Historic Swansboro

Swansboro, incorporated 1783 has a population of approximately 1,388 and takes its name from Samuel Swann who was a Speaker in the North Carolina House of Commons and a resident of Onslow County. The town, originally spelled Swannsborough, is sometimes called "The Friendly City by the Sea". M.N. Lisk, a popular Swansboro mayor, was the creator of the annual Mullet Festival, one of the first coastal seafood festivals in North Carolina. The Mullet Festival celebrated 50 years in 2004.

Swansboro is a quaint city with restaurants, shopping, and downtown historic sites. Traveling from the John & Lucille Country Retreat it is only 20 minutes to Swansboro. It is a good place to spend the day on the waterfront city browsing the unique shops on Front Street and eating at one of the great restaurants.

Annual Events and Festivals.

January - Business Showcase - 4th Weekend

March - Annual Oyster Roast - 3rd Saturday - 5PM -8PM

April - Annual Historic Downtown Spring Yard Sale

May - Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament - 1st Friday

Memorial Weekend - Swansboro Bluewater/King Mackerel Fishing Tournament

June - Swansboro Arts by the Sea Festival - 2nd Saturday

July - Fourth of July Parade & Fireworks on Waterfront - July 4th

September - Onslow Bay King Mackerel Fishing Tournament - 3rd Weekend

October - Swansboro Mullet Festival - 2nd Weekend

November - Annual Pig Cook Off - 1st Weekend
Swansboro Candle Light Shopping - 2nd Weekend
Swansboro Speckled Trout Fishing Tournament - 2nd Weekend
Swansboro Annual Flotilla - Weekend following Thanksgiving

Visit http://www.swansboro_nbc.org/

Labels: Swansboro draft 10:38:00 AM by Deloria

What Do Our Guest Think?

I give our guest the opportunity to make comments about their stay at the John & Lucille Country Retreat. Call 252-725-0236 or send email to stella@ec.rr.com for information or reservations.

I think our guest say it best!

February 2009

The Sateys and Johnsons thank you for sharing your well loved home with us. We enjoyed all the amenties from the gift baskets to the Winnie Pooh in the crib. It was a blessing to visit with our newest family additon, and seeing our very loved Chief Johnson before he heads to Afghanistan. Asheville, NC Charlotte, NC Morganton NC Lufkin, TX

The Howieson's would like to thank you for the wonderful environment you have created at the Retreat. Your peaceful setting allowed us to have a serene, comforting place for our last moments with our Marine before he deployed. He was so happy and said it felt like home ad that meant the world to us! Thank you once again for being such an outstanding hostess! God Bless and Semper Fi!

March 2009

Thank you for awesome hospitality! Your retreat is wonderful, we couldn't have asked for a better vacation. Thanks for all the helpful travel hints in your booklet and the goodies. We highly recommend this home. We hope to plan another trip here. God Bless you and your family. The Schmidt Family, Elk Mound, WI

April 2009

Deloria, thank you for such a beautiful and peaceful stay. Your retreat is fabulous and couldn't have asked for more. We had a great family gathering and look forward to many more here! You know exactly how to make a guest feel at home. The baby loved the Easter Basket and snacks and the fruit. I thank you for such great hospitality and beautiful flowers. You really are special and we truly appreciate everything you have done to make this trip memorable! The Westhoff and Beasley Family

June 2008

From the moment we drove up and stepped into the house, it was so-o-o peaceful, cheerful. It just has a good "coming home" feeling. There wasn't anything we needed except groceries and our suitcases. We enjoyed our family reunion here. Very roomy, comfortable. P. Malis, Cortez, Colorado

We have really enjoyed our stay here: very at home and comfortable feeling here. Very Relaxing and great place for our family reunion. Very much recommended! T. Hammond, Cisco, TX.

