December 2021/January 2022 Sand & Pine Magazine

December 2021/January 2022

SAND & PINE

Let There Be Light!

Holly Jolly Show

Weird Traditions

Holiday of the Bizarre

Soup Season

Comforting Goodness

All the best from our family to yours, Nikki and Jessica

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contents 12

18

Let There Be Light!

SAND & PINE

Ladies and Gentlemen! Presenting, the Holly Jolly Light show! All you need to do is hop in your car and visit the Lollars at 135 Fox Run Road in Pinehurst.

24

Weird Traditions

At the Table

From hiking and underwater Santas to Elfapalooza and tumbleweed Christmas trees, we highlight some of the stranger holiday traditions around the U.S.

Pub People

Greg Girard, Amanda Jakl

Storysmith

Greg Girard greg@sandandpinemag.com

“No soup for you!” is blasphemy as far as we’re concerned. Everyone should be able to enjoy the warming, comforting, soothing experience of soup.

y 2022

SA N D & P IN E December 2021/Januar

Creative Conjuror

Amanda Jakl amanda@sandandpinemag.com

Idea Inventor

Amanda Oden oden@sandandpinemag.com

Word Geek

William C. Nelson

Light!

Let There Be y Show Holly Joll

On the Cover “I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.”

– Maya Angelou

Weird Traditions

rre

Holiday of the Biza

Soup Season

ss Comforting Goodne

Ad Peddler

Debbie Jordan debbie@sandandpinemag.com

Contributing Scribblers

Darcy Connor, Christin Daubert, Jamie Doom, Ellie Girard, Robert Nason, Amanda Oden, Patti Ranck, Dana Vamvakias, Claudia Watson

Visual Alchemist Steven Jordan

4 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE December 2021/January 2022

P.O. Box 892 Southern Pines, NC 28388 Tel. 910.315.0467 info@sandandpinemag.com www.sandandpinemag.com facebook: SandandPineMag

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© Copyright 2021. Sand & Pine Magazine is published six times annually by Sand & Pine, LLC. Reproduction in whole or in part without written consent is prohibited.

Quicksand 6 Good Reads

10

Garden Variety

22

Be Inspired

34

Parenting in the Pines 36 Pet Care 38 On the Fly 40

28 Beer Matters

Take a trip along the Sandhills Beer Trail and enjoy the plethora of brewing options our local brewers have on tap ... literally.

30 Shop Local

It’s never too late to get some last minute shopping in. Well, that’s not exactly true, but our local shops are ready for you whenever you start your holiday shopping.

DIY

42

Dropping In

45

Puzzles

46

Last Word

48

editor note

by Greg Girard

Our story on weird holiday traditions focuses on some odd domestic rituals.

“Kentucky for Christmas,” the campaign was an instant success.

And while Christmas is not a national holiday in Japan, the Japanese annually flock to their local KFC for their Christmas Eve meal, resulting in KFC’s biggest sale day of the year.

Some other unusual culinary holiday traditions include The strange and goofy customs, however, are not enjoying fried caterpillars in South Africa, fermented birds in Greenland and sheep’s head in Norway. (Norwegians also hide limited to us Yanks. In Austria, for instance, there’s a terrifying horned and fanged creature called Krampus that roams the streets brooms on Christmas Eve because they believe witches take to the skies to create mischief.) looking for badly-behaved children. He carries chains, bells and I think, however, Spain takes the prize for the most bizarre a bundle of birch sticks to smack naughty children with in order tradition with their Poop Log. Tió de Nadal, aka Poop Log, is to stuff them in a sack and carry them away to his lair. The child a hollow log with stick legs, a smiley face and a red hat. Every psychotherapy industry must be booming in Vienna come the night between Dec. 8 and Christmas Eve, the children feed new year. the log water and keep him under a blanket for warmth. Then, In Iceland, a giant cat apparently roams the countryside on Christmas Eve, the kids are tasked with beating the log during the holidays. In the past, farmers would use the threat of with sticks while singing songs like, “Poop log, poop nougats, the Yule Cat to motivate their workers: work hard and you’ll get a new set of clothes for Christmas, slack off and you’ll be sent out hazelnuts and matÓ cheese. If you don’t poop well, I’ll hit you with a stick, Poop Log!” into the wilderness to be eaten by the dreaded giant feline.

Once the Poop Log is sufficiently beaten, it’s supposed to In what has to be one of the greatest marketing feats in history, magically poop out presents and candy, after which it’s thrown in 1974 Kentucky Fried Chicken began a holiday marketing into the fire to keep the family warm. Happy holidays! campaign in Japan called Kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii! Meaning www.SandandPineMag.com | 5

QUICKSAND

BY THE NUMBERS » SNOW MEN

122

Size, in feet, for the largest snowman (or snowwoman, in this case) ever built, in 2008, just a few feet shorter than the Statue of Liberty.

Named Olympia, after the senior Senator from Maine at the time Olympia Snowe, the enormous figure towered over the town of Bethel, Maine and boasted two wreaths for her eyes, five red car tires for her lips, two 27-foot trees for her arms and a 100-foot long scarf. It took 13 million pounds of snow to make her.

1,585

The record number of snowmen built in one hour, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. The event took place in Japan in 2015 with 600 participants making each snowman at least 3 feet high. Japan also holds the record for most snowmen built at one time. In 2003, the residents of Sapporo, Japan, built 12,379 snowmen and placed a candle in each one's belly for a spectacular nighttime display.

238

The number of calories you can burn by building a snowman in an hour. It adds up to more burned calories than dancing and nearly as many as an hour-long bike ride.

6 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE December 2021/January 2022

1818

The year residents of Zurich, Switzerland began blowing up a snowman to signal the start of spring. In their own version of Groundhog Day, on the third Monday of April, a snowman named Böögg, made of cotton and hay, is stuffed with dynamite, paraded through town and then placed on a 400-foot pile of scrap wood. The bells of the Church of St. Peter chime six times, representing the passing of winter, and then a pyre is lit under the snowman and people wait for the explosives to go off. According to legend, the shorter the combustion, the longer summer will be. Takes seeing a groundhog's shadow to a whole new level!

30

The optimal temperature, in Fahrenheit, to make a snowman.

It's at this temperature that snow has moisture but is still soft enough to shape and mold. Any colder and the snow will be too powdery to form correctly.

10K

The average number of snowflakes needed to make a standard sized snowman. The world's smallest snowman, however, didn't need nearly as many. Standing just 3 micrometers tall (about .003mm), the little guy was carved with a scanning electron microscope and made out of silica, not snow. The nose and arms were made out of tiny pieces of platinum.

LOOK, LISTEN & LEARN

OUTER SANDBOX

The Great British Baking Show

ROAD TRIP!

You can routinely find us in our pajamas, eating ramen noodles and yelling at our television about a contestant’s Tarte Tatin being terrible, so we are happy that Netflix has found a way to make this festive. The special two-part holiday series is available on December 4, and brings us some beloved bakers from seasons past, zany antics from our favorite hosts AND is sure to leave you feeling like you got the ‘Hollywood Handshake.’ As Prue would say, “It’s worth the calories!”

Road trip! Beyond the boundaries of our little sandbox, there is much to see. Here are a few events worth checking out. For events with a more local flavor, check out moorechoices.net. And check with locales before heading out!

Postable Anyone who has ever committed to sending a holiday card knows the hardest part is often finding everyone’s addresses. Luckily this year we have started using Postable and now have a super easy way to keep track of everyone on our correspondence list. Our favorite feature on the site is obviously the handy address book (that also reminds you of birthdays and anniversaries) but we also adore the feature that lets us send everyone on our email list a current mailing address request AND gives us the ability to select a card, write a message and send it snail mail-style, all from the site.

Hark - The Holiday Music Podcast If you’re like us and start continuously playing All I want for Christmas Is You

by Mariah Carey the day after Halloween then this podcast will likely tickle your holiday music funny bone. Your hosts Ian and RJ hilariously rank and review EVERY Hanukkah, Christmas and winter song—even the bad ones. Especially the bad ones! And while we don’t always agree with their rankings, we do find their reasoning entertaining and are always happy to expand our holiday playlists!

NOVEMBER 19 – JANUARY 16 Speedway Christmas Charlotte | charlottemotorspeedway.com Channel your inner Ricky Bobby this holiday and fulfill your dream of driving the famed 3.75-mile course (albeit at a snail’s pace). What you’ll lack in speed you’ll make up for in sparkle with more than 4 million twinkle lights and various animatronics on display.

