Surry Living Magazine - January 2021

JANUARY 2021

A lifestyle magazine highlighting Surry County and the surrounding area

FREE COPY

Health & Wellness in a Global Pandemic

Martha Bassett brings you ...

Advertiser Index Our advertisers make it possible to provide Surry Living FREE of charge. Please join us in thanking and supporting these outstanding merchants in our area:

a publication of vivid graphics SURRY LIVING MAGAZINE PO Box 6548 Mount Airy, NC 27030 surryliving.com • info@surryliving.com for editorial content submissions send to larry@surryliving.com

CREATIVE

LARRY VANHOOSE executive editor

TRINA VANHOOSE

VIE STALLINGS HERLOCKER associate editor

SALES

OLIVIA MCMILLAN

ADVERTISE WITH US:

• Reach more than 30,000 potential customers each month.

• Complimentary monthly magazine distributed in hundreds of prime locations throughout Mount Airy, Elkin, Dobson, Pilot Mountain, Jonesville, Yadkinville, and the surrounding areas including grocery stores, restaurants, medical offices, hotels, gift shops, and more.

• Current and previous issues available for viewing and download at www.surryliving.com/ • Business Spotlight and Advertorial articles available.

• Enhance your business image with our high-quality, four-color, heavy-gloss publication.

• 30 days of advertising per month gives potential customers the chance to see your ad multiple times.

• Multiple-insertion–discounted rates available!

Surry Living Magazine’s Monthly Editorial Calendar is available on request by contacting our Sales Department at sales@surryliving.com

Anderson Audiology, Page 9 Blue Mountain Herbs & Supplements, Page 25 Charis Christian Books and Gifts, Page 25 Cook Insurance Group, Page 10 Countryside RV, Page 7 Farmers Mulch & Rock, Page 29 Farmhouse Spits & Spoons, Page 25 Friendly Heating & Cooling, Inc., Pages 5, 30 George Smith Piano Tuning, Page 20 Hicks Water Stoves / Mechanical, Page 25 Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital, Pages 2, 14 Johnson's Xtreme Softwash, Page 15 Kristin Clickett, Health & Wellness Coach, Page 13 Main Street Market, Page 25 Mount Airy Equipment, Page 3 Mullins Pawn Shop & Jewelers, Page 21 NC Cooperative Extension, Page 29 Northern Regional Hospital, Pages 17, 32 Plaza Del Sol Mexican Cuisine, Page 25 Ridgecrest Retirement, Page 31 Roy's Diamonds, Page 10 Royster & Royster Attorneys at Law, Page 9 Spotted Moon, Page 25 Surry Communications, Page 19 The Derby, Page 7 The Martha Bassett Show, Page 10 The Nest & Hive, Page 9 Yadkin Valley Quilts, Page 23 Zen Massage and Bodywork, Page 7

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION AND RATES, CONTACT US TODAY at (336) 648-3555 or by email at sales@surryliving.com • surryliving.com

www.facebook.com/SurryLiving Surry Living reserves the right to deny any advertisement or listing. Submissions are welcome, but unsolicited materials are not guaranteed to be returned. Surry Living assumes no responsibility or liability for the information, services, products, claims, statements, accuracy, or intended or unintended results of any advertiser, editorial contributors, company, professional corporation, business or service provider herein this publication. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher is prohibited.

4 • SURRY LIVING Jan. 2021 Issue

Wishing you and yours a safe, prosperous, and Happy New Year!

(336) 648-3555 • sales@surryliving.com

FEATURED SECTIONS

HOME, FARM, & GARDEN p.8 * OUT & ABOUT p.18 * 8 The Vintage Southern

Homemaker: Gloria Brown shares memories and helpful tips

20 Gin Denton:

22 The Sweet & Savory Life

Raven Coleman

Happy, Healthy 2021 Sleep Well, Be Well

Seven Long Days

with Fruit Trees 15 Sarah Southard, DVM:

with Rynn Hennings: Fruit Smoothies 24 Carmen Long:

11 This Little Light of Mine:

12 Joanna Radford: Exercising

SIMPLY DELICIOUS p.22 *

Friendly Insulation, LLC.

Veterinary Medicine in the Face of a Pandemic

ALL THE REST p.26 26 A Deeper Cut: A Novel,

Continues as we near the dramatic conclusion 28 Area Event Schedules:

With so many cancellations and uncertainty, we recommend our readers go to www. visitmayberry.com for the most current event schedule information.

Adding EFFICIENCY to Your Home

16 Guest Contributor - Kitty

Horton: Dealing with the Quarantine –15 18 Martha Bassett:

Good Music, Good People

Free Estimates for Existing Structures and New Construction

336-648-8453

*

friendlyinsulation.com SURRY LIVING Jan. 2021 Issue • 5

CONTRIBUTORS

Martha Bassett

Gloria Brown

Gin Denton

Sheri Wren Haymore

Martha is a singer/songwriter/guitarist living and working in the Piedmont. She hosts The Martha Bassett Show, a twicemonthly musical variety show at Elkin’s Reeves Theater. Past shows are featured Saturday evenings on NPR station, 88.5 WFDD. On Wednesday nights she leads music at Roots Revival, an Americana worship service at Winston’s Centenary UMC that explores the intersection of faith and secular music. She's also a longtime scholar of the music of the Shakers.

Martha has released 11 records and plays throughout the region and nation. Get more info at marthabassettshow.com.

Gloria is co-owner of The Nest & Hive Shoppe, a home décor business in Fancy Gap, VA, as well as the former host of The Vintage Southern Homemaker television show. Her musings on life growing up and living in the South have appeared in publications and on TV throughout the region. She is an expert antiques collector who grew up in the business and worked many years as a dealer in the Yadkin Valley area, where she currently resides.

Gin is the owner of Ginger Horse Studio. Her focus is lifestyle photography, covering horse shows, weddings, concerts, and doing on location portraits. Gin graduated from the University of Findlay with an Equine Business Management degree, where she also studied music and photography. She is a member of the Mount Airy Ukulele Invasion (MAUI) and the Granite City Rock Orchestra (GRO).

Gin resides in Lowgap, NC with her family on their small horse farm.

Sheri grew up in Mt. Airy, NC, and lives thereabouts with her husband. Together they run a couple of small businesses and plan their next vacation. A graduate of High Point University, her first job was as a writer at a marketing firm—and she’s been scribbling ever since. Sheri has several suspense novels in publication and Surry Living is proud to include sequential excerpts from one of her books in each issue.

Rynn Hennings

Carmen Long

Joanna Radford

Sarah Southard

Rynn is a writer and designer based in the Yadkin Valley region of North Carolina. She loves to share her ideas for adding simple beauty into hectic lifestyles. More than mere recipes, her mission is to offer practical shortcuts for food preparation along with visual tips for presentation. Rynn began her career in Aiken, SC, as a newspaper reporter writing feature articles about food, living, and the arts. For more about Rynn, even more recipes, decorating tips, and much more, visit thehouseofelynryn.com

Carmen is an NC Cooperative Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences. Making quick, easy, healthy food that tastes great on a budget is a challenge.

Carmen and her husband have two grown children, both of whom were involved in sports from grade school thru college. With busy careers and lots of time at sporting events, coming up with quick, healthy meals was a necessity.

Carmen shares ideas and recipes to make this tough job a bit easier.

Joanna Radford is the Commercial and Consumer Horticulture Agent for the NC Cooperative Extension in Surry County with expertise in entomology, gardening, and pesticide education. She began her career with NC Cooperative Extension in Stokes County in 1995 as a 4-H Agent, later switching to Field Crops and Pesticide Education in Surry County. In 2012, she assumed the role of Horticulture Agent for Surry County. She lives on a farm with her husband and two teenage daughters.

