Relocation  101 Congratulations! You’ve decided to move to the Western North Carolina area! Now the fun begins…   Western North Carolina Mountains Since moving is listed as one of life’s major stress factors, doing your homework and planning ahead can dramatically help take the edge off feelings of anxiety, being overwhelmed and the “deer in the headlights” paralysis that often arises. The further away on the calendar your move is, the less stress you are likely to be feeling.  This is the time to start planning your move.  Don’t be in denial about it or put things off that will cause  you unnecessary  stress.  Start with the date that you want to be in your new house and settled. First thing is if you own a home, do you want to sell it or rent it?  Start lightening the load by weeding... 12/15/2010

Ways To Be A Santa For Needy Animals In The Hendersonville NC Area:  Mr. Willie, one of my two canine good friends, would like to help some of the less fortunate dogs and cats in our area.  Sunday our local paper had this great article by Jessica Goodman on area rescue groups offering numerous ways to help pets down on their luck.  This is an extensive article on different ways we can help.  If this might be of interest to you please read it. I'm an animal lover and I really like an idea the Blue Ridge Humane Society is offering to help befriend a helpless animal waiting for a forever home when you aren't in a position to take them into your own home.  It's a program called the AARC Angel Program and with a donation of $60 you can support an animal for six months or double the amount a... 12/13/2010

Yesterdays Snow Storm in The Mountains We got our share of snow and cold weather here in the North Carolina Mountains. Although not anything like the storm in Minneapolis, we had a lot for us. Several inches, and today hard as a rock, making it hard walking. I have to say, they are very good about clearing the roads here so I will have to get out later and see how it looks around town, but it is really pretty here. Today it is only 20 degrees so far, and only expected to get up to 24. That is cold for here. Even with the sun out, I doubt that we will see any melting with that low of a temperature.  This is what my neighborhood looked like when I awoke yesterday:                         12/13/2010

Surprise in Hendersonville NC -- Some White Stuff.  When I went to bed last night the weather report said we'd be getting rain turning over into rain/possible snow showers.  Well, this is what we woke to in Hendersonville at 7 AM.  2-3 inches of the white stuff.  A little bit of winter wonderland.  According to the news Brevard had up to 5 inches.  The temperatures didn't rise a couple of degrees as expected so the rain was snow.By noon it was 35 degrees and a lot of melting had taken place.  Now at 3:30 PM temps are going back down and we're having snow showers.  Temps are predicted to continue dropping and the winds are to pick up to substantial gusts.  In the AM we'll be having to watch out and be very careful of "black ice" issues. I can't imagine what the folks in Minnesota and ar... 12/12/2010

Hendersonville and Western NC Regional MLS November Market Report These numbers are provided by the 4 County Western NC Regional MLS system and representresidential home sales in Buncombe (Asheville Area), Haywood, Henderson (Hendersonville Area) and Transylvania (Brevard Area)  counties.  Land/lots are not included in these figures.  If you would find other stats helpful, such as by these individual counties that Robin services, let us know.    2009 October ResidentialStatistics       2010 October ResidentialStatistics (Adjusted 12/10/10)                   Single-Family Homes Sold   472   Single-Family Homes Sold   358 Average Days on Market   150   Average Days on Market   181 Average Selling Price   $238,517   Average Selling Price   $229,068 Month End Inventory   9,128   Month End ... 12/10/2010

The Henderson County Arts Council has just opened a show in the newly remodeled First Citizen's Bank on Main Street. Here is an excerpt from the Council website:   Through A Lens: Carolina Images (December 3 – 24) The Arts Council of Henderson County's last exhibition of 2010, Through a Lens: Carolina Images, will be presented in the lobby gallery at First Citizens Bank, 539 North Main Street in downtown Hendersonville. The show runs December 3-24; the opening reception is Friday, December 3rd from 5:30-8:30pm. The exhibition and reception are free and open to the public. Gallery hours at the bank are Monday-Thursday, 9am-5pm, and Friday, 9am-6pm. "We are excited about partnering with First Citizens Bank in presenting Through a Lens," said Doug Jarvis, Board President of the Arts Counc... 12/10/2010

