All About Women September 2012 by Mountain Times Publications

A AW M A G .C O M

september 2012 FREE

angela & jennifer Celebrating a Decade at WYN

kaitlyn jongkind A Passion for Life in the Country

CafĂ&#x2030; portofino Five-Star, Family-Friendly

marlie shelton Steps up to the Plate

melanie hollar Local Nurse Comes Full Circle

You Won’t realize the distance you’ve walked until you take a look around and realize how far you’ve been.

Photo by Sherrie Norris

- Unknown

publisher Gene Fowler

executive editor Tom Mayer

editor Sherrie Norris sherrie@aawmag.com 828.264.3612, ext. 251

writers Genevieve Austin Heather Brandon Danielle Bussone Bonnie Church Heather W. Jordan Kelly Penick Raney Rogers Jeanne Supin Reta Winebarger

production & deisgn Jennifer Canosa Meleah Petty Kelsey Steller

advertising Radd Nesbit 828.264.6397, ext. 271

cover photo by Lindsey Hamby

contents nurture local happenings 7 medical directory 8 ashe piece makers quilt guild 20 pets 24

create sandy adair susan van wyk lisa pepper by the book recipes

26 28 30 32 34

transform young at heart healthy lady not so grounded beauty summer at a glance

jennifer & angela

38 40 42 44 46

kaitlyn jongkind

marlie shelton

cafĂŠ portoďŹ no

melanie hollar

SEPTEMBER 2012 | AAWMAG.COM

editor’s note

It’s been a difficult summer for most of us in the High Country. In the few short months that are normally dedicated to fun in the sun, we — as a community — have experienced more than our fair share of heartache and sadness. Tragedy and loss can easily describe the summer of 2012 — one that will never be forgotten. We reacted to the news in disbelief as each episode unfolded. We joined hearts and hands, we carried in food, we hugged, we stood in long lines for hours — and we all cried. We shared notes of sympathy and sought solace on Facebook, we arrived hours early for memorial services that overﬂowed with mourners and, for once, (several times over) we didn’t mind the traffic snarls as we either joined in lengthy processions or watched in reverence from a distance. Many of us felt as if we were the stars of a cruel reality show that unfolded before our eyes with no casting call or rehearsal. All of us would have gladly jumped at the chance to yell, “Cut!” before the ﬁnal scene unfolded. We lost a precious 4-year-old girl whose last moments were spent playing with friends at Vacation Bible School; we said goodbye to a vibrant teenage boy whose life ended way too soon while enjoying a night out with his friends; we bid farewell to a well-known automobile dealer known for his generosity and community spirit; we mourned the losses of an internationally-recognized music icon and local legend, a young public servant

SEPTEMBER 2012 | AAWMAG.COM

and protector who was anticipating the birth of his ﬁrst child, the director of a local children’s home, who had worked diligently for years to give them a better life, and a well-loved local pastor. Numerous other deaths have occurred, as well, in this short time period called summer, and were no less painful for their survivors — especially that of the young husband and father whose family members stood by helplessly, unable to prevent the tragedy surrounding their loss. Family patriarchs, matriarchs, brothers and sisters have departed, as well, this summer, too numerous to mention and each situation bearing its own burden, whether they made the headlines, or not. Death. Loss. Pain. Regret. We all have experienced it — and as long as time goes on, we will continue to do so. We can neither escape it, nor can we really be prepared for its appearance. Within a short period of time several years ago, my oldest brother, my mother and father died, in addition to numerous family members and friends. Since then, I have stood at the bedside of countless others as they lay dying — as a nursing home social worker, as a hospice volunteer and as a friend. I have often said that my mother’s illness taught me about death. But more importantly, through her death, she taught me about life. It is my hope and prayer, that through the tragedies of this summer, that we have each learned something about our own lives. From this day forward, let’s not take another minute of it — or a person in it — for granted.

newsbits&clips Clawson receives highest NC award

North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall presents the Order of the Long Leaf Pine to Boone Mayor Loretta Clawson, joined by grandsons Nick (left) and Alex Clawson, at the Jones House. Photo and text by Anna Oakes

Boone Mayor Loretta Clawson recently received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the state’s highest civilian honor. N.C. Secretary of State Elaine Marshall presented the award at a reception hosted by the Watauga County Democratic Party at the Jones House Community Center. Awarded by the governor, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine is “presented to outstanding North Carolinians who have a proven record of service to the state,” according to the governor’s office. Individuals must have at least 30 years of public service to be eligible for the award. Clawson worked for the N.C. Department of Transportation for 21 years and the Watauga County Clerk of Court’s office for four years. She was elected to the Boone Town Council in 1997, serving eight years on the council before being elected mayor. She will have served eight years as mayor at the completion of her current term in 2013, which she says is her last. She has also served with numerous committees, projects and other organizations locally. At the state level, Clawson has served as the second vice president of the N.C. League of Municipalities, on the State Executive Council of the North Carolina Democratic Party, on the Council of Governments Joint Regional Forum, on the N.C. Coalition of Mayors, on the state Parks and Recreation Trust Fund and on the Governor’s Council on Aging.

ASU professor to serve on NASA panel Dr. N. Travis Triplett, director of the exercise science program in the College of Health Sciences’ Department of Health, Leisure and Exercise Science at Appalachian State University, has been selected to participate on an expert panel being convened by NASA to help address problems of muscle and bone density loss on long space missions. This is the second NASA panel on which Triplett has served. The ﬁrst panel helped engineers develop a weight-training machine that is now aboard the International Space Station. The panel will convene in mid-September at Johnson Space Center in Houston.

SEPTEMBER 2012 | AAWMAG.COM

newsbits&clips Online Resources for Local Parents

High Country Mom Squad is now “High Country Parent.” Don’t worry, all of the helpful content is still available and its new format is easier than ever to navigate. A great “place” to ﬁnd any information you need about families in the NC High Country – from restaurants where kids eat free to moms’ groups and numerous other helpful resources for food, fun things to do, parenting, and coupons 101, plus daily insight from local contributors on such topics as health, homeschooling, childbirth, and green living. Visit www.highcountryparent.com.

5 -10 p.m. Tues. – Fri.; noon -10 p.m. Sat., Sept 4-8

20th Annual Avery A&H Fair

Heritage Park, 661 Old Vale Rd. in Newland 20 rides, a petting zoo, a beauty pageant, multiple competitions and plenty of entertainment. Rides open 6 p.m. weekdays; 1 p.m. Sat. Competitions open to Avery County and its surrounding counties. Winners of exhibit categories are eligible to compete at the North Carolina State Fair in Raleigh. For more information, call Jerry Moody (828) 387-6870.

Sept. 4-6

High Country Small Plate Crawl

Three full days of small plate tastings at some of the High Country’s finest restaurants. Plates priced from $3-8 Benefits the Hunger and Health Coalition of Boone. Nonperishable food will be collected at each participating restaurant during the Crawl for the nonprofit food bank. Follow the latest Crawl news by “liking” HCSmallPlateCrawl on Facebook or email event co-presenter, Laura Huff, Carolina Epicurean at thecarolinaepicurean@gmail.com.

9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Sept. 8

Kidfest at Grandfather Mountain

Kidfest, a day designed to get kids excited about the nature and culture of the North Carolina Mountains through fun and entertaining activities.

September Medical Listings

SEPTEMBER 2012 | AAWMAG.COM

newsbits&clips Ashe County’s Literary Festival

On the Same Page – A celebration of reading and Writing

Sept. 12-15 An opportunity for readers to meet some of their favorite authors and writers to be inspired. A special time for those who love the written word. Readings, writing, discussions, visual art, performance art, ﬁlm, spoken word, craft, food and more blend together each year to become the special experience that is “On the Same Page.” For more information, contact Ashe County Arts Council at (336) 846-ARTS or the Ashe County Public Library (336) 846-2021, or visit www.Onthesamepage.org

11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m, Fri., Sept. 28

Fifty-Two Weeks of Hope

Blue Ridge Mountain Club, Blowing Rock Seventh Annual Luncheon to celebrate the restored hope, realized dreams and bright futures of people served by the Hospitality House. Be inspired by stories of triumph over crisis and learn about exciting new ways to get involved with a mission of helping people rebuild their lives. Admission is free. The event is open to the public. Presented by The Hospitality House Board of Directors For more information and to respond, visit www.hospitalityhouseofboone.org or call (828) 264-1237

Wild about Fall Fashions

WeyohuarveLook! www.libbyslook.com Mon-Fri 9:30-6:00 Saturday 9:30-5:30 Closed on Sunday

205 B Shamrock Square Jefferson, NC (336) 846-9551

Photo by Sherrie Norris

A Passion For Life in the Country

SEPTEMBER 2012 | AAWMAG.COM

kaitlynjongkind It’s because of her passion for rural, public health, says Kaitlyn Jongkind, that she came to Boone to work at the Appalachian District Health Department after receiving her bachelor of science degree in public health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It’s that same passion that is steering the innovative Durham native toward a future in medicine. Kaitlyn hopes to enter medical school next year and anticipates a future career in what she hopes will be a rural family practice. Currently, as health educator and food systems coordinator at the local health department, Kaitlyn, has made numerous inroads in a short time. Two of her primary areas of concentration are related to the health department’s promotion of the Take Step Two and Seeds of Change Initiatives; both coincide with her belief that that local foods are a key aspect of a thriving community and that everyone should have access to locally-grown fruits and vegetables. Since graduating in 2011 with highest honors from the UNC-CH Gillings School of Global Public Health, with a focus on nutrition, Kaitlyn has been actively involved in various related programs, including those associated with the Communities Putting Prevention to Work grant, helping to reduce the obesity rates in the district through policy, systems and environmental level changes. Her role, too, has placed her in the position to monitor and promote health in three rural counties through a variety of activities including a community health assessment, health fairs and demonstra-

