July 4th Fesival in Southport!

The patriotic spirit of America is alive and well in the City of Southport. For over 200 years this small maritime community has celebrated our nation's independence in a big way. The celebration has grown from colonial times when ships lay anchor in her harbor shot their cannons to today's festival where 40,000 to 50,000 people come each year to bathe in the richness of spirit commemorating Old Glory.

Visit: http://www.nc4thofjuly.com/#

Blackberries!!!

Lenoir: North Carolina Blackberry Festival - July 12, 2008

The NC Blackberry Festival offers visitors a full day of crafters, music, food, family fun and BLACKBERRIES! The morning starts off with a group of the cutest little berries at the Blackberry Princess pageant. The premier event at the NC Blackberry Festival is the blackberry-eating contest. Not for the faint at heart, participants compete by eating a quart of cold, sweet berries in the least amount of time. Visitors will be treated to homegrown music on the main stage throughout the day, kicking off with the National Anthem and with special guest Mrs. NC America Maureen MacDonald during the Presentation of Colors. Door prizes from our vendors will be awarded all day. So come on out for a hometown good time at the 7th annual NC Blackberry Festival.

Visit: http://www.caldwellcochamber.org

High On A Hog In Hillsborough!

Hog Day in Hillsborough. A 26-year old tradition and not to be missed.

June 20 & 21, 2008

Cool Music and LOTS more!

http://www.hogdays.com/

Volume 2 - In the works

Yes, it's true. 3 years after the release of "In Search of Mayberry" I am finally hard at work on the sequel....haha!

Rao at Parkway Publishers is just an amazing guy and he's given me his blessing on my idea for Volume 2, which will be "Mayberry in the Mountains."

I've chosen several towns in the mountains of NC and I'm working hard to get pictures taken and information down on paper to go along with the towns and photos.

Check back, as I plan to keep updating the progress here. So far I've completed Banner Elk and Blowing Rock. It's just so hard to find time to get things done with small kids and a full-time job, but I'm determined.