All About Women May-June 2021

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editor’s

note PUBLISHER Gene Fowler

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Tom Mayer

EDITOR Kayla Lasure editor@aawmag.com 828.278.3619

CONTRIBUTORS Photo by Kayla Lasure

I’m sure I’m not the only one

whose cabin fever has been outrageous during the COVID-19 pandemic. Equally, I struggle when it’s cold and the sun is a bit more elusive; the winter months drag by for me.

My body is much like a plant. While I don’t need sunlight to grow quite like a flower, I need sunshine to recharge my batteries and feel my best. One of my favorite pastimes is throwing a hammock between two trees to soak up some vitamin D while enjoying the sounds of the breeze rustling through the leaves or the water in a nearby creek. My hope is to get out of the office more and into my hammock now that warmer days are approaching.

I enjoy hiking through nature, and being outside when it’s warm. Flowers blooming bring me so much joy. Admittedly, though, I have whatever is the opposite of a green thumb. I love the idea of plants and being surrounded by greenery, but sadly, they don’t last very long under my care.

Several women featured in this home and garden edition of All About Women are much more knowledgable than I when it comes to caring for gardens and plants. There’s much I don’t know about 4 | May-June 2021

owning a home either, beyond the many home interior shows I have watched.

Though, I do know a thing or two about keeping a home clean; I previously cleaned houses for a maid service prior to my current career. There’s nothing like the smell and feel of a clean space to make you feel a little more put together, or at least it does for me.

My projects during the past year have consisted of rearranging and redecorating my bedroom and living room spaces to give them a fresh feel; building puzzles to frame as wall decor; and adding patterned contact paper to my refrigerator to give it a little bit of oomph. I’m sure others have also found projects to do around their living spaces to keep from going stir crazy.

Maybe one day I’ll ask some of the women featured in this edition for some pointers about gardening or ways to improve a home. For now, I’ll enjoy flowers as a passerby and trees while I hang among the trunks in a hammock. Enjoy the sunny weather, friends!

Ansley Puckett Barbara Holdcroft Bonnie Church Catherine Perry Elisha Childers Heather Brandon Heather Jordan Hollie Eudy Marion Edwards Mary McKinney Sarah Rodriguez Sophia Lyons Sue Spirit

PRODUCTION & DESIGN Meleah Bryan

ADVERTISING 828.264.6397

COVER PHOTO

by Light by Dawn Studios

Any reproduction of news articles, photographs or advertising artwork is strictly prohibited without permission from management. © 2021 Mountain Times Publications aawmag.com

CONTENTS

features 14 Experts Give Home Office Advice 17

Anna Calta: Passion for Plants

20 Clara Coffey:

Giving Through Gardening 23 Crafting Barn Quilts

in the High Country 26 Junaluska: A Haven of

Heritage and Hope 28 Cultivating the Next Generation 30 Seeing How Seeds Grow

relationships 08 Positive Parenting Creates

a More Peaceful Home 10 Mom’s World:

Do It Yourself Project 12 The Marriage & Family Corner:

Expectations, Resentment and

Boundaries Within Relationships

style & leisure 31 Travel: ‘Round the World Eats

in Coronavirus Time

20 23

health 32 Living Well: Plogging 33 Beauty: Taking Care of

Your Skin as Summer Approaches

in every issue 04 Editor’s Note 06 Women in the News 34 Young at Heart: Lessons Learned

Working at Home During a Pandemic

17

37 All About Town

May-June 2021 | 5

Women in the News Diane Cornett Deal retires as Watauga Clerk of Court

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OONE — Watauga County Clerk of Superior Court Diane Cornett Deal announced April 12 that she would retire at the end of May. Deal has worked in Watauga County for more than 40 years with 30 of those as assistant clerk and the last 10 as clerk of superior court. She said the last 40 years have flown by, and that there are no words to say how much she has enjoyed working with her colleagues. She added that it was time for her to begin a new chapter.

She thanked those in the county for allowing to serve as the clerk, and thanked all of the assistant and deputy clerks she has worked beside.

During her time, the courts have gone through many changes. She said she loves that she has seen the courts go from creating calendars with typewriters and hand-cranked mimeograph machines to now using modern day technology, which she said is for the better.

Deals greatest joy has been knowing that she sometimes helped someone’s load seem a little lighter.

“Being here to meet with the people and work with them has been a very fulfilling career,” Deal said. “I have made lifelong friends with so many of my constituents, judges, attorneys and the awesome people I am privileged to work with every day.”

Looking ahead, Deal said she hopes to be traveling and making even “more friends along life’s pathway.” She is espe-

cially looking forward to spending more time with her family. Despite retiring, Deal said she will be staying busy working at her tree farm and gardening.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Deal said. “As I say goodbye to this chapter in my life, know that you will always be near and dear to my heart. I will forever treasure the years of serving the people of Watauga County.”

-Moss Brennan

Rebecca Hall selected as director of High Country United Way

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OONE — Effective March 1, Rebecca Hall serves as the new director for the High Country United Way. Hall holds a bachelor’s degree, as well as a master’s degree in accounting from Gardner-Webb University located in Boiling Spring, NC. Hall brings with her to the High Country more than nine years of experience, having worked for the United Way in Caldwell County before taking on her new position.

“I’m thrilled,” Hall said. “I’m very 6 | May-June 2021

excited to be in the High Country.”

Hall replaces Marti Phillips as director, who resigned from the position in November 2020.

Going forward, Hall noted that she wants to bring a hands-on approach to the organization, one that not only fundraises for the benefit of the community, but works alongside it.

“I’m hoping to be a more community impact driven United Way,” Hall said. “The United Way experience that I have is a community impact model, where you’re out in the

community, you’re out creating resources for people in that community.”

Some of the community impact projects the High Country United Way currently has in the works is the creation of food pantries for local community colleges, which will benefit local students who are food insecure.

“So, that’s a new thing we’re trying to implement. Usually United Ways are more like fundraisers,” Hall said. “We need to be out in the community, we need to let the community know that we’re here, we’re there for them, that we’re a resource. That’s the changes that need to be made.”

High Country United Way also planned a virtual 5K for mid-June.

To learn more about the High Country United Way, visit www.highcountryunitedway.org.

- Andrew Cole aawmag.com

Women in the News Maulding preserves community, history with DAR

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ROSSNORE — Jennifer Elizabeth Maulding Alcaraz-Cristobol was recently recognized as a 2021 Outstanding Junior by The North Carolina Society Daughters of the American Revolution.

Maulding has been a member of the Crossnore chapter of DAR since 2010, and has served with the chapter in numerous leadership roles, including as a regent, vice regent, registrar, treasurer and has held several committee chair positions. Maulding has even served the organization at the state level.

Maulding has organized volunteer community projects at both the local and state level. This includes making training toys for veteran service

dogs, gravestone cleaning, Veterans Restoration Quarters shelter projects and volunteering with new mothers. Within the organization, Maulding also performs document transcribing. Maulding also volunteers for the Avery County Senior Center and her church.

Maulding, who is a graduate of LeesMcRae College, is a direct descendant of Ambrose Maulding, who fought in the Revolutionary War. His family had landed in Mauldin, S.C., and he would go on to settle at the border of North Carolina and Tennessee when the border was located about three hours west of where it is today.

Four other women in Maulding’s family have been members of DAR — including Ruth

Adams, her grandfather’s sister, who had previously submitted paperwork to the organization detailing the link to her grandfather of nine generations ago.

When Maulding was recognized for her work with the organization, she said it was an unforgettable experience. While this year’s conference was presented virtually, Maulding said she had an outpouring of support through emails, texts and photos from many people to help make the occasion special.

“Everything that I have done is because I had great mentors, so I really appreciated the opportunity to tell my story and thank everyone who had helped me along the way,” Maulding said.

For more information about Daughters of the American Revolution’s Crossnore chapter, visit ncdar.org/ crossnorechapter.

- Luke Barber

High Country farmer is runner-up for NC Small Farmer of the Year

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ANNER ELK — On March 24, the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s Cooperative Extension announced the winner of the 2021 Small Farmer of the Year Award. Lee Rankin of Apple Hill Farm was named as the runner-up finalist.

The event took place during the 35th annual Small Farms Week, after the N.C. Cooperative Extension had whittled the selection down to just two finalists from across the state. The two finalists were Rankin, whose Apple Hill Farm lies in Watauga County, and Mike Jones of MAE Farms located in Franklin County.

This year’s ceremony was broadcast via livestream, with each finalist watching from their respective county.

The award recognizes a small farmer in North Carolina that is regarded as an innovator in livestock or crop production, marketing, a contributor of time or resources towards community growth, a

steward of the environment, or runs their farm in a wise, entrepreneurial manner.

Though she was not selected as farmer of the year, Rankin remarked that she was honored and excited to have been named a finalist as it had been “20 years of hard work.”

Situated atop Valle Mountain just outside Banner Elk, Apple Hill Farm specializes in raising alpacas and angora goats — whose fleece is used to create products such as yarn, socks, gloves and scarves.

The farm also has a strong focus on agritourism, providing visitors with an insight to the farming

industry through guided tours.

Looking toward the future, Rankin noted that Apple Hill Farm has no plans in slowing down anytime soon, and hopes to continue to expand its business while continuing to share its farming knowledge.

“We’re planning to do what we have always done and do it better and add new things,” Rankin said. “We’re still growing, changing and adding to what we do.”

To learn more about Apple Hill Farm, visit applehillfarmnc.com.

- Andrew Cole May-June 2021 | 7

Relationships

Positive Parenting Creates a More Peaceful Home Like many people my age,

I was spanked as a child. For my parents, a spanking was always a last resort and never overly harsh, and it was effective. Unfortunately, many well-intentioned parents lose control of their emotions in the heat of the moment, and things can get out of hand.

Most likely, if you’ve reached a point of yelling at or spanking a child, it is likely you are not in a calm emotional state. Use of physical punishment with children is controversial, and the practice is opposed by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

There are better ways.

Negative discipline, such as spanking, hitting, sarcasm, verbal shaming or degrading remarks, can have detrimental effects on a child’s emotional health and may result in children learning to hit or yell at other children, or in them lying to avoid “getting caught,” instead of learning to correct their behavior.

Yelling is also a problem and is often the reaction of parents who are stressed, pushed to their limit and out of control of their own emotions.

I’m ashamed to admit it, but I have had some pretty impressive mom-fits through the years. As my children grew older, they told me that in those moments they just “tuned me out.” When I was yelling, I was ineffective as a parent, and they didn’t learn a thing.

