Life is something that we should cherish with every passing breath. Often times we do not appreciate the simplest things like the feel of cool breeze on a hot summer day; the taste of a fresh glass of homemade lemonade so cold that the outside of the glass drips; the deep red color of a […]
A new year brings the promise of starting over. Many folks see it as a point to make a resolution to complete or change things in their life. Perhaps coming out of the Christmas season gives them hope to make their lives better. In reality, each new day brings us the chance to improve our […]
The family had already gathered in the valley below the Gravelly Spur for an unbelievable feast of ham garnished with pineapple, green beans in a dish surrounded by little pearl onions, mashed potatoes and gravy, and dandelion greens seasoned with just the right amount of pepper and fresh churned butter. The dinner was topped off […]
Recently I was honored to share the pulpit for a home going celebration of one of my late mother’s friends. Van McFall was among the close-knit group of moms within the circle of my childhood that I remember well. The mothers were Pearl, Van, Mary Burgess and Nettie Fisher. They got into all kinds of […]
The winds pounded upon the side of the house sitting in the shadow of Gravelly Spur Mountain and seeped beneath the cracks around the windows and doors letting the chill of winter in the walls warmed by the wood stacked and burning in the fireplace. The sound of bells tinkled as they were pulled from […]
Dolly and Stella Parton are coming back to NBC on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 9 p.m. (E.S.T.) with “Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love.” Both sisters make special appearances in the film, while Dolly introduces the film and serves as narrator. The greatly anticipated Georgia-lensed sequel to last year’s “Coat of Many Colors” is […]
As I have surfed through social media and watched news reports of late highlighting the actions displayed following our elections, it has broken my heart to see that we are at the point when men and women cannot be more effectively self-governing with their words and actions. Many years ago, I penned the following thoughts […]
The gentle falling of snowflakes takes me back to the days when cold weather would bring a tough decision at the old family homestead. Being cold in the winter was a common experience, since the only heat came from a fire in the main room. Grandma would always be the one up early to get […]
As I place these words to paper, the outcome of the 2016 presidential election is yet to be decided. I would like to join the throngs of those saying the rhetoric has made this one of the worst election seasons in history, but I know as a student of history many before have been as […]
In the valley below the Gravelly Spur Mountain there was a partnership of sorts between the humans and the animals that worked the farms to create the crops that helped feed them all. There was no more needed partner than the mules that helped to cut the furrows straight along the curves of the mountainsides […]
