Blue Eagle Season Opener 2009

Lawsy, it's been awhile since I've posted, but life has been throwing me some interceptions lately. However, nothing like a Clover High School football game to get me going again!

I do love those Blue Eagles! Last night's first game against the South Point (no "e") Red Raiders was tons of fun, although hotter than blazes. My husband opted out of the game, as he is morally opposed to watching football when it's over 90 degrees. A guy's gotta have his standards, I guess.

Anyway, the Blue Eagles started out strong. Defense looked good (hallelujah), offense pounding 3 to 5 yards a down. Classic Blue Eagle football.

We all went thru metal scanners on the way in the gate, which was probably good because otherwise someone would've shot the ref's. Clover could hardly make it through a play without a penalty flag. Yeah, there were a few offsides calls. But, you know, first game. The boys were excited to play! But there were quite a few questionable, okay, BOGUS calls as well, at least if you agreed with the fans in the stand.

As for me, what do I know? Without the instant replay tape and the announcers drawing little circles on the screen, I just gotta take their word for it.

So anyway, 14-0 at the half, and that's with two touchdowns being called back for penalties. We were feeling pretty cocky. (And by "we", I am referring to the fans. Jerry Seinfeld makes fun of folks who say "We won! We won!" after their team aces a game. Jerry says, "No, THEY won. YOU watched.)

The second half started out with more penalties against Clover, and the crowd became rather unruly. South Point managed a touchdown, but blew the extra point. 14-6.

Clover scored again, answered by South Point with a 2 point conversion. 21-14. Clover's QB Aaron Miller put the ball in the air on a third and long play and we were treated to a miraculous catch by Brian Barrett. Whoooeee! 28-14, just a couple minutes left. The South Point home side started emptying the stands. Fine with me. Less traffic to fight on the way out.

But honey, it wasn't over. The Blue Eagles thought they had it in the bag, and started playing like it. South Point scored again, 28-21. Uh oh.

Then an onside kick play by South Point actually WORKED. Uh oh.

South Point fought their way towards the goal line again, and the Clover boys woke the heck up. With tiny seconds left in the game, a whole lotta Latta emerged and finalized the victory for Clover, stopping the drive. Clover had the ball, took a knee, and took the win.

It's gonna be a good season, y'all.

Jan Todd lives in Lake Wylie and works for The Lake Wylie Man. For more blogs about living in Lake Wylie, Blue Eagle football, and Lake Wylie real estate, visit The Lake Wylie Man website!

Have you ever seen butter fly?

Butter really can't fly, you know. I visited Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden this weekend to witness the release of the butterflies in the orchid conservatory. What a cool thing! You'll need to make plans to visit soon, because the butterfly exhibit will only run through the end of October.

This weekend, the Garden had lots of special events planned for families - - face painting, music, food, other exhibits. I arrived at the Garden early, just after opening time at 9am. The butterflies were just waking up. I was told that they're cold blooded, and don't really become active until the sun warms them up a bit. I enjoyed a few quiet moments, then watched as families began to arrive with baby strollers, toddlers, and cameras galore!

Now back to butter flying. The more I thought about it, the more I began to wonder, so I "Googled" a bit. Seems there are several theories about where butterflies got their name. One theory is that many butterflies are yellow, the color of butter. Another idea is that they were attracted to milk & butter churning. (I'm not buying that.) Yet another theory was that the name started as "flutterby" . . . which makes some sense . . . and then dyslexia set in. Whatever the origin, they are beautiful creatures, so be sure to venture out to Daniel Stowe soon!

Thanks for reading my blog. For more blogs about living in Lake Wylie, Lake Wylie real estate, and my work with dock construction and boat lifts, and Carolina Edgefield pottery, take a look at my other blogs!

Season Opener

Manicurists in Clover & Lake Wylie are gonna be busy today, honey, 'cuz there was some serious NAIL biting going on at the Clover Memorial Stadium last night. The Blue Eagles kept us on the edges of our seats as they finally triumphed over Belmont's Red Raiders 48-42. Ninety points! That's thirteen total touchdowns, twelve extra points! That's a whole mess of excitement, folks.

Despite the threat of rain, the stadium was absolutely packed. The visitor side ran out of general admission tickets, the home side ran out of programs. The concession stands didn't run out of anything, because not many fans left their seats!

Clover's Blue Eagles had a strong first half, leaving us cozy and comfy with a score of 28-14. But South Point's coach must've lit a FIRE under them boys in the locker rooom, because they came out and scored two touchdowns to tie the score. Clover turned up the juice and drove the ball almost to the goal line, only to fumble inside the 5 and turn the ball back over to the Raiders, who then made short work of scoring their THIRD unanswered touchdown.

