Race City Festival

Last weekend, we went to an event known around here as
"Race City Festival".
It is held in downtown Mooresville the weekend of Race Week,
which marks the onset of motor racing in Charlotte.
Mooresville is about 20 minutes north of Charlotte,
and is known as "Race City USA".

A fine selection of arts and crafts could be found.

Artists and crafters using various materials
displayed their wonderful works.

This retired veteran showcased his walking sticks and other wooden pieces.
They were truly stunning!

On another table,
unique light switch covers were featured.
What a way to add a charming touch to any room.

These fabulous duck push toys made me wish my boy was a bit younger.

This same booth had many other whimsical treasures for sale.

The local police department was found greeting attendees
and handing out badges for the kiddos.

C enjoyed telling me about all of the parts of the fire truck.
The local firefighters were mighty impressed with his knowledge.

The band on the roof provided music for the event.

The old brick buildings of downtown Mooresville
are a testament to how life in a small town used to be.

While strolling along the tents,
we came upon a shop called Lost n Found.
The sidewalk displays lured us in for a closer look.

I was picturing this old Coleman cooler being repurposed
as the base for a coffee table or simple pantry storage.
It's a blast combing through these places
to see where your imagination will lead you
with the possibilities for vintage items.

These vintage seed packages were quite a find.
I wonder if they would still germinate?

The day was warm,
but we were glad we attended.
Another fun family outing getting to know the area.

What kind of festivals do you see in your community?

Memorial Day 2017

God bless those who gave all.

Their selflessness will never be forgotten.

Thank you veterans, one and all.

Garden Friday

The last week has provided us with ample rain,

so there were few days conducive to picture taking.

Here's a quick update on the "tin can garden".

Romaine and kale continue to be harvested,

as well as some of the broccoli leaves for salads.

The broccoli head that I harvested was a bit disappointing in size,

but the flavor was perfectly succulent.

We have another seedling started,

so we'll see if we get similar results in that pot.

These seedlings await new pots.

At this point, with our moving date set,

I am hesitant to repot them, 

as they will most likely be finding a spot in the ground in our new garden. 

The leek and tomatoes are both screaming for more space.

 

The peas got moved to an established bed,

so that the trellis could be stuck into the ground to support the vines.

This week flowers were spied on them.

That means that sweet, tender, delicious peas are on their way.

Hot diggity!

 

The cauliflower out front has appreciated the extra room.

I like the way they look as a border plant,

and I'll most likely repeat this type of planting in the future.

 

There are a few holes in the leaves,

but when organic practices are used,

 you sometimes have to deal with less than perfect aesthetics.

I can live with that!

 

The tomatoes have been drinking up this blessed rainwater.

The Arkansas Traveler is on the left and

the San Marzano (used for making gravy) is on the right.

Looks like I need to get out there and weed a bit.

I don't want those weeds using up all of that fertilizer.

If you've read previous posts about gardening here,

you know that my personal litmus test

is growing a fabulous tomato.

Well, I'm on my way, folks!

See the bitty yellow flowers?

If I accomplish this feat under these less than ideal conditions,

I will be duly impressed!

It just goes to show that God's abundance is never ending.

After all, I just planted the seeds, 

He did the rest!

How's your veggie garden faring these days?

"The glory of gardening:

hands in the dirt,

 head in the sun, 

heart with nature.

To nurture a garden 

is to feed not just the body,

but the soul."

~Alfred Austin

Going Local-The Mundy House

We're slowly learning more about our local landmarks.

Last week we ventured to The Mundy House in Denver (NC).

Not only does the house contain artifacts, historic records and photographs  
of eastern Lincoln County, 
it serves as a center for local education, historical research, and social gatherings. 
In fact, the house and grounds can be rented out for private dinners or parties as well as weddings.
What a unique place to celebrate something special.

The Mundy House was built around 1860 by Rufus Mundy

and there are still descendants of the original owners living nearby. 

The Lincoln County Historical Association, directed by our guide Jason Harpe,

has been instrumental in restoring and preserving this legendary gem.
You can find their facebook page here.

The Mundy house is one of the few remaining historical houses in Eastern Lincoln County,

making it even more of a local treasure.

Many other older homes in the area have been neglected or destroyed,

so we are grateful that measures were taken to keep the past alive here.

Care has been taken in the restoration process 

to aid in the understanding of building practices of the period.

With cutouts in the wall,

visitors can see exactly how the home was originally constructed.

The area in the sitting room displays early attempts at insulation,

using slag, which was a by product from smelters used at the time.

Our forefathers were quite efficient at using even "waste" material.

In the same room, a timeline has been erected

to explain, in pictures, the history of past residents.

The ceiling in the dining room was striking.

Large beams crossed the width of the room.

Our guide pointed out the "striped" marks on the beams

were present due to the wood that had been taken down to expose the original surface.

The second story boasted two bedrooms.

This large bedroom was most likely used as the "master"

with surprising spaciousness.

Many of the rooms included a fireplace,
which were no doubt used for heating during the winters.

The stairs are solid and add to the grand entrance.

This quirky little door under the stairs 

was most likely used as storage.

What a great hiding place for kids!

The use of this outbuilding is not yet understood,

but it's a fascinating example of architecture.

Imagine putting this together with no power tools,

no electricity, nothing but good old-fashioned hard work.

I love outhouses.

I'm grateful I don't have to use them,

but there is something so magical about them.

This one's a two-seater,

so you can share the memories with someone dear.

Last week, we featured the adjoining herb garden.

You can read that post here.

There are so many wonderful places to discover here

and it seems that every week we add to the list

of places we want to explore.

Do you have historical houses where you live?

Other Going Local Posts:
New Library
Hardware Upgrade
Memory Lane Museum
Troutman Farmers' Market
Mooresville Farmers' Market

Garden Friday

This week on Garden Friday we're visiting an herb garden.
But not just ANY herb garden.
The Mundy House is a historical home in nearby Denver (NC).
We took a tour on Monday (you can find that story here),
and were secretly thrilled to be shown the beautiful herb garden growing there.

This gorgeous garden was the work of twin brothers,
seeking to earn their Eagle Scout status.
 Read their inspirational story here.

The Garden is maintained by the East Lincolnton Community Garden Club,
a bevy of volunteers who keep the beds flourishing and well-cared for.

An array of herbs seemed to be thriving here,
including basil, rosemary, thyme, and other fragrant treasures.

The original owners of this historical home  
had always tended a vegetable garden,
although it was located in a different area of the property.

It seems that they would appreciate their legacy continuing
with the care and attention to detail this garden offers.

No doubt the local pollinators are frequent visitors.

We noticed a few veggies planted in the center raised bed.
It was interesting to see the tomato cages used in this way,
with the open ends up and bamboo supports.
Our guide told us that last year's crop was so prolific
that the extra support was needed.
Love it when folks think outside the box!

What a wonderful testament this garden is to the generations of long ago.
Seeing it being nurtured by gardeners of today
speaks to the timelessness of self-sufficiency and gratitude for what we've been given.
I'm hoping that the garden club needs a few more volunteers,
as this type of project is right up my alley.
What a blessing to be among such generous souls.

Do you have any historical gardens in your neck of the woods?