First Official Community Work Weekend

 

 

 

 

This weekend was the first official community work weekend at the Roaring River Chalets.  Unfortunately Mother Nature was less than cooperative, delivering a good bit of rain to much of the state.  We did however, manage to make a dent in one project, and that was cleaning out the former water fall.  We removed much of the old pool liner while standing shin high in murky, foul-smelling water, and intermittent rain.  Needless to say this was a tricky endeavor given the slope of the hill and the saturated soil that kept threatening to give way while we toiled.  We managed to leave it better than we found it with the help of a few Boone Farmer's Market plants (columbine, corral bells, jacobs ladder, and some lily pad looking perrenial), and barberry and hostas we were able to transplant from other parts of the property.  

 

We also turned some attention to our own little homesteads.  On one of our runs to Lowe's we found elephant ears on sale for 75% off, of which we proceeded to fill our basket for spots back in Durham, as well as the area between our two houses that we now call "the courtyard".  Suffice it to say it was a rewarding weekend.  For one, perrenials we had planted last spring were now coming up in the beds in front of ours and Barbara's chalets; two, we managed to accomplish a productive spring clean; and three, there is nothing more renewing for the spirit and mind than falling asleep to the sound of the river just outside your window. 

Keith & Barbara while doing some last minute tidying up on Sunday, before heading downtown for some shopping, then back to Durham. 

The former waterfall, no longer an eyesore upon arrival. 

The view from 321.  I've snapped a lot of photos around the property, but never from this vantage point.

The view from 321 of the common area looking upstream.  Riverwood is in the center of the photo.

The common area from 321.

The old phone booth that sits across from our chalet reminds me of a guard house I recall seeing at Buckingham Palace in London.  This little house, by contrast, has seen better days.  I love the way the moss has grown on the roof.  Keith is planning to give it a new coat of paint in the weeks ahead, and there is talk of adding some mail cubbies inside for use by the homeowners. 

The old phone book cover and where the phone must have once been mounted.

The entry gate, now electrified, and the village sign.

The newly christened "courtyard." 

I had to throw this one in because the angle was interesting.  Riverwood to the left, and Creekside Nest to the right. 

April at the Chalet

We were up for the weekend, for the first (and last) homeowners meeting of the year.  We made some plans for the year, to include two community clean up days for the common areas, elected a new president...Keith!, received our new gate remotes, and oohed and aahed over the new electric gate at the entrance to the village, reviewed how the pump house & well house operate, and discussed general HOA topics.  All is well at the Roaring River Chalets. 

Aunt Mamie had been visiting Margeurite in Jacksonville, and all decided to take a trip up to Blowing Rock for several days.  We were disappointed we could only join them for a few of those days.  Needless to say, we had a great time, and Keith and I are already talking about a trip to New York next spring. 

Below are a few snaps from the weekend.   

We stopped for a quick snapshot before ambling through the gift shop at Moses Cone with Aunt Mamie, visiting from upstate New York.  We followed a little retail distraction with a 2.3 mile walk down the trail to Bass Lake.  We started at an elevation of about 4,000 feet at the Moses Cone Mansion, to the lake which was just under a 3,700 feet elevation  Keith and I left Barbara and Mamie, and hiked back up to retrieve the car, and drove down to the lake to pick them up.  Excellent hike!

After an almost meditative hike, we returned back to the Cone Mansion.  The day was superb.

This stand of trees to the right of the mansion caught my attention.  They appeared like soldiers at the ready, and with their long shadows I felt part of the infantry.



The road just in front of the mansion which led us to the gravel pathway that took us to the lake.



What can I say?  I love the nakedness of the trees before they leaf out.  They are vulnerable, and statuesque.

Back at the chalet, pittering in the beds, exploring for signs of last summer.  Barbara, Margeurite and Keith (three generations of gardening expertise).

 

Upon our return from a quick run to the store for new mulch for the beds, we found sisters Margeurite (Keith's grandma) and aunt Mamie sunbathing. 

Left to Right.  Grandma, aunt Mamie, Barbara & Keith.  Three generations.

Riverwood after a little spring clean in the yard, and new mulch in the beds...Preparing for three more season of enjoyment. 

April is NC Beer Month...in Blowing Rock!

Wow!  I just stumbled upon this, and smiling in a big American way as a result.