tions and coordinates projects of the Heifer Seeds of Change Initiative, which aims to reduce hunger and poverty in a five county region. Kaitlyn brought to the High Country vast knowledge and skills, honed through her work as a research assistant, specifically related to diabetes in youth. She also conducted original research on the use of web-based health promotion among the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, which entailed securing funding and IRB approval, conducting a literature review and community assessment, recruiting participants and analyzing data. She was also involved in various aspects of organization, marketing and leadership, which included designing and editing the Green Apple, a campus publication promoting healthy eating and providing diabetes education to patients at a rural, student-run clinic. Since coming to Boone, Kaitlyn has found her niche in several local organizations, including Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture, a local non-profit that aims to support female farmers in the High Country region. She currently serves as a board member. While at Chapel Hill, Kaitlyn volunteered at the UNC hospitals in several departments, including GI Procedures, Pediatrics and Pediatric Oncology. As class nutritionist for Interfaith Food Shuttle Cooking Matters, in 2008 and again in 2011, she taught a healthy cooking class to food-insecure children at a boys and girls club and local elementary school. As an intern for Duke LIVE for LIFE, she provided nutrition information to visitors of the Duke Farm-

ers Market. In an earlier intern position with NC Prevention Partners, she worked on tobacco policy issues, including updating a health directory of smoking cessation programs and researching youth tobacco laws. Kaitlyn maintained dean’s list status for ﬁve semesters, received the summer undergraduate research fellowship, Summer 2010 and the Gump Family Undergraduate Research Award, Summer 2010. “Working with community gardens and farmers’ markets inspired me to start my own garden this year,” she says. “I’m growing squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, Swiss chard and a mix of herbs.” Kaitlyn is an avid runner and has completed three marathons — the Charlottesville, Boston and most recently, the Grandfather Mountain Marathon, which she says is “the toughest one yet.” sherrie norris Editor, All About Women

Sandwiches Pastas & Steaks

large wine, draft & bottle beer selection daily lunch specials tues-fri kids eat free tues-thu daily drink specials indoor/outdoor seating Live Music with Klee Liles every Thu. nite from 6:00 - 9:00PM Restaurant hours: Tues-Thurs & Sun 11:30am-9:30pm Fri & Sat 11:30am-10:00pm Closed Mondays

970 Rivers St Boone • 828-264-7772

www.cafeportofino.net

SEPTEMBER 2012 | AAWMAG.COM

Photo by Sherrie Norris

MarlieShelton

Marlie Shelton Steps Up To the Plate Recent Watauga High graduate and honor student, Marlie Shelton, is completing her work as Health Promotions Intern with the Appalachian District Health Department and is on her way to Pomona College, a premier liberalarts college in Southern California with a focus on the arts, humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. With plans to pursue graduate and doctorate degrees in biological or environmental sciences, Marlie says Pomona “is a perfect fit,” and one that “felt right,” when she first visited. “It’s also ranked as one of the nation’s happiest school,” she says, “ which pleases my mother.” Most of all, she anticipates the opportunity, she says, to embrace the diversity of her peers and the faculty, to take part in what she knows will be “engaging classroom experiences and research opportunities,” and further identify her role as a global citizen, while she prepares for her career. Marlie has been working under the Communities Putting Prevention to Work grant — specifically with the Take Step Two Initiative. “My primary role has been to plan and perform cooking demonstrations in Ashe, Alleghany, and Watauga counties,” she says. “By the end of my internship, I will have performed 12 demonstrations at farmers markets and two at senior centers, for a total of 14 demonstrations in about three months.” When she’s not focused on cooking demonstrations, Marlie has helped others in the office by doing research, making copies, or providing feedback, she says. “I have also been able to volunteer my time with two important nonprofit organizations, Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture and the Hospitality House of Boone,

throughout my internship.” Marlie says she “feels blessed” to have found what she calls “a wonderful internship opportunity,” last November when she was serving on the Watauga County Student Services Committee as a student representative. “Jennifer Bryan-Greene and Cindy Douglas were present at a meeting in which we were discussing the results of the 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey,” she says. “I was very passionate and verbal in expressing that I wanted my peers to have better eating and physical activity habits, and I think that is what caught their attention.” “Fulﬁlling my internship hasn’t always been easy,” the rising college freshman says. “I frequently spend hours trying to track down farmers to ﬁnd out what produce they are going to have at the next market. I sometimes chop so many vegetables or clean so many dishes that I think I will never want to set foot in my own kitchen again.” But, she says, the gratitude and excitement that the local communities have for these cooking demonstrations “is heartwarming and uplifting” in a way that never ceases to surprise her. Marlie says there is nothing more rewarding that seeing someone who “doesn’t eat beets” try her Beet and Arugula Salad, “And observing their eyes light up with joy.” That type of exposure to new vegetables and fruits is exactly what the cooking demonstrations aim to do, Marlie says. “The people at the farmers market have taken the initiative to get themselves there, but what will they do next? Will they simply eat a few baked goods and walk away empty-handed? Or, she asks, “Will they buy produce that they can experi-

ment with in their own kitchens?” Take Step Two, Marlie says, is all about getting people excited about produce and getting them to take that second step, which for some, could be as simple as supporting local farmers, and for others, could be as big as starting a community garden. She created new senior healthful living guides, local produce guides and numerous recipe cards by combining some of her own knowledge with information from other sources. “I have loved what I’ve been able to do,” she says, “and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Sometimes, I am saddened at the thought of my cooking demonstrations ending, even though that means I am headed off to California. I cook whatever I can, whenever I can, and it is likely that I will have a leadership role in a holistic wellness club at Pomona College in the fall.” Her role, she says, will focus on nutrition, which hopefully, means the possibility of continuing to perform cooking demonstrations. “I believe that eating whole foods and engaging oneself physically are both very important for physical and mental wellbeing,” Marlie says. “It is a belief that I will share with others throughout my life.” In her free time, Marlie enjoys yoga, contra dancing, reading, hiking with friends, cooking with friends and family, volunteering at community gardens and going to the farmers market — “as a patron.”

sherrie norris Editor, All About Women

SEPTEMBER 2012 | AAWMAG.COM

cafÉportofino

A favorite of Boone locals,

Joanna Sahm and Olga Esterson, owners and operators of Café Portofino, offer five-star dining in a casual, family atmosphere in Boone. Photo by Sherrie Norris

Five-Star Family-Friendly at

Café Portofino

SEPTEMBER 2012 | AAWMAG.COM

Café Portofino is located in a 100-year- old building on Rivers Street, once the original maintenance station for the historic Tweetsie Railroad. With a friendly, open kitchen, a cozy dining room and impeccable service, owners, Olga Esterson and Joanna Sahn, are happy to offer what many consider fivestar dining in a casual, family atmosphere. Olga and Joanna assumed ownership of the celebrated location in late 2008, and began incorporating “little changes,” along the way. “We left the menu the way it was for the first year,” Olga says, but we eventually added our personal touch. We came up with some specials that our customers loved, which found their permanent place on the menu.” Portofino’s offers an eclectic mix of sandwiches, pastas and steaks, with daily specials and fresh seafood. The house specialty — spiced sirloin over penne pasta with Portofinos signature arrabiatta sauce — is one of the alltime favorites. “It’s what sets us apart,” Olga says. “We bought it with the business and tweaked it just a bit to make it our own,” Joanna says. An extraordinary wine list compliments the culinary experience and all ABC permits are offered. Established in 2000, Café Portofino is known not only for great food, but also as a great location for private parties, family get-togethers, large parties and special occasions — inside and out. Separate from the restaurant, “The Tap Room,” offers darts, billiards, games, largescreen televisions and a full service bar that can be rented for private functions. Café Portofino was the main draw that brought Olga and Joanna to Boone — to

stay — after successful careers in the insurance business. Olga owned an Allstate agency in Florida and Joanna was climbing the Allstate corporate ladder when they met at a convention. Ogla is a native of West Palm Beach; Joanna, who hails from Boca Raton, grew to love the North Carolina Mountains through visiting the seasonal home of her parents, in Banner Elk, for more than 20 years. “I vacationed here, too,” says Olga, “and always loved the area. I often said if I ever left South Florida, I would come here.” Café Portofino is known for it’s excellent cuisine, as well as exceptional service. “We are very fortunate to have the management staff that we do,” says Joanna. “Overall, we have a really good group of people working here.” The people, in general, and the community, as a whole, say Ogla and Joanna, make their business the success that it is. What first appeared as it might’ve been “a good old boy society,” when the pair first arrived in Boone, the community

quickly opened its heart and arms to the duo, they say. And, likewise, they became “entrenched,” Joanna says, in the place they now call home. “We love the small-town feel,” Olga says, “ and how everyone is always willing to help each other.” Joanna says they enjoy the camaraderie they have formed with their customers, including the business community, as well as that of the university. “We try to do our part to give back to the community,” she says, and it’s evident in their generosity to local charities and nonproﬁt organizations that they help support, such as the Humane Society, Grandfather home for Children and others. Every day at Portoﬁno is a good day, these compassionate owners agree. “Some days are longer than others,” Olga says, “but they’re all good.” As equal partners in the business, they are involved in “the every day operations,” Olga says, and share responsibilities among themselves and their staff. They also know the importance of taking care of themselves and try to carve out

time for biking, hiking and walking. “We love being outdoors,” says Olga. “We love the mountains and find the beauty of nature amazing here.” Joanna was once a top volleyball recruit for the University of Hawaii who transferred to UNC-CH to complete her education. “I try to exercise every day,” she says. Café Portofino, located at 970 Rivers St. in Boone, is open for lunch and dinner every day, except for Monday. Hours: 11:30 am - 9 p.m. Sun., Tue. – Thurs.; 11:30 a.m. - 10 p.m. Fri. – Sat. Kids 10 and younger eat free all day Tues. – Thurs. For more information, call (828) 2647772, visit www.cafeportofino.net or follow on Facebook for daily specials.

sherrie norris Editor, All About Women

Jennifer Grubb & Angela Hagaman Celebrating A Decade At WYN Jennifer Grubb and Angela Hagaman are celebrating 10 years in leadership at Western Youth Network, better known as WYN, a nonproﬁt relationship-focused resource for youth and families in the High Country. Through prevention and intervention programs, WYN specializes in providing youth with the tools they need to reach their potential and discover their place in our community and in our world. WYN was established in 1985 to address gaps in service for youth in Watauga County. Now, more than 25 years later, it serves hundreds of youth and families each year in Watauga, Avery, Ashe, Wilkes, Alleghany and Mitchell counties. Jennifer is the executive director; Angela is the director of prevention services. Together, the duo has been a guiding force to helping change the lives of hundreds of young people during their decade of service.

