November 2003 Archived Columns
11/25/2003
The weather Saturday and Sunday was beautiful, clear and warm. They were probably the nicest days we’ve had all season. Monday, it rained hard. Monday night, we had the first really hard frost, and Tuesday has been a beautiful day.We've been getting really beautiful turnips (the whole plant) from Richard Mashburn of Blairsville, who has been selling them at the intersection of 515 and 60 (SW corner) on Saturdays. Just wash them well, cut the stem out of the greens, tear them up a little, and boil them for an hour or so on medium hear with a smoked ham hock (or some country ham) and fatback until tender to taste. Serve with vinegar and hot sauce. You start by first boiling the ham in a little water for a half hour. You could cut some of the turnips up into the greens, but if they're all new, purple, and fresh like Mr. Mashburn's, I usually make them into a cream soup. Last weekend, he wasn't sure how long the season would last, but it's sure worth a stop if he's there.
If you haven’t winterized, it’s past time. The temperature was about 19º this morning. If you need a refresher, I’ve got pretty good instructions in my column for 10/28/03.
We continue to be very busy in the office. Year-to-date, our sales have been up over 40% over last year. One of the large closing attorneys in town stopped scheduling closings for the rest of the year several weeks ago, which is another index of the activity in the current market. It’s time for people to come up and look at view property, and it’s time for bargain hunters to come up and see what’s available. Resort markets typically don’t have very motivated sellers, but if we do, it’s during the winter months. Sellers on Lake Blue Ridge might feel particularly motivated, because with the lake at its lowest level in years, it’s in a pretty unattractive state. It might be possible to find a rare bargain out there this winter.
Speaking of the lake, I’ve gotten a little more information on the locomotive that’s supposed to be out there at the bottom of the lake. As I heard it from one of my listing customers the other day, the locomotive was used in the construction of the dam, and when they couldn’t get it out, they had to leave it there. Cynthia was out there the other day, and she actually got a picture of the tracks. But the lake wasn’t quite low enough to see the locomotive, and according to the information she got, it isn’t going to be lowered any more.
I'm told that with the fish so concentrated, fishing has been fantastic.
The Third Annual Christmas Tour of Homes will be held Sunday, December 7 form 1 to 6 PM. This tour benefits the Fannin County Empty Stocking Program. Tickets are a $20 donation. Contact the Empty Stocking people at 706.632.9262.
11/13/03
Today was the first really cool day in the mountains. It was about 36º on the porch this morning, and it is supposed to go down to the mid-twenties tonight. It's really been our first beautiful, cool fall weather. It’s time to think about winterizing. If you need a reminder, I’ve got pretty good instructions in my last column, for 10/28/03.
The leaves are mostly off the trees, and it’s time to come up and look at view property. We’ll have a few more weeks of pedal-to-the-metal busy season (December is our biggest month for closings) and then things should start to quiet down some. Last year, we were pounded in the first quarter because people were disgusted with the stock market, but I don’t know if the same dynamic will play next year. I’m expecting more of a normal first quarter, which means that it may be time for bargain hunters to think about coming up and having a look. Sellers in resort markets are usually not highly motivated, but if we do see motivated sellers up here, it’s apt to be in the winter months, before the traditional start of the new season, the opening day of trout (last Saturday in March).
The annual Leonid meteor showers begin tonight, and should peak sometime next week. Fannin County is still one of the darkest areas of the state, and viewing opportunities should be wonderful.
It now seems all but certain that a permit will be issued to the Intertrade Corporation to resume sulfuric acid production at the old copper plant in Copperhill. While Intertrade will not confirm that they plan to do so, their application for a permit is certainly a strong indication. Copper production ceased at the plant in 1987, but sulfuric acid production continued until a few years ago. Obviously, this development has the potential to negatively impact commercial activities in the towns of Copperhill and McCaysville that are geared to the tourist trade. I don’t expect that very many Fannin County cabin properties will be affected, but buyers who are considering property in the northern parts of the county should be sure to evaluate that property for proximity to the old plant.
