Doughnuts

Assorted variety from
Krispy Kreme -- you can't go wrong!

Hello, my name is Meredith, and I have an addiction…

No, I don’t have an addition to drugs or alcohol or anything of that danger.  My addiction is to food, and in particular with that sweet little addiction called a doughnut (or maybe donut, depending on where you buy yours from).  

I was privileged to grow up in North Carolina, the home of the infamous Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, and while most people will race to a local Krispy Kreme when the hot sign is turned on, I’m one of the few odd-balls who actually doesn’t really like my doughnuts hot. When I go to Krispy Kreme, I typically will buy an assortment of their amazing doughnuts.  It’s rather funny because as a little girl, our family would go ride around town looking at Christmas lights and end up stopping by the Krispy Kreme location in downtown Raleigh where we would buy several dozen doughnuts.  It was the only time of year I really would get doughnuts as my family made me think it was a long journey to the closest Krispy Kreme location.  As I got older, I realized that I could easily get there in 12 to 15 minutes, which became a lethal addiction.  My friends and I would often go on “KK” runs any day of the week (and yes, occasionally, I will still do that to this day). 

What are your favorite kinds of doughnuts?  I’ll admit that while I do love Krispy Kreme doughnuts, I also love sampling a variety of other shops and bakeries various concoctions.  Even when I go on vacation, whether out of state or even out of the country, I always try to find a place that sells doughnuts to gain a taste-test of sorts.  Below is a listing of a few places that I have purchased doughnuts from during my travels and local samples.

Bag o' donuts from Britt's Donuts in Carolina Beach, North Carolina

Britt’s Donuts – Located along the Boardwalk in Carolina Beach, North Carolina, Britt’s Donuts was voted one of Food & Wine’s best doughnut locations in the United States.  When you go to Britt’s, be prepared to wait in line, as it is only open during certain times of the year, and they only serve glazed donuts.  Order by the dozen and your donuts come served up hot and fresh in a paper bag.  It is advisable to eat their donuts immediately, while they are still warm, as if they cool off, they become a little chewy. The first time I had donuts from Britt’s, I was not blown away like everyone said I would be.  I thought their donuts tasted more like a funnel cake than an actual donut.  But the second time that I went, the donuts were absolutely delicious, and even though I don’t like hot donuts, I put down quite a few!

The amazing, rotating doughnut display at VooDoo Doughnut in Portland, Oregon.

VooDoo Doughnut – Located on 22 SW 3^rd Avenue in Portland, Oregon, VooDoo Doughnut is one of those unique places that you need to visit even if you don’t like doughnuts.  They specialize in “wacky” types of doughnuts – ones covered in fruit loops or any other random topping.  When I went to Portland in May of 2016, VooDoo was on my list of “must-see” places.  Naturally, as is typical of most of my taste-test experiments, I went “plain Jane” and got a regular doughnut with chocolate icing and sprinkles. (No, I did not try the fruit loop or even the VooDoo doll doughnut).  Overall, I was pleased with their doughnuts.  When I was heading to the airport to fly back to the East Coast, I wished I had purchased an entire dozen to bring back home with me.

Half gone - my donut from Lee's Donuts on Granville Island in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Lee’s Donuts – Located on Granville Island in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, you’ll fine Lee’s Donuts.  Granville Island is home to a variety of small markets and shops.  While shopping at some of the variety fruit and vegetable stands last May, I ran across Lee’s Donuts in one of the back corner locations.  A “whole in the wall” of sorts, the smell and sights of donuts grabbed my immediate attention.  I was in Vancouver, Canada, and I just had to give this place a shot.  As is standard, I ordered a chocolate iced with sprinkles donuts.  When the cashier handed it to me, the sheer weight of the donut surprised me.  It was much heavier than your typical glazed donuts with sprinkles.  It was a heavy cake-like donut, with little to no glazing, but surprisingly, the taste of it, albeit somewhat similar to a funnel cake, was pleasantly surprising.  Definitely hop over to Granville Island and look up Lee’s Donuts the next time you are in Vancouver.

So good only the bag remained from my Tim Horton's doughtnut in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Tim Horton’s – I would be remiss if I did not include the Tim Horton’s franchise in my selection.  Located all throughout Canada, Tim Horton’s is similar to a Dunkin Donuts in the States.  Not only do they serve donuts and coffee, they also offer a variety of sandwiches, as well.  My first experience with a Tim Horton’s was in Montreal in July 2015.  I purchased a chocolate-iced glazed donut from one of their shops.  As I was sitting in Place de Armes watching the sights around me, I took a bite of my Tim Horton’s donut and was amazed.  It was simply amazing.  It was a combination of a Krispy Kreme and Dunkin Donuts donut combined together.  So naturally, when I returned to Canada in 2016, I made sure to pay another visit to Tim Horton’s for another donut.  Wow, I wish we had them here in the States!

