Nothing says VBS like Popsicle sticks, cherry Kool-Aid Recently, Southern Living Magazine ran an article about Vacation Bible School being a mark of growing up Southern. I disagree. Bible school was very much a part of my Midwestern upbringing, and I sense the same for other parts of the country. As today, Bible School was centered around a theme, such …
Stars aligned to birth two music legends in June 1942
Apparently the stars were aligned in June 1942. As World War II blazed, two of the most legendary composers of our lifetime were born: Paul McCartney and Brian Wilson. You may have heard about McCartney turning 80 on June 18, but Wilson’s big day on June 20 slipped by essentially unnoticed by the media, and that’s too bad. Wilson’s might …
Life is short. Use the good dishes.
Most young adults aren’t into the stuff Baby Boomers have collected. What one generation treasures, the next one rejects. It’s true. The bone china and silver that you registered for when you got married may be relegated to Goodwill. When it comes to stuff, there are two kinds of people: keepers and shedders. I am of the former group mostly, …
Flagpole sitting, flappers, frivolity marked life in ‘20s
What did people do for fun 100 years ago? I researched 1920s entertainment for a program I gave recently to my DAR chapter. The John Hoyle chapter Daughters of the American Revolution is marking its 100th anniversary this year. Our main celebration is planned at the Hickory History Center. There will be 1920s décor, food and tours of Harper House, …
Close encounters of the famous kind
A few years ago, a friend challenged me to list all of the famous people I’ve ever seen in person. Listing such sightings is the sort of thing you might think about, but never do. I’ll admit I ran out of gas before I got the list project past the on-ramp. The first “star” I remember meeting was a local …
Things are getting crazy out there
It’s a crazy world we live in. If you’ve followed the news, you know that our neighbors to the north have been in turmoil over a trucker protest. The Freedom Convoy was protesting federal COVID 19 vaccine mandates, were all about individual choice, they said. Some 90 percent of the truckers are reportedly vaccinated. It’s the mandates that have them …
General stores: Just enough of everything
I like old stores. There’s something about the ambiance, the friendliness, the variety in a tiny space, the hub of everyday necessity. Last month I discovered retro store heaven: Town Hardware & General Store in Black Mountain. Until then I’d never spent much time in Black Mountain, other than the Berliner Kindl German restaurant, which I highly recommend. Up a …
It’s veggie drop season
It’s that time of year when zucchinis and crooknecks and patty pans crowd the garden space. One day the plants are clusters of large green leaves. The next day, there’s enough squash to feed the neighborhood. And so, July becomes the season of giveaways. Veggie drop is a form of tag. The dropper tags you with a basket of beans …
Itchy palms, bottle trees and Haint Blue
I grew up with a superstitious mom muttering sayings about what caused luck to go one way or the other. Dropped my dish rag, somebody’s coming Nose itches, somebody’s coming. Ears burn, somebody is talking about you. Itchy palms meant money was on the way. Bubbles in a coffee cup meant the same thing. A cricket in the house meant …
How we’re helping hungry kids
Since January, I’ve been a volunteer with the backpack program, one of several affiliated with The Corner Table. It’s not that big of a deal on my part. I show up at the building off Tate Boulevard on a weekday morning or a Sunday afternoon and spend an hour or so filling plastic bags that are tied shut and stacked …