Honoring Women in Service

Honoring Women in Service

It’s been a great week in production. For several months we have been working on a special we have titled “Honoring Women in Service.” Several of the women that are included in our interviews were attending the American Legion World Series in Shelby.

Upon realizing that there was a gathering that included so many of these incredible women we booked the historic Bankers House in Shelby as a venue for the interviews. Before long we had fully scheduled three days.
I have conducted a lot of interviews over the years, and I remember many of them. However, I am confident that I will not forget the significance of the interviews with these women who have served our nation.

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Tomato Pie Summer

Tomato Pie Summer

It has been a good year for tomatoes in the Carolinas and I don’t need to ask if you like them, chances are you do. I remember growing up in the countryside. We always had a nice garden with all sorts of fresh things growing.

A good variety of tomatoes was commonplace.

I remember seeing my Dad in the garden. He would sprinkle a little salt on one of his prized tomatoes. It seemed like this act filled him with enough satisfaction that it justified all the hard work.

I don’t recall a single summer when tomatoes were not in abundance. It seemed like canning fresh tomatoes was something everyone did. Other vegetables received the same treatment, however the tomato seemed to be the most versatile.

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It's a Carolinas Heritage Christmas

It's a Carolinas Heritage Christmas

We have been busy elves working on our new Christmas Special. The 2019 theme is A Carolinas Heritage Christmas. We have been filming on location in historic Gold Hill, North Carolina.

The people of Gold Hill kick off the holiday celebrations with an annual event they call “The Lighting of the Fall Fires.” The event is always the Saturday before Thanksgiving and is held, rain or shine. This year it rained, but that did not seem to dampen the sprits of the attendees.

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The Watermelon People

The Watermelon People

You never know for sure what’s going to happen when it comes to an outdoor summer festival in the Carolinas. It might be clear, it might rain, it might be hot, or it might be hotter, you may have long lines, you might have shorter lines. However, if it’s been going for many years and at approximately the same time every year you have a good idea about what’s going to happen. 

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A Dipper Full

A Dipper Full

It all started at Kindred Gallery at Rosemary House Bed and Breakfast in Pittsboro, NC. It was during an interview with noted folk artist Cher Shaffer. We were coming to the close of our second on camera visit when I ask her what she would recommend as a good thing for all of us to do in order to have greater peace and happiness in our lives.

“That’s easy,” she replied, “play in the dirt and do it often. It will help you connect with the earth and life”. I listened as she explained her thoughts. It seemed reasonable but it would be on my drive home that my mind would give it a good thinking over.

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The Fiddle Maker

The Fiddle Maker

I have had the opportunity to witness and document on many occasions the results of the creative energy that flows through the Carolinas. Many creative gifts to the world come from people who were born in the Carolinas and some from people who move to the Carolinas.

Such is the case with fiddle maker Bob Kogut who was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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Angel Wings Corner

Angel Wings Corner

Not so long ago I was driving with the sun to my back on Main Street in North Wilkesboro. It was a clear day, just as the golden hour was starting. That’s the special time of day when the sun is preparing to set and provides perfect light for the camera.

At the corner of Main and Gordon Ave, I noticed a lady painting something on the side of the building. I could tell it was in the early stages, so I was unsure as to what it was. I drove on past, but my curious nature got the best of me, so I turned around and found a parking spot and made my way to the perfectly lit corner. 

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Radio Talk

Radio Talk

It was a good week to talk with storytellers. We had an on-camera visit with Francene Marie Morris, better known as Francene Marie on the Beasley Broadcasting (formerly CBS Radio) stations in the Charlotte Region. With 23 years in the broadcast industry, she has clearly established herself as an extraordinaire storyteller for a broad and diverse audience.

The Francene Marie Show is on multiple stations and brings to life community stories that are important to almost everyone. People in the broadcast are unique, they see life a bit different than others do

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The Dayliliy Man and Master Gardener

The Dayliliy Man and Master Gardener

Who do you call when you need to know what vegetables or flowers will grow where you live? If you come from a family of home gardeners or farmers, chances are you already have a good idea of what works for you. If you do not fall into this category a call to your local Cooperative Extension office can set you on the path of great discovery.

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It rained a lot

It rained a lot

Rain has a way of changing things. Not so long ago, as soon as the strawberries were ready for harvest, I visited one of our strawberry farmers in the Upstate. They were fresh out of the field, full of sweet flavor and it was hard to stop eating them. A few weeks later I was craving the taste of those beautiful red berries. I stopped in to visit another farmer, purchased a gallon and noticed they looked a little different.

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Miles and Miles of Hotdogs from an Igloo

Miles and Miles of Hotdogs from an Igloo

How do you eat a mile-long hot dog? One foot at a time or at least that’s how Linda Green approaches the process. Linda Green stopped in at the Igloo shop in Millers Creek NC to pick up her order. Linda likes her hotdog all the way which includes a split grilled hotdog on a toasted bun with mustard, Chili, onions, and slaw. Linda is a loyal customer who has been getting her hot dog, and ice cream fix at the Igloo for the past 40 years.

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Hot Dogs and Hugs

Hot Dogs and Hugs

I was sitting at a diner not long ago, and I happened to be in earshot of the short order cook. When the waitress went to pick up a plate, the cook said, “that’s a sloppy one, that’s the way I like them, and that’s the way to make them for the people.” At first, I replayed in my mind what I thought I heard and when I saw the waitress coming around the corner, I realized he was talking about the foot-long hot dog covered with chili, slaw, and onions on a plate with fries. This hot dog was for sure a multi-napkin dog.

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