All About Jennifer Jennifer Grubb grew up in Davidson County, where her parents, her brother and her fiancé still live. Jennifer moved to Boone in 2002. Jennifer received her bachelor of arts degree from Pfeiffer University; she is currently pursuing her master of arts degree from Appalachian State University in clinical mental heath counseling, with a concentration in marriage and family therapy. She also holds a certificate in nonprofit management from Duke University. She completed the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Watauga Leadership Challenge in 2007. Previously, Jennifer was the program associate at Lexington Housing Community Development Corporation. She came to WYN as the director of its mentoring program in 2002, was promoted to director of programs in 2005 and a year later, accepted her current role. “It was in Lexington, while assisting with a program that taught financial literacy and responsible money management to children, that I knew I wanted to work with kids,” she says. “I applied for two different jobs at WYN before being hired

as the mentoring director. I knew in my heart that WYN was where I belonged.” From the beginning, Jennifer says, there was “something very authentic” about the work of WYN. “Kids were literally the bottom line and nothing else mattered to the staff,” she says. “I enjoyed three years of making matches and watching them grow in their mutually beneﬁcial relationship.” Starting out on the “program side of things,” she says, gave her a better appreciation for WYN’s work. “It has helped me, as director, remember what is critical when we have faced severe budget cuts over the last three years.” In light of those cuts, the organization’s goal was to ensure that no programs or staff were cut. “We managed to make this work, despite losing 50 percent of our funding,” she says. Jennifer has seen WYN “go from a youth to an adolescent,” she says. “I see adulthood on the horizon for us. We have matured and learned how to be better grant-writers and evaluators. We have a stronger staff and board and have grown in our professional development. We have expanded to make our services more preventative and broadreaching. We are learning how to better market ourselves and how to be better fundraisers.” It is “interesting,” she says, to witness the “evolution” and to see how the organization has learned to adapt to its ever-changing environment. “All the while, survival has been our chief goal,” she says. “So many kids and families in our community need us, so we must stay viable.” Jennifer works at WYN, she says, because she feels connected to its mission and because she loves the people with whom she works. “I feel a personal responsibility and calling to help families be as strong as possible, so that kids have the kind of childhood that prepares them to be successful and happy adults,” she says. “I wholeheartedly believe in the power of mentors — both formal and informal —to change the course of a person’s life. To me, there is nothing more powerful than leading people to their potential so that they can lead a fulﬁlling life.” Photo by Lindsey Hamby

Photo by Lindsey Hamby

She remember being asked in an interview for a scholarship at Pfeiffer University, what she saw herself doing when she graduated from college. “At the time, I saw myself in a corporation of some sort,” she says. “I envisioned dressing up and being in charge of something, but I had no idea what. It is encouraging to look at my life now — with that former vision in mind — and see how, in some ways, I have achieved what I sought. I just added the nonproﬁt spin on things as it became more important to me for my work to have a higher purpose.” There are “moments,” she says, when she looks at her life and says, “Wow. Look at me. This is really my life.” “I am very fortunate to have found a profession that not only pays the bills, but also provides me with a purpose and a way to be a help to people in the community,” she says. “It is a local mission and one that suits me better than anything else I can imagine, right now.” Jennifer is a member of Bethany Lutheran Church and enjoys being outside and being active when she’s not studying

SEPTEMBER 2012 | AAWMAG.COM

for her master’s. “I also enjoy contra dancing, running and hiking,” she says. “I am getting married next June, so planning the wedding has also become an emerging hobby.” Jennifer has a close relationship with her family; spending time with loved ones, she says, is very important “I love living in Boone and enjoy the peaceful mountain lifestyle and the generosity and sense of community that is so evident here,” she says. “ It is touching to see the community come together and host fundraisers for people who have fallen on hard times. People seem so real here, and I have really ﬁt in and found my niche here in my personal and professional life. Acknowledging that some days have been easier than others, Jennifer says there is no other place she would have rather been in the last 10 years. “I used to tell my family that, even if I won the lottery, I would still work at WYN,” she says. “When I reﬂect on the last 10 years, the main thing I notice is that there has been mutual growth for myself and WYN. I have watched and helped the

organization grow, and WYN has, in turn, helped me grow as well.” Jennifer says she learned, from the director who hired her, the importance of slowing down and taking time for relationships and fun, “and that it’s not all about getting the tasks done.” Assertiveness training has helped, too. “I went from being a quiet, humble, makeno-waves kind of person to someone who can appropriately draw boundaries and assert myself for the good of myself and WYN,” she says. The staff has become a second family for Jennifer, she says. “I have seen WYN go from a ‘feel good’ agency to one that is growing more professional every day.” Jennifer loves the outdoors and especially, she says, hiking and running. She also enjoys dancing and working out. “I also love all of the music, and cultural activities that are available here,” she says. “The people in Boone and Watauga County are so gracious, strong, considerate and friendly. They really make the place what is for me.” “Jennifer is one of the most compassionate caring people I have ever met,” says Angela. “Her bottom line for WYN has always been — and continues to be — serving all of the kids who need our services, regardless of means, transportation, behaviors, or ability to pay. Her door is always open, no matter what else she has to do.” According to Angela, Jennifer has made it her mission to continue to see WYN thrive. “She is the rock of WYN,” Angela says, “a solid and dedicated professional, who can be trusted, implicitly. She may be quiet, but she is so very strong and incredibly intelligent. I have never met a woman who is so consistently honorable and strong. She always thinks of others before herself. WYN would not be thriving and growing without her. It would not surprise me, 10 years from now, if we are celebrating our 20th anniversary together.” Angela says not only is Jennifer her boss, but also one of her closest friends.

All About Angela Angela Hagaman is a Watauga County native. “I grew up on a farm and am connected to our rural, local community,” she says. “I understand what it is like to go to school and live here in a town where tourists and college students sometimes out-

number the natives. I understand what it is like to grow up in poverty, and how valuable our land and natural resources are.” A graduate of Watauga High, Angela received both her Bachelor of Science and Masters of Arts degrees at Appalachian State University and started her professional career as a high school English teacher. “I realized quickly that I was drawn to the students in my classroom with serious behavior problems, substance abuse issues, and/or serious academic concerns,” she says. “I wasn’t very interested in the curriculum or teaching to the end-ofgrade test. I wanted to spend my time connecting and understanding what these high-risk students needed to be happy and successful.” After one year of teaching, she left that field in 2000, gave birth to her son, David, and found herself “back in the youth-serving business,’ she says. Through working with the Watauga County Schools 21st Century Community Learning Center’s Consortium, she developed a “close partnership with WYN,” she says. “Each time I had an opportunity to work with the WYN staff, I felt a sense of passion, or, as I often like to call it — magic.” Since joining WYN, Angela has held various supervisory roles, including After School and Summer Programming Director for high-risk middle school youth and Parent Programming facilitator before assuming her current role as director of prevention services in five northwest NC counties. Unless you are on-site with the kids and staff at WYN, Angela says, it is difficult to understand the sense of connection that happens every day. “When I am with the kids, or families, or watching as our staff and volunteers interact with the youth, I see, or more specifically, I feel something happening,” she says. “There are these precious moments of connection, when youth experience and connect with their true selves, and others, in a healthy and positive way. They find themselves noticing their surroundings and nature in a completely different way. They have new ideas and hopes for the present and future. They may even begin to heal from their past.” After a decade, the magic has never faded, she says. Whether spending each day with the middle-school youth in the summer program, or a youngster who asks to be

Photo submitted

dropped off last in the afternoon just so he or she can spend more time with them — it’s magical, she says. ‘Or, the sound of laughter as they play in the river while, for just a little while, letting go of the challenges and pain of their daily lives, it’s magical.” WYN has become family, Angela says. “My 15-year-old son has participated in the program, and we have made many memories with staff and participants. WYN will be in my heart forever.” Angela also loves the outdoors, music and laughter,” she says. “I enjoy spending time with my son and hanging out with middle-school kids — it’s therapeutic.” A “risk taker,” who loves adventure and challenge, Angela doesn’t like to settle for the “status quo,” she says. “I am always trying to improve myself and to be a better person.” Angela is a state licensed professional school counselor; she received her national counselor certiﬁcation in Apr. 2009, and her license as a professional counselor associate in Mar. 2012. Angela is a recent graduate of the National Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America Academy, which included four weeks of training in coalition development. She is the chair of the Watauga County Substance Abuse Prevention Collaborative, and also serves on numerous committees and collaborative in her ﬁvecounty service area. Angela provides leadership and oversight for various state and national initia-

tives, and is an active partner with prevention coalitions across the state. “Sometimes I have found Angie to be the yang to my yin,” says Jennifer. “She’s outgoing — I’m quiet; She’s creative — I’m grounded. Our energy has been complimentary over the years. I know I can always count on her to ask the critical questions. I also know I can count on her to come up with creative and new ideas. She’s the most likely to go home, chew on an idea, and then come in the next day with a way to totally revamp programs for the better. She is versatile, open to the possibilities of change, and well-known and respected for her work in community organizing.” When it comes to someone who can successfully manage a group of high-risk adolescents, Jennifer says, “Angela has no equal. Her work is very personal to her and she carries WYN around with her wherever she goes. It has been an honor to share so much life and so much WYN history with her all these years.” For more information, contact Jennifer or Angela at 155 WYN Way Boone, NC 28607; (828) 264-5174, email to info@westernyouthnetwork.org, or visit http://www. westernyouthnetwork.org.

sherrie norris Editor, All About Women

SEPTEMBER 2012 | AAWMAG.COM

Judie Ashbough and Jean Williamson, founding members of the Ashe Piece Makers Quilt Guild, stand in front of work made by members of the guild. Photo by Reta Winebarger

Ashe Piece Maker’s Quilt Guild For avid quilters Judie Ashbough and Jean Williamson, quilting is more than sewing pieces of colorful material together to make a warm covering — it is a steadfast cathartic for their soul. “Quilting eases the mind and soothes the soul,” Judie says. “I read that once and I really believe it — At least it’s true for me.” Both women agree on the healing that each has experienced while quilting. It has helped them through grief, loneliness and illness.

