Spiders are prolific this year. We put out some July 4th decorations on the deck. Today when I started to put them away, I was shocked to see hordes of granddaddy long legs scrambling from under the ribbon. In just a few days, the red, white and blue ribbons had become infested. Spider webs wrap my plants every night. I don't spray insecticides because they are more dangerous for me than the spiders, I believe. That is why I was glad to find this article in the Augusta Chronicle. http://chronicle.augusta.com/life/home/2012-07-13/ask-bugman-know-you-spray

Now I can safely deal with spiders without worry of getting sick.

I have been wearing a boot, not a pretty boot, for the past three weeks on my left foot. I awoke one morning to find my foot swollen and painful. I couldn't imagine what was wrong. I soaked it and the swelling subsided a little. But I went to a podiatrist and after an ex-ray he saw a fracture in a metatarsol bone. To keep my foot stable the doctor had me wear something that looks like part of a space suit. For the first few days, I tripped on the boot itself, and almost fell several times. Now which is worse, I asked myself, a fractured foot or a broken hip? After three days I could clump around the house without losing my balance. But I have come close to hitting the floor more than once. Tomorrow I see the foot doc again. I hope he will set me free so I can walk without pulling my back out with each step. We have a big, big weekend here in Hayesville. The Festival on the Square, sponsored by the Clay County Historical and Arts Association, will begin Friday night with a street dance. (Can't dance with a space boot on my foot) On Saturday and Sunday our Netwest writing group will have a booth where writers will be signing books and meeting people, promoting our group and I hope to tell some folks about Writers Circle. If you are in the area or can come for a weekend of fun, drop by and say hello. Hopefully I won't be wearing a boot.

Patriotic Anniversary

Barry and I met on the fourth of July. That was a turning point in my life. 

First Christmas in our Mountain Home. We were so happy.

I teach my students to write down the turning points of their lives as a way to organize their memoirs. Meeting Barry was a large turning point in my life. I had become disenchanted with dating, with men, and wanted nothing to do with their kind. I fell in love with a beautiful young mare my brother had bought for the farm. She kept me busy and I could depend on her. I told myself I could teach and ride horseback and never miss dating.

I had graduated from college and come home like the good little girl I was expected to be. The men I dated expected me to be something I was not. But I agreed to go on a blind date with a young man, Barry Beall, who would not take no for an answer. 

He arrived in a maroon Chevy II convertible, climbed out of his car and walked toward me where I stood watching my older brothers play horse shoes in our yard. I was not impressed with my date's looks -- tall, skinny with a crew cut. He wore the worst looking knit swim shorts I'd ever seen. 

My first impression changed completely by the time we had taken a boat ride and spent time talking, and watching the fireworks that night. We fell in love on July 4th. We married the following year on Flag Day, June 14. 

He grew more handsome as he aged.

Today at our table our old friends gathered and we remembered Barry. I know he was with us. We couldn't see him but I felt his presence and his love.

We were The Six

Rebecca Completed El Camino, an inspiring experience

My former student and good friend, Rebecca, has finished walking El Camino de Santiago, a 500 mile pilgrimage over mountains in Spain. You might have seen the movie on this subject with Martin Sheen and his son.

Rebecca posted on her own blog and on another website while making this trek. She has inspired people all over the world to give themselves the opportunity to take this journey, an athletic challenge and a spiritual experience.

Rebecca honored me in the following post on her blog. 

http://renaissancerebecca.wordpress.com/2012/06/09/the-things-i-never-dreamed-of/

Two More Writing Classes

My class at Tri-County College is a delight for me. Each of the students has a different but exciting story to tell. 

Loretta has never lived out of this state or this area, but she writes with understanding and knowledge of her place and her people.

Ellen grew up in Montana. Her stories hold our attention throughout her reading. Partly because we have not experienced living on a ranch or hearing wildcats on the roof at night, but she also knows how to keep tension in her story.

Dick has lived in many places. His stories about his life and the lives of his ancestors will one day enthrall his grandchildren. Whether boys turn over the outhouse or paint graffiti, boys will be mischievous if they can get away with it. Dick wrote about that teacher we all relate to -- the one that just doesn't understand.

Paula writes for a newspaper, but she can write more than the facts when telling stories about her life growing up on a farm in south Georgia. Barb, who grew up in the big city, understands that details enliven and inform the reader. Her stories take us back to more than half a century ago, when mores and values were quite different from today.

We only have two more classes in this course. Today one of the students said she wouldn't let anyone read her writing until she began taking my classes. Well, that made my day. To make a difference in the life of one who had not yet recognized she had writing in her blood -- well, what could be better?

Have you influenced the life of another? How? How did it make you feel?

