Old Country

 So much to see...feel....smell...touch....and learn.

Cathy McClanahan...my "Sister by Heart" didn't let us leave Virginia

without a ride through what her Daddy called "The Old Country."

 One spot we visited was Sherwood Forest...and yes, we were on Robin Hood Lane.

This was part of our journey to experience a swinging bridge...over the North fork of the Holston River.

I actually think we were in Tennessee...at this point.

Daniel Boon Country!

 Cathy loved to take me exploring.

We hiked mountains, climbed fences, filled our pockets with rocks,

and drank in peace only found in nature. 

Early settlers built log cabins...some still standing today.
This cabin is a little different, in that it has two front doors, side by side.
Cathy suggests one of these is what they call the "coffin door."
 During this time in history, funerals were held in the home.
The second door could be opened...allowing the coffin to be carried in and out
with room for pall bearers on each side.

In homes with two front doors that are not placed side by side,
one door was for good spirits to enter, and the second door for evil spirits to leave.

 Old churches with two front doors have a different history.
Originally one door was for white people and the second door for their slaves.

After slavery, one door was entry for men and one for women.

 This church was built in 1937...painted "That Green"

a term I learned referring to the green fabrics of the thirties.

Nested in the mountains....neighborhood churches are common.

Typical of Southern Women....beauty and grace adorns everything.

Even the front gate at the entrance of private property displays a seasonal wreath.

Rock formations

 From my years of  teaching rock formations for Science Olympiad

I knew sedimentary rocks formed near a water source.

However, I had no idea that water actually could seep through rock

and in winter become frozen water falls.

 Karl was particularly intrigued with this solution to keep rocks from falling into roadways.

Prop up the rocks with a steel pole!

 Rita and Nikki took me on a hike up Cedar Bluff outlook.

It was great to see the overview of the land...and how the roads and railroad would wind along the path of the Clinch River.  I certainly should have done this in summer...

but then...possibly we could not see the roadways.

Missing Richlands

 President McClure (left) was released from serving 18 years

as Richlands Branch President the Sunday after we left Virginia.
March 24, 2013

His lovely wife made this  friendship quilt to honor Paul and Cleo VanDyke

on their 50th wedding anniversary December 7th.

Jan also made a parting friendship "signature" quilt for Elder Hunt and I which we will treasure forever.

Certainly we will post a picture once we get one.

At our farewell party Jan also played her violin for us...a special arrangement

of one of my favorite hymns: "How Gentle God's Commands"

I especially like the stanza...."Cast your burdens on the Lord and bear a song away!"

We learned so much about faith, patience, and enduring trials from

the wonderful people in southwest Virginia...and especially those in Richlands Branch.

 Here is an ACOSTIC memory of dear Cassie

C = Caring

A = Always positive in her outlook

S =  Sensitive to the needs of others

S = Smiles for everyone

I = In tune with the Holy Spirit

E = Energetic

Although it was 90 degrees today for us in Arizona,

 our dear Virginia friends still have winter hanging around.

Suzanne lives in a winter wonderland. 

Her husband, Ron, is the new Branch President.  

We love them both....forever!

We are Daughters....of the American Revolution!

February 15, 2013

 DAR Library steps...Washington DC

During our time in Virginia, our very good friend, Jane Hughes, has patiently guided me through the process of documenting heritage and applying for membership to DAR....connecting to John Hart, signer of the Declaration of Independence.  Our DAR mission is to promote historic preservation, provide education and foster true patriotism and love of country.

It was fun to spend a day in the DAR library and read historic journals of the history of my own people.

Certainly, I must come again.
 

How to be a Southern Belle, Part II

Lest I forget...more Southern Belle trivia...

1.  Appearance is everything

Southern Belles are known for their beauty and graciousness, however, they do know how work.  They "Look like a cream puff and get things done like a Sherman tank!" ~Maryln Schwartz

2.  Matching is important:

• Bridesmaids shoes must match the color of the punch
• A tomato slice must be the same size as the slice of bread
• Napkin rings and bath linens are both monogrammed
  

3.  Being dead is no excuse

This is actually the title of a book written by Gayden Metcalfe and Charotte Hays that instructs on hosting the perfect funeral.  It includes not only a collection of favorite Southern recipes, but tells how to write a glowing obituary and the etiquette of a proper sympathy note.  Attention to detail is vital!
(And yes, I have my own hardback copy!)

4.  Mayonnaise is best home made

I learned to make this in our Branch Relief Society meeting last night,  It was yummy...and would make a great salad dressing or fried chicken dipping sauce.

