Fast cars, law men, moonshine, romance in the cotton fields, and wild cat whiskey It was Garden City, Alabama the spring of 1946. Boys were coming home. World War II was over. Many mothers were learning that their sons would not be coming home. Garden City was beginning to settle back in to a nice easy routine. Mr. Sam the local merchant was getting in his sugar orders for the season. The farmers were looking for good crops, and the moonshiners, were looking forward to make good on their orders. A certain revenuer from DC was poking around town. He was trying his best to find out about this "special shine" that everyone was talking about. Cracker Black, the brains behind the operation has a 50 gallon pot making moonshine for a local man named Hollis. Now Hollis is a nefarious character ran several juke joints out on 78 hwy on the strip. When word got round to Cracker his shine was wanted in Memphis and St Louis he had to ramp up the production. He hires two black fellers Big George and Little Willie right out the cotton patch. They are able to work at night in the woods and not be seen by the law because of them being black. When the sleepy little town's folk turn off their lights for the night, the moonshiners go to work making that good old Alabama Shine. Life was good, again.....

Created from the very best of 16 years of nature essays published in the Idaho Falls Post Register (online readership 70,000), The Best of Nature is a fine read. It covers a wide variety of topics including humorous glimpses of nature, philosophy, natural history, and conservation. Readers praise Terry's style, breadth of subject matter and his ability to communicate complex and emotional topics in a relaxed and understandable manner. From teenagers to octogenarians, from the coffee shop to the school room, Terry's columns are widely read and enjoyed. Some of the columns here are Terry's personal favorites, others seemed to strike a chord with readers. Most have an important message or lesson that will resonate with readers. They are written with a goal to simultaneously entertain and educate about the wonderful workings of nature. Hopefully, at least one story makes you laugh out loud and another one brings a tear to the eye and warms your heart. "You hit a home run with your article on, Big Questions in Nature. It should be required reading fore everyone who has lost touch with nature...great job " Joe Chapman "We enjoyed your column, Bloom Where Planted. Some of the best writing yet. The Post Register is fortunate to have your weekly columns." Lou Griffin. "WOW. What a phenomenal piece you wrote. You are amazing." Jennifer Jackson

Fast cars, law men, moonshine, romance in the cotton fields, and wild cat whiskey It was Garden City, Alabama the spring of 1946. Boys were coming home. World War II was over. Many mothers were learning that their sons would not be coming home. Garden City was beginning to settle back in to a nice easy routine. Mr. Sam the local merchant was getting in his sugar orders for the season. The farmers were looking for good crops, and the moonshiners, were looking forward to make good on their orders. A certain revenuer from DC was poking around town. He was trying his best to find out about this "special shine" that everyone was talking about. Cracker Black, the brains behind the operation has a 50 gallon pot making moonshine for a local man named Hollis. Now Hollis is a nefarious character ran several juke joints out on 78 hwy on the strip. When word got round to Cracker his shine was wanted in Memphis and St Louis he had to ramp up the production. He hires two black fellers Big George and Little Willie right out the cotton patch. They are able to work at night in the woods and not be seen by the law because of them being black. When the sleepy little town's folk turn off their lights for the night, the moonshiners go to work making that good old Alabama Shine. Life was good, again.....