May 9, 2008

We had about 4/10" of rain at our place last night. It was needed, but it wasn't the gully-washer I had been hoping for to send the rest of the pollen downstream to Muscle Shoals. We've reached late spring, with most of the the dogwoods done and the flame azaleas beginning to fade in most locations. It seemed to be a better year than usual for the native azalea, but I didn't see the usual number of lady slippers. The blackberries set their flowers about the middle of the week, and it looks like a better year for them than last year. There are some broods of young turkey running around, about the size of a softball, and I heard the first Whip-poor-will calling the other night. I think the spring migration is almost over, but we're still seeing some interesting migrants coming through the county.

Tom Striker of Blue Ridge Bird Seed is holding a "Peak Migration Bird Walk" in Cashes Valley on Saturday, May 10. Participants will meet at the store (611 East Main Street, next to Great Eats) at 7:45 AM. Call 706.258.2473 for more information.

This Saturday is also the Georgia Mountain Classics Car Show in downtown Blue Ridge. This is always a good time, and there are always some interesting cars. It's amazing how many antique autos there are in the county - maybe aided by Ted Weaver's body shop, which usually has some interesting projects going on.

There is also a Flute and Drum Circle at the Arts Association in downtown Blue Ridge at 7 PM. This is scheduled for every second Saturday of the month.

On May 13, the Blue Mountain Jam is scheduled for the Kiwanis Fairground. They advise calling 706.258.2736 to make sure it will take place.

Also, Pickin' in the Park is now up and running every Thursday night at the Ron Henry Horseshoe Bend Park, off the River Road (just upstream from McCaysville off Hwy 60). It starts about 6 PM and runs until dusk. Lawn chair and picnic dinner is suggested.

Finally, for your chance to win a million dollars, here's the press release for the Rotary's Triple Crown Golf Tournament, May 14:

The Rotary Club of Blue Ridge would like to invite you to participate in the inaugural Triple Crown Golf Tournament. The tournament will be a three man format with the top three teams in each category earning cash prizes. Butternut Creek Golf Course in Blairsville Georgia will be hosting the tournament starting at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, May 14th. Proceeds will help to fund the many community efforts that the local Rotary Club is involved in, including adult literacy, water quality, the Ferst Foundation, and many more. The cost to participate in the tournament is $75 per player or $225 per team. Hole sponsorships can be purchased for $100.

Jason Farmer of Rotary said “Rotary’s Triple Crown Tournament will be the definitive tournament in North Georgia,” Farmer Goes on to say “Whoever holds the Triple Crown Trophy at the end of the day will hold bragging rights for the entire year.” Rotary will also be providing the opportunity to win $1,000,000 in a format that has not been seen in North Georgia. The three players who are closest to the pin on a pre-selected hole will have the opportunity at the end of the tournament to take one shot on the selected hole. A hole-in-one will earn the player $1,000,000. Rob Kaser, president of the Rotary Club, said “How many opportunities are there to pay $75, get to play golf, spend time with good friends, and also have the chance to win one million dollars.”

If you would like to participate in this exciting community event, please visit www.rotarytriplecrown.com or call Jason Farmer at 706-633-0000.

The Rotary Club of Blue Ridge meets every Tuesday at noon in the Community Room of The Appalachian Community Bank located on Orvin Lance Connector in Blue Ridge.

April 30, 2008

We're having a bit of "dogwood winter" this week, but it has been very beautiful. We had about an inch and a half of rain at our place over the weekend, and it was much appreciated. The native azalea (flame azalea) has started to bloom, and I've seen the first Lady Slippers (native lilies). I think the rain made the lilies bloom, as they were a little late this year. The dogwoods have peaked in most areas of the county, and if you haven't been up yet to enjoy the mountain spring, you probably should come this weekend. I think it will be the beginning of the end for most of the flowering natives.

Most of the leaves are on the trees, and the lake is at or near full pool. The pollen is still fairly thick, but I believe that it is on the decline.

I promised a report on the Mennonite Farmer's Market in Delano, TN. We visited last Saturday, after the Polk Ramp Festival. They are open six days (closed Sunday) and had a good selection of early produce including several varieties of lettuce, scallions, green tomatoes, beets, white radishes, collards, cucumbers, and strawberries. We probably missed some other things because we were there fairly late in the day. Of course, they had their sorghum, preserves, and baked goods. And they had beautiful tomato plants, in many different varieties, and various fruit trees. The live animal market, which is held on the last Saturday of the month, was in session and was very interesting. There was also a gentleman there selling grass-fed beef from a trailer. Directions are in my column below for 9/13/07.

April 22, 2008

We had about 6/10" rain at our place Saturday, but I think it rained harder down toward Ellijay. Since then, the weather has been absolutely beautiful, except for the pollen. We seem to be at or near the peak of pollen at this point.

In our part of the county, the dogwoods are almost all in bloom. Ellijay seems to be ahead of Blue Ridge, but I was surprised to see that in Cashes Valley, at least along the creek, there weren't many in bloom last weekend. I think this weekend will probably mark the peak for the dogwoods in most of the county. And, yes, my wild crabapples are finally in bloom.

We attended the Turtletown Ramp Festival last Saturday. The Polk County Ramp Festival is this coming Saturday. I believe that the Robbinsville Ramp Festival is also this coming Saturday. The Polk Festival is 50 years old, and there will be a special Friday evening event with music. The main festival is still Saturday morning. Full directions can be found in the archives for 4/21/03, but the event is held at the 4-H camp on Route 30, which runs off the Old Copper Road (Hwy 64) up toward Reliance. The turnoff for Route 30 is in the vicinity of Parksville Lake.

I've received a hot tip that the Mennonite Farmer's Market in Delano, TN is open. I hope to get there after the Polk Ramp Festival, so I should have a report next week. Directions are below, in the column for 9/13/07.

The first Pickin' in the Park is scheduled for Thursday,May 1st at 6 PM in the Ron Henry Horseshoe Bend Park. It goes rain or shine each Thursday until September. This is a favorite local institution in a beautiful setting. Take a lawn chair and a little picnic dinner, or plan to do a little fishing in the river while listening to the music. The Ron Henry Park is on the Toccoa. From McCaysville, you would go south on Hwy 60 and turn right just before the tracks onto River Road. The park is a few miles along, on the right.

The 12th Annual Georgia Mountain Classics Car Show is scheduled for May 10 in downtown Blue Ridge.

April 17, 2008

After the little cold snap, the weather has been absolutely beautiful for the past couple of days, with highs around 72. Some of the dogwoods are in bloom, and others seem poised to bloom soon. Oddly, my wild crabapples haven't blossomed, the first time I can remember that happening in twenty years.

This weekend Springfest - an arts and crafts festival - is at the Farmer's Market, which is located on the old highway in Blue Ridge, almost next door to the Swan, our local drive-in theater.

April 10, 2008

The last three days have been over 70, and I actually saw 75 on the porch yesterday afternoon. Mornings have continued cool, and it looks as though we may have a bit of rain over the next few days. The sarvis has pretty much peaked, the red buds look wonderful, and one or two dogwood are beginning to bloom on our property. I haven't seen any native lilies yet, but chances are that they are out there, or soon to come. I was walking property in Ellijay a day or so ago, and I noticed that Gilmer County seems to be a bit further along than Fannin County, in terms of the progress of spring.

The big news from Blue Ridge is that the Blue Ridge City Council voted to allow wine to be served at special functions, by special permit. The Arts Association had requested this as part of their efforts to build the Arts Association into one of the best in the state. The Blue Ridge Business Association had also requested that the city consider pouring permits for restaurants, but this step was not approved.

I've heard from three or four people lately who said that while they aren't in the market for real estate, they do enjoy reading my columns. I appreciate the feedback. Remember, everyone everyone is welcome to ask questions. I'll be glad to answer them as best I can.

I keep getting requests for fearless predictions - not about the election, thank goodness - but about the real estate market. Here's what I think at this point. We've yet to see the total number of listings in the MLS start to drop, so we can't say objectively that we're in recovery yet. But we have seen more normal traffic this spring than we've seen a a while, and we're starting to see a fair number of transactions in the the office. My best guess is that 2008 will bring some happiness, with 2009 being more of a normal year than the past several. (By normal I do not mean 2005, which was an abnormally good year.)

There is still a lot of interest in our area, but demand is somewhat pent-up at this point, with many prospective buyers in Florida still waiting for their markets to turn around, and other buyers waiting to see if that prices will go any lower.

At the moment, interest rates are still very low, and I believe that cabin prices have probably gone as low as they will. (There are still a lot of very stubborn and/or out of touch people out there who refuse to lower their prices, but that's not what I mean. What I mean is that there is a good inventory of property priced considerably lower than it was in 2005, as much as 25% lower in the case of a number of cabins in the $300,000-$400,000 range.) If interest rates were to rise, I think it could trigger a very serious setback, but as long as interest rates stay relatively low, I'm expecting a gradual recovery. In other words, I'm really not expecting cabin prices to go any lower.