SEPTEMBER 2012 | AAWMAG.COM

When the two women joined forces to create the Ashe Piece Maker’s Quilt Guild, Jean wrote their vision of the guild: “There’s no place in the world like Ashe County. I envision the guild to be laidback, ﬂowing steady like the New River; no hustle-bustle, gentle like a Southern lady – a resting spot to bring us together so we can hear and speak of the familiar language of quilts.” Judie’s journey of quilting started early. “My mother and grandmother used to quilt and I made a few pieces, early on,”

she says. “I never truly got into it until my husband and I moved to Ashe County, in 1992.” As a former registered nurse, Judie started her college education at Kent State in the late 1960s. She dropped out, got married, had two children and became busy in 4-H and scouting events before ﬁnishing her nursing degree in 1986. Working in Ohio and in Ashe until retiring in 1997, Judie began quilting, seriously, in 1993 when she joined the High Country Quilters. Her ﬁrst quilt was a “sampler” quilt,

ashepiecemaker’squiltguild she says, completely handmade, with her friend, Betty Herbert. From then on, Julie says, quilting took over her life. Her husband converted their garage into a quilting room and she started teaching quilting in the mid 1990s. When her husband of 48 years died, she left quilting for a while. “I just didn’t feel like making anything, but now, I’m getting back into it,” she says. “I ﬁnd that quilting is a release for me.” Jean Williamson’s journey is similar. She was born in Baltimore and raised in the Chesapeake Bay area. “I had wanted to be a teacher, but my parents couldn’t afford to send me to college, so, I married a service man when I was just 16,” she says. “We lived overseas for a while before moving back to Maryland and taking a job as a unit secretary in a hospital” After her husband retired from his career as a highway engineer, the couple started a woodcarving business and became successful at making hand-carved jewelry. In 1993, after 20 years in business, Jean and her husband retired to Ashe County. “My mother and I were sewers, but I had never quilted before,” she said. On her 60th birthday, Jean decided to make a quilted wall hanging for each of her six children — Never mind that she had never quilted before. After successfully completing the wall hangings, Jean jumped into a monumental project making a completely handmade quilt from handkerchiefs. As a member of the High Country Quilters since 1993, Jean brought the handkerchief quilt to every meeting. “It took 30 handkerchiefs and three years to ﬁnish,” she says. During the process, Jean’s oldest son passed away. “I traced his and my hands on a pattern before he died, and then transferred the tracing and embroidered the hands on the handkerchief quilt,” she says. “I named the quilt ‘In God’s Hands.’” Jean’s husband died in 2004; shortly thereafter, she was diagnosed with cancer and endured surgery and treatments. She is now cancer-free. “I don’t think I could have made it without the outlet I had in quilting,” she says. “I needed it so badly that I was even working on a project the day after my surgery — while still in the hospital.”

Judie and Jean are the pioneers and original president and vice president, respectively, of the Ashe Piece Makers Quilt Guild, which was formed in 2002, with 29 members at the first meeting. “Our hope was that Ashe natives would come to the guild.” Judie says. “We now have approximately 70 members and we meet once a month. We have quilting bees and offer classes. We make a ‘donation quilt’ every year to be given away at our quilt fair as a fundraiser.” The guild also donates many of their quilts to various business and organizations in the county. “We donate quilts to A Safe Home for Everyone, The Ashe Sheriff ’s Department, Ashe Senior Center, and we even donated filled and quilted Christmas stockings to the armed forces,” Judie says.“ We also give quilts to victims of house fires in the county and other items to those in need. It is very rewarding to be a member of the guild. The guild is a network of friendships where we sew, laugh and have a great time while doing what we love. ”

n my ogwme e v a h n I ssisti enedict a l that “I feeonal angelday.” - J. B pers me every ho in my

A trusted name when you need that helping hand.

828 963 8233 APPALACHIANHOMECARE.COM

reta J. winebarger Wife, mother, avid reader and a CNA at Ashe Memorial Hospital. Her passion is writing stories about her Appalachian heritage.

Annual Quilt Fair With approximately eight categories and more than 125 entries, this year’s Ashe Piece Maker’s Quilt Guild Annual Quilt Fair will be held September 14-15, starting at 10 a.m. at the Jefferson Station. The fair kicks off on Saturday with Gyleen X. Fitzgerald, author of ﬁve books on the subject of quilting. Quilt appraiser and historian, Neva Hart, will be in attendance and Lorraine Covington will serve as judge. The event is free and open to the public. Patrons can vote for their favorite in the “Viewer’s Choice Awards.” For more information, visit www. ashequilters.org. SEPTEMBER 2012 | AAWMAG.COM

melaniehollar

The staff of Watauga Hospice includes Sherry Dollar and Melanie Hollar, seated; Standing: Anna Day, Sheila Posey, Emily Yates, Linda Hopkins, Virginia Peurifoy.

Local Nurse Comes Full Circle

SEPTEMBER 2012 | AAWMAG.COM

Melanie Hollar is now the manager of professional services at the Watauga Hospice office in Boone, a role for which she has been preparing since Hospice transformed her life — personally and professionally — more than a decade ago. “I was so impacted by oncology and hospice nurses when my first husband, Greg (Edmisten) was in Hospice care,” she said. So much so, that when she returned to nursing school, she set her sights on becoming an oncology/hospice nurse. “I became a registered nurse in December 2005 and then I received my certification as an oncology nurse in Feb 2008.” Melnaie is now pursuing her certification in hospice and palliative care, as well. “I am thrilled that God has brought me back to my home county to serve and care for patients and their families,” she says. It’s her way of “giving back,” she says, for the “ wonderful care the hospice nurses and staff provided us at the end of Greg’s life.” Melanie began her latest journey on June 18, after working for 6½ years as an oncology nurse at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston Salem. “I want to be the hospice nurse that pa-

Photo by Sherrie Norris

tients and family members need and want at such an important time in their lives,” Melanie says. “It is truly an awesome privilege that God gives us, as hospice nurses, to be a part of that end-of-life experience.” Melanie sees her new role as “an exciting challenge” as she transitions from the hospital to the more intimate setting in private homes, and, as needed, long-term care centers. Her experience in oncology has prepared her for the next phase of her career. “I will always be an oncology nurse, but now, my focus has been re-directed by God, she says.” As part of the High Country Health Care System Home Health and Hospice, Melanie says her team of caring, compassionate and highly professional staff has made her feel more than welcome. “I am really blessed by these wonderful women who have a heart for what they do,” she says. “I am assisted by another registered nurse, Sherry Dollar, with the clinical visits to the patients’ homes. Sheila Posey is our office assistant; Anna Day is our volunteer coordinator, Virginia Peurifoy is our long-time bereavement coordinator/chaplain, Sara Shoemaker is our social worker, and Emily Yates, certiﬁed nursing

assistant.” Melanie’s goals and objectives, as a manager, she says, “Are to bring a team approach to the patients and caregivers that we serve and care for through the entire interdisciplinary team. I want our services to be top-notch and to be known for providing the best care possible — just like the care Greg and I received, more than a decade ago.” Mary Lee, who serves as the director of hospice services, says the organization is “thrilled,” to have Melanie join its team. “She has brought years of experience as an oncology nurse to our hospice, and has quickly settled in. In addition to providing leadership and hospice nursing care in Watauga, Melanie is also available to provide end-of-life education to any interested community group,” she says. Mary Fran Knight is the agency’s executive director and is proud to lead this team of professionals who lend themselves and their skills to the hospice concept of caring, not curing, she says. “We are here to care for the individuals facing a life-limiting illness — with a life

expectancy of six months or less — while supporting their family, caregivers and friends,” she says. Mary Fran spoke, also, of the value of volunteers, who she says, “are vital to our service and offer diverse activities from sitting with patients to answering the office phone.” Watauga Hospice operates under the umbrella of High Country Health Care System, a nonprofit, private, communitybased, home health care organization that has provided home health services to Alleghany, Ashe and Watauga counties for more than 30 years. Hospice provides compassionate nursing care and support to those who have been diagnosed, by a physician, with a terminal illness. Encompassed in that care is a professional team consisting of registered nurses and certified nursing assistants, physician-ordered medications and needed equipment, social services, chaplain services and bereavement support — which includes Camp Sunshine, a summer camp for children who have lost a loved one — are also a part of the care.

Voted Watauga County’s 2011 Best of the Best Women’s Boutique

The goal of hospice is to make each patient’s life as comfortable and meaningful as possible, and to support the entire family, Mary Fran says. Hospice does not hasten death or prolong life, and encourages patient and family autonomy within hospice guidelines. Operating through a joint venture of Ashe Memorial Hospital and Appalachian District Health Department, High Country Health Care System is accredited by the Joint Commission. The mission of the organization is to provide comprehensive and quality services in the home at a reasonable cost to residents in their service area as well as to provide health education, to promote healthy living and maintenance of a safe home environment. For more information, visit the office at 136 Furman Road Ste. 4, in Boone or call, (828) 265-3926.

Fashion, Beauty & the Memories of a Lifetime! Boone Mall | 1180 Blowing Rock Road | Boone, NC 28607 | 828.264.8977

www.SouthsClothiers.com

The Wedding Experts!

One Stop Shopping for the Bride & the Entire Bridal Party

Lisette Pant

COMING SOON! Every story has a bead.™ UNIVERSAL UNIQUES™ Fits All Chains from All Brands.

