Carol's Corner

The Empty Nest

We celebrate with our children their milestones and accomplishments, knowing that each step along the path takes them toward the inevitable time that they will fly the coop.

As a mother, encouraging my children to move toward goals such as high school graduation meant that they would inevitably move away from our home. I knew that what I needed to help me through the transition was an exit strategy. A strategy for my life after their exit.  The summer before my youngest child’s senior year in high school I asked myself, “What’s your name and what do you really do?” I knew my name (that was a relief) but wasn’t sure about the rest of the answer. To figure that out I then asked, “What do you enjoy doing?”   I came up with a number of things that I enjoy but the most basic thought that kept coming to mind was that I like to make people laugh. This revelation made me feel both shy and self aware all at the same …

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Nancy Minor

5:38 pm on Friday, September 14, 2012

Love it and would love your cook books. I love to laugh and I love to read cook books. Friends will tell you that I love to read them and then I dream of dishes I will make. The phone rings and that is the end but I sure did enjoy reading that cook book. It is almost an obsession, so yours sounds like great fun to read. I love to laugh and read cook books but the being bossed around, not so good …   more ›

Carol's Corner

Bringing a Message of Hope to Peachtree Corners

With his great desire to serve and make our community better, Matt Johns gives much needed attention to children living in local apartment complexes.

Matt Johns has great sympathy for people who are experiencing challenges. He comes by that honestly since he spent 14 years as a teenager and young adult in a personal struggle with drug and alcohol abuse. During that time he knew that there had to be something more and better to life, which he ultimately found through his faith in God. Johns early life experiences have given him a great desire to serve others and help them learn that there is hope to live a full and productive life. He’s making his desire to serve a reality with after school programs in some of the apartment complexes in Peachtree Corners. The goal of his organization, Re-Christ Ministry, which currently brings after school programs to two apartment complexes, is to be in…

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Cooking With Carol

Cheese Grits, A Southern Treat

Wendy Williams, who grew up in the North, prefers a Southern influence when it comes to cooking.

Wendy Williams and her husband Lee, along with their three daughters have lived here in Peachtree Corners for almost 15 years. Their youngest daughter Elizabeth was 9 months old when they moved here and is now at the age that she enjoys having friends over, as do her older sisters, Alicia and Carol Ann. There are several things that they like for their mom to serve when friends come and one of those is her cheese grits.  Wendy grew up “Up North” as some folks say and her mother Joanne Franck did as well. William’s mom, spent most of her days in the North but for a short window of time lived in Virginia where Wendy was born and lived for her first 7 years. During those years in Virginia, Franck soaked up the culture and comfort and loved …

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Cooking With Carol

Cooking Up Something Fishy

Try this delicious, pan-seared Tilapia recipe from Suzanne Nelson for a light summer supper.

Suzanne Nelson and her husband Brad raised their family of five children right here in Peachtree Corners. As you can imagine, there was much time spent cooking lots of good food for the family and many friends. I remember fondly enjoying a loaf of Nelson’s homemade sour dough bread. Yum! The children have grown and gone, many of them now having children of their own. One of the things that they took along with them was the love of cooking. Nelson’s oldest daughter Emily shared the following recipe with her and it quickly became a new family favorite.  Quick and easy to prepare, this is a recipe that can be put together even after a day at work. You may find that you already have all of the ingredients on hand except for the fish.  Pecan …

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Nancy Minor

6:51 pm on Tuesday, March 20, 2012

I have made it several times and we love it. Thanks again.   more ›

Good Signs of Life in 'Life is Short'

Onion Man Productions presents a series of nine, 10-minute plays at the Lionheart Theatre at local theater.

Where can you go to watch nine, no make that nine and a half, plays all in one evening?  The answer to that is the Lionheart Theatre from Thursday to Sunday. James Beck, managing director of Onion Man Productions, has put together a series of original, 10-minute plays all written by local Atlanta area playwrights.  Not only is each play only 10 minutes short, which is why you can watch nine of them in one evening, but each and every one of them is set in a funeral home. This unusual setting makes for some predicaments, provokes some thought and definitely provides some laughter.  It’s fun to see nine separate stories presented in one evening. The challenge for the playwrights is to introduce the characters, develop the plot and carry the …

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Bites Nearby

Serving Up Good Food and Good Service, J.R.’s Log House Restaurant

A Peachtree Corners favorite, this well-established eatery has been serving great barbecue for over 25 years.