Caught in the act ...

Sheetz – Lord help me when it comes to Sheetz and their sweetz, in particular their donuts.  There is literally a Sheetz gas station within walking distance of my house and it takes all the will-power within me not to walk there on a daily basis.  Their donuts are very heavy, but even with the weight, they are so, so moist.  My favorite is (shockingly) their white-iced with sprinkles.  I cannot eat just one, I usually inhale two in seconds.  If you’ve never had any sweetz from Sheetz, you better go inside the station the next time you are filling up your tank.  But watch out, it is highly addictive!

Sandra’s Bakery – Located in Sanford, North Carolina, you’ll find infamous made from scratch doughnuts from Sandra’s Bakery.  These doughnuts are made fresh daily and often sell-out early in the day.  It is strongly suggested to call your order in the day before so it will be ready for pick up because should you drive out there, they may not have the doughnuts that you want.  Their glazed doughnuts and chocolate-iced glazed doughnuts are some of the best I have ever had in my life.  These doughnuts are heavy in their weight, but their texture is very light and extremely moist. 

I could continue my list of various bakeries, gas stations and doughnut shops that I have visited to fuel my addiction, but since my mouth is salivating over my keyboard, I will have to put a limit before I truly do have to seek help from Doughnuts Anonymous.  Next time you are out and about and you happen to see a location advertising some type of doughnut selection, pop in and purchase one.  Who knows what little spot off the beaten path you might find.  You may be pleasantly surprised or sadly spoiled.  Nonetheless, can you really go wrong with a doughnut? 

Now, I’m off to run some laps around the building so I can lose some of this weight that these incessant “KK” runs are causing me to gain.  Eat, drink and be doughy!

Charlie

A young Charlie William Baker

When you hear the word “Charlie” what’s the first thing that comes to your mind?  Is it the women’s perfume entitled “Charlie”?  Perhaps, it is the infamous Charlie Brown. Each of us will have something different pop in to our head when a word is set before us and we are asked to think of what comes to mind first.  When I hear the word “Charlie”, the first thing that comes to my mind is my Grandpa, and in particular the way in which my Grandma would say his name with that certain inflection in her voice that only she exhibited.  So, for this blog, I have decided to share a little about my Grandpa – the one and only Charlie in my life.

Born on December 22, 1918, in rural Harnett County, North Carolina, Charlie William Baker was number seven of ten children born to Edd Franklin and Pattie Jones Baker.  His childhood was not one of wealth or pristine.  Growing up during the era of the Great Depression, as I can only imagine, could not have been easy on anyone, but specifically for a large family whose father’s occupation was basically that of a sharecropper.  Charlie would tell you that he really didn’t pay much attention in school.  Matter of fact, he actually would tell you something to the effect of that he went nine years and never got out of the fifth grade.  I imagine he was probably one of the sneaky school kids who just went because they had to go and probably exuded a lot of mischievousness.  He eventually dropped out of school and started working on farms and other odds and ends jobs.  He attempted to enlist in the military during the draft for the Second World War, but due to extremely poor eyesight, he was turned away.

In his early 20s, as he was outside, he saw a dark haired, slender female walking, and he made the comment to some of his friends “that lady is going to be my wife.” I can only imagine that they probably thought he was a little crazy, but sure enough, in 1939, at 20 years of age, Charlie got hitched in Dillon, South Carolina, to Blannie Estelle Wood – the dark haired, darker complexion beauty who was of Native American Indian ancestry.

Together, Charlie and Blannie had six children of their own, and their lives were lived in simplicity but also with much humility.  They provided for their family (and subsequently their grandchildren and great-grandchildren) as best as they could.  Since Charlie did not have much schooling, he struggled with reading and even writing, but Blannie ultimately was his saving grace as she helped him learn how to read and taught him many valuable lessons, which is very impressive for someone, who herself, only had an eighth grade education. 

