Who knew what 2023 would bring??? We surely didn’t plan on the unexpected… loss of dear friends… a beloved staff member and friends who shopped with us/visited us weekly. 2023 brought challenges…dealing with continued short-term shortages, a slimmer bottom line, and renewed focus on key product lines that our customers love…our essentials in 2023.
2023 was the year of the Milwaukee marker… if you have used one… then you just know it’s the best thing ever!2023… was all about KEYS!!!! We make keys all day long, here’s a link to a blog from January 2023 which reveals a little bit more about what we do…. https://hardwarelifewife.com/2023/01/11/more-than-nuts-and-bolts/
In 2023, we experienced loss and grief multiple times. Losing dear friends like Monty and Tracy is difficult. Tracy was a regular customer, stopping by often for a chat after work or coming by to pick up essentials. Other dear customers losing battles with cancer, or experiencing other serious health issues makes the daily routine a bit different from 2022 without them in our midst. We loved Monty dearly and his loss was hard to bear as 2023 began.
Our staff becomes an integral part of our daily lives. As our younger staff members prepare to leave us and have grown into stronger members of our community, we wish them well, especially as they leave us behind for other opportunities… whether they are heading off to college, or seeking jobs that connect to their future career paths. Richard and I still connect with them as much as we can. They are our family, never forgotten… it’s not bittersweet event as they depart… just sweet souls who are moving forward with their lives, creating beautiful lives and light .
https://hardwarelifewife.com/2023/02/01/dark-skies-and-beautiful-light/Wilkes County Hardware launched a kids scavenger hunt in 2023… have you brought your kids or grandkids in yet to check this out ??? In the quiet months of February and March of 2023, we were busy resetting the lawn and garden section and moved it up front and center The locally sourced section also got a major reset this year on the back ladder wallNew products are always a welcome addition to our store: in 2023 Blue Door Houses by Kim Reid These beautiful flowers were painted on our store front windows this spring by Andrea BaldwinAnother yummy treat we added into our snack line in 2023!!! You can’t beat sunglasses at $3.99!!! Welcome back to North Wilkesboro Speedway!!! We got you back! Thanks for stopping by y’all and shopping locally. New shirt in 2023! Short sleeve and long sleeve Plumbing reset complete in 2023
In case you missed this blog post earlier this year… this one is a must read!!! 8 Things Your Plumber Wish You Knew… link below in picture caption….
The back area has been reset with stove pipe, kerosene replacement wicks, chain, and tubing cut to length. Handmade pottery keeps customers coming back to Wilkes County Hardware find the perfect present! Before… Andrea Baldwin made our dream come true in 2023, a mural on the front side of the building! Gorgeous!!! Why the chicken logo??? You can read a bit more of our history in this blog link https://hardwarelifewife.com/2022/11/21/mr-ee-eller-chickens-and-turkeys-nothing-but-clucking-gobbling-and-plucking-out-the-truth/Hannah Crow Photography stopped by to do a quick photo shoot. Thanks for the amazing photos and capturing a bit of what we do everyday! Tool handle repair… Pipe cutting and threading Friday mornings.. a gathering of friends and local business leaders – morning coffee In 2023, we welcomed Tim Billings to our staff. His skills as a glass cutter has been invaluable. Stop by to see Tim soon! He can help you with any hardware question you may have. New local artist in 2023… stained glass by Badger GlassKeegan has had a fantastic year in 2023!!! Did you see his award winning stool at Wilkes County Hardware on Apple Festival Saturday???? Keegan announced his big win in the Made in NC Awards in October. Looking forward to seeing him in the February edition of Our State Magazine! Congratulations Keegan!!! Simply brilliant and beautiful! Charcuterie boards or serving boards New in 2023! Rolling pins selling out quickly each time they arrive!!! Our bolts, screws, and all sorts of fasteners are frequently visited each and every day inside our hardware store. Yes, you can purchase pieces individually and not have to pay that bulk price like you would at the “box” store 🙄Fall arrived and so did Wally!!! He was a huge hit with our customers and made everyone smile a bit wider when they see him on our front door. 2023 Fall t-shirts were a huge hit! Thanks for wearing our logo gear y’all New rubs made their debut inside Wilkes County Hardware… have you tried these yet???Ok, let’s talk about this BBQ sauce! It’s a staff favorite hands down!!! Thanks Keegan for making this one happen!!! A new Pepsi cooler arrived keeping everyone on 10th Street caffeine filled and ready to meet the day! Thanks to our neighbors and customers for purchasing drinks all year long! First wood stove fire of the season on October 16, 2023 So glad to be a small part of this event! We enjoyed y’all! Thanks for coming out in 2023 and making year 2 of Spooktacular bigger and better than year 1!!! Watch out 2024!!! Toys for Tots drop off site for the second year… a HUGE thank you to all who donated toys this holiday season!!! When a big rig pulls up outside our hardware store… you make them keys that work.. Thanks to Richard! Wayne checking out the Big Rig 🚛! Wally got a winter makeover to bring in the winter weather season in 2023. A huge thanks again to Andrea Baldwin for the winter windows!!! Santa dropped in during Light Up Downtown Holiday cookies, granola bars, gift sets, handmade soaps, almanacs and calendars all sold out during the Christmas shopping season!!! Thanks to all who read the blog mini series…A Sprinkling of Christmas Memories… here’s the link to the last one in case you missed it https://hardwarelifewife.com/2023/12/18/a-sprinkle-of-christmas-memories-christmas-eve/These beautiful trees sold out during Christmas shopping season!!! Watercolor artist Tom Carnes stopped by to do a few Christmas themed drawings a few days before Christmas!!! Thanks Tom!!! These were amazing! New sweatshirt crew to bring in 2024!!! Wishing you a very happy 2024 and a HUGE thank to all who shopped with and supported us in 2023!