This place was fantastic! And....exactly what we needed. I am looking forward to reserving this home again next year. A great place for an extended family vacation! S. Payne, Etowah, TN

July 2008

Everything was set up so beautifully. We loved the decor and fresh flowers. We loved the beach and the slower pace. It reminded us of W. Africa where we spent 18 years on the east Atlantic Coast. J. Penner, Ontario, Canada

August 2008

We love this place. We hope to come back again!!! We will get in touch with you! Thanks for your hospitality, the flowers and all arrangements! Very Beautiful!!! The beaches are great and hot! Thanks again for this wonderful get away!!! F. Do Monte, Montreal Canada

We cannot express to you the wonderful feelings we felt upon entering this retreat. It was a home filled with so much love and blessings and we were all lucky enough to get to experience it. All the extra touches placed around the house made our stay that much more enjoyable. The welcome basket, fresh flowers & huge watermelon were all very much appreciated. We hope others will enjoy their stay as much as we did. God Bless and the best to you always. C. DoMonte, Quebec, Canada

September 2008

We enjoyed staying at this wonderful, peaceful, comfortable home as we welcomed "home" our son/brother from his (USMC) deployment to Iraq. We will likely be back again, and will spread the word about this special place. Thank you for all the care you take, Deloria, to make it so nice. (Riso's Resturant and Hammock's Beach State Park are wonderful!) The Ludwig Family, Melbourne, Florida

Thank you for everything! What a warm gracious welcome you gave us. Everything we needed was here. This is such a wonderful "get away from it all" place - yet convenient to the beautiful beaches at Emerald Isle and Hammocks beach state park, we well as Camp Lejeune. The perfect place for our family reunion. K. Benton Gainesville, Florida

Thank you so much for the welcome and hospitality! The house is splendid; the furnishing are beautiful, the rooms are comfortable and cozy, and the land is so peaceful and restful! This beautifully restored and maintained house was full of life and love while we were here, and we truly enjoyed it. We could sense all of the care that has been put into this house, care that we have admired and enjoyed! We very much look forward to coming back! Thank you again Deloria. P. Carr Family, Hillisborough, NC

The Gershwins enjoyed a wonderful time here. We laughed, talked, cried and took a piece of Stella with us. Thank you for supplying such a wonderful place for u to stay this year. H. St. Clair and the Gershwin Girls, Greenville, NC and all over

October 2008

This place was wonderful! Thank you for your hospitality, the fresh flowers were a surprise and were just beautiful as we "welcomed home" our grandson from his deployment to Iraq with the US marines. God bless you Deloria for making this time so special for all of us. B & P Reynolds, Dallastown, PA

November 2008

Thank you for everything. We really enjoyed staying here. We had a great time with our son and his friends from Camp Lejeune. May God Bless you and your family. The Ginandt Family, Cincinnati, OH

Christmas 2008

After two days and 14 hours of driving through snow, sleet, and rain we were so excited when we drove up to this beautiful house. We knew it would be perfect when we saw the lighted Christmas tree outside and the beautiful wreath on the door. The gifts and special cards on the table were a welcomed surprise - the girls couldn't believe "Santa" had left a letter. When we rounded the bend and saw the cozy perfectly decorated living room, we knew we were in the right place. You have put so much into this blessed retreat and our family apreciated it all (comfortable beds, Christmas decorations, beautiful sheets, abundant towels, etc.) We had so much time to play games, do puzzles, read, and relax together-it is the way holidays were meant to be! I believe that the love your parents shared still blesses this house. The Whaley Family, Torrington, CN

Springtime At The Retreat

Cherry Blossom Time

When the Yoshino Cherry trees bloom in April at John & Lucille's Country Retreat, it is the most stunning site to behold. The awesome mass of blossoms emerge just before the new spring leaves appear. Each year I take many photos hoping to capture the immense beauty during the 10 days or so these trees are in full bloom. What looks like millions of buds open into 3/4 inch white to pink flowers.

Origin
The Yoshino Cherry (prunus xyedoensis) is a native of Japan, Korea, and China but perform well in the US from Washington, DC to as far south as Mississippi (zones 5-8). Some rank the Yoshino Cherry tree, introduced to America in 1902, as one of the best spring flowering trees. It likes moist, well drained soil in full sun. Its life expectancy is about 15-20 years and has mature height of 40-50 feet. My experience is it is fast growing as a young tree and in 3-4 years the trunk can be 4-5 inches in diameter.

