Recently we attended graduation at High Point University in High Point, North Carolina. It was an exciting and inspiring day for the graduates and their guests. The ceremony was at 9:00AM on a beautiful Saturday morning, so we needed to go on Friday and stay close by—I mean, who has graduation at 9:00AM? The great …
You need to know the 5 things every gardener craves—and this charming kitchen garden has them all: 1) water, 2) sun, 3) great soil, 4) abundance and 5) location. Pictured here is the herb cutting garden for the chef at Mountaintop in Cashiers, North Carolina. Imagine having this abundance of choice right outside your kitchen …
Let’s celebrate National Pink Day—a day for basking in the light of everything pink! Wear pink clothing, eat pink, drink pink, or even drive a pink car. Bring your pink elephant out of hiding. Show off everything pink in your closet—pink shoes, pink clothes, pink accessories …. If you are very daring you could die …
Things are moving along fast on my new addition in Cashiers, North Carolina. The framers, electricians, roofers and painters are working hard so that we can move in soon. The new garage is waiting for doors and the new entry garden with the stone wall is waiting for gravel and soil. I have beautiful conical …
There is only one thing Mr. P wants for Father’s Day, and that is apple pie. I tried many recipes to find just the right ratio of apples to crust and this is the winner—Mile High Apple Pie by Martha Stewart. You can find the recipe in her book Pies and Tarts. It’s a real …
There is a new bed and bath store in town—finally! The Summer House in Highlands, North Carolina, has just opened its new addition next door to the furniture and kitchen stores. I have waited for this place to open for months. They have a large selection of almost anything you need for that rustic log …
This beautiful display of all-white foxgloves is courtesy of my friend Keven Hawkins. He purchased these beauties at Boxwoods in Atlanta, Georgia, and planted them in his garden in Cashiers, North Carolina. I love how they brighten this otherwise dark corner. A white garden is magical at sunset—it lights up the evening like candlelight. Think of …
Lunch at Mountain Fresh Grocery in Highlands, North Carolina, is always a special treat! They offer a plethora of delicious dishes to tame your hunger or “hangry.” Choose from juicy grilled burgers and sandwiches—or specialty dishes like grilled chicken with pesto and Greek yogurt spread on flat bread, southwest grilled chicken salad, baby back ribs, …
Need a few fresh veggies for the weekend to feed those hungry college students or house guests? The Cashiers Valley Organic Vegetable Market offers farm to table local produce again this year. The market is open Thursdays and Saturdays from 9AM-4PM and is located at 341 Hwy 107 South, Cashiers, North Carolina. Stop by and …
The Originals—the season finale of the hit show—is being filmed at my friends’ farm in Madison, Georgia. The location director must have been in heaven when he found their farm. The home and gardens are so beautiful already that little work was required. My friends Randy Korando and Dan Belman are the owners of this …