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September 1, 2026#16
September 1, 2026
Searchable issue transcript
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$8.95 $8.95 Nature N ature A rt A rt Hist or y Hist or y Culture Culture The Home Issue The Home Issue foothills foothills Digest Digest Bob Timberlake’s B ob Timberlake’s Letters Letters to to Home Home Display Until 9/10/21 Display Until 9/10/21 I I ssue XV ssue XV Create a Create a Sense of Place Sense of Place DIY DIY Fire Pit & Fire Pit & B arn Q uilt B arn Q uilt Home Home Improvements Improvements Decorating Decorating Ideas Ideas
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That’s where our 2021 Patient Safety score ranks among 4,542 hospitals in America. We are here for you, and we are committed to your safety. Top 2% in the Nation. During this pandemic, our team has continued to earn a place among the highest performing hospitals. Patient Safety — and the safety of all who work here and enter our facilities — will continue to be our number one priority. We are COVID-safe and we are grateful that you place your care in our hands. Covid-19 Highest Safety Rating
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ON THE COVER: The home of Mike and Ellen Farina, built by Moss-Marlowe Building Company in The Coves in Lenoir. Wildwoods, 2014 by Bob Timberlake. He says, “ The key is under the rock. ” www.bobtimberlake.com. Name: Address: Phone: SUBSCRIBE Subscriptions are $27 per year and we publish quarterly. Shipping is $9. Enclose a check or your credit card infor- mation. Cards are charged $36 one time. Card Number: Expiration: CVV Code: foothills Digest PO Box 2670 Lenoir, NC 28645
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4 LISA BREWER Co-editor Writer CONTRIBUTORS Bob Timberlake Tim Steele GUEST CONTRIBUTORS Michael Cooper Roseann Flowers Blair Finley Dancy Patricia Hatch Aaron S. Vance Tami Fox T. Edward Nickens SPECIAL THANKS Tracey Trimble Robert Canipe Richard Eller foothills Foothills Digest PO Box 2670 Lenoir, NC 28645 Summer 2021 Phone: 828.475.1323 E-mail: editor@foothillsdigest.com Website: foothillsdigest.com Stock by Adobe Stock PRINTED IN USA PARTNER COMPANY: ECKARD PHOTOGRAPHIC EDITORIAL CARMEN ECKARD JON ECKARD JOEY OSBORNE Editor in Chief Principal Photographer Partner
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6 F U R N I S H I N G H O M E S A R O U N D T H E W O R L D F O R 6 0 Y E A R S www.hickoryfurniture.com | 1-800-462-MART (6278) Proudly supporting our local craftsmen, manufacturers and retailers. Proudly supporting our local craftsmen, manufacturers and retailers. HOME SWEET HOME Hickory Furniture Mart.
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7 Letter from the Editor: As always, I’m so tickled that you picked up a copy of Foothills Digest! This is our 15th edition, which seems like it’s worth celebrating! This issue is all about “Home,” a topic we believe is special to all of us. My husband, sons and I recently moved and found ourselves overwhelmed at times, but also just so excited about creating a living space that really resonated with our whole family. We’ve been keeping hens and bees and we’ve started a perfectly dandy little garden. We’ve created a home , and the difference in our stress levels is astounding. Having an “oasis” is more important than most people realize, and we want help you bring that energy into your life. It’s our hope and intention that this issue give you tangible and easy-to-execute ways to improve your living space, while giving it a more personal sense of place. We are also beyond excited to announce that Foothills Digest is a Level 1 sponsor of MerleFest. Each year, we tell you about the lineup at MerleFest, which we consider to be the most important festival in the Southeast. This year we’ll be there with bells on (come visit the Foothills Digest tent), and we hope to see you there as well! Tickets go on sale on June 10th at 7pm, the same time they’ll announce the lineup. The festival is in September this year, an unusual date for the festival that is generally held in the spring, but, well, it’s been a weird year. The good news is that a second MerleFest will also in April, 2022. Two MerleFests in six months? Yes, please!
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7 Letter from the Editor 10 Creating a Sense of Space 18 Catawba Valley Pottery 20 The Bost-Burrus House 26 Paint with Bob Timberlake 29 Letters from Home 44 For the Walls Table of Contents 50 Real Estate 54 New Builds 57 FD Recommends Realtors 58 10 Easy Upgrades 66 Power of Color 70 Moving 72 DIY Fire Pit
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76 DIY Barn Quilt 82 Farmhouse Kitchen Remodel 88 Houseplants Primer 92 Grow Better Vegetables 96 Backyard Chickens 98 Plants for Butterflies 100 Beekeeping 104 Grafting w/ Granny Eckard 106 Bringing Nature Inside 110 Problems You Can’t Ignore 116 Irrigating with Gray Water 118 Zone Cleaning 120 Hickory Furniture Mart 124 Bed and Breakfast 126 Why I Came Home 130 What We’re Reading 132 Talitha Vickers 134 Playlist 138 Photography
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10 Creating a Sense of Place By Carmen Eckard Photography by Jon Eckard
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11 Feeling a sense of place is all about connections: connections to your family, your community, the land, your personal history and your culture. We should lean on these same themes to bring a sense of place into our homes. Some homes whisper of their owner’s connections, while others proudly and loudly proclaim them. We recently fell in love with the newly constructed home of Mike and Ellen Farina. The home is nestled in The Coves in Lenoir and offers a beautiful view of the mountains. But what fascinated us was the way that the couple brought the mountains inside. We were struck by the chandelier in their dining room, made of stacked antlers and LED lights that look very convincingly like candles. They balanced the commanding fixture with heavy wooden furniture and green glass vases. These features call to mind the woods beyond the yard, with the glass reminding one of the sun shining through the leaves. The kitchen uses many natural materials, blending them in a sophisticated way. Juxtaposing that sophistication are brightly colored cookie jars that are nostalgic for the owners and a mounted goose in flight on the wall, a trophy for owner Mike. I asked Ellen how they were able to bring such an incredible sense of place into their home. She said, “ I come from the women’s fashion industry in New York. My retail life centered around buying, merchandising and display. Michael was a fashion illustrator for the trade journal The Daily News Record and for some of the finest stores in the country. Along with all of that, Michael is an avid outdoorsman with great knowledge of nature. He has hunted all over the States and Canada. The woods are his living room. Between us, we have the eye to mix ideas using colors, patterns, textures and materials. We wanted this house to be a warm and cozy ‘mountain’ cabin with a view that blends in to nature, without the logs.”
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12 The couple really hit on something: they knew that ideas can be represented with good design. They consciously created a space that represented their idea of a cozy mountain cabin, using a mix of excellent textures and sentimental items. Why is it important to create a sense of place in your home? Nearly every adult has a physical place that is special in their childhood memories. Sometimes it was their earliest home, or maybe a grandmother’s house, or a cabin they often visited. This place seeps into their consciousness, forming part of their identity. Creating a home space that is supportive of our identities can help us become the fullest versions of ourselves. It allows us to grow deeper roots. Anything we can do to remind ourselves of who we really are will make our lives more fulfilling. So, then, how do we bring this sense of place into our homes? We start by asking ourselves where our connections lie. What is the special childhood place we hold in our heart? Which communities are ours? Once we have a good idea of the answer, we look for ways to remind ourselves of those spaces. Many of our readers will feel that the sense of space that drives them revolves around the Appalachian mountains. We can remind ourselves of those hills with colors and textures. Leather, raw wood and stone in a home will put one with nature. The Farinas were able to use a dramatic stone fireplace to anchor their living room, at right. It speaks of the towering permanence of the mountain chain. Warm browns conjure the earth and greens and blues are powerful hues to create an evocative palette. Another powerful way to create a sense of place is with objects. These can vary wildly. A deer mount reminds the owner of happy days and nights hunting, while also hearkening back to nature. If you aren’t lucky enough to have some objects that remind you of your idea of home, a great place to find some is an antique store. Our region has so much history, and places rich in history are usually rich in antiques. I don’t know of a foothills town that doesn’t have a good antique store, and some towns have several. I can’t tell you what you are looking for, but I suspect you’ll know it when you see it. Our favorite antique store is West Main Antiques in downtown Taylorsville, NC. Walking through the door feels like walking back in time. It’s been owned by Terry and Darryll LaSalle for seven years, and they’ve created an environment that elevates shopping to an experience. Throughout the store they’ve produced tableaus that recreate life in a different era. These owners intrinsically understand that antique stores have the power to pluck at your nostalgia, stirring up real emotion. They respect that power and lean into it. Terry says that antiques are in her blood and that she is an old soul. These things make this a great store to go to when you are trying to listen to your heart. She says that the most common thing she hears people say is, “This is just like my Granny’s!”
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We think that if an object has you talking about your Granny, you should probably buy it, then give it a place of honor in your home. We asked what the most popular item was that w a r r a n t e d a Granny mention. “Oh, a Granny’s Hoosier for sure,” she laughs. “I can’t keep them in stock.” These vintage p i e c e s w e r e meant to store everything you need to bake. They offered hoppers for flour and sugar and spice racks as well as a good number of cabinets that made it easy to get your hands on what you needed. These were especially i m p o r t a n t i n a time before cabinets were added to houses as they were b e i n g b u i l t . If you were lucky enough to remember someone who used a Hoosier, y o u l i k e l y
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remember many delicious meals. A classic Hoosier can be used in your kitchen now and you’ll find it as handy as your grandmother did. The foothills have a deeply rooted tradition of weaving. Vintage shuttles, like shown below, are a strong nod to our history, and you can change the thread to match your decor. A single shuttle is nice, but you can create a dramatic scene by displaying many with bright colors. Vintage dishes are another great choice. Dishes that remind you of childhood meals will likely bring pleasure to the meals you make now. We are especially fond of the
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16 blue and white swirled enamelware, called graniteware, that has been very popular in the history of North Carolina. While you can find this graniteware at antique stores, it is hard to find it without rust spots, so if you want to use the dishes daily, we recommend buying a new version, like the ones shown at left. They are made by the company Golden Rabbit and are affordable and well made. Quilts often remind people of security and home, and as such, they are powerful tools when we are trying to create a sense of place. Be sure to have your quilts professionally cleaned before you use them, and treat them with care. You can also celebrate local artists and regional traditions. For instance, the Catawba Valley is an exceptional place to find pottery. It’s made in a very traditional way, using wood-fired kilns and alkaline glazes, and you’ll only find it in this region. If you’re lucky, you may even find a face jug.
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Another way to add a strong sense of place is by celebrating the landmarks you love. Framed vintage maps and tourist posters make excellent decor, as do vintage postcards. You can find these in antique stores and on eBay, and you can find new designs that look vintage. The Blue Ridge Parkway poster shown above is created by Robert Decker and is available at www.national-park-posters.com. If you can’t find an original “Visit Colorful North Carolina” poster, you can purchase a reprint at art.com. A sense of place is incredibly personal, but we do hope that this article will inspire you to ask yourself what connections are important to you, and then to represent them in your living space. Remember, you can use color, texture and natural elements, as well as personal artifacts and found objects that remind you of “home.” There’s no way to do this incorrectly, so don’t be afraid to make bold choices!
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Catawba Valley Pottery Photography by Jon Eckard Story by Carmen Eckard In the early 19th century, the Catawba Valley was changing rapidly. The Catawba Indians were leaving and new settlers from Europe were arriving. They were bringing with them the traditions of their motherlands, and blending those traditions with the needs and blessings of the New World. It was during these early years that Catawba Valley Pottery was established, and the art has been carefully passed down, potter to potter, for more than 200 years. Catawba Valley Pottery is distinct and recognizable. You won’t find any bright colors. The process uses alkaline glazes and other natural processes that create brown pottery, sometimes with hints of green and blue. The clay used here is unique, but perhaps one of the most notable characteristics is that it is always fired in a wood-fired kiln (shown at right). These kilns work now the same way they always have, though time has marched on around them. There’s no need to fix what ain’t broken. Pottery is prized now because it is both beautiful and utilitarian. However, none of us today actually need pottery. We love it, but stores are filled with bowls and vases, and our milk comes in plastic jugs. In the
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past, however, pottery was an absolute necessity. Potters’ efforts were celebrated and essential. Our communities supported whole families of potters. But the industrial revolution stripped pottery of its status as a household need, and for a time, it seemed that the art of making pots in the Catawba Valley tradition might be lost. In the past there were many potters. Generations of Seagles, Hiltons and Reinhardts supplied the region with practical, sturdy pottery. Now, as well, there are many potters. Michael Ball’s work is shown bottom right and in the glowing wood-fired kiln. Charles Lisk, Steve Abee, Kim Ellington and others are currently working in the tradition. But for a number of decades, there was only one Catawba Valley Potter. Burlon Craig is rightfully credited with keeping this tradition alive. At left, you can see him working in his later years, using the same old techniques that he always had. He learned from the masters, he carried the art for decades, and then he taught new potters the traditional ways. Many a great craftsman has made pottery using dirt from the Catawba Valley, fired using wood grown on our hills. The process is very personal and tied to the earth, even made of the earth. Every Catawba Valley Pottery collection should contain a mixture of antique pottery and also new. It’s important to support the artists who are carrying on the traditions. You’ll find traditional pots as well as whimsical face jugs, popularized in this region by Burlon Craig. Be sure to check out the annual Catawba Valley Pottery Festival, artist websites and antique stores to find a great selection.
