The Homeplace

Come with us as we visit accommodating hosts who welcome you to their Yadkin Valley... Airbnb

Robert and Vauda Ellis share The Homeplace

The house at Christmas, Below: one of the upstairs bedrooms.

Davie County natives, Vauda and Robert Ellis, both retired, have taken Vauda’s mother’s homeplace and revamped a legacy for their daughter and grandchildren. Built in the late1800s, the white farmhouse is nestled under one of two humongous beech trees still guarding the yard.

Along with the house is a beautiful gambrel barn and matching milk house and just down the road abit is a 19th century school house, c.1914, named Poplar Springs. The 15 acres is flanked by a fledgling peach orchard, “The blossoms are beautiful in the spring,” says Vauda. As you continue down the circular drive, you are welcomed by a large bird house mimicking the actual farmhouse.

The stoic house seeps in creative design and decorative ideas of Vauda and her daughter, Andreia. More than a restoration, they have constructed a show place for guests to relax and enjoy reclining by the fireplace or watching TV in the next room. In the kitchen Robert's coffered ceiling and Vauda’s stainless steel island that easily seats three guests are stunning. The island’s legs are “…rough cut 4x4s found on the farm,” Robert explained. The adjacent dining area hosts a gorgeous handmade table that can seat a dozen more. The kitchen is stocked with utensils, etc. and the guests cook the foods they want and carry in.

Most of the hardwood floors throughout the house are the original ones. Vauda and Robert agreed to use as many vintage items for interior decorating as possible…they make great conversation starters! Robert used nickel gap wall boarding…it looks like the famous ship lap paneling but it is tongue and groove while ship lap is simply nailed in place. Notice that at least one wall in every room is original to preserve the past lifestyle. The stairs and bannister are original. The house is designed to sleep seven people with 2 1/2 beautiful baths.

In addition to out of town visitors, many Ellis family events happen around the huge dining table and just recently

there was a family wedding on the front lawn. Everyone in the family loves this house and future plans include a garage, restoration of the molasses shed and Vauda’s eyes lit up when discussing her plans of turning the former dairy farm’s milk house into a small retreat for her granddaughter.

My favorite spot was the lovely front porch shaded by one of the large beech trees. Ceiling fans circulate the country breezes as you inhale the peace and quiet, the chirping of country birds and colorful plantings around the sidewalk and porch with a glass off tea.

Visit the weekends page at yadkinvalleymagazine.com for more photos

NOTE: The Ellis’ Popular Springs school house has traditionally celebrated an open house for crafters to sell their wares on the first and second weekends in December. Check on Facebook for details and to confirm that the event is still scheduled.

To book your stay, log on to: airbnb.com and search for The Homeplace, Mocksville.

GOT A TOUGH SPECIALTY PAINTING PROBLEM? We are the solution!

We offer solutions for: tough industrial applications commercial painting water fountains • concrete steps decks • car wash walls office buildings • homes concrete swimming pools garage floors painted AND sealed to withstand heat and water Got a painting project— we can do it!

Before you replace the wood on your deck, talk to us about…DECK RESTORE™ or DECK REVIVE products. Both products revive and protect wood surfaces such as wood and composite decking, stairs, docks and more. They install at a fraction of the cost of total surface replacement while adding years of life to older wood decks!

Our Design Specialist can offer creative ideas on any painting project. Whether you’re just needing a little guidance… or the whole idea.

Armorex Epoxy Coatings Specialist

Want to see more before & after samples of our work? Call me today and I’ll be glad to bring photos by for you to see. Discover how our superior protective coatings stand up to the toughest elements Mother Nature can throw at it.

How much will it cost? My consultation visit and estimate are FREE.

—Mark Diachenko. Mark@PaintandCoatingsLTD.com

A multi-faceted painting company…we’re

Member Yadkin County Chamber of Commerce

416 East Main Street Yadkinville, NC (336) 469-0080 www.PaintandCoatingsLTD.com

Hook, Line and Sinker one man’s fishing stories

WRITER Scott Lewis

Old Friends saying “he ain’t lying this time”

Scott Lewis

My wife always says, “Did that really happen?” And my answer is, “I ain’t lying this time!” That’s a saying I picked up from my brother, Wally and I still use it from time to time. I told my wife recently all the people that know I ain’t lying when I share my stories are in Heaven looking down saying, “He ain’t lying this time.”

We are headed into hunting season for some but there are still some of us going after those largemouth bass. This summer I moved to pond fishing due to the crowded lakes and had a great time. But a few years ago, I was fishing at a pond when I heard this buck grunting in a cedar thicket near by. So I just stopped fishing and let the boat drift. I saw this beautiful young doe walk out next to the pond edge to get a drink of water. Soon after a real young buck came out behind her. I said, “No, that can’t be and then a four pointer stepped out following her as well maybe—maybe not. That was a lot noise for that young of a deer. Then WOW…out came this tremendous deer!

