December 2024
Roan Mountain Magazine
Roan Mountain Magazine
Volume 1, Issue 3
December 2024
STAFF
PUBLISHER/EDITOR
Amy Thurman amy@roanmountainmagazine.com
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Diana Tolley
GUN TALK WITH JON
Captain Jon Strydom
NEWS FROM THE ROAN Ranger Marcianne O'Day
THE LAST WORD & THE GRACE PLACE
Noah Blair
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Faith Lynn
CONTRIBUTORS
Jacob Stagle
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Tami Buck
Tara Dobbs
Clarence Hughes
Carl B. Markland
Mary Mencsik
Charlotte Nixon
Tom Niziol
Patrick Street
Teresa Stout
Tanya Westerman
Copyright © 2024
All content herein is copyright protected and may not be reproduced in whole or part without express written permission.
Roan Mountain Magazine is published monthly and can be found at multiple locations throughout the Roan Mountain area, free to readers. We are not currently offering print subscriptions, but please contact us if you are unable to find a copy. (423) 440-9012
Read the Digital Version at: www.RoanMountainMagazine.com
Visit us on Facebook: Facebook.com/RoanMtnMagazine
Roan Mountain Magazine is printed by The Elizabethton Star
Letters to the Editor: We would love to hear from you! Questions, comments, ideas, or whatever you’d like to share, please send to Christian or Amy: christian@roanmountainmagazine.com amy@roanmountainmagazine.com
ARTICLES & FEATURES
14 Help for Farmers - Deadline NRCS has funding available for a range of repairs to private lands.
16 Reader Photos
Your snow pictures, plus the Christmas tree lighting and some unique snow crystal photos by Tom Niziol.
20 Shop Local with our Advertisers
A selection of gift ideas from each of our advertisers.
REGULAR CONTENT
Editor’s Letter
Gun Talk with Jon Taste of the Roan News from the Roan The Grace Place
Kid's Page What's Going On ... The Last Word
ABOUT THE COVER:
If you've been to Carver's Gap, you might recognize this setting. Faith braved the roads and the cold during our first snow of the winter to catch this shot that we think is picture perfect for the season!
Photo by Faith Lynn
22 December Fun Facts
National holidays, historic dates, and more. Who knew December was such a cool month?
25 Christmas Under the Roan
A short story about Christmas long ago, patience and joy, by Diana Tolley.
Wishing y'all a Merry Christmas!
Can you believe it’s December already? I love the fact that regardless of how challenging any given year has been (and this was a doozy!), it always ends with the holidays – a time filled with the warmth of love and friendship, of giving and doing for others, and filling our days, homes and hearts with the spirit of the season. It’s my favorite time of year.
It’s even more special in our small community: the tree lighting, homes and businesses so festively decorated, special services at our local churches, Christmas markets, and the way so many step up to help those less fortunate. And this year, to help families impacted by Hurricane Helene. I know this is going to be a hard Christmas for many, but I hope we can all still find those moments of joy and peace in the coming weeks.
In December 1914, during WWI, on the Western Front, soldiers on both sides managed to find peace on Christmas Day when an unofficial truce transpired. On Christmas Eve, British soldiers heard German soldiers singing Christmas carols, and when they peaked over the trenches, saw small fir trees on the German side. According to letters sent home afterwards, one soldier shouted, “You no shoot, we no shoot!” The following day, soldiers from both sides left their trenches and met in the middle, in no man’s land. They exchanged gifts, shared food and cigarettes, talked, laughed, and even played football. If this can happen during one of the bloodiest wars in history, surely we can put aside differences, put aside our struggles, and let the spirit of Christmas into our hearts and lives.
To that end, we’ve tried to make this issue festive, fun and uplifting. To thank our advertisers and aid you in your shopping, we’ve offered gift ideas from our advertisers, including our three newest: Highlander BBQ, Forever Young Rejuvenation Spa, and A New Image. Thank you all for supporting Roan Mountain Magazine!
According to Accuweather.com, our area has a 5060% chance of having a white Christmas. Wouldn’t that be something? Given that we had our first snowfall before Thanksgiving and our second the weekend after, I’m liking the odds. We’ve featured several of your pictures of these early snows, starting on page 16. Thank you to all who contributed!
Also in this issue, we have a feature with fun facts about the month
of December, starting on page 22. In addition to Christmas, there are several other interesting holidays coming up. Some of these could be fun to enjoy with your family, teachers might find them useful in the classroom, and businesses might use them as promotions. Though some are just … weird. Such as National Whiners Day on December 26.
Diana has written another heartwarming short story for us, we have a list of fun events for the month, and a festive kid’s page. It tickled me how many grown-up kids enjoyed that page in the last issue!
By the time you read this, we’ll be hard at work on the January issue. Look for news from H&H Express, Cloudland High School’s awesome rating, more information from NRCS on benefits open to local landowners, and more.
Please don’t forget – we want to start the “History Happening” section and need your input. Please send us your special moments from this month. Someone retired, someone welcomed a new baby, someone got married, someone bought their first house, someone received a special award, someone opened a new business, and we want to record these moments. Send them to me!
I hope you enjoy the issue. My Christmas wish for all of you is that you experience joy, peace, and the spirit of Christmas with those you love. Merry Christmas and have a happy and safe New Year!