After retiring from Wicks Lumber Company and enduring major open heart surgery in the early 1980s, Charlie began to work at Pullen Park in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he worked until he was 92 years old.  (Now THAT is an incredible work ethic!)  Even after Blannie’s death in 2001, Charlie continued to work and share his love for his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  If you ever encountered him at Pullen Park, where he often operated the kiddie boats, he’d likely slip you a free admission ticket through the gate, play you a tune on his harmonica, but ultimately, you didn’t get past him without him witnessing to you and sharing God’s love.  He was not scared of what people might have said or thought about him. He was extremely comfortable in his own shoes.  (Oh, to be more like my Grandpa!) But, he just wanted everyone to know about Jesus.

Shortly before turning 95,
Charlie donned my Uncle's
Harley -- no he didn't drive it,
but he probably could have!

For me, growing up, I was always initially apprehensive around my Charlie.  His personality could be a bit dominant at times, in comparison to my very soft-spoken Grandma.  He would often take my cousins and me on pick-up rides through the back country roads and while we likely drove him absolutely insane, he still would willingly take us.  After my Grandma died, we continued to go and spend time with him on Sunday afternoons.  It was in those latter years that I really began to gain a better appreciation for not only my Grandpa Charlie, but for older people in general.  You can see the struggles they face in their later years – sickness and health issues but above all loneliness.  Those times spent with my Grandpa are moments to cherish.  I may not have said much during those Sunday visits, but I often observed his mannerisms and listened to him tell stories of his childhood or present day events.   

In late August of 2012, at 95 years old, Charlie was rushed to the hospital and in to immediate surgery due to issues with veins in his legs.  Miraculously he survived the surgery, which is almost unheard of for someone at his age.  As the hours turned in to days, Grandpa’s condition slowly began to deteriorate.  It was eventually determined that while he did survive the surgery, his body likely rejected the actual procedure and treatment. 

Sadly, on September 12, 2012, a few months shy of turning 96, we lost our Charlie.  We may have physically lost him, but his spirit lives on. He is ultimately in a much better place – a place he wanted to go – his home, his Heavenly home.  Unbeknownst to me, my Mother (who was Charlie’s only daughter and one he often referred to as his eyeball), confronted me with having a small part in his funeral.  The initial thought overwhelmed me.  She asked if I’d either play the piano, sing or speak.  Music tends to make my emotions flow much more than speaking, so I agreed that I’d speak if I could share some humorous stories to make people laugh and not cry, as Charlie would have wanted us to rejoice in his home going.  I have spoken in a variety of settings before, so I wasn’t in the least bit worried about speaking in front of people, but as I wrote my notes on what to speak on, it was so hard to narrow down the stories, and when I finally did deliver my monologue, it was inspiring to see just how many people came to celebrate his life and shared in those same memories. 

While Charlie may not have been the most book-smart human on this Earth, he was by far one of the most knowledgeable and smartest men I have ever met.  He knew the Bible inside out.  He could “piddle” (as he called it) and make just about any little craft.  He loved to dust - albeit with the leaf-blower!  He loved to share his stories and just enjoy time with his family and friends.  He was a hard-worker.  He was a careful driver (yes, even at 95 years old, he was still driving!).  He set an example that many of us should revere and respect.  If you ever met my Grandpa Charlie, he more than likely left an impression upon your heart.  There are days I wish that phone would ring and I’d answer to hear him ask me, not hello, how are you, but “can you tell me how to spell” such and such word.  Small things like that make you smile, they make you laugh, they make you cry, but ultimately, they are footprints upon your soul.  Footprints that last a lifetime. 

May you all find a Charlie in your life - it doesn’t have to be someone physically named Charlie, but may you all find someone that leaves a legacy behind and leaves invaluable footprints upon your soul. 

To my Charlie, who is up in Heaven, I can’t wait to see you again.  I’m glad you’re no longer suffering and hurting.  I picture you now in God’s Angel Band performing a song on your harmonica and singing a tune of celebration and joy.  Thank you for the legacy you left behind for your family, and thank you for being an example to me.  I love you, Charlie, Grandpa. 

A few of Charlie's angels

Beatles or Beetles

"Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say, it’s all right…” lyrics to one of my all-time favorite songs by The Beatles, which is currently being broadcast in my ears courtesy of Spotify.

Okay, show of hands (not that I really can see but do it anyways) for how many of you reading this little blog actually like The Beatles?  Well, if you didn’t raise your hand and if you don’t like The Beatles, then you don’t know what you are missing because some of the best songs ever have come from this incredible group. 

For those of you who don’t like The Beatles, let me ask another question.  Do you like Beetles – meaning insects aka beetle bugs, not the cute little punch-buggy Volkswagens? While I do like certain beetle bugs, I think I tend to have a better appreciation for The Beatles. 

