Excitement and anticipation… emotions from a few weeks ago upon the first spotting of a tiny hummingbird! My first little hummingbird zipped right by me as I sat on my back porch. It signaled my brain that it was time to get busy and get my feeder out ASAP! I busily hurried along to find my feeder, throughly cleaned it, and began my first batch of clear nectar.
Are y’all ready for hummingbird season? Here in North Carolina our season officially begins each year around Late March – mid April. Ideally, it’s a good time to place your hummingbird feeder out around tax season, April 15th as they are warm season birds.
If you haven’t prepared for your tiny visitors yet, you can visit us at Wilkes County Hardware for a great hummingbird season. We have already had a few questions regarding hummingbirds… feeders, etc.
Did you know that hummingbirds tend to return to the same areas as the previous year? Hummingbirds are migratory birds and they will be eager to find a full feeder. Hummingbirds will return to the same source of food each and every year, if it is readily available. Be ready with a clean, full feeder for your favorite little hummers.
Stained glass hummingbird now available inside Wilkes County Hardware
Creating A Hummingbird Habitat in your own backyard
1. Hummingbird feeders ideally should be placed 15-20 feet from a window. Shrubs and trees nearby for resting areas for hummingbirds as they feed, and a have water source close by like a bird bath or a fountain.
2. Hummingbird Feeders should be cleaned out every few days as the temperature begins to warm up and feeder should not be placed into full sun.
3. Hummingbirds will be attracted to all the beautiful colors in your yard/garden. Bright and vibrant flowers that can attract hummingbirds like Vines, and tubular flowers and some perennials are welcome sources of nectar.
Plant a variety of flowers to keep hummers, bees and butterflies happy all season long!
4. Your Hummingbird feeder should be easily visible for your enjoyment and easy to spot by the hungry little hummingbird.
A Shepherd’s hook is a great way to showcase your new hummingbird feeder from Wilkes County Hardware
5. Be patient, it may take several weeks before you notice any little hummers at your feeder. Leave your feeder in place for a least two weeks before moving it to a different location.
6. Lastly, use CLEAR nectar in your feeder only. Yes, hummingbirds love the color red, but nectar is clear in its most natural form like the beautiful red, tubular flowers that hummingbirds love to feed from in nature. If you wish to attract more hummers, then go for a red hummingbird feeder and clear nectar.
Everyday is Earth Day! April 22nd is the Day we officially designate as Earth Day. The first Earth Day was celebrated back in 1970. Fast forward into 2024, our Earth is still as beautiful as ever! Sharing a few photos of all Earthly things that make our Earthly home just a little bit sweeter… All Things Bright and Beautiful. Remember to take care of our Earth. Enjoy!
All things bright and beautiful All creatures great and small All things wise and wonderful. God made them all. Each little flower that opens Each bird that sings, He made their glowing colors, He made their tiny wings. The purple headed mountain The river running by The sunset and the morning, that brightens up the sky The cold wind in the winterThe pleasant summer sun The ripe fruits in the garden, He made them every one. All things bright and beautiful All creatures great and smallAll things wise and wonderful The Lord made the all. Happy Earth Day!
April is here and the Gardening season is upon us! I have prepared for y’all a quick list of TEN basic gardening essentialsthat are selling quickly AND are just all around good to have basic gardening supplies.All of these items are found inside the hardware store as the 2024 gardening season begins.
Spring Garden Essentials 101
1. Pair of new Gardening gloves
Why replace those old, dirty, grungy gloves??? First of all, the wear and tear factor of your old gloves, notice any holes??? You probably need to get rid of them. Then you must consider the dirt itself… soil does what is does… soil has bacteria and fungi that are constantly breaking down organic matter, wearing gloves just makes good sense as you garden. Been fighting in the weeds already??? Notice a patch of poison ivy? Definitely replace your gloves after the exposure. It’s definitely a good idea to get rid of those old ones for a new pair. I must admit I’m guilty about this one!!! I haven’t replaced my gloves 🧤 lately so this will be on my to do list first 2024!
These basic garden gloves start at about $3.00 a pair at Wilkes County Hardware
2. Potting soil– Get growing with a fantastic growing medium. Baccto is definitely in order to refill your pots this Spring. Our repeat gardening customers love this potting soil AND it is a fantastic value!!! Other potting soils price their bags per quart or by Cubic foot(based on volume of product and additives) but not this brand! It’s priced by the gallon, making this a very affordable option and a much better value for quality potting soil! As a FULL service hardware store, we load these heavy bags into your vehicle for you!
This potting soil is “the workhorse of potting soils” and hands down my favorite! The price point is well above the competition priced at $8.99 for 25 pounds, NOT per quart like the box store!!!!50 pounds at $13.99
3. Fertilizer– As you are planting, add a bit of fertilizer it will go a long way to help you during the growing season increasing the bloom potential for your flowers and adding nutrients to your plants.
Sprinkle into soil, mix well and water well.
4. Deer repellent- This is a vigilant and necessary action in our area. It is also very frustrating for homeowners who have a high deer population in their areas to work so diligently for months on creating a beautiful landscape to wake up the next morning to find their hard work all eaten up by 🦌 deer. Ugh!!!
In order for this product to work well, you MUST reapply after a rain storm, or weekly to keep those pesky deer out of growing gardens.
FYI: On a personal note, I have had to switch methods from using pods to sprays/ granular to keep deer activity to a minimum in my yard. If one method doesn’t seem to work well, don’t feel guilty about moving to another method to see if you can minimize the damage to your plants.
