lake magazine november 2015

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A Reflection of Life on Lake Gaston and Roanoke Rapids Lake Tips for winterizing your boat Holiday home tour at Lake Gaston

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A Reflection of Life on Lake Gaston and Roanoke Rapids Lake

Tips for winterizing your boatHoliday home

tour at Lake Gaston

2 | Lake the Magazine

2 | Lake the Magazine Lake the Magazine | 3

PUBLISHER Titus L. Workman

[email protected] 252-410-7065

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Baretta Taylor

[email protected] 252-410-7042

MANAGING EDITOR Matt Lindberg

[email protected] 252-410-7054

NEWS EDITOR Tia Bedwell

[email protected] 252-410-7056

AD EXECUTIVE Rhonda Irby

[email protected] 252-410-7047

DISTRIBUTION

252-537-2508

Lake the Magazine916 Roanoke Ave., Roanoke Rapids NC 27870P.O. Box 520, Roanoke Rapids NC 27870252-537-2505

Copyright 2015 Lake the MagazineNo portion of Lake the Magazine may be reprinted in any form or posted on the Internet without the permission of the publisher.

Ellen Stefura’s home will be one of many featured during the 10th Annu-al Holiday Home Tour at Lake Gaston. The tour will take place on December 5. To read more about Stefura’s love of Christmas decorating, turn to page 15.

Cover photograph by Jenny Gray

Cover design by Hope Callahan

On the cover...

Contributing writersJenny Gray, Khai Hoang, Erin Carson,

Carol Moseley, Nick Sitzanis, Jane Teasley and Christina Wells.

Contributing photographersKhai Hoang, Jenny Gray

and Erin Carson

Graphic Artist Hope Callahan

Like us on Facebook, search Lake the Magazine

For more Lake Country events, stories and where to pick up future editions, visit RVLakeMagazine.com

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Lake the Magazine | 5

Join us for our Christmas Open House Sunday Nov. 8th!Join us for our Christmas Open House Sunday Nov. 8th!

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6 | Lake the Magazine

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Lake the Magazine | 7

ANTIQUE MALLFeaturing over 50 dealers

ARTS & CRAFT GALLERYLocal & Regional Artists

Including North Carolina Pottery

Designer OutletsFeaturing Women’s Fashions, Shoes & Handbags plus Linens, Housewares,

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Lake Gaston Awning“Think GREEN”

T’was just weeks before Christmas, the Shopping I Dread,What do I get Mom and Dad; dear Uncle Fred?Grandma and Grandpa have all they desire,

What’s left to give them, what will they admire?The kids are all married with babes of their own,

What gifts can I get them that won’t make them groan?I’ve Got It! I’ve Got It! Something Handmade!Something they Need! Something with Shade!

My Lake Loving Husband just bought a New Boat, A Solar Mesh Dock Shade will save the Gel Coat.

Get Mom an Umbrella to last with no care,And Dad a Sun Shade, to block TV Glare.

Get Grandma an Awning to keep her stoop dry,And Grandpa some Welding, instead of a tie.The Kids get a DeckMat for splinters astray,

And New Slings for the chairs they won’t throw away.And let’s not forget dear bald Uncle Fred,

A Retractable Awning to keep sun off his head.My Shopping is Done! The dread task complete.

Call Lake Gaston Awning for Gifts you can’t beat.

This Christmas Season, don’t be a Grinch!Call Lake Gaston Awning if you’re in a pinch!

Order Now for Christmas Delivery

8 | Lake the Magazine Lake the Magazine | 9

Lake Gaston offers so much this time of yearT

he splendor of fall truly washes across North Carolina and Virginia from west to east during the months of October and November. Certain places in the mountain regions started to pop with color in early to mid-October. I like the fact that fall’s

beauty arrives in the Lake Gaston region more toward the latter part of October and the beginning of November. Most years the vibrancy of color stays with us through Thanksgiving.

I like to use the term “leaf peeper” for visitors who travel specifically to seek out fall colors (this term is often used by travel agencies and publications). The Lake Gaston region is just a short drive away from our North Carolina and Virginia metropolitan areas, as well as Washington, D.C., making us ideal for a fall weekend getaway.

