NC Happenings (Formerly This Weekend in North Carolina)

Oh my goodness have we missed these posts or what?  Well some of you have!  I heard you loud and clear and BOOM I pulled together my resources and here it is fresh and ready for 2016.  Just a little change to the posts - instead of every week I will post them biweekly.  So if you have an event to add to my list (which I really loved last year) then get it to me at least two weeks ahead of the actual date of the event.  Also, I need to know the location, cost, and time!  Last year I received info on events but it would leave out critical info like the exact location!

So, guys, here is what is happening in North Carolina!

Asheville Fringe Arts Festival 

January 21-24

Come see the arts in a new way - on the fringe.  This is a creative and spectacular way to see fine arts in a new and more creative light.  Each day the festival will offer new and exciting takes on various art forms from dance to mixed media.  A perfect weekend for "culturally adventurous" audiences.

Here's the link to the Asheville Fringe Arts Festival.

9th Annual Winter Warmer Beer Festival (Asheville)

January 23rd

This event starts at 3pm and will run until 7pm.  Get your brews on in Asheville this weekend.  This festival is held at the US Cellular Center and tickets generally go fast so order online as quick as you can.  Link below.  What to expect at this brews cruise event?  Lots of local beer (over 20 breweries!) and the highlight is a local brewery to Hershey, Pennsylvania:  The Troegs Brewing Company.  This event helps support the sustainability of the mountain region - saving the forests and beauty.  Come drink for a good cause - but do it responsibly.  Here's your link.

The High Point Theater presents:  Live From Nashville

January 23rd

8p-10p

I have said it before and I will say it again - I love the High Point Theater.  This weekend they are offering up a show that country/Americana music lovers will really want to venture out to.  A group of twelve peformers (dancers, musicians, and singers) will take you through country music and entertainment starting in the early days of Hank Sr and going on up to Taylor Swift (prior to the official crossover.)  This event is family friendly and will have you dancing and singing in your seat.  Get tickets here!

Blowing Rock Winterfest

January 28th - January 31st

All Day Events

WinterFest in Blowing Rock has always been about giving visitors reasons to celebrate rather than hibernate a month after the holidays end. And its always been about fire and ice, in their many forms: bonfires, chili cook-offs, s’mores and warm hospitality, contrasted by the icy Polar Plunge into Lake Chetola, ice carving demonstrations, skiing and the crisp, January cold of the High Country winter. WinterFest 2016, which has been named a AAA “Top Pick” and a Top 20 Event by Southeastern Tourism Society, runs between Thursday, January 28 and Sunday, January 31. And the 18th annual celebration is adding new fire- and ice-themed events, including a firewalk demonstration on Saturday and expanded ice carving displays Friday and Saturday. On Friday, ice carvings will be placed throughout the downtown for an Ice Walk, and on Saturday there will be an ice carving competition among several culinary schools. For details, visit blowingrockwinterfest.com/events. In addition to the new events, activities include the Chilly Chili Cook-off, Polar Plunge, WinterFeast, events at BRAHM, Snowflake Parade, hayrides, bonfires, Shop ‘Til You Drop, WinterPaws dog show, Little Miss WinterFest, WinterFest Tasting & Charity Auction and WinterFashion show.  The fashion show will feature tips and conversation in an interactive, friendly and casual environment. For more information or ticket purchases, visit blowingrockwinterfest.com or call 877.295.7801. Blowing Rock WinterFest is organized by the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce and presented by Hendrick Northlake Luxury Auto Mall.

7th Annual Yadkin Winter Reds

January 30th - January 31st

Yadkinville

The Seventh Annual “Yadkin Winter Reds” wine event will be held January 30 - 31, 2016 and February 27 - February 28, 2016.  Enjoy two weekends of wonderful wine and food in Yadkin County.   Looking for a day trip or a weekend getaway, then come visit Yadkin County and enjoy the annual Yadkin Winter Reds Event sponsored by the Town of Yadkinville and Yadkin County Tourism Development Authorities. All Yadkin County wineries will feature their "Winter Red" (2 oz. pour) paired with a 4 oz. serving of a tasty food item. The hours will be Saturday Noon to 5 pm and Sunday 1 pm to 5 pm. Ticket price to attend will be $20.00 per person per weekend.  Each ticket-holder will be assigned to a starting winery where they will receive their souvenir glass and a map. Ticket is good for both days on the selected weekend you choose - one visit per winery. Limited ticket event for both weekends.   Tickets: click here!

Guns, wine, & donuts

2.11.13 Raining again.

Good Monday to ya!

A little housekeeping - I share my blog link via Twitter nowdays.  So if you are a Facebooker who is wondering why I haven't posted links - read yesterday's blog post.  I am no longer a part of the FB land. 