These actions by adults can result in a chaotic and unhappy environment at home, where children’s undesirable behavior might actually increase instead of improving. The home might become a battleground of wills. That’s no fun for anyone.

Parenting is not easy. There are no instructions and every single one of us needs help. Parenting well is harder. It takes patience, reason and follow-through — often qualities that fly out the window when we are tired, pressed for time or stressed.

At the Children’s Council we discourage 8 | May-June 2021

spanking and yelling as forms of discipline, and work closely with parents and caregivers to learn very effective alternative tactics to help adults stay in control so they can effectively teach children the lessons they need to learn.

When my daughter was young, she used her Christmas money to buy a guinea pig without permission. When I say, “without permission,” I am telling you she knew, without a doubt, that if she had asked me, I would have said no. She did it anyway. She was spending the night with her friend, and their family visited the pet store and the girls bought guinea pigs. Her friend also knew I would not approve, because she had asked me if she could buy my daughter one for Christmas and I had said no.

“Mama said no” does not require an explanation; but I explained anyway. Like most families, we had an array of pets over the years, all acquired with the typical promises that I, mom, would never have to lift a finger to care for the pet. If you’re a parent, you know how that works. You get a pet, and you take care of it.

Besides that, we already had two pets that weren’t getting enough attention. I worked full time and my two teenagers were busy with extracurricular activities. My daughter has grown up to be an incredible pet-mom; but at the time her track record for pet care was not good. In fact, the week before she bought the guinea pig her pet fish had died because he went without food for too long.

It happened. I got a text from her with the cutest picture you’ve ever seen of a guinea pig. She thought I’d see how cute the animal was and let her keep it. The guinea pig was absolutely adorable, as

far as guinea pigs go, and despite many of our friends telling me what wonderful pets they are, I had to stick to my guns. I made her return the guinea pig to the pet store.

The pet store did not want to take the guinea pig back. They said the other guinea pigs would not accept her back into the cage and would fight with her (another lesson about responsible pet ownership for my girl), but I refused to keep her. In the end the store took her back.

It did not feel good to make my daughter return the pet. In fact, I felt downright mean. The pet store employees were disapproving. It also didn’t help that my child played on my guilt with a social media post that I was going to let the poor animal loose in the woods. To be fair, I may have threatened something like that in the pet store, but I wouldn’t have really done it.

The whole ordeal was dramatic. My child was relentless in begging me to keep the animal. It was hard to hold my ground.

I couldn’t give in. This was a lesson about disobedience. This lesson was far too important. Today, it’s a guinea pig. Tomorrow, it might be something far

aawmag.com

more dangerous. I had to do the right parenting things; not the easy parenting thing.

In order to be successful, children need caring adults in their lives: parents, teachers, coaches and mentors who are willing to create boundaries and set rules, establish clear expectations for behavior and follow through on consequences. Our children are watching and learning from us.

While I followed through that time, I failed many other times. Following through is hard. In the face of begging, tears, complaining and negotiating, parents often crumble. It feels so much easier to concede and see tears turn into smiles. Doing so is much easier than following through on punishments that may make kids extra grumpy and sometimes make life more complicated for parents.

However, we all know that when parents “give in” over and over, it usually results in some pretty negative behavior from those kids we want to keep happy. The trade-off is sad and not good for our children.

Children deserve caring adults who follow through with love and appropriate consequences, whether or not it is convenient. My daughter knew it was a lesson about disobeying me and not about me not wanting her to have a guinea pig to love

and play with.

Thank goodness, we can look back on this and laugh about it these days. In fact, eight years later the photos are still on my camera roll. She’s all grown up now, but we looked at them and laughed about this memory the other day.

In parenting, it is important to remember that attention, whether it is good or bad attention, reinforces the behavior. The behaviors we typically have the most dramatic reactions to are the bad behaviors. This means, we are often inadvertently reinforcing the behaviors we wish to reduce.

We work with parents so they are focused on recognizing and reacting to their children’s good behavior instead of always reacting to those behaviors that are less desirable. If you are struggling to set boundaries and following through with your children, or you find yourself yelling, or even spanking, and feeling horrible about it later, please let us help. We regularly get feedback from parents that we’ve helped them create a more peaceful home and happier family life.

Our team offers resources, parenting classes and one-on-one parenting support on specific issues for parents — giving tools and information to help parents be the best

they can be. Visit the Children’s Council of Watuaga County website at www.thechildrenscouncil.org, or give us a call at (828) 262-5424 for information about ways we can support.

The Children’s Council is a nonprofit organization serving children and families in Watauga County. Established in 1977, the Children’s Council works to build a strong foundation for children’s learning and development by strengthening families, the early childhood system, and the wider community.

Programs serve children and caregivers of children prenatally to age 12 and concentrate on child development to prepare children to be ready to succeed in school and in life. Our programs offer parent education, family support, early childhood literacy programs, technical assistance and professional development training for early childhood educators, and community collaboration focused on developing a community that can support the success of every child.

Elisha Childers Executive director of Children’s Council of Watauga County

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Relationships

MOM’S WORLD

Do It Yourself Project If you haven’t gotten outside lately, you are certainly missing out. The High Country is screaming for people to get out and start doing something.

Emerging from what felt like the longest winter ever, many people are looking toward summer as a time to work on some major projects around home and elsewhere. What you do depends on you.

If your house is like mine, there are plenty of household projects begging for your attention, but it’s hard to know where to start and how to motivate.

Sometimes the best starting place is that project that you feel the most impetus to complete. Maybe you’re thinking of getting a hot tub, and so re-doing your deck to be able to hold the load of a hot tub is the project you think you can put the most passion behind — hint to my husband.

I’m finishing a book by James Clear called “Atomic Habits,” and he writes

10 | May-June 2021

about how each person has different talents. Specifically, that you should seek out success by first figuring out what things you are good at — those things which seem like a chore to other people but not to you.

In the context of things you want to do yourself, start with a project that utilizes your passion and talent. If you love digging in the dirt, consider changes to your yard or garden. If you are great at simplifying, de-cluttering and organizing like Marie Kondo, maybe you should re-think your bedroom or your kitchen, or help a friend that is not so great at letting go of things. Or, if you just want to make something easier for yourself in the long run, determine the small steps it would take to accomplish that.

My son, Ben, recently started on a quest on his own DIY project.

Now, anyone that knows Ben, knows he has lots of energy but doesn’t always know how to expend it. As he’s gotten

older, he certainly has gained focus in different aspects of his life. He’s an excellent student and also athlete. But some folks don’t realize that Ben also loves making things.

For years now he would stick things in our bonfire and see how the flames melted or changed whatever he had put into it. Coins, pieces of metal, sometimes a gummy bear. The gummy bear melting was just a colorful, crazy mess that he liked to observe. But the metal — he’d take the metal out with some tongs, start banging on it and create what he could.

Then, at some point, he started binge-watching the show “Forged in Fire.” He watched the episode where local Avery County resident Liam Hoffman won the grand prize roughly five years ago when he was about 20 years old, and now has a thriving blacksmithing business with many sought-after knives and other tools. At 14, Ben doesn’t have a lot of income opportunities, but he did aawmag.com

“

I think it’s our job to help our kids discover what is already there and give them the opportunities they need to find success in things that give them joy and satisfaction.” start earning some money by helping move wood and doing other physically demanding outdoor work for friends. He saved every bit with little exception. Now, he has an Amazon list of every tool and machine he needs to start his own forge.

Recently, he has started purchasing some of what he needs.

Then there was the problem of where was all this stuff going to go. Thankfully, we had a building available but it had been a neglected site for years. Ben took it upon himself to completely clear it out, sort through all the tools — with the help of my husband — as to what was usable, what could be donated and what should go to the dump. He put hours into this job — he swept, cleaned, dealt with a hefty rodent population, built shelves himself, organized every bit of what we have and is ready for the next step and the one

love THINGS WE

after that.

I won’t say that this did not seem like to work to him, but I will say that as he looks forward to getting to use his equipment, and has already started using his drill press, a new compound miter saw and other tools; it is obvious how much he enjoys making things. Some are practical. Some are interesting. Some are just him figuring out how the machine works and what it will and will not do. I don’t necessarily think he’s the next Liam Hoffman, but it makes me smile that he is driven to see something through that is both creative and useful.

When you’re a parent, you are constantly reminded of how different your kids are and what their individual talents are. I think it’s our job to help our kids discover what is already there and give them the opportunities they need to find

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success in things that give them joy and satisfaction.

I’m so grateful to have three bright kids that are all making their paths to utilize their talents. They all impress me on a daily basis and also remind me that sometimes the best guidance is that which comes from them. So as I contemplate my next project, I try to keep on giving them support towards what holds importance and passion for them. And I’ll look inward for my next big project as well that seems worthy of my coveted time at home.

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Relationships

THE MARRIAGE & FAMILY CORNER

Expectations, Resentment and Boundaries Within Relationships Have you ever said “You should’ve known…,” or “Anyone (or everyone) would think (or know)…?”

Human engagement can be fraught with resentments. A nearly guaranteed path to having unmet expectations and related resentment is to stay quiet about hopes and assumptions, perhaps assuming that the other person knows.

A common pitfall for relationships — from partners to other meaningful relationships and even, sometimes, to brief encounters — is that expectations and assumptions exist but that they are not all discussed. In fact, these expectations and assumptions are sometimes beyond the conscious awareness of the person holding them. Another nearly guaranteed path to resentment is to assume agreement of values and goals.

Even within pairs that have a high level of agreement about values and goals, points of divergence are frequent and to be expected.

Author Anne Lamott said, “Expectations are resentments waiting to happen.”

Careful recognition of and communication about hopes and requests can make the difference to avoid development of resentments or to heal ones that already exist.

How we handle this recognition and communication is as important when doing the dishes or doing yard work as when dealing with major crises or projects.

One of the most common conversations I have with clients about expectations is exploring the differences between wishes and boundaries. As already mentioned, communicating wishes and requests in a healthy and effective way is critical to relational and individual health. Any person is unable to reliably guess all of your needs and hopes and they must rely on information from you to have a chance of adequately responding to your needs and wishes. A wish to avoid conflict, a fear of being judged or of being disappointed are some of the reasons people miss out on letting another person have this clear information.

However, most of the time when this information is withheld, conflict is not avoided, it is only transferred to another time or topic and, worse yet, disappoint12 | May-June 2021

ment actually becomes more likely.

Furthermore, as David Schnarch wrote in “Intimacy & Desire: Awaken the Passion in Your Relationship,” “Wanting creates the space in which our highest aspirations come into being.”

A common pitfall for relationships is that expectations and assumptions exist but that they are not all discussed.

