August 2021 - Embrace Southern States

Do You Applaud American Workers?

September 1, 2021August 31, 2021 by angelchatt

This is the time of year that many of us stop to momentarily applaud workers and laborers in our United States of America. Labor Day became an official holiday back in 1882 to recognize and appreciate the American worker.

I want to go on record as a proud American. Despite what some negative people may say, the USA is still an awesome and wonderful place to live and to find meaningful work and to pursue happiness.

Who is the AMERICAN WORKER? Is it only the “laborer” who does demanding physical labor? Is it the first responder, the educator, the farmer, the truck driver, the business owner, the self-employed? In my unique way of seeing the world, I proclaim that EVERY individual who legally resides in and legally receives wages in this great nation IS “The American Worker”. As such, each one deserves full recognition, gratitude, and applause.

If I could, I would set out to give every American worker a huge embrace. Workers really do deserve our deepest thanks. So many of them sincerely enjoy their jobs without ever seeking any spotlight or accolades. Collectively, they are the backbone of this land.

Here are a few fine examples of what I am attempting to explain. These are folks I’ve encountered during my travels across the southeastern USA while pursuing my passion for freelance writing. I spoke with or interviewed some, while others I merely waved to or passed on the street.

Friendly baristas help many folks start off the day on a positive note!

What on earth would we do without the beautiful smiles of the baristas in our own home town and wherever we go? These two work at Lula’s Coffee on Dargan Street in downtown Florence, South Carolina. I watched them bring a smile to the sleepy customer seated on the bar stool. THANK YOU, COFFEE SHOP WORKERS ! https://www.facebook.com/lulascoffeecodowntown/ More info @ https://visitflo.com/

City worker checks water quality and safety.

This city worker in Florence, SC happily tests the water quality at the town’s many wonderful public fountains. He said that he gets satisfaction knowing that folks of all ages can play in the fountains, and even bring their dogs, with no fear of health issues. It is great to have people behind the scenes keeping us safe. THANK YOU, CITY WORKERS!

Kenny Maguire is a talented mural artist based in Tallahassee, Florida. He is often working on new projects at the crack of dawn and at all hours to get the best light. The art pictured here is located at Railroad Square. THANK YOU, MURAL ARTISTS! https://www.railroadsquare.com/ Tallahassee info https://visittallahassee.com/ Kenny info https://www.facebook.com/Kennymakinart/

Construction workers improve parks and roads in Savannah.

Riverfront Street in Savannah, Georgia https://www.visitsavannah.com/ is always thriving and growing. These three construction workers have to diligently labor in rain, in heat, being careful of the cobblestones…and the tourists. THANK YOU, CONSTRUCTION WORKERS!

This guy is easy on the eyes and is a Southern Eagle beverage distributor . That’s the kind of unsung hero I like to see. Without him, how would folks get their drink on? THANKS, DELIVERY WORKERS. https://soeagle.net/

Kathleen is a great driver & tour guide!

Trolley tours are BIG business in Savannah and Kathleen does an excellent job for Gray Line. She helps tourists learn and have fun at the same time. THANKS, TOUR GUIDES! https://savannahgrayline.us/

Matthew is a high school student who works part-time at the Robert Trent Jones golf course in Owens Cross Roads, Alabama https://www.rtjgolf.com/hamptoncove/ . He toured me around the beautiful course in fine style and with such a winning smile. https://www.huntsville.org/ The rain did not stop us from having a wonderful time. THANKS, GOLF CART DRIVERS!

Laura knows all the details of “Ivy Green”.

Hostesses like Laura provide tons of great info when folks visit the birthplace of Helen Keller. The impressive estate “Ivy Green” is located in Tuscumbia, Alabama and includes multiple buildings, gardens, and statues. http://helenkellerbirthplace.org/ Laura shares all the facts in the sweetest way that would make anyone’s day. THANKS, HISTORIC LANDMARK HOSTESSES! Info on “the Shoals” area https://www.visitflorenceal.com/

Great restaurants and bars need great managers like Chase. He knows how to treat his customers right at Amsterdam Deli & Grill. https://www.facebook.com/AmsterdamDeli/ He shares his love of Tupelo, Mississippi and of food and drink. THANK YOU, MANAGERS! https://www.tupelo.net/

THANK YOU TO ALL WORKERS …. HAPPY LABOR DAY !!

