Surprise attack on Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor
by Frank "Tommy" Sharp
Tension had been rising between Japan and the United States for years. Japan’s position in the Far (Kennedy, 1994) East over the “China Incident” (Marco Polo Bridge) was more perilous by the hour from which it couldn’t extract neither honor nor victory. It was fatally dependent on immense shipments from the United States of scrap iron, oil and aviation gasoline, getting 90 percent of her oil from the United States. Such assistance was highly unpopular in America.

Baked Orange and Acorn Squash

I try to keep acorn squash on hand during the winter months. If I am baking something, I can slip it in the oven and have an easily prepared veggie to go with whatever meat we would be having for supper. It will be done in about half an hour. You can double the sauce if you need more to cover the squash.

The history of the Norton Grist Mill

The term “mill” has several meanings. In regards to the historic site at Big Ridge State Park called the Norton Grist Mill, it was used for grinding dry corn kernels into cornmeal.
The idea behind this type of mill was to use the energy of a stream’s running water to power the mill. Inside of the mill, the power was used to turn a large flat stone on top of another stone to grind the corn. Some mills used their energy for other tasks like sawing lumber, blowing air into a furnace of a foundry, or pumping water uphill.

Christmas Gift

Country Connections By James and Ellen Perry
The sun had made its daily trip through Southeast Alabama and had set in the west. Everyone that night in the Elmer Hunter home near Columbia, Alabama, was enjoying supper, and after eating, cleaned the table, washed the dishes and retired to the center room to sit around the fireplace while listening to the radio, talking small talk and getting ready to retire to bed.

A Critical Message

In so many cases, the best friends I have are those who give me books.
My good friend Linda Dyer Clevenger Welch gave me several old books a few months ago. One of them was an American literature book. I have been going through it for the past several weeks, reading those selections that perk my interest.
It seems that my favorite part of old literature books is the short story section. In the most recent I’ve scanned, I read short stories I have read many times over the years and some new to me, though they were written decades ago.

Now that’s why you don’t have any friends

Hebrews 11 is the famous chapter affectionately known as the “Roll Call of Faith.”
Countless messages have been preached about the “Heroes of Faith.” Every believer has heard moving sermons detailing the blessings God poured out upon faithful Abraham and Sara. Moses has often been celebrated in inspirational messages as leader, deliverer and miracle worker.

Christmas at the Waffle House

We didn’t plan on eating breakfast at the Waffle House on Christmas morning. The original plan was to be at my mom’s house.
What happened?
Three days earlier, my stepfather, Dick, called from the hospital. My mother was in pre-op while awaiting emergency surgery on her gall bladder. Talk about a shock.

Keeping Christmas trees fresh

By Steve Roark
Volunteer Interpreter, Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
The smell, look, and feel of a live tree creates a strong Christmas tradition that many folks (and me) cannot do without. But with that comes the concern of the tree drying out and becoming a fire hazard. There is an amazing number of water additives suggested for helping keep the tree fresh, but I have seen little research to back them up. Here are a few.