It can be scary to want something and even terrifying to share that information with another person. When that fear solely guides decisions, it can prevent fulfillment, growth and healing. Still, courageously sharing information about wishes and requests is often only the first step toward fulfillment and growth, which is usually the result of a process of courage and integrity to address with honesty what is wanted.

This process regularly includes a series of continuous adjustments by both parties as information is shared and better understood.

It is vital to realize that sharing information about hopes and requests may include asserting a boundary, but it is not the same thing as maintaining a boundary. Making a request is often about sharing a wish for what the other person will do or not do.

Maintaining a boundary is about figuring out what you will do or not do and then consistently behaving accordingly.

For example, a boundary for me is that I do not breathe in smoke or vape fumes. So, there have been times I have asked some-

one not to smoke or vape around me or in my space. That is my request and wish. It is only my boundary as I am willing also to problem-solve and act accordingly anytime the answer to my request is verbally or functionally “no”. I can maintain my boundary by physically moving away from smoke or vape fumes and perhaps being available later to engage with the person when they are finished. That is, other people decide how to respond to my requests and stated boundaries, and I am responsible for deciding what to tell them about my requests and how to take care of myself, including problem-solving at times when the choices of another person are inconsistent with my boundaries.

In a time when divisions based on our self-identifications and how we consider other people to be like us or different from us seem to be pervasive and escalated, commitment to healthy and effective recognition and navigation of our expectations, assumptions and boundaries is even more important. These efforts are needed as we interact across broad divisions, as well as in our closest relationships.

Like most relationship dynamics, a heavy dose of “both/and” is critical to navigate expectations and assumptions well within relationships. That is, the navigation needs to include both effectively and honestly speaking of hopes, wishes and requests, and also effectively tending to boundaries. These navigations are best managed with intention, commitment and flexibility. Instead of saying to yourself or to another person “You should know without me having to tell you,” tell them and make decisions about your boundaries.

If you find yourself in a situation where power — including coercion, intimidation or violence — is exerted over you to prevent you from maintaining your boundaries, seek help.

MARY MCKINNEY, MA, LMFT McKinney Marriage and Family Therapy Call and texts: 828.263.4113 mmftinboone@gmail.com mckinneymft.com aawmag.com

NEXT TO LOWES FOODS | WILKESBORO, NC | (336)667-2257zzzzz May-June 2021 | 13

Feature

An home office space arrangement that is featured by Dianne Davant sits among a scenery of mountains. Photos submitted

Home Sweet Office Experts Give Home Office Advice as Working Remotely Stays Popular 14 | May-June 2021

Zoom calls, virtual office parties and Slack message channels are around to stay for working

Americans. Even with COVID-19 cases decreasing across the state, working from home is a new reality for many.

According to a Pew Research Center survey from the end of 2020, more than 70 percent of workers who say their job responsibilities can mainly be done at home are now working either all or most of the time away from the office. This is significantly up from just one-in-five before the pandemic.

The first few weeks of working from home may have been new and different, but as society heads into the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the novelty has worn off. It’s time to make working from home an enjoyable experience again.

Dianne Davant of Dianne Davant & Associates is one of the High Country’s interior designers who has seen an increase in customers looking for assistance with their home offices. Dianne began her career in interior design in 1979 when she founded her own business after college. Now, the business has grown to service homeowners in North Carolina as well as Florida. “(Homeowners) are being forced to face the reality of their homes, and instead of being at work all day somewhere else, they’re working remotely, but they see their home all the time,” Dianne says. “It makes them realize that they may have put off things that really needed doing.” aawmag.com

The High Country is filled with capable and talented interior designers ready to help people create a productive home office space. Here are some tips and tricks to increase your productivity and enhance your office space when working from home.

Where To Set Up a Home Office Selecting a space for a home office is the first step in creating an environment conducive to effective work.

“I think it’s good to have an area that is as remote as you can get it from where the noisy places are in the house and the most distracting places are if you can, so you’re not interrupted,” Dianne says. “You can go to your own little space or big space, whatever that may be, and it’s like going somewhere.”

Lauren Brown, principal designer &

CEO of A Designer’s Touch by Lauren and a specialist in biophilic design perspective, echoed Dianne’s thoughts about finding a secluded area in the home to work.

Lauren said she was in the same situation as her clients who needed to create a home office space where she could productively work. She decided to convert a large closet in her home into a home office. She emphasized the importance of creating a space away from the busy areas of the house.

“We all wear different hats, especially women,” Lauren says. “We wear the hat of being a mom. We wear a hat of being a wife. We wear a hat of being a best friend.

We wear the hat of working, and when we have that working hat on, we’ve got to have that working hat on and we’ve got to be in the zone.”

Some people are even creating home office spaces in their garages. Though most may not have this luxury, those that

have the space to do so are able to create a secluded work area away from the rest of the home to increase their focus.

Molly Northern of The Bee & The Boxwood interior design studio has a differing perspective on home office locations. Though she said she can understand the importance of having a separate space if someone has a large family or young children at home, she personally has enjoyed being in the middle of the house when working remotely these past months. With only one of her children still at home, she said she’s been able to work effectively in the center of the home.

What To Put in a Home Office Julie Hoover of Blowing Rock Interiors has been in the interior design business for decades. She started her business back in 2008, and has been helping clients in the High Country area to create the perfect space. A unique item that Julie said she has enjoyed seeing in home offices is an L-shaped desk.

“There’s some wonderful options out there in home office, and one that I particularly love is an L-shaped desk,” Julie says. “The longer part of the ‘L’ can fold up much like an old ironing board, so that you’ve got plenty of open work space if you’re trying to lay things out and work on things, but it’s easily put up if you need the square footage of that room for other functions.”

Lauren emphasized how essential a quality desk is to creating a home office space.

Continued on next page

A client of Dianne Davant showcases their home office.

Dianne Davant May-June 2021 | 15

A home office as featured by Dianne Davant. Photos submitted

options are not possible, Lauren said a soothing photo above the desk will help enhance the space’s feel.

Beyond the essentials of a nice desk and quality lighting, live plants, a comfortable chair and a pleasing smelling room mist can contribute to a calming environment and enhance the space.

Lauren Brown

“Whether it’s the cost effective or the luxury home office, it’s truly about getting a very nice desk,” Lauren says. “It doesn’t have to be expensive, but it needs to be a nice desk. It also sends a signal to our brain that says ‘I’m worth it, and I deserve this desk.’”

Another important aspect of the home office that can’t be overlooked is the lighting. Lauren recommends setting up the desk facing a window. However, if that is not possible, there are other ways to still enhance the office’s lighting.

A mirror is a great way to help open up a space. Lauren suggests hanging a mirror in a place in the room that reflects the natural light. It will make the space feel larger. Even still, if either of these 16 | May-June 2021

How To Remain Productive Though Molly said she enjoys working closer to where the action in her home takes place, she said being able to concentrate is essential no matter where you’re working in the home. She’s learned that she needs to have her working space clean without the distraction of dishes to wash or clutter to straighten.

She also recommends turning off the television and playing calming music to increase productivity and focus. Lauren said nature sounds help her be the most productive when working in a home office.

The wall color of the home office is also important in creating a productive environment. Lauren recommends soft nature colors instead of something dark,

Molly Northern

heavy or extremely bright. Neutral colors will help to create a soothing environment.

Whether looking for a full office renovation with help from an interior designer or DIY changes to a work from home area to increase productivity, creating a home office space personalized to your needs and wants is attainable. Working from home can be enjoyable once again.

“You have to have a happy place,” Lauren says. “It’s got to feel good to you.”

Sarah Rodriguez By day, Sarah works in social media marketing. But after hours, she enjoys hiking, finding the best tacos, and watching football. aawmag.com

Feature

Passion Plants for

High Country Resident Enjoys Career as ‘Garden Coach’

Photos submitted

After preparing to be a high school teacher throughout

her college education, Anne Calta often found herself staring out of the classroom window — even more so than her students did.

Though she enjoyed educating students, Anne knew that she hadn’t found her life’s work in teaching in a classroom.

Her love for being outdoors and remaining active has since led her to spend more than 25 years learning about and working with plants, and to her current title of a “garden coach.”

It doesn’t take long when talking to Anne to feel her passion for plants and gardening. Anne says she’s knowledgeable, but admits she still doesn’t

know everything there is to know about horticulture.

“If someone tells you they know everything about a plant, they’re lying,” she says. Anne has rubbed shoulders with horticultural geniuses, but she admits that even they don’t know everything there about plants and gardening because of the vast amount of information.

Anne loves that gardening requires continual learning. When gardening, there are many factors to consider like the sun, the dirt and the rain. If living in the High Country, gardeners also contend with the wind and elevation. Anne embraces the challenges and loves to try different approaches, which makes her the best-of-the-best as a gardener.

Next Steps Not really sure what she would do next after being an educator, Anne got a job working at one of Raleigh’s premier nurseries. It was there that the owners encouraged her to pursue the study of horticulture. North Carolina State University had a two-year program called “Ag Institute” that was hands-on, which appealed to her physically active nature, she says. So she enrolled.

Things then started to fall in place for Anne. She was lucky, she says, in obtaining a position at the J.C. Raulston Arboretum, as it exposed her to more Continued on next page

May-June 2021 | 17

than she would have learned anywhere else. The Raulston Arboretum is the hub of all horticulture in North Carolina, and perhaps for the entire nation.

Anne says she got to participate in everything from propagating plants and distributing plants to renovating garden spaces. She acknowledges that her mentor at the Arboretum, Mitzi Hole, saw her potential. “She took me under her wing and we worked very hard,” Anne says.

Anne later acknowledged she wanted to live in a much smaller town, maybe one with a college. Plus, she had always wanted to be in the mountains. She decided the High Country was a place she wanted to be, and moved to the Boone and Blowing Rock area in 2004. She began to manage Mustard Seed Market, working with the owners Robb and Danielle Stewart.

Because of the geographic challenges the High Country area holds, she had a lot to learn after moving. “It’s different here,” she says.

Anne adds that being a successful gardener in this area means learning about and dealing with the microclimates, elevation and wind damage that other areas in North Carolina don’t have to manage. “I had a learning curve working with a different plant palette up here,” she says.

Anne found that she liked being in retail because she could also focus on educating customers regarding where to plant and how to take care of their plants. During her work at Mustard Seed, she became a go-to person for her knowledge. Other employees were always answering questions with “Ask Anne.” As a result, “Ask Anne” is part of her current tagline.

Anne helps to create a planting creation.

