We’re already counting down the days until we can get our hands on Dolly Parton’s forthcoming novel, Run, Rose, Run, which she co-authored with New York Times best-selling author James Patterson. But we now have one more reason to get excited for the project due out March 7. In addition to lending her own voice for the audiobook, Parton has recruited fellow East Nashville country singer Kelsea Ballerini to join the cast....
I just smelled a Southern icon and it wasn’t Elvis. No, it was the sweet perfume wafting from the enormous white blossoms of our native Southern magnolia. Is a magnolia a good choice for planting in your yard? It really depends on how much space you have. A regular Southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) gets big—about 60- to 80-feet tall and 30- to 40-feet wide. That’s too big for a small yard....
Just when you thought you had enough to worry about, now even your garden hose is a potential threat. Today recently reminded us of a cautionary summertime tale that came out of San Tan Valley, Arizona a few years ago. In 2016, a nine-month-old boy was accidentally scalded when his mom began to fill his baby pool with an outdoor garden hose that had been sitting in the sun during a summer heatwave....
From hand-cut doormats in Murphy to pottery in West Jefferson, western North Carolina is a mecca for craftspeople. And now, thanks to Blue Ridge Craft Trails—a new online guide to Appalachia’s more than 300 artist studios, schools, and galleries—you can experience all of it. Well, you can certainly try, at least! With a footprint nearly as big as Maryland, the curated trails stretch across 25 counties, spanning from the westernmost corner of the state through the Qualla Boundary, Asheville, and the Blue Ridge Foothills, to quaint Mount Airy up north....
A North Carolina animal shelter’s hilarious adoption post about a special dog in need of a home is going viral for its honesty. “Someone adopt this hot mess” Burke County Animal Services wrote in a Facebook post about Billy Bob the mastiff. “We promise you won’t regret it!” “Tongue hangs out way too much, terrible car rider, entirely too food motivated and will accidentally mistake your arm for a cheeseburger, smells a little, and loves every person he has ever met,” the post continues....
The super absorbent cloths are made out of sustainable cellulose and cotton, making them great for washing and drying dishes, scrubbing bathrooms, wiping down counters, and anything else you might grab a paper towel for. But what makes these truly special is that they can be tossed in the wash or the top rack of the dishwasher and live to see another day of cleaning. BUY IT: $15.95 with coupon (orig....
White pants and dresses might be the unofficial uniform of summer, but wearing them can be a headache if the pieces are flimsy or see-through. Enter: Spanx. The iconic Atlanta-based clothing and shapewear brand has finally found a solution to see-through white pants in its new On-the-Go Collection made with Silver Lining Technology, which has been seven years in the making.The new line, which includes a kick-flare style pant, an ankle-cut slim pant, and two shorts styles either in a 6- or 4-inch length, are created with the brand’s patent-pending Silver Lining Technology that makes the styles 100 percent opaque....
If you’re a fan of The Andy Griffith Show, you likely know that the actor and producer behind it, Andy Griffith, was born and raised in Mount Airy, North Carolina. You probably also know that the series is set in a town based on Mount Airy. Known as “Mayberry” in the show, the small town has come to be known and loved by so many thanks to Andy Taylor, Barney Fife, Aunt Bee Taylor, Opie, and the crew....
Chick fil-A might not make as much in overall sales as McDonald’s, Starbucks, and Subway, but when you look at how much each location brings in, the Georgia-based chicken chain blows the other, bigger fast food franchises out of the water. In QSR magazine’s QSR 50 report for 2018, Chick-fil-A ranked eighth in U.S., after taking in $9 billion. The top three spots were claimed by McDonald’s, Starbucks, and Subway, who brought in $37....
Let’s face it, we’ll probably never get the chance to dine with royalty. But that doesn’t mean we can’t dine LIKE royalty. Give your guests a taste of Buckingham Palace with Princess Diana’s favorite bread pudding, courtesy of former Royal Chef Darren McGrady— the one Lady Di once told UK Daily Mail royal columnist Nigel Dempster was the “best in the world.” In Eating Royally: Recipes and Remembrances from a Palace Kitchen, McGrady shares his recipe for his famous bread and butter pudding, known to be one of Princess Diana’s must-haves....
