Did you know that Grits are made from corn? And stone ground grits are the best. Atkinson Milling Company in Selma, NC produces some of the best grits. I’ve tried many kinds and theirs are the best. I was looking for local stone-ground North Carolina grits to serve at Big Mill Bed & Breakfast and… Read more
Chloe Tuttle
Lynda Oden and her family have been running Oden’s Store since 1904 Oden’s Store and Antiques is chock full of treasures: depression glass, old tools, furniture from the turn of the last century, old doors, some junk, but all of it is interesting. It is the kind of place where you have to poke around… Read more
Pull Candy Recipe – Old Time Stewed Sugar My mother called this wonderful confection pull candy or stewed sugar. Some folks call it taffy. When she described a child’s pretty blond hair she would say it was the color of stewed sugar — a gorgeous translucent white color with a faint golden tint. Making this… Click to read more about Pull Candy
This EGGNOG Recipe is the best ever and it is made with real eggs. Make this eggnog at least 2-3 weeks before you plan to imbibe. It doesn’t take long to make, but it can be messy. I almost made the mess that couldn’t be cleaned up. National Public Radio (NPR) wanted proof, so they… Click to get recipe and to see why this eggnog is Safe!
Holiday Recipes, old and new, from the innkeeper at Big Mill B&
We folks in eastern North Carolina celebrate our farm heritage Every year since 2003, we have a big Farm Heritage Fair at the Senator Bob Martin Ag Center in Williamston, NC. Sadly, this fair happens no more, but it was fun while it did. Our “old timers” who knew how to bale hay, make cracklins… Read more
What do you do with all those corks you’ve saved? Make a Cork Wreath. It isn’t difficult if you follow my directions and take it one step at a time. Here is how to make the perfect Cork Wreath. Cork wreaths are pretty any time of year, but folks like them for the holidays. I… Read more
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. I took a video of the battle. That day everywhere I went several children followed me. Right smack dab in the middle of… Click to learn about the bloody Battle of Ft. Branch
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
