Look At This Face

Is this not the absolute best picture ever of of nice farmer.  Look at his eyes.  Sparkly. The creases in his forehead.  His hat.  His button down.  He was very quiet. Look at the background of such a majestic old tree.  I loved taking this photo.

Do you ever wonder how much longer we will be able enjoy the good fortune of seeing people like this man working the land around us.  We don't see nearly enough farmers as the rest of Georgia, but at least I get to see some of the good life this close to Atlanta.  

There is a fascinating contrast of qualities here in Milton.  From farmers and small ranch homes to transplants on estates in The Manor.  Hamp's to The Engish Rider.  Brownwood Farm to Shannondale.  An old beat up red Ford truck to a Range Rover.  And everything else in between.

Savior what you see here now because the culture of old time Milton is disappearing so fast.  I'd like to keep neighbors around much longer who are like this man, who know how to farm and probably have some real good stories about Life.

Making Hay Bales

I got an email first thing in the am about going up to a farm and watching how hay bales are made.  It's a three day process.  The girls and I were able to watch a farmer cut all the tall grass for hay bales today.  And 'morrow, "pendin' on da weather"  he'll fluff it and then the day after that he'll bale it, or out it into round things or squares.  I'm not sure whatcha call it.

I began to take some pictures and let the girls run in the Field of Gold, green gold.  They've never done that before.  Heck, I have never done that before.  It was a blast.   They were laughing and giggling so hard and running in figure eights so fast and all I could see were their faces above the grass, it was so tall.

I wondered about teenagers laying around in the tall grass and looking up towards a bright blue sky and what it must have been like to grow up on a farm.  In the Summer.  And crickets making all that noise.  And lemonade. It was all feeling so romantic and beautiful and then all of a sudden, Carly woke me out of my daydream of life on a farm and came out where I could see her and said, "Mommy, I'm really really really itchy!"  And then she jumped in the air and shouted with glee that it was one of the best days ever.

Fancy Cars

Early evening, we saw two 1926 Ford cars off to the side of the road with a hood up on one.  I pulled over grabbed my camera and got the girls out to see them. They were mint.

And so was the moment when it was none other than one of The Sisters of Birmingham and her huband and their friends for a sunny afternoon drive.  Of course I'd run into someone I knew. Never found a stranger in Milton.  Today they only cruised around with six cars.  Sometimes many more join in the ride.

I suggested an antique car weekend soon at Birmingham Village.  Lots of balloons. Hot Dogs at Publix. With an old time big brass band and those styrofoam hats with red, white and blue ribbons.  The kids would love it and so would the folks around here that remember driving in those model cars way back when.  It'd be a good way to get some action going on at the BV.

I heard a Mexican restaurant and a coffee shop may be coming soon.

The Eagles

I went to see The Eagles last night with friends Melissa and Neilie.  We tailgated in the parking lot beforehand with Harry's and a nice Pinot and then we headed for one of the 1000's of buses up to the top.  (Next time I'm just taking a limo.)  We had fluke weather for Spring and it was freezing with a capital F.  I've seen The Eagles before but last night was an interesting one up there at the Verizon Amphitheater.  Notice the "interesting".  Kind of like Rose's fish dish.

Can you spell s-u-b-u-r-b-a-n? 

One funny part was running into two Milton people, council person Karen Thurman on the hike to the top of the lawn and then we ran into the "mayor" of Birmingham Village, Tim Allen. 

It was kind of slow for Neilie and me so we decided to start taking our own version of a random poll and stopped 100's of people walking back and forth to the concessions during most of the concert.  Our question, who will they be voting for in the upcoming Presidential election.

Inquiring minds want to know.

One Obama, two Hillary and 152+ McCain.

That says it all right there. 

Bring Back the Hat Petition, Sign Today!

The funniest thing happened tonight on the way to the Forum, I mean Publix this evening.  My daughter Roxy called her friend Alyssa to go Helly-ing at Birmingham Publix.  Sandy, her mom met me there and brought Alyssa and away they went flying down the aisles skating.  I realize this could develop into a regular sport at our neighborhood Publix. My kids love that store.

While the two of them were off being kids, I began with my shopping.  Over to the strawberries, a staple at our house, and then a hello to Rose with the most beautiful smile at the Apron counter who was cooking a dish she called "different".  You know that it will be interesting when the chef says that.  I always stop to talk to Rose when I walk past her.  

So does my friend Sandy.  Edith Ann does too.  My kids walk by and shout "Hi-iiiii Rose!".

While another man stood by and we tried the snapper with bacon and corn relish and couscous, Rose saw Alyssa buzz by in the corner of her eye and mentioned something about Edith Ann, Sandy and horses.

