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LIFE IN OUR FOOTHILLS

FEATURE

December 2012

Lifeinourfoothills.com

dressing the foothills PILOTS

-N-PAWS

December 2012

Chorus

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editor’s note

C

ommunity abounds in our foothills as the holiday season ramps up toward Christmas.

Can you feel the festivities in

the air?

If you were to swing by Tryon Presbyterian Church on a given Monday you'd hear the holiday spirit vocalized from a host of voices as they practice for this year's Community Chorus.

If you stopped by Tryon Arts and Crafts, you'd see a gift shop filled with uniquely handcrafted gifts for those you love spilling forth.

All around us are signs of the season and I can only hope you all are taking the time to soak them up. We can all get hurried and frantic this time of year checking off our to-do lists as if overachievement were what the season was all about; it is not.

This season try to slow down and reflect on the joys of your life we hope there are many.

Inside this issue of Life in our Foothills, we give you a look at upcoming holiday events, provide tips on decorating your home without adding stress and encourage you to try local products when you prepare appetizers for your holiday parties.

Aside from the holidays though, we also give you an inside look at a powerfully committed organization called PilotsNPaws, talk with a local entrepenuer about his dream of expanding his brewing company and take a glimpse at what is keeping youth busy in our local equestrian community.

Oh, and of course, you can flip through our Foothills Featured pages to see if you or a friend were captured out and about at one of our area's great events.

We hope you find this issue entertaining as you take the time to sit back, sip hot chocolate and relax.

Samantha Hurst, Editor

samantha.hurst@lifeinourfoothills.com

on the cover Bruce Schoonmaker portrays St. Nicholas in this year's Community Chorus performance to be held December 9 at 3 p.m. at Polk County High School. Schoonmaker teaches voice and opera studies at Furman University.

Cover design by Gwen Ring.

Photograph by Samantha Hurst.

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PUBLISHER Betty Ramsey EDITORIAL Samantha Hurst Leah Justice Gwen Ring CONTRIBUTORS Barbara Childs Gillian Drummond Carol Lynn Jackson PRODUCTION Samantha Hurst Gwen Ring MARKETING Nicholas Holmberg Lenette Sprouse ADMINISTRATION Jessy Taylor DISTRIBUTION Jeff Allison Jonathan Burrell Nick Elder Tony Elder

Life in Our Foothills is published monthly by Tryon Newsmedia LLC. Life in Our Foothills is a registered trademark. All contents herein are the sole property of Tryon Newsmedia Inc. [the Publisher]. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without written permission from the Publisher.

Please address all correspondence (including but not limited to letters, story ideas and requests to reprint materials) to: Editor, Life in our Foothills, 16 N. Trade Street, Tryon, N.C. 28782.

Life in Our Foothills is available free of charge at locations throughout Polk County and upstate South Carolina. Please visit lifeinourfoothills. com for a list of those locations. Subscriptions are available at a rate of $35 for one year by emailing subscribe@lifeinourfoothills.com or by calling 828-859-9151, ext. 101.

Advertising inquiries may be made by emailing advertise@lifeinourfoothills.com or by calling 828-859-9151.

CONTENTS

55 22 In Every Issue 8 OUT & ABOUT

10 SHORT STORIES 13 FOOTHILLS FEATURED 74 VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

Jeannette Schmeichel gives insight into volunteering at Steps to Hope.

36 BOTTLETREE

Fred Block pursues his passion of brewing through BottleTree and finds community counts.

42 CALVERT'S KITCHEN

People feel at home at Calvert's Kitchen in Columbus.

51 DRESSING THE FOOTHILLS

Mary Prioleau of Tryon House seeks to dress the foothills to its finest by listening to customer requests.

55 HISTORICAL FEATURE ANNA CONNER

Home & Food

Features

44 FARM FRESH FUN

22 FASCINATED BY FLIGHT

Columns

Local birders prepare for the annual bird count.

28 PILOTS N PAWS

Foothills Humane Society members combine forces with PilotsNPaws to transport animals in need to new homes up north.

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Carol Lynn Jackson offers a few hints at how you can turn the appetizer spread at your next party into a local food love affair.

34 PET TRAINING 48 COUNTRY LIVING

Gillian Drummond wants you to have a beautiful home this holiday season without all the fuss and stress that sometimes comes with trying to make a home look perfect.

CONTENTS

68 Appointments

68 RIVER VALLEY PONY CLUB

60 GREEN CREEK HOUNDS

69 TETRATHLON RALLY

64 AVALON EQUINE THERAPY SYSTEM

71 CARLY MESSAMER

66 DONNA MONAGLE: HOOKED ON PONY CLUB 72 DUDLEY THE DONKEY

OUT & ABOUT

CALENDAR

Community NOVEMBER Nov. 29, 5 p.m.

Landrum Christmas Parade The Landrum Christmas Parade will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. in downtown Landrum. Grand marshall is Joe Williamson of Williamson Paint.

Info: 828-859-8323.

Dec. 1, 7 p.m.

Gospel music

Gospel music concert benefiting the Mill Spring Ag Center and WJFJ AM Radio.

Dec. 4, 2:30 p.m.

PCHA Christmas Musicale

Nov. 30, noon - 8 p.m.

Landrum Christmas Stroll The Landrum Area Business Association is hosting the city’s annual holiday stroll with events going from noon until 8 p.m.

Stores throughout downtown Landrum will open their doors for special hours and there will be a variety of activities going on in downtown Landrum specifically from 4-7 p.m.

to jazz. Free admission. Info: 828859-9741 or www.holycrosstryon. org.

Dec. 6, all day Railroad car exhibit View a 1926 Museum Pullman Railroad Car in downtown Landrum.

828-859-2828.

Dec 7, 8- p.m. until late Sunnydale Christmas Head over to Sunnydale after the Tryon Christmas Stroll and help decorate their first tree with a candy cane or hand-me-down ornament. While there, enjoy Pam McNeil on piano and join in the

Nov. 30, 6:30 p.m.

Holidays Around the World Take part in the Tryon Fine Arts Center’s annual holiday fundraiser. Info: tryonarts.org.

Nov. 30, 7 p.m.

Bluegrass Jam

Come enjoy or take part in a Bluegrass Jam at the Mill Spring Ag Center at 7 p.m.

Boy Scouts take part in the City of Columbus Christmas parade in 2011. (photo by Samantha Hurst)

DECEMBER Dec. 1, 1:30 p.m.

Tuba Christmas Seventy plus tuba, sousaphone, euphonium and baritone horn players play Christmas carols, first with instruments only and then with everyone singing along. Polk County High School. Info: 828894-8236.

Dec. 1 and 3, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tryon Arts & Crafts holiday felting workshop.

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Local singers and musicians will perform religious and secular Christmas music.

Dec 7, 5-8 p.m.

Tryon Downtown Stroll Enjoy an evening of refreshments, street performances and shopping in downtown Tryon, as well as a visit from Santa. Don’t forget to drop off letters to Santa in the big red mailbox at the clock tower.

Dec. 5, noon Bach’s Lunch: Advent Organ & Trumpet Recital A short 30-minute Advent organ and trumpet recital beginning at noon on Wednesday, Dec. 5 at Holy Cross Episcopal Church Dec. 7, 7:30 p.m. with performers Dr. Crys ArmHoliday Craft and Gift show brust (organ) and Joseph Pullara opening (trumpet). Repertory from classical Upstairs Artspace, Tryon. Info:

caroling. Cookies, crafts and HoHo joviality.

Dec. 8, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Deck the Holidays Fair The Thermal Belt Friendship Council invites you to stop by the Roseland Community Center and shop for hand-crafted items and ornaments, as well as delicious baked goods, while listening to beautiful harp music provided by Liana Stadelmann. All proceeds will be

OUT & ABOUT donated to Roseland.

Info:friendshipcouncil. homestead.com/events. html, 864-457-2426 or email rstadelmann@charter.net.

Dec. 8, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Indoor Christmas Farmers’ Market Shop for your holiday gifts at the Mill Spring Ag Center.

Dec.. 8, 4 p.m.

Columbus Christmas Parade Annual parade through downtown. Final day for entries is Nov. 30.

Dec. 8, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

A Taste of Polk.

Join us for the first “Tasting” at the Mill Spring Farm Store. The tasting will include baked goods, homemade candies and even grass fed meat.

The Farm Store is inside the Mill Spring Ag Center just off the intersection of Hwy 108 and Hwy 9. Info: 828-894-8028 Dec. 9, 3 p.m.

Community Chorus C hristmas Concert Directed by Mark Schweizer this event brings signers of all levels together in one big performance at Polk County High School.

physicians will be held at Laurel Hurst, Columbus.

Tryon Fine Arts Center

through Dec. 22. 26 Maple Street in Tryon, Thursday-Saturday, 11 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Dec. 19, noon Holy Cross Advent Recital Wanda May Wednesdays, 3:30-6:30 pm.

Holy Cross Episcopal Church,. Contra Dancing Contra dances will be held every Wednesday night at Sunnydale Dec. 22, 7 p.m. log cabin in Tryon.

Pastyme Choral Ensemble The Pastyme Choral Ensemble will perform at Holy Cross Fridays, 7 p.m.

Episcopal Church.

American Legion Post 250 Bingo Fridays, 7 p.m., 43 Depot St., Dec 31, 10 p.m.

Tryon. Doors open 5:30 p.m.

Annual Tryon Ball Drop Smoke-free.

Join your neighbors for the first ball drop in the country (at 10 Dec. 15, 3-6 p.m. pm sharp at the clock tower). Ring Saturdays, 9:30 a.m.

Saluda Christmas Parade, Visit in the New Year with live music, Wreath making workshops Saluda to see a joyful celebration oyster roast and refreshments.

Wreath making workshops of community during the holidays. will be held at the Mill Spring Ag Center every Thursday through RECURRING Dec. 16, 3 p.m.

Christmas except for Thanksgiving.

The Night Before Christmas Tryon Painters and Sculptors Carol Holiday Show TPS Holiday Show runs Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m.

Do It Yourself Messiah When Messiah was premiered in Dublin in April 1742, the crowd was expected to be so large that the ladies were asked to attend sans hoops in their skirts and gentlemen sans swords. The same consideration is from the large audiences at this year’s performance while this great Tryon holiday tradition continues.