Wilkes County Hardware has a variety of Deer Repellents available for purchase
5. Water hose/replacement sprayer nozzle – If you water frequently during the spring and summer months, you need to evaluate the wear and tear on your water hose and also consider the consistent sun exposure on your water hose! Did you accidentally leave your water hose outside during the winter season??? It might be a good idea to replace the old worn hose or stop by to pick up a new hose washers, or replacement sprayer.
I highly recommend the Zero-G water hose! It is a lightweight hose and easy to water gardens without dragging a heavy hose.
6. Weed control spray– As the weather warms up the weeds seem to grow better than flowers 😳enough said right ??? We keep a variety of different type of ready to go sprays and concentrate weed killers suitable for your specific needs. Stop by to chat with us about your garden care needs soon!
A variety of weed control products are available at Wilkes County Hardware from earth friendly, 2-4D, to total vegetation control.
7. Long handle Gardening Tools– Shovels, rakes, hoe, weeding tools…My goodness!!! The list is long!!! It’s now time to check and evaluate your gardening tools. Do they need to be sharpened, OR do you need a new handle???? Before you begin the gardening season, consider the cost of a replacement handle or purchasing a new tool. Wilkes County Hardware can help you with tool sharpening, replacement handles or finding a new tool.
Scuffle hoes have become quite popular with our customers and sell out frequently I love this long handle tool to get into a smaller space or help with weeding Can’t find in the hardware store? Ask us to order it for you!
8. Hummingbird feeder- Hummers are on the way back to your yard in April. That’s right… these birds are repeat customers in your yard so be prepared!Hummingbirds are migratory birds & they will be eager to find a full feeder. Hummingbirds will return to the same source of food each and every year, if it is readily available. Be ready with a full feeder for your busy little hummingbirds.
Hummingbird feeders beginning at less than $10
Creating A Hummingbird Habitat: A Few Tips for a successful season
A. Hummingbird feeders ideally should be placed 15-20 feet from a window. Shrubs and trees nearby for resting areas for hummingbirds as they feed, and a have water source close by like a bird bath or a fountain.
B. Hummingbird Feeders should be cleaned out every few days as the temperature begins to warm up and feeder should not be placed into full sun.
C. Hummingbirds will be attracted to all the beautiful colors in your yard/garden. Yes, you can plant certain flowers that will attract hummingbirds. Vines, certain perennials, and tubular flowers are welcome sources of nectar.
D. Your Hummingbird feeder should be easily visible for your enjoyment and easy to spot by the hungry little hummingbird. Ideally the same location each year!
E. Lastly, use clear nectar in your feeder only. Yes, hummingbirds love the color red, but nectar is clear in its most natural form…the beautiful red, tubular flowers that hummingbirds love to feed from in nature. If you wish to attract more hummers, then go for a red hummingbird feeder and clear nectar.
9. Hand clippers- I cannot tell you how many times I have misplaced my handheld clippers that I frequently carry around as I’m working in the garden. It’s always good to have an extra pair!
10. Watering Can- Watering is a task that is ongoing the entire gardening season. Treat yourself to a new watering can from Wilkes County Hardware
11. Bonus : Some of y’all might be saying, she can’t count, she only said TEN.. but I HAD TO throw in a bonus… The Gorilla Cart– easy to maneuver, pneumatic wheels, durable tub, dump cart feature. This cart is on my shopping list too y’all!
Something about digging in the dirt is just good for the soul each and every Spring. Watching those beautiful blooms create new life and seeing the colors abound in the garden, simply a pleasure and brings a smile to my heart. My hope… this blog post gets you excited and ready to garden. We are ready and waiting for you to stop in and pick up a few gardening essentials all the while, sharing a few stories about your upcoming projects and goals for 2024 Gardening season. Let’s get Growing!
Many people consider clover as an invasive weed in their lawn. I believe it is now a LUCKY task for the finder… no matter if you find a 🍀 four leaf clover, all are lucky!
Why do you suggest it is a lucky task???? Clover spreads and often can take over in your grass. Is that lucky??? Well maybe not if you love a perfectly manicured lawn. But for those who continue to read this story maybe you find a bit of inspiration in finding clover today.
I found this green patch of clover flourishing several years ago in my grandparents yard. It was a thick patch of clover that was overtaking an area in their lawn near the driveway.
It was a beautiful capture for me as a photographer, and I cherish it as a sweet memory of my grandparents yard and flower garden.
Time has passed and I recently found this quote concerning clover that is too good not to share today as we are celebrating St. Patrick’s Day and it provided me a bit confirmation of what I already knew.
Legend says that each leaf of the clover has a meaning: the first is for hope, the second for faith, the third for love and, if you can find a 4-leaf clover, the fourth leaf represents luck.” —Jean LeGrand
I never found a four-leaf clover 🍀 in that small patch of clover at my grandparents house, but I was definitely LUCKY. My grandparents gave and showed me all three of those characteristics…hope, faith and love. So I consider myself to be the luckiest person alive. Here’s to you finding a beautiful patch of clover today.
One of the happiest and brightest shrubs in the Southern landscape has to be the Forsythia. You may also know Forsythia as “Yellow Bells”, due to the shape and color of the blossoms . I think the first time I ever heard the term “Yellow Bells” reference to a Forsythia, came from my Granny many years ago when I was growing up.
Complete Spring … Forsythia has 4 petals on each bloom… Forsythia blossoms from the spring are produced on the old wood from previous year. The remaining buds overwinters… the leaves are a gorgeous reddish color in the fall season. A complete bush in all four seasons.
Once the Forsythia breaks into bloom, Spring is not far away. Maybe that is why I consider it to be a “happy bush”. The sunny, vibrant, buttery-yellow blooms signals my brain that the spring gardening season is not far away. That in itself is JOY.
