Surry Living Magazine - December 2022

a publication of top of the stairs media, llc

SURRY LIVING MAGAZINE

PO Box 125

Low Gap, NC 27024

surryliving.com • info@surryliving.com

for editorial content submissions send to larry@surryliving.com

CREATIVE

LARRY VANHOOSE executive editor

VIE STALLINGS HERLOCKER associate editor

SALES

TRINA VANHOOSE OLIVIA MCMILLAN

Advertiser Index

Our advertisers make it possible to provide Surry Living FREE of charge. Please join us in thanking and supporting these outstanding merchants in our area:

Anderson Audiology, Page 31

The Barn at Edwards Farm, Page 9

Better Than Average Liquidators, Page 25

Blue Mountain Herbs & Supplements, Page 29

Camper & Mobile Home Supply, Page 20

Charis Christian Books & Gifts, Page 26

Cook Insurance Group, Page 11

Cooke Rentals, Page 13

Creek Bottom Brewing & Distillery, Page 30

Countryside RV, Page 7

The Derby, Page 20

Farmer's Mulch & Rock, Page 13

Friendly Heating & Cooling, Inc., Page 5

Galax Tourism, Page 25

The Graceful Goose, Page 23

Hope House Missionary Thrift Store, Page 25

• Reach more than 30,000 potential customers each month.

• Complimentary monthly magazine distributed in hundreds of prime locations throughout Mount Airy, Elkin, Dobson, Pilot Mountain, Jonesville, Yadkinville, and the surrounding areas including grocery stores, restaurants, medical offices, hotels, gift shops, and more.

• Current and previous issues available for viewing and download at surryliving.com/

• Business Spotlight and Advertorial articles available.

• Enhance your business image with our high-quality, four-color, heavy-gloss publication.

• 30 days of advertising per month gives potential customers the chance to see your ad multiple times.

• Multiple-insertion–discounted rates available!

Surry Living Magazine’s Monthly Editorial Calendar is available on request by contacting our Sales Department at sales@surryliving.com

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION AND RATES, CONTACT US TODAY at (336) 648-3555 or by email at sales@surryliving.com • surryliving.com

ADVERTISE WITH US: facebook.com/SurryLiving

Surry Living reserves the right to deny any advertisement or listing. Submissions are welcome, but unsolicited materials are not guaranteed to be returned. Surry Living assumes no responsibility or liability for the information, services, products, claims, statements, accuracy, or intended or unintended results of any advertiser, editorial contributors, company, professional corporation, business or service provider herein this publication. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher is prohibited.

Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital, Pages 2, 21

Keswick Candle Company, Page 19

Laurel Oak Farm Rentals, Page 23

Main Street Market, Page 20

The Martha Bassett Show, Page 16

Mount Airy Equipment, Page 3

Mountain Valley Hospice & Palliative Care, Page 9

Mount Airy Museum of Regional History, Page 26

Mullins Pawn Shop & Jewelers, Page 9

NC Cooperative Extension, Pages 23, 28

Northern Regional Hospital, Pages 9, 17, 32

Ridgecrest Retirement, Page 19

Roy's Diamonds, Page 11

Royster & Royster Attorneys at Law, Page 11

Shelton Vineyards, Page 27

Surry Communications, Page 14

Ted Benbow / Mossy Oak Properties, Page 31 Waterlily Wellness, Page 7

Welcome Home Decor & Gifts, Page 16

(336) 648-3555 • sales@surryliving.com

Not just at Christmas, but all year long, we celebrate the greatest gift, the gift of God’s one and only son.

Note: All events are subject to being canceled or postponed. We recommend visiting visitmayberry.com/ and the other area venue specific websites for the most upto-date and accurate event schedules and ticketing information.

CONTRIBUTORS

Martha Bassett

Martha is a singer/songwriter/guitarist living and working in the Piedmont. She hosts The Martha Bassett Show, a twicemonthly musical variety show at Elkin’s Reeves Theater. Past shows are featured Saturday evenings on NPR station, 88.5 WFDD. On Wednesday nights she leads music at Roots Revival, an Americana worship service at Winston’s Centenary UMC that explores the intersection of faith and secular music. She's also a longtime scholar of the music of the Shakers. Martha has released 11 records and plays throughout the region and nation. Get more info at marthabassettshow.com.

Gloria is co-owner of The Nest & Hive Shoppe, a home décor business in Fancy Gap, VA, as well as the former host of The Vintage Southern Homemaker television show. Her musings on life growing up and living in the South have appeared in publications and on TV throughout the region. She is an expert antiques collector who grew up in the business and worked many years as a dealer in the Yadkin Valley area, where she currently resides.

Sheri Wren Haymore

Sheri grew up in Mt. Airy, NC, and lives thereabouts with her husband. Together they run a couple of small businesses and plan their next vacation. A graduate of High Point University, her first job was as a writer at a marketing firm—and she’s been scribbling ever since. Sheri has several suspense novels in publication and Surry Living was proud to include sequential excerpts from one of her books in each issue from spring 2018 thru early 2021.

