nw georgia living spring 2015

Inspiring, Informing, Enriching

Complimentary SPRING 2015 Volume 6, Issue 2

N W G E O R G I A

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Spring Clean Your LifeFly-fish Like a Girl

Create a 5-Star Guest RetreatEnjoy the Fresh Flavors of Spring

Musings of a Beekeeper’s Wife

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HEALING HEARTS CHANGING LIVES BUILDING COURAGE GIVING HOPE

Spring Clean Your Life: 11 Things That Are Holding You Back 6

Create a 5-Star Guest Retreat 8

Musings of a Beekeeper’s Wife 14

The World’s Most Popular Fruit 20

This Spring Break, Kick Back and Relax 24

The Fresh Flavors of Spring 32

FEATURESEditor’s Note 4

Calendar for Living 10

Dog Eared 16

You Don’t Say 22

Fish Out of Water 28

Roberts World 38

Ad Directory 40

DEPARTMENTSCONTENTS

Cover Photography by Caroline Lathrop of Dalia Creek Photography“The Garden Life”

N W G E O R G I A

8

Inspiring, Informing, Enriching

Complimentary SPRING 2015 Volume 6, Issue 2

N W G E O R G I A

5Winner of

MAGS GAMMAAWARDS

Spring Clean Your LifeFly-fi sh Like a Girl

Create a 5-Star Guest RetreatEnjoy the Fresh Flavors of Spring

Musings of a Beekeeper’s Wife

14

24

20

32

2 www.nwgeorgialiving.com

Letter From the Editor

Publisher and Founder Editor-In-Chief

Laura Wood

Creative DirectorAndi Counts

DesignersAndi Counts

Cameron Shiflett

PhotographyPatricia Montgomery

Senior Editor, Calendar for Living

Ciara N. [email protected]

EditorEmily MoweryGene Murphy

Sales StaffCiara N. Mealer

Laura Wood

Contributing WritersJennifer AlmandVirginia Brewer

Paula Davis-LaackSusan HackneyRebecca PikulaCiara N. Mealer

Patricia MongomeryKathy PatrickRobert Smyth Rachel Turner

DistributionJake Hudson

BillingLaura Wood706-346-9858

Contact us at:(706) 346-9858

[email protected] Georgia Living

P.O. Box 1065Rome, Georgia 30l62

NW Georgia Living is published bi-monthly by L. Wood LLC

© 2015. No portion of this issue may be copied, scanned, or reproduced in any manner without

prior written consent from the publisher.

Spring 2015 Volume 6 Issue 2

N W G E O R G I A

To Bee or Not to Bee

I had plans, but they didn’t work out. Leave it to Mother Nature to make a mess of things. It had been spring-like weather the weekend before I made my plans to experience being a beekeeper for a day, or at least observing what’s involved in beekeeping. I’ve always wanted to see the inside of those

cute, little bee houses, fuzzy bees busy making honey. It didn’t happen. The day of the trip to the bee farm, the winds were gusting over 30 miles per hour bringing the wind chill below freezing. It was too cold for a bee party. All I got to do was view the outside of the bee yard while shivering. I didn’t even get a t-shirt!

What piqued my interest is the article in this issue entitled, “Musing from The Beekeeper’s Wife” written by Patricia Montgomery, my friend and photographer extraordinaire. Pat’s husband Monty is from Cave Spring, where his dad was known as Jack the Beeman. I had to ask some questions because curious minds want to know.

> Me: “There is just one queen bee. So how is she chosen? Do they have a beauty pageant?”> Pat: Laughing,”I wish I’d thought of that one when I was writing my article. The worker bees pick the one female they think will be the stron-gest and start feeding her royal jelly, which makes her stronger and bigger. She is basically hand fed for the rest of her life.”> Me: “Not really by hand. They don’t have hands.”> Pat: “Well, by their type of hands.”> Me: “What is royal jelly?”> Pat: “Basically it’s chewed up pollen mixed with secretion.”> Me: “Ooh, that’s so gross. I wish I hadn’t asked. Tell me about the other bees.”> Pat: “The males are called drones and don’t have any purpose but to mate with the queen.”Bee Fact: They actually mate several hundred feet up in the air. It’s survival of the fittest as only the fastest and strongest drones partici-pate in the “Nuptial Dance.”> Pat: “At the end of the mating season, the worker bees drive out all the drones to die.”> Me: “They just kick them out, huh? And the worker bees?”> Pat: “They literally work so hard that some-times their wings fall off and they die.”

I know now that I do not want to be reincarnated as a bee. In life there are worker bees and queen bees. I’ve known a few queen bees in my life and I have to say, I’ve never been spoiled which is a good thing. We worker bees are the ones who keep things going, and really we are the ones in charge. “Day with the Bees” to be continued on a warmer day in spring.

It was safe to cross that day as all the bees were in their house, which is where I wanted to bee!

Photo by Patricia Montgomery


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Advice

By Paula Davis-Laack

I have a cool job. I spend my time working with people to help them prevent burning out — a chronic process of disengagement that

often starts at work. One big dimen-sion of burnout is exhaustion — feeling emotionally exhausted, depleted, and [resulting in] a loss of energy. Having suffered from burnout myself, I regularly monitor how I’m spending my time to make sure I’m maximizing the things that give me energy. Every so often, I realize that changes are needed. Letting go of the wrong kind of activities and

Spring Clean Your Life:

relationships helps me feel lighter, happier, and more productive.

With input from my Facebook friends, I compiled this list of 11 things you may want to “spring clean” out of your life this year.

1. Being a selfless giverYou might be wondering, is it really possible to give too much? The answer is yes. In his book Give and Take, Adam Grant discusses the differences between givers, takers, and matchers. He has discovered a number of different

sub-sets of givers, two of which are “selfless” givers and “otherish” givers. Selfless givers give their time and energy without regard to their own needs. Selfless giving, in the absence of recovery, becomes overwhelming and can drive burnout. The trick is to become more of an “otherish” giver. Otherish givers find a way to balance giving with their own self-interest and self-care.

2. MindlessnessI think of mindfulness as a pathway to increase the space between a stress

Things That

Are Holding You Back

11


Paula Davis-Laack, JD, MAPP is a burnout prevention and resilience expert who helps professionals break their addiction to being busy and

overwhelmed. She is the author of Addicted to Busy: Your Blueprint for Burnout Prevention. Please visit Paula’s website at www.pauladavislaack.com or email her at [email protected].

producing event and your reaction to it. If you’ve been feeling less focused, more scattered, or having more knee-jerk reactions to stress-producing events, try the 4–7–8 breathing technique, which I learned from my colleague, Renee Jain. Sit in your chair or on the floor with your back straight. Breathe in for a count of four, hold your breath for a count of seven, then exhale for a count of eight. The first few times I tried it, I was all over the place, but now I’ve gotten the hang of it, and it really helps.

3. Bragging about how busy you areWhen someone asks me how I’m doing, I’m going to fight the impulse to respond with “busy.” That word doesn’t really say much, and quite frankly, it’s probably not even all that accurate. I explore the connection between our “crazy busy” culture and burnout in my e-book, Addicted to Busy: Your Blueprint for Burnout Prevention. What I’ve discov-ered is that being busy isn’t a bad thing as long as it’s purposeful and intentional, but too many of us fill our lives with unessential tasks in order to feel impor-tant and responsible.

4. Low-quality relationshipsThis was a resounding theme among my Facebook gang. Many of us are just plain tired of being around people and in relationships with people who don’t have our best interests at heart. Low-quality relationships are marked by a lack of trust. According to my colleague Gretchen Pisano, trust is about four things:> Common ground: We have similar

values and objectives.> Predictability: I can predict

your behavior.> Consideration: You will take my needs

into consideration before you act.> Forewarning: You will tell me before

you act in a way that is not in my interests.