Forsythia is native to China and other parts of Asia
I recently read that the word Forsythia is related to anticipation. Yes, I get that… the anticipation of SPRING… Beautiful, joyful things yet to come.
What can we learn from the Forsythia??? The blooming Forsythia maybe our slumbering winter wake up call. The arrival of these vivid blooms definitely launches me into a spring planning and gardening clean up mindset. Rightfully so, because it is truly the time to begin focusing on some key elements for your lawn and garden maintenance, taking our cues directly from Mother Nature via the blooming Forsythia.
Forsythia is a fast growing shrub but if you must trim it wait until after blooming has been completed.
Once the forsythia finishes blooming, pre-emergents (for weed control) can be used in your lawn. A Pre- emergent is used to help prevent weed growth in your lawn… before the weeds actually begin!!!
If you use the “gardening cues” from the golden blossoms of the Forsythia, and apply your pre-emergents on time, it should then be re-applied three months later, so think about another application in June.
A multi-tiered approach may occur at your home… the focus on the garden… starting seeds indoors or even beginning to think about planting cool season crops once the Forsythia blooms are fading all the while working towards a beautiful, green, and healthy lawn. Whatever you decide to plant or grow this year, just enjoy it, savoring the season.
As you are reading this, the time to begin your lawn care maintenance is upon you! In a few short weeks, your actions will be futile if you delay using Pre-emergents and other actions will be necessary in order to avoid weeds in your lawn in the form of post-emergent weed killers like these in the photo. Post-emergent Weed control for lawns: 2-4D works well to reduce weed growth without damaging lawnForcing Forsythia inside can be a lovely way to brighten your mood on those cool, rainy, foggy days in MarchWithin a few days these blooms are opening up! Use a knife to slice the bottom of the stems to open them up so more water can flow into woody stem and make sure to remove bottom blooms in place in warm water. Foggy, rainy March weather
The Forsythia is legendary to hold medicinal qualities in past centuries. I believe that still holds true for me… maybe not so much in the traditional medicinal sense. The vibrant yellow hues are medicine to my soul, gearing up for another sensational Spring. Happy Spring Y’all!
But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)
I took a series of photos on the morning of March 1st during this spectacular sunrise. I posted a few of these directly on my Facebook page without edits. My mom and dad noticed the eagle in the background in a few of the pictures from the series of shots. She had texted me about the pictures I had posted and told me to go look for it… A few other Facebook friends commented on the eagle as well… It was a very sweet surprise for me and maybe a message that It’s Time to Soar in the Month of March.
A HUGE thank you to all who continue to support my blog by reading and sharing. An even bigger blessing, my family and friends who are consistently the wind beneath my wings offering endless support, love and encouragement. Thank you.
I hope you enjoy the photos from my day to day activities in the month of March.
Searching for Signs of Spring… Piper and I always use this Willow tree as a reference for the arrival of spring along the Greenway. The first tiny leaves are forming as we walked on March 2nd.March 5th! What a difference a few days make!March 13th All Damned Up… a huge pile of brush and tree limbs are pushed up against this tree, beaver 🦫 busy at work or excessive rain????“Leafing Up” By March 30th some trees have a good base of leavesGreen Acres… well probably not like the tv show 😂. Planting in progress on the fields along the Greenway Trails Hiding In the Mist… a foggy Sunday morning March 3rdFire Sky Sunrise Enough said, just do it!Peeking Through Breaking Through the Fog Drop In… Rain has been fairly abundant in the month of March.Awakening… March mornings often bring a crisp, cool feeling that brings you awake immediately after walking outdoors.Cotton Ball Clouds Morning Glitter RebirthLavender Skies Good Friday… Sunday is Coming Easter Saturday Sunrise Easter Morning Sunrise
On the Home Front…
Hello Buttercup… My mother-in-law always called these yellow daffodils buttercups. These mini daffodils are in full bloom in early March in my front flower garden. Daffodilin Bloom Bringing the outdoors in… Forcing branches of Forsythia bloomed almost immediately! Will definitely do this again next year!In case you missed this earlier blog post…https://hardwarelifewife.com/2024/03/06/forsythia-spring-is-here/Tomato, lentil and vegetable soup (keeper recipe)First attempt at making a Burnt Cheesecake, no crust on bottom! Delicious and easy. Will definitely make again!Reinventing the BLT… Bacon, spinach, avocado, tomatoes and ranch(out of mayo 🤪) I asked Benjamin if he wanted me to make him a sandwich, he said no… it had too many vegetables on it😂Pineapple Casserole for Easter… Thank you Ashley Frazier for sharing your recipe for Pineapple Casserole! It was simply delicious! Hey Bud! It’s a beautiful sight to see the our trees beginning to bud outTime to plant… getting my hands dirty again and putting these in my planters in MarchFinding Clover https://hardwarelifewife.com/2024/03/17/finding-clover/Spring has replaced the winter gloom, with abundant blooms… Bradford Pears in full bloom everywhere! Vibrant Blooms of Spring The Pick of the Crop… Annual Tulip picking trip 🌷Colors of the Rainbow Full Bloom Openingand closing act… once tulips fully bloom and open, the flower petals don’t last much longer Cookie and Joy: These two always enjoy #Nationalpuppyday March 23rdBunny building…, it has been fun creating new Easter pieces for this Easter season Easter Sunday Sunshine Happy Easter!
What’s have we been streaming in March???
1. Apple TV: Finished Masters of Air, began Manhunt, and Palm Royale.
2. Max- The Great Pottery Throw Down, you don’t have to be a lover of all things pottery to enjoy this show, it’s a fantastic competition based show with amazing art in progress
3. Hulu Live: March Madness… basketball games! 🏀, The Food That Built America, Lady Bird Diaries, and also streaming our favorite weekly shows.