TFAC, Tryon

Tryon Fine ArTs CenTer supporting arts in the carolina foothills 2012 Morris Ornament, design by Kathleen Carson, on sale now Thursday, december 13, 7:30 pm – Free event

“Do-It-Yourself” Messiah

Mark Schweizer conducts as the audience becomes the chorus for Handel’s Masterpiece. Beth Child on piano, with guest soloists.

Dec. 12, noon, Holy Cross Advent Recital Trio Holy Cross Episcopal Church.

sunday, december 16, 3:00 pm – $5 for adults, $3 for students

Dec 12, 5 p.m.

Tryon Christmas Parade

Faye Lane’s Beauty Shop Stories

Dec. 13, 6 to 9 p.m.

St. Luke’s Hospital holiday reception A reception for donors and

The Night Before Christmas Carol

History, humor and the holiday come to life in this Family Show, starring David zum Brennan as Charles Dickens and 17 familiar characters from the ghostly classic, a christmas carol.

Friday, January 11, 2013, 8:00 pm – $27

Give the gift of laughter this Christmas. Faye Lane blends story and song with her Texas childhood, moving new york magazine to gush, “she had them … howling, crying, falling in love with her.”

Box office hours: Tuesday-Friday, 10am-4pm; Saturday, 10am-1pm 34 Melrose Avenue, Tryon, NC 828-859-8322 www.tryonarts.org

SHORT STORIES

merry morris

ornament The 2012 collectible Morris the Horse Christmas ornament is currently on sale.

These ornaments, individually designed by local artists and produced by the Charleston Mint in 24-karat gold on jewelers’ brass, are sold to benefit Tryon Fine Arts Center operations and programs. These ornaments are shipped around the world and many people own every one made since Tommy Thorne-Thomsen produced the first one in 1991.

Thorne-Thomsen designed the ornaments through 2002 and since then local artists Paul Koenen and Kathleen Carson have provided designs for the annual decoration. This year’s design by Carson offers a whimsical Morris decorating a tree of Christmas presents.

To purchase the 2012 ornament, call 828-859-8322 or visit Tryon Fine Arts Center, Tryon House, Tryon Mountain Hardware or Kathleen’s in Saluda. Many designs from previous years are also available for purchase.

The fine arts center is open Tuesday-Friday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Deck your halls The second annual Mill Spring Ag Center Wreath Making Workshops will be held every Saturday from Nov. 17 through Dec. 22.

Drop in starting at 1 p.m. and expect to spend about two hours making your wreath. All materials will be provided, including an assortment of greenery and pine cones.

Stephanie Shulte of Summer Blooms Garden Design will guide you. To pre-register or for questions, call Shulte 828-9804166 or Lynn Sprague at 919414-7840.

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TUBA

SHORT STORIES

christmas

Article submitted by BETSY ZEEK

Merry Tuba Christmas is celebrating its 39th anniversary.

Created by Harvey Phillips, Merry Tuba Christmas 2012 concerts will be presented in more than 250 cities throughout the United States and in several foreign countries.

Phillips was inspired to create Tuba Christmas as an annual event honoring his teacher, the late great tubist William J. Bell, who was born on Christmas Day, 1902.

Every Christmas season, tuba and euphonium players of all ages, from specific geographic areas, gather to pay respect – through William J. Bell – to all the great artists/teachers who represent their heritage.

Every Tuba Christmas performance features traditional Christmas carols especially arranged (for the first Tuba

Christmas, Dec. 22, 1974 on “The Rink at Rockefeller Center”) by American composer Alec Wilder (died Christmas Eve, 1980).

Through Wilder, Tuba Christmas concerts show that players are grateful to composers who have embraced the noble instruments with solo and ensemble compositions.

Depending on the population of any given geographic area, Tuba Christmas ensembles may attract multiples of 100 participants aged 8 to more than 90 years.

The warm, rich organ-like sound of the tuba-euphonium choir has won the ears and hearts of every audience. It is no wonder that Tuba Christmas has become an established Christmas tradition in cities throughout the world.

Tuba Christmas will be performed this year on Dec. 1, at 1:30 p.m., at the Polk County High School.

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SHORT STORIES

Community Chorus For almost 40 years, voices in the foothills have blended to create the tradition of Community Chorus.

This year on Sunday, Dec. 9 a chorus of more than 100 singers will fill the Polk High School Auditorium with familiar Christmas carols. These newly arranged songs will bring a festive sparkle to your season, accompanied by a touching, funny and ultimately spiritual tale of St. Nicholas.

“It’s a great group of people that come together and love to sing,” said director Mark Schweizer.

“There really is a lot of community in there when everyone comes together.”

In the spring of 1973, the Rotary Club of Tryon recruited singers from all over the community to present the “Rotary Festival of Music.”

In 1976, the Chorus was established on a permanent basis to provide a voice in the selection of the director and content of programs.

The Rotary Chorus evolved into the Community Chorus, which is now more “community”

Teresa Batson as Lucy; Bruce Schoonmaker as St. Nicholas; and Cheryl Greene as Juliet.

than ever with singers coming from Saluda to Campobello to Rutherfordton.

The Chorus has been diligently preparing every Monday night since Oct. 1 under the music leadership of Dr. Mark Schweizer and Pam McNeil and the Chorus President Lee Lindsay.

All ticket sales ($10) proceeds go the Rotary Scholarship Fund.

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FOOTHILLS FEATURED

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Tryon Half marathon

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Almost 200 runners came out for the inaugural Tryon Half Marathon at Harmon Field Saturday, Nov. 17. The event was sponsored by the Tryon Running Club and benefited Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry. Dozens of volunteers came out to man water stations, prepare breakfast and cheer on runners as they finished the course.

1. Alyssa Hall, John Hendrix, Ciera Belue, Sarah Cash, Samantha Warers and Carol Browning.

2. Penny Dean and Shirley Bradley.

3. Elena and Noah Greve.

4. Margaret Marrano, Laura Phelps - Tryon Running Club president, and Scarlette Tapp.

5. Amy and Pat Turner.

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Kiwanis Installation Dinner The Kiwanis Club of Tryon held its annual officer inductions and end of year banquet Thursday, Sept. 24.

The club’s newly elected president is Sue Watson. Kiwanian of the Year was Kathy Romich who initiated the creation of a local Aktion Club.

1. Virginia and Chuck Davis.

2. Lee and Jeaneen Cobourn 3. Rosemary Pleune and Bob Weiner 4. Jack and Linda Campbell 5. Mary and Howard Greene 6. Ed and Pat Komorous

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Hospice Boots & Bling

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The second annual gala to benefit Hospice House of the Carolina Foothills was held at the Hospice Thrift Barn in Landrum on Nov. 3. To the surprise of all the guests, it was beautifully transformed into the Red Rose Dance Hall. The Funktion of Greenville provided music, while Granata’s of Greer catered the food.

1. John Boyle, Trip Hoffman and Cindy Boyle 2. Patty and Dale Holl 3. Sally Radekevich, Pam Solberg and Marsha Rigney 4. Jo Ann and Marion McMillan, honorary chairs 5. Joanie and Roger Newman 6. Delia Tittle, Joe and Denise Boals

FOOTHILLS FEATURED

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Polk County High School Career Fair 1.Andrew Suver-Brown, Sarah Cash, Alexis Porter, PJ Wasman and Katherine Barker. 2. Emma Wagoner and Anamarie Gundersen. 3. Christina Witherspoon, Heather Blackwell and Elizabeth Walker. 4. Brittany Perrin and Brandy Daugherty. 5. Grace Marshall and Danielle Holtz.

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FOOTHILLS FEATURED

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10 6. Alana Fongemie, Logan Bates and Wilkey Nelon 7. Cody Halford and Elijah Nonamaker 8. Genevieve Gary, Malynne Petoia and Sara Berg. 9. Rhonda Hill and Moira Davis. 10. Michaela Villecco, Skye Yarborough, Makenna DeVere and Cora Robinson

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CROP Walk The 2012 Foothills CROP Walk against local and worldwide hunger was held at Harmon Field, Sunday, Nov. 4. CROP stands for Citizens Responding to Overcome Poverty. The local event worked to raise funds to provide food to people in need in the foothills area.

1. Andrea and Juniper Walter.

2. Pam Doty and Ann Cornay.

3. Makenzie White, Samantha Metcalf and Sarah Phipps.

4. Alaina and Amelia McCall.

5. Claire Carey amd Carol Newton.

6. Sadie McKaig and Alice Tennant.

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Gowensville Fall Festival

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Community members gathered on a beautiful fall day Saturday, Nov. 10 for the annual Gowensville Fall Festival. All of the money raised from the event goes for maintenance of the Gowensville Community Center, which was built in 1922 and served as the elementary school until mid-50s.

1. Fall Festival Chair Marie Kraft, center, with Paul and Virginia Maclure.

2. Frank Good and Mike Atkins 3. Dr. Chad Rickenbaker, pastor of First Baptist, Gowensville, with David and Rachel 4. Tom Henderson, Penny Dean, Liz Mossina and Caroline Rollins 5. Mary Greene, Kay Smith and Linda Smith 6. John and Annette Hunter 7. Mary Anna Childers DE CEMBER 2 0 1 2

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Saluda School Blue Ribbon Night Saluda Elementary School was named one of only 7,110 schools in the nation to ever receive the designation of a National Blue Ribbon School. Teachers, students and parents celebrated with a festival Friday, Nov. 16.

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1. Eliza and Catherine Then.

2. Jacob, Marci, Joshua and Rebecca Cannon.

3. Jerad, Zayne and Karie McFalls.

4. Grayson Bradley, Fair and Tucker Waggoner.

5. Jeff, Tracy, Ashlynn, Talon and Rider Ramsey.

6. Principal Ronette Dill, Ben Kellar and Tyler Harris.

7. James and Aiden Hrynyshyn and Mary O. Ratcliffe.

8. Lillian, Bryan and Katie Mundy.

9. Jennifer and Georgia O'Rear.

10. Emily, Zachary and Abigail Garcia.

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FEATURE FASCINATED BY FLIGHT

Fascinated by flight 22 LIFEI NO URFO O THI L L S. C O M

FEATURE

This page: Left, Screech Owl in nesting box. Right, Sharp-Shinned Hawk hunting. Opposite page: Great Blue Heron.

Written by LENETTE SPROUSE Photographs by LENETTE SPROUSE

It's no wonder bird watching is the fastest growing recreational activity in the world.

A little over one-fifth of the United States' population consider themselves bird watchers, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Study. Some 48 million Americans call themselves birders; 88 percent of those are backyard birders.