Rynn Hennings

Rynn is a writer and designer based in the Yadkin Valley region of North Carolina. She loves to share her ideas for adding simple beauty into hectic lifestyles. More than mere recipes, her mission is to offer practical shortcuts for food preparation along with visual tips for presentation. Rynn began her career in Aiken, SC, as a newspaper reporter writing feature articles about food, living, and the arts. For more about Rynn, even more recipes, decorating tips, and much more, visit thehouseofelynryn.com

Carmen Long

Carmen is an NC Cooperative Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences. Making quick, easy, healthy food that tastes great on a budget is a challenge. Carmen and her husband have two grown children, both of whom were involved in sports from grade school thru college. With busy careers and lots of time at sporting events, coming up with quick, healthy meals was a necessity. Carmen shares ideas and recipes to make this tough job a bit easier.

Joanna is the County Extension Director for NC Cooperative Extension in Surry County as well as the Commercial and Consumer Horticulture Agent with expertise in entomology, gardening, and pesticide education. Joanna began her career with NC Cooperative Extension in Stokes County in 1995 as a 4-H Agent, later switching to Field Crops and Pesticide Education in Surry County. She lives on a farm with her husband and two teenage daughters.

Sarah grew up at Crooked Oak in the Pine Ridge community of Surry County. Raised in the agriculture world, she went on to earn degrees in animal science and veterinary medicine from North Carolina State University. She and her husband, Adam, currently live in Statesville with Oliver the house rabbit, a few cats, Blossom the donkey, and a flock of Katahdin hair sheep.

Larry VanHoose

Larry is the Executive Editor of Surry Living Magazine and Creative Director at Vivid Graphics in Galax, VA. He has 30+ years experience as a writer, graphic designer, and commercial photographer. Larry and wife, Trina, have four wonderful, grown children, one awesome grandson (so far!), and they reside on a small farm just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Grayson County, VA.

Joanna Radford

Gloria Brown

Sarah Southard

Vie Herlocker

Vie is the Associate Editor of Surry Living Magazine. Her professional affiliations include: Christian Proofreaders and Editors Network. American Christian Writers, American Christian Fiction Writers, and more. She is a certified member of the Christian Editor’s Connection (CEC).

Vie has been published in magazines, collections, and co-authored or ghosted several nonfiction books.

~ Vie Herlocker, AKA “The Book Mama”

Nicole Wimbish NCLMBT #17194 336-783-7652 • email: zenmassage.bodywork@yahoo.com Mount Airy, NC www.wellbeinganddaydreams.com

A BIG PINK PIG

“The sink is leaking.”

I sigh as my wife walks away. Yet another to-do added to my already overflowing list of to-dos that need handling right away – or sooner. While I personally long for a simple, quiet life, it eludes me like a dog avoiding a trip to the vet. Life seems so much fuller and frustrating these days and I struggle to pinpoint the cause. I’d like to blame all the new technology that is supposed to enhance and ease my life but instead adds another layer of complexity along with its own list of things that need to be done. Then there’s the responsibilities and unexpected surprises that come with owning a small business, the seemingly never-ending tasks that need attention at my church, and the messiness of relationships that come with both friends and family. I confess, it can all be overwhelming. Enter the holiday season. From late October thru early January, it seems my life’s path becomes more of a slippery slope, running downhill with too many friends and family activities, church functions, end-of-year business requirements, house decorating, house un-decorating, fixing, installing, assembling, upgrading. There is so much that needs to be done while offering little chance to get one’s feet back under them before the avalanche buries us whole. Can anyone relate?

But, before I stress you out completely, let me offer a way out, or in as it probably should be said, the way in – and out – that only works when we remember the door that is there but must be opened.

Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends (Rev. 3:20 NLT).

At some point in my younger days, I got the mistaken impression that I could handle most anything. Give me a tough job, new responsibility, major change, it didn’t matter to me – I was up for it, and pretty sure I could do it better than most. As I’ve meandered through the years, my attitude has changed significantly as I realize I do have limitations and even, God-forbid, that dreaded of all words – at least to a man – weaknesses.

by Larry VanHoose

Those dreaded limitations and weaknesses are why the door has become so important to me. I honestly don’t know how anyone makes it through the holidays, much less the rest of the year, without having Jesus residing in the house. He is the author of a peace that goes beyond my circumstances (Phil.4:6-7), the reason that joy is even possible in this crazy, mixed-up world, and the source of hope for the long, overwhelming days ahead. I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13 NLT).

Look, I don’t know anyone who wants to be miserable and so overwhelmed with holiday tasks, responsibilities, and missed opportunities, that they forget the true meaning of the holidays and skip to hoping for the best in a new year. But I do think that most, if not all of us, fall into the trap of leaving our door shut and locked tight in our busyness, which unfortunately keeps him who we need the most from coming in and setting all things right in our little upside-down world.

I once heard a story about a man who had a recurring dream. Each night for two weeks he had the same dream. In the dream he was driving on a curvy mountain road, full of switchbacks, sharp curves, and downhill runs. In the same place of the dream and after a particularly sharp curve, he’d look up to see a large white billboard with a huge pink pig smiling and looking down at him. Each morning he’d wake up confused wondering why was he dreaming about a big dumb pig on a billboard? Finally, after two weeks of the same frustrating thing, he got down on his knees and prayed that God would give him the meaning of the “swine-ful sign.” After a short while in his prayer closet, he had words – no more of a question – well up inside of him, a question that both confused and concerned him. “What did the sign say?” the inner voice asked.

“What do you mean, what did the sign say? I don’t know. Nothing I think, all I saw was a big pink pig.”

