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Valle Crucis News
By Callie Foss
May 7, 2008
Wasn’t Sunday beautiful? It was nice to be able to enjoy the warmer weather while sitting on the porch. Ethel and I were enjoying all of the flowers that are beginning to peek out – the apple blossoms are almost over, and luckily the cold weather didn’t nip them this year. Our irises are just now beginning to bloom and we are just overrun with pansies that came up from last fall’s seeds. I’m so glad that the forecasters for Saturday’s weather missed the rain. It seems like each of the last six weekends we’ve had rain or snow. However, we can use a shower or two because the effects of the drought are still being felt. Rain would be nice…as long as it’s between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. Don’t you agree?
I hope everyone went to the polls on Tuesday. It is not only our right, but our obligation to take part in the democratic process by voicing our opinion and seeking out candidates to do what’s best for the country. Ethel and I vote every time we have the opportunity. We believe that if you don’t voice your opinion at the polls, then you can’t talk about the decisions that are made by our elected officials. Sometimes we agree and sometimes we disagree with the decisions those in our government make. As always, there is a way to make your views known. Our politicians are just a phone call, letter, or e-mail away and they want to hear from their constituency. The upcoming election in November will be a hard fought race, and we hope that our country can find elected officials that want to do what is right for the country without consideration of party lines.
Mother’s Day is coming up this Sunday. We hope that you will remember your mother and visit with her a bit. Did you know that 25% of the floral purchases for the year are made for gifts on Mother’s Day? It is also a peak day for long-distance phone calls and one of the busiest days of the year for many restaurants. We remember our mother each year by planting one of her favorite flowers in the garden. She had so many. This year’ we’re planting some four o’clock seeds in her memory. I can’t put in writing what she used to say about them, but all in all, we believe that she did enjoy their light perfume in the night air.
Speaking of Mother’s Day, the Shawneehaw Volunteer Fire Department Ladies’ Auxilary is having a plant sale on May 9th at 1 p.m. and on May 10th starting at 8 a.m. at the Fire Department. You’ll be able to find hanging baskets, impatiens, geraniums, fuchsias, and other assorted flowers along with fruit and vegetable plants, too.
Holy Cross Church will be having a Treasure Sale, also known as a Rummage Sale, on May 8th, 9th, and 10th starting at 8 a.m. each day. They have all kinds of items that would be useful around the house. The sale will continue until noon, except on Saturday when it will end at 11 a.m. Stop by to see what treasure you can find.
Mark your calendars for the Farmers’ Market at the Mast General Store. The first market will be on Wednesday, May 21st from 2 p.m .until 6 p.m. Last year, we found all kinds of produce there, and it was much more convenient than having to go to Boone. My favorite was the pitty-pat squash. I cut it into “slabs,” breaded it, and baked it. It’s just as good as fried squash and a lot better for you because you don’t have as much grease on it. Of course, I had to put a little mayonnaise on top. Yum!!
I’ll have to get the birthday news to you next week. As always, it seems that when Ethel and I switch off, we lose the folder that has all of that valuable information in it. One of these days I’m going to have to get better organized.
Please send us your news on email to callieandethel@hotmail.com. If you need to send it by the postal service, mail it to:
Valle Crucis News
c/o Sandy Shook
Watauga Democrat
474 Industrial Park Drive
Boone, NC 28607
Many thanks for all of the news you shared with Ethel. She does such a good job of pulling it all together and snooping around a little bit herself. Here’s the quote of the week: Happiness does not consist in pastimes and amusements but in virtuous activities. Aristotle.
Have a wonderful week.
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Valle Crucis News
By Ethel Foss
April 8, 2008
I hope you are having a great week! Thank you to sweet Callie for writing during March. What wacky weather we had in March. I hope I can report on some fine, warm spring days ahead in April. Although this week looks like April Showers will bring about May flowers.
Our double daffodils are absolutely beautiful. We even went into the woods
where some had been flooded away from the garden and picked a few big
bouquets. Not only are they beautiful but they are so fragrant. Vases full
of yellow blooms will brighten any day.