But, do you ever wonder if beetle bugs actually like The Beatles?  Do you think they wonder whether The Beatles infringed upon their unofficial species name and made a lot of money by utilizing it?  (Ha, okay, I’m totally just kidding for those of you who may be thinking that I have completely lost my mind.)

But if we humans have an appreciation for music, specifically The Beatles, do you ever sit back and wonder if beetle bugs often listen to the music that we humans blast at full volume?  Wouldn’t it be rather humorous if the beetle bugs actually liked The Beatles the most?  More than likely they don’t since they likely don’t have a concept of that, but it was just something random that popped up in to my head.

With that being said, here’s a list of a few of my favorite songs by The Beatles: 

Here Comes the Sun

Good Day Sunshine

Back in the USSR

Eleanor Rigby

Yesterday

Hey Jude

Paperback Writer

Let It Be

Okay … seriously, I probably could list all their songs because there are very few of The Beatles’ songs that I don’t like.

There are days that I wish I had been alive during the British Invasion solely to be able to have seen The Beatles perform.  I’ve had the opportunity to see Sir Paul McCartney perform live on a couple of occasions and he never disappoints the fans.  It is always so exciting to see him perform and still continue to perform some of The Beatles’ songs, many of which he co-wrote with the late John Lennon.  Sometimes, as I sit in awe at his concerts, I can get caught up and daydream of what it would have been like to have seen The Beatles perform. But, since that will never become a reality, I’ll continue to enjoy Sir Paul!  (And, let me add a quick aside note – some of Sir Paul’s individual songs are actually better than some of The Beatles’ songs, but shhh, don’t tell anyone I said that!)

The music of The Beatles is often times relaxing and even thought-provoking.  There are times when I’m in a terrible mood, that I can put one of their CDs on shuffle and sing along with every tune and am constantly relaxed by the end of the CD. 

So, the next time you are out in the great outdoors chasing lightning bugs or playing with ladybugs (my two favorite beetles, by the way!), take a moment and listen to the sounds of nature. While you’re listening to the music of the beetle bugs, see if you can put the tune of a Beatles’ song to the chirping of the cicadas or crickets.  It may be a tricky task, but it could be interesting to try. It would also get you better in tune with both The Beatles and the beetle bugs!

Austin

The glorious sun setting into the Texas farm
lands upon final approach in to
Austin-Bergstrom International.

“Now boarding at gate A2 for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport,” the Southwest attendant bellowed throughout the airport terminal.  And so began my adventure to the Republic of Texas and its capital city of Austin.

In January of 2012, I decided to take a “clear my head” trip to visit my cousin, Amanda, in Austin.  I had never been to Austin, let alone Texas, before, and the sheer excitement as I boarded my flight was overwhelming.  After a brief lay-over in Nashville, where we picked up Country music legend, Little Jimmy Dickens, we were wheels up to the great state.  

I had always heard that everything was bigger in Texas, and upon our final approach in to Austin-Bergstrom, I looked out the window to my left and was awestruck by the beautiful sunset that was appearing before me.  The land was completely flat, not a tree in sight and the sun literally looked as if it were sinking directly in to the Texas farmland.  It was a breathtaking sight and a memorable moment to witness. 

The view of Austin from on top
of Mount Bonnell.

Austin is the fourth most populated city in the state of Texas and the eleventh most populated city in the United States of America.  From my vantage point in the plane, I wasn’t able to see much of the city, just the surrounding flat lands, so I had a hard time initially wrapping my mind around the size of such a city. While staring at the flat country fields below, little did I know that Austin is situated within the Hill Country of Texas.  My cousin informed me that while I was there we would go visit Mount Bonnell, the mountain overlooking the city of Austin. Later that evening as I sat in my room, I thought to myself, “Really? There are mountains in Texas? That’s just not possible.”

Upon arriving at the base of Mount Bonnell, I almost couldn’t help but laugh.  Coming from a state that is home to the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Great Smoky Mountains and the Appalachian Mountains, I was tickled by the thought that Mount Bonnell was considered an actual mountain because it’s size was miniscule compared to Mount LeConte or Mount Mitchell that I was accustomed to back home.  To the Austinite’s, yes, Mount Bonnell is probably a mountain because everything else surrounding them is completely flat.  But to me, Mount Bonnell was nothing more than a hill that you climbed stairs to get to the top.  Now, I’m not bashing Mount Bonnell in the least because the view from the top did completely over look all of the Hill Country, which features massive homes scattered throughout the hills, but it also provided an exceptional view of the city of Austin from above. 