“What did the sign say?”

home, farm, & garden

That night, he thought about the question he’d more felt than heard and he resolved to infiltrate his dream, if possible, and see if the sign had anything on it other than the pink pig. Sure enough, shortly after he’d fallen asleep, he was back in the dream, behind the wheel on the curvy, mountain road. Even though he was dreaming, he remembered that he needed to look closely for anything on the sign other than the pig. As he made the final turn, he looked up and to his surprise, on the right just next to the pig were these large words in bold font, “Don’t Be Distracted.” The message was clear, insightful, and one I suppose we all need to hear as we enter that busiest of seasons. The reason for the season is as important to us now as it was when the shepherds outside of Bethlehem Judaea first heard it. Just don’t get distracted…

Luke 2:4-14 (NLT)

And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child.

And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby,

guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

From all of us at...

by Joanna Radford

Pause and Enjoy Amaryllis

This time of year can become so busy that you would think we are all running a marathon. How can we slow the activities down and enjoy each of them to the fullest before going to the next one? While I cannot tell you how to accomplish this, I can let you in on a small trick that I have found helpful during the holidays. Try growing a houseplant. This will allow you to pause and take care of it and enjoy its beauty. There are many options available, but I recommend growing amaryllis (Hippeastrum species).

Amaryllis has large bell-shaped flowers. They grow well as potted plants. They are available in a wide range of flower colors (red, white, pink, orange, salmon or bicolored) and can have two to six flowers per stalk. The bulbs are purchased as either Dutch or South African grown hybrids and will flower without special treatment when first purchased.

Late fall or winter is the ideal time to pot or repot amaryllis. Care for a repotted old bulb is the same as a bulb that you have just purchased. You will want to cut off the old, dried leaves of the saved amaryllis bulbs before replanting.

Before you pot the amaryllis bulb, select a container that is slightly larger (1-2 inches larger) in diameter than the base of the bulb. They like to be slightly rootbound. Containers can be clay or plastic as long as it has drainage holes in the bottom. The holes will help prevent the soil from being water-logged which could create a root rot problem.

The right soil is important. Use a well-drained, sterilized potting medium (soil). I like to create a mixture with equal parts of peat and perlite. Plant the amaryllis bulb shallowly in the medium. One-third to one-half of the bulb should be above the medium to keep the bulb dry. This will help reduce fungal diseases from developing.

Water the bulb thoroughly and immediately after planting and keep a slightly moist soil condition until flowering. Decrease the frequency of watering (usually once per week) when flowering begins. It is best to water your plant when the soil surface feels dry to the touch.

Do not fertilize the amaryllis until after the plant begins to grow. Fertilizing an amaryllis bulb too soon when it does not have leaves can injure or kill the roots. A soluble fertilizer is required twice a month after the plant begins to grow. Apply at full strength and frequency according to the label.

Amaryllis will need to be placed in an area that receives at least four hours of direct sunlight each day. Southern facing windows are the best. Avoid northern facing windows if possible. Keep temperatures around 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit until the roots form and the leaves and flower stalk begins to grow. Temperatures

can be reduced to 65 degrees Fahrenheit once it flowers. This will prolong the life of the flower.

Watching an amaryllis grow and bloom can provide a lot of enjoyment. It can also be enjoyed for years to come by taking care to keep the amaryllis actively growing after they finish blooming. Blossoms should be removed as soon as they fade to prevent seed formation. Cut the stem off just above the bulb then place it in a sunny window. During the next several months growth is active. Encourage future bulb development by keeping the soil slightly moist and fertilize with a balanced houseplant fertilizer at regular intervals. You can continue to grow your amaryllis indoors all year. If preferred, it can also be moved and grown outdoors as soon as the danger of frost has passed. I would wait until Mother’s Day to be on the safe side.

Reflowering the amaryllis bulb is possible, but you will need to do a few things to help encourage flowering. First, stop watering and fertilizing it for 8 to ten weeks (late September). The leaves will yellow and wither. This is normal. When the top of the flower bud begins to emerge, put the pot in a sunny window and start watering it again. Remove all dry foliage. Rotate the plant every few days when the flower stalk begins to lengthen. This helps prevent the stem from leaning towards the light.

Amaryllis are great gifts this time of year and can be found in many garden centers near you. If you have questions or would like more information, call your local NC Cooperative Extension Center.

by Sarah Southard, DVM

Helping Pets Thrive through the Holidays

Every year I tell myself that I will begin Christmas shopping earlier, get the gift wrapping completed before Christmas Eve, and make a holiday food plan before I must actually start cooking. Every year I hope to move a little closer to thriving through this busy season rather than just (barely) surviving. I’ve had varying success with these particular ambitions. For all of us animal owners in the world, there are a few other considerations we must attend to for both our own and our animals’ thriving through the holidays. Interestingly, many of the things we should do ahead of time to prepare and help ensure that our pets thrive will also indirectly support the thriving of their veterinarians as well. It may sound odd, but let me try to explain.

