Women’s Apparel & Accessories Across from the Chetola Resort 537 North Main Street • Blowing Rock, NC 28605 828.295.4200
Banner Elk Location Now Open Grandfather Center 3990 NC Hwy 105 S • Suite 8 • Banner Elk, NC 28604 828.898.2155
Welcome to Our New Boutique Offering blouses, scarves, caps, wigs, jewelry and more!
Renewing Your Spirit Inside & Out 336.818.1552 41 Boone Trail • North Wilkesboro, NC 28659 02-03.indd 2
5/26/15 9:02 AM
LEGITIMATE SAVINGS UP TO 75% OFF RETAIL!
• MARKET SAMPLES
• LIVING ROOM
• CLOSEOUTS
• FACTORY CLOSEOUTS
• SOFAS & CHAIRS IN LEATHER AND FABRIC
• DISCONTINUED
• OVERSTOCKS • BEDROOM • DINING ROOM • LIVING ROOM • ACCENTS ...AND MORE
4900 Hickory Blvd Granite Falls, NC 28630 Mon – Sat 9am-6pm; Sun 1pm-5pm (828) 496-2262
25232-15_001-044.pdf 1
• DINING ROOM • BEDROOM • MARKET SAMPLES • DISCONTINUED • SCRATCH & DENT ...AND MORE 4916 Hickory Blvd Granite Falls, NC 28630 Tues – Sat 9am-6pm (828) 313-0795
• SHOWROOM SAMPLES • SOFAS, CHAIRS, LOVESEATS • BEDROOMS • DINING ROOMS • LIVING ROOMS ...AND MORE
4930 Hickory Blvd Ste #101 Granite Falls, NC 28630 Tues – Sat 9am-6pm (828) 313-1290
5/26/2015 11:10:42 AM
Photo by Sherrie Norris
publisher Gene Fowler
executive editor Tom Mayer
editor Sherrie Norris sherrie@aawmag.com 828.264.3612, ext. 251
writers Emily Apple Steve Behr Heather Brandon Bonnie Church Yozette “Yogi” Collins Jeff Eason Marion Edwards Hollie Greene Heather Jordan Mary McKinney Anna Oakes Sue Spirit
production & design Meleah Bryan Marianne Koch Kristin Obiso
advertising Rick Tobin 828.773.0406
‘Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.’ - Mother Teresa
25232-15_001-044.pdf 2
cover photo
by Sherrie Norris
Any reproduction of news articles, photographs or advertising artwork is strictly prohibited without permission from management. ©Copyright 2015 A Mountain Times Publication
5/26/2015 11:10:43 AM
contents
women in the news 7 mitzie huffman 10 mom’s world 12 you go girls 14 beautiful image of boone 15 bryony renouf 16 beauty 18 fashion 19 living well 20
women’s fund of the blue ridge 22 - 29
karen sabo
10
mitzie huffman
16
bryony renouf
young at heart marriage and family corner jan rienerth passport to adventure children’s council joda ollis by the book recipes
24
34
jan rienerth
40
joda ollis
AAWmag.com | June 2015
25232-15_001-044.pdf 3
30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44
5
5/26/2015 11:10:43 AM
editor’s note Summer time
The summers of my childhood are quickly becoming faded memories, but I can still recall enough to weave a nostalgic, if not exactly happy, tapestry. The end of a school year was always a welcome relief for me, even though our family wasn’t among those who loaded up the station wagon and headed to the beach. Once every three or four years, we might have made a two-day trip to New Jersey (I kid you not) to take my maternal grandmother to her older daughter’s house, or to pick her up and bring her home with us for a few months. My father, a former truck driver, preferred night driving, when there was less traffic, so we made the 10-12 hour trip during the night. He slept during the day and we often headed back south that same night. Rarely did we get to stay longer. While he slept, we had to be quiet, so we got to walk the three blocks to the Atlantic City Boardwalk, take in the sights off the steel pier, and maybe dip our toes into the Atlantic Ocean. It was the only time we saw the beach unless we were invited to Myrtle with our friends’ families, or went with our church youth group to Camp Caswell. Oh, I almost forgot. There was that time we got to see the White House while passing through Washington, D.C. Except it was at 3 a.m. and Dad wouldn’t let us get out of the car. We couldn’t even find the national icon until he actually stopped the car and asked an inebriated pedestrian where it was. He raised his finger and pointed right beside our car. There it was, in all its patriotic glory. Wow. We’ll never forget that first glimpse. There were those summers that I got to spend a week or two with cousins off the mountain. The Rutherford County sun gets awfully hot for a mountain girl out in the fields picking corn; the July heat in the Davie County tomato fields was nearly unbearable at times, too. But, there were cute boys on both farms. That helped, except they were older and didn’t acknowledge my existence. As the saying goes, there’s no place like home, and my summers in Crossnore were rather simple, but those are the ones that truly stand out. They mattered. Hanging out with Gina at her family’s community store and laundromat, or sitting around the fountain with the gang, or at the service station owned by my friend, Kathy’s family, watching the softball games on the school campus, walking to Sloop’s
6
Dam, or spending time roaming through the holler with my cousin, Patti, are among my favorite memories. Picking peas out of the family garden – and shelling those blasted little things – was not my favorite pastime. And, I really didn’t like my morning sleep to be interrupted by the incessant bagpiping that occurred every July during the Scottish Bagpiping School, on the hill above my family’s little brick house. I’ll never forget the Fourth of July Parade that came rolling by my house every year, and how our little community burst at the seams when the sun went down and everyone, for miles around, gathered in for the fireworks. Dipping ice cream and making steak hoagies at Cullie’s Dairy Bar came along a little later in my teens, but it’s still a part of my summertime memories that makes me smile. Those were the days, my friend. We thought they’d never end. But they did.
June 2015 | AAWmag.com
25232-15_001-044.pdf 4
5/26/2015 11:10:43 AM
WOMENINTHENEWS
Alpha Gamma Chapter members of The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International attend state convention in Chapel Hill. From left: Diane Ward, Birgitta McGalliard, Judy Carlson, past state president, Susan Phipps, chapter president, Lee Ann Williams and Barbara Perry-Sheldon, state executive secretary. Photo submitted
Local Delta Kappa Gamma Members Attend State Convention Six members of the local Alpha Gamma Chapter of The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International attended its state convention in Chapel Hill April 24-26. The professional organization promotes professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education worldwide. Representing the High Country at the convention were Diane Ward and Lee Ann Williams, future leaders of the Watauga/Avery chapter; Birgitta McGalliard who presented a workshop about her book, “Lives Divided: My Family Torn Apart by WWII and the Russian Gulag”; Barbara Perry-Sheldon who serves as the
executive secretary of the state organization and is on the International Editorial Board; Judy Carlson, past state president and current chairman of the Educational Excellence Foundation; and Susan Phipps, who serves as the current chapter president and is a member of the state Education Law and Policy Committee. A memorable part of the weekend was the Ceremony of Remembrance on Sunday morning where each DKG member who had passed away during the previous year was remembered. Alpha Gamma members Daisy Adams, a retired Watauga teacher and civic leader, and Geraldine McGee, retired Avery County
teacher and wife of former Avery School Superintendent Harry McGee, were remembered and celebrated. Another special event during the weekend was the presentation of the Founders Award, the highest award given by the state organization of Delta Kappa Gamma, to State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. June Atkinson. Atkinson was lauded for her faithful efforts to protect the students and teachers of North Carolina during serious cuts to public education over the last several years. For more information about Delta Kappa Gamma, visit www.DKG.org.
Mark your calendars for Pretty in Pink Fashion Show The 11th Annual Pretty in Pink Fashion Show will take place at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 18 at Camp Yonahnoka, on the grounds of Linville Ridge Golf Club in Linville. This year’s show will feature fashions by Belk. Cancer survivor Mary Morgan will be the guest speaker. Tickets for the event are $45 with proceeds to benefit the Avery County Cancer Resource Center. Since it opened March 5, 2007, The Avery County Cancer Resource Center has provided a myriad of resources for cancer patients within the Appalachian
Regional Healthcare System and includes the following: Breast and cervical cancer control program · General cancer screenings · Reach to Recovery · Road to Recovery · Look Good Feel Better · Wigs/turbans/hats · Lymphedema treatments · Support groups · Prosthetics The center also works in conjunction with the Ameri-
can Cancer Society to provide a wig bank, and provides turbans and hats purchased by the Cannon Memorial Hospital Volunteer program. Local volunteers also knit caps for chemo patients. Appalachian Regional Healthcare Foundation works with the Cancer Resource Center to secure funds for screening or diagnostic mammograms for uninsured or underinsured women in the area. For more information and/or to RSVP for the luncheon, call Emily Wolfe at (828) 262-4391. AAWmag.com | June 2015
25232-15_001-044.pdf 5
7
5/26/2015 11:10:43 AM
WOMENINTHENEWS
Avery women help frame the exterior of Habitat’s future administration office on Taylor Road in Newland. Photos submitted
A few of the High Country women who participated in Women’s Build Day on Saturday, May 9, are from left: Donna Dicks, Susan Carter, Janet Speer and Lisa Shook, future homeowner.
8
Future homeowner Lisa Shook, at right, and her son Cody, on Saturday, May 9, as they prepare to help Habitat for Humanity volunteers lay the foundation for their new home in the Foscoe community.
June 2015 | AAWmag.com
25232-15_001-044.pdf 6
5/26/2015 11:10:43 AM
WOMENINTHENEWS
Women’s Build Day a success in the High Country Several women in the High Country were hard at work on various projects during National Habitat Women’s Build Week, May 2-10, an annual event sponsored by Habitat for Humanity and Lowe’s, In addition to starting a new house in the Foscoe community, the women volunteers in Watauga County, in conjunction with the High Country Realtor Association, also helped construct a playground at Habitat’s GreenWood development, north of Boone. In Avery County, female volunteers worked with several men to frame the exterior walls of Habitat’s future administration office on Taylor Road in Newland. “It was a beautiful day to be out working with a great group for such a great cause,” said Watauga Habitat Construction Manager Jim Rogers, on Saturday. “And what could be more fitting than working alongside a mother and her son on Mother’s Day weekend, as we lay the foundation for what will be their home.” National Women Build Week is a weeklong event created by Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build program that
challenges women to devote at least one day to help build affordable housing in their local communities. Across the nation, more than 15,000 women were expected to volunteer at Habitat construction sites that week to spotlight the homeownership challenges faced by women. Lowe’s helped launch National Women Build Week in 2008 and each year provides the support of Lowe’s Heroes and conducts how-to clinics at stores to teach volunteers construction skills. “National Women Build Week has made a difference in the lives of thousands of families since its inception,” said Joan Higginbotham, Lowe’s director of community relations. “We’re grateful to all the women in the High Country who got involved and were part of something bigger with Lowe’s and Habitat.” Lowe’s donated nearly $2 million to this year’s National Women Build Week, including a $5,000 store gift card to Watauga County Habitat for Humanity. National Women Build Week is one of the major initiatives supported through Lowe’s national partnership with Habitat
for Humanity. Since 2003, Lowe’s has committed more than $63 million to Habitat and helped more than 4,000 families improve their living conditions. Habitat’s Women Build program recruits, educates and inspires women to build and advocate for simple, decent and affordable homes in their communities. Since the program was created in 1998, more than 2,300 homes have been built in partnership with low-income families using Women Build crews. For more information on Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build program and to learn about Women Build events in communities across the U.S. year-round, visit Habitat.org/wb or the Women Build tab on www.facebook.com/habitat. For more local information, contact Alex Hooker, Executive Director, Watauga County Habitat for Humanity, at (828) 268-9545 or by visiting www. wataugahabitat.org. In Avery County, contact Melanie Burgin, Office and Programs Manager, Avery County Habitat for Humanity, at (828) 733-1909, or visit www.averycohfh. org. AAWmag.com | June 2015
25232-15_001-044.pdf 7
9
5/26/2015 11:10:43 AM
Mitzie Huffman Permanent with
Purpose
Photos submitted
ir son, Marshal, Mitzie sband, Dale, and the Together with her hu at the world in a new k loo eral years ago to Huffman learned sev and her family. d has a plan for her life way, trusting that Go
In April 2004, Mitzie Huffman received a phone call that confirmed her worst fears. Sitting in the classroom of the elementary school in which she’d taught for close to 20 years, Mitzie’s prognosis was delivered: “The damage is permanent. It is irreversible,” meaning that Mitzie would remain in a wheelchair, without the use of her legs, after undergoing a surgery that may have caused a spinal cord stroke. The reality of these words, following a series of surgeries that had begun in November 2003, could have been the end of Mitzie’s life; yet, she, along with her husband, Dale, and her son, Marshal, decided to make the best of what had happened. Together, they chose to look at the world in a new way and trust that God had a plan for their lives and their family. For as long as Mitzie has memory, she has been different from others. At age 5, she began walking with a limp, a condition that was explained at age 10 when she had a tumor removed from her spine. Although the limp didn’t go away, it did not inhibit her in any way. She says, “I went on and did whatever I wanted to do.” A cheerleader in high school, Mitzie graduated from Avery High and majored in education at Appalachian State University. Her original plan was to teach high school social studies, but when she was assigned to student teach at Avery Middle School, her plans began to change. From there, she was a substitute teacher, and in 1984, she began her first year of teaching at Newland Elementary, working in a combination class of 36 fifth and sixth- graders. After 31 years at Newland Elementary, Mitzie describes fourth10
Mitzie Huffman refuses to allow a physical disability to rob her of her joy.
