By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Crossing paths with the stars, priceless
Limerick Plantation happenings
Placeholder Image
Celebrity meetings: All my life I’ve been a fan of celebrities, having seen Elvis in person in 1956 in Charleston. After that, I just read about them in fan magazines. But in the 1960s, I volunteered to write a column in the Westside Weekly, a weekly publication in Garden City, whereby I got to mix and mingle with  stars at the Chatham County Coastal Empire Fair and the civic center. I got to meet and photograph Faron Young, Dottie West, Dollie Parton, Jack Greene and Jeannie Seely, Frank Blair, Ronnie Milsap, Conway Twitty and Loretta Young, Freddie Hart, Moe Bandy, Tanya Tucker, Merle Haggard, Mike Douglas, James Best, Jack Jones, Lauren Hutton, Dom Deluise, James Brown, Mike Conners, and a couple of my favorites, President Ronald Reagan and Nancy. No they weren’t at the fair. They were in Savannah to thank their volunteers. We were told no cameras but I knew I just had to get a picture, so I told my friend that once I was in the foreground, take the photo even if it meant getting arrested.  The president smiled and let her take the picture and we didn’t get arrested. I’ve actually seen and photographed Jimmy Carter, Richard Nixon, and ridden bicycles with Andrew Young and Gov. Lestor Maddox. On another celebrity meeting, I was working in the physical therapy department at St. Joseph’s Hospital when I heard Payne Stewart was coming to get a physical just before competing in the Heritage Golf Tournament at Hilton Head. None of my co-workers even knew who Payne Stewart was, but I did and I made the most of the moment. I got the latest copy of Golf Magazine in the gift shop, which just happened to have his picture on the front cover. When he arrived, my boss escorted him to the gym and when his physical was over, I asked if he would autograph his sweaty towel. He looked at my boss and asked “Is she serious?” He said “Yes, she is.” Payne autographed it and then gave me tickets to the golf match that week.   I don’t chase after stars these days, but I still have the desire to do so. I would love to meet and photograph John Travolta. And I would love to meet Glenn Beck and Nancy Grace. Jeff Corwin is also high on my list. And I’d love to meet Terry and Bendi Irwin. Who knows?  It could happen.

Got books?
I recently finished reading a most delightful book written by Liberty County historian Margie Love called “Country Preserves.” Margie has preserved her childhood in this book and I loved it. There’s not many books out there that can hold my interest, but this one definitely did. Margie had one of the most interesting childhoods I’ve ever read about. Other books I would recommend are “God, Dr. Buzzard and the Bolito Man” written by local “root lady” Cornelia Bailey of Sapelo Island. Jane Schnell rode in the Bike Ride Across Georgia and it inspired her to ride throughout the entire state, by herself, in her 60s and she wrote a delightful book about her travels entitled “Crackers and Peaches.” Another book that caught my interest was “Praying For Sheetrock” written about the abuse of blacks in McIntosh County years ago. I’m glad the things that happened in that book do not happen today. Let me know about some of your favorites.  

Georgia’s mountain fair: I love promoting events throughout our state and one that is coming up soon is the Hiawassee Mountain Fair.  The event is July 18-29. Lots of country stars appear daily and new attractions this year are the Little Ponderosa Petting Zoo, pony rides and a real Texas longhorn steer. For information, call 706-896-4191 or email gamtfair@alltel.net

Some helpful garden hints: Water your houseplants with gelatin. It contains nitrogen for healthy growth. Mix one envelope of unflavored, unsweetened gelatin in two quarts of water and use every three weeks. Use Tabasco sauce (1 oz.) mixed with a gallon of water to ward off pesky insects. Try pouring leftover coffee and grounds in your garden as a natural pesticide.  Mix 1 cup of powdered milk with 1 quart of warm water, then spray for aphids. Maureen Mobley, Hinesville code officer, sent me two pages of home remedies. Here are a few of them. Use dryer sheets as a natural mosquito repellent. Keep a chalkboard eraser in your glove box for when your windows fog up. It works better than a cloth. Keep a small bottle of baby powder in your beach bag. When you’re ready to leave, sprinkle yourself and your kids with the powder and the sand will slide right off your skin. Thanks Maureen for sharing these.

Mark your calenders:
Saturday: Big Yard Sale at PoJo’s in Midway  (Next to Ida Mae & Joes)
Sign up for our e-newsletters