Birders come in all ages, some beginning at a very young age, getting a bit more serious by the age of 16, with the main thrust being 50 years and above. Some are highly educated, others haven’t finished school, but each enjoys the sighting of a Harrison hawk on the wing.

Birders boost the economy, spending an average of some $32 billion in retail a year. Money spent

on field guides, binoculars, bird food, birdhouses, boats, transportation, guides and other direct birding expenses. Twenty million or so of those who watch birds took trips with guides to see birds in other parts of the country or world. You could say birders keep the economy soaring in an upward direction creating 800,000 jobs within the field of birding.

This year the 113th Annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count will take place Dec. 14 thru Jan. 5, 2013, giving an opportunity for all local birders to assist in the longest running citizen science surveys in the world while still enjoying, and some even discovering, their romance with birds.

The bird count was born from a pre-turn of the century tradition known as the Christmas “Side Hunt” where folks would choose sides and go afield with their guns: whoever brought in the biggest pile of feathered

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FASCINATED BY FLIGHT

“The new birder is filled with questions of whose song was that or what bird is that and the more experienced birder indentifying and seeing at times more birds due to the queries.”

- Simon Thompson

24 LIFE INO URFO O T HI L L S. C O M

(and furred) quarry won.

Conservation was in its infancy around the turn of the 20th century, and many observers and scientists grew concerned with the declining bird populations due to these hunts.

Beginning on Christmas day, 1900, ornithologist Frank Chapman, an early officer in the then budding Audubon Society, proposed a new holiday tradition a “Christmas Bird Census” that would count birds in the holidays rather than hunt them.

The first year 27 dedicated birders formed 25 bird counts tallying a total of 90 species counted. Most recent counts garner 2,200 collective tallied sheets submitted to the Audubon with more than 60,000 participants.

A staggering 61,359,451 birds were tallied that included 646 species.

Geoff LeBaron from the National Audubon Society says, “The Christmas Bird Count epitomizes Audubon’s approach to bird conservation, involving people to help birds.”

Simon Thompson, the organizer of last year’s Christmas Bird Count and owner of Wild Birds Unlimited in Asheville, said Lake Lanier is the axis of the circle studied with a 7.5-mile radius on all sides.

“Last year, 25 local folks in the area participated in the field excursions with many more folks watching their own backyard feeders and tallying,” he said.

Thompson also suggests, “It’s a great time for new birders to be staged with experienced birders during the count. The new birder is filled with questions of whose song was that or what bird is that and the more experienced birder answering and seeing at times more birds due to the queries.”

Thompson said this area is one of his favorite places to go birding, with FENCE toping his list. He was just there this past week and began enthusiastically listing the groups’ sightings.

“We saw Merlin (which is a small falcon) last weekend, and noted 40 other species including a Brown Creeper,” he said.

He spots birds by listening and said once you hear the calls, you can identify the bird and usually site them as well.

Jackson Park in Hendersonville is another of Thompson’s favorite spots to bird, as well as Warrior Mountain, where he last spotted a cerulean warbler. A delicate little hard to see sky-blue and white bird a bit smaller than the common chick a dee with a Buzzy notes call ending in a higher pitched trill, "zee zee zee zizizizi eeet."

Many birders enjoy a vast variety of bird species from their backyard feeders.

Tayloe Rogers from Wild Birds Unlimited in HenOpposite page: Samantha Willis, a young birder.

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Immature Bald Eagle.

dersonville said, “For the new birder to attract a variety of birds to their backyard feeder one needs a good blend of high quality seed with a high count of black oil seeds,” she adds. “A suet block is a must for attracting woodpeckers, always a fun bird to watch for new birders and old alike.”

Norma Siebenheller has been watching birds for some 40 years now. She said birding gives her a sense of discovery.

“There’s always something new to look at even in your own backyard. Once you learn the names it’s only the beginning of this love affair,” Siebenheller said.

“The behavior of each species and who migrates and who doesn’t… who eats what or who are all what makes me keep watching.”

Siebenheller recommends to the new birder first and foremost, a good field guide; she is partial to the Peterson guides for beginners as they are simple to use.

“There are apps for our new fangled electronic

Modular and Portable Horse Barns Free delivery to Polk County

A loons back.

devices now that not only identify birds but share their calls as well,” she said.

She also suggests a good pair of binoculars. The rest, she said, comes from curiosity and an eagerness to watch and learn.

Each birder has a different and enthusiastic reason for birding. Lyle Campbell, the leader of the Spartanburg Christmas Bird count, said, "the journey of birding is half the fun."

Whether you’re walking in the woods and stumble on a mink as his family did recently, or simply walking in Croft State Park searching for the nesting pair of bald eagles the park enjoys, one is always discovering.

“The more you are aware of the diversity of life around you, the richer your life is for it,” Campbell said.

All this talk about birding forced my binoculars to my hands and found me strolling briefly in my wooded property. My presence did not seem to disturb the Great Blue Herons fishing endeavors on the pond. Nor did the Hawk in the Popular leave its watchful perch in the tree.

Nestled in one of the larger birding boxes, yellow eyes all bright, a small screech owl found days resting place.

Decorating the hemlock still as a Christmas tree ornament, a Luna moth rested, an added bonus to my brief birding adventure.

Grab your binoculars and field guide and become a citizen scientist, and you’ll discover why birding is the fastest growing hobby in the Nation. •

For more information on the Christmas Bird count go to www.carolinabirdclub.org/christmas/ for dates, and contacts nearest you.

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PILOTS N PAWS

A happy co-pilot holds this furry friend who is more than ready to be rescued and whisked off to a forever home.

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FEATURE

Pilots & Paws Written by SAMANTHA HURST Photographs by KATHY TOOMEY

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PILOTS N PAWS

This boxer dons a red bandana as it waits to make way to its new home.

One of the pilots stands on the wing of his airplane; one of 60 that assisted in flying more than 300 animals to new homes up north.

Opposite page: Top: One eager passenger looks out the window of his flying chariot as he and his pilot await their turn to take off.

Bottom: The crew Kathe Burklow, Dana Mayer, Emmy Summers, Stephen King, Doug and Carolyn Weir (pilot and co-pilot) and Emily Clark.

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Tales wagging, 319 fuzzy and furry dogs and cats, including 25 from Polk County, boarded more than 60 planes and traveled north in September as part of the PilotsNPaws “Dog is my co-pilot” rescue flyaway.

“People were on the verge of crying; ok, some of them we’re crying as plane after plane took off,” said Foothills Humane Society (FHS) Rescue Coordinator Dana Mayer.

PilotsNPaws is an organization Landrum resident Debi Boies co-founded four years ago after a close friend and pilot helped Boies and her husband transport their rescued Doberman, Brock, from Florida to South Carolina.

That friend sparked the idea for PilotsNPaws and in 2011 the group assisted in transporting at least 12,000 animals.

In its most simple form, PilotsNPaws serves as a forum to get animals in need to people in need of animals. More than 12,000 registered users – at least one in every state – have become connected with the program and helped in some way.

“We organize the effort and put the resources out there but these people take it upon themselves to work together,” Boies said.

The rescue flyaway, considered the largest dog rescue event in the United States, is just one of many concentrated efforts the group makes every year to empty shelters.

Sixty planes took off one by one Saturday, Sept. 29 transporting animals to areas where adoption would be more likely.

Boies, of Landrum, said describing the flyaway is near impossible.

“It’s witnessing the best of humanity all in one place,” Boies said. “Some pilots fly five, six, seven hundred miles and spend the night to do this. Others drive long hours to get the dogs there. It's hard to put into words because it’s a feeling that is life changing.”

Boies said she can never be sure of the exact number each year because many of the pilots connected to the organization use the network to transport hundreds of animals on their own.

“They are amazing, truly an amazing group of people,” FHS Executive Director Selena Coffey said of PilotsNPaws volunteers.

FHS eagerly latched onto the project in an effort to thin out the crowd of animals consistently filling its shelter.

“We stay at capacity all the time,” said Coffey. “It would suit us if we could be involved with every flight [PilotsNPaws] takes because it helps us get more out at one time, freeing up space.”

FHS transported 23 dogs and two kittens to the Charlotte Monroe Executive Airport to travel to new homes that day.

The maximum number of animals the state of North Carolina allows shelters to hold is 50 dogs and 75 cats. Coffey said

FEATURE

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CULLEN PILOTS &SANCTUARY PAWS

Foothills Humane Society board members Emily Clark and Kathy Toomey (left) prepare animals for lift off along with FHS Rescue Coordinator Dana Mayer (holding puppy) and volunteer Emmy Summer as a pilot patiently waits.

Pilot and co-pilot look out at a drizzling sky but don’t let it dampen their spirits as they head off for the dog’s new home.

by Monday after the PilotsNPaws event, the shelter was almost near its max yet again.

“At some points it feels like our community is saturated with animals. What [coordinating with PilotsNPaws] allows us to do is let someone else take the time to do more stringent screenings for owners through home visits so the animals don’t end up back in the shelter.”

The animals that PilotsNPaws moves through flight are animals from high euthanasia areas where responsible pet ownership may not be practiced, Boies said.

“Our goal essentially is not to be needed,” Boies said. “I want to put PilotsNPaws out of business. Unfortunately I’ll never see that happen in my lifetime and probably not for some time after. So, what we have to do is educate people.”

She said a lot of people just don’t know the number of euthanizations that are going on in the country, nor the archaic measures that are being used to perform the euthanizations.

“For every shelter that we pick to empty out for a day … their shelter fills right back up the next day,” Boies said. “You feel really good about it for the day but then you realize how many animals are still out there that need help.”

The frustrating thing, Boies said, is that, “it’s a completely curable problem.”

Mayer said FHS does its best to find good homes for the animals that come through, but said for some animals the only solution is to go through a rescue organization.

“Without them we couldn’t save lives,” she said.

Mayer said the shelter worked with rescue organizations up north to send pictures of their animals so that those sent via PilotsNPaws would quickly find homes.

The rescues FHS worked with included Badass Brooklyn Rescue, Forever Home, Furry Friends, Chicago ARF, Castle of Dreams and Pet Resq – all located in places like New York, Illinois and New Jersey.

Volunteers also made sure the animals were adoption ready when they arrived.

“This took a whole lot of folks' help to make this work,” said Mayer, “Foothills’ staff was great about getting the animals vetted and ready, our fabulous fosters kept many of our animals until their flight to make room at the shelter, a volunteer groomer, Valory Langley made our pups more presentable, and I certainly could not have accomplished this without our board members and volunteers.” •

To learn more about Foothills Humane Society and their efforts locally to save animals, you can visit www. foothillshumanesociety.org or call 828-863-4444.

