Best of North Georgia Mountains Issue 19 by The Best of the North Georgia Mountains

I LOVE YOU!

BIGFOOT INVADES

CHERRY LOG!

Issue #19

IS THIS GETTING FUN OR WHAT???

Mitch (Not Bigfoot, though I do wear a size 12)

How many jobs can you go visit Bigfoot and make pottery - and claim that you’re working? Where else but the FunPaper - The Best of the North Georgia Mountains - can you actually go visit Bigfoot (or at least his museum) and chalk it up as a work-related expense? But that was the case for me and part of my family (my lovely wife Cindy, our wild and crazy 8-yearold son Jack, and his fun-loving Grandma Vivian, also known as G-Viv to our younger set) as we spent a Saturday first getting our stomachs filled at a great new restaurant (or at least just a year old) called Coach’s Cuts Hoagies in Jasper, painting some cool pottery at The Kiln in Blue Ridge, and then topping it off with a fun outing to the super-cool new museum in Cherry Log known as Bigfoot Expedition. We highly recommend all three of these adventures to our readers, and by the way, we appreciate every one of you out there! As I was putting papers in the racks around the different towns where we are distributed, I noticed people could barely Publisher wait for me to put them in before they were grabbing them. It happened again on a recent day when Jack was helping me on the delivery route. “I knew it!” he screamed as we pulled out. “What?” I asked, looking back to see if he still had both eyes and wasn’t bleeding. “I knew it! I could see it in that guy’s eyes. He wanted to get a paper, and as soon as we left, he grabbed one!” And they say print media is dying. Hogwash! Tell that to the thousands and thousands (did we say thousands? - let’s say it again) and thousands of you’ns out there (pardon my Southern coming out) who love the FunPaper. Oh, and a special thanks to the kind lady at Mary Ann’s Restaurant in Jasper who gave me some delicious blackberry cobbler one afternoon. I stopped by to check on our rack there, but they were already closed. Fortunately, a worker just happened to be stopping by and let me put some more papers out (thanks to all you hundreds and hundreds of folks who pick up the paper there, by the way). “Do you like blackberry cobbler?” she asked me. “Well, yes,” I answered. “You want this?” she said, pointing to a cup full she had dipped out for herself, but then decided she didn’t want it. Anyone who knows me knows I never met a dessert I didn’t want, so I promptly said, “Yes!” How lucky can one man get? I just happened to stop by Mary Ann’s at the right time to get inside to put papers in our rack - AND I get some out-of-this-world blackberry cobbler, even cold! I think I’ve died and gone to heaven! All I can say is thank God for the North Georgia Mountains and you’ns that live here!

By MITCH TALLEY

“You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep Spring from coming.” ― Pablo Neruda

The FunPaper takes a whirlwind trip to Jasper, then Blue Ridge, and back to Cherry Log - eating lunch at Coach’s Cuts Hoagies, painting pottery at the Kiln, and getting an up-close look at Bigfoot - all in just five hours!

All in a day’s ! work FUN “Spring is the time of plans and projects.” ― Leo Tolstoy

“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.” ― Margaret Atwood

ALL IN A DAY’S FUN! Stop #1 - Coach’s Cuts Hoagies, Jasper

FEED THE HUNGRY! In 2014, Todd Redman was working as a firefighter. Then came those Sunday sermons when his pastor asked the congregation if they were doing what God wanted them to do. A whole lot of praying and a lot more twists of divine intervention later, Redman opened Coach’s Cuts Hoagies in downtown Jasper - despite having no experience running a restaurant! A year into his sudden career change, Todd says he can already see God at work through the business.

Less than two years ago, Todd Redman was commuting from Jasper to his job as a firefighter with the Cobb County Fire Department. In his spare time, he coached sports for local youth teams that included his daughters. Then came those two back-toback sermons delivered in late 2014 by his pastor, who

otos h p d n a y r o t S ley by Mitch Tal

Todd Redman at his new job.

“It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart.” ― Rainer Maria Rilke

This sign on the front door greets customers at Coach’s Cuts Hoagies. Below right, Vivian Shugart gets some special sauce for her patty melt. Below left, one of the most popular sandwiches is the Dragon Steak, named after the Pickens County High School athletic teams. asked his congregation if they were doing what God really wanted them to be doing with their lives. “I prayed about it heavily for about three or four weeks,” Todd said. Those prayers – and a series of events he believes are divinely inspired - led to a serious leap of faith for Redman, who came to believe God has directed him to open a restaurant, despite the fact that he had no experience in that industry. Area residents can be thankful for Todd’s faithfulness as my wife Cindy, my son Jack, and Cindy’s mom Vivian Shugart enjoyed a great meal on a recent Saturday at his restaurant known as Coach’s Cuts Hoagies, located behind the historic jail in downtown Jasper at 140B Mark Whitfield St. How Redman came to be the proprietor of a sandwich shop is quite the inspiring tale, and we have a feeling his divinely inspired career change after 30 years as a firefighter is going to positively impact a lot of lives in this area. Following the two sermons by his pastor, Todd - unbeknownst to anyone else - did some serious praying that God would show him “Aprils have never meant much to me, autumns seem that season of beginning, spring.” ― Truman Capote

Todd Redman and daughters Kaitlin and Lauren help prepare an order. Inset, a sign over the order counter lets customers know that fresh, quality ingredients go into every sandwich.

what he needed to be doing with his life. “In November 2014, me and my wife Sherry were down at R&M Sandwich Shop in Canton, who has been in business for 44 years,” Todd says. “It’s lunchtime, busy, they had like 60 people in there, hustle and bustle, loud, and then it got dead quiet. I was sitting there with my wife in a booth waiting on our food to come out, and when it got quiet, I thought, honestly - I’ve had a hearing loss in my left ear from being in the fire service for so long - that maybe I just lost my hearing totally. All of a sudden, I heard, ‘Do this.’ Well, then all the sound came back, and I thought there’s no way! I didn’t say a word to my wife. There’s no way He just told me do this.” For two or three days, that odd message ate at Todd. “I’m like, is that really what He intended me to do because I’m thinking there’s no way. I got no background, no experience, nothing. I loved working at the fire station.”

About two weeks later, his family left after a church service and they rode through town, Todd looking for an empty building, still keeping his thoughts to himself. “I found two or three spots, but none of them were set up to be a restaurant,” Todd said. “It would cost so much to get the buildings ready, so I just sort of forgot about it. It still ate at me … ate at me. I went into Moore Furniture one day just to look around, visit, still hadn’t said a word to anybody, not a soul about what I was thinking about.” Then David Gibson, one of the employees at the store, came up to Todd and said, “Man, you know what you need to do?” “What?” “The old Jasper Café, that building is empty – you need to go and open up a restaurant.” “Why in the world would you say that, David? I’m a fireman.” “I know, but man, I’ve had your cooking, and you need to

“If winter comes, can spring be far behind?” ― Percy Bysshe Shelley

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I enjoy the spring more than the autumn now. One does, I think, as one gets older.â&#x20AC;? - Virginia Woolf

From left, Todd’s daughters Kaitlin, Megan, Lauren and Macey lend a helping hand at the restaurant, which is behind the historic jail in downtown Jasper and is decorated with a sports theme paying homage to the Dragons.

open up a restaurant.” That conversation prompted Todd to drive past the old Jasper Café, which had been closed for about a year. Gibson said he thought a local realty company was trying to lease the building, so Todd called them. “They said, we don’t have nothing to do with that building now. Let us give you the guy’s name that owns it. They came back, said we’re just gonna give you his phone number. I said, what’s his name? But she had hung up already. I’m like, well, I guess I’m gonna cold call this guy.” When he punched the number in his phone, it was already entered as one of his contacts. “It was Ronnie Ray,” Todd said. “He’s the one we lease the building for our church from. I thought, there ain’t no way! So I called him and said you’re gonna think I’m crazy, but could I meet you at the old Jasper Café building and us talk about it. He goes, you looking to open up a restaurant? No, but let me just talk to you.” Once there, Todd told Ronnie the story about God leading him to open a restaurant. “I ain’t saying this is what it is, but I’m just checking,” Todd explained to Ronnie. “So when we got to talking about the lease, how much it would be, and all that, he was way lower than I had

budgeted in my mind set, and then he said he would waive the deposit if I just cleaned the place up.” Todd then sat down and talked to his wife about the restaurant. “I was a lieutenant/paramedic in Cobb; I had a great income, great benefits. I mean, I was happy, I’ll be honest. I don’t dislike the fire service, I love the fire department, so I prayed about it some more,” he said. His wife admitted that they didn’t have the money to do it, but told Todd, if God’s leading you, we’ll see where it leads.

“I suppose the best kind of spring morning is the best weather God has to offer.” ― Dodie Smith

Next up, he talked to his parents, “I told my dad, look, listen me out before you shoot me down, but I expect you to shoot me down when I tell you this. I told him about the sermon, about the prayers, told him everything that had happened up to this point. He said, son, everything I’ve seen you set out to do, you’ve succeeded. Knowing God’s behind it, I’m for it. If that’s what you want to do, do it!” Then came a visit to his fire chief “because I thought if anybody’s gonna talk me out of this nonsense, it’d be my chief because he respects me. I said, Chief, I want you to do me a favor. Whenever I tell you this story, when I get done, I want you to tell me, Todd, you’re crazy, no, and I’ll listen to you. I respect you.” That’s not how it turned out, though. “When I got done telling him the story, he said, bro, as much as I’d love to, I can’t do that. The reason is that about 10 years ago, I had the same type thing hit me and I chose to stay. I didn’t go out of my comfort zone, and I really hope when I get to the Pearly Gates that God doesn’t look at me and go, ‘I told you something I wanted you to do and you didn’t do it.’ But I’m gonna have to tell him, ‘Look, but I was a fire chief. Isn’t that enough?’ The chief said, I’m not gonna tell you not to do what you feel God led you to do. I can’t. I want you to go with that, follow that, and if it’s meant to be, fine. If not, we’ll bring you back here and we’ll put you somewhere else. I’m not gonna sit here and talk you out of something that’s been moved by Him because then I’m gonna have two strikes against me. “I said, that’s not what I expected you to say, Chief. He goes, I understand but when you came in here, your story, it’d be fabulous for you to spread that to anyone that’ll listen, and then to know that you’re actually being obedient and do that, no, I’m not gonna talk you out of it.” More prayers followed, and one day as Todd was on his

way home from the fire station, he was on the phone with his wife and told her “if I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that this was just me, that this wasn’t God leading me, I’d never even think about it because I’d never put my family in jeopardy. I told her, if only I had a true sign, a sign that I knew this was for real, and it was not me - natural man - doing it. She goes, well honey, just pray about it; we’ll keep praying about it. And I got real quiet. She says, are you there? Yeah, I’m here. I said, you wouldn’t believe me if I told you. On the sign to get off on Exit 4, at that time, Highway 92, there was about a three-foot wide by two-foot high white sign in red letters that says, ‘Jesus loves you.’ I said, I just got my sign! That evening, Sherry was on her way home on the same road from her job in Kennesaw and told me the sign wasn’t there. No, honey, that sign was there – I’m telling you right now. That sign was 100 percent where I passed – it was there. I really know what I need to do.” Convinced now that God was behind the opening of his res-

taurant, Todd began serious preparations that led to the opening of Coach’s Cuts Hoagies on Feb. 23, 2015. While there have been days when he wasn’t so sure about God’s message, Todd says his customers have always come through for him to lift him up at his lowest moments. “I’ve had so many customers come through that door on days that I truly felt like I obviously was mistaken on what He was telling me to do,” he said. “When I’m in the lowest of lows like that, and I truly get that doubt in my head, there will be someone come through the door and we’ll be slow and I’ll go talk to them and they’ll ask about the scripture on the door and they’ll tell me some story or testimony and tell me to keep my head high, chin held high. I’m talking about it’s every time!” Once you read the scripture on the front door – “Isaiah 58:10: Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon” and then hear the Christian music playing in the background – you’ll realize this is not your ordinary restaurant. “We had a lady come in one day who was going to get her food to go,” Todd said. “She heard the music, though, and sat in here. She said it just felt calming. She went and got her Bible and started reading it while she was waiting on her lunch. I’m like, that’s exactly why we’re here. That was the whole concept behind do-

ing the shop. It wasn’t the fact that I wanted to get out of the fire service. The realization behind it is it may not necessarily be He wanted me to have a restaurant, it may be for whatever reason to go through the restaurant and move to something else eventually.” God cleanses the soul, and Todd and his crew – which includes his wife and daughters on weekends – cleanse the restaurant. In fact, as we were waiting for our food to be prepared, my motherin-law commented about how clean the restaurant is. She’s not the only one who’s noticed. Todd says he has a lot of customers come in and say they’re the cleanest restaurant they’ve seen. Even a Coca-Cola service rep who came to work on the soft drink machine one day was impressed, saying he was in restaurants all day long and he had never seen such a clean eatery. As they say, cleanliness is next to Godliness, and it’s a trait that Todd takes great pride in. When he opened the restaurant, he was determined to make it a place God would be proud of, and that means using only the best ingredients in his sandwiches, including cutting all their fresh vegetables like tomatoes, onions, bell pepper, and garlic. He also uses high quality meats, including 100 percent Angus beef that’s DNA traceable back to the cow it came from and 100 percent chicken breast with no fillers anywhere.