According to researcher Jane Dutton, high-quality relationships offer four things:> Respectful engagement> Task enabling> Trust> Play

I have used both of these tests to start weeding out the low-quality relation-ships in my life, and I already feel lighter because of it.

5. InauthenticityDo you feel comfortable showing up in your life as you are — warts and all? Authenticity is hard for many people because it requires vulnerability. The soldiers who I’ve worked with have really helped me to become more comfortable showing up in life as myself, and that has opened many doors for me.

6. Acting without intentionMy word for the year is “intentionality.” Acting with intention means being mindful of the choices you make and require you to say no — a lot. I realize that saying no is hard, but so is running yourself into the ground doing things you don’t really like or care about (see number 1).

7. Some of your e-timeE-time is the amount of time you spend on your various electronic devices. One of my Facebook friends is letting go of 50% of his Facebook time in 2015, and I think I might follow suit. How many relationships, interesting conversa-tions, and business opportunities have you missed because you were glued to your screen?

8. Mental clutterThere are a number of different mindsets and messages that we tell ourselves on a daily basis. Which ones help push you toward success, and which ones zap your resilience? For example, if you tell yourself, “I’m not good enough” when a challenge arises, what impact is this thinking having on your life? What would be the result if you thought something different?

9. InefficacyInefficacy is feeling like you can’t produce the results you want in your life. Inefficacy is one of the big three burnout dimensions, and the goal is to build more of its opposite – self-efficacy. Research points to three ways you can build more self-efficacy:> Have mastery experiences, which

require you to start tracking your successes, no matter how small.

> Have a few people to cheer you on and support you (see number 4).

> Observe another person, or people, overcome challenges to achieve success, particularly if that person is accomplishing a goal you also want.

10. Past failures, regrets, and mistakesThis was another popular response from my Facebook group. Holding onto past failures, regrets, and mistakes is like carrying around one-hundred pounds on your back. You can do it, but it slows you down and prevents you from getting where you want to go. My writing coach recently told me that my platform wasn’t big enough to publish a book the traditional way and explained why. After getting quite mad at her and listing off all of my accomplishments over the past few years, I realized that there was some truth to what she said. Even though I stewed about this conver-sation for weeks, I decided to get honest with myself and then got busy fixing the issues.

11. PerfectionMake this the year of “good enough.” No, “good enough” isn’t about lowering your standards; it’s about choosing a standard that isn’t illusory. Perfectionists are more vulnerable to burnout. When it comes to making decisions, perfectionists experi-ence a lot of regret and anxiety about missed opportunities and often engage in unhealthy social comparison (see number 7 about reducing your e-time).

One of my favorite quotes is “One of the hardest parts of life is deciding whether to walk away or try harder.” Once you start letting some of these things go, hopefully the decision about what to do will become easier. What would you add to the list?

7www.nwgeorgialiving.com

Decorating

By Jennifer Almand

Creating a 5-Star Guest Retreat

We have all seen the fancy hotels with the white linens and complimen-tary shampoos going

above and beyond to make their guests feel special. Those 5-Star hotels really know how to do it right, don’t they? After all, they even employ people whose focus is to make all your needs and wishes come true. That is what keeps

like a cloud? If at all possible, make sure the sheets are freshly washed for the aroma-therapy factor. There are many different fabric sprays available to boost sheets that may have lost their scent. Make sure there are extra blankets and pillows of varying thickness. Guests never want to be a bother, so they won’t necessarily ask you for extras. My favorite compliment from guests is, “I did not want to get out of that bed!”

BathroomThe bathroom should also be an area where you pay particular attention. Plenty of fluffy towels and washcloths are at the top of the list. Make sure there is a night light to help them find their way at night. Of course, always check the toilet paper supply. Extra toiletries such as body wash, shampoo, and toothpaste are a pleasant surprise. Perhaps even a hairdryer, hairbrush, a new toothbrush, and a new loofah for the surprise guests who didn’t pack anything. Some antacid tablets and pain relievers can come in handy for your guests, as well. Finish with a plush robe and some slippers.

ClosetYour guests shouldn’t be forced to live out of their suitcases, so a closet and some drawer space is a must. Make sure you leave them plenty of extra hangers and maybe an iron and ironing board. In my experience, no matter how carefully you pack your suitcase, everything comes out looking like you wadded it in a ball and threw it in your luggage. You would be surprised how smells can impact the overall mood and well-being of your guests, so hang a sachet of scent

people coming back. It’s good business. Over the years and through my travels I have picked up some tips and tricks from the experts, as well as various friends.

I truly cherish my friends, and I want every guest in my home to feel like he or she is special. I love to entertain, and the little details are so important. Let me share with you a few of my secrets to ensure your guests can also have a ‘5-star’ experience.

BeddingThe most important part of your guests’ comfort is the bedding. How is the mattress? Are the pillows fluffy? I always use high quality sheets and soft, fluffy mattress toppers. Is there any better feeling than sinking into a bed that feels


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beads in the closet. A small laundry basket is always helpful. You may also want to provide a jacket or sweatshirt and an umbrella for unpredictable weather. It’s those little touches that make them smile.

AmenitiesThere are a few simple touches that people often overlook — the comforting extras. These include bottles of water in case your guests are thirsty in the

middle of the night, perhaps even a granola bar, peanuts, or chocolates for those late-night cravings. If you want to be really fancy, a mini-Keurig is perfect. Make sure you supply a variety of teas and coffees to choose from, along with mugs, spoons, sweeteners, and creamers. Some current magazines are nice, for instance, the latest issue of NW Georgia Living. It has community calendars and ideas for local activities for guests to enjoy during their stay. A small televi-sion along with a TV guide is a nice touch. I like to put the WIFI password in a small picture frame on the nightstand. Extra phone chargers are a good idea, but there are so many different ones, it is hard to predict which one your guest will need. Providing just a plug-in cube with a USB port is the easiest. I like to provide an e-reader such as a Nook or Kindle, loaded with short novels. They can also use it to access the internet. A cozy, soft throw blanket and a comfy chair provides the perfect reading nook. Lastly, a tiny vase with a few fresh flowers is the final touch.

Comfort and 5-Star quality is all about the details. If you spend a little extra time

outfitting your guest room it will always be ready. So go ahead, get busy being the ‘hostess with the mostest’ and make your home the most popular travel destination for your friends and family. I feel that my home is a reflection of me, and the comfort of my guests is my main priority. I’m certainly not Martha Stewart, but it doesn’t hurt to try!


Arts & Events

CA L E N DA R FO R

MarchMardi Gras BashMarch 6Pub-crawl your way through downtown Cartersville, eat at great restaurants, and shop till you drop while being serenaded by great local musicians performing live as part of the First Friday series. Downtown Cartersville. www.visitcartersvillega.org

Cartersville Dances with the StarsMarch 7Local celebrities, paired with experienced dancers, will vie for votes during this charity gala dance competition. Clarence Brown Conference Center. Cartersville. www.visitcartersvillega.org

12th Annual Southeastern Cowboy GatheringMarch 12–14This is a three-day celebration of the West including art exhibitions featuring artist Clyde Aspevig, a singer/songwriter showcase, the finals of Writing Through Art Literary Contest, a chuck wagon cook-off, and more. Booth Western Art Museum. Cartersville. www.boothmuseum.org

The House of YesMarch 13–15March 19–22March 26–28Thursdays–Saturdays 8:00 p.m., Sundays 3:00 p.m.This wonderful cult classic comedy tells the story of an upper-class suburban family whose mannered exterior masks a disturbing family dynamic. Out of Box Theatre, Artisan Resource Center. Marietta. www.outofboxtheatre.com

Taste of Northwest GeorgiaMarch 14, 11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.Sample food from over 40 different restaurants, caterers, and food trucks brought to you by Northwest Georgia’s finest chefs. The Forum. Rome. www.tastenwga.com

