Appalachian Country Living Magazine Oct/Nov 2014

CREATING fAmIly TRAdITIoNs wITh sATTERwhITE loG homEs

ThE GEoRGIA ApplE fEsTIvAl CElEbRATEs 43 GloRIous yEARs IN EllIJAy

bluE RIdGE, GA– ThE lATEsT CRAfT bEER dEsTINATIoN vACATIoN

Apple Time NANA’s CAbiN

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agazine.com | ocToBeR/novem

BeR 2014

Choose your own LANDSCAPINGif purchased by October 1st

Come explore Ellijay’s premiere gated community and get an exclusive first look at Covered Bridge Estate’s new model home, The Carrollton.

EXCLUSIVE SNEAK PEAK FORGEORGIA APPLE FESTIVAL

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HOMES STARTING AT 200’s, LOTS STARTING AT 30’s

Or, Pick a Lot and Build Your Dream HouseAlready Have a Contractor? Great, bring your plans and we will assist in your homesite selection, or our team can build your mountain getaway.

Need a Architect? Georgia locals, Sydney D. Haynes of SDH Design Solutions and David Goodspeed of Goodspeed Architects, Inc. can help you bring your home to life. Call Today for a FREE Consultation.

Call Today to See The Carrollton Or Schedule a FREE Consultation706-669-4177 Or Visit www.estatesatcoveredbridge.com

Located on GA Hwy 382, 3.7 Miles West of Old Hwy 5. • 481 Bridge Road, Ellijay, GA 30540

COMMUNITY FEATURES:· Gated community· Minutes away from Carters Lake· Located near North Georgia’s best trails, golf, vineyards and orchards· Just 1 hour North of Downtown Atlanta

THE CARROLLTON FEATURES:· 2,020 square feet, one-story· Split 3-bedroom design· Cathedral ceiling· Open kitchen· Wood cabinets and flooring· 2.5 acre homesite

HOMES STARTING AT 200’s, LOTS STARTING AT 30’s

Or, Pick a Lot and Build Your Dream HouseGreat, bring your plans and we will assist in your homesite selection, or our

Georgia locals, Sydney D. Haynes of SDH Design Solutions and David Goodspeed of Goodspeed Architects, Inc. can help you bring your home to life. Call Today for a

Call Today to See The Carrollton Or Schedule a FREE Consultation706-669-4177 Or Visit www.estatesatcoveredbridge.com

Located on GA Hwy 382, 3.7 Miles West of Old Hwy 5. • 481 Bridge Road, Ellijay, GA 30540

· Just 1 hour North of Downtown Atlanta

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Organizing homes. Improving life.The Outdoor Living Porch & Patio adds closet and garage organization systems

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october/november 2014 AppAlAchiAn country living www.AclivingmAgAzine.com 3

It all starts at the historic depot in downtown Blue Ridge, Georgia. The train winds along side the beautiful Toccoa River on a four hour round trip with a stop in the twin border towns of McCaysville, GA and Copperhill, TN. Come visit us at 241 Depot Street, Blue Ridge, GA 30513.

AN AMAZING FAMILY ADVENTURE ON THE BLUE RIDGE SCENIC RAILWAY

IS ONLY A SHORT DRIVE AWAY.

Arrange a trip at brscenic.comor 1-877-413-TRAIN

APP_MAG_7_375x4_875.indd 1 7/1/14 2:02 PM

MAKE ACE IN ELLIJAY THE PLACE FOR YOUR HOME SHOPPING!

305 SOUTH MAIN STREET • ELLIJAY GA 30540 706. 635. 2236

• Building Supplies• Hardware• Garden Center• Lumber• Furniture & Appliances• Outdoor/Hunting Clothing• Carhartt Clothing• Women’s & Children’s Clothing• Men’s & Women’s Boots


AppAlAchiAn country liVinGMAGAzinePO Box 1250

Blue Ridge, GA 30513706. 492. 5070

[email protected]

PLEASERECYCLE

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Appalachian Country Magazine is published six times a year. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American copyright conventions. Reproduction of this work in whole or in part without the written consent of the publisher is strictly prohibited. Appalachian Country is printed in the United States of America. The articles contained in this magazine are works of journalism and do not represent the opinions or ideas of Appalachian County Magazine and the publisher assume no responsibility for the content of advertisements. While we welcome submissions, the magazine is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. Please do not send originals. The magazine is given away free by advertisers and at selected businesses in the region. A one year subscription is $18 per year for six issues. For renewals, new subscriptions, or any other correspondence, write to PO Box 1250 Blue Ridge, GA 30513.

puBliSher eDitor in chieF

Alice Sexton

outDoor ADVenture eDitor Greg Dunn

[email protected]

eVentS eDitor ADVertiSinG SAleS

Ann Merry 770. 324. 2384 | [email protected]

ADVertiSinG SAleS Diana Garber

770. 401. 9898 | [email protected]

ADVertiSinG inQuirieS Appalachian Country Living

706. 492. 5070

lAyout/DeSiGn Blue Ridge Media Group

contriButorS The Combs Family, Danny Grizzle, Greg Dunn, Tom & Jody Fennell, Kim Foster, Diana Garber,

Janice Hale, E Jane Hayden, Scott Hirons, Peter McIntosh, Jim McKnight, Bill, Mercier, Ann Merry, Barry & Marvin

Pritchett, Seth Shelton, Laura Stachler, Micah Stuart, Kathy Thompson, Pat & PolinaWalker, Lisa Ware,

Steve Weber, Jodi Williams, Jessie Young

Wow– what a summer– sure hope you all had as much fun as Maxine and I did! Having a way-cool office downtown and the little rustic cabin in the woods makes the perfect combination. Plenty of socializing with our downtown human buds– where of course Maxine prances around like the four-legged Mayor of Blue Ridge getting more treats than she should. We did lots of hiking with our friend Morgan Baumgartner and her doggie pals on the beautiful mountain trails that surround the area.

Also spent a day at Blue Ridge Mountain Trail Rides at Hells Hollow where Maxine made friends with Daisy the Blood Hound, we visited our friend Jim in Atlanta and his recuse dog, Dion, and also had a great visit from my Mom and her Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Natalie.

With three craft breweries now operating in Blue Ridge, the town is quickly becoming a Beer Vacation Destination, and we studied hard to bring you the down-low in this issue. Maxine, being the investigative reporter that she is, enjoys hanging outside and making friends with everyone at the Blue Ridge Brewery. She likes to compare notes with Brindle at the Grumpy Old Men Brewery when they are open for tastings and she can often be found at the Fannin Brewing Company schmoozing with the crowd.

Satterwhite Log Homes, on the cover this issue, reminds us of the importance of family– the traditions we savor during the holiday season and the signifi-cance of the spaces we share– physically and heartfelt.

Apple season is in full swing, so we bring you Chef Janie’s awesome apple recipes, a short history of the world famous Georgia

Apple Festival, now in it’s 43rd year, and a small behind-the-scenes peek into three of our favorite Apple Houses & Orchards.

October is also when the haints come out to haunt us. Local historian Kathy Thompson takes us on a tour to meet our infamous ghosts, BOO!

Right after fall comes winter and two of our most cherished holidays. We’ll give you tips on setting the perfect holiday table, fabulous festive recipes and where to find original handmade unique gifts from our local artists and shops. Shop local to sustain our commu-nities is our motto this year, well yeah, every year. Also we’ll be doing a feature on the history of the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway.

While fall is upon us, it’s time to pick some apples, make a scarecrow, go to Paws in the Park, enjoy the many festivals and then hit the pumpkin patch.

So- Maxine and I will see all y’all out and about!

WelcoMe to Ac MAGAzine

The three amigos at Benton Falls. Left to right: Rosie & Cricket Baumgartner– and you know the one with the big goofy smile– Maxine!!

Photo by Alair Photography specializing in natural light, on location pet photogrpahy. Email: [email protected] or phone 706-340-9872. Photographing in the Blue Ridge/ Blairsville, Georgia area, but travel to Atlanta and Tampa frequently. Check out my portfolio at AlairPhotography.com or stop by and visit me on Facebook

6 www.AclivingmAgAzine.com AppAlAchiAn country living october/november 2014


and a sparklcontentSRestaurant Spotlight, Poole’s Barbeque Famous for its great food, friendly service, and the pig hill of Fame.

True Brew With 3 craft breweries in town, Blue ridge is Becoming a Beer Vacation Destination

Apple Pickin’ Time A Behind the Scenes Q&A with a Few of our Favorite Apple orchards

Over the River and Through the Woods Satterwhite log homes provide the perfect Setting for the holidays

Ode to the Apple chef Janie hayden reopens the Farm table restaurant and Shares 3 yummy Apple recipes

Craftsman Style Luxury Build your Mountain Dream home at covered Bridge estates in ellijay

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At the southern end of the Appalachian Mountain Range– and the Beginning of the

Appalachian Trail– Blue Ridge, GA is perfectly situated to become the next

craft brew vacation destination.

Clay tablets found dating back to the 5th millennium BC in Mesopotamia indicate that brewing beer was a respected craft/job and that most of the brewers were women. In fact, the brewer’s craft was the only profession in Mesopotamia which de-rived social sanction and divine protection from female deities/goddesses, specifically: Ninkasi, who covered the production of beer, Siris, who was used in a metonymic way to refer to beer, and Siduri, who cov-ered the enjoyment of beer.1

Fast-forward to the 19th century and you’ll find that Fannin County, GA already had a long history of secretive mountain moon shining and home brewed beer.

The 20th century and Prohibition forced even more home brewers and distillers fur-ther underground, thus fostering fast cars, rum runners and the birth of NASCAR. In the meantime, copper mining and the production of sulfuric acid in Copperhill, TN chugged on employing many residents, but totally stripping the area of its lush veg-etation and abundant wildlife. The copper mine closed in 1987, although sulfuric acid production continued well into the 1990s.

Levi’s, the one of largest employers in the region, opened its Blue Ridge doors in 1959. While a boon to the local economy, the factory was also another source of ex-treme pollution and ecological devastation. When Levi’s closed its doors in 2002 the local economy went bust.

Reforestation, ecological cleanup and diligent management of the Toccoa/Occoee River has brought back much of the origi-nal beauty that you see today.

With this eco-revitalization came week-end cabin owners/renters from Atlanta, re-tirees from Florida and the growth of tour-ism. As the out-of-town populations grew so did the demand for more restaurants and shops. Beer was available, but a drive to Ellijay, GA or Murphy, NC was necessary to purchase wine or liquor.

In 20XX the XXX law passed in Blue Ridge allowing sales of wine, followed by liquor in 2014. Sunday sales of beer, wine and liquor passed into law just this spring. While the distribution laws still on the books are somewhat archaic and not ame-nable to the small breweries and wineries, much has changed for the better. Currently the Craft Brewers Guild and the Georgia Restaurant Association are working to push through a bill allowing “to go” sales on premises and eliminating the need for a distributor.

Call it what you will– Agrotourism, Alcohol Tourism or whatever– our local wineries and now craft breweries are bring-ing much needed revenue to Blue Ridge and surrounding areas. They are providing jobs, creating sustainable products, and building our community. The most awe-some thing about this? There are no harm-ful by-products to ruin the majestic beauty of our Appalachian Countryside.

Here are three breweries– a good start to making Blue Ridge a True Brew Craft Brewery Destination. >>

1Hartman, L. F. and Oppenheim, A. L., (1950) On Beer and Brewing Techniques in Ancient Mesopotamia. Supplement to the Journal of the American Oriental Society, 10. Retrieved 2013-09-20.

TRUE BREW

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CREATING FAMILY

TRADITIONS WITH

SATTERWHITE

LOG HOMES

THE GEORGIA APPLE

FESTIVAL CELEBRATES

43 GLORIOUS YEARS

IN ELLIJAY

BLUE RIDGE, GA–

THE LATEST CRAFT

BEER DESTINATION

VACATION

APPLE TIME NANA’S CABIN

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| OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2014

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2014

APPALACHIAN COUNTRY LIVING

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on the coVerAll across north Georgia’s Appalachian region, households are being prepared for the glorious days of autumn and the coming holiday season. Dan and Donna Combs are looking forward to spending quality time with family, friends– and of course the grandkids. They built this beautuful Satterwhite Log Home on the Toccoa River exactly for that reason– family. Photo by Danny Grizzle.