It will take a while to absorb the existing inventory, especially in the $400,000-$500,000 range, where we are overbuilt in new construction. However, when that inventory is absorbed, I expect that the price of new construction will rise sharply. With builder licensing finally slated to take effect in June, the number of builders will surely decline, meaning less competition. (In my opinion, this is probably good, because many of these people weren't really builders, just people like you and me who built a few cabins with subcontracted labor.) But along with builder licensing will come significantly increased costs due to the mandate to provide workers' comp. This is not much of an expense for office workers, but construction workers get injured a lot, and for this population, it is a considerable expense. Taking these two factors together, I can't see how construction costs can fail to rise, especially when the cost of building materials continues to increase as well. This all says to me that we will see a meaningful price increase when existing inventory is finally absorbed.

"Lots and land" is in greater oversupply than cabins and developers are not buying much of it, so it stands to reason that this market will take longer to recover.

For details on the Adventure Race this Saturday and the upcoming Polk Ramp Fest, see the columns below. By the way, security has been tight, and I haven't been able to uncover any hints about the route of this year's Adventure Race. Chances are, it will start at the Shallowford Bridge, but I have not been able to confirm even that much.

April 4, 2008

We've had a little rain over the past few days, and everything has greened up very nicely. The sarvis is still about the only wild plant in bloom, but I expect that the dogwood and the native azalea will be here soon, followed by the native lilies. We beginning to see a lot of migrating songbirds and waterfowl, and I'm still hearing turkey talk around the cabin.

I just noticed that I failed to give the date for the Adventure Race in my last column. I hope I didn't inconvenience anyone. It is set for Saturday, April 12. See the column below for details.

March 29, 2008

We're having a pretty good rain this morning, so it looks as though the opening day of trout will be pretty much a rainout. At least the river and creeks have returned to near-normal water levels. It was genuinely scary how low they were before we got a little rain this spring. They had actually stopped stocking a lot of streams last summer because they were too low and warm, so the tailrace of the river got more than its share of trout last year. By the way, that's the best place to be when the creeks are stained, so long as they aren't generating electricity. The schedule is on the TVA web site, if you like planning ahead. Or on their automated phone server. That's 800.238.2264. They should have the information on the next day's releases by 6 PM on the previous evening.

Spring is advancing nicely. I've seen nesting woodcock, and my sarvis (serviceberry or juneberry to you city folk) is just starting to bloom (as of yesterday). Looking back to last year, it bloomed the first week in April, so indications continue to be that we're on about the same schedule as last year.

I continue to hear a lot of turkey talk around the cabin, so I imagine that turkey season is going well.

I'm going to say this again, in an attempt to inoculate myself against all the people who are going to reproach me because "I didn't tell them." As far as I can tell, we've reached the perfect intersection of interest rates and cabin prices. I understand that some people have even heard something like that on the news. Yes, there are some foreclosures out there - we've even added a foreclosure section to our company web site, so we're glad to help with that - but you can get as good a deal on a lot of plain old resales, and they're probably in better condition with better selection. Anything can happen, but I just don't see things getting any better for our buyers in the foreseeable future. Please don't say I didn't tell you, although I know that you will.

The 11th Annual Blue Ridge Mountain Adventure Race begins at 8 AM April 12th at the Toccoa Valley Campground on Aska Road. (We also have the honor of hosting the national race in November!) Once again, the Natti Love Joys will be providing entertainment in the downtown park from noon until about 5 PM. (The Natti Love Joys are an internationally acclaimed reggae band, based - believe it or not - in nearby Isabella, TN. They're one of my favorite local bands.) The first finishers are expected in the park around 2:00 PM. I understand that volunteers are still needed. If you'd like to volunteer, contact the Chamber of Commerce at 706.632.5680.

The last Saturday night race is scheduled for tonight at the Sugar Creek Raceway, although it would have to stop raining to have it. (They declared a rainout, so racing is scheduled for tomorrow (Sunday) at 2 PM! Next week is the first points race, with the racing reverting to the usual Friday night. There's a new promoter this year, and he seems to have a lot of energy and good ideas. Among other things, I understand that he's halved the admission fee, from $20 to $10, to encourage attendance. I'll be participating again this year, by helping to sponsor the #20 S&S Collision Dirt Devil, owned by David Stewart and driven by his son, Devin Stewart. The car runs in Modified Hobby, and Devin finished 7th and 4th in previous races this spring. (David is an excellent body man, by the way. He does all my body work, and he's a genius with matching paint and panels. He also does a nice job on old pickup trucks.) Devin is a student at the famous Nashville Auto Diesel College. I'm jealous. I always wanted to go there as a kid, until I got sidetracked into the philosophy of religion.

March 23, 2008

It's been a beautiful Easter weekend, a bit chilly in the morning, but warming up nicely in the afternoon. It's especially nice in contrast with the late freeze we had last Easter, which killed a lot of trees in the county, including my year-old persimmons. The moon has been lighting up the woods like a searchlight at night, and it's been very pretty out.

The tree pollen has started to be noticeable, but I haven't seen sarvis in bloom yet. The meadows are nicely greened up, and I think I saw the first Mourning Cloak butterfly yesterday (rather later than usual).

Turkey season came in on Saturday, and I've heard a whole lot of turkey talk around the cabin. They've been talking back to the geese who are trading back and forth from the old quarry out on Cutcane Road.

I want to correct something I said in an earlier column, which is that I heard that Nature's Estates had obtained a liquor license from the state. I was told this by someone who was in a position to know, but it is apparently not the case. At this point, apparently the only entity in the county to have obtained a license from the state is the marina, although the county commission voted to assist the golf course in obtaining one last year.

Winter Pickin' - the winter version of Pickin' in the Park - continues at the Arts Center, March 27 and April 3, 10, 17, and 24 from 6:00 - 9:00 PM. Also, Ole Time Gospel Music, April 18, 6:30. The Arts Center is in the old courthouse, in downtown Blue Ridge.

The Blue Ridge Writers' Conference is March 28-29. Call 706.632.7785 for more information.

Mark your calendars for one of my favorite events, the Polk County Ramp Festival, April 23-26. Note that the ramp digging day has been moved to Wednesday. The main event is still on Saturday, at the 4-H Camp on the Greasy Creek Road (Route 30, a few miles from Parksville Lake, off the Old Copper Road).

I've been reading The Old Home Place, a reprinted version of "The History of the Ocoee Ranger District" by Thurman Parish. It's available from the Polk County News, over in Benton, TN. There's some amazing local history there, including something I was completely ignorant of, which is that there was a utopian community in the vicinity of the Sylco Creek Campground in the 1850s known as the Dutch Community or Vineland. I've often remarked that it's a very interesting area, where it's obvious there was an old settlement, but I never knew the history. It was populated primarily by immigrants from New York. The "Vineland" part is from the fact that they made a prize-winning wine there.

March 17, 2008

We had a total of two inches of rain Friday and Saturday at our place. For the first time in a long time, it rained about as hard as it can rain and did some damage to the roads. The front had already passed through from north to south when the tornados started to form along the line of the front, so we were spared that drama.

Spring seems pretty well advanced. The pastures have greened up nicely, and the domestic pear trees are just starting to blossom. I haven't seen any sarvis in bloom yet. I've heard a lot of turkey talk in the past few days, so it seems that opening day will be happening for turkey hunting this year. If you need a little brush-up on Woodcraft 101, I talk a little about turkey hunting in my column for 3/16/2003 (in the archives). The main thing to remember, if you're out in the woods, is that if you hear owl calls, crow calls, or turkey calls - and especially if they sound real bogus - you're probably hearing a turkey hunter. They make these sounds in the hopes of getting a gobbler to respond, revealing his position.

I seem to have survived the third week of GRI training, the final week. Thanks to all of you who asked about how it was going. It'is pretty intense stuff. You have to be in your seat by 8:15 - a minute late earns an hour detention - and you can't leave class to go to the men's room unless you turn in your cell phone. If you cell phone actually rings during class, it costs you at least $25. It's a grind, but it is our highest educational experience. Most of the classes are head and shoulders above the usual continuing education offerings, and there's a pretty stiff test at the end. I'm glad to be finally finished with the whole program. No doubt I'll feel even better about it if I actually get caught up with my work this week.

March 7, 2008

We've had a little rain, and things are beginning to green up. Earlier in the week, we had a little over and inch and a half at our place, and we had a half inch last night. There's snow in the forecast for tonight and Saturday morning, with the possibility of some accumulation.

I heard the peepers for the first time Wednesday evening. Looking back at my calendar, I see that I heard them for the first time last spring on March 1, so we seem to be on about the same schedule as last year. The buffleheads are still lingering on Mercier's holding ponds, but I expect them to move on before too long. With the rain, the streams and ponds are finally getting back to a more normal level, and I'm hoping for normal spring rainfall.

I'll be locked down for training all of next week, so I'll probably be a little slower to respond to email than usual. This is the third of three weeks of Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI) training, our highest educational program. It's a grind, but it is worthwhile, because the quality of the instruction is above what we normally have for continuing education, which is mandated by the state.

The racing season has already started at Sugar Creek Raceway, the little Friday night dirt track in Blue Ridge. Last year, they didn't run a full schedule, but they have a new promoter this year, and it looks like he has some good ideas. For one thing, he's halfed the admission fee, which is now $10. If you are a race fan, or just wonder what it's about, this is a good opportunity to visit a local track.

"Lend Me a Tenor!" is on at the Blue Ridge Community Theater.

