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App Features Magazine - Production Team

Publisher: Dru Heldman

Editor: Bev Heldman

Managing Editor: Donna Mayton

Art & Direction: Dru Heldman

Staff Photographer: Bev Heldman

Accounting and Advertising Director: Donna Mayton

Contributing Writers:

Donna Mayton

Dru Heldman

Morgan Hincks

This Issue

Feature Artisan for December—Beverly Heldman aka, “Wormy” Page 3

Native American Art –This month’s art form is the Medicine Wheel. Page 5

The story of Coyote and the Stars comes from the Navajo Nation. Page 6

Art of the Navajo

Famous Navajo

Coyote and the Stars

The Medicine Wheel

Spirituality of the Medicine Wheel

Medicine Wheel Prophecy

Feature Artisans Page 11

Kevin Clark

Faye Huskey

Judith Grabowski

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice Page 13

TAAS Gallery Feature Artisans Page 13—Page 16

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December 2009 Feature Artisan, Beverly Heldman By: Dru Heldman

The Appalachian Artisan Society is proud to feature the Co-founder of TAAS Gallery Beverly Heldman, aka, “Wormy”, as this month’s feature artisan. Beverly’s creativity is endless as she

creates a wide range of unique items that are best described as gifts, keepsakes and trinkets of art and craft. She spends most evenings working on something while watching her favorite TV shows. She is constantly knitting, weaving, or twist-ing wire into something. One of the most recognized

pieces from her collection are her wire bonsai trees. Most of them are perched on a rock or a weathered piece of wood. Each tree is hand twisted into branches that taper off into twigs. She gives each branch a unique series of bends and twists making them authentic and depicting real trees without their leaves. Beverly will make me stop the car when we’re driving somewhere when she spots a perfect tree perched atop of a rolling hill in a pasture so she can see it closer or take a picture. Trees have always been a fascination of hers and I have to admit that being

married to Bev has made me appreciate trees much more. Each tree no matter how small and simple is a creation of God, an example of his own creativity. Each tree is different and unique just like people. They live and they grow based on the environmental conditions. In times of drought, they grow less and during times of great rain they grow more.

Beverly has captured some wonderful tree scenes in her wire sculpture like the lone tree on a mountain cliff, sculpted by con-stant winds or the tree that’s battling a windstorm. In her latest series she has experimented with colored wire and has a collec-tion of trees that are made to hang anywhere with a small nail. Many of the copper trees will become more interesting as they age. The copper color of the wire will darken and oxidize with time. Eventually, you will have a tree that dark copper with black and green highlights.

Before we had the gallery on East Main Street in Old Fort, we used to go to weekend festivals with mostly just trees. I remem-ber our first booth was made by Bev as we couldn’t afford a fancy pop-up tent. So we made it with PVC plumbing pipes and she sewed a cover to make the booth cover.

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It wasn’t just any booth cover though, she made it unique and added beaded strings and color, the booth cover was a work of art itself.

Jewelry made by Beverly includes selections of sterling silver and Swarovski Crystal Beads, hemp braded pieces, chainmail, leather braded and she make he own beads or uses beads from the Pinwilz Bead Store selection. Her jewelry line includes; necklaces, bracelets, anklets and earrings. Bev’s jewelry and crafts have consistently been one of the galleries best sellers. Bev also does jewelry repair on many types of jewelry, restringing, resizing or repair.

Beverly has recently made some innovative items with her newly developed skill in cro-cheting that she has learned during the cro-chet classes that held every Saturday in TAAS Gallery. She has made some very cool pot han-dle holders. The pot handle holder slips on over a cast iron pan handle and provides a cool surface to grab onto. Very cool, I think this one should be patented. She’s also made some small item holders that will hold a cell phone or your small electronic devices or may be used as a small purse. You’ll just have to come in and check it all out.

All the tables in Catawba Vale Café are painted with different scenes by Beverly. There’s a Kokopelli, a frog, a car-dinal a wolf howling at the moon and more. It’s become one of the more unique features of the café and folks try to find their favorite table.

