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Crissy Sharp's new tale, The Glamorous Life of a Mediocre Housewife, caught my eye as I searched for wholesome adult fiction to share with you beyond my usual children's book posts. Sharp pens a delightful read!
Meet Crissy, treat yourself to an excerpt of her book, and download your e-copy on sale for $.99 until 22 January. PLUS..... you can enter to win a $25 PayPal cash or Amazon gift card by scrolling down to the bottom of this post. Giveaway ends 6 February. Good luck and happy tales!   The Glamorous Life of a Mediocre Housewife by Crissy Sharp Lotty Brooks’ days consist of avoiding thoughts of her failing marriage, changing diapers, and trying not to eat chocolate brioche for breakfast and lunch. However, everything changes when her perfect, lakeside Montana neighborhood begins bustling with crime and she seems to be the target. Jason Brooks wants to know what happened to the woman he married. Lotty’s a mere shell of her former self. When she becomes the focal point of neighborhood threats, and the town seems to question her innocence, he must decide how well he knows his wife. As Jason and Lotty try to get to the bottom of the threats and find those responsible, they’ll need to remember what they once loved about each other. Otherwise, they may lose everything and everyone they care about.     It was his hideous cheval mirror that provoked Lotty. The pompous owls carved into the edges sneered at the bedroom as if they knew her and Jason’s marriage was falling apart. The crack in the top corner reminded her of everything that had gone wrong between them. She normally steered clear of the monstrosity, but today it caught her eye and she stopped right in front of it. Smack dab in the middle where she could see every stupid owl. Somehow Jason’s mirror highlighted all her imperfections. Maybe it was the way he saw her now. She closed her eyes so she couldn’t see the stranger with slumped shoulders and tired eyes. She tried to think of herself as the confident, young mother she’d been, but the image dissolved before it ever came into view. Gone were the skinny jeans and heels. Now it was yoga pants and a muffin top. The bright-eyed Lotty Brooks was a distant memory. She missed the excited version of herself, the one who loved her husband and felt loved in return. The woman she’d become was a sad shell of her former self. Lotty turned away with a sigh and shoved the last bite of her breakfast pastry into her mouth, letting the gooey deliciousness numb her sadness. Who needed skinny jeans and heels in a world where chocolate brioche masqueraded as breakfast? Maybe she should resign herself to a life in pants with stretchy waistbands. She picked up Jason’s jacket from where he’d left it on the floor. Jason. Maybe what she needed to resign herself to was a life without him, but the thought tore at her heart.   "Had me caught up in the story and mystery of it very quickly. It’s been a long time since I found a book that was hard to put down, but this one was that way!"--Laura L. "Fabulous, funny! Emotions and suspense abound!" --Julie C "This book kept me on the edge of my seat! I did not want to put it down and snuck in a few pages while at work (shhh don't tell my boss!). This mystery/suspense novel has everything you could want - intrigue, a mystery to solve, romance, and even a scheming mother." --StoreyBook Reviews    Author Crissy Sharp Crissy Sharp has a special knack for avoiding cooking and cleaning so she can focus the hobbies she truly enjoys, like writing and running. Though she'll always be a Montana girl at heart, she also loves Tennessee, where she currently lives with her husband and three children.
  
  
 
  Giveaway Details $25 Amazon Gift Code or $25 in PayPal Cash Ends 2/6/19 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner may be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, BookBub, Instagram, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader & Clean Wholesome Romance and is sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway
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The start of a new year is like a blank slate, and we don’t know what will be written upon it. Even if we don’t hold that winning lottery ticket, there are loads of things we can engrave upon it.
My writerly pals and I are sharing our hopes - on the writing road and in our family life - for 2019 in our #Gr8Blog hop about what we hope to accomplish in 2019. I’ll be over the moon if I can tick off 3 biggies from my bucket list in the next 12 months. Numbers 3 and 2 are simultaneously scary and super-challenging; my top wish is something I’ve been dreaming about for the longest time. Please check out my 2019 Dream Trio Count-Down. Then be sure to visit the other #Gr8Blogs linked at the end of this post for more smiles and inspirations about 2019 wishes. 
3. New Writing Direction Consumed with rightsizing and building a new home in 2018, most of last year was swallowed with getting life in order. As 2019 settles and my brain declutters, I'm itching to define a new writing direction and pen my next book. But I don't now what that is yet. Sigh. It’s painful to leave my Sweet T Tales. I love those characters and the books' beachy settings. Plus, Irene A. Jahn’s gorgeous watercolors blow me away! But I want to publish books that don’t have hefty printing costs due to multiple color illustrations associated with chapter books. I’m leaning to YA or a cozy for grown-ups, but it’s all so fuzzy. How to find a niche I enjoy writing about AND find new readers for it?!?!? 
Some days, I feel confident.
Other days, I’m overwhelmed. But I’m nearly always determined.
2. Community
Number two on my count-down falls at that fuzzy intersection of personal and authoring life.
Home Life
Unlike many writing colleagues, I’m an ambivert who generally thrives being around people. Sooooooo.....
After moving from our long-time home this summer, I’ve been meeting new neighbors and sussing ways to connect in my new community, but it is a process that does not happen overnight.
Some days I feel like the new kid at lunchtime in junior high school ---You know the one? ---eagerly looking for welcoming spots in a sea of unfamiliar faces busy doing their thing. 
Writing Life BEST feeling in the world: seeing first-hand reactions to my tales when I talk with book clubs, libraries, or classrooms about writing. In 2019, I'll seek more such in-person or Skype opportunities to connect with readers, teachers, librarians and booklovers. I'd be over the moon if you might help me by scheduling an author visit. Learn more and schedule your Catly time with a writer on my website HERE 
I also want to notch up the quality and quantity of virtual engagements on social media --- this Cat's Corner blog, Facebook and Instagram --- but still keep writing while maintaining reasonable work hours. Anybody have the secret formula for this balancing act -:D?
1. Dream Trek West with Hub
I’ve traveled across the US for business or family visits to the Pacific Northwest. However, JM has never been west of the Mississippi River. That changes this spring as I tick off the top item on my 2019 bucket list .... Hub is traveling with me to Literary Classic's Great American Book Festival and Writers’ Conference in Rapid City, South Dakota. Best, he’ll be at my side at the Literary Classics Book Awards, where I’ll accept a gold medal for writing Sweet T and the Turtle Team, the top children’s book in the environment category. So excited! (Help ... I need a stylist! I must abandon my standard daily uniform of workout clothes for evening wear to walk the red carpet at the awards ceremony. Guessing sequined black yoga pants with matching top and rhinestone trainers would not do <wink>.)
Hub and I are adding to our adventure with a short stay at Rocky Mountain National Park (southwest of Rapid City, near Denver, Colorado). JM wants to see a bear in the wild. City Girl me, not so much, but I’d be okay seeing one and "shooting" it through my camera's telephoto lens from the safety of a car.