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20 Bost-Burris House The The Bost Bost - - Burrus Burrus House House Photography by Jpn Eckard Story by: Carmen Eckard
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21 A well-built home withstands the tests of time and can “live” much longer than the men who built it. Such is the case of the Bost-Burris home, Newton’s oldest house. It was around 1815 that Elias Bost built his new home along Clark Creek. He had eight children, and the property was large, spanning 227 acres. Elias Bost was a master carpenter, and the home was described at the time as having “the finest Federal detailing in the county.” Superior details in the moulding on the front of the house are the only hint of the exceptional details inside. Architectural historians have noted that
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the exterior view “fails to suggest the elegance which lies within.” C r o s s e t t e d w i n d o w surrounds are carved with detailed brilliance, by hand, perfectly. Standing by the window, it’s easy to imagine the many generations of mothers and fathers who stood in the same spot, looking out into the yard. Tradition holds that Elias Bost and his brothers are responsible for building the nearby Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church which still stands today. Many of the details are similar to those in the home. E l i a s B o s t’s m o s t successful son was Jonas Bost, who was also a master carpenter. He is known for building the first stocks, pillory and whipping post near the new courthouse in Newton, where he worked as the chairman of the county court. But Elias Bost chose to leave the house to his youngest son, William, who had cared for him in his old age. This caused a bit of contention in the family. A number of heirs brought suit to challenge the ownership, which wasn’t settled until after William’s death. By that point, ownership had passed to his wife, Ann Bost. She owned the house for 24 years after his death, and her sons oversaw the first addition to the house, in 1870. When Ann died in 1886, ownership passed to her youngest daughter Sarah Ann Burris. Sarah and her husband Charles Burris (previously “Burrus” and shown on the following page) met in the house when he was a boarder. They married and moved away, but came home to care for Ann in her old age. They raised their
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24 children in the home, but eventually came upon hard times and mortgaged the house. Upon Sarah’s death in 1931, her third child Bruce Bost Burris purchased the home from the mortgage company, and despite the financial atmosphere during the Great Depression, he built another addition, as well as adding a bathroom with running water. When he died in 1976, he carried on the home’s tradition and left the home to the daughter who cared for him in his old age. Ethel Burris Lail was very concerned with the aging and deterioration of the house, and she asked her son, entrepreneur and hotelier Leroy Lail, to promise he wouldn’t let it fall down. He promised, and he’s a man of his word. When Ethel died, she passed the house on to Leroy’s son Scott Lail. Scott Lail serves as the President of the Hickory Landmark Society, and his interest in old buildings is apparent. Leroy and Scott worked together to save the Bost- Burrus house, and Leroy worked with historian Richard Eller to write The Bost- Burrus House, a book that tells a much fuller story of the home. Historic details as well as family lore make an interesting read. For instance, we learned that the stucco on the fireplace has only survived on one side. That’s because the boys in the family slept upstairs and every cold morning, they’d do their business right out the window, causing the stucco to flake off. I guess it’s true: boys will be boys, no matter what decade we’re talking about. We met Scott at the Bost-Burrus House, the house his great-great-great-great grandfather built. His pride in the history he has here is apparent, but so is his sense of responsibility. The house has never had electricity, and the only running water went to one toilet and one sink. This isn’t a house that will be hearing the pitter patter of little feet any longer, but it’s an important part of our history. The hand-carved details are a testament to the artistry of people long-passed. The Lail family is making sure that this important piece of history is preserved.
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LettersFrom Home Bob Timberlake’s B y T. E dward N ick EN s i T aliciz E d words B y B o B T im BE rlak E s E l E c TE d TE x T from “B o B T im BE rlak E ’ s l ETTE r T o H om E ”
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Riverwood I sat in the southwest corner, by the fireplace. I didn’t worry about all that mess you hear, how you should paint with the north light or this light or that light. There were big windows and the walls were white, so that light worked for me. And I didn’t even have a real easel. I painted on a used blackjack table I bought at a damage sale from McLean Trucking Company. Nothing fancy. It had an old vinyl top. I kept trying out different chairs to find one that fit, and I painted outside and under fluorescent lights because that’s what I had. I didn’t do this intentionally or knowingly, but I found that if I worked under poor light conditions and did everything I could to make a painting the best I could, then I’d take it outside into really good light and it always turned out better than I thought. It just happened that way. in the corner , by the fireplace , working alone, surrounded by used furniture and paints stored in old tackle boxes. This was Bob Timberlake’s world for seventeen prolific years, at a place that would wind itself into his life and work. The house at Riverwood was built in 1788 by a soldier who fought in the American Revolution. The hewn pine logs were eighteen inches thick. The front porch opened to a broad pasture where a massive oak tree lorded over the scene. Timberlake stumbled across the farm in 1972, after his uncle, Percy Crichter, and Crichter’s friend, Thurman Briggs, bought eleven hundred acres adjoining High Rock Lake, deep in Davidson County. Timberlake was painting full time at his house in Lexington, but distractions mounted. There was always something more enjoyable to do than struggle with a difficult scene. He found himself playing basketball with his sons, Ed and Dan, more than he should. And for the first time in his life, he was indoors more than outdoors. So he thought of the farm at Riverwood, the colonial log house, that unforgettable oak. When he approached Crichter and Briggs about the property, they struck an unusual deal.
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31 Gilley’s Cabin
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For every fifty dollars’ worth of improvements Timberlake made on the house and its outbuildings, he got a free month’s rent. There was plenty to do. As majestic as the farm was, the house was a mess. Timberlake had the chimney and fireplace removed and rebuilt. He fixed the roof, bricked over the well house, and put in a new pump. And he painted. Riverwood lit a creative fire in Timberlake. Everywhere he looked, in any season, in rain and snow and blue-sky sunlight, something begged to be painted. And along the way, Timberlake met a family that would serve as subject material and a source of deep friendship. Dan and Gilley Melton lived with their granddaughter, Wanda Woods, in a very old two-story house clad in clapboard and tin and wooden shingles, just beyond Riverwood’s signature oak tree.
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W e l l , h e w a s a c h a r a c t e r , g o l l y M o s e s . D a n M e l t o n was a character. He was the same age as my dad, and he was from South Carolina. He always said he was part Indian, and he told me all kinds of stories about how blackberries cured everything. He never went to the doctor. Gilley was sweet and wonderful — I still remember her standing out in the field, talking to her cows. And their granddaughter, Wanda, lived with them. Wanda ran through the woods barefooted and free like a wild girl. The first time I met her, she was probably eleven years old. They all lived in a house that didn’t have running water and didn’t have electricity. Right there beside my studio. Now Wanda loved animals and animals loved her. Animals gravitate to some people. The Meltons had two big, huge bulls and several cows and some goats and a pony, and I don’t know how many cats. At one point Wanda and I took care of more than twenty dogs because everybody put out dogs down there on the road, and I bought the food and Wanda fed them. I would be painting in the studio, and I’d hear the brakes on the school bus squeak and squawk. And I knew what was about to happen, so I’d get up and go over to the door and watch. The bus would let Wanda off right at the corner of the fence between my studio and their house. All the kids would be laughing and talking, and at the same time, all those animals had made their way to the corner of the fence. They waited on her. They heard the bus coming and they knew. Dan would leave a pile of corn ears lying out there, and she would get off in her hand-me-down dress and come over the fence and feed those animals. The heads of those bulls were wide as a tree trunk, and this skinny little girl with her pigtails would be right in there with them. They loved her. Every animal there was either baa-ing, barking, meowing, or moo-ing. I saw this a hundred times. It was an amazing sight, an amazing, moving sight, Wanda standing there, talking to the animals — and them listening! every day at riverwood brought some memorable experience, something extraordinary rooted in the commonplace. There was that time Dan Melton’s goat fell in the well; the year a bee colony set up shop behind the wall in the north corner of the studio; and the day Timberlake found honey dripping on the floor through the hand-hewn logs. There were long
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Wanda
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walks in the woods with his friend, Charles Kuralt, who recognized Timberlake’s growing role as an interpreter of the landscape. There were visits from the geese and the deer and a growing number of fans as Timberlake’s reputation widened. More often, however, there was quietude and contemplation, weeks in the fields and woods, painting those passing moments that last forever when captured just so: the way late winter snow melts from a fallen tree branch, persimmon leaves in October, a quilt airing on a fence rail in the sunshine of early spring. There was the day Dan Melton showed up to chat just like he’d done dozens of times before, but this time he sat in the doorway of the studio, in the sun, leather shoes propped on the stacked rock steps. His black-and-white dog, Stan, slipped under his knee to soak in the sunshine and the caress of his master’s hand. Timberlake stopped what he was doing and began sketching. I t was perhaps the most difficult painting I’d ever tried, and while I was working on Dan’s portrait, I kept asking myself, why in the world would you try to do this? He had a beard and that woolly sweater and a leather hat beside him, a dog at his feet, leather shoes, corduroy pants. The contrast of all those textures — a door mat under his feet, the wood door casing with rusty nails, the old logs, dog fur, the stacked stones where he rested his boots. It was a world Dan
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of different contrasts. I had to figure out if I could actually do it. I was really beginning to understand how I was attracted to contrast and textures. I was drawn to rocks or log barns that are rough and scraggly and beat up and chipped and weather- worn, but there’s a little daisy sitting there nearby. We’re all so busy and scheduled up and stuff that we just don’t see anymore. I guess that’s what Riverwood allowed me to do: to see. I’d paint in the mornings and work on the house and then walk through the woods to eat in Southmont and talk to a few old- timers. It was such a rare gift: out there, my job was to soak it all in and put it all down. Can you believe it? I couldn’t have imagined such a life. Something would catch my eye, and I could spend hours and days and weeks working out the scene. And that was my job: just to be at Riverwood and let things happen. One day Dan and I were standing outside the back door talking, and we kept hearing this little dog whimpering. It sounded like puppies, actually, whining down there in the woods. Dan said it was probably a wild dog, like that was no big deal, and he left and went back to his house. I worked for a little while, and then I stepped back outside and it was still whining. I ate lunch and I messed around for another couple of hours, and sure enough, I could hear it whine every now and then.
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Well, you know I had to go try to find it. I walked on down in the woods and found a little white and black puppy. Young thing, his eyes weren’t even open yet. Right out there in the middle of the woods. And I thought, what in the world is going on? How in the world did this puppy get out here in the woods? So I looked around to see if I could see the mom. I walked around in bigger and bigger circles, and then I found four more puppies in a little nest of scratched-up leaves. They were like tiny little deer, they didn’t move. What had happened, I figured, was the mother was feeding them, and this little one was holding on to her and dropped off and then couldn’t figure out how to get back to the nest. So I got a handful of leaves so my hands wouldn’t smell like a human, you know, and I put that little puppy back with the others because it was fumbling around, falling around in the woods. I got it back in the nest, and that’s all I could do. And as I was walking out of the woods back to the studio, I saw this one mushroom. I mean, the sun was hitting on this great old big yellow mushroom in the moss. Just like that. So I painted it, and called it Wild Dog Mushroom . That’s one example of the way things just happened out at Riverwood. It’s hard to explain. I think about the time I was going to do the painting for Keep America Beautiful. I kept asking myself, what do you do in a painting that is symbolic of America? All of America? Something that everyone could identify with? I thought about that long and hard. And one day Wanda was out around the studio — she was always picking flowers and bringing in blackberries, and I had all these enamel pots out on the front porch. I was thinking through this Keep America Beautiful painting, and I walked out the door and bam! It was right there in front of me. Wanda was watering four or five pots full of flowers down at the well — white daisies, yellow daisies, all kinds of stuff — and there was a red pot, a white pot, and a blue pot in the mix. I didn’t have to do any arranging. I moved some of the other pots out of the scene, but I knew it as soon as I saw it. What’s more American than daisies? They’re on the side of the highway, you see them high up in the mountains, you fly into an airport and walk outside and there is a daisy growing in the crack of the asphalt.