Beverly is the most important person involved in Old Fort’s development as far as I’m concerned. Raised here in Old Fort as Beverly Peek, her family roots go back many generations. Through her genealogy research, it has been found that here family has existed here since the first settlers came her in the 1700’s around the time of David-son’s Fort. She has traced her family back to ties with the Vess, Lackey, Allison, Davis, Lewis Harvey and more. Bev tells me about how Old Fort was a prosperous town when she grew up here and it’s her dream and her vision to bring it back. All of our small businesses are a testament to Bev’s belief that investing in Old Fort is the right thing to do for our family.

Bev always stays positive despite the hardships and pushes me forward. I dedicate all my time and energy to mak-ing Beverly’s dreams a reality. Beverly is one of those unique individuals that is always herself and she’ll tell you what she thinks, no holding back, but she’s also generous with her time and helping people feel better, and at ease. She’ll welcome anyone into the store and doesn’t judge based on looks or how you’re dressed. It keeps the gallery a very social place where many people just come by to see Bev and shoot the breeze. She can talk about guns and ammo, politics or handcrafts all the same. Always a smile and a friendly hello, Bev never meets a stranger.

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TAAS Gallery invites you to come in for Beverly’s Recep-tion this week that will be held on Thursday December 17th starting at 6:00 PM. With our monthly receptions we give everyone a chance to come into TAAS Gallery and get to know one of our artisan members. This month is special because Beverly is not only one of the artisans she is also the owner, creator and driving force for TAAS Gallery's ex-istence and it’s future.

Incase you’ve never been to TAAS Gallery or Catawba Vale Café, it is more remarkable that you may believe. We hear all the time that people are blown away that it’s as nice as it is. The store front definitely doesn’t represent what’s inside. The handcrafts and the art that are in TAAS Gallery are as good as you will see in any other gallery in more prestigious places but it’s right here in Old Fort. All the handcrafts are made locally or regionally since that’s part of our scope for acceptance.

Thursday, December 17th from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM is the Reception for Beverly Heldman

Other things to check out

New in the Fine Art Gallery new works by Susan Stanton. (Right)

We also have holiday greeting cards from many of our artist.

Gift boxes of sock by Parker Hosiery. There are all manufac-tured here in Old Fort, part of the Old Fort Store.

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Native American Art

By Donna Mayton

This month’s art form is the

Medicine Wheel.

The story of Coyote and the Stars

comes from the Navajo Nation.

The Navajo’s refer to themselves

as Dine’. Meaning "The People" in

the traditional Navajo language. The Navajo Nation

extends into the states of Utah, Arizona and New

Mexico, covering 27,000 sq miles of unparalleled

beauty. Dine’ Bike’yah, or Navajoland is larger than

10 of the 50 states.

Navajo Reservation in Arizona

Most Navajo speak English fluently; however the tra-

ditional Navajo Indian language is still largely taught

and spoken throughout the reservation.

The origin of the Navajo tribe is the subject of contro-

versy. Academicians, for the most part, believe that the

Navajo were latecomers to the Americas, crossing a

land bridge that connected the Asian continent with

what is now Alaska and western Canada.

There is some evidence that the Navajo may be related

to the Khanty (pronounced "han-tee") of Siberia.

They have survived the Spanish Conquest of the 1600’s and

their own “Trail of Tears” known to them as “The Long

Walk” with the American Calvary. The famous Kit Carson

was in charge of rounding up the Navajo. In 1864 over

8000 men, women and children were forced to make the

“Long Walk” to Fort Sumner from their homeland in the

Arizona and New Mexico territories.

Today the Navajo Nation is striving to sustain a viable econ-

omy for an ever increasing population of over 250,000. To-

day there is a gaming Casino near Gallup, New Mexico that

opened in November 2008.

Coal, oil, and uranium have been the foundation of the Na-

vajo economy since the

1920’s. Leases for min-

eral and petroleum ex-

ploration or extraction

cover over 400,000

acres.

Coal storage and transfers to the generating station Navajo Reservation.

