The tale of our Fairy Crosses is one of the most tangible myths or legends in Fannin County, Georgia.   A very rare unique shaped stone formed naturally found at just a few locations in the United States.  They are referred to as crosses due to their shape.  

There are two completely different legends explaining the existence of these fairy crosses.   One states that the fairy crosses are the tears of the Cherokee Indians, who were driven out of their homeland during  the "Trail of Tears".   

The other tale stems from an older legend concerning an ancient race of mountain fairies.  A legend that goes back further than the Cherokee Indians.  This second tale tells of a gathering of little people known as Yunwi Tsunsdi.  These fairies gathered at their favorite meeting place for dancing and gaiety, only to then find out that the great creator had died on the cross.  So saddend by the loss of one so great, the fairies cried.  As they wept, their tears fell to the ground and were crystallized into what we know as "fairy crosses".

Legends of "fairy crosses" have came down through history from the first meeting of John Smith and Pocahontas, which states that the Indian Princess gave John Smith a good luck charm necklace made out of a "fairy cross".   For many years, people have used fairy stones as good luck charms, believing that they protect the wearer against witchcraft, sickness, accidents, and disaster.   President Theodore Roosevelt carried an amulet made from a "fairy cross". 

In spite of the legends and superstitions that surround fairy crosses, these unique, cross-shaped stones do have a scientific explanation.   Ferry crosses were created under great pressure and high temperature some 60 to 500 million years ago, either formed from within the earth or arriving on a meteorite.   And are composed of staurolite, a combination of silica, iron, and aluminum.  Together, these minerals often crystallize in twin form and appear on the stones in a cross like structure.    They are most commonly shaped like St. Andrew's and Roman crosses and no two stones are alike.

North Georgia Waterfalls

Fall Branch Falls - A fine double waterfall on the Benton MacKaye Trail best seen after a rainfall. Hike the Benton MacKaye Trail for just over 2/10ths of a mile to a side trail that leads about 200' to an observation deck at the base of the falls.

From Blue Ridge follow old US 76 to Aska Road & turn south and go approximately 8.2 miles to the intersection with Stanley Creek Road, entering from the right. Turn right onto Stanley Creek Road and go 3.2 miles to a small parking area just beyond an interesting farm owned by longtime Forest Service fire warden Garfield Stanley. Cross a wooden bridge over Fall Branch and park on the right. Hike up the hill on the Benton MacKaye Trail to double falls on the right. There is a small picnic and/or camping spot 30 yards above the waterfall.

Jacks River Falls - The most scenic single feature in the Cohutta Wilderness and the most frequently visited area despite the 4.6 mile hike to the falls. Its beauty, power, and great swimming area draw a lot of visitors. The falls is series of a couple of small waterfalls, one large waterfall, and some cascades that are perfect for swimming.

The most scenic single feature in the Cohutta Wilderness and the most frequently visited area despite the 4.6 mile hike to the falls. Its beauty, power, and great swimming area draw a lot of visitors. The falls is series of a couple of small waterfalls, one large waterfall, and some cascades that are perfect for swimming. Descending in stages the surging water piles up against boulders and rock walls, carving swirl holes in the bedrock. Well worth the hike Jacks River Falls is in a rugged setting of exposed rock flanked by hemlock and white pines.

Directions from Southern Trail Head from Blue Ridge, GA
From the intersection of US 76 / I 515 and GA 5 just north of Blue Ridge, travel north 7 miles on GA 5 to Old Highway 2 and turn left. At 6.9 miles are Fightingtown Creek and McKinney Crossing. At 9 miles the pavement ends. At 10.5 miles, after a long climb up the mountain, look for the sign "Cohutta Wildlife Management Area, Watson Gap." At Watson Gap turn right on FS 22 and travel 3.6 miles to Dally Gap and Jacks River trail head.

Directions from Southern Trail Head from Chatsworth, GA
From Chatsworth take US 411 north 13.2 miles to Cisco community and intersection with Old Highway 2 (also known as FS 16). At .7 mile pass County Road 169 on the right. The pavement ends at 1 mile. Take the right fork at the Y intersection at 1.6 miles. (County Road 210 bears left.) At 3.2 miles, FS 17 comes in from the right, FS 16 goes left. Follow FS 16 just across the Tennessee state line to the northwestern trail head of the Jacks River Trail.

