by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Jul 10, 2013 | Appalachian, Family, Food, Nature
It was a sad day. Jim came home not long ago and let me know that our source for raw cow’s milk had dried up, so to speak. I tried almond milk, but really, they’re not fooling anyone. So it’s back to the ultra-pasteurized, homogenized stuff that was...
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Jun 21, 2013 | Family, Food, Friends, Nature, Reading
It’s the first day of summer. The Summer Solstice. Here in Western NC the sun rose at 6:15 a.m. and will set at 8:49 p.m. That’s 14 hours and 34 minutes of daylight. Compare that to the shortest day of the year when we have 9 hours and 45 minutes of sun....
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Jun 12, 2013 | Appalachian, Family, Food, Friends, Nature, Reading
The house we live in has the sorriest excuse for a front porch. But it’s still a porch and I’ll take it. Because a need to sit on the front porch is embedded in my genetic material. Porch sitting is simply a way of life in the mountains. It’s for...
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Jun 5, 2013 | Appalachian, Family, Food, Nature
Just about everyone around here has their garden planted by now and the Farmer’s Markets are gearing up. Early produce includes sweet peas, green onions, spinach, and, of course, lots of lettuces. Which puts me in mind of a wilted lettuce salad. This is...
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | May 29, 2013 | Appalachian, Family, Food, Nature
We’re finally having some truly warm weather with days that might even be what you would call “hot.” And as summer approaches, I’ve seen some folks in the area start to put up the first cutting of hay. When I was a kid, the first cutting...
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | May 17, 2013 | Appalachian, Family, Nature
I spent last weekend in West Virginia visiting lots of family and just soaking up the ambiance of my favorite place. I’m the seventh generation to grow up on the land where my father still lives. I’m hopeful at least one of this batch of nieces and nephews...
