Snow and Valentines Day

Happy Snowy Valentines Day....

Mr Highlander and I although born in the south, both grew up in Chicago.  Like it or not, we grew to expect snow possibly from October through April.  The first year we owned our own home and Mr. Highlander was responsible for snow removal, it snowed 97 inches, and the first snow didn't melt.  We owned a 280Z and had a really, really long drive way.  The first snow he did the entire driveway, and the same with the next two. As time went on, the driveway got shorter and more narrow with each snow until the driveway became a snow igloo for the Z...and I didn't blame him.

We moved to the North Georgia Mountains in 1995, and the winters were wonderful, and over the past 15 years even though we moved on to far western North Carolina, the winters were still mostly mild with the occasional cold snap. I have always been able to talk to old friends in Illinois about how I don't miss any of that snow because when I want it all I have to do is go further into the mountains.  This year is another story.

This is the first year Mr. Highlander has had to do any real snow removal for over 15 years, nothing like Illinois, but no fun none the less. He has learned that there is a difference in shoveling snow on horizontal planes as opposed to a 45% angle.

Today is not only Valentines Day, it is my 35th Wedding Anniversary, the day we got married, it snowed knee deep, so with 3-4 inches on the ground, we are still not doing too bad, and our granddaughter loves to play in the snow.

Still can't wait for Spring, so I put out my sunshine in the flower barrel and focus on that....

Back to work, designing a new Highlander, plan on launching this Spring, so Spring can't come too quickly.

New Year...New Plan

I am looking forward to 2010.  This is the 13th year that the Highlander has been on-line.   I can still remember the frustration we had as we designed the first site.  The limitations drove us up the wall.  Now 13 years later, there are still limitations but we are light years away from the beginning so it is time to make changes.

We are in the process of making changes and as the year goes on one by one we will implement them.

Love to hear your input as to what you would like to find on the Highlander, feel free to email me at publishers@theblueridgehighlander.com

Christmas is in the Air in the Mountains

It is hard to believe this year is almost over. I for one would like to finish this year off with as much fun, happiness and good cheer as I can find.

Today we went to an open house at Doyle's Cedar Hill in Murphy, great food, great people, way to do it Jeremiah.

We would like to recommend three very special holiday events coming up this weekend.  All will put a smile on your face, and a glow in your heart.

Not to mention the Fireside sale can put really great presents under your Christmas tree.

Come Enjoy...Mrs. Highlander

 Santa on the Chimney  • December 5th & 12th • 11 am to 2 pm

Where does Santa go to practice for his journey on Christmas Eve...Santa practices on a 315-ft. Chimney Rock before climbing down millions of much shorter chimneys all around the world. We experienced it for ourselves, read the Highlander's take on this event, it is guaranteed to make you laugh.

Fort Loudoun 18th Century Christmas at the Fort  • December 5th 9:45 am to 6:00 pm

Travel back in time for an Authentic 18th Century Christmas. The daily schedule includes a Christmas church service, wassail tasting and a special candlelight tour of the fort. On this special occasion, the soldiers will perform a rare night time firing of the fort’s cannon. Another Highlander Tale...a must read.

John C. Campbell Folk School Fireside Sale • December 6th • 10 am - 5 pm

Enjoy the ambiance of live music and a crackling fire as you shop for artful treasures. Craftspeople will offer handmade items such as jewelry, weaving, forged iron, photography, quilts and turned wood. You're sure to find special, one-of-a-kind holiday gifts here!

We are in production of our 2009 Christmas Tale, in the meanwhile take a little time to wander through the Highlander's Collection of Christmas Tales, from A Merry...Humble Mountain Christmas to Christmas at the Biltmore, Gingerbread Houses at the Grove Park Inn and others...

Looking for other Events....Check out our Event Calendar for other Holiday Events throughout the mountains.

Spend the Holidays in the Mountains....you know you want to!

36th Annual John C. Campbell Folk School Festival

One of the largest and most popular events of its type in the region, John C. Campbell Fall Festival is a celebration of our rich Appalachian heritage.

Fine craft, craft-making demonstrations, music and dance performances, kids' activities, tasty food, and a visit to the school's Craft Shop and History Center make Fall Festival a great way to begin the autumn season. Whether you are an old time Folk School fan or or a first time visitor, this is an event worth traveling to.

If you have never taken a class at the Folk School, you should check out all they have to offer.

We are already starting to see leaves change color. With all the rain we have had, this should be a beautifully colorful fall. Plan a trip to the Mountains and lift your spirits.

The Highlander has several new stories, and county profiles in production as well as new interactive features being developed, so keep up with our newsletters for the announcements.

Wednesday, April 22...Earth Day 2009

Just think of the difference we could all make if each of us would make more "Green" choices.  Email us and let us know what you are doing to "Green" your life. We would like to publish a list of Highlander fans that choose Green Living.

Earth Day and Green/Eco Friendly Living

I remember when this nation celebrated the first Earth Day; it was back in the peace, love and hippy days of my youth. That day a great unified and organized call went out to stop polluting our environment....read more...

