Carl’s Syndicated Columns
I remember the first time I traveled to Washington DC. It was a school trip many years ago; the schedule included all sorts of adventures to the museums, monuments, and the National Archives. Everything seemed unique and vital. At that time, I did not fully understand the significance of everything we were seeing. I'm sure I was not alone in feeling that way.
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.
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.
With tucked-away memories of childhood being stimulated, something felt oddly calming about what I was witnessing. It could also be that spending more time at home during a global pandemic had increased my appreciation and awareness of all thing’s nature.
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.
It was Sunday and the continuation of Jan Karon Days. Saturday morning had featured the Jan Karon parade with local citizens as well as Mitford personalities. The remainder of Saturday included, among other things, a luncheon like what you might read about in one of Jan’s Mitford novels; It even had an Orange Marmalade Cake adventure in which I participated.
It was a busy weekend for on location productions. It all started early Saturday at the Taylorsville Apple Festival as we continued our search for some of the tastiest apple pies in the Carolinas. Cameras were on location early enough to see the morning come alive.
Did you know that the first meal eaten on the moon by Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin contained bacon? After landing at the Sea of Tranquility, the two astronauts dined on a meal that consisted of bacon squares, peaches, sugar cookie cubes, a pineapple grapefruit drink and coffee; A tasty meal suited for any hero.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
The idea of supporting small local business owners during our largest gift giving season is an honorable notion. With busy schedules and the desire driven by highly effective advertising it’s not always easy to balance the budget and time requirements needed to shop local. What’s a person to do when time and money are in short supply and stress is not lacking?
Every year around Veterans Day, the Sugar Maple tree appears to drop most of its leaves over a very short period. It seems like one day the trees are full of golden hues and then, all the sudden, the ground is covered with one of nature’s perfectly colored carpets.