In my closing reflections of 2023 I would like to say that the challenges are ongoing each year… the list might be endless for a local business owner… increased costs of doing business, dealing with shortages, managing and maintaining staff, or even a slight downturn the economy means less money circulating into small businesses in our community. In that case, folks tend to hold back on spending… that is understandable. But the impact of those choices creates a ripple effect for many businesses. I’m encouraging everyone to make a conscious effort to shop locally. ThinkLocal!
With one click, you can shop online and have it delivered to your door. It’s so easy to do!!! Right??? What about the quality??? Will that product last??? What kind of customer service are you going to receive as a result of a product failure??? Worried about price??? Quality products outlives the cheapest product every single time. We need quality businesses in our local community and they will not be there if we don’t make the continued effort to show up and shop there. So that’s my call to action for you in 2024, Shop Local, Eat Local, Play Local. Our community needs you in 2024.
You have a few days left remaining on the holiday punchcard! Thanks for the memories in 2023
The opening paragraphs are the same if you read the first blog in this series… but just wanted to share the beginning again with those who may have missed the first blog post A Sprinkling of Christmas Memories
When my son was much younger, he loved sprinkles. We literally put sprinkles on everything… cookies, ice cream, cupcakes… anything he deemed sprinkle worthy. I had a specific kitchen cabinet where the bounty of sprinkles were stashed away, ready for a quick, special treat. We had multiple flavors and colors to select from and it was such a joyful experience for him.
Christmas memories are very much the same way, a sprinkle of sweetness in our hearts and minds of a very special Christmas moment. These moments can be recreated by establishing traditions that are repeated year after year during the Christmas season… like the sprinkles of sweetness on top of a very special treat.
A very happy Cowboy… a sprinkle of sweetness from a Christmas past
Sometimes as I am working inside our hardware store, I often see glimpses of these special Christmas memories from interactions with our customers, or stocking the shelves with products, and yes, even the endless search for new product offerings to bring to you, can create a sense of nostalgia of Christmas past. So here’s a small sprinkling of Christmas memories through my eyes as I wander through the hardware store… I hope you will enjoy this mini series of blog posts centered around on of the most wonderful times of the year, Christmas.
Wilkes County Hardware has been featuring unique hardware store Stocking Stuffers each day leading up to Christmas Eve! Head over to our Instagram and Facebook stories each day to find some great ideas for everyone on your gift list!
The Stockings
“Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas would soon be there…” Clement Clark Moore
This classic Christmas story written so many years ago and is and read aloud to children across the globe
Stockings are treasured memories of Christmases past. I can’t imagine a Christmas without Christmas stockings and a tree… or having to choose between one or the other. Yes, I have read that the Christmas tree did try to replace the tradition of the Christmas stocking, but luckily it didn’t come to fruition… both remain as solidified Christmas traditions that should continue on for many more generations to come!
Our Christmas tree is full of family ornaments, a sprinkling of sweet memories of Christmases past.
The history of the Christmas stocking is centuries older than the tradition of putting up a Christmas tree! Christmas stockings date back to the origins of Saint Nicholas … Christmas trees, well, a much younger history, Victorian times.
Christmas stockings take center stage this year in our family room… family favorites are on display
My Granny used to tell me about the Christmases from her childhood when a great Christmas meant that candy(like hard peppermint sticks) and oranges were in found in the toe of her Christmas stocking.