Sarah grew up at Crooked Oak in the Pine Ridge community of Surry County. Raised in the agriculture world, she went on to earn degrees in animal science and veterinary medicine from North Carolina State University. She and her husband, Adam, currently live in Statesville with Oliver the house rabbit, a few cats, Blossom the donkey, and a flock of Katahdin hair sheep.

6 • SURRY LIVING Jan. 2021 Issue

CONTRIBUTORS contd.

Larry VanHoose Larry is the Executive Editor of Surry Living Magazine and Creative Director at Vivid Graphics in Galax, VA. He has 30+ years experience as a writer, graphic designer, and commercial photographer.

Larry and wife, Trina, have four wonderful, grown children, one awesome grandson, and they reside on a small farm just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Grayson County, VA.

Vie Herlocker

“Celebrating 83 YEARS OF SERVICE in the Area!”

Vie is the Associate Editor of Surry Living Magazine. Her professional affiliations include: Christian Proofreaders and Editors Network. American Christian Writers, American Christian Fiction Writers, and more. She is a certified member of the Christian Editor’s Connection (CEC).

Vie has been published in magazines, collections, and co-authored or ghosted several nonfiction books.

www.thederbyrestaurant.com

1901 S. Main St • Mt. Airy • (336) 786-7082

~ Vie Herlocker, AKA “The Book Mama”

Our Parts Store and Service Center is OPEN all-year!

Monday – Friday, 10:00 – 5:00 Saturday, 10:00 – 2:00

NC’s Premier Park Model Superstore!

CALL:

336-468-6774

2048 Hinshaw Road Yadkinville, NC

Find us on FACEBOOK

To view all inventory including new & preowned travel trailers & pop-ups, visit www.countrysidervcenter.com SURRY LIVING Jan. 2021 Issue • 7

home, farm, & garden

Is There a Doctor in the House?

I don’t know what it is about going to the doctor that puts my family off, but something seems to scare us all away. Not saying that we never seek medical advice, but it is usually just to confirm our own diagnosis. As a general rule, we think we can fix it at home.

When I was little, I’d be up at my ma’s, and her sisters – my great aunts – would be visiting. All of us would be piled in the den, sitting around the wood stove. The issue of health always came up, and one or more would always be battling some malady, especially in the wintertime. Over and over I would hear symptoms discussed and remedies suggested. Other family members would listen intently – actually, that is not accurate, there was a lot of interrupting – while the ailed one described the entire case in depth. The medical saga usually started with when they awoke and continued all the way to the very second of time that we were in. Sometimes it had to start with the night before and how the night went and on through to the present. Either way you would never hear a more complete case history than that of the afflicted one.

Then it really cranked up. All the panel of “medical experts” would chime in with their own lists of aches, pains, and conditions.

It would sound like a showdown to determine who really was in the worst shape. In the end you would wonder how any of them were still going. From the tops of their heads to the soles of their feet, they were suffering. The trials they had soldiered through were nothing short of amazing. The common thread connecting all of them, besides DNA, were those mysterious “traveling pains.”

The traveling pains were discussed with much animation and vivid description. And without taking a breath. The saga would sound something like this: “I was standing at the sink washing the supper dishes when all at once my right wrist felt just like it snapped and hot pain raced up through my elbow and caught in my shoulder like a knot. It stood me straight up and shot across my back ’til I thought I would fall. But I braced myself up against the cabinet and was sure it had let up when my lower back tightened up like my fist right here and a dull ache set into my left hip, and there it went again shooting down my leg like a bullet. My toes on my left foot drawed up so tight I thought to myself it was going to be all I could do to get over to the table and set down a minute and catch my breath.”

They would all be hushed after that rollercoaster ride – for about two seconds. Then like the floodgates had opened, they all had to relate their experiences with the traveling pains coursing through their bodies like lightening. Those pains are still a mystery to me, but boy did they sure “run” in my family.

I know I tell y’all a lot about Ma and her sisters. I can’t help myself. They were a funny bunch. I was blessed to have spent a great deal of time with all of them, and I miss them more than I can ever tell you. My ma was the last of her siblings to pass away. She lived to be almost 93. Although they did have some pitiful ailments, they all lived well into old age, and as far as I know, not a one of them was taken by a traveling pain.

8 • SURRY LIVING Jan. 2021 Issue

home, farm, & garden ANDERSON AUDIOLOGY Hearing Aid Sales & Service, Inc. Locally Owned and Operated Since 1963

Hear Better

Live Better

Open Monday thru Friday 8:30 am – 5:00 pm 8052 Carrollton Pike, Galax, VA Four offices to serve you including Christiansburg, Dublin, and Wytheville

Tina M. Proffit Au.D.

Kecia Furrow H.I.S.

276-236-0778 • anderson-audiolog y.com

SURRY LIVING Jan. 2021 Issue • 9

home, farm, & garden 276-236-4137

108 S. Main St. Galax, VA Mon. - Sat. 9 AM – 5:30 PM

A Family Owned & Operated Full-Service Jewelry Store Established in 1977

roysdiamond.com

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year COOK INSURANCE GROUP LLC and Erie Insurance wish you a safe and joyful New Year.

Timothy Cook COOK INSURANCE GROUP LLC 119 VALLEY DR JONESVILLE, NC 28642-2620 Fax: 336-526-2664

336-526-2665

Auto • Home • Business • Life www.erieinsurance.com S1092c Not all companies are licensed or operate in all states. Not all products are offered in all states. Go to erieinsurance.com for company licensure and territory information.

10 • SURRY LIVING Jan. 2021 Issue

home, farm, & garden

by Larry VanHoose

The new doctor chastised me for being nearly 60 years old and not yet having a colonoscopy. I didn’t mention that my previous two doctors had also chastised me for my lack of screening.

Maybe if I were an ostrich, I’d put my head in the sand and continue to ignore the doctors. Other types of cancer had taken the lives of several in my family. I lost my mom and sister a couple of years apart. And Mamaw and Papaw, plus several aunts and uncles. A survivor of thyroid cancer myself, the golf ball size tumor had to come out – along with my thyroid. In the back of my mind, it seemed almost better not to know.

I will wrap up this little TMI (too much information) story with one last thought if you’re still with me. All my years of delays and procrastinations, my unspoken fears, and my nagging little worries did not change one thing about my diagnosis, they merely made me at the very least, uncomfortable, and when fully in bloom, downright miserable. The Bible tells us to “Fear not,” or a derivative of those same words, 365 times – one time for every day of the year. Why? Because God is truly a Living God and he loves us and wants us to know his peace — to know and trust him.

Finally, I agreed to go through the whole annoying process. Twenty-four hours without solid food; twelve hours of taking medicines to clear me out. Halfway into the process, I asked myself why I signed on the bottom line; was knowing worth it? After all, I grew up with the adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” In other words, leave well enough alone.

The day came and the process itself was painless.

The only thing that really hurt was my pride, but that was a silly thing to hold onto when you are surrounded by folks who just want to help you know you don’t have a cancer lurking inside you. I made the best of it and then got dressed and waited for the doctor to stop by and give me the all-clear. But that is not quite how it went down. Instead, he informed me that they found “… one little polyp, probably nothing to worry about. We should have the pathology report back in a week or so. We’ll let you know.”

Here I go again, I thought. Cancer trying to rear its ugly head in my family once again. Just perfect for this year, the year of the global pandemic, two 100-years floods, Blue Ridge Mountain earthquakes, hurricanes – one after another after another. That the year twenty-twenty was a trying year might be the biggest understatement you’ll hear me make.

