On the House

Birthday Beach Fun

Every August my family would go to Carolina Beach for my birthday. We would stay in a two-story house that had been converted to several small efficiencies. Each evening we would walk to the pavilion. I would ride the hobby horses, my mom would play bingo, we would walk the boardwalk and watch the candy folks pull taffy and make those giant pinwheel lollipops. Our last stop was at Dairy Queen for free ice cream as the owner of the house where we were staying ran the DQ. My dad brought his own inner tube to use as a float, fishing poles for him and my brother, and he and I would dig big holes on the beach and just sit in them. Best times ever that I cherish in my heart.

Lucy Buchanan, Fairview A member of Union Power Cooperative

I Love My ‘Teachur’

As an adult, the many cards I received from my beloved Grandpa Bill was a US grandfather Bill always contained this phrase: “I love Army Air Force pilot in 1941 during World War II. my teachur.” It was a private joke between us, dating back to my days as his self-appointed seven-year-old schoolmarm. For some reason, I decided that the former World War II pilot and successful housing contractor needed an education. Sprawled out on the concrete floor of the carport at his house on Dublin Road in Asheboro, chalk in hand, I spent hours “teaching” him math and spelling.

“What is 7 times 7?” I would demand, only to hear him say “53!” or “99!” Exasperated, I would huff and puff. “When will you learn that 7 times 7 is 49?” And his spelling was atrocious. “If you don’t learn to spell,” I warned him, “you will never make it in life!”

Eventually I realized that the joke was on me, and he intentionally flunked my quizzes just to hear me scold him. My grandfather passed away in 1995, and I owe so much to him, including my sense of humor and lifelong interest in education. Looking back, however, I just wish I’d spent more time learning from him. Dressed for the Beach

In 1970, my father, Lasalle Hankins, won this boat in a drawing. At that time, my parents had eight children to feed and decided to sell the boat to secure additional funds for our care. Prior to its sale, my father had to have a family photograph taken with the boat. I am sitting on my mother’s lap wearing a bathing suit. Years later, I inquired of my mother as to my “inappropriate” dress attire. She responded, “You often dressed yourself in a bathing suit hoping to go to the beach!”

Pauline Hankins, Bolivia A member of Brunswick Electric

Saturday Afternoon Wrestling

Pictured are my grandparents, Gordon and Leeanna Davis, in rural McDowell County. They purchased a TV in the early 1960s, but it only picked up the Charlotte station. Wrestling came on Saturday afternoons, and boy did they get into that. Grandpap sat in his straight-back chair twisting, jerking and grunting right along with them. Of course, they had good and bad guys.

One bad guy was called Rip Hawk. Chief Wahoo McDaniel, a good guy [and a Choctaw-Chickasaw Native American], was a crowd favorite. He came to the ring wearing his magnificent headdress, strutting around the ring before his match. On this particular Saturday, Dad said, “Come on, we’ll go cut your granny’s grass.”

As we were getting out of the truck, here comes Grandma walking or maybe stomping down from their log house. You could tell she was ill, nope, madder than a wet hen, I guess. Dad asked, “What’s wrong, Ma?” She replied, “Why that there danged ol’ Chicken Hawk done went and jumped on him before he could get his feathers off!”

I still laugh every time I recall that day and how upset she was from that wrestling match!

Corn, Corn and More Corn

Everyone who knows me, knows I love corn. It doesn’t matter how it is cooked or even how it is served. When I was a small child, I remember going to a Corn Festival. There was corn everywhere … white corn, yellow corn, pretty corn, ugly corn … EVERYWHERE! To a corn lover like me, it was a childhood dream come true.

I had corn with salt, corn with butter, and even just plain corn. Since it was just picked local corn, it was very sweet. I liked it even better than chocolate!

I always remembered the Corn Festival. It was such a good memory. I thought it could never be topped. Then, years later, my father-in-law retired. He decided to return to his hometown. Once there, he found and purchased a small piece of property. He was very happy as he began to grow some of his food.

We watched him as his garden began to grow. Each time we saw him, everything would be taller and closer to picking. I should say, my father-in-law may have liked watching everything grow even better than eating it. He was amazed at how much he could grow in his garden.

Finally, the garden was ready. Up on the top of a hill, his large stalks of corn were gently blowing in the wind. To me, it was such a beautiful sight and one I will always remember.

My father-in-law said I could have all the corn I could carry — no bags or boxes. Since I love corn so much, this was a challenge I couldn’t resist.

