Pinehurst

We took a day trip down to Pinehurst here in NC this last Saturday.  It’s one of our favorite places to go.

 

 Here we are driving up to the Carolina Hotel in beautiful Pinehurst, North Carolina.  We love coming here!  Two years ago we came and spent the weekend for our Anniversary and loved every minute of it.  Once we arrived, the valet parked our car and we never needed it again until it was time to go home.  The resort had air conditioned shuttle buses that took us anywhere we wanted to go.  Lunch at the clubhouse over looking the famous #2 golf course?   Yes, thank you!

The hotel has HUGE covered porches with white rocking chairs.  We sat out here sipping our favorite beverages.

Last time we were here, the Golf Channel was hosting an amateur’s tournament.  If you are a mini Golf Geek like me, Vince Cellini , one of the hosts on the Golf Channel was there and we saw him frequently in the restaurants in and around the hotel and got to talk with him several times. One guy in particular who was from Las Vegas, and we had been chatting with him over the course of the weekend, ended up winning the whole thing!   Amazing really, considering how much beer we watched him consume.  He had to have had a hangover the day he won.  :)  Anyway, after a full day of shopping, hitting the spa, golf or tennis (we never did get around to golfing while we were there!), it was so relaxing to hang out on this porch and sit in a rocker, have an ice cold beer and mingle with the other guests. 

 Pinehurst was the host of the 1999 US Open and that was the year Payne Stewart won the whole thing.  The entire main hallway in the Clubhouse has all kinds of golf memorabilia lining the walls.  There is especially a lot of Payne Stewart who was a great golfer and so entertaining to watch.  He is no longer with us.  He passed away in a freak airplane accident shortly after he won the US Open.  I miss watching him.  He always used to wear the traditional golf attire. 

This photo of Payne Stewart winning the 1999 US Open was immortalized into this statue that stands outside the clubhouse in Pinehurst. 

        

  Here are some more photos I found in the hallway of the Carolina Hotel.  Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicholas, and Tom Watson.

 These are part of the memorabilia lining the walls of the Clubhouse. 

Some shots from the 1970’s when Gerald Ford was in the White House.      

More shots from the year Payne Stewart won.

 After my husband and I arrived, we had our lunch at the Ryder Cup Restaurant in the Carolina Hotel.  Then we headed over the the Village to do some shopping.  The village is unbelievably “small town quaint” with flower pots and hanging flowers everywhere.  Cute shops and boutiques everywhere. 

  

The sidewalks are made of brick.  The flowers are gorgeous and everywhere!

  

Wouldn’t you like to do your banking here? 

I loved the flower combination in this flower pot.  It was huge and had one of my most favorites…Blue Lobelia…spilling over the sides of the pot. 

 

My favorite discovery on this trip was this cute shop called Green Gate Olive Oils.    I have never been in a shop quite like it.  It was an Olive Oil and Vinegar shop!  You can taste all kinds of flavored oils from all over the world.  And they have vinegars to taste with unbelievable flavors.  My favorite olive oil was a Blood Orange Olive Oil that I could kick myself now for not buying a bottle.  I did come home with an incredible bottle of Black Cherry Balsamic Vinegar.  The taste is amazing!

 

Here is the owner filling the bottle with my Black Cherry Vinegar.  Throughout the store are mini tasting cups and cubed up pieces of bread for tasting and dipping.

           

And here is the bottle I brought home with me.  I can’t wait to make a salad with it. 

Our day trip to Pinehurst was so much fun.  The village was decked out for the Fourth of July and they were going to have a parade that we were going to miss.  Maybe next year well plan to stay for the whole Fourth of July weekend there.  It’s a wonderful getaway.

Today’s Questions and Happy Fourth of July

Let me start off by wishing everyone a very Happy Fourth of July!!  Our flag is flying but then again we fly it on most days. Our entire neighborhood has a nice hand waving size flag sticking out of the ground next to all of our mailboxes.  It looks so nice when you drive or walk though to see all of those flags one right after another on both sides of the streets.  These were compliments of a Real Estate Agent who lives here.  I am still not sure which house is hers but I love the fact that she gives us both a school calendar with all the vacation, breaks and teacher work day dates and she inserts a flag in the dirt by my mailbox every Forth of July.  I like that about her and I have never met her!