Native American Heritage DayMarch 14, 10:00 a.m.Enjoy a lecture on historic Creek and Cherokee cultures in Georgia. There will also be a genealogy lecture and workshop

to help guests understand how their families have been influenced by Native Americans. Etowah Indian Mounds. Cartersville. www.gastateparks.org/info/etowah

WELSHfestMarch 14WELSHfest is the only Welsh centered festival in Georgia. It features great Welsh and local entertainment, fun and educational events, a vendors village, and is fun for the whole family. Downtown Rockmart. www.welshfest.vpweb.com

Spamalot!March 20–22,March 27–29Fridays and Saturdays 8:00 p.m., Sundays 2:30 p.m.Rome Little Theatre presents Monty Python’s Spamalot! This hilariously witty comedy is sure to please the whole family and even the most die-hard Monty Python fans. DeSoto Theatre. Rome. www.romelittletheatre.com

Northwest Georgia Women’s ExpoMarch 28, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.This seventh annual event will showcase products and services for women with 76 exhibitors, thousands of dollars in door prizes, $1,000 in cash prizes, and more. Clarence Brown Conference Center. Cartersville. www.nwgawomensexpo.com

Cheyenne Medders Album Release ConcertMarch 28, 7:00 p.m.Resaca native Cheyenne Medders will be performing to promote the release of his new album, Day Stood Still. Don’t miss his unique blend of country and folk at this exciting event. GEM Theatre. Calhoun. www.calhoungem.org

Recycled Fashion PageantMarch 28, 2:30 p.m.This fundraiser for Girl Scouts of Floyd County seeks to bring creativity, imagination, and the art of up-cycling to the runway. Georgia Highlands College. Rome. (770)324-6932

AprilPaint the Trails with ArtApril 9–15Students from local schools and colleges will be participating in this art show and sale benefitting TRED. Rome-Floyd ECO Center. Rome. www.tredromefloyd.org

Across the Big Pond XVApril 11, 7:30 p.m.NW GA Winds and guests present the 15th annual Across the Pond concert including bagpipers, soloists, Irish dancers, and much more. The Forum. Rome.

Servant of Two MastersApril 16–19April 23–26Thursdays–Saturdays 7:30 p.m., Sundays 2:00 p.m.This classic Italian romantic-comedy is hilariously heartwarming and features timeless themes of love, family, friendship. Presented by Berry College Theatre Company. E.H. Young Theatre, Berry College. Rome.


OngoingWinston Churchill Art ExhibitionThrough March 15The Art of Diplomacy: Winston Churchill and the Pursuit of Painting will display over 30 paintings by Winston Churchill, many of which have never before been publicly exhibited. See it before it’s gone! Oak Hill Museum. Rome. www.oakhillmuseum.com

Kingdom Under Glass: The Artwork of Joseph PeragineMarch 16–April 10Paintings and mixed media artwork that showcase a variety of styles and inspiration will be on display. A gallery talk will be March 16, at 7:00 p.m. The Moon Gallery, Berry College. Rome.

Exit the BodyApril 24–26, May 1–2Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., Sundays at 3:00 p.m.When a novelist rents a house he unknowingly enters a scene of crime and intrigue. This hilarious who-dunnit will keep the audience in stitches while trying to figure out the mystery. Legion Theatre. Cartersville. www.pumphouseplayers.com

50th Annual Atlanta SteeplechaseApril 18, 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.The Atlanta Steeplechase is an incredible day of horseracing, tailgating, picnicking and family fun set in the Bartow County countryside. The Atlanta Steeplechase benefits the University of Georgia School of Veterinary Medicine and Camp Southern Ground. Kingston Downs. Kingston. www.atlantasteeplechase.org

16th Annual North Georgia Flintknappers & Primitive Arts FestivalApril 23–26, 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.Watch and participate in demonstrations of arrowhead and spearpoint making, bow and arrow crafting, fire building, hide tanning, basketry, cord making, trap and snare making and much more. Gatewood Park. Cartsville. www.northgeorgiaknapin.yolasite.com

BBQ, Boogie, and BluesApril 24–25In addition to BBQ, festivities include live music, the Baxter/Dean fashion runway show, food, arts and crafts vendors, and more. Downtown Calhoun. www.bbqboogieblues.com

Firefly FlingApril 24, 7:00 p.m.The event will include speciality firefly cocktails, open bar, jazz entertainment from Pollard Greens, farm to table artwork

from local high school students, and the announcement of the winner of the 4th Annual R.A.C.A. award. Downtown Rome. www.romearts.org

3rd Annual Healthy Kids DayApril 25The day will include fun active play and educational activities to keep kids moving and learning In addition to an obstacle course, bouncy houses, and games and activities sponsored by the YMCA. Grizzard Park. Rome. (706)232-2468

National Astronomy Day & Star PartyApril 25, 1:00 p.m.Spend the day and evening gazing at the sky! Search for sunspots, check out the moon, Jupiter, and Venus, and meet some of NASA’s ambassadors during this day-long celebration of astronomy. Tellus Museum. Cartersville. www.tellusmuseum.org

Cedar Valley Arts FestivalApril 25 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.April 26 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.An event the whole family can enjoy, with activities ranging from fine arts, crafts, and pony rides to great food and live entertainment. Peeks Park. Cedartown. www.cedarvalleyartsfestival.com


“For my hEArt, I choosE rEdmond.”

ScottHeart Attack Survivor

“When the ambulance arrived, they put me in the back to take me to the hospital and they said where do you want to go? And I said take me to Redmond.”

Scott was running up the bleachers at the high school stadium when he began to have severe chest pain. He knew it was serious and he knew that Redmond was the place to go for heart care. Redmond’s heart team determined that Scott had experienced a massive heart attack and needed triple bypass surgery. Scott is one of more than 500 patients that have heart surgery at Redmond each year. In fact, Redmond is the only hospital in Northwest Georgia performing life-saving heart surgery.

Scott is just one of many stories at Redmond Regional Medical Center. Tell us your Redmond story at

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“For my hEArt, I choosE rEdmond.”

ScottHeart Attack Survivor

“When the ambulance arrived, they put me in the back to take me to the hospital and they said where do you want to go? And I said take me to Redmond.”

Scott was running up the bleachers at the high school stadium when he began to have severe chest pain. He knew it was serious and he knew that Redmond was the place to go for heart care. Redmond’s heart team determined that Scott had experienced a massive heart attack and needed triple bypass surgery. Scott is one of more than 500 patients that have heart surgery at Redmond each year. In fact, Redmond is the only hospital in Northwest Georgia performing life-saving heart surgery.

Scott is just one of many stories at Redmond Regional Medical Center. Tell us your Redmond story at

501 Redmond Rd NW, Rome, GA 30165 • (706) 291-0291 • RedmondRegional.com

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Hobbies

After marrying into a beekeeping family, it was soon evident that my knowl-edge of beekeeping would

not fill even the tiniest honeycomb cell. My idea of raising honeybees was a sweet vision of a cuddly bear, holding a bee skep while licking honey off its paws. The reality of white boxes, white suits, and veiled white hats was quite the surprise.

I have an early memory of running barefoot in the summertime through clover blooms, a favorite wildflower of the honeybee. Ouch! With tears streaming down my little cheeks, I watched as my mother pulled out the stinger and then consoled me. “There now, sweetie, that bee will not sting you again. She flew off to die.” Yes, Mom, but what about all of her friends?

Much later in life, I learned that the honeybee stinger is barbed to hold fast to human skin. Since the stinger does not release cleanly from the bee’s body, it causes a fatal rupture to the honeybee’s abdomen. Among all bee species, the honeybee is the only one that forfeits its life after a sting. As for other bee species,

Musings From The Beekeeper’s WifeBy Patricia Montgomery

Fun Extras from The Beekeeper’s WifeBeekeeping Favorites> Favorite Bee: Italian Bees

(pronounced EYE-tal-yun in some southern states)

> Favorite Beekeeping Moment: Watching my father-in-law pull a rack of bees from the hive and move his bare finger slowly and gently through hundreds of honeybees without a single sting.