Driving south on Peachtree Corners Circle, just when you think you’ve almost left Peachtree Corners there it is up on the left, J.R.’s Log House Restaurant. And there it has been since only a single traffic light held sway right there on S.R. 141. Lots have changed since then, except for the friendly service and consistently good food to be had at this long established eatery. When Jerry Romano “J.R.” bought the property back in 1983 the current owner, Tim Shaw who had already been working with J.R. for some time, said that he wondered about the decision. Actually he said, “I thought J.R. was crazy.” Fortunately for all of us we’re still reaping the benefits of that crazy decision. When I pulled up to the restaurant at 1 p.m., I could …

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Carol's Corner

NHS Student Art Work Honored

Two Norcross High School students work was chosen to be a part of the Atlanta Dogwood Festival High School Art Exhibit.

Norcross High School has a lot going for it and one is the fine art department. There are many talented students honing their artistic skill in the art classrooms of Norcross. As a result of that talent and the good direction and support of their teachers, two of those students, Julio Garcia and Abby Holtz, work was chosen to be entered this year into the Dogwood Arts Festival High School Art Exhibit.  Garcia's piece, placing 9th in the show, is a relief of clay faces called "Macbeth Witches." Holtz' piece, placing 8th, is a monotype titled "Bearden's Buddy Bob." In talking to Garcia I learned of his great love of art. He is very glad to have his work displayed in the festival. He said,”Exposure is very important to a high school art …

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Carol's Corner

Carol’s Corner: A Little Bathroom Humor

The strangest things can happen at the nicest parties.

During a recent party, while visiting the powder room, I decided to look for some air freshener for a little perfuming spritz before I left. Sometimes you don’t find what you’re looking for but I was in luck. Right there under the sink was a can labeled Oreck Air Fresh or Air Delight, something like that. I didn’t know that Oreck made air freshener but I was glad to find what I needed. A little advanced reading skills could have come in handy right about here.  With a confident swoosh I squirted the pleasant smelling formula through the air. It didn’t have quite the gusto of most air fresheners but it would do in a pinch. After putting the Oreck spray away I looked up to see a large swath of white foam on the wall opposite where I was …

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Carol's Corner

Local Author Offers Sound Advice

Peachtree Corners resident Jeff Armbruster is the author of the book Practical Lessons in Leadership, a book with a solid message for all of us.

We’re all leaders in one way or another. Whether it be in our family, with friends or as an executive of a company, sooner or later leadership becomes a part of our life. Recognizing that, Jeff Armbruster put pen to paper to give us a practical perspective on this important topic.  After 30+ years of working for the U.S. Geological Survey, Armbruster was asked to develop a leadership program for the organization. As a result of those leadership training classes, many of his former students asked that he follow up by sending them continued advice and encouragement.  Taking that request to heart he began to do just that by at first sending them quotes from others and eventually writing essays himself about various qualities of a leader. From…

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Carol's Corner

Carol's Corner: Time to Get Organized

With the holidays behind us, it’s time to straighten it up, put it away and get it together. In other words, get organized.

What kind of organizer are you? The out-of-sight out-of-mind sort that feels as long as you can’t see the mess then everything’s OK? Or are you the kind who is so organized that not only do things have to be neat on the surface but when you open up a drawer the contents must be in perfect order? If you are type number two, please don’t come to my home and open my drawers.  Since I, and perhaps some of you, might have room for a little improvement in the organization department, below are a few helpful ideas. Throw it away: Pick a room, any room. With great scrutiny, go through the contents of that room. About the contents ask yourself, “How long has it been since I’ve used this vase, hat, broken Christmas goose puzzle? Do I need the goose …

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