Anyway, let me get to this week’s questions.  I am still working on posting together some photos of our day in Pinehurst, NC yesterday.   We have fireworks tonight and a cookout to attend and the weather is perfect!!  Hope yours is equally as perfect. :)

1. What do you look forward to the most on the 4th of July?

I like the fireworks because they are held in a field right in our neighborhood.  We don’t have to drive anywhere to see them.  They are held on the soccer/play field and our friends who live across the street from it usually host a cook out right before and then when it gets dark we sit on their front lawn and watch the show. 

2. Are you a hugger?

No I am not.  And everybody down here is!  I don’t like hugging people I don’t know very well.  And I especially don’t like having to hug neighbors that I don’t like much and their creepy husbands!  I like to hug family and friends that I haven’t seen in a long time.  But this everyday hugging is too much!  But like I said, everybody down here seems to be a hugger.  I better get mentally ready for this evening. :)

3. What is your favorite BBQ'd food?

We like North Carolina BBQ and we like Boston Butt (pork shoulder).  In fact, I have one in the smoker right now.  I make a dry rub that I rub all over it and then I smoke it in the smoker for a couple of hours and then I move it to the Slow Cooker and let it cook all day.  The smoker gives it the smoky taste and an extremely flavorful crust and the Slow Cooker makes the meat tender.  I shred it up and serve it on buns.  Down here, you put the coleslaw right on top of the meat in your sandwich and the coleslaw is made with a vinegar dressing (not mayo)  So delicious!

4. Do you like to watch parades?

They are okay.  I don’t go out of my to attend them and I like that they are on TV on Thanksgiving and New Year’s.  Our neighborhood is having one today for the Fourth of July.  It usually starts at 7:00 AM.  My kids are older now but even when they were younger they didn’t participate in them much.  They did and still do like to sleep too much.

5. Vampires or Werewolves?

Why?  Neither.  Sorry, but I am one of the few women out there who doesn’t “get” this whole Twilight thing.  Sorry!  Please don’t hate me!

6.  Do you read your horoscope?

Sometimes for fun if it’s looking right at me but I don’t go looking for my Horoscope.

7,   What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

If it’s Baskin Robbins, I usually get Jamoca Almond Fudge.  If we are at home, I usually like to nibble on my husband’s favorite Edy’s Mint Chocolate Chip.  But we have recently discover Gelato and I have to say that is what I really like.  And so far, I like every flavor I have tried.  :)

I am linking up to Mannland 5 with my questions today.  Stop by to read more answers by other bloggers.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend!!

Wood Flag for the Fourth

I have wanted to make one of these wooden flags ever since I saw one in the Pottery Barn Catalog and especially after I saw the one made by Stephanie and posted on her blog Under The Table Dreaming.  The one she made turned out great and I knew I could make one too! 

   

I already had a piece of wood that I found at the Home Depot.  I picked it up for under $5.00 for some other project that I guess I never got around to. :)  Using a pencil and a yard stick I marked out on the board where I wanted my stars and where I wanted my stripes.  I was able to get the 13 stripes I needed and after looking at the real flag that we hang off the front porch, I noticed that the top and bottom stripes needed to be red.  I marked off each stripe and you will notice that my stripes are not uniform in size but they are close.  I wanted it to look hand made.  I pulled out my blue painter’s tape and taped off the stripes after I painted the blue background for the star area.  I used an Outdoor Opaque paint make by Plaid Folk Art and I love these outdoor paints.  They are thicker than regular craft paint and really hold up to the outdoor weather conditions. 

After I painted all the white stripes, I then painted all of the red stripes being sure to paint the sides of the board as well.

     

Painting the stars was fun.  I had a mini cookie cutter set that I have never used and it was perfect for helping me paint the stars.  I decided to stagger my stars in rows of 6 stars and 5 stars.  I didn’t have room to fit in all 50 stars but who’s going to count?  I think it looks fine.  If you use the mini cookie cutter method I did be sure to have a paper towel to wipe the bottom of the cutter in between painting each star to prevent “smearing”.    Another way to do the stars would be with a stencil or simply find a star shape you like off of Google Images.  Look for a “star silouette” and then modify it to a size you like and print it out.  Cut it out and then trace around it.  Paint it to fill it in. 

 

I let my flag dry overnight and then the next day I took some leftover wood stain and rubbed in over the entire piece and WOW!  It make a huge difference it how it looked.   It looks older and more finished…just the way I like it. 