From 1944 to 1986, 3.9 million tons of uranium ore were

dug and blasted from Navajo soil, nearly all of it for Amer-

ica's atomic arsenal. Navajos inhaled radioactive dust,

drank contaminated water and built homes using rock from

the mines and mills. Many of the dangers persist to this

day.

Many Navajo farm and raise sheep for wool to use in the

weaving of blankets and rugs.

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Traditional Navajo dress still worn today and Hogan style home still used

today. Photo of Monument Valley, AZ.

The Hogan is a sacred home for the Diné (Navajo) peo-

ple who practice traditional religion. Every family - even

if they live most of the time in a newer home - must

have the traditional Hogan for ceremonies, and to keep

themselves in balance.

Art of the Navajo

The Navajo are well-known for their many crafts includ-

ing weaving of blankets and rugs, silversmithing, and

Sand painting. Although originally begun as necessity,

weaving of blankets became more refined thru influ-

ence from nearby Pueblo people. With the sheep given

to the Navajo by the American government, they raised,

sheared, spun and dyed their own wool and invented

many intricate patterns. Through a system of trade set

up by some non-Indians in shops known as Trading

Posts, the Navajo were encouraged to experiment with

different designs which would appeal to the non-Indian

settlers. Now, each region of the Navajo Nation is re-

flected in its own design of blankets and rugs, although

individual weavers do make different patterns.

Some Navajo learned Silversmithing from the Spanish

before the era of the Long Walk and it has evolved as

many have become master silversmiths making jewelry,

using Mexican and U.S. coins (such as silver dollars) as

raw material, these smiths fashion intricate belt buckles,

buttons, bracelets, rings, earrings, necklaces horse bri-

dles, and other items.

By the 1890s, Navajo silversmiths had begun setting tur-

quoise into their jewelry.

Sand painting, unlike the other Navajo arts, is not practiced

for the sake of the non-Indian public. Created for the pur-

pose of bringing the Navajo patient back into harmony and

balance, the medicine man and his assistants created the

Sand painting (more correctly known as a drypainting) as

part of a healing ceremony.

Navajo artist adopt many art forms from other tribes.

Famous Navajo

Unknown to many, the Navajo language was used to create

a secret code to battle the Japanese during WWII. These

men are recognized as the famous Navajo Code Talkers

who exemplify the unequaled bravery and patriotism of

the Navajo people.

Because the Navajo language has a complex grammar, and

because very few people other than Native Navajo’s speak

the language, the military thought it would be an undeci-

pherable code. The first 29 recruits attended boot camp in

May 1942. Staged

tests under simu-

lated combat condi-

tions demonstrated

that Navajos could

encode, transmit,

and decode a three-

line English mes-

sage in 20 seconds,

versus the 30 minutes required by machines at that time.

The Navajo code talkers were commended for their skill,

speed and accuracy accrued throughout the war. At Iwo

Jima, Major Howard Connor, 5th Marine Division signal

officer, had six Navajo code talkers working around the

clock during the first two days of the battle. These six sent

and received over 800 messages, all without error. Connor

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later stated, "Were it not for the Navajos, the Marines

would never have taken Iwo Jima.

The deployment of the Navajo code talkers continued

through the Korean War and after, until it was ended

early in the Vietnam War.

Coyote and the Stars

A very long time ago, before the two legged walked the

Earth, the world was very different from the way it is

now. Back then, in the beginning time, there were no

stars in the night sky, and there was no moon. The nights

were very dark, and the animals could not see to walk

around and were always bumping into each other. Fi-

nally they talked and decided to go ask the Great Spirit

for help.

The animals gathered and talked to Great Spirit. They

told Great Spirit that they were grateful for all they had,

yet they wanted something else. They would like to be

able to see at night. Great Spirit nodded and smiled and

told the animals "watch me, little ones." He then picked

up a bright shiny stone from a stream and placed it in

the sky, where it became a star. "This is the home star"

Great Spirit ex-

plained "it does

not move, use it to

find your way

home when you

are lost" (Note,

this star is Polaris,

the North Star.)

Photo of Polaris Nebula North Star from NASA

Then the Great Spirit told the animals to go collect piles

of these shiny stones and carry them up into the sky and

make pictures of themselves. The animals began

this task, but soon the little animals grew tired. After

awhile longer, the bigger animals also grew tired.

