In a journey that began 75-years ago this month when Franklin Roosevelt ratified the 21st Amendment to the Constitution that overturned Prohibition, Fannin County commissioners voted to begin the process of enacting an ordinance "to permit consumption, on specific premises, of wines and malt beverages, and to authorize farm wineries and tasting rooms within unincorporated areas of Fannin County."

Allowing alcohol to be served in local restaurants has long been a contentious issue in Fannin County, becoming increasingly so as the area grew in stature as a second-home market. New residents from around the country loved the small-town country charm of the area, but were far less enamored by what most saw as a bizarrely anachronistic law that allowed beer and wine to be sold at grocery and convenience stores, but not in restaurants.

The subtext of the alcohol debate has been about two issues: religion and change. Fannin County's Southern Baptist roots grow deep, tracing back to the settlers who moved into the area generations ago. For most, it was a struggle to scratch out a living in the area. Breathtakingly beautiful though it may be, Fannin County did not have the rich soil to make farming an easy or profitable venture, nor did it have a diverse economy that would have many jobs to offer outside of agriculture. Life was, as a Fannin County road name suggests, "Hardscrabble."

Two great loves sustained those early settlers and the generations that ensued: their abiding love of God and of the land. Small Southern Baptist churches pepper the mountains -- you can hardly drive a mile without seeing at least one church -- serving as visible reminders of the centrality of the faith and its importance in the life of the region. Southern Baptism offered its followers many comforts, but alcohol was never one of them, having, as it does, strict rules requiring abstinence. As long as Fannin County stayed insulated from the outside world, this no-nonsense approach to drinking remained as firmly embedded in the region as the bedrock that makes farming so difficult. (We'll leave moonshiners for another blog.)

Ultimately, the outside world was drawn in, through the media, of course, but also by vastly improved roads that meant a trip up from Atlanta now took little over an hour-and-a-half. Seeing the amazing natural beauty of the area, Atlantans began to purchase weekend cabins in the North Georgia mountains, and Floridians were not far behind. This was good news to the the folks in Fannin County who -- while they may have been short of a lot of other things -- had no shortage of land to sell to the monied folks from the south. Families who had lived hand-to-mouth for generations were now finding themselves with money beyond their wildest dreams, particularly those who were lucky enough to own property along one of the rivers, or -- for those who really hit the jackpot -- on Lake Blue Ridge.  

But, in an inevitably Faustian twist, the blessings that came with new money brought the curse of new people with new ideas who loved the beauty and small-town charm of Fannin County, but still wanted the amenities they enjoyed in the big city -- the ability to be able to enjoy a glass of wine with dinner out primary among them.  This has set up a battle for what many old-time residents see as the soul, literally, of Fannin County.

At Tuesday's Fannin County commission meeting, one gentleman, who identified himself as a pastor, addressed the commissioners on the alcohol issue: "Has not God always took care of us? Has God not always blessed us in this county? Has not God always been on our side?" To which one of the commissioners responded, "I cannot legislate morality. I cannot tell you what's right and wrong because that's what you believe, that's not what everybody else believes." And with that, the commissioners voted to pass the ordinance to allow pouring licenses in the county. The ordinance still has one more hurdle to pass before it can be voted into law -- it must have one more public hearing which is scheduled for December 16. That should be an interesting meeting.

2008 -- What a year!! If years were fictional characters, 2008 would surely be the Grinch. Just like the Grinch, it slunk from home to home taking from everyone, the rich and the poor alike. No household was left untouched, in one way or another.

"Then he slithered and slunk, with a smile most unpleasant, Around the whole room, and he took every present! Pop guns! And bicycles! Roller skates! Drums! Checkerboards! Tricycles! Popcorn! And plums! And he stuffed them in bags. Then the Grinch, very nimbly, Stuffed all the bags, one by one, up the chimney!  

Then he slunk to the icebox. He took the Whos' feast! He took the Who-pudding! He took the roast beast! He cleaned out that icebox as quick as a flash. Why, that Grinch even took their last can of Who-hash! Then he stuffed all the food up the chimney with glee. "And NOW!" grinned the Grinch, "I will stuff up the tree!"  