Let’s plan a trip! The first decision we have to make is ac-commodations, and the Lake Gaston region has plenty of diverse offerings. Do you have a camper? Imagine a campsite in a quiet alcove at the lake, surrounded by a lush canopy of leaves. Enjoy grilling out and sitting beside a fire pit, mak-ing s’mores and drinking hot chocolate, while you cuddle under blankets and share stories. AmeriCamps in Bracey, Va.; Outdoor World in Littleton, N.C.; and The Club/Lake Gaston Resort in Gasburg, Va.; are ready to help you make those memories.

If you don’t have an RV, you may want to consider renting a cabin. You can have the same idyllic experience with the fall colors, campfires, games like horseshoes and cornhole, fish-ing from the pier and more. There are quaint cabins of various sizes available at Lake Gaston Lodges in Gasburg and Stone-house Timber Lodge in Littleton.

You may want a couple’s autumn retreat to get away and reconnect. Seek out The Ivy Bed & Breakfast in beautiful and historic Warrenton, N.C. There is some fabulous shopping there like The Scarlet Rooster, Quilt Lizzy and Cheap Joe’s Clothes. Enjoy local dining and entertainment at Warren FoodWorks. Take a short and beautiful drive from Warrenton out to Lake Gaston. Why not rent a pontoon boat and take a sunset cruise?

Your family might be a bit more comfortable in a motel or hotel. There are nearby options for that type of stay as well. How about Eaton’s Ferry Motel, less than a mile from Eatons Ferry Bridge, comfortable for a couple or family or even some fishing buddies gathering to take advantage of quieter waters and fantastic fall fishing. There is also Lake Gaston Inn, right off of Interstate 85, Exit 4 in Bracey close to restaurants and water access. You could also stay a bit farther inland at the Hampton Inn or Hilton Garden Inn in Roanoke Rapids, N.C. (convenient to Interstate 95 and Highway 158), or Fairfield Inn

8 | Lake the Magazine Lake the Magazine | 9

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN LAKE COUNTRY

BY CHRISTINA WELLS

Lake Gaston offers so much this time of year& Suites in South Hill, Va., (convenient to I-85 and Highway 58). Both have great shopping and dining and are just a short, scenic drive to the lake.

For a home-away-from-home feeling, don’t forget there are many waterfront rental homes to accommodate families of all sizes. Enjoy crisp fall mornings with a steaming cup of coffee in your hands, while greeting the gorgeous Lake Gaston sunrise over the water. Many homes come equipped with boats, canoes/kayaks and paddle boards for your use during your stay. Fall is a peaceful time to experience the waters of Lake Gaston. Consider renting a home for Thanksgiving or Christmas and inviting your relatives to visit.

Another decision to make on this fall excursion will be how to best experience the fall colors. Contact the Chamber; we have the perfect driving route mapped out to take you all around Lake Gaston in one day with stops for meals and small-town explora-tion. If you don’t want to drive, we have the perfect suggestion. Take a seaplane ride! Yes, enjoy a ride with Steve Harris of Sand Dollar Seaplanes. You’ll be in very capable hands, as Steve is a retired Naval Aviator and professional pilot for more than 30 years with over 7,000 flight hours. He holds the following cer-tificates: Airline Transport Pilot, Commercial Pilot, Single Engine Land/Sea, Multi-Engine Land and Instrument Pilot. Steve has lived on Lake Gaston for more than 30 years. For more informa-

tion about Sand Dollar Seaplanes, visit sandollarseaplanes.com, like Sand Dollar Sea-planes on Facebook, or give him a call at 301-606-0723. Don’t forget the holidays are near! A seaplane ride would make a unique Christmas gift.

However you choose to experience fall, we hope you’ll find yourself amid fall colors here at Lake Gaston for a night out, a day trip or a weekend.

Christina Wells is the Lake Gaston Chamber of Commerce executive direc-tor. For more information about the chamber and Lake Country, visit www.lakegastonchamber.com.

10 | Lake the Magazine

Here comes another boat! Which way do I turn?

In our last article, we talked about which boat will take what action when crossing each other’s path. You will recall there are two actions: The “give-way” boat that takes action to prevent a collision with all other boats from dead ahead to about four o’clock position

on the right. The other boat is the “stand-on” boat, which maintains speed and course until it is obvious the “give-way” boat is not taking action. The “stand-on” boat then takes independent action to avoid a collision.

Now, let’s look at what actions should be taken when two boats meet “head-on” and when one boat wants to pass another.