Back they went to Great Spirit and asked for more help.

"Go to Coyote" Great Spirit said "tell him to help you."

And so they did. Now Coyote thought he was clever and

the wisest of all the animals, and he did not want to

waste his time helping the other animals. Still, he also

did not want to offend Great Spirit. So coyote told the

animals to leave their stones with him, and he would

finish the job for them. After the animals left, Coyote

began thinking of what a grand picture of himself he

would create in the sky, "it will be better than all the

others," he thought. It will have the most stones and will

be the brightest of all!

Suddenly Coyote was reminded that he must finish the ani-

mals work. Coyote did not want to waste a lot of time fin-

ishing the pictures of the other animals. So, hurriedly he

snatched up the bag of stones and flung them up into the

air. The stones went here and there, and all over. None of

the stones really helped finish the pictures of the other ani-

mals. And that is why not all constellations appear finished,

and why some do not look like what they are named after.

But, coyote was punished for

his treachery, for in his haste,

he forgot to save stones for

his own picture! Coyote was

furious and he howled in

rage. That is why Coyote

howls at night now, because

he cannot see a picture of

himself in the night sky!

The Medicine Wheel

The origins and purposes of the Medicine Wheels differ

slightly from tribe to tribe.

Medicine Wheel teachings are among the oldest of First

Nations people and are based on the seven directions

(North, East, South West, Life above the earth, life on the

earth, life below the earth). They are vast and limitless and

form the basis of most First Nations belief themes. For ex-

ample, the natural world was created in groups of four to

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honor East, South, West and North. They are connected in

the center by Mother Earth's heart beat.

The Wheel's sacred teachings assist us along our healing

paths, and the relationships among the teachings form the

basis of what it is to be human. After all, humans are the

weakest of all creation and therefore, as the world’s

“takers”, we must be aware of what we take, how much we

take, who we are taking it from and why we are taking it.

This includes: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual

realms.

Spirituality of the Medicine Wheel

The term "Medicine" as it is used by First Nations people

does not refer to drugs or herbal remedies. It is used

within the context of inner spiritual energy and healing

or an enlightened experience.

A good starting point on the wheel is birth dates. The

Medicine Wheel is walked in a clockwise direction (the

direction of the Sun). The time needed to walk a com-

plete circle is whatever time it takes - time, in other

words, is relative to the process of building one's life.

The directions on Medicine Wheel assist in helping to

seek: strong, healthy bodies (East); strong inner spirits

(South), inner peace (West), healthy minds (North). A

Medicine Wheel can best be described as a mirror within

which everything about the human condition is reflected

back to each of us. It requires courage to look into the

mirror and really see what is being reflected back be-

cause some of it is painful, while other lessons are joyful

and reflective. However, it is ultimately facing all aspects

with courage that makes each of us a stronger and bet-

ter person. Stops along the medicine wheel are repre-

sented by animals and colors of the four directions that

vary from tribe to tribe. The essence of the lessons is

how each of us must make our own choices. They are

moral guides to our growth as humans who live in com-

munion with one another and all of creation. It is our

responsibility to care for each other in a manner that

allows us to walk our earth walks in emotional, spiritual,

mental and physical balance.

An Elder once said the grains of sand on a beach will

never equal the number of teachings contained within

the mysteries of the Medicine Wheel.

Anthropological discoveries have shown that many

wheels (over 100) are mainly clustered in southern Al-

berta, Canada and various spots in North and South Da-

kota, and Montana, meaning tribes such as the Lakota ,

Blackfeet, and Cheyenne (loosely grouped as “The Plains

Tribes”) were the main builders and the wheels were

created to honor the power of the Stars and Sun.

A Map of the Stars

On a remote peak high in the Bighorn Mountains of Wyo-

ming lays an intricate pattern traced out in stone. It, and

other similar designs constructed by some ancient people,

is known as a Medicine Wheel. This medicine wheel meas-

ures 213 feet around and has 28 spokes representing the

lunar cycle. The Solar System model stretches from the

Sun (in the center of the Medicine Wheel) to Pluto. Boul

ders representing the planets are spaced in exact propor-

tion to their distances from the Sun (1 foot = 3 million

miles).