> Favorite Neighbor Complaint: “I think your bees are in my yard. Can you make them stay on your property?”

> Favorite Post Office Request: “You have a package of bees and they are alive! Can you come here and get the package off the mail truck? He needs to get to his next stop.”

Fun Bee Facts> The honeybee is Georgia’s state

insect, designated in 1975 because of its important pollination contribu-tions to agriculture. Being a beekeep-er’s wife, I know stuff like this.

> Honey has a natural preservative that makes it impossible for bacteria to grow.

> Honeybees are the only insect in the world that make food for humans.

> Drones are males hatched from unfertilized eggs. This is also a hint about a statement made in the article regarding drones.

Beekeeper Humor> What do worker bees call their

Queen? My Bee-loved> The Queen bee finally kicked out all

the male bees this past autumn. She got tired of listening to them droning on and on and on.

and winged insects that sting, like wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets, they will sting you once and then — with no mercy — fly back to sting you repeatedly. Heathen bees, I say!

If one is afraid of getting stung, then perhaps one should rethink beekeeping as a hobby or profession. Even the very best suited-up, tied-up, taped-up, gloved-up, veiled-up beekeeper gets stung — sometimes occasionally and other times frequently. It is not for those prone to squeamishness, prancing, or screaming.

The bees on our farm are sexy, Italian honeybees. In the eyes of other bees they must look absolutely gorgeous because, after all, they are Italian bees. Not easily agitated and only aggressive when disturbed, this bee stock is well known for its docility. Italian bees are also excel-lent honey producers because they are hard-working foragers and their colonies are usually large.

Within the social system of a honeybee hive, the Queen is the head of the colony. The males — called drones — only make up about 15% of a hive’s population and their main duty is to mate with the Queen. As a side note, the lowly drone has a mother, but

no father, and only one grandfather. Ancestry.com, can you help us figure out that one?

Last, but definitely not least, are the other females known as workers bees. These girls are the unlucky ones that were not chosen to be Queen. Each worker bee could be called Cinderella, minus the slipper, as they quite liter-ally work themselves to death during summer while gathering nectar. During their short four to six-week life span, these gals fly from bloom to bloom, working their little stinger bottoms off. They eventually wear out their wings, which is the most common cause of death.

When it is time to mate in mid-flight, the Queen has thousands of drones to choose from, but only a select few get the honor. This is the youthful Queen’s first, and only, flight of freedom and is her version of an Amish Rumspringa. In this case, though, the Queen always chooses to return to the hive. She knows that for the rest of her life she will not have to lift a wing and will be fed daily by worker bees that bring food straight to her mouth. Absolutely everything in the hive revolves solely around her. It appears that it is, indeed, good to be Queen.

When asked how many bees are in a hive, my favorite beekeeper has a stan-dard answer. “Don’t know, never counted them.” Research reveals that the number can range anywhere from 20,000 to 80,000 honeybees. It’s no wonder the hubby hasn’t counted. With prime hive conditions, a busy, prolific Queen can


Patricia Montgomery is photographer at NW Georgia Living magazine, a freelance photographer,

part-time blogger, and proudly holds the title of “The Beekeeper’s Wife.” She lives with her hubba-hubba hubby in a cozy cabin high atop scenic Bucks Mountain near Cave Spring, Georgia. Patricia is happiest while traveling with her husband, having fun with her grandchildren, thrifting for all things ‘retro’, and attending camper rallies with ‘Pattycakes’, her vintage Scotty HiLander camper. Visit www.BucksMountainGalleries.com or contact her at [email protected]

Left: Honey Bee on Clover BloomBelow: Selling honey on the honor systemPhotography by Patricia Montgomery

lay up to 2,000 eggs per day. Is it any surprise that she can never seem to find time to attend that annual meeting of The Royal Order of Queen Bees?

Based solely on my observations as a beekeeper’s wife, there is so much more to beekeeping than just acquiring a hive of honeybees and then sitting back to wait for them to make honey. A good beekeeper tends faithfully to the honeybees, a priority that takes prece-dence over any profits to be made from the honey.

Beekeeping is not a glamorous job unless, of course, one thinks white jumpsuits are going to make a fashion comeback. At any given time a beekeeper must be prepared to drop everything to capture swarms or take care of hive colonies that may not be thriving. Among many other tasks, there are hives to be built and medication to be administered, as well as honey to be collected and bottled. That is without mentioning phone calls from hysterical homeowners convinced that there are ten billion bees swarming in their yard, about to create their own bee version of the Hitchcock movie, The Birds.

Beekeepers are most likely not going to get rich. In the hearts of dedicated beekeepers, they know that it is not so much about the honey, or the money, as it is about love of honeybees.


Ideas That Inspire Your Life> Food Rules by

Michael Pollan> Girl Sleuth:

Nancy Drew and the Women Who Created Her by Melanie Rehak

> The Secret History of Wonder Woman by Jill Lepore

> The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

> Tesla: A Portrait with Masks by Vladimir Pistalo

> Women Who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype by Clarissa Pinkola Estes

> To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Ideas That Change the World> Escape from Camp 14: One Man’s

Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West by Blaine Harden

> Road of Lost Innocence: The Story of a Cambodian Heroine by Somaly Mam

> Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide and A Path Appears: Transforming Lives, Creating Opportunity by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn

> Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi

> Slave: My True Story by Mende Nazer

Ideas About Religion & Spirituality> The Prophet by

Kahlil Gibran> An Alter in the

World by Barbara Brown Taylor

> American Gods by Neil Gaiman

> The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion by James George Frazer

> Where the Dead Pause and the Japanese Say Goodbye by Marie Mutsuki Mockett

Ideas About Human Nature> The Girl on

the Train by Paula Hawkins

> The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

> All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

“The only important thing in a book is the meaning that it has for you.” — W. Somerset Maugham

Books have a curious way of changing our lives. When an author writes a book it is like making a wish before blowing

the down off of a dandelion, scattering the seeds of their ideas across the land. Books are sly and insidious creatures, working their notions into the crevices of our minds like those dandelion seeds blown into the cracks of a sidewalk. Our

By Ciara N. Mealer

Ciara N. Mealer is the Senior Editor at NW Georgia Living Magazine, a freelance writer and editor, and a bookseller. She lives in Rome, Ga with

her devoted sidekick and her four Fantastic Fancy Rats. She is an avid naturalist, a voracious reader, and spends most of her free time exploring the outdoors, adventuring, and creating. She can be contacted at [email protected]

DOG EARED

Books That Change Our Livesown thoughts nourish those seeds and something beautiful begins to grow in that fertile ground. Thus, change grows within us, broadening our minds and enriching our lives.

Many of the books that have brought great and lasting change to a reader are things that they read as a child. Dr. Seuss taught many of us a love of learning and language. The Nancy Drew Mysteries made many of us life-long readers. Nancy herself has taught generations of young women, myself included, that girls can do absolutely

anything and still be feminine. The Harry Potter books brought up ideas about equality, tolerance, love, sacrifice, and the natures of both good and evil. As adults the things that we read continue to impact us and help us to grow, the ideas they present are some-times profound but often more subtle. Here are a few of the books that have wrought powerful and lasting change in my life. I hope that you will be inspired to open your mind, read something new, and see what grows from the seeds of these ideas.


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The Open Enrollment period for the Health Insurance Marketplace has now ended for 2015. So what happens next? Many consumers who have never had health insurance before are now learning the ins-and-outs of using their coverage and dealing with the confusion and frustrations of claims. If you signed-up through the government website, who will you call to help answer your questions throughout the year?

Don’t go it alone! The services of a knowledgeable agent are available to you at no cost. Call The Babcock Agency today so that you have a local agent to help you get the most out of your coverage.

