Georgia Mountain Laurel Winter 2019 by The Laurel of Northeast Georgia

t’s a new year and that signals a new start for a lot of people, and I am one of them. I don’t spring clean, I New Year’s clean. When the holidays are over the tree usually comes down and the house gets a little sprucing up. New beginnings are something I love, a chance to explore new things, make necessary changes (even if they only last a short time) and plan for a great year. I have a Pinterest board titled “Must Try This”, maybe I’ll see what I have pinned there and share the things that go well with all of you. This is our first Winter issue, we have combined January and February into one and are gangbusters into March which will hit the streets in late February. It’s going to be a great year at the Laurel, lots of new and exciting things are coming down the pipe so stay tuned. We want to thank all of you for 16 years of sharing the mountains with you! Our advertisers are top shelf and we urge you to shop local, use local service professionals, REALTORS, and builders because some of the state’s finest are here. Start on your list of new and exciting things to do this year and get creative, think outside the box, we are only here for a set number of days, don’t waste a single one! Happy New Year to you!!

Tracy

Winter 2019 • Volume Sixteen • Issue One Publisher/Editor - Tracy McCoy - 706.982.9197 - tracy@gmlaurel.com Art Director - Dianne VanderHorst - diannevander2016@gmail.com Graphic Designer - Nikki Dunbar - Internet Tech/Website - Lucas McCoy Office Manager/ Account Executive - Cindi Freeman - 706.982.0216 - cindi@gmlaurel.com Account Executive - Melynda Hensley - 706. 970.0765 - mendabess@yahoo.com Account Executive - Calin DeFoor - 706.490.2059 - calin.laurel@gmail.com Photographer/Writer - Peter McIntosh - peter@mcintoshmountains.com Columnist & Guest Writers Jan Timms (Bon Appetit) Susan Brewer (North Georgia Arts Guild) Mark Holloway (Lovin’ the Journey) Lorie Thompson (The Family Table) Joel Hitt (Hitt the Outdoors) Kendall Rumsey (Notes from a Southern Kitchen) Pastor John Hutcheson (Rabun For the Gospel) Carolyn Horton (River Garden)

Kitty Flewelling (Humble F.O.L.L.Y.) Dr. Amanda Pileski (Practice to have a great New Year) Steve Jarrard, MD (Live Healthy & Be Well) Lisa Harris (Bless Your Heart) John Shivers (Featured Homes) Emory Jones (By the Way) Beth Fierberg (Out of the Blue Ridge)

Georgia Mountain Laurel - 706-782-1600 • www.gmlaurel.com Mailing: PO Box 2218, Clayton, Georgia 30525 Office: 2511 Highway 441, Mountain City, Georgia 30562 Copyright 2016 by Rabun’s Laurel Inc. All rights reserved. The Georgia Mountain Laurel Magazine is published twelve times per year. Reproduction without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. The publishers and editors are not responsible for unsolicited material and it will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication subject to GML magazine’s right to edit. Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, photographs and drawings. Every effort has been made to assure that all information presented in this issue is accurate, and neither Laurel magazine or any of its staff is responsible for omissions or information that has been misrepresented to the magazine. The Georgia Mountain Laurel maintains a Christian focus throughout their magazine. Rabun’s Laurel, Inc. reserves the right to refuse content or advertising for any reason without explanation.

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In This Issue Arts & Entertainment 12 18

Cover Artist - Peter McIntosh North Georgia Arts Guild

A Taste 22 26 28

Bon Appetit The Family Table Well Nourished

Life & Leisure 34 38 40 42

Notes from a Southern Kitchen Out of the Blue Ridge Lovin’ the Journey By the Way

Faith in Christ

We need society, and we need solitude also, as we need summer and winter, day and night, exercise and rest. Philip Gilbert Hamerton

43 44 46

Life is a Blessing River Garden Rabun For the Gospel

Affairs to Remember 48 49 50

Mountain Happenings Event Calendar Winterfest Arts and Coaching Tour Wine Highway Week F.A.I.T.H - One Woman’s Story

Outdoors 52 54 56

Adventure Out Hitt the Outdoors PAWS4LIFE

Mountain Homes 58 62

Poss Realty Harry Norman REALTORS Luxury Lake and Mountains

Health & Wellness 64 66 68 8 - Winter 2019

Practice to be Better in the New Year LIve Healthy and Be Well Humble F.O.L.L.Y.

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On our Cover - Peter McIntosh “Baby It’s Cold Outside

nytime that we have our photographer and friend Peter McIntosh on our cover we count ourselves blessed. His photos are exceptional and take us to places we might otherwise never see. This is something that the owners of Fortify Kitchen know as well. They invited Peter to display his photos on the walls in their restaurant throughout January and February 2019. All of the photos on display are for sale with 20% of proceeds going to Fortify Scholarship Program – Benefiting Rabun County High School graduates majoring in business or culinary arts. I asked Peter to share a few of his favorite snow photos with us and they exceeded my expectations. We hope you enjoy them and if you are the first to correctly identify the location of each image I’ll buy dinner for you and a guest at Fortify Kitchen & Bar on Main Street in Clayton. Please e-mail your answers to tracy@gmlaurel.com with “Dinner” in the subject box. Happy New Year to you all! Be sure to visit Peter’s website www.mcintoshmountains.com and follow him on Facebook by searching Peter McIntosh Photography.

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North Georgia Arts Guild Jo Mitchell: The Feel of Color by Susan Brewer

lectric. The intensity in paintings by Jo Mitchell is electric. You may find they knock you off balance – the color, the movement and the complexity of abstract expressionism – if so, you’re not alone. But it may surprise you to find out these images are deeply personal. Get ready. Let go of the “inspired” landscapes and “touching” creations you normally think of as art to consider things from her point of view. Jo spent years writing for several newspapers in the New England area. She worked as a columnist, a correspondent, a staff writer and investigative reporter. When asked about her career, Jo said, “At the time, I was thinking of it as an exciting and purposeful means of supporting two kids. It was intense and difficult, but I learned a lot about the nature of people.” Her emotional reactions, though, throughout her career, both as a journalist and later as victims’ advocate for the courts, belonged in the back seat. Her job was to be clear, objective. It required stripping the “personal” from the picture. Eventually, her chance came to get “in touch” with things herself. She puts that out there, now. “This is what I feel as I paint: how some colors feel comfortable together and a subtle blending makes me smile; how others vie for the same space and yell at me because I make them sit side by side. What stays with me is insistence upon integrity and a willingness to search inside myself for artistic truths.” Her colors are characters, part of life’s drama.

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As a reporter, a victim’s advocate, and artist, integrity and truth have remained central to her work. In this age of disputes about the truth, it’s something to consider. She describes the difference between abstract expressionism and representational art in this way: “Traditional painters paint what they see. Or their subjective version of what they see. And I try to paint (pause) an essence. Not how something looks, but how I feel about what it is. So, if I have something called Volcano, it doesn’t look like any volcano, but it feels that way – with the energy and the color, that it is volcanic.” Jo’s paintings, conceived as they are from the inside, fit into the world of interpretations and ideas. They grasp conflict and turmoil. They free us to wrestle, too. Again, her past work created an objective synopsis that respected the truth, that worked to find it; she put it out there for the public. And her work now is about reflection, imagination and expression from her gut, her intellect. Look at the world today – our world – and then think back to the world she was covering in the 70’s and 80’s. I can’t help but wonder how Jo is processing the “fact” controversies that surround us now. Increasingly, “news” is a mask, a cover, for ideology. Where is the balance—where is the truth? (My opinion: It’s there. We just have to look harder to find it.) Her painting, Chaos, is, well, chaos. Collision, is, well—BOOM—a collision. Collateral damage…. You get the picture. The titles are clues to internalize events. The Quinlin Visual Arts Center in Gainesville will hold a show of Jo’s work from April 11th to June 1 in the Green Street Gallery. Her website is expressions-by-jo.com. A member of the North Georgia Arts Guild since 2016, Susan Brewer spent almost twenty years in branch banking with SunTrust Bank in Atlanta. She began writing for the Georgia Mountain Laurel and The Clayton Tribune about guild members and events in April 2017. The writing brings together her love of art and curiosity about people’s stories, each unique, to understand individual world views.