You can follow Embrace Southern States on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/embracesouthernstates and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/embracesouthernstates/

Smart & Plucky: Stephanie Stuckey

August 25, 2021August 22, 2021 by angelchatt

Smart and successful women are fun and fascinating. Add to that one who is brave, optimistic, takes chances, and has Southern roots and you know that she must be one heck of a lady. Today I am thrilled to share with you this interview about one such lovely lady. I feel a certain common bond with Stephanie Stuckey, in that we have both lived in, and attended at least some college in, Georgia. Also, we both have a deep love of road trips.

Could you talk a little about what you do?

I run my family’s roadside stores that sell candy, snacks, and souvenirs. Through my work I get to connect with other doers and makers. I get to share my passion about making road trips fun again. Running Stuckey’s is a full-on task that I love.

What is your biggest strength or best quality?

Running Stuckey’s is a full-on task that I love.

I’m an idea person who loves telling the story of Stuckey’s humble beginnings as a roadside pecan stand in 1937. Stuckey’s became synonymous with the road trip, then took a terrible fall due to a corporate takeover. Now back in family hands, we’re making a comeback and being part of a new generation of Americans discovering the joys of traveling the backroads and off-the-beaten-path destinations.

Stuckey’s made with labor and love both then and now.

Why should others respect what you do?

Because I’ve managed to start turning a profit with this scrappy comeback brand even during a pandemic and economic decline. There are 16 original Stuckey’s with the blue sloped roof along the highway in small towns across America. Plus, there are many other spots where there is a newer store or a licensed Stuckey’s section within a business. They are places of connectivity where people from all walks of life interact daily.

This Stuckey’s is right off I-95 in Summerton, South Carolina.

What are some of your thoughts on travel?

After finishing law school, I did a road trip with my best girlfriend. We went from Athens, Georgia to the California coast and took a different route back. It was so much fun. One place I’d like to go see again is the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas. The place at the top of my must-see bucket list is Wall Drug, which is a roadside attraction in South Dakota.

Could you say a bit about your passion for food, art, and music?

Food is my biggest passion, and particularly the pecan. Food appeals to all the senses and is very personal. It is the epitome of art. I really like vegetarian and Indian food. My two favorite types of music are alternative rock, such as R.E.M., and the legends of classic country, such as Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and Dolly Parton.

What are some other activities that you enjoy?

Spending time with other creative people helps spark my own creativity. You know I love road trips, but did you know that I love to dance? I take modern dance classes as time allows. Reading is another thing I enjoy. Right now, I am reading some motivational books written by successful business leaders. Phil Knight has a good one “Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike”.

What makes you an exuberant person?

The three things that make me exuberant and fill my life with joy are my family, my friends, and my faith.

Look for Stuckey’s on your next road trip.

What message would you like to send to the world?

Take the backroads and have fun.

— — — —

Dang, y’all, Stephanie Stuckey is such an inspiration. She is realistic, practical, and determined. She is a smart and plucky woman who is bringing back the business that her grandfather began in 1937 in Eastman, Georgia.

Stuckey’s on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/StuckeysCorporation/

Stephanie is on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stuckeystop/

Grateful Strife of Goat Life

August 18, 2021 by angelchatt

Perfectly clean white goats dance and play as soft southern winds kiss the morning sunshine. The world is right both day and night, goats never get sick, and they never fight. The goat farmer sits leisurely with nothing to do, fairies and pixies magically do everything!

WRONG! Wake up, because you are obviously dreaming! Goat life involves grateful strife.

The TRUTH is that goat farming, milking, and making soft goat cheese is hard work. The farmer and his wife must get up at the crack of dawn. They must constantly be cleaning the living space, providing fresh food and fresh water, checking for problems with hooves and horns, and for any indication of bloating or parasites.

Additionally, they must keep the area free from predators. The farmer, family, and any staff must know when and how to breed and milk the goats. They must maintain the creamery and follow exacting procedures for refrigeration and cheese making. There must be a reliable system in place for packaging and marketing the finished product. They will often work late into the night, fall into bed exhausted, and repeat the entire process day after day.

Nick & Allison Murray and their children Audrey and Nate.

What type of people would purposely choose this grateful strife of goat life? Nick and Allison Murray at Grateful Hill Farm in Pavo, Georgia have the answer. So, he was a corporate insurance man who was seemingly stuck on the hamster wheel just a few years ago. His wife was an English teacher. They desired to ditch the rat race and find a better path for their family. Here are excerpts from my recent interview with Nick.

Milking six goats at the time is a full time job.

What can you tell me about your work?

Grateful Hill Farm is 14 acres of passion, positivity, and productivity. We raise the Saanen breed of goats, milk them, and make cheese from the milk. The farm allows us to enjoy nature while we work together as a family to create several varieties of our tasty product.