“People were always the limiters of happiness except for the very few that were as good as spring itself.” ― Ernest Hemingway

“Everything is what I personally would want to eat – and I do eat lunch here every day – and I’m not gonna eat something sub-par, so that’s sort of the mindset I had when I opened the restaurant is that I didn’t want it to be a fly-by-night. I didn’t want it to be that you could have the same sandwich at home. I wanted it to be something people would come in and be like, wow, that was good!” Based on my family’s selections, his mission has been accomplished. My 8-year-old had a delicious cheeseburger, my wife had a Sea Dragon Hoagie (shrimp and steak), my mother-in-law had a patty melt, and I had the legendary Dragon Steak (steak and chicken). We all agreed that the sandwiches were among the best we’ve ever had, much better than the chain shops offer, and I especially liked the bread being hot on mine. Todd brought us out a bowl full of his special dessert offering, Fried Apples, which is a cinnamon-battered Granny Smith apple, fried crisp, eight to a serving, with a caramel dipping sauce. I’ve always loved apples (how I miss my Aunt Jewel’s unique apple tree in Hinton), but these Fried Apples are a cut above anything I’ve had. As Todd says, “I really think when people start finding the Fried

Apples, they’re gonna love getting them because they’re really good. It’s a different concept – it’s not overpowering for sweetness. The caramel dipping sauce is really what makes it sweet, so if you don’t want that, you can have it without. But to me, the caramel dipping sauce is what makes it so good.” Cindy, Jack, and I all had the fries, and they were very good. Vivian had the onion rings, and we swiped a couple from her plate and found them to be quite tasty, too. Todd says customers love their tater tots, too, as well as their premium sides like cheese bites, corn fritters, and fried pickles. We’re eager to come back and try some of the other sandwiches. We especially like the way Coach’s Cuts mixes the meats, like the Pepperoni and Roast Beef, Roast Beef and Turkey, Steak and Ham, Steak and Turkey, and others. All in all, we came away impressed with the quality of the food, the good size portions, the cleanliness of the restaurant, and the Christian music playing in the background. We also noticed the way they really appreciate their customers and in fact they use your name, not a number, to identify your order. By the way, each order is prepared AFTER you tell them what you want, none of that food sitting in a drawer waiting for you to come in. That means it takes a few minutes to get your food, but

“April hath put a spirit of youth in everything. (Sonnet XCVIII)” ― William Shakespeare, Shakespeare’s Sonnets

believe us, it’s well worth a little extra time. Todd says with a laugh that God never told him it would be easy running the restaurant, “obviously, because if it was easy, everybody would do it. But you know I’ve made it a year, and here we are. I tell people all the time He wanted me to learn two things from this – poverty and hard work because I’ll tell you now, firefighting is a tough job, I love every minute of it, but this is so much behind the scenes – people have no clue. People see the hours – 10 to 2:30 and they’re like, hey, you’ve got banker’s hours, that’s great. Oh no, oh no, I’m in here every morning at 7:30, 8 o’clock prepping.” His happy customers appreciate the extra effort, for sure.

Todd’s parents, Robert and Dorothy Redman, are frequent customers.

How they came up with the name... With four daughters, Todd Redman has been coaching girls sports like softball and basketball for the past 13 years, which actually led to the name of his yearold restaurant in Jasper, Coach’s Cuts Hoagies. Currently, he’s coaching for North Georgia Nitro, a travel soft pitch organization with three different age groups. Todd and his 17-year-old daughter Kaitlin were riding down the road one day before the restaurant opened, trying to figure out a good name for the new business. “I’d had a tryout for my softball team that day, and I told Kaitlin the hardest part about being a coach is having to make the cut,” he said. “I said, the coach’s cuts is what hurts. She looked at me and goes, Dad, it’s a hoagie shop, right? Yeah. There’s your name! There’s my name? Yeah, Coach’s Cuts – the cuts for the sandwiches but also the cuts in what you have to do as a coach. It

fit. I told her that was 100 percent honest.” He jokes that he does have a few customers who mistake the shop for a barber shop. “No, he’s next door,” Todd says with a laugh. “If you’re looking for a good haircut, he’s next door.” While Todd does like to win, just like every coach, he says his ultimate goal is to build the players into better people. “It allows them to understand success and failure,” he said. “It teaches them life lessons. Before every tournament, we pray. After every game, we invite the opposing team to pray at the pitcher’s mound. I tell our parents the girls don’t have to participate in the prayers, but I’ve never had one not. We’ve had other teams come around the backstop and shake my hand and say, hey, what you’re doing with these girls is far more important than what they’ll ever see on a softball field.”

“The deep roots never doubt spring will come.” ― Marty Rubin

ALL IN A DAY’S FUN! Stop #2 - The Kiln, Blue Ridge

SLOWING DOWN If your family is like ours, there’s no time to just sit down and talk to one another. But you can solve that problem the way we did - with a visit to the Kiln in Blue Ridge, where families can enjoy painting pottery and seeing just how much artistic talent everyone does have, even if they didn’t think so before.

Nowadays it seems as though we’re always on the go. If your family is like our family of six (plus six dogs, three cats, and a rabbit), there seems to be something on the agenda virtually every minute of the day, seven days a week. Between jobs, school, extracurricular activities, and more, life can get a little hectic around our household, to say the least. That’s why it was good to slow down a little bit on a recent Saturday afternoon when some of us visited the Kiln in Blue Ridge. If you haven’t heard about the new business that opened up in the Hampton Square building last September, you’re missing a treat. The same owners of the highly successful Fightingtown Tavern also in downtown Blue Ridge decided it was time to offer residents and tourists alike something new - a chance to paint some very beautiful pottery. Rhonda and Jim Carruthers had been wanting to open

os Story and phot by Mitch Talley

Eight-yearold Jack had a tough time picking out what he wanted to paint, but then he spotted this pickup truck piggy bank.

the Kiln for a while but couldn’t find the right location downtown – that is, until a spot came open in the Hampton Square building that also houses Blue Jeans Pizza, among other businesses. “We had actually talked about the pottery idea for a year and a half,” Rhonda explained. “When our kids were younger, painting pottery was something fun we did together because there were three or four studios in Atlanta. It was a perfect time for us to sit down with them for two or three hours and actually talk, without a TV or other things going on and actually spend time with them.” While I took photos, my wife Cindy, our 8-year-old son Jack, and Cindy’s mom Vivian Shugart recentlyl enjoyed a fun afternoon at the Kiln. And fun it was. And relaxing, too. “We had a good time,” Cindy said. “It was very stress relieving.” And running a 100-bed nursing home in Calhoun on top of raising a family (including a husband) means she has a whole lot of stress in her life. At the Kiln, though, she set all that aside for about an

My wife Cindy honored our family history that began in 1989.

“That is one good thing about this world...there are always sure to be more springs.” ― L.M. Montgomery

hour as she sketched out a beautiful platter that celebrated the joining of the Talley and Parker families on July 15, 1989 that has resulted in five wonderful children. Jack is into sports, cars, and trucks, so he naturally gravitated to a pickup truck that doubles as a piggybank. Vivian, who works at the Calhoun-Gordon County Library, enjoys drinking a good cup of coffee before heading to her job, so she decorated a coffee mug. “When I was a kid, Mama took us to Dalton to make pottery,” Cindy

“I love the smell of rain and growing things.” ― Serina Hernandez

remembered. “The Kiln reminded me of being a little kid again.” Vivian recalled all the items she made back then, including praying hands, family dishes, candy dishes, and vases. Apparently, they made quite a few trips to Dalton back in the day! Jack seems to have inherited his mom’s artistic abilities and did a great job with his pickup. “It was fun,” he said. “I want to come back again.” In case you’re worried about your own artistic abilities, don’t be! The helpful staff at the Kiln pointed us in the right direction and made it very easy for us. First, you just have to pick out which item you want to paint. With more than 70 items – ranging from pet bowls in several sizes, picture frames, piggybanks, platters, mixing bowls, lots of different mugs, plates, bowls, water pitchers, soap dishes, toothbrush hold-

“Don’t forget to enjoy the winter, but never give up hopes for the spring.” ― Debasish Mridha

ers, tissue box covers, and all kinds of decorative stuff – making your decision might be the hardest part of your visit. You can freestyle your decorations like Cindy or pick out stencils that give you a helping hand. By the way, the price of each item (marked on the shelves below them) includes everything to make your finished work of art, including 24 regular colors of paint and firing in the kiln. For a small extra charge, you can also choose from another two dozen specialty paints, some of which are sparkly and produce special effects when they go into the

“Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!’ ” - Robin Williams

â&#x20AC;&#x153;No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turnâ&#x20AC;?. - Hal Borland

kiln. If you live out of town, you can pay a small shipping charge and have your finished item delivered right to your home. After you have finished painting your item, the Kiln lets the paint dry for 24 hours before dipping it into a clear glaze. That dries another 24 hours, and it’s dipped into the glaze again. After 24 more hours of drying, the item is ready to be fired in the Kiln. “Ordinarily it takes about a week to get your finished product,” Rhonda explained. “Very recently we bought a second kiln but haven’t fired it up yet because we haven’t needed to. But come busy season, we will. We’re going to make sure we can keep delivery time to about a week or less.” The Kiln has just expanded its hours, open Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Monday, Thursday, and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. They’re closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Rhonda says word is starting to spread, and she welcomes anyone who’s interested in a nice, relaxing family activity to stop by. When we were there, there was another couple with two young kids just finishing up their items. The room was well lit by the large windows on three sides, and there’s plenty of room on the tables to spread out and create your own masterpiece. Rhonda wants to emphasize that customers do not make the actual pottery while at the Kiln – they just paint the items that have already been produced. That makes it a fast, fun activity that you can devote as much time as you want to – anywhere from an hour to four hours or more. “It’s very casual and unintimidating,” she stressed. “I want people to understand that it’s a relaxing, fun experience and not be intimidated by it. Just come and have some fun at the Kiln!” Our family certainly enjoyed our visit, and we were excited to see how great the items turned out when I stopped by a few days later to pick them up! I have three great artists in my family, for sure. “No man can taste the fruits of autumn while he is delighting his scent with the flowers of spring.” - Samuel Johnson

ALL IN A DAY’S FUN! Stop #3 - Expedition Bigfoot, Cherry Log

BIGFOOT COMES TO LIFE! Everyone, it seems, loves Sasquatch, or at least the idea of trying to decipher whether Bigfoot is truly a mysterious beast or simply a myth. To help people in that task, a new museum filled with ever-growing exhibits opened last month in the unlikely town of Cherry Log, becoming only the second such museum in the United States. Expedition Bigfoot founder David Bakara says he has no doubt that the Big Fellow exists. Who are we to argue?