First, the head-on situation. You and your family are out on the lake in your power boat and cruising in one of our many narrow creeks. You see another power boat coming directly toward you — head on! In this case both boats have “give-way” status. That is, both boats must take early and substantial action to avoid a collision. All well and good ... but what action should be taken.

The preferred action is for both boats to turn to their right (to starboard for those who want their language to be really nautical!). In addition, both boats should have been cruising as far to their right side of the channel as is safe and practical. Often this alone will prevent a collision situation.

What would you do if you see there are rocks on your

Avoiding collisions (Part 2)

Lake the Magazine | 11

right and you do not want to go there? You could turn to your left, but then the other boat would turn to its left and would be going onto the rocks! This is a situation where there is a “doubt and danger” involved no matter what each boat does.

Five short blasts on your horn or whistle warns the other boat of the danger. All things being equal, prob-ably the best course of action in this situation is for both boats to slow to idle speed and pass close to each other well out of danger from the rocks or each other. This is one of the many decisions boaters must make where “common sense” rules the day.

Now, how do you pass another boat in a narrow channel? Since you are the boat doing the passing (the overtaking boat), you are always the “give-way” boat. It is up to you to take actions that will result in a safe pass. You select which side seems safer, let’s say it is the right side, and turn in that direction and slowly, with as much clearance as is possible, make the pass. Remem-ber, you are responsible for your wake, so don’t rock

and roll the other boat! You could also give one short blast on your horn — but ... we will talk about signals on another day.

The boat being passed, the “over-taken” boat, is the

stand-on boat and maintains speed and course. Well, if the overtaken boat captain is really courteous, he/she will slow down to make the passing smoother and quicker.

Yes, there are more rules and a whole slew of safe operating practices. To learn more, attend a boating safety class and bring the whole family! The boating safety classes of-fered by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxil-iary are conducting the third Saturday of each month at 252 River Road in Henrico, N.C. (Flo-tilla 93’s headquar-ter building).

For information on how to enroll, call the Chamber of Commerce at 252-586-5711.

Jane Teasley is former Flotilla com-mander and current Public Affairs officer and treasurer of Flotilla 93 on Lake Gaston. Teasley has been in the Coast Guard Auxiliary for nearly 15 years. For more information, contact Teasley at [email protected].

WATER SAFETYBY JANE TEASLEY

12 | Lake the Magazine Lake the Magazine | 13

Bulbs of all kinds are available in garden centers and mail-order sources because November is the ideal time to plant these jewels. My favorites are Amaryllis and Paperwhites Narcissus for the holidays, and tulips, grape hyacinths in early

spring and Daffodils for spring. Pick up your favorite ones and plant them right away. All of these are easy to grow.

Paperwhites Narcissus is known for its fragrant white flowers and multiple blooms. Start by choosing large, plump bulbs from a garden center or mail-order source. Select a glazed pot or bowl, and fill partway with pebbles;

Bulbs for winter and spring color

12 | Lake the Magazine Lake the Magazine | 13

place bulbs on pebbles. Add a few more pebbles to support bulbs. Pour in water up to the bases of the bulbs. Add water as needed. Flowers should appear in three to six weeks. Bulbs can also be grown in soil. Stake, if needed (cut bare branches from your yard). Use this same technique to force Amaryllis bulbs into bloom but allow 6 to 8 weeks for them to bloom.

Amaryllis bulbs are easy to grow and are often used as classic decorations during the Christmas season. Although red and white are the most popular colors, they also come in pink, yellow, cream and peach. Amaryllis and paperwhites will grow in water or pot-ting soil. To grow in soil, choose a pot that is twice as tall as the bulb to allow room for root growth. Soak the bulb root in a shal-low pan of lukewarm water for a couple of hours before planting. Fill the bottom of the pot with potting soil, place bulb in pot and add more soil. Water well but do not drench the bulb. Set the pot in a sunny window and keep soil slightly moist. Allow 6 to 8 weeks to bloom.

After the blooms fade, cut off the stem and it may bloom again. After the last frost, plant the bulb in a flower bed. Mulch with pine straw; it will die back in the winter but should bloom again next summer.

Grape hyacinth (Muscarispp) with its sap-phire blue flowers is an early spring bloomer. They are short and should be planted at the front of the border where you can see them. They go dormant during summer, but send up fleshy green leaves in the fall that last through the winter. Grape hyacinths do best when planted in mass 3-4 inches apart and 4 inches deep; in moist organically-rich soil.