This is an area of incredible beauty – there is no develop-

ment for literally hundreds of miles in most directions, and

the plants in this mountain range are the same ones which

have been here for centuries. Although archeologists have

dated the Bighorn Wheel to some point between 1200 –

1700 AD, the plateau upon which it sits has shown evidence

of use going back nearly 7,000 years. The park was desig-

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nated as a National Historic Landmark in 1970. Bighorn

Medicine Wheel is comprised of seven cairns (a man made

pile of stones) an outer ring, and 28 spokes. It is 80-90

feet across, and has an elliptical shape. The entire structure

is made of piles of rock. The average height of Bighorn

Medicine Wheel is about 4 feet.

The Bighorn Medicine Wheel is aligned with the sum-

mer solstice sunrise and sunset, and the stars Alde-

baran, Rigel, Sirius, and Fomalhaut. An observer would

sit at the lower cairn and observe the sunrise each

morning as summer approached, moving more north-

ward each day until the summer solstice. Only on that

day the sunrise would be seen to rise over the middle

cairn and between the 2 upper cairns, like a cosmic rifle

sight. The wheel was used as a primitive astronomical

calculator to set the times of ritual ceremonies such as

sun dance lodge ceremony, a sacred event for many

tribes. Each of the before mentioned stars come into

their alignment with the Bighorn Medicine Wheel 28

days apart from each other.

The Bighorn Medicine Wheel has been found to be as-

tronomically aligned for a time between the 12th-14th

centuries. This is because the position of Earth's axis

changes slowly, and the direct alignment of the stars

and the summer solstice sunrise and sunset fit the night

sky of this age. It is believed to have been constructed in

different stages. The cairns have been found to have

been constructed first sometime between 1050-1450

A.D. and the 28 spokes between 1500-1760 A.D. The

spokes were dated at this time period due to carbon

dating from archaeological excavation.

Are Medicine Wheels stone star computers built by Natives?

How did they know how to map the stars?

Despite their physical existence, there is a lot of mystery

that surrounds the Medicine Wheel, because without

written records, so little is understood as to their true

meaning. Many theories abound, including: (a) the

wheels contain significant stellar and cosmological align-

ments, specifically designed in other words to point to-

wards the rising sun or to certain star nation constella-

tion(s); (b) the performance of specific rituals and cere-

monies that have been lost to the mists of time.

Native American spirituality is rich in history and cul-

ture, with many of its traditions still practiced within

tribes today. To understand the depth of the faith of

Native Americans, one must take the time to learn

about the various practices and rituals, and, most im-

portantly, the meaning found behind them.

Medicine Wheel Prophecy

The Hopi Tribe Medicine Wheel Prophecy symbolizes the

four races of the world. The White race represented in the

North. The Yellow race in the East. The Red race in the

South, and, the Black race in the West. The people were

sent out into 4 directions to

learn to care for the mother

earth. In the times to come

all the races must come back

together with the knowledge

gained and live together in

peace and harmony for the

human race to survive.

Stones, stars, the directions, and time -- these can

speak to us out of an otherwise mostly silent past.

Sometimes their language is intuitive, or spiritual.

Meanings or awe will be felt by the sensitive person,

but can't really be communicated. Anthropologist and

archaeologist try

their best guess. But

when scientists, get

interested, the cos-

mos speaks, and they

can hear it through

mathematics of the

alignment of stars.

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What may have been lost in the mists of time can be

found again.

Medicine wheels are hung in the home today to remind

us of the lessons of reflections, each of us like the mir-

ror. It reminds us to face life’s challenges with courage.

It reminds us we are connected with all beings on earth

and with the cosmos.

Photo of Medicine Wheel available for purchase at TAAS Gallery.

Gallery Artisans

Kevin Clark Kevin Clark a long stand-

ing member of TAAS Gal-

lery brings a wonderful

offering of products in

both styles and price

ranges. His wood turned

bowls, vases and unique

necklace holders all

signed and numbered.