February 27, 2008

We had about and inch and a half of snow at our place last night and this morning. It started a little before midnight, and came in pretty fast. It was a bit of a challenge getting down from the ridgetop, but Hwy 60 north was already salted, and 515 was pretty good down to Blue Ridge. There seems to have been more snow over toward Blairsville, and I understand the roads are worse. Highway 60 south was bad this morning, but is reportedly being salted. Aska Road is apparently passable. There was only a dusting of snow down toward Ellijay. It's going to refreeze tonight, so those of us on top of the ridge will need to get in before that happens. It was twenty this morning, with a brisk wind.

February 26, 2008

We've had about an inch of rain so far, this morning and afternoon. Yesterday was a beautiful spring day, up in the sixties. I was out walking property, and for the first time, I was bothered by insects. I suppose that's progress. (If you are not a regular reader of this column, I should perhaps mention that if there's 50 people at a picnic, I'm the one who slaps first.) There's been some migratory bird activity, and it seems we're well on the way to spring. One step forward, two steps back: It's nasty today, and there's a threat of snow after midnight. But things are greening up, and I saw lots of daffodils yesterday, around Gates Chapel in Ellijay.

I realize that the "things to do" part of the column has been a little skinny lately. I think it's a great time to get out in the woods - all hunting seasons will be over by the end of the month, and it's just a nice time to get out.

For those of you who love bluegrass, the Arts Association has announced "Winter Pickin'" (a winter version of Pickin' in the Park) from 6-9:00 February 28, March 6, 13, 20, and 27. That's at the old courthouse, 410 West Main, in the old downtown. 706.632.2144.

Just so none of you can say I didn't tell you: Now is the time to buy property. We're seeing buyer activity pick up, interest rates are still very low, and we have a very good inventory of cabins, lots, and land. I don't expect to see any better deals than are available right now. You can literally buy a cabin that would have cost $400,000 in 2005 for $300,000, and have you choice of quite a few of them, too. There are even better deals in new construction between $400,000-$600,000. Optimism springs eternal in the seller's breast, and with the coming of spring, I expect prices to firm up to some extent. By the time the newspapers figure all this out, it will be too late, so my advice is to come up and have a look now, while the pickings are still good. That way, you won't have to blame me for not telling you ....

February 18, 2008

We had about 1-3/10" of rain at our place on Sunday. The wind was strong, and it looked like a day that could bring heavy weather, but it never reached us. I haven't seen any damage out in the county, although it is possible there was some. Weather is very local in the mountains.

February 14, 2008

We had a cold front come in fast and hard yesterday morning, and it snowed lightly off and on all day. The ground was pretty warm, so there weren't many travel difficulties. But the porch steps were pretty slick, and it was a freezing cold day with a brisk wind. Today is sunny and more hospitable.

If you've been following the real estate market, you should know that interest rates just hit a four-year low.

I went to an interesting meeting last week concerning the proposed four-lane road from Asheville to Cleveland, Tennessee, which is known as Corridor K. The route through our part of the world would probably pass either directly through the Ocoee Gorge, past the Olympic Whitewater Venue, or along the route of the Kimsey Mountain Highway, through the Little Frog Wilderness in the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee. Both are difficult for people who care about the environment to accept. There's good information on Corridor K and on I-3, the proposed interstate from Savannah to Oak Ridge/Knoxville, on www.stopi-3.org.

February 6, 2008

The tornado warning that was on for Fannin and Gilmer until 11 AM this morning was allowed to expire. At our place, we had some high winds, but no real damage.

Fannin County Primary Election Results and Vote Totals

Here are the results of yesterday's presidential preference primary as reported last night by the election commission. They are "unofficial and incomplete."

With 92.86% of the precincts reporting (13 of 14), there were 5804 votes cast out of 13,564 registered voters. That represents 42.79% participation.

Republican voters totaled 3900, Democratic voters 1892 (roughly half).

Guiliani, 25; Huckabee, 1819, Hunter, 4; Keyes, 6; McCain 1198; Paul 130; Romney 695; Tancredo 0, Thompson 23.

Biden, 12; Clinton, 1264; Dodd, 3; Edwards, 95; Gravel, 2; Kucinich, 6; Obama, 504; Richardson, 6.

I'll give a call to Flint Davis, who managed Clinton's campaign in Fannin County. In this, which he says will be his last election, he again delivered Fannin County for his candidate.

The total of 5804 votes represents the committed core of Fannin County voters. Experienced political observers will recall that there were 7,201 votes cast in the alcohol referendum, and 7,135 votes cast in the last race for county chairman (when Howie Bruce defeated Richard Vollrath).

Obviously, the county remains solidly Republican. On the strength of the Baptist vote, Huckabee solidly defeated McCain. Obama did not do well with Democratic voters in the county. It's difficult to tell whether the votes for candidates no longer in the running were "protest votes" or simply an expression of being "a little out of touch."

And, finally, for those who like to look a little deeper: The election commission reported 178 absentee ballots cast in the primary. As you may recall, there were 552 absentee ballots cast in the alcohol referendum, 287 no, 265 yes. That's a net loss of 374 absentee voters in several months time.

February 4, 2008

I can't give rainfall amounts, because my rain gauge died, but we did have significant rain Thursday night. Judging from the fact that Hemptown Creek was running fairly high, I'd say we had at least an inch. It's kind of drizzling today, the way it has been, and the forecast for the rest of the week looks wet.

The past couple of days felt a lot like spring, and this morning we had some of that classic mountain weather - high forties and very foggy. It felt so much like spring that I couldn't resist getting the dogs and going for a little hike before work. I'm sure it will get cold and chilly again, but when we reach this point in the cycle, I look for signs that the year has turned, and I think we reached that point this weekend. I'm sure the critters are happy, because it's been pretty slim pickings in the woods with the drought. I watched six does - two mature, and the rest yearlings - forage in my yard early Sunday morning, and all they were finding to eat was an occasional acorn. Anything green out there seems to be long gone. I've seen some Buffleheads on Mercier's holding tanks, and I hear the geese trading back and forth from the old quarry on Cutcane Road, so it seems that some of the migration has begun.

We're waiting for the January numbers, but our seat of the pants feeling is that we're doing a little better this year in the real estate business. Our projections are for this year to bring us recovery and for us to get back to normal in 2009. Interest rates are still very low, and we're continuing to see good price reductions on desirable cabins. I think it's fair to say that you can buy cabins today for $300,000 that would have cost $400,000 in 2005. That's purely a function of supply and demand, and my advice to everyone would be that it's time to get off the fence if you're interested in cabins. Lots and land may still go somewhat lower, but I don't expect cabins to go much lower. At this point in the cycle, there is still good inventory, and prices are definitely better than they have been in a number of years.

I'll give a call to the very nice three bedroom, three bath cabin that I have listed up on Thunder Mountain. It has one of the best views I've ever seen in Fannin County, and you actually can see Brasstown Bald from the porch. It's in move in condition, and we've just reduced the price to $299,900. You can see the listing on the real estate part of my web site, MLS 164220.

January 28, 2008

Although it has continued cold, the late forecast of freezing rain and sleet Friday night did not materialize. There may have been some patches of sleet, but I have not heard of any in our area.

This tends to be a slow time of year in the mountains, with density - both of rentals and part-time residents - at its lowest point of the year. Over the past twenty years, I've seen the first spring-like day many times on February 1st, but I don't expect that to happen this year. My guess is that we'll have a more normal runup to spring, with the warmer temperatures and greener landscapes coming closer to the first of March.

January 17, 2008

We had a little wet snow last night, about two inches. It came in pretty fast, but the termperature rose above the freeze by 1 AM and it started to rain. The main roads are fine, although there might be a little difficulty getting up and down from the ridgetops. At this point, I'm not expecting any more difficulties.

January 15, 2008

The weather has bounced back very cold, and we have wintry mix and/or freezing rain in the forecast for Wednesday night. In the end, we got a little over an inch and a half of rain out of the front that moved through late last week.

People are always emailing me and asking about the local market, so this is an alert for all you buyers out there who are waiting to see what happens so you can pick the perfect time to buy. Mortgage rates just went to a two-year low. They were very low, historically, already. The mortgage market has been pretty volatile lately. Not long ago, we got a "red alert" from Coldwell Banker Mortgage, saying that rates were expected to rise sharply. Instead, the opposite has happened. Bank of America's purchase of Countrywide will probably stabilize the market - they have the resources, because as a traditional bank, they have deposits to rely on, which Countrywide didn't - but in the long run, less competition probably means higher rates, as the smaller lenders are forced out of the marketplace. Right now, though, we're in a sweet spot.

We track the overall number of listings very carefully, because there is objective evidence that the buyer's market is ending and recovery is beginning when the overall number of listings starts to drop, instead of rise. We did see an overall drop in the MLS in December. This may be a seasonal phenomenon, but it may also be reality setting in for buyers who still want a 2005 price for their property. Our fundamental analysis, as well as my experience as a realtor in this market, tells me that this winter will be the best time to buy in some years. That message seems to be getting around, because we are seeing good buyer activity for this time of year.

In local political news, the liquor and alcohol referendums in Murphy both passed. The total number of votes cast was about 500, and - if memory serves - liquor passed by about eight votes, beer by a somewhat bigger margin. Murphy already allowed restaurants to serve wine. The off premise sales situation in Murphy is a bit complicated. There is a state liquor store on the strip - ABC for "Alcoholic Beverage Control - but if you ask them for beer, they point up the road and say, "Tennessee state line is that way." I think they're trying to keep the working man sober, and of course we working men are grateful. I'm not certain, but I think the referendum was only for restaurant consumption.

