Joanne Thurow had an incident that happened to her last week that she wanted to make sure we all heard about. With so much bad in the news, Joanne wanted to share a story with good news!
 
Joanne, and husband John, were heading home to Green Creek pulling a horse trailer with a horse inside when they noticed a wheel bearing was going out. Sparks were shooting out from below the trailer. They knew they had to stop immediately. The trailer was about to be hobbled with 200 miles still ahead of them. With darkness approaching, they felt they would be stranded on the Interstate for hours if not all night.
 
Joanne and John saw a farm up ahead (they were in Tennessee) and decided to limp in just to see if they could find help. And in the true holiday spirit, the husband and wife at the farm volunteered to do whatever it took to get Joanne and John and their horse back on the road. The Tennessee couple drove them to the local hardware to look for parts, and the two husbands managed to work together to get the trailer up and running to make the return home to Polk County.
 
And that’s the kind of story that gives you faith in people when what we hear so often isn’t good.

There’s just one thing better than a good hotdog…and that’s two of them. I stumbled across Tania Olbeter the other day while driving through Columbus. After having a couple of her Nathan’s all-beef franks, I knew the second time wouldn’t be by accident. Her hog dogs are that good!

Tania, whose business is called “Break Out the Buns,” sets up shop almost every Monday through Friday in the corner of the parking lot of O’Reilly’s Auto Parts on West Mills Street in Columbus. You can’t miss her. A large “hot dogs” banner catches your attention and a bright umbrella is your beacon to pull on over. And in the few minutes I was there to grab a couple of dogs and a few photos…a number of folks were driving in as well.

Tania says she’s there most days from 11 until 2 unless it’s a bad rainstorm. Her hot dogs are worth the drive. You can get them with any (or all) of more than a dozen toppings. She also has sodas and chips. And if you like, you could just stay in your car and eat them drive-in style.

Tania’s cart hitches up behind her car and she can bring it to your place for a catered event. You can find Break Out the Buns and Tania on Facebook, Instagram, and by emailing her at [email protected].

Everyone loves a good hotdog…and these are great! You're going to find me there again and again.











Click on each photo to see the full-size image.

I wouldn't say it was a slow news day today, but my day did start off with taking our geriatric miniature poodle (inherited from an uncle) to her senior check-up. Shayna (the poodle) doesn't particularly mind the vet visits and the folks at Bonnie Brae in Columbus are very nice to her. But she is quick to whip around and bite you if you call her a bad name or ruffle her feathers.

​So Dr. Nick and Nurse Kristen know she has to wear what they call a "party hat." I'm not 100% sure if Shayna thinks the party hat is silly, dumb, or above her poodle status...but she accepts it and is generally a good girl. She also knows she'll get plenty of liver treats throughout the process. Shayna is nearly 15 and my uncle got her through a rescue...so know one is really sure of her age.

Thanks folks at Bonnie Brae.

​When I caught up with Bear Tyler this afternoon he was slinging boiled peanuts. I didn’t get a chance to witness any barbering going on, but I’m guessing there’s a chair in the back of his classic 1966 food-truck “conversion.” It’s a site to see as well as the good-looking and mighty-good tasting peanuts coming out of the serving window. Check out the “salty dog platter” which is made up of several kinds of pickled peppers and a heaping pile of boiled peanuts.
 
Bear founded Bullhded Peanut Company in 1971 with hard work and grit and that’s what he still throws in the mix today. And yes, that’s the spelling of Bullhded. You’ll have to ask Bear why. 

On the same day I took the recent photo of the mom and son with two new (to them) dogs at the Landrum Community Dog Park I noticed this new structure over at the back end of the Landrum Veterinary Hospital parking lot. As I’m intrigued by anything new, I stopped by and was pleasantly surprised by my “discovery.” We’ve all seen the “little libraries” that have popped up here and there in our community but this is the first time I’ve seen a “Blessing Box.” This one was sponsored by and built by the fine folks at Jackson Grove United Methodist Church. It’s a food pantry in a box open to anyone who might need a little help and is accessible 24/7. The day I went by it was fully stocked even including food for pets in need. I imagine by now this Blessing Box might need some replenishing. I plan to do my share and I hope you will as well.