***Some roads are closed depending on weather conditions, so it is recommended that one call the Cohutta Ranger District of the U.S. Forest Service at (706) 695-6737 in advance of a trip to check road conditions.

Long Creek Falls is located near the Appalachian Trail one mile north of the Three Forks area. Picturesque falls and trail requires a 20- to 30-minute walk in each direction. It is a popular camping spot with a millstone serving as a fire ring.

Follow the Appalachian Trail 1 mile north to a short side trail to Long Creek Falls. The trail is level for the first 750' then turns uphill and descends back to creek level. At the half mile point you should cross a wet weather branch. At 7/10ths of a mile you should cross another small branch. Next, the trail goes up and over the ridge line then descends to cross a third branch. In another 1/10th of a mile, after ascending steeply, look for the path to the falls on the left. Take this path for 300' to the base of the falls. Just above the falls is a wooden bridge across Long Creek which is the beginning of the Duncan Ridge trail and the part of the Benton McKaye Trail where it leaves the Appalachian Trail.

The trail has an assortment of blazes designating three major hiking trails: the Appalachian (white vertical), the Duncan Ridge National Recreational Trail (blue vertical), and the Benton MacKaye Trail (white diamond). The distance to the falls is 1.1 miles, ascending gradually along the way. A side trail to the falls is indicated with vertical blue blazes

Driving Directions from Blue Ridge follow old US 76 to Aska Road across from Harmony Church. Turn south onto Aska Rd. and go 13.8 miles to the end of the road. Turn right on Newport Road, and go 4.3 miles to the end of the road. Turn left, cross bridge over Noontootla Creek, continue on gravel road. Pass a cemetery and come to an intersection .6 mile from the bridge. Turn hard right on FS 58 and go southeast into the forest along this road 6.6 miles to Three Forks. Hike to the northwest up Long Creek to the falls.

Little Rock Creek Falls - There is a series of small falls just before reaching the main one. Due to storm damage, the walk is difficult on a footpath leading along the left side of the creek and going only part of the way to the falls. If you choose to go farther than this BEWARE because of the dangerous, slippery rocks in the area.

Driving Directions from Blue Ridge follow old US 76 east / I 515 around 5 miles to the intersection with GA 60 South at Lakewood Junction. Continue south on GA 60, 11.3 miles through the small town of Morganton. There is an old but still-operational mill on the northeast side of the highway. A commercial campground is also located on this site. After crossing Skeenah Creek, continue south on GA 60 another 3.1 miles to the intersection with FS 69, Fish Hatchery Road, on the right. Turn onto this road and go about 3 miles to where the road crosses Little Rock Creek. There is a bridge and a small pull-out area here. Sea Creek Falls - Located in the Cooper Creek Scenic Area, Sea Creek Falls are an easy walk of less than 0.1 miles. Unfortunately, the drive can be difficult. The first, or upper, falls is a series of steep cascades ending in a brief drop. The second falls is also a series of steep cascades. When the water flow is heavy either in late winter or spring or after a summer rain, these are a remarkable sight.

Driving Directions from Blue Ridge: @ I 515 Intersection take Highway 60 south (toward Morganton). At Cooper Creek Store turn left on Cooper Creek Road (this road is also called Mulky Gap Road). After 3.3 miles the road makes a dramatic turn back on itself and FS 264 comes off to the left. This road is rough and may not be passable in anything but a four wheel drive vehicle. Travel .3 miles to a campground, park and walk .1 miles further up the creek.

Perhaps one of the most popular goals for many companies and households today is to "Go Green."  But what does "green" exactly mean?

In the past, being friendly to the environment merely meant recycling and carpooling.  Now, however, with heightened concerns about global warming, the desire to be "green" (or safe for the environment) has generated terminology all its own.  Check out these questions below to test your eco-savvy.

Q.  What is the difference between greywater and blackwater?

A.  Greywater is waste water from sinks and showers.  It can be stored and used again to water lawns.  Blackwater, on the other hand, comes from toilets and must routed to a sewer.

Q.  When constructing a home, which would be more green, to use high-VOCs products or low-VOCs?

A.  VOCs stands for volatile organic compounds, usually taking the form of formaldehyde gas.  Traditional home-building involves several products made with VOCs, such as plywood, particle board and varnish.  In contrast, modern green construction incorporates low-VOC products, which helps improve air quality.

