The Mountain Eagle
WHITESBURG WEATHER

Wagners to mark 56th anniversary



Happy Halloween everyone!

Winter is slowly creeping in as the temperature seems to take a radical drop, and then warms up a few degrees. We’ve really been having frost and fog in this area. My furnace sure feels good.

By the time some of you get The Mountain Eagle, October along with Halloween will just be a memory. I hope every little one that participated had a safe time and got lots of goodies.

I can remember as a child growing up at Roxana tales of people turning over other peoples outhouses.

Mommy never let us kids go trick or treating, actually I don’t remember anyone doing that when I was small.

There’s something on the news about a Megun Kelly, saying something about a black face on her program. I have no idea who she is or what show! I do remember my Aunt Tena Brown putting cold cream on her face and then taking soot out of Grandma Hall’s wood and coal stove on her face and going out on Halloween.

No, Aunt Tena wasn’t being racist, as we never knew what a black person was in the small place called Roxana.

I think of all the names that people from the mountains have been called, and all the remarks that have been made to degrade our ways. I know for a fact, even though where I came to when I left, there were a lot of misplaced hillbillies. There were a few that thought they were so cute. I was asked how did I keep shoes on my feet since I was from the mountains? I would reply with a smile, I put rocks in my shoes, so I felt right at home.

I worked in a restaurant where lots of trucker stopped, and one in particular must have thought he was God’s gift to a female. I was just a little smarter than he was, as he would put his arm around my waist, well I put some straight pins in my apron, and he never tried that anymore.

Southern Ohio

I have said before I left home at a very young age I have almost raised myself. I can stand on my own two feet, even at this age, and if you tell me that I can’t do something, you better just take a seat and watch me.

A few weeks ago, Vicki and I went to a place called Finley Market, and there were so many different kinds of fresh meat. I hadn’t seen pork neck bones or back bones in a grocery store in so many years, along with pig’s feet, and hog brains. There were even chicken feet in one place. No, I didn’t purchase anything.

Mommy used to cook pork neck bones and potatoes, and sometimes do the same with backbones. Daddy loved brains fixed. I doubt if I could stand to start to fix brains any more.

As I write this column I miss my friend Betty Ison so much as we could spend hours talking about how we were raised in the mountains. Betty was surprised that when it came to making salmon patties that I did the same process as she did. I remove all the skin in the can of salmon. Betty made the best pork chops that I’ve ever eaten. My only conciliation is, I know she isn’t in pain anymore.

Happy anniversary to Les and Pat Wagner on Nov. 3, who will celebrate 56 years of happiness together. I finally connected with Pat Wagner, and her voice was a little stronger than I’ve heard in a long time. Les is so good and such a patient person. I wish there were more people like him, and the whole family.

Happy birthday to April Elswick, Nov. 3 April is the daughter of my niece and nephew Mart and Sue Hall.

Of course there are two people I can’t forget as they share a birthday together. Shirley Carol Wells, who is originally from Marlowe, made her home in Clarksville, Tenn., until her death a few years ago. Shirley’s daughter Loretta Bagett and my daughter Anna Nottingham were born just a few hours apart on Nov. 3.

My daughter Angie and Bennie Wiederhold, along with Sue Wagner, enjoyed a few hours at the Pumpkin Festival which is held every year here locally. Bennie loved petting the animals, and a llama took the cup that Bennie was drinking from. Sue and Angie were both in lots of pain, as Angie is supposed to have foot surgery.

Sue has fallen again and hadn’t gone to have her injuries checked. She already has a fractured shoulder from a couple of months ago, and she finally had to go to the doctor because her hand and back were hurting so bad, and now she has a fractured hand and tailbone.

Please keep Sue and the Calihan and family in your prayers. Ann Calihan had several spots of skin cancer removed from her face and a spot from her leg. This has been more than a simple procedure. Ann still has to have another spot removed. When it rains it has poured for this family.

Johnny is doing good and never seems to change. They are so lucky to have a close family who is ready to help when needed.

Congratulations to the Beechwood Tigers Marching Band who came in third place in state championship this year. Two of my granddaughters, Jessica and Katelyn Nottingham, are in this band. A few years ago Beechwood was the state champion for two consecutive years. Jessie performed with a handicap, as a friend fell on Jessie’s hand and broke it. At the present time she has a splint on it.

My grandson Kyle Nottingham plays soccer, and their team came in third place.

Believe it or not, I am still thinking of what a wonderful time I had at Campbell’s Branch and Carcassonne Community Center.

There’s a square dance the second Tuesday of each month at North Side Tavern on Hamilton Ave. in Cincinnati. It is held in a back room, so I may go check it out.

Warren and Judy Walron play there. In fact, Randy Wilson from Carcassonne Community Center has called there two different times, but I was unable to go.

There’s also a square dance the first Friday at the Community Arts Building in Oxford. I enjoyed going there. However Carcassonne Community Center is special to me for some reason, though I drive a round trip over 500 miles.

Carcassonne Community Center will host its November square dance on Saturday, Nov. 10, from 6 – 9 p.m., presented by Isom IGA. Music by Sunrise Ridge. The caller will be Will Bowling. Admission for adults is $5, students 6-18, $3, and children under 6 are free with paying adult. Concessions, special meal, and souvenirs will be available for purchase. Carcassonne is known as the home of the longest-running community sponsored square dance in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This will be the final Carcassonne square dance for 2018! Dances will resume in March, weather permitting.

Hello to Bessie Shepherd. Maybe sometime we can get together. It seems there’s never enough time when I am in the mountains.

I hope my niece Sue Hall is feeling better, and hello to Kaya and Izzy.

My daughter Kay and her husband Clarence Gray, along with a couple of friends, spent a week in Jamaica. I haven’t talked to her since she returned, so I assume they had a good time. Just point me towards the mountains of eastern Kentucky and that’s all I want to travel.

I am still fussing with State Farm Insurance Company who is only paying for half a roof. Oh, if anyone has $5,000 you want to send it my way, as it will cost $10,000 for a roof. Since I recently bought this car, I doubt if I can borrow that much money. Oh well whatever will be will be. I will figure it out someway.

Well, time is catching me again, so until next time, Rose Ballard, 9110 Lawrenceburg Rd., Harrison, Ohio 45030, email: Bluegrassmama4@aol.com.

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