Is the weather outside too cold for you?  Do you want to enjoy some lights but it is raining?  Do you and your children want to see some snow?  Then a Ruby Red Christmas is for you.

Plan on a visit to Ruby Falls where it is always 58 degrees.  Christmas time is a great time to visit the Falls.  There are several activities for the whole family.  

As you approach the Cavern Castle, it's snowing! You will meet wonderful costumed characters as you are surrounded by holiday acoustical music. Listen to Mrs. Claus read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas and after your tour of the cave and waterfall, visit the North Pole Workshop for festive activities! Ruby Falls is proud to feature LED lighting throughout the castle and waterfall, making the holiday experience even that much brighter! Finish the evening off with a horse and carriage ride by Down South Carriage.

To learn more about the Ruby Red Christmas go to http://www.lookoutmountain.com

Remember you can stay in the Mentone Area in one of the many cabins offered by Mentone Cabins.  Check the many cabins that are available near Ruby Falls at www.mentonecabins.com

If you are in the Mentone area there is something fun for the holiday season, Rock City’s Enchanted Garden of Lights is a holiday tradition where families and friends come together to create shared memories during the holiday season. Rock City is just a few miles down the road on Lookout Mountain Parkway.

Create a cool new tradition this year as the Enchanted Garden of Lights celebrates its 15th year featuring the North Pole Adventure. This award-winning, light extravaganza features more than 30 holiday scenes and over a million lights (with new LED's) that transform the garden’s natural daytime splendor into a nocturnal fantasyland.

·          See snow and visit with St. Nick and his elves at the North Pole Adventure!

·          See elves harvesting candy canes and building toys!

·          Enjoy nightly entertainment in the pavilion, next to a warm fireplace with a hot cup of cocoa Sugar Plum Fairy Makeovers – available for children to enjoy face painting or dress up in costume and be magical fairies for a night.

·          Gingerbread cookie decorating

Don’t forget to get your picture with Santa and his elves!  To learn more about Rock City’s Enchanted Garden of Lights follow this link  http://www.seerockcity.com/pages/Enchanted-Garden-of-Lights/   You will see that Rock City is more than looking at seven States.

Remember you can stay in the Mentone Area in one of the many cabins offered by Mentone Cabins.  Check the many cabins that are available near Rock City at www.mentonecabins.com 

November 6, 2009

The weather is going to be great this weekend and there is a lot to do and see.

First of all, don't forget the Rattling Gourd Arts Festival down in Summerville.  It is at the Chattooga County Civic Center on Saturday from 9-5 Eastern and 11-5 on Sunday.  There will be plenty fine arts, crafts, food, music, demonstrations and affordable gifts.  You will have a great time!

If a drive to Summerville is not your cup of tea, try Canyon Fest at the JSU Little River Canyon Center.  It will be held on Saturday from 10-3 Central Time and will feature art, children's activities, musical performances and lots of good food.

If you would like to learn how to do something new, you might want to attend the paperweight Class from 9-1 on Saturday at Orbix Glass.  The cost is $130 and your are guaranteed two paperweights.  These might make great Christmas gifts.  Call Orbix Glass at 256-523-3188 to reserve your spot.

Also, just a reminder that the growers at the Mentone Market will continue to be there on Wednesdays but with a new schedule.  They will be there from 2 until O dark thirty.  There will be lettuces and other greens from their fall crops and there will be plenty of baked goods and holiday items in the weeks to come.

Also, mark your calendars for Saturday, November 28, 2009, for an event sponsored by the Mentone Area Arts Council, Christmas in Mentone.  It will begin at 6:30 with a reception for our local artists.  At 7:30, entertainment will be provided by the Liz Wood Project from Gadsden.  It is going to be a great event and admission at the door is only $10 per person. 

Finally, we would like to encourage you to Buy Handmade on the Mountain This Holiday Season. There is nothing better than receiving a specially chosen, one-of-a-kind work of originality.  Whether it goes on the living room wall or on the dining room table, in a special niche or around your neck, art is special and deserves special recognition from the buyer and recipient.  These kinds of purchases and gifts are the ones which come with a story and are treasures that keep on giving even into the future.  This holiday season, buy art and make it something unique, unusual, and special for everyone involved.

For more information or to find a place to stay, contact Paul Todd at www.mentonecabins.com

Hope to see you in Mentone!!

 Beginning with Friday night, there is a workshop on how to make glass paperweights at Orbix Glass.  The workshop is from 5:00 to 9:00 and costs $130.  You will make two paperweights during the class and they are great looking.  Call Cal Breed at 256-523-3188 to make your reservation.