Stay safe and we’ll see you ‘round the Roan!
Amy Campbell Clark Editor
amy@roanmountainmagazine.com
Guns are an important part of our mountain (and American) culture, whether used for hunting, self-defense, or simply as treasured family heirlooms, handed down through the generations. Many kids get their first rifles for Christmas and many in our community have fond memories of their first .22 or shotgun.
As I see a number of gun safety rules broken in my shop (usually by adults), I thought this might be a good opportunity for a gentle reminder about the four critical rules of gun safety.
1. Never point a gun at anything you don’t intend to shoot. Always, always be conscious of the direction the barrel is pointing. Even when it’s unloaded.
2. Treat all guns as if they are loaded. When you pick up any gun, check to be sure there are no live rounds in the chamber, even if you just watched someone else unload it.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to fire. Period.
4. Be sure of your target and what’s behind it. A live round will travel long distances and through many obstacles.
Time spent training is also important. Some might find it funny to hand a beginner a gun and let them shoot it with no instruction on grip, position or stance, but that can have dire consequences, not least of which is serious injury. And we want to encourage responsible gun ownership, not scare or embarrass anyone to the point where they never want to shoot again.
Here are a few bonus safety rules (my Christmas present to you!):
• Always carry a handgun in a holster. Do not tuck an unholstered gun in your waistband, your pocket, your purse, your glovebox, or anywhere else the trigger could catch on something.
• Do not carry a handgun with a modified trigger pull for self-defense. If you should need to use it, a prosecutor will have a heyday with that fact.
• Know the gun laws in the area you live and anywhere you might travel. We’ll touch on gun laws in TN and neighboring states in a future column.
GUN TALK WITH JON
Give the Gift of Safety
By Jon Strydom (aka African Jon)
• Don’t use ammo you aren’t certain of. Age, storage conditions, reloading habits, can all impact ammo and render it unsafe to use.
• There’s no such thing as an accidental discharge. There are only negligent discharges. If you follow the gun safety rules and pay attention to what you’re doing when handling a firearm, there will be no “accidents.” By all means, do pass on those heirloom guns or gift a first rifle to the next generation of responsible shooters. But before doing so, instill safety, teach them how to hold and use the gun, and don’t cut corners. If you would like to find reputable training, please reach out to me and I’ll be happy to help you find a course. There are other considerations, such as firearms laws, waiting periods, budget, and availability of accessories and ammunition, but before gifting a gun to a loved one, please be sure these rules have become second nature. A gun-related error can have far greater consequences than having your tongue frozen to a lamp post. Merry Christmas!
Ralphie learned the hard way in A Christmas Story. Photo copyright Turner Entertainment Company
Smoked & Roasted Turkey
INGREDIENTS
Whole turkey
32 oz. chicken broth
1 pkg fresh rosemary, whole (from produce section)
1 bag baby carrots
2 celery hearts, sliced in ½-inch pieces
Salt and pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS
Unpack turkey giblets.
Fill turkey with carrots and celery (and giblets if you'd like).
Place any remaining vegetables in roasting pan, top with rosemary, then add chicken broth and set aside.
Smoke the turkey for approximately three hours at 200° to 250° using apple or cherry wood chips (mix flavors or use your own favorites). Baste frequently.
Remove turkey from smoker and transfer to roasting pan.
Place in preheated 300° oven (or wood stove oven if you have one) and bake for 8 hours, basting frequently.
Serve with favorite sides and enjoy!
TASTE ROAN of the
Recipes submitted by Jacob Slagle
Jacob has contributed both a great way to prepare a Christmas turkey and a tasty venison dish that provides pure winter comfort food. Delicious!
Crockpot Backstrap
INGREDIENTS
Venison backstrap
32 oz. beef broth
1 pkg fresh rosemary (from produce section)
1½ tbsp granulated garlic (garlic powder)
1 tbsp onion powder
1 bag baby carrots
2 celery hearts, sliced in ½-inch pieces
1 bag baby potatoes (about 1½ lbs)
1 small pkg. baby bella mushrooms, cleaned
Salt and pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS
• Mix all ingredients except venison
• Place backstrap in crockpot
• Pour vegetable mixture over backstrap
• Cook on medium, approximately 7-8 hours
If you have a family recipe or just a favorite dish you’d like to share, get in touch – we might be able to include it in an upcoming issue. Ideally with seasonally available ingredients, and if you have a photo of the prepared dish, send that along too! amy@roanmountainmagazine.com
RIVER TRADING
NEWS FROM THE ROAN
By Marcianne O'Day Park Ranger
Roan Mountain State Park
BRRRRRR…..
Things may have slowed down in the campground, but winter always brings a different kind of busy to Roan Mountain State Park. We spend our “slower” winter months catching up on all the many tasks we can’t fit in during the busier months. Our staff attends training and conferences, deep cleans, and catches up on facilities improvements. Cold weather also brings challenges like frozen pipes and icy roads. Our maintenance crew has their hands full any time it snows, pushing snow off the roads and parking areas throughout the park. Our rangers stay ready for vehicle accidents on the highway and any manner of cold weather incidents that might take place.
We’d like to wish our longtime gift shop lead, Donna McKinney well on her retirement after 30 years of service. We owe the long-term success of the gift shop to her diligence and care. She’s looking forward to spending more time with her family and we’re going to miss seeing her every day.