M o n -Thur s 11am -9p mF r i 1 1 a m - 1 0 p m

S a t 1 1 : 3 0 - 1 0 p mS u n C l o s e d

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Colonel Poole knows about barbeque. What started as an eight by twelve shack in 1989, Poole’s Bar-B-Q is now world –famous for its great food, friendly service, and the Pig Hill of Fame.

Poole’s Bar-B-Q is an All-American establishment with delicious options for any diner. They offer beef, pork and chicken barbeque plates with Colonel Poole’s in-house barbeque sauce. There are a plethora of side dishes to choose from: barbeque beans, creamy mac-n-cheese, crisp coleslaw, potato salad, Brunswick stew, freedom fries, and onion rings. For the younger (or maybe just less hungry) crowd, Poole’s offers Junior plates. If you’re not in the mood for barbeque, Poole’s offers pork ribs, chicken strips, corn dogs and hot dogs.

Call 706. 635. 4100 for more information or check out www.poolesbarbq.com. Best yet, come visit them! Their hours of operation are Thursdays from 11 am to 7pm, Fridays and Saturdays from 11 am to 8 pm and Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm. Look for the Pig Hill of Fame right off Highway 515 at 164 Craig Street East Ellijay, GA 30540. AC

Poole's Bar-B-Q


BLUE RIDGE COMMUNITY THEATER PRESENTS

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Thursday thru Sunday October 2nd thru the 19th, 2014 Thursday – Saturday at 7:30 PM Sundays at 2 PM Rated PG13

MirAcle on 34Th sTreeTAdapted by Mtn. Community Theater

from the novel by Valentine Davies Thursday thru Sunday

November 28th thu December 14th, 2014

Thursday – Saturday at 7:30 PM Sundays at 2 PM Rated PG13

a bluesy voice, master-ful finger picking guitar style and hypnotic stage presence! CAROLINE AIKEN Saturday, Oct 25th

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II’ll admit that I’m a bit of a tree hugger. I can’t think of a better way to spend a day than in the woods. If you live in north Georgia, or just like to come here to visit, you probably have a similar ap-preciation for this region.

Georgia’s national forests are abun-dantly rich with diverse plant and animal life. This may not be the case however, if it weren’t for the Weeks Act of 1911. The Weeks Act basically allowed the government to purchase private land that had been clear cut (which causes major flooding, erosion, and the destruction of habitat), even-tually restoring these ravaged lands to what we see today. If not for forward thinking, conservation minded folks like Massachusetts Congressman John Weeks, we wouldn’t have this vast natural playground. Luckily these eco-friendly people still exist and are help-ing tremendously with the conservation of our forests.

Meet Georgia ForestWatch For almost 30 years, Georgia ForestWatch has been protect-ing, preserving, and restoring the Chattahoochee and Oconee National Forests. In essence, ForestWatch was formed as part of a legal settlement between the U.S. Forest Service and seven conservation organizations that challenged the agency’s first-ever comprehensive management plan for the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests.

The conservation organizations included the Georgia Conservancy, Wilderness Society, Sierra Club, Friends of the Mountains, Georgia Botanical

Society, Atlanta Audubon Society and the Georgia Council of Trout Unlimited. The acknowledged leader was Chuck McGrady, an Atlanta-based lawyer and conservation chair for the Sierra Club’s Georgia Chapter.

The mission of Georgia ForestWatch is to “promote sustainable manage-ment that leads to naturally diverse and healthy forests and watersheds within the more than 867,000 acres of national forest lands in Georgia; to engage and educate the public to join in this effort; and to promote preservation of this legacy for future generations.”

I asked Laura Stachler, Outreach Coordinator for Georgia ForestWatch, what they have been up to lately regard-ing our trail systems. One of their re-cent successes took place at the Whitley Gap Shelter Trail.

“On June 28, 2014, representa-tives from the Southern Appalachian Wilderness Society (SAWS) and Georgia Appalachian Trail Club (GATC) undertook an unusual col-laborative project on the Whitley Gap Shelter Trail. SAWS Rangers Charlie

Smillie and Nathan Mynatt had dis-covered a large quantity of rusty nails in a fire ring where the trail crosses the bald on Wildcat Mountain. When they reported the issue to Georgia ForestWatch, we reached out to Dayton Miller, GATC section maintainer for the Whitley Gap Shelter Trail. He had also begun organizing a trail cleanup to address the issue. Fortunately, GFW, SAWS, and the GATC were able to coordinate their efforts. Approximately 14 gallons of nails weighing close to 180 lbs. were collected and packed back nearly a mile to Hog Pen Gap. A suc-cessful cleanup to say the least!”

Georgia ForestWatch Fall Retreat at Vogel State ParkOctober 4th, 2014Join us for Georgia ForestWatch’s Annual Fall Retreat and membership meeting at Vogel State Park, one of Georgia’s oldest parks with stunning mountain views of Blood and Slaughter Mountain. It will be a wonderful week-end of hikes, community building, informative presentations and discus-

Georgia ForestWatchCommitted to Protecting Our National Forests

OutdOOr Adventure editOr And PrOfessed tree Hugger greg dunn turns us On tO geOrgiA fOrestWAtcH

foR GuIdEd mouNTAIN bIKE TouRs & TAKING youR TRAINING To ThE NEXT lEvEl

CoNTACT GREG vIA EmAIl [email protected]

Ac liVinG ADVenture

Photo: Peter McIntosh


North Georgia Furniture & Home Decor

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2142 Tails Creek Road, Ellijay GA 30540Located 2 miles from Dairy Queen on Highway 282 in west Ellijay706. 635. 4202Visit us on the web at: http://ngfh.net

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BRENDA HARRIS TUSTIANFinal Christmas Open House at Star Pointe Gallery

Two Weekends Only December 12-14, 2014 and December 19-21Fri/Sat: 10am - 5pm Sunday: Noon - 5pm

STAR POINTE GALLERY 1579 Julius Bridge Rd, Ball Ground, GA 30107 Gallery: 770-735-3555 Cell: 770-843-6981

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Christmas! Make it Magical, Make it Memorable!


sions, and socializing with old friends and new.

Saturday activities start at 10:00AM. We will celebrate Wilderness with a panel of Wilderness experts and discuss the current-day challenges in getting Wilderness designated. Photographer Peter McIntosh will talk about the important role nature photography has played in wilderness designation. Saturday afternoon you can relax on the banks of Vogel’s Lake Trahlyta or partic-ipate in some of our activities including hikes and a screening of the documen-tary Forever Wild.

Come just for the day, or stay over Friday and/or Saturday night. We have a great collection of raffle items includ-ing a biplane ride, a stay at the Len Foote Hike Inn, Patagonia clothing, a hanging quilt and much more. Thank you to all of our wonderful donors!

Cost: $25/person, $40/couple, $15/students. Kids 12 and under are FREE. Includes all programming, light break-fasts, drinks, chili lunch, BBQ dinner and vegetarian entrees. Space is limited so be sure to call our office at 706-867-0051 and register for this wonderful event, or email us at [email protected].

Limited cabins and campsites are available through Georgia ForestWatch.

For more information, become a member or volunteer, or to make a donation please contact: Georgia ForestWatch81 Crown Mountain PlaceBuilding C, Suite 200Dahlonega, GA [email protected]

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FFor many visitors to Gilmer County, fall is the perfect time to visit. There are crisp apples, colorful rustling leaves and cool mountain breezes to enjoy. AND the best time to come is October for the annual Apple Festival held the second and third weekends.

In 1934 the Ellijay Lions Club was chartered and Lion L.L. Daughtery served as President. This year the Ellijay Lions Club will celebrate their 80th year with Lion W. Scott Griffith as President.

In 1972, Ellijay Lion President William ‘Bill’ Miller wanted to bring recognition to the Apple Growers in Gilmer County and the first Apple Festival born. Held on the square in downtown Ellijay, a banquet to honor the apple growers was provided and the first Apple Queen was crowned. It was slow going at first, but when everyone realized this was a chance to show off their handmade crafts and goods, more vendors wanted to participate.

As the Festival grew, it moved to the River Park Pavilion and Harold Hefner Park, also in downtown Ellijay. By 1979 the festival had expanded largely and the Ellijay Lions Club invited the Gilmer Chamber of Commerce to lend a hand and eventually the two became co-sponsors. Lions Club and Chamber Member Scott Sharp took over the reigns and became manager of the Apple Festival in the 1990’s. After 18 years as manager, Sharp retired from managing the Festival in 2012. Today an equal number of officers from the Lions Club and Chamber of Commerce serve on the Apple Festival Committee.

The Apple Festival is held the 2nd and 3rd weekends in October (after the apple harvest is in) on the Lion’s Club grounds at 1729 South Main Street, Ellijay, GA.

If you are browsing the antique shops in Ellijay, you can take a shuttle-bus ‘to and from’ the GA Apple Festival,

about two miles south of the City of Ellijay. The Festival opens at 9am with the posting of the American Flag. The Lions host a ‘COUNTRY COOKIN’ with fried chicken or b-b-q with greens, pinto beans, stewed apples, corn bread and tea and breakfast is served from their snack bar. Entertainment is enjoyed at the Lions Pavilion all day, beginning with a cake walk to benefit kennels and pet rescue. As usual, the long-standing policy that pets - except for service animals - are NOT allowed onto the Ellijay Lions Club grounds. There is a volunteer kennel available at the main facility for your pet while you enjoy the festival.

Anywhere for 40,000 to 50,000 will visit the Festival, walking the aisles of handmade crafts, unique gifts and deli-cious foods offered next to the river at the Lions facility. Fresh fried pies, cold apple cider and buttery apple dump-lings and funnel cakes can be found tempting, but so can the Greek gyro,

Georgia Apple Festival Celebrates 43 Years


Ac liVinG coMMunityCajun cooking, blooming onion or the bratwurst and let’s don’t forget the boiled peanuts! Children can ride on a train at the children’s center that has been expanded. Ever seen a blacksmith at work? Take the time to watch.

The proceeds from the Apple Festival are split between the Ellijay Lions and the Gilmer Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber uses their part of the profit to fund their office to promote the county businesses through its programs and member services. It provides an integral con-nection that keeps Gilmer County a productive environment for local busi-ness. Residents and visitors frequently use the chamber for recommendations, directions and general information about the area. The work the Chamber does is very important to the contin-ued growth of the county.

The Ellijay Lions Club facility and grounds are maintained through mem-ber dues freeing up the profit from their hard work at the Apple Festival

to charity. The Ellijay Lions uses one hundred percent of its portion to fund various charities; local, State and International, such as educational programs, Star Student, scholarships, food pantry, ‘Special Friends’ pro-gram, cadets for the Civil Air Patrol, American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, GA Lions Camp for the Blind, GA Lions Lighthouse Foundation, totaling about 34 differ-ent charities plus some one-time dona-tions.

The Gilmer Lions Club works hard to make a difference. They are the proud sponsors of the Ellijay LEO Club made up of students from Gilmer High School. Ellijay Lions sponsored the first Boy Scout Troop formed in Ellijay, January 1935 and continue to sponsor both the Boy & Girl Scouts.

How can you help? Visitors to the Apple Festival can always help the community by donating a pair of old eyeglasses, loose lenses, hearing aids or cell phones at the Apple Festival

entrance. The Lions Club recycles these items or sells them to buy new vision and hearing devices for people in need. AC

For more information about the Apple Festival contact:706. 636. 4500www.georgiaapplefestival.org

For more info about the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce:696 1st Ave, East Ellijay, GA 30540(Cross Streets: Between Maddox Dr/Old Orchard Sq/Yukon Rd and Martin St.)706. 635. 7400 www.gilmerchamber.com

For more information about The Lions Club contact: P. O. Box 746, Ellijay, GA 30540. www.ellijaylions.com

October 04 Scott James StambourghOctober 10 Daisy ChainOctober 11 Danny RheaOctober 17 Greg ErwinOctober 18 Matthew CroxtonOctober 25 Barefoot BooneOctober 31 Danny Rhea

November 01 Greg ErwinNovember 08 Hear NowNovember 15 TBDNovember 22 Barefoot BooneNovember 29 TBD

706. 698. 9463 (WINE) CartecayVineyards.com5704 Clear Creek Road Ellijay, GA 30536

DIRECTIONSDIRECTIONS

Monday through Saturday 11am – 6pmSunday 12:30pm – 5:30pm

From 515, Exit onto hwy 52 East. Travel approximately 8 miles to Clear Creek Road on

right, Go 1.0 miles to Tasting Barn on left.