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Bon Appetit

Bon Appétit Food to Warm Your Soul By Scarlett Cook

e made through the holiday season and now we have all settled in for a long winter. This is the time of year when we think of “comfort foods”. These are recipes that warm us up and fill our stomachs. These recipes are some tried and true casseroles that would go well with a rotisserie chicken that you pick up while buying groceries. So once you are home add one of these recipes and you have dinner ready with just a few dishes to cook (and clean).

Broccoli & Cauliflower Casserole 6 Servings 1 10-Ounce package frozen cauliflower 1 10-Ounce package frozen broccoli florets 1 Can cream of chicken soup 1 Can cream of celery soup 8 Ounces sour cream Toasted slivered almonds Grated sharp Cheddar cheese Preheat oven to 350˚ and 1 1/2 quart baking dish. Cook cauliflower and broccoli according to package directions; drain well. Mix vegetables, soups and sour cream together. Pour into prepared dish and sprinkle almonds and cheese on top. Bake 20 to 25 minutes.

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Corn Pudding 8 Servings 1 16-Ounce can cream style corn 3 Tablespoons plain flour 1 Cup warm milk 3 Tablespoons butter 1 Tablespoon sugar 1/2 Teaspoon salt 1/4 Teaspoon black pepper 1/2 Teaspoon hot sauce 2 Eggs, slightly beaten Preheat oven to 350˚ and grease a 2 quart baking dish. Combine corn and flour. Add milk, butter sugar, salt, pepper, hot sauce and eggs. Mix well and pour into prepared dish. Bake 45 – 60 minutes.

Elegant Mashed Potatoes 6 – 8 Servings 4 Cups hot mashed potatoes 8 Ounces sour cream 1 Egg, slightly beaten 1/2 Cup chopped onion 1 Small jar diced pimientos, well drained 1 Teaspoon salt 1/2 Teaspoon pepper Preheat oven to 350˚ and grease a 1 ½ quart baking dish. Mix all ingredients well. Pour into prepared dish and bake for 45 minutes.

Squash Casserole 6 – 8 Servings 1 Medium onion, chopped 2 Tablespoons butter 2 Pounds yellow squash, coarsely grated 1/2 Cup shredded Cheddar cheese 1 Egg, slightly beaten 1/4 Cup whipping cream (or 1/2 & 1/2) Salt & pepper to taste Crushed Ritz crackers Preheat oven to 325˚ and grease a 2 quart baking dish. Sauté onion in butter. Add squash and cook 5 – 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Combine squash mixture with cheese, egg, cream and seasonings. Pour into prepared pan and sprinkle crackers over top. Cover and bake 30 – 35 minutes; uncover and cook 5 – 10 minutes longer.

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Bon Appetit continued

Scalloped Tomatoes

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6 Servings 1 Pound can of whole tomatoes 6 Tablespoons brown sugar 1 Stick margarine 1 1/2 Cups bread crumbs 1/2 Teaspoon basil Salt & pepper to taste Preheat oven to 350Ë&#x161; and grease 1 1/2 quart baking dish. Crush tomatoes and place in saucepan with brown sugar. Bring to a boil and cook 5 minutes. Combine tomatoes, bread crumbs and seasonings. Pour into prepared dish and bake for 45 minutes.

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Family Table By Lorie Thompson

frequently hear people saying how they “hate Winter.” Not me. I long for it. In Summer and Fall, I often work for weeks without a day off. Real estate is a tough business and really is a “feast or famine” way to live, particularly in a seasonal market. Having finished another year with a frantic pace, followed by the busy holiday season, a slower paced January sounds lovely to me! Bring on the snow! Winter is a time for introspection. Use the “trapped in the house” time to plan your upcoming year. Write out your goals for the new year. Dream a little… Shoot for the stars this year! Plan Summertime fun days. Make a list of all the places you want to visit. Research all the local waterfall hikes and mark a day to visit each one on your calendar. Plan a weekend with your best friends, hiking, shopping or just sitting around a camp-fire. Use these slower paced days to rest, dream and replenish your soul. February 3rd is the date of the 2019 Super Bowl. That will be a great excuse to host a little get-together. Invite your family over to watch the game and cook up my hearty appetizers. Appetizer number 1: Peppers, Pineapple and Sausage Bites Drain 2 - 15-ounce cans of Pineapple chunks (unsweetened), reserving the juice. In a medium-sized saucepan mix 3 T all-purpose flour, 1 C of packed brown sugar and 2 tsp of dry mustard. Mix dry ingredients well. Add reserved pineapple juice, 2 tsp soy sauce, and 1/2 C white vinegar. Cook over medium heat until bubbling. Turn off the heat. Slice 2-3 pounds of smoked sausage or kielbasa sausage into bitesized pieces. Sauté the sausage until lightly browned. Remove the sausage from the pan. Pour off the excess oil. In the same sauté pan, gently cook 2 large green peppers, that have been cut into bite-sized chunks. Cook until the peppers are just beginning to soften but have not lost their dark green color. Add the sausage, canned pineapple chunks, and reserved sauce to the peppers. Heat until the sauce is thick and bubbling and the dish is hot. Serve warm. Appetizer number 2: Millionaire Bacon. You are going to want to make this today! Be sure to use thick cut bacon. Lay bacon out on a rack placed on a sheet tray and sprinkle with brown sugar. You can add black pepper, cayenne or crushed red pepper. Another version is to season with Chinese Five Spice powder, brown sugar, and soy sauce. Place seasoned bacon in a 350-degree oven and bake until crisp. My daughter, Kendall, worked a winter season in Breckenridge in a mountaintop restaurant. She was home today and with me as I made this. Kendall told me this was part of her everyday prep duty as part of her restaurant job. She recommended that I place parchment paper in the sheet pan and lay the bacon directly on top of it. No rack needed and the parchment makes clean up a breeze. She says a little drizzle of

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real maple syrup is excellent, too. I will try out Kendall’s version when I cook this next time. Appetizer number 3. Brie baked in Phyllo Pastry This is so easy to make! Defrost one roll of frozen phyllo dough overnight in the refrigerator. When you open and unroll the phyllo, keep it covered with a damp kitchen towel. It will dry out in a matter of seconds and will become unusable. On a sheet pan, lay the first sheet of phyllo. Using a pastry brush, lightly coat it with melted butter. Layer each sheet brushing with butter. Recover the phyllo with the damp towel as quickly as you take off the next layer. Having someone help you makes this much more manageable. Have your helper uncover and re-cover the phyllo with the damp towel while you brush each sheet with the butter. Widen out your sheets by placing each layer a little on one side of the pan and the next a little on the other side to make your cover wrap more substantial than the original size of the individual sheets. Continue to layer and build your pastry crust until you have used the entire roll of phyllo. Place the Brie in the center of the phyllo. Cover the Brie with apricot or fig preserves. Fold over the phyllo sheets and enclose the Brie. Bake at 350 until the Phyllo is golden brown. This is so good and looks beautiful. I love Rabun County weather. I like rainy days, I love snow days, and I want the change of the seasons, and in Rabun County, you may see all 4 seasons in January. I put my Christmas tree up much later than most people, and I leave my tree and lights up until after the New Year. I enjoy them more after the holidays have passed than during the hustle and bustle of the actual Christmas season. On the day that I take my tree and holiday decorations down, my husband and I spend the evening planning an early spring garden. We catalog shop for the “green patch” seeds. Lettuces, kale, spinach, chard and green onions are always on the list. Some years we add Brussel sprouts and broccoli. We enjoy planning the garden and ordering the seeds as much as we enjoy planting and harvesting the crop. Some winters are cold and bitter, with lots of snow and ice and some are milder, with rain and an occasional blue sky day. Those glorious, prematurely warm, January and February days remind us that Spring is on the way. Whatever the weather, I hope you will enjoy this season and spend the time in peaceful pursuit of a great upcoming year! Take the time to rest. Enjoy time with your family and friends and be sure to cook something beautiful! Eat, pray and love! May God bless you and yours in the new year!

