When I was growing up we always had a winter garden of all kinds of greens and root vegetables, including turnips and rutabagas.
In cold weather my mother would make rutabaga rice soup that I now associate with life on the farm, warm fires and being happy. Other than my family members, no one I know has ever heard of this soup. If you like rutabagas, give it a try. Even if you aren’t sure if you like rutabagas, give it a try. You might surprise yourself. Recipe below is easy. Rutabagas make a great Rice soup – recipe below
Bird lovers everywhere join in the Great Backyard Bird Count
Photo by Guy Livesay
We love the annual Great Backyard Bird Count. It’s easy to participate and it helps the birds. You sign up on the website and agree to count birds for at least 15 minutes on at least one of the 4 days of the bird count, more if you want. Everyone is welcome. You don’t need to be an expert. Sign up is easy and free.
We have always had birds here at Big Mill B&B. When I was growing up, my father would tell me the name of each bird by the song it sang. Oh, how I wish I had that gift. [continue reading…]
Remember the Mom and Pop restaurants that were in every town?
Well, we still have ’em here in eastern North Carolina. Take a ride with me to find the best local food east of Raleigh. I’m delighted to premiere the latest Big Mill B&B video:
We’ve featured the 10 “must see” spots for off-the-beaten path diners and dives throughout Eastern NC. We begin in Williamston and end up in Morehead City, stopping in some little towns that don’t even have a stoplight. Buckle up! [continue reading…]
In another life, I had sheep in my yard. Remember the sixties?
I didn’t have a lawn mower and I really did believe that the sheep would groom my yard. I needed the fleeces – I was working on my master’s degree in fibers – spinning and natural dyeing.
I lived on the south side of the Pamlico River and keeping my sheep in the yard was difficult. Neighbors said they didn’t mind Maggie Belle and Yorick, but my guinea hens had to stay home. I had bees too. [continue reading…]
Christmas lights in Windsor – you can see the glow from half a mile away!
People come from everywhere to the small eastern North Carolina town of Windsor just to see these lights. Folks turn off their headlights and drive slowly through the lighted arches, past elves and Santas, angels and reindeer, cut-out critters and blow-up scenes – and lots of lights, up in the trees, on the scenes. It is almost too much to see at one time.
½cupcookedunsweetened pumpkin (canned works great)
¾cupsself-rising flour ***
¼teaspoonground cloves
¼teaspoonground cinnamon
¼teaspoonsalt
1/3cupchopped walnuts
½cupcoconutsweetener & shredded , reserve 1 Tablespoon. (Use a brand name coconut)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 2 mini loaf pans.
Whisk eggs in medium-sized bowl. Add oil and pumpkin. In another bowl mix flour, cloves, cinnamon and salt.
Add dry mixture to the pumpkin mixture and stir. Fold in walnuts and coconut.
Pour into loaf pans, filling about ¾ full. Sprinkle with the reserved coconut.
Bake for about 35-45 minutes or until loaves are lightly browned and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cooking times vary, so keep checking to see to see if it is done.
When we all ate from the land and did not import exotic foods, we ate what was fresh. So in the fall of the year and for Thanksgiving and Christmas we had lots of pumpkin dishes. My folks let me grow pumpkins in the corn patch.
Politics resurrect memories.
There was another election: Richard Nixon in the 60s.
Pat Nixon, Ginny Tuttle (Chloe’s Mother-in-Law) & Richard Nixon in Atlanta during the Eisenhower campaign of the 50’s
Back then, I had decided that if Nixon was re-elected, I was moving to Africa. Remember, this was the sixties. I can’t remember where in Africa — either Ivory Coast or Liberia. Made sense to me at the time.
T.S. Applegate, physics professor, built a 96′ steel four-masted barkentine in a corn field in Lynchburg, Virginia. He then hauled it by truck to Belhaven, North Carolina and tied it to a dock. [continue reading…]
For couples who want romantic seclusion for theirwedding or vow renewal, the private, rustic setting ofBig Mill Bed & Breakfast is perfect. No crowds. Just you, your mate and a few friends – if you want them.
No fuss, no stress – our team does it all for you with your guidance. Our photographer, Guy, takes the bride and groom around the farm, the lakes, the barns to get that perfect shot. He might even use the old red truck.
Brides love my Old Red Truck
If you want a different setting, we will travel – if you want to renew your vows on your boat, we will go. At your house or at the beach – our wedding officiant, Barney Conway, and photographer, Guy Livesay will join you there. Need a cake? We do that too.
We host weddings with 8-10 folks…but call us, we might accept a dozen.
I love our new hand-drawn B&B farm map – made just for Big Mill
I love the outbuildings here on the farm – they are almost 100 years old. We have the Smoke House where my folks cured sausage and hams and stored the lard and fatback to feed five families; the Wash House where my mother heated the water with wood to wash the clothes; the Pack House where the mules lived; the Sweet Potato House where they cured the sweet potatoes; the Chicken Coop where we had chickens – my job was to gather the eggs. [continue reading…]
High Cotton in the antebellum South meant that the cotton was high,
prices were good and all was well on the plantation.
Yep, we’re in High Cotton on the farm here at Big Mill Bed and Breakfastthis year. Right outside my kitchen window the cotton is as high as I can remember. My brother John does say that isn’t necessarily a grand thing, but I like it. And this is the best looking cotton in the county. [continue reading…]
Hi, I am Chloe and I live on my family farm that is now Big Mill Bed & Breakfast. I post about things that happen on the farm, fun things to do in eastern NC and my crafts & recipes.