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Gardening

By Virginia Brewer

Virginia Brewer is the owner/operator of Lavender Mountain Hardware and Garden where the staff offer seminars on miniature

gardening and other topics. Visit them at www.lavendermountainhardware.com or check them out on Facebook for a schedule of spring seminars.

The tomato is not only the South’s most popular fruit; it is the most popular fruit in the world. Most of us think

of a tomato as a vegetable, because it tastes like one. Botanically it’s a fruit, but for culinary purposes it’s a vegetable. Tomatoes lead worldwide fruit produc-tion with 160 million tons produced each year.

Gardeners dream of and plan for that first ripe tomato months before they actually start planting. Tomato growers are a very opinionated lot. Some of our local farmers have been planting Rutgers tomatoes for the last 50 years and wouldn’t think of growing anything else. We sell more Rutgers than any other tomato variety. While some gardeners choose to plant Brandywine exclusively due to its exceptional flavor, Better Boy is also a very popular variety.

There are over 7,000 varieties of tomatoes grown throughout the world. Most garden centers will carry around 40 different varieties of the seeds and plants. However, even 40 can be overwhelming when trying to figure out which one is best for your garden. Whether you are a first time gardener or a seasoned vet, this simple guide will help you determine which varieties are right for you.

Determinate or Indeterminate?Determinate tomatoes mature all at the same time, which is great for home canning. If you want to have an extended growing season with tomatoes ripening all the way until frost, look for indeterminate tomato plants. Most gardeners grow both types: determinate offer large harvests for canning and freezing; indeterminate are great for salads and sandwiches throughout the growing season.

Hybrid vs. HeirloomHybrid tomatoes are created when breeders intentionally cross-pollinate two different varieties of the same plant

The World’s Most Popular Fruit

species. This is in an effort to produce specific characteristics, such as a bigger tomato or higher disease resistance. Hybrids generally produce more fruit and have a longer season. Don’t get confused about hybrids; they are not GMOs. The only negative about hybrids is that the seeds from a hybrid fruit will not replicate the parent plant.

Arkansas Traveler, Cherokee Purple, German Johnson, Mr. Stripey, Mortgage Lifter — these cool names all belong to heirloom tomatoes. In general, an heirloom tomato is any open-pollinated variety introduced before 1940 or that has been around for more than 50 years. They are self-pollinating and breed true, so the seeds you save will produce the same tomatoes year after year. These seeds are treasured for their history as well as their flavor.

It’s all About The FlavorSo why do we like tomatoes so much? Because it’s the wonderful flavor of summer, the balance between acidity and sugar. Due to their small size, cherry and grape tomatoes have higher concen-trations of sugar and are very sweet. The color of the tomato also affects the flavor. For example, orange and yellow toma-toes taste less acidic than red tomatoes, and the dark varieties have a totally different flavor than either of those.

Heirloom varieties tend to be more flavorful due to their soft texture, which releases juice along with flavor. This is the opposite of grocery store tomatoes, which are produced for a firmer texture to handle shipping without damage. Heirlooms also tend to have more foliage, which adds more flavor. Dense, healthy foliage captures more sunlight, which is converted into sugar, resulting in a more flavorful tomato. Home gardeners should not rule out hybrids, as some of these were especially bred for enhanced flavor.

We sell more tomatoes than any other plant at our garden center. Anyone can grow a tomato and there are so many ways to enjoy its wonderful flavor: tomato pie, fried green tomatoes, and fresh salsa. Is it summer yet?

Mortgage LifterMortgage Lifter is a classic heirloom tomato with a terrific tale. In Logan, West Virginia during the 1940’s a radiator repairman crossed four of the biggest tomatoes he could find to produce this beauty. He sold the seed-lings and used the proceeds to pay off his $6,000 mortgage in six years.

For help choosing your new tomato plants visit the friendly staff at Lavender Mountain Hardware or visit www.bonnieplants.com


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www.boothmuseum.org | 770-387-1300


By Susan Hackney

YOU DON’T SAY?

You don’t say? Oh yes, you prob-ably do! We all love to expound on what we think, feel, and experience. Increasing our

vocabularies makes us better commu-nicators as we go about speaking or writing. Setting a goal of increasing our vocabularies is something to consider as much in adulthood as in childhood.

Every word is a tool in your commu-nication “toolbox”, and choosing the right tool or best tool is critical to getting every job done well. I know this is true in construction and do-it-yourself projects, which always abound at my house. My husband has one or more of every tool — large or small — available at Home Depot and Walmart. Toolbox doesn’t exactly describe what it takes to house his tool collection. I won’t say any more about that because it would bring up an equally time-consuming rebuttal concerning my closets. The good news is that our word ‘toolbox’ doesn’t take up any space and is always available for use.

In our schooling years, a vocabulary is a key to success in performing well on measures such as the SAT, ACT, or other gateway exams. In our working years, an ability to put ideas forth in compelling and convincing ways is a key to success in our careers. Those of us who are blessed/cursed with these lovely southern accents are particularly in need of articulate speaking skills as we work with colleagues from other parts of the country who are already predisposed to view Southerners as bumpkins.

“The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.” — Mark Twain

A Vocabulary is a Terrible Thing to Waste

Sad but true. In our leisure time, good vocabulary helps us win at Scrabble, Words with Friends, and other word games — something which is very important to me.

Anytime you are tasked with speaking or writing, your command of language is critical to your success. It’s not using big words, but using precise language to express your thoughts, feel-ings, and opinions that wins over an audience.

Language is dynamic and grows to reflect our world. ‘Hashtag’, ‘selfie’, and ‘yooper’ were among the 150 new words added to the 2014 edition of the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary, reflecting the growing influence tech-nology has on human language according to one of the editors of the dictionary. Other additions include ‘tweep’, ‘crowd-funding’, ‘gamification’, and ‘big data’, showing that the internet has changed business in profound ways. Other notable additions include ‘fracking’, ‘freegan’, ‘cap and trade’, ‘pho’, ‘fangirl’, ‘dubstep’, ‘auto-tune’, ‘social networking’, and ‘digital divide’. ‘Culture’ is Merriam Webster’s Word of the Year for 2014. Oxford Dictionary chose ‘vape’, and Dictionary.com chose ‘exposure’.

So how do you increase your vocabulary?> Read lots of well-written books and

magazines, such as Discovery and Popular Science.

> Engage in conversation.> Pay attention to unfa-

miliar words and make a point to look them up, write them down, and purposefully use them until you fully understand them.

> Systematically and regularly work at adding one new word to your vocabulary every day.

> Try new activities and hobbies, and learn the jargon which is involved.

Sharpening your communication skills lets

you choose your words with greater precision. Using precise words opens your mind. Where you lack words, you shut down new insights and

lines of reasoning. “If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.” — George Washington.

“. . . the true genius of America . . . that we can say what we think, write what we think . . .” — Barrack Obama.

To close on a spring note, my husband just arrived with a root of Black-Eyed Susan, two roots of yellow hollyhocks, and seed packets for Black Beauty Eggplant, cucumbers, chives, basil, and squash. Vocabulary to note includes “perennial”, “essential”, “continual”, “germination”, and “deli-cious.” He’s been to Home Depot and Walmart again.


327 N Tennessee Street | Cartersville, GA 30120 | [email protected] | 770-387-4542

Cartersville Outlet

Public Furniture Sell Off | Manufacture Close Outs 30-70% off


If you’re sick of battling the beach crowds, or looking for a low key, nature filled vacation this spring break, look no further than one

of Georgia’s many state parks. One of my recent weekend excursions lead me to George L. Smith state park, located near Twin City and Statesboro. Named after Emanuel county native and former speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives, and comprised of 1,634 acres, 412 of which are a cypress dotted

Get Away

By Rebecca Little-Pikula

This Spring Break, Kick Back and Relax

mill pond, this park has something to offer just about everyone. Built around the historic Watson Mill, the park offers a variety of attractions for the whole family.

