The Union County Farmers Market sponsored the first Holiday Market Nov. 21. The day was gorgeous and perfect for outdoor shopping. Vendors were plentiful, but shoppers were few.

With Christmas less than three months away and Covid-19-20-21 (who really knows) going as strong as ever, it’s anyone’s guess how the holiday will play out this year for shoppers.

According to sources on the internet, normal holiday shopping between November and December increases approximately 13 percent year over year. In May of 2020, with Corona surging and quarantine/lock-down/shelter-in-place raging, online shopping increased in popularity by 77 percent in a single month, a surge that generally takes four to six years over each twelve month period.

I was born a Caucasian female. I am neither proud, nor ashamed of that fact. It has probably influenced the course of my life, but was beyond my control. Therefore, it is just a fact. What I have done with that fact during my formative years and to date was, and is, somewhat within my control. As with every human being.

Just when you thought it was safe to go out without a mask...

Full disclosure, this is my daily musing written from the viewpoint of a Christian. Read, or ignore. Agree, or disagree. Two freedoms that are ultimately still yours, along with many others.

With social distancing a very real thing these days, I have been extremely impressed with how my husband, Brent, and I have handled the forced togetherness. For many months now, it has been just the two of us. We were already isolated on our 30 acres where we can’t see any neighbors and no neighbors can see us; but C-19 has taken self-isolation to a whole other level.

Now I'm wondering if maybe I’ve been a bit too smug in thinking we had this covered.

We’re all saddened these days when we hear that many of the events we love are having to cancel for 2020 due to Covid-19. One more beloved Knoxville tradition will not make an appearance this year.

The Tennessee Valley Fair will not be held again until 2021.

“It is with great sadness that we announce that the 2020 fair, scheduled to be held September 11-20, will not be taking place,” the Tennessee Valley Fair Executive Committee stated in a press release June 8.

State Rep. Dennis Powers, R-Jacksboro, and State Sen. Frank Niceley, R-Strawberry Plains, today announced the funding has been approved for the final phase of construction of State Route 33 connecting Union and Knox counties.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation has completed the right-of-way phase of the development for State Route 33 (Maynardville Highway). This 5.2 mile project will adjoin the portion of State Route 33 in Union County to the Knox County line and State Route 144. The proposed project includes widening the highway from two lanes to five.

Vickie Burkhart has owned her business for 32 years. It was a hard hit when she had to close her salon, The New You, on March 27 due to a government order to help control the spread of Covid-19. But things are slowly returning to normal since Burkhart and her co-stylist Terry Shumate re-opened the salon May 6.

When was the last time you had a haircut, color, perm, manicure, etc.? People have started saying we’re all in the same boat. Maybe we’re all in the same state of grayness.

By the time this article is published, Janet Holloway will have reopened her salon, bringing into play a whole new set of challenges to running a business.

Like many companies in Union County and beyond, Janet’s Hair Salon closed its doors March 27th thanks to the state’s mandatory shut down due to Covid-19.

Bored? Looking for something to pass the time, AND get you away from screens? Something that falls inside the government guidelines for social distancing?

While so many outdoor activities have been cancelled or postponed, there is still one thing anyone with a car can spend time doing. And it is all in the great outdoors.

All Dogwood trails in Knoxville remain open and right now is the best time to make the drive.

Here are a few photos from Lakemoor DT and Holston Hills DT to get you moving.

Twas just days before Christmas, the rain came in sheets. The folks in Sharps Chapel knew Santa’s arrival looked bleak.
Young ones and older came from miles around, to be in Sharps Chapel when Santa’s sleigh touched the ground.
Children at the Library, noses pressed to the glass, were getting kind of worried, would Santa have to pass?

We all have certain holiday memories that we hold dear. Then there are those that just won’t allow themselves to be forgotten completely, even when we want them gone. I will explain.
My husband and I decided early in our marriage that our family would consist of two children When the Lord blessed us with a handsome boy, followed by a lovely girl, we were certain we had made the right decision.

Thanks again to my author friend Jared Jackson for his hard work in rounding up all the fun things we can celebrate in November.
This month, have some fun with friends observing the important and unusual in November. Looks to me like November is geared to readers, writers and giving thanks, and I am all about that. Not sure I care for Fibonacci Day on November 23. (I hate math.) Anyway, enjoy!
The month of November has all this. Who knew?
•  National Novel Writing Month
•  Family Stories Month
•  Military Family Appreciation Month