Fall Is Delayed A Few Days

Fall in North Carolina is something to behold. The late days of September and most of October usher in a carpet of radiant color everywhere you look. Nowhere more than in our High Country mountains. The colors aren't just vivid they're down right blazing.

Most of you are experiencing the heavy rains from Hurricane Joaquin and from where I'm sitting, it's the topic of conversation in our parts as well. We need the rain for sure but after 9 days I'm ready to hang up the raincoat and grab the camera. I was able to get out a bit just before the dam broke and catch these few images. The weatherman says we're going to see some pretty nice forecasts in the very near future so I'm gearing up to catch up with my fall photography here in the High Country.

I'm pleased with the results of my photographic trek in one way but really don't feel like pixels capture the true radiance. My home office has beautiful views of our mountains and it's windows are only three feet away from me so I'm forever comparing the image on my computer screen with the reality I'm so fortunate to be a part of.

Plan on coming up for a few days or a lifetime. We've got plenty of NC mountain cabins waiting for you and your family.

October is really the best time to experience the beauty of our fall foliage. I hope you do carve out some time to take the short drive up to see us and let the mountains of North Carolina show you why the High Country is the place to be this time of year.

Crispy Weather Can Only Mean One Thing

You can count on it every year about this time. The weather in the High Country just gets even better (if you can imagine that). The mornings have a crisp feel to them with temperatures in the 50's with low to no humidity. Clear blue skies and miles-long views are the daily fare.

There's also a hint of change in the color of the leaves. The locust have been showing off for the past several weeks but now other varieties start to chime in as well. Appalachian State University came out with their leaf predictions for our area and it looks like we're in for a spectacular fall season. You can visit their website for more information: Fall Color Indicators for the High Country

If you're planning a trip up to visit then the next seven weeks should guarantee ideal temps and ongoing leaf change. The best leaf peeping times are in October so start your plans today.

On another note... I've started my new website, NC High Country Homes. The site is chocked full of useful information for those wanting to visit the area or have an interest in buying into our corner of heaven: NC High Country Homes

Play golf more often than every 7 years

Golf is one of those sports that I enjoy. Golf is a game of skill and strategy. Playing golf gets you out into the fresh air. Golf is a great way to meet other people. Golf should not be played every seven years.

Jim, a good friend of mine from Blowing Rock, NC called and wanted to know if I wanted to play a round of golf. Not having played in a long time, I was a bit reluctant but quickly gave in and accepted the invitation.

I knew about Mountain Aire Golf Club in West Jefferson and suggested that we play there. Jim hadn't played there either and agreed that Mountain Aire would be the venue. We met at 8:30 for a 9:00 tee time and before you knew it we were well into the game. The game for Jim was as it's supposed to be, size up the shot, hit the ball in as few strokes as possible. I, on the other hand, chose a different approach. My plan turned out to be hitting the ball as many times as possible before eventually landing the wayward ball, if I could find it, into the cup. Remember, I said I enjoy golf.

I'm not going to bore you with my first 9 hole score nor my back 9 hole score. I will tell you that I was offering my old set of clubs to any takers for a song on the first 9 but I did much better on the back 9 (glad no one sang for my old clubs).

I learned some valuable lessons. Play golf more often than every 7 years. Play the game to enjoy it no matter how good or bad you actually play. Play golf on a beautiful course like Mountain Aire. The most valuable lesson I learned was how great it is to live in the High Country of North Carolina.

I'm getting ready to kick-start my new website. The website will showcase hand selected mountain properties in the High Country as well as offer up information for buyers and sellers, financing, and a look at market conditions for our area.

The main emphasis for the site showcases hand selected mountain properties. These will include homes and land that I've researched and found to be exceptional values both from their price point and quality of listing. This selection provides you with some of the best listings and highlights the property as 'one to keep an eye on' thereby saving you time and resources in your property search.

The website will go viral mid-September and an announcement will be forthcoming.

100% Natural Ingredients

Captured near the New River State Park

I'm reminded every day about how fortunate I am to live in the North Carolina mountains and in particular Ashe County. Our little corner of the world and state is a special place with lots of "natural ingredients".

We all think of home as a unique place where we spend a great deal of our time but do we think about those amenities that really makes it 'home'? I got to thinking about all of the reasons I like calling Ashe County home.

Neighbors- are the people around you friendly? Do they offer help before you have to ask? Are they fun to be around? I consider everybody I meet to be a neighbor because they make me feel welcome even though I haven't been here all that long.


Scenery- do you enjoy visually where you live? Is it a place that makes you feel alive? These mountains that I call home bring me a lot of joy. It's like 'brand new' every time I look across the mountains or scan a valley that's layered with dew. Even though I see it everyday it still gives me pause.