Pets

Randy, the Goldador, and Melanie. Photos by Leda Winebarger, deputy clerk at the Watauga County Clerk of Court and part-time photographer. http://ledaslensphoto.zenfolio.com/

Moving Forward

SEPTEMBER 2012 | AAWMAG.COM

Melanie Winebarger of the Meat Camp community and her canine companion, Randy, are learning to live by the motto of Southeastern Guide Dogs — “Forward Together!” Melanie returned home in late June with her new partner in sight, after nearly a month of training together at the Palmetto, Fla., school. Since early childhood, Melanie has dealt with a progressive visual impairment related to a rare optical disease known as parsplanitis caused by sarcoidosis, a rare autoimmune disorder, and has endured multiple surgeries, intense treatment — most of which were unsuccessful — and nearly constant pain that requires routine injections that help block the pain,

but never completely removes it. Melanie, 34, is a graduate of Watauga High School. She has worked as office manager for the Baptist Campus Ministry through the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina at Appalachian State University and as secretary at First Baptist Church of Boone. Her days currently are ﬁlled with getting to know Randy better and adjusting to life with the helpful companion that continues in training with her to ensure her safety. Randy is a Goldador — a Golden Retriever and Labrador mix and Melanie’s special choice to serve as her guide dog. Prior to Randy, Melanie felt that life was closing in on her as her blindness

intensiﬁed. Now, she says, she is enjoying more independence and getting out of the house more. A near-fatal medical condition left her with the possibility of death or life without sight. While the choice seemed bleak from any perspective at the time, Melanie chose life. However, life with a cane severely limited her options and her ability to enjoy life. Melanie had heard about Southeastern Guide Dogs years ago from a veterinarian, Dr. Howard Johnson, but it was her mother, Leda Winebarger, who strongly encouraged her to apply for a guide dog. Melanie says she went from being referred to as “the blind person with a cane” to “the girl with the dog.” Melanie says her mother will never let her forget that the decision was one of the best she has ever made since Randy has given her a fresh outlook on life. Those who know Melanie say that she is an amazing woman — and one who prefers not to be in the spotlight, but rather chooses to focus on the good of others and organizations, such as Southeastern Guide Dogs, which, she says, “is the best

$ off $20

any

purchase

(dog & cat food excluded) expires September 30

i love pet place!

school in the country for the canines” and operates completely on donations. From the time a puppy is born until it is matched with its owner approximately $60,000 has been invested toward its care — veterinarian needs, feeding and training. Puppies between 18-24 months are usually matched with an owner, Melanie says; the majority go to people who still have partial vision. Randy knows 40 voice commands and multiple hand signals, Melanie says, indicating “intelligent disobedience,” is her favorite part of his training. “It directs the dog to follow its reasoning skills and contextual knowledge when it pertains to the owner’s safety,” she says. For instance, if Melanie is directing Randy to either step in a direction blocked by an obstacle, or where he can see a possible hazard to her is present, he is trained to disregard that command in order to protect the owner from harm. Rigorous training, Melanie says, is required to prepare the animals for their round-the-clock duty. Like all owners, Melanie must agree to designate one day a week as “off duty,”

during which Randy and those like him are not harnessed and free of any obligation beyond that of being a dog. This agreement allows dogs the ability to extend their service. With plans for Randy to join her in upcoming college classes, Melanie has a new outlook on life. It’s all about living life to its fullest, having fun and moving “Forward Together!” “Before I got Randy, I felt like I was going nowhere, but now, I feel like I have my life back,” she says. For more information about Southeastern Guide Dogs visit www.guidedogs.org.

Genevieve Austin Genevieve Austin is a mother of one and received her teaching certiﬁcate from ASU. She is a writer who is working on her ﬁrst book, ‘The Toy Box,’ and is also a radio personality, artist, singer and animal advocate.

Cuts Color/Foils Glazes for shine Braids Facial waxing Up-do's Earpiercing Conditioning treatments Perms Wedding Hair Plus a boutique with jewelry and more!

SO GOOD FOR YOUR SKIN YOU CAN SLEEP IN IT ONLY AVAILABLE AT SERENDIPITY HAIR STUDIO & BOUTIQUE

Banjo, Local customer since 2011

OWNERS: Debbie Isaacs and Carlene Greene STYLISTS: Crystal Turbyfill, Ceirra Murphy, Anna Isaacs, Debbie Warren HOURS: M-F 9am until. Closed 12-1pm for lunch

the High Country’s local source for all your pet needs!

Call today! 828-264-2212

220A Postal Street Boone, NC 28607 By Jessica Simpson and Raquel Welch

SEPTEMBER 2012 | AAWMAG.COM

Weaving the tapestry of the Blue Ridge With Sandy Adair Right: Sandy Adair as Artist in Residence at Edgewood Gallery in Blowing Rock last summer. Photos submitted

To weave the tapestry of the Blue Ridge Mountains into a cherished work of art might be a challenge for most. That is not the case with Sandi Adair, a devoted ﬁber artist who dedicates her life to preserving the natural beauty in which we live. Also a dedicated environmentalist, Sandy’s love of nature is innate in her personal ﬁber — to capture what she sees through tangible, artistic means offers no challenge. “The Blue Ridge Mountains, which surround my home with their ever-changing moods, have been a continuing source of inspiration to me as a tapestry weaver,” she says. “Tapestry weaving is much like painting, with yarn as my palette and the needles, my brushes. My intention is to create peaceful places, micro chasms one may enter for replenishment. My inspiration comes from the landscape around me.” Those native to the area, and visitors alike, are fortunate to have ready access to Sandy and her immense talent.

SEPTEMBER 2012 | AAWMAG.COM

Available for commissioned work, Sandy creates large and small pieces from favorite photographs, meaningful vistas and specific scenes. She first creates a black and white drawing — a cartoon, she says — from a chosen photograph and places it behind the upright warp to use as a guide in creating the requested one-of-a-kind weaving. “Tapestry weaving is a slow process of laying and beating down one line of yarn at a time until an image is formed,” she says. “Once completed, my weavings are stretched across a frame, secured and backed with muslin. I often add embroidery overlay for further detail.” For those who desire to learn the craft of weaving, Sandy teaches lessons and sells yarn at her private studio. Most students learn enough, within four to five lessons, to create a simple tapestry. A local resident for 37 years and a park ranger 15, Sandy enjoys time with her three children and two granddaughters. A member of the Southern Highlands Guild, Piedmont Craftsmen and The American Tapestry Alliance, she’s been

featured in more than 30 invitational and juried exhibitions and was chosen to represent the Biltmore House during their “Year of the Tapestry” celebration. Sandy’s work has been featured in numerous publications including ﬁve books, the latest of which, “Best of Mixed Media: Volume II,” will be available soon. Sandy’s magniﬁcent works appear in numerous locations and in a variety of venues across the region. A few of her commissioned pieces available for viewing are located in the EPA Visitor Center near Raleigh, the NC Arboretum in Asheville, Appalachian State University’s “Whitewater Room,” NCNB in Chattanooga, ASMO International in Statesville and the permanent collection of The Swag in Waynesville. Sandy also offers framed, limited edition images, hand-printed on fabric, of some of her favorite weavings in addition to notecards. She is currently working on a series of paperwoven images of wolves. Locally, her work is available at Parkway Craft Center, Main Street Gallery,

R River Cross, ArtWalk, Hands Gallery an and Doe Ridge Pottery. To commission an heirloom quality work of art, to schedule lessons or for more information, contact Sandy Ad at (828) 264-0259, or email to FiAdair bre bredesign@charter.net. Genevieve Austin Genevieve Austin is a mother of one and received her teaching certiﬁcate from ASU. She is a writer who is working on her ﬁrst book, ‘The Toy Box,’ and is also a radio personality, artist, singer and animal advocate.

Fall arriving dail daily... For the Looks you Crave... Crav including Free People, Seychelles, Joe's, Lucky, French Connection, Citizen's, Towne & Reese, Jack by BB Dakota, Seven for All Mankind, Sweet Pea, Tolani, Johnny Was, and Hobo.

URBAN CHICWEAR

549 West King St Downtown Boone 828.264.4120 SEPTEMBER 2012 | AAWMAG.COM

Enjoying the Journey through Color The world of Susan Van Wyk begins at the top of her driveway with a bright and colorful hand-painted design on her mailbox to artfully landscaped gardens and patio arrangements. Susan, herself, is a vision of color as she answers her door, her blue eyes sparkling and copper-red hair that curls at her cheeks accentuating a wide, ﬂattering smile. Susan’s art, though somewhat undiscovered, is a treasure to, well, discover. But her art does not begin or end at the canvas. Instead, it extends onto the walls of her home, which are painted in beautiful, pure colors that blend one room into another.

SEPTEMBER 2012 | AAWMAG.COM

On some walls, she has painted entire scenes so that a bedroom becomes a realm of make-believe. Susan paints beautiful washes on glassware, her accent pillows introduce an extra splash of complimentary color everywhere and the fresh ﬂowers artfully arranged in a vase make her table glow. Creating an aesthetically soothing color palette for her living space comes naturally for Susan, but painting picturesque, light ﬁlled color-laden scenes was not something she planned to do. Her father, however, often painted in her family’s great room and while growing up, she was always interested in watching him “at play.”

