The Blue Grass Cook Book

Posted in Food, History & Culture on January 30th, 2011 by marklynn
The Blue Grass Cook Book
Several years ago, I tore open gift wrap to find a little tan book with a big iron skillet on the cover. Immediately, I knew that thrilling recipes–biscuits, jams, and slow roasted meats–must be inside. I opened it to the middle and read one of them. It could have been Dixie Pudding or Oyster Sauce for Turkey. I don’t recall, but I do know that I missed the best part. I skipped the introductions. There are two of them. It would Read More »


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Celtic Adventure in NC

Posted in History & Culture, Music, Outdoors & Travel on January 30th, 2011 by marklynn
Celtic Adventure in NC
We have the Celts to thank for our corn whiskey, fiery gospel, old time music, and peculiar grammar. While they weren’t the only Europeans to migrate to the Appalachian South, they seem to have left the biggest mark. I suppose it’s no wonder. Most of them were Scots-Irish, a notoriously stubborn people, deep in their faith and quick to fight. Read More »


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Water’s Weight at a Mountain Lake

Posted in Art & Lit on January 24th, 2011 by marklynn
Water’s Weight at a Mountain Lake
A Smith Mountain Lake development I remember sitting in my Daddy’s johnnyboat as morning fog burnt off Smith Mountain Lake. The plop of fishing lure and landing loons were the only sounds. Trees and rippling water were the only sights. This was twenty years after the lake was made by a hydroelectric dam, and we still found unspoiled spots. Now you can’t spit on the shoreline without hitting a McMansion. Read More »


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Do Feds Know What Happened at W.Va Mine?

Posted in Coal, History & Culture on January 19th, 2011 by marklynn
Do Feds Know What Happened at W.Va Mine?
Community members participate in a prayer service for the miners and their families, April 7, 2010. (Photo by Kayana Szymczak/Getty Images) Yesterday,investigators shared their theories on last April’s Big Branch Mine explosion with the people who have been most affected–the victims’ families. According to investigators, there probably was not a single cause. They believe that a series of controllable errors and uncontrollable c Read More »


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Teach March to Flatfoot; Be a Blog Star

Posted in History & Culture on January 16th, 2011 by marklynn
Teach March to Flatfoot; Be a Blog Star
On Thursday, my friend March (who wrote the very first comment on The Revivalist) posted this comment and videoclip to my Facebook page: “WHERE DO I LEARN HOW TO DO THIS?!!!! WANT WANT WANT!” I love watching people flatfoot, and I think the history behind the dance is neat. Apparently, it’s an amalgam of styles–Scots-Irish to Cherokee–that merged in our mountain range.  Read More »


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The Dearing Home Place

Posted in History & Culture on January 9th, 2011 by marklynn
The Dearing Home Place
The Dearing home place, approximately 1886 There has been no stirring in her henhouse. No rooster has sounded. Neither have her children. Polly Dearing is up before all of them. She stands outside the kitchen door in the dark, enjoying the last overnight breeze. It ruffles the hem of her gown, pushing it against her ankles, her shins, and her thighs, which are as muscular as any man’s. It carries the scent of sage and tomatoes that she planted Read More »


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Skater’s Paradise

Posted in History & Culture on January 2nd, 2011 by marklynn
Skater’s Paradise
In Appalachia, there are so many collapsing old structures, like the coal mining towns from the last post, that are being reclaimed by forests and lost to time. You could spend a lifetime exploring them, but if you did, you’d miss the fun of deserted places that didn’t stay deserted for long. A great example is outside Asheville. In this case, it’s multiple deserted places that aren’t old at all. They are ultra-posh neig Read More »


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