There may not be a more magical touch in weather than a beautiful snowfall.  Over the weekend, we got our first real snow of the winter here in Balsam, NC.  For those of you who don't live in regions where this most startling season exists, I'll share ours with you.     This is just half of the driveway, all of it was covered in about 5 inches of snow.       This little trike is one of our favorite outside art pieces.  We picked it up at John C Campbell's Folk Art School Fall Festival in Brasstown, NC a couple of years ago.       Here's a view looking down from the porch at a few benches.       In the summer, this bench makes a nice spot to sit with the flower boxes on either side.  Today would have been a bit chilly.       This is just one of several creeks crossing the property from... 02/03/2013

    What a difference a day makes! Well...two days, I mean.  A couple of days ago we were basking in 60 degree weather.  The stick dude tried making a snow angel on the driveway but to little avail.     Then the north wind blew in, leaving us with nights in the teens...a little bit of snow...a lot of ice and two shockingly cold days back to back.               The stick dude did his best to make a snow angel with the little bit of dusting he received but in the end realized it didn't really matter since he's already an angel.         Tomorrow should be a touch warmer and much less windy. That's good, I've missed being outside and the Office Manager feels a bit cheated on her rushed afternoon walks.                     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   02/01/2013

  There is nothing more pathetic than watching someone try to create a snow angel without snow.  It's just sad.  This stick dude appeared on the driveway, I guess maybe remembering the quantity of snow we had a couple of years ago.  Back then he was able to make a magnificent snow angel and I think he was just trying to hold onto his former glory.  Given the forecast for the high winds and lots of rain tomorrow here in the mountains of Western North Carolina, glory is the last thing the stick dude should worry about holding onto...he'll be lucky if he doesn't get washed down the driveway.   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   01/29/2013

  The forecast said we'd see the sun today, so far it remains hidden.  Yesterday was a delicious mix of frozen rain, sleet, ice and other assorted crystalline objects all over Western North Carolina...delicious anyway if you are a penguin, polar bear or reindeer!  Leslie said it best on the tense drive home...so far this winter, we've mainly gotten the ewwwww of winter and not so much the pretty.     By the time we arrived in Balsam, the temperature had soared to 30 degrees from the morning's 19 degrees and the solidly iced driveway from that morning had thawed to just partially iced.  The crystalline mix continued to pepper us with its icy pellets however and an hour later we were back to slip sliding away.  There is NOTHING like having to walk dogs on icy pathways.  Not only was the b... 01/25/2013

  Like a lot of people, I used to think that squirrels were cute.  Bushy tails, bright eyes and the little paws that handled food just like hands.  All I see now are bushy tailed little rats with buzz saws for teeth.  As I sit here grimacing with every keystroke, I am at least grateful to no longer be twisted like a pretzel crawling in an attic space designed for someone the size of an agile two year old, wearing a mask for five hours to avoid inhaling cancer causing insulation and I don't even want to think about what nasties the squirrel probably left.   Our extremely good natured buddy and handyman, Brent, and I climbed through the tiny air vent opening of the guest cottage and spent the better part of the day balancing on 2x4's and odd pieces of plywood while pulling out tons of wal... 01/20/2013

  What a difference a day makes.  After 5 or 6 days of dreary and rainy days, we felt like we were coming out of a cave entering a day of blue skies and glorious brilliant sunlight today.      When we left for the office, the sun lit up the ice on Rosemount Road.  It looked like a crystal fairyland and we were truly blinded by the light.     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   01/18/2013

  So, in our area the winter weather advisory was much ado about nothing...except a bit of a hassle.  Nothing beats days and days of rain followed by snow and an extreme drop in temperature.  Well, unless you add in blizzard strength gusts of wind which aid in plunging the ambient temperature even colder with the wind chill.  I tried the door handle on the car when I walked the dogs past it this morning and as I suspected...frozen shut.  All that rain water met the 20 something temperature and the end result was a given...there will be no dashing out the door and jumping into the car today.       The saving grace is that even though we had this extreme bout of weather last night here in Balsam, NC the afternoon looks like it will be gorgeous.  Apparently the skies will be some shade of ... 01/17/2013