- From "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," by Dr. Seuss

But, like the Whos down in Who-ville, we are proving resilient. I have noticed that I am hearing a word being used much more frequently than in years past, and that word is "gratitude."  It seems that most of us are emerging from the end of the long, dark tunnel that was 2008 changed in a very fundamental way.  We are taking stock of our lives and realizing that -- even without all the hooplah and trappings (or maybe in spite of them) -- we have so much to be grateful for.

I am extremely grateful for all the blessings that have come my way this year. Here are just a few:

• I am grateful for my good health and the health of my family
• I am grateful for the many good friends that I have. They continue to show me what true friendship means, and I hope that in some small way, I have done the same for them
• I am grateful to have a career that I love, one that makes me look forward to getting out of bed in the morning. I am grateful that despite difficult market conditions I have been able to grow my business this year, thanks to the support of all my clients and to my real estate partner, Dawn McGuire
• I am grateful for the beautiful area I live in -- the North Georgia mountains. I have been all over the world, but there is no place that I find as beautiful as this
• I am grateful for the fried pies at Merciers and the tomato basil soup at Cantarberry's

As 2008 draws to a close, I simply want to say "thank you" to all. I have truly learned the meaning of what it is to be grateful and I look forward to welcoming 2009 with all of you in the spirit of gratitude, grace and friendship.    

"Every Who down in Who-ville, the tall and the small, Was singing! Without any presents at all! He HADN'T stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME! Somehow or other, it came just the same! And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow, Stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so? It came without ribbons! It came without tags! "It came without packages, boxes or bags!" And he puzzled three hours, `till his puzzler was sore.

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! "Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store. "Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!"

And what happened then...? Well...in Who-ville they say That the Grinch's small heart Grew three sizes that day!"

        - From "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," by Dr. Seuss

What are YOU grateful for?

An article in today's New York Times -- "Toasting the End of an Error" -- talks about the end of Prohibition which took place just about 75-years ago when FDR ratified the 21st Amendment to the Constitution, which did away with the 18th Amendment's ban on alcohol consumption.

The article points out that there are still "dry counties" in the United States -- places where the sale of alcohol remains prohibited.  Fannin County, home to Blue Ridge, is one of those communities.  You can buy beer and wine in Fannin County -- heck, the drive-thru Beer Barn boasts "the coldest beer in town" -- but it cannot be served 'by the drink.' And, most restaurants will allow you to bring your own wine and beer with you...and, let's face it, that actually makes it a less expensive meal.

The clamor to allow beer & wine by the drink has gotten stronger through the years as more folks move to the area from other parts of the country.  But, whenever it comes up for a vote, it gets turned down -- a testament to the strong voting bloc of the Southern Baptists -- or the fact that folks for whom Blue Ridge is a second home are not able to vote on the matter, depending on how you choose to look at it. There is no end to the lively debate on the subject, both publicly and privately.

As for me, the matter is academic.  I'm not much of a drinker -- I can usually count on one hand the number of times in a year that I'll have a drink.  Sometimes I'll go to a party planning to have at least two drinks, by God, and after half of one, the thrill is gone and I move on to my real drink of choice -- sweet tea.

I knew Fannin County was a dry county when I moved here, and I'm not one of those folks who think that just because I moved here, folks who have lived in Fannin their whole lives -- and their parents, grandparents & great-grandparents before them -- need to change to suit my way of looking at things. I am quite content with Blue Ridge just the way it is.

However, in my estimation, there are two good reasons to be able to serve liquor by the drink: to bring more good restaurants to the area; and, by extension, for job creation. Like it or not, it is hard to attract top-notch dining establishments when one of the top revenue producers for them -- serving alcohol -- is not allowed. Don't get me wrong, we have a number of great places to dine out -- Repaz, Great Eats and Cucina Rustica are delighful! -- but a few more good restaurants would be nice, along with the jobs they would create.

I believe that it is only a matter of time before the ban on by the drink alcohol is overturned.  The economics alone are compelling enough, but as more and more folks discover the magic of Blue Ridge and move in to the area full-time -- and can vote here -- the politics of a dry county will get diluted, so-to-speak.