Starting on Her Own As the adage goes, when someone is very good at something, the world will beat a path to their door. This rang true for Anne as people began to discover Anne’s talent.

She tells of a woman who had just sold her gardening business, and had a couple of her best clients that she wanted only Anne to work with. One of these clients became Anne’s first solo project. And what a project it was.

This client owned 80 acres with large perennial gardens, fruit tree orchards, blueberries, raspberries and vegetables.

It was a massive undertaking that Anne jumped into with both feet.

She spent one day a week carefully taking care of his acreage that included two replica gardens for the two houses on the property. She did all that she could in order to maintain the property and worked with him for years until he moved away.

After getting the first client and working his land for several years, others began seeking her out to maintain their gardens. She eventually left the retail world and went out on her own in 2010. She hasn’t looked back.

What Anne Does Working in the mountains, Anne often assists with sloped gardens.

18 | May-June 2021

Anne calls herself a “Garden Coach” because, in aawmag.com

addition to her knowledgeable tending of clients’ garden spaces, she educates and “coaches” her clients on taking care of their plants and trees themselves. She doesn’t want people to be afraid of their plants. As she says, “Plants were here before us and they will be here after us.” Her message is that plants are resilient, and gardeners shouldn’t be afraid to move them around and try different things.

Technically, Anne is a horticulturist; however, she calls herself a “gardener.” Indeed, she is a gardener in the truest sense.

She doesn’t do landscape design, installation or hardscapes. She will, however, advise on whether certain plants might work in an area, given its specific characteristics. She will then take care of it all for the client.

Besides her in-depth knowledge of plants, her forte is the attention and patience required to maintain gardens. She loves to fine-tune a yard and build an environment that the homeowner is proud of.

Challenging Projects When living in a place like Boone and Blowing Rock, some very challenging gardening projects will eventually be encountered. One couple who found Anne had a “teeny yard with a lot going on.” The couple were no strangers to creating beautiful yards. The gentleman approached Anne and said, “Take care of my yard.” Anne found the project to be more challenging than she initially thought it would be, and recalls that the work maintaining that small yard taught her much about paying attention to the smallest details.

Another client’s extreme garden, built on a 45-degree incline, has been a challenging long-term development and maintenance project. According to Anne, “This garden shouldn’t exist, but it does!” The homeowner knows a tremendous amount about plants and has created a beautiful space with a wide variety of plants and trees, as well as points of interest in hardscapes. Anne maintains the gardens with diligent tweaking, making sure every plant is where it needs to be.

In all of her work, she is “100 percent focused on the plants.”

She understands that each plant needs the right spot, factoring in the size when it is grown, the soil composition, the amount of sun, the wind and the underlying rock — just to mention a few of the elements to consider. Anne will go the extra mile in the care of a garden, as evidenced in taking climbing lessons and learning how to repel for this particular garden on the side of the mountain.

Anne’s Tips to Home Gardeners Many people want to know when to start planting in the spring. Her guideline is to wait until mid-May because the last frost date is typically mid-May. If putting plants in the ground before then, gardeners run the risk of a freeze that kills them, she says.

Another tip from Anne is to push the limits a bit and take chances by trying plants that gardeners may not think the High Country climate will support. “You just never know until you try,”

Anne helps tend to a garden on a terraced slope.

she says. There are many microclimates here — such as around the “extreme garden” on the mountainside she tends to — that surprisingly allow plants and trees to grow and thrive, Anne says.

Anne warns gardeners not to over plant. Don’t crowd a space by planting too densely or excessively. Give plants room to grow over time. Over planting will cost more money and time in the long run.

She says gardeners can “plant anything and everything up here” in spring and early summer. The roots have time to get established before the harsh winter weather sets in.

Anne’s strongest tip to those who don’t have a lot of experience with gardening is to be patient.

“We are an impatient society that wants instant gratification,” Anne says. “To be successful with gardening, you need to be patient because it takes time.”

Anne quotes something J.C. Raulston once said, “If you haven’t killed a plant three times, then you aren’t pushing yourself as a gardener.” It’s the continual pushing and the willingness to try again and again when something doesn’t work that has taught Anne a depth of knowledge that very few people have. It’s this knowledge that has put her right where she needs to be, and doing exactly what she is supposed to do.

Catherine Perry An alumna of Appalachian State University, Catherine recently moved to Blowing Rock from the Piedmont of North Carolina.

She enjoys freelance writing, reading and spending time with her husband Ron, Westie (Bentley) and friends.

May-June 2021 | 19

Feature Clara digs up clover cover crop to ready raised garden beds for new plantings. Photos by Light

by Dawn Studios/Dawn O’Neal-Shumate

Giving Through Gardening Watauga County Native Serves as Garden Coordinator at Hospitality House

20 | May-June 2021

aawmag.com

The expanding rich green land stretched out for miles as

the sun glared down on the Early Girl tomato plants volunteers were working with. The sky was clear, and volunteer gardeners scattered across the 1,200acre land. Taking in the scene, 18-yearold Clara Coffey told herself she’d only be here for three months then she’d return to Boone to get her college degree.

She’d needed a break from the town she’d grown up in, and leaving for central Arkansas to volunteer on a farm sounded like the perfect way to escape for the Watauga County native.

Only, she never expected to fall in love with the feel of dirt under her knees, the textured touch of plant stems and the sense of community the Heifer International ranch gave her.

Clara ended up staying for a year, then returned twice for three month sections.

“I just couldn’t stay away,” Clara says.

Her parents always had a garden when she was growing up, but her time at the ranch is what sparked her passion for gardening, and afterward, she couldn’t imagine her life without it.

“I loved the farm work. I loved working in the gardens, and I just tried to soak up as much of it as I could,” Clara

says. “From that point on, I knew that that’s what I kinda always wanted to do, and I feel so lucky that I figured that out at such an early age.”

After her time at Heifer International, Clara returned to North Carolina, but not for long. Her time was cut short when a friend invited Clara to WWOOF with her.

WWOOF stands for World Wide Opportunities at Organic Farms, a print subscription turned online database that gives volunteers contact information for farms willing to give room and board to volunteer gardeners in exchange for work on the farm.

The time commitments varied, and the work locations ranged from small gardens to large farms all over the United States — making the opportunity perfect for a 21-year-old Clara.

From there, Clara traveled all over the U.S., working on farms and land much different from Western North Carolina. She also relearned much of what she knew, like how to shape the soil around tomato plants depending on what the climate conditions were.

Clara volunteered and traveled through WWOOF for six months, working in a wide range of places from dry terrain in Southern Colorado to a large

Blueberry farm in Washington.

However, Clara’s time with WWOOF ended when her father offered her the opportunity to run her own farm back home in Watauga County.

“It was obviously life-changing and literally full circle,” Clara says. “We drove a circle from the East Coast to the West Coast and back.”

Clara moved back into her childhood home and began running her own farm. Now years later, married with kids, Clara’s passion has stuck with her. She now has chickens and ducks, doing her best to grow and provide some of her own food.

With help from a friend, Clara also gardens and sells produce at the Watauga County Farmers Market.

“I always want to be connected to the land that I live on,” Clara says. “It helps me feel more connected to my roots and to the Earth, and I love that my kids are growing up knowing where their food comes from.”

In 2018, a friend of Clara’s left her position as the garden coordinator at the Hospitality House of Northwest North Carolina, a shelter in Boone that helps people through homelessness.

Continued on next page

Lettuce varieties grow from donated seeds.

“I loved the farm work. I loved working in the gardens, and I

just tried to soak up as much of it as I could. From that point on,

”

I knew that that’s what I kinda always wanted to do.

- Clara Coffey

May-June 2021 | 21

Fresh chicken eggs are used in the kitchen at the Hospitality House. The chickens also benefit the garden by helping till up new garden space.

After hearing about the position, Clara was immediately drawn to the role where she could share her passion for gardening and its therapeutic benefits with the residents. However, Clara says the position gave her extreme imposter syndrome in the beginning.

“When I first started, I was terrified,” she says. “So now, it’s been about two and a half years, and I just feel like it’s exactly where I need to be.”

The Hospitality House created the gardens in 2011 to increase access to fresh vegetables, herbs and fruits for the Hospitality House’s Food Pantry, Bread of Life Community Kitchen and Hunger Relief programs.

The gardens are located at the shelter on Brook Hollow Road, sitting slightly removed from the building near the Greenway Trail. With around an acre of growing space, the area also includes a chicken coop housing 25 laying hens.

As the garden coordinator, Clara oversees the gardens and helps organize volunteers. She also gets to share her experiences and the joys of gardening with 22 | May-June 2021

the residents at the Hospitality House, like the vitamin D obtained from being outside and the endorphins from physical labor.

Clara guides residents as they help maintain the gardens with the assistance of interns and volunteers like Appalachian State University students, retired Watauga County residents and high school students.

She and the residents use organic methods to maintain the gardens and the plants they tend, like carrots, tomatoes and various flowers that grow behind the Hospitality House.

Clara says she enjoys the way gardening brings everyone together, putting them on what she calls “literal

After teaching herself from YouTube videos and developing a talent for embroidery portraits, Clara decided to open an Etsy shop to sell her work.

“I’ve loved selling my art for the first time in my life,” Clara says. “It’s been really empowering, but also obviously has its own set of challenges.”

Balancing gardening, embroidery, her work at the Hospitality House and an additional business has its challenges, but Clara says none of it would be possible without help from her husband and family.

Because of her support system, Clara can continue to follow her passion for gardening that started at the ranch when she was a teenager, and continue sharing that passion with others.

“I have this great fear of being bored, and I have this great fear of not taking advantage of the life and privilege that I’ve been given,” Clara says.

Ansley Puckett Ansley is a junior journalism major at Appalachian State University from Columbia, South Carolina. When she’s not writing, you can find her with her nose in a book.

even ground.”

“When you’re working together over a garden bed, there’s not any barriers between you, and you’re learning from each other, so it’s such an amazing thing to see,” Clara says.

Now, she also works as the volunteer coordinator and runs the Food Pantry at the Hospitality House.

However, gardening isn’t Clara’s only passion. After having her first child, Clara struggled to find a creative outlet for her new role as a mother.

Deciding to turn toward her love of art from high school, Clara discovered a passion for embroidery, which gave her the control she yearned for.

“Embroidery … every single teeny tiny little detail, I can control it,” Clara says. “So, it was very therapeutic for me Clara tills a raised bed inside a Hospitality House greenhouse to when I first started.” prepare it for donated tomato plants. aawmag.com

Feature

This 8x8 quilt square hanging on a barn overlooking the Watauga Greenway near the old Humane Society building is the only place in Watauga County with a barn quilt from Two Crafty Ladybugs. Photo submitted

Meticulous Creations Crafting Barn Quilts in the High Country

On the sides of barns and other buildings in the High Country and throughout the region, barn quilts are colorful landmarks that represent fabric quilt square patterns. Requiring both math and creative skills, making barn quilts often takes several weeks.

