A Monday Hodgepodge

Pearls Before Swine

It just dawned on me, that it has been days since I visited blogs or posted here. Y'all must have thought I fell off the face of the earth.

The cartoon above reminds me of our family. It will just be the two of us this year (their choice, not ours). What are your plans?

First some news, I think we have finally found a church in which to feel comfortable in. Sundays usually find us in the First Baptist Church. Being a "grace believer" I will not be "joining" (i.e. submitting to water baptism) but it's a pleasant diversion every Sunday morning. I spoke to the Pastor briefly about it, and he said it's not a problem. Without "joining" one just can not hold office or vote in the business part of their church. Thankfully, I'm not interested in any of that anyway. But the natives are friendly and there is a motorcycle club called F.A.I.T.H. Riders in which we are members. That should pacify even my persnickety side.

We have started on, hopefully, the final remodeling project in our 23+ year old stick built home. It's taken over a year to accomplish all the necessary interior projects but it's been well worth the financial and physical pain. The current project is the guest bedroom. It still has 23+ year old carpeting. First Hubby removed the smelly carpeting in the closet and placed nice easy to clean floor tiles. Today, we've removed everything from the bedroom except the ceiling tall bookcase out into the hallway. The bookcase needs another coat of white paint before moving on. Then we'll started pulling up carpeting and replacing it with the floating Pergo flooring.

And something else good came from all this work.

Experience is a wonderful teacher. For most who know me they know that one of my absolute favorite hobbies is genealogy / family research. I've been following people's migrations and habits for years. It's become second nature to figure out why an ancestor moved or did whatever they did during their lives. I also study a lot of old photos. This leads me to I keep all our photo albums in this closet that's being renovated. This week, whilst everything was in a disarray, I began thumbing through an old homemade photo album that belonged to my adopted mother, Helen, who had died in 1966 when I was 10 years old.  I have few memories of my mother. The reason being that like a monkey in a cage, my father was good at flinging obscenities or threats in my direction whenever I even so much as spoke to him, so, I quit asking him anything at a young age. Anyway, I happened on a couple of old Polaroid photos in the album that I'm sure I must have looked at a million times two and wondered "Who are these people?" since there was no writing on the photos. Well, I was sitting on the bed casually looking through the album and I had one photo of Mom in one hand, and this one below in the other, and I finally realized, this is my Mom at a very early age! She always had that serious look on her face. My Mom and her brother, Richard, where the only children of Richard Darrell Koethe, I, and Edna Margaretta Strain. This has to be her in that very treasured photo album. That was such a very joyful moment to discover a photo of my Mom for the 'first' time. It's a nice Christmas gift.

And I'm still enjoying, and learning about, my new Smartphone. I feel so modern. *lol*

If I don't get to post again before the Holiday, I hope everyone has a very happy, prosperous and safe CHRISTmas season.

The Pink Cast Away

I didn’t want to get out of bed today. The ongoing cold, damp weather and

concern over our little niece, had me emotionally hamstrung. I didn’t want to move. What happened? Well, Amberlee fell off her Razor Scooter this weekend and, we think, broke her elbow and/or wrist. She was rushed to the Hospital (had a 2 hour wait!!) and all they could do was give her painkillers. Poor dear has been in mind numbing pain all weekend. This afternoon her parents managed to get into to see a Pediatric Orthopedic and he gave her this “cool pink cast”. (Her words) *lol*

This morning, Hubby said, “Let’s get up lazy bones and have a warm breakfast. Then drive on into Blackshear to get a few items.” I didn’t want to go but I did anyway. Now I’m glad I did. At the grocery store I got the notion to take the steel steeds out for a spin. The weather is very pretty today (temp of about 65 degrees), sun is shining, with a light wind. It’s a little hazy but that’s kinda nice on a bike. Less glare that way. But I see where there's more rain approaching.

*sigh*

We did a Turn and Burn to Baxley, stopping for lunch at our favorite Chinese restaurant.

Now I’m in a happy mood!