4. Netflix: The Gentlemen
At the Hardware Store…
Unique Hardwood Chopping Wood still a necessity on the cooler days of March Change in Store HoursAssembly… we do that too!Beautiful afternoons in March… front door open to let the fresh air and sunshine insideNothing but Blue Skies Adding a bit of color to the ladder wallMoving forward into Spring!Saturday Sidewalk Sale!Stacking out new merchandise for Spring and Summer New end cap for Spring Spring Lawn and Garden Ready Count Me In! The jellybeans are counted and ready for your guess! Congrats to Jane Will for winning the hummingbird feeder! Making my own Easter GrassAll finished and ready for Easter 🐣Did you know that you can shop our shelves at Carolina Treasures on Main??? You can find me there checking on the shelves regularly Did you know that you can shop our shelves at Carolina Treasures on Main??? You can find me there checking on the shelves regularlyWho’s ready to dig into the dirt????
Wayne announced his retirement on March 25, 2024.
Wayne Matherly has been an amazing asset to our business as well as a mentor to both of us for the last 8 1/2 years. It’s simply hard to imagine life without him at Wilkes County Hardware.
Richard and I have been blessed with Wayne’s leadership and presence, as he shared and we received a small part of his knowledge. He taught us both so much about various areas of the hardware store. His vast experience with locks and keys, plumbing,and Wayne’s knowledge of lawn and garden has not been wasted… we have soaked up all the time and experience we could with Wayne.
They say that “Age is a just number”but, I know when the numbers begin to grow in size, our bodies often tell us to slow down a bit. Wayne, we definitely honor your wishes to slow down.
So what do you do when a piece of your heart goes home??? I’m not sure… but we plan to celebrate this new milestone of retirement with Wayne soon, honoring his wishes on how he chooses to do so.
Congratulations to Wayne, on a long career in the hardware industry. You will surely be missed dearly by all of us and hoping that you know that you have left a legacy of hardware excellence behind. We love you always! 💕
Wayne at work through the years… 2015-2024
As our month of March concludes, Wayne is soaring into retirement and I’m drawn back to the scripture that I began the month with for strength and courage as we begin a new chapter in our business.
But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)
When people walk into our hardware store, they often say y’all have just a little bit of everything here don’t you!!! As we have entered into year number 8 of business, we have slowly expanded and refined our offerings to our customers. Here’s a sampling of our product offerings via ABC’s of Wilkes County Hardware.
Top down view overlooking the back corner of Wilkes County Hardware
Let’s begin by diving into the Amazing finds from All Around the Hardware Store! Sometimes our building might be considered an “Antique” due to its advanced age…1905 is A long time AGO!
A- Almanac, acetone, axe, American Flags, animal repellents
Deer repellent, snake and more!
B- bird feeder & seed, BBQ sauce, brooms, bi-fold door hardware, bungee cords, batteries, black iron fittings and pipe cut to size, bolts
C- Customers! We can’t do this without you!!!Thank you for shopping with local with us! It’s soooo easy to forget about local businesses when you’re busy running errands or just headed to that “box store” for something on your to do list. Keep the CASH in our community!
Thanks for shopping local and keeping the CASH in our community!
Sometimes all you need it just one bolt or fastener… that’s ok with us, no need to buy a whole box. This area of our store is often full of customers all day long.
G- Gardening tools, garden seeds, grass seed, gloves, glues, grilling accessories, Greased Lightning, gas cans, galvanized fittings and pipe cut to size, window glass cut to size
Lawn and Garden area has been moved towards the front of the hardware store. We are excited to offer new products in this busy area for our customers.
H- hammers, hooks, hinges, hand tools, hose barb, Howard wood cleaning products, honey(it’s local y’all!)
Only local honey sold at Wilkes County Hardware!!
I-I didn’t know you had this! I should have come here first… we have heard this a few times over the last 8 years when folks find what they need and more as they shop.
I- Iron Out, ice melt
J- Juxtaposition of old school hardware store with excellent customer service found in 2023 versus “the box store experience”in 2023, no self service checkout here.
J-Japanese beetle traps, joint compound
K-keys duplicated with ease, knives, kerosene heaters & replacement wicks
Wayne has been a fixture inside Wilkes County Hardware for over 20 years. He just celebrated his 85th birthday!!! I bet Wayne has made a key or two for you.
L- Ladder wall, this wall showcases some of our amazing local artisans work.
Our local artisans are prominently featured along the back ladder wall.
M- Mural.. have y’all noticed the new mural on the front side of the building? Why the chicken??? Our building was a poultry processing plant in its early years.
N-nails … we don’t sell these by the pound anymore but we have small size packs available for purchase as well as larger sizes, National Hardware what an amazing selection of all things related to home hardware and more!
O- Order it for me please! Yes, we special order items for our customers each and every week
O- O-rings of all shapes and sizes!
P- Pool supplies, paper towels, PVC fittings, PB Blaster, Pex fittings, plungers, plumbing supplies galore! PVC pipe, padlocks, potting soils, polyurethane and and plethora of so much more!
Our plumbing section has been recently updated
Q- Quite a step back into time.. our building dates back to 1905, they don’t build them like this anymore. You can quickly find what you need and save TIME by not driving to a box store fighting the traffic or the crowd… and if you need our help we are here to answer any questions you may have about your project.
Q- Quick knife/scissors sharpening done in a matter of a few minutes, Quartz piston clock… locally made
R- Repairs made to lamps, kerosene heaters, re-screening windows, and tool handle replacement
Fall and winter season is a busy time for Kerosene heater repairs
R- Ready Seal, rodent control products, Rid-X , rope cut to size or just buy it by the package.