Granny would have loved these 💕… memories of family can be found everywhere even in the smallest things.
Did you ever wonder why an orange in the stocking??? The tradition of stashing an orange into a stocking reveals a legend of a very poor man who had three daughters who were unable to wed without a decent dowry. On Christmas Eve, St. Nicholas, placed three golden balls inside their home. The three young ladies were overjoyed with the gift. Over time, the golden balls were replaced with oranges as the legend reveals.
I may begin to stash a few oranges in our stockings each year… a great way to carry out a sprinkling of a Christmas memory of my Granny, and a bit of history of Christmas all wrapped up into one stocking.
The photo I provided for you today is a cherished Christmas treasure that is always found at our house each year, my Christmas stocking.
This is definitely a sprinkle of sweetness of Christmas memories from my childhood, Mom and Dad have shared several Christmas pieces with my sister and I so that we can each have a sprinkle of sweet memories of our Christmas times together even when we can’t celebrate Christmas Day together.
My mom made this Christmas stocking when I was kid… my sister also has a matching one with her name as well. Mom is an amazing seamstress, she could make anything she wants to make. Presents didn’t usually go in these beautiful stockings, but they were always hung up each Christmas. For some, I would venture to guess, that this might be the purpose of Christmas stockings, as a treat to the eye, hanging by the mantle as a symbol of each family member at Christmas time.
Yes, our pups even have their own stockings too! These pups are worn out Christmas Day after opening up their Christmas stockings gifts! Snacks, toys, treats!!! What a great day! Stop by Wilkes County Hardware for dog toys, and treats for Christmas!
After I married, Christmas Stocking gifts were always a big tradition at the Searcy house. Christmas stockings were always completed FIRST before opening presents under the tree. Each one of us would begin to dig into the Christmas stocking gifts, eventually each family member revealing the carefully curated collection of small gifts from “the stash” tucked inside the stocking.
Martha’s Christmas stocking… a sweet sprinkle of Christmas past memories
Everyone had their own special Christmas stocking. Martha, Richard’s mom, made sure that each individual stocking was unique to each person within the family. None of the Searcy family Christmas stockings were alike, and that tradition still lives on in our house as well.
Our stockings are hung, and now we wait! Notice, mine aren’t hung over the mantle.
Christmas stocking gifts don’t have to be expensive or “only Christmasy” type gifts. The great thing about Christmas stocking gifts is that you can target the gifts to suit each individual person and what they need or use regularly. Christmas stocking gifts are much more intimate gifts… indicating to the recipient that you know them well enough to know what they need and love.
Teenagers, or young kids who have electronic toys, batteries are an IDEAL stocking gift of choice!
No matter how big or small your Christmas celebration might be this year, remember that making Christmas memories is the best way to celebrate the season.
As I conclude this blog post, I have decided to definitely stash a few oranges in our stockings each year. A new tradition to carry out a sprinkling of a Christmas memory of my Granny, and also a bit of celebration of Christmas history all wrapped up into one stocking. Merry Christmas Y’all!
Merry Christmas 🎄 from our family and staff to yours this holiday season!
When my son was much younger, he loved sprinkles. We literally put sprinkles on everything… cookies, ice cream, cupcakes… anything he deemed sprinkle worthy. I had a specific kitchen cabinet where the bounty of sprinkles were stashed away, ready for a quick, special treat. We had multiple flavors and colors to select from and it was such a joyful experience for him.
One of my favorites… B in front of the tree. Christmas memories in picture form from so many years ago… the sweetest treat of all
Christmas memories are very much the same way, a sprinkle of sweetness in our hearts and minds of a very special Christmas moment. Luckily for us, these moments can be recreated and fondly remembered by establishing traditions that are repeated year after year during the Christmas season… like the sprinkles of sweetness on top of a very special treat. Memories are simply timeless treasures of the heart.
Candlelight Christmas Eve Service… some of the best Christmas memories
Sometimes as I am working inside the hardware store, I often remember glimpses of these special Christmas memories from interactions and conversations with our customers, or even stocking the shelves with products. Yes, even the endless search for new product offerings we might bring to you, can create a sense of nostalgia of Christmases past. So here’s a small sprinkling of Christmas memories through my eyes as I wander through the hardware store. I hope you will enjoy this mini series of blog posts centered around one of the most wonderful time of the year, Christmas.
Wishing y’all a wonderful Christmas season in 2023, make some lasting memories with family and friends
The Tree
Let’s get right into this one. Typically, each Christmas season begins with the decision of the Christmas tree. The joy of the holiday season launches once your tree is up, leaving you to find splendor in the glow of the Christmas lights and glistening ornaments.
