OCTOBER 2009

Oct. 1 - 6 / Quilt Exhibit           

Blue Ridge Mountains art Assn. Community Quilt exhibit (706) 632-2144

www.brmaa.com

Oct. 1  – Oct. 30 / Pickin’ in the Park           

Downtown Ellijay/Horseshoe Bend park in McCaysville. Local Musician jam gathering. Bluegrass,

country, Gospel and rock-n-Roll 6pm – dark. Free Family Fun! All are Welcome! (706) 635-5961

wilmar225@yahoo.com

Oct. 1 - 10 / Ruby Falls Haunted Cavern           

Ruby Falls, Chattanooga, TN. Fri & Sat nights opens after dark. Terror 206ft underground.

www.hauntedcavern.com

Oct. 2 – 11 / Art           

By Yasmina Reza. Blue Ridge Community Theatre. Fri & Sat 7:30pm, Sun 2pm.  

A play augmenting what is trulyart and what is more personal than theoretical. A truthful comedy that explores

modern friendships between men. (706) 632-9223 www.blueridgecommunitytheater.com  

Oct. 3 & 4 / Fall Festival           

John C. Campbell Folk School, Murphy NC. One of the largest and most popular events of its type in the region,

just a short drive from Blue Ridge, GA. A celebration of a rich Appalachian heritage. 35^th annual featuring over

200 craftspeople, continuous music and dance, demonstrations, food and kids activities. 10am – 5pm Sat & Sun.

www.folkschool.org  

Oct. 3 / Motorcycle Ride for Angels           

Blue ridge, GA. All proceeds benefit the children of Fannin County. Registration starts at 8:30 am. Meal and

prizes upon return. (706) 632-0390 www.rideforangels.com  

Oct. 9 – 18 / GA. Mountain Fall Festival            

Fairgrounds, Hiawassee, GA. Arts & Craft exhibits. Clogging, singing, demonstrations, pioneer village, kiddie

rides and shows. Featuring the Ole Time Fiddlers Convention. (706) 896-4191

Oct. 15 – Nov 1 / Ruby Falls Haunted Cavern           

Ruby Falls, Chattanooga, TN. Thurs – Sun nights opens after dark. Terror 206ft underground.

www.hauntedcavern.com

Oct 17 & 18 – 24 & 25 / Mountain Harvest Sale           

Blue Ridge Farmer’s Market. Sat 9am – 5pm, Sun 12pm – 5pm. Arts & Crafts, food & fun. Free admission and

parking. (706) 374-2335

Oct. 24 / Paws in the Park           

Downtown Blue ridge city Park. Enjoy a day with your favorite pet. Parade, pet education, demonstrations,

rabies clinic, micro chipping,

contests and prizes and photos with your pet. 10am – 2pm. (706) 632-7311

Oct. 31 / Halloween Safe Zone           

Downtown Blue Ridge, GA. Main street closes and trick or treating begins! Food and entertainment, candy

stops, shop to shop. All ages welcome! (706) 632-0547 www.blueridgemountains.com  

I am adding the following event to Septembers calendar:

September 26 & 27, 2009 Saturday 10-6 Sunday 12-5

Summer's Last Kiss on the square in Hiawassee,GA
"An Affair With The Arts"

Art Exhibits, Music, Dance, Theatre, Poetry, Crafts, Street Dance, Food

Community Celebration of Creative Expression held on the square in beautiful Hiawassee, GA.

Admission is FREE!

If you’re looking for a new way to get out and enjoy the beauty of the North Georgia mountains, look no further than Merciers Apple Orchards in Blue Ridge, Georgia. September is the month when, every year, Merciers opens their groves to the public. Every weekend for the entire month you can board the tram and venture out to the vast fields of apple trees and pick the fruits of your own labors.

Once you board the wagon and journey out to the fields of apple trees, you will find yourself surrounded by the most diverse selection of apple varieties to choose from, though you'll want to note that different varieties ripen throughout the month. Every row is clearly labeled, but the only way to truly know which flavors appeal to you the most is… you guessed it… eat your way through the orchard.

Everywhere you turn there are fruit laden branches as far as the eye can see; every branch bursting with apples. Some trees have more apples than leaves or branches. No ladders or climbing are required because most of the trees are newer and the fruit is easily accessible, though a long reach can come in handy. 

We were told not to worry about all the fruit that falls to the ground, as it is composted into the soil for next year’s fruit, and there’s more than enough apples for the plethora of tourists and locals that get to attend this time honored tradition.

It’s really quite simple. You enter the store and there in the front is the U-pick desk where you can purchase your bushel or 1 & ½ bushel bags. Then you head out to tram stop and hitch a ride out into the the fields where you are surrounded by tree covered hills and picturesque views.