January 10, 2008

As you know, the weather bounced back very warm this past week. At this point, the forecast is for rain, but it really hasn't amounted to much more than a light drizzle this morning.

This time of year is very skinny for festivals and events, but the Arts Association is having an ARTrageous Friday Sock Hop on January 18th. For more information, 706.632.2144.

This is probably the most quiet time in the mountains and the woods. With deer season over, most of the hunters have departed the woods, and it is a good time to spend time outdoors. With the leaves off, you can see the views, and the cooler weather is ideal for climbing. Grouse, quail, and rabbit are in until February 28, so there may still be the occasional hunter in the woods. I recommend a blaze orange hat in the woods at all times of year for safety, and I wear one myself when I'm walking property or hiking in the mountains.

I was told this past week that Nature's Estates, a new "fractional ownership" development in Fannin County, has obtained a liquor license from the state. This makes the second such "resort" in Fannin to have obtained a state liquor license, so this seems to be the new route of choice for circumventing the local alcohol restrictions. These new real estate developments make the county commission's determination to keep Fannin County dry laughable, especially since they voted themselves to to allow one of these outfits to obtain their license. If I were a mean-spirited sort of person, I'd point out that the logic of their position is clearly that it's OK for resort buyers to have bars and OK for the big developers to make money off them, just not anyone else.

January 4, 2008

The weather has been the big news lately. We got a total of about an inch and a half last week. Late New Year's Day, it snowed like crazy - hard and fast. A lot of people were surprised when they woke up on Wednesday morning. There were some travel difficulties for those of us who live on the top of the ridge, but conditions had markedly improved by late afternoon. There is still some snow here and there in the outlying areas, but for the most part it is gone. Along with the cold front came very low temperatures. The temperatures on our porch for the past three days were 14°, 10°, and 20°. Wednesday, there was a killer wind, which created the coldest day we've had for a long time ... I almost said, "the coldest day of the year."

The real estate market has been decent lately, with almost a normal amount of seasonal activity. Overall, we are seeing about a third of the transactions we saw in 2005. The good news in that is that we are still seeing a significant number of transactions, and we expect that to continue so long as interest rates remain historically low. The bad news is that there are many more agents than transactions, and there has been some real pain in the agent community. Many agents have had to go on to other jobs on at least a part-time basis, and we expect that a significant number will choose not to renew their board memberships for the coming year. It has been, in other words, a rather severe "shake out" so far as the agent community is concerned.

I will not have the December numbers until Tuesday, but essentially, we have a three year inventory of cabins and a twelve year inventory of land at the current absorption rates. The bottom line is that 2005 is gone, and sellers who want 2005 prices for their property would be well advised to simply take it off the market, which would be a favor for all concerned. For sellers, the best available news is that we are still able to sell a significant number of properties at realistic prices.

For buyers, the news is much better. There are a very large number of listings to choose from, and prices this winter will be better than we have seen for many years. My best wisdom, based on both our fundamental analysis and my experience, is that the time to buy is now. We are expecting 2008 to be a year of recovery, with 2009 returning to normal (not 2005). These projections are based both on local and national trends. By far, the best values are to be found in new construction, particularly in the higher price ranges.

In closing, I hope that you all survived the festivities. Best wishes for a prosperous and healthy 2008!

December 29, 2007

We got just a bit of sleet - the kind the ski bums call grapple - on Christmas day. That was it as far as hopes of snow on Christmas were concerned. Yesterday, we had a bit more than an inch of rain, which was very welcome, even though it was one of those basically miserable days that we get from time to time. The overall trend lately has been to have rainy days, but these are rainy days of drizzle, not rain. It's an odd situation, because the clouds are obviously laden with moisture, but it doesn't really rain. I'm beginning to incline toward the theory that the only rational explanation is that someone in Blue Ridge has offended the gods, and I have a likely candidate.

The Fannin County Election Commission has been reprimanded by the state for irregularities in the 2006 election cycle, mostly related to absentee ballots. For one thing, the Election Commission did not match up signatures on absentee ballots with the voter registration rolls, to determine whether absentee ballot voters were actually registered to vote. There is also an ongoing investigation, which is apparently related to the the liquor referendum held last November. If this also involves absentee ballots, it may be focused on the fact that Election Commission officials allegedly handed out absentee ballots at "Vote No" rallies. As I pointed out at the time, the absentee ballot totals looked suspicious to me, because I expected far more "yes" than "no" absentee votes. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution pointed out this week that it's odd that Secretary of State Karen Handel continues to focus on the voter ID issue, when it is clear that absentee ballots - which require no ID - are much riper for abuse. Judging from the numerous mailings I received from the Sonny Perdue campaign in 2006 urging me to vote absentee - and enclosing actual absentee ballots - this appears to be the new frontier of election strategy.

In case you don't know, the place to be on New Year's Eve is the Possum Drop in Brasstown, North Carolina. You can catch up on this foolishness at www.clayscorner.com, but basically ... this is the one for country fun. You can get to Brasstown through Murphy, but from Blue Ridge, it's much easier to follow the directions on my "Local Info" button. After you get to the Local Info page, select "Day Trips" and follow the directions to the John C. Campbell Folk School. Once you get to the Folk School, just keep going straight for another half mile or so. The festivities are at the gas station - Clay's Corner - on the right.

December 19, 2007

We got about 7/10" of rain at our place on Saturday, and we actually did get a few flurries last Sunday. The weather has been very cold for most of the week - lows in the 20s - but today is warmer with a scant rain.

This is a quiet time of the year for events, but the last Holiday Lights Night Train is December 21. See the details in my column below for December 7.

The deadline is January 4 for the 2008 Leadership Fannin Class. This program, which was developed in conjunction with the Fanning Leadership Institute at the University of Georgia, is a kind of crash course on Fannin County - government, development challenges, healthcare needs, etc. The program meets on alternate Wednesdays for a total of ten or twelve meetings. One of the aims of the program is to facilitate networking among classmates to develop leadership potential and respond to challenges facing the county. It is an excellent introduction to the community both for newcomers and people who have been here for a while and want to get involved. There is a nominal fee for the course, but scholarships are available. I'm a 2006 graduate, and I found the program very worthwhile. Contact Jan Hackett at the Chamber of Commerce, 706.632.5680, for more information.

December 14, 2007

After the absurdly warm temperatures last week, it's a little more seasonal today, and the cold trend is supposed to continue through this weekend, with the first threat of flurries in the forecast.

There isn't a lot going on at this time of year, in terms of events, but the Mineral Bluff Depot will be open tomorrow, December 15, from noon until 4 PM. The model trains will be running and refreshments will be served by the Tri-State Model Railroaders. The depot is in Mineral Bluff, on Railroad Avenue. From Blue Ridge, you would turn north on Hwy 60, and left on Railroad Avenue, just before Hemptown Creek.

December 7, 2007

It's been dry, and unseasonably cold, although we're supposed to see very warm weather this weekend, along with a few possible showers.

This is the time of year when those of us who live here tend to kick back and relax a little bit and enjoy the lower density in our developments. In the old days, the mountain season ended after Thanksgiving and didn't crank back up again until the opening day of trout at the end of March. Blue Ridge reverted to being a sleepy mountain town, where everyone knew everyone else. Those days are gone, of course, but there is still a good bit less activity in the winter, which means it's still a good time to enjoy the peace and quiet and take some long walks in the woods.

The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway is running the "Holiday Lights Night Train" tomorrow, December 8 at 6:30. It will also run December 15 and December 21. The cost is $20 plus tax, and reservations are recommended. That's 1-800.934.1898 or 706.632.9833.

November 30, 2007

The weather has been cool in the mornings, and nicely warmer in the afternoons. Highs have been near sixty. Whether it feels warm or not depends a lot on whether you are in the sun or out of the wind.

There were a zillion people in town for Light Up Blue Ridge. Some estimates were as high as 6,000 people. It's really become a big event. Tonight is the Light Up the Basin festival. See the column below for details.

It's time to order tree seedlings from the Georgia Forestry Commission. In Fannin, the state forest service office is located on Old 76 in Lakewood - from Blue Ridge, you would go east toward Blairsville on the four lane, turn right on Hwy 60 south, then left at the "T" with the old highway, toward Morganton. The forest service office is right there, on the right. The way it works is that you fill out the order form, and send it with your check. If they have stock available, you will be notified when they have been delivered to the forest service office during the window you pick. Prices are very good. Ten select dogwoods or persimmons have been $20, for instance. Large quantities of pines can be bought very reasonably. The best time to plant here is during January and February, so it is the right time to order. You will probably have to water them through the first year, unless we have an unusually wet spring.

November 23, 2007

We had about 1-5/8" rain Wednesday night, and the temperatures - which were in the high 60s or low 70s - have dropped again. Today, it is quite cool, with a chilly wind stirring.

Light up Blue Ridge is tomorrow, Saturday November 24. Festivities begin at 11 Am with "Tuba Christmas." Santa arrives at 12:45. There are musical events all day, including the Gopher Broke Band at 1:30 and the Barker Brothers (excellent bluegrass) at 4:20. The Father Christmas Processional begins at 6:00 at the Blue Ridge United Methodist Church and the Lighting of the Tree is 7:00 - 8:00. The downtown shops will be open.

