Kathy Thompson Publishing

Fun things to do in Union and Fannin Counties. The Union County Farmers is huge and the offerings varied. It is oprn twice a week. Adjacent to it is the new walking path, as well as a dog park. The Art Center in Blue Ridge currently has three outstanding exhibits. And their opening receptions are fun.

The reception at the Art Center tonight was great fun. So good to see friends and family and tonight at the exhibit reception. My sister in law Peg Curtacci and niece Heidi Curtacci came all the way from Upstate NY. A true blessing.

My goats tried to eat the flowers. Flowers won. 😊

My kudzu is blooming. Kind of a mixed blessing as it kills my trees and ruins forests. In Japan it is used and appreciated.

Tomorrow we are heading out on an adventure. Myself, grandson Lucas and his friend Tyner, plus Diane Payne and Diane Haffermehl Neisler are going to Churchill, Canada. We will meet close up Beluga whales. In the summer 60,000 arrive in the lower Hudson Bay and have babies. There is an outside chance of Polar Bears. In the winter 600 polar bears stay near Churchill. Currently they are on the ice catching seals. We may see from a distance those who are back early.Hope so. We are also going out on the tundra bus to see wildlife, hearing a lecture and doing a tour of the research center, and dog carting (no snow so you add wheels). Also an indigenous museum, as the majority of Churchill’s 800 residents are First Nation. There are no roads to the town which is almost to the Artic Circle. The once a week train takes two days. We fly to Winnipeg and the next day a smaller plane to our destination. Expect photos.

I would like to introduce you to a joint venture with an outstanding digital creator, writer, and researcher Steve Procko. Historic Displays. It began with a collaboration with the Hampton Inn in Blue Ridge, GA. Other projects have included Rum Cake Lady, outdoor pedestal history displays in Dial, GA, and currently the Union County Historical Historical Society's Courthouse Museum in Blairsville. The display in Blairsville focuses on early settlement in the 1800s. The main display is finished. Now we are doing panels about specific families. There are some additional projects just starting. We are not a sign company. Steve and I research, write, and design displays about history. More than that we tell stories with text and images. This has been a labor of love of writing and history, and a lot of fun. Go to our website to see more including Steve's film work. www.HistoricDisplays.com

Tradition in Appalachia. Dyer Gap and Mountain.

There has been an arbor at Dyer Gap for at least 80 years. It had gotten in such bad shape in recent years that the descendants had to replace the structure. On a Cohutta Wilderness page several visitors were upset. A local Dyer explained that it was deteriorating so much there was no choice. What impressed me is that the descendants cared enough to rebuild. Like many of these mountain arbors, once a year the family returns for a morning of songs, prayer, and fellowship l. After the tables will be used to spread a communal meal. Time passes, wood rots, and change occurs. What is stable is a culture that appreciates the past, and continues core values into the future. They did keep the benches. 😊

Spring in the Cohutta Wilderness (Georgia side)

DIY gardening: movable flower bed.
1. Buy a small plastic kids pool not inflatable, solid. Drill holes in the bottom for drainage.
2. Fill with soil that contains fertilizer (think Miracle Grow).
3. Plant. I used giant zinnia which came in a 2 lb bag. Scatter the seeds.
4. Water
5. Observe the light during the day. You might want to move it to a better spot.
6. Continue to water as the flowers grow.
7. Enjoy.

On Saturday, April 1, I was part of a group that gave a set of presentations focusing on the Georgia Marble Company. The symposium was sponsored by Friends of the Georgia Archives. I spoke on Sam Tate and the Tate Mansion. There were a number of other interesting presentations. You know you are a history fan when you spend a sunny Saturday listening to history scholars. No regrets. :)