We still have a number of trails closed due to damage from Helene. Please check in with the park website before hiking to make sure the trail area you’d like to visit is open.
Looking for something fun to do? We are offering ranger programs again, starting this month. Please see page 29 for events happening this month. Advance registration is required for most park events. To register, or for more information, visit our website at www. tnstateparks.com.
Top image: View of Roan Mountain from Chestnut Ridge.
Photo by Ranger James Holland Center: (L to R) Donna McKinney, JR Tinch, Meg Guy, and Monica Johnson.
Photo by RMSP staff
Left: Doe River from Cates Hole.
Photo by Ranger Mario Rodriguez
Assistance for Farmers and Landowners – Deadline Soon
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is dedicated to private lands conservation. They provide assistance to farmers and other landowners in repairing damages, and resolving problems related to soil, water and air quality. This assistance can take several forms, from guidance, to engineered modification plans, to financial assistance, and more.
For example, if your livestock rely on a creek for water, NRCS can help to develop a plan for water lines and watering facilities to run to grazing pastures and provide cost share assistance to make it happen.
If the recent flooding washed a gully through a productive crop field, NRCS might be able to cost share on the repairs.
Right now, there is funding available for Hurricane Helene assistance to Carter County farmers and landowners who suffered damages in these scopes: Access control – Access control includes temporary or permanent exclusion of animals, people, vehicles, and/or equipment from an area.
Channel bed stabilization – Channel bed stabilization is accomplished by installing one or more structural measures to stabilize the bed or bottom of a channel.
Clearing and snagging – Clearing and snagging is removing vegetation along streambanks, logs, boulders, drifts, and other obstructions from natural or improved channels and streams.
Critical area planting – Used to stabilize areas with existing or expected high rates of soil erosion by wind or water, stabilize waterway banks or shorelines.
Fence – Used to accomplish specific conservation objectives; can help to cost share on non-boundary fences destroyed by Helene.
Grade stabilization structures – Grade stabilization structures are installed to stabilize the channel grade and control erosion to prevent the formation or advance of gullies and headcuts.
Grassed waterways – Constructed to convey runoff where erosion control is needed. Can be used to control gullies and/or improve water quality of downstream water bodies by reducing sediment carried from runoff.
Lined waterway or outlet – Used to provide safe conveyance of runoff without causing erosion or flooding, prevent or stabilize gully erosion or scour, or
protect and improve water quality.
Mulching – Can be used to help control soil erosion, protect crops, conserve moisture, moderate soil temperature, prevent soil compaction and crusting, reduce runoff, and suppress growth of weeds.
Obstruction removal – Used to improve water quality,or facilitate other conservation practices. Restrictions apply.
Pasture and hay planting – Used to improve or maintain livestock nutrition and health, provide or increase forage supply, reduce erosion, improve water or air quality, or improve soil health.
Riparian forest buffer – Used to create shade to lower water temperatures and improve habitat, act as a buffer to filter out sediment, fertilizer, pesticides, and other pollutants that may impact water bodies.
Stream crossings – on private land only that are necessary to reach outlying fields.
Streambank protection – Can be used to prevent loss of land adjacent to the water, to reduce water and erosion damage to land or buildings, to maintain the flow capacity of streams or channels, reduce the offsite effects of sediment resulting from bank erosion, or improve or enhance the stream corridor.
Tree/shrub establishment – Can be used to create habitat, control erosion, improve water quality, restore native plant communities, and more.
If you earn a living as a farmer (selling crops or livestock), either as a landowner or on leased land, you might qualify for assistance.
Please contact the Carter County Conservationist, Robbie Miles to arrange a field visit and assistance with the application. If you’re not sure your issue is covered in the above list, contact Robbie to discuss it – he may have other programs available to resolve the problem.
This program has an official deadline of December 20, but might be extended for additional weeks.
For more information or to apply: Robbie Miles 423-323-7431 ext. 3 or 423-353-5326 (cell) Robert.miles@usda.gov
To learn more about NRCS, visit: www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/ conservation-by-state/tennessee
By Noah Blair
THE
GRACE PLACE
As believer’s, when we think of the Christmas season our minds turn to the birth of Christ. His birth will forever remain the second greatest gift ever given in the history of man, trumped only by Jesus’s later sacrifice. On the cross, Jesus gave his life for all of mankind to offer forgiveness of our sins and to bless us with the abundant life he promises in his word.
The celebration of Christ’s birth is much more than one specific day on the calendar, it’s a celebration of God’s promises to his people from the beginning of time to the end of it. Genesis 3:15 speaks of a promise God gave that one day, One would come who would crush the head of Satan. Revelation 22:12 tells of the promise straight from Christ’s mouth, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.”
To fully comprehend all that Christmas is, it’s necessary to examine the entirety of all that comes with and from it. However, for the sake of space, I’ll only bring out a few that have had the profoundest impact on me.
The very first thing is the beginning of Christ’s time on Earth: his birth. Christ was expected to come to Earth as a conquering warrior and political ruler who would reign triumphantly over Israel’s oppressors and overthrow the government. He instead came to Earth in the form of a defenseless baby, born in a quiet manager to parents with no political connections. In this way, he was able to grow and live in the same way we all do, yet living the perfect sinless life that we fail to do, to ultimately become the sacrifice that would give us the opportunity of forgiveness. The humility it took for the Creator of the universe to come as a baby shows Christ’s intentions were not to divide and separate but to unite and love all.