“In the spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours.” - Mark Twain

IS HE FOR REAL?

David Bakara sits at a table in his favorite exhibit at his new Expedition Bigfoot museum in Cherry Log. It’s a recreation of the famous Ape Canyon incident.

The Bigfoot mystery has fascinated David Bakara for years. Now he’s sharing that interest with the public at Expedition Bigfoot, only the second museum in the U.S. devoted to the legendary creature.

When David Bakara was about 12 years old, he and his little brother went to see “The Legend of Boggy Creek” at the theater. “It said it was based on a true story,” David recalled recently. “We were shocked to think that this thing was real. Ever since then, we’ve been hooked.” “This thing,” in case you aren’t familiar with the movie, is a 7-foot-tall creature known as the Fouke Monster, similar to Bigfoot, that has been spotted by residents around Fouke, Arkansas since the 1950s. Thus began a lifelong obsession with all things Bigfoot for David, an obsession that recently led to the opening of a unique attraction in Cherry Log called Expedition Bigfoot, about a mile north of Mile Mark-

os Story and phot by Mitch Talley

“Spring being a tough act to follow, God created June.” - Al Bernstein

er 20 on Highway 515. During a recent all-day outing to the mountains, my wife Cindy, 8-year-old son Jack, and Cindy’s mom Vivian Shugart stopped by Expedition Bigfoot to see what all the ruckus was about. The parking lot was pretty full for a dreary Saturday afternoon, and we soon found out why. Folks of all ages, from young kids like Jack to senior citizens, were milling through the facility, which uses a mixture of visual graphics and looping videos to give an in-depth look at the huge creature that has been spotted in every American state except Hawaii and in numerous other countries around the world. David and his wife Malinda decided to open the museum because they felt like there were not enough family attractions in the Blue Ridge/Ellijay area. “It was just so evident that this place was begging for some kind of family attraction so we just put our brains together and decided you know what, why don’t we just mix our passions with what this place needs,” David explained, “and thus Expedition Bigfoot was born!” While the monster is known by different names in different parts of the world, including Bigfoot, Sasquatch, and countless others, there is one similarity – huge feet.

You g o first, Jack!

“The way to make coaches think you’re in shape in the spring is to get a tan.” - Whitey Ford

Jack Talley and his grandmother, Vivian Shugart, prepare to enter Expedition Bigfoot.

How many places can you compare the size of your hand to Bigfoot’s?

And when we say huge, we do mean huge. Visitors get to see plaster casts of unexplainable footprints that are 2 feet long by about 8 inches wide, about twice the size of a normal adult male’s foot. It’s not a far stretch to think that Bigfoot made them. David has been collecting Bigfoot items for more than 20 years and used them as the catalyst for the museum, along with other items donated by various people and a few things purchased from Jeff Meldrum, professor of anthropology at the University of Idaho. You can spend as much or as little time as you want in the museum, but if you watch all the looping videos and read the information, it can take you a while to get through it all. David says he is most proud of the Ape Canyon exhibit, a life-size depiction of events that happened in 1924 when a group of miners said they were

“Spring is God’s way of saying, ‘One more time!’ ” - Robert Orben

terrorized by a group of apemen who “spent all night throwing rocks on the roof of their cabin, smashing on the door, and one of them even tried to reach through the door,” David said. While some folks obviously are skeptical of Bigfoot, the new museum offers up enough evidence to give some credence to the existence of the famous creature. As my wife Cindy so wisely said on the way home, “It does make one wonder.” We just cut to the chase and asked David, “Is Bigfoot out there?” “Oh yeah, he’s out there,” David said without hesitation. “Just every day somebody comes in here and tells me a Bigfoot story, most of them right here in Georgia. We’ve had locals come right here from Ellijay and Cherry Log and tell us their encounters with Bigfoot right up in Cherry Log – so they’re out there! They’re not here all the time, I don’t think. They just migrate through certain times of the year, following the availability of food.” In fact, one of the interesting graphics on display is a map of Georgia and Florida, with pushpins showing where sightings of Bigfoot have been reported. They seem to be all around us. I asked David why he thought a Bigfoot has never been captured. “I think it would be hard to capture these things because they’re so fast, so smart, so strong,” he said. “The chances of actually catching one are practically non-existent. I know a few have been

“Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them.” ― Henry David Thoreau

shot, and some people I’ve heard when they came up close to it realized it was so human-llike that they decided they weren’t going to tell anybody.” David also says that there have been plenty of large bones found through the years. “Once you take all the hair and flesh off Bigfoot,” he explained, “what you end up with is the skeleton of a giant. If you ever Google giant skeletons, you’ll see that hundreds have been unearthed and some were displayed but most ended up in museums, most of the time in the Smithsonian. The ones that went to regular museums were eventually swallowed up by the Smithsonian; they’ve got them all squirreled away in some vault at the Smithsonian, and they’ll deny ever having them for reasons unknown.” David invites the public to come out and see what all the commotion is about.

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“I think the beauty of this museum is everything is laid out so it’s totally self-guided,” David said. “Even if you don’t believe in Sasquatch, everything in here is genuine so you can’t walk through here and not scratch your head at the end. Even if you’re the most avid skeptic, you’ll think to yourself, goodness, maybe there is something to this.” David and his wife have been avid museum-goers for years, so when it came time to design their own museum, they picked and chose the best parts from the others. “It’s entertaining,” he said. “It’s not a boring static museum. We have six televisions that constantly loop information, real videos of witness interviews always looping, a 17-minute documentary that’s looping. It’s not the old days where you just came in and there’s a big board you have to read. Everything’s electronic and comes to you over the television screens – it’s just so much easier to consume and comprehend the information that way.” David got out of the trucking and bartending business to start the museum, and he’s enjoying the transition. “Yes sir, this is way more fun,” he said of Bigfoot Expedition. “It’s so enjoyable. You meet so many people. Right now, I’ve got a researcher in here that’s visiting us, and we’ve had several other researchers. Just about any day of the week, especially on the weekends, we’ve got other researchers here that just love to talk to the public and answer questions. You can ask me and Malinda

“Before I pitch any game, from spring training to Game 7 of the World Series, I’m scared to death.” - Curt Schilling

or any of the researchers questions; we’ll be happy to answer to the best of our knowledge.” David and Malinda have made “many, many, many” expeditions to Florida and Georgia, searching for evidence of Bigfoot. He says they’ve even checked out a report from Chatsworth where a police officer who was off duty hunting says he saw a Sasquatch and actually caught a hair sample that is on display at the museum. David says the response from visitors since the museum opened on Feb. 4 has been overwhelmingly positive. “A lot of people are so glad to have something with their family, and I think they’re pleasantly surprised that something dedicated to a supposed mythological animal is so well done and professionally done. It kinda helps them because it’s not a real hokey place. Malinda and I have been to so many museums that we took mental notes of things that we liked and things we didn’t like and designed our museum with only the things that we really enjoyed.” They spent about a year constructing the exhibits and then three more months getting the museum ready to open once they found the building. The work will never be done, though, he says, noting that he just added two more videos to the witness testimony and he is working on another exhibit of Bigfoot howls with another bank of headphones. Just wait till this fall, however. That’s when he plans to open a new addition to the museum known as the Bigfoot Experience. We pressed for more details, but he declined. “We’ll leave it at this because we love the element of surprise,” he said, “but you’ll get to experience what it’s like to be in the forest and have a Bigfoot descend upon your campsite.” You get all this excitement for what we consider a very reasonable fee - $8 for adults, $6 for kids ages 5-12, and free for children 4 and under and active military. David encourages anyone reading this who has a good Bigfoot story, either personally or through their family, to stop by and share them. “Anybody’s that got a Sasquatch story, they don’t have to be afraid to come in here,” he said. “They can tell us because they’re in the same company. Nobody’s gonna laugh in here.” As for my own family, Cindy, as stated earlier, says the evidence presented in the museum “does make one think, and the Bigfoot butt print in the sand was interesting!” As for Jack, we asked him if he thought Bigfoot was real. “Yes, of course,” he replied, as if I was asking a stupid question. Grandma Vivian says she’s not sure, “but I’m thinking he’s real.” “I think he’s real,” Jack added, “because he’s got a big ol’ fat butt!” “He’s been seen a lot not to be real,” Cindy piped in. “Who’s to say there’s not some big huge gorilla thing, you know? You never know. He may just not like to be around people!”

B.E.S.T.

Bringing Ellijay Sensational Talent

Saturday, April 23 - 7:30 pm

BARRAGE 8 “Too Wow for Words” The Denver Post, “Irresistible energy,” “This is not your father’s recital hall experience.”

Saturday, April 30 - 7 pm

Gilmer Arts Community Chorus

Selections from Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Grease, The Music Man

Hey, Mr. Black Bear! I’m a bit overzealous about spring. I mean, what’s not to like? Daffodils in blooms of white and yellow begin to dot the landscape. The tiny buds emerging on the outer reaches of limbs will soon transform the dull greys and browns of winter into a canopy of lush, vibrant greens. The sky becomes a rich shade of blue, and the sun’s warmth – often hidden by overcast skies and overwhelmed by the frigid temperatures and howling winds of winter - can once again be felt on the skin. For me, at any semblance of spring being sprung, my thoughts move to outside activities: hiking, cycling, fishing, kayaking, camping – anything that places me outside in the warm and sunny weather of spring. It’s Friday, March 5, temperatures hover in the mid60s, and there’s not a single cloud to be seen. I’m at work, staring out my office window at the spring awesomeness I’m missing. Because, clearly, today is the most awesome day of spring.

That sure does look like some good honey! 32

“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” ― Dr. Seuss

That is, of course, until the next most awesome day comes and then the most awesome day that will follow that one. In short, all are awesome and – in my mind, none can be missed or I have somehow failed in my goal to live life to the fullest. Now, of note, spring for me begins on March 1. Also of note, I’m a bit of a daydreamer, easily distracted and a willing and eager follower of any and all “shiny objects” that pass before me. That, coupled with a heavy dose of spring fever and the gift of bright sunshine on an early March afternoon, and I’m hopelessly worthless sitting in a drab, climate-controlled office in front of a computer screen. As voicemails pile up and my e-mail inbox counter continues to tick upward, my thoughts are of tomorrow. What do I do with my first Saturday of spring? This, the spring of my seasonal calendar and not the silly “official” first day of spring noted on some other paper calendar – like the “Epic Pictures of Mountains” calendar hanging on the wall of my drab, climate-controlled office, for example. My brain is bouncing around the possibilities for my Saturday; camping somewhere along the Upper Conasauga River and catching a few trout between catnaps, or maybe mountain biking

the Pinhoti, possibly kayaking the Cartacay River, or perhaps hiking Emery Creek Trail from the upper trailhead near Grassy Mountain down to Emery Creek Falls and back. My mind is so engulfed in spring-filled daydreaming that basic self-awareness of my general surroundings has been lost. My “I Love The Mountains” water cup has flooded the desktop with condensation run-off and is threatening to short circuit all things electrical, the printer is beeping the out-of-paper alarm from something I’d tried to print and long since forgotten why and, quite possibly, I’m drooling. “The Pinhoti it is!!!” I exclaim – loudly and oh so inappropriately for a normal office setting. “Brian, Brian.” From somewhere deep within my daydream, I hear my name. Me, being so transfixed on pedaling the Pinhoti, I weave this into my mountain biking dream as I pedal past a jovial black bear, waving and eating honey from a jar. The black bear, as if trying to get my attention, says again, “Brian. Brian?” before reaching into the jar for another heaping paw-full of honey. “Hey, Mr. Black Bear.” I say as I wave in return and continue down the trail. “That sure does look like some good honey.”

