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!

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

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)

Moon Over the New

I just wanted to post a few new pictures from this weekend's visit to the Cottage on the New. I think you'll enjoy them. I thought you'd like to see the river in front of the cottage as it appeared when Bill and I left last night.

The moon was huge and full. And the color of blushing cream roses. It was all I could see for the rest of the evening, and like a stray puppy, it followed us all the way home.

It turns out that a lunar eclipse was due to occur during the sleeping hours, and what ever was happening was already affecting the way the moon appeared.

As for the cottage, this is what I saw as we stood on the porch preparing to leave.  I owe a big kiss to the planter of those five tall trees.

Now here's something I think you'll find interesting that was going on in the field across the river from the cottage last week. Across River Road from the bridge is a little road called something like Mill Road. There's an old sugar cane mill behind the hill there. The man that owns it makes molasses from the cane he grows in the field you see below. The old mill used to be horse drawn, but now he uses a tractor, geared down "real low". The molasses is then sold at the general store down the road a piece (as they say here in North Carolina), in Todd.

The horse is a Shire, I was told by an old man who rides his bike by the cottage every day. The people hoeing are actually thinning the sugar cane. Last year, according to the old man, was a bad year for sugar cane. Too cool. But they still managed to cook up 500 gallons of molasses with that crop.

Here is a photo of the cottage's master bedroom, finished at last. A comfy and relaxing place to sleep.

That's all I have time for tonight. Sleep tight!

An Lazy Sunday Afternoon at the Cottage

The entrance of the cottage is on the side.

Stepping stones lead you to the steps.

The cottage from the front, with the big covered front porch

After a pleasant but busy Saturday puttering about our house in Hickory, Bill and I decided to spend Sunday at the little house on the New River. Our daughter Jossie came over with her boyfriend, Ben, and her sister Sydney joined us for lunch before she had to go to work in Boone. Bill loves to cook out, so he and Ben bonded over the grill a couple of beers while the girls and I talked.

Bill whips up a salad in the kitchen.

This time we took our two small dogs, Layla and Bo. They love to go to the river with us, and started getting crazy with excitement as soon as we crossed the first bridge where we turn onto River Road.

Ah, freedom. There is plenty of front yard along the river,and the road is on the other side of the bridge from the house. Bo quickly learned that if he stays away from the bridge, he'll get to play outside all day long.

Since the river winds gently through the valley, we observed a steady stream (no pun intended) of river lovers peacefully bobbing and paddling past us throughout the day. They traveled down the river in canoes, rafts and floats. Because the road has so little traffic, a family of bikers and a couple of

horse riders were among the afternoon travelers.

One view from the front porch, with the road leading to the bridge.

Canoers and a kayaker were early pleasure seekers this morning. There are several canoe rental companies in the area. The motto for passing under our new, sturdy low-water bridge is: 

"No troll. No toll. Just a little duck."

River Tubers...what a relaxing way to enjoy the beautiful old New...

As always, I saved the best for last. These happy drifters were my favorite bunch, bobbing down the river today with their little cooler bringing up the rear.

Jossie and Ben return from a survey of the bridge and the river. The neighbor's friendly Australian Cattle Dog is coming for a nice scratch between her ears.

The day started out perfect, turning to light sprinkles of rain toward the evening. But that didn't bother anyone, as the porch facing the river is so large that we could all sit there and talk while the dogs continued to play along the river in the sprinkling rain.

The living room fireplace

When it came time to go, the weather had cleared again and Sydney had headed to Boone for work. We donated all the leftover food to Jossie and Ben, whistled for the pups, and packed up for home. 

Our little cabin is now available for weekly, weekend, or nightly rental.  You can call our son Jacob on his cell phone to arange for the details (See the side bar).

For more cabin details, check our list of pages.

The cottage has two bedrooms and two baths. The smaller bedroom has one full sized bed. The larger bedroom has a queen sized bed and private bath. It can accommodate 4 people, but if someone is willing to sleep on the big fat sofa in the living room, it can handle a fifth person.

We'd love to have you stay!