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Bless The Beasts
Last night while my wife and I were relaxing, I watched the spotted twins romp. The ever-sleeping Dixee paid them no heed, continuing to slumber in her little bed by my wife’s chair, undisturbed in her deafness and warm in her sweater. It’s never a sure bet as to which dog will start the donnybrook. When Jinx does it, he usually sits above Bluebelle and growls at her, a rising wail that concludes with three or four sharp barks. While he’s barking at his sister, he’s looking around at us to see if we’re watching. Then he moves to Bluebelle and starts gnawing on a leg or snapping at her…
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Cold Spring Water
I received word of the death of a friend. He was a genuine old-timey mountain man, and a moonshiner deluxe. Like the legendary Popcorn Sutton (pictured above), my friend moved easily among the hills and hollers of this region, fashioning well-crafted stills and firing them with wood he cut himself, filling them with clear, cold spring water that trickled through the cuts and valleys beneath stands of oak and rhododendron. Unlike Mr. Sutton, my friend owned and ran a respectable business and his moonshining was strictly a side venture. He was a master at distilling corn down into the potent clear liquid that so many have savored. Who can number…
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Santa and the Bad Man Behind Blue Eyes
For over seventy years, a sweet tradition has been observed in this region. Every year, the “Santa Train” snakes its way through the steep ridges and hollows from Pikeville, KY down to Kingsport, TN, stopping along the route at several locations. Santa Claus rides the train, and from the back of the train he throws candy, winter clothing, toys, stuffed animals, and other gifts to the children who await the train. The tradition started all those decades ago as a way to bring Christmas to the wretchedly poor children of isolated hamlets of Appalachia, and through the years has featured a special guest to ride with Santa and help distribute…