This experience feels surreal, and I'm trying to wrap my head around such a wonderful affirmation of five nose-to-the-grindstone years of writing to be bookended by travel adventures Hub and I dream about. Adding to our celebration ... the trip falls on our 25th wedding anniversary ... Yippy! I’m beyond blessed to have such an opportunity. Can’t wait to trek west and share the adventure with you! (Hey, if you know the Badlands\Rockies area, please e-mail or IM me. I’d love insider travel tips.)
Your Turn
Thanks for stopping by. Most grateful for your company as I jump into mega-unexplored territory in 2019. What do you want to accomplish on your bucket list this year? Please share in the comment section. And for more inspiration, please visit my #Gr8blog pals below. (Ooooo, and we’ll let you know if you if one of us actually wins the lottery <laughing here!>) Hey, if you blog and want to join us on this hop, just add the family-friendly link to your post in the comment section. We’ll visit and give you some blog love-:D Photo Credits: Parts 2 & 3: Unsplash; Part 3: National Park Service
Before you go:
Please find more inspiration and 2019 wishes by visiting my awesome #Gr8Blogs pals:
Sandra Bennett
Carmela Dutra Shana Gorian Julie Gorges Corrina Holyoake Jacqui Letran Rebecca Lindsey Jim "Lefty" Milson Rosie Russell 
Was 2018 a crazy roller coaster ride for you? Smooth sailing? Milestone events?
My writerly pals and I are remembering the happy moments as well as lessons we learned from challenges this past year in our blog hop: My Ups, Downs, and In Betweens on the 2018 Writing Road. Check out our personal reveals, then visit the other #Gr8Blogs linked at the end of the post for more shared recollections and lessons learned along the way. We hope you'll be inspired to dive into your own special memories of 2018! 
Lessons Learned
Attitude of Gratitude The instructor closed our killer-pilates/yoga workout with words that wouldn't leave me: "The things you take for granted are the things others are praying for." Her benediction underscored the attitude of gratitude I want to keep in my heart, especially during this wild year of rightsizing and writer's block. The things you take for granted are the things others are praying for. Having struggled and reconciled with my new status as a baby boomer orphan last year, 2018 still loomed large with challenges. Leaving our cherished home and neighbors of 20 years to preemptively transition to first-floor living was one of the toughest things I've done. Right up there after death, divorce and job loss. Waves of sadness kept me tossing at night as Harsh Critic Me hammered away:
What a first-world problem.
You're lucky to build a beautiful new home. Some people don’t even have a roof over their heads. Get over it!
If JM and I had children and our families lived closer, we’d have anchors in a sea of chaos. However, we do not. It's a reality that gets harder as we get older. BUT we have each other, AND long-time friends who are like family, PLUS more friends to discover and new neighbors to meet. 
Instead of feeling upside down, I want to reframe our transition as a lucky adventure. View change as a gain instead of a take away. I’m getting there. But some days I raise the white flag. Swinging between sadness and buoyancy, this new order is exhilarating and exhausting at the same time. It still spins me around, though less often as the year winds down.
Father Knows Best Dad was the happiest person I knew. He saw only life’s goodness. An ah-ha moment came as I remembered finding a list he scribbled on a crinkled sheet of paper, its contents: wife, children, job, church, house, etc. – totally unlike what he scratched out when running to Safeway for mama When I asked him about it, he told me it was his list of blessings. He liked writing them down because they helped him see how lucky he was. btw....Dad's life was not one of entitlement or luxury. Coming from a blue-collar background, he served in WWII and Korea, held down two jobs while attending night school for his teaching degree, and was first in his family to go to college. 
Teenager that I was then, I didn’t understand his wisdom.
Today, I treasure my father’s practice, but I put my own spin on it. My list has two columns. One side shows fears/baggage/things that hold me back. The second marks my blessings. Almost always, that second column is longer. BINGO! Life IS good. Thanks, Dad!
Upside on the Writing Road
Spread Your Wings and TRY
Maybe it was my Puritan roots and strong work ethic from a New England childhood, but I've been down on myself as an author in 2018. Mind-maxed from rightsizing, my brain shut down when I thought about writing, let alone publish another book in 2018. I felt wretched, and Harsh Critic Me took over:
You don't have anything for your readers.
There's nothing to keep your hard-won forward momentum. No new tales to enter in 2018 writing contests. Another loss! Can't you do anything? But Cheerleader Me countered with a proper pep talk:
You're plugging away on your blog and newsletter.
Keeping fresh with your SCBWI critique group. Hey, some writing contests take year-old content. Can't hurt to try a submission.
So, I sent 2017’s Sweet T and the Turtle Team to two children’s book writing contests. And I was gobsmacked! In May, Turtle Team won TWO Purple Dragonfly awards for excellence in children’s literature: first place -chapter book AND honorable mention - environment. Talk about a needed confidence boost. Over the moon!
More good news arrived in November.
Sweet T and the Turtle Team scored GOLD in the Literary Classics International Book Awards' best in children’s literature - environment. Their book review of Sweet T and the Turtle Team just blew me away. I am beyond grateful and proud! Cannot wait to attend the Writers' Conference and Great American Book Festival that are part of the Literary Classics Awards Ceremony this spring in the City of Presidents, Rapid City, South Dakota. 
Turtle Team scores again: Literary Classics GOLD
Next Chapter, PLEASE!
I struggle still deciding what genre and content to write next since my decision to end Sweet T Tales due to its high cost of printing color illustrations. A teeny space for ideas is slowly clearing in my brain. Maybe a feel-good family story for adults? MG tale with twist of fantasy? YA series that is not about zombies, vampires or dystopia, but what???? I'm on a roller coaster about my next book ... Excited. Overwhelmed. More confident I’ll find my way but still biting fingernails. PSSSST!!!!!! Breaking News A story idea niggling at me for years moved center stage last night during our 105-singer-strong community choir's 48th annual performance of Handel's "Messiah." Mercy, if I post it here, does it mean I'm committed to writing this tale?!?!?! Stay tuned -:D!)
YOUR TURN
Thanks for stopping by and HUGE thanks for keeping me company on this writing road! How was your year? What was your biggest accomplishment, event, or lesson learned? Please share in the comment section. For more inspirational recollections and lessons learned, visit more #Gr8blogs below. And if you blog and want to join us on this hop, just add the family-friendly link to your blog post in the comment section. We’ll visit and give you some blog love-:D btw....I'm taking time away from blogging to finish unpacking and enjoy the holidays with family and friends. Cat's Corner returns in January with a follow up to this post, and -fingers crossed- a solid update on my writing direction. Sending wishes for the peace and joy of this holiday season to you and yours. Catch you in 2019! #MoreGr8Blogs and Inspiration Julie Gorge - celebrating family; reconciling a parent's passing Rosie Russell - overcoming tech pain from crashed website to publishing first hardback for libraries Rebecca Lindsey - busy teacher finds time to publish; brings illustrating into her classroom Camela Dutra - don't be afraid of change Sandra Bennett - a first grand and breaking out of the comfort zone to learn new things Auden Johnson - no matter how bad things look, Auden finds some good Corrina Holyoake - brave new world of a full-time artist, Corrina transforms her career direction, inner soul
Photo Credits:
Marble: by Louis Maniquet on Unsplash Back Flip: by Persnickety Prints on Unsplash Notebook: by Jan Kahánek on Unsplash 
Join Cat’s Tribe of Readers Here
When you were a kid, didn’t it seem like it took forever for holiday festivities to start?
