From One Mountain Home to Another: Trading West Virginia Roots for a Georgia Ridge

There’s a place in West Virginia that will always live in my heart, even if it no longer belongs to my family. My grandparents’ farmhouse stood sturdy against the wind for decades, its white paint peeling in places, its porch swing creaking like it was whispering old stories. The land around it rolled gently into the hills, with fields that blushed green in spring and burned gold in autumn. It wasn’t just property, it was memory, heritage, and the heartbeat of our family.

I discussed this farmhouse in my genealogical based presentation, Hillbilly Highway.  My mother, aunts, and uncles discussed the farm and how it was my grandfather's dream... And they lost it to foreclosure. An extremely low monthly payment, then, that now, the land gets over $250k in natural gas underground. They would have been "money rich"  if they could have kept the farm.  And, they probably would not have divorced. 

Appalachian Valentine's Traditions

Valentine’s Day traditions in Appalachia often blend heartfelt simplicity, creativity, and the strong sense of community and family that the region is known for. Every holiday is deeply rooted in the longstanding traditions and culture of Appalachians. While many customs align with broader, modern Valentine’s Day practices, there are unique Appalachian twists—practical in decades past and still cherished today.

As a culture, we tend to use what we have or craft something meaningful from what’s on hand. While modern Appalachians might occasionally hear “He went to Jared’s” or receive a special light blue jewelry box from that famous breakfast spot, Valentine’s Day has always been a more low-key affair in my family.

Click on Read More to read examples of how Appalachians celebrated Valentine's Day....