My friend Sharon McDonald used to delight in telling of a former pastor of Maynardville Baptist Church who was scandalized by the increasing trend for people to wear less clothing on television and in public. He would occasionally exclaim from the pulpit, “Oh, the nu-did-i-ty of it!”
Another element of our society that many times goes unappreciated is irony. Irony is defined by Webster’s New World Dictionary as “a way of being amusing or sarcastic by saying exactly the opposite of what one means” or “an event or a result that is the opposite of what might be expected.”

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Calling all chefs, cooks, and volunteers of all ages – please step forward!! The first organizational meeting of the Union County Veterans Auxiliary will be on Monday February 5 from 5:00-6:00 in downstairs of the Veterans Building. This building is located behind the ball field and the Sheriff’s office at 140 Veterans St.

The very nature of the job puts soldiers at an increased risk for developing chronic pain. The regular demands and stress are often multiplied when the tough-it-out mentality does not seek medical attention until serious, chronic pain results ... and it often does. Cumulative stress, single-event trauma, and surgery are all contributing factors. Although these will likely remain a constant of military service, chiropractic care may be a very helpful solution.

Well, the day off yesterday worked wonders. The goats’ personalities returned, they enjoyed being free, and we felt relaxed.

Gateway Stables and Riding Academy has several outdoor riding rings, a huge indoor ring, many fields, a very large barn with horses in box stalls. We sat with the goats in the fields reading. Our outdoor adventure was cut short by lightning, thunder, and torrential rain. Goats do not do rain. They think they will shrink or melt or something. We all relocated to the large old barn and Bill and I read while the goats explored.

Southern Appalachian descendants of 17th century English, Scottish, and Irish immigrants created the American art form we call Bluegrass. Appalachian music is derived from various influences, including the ballads, hymns, and fiddle music of the British Isles (particularly Scotland), and the African music and blues of early African Americans. It is a mixture of several types of music, including old-time, country, and blues, but particularly mountain string bands.

Do you have a favorite memory from your early childhood? Mine involves my daddy and model cars.
Unlike me, both of my parents had a passion for cars. Their favorite ones were from the 1950s and muscle cars. Being raised on the farm, my mom also loved tractors. Anyway, in 1969 they bought a new Roadrunner. They were excited because it was muscle car. I loved it because it had an image of the Coyote on the carburetor and the horn sounded like the roadrunner from the cartoon: “Beep. Beep.”

One of my favorite episodes of The Andy Griffith Show was the one in which Barney rigs up a camera in Wally’s Service Station to catch a thief. Of course Barney has to demonstrate his criminal genius to none other than Gomer Pyle. The resulting photograph is of Barney demonstrating his setup. Shrewd Barney Fife failed to reset the camera to possibly catch a picture of the real crook.

These cupcakes don't need frosting. Instead, sprinkle tops with a mixture of sugar and cinnamon when you take them from the oven. They are delicious. With electric mixer, cream butter and add sugar. Beat until light and fluffy. Then stir in beaten egg and 1/4 cup applesauce.

With January being National Tea Month, and since most teas are derived from a tree, I thought I’d study up and share some things I did not know about the world’s most popular beverage.