Here’s a little joke for you I found at Carol B.’s blog (carolsdailylifeandstuff.blogspot.com):

Now that I'm old(er), I've discovered a few things:
ONE- I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it.
TWO- My wild oats have turned into prunes and All Bran.
THREE- I finally got my head together; now my body is falling apart.
FOUR- Funny, I don't remember being absent minded.
FIVE- All reports are in; life is now officially unfair.
SIX- If all is not lost, where is it?
SEVEN- It is easier to get older than it is to get wiser.
EIGHT- Some days you're the dog; some days you're the hydrant.
NINE- I wish the buck stopped here; I sure could use a few...
TEN- Kids in the back seat cause accidents.
ELEVEN- Accidents in the back seat cause ... kids.
TWELVE- It's hard to make a comeback when you haven't been anywhere.
THIRTEEN- Only time the world beats a path to your door is when you're in the bathroom.
FOURTEEN- If God wanted me to touch my toes, he would have put them on my knees.
FIFTEEN- When I'm finally holding all the cards, why does everyone decide to play chess?
SIXTEEN- It's not hard to meet expenses ... they're everywhere.
SEVENTEEN- The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.
EIGHTEEN- These days, I spend a lot of time thinking about the hereafter ... I go somewhere to get something and then wonder what I'm here after.

Y'all stay safe and warm out there.

Sitting Alone Digging Up Bones

Myra and Dad
Early 1990's
Bostic, Rutherford County, NC

I was thinking [and that's dangerous for me] last night, that seven years ago, I got the cellular call from Dad that my step-mom of 36 years, Myra, had died. Hubby and I were up in Atlanta, GA, at one of the annual International Motorcycle Shows. I remember it as clear as if it was just yesterday. Poor thing had been in a nursing home for several months prior to this. We were expecting it but not this soon. Dad had had to put her in the home because of the Alzheimer's, which is such a horrible, devastating disease, and while there she contracted pneumonia. Dad's health was failing too and he couldn't take care of her properly anymore. That must have been a very difficult decision, not one that I would relish making. I'm so glad that she didn't have to spend years in that depressing home. Jesus was extra merciful and took her home with Him quickly that she may be in Glory.

Among Myra's many talents of sewing, crafting, painting, and housekeeping, she was first and foremost a superior cook! Her meals where always to be desired. And it's funny too because that was her maiden name. She was related to the famous Cook's who came over on the Mayflower. I still have many of her recipes and use them frequently.

Here's one of my favorites. This is really good! One can also substitute ground beef for the turkey. It actually tastes like pizza with no crust. It yummy and no heavy carbo's. [drool]:

Myra's Pie Pan Turkey

2 cups chopped turkey
1 1/2 cups diced sweet onions
1 cup shredded mexican cheese ~ or swiss or provolone, any you prefer
4 1/2 ounces mushrooms
1/2 teaspoon salt

Topping:
1 1/2 cups skim milk or any milk preferred
3/4 cups Bisquick
2 eggs

Combine topping ingredients. Let sit.
Combine turkey or meat, onions, cheese, mushrooms and seasonings in large baking dish. Mix. Pour topping over turkey, etc.
Bake at 375 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes or until golden brown.


If you're a member of Findagrave [it's free], won't you please take a moment to leave a virtual flower on her grave? The obituary I wrote for her is there also. I know she'd say Thanks and I do too.

Have a blessed day y'all.

Our Thanksgiving Get Together

Don, Cindy, Bob, and Amberlee (insert)
It's been awhile since I've posted, hasn't it? I was tempted to stop blogging but I do enjoy sharing, even if I don't get many comments. And it is all about ME anyway, huh? *giggle*

We traveled to one of my in-law's homes for Thanksgiving. Had a splendid time! Aren't they a lovely family? Ok, I'm prejudice but I think they're the greatest.

Amberlee is growing like a weed. She's so bright and fun to be with.

Her brother, Bob, is quite ill right now. He was sleeping almost round the clock and had no energy, so, his mom took him to the doctor. Turns out he has thyroid cancer, type as yet undetermined. What a shock! Well, we'll deal with it together. He goes for a biopsy next week so that treatment(s) may begin.

Hubby and I are doing well. He has completely recovered from his partial knee replacement therapy. We take a two mile nearly every day. He's doing so good.