My Visit to Paradise

Last Friday I spent the afternoon with my sister Gay and her husband Stu at Paradise Arabian Farm in Lafayette, GA just north of Dalton. Although it was quite a trek for me to drive, I am so glad I made the trip.

I had no idea what the tour of the farm included, but upon being welcomed by Wanda, who owns the farm with her husband Gary, who is retired from the carpet business, I found myself walking through the barn where heads of Straight Egyptian Arabian horses extended from their stalls.

What is a Straight Egyptian Arabian horse?

These horses descend from the Arabians owned by the Bedouins who lived in the desert a thousand years ago. These horses were bred to be strong, hardy animals that can do any job needed. Their wide hooves helped them walk in the sand. Their bodies were made to handle the elements, wind storms, long treks with little water, and their wide flaring nostrils provided a gateway for oxygen to fuel their bodies. 

I did not know all this when I entered Paradise, but our tour guides, Matt, son of Wanda and Gary, and his wife, Misty filled my head with so many facts about this obviously rare and outstanding breed of horse, that I had to know more.

When I was a young girl, I read all the Black Stallion books by Walter Farley. I fell in love with the Arabian horse way back then. As I gazed out the window in school, escaping math class, I fantasized about one day owning such a horse. I saw myself riding this magnificent creature in woods, along trails, on the beach, anywhere my mind would take me, I rode.

I never owned an Arabian. In fact I had never been close to a real Arabian horse. Although I rode from the time I was a child, my horses were usually ordinary horses. The love of my life was a little chestnut mare I called Pretty Thing. We were together for thirty years. 

At Paradise I knew this was truly Heaven for horse lovers. The foals are handled from birth and have no fear of people. As we stood inside the huge arena, Misty and Gary brought out fine mares and foals for us to see. One after the other, a parade of champion horses pranced, ran around the arena, played with a ball, and came up to us to be petted and loved on.

My photography doesn't do this foal justice

One little guy only a few weeks old showed his superior breeding already. His small head held high, he scampered and ran full blast from one end of the place to the other with his mama beside him.


For one who truly loves horses, this was a smorgasbord of the finest, most beautiful horses in the world to gaze upon and dream about.

Gary said, "We have a horse on every continent in the world except Antarctica." 

Kings from the Middle East buy horses from Paradise and send them back to their homeland where this breed originated. At Paradise there are two reigning stallions. One is Scapa, a tall white horse that has sired many of the foals, and the other is The Singleton, the most perfect horse I've ever seen. He was brought into the arena for us to admire as he frolicked on the end of a long line held by Gary. Gary, an excellent horseman, had the bay stallion pose for us with his head held high on a slim bowed neck. The Arabian naturally holds its tail high because these horses are born with one less vertebra in their spines. 

Matt and Misty told us how the breeding program works at Paradise. Using the two champion stallions for stud, the mares have been bred in a sequence that will eventually produce a colt with the best of each of these sires. They breed for a short nose or bigger eyes, or a more dished nose, the sign of a true Arabian.

The public is welcome to come out and take a tour of the farm. The charge is minimal, and the experience is phenomenal. Gary and Wanda live there on the farm and host visitors from all over the world.

Matt learned the business from living and working on an Arabian farm in Texas, where the first Paradise horse was purchased. Matt gave a fascinating talk on the artificial breeding done on the farm. He was the breeding manager of Paradise until he became the Marketing Director. 

Have you ever met someone and right from the get--go, you found yourself on the same wave length? Matt and Misty made our trip to Paradise one of the best experiences I've ever had. I felt like I had known them forever. I think horse people are like writers. When we are with our own kind, we feel like family.

Matt and Misty Kenworthy

If, years ago, Barry and I had known of a place like Paradise, I'm sure we would have owned an Arabian. Matt says that owning one of these rare horses is an investment, not just a hobby. The expense of owning, showing and breeding a horse as an investment is tax deductible. Since I can't buy a horse at this time in my life, I didn't ask too many questions about that. But it sounds better than the stock market today.

Some of the rich and famous Arabian horse owners are kings and royalty from foreign countries, movie stars, musicians and country singers. The late actor, Patrick Swayze owned and rode Arabian horses.

One thing is evident at Paradise, they aren't only in the horse business, they care about the people who get in the horse business with them. They hold the hands of novice horse owners who purchase their foals and mares, and even board the horses at Paradise where they get the best of care and training. 

Part of the mission at Paradise Arabian Farm is to protect and expand this rare breed of horse. The numbers of the original breed are dwindling. I hope horse lovers will join this mission to keep Straight Egyptian Arabian horses around for a long, long time.

This beauty is one of the Paradise  horses

Did Your Ancestors Serve in the War Between the States?