On Saturday, stop by the Mentone Realty Building an take in Alabama Waterways, A Photographic Celebration.  It is a collection of photographs by some of Alabama's premier photographers,  put together by the Alabama Rivers Alliance.  The display which was brought to Mentone by the Mentone Area Arts Council is open on Saturday from 10:00 until 4:00, and from 12:00 untio 4:00 on Sunday.  The exhibit is also open during the week from 9:00 until 4:00.  The exhibit will remain on display until Sunday, November 1, 2009.

Also on Saturday, there is an art show in Cedar Bluff that runs from 10:00 until 6:00.  Many of Mentone's artists are participating in the show and would like to see you there.  It's just a short drive from Mentone.

Also, please don't forget the upcoming Mentone Area Arts Council Lecture Series Event featuring Joe Cook, Executive Director of the Coosa River Basin Initiative, on Thursday, October 15, 2009.  Joe will update us on the status of the water wars between Alabama and Georgia and how this might impact our rivers in Alabama.  The event begins at 7:00 at the Crystal Lake Lodge. 

Also, John Dersham will lead a Fine Art Landscape Photography Workshop on Friday, October 23 (Classroom presentation at the Mentone Community Building) and onsite instruction at Little River Canyon on Saturday morning.  The cost of the workshop is $25.  Register for the workshop by emailing mentonearts@aim.com. 

And please don't forget to participate in the Artists' Gallery and Home Tour on Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1.  Pick up your map at the Mentone Fire Station and tour homes and studios at your leisure.  Artists from all over the region will be in each home to display their work.  It's great fun so don't miss it.

And finally, if you are interested in the activities of the Mentone Area Arts Council, please make plans to attend the Annual Meeting at 6:30 on October 28, 2009, at the Crystal Lake Lodge.

Gallery Schedule & Class/Event Description/Schedule Fall/Holiday 2009

________________________________________________________________________

 

Fall/Holiday Hours:      Monday thru Friday  10am - 3pm

                (Sept.-Dec.)                Saturday 9am - 4pm

                         OR By Appointment       

      Note:  Gallery is open on days that classes are held

 Gallery will be open on Nov. 27 (the day after       Thanksgiving)

-------------------------------------------------------------------Open Studio:Fall 2009  Sat  Oct 24^th 9-5                       

This annual event is the highlight of the Fall at Orbix Hot Glass.  Glass-blowing demonstrations take place all day and there are opportunities for you and your family to blow a Christmas ornament. Groups of ten or more are asked to please call and schedule a Blow Your Own Ornament session on a separate date.  We will be serving our usual yummy refreshments and you'll be able to purchase lunch on site.  Come enjoy the beauty of Lookout Mountain in October and the fun that we always have at our open studio events. Don't forget to bring your cameras!

Paperweight Class: Sat  Sept 26^th  9am - 1pm         Friday,  October 9^th  5pm - 9pm                                   Saturday,  October 10^th  9am - 1pm                   Saturday, October 31^st 9am - 1pm                                    Saturday, November 7^th, 9am -  1pm

This class is designed for those who really just want see what molten glass is all about.  Feel the heat, gather from the furnace, sculpt the glass into you own design.  It is ultimately about the experience, some experimentation and a couple nice paperweights to take home or to the office to show your friends.

Class size at the largest will be five students so everyone has adequate time at the bench working.  

There will be material provided before the class for you to review and become familiar with concerning safety and basic glassblowing vocabulary.  Please join us for some in-depth discovery.  Cost - $130.  3-5 students; reservations required; 50% non-refundable deposit

Blow Your Own Ornament:

Saturday, October  24^th 9am - 5pm                   Saturday,  November 21^st  9am - 5pm                Saturday, December 5^th 9am - 5pm                               Saturday, December 12^th 9am - 5pm                  Saturday, December 19^th 9am - 5pm                   Tuesday, December 22^nd 9am - 2pm

This has become very popular here at Orbix Hot Glass!  Come design and literally "blow" your own ornament with the help of one of our glass artists.  For this we welcome people of all ages (okay you have to be at least 5 years old). Space is on a first come basis. Cost - $35/ornament.

 For groups or individuals wishing to make ten or more ornaments, we ask that you call and schedule a special session on a separate date.

Studio Tours/Group Events

Looking for a unique event for your club or a group of friends?  Come watch one of our glass artists give a private glassblowing demonstration. They'll  answer all your questions about the process (cameras are encouraged!) and you can view the end result of their hard work in our gallery. Cost is $160 for an hour.  Maximum group is 30 people. 50% non-refundable deposit required.

Another option for groups is to schedule a date to come Blow Your Own Ornament (see above section for description)  Cost - $35/ornament;  Minimum of ten ornaments must be blown; $80 non-refundable deposit required

Give us a call to schedule either event,  and we'll also put you in touch with people who can assist you with accommodations and/or dining.