Q.  Is a carbon footprint usually expressed in pounds, tons, or megatons?

A.  A carbon footprint (the total amount of carbon dioxide a person or business emits) is typically measured in equivalent tons.  Of course, based its total emissions, a company may have to go on a "carbon diet" to meet newer, more rigid standards.

Here in the North Georgia Mountains, I see more and more builders striving to produce environment-friendly homes.  Likewise, as a Realtor, I work to stay informed and ready to help customers find the green home of their dreams. 

Dream home in the Blue Ridge Mountains or an all night Bear buffet??

This past year has been filled with excitement in my neighborhood.  It seems that black bears have laid claim to the area as well.  While I've lived here for 34 years, I've never experienced any problems until I moved into my current home which is located in a very mountainous community.  It's not uncommon to have muddy bear foot prints along my porches and decks.  Just last week I awoke to a faint crunching sound.  Later that morning I found a chewed up cooler that had been left outside overnight, and a ripped up hot tub cover.  Apparently the cat is not the only thing curiosity is going to get!

A nearby construction site porta potty took the brunt of the bear's frustration as well.  Why would a bear want inside a porta potty??  And then of course my neighbors bird feeder that the bears climb a 16 ft. post up to his porch to tear down. 

Of course, I'm not the only person in the North Georgia Mountains to encounter a black bear.  In fact, just a few weeks ago, the US Forest Service closed a portion of the Appalachian Trail in North Georgia because hikers repeatedly reported problems there with a particularly savvy black bear.

Though these hikers were suspending their food in packs high above ground and away from tree trunks, this determined bear chewed through ropes to make their packs fall to the ground.  This problem bear also refused to be frightened away by hikers' loud yells and violent motions.  So USFS officials closed this portion of the trail, hoping that with no food packs available for a few weeks, the hungry bear would search for food elsewhere.

Unfortunately, early spring is prime time in the North Georgia Mountains for black bears to approach human settlements.  With few plants growing foliage, the bears' natural habitat offers little to eat.  But, while helping supplement a bear's diet might seem humane, studies show that bears who do not consume human food or garbage actually live longer than those who do. 

Moreover, bears who frequent garbage cans, bird-feeders, or in my case, porta potties, often become intolerable nuisances.  Though a well-meaning family might simply want to feed the bear until more natural food becomes available, the bear will likely stay near a home as long as it thinks it might find an easy food source there.  And during its stay, the 300-500 pound bear can cause substantial property damage, not to mention, pose a threat to the entire neighborhood.

So North Georgia Mountain residents should do what's best for both themselves and any visiting black bears.  They should:

•·         Take down bird-feeders

•·         Clean up any leftover outdoor pet food

•·         Store garbage inside garages

Bears are a beautiful part of the North Georgia Mountains.  These precautions will help keep black bears in their forest homes and convey that your North Georgia Mountain dream home is not their all-night buffet!

March Sales Indicating the Price is Right!

Many real estate optimists may have prematurely proclaimed, "The North Georgia Mountain's market is reviving" at the end of last year.  Sales here remained slow, and many sellers learned to ignore their agents' seemingly false assurance that "things will get better."  However, with the figures from March sales calculated (from the Northeast GA MLS), we now have the numbers to prove that the market in the North Georgia Mountains is indeed on the rise.

March Market Snap Shot

While these numbers do seem rather modest, when compared to January 2009's stats, we see a 27% increase in sales.  Moreover, only 12% of these sales were foreclosures, which seems to indicate increased interest in fair market properties.

Of course, price is still playing a big role in what properties are moving.  Below is a break down of the sales prices of these homes:

Is March's increase in sales the 1^st sign of the upward turn?  Stay tuned, with fingers crossed, for April's numbers!

Going green. Living organically. Back to basics. Whatever you choose to call it, the definition is the same: more and more people are trying to incorporate natural, Earth-friendly routines into their daily lives.  And as the ecomomy continues to tank the percentage of Americans planting vegetable gardens continues to rise.

Growing up in the country, the beautiful North GA Mtns., I was raised on bountiful vegetable gardens every year.  I have wonderful Nostalgic memories of my parents teaching me the do's and don'ts of planting and working those gardens.   Barefoot and completely muddy, I didn't mind gardening as a child.  My parents successfully passed on that chore as fun time!  Not so happy now to do the back breaking work, but what I am is very thankful for the knowledge of gardening my parents passed on to me. 