I could not actually put pen to paper for the various fears and worries that floated in and out of my mind while I waited on the pathology report. I am not a scaredy-cat, preferring to be positive and face trouble as it comes, but as I said, my family record against cancer has not been the best. And although I am still here today, part of my body is missing because of thyroid cancer, and I’d honestly prefer to keep the rest. So, Day Seven came, and the pathology report was in our mailbox. My hands trembled ever so slightly as I hesitated, then ripped open the envelope and rushed through the brief medical mumbo jumbo till I found these precious few words, “totally benign and of no significance.”

Psalm 42 (NIV) As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him?

Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, “Where is this God of yours?”

My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration!

Why am I discouraged?

Why is my heart so sad?

I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God! SURRY LIVING Jan. 2021 Issue • 11

home, farm, & garden

by Joanna Radford

Exercising with

Fruit Trees

Many New Year’s resolutions are being made in hopes of losing weight and increasing overall health. People have purchased gym subscriptions, hired personal trainers, and started weight loss programs to become healthier. While these methods may work for many people, there is a little secret out there that could help without spending a lot of extra money. Pruning fruit trees.

Every year, fruit trees need to be trained and pruned to help maintain their proper shape and form. There are many benefits to pruning: trees produce high quality fruit, yield more, and live longer. The one who prunes the fruit tree also receives benefits. You can include pruning in your at-home workout and fitness program.

Pruning can help on cardio days and can include stretching to reach selected limbs and lifting to make those needed cuts. What could be easier? And, in a few short months, there will be delicious, nutritious fruit to eat.

needed light to reach up to 18 inches inside the canopy. Pruning helps open this canopy and helps permit air movement through the tree. This aids in drying of leaves and branches after heavy dew and rainfall, which minimizes disease infection and allows thorough spray penetration. And who does not like looking at a well-manicured apple or peach tree?

Do not let pruning intimidate you. Any pruning cut is better than no pruning cut. Pruning helps bring vigor to the tree. It is helpful to know several types of pruning cuts. A thinning cut removes an entire branch back to a side shoot branch. These cuts do not invigorate the tree near the cut in comparison to some of the other pruning cuts. Heading cuts remove the terminal portion of a branch. This promotes the growth of lower buds with the greatest vigor just below the cut. Bench cuts remove vigorous, upright branches back to side branches that are similar in diameter – but less upright and outward growing – than the branch being pruned. These cuts open the center of the tree and spread the branches outward. Use a bench cut sparingly since it is a major cut.

Cuts do not require application of a sealant or protectant. They do need to be made using the proper techniques so that they will heal quickly. Rapid healing minimizes disease and insect infections. Make pruning cuts close to the adjacent branch without leaving stubs. Slightly angle larger cuts so water does not sit on the cut surface. This will help decrease rot growth and disease organisms.

Apple and peach trees are pruned differently. When pruning apple trees, use “central leader” training. Select one main upright trunk to become the leader. This will remain and becomes what you prune around and refer to before making further cuts.

Remove branches with crotch angles of less than 60 degrees.

Also remove all branches directly across from one another on the leader. Lateral branches should be spaced uniformly around the leader to prevent crowding as limbs grow in diameter. Remove any diseased or dead limbs.

Peach trees should follow the “open-center” or “vase” training method. With this method, remove the leader. This leaves a vaseshaped tree with upright growth removed from the center. There should be three to five major limbs, called scaffolds. coming out from the trunk. This system helps sunlight and air get into the center of the tree which minimizes shading and promotes vigor.

Proper tree training opens the tree canopy to maximize light penetration. This is essential for strong flower bud development and optimal fruit set, flavor, and quality. The flower buds for this season’s crop were formed last summer. Fruit trees thrive in maximum sunlight. However, a dense canopy may not allow the 12 • SURRY LIVING Jan. 2021 Issue

An expert horticulturist once told me never to look back when you are pruning. There will be a lot of wood taken off a tree when pruning. This only promotes positives such as air movement, sunlight penetration, higher yields, and increased fruit quality.

If you are looking for more specifics and help with fruit tree pruning, contact your local NC Cooperative Extension. They are there to help!

With all the benefits to the fruit tree and to our health, I think I will head out soon to visit some fruit trees with my pruners in hand!

Is Coaching for Me?

by Kristin Clickett, CRNA, MSN, NBC-HWC

Imagine living your best life ever. Seriously...close your eyes for a moment. Now...really imagine your dream life. What does that look like? What are you doing?

Who is with you? What kind of health are you in? How does that make you feel inside and out?

These are the types of questions an Integrative Health Coach may ask a Client when creating a vision of the client’s optimal health and well-being. Coaches and Clients successfully utilize the power of that vision to create lasting changes in behavior.

home, farm, & garden With the help of her Coach, Ann created a vibrant vision of health that involved participating fully in her grandchildren’s activities. Her Coach’s guidance enabled Ann to produce a plan of action that felt doable and fit into her current lifestyle.

Little by little, she took Little by little, she steps in the right direction took steps in the right and made small changes direction and made that made a big impact. small changes that made a big impact.

To her delight, in just a few months, Ann began seeing results. Her energy level was increasing and her clothes Meet Ann, a grandmother of five. Ann has been were fitting better. Having a coach to keep her on track, feeling out of shape these days and doesn’t have even when she was ready to give up, had made all the much energy. To complicate matters, she has a history difference. Now, her regained energy has her keeping of Type II Diabetes and High Blood Pressure. Ann is up with her active family just like she had imagined. finding it difficult to keep up with her grandchildren In her Coach, Ann found a Trusted Advisor, an and has been thinking about how to make a change for Accountability Partner, and a Supportive Sounding the better.

Board. Most of all, Ann finally found a way to move One day, Ann confided her feelings in a friend who forward with achieving her desired results. introduced her to Integrative Health Coaching. This For more information about coaching, email evidenced-based, individualized approach appealed to kristin@kristinclickett.com her for many reasons. After a little research, Ann hired her own Coach and began the coaching process.

This is a paid advertorial for kristinclickett.com

SURRY LIVING Jan. 2021 Issue • 13

home, farm, & garden

by Sarah Southard, DVM

Veterinary Medicine in the Face of a Pandemic

necessary. Veterinarians postpone certain nonurgent procedures to preserve valuable resources and to decrease nonessential human interactions.

A new year has arrived, and we find ourselves still in the throes of a world-wide pandemic. Life as we knew it last year at this time has been long ago forgotten, overshadowed by a new normal of limited social interactions, face coverings, online grocery orders, and looming questions of what will happen, how this will all play out, and when, oh when will it ever end. For pet

Curbside service—Many practices are operating with curbsideonly services. A veterinary team member will come to your vehicle to get your pet. When possible, communication will be handled over the phone.

What do all these changes mean for you? What will your pet’s visit to the veterinarian look like? While each veterinary practice may differ slightly in the details, the following things are likely:

Face coverings required—A mask covering the nose and mouth will likely be required for any face-to-face interactions. It will also be required for entry into the building, if allowed.

Differences in procedure priority—While emergent issues will be handled right away, it is possible that routine and elective exams and procedures may be postponed. The decision regarding whether to postpone a certain procedure will be made after considering the availability of required supplies and equipment, and after evaluating the potential risk to the pet of waiting until a later date to perform the procedure.

While these are the most likely changes that you will encounter, others are possible depending on individual clinic situations.

Some clinics may experience changes in staff availability. Others may need to close for a short time due to coronavirus exposure or infection.

and livestock owners there are additional questions that come to mind. Will my veterinarian be available when I need him or her?

How will veterinary services be provided? How do I navigate the ever-changing environment of agricultural markets, overbooked processing plants, food supply chain bottlenecks? The list could go on. Some of these questions do not have clear or easy answers, but let’s look at what we do know.

