A Followup

I regret that due to unforeseen circumstances I was unable to appear at this year's Cowboy Festival & Symposium in Cartersville, Georgia. I was not only looking forward to seeing old friends, but also to hearing famous cowboy poet and humorist Baxter Black in person!

Photographs of this year's Gold Rush Days festival are now on display, however. I look forward to seeing everyone at both events again next year!

Gold Rush Time Again! - Part 2

I had a great time at this year's Gold Rush festival in Dahlonega, Georgia. The weather started out a bit damp but that didn't discourage the crowds, especially at the parade. Bryson Wilkins and Loretta Grizzle were crowned king and queen of the festival, respectively, and for some reason I was named Grand Marshall!

Miss Maggie Dyer won the buck dancing contest (beating out last year's winner, the ever-enthusiastic Sadie Bafile), and Chris Smith and Steve Shaw once more took home the title for fastest crosscut sawing. They even beat their own time at an impressive 26.6 seconds.

There was plenty to see and do; I enjoyed some hot sweet potato biscuits and my wife made sure to bring home several jars of fig preserves, chow-chow, and pickled tomatoes.

Many thanks to the Dahlonega Jaycees who make this event such a great success!

Gold Rush Time Again!

Well folks, it seems the sheriff and the mayor of Dahlonega have gotten over the chicken incident and I’ve been asked back to once more emcee their annual Gold Rush Days next weekend. There will be music, food, art and craft booths, demonstrations of talent, contests of skill AND a parade. And many of these won't cost you a nickel, courtesy of the Dahlonega Jaycees!

I'll be on the public square hosting the hog calling contest, as well as other competitions: crosscut sawing, pipe smoking, wrist wrestling, clogging, beard growing and telling tall tales (better known as the liar’s contest), to name just a few.

Will Miss Sadie win the buck dancing contest again this year? Will the Lingerfelts still have any pickled green tomatoes for sale? How fast can an unoccupied wheelbarrow go? Learn the answers to these and other important questions on October 17 and 18. Get to town early to find a good spot to park your buggy!

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Practical Advice of a Wide-Ranging Nature

Never clean your boots with kerosene if your wife is prone to drying them near the fireplace.

Ladies, if you need a safe place to keep your grocery money when you go to town, consider hiding it in your bustle. Wrap your coins well, though, lest you rattle.

When feeding chickens in the winter, add a little sulfur to the meal. This will liven up the birds and help keep their eggs warm. Do not try this on your mother-in-law.

Always compliment the cook, especially if there is no doctor in the vicinity.

Vinegar, pepper and salt mixed together makes a good gargle for a sore throat, and whatever is left over will preserve vegetables.

Travel light - a man should be able to survive with just a pocketknife, a steel flint, and a canteen of water. Or a bagful of treasury bills.

A penny saved is a penny you can spend on candy.

Keep your gunpowder dry, and far away from the pepper grinder.

When gambling, do not bet with bullets, wedding rings, or dairy products. If possible, use mining deeds, treasure maps or Confederate money.

Always have an escape route.

copyright ©2009 Laurie J. Anderson, all rights reserved.