We arrived in Raleigh, North Carolina on Tuesday, July 1st. Cullen's cousin Joe and Sue, have such a lovely home and they made us feel so comfortable. Between all the delicious meals that Sue prepared for us and all the fun places they took us to see, we had the best time!
One evening we were all invited to Joe's son, Ethan and his lovely wife, Katie's home. They own their own jewelry business, 'Silvia Benson.' The thriving company started with a love story that happened before designer, Katie, was even born. Shortly after World War II, a young combat-veteran named Benson was working as a body mechanic in North Carolina when a pretty girl --Sylvia-- stopped in. She was selling raffle tickets to win a necklace, caught Benson's eye, and the rest, as they say, is history. Sylvia and Benson are Katie's grandparents, and when Benson passed away April 06, 2014 at the age of 88, they had been married for 63 years. His memory will continue to serve as an inspiration to Katie.
Katie's famliy is filled with artists, artisans, and architects. With the encouragement of her family she started making jewelry. She wrapped her first collection in a pashmina and carried it to local boutiques. As orders started piling up, she enlisted her husband, Ethan, to help make the pieces. They officially joined forces in 2009, both in marriage and business. "It started with cutting chain to make simple pendant necklaces and now he knows how to make every piece in the collection. Ethan is invaluable to our company. Not only does he oversee the business operations, he can also step in and help fill orders when things are crazy," says Katie.
Katie's famliy is filled with artists, artisans, and architects. With the encouragement of her family she started making jewelry. She wrapped her first collection in a pashmina and carried it to local boutiques. As orders started piling up, she enlisted her husband, Ethan, to help make the pieces. They officially joined forces in 2009, both in marriage and business. "It started with cutting chain to make simple pendant necklaces and now he knows how to make every piece in the collection. Ethan is invaluable to our company. Not only does he oversee the business operations, he can also step in and help fill orders when things are crazy," says Katie.
We had such a good time at Duke Gardens and Duke University Cathedral with Joe and Sue.
Sue is a recruiter for Duke University so she gets to see so many beautiful areas of the country, but her love is right here...And when she's at work, this is where she can spend her lunch hour!
Sue is a recruiter for Duke University so she gets to see so many beautiful areas of the country, but her love is right here...And when she's at work, this is where she can spend her lunch hour!
This was taken at a lovely Italian restaurant on our last evening together. What a fun filled week we had with Cullen's cousin Joe and Sue. They really out did themselves with their hospitality!
Between Sue's fabulous meals and Joe's historical nostalgia, we couldn't have had a more relaxing time. And viewing the video interview that Joe made of Cullen's Mom, Jewel (made in 1987) will solidify memories that will be in our hearts forever ...
Now, we're off to our Neuse River-Bank house where we will settle in for 30 days!
Between Sue's fabulous meals and Joe's historical nostalgia, we couldn't have had a more relaxing time. And viewing the video interview that Joe made of Cullen's Mom, Jewel (made in 1987) will solidify memories that will be in our hearts forever ...
Now, we're off to our Neuse River-Bank house where we will settle in for 30 days!
This is our River Bank House that we'll be staying in for one full month! Notice the corn field behind us and there's a vegetable garden along side that. The neighbor said we could help ourselves!
We'll be eating real good this month! We picked squash, tomatoes, eggplant, and don't forget the fresh corn!
Cullen started crabbing the first day we were here! He caught so many Blue Crabs...we had quite a feast!
We took the Ferry across the River to explore the other side. To our surprise, there were all the major stores, Bed Bath and Beyond, Best Buy, Ulta, Wal-Mart etc.
We visited the Aquarium and stopped for lunch at a local seafood restaurant before heading back.
We visited the Aquarium and stopped for lunch at a local seafood restaurant before heading back.
Having fun at the North Carolina Aquarium Pine Knoll Shores
TRYON PALACE in New Bern NC
TRYON PALACE in New Bern NC
Completed in 1770, Tryon Palace served as the first permanent capitol of North Carolina and home to the Tryon family. Tryon Palace was the site of the first sessions of the general assembly for the State of North Carolina following the revolution and housed the state governors until 1794. In 1798, fire destroyed the original Palace building. A cellar fire started in 1798, consuming the Palace proper. Only the Kitchen and Stable buildings were saved.
In the 1930s, a movement began to preserve Colonial New Bern. The movement was bolstered by the discovery of the original Palace plans. Mrs. James Edwin Latham, a New Bern native, asked the state to assist the restoration efforts in 1944 and opened a trust fund committed purely to restoring the Palace. The General Assembly organized the Tryon Palace Commission in 1945. This Commission consisted of 25 people appointed by the governor, with the task of rebuilding the Palace using the original plans. The state agreed to be responsible for the Palace once it opened to the public. Latham did not live to see the rebuilding of the Palace. After her death in 1951, her daughter Mae Gordon Kellenberger oversaw the efforts. The first obstacles to overcome were moving as many as 50 or more buildings, rerouting US Highway 70, and building a new bridge over the Trent River. These structures covered the foundations of the original building. Archaeological work also had to be done before construction could begin. Once it did, craftspeople from all over the United States were recruited. There were also visits to the United Kingdom to procure period-accurate furniture. Finally, the public was able to visit it for the first time in April 1959.