The Light up the Basin festival is next Friday, November 30, starting at 5:45 PM at the United Community Bank in McCaysville. Santa will arrive at the River Crossing Mall at 6:30 for free pictures, and shops will be open until 8 PM.

The Copperhill Kiwanis will begin their annual Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 1, at 2 PM.

November 15, 2007

We've had about 1-1/2" of rain in the past few days. I think other areas of the county may have had more. It was needed. I have yet to talk to anyone who remembers the creeks and ponds being any lower, or even coming close to being as low as they are now.

The weather has bounced back warm, but the cold snap finally put some color into most of the oaks, and the woods look very pretty. The dominant shades are yellow and gold, but there are a few reds mixed in from the maples and the remaining sourwoods. If it doesn't rain too hard tonight, I think this weekend will be very pretty for the leaves.

The county commission has held two of the three land use forums, "land use" being a code word for "zoning" in a county where the old guard thinks zoning is a communist plot to take away their property rights. The county commission decided to have these meetings because they did not like the results of the town hall meetings held by Fannin's Future. There were too many communists making comments, apparently. Or, as the commissioners would have it, the "Fannin County Natives" and/or "long term property owners" were not adequately represented, so it is important to give them another chance to tell us all that growth will take care of itself and a man has a right to do anything he wants on his own property.

The first meeting was poorly attended, but the second meeting, in Morganton, drew about sixty participants. The third and final meeting will be held at Monday 11/19, 7:00 PM at Appalachian Community Bank. The bank is located on 515, across from the entrance to the Ingles Shopping Center. People who attend the meeting are asked to fill out a form listing their top five concerns about land use. The same form is available on the Fannin County website, www.fannincountyga.org for electronic submission. If you have an opinion you would like to express, you should do it immediately, as the comment period closes soon.

November 6, 2007

We had the first hard freeze last night. At our place, it was 30° on the porch this morning, and there does seem to be more color in the woods than there was last night.

Fannin County Election / Referendum Results and Vote Totals

The initiative to allow alcohol by the drink in Fannin County was defeated yesterday, with 3871 "no" votes to 3330 "yes" votes. These results are unofficial at this time. Total votes cast were 7,201 and the margin of victory was 541 votes. Oddly - and perhaps questionably - absentee ballots were 287 "no" and 265 "yes." I would have expected many more "yes" than "no" absentee ballots.

Analysis: The total number of votes cast was about the same as in our last general election (about 7,500), which shows that people did care deeply about this issue and that both sides did a good job of getting their people out.

In the final analysis, this has been more about "who is master" - in the sense of who is in control of Fannin County and it's future - than about the actual merits of the issue. This is especially true now that the county commission has voted to allow the Golf & River Club to obtain a liquor license directly from the state. That makes it less a matter of principle than a matter of favoritism, as the people fortunate enough to afford property in that development - many of whom are wealthy local business people who invested there - will be allowed to "tip a few back" from time to time.

I'm very surprised by the small margin of victory, as I was predicting that the initiative would fail by about 1,000 votes. The word from my sources at the courthouse is that the people opposing the measure were displeased by the small margin of victory. They should have been, because the results show that the hated outsiders are within shouting distance of prevailing on this issue, as well as having the votes in hand to elect the county commission.

Taking the long view, I think it was very foolish of the county commission to create this interesting test of outsider vote strength, as it can only encourage people who are not "Fannin County Natives" to run for county commission. Previously, the best wisdom available was that the votes just aren't there to elect such a person. (I consider our previous County Chairman, Dr. Vollrath, an exception because Fannin has a history of electing medical doctors and the circumstances that led to his election victories were somewhat unique.)

With our present county commission mightily resisting growth planning and redoing the town hall meetings in an attempt to obtain results more palatable to the old guard, there is considerable resentment building about their continual playing of the "Fannin Native" card, with its clear implication that outsiders have no rights and are only there to be milked by the real people, the "Fannin County Natives." I don't find any support in the Constitution for the idea that people that are born in a certain place have superior rights, but this is asserted openly in just about every official meeting or interview of local officials. What it all amounts to for the second home buyers and retirees is taxation without representation, which - while it is an undeniably nice situation for the locals - may soon be a thing of the past.

November 5, 2007

We're just back from a few days vacation. Thanks to all my loyal readers for your patience. I just have time for a few brief notes.

It has continued very dry and temperatures have been cooler. We've had about 40° in the morning, and it has been seasonally cool in the afternoons, with a fairly brisk breeze. It's still very pretty, but I think the leaf color has peaked. It has been an odd year, because some of the trees turned and some are still green. Most of the color this year came from the sourwoods and the maples. The oaks didn't seem to have their usual color, with a few exceptions.

Tomorrow is the vote on the Great Fannin Beer and Wine War.

I will report results and vote totals as soon as possible on Wednesday, I hope by noon.

The newspapers have been full of letters to the editor - mostly against - and the News Observer carried the amazing news last Friday that the county commission has voted to allow the Blue Ridge Golf and River Club to obtain a liquor license directly from the state! Steve Morris missed that vote, Howie Bruce admitted that he knew he was voting for a liquor license, and Tommy Ledford allowed as how he didn't rightly recall anything about a license, just about getting the project "unstuck." I'm sure there will be more spin to come on this exciting development, which will probably be perceived as special treatment for this upscale development.

October 18, 2007

It's raining a little today, but not as much as we'd like to see. Actually, it needs to rain for about forty days and forty nights to get us back on track.

There is some color in the woods, mostly at the lower elevations. I think that's because the nights have been calm, and when the wind doesn't blow, the cold air tends to settle in the valleys. It's always hard to tell when the color is going to peak. It's possible that it will peak this weekend, but it's also possible that there's more to come.

The new Italian restaurant, Cucina Rustica, is open in the old Forge Mill location. For those of you who don't remember the old place, Forge Mill Crossing is located about a mile east of Highway 60 on Hwy 515. It's on the right as you drive toward Blairsville. They're doing a soft opening - last night was their second night - with not all their dining rooms open, so a reservation is suggested. Their number is 706.374.7474. Brown bagging is permitted. The owner/chef, Isabella, and her husband have renovated the entire space beautifully. They have a wood fired oven and are featuring individual pizzas along with classic pasta dishes and entrees. At my table we had veal, fettuccine in red sauce, and crepes. All were good. Prices were reasonable, with individual pizzas $10-13, pasta dishes $12-15, and entrees $15-23.

If you scroll down to my column for September 22, you'll see a list of local festivals, some of which are still going on. The Apple Festival in Ellijay has another weekend to run, and this weekend is the first weekend of the Fall Festival at the Blue Ridge Farmer's Market (next to the Swan Theater on the old highway). The Georgia Mountain Fair in Hiawassee has one more weekend to run, and that would be my pick over the Apple Festival, because it isn't anywhere near as congested.

In the ever-popular Fannin Follies, Commission Chairman Howie Bruce used his forum in the Fannin Sentinel to launch an amusing attack on the News Observer today.

Tensions continue to rise in the Great Fannin Wine and Beer War, which is to be settled on election day, November 6. Letters to the editor and various personal allegations have been flying fast and furious. One thing we've learned - and I'll be the first to admit that I didn't know this - is that alcohol wasn't invented until 750 AD, so it is literally impossible that Jesus drank it. (Apparently, they aren't teaching Plato's "Symposium" in the local schools.) Anyway, it has gotten pretty nasty, but so far, there's been no loss of human life traceable to the issue.

October 10, 2007

The temperature this morning was startlingly cooler. We had 42° on the deck and the wind made it seem a lot cooler. The leaves have started to turn, the black walnuts are falling pretty good, and this morning I heard migrating geese using the old quarry out on Cutcane Road. All in all, convincingly like fall. My fearless prediction is that since it has been so dry, the leaf season will come early and be over quickly - but how soon it is over depends a little on whether we get a heavy rain and wind. The way things are going, it may never rain again. It's really shocking, when you get back in the woods, how low the streams and ponds are, even the ones that have never been low in the past.

In the column below, I mention most of the good festivals and doings for October. One that I didn't mention is coming this weekend, The Quiltfest held by the Misty Mountain Quilt Guild in Blairsville. This will be October 12-13 at the North Georgia Technical College in Blairsville. As you approach Blairsville from the west, the college is on the left just before the first traffic light. It's 9-5 on Friday and 9-4 on Sunday. The Guild has about 160 members and festivities will include a silent auction, ribbons and awards, a quilt raffle, and vendor booths.

The deadline has passed to register to vote in the Great Wine and Beer War, which is to be decided on election day, November 6. Voter registrations are up, especially as there have been reports that our Fannin County election officials have been attending the anti-alcohol rallies, registering voters and passing out absentee ballots like popcorn. I'm not sure if this is legal or not. But with Fannin County's history of election fraud, somebody better make sure that the number of "no" votes don't exceed the actual number of registered voters.

I attended a meeting in Ducktown yesterday, the first of four final "stakeholder meetings" on the Corridor K project, which is the construction of a four-lane highway between Asheville and Chattanooga. This has significant local import because the route will evidently have to either follow the existing two-lane through the Ocoee Gorge or the route of the existing forest service road through the Little Frog Wilderness, the so-called Kimsey Mountain Highway.