DECEMBER 26 Hip Hop Nutcracker Durham | dpacnc.com If your musical style is more Crank that Soldier Boy and less Little Drummer Boy then this might be the holiday event for you. The Hip Hop Nutcracker is a joyful and modern take of Tchaikovsky’s classic, sure to make even the most conservative Clara want to pop and lock.

JANUARY 18–19 Battle of Fort Fisher Kure Beach | historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/fort-fisher Fort Fisher kept North Carolina’s port of Wilmington open to blockade runners supplying goods to Confederate armies inland. By 1865, it was the last remaining supply route open to Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia.

When Fort Fisher fell, after a massive Federal amphibious assault on January 15, 1865, its defeat helped seal the fate of the Confederacy. Enjoy live reenactments and guided tours during the two-day event.

QUOTES “Santa Claus has the right idea.

Visit people only once a year.”

– Victor Borge

“My New Year's resolution list usually starts with the desire to lose between 10 and 3,000 pounds.”

– Nia Vardalos www.SandandPineMag.com | 7

TO YOUR HEALTH

Health Tips Switch Your Latte to Matcha Tea Matcha is a tea plant that is covered 20–30 days before it is harvested to prevent it from coming in contact with direct sunlight. This practice boosts amino acid content, increases chlorophyll and gives the tea a darker green hue.

Because matcha contains nutrients from

the entire tea leaf, the end result is a tea with much stronger caffeine and, more importantly, higher antioxidant levels. Matcha has been known to aid in weight loss, promote heart health and help protect the liver. So, your winter beverage will look festive and keep you healthy and energized for the holidays.

Roasting Chestnuts On an Open Fire Unlike many nuts, chestnuts are

comparatively lower in fat but have super high levels of protein. Because they are packed with vitamin C and B vitamins, they are a worthy inclusion in anyone’s diet. Now we know why Nat King Cole was singing their praises so enthusiastically in The Christmas Song!

Live Lightly Tips on living a more sustainable life

Put a Pin in It Acupuncture has been practiced in one form or another for several thousands of years. For many, the practice of acupuncture has been shrouded in

folklore and mysticism but the modernday application is much less primitive and has been known to successfully treat depression, anxiety, insomnia as well as help alleviate neck, back, shoulder, hip and muscle pain. Truth be told, you could stick a thousand needles in us and we wouldn’t even flinch if you told us it’d help with the anxiety of our motherin-law’s impending holiday visit!

DECEMBER 11 Ugly Sweater Beer Mile Southern Pines 1m runsignup.com

8 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE December 2021/January 2022

FEBRUARY 26 Mardi Gras Miles Southern Pines 5k, 1m fun run runsignup.com

The holiday season is a time for gifting toys, toys and more toys! But you may want to rethink your shopping habits if you’re planning on gifting a toy to a child in your life.

Recent research has found that plastic toys can contain more than 100 harmful chemicals. There are three chemicals that are most worrying: lead, phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA).

Unfortunately, labelling schemes and regulations often differ from country to country, which can make it difficult for parents and caregivers to know what toxins a toy may contain, and at what levels.

The best option is one that’s healthier for kiddos and the planet alike—instead of gifting a plastic toy, opt for one made of natural materials, like wood or organic cotton.

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Good Reads

by Darcy Connor

Picture Book Preschool/Toddler Turtle Walk Written and Illustrated

by Matt Phelan

Take a season-by-season journey with our little turtle family in this adorable tale by award-winning author and artist Matt Phelan. The accompanying watercolor artwork brings each season to life and each season brings a little adventure for the family to tackle. “Turtle walk.

Nice and slow.”

10 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE December 2021/January 2022

Blizzard Written and Illustrated by John Rocco

Based on the New England blizzard of 1978 that dropped 53 inches of snow over two days, author John Rocco recounts his experience as a young boy. Rocco’s illustrations are fantastic as he tells the tale, from the first snowflake falling while he was at school to the strange white landscape that blanketed his neighborhood to being forced to climb out a window because the snow blocked his front door. While I don’t wish for the nearly four feet of snow Rocco describes in Blizzard, a few inches may be nice to get that feeling of a winter wonderland.

Early Elementary School

Adult

Princess Evie, The Forest Fairy Pony

The Secret of Snow

Written by Sarah KilBride Illustrated by Sophie Tilley

The first book in a four-book series, Princess Evie, The Forest Fairy Pony enters the reader into a magical world of drama, adventure and, of course, ponies. As Evie is worried about making new friends when she joins a new class at school, her magical pony, Willow, eases her concerns. To take her mind off her anxiety, Evie and Willow go exploring, soon discovering an enchanted forest filled with fairies.

Let the adventure begin. A sweet book series for early readers to enjoy.

Middle School City Spies

By James Ponti

The protagonist, 12-year-old Sara Martinez, is a hacker who gets arrested for hacking into the New York City foster care system in order to expose her foster parents as cheats and frauds. Facing years in a juvenile detention center, Sara is unexpectedly visited by a British spy who offers her a chance to escape punishment. Oh, and also save the world.

Thus, Sara is recruited to join an elite British spy agency consisting of four other talented kids from around the world who take on tasks in the realm of espionage that adults can’t do. Part of a three-book series. Your middle schooler will love these stories.

By Viola Shipman

The “second chance” genre is a tried and true storytelling technique and, sometimes, it can get a bit formulaic. The Secret of Snow has all the second chance elements you would expect but there’s something about this quaint story that had me hooked.

Maybe it’s the vivid contrast between Sonny Dune’s former life in sunny California and her current one in cold, snowy Michigan. Maybe it’s the determination she exhibits as she tries to find her new niche. Maybe it’s the idea that second chances can give us all a little hope. This one’s a stocking stuffer for those readers contemplating what’s next.

A few other suggestions for your holiday reading list ...

Kids Change Sings Written by Amanda Gorman Illustrated by Loren Long Better Together!

Written by Amy Robach and Andrew Shue Illustrated by Lenny Wen Teens The Wild

by Owen Laukkanen The Electric Kingdom

by David Arnold Adults Harlem Shuffle

by Colson Whitehead Burnt Toast and Other Disasters

by Cal Peternell

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Let There Be Light!

Story by Amanda Oden Photos by Amanda Jakl

A

t the start of every holiday season, he makes a list, and checks it twice: Thousands of LED lights? Check. Massive inflatables? Check. FM radio receiver for looped crooning Christmas classics? Check. Micro-computers that project spirited tidings of comfort and joy to true believers of Kris Kringle in the Sandhills?

Check.

For David Lollar, and his wife Katrina, of Pinehurst, the Christmas season doesn’t come with just the usual trimming of the tree and stockings hung by the chimney with care. For the last six years the couple have converted their lawn in the Pinehurst hamlet of Village Acres into a massive luminescent holiday extravaganza, complete with animatronics, programmed lighting effects, a veritable army of elvish inflatables, and their own low-power radio station that belts out holiday melodies. What began as a quaint attempt to spark some cheer through some simple outdoor holiday decor has turned into a perennial event and a beloved annual neighborhood attraction.

The shift from casual Christmas decorations to full-on Clark Griswold Christmas spectacular seems like a natural progression for both Lollars, who bonded in part from their shared enthusiasm for the holiday as a children.

“Christmas is huge in my family!” says Katrina, noting that the women in her family all have matching “Crazy Christmas Lady” t-shirts made as a sign of Santa solidarity. “I have so many fantastic holiday memories from growing up it would be impossible to choose a favorite.”

She adds: “I’ve always been an insane decorator. The inside of my house would blow your mind! I mean, I put my Christmas tree up in October. I decorate for all holidays and David’s always gone along with it. About six years ago, I found a pretty inexpensive box at a

12 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE December 2021/January 2022

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hardware store that would make your Christmas lights flash and add music. David works in IT and he looked at it and said, ‘You know, I could really make this something,’ and it just kind of snowballed from there. We never set out to be the crazy Christmas house, but here we are. Just a couple of psychos working together.”

While the display itself is impressive to watch, the inner workings of the show are just as intricate and captivating, and it is in this arena where David really lights up.

“I’ve always really liked lights and I remember as a kid just lying under the Christmas tree and looking up at all the lights.” Using his knowledge of technology, he devised a system that he hoped would replicate that childhood experience on a much grander scale.