I counted ten points and a neck that looked like a big a garbage can. What a deer. He ran off the other two deer and began his charm. I was sitting as still as possible in the boat, still barely drifting. The deer turned and began to walk off up the hill toward a deeper part of the woods. I clapped my hands and they all turned to look at me, what a picture! I had no camera available but just my eyes watching them. They scooted off up the hill. What a beautiful picture and a story to tell. So I returned to fishing again and about ten minutes passed and I hear this loud noise coming in my direction. Not only was it the four deer I had just seen but about five more including several fawns. They were at full speed running on past me and then behind them were three coyotes trying their best to gain ground on them. As nature would have it the slower deer became their victim that evening. It was the most amazing sight I had seen in a long time. Nature seems at times to be cruel but, like us, they have the drive to survive. Our ancestors did just the same for their survival and we do about the same as well. Not only did I see one of the most

Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!

I have been thinking about my wife’s Christmas present this year I think I will get her a new chainsaw! She will really like that, don’t you think? And as old Red Skelton said, “May God Bless.” beautiful sights in my life watching all those deer but then seeing the wildlife in true form of survival. The deer moved on and began feeding and I continued to fish thinking about what I had just witnessed. In the same respect just weeks earlier I had seen a beautiful doe walk out on the side of the lake with three gorgeous fawns, their tails just a wiggling. Every now and then God gives us such a beautiful picture of his creations to hold both in our minds and memories. I was lucky enough to see two in just a few weeks apart. The fishing was just part of the treat I got to enjoy but those two trips, no one would have believed me except for those old buddies and my brothers in heaven saying “He ain’t lying this time.”

You know Christmas is right on us. The Master has been good to us and we need to share his glory when we can, He shares it with me every time I go out on the lake or in the woods. What a beau-

tiful country we have and get to enjoy. When Scott isn't fishing, you will find him on the job with his business,

Safety & Technical Solutions, Inc., developing safety programs and manuals, MSDS manuals, and assisting businesses in meeting

OSHA and DOT requirements. Scott can be reached at: Scott@SafetyandTechnicalSolutions.com

Honda of Winston-Salem

6209 Ramada Dr. • Clemmons, NC 27012 (336) 765-0330 • www.hondaws.com

from Barbara, John and the staff of

Wishing you a Merry Christmas

• A professional precision lab preparing your lens • Service, with comfortable fitting by professionals, ...who are happy to serve you and take pride in their work • Selection with Only Quality Brand Name Frames • Offering a “you must be happy satisfaction guarantee” • All with very competitive pricing Bring your prescription to us, because when it’s all said and done, we are the better vision value

• Frames made in the USA! • Gift Certificates available! • Transitions and Polarized lenses • Flexible Titanium Frames • Contact Lenses

Take advantage of your year end balances on your Flex Card!!

Subscribe and get the convenience of having your copy deliver right to your home

Your address and payment information

NAME

ADDRESS

CITY/STATE/ZIP

1 year, 6 issues $2500 2 years, 12 issues $4500

Charge my subscription to my Master Card Visa Card number Expires

charge card billing zip code 3 digit security code Foods People Discoveries Pets Wellness Collectibles Yadkin Valley Wines Books Positive, Uplifting News

New Yadkin Valley discoveries six times a year plus home delivery!

signature billing zip code

while the magazine is free, subscription price offsets mailing costs Mail with check or credit card information to: Yadkin Valley Magazine • 413 Cherry St. • East Bend, NC 27018 offer ends6/30/21 (offer valid inside USA)

AN INSPIRING CHRISTMAS READ

The Young Tree in the Middle Written and Illustrated by Beverly Caldwell Teal

REVIEWER Cindy Martin

This timeless tale embraces the true meaning of Christmas. Set in a by-gone era, a young spruce on Anderson’s Tree Farm aspires to become a beautiful Christmas tree, dreaming of the day he will be covered with shiny ornaments with dozens of presents beneath him. During one Christmas season, Mr. Anderson gives the young little tree to a family “if they will take him off his hands.”

The young tree is confused when he arrives at a house in need of repair, where there are no carols being sung, no hot chocolate being sipped, no great feast being prepared, and no shimmering ornaments to be hung on his branches. He wonders if, perhaps, it was not Christmas after all. As the story unfolds, the young little tree is filled with hope and his life changes in a way he never could have imagined.

The Young Tree in the Middle is available for purchase online at Xulon Press, Amazon, Barnes and Noble. The cost is $11.49.

Coming in the January-February magazine, our annual Winter Reads. Look for a host of new, recent and some older favorites to add to your bookshelves.

Santa Remembers Everyone on his List... especially your pets, horses and fine feathered friends!

Dog Beds & Collars Feed Bowls Bedding Kennels Treats for Cats, Dogs, Horses Horse Halters & Health Supplies Bird Houses Bird Seed & Feeders

Which gift will they want to open first!

1073 Meadowbrook Drive, King 336-983-4331 www.ltdfarmandgarden.com M-F 7:30-5:30 • Sat 7:30-1 Visit our Clemmons location... Clemmons Milling Co. 4010 Hampton Road, Clemmons 336-766-6871 M-F 8-5 • Sat 8-1