Doggies are all healthy. I'm amazed that our 12 year old Maxie still acts like a puppy many times. She's the healthest miniature schnauzer I've ever had.

So, for the most part, we are doing well. What life throws us, we have learned to deal with it. We have much to be thankful for. I pray that all my blogging friends are healthy and happy.

A Kodak Moment

I thought I'd share a couple of the photos from last week. Steve traveled to his sister's house to visit for awhile. I stayed home with the doggies.

Amberlee (5 yrs old)
Isn't she a doll? She is officially my husband's niece and the little rascal wormed her way into my heart when still newborn. My nickname for her is 'cuddle bug'. When she was an infant, her mom put one of those bibs on her for feeding. The bib had 'cuddle bug' stitched on the front and it just kinda stuck.

Amberlee sitting on a 2009 Triumph Bonneville T100
Boy, they start early, don't they? That's me all over at that age and I'm told that Amberlee is the same way. If there were wheels nearby, especially anything on 2 wheels, I was so all over it. [lol] Her Uncle Steve said Amberlee made a bee-line for the green & cream colored Bonneville T100, which happens to be one of my favorite bikes. Good girl!

Amberlee is having an MRI this morning. To-date, it has not been determined what caused the sudden seizure and fever from a couple of weeks ago. Plus, now she has persistent rash and cough! Something is array with this little girls health. Hopefully, the MRI will assist the doctors into making an intelligent diagnosis that she may be healed.

I am in prayer this morning for my little cuddle bug. She's got to be well so she can go riding with her Aunt Sparky! :o)

Deuteronomy 7:15 – And the Lord will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee. (KJV)

My Second Childhood

In my early teens, I had brace apparatus on the teeth. Now, in my early 50's, my teeth had become so crooked that they were affecting my ability to chew. So, I decided it was time to get them fixed again.


Just call me tinsel mouth!
Christmas 1971
So I went in this morning and we started the procedure of straightening the teeth. Doc said we're starting on the top ones first. They have to be pushed out, then he can install the braces on the bottom ones.

I had forgotten how much is involved with getting braces.

First, the technician took two x-rays of my jaw. Then, I had to endure the ice cold gooey impressions that have to be made. [yuck!] Then, the technician makes a wax impression of the teeth while closed.

I must have looked like a dog with it's tongue hanging out for that one!

Then I'm moved over into another torture chamber room where that little technician can hurt prepare me for the Orthodontist. My mouth was spread open with some strange apparatus like we were filming the movie "Brazil".

Then the teeth had to be scrubbed, waxed, prepared with smelly adhesive, blow dried ... you name it. It was like having my nails polished (only this didn't feel as good).


" ... and when you smile for the camera ..."
Let me tell ya, it was arduous for this middle-aged lady! My jaw and head hurt after all the pushing and pulling. I'm gonna need several Margarita's to get over this. And I still have to have the bottom teeth braced in a few months.

Gosh, it's gonna be a long two years.



And on a side note, a prayer request please ....


Amberlee
Our little niece gave us a scare yesterday. She was taking a nap after school and her mom glanced over at the couch to check on her. She was rigid, eyes rolled back in her head, vomit foaming from her mouth and generally unresponsive. Her older brother (who happens to be training to be a nurse) checked her vitals, then called 9-1-1. After several tests the emergency room doctor said she had a virus. I still don't know the name of the virus or if it's an accurate diagnosis. Her Mom took her to their usual pediatrician sometime today. If I learn more, I'll let everyone know.

A Prayer And A Family Photo

Billy Graham
Billy Graham's Prayer For Our Nation:

"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done.

We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.
We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.
We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
We have killed our unborn and called it choice.
We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.
We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem.
We have abused power and called it politics.
We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition.
We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.
We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and Set us free.

Amen!"

Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on his radio program, 'The Rest of the Story,' and received a larger response to this program than any other he has ever aired. With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again can be called 'One nation under God.'

Hubby told me that he knows now that it was watching one those old Billy Graham specials on TV that helped lead him to Christ. Mr. Graham has helped many people change their lives.

And a family photo:

Amberlee
This is a recent photo of our little niece, Amberlee. She is growing like a weed.

Happy Easter Y'all!