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Well Nourished - Eating Clean Recipes for the New Year

lean eating isn’t so much a diet as it is a lifestyle that zooms in on pushing out bad foods and slipping in as many nutrient-dense, wholesome foods as possible. Eating clean is giving your body what it needs to thrive. It’s about getting away from ‘fake foods’ and embracing real ones. When we switch to eating clean, we refresh our eating habits and eat without limiting major food groups or even counting calories! We’ll not only ward off disease by eating this way, but we lose weight, and de-bloat, making ourselves feel comfortable in our body. Learning to eat clean provides you with the tools to make better decisions within all of the major food groups. A good rule of thumb is shopping for groceries with six ingredients or less, that means reading labels is important. This helps us steer clear of extremely processed foods that would never be obvious from the outside. Many times your favorite food can be full of sugar or preservatives you didn’t even realize were there.

When making these changes, don’t focus on what you are giving up, instead, reframe it on all the delicious real food options now at your fingertips and show stealers in your healthy eating arsenal. We wanted to help by sharing some simple, clean meals that are delicious and healthy. Why? Cause we care about your body and what you put in it and so should you!

Lemon Chicken with mixed greens salad 2 Boneless/Skinless Chicken Breasts 4 Lemon Rings Red Onion Cherry Tomatoes Mixed Spring Greens Brussel Sprouts Olive Oil Minced Garlic Oregano Preheat Oven to 450 Drizzle Olive oil, Minced Garlic, and Oregano over Chicken. Slice Lemon and Red Onion into rings to place on top of chicken breasts Quarter Brussel Sprouts and add to baking dish with chicken Bake at 450 for 15-18 minutes While baking, mix together salad, mixed greens, red onion, tomatoes Use left over lemon to squeeze as dressing with a little olive oil and pepper

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Roasted Chicken Quarters with Prosciutto wrapped Asparagus 2 Chicken Quarters (with skin) Cherry Tomatoes Prosciutto Asparagus Olive oil Kosher Salt Pepper Preheat Oven to 425 Dry Chicken Quarters throughly, place in cast iron skillet skin side up, sprinkle with Kosher Salt and Pepper. Add in whole Cherry Tomatoes 8-10 or as many as can fit Bake at 425 for 45 Minutes In separate baking dish, wrap a bundle of 3-4 asparagus in 1 slice of prosciutto Drizzle lightly with Olive Oil and sprinkle with Salt and Pepper Add to Oven with 20 minutes lef Continued on Page 31

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Well Nourished

Spicy Hawaiian Fish Tacos Salsa 1 Mango 1/2 Pineapple 1/3 Yellow Onion 3 tbs Diced Jalapeno 1 Tbs Minced Garlic 2 Tbs Fresh Cilantro Juice from 2 Limes 1 Tsp Sea Salt Dice Mango, Pineapple, Onion, and JalapeĂąo. Mix all salsa ingredients with Lime Juice, Garlic, Cilantro, and Sea Salt. Salsa should be room temperature to eat. Refrigerate after use.

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Tilapia 3-4 Tilapia Filets Paprika Red Pepper Flakes Chili Powder Preheat oven to 400. Cover baking dish with Foil. Sprinkle both sides of Tilapia with spices. Bake at 400 for 15 minutes (Filets should flake apart easily) Load up a small Corn Tortilla with Tilapia and Salsa, for extra crunch add Purple Cabbage and Sweet Red Pepper Strips!

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Notes from a Southern Kitchen No School Today, No School Today! by Kendall R. Rumsey NotesFromASouthernKitchen.com

hen my parents built our home, the entire back of the house was windows. That was a special request of my mother. Her reasoning? So, she could sit in her living room and watch the snow fall.

There was something about watching those gentle snows fall across Frank D. Smith Hill and the creek below that was peaceful. The white snows seemed to cover our home in a protective blanket, one that would bring comfort and excitement. As a kid, the most exciting words I could hear came from Apple Savage announcement â&#x20AC;&#x153;no school today, no school today!â&#x20AC;? Apple was our local radio personality and the Mayor of our Town. Back in those days, long before text alerts or Facebook messages, we would rise to listen to the local radio station for Apple to let us know if we had a day off from school.

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His booming voice would proclaim to kids far and wide, “no school today, no school today!” For me, it was a no-brainer as to what that meant, we were headed to Sky Valley. During the 1980’s, Sky Valley was known more for snow skiing than golf, horseback riding, or hiking. Daddy would load up our old Jeep Wagoneer and we would be off, usually with the kids of two or three other families piled in together. Skis, coats, sweaters, and gloves would fill every inch not consumed by a body. We were a rambling bunch headed to the slopes. If daddy didn’t take us, Coach Singleton would, same scene, but in an old Bronco. Once we arrived at Sky Valley, what we called a ski slope would be ready for a day of fun. Not much more than a hill, we would swoosh and slide down the slippery icy snow over and over again through the day, hundreds of times, up and down, racing, laughing, falling, testing our skills. It was a time of joy! Those simple days of “no school today, no school today,” live in my mind as some of the best times of my life. I made friends on those slopes that I carry still today, and I think of those adventures often. By the time our day on the slopes was over, we would trek back down the mountain to the warmth and comfort of our homes, nestled in powder covered landscapes. On those special snow days, mama would sit in her recliner and just watch the snow fall through the picture windows along the back of our house with absolute serenity. As an adult, I now get that serenity. There is nothing more

peaceful than sitting in my home, with a roaring fire in the fireplace and a beautiful view of the grounds outside my living room being covered by those soft white flakes of snow. There is something about snow that makes me feel like everything will be ok. I don’t know if it is remembering those looks of serenity on my mom’s face or the youthful abandon of those treks up and down the slopes, but when snow is in the forecast, I look forward to the beauty, the excitement and the feeling that is certain to accompany its arrival. Today, my “picture window” overlooking the snowfall is usually my back deck, wrapped up in a blanket, sitting watching the peaceful flakes fall. I enjoy the quiet of a snowfall, interrupted only by birds or maybe a family of deer prancing through the woods, that quiet peaceful sound that can only come from a good snow. The beauty of snow reminds me a lot about life. At the end of a season, when the trees stand naked and most vulnerable, the colors are brown, something beautiful can happen to wash away all the darkness. In my youth, a snow day was all about play, as a man, I can now appreciate the beauty that comes, when those soft white flakes fall and cover the hills and forests below, a serenity that my mother saw many years earlier, through those picture windows along the back of my childhood home. Kendall Rumsey is a resident of Clayton, GA. He is owner of imPRESSed, a custom imprint company and publishes the blog, Notes from a Southern Kitchen. www.impressedstyle.come www.notesfromasouthernkitchen.com

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OUT OF THE BLUE RIDGE

My Afternoon “Geeing and a Hawing” with Neal James By Beth Fierberg

f you ask a mountain man what two necessities were back in the day, “it was rare to find a home up here without a milk cow and a mule,” replied Scaly Mountain, North Carolina resident, Neal James. James’ family have been living in Scaly Mountain for generations. He told me that “out of necessity every family in this community had mules.”

him, “as you get bigger, you can plow a lot quicker.” The family had farmed by hand, planting 18,000 plants per acre with the help of mules. When the kids weren’t at school, Neal’s parents took the kids to the field and worked with them. “Good memories. We didn’t have a whole lot, but we had a family and that was worth more than money.”