Although I would recommend stop-ping for gas and supplies before you get to the park, as the nearest grocery stores and restaurants are about 20 minutes away, there is much to be said for the locale. You almost feel like you are taken back in time as you travel through small towns and past old farmsteads and cotton fields.

Bird watchers will appreciate the park’s remote location, which makes it home to such rare birds as the great blue heron and the white ibis. The park promotes bird habitation with a number of bird houses and havens. Nature trails wind their way through the forest, passing a bird sanctuary, as well as a tortoise habitat and a natural spring. The hardwoods of the forest attract many birds seen less often in Georgia such as woodpeckers and sap suckers.

The trail system also winds through the loose dunes, dense foliage, and moss covered trees of the lower Coastal Plains. The forest provides an ideal habitat for a variety of wildlife, such as burrowing tortoises, also known as the gopher tortoise, Georgia’s state reptile. Shutterbugs will get their fill of photo ops from the variety of wildlife, scenery, and terrain.

Kayaking is a great way to explore the park.


The old gristmill, which itself is strikingly photogenic, has been turned into a museum, with artifacts and information on display. Built in 1880, the mill was a combination grist mill, saw mill, and covered bridge. You can check the park’s website for a chance to see a demonstration of the mill working. One of Georgia’s many remaining covered bridges will take you through to the park’s longest loop trail, leading past the pond and giving you a beautiful, up close view of some of the famed cypress trees, whose needles turn a bright, fire red during the fall. The dam creates the mill pond, which has docks and launches for fishing, kayaking, and canoeing.

Canoes, peddle boats, and kayaks can be rented at the visitor center, which also sells the snacks and sunscreen you may have forgotten for a day on the pond, which reportedly repels mosquitoes. Take out a canoe and navigate the tree dotted pond and 15 miles of canoe trails. Branching off from the calm, open pond, the canoe trails eventually narrow and become densely populated with trees, making the area reminiscent of a low country swamp. The setting is peaceful and commonly populated with larger

another treasure left, and the container must be replaced just as found after discovery. Just off the beaten path are two caches in the park itself, and the surrounding area boasts a host of local caches to be found for treasure hunters. Nearby Statesboro has a myriad of geo spots, as well rural caches all over the surrounding counties. Spend a day seeking out as many as you can find, some within walking distance of one another, others spread out enough for a fun driving trip. Use your Geocache app to plot a course and spend a full day hunting, stopping at local landmarks along the way.

Looking to get out for a night on the town? Statesboro and Savannah are both within driving distance. Chartered in 1803 as a trading point for the local plan-tations, Statesboro is home to Georgia Southern University, as well as many historic sites and buildings, creating a unique blend of history and artistic university culture. Many restaurants, bars, bookstores, and coffee shops dot the town, as well as Georgia Southern’s botanical gardens and planetarium. Savannah is about an hour and a half away. You could spend a day at the beach on Tybee Island or exploring the historic streets and squares of downtown Savannah, and return at the end of the day to the serenity of the park for campfires and s’mores.

If you’re looking for a laid back getaway any time of year, George L. Smith State Park is a wonderful place to find some peace and quiet. Get away from the hustle and bustle of the cities, step off the beaten path, and take some time out to enjoy nature. With all of the many activities and attributes of this hidden gem, you’re sure to come back here for family reunions, weekend getaways, and Fourth of July celebrations.

Rebecca Pikula lives near Atlanta with her husband of of five years. She attended Georgia College and State University. She has visited 14 countries and 36 states,

and enjoys travelling and motorcycles, sometimes simultaneously.

birds and turtles. A company in nearby Twin City offers guided kayak tours for the less experienced boaters. Bring your fishing gear for any of the countless fishing spots on the Mill Creek water-shed or the Mill Pond. The park is well stocked with a variety of fish, including crappie and bass.

Shelters are available for groups and parties, grills are provided, and fully equipped cottages are available for rent. There are also primitive tent sites and RV camping. The cottages are tidy and provide everything you need for a wonderful weekend if you’re not much of a camper. Wake up to the sound of birds and rushing water, and enjoy your morning coffee on the screened-in back porch.

The park’s nature trails also offer several geocaches for adventurers. Geocaching is a global outdoor game where participants use a GPS device (there’s an app for that) to locate hide and seek containers called “caches.” Typically, a cache consists of a water-proof container holding a logbook with a pen or pencil to sign the book. Cachers often leave trinkets or tokens behind, which can be taken in exchange for

The historic Watson Millhouse.

A family enjoys a day on the water.


A Taste of NW Georgia

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urlee Fish House & Oyster Bar

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Diabetic Footcare • Most Insurances Accepted

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Suffer from Foot and Ankle Pain?In this book, Dr. Brian Middleton explains the ten most common foot and ankle problems and the steps to reduce pain in these areas.

If you need to see a doctor today, please call the office of Dr. Brian Middleton today at (706) 802-1800 to make an appointment.

$To receive your FREE COPY of Healthy Feet for Life, complete this form and return it by mail to:

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Located in northwest Georgia, CJL is an independent, non-profit summer camp

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Backpacking Ropes course Climbing wall Crafts/pottery Drama Pool

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Fly-fish Like a Girl

A few weeks ago, you could have asked me these three questions and gotten these three answers:

Have you heard of fly fishing?

Nod my head.

Do you know anything about fly fishing?

Nod my head.

Do you know anything about fly fishing outside of that Brad Pitt movie?

Awkward blank stare.

I am a reluctant adventurer. Why? I’m in my late 30’s, I don’t like to look dumb, and I’m too busy raising a family and watching Netflix to have a bucket list, but I realize that this has got to change. As I begin to shed the insecurities of my 20’s (i.e. being too tired to care anymore), I realize that this is the ideal time to find out who I really am by getting out there and doing something new and unfa-miliar and completely out-of-character. Yes, even if there are bugs.

Recently I went to Barnsley Resort to take a fly-fishing lesson. Fly-fishing is a type of fishing where an artificial “fly” is used to catch fish with a repetitive casting motion to simulate a real insect.

The gear consists of a fly, rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. It is different from other types of fishing because the lure is nearly weightless and requires a specific technique to catch fish.

With that in mind, and in order to be fully prepared, I spent the night before my lesson dyeing my hair and making a Pinterest-inspired “Fly-fish Like a Girl” shirt. In all fairness, the shirt turned out adorable.

In spite of myself, I was very excited about this excursion. I had never been to Barnsley Resort, so my imagination pictured everything from wading in a raging river in hip boots as an impa-tient guide yelled at me over the sound

By Rachel TurnerFISH OUT OF WATER


Rachel Turner is a freelance writer and humor blogger. She also runs a traveling murder mystery party business called Make it a Mystery. Georgia born and raised she lives in

Woodstock with her husband and two sons. Drop by her blog, www.rachelshumor.com or email her at [email protected].

of the rapids (inevitably making me cry) to being taken to an indoor swimming pool where a college intern would place a bright blue plastic fish on my hook after I cast it into the water. Luckily, neither of these was an accurate picture.

Barnsley Resort is definitely a place for sporting types. I arrived amid the bustle of hunting tournaments and golf games. These were real men and women, dressed in real gear, with real gadgets attached to their belts that had names I didn’t know. They weren’t prancing around in a Target boyfriend shirt with damp acrylic paint.

Soon, I met my instructor, Carl. Carl was to be my fly-fishing guru. I asked if he was going to turn me into an expert fly-fisherman. He may have said something about only having an hour. I tried to convey my particular brand of rookie to him by sheepishly pointing at my shirt and mentioning my total lack of fly-fishing experience. He made me feel right at home and suddenly I wasn’t a bit nervous.

After a quick rundown of the equip-ment, we practiced some basic casting on the grass. The rod was very light and I was surprised that I had no trouble maneuvering it over my head and back onto the grass. Carl even remarked that due to the weight of the rod and the grace required to cast back and forth that women tend to pick up fly fishing faster than men. Just like that, the proclamation I had painted on my shirt was validated.