Each one is made using

carefully selected woods

and then carefully hand-

crafted to get the final

product. Kevin prides

himself if making sure that he offers products that are

authentic and affordable for anyone. He enjoys talking to

people in the gallery when he’s in restocking his shelves.

This year Kevin completed his 1000’s birdhouse Christ-

mas tree ornament. This important milestone piece is on

display in the gallery. In addition to the popular bird-

house style ornaments, Kevin has also created some very

unique new designs. One that I think really stands out is

an ornament that includes stranded wires that he care-

fully inserted into holes in the wood turned top and bot-

tom. He twisted the wire himself and then shaped each

strand to get it perfect. Kevin hand his wife Donna, also

a TAAS member, make the Bowed Saltry instruments

available at TAAS Gallery.

“The talent I have is a gift from the Lord. I am a master

carpenter by trade. I got started in the business by

making Christmas presents for the family to avoid some

of the "commercialization" that is attached to Christ-

mas. Sometimes gifts are bought that aren't really ap-

preciated just because they need to give a gift. Friends

of the family seeing the gifts I had made, inquired about

the gifts and encouraged me to start selling them.” Says

Kevin Clark.

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Kevin was our feature artisan this past August and you can

read more about him and his craft in the August issue of

Appalachian Features Magazine on the website:

www.appalchianfeaturesmagazine.com or get to it from a

link at the top of www.taasg.com

Faye Huskey

Faye Huskey from Front Row Beads was one of TAAS Gal-

lery’s first members. Faye is a wonderfully creative person

that can make just about anything. She particularly loves

making jewelry that people can afford to buy. Many of her

one of a kind jewelry creations are made using the peyote

stitch method.

A peyote stitch; Many cultures around the world have used

peyote stitch in their beadwork. Examples of peyote stitch

have been found in artifacts from Ancient Egypt, and the

stitch has also been used in historic and contemporary Na-

tive American beadwork. The name "peyote stitch" derives

from the use of this stitch to decorate objects used in pe-

yote ceremonies by members of the Native American

Church. The name "gourd stitch" similarly derives from the

use of the stitch in decorating gourd containers

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Faye formerly, taught crafts to developmentally- disabled

adults and senior citizens, owned an alterations/sewing

shop and designed and made pageant costumes.

“I am a North Carolina native born and raised in this

beautiful state. Several years ago my husband and I

moved to Marion, NC. to be closer to our grandchildren.

My favorite beading technique is bead weaving and most

of my pieces are of my own design. Most may be pur-

chased “as a one-of-a-kind piece.” says, Faye Huskey.

And “One of my most important goals is to help develop

the natural creativity of my grandchildren and share my

"God given" talents. Another is to share my blessings.”

Judith Grabowski

Judith Grabowski and her husband have been with

TAAS Gallery for about 8 months now and Judy is some-

one that can make anything you can imagine with her

knitting needles and some yarn. She has made some very

innovative

new prod-

ucts that are

available

here like a

scarf with

mittens at-

tached. Yea,

you’ll never

lose those

mittens

again. She makes some really fun items like a boggin hat

with big eyeballs on top. She also makes quilted items

that are unique as they are handy and functional, like

the potholder, notepad & pen holder. It sticks to your

refrigerator with a magnet and hold a note pad and pen.

Or how about the quillow? It’s a quilt, no, it’s a pillow.

It’s actually both. The quilt is sewn so that it can be

folded up into a pillow. Great for the car.

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There are her quilted pot holders that sometimes have

pictures of the Arrowhead, pine trees or the moun-

tains. Her Kitchen Angels Bless your Cooking and all that

you do! The Rub-A-Dub Bath towels or the baby clothes

make great shower or grandma's baby gifts. We're al-

ways looking for new things to bring to the store to

share with folks who enjoy the love of things handmade.