During the incredibly busy Christmas season, a bit of preplanning and self-control with regard to our pets and livestock will contribute greatly to our animals’ thriving. Ensure that you have plenty of any required medications on hand for your pets. Do not wait until you’ve given the last dose of a daily medication to secure more. Think ahead for any refills or appointments required and do not expect an “emergency response” due to poor planning. Also be sure to have plenty of your pet’s normal diet on hand, especially if he or she requires a specialty or prescription diet due to food allergies or a chronic disease. When you properly plan and prepare ahead of time, you are being a responsible owner and a considerate client, rather than adding additional stress and mental and physical strain for your already overworked veterinarian and their staff. Keep all pets and livestock on their normal, speciesappropriate rations. Avoid any temptations to serve a special holiday meal. And absolutely avoid giving treats of human foods. From toxic ingredients such as grapes, raisins, onions, and chocolate to foreign body risks like turkey bones to pancreatitis-inducing rich foods, the holiday human food risks for your pet are many and varied. These types of exposures create emergency situations that cannot wait until normal business hours. Likewise, holiday decorations, both live and artificial, can pose risks to pets. Carefully consider what you use to decorate and where items are placed in order to decrease risks as much as possible.

When you do need medical help for your pet or livestock, help contribute to your veterinarian’s thriving by following some common business and personal courtesies that you would extend to members of other professions. Be patient, kind, considerate, encouraging, and appreciative with all of the staff

you encounter during phone calls and visits. Be prepared to pay for all services rendered and supplies used prior to leaving the building with your animal. Having a veterinary expense savings account, pet insurance policy, or a third-party source of credit available and in place before you need it is critical for you and your veterinarian to be able to provide the goldstandard of care in any situation. Respect your veterinary clinic’s normal business hours. Do not expect exceptions to be made, and if you happen to be offered an exception, realize that it is just that: exceptional. Be very grateful for it and do not expect it to become the everyday way of business. Do not contact your veterinarian at their home, on their personal cell phone or through personal social media accounts concerning a professional matter about your animals. Respect their time away from work, realizing that they are human and need to step away from their job responsibilities the same as you and I. Also respect the guidelines for after-hours and emergency calls. If your veterinary clinic is one of the rare few which still see their own emergencies and have an after-hours on-call veterinarian, be sure that you have an emergency when you call. Do not expect to be able to make appointments or request refills after-hours. Do not berate your primary care veterinarian or their staff for referring you to a proper emergency facility when they feel that it offers your pet the most appropriate care. We do not refer because we do not care about you or your pet, nor because we are being lazy. We have the best interests of your pet in mind with every recommendation that we make.

Remember to include your pets and livestock in any holiday pre-planning you may be doing this season. Your animals will be better off for it and you can feel better about not having unnecessarily added to your veterinarian’s trials and tribulations this season. Enjoy your celebrations with family and friends. And remember your veterinarian and their staff in your prayers of thanksgiving and protection. Suicide rates among veterinary professionals of all types remain disproportionately high compared to the general population. In October of this year, another NC veterinarian, younger than I am, lost her battle with hopelessness. Thank you for doing whatever you can to encourage and help change the veterinary environment for the better!

by Martha Bassett

I have a love/hate relationship with the month of December. It always seems to arrive too early, before I’m ready, like a term paper that’s due or a tax deadline. So many moving parts and ducks to line up. November seems so much simpler, focusing on one delicious day, reminiscing on the things for which we’re thankful.

For many of the musicians that I know, the time between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day is a very dry season for work. Others, like me, go into a hyper mode of holiday music, church services, and more. It’s a time of extremes.

You, dear reader, might experience December as a time of great obligation, mandatory family gatherings, neighborhood parties, or work events. Your already tight budget might be stretched beyond its limits to gift everyone on your list. Perhaps it’s the opposite, and the loss of loved ones or separation from those you wish to be near is underscored by the hubbub

that is December. It’s difficult to find that sweet spot of Hallmark movies.

Surviving the holidays is one thing. Thriving is quite another. This article for me is an exercise in planning my December and setting up my life for the thriving. First of all, the work is a blessing. Since more people have obligatory gatherings in December, whether church or social, music can be an unexpected catalyst to touch people’s hearts and bring them together. I plan to count that as a gift to me! And speaking of gifts, how many people in your life really need for you to

spend your time, energy, and money to buy them something? I’m going to focus on my kids and let the rest go. You have my permission to do your version of that!

Thriving is about more than just getting it done. What is it we need as we end a year and dream about a new one? I don’t know about you, but I need for all the activity to mean something. If I’m tired, I want to it be because I’ve worked for something important. Who in my life is experiencing a dry season? Or feeling loss? Or missing their loved ones? Who in your life needs something? Of course, the holidays are a time of charitable giving, which is a beautiful thing. But also, we have friends around us who may just need a reason to feel love and hope and joy. You know…the things that all the holiday songs are about. I guess I’m saying that giving is getting. Happy holidays, friends!

Choose Well. Choose Northern.

Northern Regional Hospital Unveils Linda’s Healing & Prayer Garden

On Friday, October 28, 2022, Northern Regional Hospital and Northern Regional Foundation held a dedication ceremony for their new Healing and Prayer Garden. Despite the cool weather, the ceremony was warm and inspiring, and was well attended by Northern Regional Hospital (NRH) staff, Board of Trustees, volunteers, local business partners, contributors, and local dignitaries from our community.

Robin Hodgin, Senior Vice President of Patient Services & Chief Nursing Officer, opened the ceremony, explaining that Northern Regional Hospital has been a vital part of our community for more than 65 years and continues to be rooted in providing compassionate, quality patient care serving over 250,000 patients each year. She shared her excitement about seeing the project come to life and noted that the Healing and Prayer Garden will offer a calming environment that will benefit the physical and mental health of our skilled nursing residents, our staff, and visitors.

