Growing Up in the South

“An apple is an excellent thing—until you have tried a peach.” George du Maurier It’s summertime. Can you smell it? The sweet aroma of freshly picked peaches—there’s nothing like a juicy, mouth-watering, two-napkin peach. And nothing says “the South” like this iconic stone-fruit. Recently, I had the privilege of purchasing a small case of fresh … Read more

One of the most popular attractions in Tennessee, The Grand Ole Opry, made its first mark in history on November 28, 1925, when the show first aired on WSM out of Nashville. It was a Saturday night, just two short days after Thanksgiving. Families and friends gathered around the radio as the show echoed across … Read more

In an earlier post I wrote about the magnificent Biltmore House and Gardens in Ashville, North Carolina. The grand estate consists of 250 rooms and covers four acres of floorspace; it is the largest privately-owned home in the United States. Today’s post will introduce you to the individual who was responsible for the Biltmore Estate.  … Read more

A plain marble slab marks the final resting place in a historical cemetery in Georgetown County, South Carolina. The inscription on the marble top simply reads, “Alice.” Born to a prominent  family, Alice Flagg grew up along the shores of the South. When their father died, her brother, Doctor Allard Flagg took his father’s role … Read more

It was a necessary victory. General Ulysses S. Grant, commander of the Department of Tennessee had already made several attempts to reach the Breadbasket of the Confederacy, and with each defeat, refused to give up.  Vicksburg — seizing it would be the key to winning the American Civil War. Vicksburg, where surpluses of goods and … Read more

Recently I purchased a book about Mark Twain written by a local author. For years I have enjoyed the collection of stories Mr. Twain has blessed us with, and his fascination with the Mississippi intrigues me. Like Mr. Twain, I too have had the privilege of crossing the great river aboard a steamboat, though my … Read more

In 1776, when war broke out, the Moore’s of Walnut Grove Plantation, were in imminent danger. Tensions were rising, and not just between the Americans and the British. The colonists were in an uproar—there was division amongst the people. Margret Catherine Moore Barry (eldest of the Charles and Mary Moore’s ten children, and wife of … Read more

What makes the world famous Vidalia onion so unusually different? How is it that this succulent vegetable has such an ambrosial flavor? In late spring, 1931, in Toombs County Georgia, Moses Coleman made a disheartening discovery. His onions didn’t turn out as hot as he’d expected; they were sweet. Coleman struggled to sell his harvest. … Read more