Cartecay Vineyards

ENJOY GREAT LOCAL LIVE MUSIC ON THE PATIO!



C

At the southern end of the Appalachian Mountain Range– and the Beginning of the

Appalachian Trail– Blue Ridge, GA is perfectly situated to become the next

craft brew vacation destination.

Clay tablets found dating back to the 5th millennium BC in Mesopotamia indicate that brewing beer was a respected craft/job and that most of the brewers were women. In fact, the brewer’s craft was the only profession in Mesopotamia which de-rived social sanction and divine protection from female deities/goddesses, specifically: Ninkasi, who covered the production of beer, Siris, who was used in a metonymic way to refer to beer, and Siduri, who cov-ered the enjoyment of beer.1

Fast-forward to the 19th century and you’ll find that Fannin County, GA already had a long history of secretive mountain moon shining and home brewed beer.

The 20th century and Prohibition forced even more home brewers and distillers fur-ther underground, thus fostering fast cars, rum runners and the birth of NASCAR. In the meantime, copper mining and the production of sulfuric acid in Copperhill, TN chugged on employing many residents, but totally stripping the area of its lush veg-etation and abundant wildlife. The copper mine closed in 1987, although sulfuric acid production continued well into the 1990s.

Levi’s, one of largest employers in the re-gion, opened its Blue Ridge doors in 1959. While a boon to the local economy, the factory was also another source of extreme pollution and ecological devastation. When Levi’s closed its doors in 2002 the local economy went bust.

Reforestation, ecological cleanup and diligent management of the Toccoa/Occoee River has brought back much of the origi-nal beauty and clean mountian waters that you see today.

With this eco-revitalization came week-end cabin owners/renters from Atlanta, re-tirees from Florida and the growth of tour-ism. As the out-of-town populations grew so did the demand for more restaurants and shops. Beer and wine were available in some stores, but a drive to Ellijay, GA or Murphy, NC was necessary to purchase liquor.

In 20009 the Blue Ridge passed laws allowing sales of bear and wine in restuar-ants, followed by liquor in 2012. Sunday sales of beer, wine and liquor passed into law just this spring. While the GA State distribution laws still on the books are somewhat archaic and not amenable to the small breweries and wineries, much has changed for the better. Currently the Craft Brewers Guild and the Georgia Restaurant Association are working to push through a bill allowing “to go” sales on premises and eliminating the need for a distributor.

Call it what you will– Agrotourism, Alcohol Tourism or whatever– our local wineries, and now craft breweries are bring-ing much needed revenue to Blue Ridge and surrounding areas. They are providing jobs, creating sustainable products, and building our community. The most awe-some thing about this? There are no harm-ful by-products to ruin the majestic beauty of our Appalachian Countryside.

Here are three breweries– a good start to making Blue Ridge a True Brew Craft Brewery Destination. >>

1Hartman, L. F. and Oppenheim, A. L., (1950) On Beer and Brewing Techniques in Ancient Mesopotamia. Supplement to the Journal of the American Oriental Society, 10. Retrieved 2013-09-20.

TRUE BREW


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PPat Walker wanted to open a simple microbrewery and his wife Polina– an accomplished cook– wanted a restaurant. With the marriage of the two ideas, they opened the Blue Ridge Brewery (BRB) in 2009. At the time, they were one of only a few restaurants operating in Blue Ridge. There was one drive-through beer barn in town and if you wanted liquor– a drive to Ellijay, GA or Murphy, NC was necessary. The passage of the beer and wine law in 2009- allowing restuarants to serve changed everything. In the past five years, BRB has grown 3-fold in size, they’ve added a complete bar, a full house menu, an in-house live music venue and a craft beer brewing room.

Walker began home brewing in grad school and has home brewed off and on for 20 years. Upon opening BRB he was brewing about 15 gallons per batch, not nearly enough to keep up with demand. With the addition of the brewing room in 2013, he was able to bring that volume up to 100 gallons per batch to date.

At any given time BRB has up to six of their own brews on tap. First-time visitors are likely to order a tasting flight consisting of four brews, while seasoned regulars and locals know their favorites. Many regulars even have their own hand-made signature mugs kept on shelves around the bar.

How do they decide what to brew? With Pat at the helm, he and his brew-man, Seth Shelton, kick around ideas. Often starting with a certain style in mind or a seasonal theme– and here the entire staff might have input- they build from there. Obviously the kind of yeast

and hops used makes a big difference. When asked about local sourcing of hops, only dry hops used for aroma is

available in this area and they hope to start experimenting with that soon.

While the other two production brewers have distributors (required by law for off-premises sales), Blue Ridge Brewery keeps their brews in-house. Although Walker is considering dis-tribution in the future, for now you’ll have to visit BRB to sample some of the best craft brews in north Georgia.

Blue Ridge Brewery187 Depot StreetBlue Ridge, GA 30513706. 632. 6611www.blueridgebrewery.com

Wednesday- Saturday: 11am – 9pmSundays: Noon – 4:30pm

Above: Seth Shelton, left and Pat Walker right sweat it out in the BRB Brew Room, pictured here.

Manager Lisa Ware, left and Assistant Manager Jessie Young (Ed. two of my favorite servers!) are always ready to serve you a BRB craft brew promptly and with a smile.


DDuring program-buying trips for German Kino Plus, the TV network he founded in 2007, Tom Fennell spent his free time in the bier gartens of Munich. Over a mug of Augustiner, Tom thought about what else he could sell to German expats – bread? pick-les? BEER! Hey, wait a minute, he thought, everyone loves beer! A busi-ness was born.

Stateside, Tom leveraged his experi-ence making wine (he’s owned both a home and vineyard in Blue Ridge since 2002), and began home brewing beer. He connected with Pat Walker of the Blue Ridge Brewery, and in the sum-mer of 2012 the two formed a unique partnership.

By October of that year, Fannin Brews were on tap, and Tom got invalu-able feedback from BRB customers. He tested many styles of beer, and tweaked

and refined 19 different recipes.By June 2013, thanks to a deal

with Eagle Rock Distributing, Fannin Brewing’s flagship brands – Hiawasee Golden Ale and Toccoa Brown – began to show up on taps all around Blue Ridge, and as far away as Cartersville. And in just a few short months, FBC hit capacity – it was time to jump the Blue Ridge Brewery nest and find a home of its own.

In November, Tom signed a lease for a new space on East First Street, and began the long licensing process. A small, successful Kickstarter campaign helped the company cover the costs of setting up the space, while a more substantial fund raising effort, currently underway, will subsidize an even larger brew system.

A calendar of beer offerings is now available, with at least 4 beers avail-

able to retailers at any given time. “Distribution has exploded this sum-mer,” says Tom’s wife Jody, who oversees sales and marketing. “You’ll find our beers all over the mountains, from Blue Ridge to Ellijay, from Dahlonega to Clayton, from Helen to Hiawassee – our retail sales have grown more than 600% this summer.”

But the real fun, Tom confides, hap-pens in the tasting room. That’s where Tom and fellow brewer Micah Stuart get to test new recipes. Each Friday from 5:30 to 7:30 and Saturday from 1:00 to 5:00, the team throws open the doors and invites the public in to try new brews. For just $10, visitors can purchase a souvenir glass and sample up to 6 beers. Visitors might find brews like Red Headed Woman, a blond ale made with Mercier’s strawberries, or Chief Whitepath White IPA, made with lemongrass and lime-leaf tea. There’s always something fun going on, too – including live music, special pro-motions, and SEC football.

“We’re proud to be part of an adult-beverage renaissance in Blue Ridge,” says Tom. “If this is what has happened in just 4 years, imagine what fun we’ll be having in 2018!” Fannin Brewing Company3758 East First StreetBlue Ridge, GA [email protected]. 258. 2762www.fannincountybrewingcompany.com

Tasting/Tour Hours:Fridays: 5:30 - 7:30 pmSaturdays: 1:00 - 5:00pm

Tom Fennell, left and Micha Stuart, right, brew the largest batches of craft beer in Blue Ridge.

Jody Fennell not only heads up sales & marketing, she also pours a mean brew.


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Come Experience a Taste of Heaven Tasting Room Hours Thursday & Friday: Noon – 6pm

Saturday: 11am – 6pm Sunday: 1pm – 5pm 706. 635. WINE [9463]

127 Lakeview Road Ellijay, GA 30540 770. 714. 5277www.engelheim.com

Prepare to be Amazed!VISIT THE PERUVIAN SHOP

the peruvian shop

Artisan Silver & Gifts96 North Main StreetHistoric Downtown EllijayTel. 706.636.8880www.ArtisanSilverGifts.com

•Luxurious Baby Alpaca for Men and Women: Sweaters, Scarves, Shawls & Throws.•Fine Sterling Silver: Earrings, Bracelets, Necklaces, Picture Frames.•Exotic Mahogany Woods: Hand-crafted Trays, Bowls, Keepsake Boxes.

RESERVE YOUR NEXT SPECIAL EVENT AT THE BLUFFS

Just north of Atlanta, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge, is a timeless venue of stone, glass and grand space off ering gracious southern hospitality at surprisingly aff ordable prices!

NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL-CHEROKEE CONFERENCE CENTERCANTON, GA 770. 721. 7800 [email protected]

NCCC.CHEROKEEGA.COM

WWW.WEDDINGSATTHEBLUFFS.COM

• Elegant Grand Ballroom

• Four Large Conference

Rooms

• Dance Floor & Ceiling

Drapery

• Dining from 50 to 500

• Inviting Outdoor Patio

with Fire Pit

• Spacious Pre-function

Lobby

• Cherokee Hall – 160 seat

Auditorium

• Six Award -Winning

Caterers

• State of the Art Audio-

Visual

Save The Date!


WWhen backyard brewers Jim McKnight and Steve Weber realized they were working hard and creating more craft beer than they could drink- they figured what the heck- why not generate some income from their hobby? Now that hobby that has gone viral.

Grumpy Old Men Brewing (GOMB), founded in October of 2012, officially opened their doors on July 4th 2013. With one part-time employee– brewer Scott Hirons, aka Grasshopper– the three of them keep their recipes simple, they find a brew they like, and then recreate and modify it to their taste. The GOMB corporate mission statement says it all, “If we don’t like it, we don’t drink it. If we don’t drink it, we don’t sell it.” That motto seems to work for them as their business has grown to state wide distribution throughout Georgia. GOMB is also licensed in North Carolina and working on their distribution model.

While wider distribution is key to

making a buck or two, contributing to the growing craft beer revolution in Blue Ridge is what keeps them in the hops. “We would like to be an integral part of making Blue Ridge one of the top craft brewing destinations in the area,” Steve says, “as the community grows, so does our business.” GOMB brews can be found in nearly every licensed to sell establishment in Blue Ridge:

As you might have guessed nothing goes to waste in a small town. GOMB “donates” their spent grain and hops to local farmers and hunters by leaving buckets of the stuff in their driveway for anyone to pick up on a first-come-first-served basis. Pig farmers, worm farmers,

dear hunters and boar hunters from as far away as Murphy, NC all benefit from the spent grains and have even been known to argue over who gets it!

“We’re just a couple of old retired guys who were home brewing in an outdoor shower and graduated to this. It’s all just for fun and to keep us out of trouble.” says McKnight. “When it’s not fun anymore, we’ll sit on the front porch of the brewery, drink beer and watch Grasshopper work. But, we’re still having fun which is why we’re still involved in the day to day operations!”

Grumpy Old Men Brewery1315 E Main St, Blue Ridge, GA 30513Cross Streets: Between Boardtown Road and Hall Street770. 331. 8870grumpyoldmenbrewing.com

Open on select dates for tours and tasting. Check their web site or find them on FaceBook for dates and times.