Keep up with PilotsNPaws efforts follow their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pilotsnpawsfanpage or the organization’s website www.pilotsnpaws.org.

FEATURE

“Our goal essentially is not to be needed.

I want to put PilotsNPaws out of business...

So, what we have to do is educate people.”

- Debi Boies

CULLEN PET TRAINING SANCTUARY

PET Training

Adjusting to instincts Answered by PAT THORNE Photographs submitted

Q A

How can I stop my dog from pulling me around on the leash? He either pulls me forward or tries to take the leash from me by pulling it with his mouth.

First of all dogs learn to pull because we allow it the first time. They learn very quickly that if they pull we follow. They are rewarded with moving forward and gaining ground. Success!

Try this instead.

Do not even put the leash on your dog until he is calm. Simply stand there and wait, saying nothing until he calms himself down. Only then should the leash be put on. If he acts up again drop the leash and ignore him. Once he focuses on you again pick up the leash and go to open the door. If he lunges for the door then shut the door. Continue shutting the door until he stays put and lets you go out first with him following. If he lunges forward again, stop walking. He will only gain ground and movement (his reward) if the leash is loose.

A tight leash equals standing still and ignoring him. If he tugs on the leash with his mouth drop the leash and stand on it and ignore him. Once he looses interest start the walk again. A loose leash equals the reward of moving forward. Keep in mind it may take half an hour to even get out the door the first time. Practice in your driveway first before moving on to a walk with distractions.

Once you see your dog understands the concept of the loose leash only then should you venture out further with distractions. In the end, we want our dogs to choose their behavior because it benefits them not because we are forcing them by yanking on their leashes and punishing them for something we never taught them.

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COLUMN

Q

My puppy will sometimes growl at me when I go to pet him while he is chewing a bone. He seems to do it only if it's a highly prized item like a raw bone. He is fine with his food dish. I am worried he will not drop

an object for me that could be harmful to him. I don't like owning a dog that would growl at me or possibly bite. I don't want to be afraid of my own dog.

A

Deanna Baldwin and Leo.

Why is it we expect our dogs to be completely void of the instincts they were born with? We expect them to be respectful of our food yet we are not respectful of theirs. We would never dream of going up to a cat with a fresh kill and tell him to hand it over! That cat would claw, bite and growl if you even got near his kill.

We seem to be ok with a cat's instincts and understand they are just protecting their kill. That same cat will be purring and cuddling with you hours later and would not dream of growling at you for simply taking away it's food bowl 20 minutes later.

It would also be totally irrational for you to then be afraid of your cat because of that incident would it not?

I am often asked, "what if I have to get something away from my dog that is life threatening?" What would that be and where would they get it? If it's in the home it should not have been left out where your dog could get it anyway. We childproof our homes the same way. If it is outdoors your dog should not be loose without your supervision. If you are out on a walk or hiking and your dog picks up a piece of food or a dead animal I guarantee it won't kill him. If that is a concern of yours he should be on a leash and you should pay close attention to your surroundings as you would with a child.

It is highly unlikely that he will pick up a piece of glass or a pair of sharp scissors and run with them. I am poking fun at this but realistically the best thing we can do is teach our dog the command, drop it. We do this by asking him to drop his toy for example in trade for a piece of cheese or chicken. Trade him one for the other while at the same time giving it a name called “drop it.� Whatever you are trading him for needs to be of higher value than what he has.

If your dog has something you don't want him to have I guarantee a fresh piece of cheese or chicken will be his first choice. He will soon be more than willing to drop something for you when asked. Don't ever expect your piece of chicken to smell better than his raw bone you just gave him which is now his, remember, you gave it to him.

Respect your dog's instincts and be happy your dog gives a growl which is only asking you to please respect what he has and let him be. We should all have the right to express ourselves in a non-violent way if it means keeping the peace between us.

BOTTLE TREE

A special BottleTree piece of artwork graces kegs of BottleTree Blonde now dispersed.

36 L IFEINO URFO O T HI L L S. C O M

Cutline.

FEATURE

BOT T L E

TREE The science of a great brew Written by SAMANTHA HURST Photographs by DOUG DICKERSON

Fred Block’s new BottleTree Red Ale found success earlier this year as it captured the People’s Choice Award at the 2012 Savannah Craft Brew Fest in September. Craft brewing enthusiasts caught on to the quality of Block’s brews locally two years ago, allowing the brand to build quite the local following.

Block started homebrewing in 2002 while studying for an engineering exam on thermodynamics.

“I honestly had no idea how beer was made at that point,” Block said.

After stumbling on information about the process of thermodynamics in relation to beer, Block was intrigued. He said he likely spent 600 hours early on in his interest just researching the science of brewing.

“Everyone has a different reason [for homebrewing] but for me it started out as an interest in building the system,” Block said.

He enjoyed the drawing and planning out of the brewing system most of all.

Block said he unfortunately never found it easy to find all the information he was seeking.

So, little by little he would find a snippet here and a snippet there – putting the pieces together like a puzzle until he had mapped out a plan to build his own homebrewing system.

The system he created is three-tiered and 12 feet tall. He spent nine months on the system before even brewing his first batch.

When he did brew his first Block didn’t do so on stovetop with a kit like many first-timers.

No, he went straight to all-grain through his homemade system. In fact, Block had never even

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BOTTLE TREE

Bottom left: A display inside La Bouteille puts the BottleTree theme to use and welcomes in new visitors. Opposite page: Fred Block felt the spirit of Southern culture that bottletrees evoke was exactly the right fit for the feel and theme of his brewing company's brand.

38 LIFEI NO URFO O T HI L L S. C O M

seen anyone brew a batch stovetop or otherwise in person.

He also skipped past the bottling of his beer from the get-go. This homemade brewing system he created was made to fill commercial-sized kegs.

Again the science of brewing captured Block’s curiosity.

“When I made my first beer, I was not prepared for it fermenting,” Block said. “When I first saw it churn, I was just really fascinated by how all the cells went to work.”

Hitting success with that first batch – a ginger pale ale – sparked Block’s interest further. Block captured first place in his category in West Virginia that year at the Mountain Brewers open and first place in his category at an event in Alpharetta, Ga. Block made a different recipe with each batch thereafter trying, he said, to learn as much about the process that he could. He did so every six to eight weeks from 2003 to 2005.

Fred, his wife Shelly, and their kids, moved to Campobello from Atlanta at the end of 2005.

His enthusiasm was reinvigorated then when he stumbled across the Upstate Brewtopians. Block still hadn’t even seen someone else brew a batch of beer until about 2007 after attending a homebrewers club.

“I realized, ‘Wow, you can learn a lot being around other people who brew,’” he said. “I got around a whole lot of other people who had the same passion. It was the best thing that could have happened.”

A BIG GAMBLE Block began his research again; trying this time to determine just how much he’d need to invest to move his beer commercially. He soon realized the costs of doing so would be astronomical.

“I worried I could lose everything if I were to strike out on my own,” he said.

And that’s when he began looking into contract brewing. Going this route would allow BottleTree to grab the same breaks on costs of things like bottles and labels that a larger company could get.

Block made the move to create his pilot batch in April 2010 though this meant taking a big risk.

To get things going initially he had to buy all sorts of things in large supply – 21,000 six packs and 3,000 cases – as well as hire artists to complete artwork, all with no distributors yet lined up.

FEATURE

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BOTTLE BOTTLE TREE TREE

Both of Block's brews, BottleTree Blonde and BottleTree Amber, have captured awards including the red's recent People's Choice award in Savannah. Opposite page: Two La Bouteille customers enjoy a few BottleTree beers.

Block and the marketing manager at Thomas Creek Brewery spent an entire evening wrapping bottles with labels and stuffing them in boxes with empty six-pack boxes and a personalized letter to entice distributors.

“I needed someone to come back because if no one picked us up, we were dead in the water,” he said. “I was really under the gun.”

Brewing one batch equaled 11 pallets or 770 cases of beer and a lot of personal investment.

Of the 20 packages sent out, two came back interested. Now when a batch is brewed a bit less perspiration drips from Block’s forehead because now he knows the batch is sold and where it’s headed before it’s brewed.

BottleTree Blonde recently sent out batch No. 10. Block came out with BottleTree Red in March 2011, with its second

40 L IFEINO URFO O T HI L L S. C O M

batch about to hit shelves.

it would take hold, Charleston gets it, he said.

BUILDING A BRAND “They’ve made the connection; they’ve In 2002, Block and wife, Shelly, took a made the connection with the whole histrip to Savannah, soaking in the old South- tory and tradition of it all,” Block said. ern architecture and atmosphere while on People here in the Carolina foothills get a carriage ride. Along the way, Block’s eyes it too. They also get Block and are proud fell on something that sparked his interest. to carry a local man’s entrepreneurial “The moment I saw the bottle trees it dream. Barry Flood, owner of Tryon Thewas instant – I knew that was it. I knew I’d ater, was one of the first to carry Bottleuse that as the name for my beer,” he said. Tree bottles. Melanie Talbot of Green Eventually an old friend created an River Barbecue meanwhile was the first to oil painting of a bottle tree and sent him carry the beer on draft. a photo – that painting sparked Block to Fred and Shelly opened their wine begin creating concepts for the beer’s logo. and beer shop La Bouteille in downtown The tree in BottleTree’s logo remains an Tryon in February 2010 after beginning exact trace of the tree in the painting. renovations on their location just two “I wanted to have BottleTree to mean months earlier. This was also in the midst something to someone,” Block said. of Fred pursuing the launch of his brew.

While Block said the historical South“I can’t quite explain the moment when ern connection wasn’t grasped as well in you finally jump off the deep end. Once areas of New Orleans, where he thought we said ‘jump’ we did it,” Fred said.

FEATURE WHERE IT GOES FROM HERE Block plans for the Red to now be a seasonal fall beer and said if the brand’s success increases. Eventually he said he’d love to take this dream as far as opening his own brewpub.

“There were periods of time when I thought, ‘There is no way this will ever happen,’ and then periods when I said, ‘Okay, maybe this could happen,’” Fred said.

And it has. Although Bottle Tree hasn’t hit the peak of success Block is looking for, it has captured quite the following and is growing off the word of mouth from fans.

Block feels like those fans and the foothills the area have given back to him in huge ways.