Now as a grownup, the season comes charging in, don’t you think? I'm getting ready for it! Read on for Thanksgiving traditions new and old, plus a 30-second holiday video from 'Lil Cat and an EZ-PZ pumpkin dessert you and the kids can whip up. 
Here in central North Carolina, I'm watching trees flaunt autumn tints and madly searching for turkey day recipes I cannot find since we moved.
(Yes, I still have the old traditional faves on 3x5 cards from those days before internet and online recipe searches. -:D.) Even though I come from a long line of great cooks, I’m baking challenged. Never contribute homemade desserts to our turkey day feast BUT … this year I discovered a recipe from Publix that even I cannot mess up! It ticked all my boxes....yummy, easy and quick to assemble. To die for, especially with a dollop of ice cream -:D.  Slow Cooker Pumpkin Pudding Cake
I call it a Good and Gooey Pumpkin Dump Cake. All you have to do is throw ingredients into a slow cooker and forget about them until aromas fill the kitchen and beckon every sweet tooth in a 10 mile radius <wink>.
Best, with help chopping nuts (or not if someone is allergic) and measuring, this delicious autumn treat is fun to make with your kids. You can find the recipe HERE. Hey, please let me know how it turns out if you try it?
While I plug in the slow cooker and start a batch of gooey pumpkin cake to share virtually with you, my ‘Lil Cat avatar has a seasonal message for ya that's from the bottom of both our hearts.
Whoa, if you live near Kinston, NC, we can greet each other in person, thanks to the Neuse Library and an Icelandic tradition called Jolabokaflod, or the Christmas Book Flood, when books are given as presents during holidays.
btw....Please be sure to watch for my next blog that's posting after Thanksgiving. I have some golden news I’m beyond excited to tell you!
And as Lil Cat says ... Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate and a sweet November's end to all! Thanks for letting us into your home at this busy time of year -:D. 
YOUR TURN If you observe Thanksgiving, what's the one thing you gotta have/do to make it the best day ever? What favorite foods do you crave at this time of year? Please share your thoughts in the comment section. 
Sharing a very personal blog today .... Dad's 2002 letter written to his then 7-yo grand daughter about the meaning of Veterans Day (that I cannot today still read without goosebumps and sniff-sniffs). His post script demonstrates why his was called The Greatest Generation.
 Sailor Michael, circa 1944
P.S.
"After being discharged from the Service in l945, I married a girl (USO Queen), whom I met in the service in Seattle, Washington. I continued my Education, obtaining a B. S. & M.A. in Education, and becoming a science teacher in the Middle Schools in Norwalk, Ct., for 31 years. I am now approaching 78 years of age, and enjoying my family - 4 children, their spouses, and 8 wonderful grandchildren. Every day is exciting!"
Thanks to all who served.
Hugely grateful!
YOUR TURN
What special memories do you have of Veterans Day? How do you mark this occasion? Please share in the comment section. 
November marks the one-year anniversary of the roller coaster I call rightsizing: spouse JM and I left our beloved home of two decades to build a cozy craftsman cottage. Other than divorce, downsizing and death, rightsizing has been the most chaotic event in my life.
Still, I remind myself daily how blessed we’ve been to undertake this change. With apologies to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, read on to learn how I survived and hope to thrive during this time of upheaval. 
Basic Needs, Security starting points
There's nothing like the excitement of having your life turned upside down ... not! Those two weeks of closing on two homes and living in a hotel in the interim were a blur. I’d wake at night, not knowing where I was. I gained new understanding for people who don’t have a permanent roof over their head, and every night for them is another stab of uncertainty.
TBH, I get squirrelly when there's extended periods of chaos like this in my physical space. Once we moved into the cottage, I attacked the unpacking, de-cluttering and recycling of a gazillion moving boxes. (It didn’t help that I was fighting an allergic reaction to a wasp sting. Prednisone dispensed to manage localized swelling had me madly organizing our new kitchen until 3 a.m.)
Cat in the hat with moving boxes
I looked to little things, like locating our winter clothes and discovering cherished pieces from Mama made the move intact, to lift my spirits and fight that feeling of being overwhelmed.
I’m big on feathering the nest, too. My surroundings are my security blanket and creative outlet, so I beavered away to make our cottage feel like a home. Furniture happily placed. Curtains I sewed for the former homestead draped perfectly on new windows. Pretties from the old garden nestled about, waiting for their new beds and soil amendments in spring. 
A promised first dinner with BFF neighbors
Best, four months and two evil hurricanes later, the new space was finally where I hoped it would be. Then I kept my promise of christening its first "company" meal with our BFF former next-door neighbors and their daughters. We watched those two sweet girls grow from infants to amazing teens and were over the moon the family wanted to share this milestone with us. Hey, you’re virtually invited to check the new digs, too, in a 60-second Before and After video from my You-Tube channel below.
Social Needs and Self-Esteem
slowly getting there In addition to months of hard labor with boxing, unpacking and organizing, I was unprepared for the emotional upheaval and feelings of loss from exiting a dear community where I knew everyone, and everyone knew me. I tossed countless nights in the wee hours, second-guessing our decision to leave. It helped to replay a lightbulb moment from a change leadership workshop I took back in my days in the private sector. I remember having 5 minutes to find a partner and complete three rounds of guessing something the other changed in each round. Ah-Haaaaaaa!!!!!!! Nearly everyone, including moi, REMOVED items ... eyeglasses, notebooks, pencils, etc. Nobody ADDED anything to demonstrate change. Gobsmacked! The key to staying on top of transition was to stop thinking of change as a subtraction or loss. Instead, get down and boogie with change as an addition or enhancement to new situations. Think of change as gain!
I focus on viewing our transition as a huge, lovely win. Less on feeling sad by the loss of what we had before.
I miss the old ‘hood and cherished friends there, so I seek out new neighbors. And oh, those marvelous miles of wooded walking trails! I find different trails for morning walks that keep me sane and where I burn up audio books as I move along. I ramp up Body Flow workouts at the gym to 6 days a week to exorcise rightsizing demons. Being more active with volunteering and community service helps tons, too. 