With all that Mercier Orchards has to offer, extensive gift shops and a full service café and bakery, it’s easy to turn this visit into an all day affair. We love to go as a family, and find this more entertaining than a movie, with the added benefit of free healthy snacks and even more treats to bring home. 

During other months, Merciers Orchards also offers pick-your-own Cherries, Blueberries, and next year, they are adding Strawberries to their selection, so whenever you visit, don’t miss this fun-filled fruit-filled excursion. And after a day of picking our favorites, all I have to say is... HOW YA LIKE THEM APPLES!?

L.&L. Beanery & Café in historic downtown Blue Ridge Georgia has done it again! Last year they expanded their unique coffee shop & bakery to include a very successful breakfast and luncheon café, and now, this: Great dining with fine food, libations and live music, set in an ambient atmosphere that reeks of high quality, but offers diners an affordable elegant evening.

We were seated right away. The accent lighting and live music created the perfect setting for a fine dining experience. It was a pleasure to finally be offered a wine list with dinner, as Blue Ridge is no longer a DRY county. By the bottle or by the glass, the prices were a pleasant surprise. We decided on a Riesling, and the entire bottle was $17.00. It was crisp and light, a great accompaniment to the vegetarian lasagna, which was a gourmet step above any lasagna I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying. We were left with no room for dessert, but the plethera of delectable offerings were tough to resist.

I know this new night spot will fill a niche that Blue Ridge area residents and visitors have been painfully aware of: someplace to have a lovely dinner with a bottle of wine and not end up spending a week’s pay. With the passing of the liquor licensing laws, it seems Blue Ridge will soon be the site of many quaint taverns and local breweries. There are two more evening establishments already in the works just around the corner, getting ready for an opening this Fall.

Little by little, places like L.&L. Beanery and Merciers Orchard & Café are offering later hours for those who like to stay up past sunset. Little by little, little Blue Ridge Georgia is stepping up with the times and expanding on what it offers visitors and residents. It’s actually an exciting evolution to watch. Bravo L.&L.!

P.S.- Dinner is ONLY offered Friday and Saturday nights, at this point. Due to the crowds we experience up here in the mountains during the Fall, be prepared to linger and enjoy the ambience, as home-made foods and persoanable waitstaff combined with high customer volume can create wait times.

SEPTEMBER 2009

Sept. 1  – Oct 6 / Quilt Exhibit           

Blue Ridge Mountains art Assn. Community Quilt exhibit (706) 632-2144 www.brmaa.com

Sept. 1  – Oct. 30 / Pickin’ in the Park          

Downtown Ellijay/Horseshoe Bend park in McCaysville. Local Musician jam gathering. Bluegrass, country, Gospel and rock-n-Roll 6pm – dark. Free Family Fun! All are Welcome! (706) 635-5961 wilmar225@yahoo.com

Sept. 5 – 27 / Apple Picking           

Mercier orchards. Growing apples since 1943, Mercier Orchards is celebrating 66 yrs. of business. Enjoy a wagon ride through the orchards and pick apples Sat & Sun from 10am – 5pm (706) 632-3411 www.mercier-orchards.com

Sept. 20 & 21 / Wildlife Art Festival           

Downtown city Park, Blue Ridge, GA. 10^th annual festival. Showcasing works from over 75 of the finest wildlife artists in the southeast. Sculpture, painting and woodworking. Blue Ridge Mountain Arts Assn. (706) 632-2144 www.brmaa.com

Sept 25 – Oct 10 / Ruby Falls Haunted Cavern           

Ruby Falls, Chattanooga, TN. Fri & Sat nights opens after dark. Terror 206ft underground. www.hauntedcavern.com

AUGUST 2009 CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR BLUE RIDGE GEORGIA AND SURROINDING AREAS

Aug 1 / Folk Life Traditions    Unicoi State park, Helen, GA. Demonstrations of everyday mountain-living skills. Includes candle dipping, cider making, folk toys and butter churning. Concert on Fri and a community dance on Sat. (800) 573-9659 ext. 305 www.gastateparks.org


Aug. 1  – 22 / The Fantastiks    By Tom Jones & Harvey Schmidt.
Blue Ridge Community Theatre. Fri & Sat 7:30pm, Sun 2pm.  One of the longest running plays off Broadway, a famous story of “a boy, a girl, two fathers and a wall.” An evening of theatrical magic. (706) 632-9223 www.blueridgecommunitytheater.com