How funny when you all know the same people.  Rose hooked them up and now Edith Ann and Sandy are talking "on the side" about a horse.

Small town thing.

Side Note: We need a petition to BRING BACK THE HAT......

Rose lost her hat priviledge after the regional manager saw this picture (above) on Miltonville.  No Chef hat policy at Publix.  So instead she has to wear and expose this really ugly hair net while she serves food that is supposed to taste gourmet.  

Next time you are at Publix, ask to sign the Bring Back the Hat Petition and get Rose her hat back!

UPDATE: Blood Donation Information for Bruce W. Smitherman

Anyone wishing to make a donation of O-positive or O-negative blood needs to call Susan Smitherman (cell: 770-329-9481) so she call call in their name to the Special Collection Order at Red Cross in order for the blood to go to Bruce. His blood type is O-negative, but there is a medication he is on that will allow him to take O-positive blood.

Then the person should call 1-800-448-3543 to make an appointment at the Red Cross location of their choice. They are downtown, on Old Alabama Street in Alpharetta, on Hammond Drive in Sandy Springs, and in Cobb County. Hours of operation for the Alpharetta office are: M-Th: 11 am to 7 pm, Fri. and Sat.: 7 a.m. to 3 pm.

The person must mention that the blood is for Bruce W. Smitherman and that there is a Special Collection Order on file for him.

Thanks so much!

Please Help One of our Neighbors in Milton

CRITICAL URGENT NEED for blood for Bruce Smitherman who has been a member of this church a long time and is in Emory Hospital with a serious liver condition. He has been losing blood for several weeks and has received about 30 units of blood so far. He has type O-negative blood. If you have O-negative or O-positive blood please contact Susan Smitherman on her cell phone at 770.329.9481.

These folks are great. Hope you can assist.

John Wolfe

Pastor, Birmingham United Methodist Church

Please email cathy.semeria@birminghamumc.org or call your local Red Cross for donation information.  Together we can make a difference for Bruce.  Please help by passing around this information to your family, friends and church.

Tuesdays with Joyce 05.13.08

I met Joyce and her family over at Providence Baptist with Abbe, but we were especially there to meet her cousin Joe Walker who lives in Texas now and was back for a small family reunion.

Joe spends his free time traveling around the south and putting up military monuments in cemeteries. This is Joe.

We walked around the cemetery as Joe pointed out several family members. I distinctly remember him telling a story about somebody doing another family member in on the same day as another relatives funeral and they were buried there at Providence Baptist.  

Such stories. Milton's roots are in that graveyard.  At Hopewell, Birmingham, Boiling Springs, Bethany, and more.

Thank goodness Joyce has a family tree somewhere.  Her family is enormous and so hard to keep straight.  Then there is Byron, Joe, and a hundred others a Hopewell that are related to Joyce.

Here's a few more.

Joe's parents are buried there along with many of his and Joyce's family.  I couldn't stay for long but it was quite a sunny morning and such a terrific family.  Abbe wants them to adopt her. I told her I get Joyce.

This is an authentic All American family.

RECIPE: Betty's Buice's Friendship Cake

As you drive through Milton, you’ll notice the Buice family name in all the old church cemeteries. Miss Betty Buice ran the country store at the corner of “The Birminghams”.  (Just before My Sister's Gifts and Jack of All Trades.)  This is quite a cake.  I wish I had met Miss Betty.  I heard her final resting place is down off of Hickory Flat Road.

Betty's Friendship Cake

Ingredients:
1 pt. starter
1 - 16 oz can lite sliced peaches ,
cut into tidbits
1 - 20 oz can pineapple tidbits
3 - 6 oz jars maraschino cherries
7 1/2 cups sugar
2 box butter golden or yellow cake mix
2 box instant vanilla pudding mix
8 eggs
1 1/3 cup Wesson cooking oil
2 cup raisins, optional
2 cup walnuts, optional
2 cup pecans, optional
2 cup coconut, optional

Day One: Pour starter into glass gallon jar. Add can of peaches and juice. Add 2 1/2 cups sugar and stir. Cover loosely with paper towel or cloth. Keep at room temperature. Stir every day for 10 days. Sugar may take several days to dissolve. Don’t cover air tight.

Day 10: Add pineapple tidbits and juice. Add 2 1/2 cups sugar. Continue stirring daily for 10 more days, your starter has changed color and will foam when stirred.

Day 20: Add 3 jars cherries, drained, and cut each cherry in half. Add 2 1/2 cups sugar and stir for te next 10 days. The cherries will give your starter back its pinkish color.