Veterinarians are considered to provide essential services to the public. Throughout all the various stages of COVID-19 restrictions and shutdowns, veterinarians have been allowed to remain operational. There are changes, however to the ways in which they prioritize procedures and to how they provide services. These changes are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and by the American Veterinary Medical Association in order to help decrease the spread of disease and to protect the veterinarians, technicians, and office staff that we rely on to provide critical care to pets and livestock.

Certain changes are also in place to help reserve supplies and personal protective equipment for use in human medicine rather than animal medicine. Veterinary professionals have also compiled databases of various medical equipment that can be diverted from veterinary medical use into human medical use if

Questions for pet owners and companion animal veterinarians are difficult. For those in animal agriculture, the questions are much more complicated. There are no easy answers. But thankfully, food animal veterinarians are still available to provide services to their clients and to help guide their clients, where appropriate, in answering these difficult questions. No matter how difficult the situation we find ourselves in, rest assured that you can trust your veterinarian as much now as ever. We are committed to caring for you and your animals to the best of our ability and as safely as possible, no matter the challenges we face to do it.

Jump start the New Year!

Let us do your exterior cleaning

during these cold winter months!

— You name it — we can clean it!

336-789-2495 • 336-410-2881 • gosoftwash.com acebook.com/JohnsonsXtremeSoftwash SURRY LIVING Jan. 2021 Issue • 15

home, farm, & garden

Dealing with the

To limit exposure and increase social distancing, fitness centers and gyms are required to limit their occupancy so everyone can stay at least six feet apart. If possible, classes should be held outside.

—15

You can take personal precautions while at the fitness center or gym:

QUARANTINE

•

Do not use areas in the facility where you cannot maintain social distancing such as steam rooms, saunas, whirlpools, etc. Do not use public areas, such as a lounge.

•

If possible, take your own equipment for use.

•

Except when you are exercising strenuously, use a face covering indoors and outdoors to reduce your risk. You should also expect the staff at the facility to wear face coverings.

•

Hand hygiene is of utmost importance. Wash your hands frequently but especially before and after touching any equipment. Hand sanitizer or soap and water will do. Also make sure your equipment is clean prior to and after use.

The fitness center or gym should provide an approved EPA disinfectant that will kill the SARs-CoV-2 or COVID-19 virus.

•

Now 2021 is here and many New Year’s resolutions included getting rid of those extra pounds. But a question remains – how can you shed the extra weight and be safe, especially if you want to return to a fitness center or gym?

Monitor yourself regularly for fever, respiratory symptoms, or other symptoms that could be related to COVID-19. If you have any symptoms DO NOT go to the fitness center or gym. If you are symptomatic, you may need to contact your physician and possibly get tested for COVID-19.

The NC Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer guidance not only for safely reopening fitness centers and gyms but also for participants returning to those centers.

Fitness centers and gyms have several other guidelines and recommendations they must adhere to during this time. If you are unsure what precautions are being followed, call the fitness center or gym before going and ask.

Photo courtesy of Rylee B. Haynes

Kitty Horton – Manager, Infection Prevention, Northern Regional Hospital The 2020 SARs-CoV-2 or COVID-19 pandemic brought about terminology like isolation, self-quarantine, social distancing, and shut down for deep cleaning. Another phrase coined during this time was the Quarantine-15.

Quarantine-15 refers to extra weight many people gained while staying home. During stressful times, we tend to eat comfort foods such as pizza, chips, chocolate, ice cream, and other foods that are high in sugar and fat. And, because the shutdown included gyms and fitness centers, many people reduced the amount of physical activity they were used to.

Getting rid of the Quarantine-15 does not require the use of a fitness center or gym. There are many things you can do to reduce stress and weight. Get outside and walk. Improve your diet by eating less foods that are high in sugar and fat. Instead of the bowl of ice cream, eat an apple. Portion size is very important. Instead of the extra piece of pizza, call and talk to a friend. If you are craving chocolate, eat a fun-size candy bar instead of the regular size bar. Instead of having the large potato chip bag beside you while watching a movie, control your portion size by dividing the chips into snack bags. This will not only improve your diet but will help decrease your calorie intake. Increasing physical activity and reducing the amount of calories you consume will result in a weight loss.

We all hope that 2021 will be a year of getting back to some type of normalcy. However, let’s take what has happened and learn from it. Be safe and stay informed. You ultimately are responsible to care for yourself. Also, one of the very best ways to improve your physical and mental well-being is to take the focus off of yourself and serve others.

For further information be sure and check out www.ncdhhs.gov/ coronavirus or www.cdc.gov/covid19.

16 • SURRY LIVING Jan. 2021 Issue

Northern Urgent Care

Open 7 days/week 365 days/year Save your spot online Walk-ins welcome

NOW OPEN Northern Regional Hospital announces the opening of its first urgent care clinic on November 2, 2020. Northern Urgent Care is located just a few blocks from the hospital at 119 Welch Road, at the corner of Highway 52 South and Snowhill Drive, in the same shopping center as T-Mobile.

Dr. Nelson Gardner serves as the Medical Director for Northern Urgent Care and will work closely with three full-time providers at the clinic, April Croston, FNP-C, Craig E. Howell, PA-C, and Mathew M. Reynolds, PA-C. Northern Regional providers

Jason Cucchiara, ONP-C (Northern Orthopaedics) and Kelley Manuel, FNP-C (Northern Family Medicine) will also serve patients on an as needed basis. Kitty Tate, Director, Physician Practice Operations will provide daily oversight of Northern Urgent Care.

Northern Urgent Care offers a multitude of services for our patients including, but not limited to, minor procedures, sports physicals, labs including Covid-19 testing, treatment for minor injuries, sore throat and flu, x-rays and vaccines. Patients may reserve their spot in line through the clinic’s website.

This is a paid advertorial for Northern Regional Hospital, Mount Airy, NC.

HOURS: Monday – Friday 8am – 7pm Saturday 8am – 5pm Sunday 11am – 5pm Holiday hours may vary.

Call 336.719.7200 119 Welch Road, Suite A Mount Airy, NC 27030

For more information visit www.NorthernUrgentCare.com

out & about

by Martha Bassett

Happy New Year, good people! Many years ago, I asked my grandparents what it was like to live through the Great Depression. My kids asked me what it was like to watch the first man walk on the moon. Someday I can imagine my grandchildren asking me what it was like living through the Great Pandemic.

Indeed, we all are living through a shared story of hardship.

On the musical landscape, venues closed, audiences dispersed, and everyone quickly learned how to livestream. After The Martha Bassett Show shut down in March of 2020, we finished the season with seven livestreamed shows on which my guests came from within driving distance (since no one was touring).

To keep things safer, I slimmed down the number of people on stage and followed the recommended protocol.

Chatham Rabbits

and hugging folks who came out. It felt like family, or church.

It’s something I won’t ever take for granted again. Season 4 of The Martha Bassett Show begins on February 4. I’ll be hosting Colin Allured, who’s been spending his time writing a Baroque Suite for guitar. My other guest, Lyn Koonce, just got married and released a fantastic new record that’s been making waves on the folk charts. I’m not sure when we can congregate with abandon again, but isn’t it nice to know that the music-making hasn’t stopped?

In fact, with all the extra time most musicians have had, I foresee a flood of great music coming out in the next couple of years. In hard times, music is a great binder of people, a soothing element, a thing that changes us from within for the better. We musicians do it for our own mental health, but the sharing of it helps the world. If you have a favorite artist, do yourself a big favor and spend your extra time listening. Or better yet, take some virtual lessons and dust off that guitar or piano. It’s all good music!

Chance McCoy

On each of these shows I asked the artists what they’ve been doing with their time. David Childers has been gardening and painting, Chance McCoy (of Old Crow Medicine Show) has been homeschooling his son, and Matty Sheets has been drawing. Jon Shain has been producing records, Momma Molasses (aka Ella Patrick) has a weekly show on Radio Bristol, and Lizzy and Omar (of Violet Bell) got engaged.

