by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Mar 10, 2025 | Appalachian, Writing
I’m so delighted to see Appalachian historical fiction having a moment in this year’s Selah Awards. Plus, Cindy Sproles and Ann Gabhart are wonderful friends and encouragers! Celebrating together. Appalachian-style.
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Jul 17, 2023 | Appalachian, Family, Farming, Memories
It’s hot. Oh, I know, it’s a lot hotter other places, but when you opt to live in the Appalachian Mountains it isn’t because you love toasty summers. We’ve been in the 90s every day for too long now. At least it cools down at night! The heat has me reminiscing about...
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Jul 10, 2023 | Appalachian, Food, Recipes
Summer in Appalachia has long meant supper from the garden for me. A platter piled high with buttery corn on the cob. Great slabs of brilliant red tomato. Green beans boiled with new potatoes. Kilt lettuce. Cucumbers and onions in apple cider vinegar. No one even...
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Jul 3, 2023 | Appalachian, Family, Food, holidays
Back home in West Virginia there was always a bean supper at George and Lucille’s for the Fourth of July. George and Lucille were first cousins to my dad, and they had a little, white house up on the ridge above the church. Each year, Lucille would organize the event...
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Jun 5, 2023 | Appalachian, Family, Nature, Traditions
In the cool of the evening my husband and I like to sit out on the back deck. In our last house, we didn’t have much of a porch and were relegated to sitting on the front steps. It’s a great time to chat lazily, watch Thistle poke around, and see what the...
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | May 29, 2023 | Appalachian, Church, Family, holidays
When I was growing up in West Virginia, Memorial Day was less about a day off from work or school and more about “decoration” at the church cemetery. We didn’t always hold Decoration Day ON Memorial Day, but it was always around this time. The idea,...