Rocking chair… we brought this chair from our house once we bought the hardware store. I rocked my son as a baby in this rocking chair. It was a sweet reminder of home. Harry loved this chair as well.
S-Staff… we are blessed with an amazing team!
Richard & Coby … these two can fix just about anything! Wayne … the key master! Tim … expert in glass Lisa .. we can’t live without her! She is a gemAngie… I’m not sure what to say 😂😂😂Lastly, Carter Call … I don’t seem to have a good photo of him but he has been a star pool guy all summer long! Look for him at the hardware store in the afternoons and Saturdays to come!
S-snow shovels and sleds, locally made soaps, suet, screws ( sheet metal, lag, stainless, self tapping, wood, deck), spray paint, Shark Bite, sandpaper, stove pipe, screwdrivers and much more!
T- Take a few minutes to wander from the front of the store to the back of the store.. you never know what you might find!
We keep a variety of pellets in stock for our established Traeger customers.
U- U-bolts and unique gifts from locally sourced artisans
V- Don’t be vexed by our selection of furnace filters, we have so many different sizes in stock!
Furnace filters of all sizes!
V- Vulcan 55 gallon drum liners for your trash can
W- Wood stove… warm by the fire on those cold days
It won’t be long until this stove will be back in action again!
W- wheelbarrow, WD-40, window glazing, water hoses, locally made wooden bowls and boards, weed eater trimmer line, wing nuts, wrench
X- Xacto blades, Xtreme contractor trash bags
Y-y’all are always welcome
Our doors are normally open for most of the warmer months, and conversations are usually flowing most of the day… near the old wood stove.
Y- Yellow Quell- did you know that we sell pool supplies and test pool water???
Pool season runs from May to September for most of our pool customers. Thanks for shopping locally with us!
Z- Zep products, Zip ties(cable ties) , Zero-G lightweight hose
The best water hose for watering plants
That’s just a glimpse of some of the familiar hardware products that we have inside Wilkes County Hardware. Richard and I are proud to continue into year 8 with new products to be added into the hardware store lineup as the next year progresses. Thank you for your business and continued support.
April 25th is National Hug your Plumber Day. When you need a plumber, you usually need one ASAP!! I would say that a good chunk of our customers that walk into our hardware store are seeking help with some type current plumbing issue or seeking a replacement plumbing fitting. That being said, this might be a “fitting” blog post to “plunge” into today.
The plumbing aisle is usually a busy place on most days of the week inside our hardware store. Plumbing issues can become time consuming and can be expensive, especially if you lack the equipment and expertise that a plumber has.
As we all know, Home maintenance is ongoing, and can get expensive. Being proactive with your maintenance tasks, can give you an opportunity to move forward with other projects.
No worries y’all, just following these tips could add to your existing knowledge base about plumbing 🪠 so let’s plunge into the tips!
WCH Recommends … every home should have a plunger. Now, Let’s “plunge” into these great tips!
1. Know where your main water shutoff is located. Enough said! If you don’t know where your water shutoff is located, then make it your mission to find out ASAP! A water issue can be controlled much easier when you know where the main shutoff is found. Instead of a looming disaster with water everywhere inside your home, you can divert the danger by immediately turning the water off.
A very kind plumber who came to our home several years ago on a small plumbing project took the time to show me where our main shutoff is located. I value and appreciate his expertise and friendship .
2. Don’t use bleach to clean with regularly if you are on a septic tank system(Think about the toilet bowl drop ins and cleaning chemicals you are using the most often.) . The bleach can kill off the good bacteria in your system. When the good bacteria are destroyed, your tank won’t be able to break down waste effectively, meaning a clogged septic tank could be inevitable. 😳
Always available at Wilkes County Hardware!
3. What goes in must come out… and everything is not flushable! Yes, to most folks this is common sense. But everyone doesn’t know that baby wipes, Q-tips, grease, feminine hygiene products, diapers, paper towels, tissues are not flushable or acceptable for drains! Yes, even coffee grounds can clump up as well as cat litter and can lead to a clog. All of these items can reek havoc on your pipes/toilets and cost you a small fortune in order to get rid of a massive clog!
This 🧻 Decomposing at a faster rate! A camping & boating essential! Now available at WCH!!
4. When you do have a clog, deal with IT effectively. Using a Plunger or a snake is your first line of attack against a clog.Powerful Chemicals are secondary… especially if your plumbing lines are older. The harsh chemicals can break down your current, older plumbing lines even more quickly. 😳 AND if you have to use a chemical agent, read the directions and use it as directed!!! Be safe!
WCH Recommended item: if you need to deal with a clog, this is a good, safe option and eco friendly.
5. Check out your Insulation around water lines in basements and crawl space. If you don’t like what see, it is a good idea, especially during the extremely cold months to add insulation. Don’t forget to also check your Well pumps and pressure tanks, they should also have insulation around them too.
We stock essential homeowner necessities for plumbing….Glues, tape, fittings, insulation wrap, CPVC, and more!
6. Disconnect your water hose at the end of the growing season and cover your outdoor faucets. Outdoor faucets will freeze and create greater problems for you!
WCH Recommended item: These are great to have in hand before the first frost hits at the end of the long hot summer.
7. Do a bit of Reconnaissance work as a homeowner… a visual inspection of your plumbing . It is necessary as a homeowner- check your whole house water filters, look for any leaky hoses, or visible water around base of toilet( this can become a costly repair) are your toilets flushing properly, do you see leaks around hot water heater, visible water under your sink??? The small cost of a roll of plumbers tape is definitely worth the investment to add to your home toolbox. Lastly, Some leaks are not visible… pay close attention to your water bill each month to examine any spikes in your monthly costs. If you see a noticeable increase, definitely get this checked out!