Are you looking at the Hendersonville NC area for a move? Or a vacation? If you are wanting to spend some time in the Hendersonville area and want to plan ahead, check out the Hendersonville NC Visitor’s Center Website. On this site you find a helpful calendar of events, places to stay, the best places to eat, and information about the area. Check it out and see everything our Mountain Community has to offer.   There is so much to see and do here, you may want to plan a long week to check it out! Enjoy! 12/08/2010

  The Clouds Have lifted-Finally! We have had a dark and gloomy week here in the mountains of Western North Carolina, and one with so much rain we experienced substantial flooding for a few days. This morning is sunny and bright, but I am still seeing water standing in places where water does not belong, days after the rain stopped.  When it rains in the mountains, it really rains. It comes down in torrents, it is relentless, in that it continues for 24 to 48 hours, non-stop. Sure we have the nice light rains, and the steady little rains as well, but at least a few times a year we have relentless rains that cause flooding, and always, stories about homes sliding down mountain side, or being pushed down stream from flash flooding.  This years storm was no different. We had road closings... 12/05/2010

If you love cookies, architecture and the winter holidays, you may want to take a Holiday Tour of Inns and Cookie Caper in Hendersonville on Sunday, December 12, 2010 from 1pm to 5pm.  This is a self-driving tour of seven historic inns throughout the Hendersonville community that are decked out in all their holiday glory.  The inns on the tour include: The Angelique Inn - 813 5th Avenue West Aunt Adeline's Bed & Breakfast - 1314 Hyman Avenue The Claddaugh Inn - 755 North Main Street The Elizabeth Leigh Inn - 908 Fifth Avenue West The Inn on Church - 201 Third Avenue West Melange Inn & Gardens - 1230 5th Avenue West The Waverly Inn - 783 North Main Street Sponsored by the Hendersonville Historic Preservation Commission, the Holiday Tour of Historic Hendersonville Inns is a fun way to hel... 12/02/2010

Cummings Cove, Hendersonville NC Cummings Cove is a gorgeous community of homes, located in the western portion of Henderson County. It is a securegated community, built around an award winning 18 hole golf course. Here you will find luxury homes in all sizes and styles. You can drive around the community on the Cummings Cove Parkway and see long range mountain views, meticulously landscaped yards and green spaces, streams and waterfalls, ponds and wildlife. This is mountain living at it's best.     Cummings Cove, Hendersonville NC 28739   Cummings Cove has some of the best views in the county, with gorgeous long range views. Cummings Cove Parkwayfollows a ridge around the community and shows off all of these spectacular mountain views. You will find some equallyspectacular amenities, ... 11/26/2010

Ewbank Gardens Condominiums, Hendersonville NC   Ewbank Gardens, Hendersonville NC     Ewbank Gardens, Hendersonville NC 28791     Ewbank Gardens, Hendersonville NC 28791       Ewbank Gardens, Hendersonville NC 28791   Imagine a community centered around a flower garden, gazebo and walking paths, and surrounded by lush woods. This is what you will find in the serene community of Ewbank Gardens. These homes were built in 1989, and have been very well maintained. Homes are two bedrooms and two baths, with a split bedroom floor plan. Rooms are large and the design is very open. And you can enjoy the woods and gardens from a beautiful, spacious screened porch.   Ewbank Gardens, Hendersonville NC 28791       Ewbank Gardens, Hendersonville NC 28791     Ewbank Gardens, Hendersonville NC 28791... 11/26/2010

Just want to say when you’re shopping this week to be extra patient, careful and kind to yourself and others around you.  It’s so easy to let stress rob you of your sanity and manners. I know some people take pleasure in “The thrill of the deal”, and that’s great!  What’s not is seeing a mad shopper loose their temper for a material object.  Please remember that your health and family are so much more important than that item on sale. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!   11/22/2010

Oh no -- A New Danger!  Bringing home the groceries safely is becoming a real challenge if you are to believe everything you read.  First it was get rid of the perverbial paper bag as it was decimating the forests, etc.  So, the plastic bag came along and we had our choice -- paper or plastic.  That seemed to work for years.  But than no matter how well these worked and you could reuse them for other things they were declared bad, bad, bad for landfills, etc.  Okay, next you are encouraged to purchase and use your own toting bags. Okay, now that many of us have these bags stuffed all over the place in our vehicles as we never know when we may run into the grocery or whatever store they are becoming declared "off limits" and dangerous -- there's lead in them!!  Here's an article in our ... 11/20/2010

