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: 4 minutesI love cooking breakfast; I do so most mornings. It gives a productive start to my day and challenges me creatively. My palette demands variety, so I enjoy trying new variations of old favorites. But whatever I cook must be prepared quickly; I can’t spend all morning in the kitchen. So, I’m thankful every day for the amenities of my […]
Reading Time: 3 minutesAs I wrote a blog post about Jack Tales, I was motivated to try my hand at writing a Jack Tale of my own. Drawing from literary descriptions of Jack, local moonshiner stories, and a neighbor’s tale of a mash-consuming, drunken bear, I put together a short tale about Jack, a drunken bear, and a sheriff. Most of us are […]
Reading Time: 3 minutesWe’ve all heard the story of Jack and the Beanstalk—an English boy, some magic beans, a giant, and an adventure up a towering beanstalk. But did you know that the English Jack has kinfolk in the Appalachian Mountains? Meet the star of Appalachian Jack Tales, a character as old as the hills but still kicking around in modern folklore. From […]
Reading Time: 3 minutesHungry Mother State Park might seem like just another peaceful Blue Ridge retreat designed to happily engage vacationers. The sparkling lake, the hiking trails, the beach, the cabins, the campsites, and the mountain air are delightful. But behind this serene landscape lies a powerful story of survival and resilience that has shaped this beloved park. The Whisper of History Walking […]
Reading Time: 5 minutesAs a boy, I was fascinated by tales of lost treasure: The Hardy Boy’s Tower Treasure, Stephenson’s Treasure Island, and Poe’s The Gold Bug. Stories of long-lost fortunes conjure images of daring quests, secret maps, and the intoxicating possibility of striking it rich. Such tales are everywhere. Their allure taps into our innate desire for discovery and the excitement of […]
Reading Time: 3 minutesVisualizing the Blue Ridge Parkway, your mind likely drifts to scenic drives and breathtaking views. But did you know this picturesque route has a surprising connection to something as fundamental as your Social Security check? Behind the creation of the Parkway lies a story involving a key figure whose influence extends beyond the winding roads and into the very foundation […]
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 […]
Reading Time: 5 minutesIn the final, desperate years of the Civil War, Confederate desertion rates soared. Exhausted and disillusioned soldiers, many of whom had been away from home for years, abandoned their posts, driven by the desperate hope of reuniting with their families and escaping the brutality of war. The wave of desertions threatened the Confederate war effort, prompting states to create Confederate […]