Barn quilts usually range in size from 1-by-1 foot squares to 8-by-8 feet. Generally, making a quilt square requires a board that can stand up to weather, paints, graphing skills, sealant and marking tools to get the design on the board.

Making barn quilts, especially custom, is time-consuming: days or weeks to prepare the board, the design and other materials, before stages of painting, drying and sealing.

Syndi and Renee Brooks have painted more than 3,000 quilt squares since they started painting them in 2010. Their shop, Quilt Square Girls, has a storefront in downtown West Jefferson as well as

a Facebook page with more than 6,000 likes. Inspired by local high school students’ barn quilts, Renee Brooks made the first one and hung it on their Ashe County house after they moved back from Winston-Salem.

People started to inquire about them.

First, they sold a few at a friend’s yarn shop, then a craft fair.

“We started there, then we set up at Christmas in July. And then the next thing you know, we’re in the farmers’ market and it just started going from there,” Syndi says.

Their quilts use exterior sign board, exterior latex paint and seal with a water-based barrier paint. They prime the wood, draw the pattern directly on the board using geometry to make it fit correctly, paint it freehand or with masking-tape lines and then seal it.

Most of their work is custom: Renee is a graphic designer and draws from old

quilt patterns (as barn quilts traditionally do) as well as custom motifs like roosters and honeybees.

Depending on how complex the design is, Syndi said time to make one can range from a day to several weeks. Syndi’s favorite part of the process is drawing out the quilts, while Renee’s favorite is designing them. Their quilts travel, but they enjoy seeing them on local buildings as well.

“We have one in Alaska, one in Hawaii, Canada; we’ve had them ship to Arizona, California. They’re everywhere,” Syndi says.

The two started teaching classes about seven years ago, Renee says. Their classes are hosted at Florence Thomas Art School in downtown West Jefferson.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has reduced class sizes, Renee has hosted as Continued on next page May-June 2021 | 23

many as 16 people in a class. Since she started teaching classes, at least 1,800 students have taken a course. She also said Quilt Square Girls won Small Business of the Year from the Ashe County Chamber of Commerce in 2015.

“We had just opened up the store, I don’t think we had been here a year, but we had been with the chamber for three years,” Renee Brooks said. “That was nice, to be a tiny, little business, and for this whole county, win that award.”

More information about Quilt Square Girls can be found at ilovebarnquilts.com.

Katie Downing restores furniture and paints barn quilts that she sells in several stores in the High Country and through her Facebook page, Downing’s One of a Kind. Her “home base” store is Back Alley Pickers in Newland, but she sells at Antiques on Howard in Boone and Mountain Time on Main in Burnsville.

Katie used to own Appalachian Barn Quilts, having taken a class with the Quilt Square Girls about two years ago. She opened the shop with a partner for about a year with “all the business they could do,” and they sold quilts all over the U.S.

Currently, she’s back to selling locally in the other shops and through word-ofmouth. She splits her time with restoring furniture to avoid getting burned out and not having to “stay in the lines all the time” like when creating barn quilts.

Most of Katie’s quilt designs come from a book with thousands of patterns or online, which she draws on the board with a grid. Quilts are time-consuming and can require up to two weeks of work. She uses a special-order marine board with sides in 1-foot increments that she sands and caulks to protect from the weather.

(Clockwise from top left) Quilt Square Girls Renee (left) and Syndi Brooks (right) pose next to a finished quilt in their storefront in downtown West Jefferson; A barn quilt is in progress in the corner of The Quilt Square Girls’ shop in downtown West Jefferson. Renee Brooks is a graphic designer and includes motifs and designs outside of traditional quilt blocks; Katie Downing owns Downing's One of a Kind, painting and restoring the furniture she is surrounded by.

This setup is at Back Alley Pickers in Newland; A sunflower is painted by Renee Brooks in the Quilt Square Girls’ shop in downtown West Jefferson. Renee teaches classes at a local art studio, including a paint-along for this sunflower; Katie Downing's hand-painted and restored suitcase, named Maggie May, in her booth at Back Alley Pickers in Newland. Downing develops relationships with all her pieces, naming many. Photos by Sophia Lyons

24 | May-June 2021

aawmag.com

She uses Dixie Belle Chalk Paints for the painted designs.

“By the time we finish with them, they’re probably good for 20 to 30 years at least,” Katie says.

She started restoring furniture about 12 years ago.

“I had a big old cabinet, and I painted it black and I distressed it, and just loved it and got so many compliments,” Katie says. “And I have always loved old pieces, so I started doing that to make things look pretty and bring life back to old stuff.”

Katie gets her furniture “here, there and everywhere,” including friends, thrift stores, auctions and antique malls. Her time to restore depends on the piece, but usually takes one or two days. She’ll bring the piece of furniture home and clean it, then sand and paint it before waxing, top coating or glazing depending on the piece. She also develops a relationship with each piece of furniture while working with it.

“I get very personal with my pieces, and I usually name them by the time I finish with them,” Katie says. “I get to know them, and they kind of speak to me.” The item’s name is usually printed on its tag when sold to customers.

Katie started teaching classes at Back Alley Pickers after noticing many people didn’t know how to use the chalk mineral paint she sells there and uses for barn quilts. In her classes, she teaches participants how to clean, sand, paint and seal their own pieces. The COVID-19 pandemic and severe High Country winter weather have prevented her from teaching much recently, but she’s back teaching one class per month in each town of Burnsville, Boone and Newland.

Sisters Jessica Overmier and Ruth Blair own Two Crafty Ladybugs in Boone.

They took their first barn quilt class from the Quilt Square Girls as well several years ago, and quickly became enamored with making barn quilts. In the beginning, they looked for quilt squares on hikes and around the area, including a few barn quilt trails in Ashe County. However, supplies and finished squares accumulated.

“Ruth found the class and signed us up for it, and that was so fun. We wanted to do more and more but we didn’t have anything to do with them. We just ran out of room,” Jessica says.

When Jessica and Ruth traveled to Atlanta to visit some family, they hosted an informal barn quilt class that a family friend attended. The friend suggested selling the barn quilts, which the pair hadn’t considered. “(We) didn’t want them all sitting around in our house, so we decided we would try to sell them. And it worked,” Ruth says.

In 2016, a friend who sold jewelry on Etsy showed Jessica and Ruth how to set up a shop on the site, explaining its algorithms and setup.

Their Etsy shop, TwoCraftyLadybugs, has an average review of five out of five stars. They do encourage prospective customers to visit their website, twocraftyladybugs.com.

Most of the time, their work is custom: people come with a pattern or colors they like. One of Jessica’s favorite parts of the process is learning prospective buyers’ reasons for why they want a quilt to look a certain way. But if prospective customers don’t know what they want, Ruth and Jessica direct them to Google.

“We did have one lady that sent us a fabric swatch from her couch armrest, like the slipcover. And the quilt matched perfectly,” Jessica says.

Previously, the two used foam rollers to apply paint on their wood signs, but switched to foam brushes, Jessica said.

Because they use wood, they use wood filler and primer first before applying the paint. They start out making the design with colored pencils on graph paper before transferring it to the board. Their quilts take the longest, four to six weeks, but need the time to avoid damaging the design.

“The four to six weeks gives us time to really sit down, get everything just the right way and not feel rushed,” Ruth says.

“We’re very perfectionist in our angles and our overlapping, and we think that really sets us apart.”

Ruth and Jessica view making barn quilts as a family affair. They don’t have a

Jessica Overmier, left, and Ruth Blair, right, own Two Crafty Ladybugs, selling their barn quilts. Photo submitted

formal work space, so they take supplies between their homes in Banner Elk and North Wilkesboro, respectively. One of Jessica’s children is making her own; the other children help with different parts of the process, and their mother is a big supporter.

“It’s called Two Crafty Ladybugs, but it’s more like seven. I love how involved everyone is,” Jessica says. “I just think the whole woman’s influence is really neat when you step back and think about it because it seems natural. It’s really involved, it’s generational, it’s just our family. It’s what we do.”

Sophia Lyons Sophia Lyons holds a bachelor of science in journalism from Appalachian State University. She freelance copy edits and writes at sophiamlyons.com.

May-June 2021 | 25

Feature

Left: Roberta Jackson (left) places some soil in a bag for a hanging lettuce garden with the help of Pegge Laine (right). Above: Women from the Junaluska community created hanging lettuce bags leading up to the creation of a heritage garden. Photos by Kayla Lasure

Junaluska

A Haven of Heritage and Hope Women of the Junaluska community in Boone recently

gathered around a table and shared memories of gardening with their parents as they created hanging lettuce gardens — a precursor to a heritage garden that is to be built in the community.

Pegge Laine, former director of the Turchin Center for Visual Arts Community Outreach Program, had been working with women in the Junaluska community through art experiences for almost five years. After learning more about the Junaluska community, Pegge was later awarded grant funding to spearhead four projects to solidify the Junaluska community’s contribution to Western North Carolina and honor its rich heritage.

One of the initiatives of the grant is the creation of a heritage garden to preserve the long-standing practice of food production in Junaluska. The heritage garden, when completed, will work to bring the community together while also addressing issues of food insecurity.

To promote the heritage garden, local residents Peggy Horton, Roberta Jackson and Betty Grimes recently worked together to create and distribute the aforementioned hanging lettuce gardens.

These mini-gardens are “something to keep the enthusiasm and excitement up”

26 | May-June 2021

for the heritage garden, says Pegge Laine.

They are also a way to promote the idea of sustainability and community. And, as Roberta asserts, “We need to see things growing like they used to.”

Pegge Laine describes the idea of the heritage garden much like the creation of art.

“The heritage garden is another blank canvas which offers an opportunity for the creative spirits of Junaluska to flourish,” Pegge Laine says. “In working together on this project, the community is reconnecting with their childhoods in sharing stories of the importance of gardening in their families. Gardening was woven into the fabric of their community and was a major contributor to survival during segregation. It is also a strong thread in their spiritual life as well as their love for one another.”

The History of Junaluska During the mid-19th century, both enslaved and freed Black Americans resided in and around the Boone area.

As the town grew, so did this community.

Through both the struggles of the Civil War and the victory of emancipation, this

small group of African American families clung tightly to each other and the area of Boone they had come to claim as their own.