sixth-graders as the perfect age. “They still have fun and if you look at them in just the right way they still mind and they don’t argue,” she says. Mitzie describes teaching as a ‘calling,’ something in which she’s hoping to make a difference in the lives of the children she teaches. Each year, her goal remains the same — to love them, and yet, still hold them responsible and accountable. Following her graduation from ASU in 1983, Mitzie married Dale Huffman who she describes as “ a true gem, the sweetest and best man that has ever lived.” In 1992, they celebrated the birth of their son, Marshal. Mitzie says that she and Marshal have enjoyed a close relationship, and always, when he was younger, making “snuggle time,” in the mornings before school, a priority. When Marshal was almost 18 months old, Mitzie took her first group of fifth graders to Washington, D.C., a four-day trip that allowed them to experience what they had studied about government and the history of the United States. Her favorite part of those trips was watching the students’ faces when they first glimpsed the Washington Monument. “Everything was so much bigger than they had imagined,” she says. Nine school trips later, with Marshal beginning his sixth-grade year
June 2015 | AAWmag.com
25232-15_001-044.pdf 8
5/26/2015 11:10:43 AM
— and Mitzie her 20th teaching — Mitzie began to feel a strange tingling sensation in her legs. Ignoring it at first, the tingling grew to a heaviness that eventually made it impossible for Mitzie to walk. After consulting with several doctors and surgeons, Mitzie had her first surgery in November 2003. With physical therapy following this initial surgery, she made some progress, but was still unable to walk on her own. One morning, she woke up and could not get out of bed. She called for Dale and he carried her to the car and onto another series of doctors visits and, eventually, two more surgeries. With the mindset that her time in a wheelchair was temporary, Mitzie continued to be hopeful that things would turn around, that she would begin to have feeling in her legs, and over time, would have the strength to walk again. Still in the wheelchair, Mitzie went back to her classroom, learning to teach in a new way. Of that time she says, “I felt less of a person. I didn’t know what to wear. I had to cut my hair and didn’t feel like myself.” After a trip to the Mayo Clinic in Florida, Mitzie received the news that the damage to her spine was irreversible. She would remain in the wheelchair. At that time, decisions had to be made. How would she cook for her family? How could she do laundry? How would she be able to participate in her favorite summer pastime of sunbathing? Mitzie says, “It was Dale who figured these things out,” she says. “Dale found a way to remodel our home. We moved in with my parents for six weeks, and he worked on our house, converting it in a way that allowed me to do everything I wanted to do.” Incredibly, Mitzie shares, “I never asked why. I knew God had a plan. He has given me Dale, a man who loves me. He has given me a place to go and teach that I love and enjoy. He has given me a wonderful son. God has put everything in place. How could I ask why? What good would it do?” With an amazing passion and commitment to her family and students, the mindset Mitzie had as a young girl with a limp has once again become the way she approaches life. “I just continue on,” she says. “There has been a whole lot of trial and error, but I learn to adapt and go on.” Soon after her diagnosis, Mitzie and Dale took Marshal to a Third Day concert. Marshal commented that there weren’t many
Surrounded by a group of her students, Mitzie Huffman describes teaching as a ‘calling,’ something through which she hopes to make a difference in young lives.
people in wheelchairs. Mitzie responded, “No, there aren’t. But, I want you to know that this will not change any of the things we’ve dreamed of — this will not change anything we want to do. Whatever it is, we will find a way.” Missing only one of her school’s field trips, Mitzie’s students are always curious about how she will be able to move from place to place. Although she researches to find places that hare handicapped accessible, it isn’t always the case. She tells her students, “We will figure it out. We will make a way.” Learning to adjust to the new way of life did affect the way Mitzie approaches her students. She has a deeper sense of compassion when considering their lives and their struggles. However, she is extremely committed to preparing them for their futures and teaching them to be thoughtful and kind young men and women. Beginning each February, she selects one student a day, at random, to spend a day in a wheelchair. Based on their experiences, students write a paper that describes their day, the difficulties of navigating the halls, the way they were treated by others — and how they felt about themselves. “This assignment gives them a new point of view,” she says. “They are learning to look at the world in a new way.” Mitzie’s passions extend beyond her classroom. She is a very active member of Plumtree Presbyterian Church, where she serves as the director of Vacation Bible School as well as the church Christmas play. “Church is a major part of my life,” she says. “It is part of who I am.” It is in church that Mitzie’s fervent belief to trust in the Lord and lean not on your own
understanding is constantly reaffirmed, she says. Mitzie understands that we might never know why things happen and that there’s always a reason for everything, but through it all, she says, she has been able to see God’s hand at work. Recently, she reconnected with a former student who is now in a wheelchair. He told her he had thought of her often during his darkest times. “I kept thinking, if Mrs. Huffman can do it, so can I,” he says. Similarly, Mitzie has been able to help her father through recent struggles. “If that’s what it’s for — just for one student or my father — it has been worth it.” Mitzie describes her perfect day as one spent at the beach with Dale and Marshal. “We are together. I am watching them have fun and enjoying my family,” she says. Mitzie’s advice to others is shared with the same measure of passion in which she talks about her life, her students, her family and her commitment to God. “Listen to Him,” she says. “If you are trusting in Him, He will take care of you — of that, I am proof.” All too often, she says, the idea that “words will never hurt” is far from the truth. In many instances, she adds, it is words that shape, redefine, and resonate in our hearts and minds. With both courage and strength, Mitzie Huffman, along with her family, has taken the words from a phone call in 2004 and turned devastating news into something beautiful, something amazing — a meaningful life that is permanent with purpose. Hollie Greene Hollie Greene is an English teacher who loves stories, words and the mountains of North Carolina.
AAWmag.com | June 2015
25232-15_001-044.pdf 9
11
5/26/2015 11:10:43 AM
mom’sworld
Facing Your
Fears
I have never been much of a risk-taker. I like things planned out.
I like my lists. In general, I like to play it safe. Consequently, I’ve never been an extreme sports kind of person — skydiving, bungee-cord jumping, or white water rafting on a Class 5 river have very little appeal to me. I think of the ‘what-if’s’ and decline the opportunity or even the brief mental contemplation. However, when it comes to roller coasters, well, that’s a different story. I’ve written before of my fond childhood memories of waiting to be tall enough to ride on the Thunder Bolt, the old, wooden roller coaster at Kennywood, an historic amusement park in Pittsburgh, Pa., not far from where I grew up. I watched my parents come down the exit ramp, hair wind-blown, faces flushed and huge smiles. They looked exhilarated, and I wanted that feeling. I had the pleasure of going to Kennywood once or twice a year from about age 6 to age 12 or 13, before moving away. During that time, once I was tall enough, my friend and I would come down the exit ramp and frequently return to the line to get on again. We couldn’t get enough. After my Kennywood days, my roller coaster rides became quite infrequent. There was a trip to Busch Gardens when I was a teenager, and then, many
12
years without amusement parks. About 12 years ago, I took my oldest son, who was 4 years old, to Carowinds. We had a blast, but one does not ride crazy and wild roller coasters with a 4 year old. I rode one or two roller coasters at Dollywood a few years after that, but my youngest was a baby, so, again, the entire trip was fairly mellow. In truth, I had not really had the opportunity to see if any of my children would have inherited the roller coaster gene, until two days ago. It was my middle son, Joe’s fifth grade field trip, and it was an all-day affair. We left the school at about 6:30 a.m. and arrived at the park just before 9 a.m. As we entered, we walked beneath the track of the latest and most daunting coaster ride which had just opened at the park — the Fury 325, now touted as the world’s tallest and fastest giga-coaster. In case you haven’t seen it, Carowinds gives you its specs on its website. The coaster takes you to a top height of 325 feet and then drops you at an 81-degree angle. Top speed is up to 95 miles per hour and the ride goes on for three minutes and 25 seconds — through banked curves, double-helix maneuvers and camelback hills. This coaster seemed well beyond the thrill of the wooden Thunder Bolt of yesteryear. The day or two before leaving, I had
actually expressed some serious reservations about getting on this new ride. Some people had been stuck on it a week or two before and had to exit the ride by climbing down ladders or stairs — and then, the park actually had the ride shut down for a day or two after that. When I told my friend that I might pass on the experience, she quickly negated that response and said, “If the boys are doing it, we have to do it with them.” I acquiesced, but in my mind was still undecided whether I could actually go through with it. It had been a long time since I had set foot on a roller coaster, let alone one like this. My wild roller coaster riding days were past. I was a mom. I played it safe. This was insane. All of these thoughts went through my head, until we got there and the kids started looking at the ride. It was like a giant magnet pulling them in. Suddenly, we all found ourselves in the line, which was unbelievably short. I tried to reassure my son’s one friend who wasn’t sure he wanted to do it. “You can do it,” I said, perhaps unconvincingly. “I’m nervous too, but we can do this together,” I smiled with this understatement of the year. In actuality, my heart was in my throat, but I kept moving forward. I pretended to play it cool, all the way in the line as we advanced painfully fast. Joe was excited. This was his first (yes, I said first) roller
June 2015 | AAWmag.com
25232-15_001-044.pdf 10
5/26/2015 11:10:43 AM
coaster ride. We got on, fastened our seat belts, and then brought the harness down over our heads. The ride started and it seemed like we were ascending into the sky. We saw an airplane go by and it looked like it was almost level with the top of the ride. There was no turning back. We reached the peak of the incline and then there was the plummeting free-fall toward the earth. Most rides, when you enter the parts that look scary (like corkscrews or loopde-loops) by the time you are considering your fear, you’re already past that point. However, in this particular ride, you had time to become fully aware of your fear over the six or seven seconds it seemed to take descending. The drop is followed by enough twists, turns and hills to keep your heart thumping to the very end. It was terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. We came off, faces flushed and big smiles, despite the mind-boggling selftorture we had just ridden through. My son jumped up and down and said, “That was awesome!” I knew he was hooked. We spent the next seven and a half hours riding almost every roller coaster ride in the park. I was giddy like the kids, screamed virtually throughout every ride, and kept going back for the next one. In truth, I think that I found this cycle of fear, followed by intense excitement, followed by that realization that not only did I survive, but it was pretty darn fun. It was rather intoxicating. However, by the end of the day, I was certainly “done.” My head hurt a little and my body felt less resilient for the harsh turns, curves and jarring movements. Even so, when we had time for one more ride, I couldn’t turn my son down when he said he wanted to repeat the Fury 325. We left the park exhausted, but satisfied. I couldn’t have been happier that we both were eager to make it to the next line the entire day. I know we’ll go back for more. There’s certain fear that’s just worth facing.
SOMETHING OLD. SOMETHING NEW. TRADE IN
TRADE UP JUNE 4-15 UP TO $500 Off
ON SELECT MODELS WHEN YOU TRADE IN YOUR MACHINE.