Picking out the perfect Christmas tree … my boys 💕
I have so many wonderful memories of Christmas tree shopping with my boys, and decorating the tree each year… like the Christmas tree full of ornaments that B made in preschool, ornaments handed down from family members, all of these memories are sprinkled into my heart each year as we begin with the tree and the decorations.
But, one memorable tradition from my childhood was the search for the kid-sized Christmas tree that was put in our bedroom each Christmas when my sister and I were younger.
Dad would grab his hand saw, and axe… no chain saw was needed for this small task… He would tell my sister and I to find our coats and off to our woods we would go seeking the perfect small-sized Christmas tree.
Stop by Wilkes County Hardware for your hand tool needs and repairs.
I think we probably skipped all the way into the woods. Dad handled all that endless child energy bubbling over… always smiling and redirecting our silliness towards our purpose, finding the best Christmas tree.
Often times, my sister and I would select a small 3 foot cedar tree that was abundant in our woods.
I must admit, as I reflect back, my sister and I were always so excited about our own special Christmas tree that we selected ourselves and decorated with our own ornaments. These ornaments never went on the family tree. Mom made these especially for our kid-sized tree. The love and care modeled by both of our parents in creating a bit of extra special Christmas magic with this wonderful gift of the tree each year probably wasn’t fully appreciated until reaching adulthood.
Our trek in the woods often brought us to a patch of tiny sized cedar trees. The aromatic scent of the cedars was pleasant and the size was appealing to our “smallish” eyes. As a result, the cedar tree was our typical “go to” little Christmas tree that we selected each year. The cedar tree was cut down, giddy girls in tow, and we carried the tree back to the house from our journey into the woods.
A walk in the woods always brings back memories of the treks I took with my parents into our woods behind our house… looking for the best sticks, or even wading in the creek.
That cedar tree might not have been great for hanging our ornaments, as cedar branches are not as sturdy as a Fraser Fir, but we didn’t care. Mom, of course always helped us in decorating the “pint sized tree” so that our ornaments had the sturdier branches.
Battery operated trees are available in “pint size” versions at Wilkes County Hardware
The delight of spending time with our dad, and hanging the ornaments that our mom made especially for us are memory sprinkles of joy from past Christmases. My sister and I enjoyed the beauty of the Cedar Christmas tree lights every night…providing us the opportunity to experience the Christmas season in our little corner of the house.
Photography has enabled me to capture a moment in time via the camera lens. I don’t have a sophisticated camera. I use my camera from my phone. I have it wherever I go, and it’s easy to use. If you’re an avid reader of my blog, you may recall, that Photography is a goal for my personal growth this year.
Most of my photos that I share on my blog or in other social media sites are purely everyday places that I have been blessed to see and share with you as my readers. I hope you enjoy the season of Fall through my everyday life “camera lens” in “thehardware life”.
The Fall Leaves
Fall Leaves are dropping everywhere! Here’s a few favorites featuring leaves as the centerpiece of the autumn season.
Vibrant Fall Colors
Vibrant Fall Colors are simply abundant this Autumn. We are so blessed to live in an area with such amazing color everywhere we look.
A Day at the Lake
This year I decided to look for Fall colors in unusual places. The Blue Ridge Mountains are an amazing place to find beautiful views and fall colors. Instead of trekking up the mountain, I wanted to check out some local areas to see how the Fall colors were coming and I wasn’t disappointed! These photos were captured a week or so before peak in our area at W Kerr Scott Lake.
Unusual Finds in the Fall
Sometimes a walk around the neighborhood or just being outside brings us face to face to with the unusual and unexpected. When I find those things, I often take a snapshot of my findings.
Tree trunk covered in leaves Acorns.. finding an abundance of acorns according to old weather folklore, forecasts a colder winter. Animals will need the acorns to survive the long, cold winter🥶. Cotton field “leftovers” Moving bales of cotton, that’s just ONE! Feather 🪶 in the grass… Persimmon Tree… old winter folklore tells us that the shape of the persimmon seed can predict the type of winter that is coming. A fork shaped seed inside the persimmon means a milder winter, a spoon shaped persimmon foretells a snowy winter, and a knife shaped seed means a cold, wind biting winter 🥶!
The Pines
This pine is dropping its needles beneath the tree, Pines drop their needles heavily during the Fall months . Long leaf pine needles Pine cones nestled in the fallen pine needles
Sunrises
As you may already know, I love a good sunrise or a beautiful sunset. I’m often up to see the sunrise. Sun chasers, here you go… my 2023 Fall sunrise captures.