The other three meetings are Monday, October 15, 10AM - 12 noon, Tri-County Community College, McSwain Building Lecture Hall, Murphy, NC; Monday, October 15 (same day) 5:30-7:00 PM Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce, 255 Keith Avenue, Cleveland, TN; Thursday, October 18, 11:00 - 1:00 PM, Chattanooga/Hamilton County Development Resource Center, 1250 Market Street, First Floor Conference Room, Chattanooga, TN 37402. RSVP requested to Frances Hall (865) 803.8994 or bjhall@wilbursmith.com.

The meeting featured a lengthy - and somewhat less than gripping - Powerpoint presentation by John Mettille, who was billed as "the green (highway) man." I'm glad they told me he was famous, because otherwise I might have dismissed him as a TDOT flak. He repeatedly asserted the somewhat counterintuitive proposition that a four-lane highway could be built through a pristine national forest area - not only without degrading it - but actually leaving the environment better than it was before the highway was built. The evidence for this claim appeared to be two older two-lane projects built through rolling farmland elsewhere, which I did not find completely convincing.

Not everybody's a licensed philosopher, of course, and I think it's fair to say that the thirty or so Nashville functionaries, local officials, and chamber of commerce types - not one "environmentalist" bothered to attend - found it convincing, if profoundly unnecessary. Since the local boosters seem to be convinced that all it's going to take to bring them instantaneous wealth and prosperity is a four-lane road, they probably wouldn't care if it destroyed every living organism within thirty miles of the right of way. Actually, that might be a little unfair, because they were alert enough to note during the "focus group" portion of the proceedings that among our local treasures are - yes - the Ocoee Gorge and the Kimsey Mountain Highway.

As I said at greater length in my column for May 2 - please scroll down and read that if you are interested in what I think - there does need to be a better solution. Unfortunately, TDOT is evidently holding out for a four-lane road, and they are indulging in quite a bit of mystification to promote it. For instance, the officials at the meeting hotly denied that Corridor K has anything to do with I-3 (an odd assertion, since they obviously will cross, at the very least, and probably will share roadbed), that any "alignments" (that's routes) have been decided on, and that previous cost estimates are relevant. In fact, they admitted that the money doesn't exist to build the road, which will necessitate a "public-private partnership" (which is officialese for toll road).

My self-immolating role as an objective reporter requires me to note that the four-color, slick print brochure they handed out contained a number of "inaccuracies." For instance, it claims that numerous rock slides have occurred on the River Road, necessitating lengthy detours for trucks and - horrors - school busses. Well, I remember this happening once, and if I were a mean-spirited sort of person, I would point out that this is a case of TDOT relying on their own negligence, because if they weren't determined to keep the road dangerous and hazardous to bolster their case for a four-lane, they could have installed guardrails, widened the road at the tight spots, and trimmed back the overhanging rock outcroppings years ago, at a fraction of the cost.

September 22, 2007

The weather has continued beautiful, but very dry. I visited a pond yesterday that I've never seen more than a foot low in the past twenty years - it catches the runoff from a fairly big ridge - and it was almost dry. It was down at least ten feet, maybe more. This is a little pond that hosts ducks during the migration season, but at this point, it's just a muddy hole filled with algae. The storm total from last week was about 3 inches, but at this point, it is as if it never happened.

The deadline is October 9 to register to vote in the Great Fannin County Beer and Wine War. See the column below for details on how to do it online.

October is festival time in the mountains. Here's a selection of the best local festivals.

Fall Festival at the John C. Campbell Folk School, Brasstown, NC, October 6-7, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM. If you haven't been, this is a great time to go. Be sure to visit the gift shop. Over 200 craftspeople will be exhibiting this year. For the "secret directions" to the Folk School from Blue Ridge, see "Day Trips" on the "Activities" button.

Fall Festival at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds in Hiawassee, October 12-21. Admission is $8, parking is $2 per car, and the music events are included. There is a three day pass for $20. Zillions of booths and permanent exhibits, including a one room school and antique farm equipment. Crystal Gayle October 12, Earl Thomas Conley October 13, The Spencers, Lewis Family, and Mark Trammell Trio October 14, John Conlee, Janie Fricke, and T.G. Sheppard October 15, John Anderson and Ryan Casper October 16, Marty Stuart and Gold Wing Express October 17, Phil Dirt and Denise Rains October 18, and the Official Georgia State Fiddler's Convention with Fiddlin Howard Cunningham October 19. The Fiddler's Convention continues on October 20, and Issacs, Diplomats, and Chuck Wagon Gang close the festival on October 21.

The Mountain Harvest Sale at the Farmer's Market in Blue Ridge - next to the Swan Drive-in on the old Highway - Saturday and Sunday, October 20-21, 27-28. Your source for homemade preserves and pickles.

The Sorghum Festival in Blairsville, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday the first three weekends in October. (If you're not from the south, you need to keep sorghum on hand because you always substitute it for molasses in recipes.)

The Indian Summer Festival is at the Woody Gap School in Suches October 6-7. Antique car show, crafts, food and fun.

The Marble Festival in Jasper October 6-7. The Historic Tate Marble Quarry is open for tours.

The Cherry Log Festival is the first three weekends in October.

Heritage Days in Talking Rock, October 13-14.

The 36th Annual Apple Festival in Ellijay, October 13-21. Over 300 vendors. The Antique Car Show is at the Civic Center on the 13th, and the parade is the 20th.

Gold Rush Days in Dahlonega, 300 arts and crafts booths, October 20-21.

September 13, 2007

We had about 3/8" rain on Tuesday, and the weather has continued a little cooler. Yesterday was a beautiful day, and it was 59° on the porch this morning. (Friday update: We've had about 1-3/4" through noon today.)

A little additional information for those who may wish to vote on the Great Fannin County Beer and Wine Referendum. The election is November 6. The deadline to register to vote is October 9. Early voting is October 29 - November 2. You need a photo ID to vote in person. Absentee ballots do not require a photo ID. The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot is November 2, and the request can be submitted by fax. The ballot is then mailed to you. The county web site, www.fannincountyga.org, has both the application to register to vote and the application for an absentee ballot. Obviously, this is an important issue for the future of Fannin County, and I urge you to vote.

We finally got around to doing something that we've been meaning to do for some time, which is to visit the Amish Farmer's Market in Delano, Tennessee. After our first visit, I don't think they're going to be able to keep me away. Even though the growing season is almost past, there was an incredible variety of great looking produce, and the prices were wonderful. I bought a half peck of red poblano peppers (I use them in tomato sauce) for $4, and three red bell peppers for $1 (ditto). Also collards, turnip greens, hot peppers, sweet potatoes, new potatoes, pickling cucumbers, okra, melons, squash, peas, bread and baked goods, sorghum, preserves, and more. The guy behind the cash register apologized because the market is better in the summer months, but I couldn't have cared less.

The Amish are known for beautiful draft horses, and it was a treat to see several beautiful wagon teams. There was some comedy, too, like the lady who tried to pay with a check and couldn't understand why they wouldn't take it. (By the way, they ask that dress be respectful. They probably don't like shorts very much, but they tolerate them. But they really don't like low necklines or halter tops. If you're wearing them, it would probably be a good idea to take a long sleeved shirt to wear inside.)

The market is north of Benton, TN. From Blue Ridge, you would go to Ducktown, and then take 64/74 (the River Road/Old Copper Road) west toward Cleveland. The scenic way to go is turn off on 316/30 to Reliance (the Greasy Creek Road) and then follow 30 over to 411. If you're doing that, the turnoff to the market is on the left, just after you turn north on 411. There's a winery on the same road. The quicker way to go would be to continue toward Cleveland on 64/74 and take the road that cuts off to Benton. It's not marked very well, but you'll see other traffic bear off on the right fork after you've passed Parksville Lake. This turnoff is just before you cross the Ocoee River and the road turns to four lanes. If you miss it, it's no big deal. Just continue on until you hit 411, and turn north. When you get north of Benton, watch for the spot where 30 comes in on the right from Reliance. The turnoff to the market is on the left just past that point. It would take about an hour and fifteen minutes to get there from Blue Ridge. The Delano Community Farmer's Market is open six days, starting at 9 AM. They said they would close sometime around the first of November. Obviously, there's no phone.

This weekend is the Wildlife Arts Festival in the downtown Blue Ridge Park. There's usually a lot going on, and there will be a lot of vendors displaying original artwork.

Also, Saturday and Sunday is the "Ride the Rails Festival" at the historic Mineral Bluff Depot. Rides on the rail cars - the little motorized cars that used to be used for track maintenance - are from 9 AM - 4 PM. The rides go over the old iron bridge over the Toccoa to Murphy Junction and back. There's already some neat looking rail cars in town.

Finally, I was talking to the trout stocking guy at Tammin Park the other day, and he said that the river below the dam was already way over it's allotment of trout, because the other streams are too hot to stock. The stocking takes place at Tammin Park, just below the dam, at Curtis Switch, and at Horseshoe Bend Park.

September 7, 2007

We've had about three days of rain in the past week or so, totaling about 1-1/4". It's back to very dry, but the good news is that the rain knocked the temperature down about ten degrees. I actually had 62° on the porch on Wednesday, and someone at the MLS committee meeting I attended that morning reported that his porch temperature was 55°.

The Labor Day Barbecue was a massive success, despite the terrible threat to the patriarchy posed by the fact that the Presbyterian gal was allowed to preach at the interdenominational service and ice cream social. Prompt and vigilant action by certain local preachers prevented the contamination of their flocks, for which we give thanks. Some might have compromised their principles to support a 25-year-old charity event and local tradition, but these did not. They were steadfast in their witness.

