![Tease photo](https://lincolnherald.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2024/06/24/Fork_in_the_Road_with_Alternate_author_pic_r100x80.jpg?144a9619b7b2d55e12d8b619b3e5adb91a2095fa)
Rev. War Battle Fought Near Here
The Battle of Ramsour’s Mill took place on the north side of Lincolnton
This past weekend, I was part of a commemoration of a Revolutionary War battle. It’s not the first time, I’ve donned my “18th century” garments, braved the heat and humidity to pay tribute to area patriots who answered the call 244 years ago.
![Tease photo](https://lincolnherald.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2024/06/09/Fork_in_the_Road_with_Alternate_author_pic_r100x80.jpg?144a9619b7b2d55e12d8b619b3e5adb91a2095fa)
Bygone Stuff Makes Me Feel Old
There was a time when thrifty shoppers clamored for Sunday inserts just to clip the coupons. Nowadays, stores offer on-line discounts with an app, if you don’t mind being tracked by marketers.
![Tease photo](https://lincolnherald.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2024/05/27/Fork_in_the_Road_with_Alternate_author_pic_r100x80.jpg?144a9619b7b2d55e12d8b619b3e5adb91a2095fa)
What’s Up With Ramen (Besides The Price)?
When times get tougher, demand for cheap, filling food goes up.
When times get tougher, demand for cheap, filling food goes up. Ramen tends to sell out because people know they’re easy to cook and stretch the budget. And nothing fills that bill (or the bowl) better than ramen.
![Tease photo](https://lincolnherald.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2024/04/22/Fork_in_the_Road_with_Alternate_author_pic_r100x80.jpg?144a9619b7b2d55e12d8b619b3e5adb91a2095fa)
Do I Look Like The Answer Woman?
I can’t say how many times strangers have asked me for directions
I can’t say how many times strangers have asked me for directions—even in the age of Siri and cell phones. People still flag me down in airports, ticket lines, and check-out lanes.
![Tease photo](https://lincolnherald.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2024/04/09/Fork_in_the_Road_with_Alternate_author_pic_r100x80.jpg?144a9619b7b2d55e12d8b619b3e5adb91a2095fa)
Ashure Ministry A Godsend For County Residents In Crisis
Formerly Eastern Catawba Cooperative Christian Ministry
In case you haven’t heard, ECCCM (Eastern Catawba Cooperative Christian Ministry) is now Ashure Ministry. The name change occurred a few weeks ago to better reflect the expanded scope of the agency.
![Tease photo](https://lincolnherald.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2024/03/26/Fork_in_the_Road_with_Alternate_author_pic_r100x80.jpg?144a9619b7b2d55e12d8b619b3e5adb91a2095fa)
Panama Visit Harkens To Gold Rush Trek
The year was 1850 when my great-great grandfather, his brother and some 40 others from Will County, Ill. left home for the adventure of a lifetime.
![Tease photo](https://lincolnherald.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2024/03/10/Fork_in_the_Road_with_Alternate_author_pic_r100x80.jpg?144a9619b7b2d55e12d8b619b3e5adb91a2095fa)
What Exactly Is A Billion Or A Trillion?
If you’re like me, you may have trouble getting your head around the concept of a billion anything. Yet, we hear the word almost daily with regard to government spending.
![Tease photo](https://lincolnherald.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2024/02/26/Fork_in_the_Road_with_Alternate_author_pic_r100x80.jpg?144a9619b7b2d55e12d8b619b3e5adb91a2095fa)
Entering Lent With St. Jude’s Arm
It’s not every day you get a chance to view bones of an Apostle. Such was the case Feb. 15, when a fellow church member and I had a rare chance to see the bones of St. Jude Thaddeus—one of Jesus’ Apostles.
![Tease photo](https://lincolnherald.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2024/01/30/Fork_in_the_Road_with_Alternate_author_pic_r100x80.jpg?144a9619b7b2d55e12d8b619b3e5adb91a2095fa)
Piano Reprise A Trip Down Memory Lane
Other than shots, few things gave me more dread than music lessons.
Other than shots, few things gave me more dread than music lessons. I dreaded the practice. I could always find something more fun to do, but my mother put the hammer down whenever I made noise about quitting.
![Tease photo](https://lincolnherald.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2024/01/15/Fork_in_the_Road_with_Alternate_author_pic_r100x80.jpg?144a9619b7b2d55e12d8b619b3e5adb91a2095fa)
Room in the Inn
By the time you read this, I will be getting ready to deliver dinner to the cold-weather emergency shelter in Newton.
![Tease photo](https://lincolnherald.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2024/01/01/Fork_in_the_Road_with_Alternate_author_pic_r100x80.jpg?144a9619b7b2d55e12d8b619b3e5adb91a2095fa)
Ready Or Not, Here Come The Mid-20s
The third decade of the 21st century is no longer “new.”