       ORBIX HOT GLASS 256.523.3188

Stay with Mentone Cabins when you come to visit Orbix Glass.  Make your reservations at www.mentonecabins.com

 

There is a lot going on in the area this weekend and some great activities coming up in the next few weeks.   This weekend, you might want to start with a short drive to Chattanooga for a special reception for Harry Krippes at the Lookout Mountain Gallery located next to the Mt. Vernon Restaurant on Broad Street (near the incline).  Harry specializes in metal art and does some incredible images of horses and long horned steers.  You will enjoy seeing his work and the work of many other talented artists showing their work there.  The reception begins at 6:00 EDT.    Also, there is a Gallery Hop in Chattanooga on Saturday from 12:00 until 9:00 PM.  You might want to start at Bill Shores Frames and Gallery or the InTown Gallery on the North Shore where information will be available for the rest of the Tour.    The JSU Field School is having a Family Weekend at DeSoto State Park this weekend.  It starts with a Campfire Talk on Friday night at 7:00 about how amphibians like frogs transform from a single cell to the wonderful hopping creatures we enjoy seeing.  Also, at 9:00 AM on Saturday morning, Dr. Jim Rayburn will lead a hike along the Little River.  It is an easy hike and preregistration is required by calling 256-782-5697.  The cost is $10 per person.  There is another Campfire Talk at 7:00 on Saturday night on plants and animals that get your attention with their special lines of defense.    OK, so nature is not your thing-you might want to visit the Smithonian Exhibit, New Harmonies, Celdbrating Roots Music in America.  The exhibit is on display at Hunt Hall adjacent to the Opera House in Fort Payne until September 19th.  There is also a local exhibit that highlights the history of music in DeKalb County.   There are some great events coming up in the next few weeks so you need to mark you calendar.   First, the Pap Baxter Gospel Singing School will be held the Opera House from September 14 through September 18.  Call 256-845-2741 or 2224 for further informaion.   The Humane Society Animal Resources of DeKalb will hold their 2nd Annual Pet Parade to benefit our Spay and Neuter Programs. It will be held at 10:00AM, Saturday, Sept. 19 at the Fort Payne Boom Days Festival. Come parade with your companion animal, favorite plush animal, or in memory of a beloved companion animal. There is a minimum donation of $10.00 per animal. Be at the Fort Payne Depot parking lot to check in by 9:30AM. They will have events going on all day at the HS/ARD tent in the Depot parking lot with a petting pen, our Barnyard Friends, "Ask a Vet", Basic Pet Emergency Care, and also hold a silent auction. For pre-registration information,go to www.animalresourcesdekalb.com,  email hsard1@wildblue.net or call 845-9463. The deadline to register is Sept 12. Free tee-shirts while supplies last will be given with each registration for the Pet Parade.    We that's it for now.  I have some more information about some really neat things but I will send it out in a separate email.  As always, please feel free to pass this email to those in the community you think might be interested.  

See you out there!

Have you fallen for a home that is in dire need of repairs and updating? Is the seller refusing to work with you on repairs? Does the picket fence look like it will fall down if someone sneezes too hard? Is the lead-based paint peeling off in bite-size pieces? Is the landscaping so overgrown you think the house is alive? Is the shag carpet worn down to its last shag? Can you see your reflection in the foil wallpaper? Is the home so dark you need a flashlight at high noon? And, what is that smell? Is the plumbing working?

Roll in The Repairs with a Rehab Plus Loan!

Bring that diamond-in-the-rough into the 21st century with a new kitchen, updated bathrooms, lavish landscaping, safe paint, hip carpet, timeless hardwood floors, chic light fixtures, modern plumbing fixtures, the latest kitchen appliances, energy-efficient windows, elegant granite counter tops, a sturdy fence, even room additions, a new roof, foundation repairs, and a swimming pool and spa for relaxing.

Why use the Rehab Plus loan?

1. Combine the mortgage and home improvement financing into one low-rate loan.

2. Eliminate a higher-rate second mortgage or home improvement loan.

3. Keep your cash liquid or apply it down on the mortgage.

4. Sellers of foreclosures and fixer-uppers prefer to sell as-is.

HOW IT WORKS WITH PRIMELENDING.  ( other lenders might have different requirements)

1. Negotiate lowest purchase price for the buyer and execute contract.

2. Add in the repair estimates from the contractor.

3. Get home appraised to determine After Repaired Value.

4. Go to closing.

5. Contractor gets paid from escrow account held by PrimeLending.

The important thing to remember in this foreclosure world is that FHA has a great product for your buyers to get an even better deal.  If they are willing to have repairs made (takes patience and an ability to see beyond the disrepair) there are great bargains to be had and instant equity - even in this market.

Go to your lender and ask for the FHA rehab loan.