I heard Sonny Sweet on the radio talking about the trout tournament last weekend at the fishing hole behind Henson Chapel in Amantha. I hope it was a big success. I will always remember the first fish I caught on a cane pole. I was as proud as I could be at 5 years old with that tiny fish swinging from the hook. Callie and I used to fish when we were little girls. I didn’t like putting the worm on the hook so she always did it for me. Neither of us liked taking the fish off so we would holler until someone came to help!
I left Callie at home to watch basketball and went to the coast with some friends after
Easter. It was so nice to have a change of pace and see spring across the state. The red bud trees were stunning along the interstate and it was fun to watch the Bradford Pears.
They are blooming just off the mountain and are totally green with leaves in the eastern
part of the state. It was cool and windy on the beach but we had such a good time eating seafood and collecting shells. I did have to bundle up while walking on the beach but I did not mind one bit.
It was nice to come home and sleep in my own bed after being away. I am always in awe of our beautiful mountains traveling back up Hwy. 421. I am so thankful there are no billboards to obstruct the view.
And speaking of billboards, oh my goodness. I counted over 20 big billboards just from
Broadstone Road to Zippis on Hwy 105! This does not even count the signs in front of businesses. It is such a sharp contrast over the billboard free Hwy 421. I understand businesses wanting to advertise but it sure is distracting with so many billboards in such a short span of space.
I got a note from Fay Binning about the Avalanche Triple Crown. These are three running races to raise funds for the Ted Mackorell Field of Dreams Soccer Complex. The first race is the Valle Crucis 25K run which is a bit over 14 miles and will be held May 3, 2008. The runners start at Valle Crucis School and go up Hwy 194 to Matney. They take a right onto Rominger Road and follow this beautiful roadway to the Watauaga River Road and run back to the school.
The second event is the Valle Crucis 7 Miler on September 5, 2008. This run
also leaves Valle Crucis School and takes runners on Hwy 194 past the Watauga River, onto Bairds Creek Road, up to Danner Cemetery, back down the mountain and finishes at the school.
The final event of the Triple Crown is the Running of the Knob on October 5, 2008. This event starts at the Watauga County Library and the participants run or walk up to Howards Knob. Mike and Debbie Galleher walked the event last year and are hoping to participate again this year.
There is $1,500 in cash prizes to be split between the top 3 male and top 3 female finishers with their overall combined times for all three events. To register and for more information, visit www.avalanchetc.org.
Fay also told me about the Celebrity Serve event this Tuesday. This year the Field of Dreams will be the recipient of Celebrity Serve. I read about it in the paper and hope it is a good event.
I was sorry to hear that Belinda Forsyth's father passed away recently in Sweden. Belinda is such a lovely woman and our thoughts and prayers are with her during this sad time.
Safe travels to the 8th graders from Valle Crucis who leave Wednesday for their trip to Williamsburg, VA. I know they will have a great time and make fun memories. Also for VCES parents, the PTSA meeting has been changed to April 15 at 6pm in the Media Center.
Callie and I are hoping the weather is good this weekend so we can go up to Grandfather Mountain and take advantage of Dollar Days. We always try to visit the top of the mountain in April. Thanks to the kind folks at Grandfather Mountain for creating this opportunity for the local folks.
Have you ever watched the television program Deal or No Deal? I heard Shelby Cannon who works at the Mast Store Annex has made it to the second interview on the show. Now wouldn’t that be so fun to watch Shelby win one million dollars! I will keep you posted if she makes it on the show.
Congratulations to VCES students Jeanette Vines, Anna Church, Kayla Cole, Skylar Hicks and Yancey McCoury. These girls have been chosen to represent Watauga County in Florida at the AAU National Volleyball tournament in June. They will also compete in the Quest 4 Excellence Tournament in Greensboro, NC. The girls would appreciate any monetary help that you might offer to get them to the tournament. For $75 your name will be listed on the back of their sponsor shirt, $150 or more your logo or small advertisement will be included. Contributions can be sent to: Appalachian Avalanche c/o Danielle Stewart, 6599 Hwy 194 N, Boone, NC 29607. Call Danielle Stewart 828.264.4502 with any questions. Way to go, girls!