Autumn sky reflects along new walking trail
Self-Actualization (be all you can be) The most precious piece still eludes me: I haven't gotten back to writing and publishing. I stopped altogether during the move and recently started with blogging and social medial in moderation. But I never want to return to 10-hour days/7-days-a-week craziness of crafting blogs, newsletters, marketing strategies, book reviews, Pinterest/Twitter/Facebook/Instagram posts, plus cranking out my WIP. Yikes! That was the road to burnout! However, I don’t have a current work in progress. My kid lit writing is majorly stuck. Zip. Zero. Goose Egg. Sigh. After ending the Sweet T Series because of the expense to publish its color illustrations, I haven’t figured out which genre or content to tackle in its place. In fact, my brain shuts down whenever it wanders to the topic. I hope as life settles and the holidays pass, my brain will kick in, and I’ll be back at it by the first of the year. In the meantime, I try not to fret and give myself permission to be on this transition roller coaster a bit longer. Your company on my writing road helps tons, too -:D. Cross your fingers for me?
Your Turn
How do you manage change? What strategies helped you master transitions? Please share in the comment section.
Thanks a ton for stopping by. Like what you see?
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I know about hurricanes from growing up along coastal Connecticut and existing 10 days without electricity or running water after Fran hit North Carolina in 1996. But Florence scared me.
I stressed when early reports predicted a direct hit to my central North Carolina community. When Flo's track shifted away at the last minute, I rested easier until forecasters warned even a slight turn would put us in danger again ... a dance with uncertainty that put everyone on edge. The storm is gone now. We are okay, but people living along the coast and inland rivers face months of rebuilding. Here’s my Florence pictorial journal. 
MONDAY- 4 days before Flo
Spouse JM and I keep a weather emergency kit, but dire warnings of a category 4 storm striking our home near Raleigh, NC, have us scrambling to assemble 3 days of water and non-perishable foods for each of us. I worry about being without power, especially in late-summer’s 90F/33C temps.
Images left/right: NOAA, WRAL Weather
No lines yet at the station when I top off the tank, but people already fill containers for generators and buy extra propane tanks for back-up power. 
Stocking up on petrol, propane
Abandoning my preferred reading mode of audio and e-books, I swing by the library for good ole print tales to help me escape during potential evenings lit by lanterns. 
Cat's reading stash, trusty red weather radio, lanterns
TUESDAY - 3 days before Flo Officials predict catastrophic flooding in our area. Local TV and radio stations blast what-to-do-before-disaster-strikes segments that have everyone’s attention. Water, bread, and beer fly off grocery shelves. Hah ... Just try to find a generator! 
Out of bottled water at Harris Teeter
Mandatory evacuations begin for coastal towns and even along nearby flood-prone creeks. Our community's Facebook group kicks in. Neighbors asking questions. Others giving advice and reassurance to storm newbies. JM and I have been through storms but have no idea how our new home will stand up to bad weather. More worries. WEDNESDAY - 2 days before Flo Good news for us: Florence turns south overnight, sparing us from a direct strike. Still with five days of rain and 40 mph winds, JM and I pack the garage and screen porch with lawn furniture and my garden treasures. Don't want these items becoming lethal projectiles during the storm. 
Garden treasures stored on screen porch
THURSDAY - 1 day before Flo Sunny skies and summertime temps make warnings feel like fake news. Government officials persist, telling residents in evacuation areas they must leave NOW or they will be on their own if they stay. Schools in eastern and coastal NC close. Businesses let out early. JM and I make one last trip to the grocery store for prepared salads and then to Subway .... our stash of no-cook dinners to toss in a cooler should we lose power (Yep, can't cook on an electric stove. Sigh.) By evening, clouds move in. Winds pick up. We will not see the sun for the next six days. We pray those creaks and crashes we hear outside during the tempest are not falling trees or flying roof tiles. 
Flo descends Friday morning over Cat's back yard
FRIDAY - 14 September 2018: Flo, Day 1
Temporary bedroom away from potential falling trees
Yippy!!!!!!!!!! At 2p.m., lights blink back on. And the internet is back! Cannot believe our good fortune. Like winning the lottery! We hope power stays but still prepare for the worst. We let friends and family know we're okay. 
Restored internet keeps us in touch with family, friends
SATURDAY & SUNDAY - Flo, Days 2 & 3 Florence is S*L*O*W in moving across our state and stays with us for five days. I hear one meteorologist say the storm travels at 2 mph, which is slower than most people walk. JM and I hunker down and exist on TV news running non-stop with tales of devastation. Dams break. Roads wash away. Shelters thrum with evacuees, who have no idea when they might go home or IF they have a home to go to. There's kindness and bravery, too. We watch the Cajun Navy and others perform swift water rescues as inland rivers crest up to 30 feet above flood stage. Monday - Flo, Day 4 As Florence dials down, I brave a walk around the 'hood. Bah! Wind flips turns my umbrella inside out before I can shut the door. Determined, I tighten my slicker, avoiding towering pines that bow too close to the ground with each gust for my comfort. Other than fallen limbs and rain-soaked leaves clinging everywhere, the 'hood looks ok. Our big spillway at the end of my street, normally a clay-shrouded pit that captures water run off, is holding as it should. Whew! We dodged the bullet.
Photo right during Flo: Glenn G
Tuesday - Flo, Day 5
Sun!
Finally peeks out. Schools reopen. Lives reset to normal. And like Itsy Bitsy spider... we start to dry up all the rain.
Looking Back - Flo by the Numbers*
Looking Back - Flo by the Heart Driving on I-40 two weeks after the storm, I get goosebumps passing parades of line and bucket trucks from Ohio, Oklahoma, and Indiana returning home after traveling to restore power lines. 
Crews from the midwest return home after restoring power
I'm beyond grateful for these and other first responders who helped clean up, staff shelters, hand out food, rescue stranded motorists, and more. So many doing kind work in times of great need.
Photos: Thanks to Jean Ann A.
I feel blessed to have dodged this Frankenstorm. But I feel guilty, too, knowing it caused catastrophic damage elsewhere to thousands. My hardship, 6 hours without power and minor inconveniences, is nothing in comparison. I feel compelled to help, donating to our church disaster service agency and assembling storm relief kits. Want to help, too? Please consider contributing to rebuilding efforts through your favorite organization or a reputable relief service listed here by our charity navigator.org. (There's also a new link to help with the Indonesian disaster) Thanks!
Your Turn
If you were in Florence's crosshairs, my best and blessings to you! How are you faring? What kind of evil weather event have you experienced? I am a wreck in storms! What coping strategies do you use to keep grounded, calm? Please share in the comments section. 
* By the Numbers figures from The Raleigh News and Observer, 30 September 2018: "Florence brought relentless rain, epic flooding and an uncertain future to NC."
Photos by Cat Michaels except where noted
Two weeks after rightsizing into our cozy craftsman cottage, I gave up hope of finding space for seldom used dinnerware and goblets. I turned for help to Replacements, Ltd., the world’s largest supplier of vintage and current dinnerware, crystal, silver, and collectibles, with its 12-million-piece inventory from 425,000 patterns.