  They all have stories that we may never know. Anyone in animal rescue and welfare knows that sometimes the most frustrating part of animal rescue is that the history of the foundling is a mystery. That’s what it was like with Cassidy. Twelve years ago tonight was bitterly cold and snow was beginning to fall. We’d called in the dogs for the night but one continued to bark at something outside the fence. Through the snow in the dark, it looked like our Plott Hound, Pepper. The dog refused to come to his name which was really unusual. Leslie walked down the long driveway in the snow only to discover the one who would become “Cassidy”. Cassidy was a Black & Tan Coonhound, very skinny and very pregnant. Leslie walked the shivering coonhound back up the driveway and put her in the laundry r... 01/02/2013

  There's a number of things occuring to me this morning on New Year's Eve.  When I was a kid, if I had considered the year 2013 it would have been in connection with some kind of futuristic science fiction movie...it still does.  The last morning of 2012 began with standing on the deck, looking at yet another incredible sunrise over Balsam Mountain.  Both Leslie and I are continuing to get better from the flu.  We will end 2012 and start 2013 with three of our listings under contract, one of which is such a perfect marriage of buyer, seller and property that I can't wait to celebrate that closing.  We are unbelievably fortunate in our relationships with our clients.  Our dogs and cat are in pretty good health.    We live in a place that many people can only dream about.         Partici... 12/30/2012

  Sure, the obvious answer is 51 but that's not where I was headed with this.  Normally, I welcome our winter months as a time of great change and cleansing of the atmosphere.  The cold air is free of pollen and insects, there's no need to be concerned with stepping on snakes accidentally and mountain views are startlingly clear.  This year though, we had the misfortune to catch the flu and this favorite time of year is more of a struggle than normal.           This morning the temperature was 19 degrees and very windy.  We had a light dusting of snow yesterday so the wind was flinging little shards of icy stuff around.  Nothing can make someone feel whinier than icy little shards at 6:30 in the morning.  As I was walking the dogs through the carport, I noticed the rhododendren must hav... 12/29/2012

A cold front is blowing in to Western NC from this major winter weather system that hit the rest of the country.  It won't be a surprise, we're used to winter during winter months.  Just last week when I went out on the deck to empty and refill the dog bowls, this is what I found.    Now....that's cold!       ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 12/25/2012

  Charlie's Christmas wishes were simple to fulfill...the cat bowl full, the heaters on and most importantly, the humans home all day.  He spent a good portion of the day flat on his back.  He's unlike most other cats...I'm not certain anyone has told him that his ancestors were worshipped as gods or that most cats take a great deal of pride exhibiting haughty cattitude.       He's a true innocent, trusting that we will take care of everything...and he wouldn't be wrong.       I hope everyone else's pets had just as wonderful a day as Charlie did, he's definitely one contented Christmas Charlie Cat. 12/25/2012

  It shouldn't surprise me since we've been fortunate to have this view in Balsam, NC for a long, long time but it never fails...I get up, feed the dogs, turn on the computer and once in a while...as the sun comes up I glance to my left and boom!  Some days there it is like a good morning symphony...or in today's case, like a fire on the mountain, raucous, rocking good freaking morning!     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~       12/23/2012

  There is nothing more dramatic than nature but a little drama can get added during the photo processing.  William Johnson of San Diego is a good one for introducing different process effects and from him I've learned to explore my options a bit.   If you haven't checked out Ribbet yet, you're going to wish you had.  It is by far the most user friendly online photo processing service available.  The "premium" features are still free and it is more than worthwhile to go ahead and create an account.  By doing so, you can upload up to 6 photos at a time.   Yesterday morning in Balsam, we were treated to a sky beginning to clear out all of the rain clouds.  I was sitting at the computer when I happened to glance out just in time to see the sun brightening the clouds.     Even though I like... 12/19/2012

