A note from Kate

“Mountain Engineering”

 It was a pretty, sunny, spring day and I drove out to a tract of vacant land in Andrews I have listed to get some updated pictures with the trees leafed out. I went up past the property to where the neighbors live at the heart of the ‘holler’. I had met them on a previous excursion when I tried to find the exact location of the property. Neighbors can generally be a great help when you are looking for a needle in a haystack. Sure enough, it being a nice day, the neighbors were outside. The ‘neighbors’ were two young men and a young girl about 5 years old and several pure bred dachshunds barking and scampering underfoot. The men were very cordial and seemed to be in quite good spirits and I took it to be on account of intoxication of the lovely weather. But, as I got closer I noticed one of the guys had a jar of olives in one hand and a pint of vodka in the other. I remarked jovially, “Well now, fellas, looks to me that you just about got yourself the fixins’ of a martini going on there”, thinking to myself that all they needed was a glass with ice and a perhaps a touch of vermouth. They both looked long at me, back to each other and then the other gentleman pointed to his friends hand held treasure and bragged “This here is a Mountain Martini!” Once again, I am amazed by ‘mountain engineering’, offering further proof that simple is best! — KATE  FIELDS, Broker/Owner Mountain Way Realty Robbinsville, NC 28771 828. 735. 2101 Fax  828. 348. 4031 www.MountainWayRealty.com

A Note from Kate…

Well, spring is officially upon us! Although, it was just a formality since we have had warm temps in the 70′s for weeks now! As I was coming back from taking new pictures of a gorgeous lot I have listed up on England Branch, I chanced upon this scene pictured above, another ritual of spring. This is only the second time I have witnessed a mature gobbler ‘struttin’ his stuff for the ladies, and natures’ show impresses me every time.
Days are getting longer, grass is getting greener, and even in our small town the traffic is increasing. License tags from New York, Virginia, South Carolina and of course Georgia and Florida are being spotted with more frequency. SUV’s with kayaks and camping gear strapped to the roof, trucks pulling fishing boats and trailers loaded with 4 wheelers or motorcycles are all signs of the impending Season of FUN!
Even without the toys there is much to do in our county. My own two feet have carried me to some of the most beautiful and serene spots that, by nature, are prohibited to machines. And, many relaxing, lazy afternoons have been spent on a porch in spring, feeling the sunshine, just watching the breeze blow.
Feel like getting out and into the wild? Well…we’ve got whatever adventure you can imagine just waiting for you to discover it. Hey, I sound like a travel commercial! But doggone it, it’s the truth! if you are seeking the great outdoors we have all you could enjoy here in Graham County. Just watch out for those pioneers!
— KATE  FIELDS, Broker/Owner

Note from Kate…

Spring is a month ahead of schedule! Grass is growing, daffodils dot the roadside, forsythia is in full bloom and fruit trees are blossoming. They are all part of the colorful palette of spring. On my way home late yesterday afternoon, with my window rolled down, enjoying the lingering warm breeze, I could hear the peepers singing their song of spring as I drove along the winding back roads that follow the creeks to my home in the ‘holler’. Spring reminds us all of rejuvenation. It seems as if the economy is undergoing a little rejuvenation, at least in my little corner of the world. I am thankful for the people that have recently found the courage to invest their savings in dreams of a second home. These dreams have a ripple effect and many people may benefit from just one dream. If you find yourself coming back to a dream, you aren’t crazy and you are certainly not alone. There are others, like you, who are daring to venture forth through all the past media negativity to chisel out another life. In the past we called them ‘pioneers’. Maybe you are a pioneer too. Here in Graham County, we are pretty partial to pioneers! *KATE  FIELDS*, Broker/Owner

A Note from Kate

Rain, Rain Go Away, Come Again Some Other Day……when we need rain. Folks – last year this time we were knee deep in the remains of two big snowfalls. (I have to admit that the first big snow on Christmas Eve was especially beautiful.) But this year, at this rate of rain we won’t need shovels but an ARK! Yeah, I know all the good things about rain, it builds the water table, and goodness knows how we take water for granted! Did you know that Graham County is in some kind of rain belt? A few years ago I talked to a soil scientist and we are in the southern part of a rain belt that covers north to the Tennessee Valley and east to Nantahala. Water is surely one of our most precious resources and buddy we got water here in Graham County! There are more creeks here than the number of people in my Atlanta high school. Creeks are everywhere and when we have a lot of rain there are waterfalls everywhere. We are surely blessed with water, I just wish I could see a little more sunshine to go with that rising water table! Strap a canoe or kayak to the top of your car and come find us in the rain belt in Graham County!

A note from Kate…

Recently, while on my afternoon hikes I have  noticed the beauty of the bare trees. Trees and their limbs have shapes that  during other seasons are not revealed. Hidden by leafed greenery most of the  year, are gnarled knots, hollow spots, vines that curl like serpents and  twisted, co-mingling branches in the trees. There are surprises in  views past the bare trees of lakes, creeks and distant mountain ranges. It  is a good time to ‘get your bearings’ since you can see from point to point. You  can see houses tucked in against the mountains that are normally hidden and, at  times, I find myself asking “How do they get up there”?

But most of all I just think about the beauty.  Soon, the trees on the mountains and in the valleys will be blanketed in snowy  white and the contrast of the trees will be even more beautiful.

