Small Town Living

My town is so quaint. Mayberry-esque if you will. I am talking Comer-Danielsville...my haunts. I went in the pouring rain to Danielsville this morning to do some errands. They were small, mundane errands but each moment was filled with charm and small town comforts. As I pulled in to the tiny office complex on the north side of town, I saw that the hairdresser's sign, partially obscured by a high-profile SUV, said "Closed For..." but when I looked below the SUV it said "Renovations. Phew! I'm glad. It's nice to see a business renovating and not closing, in this economy.

At the insurance office I had a nice chat with the receptionist behind the window as I paid my renewal with a $20 bill. I noted that it still says "In God We Trust" on the reverse of the bill. I said t her that while a twenty used to buy more, as long as we adhere to the statement, then it'll buy us everything. She liked that and then we talked about what a shame it was that they took God out of the schools.

On to the library where I wanted to look at the newspaper as it was delivered to be the first to scan the employment ads. I am looking for a part-time job, after school or evenings. I did not find the employment ads as the employment section of the classifieds does not exist. Actually, there was no numbered section on in the columns but there were a a few display ads at the bottom of the page. About 8 of them if I recall. This was the Athens paper, a city daily. The same was true for the weekly that was just out. Oh, boy, things are tough.

I did see on the front page that the layout included a nice photo of two of the Friends of the Library volunteers setting up for the book sale. I love it when the library makes the front page of any paper. And coincidentally on the way out I ran into one of the ladies featured in the picture. We had a short chat about how nice it was for the editor to give that kind of prominent placement to the Library. I wished her good luck with the sale and got in the car for my next destination: the Dollar Store.

I needed a birthday card for the teacher in whose room I subbed as para-pro. She is turning 40 tomorrow! I chose a colorful one, and was checked out by a nice and cheerful gal. We had a nice chat about the weather. It was raining pretty good, and how lovely it is to have this refreshing rain that we need so much. She looked me in the eyes as we talked, rare for a checkout situation, but she smiled and said "have a wonderful day." I believe she meant it. Next stop: next door to the grocery store.

I only needed some creamer for my coffee and some eggs. Hmmm, eggs, which had been a stable low price of 85 cents for most of the summer, has gone up to 95 cents. The checkout gal waited patiently for the elderly lady ahead of me to get her checkbook out, and write out the check in quavery hand. The woman only had one bag containing two items but the checkout gal asked the lady several times if she wanted help out to the car. A nicety that hearkens back from days gone by. When it was my turn, she and I talked about food prices, how "everything is going up."

Last stop was the school, to deliver the card. I had intended that the School Secretary could put it in the teacher's box since school was in session and unlikely that the teacher would be out of class, but she was in the office when I got there! I was thrilled to be able to give her a hug. She said that her colleagues had put up a banner and placed a cane against her door this morning, a not so subtle allusion to being over the hill. LOL, we laughed and hugged again. It felt good to be able to wish her a happy birthday in person.

Since it was the middle of a workday and it was raining, traffic, such as it is in Madison County, was light. I arrived back home from my little errands happy to have made personal contact with some nice folks, done my tasks, and mentioned Jesus in public. I live in a nice place and I am grateful to the Lord for bringing me here.

Tee time

The Madison County Rec Dep't has a fantastic array of sports and programs for the community, as well as beautifully maintained grounds and fields. One summer evening, I watched the tee ball kids, and caught this gal running to home. I liked that I got both her feet off the ground. That's what I was going for.

Intimate moment captured at an art gallery opening

I worked for the Athens Banner Herald for a year or so as a features writer and photog rapher and as such, went around finding people moments. This was captured at an art gallery opening reception. The gallery has a large, wrap-around front porch and as this musician was taking a break, he and this little tyke had a sweet conversation.

I love the red. As well as the musician's hair, and the expression of intensity on the little boy's face. Click on the photo to see it bigger.

I'll be posting more photos on this blog, I spent some time re-visiting some of my favorites from my work with the newspaper and set those aside to blog about. In looking through all my pics, I decided that as much as I enjoy landscape and nature pictures, I favor taking people pics at events like fairs, parades, art openings, parks, etc, even more. I think there is greater challenge in it, and sweeter satisfaction.

Have a great day all!

A quiet morning

Here it is Christmas 2008. In these parts of Northeast Georgia, the day is cold and gray so far. It is not as cold as it has been, though. The last few days have been well below freezing, into the twenties, and that is cold for here.

I look at the news and I am so grateful I moved here in 2006. It is a never ending delight no escape the snow, to enjoy green grass so much of the year. Never to scrape the ice from my car or shovel snow in the driveway. Wearing a light jacket, if that, and putting on only one layer of clothes for work. Today the forecasted temps are due to rise into the upper fifties.

Speaking of work, I am off until January 6. School vacation is a good long time this year due to the way the holidays fall. I am using the time to get chores done, to visit with some older friends, and to relax and read, make collages and get caught up on Christmas movies.

I just polished off an egg-white/bagel sandwich and fruit salad. (grapes and orange segments). I am sipping weak coffee with a good dose of Cremora, and it is steaming quietly and comfortingly by my laptop. WGBH Boston All Classical Music is streaming Brahms piano and it is so beautiful...

Reading the news at Christmas is always an exercise in futility, simply not much is happening. Which is a good thing. However, I found my new favorite phrase of the day in Forbes, in an article entitled "Good-bye, Gentry," highlighting the growing liberal opposition to the notion of Caroline Kennedy's potential nomination for Hillary Clinton's seat:

The proposed investiture of Caroline Kennedy as the replacement senator for Hillary Clinton has inspired a surprising degree of opposition--at least from other claimants to the throne, such as the Cuomos, and from those obstreperous parvenus, the Clintons.