Earth Day is being celebrated throughout the mountains...visit your favorite and enjoy....

The Shoppes of Brasstown Village Celebrate Earth Day 

Saturday, April 25 from 10- 5.

Arts and Crafts, Music, Food, "Green" Vendors

and Organic Produce. 

Brasstown Village is located at Clay Corners by

John C. Campbell Folk School

for more info email jax1215@gmail.com

The Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains...what a great place to be....

As we all know...the catchword for 2009 is CHANGE, so as a creative and innovative site we are working on change as well.

Take a look at our opening page, we have a new slide show and will be changing it every two weeks, BlueRidgeHighlander.com bookmark and come back to see an great display and presentation of the mountains, it won't be long until you are planning your next trip.

 We also made a change on our main editorial library page, you will find our archive of the Highlander tales and road trips all on one page, take a look, I know you will find stories or road trips that are new to you, all about the mountains.  By this time, I know you will be planning a trip.

What we love so much about the Internet as a creative communication medium, is its ability to change, to grow, to evolve as the technology evolves.  There will be many new happenings at the Highlander this coming year, keep in touch and watch the Highlander evolve into the "Best of the Mountains" Internet guide.

Down the Chimney...Ho! Ho! Ho!

The Blue Ridge Highlander would like to wish everyone a very special Merry Christmas and spread the love, hope and joy that we feel.  It has been a difficult year for all of us, I don't know anyone that hasn't been effected in some way from what is happening in our country.  

This year we were inspired to write two Christmas Stories, one to touch your heart and one to tickle your funny bone. Our goal for this second feature was to introduce you to a very special event at a very special state park and give you a story to chuckle about.

From the first day we began writing our first Christmas story, Hope, Faith and the Light, we have felt inspired and been excited about the potential next year has to offer.  After launching the story we got more emails than ever before from people in all walks of life sharing their feelings about how the story made them feel, and how it gave them hope for a brighter tomorrow.  Read Hope, Faith and the Light and get inspired.

Then we were invited to Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park for their Annual Christmas Event which inspired our second Christmas story of the year.  What a great event, we had a blast.  Read our story, a link is below and it will truly make you laugh and laughter is contagious and heals what ails ya.

Where does Santa go to train for his Christmas Eve journey down chimneys all over the world?

Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park in Western North Carolina... of Course!

Mrs. Highlander and I would like to thank the staff at Chimney Rock at Chimney Rock State Park for inviting us to this special holiday event.

Its great to get to see Santa once again, we haven't seen him for many years nor have our daughter and son-in-law. Our granddaughter Maddie has been informing us that Santa's doing just fine and looks great, she says, "He thinks he's so quiet but he's really not."....for a fun story and a good hearted, jolly laugh, read on...

In our quest for this year's first Christmas Tale, we were quite perplexed because of the current times.

Mrs. Highlander recommended an abstract thought for me to ponder on..."There is light at the end of the tunnel" a cliche, but but one with meaning, and something we do believe....read on....and gain your own sense of Hope, Faith and the Light at the end of the Tunnel.

Be sure to share our stories with all those you feel could use the inspiration.  And remember, we are a resilient people, we will pull out of this towards a brighter tomorrow.  Changes happen when we think creatively and look in ourselves to the answers to the issues we are faced with.

Merry Christmas and God Bless Us All.....Mrs. Highlander

Hope, Faith and the Light

The Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains are a very special place.  A place where you can visit or live away from the hustle, bustle and stresses of today's confused world.  I am not saying that the mountains aren't feeling some of the same issues as the rest of the world.  But I don't think we are feeling the issues as severely as the rest of the world.

We feel truly Blessed to have the privilege to publish the Blue Ridge Highlander.  It has always been our goal to inform, entertain and inspire our readers and hope you take the time to explore the Blue Ridge Highlander and find the peace the mountains have to offer.

In our quest for this year's Christmas Tale, we were quite perplexed because of the current times. 

Mrs. Highlander recommended an abstract thought for me to ponder on..."There is light at the end of the tunnel" a cliche, but one with meaning, and something we do believe....please read on....and gain your own sense of Hope, Faith and the Light at the end of the Tunnel.

For those of you that haven't read last years Christmas Tale, I know that you will enjoy it after reading this year's tale. This Christmas tale is several stories in one, our purpose is to take you back to the true essence of Christmas.

Please take the time to forward links to our story to all those you know that would benefit from the inspiration of the writings.  I also invite you to post comments about the story.  We have gotten a lot of great emails regarding the story and love to hear from all of you about how the stories made you feel.

Checks out our list of Christmas Events in the Mountains.

Below are a couple of our featured events, the first one coming up Saturday, December 13th.

December 13th, 2008
Santa is rappelling down Chimney Rock to get ready for his Christmas Eve trip.

December 20th, 2008
Christmas for the Kids at John C. Campbell Folks School

We will be reporting on this event in our next newsletter, coming out next week.

Enjoy the Holidays and Count your Many Blessings

God Bless Us All....Mr. & Mrs. Highlander