60 months financing with no interest! heather jordan, CNM, MSN Comments or questions? 828.737.7711, ext. 253 landh@localnet.com
made to create
1542-G HWY 421S, BOONE, NC • (828) 264-1049 • WWW.SEWORIGINAL.ORG AAWmag.com | June 2015
25232-15_001-044.pdf 11
13
5/26/2015 11:10:43 AM
YouGoGirls
Congratulations, Watauga High’s Kathleen Mansure and Holly Haglan Watauga High School cheerleader Holly Haglan will extend her cheering
Watauga’s Kathleen Mansure
finished second in the 3,200-meter run at the state 4-A track and field championships at Belk Stadium on Saturday, May 9, at the North Carolina A&T campus. She finished with a time of 10:44.06, second to Elly Henes of Raleigh Green Hope, who won the race with a time of 10:39.47. Carolina Yarbrough was third with a time of 11:0.80. Kathleen finished second in the event during the state meet last season. She will attend UNC Greensboro in the fall.
career for at least one year, having made it onto the squad at UNC Charlotte, where she will attend college in the fall. Holly will cheer for the 49ers’ football and basketball teams this fall and winter. She tried out with 57 other candidates who were present, with others sending videos to the school hoping to make the squad. Holly will play the “base” position, which means she will give physical support for any pyramids that are built. She will also be expected to do any tumbling the 49ers want her to do. A native of Concord, Holly is looking forward to returning to the Charlotte area, where she started cheering for youth sports and with independent cheer squads. She cheered at Northwest Cabarrus Middle School and First Assembly Christian School in her eighth-
grade year before her family moved to Boone the summer before her freshman year. Holly plans to study nursing at Charlotte. - Steve Behr
WHS Honor Society packs 10,000 meals Members of Watauga High School’s National Honor Society, (female and male), on April 26 spon-
sored a Stop Hunger Now meal-packaging event. Based in Raleigh and founded in 1998, Stop Hunger Now distributes meals through feeding programs operated by partner organizations in developing countries. Through the program, 45 million meals are packaged and more than $9 million in donated aid, primarily vitamins and medical supplies, is shipped. “This is the first time NHS at WHS has held a Stop Hunger Now packaging
14
Pictured in the foreground, from left, are National Honor Society members Madison Winebarger, Barbara Ramsdell and Olivia Phillips at the Stop Hunger Now packaging event on April 26. Photo submitted
event,” says Katie Alexander, a National Honor Society member. “I had participated in a couple of these with my church and
seen how great of an opportunity it can be. I proposed the idea to our NHS adviser, and we made a committee to organize the event.” Hosts of Stop Hunger Now mealpackaging events raise money for the meals, which cost 25 cents apiece. Stop Hunger Now brings all of the ingredients, including rice, dehydrated vegetables, soy protein and vitamins, and volunteers spend two hours packaging the meals. Alexander says about 40 NHS members and several teachers and parents packed 10,000 meals at the event. - Anna Oakes
June 2015 | AAWmag.com
25232-15_001-044.pdf 12
5/26/2015 11:10:43 AM
Sponsored Content
Beautiful Image of Boone Cathy Symonovicz, owner of the Beautiful Image of Boone salon, opened her Boone business last June to offer high-tech skincare to the High Country via micro-current facials and LED light therapy, two cutting edge, painless anti-aging treatments with proven lasting results. “You will see results the first time that last,” Cathy states. “A regular facial will cost $50-$60 dollars, plus tip. You’ll have that glow for a few days, but it’s not going to last. Micro-current is going to last. You’re going to look good for a month until your next treatment.” Micro-current facials are non-surgical treatments performed by a technician that deliver tiny electrical pulses to the face, neck or body. Completely pain free, these pulses stimulate the targeted muscles, toning and strengthening them just like when you work your glutes at the gym. The stimulation also works at a cellular level and encourages collagen and elastin production. Combine those results and you have firmer, more youthful looking skin without side effects. In fact, it’s often called a “lunch time facial,” because it’s fast and
before
after
Results on an 88-year-old client after 10 microcurrent facials over five weeks. Photos submitted
there is no redness or swelling. You can literally go straight back to work looking refreshed from the immediate results. But, just like going the gym, you’ll see better and longer lasting results with a series of treatments. The LED light therapy that Cathy offers at Beautiful Image is another amaz-
ing development in cosmetic treatments that, believe it or not, came to light via research from NASA. With proven results and zero pain or side effects, the decision to have treatment primarily comes down to what women and men are willing and able to set aside for themselves. Each of these treatments is beneficial with only one visit, but effects, which can be seen in the untouched before and after photos, are greater and more noticeable when done in a series. Cathy is currently offering a full micro-current facial and/or an LED light therapy treatment for $29, so new clients can try these exciting and proven skincare methods. For more information as well as individual and package treatment options and pricing, log onto www.beautifulimageofboone.com or call (828) 355-9957.
Yozette ‘Yogi’ Collins Mom, television producer/writer, and obsessive internet researcher. Though her name suggests otherwise, she is not (yet) an actual yogi.
AAWmag.com | June 2015
25232-15_001-044.pdf 13
15
5/26/2015 11:10:43 AM
Bryony Renouf has always felt a strong connection to her gut instincts, and through following them, she has often found wisdom therein, sometimes beyond understanding. Photo by Yozette ‘Yogi’ Collins
Bryony Renouf Following your instincts As women, we are generally blessed with keen intuition or gut feelings, but many of us don’t realize or tune into them until we make the mistake they tried to warn us about. Bryony Renouf of Boone has always felt a strong connection to her gut instincts and through following them, she has often found wisdom therein, sometimes beyond understanding. For example, studying fashion design at Virginia Commonwealth University, her peers and professors told her she’d never succeed in the fashion field unless she moved to New York, one city in which she has never wanted to live. She followed 16
her gut elsewhere and soon after, while living in Reno, Nevada — not exactly the fashion capitol of the world — she was hired to work 45 minutes away in Lake Tahoe for Jacqueline Love’s personal clothing line. The wife of Beach Boy Mike Love, Jacqueline ran her business/hobby from her various homes and hired Bryony as an assistant designer. “I had never worked before,” Bryony explains. “I showed up and the actual head designer didn’t even know I was coming and was scared that I had been hired to replace her. I told her, ‘No, I do not want your job.’ Then, two weeks later, the designer was on vacation and Love
fired her over the phone — and then looked at me and said, ‘No pressure on you, ha, ha, ha.’” While she stayed at the job for only a year, Bryony excelled at the job, surprising herself at the strides she had made. “We got in to Nordstrom, Saks, all these places Jacqueline had been trying to get into. You know, fake it ‘till you make it,’” she laughs. “I’ll be forever grateful to her for the experience.” Which is why it might surprise anyone that Bryony admits to struggling with confidence. “I’ve always been determined, more than confident,” she says. “If I decide to
June 2015 | AAWmag.com
25232-15_001-044.pdf 14
5/26/2015 11:10:43 AM
I’m really happy now. I love my work, I love my family, I love our house. Nothing’s perfect, but I feel like we’re where we’re supposed to be, doing what we’re supposed to be doing.
Caring for a loved one? Let us be that helping hand.
- Bryony Renouf do something, it’s happening. I’ve always struggled with confidence. People never would know it, because, I guess, I’ve done a good job of standing up tall. I go with my gut. My instincts are good. That’s one thing I’m confident in.” When she and her husband, Joe, decided to move to Boone, her instincts told her it would be a good place for a retail shop of some sort. Although she began working as a face painter, and was on the path to get further training and focus on it as a business, she decided to follow her gut and open Bluebird Exchange, a children’s consignment boutique in Boone. The decision is working well for her and her family, as well as filling a need in this community. “Ultimately, I wanted to make the decisions about what I wanted to do,” Bryony explains. “With face painting, you have to go where the money is. If there’s a job in Charlotte, I’d have to go to Charlotte. With a baby, what would I do? Travel four hours while breastfeeding?” While Bluebird Exchange is another positive example of Bryony following her gut, she has had times when she talked herself out of her intuition, like last year when she had a bad feeling about being pregnant. “I was nervous about that pregnancy,” she recalls. “I had this intuition that something was wrong or bad.” But, she talked herself out of her intuition. The baby died at seven weeks in utero, but she didn’t find out until a month later, at her 11-week appointment. “It was right when I was getting comfortable that everything was OK,” Bryony recalls. “I had gone for an early ultrasound because I was so anxious about the baby and it showed that everything was
fine, but two days later, the baby passed. So I had this false sense of security and it didn’t help. It didn’t stop anything from happening. It was hard.” But as hard as it was, Bryony appreciates the new empathy she has gained for other women who’ve experienced miscarriage, and she wants to shine light on and have meaningful conversations about the subject. “There seems to be shame,” she says, sadly. “It’s humbling, because you don’t get what you want when you want it. You feel like a failure, but it’s really the opposite, isn’t it? I mean, your body is doing exactly what it should do by preventing something that isn’t supposed to be.” In contrast, being in Boone with Joe and their daughters, Olive and Emmylou, feels exactly right. Additionally, Bryony has begun contributing her talents to The Children’s Playhouse as a new board member. The Playhouse provided a great outlet for both Bryony and Olive when the family was new to the area and Olive was just a toddler. In this way, Bryony is giving back, as well as bringing everything full circle. “I’m really happy now,” she says. “I love my work, I love my family, I love our house. Nothing’s perfect, but I feel like we’re where we’re supposed to be, doing what we’re supposed to be doing.” Bluebird Exchange is located in The Shops at Shadowline in Boone. For more information, log onto www.facebook.com/ BluebirdExchange or call (828) 386-1095.
828.963.8233 www.apphomecare.com
Yozette ‘Yogi’ Collins Mom, television producer/writer, and obsessive internet researcher. Though her name suggests otherwise, she is not (yet) an actual yogi.
828-264-4660 2082 Blowing Rock Rd • Boone, NC 28607 www.cfarestaurant.com/boone/home AAWmag.com | June 2015
25232-15_001-044.pdf 15
17
5/26/2015 11:10:43 AM
BEAUTY
Welcome,
Sweet
Springtime After winter’s beat-down, I believe we are all ready for some warmth and sunshine. However, I’m still highly suspicious of the Boone weather, since on the last day of April, the thermometer read 43 degrees, the skies were cloudy and I would not have been surprised if it snowed again. In fact, I believe it did on some of the highest mountaintops. I shall, however, force myself to be optimistic and offer springtime tips that makes emerging from the caves of winter worthwhile.
Examine your skin
If you’re like me, other than being naked in the shower, you’ve been totally covered all winter. Now’s the time for close examination for early signs of sun damage, suspicious looking blemishes, or anything that makes you go “hmmmm.” If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to make an appointment with you doctor. Never feel that something you have a question about is foolish and unimportant. It is important because you are important. Get to know your body well because it’s always with you and it’s the only one you’re going to get on this earth.
Sunscreen Check
Yes, you need to check the expiration date on the bottle or tube to be sure it’s still working for you. If your sunscreen comes boxed, make sure you check the date on the box before discarding. If you’re using products that contain sunscreen, such as moisturizer or foundation, I have no idea how you know when the sunscreen in it expires. This is yet another very good reason to use a standalone sunscreen.
Moisturizer
During the harsh winter cold and dry atmosphere, we had to step our game up a bit and use heavier moisturizers to pro-
18
tect against the elements. With the onset of kinder weather, we can probably drop back to a lighter moisturizer for spring and especially summer. This applies for body and face.
Exfoliate
You’ll want to get rid of dead cells to clear the way for the new. A good body scrub will do the trick. Be gentle. After a few scrubs, your skin will be baby soft. If you want to make your own natural concoction, you will find the perfect recipe of your choice on line.
Makeup Stash
It’s time to do spring-cleaning and discard all the old chipped and flaking makeup from days gone by. I have a dear friend, who shall remain nameless, but I’m sure she will recognize herself here — she has makeup from eras gone by. Once I pointed out that the makeup she was applying to her face every day contained enough bacteria to create a new species, she conceded and is now in replacement mode.
Color Me Spring
Take your cue from spring and bring on the color. Mother Nature wears it and so can you. It’s just the intensity and tone that makes the difference. Update with lighter and brighter. How about a soft blush with a pretty peachy pink lip color?
Try enhancing the natural version of yourself and make it better. I’m all about the base, so your foundation for spring and summer should be as sheer as you can stand it — the “no makeup, make-up look.” Don’t try to use your foundation to cover up every perceived flaw you think you have. A little spot of concealer can even out your complexion beautifully without sacrificing your whole face to heavy coverage. Go for the radiant glow of healthy sun-kissed skin, without the sun. Invest in a good bronzer (not orangey) and a highlighter, which will give you a fresh, natural glow.
Mani/Pedi
The boots and gloves have come off. Last, but not least, it’s time to get your feet ready to dance and your hands ready to clap as you welcome sweet springtime with a pop of fresh color on your fingers and toes. Treat yourself to pampering or do it yourself. Just make it happen. Stay beautiful Marion Edwards Marion Edwards is a Licensed Esthetician, Professional Makeup Artist and Certified Trainer for Motives Cosmetics. She can be contacted at 828.262.5954.
June 2015 | AAWmag.com
25232-15_001-044.pdf 16
5/26/2015 11:10:43 AM
Sizzlin’ Summer
Style F
or the remainder of spring and into the summer
of 2015, count on a romantic breeze to gently wash over your wardrobe, to take you back in time and to sweep you off your feet with the daintiest of details. Look ahead to a fresh set of prints, to plenty of androgynous influences, to luxurious fabrics and a palette of colors that’s being brought up-to-date. Take it all in, but do choose to wear only what you love. As always, we are here to inform and inspire, but never to dictate.