“To me the whole story is this – it’s community coming in and supporting small business. That’s the only way an idea like this will work.” •

r o f d e r a p e r p e B ! r a e y s i h t r e t win • •

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4234 Hwy 9 South • Tryon • 828.863.4500 • www.facebook.com/littlemountainfs

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CALVERT'S KITCHEN

Calvert’s

kitchen “It’s good, clean fun.

It’s good for the soul.”

42 LIFEI NO URFO O THI L L S. C O M

FEATURE

Written by LEAH JUSTICE Photographs by LEAH JUSTICE

What began as a guitar shop has turned into Polk County’s down home, country cooking hang out.

People of all walks of life visit Calvert's Kitchen, located in downtown Columbus to get their daily or weekly dose of country cooking.

Kim and Randall Calvert opened the restaurant on Aug. 1, 2001 after opening a guitar shop next door in 1998. Randall says when the restaurant took over they closed the guitar shop.

He said they opened the restaurant simply because they, “wanted some good food to eat.”

The menu includes items like chicken or beef fried steak, fried chicken livers, hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken tenderloins, fish, shrimp, soups, sandwiches and salads.

Daily specials are a signature at the restaurant and every day side items include mashed potatoes, baked apples, applesauce, green beans, pinto beans, French fries, slaw and onion rings.

Most from the area have eaten at Calvert's with many regulars who visit daily or weekly.

Real estate agent Dale Hamilton and mechanics Heath Jackson and Ronnie Dotson often meet for a bite at Calvert's.

The trio says they come for the good food and entertainment.

Hamilton said even the proprietor entertains the group with Jackson saying people get a little music with their food at Calverts.

“We have a large time in here,” Dotson said.

Others who frequent Calvert's include the Anna Sunday School class from Coopers Gap Baptist Church. The group meets at Calvert's every time one of the members celebrates a birthday.

On Nov. 13, the special day was for Linda Odel and Glenda Jackson’s birthdays, with the table decorated and the women all wearing birthday hats.

Frances Ruff said the group likes the food and loves that the restaurant doesn’t serve alcoholic beverages.

“They even let me come in early so I can decorate before the parties,” Ruff said.

Jane Searcy from the class said she enjoys the times she has at Calvert's.

“It’s good, clean fun,” Searcy said. “It’s good for the soul.” •

Top: Ladies celebrate birthdays at Calvert's regularly. Middle: Left to right: Calvert's owner, Randall Calvert, Keith Jackson, Dale Hamilton and Ronnie Dotson. Bottom left: Sandwich, fries and potato salad are just a few of the items offered at Calvert's. Bottom right: Humorous signs in Calvert's give a little insight to the personality of the Calvert's crew.

Calverts Kitchen, located at 306 East Mills Street, Columbus, is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. until 8 p.m.

The restaurant is closed on Sundays. Call 828-894-0268 for more information.

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FOOD FOR FOODIES

Farm

fresh fun with appetizers

Recipes provided by CAROL LYNN JACKSON

No matter what you are celebrating this season, there's a good chance that food will play a major role in your celebration. This season, really celebrate by enjoying a local twist to your holiday appetizers!

Try the following recipes and note which ingredients are easily sourced locally. Tis the season to support your health and community while enjoying local delights.

Items available for purchase locally are noted.

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Cut and keep.

COLUMN

Local Smoked-Trout and Cream Cheese Toasts serves 10 4 ounces cream cheese, softened 1 small shallot, minced 1 tablespoon chopped chives, plus 1-inch lengths, for garnish (a local herb garden) 1 tablespoon chopped drained capers 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice Salt and freshly ground pepper 5 English muffins—split, toasted and buttered *Wildflour Bakery, Saluda.

1/2 pound skinless smoked trout fillet, coarsely chopped 1. In a bowl, combine the cream cheese, shallot, chopped chives, capers and lemon juice.

Season with salt and pepper.

2. Spread the English muffins with the caper cream cheese.

Top with the smoked trout, garnish with the chive pieces and serve.

Swedish Caviar Cake serves 8 1 3/4 cups whole milk 3/4 teaspoon salt Butter, for greasing 1 cup crème fraîche 1/2 cup finely chopped red onion

5 large eggs *Manna Cabanna, Saluda.

3 tablespoons red caviar, such as trout roe (about 2 ounces) 3 tablespoons black caviar, such as paddlefish roe (about 2 ounces) 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh dill *Mill Spring Farm Store Freshly ground pepper

1. In a small saucepan, bring the milk to a boil over moderately high heat. Immediately remove from the heat, stir in the salt and let cool to warm.

2. Preheat the oven to 325 and butter an 11-by-7-inch glass or ceramic baking dish. In a medium saucepan, bring 1 quart of water to a simmer.

3. In a large bowl, whisk the cooled milk with the eggs until smooth. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and cover tightly with aluminum foil. Set the dish in a roasting pan and pour enough of the simmering water into the roasting pan to reach about halfway up the side of the baking dish. Transfer the roasting pan to the middle of the oven. Bake the custard for about 30 minutes, until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Transfer the baking dish to a rack and remove the foil. Let the custard cool completely, then refrigerate for about 1 hour, until chilled.

4. Spread the crème fraîche in an even layer over the cooled custard. Spoon the onion, the red caviar and the black caviar over the crème fraîche in alternating diagonal rows. Sprinkle the caviar cake with the dill, season with pepper and serve.

Make Ahead: The caviar cake can be made through Step 3, covered and refrigerated overnight.

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Fried Goat Cheese Balls with Honey serves 8 One 10-ounce log of fresh goat cheese Canola oil, for frying 3 cups panko (Japanese bread crumbs), lightly crushed 1/4 cup cornstarch Salt 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 large egg, lightly beaten *Wildflour Bakery, Saluda.

1 cup club soda Honey, chopped roasted pistachios and freshly ground pepper, for serving *Mill Spring Farm Store and roadside stands 1. Cut the goat cheese log into 16 pieces and roll each piece into a ball. Refrigerate the balls on a wax paper–lined baking sheet until firm, about 10 minutes.

2. In a bowl, whisk the egg and club soda. Gradually whisk in the flour and cornstarch and season with salt. Spread the panko in a shallow bowl. Dip the goat cheese balls in the egg batter, then dredge in the panko. Coat the balls again in egg batter and panko. Return them to the baking sheet and freeze just until firm, about 15 minutes.

3. In a large saucepan, heat 2 inches of canola oil to 375 degrees. Working in batches, fry the cheese balls over high heat, turning occasionally, until golden and crisp, about 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the balls to a paper towel–lined plate and season with salt. Transfer the cheese balls to a platter, drizzle with honey and sprinkle with pistachios and pepper. Serve hot.

Beet and Burrata Crostini makes 12 1 pound medium beets, preferably Chioggia *LEAP Farm at Mill Spring Farm Store 1 baguette, cut crosswise into forty 1/4-inch-thick slices 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing

*LaBouteille Wine & Beer Boutique, Tryon.

Salt and freshly ground pepper 9 ounces burrata, cut into 40 pieces Snipped chives, for garnish (a nearby herb garden) 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the beets in a small roasting pan and add 1/4 inch of water.

Cover the pan with foil and bake for about 1 hour, until the beets are tender. Let cool completely.

2. Increase the oven temperature to 400 degrees. Arrange the baguette slices on two large cookie sheets and brush with extravirgin olive oil. Bake for about 10 minutes, until the bread is crisp.

3. Peel the beets and halve them lengthwise, then cut them crosswise into 1/8-inch slices. Transfer the beets to a bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, season with salt and pepper and toss to coat.

4. Top each crostini with a piece of burrata and a beet slice. Garnish with the snipped chives and serve immediately.

46 L IFEINO URFO O THI L L S. C O M

Cut and keep.

FOOD FOR FOODIES

Cut and keep.

FEATURE

Parsnip or Daikon Radish Bacon makes about 15 slices 1 large parsnip or several daikon radish (1/2 pound) *Manna Cabanna, Saluda.

Vegetable oil, for brushing Smoked salt, for sprinkling 1. Using a sharp vegetable peeler, slice a large peeled parsnip lengthwise into thin strips. Brush both sides with vegetable oil and arrange on a parchment paper–lined cookie sheet. Season with smoked salt. Cover with a sheet of parchment and top with another cookie sheet. Bake at 300° for 1 hour and 15 minutes, until crisp. Let cool before serving.

Cashews with crispy sage and garlic makes 2 cups 2 garlic cloves, sliced Olive oil *LaBouteille Wine & Beer Boutique, Tryon.

12 sage leaves plus 1 tablespoon chopped sage (a nearby herb garden) 2 cups raw cashews 1. In a medium skillet, fry sliced garlic cloves in olive oil until lightly golden. Add sage leaves and chopped sage to the skillet and cook until crisp; drain on paper towels. Add raw cashews to the skillet and cook, stirring, until golden; drain on paper towels. Toss with the garlic, sage and salt.

Let cool, then serve.

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COUNTRY LIVING

tidings of COMFORT

& JOY

Written by GILLIAN DRUMMOND

48 LIFEI NO URFO O T HI L L S. C O M

5

COLUMN

When we please the senses,

The spirit of Christmas – the quintessential time of American abundance, of believing that “most is best.” However, there are those of us that feel this time of year is overwhelming, either from lack of time, sad memories or expectations not met. Even if we have a bit of the Scrooge in us, we still all yearn for feelings of comfort and joy.

This can be achieved through simplicity.

Not every inch of our home and our garden has to be decorated. We can certainly enjoy and admire those places where the owners have the time, resources and creativity to go all out, but we don’t have to do it ourselves. My recipe for a simple but joyful Christmas is as follows: pick the places in your home where the least effort will have the most impact, and be sure to consider each of the five senses.

I like to start with the front door.

It welcomes me each time I enter my house, and it welcomes my guests too. A beautiful wreath or spray of evergreens with red berries and small pinecones and a red ribbon is my favorite.

My kitchen is next. That’s where I spend a lot of time. Even a wreath or just some fresh greens in a vase make a joyful difference. Other important rooms for me are the living room or family room, where I entertain friends and family. My decorating choices there can be as simple as some fresh greens on the mantel, candles in the windows, and a Christmas tree. A word about the tree – it doesn’t have to be huge. One that stands on a table can be equally effective in gracing a room. In the dining room, I find that just a beautiful centerpiece for the table and lots of candles are a wonderful touch. Please don’t forget the mistletoe!

we feel balanced and whole.