Susan did not begin painting until college, at which time a choice to major in fine arts was made because she thought it would be easy. What she discovered was that her lack of background in art gave her a bit of an inferiority complex. She “powered on” though, finishing her studies and obtaining her certificate to teach. Although she had completed her teaching requirements, several years passed before she actually entered the classroom. In the interim, she worked at a variety of jobs including pastry chef, secretary and photographer for a local paper. She was working at Appalachian State University when her employer encouraged her to apply for

an opening art position. It was not until Susan began teaching — at age 45 — in the Ashe County School system, that her education in art really began. As she began to teach high school students, she realized the limitations of her own art education. She felt lacking in the basics, but she set out to provide her students with a good art foundation. Along with the renewed interest and passion for art, Susan began painting again. She studied under Warren Dennis and took workshops through ASU. It was then that she began to sense the formation of her style and preference for materials. The subject matter that most attracts Susan’s attention today is anything that exhibits contrasts through light — or that has a particularly interesting shape. Then, she allows the painting to take its own course. The challenge of a painting, she says, is just to see if she can “pull it off.” She has been most inﬂuenced by the works of such artists as Henri Matisse, Edward Hopper, Vermeer and Turner — all masters at painting light. Susan too, has a keen sense of light and shadow and has a knack for mixing and keeping her colors clean and pure — another successful light-reﬂecting technique. Susan’s love of art and her incredible sense of color are taking her into her retirement years, with some consideration for taking her work to another level. She is beginning to show newly created samples of her work in local restaurants, the arts center and frame shop, and she has joined the gallery committee for the local arts council and has become a member of the local camera club. Educating herself about the arts is a lifetime venture for Susan, who now has more time to think of herself as an artist and is enjoying the journey of doing what she loves.

sew RIGINAL

1586-C Highway 421 S Gateway Center (828) 264-1049 3358 Robin Hood Rd Winston-Salem (336) 760-1121

www.seworiginal.com

made to create

Refill your prescriptions on the go. New Refill Rx Mobile App

Available on iPhone and Android

1. Go to the app store 2. Download the Refill Rx Mobile Free App 3. Click on the Refill Rx Mobile Icon 4. Select Scan Bar Code 5. Simply scan the barcode on your prescription bottle. 6. Your refill has been sent.

raney rogers Well-known artist, art instructor and owner of Acorn Gallery in West Jefferson.

www.boonedrug.com SEPTEMBER 2012 | AAWMAG.COM

lisapepper

Pepper Seasons the Local Art Scene

Recently discovered artist, Lisa Pepper, is shown by a selection of her work during her recent debut at Edgewood Cottage in Blowing Rock. Photo by Sherrie Norris

SEPTEMBER 2012 | AAWMAG.COM

Lisa Pepper of Boone was featured as one of the summer’s artists in residence at Edgewood Cottage in Blowing Rock in August, the same place where the late celebrated artist, Elliott Dangerfield, once lived and where he taught others, including women, to paint. Lisa felt the connection in more ways than one. Days after her debut as one of the area’s most recently discovered artists, Lisa remained in awe of the reception her work received. On opening day of the show, she sold 15 of the 30 paintings that had been hung for the three-day event. The invitation she received earlier to participate in the summer artist-in-residence opportunity caught her by surprise, she says. “I had no idea that my work was worthy of inclusion,” she says. Ever so humble, Lisa greeted her guests on opening day with her usual gracious, almost shy, demeanor — and spent much of her evening carefully posting the red dots on her paintings, signifying their “sold” status. Those attending the show that first evening, as many of us did, were captivated by the depth of her work that we were seeing for the first time. Stories told in oil on canvas required no description and little explanation — the old man by the ocean with pleasure painted all over his face as his hard-worn hands held the big catch of the day, or the lone

lighthouse that stood as the beacon in the night, just as it was there to do — or the gentle, white whiskered man of wisdom, who we later learned was a father figure in the life of the artist, all spoke volumes without words. “I paint whatever I see that I like,” Lisa says. “I also try various techniques and do things differently than what might be expected.” Lisa’s inspiration comes mainly from photos. “I can’t make things up,” she says. “I have to see it, first.” As a “late bloomer,” of sorts, Lisa says she always loved to draw and sketch, but only recently has she applied color to her work. Less than five years ago, her first painting evolved from a photo she had taken a few months earlier of a close friend standing of the beach. “Painting from a photo that I took, and remembering how I felt when I took it, helps me relate that same feeling onto my canvas,” she says. Lisa took lessons at The Art Mart in Boone, at the encouragement of a friend who told her it was a fun place to be. “And,

it is,” Lisa says. “I love it and I’m still learning. That’s where I finished my first painting.” Lisa’s art is an outlet, she says, a way of expressing herself that comes easily and more naturally, even more so than conversation. She doesn’t deny having an innovative streak, possibly an inherited gift, she says, as her mother and sister are both “very creative.” “I’ve always liked to work with my hands,” she says. I’ve made earrings and I used to weave a little bit.” She also did framing for several years, something else she enjoyed, and she loves working in her flower gardens. Cooking has been a longtime passion and serves her well as wife to Jack Pepper, owner of one of Boone’s favorite eateries. Lisa started working at Pepper’s in 1980 and previously served as a kitchen manager. “Cooking is a family tradition and it’s a good thing, since we all like to eat,” she says. Lisa has a deep love for the area and has been here since 1974. She was born in Michigan and spent most of her youth

in Texas and Florida before coming here with family to live, at age 16. She graduated from Watauga High School and took a few college classes, before she realized she would rather work than go to school. “I’ve always done labor — from shoveling horse stalls to landscaping, to restaurant work and housekeeping,” she says. Her local roots run deep. Her mother was born at Coffey’s Gap, near Blowing Rock, and eventually returned to live out the remainder of her days in the mountains she loved. Lisa has one daughter and two stepsons and enjoys volunteering in the community, traveling and scuba diving, which she especially loves to do in the Caribbean. She keeps a camera close by to capture the next inspiring scene — and one that will most likely appear on someone’s wall, a short time later. sherrie norris Editor, All About Women

Varicose veins are not always a cosmetic issue.

Varicose veins and heavy, painful legs can now be treated in the doctor’s ofﬁce with the VNUS Closure® procedure. • Minimally invasive • Fast and mild recovery • Covered by most insurance For your total vein care, call now: 828-264-2340 ext 101.

Watauga Surgical Group Paul Dagher, MD, FACS 965 State Farm Road Boone, NC 28607 www.wataugasurgical.com

Nine Years After: A Caregiver’s Story What could a Jewish lad from Brooklyn and a Methodist gal who spent most of her life in the southern climes of North Carolina have in common? Why, The Grateful Dead, of course. Caught up in the vagabond lifestyle of rock and roll, Jeff and Debbie shared a determined refusal to relinquish the careless independence and joie de vivre of reckless youth. They spent several weeks each year following the band on its spring tour as they performed concerts across the country. In the beginning, Jeff and Debbie barely knew each other. They were swept up in the whirlwind of Grateful Dead enthusiasts whose features changed from one concert to the next. Eventually, they begin to recognize one another in the ﬂurry of laughing faces, which banded together, year after year. It gradually became more than the recognition of a like-minded fan. It became the recognition of a kindred soul, a divided spirit longing to be united with its other half. The music, the respite from the daily stresses of modern life and the sense of community enjoyed by fellow “DeadHeads” created a perfect vehicle for a casual acquaintance to become friendship and for a friendship to blossom into an enduring love. After a courtship, which percolated during a span of 10 years, the couple married. It seemed the bond they had formed would carry them through to a blissful old age. Then, like a phonographic needle jammed onto the spinning surface of an old vinyl 45, the music of their lives came suddenly to a screeching halt.

SEPTEMBER 2012 | AAWMAG.COM

On the day following their ﬁfth wedding anniversary, September 1, 2001, Debbie experienced a grand mal seizure and was taken to a hospital where she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Emergency surgery was performed and the tumor was successfully removed. Nine days later, she received news the tumor was malignant. Without chemotherapy and radiation her brain cancer would most likely return. The next day, Sept. 11, 2001, two planes crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center, changing the physical and emotional landscape of America forever. In his book, “Nine Years After: A Caregiver’s Story,” Jeff Block draws a correlation between the two events, an individual being attacked by disease from within — and a country being attacked by an outside force. He parallels the choices we make as individuals responding to crises with how we choose to respond as a nation. Block’s book intimately documents his experience as a caregiver and health care advocate for the nine years following Debbie’s diagnosis. In the most recent printing, he adds a chapter, which includes the 10th year. He shares with us the frustration, pain and joys of their journey. He describes Debbie’s unrelenting courage in the face of continued physical and mental decline. Block rails against the insurance industry, the twisted priorities of the medical establishment and just about anything having to do with Republican politics and policy. “I may be offending some people,” he says, “but if I am, maybe they need to be offended. It’s time people opened their eyes to what is going on in this country.” If he is hard on the establishment,

Block is equally hard on himself. He regrets some of the personal things he put into his book, like speaking honestly about losing his temper on occasions when the stress becomes too great. “My mother is not pleased with me,” he admits. For Jeff and Debbie, the future looks bleak. “The future is today,” says Jeff. “It’s difficult. I try to maintain. I try to do my best and I usually do.”

Danielle Bussone Danielle Bussone is a writer, an artist and a wellness coach. Visit her blog at www.vegginoutandabout.com.

About The Author

We are expanding to better serve you!

Jeff Block, a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., has lived for the past decade in the mountains of North Carolina. “His book, Nine Years After: A Caregiver’s Story,” chronicles his experience caring for his wife, Debbie, who was stricken with brain cancer. He has worked as a teacher, a counselor, a landscaper and has held various other jobs. He is currently secretary of High Country Writers, which meets in Boone. He has been forced to quit working outside of the home to become the full-time caregiver for his wife. His book can be found on www. amazon.com in both hard copy and e-book form. Jeff welcomes your comments emailed to tinrooﬁnn@yahoo.com.

Blue Ridge Acupuncture & Natural Medicine Welcomes Grant Weidler to Our Practice! Grant, who joins us from Houston, shares our enthusiasm for helping people. He is Board Certified in Oriental Medicine, and is a passionate herbalist. Grant earned his M.A.O.M. at the American College of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine in Houston. Hou He brings a new dimension ension of acupuncture to us, having advanced training ning in scalp acupu acupuncture, which is very beneficial ficial for stroke and a other neurological conditions. itions. Grant also a has specialized trainingg in cosmetic cosmeti acupuncture and has years rs of experience experi treating a variety of pain ain syndromes.

Grant Weidler

Torrey Gorla

Take action for your health! Blue Ridge Acupuncture

Natural Medicine

Torrey Gorla, D.A. (RI), L.Ac., Dipl.O.M., M.S. Oriental Medicine 610 State Farm Road, Suite B (behind WCEA) • Boone, NC 28607 828-265-8668 • www.booneholistichealth.com SEPTEMBER 2012 | AAWMAG.COM

Recipes

It’s National Chicken Month Most of us enjoy chicken, in some form or fashion, nearly every day throughout the year. The chicken industry, however, celebrates National Chicken Month every September, during which time producers and grocery retailers unite to offer additional promotions, partner with brands that are a great complement to chicken and showcase delicious recipes. Let’s join the celebration!