Winter is an excellent time to check out our  area, especially if you are thinking about buying. Come on out before the snow  hits us and ‘get your bearings’!

Note From Kate!!

If you have visited my web site before you will notice that Mountain Way now has a new look! My web Master and close friend, Nina, has been designing this new site to have a more stream lined look and to be even more user friendly. Bear with us for the next week or so while we tweak and add features and links. In the meantime, if there is a feature you would like to see on the web site I welcome you to please email me your recommendations. Oh yeah, and since Turkey Day and Black Friday are just around the corner…here is my advice. Don’t eat too much turkey or spend too much money! Save your money for Real Estate!

A Note from Kate…,.

The Escape Artist

While home, I have been noticing the new kid on the block, the baby goat my neighbors have nicknamed “Katy”. Now four months old, she has taken the habit of escaping her fenced boundaries to enjoy the spring sprigs of honeysuckle leaves on the vines that grow along the fence. I have yet to determine how she makes her escape and my neighbors are watching out to see if they can discover how she does it. But her escapades have caused me to remember when, not that long ago, I yearned for escape. Ten years past I lived in a sizable, metropolitan city, yet, I longed to escape to the rural mountains. My weekdays were consumed with finishing business so I could get out of town before the Friday traffic rush. My weekends were devoted to making Sunday last through Monday. My weekends grew longer until I decided to make my final escape. I can think of no better place to escape to than Graham County.  I don’t care how you define god, Graham County is surely God’s’ retreat. There is much unspoiled beauty here for us to enjoy, we have only to make that escape from our usual boundaries and be open to the adventure.

I hope you will consider our area for your escape, whether it is for a week’s vacation in one of our first class vacation rental homes or if you are planning a greater venture intosecond home ownership. Paige and I would love the opportunity to share with you our affinity for all that surrounds us. Paige is a native of our county and can regale you with stories of being chased by wild boar as a precocious child. And I can bore you with further exploits of ”Katy”, the escape artist.

A note from Kate…

Well … we are still digging out from all the violent thunderstorms we had Monday night. This time of year we watch the weather carefully because we can start out with low temps in the 30′s in the mornings and warm up to 75 degrees in mid afternoon. That kind of change makes for good thunderstorm weather! I remember checking the forecast for that evening and doggone it - the forecast stated 100% chance of rain! Now is it just me, or can I ask, “when was the last time you had a 100% chance…at anything”? Is that an oxymoron? Or am I the moron for wondering about it?

Well, I’m going go out on a limb now and say that these days I can safely predict a 100% chance that you can get a real estate bargain over here in Graham County! Prices have fallen over the winter and folks are starting to realize that now is a good time to buy. Prices for lakefront property on Lake Santeetlah has not been this low for almost fifteen years! Homes that are listed for 1.5 mil., and still worth very close to that in my opinion, are appraising for half that! When it comes to appraisals, it’s a numbers game and foreclosures and hardship sales have affected our numbers. So, if you had been waiting for whatever reason to buy lakefront, or just now entering the market, be assured…you have a 100% chance to get a bargain on the Lake this summer!

So, come visit us this spring and summer in the mountains and see for yourself! I can predict up to a 100% chance that we WILL have weather and bargains waiting for you!

note from Kate!

A note from Kate -

Well today is the first day of spring! I don’t know about you but it could not have come a moment too soon for me this year. I worked outside all weekend on my little farm and enjoyed the varied color of the blooming fruit trees and the brightness of the forsythia bushes spraying their fountain of color. The purples, the pinks and showing whites and soft lavenders contrasted against the fresh kelly green grass. And if that weren’t enough I looked up from my gardening at times to see the goats frolicking in the yonder pasture. We have a baby goat, that my neighbors have nicknamed ‘Katy’, because I spoil the goats so much. ‘Katy’ is almost two months old now and nearly doubled in size from that late Sunday afternoon she was born. Birth is such a miracle and there is nothing more precious in this world than holding a newborn, even if it is a goat! I have had two Connemara foals born on the farm, along with countless baby chicks and now my namesake ‘Katy’. I believe I could witness birth every day and it would never seem less the miracle.

But then, there are miracles everywhere happening everyday. I see them in the blooming fruit tress, in the squirrels scampering recklessly on the road in front of me, in eagles flying overhead and in a friends smile. Golly gee, I think I’m drunk on spring!

a note from Kate!

Driving to work this morning I noticed a neighbor’s Dogwood tree with buds that looked ready to burst. Oh my! After the snows of this past winter and the rains of last year I have never been more ready for spring! Daylight savings time adds evening hours of light to work in our yards and gardens. It is just so good to be outside.

 

This area has so much to offer the adventurer that wants to explore and roam the ‘great outdoors’. We have more creeks than I can name, two rivers that are on peoples must do kayaking list and more hiking trails than I could walk in my lifetime. We have two of the most beautiful Lakes in the United States, that rival anything else the world can offer! And if that isn’t enough, there are scenic drives to impress any driver in any league, whether you like speed or scenic vistas, four wheeling or just like to poke around on a Sunday afternoon with your sweetheart by your side.

 

The things we don’t have here are things I don’t miss because I can drive 45 minutes and get to them and I don’t miss the congestion of traffic that they bring. I’m talking about Wal-Mart! Graham County is at the end of the road less traveled. If you venture this far, then you will find something truly special.

 

Come visit us in the mountains!