The end of the third quarter was upon us, 28-35 with South Point in the lead. Clover got the ball and tied the score, then scored again to take the lead 42-35. There was a trick play in there somewhere; I was in a tizzy so it's all a blur now. South Point tied the score at 42-42 with about five minutes left to play. Those precious Clover boys took it slow and steady, finally scoring with about 30 seconds left on the clock. They missed the extra point, leaving the door open for more tension.

It's not over 'til it's over, though, and South Point kept us on the edge with about 4 plays within the 28 seconds they had to play. It was a LONG 28 seconds, but ended as Clover protected the lead and won their first game, 48-42. The announcer said it best when he quipped, "Folks, we're gonna set up a collection plate. You all are going to have to PAY to leave this stadium, 'cuz we have seen a FOOTBALL game tonight!" Hallelujah!

Congratulations, Clover Blue Eagles!


Thanks for reading my blog! I love Blue Eagle football - - it's one of my favorite things about living in Lake Wylie. Leave comments and let me know what you love about living here! For more blogs about Lake Wylie Events and Activities, Lake Wylie waterfront living & resources, and Lake Wylie real estate, visit The Lake Wylie Man website!

How North is South?

My baby sister Kathy came home to SC for a visit this week. She moved up to Baltimore last spring with her Yankeloid husband Chris. She's adjusting well, but says she misses "The South".

Chris commented that Maryland is a Southern state, after all. To that I say, "Bull Feathers!" Chris claimed that since Maryland is south of the Mason-Dixon, that makes it Southern. I think that the Mason Dixon isn't the say-all, end-all about which states are Southern and which are not. So, if not the MD line, what are the parameters?

• Well, y'all . . . "Y'all" for starters. I think if you don't hear it at least once a day, you aren't in the South.
• Kudzu. Known as "the heaps" in Alabama, it is really the national plant for Southerners. If we could only figure out how to fry it, we'd be in business.
• Barbecue. It isn't a verb. It's cuisine. Mustard based, tomato based, vinegar based, whatever. Pig. We serve it at wedding receptions, we serve it at family reunions, we protect the secret sauce recipes with a Smith & Wesson.
• Grits. Shrimp 'n Grits, Cheese Grits, Grits with butter, even Grit & Collard Casserole. You'd be surprised.
• Duke's Mayo. Gotta have the Duke.
• Maybe I need to move on from the food category. This could go on all day.
• Heat + humidity. Notice how the population of the South about quadruplified when air conditioning was invented?
• Manners. Yes, ma'am, our mamma's taught us right. Bless their hearts.
• The beach. It's where we go for summer vacation. Not the shore, we go to the beach! The water is warm, the sand is hot, and the boiled peanuts are by our sides.
• Sweet tea. If you order tea in a restaurant, it comes sweetened. If you ask for unsweetened tea, they bring it to you with a spoon in it along with a pack of Sweet 'n Low. If you order it unsweetened in a BARBECUE restaurant, they look at you funny.
• Football - - high school and college, thank you very much. We're just learning the pro stuff. Go to Death Valley (Clemson) for a game sometime. Words cannot describe!
• How we deal with Snow. We buy bread. We close schools. If schools are called off even before the first flake hits the ground, honey, you ARE in the South.
• Attitude. More than language, more than accents, more than food - - Southern is an attitude.

What else, y'all? Leave some comments and let me know what I left out!

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Getting Around in Lake Wylie

Have you ever asked for directions from Charlotte to places around Lake Wylie? Quite likely, you received an answer such as "Go across the Buster Boyd Bridge, drive a couple of miles, then turn left onto Hwy 49. Then, when you get to Five Points, hang a right onto . . ."

Now, first of all, you never saw anything that identifies Buster Boyd Bridge. There are lots of bridges in the area. How do you know Buster Boyd's??

Then, you were ON highway 49 coming from Charlotte. Why would you have to turn to get onto Hwy 49? And where was this Five Points, anyway? Five Points would generally describe a place where five roads (not four, not three) would come together at one point.

I remember asking directions one time while in Yadkin County, North Carolina. I was told to go just past the place where Jim's Grill used to be, then cut back on the dirt road. That was really great, since I had no idea where Jim's Grill USED to be, and I didn't know what "cut back" meant. Left? Right? Reverse? Who knew.

So - - allow me to enlighten you on getting around in Lake Wylie. First of all, the Buster Boyd Bridge. It USED to be a grand thing (see picture above, courtesey of the Lake Wylie Pilot.) It was a bridge that joined North & South Carolina, just past what now is The Palisades on Highway 49. Buster Boyd was a farmer who used to own the land in that area, and the bridge was named after him. The two lane bridge was torn down and replaced by the 4-lane, rather ordinary looking bridge, around 2001. It was sad to lose such a landmark, but commuters are much happier now! As far as I know, there is no sign that identifies the bridge as "Buster Boyd", but we all still call it by that name.