Chris A. Lumsden, NRH President and CEO, and primary contributor to the project, shared the vision and purpose of the Healing and Prayer Garden just before unveiling its full name. Dedicated to his wife of 41 years, the Garden has been named “Linda’s Healing and Prayer Garden.” “Our family thought that this would be great way to honor Linda by naming this Healing and Prayer Garden after her for many the lives that she too has favorably touched during her lifetime,” said Lumsden.

The Garden is located at Entrance C of the Hospital and features many flowers, plants, and red maple trees, with several benches for visitors to sit and enjoy the flora and sounds of the rock and boulder fountain. The excellent construction and execution of the Garden plan was done by Superior Greenery along with Lambert Electric and & Marketing. The Plant Operations staff

of Northern Regional Hospital put in many hard hours assisting and making the Garden and area look beautiful for the event.

After the official unveiling, four of Northern’s Skilled Nursing residents, Shirley Crabb, Lucy Lewis, Veda Payne, and Karen Tucker served as Grand Marshals for the event and led visitors into the Garden for the first time.

Healing and Prayer Gardens are designed to provide a place of refuge and promote healing in patients, families, visitors, and staff.

During the ceremony, Mr. Lumsden announced that Tina Beasley, Volunteer Services Manager and previously the Northern Regional Foundation administrative assistant, and one of the primary coordinators of the Garden project, has been promoted to be the Executive Director of Northern Regional Foundation.

In her remarks, Tina Beasley noted, “I am proud to say that Linda’s Healing and Prayer Garden was fully funded by private contributions matched by funds from Northern Foundation. As we began to invite others to support our vision through the fundraising process, we were overwhelmed by the generosity and giving spirit of our own employees and our community partners.

Linda’s Healing and Prayer Garden will offer that place of refuge for patients, families, visitors, and staff to reflect, and refuel during hard times. It will serve our organization and our community well for many years to come.”

A giving tree by the garden notes the names of donors and memorial donations on “leaves.” Contributions are ongoing. For donations, contact Tina Beasley at (336) 783-8196 tbeasley@wearenorthern.org.

This is a paid advertorial for Northern Regional Hospital, Mount Airy, NC.

by Sheri Wren Haymore

SURVIVE & THRIVE

If you’ve followed my ramblings in this magazine, you may have gathered that my mother was quite proper and a force to be reckoned with. At no time was this more evident than the Christmas holidays. Ruth Howell was known as one of the best cooks in Mt. Airy, and she set an elegant table and greeted guests dressed as fashionably as the First Lady. She decorated our home in a manner that was classy and understated.

All of this came at a cost—to the entire family. During the early 1960’s days of tinsel, every silver strand had to be perfectly draped on the tree, mostly by my small fingers. When tinsel fell out of style, Mother created hand-beaded felt ornaments to festoon the tree. Every carefully curated piece of holiday décor was to be arranged perfectly (and dusted weekly). Candles were lit and extinguished, ready to be re-lit moments before company arrived. The silver was polished, and the linens starched; the goodies were baked; the front door wreath shone in the glory of a spotlight.

In short, by the time Christmas arrived, tensions ran high in the Howell household.

Can you relate to Mother’s desire to create the perfect Christmas? What drives us to try to pack all the things—the decorations, the gifts, the parties, the community events, the church plays—into a single month? And how do we overcome the perfectionism that can squash the Spirit of Christmas?

I know what Mother would say. She would say that she did those things “because it matters.” It mattered to her that our home was beautiful, the gifts thoughtfully purchased, and the carols sung around the table nightly. She would say that the singular event of the birth of Christ deserves the utmost celebration.

Let’s untie a few of the strings that bind the Christmas story together and see if we can find one to help us thrive during the season.

The Scripture says that Mary “gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth…” This was not haphazard. Mary didn’t tear up her robe to wrap her child because she lacked a

layette. What we see is preparation. Look closely, and you will see the young mother carefully, tenderly—and with awe, no doubt— wrapping the Son of God with the fabric she had prepared.

We read that Joseph, who was engaged to Mary, contemplated what he should do considering her untimely pregnancy. With unwavering faith in God, Joseph trusted the angel who told him to protect Mary and her son. We see him adhering to both law and tradition when he journeyed with Mary to Bethlehem for the tax census, to Jerusalem for the purification offering, and later to Egypt to escape the jealous wrath of King Herod. What we see in Joseph is thoughtfulness.

The language in the story as related in Luke’s gospel is rich with the words that we love to hear at Christmas. Most of us, whether we attend church or not, have heard that shepherds were surrounded by the glory of the Lord. Angels promised the stunned shepherds that the newly born Savior would bring great joy and peace and God’s favor to the earth. I believe these words speak to our hope as humans to experience something beyond what we can see and touch in this tough world.

How does our glimpse into the story of the birth of Jesus help us slow down our frenetic holiday perfectionism? I believe that if we can approach Christmas with our minds set on what truly matters, bringing preparation and thoughtfulness into our activities, then perhaps we can celebrate with open hearts. I asked my wise daughter, Carrie Wren, for her insight. She said something like this, “Whatever it is that you’re attempting to create—whether it’s

joy, a sense of wonder, a spiritual encounter—instead of rushing around trying to force it to happen, just be that thing. Connect with people by being the joy, for instance.”