SIGHT

The look of your home in order and enhanced by pleasing decorations. Color makes a big difference here. I like the traditional colors of red and green with gold. Red makes us feel warm and happy, green brings nature indoors, and gold reminds us of the abundance we have in our lives. The glow of tiny lights also reminds us we are part of a vast and wondrous universe.

SOUND

Music, music and more music. Put on any kind of music, but not the same tunes you listen to all year. Music changes your mood and your outlook. Play Christmas music, of course, but also classical and traditional choices, like beautiful opera arias or upbeat Latin sounds. Experiment and find music that brings you joy.

TASTE

What an abundance of delicacies there are out there this time of year! We all know what taste can do for us. Just think of how your mood changes when you eat something like chocolate. Again, I like to keep it simple. My preference is to have one special item at each meal – except Christmas dinner, of course! Any other time, if you are having guests, don’t try to make every dish you offer something extravagant. My special item: smoked salmon. Decide what specialty item will transform your meal, and then relax about the rest of the dishes.

TOUCH

The warm, cozy feel of a down quilt on a cold winter’s night. I love the soft feel of a wool or cashmere throw across my lap while I take an afternoon nap in front of the fire. The fluffiness of a thick cotton towel after a long bath, the luxury of a silk nightgown as it slides over skin – these are delightful pleasures. The things we touch or that touch us definitely bring us comfort and joy.

SMELL

Last but not least. The smell of pine from your tree and greens, of wood smoke from your fireplace, cookies baking in the oven, or lavender in your bath water after a long, busy day – each of these truly brings us comfort and joy.

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COUNTRY LIVING

“Do you remember when we got this ornament... where that one came from.”

Gift Certificates Available

The secret in blending these touches is to be an alchemist and mix together the items that create a sensuous environment. As you think about what enhances the five senses, think also about another joyful part of Christmas – memories.

My favorite holiday memory is of Christmas Eve. This is when we gathered as a family to trim the tree. Supper was a simple meal of fish stew, French bread, salad, and fruit. We played old traditional Scottish and English Christmas music while we unwrapped all the precious decorations that had been collected since my grandparents’ time. Then we hung each one on the tree with stories of “do you remember when we got this ornament… where that one came from?”

After the tree was finished, we sat in front of the fire, the adults drinking champagne, the children sparkling cider, and everyone savoring marzipan and petite fours. When it was time to go to bed we did so, truly, in comfort and joy.

I wish everyone a joyful holiday season and a peaceful and prosperous New Year. • Gillian Drummond is an interior decorator with her design firm in Tryon. You can see her website at www.drummondhouseco.com.

You can reach her at info@drummondhouseco.com or 828-859-9895.

FEATURE

dressing the foothills

Written by SAMANTHA HURST

A fresh breeze blowing through town, Mary Prioleau stands at the ingress of her shop, Tryon House, eagerly awaiting customers in search of new apparel.

“I keep my door open all the time,” Prioleau said.

And she does seven days a week.

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TRYON HOUSE

Inside the N. Trade Street shop one can find anything from T-shirts to dressy collared shirts. Tryon House also carries numerous lines of outer wear such as scarves and hats as well as artisan jewelry and even intimate wear designed by a Tryon native.

Prioleau purchased the shop in January 2008 and immediately set to work expanding its offerings. At the time the only items available through the store included apparel with Tryon’s Morris the Horse proudly displayed.

Those items – coffee mugs, ball caps and napkins – remain in the shop, but now they are for sale along with a mix of high-end but casual clothing.

Prioleau doubled the space in the store by blowing out a back wall. While the existing area provided room enough for women’s clothing and Morris items, the expansion allowed for men’s clothing and dressing rooms as well. The space now displays racks and shelves brimming with cozy knitted sweaters, crisp tartan dress shirts, flowing printed skirts and artisan jewelry.

“My effort was to create ‘the look of the foothills,’” she said.

This look, according to Prioleau, embodies a crisp and classic feel.

She believes people living here want their style to speak

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Mary Prioleau purchasd Tryon House in January 2008 and continues to expand on the store's offerings.

FEATURE

Top left: Bib necklace by Eco Opulence, $85. Top right: Corey and Erin Thompson don styles from Tryon House Apparel. Bills Khakis, $100; Tryon House private label dress shirt, $79; Eidon Hills sweater, $92; Ivy Jane dress $104; gray leggings, $14. Middle left: Peace sign necklace, $75. Bottom left: Fur hat and collar $38 / $36.

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Tryon House offers a variety of Morris the horse memorabilia including Christmas ornaments, hats and T-shirts.

of their lives – high quality but comfortable enough to wear on a simple Saturday stirring about town.

Tryon House carries quality labels such as Ivy Jane, Uncle Frank, Southern Tide and Bills Khakis – all lines suggested by customers. It’s the openness to seek out new lines and the price-point at which they’re sold that Prioleau believes brings her loyal customers back time after time.

“I think that’s the key to my success that I do very low markup on brands people really want and I try to seek things out for people,” she said. “I do my best in that small space to meet the needs of people 18-80.”

Prioleau said she also goes to great effort to carry lines still made in the United States. Many are often created by talented jewelry artists or by entrepenuers like Angela Newman, a Tryon native that created KnockOut! intimate wear for women.

The selection also includes items like JoJo socks, made from recycled water bottles.

Just as the lines she carries are creative, so too are the ways Prioleau tries to draw in customers.

Prioleau and creative assistant Jessica Pierce work hard to catch the eye of visitors on the street through cleverly decorated window displays similar to those seen in any high-end boutique in larger metropolitan areas. Scenes such as a winter cabin get outfitted with items generously offered by The Frog & Swan, as well as Thompson's Professional Landscaping & Garden Gallery. •

Tryon House Apparel is located at 86 North Trade Street in Tryon. The store is open Monday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tuesday - Friday 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Sunday noon - 4 p.m. The store can be reached at 828-859-9962.

It’s about living!

COLUMN

Preserving

Polk history Written by JOE EPLEY Photographs submitted

The closest person Polk County has to an official historian is Anna Pack Conner, a lifelong resident who belies her claim of being retired.

She is an energetic living encyclopedia of the people and events that shaped this county’s history. Her ancestors were among first settlers in the area.

Hundreds of newcomers and natives alike know more about the area thanks to her six-week course on Polk History, her lectures and writings about years past, and the monthly programs she plans for the Polk County Historical Association.

Conner’s ancestors were the Hannons who came to the North Pacolet area with the Earle and Prince families from Virginia around 1760 to carve out new homesteads in this remote wilder-

ness then claimed by the Cherokee Indians. In 1776, William Hannon and several of his children were killed in an Indian raid along the Pacolet River, but three children survived – William, Edwin and Winifred. Anna is descended from Edwin.

This enterprising former public school teacher didn’t know about her family’s distant past until after she retired from 30 years of teaching business classes in Polk County high schools.

“I was pleasantly surprised when I began my first project in retirement – the search of my family genealogy - and found that my ancestors were among the original settlers here,” she said.

“As a result of those early findings, I became entrenched in the history of this area. It gives me a sense of place, and as a retired person, something to be very passionate about.”

Bill Miller, superintendent of Polk County Schools, said Conner made a positive impression of hundreds of kids when she taught business and continues to educate.

“Now, after retirement from the school system, she continues to inspire young people with knowledge of their heritage. Her passion for keeping Polk County history alive has set a wonderful example for continued learning and community involvement,” Miller said.

For the past eight years, Conner has been president of the Polk County Historical Association. She led the drive that created an expanded Polk County history museum now located on Walker Street in Columbus.

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ANNA CONNER

Anna Pack Conner and her husband Neb.

Conner's book, "Tryon: An Illustrated History."

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when he said, “She is the glue that holds us together. Her leadership and passion for history as helped make our museum one of the better ones in the region. Her research and writings have preserved a great deal of Polk County’s history.”

She first joined the association around 1998 when researching her first book, “Tryon: An Illustrated History,” which won the Willie Parker Peace History Book Award from the North Carolina Society of Historians in 2007.

“To tell the story of Tryon, I had to know the full story of the county. The historical association was the best source to expand my knowledge,” she said.

“To Seem or To Be,” her second book, is a collection of short stories and poems. Now she is working on her third book, which should be completed by

mid 2013. It is about the first 100 years of Polk County schools.

For a number of years, Conner wrote a local history column for the Tryon Daily Bulletin (TDB). Her love of writing was influenced greatly by Caroline O’Neal, a former TDB writer who conducted writing workshops at Isothermal Community College (ICC).

In the spring and fall of each year, Conner conducts a six-week course on Polk County history at the history museum for about 10 to 15 people per class. The two-hour sessions, held once a week, take one from learning about the early settlers of county in 1760 on up through the modern era. The modest tuition for the classes goes to support the museum.

Since becoming a historian, she says

COLUMN

Anna Conner’s Polk County History course Anna Conner’s Polk County History courses are taught in March and October of each year.

These consist of six weekly sessions of twohours duration. For more information, contact Conner at the Polk County Historical Museum at 60 Walker Street, Columbus, N.C. or call 828-894-3351.

The Polk County Historical Museum located in the lower level of the Feagan Building in Columbus is open except holidays on Tuesday and Thursdays from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 4 pm. Special tours at other times may be available upon request.

Admission is free.

The association meets at 2:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month with a stimulating program about the area’s history. The free program is open to the public.

her biggest disappointment is not being able to find the papers of incorporation and other details about Mills Springs and Lynn when the two were municipalities.

She is trying to find the names of those who served as mayors when the two communities were incorporated towns and why the communities decided to dissolve their charters.

History is not her only passion. Conner currently is helping organize the Polk County Artisans and Craftsman Guild in order to revive and keep alive the arts and crafts of the past that were essential

to everyday life back in the 18th and 19th centuries, such as quilting, pottery, weaving, etc. She is also a past president of the local American Association of University Women and has held board of director positions for the Tryon Little Theatre, Tryon Fine Arts Center and the ICC Polk Campus Foundation. And she still sets aside time for reading, writing, gardening and cooking.

After her first husband past away, Anna married Neb Conner 12 years ago.

They had known each other since they were teenagers.

“While Neb is not quite as ardent about history as I am, he is very supportive,” she said. “We volunteer one day a month as museum guides, and he fills in at other times when needed.”

Anna has two children: Laura Walker, a physical therapy assistant at St. Luke’s Hospital, and John Gillie with Penny’s Insurance in Lynn. She has four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Her great-granddaughter is the 11th generation to call Polk County home, making her part of the county’s oldest continuing family. •

APPOINTMENTS Your resource for local equestrian events and happenings

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Green Creek Hounds open their season. Photo by Erik Olsen.

