Watermelon Festival

The Franklin County Watermelon Festival, Russellville, Alabama, Friday, August 15.

Watermelon royalty.

Lots of watermelon to enjoy.

Best steak sandwich ever.

Estimation of the crowd: between four and five hundred thousand. Just guessing.

Rewind.

Kerry Gilbert, KGB. Ask him about the hat.

Wayne Walker, KGB.

Mitchell Curtis, KGB

Cains Trio.

The watermelon festival continues today with a car show this morning, arts and crafts, and watermelon contests. There is music throughout the day, including Sammy Kershaw tonight at eight.

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Amish in Stantonville, Tennessee

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Holy Smoke Pie

I think it was in the late seventies that I first had Holy Smoke Pie. It was at a party at Debra Morris Harville's house. After we ate, Debra had to give the recipe to everyone there. I came home and made it for my family, and it has been a favorite since then. I always make it at holiday dinners, because I believe tradition is important. It has become a favorite of our granddaughters. I've heard it called Chocolate Delight, Four-Layer Chocolate Dessert, and other odd things. We call it Holy Smoke. Here is how I make it: Chop us a cup of pecans; set aside. Add a stick of softened butter (NOT margarine) to one cup of self-rising flour. Cut the butter into the flour. Add the chopped pecans, and work it all together. Save two tablespoons of the pecans to sprinkle on top. Pour into a 9" x 12" pan that has been sprayed with cooking oil. Spread it over the bottom of the pan. It helps to use your hands (or hand, if you have t

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Faith, Folklore, and Friends

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