Top: Grumpy Old Men, Jim McKnight (left) and Steve Weber (right) are still having fun making their nano-brews. Above: GOMB produces 200-400 gallons of hand-crafted beer per week depending on how hard they want to work.Left: Scott Hirons– Chief Grasshopper and Brewmeister.


mercier OrchardsMercier Orchards is a family owned and operated apple orchard now in it’s 4th generation. Started back in 1943 by Bill & Adele Mercier, Mercier Orchards is now celebrating 70 years of fruitful harvest! The combination of our U-PICK events, Bakery & Deli, Market Store, and now our Farm Winery makes us a great choice for a day trip by yourself or with the family! Spend the day expe-riencing what makes us unique! We’re constantly improving our products and our store to give you the best experience that we can possibly offer.

1. When did you plant your first trees, and how many? What made you decide to plant apple trees?Mercier Orchard’s first trees were planted in 1943 starting with around 200 trees.

2. What year did your apple house open for business?We opened for business in 1943

3. How many producing trees do you have now? And how many of each varieties?We currently have 100,000 trees and we grow

50+ varieties of apples here. Mutzu, Pink Lady, Cameo, Granny Smith, Rome, and Arkansas Black to name a few.

4. explain your process for managing the trees/fruit throughout the season.As far as fertilizing, pesticides and pruning: we follow integrated pest management in all of our production practices. Here at Mercier we believe in monitoring the pest and only use specific mate-rials to control the bad pests. This is true also with our fertilization process using primarily lime and calcium nitrate, which are both naturally occur-ring. All of our pruning is done by hand throughout the year by 8-10 people that work in the orchards.

5. How many apples do you pick each year and how are they picked? Each year we pick 100,000 bushels of apples by hand. Our crew of 8-10 people hand pick all the apples from the orchards.

6. What percentage of your apples go to differ-ent things- such as apples for sale to individu-als, sales to grocers or corporate, cider, canned goods, baked goods, charity, animal feed and etc.?

About 50% of our apples are sold thru our mar-ket as fresh apples and cider. The other 50% is shipped out to various customers.

7. Tell us a secret about your apple house.We have no secrets, we are an open book. We believe in giving the best customer service you can give. Quality products, good service and a family friendly atmosphere are what keep us going year after year.

Mercier Orchards8660 Blue Ridge Drive PO Box 425Blue Ridge, Georgia 30513706-632-3411 or toll free 800-361-7731www.mercier-orchards.com

HoursOpen 7 days a week from 7:00am - 7:00pm.Closed New Years Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Hillcrest Orchards One of the most popular apple orchards and farm market in the north Georgia Mountains. fall day trip to Hillcrest Orchards only 1 1/2 hours

APPLE PICKIN’ TIME!BEHIND THE SCENES AT YOUR FAVORITE ORCHARD


from downtown Atlanta, Georgia or Chattanooga, Tennessee, Hillcrest Orchards is family owned and operated offering loads of fun for kids, adults and seniors. Pick your fun at the annual “Apple Pickin’ Jubilee” where you can pick your own apples, milk a cow, watch live pig races, visit the petting farm, take a wagon ride through the orchard, visit the Moonshine Museum and watch live bands and cloggers on the Hillcrest Stage.

1. When did you plant your first trees, and how many? What made you decide to plant apple trees?At the helm of Hillcrest Orchards is Janice Hale. Hale grew up in the apple orchards as her father started growing apples in 1946. After college, Janice came back to the farm and has worked there ever since.

2. What year did your apple house open for business? Hillcrest Apple House was built and opened in 1979. “We have practiced agritourism since 1993, and that was before agritourism was even a word,” says Hale.

3. How many producing trees do you have now? And how many varieties?“We have about 4500 trees. Our varieties include Red & Golden Delicious, Honey Crisp, Gala, Granny Smith, Mutsu, Cameo, Rome Beauty, Candy Crisp, Pinata, Ambrosia, Fuji, Pink Lady, Winesap, Arkansas Black, Gold Rush and Yates.

4. explain your process for managing the trees/fruit throughout the season. Every tree is fertilized in the spring and we only spray as necessary. Hillcrest Orchards practices integrated pest management meaning that they trap for specific bugs. By counting degree days they can know when the pest eggs will hatch and spray accordingly. “We are able to skip several sprays by doing this, says Hale. We prune every tree in the winter.”

5. How many apples do you pick each year? And how are they picked? When the season comes, we hand pick all our apples.”

6. What percentage of your apples go to differ-ent things- such as apples for sale to individu-als, sales to grocers or corporate, cider, canned goods, baked goods, charity, animal feed and etc.?100% of our apples are sold directly to individuals who visit our farm market.

7. Tell us a secret about your apple house.We are most famous for our homemade apple fritters. We bring thousands of visitors to Ellijay each fall by offering many farm related fun activi-ties including u-pic apples, wagon rides, pig races, mini golf, museums, jumping pillow, pony rides, petting farm and much more.

Hillcrest Orchards 9696 Hwy. 52 E., Ellijay, Georgia 30536 706-273-3838www.hillcrestorchards.net

Daily: 9:00am - 6:00pm (Sept. & Oct.) 9:00am - 5:00pm (Nov.)No Pets Allowed

Red Apple barnIt’s apple picking season in Ellijay! Come enjoy the north Georgia mountains and beauty of the area. It’s apple picking time in Ellijay! Family owned since 1965, the Red Apple Barn is old-time apple-pickin’ fun. You can pick apples, pumpkins and flowers. Take a wagon ride behind the tractor. You can play Cornhole, Horse shoes, have a picnic, or take a walk in the hay field. Come out and enjoy the farm and have a great time!

1. When did you plant your first trees, and how many? What made you decide to plant apple trees?We started in1965-66 and planted1000 trees.Marvin Pritchett states that he decided to plant apple trees because, “It had been a childhood dream to grow pretty red apples one day!”

2. What year did your apple house open for business? We opened the Red Apple Barn doors in1971.

3. How many producing trees do you have now? And how many varieties? We have around 10 acres with 3-4 acres notin production. There are around 1600 apple trees.Our primary varieties are Cameo, Mutsu, Gala,Honeycrisp, Staymen Winesap, Granny Smith,Fuji, Pritchett Golden, Jonagold, Suncrisp, GoldenSupreme, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Yates,Rome Beauty, Arkansas Black, Detroit Red and PinkLadys.

4. explain your process for managing the trees/fruit throughout the season.Maintenance is year-round. Starting in the late winter, we perform soil tests to see what the tree needs. Then apply proper lime, fertilize to maintain the right soil ph. When the trees began to bloom we monitor, check the temperature to see the best

time to put bees in the orchard. After the bloom, we see how many apples have hopefully set and see if we need to thin them. We are also looking at the leaves on the tree to see how they are do-ing and have them tested if there are problems. As the grass starts to grow it needs to be mowed 2-3 times through the summer. Traps are set to see how many bugs and types are present in the orchard. If the apples are too heavy, we thin more off. When they begin to ripen, we check the sugar level to find the right time to pick. After they are picked, they are brought to the apple barn and graded for customers to purchase. Some are placed in our cooler to sell later in the year. After the season is over, we begin to prune the trees. That takes 2-3 months. After the trees are pruned, the brush is pushed out and burned. Then it starts all over again.

5. How many apples do you pick each year? And how are they picked? The quantity varies from year to year, but gener-ally several thousand bushels are picked. All of our apples are hand picked by U-Pick customers, family and staff.

6. How many or what percentage of those apples go to different things- such as apples for sale to individuals, sales to grocers or corporate, cider, canned goods, baked goods, charity, animal feed and etc.Ninety-five percent of our apples are sold to customers who come to the Red Apple Barn. The remaining 5 percent is used for cider, apple chips, caramel & candied apples.

7. Tell us a secret about your apple house.My Grandma Evans was the one who started running Red Apple Barn in 1971, and the rest is

history. AC

Red Apple Barn3379 Tails Creek RoadEllijay, Georgia 30540706-635-5898www.redapplebarn.com

Apple House HoursMon-Sat. 9-6pm, Sunday 12-5:30pm


All across north Georgia’s Appalachian region, households are being prepared for the glorious days of autumn and the coming holiday season. The cycle of life ripens even as the forests and animals shudder with the approach of winter at year’s end.

Orchards are brimming with the season’s bounty: apples, produce, pumpkins and fantastic varieties of colorful gourds. Trees sense the season, and quicker than we realize, cloak themselves in the blazing raiment of brilliantly colored fall foliage.

The more things change, the more things stay the same.

Many threads weave through the story of life in the Blue Ridge, but the great themes are held common in a sturdy tapestry traversing times old and new. Friendly greetings are exchanged in grocery stores, specialty shops, and restaurants between old friends and new acquaintances. This today is the same as yesterday. Hometown gatherings spill into the streets each weekend, welcoming happy newcomers as well as kindly old timers. It’s a busy season, full of promise and purpose for all.


WORDS & PhOtOS: Danny Grizzle

Over the River and Through the Woods To NaNa’s CabiN We Go


UA Visit to Nana’s Cabin Untold feet have trod these shared pathways, but much of the gentle Appalachian way of life is remarkably consistent from generation to generation and family to family.

So often, women are the foundation of families and continuity. Mountain living might seem to be a masculine domain, with rough hewn cabins, and a history of difficulty in clearing fields, plowing stony ground, and building split rail fences. But behind male stereotypes, the woman’s role in Appalachian living yesterday and today cannot be overstated.

Today’s grandmothers are busy making preparations to gather their loved ones at this special time of year. And finding themselves assuming new roles in life in their mature years, many have occasion to reflect on their own childhood and upbringing, to consider the challenges of life then, the experience of their adult children today, and the world of influences and distractions in which their grandchildren live. In this, Appalachian living is not something to escape from, but something to return to. And the chosen life and context to living that many women deliberately convey to their posterity.

It is easy to think ahead to the family assembled for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and at the same time to reflect upon years past. Thoughts of distant memories are easy to summon and return with vitality. If we could overhear thoughts, and experience recollections of another...

Many times as a girl, she had helped her grandmother work in the kitchen. “Busy hands...” she was always told. Thinking back on slower times, it was evident they weren’t slower at all. Days began early and many chores were done before daylight.

Back then, there were no televisions, no transistor radios, and no earbuds. With grandmother, conversation occupied your thoughts while your hands were kept incessantly busy.

Granny Jarrell spoke of her own childhood. Whatever the task, as she sewed, baked, fed the chickens, or hung laundry out to dry, she related stories passed by her own grandmothers and great aunts.

Grandmother never had more than a few dresses, only two or three. These many years later, it is hard to remember, and even harder to be certain of direct memory or recollection of an old photograph. Thinking back now, it is easier to see her apron than the dress itself; it seems only for church on Sundays was the apron ever removed.

That apron. In its gathered folds, Granny held eggs

This beautiful home is a cherished family retreat enjoyed by four generations, from babies to great grandparents. Now and in years to come, it will be the setting of many special memories.

Many families build second homes in the mountains of North Georgia. Appalachia offers tremendous recreational opportunities, and is among the most popular vacation destinations in the country. Great Smoky Mountains National Park has twice as many visitors annually as any of the great western parks, double that of the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, or Yosemite.


collected from the hen house. She dried eyes and cleaned dirty faces. A garment of simple utility was transformed into a multipurpose tool of motherhood.

Addie Bell Hardin, or Nana, once reminisced that she could pick apples without leaving the porch of her grandfather’s house in Rome, Georgia. Memories such as these are common across the apple country of north Georgia, which centers on Ellijay and Gilmer County, known as Georgia’s Apple Capital. Begun in 1972, the Georgia Apple Festival has become the biggest event of autumn in the mountains of north Georgia.

Romantics speak of simpler times. But those days were not simpler days; only our understanding of them is simple. Grandmother’s recollections of her own grandmother included the supreme difficulties of wars not distant nor abstract. Immediately present horrors, loss, and sadness. Life always has an urgency and immediacy in the chaos of present tense, and yet the deliberate direction we take and choices we make have predictable outcomes in small increments which accumulate over time.

In an old worn box, a few precious letters remain, mile-stones that document the path. Grandmother’s words are as beautiful as her voice, but characters shaped in labored

pencil strokes reveal her weary hand.

There are qualities of character not much discussed today, but relevant as ever. Perseverance, fortitude, industriousness, honesty and

integrity. The modern world is a cauldron of confusion for the young and inexperienced, and for many families, Appalachia is the antidote.