Florence, Alabama, is home to many historic structures, but one in particular has become a destination for those interested in architectural history and the designs of the legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright. It’s the Rosenbaum House, the only Wright-designed structure in Alabama. Originally built as a family home for Stanley and Mildred Rosenbaum, the house was a private residence for many decades and is now open to the public as a museum....
This species of knotweed originating in Japan was originally shipped westward by German botanist Philipp Franz von Siebold, who, after spending time in Japan, brought them to the Netherlands in the 1840s. Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) looks like a nice little shrub with heart-shaped leaves, bamboo like-stems, and pretty, little white flowers. Its sweet looks are deceiving, though, as the plant is absolutely relentless. Von Siebold’s sampling of knotweed took root in England, quickly spread across Europe, and then to the United States, where it has now taken hold in as many as 42 states, including many in the South....
With summer concert tours being cancelled across the board in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, many musicians have taken to social media as a creative outlet for their craft. Most recently, we’re grateful to have been spoiled with a song debut from the ever-upbeat father of three, Thomas Rhett. WATCH: Lauren Akins and Thomas Rhett’s Daughters Are Twinning for Tennessee Football “Hey y’all, I meant to post this song on Father’s Day, but I never got around to it,” Rhett prefaces his acoustic performance on Instagram....
We’re used to seeing black-and-white stripes on football fields, but what about black-and-white spots? This year’s College Football National Championship Game is trading zebra stripes for puppy paws with the introduction of a few very special “rufferees”. Tucker, a Goldendoodle who works with Mississippi Gulf Coast paramedics, is one of seven American Medical Response therapy dogs who made the journey to Indianapolis in advance of Monday’s matchup between SEC dynasties, the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs....
My mom would be the first to admit that she’s anything but tech-savvy. As a pre-school deaf education teacher, her day-to-day involves more toddler meltdowns than computer crashes. But, as we’ve entered our new normal, 250 miles away from each other and stuck inside due to social distancing, she was the first to suggest we up the tech ante on our daily talks. “Ok, so where do I put this thing so you can see me?...
While December in New Orleans may seem like a lead up to Mardi Gras, the month has become a time to honor yet another unique tradition in a city known for celebrations: Reveillon. WATCH: The South’s Best Festivals Derived from French-term for “awakening,” Reveillon was originally observed in the 1800s as a feast for parishioners returning from midnight mass on Christmas Eve in the predominantly Catholic city. A typical menu made for a late-night brunch scenario with a mix of breakfast items and traditional Creole dishes like bread pudding, turtle soup, and gumbo with, of course, plenty of cocktails and wine....
In case you haven’t noticed, wedding planning “moments” are officially a thing these days. From the minute he asks, to the day you say “I do,” there are a million engagement moments you’ll want to pull off perfectly, and of course, share with the world on Instagram and Facebook. Engagement party décor and celebration snapshots? Check. Picturesque engagement photos showing you two having the time of your life in the middle of a random field?...
The spider in this photo is huge, even scary to some. But not to worry, it doesn’t kill dogs or cats or people. (It doesn’t eat squirrels, either, though I wouldn’t mind another ally to keep them out of my bird feeders.) This is the female garden spider (Argiope aurantia), a common sight in gardens where she likes to build her web. She’s been lurking among your plants since spring, eating and growing as she goes....
I serve my Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers at every Super Bowl party because they always disappear. Each year I make a few more than the last, and by the end of the night, I find the plate to be hopelessly empty. But I get it. People love bacon. And on top of loving bacon, people love a savory and tangy cream cheese stuffed pepper. When you put those two things together, you should just expect shortages....
Full disclosure: My family doesn’t eat off of Spode Woodland Turkey plates. We eat off a set of turkey china that look strikingly similar (Johnson Brothers’ Wild Turkey). The background is cream-colored, with a delicate brown floral pattern around the edges and a turkey in the center. One set belonged to my great uncle and the other set belonged to my grandfather. Anyone else hosting gets to use the plates, but my mom always gets to keep them in her china cabinet....