History
The Yoshino Cherry tree is a symbol of friendship between the US and Japan. In 1912, First Lady Helen Taft and the wife of the Japanese Ambassador planted the first two Yoshino Cherry trees at the Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park, Washington, DC. In 1915 we responded with a gift of flowering dogwood trees to the people of Japan. The first Cherry Blossom Festival was in 1935 but because of WWII the festival was not held again until 1947. In 1965 three thousand eight hundred more trees were accepted by First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson. Then in 1981, Japanese Horticulturalist come to the US to take cuttings to replace the Yoshino Cherry Trees that had been destroyed by a flood in Japan.

Festivals
The International Cherry Blossom Festival is held in Macon, Georgia each spring. Macon is known as the "Cherry Blossom Capital of the World". Over 300,000 Yoshino trees bloom around the
downtown, college campuses and the neighborhoods of Macon in March each year.

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is a spring celebration in Washington, DC. Today over 700,000 people visit our Nation's Capital during the two week National Cherry Blossom Festival.

Photos: These photographs were taken at the

John & Lucille Country Retreat.

Sources:

Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, Michael A. Dirr, Stipes Publishing, Inc. Illinois, page 693.

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Yoshino Cherry Trees

Mississippi State University Extension Service

Greenwood Nursery

The National Arbor Day Foundation

Oysters - A Nutritionally Balanced Food

To me, oysters are one of the delicacies of the coast of North Carolina. I have fond memories of my Dad and I going to Matthews Landing to get oysters. He would buy a bushel and before leaving he would shuck two or three raw ones for each of us. During the winter months, there was no finer meal than steamed oysters with cornbread cooked in a cast iron pan.

It appears people either hate them or absolutely love them. There is no middle ground. I suppose its' their appearance that turns people off but these salty mollusk have a taste all their own and when eaten with drawn butter and cocktail sauce....well, it's a symphony of sheer joy.

Also for those who love them, going to an oyster roast is as much a social event as a meal. Everyone gathers around a table with the steamed oysters poured down the center. While shucking, friends and family share stories and visit with one another. There is chatter about how good they are, who just opened the largest oyster, how long before some hot ones will be brought out, and how many can you eat or did eat last time. Even veteran shuckers giggle with delight when they open a big one.

Oysters are good for you too. They are one of the most nutritionally balanced foods, containing protein, carbohydrates, and lipids. The National Heart and Lung Institute suggest oysters as an ideal food for low-cholesterol diets. Oysters are an excellent source of Vitamin A, B1(Thiamin), B2 (Riboflavin), B3 (Niacin), C (Ascorbic acid) and D (Calciferol). Four or five medium size oyster supply the recommended daily allowance of iron, copper, iodine, magnesium, calcium, zinc, and manganese and phosphorus.


Oysters are bivalve mollusks that can live up to 40 years and grow up to eight inches. In North Carolina the oysters (Crassostrea Virginica) are harvested at three years of age and about 3 inches. The population of oysters has declined over the past century due to habitat loss, pollution, diseases, and over harvesting. According to the North Carolina Federation, oysters are very important to our estuaries. These keystone species are a reflection of the health of the ecosystem. Restoring and keeping our native oysters healthy will help to keep our coastal waters and other aquatic species healthy.


Oysters are harvested from October to March with tongs, rakes, and by hand here on the coast. They dredge for them in the Pamlico Sound. Even though locals say oysters should be eaten only in months with r's, oysters really can be eaten 12 months a year. This started in the days when oysters where shipped with inadequate refrigeration and spoiling was problematic. Today all seafood is shipped refrigerated. However, some local restaurants still only serve steamed oysters during those months because they buy them from the Chesapeake Bay area.

Local Restaurants
T&W Oyster Bar and Restaurant - Highway 58, only 5 minutes from the John & Lucille Country Retreat.

Jordan's Restaurant - Emerald Isle, across from Bogue Inlet Drive, only 10 minutes from John & Lucille's


If you have had a good dining experience at an oyster bar, please add your comments to this blog.


