I have several “pet” ginseng plants. I know where they grow and I’m not telling anyone. I like to check on them to see how they’re doing and when they produce their red seed pods around this time of year, I plant them to spur future growth. Seeds need 18+ months to germinate so ifContinue reading “Monday Meanderings – Ginseng Season”
Category Archives: Appalachian
Appalachian Thursday – Greasy Cut Shorts
I was NOT a fan of green beans when I was a kid. I liked the green okay, but not the bean! These days, though, I’m a big fan. Especially now that I’ve gotten the hang of how to cook them. I struggled to get that wonderful, tender, cooked-down quality. So I consulted my FoxfireContinue reading “Appalachian Thursday – Greasy Cut Shorts”
Appalachian Thursday – Feeling Lucky?
Have you ever knocked on wood? Or avoided walking under a ladder? I think we’re all at least a smidge superstitious. But Appalachia makes a veritable sport of it! And in this year when everything seems bound to go wrong I was thinking . . . what the heck? Let’s throw some superstition into theContinue reading “Appalachian Thursday – Feeling Lucky?”
Appalachian Thursday – Westsylvania
I’ve shared before about how West Virginia came to be a state in a pretty unusual way. Basically, some mountaineers west of the Allegheny Mountains vacated all the state (of Virginia’s) offices and filled them with their own elected officials. President Abraham Lincoln went along with it and West Virginia became the only state formedContinue reading “Appalachian Thursday – Westsylvania”
Appalachian Thursday – A dog named Lant
I’m a dog lover. And I enjoy researching family history. Imagine my delight in finding the two passions intersecting! I’m descended from David Phillips who first purchased the property we now own in West Virginia back in 1833. In reading up on the family, I found a story about David’s brother, Elijah Phillips, and aContinue reading “Appalachian Thursday – A dog named Lant”
Appalachian Thursday – A puzzling connection
Some friends and I have been trading jigsaw puzzles back and forth. I have a pretty good collection, mostly from my mother who shares hers with me. My friends had discovered puzzles based on art by Charley Harper, a renowned illustrator and artist who specialized in nature art. I am NUTS for these puzzles! IContinue reading “Appalachian Thursday – A puzzling connection”
Appalachian Thursday – Ghostly Testimony
More than 120 years ago, in July 1897, Edward Shue was convicted of murdering his wife Zona “Elva” Heaster Shue–thanks to HER testimony. The story out of Greenbrier County, WV, actually rates a state historic marker. And it goes something like this: On January 23, 1897, Elva Shue was found dead–either at the foot ofContinue reading “Appalachian Thursday – Ghostly Testimony”
Appalachian Thursday – Coffin Quilts
I love it when I discover something wonderfully Appalachian that I didn’t know about! I was researching Appalachian funeral traditions for my 2021 story (oops, I think I just gave away that someone dies–well, several someone’s actually!). I knew about cooling boards, sitting up with the dead, hand-digging graves, silver dollars on the eyes (penniesContinue reading “Appalachian Thursday – Coffin Quilts”
Appalachian Thursday – 187 Years of History
When my husband and I took on the family farm in West Virginia, a big part of the reason was to preserve family history. Turns out I’m pretty sentimental and I’m fascinated with history–especially my own. I’ve known for years that my brothers and I are the seventh generation to live on that particular parcelContinue reading “Appalachian Thursday – 187 Years of History”
Appalachian Thursday – Getting Rid of Freckles
I have freckles. More than an adorable smattering across my nose. More than a dusting across my cheeks. I have a freckle on my lip, on my eyelids, my ears. And when I was a kid I wanted them GONE. Luckily (or not) there are quite a few folklore remedies for freckles including washing yourContinue reading “Appalachian Thursday – Getting Rid of Freckles”