Join me at Replacements' ginormous 500,000-square-foot headquarters in Greensboro, NC. (Oh, and bring Fido. Replacements is pet-friendly, too. Not as much fun for young children, though.) 
Photo: Jasmin Schreiber/Unsplash
FIRST CONTACT Replacements, Ltd., serves 8 million customers in 171 countries and territories. Attracting ordinary folk like me selling a few unused treasures, it's also a magnet for Hollywood producers buying authentic items for film shoots or customers searching for lost pieces of china remembered at Grandma’s Sunday suppers. I felt the company would offer a fair price for my beloved pieces to ease the pain of parting with them. The quest started with a sellers’ inquiry form completed on Replacements' website (which gets 2-million visitors monthly) and photos of my stash. I knew the names of most of my patterns, and Replacement’s Free Pattern Identification Service named the ones I didn’t by scouring its database and matching its inventory to my photos. (btw...you can use the free pattern ID service even if you aren't selling to Replacements. It's awesome!) Within 24 hours, I received an offer to purchase that included a range of prices contingent on inspecting each piece’s condition. While the company runs a worldwide mail order business, spouse JM and I opted for an in-person appointment, driving an hour from our new home to Replacement’s operations near Greensboro, NC. And that’s where the fun began. CHECK IN  Warehouse interior
The firm’s sprawling complex, the size of eight football fields, perches at the end of a winding country road off I-40.
Gently carrying our boxes of treasures, we checked in at the sellers’ entrance. It sits at one end of a space so cavernous that Rand Mc Nally once picked Replacements as one of its top 25 free attractions in the US (free tours still offered every hour).
Inspection can take up to an hour as experts scrutinize every miliimeter of potential merchandise to reject or write offers to purchase. We were invited to pass time in the waiting area, complete with comfy seating, snack bar, and free Wi-Fi. Instead. we opted to follow the long corridor through the warehouse to the 12,000-square-foot showroom and museum.
WAREHOUSE
It's hard to prepare for seeing rows of floor-to-ceiling shelves jammed with beauties and running tall along both sides of the immense warehouse!
We gawked, walked, and waved to some of the retailer’s 500 employees in the large center work area, who were cleaning and restoring items mailed in by customers. The warehouse corridor funneled into another long hallway ringed by scores of glass display cabinets .... a preview of what was ahead in the showroom.
Looking for dinnerware?
Check out a great wall of china containing only 500 of the most popular patterns from Replacement’s 280,000 discontinued and active china patterns created by over 5,000 manufacturers. It's a walk down memory lane as you spot pieces used at family dinners in years gone by.
How about silver patterns?
Ooooo and ahhhh over more display cabinets filled with just 150 of Replacements' most popular silver patterns out of the 56,000 discontinued and active patterns it carries from 3,000 manufacturers.
Crystal suit your fancy?
I see you squinting to locate family stemware in the top 150 crystal patterns stocked from 75,000 discontinued and active patterns from more than 1,000 manufacturers!
SHOW TIME!
Just when you think there couldn’t possibly be more,
the hallway spills into the 12,000-square-foot showroom.
Rooms of display cases
filled with collectibles like the ones you and your Aunt Tilly adore .. 
Cat in collectibles gallery
Tables filled with Active pieces selling at discounted prices you may not be able to resist ... 
Funky, fun pices for every occasion... 
Every possible color…. 
Every imaginable shape … 
And more! 
MUSEUM
The show-stopping museum
stretching along one end of the retail space housed spectacular collections of…
antique dinnerware
and old-timey retail essentials.
FINISH LINE
A text arrived to signal inspection was complete. The only way to escape buying any showroom beauties was to hustle back to the sellers' entrance to learn the results. There, the inspector accepted nearly all my pieces except for one wine glass that had a teeny chip (Mercy, our eagle-eyed inspector was good. I never noticed that crack until she pointed it out!) and a lonely saucer, whose cup I forgot to pack and left at home. My bad! 
Cat's stash - off to a new home
I accepted the purchase offer, and Replacements cut a check on the spot. With a final look at my pretties, I left smiling with money in my pocket and visions of new owners making their happy memories with my treasures.
Your Turn
How would you ease the pain of parting with sentimental items? Might you use a service like Replacements? Post online? What treasures would you absolutely want to virtual purchase from your trip to Replacements? Please share in the comment section...love to hear your thoughts! And thanks for joining me on another North Carolina virtual excursion. Disclosure: I am not in any way associated with Replacements, Ltd. My opinions are my own, and I received no compensation for writing this blog. Sources:
by Cat Michaels except where noted 
Maybe it’s the serenity of our mountains. The beauty of our coast. Or the vibrant flatlands in between. I don’t know which, but my home state has a deep history of authors (many of them Tar Heels, too) writing tales set in North Carolina (NC). One of the most well-known, Thomas Wolfe’s 1929 classic, Look Homeward, Angel, is drawn from childhood at his family's Asheville boarding house.
To celebrate National Book Lover's Day on August 9, I sussed out 12 NC-based stories that I finished or have on my TBR queue. It was hard to skinny down to a dozen, so you’ll find an eclectic mix of fiction and non-fiction for adults, plus a few bonus kid lit tales. Read on to find awesome books that will have you humming along with Sweet Baby James and going to Carolina in your mind -:D. 