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Wild Dog Mushroom
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40 We raised several hundred thousand dollars with that painting and brought a lot of awareness to Keep America Beautiful. And things like that happened all the time out there. timberlake painted at Riverwood from 1972 to 1989. It was a time of impressive achievement. While at Riverwood, Timberlake sold out three one-man exhibitions at Hammer Galleries in New York before their preview openings. He was named the “Official Artist of Keep America Beautiful” and published a limited edition book, The Bob Timberlake Collection , with Charles Kuralt. He was the only Southern artist in recent years to have a one-man exhibition at the Corcoran Gallery in Washington, D.C., and was the only artist ever to receive the prestigious Albert Schweitzer Humanitarian Award. He visited Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace. He was the first Southern artist to paint a U.S. Postal Service Christmas stamp, and he painted the South Carolina and North Carolina bicentennial stamps. Riverwood provided inspiration and escape, an anchor to history and his early years roaming the countryside. And Riverwood was a sail that Iron Eyes Cody
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41 carried him forward. When he moved to a new studio in 1990, even larger worlds awaited. But Riverwood never left him. Like the branches of that old storm-blasted oak tree, reaching outward and upward, yearning towards the sky, Riverwood is entwined in all that Timberlake has accomplished, reaching all the way back to that fateful day in 1969 when he told himself, “I can do this.” R iverwood launched me. It brought me into an environment where I could do the things that I loved and that I was naturally inclined to do. Out there, it was a world of apple orchards, gardens, searching for wild mushrooms, roaming through the woods and the fields. Even though I was out in the country so much growing up, I was still raised in town. So picking blackberries or cherries at Riverwood was different because it wasn’t something I just did once or twice a summer. We picked berries all the time down there. It was a place where I could actually think about fences,
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42 and all the work it took to build and maintain them, and not just look at them. Riverwood put me in an environment to create things that I wanted to paint but didn’t know I was capable of painting. I was just in the middle of it all. I’m a history nut, and down there I was working in a two-hundred- year-old house. There were log walls. There was an old horse carriage and wagons. I was living in an older world, connecting to this heritage where I had a lot of roots. Most of the time, there was nobody to talk to. It was just me. When the roof leaked, it was just me moving buckets around to catch the water — then back to work. I was alone at Riverwood, but I was never lonely. It was there that I began to understand what Charles Kuralt told me one time: “Silence is more than the absence of sound.” I would get so engrossed in the work that I’d forget to eat. When I paint, the feeling is like reading the best book you’ve ever read in your whole life. You know how that feels? Now imagine what it might feel like to be reading that book and writing it at the same time. You don’t want to put it down because it’s so good. But you don’t want it to end either. Aug 6-7, 2021 A festival experience all its own. Visit Reevestock.com for all line-up and festival info. Photo by: Jake Rothwell
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44 For the Walls By Carmen Eckard Walls, walls everywhere. The vast vertical expanses can be overwhelming, but those blank walls are not your enemy. Try to think of them as a blank canvas with which you get to set the mood and tone of your home. There’s no end to the different types of things you can put on your wall, but we should start with the most obvious: art. Art is highly personal, so you’ll have to go on this journey alone, or with your housemates! But, we do have some tips that might help you while you are making your selections. First, look around your living space and decide which colors you want to highlight. Art should not dominate your room, and it should not clash with the mood or color scheme. In the case of the photograph at right, the painting Gate Latch, 1981 by Bob Timberlake is paired with a room that has very neutral and natural colors. The wood element is heavily represented in the room, and adding art that features wood creates a very positive energy. The art introduces the color red to the space which creates interest in the art, and adds warmth to the room. However, if the art were predominantly red, it would overwhelm the space, and it wouldn’t feel connected to the room. It’s also important to ask yourself what style of art you like. People have been making art since we lived in caves, and there are countless styles and schools of art. Sometimes a vintage piece is exactly what a room needs. However, we also like to be sure to support working artists, because that’s the only way they will be able to keep working. Does your town have an artist who captures the spirit of the community? Many towns do, and those artists will always make your home feel homier. We suggest visiting your local arts council and talking with people there. They will be full of good advice.
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46 We also live in one of the most beautiful parts of the country. There are achingly beautiful views never too far away, and there are many talented artists who are painting those gorgeous vistas. At left, you’ll find the work of Steven Brooks. He is endlessly fascinated by Grandfather Mountain. Who could blame him? It’s the most iconic ridge line in the mountain chain and it deserves a place on the wall in any foothills home. We also love the work of Charlie Frye, shown bottom left. His folk art gets right to the heart of our culture, and his whimsical use of color and form will make you smile. We love how he often ignores the traditional bounds of art. Who says a frame can’t be part of the art? Photography prints are another popular option. These can be sized to fit the space you need, and you have many options when it comes to finishes and framing. Landscapes are popular subjects of fine art photography, but truly, you have many choices, and many types of subjects can be impactful. If you are looking for something to hang on your walls that isn’t art, you still have a lot to choose from! Words and inspirational quotes are all the rage right now. At left, you’ll see the word “Relax,” and you’d be surprised how effective a reminder like that can be. It is hard to be stressed out when you are continuously reminded to relax! If you can’t find the words you
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47 are looking for, you can always order custom phrases or make a wall- hanging yourself! Family photos are another popular choice for wall decoration. Before making a collage wall, we encourage you to consider a stylistic theme. A hodge podge of photographs can actually make your room look messy and disordered, but a thoughtful theme can pull a whole room’s style together nicely. At right, we stuck with a visual theme of white b a c k g r o u n d s a n d included only neutrals and primary colors. You can choose several types of visual themes, such as selecting only old-fashioned photographs, or only black and white images, or images that are heavy on a particular color. Another option we adore is to frame a cross-stitch or embroidery. Perhaps your grandmother made a piece, or maybe you’ll find it to be a
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48 relaxing new hobby! You can find patterns at craft stores, or even free-hand your designs. Embroidery is a time- honored tradition that has been gaining in popularity lately. Macramé is also making a comeback. Macramé wall-hangings and plant holders never go out of style, and they can be quite beautiful. We also want to encourage you to think outside the box. At right, you’ll see vintage vinyl albums displayed on a wall. Albums are pleasing to the eye and nostalgic, so we approve this trend. Truly, there is no limit to how creative you can be. Think of the things that are important to you, or visually exciting, and find a way to integrate them. The result will be a home that’s truly yours...unique to your style, and sentimental. That’s a home where you’ll enjoy your time.
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50 By Roseann Flowers There’s no denying that the real estate market has had its ups and downs over the past year. So, what does this mean for you? Survey says… people are feeling better about the real estate market, both on the buyer and seller side. In March, the Fannie Mae Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI) was 81.7, up 5.2 points from February—which means more consumers are feeling optimistic about the real estate market. According to the HPSI: • 61 percent of consumers surveyed said that now was a good time to sell (up from 55 percent in February) • 53 percent of consumers surveyed said that now was a good time to buy (up from 48 percent in February) • So, what’s driving the improving consumer sentiment? According to Fannie Mae’s senior vice president and chief economist Doug Duncan, vaccines and the recent round of stimulus are playing a large role. • “The significant increase in the HPSI in March reflects consumer optimism toward the housing market and larger economy as vaccinations continue to roll out, a third round of stimulus checks was distributed, and this spring home buying season began—perhaps with even more intensity this year, since 2020’s spring homebuying season was limited by virus-related lockdowns,” Duncan said in a recent press release. According to the Canopy MLS (Multiple Listings Services) data, the Catawba Valley region, in March, was showing a 6.7 percent increase year-over-year, as 350 homes were sold across the four-county region. March sales compared to February 2021, increased 35.7 percent, which means momentum is building and the coming selling season should be busy. March data also show the impact that the pandemic had during a key time in the selling season last year. Transactions in this report include single-family and condo/townhome sales in Alexander, Burke, Caldwell and Catawba counties in the region northwest of the Charlotte. The State of the Market
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51 Properties sold rather quickly in March, as days on market until sale averaged 29 days versus 50 days a year ago. Low supply creates a highly favorable market for sellers, as indicated by the original list price to sales price ratio registering 97.4 percent in March, showing sellers were getting most of their asking prices. Prices continue to rise, with both the median sales price ($210,000) and the average sales price ($258,187) rising 18.5 percent and 21.5 percent year-over-year, respectively. The average list price rose by 16.4 percent year- over-year to $275,930. What does this mean for you? People are feeling better about the real estate market, both on the buyer and seller side—so if you’ve been thinking about buying or selling a home, now is a great time to make a move. First things first: If you’re a homeowner who’s thinking about getting off the sidelines and into the real estate game this spring or summer, here are some important “plays” to make before listing your home. First of all, you’ll want to get your “team” together and come up with a serious strategy about moving and all it entails. Devise a game plan by figuring out where you’ll go next. Then, establish a timeframe for everything that needs to get done before listing your property and, ideally, finding another. Tackle major and minor fixes: Even the most conscientious homeowners have a few maintenance tasks they’ve avoided. Now’s the time to tackle these because the clock is ticking! Whether you need to declutter and clean or update a kitchen or bathroom, it’s best to get moving before you really have to get moving. Don’t be afraid to pass off a few tasks: Just like it wouldn’t make sense for a linebacker to punt the football, you may not be the best person for every job that needs to be done around your house to get it ready to hit the market. Everybody’s got strengths and weaknesses, and it’s okay to leave some tasks to the pros. For instance, gutter-cleaning, power-washing, and basic landscaping improvements will boost your curb appeal, and may be items you can handle. But fixing some electrical or plumbing issues may be more involved than your average weekend warrior should do. Often a team is only as good as its coach. You need someone who’s able to see the whole field and call the right plays. When you’re thinking of selling your most valuable asset, you definitely don’t want to throw a “Hail Mary” and hope it all works out! Hiring the best real estate agent can mean the difference between victory and defeat, so choose wisely! Real Estate agents can offer advice on pricing, staging, repairs, updates, and provide a list of reputable contractors and service providers throughout the entire selling process. In today’s virtual world, good quality photographs, videos and drone photography are necessary to market online. Most people today shop homes virtually before viewing a home in person, so hire an agency that offers quality photography with their service. Real Estate agents are there to help guide you and answer questions, from contracts, to negotiations, to assisting with closing details. If you need to sell before purchasing, there are some favorable loan programs to help you buy before selling. One type of loan that is not discussed often is called a Recast loan. A Recast loan allows a seller to purchase a home by putting a down a small 3-5% deposit, instead of a 20% deposit. A loan payment is configured based on that amount. However, once the seller’s home is sold and they have the equity available from the sale, they can add an additional deposit to the loan and have their payments reconfigured to bring their monthly mortgage payments lower. Or, if they have enough equity available, they can pay the loan off in full. (This loan is only available for conventional loans. Government loans do not offer this option, but it’s a great way to buy to eliminate a contingency situation).
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52 Ready to Buy a Home? The majority of buyers purchase their homes using a mortgage. So, what do mortgage lenders want buyers to know about buying a home—particularly in today’s hot real estate market? A recent article from realtor.com outlined the key insights mortgage lenders want home buyers to understand if they’re planning to buy a home in 2021, Some include: Get pre-approved from the get-go. Because homes are selling so quickly in today’s market, it’s important to make getting pre-approved for your mortgage the first step in the homebuying process. That way, you know what type of budget you’re working with—and are ready to submit an offer as soon as you find the right property. Hire a Real Estate Agent – Real Estate agents work for you! They are there to help you throughout the entire home-buying process. From searching homes, to advising on placing offers, to negotiating pricing, and explaining home inspection reports, they are there to help you move through the process so you can get to the closing table. Prepare for bidding wars. Thanks to a lack of inventory, bidding wars are the norm in markets across the country—and while you can’t necessarily avoid bidding wars, you can prepare for them. Before you make an offer, talk to your real estate agent to get on the same page in terms of how much the home is worth, how high you’re willing to go with your offer, and the terms you can offer that may be appealing to a seller beyond the price. Don’t give up. Trying to buy in the midst of a seller’s market can be a frustrating experience. But don’t let the challenges deter you—because those challenges may not be any better if you put off the buying process. (For example, prices may seem high right now—but homes are continuing to appreciate, and prices could easily be higher if you delay your home search, or interest rates can increase and add to the cost as well.) Have questions about buying or selling a home. Contact Roseann Flowers, REALTOR®/Broker at Hickory Real Estate Group at 828-315-0559.
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54 NEW NEW BUILDS BUILDS
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55 The only way to get exactly the home you want in exactly the spot you want it, short of having absurdly good luck, is to build. We know that the idea of building a new home can be intimidating, but it can also be tremendously rewarding, since the payoff is a living space that is exactly to your specifications. There are many good reasons to make an investment of this nature. The most obvious reason is that property value never depreciates. This has always held true, even during the pandemic. So unless the way of the world totally reverses itself, money you invest in a new build will not depreciate. While property values have been increasing, mortgage rates have been dropping. In fact, they are at an all-time low! This makes it a great time to finance your dream home! The process can be confusing so we turned to Moss- Marlow Building Company. For more than a century, this company has been constructing the important buildings and custom homes in the foothills of North Carolina. We spoke with Mike McGhinnis who said, “The new custom home market has never been as busy as it is right now in western North Carolina. Despite concerns about escalating building materials costs, many folks are moving ahead with their plans to build their forever home - or even a second, vacation home. In order to have a successful project, open and honest communication from the beginning is critical.“ He gave us a few additional tips that should help make your own custom home project MORE enjoyable and LESS stressful.
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56 • Spend time in advance thinking about the functionality and aesthetics that you desire in your new home. • Put together examples of the above to share (via Pinterest, Houzz, etc.). • Consider having custom plans designed to ensure that you get exactly what you want instead of settling for something close. • Interview multiple builders and determine who is the best fit for your project and your personality - check references and reviews. • Determine a realistic budget and communicate that with your builder up front. • Design your new home with the future in mind, i.e. Aging-in- Place features. • Research to find out if there are any community guidelines or restrictions that might apply to your project (where applicable). • Have any required permits issued as early in the process as possible (i.e. septic & well permits - where applicable). • Start working with a lender early in the process. As the old saying goes, “fail to plan and you plan to fail.” That is particularly true when talking about the custom home building process. The more work you put into your project on the front end, the more likely it is to be a success!