The James family were mainly cabbage farmers and utilized mules and walking cultivators to farm before there were “cabbage setters” (tools to till and seed the soil). Neal told me that there “wasn’t a whole lot of income back then except for cabbage farming.” Thus, there was no one better to learn about mules than from multigenerational mule handler, Neal James.

Standing in front of the barn Neal helped build with his own hands, was his faithful dog, old Adie Mae James. The two sets of curious, intelligent eyes peering out of the barn’s windows belonged to Neal’s Percheron mules, Mattie and Mandy (M and M), as he affectionately calls them. He’s had the mules for about nine years, since they were two years old. Recalling when he first got them as colts, “Mandy had been humored to death and would get mad when asked to do something she had no mind to do. Mattie, on the other hand, would break in for a donut”.

Neal fondly recalls that his grandfather, Edgar James had mules and a strawberry roan milk cow. Along with Neal’s father, Bob James, Edgar taught Neal to farm the land and work with mules since he was a little boy. “Everything you see here comes from the profit of selling cabbage,” said Neal. As a young boy, his father let him plow a few rounds to train

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I asked Neal what it took to train a mule. “First off they’re smarter than horses. If something doesn’t seem logical to a mule, they won’t do it. That’s how they get the reputation for being stubborn, whereas a horse will basically do whatever the human asks of it, even if it’s not in their best interest.”

“If you keep a pair of mules stepping all day, you might get an acre of ground planted. A mule working in the field has to gee (turn right) and haw (turn left), and back up when you want them to.” I discovered it took years of training for the mules to learn all of the many commands they now answer to, simply by listening to the sound of Neal’s voice. Neal enjoys working them in the field. He said, “Mules a minding when she’s a sweating.” Neal prefers the Molly mules (females) to the John mules (males) because they’re smarter at least in the “mule sense”, Neal clarified with a chuckle. He continued, “Like with your kids, you have to be consistent with them.” Just as his ancestors before him, who owned a blacksmith shop, Neal does his own shoeing. Neal still farms the land and cultivates mainly squash these days. He regrets that the next generation of the James family may never know what it was like to live here as he did. What was once a gravel road is now a two-lane highway and the property prices have gone way up. It was interesting to watch Neal hook Mandy and Mattie up to their wagon, “a complicated process but not if you know what you’re doing,” said Neal. I was then treated to a wagon ride through the mountains. Neal had recalled when his now grown daughter, Lauren, was little, they’d pick up local kids, country boy style (just hop on and go), and ride to the waterfalls, get off to wade in the water a bit, then hop back on; which I suspect made Lauren pretty popular. Lauren must have loved the mules as much as her father, as evidenced when Neal later shared a photograph of newly married Lauren and her groom atop the wagon behind the mules on her wedding day. I also heard about Neal’s philanthropic work and contacted his lifelong friend, David Hunt, who is the Florida State Coordinator of Operation Outdoor Freedom, a program which provides wounded veterans with outdoor activities they can enjoy at no cost. In 2016, David put together the Great Florida Cattle Drive along with the Wounded Warrior Project. David said when he called Neal, he didn’t hesitate to make the 600 mile trip with his mules and wagon to carry any wounded veteran who was unable to sit atop a horse for the cattle drive. Neal and Iraqi war vet, Steve Pyle, bonded and became friends while driving 500 head of cattle over 50 miles in just over a week’s time. David confirmed what I already learned, “Neal’s a great guy and one of the best mule handlers around.” We finished out the afternoon at Neal’s home where I was treated to some toe tapping, clawhammer style banjo picking while thumbing through his coffee table book, The Great Florida Cattle Drive: Unbroken Circles, by Nic Stoltzfus, chronicling the 2016 cattle drive with the wounded veteran in which Neal participated. Before I left, I noticed Neal’s porch held an impressive horseshoe collection and he gave me one as a memento of our afternoon together, which included showing me which way to hang it so that it “holds the luck”. As for luck, I had already felt pretty lucky spending a fun afternoon “geeing and a hawing” with Mr. Neal James, a Scaly Mountain treasure. Beth Fierberg enjoys the peaceful mountain life with her husband and three rescue dogs. She is an avid nature lover, photographer and writer, but her primary passion lies with saving abandoned animals and participating in many shelter and rescue projects. Beth can be contacted by email at bethegg@yahoo.com.

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Lovin’ the Journey Time and Adrenaline by Mark Holloway

turn 59 soon. That’s just one shy of 60. Six decades is hard to process. 1960 was such a long time ago. I have a lot less time ahead of me than behind. But I’m not frightened or daunted...for two reasons. First, I still feel 18. There are days I think I could beat my younger self in a race. Staying fit makes you delusional. You say crazy things like, “I still feel 18.” But I really do, on some days. I strongly encourage everyone to keep a strong cardio. If blood and oxygen are essential, why not boost them both? Everything is better in my life when there is good blood flow to my brain. My prayer life, thought life, outdoor life, and married life all benefit from a strong, steady heart rate. I acknowledge I don’t heal as fast as I once did. So I take fewer extreme risks. I still mountain bike with Greg Funkhouser and Scott Neal at night. But I have my limits. For example, Greg (who is many years older) and I were riding down the back side of Glassy Mountain in the rain. The trail is steep and challenging, especially after first riding up to the very top. We glided and ripped through the mud, rocks, roots, limbs, and mucky leaves in fading daylight. At times we were sliding and plummeting down more than riding. Just before we blasted back into civilization along Davis Gap, there was an obstacle. A wide and deep creek, whose banks are too steep to ride, is spanned by a narrow six-inch-wide piece of lumber. Greg shot full speed across the slick, algae covered post with the confidence of a Jedi master. I stopped short and walked my bike across. Folks think I’m crazy. But there are a few athletes out there who raise the crazy bar. Crazy is relative. I rock climb often. I guide more than I climb. Coaching folks beyond their fears is simply exhilarating. Staying healthy is both a reward and a requisite. Jesus promises abundant life if I’m embracing the sort of life He’s offering. And if I continue to dive headlong into daily adventures, I must weld health and abundant living together. Secondly, I can’t control the things I can’t. So my trust level rises to fill in the

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gaps. I can’t predict my future health and safety. But staying fit seems at least the minimum gesture of a grateful heart. Heaven is a reward and promise which dismantles any old age fears which otherwise could cripple me. Optimists and pessimists both meet life’s end. Blind optimism is probably as risky as terminal pessimism. But optimism just seems more fun. The optimist may crack her skull on a rock on the trail. But the pessimist could die by choking on a Twinkie sitting on the couch watching The Doctors. As Winter tightens it’s grip, I encourage you to find your cardio challenge, hopefully outdoors. I encourage you to establish your risk baseline. Be daring, if but for a moment, and see if you feel more alive. Our adrenaline is a gift not to be bottled up. And when spring arrives, I promise you there will be copperheads, ticks, spiders, and bears out there. But the safety boredom offers is far more deadly. I want to greet the time remain-

ing with intentionality. How would we choose to live if we were somehow penalized for dying with too much unused potential?

bows to be torn away.

For me, everyday is a gift-wrapped blessing just begging for the fancy paper and

Winter is a great time to sweat.

I’m glad we all get to be here in these adventurous, wild and scenic mountains. See you on the trail.

