Snow's On Its Way...Again!

To look out my Charlotte window this morning, I would never believe that snow is on its way to North Carolina yet again. It's a gorgeous golden turquoise day; warm rays of sunshine glinting off the feathers of the hungry Chickadees at the feeder outside. But...

Snowfall Along a North Carolina Creek

I just heard that its going to snow tonight. Yep. Again.

I have been crazy busy these last few weeks moving, as I said in the previous post. (For those of you who don't believe in phrases like "crazy busy", I'm sorry, but it fits.) Now, after a few weeks of rest, I am re-listing our little Cottage on the New just so we can share it with nice folks like you. (Or so we can pay the mortgage...hmmm...) We will be reviewing our very low winter prices this week, and may be raising them soon, so if you are dying to get to the mountains this month to make angels in the cold, mountain snow and later sit by the fire warming your adorable little piggies (yes, we have propane logs, so its easy as pie!), you'll need to book it immediately! Otherwise there may be some changes in the pricing.

Just thought you might appreciate a "head's up".

deber

Jingle Bells!



This was taken last year. It's the cottage from the road, on the other side of the river.



As you can see, it gets pretty snowy at the cottage.

Here is a picture, again from last year, of my husband and our daughter going up the steps to the main door.

I don't know their names, but these girls were spotted along Castleford Road
on the way to the cottage. Again, this is one of last year's pics.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Old Fashioned Christmas Tradition: Cutting the Tree

The cottage from across the river, a couple of weeks ago.

Christmas is coming
the goose is getting fat.
Please to put a penny in the old man's hat.
If you haven't got a penny, a half penny will do.
If you haven't got a half penny then God Bless You.

For the last 32 years, give or take a few, my husband and I have gathered our children and headed to the mountains after Thanksgiving. Its time to select our Christmas tree. This has long been one of our kid's favorite holiday traditions. Selecting and cutting your own tree right from the lot is quite an experience, and something that will build many happy memories for your family.

There are plenty of "choose and cut" tree lots along the way to the cottage, but also in the Boone area and towards Banner Elk, Grandfather Mountain, Jefferson and Todd. You will find White Pines, Frasier Furs and of course our favorite, the beautiful Blue Spruce which is exclusively grown for market in North Carolina, or so I've been told.

Big Bad Bill (otherwise known as Willie the Woodland Elf around these parts) has a Holiday Tree Cutting System (all professional woodland elves do!) which requires the following items:

1. A snow flurry day is preferable. Second choice is the sunny day.

2. All available children under the age of 99.

3. Warm jacket, hat, socks and gloves for everyone, plus a couple of extra sweaters, just in case.

4. Hand bow or tree saw (usually provided for by the tree growers).
5. An old blanket or sheet of plastic (available at the Dollar Tree store) to lie on while cutting the tree.

Many lots also have freshly cut trees near their office for those of you adventurous enough to head to the mountains for your tree, but not wanting to get down and dirty while selecting and cutting do it with your own little hands. They often have someone who can cut and carry the tree for you. Once the tree is cut, they will bind it and help you get it on the roof of your car.

Freshly made roping and wreaths are available, or you can carry the cut-offs from your own tree (there's usually quite a bit below where the tree was cut off), and make your own when you get back home. (Its easy! I'll have "how-to's" on my http://tarpapersubmarine.blogspot.com/ hopefully early next week.)

If you already have your own tree out of the box, assembled and decorated in the living room right beside the fireplace, good for you. Grab a coat and head for the mountains anyway, just to rev up your Christmas Spirit motor. Its great just to be up there this time of year, and there's always a chance of snow flurries between now and Christmas.

By the way, we still have Christmas Day available.

Merry Christmas!

Deber

PS: For more information be sure to check out all the info pages found in the upper right corner of this home page.

New! Fantastic Off Season Rates!

My favorite trees, planted just down the street from the cottage.

Sweet, Crisp November! The leaves are almost done with their gorgeous Autumn dazzle, and there's been at least one good frost on the cabbage field already. It's too cold to swim. Well. The Polar Bear Club wouldn't think it was cold enough.



Late afternoon view as I crossed the bridge over the New River from our cottage on October 30th.

But its always beautiful in the mountains, and this is a fantastic time to visit. As a matter of fact, we coming up fast on Thanksgiving. Can't you smell the pumpkin pie already? Me, too.

Little cow,
little cow,
little cow won't you dance with me...

Just about every time I go up to see the cottage, I am tempted to take the long way home so I can indulge in a little bit of countryside photography. Usually I take the same scenes, just in different light, but sometimes I get lucky. The other day was one of those lucky days.

"Mooo." Maybe they were getting a kick out of taunting my worried little dogs... 

People usually think of cows as clumsy, awkward animals, but they are actually beautiful, graceful creatures. These dairy maidens not only crossed the whole pasture just to say hello, but when I drove away and turned around to get a photo of them from the side, they had already started heading towards me again, along the fence. The whole herd of them! For whatever reason, they seemed to find me attractive. Mayhaps the voloptuous milkers had it in their pretty little heads to do a bit of modeling and get their photo on the internet, hoping for fame like everybody else. (...unless they wanted to show those California cows what a North Carolina girl can do.)

There's still a good bit of color left in the area. This is right off the parkway.

I wanted to remind all our guest both past and future, that we have just reduced our seasonal rates. They are very reasonable. If you click on the Rates and  Payment Details page, you'll find our new fall/winter rates right there, plus all the other payment details.


Hope to see you soon!

Deborah