“I operate everything from a small transmitter called a Raspberry Pi. It’s a micro-computer that translates from the lights to the screen we have set up and runs the whole system.

My program runs the show on a timer, so it’s not like every night I have to flip a switch at 5:30 or anything like that.”

The production has grown each year, and the feedback amongst the community proved so enthusiastic that the Lollars were asked to extend their skills into the Spooky Season as well.

“We started the Holly Jolly light show and interest in that continued to grow and after a couple years people kept saying, ‘This is really cool—y’all should decorate for 14 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE December 2021/January 2022

Halloween too.”

For most people, Halloween decorating consists of hanging up a few fake spider webs and slapping a jack-olantern or two on the front porch. But for the Lollars, of course, it was a chance to step it up a notch: animated lights, creepy creatures of enormous size, and a radio station set up to blast the Monster Mash on repeat. As you can imagine, all of this takes massive amounts of preparation.

“We start setting up for our Halloween Spooktacular in early September so that it will be ready to view at the beginning of October,” adding that the amount of lighting is so substantial, heavy equipment is now utilized to make the decorative deadlines.

“We have to rent a bucket truck every year to put the lights on the roof and once those are set, they stay up through December for the Holly Jolly light show as well. Then the day after Halloween, we break down all of that decor and get started setting up for Christmas because we like those lights to be up by Thanksgiving.”

Much like Saint Nick’s own special day, the Holly Jolly Light Show is a year-in-the-making project, but the Lollars are happy to invest the time in a passion project that lights up the whole neighborhood.

“I have no idea exactly how much time we spend on this every year but it’s probably more than most people for sure.

David is working on writing sequences all year long,” says

mas and a Blsed New Year t s i r h C y r oA M er ll!

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Katrina. “This is easily weeks of work each year, but we’ve never timed anything and, honestly, we probably wouldn’t want to.”

Unlike Santa’s elvish employees, the Lollars go at it alone and the lights, truck rentals and equipment can make this a pretty pricey hobby (and that’s before you even factor in what is surely a staggering electric bill). They estimate the full light display is more than 3,000 lights.

Katrina says: “It’s not as bad as when we first started out. Switching most everything to LED lights certainly helped a bit but there’s no denying that our electric bill is significantly higher during the holiday season. Every year we have to replace certain bulbs and strings of lights, not to mention that we are constantly adding to and improving the displays. It gets expensive, but we have a donation box in front of the house and those donations really help us grow the show every year.”

Because the light show is so unique, there can be a lot of congestion in front of the Lollar’s house on a quiet street located in the idyllic Pinehurst suburb.

“It’s normally a peaceful little street and I get worried every year about what the neighbors will think. So far, we have been really lucky and everyone has been very respectful and courteous. We’ve actually gotten feedback that we’ve inspired more people in the neighborhood to decorate because of our display. Our very sweet neighbor across the street, Miss Doreen, who is in her 80s, tells us every year she loves it because she doesn’t have to decorate. She feels like we do it all for her.”

It was in that spirit of giving two years ago that the Lollars upped their holiday game another notch by hosting the Big Man himself. For one special evening, children in the community could come out and get a selfie with Santa. And they have their Letters to Santa mailbox available if any of the children visiting the light display would like to leave a wish list.

“We empty the mailbox every night and give the letters to our elves which fly them to the North Pole for us. We do read some of the letters and they can just break your heart. Last year a couple of the letters were from kids whose families were going through a hard time and weren’t going to be able to provide Christmas. Fortunately, we were able to partner with some elves right here in our community that came together to help provide some much-needed assistance for neighbors in need.”

It may seem like a lot of work for the Lollars, but much like another certain someone who spends all year preparing to bring joy to the masses during the holiday season, they are happy to do it.

It’s all but impossible not to feel that same happiness as you crest the hill on Fox Run Road and slow down, turn the dial on the radio, and hear the excitable gasps of your own children seeing the Grinch, Santa, Olaf and the rest. It’s impossible not to feel the spark of some much-needed Christmas spirit. For a moment, the Lollars make us all feel a bit like a kid again, staring in wonder at the twinkling lights on a quiet holiday evening, and that is no small gift.

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16 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE December 2021/January 2022

The Perfect Holiday Toast

Whiskey Old FashiOned 1 sugar cube 2 to 3 dashes Woodford Reserve orange bitters 2 ounces whiskey Splash of club soda (optional) Orange twist (for garnish) Place the sugar cube at the bottom of an old-fashioned glass. Saturate the cube with Woodford Reserve aromatic bitters, add an orange slice if you like, and muddle. Fill the glass with ice. Add the whiskey and stir well. Finish off with a splash of club soda if you prefer. Garnish with an orange peel and cherry. Serve and enjoy!

Aromatic, orange, and spiced cherry bitters from Woodford Reserve for all your holiday cocktails.

Available exclusively at The Purple Thistle.

100 Magnolia Road, Suite 102 Village of Pinehurst | 910.420.2434 www.SandandPineMag.com | 17

Weird

Holiday Traditions 18 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE December 2021/January 2022

As

the saying goes, “There is no place like home for the holidays,” but we realize that sometimes you just get the urge to get your ho-ho-ho on the go.

Here at Sand & Pine, we pride ourselves on being, as Clark Griswold so delicately put it, the jolliest bunch of you-know-whats this side of the nuthouse. In that spirit, we researched tons of fun, festive and quirky activities for those of you looking to plan a Christmas vacation (hopefully not of the National Lampoon variety). Fill up your thermos with (non-alcoholic) eggnog, throw your suitcase in the sleigh and hit the road because your holiday adventure awaits!

Asheville, North Carolina Here in the home of the Tar Heels and Cheerwine, Santa slips into his hiking boots and climbs 315 feet down Chimney Rock. Once he completes his treacherous descent, he joins “Santa on the Chimney” festivities in the park, which include carnival rides, a holiday breakfast and animal petting attractions.

Camden, New Jersey Santa opts for an underwater appearance instead of the traditional sleigh with reindeer. At the Adventure Aquarium’s Ocean Realm tank, Old Saint Nick takes a dip while donning the traditional hat and robe.

Visitors can pose for photos, deliver their wish lists (which will likely get pretty soggy), check out the world’s tallest underwater Christmas tree and let Santa know whether they are nautical or nice.

Mobile, Alabama Residents skip the Santa outfits and dress up like his little helpers for the annual Elfapalooza.

Participants sing Christmas karaoke, watch the Christmas classic Elf and sip hot chocolate while aiming to beat the Guinness world record for most Santa’s elves in a single location (1,762), which is currently held by Bangkok, Thailand.

Chandler, Arizona The West is notoriously wild, and for the last 50 years the citizens of Chandler have constructed their own take on the traditional Christmas tree.

Beginning around September, city workers begin collecting the dried invasive Russian thistle bushes (better known as tumbleweeds) that roll across the landscape. Once they have amassed around 1,000 tumbleweeds, they begin building the world’s largest (and likely only) tumbleweed Christmas tree. The extremely dry Tannenbaum is sprayed with a flame retardant material, lit and put on view for the entire town to enjoy.

Portland, Oregon Not to be outdone by the good people of Chandler,

www.SandandPineMag.com | 19

Arizona, the city of Portland has their own Christmas tree made out of an unusual material. The Oregonians’ conifer is constructed out of people, ... singing people to be more exact. Portland’s Singing Christmas tree is in its 59th season and prides itself in having never been cancelled. The tree consists of more than 350 carolers arranged in a tree formation and includes dancing, a nativity scene and light show.

New Shoreham, Rhode Island Just when you thought you’d seen them make a Christmas tree out of everything, Block Island says, “Hold my lobster” or, rather, lobster trap.

Every year shellfish-loving volunteers selflessly turn more than 200 traps, known to the pros as lobster pots, into a beautifully lit Christmas tree installation that draws tourists from all over the world.

Mount Vernon, Virginia In 1767, George Washington (who happened to have a fascination with rare and exotic animals) paid 18 shillings to have a camel delivered to his Mount Vernon home for the Christmas holiday. Now, every holiday season a camel named Aladdin travels to Mount Vernon from his home in Berryville, Virginia, as the Christmas Camel. There are all sorts of holiday-themed activities to choose from, but the most popular attraction is the chance to take a selfie with Aladdin himself.