WISK following ingredients together and cook over very low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture bubbles in 1 or 2 places.  Remove from heat immediately and let cool 4 minutes:

2 egg yolks
2 T. fresh lemon juice or vinegar
2 T. water
1 t. sugar
1 t. dry mustard
1/2 t. salt
dash of pepper

1 cup oil (Suzanne--a true Southern Belle-- used Sunflower oil, but it could be olive or safflower)

ADD oil slowly, in a thin stream, blend until mayonnaise is thick and smooth.  Refrigerate...covered.

Needless to say, I have LOVED living in Southwest Virginia these past 18 months.  I will miss the mountains, the trees, the flowers, the birds, the rolling thunder, the roller-coaster roads, but most of all-- the people.  I have been blessed with eternal friendships and hope to return many times.  I'm not sure my farm girls ways could ever be changed into a true Southern Belle, but I feel I could blend in very easily as a Mountain Woman. 

Beautiful Mind...

<sup>I photographed this road sign on one of our many travels to Bluefield, West Virginia (a town about 35 miles north-east of where we currently live) which is recognized as the birthplace of John Forbes Nash, Jr.   Or in his own words, "My beginning as a legally recognized individual occurred on June 13 1928 in Bluefield, West Virginia, in the Bluefield Sanitarium, a hospital that no longer exists."  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Forbes_Nash,_Jr.)

Anyone who saw the movie Beautiful Mind will recognize the name of John Nash.  Anyone who knows our family well understands why this movie and this person is so endeared to my heart.  When I first saw the movie, I thought I had cried my life-time quota of tears that comes from the pain of mental illness. But alas! Not true.  I feel a kinship to this community. One more reason I feel so at home in these mountains.  I love the hills, I love the trees, the flowers, the thunder that echos through the mountains.... but most of all, it is the people and their life stories of survival that has captured my heart.  I am forever changed....forever enriched...forever blessed, for the experience of living in Southwest Virginia these past 18 months.</sup>

Southern Belle Primer

1.  Euphemisms
According to Dictionary.com, euphemism is "the substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague expression for one thought to be offensive, harsh, or blunt."  Here, in the South, no one every "dies".  They go to their eternal rest, they pass on, or they depart this life.  We have even heard "they fell out."

2. Cuisine
A true Southern Belle will use only real mayonnaise, and will put only white meat in chicken salad... dark meat is "tacky."  She will own at least one egg plate, and is an expert in making deviled eggs, pineapple upside down cake, baked beans, and of course grits, biscuits and gravy!  Green beans are served with every meal, and cabbage is a part of all casseroles and soups.

3.  It's "Tacky" 
If found chewing gum in public
Not having matching silverware
If you serve pink lemonade... (it has Communist overtones)
Potato salad is for construction workers...not ladies , however a modern belle will eat potato salad, but she doesn't put it on good china.

4. Double names
It doesn't seem to matter where you go in the south, the entire South seems to be married to one another.
The use of double names, usually given to honor both grandmothers, creates what some people call walking family trees.  Common names are Rebecca Ann, and Martha Jane.

5.  Word Choice:  As mentioned in number one, no Southern lady would ever utter a word that is harsh.  Here are the six basic words that are the heart and soul of any belle's vocabulary:

•  Lovely:  "She comes from a lovely family.  Her people are lovely."  Etc.

•  Precious:  A high complement.  "You are so precious to think of me." or "Where did you get that precious dress?"
  
•  Darlin':  Also a high complement, to be used along with precious for better emphasis.  "Your daughter is darlin' and she wears the most precious clothes."  or "What a precious idea. It will make the most darling' project."
  
• Cute:  Not exactly a high compliment, but not a complete put-down either.
•  Sweet:  The kiss of death.
•  Nice:  The kiss of death with the coffin sealed.
  
  
  
  

Christmas 2012

 Christmas Day 2012

The most wonderful evening in the home of Rod Curry

in Richlands, Tazewell County, Virginia

[C.E. friends--do you recognize the Frank Lloyd Wright windows behind the tree?]

 This is Rod with Elder Theurer (pronounced "Tyre") from Tremonton, Boxelder County, Utah.

Prior to his mission, Elder Tyre studied as a political science major
and was a race horse "personal trainer."  Now he is our mission District Leader.

Rod is intelligent, kind, and a friend to everyone.

He is so good to all our young missionaries, and we feel welcome and loved in his home.

Christmas Dinner

Formal dining...fine china...table linens...centerpieces...stemware...

all the details of culture and elegance.