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57 Welcome Welcome Home Home f D Recommended Realtors Roseann Flowers: 828.315.0559 roseannflowers.com Hickory Real Estate Group: 828.604.6597 hickoryrealestategroup.com Tami Fox: 828. 234.5835 tamifox.kwrealty.com Helene Cote: (828)446-9890 homewithhelene.com Sasha Elliott: 704.804.0718 sasha@harperrealtync.com Roxanne Hale: 504.357.0321 roxanne@harperrealtync.com Mike and Janet Martinez: 336.990.0999 cmike.com f D Recommended Realtors
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58 ten easy ten easy upgrades upgrades for $50 or less for $50 or less Some home improvement projects improve your quality of life significantly or drastically improve the look of your house. It’s even more exciting when the projects are easy, fast and cheap! We’ve rounded up a list of projects that give you a real bang for your buck. You can knock out several of these projects in a weekend, and your pocketbook won’t suffer for your enthusiasm. 1: Paint your front door. Choose a bold color, like a traditional red, a deep blue, or a trendy green. This project doesn’t take long at all but it has a huge impact on your curb appeal. Make sure you choose a sunny day, and you’ll need about a quart of paint, plus primer. Do not skip the primer. Be sure to clean your door before you get started, and stir your paint periodically. A hand-brushed look is desired, so even if you roll on the paint, you may want to use a brush for some details. 2: Hang large, attention-getting house numbers. Don’t be afraid to go much larger than you have in the past, and make your house numbers a statement piece. The selection online is vast and you may be able to find something a little more unusual. A dramatic font or an interesting material can attract a lot of attention.
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3: Hang peel-and-stick wallpaper. Browse the popular website Etsy, or visit your local wallpaper supplier. New technology has made it much easier to create murals on your walls using peel and stick wallpaper. Since it’s removable, don’t be afraid to make dramatic choices, like the forest shown at left. You can use a very colorful pattern on a small wall for big impact. 4: Change your cabinet hardware. In the kitchen or the bathroom, this simple upgrade makes a big difference in the look of the room. There are thousands of options available to you, so you should select whichever set speaks to you the most. Simple, clean lines are trendy and look quite polished. There are two main sizes of hardware with two screw holes, so be sure to measure your cabinets before you purchase. 5: Remove an outdated popcorn ceiling. Full disclosure: this is the least enjoyable project on the list, but it’s very worth the effort. Removing your popcorn ceiling doesn’t cost much at all, but it is labor intensive. The first thing you’ll need to do is clean your room out and cover
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62 & BREWER BREWER 204 East Main Street, Wilkesboro, NC 28697 www.brewerandbrewer.com | 336-667-1441 Serving Clients for Four Generations Call Us For A FREE Consultation! • Traffic Offenses / D.W.I. • Divorce / Custody / Support • Workers’ Compensation • Serious Injury Accidents • Deeds, Wills, Corporations • Product Liability • Real Estate, Contracts • Criminal Law 2021 Sponsor of Carolina Bible Camp Bluegrass Festival and 2021 Sponsor of Merlefest Autograph Tent
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the floors and anything you can’t remove with plastic. If you can, remove things like light fixtures. This next bit gets really messy. Make a spray bottle full of water with a bit of dish washing soap. Spray this on a 4-foot by 4-foot section of your ceiling. Let this dry a bit, then the “popcorn” will slide off easily when you scrape it. Use a scraping tool with a wide blade, and gently scrape. Repeat this process until your whole ceiling is smooth. Clean up is a bit of a drag but the polished look is worth it. 6: Stencil your patio. You can easily stencil any concrete area. The first step is get your floor absolutely pristine. If you are painting an indoor floor, we recommend a base coat of paint first. A white base makes for a bold design, and can also create a lace- like effect. If you are painting your patio, you can skip the base paint. You’ll then take your stencil to the center of your room. You can find that spot with a tape measure and chalk line. Secure the stencil with masking tape. Use a medium brush to paint over the stencil, then allow the paint to dry. Remove the stencil and wipe it off. You’ll repeat this many times, creating your grid from the center of the room. At the edges, you will have to carefully bend the stencil, or create and then paint a border made with masking tape. It’s a good idea to give the floor a protective clear coat, but it isn’t essential. Remember not to paint yourself into a corner!
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7: Upgrade your s h o w e r h e a d . Your local hardware store has a variety of shower heads that will upgrade your morning shower. We recommend a rain shower head. These cover a larger area, and gently cascade water in a soothing way. They are easy to install, and the shower head you choose will have installation instructions. 8: Freshen up dated bathroom vanities. A fresh paint of coat will do wonders, but you can also add a simple set of furniture feet to the front corners of the vanity. This will mimic the look of newer vanity sets which usually sit on feet instead of bases. You can go the extra mile and replace the cabinet and drawer fronts to a more modern style. Vanities can cost thousands of dollars, so updating the one you have can save a lot of money! 9: Install a bidet attachment. Toilet paper shortages won’t bother you if you install a simple bidet attachment. The bidet shown is called Tushy, and it a little outside the established $50 budget, but you can find many that are not. Amazon has several designs for about $30 and Lowe’s has a bidet attachment that is integrated in a seat for $50.
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65 10: Frame your old bathroom mir ror. It’s very common in southern bathrooms to find a large, plain mirror attached to the wall with plastic clips. While frugal, the solution is inelegant. There’s no need to buy an all new mirror, however. You can simply frame the one that you have. Carefully remove the clips, frame the glass as if it were a large piece of art, then attach it securely to the wall. Another quick boost to your bathroom is to simply raise your shower curtain rod higher, then purchase a curtain that kisses the floor. This will add drama and sophistication to your space. Don’t let your home overwhelm you! Pick one small project at a time, and before long, you’ll feel confident enough to attempt even larger home improvement projects. It’s very satisfying to be able to see the results of your hard work and good ideas daily as you live in your home.
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66 The Power The Power of Color of Color By Carmen Eckard
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67 There is no element of design that draws more focus than color. As humans, we’ve developed a very powerful relationship with colors, and that relationship can’t be ignored when you are decorating your living space. The colors shown at right are Pantone’s most trendy colors of the year. Pantone and Illuminating and Ultimate Gray as their “color of the year” and the pairing is refreshing and cheery. As always, we think you should listen to your gut much more closely than you listen to trends, but these colors happen to be quite lovely, and the colors all take their cues from nature. Blue and teal are especially hot right now for couches and other statement pieces. Orange is the compliment to blue, and orange is also very popular. “Marigold” has taken the design world by storm! Don’t overuse red, because it can be emotionally overwhelming, and we encourage you to embrace the idea that all shades of green match each other. Color is fun! And if brighter shades make you nervous, you can still lean on neutrals, blues and greens and be perfectly on-trend.
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68 Color can take a space from “blah” to “bold.” You can keep your walls and many furniture pieces neutral, then use color in your accent pieces. This allows you to change your room as your style progresses without major investment.
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69 Psssst... Psssst... foothills foothills Digest Digest is thrilled to is thrilled to announce that we announce that we are an official sponsor are an official sponsor of MerleFest 2021. We can’t of MerleFest 2021. We can’t wait to see you there! wait to see you there! Tickets go on sale on June Tickets go on sale on June 10 at MerleFest.org. 10 at MerleFest.org.
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70 By Aaron Vance The thought of moving sends some people into a panic! I’ve seen it happen. But it doesn’t have to be that way. In my experience, it’s fairly easy to make sure your move goes smoothly and with as little stress as possible. First of all, plan ahead. I can’t emphasize this enough. Movers are busy businesses, especially during this real estate boom. Find one you trust and get on their calendar as soon as you can. Summer season is particularly busy. Get your calendar out and factor in when you’re leaving, where you’re going, and how much time you need to pack up and get there. Dedicate a notebook just to your planning, packing and moving process. How you will be packing and packaging your belongings is important. Many movers offer packing services, but you still need to plan ahead. They need time, too. If you are going the pack-it-yourself route, remember not to overpack a single box or trunk. Yes, a mover will get it there, but once it is in your home or business, you may need to move it yourself once or twice as you are unpacking. And be sure to use quality packing materials. Solid, sturdy boxes with plenty of bubble wrap, tissue or newsprint are best to support and protect your valuables. It is helpful if box tops are able to be closed securely, and stackable. Moving? How To Have a More Efficient, Stress-Free Move
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71 Legible labeling is an important factor for your packed items. Think ahead: what room is this furniture or that box going to in the new place? Furniture can be labeled safely with painter’s tape. What’s in the container? Can it be turned on its side? Is it fragile? You can’t overdo good labeling. Finally, on the day of the move, be available. Your movers will have questions for you. They will need some direction from you even with the best of preparation. In a recent move, one of our employees logged 12 miles on his FitBit! Being available for movers’ questions helps them be faster and more efficient, therefore keeping your cost down. At the end of the busy day, a newly-moved family or business should be able to look back and say that it wasn’t a bad experience at all. And they should look forward to the next good experiences in their new place. Aaron S. Vance is the Owner- Operator of AV Moving Solutions in Wilkesboro, NC. He has directed or assisted nearly 2,000 residential and commercial moves in the last six years. In his spare time, he and his wife, Stacy, participate in obstacle course races and other fitness competitions. (336) 262-8262 Integrity - Reliability - Economy • Providing packing and moving services including out of state, residential and commercial. • Rental trucks and packing materials available. • Free on location estimates. “Like” us on Facebook
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72 DIY FIRE PIT This easy DIY Fire pit will have you and yours roasting marshmallows in no time flat! It’s also inexpensive and customizable. You’ll need: 30 concrete wall retainer blocks ($1.48 at Home Depot) 1 bag of pea pebbles ($4) 1 bag of paver base or sand ($4) Step 1: Clear out an area. Rake, pull weeds. Step 2: Place 10 pavers in a circle and use a shovel to mark the edges. Step 3: Remove the blocks and dig down 2 inches inside your marks. Fill with sand or paver’s base. Step 4: Replace the blocks neatly. Be sure they line up and everything is symmetrical and flat.
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74 Step 5: Add another layer of blocks, being sure to keep everything level. You can use adhesive to attach the bricks but it isn’t a necessary step. Pour the pea pebbles into your fire pit. Step 6: Add a third layer of blocks. We added rubber mulch around the outside of our fire pit. This is long lasting, and if cinders escape, we will certainly smell anything that is burning in the mulch! Step 7: Light a fire and make some S’Mores!
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76 DIY DIY Barn Quilt Barn Quilt
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77 You’ve probably noticed them popping up on barns all over Western North Carolina. Barn Quilts, once a quirky and little- known trend, are everywhere! That’s not to say they are overplayed, however. We think that barn quilts are one of the easiest ways to add mountain- charm to a house or barn. It isn’t hard to make them at all! The hardest part is choosing your pattern, but actually creating the piece is methodical, but not difficult. Barn Quilts are designed to look like old-fashioned quilts, and they are created on a grid. The size of the grid can vary widely, and the pattern can be anything you’d like, so long as it fits on the grid. Many Barn Quilts favor traditional and established quilt patterns, but most are created by the home-owners. You’ll need pressure-treated plywood in whatever size you’d like your Barn Quilt to be. Take into consideration the size of your house or barn when making this choice. You’ll also need 2x4s and L brackets to brace the back, plus supplies to paint. These will include a good quality exterior paint and lacquer, masking tape, and a good straightedge and ruler for making your grid. You’ll sand your plywood, then give it a base coat of paint. Now, you’ll create your grid on your wood. Use a ruler and a straight- edge and measure carefully. You’ll want your shape to be a large square, made of up rows and columns of 4, 5, or 6. They should all be the same size. Each square will have several lines drawn through it, as seen on the pattern template at the end of this article. You’ll be recreating that template on a larger scale.
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78 828-324-6235 Oakwood Dental Arts is a full service dentistry firm based in the heart of Hickory, North Carolina in the historic Oakwood district. Our mission is to help you thrive in our town. Whether you have a troubled tooth that needs help or want to get that smile you’ve always dreamed about, we are here to serve. We will work with you to create a plan to achieve the best oral health possible. Let’s take the journey together. OakwoodDentalArtsNC.com mckinneydds@oakwooddentalartsnc.com
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79 Now, you’ll need to select a pattern. We’ve included several samples throughout this article. You can also create your own pattern using the template at the end of the article. Just remember to keep it simple. Your color palette is very important. You want your Barn Quilt to complement the nature around you, not clash with it. What colors are prominent in the area? Our patterns include colors that we think work well in western North Carolina, but you can choose any color that speaks to you. Depending on your painting skill, you may want to use masking tape to protect the areas you aren’t painting, and to help you get a crisp, clean edge. It’s OK if you aren’t the best artist you know! These are viewed from a distance, and small mistakes won’t show. Take your time, and just paint each square the color as
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80 your pattern instructs. All lines should be straight lines, so use a ruler or tape and you can’t get too far off track. Once you’ve painted the whole thing, you’ll need to determine if you need a second coat. That’s a matter of opinion we’ll leave up to you. However, don’t skip the protective coat of lacquer. We want this to last a long time! After you have your protective coat dried, it’s time to use the 2x4s to brace your plywood. One of the boards go across the top, and one goes across the bottom. Use the L-Brackets to secure the boards. Be sure the whole thing is sturdy! Then, the whole thing is lifted into place and screwed down. That will likely take at least two people and a ladder, depending on how large you make it. Next time you drive around western North Carolina, keep an eye out for Barn Quilts. We bet you’ll see at least a handful!
