by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Jun 28, 2018 | Appalachian, bears, Hiking, Miracles, Nature, Thistle
There are people who have never seen an animal in the wild. Oh, maybe a city squirrel or some pigeons, but I’d argue they’re not really wild. My mountains are a veritable zoo of wildlife. Just yesterday Thistle and I encountered a teenage bear on our...
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Jun 14, 2018 | Appalachian, Family, Memories, Miracles, Nature
You know it’s summer in the mountains when the lightning bugs start putting on a show. As kids, we loved to catch them and drop them in a mason jar with holes poked in the lid. Then we’d put that jar on a dresser in our rooms to watch them twinkle until we...
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Jun 7, 2018 | Appalachian, Family, Memories, Nature
In the cool of the evening my husband and I often sit on the front porch steps. We chat lazily, watch Thistle poke around, and wave at passing cars. It’s a very Appalachian-summer thing to do. Of course, if we were kids, we’d be up and off the steps...
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | May 31, 2018 | Appalachian, History, Writing
I’m currently working on a story idea that involves a feud. One of my goals in writing stories set in my beloved Appalachians is taking some of the stereotypes and clichés and either debunking them or shedding new light on them. So. Feuding. In the style of the...
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | May 24, 2018 | Appalachian, Food, Memories, Nature
I made my first trip to the local farmer’s market last week. There was an ABUNDANCE of spring greens available along with green onions, garlic scapes, and a few of last seasons potatoes. Which means it’s time for kilt lettuce! I don’t know for sure,...
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | May 17, 2018 | Appalachian, Family, History, Thistle
We just returned from spending several days at The Farm in West Virginia. My niece is the eighth generation of my family to grow up on that land. The house we stay in is just a few months older than I am since my parents built it while Mom was pregnant with me....