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GC HOUNDS

GREEN CREEK HOUNDS opens 22nd season Written by BARBARA CHILDS Photographs by ERIK OLSEN

Margaret Peg Secor desired to get back to the grassroots of foxhunting when she founded the Green Creek Hounds in 1988.

She then said she wanted to provide good sport as the natural part of the rural environment. In 1989, her husband Dick Secor joined her, and a short time later by John Burgess.

The pack was composed of drafts from different hunts and was hunted by the masters and an occasional guest huntsman.

The 1990 hunt was registered with the Masters of Foxhounds Association of America, the governing body of all foxhound clubs.

At that time the Masters sought out Jefferson Tot Goodwin who worked with the hounds for a number of years and whipped-in to Ben Hardaway's Midland Fox Hounds. He was asked to come for a temporary stay. He brought some of his own hounds, which have become the foundation of the hounds today. Tot liked his position so well that he was talked into staying and has been here ever since.

Peg Secor retired after an accident put her on the sidelines for a while. Pat Hale stepped into the role of Master of the Foxhounds and Tot was made the third master.

Green Creek's season goes from cubbing in mid-July through the formal meets in March. Hounds are competed in shows in the southeast through April and May, and mounted walks begin in June on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Tot Goodwin and his hounds lead the way.

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APPOINTMENTS

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GC HOUNDS Rev. Michael Doty of Holy Cross Episcopal Church blesses the hounds one the first day of the Green Creek Hound's official hunt season.

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These walks are open to anyone interested to provide the opportunity to expose young or green horses and inexperienced potential hunters to hounds as they ride in groups. The hunts go out on Tuesdays and Saturdays at 7 a.m. during July and August and then switch to Thursdays and Sundays for the remainder of the season. The cubbing attire is casual polo shirts, breeches or chaps, and schooling helmets are allowed until the formal season begins in November. Most members wear the green hunt shirt with the GCH logo.

The staff wears red shirts, which makes them more easily identifiable.

During formal season a black melton, white shirt, stock tie, breeches and black boots are appropriate for the Sunday hunts. On Thursdays tweed jackets, ratcatcher or turtleneck shirts, breeches and boots are acceptable attire.

The hunt requires approved helmets with harness or chin straps. A signed release waiver and a copy of a negative coggins for each horse ridden is required.

When hunting, Tot requires that guests ride close to him. That gives the field excellent views of hound work and first hand experience with safe and exciting foxhunting. There are three flights. First flight keeps up with the huntsman and takes jumps. Your horse should be fit enough to gallop up and down hills, across streams and be dependable over fences. Second flight stays with the hunt but not as fast and will take smaller logs on a trail to jump. Third flight goes according to the level of horses and riders in that field. This field often has young green horses or older sedate ones. This is a good field for the beginner foxhunters.

In the Green Creek Hounds country native red and grey fox are hunted, coyote and bobcat, too. The hunt country is a medley of hills, streams, logging roads, vineyards, and narrow wooded trails. A long gallop on these trails will bring you out into rolling, grassy fields or a hilltop with breathtaking views. Tot and many of the first flight staff prefer the Thoroughbred with its speed and endurance as they handle the hills and pace of speed well.

The more circumspect riders often ride warmbloods or draft crosses.

The formal season begins on Nov. 19 at 10 a.m. in front of Roger and Jennifer Smith's

APPOINTMENTS

new home. Rev. Michael Dowdy begins the day with the Blessing of the Hounds and a stirrup cup is passed for good cheer.

The hunt has two Tally Ho wagons so spectators may follow the hunt. This is a happy jolly group enjoying beverages and hors deurves as they go. Following the hunt, coffee is served with sweet rolls.

The social membership of the Green Creek Hounds participates in many ways - they are participants for the catered dinners offered by local chefs, and they put on sumptuous breakfasts in the field - sometimes at the refurbished clubhouse or at the Watson House, an old farmhouse restored by Roger and Jennifer Smith and decorated in the traditional English style of gentile country living.

The social group also works hard with fund raisers, garden and clean up on hunt property, and clearing of the hunt trails.

Some love to walk hounds on foot and some help hounds get ready for hound shows. Sage octogenarian, Jerry Dove, is at every hunt helping as a Road Whip by patrolling the roads to make sure hounds do not get hit by cars, as he acts as Tot's eyes and ears when hounds wander where horses cannot go.

Working with Tot and his hounds is an inspiring reward in itself. His quiet, unassuming manner and ways are well known and deeply respected.

Tot determines the best hounds for breeding and from that day they are bonded to him. The absolute devotion

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they hold to him is inspiring. He feds them, cares for their wounds, cleans up after them, and parades them for local fund raisers. The clubhouse displays the many ribbons and awards for outstanding individual hounds and their performance as a pack.

Green Creek Hounds hunts mostly on private lands thanks to the generosity and permission of owners. It is the hunt's duty to be stewards of the lands and respectful of the landowners wishes.

They acknowledge and abide by the right of way of travelers on roads surrounding properties.

The hunt is always happy to welcome guests and encourage any interest one might have in becoming a member. •

AVALON

Using the

Avalon Equine Therapy System

Written by XXX Photographs by XXX

Kent Holden uses the Avalon Equine Therapy System (AETS) to identify problems in horses. The system uses LED and infrared lights to assist the horse’s body back in balance for comfort and better working in its discipline. It is then that the horse can perform at the highest level possible, whether it is for competitive events or pleasure riding.

The AETS is a three-step process, Holden said.

The first step is to apply the “Happy Hat,” this treats the pole area as well as releasing the endorphins and enkephalines that relax the horse.

The second step is to scan the horse and identify all its problems. The scanner is a handheld wand that identifies problem areas by locating where the electrical resistance of a horse's

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body is irregular. This is called direct measurement. When living tissue is damaged there is an immediate drop in electrical resistance at that location, and the scanner measures this drop and will beep indicting a problem area. Then these spots are marked with a green crayon.

The scanner also indicates active acupuncture points. The active acupuncture points are also points of low electrical resistance.

A “light session” is then given to the horse where the green dots are treated with pulsed LED and infrared lights. The pulsed LED and infrared lights can be set to three different frequencies and different lengths of time to address specific challenges on the horse.

Research has shown that these LED and Infrared lights have the following benefits: •

Reduction of swelling and inflammation •

Increased circulation •

• • •

Muscle relaxation

Stimulation of acupuncture points Reducing of wound healing time

Stimulation of connective tissue production •

Increased production of nitric oxide •

Increased cellular energy

and cellular regeneration Holden says he enjoys being around horses and helping them to feel their best for peak performance.

“Horses are amazing animals and I love learning from them. There is a special energy in the Western North Carolina region coupled with the mountains, weather and many people here who care about the health of their horses, and that is what I find special and interesting,” said Holden.

The greatest improvements and effects Holden has seen in horses with his equine body balance system are: better performance by barrel racing horses with best times up to one second faster, smoother riding by carriage and hunter jumper horses, plus there was also the benefit of a full adjustment by a horse during a session by shaking from its head to its hips. One could hear the adjustment as the hips “popped.” Then came the relief in the horse’s eyes that told of the satisfying comfort. Owners give Holden testimonials of how improved their horses were after as little as one session of the balanced bodywork.

Holden is about getting the whole horse treated and getting its body back in balance. Too many times an injury is treated and not the cause, so the injury recurs and creates a “chronic” injury. For instance, the horse may be lame in the right front leg, but what causes the lameness is a hock problem. Plus there may be other problems created due to the lameness.

“For the well being of the horse it is important to identify all the problem areas so they can all be addressed at one time,” said Holden. •

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FEATURE MONAGLE

River Valley Pony Club members at Grey N Horses farm. Pictured are, back row left to right: Jenna Harkins, Shelby Ritacco, Kylie Roberts, Denise Ritacco, Isabel Miles, Becca Richardson, Ashlynn Dodson and Britany Anderson; front row left to right: Maddie Carraway, Morgan Frank, Bekah Randall and Virginia Anne Frank.

Monagle hooked on pony club Written by DONNA MONAGLE Photo by LOU KUNZ

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APPOINTMENTS

Donna Monagle is currently a horsemaster with the River Valley Pony Club.

She currently has eight pony club students enrolled in the River Valley Pony Club (RVPC), and expects to have more sign up at the beginning of January 2013.

Trayce Doubek and Eric Dierks of Renovatio Farms in Tryon is where the pony clubbers school, have mounted and unmounted clinics and competitions.

Monagle’s farm, Greys N Horses, is in Spartanburg County. There she also offers Pony Club ratings where students of pony club demonstrate their riding proficiency as well as all around horse knowledge for the level they are being tested for in the club.

“We had a 100 percent success rate one day,” said Monagle.

River Valley Pony Club is dedicated to creating the area's top riders by providing access to top trainers. “We recently had a day with Eric Dierks teaching cross country riding to pony clubbers. We train in dressage, show jumping, games, cross country and horse management. There is a monthly unmounted meeting where a topic is discussed in depth such as bits, nutrition, show jumping and horse confirmation. Students present their own information at these meetings and gain confidence in public speaking, group participation and enjoying the friendships they create at River Valley.

Greys n Horses is very excited to be part of such a successful Pony Club,” said Monagle.

Monagle was looking for opportunities to ride and compete with her own peers when she was introduced to Denise Ritacco, a fellow horsemaster with RVPC. She was then thrust into a dressage rally for Pony Club and was hooked. When meeting Doubek and Dierks of Renovation Farm she started training with them on her Holsteiner.

Monagle’s family established Greys N Horses in 2006.

“My family was involved with the greyhound rescue in Florida and we brought the little racers to our home in South Carolina. We have continued to grow and establish the facility from boarding to lessons and training young riders and adults. One of the boarders at our farm was a member of the Converse College Equestrian Team and she showed up with buckets, chairs, bucket clips and oodles of tack and equipment. I thought "wow" she is truly packed up and tacked up very well. As I watched her I realized she knew everything from nutrition to horse care and management, and even how to groom and exercise horses regardless of the weather. I quickly found out that she grew up in pony club,” said Monagle.

It is the desire of Monagle for her Greys N Horses Farm to become 100 percent Pony Club in the near future. •

Donna

Monagle offers pony club ratings where students of pony club demonstrate their riding proficiency as well as all around horse knowledge

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River Valley Pony Club

schooling

River Valley Pony Club members enjoyed a day of cross country schooling at Windridge Farms with Eric Dierks.

