Appalachian Mountains

The next time you’re down in the dumps, go take a drive down Highway 52 on a beautiful Sunday afternoon and meet a talented Appalachian band and some other really nice folk at Waters Mill for a photo shoot! Our cover sports Miss Irene having a great time listening to Greybeard’s rendition of Amazing Grace, framed by one of our favorite signs of spring

—jonquils! Miss Irene is not usually sitting around at Waters Mill —only one of her responsibilities being rolling out homemade dough on the big marble slab in the kitchen in preparation for some fresh baked goods.

Waters Mill is now an events facility just a short way from Amicalola Falls, but it is long on memories for owner Rhonda Sheppard. The homestead that was once owned by her grandparents is now the site of many happy new unions, as brides and grooms are married against a backdrop of the beautiful North Georgia mountains. Rhonda and Jim Sheppard have taken recycling to a whole new level with a loving restoration and expansion of the old home place. Learn more about Waters Mill on page 20 and on their web site, www.watersmill.com.

Those fellows on the porch are Greybeard—a fun-loving acoustic string band, mostly performing in the vibrant Dahlonega music scene. They perform everything from Gershwin, Elvis, and Johnny Cash to traditional Appalachian favorites. In the cover shot, from the bottom left, Greybeard is Rees Chapman, bass; Bob Christmas, fiddle; Patrick Chisholm, fiddle; Robert Jones, mandolin; Greg Jones, guitar; and Ray McCurdy, banjo. If you want to hear Greybeard, your best bet is to come to check them out at Bear on the Square Mountain Festival. See our back cover for more details.

This month’s issue highlights a beehive of activity around the beautiful Appalachian Mountains. The spring festivals are in full bloom and some of the Appalachian arts and crafts described within our pages will be on full display.

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