This week's second edition of the Fall Foliage Primer finds color appearing in splotches but not big swaths. Some can be seen along the highest ridgelines and some roadways and landscaped areas. Flowers, pumpkins, and vines are also adding to the fall decor. Click on in and find out what our reporters have to suggest for the coming weekend.

The first edition of the 2019 Fall Foliage Primer is here. While the most prevalent color observed is still green, there are tinges of orange, red, and yellow beginning to be revealed, especially in some of the higher elevations. Plus, some of the best "color" can be found and experienced in many of the wonderful fall festivals that happen in our local communities. Check in to see what our reporters are recommending this week. 

As the tilt of the earth moves us a little farther from the sun, the calendar fills with outdoor festivities to celebrate the fall turning of the leaves, the end of harvest season, and the culinary arts. We’ve searched our communities for festive and fun suggestions to add to your fall itineraries.

Mast Store believes in recycling. And recycling on a grand scale - that’s why we have homes in historic buildings along bustling Main Streets in vibrant downtowns. We recycle internally, too, like using the back sides of our white paper for accounting forms or documents that will remain in-house. But we know we can do better … and we want to help others do better, too. That’s why we spent an afternoon at the Watauga County Recycling Center – to learn the best practices to keep the recycle loop looping.

It’s hard to believe that it’s time to make the closet changeover from summer to fall. If you choose carefully among last year’s trending styles, you can update your look by adding a few key items from this year’s emerging course. Let’s get started.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines friend as “a favored companion; one that favors or promotes something.” Woodrow Wilson once said, “Friendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world together.” The Mast Store is pleased to count several active community groups among our circle of friends, and on September 7^th, we’ll introduce you to some of them and will make a donation to support their efforts.

It seems like back-to-school time comes faster and faster every year. The summer fun has just begun, and then it’s time to pore over checklists and see what still fits in the closet. We’ve put on our thinking caps, inverted and multiplied, and come up with the least common denominator list of essentials that most anyone headed back to class will need.

Summer means enjoying more time outside playing, relaxing, and spending time with friends and family. It also means it's time for easy-breezy summer fare. With fresh fruits and veggies in abundance and loads of simple summer recipes, you'll have this backyard entertaining thing down pat. And we can help. We're sharing our favorite simple and sizzling summer recipes for your culinary delight. Trust us, these are gold! 

South Carolina has given us a lot of great products. You might be surprised what our sister state has in store on our shelves.

Our Tennessee roots have given us many wonderful products over the years. Some of these you'll recognize as THE go-to for the items they create. Mast is proud to work hard to find quality products and manufacturers so we can bring you the best of the best in our local communities.