Things to think about
Yellow was part of a huge trend during the 2015 awards season — especially at the Golden Globes — and it was everywhere on the runways. Everyone from Cushnie et Ochs to Michael Kors sent out garments in the sunny shade — and we’re loving it. It’s such a great shade for wearing while basking in the sunshine. And it’s just a downright happy color! A great shirt-dress is perfect for summer. It’s effortless, graceful and always chic. Designers like Altuzarra and Rebecca Minkoff sent styles of the
wardrobe staple down the runway, proving that a classic never goes out of style. Throw one on for a day of errands, a night on the town, or even over a bathing suit on a beach holiday. It’s pretty much the perfect garment. The combination of blue and white is crisp and clean, which is perfect for summer. It’s also a great alternative to wearing the typical black and white. We saw the color combo on plenty of runways, from Diane von Furstenberg to Adeam, and Alice + Olivia, and we can’t wait to try it out for ourselves. Robes and kimonos are the perfect toppers for any outfit, and their generally relaxed fit adds a little bit of casual coolness to an ensemble. Some of our favorites for the season were from Tracy Reese and Thakoon, who presented the trend in sleek satin fabric for an extra lux feel.
the uniform
The spring/summer runways presented us with various takes on the uniform trend — from Marc Jacob’s utilitarian khaki green looks to Tommy Hilfiger’s “Sergeant Pepper” military ensembles, and to be honest, we kind of loved them all. Can we ever have too many army jackets in our closet?
This summer, don’t be afraid to get a little bit sexy. Lace-up details, thigh-high slits, sheer fabrics and short skirts (Versace) were all over the runways, proving that it’s definitely the perfect season for a little skin. What’s summer without some florals? We saw versions of the print presented by designers like Simone Rocha, Marni and Chanel, all of who really went bold with all-over prints in bright colors. Flower power forever.
All-white Everything
Nothing says summer quite like bright white. The crisp shade was a huge trend on the spring/summer 2015 runways. When it comes to dressing for the hot season, we like to keep it simple. We’ll definitely be trying this out for ourselves. From classic shirt- dresses to bright and sunny colors and prints, we can’t wait to add the season’s top styles into our closets. Emily apple Emily Apple is an Appalachian State graduate with a degree in fashion design and merchandising.
AAWmag.com | June 2015
25232-15_001-044.pdf 17
19
5/26/2015 11:10:43 AM
LivingWell
PROTECTING
YOUR TELOMERES
25232-15_001-044.pdf 18
5/26/2015 11:10:43 AM
Did you know that you have little protective caps at the end of every chromosome in your body? They are called telomeres. Telomeres are like a “cellular clock” — when they get too short, the “clock” runs out of time and the cell becomes diseased and dies. Shortened telomeres have been linked to heart disease, strokes, diabetes, cancer, depression, dementia and osteoporosis.
Bottom line
As your telomeres die, so do you. The key to living longer and healthier is to protect and lengthen your telomeres. Following are some research-based findings to help you do that.
Your telomere protection plan Always check with your health professional before making any diet or lifestyle changes.
Cultivate serenity
Stress sets in motion inflammation, which chews up telomeres. Some ways to bring down stress include: - Pray and meditate. - Take a daily walk. - Seek out friends who are positive and supportive.
Exercise daily
Find a form of exercise that you enjoy and do it regularly. This will preserve and, perhaps, even lengthen telomeres. To maximize the benefits, you need both aerobic and strength-training workouts.
Eat and drink well
Eating an unhealthy diet creates inflammation and ‘rusts’ your cells, also known as oxidative stress. Inflammation burns up your telomeres. Healthy food choices not only protect your telomeres, but can actually lengthen them.
Try this: - Dramatically limit sugary, fatty and processed foods. - Eat two cups of fruit a day. - Eat at least two and a half cups of veggies a day. - Choose lean and clean proteins: eggs, fish and lean cuts of chicken. - Stay hydrated with lots of pure water. - Have a cup of telomere-loving green tea each day.
Supplement sensibly
Take a high quality multivitamin daily, which fills the nutritional gaps in your diet. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that women who consume a daily multivitamin have longer telomeres than those who don’t. - Take a high quality fish oil: Among the growing list of the benefits of fish oil, we can now add something akin to a youth elixir. Not only do the fatty acids in fish oil protect your telomeres, but research suggests they actually help them grow—essentially, reversing the aging process.
Maintain a healthy weight
Obesity increases inflammation, and inflammation degrades telomeres. The great thing is, when you combine all the other telomere-enhancing activities, the likely outcome is that you will maintain a healthy weight.
Eliminate telomeredegrading toxins - Protect your skin from excess sun exposure. - Stop smoking. - Drink alcohol in moderation. - Filter your water. - Choose organic food sources.
Gift Certificates are available for Father's Day, Graduation, Birthdays and other occasions.
Great gift idea for
Father’s Day!
REIKI MASTER
Charla Rae Armitage
bonnie church
(336) 877-4988 c: (336) 977-2178 spinn@skybest.com
Certified Life and Wellness Coach Author, columist, motivational speaker and certified trainer for TLS Weight Loss Solution
Located in Frency’s Gallery of Fine Art Downtown West Jefferson Corner of 2nd St. & Jefferson Ave. AAWmag.com | June 2015
25232-15_001-044.pdf 19
21
5/26/2015 11:10:43 AM
A very active, compassionate and involved board of directors for the Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge are from left, front row: Karen Sabo, Megan Lynch Ellis, Christina Howe, Kay McCloskey, Elena Romagni, Judy Painter, Debbie Stevens. Back row: Mary Hutchens, Billie Howell, Debbie Smith, Willa Mays, Emily Stallings, Carol Quintero, Becka Saunders and Jane Lentz. Not pictured are Jan Rienerth and Jan Winkler. Photo by Wyatt Nyman
Philanthropy and Outreach making a difference with Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge
In its year of existence, Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge continues to make great strides in improving the life of women and their families in the High Country area. The WFBR became a reality when the boards of directors of both the Appalachian Women’s Fund and the High Country Women’s Fund realized that their missions overlapped, their grantmaking overlapped, some of their membership overlapped, and that it was time to reunite. Even earlier starting as one fund that split into two “because of ideological differences,” says current director, Karen Sabo, one group chose to remain under the auspices of the High Country United Way, the other chose to become its own independent non-profit, partially so it could give grants outside of the two counties covered by the United Way. 22
The transitional board was made up of an equal number of members from the two previous boards; they created a new mission, completed the hard work of creating new bylaws, policies and procedures, and the financial merger and significant paperwork associated with the merge. According to Karen, the transitional board of the newly named Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge asked the advice of
Jeanne Supin, dynamic business consultant, to help with a smooth transition. Karen, former director of the New Opportunity School for Women at LeesMcRae College, was named the executive director of the new WFBR in March 2014 The first fundraising luncheon hosted by the WFBR was held at Linville Ridge in June 2014. “Because of the many generous sponsors of and donors to that luncheon, and because of the remaining funds the WFBR got from the High Country Women’s Fund,”Karen says, “we were able to give away $131,000 in grants after the event.” Returning the name of the event to Power of the Purse, this year’s luncheon will be June 25 at the camp at Eseeola in Linville. At that same time, a Woman of Vision award will be given to an influential woman who has made a signifi-
June 2015 | AAWmag.com
25232-15_001-044.pdf 20
5/26/2015 11:10:43 AM
cant and positive impact on the lives of women and girls in the High Country. This year’s winner will join the ranks of previous “Woman of Vision” award winners, which include Bonnie and Jamie Schaefer, honored for their generous philanthropy and support of women and girls in the mountains, Faye Cooper, philanthropist, and Lee Cooper Wallace (posthumously), who inspired so many girls to be physically and mentally strong. Special guests at the 2015 luncheon will be Helen White and her husband, Wayne Henderson, musicians and songwriters of significant renown. The pair will debut a song at the event, written by Helen, on the subject of domestic violence. The fundraising goal for the luncheon has been set at $70,000, in hopes of reaching the $1 million mark that the women’s funds, in combination, have been given to the High Country. “Up to this point,” says Karen, “the combined amount given by these women’s funds is $930,000.” “We want 2015 to be the year that women’s philanthropy hits the $1 million mark for giving in the High Country,” she adds.
Something different about Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge
Something that differentiates the WFBR from other women’s funds, Karen says, is that other funds are about philanthropy, “But ours is about philanthropy and outreach.” Among the many activities hosted by WFBR throughout the year includes the coat drive at the Hospitality House, the Mother’s Day P.O.P. Shoppe for lowincome moms and kids, the Basic Buckets program and others that are not otherwise funded. “Also, while fundraising for grant making is at the center of our activities,” Karen says, “we are also more inclusive than many funds that have a minimum yearly contribution requirement that is pretty high; ours starts at zero dollars.” In an effort to include women of all social classes as members of the WFBR, those unable to afford to contribute financially are invited to join by contributing 10 hours of volunteer service to the fund each year. Other giving levels include $25 per year for recent college grads, $50 a year for a basic membership, and levels that go to $2,400 and higher for those who are
able help at that level. Recent news, Karen says, is that an anonymous donor has given a $5,000 matching grant for new memberships. “This means that people who used to be a member of one of the previous funds, but who have not yet joined the Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge, people who have attended our events, but not become a member, and women who have been waiting to get involved, all count toward this matching grant,” she adds. “This is a perfect time to join because you can actually double the amount you can donate for your membership.” To join or contribute to the work of the fund, mail membership information, fees and/or donations to Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge, Inc., P. O. Box 1838 Boone, NC 28607. For more information about WFBR, visit www.WomensFundOfTheBlueRidge. org or call Karen Sabo, executive director at (828) 264-4002. sherrie norris Editor, All About Women
What women have to say about Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge: Karen Sabo: “I was sold on the Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge because I believe in their mission. On average, women earn significantly less than men, often for doing the same jobs, yet the rate of poverty for women is much higher than that of men. We are having higher and higher rates of college graduation for women, yet for millennials, income for women is still much lower than for their male counterparts. It’s a societal problem. Which means it’s big, and it’s hard to fix, but we’ve got to try.”
Billie Howell, board member: “I used to be a member of both funds, and my only reluctance about the merger was that we wouldn’t be able to raise as much money as one fund as we did separately. If we are helping women through grantmaking, we need to raise as much as possible. I was thrilled when our luncheon last year was so successful. Now, we need to keep it up.”
Kay McCloskey, board chairwoman: “I am so proud to be at the helm of this new women’s fund. We have a fantastic board, wonderful members, and with every meeting, every publication, and every event, we are helping other women. As an Ashe County resident, I am thrilled that we are expanding our reach, and covering new ground with counties we serve and women we help. And this luncheon promises to be our best ever.”
Testimonials from women who have been helped by the fund: From a woman enrolled in the GED class at the Children’s Council: “I have really learned a lot from the GED classes. I thought I was the dumbest person in the world, but I’m not.” (WFBR pays for childcare while the women are in their classes.)
From a Watauga County woman who was in the New Opportunity School for Women program: “I was just stuck. I didn’t finish college. I lost my job and didn’t have a direction. This program literally changed the direction of my life.” (WFBR gives scholarships for local women to attend this program.)
From another: “I am forever grateful to anyone and everyone who is involved in this process and I truly thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the good you put out into the world.”
AAWmag.com | June 2015
25232-15_001-044.pdf 21
23
5/26/2015 11:10:43 AM
Karen Sabo and Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge It’s all about the mission As executive director of the Women’s Fund of The Blue Ridge, Karen Sabo knows a thing or two about leadership, fundraising, and most of all, about other women, who, like herself, have a passion for helping make life better for others. She also knows a lot about the stage, having spent much of her life acting, directing and teaching. She admits, until recently, she was much more comfortable disappearing into a character rather being front and center. Admitting to being “rather modest,” Karen finds it ironic that a significant part of her job is to publicly represent a life-changing organization. “However,” she says, “I know that's not about me, it's about our mission. “ Working with the WFBR is fascinating, Karen says, because no two days are the same — and she learns something new every day about creating positive change and economic justice for local women and girls. “Through funding to local nonprofit agencies, we aim to be a philanthropic catalyst for all women and girls — to give them access to the resources they need as they strive to become empowered and reach their full potential,” she says. “Since our board and most active volunteers represent a variety of lifestyles and personalities, we all have slightly, or sometimes drastically, different ideas about how to implement this, but we all agree on this mission.” While her main job is to perform the daily tasks of running the office, “the micro tasks,” she says, she must also remember that they're connected to the "macro" tasks, such as increasing membership, which in turn, helps implement the mission of making the world better for women and girls. Karen learned at an early age that women must often be the ones to step forward, to make the difference. “Part of me saw that women worked really hard and could do fulfilling, significant work,” she says, “but at the same time, I saw that most of my friends' mothers didn't work out of the home, or if they did, they performed noble jobs with a pretty limited range, whether as a teacher, nurse or secretary.”