New and improved aren’t synonyms. Outside the jargon of advertising, these words are distant cousins at best, and unrelated more often than not.

There is no shortage of distractions in modern life, and no agreement on what our positions and priorities should be. Perhaps what was old is now new again. The ancient mountains of Appalachia are not new, even as their wonders are discovered anew by every child and every generation.

Deciding to live in the mountains, even building a new second home, brings questions from friends. “Isn’t that a huge commitment?” Exactly. A defining commitment; one out of step among a generation that has trouble with commitments. Still, the desire to get away from it all, to have a place of your own, runs deep in the American character, and a cabin in the woods is a dream for many, and perhaps most, according to recent surveys.



“We see this all the time,” says Sam Satterwhite. For over a decade, people have traveled from far and wide to attend seminars produced by his company, Satterwhite Log Homes. As meeting rooms fill, Satterwhite knows how much people have in common - the dreams they share, the hopes they have for their families. It is always nice to begin a day with hundreds of strangers, and end with hundreds of friends.

More often than not, Sam concludes his day-long presentation of shared practical knowledge by returning to the dreams that motivate people to attend. “There is no Christmas like Christmas in a log home,” he will say.

Satterwhite’s own outlook is tempered with purpose like strong and seasoned timber. Among those close to him, and in the character of the employees and company he has built over 40 years, Sam Satterwhite knows that the greatest attribute of true leadership is humble service. To that end, his entire approach is towards helping his customers realize their dreams. Something as serious as a family home is no place for fancy marketing tactics or gimmicks, and high pressure sales are never acceptable. Integrity of product, forthright answers to questions, honest prices, no surprises, and generous sharing of experience are relied on to maximize outcome.

The problem with dreams is they tend to be nebulous. One of the most important life skills is translating thoughts and dreams into a practical course of action.

Perhaps these things highlight what mountain living is all about, to be actively living out dreams and realizing goals. To be shaping memories and developing children

into generations of connected families. To be surrounded by others equally committed to similar values. Is Appalachian living a commitment? Yes. And for many, a commitment of the highest order.

And though they may not be common, and a bit hard to find, this autumn at the Georgia Apple Festival, don’t be surprised to see at least a few flower print cotton dresses, upon which aprons are neatly tied. Sentimental, perhaps. Deliberate, most certainly. AC

Satterwhite Log HomesCelebrating 40 YearsEastern Sales Office & Model Home14378 Highway 515 NEllijay, Georgia 305361. 800.918. 6881www.satterwhiteloghomes.com

Located on the beautiful Toccoa River, this home modified from the Mountain Laurel plan by Satterwhite Log Homes is the first of several that will be built in a new development. Home sites in Appalachia are frequently described according to location. For instance, view lots are usually higher in the mountains. Another preferred location is along rivers and streams, but opportunities for new construction are constrained. Contact Satterwhite Log Homes in Ellijay for more information on this limited development on the Toccoa just outside of Blue Ridge, Georgia.


The AppleODE TO THE

SYMBOL OF LOVE & BEAUTY

WORDS, REciPES & PHOTOS: E JANE HAYDEN


Apple Red Raspberry* Upside Down CakeThis simple yet complex dessert is perfect for the Apple Season!

Ingredients3/4 c butter softened and divided1/2 c firmly packed light brown sugar1/2 honey or agave syrup2 large Gala apples peeled and cut into ¼ inch slices1 c fresh raspberries– or use the ones you froze over the summer! *Blueberries, Blackberries or Cherries are also acceptable2 large eggs1 ½ c unbleached cake flour (like King Arthur’s)1 c superfine sugar1 tsp baking powder½ cup milk1 tsp vanilla extract

PreparationPreheat oven to 350 FMelt ¼ cup butter in a lightly greased 9”round cake pan (sides should be 2” high) over low heat Remove pan from heat and sprinkle with brown sugar and honey/agave Arrange apple slices in concentric circles over the brown sugar…over lapping decoratively as neededSprinkle raspberries over the topIn a mixing bowl, beat sugar and ½ cup of butter at medium speed using a hand mixer until blendedMix flour and baking soda together and add to sugar mixture alternating with the milk and ending with flourBlend well and stir in vanillaSpoon batter over fruitBake 45-50 minutes until wooden toothpick comes clean from the centerCool on a rack for 10 minutesRun knife along the edges and invert

onto serving plateSpoon any topping in the pan on top of the apples.

Serve warm as is or with Creme Fraiche or vanilla ice cream. Serves 8. Enjoy!

Autumn CompoteEverything is better with the 3 Bs – Butter! Brown Sugar! Bourbon!This recipe can be served as a side dish with pork and chicken or enjoyed as a dessert with vanilla ice cream

Ingredients6 sweet potatoes baked in the oven until almost done. Peel and slice into ¾ inch rounds4 Granny Smith apples, peeled and cored. Slice into1/4 inch wedges2/3 c brown sugar1 ½ tsp vanilla extract2 tsp cinnamon

The Tabor House is also home to one of the South’s largest Civil War Libraries with a Civil War

Museum, the Gilmer County Historical Society, the Gilmer County Genealogy Society, the Sons of Confederate Veterans Museum and many artifacts

from the Trail of Tears.

Whether you’re a history buff looking for an authentic southern meal or a foodie who

appreciates historic surroundings, the Farm Table Restaurant is the perfect place to

dine by candlelight.

Once again Chef Janie, a member of Les Dames d’ Escoffier, invites you to the Historic Tabor House

to enjoy a sumptuous home-cooked meal at the Farm Table Restaurant.

Vintage table cloths, all embroidered with “Enjoy!,” delightful mismatched plates and silver,

plus local artists’ work on the walls complete this down-home, hidden gem.

Ac liVinG recipeS


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U-pick apples, pig races, cow trains, corn maze, petting farm, cow milking, pony rides, wagon rides, exotic animals

to view and more!

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1 tsp allspice5 tbsp salted butter½ c bourbon½ c currants, raisins or dried cranberries

PreparationSoak fruit of choice in bourbon with the spices and vanilla – set asidePreheat oven to 350 F Grease 8 X 13 baking dishLayer sweet potatoes, apples and drained fruitsDab with butter and brown sugar between layers ending with butter and brown sugar on topPour bourbon mixture over panBake 45 minutes or until you can’t stand the aroma any longer!

Kale & Apple SaladHealthy and refreshing; add a protein for a great lunch6 servings

Ingredients2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil3 tbsp balsamic pear vinegar1 bunch kale, ribs removed, thinly sliced¼ c dates, figs or dried cranberries1 firm apple; peeled, cored and sliced into matchsticks1 tbsp lemon juice; zest of ½ lemon¼ c slivered almonds or candied pecans¼ c finely grated pecorino cheese

PreparationWhisk EVOO, vinegar, ¼ tsp salt and lemon zestAdd kale and toss to coat; let stand 10 minutesToss apple match sticks with lemon juice to avoid discolorationIf using dates or figs, cut into thin strips. Coarse chop dried cranberriesAdd all ingredients to kale and toss. Salt and pepper to taste. AC

The Farm Table Restaurant138 Spring StreetEllijay, GA770. 855. 3754

Thursday–Saturday, Lunch: 11am - 2pmFriday Dinner (mid-June): 5pm - 8pm Saturday, Dinner: 5pm - 8pmSunday, Brunch & Old Fashioned Sunday Dinner: 10am - 2pm

Reservations recommended. Bring your favorite beverage, no corkage fee!

Cash or checks only.


WWhile in the bathroom at Blue Jeans Restaurant in Blue Ridge a playful ten-year-old girl will call out your name. Back at your table, no one admits to being there. Haints. At a local law office a doorbell rings where there is none. Secretaries’ eyes smart from cigar smoke, yet no one is smoking. Haints.

Those who study the paranormal know they are watching. Indeed, seven locations in Fannin County have had investigations that uncovered unexpected specters.

What ties phantoms to this earthly realm? Every ghost has a reason. Some have unresolved anger. The woman seen near the judge’s bench at the Art Center may have been the victim of what she considered a miscarriage of justice. Disturbed by this sighting and other unexplained occurrences, a former

employee asked a psychic to search the premises. She noted three female ghosts, including one who was angry and seeking revenge. Locals taking classes in the building have heard muted female conversations, only to fail when seeking the source.

Other downtown spirits are protective and even welcomed back as old friends. Since the fire station in downtown Blue Ridge opened, fire fighters and emergency personnel have been hearing late night sounds on the second floor

above their beds. Scraping sounds and footsteps occur, yet no amount of investigating turns up the culprit. Some believe it is a former fire chief. He was a man with no family and a commitment to helping. Perhaps he simply wants to continue doing what he did best.

Ghosts can be found in buildings, cemeteries and even the forest. The Crying Baby of Cashes Valley wails late at night in the dense forest of this remote section. When pursued the child is never seen, always just ahead.

A man who bought an antique car and restored it claims it is haunted. When he went back to the family that he bought the car from, he found out why. The ghost is a young woman who died of heat exhaustion when she took a nap in the car. She has even been seen on occasion by the new owner.

Haints Roam These MountainsWORDS & PhOtOS: Kathy thompson

The old folks called them haints and knew they were watching. Today you may be unaware of their presence, but they are still watching.


One Blue Ridge ghost came across the Atlantic haunting a set of antique Bavarian furniture. Odd happenings made the office staff aware they had a poltergeist (German for playful ghost). Undisturbed they named him Frankie. When the office moved, Frankie came along. A physic looking for legal help noted, “You have a ghost, don’t you.” Shocked, they asked if she could see him. Seems he is young, muscular, blue eyed and blond. Perhaps he made the furniture and stayed with his creations when he passed.

At Tilley Bend Cemetery three Civil War soldiers were seen during a midnight investigation. Indeed three Confederate deserters were shot by the Home Guard in the nearby settlement. One was tied to a tree and killed by a firing squad not far from Tilley Bend. The tree stood by the Toccoa River, but over the years leaned into the water and had to be cut down. Back in the thirties and through the fifties, folks in the settlement saw the soldier tied to the tree and heard the six bullets discharged. They referred to the tree as “that Dam haint tree.” Freed from the tree he, may have found his companions and sought out the cemetery.

The Chastain House in Dial may be the most haunted home in Fannin County. Ten-year-old Alice Chastain, daughter of early pioneer Jason Chastain, has been seen peering out of a second floor window. Her tragic death was a source of continuing grief for her parents. A caretaker who lived there for four years would see child sized footprints trailing up the outer steps, made visible by the dew. That is not all that she experienced.

Skeptics beware. I told a Blue Ridge businessman about the three specters that are said to haunt his building and he replied, “You know I don’t really believe in ghosts.” A recent visit to the same man revealed a person who wanted to discuss his paranormal experience. While sitting at his computer screen, he felt a presence to his left. Thinking his wife had slipped in, he turned, looked and saw nothing. As he turned to look right, he felt a presence pass through him. “It felt cold and tingled. I was so shook up I wasn’t sure what to do. It took an hour to settle down,” he reported.

An unsolved mystery shows how messages can be left by the dead. Her large grave marker reads Mrs. A. J. Loggins. There is a birth date but no death date. What is jarring is the message etched into stone. “I am not dead, just sleeping. I will see you soon.” Perhaps she meant the resurrection. Even so, there are a series of questions to answer. Mr.

A. J. Loggins was buried in the remote community of Noontootla while Mrs. Loggins was interned in town. His obituary noted that at the time of his death Mrs. Loggins was still alive, but why is there no obituary for her listed in the comprehensive book at the library? When I asked the man who runs the cemetery to check for Mrs.. Loggins, he could not find any records. The local monument maker told me he did not make the marker. Strange and unsettling.

There are many more stories and first person accounts, too many for this article. If you want to know more, consider participating in the Blue Ridge Ghost Tour. This two-hour walking tour of downtown Blue Ridge includes accounts of the paranormal as well as Cherokee monster stories and local folklore. Try your hand with a ghost meter as you amble to different haint sites. But remember, we can’t guarantee you won’t be followed home by a ghost. It happens! AC

For information call Kathy Thompson at 706. 633. 3865. For reservations call Mike at 706. 258. 2665. The tour starts at E. Quinn Booksellers located at 691 East Main in Blue Ridge. Find us on Facebook for updates and newly discovered hauntings. Left: The Chastain House in Dial, one of the

most haunted homes in Fannin County was built around 1890. Locals used to camp there in hopes of meeting Jason or Alice. Top Right: Chastain House circa 1980. Right: Tilley Bend Cemetery where you might meet three Confederate deserters executed by firing squad.