Aug. 1  – Oct. 30 / Pickin’ in the Park   
Downtown Ellijay OR Horseshoe Bend park in McCaysville. Local Musician jam gathering. Bluegrass, country, Gospel and rock-n-Roll 6pm – dark. Free Family Fun! All are Welcome! (706) 635-5961 wilmar225@yahoo.com

August 1 / Smokey Bear’s Birthday party    Ocoee Whitewater center, Ducktown, TN. Celebrate Smokey’s Birthday 10am – 2pm. Free Cake & Ice Cream, cake carved at 1pm. Games, activities, fire prevention messages and prize drawings. (423) 496-0104 www.fs.fed.us

August 14 & 15 / Rodeo    Kiwanis fairgrounds, blue ridge, GA. Rodeo starts at 8pm. Bull riding, saddle bronc. Riding, calf roping and other events. Children under 8 free! (706) 276 7458

August 15 / Benefit Auction & Gala
John C. Campbell Folk School. Murphy, NC. 1pm – 5pm The folk school will entertain an audience of art lovers and school supporters at its annual benefit auction on Saturday. Featuring numerous one-of-a-kind handcrafted items donated by talented craftspeople. Proceeds benefit the educational programs at the folk school.  Summer Buffet Lunch beginning at noon. (828) 837-2775 www.folkschool.org

August 29 – Oct 6 / Quilt Exhibit    Blue Ridge Mountains art Assn. Community Quilt exhibit (706) 632-2144 www.brmaa.com

I wish every Dad the type of Father’s Day I had this past weekend. I really needed a day like that. A brief, but cherished day in the life where my children took the time and expressed their love for “their Dad”. A man cannot help but realize that despite being a mere mortal like everyone else, his children manage to see him as iconic; a role model for their life expectations. It reminds me how important it is to lead by example.
 
What touched me the most is that I realized my children inherited a great gift from me…one I consider the most important characteristic to surviving and thriving in life…a great appreciation for HUMOR.
 
Don’t get me wrong, they are a quite a soulful, intelligent trio, but I love to laugh with them. I guess what I love most about life is it’s irony, and it’s ability to us make laugh at ourselves and smile from deep within ourselves. A sense of humor is a must, especially when faced with the likes of the recent tough times and the downturn in the market. It’s our ability to laugh at what might otherwise make us cry that saves us in the end.
 
My kids made me a mini-movie DVD…they have such technological advantages over us “old-tymers”…which showed their great humor and appreciation for who I really am. The thing that touched me the most is that they love my flaws, as well as my strengths, and that speaks volumes to the sincerity of their love in my book.

I feel revitalized this week after a great day like last Sunday. It just goes to show, it is quality and not quantity that makes the difference.

I had some really good news from our company's mortgage specialist that I thought I'd share. There's been enough bad news passed around...I feel we are all overdue something positive. According to her industry sources, (from figures derived from area appraisals and AVMs) in our county and surrounding counties (according to zip code), we have moved from the soft (declining) market list to the stable market conditions list! It's official...things are looking up!

AMEN! I've been so ready to hear those words. In our office, it has felt like things have been picking up, but I didn't want to jump the gun and get my hopes up too high, but this confirms what I've been seeing... the market is like a patient on the mend, and has moved from intensive care to patient discharge.  Good health looks inevitable, and we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The indicator from the finance companies underwriting engine has shown our area's zip codes in decline since early 2008, but now that our market has stabilized, LTVs should be on the rise for our Buyers, as well.

So I am all for spreading the word..."We have scraped bottom and are on our way back up." Buyers: Time to BUY... don't miss your chance.

One of the things I absolutely love about living in Blue Ridge Georgia is that even though we are far removed from the hustle and bustle of the modern world in many ways, in just over an hour, we can be in one of the largest cities in the United States: Atlanta.

Yesterday, we took the whole family to see “The Jersey Boys” a Broadway musical at the fabulous Fox Theater. This is not a review of the show, though it was fantastic…I’d recommend it to anyone, especially if you know anyone from Jersey.

It’s just so great to be able to access that level of performance from where we live. Pablo Picasso said that Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life, and life in Blue Ridge can get pretty dusty. It is so refreshing to take a day trip down to the city and briefly experience the energy and dynamics of city living.

Of course it isn’t long before the noise, traffic and crowded conditions work their magic, and we all long for the peace and solitude that abounds in Blue Ridge. Just the same, it’s amazing that every show I’ve seen on Broadway has come to Atlanta. There’s so much culture, arts & events every week that you can always find something to do there. And when I’ve had my fill of city life, I can go home and rest my head in my own log cabin in the mountains; where life runs at a slower pace, and so does my blood pressure. Amen.