25232-15_001-044.pdf 22
5/26/2015 11:10:43 AM
As executive director of the Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge, Karen Sabo has a passion for helping to make life better for others. Photo by Wyatt Nyman
25232-15_001-044.pdf 23
5/26/2015 11:10:43 AM
A mother’s influence “When I was a kid, my mom was the rare, well-educated career woman,” Karen says, “She got a doctorate in developmental psychology back in the 1960s, which was pretty unusual for women at that time.” Her mother’s work inspired her professionally, Karen says, which included teaching college, writing legislation for New York’s Speaker of the House of Representatives, lobbying for issues affecting women and families, and, most recently, retiring from selling real estate. She is still “very energetic,” Karen says, and is president of her active Hadassah chapter in Florida, where she and Karen’s dad spend the winter, doing other volunteer work and taking their grandchildren on international trips. During Karen’s recent winter visit to South Florida, her mother hosted a luncheon for some of the seasonal residents of the Women's Fund who live there, as well as some of her own friends, “so they could learn more about the WFBR,” Karen says. “Mom says my job is her dream job. She thinks it must be terrific to be able to give away lots of money to help women and girls. I told her that it is.”
Conquering the stereotypes Karen grew up in a rural area of upstate New York, went to college in Western Massachusetts and lived in California, Kentucky, New York City, Virginia and Ohio before moving to North Carolina. “I had always intended to be a theatre artist, but decided in college that I'd study liberal arts,” she says. “I first studied the relationship between
26
government and media in the 20th century U.S., which was very interesting.” However, she adds, “The media criticism furthered my interest in how women are represented (in the media) in ways that may not be helpful to us in our attempts to live as whole people, but rather than as stereotypes.” As a youngster, Karen stayed in traditional gender roles, “especially with mainstream groups,” she says, in dancing and acting, two things she loved to do. Today, Karen says, she and her husband ask lots of questions about things that many others seem to simply accept as true — including gender. “My husband says there are people who ask, ‘What are the rules?’ but others ask, ‘Why are the rules?’ He and I are both of the latter category.” Karen worked as an actress for a long while, eventually winding up in the resident acting company at the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Va. “That’s where I met my husband, Derek, where I started to raise my daughter, where I learned to direct plays and where I realized I wanted to learn more about running non-profits,” Karen says. When the couple left Barter, Derek finished his dissertation, and Karen completed her master’s degree in liberal arts at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tenn., studying representations of Appalachians in popular culture and media. “Up north, we are raised with certain stereotypes about southerners, and Appalachians, in particular,” she says, “but because I was in the acting company at the Barter for six years — and a big part of an actor's job is to cut through stereotypes to find the real person — I wound up confronting a lot of those ideas I had.” She did so especially, she says, because part of her responsibilities at Barter included that of dialect coach. “I wound up having to think about those stereotypes people use for
others, because of their accents,” she says. “So, when I went to grad school, I wanted to study this beautiful area I had chosen as my new home, and learn more about the culture and history of the area.” Having two degrees in liberal studies might seem “very impractical” to some people, Karen says, “But both of those degrees are about critical thinking. As a theatre artist, teacher and non-profit director, I embrace new ideas and creativity, so those degrees have been very helpful to me in every single job I have had.” After working in the acting company for six years, she returned to Barter for a year as the director of education. “I was directing plays for them again, too, and I loved doing both things, but I spent so much time in Abingdon that I wasn't parenting my great kid as well as I needed to,” she says. “So I found the position as the Director of the New Opportunity School for Women at Lees-McRae, and made that switch.” And, from there, she found the Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge, or you might say, it found her. Karen is also adjunct professor at ASU, (theatre and interdisciplinary studies), something she really enjoys, she says, and is similar to what she has done at several other schools, including Emory & Henry, ETSU, and Baldwin-Wallace College, “a rather prestigious musical theatre conservatory program in Ohio,” she describes. She also loves teaching general education classes at ASU, which, she says, utilizes her theatre background with her liberal arts and critical thinking skills. “And, since my wonderful husband teaches there, fulltime, I get to say hello to him at work,” she adds. It’s also fulfilling, she says, to see her former acting students on Broadway tours and in movies.
Unexplored voices With her husband, Karen also owns In/ Visible Theatre. “We produce one or two shows a year, and do some staged readings of new plays,” she says, “which allows us to work on projects that we're passionate about.“
June 2015 | AAWmag.com
25232-15_001-044.pdf 24
5/26/2015 11:10:43 AM
They’re thrilled she says, that their upcoming production of “Without Words,” a world premiere that Derek is adapting and directing, will be part of Appalachian Summer Festival. Susan Schaller, who wrote the memoir, “A Man Without Words,” upon which they have based the play, is in town for the summer — which further delights the couple. “We're grateful that she's letting us adapt her book, because it is a perfect In/ Visible Theatre show,” Karen says. The couple produces mostly new works, or, as she describes, “sometimes old plays in new ways, or plays that are out there, or that other regional groups aren't doing.” Their interest in those selections, she says, is based on the same principal that keeps the Women's Fund going. Her theatre looks for hidden issues, she says, unexplored voices, and outsider points of view. So, doing “Without Words,” with four deaf cast members and two who are hard of hearing, is just perfect, she adds, “regarding my personal attempt to do daily work that involves both justice and compassion.”
Transitioning Karen and Derek love living in Boone, in the Appalachians and a great college town, she says, and are always ready for new challenges. “We don’t even mind having to scrape ice from our car windshields in late April,” she adds. She felt fortunate to have been hired, initially, as the director of the New Opportunity School for Women at Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, and to have run its summer educational immersion program for two years. The program serves low-income Appalachian women with no college education and, as Karen describes, “is a sort of lifemakeover program.” She learned a great deal in that role, she says, which led to her current “and wonderful position” as executive director of the Women's Fund of the Blue Ridge. “I've been at this position since March
of 2014, and it has been a fascinating time to be the new director of a new fund that has the benefit of much experience,” she says.
Family first Karen’s husband, Derek Davidson, is a professor in the Theatre and Dance Department at App State. Their 15-yearold daughter, Rachel, is a sophomore at Watauga High School, is on student council, plays volleyball and lacrosse, and is in Playmakers. Rachel also volunteers for the WFBR and is interested in law and psychology for careers. “My stepdaughter, Mary, spends summers with us, and is a science-loving visual artist who has won state swimming competitions in South Carolina, where she lives with her mother during the school year.” Raising her daughter has been “interesting,” Karen describes. “I see that, unless we actively parent to avoid gender stereotypes, our kids will absorb them from just living in society,” she says. Karen has worked “really hard” to counteract the messages that Rachel gets from TV, movies, magazines and ads, that what she looks like is more important than any other aspect of her life. While she didn't forbid Rachel from playing with Barbies when she was little, “We made sure that they had ambitious title, like Veterinarian Barbie, Ambassador to China Barbie, and Barbie, the currency analyst,” she says Karen encourages Rachel to be relaxed about her appearance and concentrate on what she likes to do, “which is what really builds her future,” she says. Karen wants Rachel to know that the choices she has in life do not depend on her gender, “So, I never say, ‘When you're married someday, or ‘when you have your own kids.’ I always let her know that women are people first, and then, if they choose, also wives and, sometimes, also mothers.”
And, she doesn’t think mothers should encourage their girls to compete with each other, but rather, to support each other. Karen has little time for hobbies, she says, but if time allows, she and her family love to hike, sometimes camp, and canoe. Having lived in seven states, in New York City and in San Francisco, Boone is her favorite place she’s lived, Karen says. “And, I'm so glad we have a local magazine that's all about women. I really like our local publications and read them frequently.”
To learn more about The Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge, visit www.womensfundoftheblueridge.org or call (828) 964-6924. For more information about In/Visible Theatre, visit www.invisibletheatrenc.org or write to P.O. Box 23, DTS, Boone, NC 28607.
sherrie norris Editor, All About Women
AAWmag.com | June 2015
25232-15_001-044.pdf 25
27
5/26/2015 11:10:43 AM
Representatives from 15 High Country organizations pose for a group shot after the annual Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge grantee luncheon at the Blowing Rock Conference Center. Photo by Jeff Eason
Grants for a brighter future 28
June 2015 | AAWmag.com
25232-15_001-044.pdf 26
5/26/2015 11:10:43 AM
Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge celebrates organizations that help women and children For the first time since it has become a single entity, the Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge celebrated its grant recipients with a luncheon and a chance to hear about the good work they are doing in western North Carolina. The annual Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge grantee luncheon was held on Tuesday, April 22, at the Blowing Rock Conference Center. “Our mission is to create positive change and economic justice for women and girls in the counties we serve,” says WFBR director Karen Sabo during the event’s opening remarks. “Through funding to local non-profit agencies, we aim to be a philanthropic catalyst for all women and girls to have access to the resources they need as they strive to become empowered and reach their full potential.” Representatives from 15 nonprofit
organizations gave testimonials during the event, telling how funding from the WFBR impacted the lives of their clients. Organizations represented at the luncheon included the Community Care Clinic, the Children’s Council, Hunger and Health Coalition, New Opportunity School for Women at Lees-McRae College, Hospitality House, Watauga County Assistance Network (WeCAN), Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture, W.A.M.Y. Community Action, Girls on the Run of the High Country, Mountain Alliance, Domestic Abuse is Not Acceptable (DANA), Western Youth Network, Appalachian State University ACCESS Program, A Safe Home for Everyone (ASHE) and Opposing Abuse with Service, Information and Shelter (OASIS). From Oct. 1, 2013 to Oct. 1, 2014, the Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge
distributed more than $131,000 in grants to non-profits primarily serving women and children in seven counties in western North Carolina. That does not include the $300,000 Hunger and Heat Initiative grant allotted through the WFBR. Part of that was allotted at the end of 2014 and part during the beginning of 2015. The Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge came into being more than a year ago when the Appalachian Women’s Fund and the High Country Women’s Fund merged. For more information, visit www.womensfundoftheblueridge.org.
Jeff Eason Editor, The Blowing Rocket jeff.eason@mountaintimes.com
AAWmag.com | June 2015
25232-15_001-044.pdf 27
29
5/26/2015 11:10:43 AM
youngatheart
‘
Reunion Special
My actual high school experience, at least my memory of it, was closer to an episode of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” titled “Invisible Girl.” The titular girl is overlooked for so long that she eventually becomes invisible, and later a secret government assassin. - Heather brandon
30
June 2015 | AAWmag.com
25232-15_001-044.pdf 28
’
5/26/2015 11:10:43 AM
Twenty years ago this month, I graduated from high school.
That means — you guessed it — I have a high school reunion coming up. My high school years were not the best of my life, and being a child of the 80s, I blame John Hughes for my unrealistic expectations of what those years should have entailed. Not once did I fake illness in order to skip school, subsequently going on a series of adventures, which culminated with me serving as the grand marshal of some parade or another. None of my dreamy crushes surprised me with a candle-laden cake on my 16th birthday. I cannot recall ever being a pink-wearing girl from the wrong side of the tracks who fell for the sweethearted rich kid. And, never did I share detention with a group of teen archetypes, all of whom I learned to respect if not understand after a day of feeling-sharing. My actual high school experience, at least my memory of it, was closer to an episode of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” titled “Invisible Girl.” The titular girl is overlooked for so long that she eventually becomes invisible, and later a secret government assassin. I did not become a secret government agent, but during high school, I did feel pretty invisible. Lest you think I spent my high school years wandering the institutional halls completely alone and unloved, I did have friends — even a few I would describe as good friends. My perception of being invisible has little to do with lack of friends and more to do with the fact that I have a nagging feeling that I missed many of the high school-defining experiences. My high school existence was a cycle of class, swimming and work. I crammed in as many advanced placement courses as possible. I spent hours in the pool, both before and after school, trying to be more than a mediocre swim team member. And, from the age of 16, I spent weekends and summers working. I was bookish and studious. I liked calculus and theatre; I hated gym. I did not play in the band. I was neither valedictorian nor any sort of queen, never excelled at sports and was not voted most, best or -iest anything. Other than my class photo, I did not appear in yearbooks. I was never asked to prom.
I was neurotic at times, often overlydramatic and frequently hormonal. I was both desperate to be accepted by my peers and to appear not to care about their approval in the slightest. There were days when I was sure the world would end. In short, I was a teenager. And, chances are good that the majority of my classmates often felt the same way.