WCH Recommends: A roll of plumbers tape is good to keep on hand at home for quick fixes.
8. Know when to call in an expert. Even the best DIY homeowners often know their limits and will call in the professionals when necessary.
That’s all folks! These tips are based on my own personal experience. Your experiences are uniquely relevant as well. I hope that you find this information helpful and useful as a homeowner.
Work… the mechanical manifestation of energy, according to science. Work it could be said, is the “nuts and bolts “ of what we do each and every day. After all, nuts and bolts are not the whole of a project, they are only a portion of a project.
The successful concept of work today creates within the soul a feeling of pride, satisfaction of a job well done, and contribution back into your greater community in some type of capacity. Today I’m offering y’all an inside look at our hardware work… the “nuts and bolts” view of what we do each day.
Walking inside Wilkes County Hardware may take you back into a time of nostalgia… viewing our old building, wood stove, historic elevator, or even remembering a time when hardware stores used to be full service for the customer. We still do that each and every day. Our customers always come first! Customers are the essential element in our business, and that is why we are customer service oriented in what we do! Wilkes County Hardware is definitely more than a place to go pick up a few nuts and bolts.
They just don’t build them like this anymore, check out the size of those beams y’all! Elevator view from top down Wood stove heat keeps us moving and going in the winter months. Our nuts and bolts aisle
Yes, we have several folks who stop by to shop our extensive selection of nuts 🔩 and bolts… whether you are looking to purchase one or two or even multiple boxes. But did you know that we do the following things as well??
1. Key duplication
Wayne is a popular guy in our key area! We duplicate keys, rekey locks, can make chip keys … ask us if we can help you out with your key needs
2. Kerosene wick replacement
Wick repair is ongoing, unsure which wick you need? We can find that for you too! A work area for repairs like kerosene wick repair, tool repair, lamp repair
3. Threading and pipe cutting
Galvanized and black pipe threaded… if you have never done this, it is a labor intensive job and takes time to do it well. Kudos to Richard who does most of this laborious task.
4. Glass cutting up to 36 inches
This custom piece was recently done for a customer and it is ready to go!
5. Chain cut to exact length
Our display showcases the chain we have in stockand ready to go home with you! Measure twice, cut once… cut chain CAN NOT be returned please know how much you need before we cut it for you. Folks often ask about what we use our upstairs space for… we measure and cut chain, tubing, rope, do window screen repair, window glass cut, and pipe threading is all done upstairs.
6. Basic lamp repair
Have a lamp that is acting all weird.. we can fix it for you or you can do it yourself with these simple pieces Light bulbs, extension cords, fuses, and basic electrical supplies we will help you find what you’re looking for in order to get your to do list completed
7. Tool handle replacement
Replace your own if you wish! Or we can do it for you! Our lawn and garden section is usually a busy spot year round. Ask us if you have questions about a project, or product.
8. Pool water testing for free!
Pool water testing is always a good idea when you’re a pool owner Wilkes County Hardware keeps a variety of pool chemicals in stock for sale
9. Roll pipe cut to length (most hardware retailers sell the entire roll) and copper pipe
Roll pipe cut upstairs Copper cut to length or sold by roll Need to do a small plumbing repair? We can cut these to length as well This display is found on the plumbing aisle.
10. Gas and plumbing fittings … including a good selection of Pex and Shark Bite
Compression fittings and flared fittings of all sizes Our plumbing aisle is a bustling place on most days
11. Vast selection of furnace filters
Ask us and we will gladly help you find your size of furnace filter
12. Window screen repair
This is a basic list of our service offerings.
13. Knife and scissor sharpening
Working on a knife 🔪 for sharpening
As y’all can see we work hard to be a full service hardware store for our customers. Our goal is to keep our customers coming back to us for all of the things that they need for any project. Thank you for being a great part of what we do each and every day whether it is a purchase of nuts and bolts, a key or even a bag of bird seed. We couldn’t be here without you!
Coles bird seed has become a very popular item for our regular customers You need to clean it or scrub it, we can probably help you!! And we have locally sourced items too!!! Locally made soaps, candles, pottery, & woodworking Stop by and find some “Great Stuff” that you didn’t know existed inside our historic walls. Sorry for the pun y’all.
So there it is… the “nuts and bolts” of the hardware life daily work. Stop by and see us soon. We appreciate your support of our small business. YOU are the part that holds all of our work together in our nuts and bolts analogy. Thank you for joining us in our journey of the hardware life for the last seven years.
He is the gentleman who built the current building that houses our hardware store in 2022. Mr. Eller placed his business, as you may have guessed, in our current building on the corner of 10th Street and D Street in North Wilkesboro.
Wilkes County Hardware in November 2022
To our best known facts, the building dates back to 1905. Mr. EE Eller was a premier poultry & produce dealer in North Wilkesboro. EE Eller Produce Co. was one of the largest turkey, and chicken wholesalers. EE Eller was a major processing center for local farmers to bring turkeys/chickens into North Wilkesboro. Ironically, it was probably one of the first poultry processing plants in our town.
An artist rendering of Wilkes Hardware from several years ago
Farmers would literally herd their turkeys from down the mountains in Ashe, Watauga, and Alleghany Counties in order to collect the cash proceeds from their labor filled task.