Judy is a participant and teacher during the Saturday cro-

chet class in TAAS Gallery every Saturday from 12:00 -

3:00 PM and she invites you to come to join the Crochet-

ing Class. Judy’s husband John has been making some

great things for TAAS Gallery too. He make stained glass

and since he’s been here, we’ve seen his creativity flour-

ish. He had made a bunch of Old Fort items like the

stained glass arrowhead or the arrowhead lamp. Very

cool! John has been making stars and angle ornaments

that are really nice and can be seen on the Christmas

trees in both galleries and up front in the window dis-

play.

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

Written by Morgan Hincks

Photos courtesy of http://fslt.org/building/

index.htm

They say that your sense of

smell triggers your memory

more than any other sense.

My olfactory memory is in

love with the tinge of apples!

Whether they were spiced

and stewing to become my

Grandmothers applesauce or

squished under foot running

through my childhood back

yard, the scent of apples

holds a special place for me this time of year. Spicing and

heating apple cider, “mulling,” is my most recent fireside

pleasure. Mulling cider, and other beverages, is a time-

tested tradition that holds properties beneficial to your

body as much as the fond memories that it creates.

mull 1 (ml)

tr.v. mulled, mull·ing, mulls

To heat and spice (wine, for example).

[Origin unknown.]

Mulled wine was first observed as a way to mask the

taste of wine that had gone bad. It quickly transformed

into a tradition, each region of the world adding their

unique twist. Orange peel, Cinnamon, and Cloves are

common in most mulled beverages however many other

ingredients are used including allspice, nutmeg, lemon,

vanilla bean, brown sugar, peppercorn, raisins, almonds,

ginger and honey. Wine and apple cider are the most

common mulled beverages but tea, other fruit juice,

rum, brandy and vodka are commonly added.

One tradition that involves this spiced winter tonic is

Wassailing. “Wes Hal” is the Old English greeting that

translates to “Be In Good Health.” Wassailing has hap-

pened on the 12th night for hundreds of years. A group

of “wassailers” travel from door to door, gathering com-

munity members and drink on their way to the orchards.

Once in the apple orchard they hang cider-soaked pieces

of bread in the trees for the birds. Much of the drink is

consumed while dancing ‘round the apple tree to ensure

its survival through the winter months.

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“Here's to thee, old apple tree, That blooms well, bears

well. Hats full, caps full, Three bushel bags full, An' all

under one tree. Hurrah! Hurrah!”

photo and song courtesy of http://www.whimple.org/wassail.htm

The meaning of the Wes Hal isn’t far from the truth of the

beverage. It is said that a heated drink can warm you from

the inside and help to fight off any winter flu. The addition

of cinnamon and cloves

are not only wonderful

scents but loaded with

medicinal properties.

Cinnamon has been

known to cure the com-

mon cold and to aid in

digestion. Its volatile oil

is a powerful medicine

recognized most re-

cently as a successful treatment to Type 2 diabetes among

other ailments. Clove is a strong healer that has been used

in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic and Western

Dentistry. It has the ability to warm the core, help with

digestion and sooth an upset stomach, to name only a few.

This warming digestive tonic sounds like the perfect des-

sert to a winter eve meal, Enjoy!

Photos courtesy of http://www.kew.org/plants/festivefoods/cinnamon.html and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clove

Mulled Apple Cider

1 gallon fresh Apple cider or apple juice

1 t whole Cloves

3 sticks Cinnamon, broken

1 t whole Allspice

1 piece Ginger root, 1 inch, peeled and sliced

1 organic Orange peel, cut up

¼ cup Honey or other sweetener

Combine all into a crock-pot or stove pot on a low temp.

You can tie the spices, orange and ginger into cheese-

cloth so you don’t need to strain them later. Don’t

worry if you don’t have these ingredients, you can use

what you spices and fruits you have, experiment! Cover

and cook on low for 5-6 hours. The longer the better!

Be sure to spend time inside while it’s cooking; the

aroma is just as much a part of this experience. Remove

spices (strain or remove bag) and ladle into mugs.

Cheers and Wes Hal!

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When life hands you lemons…When life hands you lemons…

Play with themPlay with them

Catawba Vale CaféCatawba Vale Café

Have Fun!Have Fun! 32 E. Main St, Downtown Old Fort, NC

www.catawbavale.com

828-668-9899