Secondly, we must consider the location of his birth. Bethlehem was where all sacrificial lambs were born and raised. Yearly, the spotless, first-born males were picked out and sent to Jerusalem to be sacrificed according to Old Testament law. How perfectly God’s
plan was built when the final sacrificial Lamb was also born in the very same town. No details are left out of God’s plan and these plans, unlike ours, are never broken. We can find rest and peace in the fact that God spares no detail, and as believers, we are part of that plan.
The final thing I want to highlight is the audience to His arrival. Luke 2:10-21 tells us of the first people to see the Son of God wrapped in his swaddling clothes. One would think the first people to see God in the flesh would have to be the most important men and women walking the Earth at that time. In today’s world the list would resemble a Hollywood red carpet or a United Nations conference.
But that’s not who they were. The first people to see Jesus were shepherds sent there by the angels to celebrate the birth of the King of Kings. Stinky, dirty shepherds were God’s VIP’s that night. In Jesus’s day, the role of a shepherd was not a highly regarded job. The job requirements were staying with the herd through weather, over tough terrain, and not to mention the smell. This proves what Isaiah said back in chapter 61:1, “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;” Jesus did not come to entertain or to pick and choose whom he would welcome into his family, he came to pave a way for anyone who would believe in the good news of the Gospel.
This Christmas, let’s not let the little details pass by or allow the hustle and lights to distract us from the beauty and importance of Christ’s birth and all that offers.
Jesus loves you and Merry Christmas!
Reader Photos: Snow!
Our first snow of the season began on Thursday, November 21 and we woke up to more on December 3. Thank you to all who shared photos!
Photo by Tami Buck
Photo by Faith Lynn
Photo by Tami Buck
Photo by Charlotte Nixon
Photo by Carl B. Markland, Good Ol' Boy Photography
Photo by Tanya Westerman
Tanya D's Photography
Photo by Tara Dobbs
Photo by Patrick Street
Photo by Charlotte Nixon
Photo by Clarence Hughes
Photo by Mary Mencsik
Photo by Faith Lynn
Christmas Tree Lighting! Snow Crystals!
Local resident and everyone’s favorite meteorologist, Tom Niziol, has a unique hobby: photographing snow crystals (aka snowflakes). Snow crystals come from way up in the clouds where it has to be about 15 degrees for them to form. Look for articles from Tom in future issues with more interesting weather topics!
As snow crystals fall through the atmosphere, water droplets in their liquid state will instantly freeze and attach to them. This snow crystal is covered in those tiny droplets. Super cool!
Local resident Teresa Stout took these photos at the Roan Mountain Christmas Tree lighting on November 25. Merry Christmas to all!
This is not a 12-sided crystal, but rather two six-sided crystals stacked atop one another.
Symmetrical perfection in snow crystal form.
Holiday Shopping with our Advertisers
Shopping locally for Christmas gifts helps support our local businesses and our community as a whole. To help, we’ve put together a list of potential gift ideas from our advertisers. We do realize there are many other local businesses, but this is our way of thanking those who support the magazine. (Businesses listed alphabetically.)
2nd Amendment Gunsmith:
A couple boxes of ammo is never a bad gift, or get a gun repaired, refinished, or have new grips made.
A New Image Weight Loss: Gift certificates for programs or products to get the new year off to a healthy start.
Americano Steak House & Wine
Bar: Purchase a gift certificate for dinner or give a handmade coupon promising to take them to dinner on a special evening.
A La Carte Marketing:
Have a new logo, business cards, or simple website designed for your favorite new or small business owner.
Barn Quilts by Bethany:
A gift certificate to have a barn quilt of their choosing painted on their barn or other outbuilding is a truly unique gift idea.
Braswell Realty:
Know someone buying or selling their home? Introduce them to Pam.
Highlander BBQ:
Give a gift certificate for a meal or have them cater your holiday party.
Doe River Trading Post: Have a load of dirt or gravel hauled to help repair a family member’s property or business.
Forever Young Rejuvenation Spa: Purchase a gift certificate for facial products, Botox or any rejuvenation services for the special woman in your life.
H & H Whiteway Grill & Store:
Clothing, jewelry, or decorative items in the Country Store, or a gift certificate for breakfast or lunch at the Grill.
Johnson’s Lawn Care: Purchase a gift certificate for a special landscaping feature or even driveway snow clearing for an older friend or relative.
Marta the Joyful Crafter: Purchase a custom handmade journal or host a craft party for family, friends or coworkers.
Northeast Community Credit Union: Open a savings account for a young adult or start a college fund for a younger child.
Roan Mountain Soap & Candles: Scented, seasonal candles and soaps make great stocking stuffers, or purchase a gift basket with a selection of both.
Roan Mountain Animal Hospital: Purchase a new collar or leash for your fur kids, or get a beloved pet microchipped for a family member.
Roan Mountain Tire Express: A set of tires for his hobby car, rims for a teen’s first ride, or even purchase a gift certificate for an oil change or tune-up.