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” ― Mae West

“Brian!” - this time much louder and. from deep within my daydream - I realize my name is being called from that real-life place in that climate-controlled office with computers, a condensationflooded desk, a beeping printer and other scattered papers and things. “You OK?” says from a co-worker standing in my doorway and not a jovial black bear eating honey from a jar. I wipe away drool and say a silent prayer that “Hey, Mr. Black Bear” was said from deep within dreamland and not a single word of “That sure does look like some good honey” was ever muttered aloud. Trying to gather my composure and totally embarrassed, I sheepishly respond, “Uh, yeah. I’m fine. Nothing to see here, just working away like normal.” The co-worker again, “Ok, just checking. That puddle of drool on the keyboard kind of made me worry.” As my co-worker heads back down the hall and I begin digging in my desk drawer for napkins to wipe up any drool evidence of spring-themed daydreaming, I hear “… and I’m not even going to ask about the black bear and honey comments.” It’s now Saturday, March 6. This was to be the day of spring awesomeness. I wake early having barely slept the night before - very similar to a kid on Christmas Eve, too excited to sleep and full of anticipation of what Santa is to bring on Christmas morning. But, on this Saturday, my gift was to be from Mother Nature and she was to wrap the wonderful town of Ellijay and its surrounding mountains in a sky of rich, deep ocean blue and place a warm and welcoming sun on top for the bow. Birds would be chirping, flowers in bloom and, who knows, I may even see a black bear eating honey from a jar. The day was to be awesome. I stumble out of bed and head towards the front door. Eyes closed in anticipation of awesomeness and arms out to my side

as though I’m about to take flight as I give myself mind, body and soul to this beautiful spring day to be blessed upon this Saturday. Taking a deep breath, I slowly open the door. Something was amiss. There were no chirping birds but, rather, a fierce howling wind and the bright sun that was to warm my face was neither bright nor warm. In fact, there was no sun at all. But, instead, water – raindrops to be precise, stinging my face like tiny needles. I open my eyes and, before me, was winter once again - the entire seasonal cycle either completing during the night, or spring – the spring of my seasonal calendar, having been reversed to pre-Friday awfulness. The awesome day that was to be was not awesome at all. Dark, cold and winter reincarnated was to be this Saturday. Mother Nature proving once again just how frustratingly finicky and wildly unpredictable she’s capable of being. As my arms drop by my side and despair takes hold, the screen door smashes against my face as it’s slammed shut by the thrashing winter winds – a painful yet definitive exclamation point that winter was not yet ready to give way to spring. I slowly back inside and close the front door. Standing still and stoic, the floor wet from blowing rain and scattered with leaves, I sigh. spring would not be sprung today. There would be no partaking of spring awesomeness, and there certainly wouldn’t be any bears happily eating honey from a jar. Confined, again, to a climate-controlled world and forced to daydream of the warm, welcoming weather that will eventually come, I crawl back in bed. Drifting off to sleep, I think that certainly Sunday will be awesome and maybe I’ll go hiking, or mountain biking, or kayaking, or, “zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz”…..

“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.” - Oscar Wilde

An interview with...

EMISUNSHINE Lora: What advice would you give to beginners who are nervous? Emi: Keep playing the music you love and don’t let people and management companies change you, saying to be like everyone else.

I had the pleasure of meeting an extremely talented 11-year-old little lady by the name of EmiSunshine one evening at the Crimson Moon in Dahlonega. I spent about an hour in the green room with Emi and her family. She is a breath of fresh air and knows exactly what she wants. Emi is dedicated to being true to herself and her beliefs through her music. She has stood strong against adults who have tried to change her music and image in the music business, insisting that authenticity was the only way there was for her and her music. It was truly remarkable to hear her speak about her music with the courage not many adults would have to stand up for themselves and their style of music the way she does. Lora: How old were you when you started singing and writing? Emi: I was 4 when I started singing professionally, but I started singing with mom as a baby. The first serious song I wrote I was 5 and it was “My Time to Fly.” Lora: Which instruments do you play? Emi: I play the ukulele and guitar, and I am working on learning the

By LORA BUNCH

“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” ― Allen Saunders

mandolin and fiddle. Lora: What was the first tune(s) you learned? Emi: The first song I remember singing was “You Are My Sunshine.” Lora: Is your family musical? Emi: Yes, most all of them like Uncle Bobby plays the drums, dad Randall plays bass, brother John plays mandolin, and Cousin Robbie plays the guitar. Lora: Which famous musicians have you worked with if any? Emi: Tanya Tucker, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Jamie Johnson, Amy Grant, Billy Miller, Jim Lauderdale, Marty Stuart and many more. Lora: Do you get nervous before a performance or a competition? Emi: I used to get nervous when I did shows at the Ryman Auditorium. Lora: How often and for how long do you practice? Emi: If we have a lot of shows we practice before shows, but if we are home we will get

“Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.” ― Mark Twain

together and have practice sessions. Lora: Where would you like to perform one day? Emi: Red Rocks, Colorado Amphitheater Lora: Are there any new members coming to your band soon? Emi: Jeremy Pinell, who plays the guitar, is joining the band this summer. Lora: Who is your biggest musical inspiration? Emi: Loretta Lynn Lora: What is the funniest thing that has happened that a fan did? Emi: Well tonight I got a phone call from Papaw and a guy had waited for us to leave and then had put a pig in my bus. So now I own four pigs. My fans know that I love pigs and have pet pigs. Lora: What awards have you won? Emi: Knoxville State Fair singing competition. My hometown Madisonville, Tennessee declared EmiSunshine Day. Seymour, Indiana also gave me a key to the city and declared a day for me.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.â&#x20AC;? - J.K. Rowling

PHOTO BY STEVEN C. BRUMMETTE

Lora: Where can we find your music? Emi: Facebook, my website theemisunshine.com, Twitter, Instagram, iTunes Lora: Tell me about why you love your style of music. Emi: It’s original and it’s real and storytelling and from the roots. Lora: What do you see in the future for your music? Emi: I would like to see more of my style authentic music heart and soul being played. Lora: Where are you from? Emi: Madisonville, Tennessee Lora: When did you learn to play the ukulele? Emi: I was 7. Lora: What is your favorite song you have written and why? Emi: “I Am Able,” because it touches my heart and is about disabilities. Lora: What is your overall favorite song? Emi: Folsom Prison Blues Lora: What’s the biggest show you have ever done? Emi: Televised, The Today Show, but crowd size, festival in Milwaukee, Wisconsin or Austin City Limits. Lora: Do you have any unique fans out there you want to tell us about? Emi: The Sunshiners Club. They are diehard fans and they formed a fan club. They follow me around and plan vacations around me with date books. There are about 140 members. They pay dues, and it is enough to make the bus payments. Lora: What are three things you cannot live without? Emi: Ukulele, hula hoop, fabulous clothes

Lora: Who are the top singers on your play list right now? Emi: Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Matt Woods, June Carter, Emmylou Harris, Buddy Miller Lora: If you could open for anyone who would it be? Emi: John Prine Lora: What hobbies do you have outside of music? Emi: I like drawing, swimming and biking. I also like hula hooping and just started karate. Lora: What advice would you give to beginners who are nervous? Emi: Keep playing the music you love and don’t let people and management companies change you, saying to be like everyone else. Lora: Do you have any siblings? Emi: One brother, John Once we had finished the interview questions I asked Emi if there was anything she wanted people to know about her, and her answer was very sweet, sincere and touched my heart as a mom. “Some people think I don’t get to be a kid and have fun,” she said, “and I do. I get to do a lot of kid activities and this is a family and it’s all fun and more fun than work because even the work is fun.” I can tell you that the hour I spent with her and her family was truly a lot of fun. They are an amazingly close and playful family so it is easy to see why Emi is such an inspirational child and how her success continues to grow. If you have a chance to see a show I encourage you to do so and take your children. She is truly inspiring and makes for a great role model to other young people.

“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.” ― Dr. Seuss

WORLD’S GREATEST

CHICKEN GRANDMA

It’s that time of year where I break out the incubator and snatch all the eggs out of the coop and start my annual addiction of hatching chicks. The weather is cold and dreary in the winter, and this brings on a sickness that I can’t cure. It’s called spring fever, and one of the remedies to my ailment is to get into Crazy Chicken Lady mode. There are no more omelets or custards or bread puddings around our place when the incubator makes its way out of storage. The groans and moans of family members that don’t appreciate my hobby get louder by the day. Now don’t get me wrong, I love when my hens get broody and sit on a nest of eggs and hatch them and raise them. It is

the best feeling to see a mother hen and her brood of baby chicks following her around. I get warm and fuzzy and feel like the world’s greatest chicken grandma! However, the excitement I get watching and waiting for eggs to hatch at my own hand, well, there are no words to describe it. I’m sure if there was some sort of counseling available, my husband would rush me in immediately. He probably wishes he never encouraged me to get my incubator, because he had no idea he wouldn’t eat a good breakfast for a month at a time. I take the eggs out of the coop and set them in an egg carton pointy side up for a day before the big day. This allows them to get room temperature, and the egg settles in the proper position

“Everything you can imagine is real.” ― Pablo Picasso

for incubation. I crank up the incubator and get it warm and cozy inside, and then place the eggs into the egg turner pointy side up. The egg turner shifts the eggs side to side several times a day just like a mother hen would turn them in the nest. They tilt one way and then the other repeatedly, and I can assure you my face is pressed against the little round window several times a day to make sure it is working properly. My excitement grows day by day. It takes 28 days to hatch an egg, and those are the longest 28 days I have ever experienced. On the fourth day I take out each egg, one at a time, and I walk quickly to my dark closet, and I put a flashlight to the egg in the pitch black dark. If the eggs are fertile, I can see a spider web inside the egg; this lets me know that we are on our way to cute, peeping baby chicks in as little as 24 days. This process is called candling eggs. If I don’t see something inside the eggs I will separate them away from the others, but keep them in the incubator. The temperature and humidity need to be perfect during the entire incubation so I make sure that I

“I’m not afraid of death; I just don’t want to be there when it happens.” ― Woody Allen

watch all the controls and keep water inside the incubator to create the perfect degree of humidity. I fret and worry and watch my incubator nonstop when I have eggs inside. My family knows that I won’t go too far from home in fear of any changes, so we need to make sure there is plenty of food stocked up around our house, because Crazy Chicken Lady doesn’t want to leave home. After the first week of incubation I will check the eggs again. If those eggs that didn’t show any changes on day 4 still don’t have a little spider web inside I will discard them. I have to brag about my boy Mr. Bandito. He’s one of our roosters and he rarely lets me down with my eggs. I don’t usually have to throw away very many eggs. Usually, by day 7 there is a small dark spot inside the egg wrapped all around the spider web. This is the baby chick! Oh, how exciting it is to see that tiny little dark dot. I begin daydreaming about my baby chicks and can’t wait to see what they will look like. I continue my candling process throughout the entire incubation period, watching the little dark spot grow bigger and bigger until it almost takes up the entire egg. It’s amazing to me how fast they grow and form. On the 25th day it’s time to make some changes. I up the temperature and get the humidity cranked up, and we lock down the incubator. The next three days it’s pure anticipation for me as I wait to hear that first peep. I can hear the peeping from the incubator before the chick hatches from the egg. When I press my eager face against the

window I can see the egg rocking back and forth and the shell beginning to crack, and sometimes you can see their little beak poking through. It’s hard work on the little chicks to get out of their shells, and it can take hours for them to completely hatch from their egg. Once they do, they rest and then get their strength. Before long they are soft, fuzzy and hopping around inside the incubator waiting for all their hatch mates to arrive. Sometimes a newly hatched chick will even help a chick trying to hatch by pecking on its shell. I can’t tell you how cute they are and how hard it is not to lift the lid to get a better look. I have to control my excitement and wait until they all have hatched and are ready to move to their brooder. I know there are a lot of hobbies that people enjoy, and believe me I have a few that I spend my time on regularly, but hatching chicks is the most rewarding hobby. I don’t know if it’s just the Crazy Chicken Lady in me or the beauty of life being created that makes it so exciting, but I know that hatching chicks is a process I am not giving up anytime soon. So, you might see me in the grocery store sneaking a dozen of store-bought eggs into my cart to keep the peace around my house, but if you do, don’t tell my chickens. They might get offended and quit laying eggs for me to hatch!

