by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Oct 14, 2021 | Appalachian, History
Appalachia has a unique and, I think, incredibly special way of speaking. It hearkens back to Elizabethan England with a solid Scottish underpinning and even a dash of Chaucer now and again. I don’t use TOO much dialect in my stories since it can bog readers...
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Sep 22, 2021 | Appalachian, folklore cures, Nature, superstition
CATCH A FALLING LEAF – Today is the first day of autumn–yay! I LOVE fall with cooler days, blue skies, glorious leaves, and apple picking. But TODAY is extra special in Appalachia because this is your chance to guarantee you stay healthy this winter (and...
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Sep 9, 2021 | Appalachian, Food, West Virginia
Okay, I didn’t really grow up IN Buckhannon. But it’s the closest town to our farm that’s big enough to be called a town. And during the month of September, you can win a trip to visit this hip Appalachian gem that’s been voted one of the...
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Aug 19, 2021 | Appalachian, Nature
While I love fall, I also love these days when I can begin to ANTICIPATE fall. Because half the fun of a thing, is looking forward to it. Hmmm. Maybe more than half the fun! As I get out and take Thistle for walks, or open my window on a cool morning, I’m definitely...
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Aug 12, 2021 | Appalachian, Food, Research
Among my Appalachian research treasures is a copy of the 8th edition of Old Timey Recipes from 1975 as collected by Phyllis Connor. Inside the front cover someone wrote, “West Virginia, August 1976.” Since I would have been just shy of five years old then,...
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Jul 22, 2021 | Appalachian, books, folklore cures, Nature
I love it when friends keep an eye out for items they know I’ll treasure. Last week my friend Jessie slipped me a copy of Appalachian Folk Medicine: Native Plants and Healing Traditions. It was a donated to the thrift store at the ministry where I work and I...