My lucky day today to find a big yellow school bus parked next to McDonald’s in Columbus. While all NC school buses look pretty much the same, this one was lettered with the school name – Lake Lure Classical Academy. Since I did regular freelance work with them for a bit over two years, I decided to investigate. I knew school was out, so just curious why this bus would be parked at McDonalds’s at 10:30 AM. It seemed a little early for lunch.

It ends up Gayle Youngblood, the school librarian (who also doubles as bus driver and other assorted duties) had this brainstorm to bring learning to where the Lake Lure Classical School kids live so that they don’t enter the dreaded brain-drain during the summer months.

The bus was packed with books from the school library and Gayle and Kristin Collette, the elementary school counselor who happened to be dressed as Cinderella, were there to check out books, read to kids, let kids read to them, or read to each other. 
 
The yellow “library on wheels” will visit McDonald’s almost every Wednesday this summer in Hendersonville, Columbus, Forest City, and Spindale … all towns served by the school. Gayle says you never know what to expect when the bus shows up. Cinderella this week, could be Darth Vader next.
Gayle’s official name for her fun program is “Meet Me at McDonald’s and Read.”
 
What a great idea!
 
You can learn more about Lake Lure Classical Academy at: https://llca.teamcfa.school
​

Pictured on the right: Gayle Youngblood with Charley Shirah who is ready to read!

Pictured below: Gayle, Kristin Collette, Delaney Cullen (rising 3rd), Charley Shirah, (rising 2nd), and Evie Malone (rising kindergartener).

It was exactly one year ago today when I posted my first “real” story as Foothills Faces. That was the story about Martha’s Amish Bakery and it was a perfect choice for my start. So today is my lucky day that the first anniversary of this blog and donut day at the bakery ended up being the same!
 
By the time you read this, the donuts might be gone. It’s a sellout every Saturday and Saturday is the only day they make their incredible melt-in-your-mouth treats.
 
Even though the bakery had been going since 2014, the name change just happened about the same time I went in looking for my first story. While I don’t necessarily plan to revisit each of my past stories as this next year progresses, I wanted to stop by the bakery just to check in. My sharing their story helped get flour sack full of new blog followers.

I wasn’t expecting to find a story today. It was sleeting as I left home to run a couple of errands. I wasn’t expecting the sleet either. As I was leaving the store, I spotted a guy sitting at a table under cover out of the sleet having a cup of coffee. Behind him was a fully-loaded backpack, a well-worn hiking stick (not your fancy trekking pole, but a stick), and a water jug attached to the pack. The gentleman was dressed to ward off the cold the best he could. It was 33 degrees and the sleet was continuing.
 
I decided my days of being chicken to approach strangers were over! So I walked up to him trying to figure out what to say. Basically I asked where he was headed, assuming he was a backpacker and perhaps was planning to get back on the Palmetto Trail which runs through town.
 
He was a bit apprehensive about my question but was willing to talk. However, he wasn’t willing to have his photo taken. He did say I could take a picture of his pack. His name is William Glenn Gibson and he said he’s been on the road since August. He doesn’t appear to have any destination in mind though he mentioned going to the town library to get out of the cold. He then said I could take a photo of his sign, which explains it all. He pulls out a carefully lettered and folded cardboard sign and sets it up for me to photograph. Mr. Gibson says that sign says everything he needs told. 
 
I took my photos, gave him a small donation, and wished him luck. Maybe our paths will cross again and I’ll discover more.
 
Take care William Glenn Gibson.

Marty - Why we moved to the foothills

​My wife and I were looking for a place down South because we were tired of the New York winters and when we saw Tryon we thought what a beautiful area this is. The proximity to the mountains, the isothermal belt…all sold us on the area. We loved the natural beauty of the Foothills and we loved the people we’ve met.

​It’s a very artistic community and we’re just thrilled to be here. I’m a teacher and I teach in Greenville and it’s a fairly easy commute to go down there. I’m just very, very happy that my wife and I can both be in this area.