Of course, Summer does not last forever and neither does the Tailgate Market. This Saturday, October 29th will be the final market of the year. We'll have to spend November to May enjoying the Winter, but looking forward to what the Tailgate market will hold for us. This will be a special Saturday to celebrate another great season, with special activities like tool-sharpening, goat-milking, and hay rides. The Tailgate Market calls it a "Harvest Fair" that closes out the season with a bang. If you haven't been able to catch even one weekend at the market, you should take advantage of this one.

Tomorrow, on the 27th, the vendors and several other local businesses are coming together for Pig and a Pint at Pisgah Brewing. From 4-7, you'll be able to sample foods from vendors, growers, and local chefs. There will be a whole pig roasting, Pisgah brews to sample, and music to enjoy. The $20 ticket gets you access to the event, which benefits the Black Mountain Tailgate Market itself. If you're looking for a personally beneficial means for community support, this one has to go straight to the top of your list. You can stuff your face, drink great beer, have fun listening to music, and know that you're doing it all for Black Mountain!

We love our town and all that is on offer for residents and visitors. We hope you'll take advantage of these opportunities to sample (literally) just a little bit of what's around town and in the surrounding areas. It's always a great time to live in Black Mountain, but this weekend will taste better than ever.

Recently on our Facebook page, we asked for recommendations for local hikes. We are constantly being asked about good trails in the area and always want to make sure that we are passing along good information to those eager hikers. One of the spots that popped up under our request was Max Patch.

Max Patch is roughly an hour's drive from Asheville and a little more from Black Mountain. Anyone who has been there will tell you that the small hike is well-worth the time invested to drive out near the Tennessee/North Carolina border. Sometimes called "the crown jewel of the Applachian Trail," this grass-covered peak offers stunning views of the collision of ranges and ridges in the area. Both the Smoky Mountains and the Black Mountain range (sound familiar?) should be on display on clear days. The hike is part of the Applachian Trail and so can be part of a much (much much much!) longer hike, if you so desire. But the parking point gives you access to a 1.4mile loop that will take you to the summit and back, a 2.4mile loop that gives you a bit more to see below the peak, and the larger trail that invites a 10mile hike to Lemon Gap. This trail offers an array of options.

But the diversity of options is not likely what will keep you coming back to Max Patch. It's the scenery. At around 5,000 feet up, you'll get some earlier views of Fall coming or a relaxed picnic site that lets you spin around for a constant adjustment in your personal panorama. Formerly used as a cow pasture (don't worry... it was a long time ago) and still used as a popular horseback trail, this is one that should be taken advantage of by humans as well.

There are a couple different ways to get to Max Patch, but the below directions are the simplest, most direct way to get there:

Come in via I-40. From Asheville, drive about 39 miles west of the I-40/I-26 interchange to Exit 7 for Harmon Den and turn right on Cold Springs Road. From the west, it's about 37 miles east of the I-40/I-81 interchange on I-40 in Tennessee (just under 7 miles from the NC state line) to Exit 7 with a left turn onto Cold Springs Road. From I-40, Cold Springs Creek Road goes 6 miles up the mountain and ends at Max Patch Road. Turn left and go another 1.5 miles to the Max Patch Mountain parking area.

Be aware: most of your drive off the interstate will be on gravel roads. So don't expect fly up those last 7.5miles! Also, be sure to bring an extra layer or two, because those thousands of feet of elevation gained really count when it comes to feeling warm enough.

And the last and most important tip is simple: Bring a camera.

-Directions are from hikewnc.info, a useful guide to many more trails in Western North Carolina. Check them out!
-Photos are from romanticasheville.com, another terrific resource for all things Asheville.

America is a vast place. We have thousands of miles in our borders and are used to the idea of spending four to eight hours merely driving to another state, where citizens of other countries cross international borders with such a trip. This affords us many things, among them a diversity of spectacular landscapes. Plains blowing in the wind, two different oceans crashing against the rocks, large, lazy rivers wending their way through the countryside. And we have within our country two large mountain ranges with very different characteristics: the Rockies and the Appalachians. Residents of Black Mountain with friends who live among our larger geological cousins know that some can may chuckle at the size of our mountains, saying that, if nothing else, our mountains are "cute." Anyone looking for mountains with elevations above 6684ft (Mt. Mitchell), will need to hop over the Mississippi.

Our smaller, greener mountains roll on and on in a more gentle fashion. Some might say that our mountains feel more inviting. They are not a visible objection to our presence, but rather an invitation into the woods and the rivers. We're invited by our landscape to make our home here. But because of this gentle nature, the proximity, the homelike appearance of these hills, hikers can be deceived into thinking that the challenge is minimal here and residents might forget that the Appalachians offer stunning beauty that rivals any view you can find out West. Coming up a trail in these mountains, around a switchback, or through the tree line can leave you breathless and lost in the rich green (or red or yellow or brown, etc.) expanse that rises up or falls away suddenly.