North Georgia is celebrating its 43rd annual Apple Festival

this year, bringing in over 300 vendors and visitors from all

over the world. Covered Bridge Estates, a staple in Ellijay’s

premier gated community is excited to give Apple Festival

guests an extra sweet treat this year with the release of

their new model home, The Carrollton.

Less than one hour north of Atlanta and located off

highway 382, Covered Bridge Estates is nestled between

Carters Lake and Gilmer County Airport at the base of the

Appalachian Mountains. Among the lush mountain setting,

this professionally planned, gated community features 1-3

acre wooded home sites starting at $200,000.

CoVeReD bRiDGe esTaTes exClusiVe FiRsT look aT

Craftsman style luxury


Exclusive Look at covered Bridge Estates New Model HomeThe Carrollton is the newest in several craftsman style luxury homes available for viewing. This one-story, split bedroom design accentuates the surrounding landscape, featuring spectacular views of Carters Lake and the Blue Ridge Mountains. At almost 2100 square feet, the Carrollton boasts 3 bedrooms, a wide open great room, dining room and angular kitchen with granite counters, high-end wooden cabinetry, cathedral ceiling and generous walk-in closet in the master suite and private screened porch with multiple access points and many other features and upgrades not typically found. Existing and proposed amenities include an Open Pavilion Community Center adjacent to Flat Creek, with a park, picnic area, outdoor fireplace and tennis courts.

The Carrollton is now available for purchase and ready for your finishing touches. Contact Mike Kunkel 706. 669. 4177 to schedule an exclusive tour of The Carrollton.

Live Minutes Away from Everything, Feel like You’re Miles Away Covered Bridge Estates is just minutes from vineyards, restaurants, golf, fishing, boating, tubing, horseback riding and over 100 miles of bicycle trails. Only 25 minutes away from Cartecay Vineyards, residents at Covered Bridge Estates can enjoy wine-tasting, live entertainment or take a stroll through nearby Ellijay’s historic downtown and visit the many outdoor cafes, antique shops and more.

For those seeking adventure, Covered Bridge Estates offers unparalleled

proximity to Georgia’s most fascinating and scenic outdoor activities such as Appalachian Trails including Tumbling Waters, Oak Ridge Nature Trail and Bear Creek Trail. Visit the highest waterfall east of the Mississippi at Amicalola Falls State Park or spend the breezy day swimming, fishing or jet skiing at Carters Lake.

Join Ellijay’s Premier Gated community Want to start building your dream home today? You don’t have to wait until the Apple Festival to visit Covered Bridge Estates! The paved roads are installed, with underground services, including water, cable, telephone and electric already provided to each individual home site. You are

encouraged to bring your own licensed and insured contractor or use one of the Ellijay’s suggested builders. Tom Jackson, President of Jackson & Associates General Contractors, Inc. located on site, is also a LEED AP© and upon request, can accommodate any additional energy efficient or “green needs” you may desire.

The original developer of Covered Bridge Estates, Ellijay Associates, LLC is pleased to report that this development is debt-free and has never had a foreclosure. The managing partners of Ellijay Associates, LLC have successfully completed many other residential projects with the most recent being Grande Bay Resort on the island of St. John in the United States Virgin Islands.

Left: Covered Bridge Estates is perfectly nestled in the North Georgia Mountains, providing residents the rural allure of the wilderness and the safety of a private gated community. Top Right: The newest model, The Carrollton is the perfect canvas to add your personal touch. Bottom Right: Enchanting creeks and streams from the foothills of the Appalachian Mountain range can be found dotted throughout the area.


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And our new arrivals!We’ve got great news; fall has arrived! And it’s

brought with it some of your favorite thngs. That means fallling leaves, cooler nights and autumn

staples like apples and farmer’s markets. But it also means new products in our store. Stop in to see our bountiful new arrivals and fall in love all over again!

Daisy Boutique140 Mark Whitfield DriveSuite EJaasper, GA 30143(706) 253-6996http://daisyboutique.com

Store Hours: Monday thru Saturday 10:00 to 6:00


The serenity of nature can be found at the heart of Covered Bridge Estates and its over 200 acres of lush wooded land. Development on these 1-3 acre lots is inclusive of paved roads, water, phone and electricity which allow residents to simply design the perfect enclave for their home. Lots in phase 1 and 2 are currently available for purchase, with limited availability of home sites with creek views.

Luxury Starts With Great DesignJackson & Associates is a licensed and insured General Contractor in Georgia and Florida and has been involved in the construction or renovation of nearly a thousand residential units. Tom Jackson and his team are capable of building dream homes such as log cabins, cottages, high-rise condos and more. Jackson insists that whenever possible, his firm prefers to work with qualified local tradesmen in the community who are vetted by the subcontractors on site.

If you are interested in constructing your craftsman style home in Covered Bridge Estates but don’t have your own architect, Georgia locals, Sydney D. Haynes of SDH Design Solutions and David Goodspeed of Goodspeed Architects, Inc. can help you make your dream home a reality with tailored design solutions that ensure every element of your home is ideal for your family. AC

Come explore the serenity and beauty at Covered Bridge Estates today!

Contact Mike Kunkel, Project Manager706. 669. [email protected]

Covered Bridge Estates90 Bridge RoadEllijay, Georgia 30540706. 669. 4177www.estatesatcoveredbridge.com

Directions:Highway 5/515 in Ellijay: From the North turns right, from the South turn left onto Howard Simmons Road (CVS/ Chic-fil-A). Travel ½ mile until it ends at Old 5. Turn left at Old Hwy 5 and travel 1.5 miles. Turn right onto 382 West (Conoco/Greens Country Store). Travel 3.7 miles west of Old Hwy 5 and our entrance will greet you on the left.


INSIDEARTS10/1-10/12Jennifer danner Artist in ResidenceEnjoy mixed media creations, photography, music and written prose of artist Jennifer Danner. Blue Ridge Mountain Arts AssociationCall 706-632-2144 or check website: www.blueridgearts.net

10/1-10/122014 bRmp National Juried photography show. Blue Ridge Arts Center, For more information check the website: www.blueridgearts.net

10/11-12fall Arts in the park Blue Ridge, 10:00-5:00pm both days. Fine art, great food, fall colors on the trees and on the canvases. Peak leaf season in the mountains of North Georgia is mid-October. Enjoy the splendor of nature with a fine arts and crafts festival with 100’s of artists from across the nation. Admission is $5 for adults/children free. Please contact the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association, 706-632-2144 or through e-mail at [email protected]. You can also visit the website at www.blueridgearts.net.

10/17 merlot’s masterpiece with Vicki Wagoner - Friday 6:30-8:30pm. Get ready for an evening of fun as you paint a selected picture while enjoying your favorite wine. You must be 21 years of age to consume alcohol and we ask that you please drink responsibly. Call 706-632-2144 or check website: www.blueridgearts.net

10/18Annual fire & Ice ball To benefit The Cherokee Arts Center. Hors d’oeuvres, Dancing & Silent Auction!” Tickets are $50 or $90 per couple in advance. At the Rock Barn Canton, GA. Saturday 7:00PM to 11:00PM at.Please call 770-704-6244 for tickets, or mail your purchase

request to: The Cherokee Arts Center, 94 North Street, Canton, GA 30114.

10/18-11/15first Annual Emerging Artist Juried Exhibition. Inviting local 2D and 3D emerging undergraduate student artists from surround-ing area colleges and art schools to showcase their artwork alongside our SAAG 7th Annual National Juried Show at the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association and Art Center. For info visit: www.blueridgearts.net or call 706-632-2144.

10/18 -01/31/15Artist in Residence, suzy deslauriers “Within each of us lies the heart of an artist waiting for an awakening into a new vision. I want my paintings to help people discover their new eyes.” For more info call 706-632-2144 or visit: www.blueridgearts.net or: www.artbysuzy.com

10/23-11/2Inspired by Nature, An Art Event At big CanoeSponsored by the Big Canoe Building Group there will be spectacular works of art. On display and offered for sale will be the works of glass masters, potters, painters, photographers, and furniture makers to name a few. Held in a model home in “The Bluffs” neighborhood this exhibit will also give you the opportunity to discover the many remarkable homes available for you to tour. Opening 10/23, Thursdays - Sundays 10am- 4pm. For info and descriptions of the artists displaying their work go to www.bigcanoe.com or call 770- 893-2733.

10/27-282014 Gilmer Arts holiday Card design Contest All members are invited to submit entries. The winning design will be the cover of the Gilmer Arts 2014 Holiday Card and win a $100.00 prize. For info & entry form visit: www.gilmearts.org

11/22Join us for whodunIt? A mystery Art fund raiser. This is a rare opportunity to get amazing artworks from sought-after local and regional artists at an incredible price! The mystery is trying to figure out who your artist is. Each $50 ticket guarantees you with an original piece of art. Fantastic art, delicious food, live music and lots of fun! Blue Ridge Mountain Arts Center. Saturday, 6:00PM – 9:00PM Call the Art Center at 706-632-2144 the website www.blueridgearts.net for more details.

12/13Art Center Christmas open house In the Richard Low Evans Gallery. Blue Ridge Mountain Arts Association11:00am to 5:00pmCall 706-632-2144 or visit www.blueridgearts.net for more details.

Events open year-Roundswan drive-In. The ticket office opens by 7:30PM. Please wait at the ticket office to purchase tickets before entering the field to park. Cash only; NO debit or credit cards. Call 706-632-5235 for movie schedules.

open year-RoundThe hike Inn and Amicalola falls park & lodge. Everyone who comes to the Chattahoochee National Forest does so for a different reason. Some come to get away from everyday life or to spend quality time with their family. Others come for the Appalachian Trail. But no matter the reason, the result is the same: Everyone leaves with a sense of belonging. Details: www.gastateparks.org/AmicalolaFalls/

open All yearwoodstock market & show Friday and Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 11am-5pm. Fantastic Outdoor Market vintage items, arts & crafts, plants, food and much more. Woodstock, GA. Call for info 770-924-0406

10/1Autumn Native plant walk Learn to identify native plants and seasonal wildflowers on free walk led by the North Georgia Master Gardeners This walk will be in the Morganton area on land bordering the National Forest 2:00PM. Each participant should bring items such as a hat, water, camera, insect repellent, pen and notebook and a field guide. The walks are not strenuous. To register and get directions to the walks, call the Fannin County Extension Office at 706-632-3061 or e-mail [email protected].

10/1 thru 11/27blairsville: welcome to scarecrow-ville, Downtown and Union County. A chance for scarecrows to come out of the fields for a trip to town! Join in the fun and enter the Handmade Scarecrow Competition! Entry fee is only $10. Workshops will be held at the Union County Farmers Market and on Town Square. Visit: www.scarecrow-Ville.com.Information and entry registration.