Isn't that just wonderful? "obstreperous parvenus." Oh my, some people sure can turn a phrase!

As I went around doing my errands yesterday in Danielsville I saw this fat hawk. He was perched on a lone wire strung across the edge of a field across from a daycare. A man piking up his daughter and I watched the hawk for a few moments, and the man said the hawk likes to watch for field mice and pick out his dinner. At first I thought it was an owl because it was so big, but upon getting out of the car and seeing the spotted wings and the lack of "ears" I was momentarily disappointed. But the hawk is a great bird too and I enjoyed seeing its stillness and intensity as he looked for his supper.



Till next time, stay safe, sane, and have a Merry Christmas!

My Day at the Danielsville Fall Festival

Nobody can spell any more

Or maybe it's the proofreading that's gone downhill. Either way, it's a shame. The sign below fronts a nifty new historic-looking brick complex in Comer. The developer did a spectacular job with it, right down to the awnings. But the devil is in the details, and the misspelled word sort of breaks the spell. For me, anyway.



This one is in Danielsville, on the front of a window on another new development that is another great case of care and thoughtfulness in design. But the spelling...maybe not so much.

It's a honey of a honey

I bought it at the Farmer's Market last week. It's delicious! And the name..."Booger Hill Bee Company" is just great. Click and learn the legend of Booger Hill. If you dare. Bwa ha ha!

A day in Madison County

About 50 people came out at noon to participate in the National Day of Prayer. Surrounding the old courthouse, the group heard an opening prayer from Pastor Mike Sarna and then another pastor read the Governor Proclamation (sorry, forgot the pastor's name). We sang "America The Beautiful", broke into small groups, held hands, and prayed. "The National Day of Prayer Task Force's mission is to communicate with every individual the need for personal repentance and prayer, mobilizing the Christian community to intercede for America and its leadership in the seven centers of power: Government, Military, Media, Business, Education, Church and Family."










No, that's not somebody's laundry hanging at the old courthouse in the center of town. Each tiny tee shirt represents one child that had been the victim of abuse this year. Please keep in mind that the photo does not capture all the tees at either end of the line...

We all had lunch at Shady Oaks, a nearby down home cookin' place, and a friend and I went to a movie in Athens. Back at home later, my kittens look like they hardly missed me at all.













And the horse just wants to know: "who you lookin at?"

Seen at the grocery store

Two redbone coonhounds napping in the back of a pickup. I love Georgia!

mmm, mull!

The Danielsville Volunteer Fire Department hosts an annual chicken mull fundraiser. This is a dish only found in NE Georgia and it well-loved by the locals here. A bunch of friends and I went last night to the annual event, it being my first time. They showed me the ropes, because there is a definite process to eating mull. The thickened soup/stew is accompanied by hot pickles, cole slaw, and saltine crackers. One must crumble LOTS of saltines into the bowl of mull, and if brave, season it with Tabasco. Sweet tea is of course on hand and for dessert there was cherry or apple crumble to choose from.

Fire Department guys roam around with a pitcher of more mull and refill you as much as you want. Mull is made with milk, butter, seasonings, and either shredded or ground meat. In the old days rabbit was used quite frequently, my old timer friends tell me. Today the meat of choice is chicken. Tee shirts are available, they say, "DVFD 25th annual Chicken mull: no bones about it just good mull." It was an enjoyable, very local, evening.



Mull this over:
According to the New Georgia Encyclopedia, the dish known in northeast Georgia as chicken mull is a stew of chicken meat (ground or cut into bite-sized or smaller pieces), broth, milk, butter, vegetables, and seasonings, thickened with crumbs of soda crackers. It is also called chicken stew, chicken soup (rarely), and in south Georgia, chicken jallop. Because grinding, cutting, and lengthy cooking can tenderize tough meat, chicken mull may have originated as a way to make tough old roosters and spent hens palatable.

Mulls are served in bowls and eaten at home, in restaurants, in hunters' camps, and at special events such as church socials, community gatherings, and fund-raisers. Like other regional stews served to large groups (for example, Brunswick stew, Kentucky burgoo, Carolina hash, and Virginia sheep stew), mull can be prepared in large pots, outdoors or under a shed.

Mull is traditionally a cold-weather dish. Northeast Georgians speak of the "mull season." According to local lore, almost any meat or combination can be used, including goat, dove, squirrel, and it is rumored, rat and roadkill.

In rabbit mull or crow stew, rabbit or crow replaces chicken. Turtle mull contains chicken as well as turtle and sometimes such additional meats as beef, pork, and even beaver. Jallop is sometimes made from catfish.

To make chicken mull, pieces of chicken are simmered in water in a kettle or Dutch oven about one hour, until done. When the pieces are cool, the skin and bones are removed and the meat is ground or cut, then restored to the broth. Milk and butter are added and cracker crumbs are stirred in until the desired thickness is achieved. The consistency varies, but typically mull is similar to cooked oatmeal.

Other ingredients may include baking soda; such vegetables as celery, onion, tomato sauce or paste, tomatoes, ketchup, lemon, and garlic; and such seasonings as salt, red and black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, steak sauce, and hot pepper sauce. Traditional side dishes include sweet pickles; onion rings, cucumbers, and tomatoes marinated in vinegar; slaw or salad; and green beans. Chicken jallop is sometimes served over hamburger buns.