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82 F F armhouse armhouse kitchen remode kitchen remode l l with with STEELE’S STEELE’S CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION We are always impressed with the work of Steele’s Construction, so when we heard that they had purchased one of our favorite farm houses, by the intersection of Highways 127 and 90 in Taylorsville, we couldn’t wait to see their renovations! They didn’t disappoint. The original home is quite old, built in 1923 and has existed as a family farm since it was built. The kitchen was small and didn’t offer much space (see the “before” at the end of the article), so nearly all of the kitchen is a new addition. We were impressed with the way the new build seamlessly integrates with the rest of the house. The shiplap ceiling and walls carry the style of a plank board farmhouse, but the appliances and work
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87 spaces are top-of-the-line modern conveniences. Quartz countertops, high-end sink faucets and rustic but modern light fixtures blend old style with new convenience. They’ve created a shelf using bronze pipe and marble, and it looks utilitarian and opulent all at once. A large bowl of eggs and freshly cut flowers remind us that we are on a farm. This kitchen, with its large island and multiple cookstations, is well- equipped for cooking for crowds, but it’s all-white color scheme and clean lines ensure it feels open and clean. It’s a beautiful kitchen, and it feels true to the soul of the home. "W W e built a new addition that e built a new addition that looks original to the farmhous looks original to the farmhous e e" TIM TIM STEELE STEELE
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88 Houseplant Houseplant primer primer
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There’s nothing that can add style and a literal breath of fresh air as handily as houseplants. While different types of houseplants will require varying levels of light and water, the basic needs of houseplants are generally similar and easy to understand. Cover these basics, and you’ll be well on your way to an Instagram-perfect living space. • Water! Different plants have different needs here, so take notes on the requirements when you purchase your plant, or use Google. • Fertilize. Again, this need varies according to plant. Fertilizer labels tell you how much nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium the fertilizer has. For flowering plants, those numbers should all be similar. • Repot. If the roots of your plant are circling the bottom of the pot, it’s time for a bigger container. It’s best to do this during the spring or summer, and it’s a good time to split plants that are growing too large for a pot as well. • Clean. This includes wiping down dirty leaves AND trimming and pinching dead parts of your plant, like leaves and dying flowers. • Don’t be afraid to propagate, but watch some YouTube videos specific to your plant first. • Sun needs. You’ll want to know if your plant prefers full sun, partial sun, shade or indirect light and plan accordingly.
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Chinese Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides)- This photogenic plant will improve your Insta. They like bright light but not direct sunshine. You’ll need drainage holes and the soil should dry out between waterings. Rotate weekly. Monstera (Monstera deliciosa)- These plants are delightfully on-trend and easy to care for. They are known for their “Swiss cheese” look. Water about once a week, when soil is dry to the touch. They like medium to bright indirect light. Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)- This plant is hardy and seems to thrive on being ignored. It likes soil meant for succulents and can live in low-light spaces, although it will grow more slowly. Let the soil dry between waterings. Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae)- If you can give these plants enough sun and heat, they will reward you with gorgeous and exotic blooms, but even in typical house settings, the greenery is lush. Fertilize and give full sun.
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Calathea (Many varieties)- This tropical plant prefers indirect light, and even shade. It wants to stay damp, so be sure to give it a soil that retains moisture. Keep it in your home’s warmest spot. There are 300+ variations. Rubber Plant (Ficus Elastica)- This gorgeous plant has waxy, richly-colored leaves that improve any space. It will grow up to ten feet tall indoors and is evergreen. It wants bright, indirect light and you should keep the soil moist. European Fan Palm (Chamaerops humilis)- This palm tree isn’t very demanding and prefers about four hours of direct sun daily. Keep it away from heating and cooling vents and make sure the soil drains well. Wipe it clean from time to time. Money Tree (Pachira aquatica)- Water twice a week, and keep in well-draining soil. It doesn’t need much sun and can thrive in indirect light, so it’s a flexible house plant. Give it a quarter turn each week to keep its shape.
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92 G G row Better row Better Vegetables Vegetables
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93 It used to be that every yard had a garden, but the world has changed a great deal. The advent of huge grocery chains, and the fact that most adults have responsibilities that take them away from their homes during the day, makes home gardens a much rarer sight. But lately, the number of home gardeners has been increasing quickly. Last year saw an enormous jump in the number of gardens and now more than one-third of American homes have gardens. That recent spike has been attributed to the pandemic. People were both worried about food security and home much more often, and gardening was a very natural way to deal with the unusual circumstances in which we found ourselves. If you’re considering adding a garden to your yard, we think it’s a great idea! It isn’t as hard as you may assume. All plants need sun, water and nutrients. Vegetables should be planted in the sun, watered often and given good, nutrient-rich soil. You’ll also need to make some safeguards to keep pests away from your vegetables. These vary by location and type of pest. You can grow a garden in western North Carolina in all seasons as long as you pay attention to what plants prefer which season. On the following pages, we’ll tell you about some things you can plant in the summer in western North Carolina. •
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94 • Beets: Start your outdoor seeds in July. • Basil: Seeds or transplants can be planted in May, June and July. • Broccoli: In late July and early August, plant transplants. • Brussels Sprouts: Transplant young plants in July. These are fascinating to see on the stalk and we recommend growing them. • Cabbage: Transplants can be planted in July or early August. • Carrots: You can plant carrot seeds in late July and early August. • Cauliflower: Seeds or transplants can go in the ground in late July and early August. • Collard Greens: You can put seeds or transplants in the ground from April to early August. • Cucumbers: Plant seeds or transplants from May to July. • Kale: Seeds and transplants should be planted in August. • Lettuce: Plant seeds in July and August. • Melons: Cantaloupes can be planted from seed May through July and watermelon can be planted May through June. • Okra: Seeds and transplants go in the ground May through July. • Onions: You can plant your bulbs in August. • Tomatoes: It’s best to plant transplants in May and June. • Turnips: Plant turnip seeds late July and early August. • Radishes: Seeds can be planted in August. • Snap beans: Plant seeds or transplants in June. Every Southern garden needs some of these. So many memories have been made snapping beans with the family. • Spinach: You can plant from seed in August.
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95 Additional tips: • Dump your coffee grounds into your soil. This has been hotly debated, but it’s been proven to add phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, copper and nitrogen to your soil. • If you are using containers, add Styrofoam packing peanuts to your soil. This makes the containers much lighter and doesn’t decrease the quality of your soil. • Blend banana peels with water to add potassium, potash, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, phosphates and sodium to your soil. • Add a whole raw egg, in the shell, to your container gardens. It will slowly release important nutrients. • Consider the traditional methods of “planting with the moon.” Plant annual flowers and fruit and vegetables that bear crops above ground during the waxing of the moon, and flowering bulbs, biennial and perennial flowers, and vegetables that bear crops below ground during the moon’s waning period. • Pay attention to the pH needs of your plants and the balance of your soil. You can get a tester, like the one shown at right, that will test your pH balance, light level and moisture level. • The foothills are in Zone 7a, and our mountains are 6a or 6b. Check the labels of your seeds or plants to be sure that they are hardy in these zones.
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96 Backyard Chickens Backyard Chickens Keeping chickens is more popular than it has been in decades. By 2018, a full 8% of American households kept hens. There aren’t yet definitive numbers for how many households raise poultry since the pandemic began, but the CDC says 2020 was a record year, and businesses that sell needed equipment agree, as they couldn’t keep it on the shelves. We notice that in the past, during other times of national emergency, keeping chickens was considered a patriotic thing to do, and propaganda was created to convince more families to raise their own eggs. It feels awfully American to lean into a hobby that helps you produce food for your family, in a time of crisis. Perhaps it feels a bit like a security blanket in unsure times. Whatever the reason, raising chickens is the thing to do . There are some considerations before you jump into a new hobby. First, is it allowed where you live? Secondly, do you have the proper space and the resources you’ll need? Thirdly, do you have neighbors (and how much do you like them)? Are you allowed to have chickens where you live? If you are in the city limits, there are likely rules you’ll need to know and follow. They may include not having a rooster, but don’t worry... you don’t need one. They may also address how many chickens you are permitted to have based on the size of your yard and in which zone you are located. Secondly, do you have room? You’ll need at least 10 square feet of outdoor enclosed space per hen, and about three square feet of space in a coop. If you don’t want to fence your birds By Carmen Eckard
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97 during the day, they can “free-range” and will come home at night, but you may get weary of stepping in chicken droppings at your front door. You’ll also want to make sure they have a safe and secure area to roost at night. The chickens need a roost, where they will sleep. They need outdoor space to walk around, which can be covered in straw or saw dust. They need a coop, and a private, dark place to lay eggs. They’ll make a nest, so give them hay. They also need water, chicken feed, oyster shells and snacks, which can be fresh veggies, or leftovers of lots of things you eat. It’s particularly fun to watch them go after spaghetti, prancing about with their “prize” noodle they are sure is a worm. You’ll also want to give them some toys or activity so they don’t get bored. Bored chickens are mean to each other. Lastly, do you have neighbors? That you want to like you? Then maybe a rooster isn’t for you. If you have close neighbors, they will most certainly be annoyed by early morning crowing, and you won’t be able to convince your rooster to sleep in. No worries, though, because you don’t need a rooster! Your ladies will lay eggs without a rooster and they won’t be harassed! Should you keep chickens? Eggs are cheap at the grocery store, so it doesn’t always make economical sense to raise hens. But, you can give your hens a better life than the life of a commercial laying hen, and happier hens make better eggs. It’s also fun and rewarding! So, if you can answer those first three questions with a “yes,” then, yes! You should raise chickens!
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Three Plants to Add to Your Backyard Butterfly Garden By Blair Finley Dancy Nothing says summer like groups of butterflies coming to visit gardens of colorful flowers! And since we all have additional things we want to do, we want a low maintenance garden that provides a wholesome environment for healthy generations of butterflies. Here are three of my favorite seasonal plants that are ready now to bring butterflies to your garden: • Columbine is a personal favorite for many reasons, including the fact that it is deer resistant! Butterflies, bees and hummingbirds love it. This herbaceous perennial (one whose outward growth dies back annually while coming back perennially at the roots) comes in a variety of colors. In the fall, it produces beautiful burgundy foliage. We like it for its ability to resist drought, as well. Plant it in full sun to part shade, and enjoy it in cut flower arrangements. • Pincushion flowers come in a delicate shade of pink as well as an almost otherworldly periwinkle blue. It attracts legions of butterflies and has an exceptionally long flowering period: from spring to frost, in fact! This prolific bloomer is capable of producing 20-50 blooms per plant, and can be very happy in raised beds. Pincushions like full sun and need good drainage. • Zinnias are popular with gardeners for their ease of growing, and butterflies are drawn to their colorful flowers and voracious blooms. This annual should be grown from seed for best results. Sow a round of seed for several subsequent weeks to extend the flowering season. They crave full sun and make a pretty arrangement simply cut and placed in a retro blue Mason jar. Pour your glass of lemonade, smudge on a smidge of sunscreen, and head outdoors to bask in the butterflies’ beauty. That wasn’t difficult at all, was it? Blair Finley Dancy has been operating Midtown Garden + Market in North Wilkesboro, NC since 2018. She lives in Wilkesboro with her husband and son. Her favorite butterfly flower is classic red bee balm.
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99 We’ve got it growin’ on! We’ve got it growin’ on! 339 Wilkesboro Avenue North Wilkesboro (336) 667 - 4852 www.midtowngardenmarket.com shopmidtowngarden@gmail.com We are thrilled to be located in North Wilkesboro, a historically artistic and agricultural community. Our plant selection is expansive, diverse and unique. We believe your garden is an extension of your home. We also offer landscaping services as well as workshops.