I began to pick corn, one ear at a time. Before I was through, I had corn in my pockets, under my arms, rolled in the shirt I was wearing — there was corn in my socks and up my sleeves. Corn was anywhere you could imagine. By the time I was through, my spouse and father-in-law were really laughing. I was trying not to laugh since I did not want to drop a single ear!

We were never sure how I managed it, but I ended up with 60 ears. We picked a few more ears and went back to the house to eat them. I know that was some of the best corn I have ever eaten. Certainly the ones I laughed about the most!

My grandparents, Gordon and Leeanna Davis, 1962.

Arvle Davis, Asheville A member of Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative

Katie Martin, Danbury

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The Last to Vanish

In her latest novel, available July 26, New York Times bestselling author and Charlotte resident Megan Miranda tells the story of the fictional North Carolina mountain resort town of Cutter’s Pass. As the book begins, a string of unsolved disappearances that has haunted the town is once again thrust into the spotlight when investigative journalist Landon West, who was staying at an inn managed by Abigail Lovett, disappears himself. Abby has sometimes felt like an outsider within the community, but she’s come to view Cutter’s Pass as her home. When Landon’s brother Trey shows up looking for answers, Abby can’t help but feel the town closing ranks. And she’s still on the outside. When she finds incriminating evidence that may bring them closer to the truth, Abby soon discovers how little she knows about her coworkers, neighbors, and even those closest to her. Hardcover, 336 pages, $27.99; e-book, $14.99 (prices may vary by retailer). simonandschuster.com Painters and Their Paintings

Nestled in the northwestern corner of North Carolina, mountainous Ashe County boasts the kind of picturesque landscapes artists dream of. A spirit of natural artistry runs deep through the county’s culture and its towns offer murals, street art and galleries and institutions like the Florence Thomas Art School. A true art destination, Ashe County is home to hundreds of painters inspired by the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the New River Valley. This book showcases the talented painters of Ashe, professionals and hobbyists alike, across generations and various paint media. Works by 103 artists are represented in 415 full color images. Artists featured include Joan Stiles Bell, Wendy Morrison, R.T. Morgan, Stephen Sharpe Shoemaker and the late Florence Thomas, of the same-named art school in West Jefferson. The book’s author, Doug Munroe, is a painter and retired nurseryman. Photography enthusiast Kim Hadley handled the book’s photos and coordinated with the artists. Large format paperback, 259 pages, $40. mcfarlandbooks.com Feeding The Soul

Before Tabitha Brown, a North Carolina native, was a vegan foodie on social media sharing recipes and wisdom with millions, she was an aspiring actress, who in 2016 began struggling with undiagnosed chronic autoimmune pain. Her puzzling condition exhausted and frightened her and several doctors she consulted were unable to find what was wrong. The draining experience made her believe she wouldn’t live to see age 40, until she started listening to what her soul and her body truly needed. In her new book, she shares insights gained from her challenging physical and emotional journey and also sprinkles in several vegan recipes, including Vegan Tuna Melt and Vegan Fried Peaches and Biscuits. Rich with personal stories and inspirational quotes, Tabitha shows readers how to make a life for themselves that is rooted in nonjudgmental kindness and love, both for themselves and for others. Hardcover, 288 pages, $22.39; e-book $14.99, audio file $20.99.

harpercollins.com Shipwrecks of the Outer Banks

More than 6,000 ships have met their doom in the waters of North Carolina’s coast, and their stories weave a rich history of tragedy, drama and heroics along these picturesque beaches. Sailors have lost their lives and fortunes, and heroes have been made where the combination of mixing currents, treacherous coastline and shifting underwater sandbars have spelled disaster for even the most seasoned sailor. “Shipwrecks of the Outer Banks: Dramatic Rescues and Fantastic Wrecks in the Graveyard of the Atlantic” recounts the intriguing stories of daring deeds, tragic failures, enduring mysteries and buried treasure. Writer James D. Charlet brings readers right on board with his colorful anecdotes. He also explains nautical terms and relates how some shipwrecks impacted American history and its politics. Charlet is an authority on the U.S. Life-Saving Service on North Carolina’s Outer Banks and is a former site manager of Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site & Museum in Rodanthe. Hardcover, 264 pages, $35; e-book $14.49.

barnesandnoble.com

Digital Extra Find more books about and from NC at carolinacountry.com/bookshelf. Prefer to support independent bookstores? You can cross-reference books and local shops where they are sold by visiting indiebound.org. Carolina Bookshelf features select books that relate to North Carolina by setting or topic or that are by NC authors. To submit a book for a possible mention, please mail a copy of the book, along with a description of its topic, purchase information and your contact information, to Carolina Bookshelf, Carolina Country, 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC, 27616.