“The Hill” or “The Mountain” as it was first known was eventually established as Junaluska — one of the earliest Black communities in Western North Carolina, and perhaps the only one that persisted into the 21st century. This is according to the book “Junaluska: Oral Histories of a Black Appalachian Community,” put together with the help of Susan Keefe and the Junaluska Heritage Association.

Life during the early 20th century was difficult for those living in the Appalachian region, in particular for those living in Junaluska. Junaluska residents describe their neighborhood as the result of white people segregating them to the hillside above Boone toward Howard’s Knob on the “steep land nobody wanted,” according to “Oral Histories.”

“Free Black folk in Junaluska were farmers originally,” according to the book.

“They owned land but, for the most part, not farms. Rather, they had small plots for house gardens. They farmed and sharecropped fields on the side of Howard’s Knob, which at the turn of the century was largely clear cut.”

However, the quality of life many aawmag.com

recall was not of poverty or want. It was of community and love. “Junaluska left me with basically a warm feeling and in extremely happy spirits. We had love in family and community. We had adequate housing, clothing, food and all that any child would want. We did not know we were poor as the world defined it. We felt rich because we were made to feel special,” explained Emma Horton in “Oral Histories.”

Having grown up in Junaluska, Roberta echoed similar sentiments, saying it has always been the people in Junaluska who made the area special.

“We didn’t have a lot, but we didn’t need it. We had each other. We didn’t go out of town, didn’t have a car. But we didn’t need it. We played with each other, and enjoyed each other,” Roberta says.

Church, school, farming and gardening made up the daily life of the community. Often, Junaluskans would enjoy entertainment at church. “Sunday was devoted to church. On special holidays, we had musical and dramatic performances, contests and programs; we recited poetry and showed other creative talents. It made it interesting and exciting for all,” Emma recalled.

Families took great pride in gardening and canning. Many of their children and grandchildren remember working alongside their parents and grandparents.

“They didn’t have us sitting there watching them work. They wanted us to help,” describes Peggy Horton, who grew up helping her parents garden in Vilas. She now resides in Junaluska.

Peggy Horton says she now gardens flowers, but isn’t able to produce vegetables due to lack of a garden space. She’s glad the Junaluska community will have a garden so her neighbors can all work and grow plants together.

Roberta says her family grew items like beans and corn in their garden, often canning food for the winter months.

“Now (gardening) is more (for) pleasure, back when I was little, it was a necessity. We needed the food. I had five brothers and sisters, we needed to eat. It gave us vegetables and things all year round,” she says.

Junaluska also operated with an open door policy. Neighbors helped neighbors.

Children moved in and out each other’s houses with confidence and a sense of be-

longing. “People are so nice to each other.

If you don’t have it and they got it, then you’ve got it. That’s the way it’s always been,” Betty describes.

Betty says her mother had rhubarb, potatoes, green beans and peas in their garden. She also recalled her mother having killed (kilt) lettuce; Roberta chimed in that nobody could make the dish quite like Betty’s mother.

Preservation Work Though many Junaluska residents relocated throughout the 20th century in search of job opportunities, others remained in Junaluska and continue to thrive in its wealth of heritage and community.

Recently, efforts have been made to document and preserve as much of that heritage as is possible while also continuing to nurture and sustain its contemporary life.

Preservation projects— in addition to the heritage garden — include a proposed quilt square trail, a children’s book and a mapping project that will work to identify the deceased in the 40-50 unmarked graves in the Clarissa Hill Cemetery.

The proposed quilt trail will show how the schools, churches and businesses once thrived within the community.

The trail would consist of freestanding paintings on wood, metal or quilt squares along a route that shows its history.

The children’s book will be based on “Junaluska: Oral Histories of a Black Appalachian Community.”

“They talk so much about their childhood in the book,” Pegge Laine says.

“That’s why I would want to do it for children, so children would know about the loss of African Americans in Boone.”

Pegge Laine adds that the Junaluska community is ever changing with new folks moving in all the time.

“The heritage garden offers an opportunity to preserve the historical significance of gardening, an opportunity to create relationships with their neighbors

Peggy Horton places lettuce bulbs into a bag for a hanging lettuce garden.

and an opportunity to provide fresh vegetables for their tables. It is my hope that the garden becomes a gathering space that embraces the past as the community grows,” explains Pegge Laine.

The Junaluska community is looking for “garden buddies” to assist with the garden. Pegge Laine said the vision is to grow food so community members can eat together, listen to each others stories and create new memories. If interested in being a garden buddy, contact Pegge Laine at delaneylaine@bellsouth.net with “Junaluska Garden” in the subject line.

The community of Junaluska’s legacy and permanence can be attributed to its members’ passion and resilience.

Through their efforts and those of their parents and grandparents, this place in the world will remain a haven of both heritage and hope.

Hollie Eudy Hollie Eden Eudy is a high school English teacher whose passions include reading, writing, and running. She lives with her husband, daughter, and Pekapoo, Presley, in Dahlonega, Ga.

May-June 2021 | 27

Feature

Cultivating the Next Generation Women Help Lead Local High School Agriculture Programs With agriculture roots going back three generations for both

her grandmother’s flower shop in Newland. Along the way, she also became a certified florist and Olivia Haigler and was involved in the Gretchen Blackburn, creation and delivery agriculture education of arrangements for means more to them 13 years. than just playing in Some horticulture the dirt. advice Gretchen ofAs agriculture fers is to have a long teachers and National waiting period before FFA (Future Farmers planting any flowers of America) advisors, or crops in the spring.

Olivia (Watauga Although Mother’s High School) and Day is a benchmark, Gretchen Blackburn teaches agriculture, food and Olivia Haigler, the agriculture teacher and FFA adviGretchen (Avery natural resources, and is an advisor for FFA at Avery sor at Watauga High School, grew up learning and she cautions people County High School) County High School. Photos by Barbara Holdcroft caring for trees at Twin Pines Nursery. to wait until the both have agriculture nights also get sigin their DNA. Olivia nificantly warmer.

She has seen snowfall phytophthora root fungus.

She says that is involved in her family’s nursery and as late as June 1.

It’s better to wait and be this fungus is specific to the Fraser fir tree farm, while Gretchen works with safe than to have to replant, she says. and cannot be treated.

Olivia was also plants and florist demands. involved in the planting of about 2,000 The five acres of Twin Pines Nursery seedlings this year. and Tree Farm along U.S. 221 was the Given her family background at the foundation for Olivia’s connection with Christmas tree farm, Olivia advises peoagriculture. She grew up learnple to keep their cut tree in plain water. ing about and caring for Both Olivia and Gretchen attended There are many theories about which trees and plants. She Avery County High School under the tuconcoction will keep the tree lasting is knowledgetelage of Gwen Clark, and they each also longer, but just plain water is still the best, able about the went on to earn an agriculture degree she says. various soil from NC State. While Olivia’s degree Gretchen has photos of herself at 3 fungi that is a Bachelor of Agriculture Education, years old with her grandfather astride destroy the Gretchen’s degree is in Landscape a tractor. When her father took classes Fraser firs Horticulture, and she later obtained her in agriculture at Caldwell Community as well as Masters in Agriculture Education at NC College and Technical Institute, she often the developA&T. At that point, Gretchen joined the attended with him. Gretchen became a ment of a fir Avery County School’s system. part of the family agriculture business hybrid, which Although Gretchen and Olivia agree at an early age, assisting in the Sugar is immune that the best four-year Ag program is at Mountain Nursery and eventually owning to the disease

Continuing the Ag Tradition

28 | May-June 2021

aawmag.com

NC State, the two-year program at Wilkes Community College comes highly recommended by both teachers. Students from both of the high school programs have gone on to these institutions to further their education.

While some of the classes each of them teach covers similar material, each program has been tailored to meet the career needs of their respective communities. A focus in agriculture education provides a career opportunity in both Watauga and Avery counties.

Both programs begin with basic courses in horticulture, covering the life cycle of plants. Typical classes in the Watauga program then focus on agricultural science applications and a forest/ soil component. The Avery program offers courses in landscape construction and turf grass with the insight of fellow Ag teacher Dwayne Krege.

Each program considers the particular career needs of the area: plants, ornamental shrubbery, forestry and trees as well as resort beautification and a plethora of golf course needs. The agriculture program at Avery County High School even has built a putting green, showing off an experiment with different grasses. It also displays a fire pit that is surrounded by a variety of stone that showcases different landscaping techniques.

Leading FFA Being the advisor for the FFA program at each school comes with the

Watauga FFA advisor Olivia Haigler (left) presents FFA member Emma Klein (right) with the Youth in Agriculture Award in 2019. File photo

territory of teaching Ag. Today female leadership is not rare to FFA, but there was a time when only males were allowed in the organization.

Gretchen reported that it wasn’t until 1969 that females were admitted.

The correct title now is the National FFA, which came into use in 1988 and Avery FFA members meet with local representatives in 2019. Pictured are Bryan boasts over 760,000 Taylor, Dakota Hudson, Rep. Josh Dobson, Sydnie Johnson, Rylie Daniels, Sydnie Johnson, Ariel Horney, Macie Johnson, FFA advisor Dewayne Krege, Miria Jones, Sen. student members.

Warren Daniel and FFA advisor Gretchen Blackburn. File photo Nationwide, male been challenging. At Watauga High participation leads female membership School, the plants were only sold to the by a 70 percent to 30 percent margin, but faculty and staff in 2020, while the Avery the statistics in the local programs shift County High School program was able from year to year. Female leadership has to sell their plants through Three Nails risen in FFA, and it is reflected in the Hardware in Newland. Each program increase in women obtaining degrees in plans for a larger distribution this year, agriculture. but the particular challenges of construcEach school FFA chapter has offition at Avery High remain an issue. cers: president, vice-president, secretary, The FFA program at Watauga High treasurer, reporter and a sentinel. Olivia School was in jeopardy of being canceled says that the goal is to function as a team when Olivia took over six years ago. throughout the year. At Watauga High There were less than 20 students involved School, every student in her class is a at that time, and membership has since member of FFA, and they pay dues to the grown to more than 90 members. state and national organizations. TypicalShe says, “I feel very blessed with the ly about 30 percent of those members are students and the support of the commuvery actively involved. nity to accomplish these goals.”

The organization engages students on Gretchen said the FFA program at three levels: leadership, personal growth Avery County High School is now able and career success. Students are encourto offer more options for career choices aged to enter FFA competitions at both within the field of study. Approximatethe state and national levels. Advisors ly 136 members and parents recently train their students to participate in any attended a banquet for the program, and of over 40 choices such as plants, hunter there are currently 11 applicants for FFA education, forestry, nursery development, officers. agriculture mechanics or tractor safety.