Tulips and Daffodils are spring bloom-ers. Bulbs are available in a wide range of colors. For a bolder impact, plant in groups of 10 each in well-drained soil. A good rule of thumb for planting bulbs is to dig the hole 3 to 4 inches deeper than the height of the bulb.

Bulbs for winter and spring color

Lake the Magazine | 15 14 | Lake the Magazine

Tasks for November:• November and the next

several months are good times to transplant trees and shrubs or plant bare root trees and shrubs. Most ornamentals have entered dormancy and can be safely moved to a new location.

• Prune existing trees and shrubs unless they are shrubs that flower on old wood such as aza-leas. If you are not sure, research the plant before pruning.

• Perennials can be transplant-ed throughout the winter as long as they are dormant. For color in the garden add pansies and ornamental kale.

• Be sure to keep leaves off the lawn either by raking them or even better mow them to add organic matter back into the soil.

Carol Moseley learned the love of gardening from her mother and father. Both were avid garden-ers, his focus was vegetables and hers were flowers and shrubs. Carol has been gardening since 1969, and in 1999 completed the Master Gardening Training Course through the N.C. Coop-erative Service. She said she was very fortunate to learn how to grow and use herbs from her dear friend, the late Diane Morris, the Herb Lady.

PRACTICAL GARDENERBY CAROL MOSELEY

Up a tree

Lake the Magazine | 15 14 | Lake the Magazine

Up a tree

Lake the Magazine | 17 16 | Lake the Magazine

According to Ellen Stefura, one just cannot have too many Christmas trees.

“I’m a Christmas fiend and every-body knows it,” the Lake Gaston real

estate agent said recently, working on a towering tree in her front foyer. “And I can’t do just one room at a time; I have to do them all at once. I’ve got to know what I’m doing next.”

Stefura’s home, 356 Forest Hill Drive in Eaton Ferry Estates, will be part of this year’s Holiday Home Tour, set for Dec. 5 in the Lake Gaston area. Her mother-in-law Elsie lives next door, and Stefura is also decorating her home for the tour.

“In her house, I’m doing seven or eight trees,” she added.

The trees come in all shapes and sizes.“I’ve done as many as 27 in this house,” Stefura

said. “Not all of them are 10 feet tall. Some are only a foot.”

Sprawled near the foyer tree was a large black lab named Rocky, who apparently thinks tree ornaments are play things. Each tree Stefura decorates has its own theme, and Rocky adores the tree with the black bears.

“He’s pretty good, but for some reason, he loves those black bears,” she said.

Loves eating them, that is.“He had to have surgery one time because he

ate so many Christmas ornaments,” Stefura said.She said she usually starts her holiday decorat-

ing on Nov. 1, but this year, with both homes on the tour, Stefura’s gotten an early start.

“I usually volunteer to decorate one at the church,” she said, adding she also decorates a tree for a friend. “Ordinarily it takes about a month to do a house, so I said I needed to start a little early this year.”

Stefura’s oversized garage looks like a Christ-mastree warehouse, with boxes of decorations spilling out everywhere.

“I actually do a lot of my decorating in the garage and then move them into place,” she said. “Then they’ll all be fluffed.”

Fluffing a tree involves making final adjust-ments, including tree skirts, so the trees are perfect.

Red, black and white are Stefura’s favorite colors, and predominant throughout her house. The tree in the foyer follows that color scheme, and she’s adding stuffed dolls to the branches and tying them in so they don’t get knocked off.

Lake Gaston woman prepares for Holiday Home Tour

STORY & PHOTOGRAPHS BYJENNY GRAY

Lake the Magazine | 17 16 | Lake the Magazine

Other themes include trees with elves, trees with toys, and trees with ribbons hand-tied onto the boughs. Some of her other themes she is keeping to herself for now.

“(There will) be some surprises on the tour,” Stefura said. “If they work, they’ll be real, real nice.”

Her ideas come to her in mysterious ways.“I’ve got no idea,” she said. “I’ll get an idea for a tree, and I’ll just

do it. I change up every year.”Visiting Stefura recently was her aunt Mary Johnson from Mary-

land. She said her niece’s holiday spirit is infectious.“I don’t know where she gets all her ideas,” she said.Sometimes a theme can run amuck.“I did four Santa Claus trees and it was like I started a war, be-

cause they all have to be different,” Stefura said, laughing.She also keeps two storage buildings full of ornaments and trees.