Mark and his wife Carol are the owners of Fresh Start, a company dedicated to stewarding the property and homes of their clients. They aspire to be your eyes, ears, and hands while you are away, and your resource for anything you need, whether you are a full or part time resident of the area. Mark can be reached by calling 706.490.7060

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By the Way Cunningham, dieting and the Atlanta Braves By Emory Jones

want to thank everyone who sent my pet pig, Cunningham, a Christmas card during the recent Holiday season. He appreciated each and every one he got and was especially touched by the tender card from someone named, “Carl in Clarkesville,” offering to have Cunningham over for a postChristmas barbeque dinner where he’d be the guest of honor. I love barbequing myself because it gives my wife, Judy a break from cooking. After she goes to the store, gets the everything, makes the salad made, prepares the vegetables, makes dessert and gets the red meat ready to cook for cooking, I put it on the grill. The length of time you cook that meat is critical. I usually let it cook until she runs out to tell me the meat is burning. At that point, I take it off and hose down the grill. Then, assuming she’s set the table and has the sweet-tea ready, we eat. After dinner, all she has to do is the dishes! Despite my love of good barbeque, Cunningham and I had to decline Carl’s offer, in part because, like many of us, Cunningham put on a few extra pounds over Thanksgiving and Christmas. Truth is, he’s become quite a porker! As a result, his pigiatrician at the hog hospital in Homer has put him on

a strict diet of sweet potatoes and parsnips until he drops a hundred or so pounds. So, no more cookouts ‘til spring. My wife says I should go on a diet, too. I’m fine with what I weigh, but she wants me to get down to what it says on my driver’s license. Of course, that’s impossible at my age, so I keep reminding her that I have a condition that prevents me from dieting. It’s called hunger. Anyway, it took a lot of willpower to give up dieting for good, and I don’t want to backslide. But I digress. In those Christmas cards folks sent, several of you asked how Cunningham and I met in the first place, so I’ll tell you. It happened this way: One day I was driving around I-285 in Atlanta and saw a pig hitchhiking. Naturally, I picked him up but was immediately pulled over by a Cobb County deputy. “What are you doing with that pig?” he asked. “Just giving him a ride,” I said. “He was hitchhiking.” The deputy said, “We have laws in Atlanta. If you don’t take that pig to the zoo right now, I’m gonna’ give you a ticket!” Cunningham and I had such a good time at the zoo that I took him to a Braves game that evening We were coming out of the Chop House when Cunningham caught a fly ball in his mouth. He got so excited when they flashed his picture up, he swallowed it. He panicked and ran onto the field and around the bases squealing like a pig choking on a baseball. If you’re a Braves fan, you’ll remember that being the Brave’s first “inside the pork” home run.

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Life is a Blessing! By Tracy McCoy

ast year at this time I was hoping that in the New Year (2018) that I could change my eating habits and “do better” on my diet. Little did I know what God had in store for me. He had a whole new life in mind for me, I just needed to participate. I had tried most every diet out there so when I heard about the 2030 Fast Track plan at Clayton Health and Fitness, I think I rolled my eyes. There are a lot of plans out there designed to take money from desperate people who battle obesity. Now, don’t get me wrong I have seen success stories on some of these other plans but it was not the case for me. I’d drop 20 lbs and then gain it back and more. I decided to give 2030 Fast Track a try, I witnessed some significant weight loss in some of my friends so I attended the informational seminar they hold. I was skeptical to say the least but something or Someone prompted me to try it. It was the best decision I’ve ever made for myself. The plan was easy to understand but not necessarily easy. Easy is Twinkies and fast food but I’d seen what easy had done for me. So I ate chicken and spinach, tomatoes and apples. The fresher the better and I left off the oil, sugar and flour. The supplements made me feel great and the pounds began to fall off. I literally felt like I was melting. The encouragement of good friends and the staff at 2030 Fast Track and Clayton Health and Fitness was incredible. I am down 83 lbs since mid-March and have lost a total of 74 inches. I am wearing pants that are 6 sizes smaller and I can now shop without looking for the Plus size signs. The biggest victory is when I look in the mirror, I love myself. That is a fantastic feeling. I am so thankful to God for the way I feel. We are so fortunate to have this program in our back door,

there are few places in the US where you can access 2030 Fast Track. It is available online but I think that attending meetings and the “live” support has been instrumental to my success. I am 28 pounds away from the goal I set for myself when I started. I am already setting my second goal knowing that it is achievable with my new lifestyle. I felt stuck for so many years and I was so unhealthy! My knees, back and pretty much everything ached. Praise Jesus I found the help I so desperately needed. This can be your year! Don’t stay where you are, make a decision and jump in with both feet!! I believe in this program so much that I want you to have the information you need to get started. For info visit Clayton Health and Fitness at 69 Seed Tick Road in Clayton, Georgia or visit www.claytonhealthandfitness.com/20-30

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Rabun for the Gospel Stones of Remembrance By John Hutcheson Pastor, Tabernacle Baptist Church

t’s hard to believe another year has come and gone, and a brand-new year lies before us! Occasions such as these, are great opportunities to reflect on the past year as we prepare to face the new year. Specifically, it’s a great spiritual discipline to recall the gracious and good things God did as He demonstrated His power and glory on our behalf during the year just completed. That’s not to say that this should be the only occurrence of this time of reflection throughout the year. But it is a natural one, and hopefully, one of many.

the Israelites’ victory, and promises His presence will be with them.

God knows that we, as human beings, are forgetful by nature. He commands His people repeatedly throughout Scripture to “remember” and “do not forget” Him, His word, and His works on our behalf. This is for our own good, so that we will give Him the praise He rightfully deserves, but also, so that we rest in His gracious working in our past to help in our current struggles.

So, in the third chapter of Joshua, God gives very explicit instructions to His people on how they are to cross the Jordan River. When the priests carrying the ark of the Lord’s covenant stepped into the waters, the water would instantly dam up a great distance upstream creating dry ground for the people to cross over. In crossing, however, the people were to keep a distance of 1,000 yards from the ark of the covenant.

This remembrance of God’s powerful and gracious work on our behalf for His glory isn’t only for our good but also for the good of those we are able to influence. One such example of this is found in the fourth chapter of Joshua. A quick background of Israel’s recent history sets the stage for this perhaps unusual command by God. Moses, the servant of the Lord who had led the Israelites out of oppressive bondage in Egypt and through wilderness wanderings for 40 years, has recently died. By divine appointment, Joshua is the new leader of God’s people. In the first chapter of Joshua, God tells Joshua it’s time to enter the Land of Promise, Canaan. He graciously reaffirms His covenant with Abraham from centuries earlier, guarantees

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In light of all this, God exhorts His people through Joshua to be strong and courageous and to follow His prescription for success. He then recaps and reassures what He has just stated. All of this is in the first nine verses of chapter one. The only thing standing between the Israelites and the Promised Land is the Jordan River. But what is impossible with man is possible with God.

Once the entire nation had crossed over on dry ground, God instructed Joshua to select twelve men – one from each tribe – to go where the priests were standing with the ark to retrieve a large rock from the river bed, carrying it on their shoulder. The twelves stones were placed in a pile at the place they camped that night. Again, this was all done at the Lord’s command. What was the purpose for this unusual command? Joshua tells us: “When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the

Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.” (Joshua 4:21-24 ESV). They were to be stones of remembrance. Upon seeing the stones time and time again, God’s people would be reminded of His powerful and gracious work on their behalf. But they were also to provide teaching moments to future generations of God’s faithfulness to His promises and His people. They were to show to the world – all who saw them – that the LORD God is supreme. No “god” can rival Him in supremacy or power. He alone is all-powerful. And thus, He alone is worthy of worship and praise. He is to be honored and feared (respected) like no other. While you may not have a literal pile of stones, you may find it helpful to have some other sort of visual reminder or regular discipline of remembering God’s kindness and providential care in your life. It will help you obey the biblical command to remember what God has done as well as provide encouragement when facing difficult or uncertain circumstances. Furthermore, a visual reminder can serve as a talking point or teaching opportunity to share with others God’s gracious loving care and provision for you.