Do you know your ancestors or relatives who are veterans of some of America's wars? I did not know until I began researching family for my book, Profiles and Pedigrees, Tom Council and his Descendants.

We have a special page in the book to honor those who served in World War II and wars that followed. I had three cousins who died in plane crashes during training for that war. One was lost at sea, one was killed when his plane flew into a mountain. 

It is easy today to find military records for ancestors on the Internet. My two great grandfathers, John Monroe Robison and John Cecil Council fought in the Civil War for the Confederacy. I have their papers, their wills and their widows' pensions. 

My oldest brother, Ray, was a veteran of the second World War. He served in the U.S. Navy. He was so cute in his uniform. I know from the photos taken of him way back then. I don't think he ever saw combat. The war ended about the time he enlisted.

My brother-in-law, Charlie, served in World War II. I have a good friend who is celebrating his 88th birthday this month, Ash Rothlein, who is a veteran of that same war.

As I watched the Hatfields and the McCoys on TV, I thought once again, why do men want to kill each other? I hate war and the idea of war. Life is precious, especially if that life belongs to my loved ones, so why do they want to fight? I don't think I will ever understand war. Do you?

Two Poets will Read at Coffee with the Poets

Coffee with the Poets will have two Netwest featured readers this month, June 13, 10:30 a.m. Mary Ricketson is also on the program Wednesday with Maren Mitchell.

Mary Ricketson’s poetry has been published in her chapbook, I Hear the River Call My Name, Lights in the Mountains, Echoes Across the Blue Ridge, Freeing Jonah IV, Freeing Johah V, and Wild Goose Poetry Review, Future Cycle Press, Your Daily Poem, various magazines and blogs, and in Disorgananza, a private collection distributed among family and friends. She won the gold medal for poetry in the 2011 Cherokee County Senior Games/Silver Arts and silver medal for 2012. She won first place in the 2011 Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest national poetry contest.

Mary writes a monthly column, Woman to Woman, for The Cherokee Scout. She is a long time member of the North Carolina Writers’ Network. Mary says she writes to satisfy a hunger, to taste life all the way down to the last drop. She gains perspective from family and friends, her Appalachian home, and her life’s work as a counselor. Writing poetry places her in kinship with her own life.

Mary Ricketson is a Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor in Murphy, North Carolina. She brings more than thirty years experience to her work, with twenty-five years in private practice. She is a founding board member of REACH. She has a special interest in women’s issues, victims of abuse, and family and couple relationships. She offers innovative ways to effect change in difficult life patterns, including Journey to Intuition and Neurofeedback. She is listed in Who’s Who in America.

Wednesday, June 13, will be a day of good poetry, for sure, with Mary Ricketson and Maren Mitchell at Coffee with the Poets, at Cafe Touche, 82 Main St. in Hayesville, NC.  

Contact Glenda Beall, nightwriter0302@yahoo.com for information.

Coffee with the Poets Welcomes Maren O. Mitchell

Maren O. Mitchell, Poet

A member of the North Carolina Writers’ Network West is featured each month at Coffee with the Poets. Maren Mitchell, outstanding poet and native of North Carolina, will read Wednesday, June 13, 10:30 a.m. at Café Touche, 82 Main Street in Hayesville, NC.
Anyone who enjoys writing and reading poetry is welcome to come and listen or read an original poem or short prose piece. The prose can be fiction or non-fiction of no more than 1000 words.

I’ve known Maren Mitchell for a number of years. We partnered in Nancy Simpson’s class on putting together a chapbook. Maren’s poetry makes us think about things we might have never thought about before. She has a unique way of seeing the world around her. While growing up, she lived in Bordeaux, France and Kaiserslautern, Germany. Presently she teaches origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, at the Moss Memorial Library in Hayesville, North Carolina, near her home in Young Harris, Georgia where she lives with her husband and two cats.

Her poetry has appeared in Southern Humanities Review, The Classical Outlook, The Journal of Kentucky Studies, Appalachian Journal, Red Clay Reader, Volume 4, The Richmond Broom, The Arts Journal and the anthologies Sunrise from Blue Thunder, Echoes Across the Blue Ridge and Nurturing Paws.

Several of her poems have been archived in online journals. Her poem, Not the Poem, won this year’s First Place Award for Excellence in poetry in the Georgia Poetry Society.

Maren has taught poetry at Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock, NC. She had a poet’s dream job when she catalogued at Connemara, Carl Sandburg’s North Carolina home, now a National Historic Site.

You will not want to miss Coffee with the Poets this month. We will also give a door prize. Just sign your name on the Sign Up Sheet.
There is no charge for this event, but you will likely want to sample Liz’s coffee, and I highly recommend the muffins.