 

Right now I have it on the top shelf of the potting bench we keep out on our deck.  It serves as a bar and beverage/food center when we entertain.  The sun has been baking it and all of my beautiful black paint is lifting off in big pieces.  This will be project for later in the Fall when it’s cooler.  I’ll have to scrape and sand it and next time I think I’ll try and use an oil based paint to see if it lasts longer.   

And there you have it!  My American Flag made out of wood.

And I finished it just in time to take part in the Star’ & Stripes Party over at Centsational Girl.  Come have a look at all the other ways other creative bloggers have come up with to decorate and celebrate the Fourth of July.

Nacho Mama’s Nachos

    

Yesterday I was chatting on the phone with my daughter who is away at school taking a summer session class.   She said she was thinking about making dinner for a guy she’s been dating and wanted to know how to make nachos.  I was more than happy to share my vast nacho expertise with her.  I rattled the recipe off the top of my head and we went over every detail on how to make them while she took notes.  “And don’t forget the “Texas Pete” Hot Sauce when you serve them.”  She assured me she already had a bottle. 

Later in the evening as I was drifting off to sleep, I tried to remember the first thing I ever cooked for my husband when we were dating and for the life of me I couldn’t remember.   It was then that I realized with a start that I forgot to include one of the most important ingredients for the nacho recipe that I shared. I forgot to mention to add a packet of Old El Paso Taco Seasoning Mix after she browned the hamburger!  Too late.

The next morning I found a text on my cell phone from her stating that she “did it and didn’t burn them!”.   Not a word about how they tasted.   I quickly texted her back to apologize for forgetting to tell her about the Taco Seasoning Mix.  She very sweetly replied….”Oh, I was wondering why they were so bland!  Not at all like I remember.  It’s okay though, we used a lot of salsa and sour cream to help make them taste good.  I won’t forget the seasoning packet next time”. :)

I think it might be time to buy the girl a cookbook.  Her Mom’s brain has been picked a few too many times and it’s too risky to rely on it when it comes to impressing her dates! 

Do you remember the first thing you cooked for a date you were trying to impress?

And do you have any good beginner cookbook recommendations?   The recipe file in my head can’t be trusted! :)

Hot Tub Time Machine

      

Hot Tub Time Machine comes out on DVD today. 

I didn’t get a chance to see it in the theater.  Did you?

Roger Ebert liked it and that’s good enough for me.  ;)

More Subway Art Inspirations

 

This is how I feel lately.  And this 100 degree weather isn’t helping any!! 

Here are a few more of the mini subway art signs I saw in a local garden store.  The middle one reads “Refuse to settle for anything less than butterflies” in case you didn’t catch that last word.  Kind of like playing Wheel of Fortune.  :)

These look kind of easy to make don’t you think? 

Piedmont Triad Farmer’s Market

 

So, me and my camera took our trip to the Piedmont Triad Farmer’s Market yesterday.  It was hot.  We are melting down here in the South.  High 90’s, hot, and humid and it’s only June!  The nice thing about this Farmer’s Market is that is well organized and sheltered.   That means lot’s of shade. 

I tried to grow cabbage one year.  The bug’s really liked it.  :(

I had my pick of tomatoes.  Lot’s of different varieties but the one I saw most were German Johnson’s.  I don’t know why but North Carolinian’s  LOVE their German Johnsons. :)

I Love to eat green beans sauteed in a little bit of olive oil and salt and pepper.   

This guy has some nice looking tomatoes and I love the name of his farm!  Lick Fork Farms!  Isn’t that a great looking sign?  I just had to take a photo.

      

More German Johnson’s and peaches.

You can get the best peaches at the this market.

 

I loved this sign too.

And look how gorgeous these peaches are!

You can find lots of garden plants there too.  This market is HUGE.  

I thought these jars were pretty.  Makes me want to can some salsa myself.  I might a bit later in the summer.

 

These Rosemary Flatbreads looked delicious too.  I am definitely going to try my hand at making these for myself. 

And how pretty are these jars of preserves? 

Not a Blueberry in sight.  I was mistaken about it being “Blueberry Day”.  I was a day early.  We actually might go back today to get some Blueberries.  I guess all the vendors were saving them up for today.   I have some new tart pans I’d like to try out.  Blueberry tart sounds pretty good.  :) 

Enjoy the weekend!