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Get a Taste of Pet Food at Happy Valley Filling Station

Published August 24, 2026

I, Bernie Harberts, did not use generative AI to write or illustrate this article. Spell check and grammar check, yes. AI, no.

RESCHEDULED RESCHEDULED RESCHEDULED

Note: Julia’s artist reception for Pet Foot has been rescheduled to September 2 at 5:30 pm

Rhubarb goat painting by Julia Carpenter, Pet Food exhibit — Meet Rhubarb, one of the sixteen animal paintings on display at Happy Valley Filling Station (18′ x 20′ / Acrylic on canvas)

Join my wife Julia and me this Wednesday ~~August 26~~, September 2 at 5 pm at Happy Valley Filling Station for the opening reception of Pet Food. Pet Food is a collection of 16 of Julia’s paintings from the cookbook of the same name. Each painting celebrates an animal who shares its name with the desserts we love – think Cookie. The exhibit runs until the end of September, when it closes with a silent auction benefiting the Catawba Valley Humane Society.

Happy Valley Filling Station exterior in Lenoir NC — Happy Valley Filling Station (Jesse Plaster / Angela Postigo photo)

Pet Food dessert recipe book cover by Julia Carpenter — Pet Food: have a look inside or buy the e-book version here.

Happy Valley Filling Station Artist Reception

Date: August 26

Time: 5 pm until

Happy Valley Filling Station

1275 NC Hwy 268
Lenoir, NC 28645

Julia Carpenter at the Pet Food opening reception — A giddily-happy Julia at the opening night of Pet Food (Keith Smith photo)

Paintings being hung for the Pet Food exhibit — The Pet Food paintings are being hung at Happy Valley Filling Station. Chops to Happy Valley Filling Station for hiring a professional hanger to arrange the paintings

A few more paintings from the show.

Peaches painting of mule Polly by Julia Carpenter — Peaches: painting based on my mule Polly

Guinea hen animal painting from Pet Food — Here’s a chance to pick up a guinea hen without having to listen to it

Key Lime cow painting by Julia Carpenter — Key Lime

How to Bid

100% of the proceeds from painting and book sales go to Catawba Valley Humane Society. The silent auction runs through the end of September. Enter your bid in person at Happy Valley Filling Station or send it to [email protected].

Julia and I and our friends at Happy Valley Filling Station look forward to seeing you Wednesday evening at 5 pm!

Aerial view of Happy Valley Filling Station in Lenoir NC — See you Wednesday evening at Happy Valley Filling Station (Jesse Plaster / Angela Postigo photo)

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