Day 31: You will bake your cakes. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Grease and flour 2 tube bundt pans or 10 small loaf pans. Drain fruit in a bowl, saving juice. Pour joice into 3 or 4 pint jars. Mix cakes one at a time. Pour 1 bix cake mix, i box instant udding mix, 4 eggs, half of the fruit, 2/3 cups oil into bowl. Stir until well mixed. Add 1 cup each of raisins, walnuts, pecans and coconut. Pour into one of the large pans or five of the small pans. Bake 60 to 90 minutes or until a straw inserted comes out clean. Repeat for second cake. Bake one at a time.

Note: The three or four pints of juice are the starts. Keep 1 and share the others. Never refrigerate the start and use within 3 or 4 days after the fruit is drained. Cake may be frozen.

Ferdinand lives in Milton

The one on the right said to the one on the left,  "Ahhh, how nice to sit in the tall cool green grass under the cork tree and smell all the fresh flowers in the air.  You read the book, right?"

Dorothy Falk Dubbin

This is my Grandmother.  She passed this morning at 93 years old.  She had a great life.  If you only knew her story.....wow.

Sweet Jennie

I just found out that Jennie is gone.  Oh, Ralph Haynes must be heartbroken.  Even if you're supposed to be all tough, I just don't believe farmers don't get sad when they lose ones they love.  I think Ralph loved Jennie.  I could tell the other night when he talked about her while explaining her problem came from a coyote attacking her bottom half.  I learned that real farmers are softies at heart.   And quiet too.

Them was dry tears, I'm tellin ya.  I saw em.

What makes the loss of Jennie even harder is that Jennie had a boyfriend named Jack and Ralph lost him only two weeks ago.  Jack and Jennie.  How sweet is that.  They even went to Donkey Heaven together.

(Yes, there is a Donkey Heaven.)

Get Well Soon, Raymond Westbrooks

I called Raymond because I've noticed his green pick up has been in the driveway without moving for what seems like weeks. 

Raymond's been under the weather lately and well, I'm worried cause I've never seen him like this.  He said the good Lord let him live until 80 and he guesses that he'll leave it all up to Him and just go along with Him.  He said that he reckons a neighbor who he helps sometimes will come 'round and help him now.

The neighbor plowed his field for the corn and Raymond said he'd tried to offer him some money but the neighbor wouldn't have it at all.   Raymond told him to take all the vegetables he wants this season.  He worries about making sure he has enough to share with everyone.  His wife Edna, cans the rest.

Charles Castleberry said the same thing last week.   About Raymond.  He said that Raymond took real good care to make sure he was doing okay after a surgery and that his lawn was mowed and he'll make sure to look after him now.  They knew each other back when they worked at GM.  Raymond is a fine painter too but he doesn't do too much of that anymore.

Raymond wears overalls every single day.  And a cap.  And loves to talk about his good fortune in life.

The photo above I took of Raymond on the very first day I met him at Mrs. Ruth Wills' place on Mayfield, while he was tending to the cows and taking care of her grass.  The date stamp on the photo says it was February 12, 2007 at 11:21 am exactly.

To cheer him up, I was thinking of bringing Raymond a Chili Cheese Dog from The Varsity. He loves 'em.   I don't know how to plow a field.

(And, if  you know my friend Raymond, call him and say hello.)

A Walker House: Joyce's Childhood Home

From 2 years old until her marriage to Lester Samples (and then two children, Nina and Barry), Joyce lived in this house.  She said it's changed a bit but the bones are the same and it is still standing which is a miracle these days.  It's on Birmingham Road near Hopewell on the north side of the street.  The chicken houses are gone.  Notice the rock exterior?  It's similar to her grandfather's Rock House at the corner of Freemanville and Birmingham Roads. The granite came from Stone Mountain.   I would love to see the inside, wouldn't you?      One day, one day.

Another Birmingham House

I'm looking at a newspaper article about a house just down the way from Joyce's childhood home at Birmingham and Hopewell.  It's the McClesky house. Same side of the street, at the north corner.  There are many things about this home which played a vital part in Milton's history.

It is the old Hopewell Stagecoach Inn and probably goes back to 1805, but property records go back at least to 1832.  This is one of the inns built along Federal roads by the Cherokee Indians back in the early 19th century.  It's called a single pen dwelling which is one room, one loft and one porch.  Two parsons porches were built as shelter for travellers and opened on the sides as to prevent the visitors from disturbing the residents when they arrived at all hours.  These usually were preachers and missionaries I think.  Remember there would have been an outhouse somewhere there too.  And a farm.

But the most cherished part about this house is A Moravian Star.  Painted in the beamed ceiling of the living room and is still in original colors by the Moravians who came to Georgia to teach the Cherokees in the early 19th century.