Reno, Nevada Each December, upwards of 12,000 celebrants dressed in Santa suits flock to the town of Reno for its famed Santa Pub Crawl. The wassailers, however, aren’t just drinking for

20 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE December 2021/January 2022

fun. They are also ensuring their names will be added to the Nice list because all of the proceeds from the annual event are donated to local schools in need.

Laguna Niguel, California If hearing Santa say “cowabunga” sounds interesting to you, then we suggest you head to Salt Creek Beach at Dana Point to watch surfers in full Santa regalia ditch the sleigh in lieu of a surfboard. The annual Surfing Santa Competition is a fundraiser for the charity Surfers Healing, which helps to enrich the lives of people with autism by giving them the unique healing experience of surfing.

Cleveland, Ohio This one you can technically do all year round, but we think it would be most the memorable Christmas adventure to visit the famed house from everyone’s favorite (or at least most watched) holiday movie A Christmas Story. Complete with the iconic glowing leg lamp in the window, this house has been completely restored to its movie glory and is available for tours or even to spend the night. Drop in for a visit. We triple dog dare you!

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Together, We’ll Find Home.

Tony Barnes

Buyer Specialist • Listing Specialist Military Relocation Keller Williams Pinehurst Realty 195 Short Street, Southern Pines tonybarnes.broker@gmail.com Mobile: 910.690.1454 •Office: 910.692.5553 Find me on

•

Each office is independently owned and operated.

Photo by Bobby Hancock

www.SandandPineMag.com | 21

Garden Christmas Eye Candy Amaryllis T

he dramatic tropical blooms of amaryllis brighten homes during the winter months. But don’t toss it when the flowers fade; bring it back for an encore next year. It’s easier than you think.

Keep the plant in a south-facing window and remove the blooms as they fade. Let the bulb produce leaves. Water only as needed until the foliage dies and then remove it.

Repot the bulb with some fresh potting soil in a clay container with drainage holes that are 1 to 2 inches wider than the bulb and deep enough to hold its hefty root system. Be sure the top third of the bulb is above the soil line.

In early May, once nighttime temperatures remain above 50 F, and the daytime temperatures are consistently warm, move plants outside. Select a spot

BY C L AU D I A WAT S O N N.C. Cooperative Extension Service Master Gardener Volunteer

22 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE December 2021/January 2022

for the plant with a half-day of sun. Remember to water the bulbs to keep the soil barely moist. In the heat of summer, this may be daily, but overwatering is lethal. Allow the leaves to grow for 4 to 5 months.

In early September, to encourage dormancy, tip the pot on its side, and stop watering. When the foliage is withered, cut it off and store the potted bulb in a cool dry place (it does not need darkness), but not under 40 F. The bulb requires a dormant period of 2 to 3 months.

•

Water the bulb lightly to keep the soil from drying out completely.

•

When the top of the flower stalk begins to emerge, move the pot to the sunniest window and increase watering. Amaryllis do not require feeding.

•

Continue watering, and finally, enjoy the bold, brilliant eye candy for the holidays next year!

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/NCMGMooreCnty

www.SandandPineMag.com | 23

At the

Table

Creamy Soups

By ROBERT NASON

S

oup, as you may imagine, is as old as the culinary arts. What could be simpler than combining ingredients in a pot of liquid and heating it up? Easily digestible, nutritional, adaptable to local ingredients and satisfyingly warm, soup is a staple of just about every culture in history.

It’s believed soup was being prepared as far back as 20,000 BC, at the same time clay pots and vessels were developed. Ancient pottery in China from that time showed signs of scorch marks, suggesting the pots were used for soup. Indeed, there is evidence even further back during the age of the Neanderthals where they would dig a hole, line it with animal skin and boil water using hot stones.

They would then boil bones and render the fat, and the liquid left over would be a drinkable broth. By

24 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE December 2021/January 2022

6,000 BC, soup was a ubiquitously present cooking method in every civilization in the world. Soup also has the distinction of crossing socio-economic boundaries—a dish as recognizable to the serfs of the Medieval Ages and the soup kitchens of the Great Depression as to the royal courts in Asia and Europe.

Eighteenth century Paris had numerous public soup houses called “restoratifs,” which is where the word restaurant in English derives from.

Creamy soups, which contain a roux mixed with cream or milk, has a briefer history than its brothy cousins, emerging in Italy and France just a few centuries ago. Chowders, bisques, purees all fall into the creamy, thick soup category. National soup month is in January. Celebrate by making a heartwarming creamy soup!

> Americans consume

Creamy Tomato Soup bonappetit.com Serves 4 to 5

Ingredients

¼ cup (½ stick) unsalted butter 10 sprigs thyme, tied together 1 medium onion, thinly sliced 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced ¼ cup tomato paste 2 28-oz. cans whole tomatoes

1–2 teaspoons sugar, divided ¼ cup (or more) heavy cream Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper Paremesan cheese, for garnish

Directions 1.

Melt butter in a large heavy pot over medium heat. Add thyme, onion and garlic. Cook until onion is completely soft and translucent, 10–12 minutes. Increase heat to mediumhigh; add tomato paste. Continue cooking, stirring often, until paste has begun to caramelize in spots, 5–6 minutes.

2.

Add tomatoes with juices, 1 tsp. sugar, and 8 cups water to pot. Increase heat to high; bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium. Simmer until flavors meld and soup reduces to about 2 quarts (8 cups), 45–55 minutes. Remove soup from heat; let cool slightly. Discard thyme sprigs. Working in small batches, purée soup in a blender until smooth.

Return to pot. DO AHEAD: Soup can be made 2 days ahead. Let cool slightly, cover, and chill. Rewarm before continuing.

3.

Stir in ¼ cup cream. Simmer soup until flavors meld, 10–15 minutes longer. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and remaining 1 tsp. sugar. Add more cream, if desired.

more than 10 billion bowls of soup a year. Our favorite: Chicken Noodle.

> Archeologists have

discovered evidence of soup dating to 6,000 BC that was made with hippopotamus.

> Campbell Company

invented the first condensed soup in 1897.

Loaded Potato Soup

pauladeenmagazine.com Yields 3 quarts

Ingredients

6 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped 1 medium yellow onion, chopped 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 2 (32-ounce) containers chicken broth

1 teaspoon kosher salt ½ teaspoon ground black pepper 4 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and chopped 1 cup heavy whipping cream Sliced green onion Shredded cheddar cheese

Directions 1.

In a large Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon, and let drain on paper towels, reserving drippings in pot.

2.

Add onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in flour, and cook for 2 minutes. Whisk in chicken broth, salt, and pepper until smooth. Stir in potatoes, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer until potatoes are very tender, and begin to fall apart, about 25 minutes.

3.

In a small bowl, whisk together cream and 1 cup hot soup liquid; stir mixture into pot, and cook for 5 minutes. Serve with green onion, cheese, and bacon.

> Even though soup is a liquid, etiquette experts say we eat soup rather than drink it because it is part of a meal.

> In the 1700s, the

French King Louis XIV took narcissism to a new level when he demanded the royal chefs create a soup that would allow him to see his own reflection in the bowl.

As a result, consommé (clear broth) was born.

www.SandandPineMag.com | 25

>

At the

Table Legal Seafood’s New England Clam Chowder legalseafoods.com Serves 8

>

Ingredients 4 pounds littleneck clams, about 1 2/3 cups cooked and chopped 1 clove garlic, chopped 1 cup water 2 ounces salt pork, finely chopped 2 cups chopped onions 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 1/2 pounds potatoes, peeled, diced into 1/2 inch cubes 4 1/2 cups clam juice 3 cups fish stock 2 cups light cream Oyster crackers, optional

Directions

thepioneerwoman.com Serves 6

>

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

1.

Clean the clams and place them in a large pot along with the garlic and water. Steam the clams until they open (about 6 to 10 minutes, depending upon their size).

2.

Drain and shell the clams, reserving the broth in a bowl. Mince the clam flesh and set aside. Filter the clam broth either through coffee filters or cheesecloth and set aside.

3.

In a large, heavy pot slowly render the salt pork.

Remove the cracklings and set them aside.

4.

Slowly cook the onions in the fat, stirring frequently for about 6 minutes, or until cooked through but not browned. Stir in the flour and cook while stirring continuously for 3 minutes.

5.

Add the reserved clam broth and fish stock, and whisk to remove any flour lumps.

6.