The Congress Avenue
Bridge -- waiting for
the flight of the bats!

With Austin being the capital of the state of Texas, you have to make a stop at the Texas State Capitol Building.  I may have been the only one, but I was having flashbacks to Walker, Texas Ranger, as I toured the impressive and highly ornate building.  Situated in the center of town and just steps from the campus of the University of Texas, you can’t miss the dome of the Capitol Building as it looms in the skyline.  Walking the halls and touring the chambers of the Capitol Building, you are struck with the thought of those great leaders who have walked such hallowed halls and just how impeccable the state of Texas truly is to the history of the United States of America.

One event that my cousin suggested we witness was the nightly flying of the bats from the Congress Avenue Bridge.  At first, I thought she was absolutely crazy because did the bats truly have this nightly ritual?  So, we parked in a lot just beside the bridge and walked up to stand along the sidewalk of the bridge as cars zoomed past us on Congress Avenue.  Within minutes, other individuals started to line the side of the bridge peering over as dusk began to settle along the horizon of Austin.  Silently, I pondered to myself “Do these people not have anything else to do in Austin?” but then again, I was standing right there in the middle of them. You could hear the bats making their noises literally right beneath you which only escalated us humans’ anticipation of the 1.5 million bats that were to shortly ascend to the night sky. 

We waited, and waited, and waited. Dusk, when the bats are to make their ascent, came and went.  We continued to stand.  People almost acted as if they were praying they would come (okay, that may be a slight exaggeration).  We waited some more until eventually we decided to leave. For whatever reason, the one night I am standing on the Congress Avenue Bridge in downtown Austin, Texas, the bats decided to fail me and disappoint me by not taking flight. 

To this day, I wonder if it is a hoax and if my cousin just decided to have me stand on a bridge staring down at the river beneath and the skyscrapers to my left.  It was still a lovely evening and a lovely sight.  But, right then and there, it truly hit me all the more why they want to “Keep Austin Weird” because there are weird sights and rituals that are done in this large city, and I had just taken part in one that decided not to come to fruition that evening.

Don't forget to go visit Beevo!

If you ever do decide to go to the “Live Music Capital of the World”, you won’t be disappointed as there is so much to see and do in Austin.  I am hoping to make a return trip in the near future so I can take in some more sights of this active city.  When you do decide to take the adventure yourself, make sure you get some ice cream from Amy’s (the BEST ice cream I have EVER had), stop by to visit Beevo the gigantic Longhorn outside of the Co-Op on the campus of UT-Austin (Hook ‘em Horns!), and while you’re at UT-Austin, maybe take in a sporting event, like we did by seeing the Women’s Basketball Teams of Texas versus Baylor in an in-state match-up.  Eat lots of Texas Barbecue, take a trip over to Lake Travis and see an incredible sunset.  Kick up your cowboy boots and ride off in to the sunset, and ultimately help to preserve greatness by continuing to “Keep Austin Weird”!

Attending the Women's Basketball Game, we were cousin's divided, ha!  My cousin received her Graduate Degree from the University of Texas, so it was natural that she route for The Longhorns.  I, on the other hand, decided to be the outsider and cheer for the Baylor Bears!  While it looks like no one was at the game, we arrived early and eventually the arena filled.  What a great time! 

Where've You Been?

For my faithful blog followers (all two of you, ha!), you may be wondering just where I've been lately and why I haven't posted in over a year.

Well, first of all, I apologize! But the issue is... it's a thing called LIFE, and it gets in the way, it gets busy, it's all consuming and at times, never ending.  I've been quite busy with my career (whatever that may be), travelling, and just a whole host of other things have popped up on my agenda that have prevented me from sharing more of my random sense of useless knowledge and information.

But, that's about to change ...

I've decided that I will once again debut an ABC theme blog posts.  I know some of you are rolling your eyes and wondering why?  

Sure, I thought about reviving the Coaches Collection or starting some other random series, but I was really getting tripped up on ideas.  With the ABC blog, I seriously pondered doing an all-cities series to encompass places I've traveled.  I pondered doing an entertainment collection to feature favorite movies and television shows.  Seriously, I pondered nearly ever type of theme I could, but ultimately settled on the ABC idea again as this will allow me to combine a variety of topics in to an array of themes based on the letters.  

So, over the next few days, weeks, maybe even months, I'll begin rolling out the alphabet according to yours truly.  Get your popcorn ready, as I hope you'll find some of this amusing or maybe even enlightening.  We can all try to find something new to learn each day, so maybe someone will learn something new from my random gift of assorted-ness to you!