were in for some live music. Soon Curtis and Kim Jones picked up their instruments having taken a break. Their amazing tal ent quickly filled every nook of this authentic feeling pub. Mountain Gypsy Music was the perfect pairing for this pub’s vibe.

I ordered Shepherds Pie and Carol ordered corn beef and cabbage. It only seemed appropriate to pair it with a pint of Guinness. Chef Josh McQuillen visited with us a while and even served us a special hot chocolate cake with the famed Irish ale in the recipe.

Owners Jack and Diane Lange seem to have figured some things out. They’ve apparently assembled the right team. Our server Jake did a really fine job too. I actually know a joke about an Irishman named Murphy. The town of Murphy seemed to beg me to tell the tale to Jake.

Mark and Carol Holloway are outdoor adventurers

The Langes instinctively understand the relationship between good live music and superb Irish food.

This quant Irish pub, only an hour northwest of here, just might be inviting you for a visit.

We’ve experienced many pubs in Ireland. The Parsen’s Pub in Mur phy leaves you feeling you are perhaps actually at St. James Gate in Dublin.

Carol and I are already planning a return trip...maybe even a weekend visit to explore more of this jewel and nearby outdoor adventures. See you on the trail.

love the thrills of rock climbing and hikes to waterfalls and exploring all of God’s creation. They own PropertyStewards.com and are pas sionate about delivering excellent care to the homes and property of their clients.

By The Way

Squirrels make my wife nuts.

By Emory Jones

I’m

going out on a limb here to say that my wife, Judy, an otherwise sweet and often helpful woman, hates squirrels. And she hates them with the same enthusiasm most people reserve for mosquitoes.

You know how when a suicidal squirrel runs out in front of a car, most people slow down to keep from hitting it? Well, Judy speeds up. And when she misses is the only time I hear that good woman cuss.

To me, it’s nuts to despise the poor little fellers that much, but to Judy, a squirrel is just a rat with a nicer tail.

I think the reason she hates them so much is that she loves flowerpots and bird feeders, both of which are natural enemies of the squirrel.

If my figures are correct, since we married 44 years ago, she’s spent $14,947.14 on so-called squirrel-proof bird feeders, and that’s money we should have squirreled away. The only feeder that ever worked was the one that came with half a stick of dynamite, but that model has since been discontinued.

Growing up, I used to hunt squirrels, and my grandmother would make squirrel dumplings from the ones I brought home. As I recall, that dish was usually served with a side of shotgun pellets.

In those days, if the hunting was good, the boys and I might shoot a dozen or so squirrels over the course of a winter. One year, my cousin Wayne bagged 36, and he was deemed a legend.

But Wayne’s record might be considered pathetic these days. Because from what I recently read in the paper, each hunter can now legally bag up to twelve squirrels per day from August 15th through February 28th

Now, if my math is right, that’s 198 days in which every man, woman, and child of legal age can lawfully dispatch 2,376 squirrels annually. That’s a lot of dumplings.

Judy insists that 2,376 wouldn’t make a dent in the squirrel population around our place. She feels the legal limit should be even higher.

By the way, did you know that a group of squirrels is called a scurry? However, referring to them as a passel, a gang, or even a great-big bunch—as Judy does—is also acceptable. A baby squirrel is called a kit by professionals. After that, they’re known as juveniles—the squirrels, I mean. Not the professionals.

Anyway, I have a soft spot for squirrels. That most likely comes from the two I kept as pets when I was a boy. They had fallen from their nest, and I fed them milk from an eyedropper for weeks. I even took little Skippy and Snickers to school for “show and tell.”

Now you may not believe this, but squirrels have four chiselshaped, razer-sharp incisors in their mouths. I found this out the hard way the last time I tried to feed Snickers with that eye dropper.

Instead of being grateful, Snickers, who was now a juvenile delinquent, clamped down on my finger with all four of those long teeth he’d apparently grown overnight. Seeing how fun this looked, Skippy did the same thing to that piece of meat between my thumb and forefinger.

I sprinted out the door flinging my arm and howling like a man with two squirrels attached to his hand.

I never saw Snickers or Skippy again, but the scars they left remind me of them every time I wash up.

Knowing how much Judy hates the furry little creatures, you can understand my surprise when I got a call last week saying she’d been detained for feeding squirrels in the park.

Turns out, she was feeding them to our dog.

Emory Jones grew up in Northeast Georgia’s White County. After a stint in the Air Force, he joined Gold Kist as publications manager. He was the Southeastern editor for Farm Journal Magazine and executive vice president at Freebarin & Company, an Atlanta-based advertising agency. He has written seven books. Emory is known for his humor, love of history and all things Southern. He and his wife, Judy, live on Yonah Mountain near Cleveland, Georgia.