What does one do on a weekend in Lenoir? Well, you could visit a couple of thrift shops to pick up a warmer jacket and some jeans. And you could stop at the farmer's market (turnips & turnip greens seem to be the vegetable of choice right now). And you could stop at the Bernhardt-Seagle Hardware established in 1829. It's the oldest single family owned hardware store in the world. If you don't mind multiple owners, it's the second oldest hardware store in the US (the oldest one is in Worchester, MA).
Then for lunch you could go to the Molasses Festival at Sims Country BBQ (unfortunately they had just run out of BBQ but they still had plenty of molasses). The person with Patty was Miss Molasses from 1985 - 2005. She finally gave it up when she became a diabetic and couldn't eat molasses. Apparently the festival also gave up crowning a Miss Molasses. Who is the man by the pickup? He makes the molasses. Other entertainment? - GREAT bluegrass music by the Dollar Brothers at the festival. For a little variety we went to hear Joseph Robinson (the principle oboeist with the NY Philharmonic for over 20 years) play with the Western Piedmont Symphony at the Civic Center. A nice way to end the day.
Today we went over to Malin & Charlie's place on Turkey Hen Mountain. So peaceful and they have all these NEAT things - gravity fed water from a spring/stream up the mountain, solar electricity, a REAL root cellar, a brick first floor for solar gain for warmth in the winter, an "almost" greenhouse for growing greens in the winter. AND Malin made waffles with an old-fashioned waffle iron on the wood/gas stove - they were delicious.
This afternoon we got together with some other Habitat volunteers who are working on a project about 45 minutes away. (We'd worked with four of them on the Oneonta build this past spring.) Tillie popped her top so she wouldn't look so small next to the RV we're parked next to. She's still the favorite as far as appearance on the campsite.
Then for lunch you could go to the Molasses Festival at Sims Country BBQ (unfortunately they had just run out of BBQ but they still had plenty of molasses). The person with Patty was Miss Molasses from 1985 - 2005. She finally gave it up when she became a diabetic and couldn't eat molasses. Apparently the festival also gave up crowning a Miss Molasses. Who is the man by the pickup? He makes the molasses. Other entertainment? - GREAT bluegrass music by the Dollar Brothers at the festival. For a little variety we went to hear Joseph Robinson (the principle oboeist with the NY Philharmonic for over 20 years) play with the Western Piedmont Symphony at the Civic Center. A nice way to end the day.
Today we went over to Malin & Charlie's place on Turkey Hen Mountain. So peaceful and they have all these NEAT things - gravity fed water from a spring/stream up the mountain, solar electricity, a REAL root cellar, a brick first floor for solar gain for warmth in the winter, an "almost" greenhouse for growing greens in the winter. AND Malin made waffles with an old-fashioned waffle iron on the wood/gas stove - they were delicious.