Crispy Herb Baked Chicken 2/3 cup 1/3 cup ¾ tsp. 1 1/3 cup

Hungry Jack Mashed Potato Flakes grated Parmesan cheese (up to 1) garlic salt (approx. 3 lb.) cut-up frying chicken, skinned if desired margarine or butter, melted

Heat oven to 375°F. Grease large baking pan. In medium bowl, combine potato ﬂakes, Parmesan cheese and garlic salt; stir until well mixed. Dip chicken pieces into margarine; roll in potato ﬂake mixture to coat. Place in greased pan. Bake at 375°F for 45 to 60 minutes or until chicken is fork-tender and juices run clear. Makes 4 to 5 servings

Chicken With Raspberry Cream Sauce 8 3 tbsp. 2 tsp. ½ cup 1¼ cup 1¼ cup

boneless, skinless chicken breasts butter oil raspberry vinegar chicken stock whipping cream

Dredge chicken in ﬂour and sauté in butter and oil; remove from pan and set aside. Add raspberry vinegar to pan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add chicken and stock. Simmer 15 to 20 minutes. Remove chicken; set aside and keep warm. Boil liquid over high heat until it has the thickness of cream. Add whipping cream and allow it to thicken over medium heat. Serve over chicken. Serves 8.

Did you know? According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Americans eat 80 pounds of chicken per capita yearly.

SEPTEMBER 2012 | AAWMAG.COM

Chicken Piccata 12 1 cup 1 tsp. 1 tsp. 4 tbsp. ¾ cup ¾ cup ½ cup

boneless, skinless medium-sized chicken breasts ﬂour salt black pepper olive oil fresh lemon juice white wine fresh parsley, chopped

Cut chicken into strips. Combine ﬂour, salt and pepper in a plastic bag. Coat chicken strips in ﬂour mixture. In a large skillet, brown chicken strips for approximately 3 to 5 minutes in olive oil. It works best to brown small amount of chicken at a time and then remove to a dish. After all chicken is browned, replace in skillet and sprinkle with lemon juice, wine, a little additional pepper and parsley. Cover and simmer for 3 minutes. Do not over cook. Serves 12.

Quick Company Chicken ¼ cup 1 cup 2 cups 1 cup 1 can ¼ cup

melted margarine cracker crumbs diced cooked chicken sour cream cream of chicken soup broth or milk Salt and pepper to taste

Combine margarine and cracker crumbs; blend well. Spoon half the crumbs into shallow 2-quart casserole; cover with chicken. Combine sour cream, soup, broth or milk, salt and pepper; blend well. Pour over chicken; top with remaining crumbs. Bake in preheated 350-degree oven for 20 to 25 minutes.

Balsamic and Garlic Chicken Breasts 6 to 8 2 tbsp. 2 tbsp. 12 oz. 4 to 6 ½ cup ½ cup 1 ¼ tsp. 1 tbsp. 1 tbsp.

(approx. 5 oz. each) boneless chicken breasts Salt and pepper to taste ﬂour olive oil fresh mushrooms, sliced cloves garlic, crushed balsamic vinegar chicken broth bay leaf thyme ﬂour butter

Rinse chicken and pat dry. Dredge in mixture of salt, pepper and 2 Tbsp. ﬂour. In skillet, brown chicken on one side in oil for 2 to 3 minutes and turn. Add mushrooms and garlic; cook for 3 to 5 minutes, or until chicken is brown. Stir in balsamic vinegar, broth, bay leaf and thyme. Cook, covered over medium heat for 10 minutes or until chicken is tender. Remove chicken to serving platter and keep warm. Stir 1 Tbsp. ﬂour and butter into broth mixture. Cook for 7 minutes, stirring constantly. Discard bay leaf. Pour sauce over chicken. Serve with wild rice.

SEPTEMBER 2012 | AAWMAG.COM

youngatheart

Regular

Food “Do you serve any regular food?” asked a parent at a recent orientation event for incoming students at Appalachian State University, where I work. I did the old smile and nod and responded, “Of course.” What I really wanted to say was, “What do you mean by ‘regular food’?” I have always been baffled by that phrase, yet I hear it all the time. The Oxford English Dictionary deﬁnes “regular” as, “used, done or happening on a frequent or habitual basis; usual, customary.” Therefore, regular food should be any food that is consumed frequently. That being said, I would hazard a guess that the phrase “regular food” conjures up vastly different images, depending on who you ask. I have learned from my exposure to a wide variety of foods, my travels and my willingness to try most any dish at least once (except bugs and organs and banana pudding), that one person’s “regular food” is another’s exotic cuisine. Using the word “exotic” may be generous; others would, perhaps, select a different adjective such as strange, weird or bizarre. Our perception of what is “regular” boils down to culture and, quite often, location and availability. My panty is stocked with Sriracha, curry pastes, coconut milk, ﬁsh sauce and other Asian staples, as well as ingredients to make anything from Cuban-style beans and rice to chicken pot pie. On a given week, my menu might include pierogi with cabbage and bacon, tofu nachos, grilled turkey burgers, shrimp curry and spinach

SEPTEMBER 2012 | AAWMAG.COM

lasagna. But, that wasn’t always the case. Two of my earliest food memories are of eating at Long John Silvers and savoring mangos. Yes, I admit it. I have eaten at Long John Silvers. My grandfather loved that place and took the grandkids often. While batter-fried ﬁsh is something I now rarely eat, every so often I get the urge for a deep-fried piece of ﬂaky cod doused with malt vinegar. Mangos, on the other hand, used to be a once-a-year treat. As a child, my grandparents brought mangos each summer from the distant mango-laden paradise of Florida. I eagerly awaited the arrival of the tender, sweet, juicy fruit and the feasting that would follow. Today, mangos are available year round in the grocery stores – being sourced not only from Florida, but also from Mexico and South America. As the food industry became global, so did our perceptions of “regular food.” Produce and products from around the world could be found on grocery shelves, and cooking shows, and the Internet exposed the populous to new recipes.

Ethnic restaurants opened in America’s small towns and foreign ﬂavors found their way onto the tables of American families. And, it goes both ways — Just look at the number of American fast food chains that have cemented their place on foreign soil. My love of ethnic cuisines developed during the years that I worked at Hunan Chinese Restaurant. Trying to be accepted by the largely Asian staff and afraid to offend, I ate whatever was put in front of me. I was soon consuming whole ﬁsh, Chinese broccoli, winter melon, roast duck and tofu — like a native. College in Boston further opened my eyes to the diversity of world cuisines — Japanese, Indian, Middle Eastern, Thai, Italian, Ethiopian and Jewish, to name a few. I also learned about regional chow within the United States — pizza in New York and Chicago, Tex-Mex in the southwest, Cajun and Creole cooking in Louisiana, BBQ in Kansas, Texas and the Carolinas. Not to mention the traditional New England fare that I sampled — Maine

lobster, soft shell crab and shad roe — all foods that I had never before seen, much less tasted. Because of my past epicurean experiences and those I hope to have in the future, my definition of “regular food” is expansive and will continue to expand. I have recently rediscovered southern cooking, thanks to the farm-to-table restaurants that are reintroducing seasonal produce and scratch-made cooking into my gastronomic vocabulary. Within the last year, I have grown to love collard greens, kale and meatloaf. For me, as long as the food is fresh, interesting and tasty, it qualifies as “regular food.” “I just like regular food,” said my father-in-law, Allen, during a recent conversation about where to have dinner. I smiled and responded, “Me, too, Allen. Me, too.” 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.

Introducing a new concept in holistic health and wellness. You’re invited to experience our beautiful, new healing arts center.

Boone Healing l Arts Center Wellness for mind, body & spirit

We have brought together over 12 exceptional and fulltime practitioners to provide an expansive level of healing modalities designed to help transform your inner and outer wellbeing. We will also be featuring an ongoing series of exciting, informative and inspirational workshops. Our Center will be opening soon. Check our website for details on our Grand Opening.

www.bhacboone.com caroline@bhacboone.com 838 State Farm Road, Suite 1, Boone, NC 28607

828.386.1172

Dealing with

Invalidators There are people in our lives who make us feel encouraged to be all that we are designed to be. There are others who seek to undermine our conﬁdence. When we spend time with the latter, we walk away feeling confused and frustrated. We feel abused, but there are no bruises. We feel violated, but there are no laws to protect us. Perhaps the “emotional under-miner” is your boss, your parent, your spouse, a sibling, a colleague — or even someone you consider a friend. These toxic individuals are called “invalidators.”

SEPTEMBER 2012 | AAWMAG.COM

All of us have the potential to invalidate others. A mood can make us say something we regret; but the point is, we regret it. A serial invalidator is someone who has honed invalidation to a ﬁne art. They “seek” opportunities to cut a specific victim down and they don’t regret the damage they do. They feed on it. Serial invalidators are a study in contrasts. They talk big, but feel small. They are easily threatened by the success of others. People with healthy self-esteem can appreciate another’s beauty, talent and intelligence. They don’t feel dimin-

ished by it; invalidators do. The invalidators’ tactics are subtle. They employ cutting remarks, deadly looks, smug grins, rolled eyes and phony concern. Whatever works to undermine your conﬁdence, they will use it. Some of their methods include:

The Cut-off: They show disinterest when you are expressing a thought or idea by interrupting you or by using disinterested body language.

healthylady The Unfavorable Comparison:

When you see a pattern of invalidation, confront it calmly.

Reduce the amount of time you spend with that person. If you let

Their (or someone else’s) achievements, looks, talents and/or physical attractiveness are always better than yours. They look forward to the opportunity to ‘rub it in.’

Let them know how it makes you feel. ‘I feel embarrassed,” “I feel angry that you said it that way,” “I feel put on the spot,” “I feel like I’m being cut off and that my input has no value.” Your admission might elicit more invalidation, “Ah, don’t be such a drama queen.” Or even crueler, “I am the one true friend who is willing to tell you the truth, but you can’t seem to take it. Well, I will just be a fake like all the rest of your friends.” Or, they might even deny it, “I don’t know what you are talking about.” Let it rest and move on. Invalidators often lack empathy. Being “up front” about how their behavior makes you feel, might help to increase that badly needed empathy.

an invalidator keep you tied in knots, it will drain the energy you need to live the life you desire to live.