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100 Backyard Backyard Beekeeping Beekeeping Beekeeping is older than history. We don’t know when man first started eating honey, but it’s thought by scientists that this happened before the species evolved into modern man. Researchers believe that one of the first things early man did with tools they created was crack open beehives. Honey is an exceptional food source, full of glucose needed to nurture brain development. Additionally, honey NEVER goes bad. Vats of honey from the pyramids in Egypt have been opened and found to be perfectly edible. Even today, there are some cultures, like the Aché in Paraguay and the Efé pygmy people of the Congo, where honey makes up the majority of the food. People in these cultures can get up to 85% of their daily calories from honey! Recently, researchers have found that honey made from bees that live near you can help ease seasonal allergies! This is only true of local honey, because the bees process flowers that are also putting pollen into the air. Honey can also help lower your bad cholesterol while raising your good cholesterol. Honey has incredible antibacterial and antiseptic properties, as well. It is part of many medicines for this reason. When your grandmother told you to add honey to your warm drinks when you were getting sick, she was right! This only works if you are using raw, unfiltered honey, but unfortunately, this can be tricky. More than 75% of honey sold in United States grocery stores is fake honey, or has been tampered with so much that most food laws wouldn’t allow it to be called “honey.” The best way to know you’re getting honey that is actually honey is to raise bees yourself! That sounds a bit daunting, but it isn’t as hard as most people assume. In fact, the bees do most of the work! The first thing you’ll want to do is order your bees. That may
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102 seem counterintuitive since you don’t yet have a home for them, but the process of bee ordering takes some time. Consider ordering in January for early spring delivery. Next you’ll want to set up a home for your bees. Bees will make a hive on their own in the wild, in a hollowed out tree or a similar space, but if you’re raising bees, you’ll want to provide a home that makes it easy for you to gather the honey. Two main systems are used. The most common is the Langstroth hive. This consists of boxes stacked on top of each other, each containing frames where the bees live and make their honey. These slide out for easy access. The other type is called a top-bar hive, and the rows are arranged vertically instead. In this set-up, the bees make the comb without a foundation. Most American beekeepers use the Langstroth type hives, but you can research these to see which would suit your needs better. You’ll need some supplies. The most important supplies include protection to keep you from being stung, like a bee suit and mask. You’ll also need a smoker, which helps you get the bees sleepy enough for you to work. And you’ll need to gather feeding supplies. We recommend finding a local source for your beekeeping tools, but Amazon also has everything you’ll need. Now you’ll add the bees, which is both exciting and a little nerve-racking for most beginners. After you introduce them to the hive, they’ll settle in nicely, and they will begin to do the work of making honey. You’ll need to periodically inspect your hive, which involves donning your
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bee suit, smoking the hive and pulling out each frame to make sure the hive is healthy. Extracting honey is a several-step process, but the main idea is that you remove the frames, use a warm knife to uncap the wax from the honey frames, then drain the honey from the combs. You can use a tool called a honey extractor to make the process easier, but you’ll lose the honey comb. Slower, more traditional methods do the trick without costing you the honeycomb, which your bees will have to remake. You may want to be inside for this process, because it will attract every bee that can smell what you’re up to. Beekeeping is an incredibly rewarding hobby that can help keep your family more healthy, while providing a delicious treat for you! We recommend Beekeeping for Idiots and The Beekeeper’s Bible. Both are full of valuable information that will help you get started raising happy and healthy bees! WATCH A STEP-BY-STEP BEEKEEPING GUIDE
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104 Grandpa and Grandma started homesteading in the early 1900’s. They raised nine children and had a very good life with everyone sharing the workload. I’ve written about this before in my reminiscing. Of course, as with all young married couples in those days, everything started out from scratch. That means everything. You had to make it all happen yourself. They built their own house, barn, chicken coop, corn crib. They made their own furniture, straw mattresses, brooms, candles, pottery, soap; they made molasses, kept bees, saved seed for next year’s planting - the list is endless. As a small child growing up across the road from my grandparents I remember seeing a lot of this firsthand. I especially took notice when Grandpa “made” apple trees. It seemed impossible that one could use a little scrub of a volunteer apple sprout and graft another type of apple tree onto that sprout to make your favorite kind of apple. He had a large orchard, or at least it seemed large to my little eye. He grafted all those trees himself. I have no memory where he got the grafts. They probably came from other trees in the orchard or from his parents’ trees, or from his friends. Grandpa would choose a volunteer sprout about eighteen inches or so tall and cut the top out in a “V” shape. Then he would cut a sprig from his choice cultivar, carving the cut end of this sprig into an arrow shape that would fit perfectly into the “V” of the native sprout - making sure that the diameters are very nearly the same. The next step would be to use some melted bees wax to completely cover the cut site, making sure to build it up quite thick. At the same time, he used a length of thin string to wrap around the cut area interspersed with the wax. If the graft takes, and sometimes it didn’t, he would then dig it up and add it to his orchard. In about three years it starts bearing. He would expect to get about ten years of good bearing out of this tree. The trees would live longer but the fruit would not be quality. So you can see, grafting and growing fruit trees was pretty much a life-time job. Grandma was quite obsessive with her fruit trees. Her rule number one was, don’t shake them, when the apples are ripe they will fall of their own accord. Rule number two: Don’t pick one off the tree when there are perfectly good ones on the ground. Apples were a staple food for them. Grandma would dry them on a wooden rack atop one of the sheds; some were of the cultivar that would save fresh most of the winter in a cool dark storage area. We all enjoyed her frugality though, in that we had apples all fall, winter, and part of spring. Makes me want to try grafting. Grafting Fruit Trees by Granny Eckard
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106 The flora and fauna in western North Carolina is astounding, overwhelming, and dynamically beautiful. What better way could there be to celebrate that beauty than by bringing it into our homes? We can begin this process during construction by including natural wood beams and stone fireplaces. Wood floors, marble and slate surfaces and large windows all help create a nature-inspired living space. Animal hides, real or faux, fill many odd spaces, and also provide a room with texture and ambiance. By the same token, deer mounts or other trophies add an elegant, hunting-lodge vibe. Old cast iron, vintage baskets and graniteware all bring to mind man’s earlier connections to nature, and hearken back to a time when living “off the land” was required. Art, like the Bob Timberlake painting Bringing Bringing Nature Nature Inside Inside
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108 shown, is another effective way to represent the natural world. Another wonderful way to bring nature inside is to actually bring nature inside. Houseplants, houseplants everywhere! There are some beautiful and exotic varieties available that will make your living feel like a rain forest. If you are consciously choosing to bring nature into your living space, consider which sort of natural palette you prefer. At left, you’ll see several examples. Do you want to highlight the element of air, earth, or water? Choose a palette that helps you feel centered. A room with lots of blue, airy textures and feathers will be uplifting, while a room full of wood, dark green plants and animal hides will be grounding. A home should be pleasing to all of your senses, and essential oils provide an excellent opportunity to commune with nature. Botanical scents like patchouli, jasmine, orange blossom and rose add a richness to your living space that you can’t obtain any other way. You can please the ear by getting a small fountain or water feature, or even by purchasing a pet canary. A noise machine can make a bustling room a lot more peaceful by mimicking nature. Additionally, you can choose furniture that takes its cues from the natural world. Live-edge furniture and pieces made from recycled barnwood or boatwood are unique ways to celebrate nature. Once you start looking for ways to bring the outdoors in, you’ll have many creative ideas! Indulge yourself!
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110 Owning a home is hard work. Small problems tend to pop up, and sometimes the to-do repair list can be a little intimidating. While some things can certainly wait, some small problems turn into much larger problems if you ignore them. If you’ve got one of these problems knocking at your door, it’s best to answer it and roll up your sleeves. Don’t let the following small problems escalate! Poor Drainage: There is nothing to worry about if you get small puddles in your yard after a rainstorm. If, however, the water sticks around for a few days, it could be a sign that your property is not draining the way it should. If this is happening near your home, it could weaken the foundation and lead to expensive moisture damage. The solution for poor drainage depends on the problem’s root cause. If a property was not leveled properly, it will likely need to be professionally re- graded in order to fix the issue. On the other hand, if the standing water is due to dense soil, you may be able to handle it by installing a French drain on your own. Overgrown Shrubbery: Bushes, shrubs, and trees all help to improve your home’s curb appeal, but they can also be a source of damage. Overgrown plants can block necessary air from HVAC units, lead to mold growth by trapping moisture, scratch siding, attract pests, and cause spreading cracks in mortar. Fortunately, dealing with untamed growth is an easy task. Bushes, shrubs, and trees should all be trimmed regularly. You can do this basic maintenance yourself, or hire someone else to take care of it for you. Also, when planting new greenery, make sure you leave a space between your home and plants. This will keep air circulating and give you easy access for future trimming. 10 Home Problems You Shouldn’t Ignore and What To Do About Them
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111 Roof Damage: Shingles may seem like just a decorative touch on a roof, but they serve an important purpose. Shingles help protect the roof from elements like water that can lead to serious damage. Missing, damaged, or rotting shingles should be repaired as soon as you notice that there is an issue. When tackling any kind of roof repair, you should always check to make sure the moisture barrier between the roofing material and the house is undamaged. Many people chose to hire professional laborers to make sure the job is done properly. It is also possible to repair some minor roofing issues on your own. Replacing individual shingles can be as easy as removing the damaged one and using a nail gun or a hammer and nails to install a new one in its place.
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112 Noisy Heating and Cooling Systems: No HVAC system is completely silent. It is a clear sign of a problem, however, when one starts making loud squealing, banging, thumping, or grinding sounds. One of the best ways of handling HVAC problems is by working to prevent them in the first place. Biannual inspections can help catch small HVAC issues before they spiral out of control. Things can still go wrong though, and an HVAC technician can pinpoint the specific problem and let you know how to deal with it.
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113 Wobbly Railings: Most people do not stop to think about whether or not their stairway railings are secure. They may even get used to a handrail that wiggles a little. Firmly attached railings are an essential part of a safe home, so you should repair them promptly when they loosen. You can repair many unsteady stair railings by yourself, although a pair of helping hands can be useful with securing long rails. Railings that prevent serious falls, like off of a balcony, should be fixed professionally to make sure they are compliant with current building codes. H ome elene -with- HomeWithHelene.com Helene Cote (828) 446-9890 Thinking of selling your home in this HOT market? Don't go it alone, call me to set up your complimentary consultation.
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Mold: It is not uncommon to find mold hiding in the damp corners of kitchens and bathrooms. However, it becomes a problem when it shows up someplace unexpected, like in a bedroom closet. In those cases, mold could be a sign of serious water damage that needs immediate attention. Some varieties of mold can also cause health issues, so they should never be ignored. When dealing with this issue, it is important to have the mold evaluated by a professional. Some inspectors come to your home to evaluate the mold, while others request that you send a sample to a lab for testing. Certain types of mold, like the toxic black variety, require professional remediation. You can handle others on your own with proper cleaning and the help of mold abatement chemicals. Drips and Leaks: A dripping faucet or running toilet might not seem like a big issue, but they can both raise your water bill significantly. Leaking pipes can be even more expensive, because they can lead to extensive water damage before they are noticed. It can be hard to catch leaks before they start, so it is important to check exposed pipes occasionally for signs of dripping. Most people are able to fix minor plumbing issues quickly by themselves. For instance, a running toilet often just needs a new valve, or the tension on its chain adjusted. T i g h t e n i n g c o n n e c t i o n s , r e p l a c i n g washers, and installing new tubing are equally simple repairs that can help stop leaks before they cause major problems. Asbestos: If you live in a home that is fairly new, you likely have no reason to worry about asbestos. However, if your home was built before the mid-1980s, there is a chance that it could contain some of this toxic material. It is even more likely if your home was built before the 1970s, when asbestos was widely used in a variety of construction materials.
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115 If you think you may have asbestos in your home, you must contact a professional who has been trained to remove it safely. Asbestos is very dangerous and should never be handled as part of a do-it-yourself project. Pests: Field mice, raccoons, cockroaches, and bats are just a few of the pests that can frustrate homeowners. Because these unwanted visitors can all spread diseases, it is important for homeowners to promptly deal with pest problems. The first step in keeping your home free from pests is to make sure there are no small spaces available for them to pass in and out though. A professional exterminator can help you complete this inspection. Once your home is secured, you can remove the pests with the exterminator’s help or by installing traps and using chemical deterrents. You can also take simple steps, like not leaving food unsealed, to help prevent pests from returning. Sluggish Drains: Water is not the only thing that passes through a home’s drainage system. Some items, like waste from a garbage disposal, travel through the pipe with ease. Other items, like hair, can lead to blockages that cause water to pool or even come back up through your home’s sinks. Sluggish drains are often one of the first signs of clogged pipes. Removing a small blockage on your own is usually a straightforward process. Simply use either a snake to remove the clog, or a plunger to force the clog to travel forward. Widely available drain cleaning products can help you remove more stubborn clogs. As a last resort, you can remove part of the pipe and dislodge the blockage. Be sure to address these issues as they pop up before they turn into much bigger jobs! You’ll be glad you did!