NC Beer Month 

History of Blowing Rock

Before 1752, when Moravian Bishop August Gottlieb Spangenberg visited the Blowing Rock area, the windy cliffs of the area were home to the Cherokee and the Catawba Indian tribes, hostile to each other, and the basis for the story of “The “Blowing Rock”. Two star-crossed lovers, one from each tribe, were walking near The Rock when the reddening sky signaled to the brave that he must return to his tribal duty, and the maiden urged him to stay with her. His desperation in choosing between duty and love caused him to leap from the edge of the gorge toward the rocks below, while the maiden beseeched the Great Spirit to bring him back to her. The famous winds of the John’s River Gorge blew her lover back into her arms, and this legend about The Blowing Rock is still told today. After the mid-eighteenth century, when the Scotch-Irish began to settle close to this area, the passes from southern Virginia into Kentucky attracted many colonists, farmers, hunters, and trappers who continued south to the mountains of North Carolina. The first family to settle in Blowing Rock were the Greenes who were established by the mid-1800’s on a site that would become the Green Park Hotel property. Other early settlers in Blowing Rock included the Hayes, Coffey, Bolick, Estes and Storie families. About this time, summer residents began to come up from Lenoir to enjoy the cool fresh air, magnificent mountain views and the wonders of nature. As word traveled to other parts of the South about the merits of Blowing Rock, more visitors began to arrive, first camping out, and later taking rooms at boarding houses like the Hayes and Martin Houses on Main Street. When the space to accommodate guests proved too little, many homes turned into hotels, and the Watauga Hotel, built in 1884, added cottages in 1888; the Green Park Hotel opened in 1891 and was followed eight years later by the Blowing Rock Hotel. Walter Alexander touted the clean air and healthy environment of Blowing Rock, as he developed the Mayview area, opening the grand hotel, Mayview Manor in 1922. Times had been tough during the Civil War, when many early settlers sought refuge from the great war between the North and South. Husbands sent their wives and children to the safest place they knew at the time, the mountains, while they left to fight for their beliefs. After the war many men joined the families who sheltered here, and made their permanent homes in the village. Shortly thereafter, on March 11, 1889, Blowing Rock was chartered and incorporated. “Uncle Joe Clarke” became the first mayor of this fledgling little mountain town with a permanent population just over 300 people. High on the list of issues at a time when financial conditions were at a low ebb, was the tourist economy and meeting visitors’ needs for cleaner, better streets (dirt roads were the norm of the day) and the issue of farmers’ rights and the expense of fencing and feeding animals who had wandered the open range where food was readily available. Debated from 1893 until an ordinance for fencing in livestock was passed in 1896, this issue was reaffirmed in a township vote in 1900 and again in 1901. Blowing Rock’s economy would now be tourist-oriented and hotels, inns, and boarding houses could prosper. Activities and amenities for visitors reached the epitome of the finest offerings in lodging, food and entertainment for guests, and were enjoyed by many summer residents as well. Blowing Rock was becoming a destination community for those who fled from the heat down the mountain and as far away as Florida. The introduction of the automobile and improved roads shortly after the turn of century further enhanced the journey to the “Crown of the Blue Ridge.” Blowing Rock’s growth encompasses 1500 full time residents and approximately 8000 summer residents. The village offers the best of small town living: cool climate, magnificent views, year-round outdoor activities, a safe environment, beautiful churches, an award winning school and the finest accommodations with superb restaurants and shopping. A major preservation effort has been in place for the past decade to protect the proud historic heritage of the village and maintain the community character that so enhances this little town.

More snow!



We missed more snow this weekend, per The Weather Channel app.  :(



Happy Anniversary, Riverwood!

Wow!  It was 12 months ago this month, that we closed on Riverwood.  I guess you could say I'm celebrating with an anniversary post.  Truth is, 2012 was such a whirlwind year for us, and I don't feel compelled to relive any of it here.  Suffice it to say, we welcomed 2013 with hearts a little bruised, but hopeful once again. 

I can say that we used the chalet as often as we had hoped, especially in the height of the summer when temperatures in Durham topped 100+ degrees.  Most weekends we hightailed it out of town, happily watching the car temperature gauge slowly tick downwards with each mile closer to Blowing Rock. 

2012 found me using my camera more, and have since amassed many photographs over the course of the 12 months that we've owned Riverwood.  I've included a handful here for your viewing pleasure. 

Thanks for a year's worth of delicious memories.  Happy anniversary, Riverwood!


Riverwood Chalet.  Summer, 2012.



Master bedroom.



Living. Dining. Kitchen.  Loft above.

Easter, 2012.  Linville Gorge hike.

January, 2013.  Sisters & cousins, post wine tasting.

Me & Jackie.  May, 2012.

Weekend with Nicole.  June, 2012.

Riverwood from the river.

View upstream from common area.

The lushness of spring.  May, 2012.

Three sisters.



Boone Farmers Market.  October, 2012.

Keith & his mom pick apples.  Oct., 2012.

Winter descends on Roaring River Chalets.  Jan., 2013.

Riverwood under snow.  Jan., 2013.

Yah, but how cold does it feel??

Upper balconies in snow.

Cozy by the fire.  Jan., 2013.

Loan approved!

Okay, so the excitement really is starting to build.  We received word last evening that our loan was approved.  We weren't concerned it would not be, but for some reason just hearing those words bring some degree of relief.  This means all that's left to do is close.  This is a good feeling.

Just thought I'd include one of the photos I snapped during the weekend we placed our offer.  It had obviously snowed a few days prior to our arrival, leaving a light blanket on everything.  We had all (the mom's, Keith and I) walked to the common area to nose around when I took this shot upstream.  Lovely day, and view.