The Fall Moon
There is simply nothing more intriguing than a full moon. As an educator, teaching during a full moon cycle brought unique challenges. Medical professionals and others have also attested to the Full moon impact upon human behavior. I couldn’t resist the opportunity to capture the moon behind all those clouds after Spooktacular.
“The night walked down the sky and brought the moon to the forefront “.
Foggy Morning Breakdown
The fog was so thick you could cut it with a knife!
Seeking Warmth…
First fire in the wood stove the morning of October 16th inside Wilkes County Hardware.
I hope you enjoyed a small sample of my Fall favorites. Look for your everyday moments and capture them through your life lens, whether you use your camera or not. Happy Fall Y’all! 🍂🍂🍂🍂
The sunlight was just in the right spot, to capture all those beautiful fall colors… one I couldn’t resist.
There’s simply nothing better like the smell of dinner cooking as you walk through the front door.
Welcome home!
After a long day at work, the aroma welcomes you back home. But wait… Dinner is really almost ready??? You have been gone all day… yes, the Crock-Pot has magically been slowly simmering your dinner nonstop and the smell of a delicious dinner yet to come is wafting throughout your home. The aroma is welcoming you back, like two little, happy puppies wagging their tails anxiously awaiting to greet you as you enter the front door.
These two are waiting for their favorite humans to come back home!
Crock-Pot recipes are a mainstay in the playbook of comfort foods 101 in my opinion. The advantages of using a crock-pot or a slow cooker are plentiful. For one, the crock-pot will use less electricity than cooking a full meal on your stovetop.
Baked potatoes in crockpot??? Try it if you haven’t done that before. Yes, save electricity by using your crockpot and cook on high for 2-3 hours instead of using your oven. I brush mine with olive oil and salt pepper and cover it and walk away for a few hours.. dinner success!
Another advantage of using a crock-pot, Family evening meals can be prepared ahead of time… meaning that it can save you time, and of course, less dishes to clean up after the meal! If you are a meal planning cook, the crock-pot is for you! That’s a definite win in the family meal game plan!
This creamy chicken crock-pot recipe is one of the most versatile dishes that I make that can be used as a base for chicken pie, chicken casserole, or served over pasta. The leftovers can make a creamy chicken soup.
The last advantage of using a crock-pot is simply the monetary savings from each grocery storetrip. When you slow cook in the crock-pot, you can buy a tougher cut of meat ( saving a bit of money) and it will come out tender after cooking low and slow all day long. Crock-pots are designed to tenderize and add complexity of flavors to your protein as it simmers low and slow.The slow cooking process helps to preserve the nutrients. In a higher heat setting, those nutrients can be rapidly broken down, reducing the flavor profile.
As I write this blog post, I realize that some are probably rolling their eyes saying, “good grief girl, get in the 21st century and buy an instant pot”. Here’s my reply… Well, honestly I don’t want one. I love the idea of prepping before I leave for the day, and simmering my food low and slow all day long… nothing beats spaghetti sauce that’s been cooking all day long in the crock-pot and we love it. I’m the “set it and forget it until later” meal game planner.
I don’t think of a crock-pot meal as a “boring meal” that is often repetitive… week after week… “Mom, we are eating the same old stuff” type meals… that’s the whole point of “Crocktober”. Thinking outside of the usual crock-pot mindset and experimenting with new ways to use the traditional slow cooker.
SO…. Here’s a sampling of some of the amazing products that Wilkes County Hardware has to offer you that could add some extra flavor to your favorite proteins or vegetables slowly simmering away in your crock-pot. Hopefully you can find a bit of inspiration for some new “Crocktober Recipes” to make for your family.
This rub is a great addition brings flavor to any type of steak, or beef roast in your crock-pot! Hand choppers are great for making quick work of a large cooked pork lion, or even chicken as you make chopped BBQ or tacos in the crock-pot The best BBQ sauce… AND it’s locally made!Traeger sauces and rubs can add extra flavor to your crock-pot meals Pick your favorite! Use your imagination and available ingredients from your pantry and refrigerator and get cooking in your crock-pot for October! The options are endless!!! It’s Crocktober
Let’s celebrate the month of October with the Crock-pot… and get the slow simmer going … it’s Crocktober time!
FYI: Two recipes are linked in this blog post if y’all are curious… Happy slow cooking!
Living the "hardwarelife", join us in our journey of hardware store ownership
The Hardware Life - A wife's journey into the hardware business 