The National Gardening Association predicts a 40 percent increase in the number of homes growing vegetable gardens in 2009 in comparison with two years ago.  Seed company W. Atlee Burpee expects a 25 percent increase in sales, says USA Today.

Even the 1st Lady is following the trend: Michelle Obama will begun digging up a patch of the South Lawn last mongh to plant a vegetable garden, the first at the White House since Eleanor Roosevelt's victory garden in World War II.  She reports there will be no beets - the president does not like them - but arugula will make the cut.

While the organic garden will provide food for the first family's meals and formal dinners, its most important role, Mrs. Obama said, will be to educate children about healthful, locally grown fruit and vegetables at a time when obesity and diabetes have become a national concern.   "My hope," the first lady said in an interview in her East Wing office, "is that through children, they will begin to educate their families and that will, in turn, begin to educate our communities."

For me it's more of the pleasure of seeing something you've grown make it to the dinner table!  Thanks mom and dad!

Upside down in your home?              

  Does the current economy have you caught between a rock and a hard place?  If you owe more than the current value of your home, it may be possible to negotiate a lower payoff amount with your lender in order to get your home to a price range where it will sell in this market.  Do you meet any of these qualifications for a short sale?

•·         Is your mortgage balance greater than the market value of your home?

•·         Are you behind on your mortgage, facing   default, or foreclosure?

•·         Are you in financial hardship of any kind?

•·         Are recently divorced, have loss of job/income, illness, have a death in the family, increased bills or expenses?

•·         Do you own a home in need of major repairs?

•·         Or have had a rate increase or an adjustable rate mtg?

Currently, if you are an owner occupant of a property, the tax code may allow you to avoid paying taxes on the Short Sale shortfall.   

Also the Short Sale option will have much less negative effect on your credit than a foreclosure would.  Know your options!

It's imperative that you know all your options before walking away from a home.  Make sure you contact an experienced short sale specialist to explore all options.

Angelina's Italian Gourmet Market & Delicatessen
   Blue Ridge, GA
Arby's
   Blue Ridge, GA
Blackberry Ridge Eatery, LLC
   Blue Ridge, GA
Blue Jeans Pizza & Pasta Factory
   Blue Ridge, GA
Blue Ridge Mountain Bar-B-Q
   Blue Ridge, GA
Brother's Restaurant
   Murphy, NC
Burger King
   Blue Ridge, GA
Checkers
   Blue Ridge, GA
Circle J Family Steakhouse
   Blue Ridge, GA
Cucina Rustica Restaurant
   Morganton, GA
Dairy Queen Grill & Chill
   Blue Ridge, GA
Danielle's Great Eats Deli
   Blue Ridge, GA
El Rio Mexican Restaurant
   Copperhill, TN
Good Fellas' Restaurant
   Blue Ridge, GA
Indigo Hills Market & Catering Co.
   Blue Ridge, GA
L & L Beanery Bakery Cafe
   Blue Ridge, GA
Mercier Orchards
   Blue Ridge, GA
Monte Alban Mexican Restaurant
   Blue Ridge, GA
Mountain View Orchards & Cider House Cafe
   McCaysville, GA
Repaz on Main
   Blue Ridge, GA
Royal Waffle King
   Blue Ridge, GA
Serenity Garden Cafe
   Blue Ridge, GA
Subway
   Blue Ridge, GA
Sue's Cafeteria & Ice Cream Parlor
   Blue Ridge, GA
The Village Restaurant
   Blue Ridge, GA
Toccoa Riverside Restaurant
   Blue Ridge, GA
Toccoa Wilderness Outpost
   Blue Ridge, GA
Victorian House Restaurant
   Blue Ridge, GA
Wendys
   Blue Ridge, GA
Zaxby's
   Blue Ridge, GA

You can now order beer and wine in a number of local restaurants here in Blue Ridge.  Pouring licenses have been granted to a number of establishments outside the city limits of Blue Ridge!  Yes I said outside the city limits.  It seems that the county commissioners within the city are still in disagreement regarding this controversial subject.  But, with a new commissioner having been voted in last week, the city may have the same privileges as the county as soon as tonight.  A special meeting has been called to address this subject and vote, yet again.  Stay tuned as you may be able to have that glass of wine with your steak in the city limits too!