The vivid scarlet against the stark white of our snow covered world made my stomach turn, and I felt like I might be sick. Yet I couldn’t tear myself away from Maw and Paw’s kitchen door. I know Libby was there somewhere, but all I can remember is looking out…
I never knew my paternal grandmother. She died in 1950, way before I was born. I grew up hearing stories about her kind and loving attitude. She was always described as a meek lady with a strong character. Her husband, my grandfather, died when my father was only 14. She…
The rain poured down–one of those summer rains that comes down hard and cool and makes your car windows steam up. After eight hours on my feet at Hardee’s, the last thing I wanted to do was fight the rain and the crowd at the A&P across the street. But…
After a treaty meeting with the Cherokee at Ft. Chiswell in 1750, Dr. Thomas Walker, with three Cherokee guides, made his way across southwest Virginia into eastern Kentucky. His diaries of that trip, now in the Library of Virginia in Richmond, give great detail of that journey through the wilderness.…
Late one evening last August, Bill Gaut called to check on his 98 year old mother. When she didn’t answer, he did what any good son would do. Fearing what he might find, he struck out to her house to check on her. As he neared the home, he saw…
Hi, Folks! Meet Miss Mildred Shelton. It’s actually Mrs. Shelton but holding true to southern culture and respect, everyone just calls her Miss Mildred. I have known Miss Mildred the majority of my life but only from afar, as I went to school with her son, Shannon. Miss Mildred’s daughter,…
My sister Frances is thirteen years older than me. She is the oldest girl in our family and I am the youngest. My Mom called her “Sis”and our mom relied on Frances to help take care of the younger ones. Now my mother loved clothes and jewelry, but didn’t really…
We rose early on this cold winter morning. Maw and Paw did the same at the foot of the hill. Today would be one of the biggest days of the year for us, and the adults had planned for it for months now. Both households started with a hearty breakfast…
Hi, Folks! It’s good to be back home! I’m going to be all over the place a little bit with this one. If y’all would, please bear with me on this one. First off, I would like to thank each and every one of you for your heartfelt thoughts, prayers…
Although the trip to the old home place was just a few miles away, Ann had to make sure that Bea used the bathroom before undergoing the car ride. Ann hated the idea of having to stop along the way, at a fast food restaurant or gas station, retrieve old…