Above: RVPC Cross Country Schooling with Eric Dierks at Windridge Farms Oct. 31. Riding, left to right, are Eric Dierks, Olivia Gould, Bette Sumrell, Becca Mann and Samantha Haase. Photo by Denise Gould.

Left: Abby Billiu on Spanky. Photo by Olivia Gould.

Bottom left: Olivia Gould on Jasper. Photo by Denise Gould.

Bottom right: Becca Mann on Joey. Photo by Olivia Gould.

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APPOINTMENTS

From left to right: Elizabeth Donohue, Emily Thomas, Kylie Simms, Anna Dobrenen and Elizabeth Baucomb.

Tetrathlon

rally

Written by SANDY LARSON

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TETRATHLON

On Oct. 19-20, five members of the Greenville Foothills Pony Club (GFPC) - Elizabeth Baucomb, Anna Dobrenen, Emily Thomas, Elizabeth Donohue and Kylie Simms - competed in the Carolina Region Tetrathlon rally at the Why Not an American Ark facility in Monroe, N.C. Tetrathlon consists of four phases, running, riding, swimming and shooting, with each phase done at a separate scheduled time, unlike a triathlon where each phase follows immediately after the other in race format.

The riding phase consisted of a showjumping course, along with two timed obstacles. The first was a slip-rail, where the rider had to dismount, lower the top rail, lead the horse over the rails, replace the rail, then remount and continue the jumping course. The second was a gate that had to be unlatched, opened, horse ridden through the gate, then the gate was closed and relatched before completing the jumping course.

As in every pony club competition, the competitors are also judged on horse management as a team, where they are evaluated for keeping their horse and barn area neat and clean, safe handling of their mounts, and each horse/rider pair is judged at a turnout inspection in full riding attire and equipment. Unlike the other phases, horse management is scored on a penalty point basis, so the lowest scores earn the highest honors.

Despite having to count the scores for five riders (ordinarily there are only four per team), and having three members who had never rallied before, the GFPC won overall horse management. This was in large part due to turnout scores of zero, one and two for three of the competitors. Competitors earned individual honors for each phase of the competition, with the GFPC riders competing at three different levels based on riding skills and age. Elizabeth Baucomb, the only competitor on the team with previous Tetrathlon experience, and her mother Becky Baucomb, were both instrumental in inspiring the rest of the team to try Tetrathlon and in organizing efforts to help the girls train for this specialized competition. • For more information on Greenville Foothills Pony Club, contact greenvillefoothillspc@gmail.com, or view online at www.gfponyclub.org, www.ponyclub.org, and on Facebook at Greenville Foothills Pony Club SC/NC.

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Tetrathlon consists of phases

4

- running - riding - swimming - shootingwith each phase done at a separate scheduled time, unlike a triathlon where each phase follows immediately after the other in race format.

APPOINTMENTS

Carly Messamer

Greenville Pony Clubber Article submitted Photographs submitted

Carly Messamer.

Carly Messamer is a freshman at Clemson University and currently a member of the Greenville Pony Club. This year she has been studying animal and veterinary sciences in order to attend veterinary school. One thing she is sure about is that whatever she does as a career in life it will always involve animals and more specifically horses.

When Messamer was 8 years old, she started Pony Club in Flagstaff, Ariz. There were six girls involved at that time.

Messamer's horse is Doc's Grey Hunter, but his nickname is Doc. He is a 13-year-old Appendix Quarter horse gelding, and she has had him for more than three years. He began life as a hunter/jumper, and then Messamer explored some other disciplines with him including show jumping, dressage and eventing.

He has a sweet and playful personality, she said, though he can be timid about certain things.

“It has been a good lesson for me to inspire confidence in him. He is currently stabled at the farm with five other horses that are ridden by the family. I train with Janna Bankston Ritacco, who is a graduate HA as well as a National Examiner,” said Messamer.

Pony club has helped Messamer by providing opportunities for knowledge, experience, safety and learning. Peer teaching and role modeling are large parts of the pony club statement of mission and authenticity.

This year Messamer finished her C3 rating in Knoxville, Tenn. where many hours of lessons, practice and hard work was put into this level's rating.

“This next year I plan to take a break from ratings and do some showing in the summer, and hopefully some teaching as well. Beyond this year I plan to continue with the Pony Club ratings and work my way up to becoming an A," said Messamer.

Messamer said she feels the value of Pony Club has helped her appreciate good horsemanship with safety. She feels it is a rider’s responsibility to learn how to take the best care of his or her companions and partners in all that they deserve. Another value Messamer honors is the teamwork within Pony Club.

“In Pony Club you can go anywhere in the world and know everyone is welcoming and friendly,” she said. •

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DUDLEY

Big Scoop

Dudley (top) and Madeline (bottom).

in equine news

Written by BARBARA CHILDS Photograph by BARBARA CHILDS

Suzanne and Lincoln Russell of Finally Farm took the Converse College Ah, it is the time of the night of the Team to an overall fourth placing. This great miracle when the star in the sky was the first show in the newly configgrows bigger and the story of a newborn ured region here. Coach Lincoln Ruschild and his mother are found in a cave sell, was proud to watch walk/trot rider in Bethlehem with the animals.

Christa Martin win her fifth-place ribbon My ancestor carried the lady who bore in the college competition and to watch the child from Nazareth to Bethlehem. all the stars of his team place well over He did not know what he was carrying. fences and in equitation.

Shepherds came and music was heard in Did you notice the good-looking the sky above, and bells were rung, peace brown mule in pasture with the ponies to men of good will was heard through and horses at Cathy Taylor's. He is quite the land. My ancestor was rubbed down the new guy on the road. with a woolen blanket, fed a bucket of John Hart of the Carolina Carriage grain, and given hay and water. He came Club (CCC) is organizing the club’s close to the babe and offered his soft Christmas party to be held Dec. 7. He muzzle and sweet breath. has arranged to have a catered dinner Well, now that I have you all in the and beverage of choice. The location is Christmas mood of light and peace here the log cabin at Harmon Field. Send him is some noteworthy news. your reservation and a check for $15 pay-

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able to CCC. His address is: 295 Upper Ridgeview Rd. Columbus, N.C. 28722.

Hart would like to have all the checks

by Dec. 1.There will also be an annual business meeting and election of board members for CCC at the fire house in Green Creek on Dec. 1. President Price Story; vice president Claudette Robinson; secretary Deb Dickerson; treasurer Carol Ann Burns; directors: Elaine Elmer, Jane Hart and other nominations are still open.

Michelle of Dark Knight Stables in Landrum has a new Friesian gelding imported from Europe. Wolter recently won his first class here with a dressage score of 71 percent. Congratulations!

A new store in Landrum will open soon at the old Love on a Leash location.

Horse and Home will have many beautiful equine items for sale this coming

APPOINTMENTS

Dudley ’s Recipe:

Chicken apple pecan salad Here is a salad recipe that will bring you to a new level of happiness this season. Greens and apples are my favorite ingredients and I might like the dried cranberries.

Pomegranate salad dressing or raspberry vinaigrette Baby blend of salad greens 2 cups of chicken strips 4 oz. dried cranberries 4 oz. crumbled blue cheese 1 whole apple sliced (Granny Smith or Gala is good) Pecans Mix and serve.

spring. Lisa Otto will be the owner and director. Equine embroidery and house wares, dishes with an equine motif, and many other lovely things will be available.

Some are available online at horseandhome.us Three Gables Farm in Tryon will have the ladies there performing a challenge softball game between the big barn and the little barn. The ladies now have

baseball caps with their barn logo and quadrille team name on the side designed

by Georgie Arrigio.

The Cotton Patch trails have expanded and new trail signs have been added. As always these trails are a beautiful ride. Be sure to smile and say "hi" to our wonderful and generous landowners.

I was just musing on the beauty of the winter night and offering some thoughts

to dear Madeline on the season's blessing of great joy. There is radiance and glory in the deep darkness of the Christmas night as good green hay, cool, clean water, peppermints and carrots, and warm blankets are the best ever for our comfort and good care. Molasses homemade horse treats from my editor are also a welcome offering. May everyone be well, have good health, peace and rejoice! •

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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

Jeannette Schmeichel

Current volunteer with Steps to Hope, Polk County's domestic violence and sexual assault prevention and treatment center, located in Columbus. Their 24-hour crisis line is 828-894-2340.

Please tell us a little about your background.

Schmeichel moved to Polk County in 1993, after the retired from the Ford Motor Company.

How long have you volunteered at Steps to Hope?

She has volunteered with Steps to Hope for six years. She is currently a Court Advocate at Steps to Hope, being a liaison between domestic abuse intervention program and the court system for clients.

What brought you to volunteer at Steps to Hope?

She started at Steps to Hope because she wanted to join something and meet people. She had previously worked at the St. Luke's Auxiliary gift shop and was drawn to the possibility of volunteering at Steps to Hope. She thought it would be a good place to volunteer with a purpose as well.

Tell us a about what a Court Advocate does.

Schmeichel stated how a court can sometimes be intimidating for clients and as a Court Advocate, her responsibility is to be that liaison in helping a client understand what the court has given them, in terms of paperwork, and making sure they fully understand the terms. A hard thing for some clients is understanding most of what's presented to them. Especially when applying for something against someone they may of loved.

What’s the greatest reward from volunteering at Steps to How do you cope personally when assisting someone else Hope? through domestic violence and/or sexual assault cases?

Schmeichel said there is personal gratification from helping Steps to Hope had offered Schmeichel a lot of training those in need. She enjoys the one on one relationship she has before entering the volunteering program and feels she has a formed from volunteering at Steps to Hope. She can tell right good support system at the center to help her as well as the away that her volunteering is directly helpful to someone in clients throughout any and all situations that arise. Schmeichel need. said a lot of "where we come from is irrelevant." It's about having someone to listen to and getting the help someone needs.

Any helpful hints for others looking to volunteer?

Schmeichel said her suggestion is to get out there and do On a weekly basis, how often are you involved with Steps it. There are so many deserving organizations in this county to hope? where all talents are appreciated in Polk County. Schmeichel Schmeichel volunteers at Steps to Hope on an as needed said the experience continues to be something that's good for basis, weekly. her. It's a good way to be social.

Don Andrews , CFP (828) 692-9006 117 W. Barnwell St. Hendersonville a075036@allstate.com

Š 2011 Allstate Insurance Company

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FEATURE

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