Callie and I are playing hide and seek with the birthday list and neither one of us can find it. We need to get our spring cleaning going to get ourselves organized! I do know Annie Binning is 22 years old on April 8, Pat Holmes celebrates April 8, and Heather Stewart’s birthday is April 7. I will catch you up on the rest of the birthdays next week. Until then, have a great week. You can send us an email to callieandethel@hotmail.com.
I like Callie’s quotes so here is one of my favorites:
People will forget what you said,
People will forget what you did,
But people will never forget how
You made them feel.
Quoted by Maya Angelou
Caption photo: Jeanette Vines, Kayla Cole, Anna Church, Skylar Hicks, Yancey McCury
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Valle Crucis News
By Callie Foss
April 2, 2008
Can you believe the weather? First it was warm enough for people to think seriously about their gardens, then a cold weather “wedgie,” as Ray called it, makes itself known with fog and chilly, damp temperatures all through the weekend. Surely it's going to warm up a bit soon…and stay that way. I'm looking forward to that, along with being able to enjoy an afternoon glass of tea on the porch without having to bundle up like an Eskimo.
Did you catch any of the basketball games this weekend? Ethel and I were particularly interested in the Davidson – Kansas game. We truly enjoy seeing an underdog do well, and Davidson represented all of us in North Carolina and the Southern Conference very well in the NCAA Basketball Championship Tournament. We just knew that the shot by Richards was going to fall at the last second. When it didn't, we had a bit of a let down, but we were still proud of how hard the Wildcats worked and played to leave a lasting impression. We're hoping that the Tar Heels make us proud next weekend!
I was on the way to pick up a few things on Friday afternoon when I passed by Sarah Mast's house around 6 p.m. They are getting a start on their gardening and had a triple hitch of draft horses that were so brown they were almost black, or maybe they were, my eyesight isn't what it used to be. They were beautiful as they strained against the harnesses pulling the plow. The earth is turned and almost ready for planting.
We saw Howell Cook walking his horse across the pasture this morning. He's probably getting ready to do the same thing. Spring is such a magical time of year. I've noticed that the trees are all getting their “red buds” on, which means that tender, green leaves are near.
Just a reminder for you. Ethel and I saw in the Watauga Democrat that the Sheriff's Department is looking for two men that are selling meat out of a cooler in their pick up truck. From what the article says, they approach people either in their neighborhoods and if you agree to purchase some meat, they put it in your freezer along with all kinds of other stuff you didn't want. Then they demand payment for all of it.
We were approached by these same men about a month and a half ago when we were picking up a few things at the Sally Beauty Supply (we have to keep up appearances, if you know what I mean). They asked if we would like some nice fresh steaks and made us a pretty good price. It just seems a little strange that someone would buy from “two guys selling meat out of a pickup.” After all, where did they get the meat? So, we turned them down. I hope none of you, dear readers, are caught up in this situation. If you see these two men, please call the Sheriff's Department at 828-264-3761.
Don't forget about the Erin Isaacs Ride on April 26th. It's fun, scenic, and for a good cause. If you need more information, please call Charles Gilliam at 828-964-8157 or e-mail at gilliamhouse@peoplepc.com.
This week is April Fool's day. I hope you'll let us in on some of your April Fool's jokes. If you get any good pictures, that are good natured, of course, please send us one and we'll post it on the news page at ValleCrucis.com and maybe even send it along to the Watauga Democrat.
Birthday wishes go out to Charlotte Frost on April 1, Tom McDonough on April 2, Will Blake on April 3, and Annie Binning on April 8. I hope you have a wonderful time celebrating your special day!
Please send us your news on email to callieandethel@hotmail.com. If you need to send it by the postal service, mail it to:
Valle Crucis News
c/o Sandy Shook
Watauga Democrat
474 Industrial Park Drive
Boone, NC 28607
Ethel returns as the reporter of all the news there is to know here in Valle Crucis for April. I hope you enjoy what she has to say and will send her a note or two. Here's a quote to ponder for the week: Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined. Henry David Thoreau.
Have a wonderful week. I'll look forward to visiting again in May.
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