Every year on the first weekend in November, the Yankees and the Rebels fight the Battle of Fort Branch on the banks of the Roanoke River near Hamilton in eastern North Carolina. Reenactment is November 7 & 8, 2026 I took a video of the battle. That day everywhere I went several children followed me… Click to learn about the bloody Battle of Ft. Branch
Chloe Tuttle
While waiting on the plane to carry me back to Big Mill B&B, I decided to dash off a quick blog post in honor of Vegetarian Awareness Month (October). I’ve been 95% vegetarian for decades, so it is second nature for me. But it can be quite a fun adventure to explore the tastes and… Read more
We all know that birds add beauty and intrigue to our garden; that’s exactly why we add bird feeders and houses to our yards in the first place, but the truth is that the benefits the feathered creatures bring go far beyond aesthetic appeal. Birds play a great role in preventing insects from eating and… Read more
It’s time to save seeds for next year’s flower garden. These datura or Devil’s Trumpet seed pods will dry out and turn brown. That is the time to harvest them. Georgia O’Keefe liked Devil’s Trumpet or Jimson weed as it is often called. ~~~~~~~~~~~ To everything there is a season. It’s late September and, like… Read more
The Sign Says it Best: “Blow horn for ferry.” See the tiny house across the river? That is the other ferry dock. The San Souci Cable Ferry crosses the Cashie River in eastern North Carolina near Windsor in Bertie County. Lest you ever try to tell anyone about this ferry, first — you must have… Read more
If you like figs, you will love this Fig Bread – I bet you will like it even if you don’t like figs! I love figs and fig trees; I now have four fig trees planted in my orchard. That might be a bit obsessive, but this is a farm and I can share. When… Click to get the Fig Bread Recipe From Big Mill BB innkeeper Chloe
Eastern North Carolina might seem laid back and slow with nothing to do. What a fallacy! If you like history, canoeing, hiking, fishing, golfing, birding, antiqueing, outdoor dramas, eating local seafood and road food with Norman Rockwell scenes – then you will love Eastern North Carolina. Visit one of our charming coastal towns – watch… Read more
How to make these cute Christmas Santa Claus ornaments from Okra We must remember to grow and dry our okra here on the farm in the summer so that we can have these wonderful Okra Santas for Christmas. These ornaments are made from the okra seed pods that dried on the okra plants at Big… Read more about How to Make Okra Santas
The mystery – What happened to the Lost Colony? Are they in Manteo or maybe still in eastern North Carolina? In 1587, a colony of 120 souls established the first English Colony in this new world on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Three years later when John White returned from England with supplies, the colony had… Read more
Do you need an easy punch recipe for that special summer party? This great-tasting party punch is quick and easy to make and pretty – and you can do most of the prep ahead of time. Here is the recipe. Citrus Party Punch Citrus punch is a crowd pleaser and easy to make ahead. 6… Read more