Bring the liquid to a boil, add the potatoes, lower the heat, and simmer until the potatoes are cooked through (about 15 minutes).

7.

Stir in the reserved clams, salt pork cracklings, and light cream. Heat the chowder until it is the temperature you prefer.

8.

Serve in large soup bowls with oyster crackers on the side.

Ingredients 2 pounds cubed butternut squash 1 medium onion, halved and sliced into wedges 4 cloves garlic, peeled 1 teaspoon sea salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons avocado oil, or another heat-safe oil 2 cups chicken broth or more, as needed 1 cup heavy cream Diced apple Crumbled, cooked bacon

Directions 1.

Preheat oven to 425 F.

2.

Put squash cubes, onion, and garlic cloves on a large rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and drizzle oil over top. Use your hands to toss everything around so it’s evenly coated.

3.

Roast for 35–40 minutes on a lower oven rack, tossing things around with a spatula a couple of times during cooking.

4.

Transfer roasted items to a medium to large soup pot. Add chicken broth and heat to a simmer. Let it simmer for about 5 minutes and then blend it with an immersion blender (or in batches with a countertop blender) until smooth.

5.

Stir in heavy cream. Add a little more salt, if needed, before serving. Top with diced apple and crumbled, cooked bacon.

26 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE December 2021/January 2022

SP

BEST DARN WINGS! What makes our wings so darn good? Legends never uses frozen wings, we make our own sauce from scratch, and we grow our own peppers. Stop in anytime between noon and 2 am for lunch, snacks or comfort food. Try one of our daily drink specials, a microbrew, or local brewery beer. When the weather is nice, sit out on the outdoor patio. There’s nothing more satisfying than going to your favorite neighborhood bar and grill for some good ole comfort food, friendly folks and lots of fun.

Celebrating our 10 year anniversary, Legends of Southern Pines provides friendly fun in spades!

Watch your favorite sport on seven different TVs, play on one of four dartboards, shoot 8 ball on one of two pool tables, or join a World Tavern poker game. We even offer live music on the weekends!

1113 Old US Rt. 1, Southern Pines 910.692.6170 /LegendsSOP www.SandandPineMag.com | 27 LUNCH, SNACKS OR COMFORT FOOD / DAILY DRINK SPECIALS / DARTS, BILLIARDS, POKER / LIVE MUSIC ON WEEKENDS / OPEN NOON-2AM

Beer Matters

The Sandhills Beer Crawl

BY JAMIE DOOM NORTH CAROLINA CRAFT BEER is about developing local communities that enhance and enrich the daily lives of the towns they serve. These breweries also share ideas, resources and information, often with each other. Here in Moore and Lee counties we have seven breweries and one cidery.

This list is not to be enjoyed in one day! I don’t want you to do that to yourselves or to the breweries you’ll be visiting. So, please be responsible and split this up over the course of 2–3 days.

Pinehurst Brewing Company 300 Magnolia Road, Pinehurst pinehurstbrewing.com Kitchen: Yes This is one of the nicest brewpubs in the state, and where we’ll start the trail. Their smokehouse serves pulled pork, beef brisket, ribs and chicken that is smoked on site. They also serve spirits. You’re going to have a couple of beers today, so start the day with a full stomach.

Beer highlight: The Pushing Forward, West Coast IPA. Brewed with Citra and Mosaic, this citrusy, slightly dank beer had some of the best head retention of any of the beers on this list.

Railhouse Brewery 105 E South St., Aberdeen railhousebrewery.com Kitchen: Yes This is the elder statesman of the local brewery scene, and their beer just keeps getting better and more exciting. This Aberdeen brewery also serves excellent food and spirits. My favorite thing about this spot is their huge tap list and constantly changing sour program.

Beer highlight: Pumpkin Spice Tart Grenade, Light Golden Sour. This sour was so well balanced, and the tartness of this light golden ale provided a new and interesting canvas for the pumpkin spices to shine.

Hatchet Brewing Company 490 SW Broad St., So. Pines

28 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE December 2021/January 2022

hatchetbrewing.com Kitchen: No This bustling downtown brewery and taproom has a beautiful taproom and a comfortable outdoor patio. New head brewer, Thomas Vincent, a longtime fixture in the Triangle brewing scene, has brought his talents to Southern Pines, and I believe we will all be better for it!

Food trucks on Saturdays and Sundays.

Beer highlight: Pumpin’ the Brakes, Pumpkin Wheat Ale. The cloves and banana already present in the base wheat beer are complimented by cinnamon and ginger making the spices subtle and understated. Guess I like pumpkin beer now.

Southern Pines Brewing on Penn 205 W. Pennsylvania Ave., So. Pines southernpinesbrewing.com Kitchen: No This is Southern Pines Brewing’s second taproom in town, and it has more beer on tap than the original brewery taproom. This taproom is also located in

the heart of downtown and has lots of patio drinking under one of the better magnolia trees in town. They also have beer slushees if you’re in to that kind of thing!

Beer highlight: Jour de Jambe, BBA Belgian Quadrupel. This 11.6% Quad will warm you from the inside out. Dark stone fruit and hints of vanilla booze round out this Belgian favorite.

James Creek Cider House 172 US-1, Cameron jamescreekciderhouse.com Kitchen: No It’s time to switch gears and get outside of town a little bit and have some of the best traditional cider in the state. Their small batch cider program changes all year long, with in-season fruits often grown right on their farm. They also have food trucks Fridays and Saturdays.

Cider highlight: Stargazer Big Dipper, Lightly Sweet Cider. I seem to always return to this light-bodied, slightly-effervescent, traditional cider.

Hugger Mugger Brewery 229 Wicker St., Sanford huggermuggerbrewing.com Kitchen: No Welcome to Sanford! This is the oldest brewery in Lee County, and this busy open taproom and brewery embodies the optimism and quickly growing vibes of downtown Sanford. Hugger Mugger seems to always have some beautiful Belgian-style beers on tap. They have food trucks out back most days. Check their constantly updated website for details.

Beer highlight: Electric Skull Socket, Belgian Noir/Belgian Strong Dark Ale. Belgian yeast imparts clove, banana, and funky spice with a subtle coffee flavor.

Wild Dogs Brewing Company 136 N. Steel St., Sanford facebook.com/wilddogsbrewing Kitchen: No Everyone welcome the newest brewery to the Sandhills! This dog-friendly

brewery just opened up in downtown Sanford this summer, and they have hit the ground running.

Beer highlight: Wild Dogs Kolsch, Kolsch. The beautiful aroma, strawcolored head and that clean herbal finish had me drinking more than one.

Camelback Brewing Company 804 Spring Lane, Sanford camelbackbrewingco.com Kitchen: Yes Camelback Brewing, located next to Lowes Foods on Spring Lane, is the perfect place to end your trail. They have a small kitchen that pushes out some excellent bar food. Their wings are a town favorite. They also serve mixed drinks. Check out their live music on Saturdays.

Beer highlight: Single Hop Series #1 Columbus, IPA. This IPA is brewed entirely with Columbus giving it bright citrus aromas and complex earthy tones.

Great beer!

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The Bakehouse 3395 Airport Road • Pinehurst 910.692.6185

Spring Semester Begins Jan. 10 Full Semester and First 8-Week Session Continuing Education Classes Begin on Various Dates

Second 8-Week Session Begins Mar. 14 • 6th generation bakery & cafe • Specialty & novelty cakes • Fresh breads baked daily

• Voted best burgers in Moore County • Featuring seasonal local ingredients

Breakfast 8-10:30 am • Lunch 11 am - 2:30 pm 120 North Poplar Street, Aberdeen, NC 910.944.9204 • Tuesday - Saturday 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

One free class for new curriculum students a $311 value.

A free health care pla n is offered to ALL curriculum stude nts.

www.sandhills.edu/spring22 www.SandandPineMag.com | 29

TEA UP FOR WINTER

Try a specially blended cup of tea this Christmas from a local coffee joint. Delicious!

Available at Java Bean Roasting Co.

E Shop SP Local

Naughty or Nice?

Edition Doesn't matter if you're naughty or nice, if you're the one buying the gifts, amirite?

Don't be a Scrooge and buy all online this year. Support our local shops and spread some holiday cheer.

NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET

But you can feel like you're in the actual woods with this Thymes Frasier Fir soap and lotion set.

Available at ETC.