general fiction
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1. Stephanie Powell Watts:
No One is Coming to Save Us Named a best book of 2017 by The Washington Post, Jay Gatsby is transported to a contemporary North Carolina town ground down by factory closings. WOW! And Watta recasts the Great Gatsby classic with a black family at its center. On my to-read list. |
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2. Margaret Maron:
Deborah Knott Series These gentle mysteries featuring a bootlegger’s-daughter-turned-judge are set in the fictional version of the county that’s south of mine. Love when Maron references real places I know, such as Wake Tech and Belk department store. Plus, you'll learn a bit about NC's moonshining heritage from back in the day. |
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3. Nicholas Sparks:
Nights in Rodanthe She: flees to the serenity of the remote village of Rodanthe on NC’s Outer Banks after a bad divorce. He: sells his medical practice and also retreats there to re-examine his life. And you know they’re destined to meet! A storm approaches one fateful weekend, setting the stage for life-changing events that ripple long after the tempest passes. Yummy film version with Diane Lane and Richard Gere. Hey, if you visit Rodanthe, you can see the house where the film was shot. |
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4. Jan Karon:
The Mitford Years Series These cozy slices of Mitford life are based on the quaint Blue Ridge Mountain village of Blowing Rock and follow the ups and downs of sexagenarian Episcopalian rector, Father Tim, and his flock. Their stone church is modeled after a stunning Blowing Rock edifice constructed from 1000s of small stones washed round and smooth by nearby mountain steams. Karon’s books bring a few tears, but they’re truly uplifting. Her Mitford also morphed into a Hallmark movie, but imho, the film didn’t live up to the books. |
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5. Ann B. Ross:
Miss Julia Weathers the Storm My sweet Mama Marg adored reading about Miss Julia, a feisty southern lady from another fictional mountain village. In this 19th novel of Ross’ feel-good series, Miss Julia and friends take a beach trip that’s interrupted by a hurricane, and trouble follows everyone home. As always, Miss Julia must rely on her quick wit and strong will to protect her friends and save the day. |
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6. Mary Kay Andrews:
The Weekenders Inspired hearing Mary Kay Andrews speak at Quail Ridge Books about writing The Weekenders staying on her fictional Belle Island, my friends and I brainstormed names for my beachy Turtle Team setting afterward on the ride home. Yep. That’s how I found on Gull Island. Andrew’s beach read immerses you on the Carolina coast as her protagonist investigates secrets of a summer that might change everything for her family who weekends on Belle Island. |
historical fiction
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7. Lee Smith:
On Agate Hill I loved Smith’s use of letters and diaries about Agate Hill plantation to see-saw between centuries that span Reconstruction years to 1927 and into the present. Both 19th- and 21st-ccentury female protagonists are spunky and determined as their stories unfurl to reveal authentic struggles of their era. Smith injects whip-smart humor, too. |
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8. Wiley Cash:
The Last Ballad Another on my to-read list: Set in the Appalachian foothills in 1929 and inspired by actual events, Ballad chronicles an ordinary woman’s struggle for dignity and her rights during a textile mill strike. In addition to the protagonist, Ella, “...the story is told from alternating perspectives, including that of a black train porter, a mill owner and a mill owner’s wife.... In the only contemporary and first-person passages, Ella’s now elderly daughter fills in her nephew, and the novel’s readers, on the tragic details of her mother’s life” [The New York Times]. |
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9. Jonathan Frazier:
Cold Mountain Frazier follows a wounded Civil War soldier making the long journey home from his Raleigh hospital bed, while his faraway love in the Blue Ridge Mountains fights for survival on her deceased father's farm. Did you catch the film with Jude Law and Nicole Kidman? Awesome! |
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10. Diane Chamberlain:
Necessary Lies So many levels of dark, twisty fate and injustice here had my heart lurching. Set against unimaginable truths in the segregated south of the 1960s, the author introduces a young girl working on a tobacco farm to support her family and “…an idealistic North Carolina social worker [who] defies her employers to save impoverished children from overzealous social engineering in Chamberlain's well-researched page-turner” [Kirkus Reviews]. |
non fiction
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11. Chef Vivian Howard:
Deep Run Roots Fans of PBS’s award-winning reality series, A Chef’s Life, and foodies, who flock to rural eastern North Carolina to savor regional fare at The Chef and the Farmer, are lining up for Vivian Howard’s beautifully photographed book. Part recipes and part stories from eastern NC, Howard “…Sandwiched amid the fine culinary writing many delicious recipes" [The Washington Post]. I’m not a cook, but I appreciate Howard’s humor in a recipe like Hoarded Corn that require an afternoon, trash bags, the biggest pot you have, and at least 200 ears of sweet corn to yield 20 quarts of corn kernels to have on hand for winter. |
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12. David Sedaris:
Me Talk Pretty One Day This two-part collection of essays by humorist David Sedaris first portrays a young Sedaris and his boyhood days in Raleigh before living in New York City. The second section, "Deux," tells of moving to Normandy and the author's outlandish efforts to live in France without speaking the French language. Sedaris’ narration of his audiobook is pure aural pleasure. |
bonus section: children's books
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Cat Michaels:
Sweet T and the Turtle Team Yep. Mine. The third book in my Sweet T Tales Series for early and reluctant readers is set on Gull Island, a joyful mishmash of my fave North Carolina beaches. Turtle Team spins a kid-sized yarn of friendship, acceptance and courage, with subtle messages about marine conservation. Over the moon it scored two awards in the 2018 Purple Dragonfly Award for children's books: first place for eBooks AND honorable mention for environmental print books. |
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Robert Beatty:
Serafina and the Black Cloak For older kids, this thriller about supernatural evil takes place in 1899 at Asheville’s historic Biltmore House. Beatty introduces the titular spunky heroine, Serafina, who secretly lives in the bowels of the estate with her father, where she specializes in catching rats roaming dark corridors at night. History mixes with mystery but definitely scary for sensitive readers …. especially the Man in the Black Cloak, who steals children away in the dead of night by catching them in his coat with “decaying, blood-dripping hands.” |
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Tony Earley:
Jim the Boy This gentle read for adults and spot-on coming of age tale for middle graders takes you on a sweet journey to a year in the life of 10-year old Jim Glass, who lives with his mother and three uncles in a rural mountain village. There is not one whit of dysfunction, scandal or evil doing, yet Earley’s powerful descriptions of everyday life and beautifully crafted characters will hold your attention on every page. |
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Rhonda Paglia:
Doonsey's Beach Adventure: the Great Rescue For youngest readers by a former kindergarten teacher, the author takes children to the shore to meet Doonsey, a talking crab, and his mysterious Beach Buddies. Inspired after exploring Kure Beach with her grandchildren, Paglia offers whimsy. learning and extension activities that will keep keep your young ones engaged. |
Your Turn
Any of my fave NC books strike your fancy? What favorite books, of any setting, would you share for National Book Lover’s Day? Please join the conversation in the comment section ...
AND
...find more book love and great bookish ideas for National Book Lover’s day from my writerly pals:
Kristen Lamb
4 Ways to Celebrate NBLD with your Kids
~~~~~~
Carmela Dutra
Fun New Ways to Celebrate NBLD
Thanks for your company on National Book Lover's Day and every day!
Any of my fave NC books strike your fancy? What favorite books, of any setting, would you share for National Book Lover’s Day? Please join the conversation in the comment section ...
AND
...find more book love and great bookish ideas for National Book Lover’s day from my writerly pals:
Kristen Lamb
4 Ways to Celebrate NBLD with your Kids
~~~~~~
Carmela Dutra
Fun New Ways to Celebrate NBLD
Thanks for your company on National Book Lover's Day and every day!
Power up your GPS. We’re off on a virtual family-friendly road trip across the U.S and Australia in the #Gr8Blogs Summer Road Trips 2018. My writerly pals and I are sharing insider touring tips for your summertime fun. I’m excited to show you around my home in central North Carolina,
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My once quiet corner has morphed into a bustling metro area after topping many “best” lists. Best place to live. Best area to retire. Be single. Start a business. Ride a bike. Etc.! With more than 2,156,253 people (and my Apex home town identified by Realtor.com as the fastest-growing town in America, with 307% growth in new construction!), something is always jumping.
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Photo: higgins-spoooner @unsplash.com
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Read on for my top five family-friendly stops AND find insider tips from me and my NC pals to have you living like a local.
