Mozying Slowly Northwards

Like I told you yesterday, it was raining at the cottage when I left my home in Hickory at 11:00 am. The mountains are a rain forest. But by the time I got to the first mountain top, the clouds were already rising off the mountains, and blue sky was peeking out here and there between them.

That's okay. I much prefer a sunny day!

That's the way the mountains are. You never know what to expect. It's July, so usually along the New River, it's warm. But if you plan to visit any time but summer, actually even into June, do the Girl Scout thing and "Be Prepared". Especially if you tend to chill easily or if you are bringing children.

Now, if you are from a warm place like Florida, take it one further, and be prepared in the summer time too, with a light jacket or sweater for cooler nights, usually in the 60's.

I thought you'd like to see the next door neighbor's garden. It's absolutely charming. This is how it looked yesterday afternoon when I left. The neighbors are very friendly and helpful, and sometimes share the fruits of their labors with us when we're there.

While I was at the cottage yesterday, I put up an American flag on the porch. My daughter in law said, "How can you put that flag pole holder up without a drill (with Phillips bits)?"...because her husband, my son, always has a drill or an electric screwdriver for such tasks...him being a professional with his own construction company.

The cottage looking very American, with our new United States flag.

I, on the other hand, am an unprofessional when it comes to such matters. I have an old-fashioned manual screwdriver like the one my granddaddy used to use, and I know how to use it. I'm not saying it was easy, though. I'm a pathetic substitute for a real handyman with upper arms of steel. I'm sure when Bill and I get there this weekend, he will want to tighten the screws so tight that no one will be able to get them out of that post for the next 500 years, at least. He always does. It's the manly thing to do. (And he's been building things since he was a kid, when he hammered and screwed together his first tarpaper submarine http://tarpapersubmarine.blogspot.com/.)

Last, but not least, here is the photo of the river that I promised you yesterday. After the rain. Ooops! The camera batteries were exhausted. At least that's what the camera always says. I always say they're "dead". Yep, they were dead, so I couldn't get that last picture for you as I left the river. Sorry...you'll just have to take my word for it.

It wasn't high, it wasn't low, it wasn't muddy, either. The sky reflected it's pretty blue and fluffy whites on the surface of the waters as they mozied slowly northwards. Everyone who had planned to go inner tubing yesterday made it out sometime after 12:00 pm, so they were having fun bobbing about like happy little corks in the River of Summertime Fun.

As is to be expected on the New River on a sunny, hot and humid summer day.
As is proper for the New river on a lazy day in July when life is good, and the river is cool...
As you'll experience when you come to the cottage for your visit, some day soon.

Until next time, my friend. Have a great day. Hope to see you soon!

Deber

It's a Rain Forest!

Perhaps I shouldn't tell you this, but the Blue Ridge Mountains are a rain forest. At least they are in the Boone, NC area. That accounts for the lush vegetation and healthy wildlife. It accounts for the abundant snow we had up there this last winter. It accounts for the wet Highlands days, reminiscent of the charming Highlands of Scotland, far across the sea. 

The bridge over the river at the corner of Castleford Road and River Road.

A rainy day in the mountains.

So this morning it is raining here at my home in Hickory. I just talked to my daughter in law, who has spent a few days there, and she says it's raining at the cottage. The river is running high and fast. I'm heading up there to help her spruce up the place for this afternoon's guests, and I can't wait to see how beautiful it looks now. I'll take pictures for you while I'm there.

Even with a little rain, the cottage is a heavenly place to be. The views of the river valley and mountains beyond are gorgeous, and the spacious covered porch has plenty of room to sit and sip coffee in the morning, or a glass of wine in the afternoon, while watching raindrops fall into the river.

Now that we have Direct TV, and a new television, when you tire of watching raindrops fall, you can come inside and watch TV, or even a movie.

Or maybe you've worked your poor little self so hard lately that you need to get a little rest. So you can mozy down the hall to your bedroom and lay down for a cozy little nap. When you wake up, the rain just might be done doing its thing, so it's back to a sunny day in the mountains.

But don't forget, you aren't very far from all kinds of dining, shopping and entertainment. The countryside on the way is beautiful, no matter what the weather.

I'm heading out now. I can't wait to see those mountains rising up out of the rainy mist. Magnificent!

Just a Revised, No Longer Quick Note:

We spent a day at the cottage with some friends and relatives recently. So, when I first wrote this post a few days ago after receiving these pictures from Jake (my son and fellow owner of the cottage, an avid fisherman), I thought that these darling kids (left and center) had been visiting the next door neighbors when we were at the cottage visiting our visiting relatives. (If you think that's confusing, you should be with me right now in my little brain trying to make all this make sense...) 

