Culture
Reading Time: 4 minutesIn the heart of Appalachia’s coal country, where few see daylight, a chilling folk tale persists: Tommyknockers. In the dark, cramped tunnels, miners whisper about these mysterious beings who knock on walls and steal tools. Their knocks sometimes serve as warnings—a signal to flee before disaster strikes. Whether guardian angels or tricksters, Tommyknockers, aka Knockers, are an enduring part of […]
Reading Time: 4 minutesImagine a quilt hanging on a clothesline, fluttering gently in the breeze. To a casual observer, it’s just a piece of fabric, a practical household item airing out in the sun. But for some, it might have been a covert message—a guide to freedom for those enslaved in the 19th century. Could quilts have been used as secret codes in […]
Reading Time: 6 minutesPicture this: it’s Christmas morning, and you’re rushing to get the cinnamon rolls in the oven, clear the wrapping paper carnage, and maybe post a perfectly filtered photo of your tree on social media before the dog eats the ornament hooks. Imagine trying to do all that while worrying that sweeping the floor might doom your entire year or that […]
Reading Time: 5 minutesThere are snacks, and then there’s the Moon Pie. It’s the kind of treat that holds a certain charm, sitting on the shelves of country stores, its chocolate-coated promise tempting anyone with a taste for something classic. Moon Pies have been around for over a century and are more than just a cookie with marshmallow filling. They symbolize ingenuity and […]
Reading Time: 4 minutesI’m not a hillbilly, but I can sure sound like one when I want to. I grew up around Washington, DC, in a family of Appalachian Southerners. Their accent rolled off my tongue like gravy over biscuits. Over the years, I’ve worked hard to overcome my Southern Appalachian dialect. But I can drop back into it quick as a hound […]
Reading Time: 5 minutesIn the heart of Appalachia, when winter settles deep into the valleys and the mountains stand quiet under a blanket of frost, a different kind of Christmas takes place. While most of the world celebrates on December 25, some Appalachian communities hold on to a much older tradition. Old Christmas, celebrated on January 6. It’s a day steeped in history, […]
Reading Time: 4 minutesImagine you’re in an Appalachian kitchen, the aroma of a hearty breakfast wafting through the air. The scent of sizzling bacon mingles with the rich, buttery fragrance of grits bubbling on the stovetop. But grits aren’t just breakfast food. When it comes to dinner, grits can easily step in where you might typically find potatoes. Meat, fish, and fowl entrees […]
Reading Time: 4 minutesThere are few culinary divides in my home. But one is so large you could drive a truck through it: okra. I’m a fan. I love it rolled in cornmeal and fried. My wife? Well, she’s a Colorado girl who can’t stand it. Most folks either love okra or hate it. There doesn’t seem to be much middle ground regarding […]
Reading Time: 4 minutesWhen you think about Prohibition-era rum runners, the image of a fast-talking, fast-driving man usually comes to mind. But in the hills of Virginia, one woman stood out above all the men: Willie Carter Sharpe. Born in Floyd County in the early 1900s, Willie was destined for more than a quiet life in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Her journey from […]
Reading Time: 6 minutesI don’t think about fences much. I was raised in suburbia, where each backyard was cordoned off by some sort of fence. They kept the dogs in and the neighbors out. But driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia, I marveled at the ingenuity of the various fences. When you think about the breathtaking scenery along the Blue Ridge […]