Dino has finally retired from Dino's Tavern - or "Dino's Nut House" as the sign over the bar had it - and has handed the new owner the famous baseball bat, which was once necessary to keep order.

In the ever-amusing Fannin Follies, the new county commissioners have decided to redo the town hall meetings held by Fannin's Future, because they didn't like the results of the previous forums. They are going to hand pick a team, which will apparently be charged with reporting results more acceptable to the commission.

The fighting has already been fast and furious in the great wine and beer war, with letters to the editors of both newspapers, opinion pieces, pronouncements from the pulpit, and even - gasp - a full page ad in the Fannin Sentinel pointing out that East Ellijay has no property taxes. Those on the "pro" side of the issue are sneakily stressing economics, while those on the "con" side of the issue are citing tradition, crime, spousal abuse, drug addiction, degeneracy, and the transparent will of the almighty. For those of you who want to take sides, the referendum will be held on Election Day, November 6th. The last day to register to vote is October 9. The Fannin Election Commission is 706.632.7740.

It is a fact that the chickens have been trapped and deported from downtown Blue Ridge. They are reportedly sojourning at a private residence on Ballewtown Road. There had apparently been complaints from a few of the downtown merchants.

That's about the news. And remember, folks - you can't make this stuff up!

August 28, 2007

It has continued very dry. There have been some scattered showers, but nothing very widespread. We had about 1/4" at our place on Sunday, but I was down in the woods, and basically nothing reached the forest floor. Apparently, we're in the worst drought for 120 years (or so). I think we're supposed to be 16 inches behind normal in rainfall. The woods look very sparse, and a lot of stuff is dying. The dogwoods in particular look very stressed, although they are budding out in an amazing fashion.

The deadline to register to vote - in case you want to cast your vote in the Great Fannin County Beer, Wine, and Liquor Referendum (November 6) - will be October 9th. The election office is on the third floor of the courthouse, 706.632.7740.

A short real estate sermon before the local event listings below: It's a great time to buy property! We have a huge inventory of land and cabins! Prices are better than they have been in many years! As I've said before, prices rarely crash completely in a resort market, but there are lots of choices, and there are definitely some very good deals out there, especially in new construction.

Next weekend, the Labor Day Barbecue is scheduled for Monday, September 3 in the downtown Blue Ridge Park. Serving starts at 11:00 and they basically serve until the food runs out. It's usually choice of chicken or ribs, baked beans, cole slaw, and home baked cookies and cupcakes and cakes for dessert. There will probably be some musical activities as well. It's usually a pretty good time, and the barbecue is usually good.

Upcoming events of note are the Wildlife Arts Festival, hosted by Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association (BRMAA), September 15-16 in the downtown park. There will be about 60 artists on site, with lots of associated events.

Also, the third annual Ridge the Rails festival will be held at the old depot in Mineral Bluff from September 15-16. Rides begin at 9 AM and run until about 4 PM. The train ride goes over the railroad bridge over the Toccoa at Hogback Road, over to Murphy Junction, and back. This is held by the model railroaders, who will be showing off their two layouts inside the depot. There's usually a hand car for the kids to try, but it's the motorized cars that used to be used for track maintenance that are used for the ride over to Murphy Junction.

August 17, 2007

The heat wave continues, and it's been very dry. Yesterday, we saw a bit over 90 on the porch, I think for the first time this summer. Things are drying up and dying in the woods, and it's as dry as it ever has been. We had about 1/8" of rain at our place last night, but I think it was just a little local thunderstorm. In any case, it was barely enough to settle the dust.

It was quite a county commission meeting last Tuesday. The commission finally got off the dime and created the oversight committee for animal control. Also, the commission voted to have a referendum on liquor by the drink (which would include beer and wine) in November. The date will be November 6.

At the previous meeting, it appeared that there would be a standoff on this issue, with Steve Morris absent, and Howie Bruce saying that he would not vote for beer and wine, but would support a referendum. The way I heard it, Tommy Ledford said that he would not support a referendum, because he didn't want liquor.

At the meeting last Tuesday, Ledford made a motion to allow beer and wine, but received no second. Bruce then made a motion to have a referendum - which by law, must be on liquor - and it passed unanimously. I'd have to give the News Observer some credit, because the publisher editorialized strongly on the commission's inaction on the issues facing the county.

Unfortunately, they still have not acted on the growth issues - the recommendations of the Growth Alliance - and they continue to stonewall the idea of creating a citizen's committee to replace Fannin's Future, which they essentially killed. Apparently, they have a problem with citizen's groups trying to tell them what to do.

So, I guess it was a historic meeting. The result cannot have pleased the local Baptists, who remain unalterably opposed to any sort of alcohol by the drink in the county. In their minds, liquor is unspeakably worse than beer and wine, so in a way, it was the worst possible outcome from their point of view ... unless they can defeat the proposition at the polls.

For those people who are not opposed to alcohol on religious grounds, the issue is mostly one of hoping to get some good restaurants, and a sense that the county is losing out to East Ellijay on tax revenues. Apparently, almost half of our tourists drive down to East Ellijay to eat, and the loss to Fannin County restaurants - and our tax digest - is considerable. There is also a sense that with the current slowdown in the real estate market, that we need it to restore the county's competitiveness in the second home market.

This will be a bitterly fought campaign, and the success of the proposition depends on how many of our second home owners register to vote and actually vote in the referendum. I've urged my buyers to vote here for years, on the theory that if this is where you plan to spend the rest of your life, it makes sense to help solve some of the serious issues that are facing us - growth, land planning, and zoning, especially. The county makes it quite easy to vote by absentee ballot, so those of you who care about this issue should consider voting here in November. It is not likely that there will be another chance in the foreseeable future to move this proposition.

Seasoned political observers will recall that this proposition was narrowly defeated in Union County/Blairsville last year.

The Fannin County Election Commission's office is in the courthouse, and the phone number is 706.632.7740.

August 7, 2007

We're back to needing rain seriously. The woods are extremely dry, and many of the trees continue to look very stressed, including the dogwoods. We had almost an inch of rain in the past seven days, but at least where we are, it came in about five minutes and just ran off.

I'm still seeing a lot of spotted fawns, two to three weeks old, while I'm out showing property.

By the way, that market seems to have picked up significantly, which is unusual for this time of year.

Pickin' in the Park continues every Thursday night, starting at 6 PM, at the Ron Henry Horseshoe Bend Park, on the River Road just upstream from McCaysville. From McCaysville, go north on Hwy 60 to a right turn just before the railroad tracks on River Road. The park is on the right. It's best to bring lawn chairs and perhaps a picnic dinner.

In Copperhill news, the aldermen finally did the right thing - after considerable prodding by the News Observer - and changed the ordinance so Dino could sell his bar and retire. The new ordinance passed on its second reading Monday morning, and I can report personally that Dino is very pleased. He plans to be closing very soon, so don't delay if you want to go have a drink in the old tavern - "Dino's Nuthouse," as the sign above the bar calls it. I expect that the new owners will be opening a considerably more upscale establishment, given that their New Yorker Restaurant next door is already sporting white tablecloths.

Unicoi State Park (near Helen) is hosting a Folk Life Festival August 11, from 10 AM to 4 PM. This involves demonstrations of the old mountain arts and crafts, followed by a bluegrass concert by the Possum Knockers.

August 11 is also "Be an Aquatic Biologist for a Day" on the beautiful Conasauga River. Some of you may have read the interesting report on snorkling in the Conasauga in last Sunday's Atlanta Journal-Constitution (8/5), written by their outdoor reporter, Charles Seabrook. The Conasauga actually has more native species than the Colorado (45 vs. 33) and Columbia (25) river systems, which is impressive, given that it's a much smaller. The article is still available on the AJC website. If you are interested in this event, I'd suggest calling early for information 423.867.3474.

July 28, 2007

We've had about an inch of rain in the past week, and it's much appreciated, even if it is too late to help the farmers much.

The local produce is starting to come in good quantities. We've had local corn, crookneck squash, cucumbers, beans, tomatoes, and zucchini in the past week.

For those of you who may be interested in Copperhill, the Financial Times (England) has just published an interesting article naming Copperhill an "up and coming" community. It's available on their website at www.ft.com.

The hassle continues in Copperhill over the transfer of Dino's license to a new group of investors that includes John Blankenship. It seems there was an ordinance passed a few years ago prohibiting bars in the downtown area. Dino's was already there, so it is in effect an non-conforming use. The group that has bought the building that houses Dino's and the New Yorker wants to have a restaurant on one side and a bar on the other side, where Dino's is currently located. They have a license for the restaurant side, but it is tied to a certain percentage of food sales, which they do not want to have to meet on the bar side. There appears to be a bit of newcomer vs. old timers here, with the Board of Alderman split 2-2 on the last vote. Dino, of course, is caught in the middle. He wants to retire, and he doesn't want the liability of continuing to hold the license. At this point, both the investment group and Dino have threatened to sue. I'd have to say that this is one of those things that doesn't make a whole lot of sense from my vantage point a few miles away. There's already a bar there, in fact there is more than one, and the city can only gain by an upgrading of one of them by new investors. Also, Dino is a good guy, and it seems a shame that his retirement is being held hostage to what looks a lot like a game of "who is master?"