After all, what is now almost 2 weeks ago, I'd been hanging out with my sisters and nieces and nephews inside while the some of the men sat outside on the front porch chatting about manly things, going down to inspect the bridge and river, and watching the children play. With so much commotion going on that day, I wouldn't have known if they'd caught a hammerhead shark in the river. (But don't worry. There are no sharks in the river!)

Anyway, it was just a quick note written late at night; I didn't do my usual editing. I'm normally very careful about what I write. However, I can't be 100% responsible for what happens here on http://cottageonthenew.com/ after 10:45 pm... 

The cottage from the front yard, summer

This morning, Hubby Bill and I met the family who spent last week at the cottage; I realized that these were the children in the photo above. Now that I knew who they were, I decided that I must revise this post. I arrived home and went straight to my computer to do so. Hmmm...somehow, it sounded like these two children were my relatives...oops! I'd be proud to have them as family, mind you. But since they aren't, I have to correct my mistake and pronto, just for the record. 

It's official now: these two cuties were two of our guest children.

Looking up New River from the bridge this week.

As it turns out, Jake had gone to the cottage with my grandson on an errand during this past week (unbeknownst to me), and decided to go fishing with his son and our little guests. He took the pictures with his new fangled cell phone, and sent them right through the air and into my email. Amazing.

This morning, Bill and I were delighted to meet these kids, their sister and their mom as they were just preparing to leave for their next fun destination. What a precious family. While in the area, they went to Tweetsie Railroad twice (because if you go after three pm you get to return the next day for free?), made Indian headdresses, played Cowboys and Indians (Tweetsie style, I imagine) in the front yard, visited charming Todd General Store for hotdogs and icecream with everything on top, swam in the river, saw a small bear, collected 31 tiny live river snails and one dead crawdad, and swam some more. They enjoyed their visit so much that they said they will indeed come back again, maybe next time with their grandparents.

Getting back to my original post, I thought you'd enjoy seeing some pictures of my grandson and his new friends, with a fish they caught. As you can see, my little grandson is destined to be a fisherman, just like his dad. It's too dang cute. That's all I have to say. Scroll down for other posts that will tell you more about the cottage.

deber

Happy Guests, Happy Us!

There are no moose at the cottage other than these Welcome Meese...

They don't live in North Carolina so we can't spell them. Just kidding.

I got to the cottage to work on it just before the last guests left, and was greeted with huge smiles. "This is the best vacation cottage that people with kids and dogs could ever have. It was perfect! Everything we needed was here with the river and the yard, the grill, the kitchen and laundry; we hardly left the cottage. We will definitely come back again!"

They offered to be a reference for us, if any potential guests desire to speak in person to a satisfied former guest. What encouragement for us!


This part of the New River is just a few miles from it's beginnings, so the water is deep enough for canoeing and inner tubing, but usually slow running (except, like all bodies of water, sometimes after rain storms), and thus is a fabulous place for children to play. Of course, that is always with adult supervision, but I'm sure I don't need to tell you that.


I want to share some photos of the local folks, farms, flora and fauna taken as I have driven about in recent weeks on various back roads in the area:

A "landmark" for me when driving along Castleford Road on the way to the cottage from Boone and 194, this old building is surrounded by junked automobiles. Interesting landscaping, I must say. Fortunately, most North Carolinians don't chose to landscape our businesses with antique and vintage motorcars. I do plan to stop and photograph the junked vehicles some day when the light is just right. Makes for good art.

To the left of the above building is one road that stops at Castleford Road. Directly across the street from this building is another road. Castleford road is in the middle. Forge ahead!

Further down the road, this tiny mountain cabin is also on the right side Castleford Road on the way to the cottage from Boone. It is just past a "fork" in the road. Stay to the left. You will drive right in front of this tiny homestead, and will be able to see it peeking out behind a row of trees.

This little cottage is one of my mountain favorites, and I have photographed it at least a dozen times. I believe it is being well cared for by the decendants of the folks who used to live here.

I discovered this one-armed bear rooting around in the oak desk when I arrived at the cottage one day. The little girl next door helped me in surgery and we successfully replaced the missing arm with a stick of Rhododendron wood. He feels much better now, and we have given him a permanent place in the cottage. Now if we can just get the other arm to stay put...

Later that same day as I drove home on a back road, I passed by one deer grazing along the side of the road. He scampered off before I could snap his photo. Alas, I did spot this beauty standing still as a statue. She didn't mind my camera one bit. Serendipity!

Last but not least, this farm is just up the road from the cottage.

It was a beautiful, hot summer day in July, perfect for bailing hay along the riverside with your pretty little red tractor.

Until next time, my friend, keep cool, keep busy, and be happy. Come see us at the Cottage on the New!

Deber (Deborah Klein)