Cheese making is part art and part science.

How many animals do you have?

There are 22 milking goats in the herd, plus another 19 kids not yet of milking age. To help protect them from predators like coyotes and foxes, we also have two adorable llamas and two beautiful Doberman Pinschers. Plus, a cat or two just for the heck of it.

Can you educate me a bit about goat cheese?

Soft fresh goat cheese is called chevre (pronounced “shev”). We follow a primal ancient process that results in better flavor than most modern offerings. Using natural animal rennet, we hand craft artisanal cheese that is rich in protein, easily digestible, and delicious.

“Orange Blossom Special” , “Farmgirl Dip” , & “Southern Hospitality” ! Oh my!

Is sustainability a factor at your farm?

Absolutely. I am a natural minded businessman. I focus on quality work and not cutting corners. It is so important that I insist that we use natural resources and natural supplements as much as possible. The indigenous grass, vines, weeds, and berries that the goats browse upon add unique flavor and quality to the cheese. Allison and I love teaching our children to take care of the land and to appreciate the value of purposeful work. I pray that they will be able to pass that knowledge forward to future generations.

Pretty as a picture and go good for you! Soft fresh goat cheese!

{ Grateful Hill Farm produces four varieties of chevre plus a feta now and then. The four flavors are Cotton Cloud, Orange Blossom Special, Farmgirl Dip, and this writer’s favorite one is called Southern Hospitality and has sweetened pineapple and pecans. Dang y’all ! So delicious. I also recommend adding just a tiny amount of honey and cinnamon to any of the flavors for a total bite of bliss. You will love it! Chevre is so healthy and gluten-free. }

Would you call your goat life something of a love story?

Yes. It is hard work that is rewarding and remarkably precious to us. We learn new things every day. We continue to grow closer to God and to each other. This path is teaching us to communicate better and to love the land, the animals, and each other noticeably more deeply.

What activities do you like for fun or creativity?

Thinking and planning early each morning at my desk sparks my creativity. Running is something I find meditative. It is good for my body and improves my mood. The most fun I ever had was attending the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. I’ve also been to the Greek Island of Mykonos. My bucket list item is to someday take a family vacation to the Italian Alps. We are blessed to have lots of extended family close by, so time with them is lots of fun.

Do you have a message for the world?

Yes, and this is simple yet extremely important. Husbands and fathers should strive toward making their family relationships the best possible.

— — — — — — —

Dang, y’all… Nick Murray and his family are beautiful on many levels! It was a true joy to visit with them and get to know more about chevre. He would be happy to answer your questions, if you are considering the grateful strife of goat life for yourself. If you would like find out more, please see their website https://www.gratefulhillfarm.com/ .

See my Instagram https://www.instagram.com/embracesouthernstates/ and for Grateful Hill Farm Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gratefulhillfarm/

Cemetery Photos (NOT Spooky)

August 11, 2021 by angelchatt

Lots of colorful flowers and even a bright wind chime help make this one of the cemetery photos that is definitely not spooky. Owens Cross Roads, Alabama is where you will find the small cheerful Moon cemetery. If you’d like info about this area, contact https://www.huntsville.org/ Let’s look at several more that are rather charming.

If those who are laid to rest here could speak, they would complain about the loud crowds next door. On the left of Evergreen cemetery in Tuscaloosa, Alabama you can see just a bit of the Bryant-Denny stadium. That’s where thousands cheer for the football team of the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Some folks do not like to walk around among graves, at all! Yet others, like me, find graveyards to have a poignant and pensive beauty. Intricately designed wrought iron fences like the ones at Old City cemetery in Tallahassee, Florida have fine craftsmanship and various patterns of patina.

While at the same Tallahassee cemetery, my friend and I saw a few headstones and monuments in need of maintenance. Places such as this deserve to be preserved and protected. My hands-on experience taught me two things; that those things are very heavy, also that there is no possible way that I can push it back into place! For some great info on Tallahassee, see https://visittallahassee.com/ and enjoy.

Found a name I recognize and was not expecting.

I love casually walking through cemeteries and will often be surprised by finding a grave of a notable or unmistakable person. Slim Whitman was a singer in the 1950’s. The 1996 comedy movie Mars Attacks used his song “Indian Love Call” to kill the Martians. Dang, y’all, that was a funny movie! This headstone is in the Middleburg Methodist cemetery in Middleburg, Florida.

Do you agree that THIS is breathtakingly beautiful?