I've Gotta Pain In The ....

Well, all those years of gardening have finally caught up with me. As my stepmom would have said, "the wages of sin, my dear" and then laugh. She had such a sense of humor.


I met with the surgeon in Savannah today. Here’s the doctors report in a nutshell (with deepest apologizes to all my medical bloggy friends, consider me medically differently disabled) …


My C-3 is degenerated from age.
Between C-4 and C-5 there is a tear.
Between C-5 and C-6 there is a tear and a herniated disc. The nerve is bulging out and getting pinched. Thus, the pain.


Doc takes the disk from out between C 5 and C 6, cleans the area, removes a teeny tiny piece of bone, crumbles the bone, lay that aside, screws a small titanium plate to hold C 5 and C 6 in place and properly spaced, sprinkles the powdered bone on the area. The area quickly grows back like new.

He said I don’t have to wear a neck brace and I only have to spend one night in Hospital. I could go home the day of the surgery if we lived closer to said Doc but he will be 2 hours from our home. Since we live so far out in the country, Doc worries about my going home and having a problem and not being near medical care.

All I know is, I want ice cream afterwards! LOL

Boy, before you know it, medical care will be like on Star Trek after all. We’ll have medical personnel that can wave a wand over the affected area and you’re healed!

Dr. "Bones" McCoy
Cool deal.

But for now, we must rely on the “old” methods of anesthesia, a sharp knife and a skilled hand. Updates to follow. The Doc's office sent me home with some Celebrex is calling me Monday to let me know when to report to Hospital.

A Few Medical Links Concerning This Procedure:
http://www.eorthopod.com/public/patient_education/6452/neck_pain.html
http://www.doereport.com/generateexhibit.php?ID=808

** UPDATE 26 January 2009: Surgery is scheduled for February 4th (Wednesday). It will done as an out-patient procedure. God bless! ***

PS: Many of y’all have very kindly been asking about our 4 year old niece, Amberlee. Happily she is on the road to recovery. Poor little thing has pneumonia. The fever broke yesterday and the doctor has her on a nebulizer inhaler and multiple antibiotics. We’re praying for a rapid recovery. Thanks y’all for your prayers!

Amberlee


♥ ∞

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Past (1971)

Christmas Present (2008)


Create Fake Magazine Covers with your own picture at MagMyPic.com


From Sparky and Wiregrass Steve
Merry Christmas Y'all!


♥ ∞

My Three Mothers, Part II

Myra (Cook) Ackman
... continued from My Three Mothers, Part I ...

After my mother’s death in 1966, Dad remarried almost immediately to a woman he had only known a short time that had two children about my age from a previous marriage. This was such a disaster. My mother was barely cold in the ground and he was thrusting me from person to person with no regard for the outcome. This person was an odious woman who treated me like gum stuck to her shoe. So one night, I ran away, at the age of 11, I climbed from the bedroom window and started walking to Orlando (about 50 miles west of my home). I had no money, no extra clothes, no food, no clue what to do next but I was leaving. I couldn’t take the abuse from two people and figured I had nothing to lose. Dad found me before much time had passed (I was still in my hometown). He was uncharacteristically silent as I was returned home ‘unscathed‘. A short period later he and the odious one divorced (he never explained why but I doubt it was concern over my welfare).

During this time I also lost my grandfather (Dad’s father) and my mother’s brother, Uncle Darrell.

Dad then quickly remarried yet another woman whom he had only known a brief while. Myra remained my step-mother until she died in 2004. This was a third marriage for both. Myra also had children from previous marriages but they were all grown by then. Do you know how I learned about their marriage? Dad put me on a commercial airline flight to his family in western Pennsylvania, alone. He put a complete stranger, an airline stewardess, “in charge” of his little girl. I arrived back home and he blurted out, “This is your new mother.” Did we get along? Not at first. I was so badly traumatized by then, I’m sure I was quite a handful.