Gretchen says her goal “is to see the When the programs are able to meet students live the FFA motto: Learning to in person, there is an obstacle course for do, doing to learn, earning to live, living tractors and farm equipment competition. to serve.”

Numerous awards and scholarships are earned; in 2018, almost $1 million in scholarships were handed out locally, many that included a full ride to college.

Both school programs offer handsBarbara Holdcroft, Ph.D. on plant and nursery work in their own Barb has lived with her husband Kirk greenhouses. Each program contributed and daughter Katie in Linville since 2012. to their support through an annual spring She is the Special Olympics Coordinator for Avery County and does adjunct flower sales, but these past two years have teaching at local colleges.

May-June 2021 | 29

Feature

Seeing How Seeds Grow An Activity Families Can Conduct at Home Sometimes, understanding how the world works means looking at things we can’t usually see. For example, think about

plants that grow from seeds. We plant seeds in the soil and water them. After a few days, a plant appears. But what happens in between?

We can’t see the process because it happens underground. Scientists design experiments to help see things that are not usually visible. In this experiment, we will plant seeds in such a way that we can see what happens before the stem and leaves appear above the ground.

Seeds are amazing things. Seeds are able to sense when the time and place is right for a plant to start to grow — the scientific term for that is germination. They sense things like moisture, temperature and light, so the seeds only grow in soil and not in the seed package or in a bag of trail mix.

Water is one of the most important things for growing seeds. This experiment takes advantage of that fact. By placing the seeds in a moist environment, inside a clear container, we will be able to observe the seed germinating. Since the plant cannot continue to grow without soil, plan for a way to transfer the seedlings into soil either in a garden or in a container.

Materials • Clear container with vertical sides (plastic cup, small mason jar) • Paper towels • Bean seeds

Directions 1. Fold a piece of paper towel horizontally until the width of the towel is about the same size as the height of the container.

2. Shape the towel into a cylinder and place it inside the container.

3. Crush more paper towels and put them inside the container to hold the cylinder upright.

4. Carefully wet the paper towels by putting small amounts of water into the bottom of the jar and allowing the towels to absorb the water.

5. Place two to four bean seeds between the towels and the sides of the container. The number of seeds will depend on the size of the container. Be sure to allow room for the seedlings to develop.

6. Make regular observations of the seedlings progress. What changes happen first? Then what happens? Take photos or draw pictures of the seedlings growth.

7. When the seedlings have developed their second set of leaves, transfer the seedlings into the soil in a garden or in containers. The plants will have beans in about 65 days.

Photo submitted

Lesson provided by: Debbie Bauer, Bethel School garden coordinator and director of the Lettuce Learn Project.

This lesson is adapted from Kids Corner, a production of WXPN-FM ­— a member-supported radio from the University of Pennsylvania.

30 | May-June 2021

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Style & Leisure

TRAVEL

‘Round the World Eats In Coronavirus Time “No, Sue! You cannot go to an Ethiopian restaurant in Asheville today or any day! There are messages out all over.

We are supposed to stay home. The virus is coming,” my friend Reene Ann warned.

It was March 15, 2020, and friends, one after another, were begging me not to eat at a restaurant. But I had planned this trip for weeks, and could not be deterred. The countryside between Boone and Asheville was overflowing with signs of spring: newborn lambs cavorting, daffodils and crocuses in bloom, magnolia trees flowering and sunshine seemingly blessing our journey. How could there be anything wrong with such a sun-crowned outing?

We arrived at Addissae Ethiopian Restaurant, and were welcomed with sambusas ­­— little fried pastry triangles stuffed with spicy lentils, similar to Indian samosas. Next we dined on a typical Ethiopian dish, four little vegetable stews presented on spongy injera bread, and eaten with our fingers. Scrumptious! Our meal ended with a spritz of hand sanitizer brought by our server. We were covered.

A stop at a nearby chocolate shop didn’t hurt, either.

Back in the car we looked at each other. “That was wonderful,” we exclaimed.

“We’ve got to keep on! But,” we admitted resignedly, “it will have to be takeout from now on.”

Thus began our weekly COVID-19 ethnic restaurant meal tradition, adventures all. We were traveling the world without taking our passports along.

The second week’s outing featured a stir fry from Phan’s little red Japanese Express food truck on the N.C. 105 Bypass in Boone. We begged for spring rolls, and were told they didn’t have any. If we should want them in the future, would we phone them up ahead of time? Off we went, south on the Blue Ridge Parkway, in search of the perfect view, our own openair restaurant.

The third week was calzones from Capone’s and a northward jaunt on the Parkway. Ethiopian, Japanese, Italian: we were well on our way. What would next week’s outing be?

It had to be my favorite High Country eatery, Cam Ranh Bay. I once wrote a story about Nancy Nguyen’s Vietnamese restaurant, and how she was one of the “boat people” fleeing the Vietnam war.

She is noted for her spring and summer rolls and her everything-but-the-kitchensink can chua soup. Our fourth week’s restaurant visit was pure joy.

Imagine our surprise on our fifth week to find Los Izotes Salvadoran restaurant in Lenoir, with Salvadorans coming and going, carrying bags of piping hot food.

Ah, pupusas, my favorite! I have golden memories of Katarina’s and Pupuseria La Bendicion in Cleveland, where we spend half our year. Toasted corn meal patties with herbs and cheese, topped with salsa and a spoonful of cole slaw, and finished off with huge frosty glasses of horchata and a side of sweet or salty platanos.

Years ago we discovered Monsoon,

once a Thai food truck in the Tennessee countryside near Butler, now a little eatin pole barn. Prayoon, the owner, chef, waitress, gardener and greeter, makes a fabulous Pad Thai and serves it with a big glass of Thai tea. While you wait for your food you can thumb through her photo album of her home in Thailand. This was our sixth week’s outing.

Who would have thought there’d be a Korean restaurant, Red Chile, in a little city like Elizabethton,Tenn.? Try the be bibimbap if you go, the Korean national dish, sizzling rice with tofu, veggies and a spicy-sweet sauce, served way beyond piping hot in a —there’s no other way to describe it — dog-dish-like container.

Kimchi, the other national dish, a very acidy cabbage mix, is definitely an acquired taste. Where else would one go on a twohour drive just to eat lunch? Our seventh week choice was bliss.

And so it went on, takeout after takeout for one whole year: Chinese, Indian, Greek, Lebanese, Colombian, Honduran, Turkish, Mexican, Nepali, Cuban and Caribbean! You name it.

But wait! Restaurants are beginning to open up for indoor dining now. Why not start all over again? 196 countries await: let’s go! sue spirit Writes poetry and essays about nature, spirituality, writing and travel. She has a little cabin in the mountains. degreesoffreedom@frontier.com May-June 2021 | 31

Health

LIVING WELL

Plogging Cleaning up, Along the Way

Plogging is a mash up of ‘Plock upp’ — Swedish for ‘to pick up” — and jogging. Yes, it is a real thing and it makes perfect sense.

The basics: when you go out for a run or a walk, take along a plastic bag and a pair of gloves. When you see trash along the way, pick it up. It is a great way to combine fitness and good citizenship.

The plogging trend began in Sweden in 2016 and is growing internationally as the amount of litter on our highways and byways is increasing.

Though some litter comes from unsecured items in the back of trucks or trash receptacles, the vast majority of litter originates intentionally from motorists and pedestrians who carelessly toss it along the way. The most common litter includes cigarette butts, food wrappers, plastic bottles, disposable cups, grocery bags, straws and beverage cans.

Litter not only mars the beauty of our roadsides, it also breeds bacteria and it kills animals. Researchers estimate that more than 1 million animals die each year after ingesting, or becoming entrapped in, improperly discarded trash.

All good reasons not to litter, but if that doesn’t stop a litter bug, a stiff fine might. The minimum for a first offense in North Carolina is $250-$1,000. Subsequent offenses can bring community 32 | May-June 2021

service requirements and fines of up to $2,000.

So what we can we do to stop this plight?

Make sure your trash is secure. You are responsible to make sure your trash bags are unlikely to fall out of your truck en route to the dumpster. If they land on the roadside and you do not go back and pick them up, you could be fined.

Don’t overfill trash bins. Newspapers, cans and other light-weight waste materials can be easily picked up by the wind and scattered.

Keep a litter bag in your vehicle. Put your trash in the bag to dispose of properly later. This will keep trash from blowing out your window or falling out the door when you open it.

Recycle. Recycling materials, instead of tossing them in the trash, can reduce the amount of waste overall and can save natural resources and landfill space.

Use less plastic. Take your own utensils and reusable straws with you when you eat fast food. Every little bit helps. Not only does plastic land on our highways; plastic that lands in our rivers can eventually end up in our ocean. It is projected that by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the oceans.

Participate in a community cleanup day. Recently, North Carolina hosted a

Spring Litter Sweep campaign. The N.C. Department of Transportation provided bags, gloves and safety vests to volunteers willing to pick up trash in their neighborhoods. Hosting or participating in such events can increase awareness and community pride.

Report a Litter bug. The NCDOT’s Swat-A-Litterbug Program encourages the public to report people who litter intentionally — such as throwing items out the car window — or unintentionally by a garbage bag falling out of the back of a pickup. You can report those who litter by contacting NCDOT’s Litter Management at 1 (800) 331-5864.

You can also download the Swat-A-Litterbug app at www.ncdot.gov. Upon receipt of the reported information, the registered owner of the vehicle will be sent a letter signed by the N.C. State Highway Patrol, informing them about the littering offense and urging them to help keep North Carolina clean.

Last but not least, plog! Keep a trash bag and gloves near your running shoes or hiking boots. Encourage friends and family to do the same. bonnie church Certified Life and Wellness Coach Author/columnist, motivational speaker Certified Trainer for TLS Weight Loss Solution

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Health

BEAUTY

Taking Care of Your Skin as Summer Approaches

I recently saw a little robin redbreast hop, hop, hopping along. I was reminded that he is one of the harbingers of spring time along with the daffodils, forsythia and newness of life exploding all around us. Indeed it has been a very hard year with many heartaches, grief and sorrows, the likes of which we have never experienced. It has also been a time of learning, growing, thankfulness and adapting — God has made us so resilient!

I am ultra excited to be going outside again. Summer is made for outside activities like picnics, camping, swimming, gardening, etc. And we missed it all last year. Since we’ve been living like hermits in our houses, we need to refresh our skills for taking care of our skin in the summer sun.