What's it like on the western coast when it is time for sundown?  How long do they last?  Is it different than here in the mountains of Western North Carolina?  I love both sunrise and sunset...sunrise seems to last a bit longer although still too brief.  Sunset however dips below the mountain ranges and poof it's gone and night is upon us.     One of the twisted positives of daylight hours ending earlier this time of year is that we often get to see the sunset on the way home.  Late this afternoon I ran an errand into Sylva to take care of groceries and during the ride back the on west side of Rosemount Road I was fortunate to catch the sunset.    The orange glow always plays among the trees and the other day Leslie mentioned it would be so nice to catch a photo of it...I think she was... 11/18/2012

  Capricious is a word worth loving yet it doesn't come up in conversation often.   Luckily, the funny thing about mountain weather forecasts is that its all local...and capricious!  Usually the weather of outlying areas in the mountains of Western North Carolina bear no similarities to what the WLOS television station out of Asheville is predicting.  If snow had been on the ballot,  as much as I like it I still would have voted against it for today.  Not only is this one of the most important Presidential elections ever, but we've got a closing, it would have been nice to get the tires checked before snow season and there is a ton of work to do today.   The forecast was for a "chance" of "wintry mix" tonight...you know, like 12 or 14 hours from now.  That would have been okay, get ever... 11/05/2012

Sometimes if you take too long to look at something, it can be gone in an instant.  How often have you been called from another room to come quick and see some devastatingly cute or beautiful thing that your pet or child is doing...only to arrive too late for the moment?  Sunrises and sunsets are like that too.   While I was sitting at the computer this morning, I felt more than saw the ambient light change about me.  The softest of orange glows came though the window and I barely had time to snatch up the camera...no time to grab a jacket...but I did catch where someone had thoughtfully marked "X" so I wouldn't miss the sunrise treasure here in Balsam, NC!  Literally, 45 seconds later and it was gone.  Poof.   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   11/02/2012

  Living in Balsam, NC comes with a set of responsibilities...sort of.  When we have "winterish" weather here in Jackson County, NC it isn't unusual to get messages on my cell phone similar to "did you get snow at Balsam?".   Don't ask me why there would be a question of snow being "at" Balsam instead of "in" Balsam, you would never hear someone say "snow at Detroit" or "snow at Denver", but here things occur "at" Balsam, Caney Fork, Greens Creek or occasionally things happen "up Caney Fork" or "up Bradley Branch", etc.  The only thing I can think of is that people think in terms of roads or crossroads, such as "did you get snow "at" the point where 74 crests "at" the sign for the Balsam entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway?".  Not that it really matters, I know what they are talking abou... 10/30/2012

Last week Western North Carolina was experiencing perfect autumn weather...afternoons in the high 60s, low 70s and the evenings in the 40s.  Thanks to Sandy, that changed in a matter of hours.  There are still fall colored leaves peeking through the snow flurries which is unusual.  Normally, all of the leaves would have dropped by the time we get the first snowfall.   This photo was taken just a couple of hours ago.       Our AR friends in the states hardest hit by Sandy remain on our minds.  Knowing that many areas are without power, I wish these friends could know that we are all thinking about them and wishing them and their neighbors the very best to get through the challenge of the storm and its aftermath.   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~     10/30/2012

  It wasn't that long ago that I thought squirrels were cute. I'm hoping that I'll get over this newly developed hostility towards the little rat bast-rds and again learn to live in harmony with them.  Maybe I will, once I've recovered from this natural disaster they've wrought.   We have a little guest house that was built in the 50s.  The ceilings are sealtec tiles.  We don't love the ceilings but they are basically in good shape throughout 98% of the house...except in the second bedroom.  My mother and brother arrive tomorrow for a visit and my brother usually stays in the guest house.  A couple of weeks ago, wouldn't you know it but a few of those tiles started sagging and then four of them dropped. Bam...just like that.   We thought about drywall but the tiles that had fallen looke... 10/19/2012