A Taste of Carolina Contest! Something Different -- for a Change...

Hi Y'all. Hope everyone is enjoying the last few weeks of summer.

Summer is officially over for the Recca family because Sabrina went back to school today.

In honor of the end of "our" summer -- we've decided that instead of sending out our usual weekly newsletter, we'd do something fun instead.

If you're reading this, it's because you read our newsletters, visit our Carolina Pines Realty website and/or visit our blog -- which tells us YOU are curious about North Carolina, or even thinking about the possibility of making a move to beautiful North Carolina and are curious about the area and the "Carolina" lifestyle.

Accordingly, we have decided that instead of giving you facts and information about North Carolina which we typically do in our internet communications -- this week, we'd share with you some of our favorite goodies and put together a little basket and give you a....

TASTE of North Carolina

Here's What's in the Basket......

A Carolina Panther's Hat; House-Autry Mills Old Fashioned Cornmeal (from Four Oaks, NC); Callahan's Original Calabash Hushpuppy Mix - Sabrina's favorite!(from Wilmington, NC) (click here if you want to know what "Calabash style" is) ; Carolina Treet original Cooking Barbecue Sauce (also from Wilmington, NC); Scott's Barbecue Sauce (from Goldsboro, NC) and two homemade potholders straight from Cathie's quilting studio here in Raleigh, NC.

All the items in this basket were MADE in North Carolina and are considered Carolina Kitchen Staples and we wanted to share them with YOU.

Here's what you have to do to enter your name into the contest:

1. Send an e-mail to: cpines@nc.rr.com with the following information in the subject line:

"Enter me in the contest"

and let us know in your e-mail who you are, where you're from (city and state), and if there's anything that you would like to know about North Carolina.

2. If you leave a comment to this post (by clicking on the comment link below), we will enter your name twice - so you will have "double" the chance of winning.

And if you live in North Carolina, we want you to enter too! This contest is open to all our blog and website visitors.

So there you have it! That's all you have to do. Now the contest will only be open for 30 days -- so hurry and get your name into the drawing.

On Monday September 15th, we will put all names received into a drawing and choose a winner which will be posted here, on our blog. The winner will also be notified by e-mail in order that they can provide us with their mailing address.

Have a great week and Good Luck!

Facts I'll Be You DON'T KNOW About North Carolina!!!

I'm a bit of a history buff. Like my dad, I love reading historical accounts as well as historical fiction. Right now I'm reading Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbric which, if you haven't read it -- should be required reading for all Americans.

Anyway -- like most North Carolinians (even the non-natives!), I am fascinated by the early American historical aspect of our coastline. But, aside from being the birthplace of the first true American (Virginia Dare) there are many more interesting people, places, events and products that we proudly call our own.

For the next few weeks I will be featuring some of those people, places, events and products on our blog. So read on, and find out just a few reasons why North Carolina is so special....

Did you know.....

1. That the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill is the oldest State University in the United States;

2. That in 1903 the Wright Brothers made the first successful powered flight by man at Kill Devil Hill near Kitty Hawk. The Wright Memorial at Kitty Hawks now commemorates their achievement. (Kill Devil Hill is a great place to visit - we went there last summer!);

3. And for all you shopaholics out there - did you know that High Point is known as the Furniture Capital of the World. (Any trip down a highway here in NC reveals dozens of semis hauling freshly cut hardwoods to the manufacturers -- to be made into fine furniture);

4. Know as "Fish Town" in the early 1700's when Blackbeard frequented the coast, "Beaufort Town" was established as a seaport with the right to collect customs, in 1722; and finally

5. This isn't news -- but it IS official -- The Outer Banks of NC hosts some of the most beautiful beaches in the country. (Just click on some of the links over on the right side of the blog to see pictures as we frequent the coast!)

Take some time to explore some of our links. You too will see why North Carolina is such a wonderful place to live, work and play!!!