“If I had known then what I know now...”
Never has a truer statement been spoken about high school. Fortunately, unlike the above-mentioned Hughesian characters, I was not destined to be frozen in a perpetual high school time loop. I was instead able to pen the next chapter, the sequel if you will. Post-graduation, I fled Boone for Boston and college. During the 20 years that followed, I lived, learned and loved, becoming the woman I am today. As new friends replaced old, my memories of high school and of my classmates faded, faces and names becoming blurred and
unrecognizable. Expecting that my face and name had likewise faded from their memories, I was surprised to be added to a Facebook group for my high school reunion. “Who added me to this group?” I pondered. Have I gotten fat? Have I done anything interesting? Can I make stuff up? Can I pretend to be the most interesting woman in the world, like that guy from those beer commercials? What if no one remembers me? Will I be that person who receives pointed stares that ask, ‘Did she even go to school here?’ Will there be cake? “Are you going to go to your high school reunion?” asked Roger, interrupting my contemplative stream of consciousness. “I don’t know,” I responded. “Do you think anyone will believe that I am a secret government agent?” heather brandon Considers life to be one big anthropological field experience. She observes and reports. She enjoys travel, food and wine and adventures with her husband, Roger.
Photo Lab at New Market Offers •Custom Invitations and Announcements printed in house •1 hr Digital Processing •1 hr Film Processing •Passport Photos
Come see us for your photo needs! Boone Drug at New Market 245 New Market Center 828-264-9144 | www.boonedrug.com AAWmag.com | June 2015
25232-15_001-044.pdf 29
31
5/26/2015 11:10:43 AM
marriageandFamilyCorner
The difference between being and doing As Father’s Day approaches, we thank fathers for powerful and positive examples and lessons. “Fratitude” is often expressed for dad’s example of work ethic. With Father’s Day following Mother’s Day, a comparison might arise between father’s hard work and mother’s nurturing. This difference mirrors masculine and feminine stereotypes.
32
June 2015 | AAWmag.com
25232-15_001-044.pdf 30
5/26/2015 11:10:44 AM
These gender generalizations are connected to real patterns and are contradicted by many other patterns.
Mothers often work hard and fathers frequently nurture — and sometimes parents exhibit neither of these traits. Still, this distinction reveals a dichotomy between “doing” and “being.” A person is lucky to see both examples of this and wise to embody them, as together, they provide direction for many important elements of life. For example, parenting experts describe useful strategies (“doing”) for raising responsible and happy children. I frequently use the Love and Logic program to help parents and guardians navigate difficult childhood problems. In “Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood,” authors Jim Fay and Charles Fay explain that “Happiness comes from doing great things — rather than getting great things.” The emotional bond and trust between parent and child (“being”) is also central to this approach, although much of the content deals with guidance for what to do. Others, such as Brené Brown, focus on the strength of “being” as a parent. Brown examines wholehearted parenting and sets forth guideposts for the parenting relationship. In “Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead,” Brown points out, “The gap starts here: We can’t give people what we don’t have. Who we are matters immeasurably more than what we know or who we want to be.“ Most experts provide guidance for what to do and also identify the value of relationship and being. Brown also includes descriptions of important things to do, while maintaining a focus on “being.” The idea of “human beings,” versus “human doings,” has been examined by many authors. Determinations of salaries, status, social acceptance and self-esteem are often made according to accomplishments. “Being” is also highlighted in some societies and religions. What is known about joy and healthy relationships has to do with ways to be. A sense of connection and belonging is
‘
Mothers often work hard and fathers frequently nurture — and sometimes parents exhibit neither of these traits. Still, this distinction reveals a dichotomy between “doing” and “being.”
’
- mary mckinney
critical to wellbeing. As a Marriage and Family Therapist, one of the theoretical constructs I find to be widely true is “both/and.” This idea indicates that what might be true in a given situation both includes one idea and a different idea. So, truth isn’t confined to an “either/ or” understanding. This wide range of options allows for balance and more satisfactory outcomes. This idea applies to guidance about parenting and even to management of depression and anxiety. Doing at the expense of being, or being at the expense of doing, are recipes for unhappiness and less healthy relationships, although it is easy and common to
be caught in those patterns. When providing therapy, I talk about the normal “pendulum swings” that humans make after identifying a state of being — or a pattern of doing — that is undesirable. This state of being, or pattern of doing, often resides near the pinnacle of a swing (at or toward the extreme) in one direction. As an attempt is made to adjust what is identified, a swing is often made to the opposite pinnacle. That end of the swing is ultimately as undesirable as the first apex. Another swing is made to the other side. This pattern is repeated until the adjustments are made to narrow the swing. That is, the swing becomes more balanced and flexible between more than one healthy and useful option. So, as what dad offers or offered — or what one has to offer, as a dad — is viewed through a wider lens, it includes who he is or was (being) and what he has or is doing. This broader view might increase the reasons for being thankful for him. It might also boost the ability to be persistent in doing and in being, thereby improving overall wellbeing and health. Both, to be and to do, is the question — and the answer.
For more information on available services or to discuss information in this column, contact:
MARY MCKINNEY, MA, LMFT McKinney Marriage and Family Therapy 828.268.0155 For urgent matters and first-time callers: 828.773.5463 www.mckinneymft.com mary@mckinneymft.com
PREVIOUSLY SUNFEST TANNING
UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP Bronzing & high pressure bulbs
Stand up dome
Spray tan by appointment
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK: Mon-Sat 10-8 Sun 12-6 2575 HWY 105 | INGLES SHOPPING CENTER | 828.386.1219 AAWmag.com | June 2015
25232-15_001-044.pdf 31
33
5/26/2015 11:10:44 AM
Jan Rienerth has had a tremendous impact upon the High Country, and in particular, its young people, since arriving in Boone more than 40 years ago. Photo by Yogi Collins
Jan Rienerth
breaking the barrier, benefitting the young
In 1972, when Jan Rienerth accepted a position as Appalachian State University’s first female faculty member in the sociology department, the United States was navigating its way through the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War and women’s liberation. There was a great deal of societal change happening quickly. In fact, a few years before accepting the job at ASU, Jan, a Cleveland, Ohio native with her 34
doctorate degree, had applied for jobs in her undergraduate field of math only to be told by employers that they didn’t hire women. Still, Jan didn’t recognize the importance that being the first female sociology professor at ASU a few years later held. She was just doing her job. “At that time, women went into grade school and high school teaching, but they didn’t go into university teaching,” Jan recalls. “I was so young and naïve about a
lot of things that I knew it was unique, but I didn’t really think of myself as breaking some barrier. I just kept moving along and the doors kept opening. My whole career of teaching for 40 years was at ASU in the sociology department. I just never left.” And it’s a good thing for Boone that she stayed. As the U.S. experienced growing pains, so did Boone, in its evolution from
June 2015 | AAWmag.com
25232-15_001-044.pdf 32
5/26/2015 11:10:44 AM
{
However, when her WYN term ends July 1, not only will Jan leave a legacy of meaningful service to families in our community via WYN, but by establishing an endowment called The WYN Legacy Fund, she also leaves a gift that will provide for our community for years to come. “Every kid is a kid at risk,” she says. “WYN used to have the reputation that we were where the bad kids went because, due to grant restrictions, we had to have a certain percentage of kids court-referred.” That is not the case now, she adds, “Now, we run all the afternoon school programs, we do drug education in the schools, and we do one-on-one mentoring.” As for Jan, involvement in WYN and other community organizations, as well as advising the Sigma Kappa sorority for the past 26 years, has given her a sense of pride, as well as made her a “mother” to hundreds of kids she has watched grow up, get jobs, marry and have kids of their own. “I have many kids,” she says with a smile. The Western Youth Network, and the community, in general, have benefitted greatly from Jan’s foresight, insight and involvement through the years. Her impact will be felt for years to come, but her physical presence will be greatly missed. For more information about WYN and the programs offered therein, log onto www.westernyouthnetwork.org or call (828) 264-5174.
Yozette ‘Yogi’ Collins
‘
I think it’s amazing that any organization in a small town stays around for 30 years. Obviously, when you help start something, you get a certain tie to it. I didn’t want to see WYN disappear, so when we would go into downtimes due to lack of funding, or people dropping off the board, I would stick around. Finally, it just became my passion.
’
- Jan Rienerth
{
a tiny town into the tourist town that it is now. As it grew, the involvement of community members was vital. As part of the three-legged “stool” of teaching, ASU required professors not only to teach, but also to conduct research and participate in acts of service. Jan wanted to help kids in our community. “Back then, Boone was a small town and the feeling here was that we didn’t have delinquents, just some bad kids,” Jan explains. “There was a new initiative at that time which was the idea that you need to keep your kids in the communities in which they were raised, because that’s who knows them best. Well, we didn’t have any community-based options for kids, so a group of eight or 10 of us got together in the old grand jury room of the courthouse and tried to think about programs that would keep kids in the community, rather than sending them off the mountain.” The Watauga Youth Network, now known as the Western Youth Network, was born, and Jan, as a co-founder, began her service on the board of directors. That was 30 years ago, and though she never dreamed, when she co-founded WYN, that she would serve on the board for that long, that is exactly what she has done. “I think it’s amazing that any organization in a small town stays around for 30 years,” she says. “Obviously, when you help start something, you get a certain tie to it. I didn’t want to see WYN disappear, so when we would go into downtimes due to lack of funding, or people dropping off the board, I would stick around. Finally, it just became my passion. Then, a couple years after I started with WYN, I became a Guardian ad Litem, working with abused and neglected kids in the court system. They tied together.” What started as a way of keeping youth involved in our community has changed over the years, Jan relates, based on funding and community support. Most recently, WYN has begun to focuses on middle-school children, because it’s a critical time in a child’s life where they can, as Jan says, “run off the rails”. “Because it was, and is, an important program, and something that was needed — and I didn’t have my own kids,” Jan says, she had the time and energy to devote to fundraising and being secretary.
Mom, television producer/writer, and obsessive internet researcher. Though her name suggests otherwise, she is not (yet) an actual yogi.
HAIR CREATIONS
is turning “18!”
Thanks from the staff for your continual support. We are looking forward to many more years!
828.268.0402
643 Greenway Rd Ste K-2 | Boone, NC Not pictured Janet Waugh
HAIRCREATIONSSALON.NET AAWmag.com | June 2015
25232-15_001-044.pdf 33
35
5/26/2015 11:10:44 AM
Older women’s passport to adventure:
Exploring, Discovery and Mapmaking T
he chance to spend a day writing and meditating in
Sue Spirit, pictured here with hiking sticks at a pagoda in Burma, challenges older women to venture out of their comfort zones and take a risk once in a while. Photo submitted
25232-15_001-044.pdf 34
a cozy hermitage atop a mountain in the High Country seems too good to be true. In addition, it provides me with an opportunity at day’s end to hike an old logging trail, two winding miles straight downhill to the main conference center. “Why not?” I ask myself. An appropriate challenge to end a perfect day of contemplation, reflection and journaling. The night before my hermitage and hiking day, I can’t sleep. I am almost as scared as I had been the nights before some of my extended Appalachian Trail hikes. Nagging questions float in. Will my boots be comfortable? Are there too many books in my backpack? What if I fall on the trail? Will anyone find me? I should ask my knees what they think about the hike. Starting downhill, hiking stick
5/26/2015 11:10:44 AM
in hand and whistling, “I love to go awandering,” I soon begin to feel real pain in my knees. More than an hour later, I limp and hobble my way out of the woods, ready to collapse. I did it. I am proud and relieved. And I won’t do it again. But asked if, knowing what I know now, would I have chosen to go, my answer would be yes. And to the next challenge that comes my way, scared or not, I will say, yes. Yes to paragliding. Yes to Class Four rapids (maybe not Class Five). Yes to hiking (make that hobbling) in Iceland. Yes. I’m sad when I think about the challenges I used to take on: hiking the Appalachian Trail the length of Maryland, climbing to a favorite lookout on the Blue Ridge Parkway, undertaking an adventure in Greece. Now, at 76, I feel my world closing down. Sometimes, it’s all I can do to take the compost out or go for a walk with my dog, Ginger. Maybe it’s my lot now to read about adventure trips, write and, perhaps, tend a small garden plot. Still, on a recent trip to Burma, one I knew would be a physical challenge, I struggled daily up muddy, rocky banks from our small teakwood boat to visit schools, villages and pagodas. Later, with the help of the young boat staffers, I am handed safely down the forbidding banks to the boat. Just as I’m thinking, “This is so tough I’m the most disabled traveler here,” Min Min, our leader, tells me I am doing fine, that this is the most difficult trip and that I should not be afraid to go on another trip. What an affirmation — a passport to adventure! Now I’m thinking, “Don’t put it off — Go.” I challenge middle-aged and older women to dare to take a risk to venture out of their comfort zones. Try to stretch your physical limits, or to explore a new culture, as I did. Or, you might even decide to take an extended sojourn in a different culture, to learn a new language and deeply experience a foreign way of life, as my friend Diana did, recently.