The Barn at Triple J Farm: Rent out the venue and host your office or family Christmas party in style.
Napa Auto Parts: New tools for the mechanically inclined, car accessories for that teen with their first car, or stocking stuffers for the gearhead, are all good options.
Roan Mountain Pharmacy: Offers a range of items from designer purses to clothing, home décor to jewelry, as well as stocking stuffers.
Southern Appalachian Motorsports: Purchase accessories for his ATV, or give a gift certificate for an oil change or service.
The Appalachian Station at 19E: Purchase tickets to an upcoming concert event or a gift certificate for an evening out.
Please remember to thank our advertisers for supporting Roan Mountain Magazine! Without them it wouldn’t exist.
December
Fun, Facts and Frivolity in the Last Month of the Year
Compiled by Amy Campbell Clark
It’s hard to believe we’re already in December! Although we tend to focus on Christmas and the ending of another year, this month is unique in many other ways as well.
If you brave the cold and go outside after 9:00 p.m. on December 13, you might catch a glimpse of the Geminid Meteor Shower, which is the most active meteor shower of the year. Pro tip – best viewing is around 1:00 a.m.
Our full moon this month takes place on December 15 at 4:02 a.m. It is commonly called the Cold Moon for obvious reasons, though the Cherokee call it the Snow Moon and the Mohawk call it the Long Night Moon.
The winter solstice takes place this month, on December 21, which marks the astronomical start of winter. If we have frost on this shortest day of the year, its said we’re in for a severe winter. Also on that day, the North Pole experiences 24 hours of darkness. Better there than here!
Read on to learn more about the last month of the year.
Fun Fact:
December got its name from the Latin word decem, meaning ten, because it was originally the tenth month in the Roman Calendar, which preceded our current Gregorian calendar. The Gregorian calendar was introduced in 1582, though two more months, January and February, had been added much earlier. The Latin word for 12 is duedecim, so I guess Duedecimber was just too much of a mouthful.
Birthstones: Turquoise, tanzanite and zircon
Flowers: Holly and paperwhites (narcissus)
Aside from Christmas and New Year’s Eve, there are a host of other holidays this month, some you may be familiar with and some you may not. Celebrate each as you see fit!
1 – The first Sunday of Advent and National Pie Day
2 – National Special Education Day and National Mutt Day, celebrating mixed breed dogs
4 – Wildlife Conservation Day, National Sock Day, and National Cookie Day (I challenge you to celebrate all three simultaneously!)
5 – International Ninja Day (we could have so much fun with this one!)
6 – National Miners Day and Saint Nicholas Day
7 – Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
8 – National Brownie Day (the tasty chocolate snack, not the Girl Scouts – they have a whole week)
9 – National Christmas Card Day, National Llama Day, and National Pastry Day
10 – National Lager Day and National Dewey Decimal System Day
11 – National Stretching Day (needed with all the foodrelated holidays this month!) and International Mountain Day (to celebrate the importance of mountain life)
12 – National Poinsettia Day, National Gingerbread House Day, and National DingA-Ling Day, when we’re encouraged to call those we’ve lost touch with and reconnect 13 – National Guard birthday, National Day of the Horse, and National Cocoa Day
14 – National Monkey Day (which I find highly suspect for a nation that has no
native monkey species)
15 – National Bill of Rights Day, National Cupcake Day, and National Cat Herders Day, which recognizes those whose jobs resemble herding cats (you know who you are!)
16 – National Chocolate Covered Anything Day (let’s not make it weird!)
17 – National Wright Brothers Day, National Maple Syrup Day, and National Say It Now Day, when we’re encouraged to let loved ones know we care and express our gratitude
18 – National Twins Day
December in History
2 – President James Monroe introduced the Monroe Doctrine in 1823.
3 – The first successful heart transplant was performed in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1967. (Yay for Kristi!)
5 – Prohibition was repealed in 1933, Walt Disney was born in 1901, and our 8th president, Martin Van Buren was born in 1782 – the first U.S. president to be born an American citizen.
19 – National Oatmeal Muffin Day and National Hard Candy Day, when you have a choice between somewhat healthy and not so healthy snacks
20 – National Go Caroling Day and National Sangria Day (bonus points if you carol with Sangria)
21 – First Day of Winter, National Crossword Puzzle Day, and National Humbug Day, when it’s acceptable to get your Grinch or Scrooge on
22 –National Date Nut Bread Day (I don’t even know what a date nut is, but it's bread, so I'm in!)
23 – National Forefathers Day (normally on Dec. 22, unless it falls on a Sunday) and National Roots Day, when we are encouraged to learn about our ancestry
24 – Christmas Eve and National Egg Nog Day
25 – Christmas Day and National Pumpkin Pie Day (I really think this should be on Thanksgiving, but what do I know)
26 – National Candy Cane Day, National Thank You Note Day, and National Whiners Day (but if you must, please stay home)
27 – National Fruitcake Day
6 – 1877, Thomas Edison first demonstrated his phonograph invention. The Anglo/Irish Treaty was signed in 1921, establishing the Irish Free State, made up of 26 southern counties.
7 – In 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor with over 300 planes, leaving nearly 2,500 dead. Delaware became the first state to adopt the U.S. Constitution in 1787.
8 – 1941, both the United States and Great Britain declared war on Japan.