48 hours post FB - still breathing and living.  Its been a great choice thus far!

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I hope you guys had a terrific weekend!  We did.  Saturday was probably the longest day on the planet for my husband and I.  We decided to be good law abiding citizens and take our conceal to carry course.

The word boring doesn't do that class justice.

We had nearly 9 hours of brutal boredom.  The only time that seemed to catch our attention and keep it was the thirty minutes on the range.

My husband and I have either great luck or bad luck, we don't get that in between luck ---- ever.  So when we took our handgun, which we purchased a few days before because the other one is very crappy, to shoot on the range portion of the class - it jammed up.  Jammed up handgun - uncool.

Needless to say my husband ended up using the instructor's gun.

I used a larger caliber, smaller bodied gun.  And it kicked......the recoil was out of this world.

My husband's target.

My target - bad recoil for me.  I think plastic surgeons would appreciate me.

As you are reading this you are probably thinking out of one of two schools of thought:

School 1:  Gun nut.

School 2:  Cool.

Let me clarify my stance here -

I took the conceal to carry class because I want to have the permit in the event my gun is in my car when I get pulled for a taillight being out.

I took the conceal to carry so if the day ever comes that carrying a gun is truly warranted, I can do it.

I didn't take the class because I'm some freakshow who is in love with guns and bang bang blow 'em up.

I didn't take the class because I'm paranoid.

I took the class to be a law abiding citizen who has a couple handguns.

And P.S. I'm pretty good with it - so don't mess with me.

And P.P.S. I never want to have to use it against anything other than a distempered fox, rabid raccoon, or a big fat bad copperhead.

I advise anyone who wants personal protection to take the class because you'll find out - you cannot shoot anyone at any time unless they are breaking into your home (NC) or they have beat you to a bloody pulp and won't stop.

Anyway, the class was an eye opener.  Many of the people in it - personal thought - didn't need a gun within 150 feet of them....due to advanced age, questions they asked, and some of them had strong paranoia going on....tis the world today.

I left with a stronger idea of what to do in a situation - run.  If you run you'll probably keep your life and stay out of jail.  If I had to pull a gun I think that would be a hard task....my job isn't to take life but to respect it.

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Post Law Abiding Citizen training we had to celebrate....glass of wine was much needed.  The buffalo chicken dip was an added incentive.

Then a trip to the grocery store for more wine.

Why is it when you meet someone in person for the first time you have to look bad?  A friend of my little darling's is up for a play date with us one weekend when the weather starts looking more spring flowers than spring showers.  I had conversed with the dad at school drop off and pick up.  The mom, only through email.

So it was only fitting that I should meet the mom on my wine run....in the beer section....of the grocery store.  In my arm are two bottles of wine, gingerly cradled.  In my husband's hand a box of beer.  I of course had to blow it off with humor.  Then I realized - hey they are in the alcohol section too!  My two bottles of wine and my husband's box of beer all in our arms matched up to their six pack....yeah feeling like real winner now.

Ok so only one bottle was for me - the other a thank you to my mom for watching my children and her demential riddled mother.

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I didn't even break the seal on that wine....I was too tired.  I passed out on my own accord.

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Do you know why I love my husband?  (Valentines Day is around the corner, lets talk love)

I love my husband because Sunday morning was spent in peace in Target.....alone.  The mission - to purchase some dirt cheap Pampers, get a giftcard for buying said Pampers, and come on home.  Target at 8:45am on a Sunday is a blessed place.  No children, no annoying voices, no long lines....just a few people in a big store. 

I was able to aimlessly roam the store....score the diapers, the giftcard, and two shirts for my Hulk baby on clearance for $2 a piece.  The little princess even score a pair of yoga pants for dance and or soccer.

I even had time to run in Michael's - and get great ideas for the design of my kitchen when we tear it apart.

How did I celebrate this lovely time to myself?  The picture says it all.  When I got home with heaven's melt in your mouth gifts of love.....my little princess was pleased as punch.  (And the baby was asleep!)

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Yesterday I made a London Broil.  It was my first attempt at this cut of meat.  I can perfect it as I try again however it went over rather well.

I made my own marinade -

1/3 c worcestershire sauce
3 cloves of garlic cut up
1/2 a large yellow onion cut up
Black Pepper

It soaked for about four hours in that.

I scored it.
Then broiled it for about 10 minutes per side.

Served with couscous (I buy Near East, yummy) and sauteed yellow squash and portabellos.

Delish!

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Have a good Monday.....tv tonight:  How I Met Your Mother (CBS 8e), Dallas, Monday Mornings!

<----- TV cannot stand a chance when my little man is jumping his heart out! Then the sister joins in...pretending she's in one too......hilarious.



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Until we meet again -


                                     Brownie