Moses Cone Servants Quarters Rose Arbor

 The early morning sun is catching the rose arbor.  Moses Cone himself did not plant any non-native species on his estate.  That’s because one of his missions on the estate was to awake visitors [and he had in mind his estate would one day be a 'public pleasuring ground' so by visitors he was thinking of us, of you and me today] to the wonders of the Southern Appalachian mountains and forest.  Mr. Cone died young.  After his death Mrs. Cone introduced a number of non-native species to the estate, including this rose arbor.  To see it, park in the parking lot of the Cone Manor at mp 294.  Walk to the Carriage Barn [the public restrooms are located in the Carriage Barn so look for public restroom signs if you don't know how to recognize the Carriage Barn].  The rose arbor is just a short distance downhill from the Carriage Barn.

2009-april-newsletter

The link, above, will take you to the 2009 April Find A Mountain Home newsletter.  I hope you enjoy it.

2009-april-newsletter

Fawn on Flannery Fork

How did I get this pic?  I was driving back very early from my walk on the Rich Mountain Trails.  As I rounded a curve on Flannery Fork Road [a gravel road], ahead was a doe who’d obviously heard my approach.  She stared at me in panic while frantically jumping back and forth on the road.  She’d recently given birth to this fawn, on the road.  Finally, she jumped off the road into the woods.  I knew that does always stay nearby their fawns, waiting for danger to pass before they re-emerge.  I drove by the fawn, rolling down the window and taking just this one shot in a brief pause before moving on. I didn’t want to disturb the fawn or scare the mama even further by lingering a long time for a number of shots.  I drove ahead far enough that I thought the mama might come back out of the woods, and parked in the same lane as the fawn.  The fawn was so tiny that it couldn’t be see far away in the dim morning light, and I wanted to be able to stop any oncoming traffic and make sure they used the other lane [fortunately, there was enough sight distance to do this and be safe].  After about 15 minutes with no traffic, the fawn slowly got to its feet, ambled about on the road, then headed into the woods near where its mother had fled. I drove on home and was delighted to find that my one picture turned out well.  It’s my 2009 ‘Here’s looking at you, kid’ shot.  Hope it’s a great life for you, little one.

Now is a fantastic time to purchase a home, especially for first time home buyers.  Why?  Interest rates are at an all time low.  More homes are on the market to choose from.  For first time home buyers, USDA has a new loan program offering as much as 102% of the purchase price of the home, with other great features such as no PMI.  And for calendar year 2009, first-time home buyers may be eligible for a $8000 tax credit.

The home buying process can appear very complicated and with huge decisions.  This seminar will explain the major steps of the process and provide information that will whittle down decisions to a manageable size.  I will be on hand to present the process and answer real estate related questions.  Melissa Carpenter of CommunityOne Bank will be on hand to explain what you need to be thinking about to apply for a loan and answer loan-related questions.

The seminars will be offered on 3 dates:  Tues., March 17 at 6:30 pm.  Saturday, April 11 at 10:30am.  Thursday May 21 at 6:30pm. 

The location is the Boone Optimist Clubhouse located at 1012 State Farm Road [by the softball fields and across from the original Lowe's building]. 

We’ll cover:  the home-buying process [from deciding you want to purchase through walking in the front door of your new home], what information you need to get together to take to a lender, how the USDA guidelines may benefit you, information on the $8000 first time homebuyers’ tax credit, homes currently on the market, and consumer protection information.  You’ll take home a notebook full of information you’ll want to refer to during your home-buying process and the knowledge of how to take the first steps to buying a home.  You’ll have the opportunity, if you so choose, to talk individually with a realtor and a lender.

Refreshments will be served.

An RSVP is appreciated but not necessary.  To RSVP or for further information phone Helen Phillips at 828.264.1434 or email Helen@CoeRealty.com   Or phone Melissa Carpenter at 828.964.5544 or email melissa.carpenter@myyesbank.com.

Taken on the Rich Mountain Trail above Trout Lake Parking Area, Blue Ridge Parkway, mp 294.  What can I say?  I love the aura of mystery that foggy days bring to the woods, and the muted colors.

 I happened upon this snail hiking the Tanawha Trail above Cold Pond Overlook, mp 299, Blue Ridge Parkway.  As I mention on the calendar, snails always make me think of my younger daughter, Lily.  We often took hikes together when we lived in ranger housing.  Being an adult, I wanted to get in a good vigorous hike.  Lily always wanted to stop and ’smell the flowers’ — investigate everything, especially small things.  It was always good for me when her interests brought me back to the here and now, to the wonders of our forest environment.  One year she wanted to be a slug for Halloween.  I thought, ‘oh this will be an easy costume.  A brown tube.’  She said, ‘No, mother. Slugs have breathing holes’ and went on to enumerate their other features.  The costume was accordingly designed.  So, now, when I see the small things of nature, I feel close to her, even though she is half a country distant.

This chart documents the declining sales over the past 3 years.  It also shows that we did not see a significant drop in sales until Spring 2008.  Please let me know if you would like to discuss this further.  Helen Phillips 828 264 1434  Coe Realty.

A number of people have asked me about hiking fees on the trails on Grandfather Mtn that has been/is being sold to the state as a state park.  I didn’t know the answer but this article appeared on Feb 9 and seems to clarify.  In short, we continue to pay to hike [and can purchase permits only at the Grandfather Mtn gate] until the property has completely passed into the state’s hands:

Grandfather Mountain Announces New Hiking Permit Policy     

Written by James Jestes

Friday, February 06 2009 

Yearly permits will no longer be required after Grandfather Mountain completes its deal with the State of North Carolina to purchase the backcountry this spring. Until then, permits will only be sold for one day hikes.

For the time being, hikers who wish to access the trails from off-mountain trailheads including, the Profile Trail on NC 105 and the Boone Fork Trail off the Blue Ridge Parkway, will need to obtain a hiking permit from the Grandfather ticket gate.

After the sale to the state closes, no permits will be required to access the property from the off-mountain trailheads.

“Since there will be no hiking fee once the state purchases the backcountry, this is the simplest solution for a seamless transition,” explained Grandfather President Crae Morton. “We anticipate minimal inconvenience, as we have much less hiking in the months of February and March.”

Grandfather Mountain hiking permits will no longer be available from off-site outlets such as Footsloggers and Mast General Store. Beginning February 1, permits for day hikes can only be purchased at the Grandfather Mountain ticket gate.

Access to Grandfather’s network of backcountry trails from trailheads along the toll roll to the Mile High Swinging Bridge is included in the attraction’s $14 general admission price and is not affected by this decision. Visitors to the tourist attraction will continue to be able to hike the backcountry as always.

For 2009 the trails will be maintained and monitored by both Grandfather Mountain trails staff and state rangers.

For more information on Grandfather Mountain visit http://www.grandfather.com  or call 800-468-7325.

http://www.goblueridge.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5676&Itemid=1