I remember lots of things that happened when I was seven or eight years old. I do not remember celebrating Halloween during those years on the farm. We had no close neighbors. Halloween wasn't mentioned in school either.

All Saints Day on November 1st is celebrated in the Catholic church. Masses are offered to shorten their departed ones' time in Purgatory. October 31 is All Hallows Eve. We know it as Halloween. Ghosts and goblins supposedly roam the earth causing trouble. Do Trick or Treaters cause trouble? We did.

My husband, Tim, absolutely loves to fish. Me, not so much. I have a difficult time sitting still, I don’t like the quiet either, and I am coordination challenged.

One evening, Tim asked me to go fishing with him and a couple of his friends in Bull Run Creek where it flowed through Papaw’s field. I didn’t want to go, but Tim was insistent and told me I could use one of his fishing rods. He thought if I actually caught something that I would not only understand the thrill of fishing, but I may want to do it more. And that meant he could go fishing more. Boy, was he wrong.

Mincey’s Musings
Year One, Week Forty-Two

Ah, dear Reader! You are probably reading this article the week of Halloween, 2018, or shortly thereafter. I’m sure you will be righteously amazed, as I was, that there are those who are afflicted with samhainophobia, the fear of Halloween. I learned this through the power of the Internet.

To give a nod to it being Halloween season, I thought I’d share some stories that, while not spooky, have enough of the paranormal to be interesting. The stories involve people having a precognition, foreknowledge, of a future event before it happens. Several cultures call this having “a vision” and can come in the form of a dream or just come out of nowhere. There is no explanation for precognition, and I’m a stickler on finding an explanation of how and why things work, leaning heavily on science.

When county lines are re-drawn it confuses us all; but, as best as I can tell, Parnick George owned lots of land in the vicinity of Milan Church. Parnick George was the oldest son of Elizabeth and Travis George of North Knox County that later became Union County. The Georges are said to be English, but now that we have DNA testing there is probably much more detail available. Travis George came to what was then North Knox County before 1797. The first census of the United States –1790–lists Travis George as head of household in Salisbury District, Stokes County, North Carolina. This Travis is believed to be Parnick’s father and progenitor of the local George family.

When the heat source is wood or coal embers, use a long-handled wire popper. Put only enough corn in popper to cover bottom. Shake gently to get tender puffy kernels.

When popping on your kitchen range, use a large kettle or deep skillet. Add about 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil or shortening. Don't use butter or margarine. Add ½ cup popcorn to hot skillet. Cover and shake gently and constantly over medium heat. You can hear when the popping stops. Remove from heat to a large bowl and add salt. 1 cup unpopped corn makes about 5 cups when popped.

For the second consecutive month, the County Commission opened its meeting with a moment of silence. Hugh Kitts, an employee of the Union County Highway Department, was remembered for his service. For the second consecutive month, the election of Chairman was on the agenda. When Chairman England called for nominees for Chairman, Commissioner Jody Smith nominated Commissioner Gary England. Commissioner England respectfully declined and stated that he felt accepting the nomination would continue to divide the Commission. Chairman England again called for nominees.

I love quilts, coverlets, throws and home-made pieces in general. Recently, I have encountered some particularly moving pieces. Photographs and messages can now be printed on cloth and used in quilts, clothes and many other clever ways. Family stories are being preserved in these pieces in unique ways. Just think what this will mean a hundred years from now. I don’t have a picture of this particular quilt, but the Union County Family and Community Education members sewed and quilted a quilt that hangs at the Union County Museum.

Although the brisk air is blowing, our 4-Hers have hot 4-H camp weather on their mind this season. From October 3-14, 2018, Tractor Supply partnered with Tennessee 4-H holding the Fall edition of the Paper Clover Campaign. The campaign is held biannually at TSC with 4-Hers working by selling paper clovers as a fundraiser to earn scholarship funds to attend 4-H camps. The 4-Hers receive eighty percent of all funds they raise during the campaign towards their personal camp fees.

On October 19 and 20, neighbors worked together at the Sharps Chapel Elementary School to help people in need. The event was sponsored by Chapel of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church which worships in the Community Center at 10:30 AM on Sundays. Over fifty volunteers came. There were Lutherans, Methodists, Baptists, Roman Catholics, non-denominationals, and non-churched. The volunteers ranged in age from children through seniors. Organizers of the event were Karen and Kevin Kitts, members of Chapel of the Good Shepherd.