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Mountain Happenings March 22nd - 31st Wine Highway Week 2019 Wineries in Northeast Georgia Info: www.georgiawine.com

March 30th 30th Annual Helen Trout Tournament Chattahoochee River, Helen Info: 706.878.1908

STEPHENS COUNTY

Sautee Nacoochee Center Sautee Info: 706.878.3300

The Ritz Theater Toccoa Info: www.ritztheatretoccoa.com January 4th - The Malpass Brothers February 7th - Milkshake Mayfield February 22nd Linda Rosenthal and Jack Sanders

January 19th - 20th Mark Twain and Samual Clemmons

March 8th - Millennial

January 26th; February 23rd Community Contra Dance Info: 706.754.3254

HABERSHAM COUNTY

February 23rd Valley Harmony Radio Show

January 26th Steve Bryson, 2018 Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame Inductee Grant Street Music Room Clarkesville Info: 706.754.3541 grantstreetmusicroom.com February 14th - 17th, 21st - 24th Oliver!, the Musical Habersham Community Theatre Clarkesville Info: 706.839.1315 habershamtheater.org WHITE COUNTY February 1st - 2nd 3rd Annual Helen Huttengaudi Pub Crawl & Scavenger Hunt Helen Info: 800.858.8027 February 8th - 9th Faschingverein Weekend Helen Info: 800.858.8027 February 16th Helen’s 50th Celebration - Fasching Festhalle, Helen Info: 706.878.2181 February 16th - 17th WinterFest Arts & Coach Tour 2019 Sautee Nacoochee Center Hardman Farm Historic Site Unicoi State Park & Lodge Helen Arts & Heritage Center Info: 706.878.3300 www.WinterFestArtsTour.org March 23rd Remarkable Georgia Women Hardman Farm Historic Site Sautee Nacoochee Info: 706.878.1077

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January 5th and the first Saturday of the month Blacksmith Demonstration

BabyLand General Hospital Cleveland Info: 706.865.2171 February 9th Valentaine’s Day Celebratio March 16th St. Patrick’s Day Celebration RABUN COUNTY January 4th - 6th Women and Tools Workshop by Peter Bull The Parker Ranch, Clayton Info: 404.373.0566 www.parkersranch.com

February 21st - 23rd YHC Oklahoma! by Rodgers and Hammerstein February 28th Mu Phi Epsilon Member Recital March 3rd Community Band Concert March 4th Chamber Winds Concert March 4th - 5th An Evening of One-Act Plays March 7th Spring Choral Concert March 19th Faculty Artist Recital: Dr Richard Knepp March 21st - April 5th YHC Student Juried Art Exhibition March 23rd Georgia Guitar Quartet Concert March 28th Piano Ensemble Recital Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds Hiawassee Info: 706.896.4191 georgiamountainfairgrounds.com February 23 - Three Dog Night March 23rd - The Price is Right Live CLAY COUNTY, NC

January 5th - Fly Fishing 101 January 6th - Fly Tying 101 Hatch Camp & Art Farm, Clayton Info: 706.782.3747

Peacock Performing Arts Center Hayesville Info: 828.389.2787 thepeacocknc.org

February 9th Sweetheart Ball Rabun County Civic Center, Clayton Info: 706.782.1003

February 2nd - Sock Hops

TOWNS COUNTY January 4th and each Friday Friday Evening Tapas & Acoustic Crane Creek Vineyards, Young Harris Info: 706.379.1236 February 16th - 17th Wedding Expo Brasstown Valley Resort Young Harris Info: 706.379.9900

March 8th - 10th, 15th - 17th “Come Blow Your Horn” March 23rd The Legacy Motown Revue March 30th Johnny Peers & The Muttville Comix MACON COUNTY, NC Smoky Mountain Center for Performing Arts Franklin Info: 866.273.4615; 828.524.1598 GreatMountainMusic.com

Young Harris College Young Harris Info: 706.379-4307

January 25th - The Oak Ridge Boys

February 14th Valentine’s Day Cabaret Fundraiser

February 15th - 16th Valentine Cabaret & Dinner Show

February 2nd - Balsam Range

WinterFest Arts & Coach Tour

February 22nd Jay Allen - A Benefit for Alzheimer’s Research presented by FHS PBLA February 23rd Macon Robotics Tournament and Exhibition March 9th - For King & Country March 15th - 16th Disney’s The Jungle Book Live! Highlands Performing Arts Center Highlands Info: highlandspac.net January 5th - NTL: Allelujah January 12th MET: Adriana Lecouvreur January 19th NTL: Anthony & Cleopatra February 2nd - MET: Carmen February 9th NTL: I’m Not Running March 2nd MET: La Fille du Regiment March 14th - 17th, 21st - 24th HCP: Dinner Theater March 30th MET: Die Walkure

February 16 - 17, 2019

residents Day Weekend, February 16th and 17th, White County is proud to provide a respit from the winter doldroms, WinterFest Arts and Coach Tour 2019. One hundredfifty artists located at four locations within ten miles of one another - with optional coach service – create the most exciting weekend of creativity and hand-crafted beauty to be found in the northeast Georgia mountains. Included in the events are the Sautee Nacoochee Art Festival, the Annual Fireside Arts & Crafts Show at Unicoi State Park & Lodge, the Helen Arts & Heritage Center’s Alpine Winter Festival, and activities at Hardman Farm Historic Site. Throughout the two-day event, artists will demonstrate their skills. Fine art and craft of all kinds will be on display and for sale. Hop On/Hop Off Coach Service is offered on both Saturday and Sunday, connecting the four venues. Transportation will leave on the hour and half hour and will include stops at Unicoi, Helen Arts & Heritage Center, Hardman Farm and SNC. Hop-On and see the sights of Unicoi State Park & Lodge, City of Helen, and Sautee Nacoochee Historic Districts. Hop-Off and experience the 145 artists and craftsmen demonstrating and selling unique art. All festivals are free! Free Parking at Unicoi State Park and Sautee Nacoochee Center. A multi-part ticket and wristband is needed to ride the coach. When the ticket is stamped at each location, the festival-goer is eligible to enter a grand prize drawing. Combination transportation/raffle ticket: $10 good for both days. Book of 5 transportation/raffle tickets: $40. Selected as one of the top 20 events for 2018 by the Southeast Tourism Society, WinterFest offers easy access to four festivals on the same Presidents’ Day weekend. Plan your visit and enjoy the weekend with us! Purchase tickets and learn more at www.WinterFestArtsTour.org or call 706-878-3300.

2019 Wine Highway Week

March 22 - 31, 2019

he Winegrowers Association of Georgia is sponsoring its annual Wine Highway Week beginning Saturday March 22nd through Sunday March 31st, 2019. This is a great way to see and experience the views and wonderful wines of Northeast Georgia. Our wineries offer great wines that are grown and produced here in Georgia, many of which have won local, regional, national and international awards. There will be a $50.00 fee for each participant which will be collected at the first winery visited. Travelers will receive a “Wine Highway Week” collectors’ glass and Passport which will give them admission to ALL participating wineries at no additional charge. Be sure to keep you Passport and Collectors glass with you at all wineries visited! Member wineries and Affiliate Members will each provide their own unique open-house format, with many offering food and wine pairings, music, barrel and library wine tastings and more! Hours : Fridays 12-5, Saturdays 11-5, Sundays 12:30-5, Monday-Thursday 1-5 Additional information and website listings are available at www.georgiawine.com