First, I will say that the sun is good for us and without it we would not survive — living things need sunshine. The sun helps reduce stress, improve sleep, helps fight depression, strengthens the immune system, helps our mood and is a natural source of vitamin D for bone health.

Second, I will say that too much sun is bad for us. So what detriment can the sun cause me? The sun gives off ultraviolet radiation, which causes DNA changes in the skin that can lead to premature aging and skin cancer. We tend to think of wrinkles with aging only, but the sun plays a significant role in the wrinkling

process. There are two kinds of UV light that affect us — UVA and UVB. UVA light damages the skin at all levels — from the surface layer down deep into the dermis degrading collagen and elastin, which results in wrinkles, sagging skin and overall damage.

All of the expensive lotions and potions we buy to address these issues will not be very effective if we neglect skin protection from the sun. The UVB rays make up less sun exposure, but are more intense.

If you are not concerned about premature aging, consider the possibility of skin cancer. Each year 4.3 million adults are treated for skin cancer at a cost of $4.8 billion. There are three types — basal cell, squamous cell and melanoma. The most common are the first two with melanoma being the most lethal. As we resume our outdoor lives in the sun, let’s all practice healthy sun care and save ourselves immediate discomfort and the later penalties the sun can exact from us.

Follow these simple sun rules from the American Cancer Society: • Wear sunscreen every day (broad spectrum UVA/UVB min 30 SPF) • If possible, avoid mid-day sun 10 a.m.-3 p.m. This is when UV rays are at their strongest.

• Wear protective clothing: hats with brims covering ears, back of neck, wear

sleeves, etc.

• Wear sunglasses that filter UV light (wrap arounds are best for long periods outdoors).

• Remember this slogan coined by the American Cancer Society: “Slip on a shirt, Slap on a hat, Slop on some sunscreen, Slide on those sunglasses and Seek shade when possible.”

It’s also important to remember that sunscreen has an expiration date, and the shelf life is shortened by exposure to high heat. You need to reapply every two hours when in the sun, and it should be amply applied. Additionally, UV rays are coming at you year round, even when it’s cloudy.

Thinking of tanning beds — DON’T. Science says there is no such thing as a safe tanning bed. There are lots of awesome self tanning lotions out there. No more orangey skin. Try one.

As you emerge from your cocoons and spread your butterfly wings in the warmth of the sunlight, remember the above tips and share with family members.

Have a safe and beautiful summer!

Marion Edwards Marion Edwards is a Licensed Esthetician, Professional Makeup Artist and Certified Trainer for Motives Cosmetics. She can be contacted at 828.773.1500.

May-June 2021 | 33

YOUNG AT HEART

Lessons Learned

Working at Home During a Pandemic In March 2020, when I received notification that Appalachian State University was pivoting to remote instruction due to the COVID-19 pandemic and that employees would immediately begin working from home, I packed up my computer expecting to be back in the office within a couple of weeks.

Over a year later, the dining room table is still serving as my “office;” however, I expect to be returning to campus this summer.

This has been my first time working from home, except for the occasional inclement weather day, so it’s been an adjustment. As the months blurred by, I discovered that working from home is both good and bad, with a little stir crazy thrown in.

I will also acknowledge that my routine has not been affected by kids or pets, since I have neither. I admire and respect those readers who have had their routines upended in this way. That being said, what has the experience taught me? It turns out, quite a bit.

Space Constraint Our house is not very large and lacks well placed outlets; therefore, setting up on the dining room table was my only option.

Believe me, I tried to find another option.

At one point, my husband, Roger, and I even talked about putting a tiny house in the yard to serve as another office space.

Alas, we abandoned that idea once I heard that I was heading back to campus.

Roger already had a home office space, but even so, we’ve had to learn to share space in a new way. Some things have been nice — having breakfast together each 34 | May-June 2021

morning and enjoying lunch on the deck in good weather — but there have been challenges. For example, Roger has had to walk through my “office” to get to the kitchen and/or front door and I’ve had to walk through his to get to the bathroom with all my stuff.

We’ve managed, but I do look forward to reclaiming the dining room table and using it for its intended purpose.

Hair and Makeup Shakeup I previously had to (bitterly) drag myself out of bed around 5:30 a.m. to have time to complete my ablutions and leave the house by 7:30 a.m.

While working from home, I’ve been letting my hair air dry — something I’d avoided because my texture is a random mix of straight and wavy with a side of cowlicks — and not touching my hair dryer has saved time and made my hair healthier.

In addition, pre-COVID-19 my makeup routine included foundation, blush, bronzer, highlighting powder, eye liner and shadow, mascara, lip liner and lipstick, setting powder and a setting spray to finish. Whew!

Now, it’s been simplified down to powder and lipstick. Thanks to this shakeup and not having to commute to town, my morning alarm has been pushed back about an hour. I must say that I’ve relished the extra sleep!

Will I return to my old routine? That remains to be seen, but now that I know I can air dry my hair and go out with minimal makeup — without making children and random strangers shriek and/or flee in terror — it’s hard to imagine going back.

Also, there’s that extra sleep I mentioned.

Dressing Up I never stopped getting “dressed” for work, and yes, this has included wearing real shoes. It’s been good for me to stick with this particular routine, because I feel more professional and more productive when I’m dressed up a little. Also, I like my work clothes and hated to see them moldering in my closet.

This does not mean, however, that I’ve been wearing suits or anything constrictive or uncomfortable. There has been some relaxing of my work attire — more denim and flowy dresses — and I’ve only worn flats. My office is not super dressy, so I expect this will continue when I go back. And, I wonder: Will I ever wear heels again? Probably, but also, probably nothing super high.

Check That List Twice I haven’t missed the daily commute, which previously ate up an hour of my day.

I’ve also not missed shoveling snow or driving in winter weather.

The downside is that while working from home, my trips to town have been few and sometimes, far between. This has meant no quick errands and/or trips to the grocery store and no spontaneous grabbing takeout for dinner. And, alas, there’s no food delivery where we live.

I’ve had to plan ahead and combine my errands with scheduled trips to town.

I was already in the habit of making a weekly menu and grocery list, but I’ve had to double and triple check said list to make sure I haven’t forgotten some essential ingredient. aawmag.com

Task Master One of my favorite things about working from home has been sneaking in a chore or three during the day — laundry, dishes and more. This has also provided much needed “movement breaks” away from my computer and has freed up my weekends. An exception: It’s challenging to participate in Zoom meetings while the lawn is being mowed.

I’ll miss this and will be sad to see Saturdays revert back to chore day.

Namaste Every Day Roger and I have been doing lunchtime yoga most days and this has been extremely beneficial for my wellness — physical and mental. I’m not ready to give this up and am determined to find a way to continue this practice once I’m back in the office.

In addition to yoga, we’ve taken advantage of the endless supply of exercise videos on YouTube. We’ve also prioritized getting outdoors for exercise, even in

weather that I would have previously said was too cold. Our rule has been: if it’s sunny, we bundle and get outside. Except for when it’s been below 40 degrees; that’s too cold!

The Importance of Seeing Other People While Roger and I enjoy each other’s company and have adapted well to being almost constantly together, we’ve still tried to occasionally see other people. I’ve encouraged Roger to meet his friends for disc golf and I’ve met mine for walks.

These little breaks have been crucial to keep us from going completely stir crazy.

In Sight, In Mind Speaking of stir crazy, if out of sight is out of mind, the opposite is also true.

Being trapped at home, I started seeing things that I didn’t like about the house — mainly furniture. I’ve also wanted to rearrange entire rooms but have been

prevented from doing so by the location of heating vents and/or outlets. Roger found random spots on the walls that he decided needed to be repainted.

In case you’re wondering, we did replace some furniture — two chairs and a futon mattress, and we purchased a new loveseat.

Back to Campus As I approach the date when I have to return to campus, I’m feeling both anxious and excited. I know that being around other people — in person as opposed to on Zoom — will likely feel strange and unfamiliar at first. And, like a teenager on her first day of the school year, I’m suffering from outfit anxiety. What does one wear for one’s post-pandemic debut? 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.

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Sushi Night is Always the Best Girl’s Night Out Dine in-Mon-Sat 4:00-9:00PM Take-out-Mon-Sat 4:00-8:00PM Closed Sunday

36 | May-June 2021

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ALL ABOUT TOWN Paige Patterson, Jan Frazee, Debbie Bauer and Mandy Stroupe hand out fruit plants to community members during the Watauga County Cooperative Extension annual fruit plant sale on April 16. Watauga Cooperative Extension sold 1,500 fruit plants during the sale. Photo by Kayla Lasure

Hardin Park second grade teacher Misty Hyler was named Watauga County Schools district-wide Teacher of the Year during a surprise visit to her classroom on May 7. Pictured is Hyler with her husband, Bryan Hyler, and son, Benjamin Hyler. Photo submitted

Emma Shepherd, Lillianna Sirmon, Rachel Nelson, Riley Kiker, Caroline Burt and Sarah Fulton attend prom at Watauga High School on April 24.

Photo by Kayla Lasure

Ashe County High School seniors Molly Rupard and Braylin Miller pose together before attending prom on May 8.

Photo by Chanda Richardson

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ALL ABOUT TOWN The advanced girls group of Watauga’s National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) team and their coaches gather for practice. Left to right: team Director Jeff Cathey, Paige Rice, Melissa Weddell, Julia Mawhinney, Angiolina Llibre, Aria Arnholt, Ireland Laxton, Sophia Llibre, Marilyn Laxton, Mia Llibre, Alan Arnholt and McKenzie Schmidt. Photo by Ian Taylor

Christal Hoilman was recognized on May 11 by Avery Family Impact for her work volunteering with the organization for the past 10 years.

Front row: Eva Hollars, Christal Hoilman and Janice McClellan. Middle row: April Potter and Jamie Beers. Back row: Mike Johnson, Mandy Trice and Teresa Flowers. Photo by Luke Barber

Girl Scout Troop 13114 raised $513 for Blue Ridge Women and Agriculture by selling plants in hand-painted pots outside of the High Country Food Hub on May 5. Left to right: Lily Jarema, Sophie Dewhirst, Katie Snodgrass and Grace Taylor. Photo by Moss Brennan

Braedyn Davis of High Country Clays takes in the sunshine at the Watauga County Farmers Market on its opening day of the season on May 1.

Photo by Andrew Cole

38 | May-June 2021

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TIMELESS VALUE Beside Mountain Grounds Coffee & Tea | Grandfather Center | Tyncastle 3990 NC Hwy 105 S, Suite 9 | Banner Elk, NC 28604 828.898.9633 | design@design105.com | DistinctiveCabinetryDesign.com