Then discover more summer road trip fun from the US coast to coast and Australia as you join my #Gr8Blogs pals linked at the bottom of this page.
welcome to North carolina!
Picture a triangle stretching long on one side. Tip that length downward, plop it onto the center of a North Carolina map, and it points to my corner of the world.
This summer, JM and I moved to Apex, NC, a suburb of 51,000. We decided to RIGHTsize to first-floor living living there, moving just three miles down the road from our beloved home of 20 years in Cary and another great place to live.
Central North Carolina is defined by three unique cities nestled in the corner of that triangle you imagined. Each boasts a major university, which further defines who are (especially during fevered college basketball tournaments!): Raleigh and NC State University; Durham with Duke University; and the University of NC flagship’s campus at Chapel Hill.
This summer, JM and I moved to Apex, NC, a suburb of 51,000. We decided to RIGHTsize to first-floor living living there, moving just three miles down the road from our beloved home of 20 years in Cary and another great place to live.
Central North Carolina is defined by three unique cities nestled in the corner of that triangle you imagined. Each boasts a major university, which further defines who are (especially during fevered college basketball tournaments!): Raleigh and NC State University; Durham with Duke University; and the University of NC flagship’s campus at Chapel Hill.
Photo: qsl.net - Central North Carolina's RTP region
Now draw a big X in the middle of this trio to find the Research Triangle Park (we call it RTP). One of the largest high-tech corridors in the world, it covers 7,000 acres and employs more than 50,000 people in 260 companies focused on computers, artificial intelligence, biotech, pharmaceuticals, and a gazillion techy things I never knew existed. (In fact, RTP lured me to the Triangle decades ago from my Connecticut home, with dreams of landing a high-tech career -Score!)
Insider tip:
Don't be startled when strangers smile at you and passers-by toss a cheery, "Hey!" your way. We're friendly here -:D.
Insider tip:
Don't be startled when strangers smile at you and passers-by toss a cheery, "Hey!" your way. We're friendly here -:D.
YOUR TOP 5 ROAD TRIP STOPS
1. Get Outside, Y’all!
Blessed with four seasons, we spend tons of time outdoors. Bask in perfect autumns and springs. Embrace mild winters (Sure, there's snow, but it melts in a day or two,) In summer’s sizzling humidity, you should drink plenty of water, wear sunscreen, and take things slow. Hey, you can always head inside and crank up the AC.
Hit the Greenways (all over the Triangle)
Greenway Cat
Tie up your trainers.
Head for one of the 80 greenways (walking trails) linking neighborhood and parks in Cary alone.
Jog for miles,
or take short strolls.
Ride your bike.
Leash up Rover or....
pamper your pooch at one of our dog parks.
Head for one of the 80 greenways (walking trails) linking neighborhood and parks in Cary alone.
Jog for miles,
or take short strolls.
Ride your bike.
Leash up Rover or....
pamper your pooch at one of our dog parks.
Go Green at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve and Stevens Nature Center (Cary)
Woodland trails in this park’s 140 acres and 3,700 square foot nature center make you forget you’re in a metro area. North-facing bluffs produce a cooler microclimate, allowing tall mountainous evergreen Hemlocks to thrive in our hot summer flatlands. The park's environmental, nature, and children's programs will have you and the kids going green.
Bring bug spray for spring and summer walks across the marshland. Free park admission.
Woodland trails in this park’s 140 acres and 3,700 square foot nature center make you forget you’re in a metro area. North-facing bluffs produce a cooler microclimate, allowing tall mountainous evergreen Hemlocks to thrive in our hot summer flatlands. The park's environmental, nature, and children's programs will have you and the kids going green.
Bring bug spray for spring and summer walks across the marshland. Free park admission.
Ride a Train and Old-Timey Carousel at Pullen Park (Raleigh)
NC Pal Thu W. and her three kids adore historic Pullen Park. This 66-acre gem was the first public park in North Carolina, 5th oldest operating amusement park in the US, and 16th oldest in the world. Its grassy spaces, swings, picnic shelters, and rental pedal boats for the lake are devine. But the real draw is riding the park’s stunning old-timey carousel and kid train.
Insider Tip:
- Great kid zone in Waverly Place Park: Tucked behind the lower level of this shopping center, you can join the fun or watch from nearby benches. Waverly also offers places for good eats and cool drinks. Arrive on a Wednesday evening to catch Wind Down Wednesday, a free family-friendly outdoor concert series.
Photo:waverlycary.com_Waverly Park
2. Explore World-Class Gardens
White Garden Gazebo at the JCRA
As a southern gardener, I hope you'll wander our luscious landscapes.
Discover a 10-acre gem at the NC State University’s JC Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh. As an arb volunteer, it's been a joy leading tours through the 18 display gardens and 6,000 unique plants collected from all over the world.
I also LOVE its adult workshops and children’s programs (nature, arts and crafts, interactive learning stations for school tours, junior chef cooking classes in a yurt, and more). If you're lucky, you'll spot a glowing bride and groom at an outdoor wedding ceremony in the White Garden gazebo.
The JCRA is open to the public and free, except for special events, and operates free Sunday afternoon tours.
Discover a 10-acre gem at the NC State University’s JC Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh. As an arb volunteer, it's been a joy leading tours through the 18 display gardens and 6,000 unique plants collected from all over the world.
I also LOVE its adult workshops and children’s programs (nature, arts and crafts, interactive learning stations for school tours, junior chef cooking classes in a yurt, and more). If you're lucky, you'll spot a glowing bride and groom at an outdoor wedding ceremony in the White Garden gazebo.
The JCRA is open to the public and free, except for special events, and operates free Sunday afternoon tours.
Insider Tips:
- NC Pal Sam I. suggests the 19th-century kitchen garden behind Raleigh’s oldest home, the Mordecai House. Built in 1785, the garden is based on memoir and letters left by former occupant Ellen Mordecai. Some say ghosts haunt here at night, but I'm sure they're friendly southern spirits -:D.
- NC Pal Jane T. gives a shout out to Duke Gardens on the university’s campus in Durham. Small admission fee, but worth it to see its stunning display gardens.
- Plants Delight at Juniper Level Botanic Gardens operates as a garden catalogue company, specializing in exotic perennials that grow in our zone 7 climate. However, its amazing 28-acre display garden and 21,600 unique plants open to the public several times yearly.
3. Chill at an Outdoor Concert
We love summertime concerts, Headliners, like Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney and the Pentatonix, perform at large venues like Raleigh's Walnut Creek and Red Hat Amphitheaters.
We love summertime concerts, Headliners, like Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney and the Pentatonix, perform at large venues like Raleigh's Walnut Creek and Red Hat Amphitheaters.