Guitarist Charlie Hunter realized he likes not touring and now has time to explore music more deeply. Every single guest said that they’ve been writing music, making records, learning a new instrument, or doing livestreams from home. One duo, Chatham Rabbits, has even been taking their RV around the state doing neighborhood concerts outdoors, complete with solar power and a trailer on back converted to a stage.

One of my favorite parts of our shows at the Reeves Theater in Elkin was going to the lobby afterwards and shaking hands Lyn Koonce 18 • SURRY LIVING Jan. 2021 Issue

GO FULL SPEED

AHEAD

SURRY COMMUNICATIONS WISHES YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR! SURRY COMMUNICATIONS WISHES YOUdevices A HAPPY NEW YEAR! If your family received new internet-connected as holiday gifts — such

Ifasyour family received new internet-connected devices assmart holiday giftssolutions, — such tablets, laptops, smartphones, streaming equipment, home as tablets, laptops, streaming video doorbells, andsmartphones, home security systems equipment, — you may smart need ahome new solutions, internet video doorbells, and home security systems — you may need a new internet plan as well. plan as well.

Upgrading to faster Symmetrical Internet will enable you to use many devices Upgrading to faster Symmetrical Internet will enableand youbuffering. to use many simultaneously without experiencing slowdowns We devices offer a simultaneously without experiencing and buffering. We offer a range of plans with speeds up to 1000slowdowns Mbps. range of plans with speeds up to 1000 Mbps.

CALL 336.374.5021 CALL 336.374.5021 TO START THE NEW YEAR TO START NEW YEAR WITH NEWTHE INTERNET WITH NEW INTERNET

Service availability and internet speed will depend on location. Certain restrictions apply.

Contact us for details.

Service availability and internet speed will depend on location. Certain restrictions apply.

Contact us for details.

out & about

by Gin Denton

Raven Coleman I’ve been waiting for the right time to share Raven Coleman with you. Now is the time as he just released his first record since high school.

to harness his skills and release his thoughts via music. The album titled, Canceled, and all the songs on it, reflect his view of 2020. My favorite song from the album is “Cinnamon.”

While originally from Lowgap, Raven got his start as a young singer-songwriter while he lived briefly in Atlanta. There he attended open mics and poured his poetry out with a little acoustic guitar behind it.

Raven’s voice is soothing and smooth, and he writes soulful, thought-provoking music. The way he layers his guitar music results in a pop sound with added drums and whistling. He calls his style the crossroads of pop, bluegrass, and soul. He prefers to perform his originals, but he has several cover songs under his belt covering a century of music, including one of his favorites, “Electric Feel,” by MGMT. First memories of music for Raven are from sitting with his family playing tunes such as the “Ballad of Tom Dooley.”

Back then he was playing a mason jar with a couple of ink pens. He is a self-taught musician who never took formal lessons. He started writing poetry in elementary school and added guitar in high school. He produced a few albums during high school as he began expressing himself using the guitar to guide his poetry.

Music is not his job; it is his passion. Music is the thing he feels pulled to do whether he makes money at it or not. And

Raven is a man who embraces Surry County. He is a native of Low Gap and lives on family land there. He picked me up to do a photoshoot for this article. As we were traveling through the backroads to his selected spot, a place that burned earlier this year, I said, “This is great. The Raven rising from the ashes.”

He tells me about how he loves being in the car. Even parked in his yard. You see, he often records there with a laptop or cell phone. He even self-recorded his recent album in the backseat of his car, on a hill, and in various places on his family homestead. He used all the extra “Covid-time” in 2020 20 • SURRY LIVING Jan. 2021 Issue

out & about SURRY LIVING SUBSCRIPTIONS NOW AVAILABLE!

PAWN SHOP & JEWELERS

Gifts for that Special Someone

You or your family live outside our distribution area but still want a physical copy of SLM? We've added yearly Subscriptions/Gift Subscriptions as an option for those wanting to enjoy the monthly publication delivered to your door! Twelve months/issues subscription by US Mail anywhere in the continental US is only $25.00/year.

Give the gift of Surry Living to your loved ones this year!

Send your check and mailing address to SLM Subscription, PO BOX 6548, Mount Airy, NC 27030 or call (336) 648-3555 to pay by phone with your credit card.

On that Special Day Mon–Fri: 10:00 am – 5:30 pm Saturday: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Mount Airy’s Diamond Center 336-786-6417 • 336-789-7109 1911 Caudle Drive, Mount Airy, NC 27030

when you get to that moment, you know you love something.

Doing something simply because you are drawn to it.

Currently, he bartends and does odd jobs in Mount Airy to support his music and life. He says he performs for the birds and animals outside on his family’s farm these days. Typically, he performs solo, although he is not opposed to a great jam with a group for fun. He has played local venues and open mics in the area from Elkin, NC, to Hillsville, VA. Currently he releases music online. He looks forward to returning to performing more in the future.

When asked about his goals he says, “One of my biggest goals is to get songwriter credits on an award-winning album. I know that not everything I write is something that I can personally use in my own music. I would love to be able to contribute things from my cutting room floor and have them end up in the ears of a generation. That's my dream.”

Raven is an avid user of social media and often posts videos and photos. You can find clips of some new cover song he is working on or find full songs of his that he is testing the waters on. He shares often and makes an enjoyable presence on social media. His online handle is a concoction he made up: Respirrave. You can find his music on many online platforms like Spotify.

Happy Trails!

SURRY LIVING Jan. 2021 Issue • 21

simply delicious • ½ cup cranberry juice • ½ cup raspberry sherbet Directions Place all ingredients into a blender (or use an immersion blender) and blend until smooth.

with Rynn Hennings

www.thehouseofelynryn.com

J

anuary is a time to renew healthy habits after all the festive eating of the holidays. With the health worries caused by the pandemic, we are looking for foods to strengthen our immune systems. Fruits, with their myriad of nutrients, are a great way to do this. One of my favorite ways to enjoy fruits is in a smoothie. These recipes are similar to what you would find in a smoothie shop.

POMEGRANATE PUNCH Ingredients • ½ cup (heaping) frozen blueberries • ½ cup (heaping) frozen mixed berries (blackberries, raspberries, & blueberries) • ½ cup milk • ½ cup pomegranate juice • ½ cup raspberry sherbet

Directions Place all ingredients into a blender (or use an immersion blender) and blend until smooth.

BERRY BLITZ Ingredients • ½ cup (heaping) frozen blueberries • ½ cup (heaping) frozen sliced strawberries • ½ cup milk • ½ cup apple juice • ½ cup pineapple sherbet

Directions Place all ingredients into a blender (or use an immersion blender) and blend until smooth.

The key to getting the smoothie shop taste is to blend the ingredients until they are very smooth, which can take a couple of minutes in a blender or with an immersion blender. These recipes call for frozen fruits instead of ice to give them the “milkshake” texture. The advantage of this is that the fruits stay fresh in their frozen state and are readily available in the grocery store.

You can add additional nutrients to your smoothies by adding things such as chia seeds, fresh spinach and kale leaves, protein powders, yogurt, nuts, and nut butter, to name a few. You can also add nutrition boosters like those offered in smoothie shops.

They can be purchased at health food stores, in health food sections of some grocery stores, and at online shops.

The best part about making smoothies at home is that you can customize them to suit your taste or to work with your health needs.

Each recipe makes one 16-ounce serving and takes five minutes to prepare.