Myra had mild mental problems, nothing serious or dangerous, but I realize now how much she saved my life. She was never malicious or cruel and she did profess Christ as her Savior. She suffered a grindingly poor childhood growing up in the rural Kentucky Appalachian mountains. Her father was the Sheriff of their county and her mother worked odd jobs to make ends meet. I’m sure she must have put up with a lot of my sullen and confusing mannerisms. She very wisely scheduled for me to meet with a child psychologist who helped a great deal. Myra encouraged my being involved in a local church of my choice (wisdom beyond her years I realize now). I came to know Christ because of her and not end up in some drug infested hell hole with a needle up my arm. I never did illegal drugs, or anything illegal, actually. I always knew there was a Higher Purpose to life than what we’re wallerin’ around in down here because she took the time to continue my path down the right spiritual road. I think Mom must have started the ball rolling and Myra picked up the slack. For that, I will be eternally grateful.

Myra was a multi-talented person. She could cook like a professional chef, sew tailor made clothes or home decorations, paint realistic pictures, decorate, and always had a perfectly clean home. She was really smart and very self motivated. Because of her I learned how to cook, sew, clean, write letters and thank you notes, show up to work on time and properly dressed, have correct manners, and do all the things that are so important. And, most important of all, she stepped between me and my father many times. When his yelling, cussing, name calling would almost come to blows, like a professional negotiator she would bring a calmness into the situation. When I grew large enough to physically defend myself, and I could throw my own punches, Dad quit hitting. At the age of 18, with a nice fresh High School graduate diploma under my belt and the ink barely dry on the document, I left home forever. I’ve never looked back. My ’only’ mistake was marrying too young. I married the wrong man the first time because I had no confidence in my abilities to survive. He wasn’t evil or abusive, we just weren’t made for each other.

But that's how Myra "saved my life" by directing my footsteps as best a step mother could.

And, then I met Steve and my life really started.

But that’s another story. A very happy story! :o)

My father and Myra

Thanks for letting me pour my heart out. I needed that ... and I need YOU! Thank you and God bless.

… THE END …
♥ ∞

My Three Mothers, Part I

It must be the season but I’ve had unusually frequent thoughts of my mother lately. My adopted mother that is.

Sparky the Crumb Cruncher (1959)

To clarify things since it can be all so confusing for the uninitiated, I have had three mothers:

My birth-mother, who gave me life.

Marian Estelle "Mary" McMahan (1959)
FindAGrave Memorial

My adopted mother, who shaped my life.

Helen Mae Koethe (1944) before her marriage to Dad in 1948
FindAGrave Memorial

And my step mother, who saved my life.

Mrs. Myra Cook Morgan Ricketts
and my father at their wedding ceremony June 1968
FindAGrave Memorial


My birth-mother, Mary, was 17 years old and unmarried. In 1956, this was a tragedy! She dropped out of high school, ran away from home to south Florida to stay with family friends and had me secretly. Two days later, I was property of my new adopted family and she was free to go on her merry way to do more as she pleased.

Helen, my adopted mother, apparently wanted a child. My father did not want something that wasn’t blood-kin. He never said these words directly, but his actions were frequent reminders of this little fact until the day he died. But Helen had a mother’s instinct. My father didn’t permit me to discuss my mother or have photos of her after her death, so, I have few memories of her. But this is one that still lives in my mind:

I grew up in Titusville, Florida, not far from Playalinda Beach (aka Cape Canaveral). We practically lived at Playalinda since it was so close. One day, while at the beach, my cousin Ricky and I were playing in the surf. I think I was about 5 or 6 years old and Ricky was only about a year older. He began pointing at the waves exclaiming, “Look at all the balloons on the water!” So, I ran out there wanting to play with the “balloons” and horrors of horrors, they were Portuguese Man ‘O War! In short order I was covered with poisonous, stinging, grasping tentacles! It’s a bit of a blur, but I do remember Mom suddenly rushing over to me, and with no regard for her own safety, rapidly pulling the tentacles from my young flesh. She became horribly stung right along with me. Thankfully Aunt Helen (Mom’s sister-in-law) was also along and she drove us to the Hospital which was at least 20 miles away. I had to get some rather painful shots and was covered in some kind of salve for days. It was pretty terrible. My father was typically disgusted that I had “caused trouble”, etc. But I just remember how my mother rushed to the rescue of her baby, like a mama bear protecting her cub.