I continued to practice pulling the rod over my head and casting it out into the grass. Casting was kind of fun. At one point I compared this to using an Indiana Jones-style whip and Carl decided to humor me.

We then moved up to the false casting technique. This is where you pull in part of the line, called stripping, and through a series of movements you gradually work the line gracefully back into the water. The back and forth motion of the line is meant to mimic an insect flying over the water. Mastering the technique of letting the rod fly back and forth between ten and two o’clock while releasing and grabbing the line at precisely the right moment was a bit tricky at first, but I soon got the hang of it. I would imagine that experienced fly-fishermen don’t even have to think about the sequencing as it becomes part of the

therapeutic rhythm of fishing itself.We were halfway through the lesson

and I had determined that I was a proficient fly fisherwoman, over grass. It was now time to tie the fly onto the line and fish in the water.

I’m not sure what it was about the introduction of the hook and the intro-duction of a body of water that threw my game a bit, but it did indeed throw me off. I began to use my new knowledge to send my line into the water in the hopes of a big catch. I promptly forgot everything I had just learned and my “technique” was more of a hot mess.

Carl explained that fishing was a great time to envelope yourself in the silence of nature as it gives you an opportunity to really work out your problems. I truly believe this. In order to do that, however, I’d have to first work through my fear of hooking my upper lip.

Note: Flinching and dropping to the ground after you fling the rod over your shoulder is NOT part of the sequencing NOR will it catch fish.

In all honesty and with all joking aside, I was sad when my hour was over. I could have easily stood in the solitude of that day and perfected my form. I appreciated having some time to step away from my iPhone, my carpool line, my grocery list, and just be present in the world. It was very therapeutic. Fly-fishing forces you to slow down. It requires that you stop what you are doing, take inventory of your surroundings, and try as best you can to blend in with, rather than overtake, the environment. I can see why people are passionate about it.

I would recommend making time in your schedule to go up and see my friend Carl on a little lake, at the far end of Barnsley resort. Who knows, you might just find a new hobby.


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April 24 & 25 • Downtown cAlhounPresented by

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The Fresh Flavors of Spring

Get Cookin’

By Kathy Patrick

I love that little poem! It certainly sums up how interesting spring weather can be: chilly winds, surprise rain storms, and then

wonderful warm sun. With the help of

“First a howling blizzard woke us, Then the rain came down to soak us, And now before the eye can focus — Crocus.” — Lilja Rogers

CREAMY ASPARAGUS SOUPServes 6Blending vegetables after they have cooked yields a creamy thick bisque-like texture, without the milk or cream.2 tsp. olive oil1½ lbs. asparagus, cut into 2-inch pieces1 medium onion, chopped1 celery stalk, chopped2 leeks, whites only, chopped1 medium potato, peeled and cut into

1-inch pieces3½ cups fat-free, reduced sodium chicken or

vegetable broth½ cup fat-free sour cream

1. Heat oil in a large Dutch oven. Add asparagus, onion, celery, leeks, and potato, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add broth and simmer for 20 minutes, until vegetables are softened.

2. Using an immersion blender, blend soup in Dutch oven until smooth. You can also transfer soup that has cooled a bit to a blender and puree until smooth.

3. Return soup to Dutch oven, add sour cream and stir on low heat until blended.

4. Serve topped with fresh chopped chives, or diced cherry tomatoes.

Note: Blending hot liquids may cause the soup to explode out of the top of the blender. Use caution.

PASTA WITH RICH MUSHROOM PEA SAUCEServes 6This quick and easy pasta dish has great spring flavors while being healthier than many pasta dishes.1 8-oz. package whole-wheat pasta, such as fusilli

or rotini3 cups shelled English peas1 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil1 2-oz. package sliced prosciutto, diced or

substitute 2 thin slices of bacon, diced2 cloves garlic, minced2 cups quartered Cremini or sliced

Chanterelle mushrooms1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour¼ cup white wine1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth¼ cup whipping cream⅓ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese1 Tbsp. fresh parsley, choppedFreshly ground pepper, to taste

our furry groundhog friend, we try to guess the date of the last frost before we set out tender seedlings. Meanwhile crocus and daffodils are defying the weather by poking their heads up in bleak-looking yards and gardens. Our outfits range from down vests worn with flip-flops to Easter finery topped with winter coats. Then that beautiful spring day finally arrives, the one that begs you to lie down in the grass, sun on your face, relishing the wonderful sights and smells unique to spring.

A Chinese proverb says spring is sooner recognized by plants than men. As we focus on keeping warm and staying indoors during the chillier days of spring, the earth is preparing for its showy spring glory. Flowers and trees will be in bloom and spring fruits and vegetables will soon be ready for picking and better yet, ready for eating!

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add pasta and peas; cook until the pasta is tender and the peas are cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes.

2. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook prosciutto or bacon, stirring, until it begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring, until they release their juices and most of the liquid has evaporated, about 4 minutes.

3. Sprinkle flour over the mushrooms; stir to coat. Add wine and let simmer for 1 minute. Add broth, return to a simmer and cook, stirring, until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat. Stir in cream, Parmesan, and pepper.

4. Drain the peas and pasta; return to the pan, add the mushroom sauce and toss to coat.

5. Sprinkle chopped parsley over pasta then garnish with parsley sprigs to serve.


WATERCRESS, ARUGULA, AND RADISH SALAD WITH FETA VINAIGRETTEServes 6This salad hits the spring vegetable trifecta with its mix of locally available fresh ingredients.¼ cup finely crumbled feta cheese3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil2 Tbsp. white-wine vinegar1 Tbsp. shallot, finely chopped¼ tsp. salt¼ tsp. freshly ground pepper3 cups baby arugula3 cups watercress, stems removed2 cups radishes from 2 bunches, halved

and sliced3 Tbsp. fresh tarragon, chopped¼ cup Marcona almonds, coarsely chopped

1. Whisk feta, oil, vinegar, shallot, salt and pepper in a large bowl until well combined. Add arugula, watercress, radishes and tarragon; toss to coat.

2. Top with almonds just before serving.


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l i M i t E d t i M E

As the owner of Meals on Heels Kathy Patrick provides personal and entertainment chef services. She makes weeknight meals a snap by

filling your refrigerator with fresh and healthy dinners. She can help you have fun, delicious, easy-to-host dinner parties in your home or office, allowing you to be a relaxed guest at your own party! Contact her at (706) 728-6070, or at [email protected], and “like” her on Facebook!

STRAWBERRY RHUBARB COBBLERServes 8This lighter cobbler recipe has all the flavor of less healthy recipes!

Fruit Filling:1 quart fresh strawberries, rinsed and hulled1 10-oz. rhubarb, cut into ½–inch chunks⅓ cup sugar1 tsp. vanilla extract1 Tbsp. cornstarch

Biscuit Topping:1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour3 Tbsp. yellow cornmeal

We’re fortunate in Northwest Georgia to have delicious spring fruits and vegetables available to us. Local farms and backyard gardens feature these crops from late March or April through June:> Arugula> Asparagus> Baby beets> English Peas> Garlic scapes> Green garlic> Green onions

> Parsley> Radishes> Ramps> Rhubarb> Strawberries> Watercress

and arrange them on top of the hot filling, spaced ½–inch apart. Sprinkle the tops of the biscuits with the cinnamon sugar.

4. Continue to bake the cobbler until the biscuits are golden brown on top and cooked through and the filling is again hot and bubbling, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool the cobbler on a wire rack for 15 minutes before serving.

¼ cup sugar, plus 2 tsp.1 tsp. baking powder¼ tsp. baking soda¼ tsp. table salt⅓ cup buttermilk3 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted½ tsp. vanilla extract⅛ tsp. ground cinnamon

1. Pre-heat the oven to 400°. Toss the fruit filling ingredients together in a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate. Place the pie plate on a rimmed baking sheet on the middle oven rack and bake until the fruit releases its liquid and is hot and bubbling around the edges, 20 to 30 minutes.

