Columnist John Moore speaks Southern. He learned it in his grandfather's blacksmith shop. Photo John Moore Southern folks don’t need proper nouns. We have whatchamacallits and thingamajigs. My grandfather had the only blacksmith shop in Ashdown, Arkansas. That’s where...
Columnist John Moore knows how to make Southern Sweet Tea, and he’s offering the recipe. Photo: John Moore The thing you discover about beverages when you travel beyond the Mason Dixon is that most folks outside of Southern civilization do not know how to properly...
Columnist John Moore learned to ride a bicycle from his dad. The two are pictured here in a photo from 1968. Photo: Sarah Ward Bell-bottom jeans and bicycle chains are not friends. I share this bit of 1960s essential information for those who are participating in the...
Columnist John Moore knows the Southern search words to buy things online now that the Thrifty Nickel is gone. Photo: John Moore/Facebook The South used to rely on the Thrifty Nickel as our garage sale newspaper, but like many things these days, the Nickel was...
Columnist John Moore's cat, Sammy, has helped renew his faith in hope. Courtesy John Moore There’s an old English idiom that says, “To have no truck with.” It basically means that someone doesn’t go in for syrupy or emotional stuff. I’ve never been overly sentimental....
Frances Pharcellus Church – New York Sun – 9/21/1897 “DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.“Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. “Papa says, ‘If you see it in THE SUN it’s so.’“Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus? ...
Columnist John Moore collects cookbooks. Especially ones with a family touch. Photo: John Moore The transition to digital is understandable in some areas. Watching old movies is easier online. But when it comes to reading, I still prefer a hard copy. A book....
Columnist John Moore grew up with just about everything coming from the Sears catalog. You can buy reprints of the old catalogs, such as the one pictured, which is available on Amazon. Photo: John Moore For much of the twentieth century, the Sears Roebuck catalog held...
My mom turned off her landline. For 50 years, my parents had the same number. 898-2446. Now, it’s gone. “Mom, did you get rid of the landline?” I asked. “Yes, they wanted an extra $38 a month to keep it. I don’t need it since I have a cell phone,” she answered. It was...
