At Occano, the Sound is a gift we unwrap day after day—and share with the ones we love most. And we look forward to sharing it with you.

Good news, North Carolina! The annual hummingbird migration is nearly underway and we’re ready to begin spotting the graceful Ruby-throated hummingbird in backyards around parts of the Tar Heel State! Make sure your backyard is ready by setting up one of the best hummingbird feeders possible for these oncoming beauties. Each fall, thousands of these exquisite, winged creatures migrate south from as far as Canada all the way down to Central America, Mexico, and parts of Florida – until it’s time to head north again in the spring to breed. So, if you want to see hummingbirds in North Carolina, read on… Read More »

St. Patrick’s Day observes of the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. The holiday has evolved into a celebration of Irish culture with parades, special foods, music, dancing, drinking and a whole lot of green. Celebrated annually on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday known for parades, shamrocks and all things Irish. From leprechauns to the color green, find out how symbols we now associate with St. Patrick’s Day came to be, and learn about a few that are purely American inventions. The Shamrock The shamrock, which was also called the “seamroy” by the Celts, was a sacred… Read More »

Sometime between 1916 and 1918, James Barber constructed the first miniature golf course on the gardens of his Pinehurst estate “winding in and out among the shrubbery” “a kind of glorified and elongated putting green,” said part of the famous article published Saturday, Feb. 2, 1918, in “The Pinehurst Outlook.” The article’s headline, “Miniature Golf” seemed to help preserve the name of the new game. Let’s find out about the father of this popular pastime and the birth of miniature golf in North Carolina.     James Barber, who owned the Barber Steamship Lines of New York, is credited with building the first… Read More »

Tickets are now available for the authentic, one-of-a-kind Viking Experience Festival happening right here in North Carolina on March 25-26, 2023. This second-annual event will take place at The Barn at Vino, a breathtaking vineyard with rolling fields and elegant ponds, featuring talented reenactors, a Fairy Glen, food, two stages, vendors, and music in the Great Hall. Let’s take a look inside this magical experience. Walking into this long-ago kingdom is nothing less than extraordinary. Come see for yourself, and before you know it you are a part of something bigger — and something much, much older. Try on the… Read More »

The powerful roar of your disposal’s motor may convince you it can take on any garbage you throw its way, but it’s important to remember that your disposal is not a trash can. Garbage disposals are designed to grind small bits of biodegradable food waste to help prevent clogged drains. Proper use and maintenance will not only extend the life of your appliance, but will also spare you unnecessary and costly service calls. Do: Small amounts of skinless, boneless, pit-less and non-fibrous foods are safe to grind. Don’t: Shells, skins, husks, rinds and other hard or fibrous materials should not… Read More »

Summer vacations have come to an end, but that doesn’t mean all work and no play. With cooler weather, beautiful scenery and an array of local festivals, fall is the perfect time of year for weekend getaways close to home. For travel ideas, activity suggestions and trip planning, visit www.Recreation.gov. A partnership of 12 federal agencies, including the Forest Service, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Archives, Recreation.gov offers advance reservations at 2,500 federal areas for more than 60,000 facilities and activities. The website’s interactive maps and searchable database make it easy to discover parks, forests,… Read More »

Fall is the time to prepare for winter—cold and wet conditions not only make you miserable, but they can damage your home. Some winterizing can wait, some can’t. Make a list of what needs to be done and tackle the time-sensitive tasks first. Here’s a simple checklist from the association to help you get a jump on winter. Indoor Winterizing Examine doors and replace weather-stripping as needed. Examine window caulking and reseal where needed. Examine and repair vents where needed (you may find cracked open vents housing birds). Clean chimneys and flues. Remove items near heat vents. Place nonskid runners… Read More »

As the days begin to shorten and the nights become longer, we often look for things to give us some warmth and comfort through the autumn season. And one of the things that we look forward to every year is enjoying a cup of hot mulled cider. Mulled cider is a sweet cider that’s been infused with a variety of citrus fruits and spices. The “mulling” parting of the term mulled cider refers to the product being heated, sweetened, and then enhance it using mulling spices. It’s a great drink to enjoy while you celebrate National Hot Mulled Cider Day… Read More »

Gold Star Mother’s Day is a holiday that’s observed on the last Sunday in the month of September. The purpose of this holiday is to honor those who have lost a son or daughter while they were serving in the U.S Armed Forces. It’s a day on which Americans can recognize these mother’s sacrifices to the country and give them the proper measure of love, appreciation, and reverence for their loss. It’s also a day on which all Americans can take a moment to think about the sacrifices of all families who have lost a son or daughter while they… Read More »