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...
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Jul 19, 2021 | Appalachian, Hiking, Nature
I keep thinking it might be okay to start watching the news again. Then I do and . . . oh well. But it IS okay–more than okay–to check in with summer in the mountains of western North Carolina. While I’m more of a fan of spring and fall, I sure...
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Jun 17, 2021 | Appalachian, Nature
Old wives’ tale? Myth? Made up story? I don’t know for sure, but I do know that in Appalachia most folks will tell you to leave black snakes alone. They’ll even work to make them feel welcome. Okay, at least not unwelcome! Why? There are a variety of...
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Jun 10, 2021 | Appalachian
The official start of summer is still a little ways off, but it FEELS like summer in the mountains of North Carolina right now. The days are warm and humid, but not that sticky hot of August. Evenings and mornings are refreshingly cool and rain showers often pop up in...