Hope. Peace. Joy. Glory. Indeed, these are the things that matter at Christmas. Is it possible to embody these truths as we approach the season? The answer lies in the Christmas story itself: “…and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” Every step you take, every breath, as long as you believe, then Jesus is right there with you. Yes, you can be the joy. Merry Christmas, everyone.

www.thehouseofelynryn.com

My family loves hot cinnamon rolls, and I love to make them for Christmas morning. But with all the other holiday festivities, it is hard to bake from scratch and allow ample time for the rolls to rise. That is why I love this recipe! It is easy, convenient, and delicious. It is also a recipe you can make with children. Let them sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture and help with the frosting to create a new Christmas morning tradition.

These easy-to-prepare rolls have extra ingredients to take them from basic cinnamon rolls to gourmet rolls. Those ingredients are cream and vanilla! Mix them together and then pour the cream around the prepared rolls before baking, and they will bake up tender and flavorful.

Finally, there are instructions for creating creamy vanilla frosting to spread on the rolls after baking. If you love cinnamon, try adding a pinch to the frosting when you make it. And if you would like to cut down on the sugar in these rolls, skip the frosting because they are delicious without it!

SEMI-HOMEMADE CINNAMON ROLLS

Cinnamon rolls made with crescent rolls Servings: 8 Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 9-11 minutes

Ingredients for Cinnamon Rolls

• 1 package crescent rolls (8 pack)

• 3 tablespoons butter, softened

• 1/3 cup dark brown sugar (do not pack sugar)

• 1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon

• 1/4 cup cream, room temperature or slightly warm

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Ingredients for Frosting

• 1 tablespoon butter, melted

• 1 cup powdered sugar (confectioner's sugar)

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 2 tablespoons cream

• Pinch of salt

Directions for Cinnamon Rolls

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a small bowl, mix the sugar and cinnamon together.

2. Unroll the crescent rolls and spread the butter evenly on each roll. Then sprinkle on the sugar and cinnamon mixture on each roll.

3. Roll up the crescent rolls, starting with the flat end rather than the pointed end.

4. Place the rolled-up crescent rolls into a 9 x 11-inch baking dish. Spread them out so they are not touching. Mix the cream and vanilla together and pour it around the cinnamon rolls. Do not pour it directly onto the rolls.

5. Bake for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown.

Directions for Frosting

1. In a small bowl, add the melted butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, cream, and salt. Stir until well mixed.

2. Spread frosting over the cooked cinnamon rolls.

Sweet Tips

https://www.thehouseofelynryn.com/2020/12/15/semihomemade-cinnamon-rolls/

For more great recipes, go to www.thehouseofelynryn.com

with Rynn Hennings

THE BARN

The Western-style home. The spacious Barn features three bedrooms and five baths.

THE FARMHOUSE

a classic mid-twentieth century home with three bedrooms and one bath. Come sit on the front porch or relax by the outdoor fire pit as part of the total Farmhouse experience

THE CABIN

The Cabin's cedar porches and massive beams offer a once in a lifetime rustic cabin experience. Inside is a loft, two bedrooms and one bath featuring a soaker tub with shower.

THE HOMESTEAD

Our newest property is now available for rental in 2023. The Homestead with its rustic but updated features and deep, wraparound porch is sure to be a favorite destination for our guests for years to come. Call and reserve your stay today!

NO TIME TO COOK?

If you need a quick, no-cook specialty to serve or share this holiday season, create a charcuterie board. Charcuterie, pronounced shahr-koo-tuh-ree, boards are the perfect way to display all of your favorite fruits, vegetables, cheeses, meats, nuts…and the list goes on. The more flavors, colors, textures, and shapes, the more interesting your board will be.

You can make breakfast boards, appetizer boards, kid friendly boards, dessert boards – the possibilities are endless. Did you enjoy meat and cheese Lunchables as a child? Charcuterie boards are a grown-up version of this school lunch favorite. Try a board meal at home or on the go by combining items from each food group. Not sure where to begin when creating a board for your next event? Follow these easy steps:

1. When will the board be served and to how many people?

2. Determine what kind of board you would like to make.

3. What is your budget?

4. What type of board, tray, or platter will you use as the base? It can be any shape and if you don’t have one large enough, combine two or three smaller ones.

5. Find a few small dishes or bowls to place on your board to hold items like dips, olives, or nuts.

6. Have small spoons, toothpicks, or tongs available to serve the items on your board.

7. Check out the sale ads and think about what is in season. – Clementine segments or slices sprinkled with cinnamon and baby carrots are inexpensive, colorful, yummy additions to a winter board.

8. Go shopping and see what options are available in your budget.

9. Fill bowls first and then arrange the meats, cheeses, fruits, bread, or crackers on the board in the remaining spaces. Use small items like berries or grapes to fill in the gaps.

10. Think about food safety. If the board will be out for more than 4 hours, use smaller amounts and replace ingredients as they are used with a fresh.

Looking for something to make your board stand out, try Rosemary Chili Walnuts.

ROSEMARY CHILI WALNUTS

Serves 8: serving size: ¼ cup

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• ½ pound (approximately 2 cups) walnuts

• 3 (3-inch) sprigs of fresh rosemary, leaves removed and chopped (use 1 tablespoon dried if you don’t have fresh)

• 1 teaspoon crushed chili flakes (use more or less depending on your desired level of heat)

• ½ teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Use a large skillet over medium heat. Heat the oil and add the walnuts. Stir to coat the walnuts.

