Apples and the Cherokee

So much is happening outside these walls that I suppose it’s a good thing not much is happening inside them. We’re on the mend and slowly getting back to normal though we haven’t really had a chance to establish a routine so “normal” might be pushing it.

Thursdays mean the local paper arrived and I was so happy to see that the recipe column is back and that the second religious column was gone. The recipes were all about apples which makes sense with the weather turning cooler.  Apparently, they grow apples here. I thought they all came from Washington, but no, prime apple harvest time around here is happening right now.

Speaking of the land around here, this valley, which encompasses several counties, has been designated as a Scenic Byway. I learned this in the Chamber of Commerce column.  It was nice they remembered to mention the Cherokee and the Trail of Tears though it was pretty whitewashed. At least they acknowledge whose land this used to be.

That article then led me down a rabbit hole where I found an interesting blog about how Sequatchie Valley got its name. https://chenocetah.wordpress.com/2012/11/20/how-did-sequatchie-valley-get-its-name/

This then led me down another rabbit looking into whether the Cherokee have gotten any of their land back. It seems they were supposed to get land from both the States and the Feds, but not much has come of it. However, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) has been able to buy some of their land back–prime real estate at prime prices. Nothing like having to buy your own stolen property to get it back.

My rabbit hole diving took me way past dinner into darkness, and I decided I’d better quit as I was getting hungry. I was already pissed at my little brother for reverting to his old asshole ways and missing dinner was only going to make me hangry so I shut down Google and went in search of some food that didn’t require cooking.

A ham and cheese sandwich later and I was feeling much better and ready for bed, but I didn’t get much sleep.  I at least slept…Tennessee is having trouble sleeping. It’s a good thing it’s Friday and we both have a long weekend. Maybe we can both fully recover from whatever wiped us out this week. It was not Covid thank goodness but it definitely has taken its toll.

I hope y’all have a great weekend. Be well, my friends.