We enjoyed a wonderful meal together, shared Christmas memories, music,

and ended the evening reading Luke 2 followed by Robert Munch's book:

I'll Love You Forever, I'll Like You For Always.

It was a perfect evening....if you overlook my attempt at lemon pie that turned out to be soup.

Evening In Excellence

Arise and Shine Forth, that thy Light May be a Standard to the Nations:
Doctrine and Covenants 115:5

Cassie and Tara

Rosalyn continues to be a silent partner in our mission.

She mailed her block temple from Arizona for us to use in our Young Women's

Evening of Excellence!

Each of our four girls took turns adding blocks and sharing experiences they had this year.

The temple spires were girls camp, temple trips, and scriptures!
Jill Hellstrom, our Pembroke stake YW President love it.

Cassie earned her Young Womanhood Medallion!

Tara was awarded her first value ribbon, and

Nikki and Rita [both new this year] received torch necklaces.

 Tara requested we sing "Walk Tall, You're a Daughter of God"

so Rosalyn sent a Mp3 link to download it onto CDs for the girls to learn.

Angie McClure came to play piano for the program, and the song definitely brought the Spirit!

"Right now I have a prayer deep within my heart,

A prayer for each of you there is a special part.

That you remember who you are and He who lives above,

Please seek for Him and live his way, you'll feel His love.

Walk tall, you're a daughter, a child of God.

Be strong--please remember who you are--

Try to understand, you're part of His great plan.

He's closer than you know--reach up, He'll take your plan.

Long before the time you can remember,

Our Father held you in His arms so tender.

Those loving arms released you as He sent you down to earth.

He said, "My child, I love you, Don't forget your great worth."

Chorus

This life on earth we knew would not be easy.

At times we lose our way, His path we may not see.

But please remember always that you are not alone.

He'll take your hand. He loves you! He will guide you home.

Chorus

[Teri....if you really are reading this...you know how long I've been singing and loving this song!]

 Cassie's parents with "MaMaw" Betty Clifton

This family guaranteed elegant success and hospitality with finishing touches on the event

by providing the perfect assortment of food and decor.  Thank you! Thank you!

Left to Right:

Cassie Clifton, "Sister Hunt", Nikki Silcox, and Ritta Stevenson
[plus Tara Call at top of post.]

Richlands Branch Young Women

Paul and Cleo VanDyke

50th Wedding Anniversary

December 7, 2012
Richlands, Virginia LDS Building
50th Wedding Anniversary Celebration for Paul and Cleo VanDyke

Food - Friends - Fun
What a celebration!
Cathy McClanahan, Pat Brannon, Kaula VanDyke and I decorated for days.
Cathy cut cedar from her hills to smell fresh and festive.
Debbie Clifton organized the Hors D'Oeuvres to guarantee a beautiful display.
It was advertised "come and go" -- people came...but no one left.  Great party.

Paul Van Dyke

Three brain surgeries...radiation every morning and chemo every night

doesn't keep this man from smiling and finding the good in life!
He asked everyone he met, "Are you coming to my surprise party?"

There is not a more generous or hard working woman anywhere!

Cleo Van Dyke
Paul and Cleo are our landlords, and made our apartment over their garage into a doll house!
We love them dearly.

Celebrating 50 years together...

Jan McClure made a signature friendship quilt for everyone to sign.
Treasured friends - Lifelong memories.
The block I signed is blue.

Kudzu

 

Kudzu is an aggressive vine that has the ability to grow a foot a day and smother everything in its path. This native of Asia is a legume and was introduced to the United States in 1876, and now covers more than 2.8 million square km of the South.  Some sources call it "the vegetable form of cancer!"    http://www.jjanthony.com/kudzu/

Our Relief Society President, Cathy McClanahan, had the brilliant idea of making wreaths out of kudzu vines... an economical resource [FREE] consistent with our theme of "provident living."

First we stripped the leaves off kudzu vine and wrapped it around re-bar stakes to form various shapes: ovals, hearts, and stars.  We let the vine dry for two weeks and during this time gathered embellishments found in nature:  Sugar cane seed, teasel, cucumber tree pods, walnut hulls, pine cones, and chestnuts.

When we finished decorating our wreaths, we were very pleased.  This is mine...now hanging on our front door.  Each element has a history and fond memory:

• The Sugar cane seeds were gathered at The Breaks Interstate Park the day Cathy took me to the annual molasses stir-off.
• Cucumber tree seed pods picked up on a day hike in Burke's Garden when John Thomas visited from BYU-Idaho to research his Heninger family history.
• Chestnuts from the church parking lot
• Teasel, found in abundance everywhere-- whose root is recommended as treatment for Lyme disease
• Walnuts from Cathy's front yard
• The bow donated and tied by Teresa Reynolds...Debbie Clifton's mother

-- I love Autumn and all the colors of fall --

October Surprise...

