Work

A few scribbles

A Handmade Christmas: A Photo Essay of the John C. Campbell Folk School – In 1925, in a remote corner of southwestern North Carolina, far from the highest mountain east of the Mississippi, far from the Pisgah National Forest, far from the glittering lights of Asheville, a woman sang.

An American Wilderness: A Photo Essay – During the Great Depression, the federal government purchased unused farmland in North Carolina’s Piedmont as part of a New Deal rehabilitation project. Thirty years later, in 1961, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed this land the Uwharrie National Forest, designating in the heart of our state. Within the Uwharrie region, which comprises a three-county area, lie mountains – a range older than the Appalachians or the Rockies – and lakes; within the region, too, lies a commitment to conservation, and a dedication to simplicity, resourcefulness, and preserving our heritage.

Mountain Spirit – A deep-sea diver trusted his instincts, moved to the bottom of a Blue Ridge valley, and launched a distillery. Now he’s revolutionizing how whisky is made.

Crafted and Collected – Traditional artwork finds a home just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville.

Shelby – Music and barbecue share the stage in this Cleveland County town.

Dance All Night – For dancers, numbers are second nature. On Friday nights at the Asheville Ballroom, the fun begins when one, two, three, four takes over.

The Cats at Hatteras Island – Some things have been on Hatteras Island for a long time. Like Burrus Market, the oldest store on the island, and the cats that got here around the same time.

Topsail Beach Skating Rink – Lace up and step into a time machine, complete with 45-r.p.m. records and a disco ball.

Deliver Us The World– A mail carrier’s job is famously monotonous. But follow him — or her — around long enough, and understand the joy in a carrier’s day is bringing excitement to others.

The Simplest Flying Machine – John Harris learned to fly in the 1970s with a piece of nylon. And still today, whether he’s holding a kite string in his hands on the Nags Head beach or strapping a hang glider to his back on Jockey’s Ridge, he enjoys knowing that the only thing keeping the contraption aloft is the breeze beneath him.

Dixie Diva – A farm girl from Thomasville, N.C., discovered her voice and became an international opera star.

Roadside Eats – A collection of eateries along North Carolina highways and interstates.

Pittsboro –  In a town where everyone seems to have big ideas, the success of a local currency shows the value in working together to make them happen.

Where Sand Meets Sky – The Outer Banks’ Jockey’s Ridge, the East Coast’s largest sand dune, is a force of nature that never stops changing and never ceases to envelop those in its path.

The Old Man and the Tree – Their friendship lasted 50 years. Their legacy will endure for ages. 

Backstage at Raleigh Little Theatre – Audience members never know how volunteers keep things running smoothly behind the scenes in Raleigh’s oldest community theater.

Preservation Villages – In North Carolina, we remember who came before us and what they did and where they lived. We respect our past, and we preserve it. We recognize those who spend their time restoring our heritage. A look at three different examples: Hart Square, Old Salem Graveyards, and Corolla Village.

The Power of Gertrude – She befriended presidents and first ladies, traveled the world, and led the campaign to reconstruct Tryon Palace. She was Gertrude S. Carraway. In 20th-century North Carolina, she created her legacy.

Biscuits and Burgers– Morganton residents start and end their day at Allison’s Restaurant.

North Carolina Arboretum –  A century ago, America’s premier landscape architect designed the state’s first arboretum. Today, on top of a mountain in Asheville, we have our own nature conservatory where every plant is fixed with a purpose — just like he wanted.

Crazy Horse – A story about a DJ in Denton, Texas, who transformed a honky-tonk into a bar for everyone.

A River Ran Through It – The town of Olive Hill has been ravaged by a dozen floods in the last century. Find out why they rebuild year after year.

Searching For Gary Smith – Peek inside the mind of America’s most famous sportswriter.

Last Rites– A funeral home in Denton, Texas does things the old-fashioned way, even in the midst of a recession.

Finding Hope Through the Internet (page 1)– Families dealing with serious illness connect with others online.
Page 2

They See Dead People – How medical students lives are changed by what they see in cadavers.

Following the Voice of an Angel – He was 13 when he first saw the woman who changed his life. And she was already dead.

Paying for Their Loss – Renters were all but forgotten when the housing bubble burst.

Fit to Perform – Dallas artists stay fit for their roles.

Happy Hour – Where to find cheap drinks in Dallas.

Josh Ritter’s Inspiration – The singer/songwriter revisits his favorite literature to find his own words.

An Author’s Obsession – David Grann headed to the Amazon to research his book, Lost City of Z.