Eller’s staff would process/sell their flock. Could you imagine the sight that it must have been??? All of the sudden the flock of turkeys appeared on the roads in Wilkes!!!! Men guiding them with corn along the way, flocks of turkeys gobbling, wobbling with wings flying everywhere!!!! I would imagine that the sight of this was pretty common in the early 1900’s in rural Wilkes County. I bet the turkeys never suspected any “fowl play” on their journey. The old newspaper article did say that one of the largest turkey drives that ever was processed by Mr. Eller was 1,500 turkeys in one drive!!!
Signage like this one marked the path for local farmers to EE Eller’s Produce House. Thanks to Jerry Dameron for sharing this photo collection with me.
Once a flock of turkeys arrived at EE Eller Produce, they were processed/ dressed for shipped via train. Our local train station was just down the street from our current store location. The train destinations were mostly in Northern states after leaving the North Wilkesboro station. According to local oral history, it is estimated that Mr. Eller processed at his height of business, 1 million chickens and turkeys!!!! Guess that was all “gravy” for him after that!!!!
I have written about the history of our store before but, new facts have come to light! Let’s “de-feather” this poultry truth!
To those loyal readers of my blog, this will be new information for you. All the “plucky” truth, as we know it… A few months back, we were lucky to have a few family members of Mr. Eller to drop in for a quick visit. Up high on the wall held 4 pictures of what we had thought were the past 4 owners of the building, but it was ultimately revealed that the charcoal drawing on the far left was not Mr. EE Eller.
Many of y’all know this was the Wall of Fame inside our hardware store… check the wall the next time you shop with us, it maybe a “feather” shorter than before Who really knows who this guy could be??? The truth is that we did not find any visible clues inside the frame or even on the back of this old charcoal drawing
Further reading and research has revealed that Mr. Eller moved from the corner of 10th and D Street building to Forester Avenue in 1941 to a larger location. Wilkes Hardware moved into the 10th Street location sometime later on, I haven’t been able to determine a definite date yet but we know it was sometime in the 1940’s.
It was fascinating to “pluck out” the facts about the origins of this historic building we currently reside in each day. As time allows, I’ll continue to research more about the history of Wilkes Hardware and even Mr. Eller. For now, I think we have “gobbled up” a few new fascinating facts about our historic past.
Hope I “beaked” your interest a bit in our history but just “winging it” and wishing y’all a very Happy Thanksgiving!
The Smithey Building has long been an anchor store on 10th Street. Our across the street neighbors for the last 7 years. Showcasing this 33,000 square foot building here in this early morning photo of Apple Festival from a few years ago A storm unloaded a lot of water onto our front sidewalks & back parking lot in a matter of 8 minutes! Some of our 10th Street neighbors experienced water inside their buildings after the rain. One marked component of the storm was intense lightning. The first capture of the flames from the fire on August 30, 2022 … Tuesday evening around 5:30pm as Richard & I saw the North Wilkesboro fire department pulling into 10th Street. Firefighters are quickly getting the hoses out and getting ready to work Wilkesboro firefighters also quickly responded to the fire and placed ladder truck into position The smoke was getting more intense. Businesses on the same side as Smithey’s began to move valuable goods to safer areas. Other business owners from 10th & Main Street were there to help. Cars were moved from 10th Street. It proved to be a challenge because of the firehoses, emergency vehicles, narrow openings, and difficulty finding a few of the car owners. Around 6:45pm NW police asked all businesses/residents of 10th Street to vacate buildings due to safety concerns. We stayed across the street at Dom’s Bakery. We felt we should stay as our livelihood was in danger. Firefighters were pushing a ton of water on the fire. Firefighters had to take the tanker trucks to nearby water towers to get more water. I think it was estimated that the fire consumed over 4 million gallons of water. It was at times, difficult to watch. The smoke billowing from the building. 11-12 different fire departments responded to the fire. The top floors have begun to fall through to the main floor of the Smithey building A fork-like piece of heavy equipment was used. It was interesting to watch it maneuver onto 10th Street in between the hoses and the buildings. Piercing through the old windows.. yes! The original facade was covered up with the existing Smithey exterior. Some of these firefighters have worked all day long and will continue to work into the late night Just no words.. 😢 Around 10:00-10:30 Wilkes Oil brought a truck to refuel the existing fire trucks. They have now been on scene for 5 hours. Richard & I spoke to the fire scene chief before we left for the night around 11pm. The fire was definitely under control and being well managed. The street would remain closed and we could open with back door access on Wednesday morning Firefighters worked all night long. Here’s a early morning photo from Wednesday morning. The extent of fire is quite visible. These hoses are HUGE!! At the height of the fire on Tuesday evening, firefighters had 4 different ladder trucks going at once!!! Wednesday morning, two remaining ladders are busy putting the flames down The buildings next door were very lucky that no substantial fire damage occurred. Water pouring through the roof Some of these firefighters had been on shift for over 24 hours.. working at fire department or other jobs. Exhausted but dedicated! Thank you! All ages of firefighters were on deck.. thanks for keeping our community safe. 📸credit: Monty 😊Bringing in the heavy equipment for demolition
Demolition started with the little corner building… the old gas station side
Building Demolition took only a few hours. We could feel a few vibrations during the demolition inside our building 10th Street was opened for full traffic by 5pm. All within 24 hours!!! The demo/ grading team has done an amazing job! The bricks seem to be a popular item for onlookers to stop by to take a piece of the building with them. We have heard many stories that so many people have shared with us over the last few days of experiences at Smithey’s Goodwill. A dear couple actually meet there and eventually married. 💕 We will miss our historic neighbors but looking forward to the next chapter that the new building will bring to our town, in whatever form. 📸 credit: Sonny
The tale I am about to unravel goes back way in history to the beginnings of our store… well, actually before it was a hardware store. Our original building was constructed in 1905.