Her goal is to have everything up and decorated for Thanksgiving. After the holidays, she will have to disassemble everything.

“Christmas won’t end until the end of February because I have to take it down,” Stefura said.

In her dining areas, she also creates place settings to match the trees.

“The tree is the main character, though,” she added.If anyone visits Stefura between now and Thanksgiving, they better

be ready to handle some ribbons and ornaments.“I have a friend, Ann Claypool, who walks behind me and checks

to see I don’t mess up anything,” she said of their decorating partner-ship. “Sometimes I have many friends over here to help decorate the trees.”

Maybe Stefura has taken the lead in holiday decorating for her family, but she got it from her father, James Twisdale.

“My daddy loved decorating; he’d put all the trees up and I’d decorate them,” she said, adding he also decorated all his barns and outbuildings. “One year, he decided he wanted a blue Christmas tree, so he cut one down and spray painted it. I’ve just always deco-rated trees. I’ve probably done this since before I could drive a car.”

Stefura admits her passion is unusual.“I come by it honestly, but I kind of took it to another level,” she

said.

Lake Gaston woman prepares for Holiday Home Tour

STORY & PHOTOGRAPHS BYJENNY GRAY

18 | Lake the Magazine Lake the Magazine | 19

18 | Lake the Magazine Lake the Magazine | 19

SIDEBARLast year, 500 people toured the Holi-

day Home Tour at Lake Gaston, organized yearly by the Ladies of the Lake Cancer Support Team.

This year’s event, the 10th annual tour, will take place with six houses 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 5, according to Sarah Baltz, team captain.

“It turns out to be a really fun day,” she said. “People that go really have a good time.”

The 20-member organization formed 11 years ago as a Relay for Life team, but changed direction last year. In May, the group achieved a nonprofit 501(c)(3) status and so far, has donated about $16,000 to local cancer patients.

Signs will be placed in the yards of the homes participating in the tours before the tour.

“We also put up directional signs on the streets,” said team member Donna Burleson. “When we draw up the map, the houses are numbered but that doesn’t mean (tour homes) have to be visited in that order.”

This year’s homes include:• Mike and Kaye Herman of Buck Spring

Plantation, 180 S. Macon Drive in Littleton.• Cory Nester and Paul Clapham of Heri-

tage Point, 201 Heritage Lane in Henrico.• Ted and Louann Hughes of Eaton Ferry

Estates, Forest Hill Drive in Littleton.• John and Anna Griffin of Roanoke Re-

serve, 101 Hartley Court in Littleton.• Ellen and Elsie Stefura of Eaton Ferry

Estates, 356 Forest Hill Drive in Littleton.After the tour, visitors are invited to go to

the Kennon House, 7001 Gasburg Road in Gasburg, Va., for refreshments.

Tickets are available at sites including the Lake Gaston and South Hill chambers of commerce, ACE Hardware of Lake Gaston, Wildwood Nursery, Ebony General Store, Fresh Faces Salon, Healing Kneads and Salted Rim Designs. They will also be avail-able on the morning of the tour at any of the tour’s homes.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door. For more information, email [email protected].

Lake the Magazine | 2120 | Lake the Magazine

‘Winterize’ your boat

The fall season is already here with the winter months approaching, so boat owners need to get ready to winterize their motors and lift them out of the water.

Caroline Overby, co-owner of Overby Ma-rine Sales & Service Inc. with her husband, Joe, stressed the importance of winterizing an inboard motor boat. An inboard motor, which has the motor actually inside instead of mounted on the back, uses water to cool it.

“On an inboard motor, and an inboard/outboard motor, it pumps lake water in to cool the engine,” she said. “So before you turn off the engine, the water is still inside the engine block so you have to drain that water out or else it will freeze and bust the motor, and then you have to get a whole new motor for the boat.”

Winterizing a motor requires draining out the excess water, draining the engine, injecting anti-freeze and fuel stabilizer and coating the engine’s cylinders with anti-rusting solution.

Overby said she’s seen what happened when the pro-cess isn’t done.