I’m trying to absorb the fact that today’s 18-year-olds were born in 2006. They have no memory of life before the iPhone or Facebook or any president before Barack Obama.
![Tease photo](https://lincolnherald.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2023/12/18/Fork_in_the_Road_with_Alternate_author_pic_r100x80.jpg?144a9619b7b2d55e12d8b619b3e5adb91a2095fa)
Elvis The Pink Christmas Tree Lit At Last
After essentially five tries
I am happy to report that what was essentially five tries, Elvis is now fully clothed with proper lights and ornaments.
![Tease photo](https://lincolnherald.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2023/11/28/Fork_in_the_Road_with_Alternate_author_pic_r100x80.jpg?144a9619b7b2d55e12d8b619b3e5adb91a2095fa)
Decorating For Christmas No Simple Matter
When should a Christmas tree go up?
I follow my mother’s rule: no Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving, that red-haired stepchild of a holiday, is squeezed ever tighter between jack-o-lanterns and Santa Claus.
![Tease photo](https://lincolnherald.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2023/11/14/Fork_in_the_Road_with_Alternate_author_pic_r100x80.jpg?144a9619b7b2d55e12d8b619b3e5adb91a2095fa)
One Deep Dive Led To Another, Then Another
When it comes to history, one thing follows another.
When it comes to history, one thing follows another.
![Tease photo](https://lincolnherald.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2023/10/30/Fork_in_the_Road_with_Alternate_author_pic_r100x80.jpg?144a9619b7b2d55e12d8b619b3e5adb91a2095fa)
Halloweening In The Boomer Era
When I think of jack-o-lanterns and trick-or-treat, I’m a child in our small farming community. It’s the 1950s, and for at least a week before Oct. 31, farm families load costumed kids in the bed of their pickups to make the rounds.
![Tease photo](https://lincolnherald.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2023/10/16/Fork_in_the_Road_with_Alternate_author_pic_r100x80.jpg?144a9619b7b2d55e12d8b619b3e5adb91a2095fa)
Since When Is AntiSemitism OK?
Last year, antisemitic episodes in the US increased by more than 35 percent, according to the Anti-Defamation League. These include physical violence, verbal threats, swastika graffiti and more.
![Tease photo](https://lincolnherald.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2023/10/03/Fork_in_the_Road_with_Alternate_author_pic_r100x80.jpg?144a9619b7b2d55e12d8b619b3e5adb91a2095fa)
Inflation Rocks Tooth Fairy Business
Yes, the Tooth Fairy has reached an all-time inflationary high
The ageless nymph who flits about in the dark, swapping baby teeth left under youngsters’ pillows is having the ante up more cash.
![Tease photo](https://lincolnherald.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2023/09/12/Fork_in_the_Road_with_Alternate_author_pic_r100x80.jpg?144a9619b7b2d55e12d8b619b3e5adb91a2095fa)
Don’t Miss Carole King Musical At Green Room This Weekend
Remaining performances are at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 15 and 16 and 3 p.m. Sept. 17.
Attention music lovers: you have just a few more chances to see Beautiful at the Green Room. I caught this musical last weekend and was blown away.
![Tease photo](https://lincolnherald.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2023/08/28/Fork_in_the_Road_with_Alternate_author_pic_r100x80.jpg?144a9619b7b2d55e12d8b619b3e5adb91a2095fa)
Balls Creek A Living Slice Of Americana
Balls Creek is a national historic district with nearly 300 buildings
Every August, some of Catawba County’s oldest families gather at Balls Creek Campground for a respite from modern distractions. It’s a religious retreat, but I’m willing to bet that most of the folks enjoy the old-time nostalgia as much as the churchy aspects.
![Tease photo](https://lincolnherald.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2023/08/14/Fork_in_the_Road_with_Alternate_author_pic_r100x80.jpg?144a9619b7b2d55e12d8b619b3e5adb91a2095fa)
My Poignant Visit To Anne Frank’s Secret Annex In Amsterdam
I included the tour in my schedule, securing tickets six weeks in advance. That’s how popular the site is.
![Tease photo](https://lincolnherald.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2023/07/17/Fork_in_the_Road_with_Alternate_author_pic_r100x80.jpg?144a9619b7b2d55e12d8b619b3e5adb91a2095fa)
The Stuff Of Summer
Four years ago, I offered a list of things that mean summer, and with temperatures again steaming past 90, it’s time for another look at what makes summer… well, summer.
![Tease photo](https://lincolnherald.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2023/07/17/Fork_in_the_Road_with_Alternate_author_pic_r100x80.jpg?144a9619b7b2d55e12d8b619b3e5adb91a2095fa)
Quirky News Tickles My Fancy
Recently I received a couple of vintage news clippings from a friend. She, like me, clips unusual news items that beg to be shared.