In the 1930s, a movement began to preserve Colonial New Bern. The movement was bolstered by the discovery of the original Palace plans. Mrs. James Edwin Latham, a New Bern native, asked the state to assist the restoration efforts in 1944 and opened a trust fund committed purely to restoring the Palace. The General Assembly organized the Tryon Palace Commission in 1945. This Commission consisted of 25 people appointed by the governor, with the task of rebuilding the Palace using the original plans. The state agreed to be responsible for the Palace once it opened to the public. Latham did not live to see the rebuilding of the Palace. After her death in 1951, her daughter Mae Gordon Kellenberger oversaw the efforts. The first obstacles to overcome were moving as many as 50 or more buildings, rerouting US Highway 70, and building a new bridge over the Trent River. These structures covered the foundations of the original building. Archaeological work also had to be done before construction could begin. Once it did, craftspeople from all over the United States were recruited. There were also visits to the United Kingdom to procure period-accurate furniture. Finally, the public was able to visit it for the first time in April 1959.
Another day trip, we ventured out to a quaint little harbor town called 'Oriental'. we had a really delicious lunch at a place called The M&M restaurant...we will definitely return here before we leave this area!
Cullen and I are sitting on the anchor of the 'Battleship North Carolina'. Located in Wilmington, North Carolina.
At the time of her
commissioning on 9 April 1941, she was considered the world’s greatest sea weapon. Armed with nine 16-inch/45 caliber guns in three turrets and twenty 5-inch/38 caliber guns in ten twin mounts, along with about 20 40mm anti-aircraft duals and a collection of 20mm drum fed deck machine guns, NORTH CAROLINA proved a formidable weapons platform. Her wartime complement consisted of 144 commissioned officers and 2,195 enlisted men, including about 100 Marines.
She was dedicated on 29 April 1962 in Wilmington, as the State's memorial to its World War II veterans and the 10,000 North Carolinians who died during the war...
At the time of her
commissioning on 9 April 1941, she was considered the world’s greatest sea weapon. Armed with nine 16-inch/45 caliber guns in three turrets and twenty 5-inch/38 caliber guns in ten twin mounts, along with about 20 40mm anti-aircraft duals and a collection of 20mm drum fed deck machine guns, NORTH CAROLINA proved a formidable weapons platform. Her wartime complement consisted of 144 commissioned officers and 2,195 enlisted men, including about 100 Marines.
She was dedicated on 29 April 1962 in Wilmington, as the State's memorial to its World War II veterans and the 10,000 North Carolinians who died during the war...
One of the highlights of Cullen's fishing off our private dock, was when he caught this 30" 'Red Drum.' The day before something got on his line and took off. He eventually got it close to the dock where it gave a last big jerk and was gone. The bait leader, 14 lb test, (that used to be 18" long) was now 4" with the end covered with shaved mono-filament curls. Whatever it was, it had sharp teeth.
A trip to the local Walmart provided some nylon coated steel leader that prevented that from happening again. The bait was a 6" "piggy perch" (whole) that enticed this one to bite. The local legal keeping size for Red Drum is 18" minimum. |
With only one week left in North Carolina, we thought we would venture out to the Outer Banks. In order to see everything without back-tracking, this trip was two days of non-stop site seeing. We first drove North to get around the water inlets that block any direct routes. This "great circle route" brought us into the Outer Banks at Whale Bone Junction, just after crossing the high bridge from Roanoke Island. Roanoke Island was the only free-haven for run-a-way slaves during the Civil War. The entire Outer Banks are scribed with "Mile Posts" (MP) (every half mile) which are not only used to measure the distances traveled along Hwy 12, but, are used by the "locals" to give directions instead of addresses. The far North end of the Banks starts at Mile Post 1 (just North of Kitty Hawk). This is where the Wright Brothers built and tested their first glider airplanes around 1902. A little further South (MP-8) Kill Devil Hills, is where the Wright Brothers made their first powered flights (4 in one day) in 1906. The first being 120 ft and the fourth being 580 ft., the start of modern aviation history. MP-10 marks the "infamous" Dirty Dick's Crab Shack, where the sign outside says "I Got My Crabs From Dirty Dick's... Crab Shack". We each enjoyed the King Crabs! Jennettes Pier (MP-16.5) is a landmark 1000 ft fishing pier (originally built around 1930) that has been destroyed by storms and rebuilt many times over the years. Heading South on Hwy 12 took us to Hatteras which is the home of the tallest lighthouse in the USA (as seen in the picture to the left). From Hatteras we took the free Ferry to Ocracoke Island (about an hour ride) and another lighthouse. Ocracoke Island is only 12 miles in length and maybe 1/4 mile wide (at the widest point). While driving South along this narrow Island road, we saw a female deer and a Racoon laying along the roadside both of which had been killed by automobiles recently. We were wondering just how these poor animals managed to get out onto this Island (it is several miles to the next Islands in both directions) just to be killed. The ferry ride from Ocracoke to Cedar Island (2-1/4 hr) was a toll ferry ($15) that provided a nice break in the driving that afternoon. After another short drive (~25 miles) through the back roads and small communities we arrived at the last ferry ride of the day, from Cherry Point to Minnesott. We arrived home (home away from home) from our two day trip Sunday evening. I hope you enjoy the photos we took while we were in the Outer Banks!
Here's a few signs we've seen along the way...
We found a great spot not far from our River Front house...The Silos has an open mic every Wednesday night. We were there two Wednesday's in a row. There's so many talented entertainers in this area!