“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” ― George Bernard Shaw

THE CLEAR BEAD

Just a small trinket, but oh, what a value it had for the boys in our Scout troop! Recently I was going through my “goodie drawer” when I found my “clear bead.” You know what I mean when I say my goodie drawer. All guys have them. It’s a place where guys put small treasures they have found or earned. It could be a small rock found in the woods, a medal earned or just a watch that refuses to run. All wives and girlfriends know it’s off limits and respect this sacred area. As soon as I saw the clear bead, I had a flashback to my first year as a Scoutmaster. I had a troop of 18 young men, ages 11 through 16. In our council the Scouts were awarded beads for each night they camped out. A blue bead was awarded for a clear weather night out, black for rain, white if it snowed, and yellow for a camporee. The most prized of all the beads was the clear bead. It was only awarded to Scouts and Scoutmasters who camped out when the temperature was below zero degrees Fahrenheit.

At every meeting, all the boys could talk about was the “clear bead,” so we developed a “telephone chain.” The plan was to activate the chain on any Friday the weather forecast indicated below-freezing temperatures. The weatherman obliged on a very clear, cold weekend in December, and we were on our way to camp.

“We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.” ― Kurt Vonnegut

On other camping trips I was lucky if I could get 70 percent of the troop to participate. But 100 percent of the Scouts wanted the clear bead. So all 18 of them, accompanied by two worried adults, made the move to a campsite on a riverbank. It was below zero. In fact, it was 17 degrees below zero. Let me describe just how cold that is. The ground was so hard that normal tent pegs could not be used. My assistant scoutmaster went to the hardware store and bought enough 20-penny nails and a large hammer to set up the tents. We maintained a large campfire all night. That was one of the longest nights of my life. The fear of a Scout getting frostbite or hypothermia never left my mind. Eight o’clock the next morning finally arrived. It was amazing how quickly the boys agreed to return home, but they had earned the special bead.

I was not prepared for the impact that earning this bead would have on my Scouts. Many of them were only 11 and were called “Joe Scout” or “new guy.” After the clear beads were awarded, I saw a marked change. A sense of respect and maturity could easily be seen among all Scouts in my troop. With this new sense of pride came a feeling that there was nothing they could not do. The clear bead also became a measuring tool. For example, in a planning meeting the next year, one of the young Scouts described a potential 50-mile canoe trip down a mountain river as our “clear bead” for that year. Each Scout took special pride in that little clear bead. I understood because I had the same warm feeling of achievement. I had been lucky enough to help them earn that special prize.

After the clear beads were awarded, I saw a marked change. A sense of respect and maturity could easily be seen among all scouts in my troop. With this new sense of pride came a feeling that there was nothing they could not do.

“I speak to everyone in the same way, whether he is the garbage man or the president of the university.” ― Albert Einstein

Never, ever do that again

Husband ‘generates’ quite a commotion out of the dogs in the neighborhood

Okay, first of all, we had power failure just before noon yesterday. Husband got the generator up and running for about two hours then it just...stopped. He couldn’t figure out what was wrong, plus it was getting dark, and with hope in our hearts (ha!), we just used poor battery fed lighting, “caught up water” and knew we had one flush in each toilet. We went to bed EARLY, and I was thankful our house wasn’t cold... yet. We also got up EARLY. The sun was trying to rise, the dog was risen and yearning to go out - she went to bed early too, you know. Husband broke a rule. The one that starts “I’ll never, ever do that again.” He did it again. He let our American Bulldog, Molly, out the door, unleashed. He said, and I quote, “I looked both ways twice and as soon as I let her in the yard the neighbor lady and her Saint Bernard appeared from behind the bush by our fence.” We ain’t got a bush that big. I heard the commotion from upstairs WITHOUT my hearing aids. I

Kathi Harper Hill is the author of six published books that can be purchased locally, on the Internet at www. kathi-harper-hill.blogspot.com or by contacting her at 706-276-4675.

didn’t see anything, and Husband wanted me to wait until we sat down with our coffee to share the story. We got a fire started in the fireplace first, because we had no other heat, and I heated up yesterday’s leftover coffee in a pan on our gas stove. It was better than nothing. Apparently, the rest of the story goes like this: Molly, in her bulldog way, barked and growled herself right up to the Saint Bernard, who only outweighed her by, say, 140 pounds. For some odd reason, the Saint Bernard didn’t take kindly to this, and they began to scuffle. Unfortunately, the Saint Bernard was on a leash (with the wife, not the husband, of course, on the other end of said leash). The Saint Bernard outweighed the woman by, say, 140 pounds. Since all this took place to the left of our house in the road, and Husband said he was distracted because he was hollering at Molly, it took him a moment to realize

“If you don’t know where you’re going, any road’ll take you there.” ― George Harrison

our neighbor was “laying on the ground.” Now, Husband, being the empathetic counselor he has always been, became concerned. He was concerned he was going to jail, to quote the man. After asking about her welfare (finally), probably in a Barney Fife voice, he found out she hadn’t fallen, she had decided that if she lay down she might be able to stop her dog easier. You see, her Saint Bernard has the same level of obedience as our dog. That is to say, none. When the dust cleared, no one was hurt. The dogs postured and snapped a little. Molly got a scratch on her belly from the grappling contest. Husband says he has learned his lesson and he “will never, ever do that again.” I refer you back to paragraph four. THE NEXT DAY: I believe I left off my trials and tribulations from yesterday with Husband swearing never to let our dog out of the house without a leash again. Let’s see...we couldn’t get the generator started. Husband called our dear friend, Eddie, who is a master fixer-upper as well as a bivocational preacher. He has painted, plumbed, built, put in windows, and done electrical work for us. He’s a good man, and I think he gets a kick out of almost everything that goes on at our house. Gee, I wonder why. He takes Husband’s word that the generator has plenty of oil and gas, and that it just stopped working after two hours of perfect performance. They lift the generator, huff and puff up the mountain, load it on his truck and Eddie takes it to the mechanic. In less than an hour he is back with the generator. Diagnosis? There wasn’t enough oil in it. Now, in Husband’s (the therapist/artist, hint, hint) defense, you

could still see oil down where the oil is supposed to be seen. Apparently the manufacturer got fed up with folks burning the motor up by using all the oil, continuing to let the thing run, then demanding a refund or a brand new generator. So they rigged it that if it got one iota too little oil, it simply shuts down. Eddie came in the house talking about this, and one thing led to another. I sort of mentioned the Saint Bernard incident from earlier in the day. Trying not to laugh, he told Husband he hoped he’d learned his lesson. Husband was assuring him he certainly had! I noticed Eddie kept glancing down at Husband’s feet. Finally he asked him to raise his pants legs a little. Well! And this coming from a preacher, no less! Apparently he had seen a glimpse of Husband’s socks. They were Mickey Mouse Christmas socks. Eddie asked, “Are those your daughter’s?” HA! No, no, they are Husband’s. Husband and I began to titter, then giggle, then outright guffaw. Eddie never cracked a smile. I suggested Husband and I lay out of our church Sunday and hear Eddie preach at his church. Eddie nodded his head in the affirmative. “Sister, I now have my entire message planned out.” Amen, and amen.

“The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom.” ― Isaac Asimov

MAGICAL DRAWINGS Listen to your kids’ special thoughts as they transfer spring onto canvas

Our craft for this issue was inspired by our eagerness to jump into spring. My two kids crafting with me are my 9-year-old son Tristan and his friend Dallas. We have decided to paint a canvas painting that represents the things we love about spring. The boys and I are all tired of the cold weather and dreaming of sunny warm days that we can spend outside, watching the new life come back into the plants. I decided to paint with them this time and make it a fun project to do together. We are using stretched canvas which you can find at most larger retail stores as well as basic acrylic paints. Paint brushes, trays and paper towels are a few more items you will need to have handy for this particular craft. The boys love the chance to get into the paint supplies and create their own masterpiece. Dallas used an easel for his painting, Tristan wanted to paint with his canvas flat on the table, and I switched back and forth between the two ideas. That brings me to another item you may want to add to your list. I used an old sheet to cover the table we were painting on to avoid messes and allow more creative freedom.

By LORA BUNCH

“You cannot find peace by avoiding life.” ― Virginia Woolf

The boys wasted no time picking out all the bright pretty springcolored paints we would need. They picked out blues, yellow, pink, purple, red, green and even some brown and black. They each had a plan in mind for what they wanted to paint and chattered on about it to each other while working to get all their colors and supplies together. Dallas wanted to start off his painting with a bright sun shining down so he painted a yellow sun and then said it needed to be warmer so he added in some oranges and reds. I was impressed by his ability to pick up on the difference between the warm and cool colors to set the tone for his painting. Tristan wanted a glowing sun so he decided to use only one shade of yellow but picked a bright one to make it give the feel he wanted it to have. These boys really know their art color feelings and are true artists in the making. The boys both wanted to paint a tree with its new spring leaves but had very different approaches on how they wanted to apply the paint for their leaves. Dallas used a small paint brush to paint the leaves directly onto each branch in the areas he wanted them to be in. Tristan decided he would use a sponge to dip in the paint and press gently onto the treetop to make the bushy leaves cover the branches of his tree. Again these boys are amazing in their abilities to use their imaginations to make their art their own. I opted to paint a colorful rainbow on my painting instead of a tree to represent what spring feels like to me. As you may have noticed we add art supplies along the way as the boys come up with new ways to paint what they have in mind.

We all decide to paint grass on the ground in our pictures, but Tristan and I decide to also put some pretty flowers and raindrops onto our paintings. Tristan went with a paint brush to make his rain drops, and I decided to use a watered down paint mix and a splatter pattern using a toothbrush for my raindrops. When you use the toothbrush you put it into the watered down paint then take your thumb and run it across the bristles over the painting and it will do a splatter pattern of the paint all across it to give it the effect of small droplets. Dallas made one last call for his painting before declaring it was finished and that is to label it with the word spring on it. He takes a

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Get busy living or get busy dying.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x2022; Stephen King

paint brush and paints the letters one by one until he is happy with the outcome of his painting. Tristan and I decided our paintings needed one last springthemed set of items before they would be complete. We wanted to paint some flowers in the grass. Again we added a new supply and got out some cotton swabs to dab in paint and then onto our canvas to make tiny colorful flowers in the grass. I used the cotton swabs alone and left them as small round flowers while Tristan decided he wanted to use the dabs as centers to his flowers and added petals onto them to make them just like he wanted them.

In the end we all three had created a painting that represented the things we love most about spring. You don’t need expensive or fancy supplies to make cool paintings because as you learned in this article you can use cotton swabs and toothbrushes to do the job. We love to get creative with our painting supplies and see where our imaginations will take us. The best part of this project to me was the memories we made creating our paintings. I encourage you to take the time to paint with your child and when you do, listen to the stories and plans they have while painting because there is something truly magical that comes from the mind of a child.