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116 Diagrams by Andrew Chahrour with Clean Water Components Irrigate With Gray Water Gray water is the water that comes from our sinks and washing machines. It isn’t sewage, but it also isn’t drinkable. We were excited to learn that it’s relatively easy to use your gray water instead of wasting it. We do want to point out, however, that if you do this, you’ll want to use biodegradable laundry soap. Also, this system will not push water up hill to water your plants. There isn’t enough water pressure. This system is also best as a permanent install near fruit trees or bushes that stay year-round. You can, however, adapt it to the needs of a garden pretty easily. We will be rerouting the gray water from your washing machine to the exterior of your house. It’s actually quite a bit of water! Each load of laundry is about 20 gallons of water, which is enough to water 1 to 2 fruit trees, 3 to 4 berry bushes, and 8 smaller perennial plants! If you do as much laundry as we do, this could easily eliminate the need to water your plants, even in dry conditions. You can get most of what you need at a local hardware store, but it’s much easier to purchase a kit. We like the one available at Clean Water Components. You can access it by using the following link or buy using the QR code on this page: waterwisesupply.com/store/products/ laundry-landscape-kit Assuming you have the parts you need listed at the end of the article, you’ll need to dig trenches for the flexible tubing. From your washing machine’s exit from the house, dig a 3-inch trench to the area you want to irrigate. Then, dig a trench that is about 10 inches deep and 8 inches wide, circling each large plant you want
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117 to irrigate. The next step is to lay poly pipe, which is a flexible tubing, in your trenches. This will help collect the water. You’ll use Ts and elbows to get the pipe all the places you want it to go. You will add mulch to the trenches to help collect and direct water. At every exit point, place an upside down plastic pot with a drainage hole, then cover that with mulch as well. A concrete stepping stone on top completes the work. Now, you’ll need to connect your washing machine. There is a flexible drain tube behind your washing machine that you’ll remove from the standpipe that drains into the septic system/sewer. Connect it to a one inch three-way valve using a one-inch barbed male adapter and a hose clamp. Then you’ll connect one side of that valve to the standpipe using a one-inch PVP pipe and fittings, making sure the valve is against the wall, near the standpipe and a couple inches higher than your washing machine. Carefully drill a hole in your exterior wall for the piping to pass through the wall. Run a one inch PVC pipe from the open side of the valve through the wall with about three inches protruding on the outside. Secure into the wall using a pipe strap. Now you’ll connect a T fitting to the pipe outside the wall, with the open ends pointing up and down. The bottom connects to the poly tubing on the ground using one- inch PVP pipe and fittings. The top gets connected to a one-inch PVC pipe that rises higher than the height of your valve inside. Use an air admittance valve at the top. This lets bad smelling air out. Then, seal up your hole! The system should operate at this point on its own, but of course, keep a close eye on your first few loads. “Saving the environment” can seem like an unattainable goal, but if we all made minor changes like this, we’d have a very big impact! NEEDS: • 3-WAY VALVE (BRASS) • AIR ADMITTANCE VALVE • 1 INCH PVC PIPE AND FITTINGS • (ELBOWS, TEES, FEMALE AND MALE ADAPTER) • POLY TUBING AND FITTINGS • (TEES, COUPLERS, ADAPTERS, AS NEEDED) • MULCH • PIPESTRAP AND SCREWS • CAULK OR SEALANT
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118 Smart steps to a clean and uncluttered home By Tami Fox Do you dream of an organized home without marathon cleaning sessions? Many years ago, I found an online resource to help me break my home into Zones to declutter and detail clean it. In 2014, I met Marla Cilley, The FlyLady. She encouraged me to start writing to her homeschool audience using her system, and a daily newsletter to homeschool moms was born. Since then, I have shared The FlyLady’s system in bite-sized nuggets to her homeschool audience and to my Facebook friends and followers. You can get organized in your home in small steps without overwhelming yourself with marathon cleaning sessions. Your children can learn alongside of you, too. Weekly cleaning is called blessing your home, and it is done quickly once a week. You spend 10 to 15 minutes each on sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, dusting, wiping windows, changing your bed, and taking out trash. Each week of the month, you will focus on a difference area of the home called a Zone. Each day of the week, you spend only 15 minutes doing a deep clean or decluttering project. As you do this over the course of the year, you will find that you don’t have to do annual or biannual deep cleaning days. The first week of each month, you start at the front of the house and declutter the front porch, entryway, and dining room areas. The second week, you move onto the kitchen. Week three, you alternate between the main bathroom and an area of our choice. Week four you focus on bedrooms (each person can take care of their own). Week five you will focus on the living room and/or family room. Sample: Zone 4 Missions- The Master Bedroom Monday: Declutter under your bed and sweep or vacuum under it. Tuesday: Put away your clothes. Deal with the laundry baskets and any piles. Wednesday: Clean off the nightstand. Thursday: Clean of the dresser or chest of drawers. Friday: Wash your bedding and remake your bed.
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119 If you have children at home, ask your children to focus on a different area of their rooms and do some focused decluttering as well. Set your timers for 15 minutes and then take a break when it goes off! As you are decluttering a little each day in your homes through the zone missions, you will want to have a system to donate items regularly. If you have a lot of clutter, you can declutter anywhere in the home for five minutes a day and make a big difference. You can use this five minutes a day to deal with stacks of paper clutter, or books that don’t fit on your bookshelves, or go through your clothes and donate items you are not wearing. Your impulse will be to spend a lot of time on your decluttering each day, and when you don’t have a big chunk of time to declutter, you just won’t do anything. But you can change your thinking on decluttering. Small steps lead to big changes. Getting rid of small amounts of clutter at a time will add up over the course of a year! Tami Fox writes for The FlyLady (www.FlyLady.net). She lives in the foothills of North Carolina with her husband and three of their six children. She is a Realtor® with The Temple Team and Keller Williams and uses her skills in decluttering to help guide her clients in preparing their homes to sell. Tami is an author and conference speaker on home organization and homeschooling. You can reach her at Tami@ TamiFox.com.
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The Past, Present, and Future of In the 1950s, Hickory, North Carolina was known for its furniture industry. Many prominent manufacturers operated here, crafting heirloom quality furniture. But if you owned a furniture store, and you wanted to see what the city’s businesses had to offer, there was no easy way to do that. You’d have to go into each manufacturer, and most of them didn’t have a showroom. In 1957, Julius Mull opened Mull’s Motel & Restaurant on the current site of the Hickory Furniture Mart. By 1958, he realized he had a large number of furniture buyers staying at his hotel. In 1960, his son-in-law Leroy Lail sensed an opportunity
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and invited furniture manufacturers to set up some of their pieces in his 6,000 square foot basement, twice a year. He officially named it “Hickory Furniture Mart,” and it quickly became integral to the fabric of Hickory’s furniture industry. In 1972, Leroy knew a logo would help establish his brand, and he hired designer John Malmo of Memphis to create a logo. The logo, at left, won awards for its “innovative interplay between text and image.” Mr. Lail notes that now, the leaf motif is popular in the area, with even the City of Hickory using the design. He smiles and leans in before saying, “But we did it first.” His biannual market gained traction and popularity, and several expansions occurred. In 1985, the Lail family decided to transition to a retail space, open to the public and showcasing a myriad of manufacturers. They put a great deal of thought into the design of the space. They installed the very first glass elevator in the state, and Mr. Lail notes that they had to fight for it. At first, he was told it was against the rules, but when he saw a Winston-Salem elevator had a glass back wall, he demanded, successfully, that he also be allowed one. The open floor plan allows you to see many stores at once, and a split level entrance encourages you to visit multiple floors and multiple stores. The design of the entire campus is meant to encourage shoppers to explore more.
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In 1992, the Mull family decided to close the restaurant. This allowed the Lails to expand the Mart again, and the motel was converted to a Holiday Inn Express. In the years since, several more expansions have been completed, and the result is a truly enormous Hickory Furniture Mart. You can read more about the history of the Mart by picking up a copy of the book Hickory Furniture Mart: A Landmark History by Leroy Lail, published locally by RedHawk Publishing. Foothills Digest isn’t the only publication that thinks the Mart is worthy of high praise. Hickory Furniture Mart has been featured in the New York Times, Newsday, The Los Angeles Times, Woman’s Day and many other national publications. The Mart has also been showcased on the “Oprah Winfrey Show” and the Discovery Channel’s “Interior Motives with Christopher Lowell.” Today Hickory Furniture Mart contains four levels and more than 100 outlets and galleries. More than 1,000 manufacturers are represented. If you need furniture, this is the place to go. Each year, 500,000 or more shoppers visit Hickory Furniture Mart, from all over the world. It is one of the major drivers of tourism in Hickory. It’s so popular because shopping there is truly a pleasure. The variety is
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astounding, and most of the stores have in- house designers who are happy to help you plan out your living spaces. Yes, you’ll find great deals there. This is especially true if you go during one of their major sales each year. But saving money isn’t the only reason to go, or even the best reason. You simply won’t find this kind of selection elsewhere. Not only are there thousands of pieces, but many of them are entirely customizable. No matter how exact your specifications are, you’ll be able to find exactly what you need at the mart. And there is much more than furniture. You’ll also find luxurious rugs, unique light fixtures, local North Carolina artwork and more. Do plan on giving yourself plenty of time to shop. This place is enormous and you won’t want to skip anything. Don’t plan on taking your furniture home the day you shop, unless you are only shopping the “deals.” In many cases, your furniture will be custom made just for you, and the stores you choose will arrange shipping. In a world full of big-box stores and chipboard furniture, you don’t have to lower your standards or your expectations. Celebrate the heritage of the Catawba Valley by shopping at Hickory Furniture Mart.
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124 Why a Traditional Bed & Breakfast Should Be Your Next Lodging Choice By Patricia Hatch You’re ready to explore the world around you again! How can you do so safely and comfortably? Choose a bed and breakfast for your trip, that’s how. Consider the amenities you have become accustomed to at home. A big-box hotel chain cannot provide the cozy atmosphere of a unique, historic property. Heirloom flowers and homegrown vegetables will adorn the tables at many bed and breakfasts. High-speed internet and live-streaming flat screens are offered in each guest room at Sweet Tea Bed & Breakfast (access your very own Netflix, Hulu, and more). And breakfast, which should be an occasion unto itself, will be unique and even customized to your individual taste. Best of all, most bed and breakfast nightly rates are quite affordable – much less expensive than what most people might think. Although most bed and breakfasts do not offer a 24-hour front desk employee, they will provide someone even better: a caretaker who most frequently lives on the property, ready to address your questions. As an owner and resident, they are best suited to answer your inquiries about local eateries, activities and assistance should a problem occur. While some folks prefer the anonymity of a big-box hotel or Airbnb, a large number prefer the combination of community, local culture and also individual privacy that only bed and breakfasts afford. From private suites to optional community spaces, you are free to choose the combination of company that makes your vacation special.
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Many bed and breakfasts ensure security with a quiet and safe n e i g h b o r h o o d , c o n v e n i e n t parking, and unique access codes. Heightened sanitation practices that include regular state and health code inspections further guarantee your health, safety and peace of mind. Need a special gift upon arrival? Flowers, chocolate- dipped strawberries, and other items are available with a little advance notice. Some even offer combination packages with other local businesses and attractions that might pique your interest. Or purchase a remembrance as you leave: Sweet Tea Bed & Breakfast’s gift shop supports local artisans by offering handmade goat milk soap hand thrown pottery, local candles and more. Whether you are traveling across the state, across the country, or simply across the street, an overnight stay can refresh you and your family members. For your next trip, consider a bed and breakfast your “home away from home.” Patricia Hatch and her husband Ralph, a retired veteran and chef, own and operate the award-winning Sweet Tea Bed & Breakfast in Conover, NC. When not happily serving others at their own historic inn, their favorite vacation stay is, of course, at a traditional bed and breakfast. SWEETTEABB.COM SWEETTEABB.COM Come stay at a beautifully restored 100-year-old home in the heart of downtown Conover and enjoy a home-cooked southern-style breakfast daily! Each room tastefully decorated to showcase the original 1920’s style yet be comfortable for today’s lifestyle. SWEET TEA SWEET TEA BED & BREAKFAST BED & BREAKFAST 704-325-3736 704-325-3736
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126 Why I Came Home By Michael Cooper When COVID came I was living in Raleigh. It didn’t take long to miss home (The Blue Ridge Parkway, the stars at night, MerleFest, the farm in Ashe where Mom grew up). So I moved back. I wasn’t the only one. The secret is out now about western North Carolina. Thanks to Zoom you can work from home from anywhere. So why not choose here? We have good schools, impressive scenery, a high quality of life, and the great outdoors (Grandfather Mountain, the New River, Stone Mountain, and Linville Gorge). We have hiking, camping, skiing, and some of the best disc golf courses in the world. We have so much to offer now. We have so much to do. We need new housing and we need to extend broadband access to every home – but for communities like West Jefferson, Sparta, Marion, Morganton, Rutherfordton, and my hometown of North Wilkesboro, this is finally our moment. I truly believe that. Even before COVID I missed Wilkes County. I missed the people and the sense of connection. In Raleigh I lived in an apartment building close to downtown. I had almost no privacy and complete anonymity. I missed the opposite: turning the music up at night but going to the store and waving to people I knew. I missed knowing people. I missed being at home.