Scene like the one above make me marvel. Myrtle Hill cemetery in Rome, Georgia is set on a high hill and is home to countless scenes of splendor. Dang, y’all, multiple tiers of such appeal simply make my mind reel in a wonderful way.

Angel of Grief or Weeping Angel (Columbus, MS)

The Angel of Grief original was done in 1894 and is located in Rome, Italy. Many replicas have been made since that time. This one I photographed at Friendship cemetery in the beautiful town of Columbus, Mississippi. It is so captivating that a number of artists have painted the monument. The painting shown below is showcased in Columbus at the birthplace museum of playwright Tennessee Williams. www.visitcolumbusms.org

As you can see, not all cemetery photos should be considered spooky. Some are cheerful, charming, surprising, or even a bit silly. Some are art that imitates sculpture that imitates other sculpture.

Which of these photos do YOU like best? Leave a nice comment sharing your thoughts! And keep an eye out for another cemetery article soon with an opposite point of view!

Enjoy Summer Activities NOW!

August 5, 2021August 5, 2021 by angelchatt

Enjoy summer activities now. On recent southern road trips I spotted a huge number of wonderful activities that can still be enjoyed during these last days of summer. I did participate in a few and observed others. My point here is that now is the time to get off the couch, go outside, and find sports or other activities that are beneficial to your body, mind, and spirit.

In Cleveland, Alabama I watched several kayak groups passing under a covered bridge. How long has it been since you saw a covered bridge or went kayaking?

Maybe you would prefer white water rafting.

The Ocoee river near Ducktown, Tennessee is famous for great white water rafting. Folks from all over flock here for a day of winning a victory over the fast moving water. There are places all along the mountain road where their friends and observers can cheer them on and take nice photos. Is this something you might do?

If you happen to be out and about in downtown Florence, Alabama in early morning or late evening, you will often see groups of joggers. These lovely ladies are students at the nearby University of North Alabama. Some of them do this to stay in shape and others do it to get college credits. Would you want to jog with them?

Golf pro Shea Balch at Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Hampton Cove.

Golf courses can be both beautiful and fascinating, whether you love the game or simply want to be more informed. Hampton Cove is a multi-course complex in Owens Cross Roads, Alabama. It has a great old barn and even a remarkable man-made waterfall feature. I got to interview Shea then tour the gorgeous area.

Water feature at RTJ Golf/ Hampton Cove is so nice.

Do you like to play golf? RTJ has eleven golf sites across Alabama. Have you ever played at one of the RTJ courses?

Some say Segway while others say scooter.

In Savannah, Georgia folks seem to just do things differently. I guess that is why these three are wearing unusual headgear and seeing the sights from a Segway. If you go to Savannah, rest assured that you don’t have to ride a Segway and you definitely don’t have to wear any animals or pirate hats on top of your head! What would you like to see in Savannah?

How about walking your dog along the banks of a river?

These folks are taking a nice easy walk with their dog on a pleasant day along the banks of the Black Warrior river in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Have you ever been to that town?

Here’s another dog walking shot, from Tallahassee, Florida.

Lake Ella is a delightful place in Tallahassee where lots of people bring along their dogs or enjoy the Florida sunshine. Being active is always a good idea and does not have to be overly strenuous. What level of exercise do you enjoy?

Fishing can be as relaxing as you want it to be.

The man in the above photo seems to be fishing quite leisurely. The shot was taken in the town of Florence, Alabama at the Tennessee river. This was about 8pm and the sun was mere minutes away from setting. So maybe he was really there to watch the sunset. What is one of the best places where you have enjoyed both fishing and a sunset?

Outdoor murals add so much to any town! Right?

I love to travel and to take lots of photos. Having a good camera actually encourages me to get out and move much more than before I had it. Recently there has been a big increase in the number of outdoor murals. They are popping up everywhere. I love this train mural that is in Pine Mountain, Georgia. Where was the last mural you photographed?

Don’t forget to support local restaurants as you travel.

Whew! Hunting for great photos (and seeing such great summer activity) can sure make a lady hungry! I love to support the local eateries in the south because they appreciate it and I know the meals will be great. In this photo I give a big “thumbs up” to Luigi’s in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Have you ever had a watermelon martini with your lasagna?

Yes, I know that a good writer should avoid cliches… but…well…this one is completely too good to pass up and seems to be a nice ending for our little photo sharing journey. The Rose Garden in Fayetteville, North Carolina just simply begged me to remind you that life is full of joy and beauty. Doing things outdoors improves your health and your attitude. Right now (after you send me a nice comment) might be an excellent time to get up, get out, and for goodness sake… stop and smell the roses!