E 1. STICK A CORK IN IT

Or to be more precise, a Corksicle. Who wouldn't want to find one of these in their stockings?

Get this pair at ETC in Aberdeen.

2. GOING 3D

This adorable tree pillow is 3D. Those pom poms are super fluffy and soft.

Pick this one up, and a variety of other pillows, at ETC.

3. MOVE OVER BATMAN

This cape is perfect for fighting crime and buying more Christmas presents. And it's one size fits all. Find it at Clothes Horse in Southern Pines.

30 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE December 2021/January 2022

4. HO HO HO

Decorate the holiday table with these cuties.

Because we all need more Santas in our lives.

Get 'em at ETC.

5. HANG WITH CARE

Make sure everyone has a stocking this year. It will be hard to pick just one!

Stop by Olmsted Village Hardware to pick out your favorite.

Probably the "reason we all go so

haywire

at Christmas time with the

JUST A CUPPA

Cozying up with a good book isn't enough. A cup of tea is what is needed.

Pick up a bag or two!

endless

unrestrained

and often silly buying of gifts

Available at Java Bean Roasting Co.

is that we don’t quite know how to put our

love

into words.

Harlan Miller

"

A BIT OF BLING

Who can resist diamonds at Christmas? Deck your neck and ears instead of the halls this year.

Available at Heavenly Pines Jewelry & Design.

1. JUST ONE MORE CHAPTER

The Parkhurst Readers Wrap—perfect for cozying up with your favorite book. Available in grey and red. Find 'em at The Clothes Horse.

2. HANDMADE WITH LOVE

These bracelets wrap twice around your wrist.

Lots of colors available at The Java Bean Roasting Co.

3. NEVER HAVE TOO MANY

Tote bags, that is. And this one comes with a wristlet for when you just need an ID and a credit card. Lots of colors available at The Clothes Horse.

4. LIGHT IT UP

We may not get much snow here in the Sandhills, so create your own with this adorable light-up snowman.

Available at Olmsted Village Hardware.

5. TOO HOT TO HANDLE

For the chili pepper aficionados in your life, stock up on chili pepper oil, dry rubs and pepper flakes. Lots of heat levels available. Get 'em at Supply House Peppers.

www.SandandPineMag.com | 31

E

GOTTA LOVE THE CLASSICS

Shop the Stores

Every kid needs a Radio Flyer wagon.

Even the kids at heart. Go make some dreams come true this year.

Available at Olmsted Village Hardware.

clothes horse 163 Beverly Lane, Southern Pines Check them out on Facebook

ETC 111 W. Main St., Aberdeen eloisetradingcompany.com

Heavenly Pines Jewelry & Design 45 Dowd Circle, Pinehurst heavenlypinesjewelry.net

Java Bean Roasting Co. 410 SW Broad St., Southern Pines Check them out on Facebook

Piggy + Co.

375 SE Broad St., Southern Pines piggyandcosouthernpines.com

supply house peppers supplyhousepeppers.com

True Value Olmsted village Hardware 244 Central Park Avenue, Pinehurst Check them out on Facebook

1. PRINCESS REQUIREMENTS The perfect dress for a little princess. Comfy AND cute, what a combo! Find this one at Piggy + Co.

2. NOT JUST FOR PRESENTS Who wouldn't love a handmade bow this holiday season? Lots of designs to choose from.

Pick them up at Piggy + Co.

3. KEEP IT MAGICAL

And keep them busy with these adorable DIY kits from Maddox Avenue.

Find them at Piggy + Co.

32 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE December 2021/January 2022

4. FOREST FUN

Bring the forest inside with this crazy cute dress from the Tea Collection.

Get it at Piggy + Co.

5. LEARNING FUN

Stimulate those brain cells with Picasso Tiles.

Stop by Piggy + Co. to pick up a set.

WISHING YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

Yum Yum Chocolates Satisfy your sweet tooth with the yummiest yum yums in Moore County!

Get 12 mini cakes of deliciousness for just $8.

Available exclusively in the Village of Pinehurst at The Corner Store.

Pick up a bag today!

The only place to buy Yum Yums in the Village of Pinehurst!

Monday - Wednesday 9am - 9pm Thursday - Saturday 9am - 11pm Sunday 11am - 7pm

The Corner Store One Market Square, Pinehurst, NC facebook.com/thecornerstorepinehurst | 910.215.9440

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www.SandandPineMag.com | 33

( Be Inspired ) Create a Homemade Holiday Season

BY CHRISTIN DAUBERT I SWEAR IF I HEAR SUPPLY CHAIN OR SHIPPING DELAYS anymore this year, I’ll start twitching. I make it a personal mission to start my holiday shopping in October, regardless of the aforementioned problems. This year is no different, with one exception: I’m adding homemade gifts to the mix! I love shopping local for as many gifts as I can. Luckily around here, there is no shortage of amazing shops for us to choose from, not to mention restaurants and markets where you can grab gift cards for lucky friends and family. As for the homemade portion of my holiday presents, I’m sharing four different gifts to make and give this year.

1. This first semi-homemade gift is a Dipped Mug that you can create and have a couple extra whenever you need a last minute gift. This mug is from The Merry Thought blog and while it looks dipped, it’s actually just painted! You’ll need: white mugs; paint (make sure it’s ceramic paint); small paintbrushes; and painter’s tape.

Directions: Wipe the mugs down with rubbing alcohol then wrap the tape around (including the handle). I recommend two coats of paint for a really beautiful saturated look. Follow the instructions on your paint bottle for how long it needs to dry between coats (I recommend Martha Stewart paint from Michaels). After it’s all dried, carefully remove the tape. If it is starting to pull the paint, use a knife to separate the tape from the mug. Now you can fill it with some tea sachets or a little bag of coffee and you have a perfect gift for the caffeine lover on your gift list.

34 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE December 2021/January 2022

2. A Finger Knit Rope Trivet from the Flax and Twine blog. This “knitting” style is easy and is a beautiful and useful gift! I recommend watching a tutorial on YouTube for finger knitting (it makes more sense than looking at a sequence of photos, in my opinion) and you’ll be ready to go! You’ll need: 10 yards of cotton sash cord and a little bit of packing tape.

3. This next gift is my favorite to bring as a host gift during the winter months. This Holiday Stovetop Potpourri is easy to prep and have ready for seasonal gatherings or to use when you’re hosting your own event! You’ll need: a mason jar; 1/2 cup of cranberries; 4 cinnamon sticks; 1 tablespoon of whole cloves; 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg; 1 orange (sliced); and a sprig of rosemary or Christmas tree trimming.

Directions: Simmer ingredients on your stove in a pot in 3-4 cups water OR put in mason jar and store in your refrigerator until gifting.

gorgeous ones at Hot Asana Yoga Studio that would look brilliant on these boxes. You’ll need: wood boxes, white gloss spray paint, crystals; and E6000 glue.

Directions: Apply several light coats of spray paint and after it dries glue on your crystal of choice and voila! If you are making these for specific people, you can choose crystals that come with information cards and gift them together so the recipient can see why you’ve chosen that specific crystal for them. Depending on the size of the box, you can put a gift card, or an extra something inside the box.

If you choose to make any of these designs (or something else entirely), share your creative ideas with others! You never know who you’ll inspire. And no matter what you choose to buy or make this season, I hope you find the holidays to be a joyful and calm time as we go into a new year.

4. This last home-made gift comes from my love of a beautiful crystals. When I saw these Crystal Knob Boxes on the Homey Oh My blog, I was giddy with inspiration.

You can snag these little wooden boxes or any size wooden box at craft stores and let your creativity take over! I collect little crystals from my travels, but there are some

10 HE

ER

TO A

S

C

®

DECAD

E

SP

Share your creativity on Instagram: Hashtag #SandandPineMag. Also, go to @consciouslychristin to check out Christin's work.

th

ANNIVERSARY YEAR 2021

154 NW BROAD ST. SOUTHERN PINES, NC MONDAY-SATURDAY 10-5 910.725.1010 | RRIVETER.COM www.SandandPineMag.com | 35

Parenting

IN THE

Pines

Vacation—All I Ever Wanted

BY AMANDA ODEN UP UNTIL LAST WEEK, I had never spent a night without my children. People used to think I was exaggerating when I say the only time I’d ever leave my kids overnight was to go to the hospital and give birth to another baby, but it really was true. (With the exception of the one time, while I was seven months pregnant with my second child that I left my daughter overnight with my husband while I drove to Atlanta to see Beyoncé. But, I mean, come on, it was

36 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE December 2021/January 2022

freaking Beyoncé!)