Mike’s Trackside BBQ Just look for the cool classic pickup truck outside to find the go-to barbecue in Blue Ridge, courtesy of Mike and Edonna There are three things the owners of Mike’s Trackside BBQ love: pets, barbecue, and each other! Mike and Edonna have been together for 36 years and started selling barbecue 10 years ago in their Toccoa Wilderness store. From there they opened Mike’s Trackside in 2012, which was located, guess where…next to the tracks! The tracks of the Blue Ridge Railroad where the train left the station full of ; tourists and ewman N a i h T on its Story by Robb Newman locals trek north to by Photos McCaysville. Adams i r r e T d Mike fed all an those hungry people and did a wonderful business on beautiful days. But the original Trackside had only outdoor picnic tables which limited their sales according to the weather. Since Mike moved the restaurant to a bigger, better location (3950 E. First St., still in Blue Ridge), with indoor and outdoor seating, their business has increased tenfold! Outside seating is pet friendly, of course! You can find Mike’s easily as you will see a really cool antique 1937 Chevy truck out front.

And it’s not just the location that makes this such a busy place, it is the delicious food! We have tried all the barbecue restaurants in Blue Ridge, and I can easily say that Mike’s is our go-to joint. I’ll start with my favorite, the brisket sandwich. A fresh roll, filled with lots of moist, tasty, fresh smoked brisket with sweet onions, pickles

“The most important thing is to enjoy your life—to be happy—it’s all that matters.” ― Audrey Hepburn

Thia loves the barbecue brisket that is smoked out back. and a side of coleslaw makes my mouth water! The brisket is smoked out back. You can’t get any fresher than that! You will also get two hot squeeze bottles of Mike’s signature sauce, one sweet, one spicy. Edonna says, “Why would you put cold sauce on warm meat?” It’s this attention to detail at this restaurant filled with love that makes you come back over and over again. I would know as we have eaten here at least 20 times since we discovered it. Robb has hung out with Mike out back at the smoker, where he learned that the brisket I love is cooked anywhere from 10 to 16 hours depending on the piece of meat. Smoking meat is a labor of love that Mike fell in love with many years ago. Edonna taught Mike everything he knows about the restaurant business, and Mike taught him“Monsters are real, and ghosts are real too. They live inside us, and sometimes, they win.” ― Stephen King

self how to make great barbecue. He learned, studied and practiced in the beginning until he got it right. Edonna says, “Mike likes to play with fire. We figured out smoking meat through trial and error. We burnt a lot of meat while learning!” When I asked the secret to making it so tasty, Edonna told me that Mike rubs the spices on the brisket and whispers sweet nothings to it. That, along with its long, slow cooking time, makes it the most succulent BBQ sandwich you will find in Blue Ridge. There are several yummy side dishes you can get along with your meat, but coleslaw is our absolute favorite. Robb says it is the best coleslaw he has ever tasted in his entire life. It is sweet, but not sugary. It is made with chunks of pineapple. The recipe was passed down to Edonna from her mother. There are only four ingredients in it. My guess is cabbage, pineapple,

Try Mike’s delicious smoked rib plate! It’s out of this world!

“Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.” ― Arthur C. Clarke

Mike gets his kielbasa direct from San Antonio!

mayonnaise and, hmm. I don’t know the other one. As a matter of fact, no one does except Edonna and her mom. The staff at Mike’s doesn’t even know the fourth ingredient. It is a well-kept secret, and all I know is I could eat this coleslaw all day long. I love the brisket, but there are many other terrific things on the menu. Mike’s also serves smoked wings and ribs, hotdogs and kielbasa. Robb always orders the kielbasa sandwich with coleslaw. It’s not just any sausage, though. This one is true San Antonio, Texas style made for Mike’s and shipped to them fresh. Robb has his with sauerkraut, onions and mustard. It’s so good, he likes to get the plate that has two of them. He might be stuffed when he is finished, but he also is smiling. And if you’d like a hand-squeezed glass of lemonade, this is the place. They make it fresh for you, one glass at a time. All of these amazing dishes I’ve just talked about are also available for takeout. You can call it in and pick it up just as fast as fast food, but oh so much better! Mike’s Trackside BBQ When you stop in to get 3950 E. First St. a bite of the best BBQ in Blue Blue Ridge, Georgia Ridge, make sure you say hi to 706-258-2533 Mike, Edonna, Amanda, Rita, and Terri. They will not just cook and serve you great food, but they will chat with you, get to know you and make you laugh too! I thought this was going to be one place where my veggie head friends would not find dinner. I was wrong! Edonna tells me she makes amazing Smacos! Smacos are smoked meat tacos, but you can get them without the meat and they are delicious. A flour tortilla topped with lettuce, tomato, onions, sour cream and homemade salsa, along with some of that best coleslaw on the planet and some homemade potato salad will make you happy, full and still veggie friendly! So I’ve told you how wonderful the food is, how the BBQ is made with love, how long Edonna and Mike have spent loving each other, now I have to mention the pets. This couple is so in love with animals, they work tirelessly to find them homes and help local pet charities raise money. Coming up late spring to early summer, Mike and Edonna will be doing a BBQ motorcycle ride with all the proceeds donated to spay and neuter animals. You can find more about this as they plan it on their FB page https://www. facebook.com/Mikes-Trackside-Bar-B-Q-483256661694562 To sum it up, our favorite barbecue in Blue Ridge is Mike’s. Our favorite coleslaw in the universe is Edonna’s mom’s recipe, available at Mike’s. We give Mike’s Trackside Bar-B-Q two pet-loving, food-eating, finger-licking forks way up!

“Life’s under no obligation to give us what we expect.” ― Margaret Mitchell

An interview with a poet....

CHARLES CLIFFORD BROOKS III I had the honor to sit down and spend a couple hours talking with published poet Charles Clifford Brooks III. Clifford Brooks was born in Athens in 1975. His poetry is steeped in the red Georgia clay, and grounded in the sound of Delta blues. It spread through and filled him while he was writing his first book of poetry, The Draw of Broken Eyes & Whirling Metaphysics (Gosslee Books, 2013). Those lone trails and laidback, somewhatslower cities still give him that same chill as he wraps up his second book of verse, Athena Departs, and epic poem, “The Salvation of Cowboy Blue Crawford.“ The second book, Athena Departs, will be released sometime late in 2016 (River Boat Books). Clifford is deeply ensconced in all arts programs that North Georgia has to offer. His first book, and its accomplishments, gave birth to an epiphany that the public attention it invited could

By LORA BUNCH

“Life is to be enjoyed, not endured.” ― Gordon B. Hinckley

enhance general knowledge of his New South. It is a jive and groove whose spirit goes beyond the Mason-Dixon Line. This passion conjured The Southern Collective Experience, www. southerncollectiveexperience.com , which is a cooperative of goodwill and strong principles which brings artists, writers, and musicians together for a common purpose – proof all of them can be a viable form of income, and even more poignant: business and art are not enemies. The Collective includes members from all over the country and extends a Dixie spirit that allows folks from Ohio and Great Britain to appreciate and enjoy it. The SCE currently has a radio show on NPR, Dante’s Old South which will also air on WYYZ 1490, The Croc this summer. There’s also their journal culture, The Blue Mountain Review, which comes out online once a season. Two issues can already be found online. More information on all of these groundbreaking efforts can be found on their website and/or Facebook pages. The conversation with Clifford offers a deeper look into his life, and I am sure you will enjoy reading the questions and answers he provided with a mixture of humor and wisdom that I found equal parts hilarious and deeply insightful. Lora: How old were you when you started writing initially and

then professionally? Clifford: Initially I was 10 years old, and then professionally I was 19. Lora: What does being creative mean to you? Clifford: Freedom

“Unbeing dead isn’t being alive.” ― ee cummings

Lora: Do you remember the first poem you wrote? Clifford: Yes, it was “The Judas Tavern,” and it got me into National Creative Society. Lora: Do you remember when you realized that creating was a need that if ignored, would inevitably destroy you? Clifford: Yes, I was 25. I tried to suppress it with alcohol, and as you can imagine, that didn’t turn out so well. It was the inspiration for the poem “The Judas Noose Tavern.” Lora: Does speaking on the business of art, or doing a poetry reading, still make you nervous? Clifford: Always. Yet, being nervous proves you have a healthy respect for your art, and those who do you the honor of taking time to attend your events. Lora: What kinds if any of creative routines or rituals do you have? Clifford: I always listen to music, sitting in my study and have to be barefoot. I also require enormous amounts of private time to create; an obsessive singlemindedness to submerge myself in a project. (This can cause serious issues with romantic relationships, or even

those with friends,) Lora: If you could do a reading anywhere then where would it be? Clifford: Margaret Mitchell House Lora: What is your favorite creation/poem? Clifford: Gateman’s “Hymn of Ignoracium” Lora: Who are your biggest inspirations? Clifford: Dante, Beethoven, and Doc Holliday Lora: What, if anything, are you trying to create with your art/poetry? Clifford: Above all, I am determined to cement the empirical truth that poetry is essential to all cultures in any society. I hope to persuade people to fall in love with the way words are

“The more I see, the less I know for sure.” ― John Lennon

ethereal pathways to self-discovery, and not just the cryptic drivel commonly thought of as “good poetry” today. Verse is meant to be accessible, and tell a story. No true Southerner, or any creative, can deny they adore a vivacious story. Lora: What awards have you won? Clifford: I was nominated for Georgia Author of the Year and a Pulitzer. I have won awards such as trips and seminars through fiction and creative nonfiction writings. Lora: Where can we find your poems and quotes? Clifford: Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and basically any other bookstore. My quotes, written by fans and sent to me through email, can be found on my Facebook page, website, and Pinterest page. Lora: Tell me about why you love poetry? Clifford: Without sounding pompous, I think poetry and music are the means God uses to speak directly to His children. Lora: What do you see in the future for yourself? Clifford: I see me taking some time off, traveling, and making The Southern Collective Experience an institution that forever dispels all the well-earned stereotypes maudlin hacks of the past have made deplorable facts. Lora: What is something you would like to pursue but haven’t? Clifford: Politics Lora: Do you have another job? Clifford: Yes, I’m a grossly underappreciated part-time Instructor at Chattahoochee Technical College. Lora: What’s the biggest reading or press outlet you have ever done? Clifford: The Callanwolde Reading Series in Atlanta. Lora: Do you have any unique fans out there you want to tell us about? Clifford: The most interesting “fans” are those that let me know, “Not to worry, that they are getting messages I’m hiding in my

From Athena Departs By Charles Clifford Brooks III Saturday Chaconne Damon and Pythias shake off Syracuse, and brush their shoulders clean. In this university downtown, Athena scoots us up one street, then left on College Avenue. Brothers head into a hookah bar. Jackson’s secondhand bookshop has whole collections written by Rilke, Neruda, and Simic whose woo factor apparently hit their limit. Now they’re here with hopeful inscriptions that whisper, the heart doesn’t always win. To keep this man true, in a tattoo venue, its floor like a chessboard, the motto of my family’s melancholy is punctured into muscle over time. The blood spilt in that chair is theirs as much as mine. Facebook posts for them.” Lora: What are four things you cannot live without? Clifford: Air conditioning, books, music, and my momma’s constant faith. Lora: What hobbies do you have outside of writing? Clifford: The administrative end of the Southern Collective Experience, exercise, sleep, and dancing. Lora: As a music lover what are the top songs on your play list right now? Clifford: Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata,” “Redemption Songs” by Bob Marley, “Dreams to Remember” by Otis Redding, anything by Miles Davis, and “Next Door

Finem Respice now wears me. On Four Fat Tires, we careen into the old decor of New Orleans. This eatery has been renamed, but it’s still the same. Dad sits inside, smiling, my old man, always smiling. We three gents with a lady tackle oysters, talk about anything but the economy, and reminisce about a blues bar that once stood close by. Across Broad, the Arches remind us the ache of youth passes, that age has a slanted perspective. As our sour mixes blend, evening winks in, and dogwood petals drift. The laughter of our quartet is brilliant.