Saturday November 20th you’ll find Bella and me building a wooden snowman at our local Lowe’s in Hendersonville NC.  It’s so much fun, it’s free and you earn a badge & certificate once you’ve completed your project.   We’ve become regulars and look forward to every new opportunity to build something new and say hi to familiar faces.  For a complete list of Build and Grow clinics in your area please click on the following: http://www.lowesbuildandgrow.com/Home.aspx     11/19/2010

I’ve got to admit that when I read the title “Thou shalt not Facebook” I thought it was a cautionary tale for people not to use Facebook as a tool to publicly offend someone’s character.  I was wrong. Pastor Cedric Miller has counseled several couples in his congregation that have apparently “hooked up” with old flames as “friends”.  What starts as an innocent conversation down memory lane has opened up old feelings and inappropriate discussions that would surely make their present partner/spouse furious.  Divorce attorneys are using Facebook and other social networking sites as evidence in courts of law. I find Facebook to be complicated.  I was excited at first to have a Facebok page as I’ve found it to be a great tool to catch up with my sis in Florida and friends that I don’t see or... 11/18/2010

It was one of those busy mornings where what I saw literally stopped me in my tracks.  All of a sudden what was important could wait so that I could snap this photo to share with you.  I stood there in wonderment of how thankful I was to stop for a moment and enjoy what nature was trying to show me. 11/14/2010

Maureen Bray, Staging that Sells Portland Homes just announced that ActiveRain is sponsoring yet another points contest.  This one is all about Giving Back to Your Community which is a great concept as it benefits everyone.  The fact that we as ActiveRain Bloggers can add 1,000 points to our tally is just icing-on-the-cake! I am so proud to be affiliated with Keller Williams Realty Mountain Partners in Hendersonville, NC.  Our office is a Huge supporter of the community and of each other.  Today, they announced that we are going to place a large barrel in the lobby to collect food and baby supplies for Hearts With Hands.  It seems we are always collecting money for either one of the agents that need our help or someone in the community. Just last week one of the local schools called an ... 11/04/2010

Hendersonville NC Events for November 2010   Last Chance!!! The Blue Ridge Roller Girls are hosting their last home game Saturday night, November 6, 2010. They will be taking on the Molly Rogers Roller Girls of Melbourne Florida. This game will be held at the Asheville Civic Center in Downtown Asheville. The doors open at 6pm, and the game will begin at 7pm. Tickets are $12 per person, and anyone 12 or under is free!              The Blue Ridge Roller Girls aren't just ANY team! They were just accepted into the WFTDA Apprenticeship League, which is a big deal. So now were are honored to have a real Big League Women's sports team. Read about that: ANNOCUNCEMENT:Blue Ridge Rollergirls Move Into the Big Leagues, Announce Selection as Apprentice WFTDA Affiliate WFTDA, the international gove... 11/04/2010

Last Hendersonville crop for this year   I cleaned out my garden last week, and not a moment too soon. We have had a few frosts and not much would have been left. I was happy to get what I did. Little button carrots and a few scallions, and a whole lot of peppers were left. I was able to make a great roast with these and later a stew from the left overs.  I have yet to get out there and clean up the last of the garden. I am so slow this year. But hopefully this weekend will be nice and I can get it all turned under and covered with mulch.  Now I will spend the winter going through the seed catalogs and planning next years big crops! My favorite winter project, fun from a comfy armchair.  11/02/2010

Local Area Farmers Grow For Henderson County Grocery Stores   I saw this sign a while back and was pleased to see that a local area chain grocery store was purchasing local produce from local farmers. Selling foods that are locally grown is good for many reasons. First and foremost it supports our local farmers and assists our community to grow and to hold onto jobs. But it also cuts down on gas and trucking expenses, and allows our foods to be delivered with less dependence on fuel.    I have seen other signs throughout the area back roads for other crops as well. I commend Mr. Ingles for using local growers and supporting our local job market.  11/02/2010