If you are ever in Wilson, North Carolina, you’re bound to catch sight of the Whirligig Park—an entire landscape full of color and clatter, where the air’s alive with the hum of folk art in motion.

Vollis Simpson’s Bicycle Whirligig

A whirligig is a charming contraption frequently used as a decorative garden ornament. It spins when the wind blows, with parts that whiz around, creating a delightful visual and often audible spectacle. Whirligigs are a popular folk art created from rustic hand-carved wood to brightly painted metal designs.

Click to read about this Junk Yard Poet

If you were not born in the low country of South Carolina or Georgia – or other coastal areas of the south, then you’ve probably never heard of Haint Blue – it’s a southern thing.

But if you ever travel in the south, especially in coastal towns, you will often see porch ceilings painted a special robin’s egg light blue color. This is not because we like blue; it is because of our folklore and heritage. Click to read why Southerners paint their porch ceilings blue.

My faithful purple martins have left the farm.    Where did you go?

The silence is awful – their chatter was so soothing. Now they are gone. They have started their long journey south.

A Family Squabble

They don’t head straight to South America. They “hole up” for several weeks in places just south of here like Mann’s Harbor, in the North Carolina’s Outer Banks, where they have been going for more than 50 years. Click to follow the Purple Martins

Tomato Jam – So Good You Won’t Believe It

If you have never tried Tomato Jam, you are in for a treat.

I have been reading about this jam and when I saw the recipe in the New York Times, I knew I had to make it. I didn’t like their recipe – too many conflicting spices. I tried several iterations and now I think I have the perfect recipe based on the Times recipe.  Click to read more about Chloe’s Killer Tomato Jam

Senator Bob Martin Ag Center: A Gem in Williamston, NC has something for everyone
Click to learn about our fabulous Equestrian Center

We try to keep up with all the tech changes – it keeps us busy. I was on the waiting list for Starlink for 15 months, so when they wrote and said, “Yea or Nay?” I said “YES!” So far, so good.

Geeks on Tour Jim, Contemplating Starlink Hookup at Big Mill B&B

For those of you asking, “What is Starlink?” it is Elon Musk’s Satellite Internet Service SpaceX. Click to see how fun the Starlink is on the Farm

When I worked at our local hospital, I had a wonderful nurse friend, Nurse Nancy, who lived on the Pamlico River. Whenever we had a hurricane, she came to stay with me – and she made her fabulous chili. There was a secret ingredient – Tequila.

Print Recipe

Best Hurricane Chili

This comforting chili seems to please everyone. It has the right amount of kick and flavor.

Prep Time45 minutes mins

Cook Time2 hours hrs

Course: Dinner, Main Course, Soup

Cuisine: American, Mexican

Servings: 10

Author: Chloe Tuttle

Equipment

• 1 large cooking pot

Ingredients

• 2-3 pounds ground beef
• 1 large green pepper chopped into pieces
• 1 large onion diced
• 2 28-ounce cans tomatoes
• 2 10-ounce Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies medium heat
• 3 15.5-ounce cans dark red kidney beans drained
• 1 15.5-ounce can cannellini beans drained
• 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
• 1-1 1/2 Tablespoon chili pepper or to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
• 2-3 Tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1/4 cup Tequila
• 1 8.5-ounce can corn optional
• 1/2 cup cheddar cheese shredded for garnish
• sour cream garnish, optional
• diced onion garnish, optional

Instructions

• Cook ground beef, bell pepper and onion in a large pot. Pour off fat and drippings into a Pyrex dish. I usually put the grease in refrigerator until the grease rises to the top. Skim off fat and add the remaining drippings to the chili pot.
• Add the two cans of whole tomatoes with juice. Cut whole tomatoes in half with kitchen scissors. Add the Rotel diced tomatoes with green peppers and juice.
• Add the beans.
• Add the salt, chili pepper, ground peppers, lime juice, and tequila.
• Cook for an hour on fairly low temperature.
• To serve, garnish with corn, cheese, sour cream and diced onion. Bon appetit!

Click to read about how this chili recipe came to be

Hook Hand is an unusual name for a brewery or pub. The name Hook Hand is in reference to East Carolina University and their mascot – a pirate – and some pirates have Hooks for Hands.  Well, that is what Jeremy, the owner told me.

Click to learn about this interesting Watering Hole

Tasty, Tart, and Pretty Plum Jelly is perfect for your breakfast table. Whether enjoyed on a lazy Sunday morning or as an accompaniment to a sophisticated afternoon tea, this plum jelly is a true culinary delight.

Chloe’s Plum Jelly is the Best

Growing up, we had a beautiful red plum tree.  And Plum Jelly is my absolute favorite jelly. Experience the essence of juicy, tangy plums captured in every jar of this  pretty plum jelly.

This Plum Jelly is absolutely the best of ALL the jellies. It has a sweet-tart taste that can’t be faked. Try to get ripe plums – there are many varieties. I like the red plums because that is what we had. This jelly recipe is a keeper.

Chloe’s Luscious Plum Jelly is the BEST

Print Recipe

Plum Jelly

Sweet, tart jelly from red plums is the best ever.

Cook Time10 minutes mins

Total Time2 hours hrs

Course: Appetizer, Breakfast, Condiments

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Red Plum Jelly

Servings: 8 half-pints

Calories: 529kcal

Author: Chloe Tuttle

Equipment

• 1 Canner pot

Ingredients

• 8 lbs ripe plums (you will need 4 Cups of plum juice)
• 5 ½ cups sugar
• 3 ounces liquid Certo (1 pouch)
• 8-10 half-pint canning jars
• cheesecloth

Instructions

• Wash plums and put whole plums in a large stainless steel cooking pot. Mash the plums with a spatula or potato masher to extract some of the juice. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring often.

  Line a large colander with cheesecloth and set over a large bowl. Pour plum mixture into the colander and set aside to cool. After it has cooled, put in refrigerator overnight. DO NOT squeeze or mash the plums, just allow to drip. Hopefully, you will have 4 cups of plum juice.

  Add 5 ½ cups sugar and the 4 cups plum juice to a pot and cook over medium heat. Stir to dissolve the sugar.

  After mixture is boiling, raise heat and bring to a rolling boil that cannot be stirred down.

  Add Certo and bring heat back up to a rolling boil that cannot be stirred down.  Stir and cook the jelly for 1 minute…. or a bit longer if you want.

  Put into sterilized jars and put on lids and rings. Process in hot water bath for 5 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 2Tablespoons | Calories: 529kcal | Carbohydrates: 137g | Fat: 0.4g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 3mg | Sugar: 137g | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 0.1mg