Neighbor Blues” by Gary Clark Jr. Lora: What advice would you tell others thinking about being a writer who may now wonder if it’s something they should devote their whole selves to? Clifford: Ask yourself this: Does the idea of not doing writing make you lose sleep or immediately induce a deep sense of nausea? Does the notion you may never put pen to paper write tantamount to a waking nightmare? If this answer is yes, go jump on it with both feet, accept it’s going to be a struggle, but know that all good things worth having – are. On the other hand, if you think you have a choice not to write it is a definite signal flare this is not for you, and

“The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.” ― Nicolas Chamfort

perhaps being an astronaut is your bag. This logic applies to any vocation. Lora: What inspired you to write your first book? Clifford: God Lora: Do you have a specific writing style? Clifford: No, I enjoy experimenting with all forms of composition. That being said, I am a devout believer that the grammatical rules of prose also apply to poetry. Again, let me stress, that no matter the chosen form, if there’s not enough room between the lines for the audience to connect, you are not doing anyone any favors. Lora: How did you come up with the title to each book? Clifford: The first one, Whirling Metaphysics, came from whirling dervishes in the Sufi faith (highly inspired by the translations of Rumi by Coleman Barks). The Draw of Broken Eyes came from a conversation between friends in the family’s plantation house on why women seemed attracted to a man who only proved to be emotion-

ally unavailable. As if one friend anticipated my dreary statement, he said, “It’s in your eyes. They are drawn to your broken eyes.” Six years later the memory came back, and fit perfectly. Lora: What books have most influenced your life most? Clifford: Machiavelli’s The Prince Lora: If you had to choose who do you consider a mentor? Clifford: My mother Lora: What book are you reading now? Clifford: The Selected Poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke Lora: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest? Clifford: William Wright, Chad Prevost, Genesis Greykid, and Harold Bloom Lora: What are your current projects? Clifford: Blue Mountain Review, the SCE, my new books, family, and attempting to make my current lover happy. Lora: Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family

WE NEED YOUR HELP! The Best of the North Georgia Mountains is looking for out-of-the-ordinary residents to interview and share their stories with our readers. If you know of someone who qualifies, or if YOU are that someone, give us a call at 706-463-0175!

“If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain.” ― Emily Dickinson

members. Clifford: A handful of dear friends, my mom, and God. Lora: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your last book? Clifford: No Lora: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing? Clifford: Writing, but also the sometimes emotional strife of editing. Lora: Who is your favorite author, and what is it that really strikes you about their work? Clifford: Dante for his ability to weave storytelling and his brand of epic style together. Lora: Do you have to

travel much concerning your book(s)? Clifford: Yes, constantly. Lora: Who designed the cover of your book? Clifford: Gosslee Press. However, for Athena Departs, and The Salvation of Cowboy Blue Crawford, we have a team working to collaborate on something truly beyond words. I am humble so many want to help a tortured poet who once felt painfully alone. Lora: What was the hardest part of writing your book? Clifford: The unexpected emotional weight of the editing. It’s not the usual idea that someone else just not announcing,

From Athena Departs By Charles Clifford Brooks III For Dad As the weekend winds down, dad brings his old dog to the big house. Today, that hound bounds towards the tool shed. The old man and I prop up against white front porch pillars, while folks across the street shuffle single file into church. Daddy and I know damn well there’s no minister or deacon-on-a-mission reporting anything new about redemption. Jesus is probably playing golf.

To celebrate the Holy Spirit, we share a smoke, squint against the sun, then whisper, Amen. Two men sit stoically, seldom speaking, among distracted pines and forgetful wind. 200 acres are framed by azalea, then split by a healthy river. Today, as the hour teeters on twilight, Little Walter plays harp. We’ve had our good days, son, my father says through his cigar, and we’ve had our bad.

“Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?” ― Abraham Lincoln

“It’s perfect,” no – without sounding overly poetic, to truly edit you have to relive that time and open wounds you once thought had closed forever. Be true or write Twilight novels. Lora: Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it? Clifford: Everything I would like to end this article with a few poems from Clifford Brooks. These are poems you can consider a sneak peek from his upcoming second and third books. I encourage you to pick up a copy of The Draw of Broken Eyes & Whirling Metaphysics and enjoy his works for yourself. This is an excerpt from the epic The Salvation of Cowboy Blue Crawford Cowboy Blue Crawford was born an uncivil son. After the screams, he was slammed down, fired in, and fashioned

from an ancient forge saved for a Confederation. The birth was brutal. The womb laid waste, and his mother hurt by and hurting for, Blue. It is an ache she will learn to endure for life. He burns. She is scorched. Yet, today the South has a cowboy his momma speaks of with pride and joy. The newest of the Crawford brood, like those still breathing, Blue finds himself born a bit more, than a little less,

sewn up in self-interest. Screams, screams, and again – that silence. Fitfully sleeping in a hopeful crib, his father called him: Blue. His prophesy was found in a tomb opened beneath an orange moon. Cowboy Blue is a child of the Old Faith. Coaxed up by a voluptuous Creole, she rolled his stone away. Blue’s feral talents and hoochie-coochie habits aren’t approved by priests, or zealous abbots. Yet, the angels let him have it: The freedom – the scent of it.

The Gathering (Art Pickens) begins in April By LORA BUNCH Artist Billy Roper had a vision of an event where local artists could gather together and share ideas, learn and support each other, and share their art with the public. He took this idea to some other local artists who then came together to make it happen. It is a great opportunity for local artists to network with each other as well as give them a chance to meet and talk with residents and other art lovers from all around North Georgia. Artists will set up and demonstrate their artwork for visitors and residents to be able to see how the art is created as well as ask the artists questions. This will be beneficial for young people who may aspire to be artists themselves one day. They will be able to get a better look at the artistic process and perhaps find a mentor. The Gathering (Art Pickens) will begin in April and run through November on every second Saturday of each month. The location for the event will be at the intersection of North Main Street and Mark Whitfield Drive in Historic Downtown Jasper at the marble fountain park (Peace Park). The hours will be from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. This is an outdoor event and will be held according to weather.

There is a Facebook, Instagram and Twitter page for Art Pickens. You can find information, updates, and cancellations on any of these pages. You can also message any questions you may have on the Facebook page or e-mail them to ArtPickensGathering@gmail.com. An event page has already been created on social media for each of the monthly gatherings to help keep everyone informed and to help spread the word. It is required that artists who want to participate contact Art Pickens and get the proper registration forms filled out and returned before the date of the event. If you are an interested artist who wishes to be part of this event contact them by e-mail or social media for more information and the proper paperwork. It is the artists’ hope to see many types of artwork displayed and demonstrated at each gathering. The artists are looking forward to sharing their art with the public by demonstrating how their art is made, showing examples of their work, explaining the process in which it was created, and showing the finished product. It will be a creative and inspiring gathering for artists, aspiring young artists, and all art lovers and enthusiasts. Mark your calendars and come on out and support your local artists.

“I’ve got nothing to do today but smile.” ― Paul Simon

HISTORIC FIND Ellijay couple finds old photo of Civil War veterans while dismantling 1920s Whitfield County barn

Members of the Joseph E. Johnston Camp No. 34, United Confederate Veterans pose for a photograph on the side of the Whitfield County Courthouse during a reunion in 1909, almost 45 years after they fought in the Civil War.

“If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I, an artist, will answer you: I am here to live out loud.” ― Émile Zola

Antonio and Karen Peters of Ellijay hold a historic photo showing Confederate veterans at the old Whitfield County Courthouse during a 1909 reunion. Antonio found the old photo in a side room of an old barn on Riverbend Road in Whitfield County that he was tearing down to repurpose the wood to make furniture and bird houses. The couple donated the photo to the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners, who plan to give it to the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society. (Photo by Mitch Talley).

Former barn owner Adam Kreischer - a Confederate veteran - could be among those soldiers pictured in 1909 during a reunion outside the old courthouse in Dalton 62

When Antonio and Karen Peters of Ellijay were tearing down an old barn on Riverbend Road in Whitfield County a few weeks ago, they never dreamed they’d discover a photo of historic importance inside. “I didn’t even really pay any attention to it,” said Antonio, who repurposes old barn wood into birdhouses and furniture. “I found the photo with the frame still on it, but it was really kinda messed up.”

By MITCH TALLEY

“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” ― Anaïs Nin

“The glass in the frame was broken,” Karen said, “and I was afraid it was going to start scratching up the photo so I took the glass off of it.” “I was just going to throw it away,” Antonio said, but his wife quickly suggested otherwise and saved the old photo, intrigued by the mystery surrounding it. A few days later, Karen carried it to a flea market in Ellijay to show it around and see if someone there might know more about the people in the photo. It didn’t take long for Vickie W. Crowe, a history buff from an organization known as Bartow Ancestors, to tell her that the photo shows a group of Civil War veterans from Camp 34 during a reunion in Whitfield County in 1909. “Vickie said they are standing in front of the old Whitfield County Courthouse,” Karen said, “and this photo shows what was left of their regiment at the reunion. You can see one man’s holding a bugle, and some of the men are wearing little medals.” Local Civil War expert Greg Cockburn also confirmed the identity of the photo, saying that it is identical to one at the Georgia Archives except that one has Gen. Joseph

E. Johnston superimposed above the veterans. He says it shows members of the United Confederate Veterans Association, active from 1889 to the mid1940s as a benevolent, historical, social, and literary association. Its mission was to “unite in a general federation of all associations of Confederate veterans, soldiers and sailors, now in existence or hereafter to be formed; to gather authentic data for an impartial history of the war between the States; to preserve relics or mementos of the same; to cherish the ties of friendship that should exist among men who have shared common dangers, common sufferings and privations; to care for the disabled and extend a helping hand to the needy; to protect the widows and the orphans, and to make and preserve a record of the services of every member, and as far as possible of those of our comrades who have preceded us in eternity.” No doubt the Association would be pleased to know that a photo of their reunion The gravestones of Private Adam Kreischer and other relatives in a family has resurfaced nearly cemetery at the intersection of Hill and Riverbend roads in Whitfield County. a century later. “The past has no power over the present moment.” ― Eckhart Tolle

The photo shows Camp 34, named in honor of Gen. Johnston, which helped raise the money for Johnston’s statue and contributed to other war-related causes. Other camps were named in honor of other Generals, such as Stonewall Jackson or Robert E. Lee. According to Cockburn, veterans from Whitfield County were in multiple infantry regiments, as well as cavalry, and some of the soldiers fought in the Army of Northern Virginia and surrendered under Lee at Appomattox, while those in the Army of Tennessee surrendered at Bentonville, N.C., under Johnston. The veterans in the photo were a mixture, with different wartime experiences. Cockburn carried the identification one step further, however, pointing out that the barn where the photo was found once belonged to a Civil War veteran named Adam Kreischer. And since it was taken five years before his death, Cockburn says Kreischer himself could well be in the photo! “Adam Kreischer (1832-1914) owned and occupied the property where the barn was located at the time the photo was taken,” Cockburn said, “and his family remained on the property for another two generations. He is buried with other family members, just north of the barn site in the Kreischer/Schneider cemetery, at the intersection of Hill and Riverbend roads.” Kreischer was born in Germany and came to the Dalton area

with his German-born parents and siblings in the late 1840s. He was a private in Company C, 36th Georgia Infantry Regiment, that was captured at Vicksburg and later paroled and assigned to Cumming’s Brigade, Stevenson’s Division, the Army of Tennessee where it remained until the Army of Tennessee’s surrender in Bentonville, N.C. According to his 1910 pension application, Kreischer was discharged at Greensboro, N.C., in April 1865. His widow, Kittie Schwab Kreischer, born in Dalton to German-born parents in 1852, lived on until 1933, and after her death, the property was passed on to her daughter. Karen is just glad she and her husband were able to help preserve a piece of Whitfield County history. “I thought the photo was pretty cool,” Karen said. “Somebody who saw it said to me, ‘Why don’t you just sell it?’ but I said, ‘No, why don’t I just donate it?’ ” That’s when she called Whitfield County Commission Chairman Mike Babb and offered to give the photo to the county for display with other historical documents. “We appreciate this couple being willing to donate this photo to us,” Babb said. “Anytime you can save history, it’s a good thing. We plan to donate the photo to the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society for safe-keeping.”