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North Carolina Symphony Summerfest at Booth Amphitheater (Cary)
Classical, jazz, or pop float your boat? NC Symphony's Summerfest, a 6-week concert series offers fantastic music, contests, instrument zoos, and more. Bring lawn chairs and goodies to picnic under the stars. Kids under 12 get free admission with lawn seating. |
Photo: Laura on Unsplash
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Wide Open Blue Grass (Raleigh)
Visit during summer’s last hurrah in September for a Bluegrass street spectacular with foot-tapping tunes as more than 100 bands perform on 7 outdoor stages (all free!) and headliners, like Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers, fill nearby Red Hat stadium. I love the informal jamming sessions that are everywhere. It's a good mix of local, national, and international talent, plus food trucks, musical instruments for sale, and all manner of NC-made wares. Hey, check out the dance tent to watch clogging performances. You can also join the square dancers and late-night open dancing.
Insider tip:
- Cary Town Band offers rousing-good free concerts for the whole family to have you marching and clapping along.
4. Yum Down Regional Treats
We have tons of restaurants serving food from around the world, but you gotta try southern eats.
We’re all about fried everything.
And ‘cue - barbeque that is.
Pork laced with vinegar in eastern NC
Whatever you decide,
be
sure
to try
iced tea.
Insider tip: Sound like a native!
Specify 'sweet' or 'unsweet' iced tea when ordering.
We’re all about fried everything.
And ‘cue - barbeque that is.
Pork laced with vinegar in eastern NC
Whatever you decide,
be
sure
to try
iced tea.
Insider tip: Sound like a native!
Specify 'sweet' or 'unsweet' iced tea when ordering.
Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen (Cary)
This farm-to-table restaurant rotates seasonal fare, like buttermilk-fried green tomatoes, pulled pork with voodoo sauce, and bacon-wrapped meatloaf with pig and whistle sauce. Its patio seating is yummy, too.
Salem Street Pub (SSP) (Apex)
A laid-back eatery in an 1800s brick building in downtown historic Apex, SSP offers good food and family fun. Grab the chalk provided at every table to write or draw on the blackboard-like tablecloth. I have not tried it, but Spouse JM gives thumbs up to My Wife Said It Would Never Sell, the house specialty featuring a beef burger topped with peanut butter, honey, cheddar cheese, and bacon. Somehow, it works! Grownups, try local brews on tap.
This farm-to-table restaurant rotates seasonal fare, like buttermilk-fried green tomatoes, pulled pork with voodoo sauce, and bacon-wrapped meatloaf with pig and whistle sauce. Its patio seating is yummy, too.
Salem Street Pub (SSP) (Apex)
A laid-back eatery in an 1800s brick building in downtown historic Apex, SSP offers good food and family fun. Grab the chalk provided at every table to write or draw on the blackboard-like tablecloth. I have not tried it, but Spouse JM gives thumbs up to My Wife Said It Would Never Sell, the house specialty featuring a beef burger topped with peanut butter, honey, cheddar cheese, and bacon. Somehow, it works! Grownups, try local brews on tap.
Insider tips:
- Road-side stands and farmer’s markets are everywhere, but the 75-acre indoor/outdoor State Farmers Market in Raleigh is easiest to find. Try free samples and talk directly with the people who grow your food. They’ll explain, in the most authentic southern accent you'll hear, the best way to fry okra or store fresh peaches. In addition to produce, vendors offer NC products like plants, honey, and sides of pork; crafters sell NC-made wares.
- Give our food trucks a try. NC Pal Donna B., originally from New Orleans, got me hooked on Mr. A's beignets.
5. Take in a Festival
Peak City Pig Fest (Apex)
Yippy! My new home mixes a traditional southern barbecue cook-off with free music and fun. (Locals know Apex got its name in the mid 1800s by being a water stop for the railroad and highest point, or apex, along a 30-mile stretch of the Chatham Railroad.)
Yippy! My new home mixes a traditional southern barbecue cook-off with free music and fun. (Locals know Apex got its name in the mid 1800s by being a water stop for the railroad and highest point, or apex, along a 30-mile stretch of the Chatham Railroad.)
Lazy Daze Arts and Crafts Festival (Cary)
Full disclosure:
As a longtime Cary resident, Lazy Daze tops my list of summertime fun.
Full disclosure:
As a longtime Cary resident, Lazy Daze tops my list of summertime fun.
Catly festival goer
Nearly 330 artisans, 35 bands/entertainers spill over downtown sidewalks over this two-day festival, one of the largest juried events of its kind in the southeast US. I often snag garden art and one-of-a-kind jewelry here.
Dress for hot weather, wear comfy shoes, bring water and a big bag to carry one-of-a-kind crafted treasures you'll find. |
 Lazy Daze
I grab a free shuttle running every 20 minutes from nearby parking lots. It drops me off at the entrance and back to my car when afterward.
Check out Kids World, with games, storytelling, faceprinting, and crafts. Oh, find the Beer Garden for big peeps. |
Insider tip:
- NC Pal Benita B. takes in the NC Japan Festival with her daughter to experience Japanese culture, music, art, and dance.
your turn
I LOVE having you virtual visit North Carolina! What was your fave stop? What must-sees are in your corner of the world? Please share in the comment section.
Before you go, I’m blogging more about North Carolina over the next weeks. For National Book Lovers’ Day on 9 August, I’m featuring my pick of books for adults and kids that are set in North Carolina and written by NC authors. Y’all come back!
Don't go yet .....
There's more tons of fun ahead with the #Gr8blogs Summer Road Trips! Click over to your next destination and join my pals below. (And if you blog and want to hop with us, add a live hyperlink to your family-friendly road trip post in the comment section. My #Gr8blog pals and I will swing by and give you some blog love!)
Thanks a ton! Beyond grateful for your company.
Photos: by Cat Michaels unless credited
Before you go, I’m blogging more about North Carolina over the next weeks. For National Book Lovers’ Day on 9 August, I’m featuring my pick of books for adults and kids that are set in North Carolina and written by NC authors. Y’all come back!
Don't go yet .....
There's more tons of fun ahead with the #Gr8blogs Summer Road Trips! Click over to your next destination and join my pals below. (And if you blog and want to hop with us, add a live hyperlink to your family-friendly road trip post in the comment section. My #Gr8blog pals and I will swing by and give you some blog love!)
Thanks a ton! Beyond grateful for your company.
Photos: by Cat Michaels unless credited
Visit More #Gr8Blogs
Summer Road Trips
|
North America
Carmela Dutra - Take a tour of family-friendly places in California’s San Jose Bay Area. Julie Gorges - Julie shows you the best Southern California has to offer. K. Lamb - Buckle up as Kristen takes you through historical sites in California. |
Rebecca Lindsey - Check your tire pressure and take off on a virtual road trip through West Virginia . Rosie Russell - Dust off your maps as Rosie guides you through her home home town, Kansas City, Missouri Rhonda Paglia - Power up your GPS as Rhonda rocks you around Western Pennsylvania. |
Australia
Sandra Bennett - Transfer to a sea plane to find Sandra Down Under in Canberra. Hey, it's winter in Australia, so bring cold-weather clothes! |
Cat Michaels
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