“The ice expands, and it pushes out the engine block, the cast iron engine block. It’ll actually crack it to where you have to have a new engine block,” she said. “It ruins

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY KHAI HOANG

Lake the Magazine | 2120 | Lake the Magazine

‘Winterize’ your boat

22 | Lake the Magazine

the motor.”She estimated an inboard engine could cost

between $4,000 to $6,000 to replace.To prevent an expensive replacement, Overby

recommended people go into her business for winterizing as well as servicing the boat, such as an oil change. She added people can either drop off the boat at the business, 1847 Eaton Ferry Road, or employees can actually show up to the customer’s dock and perform winterizing treat-ment there.

Besides just winterizing inboard or inboard/outboard motors, lifting the boat out of the water during colder months is also a precaution.

Overby said fiberglass boats which are left in the colder waters for extensive amounts of time for years can lead to damage to the hull. In addition, it also may dirty up the boat if left in the water.

“It’s better for the boat to get out of the water,” she said.

Overby noted the best time to get a boat winter-ized is between Labor Day and Thanksgiving. She noted October and November are especially busy months as many people perform the process then, but Thanksgiving is the cutoff as the temperature drops after.

“Winterizing (the engine) is a necessity or else they’re going to put a new engine in it in the spring,” she said. “If they have an inboard/out-board engine or an inboard engine, it has to be winterized in the fall.”

Lake the Magazine | 23

Lake the Magazine | 2524 | Lake the Magazine

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Citizens Community Bank .........2

Daughtridge Gas Co. ...............24

Debbie’s Cleaning Service .......24

Fred’s Boat Sales & Service ........ 7

Halifax Regional Medical Center ........................23

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Interiors By Design ................ 30

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LAFAMIGLIA COOKING

BY NICK SITZANIS

This is ThanksgivingO

ctober has passed and we are now approaching my favorite time of the year, Thanksgiving. This is a time when we reflect on the things we are thankful for, such as family and good health. Of course, my favorite part is preparing the big

meal. There is no bigger reward than bringing families togeth-

er around a large table of delicious food.As I start focusing on the menu and planning for the

Thanksgiving meal, I take time to reflect on what I am thankful for. I am thankful for my wife, kids, siblings and my mother. I am also thankful I have a job that is rewarding and allows me to be surrounded by my wonderful customers, many of whom have also become my friends.

Thanksgiving can be a stressful time as one is preparing many dishes with high expectations from the family. I’m hoping by sharing how I prepare to serve many families at the Kennon House Restaurant, one might be able to plan and prepare ahead of time to alleviate some of the holiday stress. The Kennon House Restaurant presents a grand buffet each Thanksgiving, serving multiple main dishes, soups, a full salad bar, sides and desserts. We enjoy watching fami-lies come together at this special time of year to spend time with each other while leaving the cooking and cleaning to us. Here is a glimpse into my busy life the week leading up to Thanksgiving.

Saturday: Before Thanksgiving, I buy the Virginia country ham and soak it in cold water for 48 hours (changing the water every 12-16 hours to reduce the saltiness).

Monday: Starting early, I turn the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit and let it heat up. Meanwhile, I make a good pot of coffee. I’m not a morning person, so coffee is a very important step. While the coffee is brewing, I take the hams out of the fridge and wash them with a brush. I make a boat with aluminum foil and place the ham in the middle, close

the foil and place each one in the oven. Cooking time is about 25 minutes per pound. While the hams are cooking, my mother joins me at work. I am fortunate to work at a family-run restaurant where I am able to spend time with the ones I love while preparing food. My mother and I enjoy our coffee breaks before we start preparing the cold salads and desserts. I am fortunate that mama is a great baker as I prefer to stick to cooking. Mama works on starting some of the pies and cakes that will be displayed on the dessert table. Once the hams have cooked, we debone them and tie them closed so they can congeal back together. The hams are placed in the fridge at the end of the day.

Tuesday: Early in the morn-ing you will find mama and me back at work unload-ing fresh seafood and meat off the delivery truck. Today we start baking turkeys and pork before focusing on the dressings and other sides for the salad bar. Once the meats are done baking, we wait for them to cool before placing them in the refrigerator and head home.

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Wednesday: Another early start as we have many meats to slice; the slicing process can take 8-12 hours. We also focus on making sauces and last minute preparations. While we are busy at the restaurant, Dennis, the owner, is at home working on the many cookies that will be on the dessert table.