And when that day comes, I'll be glad to hoist my sweet tea and say "Cheers."

Housing prices in Blue Ridge and surrounding communities continue their steady march downward. An analysis of year-to-date sales for 2008 shows that the median price for residential properties has dropped 17% over the same time period in 2007, while the total volume sold dropped nearly 35%.

There are currently 605 cabins on the market in Fannin County and many of these are a-MAZING deals! Cabins with amenities like jaw-dropping panoramic mountain views, river or creek frontage, luxe interiors, hot tubs and outdoor fireplaces are available at prices $100,000 to $200,000 less than comparable properties sold for just two years ago.  

Cabin prices are not the only things that are declining -- interest rates are creeping downwards, as well. Credit-worthy buyers will find that it is still relatively easy to obtain financing with local lenders.

With a market this sweet, what are you waiting for? Go ahead, take a bite.

The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of a world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found?
                                                                       ---J. B. Priestley

Snow is the perfect guest in Blue Ridge: because it comes only a few times a year, you are always delighted to see it, and it doesn't overstay its welcome.


Our first snow came earlier than normal this year, lending a magical air to the beautiful downtown Christmas finery that bedecks Blue Ridge.

Joe and Oliver came to the mountains of North Georgia for the same reason so many of us do. Years of big-city living had taken its toll on them -- both psychologically and physically. Peace awaited them on a pristine 324-acre spread in Morganton, a small community just outside of Blue Ridge in the beautiful North Georgia mountains. A 324-acre spread surrounded by 10,000-volt electic fences, computerized gates and 15-foot high concrete walls.

Joe and Oliver are two of the inhabitants of Gorilla Haven, a primate heaven-on-earth compound. The labor of love of Jane and Steuart Dewar, Gorilla Haven was conceived to house gorillas that have been cast-aside by zoos.  Unable to peacefully co-exist with his fellow gorillas, Joe was relegated to solitary confinement in a concrete cell for 10-years. Born at the Bronx Zoo in 1988, Oliver, who was born deaf, was unable to communicate with his fellow gorillas and had to be separated from the others for his own safety.  

This remarkable facility -- not open to the public -- has been spotlighted in a wonderful article in today's Atlanta Journal-Constitution, A Misfit's Sanctuary.  



 
  

It is cold in the North Georgia mountains tonight. A slender crescent moon is making its journey across the night sky with countless twinkling stars as companions.

My husband and I spent the evening in front of a crackling fire. Our three dogs sprawled in front of the hearth, luxuriating in the warmth every bit as much as we did. We keep a fire lit most nights once cold weather sets in. We don't use the fireplace to heat the house, but simply because we both find a crackling fire so peaceful and beautiful.  

According to a recent article in The New York Times -- Warm, Cozy & Cleaner -- heating a home with a wood-burning stove or fireplace insert can save you a bundle on home heating costs.

Heating second homes here in the North Georgia mountains with a wood-burning stove or insert tends to be particularly inexpensive because we are smack in the middle of the Chattahoochee National Forest, where firewood is much more plentiful -- and by extension, much less expensive.  The going price for a cord of wood here in the North Georgia mountains varies, but if you shop around you can usually get a pick-up truck full delivered to your door for $80.  

Of course, for the more hardy souls, you can get all the free wood you need if you are willing to harvest it yourself. You can collect wood from your own or a willing neighbor's property, or get a permit from the US Forest Service to collect dead wood from the national forests.  

The important thing to remember is that you will need to make sure the stove or insert is an energy-efficient model that generates far less smoke and allows far less heat to escape through the chimney. It is also important to have your chimney checked regularly -- depending on your usage -- to make sure that there is no residue in there that might create a fire hazard.

And -- most importantly -- to make sure that Santa has plenty of room to come down.

Christmas comes early in Blue Ridge -- November 29th to be exact. That is the date of the annual "Light Up Blue Ridge" festival, a day that local children look forward to with almost the same eager anticipation as they wait for Christmas morning itself.  