CRANBERRY CRUSH Ingredients • ½ cup (heaping) frozen blueberries • ½ cup (heaping) frozen sliced strawberries • ½ cup milk 22 • SURRY LIVING Jan. 2021 Issue

PINEAPPLE MANGO MADNESS Ingredients • ½ cup (heaping) frozen pineapple chunks • ½ cup (heaping) frozen mango chunks • ½ banana • ¾ cup coconut milk • ¼ cup pineapple-mango juice • ½ cup pineapple sherbet

Directions Place all ingredients into a blender (or use an immersion blender) and blend until smooth.

outdelicious & about simply Sweet Tips If the smoothie is too thick to blend well, add a little more liquid. For best results, use Simply Cranberry Cocktail in the Cranberry Crush recipe. For more information, photos, and even more recipes, go to Houseofelynryn.com

BOMs COMIN

G IN 2021!

Creative Grids

University Learn to use a new Creative Grids tool each month!

New Classes Starting January 2021

DETAILS COMING SOO N!

Specializing in Custom Quilts, Memory and T-Shirt Quilts, and Custom Embroidery

Offering In-Shop Longarm Quilting Services Powered by Innova

Register Online for Classes: Breakfast Club • Stripology Club • Learn to Quilt Make & Take Projects • Bags • Classes On Demand and more!

Let’s be Social!

235 E. Main Street • Elkin, NC 28621

336-258-8383 Mon–Tues–Thurs–Fri: 10 am to 5 pm Sat: 10 am to 3 pm • Closed Sunday & Wednesday

Shop Online at www.YadkinValleyQuilts.com

SURRY LIVING Jan. 2021 Issue • 23

simply delicious

Happy, Healthy 2021 Sleep Well, Be Well

Bears may have the right idea on these cold winter days. The thought of snuggling down in a cozy place and taking a nice long nap until springtime may sound appealing.

Sleep is something we all have in common. It does not discriminate, but our sleep habits do tend to change throughout our life. Children often fight sleep, too interested in playing and afraid they may miss something. Then the teen years hit, and kids enjoy staying up late and sleeping half the day away. As working adults, wouldn’t it be wonderful if employers told everyone to go home and take an afternoon nap like they do in other parts of the world. As we get older, we may have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep at night, but nap more during the day.

When I was a child, I tried to switch TV channels at my grandmother’s house when she appeared to be sleeping, only to have her say, “I was watching that.” She would claim she was resting her eyes, which she did several times a day, but my brother and I joked that she was watching the inside of her eyelids rather than the TV/ Sleep, a restorative process, plays an important role in the overall health of our mind and body. A core behavior of the Eat Smart, Move More initiative, https://www.eatsmartmovemorenc. com/myesmm/core-behavior-get-enough-sleep/, sleep is an important part of good health which we sometimes overlook.

Research has even shown a link between lack of sleep and an increased risk of obesity.

Make sleep one of your 2021 resolutions. Strive for the recommended seven hours of sleep each night to help you have a healthier New Year!

Follow these tips from the American Alliance of Healthy Sleep to establish healthy sleep habits: • • • • • • •

Keep a consistent sleep schedule. Get up at the same time every day, even on weekends or during vacations.

Set a bedtime that is early enough for you to get at least seven hours of sleep.

Don’t go to bed unless you are sleepy.

If you don’t fall asleep after 20 minutes, get out of bed.

Establish a relaxing bedtime routine. Read, listen to soft music, or do low impact stretching exercises.

Make your bedroom quiet and relaxing. Keep the room at a comfortable, cool temperature.

Limit exposure to bright light in the evenings.

24 • SURRY LIVING Jan. 2021 Issue

• • • • • •

Turn off electronic devices at least 30 minutes before bedtime.

Don’t eat a large meal before bedtime. If you are hungry at night, eat a light, healthy snack.

Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy diet.

Avoid consuming caffeine in the late afternoon or evening.

Avoid consuming alcohol before bedtime.

Reduce your fluid intake before bedtime.

No-Bake Energy Bites Need an easy bedtime or anytime snack? Try No-Bake Energy Bites. Made with whole grain oatmeal, these bite size treats are a healthier version of no-baked cookies. The challenge is to not overeat. Can be stored in the freezer for a frozen treat.

Prep: 15 mins. Total: 1 hour 15 mins including refrigeration or freezing.

Servings: 24. Yield: 2 dozen bites.

Ingredients • 1 cup old fashioned oatmeal • ½ cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips • ½ cup ground flax seed (I found mine in the Latino spice section of the grocery store for a low price) • ½ cup crunchy peanut butter • ⅓ cup honey • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Directions Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Place mixture on a piece of aluminum foil and flatten into a rectangle. Use a table knife and divide into 4 equal sections across and 6 equal sections down to form 24 even sized pieces. Roll each piece into a ball using your hands (wearing disposable gloves makes clean-up much easier). Arrange energy bites on a baking sheet and refrigerate or freeze until set, about 1 hour.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving: 94 calories; protein 2.5g 5% DV; carbohydrates 10.6g 3% DV; fat 5.3g 8% DV; cholesterol 0mg; sodium 27.9mg 1% DV.

all the rest

You can Support your friends and neighbors WHILE finding great values on unique goods and services. It's time for all of us to ...

CHARIS CHRISTIAN BOOK AND GIFTS

MAIN STREET MARKET

128 N. Main St., Mount Airy, NC 336-673-0688 • Hours: Monday thru Saturday 9:30-4:30

140 N. Main St., Mount Airy, NC 336-970-9122 • Hours: Monday thru Saturday 10-6

January Special: Shirt Clearance; Boxed Cards – Buy Two Boxes, Get One Free; 50% Off Selections

Shop our large selection of Antiques, Artisans, Comics, Collectibles, and one-of-a-kind "finds!"

MANY items on SALE!

* * *

* * *

FARMHOUSE SPITS & SPOONS

225 N. Main St, Mount Airy, NC 336-648-8130 • Hours: Monday thru Saturday 10-6 January Special: 40% off Aluminum Cookware * * *

SPOTTED MOON

419 N. Main St., Mount Airy, NC 336-755-3916 • Hours: Mon - Fri: 10:00-5:30, Sat: 10-4, Sun: Closed January Special: Mention this ad for 10% off Regular Priced Merchandise

HICKS WATER STOVES / HICKS MECHANICAL

Natural Products & Educatiо

2649 S. Main St., Mount Airy, NC 336-789-4977 • Hours: Monday thru Friday 7-4 January Special: Take 5% off any stove parts when mentioning this ad

Herbs • SUPPLEMENTS • Essential Oils Homeopathy • NATURAL BODYCARE GROCERIES • Petcare • AND MORE

106 West Main Street PILOT MOUNTAIN, NC

(336) 368-5955

STORE HOURS

Tuesday – Friday, 10:00 – 5 :00 Saturday, 10:00 – 4:00

Mail Order Available

SURRY LIVING Jan. 2021 Issue • 25

all the rest Find out how a harmless prank entangles two college kids with a serial killer in the next installment of A DEEPER CUT, a novel of suspense and forgiveness by Mt. Airy author Sheri Wren Haymore.

Miki awoke to bright sunlight and a smoky, greasy odor. She could hear Jack moving around in the galley cooking breakfast. Her chest ached from the crushing weight of the burden within her. It was too great a weight to drag from the bed, and yet she did. Today she was blowing this place—one way or another.

She guessed Jack knew she was leaving; he barely tolerated her presence these days. The court only gave her two choices: stay in Beaufort or return to school. She was not allowed to be any other place until the Grand Jury convened in three weeks. Beaufort was not an option. She would put off until later today to decide whether to choose school or No Choice. No Choice would solve all her problems, forever.

When Jack returned, he dished out two bowls of buttery grits and a plate of ham and sat beside her. She pushed the bowl away and leaned on the table, one hand covering her face.