2. Add the rosemary leaves, crushed chili flakes, and salt. Toss to coat the walnuts.

3. Cook over medium heat stirring almost constantly for 15 minutes. Do not allow the walnuts to get too brown.

Nutrition per ¼ cup serving: calories – 200; carbohydrates –17 grams; fiber – 4 grams; protein –4 grams; fat – 14 grams; sodium – 313 mg.

Vary the recipe by choosing a different type of nut or herb combination.

Tip: Make a large batch with your favorite nuts and herbs for a great grab-and-go snack throughout the week.

The Rosemary Chili Walnuts would also make good gifts.

MOUNT AIRY

MOUNT AIRY EVENTS

For more information, visit www.yadkinvalleync.com/mount-airy

SATURDAYS IN DECEMBER: WPAQ MERRY-GO-ROUND at the Historic Earle Theatre, 142 N Main St, Mt Airy. 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM; Admission $8 (includes admission to Andy Griffith Museum) or Surry Arts Council Annual Pass. Call 336.786.7998 for more details.

DECEMBER 1: HALF

MILE OF

CHRISTMAS CHEER 6:00 – 8:00 PM. The Mount Airy Appearance Commission is excited to present the 3rd annual Half-Mile of Christmas Cheer, Tree Lighting & Downtown Open House. Stroll through Downtown Mount Airy to hear the sounds of the holidays and rejoice in the spirit of Christmas! Various musical groups including the Grace Moravian band, VOCE, local dance teams and more! Follow the Mount Airy High School Band through downtown to the tree for the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.

DECEMBER 4: THE NUTCRACKER 3:30 PM at the Andy Griffith Playhouse, 218 Rockford Street, Mount Airy. The classic story of Clara, a young girl on the brink of womanhood, whose dreams are both childlike and tinged with romance, comes to life. Surry Arts Council dance students perform with professional dancers in selected scenes in this popular, one -of-a-kind production. Performed by New York Ballet for Young Audiences. Enjoy an afternoon with family and see this classic ballet in Mount Airy.

DECEMBER 10&11: ELF THE MUSICAL JR. Saturday, December 10 at 3:00 PM and Sunday, December 11 at 3:00 PM. Located at the Andy Griffith Playhouse, 218 Rockford Street, Mount Airy. Buddy, a young orphan, mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. The would-be elf is raised as an elf until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity. Buddy arrives, finds his Dad is on the naughty list, and is determined to win over his new family and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas.

DOBSON EVENTS

For more information on Dobson, NC, visit yadkinvalleync.com/dobson

DECEMBER 1: LUNCH & LEARN: HOLIDAY WREATHS MADE FROM YOUR GARDEN Join us for our holiday, online Lunch and Learn topic “Holiday Wreaths Made From Your Garden” on Thursday, December 1, from 12:00 noon to 1:00 PM. Participants will learn to use their own perennials and evergreens to create beautiful wreaths from start to finish! Surry County Center, 915 E Atkins St., Suite 300, Dobson

DECEMBER 3: TOWN OF DOBSON CHRISTMAS PARADE Begins at 2:00 PM at Surry Community College, then travels north along Main Street, Dobson.

DECEMBER 3: 2022 HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE AT SHELTON VINEYARDS 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM. 286 Cabernet Ln, Dobson. Join us at Shelton Vineyards for our holiday open house! There will be delicious snacks, beverages, holiday specials AND there may even be an appearance from the big man himself. Visit www. sheltonvineyards.com/shelton_events

DECEMBER 3: MUSIC ON THE TERRACE AT SHELTON VINEYARDS WITH CRAIG VAUGHN 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM. 286 Cabernet Ln, Dobson. Visit www.sheltonvineyards.com/shelton_events

DECEMBER 31: NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATION BY SHELTON VINEYARDS AT THE BARN AT HERITAGE FARM Dress to impress and celebrate New Year’s in style with Shelton Vineyards’ annual New Year’s Eve dance party. The celebration takes place across the road at The Barn at Heritage Farm, an upscale event venue. Shuttle services will be available for the entire evening from Hampton Inn & Suites Shelton Vineyards. For reservation information and/or to purchase your tickets, go to https://www.sheltonvineyards.com/event/2022-new-yearseve-celebration

ELKIN EVENTS For more area info, visit https://www.exploreelkin.com/events

ELKIN EVENTS

DECEMBER WEDNESDAYS: OPEN MIC NIGHT AT REEVES THEATER

Sign-up: 6:30 PM, Show: 7:00 PM.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FOR THE REEVES THEATER & CAFE 129 West Main Street, Elkin. Call (336) 258-8240 or visit https://www.reevestheater.com/ for more Information

• FRIDAY, DEC. 2: LIGHT UP NIGHT WITH THE ELKIN BIG BAND (SEE BELOW FOR MORE INFO)

• SATURDAY, DEC. 3: BROADWAY & DISNEY CABARET A benefit concert for the Reeves Downtown School of Music

• THURSDAY, DEC. 8: COUNTRY/ BLUES/BLUEGRASS JAM

• SATURDAY, DEC. 10: A WHITE CHRISTMAS WITH THE DRIFTERS REVUE

• FRIDAY, DEC. 16: THE MUSIC OF JOHN PRINE - WITH THE TREE OF FORGIVENESS BAND

• SATURDAY, DEC. 17: HOLIDAY MAGIC

• THURSDAY, DEC. 22: OLD-TIME JAM

DECEMBER 2: LIGHT UP NIGHT 6:30 PM. Elkin celebrates the start of the holiday season by lighting up Main Street. Downtown merchants line their storefront windows with the warm glow of twinkle lights. Music of the season is heard all around town. Downtown Elkin tree lighting ceremony and visits with Santa Claus. Merry Makers Market at the arts center is open from 6:30 – 9:30 PM that Friday, and noon to 6:00 PM on Saturday. Looping hayrides depart from the arts center and circle through downtown. Elkin Big Band performs at Reeves Theater at 7:00 PM. Local merchants have special offerings that night and throughout the weekend. For info, go to www.lightupelkin.com/

National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) is a national observance that highlights the importance of continuing influenza vaccination through the holiday season and beyond.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends an annual influenza vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older to reduce the risk of illness and hospitalization. Now is a great time to vaccinate – to protect your family, friends and yourself.