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127 That’s not a rural versus urban thing. There are many variations of home. They’re in big cities and small towns. They’re in the suburbs. They’re where you want them to be. It’s important to remember that a house and a home are synonymous but they’re not the same. Home is not a location. It’s not always where you live. Home is a lifestyle. Home is where you belong. It’s about being a part of something. There are many places where people feel at home. My father used to hang out at a gas station: Oakwoods Grocery. My uncle holds court inside of a McDonald’s in West Jefferson swapping stories with his friends. For 36 years my mom owned a used bookstore on Main Street of North Wilkesboro. She knew all the customers by name. They knew her by name. Home is where you find community. It’s the dog park, the diner, the dinner party, the YMCA, the Rotary Club, the barbershop, the high school football game, or a meal after church. Home is also where you feel most needed. That’s why we all know lawyers, shop owners and teachers who refuse to retire and who keep showing up for work every day. For them it’s not about the money. It’s about finding your place and having a purpose. I had all that once. I’d been a bit of a screw up in college and law school. I was a Prodigal Son. After passing the bar exam I needed to find a job and get my life in order. The easiest place to do that was where I had a support system. In the words of Robert Frost: “Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.” So I moved back to Wilkes in 2014. I practiced law. I found community. After court the attorneys went to lunch. I became friends with the bailiffs. I played basketball with my little cousin. I mentored a couple of juvenile clients. I joined a bunch of non- profit boards. I hung out at Anchor Coffee on the weekends. I became president of the community foundation. I had a role in town full of meaning and responsibility. Then I did something stupid. I chased what the author David Brooks calls the “First Mountain” of life (accomplishment and success). The Second Mountain, the better mountain, is a life of happiness, purpose and interdependence. I climbed that one first and didn’t realize it. So I left. I wanted to do big things. I wanted to be famous. I wrote some articles. I appeared on television. I moved to Raleigh to be a speechwriter. I was always too busy with work to establish community down there or to feel at home.
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128 Then COVID came. Like everyone else I was stuck inside during those first few months. But soon it hit me. I didn’t miss the concerts and the restaurants so much as I missed the people you do those with. The pandemic put everything in perspective. Who matters. What doesn’t. I missed Wilkes because of people who mattered to me there and more importantly because I mattered to them. There’s a quote from the author Lucy Maud Montgomery that speaks to how I felt: “I went looking for my dreams outside of myself and discovered, it’s not what the world holds for you, it’s what you bring to it.” For decades we’ve taught young people that success is to leave home. Go to college. Get a degree. That’s fine. That’s important. But we often leave behind a void. Sometimes our story is not just about us. Sometimes we have a home and we’re not the only ones who call it that. There’s a new book I recommend by the author Grace Olmstead. It’s called Uprooted: Recovering the Legacy of the Places We’ve Left Behind . It’s about what happens to the places we leave and to the people who leave them. Sometimes they still need each other. In this time of record loneliness, we could all do a better job of remembering the people and places that made us – while being rooted where we live. That means reconnecting with cousins and old friends while getting to know the neighbors on our street. For some of us that means visiting home more often. For others it means moving back. So I did that.
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129 For decades the foothills of western North Carolina were on the losing end of social and economic change. Factories closed. Jobs left town. Young people went to college and never came back. The opioid crisis became a major issue as people tried to fill a void. We all know that story. The good news is that life is changing again. In ways we couldn’t have predicted a year ago, COVID will bridge the rural-urban divide. After years of concentrating in large metro areas, jobs and people are spreading out again. They’re headed this way. It turns out that all the things we have to offer are what people want right now. Just look at the housing market. We have long dirt roads, rolling countryside, cow pastures, incredible sunsets, the best fall colors, gorgeous springs, and a great climate in winter and summer. We also have lawnmower races, farmers’ markets, pig pickin’s, chicken-ques, and here in Wilkes, the Apple Festival, distilleries, new vineyards in the Yadkin Valley, and the Cattle Sale on Monday mornings. Those are all great. But they’re not the reason I came back. Not long after I did move home in 2020 my mom finally retired and closed her bookstore. That same day the Liberty Theatre in town wrote these words on their marquee: “BROWSE ABOUT BOOKS, THANKS FOR 36 YEARS OF MEMORIES.” The next day they used that sign to wish a local kid happy birthday. You can’t find that everywhere. You should make the most of it when you do. Michael Cooper is the Regional Government Affairs Director for the North Carolina Association of REALTORS®. He was born and raised in North Wilkesboro where he lives again today.
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130 What We’re Reading at home What We’re Reading at home By Lisa Brewer Our region features some of the most creative writers and productive publishing houses to be found anywhere. Did you know that Wake Forest University Press is regarded as the premier publisher of Irish poetry in North America? Whether you are staying at home or taking a book on the road with you, we hope you will consider these selections worthy of your attention. Death on the Boardwalk By Caleb Wygal Franklin/Kerr Press, Kannapolis, NC. 2021. 257 pp. Caleb Wygal, friendly and enthusiastic, described his book to me as a cozy mystery: free from profanity, with all violence taking place off the page. Death on the Boardwalk is the first in his Myrtle Beach Mystery series. It sounds cliché, but one can almost smell the salt air in the opening pages. This charming read has a protagonist you want to see again, locations you hope to visit, and a conclusion that took me completely by surprise. Sprinkled throughout the pages are incidental bits of goofy good humor and interesting minor characters clearly drawn from people who populate beach areas. They are familiar, they are funny, and they won’t give you nightmares. If you are headed to the beach, check to see if your hotel is featuring Wygal at a book signing. Several are doing so, and you are sure to enjoy the event. Follow him online at www.CalebWygal.com. The Magpie and the Child By Catriona Clutterbuck Wake Forest University Press, Winston-Salem, NC. 2021. 111 pp. Trigger warning: if you have experienced the loss of a child, this may be a difficult book for you to read. Then again, it might be the most comforting poetry you ever read. Let the author’s words wash over you like oil and wine. Let the story unfold like delicate paper wings. The book is a true delight to read, to touch, and to appreciate visually. It’s as if the publishing team intended the packaging without to be as special as the gift within. The featured cover art, Magpie & Child by Louise Norton, is a fine selection. A fragile blue washes over to the back cover; the end papers are a textured, speckled beige, and the pages themselves are a warm and creamy ivory. If you are weary of this world, if you don’t yet believe in the goodness of life and the power of love, if you are open to experiencing a series of tender and wrenching and inspiring moments, read this book.
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131 As If By Magic By Paula Meehan Wake Forest University Press, Winston-Salem, NC. 2021. 280 pp. Dublin-born Paula Meehan selected poems from five previous books, 1991 through 2016, for inclusion here. The back cover describes her poetry as an examination of “the places, public and private, where nature and culture meet.” True, but for me, the collection was more an examination of the various facets of womanhood, frequented by themes of home. Her poetry is jarring, as she writes about her mother’s abuse in “The View from Under the Table.” “Who did she think she was with her big words / and her belt and her beatings?” Meehan asks, “Who do I think I am to write her?” Her poetry is tender, as in “Home.” “Where the song that is in me / is the song I hear from the world, I’ll set down my burdens / and sleep. The spot that I lie on at last the place I’ll call home,” she writes. Her poetry is gently disturbing, as in “Playing House.” “Let your face / share my mirrors. Light / fires in my hearth. Your talismans / are welcome. Break bread / with me. Settle. Settle,” she writes. Is Meehan warmly welcomed and invited to settle herself, live, love and write, or is Meehan suggesting that she is settling for a lesser life? Reader, settle down in a comfortable chair with a mug of rich Irish tea, and enjoy the various moments in each of these books. The Readiness By Alan Gillis Wake Forest University Press, Winston-Salem, NC. 2021. 77 pp. This fellow! His writing is garnished with irreverence and insight, profundity and profanity. Gillis’ style will not win over every reader, but he will find a deep appreciation among his clan. The first poem might even remind some of a darkly humored, Belfast-born Dr. Seuss. Gillis writes in the opening stanza of the title poem: “It could happen at sunset / On a sloping lawn. / In a yawning estate / It could happen at dawn.” And in the closing stanza of the same, “So make sure you’re up to speed / when, at sunset or dawn, / worms vex the seed, / crows shadow the corn.” There is a fine description of laughter in Gillis’ poem, “The Dote.” He writes, “When you laugh – I mean, when you burst / yourself open, gab and guts / in a quake, and the laughter becomes tidal / until you’re well-nigh gurning with glee….” Imagine, if you will, poets Ogden Nash and T. S. Eliot traveling through time to a St. Patrick’s Day celebration. No doubt this would be the book they would discuss.
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By Lisa Brewer Television viewers in the foothills region and beyond know Talitha Vickers as the award- winning journalist and anchor on WXII-TV, an NBC affiliate based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The Long Island, New York native is also an energetic community leader, wife, and devoted mother of young twins. But recently, it is her latest accomplishment – a special book for children in a difficult situation – that’s been garnering the lion’s share of attention. Why My Hero Had To Go is a children’s book inspired by Vickers’ own family members. Her brother was deploying overseas with the U.S. Army again as his own two-year-old son clung to his leg. “My nephew was holding on for dear life,” Vickers recalled. “It was a tug of war. And it hit me, how do we teach this little boy where his dad is going? Can you imagine the tug of war going on in his mind?” Vickers kept thinking about helping her nephew and other children process their parents’ absence as they served. “It just so happens that my nephew was holding on to his military dad, but many parents are frontline workers,” Vickers said. “Kids don’t see them all the time. Parents have to stay at hotels. It’s also a relatable story if they are missing a grandparent they haven’t seen in a while.” In her book, the military father and stay-at- home son share many similarities in their daily routine, although separated by many miles. Each gets up early to salute the day. One has a drill sergeant and one has a mother. Each carries a backpack. Most importantly, each tends to their very important jobs, whether protecting freedom in the larger, military sense, or protecting freedoms by being kind and inclusive to others daily at home. Both show courage during day and night. Illustrator Keith Hobgood does a masterful job bringing the story to life. His imaginative drawings provide both young and adult readers opportunities to explore the parallels between the father and son’s lives. “Hobgood did a fantastic job explaining that tug of war,” Vickers said. “The boy and his dad are able to stay connected through their environment and daily routines.” Other members of Vickers’ family have served in the military, and there are other authors in her extended family, as well. But she has plans to write more, calling this book the first in a series. “My goal has been to write this type of story for all branches of the armed services,” she said. “I want to recreate a book with a mother Talitha Vickers: Talitha Vickers: Anchor, Author and Inspiration
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and daughter, or a father and daughter, for all branches.” She sees the book as “something that is going to help change lives, and hopefully pull back that curtain for little children to understand.” Vickers, who always wanted to be a teacher, becomes one in the best sense of the word with this book. “I could not do this without the guidance of God,” she said. “I could not not follow His direction.” For more information about Talitha Vickers, visit her online a t w w w . t a l i t h a v i c k e r s . c o m . Lisa Brewer is coeditor of Foothills Digest and executive director of Carolina Bible Camp Bluegrass Festival in Mocksville, NC. Why My Hero Had to Go made her cry. w H a T “H om E ” m E a N s T o T ali TH a V ick E rs : “ h ome to me means a place filled with love , and a place for learning . a place for feeling comfort and safe . i t ’ s that space i try to create for my family to learn about each other and the planet , to hone our own gifts , talents and abilities that we are blessed with from g od . i t ’ s a foundation as a great place to feel safe and warm and loved .” Wilkes Heritage Museum Shop now on www.winniespicks.com Get 10% off using the code: FOOTHILLS10 Everything is included in the kit For beginners and experienced Free US shipping Turn your favorite picture into a Custom Paint by Numbers
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We all have our personal setlist that says “home,” don’t we? The musical upbringing in my o w n c h i l d h o o d h o m e f e a t u r e d everything from Bizet operas to Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, Loretta Lynn to Louis Prima and more. What music takes you home again? We invite you to share your selections in our Facebook group. Playlist Playlist By Lisa Brewer By Lisa Brewer
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135 Carole King, “Home Again,” from Tapestry . Foothills Digest features a fabulous live version. The iconic album celebrates its golden anniversary this year. Montgomery Gentry, “My Town” from the album of the same name. Don’t we all feel this way about our towns? Dom Flemons the American Songster, “Too Long (I’ve Been Gone).” There’s no sweeter song or voice to express what it’s like to leave home behind. “Walking Home to Wexford” (a digital single released by Milan Miller and Tim O’Brien) sets the mood for reading those Celtic authors from Wake Forest University Press.
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136 Tedeschi Trucks Band (with Sharon Jones and Doyle Bramhall II), “Bring It On Home to Me.” What a soulful sound! Joe Barksdale performs “Blackbird” from his collection, Sincerely . This former NFL offensive tackle-turned-guitarist and vocalist makes his home and his music in Austin, Texas. Zac Brown Band, “Island Song” from the album Uncaged . Featured author Caleb Wygal reports listening to this as he wrote the first book in his Myrtle Beach Mystery series, D eath on the Boardwalk . Jack Johnson, “Home” from the album From Here to Now to You . Sometimes a garden is just a garden, and sometimes it’s a relationship with another living, loving human being. Make sure to tend to both. Kenny Loggins, “Celebrate Me Home.” Featured here is a 10-minute long live version from 1992 at the Grand Canyon. Too much? We think not! Diana Ross, “Home” from the 1978 musical, The Wiz based on The Wizard of Oz . Randy Newman, “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from the movie Toy Story . Where is home, really? It’s wherever your friends and loved ones are. Backline of South Carolina, “If Corona Don’t Get Me, Quarantine Will.” Had a little too much of home? This is the song for you! John Lawless wrote on Bluegrass Today that this band had “used their time under restrictions well” to record “a new single, with a music video, using all the social distancing precautions that we’ve all been seeing….” Laughter is still the best medicine! Kirk Franklin, “I Smile.” WXII-TV anchor and author Talitha Vickers cites this song as a real inspiration to her on tough days. We love it every day!
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137 Tickets go on sale June 10 at 10:00 am est. To view our complete lineup go to www.merlefest.org.
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