July 20, 2007

There have been some showers around the county, but they have been scant and scattered. At least where we live, there hasn't been much measurable rainfall, perhaps a little less than a half an inch. The rain has encouraged the weeds some, along with some of the alien wildflowers and a ton of evil-looking mushrooms.

If you haven't been out for blackberries, it's high time. I believe they have pretty much peaked. A note of caution from the old woodsman: If you're going out for berries, remember to watch out for bears. If you see bear sign in the form of droppings that look like small patches or piles of blackberry preserve, you can be sure that the bears have been there, too. Remember that at this time of year, females are apt to be with their young and can be dangerous. If you actually see bears, I'd strongly advise you to pick elsewhere. In all cases, you should keep small children close when picking berries. Having said all that, you're unlikely to encounter them during the day. Like most everyone else who lives in close proximity to man, they've become largely nocturnal. If you pick some berries, you might want to try the famous recipe below.

The Georgia Mountain Fair is underway in Hiawassee. If you haven't been, it's well worth going. There are a variety of musical events and admission to the concert hall is included in the price of admission to the fair. It's still only $8. The fair itself involves concessions, food stands - trout dinner! - and exhibits. The exhibit halls have some amazing stuff - old printing presses, farm equipment, crafts. There's an original one room schoolhouse, preserved intact, a moonshine demonstration, and so forth.

There's something a little special in store for race fans, as the Sugar Creek Raceway is hosting the USCS winged sprint cars on July 27, along with their usual program of racing.

The Dillard Barbecue and Bluegrass Festival is scheduled for August 3-4, Friday 11 AM - 11 PM, Saturday 11 AM - 5 PM. This is a real barbecue contest, sanctioned by the KCBS. If you haven't been before, I'd advise going Friday evening, because the teams can be a bit hung over and inhospitable by Saturday afternoon because they've been up all night. On the other hand, the Rabun County Farmer's Market, which happens Saturday in downtown Clayton, was just named one of the Top 10 in the country, which might argue for a Saturday visit to the wilds of Rabun County.

July 11, 2007

We've had nice rain in the county over the past three days, and it is continuing today. At our place, we've had at least 2-1/2 inches. Some of it came as a hard downpour, but we've also had some nice soaking rain. We're still way behind in terms of total rainfall, but this rain makes me feel a lot better about our big trees and shrubs, which have been really stressed.

The blackberries are coming pretty good. The famous recipe is in the column below.

We've seen a lot more activity in the office lately, mostly investors who feel it is time to buy. There is not much doubt that it's the best time to buy in Fannin County that we've seen for at least five years. There is more property on the market than we are used to seeing, and sellers seem are more negotiable than usual. Resort markets in general are more stable than conventional residential markets, because they typically have far fewer truly distressed sellers. Especially in our market, people who are able to afford a second home often seem willling to wait things out in order to get the price they want for their cabin. But, having said that, there are still an awful lot of bargains out there, especially when compared to the situation we've gotten used to over the past number of years. While there are bargains all across the spectrum, I think it's fair to say that the biggest cabin bargains are in new construction, especially above $350,000. There are also a lot of bargains in lot and land offerings, which are in relatively greater oversupply.

In local news, the smokestack at the old copper plant in Copperhill has finally been removed, which is a historic event for the Copper Basin.

June 29, 2007

We had a little rain where we are last night, probably about 3/4" to 1". I think it was fairly widespread in the county, because one of our friends who lives out by the lake called and said she was having it, and I hear it rained even more in Cherry Log. It was your basic thunderstorm, but at least where we are, it didn't rain too hard to soak in, so it was a much needed rain. We're still way, way behind.

Tomorrow, June 30, is Old Timer's Day in downtown Blue Ridge. It should be a lot of fun, with a parade, band, and all kinds of stuff. The band is the Feed and Seed Abominable Marching Band from Atlanta.

The Famous Blackberry Margarita Recipe

The blackberries are starting to come, although most of them seem to still need a little time to ripen. For those of you who may have "fallen off the wagon" as my home people used to say, here's the recipe. I hear it’s great, although we’ve never tested it ourselves, of course. I just keep running it around this time of year, because I get swamped with email requests if I don't!

2 cups berries
2 cups ice cubes
½ cup fresh lime juice
¾ cup white tequila
¼ cup sugar

Buzz the berries in the blender. It's best if the berries have been washed and cooled in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. Otherwise, it's hard to get it cold enough to taste refreshing. It's also a good idea to have the tequila in the freezer. Strain the seeds, if you care about these things (they tend to fall to the bottom of the glass, anyway). Add the other ingredients. Either buzz it again with the ice or serve it on the rocks. If it isn't cold enough, you may want to refrigerate the mixture for a bit. Yes, it does need all that lime to taste like a margarita. Enjoy!

There are too many events scheduled for the next week or so to recount them all, but the News Observer has a full rundown on page 3 of today's paper (Friday, June 29). It's available from street boxes at various locations, including the grocery stores.

The fireworks are July 3, about 9:30, in McCaysville/Copperhill and June 4 at 9 PM at the Blue Ridge Marina. Morganton Point is probably the best place to view the Blue Ridge fireworks.

The Old Fashioned Fourth of July in Epworth is on the 4th from 10:30 to 3 PM. At noon, the North Georgia Shrine Club will be selling barbecue at the Blue Ridge Marina until the fireworks. Southern rock unit ESP will be performing at the marina starting at 4 PM.

June 20, 2007

Wild excitment! It rained pretty good two days in a row, and I think it covered pretty much the entire county. I'm confident this is the best rain we've had all year. That may not seem like much to get excited about, but it has been so incredibly dry that we're worried about most of the trees and vegetation. I believe the storm total was about 1.5 inches.

June 13, 2007

The big news is that Intertrade is taking down the smokestack at the old copper plant. Work started yesterday and continues today.

This is a historic event for Copperhill, Tennessee, but it isn't clear that it means the end of sulphuric acid production at the plant. It would be nice to think so, but a few years ago, Intertrade applied for and received a new sulphuric acid permit. Some of the old production equipment was recently sold to a Brazilian concern and removed. It was subsequently announced that Intertrade had surrendered the permit, but this has not been verified, and I believe they are probably still in possession of a valid permit for sulphuric acid.

In other Copperhill news, Dino, the long-time proprietor of the downtown tavern next to the New Yorker restaurant, has indicated that he will be closing soon, possibly this week. The New Yorker itself has already been sold to John Blankenship, or to a partnership in which he is a partner.

The Kiwanis Fair is set for June 20-24 in Blue Ridge at the Kiwanis Fairground. This is a sort of a carnival with rides, a midway, and snack booths. The fairgrounds are located south of the the old highway in the vicinity of the Anglican Church. There should be signs in the vicinity of the Blue Ridge City Hall pointing to the location.

June 6, 2007

Apologies to my loyal readers for not having an update for a couple of weeks. We snuck away on vacation, and then I had a small injury that kept me away from the office for a few days.

The weather has continued warm and dry. There have been some brief, local thunderstorms, but nothing like the soaker that we need.

The governor has signed a bill delaying builder licensing for yet another year. The new effective date is July 1, 2008. The grandfather exemption from testing for experienced builders has been extended until July 1, 2007 with all paperwork to be postmarked no later than July 2, according to the Home Builders Association of Georgia.

I've mentioned that the issue of Corridor K has come up recently, which affects Hwy 64 through the Ocoee Gorge (the "Old Copper Road). Local attorney Denny Mobbs is agitating a route utilizing the Kimsey Mountain Turnpike, which would be an environmental disaster, while TDOT seems to favor a major four-lane project in the gorge itself, another environmental disaster. Here's a link to an interesting article on the subject: http://www.hrwc.net/watrcolumn.htm.

The Georgia Mountain Fair's Bluegrass Festival - now renamed the Roots & Music Festival is tonight and tomorrow at the Fairgrounds. Admission is to the fair itself, which is well worth visiting for the exhibits and vendor booths - $18 on Friday, $26 on Saturday, $12 on Sunday. The Friday show begins with Ducktown Station at 6 PM, followed by Dry Branch Fire Squad, The Grascals, and Cherryholmes. Saturday begins with the Greencards at 1 PM, followed by Hwy 76, Blue Ridge Grass, Lovell Sisters, Nashville Bluegrass Band, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, and the John Cowan Band. Sunday begins with Irons in the Fire at 1:30 followed by Shawn Mullins. More info at 706.896.4191.

Of course, the Cherokee Bluegrass Festival is also in progress over in Cherokee, NC this weekend.

The Riverbend Music Festival is also in progress over in Chattanooga.

In Blue Ridge doings, the Blue Ridge Mountain Storytellers will be storytelling at the Silk Road Traveler, 497 E. Main Street, Saturday June 9, at 6 PM. That's just north of the train tracks in downtown Blue Ridge.

May 21, 2007

The weather has continued warm and beautiful, but very dry. Mornings have been in the upper 40s or lower 50s, with afternoons in the low 70s. Someone said the other day that it's "the spring we never had," and that feels about right, except for the lack of rain.

This weekend, May 26-27, is Arts in the Park. This is a very big event in the downtown Blue Ridge Park, which attracts some 20,000 visitors. It's well worth attending, and there should be lots going on in addition to the art work.

May 10, 2007

The weather has been warm and beautiful. Most of the laurel is in bloom (not the