Chloe Tuttle

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

Updated: 10/08/25 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 1 & 2, 2025 I took a video of the battle. That day everywhere I went several children… 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

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