October 30, 2012

We awoke this morning to our southwest Virginia's response to

"Superstorm Sandy" that slammed the east coast overnight.

Cold air coming east from the jet stream collided with the warm winds of the tropical storm

and dumped more than 10 inches of snow on our doorstep  in a rare October blizzard.

A winter wonderland for this Arizona boy.

The mission told all of us to stay indoors, so our Young Elders helped

us call Branch members to check on status of power and heat.

Only those living on mountain tops lost electricity initially:  Keen Mountain,

Compton Mountain and Horne Mountain folks.

However, at 8:44 PM power went out in our neighborhood and we cuddled in layers of clothes
to keep warm all night. We awoke Halloween day...32 degrees outside, 53 degrees inside.

Cleo Van Dyke, our landlord, left her husband's bedside
 who is convalescing from three brain cancer surgeries, to bring us a propane space heater.
What wonderful people they are.
Much to our relief, central heat and running hot water returned 24 hours later.

Hurricane Sandy is being dubbed the "Storm of the Century" and has left millions

without power, transportation, and normalcy.  New Jersey and New York hit the hardest.

We feel so protected.

Our apartment deck railing is about as wide as a gymnastic balance beam

and this is the most snow accumulation we have seen in the 13 months we have been in Virginia.

[ We hoped Elder Butler was able to make his snow angel that eluded him all last winter! ]

Yesterday was autumn

Today is winter

Tomorrow we hope for sunshine!

The Late Unpleasantness...

Our mission travels take us all over southwest Virginia.

We marvel at the number of monuments we find honoring the Confederate effort in what is known as:

"The Northern Aggression"

"The War Between the States"

or most Southernly tactful of all...

"The Late Unpleasantness"

Never is it referred to as "Civil War"...because as one southern belle put it,

there was nothing "civil" about it!

Honaker, Russell County, Virginia

Town center

480 miles...

Look what 480 miles and a determined, dedicated daughter brought to our house!

Caroline Ruth .. 7 months of happiness



President Pitt invited Kimberly to participate in Zone Conference,
dedicated to the topic of "Divine Companionships."
Jonah thought the Pembroke Stake nursery was fun too.

After missionary training, we built sand castles at Cedar Bluff Critterville.

Jonah demonstrated his balance and skill as a tight rope artist.

Lots of fun chatter with Grandpa...and then ... 
another 480 miles and a very tired momma took everyone back to Tuscaloosa.
Hugs and smiles...never to be forgotten.
Thank-you, Kimberly!

Burke's Garden...

 

 This week Cathy McClanahan took me for a day hike on the Appalachian Trail in Tazwell County above Burke's Garden.  We found vivid tree fungi of the brightest orange.

Some history of the church in this area

The Church News reported 175 members of the church living in Burke's Garden in 1843, with Jedediah M. Grant appointed to preside over the Virginia Conference--as mission districts were then known. Missionaries serving in Virginia during this time usually traveled without "purse or scrip," meaning that they had to rely on the hospitality of the local people for food and lodging. Missionaries found it easier to live this principle in the rural areas rather than in the cities because of the hospitality of the country people, resulting in a predominantly rural membership.

In 1857 missionary David O. Rideout reported that "'Mormonism' is spreading in this county [Tazewell County] fast amidst great persecution." He reported being tarred and feathered while attempting to spread the gospel. Missionary work stopped at the outset of the Civil War in 1861 and did not resume until the Reconstruction era.

J. Golden Kimball was called as president of the Southern States Mission from 1891 to 1894 and labored in several rural Virginia counties. http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/print/58732/United-States-Information-Virginia.ht...

Cathy is making great effort to take me on this hike in all four seasons so I can see the change and beauties of nature.  In winter the trees were bare, the ground covered with ice and snow.

[See blog post:  December 22, 2011]

Luna moth with a five inch wing span that I brought home from girl's camp.

Another beautiful speciman of the south.

Cathy McClanahan

Stalwart Relief Soceity President of Richlands Branch.

Born in Buchanan County...daughter of a coal miner.

Professional educator and life long learner...who loves her dogs, history, and hiking.

Indeed, one of the brightest and yet most humble people I have ever met.

What a priviledge it is to have become her friend.

Sage Hill Road, Virginia