‘
Just as I’m thinking, “This is so tough I’m the most disabled traveler here,” Min Min, our leader, tells me I was doing fine, that this is the most difficult trip and that I should not be afraid to go on another trip. What an affirmation — a passport to adventure! Now I’m thinking, “Don’t put it off — Go.” - sue spirit
’
Diana spent two months in Siena, Italy, studying Italian. She worried that she would be in an apartment all by herself and would have a hard time meeting others in her group. As it turned out, she shared, “We got to know each other quickly and did a lot together.” Many of the students were in their 20s and she was much older, but that didn’t make any difference, They were all just students. Another possibility for women is to have a spiritual adventure, perhaps a so-
journ at a monastery or retreat center, to explore an avenue of spirituality different from that of their usual lives. I remember my first three-day sojourn alone in a small cabin, Shabbat Shalom, in a red pine woods in Michigan. By the third night, I am really scared, alone and face-to-face with what you might call the dark night of the soul, asking, “What is it all about,” and getting some surprising answers. Or, women may move into uncharted territory, perhaps volunteering with a mission project, a medical clinic, or an earth-centered endeavor in some other part of the world. My friend Diane, a physician assistant, likes to seek out short-term medical volunteer projects in poor countries. She isn’t always calm, however, about the prospects. For her first project, in Afghanistan, she was told to make out her will and expect to die. She was shuttled on camel back from one small clinic to another by night, doing her best, with a few supplies, to meet people’s needs. Talk about challenge and risk. A new kind of aging is clearly emerging for many women: a time of exploring, discovery, and map-making. We can explore their new surroundings, discovering many new things about ourselves and our world. With these discoveries, we can make maps for others to follow: create a work of art to inspire other women, write an essay, poem or memoir to convey the essence of our experience — or start a new project or organization to help meet people’s needs in third or fourth-world nations. Or who knows what? The possibilities are wide open. The only rule for this new way of life is that there are no rules. Except one: Go.
sue spirit Writes poetry and essays about nature, spirituality, writing, and travel. She has a little cabin in the mountains. degreesoffreedom@frontier.com
AAWmag.com | June 2015
25232-15_001-044.pdf 35
37
5/26/2015 11:10:44 AM
Reach Out and Read A vital concept of child development
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go,” writes Dr. Seuss.
Have you ever wondered how important it is to read to your children? It seems to be talked about in the media a lot lately, but is it really that important? The Children’s Council of Watauga is convinced that it is, and is a proud partner of the nationally recognized Reach Out and Read program. According to Reach Out and Read, “Learning begins at birth, and the first five years offer a critical window for brain development. Frequent exposure to words
38
through reading aloud, talking, singing and rhyming helps young children develop language skills that serve as the foundation for all learning — and fosters a love of books that will last a lifetime. By teaching parents to read aloud to their babies and toddlers, Reach Out and Read’s doctors and nurses play a key role in ensuring the healthy development of our nation’s youngest children.” Here’s how it works: When a family takes their child for a well visit to either Blue Ridge Pediatrics or the Appalachian District Health Department, he or she is given a new, developmentally-appropriate book to keep (each checkup from 6 months through 5 years) and is offered critical advice, by the pediatrician and
nurse, about reading and brain development. It is a program that is simple to implement, low cost (only about $20 per year for a child), yet offers big returns for everyone involved. On a national scale, Reach Out and Read serves approximately 4.4 million children annually. The Reach Out and Read Program in Watauga County began in 2011, and in the last year alone, we have given out more than 3,400 new books to the children in our community. For some children, these serve as the only books they own. Others are simply delighted to receive a gift when they go for their checkups.
June 2015 | AAWmag.com
25232-15_001-044.pdf 36
5/26/2015 11:10:44 AM
Reading Tips for Families (adapted from reachoutandread.org) Make reading part of every day,
even for just a few minutes.
Have fun. Talk about the pictures. You do
not have to read the book to tell a story. Let your child turn the pages. Show your child the cover page.
Explain what the story is about.
Run your finger along the words
as you read them.
Silly sounds, especially animal
sounds, are fun to make.
Choose books about events in
your child’s life, such as starting preschool, going to the dentist, getting a new pet or moving to a new home.
Make the story come alive. Cre-
ate voices for the story characters.
Ask questions about the story:
What do you think will happen next? What is this?
Let your child ask questions
about the story. Talk about familiar activities and objects.
Let your child retell the story. Visit your local library often.
For more information about this program, or to make a donation, contact Mary Scott at The Children’s Council at (828) 262-5424 or mary@ thechildrenscouncil.org.
About the Children’s Council Since 1977, the Children’s Council, the local Smart Start agency, has been serving our community and acting as a voice for our youngest citizens. We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to develop to his or her fullest potential in a community that supports, nurtures, and empowers children and families. We are committed to taking the lead in building a strong foundation for children’s learning and development by strengthening families, the early childhood system, and the wider community. We invest our resources in quality early childhood programs and services for our youngest and most vulnerable children to have the opportunity for healthy development.
BOUTIQUE
UPSCALE RESALE LOCALLY OWNED BY
JAN WINKLER AND ELENA ROMAGNI
SUMMER HOURS:
Monday – Friday 10am-5:30pm Saturday 10am-4pm Please visit our website for information on consigning.
where great stories begin™
215 BOONE HEIGHTS DRIVE, SUITE 300 BOONE, NC 28607 828.355.9944 • WWW.REDEUX.CO AAWmag.com | June 2015
25232-15_001-044.pdf 37
39
5/26/2015 11:10:44 AM
Life might not start at 100,
Joda Ollis has proved to be a living encyclopedia on the meaning of life for many younger people, including All About Women editor, Sherrie Norris, who soaks in her every word. Photo by Van Norris
Joda Ollis at 100
Living life to its Fullest 40
but according to Joda Ollis, it doesn’t necessarily have to end there, either. As she became one of the area’s newest centenarian on April 10, Joda was the bell of the ball at Roan Highlands Nursing Center, where dozens of friends, family members, fellow residents and staff gathered to celebrate her milestone. The revelry began days earlier and continued for several days afterward, with calls, visits, cards and another party at her church in Crossnore. A native of Avery County, Joda has now become one of the High Country’s longest-living residents and continues to live every day to its fullest. With mental clarity and a contagious enthusiasm for life, Joda says she is not ready to give up “just yet.” “I hope I’ve got a lot of living left to do,” she says. Born in the Avery County community of Powdermill and delivered by a midwife, Joda grew up as the eldest of four children and only daughter of Thomas J. and Margaret McCoury Greene. “It’s just me, the oldest, and my brother, T.J. (Greene), the youngest, that are left, now,” she says. “I don’t know of another one in our family who lived to be 100.” At her first party, Joda requested a favorite hymn —“Never Grow Old” — to be sung, which she says, is not just about life on this earth, “but about heaven, where I’m looking forward to going when I leave here.”
Growing up on Powdermill Reflecting upon “a real good life,” Joda shares how she was raised on her family’s “little farm,” where, she learned, at an early age “what hard work really meant.” “We (children) had chores and our family grew most everything we ate and that included raising farm animals for our meat,” she recalls. “We didn’t have much money — not many people did back then — “but we didn’t go hungry, for sure.” Joda remembers carrying water from a spring and washing clothes on an old washboard. Her childhood memories have remained so vivid that she recently wrote a lengthy poem called “Growing up in Powdermill,” which she enjoys reciting, and says she hopes it will help her nieces
and nephews appreciate what life was like “back then.” Another poem to her credit, “The Stages of Life,” is so poignant that a nursing assistant at the facility where she resides requested Joda recite it at her graduation celebration. Joda attended school at Riverside through the seventh grade and graduated from Cranberry High School in 1933. “I took a business course for a year after that, but my mother got sick and I had to drop out to help care for her,” she says. “I decided not to go back to school, but instead, I got married.” Joda met the love of her life, Stokes Ollis, on day when she went home with her friend, Grace (Buchanan) Ollis. “Grace’s family was having a bean stringing and Stokes was working with his dad on the road below her house,” Joda recalls. “I never thought a thing about him coming back to her house that night to help string beans, but I’m glad he did.” He wrote her a letter and a romance developed between Joda and Stokes, she says; they dated, “off and on” for about eight years, from 1928 until they were married in 1936. “We got married in a little one room church at Belview there in Cranberry,” she says. “The preacher told Stokes he would meet us there at 11 o’clock, and he did.” Her parents were not aware of her plans, she says. “My dad never wanted me to marry,” she recalls. “He kept telling me I had been seeing that boy long enough and warned me that I’d be sitting up in some holler with a house full of young’uns one day and not enough to eat.” Her wedding day started out like most other days, she says. “I had picked beans all day and told my parents I was going to my friend’s house. I got my bath and left my mother a note on the kitchen table, telling her I was going to get married, but I’d be back. That’s all I told them.” Joda had bought herself a pretty white dress and pearls to wear. “My dress jacket had fur on the sleeves, it was real pretty,” she says. “It was a Saturday and my brother, Ray, was at the store where I was going to meet Stokes. They said when Ray saw me, he jumped up and ran home and told Mama that he’d seen me and that I was all dressed up — that I must’ve been going to get married.” Joda was 21 at the time; Stokes was 22, “a year and two months older than me,”
June 2015 | AAWmag.com
25232-15_001-044.pdf 38
5/26/2015 11:10:44 AM
she says. “Stokes was just making $1 a day working with the CCC Camp, so we didn’t have any extra to go anywhere. We stayed at his brother’s house for a couple of nights,” she says. The newlyweds returned to Joda’s family home on Monday. “We sat down at the dinner table and Papa gave us a little lecture and nothing more was said,” she recalls. They stayed between their two families for the first two months of married life, which Joda remembers was in the late summer, during a busy canning season. Their first home, she describes, was “an old house at Cranberry Gap that had never been painted.” “It was a monstrosity, but we were just as happy as if it had been a mansion,” she says. And she remembers her curtains made out of flour sacks. “You don’t have to have fine things to be happy.” Stokes soon got a job with the Virginiabased A.B. Burton Construction Company, where he worked for the next 30 years “He helped build roads through four different states,” she says. “And he always wanted me with him, so we bought a little trailer at first, and then a nicer one made out of solid metal, war material, and moved it from one job site to another. It was just like a home.” The two lived at 16 different locations in North Carolina, she says, 14 in Virginia, “a couple in West Virginia and four in Tennessee.” “I got tired of it, but it was the life he loved, so it was worth it to me to see him happy,” she says. Joda made friends easily with the wives of other crew members, and they made long-time friends with many of the couples, but she admits to having been bored in those early years. “The only time I mentioned working, Stokes said, ‘Well, you go on and make a living and I‘ll quit what I’m doing and do the housework.’ I never mentioned working again, but there were times when we could’ve used the extra money.” Joda says she was never a real good cook, “But Stokes never complained,” she adds. “There was not much he wouldn’t eat, except for pickled beans and kraut. He loved coconut cream pie, so I always tried to have him one of those.” The couple left their trailer behind to new owners in Bryson City at the last job site, before Stokes retired and the couple
moved into the home they had purchased in Elizabethton, Tenn. “He was 62 when I talked him into retiring,” Joda says. “I’m awful glad he did. We had 11 more wonderful years together, a total of 51 years and nine days, when he died in 1973 with leukemia.” Life was never the same, Joda admits. “I still miss him so bad I can’t hardly stand it, sometimes. I’d give anything if I could just see him walk in this room.” As a widow, Joda lived alone in Elizabethton for 15 years, where she continued as a faithful member of Big Springs Baptist Church, enjoyed participating in activities at the senior center and working in her flower gardens. Everything changed, however, when she fell and broke her hip, she says, after which, her brother, T.J., encouraged her to move to Crossnore to be near him and his family. “I lived there for nine years and enjoyed making so many new wonderful friends and going to church,” she says. “I couldn’t have moved to a better place, but I missed my home and all my friends and neighbors, and my little doctor, in Elizabethton.” In 2010, Joda agreed with her family that it was time to relinquish her independence, and opted for a move to the Roan Highlands facility in Roan Mountain, Tenn., She says the location was an easy one for her family and friends to visit, especially those from Avery County to Elizabethton. She was determined to remain active and quickly found her niche in facility events. She is currently serving as president of the resident’s council, is a member of the Red Hat Club, was named Valentine’s Day princess, and rarely misses a special gathering, especially the church services. In May, Joda received an honor of distinction from the Tennessee Health Care Association’s Tennessee Center for Assisted Living, when she was named to the organization’s Who’s Who in Tennessee Long-term care. She was among others honored, including military heroes, educators and entertainers, living in the THCA/ TNCAL member nursing homes and assisted living communities statewide. In addition to receiving a certificate of achievement during National Nursing Home Week, May 10-16, Joda will also be featured on the THCA’s website at www. thca.org.