Some of my hesitation to leave them overnight was my own anxiety and fears of something terrible happening while I was away. And some came from not living near a reliable family member who could babysit long enough for us to take a trip. And the rest came from having three very small kids in quick succession, which didn’t exactly leave a ton of money, time or energy to travel anyway.

Which is why my husband and I were super excited, after almost five years, when my sister, who was in the States visiting from Berlin, offered to stay with our kids so that we could get away for a grown-up vacation.

We decided on Joshua Tree National Park in California (a destination that not a single one of our kids would have had any interest in visiting at all) and quickly booked flights and a romantic Airbnb just outside the park. The things we were most excited about were not terribly romantic, but activities like eating in a restaurant without bouncing a baby on your knee, sleeping for eight

the Halloween decorations, I knew my husband was right. I needed a break and decided to take one.

At 6 a.m. the next morning, my 5-year-old woke up super early to catch me before I left and handed me her prized stuffed animal, a funny little toy known as a Squishamal, that she had named Pizza. “Take Pizza just in case you’re scared to be by yourself.” Yup, so with tears in my eyes and Pizza safely in my carry-on bag, I began my journey.

My flight was thankfully uneventful and before I knew it, I was lounging peacefully in a gorgeous house in the Mojave Desert. I poured myself

I pulled my new companion Pizza out of my tote bag and gave her a little squeeze. consecutive hours and going for a hike without stopping 900 times to pick up rocks and sticks sounded heavenly to us.

Alas, the day before we were scheduled to leave for our trip, my sister had an emergency and wasn’t going to be able to babysit after all. To say we were bummed is an understatement.

Just as I was about to hop online and see if we could cancel our reservations without any major penalties, my husband in a moment of compassion, or perhaps temporary insanity, said, “Don’t cancel. You should go by yourself. I already took the time off work and you’re always saying how much you need a break. We’d probably lose money on backing out anyway. I can handle the kids. Just go and relax and come home refreshed.”

I was reluctant at first, but with the holiday season fast approaching and my burn-out level already nearing max capacity when we’d barely put away

It was official, I was lonely.

a glass of wine and sat down on a cream-colored chair (that my kids and probably my husband would have absolutely destroyed as soon as we walked in the door) and tried to decide between a peaceful shower or a nap.

The guilt, however, set in almost immediately. I did the time difference math and realized my husband was likely on his hands and knees scrubbing mac and cheese from the dining room floor in the aftermath of lunch. I sent a quick text reminding him where the

Magic Erasers were and tried to get back to relaxing. But the truth is, after five years of sleep deprivation and being constantly on the go, I’d forgotten how to be chill. And to be honest, it all felt like a lot of pressure to decompress and relax and have fun, but also not waste the time away.

I pulled my new companion Pizza out of my tote bag and gave her a little squeeze. It was official, I was lonely.

I made the short walk downtown and had dinner in a restaurant that didn’t offer crayons with your menu.

I was thankful for the opportunity to eat a meal without first having to cut up someone else’s entree and blow on it, but I had to remind myself to slow down and savor each bite because I’ve become so used to shoveling food down my throat before the next tantrum or potty break. Afterwards, I bummed around an art gallery followed by a souvenir shop where I spent a small fortune on more Squishamals that my children absolutely do not need.

I was honestly ready to head home after the first night but my sweet husband encouraged me to finish out the trip even though I know he was exhausted.

After two nights away from my family, I was at my limit. I missed my husband’s dumb jokes and my baby’s squishy cheeks and my daughter’s neverending commentary about every single thing and my toddler’s sticky hugs. The flight home felt like it took ages and I couldn’t tell what moved slower, the luggage on the carousel at baggage claim or every driver in front of me on the drive to my house.

The vacation turned out to be much different than the one initially planned, but I think the result was a good one.

I got some rest but, more importantly, I got a little perspective. I can honestly say, though, that Pizza and I are just so glad to be home!

SP

www.SandandPineMag.com | 37

Pet BRIANNA JOHNSON

Q

Care C A R E D F O R C A N I N E & C AT

With the holidays upon us, remind me, what foods and plants are dangerous for my pet?

38 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE December 2021/January 2022

It’s not just your own mouth that waters at the sight of all the holiday goodies. Your four-legged friends are as tempted as you are. When you’re sitting at the table, plate piled high with ham, turkey, mashed potatoes and toasty rolls, Fluffy is there too, saying with her eyes, “Oh please, share with me.”

A

While there’s nothing wrong with a special treat now and then during the holidays, there are things that pets really should not have. Cooked bones are a no-no; they can splinter. Turkey skin, though super tasty, is also a bad idea as the grease can be hard on a pet’s digestion. Gravy is a perfect topping for taters, but no surprise, it has too much fat and salt for your furry friend. And the ever-popular nut bowl is a tricky danger since nuts can be a choking hazard as well as being toxic—macadamias and hazelnuts in particular.

A few more toxic items to avoid: • • • •

Grapes and raisins Chocolate, coffee and caffeine Onions, garlic and chives Xylitol, found in sugar-free gum

You may be saying, “But we’ve given Fluffy all of that before and she’s been fine.” There will always be a dog that somehow manages to binge something off limits and be alright. But it’s really not worth the risk. If you want to give your pet a special treat, use vegetables like green beans, carrots or plain mashed potatoes. And you can give them some turkey as long as it’s without the skin.

And since the holidays are not limited to special foods, keep your pets in mind when picking out any greenery or centerpieces. While many holiday plants are not fatal, they can definitely be troublesome. Lilies, mistletoe and Christmas cactus are a few to avoid.

Poinsettias, which are often on the top of the plant list as toxic to pets are actually considered “non” or “mildly” toxic.

Pets may develop a mild rash if it is ingested.

“Poinsettias are usually referred to as highly toxic, but they really aren’t. Feel free to display them at Christmas,” says Dr. Dorothy Black, clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, in an article on moderndogmagazine.com.

If you think your pet ingested something dangerous, go to the Pet Poison Helpline: petpoisonhelpline.com. Or call the Animal Poison Control Center 24/7: 855.764.7661. And, of course, always contact your veterinarian.

SP

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e Fly On the Fly On the Fly On the Fly On the Fly On the Fly On the Fly On the Fl Name one song that makes you dance like no one's watching?

Well, those that know me know I can't dance. I've got great rhythm on a guitar, but not so much elsewhere! But my answer would likely be something from Journey, maybe, "Don't Stop Believing."

What's something about you that people would be surprised to learn?

Being a professional musician for 12 years, playing in Nashville and touring with a band for 5 years.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A meteorologist! When Hurricane Fran came through in my early teens, I tied the trampoline to a large pine tree and took my barometer and other weather devices out with me for several hours until my parents made me come inside when the winds got to be about 30-40 mph sustained!

What animal best matches your personality?

Definitely a dog. I trust too much and care a lot. I also get anxious when things get hectic or when I'm away from my family for extended periods of time.

Go-to cocktail order?

Lately nothing beats a neat barrel proof and/or aged bourbon. If I had to pick a cocktail, then it would be an Old Fashioned, like me.

Celebrity crush?

Well, I'm married to my lovely wife Michelle, so I'd probably say Rachel McAdams because she reminds me of my wife. (See what I did there!)

How do you recharge after a hard day?

Truthfully, being a busy realtor, a performing musician, and a father of two toddlers, I'm not sure what that word "recharge" means. LOL. But probably relaxing with a neat bourbon and watching some shows with my wife or watching the NFL on Sunday.

Tony Barnes Realtor, Keller Williams

ly

Welcome to Paradise www.SandandPineMag.com | 41

DIY

By PATTI RANCK, Indigo Earth Creative

Home Sweet Home W

hat’s more fun, whimsical and screams winter holidays than a Gingerbread House?

Uhhh … nothing! It takes a bit of pre-planning, a little time, a bunch of candy, but it is the perfect family craft that all can participate in. So throw on the holiday tunes, heat up the hot chocolate and let’s get started!

The Stuff •

A house template. You can make your own or print one from one of the many free sources online. (Martha Stewart, Sweetopia, Wilton, and Sally's Baking Addiction have great printable templates.) This is an absolutely necessary “blueprint” as all the cookie panels will have to be cut to exact measurements in order for it all to fit together in the end.

