We hear and read about the failing economy and that we're in for hard times. I was browsing through several of the area weekly newspapers which we get each week and noticed the large number of foreclosure advertisements in last week's papers. Foreclosures have to run in the newspaper for four times with the last one appearing just before the scheduled sheriff's sale on the first Tuesday in each month. Last week was the time for the foreclosures to run for the sale on February 3. I counted 32 in the Oglethorpe County paper; 27 in the Oconee County paper; 15 in Greene County; 13 in McDuffie County; and Wilkes County had four. The most we have had in any month is nine and I think that was in November.

•

Washington-Wilkes lost a great lady this week. Bolton Lunceford died Sunday after a long illness. She was 88 years old and lived life to the fullest. She was a businesswoman and a teacher and had received many honors during her lifetime. She and her husband, the late Mell Lunceford, were pioneers in the establishment of the Washington Little Theater Company and contributed much to its success through the years. Last year, the theater's Playhouse was named in her honor. She was kind and gentle but could also be abrupt if the occasion called for it. I admired her very much. She called me frequently when she was puzzled about something in the community. I will miss her.

•

Myra Blackmon was puzzled because there were no obituaries in The News-Reporter last week. She e-mailed the editor to ask if nobody died or if we just forget to put the obituaries in the paper. . . . It doesn't happen often, but we just didn't have any last week. . . . As of Monday night when I am writing this, we have nine for this week.

•

The home of Beth Lannae and Russell Rainey is featured in the January issue of The Columbia County Magazine. It's a great article with lots of pictures and information. Washington-Wilkes is mentioned often and Beth and Russell's artwork collection is featured.

•

Mary Elizabeth and Bill Burdette's Beagle is missing from their home on the Greensboro Road. She's wearing a pink collar and is causing much concern and anxiety at the Burdette home. If you have found her, call 706-678-1946 and everybody will be so happy. . . . I'm partial to Beagles. We have two in our family and I would be devastated if one of them got lost.

•

And that reminds me that I got the wrong angel who found Marley, Janet and Martin Burgess' Pug last week. She is EILEEN Barnwell Walters, but I reported that it was JENNIFER Barnwell Hardy. Eileen's husband, Jim Walters, says that Eileen "has a compassionate heart for animals and people" and that she took special care of Marley while they waited for his owners to claim him. Eileen has not lived in Washington for 23 years, but visits frequently. She was delighted that the rescue of Marley put her in touch with one of her childhood teachers. Janet Burgess was Eileen's social studies teacher when she was in the fifth and sixth grades. Jim says that Eileen referred to it as "the tapestry of life."

•

Adam Scarborough and his family are stationed in Japan for a couple of years. Adam's parents, Phyllis and Mike, received a package from them for Christmas. The contents was packed with Japanese newspapers. Mike straightened out the pages that looked as if they were classified advertisements and brought them to me. We didn't have much luck reading the pages, but they were fun to look at.

•

We keep getting a little rain here and there. Norris reports that he recorded 1.1 inch since last Monday.

Sonny recorded .423 of an inch Thursday through Saturday; and about half of an inch the first of the week, making for almost two inches for the month.

•

Gas prices in Washington continue to be a bit above the prices out of the county, ranging from $1.89 per gallon on the east end of Highway 78 to $1.65 on the west end.

•

Edythe McCall brought me a delightful book this week. It's titled Colonial Recipes by Maude A. Bomberger and was published in 1907. Edythe found the book among memorabilia of her mother, the late

Mary Norman Hester. Inside the cover is written: "Mary Norman won [this book] in school as a prize for excellent spelling. 1912." Also on the page is "Mrs. Nelms, Miss Emily Nash, teacher." The book is a collection of recipes "from old Virginia and Maryland manors with numerous legends and traditions interwoven." The dedication reads: "To my mother whose housekeeping was in keeping with her house -- quaint and old-fashioned." . . . In browsing through the book -- which is not your usual type of cookbook -- it seems that one of the favorite recipes of the time was a "Rich Black Cake" submitted by "Mrs. (George) Washington, Mount Vernon." The directions begin: "Take 20 eggs; divide the whites from the yolks, and beat the whites to a froth; then work 2 pounds of butter to a cream," etc. Then it calls for 2 pounds of sugar; 2 1/2 pounds of flour; and 5 pounds of fruit; mace, nutmeg, 1/2 pint of wine; and some French brandy. "Five and one-quarter hours will bake it." . . . Also included is "An Old Quaker Toast" submitted by "Charlotte Boone, Proprietress of Boone"s Borough," which made me laugh. It reads:

Here's to thee and thy folks, May they love me and my folks As much as me and my folks Love thee and thy folks. For there never were folks Since folks were folks That loved folks As well as me and my folks

Love thee and thy folks."

Inside the back cover is written: "Mrs. J.P. (Pilcher) Hester, R.F.D 2, Crawfordville, Ga." She was a dear lady.

•