Northeast Georgia Vineyards and Wineries 12 Spies Vineyard: Rabun Gap, 706-490-0890 Bear Claw Vineyards: Blue Ridge, 706-223-3750 Cartecay Vineyards: Ellijay, 706-698-9463 Cenita Vineyards: Cleveland, 706-865-7478 Chateau Meichtry Vineyards: Talking Rock, 706-502-1608 Crane Creek Vineyards: Young Harris, 706-379-1236 Currahee Vineyards & Winery: Toccoa, 706-768-5383 Engelheim Vineyards: Ellijay, 706-635-9463 Fainting Goat Vineyards: Jasper, 706-692-9463 Habersham Winery: Helen, 706-878-9463 Hightower Creek Vineyards, LLC: Hiawassee, 706-896-8963 Kaya Vineyard and Winery: Dahlonega, 706-219-3514 Odom Springs Vineyard: Blairsville, 706-745-3094 Ott Farms and Vineyard: Elijay, 386-717-8355 Paradise Hills Winery, Resort and Spa: Blairsville, 877-745-7483 Serenberry Vineyards: Morganton, 706-623-8463 Serenity Cellars: Cleveland, 706-348-1277 Sharp Mountain Vineyards: Jasper, 770-735-1210 Stonewall Creek Vineyards: Tiger, 706-212-0584 The Cottage Vineyard & Winery: Cleveland, 706-865-0053 Tiger Mountain Vineyards: Tiger, 706-782-4777 Yonah Mountain Vineyards: Cleveland, 706-878-5522

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Saving lives with your help One womans story:

he first time that Cole pushed me down the stairs, he was high on Meth. The boys came running after me screaming ‘Mama!”. I didn’t want my kids to see the abuse so I pretended it was an accident. It was certainly not that it had just started in fact it had been over a decade since I married him and what I first thought was just a little jealousy turned into mental and emotional abuse. I would make excuses when my friends commented on how controlling Cole was, he soon isolated me from every friend and family member I had. He refused to use or allow me to use any form of birth control and so one child became two, three and then four. I couldn’t work because we couldn’t afford a sitter and he didn’t want me around anyone else. So I stayed home and raised my kids, trying each day not to make Cole mad. His family and friends thought he was such a great dad and husband. In fact everyone that knew my husband loved him. I did too, in the beginning. When we started dating he treated me well and even after we got married he was kind and loving. The first time that he lost his temper his words were very hurtful but he told me it was my fault for making him mad. I heard that every time he got angry. His occasional drinking had escalated and he was drinking from the time he came home until he fell asleep on the couch each night. It was hard to take his outbursts and the mental games he played with me. I believed that it was all my fault and that if I would change my behavior, his would improve. When he began taking pills and eventually Meth, he turned his anger towards the kids, I thought about leaving many times. I was filled with doubt and fear. Where would I go and who could I turn to, my family and friends had turned their backs on me. I felt so alone and insecure. I knew about F.A.I.T.H. but didn’t think that they would help me. I truly believed I was the problem. One night while bathing my son, Cole came into the bathroom ranting and raving. I turned to him and he grabbed my face in his hands and slammed his head against mine. I saw stars and it hurt, I began to cry and my son did too. The constant fighting was taking a toll on my children. That night I planned how I could leave and take my kids. “If you leave me I’ll take

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the kids away from you. No one will believe you over me. Better yet, I’ll kill you if you leave.” Cole told me when he came home early while I was packing our bags the next day. He pushed me causing me to fall and tumble down the bank in our yard. He grabbed my arms and pulled me up until my nose was against his and he vowed to kill me if I ever tried to leave him. I believed that he would do it or take my kids. I had not worked since the first child was born, I had no money and no way to get any. I thought I just had to keep my husband from getting mad. It was only two weeks later that I found out I was pregnant again. I sobbed, how could I have another child. Money was always an issue and I was afraid for the kids I had, how could I bring another child into this mess. When I told Cole he was happy, hoping for a little girl this time. I was devastated! It never mattered to him that I was carrying his child, he still hurt me. My oldest had started to try to defend me when Cole was drunk or high and lost his temper. That caused him to turn his anger on him and I had never felt more helpless. I hated how Cole treated me, but I could not stand him being mean to my kids. I laid awake at night trying to plan our escape. I never thought it would happen the way it did or as soon as it did. I got the kids off to school that day, with my two youngest boys at home. I asked Cole to help me fix breakfast, his outburst was unbelievable. I had a cell phone but my husband would let me go without minutes so that I couldn’t call anyone while he was at work. He grabbed me while I was holding my son and pushed me. I grabbed both kids and the phone and ran to the car. He caught me grabbing one of the boys away from me. I was inside the car with one and he was banging on the window threatening to kill me while holding the other. Both kids were screaming and I made the only call that I could make from my phone. I called 911. I told the lady on the phone that I was locked in the car, she could hear the kids crying and screaming and Cole beating on the window. Putting her on speaker phone she told my husband that the police were on their way and that he was to open the door and put our child in the car seat and back away from the car. He never dreamed I would call for help and he did as she said. The police came and they escorted me away from the only home I knew. I and my kids were in our pajamas

without a single thing and that day we started over. The police told me about F.A.I.T.H. and the next day I went there to see if I could get just a little help. I was afraid that Cole would get high or drunk and come after me or take my kids. What I found at F.A.I.T.H. was family and friends. People who really cared and understood. I was told for the first time that it wasn’t my fault and I didn’t deserve to be abused. The child that I was carrying was born while living at the shelter. My five kids and I spent a year living at the shelter, getting much needed therapy and learning how life should be. For the first time in a long time I felt relatively safe. It wasn’t like he didn’t try to find me, our temporary restraining order became a permanent one. My two oldest boys want nothing to do with their dad, he has completed anger management classes and has supervised visitation with the smaller kids in a safe environment. My kids and I now have a place to live and I have a job. I still worry that he will find us and try to hurt us but the support system I have through F.A.I.T.H. makes me feel safer than I ever have. I know that coming to F.A.I.T.H. saved my life. I believe that Cole would have killed me or hurt one of our kids if I had not made that call. I am so thankful for all that they have done for me. From the staff at the shelter to DFACS and local law enforcement I could never repay them for all they’ve done for me and how great they’ve been. I want anyone that is living in an abusive situation to listen, don’t risk your life or the lives of your children, reach out today and you’ll find the help you’ve longed for. Don’t wait, call the Crisis Line at 1.888.782.1338. I regret all of the things my children witnessed. If you have ever donated even a dollar to Fight Abuse In The Home (F.A.I.T.H.) I want to say thank you and if you can help please do because the life you save could be that of someone just like me.

2019 Sweetheart Ball Saturday February 9th Saturday February 9th 6 PM – 11 PM the Annual Sweetheart Ball will be held at The Rabun County Civic Center at 201 West Savannah Street in Clayton, Georgia. The event is the primary fundraiser for F.A.I.T.H., a non-profit organization that offers provide services to victims (and their family members) of child abuse, sexual assault, and domestic violence. In 2018 thousands of victims received help but sadly there are more who need your help. Please call 706.782.1003 to reserve your seat at this event or find out how you can help.

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Adventure Out Rufus Morgan Falls by Peter McIntosh By Peter McIntosh

n this adventure we’re heading up to North Carolina and hiking to a beautiful slender cascade, high up on the side of Siler Bald, called Rufus Morgan Falls. This charming waterfall is named in honor of the Reverend Rufus Morgan, (1885-1983) a man often referred to as the Moses of the Mountains. Reverend Rufus was born in Franklin, NC and ministered all around the mountains of western North Carolina in places like the Penland School, Cherokee, Highlands and Murphy. Morgan also preached the good word at St. Peter’s in New York City. But beyond his church duties, Morgan was an ardent and long time volunteer on the Appalachian Trail. And the loop trail leading up to and away from the falls, has a very definite AT feel to it. This is a one mile loop trail (blue blazed) beginning and ending on Forest Service Road 388. There is a trailhead sign and a well marked pull out here. From the pull out, the trail ascends, a bit steeply a first, via switchbacks. You’ll be going back and fourth right above your parked car. Soon the pathway leads off westward into a cove, still ascending but less steeply now. You’ll cross an intermittent stream and begin heading southward. A little further along the trail comes to a rock outcropping. This is the site of a landslide that occurred

