To the readers of the Franklin County Times and Franklin Living magazine, this will be my last article.

With much regret, every opportunity must come to the end. I want to thank you for your loyalty and all the feedback you have given me over the years.

I will, from time to time, write a guest article on cooking or gardening, so be sure and watch for those articles.

So many have come by the flower shop and wanted copies of recipes and asked questions on gardening, and I so appreciate all of you. Sometimes in line at the grocery market, someone would come up and say “How much buttermilk did you say was in the tea cakes?” Sometimes I could remember, but with so many items, it was hard to remember the amounts unless you cooked every week or so.

It has been an honor to have cooked for Elvis, Syble, the Clintons, the Gores and many others over the years, but my great memory of all is my start in the kitchen with Mattie Lou Dotson, who was like my second mother. She was so kind and would let me be by her side most of the summer.

At the Mallory Manor Tea Room and Bed and Breakfast, I got an eye-opening look at what cooking was all about, trying to prepare 150 meals at one time and being sure they were tasty and fresh.

I will also cherish memories of the TV Cooking Show with Sam and my cookbook, with all proceeds going to helping buy shoes and school supplies for children in our area. It has been an honor to help them, and I would like to thank all those who helped; I am very grateful for you.

Most of all it was an honor and a privilege to write and share my cooking and gardening with you, the readers. If I can answer any questions on cooking or gardening, feel free to stop by the flower shop any time.

To the staff of the paper and the other writers, thank you for all the support over the years. I wish the very best to all, and may the paper continue for many more years to come, bringing us the latest in news and information.

Thank you,

Sam Warf