10/1 – 10/31Ellijay scarecrow Invasion The Scarecrows go up Oct 1 and stay up through Oct 31. We have over 300 themed Scarecrows decorating the town for the month of October providing a festive and fun attraction to see. Contact Information: Gilmer Chamber 706-635-7400, [email protected] Mountain Ridge Garden Shop 706-698-2815

10/1 - 11/30blue Ridge scenic Railway fall foliage Excursions A FALL family adventure starts at the historic depot in downtown Blue Ridge, Georgia. The train winds alongside the beautiful Toccoa River with one stop in the twin border towns of McCaysville, Georgia and Copperhill, Tennessee. Various Departure Times. Reservations recommended at least 3 weeks in advance. Adults (13-64): $48; Senior Citizens (65+): $41; Children (2-12): $27. For more information

and to purchase tickets call toll free at 1-877-413-TRAIN [8724], or online at www.brscenic.com

10/1 - 11/2 44nd Annual oktoberfest, Helen Festhalle Beer, brats, bands and Lederhosen– the Helen Oktoberfest has them all. Join the longest running Oktoberfest in the United States. German-style bands from around the country and around the world play for your listening and viewing pleasure. Open Everyday. Admission: $8.00 Monday – Friday, $9.00 on Saturday, free on Sunday! For info contact the Helen Chamber of Commerce at 706. 878. 1619 or visit www.helenchamber.com

10/3 thru 11/28friday Night Tapas at Crane Creek vineyards Join us for Tapas every Friday evening from 6 to 8 pm. Prices range from $4.00-$12.00, wine sold by the glass and by the bottle. For additional details: 706-379-1236 or www.cranecreekvineyards.com

10/3-4, thru 11/28-29blue Ridge Ghost ToursBlue Ridge Ghost Tours offers a variety of stories of folklore, legends, ghosts and paranormal from Blue Ridge and all over the county. This 7 & 9pm, Friday & Saturdays. Reservations required: 706-258-2665 (Mike) or 706-633-3856 (Kathy). Purchase tickets or meet at 691 East Main Street, Blue Ridge, GA.You may also find Blue Ridge Ghost Tours on Facebook

10/3, 11/7 & 12/5friday Night live! The park at City Center, woodstock. Spend the first Friday evening of the month in Olde Towne Woodstock. Downtown merchants stay open late, and have activities at their stores and throughout the downtown area related to each night’s theme. This event also features great music, with bands performing throughout downtown. Admission FREE. No tickets needed. www.mainstreetwoodstock.org

AppAlAchiAn country NORTH GEORGIA's GuIdE TO AREA Arts | Dining & DAnce | events & shows | Music | theAter


10/4- 10/534th Annual Georgia marble festival Jasper GAThere are many arts and crafts booths on hand to display the works of local artisans. All Arts & Crafts are handmade, and there are a large variety of artists avail-able, from wood workers, marble sculptors, handmade clothing, to homemade jams, jellies and nuts. Also on hand will be food vendors. Adults: $5.00. Jasper, GA. Saturday 10:00AM – 10:00PM, Sunday 10:00AM – 5:00PM. For more information call 706-692-5600 or visit www.georgiamarblefestival.com

10/4, 10/7, 10/11 & 10/14fall farmers market Hancock Park, DahlonegaThe Dahlonega Farmers Market offers items locally grown and fresh picked from the garden. Treat yourself and your family to the best quality, low prices, and good selection, and feel good about supporting our local farmers/growers. Open at 8am-12noon. Visit our website: www.dahlonegadda.org

10/11-12 & 10/18-20 43rd Annual Georgia Apple festivalEllijay, Lions Club Fairgrounds. Come and enjoy the 43rd year of the Georgia Apple Festival. There are over 300 vendors with handmade, hand-crafted items, as well as many on-site demonstrations of how select-ed types of crafts are made. This year promises many new crafts as well as favorites from past festivals. There is a parade and antique car show each year. The antique car show is held at the Civic Center on October 11th. The parade is on October 18th and begins at 10 AM in historic downtown Ellijay. For details: www.georgiaapplefestival.org or call 706-636-4500

10/11-12 & 10/18-20Annual sorghum festivalBlairsville’s longest running festival celebrates the ancient art of cooking sweet syrup from Sorghum Cane. Visitors enjoy sorghum syrup making demonstrations in addition to contests such as “Biskit” eat-in’, Pole Climbin’, Log Sawin’, Rock Throwin’, and Horseshoe Throwin’. Join us the 2nd and 3rd weekends in October. For more information visit www.sorghumfestivalblairs-ville.com

10/11-12usddN disc dog world finals, Annual fund raiser for the Etowah valley humane society More than 200 dog teams from 18 states and 12 countries have qualified to compete in this exciting and entertaining two-day event of canine grace and agility. Dellinger Park, Cartersville, GA 10-5pm on both Saturday & Sunday with final rounds of competition beginning around 3:00pm each day. FREE. For info call Melissa Heeter 770-386-6184 or visit www.woofsports.com

10/11The 38th Annual Apple festival 5K Road Race, Ellijay. The course is certified and is relatively flat. Walkers and baby strollers are welcome. A 1 mile fun run and a tot trot after the 5k are also scheduled. Registration starts at 7:00am in the Ellijay Elementary School gym. The 5K starts at 8:00 a.m. The one mile fun run starts at 8:45. For info: [email protected], or www.applefestival5k.com

10/11-12 & 10/18-19Apple Arts EllijayIt’s more festival for no cost. Admission is free and, pet friendly. You can shop the local stores, park for free, and ride a shuttle to the Apple Festival when you are ready. There are approximately 30-50 vendors each weekend selling apples, boiled peanuts, jewelry, pottery, local artwork, and more! Downtown Ellijay. 9:00 AM - 05:00 PM Saturday & Sunday. For info: www.gilmerchamber.com

10/12mystery mountain marathon & 12-miler. Difficult, sometimes technical trails with long, extended climbs, over and around Fort Mountain. There is also a 12 mile race. Multiple aid stations will be along the course, with variety of food, drink and support. Ultrarunning & Trailrunning Society (GUTS). Sunday, 8:00AM Fort Mountain State Park, 181 Fort Mountain Rd Chatsworth, GA 30705 For additional registration and info: www.getguts.com

10/18Everyday life: demonstrations of 19th Century Tools and skills for Everyday living The skills required to produce food, clothing and tools during the Civil War will be demonstrated and children of all ages will be able to make butter, shell corn, sample hardtack, wash clothes on washboard, make corn husk dolls, play ring toss and more! Also visit the temporary exhibit “Cherokee Voices from the Civil War” both at the Cherokee County History Museum in downtown Canton. 10-2PM. Visit: www.rockbarn.org/ or call 770.345.3288.for more information.

10/24 & 10/31fright light laser Concert Rollins Planetarium, Young Harris. Have a spooktacular time this Halloween with a howling good mix of tunes setto amazing laser lights from SkyLase, the only full-dome, full-color, solid-state laser projection system, and enhanced by our stunning Chronos star projector. Classic “monster music” favorites are sure to send a tingle down your spine! At 7 & 8 p.m. Tickets may be purchased online: wwwyhc.edu. Price: Adults $5.00; Children & Non YHC Students $3.00; YHC Student, faculty/staff FREE

10/197th Annual paws In The park The Parade of Animals will start at 10:30 am followed by the Blessing of the Pets, a Costume Contest, Fabulous Food and Craft Vendors. Plus Alpaca and dog herding dem-onstrations, a rabies clinic, micro-chipping and much, more! Join the Annual Paws in the Park 5K Race! Registration starts at 8 am, with the race starting at 9am. Blue Ridge City Park. For more informa-tion call 706. 632. 5224 or visit www.humanesocietyof-blueridge.org

10/25 & 10/2647th Annual mountain moonshine festivalOctober 25 & 26, 2014 Dawsonville, GA. You can’t get more down-home charm than the Moonshine Festival in Downtown Dawsonville, GA. A parade of moonshine and rev-enue cars will kick off festivi-ties at 9:00 am Saturday. Live entertainment. A Car Show, Cruise-In and Swap Meet held at the Georgia Racing Hall

of Fame. Moonshine Run on Saturday, October 25th 10:00 am, registration to begin at 9:00 am. Admission is FREE. All proceeds benefit Kare for Kids. For more information call 877. 302. 9271 or visit www.kareforkids.us

11/1John C. Campbell school blacksmith & fine Craft Auction This annual Blacksmith & Fine Craft Auction presents some of the finest craft items for sale. Join us for an entertaining afternoon with handmade craft of all types, including forged metal, fiber, jewelry, wood items, pottery, and more! Proceeds benefit the Folk School.1:00pm-4:00pm, Keith House Community Room, Brasstown, NC. Visit: www.folkschool.org/auction or call 800.FOLK.SCH (365.5724).

11/1-15Talmadge brothers funeral home and Casket CompanyA state-of-the-art haunted attraction featuring horrifying live actors, incredible special effects, and digital technology that has to be seen to be believed! Tour the former funeral home facility, but be warned. Constance still roams the halls and will not rest until all those daring enough to enter share her own fate. Tickets are available online or at the box office. 500 hood Road, Jasper, GA 30143. For details: www.talmadgebroshaunt.com or [email protected]

11/15Tortoise and the hare 50K Trail Run Introducing…the TORTOISE and the HARE 50K™! Runners will submit their estimated finishing time (formula to follow) and that will determine your starting time, with runners starting in hourly waves – Tortoises first! This will be second and final race in the Tortoise and the Hare Trail Series. This race will likely be full so mark your calendar for Open Registration day to secure your spot! Registration will open on Ultrasignup. Contact, 678-400-9050 or visit www.tortoiseandthehareracing.com

11/21 & 12/5season of light at Rollins planetarium This perennial holiday favorite is a show about the coldest and darkest of seasons—a time which holds some of the warmest

and brightest celebrations of the year. Narrated by NPR’s Noah Adams, the show explores the traditions surrounding the world’s most endearing holiday customs, all of which involve lighting up the winter season. 7:00PM. Adults $5.00; Children & Non YHC Students $3.00; YHC Student, faculty/staff FREE. Tickets at the door or online: www.yhc.edu

11/2214th Annual mistletoe market & sugar plum Tea Room, Start your holiday shopping at the Mistletoe Market. Arts & crafts to spark the holiday season. Homemade soups, sandwiches, and goodies. North Georgia Technical College. Saturday 9:00am-5:00pm; Sunday 11:00am-4:00pm. For info: Mountain Regional Arts & Crafts Guild 706-896-0932

11/27blue Ridge Turkey TrotJoin us at the Downtown Park on Main Street Thanksgiving Day for a 5K race/walk. The race is for all ages and all abilities from walkers to the serious competitor. Proceeds raised will be donated to local charities in Blue Ridge. We ask each participant to bring a can or non perishable food item to the event. All collected food will be donated to Feed Fannin. Registration at 7:00am and the 5K Run/Walk begins at 8:00AM. You may contact Barry Greenleaf at (727)458-8556 for details.

11/29light up blue Ridge An Old-fashioned holiday celebration in downtown Blue Ridge going back to its roots with a new tree, parade, arrival of Santa Claus on the train and more! Stay tuned as the event details come out!For these details you may also call 706-632-5680.

12/6hometown Christmas, Just 10 miles north of Blue Ridge is the town of McCaysville on the TN/GA border. The McCaysville hometown Christmas celebration will start with a parade, then Santa’s arrival, along with the traditional lighting of the bridge. There will be food, refreshments and entertainment. Downtown McCaysville. Call (706) 632-4236 for more details.


KIDS OF ALL AGESweekends thru Novemberu-pick Apples at mercier orchards, blue Ridge.Take a tractor ride with the family! Breathe in the beautiful mountain air and take in the beauty surrounding you in the orchards with a 360 degree view of the mountains. Weather plays a role so be sure to call and confirm. U-Picks are typically on Saturday’s and Sunday’s but sometimes extend to Friday as well. Call 706-632-3411 for schedule information for November & December.

10/1 -10/31b.J. Reece Apple orchards, Ellijay. U-Pick Apples thru October 31: 9am-6pm everyday including Sunday. We sell the last tickets to go into the orchard at 5pm each day. There is no need to make a reservation for u-pick or any farm activities, just come on up and visit us during our business hours. For info: [email protected] or call 706-276-3048.

10/1 -10/31 Apple pickin’ Jubilee, hillcrest orchards, Ellijay, U-Pick your own Apples every weekend thru October 26th. Jump for joy on our new Giant Jumping Pillow and play Hillbilly Mini Golf or visit the Apple Adventure Museum! Our Nature Trail through the woods and along the creek is filled with scenes from nursery rhymes & fairy tales….and, of course, the Petting Zoo with Buttermilk our milk cow and all kinds of other animals. For info: www.hillcrestorchards.net/festivals, or Janice Hale 706-273-9494

10/1 -31pumpkin fest at the North Georgia Zoo & boo at the Zoo This is a great time to bring your group out and experience a variety of activities. Enjoy guided wildlife walks, feeding and petting over 100 rare farm animals, demonstrations, hay rides, sunset tours, hay maze, pumpkin patch and more. Also, Boo at the Zoo Halloween Weekend! Call to reserve your tour. Contact the North Georgia Zoo, Cleveland GA at 706. 348. 7279 or visit www.myfavoritezoo.com

fridays & saturdays thru NovemberThe dark Rows! haunted Corn maze. The Dark Rows is a wickedly fun nighttime journey into the twisted trails of the moonlit cornfield. Just be warned, you will not be alone! Come see what fiendish family fun can be found lurking among the Dark Rows! It’s a scary good time. Entry to the Dark Rows haunted trail begins at dark, with the last tickets sold at 10:00PM. For info visit www.uncleshucks.com or call 770-772-6223.