falls before reaching a small side trail leading back to the cascades base. It’s a beautiful narrow waterfall, a natural silver necktie on the mountainside. I’m thinking that the cove forest around this waterfall will be bountiful with spring wildflowers, so I plan on returning then. After enjoying the falls, continue on, now on the south side of the stream, descending through deep green Rhododendrons. Then the path joins up with an old logging road, still descending and before you know it, you’re back at your car. Happy hiking! And here in beginter my poem for winter: Winter’s here but no need to stay in, Bundle up warmly and let the adventure begin. A short hike up a trail, then you will soon reach her, A lovely cascade named after a preacher. Getting there: From US 441 in Franklin, go west on US 64 for 3.7 miles and turn right on Old Murphy Road. (Look for Wayah Bald sign.) After turning right, almost immediately turn left, just past a convenience store, on SR 1310. go 6.5 miles, passing the LBJ Job Corps complex, to FS 388 on the left. Follow FS 388 for 2 miles to the well marked pull out on the right. You can see more of Peter’s photos at: www.mcintoshmountains.com And to learn about Reverend Morgan: http://www.stfrancischerokee.com/the-rev-rufus-morgan

back in 2004 when hurricanes Francis and Ivan came through. It’s dramatic to look at now and I’m guessing it was amazing when it happened. Just past this spot there will be a small wooden footbridge. I love little footbridges and an thankful for the folks that put them there. The footing around this little bridge can be wet and tricky so do be careful. And right past the bridge is a nice little cascade more akin to a sliding rock. From this spot, especially in the winter, you can look up and see Rufus Morgan Falls. The trail leads up and away from the

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Peregrine Falcons Expect to Return by Joel Hitt Nature Writer & Presenter

ate this winter will mark the anticipated fifth straight year of nesting Peregrine Falcons reappearing in Rabun County’s Tallulah Gorge. They were first spotted by rock climbers on the North face in early February 2014. These visitors decided correctly that wall climbing at this point in the gorge was suddenly on hold! They also went straight to the park office, to make sure that the park authorities were notified of their finding. Then Parks Manager Danny Tatum (since retired) and Asst. Manager Jessica James (still in this role today) took a special interest in tracking and confirming the discovery. Somehow, Ms. James knew just whom to call in the Department of Natural Resources offices in Atlanta. Nathan Klaus is one of Georgia’s best birders of this generation and was ecstatic about the news. Not only that, but he was scheduled to come through the area anyway en route to a meeting in North Carolina that weekend. Now, he’d for sure schedule an early arrival at the state park to have a look-see. But Falcons don’t just hang out at the same ledge all day, not even if they are nesting. Even then they can be off hunting and scouting on short trips, so there was concern whether they would be relocated.

Early sign of Peregrine courtship: Alternate bowing of male and female during nest inspection. Joell Zalatan, 2017

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Nathan arrived on the scene, later to report that when he got into the fifth straight hour of focusing optics on the one area in question, he was just about to pack it up and get on to his session in North Carolina. Thank goodness he decided to give it a few more minutes, for he soon found first one, and then a second Peregrine Falcon land on the ledge. On closer inspection with his spotting scope, he noted that the ledge contained a scrape on the far left side that looked perfect for a clutch of eggs. Yes, it was Valentine’s Day 2014, and these two Peregrines seemed totally in love! So other than the excitement of seeing this handsome pair readying their nest, and later laying and hatching young ones, just what was the big deal here? Well, I am so glad you have asked because the deal turns out to be very very big indeed! You see, these two Peregrine Falcons nesting on the north bank of Tallulah Gorge in this popular state park were the first successful nesting of this species known in Georgia since 1935! That sighting was in Cloudland Canyon, Dade County, in the Northwest sector of Georgia. And that was eighty years ago! Peregrines have always been a cosmopolitan species of bird, known for covering virtually the whole planet, though

Mother next to 4 eggs being incubated, all successful births. Connie Sullivan, 2017

in small number in many places, and totally absent in others. Of critical importance to the dates I’ve mentioned, I should quickly cover what many readers have known would be coming soon in this story. The year 1935 was just ten years prior to the release of DDT, which was touted as a quite effective pesticide. Indeed it was. It became available in stores everywhere, was extensively used in the latter half of World War II, by the USA for our own soldiers to use to fight off illness, especially malaria. By 1945 it was available for public sale in the US as an agricultural and household pesticide. Meanwhile, studies appeared on the negative side, especially with the release of Rachel Carson’s book, Silent Spring in 1962. Both sides were true. DDT did prevent disease spread by insects, particularly malaria. But it also left devastating damage to the environment, something not expected. Specifically for the Peregrine Falcons, here’s what we know. Studies among raptors determined that the principal cause of their sharp decline has been weakened eggshells due to thinning. Thus for years, a large percentage of Peregrine females were literally crushing their own eggs when they tried to incubate them. When DDT was banned in 1972 in the United States, eggshells gradually regained their strength and thickness. So for those who wondered, this is what the big deal is about! The discovery of Peregrines nesting here again is nothing less than a cause to celebrate! I’ll be celebrating along with others as soon as we confirm the safe return of our heroes, one male and one female, to Tallulah Gorge State Park, by early- to mid-February. Watch the local news, or call or drop by the park to inquire. If it all happens again this coming year, bring your binoculars or spotting scopes and ask for directions at the front desk! I hope to see you there!

Proud parent making history with 4 young ones! Connie Sullivan, 2017

Winter 2019 - 55

In September 2015, we became empty nesters and moved to Rabun County because of our love for mountains and colder weather. We were first introduced to Paws 4 Life at a Foxfire festival and began volunteering both at the shelter and at adoption events.

by Terri and Eric Johnson

t has been almost 30 years ago that two military brats met, fell in love, and got married after a whirlwind romance of only 5 months! Little did we realize how much of a huge love we both had for animals! Eric was raised on a cattle farm in the panhandle of Florida, bottle feeding orphan calves and taking care of many dogs, cats, and a gopher turtle or two! His Dad used to say “we need to hang a traffic light at the back door of the farm house” because every time we opened it three animals would run in and two would run out!

Over the years we have been blessed to be part of so many kitties lives from the kittens we bottle fed who become very attached to humans to the elderly who just want a loving home to spend their last years in. Even now, we have rescued a cat that thinks she is a dog and she walks on a leash. If you are ever at the Tallulah Falls Short Line trail you probably have seen her out walking with us, greeting all humans warmly and putting all dogs firmly in their place! Volunteering is a very rewarding and we would challenge anyone who loves animals to go to Paws 4 Life and visit the cat room, pull up a chair or better yet sit in the floor amongst them and quietly watch their little personalities blossom! Soon you will find a furry friend for life!

I was raised in the suburbs of Anchorage, Alaska where we had a very patient calico cat that allowed me to dress her in my favorite doll clothes and a dog that pulled me around on a sled in the snow. At sixteen I rescued my first litter of orphaned kittens and I was hooked! I have a great love for all God’s creatures, but my passion is cats! Thankfully the Lord brought into my life a man who is equally as crazy about cats as I am!

Eric and I are very happy to be a part of the Rabun Paws 4 Life “family” and recommend anyone wanting to make a positive difference in the lives of these animals to volunteer at the shelter, it truly is a life-changing experience! You may find Soraya walking the Tallulah Falls Short Line trail.

Fast forward two girls, lots of cats, and many moves later, Eric’s job brought us to Georgia in August of 2004 where we settled into raising our teenage girls and always rescuing cats along the way. We volunteered as foster parents for our local shelter and also did TNR work. (Trap, Neuter, Release of feral cat colonies). We also worked with our local vet bottle feeding orphaned kittens and taking care of elderly and abused cats.

Visit our shelter at 261 Boen Creek Road, Tiger, GA 30576 Call us for information, or to report lost/missing/found animals in Rabun County 706.782.5422 Donations for the care of our animals are always appreciated. Mail to PAWS 4 Life – PO Box 216, Clayton, GA 30525