The Ellijay Trolley Get On It!

GETTING MARRIED? We’ll pick you up in our Chance Trolleys and carry you and your party to The Trolley Depot for your reception!

Hop on and look around at what Ellijay has to offer. We visit antique shops, wineries, apple houses, and restaurants. Ellijay Trolley Stop signs, showing the schedule, will be placed with key partners and at public parking lots throughout Ellijay. Visit www.EllijayTrolley.com.

Call or text us at 706-972-1884

“In a time of destruction, create something.” ― Maxine Hong Kingston

Ironically, the Confederate flag shown in the photo could be the same one that was flown in Dalton in 1864 when the Army of Tennessee was in winter quarters in this area, though Cockburn can’t confirm that. “The flag looks tattered enough and could be the one in the photo,” he said, “but you can’t really tell. The battle flags ordered by Gen. Joseph E. Johnston were manufactured in Atlanta and shipped from the Atlanta Depot. They were distributed at Dalton and called ‘Dalton Issue.’ ” Legend has it that when the war ended, Captain S.P. Greene hid one of the tattered flags under his clothes and brought it home with him. He eventually returned the flag to the 39th Regiment to flag bearer B.K. Hix during an 1887 reunion, and Hix’s grandson, W.M. Hix, eventually donated it to the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society in 1995. A serendipitous sequence of events led to the discovery of the old photo last December, according to Antonio and Karen. “My son had originally come up to Dalton about a year ago to survey the land for Frank Walters right after he bought it,” Karen explained. “My son asked him what he was going to do with the barn on the land, and Mr. Frank said he was gonna tear it down. My son said, wait a minute, call my mama, so we came over and Mr. Frank just gave us the barn and said we could have whatever was in it.” Walters told the couple he believes the barn was built in the 1920s and that he had no idea what was inside but they were welcome to have it. “It turned out there was antique tools … you name it, it was in there,” Karen said after the dismantling. “I mean, old feed signs like you find at old feed and seed stores. It was just packed full of all kinds of old stuff, old farm tools, old bottles and tools. We found

one sign for Pep Feed for chickens, and they stopped making that sign in the early 1930s. Antonio found one in perfect condition in there.” Ironically, with Star Wars all the rage now thanks to the latest sequel burning up the box office, the couple even found an old Star Wars toy in the barn, an X-fighter that actually opens up. “The date on it was 1978, and it’s in almost perfect condition,” she said. Karen says she grew up in South Georgia close to the Florida line. “Every summer, my dad used to bring us up to this general area, and we would visit all the memorials, Civil War memorials, and it was fascinating to me,” she said. “I thought, man, if my daddy had seen this – he’s passed away now – but if he’d have seen that old picture, he’d have had a cow!” The couple takes pride in helping preserve history whenever they tear down an old barn. “When we sell the furniture or birdhouses that Antonio makes out of the old wood,” Karen says, “we tell the people who buy it where the wood comes from and give them a little bit of the history behind it, so the history keeps going.” As she gazed out recently across the road beside the nearly dismantled barn and cars kept whizzing past, she speculated about how much the view had likely changed since the barn was originally built nearly 100 years ago. “Thinking about the history of this old barn makes you wonder what all this looked like back then,” Karen pondered. “Either woods or pasture land,” Antonio guessed. Now that they’ve finished taking this barn apart, they have their eye on another barn that they will dismantle later this year and give new life to. “If we find something else there,” Antonio chuckled, “we’ll give you a call!”

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WHY DID WE WAIT SO LONG? That’s the question after we tried Indian food for the first time in our lives, deliciously served up by The Curry House in Calhoun We had never eaten Indian food, but I had always wanted to try it. My friend Cindy Talley told me about an Indian restaurant in Calhoun. She loved it and had a standing lunch date with her son Drake there every Wednesday. So now that this paper is also available in Calhoun, it was a perfect opportunity for me and Robb to go check Story by Thia Newman it out for a story! The Curry House is about Photos by Robb Newman 40 miles from Ellijay. Basically you take 515 to 136 to 53. It is right on the main drag of Calhoun, in the middle of lots of fast food restaurants. But it is far from that everyday fare. This is exotic food! Starting right when we walked in the door, I knew this was going to be a new experience. The delicious warm, rich, spicy smells overwhelmed me. I couldn’t wait to taste it! And you don’t have to wait long, because it’s a buffet for lunch.

“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” ― Confucius

All the colors and spices and some unrecognizable ingredients were a little intimidating at first, but the manager, Ajay, spent some time with me and Robb explaining everything on the long hot bar. There were many spices I had never tasted, and there were some really spicy items. It’s a perfect way to try Indian food, since you can have a taste of all different kinds of dishes in one meal. I tried a new vegetable called Tandoor, that resembled a cross between okra and squash and pea pods. Tandoor is found in a dish called Tindora Fry. I particularly liked the Malai chicken, which was a mix of large chunks of white meat and vegetables in a slightly spicy saffron sauce. I also took a big bite of fried potato balls that were green inside (from the spices), and WOW that woke me up for sure. It was hot, hot, hot! Those balls are called Aalie Bonda, and they had me grabbing my glass of water! Robb liked the chicken wings and even tried the Goat Curry. But I think our favorite thing of all was the Indian breads. We absolutely loved the two types we tried, Naan and Papad. And we mustn’t forget dessert! Ours was a warm mixture of pineapple, semolina, cashews, almonds and sugar. Cindy says dessert is her favorite thing at The Curry House. Oh my goodness, this place is for all my veggie head friends to eat; about half of the food on the buffet is right for you. Lots of veggies, beans, chick peas, and sauces. This is Vegetarian Heaven! The buffet dishes are ever changing so if you are looking for a specific thing call AJay and ask what is on the bar that day.

We really did enjoy this new adventure in eating. Robb says if you are “curry-ous” about Indian food you should try it too! The buffet is open for lunch every day. Call for prices, specials and times. There is a full menu of items available also. You can see the menus here http://www.thecurryhousega.com. The address is 913 Highway 53, Calhoun, GA, 30701. We couldn’t find that address or the name Curry House using our GPS. It is attached to a hotel called Econo-lodge. I think that would be easier to find using your Garmin. You can always call for directions, 706-383-8707.

“Cry. Forgive. Learn. Move on. Let your tears water the seeds of your future happiness.” ― Steve Maraboli

Mountain appointments turn into an adventure

He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like Goat Milk Lotion the eagle's! - Psalm 103:5 from Panorama on my bathroom Sometimes I feel old. My 5-year-old grandson says I'm vanity. I love it. It old. If I compare myself to a teenager I am old. But this smells so good usually happens in the winter. I get the winter blahs and and makes my get on my pity pot. That's when I start thinking about how skin feel really soft. old I am. What about that People say age is just a number and you're only as goat's milk! old as you feel. Well, some days my number seems One time when lower than what it is and we were at MerI feel fairly young. Now cier's I participated I'm not trying to be a Deb- in my first hard bie Downer. You'll see as we go along how uplifting this cider tasting. I felt article is really going to be. very sophisticated I feel young when my husband, Michael C., and I go sipping from each cup as the cider tickled my palate. I on an adventure. Up until just a few years ago my husfigured this was as close to a wine tasting as I would ever band's cardiologist was in Atlanta. He also has a pracget. I have to say, however, that the hard cider is just not tice in Ellijay and Blue Ridge. It can sound weird to look my "cup of tea." forward to a doctor's appointment, but we always looked A couple of weeks ago my husband, grandson, and I forward to his appointments in Ellijay and Blue Ridge. moseyed on over to Ellijay and ate some delicious barbeThese appointments just felt like an adventure. cue at Colonel Poole's. I have never seen so many pigs We would go to the doctor and get his all-clear for my on a hillside. The food was great, but I don't think we husband then head out to the apple barns for some deliwere honored with our own hillside pig. There must be cious fried pies. When in Blue Ridge we go to Mercier's something special you do to get your own pig. and when in Ellijay we go to Panorama. Mmmm, nothing Needless to say, I feel young and spry on our Ellijay beats a hot, juicy fried pie. I prefer blackberry, but my and Blue Ridge excursions. The scenic drive is beautihusband’s favorite is peach. Then again it's hard to beat ful especially this time of year. Daffodils are blooming. a scrumptious fried apple pie! Trees are budding. The sun is warming the earth. Time The apple barns have all sorts of merchandise. Right to go get some fried pies! now I have a bottle of White Jasmine and Shea Dionis Grace and peace to you. Amen.

By KATHI CHASTAIN

“Life doesn’t imitate art, it imitates bad television.” ― Woody Allen

Start the ripple! Don’t underestimate the power of a positive word when you talk to folks “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the ability to turn a life around.” - Leo Buscaglia I have heard a lot of comments lately on the overall negativity that seems to be consuming so much of the United States. All things violent and bad seem to be the theme for all media outlets. In a country that is overrun with beauty, talent and potential, we seem to be challenged for good news. It can be easy to be discouraged by comparison and attempts of justice and when looking at the headlines. It gets easy to get caught up in the hoopla and forget that in most places in this country we can access clean water, food and shelter in minutes. Our poorest are still more wealthy than the populace of many other countries. Our challenges are many, and what the future of this country holds does not seem as clear as it once did. I am sure, however, that the United States of America has some of the kindest people doing some of the coolest things for each other and if you are not paying attention to it, our media often overlooks some of the best stories. Even if the story doesn’t make a media outlet, every day we encounter others changing lives through kindness – is it you? If it isn’t, you are one second away from being that person. Take the leap, even for a moment and it will change your life… and potentially the world. Taking the time to acknowledge others in the simplest manner can be a real game changer for most people. Even the most positive person likes to be acknowledged as meaningful. A friend recently changed my world by just picking some early daffodils and placing them in a vase on my desk. Needing a pick-me-up, the flowers started a kindness cas-

cade that ended up changing several encounters that day. It would have been so easy to hide away from the responsibilities and trudge on head down to complete the tasks at hand….but the flowers. Looking at that gorgeous yellow glow, the stark green of the stems….but mostly the feeling of love that someone had taken the time to pick, arrange and deliver that vase of kindness. The acknowledgement that time spent for you is time well spent, oh and you are loved…a human condition we all long for, and when that message is relayed, even in the simplest form, miracles abound. Sharing the flowers, and the happiness their delivery brought was then multiplied as the simple tasks became opportunities to share that same simple kindness through smiles, laughter, notes and an anonymous lunch someone likely never saw coming. Seems like the simplest, most inexpensive things can be the most meaningful, but most of all, sharing kindness is the real gift that reminds someone they matter. Smiling at the cashier having challenges with technology, allowing someone that closer parking spot, holding the door for someone, paying for a drive-thru order, bringing an extra coffee to work; it doesn’t take big things, just simple kindness and acknowledgement can bring that glimmer of hope you may not even know someone needs…and poof….lives are changed. Start the ripple…..be the change! Here’s hoping you are able to find something every day to be thankful for….grateful for you, enjoy your day!

“The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing. If you can fake that, you’ve got it made.” ― Groucho Marx

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214 N. River St., Calhoun, GA; 706-624-0666 Best of North GA Issue 19

WISEWATER Critically Acclaimed Americana Duo Performing at...

The Crimson Moon 24 N. Park St., Dahlonega

Sunday, April 24, 7 p.m. Call 706-864-3982 for more info Buy tickets for $12 advance at www. thecrimsonmoon.com.

“A grandchild is a miracle, but a renewed relationship with your own children is even a greater one.” - T. Berry Brazelton