Mentone, Fort  Payne,  Lookout  Mountain  and  Sand Mountain

September 11 Appreciation Day for First Responders Santa Fe Cattle Co. invites you to come and show your appreciation to our National Heroes.  This is and all day event honoring our Fire, Police, EMS, and Military Personnel. 256-844-9422

September 12 - 13 Family Weekend DeSoto State Park JSU Field Schools and DeSoto State Park will offer fun activities Friday night, all day Saturday and Saturday night for families who want to learn about nature together. Join JSU Dr. Jim Rayburn for fun live animal Campfire Talks Friday and  Saturday night. 256-782-5697

September 12 Wild Cave Tour Go beyond where the average tourist explores!  This 2.5 hour adventure is for those of you ready to explore on your knees, on your belly, in the mud and through tight tunnels. Adventure includes helmet, cave lamps plus a fun informative guide.  Meet at True Adventure Sports. $30 per person.  5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 256-997-9577

September 12 DeSoto State Park Campfire Talks: Frog Metamorphosis Explore how amphibians transform from a single cell to the wonderful hopping creatures we adore. Dr. Rayburn will also discuss problems faced by all animals during their development. 8 p.m. 256-845-0051

September 13 Rappelling Adventure Come experience the thrill of rappelling down the sheer sandstone gems of NE Alabama.  No previous experience necessary.  Each trip includes all the gear plus basic instruction.  $37 per person 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 256-997-9577

September 13 Woodsy Stroll Explore the trails of DeSoto State Park and hike along the Little River with Dr. Jim Rayburn. Be sure to wear appropriate footwear and clothing.  Pre-registration is required.  No Fee. 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. 256-782-5697

September 13 Raku Pottery Workshop Miracle Pottery & Art Gallery are inviting you to bring the entire family and experience how pottery is made. Glaze and fire your own piece of Raku pottery. Reservations required due to limited spacing. Session at 6 p.m. 256-635-6863.

September 13 DeSoto State Park Campfire Talks: Venomous Organisms of Alabama Some plants and animals really get your attention with their special lines of defense. Toxicologist Dr. James Rayburn of JSU will present this program on a variety of species that can cause pain, injury, or even death. 8 p.m. 256-845-0051

September 14 Patriot Day Enjoy Gospel singing at Sequoyah Caverns & Ellis Homestead.  800-843-5098

September 15 Extreme Night Hike This end-of-day adventure does not slow down just because it's dark.  Intended for a large group team-building exercise, this hike has a bit of bouldering, some scrambling, some spelunking, and a whole lot of required working together.  Headlamp and enthusiastic guide included. Meet at True Adventure Sports.  $18pp.  6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. 256-997-9577

Mentone has much to offer!  Have fun this week!

The rumors have been out there for weeks now.  Today they became truth!  On Sunday morning the new GSE regulatory agency placed Congressionally chartered mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into separate conservatorships, with the government committing $100 billion to each, while removing their CEOs, and laying the groundwork for a radical and historic restructuring of the entire U.S. mortgage market.

Look out it will be a rocky road for the next few months.  If you have loans approved, get them closed.  The market will change.  Loans will change and the value of homes might change due to the fact that the money supply will be tightened.

The good news is, if you are a mortgage loan officer or Realtor and you survive the next few months, you should be successful.  Just hang on and continue to be the best you can be.  Seems like AR might be a good place to find support and market strength.

More details to follow.

Paul Todd

Realtor and Mortgage Banker

T.A.G BLUESFEST 2008 is coming to Mentone, Alabama.

THE T.A.G. BLUES SOCIETY, MAPA  AND THE MENTONE INN  PRESENT OUR SECOND ANNUAL  T.A.G. BLUESFEST  ON THE GROUNDS OF THE  MENTONE INN 6139 Al. Hwy 117 Mentone, Al.

SATURDAY 12-10 PM -SUNDAY 11-4PM SEPTEMBER 27-28TH  

Wristbands will be available at the event for a donation toward the care and feeding of the artists!  

THE LINE UP INCLUDES:

TIN FEET, THE ALABAMA GRAVY SOPPERS, BO ADAMS, BILLYJIM SHENKAR, PENSACOLA REESE, THE DELTA FLYERS, MELISSA SIGLER, BROKEN, CHASMUSIC, BLACK SKILLET AND MEMPHIS ANNIE

ENJOY TWO DAYS OF LIVE MUSIC, ARTS, CRAFTS, AN OLD FASHIONED CAKEWALK, DRAWINGS AND PRIZES, STORYTELLING AND MORE WITH FINGERLICKIN' BBQ BY CHEF TONY AT WINDWOOD FARMS

If you have never visited Mentone, Alabama before, now is the time.  We will have a great lineup of music.