My mother was taken from me suddenly one summer day in 1966. She had had a bad heart acquired at a young age from a bout with Scarlet Fever (thus the fact she could not conceive). The brain hemorrhage was sudden which caused her already weak heart to seize. She wasn’t overweight and she didn’t smoke. It was a total surprise to everyone. Something that today, if caught early, probably would never have happened. She was only 40 years old. I’m told that everybody liked Mom. She was sweet, gentle, physically delicate and ever so kindhearted. And also, thank God, a Christian. I was only 10 years old, but I still remember the phone call my father received from Jess Parrish Hospital that day. I can remember the look of utter anguish on his face and the way he cried. It’s the only time I can remember him crying or acting human. Then I can remember him lashing out in anger.

I didn’t realize that my life would never be the same.

It was a couple days later at the funeral, just moments after they put my mother’s body in the ground, I was crying and asking “Where’s Mom? Why are they putting her in the ground?”. I was so confused and frightened. My father screamed at me inches from my face to “Shut up! You’re only adopted! Why do you care?!” My life stopped at that moment. It’s like he had reached into my chest and stopped my heart from beating. I felt numb and dead inside. Yep. He tore up his parent card, and my heart, that hot day in August. Amazingly, though, I do not dwell on this much or the painful years that followed. It’s all in the past and I know now that he was doolally.

Despite his abuse and neglect I still have a few treasured memories of a sweet, loving mother that shaped my life that carry me though hard times even today.

Always a silent hurt,
many a silent tear,
but always a beautiful memory
of one we loved so dear.

God gave us strength to bear it,
and courage to take the blow,
but what it meant to lose you

... no one will ever know.
Author Unknown

….TO BE CONTINUED …
♥ ∞

Our 4 Year Old Niece, Amberlee

♥ ∞

Arts and Crafts of Myra and Dad

It's a rainy day in our Georgia paradise. Hurricane Gustav is playing with Louisianna, hundreds of miles away. Our little area is enjoying some nice, easy rain off of it. Steve is napping in his easy chair, watching TV, and I was strolling around the house looking at all our nice photos, art work, and other 'treasures'. I thought it would be a good idea to share. Above is one of Myra's works: Mabry's Mill in Virginia. I don't know the precise year she painted this one. Myra didn't date her work, but I think it was in the early 1980's (but that could be inaccurate).

These treasures are only treasured by me, I'm sure. They are the works of my now deceased step-mother, Myra Cook Ackman and my adopted father Donald Willard Ackman. Myra was a talented artist.

The one above is her rendition of the Vehicle Assembly Building at Cape Canaveral in Titusville, Florida where I grew up. The building is so large it could be easily seen from across Indian River.

Dad found late in life that he could create beautiful woodwork. He had quite a collection of tools in his workshop when he died. These tools were given to his good friend and neighbor Clyde Lovelace. That was OK, since I already have a workshop full of new tools (and prefer them over the old ones). To the right is one of Dad's rocking chairs. It was modeled after Mum Mum's rocker. Mrs. Edna Bella Ehle Ackman, affectionately known as "Mum Mum", was my grandmother and his mother.

Dad also crafted little wallhanging do-dads, like the sconces and clock below that he sold at craft shows. I put the artificial orange flower on the sconces and painted the Southwest art on the clock. :o) Well, I thought they were too plain. I had to trash them up a little.
Well, that's the end of our tour Ladies and Gentleman. I hope you enjoyed my little trip down Memory Lane. Thanks for tagging along. Please file out single file and be sure to sign the Guestbook (leave a comment) on your way out. Friendly Folks are always welcome here!

I miss ya 'Mom'. 'Til we all meet in Heaven. ♥ ∞



Donald Willard Ackman (adopted father)
Born: 02 March 1924 Imperial, Allegheny County, PA
Died: 03 January 2006 Forest City, Rutherford County, NC
Cremated, remains rest in Titusville, Florida

Myra Cook Morgan Ricketts Ackman (step mother)
born: 09 January 1921 Democrat, Letcher County, KY
Died: 18 Janaury 2004 Forest City, Rutherford County, NC
Cremated, remains at lawyer's office in Forest City, NC