Medicare Part B covers one influenza vaccination and its administration each influenza season for Medicare beneficiaries. If medically necessary, Medicare may cover additional seasonal influenza vaccinations.

Ask a SHIIP Counselor for more information.

PILOT MOUNTAIN

PILOT MOUNTAIN EVENTS

Pilot Mountain Tourism, 124 West Main Street, Pilot Mountain For more area info, visit www.pilotmountainnc.org

DECEMBER 3: CHRISTMAS PARADE & TREE LIGHTING The Christmas Tree Lighting and Christmas Parade is held the 1st Saturday in December.

Christmas Tree Lighting: Special carols will be performed by NC Honors Chorus members and alumni. The Winners of the Downtown Window Decorating Contest will be announced. The Tree Lighting Ceremony will begin at 5:30 PM.

Immediately following the Tree Lighting Ceremony we invite you to stay and enjoy our 52nd Annual Christmas Parade where you can see dancing, horses, cheerleaders, marching band, traditional favorites like floats, tractors, cars, public safety vehicles and more! Parade occurs on Main Street between East Surry High School and Academy Street.

DECEMBER 15: LADIES NIGHT OUT 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM. Ladies Night Out will have downtown business open providing raffles, door prizes, free refreshments, crafts, entertainment, store discounts and more! This is to highlight our local existing businesses but outside vendors are allowed inside of the businesses if that business allows you to do so. The fun is geared toward women but children and men are allowed. Parking is free. The event is free. Support our local businesses and just have fun!

4:00

NEARBY EVENTS

DEC. (GALAX, VA): LIVE

MUSIC ON TUESDAY,

WEDNESDAY. FRIDAY & SATURDAYS AT CREEK BOTTOM BREWING Creek Bottom Brewing, 307 N Meadow Street, Galax, VA.

DEC. 2 – Morrison & Perkins (7-10 PM)

DEC. 3 – Shelton & Williams (7-10 PM)

DEC. 6 - Creek Bottom Boys (7-9 PM)

DEC. 7 – Jake Cox (7-9 PM)

DEC. 9 – Lance Baugus (7-10 PM)

DEC. 10 – Phillip Caudle (7-10 PM)

DEC. 13 – Delta Stream (7-9 PM)

DEC. 14 – Jake Cox (7-9 PM)

DEC. 16 – Fox & Vead (7-10 PM)

DEC. 17 – Vogan Thompson (7-10 PM)

DEC. 20 - Creek Bottom Boys (7-9 PM)

DEC. 21 – Jake Cox (7-9 PM)

DEC. 22 – Karaoke- DJ Steve ( 7-9 PM)

DEC. 23 – Chad Cox (7-10 PM)

DEC. 27 – Delta Stream (7-9 PM)

DEC. 28 – Jake Cox (7-9 PM)

DEC. 30 – Skyline Highway (7-10 PM)

DEC. 31 – Whistler (8-Midnight)

NOV. 24 - JAN. 1, 2023 (GALAX, VA): HIGH COUNTRY LIGHTS Begins at 6:00 PM nightly. High Country Lights is a musical light show featuring over two hundred thousand Christmas lights

to your favorite sounds of the season. Felts Park, Galax, VA. Admission is free. Make sure to check out our viewing tips before arriving to enhance your experience. Visit highcountrylights.com for more info.

DEC. 2 (GALAX, VA): CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING AND PARADE Begins at 6:30 PM, Main Street, Galax.

DEC. 9 (GALAX, VA): THE MALPASS BROTHERS AT THE REX THEATER 7:00 PM, 111 East Grayson Street, Galax. For tickets and more information, visit https://rex.theater/event/the-malpassbrothers/

DEC. 10 (GALAX, VA): OLD TIME APPALACHIAN CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL 4:00 – 8:00 PM, Main Street, Galax. An Old time Christmas Celebration with music, singing, square dance, baked goods, Brunswick stew, hot cider, fire pits, 1900's farming demonstrations, wagon rides, artisan vendors and good old fashioned fun!

DEC. 10 (GALAX, VA): KEN LUDWIG'S "TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS" AT THE REX THEATER 7:00 PM, 111 East Grayson Street, Galax. Meet Amos & Emily, A City Mouse and his best friend who are determined to find out why Santa skipped their house last year! With the help of a bossy elf, Calliope, they’ll turn the North Pole up-side down to find the truth and fix Christmas!

choreographed

Choose Well. Choose Northern.

Thanks to our leading technology and our extraordinary staff’s unwavering commitment to quality care and service excellence, Northern Regional Hospital is proud to be a leading hospital in the region.

Mount Airy, NC