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Soft spun cotton thread on unbleached muslin can create beautiful white on white home textiles. The soft cotton thread also can be braided and used to form the wick for candles. Historic Bath will show you how to embroider your own decorative piece using white thread Jan. 11, at 10 a.m.

Isolation. The immense mountains of western North Carolina made life difficult for early regional settlers. Telling its story with objects, labels, and striking high resolution photographs, “The Mountains Are Calling: At Home in Western North Carolina” utilizes the scenery around the Vance Birthplace State Historic Site to explore facets of life in the North Carolina mountains from c.1790 to c.1830. The exhibit opens Jan. 8 at the North Carolina State Capitol.

Football lovers across the country will soon be in hog heaven. The college football bowl season is here. There are 40 games this season, six of which have taken place already. Three North Carolina schools will play in coming days, and N.C. A&T State played Dec. 16, defeating Grambling State in the Celebration Bowl. If we count distant cousins in the ACC, 10 games of interest will be played up to and including Jan. 1.

A North Carolina New Year’s tradition of family adventure, exercise and reconnection with nature continues in 2018 with First Day Hikes in North Carolina State Parks on Jan. 1.

Explore the imagination behind the creation of riveting novels as the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences — with WRAL-TV, Business North Carolina magazine and the North Carolina Humanities Council — present “Thrillers! An Evening with Authors John Grisham and John Hart.” This special event takes place at Meymandi Concert Hall Friday, February 23, 7:30 p.m., and will be moderated by D.G. Martin, host of UNC-TV’s “North Carolina Bookwatch.”

The Governor’s Western Residence will be open to visitors for a holiday open house Saturday, Dec. 16, from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Due to adverse weather conditions, the following venues have cancelled or postponed some weekend events:

A Holiday Open House at the Governor’s Western Residence in Asheville, originally scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 9, from 1-3 p.m., has been postponed due to inclement weather.

The Historic Bath Christmas Open House Saturday, Dec. 9, will recall warm and relaxed Christmas celebrations. Holiday music, handmade crafts and cooking on the hearth will be highlights of the free program, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Take a break from the holiday mayhem and enjoy decorations and a celebration reminiscent of Christmases past. Apple cider and gingerbread will be shared.

The State Capitol invites visitors to share in the season of giving. In addition to enjoying the luminaries, holiday music, and Gov. Roy Cooper’s tree lighting, visitors are asked to contribute to the “School Pantries” program of the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle at the Dec. 6 event, 5 to 7:30 p.m. The drive is being held in support of First Lady Kristin Cooper’s efforts to bring attention to food insecurity across our state.