Here's an entry for Bed and Breakfasts I think you'll love in beautiful & historic Savannah, Georgia.
The 'Confederate House Inn', built in 1854 this home exudes Southern charm and hospitality.
808 Drayton Street, Savannah, Georgia (800) 975-7457          

http://www.theconfederatehouse.com/index.html

An interesting business from Roanoke, Virginia is "Black Dog Architectural Salvage". They specialize in finding old properties such as hotels, farms/plantations, businesses, etc. from the 18th, 19th & early 20th Centuries and salvaging the architectural pieces like fireplace mantles/surrounds, moldings, wood, furniture then repurposing & reusing it to preserve it's historical significance and for their customers to use in their home ad businesses to decorate & enhance the decor. They've been in business since 1999 and have a program on  'DIY Network and HGTV'.

902 13th Street SW in Roanoke, Virginia, (540) 343-6200,  http://www.blackdogsalvage.com

Badcock & More furniture company established in Mulberry, Florida by W.S. Badcock in 1904. The company is still headquartered in Mulberry, Florida 1-800-BADCOCK {1800-223-2625} http://www.badcock.com/store/index.jsp 

*Recognized as a centennial retailer by Florida Governor Jeb Bush in 2004.*

Another great Southern furniture company that's been in business since 1902, founded by John David Bassett & Charles C. Bassett, in Bassett, Virginia and is still headquartered there with another facility in Newton, North Carolina. (828)-465-7700. http://www.bassettfurniture.com

Along with my Southern Companies, I include Bed & Breakfast of the South one of which is this charming and historical B&B "Two Meeting Street Inn". This beautiful late 19th century home in historic Charleston {Charles Town} is widely referred to as the 'The Jewel in the Crown of Charleston"  {2 Meeting Street, Charleston, South Carolina (888)-723-7322}
http://www.twomeetingstreet.com

Hopeful...

This could be the week something new and wonderful happens in the life of "Keep It Southern Y'all"©. A lot is going on with interest from third parties and things seem to be on the right track, I'm hopeful all will go well and that the world will soon be opening the pages of my book and gaining an all new appreciation of buying 'Southern'... It's been a long journey and an interesting one, I've learned a great deal about my fellow Southerners and their companies and I don't look at products & services in the same way as I did prior to embarking on this quest of highlighting these Southern Companies. My family and I are very excited about the the future this venture could bring. It's a great feeling to know there are 'guardian angels' with a Southern Accent looking over us and aiding us from their perch in the Empire State, it shows you can find friends & Southern Hospitality when and where you least expect it...


Y'all come back now...

Having a cook out with my family today, y'all come!

We'll be having some "Mt. Olive Pickles" too!

One of my favorite Southern products and I'm certain you'll love them too;

Mt. Olive Pickles

Founded in 1926 by Shickrey Baddour and George Moore in Mt. Olive, North Carolina and it's still headquartered there. (I use this product) http://www.mtolivepickles.com/

Here's a great company and product that kids of ALL ages love I know mine do, "DippinDots"
Founded in 1988 by Curt Jones in Paducah, Kentucky. "Jones, a microbiologist, pioneered the process of cryogenic encapsulation...a scientific way of saying he used super-cold freezing methods to make little beads of ice cream."  http://www.dippindots.com/home.html

Another great Southern company in El Paso, Texas that I've used several times, "El Paso Saddlery" Since 1889 they have great handmade leather pieces saddles, belts, bags & holsters historic, classic & modern styles are available. http://www.epsaddlery.com (915)-544-2233

The American Leather {Furniture Company}

Of High Point, North Carolina founded in 1990 they specialize in Custom Leather Furniture.
http://www.americanleather.com  336-431-1513

I hope y'all have a great weekend and enjoy your friends and family in good ole Southern end of Summer blowout! Be safe, eat well and God † Bless all of y'all! ~Clay~

Hey y'all what do all of y'all think of the blog for my up coming book "Keep It Southern Y'all"© so far? If you like the blog you'll love the book! And for all of you who do not live where these companies sell their wares, many of these fine Southern companies have websites where you can order them from the comfort of your home or office so you can have many of these wonderful things no matter where you live in the country...

For all of y'all that like Southern made furniture for it's style, craftsmanship, durability and cost then here is another entry from my book on Southern Companies and Business', "Keep It Southern Y'all"©

Kingsdown

Mattress company founded in 1904 and headquartered in Mebane, North Carolina. www.kingsdown.com/

Sam Moore Furniture

Established in Bedford, Virginia in 1940 and still headquartered there.  www.sammoore.com/


There are so many great Southern Companies that most people don't even realize are Southern like;

Papa John’s (Pizza)

Founded in 1984 by John Schnatter in Jeffersontown, Kentucky (near Louisville) and is still headquartered there. http://www.papajohns.com/index.html

A couple more great Southern Companies, my book "Keep It Southern Y'all"© is just full of great Southern Companies both new and old;

Old Bay (Seasoning)

Founded in 1939 by Gustav Brunn, a German immigrant in Baltimore, Maryland. It is now owned by McCormick also featured in this book as a Southern Company.  http://www.oldbay.com/

Walker & Sons "slap ya mama" (Cajun Seasoning)

Founded in 2001 by Anthony 'TW' Walker Ville Platte, Louisiana. (I use this product) http://www.slapyamama.com/

Bruce Foods

Producers of ‘Cajun’ spices, hot sauces, canned yams and sweet potatoes, pancake, muffin, bread-pudding, and biscuit mixes, ‘Cajun King seasonings’, ‘Casa Fiesta’ Mexican foods, ‘Cajun Injector’ marinades, and ‘Mexene’ chili seasonings  founded in 1928 by the Bruce family in New Iberia, Louisiana and currently headquartered in St. Martinville, Louisiana. http://www.brucefoods.com/

I can't wait for y'all to read it I'm sure you'll enjoy it, I even have a section on 'Bed & Breakfasts' in the South!!!