In the early 1900’s, our building was known to all the residents of Wilkes as EE Eller Produce. Mr. Eller was a major poultry buyer/ dealer where local folks would bring in chickens, and turkeys for processing.
Here’s an old advertisement from local newspaper
The processed chickens & turkeys were loaded up on the railroad cars just down the street. The North Wilkesboro Train Station was a bustling center of commerce in our town.
It was a major operation that farmers routinely made their journey into North Wilkesboro from the surrounding mountain areas and nearby communities.
Signs like this one were placed along the route to guide local farmers towards EE Eller Produce. A big thank you to Jerry Dameron for sharing this picture with me!
I have been told that over 1 million chickens and turkeys were processed in year!!!! Now that you have just a bit of historical background information about our building, our story can officially begin. Here we go…
A few years back during the Brushy Mountain Apple Festival we had a gentleman who was visiting with us in the hardware store and he began to tell us about his experiences inside our old, historic store…. this gentleman had spent some time with our neighbor next door and he stayed in his “man cave”.
Our neighbor had let this man stay in his “man cave” for a few months until he could figure out where he wanted to go and what direction life would take him next. This gentleman said that he would often be awakened around 2 am.
He reported to us that he regularly heard at night… chains dragging across the floor and sounds of chickens. He never could see or find anything unusual once he went to investigate. This man then continued with his story, by stating “now I know all of this is true because I am a reincarnated Buddhist, Catholic priest, I can sense that things happened here”. After that statement, we just simply didn’t have any words.
Our conversation moved to other topics and we of course were super busy in the mix of Apple Festival Day and we all laughed about the story the man told us that day and continued on with our business. Maybe he was being a real “comedi- hen”… 😂
Sometimes when the shopkeepers bell rings attached to our front door, without an apparent reason, we always joke, “it must be the chicken ghost” going back to the gentleman’s story on that Apple Festival Saturday. Lots of times we think it is the wind catching the door, elevation change of the door position, etc. We can usually explain it away….
But it is hard to explain the random chicken feather that just floats down from the ceiling… you wouldn’t think that would still happen after all these years???
Now, I”ll share this piece of information with you as well… we have had a few paranormal/ghost hunters to come into our store to ask if they could set up after hours. They thought our store would be a great location to pick up paranormal activity. We have always declined the request of these folks.
The logo we choose is a chicken to honor our historic roots of our building
The last aspect of our story goes back to the blog post that I did a few weeks ago entitled “Messy Monday”, it was one of those very busy days and our cash register/credit card machine were not working-via no internet plus we had lots of other factors playing into that day that made it a very long and hard day.
After supper, Richard went back to the store that night to try to make sense of the day, clean up somewhat, etc. He did not get back home until after 10:30 pm that night— here is what he told me the following day.
“I was standing near the front cash register looking down at something and all of the sudden I heard a huge SLAM sound on the front doors, ironically, the shopkeeper bell never moved.” He then continued by saying that he looked up because he just knew someone was outside possibly walking a dog on the street or someone had run into the front door from the outside… it was dark of course but nothing had alarmed or signaled on the cameras at the front door. He could see no one or nothing alarming.
This picture was published on Facebook in 2021 after our store was closed on evening. A follower noted the figure was in the reflection of the window. No one was outside the building or inside when I snapped this picture
Could it be the “chicken ghost”???? I suspect it could be “fowl play”. OR even a “poultry geist”😂.
Sometimes in conversation as I remember talking to my Granny at the end of the day, I would ask her what they both had for dinner. As she began to talk about her meal, I soon realized that she was referring to her mid-day meal, not her evening meal. My vocabulary was not the same as hers. I quickly learned that her view of supper/dinner was different from mine. Does it matter? Well, I guess it is all about perspective.
A major NC magazine in our state just recently published an article about Sunday Suppers. It was well done. I’m not going to rehash the intent of that article. But, it did bring back up all those supper/dinner conversations that I had with my granny came to my mind when I read the article.
So upon reflection, I began to ponder my usage of “dinner”. I use the term “dinner” all the time to gather my family to the table, but the reality is that we really are seated for “supper” instead.
Why supper??? The word supper is less formal. Dinner can be a full fledged event with fancy dinner napkins, china, etc. But, when we gather at home, it is not a formal affair. Our family is blessed to have passed down to us, the antique farm table that was in my mother-in-law’s kitchen. The table is definitely not formal by any means, and it is the only table around which we gather to eat. At this farm table we engage in the conversations about the day, hold discussions about local events/news, and let the puns roll. (Our form of making our son roll his eyes 👀 at us.). Supper at our house is a time to simply gather, eat together & unwind from the day.
This was modeled well in my family as a young child growing up. All four of us always ate together at the table in the kitchen. As they say, “old habits die hard”. Meals gathered as our family unit or shared with friends are a strong part of my memories of home.
Now in present day, the weekends are probably the most relaxing suppers we get to have as a family unit. Saturday evening supper is probably one of my favorite times. This tends to be the meal when we can relax, kick back at the end of the day. Saturday supper tends to be one of our Traeger nights- smoking a good piece of meat, or grilling up fish, or whatever is on sale at the grocery store! Do you guys do that too???
Saturday supper doesn’t have to be all fancy, high dollar meals that breaks your budget 💵. Sometimes supper is quite simple at our house–homemade chili beans, or biscuits in a Lodge skillet & country ham, maybe even soup and Traeger grilled cheese sandwich, or lastly, a crockpot meal that we all love.
So I guess when I call my family to say, “dinner is ready”, I really mean supper because that equates to family time. 😊
Happy Supper Saturday y’all !!!
Living the "hardwarelife", join us in our journey of hardware store ownership
The Hardware Life - A wife's journey into the hardware business 