“God, what now?”

“I’m sick, Jack. Just give me a minute and I’ll get out of here.”

“Sick? In what way?”

“Nauseated. Your cologne. It reminds me of the night Bob Schneider died. Just give me a minute.”

“Lean your head all the way on the table.”

“What?”

“Try it, it might work. No, not on your arms.” Jack slipped to the seat beside her and took her arms in his hands. “Put your arms behind you.” When Miki tried to pull away from him, he jerked her arms roughly behind her. “Put your arms . . .”

“Aiih! Jack, what are you doing? Jack!” She struggled to get away from him.

“Shut up, Miki.”

“Jack, no. You’re hurting me, Jack. What have I done?”

Searching through several pockets, she found one upper and swallowed it with no water. She left behind the elegant silk dresses Jack had given her, packed only a few belongings in a knapsack, and left the stateroom in a long, shirred cotton skirt, her hair down.

“You know too much,” he answered, his voice smooth in her ear, his experienced hands pinning her arms behind her with a cord.

“Traveling?” asked Jack.

Her brain yielded up the memory in a flash: his cologne enveloping her the night Gus York died. He watched the recognition dawn in her face.

“We’ve maxed this thing out.”

“It was good while it lasted, though, wasn’t it, sweetheart?” His smile could have been chiseled by a master sculptor. He looked just the way he had when she first saw him: a man ready for excitement.

“What is that smell?” she asked abruptly.

“Country ham and grits. The finest in the harbor.” He extended a bubbling pot of grits for her observation.

“Undoubtedly because nobody else in the harbor would have it. I swear, Jack, you are Southern.”

The glance he gave her was quick, but hard. “Have some anyway, before you leave, whether you like it or not. I won’t send you out into the world on an empty stomach. Come on, sit down.”

Reluctantly, she plunked down at his table. Her head was beginning to buzz, and she took the coffee he offered to boost the high.

“This will need to cook another minute.” He passed a hand down his bare chest, a subtly appealing motion. She looked away. “I’m going to dress while we wait.”

He slid the passageway door closed and left her sitting alone. She looked around, taking in the yacht’s sleek appointments, waiting for the buzz in her head to lift the dead weight in her heart. It didn’t.

Quietly, keeping her mind blank, not yet facing the decision, she opened the drawer in Jack’s table and pulled out the .38 pistol he kept there. She slipped it into her knapsack.

26 • SURRY LIVING Jan. 2021 Issue

“I don’t know anything. What’s wrong with you?”

“Oh, you know, all right. My cologne? Think about it.”

“Actually, I’m a little disappointed in you, Miki. I thought you might have caught on before now.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t know anything about your cologne except it makes me sick.”

“Well now you do.” He devoured his grits hungrily, taking the ham from the plate and crumbling it over the grits.

After watching him a minute, she said, “I wouldn’t have if you hadn’t overreacted. And it’s not enough to go to the police with. For all I know, it’s the cologne you wear when you’re working a case. Now let me go.”

“You just keep telling yourself that, sweetheart. Tell yourself that was a little man you saw in Gus York’s kitchen. Tell yourself I didn’t disappear for a while every single time someone died in the harbor. It might make the next few hours go a whole lot quicker.”

“Why? What are you going to do with me? Tell me, Jack.”

“It depends on whether or not I have a good day at work.” His eyes mocked her.

“Don’t play games with me.”

“Oh, I won’t. I take my work very seriously. Executing the scum of the earth is serious work. Why do you think I’ve remained a drug agent all these years? It allows me access to information on scores

all the rest of names, including people who have been underground for years.”

He leaned toward her, and her breath caught over the nausea that rose once again. “If I have a good day, then it will mean that I have completed my finest execution yet. And I may be in such a good mood that I might consider untying you before I sink the boat. How long do you suppose it will take you to swim three miles?”

“You’re the devil himself!”

He laughed. “You flatter me. And how does that make you feel, to think you might just have slept with the devil?”

Miki swallowed hard.

“You really should have eaten while you had the chance. We won’t talk about what will happen if I have a bad day, since you have developed this sudden aversion to me. But cheer up. I could have a really lousy day and die myself.” He chuckled at the hope that came into her eyes. “No, no. You won’t be on this boat. You will be awaiting today’s outcome on another boat. My boat.” He looked around.

“I wasn’t planning to make a run for it on a yacht owned by the government. I have an even nicer one waiting for me offshore. Aren’t you going to beg me to take you with me, Miki? You’ve grown so fond of luxury.”

She tried to spit on him.

“I get it. You think your Kittrell boy will search every boat up and down this creek until he finds you. Kind of makes you wish you hadn’t turned your back on him so many times, doesn’t it?”

She opened her mouth to speak, and a yell from the water interrupted. “Miki! Miki, I’ve got to talk to you.” The voice resounded through the harbor. “I swear you’ve got to listen. Please, Miki!”

Jack covered her mouth. She tried to bite him. Hunter’s shouts continued from the water.

“I can crush every bone in the side of your face with one blow,” Jack whispered in her ear. “Your Kittrell boy can’t help you, Miki.” He lifted his hand from her mouth. “Don’t make a sound. I’m warning you. Don’t. I’ll kill him, too, if I have to. Two Kittrells today or just one; it’s all the same to me.”

And she sat with her head bowed and tears streaming while Hunter shouted her name over and over.

“Miki, I’m coming back. It’s my birthday, and you have to talk to me.” Hunter was standing in his boat as he yelled, and he pulled away, shaking in desperation. He had less than an hour to get her away from Jack Franklin. He looked toward the boardwalk. Grayson was not sitting on his bench, but another officer was there and two more stood at opposite ends of the boardwalk. Surely Grayson knew Miki was in danger. Surely she was not expendable. Hunter felt helpless. He had to talk to Granny Jen. There was a piece of information he was missing. If anybody knew what it was, it was Granny Jen. “I’ll be back in a few minutes, Miki.” He spoke in a quiet voice, knowing she couldn’t hear him. “I’ll get you off that boat no matter what it takes.” And he throttled up, ignoring the no wake zone, and headed for his own dock.

“Well, that was interesting,” Jack said matter-of-factly when Hunter was gone. “I commend you for your self-control. You wanted to travel today, and so we will. Aren’t you lucky? Here’s what we’re gonna do.

We’ll take a little ride to my cruiser, and we’ll do it very quietly.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you.”

“Okay. Your choice.” He walked into the galley and took his vegetable knife from a drawer. In one swift motion, he had it across her throat, the blade sharp against her skin. She could not even twitch.

“I’d rather not kill you here in case someone finds you before I’ve completed my execution, but I will. It’s your choice. Just remember, there’s always the possibility I’ll let you swim if I take you with me.”

She breathed an “okay,” and he released her. “Quickly and quietly.

Don’t even think about makin’ a move.”

“My bag.”

“You’re not going to need that.”

“I need a tissue, Jack.”

“Still spunky, are you, even in the face of death? Well, get it and come on.” He kept her close, the knife in his jacket pressed against her side. They exited the starboard side, the bulk of the yacht hiding them from the boardwalk, and boarded his speedboat which was tied in the empty slip beside them. Jack forced her to lie down in the seat until they were out of sight of the boardwalk. All Miki could do was hug the knapsack and stare longingly at Hunter’s house as they passed. His boat was docked, and she could see his Jeep in the driveway, but he was not in sight.

When they reached the dock where Jack’s cruiser was moored, Miki tried to plot a quick escape. Kick. Scream. Grab the gun. Shoot.

Run. Before her body could respond to her brain’s commands, Jack pushed the knife through the fabric hard, the blade slicing her beneath her ribs. Miki screamed, her legs buckling.

