The Grapevine Chronicles
Updated French Country Style – LOVE It!
Updated French Country – LOVE this Style! Why I Love the French Country Style I’ve loved this style for years! In 2014 when I opened a wine store at Tanger Outlets here in Mebane, I
Tobacco Stick Cottage Porch Addition
The First Step – The Porch When we first decided to renovate the Tobacco Stick cottage into my new office, I knew I would need a porch. I need a place near nature to take
Salvage Sisters in Burlington – A Vintage Paradise
Salvage Sisters in Burlington NC – A Vintage Paradise Seeking French Country Inspiration January 6, 2024 – It’s a cold, rainy Saturday morning. What’s a girl to do? I need to get out and ramble
In Memory – Nathan Scott Harrell
BORN NOVEMBER 14,1980 LEFT US JANUARY 05, 2004 An old soul who was kind, generous, loving, adventurous, smart, handsome, friendly. The best son, brother, friend. We miss you every day. Forever in our hearts. If
The Older I Get…
An Inspiring Song A few weeks ago, I was watching the CMA’s (Country Music Association) and my all-time favorite performer was on the show. His name is Alan Jackson. In recent years he has been
A Cardinal Christmas
Why Decorate with Cardinals at Christmas? The older I get the more I think about my loved ones who have crossed over and how much I miss them, especially at Christmas. I’ve always been told,
The Tobacco Stick Cottage
My Dream for the Tobacco Stick Cottage What’s In a Name? Why is it called the “Tobacco Stick Cottage”? This building in its former life was a curing barn for tobacco. Almost 20 years ago
Day Tripping in North Carolina
Since I retired in May, I now have time to get out and go places. Usually, it’s me and my sister Meleady. We have various reasons for why we go to these places, but mostly
From Trash to Treasure
Next to digging in the dirt to keep me sane I also need a project or two to work on. Through the years I have renovated my share of bedroom pieces, tables, chairs, sofas, kitchen
Preserving the Land
From August 2000 to May 2002, I attended school at Surry Community College in Dobson, North Carolina studying viticulture and oenology. The following paper I wrote for a class assignment describing the challenges one can
Where the Flowers Grow
Everybody needs that one thing that keeps you sane. I love to dig in the dirt! Nothing gives me as much peace as planting flowers and bushes. All the cares and concerns of this world
Where’s Red?
A couple of months ago I saw something that looked like a red fox at first running across the driveway to the back of the shop. Every time it saw me it ran for its
People I’ve Met – Rett Davis
In the early spring of 2001 Gene and I were preparing the soil and pounding the posts for our first acres of grapevines. We had contracted with a “grape growing specialist” to advise us on
My Rock House Journal
My Rock House Journal April 15, 1998 First day at the Rock House! Gene and his crew of men arrived at the house around 3:00 pm. They began cleaning off the fence line, cutting down
The Rock House
I have been writing about the “Rock House” for over 20 years. I fell in love with this old, almost abandoned property in 1972. My first real job after high school was with Dan River