New River- we're so fortunate to have this historic water resource meandering through our county. It offers wonderful canoeing, kayaking, fishing and exploring opportunities. No matter the time of year the New River offers up rapids, clear water and wildlife.

Christmas- everyday of the year. You can't drive 10 minutes in any direction without seeing fraser firs and the like in neat rows basking in the sun. Our tree farmers know how to produce top notch trees that ship all over the country starting in November of each year.

Seasons- like 'fall' each bring a different perspective to an already beautiful landscape. The rich palette of golds, reds, yellows and crimson leaves are already starting to show. You can see the mountain tops beginning to glisten with fall color highlights that slowly work their way down the mountain into the valleys. The air is beginning to have a crisp feel to it as well.

Cabins- are the predominant homes in our county. We have a large number of second home owners that frequent the county all year long to enjoy the warmth of their 'special place in the woods'.

Thanks for letting me share a little bit about my part of the world and the 'natural ingredients' that make it so special to me. I hope I can call you a neighbor someday soon!

Boy What Memories A Sound Can Make

   For those that don't know, I grew up in Miami, Florida. I'm talking about the Miami before the population explosion and not the Miami that we know today. We lived out "in the country" or at least being 10 miles from downtown seemed like country to me. There was plenty of space for a boy to build forts, take hikes, camp out, fish, and catch skunks (yes skunks...but that's another story).

   I remember my house having aluminum awnings on each window. My dad was always proactive when it came to hurricane season and felt a thin layer of aluminum was going to be protection enough against the growl of Mother Nature. I remember as an 8 year old laying in bed and listening to the rain drops hit the awnings. My window was cracked open and that sound waifed through my room and was so soothing that I was fast asleep before I knew it.

   There's another sound that always came the next morning. The sound of a pair of mourning doves cooing to each other in the new morning light.

   Remembering the rain and the mourning doves takes me back to my childhood and all the fond memories of my growing up. It's very comforting when I think about those sounds.

   I'm telling you this because I've been reminded of of my childhood here in the mountains of North Carolina so many years later.

   Our cabin has a wrap around covered porch on three sides but the main structure is shingled. We chose to have that covered porch covered with tin roofing material for aesthetics. I remember the conversation with several friends back in the planning stages and they would say "that tin roof is going to drive you crazy when it rains" or "I couldn't sleep with all that racket when it rains". Well, we thought about it, liked the look of some tin on the roof and decided that a little racket was worth it. It turned out to be one of the best decisions we made.

   Recently, during a spring rain we were entertained once again by the soft sounds of raindrops hitting our tin roof. I wouldn't classify the sounds as 'racket' but I'd define it as 'soothing'. We've commented several times since the cabin was finished and we've moved in full time that the decision to use tin on a portion of our roof system was sure a great idea. What came next made me know that I was living in the right place.

   I awoke the other day from a wonderful sleep, bedroom window cracked open, to the sounds of mourning doves cooing outside our window. I just layed there taking in all the notes and finding myself as a eight year old once again. I just love this place I call home.

   I can't wait 'til it rains again and the cooing takes me back.

Spring Creeps Its Way Up The Mountain

There's nothing I like better than to enjoy blue skies and sunshine especially after a cold, windy and snowy winter. Where I live it takes spring a few more weeks to make its official appearance but when it does it's spectacular.

Spring in Ashe County starts in the low areas and slowly creeps up the mountain. The wait is worth every extra day because when spring hits the top of the mountain it brings with it wildflowers, birds of all kinds, and a feeling of renewal like nowhere else.

There's something magical about living in a place where you watch Mother Nature burst open with new color and life. I almost forget what spring is really like until it's here once again. Spring on the mountain mixed with cool breezes and sunny skies completely erases any remembrance of winter and is like something never before experienced.

The wildflowers are spectacular. They pop out where just a few weeks ago there was nothing but forest floor. I love Columbine, Lady's Slippers, Trillium to name a few. There's even a carpet of small blue dwarf iris that pop up everywhere.

I enjoy watching the Carolina Bluebirds as they shop for new residential space in one of several houses I've set up for them on our property. Usually the male finds the house first and then goes about trying to attract a female. If the female likes the new digs then all attention is put on furnishing the house to make it a home (sounds like another species I'm close to). I look forward to seeing their coming and going and ultimately their new family.

Another visitor, back from South America after a long flight, is the hummingbird. This aerobatic hovercraft loves to swoop and dodge other hummingbirds at the feeder. They enjoy lots of sugar in the form of syrup water and can easily drain a 10oz feeder in a couple of days.

No matter where I look I see new life emerging. All of the inhabitants of the woods are back in full force and in full color. I know it's happening where you live so make sure to take some time and enjoy the rebirth. Add the mountains to the mix and you've got something really special. Now's the time to visit to enjoy your second spring of the season.

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