On November 29th, beautiful downtown Blue Ridge will be abustle with carolers, horse-drawn carriages, stores bursting with wonderful items to make your holiday shopping a breeze.

The most important visitors to downtown that day will be the children eagerly waiting for Santa Claus, who, along with Mrs. Claus, will ride into town on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. Once Santa arrives, the children -- and the children at heart -- will know that the Christmas Season has truly come to Blue Ridge.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will spend the afternoon at the Gazebo making sure he knows what all the little boys and girls want for Christmas.

Santa won't be the only Christmas big-shot in town. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer will be on hand, as will the Gingerbread Man and his Gingerbread House.

Music will play a big part in the festivities, as musical guests will appear throughout the day on the Main Stage in the park.

The day's activities will be capped by the lighting of the Great Tree, when the bright Christmas lights will illuminate the winter night sky and the bright shiny faces of all the children.

Click here for more information.

Conventional wisdom held that opening a shop outside of the heart of downtown Blue Ridge’s shopping district was retail suicide. Conventional wisdom never met Michael Brunson and Jack Morton. Not ones to shy away from a challenge, Michael and Jack knew the world—or at least Blue Ridge shoppers—would beat a path to their door if they opened an elegant shop full of marvelous items unlike any others offered in town. Thus Wrapsody in Blue was born three-and-a-half years ago.

Michael and Jack first came to Blue Ridge five years ago to help their good friends—Atlanta’s 11Alive news anchor, Jill Becker, and her husband—decorate their newly purchased cabin in Blue Ridge. Like so many before them, they fell in love with the beautiful mountain town.

Michael had been working for years at the Atlanta Interfaith AIDS Network, running a day program for people with AIDS and HIV. It was taking more and more of an emotional toll on Michael to--as he says--“bury people.” Jack—who owns Indulgence Salon in Buckhead and has won four Emmy’s for hair, makeup and wardrobe—was also in a very high-stress environment. Buying a weekend cabin in the mountains seemed the perfect anecdote for their high-octane careers.

After a year of weekends spent in Blue Ridge, it was becoming harder and harder for the two to make the trip back to Atlanta on Sunday night. The desire grew strong to make Blue Ridge their permanent home.

There were two activities that Michael and Jack particularly enjoyed in the mountains—one was hiking, and the other was shopping in the lovely shops in downtown Blue Ridge. In their frequent shopping trips, Michael and Jack saw a niche that was not being filled among the great antique shops and stores that offer wonderful rustic cabin décor. Blue Ridge lacked a shop that carried new higher-end  traditional décor—something more akin to a shop you might find in Buckhead.

On one of their shopping trips, Michael and Jack noticed a “For Rent” sign in one of the buildings a block off the main shopping district. It would be the perfect space for the new shop that they had decided would be their ticket to a permanent residence in Blue Ridge. 

Wrapsody in Blue opened for business in 2005. A destination for refined shopping, Wrapsody in Blue is filled with occasional pieces of furniture--including a fascinating piece that converts from a buffet to a dining table that seats 12--decorative accessories, custom artwork, home decor, gourmet treats and hostess gifts. The items are unlike any you'll find in other Blue Ridge shops. As Michael cracks, "I'm the only antique in the store!"

According to Michael, the store’s best selling item is a line of candles from Northern Lights. Deliciously scented, the candles come in beautiful glass candle-holders that give off an elegant glow while burning. Michael and Jack were able to get the candles featured on the Today Show.  By that afternoon, their website was so inundated with orders for the candles, that folks started calling the store because they couldn’t get on the website. A year-and-a-half later, Wrapsody in Blue is still sending the Northern Lights candles to folks all over the country.

Be sure to visit Wrapsody in Blue when you are in Blue Ridge. You will be delighted, not just by the great selection of merchandise, but by Michael, who runs the store. His down-home folksy southern charm will win you over, and his wonderful shop will keep you coming back!

Michael Brunson, co-owner of Wrapsody in Blue

Wrapsody in Blue

771 East Main Street
Blue Ridge, Georgia 30513
Tel 706-258-2700 Fax 706-258-2701