“Shut up and get inside,” Jack growled. He shoved her into the cruiser and forced her to sit in a swivel chair. Roughly, ignoring the blood flowing from her side, Jack jerked her arms behind the seat and tied her hands. He tied her legs to the pedestal that secured the chair to the floor.

The cabin was stifling and oppressively hot. Jack ripped the hem of her skirt with the knife and snapped the piece of cloth in front of her face.

“Don’t put that in my mouth, Jack,” Miki sobbed. “I can’t breathe.

I’m about to throw up.”

“Shut up.” He forced the cloth into her mouth and tied it tightly.

“Stop crying if you want to breathe. And I highly recommend that you not throw up. Drowning on your own vomit would be a stinking way to die.”

Her eyes stared in horror at the red stain spreading across the front of her cotton shirt.

“That’s not as bad as it looks. If you sit real still it’ll quit. Of course, it might attract a few sharks later on, should I let you swim when I sink this boat.”

SURRY LIVING Jan. 2021 Issue • 27

all the rest He went to the locker and pulled out a shirt from the row of identical shirts. “This should have clued you in, if the cologne didn’t. I always wore the same shirt to an execution. Shower, change, splash of cologne, and no one even knew I left the room. Too bad you weren’t a little sharper.”

Opening his jacket, he stashed the knife inside a holster. A hammer slammed against Miki’s heart as she noticed the empty gun pocket.

Would he miss the gun and return to kill her?

As he started to leave, he said, “By the way, have you noticed anything different about my accent the past few minutes? You were right about one thing. I am Southern.” * * * “Granny Jen!” Hunter nearly stumbled into the house in his haste.

“You’ve got to tell me something right now. It’s very important.”

“Your grandmother has a lot on her mind today,” warned Aunt Winnie. “Whatever it is can wait until a better day.”

“Granny Jen,” Hunter said more quietly, kneeling in front of her. “I have to ask you something. Miki is in danger. I think Jack Franklin is the harbor killer, and I think Grayson is about to force a showdown between him and my father in the harbor. But I don’t get it. I need to know the connection between them.”

Jen’s smile was as sure and kind as ever, and she patted his hand and nodded for him to continue.

“The day my father left, we were—we were on the street or something,” Hunter said. “I remember him waving good-bye. Was there someone else there? What happened after he left?”

“Yes, there was someone else there.” Granny Jen’s voice was strong, but Hunter noticed the tears in Winnie’s eyes. She was afraid for her mother to relive that day.

He rubbed her hand lovingly. “Just tell me, Granny Jen. Then you can forget it forever.”

“A drug deal went down right before my eyes, Hunter,” said Jen. “Your father had you in the middle of it. The buyer was a friend of your dad’s. I had met him a couple of times.”

“So you talked to him before. Did he have a loud voice? Like maybe a Yankee accent? Like Franklin’s?” Hunter asked.

“I don’t remember anything unusual about his accent. He grew up in Wilmington, I think.”

“Yeah. And why would he want to kill my father? Just because he went to prison and Dad split? That doesn’t make sense.”

“Maybe he was a drug agent even then. I never actually saw the man Mother is talking about, but I do remember that no one ever heard from him again. Could be that supposedly being sent to prison was really his way of moving on undercover without anyone involved ever wondering about him.”

Hunter gaped at his aunt with new respect. “And now, he’s murdering . . .” He paused, a question in his voice.

“Dealers who slipped through his hands before? Slipped through the system?” Winnie shrugged. “Or, unfortunately, just got in his way.”

“Oh, man, this is real. This is it.” Hunter shuddered. “And a lot scarier than I even imagined. I almost punched the guy.” Suddenly, he was in motion. “Aunt Winnie, call Grayson.” He was out the door, running. “Tell him to meet me at the harbor. He’s got to help me get Miki before it’s too late!”

He ran the two blocks to the harbor with no plan, just a driving fear for Miki. In his brash desperation, he might not have stopped until he had both feet on Jack Franklin’s yacht, but the scene in the harbor halted him.

The harbor was quiet, not a tourist in sight. With most of the yachts gone, the seagulls had even deserted the place. County deputies joined Grayson’s police officers on the boardwalk, some keeping the camera crews pushed back toward the street, some staring nervously at the single yacht that was just docking. Even the reporters were subdued, eyes on the yacht. Hunter elbowed his way through the news crews and straight-armed a deputy aside to stand alone on the boardwalk. Cameras flashed as Grayson Tucker strode up and walked toward the yacht. An officer joined him and together they walked down the ramp. “This must be it,” someone behind Hunter whispered. “The killer must be turning himself in.”

PICK UP NEXT MONTH'S ISSUE OF SURRY LIVING MAGAZINE FOR THE EXCITING CONCLUSION OF A DEEPER CUT! Sheri Wren Haymore lives near Mt. Airy with her husband, Clyde, and has been scribbling her entire life. A DEEPER CUT is her second novel. To read the next installment in the book, pick up the latest issue of Surry Living Magazine. You can find A DEEPER CUT at Pages in Mt. Airy, Chapters in Galax or at your favorite online bookseller.

“Was he, like, really good-looking?”

“No more so than your father. About the same height and age.” Jen frowned, trying to remember.

“What happened to him?”

“He went to prison. They arrested him the very next day.”

Hunter looked helplessly at Winnie. “I can’t make it fit. Someone with a drug record can’t turn into a drug agent.”

“Are you thinking Jack Franklin was your dad’s friend?” Winnie asked.

28 • SURRY LIVING Jan. 2021 Issue

In these uncertain times, let us help you promote your business – affordably!

Rates start as low as $25 per month! Call (336) 648-3555 or email sales@surryliving.com

all the rest We Deliver!

FARMER’S MULCH & ROCK Inc.

Mon – Fri: 7:30 am – 6:00 pm Saturday: 7:30 am – 5:00 pm

FREE Bibles, Coffee, & Bottled Water

Large Selection of Hardware and over 60 Choices of Decorative Stone & Gravel Feed • Seed • Fertilizer • Mulch • Pine Needles • Propane Herbal Home Remedies Now Available

Antiques & Collectibles, Farm Toys, Gift Certificates, Outdoor Fireplace Kits & Firepits 7802 NC 268, DOBSON, NC 27017 • www.farmersmulchandrock.com • 336.386.0883

N.C. Department of Insurance • Mike Causey, Commissioner 855-408-1212 (toll free) • www.ncdoi.com

JANUARY IS

GLAUCOMA AWARENESS MONTH Glaucoma is a leading cause of vision loss and blindness in the United States. It often has no symptoms and if it’s not detected and treated, people can lose their sight.

Prevent vision loss by finding and treating problems early.

Medicare covers a glaucoma test once every 12 months for people at high risk for the disease. You’re at high risk if you have diabetes, are African Americans age 50 and older, everyone over age 60, and anyone with a family history of glaucoma. The Medicare Part B deductible and coinsurance apply.

Ask a SHIIP counselor for more information.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: NC COOPERATIVE EXT, SURRY CO @ 336-401-8025

SURRY LIVING Jan. 2021 Issue • 29

Friendly Heating & Cooling, Inc. SERVICE IS OUR BUSINESS!

Don’t be left out in the cold.

Call us today!

336-789-6453 * friendlyheatingcooling.com

Mt. Airy’s Premier Retirement Community

INDEPENDENT & ASSISTED LIVING 1000 RidgeCrest Lane • Mt. Airy, NC 27030 • (336) 443-6953 • Ridge-Crest.com

Get the care you need.

Save your spot online Walk-ins welcome X-rays available Open 7 days/week

119 Welch Road, Suite A Mount Airy, NC 27030 (Corner of Hwy 52 & Snowhill Dr., beside T-Mobile)

(336) 719-7200

www.NorthernUrgentCare.com