10/30halloween safety Zone mcCaysville Merchants will be open late. Costume contest, scream contest and PARADE!!! 4:30-7:30pm, McCaysville, Copperhill & Ducktown. Call for more information 706-964-6531.

10/31halloween Kidsfestwoodstock, The park at City Center Bring the kids for an afternoon of Halloween trick-or-treating, interactive activities, music, magic shows, games, costume contests and more! , Starts

Friday 3:00pm. Costume contest at 6 pm. The evening concludes with an outdoor screening of “How to Train Your Dragon 2” at 7 p.m. www.woodstockparksandrec.com

10/31blairsville’s 2014 hometown halloween Businesses, organizations, churches, and individuals are invited to participate in this fun, family gathering. Over 50 vendors set up around the town square. This old-fashioned community event features free candy, children’s games, decorations, photo opportunities, and plenty of fun. It’s one night of the year that folks can run around in the streets. See you there! 5:30-7:30pmwww.downtownblairsville.com

10/31halloween safe Zone, downtown blue RidgeHundreds of costumed kids, pets and grown-up kids. Fun begins at 6:00 with all the merchants passing out candy. Costume contest begins at 6:15, ending with the pet contest at 7:30. Event is over at 8:30. Halloween Movies in

the park beginning at dusk. For info: 706-633-7400, or visit www.bestofblueridge.biz

11/7 – 12/20Night Train to santa’s pavilion Blue Ridge Scenic Railroad Please check the TRAIN SCHEDULE to confirm dates. Santa and his Christmas characters will make their way through the train, visiting and posing for pictures with passengers. Each child receives a BRSR memento, BRSR Christmas activity book, and a candy cane. A two hour layover gives you time to shop, dine, and visit Santa at his pavilion. Adults: $48, Seniors: $41, Children 2-12: $27, Children under 24 months ride FREE.

11/28-30live Nativity and holiday Celebration at the North Georgia Zoo. Join us as we celebrate the holiday season! Enjoy a live nativity, marshmallow roast, hayrides, caroling and more. Reserve your spot for the starry night tours and hayrides, where you will get up close and personal with the animals under the stars! Thanksgiving weekend, 6-8pm. Discounts

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Big Canoe, Atlanta’s nearby mountain community prized for the breathtaking natural beauty, is presenting equally spectacular works of artisans. On display and offered for sale will be the works of glass masters, potters, painters, sculptors, photographers, furniture makers and quilters to name a few.This special event, which is being presented in a custom home by THE BIG CANOE BUILDING GROUP in the artful and rustic “The Bluffs” neighborhood, gives you the opportunity to discover the many remarkable homes in Big Canoe while enjoying our fall foliage. Our newest models are also available for you to tour.For information on this event and descriptions of all the artists displaying their work, go to www.bigcanoe.com. For directions and additional information call Big Canoe Realty at 770-893-2733, 1-866-244-2266.

Opening October 23 – November 2, Thursdays thru Sundays, 10AM to 4PM. Admission is free.

Cal Breed Janet Jacobson Lora Rust

art showquartrAppalaCntry 9.14.indd 1 9/1/14 3:25 PM42 www.AclivingmAgAzine.com AppAlAchiAn country living october/november 2014

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Mountain Country Christmas Tour of Homes

In Beautiful Hiawassee and Young Harris, GASaturday, December 6th 10am - 5pm

Sponsored by the Towns County Chamber of Commerce

Tickets Go On Sale November 10th $10 Pre-Tour and $15 on December 6th

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for families. Contact the North Georgia Zoo, Cleveland, GA, at 706-348-7279 or visit www.myfavoritezoo.com

MUSICThru 2014blue Ridge brewery live music. Live Music schedules to be announced. 6-9pm Thursday, Friday & Saturday Evenings. Downtown Blue Ridge. Call 706-632-6611 or check Facebook or visit: www.blueridgebrewery.com for updates or changes.

Thru 2014live music saturdays $13.00 includes Live Music, 5 Tastings and Cartecay Vineyards’ Logo Wine Glass. 1:30-5:30PM. Cartecay Vineyards, Ellijay, GA. Chimney Patio (if bad weather Nealey Barn.) For info visit: www.cartecayvineyards.com

10/4mountain music & medicine show Reunion! Although the Mountain Music & Medicine Show is no longer a regular event on the Holly stage, you can see the first ever reunion concert! The old-time radio style variety show will showcase regional musical talent, original radio theater, local history, humor, and general good times. The Historical Holly Theatre, downtown Dahlonega For info: call (706) 864-3759 or visit: www.hollytheater.com

Thru octoberfireside music saturdays Come sit by the fireplace, sip some wine and enjoy the views of our beautiful mountains. Free live music every Saturday in October. Times: 12 – 6 pm. Paradise Hills Resort, Blairsville, GA. Visit: www.paradisehillsresort.com or call 877-745-7483.

10/5An Evening with dailey and vincent Event Bluegrass at its finest will be performed by Jamie Dailey at the Fannin County High School Performing Arts Center to benefit Fannin County Empty Stocking. Tickets are $20.00 each and available at the Blue Ridge location of the United Community Bank, The Waffle King or visit: www.fannincountyemptystocking.org

10/11dahlonega Appalachian Jam Giving traditional mountain music players the chance to get together and celebrate the kind of music that has been performed in the Appalachian Mountains for generations. Musicians are invited to bring their instruments and gather on the historic Public Square to jam. Everyone else should come on down and listen or dance. Bring a chair or stool and stay awhile! 2PM- 5 PM on the Gold Museum Lawn in Downtown Dahlonega. For info: www.dahlonegadda.org

10/25Caroline Aiken, live music is better After years of touring, Aiken moved back to Atlanta in 1986, where her bluesy voice, masterful finger picking guitar style, and hypnotizing stage presence anchored the city’s acoustic and folk scene. Blue Ridge Community Theater. Saturday, 7:30pm. Tickets and info: www.BlueRidgeCommunityTheater.com.

11/1The Gilmer Arts and heritage Assn. b.E.s.T series season premiere Joe Gransden and his big band will sing and play some of the best known and most well-loved Big Band music.

This is high energy, impacting music! With 14 CDs, and a 16-piece band of the best musicians, this will be one awesome concert! Saturday, 7:30PM. Elementary School Auditorium at 32 McCutchen St., Ellijay, GA 30540. For info and tickets visit: www.gilmerarts.org

12/6The Gilmer Arts and heritage Assn. b.E.s.T series season presents vivace a vocal group that will touch you, move you, and deliver one of the most memorable performances you will ever hear. It consists of two men and two women who have a rare combination of pop and classical voices. The unique combination of powerful male voices with emotionally driven female voices come together to create a sound that is especially their own. 7:30 pm 10:00 pm at the Ellijay Elementary School Auditorium located at 32 McCutchen St., Ellijay, GA 30540. For info: www.gilmerarts.org

THEATER10/2-19whose wives Are They Anyway? Two company vice presidents plan a golf weekend before the new CEO arrives while their wives are safely out of town They unexpectedly encounter their new boss, Ms. Hutchison, who comments blithely “no one who went golfing for a weekend without his wife would ever work for me.” And so… the hilarious “cover-up” begins! Thurs-Sat. 7:30 pm, Sunday’s 2 pm. Purchase tickets online: www.blueridgecommunitytheater.com or call 706-632-9223

10/10 thru 11/2shakespeare’s macbeth The story of a brave Scottish general who receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Macbeth murders King Duncan and takes the throne for himself. The bloodbath and consequent civil war swiftly take Macbeth into the realms of arrogance, madness, and death. The Historical Holly Theatre, Dahlonega. Fridays & Saturdays at 8PM and Sundays at 2PM. For info call 706-864-3759 or visit: www.hollytheater.com

10/24-26The little shop of horrors An enjoyable fun musical classic is in the offering for all fans of The Tater Patch Players! Check out their beautiful new theater!The Tater Patch Players, Jasper, GA. Friday & Saturday 7:30pm, Sunday Matinee 2:00pm. Contact: [email protected] or call 706-253-2800 for details.

10/30 thru 11/9The best Christmas pageant Ever! The Herdmans are absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world. They lie and steal, and smoke cigars (even the girls). They talk dirty, hit little kids and set fire to Fred Shoemaker’s tool house. So no one is prepared when they invade church and take over the annual Christmas Pageant. Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30pm and Sundays at 2:00pm. Sunny D Children’s Theater/ Blue Ridge Community Theater. Purchase tickets online, website: www.blueridgecommunitytheater.com or call 706-632-9223.

11/13-16Always...patsy Cline This musical play is based on a true story about Cline’s

friendship with a fan from Houston named Louise Seger, who befriended the star in a Texas honky-tonk in l961, and continued a correspondence with Cline until her death. This musical is performed by two women and a live band. The Historical Holly Theatre, Dahlonega, GA. Thurs-Saturday 8:00pm and Sunday 2:00pm. For information call 706-864-3759 or visit: www.hollytheater.com .

11/28 – 12/14miracle on 34th street Adapted by the Mountain Community Theater. A wonderful sentimental journey that will take you right into the Christmas Season! Rating G. Blue Ridge Community Theater. Thursday thru Saturday: 7:30 pm, Sunday 2:00pm. Purchase tickets online: www.blueridgecommunitytheater.com or call 706-632-9223.

WINE TASTINGSThru Novemberserenberry vineyards, morganton, GAWe invite you to visit our grapevines, each with its own personality, taste our wines, and experience the simple and serene pleasures that the north Georgia Mountains have waiting for you. We are just a few country miles outside of Blue Ridge, and look forward to welcoming you! Tasting Room Hours: Thurs-Saturdays, 11AM-6PM, Sundays, 1-5 PMwww.serenberryvineyards.com

fridays Thru NovemberChocolatasm! An exquisite evening of delicious wine and handmade chocolate pairings. Friday evenings at 6pm. Reservations. You may


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Thru 2014live music & Tasting at Cartecay vineyards. $13.00 includes Live Music, 5 Tastings and Cartecay Vineyards’ Logo Wine Glass. Chimney Patio (if bad weather Nealey Barn), Ellijay, GA. Saturdays 1:30-5:30PM visit: www.cartecayvineyards.com

Thru 2014Crane Creek vineyards Tasting Room open through December, Tuesday-Saturday from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm & Sunday 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. www.cranecreekvineyards.com

10/25Annual wine harvest festivalCrane Creek Vineyards, Young Harris, GA. Join us for our annual Harvest Festival at

Crane Creek Vineyards as we celebrate the completion of the year’s harvest. Tickets will be sold at the door, adults $20, ages 13-20 $10, children under 12 free. Crane Creek Vineyards, 916 Crane Creek Rd, Young Harris. For more information call 706. 379. 1236 or visit www.cranecreekvineyards.com

10/31hallo-wine Costume party Cartecay vineyards, Ellijay. Live music with Danny Rhea on the Chimney Patio, or Nealy Barn if bad weather. $13.00 includes Live Music, 5 Tastings and Cartecay Vineyards’ Logo Wine Glass. 6pm-9pm. 5704 Clear Creek RoadEllijay, GA 30536706-698-9463 (WINE)www.cartecayvineyards.com

10/31halloween Costume Tastings at the paradise hills Resort, blairsville. Wear your costume to the

tasting room and get a free wine tasting. Let’s see that creativity. You never know who may be serving you that day! Friday, 12-6pm For more details: website: paradisehillsresort.com. or phone: 706-745-7483. GPS Address: Paradise Hills Resort, Spa & Farm Winery, 366 Paradise Road, Blairsville, GA 30512

11/ 8 - 11/9woodstock Art & wine festivalThis family friendly festival features a juried fine art and craft show, wine tastings, live entertainment, a hands-on kid’s activity area and plenty of great food. Stroll the artist market featuring more than 50 artists, sample more than 30 wines and enjoy live entertain-ment. Saturday and Sunday 11:00AM to 5:00PM. Entry is FREE for all ages. The Park at City Center downtown.www.woodstockartandwinef-estival.com

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