Thursday: This is when all the fun starts. Mama, Dennis and I arrive about 3 a.m. We get the ovens fired up and of course start the coffee. Prime rib is started and then our attention moves to preparing the dishes to be served. Dennis starts making his fa-mous banana pudding while I start the she-crab soup and finish slicing everything we didn’t get to on Wednesday. The prep work is finished by 7 a.m. and our focus shifts to fresh veggies and frying our famous fried chicken. We also have to bake fresh salmon and start carving the prime rib. The food is ready.

At 11 a.m., the doors open and the festivities begin as the house fills up.

Watching everyone enjoy their meal is what brings me sat-isfaction and makes me thankful for my job. It is the pleasure we get from people enjoying our food that makes all this hard work and dedication worth every moment of it.

We appreciate all our customers and are looking for-ward to this Thanksgiving Day. I hope you have enjoyed your sneak peek into our week of preparation.

Our menu may seem overwhelming so I will share one of our more simple recipes— The Mustard Crusted Salmon. This recipe is a simple way to impress your guests.

Mustard crusted salmonIngredients:1 whole salmon fillet 3/4 cup prepared mustard3/4 cup whole grain Dijon mustard3 fresh lemons Rosemary springs for garnish Salt and pepper to taste Method:Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.Wash and dry salmon, season with salt and pepper and bake

for about 7-10 minutes Meanwhile, in a bowl, mix mustard and the juice of one

lemon.Take the salmon out of the oven, spread the mustard mixture

onto the salmon, then back in the oven for about 5-7 minutes more.

When done, place salmon in a platter and garnish with lemon wedges and rosemary. Place this dish in the center of the din-ner table; serve with your favorite veggies and a nice glass of chardonnay.

Enjoy!Nick Sitzanis is the chef de cuisine at the Kennon House Res-

taurant in Gasburg, Va.

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Business & shopping

1. ACe hardware of Lake gaston 144 Elams Road Littleton NC 27850 252-586-0330 www.lkgacehardware.com

2. The Daily herald 916 Roanoke Avenue Roanoke Rapids NC 27870 252-537-2505 www.rrdailyherald.com

3. Daughtridge gas Co. 1728 East 10th St. Roanoke Rapids NC 27870 252-533-0101 4. edward Jones Bonnie Caudle, financial advisor 195 Old Farm Road Roanoke Rapids NC 27870 252-537-1728 www.edwardjones.com

5. overby Marine 1847 Eaton Ferry Road Littleton NC 27850 252-586-3593 www.overbymarine.com

6. halifax County Visitor Center & Dog Run 260 Premier Blvd. Roanoke Rapids NC 27870 1-800-522-4282 www.visithalifax.com 7. sanders super stop 6328 Gasburg Rd. Valentines VA. 23887 434-577-2202 8. Renew Crew Bracey VA 434-636-5540 [email protected] www.lake-gaston.renewcrewclean.com

If you would like to advertise your business on the regional map of Lake the Magazine, call 252-410-7047

and ask for Rhonda Irby.

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3. Daughtridge gas Co. 1728 East 10th St. Roanoke Rapids NC 27870 252-533-0101 4. edward Jones Bonnie Caudle, financial advisor 195 Old Farm Road Roanoke Rapids NC 27870 252-537-1728 www.edwardjones.com

5. overby Marine 1847 Eaton Ferry Road Littleton NC 27850 252-586-3593 www.overbymarine.com

6. halifax County Visitor Center & Dog Run 260 Premier Blvd. Roanoke Rapids NC 27870 1-800-522-4282 www.visithalifax.com 7. sanders super stop 6328 Gasburg Rd. Valentines VA. 23887 434-577-2202 8. Renew Crew Bracey VA 434-636-5540 [email protected] www.lake-gaston.renewcrewclean.com

9. Riverside Mill Antique Mall • Art Gallery • Designer Outlets 200 Mill St. Weldon NC 27890 252-536-3100 www.riversidemill.net 10. story properties Real Estate Sales & Vacation Rentals 1245 N.C. Highway 903 Littleton NC 27850 888-800-3002 or 252-586-0888 www.storyproperties.com

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PARTING SHOTPHOTO BY DAWN DICKENS

This is Gurdy, a yellow Labrador Retriever, enjoying tubing on Lake Gaston with her friends Emli and Jacob.

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