2. Whisk flour, cornmeal, ¼ cup of sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk the buttermilk, butter, and vanilla together. In a third small bowl, mix the remaining 2 teaspoons sugar with the cinnamon.

3. When the filling is ready, stir the butter-milk mixture into the flour mixture with a rubber spatula until just combined and no pockets of flour remain. Remove the cobbler filling from the oven and stir. Pinch off 8 equal pieces of the biscuit dough


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Healthy Kids Day Sponsored by

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BUILD A HAPPIER, HEALTHIER KID

YMCA OF ROME AND FLOYD COUNTY

Grizzard Park 706-232-2468 www.ymcarome.org

Healthy Kids Day Sponsored by

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Saturday, April 25, 2015 Grizzard Park

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Local Bank. Local Decisions.®

EAST ROME • 1700 Turner McCall Blvd. • 706/378-5300WEST ROME • 2211 Shorter Avenue • 706/378-5305ARMUCHEE • 2950 Martha Berry Blvd. • 706/314-0560

www.heritagefirstbank.com

Step up to relationship-based, service-driven banking at Heritage First Bank. For 12 years, our East Rome Branch Staff has exemplified what responsive banking means. You can find us conveniently located on the east side of town at Turner McCall Blvd. and East 7th Street.

In short, these are bankers you know and have come to rely upon as you experience the best in personal and business banking service.

For more information visit www.heritagefirstbank.com, call 706.378.5300 or stop by any of our three convenient locations.

Expect The Very BestIn East Rome.

Seated: Branch Operations Manager Melanie MansellStanding: Transaction Specialists Kellie Womack, Traci Fowler and Melissa Pilgrim

Local Bank. Local Decisions.®

EAST ROME • 1700 Turner McCall Blvd. • 706.378.5300WEST ROME • 2211 Shorter Avenue • 706.378.5305ARMUCHEE • 2950 Martha Berry Blvd. • 706.314.0560

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Is emotional baggage weighing

you down? Is your happiness

being blocked? Do you feel disconnected

from others? If you think you are suffering

from trapped emotions, contact me so

that I can help you get your life back.

“If your life is not becoming to you, you should be coming to me.”

Certified Life Coaching, Certified Emotion Code Practitioner, Certified NLP Practitioner, Reiki Master Teacher

Gwen Dempsey, EdS

520 Broad Street, Rome GA | www.ohbabylifecoaching.com [email protected] | 706-314-9739

2960 New Calhoun Hwy NE • Rome, GAwww.unitychristianschool.org • (706) 292-0700

VISITORS’DAYS

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All grades welcome

3-year-old Preschool through 12th grades

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VISITORS’ DAYSFridays at 9 a.m.

February 20, March 13 & April 24

100th Day of School Celebration

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Luxurious Amenities ThroughoutThe Sage Cottage Inn and The Woods Dining Room are perfectly suited to host your wedding with true Southern hospitality. Now accommodating, in their new dining facility, parties up to 100 and up to 150 on the lawn. Whether wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners, special celebrations or group retreats, you will find the presentation, food and service delightful.

The Woods Dining Room Sunday LunchFor a special treat for family and friends have lunch on Sunday at The Woods Dining Room. The menu changes weekly. Service starting at noon. Reservations please.

Special EventsOwners Jim and Sharon Southerland are pleased to host special events throughout the year. Join them for lunch on Easter Sunday, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Reservations please. If you are interested in having your special event hosted at Sage Cottage Inn and The Woods Dining Room, please contact Jim and Sharon anytime for a tour of the facility.

The Sage Cottage Inn & The Woods Dining Room

770-877-5232 97 Ward Mountain Road,

Adairsville, Ga

Now Serving Sunday Lunch in The Woods Dining Room every Sunday

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ROBERT’S WORLD By Robert SmythBy Robert Smyth

As I have mentioned in several other articles, I have four children (ages fifteen, thirteen, twelve, and four). You can see the age gap between my last two kids. Since the arrival of our youngest, a little ball

of attitude we named Sarah, I have come to the conclusion that God has a wicked sense of humor. Before I go any further, let me tell you that our little Sarah is incredible and her daddy and mommy love her very much. Her daddy and mommy’s lower backs, knees, patience, and pocket book, however, are not her biggest fans. Fifty-year olds and tea parties on the floor do not mix.

I remember distinctly being in the Women’s Center waiting room when we were pregnant with little Sarah — the phrase “we are/were pregnant” really ticks off the one half of the couple who is swelling, experiencing a hormonal amusement park, and has an alien growing in her that makes her have to wear the big panties. “We” are not pregnant, “she” is pregnant, and you just hope she does not kill you in your sleep. Back to the waiting room — I would read these magazines that showed radiant older couples with smiling, angelic children, saying how this was the best age to have kids and they felt so young and energized. What a bunch of hooey.

Little Sarah is now four and her mother and I can count on our fingers the number of nights we have actually slept a full eight hours without some sort of midnight verbal exchange with our daughter. Sarah shares our room. Now before you start quoting child-rearing books to me, it was a necessity since our five-bedroom house was at full capacity when she was born and stayed that way until just recently. She talks very loudly in her sleep. I’m not sure what is happening in that little brain but around 3:00 a.m. seems to her like a good time to talk about it. Then, when we have to get up and start our day looking like cast members from The Walking Dead, she is snoozing away.

She commandeers whatever TV or tablet is in the room to watch “her shows.” I have watched so much Dora the Explorer that I should have been able to speak fluent Spanish during my trip to Cancun last year. Sarah has also been blessed with Ninja powers. I have never seen a child get into things as swiftly and quietly as this one. It’s like turning your back on a cobra. She is drawn like a magnet to things she knows she is not supposed to have, like her parent’s cell phones. She has sent many random text messages to people and even reprogrammed her grandmother’s phone to the point that it was unusable.

Sarah Smiles

Her mother and I look at each other often and say, “What were we thinking?” Then Sarah smiles, dances, or crawls up next to us and says, “Cuddle me!” and our hearts melt. That basic desire in all of us to create something incredible is filled in an instant. We are overwhelmed for a moment at the awesome gift we were given by the Lord. We have no higher priority than giving that little blonde-headed, hazel-eyed, Tasmanian devil every opportunity we can and every ounce of love we can muster. My wife and I feel this way about all four of our children, who both frustrate and amaze us each and every day. As for Dora . . . I hope she and the blasted monkey fall in the gooey volcano so I never have to hear the Spanish word for red again. By the way, it’s rojo.

Sarah is bouncing on a trampoline, one of her favorite things.


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Beautiful vistas • Accommodations up to 400 plus Located in the heart of Downtown Rome

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Call today to book your wedding or reception of a lifetime.

Appointments are during business hours 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

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A Spectacular Wedding To Remember at The Forum

2 Government Plaza, Rome, Georgia 30162 706.291.5281 | 800.858.7601

Business Hours: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm www.forumevents.org | Like us on

The Venue For It All!

© 2014 Georgia Power. All rights reserved. Certain restrictions apply. Must be a Georgia Power customer. Valid through December 2014. Rebate eligibility varies based on improvements made and energy reduction achieved. Rebate request must be submitted with receipt within 60 days of purchase or installation of qualifying improvements. Full details available online.

Do you know how much energy your home is wasting?The average home has enough air leaks to create an opening over 3 feet wide. So schedule a Whole House Energy Assessment, performed by a certified BPI contractor, to find out where your home is losing energy. Complete a BPI assessment and you’ll get up to a $200 rebate. And if you make the recommended energy improvements, you could get up to $2,000 in rebates. Learn more at georgiapower.com/wholehouse or call 1-877-310-5607.

Small energy leaks can really add up.

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