Sources:
http://www.ncfisheries.net/
http://www.nccoast.org/
http://www.globalgourmet.com/
http://www.bartleby.com/

Croatan National Forest - Only Minutes Away

The John & Lucille Country Retreat , located off Highway 58 in Stella, North Carolina, is surrounded by a vast area of the Croatan National Forest making it perfect lodging for hunters coming to the coastal region. The Retreat is 4 Bedrooms, 3 baths with an outside shower. There is a large carport for grilling as well as room to wash and park boats on the property. It's just a wonderful place to relax after a day of hunting or fishing and close to everything the Crystal Coast has to offer.

Croatan National Forest has some of the best hunting in North Carolina. All the surrounding water and lush forest provides exceptional habitat for deer, black bears, turkeys, waterfowl, osprey, and 'gators. There is great kayaking and canoeing on the rivers and lakes along with hiking trails for bird watching and just enjoying the beautiful forest. Mike Marsh in his article about Black Bears on the North Carolina Game and Fish Website states that, "the vast Croatan National Forest in Jones, Craven, and Beaufort Counties is one of the top produces for bear hunters in the coastal region." Of course, Croatan is a deer and duck hunters haven also.

According to the USDA Forest Service, Croatan National Forest is 160,000 acres of pine forest, saltwater estuaries, bogs and pocosins in Jones, Craven, Beaufort and Carteret Counties. It is bordered on three sides by the White Oak River, Trent River, Neuse River and mumerous creeks as well as Bogue Sound. It encompasses the towns and villages of Stella, Cedar Point, Cape Carteret, Maysville, Pollocksville, Havelock, and Newport with New Bern being nearby. It has three major lakes: Catfish Lake, Great Lake, and Long Lake. Major highways are NC 58, 17, 70, and 24 making driving to the forest easy.

Boat ramps in Croatan are at Catfish Lake, Great Lake, Cedar Point, and Haywood Landing. There is also a boat ramp at Stella on the White Oak River and Cedar Point at the Inland WaterWay.

For a brochure on Croatan call: 252-638-5628 or visit http://www.ncwildlife.org/
For additional information click on this link: Croatan and then click on Carolina Connections, for Cradle of Forestry page 16.

Visit John & Lucille's Country Retreat website for full list of ammenities and rates.

White Oak Duck Impoundment

Recently, a group of hunters coming to the area to duck hunt at the White Oak Duck Impoundment contacted me about staying at the John & Lucille Country Retreat. I was amazed that even after growing up in Stella, I wasn't aware of the impoundment. I have a keen interest and love for waterfowl, so I am excited to learn more about the duck impoundment. If anyone has information to share about the duck impoundment, please add your comments to this posting.

An impoundment is a civil engineering term used to describe an area where water is collected in a dam or reservoir. The White Oak duck impoundment is a flooded area constructed for the protection of waterfowl. It borders the White Oak River* on the Onslow County side, approximately 1/2 mile up the river from the Stella Bridge. The land (100 acres) was donated by Percy and Rachael Morton of Stella and the contruction was completed in 1995.

Water is pumped in and out of the White Oak River into the impoundment so as to maintain the brackish marsh and submerged vegetation as well as to keep the water somewhat level in the impoundment. A wide variety of duck species including mallards, gadwall, blue-winged teal, green-winged teal, and shovelers benefit by this protected impoundment.

The John & Lucille Country Retreat is a perfect place to stay while hunting or fishing in the area. There is a boat ramp** at the Stella Bridge only 1/2 mile from the impoundment. The Retreat has plenty of parking spaces and room to park and wash a boat.

Picture: The pipe going from the river to the impoundment.

For more information,
visit http://www.stellacountryretreat.com/
or call 800-892-6775.


*The White Oak River flows from Hoffman Forest in Jones County into Carteret and Onslow Counties reaching Swansboro and Bogue Inlet. This blackwater river changes from fresh to brackish and then to salt water as it nears Swansboro and the Inland Waterway.


** There is a $5 charge to launch a boat at the Stella Bridge boat landing.