10 – Alfred Nobel died in 1896. His will established Nobel Prizes for peace, physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and economics. Each prize valued at $1 million. Also on this date, in 1830, poet Emily Dickinson was born, though her poetry wasn’t published until her sister discovered it after her death.
11 – 1941, Italy and Germany declared war on the United States. Congress immediately declared war on both nations in return.
28 – National Pledge of Allegiance Day and National Chocolate Candy Day
29 – National Tick Tock Day, a reminder to complete any unfinished business or tasks before the year end
30 – National Bacon Day (my personal
31 – New Year’s Eve, National Champagne Day and National Make Up Your Mind Day
The third Friday in December is National Underdog Day.
The first week in December is National Cookie Cutter Week. The twelve days of Christmas begin December 25 and runs through January 5.
14 – George Washington passed away in 1799, and in 1962 the Mariner II space probe transmitted information about Venus back to Earth, marking the first data ever received from another planet.
15 – Gone with the Wind premiered in Atlanta in 1939.
16 – 342 containers of tea were dumped overboard in the Boston Harbor in 1773 in protest of taxation without representation. Turns out taxation with representation ain’t so hot either.
17 – Continental Army General George Washington settled his troops for the winter of 1777 in Valley Forge, Penn. In 1903, the Wright Brothers made their first flights at Kitty Hawk.
19 – Benjamin Franklin published the first issue of Poor Richard’s Almanack [not a typo] in 1732. A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens was first published in 1843. 20 – 1860, South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union prior to the start of the Civil War.
21 – Anesthetic was used in surgery for the first time during a leg amputation in England, in 1846. In 1968, Apollo 8, the first manned mission to the moon, was launched.
25 – The birth of Jesus Christ was first celebrated on December 25 in 336. Among his other sins, Oliver Cromwell banned Christmas in Great Britain for 13 years, beginning in 1647. In 1868, 17th President Andrew Johnson granted general amnesty to all involved in the Civil War. And, in 1642, Isaac Newton, who formulated the law of gravity, was born.
27 – The birth of Louis Pasteur in 1822, best known for developing pasteurization to preserve foods.
28 – Woodrow Wilson, our 28th president, was born in Virginia in 1856.
29 – Birth of President Andrew Johnson, who also served as a senator, a representative and the governor of Tennessee.
30 – Jungle Book author and poet, Rudyard Kipling, was born in 1865.
31 – 1781, the Bank of North America became the first bank to receive a charter in 1781, from the Confederation Congress.
December Weather Lore
From the Old Farmer's Almanac
• If it snows on Christmas Day, Easter will be sunny, warm and green.
• December changeable and mild, the whole winter will remain a child.
• Thunder in December presages fine weather.
• Frost on the shortest day is said to indicate a severe winter.
• December cold, with snow, brings rye everywhere.
Fun Fact:
Jingle Bells was the first song ever played in space on musical instruments, on December 16, 1965. It was played on the harmonica and bells, by astronauts Wally Schirra and Thomas P. Stafford, during NASA's Gemini 6A space flight.
to all!
General Washington and Major General Layfayette, at Valley Forge, 1777.
Christmas under the Roan
A Short Story by Diana Tolley
Darkened clouds hung low over most of the old Roan Mountain peaks. She still stood proud though, even shrouded in mist that was impossible to see through. Evany Hughes knew what lay underneath all those roiling wisps of fog: Snow. It was almost always on the mountain by this time of year, and the closer it got to Christmas, the more likely you were to see it. Or not, depending on what climate changes had been discovered over the past year.
same. Like traditions, signs, folklore … and memories. “Yep,” Evany said to herself, “Things a body passes down from generation to generation never really differ.”
She gripped the duck-head cane a little tighter as she turned from the big picture window and made her way over to her rocker-recliner. The children had pitched in and gotten the chair for her last Christmas. It was a good’n, that was a fact. Evany had sure enjoyed the deep cushions more than her old, hard Bentwood rocker. The younguns always seemed to put deep thought into their gifts to her and as a mother, she appreciated them all. She patted the plush armrests as she sat down. Truth be told, though, if they’d given her a ball of yarn or a stick of peppermint candy, she would have treasured it just as much.
But, some things, like snow, old folks could just smell. They didn’t have to see it or guess about it. Of course, there was also their rheumatism that helped tell the weather, which was more reliable than information on the radio. She could mark it down on the calendar when her knees said inclement weather was comin’. Even though the seasons had changed over the last generation or two, some things stayed the
Sighing with contentment, she winced a bit as she slowly straightened her legs. Yep. The weather was changing.
Bright lights twinkled on the Christmas tree her grandsons had hauled in a few days earlier, as she inhaled the fresh scent of balsam. Each glass ball and handmade cutout that decorated the branches, made it the most beautiful tree in the whole world. Her world anyway.
The old woman smiled as she remembered the younger ones stringing popcorn and cranberries to
drape amidst the boughs. “My, my,” she said out loud. “Don’t I have the most creative children?” Chuckling to herself, she straightened her apron and leaned back on the headrest, then heard the sound of feet stomping on the porch.
When the door opened, in came the Littles, as she called the great grands, all talking at once as they threw themselves at her lap. Four little tow-heads and a ginger baby all babbling about things they had to tell her. Evany listened and smiled, pulling up the baby to sit on her lap, and paid great attention to tales of snowmen and riding sleds down Big Cove Creek Road.