•

Gingerbread dough. See recipe in next section. I developed this recipe after much trial and error.

•

Baking parchment paper. Always use baking parchment paper to roll out dough AND on your baking sheet for cooking. This is to avoid sticking and to minimize spreading and burning. Also, do NOT grease the pan or use foil to line it.

•

Rolling pin

•

Extra flour. To dust parchment and rolling pin to prevent sticking while rolling and cutting your shapes.

•

Pizza cutter and sharp paring knife

•

Quality cookie sheet pans. This is worth the investment. A cheap, thin pan tends to allow burning quickly and will often bow during

42 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE December 2021/January 2022

baking. (Less expensive metal pans do not tolerate the oven heat as well). Your cookie pieces will need to be as flat and even as possible in order to fit together properly.

•

Krispy Treats, which can be purchased readymade, or feel free to make your own. These will be used to build a “foundation” for your house.

•

Royal icing. See recipe in next section.

•

Pastry/piping bags and assorted tips and couplers. I recommend a #22 star tip or #10 round tip to construct/glue the house panels together. And a #4 or #5 tip to attach candies.

Any other size tips would be for decorative purposes and are chosen based on your design.

•

Optional: Gel food coloring for decorative effects. The important thing to remember about this is that anything you add to the royal icing mixture (however tiny) will alter the consistency.

You will need to adjust accordingly by beating in a bit more confectioner’s sugar until it is the thickness you need.

•

A heavy flat board to construct the house on.

The decorating will be heavier than you imagine, so be sure it is a strong cake board that will not bend. Even a cutting board will work great.

•

Cake board foil or regular kitchen foil to cover the board. Fold over and around board (as if you are wrapping a gift) and use wide clear tape on the underside to fasten firmly to the board.

•

A large variety of candies, cookies, marshmallows, pretzels, shredded coconut, cotton candy, sprinkles, etc.

www.SandandPineMag.com | 43

DIY The Doing

your house. This will become your house foundation and will guarantee a strong structure. Purists will say this is cheating. I say, why make life more difficult and stressful?

The bottom of each panel will be “glued” to this. But first leave your Krispy Treat foundation to harden. Then, attach the Krispy Treat foundation to your board with icing.

1. The very first thing is to plan your design and prep your template/pattern. I like to cut mine out of poster board.

The thicker and more sturdy it is, the better.

2. Make Gingerbread House (see recipe).

3. As soon as it comes out of the oven, you will probably need to recut your pieces. It will still spread a little, and in order for your house to fit together the dimensions are going to have to be as spot-on as humanly possible. *Caution! This one is tricky. Avoid burning yourself.

While the cookie pieces are still hot on the pan, lay each template over, gently hold in place with a pot holder or something to protect your fingers from burning, use pizza cutter to trim as needed. Then place baking sheet on wire rack to let cool. When cookie pieces seem firm enough, slide the entire parchment (with cookie panels) off the sheet pan and directly onto the rack to cool completely.

It is strongly advised that you let cookies completely cool and “set” for 24 hours before decorating and assembling.

4. Make royal icing recipe aka The Glue (see recipe).

5. Here’s where the Krispy Treats work their magic. Press out treats on a sheet of parchment to prevent sticking.

Then cut out a square or rectangle that is 1/4-inch smaller (on all sides) than the finished base measurements of

Gingerbread House Recipe Ingredients 1 cup shortening 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup dark brown sugar 2/3 cup unsulphured molasses 4 cups flour 1 tablespoon ground ginger

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon cloves 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions Combine all your dry ingredients and set aside. Cream together the shortening and sugars. Add molasses, beat well. Add dry ingredients about 1/4 amount at a time blending well after each addition.

Knead with your hands if needed for the dough to come together. (Note: if it seems a little too crumbly or dry, sprinkle a bit of water and knead again until it comes together).

Roll out no more than 1/3 of the dough at a time on floured parchment paper. Don’t forget to flour your rolling pin too.

Roll to approximately 3/8-inch thickness. Slide parchment and rolled dough onto your baking sheet and freeze for at least 10 minutes. Remove from freezer and arrange template/pattern pieces on the chilled, rolled dough. Using your pizza cutter (for 44 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE December 2021/January 2022

6. To assemble, begin by piping icing across the base and one edge of the front panel and the base of the coordinating side panel. Press against the foundation while simultaneously pressing side edges together firmly, but gently. I know, I know, a total oxymoron but you know what I mean, we just don’t want any broken panels. Hold together for a bit until they seem firmly in place. You can use cans from the pantry as a weight to hold the sides up until dry. Wait at least 30 minutes before proceeding to the next step.

7. Repeat by icing back and opposite side panel. Let harden for about 2 hours.

8.

Attach roof pieces in the same manner. Yay! The house is together! But it will be best to let it harden completely overnight before all the edible decorative elements are “glued” on.

9. Now, get the fam together for a big Gingerbread House decorating fest! Afterwards, you will have a fun holiday centerpiece that everyone can be proud of. Happy Holidays!

the longer straight lines) and the paring knife for corners and details, cut out your shapes. Then back into the freezer again for at least 20 minutes. This will help in preventing some of the dough spread.

Bake in a preheated 375 F oven for 12–15 minutes depending on how thick your dough is rolled out. It should appear lightly browned around the edges.

Royal Icing Recipe Ingredients About 2 pounds confectioners’/powdered sugar 4 egg whites (preferably pasteurized egg whites) 1 tablespoon Cream of Tartar Directions Using hand whisk or mixer, beat all together on low until well combined and lumps are gone. Do not over-beat as this will incorporate too much air into the glue. You want it dense, not fluffy. Aim for the consistency of thick toothpaste. Note: Royal icing tends to dry out very quickly.

I recommend storing in container with a tight lid and keep covered at all times. After you have put some of the icing in the pastry bag, keep a damp towel over the tip to prevent it from hardening.

SP

Hangin' Out

(so we're droppin' in)

Holly Arts

Purple Thistle

& Crafts Festival

10.16.21

Pinehurst

Wine Tasting

11.6.21

Pinehurst

www.SandandPineMag.com | 45

Puzzles

LIKE A ROLLING STONE

DIFFICULT

Place numbers into the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains each of the digits 1 to 9. No guessing is needed.

EASY

Across 1. Footless 7. Tribes 12. Vines collectively 13. Aztec god of rain 14. Mite 15. Expulsion 16. Droop 17. Maxim 19. Dined 20. Forest growth 22. Mount - , N.W. Qld. mining town 23. French cheese 24. Planets' paths 26. Circular plates 27. Crude mineral 28. Ashen 29. Greek goddesses of the seasons 32. Account book 35. Got down from mount 36. Spider's structure 37. Unique thing

39. An infusion 40. Capital of Tibet 42. I have 43. Hunting call 45. Mouth part 47. Capital of Canada 48. Glazed finish 49. Possess again 50. Overtake again Down 1. Nautical cry 2. Rogue 3. Military catapult 4. The (German) 5. Opera solo 6. High explosive 7. A hint 8. - Vegas, US gambling city 9. Sacrificial benches 10. Originating in the mind 11. Gravelly hillsides 13. Roman garment 18. Donkey

21. Torpedo vessel (1-4) 23. Gambling game 25. Anger 26. Father 28. U.S. lexicographer 29. Egyptian goddess of love 30. Salt of oleic acid 31. Theater district 32. Meadow 33. Puzzle 34. Theatrical parodies 36. Command to horse 38. Spins 40. Calm 41. First class (1-3) 44. Statute 46. Doze

__________ ON A __________: THE BEST THING FOR YOUR BEER Ladderword puzzles are like crosswords but with a twist. The words in the middle column are anagrams of the words of the first column.

The words in the last column are anagrams of the middle column plus one additional letter. The anchor words (the down clues) are related by a common theme.

Across 1. Riding straps 3. Implies 5. Outskirt 6. Climb 7. Unclutters 8. Underground rooms 9. Dints

10. Does not 11. Gives to 12. Vigilant 13. Changes 14. Woodlice 15. Marine mammals 16. Robs 17. Ornamental

pendants consisting of bunches of loose threads Down 2. Frozen dew 4. Glazing material

Puzzle answers found on SandandPineMag.com 46 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE December 2021/January 2022

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Last Word

48 | SAND& PINE MAGAZINE December 2021/January 2022

We care for all pets

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