I heard it was recently restored by a guy named Lew Oliver.   Apparently a local architect.  This is the third time I've heard about him in three days.  Like just yesterday I read his name in a cottage living kind of magazine I picked up.  Who is he?  He must be one of the good guys if he saved this old house.  

Like Joyce's house, I really want to see the inside of this one too. Real bad.  Anyone know who lives here now?   Or how about a guy named Lew.

  

Wright's Mill

Joyce took me for a little drive after lunch.  Got to see another home of a relative.  Just over the border of Milton near Blue Valley and yet it still looks like ages ago.  These old houses really should be preserved.  At least enough to dot our rural landscape so let's move them to Milton.  They are beautiful in their own right.  And look at that Mill.  Can you just imagine growing up like this?  Joyce did.  So did Nina.  I wish I did.  Generations of families hard work are honored by the remnants of these old farms.    

Then I thought I saw a horse in a chicken coop.

Milton Farm Tour: Shannondale Farm

Checking out all the different barn architecture and pasture design is actually quite fascinating in Milton. I'm starting to recognize the names of barn architects all of a sudden. This morning was a magnificent one at Shannondale Farm with Julie and David Shannon. Really great people, interesting lives and I bet they'd be great dinner party guests.  You would be blown away at the facility they've designed.  

A picture is worth a thousand words and Ahhhh, is all I could say as I looked all around the farm.  Here is a very small sample of what I saw....

And to top it all off, they have a 17 year old Jack Russell named Bailey.  I guess when animals get to live their lives in a place like this, they live longer.  So would we all.

Find out more at: www.shannondale.com

Tuesdays with Joyce 05.06.08

Soon I will be off to have tea with Joyce Samples at Mittie's to talk about something historical of course, and to finally meet her daughter Nina.  Until I return with more Milton stories, here's something about her for you.  It's a photograph of Joyce when she was a little girl with her mom.  Taken right here in Milton.  (And a perfect way to lead into Mother's Day this weekend.)   

Joyce is the Walker family of Milton.  Joyce's grandmother, Nina's great-grandmother, ran the country store at the corner of Birmingham and Freemanville Roads.  The Rock House was Joyce's grandparents house.  Their store, now gone, was practically on the very edge of that corner.   There were dirt roads and county stores at every corner.  Yep, that's what they had here.  Their church.  Their family.  Their gardens.  And one cow.  Just one.

That open field across the street is land which once belonged to Joyce's first cousin Byron Burgess' family. I met Byron when inquiring at Hopewell Baptist for history about Milton.  He knows all of it.   He is completely crazy in love with Milton too.  It is because of the memories of this place.  They were that good.  So, imagine that these are the families on Birmingham Road.  All related. A very small tight knit community.

Byron's mother, who is Joyce's auntie, is Estelle Wright Burgess and strikes me everytime I see her photo.  Once you study her face, you never forget it and can point her out in all the old photos of Milton.  Believe me.  I just did at Miss Verna Morris' house the other day.  Look at her face.  Stunningly beautiful.   A real Milton Mom.

Cool, huh?

Billy's 1st City Council Meeting

My Observations:

He was watching everything very closely.

Didn't hear him say a peep.

He is a real listener.  

He looks at you straight in the eye.

(We need new paneling.)

More Poke Sauce

Apple Cider Sauce

by Milton Cowboy aka Renaissance Man


Makes enough to sauce 2 pork tenderloins

1 ½ cups apple cider

1-cup low-sodium chicken broth

2 teaspoons cider vinegar

1 cinnamon stick

4 tablespoons unsalted butter into 4 pieces

2 large shallots, minced (about 1/2 cup)

1 tart apple

such as Granny Smith, cored, peeled, and diced small

¼ cup Calvados or apple-flavored brandy

1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves

Table salt and ground black pepper

1. Combine cider, broth, vinegar, and cinnamon stick in medium saucepan;
simmer over medium-high heat until liquid is reduced to 1 cup, 10 to 12
minutes. Remove cinnamon stick and discard. Set sauce aside until pork is
cooked.
2. Pour off any fat from skillet in which pork was cooked. Add 1 tablespoon
butter and heat over medium heat until melted and foaming subsides. Add
shallot and apple and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and
beginning to brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and add
Calvados. Return skillet to heat and cook about 1 minute, scraping bottom
with wooden spoon to loosen browned bits.[fond] Add reduced cider mixture, any
juices from resting meat, and thyme; increase heat to medium-high and simmer
until thickened and reduced to 1 1/4 cups, 3 to 4 minutes. Off heat, whisk
in remaining 3 tablespoons butter, and adjust seasonings with salt and
pepper. Pour sauce over pork and serve immediately.