Double messages: The say something nice, but their body language or smirk belies their insincerity.

Mocking: Invalidators love to pick on you for some feature they know you are uncomfortable with: your shape, your face, your hair, your lack of skill. There is a ﬁne line between good-natured teasing and malicious mockery. They cross it.

The Sucker Punch: You are feeling good about an accomplishment, perhaps something as benign as your new haircut or more significant, like a job promotion. An invalidator will be ready with a comment to deflate you. The goal of an invalidator is to keep you in a constant state of uncertainty. They want you to feel like your ideas, desires, thoughts or actions are wrong, silly or not worth considering. That makes them feel better. They will rob your joy and confidence, if you let them. (Don’t let them!)

To gain insight into how to deal with invalidators read, “Nasty People — How to Stop Being Hurt by Them Without Stooping To Their Level,” by Jay Carter, PhD. In this very short and easy-to-read book, the author outlines the characteristics of invalidators and equips you with strategies to protect yourself from their destructive inﬂuence.

bonnie church

Don’t try to jump through hoops to get their approval. The hoops will only get higher.

Certiﬁed Life and Wellness Coach Author/ columist, motivational speaker Certiﬁed Trainer for TLS Weight Loss Solution

Following are six keys to dealing with invalidators:

Have compassion. Very often, they are the victims of invalidation or bullying and have now become the Invalidators. Keep their rejecting behavior in perspective. They have issues. Don’t personalize their jabs and dismissive body language.

Make them aware. If they say something tactless or insensitive, calmly ask, “Could you repeat that?” Stay calm and look them directly in the eye. This forces them to hear ‘again’ how the comment sounded. Awareness is a ﬁrst step to healing. SEPTEMBER 2012 | AAWMAG.COM

Parenting Perils 42

SEPTEMBER 2012 | AAWMAG.COM

Seconds upon newborn delivery, I knew that my child, Maddy, now 20, was more powerful than I was. Tiny, wide-open and chattering like a monkey, she already expressed a force of nature and a will that completely overshadowed my accommodating personality. Adding to the ﬁerce tidal wave of love and protection, Maddy jolted me into some huge perils, parenting risks that were iffy in the short-term with any fruits only borne after decades. Interestingly, the classic debates were easier — on-demand or schedule? Attachment or limits? Crib or family bed? I tried different variations and messed up as much as I succeeded. But, I did manage to see, early on, that our best birth-to-5 moments came when I trusted my gut; good advice was just a valuable add-on. I took her everywhere — play and work — because she liked it. I nursed every waking hour, because she wanted to. (Yes, at work, too.) Who knew you could type, cradle the phone and nurse simultaneously? Depending on age, mood, chicken pox, whim, location, thunderstorm and vacation, she slept a blissful nine-10 hours in her crib, our bed, the ﬂoor, a closet, a futon in our bedroom, a tent in the living room, and once – on her second birthday – at the foot of her brand new Little Tykes slide. I didn’t gloat to any of my bleary-eyed friends, but Maddy was a serious sleeper from the beginning. It would’ve been a different story and different strategies for a different child. The real risks were different, too, and truthfully, I only survived, thanks to, at once a mantra, and a prayer: This is what I want when she’s 35.

notsogrounded

First, let’s be clear — I’m a pushover — easy-going, oblivious to convention, and a frowned-upon preference for fun over just about everything else. So I knew I couldn’t handle more than four parenting rules. Five if you count, “Don’t play with knives.”

Rule 1 Power is leadership, not manipulation Maybe it’s my New York legacy, but I have neither tolerance nor patience for subtlety, stealth maneuvers, covert ops or passive aggression. I could spot most ploys for the choice Barbie, and I would take that doll from Maddy even faster. You want a new pair of jeans or a sleepover on a school night? Tell me directly. If I say “No” and you still want it? Tell me directly again, give me a straightup reason, and, frankly, I’m likely to cave. Do it behind my back, connive a friend to ask, confuse the issue, or whine? Forget it. I got oodles of disdain for encouraging Maddy’s perpetual directness (read “disrespect” in some circles), and she got her way most of the time. But, my goal was transparency, not control; I ﬁgured she’d lead well at 35 if everyone knew precisely where she was going and could choose whether or not to follow.

Rule 2 Manners Matter Please. Thank you. Hi! How was your day? Absolute requirements. Not a glass of milk was poured or a rowdy gathering begun until I heard the requisite sentiments — to me and to each other. I actually loved being invisible chauf-

feur-wallet-fun arranger. And, I was never foolish enough to weedle into conversations uninvited. But for every act of largesse, I insisted upon, “You are a Goddess.” And, Maddy made her guests feel welcome, sometimes whether she wanted to or not.

Rule 3 Connection, Not Boundaries I get the co-dependence thing, and it’s vital to build our own self-concepts and keep our personal baggage to ourselves. But, sometimes “boundaries” become an excuse to avoid messy, real-life intimacy. Being connected means we care about each other and we love hanging out together. Which means I can’t control the game, rig the result, or get my own way all the time. It’s a good thing to model and orchestrate for a child who would be powerful enough to do all three if left to her own boundary-rich devices. More bluntly, I wanted Maddy really close so I could keep my eye on her and so she’d trust my guidance. Really connecting seemed more productive than spying and dictating. At 20, Maddy does not tell me everything (Thank God!), and I certainly don’t tell her everything. But, we could without hesitation.

Rule 4 Abundance Happens I’m not a big fan of hard work and I’ve come to learn we can enjoy unlimited supply of anything truly important. Passion, joy and discipline are the easiest and wisest pursuits.

But how do you avoid raising a lazy, spoiled brat? Emphasizing sane schedules, manageable stress and huge amounts of pleasant downtime, Maddy had to choose her biggest passions, which, surprisingly, forced discipline and depth. Occasionally, she still complains that I wouldn’t let her add gymnastics or soccer, but she learns voraciously, rarely loses sleep and still lives for dance, after 12-years-and-counting. No, I can’t afford to give her everything she wants, but money is neutral. You need it, or not. You want it, or not really. We have it, or we don’t. We can earn it, or we can’t. It’s a parent expense, or you’ll add some, too. Money’s not an anchor for more important life lessons. I want Maddy to set intentions, achieve goals, and fulfill dreams with a sense that she can do anything and have her fill. At times she’s earned cash because it jived with those objectives. But, overloading with minimum wage hours to “learn the value of a dollar,” teaches that money is scarce, stressful, constricting and a power game. That’s not our plan, so when she’s learning, striving or keeping well, we provide the funds without hoops or hoopla. The truth is, two decades ago I just leapt on faith, with no guarantee these rules would actually work. But, lo and behold, my child — now a young adult — can attract a great crowd, be a wise friend and get a Herculean amount of cool stuff done, all on her own accord. She’s still a force of nature, and, yet, still with all the light-filled potential her newborn hours foretold.

Jeanne Supin Do Less. Be More. Conscious Change by Design. www.supin.com

SEPTEMBER 2012 | AAWMAG.COM

Dealing with

Dreaded Cellulite

SEPTEMBER 2012 | AAWMAG.COM

beauty

Many women today are susceptible to cellulite and some just aren’t sure what it is, exactly, our how to deal with it. Studies have even shown that women are more prone to having cellulite than men, and most women do deal with it at some point of their lives, regardless of their size. Cellulite forms when the body ages and the connective tissue contracts, causing the tissue to sag and sometimes tighten. Then, fat cells are brought to the surface of the skin, developing cellulite — the most common places of which include the upper arms and thighs. Physicians have stated that cellulite is something that can be treated, to be improved, but not necessarily cured. A few ways to reduce its appearance are through increased circulation of the blood and tissue in a targeted area, purpose-specific exercises, fat reduction, flushing toxins from the body by increasing fluid intake (especially water), and the topical application of collagen to improve the skin’s overall condition. If cellulite is a personal concern and no relief arrives after the aforementioned suggestions, consulting a skin care specialist or esthetician should prove helpful.

kelly penick Licensed aesthetician 828.773.3587

SEPTEMBER 2012 | AAWMAG.COM

‘Don’t cry becau

Keron Poteat and Carol Teague

Sharon Carlton

Corey Mash, Lori Mash and Teena Little

Cheryl Jones

SEPTEMBER 2012 | AAWMAG.COM

Tiffany Morgan, Makenzie Galloway, Sandra Galloway and Paisley Morgan

cause itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s over, . . .

Donna Krause Jones

Photos by Sherrie Norris

Jill and Olivia Nacklaw

Margaret Moore

SEPTEMBER 2012 | AAWMAG.COM

. . . smile because it ha

Gail Pritchard and grandson, Mason Hicks

Amy and Sandy Tavel

Left to right: Lou Martin, Beth Critcher and Pat Norris

Betsy Bolick

SEPTEMBER 2012 | AAWMAG.COM

Julie and Suzanne Burpee

happened.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; -Dr. Seuss

Anyssa Maltba Madolyn Cearly and Angela Ashley

Sharon Lee

Photos by Sherrie Norris

Ayla Moretz and grandson, Thomas Burpee

Nancy Critcher White

SEPTEMBER 2012 | AAWMAG.COM

I am where I am because of the bridges I've crossed.

Photo by Sherrie Norris

- Oprah Winfrey

SEPTEMBER 2012 | AAWMAG.COM

You

deserve a relationship with a real person. Thatʼs our stand.

Wendy Green 869 Hwy 105 Ext #1 Boone, NC 28607 (828) 264-6828

DONCASTER OUTLET

Take $25 Off Entire Purchase Not valid on prior purchases and not to be used on merchandise discounted more than 75% off the regular price. One coupon per customer and not to be combined with any other offer. Some exclusions apply. Expires September 30th, 2012

Across from the Chetola Resort

537 North Main Street • Blowing Rock 828.295.4200 Mon - Sat 10 - 6 & Sun 1-5

Missy, Petite & Women’s sizes available

Where prior season fashions create current season looks. Doncaster Never Goes Out of Style!