The last five years at the nursing care facility have been good, too, she admits. “They take such good care of me here. The staff is really good to me and we have a wonderful administrator who really cares about us and our needs. My family is so good to me. They didn’t put me in here and forget about me. They come regular to see me.” Joda says she is still “in pretty good shape,” has a pacemaker and takes “a little pill for my heart and my blood pressure.” Her eyes “have gotten bad,” she says. “But other than that, I can’t complain.” For long distances, she relies on a wheelchair, but with a walker, she ambulates to the nurses station three times every morning, “except on Sundays,” she says. Faith has always played an important part in Joda’s life, she says. “If it wasn’t for the good Lord, I would never have made it this far. He’s been so good to me. I just can’t thank him enough.” At the same time, she says, “I never asked the Lord to let me have a long life, I just depended on him to give me what He wanted me to have. I reckon this is part of it.”
Avery County native Joda Ollis enjoys every day of her life as one of the High Country’s newest centenarians and one of the latest longterm-care residents named to Tennessee Healthcare Association’s Who’s Who. She is pictured here on her 100th birthday in April, taking one of many calls on her cell phone. Photo by Sherrie Norris sherrie norris Editor, All About Women
AAWmag.com | June 2015
25232-15_001-044.pdf 39
41
5/26/2015 11:10:44 AM
'Heaven High and Hell Deep' In “Wuthering Heights,” Catherine Earnshaw haunts the moors; in “Gone With the Wind,” Scarlett O’Hara vows that she and her family will never be hungry again. In Peggy Poe Stern’s “Heaven High and Hell Deep,” Elaine Elder Johnson milks cows, shoots preachers and kills panthers with a pitchfork. The quintessential heroine of both their cultures and time periods, these protagonists' indelible spirits and indomitable resilience remain with readers long after their stories have been put away. The same holds true with ‘Laine, a 14-yr-old girl whose resourceful and zealous nature are the anchors that hold her steadfast in the midst of life’s many storms. The first in a fivebook series, “Heaven High and Hell Deep” or “Laine’s Beech Mountain Story, Book 1” establishes a narrative voice that readily meets author Peggy Poe Stern’s goal to “tell the stories of these mountains.” Through Laine’s triumphs and struggles, Peggy embodies the world of Avery and Ashe counties in the early 20th century as she creates a protagonist who is the epitome of a strong mountain woman. The second of three children, Laine’s tomboyish inclinations and her desire to be her daddy’s favorite force her into the 42
role of both provider and caregiver for her mother, older sister and her younger brother. Beginning work well before dawn, Laine does the outside chores required to keep a farm going, while also managing to maintain the cooking, cleaning, and canning necessary to keep her family fed. When tragedy strikes, Laine’s role becomes even more complicated. In an attempt to save her, Laine’s daddy marries her off to a near stranger, Rafford Johnson. “Rafe” nearly drags Laine and many of her family’s farm animals through the mountains to Kentucky. It is in his home and on the acres of his run-down farm that Laine begins to understand and embrace her love of the land, the animals and her work. “As I stood there looking out over the land, loneliness tried to enter my chest, but I pushed it away. It didn’t matter that I was completely alone. It didn’t matter that there wasn’t one single person to say a word to me. I could talk to the animals. I could manage.” Employing the appearance of Rafe’s nieghbors, the diary of a woman from Boston, and the vehemence of an angry boar, Laine’s new world, as well as her place in it, is solidly established: “I was as tough as poison ivy growing on a fence post. I closed my eyes and breathed in deep of the clean air as it blew over me. I heard Daddy’s voice saying, ‘It’s your land, girl, all yours. It belongs to you heaven-high and hell-deep.’ And so it was.” In an All About Women interview, Peggy reveals that of all the characters in the 36 books she’s written, “Laine continues to be her overall favorite.” The same appears to be true for her readers.
June 2015 | AAWmag.com
25232-15_001-044.pdf 40
5/26/2015 11:10:44 AM
After its publication in 2003, Peggy shares, “Two men came to find me. They thought I was Laine and had come to rescue me.” However, Elaine Elder Johnson does not need to be rescued. In fact, she might laugh at the notion while staring down the barrel of her shotgun. An engaging and rugged story, readers will embrace Laine, cheer for her victories and anticipate the ways she will tackle her future.
Compared with the sickly Catherine and the conniving Scarlett, Laine Johnson’s moral fiber and physical fortitude would make her Western North Carolina’s best bet, any day.
Hollie Greene Hollie Greene is an English teacher who loves stories, words and the mountains of North Carolina.
About the Author Growing up with storytellers has given Peggy Poe Stern the advantage she needed to create stories that are a mixture Local author Peggy Poe Stern of both truth has written 36 books, most of which are serving to preserve and fiction. the nuances of personality and Beginning in tradition that are held within high school, her mountain home. Peggy developed the habit of writing early in the morning and has continued this discipline throughout her life. Using stories passed down through the generations of her family and stories she’s been told about Western North Carolina, Peggy goal is to record and preserve the nuances of personality and tradition that are held within her mountain home. Peggy has written 36 books, each of which has been printed, bound, and published by her husband. “Heaven High and Hell Deep” (2003) is the first in a five-book series about Elaine Johnson. The fifth book, “Yellow Brick Road,” will be available this fall.
Mon - Sat 10a-9pm | Sun 12:30pm-5:30pm 1180 Blowing Rock Rd., Boone, NC (828) 264-7286
www.BooneNCMall.com
Kaye’s Kitchen Café & Catering
As she works on each of her books, Peggy employs the advice of author Terry Kay, “All words are the same. It’s how you use them that makes the difference.” Through a variety of writing classes, Peggy continues to learn more about the craft of writing while honing her own unique style. Peggy and her husband, Dave, live in Ashe County. For more information about Peggy Poe Stern and her work visit her website www.peggypoestern.tripod.com.
Breakfast All Day • Great Sandwiches Homemade Soups & Daily Lunch Specials Dinner Every Thursday through Saturday Sunday Brunch Buffet • Wine & Beer for those who choose 503 PINEOLA ST • NEWLAND, NC (828) 737-0314 Kayes.Kitchen@gmail.com NewlandKayesKitchen.com Insta
AAWmag.com | June 2015
25232-15_001-044.pdf 41
43
5/26/2015 11:10:44 AM
Summer will arrive later this month and among the many opportunities it brings for outdoor life in the High Country are picnics on the Parkway, backyard barbecues and the annual dinners on the ground at some of our mountain churches. Hopefully, a few of our seasonal favorites will be a part of your special occasions. Grilled Corn, Avocado and Tomato Salad 1 pint of grape tomatoes 1 ripe avocado 2 ears of fresh sweet corn 2 Tbsp. of fresh cilantro, chopped Remove husks from corn and grill over medium heat for 10 minutes. The corn should have some brown spots and be tender and not mushy. Cut the corn off the cob then scrape the cob with the back of your knife to get the juices. Set aside and let cool. Slice the tomatoes in half. Dice the avocado and chop the cilantro. Combine tomatoes, avocado, cilantro and grilled corn; cover with dressing and mix gently to ensure even coating. Be careful not to mash avocados. Let salad sit for 10-15 minutes to allow for optimal flavor.
Dressing: Juice of 1 lime 3 Tbsp. vegetable oil 1 Tbsp. honey Sea salt and fresh cracked pepper, to taste 1 clove garlic, minced Dash of cayenne pepper Add dressing ingredients in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside.
Tabouli Salad 4 cups cooked barley ¼ cup virgin olive oil 3 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice 2 cloves finely minced garlic 1 cup coarsely chopped mint leaves ½ cup chopped fresh dill 2 cups seeded and diced plum tomatoes 2 cups seeded and diced cucumber ½ cup thinly sliced scallions Salt and black pepper to taste Fresh mint or dill sprigs for garnish Toss cooked barley (be sure not to over cook) in a large bowl with olive oil, lemon juice and garlic. Add chopped mint and dill. Toss in tomatoes, cucumbers and scallions. Season with salt and pepper.
Toss gently, but thoroughly. Let rest for 1 hour to allow the flavors to blend. Garnish with sprigs of mint or dill before serving.
Oven-fried chicken strips ¼ cup all-purpose flour 1 egg 1 Tbsp. water 1 cup breadcrumbs, plain or Italian style Panko ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese About 1¼ lb. chicken breast tenders Heat oven to 425°F. Line cookie sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray. Spoon flour into shallow dish. In another shallow dish, beat egg and water. In third shallow dish, mix bread crumbs and cheese. Coat chicken with flour; dip into egg mixture, then coat with breadcrumb mixture. Place on cookie sheet. Bake 15 to 20 minutes, turning once, until chicken is no longer pink in center and coating is golden brown. Serve with dipping sauce of choice.
SAVOR THE 25232-15_001-044.pdf 42
summer
5/26/2015 11:10:44 AM
Summer sub 1 lb. loaf Italian bread, split 1/3 cup mayonnaise 1/3 cup mustard of choice 8 pieces leaf lettuce 6 pieces cheese of choice 1 pkg. each of deli ham and turkey breast Bacon, fully cooked 1 large tomato, sliced Spread cut sides of bread with condiments; layer with remaining ingredients. Cut into pieces and spear with party picks. (This makes 3 to 4 small subs, depending on width of cut. Repeat as many times as you need with more bread and ingredients.)
Peanut butter brownies 1 cup peanut butter 1 stick butter 3 eggs 2 cups brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup self-rising flour Preheat oven to 350. Grease 9 x 13inch pan. Beat peanut butter and butter with electric mixer; add eggs, sugar and vanilla. Stir in flour until well blended. Bake 30 to 35 minutes. Cool, cut and enjoy.
Strawberry lemonade cake 1 boxed strawberry cake mix (plus oil, water and eggs as directed on box) 8 oz. cream cheese, softened to room temperature 1 small packet lemonade Kool-Aid Yellow food coloring gel (as desired for color) 2 cups marshmallow cream 8 oz. whipped topping Fresh strawberries to garnish. Make cake according to box; bake in 2 (9-inch) round cake pans as directed.
Remove from pans and cool completely. While cake is cooling, cream together with mixer the cream cheese, lemonade and food coloring until smooth. Mix marshmallow cream and whipped topping until smooth. Refrigerate until cake is cooled. When cake is cool, cut each cake layer in half, making four layers. Alternating layers of cake with layers of filling, assemble cake. End with layer of filling. Top with sliced strawberries. Refrigerate and serve chilled.
Classic summertime lemonade 6 cups cold water Juice of 8-10 lemons, or enough for 2 cups 1 cup sugar Ice cubes Lemon slices Maraschino cherries with stems Mix water, lemon juice and sugar in large pitcher until sugar is dissolved. Refrigerate for about 3 hours or until chilled. Serve lemonade over ice, with each glass garnished with a lemon slice and cherry. sherrie norris Editor, All About Women
AAWmag.com | June 2015
25232-15_001-044.pdf 43
45
5/26/2015 11:10:44 AM
Photo by Sherrie Norris
‘You are part of the great plan, an indispensable part. You are needed; you have your own unique share in the freedom of creation.’ - Madeline L’Engle
46
June 2015 | AAWmag.com
25232-15_001-044.pdf 44
5/26/2015 11:10:44 AM
BLINDS DIRECT 17 YEARS IN THE HIGH COUNTRY
828.295.3323
Affordable Custom Window Fashions • Wood Blinds • Shutters • Patio Shades • Honeycomb Shades •
We are a locally owned and operated family business. From value price items, to the top of the line products, Blinds Direct can offer you a complete product line. Schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced team members.
We Come to You No Expensive Showroom
YOU SAVE MONEY
Are you in a
Fashion Funk? Picture yourself getting
OUT OF YOUR BOX at Libby’s!!!
205B Long St. | Shamrock Square | Jefferson, NC | (336) 846-9551 | www.libbyslook.com Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. | Saturday 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. | Closed on Sunday
46-47.indd 47
5/26/15 9:30 AM
48.indd 48
5/26/15 9:36 AM