It took a while for the big folks to get things organized, but Evany just let them have after it. The sounds of laughter and familiarity in the house warmed her from the inside out.
When it quieted a bit, her oldest great grandson looked up at her from the floor and begged for an “old timey story.” Evany grinned and kissed the little girl sitting on the arm of her fancy chair.
“Y’all sure you wanna hear Old Granny’s tales from way back?” she asked them with a twinkle in her eye.
“Yes!” Little and big voices alike rang out. Evany cackled merrily and bent over just a bit to make sure she had their attention. Not a sound but her voice and the popping fire in the wood stove could be heard in the family room.
“Well, now,” she began. “Once, way back when I was about eight years old, on Christmas Eve, we had the biggest snowstorm that folks back then could remember. Can’t really say which direction the storm came from, exactly, but let me tell you, it was a big’n!”
Five sets of intrigued little eyes stared at her as she continued. “We had a cow and a couple of horses back then. Pap named ‘em Jim and Joe. The cow didn’t much like her name. It was Eunice but she usually never paid ya no mind if you called her that. Until that big snow came.”
“We had a scrawny lil’ Christmas tree that we’d decorated with little bows and different colored, stuffed balls that Mama had helped us make from scrap material and pine needles. We thought we was highfalutin cause Brother and me had carved Mama a nativity set from wood left over from the new outhouse. It probably didn’t look too pretty but Mama thought so. She put it over the mantle and declared it made the house look so festive.” Evany’s memory brought smiles to all their faces.
“Well, that snow came so hard and
fast on Christmas Eve that most folks didn’t have time to prepare. But Pap knew something big was coming ‘cause all the wooly worms that year had been solid black, and all the Carolina Chickedees had made these thick, deep nests against the trees closest to the barn.” Evany paused and rocked a little bit before continuing. The older kids had quietly made their way into the front room by then, and settled down to listen as well.
“Bein’ the smart man he was, my daddy had tied ropes together and hooked ‘em to mama’s clothesline posts a few days before. Then he nailed ‘em to the side of the back porch and the barn. That was so if the wind raised a ruckus and caused a white out from the winter snows, he’d have a lead to hang onto and not get lost.
“Well, sir, that snow started during the early morning hours and came down in flakes as big as pie plates. Yes sir, it did. By noon, the roads was all but impassable on foot and by five o’clock that evening, we could hardly see Aunt Sennie Jane’s house down the road from us. Even horses had a hard time pullin’ Mr. Gardner’s wagon back up the hill behind our house. That’s when we began to worry that maybe Christmas might have to be put on hold.”
The fire crackled warmly in the stove and wood shifting inside made the coziest sound. It led Evany’s memories back to her childhood and that snowy day.
“When we went to bed that night, we all got down on our knees beside the bed to say our prayers. I guess it might have been a little selfish but I couldn’t help but pray that the Lord would let the snow slack up so we could have Christmas. And guess what?” she asked directly to the Littles. A couple of them looked at each other, then back to the oldest, who swallowed loudly before answering. His little voice was hushed in wonder at the story. “Whaaaat?” he asked to his great grandmother.
Smiling, Evany nodded and tapped him on the head. “When we woke up on Christmas morning, the snow was up over the fence posts. Everything was covered. Pap had to literally dig his way to the barn but the dogs helped by jumping in and out of the drifts. It was so cold the window panes was frosted over and Mama had to put her prettiest towels over them to help keep out the cold. Brother and me moped around for an hour or two, figuring as how nobody could get to the house Christmas wasn’t gonna happen. Me? I was disappointed that the Lord hadn’t answered my prayer so I was poutin’ a lil bit.”
The baby burped loudly and everyone chuckled.
“Well now. I agree with that.” Evany said to her.
After a minute, she continued the story.
“When we’re little, we don’t have much patience. That’s something that has to grow over time. Like faith. We all could use a lesson in faith now and then, I reckon. That cold, snowy, Christmas Day, I learned a good lesson. Mama made biscuits and chocolate gravy that morning. She pulled out her secret stash of cocoa powder since it was a special occasion and made the best breakfast. Pap was pert-near froze, time he got the livestock fed and got back to the house. He warmed up by the wood cookstove, same one that’s there in my kitchen. And when he set down to say Grace, I saw him wink at Mama.”
The baby patted Evany’s face and babbled as if telling her to go on.
“Brother kept sliding’ his eyes over to the Christmas tree and I’d elbow him every time I caught him looking. I just knew we would have to wait on Christmas. However, the Good Lord knew better than me. After breakfast, I was helpin’ Mama with the dishes while Pap and Brother carried in more wood for the stove, when I heard voices outside. I looked around toward the door and dried my hands when the sound of stomping feet hit the back porch. There was more feet out there then should’ve been and Mama quickly
Evany’s voice got softer as she saw it all again in her
“When the door opened, snow and cold air swirled in but the grandest sight I ever saw came in too. It was my Uncle Carl and Granny and Paw Hughes!! Law’, we were so happy to see them! Uncle Carl had hooked a blade to his wagon and used his big ole Missouri mules to plow out the road enough to get Granny and Paw up to our house. And wouldn’t you know it, they had two burlap sacks full of stuff for Christmas!”