Another great Southern Company covered in "Keep It Southern Y'all"© is;

Dixie Crystals

Sugar company founded in 1917 by Benjamin A. Oxnard in Savannah, Georgia now owned by Imperial Sugar of Sugarland, Texas. (I use this product) http://www.dixiecrystalssugar.com/

Hey y'all, as a proud American I always try to buy U.S. made products and services first, but also as a proud Southerner (from Burlington, North Carolina) I have started looking into buying 'Southern' first so I came up with something I call my "Southern Company" list. It is a list of companies/businesses in the South that were established in the South and are for the most part still headquartered here which in turn keeps our money in the section of the country where we live which helps our local economy, not to mention helping our neighbors, friends and family find employment and products we are familiar with or grew up with. Here is a list of Southern goods and services companies that I deal with or know to be good Southern companies. I hope all y'all that read this book enjoy the brief histories of the companies and in some cases the web address of the Southern companies listed and that you will decide to custom these establishments and remember "Keep It Southern Y'all"! God † bless one and all...

~Clay~

Well y'all "Keep It Southern Y'all"© is getting much closer to publishing, not only do I have a publisher interested, but a really good friend a 'Tar Heel' ex-pat living in NYC and another friend a 'Palmetto State' ex-pat are trying to get financing for the project, if it works out we could be up and rolling by maybe 2014! I would be forever grateful and in their debt for any success for 'Keep It Southern Y'all"©, I'm so excited I can't put it to words.

Here is one of the Southern Companies that I've featured in my book;

GooGoo Cluster

Snack company founded in 1912 by Howell Campbell and the Standard Candy Company in Nashville, Tennessee. (I use this product) http://www.googoo.com/

If you've never had one of these Southern Delicacies y'all are in for a treat, you'll get real milk chocolate, caramel, peanuts & marshmallow! A Tennessee treat!

"Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more, you should never wish to do less." {General Robert Edward Lee}

You know I've met some great folks on line particularly through my FB page "The Southern Cause", in fact that was the main inspiration for my book "Keep It Southern Y'all" ©. I had so much interest on the topic of Southern Companies that a had a few folks suggest I do a book on it, one person in particular who I won't mention by name right now {because I don't have his permission} has been mega supportive as well as giving many helpful and useful suggestions and many on my FB page have given product suggestions as well. Southerners are my people and great people they are...

Things are getting closer, just working on the funds for my publisher, but they really like the book and I have another good friend originally from North Carolina who currently lives in NYC who may also be able to help get my project up an running, either way it will happen. 'Keep It Southern Y'all'© will be on the shelves of your favorite book seller by 2014... :-)

Looks like I may be truly on my way to getting my book published! I am so happy that my dream is starting to come true. I got "Keep It Southern Y'all"© a copyright and it all seems to be happening like in a dream sequence now...

May 20th 1861, 152nd Anniversary of the Secession of North Carolina from the union and joining the Confederacy. God Bless the 'Old Norht State' and our Tarheels!

No word from any more publishers, but no news is good news right?

Well I received my fifth rejection letter from publishers, I still have about twelve out and one that asjed for further information so I suppose there is still hope that one of those will pick it up...

No new word yet from the 16 publishers about my book 'Keep It Southern Y'all' which is a {history, reference, guide} to Southern businesses. I did find another publisher in North Carolina that I sent my proposal to so it's in Gods hands, I'm praying and keeping my fingers crossed that it will get picked up...


May 12th & 13th, 1865; The last battle of the 'War of Northern Aggression' the Battle of Palmito Ranch in Cameron County, Texas and a Confederate victory.

Hey y'all well I'm up to 16 publishers I've sent my book proposal to and had one ask for further information on it so we'll see. A good friend and fellow Tarheel who has seen a couple chapters and has been advising me on my book 'Keep It Southern Y'all' thinks the potential of it becoming successful is very high. I've also passed it among friends and family and they think it's great too so we'll see, I'm pretty excited about the possibilities.

General Thomas Jonathan 'Stonewall' Jackson

A sad day in Southern History, today is the 150th anniversary of the death of one the finest battlefield Generals in history. General Thomas J. 'Stonewall' Jackson died on this day in 1863 from wounds received eight days earlier during the ...balltle of Chancellorsville. General Jackson's last words were "'Order A.P. Hill to prepare for action! Pass the infantry to the front rapidly!" (Then finally) "Let us cross over the river, and rest under the shade of the trees." (he was going 'Home †') His superior officer and friend General Robert E. Lee summed it up best when he said, "He has lost his left arm, but I have lost my right arm." † God Bless † your memory sir, we shall forever honor you in the South...