As for turning left on Highway 49 . . . if I remember correctly, the road used to curve around the intersection of Hwy 49, Hwy 274, and Hwy 557. That area was actually called "Three Points", and sometimes still is. When the shopping centers with Food Lion and Bi-Lo were built, an intersection was redesigned with a traffic light. Highway 49 now turns left at that intersection. Of course, some people traveling to York on Hwy 49 sort of miss that turn and end up in Clover. I've done it several times myself!

The highway around "Five Points" has been redesigned a couple of times in the past ten or fifteen years. Lake Wylie Road, Hwy 274, Hwy 55, and Hwy 49 north and south used to converge right in front of North's Grocery. The most recent redesign added an intersection, so there are now two traffic lights rather close together. Don't try to do the math, just know that we describe that area as "Five Points".

Hopefully that clears things up a bit! If you really want to start sounding like a local (with or without the Southern accent), go ahead and start incorporating these "used to be" landmarks into your conversations and directions. If nothing else, the recipients of these directions will get a lovely tour of our countryside!

For local expertise on the Lake Wylie area, information on events and activities, and resources for Lake Wylie real estate, please visit my website: Lake Wylie Waterfront Real Estate. For fun things to do with your whole family,visit Lake Wylie Events and Activities.

Ask the Southern Gal

I've lived in eight different Southeastern states, and I figure that makes me qualified as an expert on Southernisms. So that, along with a deep respect for my dear friends from Elsewhere, inspires this helpful guide.

I don't know if y'all have noticed, but our part of the Carolina's has become home to folks from all over the U.S., and quite a few folks from across the Big Pond. Some of my favorite friends are from north of the Mason-Dixon. Occasionally I am asked questions about the Southern culture, so I figured I'd answer a few here:

1) Jan, the other day, a neighbor took me to a barbecue eatery to "initiate me" into the South. When I ordered unsweetened tea, the waitress looked at me like I'd lost my mind. What gives?

Lawsy, girl. Unsweeted tea at a barbecue joint? Ain't gonna happen.

2) Speaking of Southern cuisine, how do you fry okra?

Why, barefoot, of course!

3) Is it true that "bless your heart" is just a way to talk bad about people and feel okay about it?

Heavens, no. We're equal opportunity heart blessers. We bless your heart whether we like you or not!

4)What about people calling me ma'am? Are they being sarcastic, or what?

No ma'am! Their mama just taught 'em good manners.

5) I saw a vine at the of the road that seems to grow very well in this area. I'm thinking about planting some to grow up my porch rail.

Gracious daisies, child, that's kudzu! I had a cousin that saw some at the edge of his driveway one morning, and when he came home that evening, he couldn't find his house!

6) Do Southerners listen to anything other than country music?

Of course, darlin'! We listen to country AND western!

7) And what's with everyone calling me "darlin"??

Why, sugah, we just can't remember your name!

If you have a question about the South that you'd like answered, feel free to leave a comment. I'd be tickled to death to help you out. Come back later now, y'hear?

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Early Memories of Lake Wylie

Some of my earliest memories include "going to the river" with my Grandmama and Granddaddy. He'd hitch up his boat to his old blue Ford pick-up, while Grandmama packed a cooler with iced tea (sweet, of course!), fried chicken, home grown tomatoes, and a giant watermelon. Granddaddy would take one or two of us with him to the boat landing, which usually involved a stop at the bait shop for a styrofoam canister of worms.

Meanwhile, the rest would pile into Grandmama's car and head to the river shack. We'd drive down Allison Creek Road, which at that time was an adventure in dodging potholes. Then we'd veer off to the left onto a dirt road with no road sign. We'd take a left fork first, then a right, then another right, and so on. Those who didn't know the way would follow hand painted signs that were nailed to the pine trees at each fork.

A day at "the river" (which is how Lake Wylie was referred to in the days before Jimmy Carter) always involved lots of swimming (or bobbing around with those lovely orange life jackets), a bit of fishing with cane poles, getting bitten by chiggers, and eating watermelon. Ah, those were the days!

If an afternoon thunderstorm came up, we'd duck into the shack, hand-built by my grandfather. It had a small kitchen, a living room, and one bedroom. The "bathroom" was down a path into the woods . . .

At the end of the day, we'd go back to Grandmother's house, a bit sunburned and VERY tired. We'd paint our chigger bites with fingernail polish and go straight to bed!