All the Littles clapped and laughed at the happy news. Evany laughed right along with them. “Ya see, my Pap and Paw had been working on presents for me and Brother. Papaw pulled out a wood sled for Brother and a doll house for me. All made by hand and smoothed down right nice. We was so tickled with them presents we couldn’t see straight. Granny had brought pies and jars of canned sweet taters. Uncle Carl brought a ham shoulder and presented it to Mama like it was solid gold. Which to us, it was!”
Leaning back, the old woman smiled big and hugged the baby. “Yep. That snow didn’t stop Christmas. The biggest snow in many years couldn’t stop love and joy. The Lord had answered my prayer and I was so thankful that I snuck off into the pantry and got down on my knees and told Him that I was sorry for not being more patient and not having more faith. Younguns, it was the best Christmas that year. One I won’t ever forget.”
In the happy, quiet pause, the children all got up and hugged their great grandmother tight. “We won’t forget your best Christmas either, Granny.” The oldest girl said. “And we won’t forget that if we remember to have faith, anything is possible.”
Nodding her head with satisfaction, Evany squeezed them all in turn.
Yep, some things in life just stayed the same. Like traditions, signs, folklore … and memories. And add in a little faith? Well now, that made for a good life well lived.
Karaoke with Jesse
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14 Men's Monthly Breakfast
8:30 am
Lower Shell Creek Christian
Food and fellowship for men/boys of any age.
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14 Tree Cookie Ornaments
3 pm to 4:30 pm
RM State Park Visitor’s Center
Use repurposed wood from storms to create holiday ornaments. (888) 867-2757
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14 Adam Ingram Concert
7:30 pm
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18 Greatest Gift Christmas Program
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Youth program brings to life the story of Jesus. (event listed on Facebook)
20 Ugly Christmas Sweater
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Join us and wear your ugliest Christmas sweater! (423) 732-0450
21 Peg Leg Mine Geoventure
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Hike back in time to explore the geology and iron mining history of Roan Mountain. (888) 867-2757
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28 Jazz Funk Adventure Concert
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The name says it all! (423) 732-0450
31 Masquerade Ball
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31 New Year's Eve Game Night
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Two-mile moderate hike to see winter wildlife and witness how the river has changed. (888) 867-2757
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10 Paint a Christmas Cow
6 pm (come early to order dinner) H & H Whiteway Grill 7317 Hwy 19E
Tennessee Mountain Arts leads guests in acrylic painting party. (423) 772-3289
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11 Fancywork - Birds of Winter
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THE LAST WORD
The Christmas Truce
By Noah Blair
Let me set a scene for you, it’s Christmas Eve 1914. You are thousands of miles away from home and don’t know when, or if, you’ll get to see your home again. You have spent the last few months of your life in a dark and muddy trench. The freezing rain has soaked through every layer of your poorly crafted uniform, your boots are full of the mud that lines the trench and are slowly starting to freeze around your numb feet. Your dinner consists of stale crackers and cold coffee, your dessert is a cigarette.
The sun begins to sink behind the Western Europe skyline and darkness begins to surround the battlefield where you’ve lost so many comrades. In the quiet of the night, you hear a murmur coming from the enemy’s trench, which at first puts you on high alert. But then you recognize the tunes and realize the Germans are singing Christmas carols. You sing along and as the singing grows louder, the only men not singing are the
ones lying still in the muck and mire.
Suddenly, you hear a booming voice echo across no man’s land. It’s a German Captain doing his best to speak broken English with a thick German accent. He asks you to step out to discuss a proposition but considering the risks, you suggest the both of you meet at the barbed wire-wrapped fence line that now acts as an impromptu line in the sand between the two armies. You meet at the fence and exchange pleasantries. The proposition he suggests is a cease-fire for the rest of the night and for the following day, Christmas Day 1914.
This historic event on the Western Front became known as the “Christmas Truce.” Historians have debated what happened during the Christmas Truce, but letters sent home by soldiers told of unofficial football games, presents of wine, cigarettes and rations being exchanged, singing and laughter. What we do know happened for sure is that soldiers whose countries were at war with one another stopped the fighting and destruction to embrace what Christmas stands for.
Christmas has long stood for peace, joy, and hope, which makes sense when you think about why we celebrate Christmas. Jesus came to Earth to ultimately give his life so we might have an abundant life (John 10:10) on Earth and in Heaven. Jesus is the source of true peace, joy, and hope and it is only fitting that the holiday celebrating His birth brings the very things He is.
Why bring up the story of the “Christmas Truce”? Our world, country, and communities have never been more divided, tensions are at all-time highs, and with so many lines drawn in the sand, it seems like nothing will be able to repair the damage. Our little community has learned the same lesson those soldiers did on Christmas Day 1914, if we embrace Christmas and all it stands for, we can rebuild and begin to love those around us regardless of color, creed, or any other difference we may have.
Our mission is simple, go spread Christmas and all the joy, hope, and peace it can create.
Image above: Cover of London's Daily Mail newspaper dated December 31, 1914.
Left: Photo taken in no man's land between trenches, somewhere on the Western Front, showing both British and German soldiers.
Roan Mountain Magazine
Wishes You All A
Very Merry Christmas!
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