These places are sometimes hidden and hard to reach. But sometimes, they're just a short drive away. One such place is Black Balsam Knob, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Black Balsam is most easily accessed just past the turn-off for Graveyard Fields. Pulling onto Black Balsam road, look for parking areas on the side of the road or continue on to the parking areas. You'll find the trail fairly clearly marked as you enter a forest that should put you on alert that this is not your typical hike. It's full of conifers and shrubs that make you feel like you may be on a mountain that is twice the height of the one you're on. Very quickly, you will break out of the trees and right in front of you is a grassy bald that, even from below the top, you can tell will have killer views. The walk to the top is not especially difficult, though you are climbing. After this short hike, look left. Then right. Then straight ahead, and then behind you. Spin around if need be. You are in the middle of an incredible panorama. Clear views of a sunrise, matchless views of a sunset, and every point of the sun's progress in between. You can see where the Mountains to Sea/Art Loeb trail continues on. You can spot peak after peak. You can continue on or you can pitch camp for the night (if you're ready for camping in an exposed place that requires your own water). Or you can just stand there for a few hours and take it all in.

You'll feel small. Very small. This easily-accessible, easily-done short hike is a pleasant reminder that home is a touch more wild than we remember sometimes. And home is a good place to be.

Driving Directions:

From Asheville, take the Blue Ridge Parkway South past Mount Pisgah, US Hwy. 276, and Graveyard Fields. Just past milepost 420, look for the road to Black Balsam (FR 816) on the right. The (semi) paved road travels about 0.8 miles to the first parking area where the Art Loeb and Mountains to Sea trails cross. This is the easiest route to the top of Black Balsam itself. The road travels down another 1/4 mile to the Black Balsam Parking Area, where there are pit toilets, informational signs, and several trailheads.

Directions and photos are taken from hikewnc.info, a fantastic resource for everything hiking in Western North Carolina

Mother's day is just ONE DAY AWAY!  If you are looking for some things to do here are some tips from us!

Bagel With Cream Cheese, Apple, and Honey

Serves 1

Hands-on Time: 05m

Total Time: 05m

Ingredients

• 1 plain or cinnamon-raisin bagel
• 2 ounces cream cheese
• 1/2 apple, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon honey

Directions

1. Split and toast the bagel.

2. Dividing evenly, spread the bagel halves with the cream cheese and top with the apple and honey.

Big on Love, Short on Cash

A memorable day with Mom doesn’t require a lot of money. Stroll through downtown and visit our numerous art galleries.  Explore local hiking trails that showcase the area’s stunning beauty. Or simply snag a table at a local cafe and people watch while you share a dessert.

If you are in the area why not hit the Blue Ridge Parkway?  Find an overlook or go hiking on a trail you haven't explored yet.  Pack a lunch and you may even hear someone playing bagpipes on this special day!   

Another favorite place of ours is the Pink Beds in the Pisgah National Forest, Bervard NC. The Park Service considers Pink Beds loop trail as being "family friendly" because there is very little elevation change. Unlike other trails in Pisgah, Pink Beds is a comparative stroll with no steep ascents or descents.

The prime destination for this portion of the hike is the beaver dam. The trail has had to be rerouted several times to accommodate the beaver. You are not likely to ever see a beaver, but you might spot a great blue heron fishing.

How to Make a Terrarium

What you’ll need:

- Empty clear glass jar with screw on lid
- A handful of scavenged moss with some extra soil attached
- A plastic bag

1. Keep an eye out for moss freely growing in your neighborhood. Even in New York I found some growing in between the cracks of the sidewalk with 3 minutes of looking. Just scoop a handful up and put it in a plastic bag on your way home.

2. Other small plants found growing outside can be used, too. Just gently loosen their roots and hurry home to plant to plant them, as they have a much shorter life span out of soil than moss.

3. Weed out any dead growth from you moss and carefully examine the soil if you’ve found it in an urban environment. I found cigarette butts and a safety pin inside my mine!4. Thoroughly clean your jars and soak to remove the label.

4. Thoroughly clean your jars and soak to remove the label.

Spring is almost here!  We are already starting to see some flowers sprouting up in Black Mountain. 
The next time you are out hiking on the trail start looking for these little beauties!  Here is a list of some wildflowers you'll see in our mountains:

• Beardtongue - Growing one and a half to two feet tall, this endemic finds its home on well drained soil where it can receive sun roughly half the day, such as on the edge of woods and along roadsides. Just four short weeks of glory is all the blooming time this lovely perennial receives, beginning mid-May and ending in mid-June. The flowers are pink to purple, turning white towards the tube, with purple nectar guides on the lower petals, a good indication of pollination by insects. One stamen is sterile and is heavily bearded with yellow trichomes, or hairs. It projects from the center of the flower like a tongue, thus giving the plant its namesake.

• Black Cohosh - is a summer plant of the deep woods and forest margins, reaching up to 6 or even 8 feet tall. From late June through July, the white flower spikes of Black Cohosh reach above the ground cover making this an easy plant to spot in the summer forest. It's appearance is easily distinguished from the similarly named Blue Cohosh, which is a much smaller plant, blooming earlier in the season, with small brown flowers. An early spring ephemeral that blooms March to April, mainly in the mountains and piedmont of NC.  The flower bud, on a separate stalk but completely enclosed by the developing leaf, pushes upward through the leaves as one of the plants of spring. 

• Blood Root - An early spring ephemeral that blooms March to April, mainly in the mountains and piedmont of NC.  The flower bud, on a separate stalk but completely enclosed by the developing leaf, pushes upward through the leaves as one of the plants of spring.

• Rhododendrons - The two most abundant species are the Purple Laurel or Catawba Rhododendron, Rhododendron catawbiense and the Great Laurel or Rosebay, Rhododendron maximum . The Catawba Rhododendron grow mostly on bald mountain tops at higher elevations (above 5000') and spectacular displays can be viewed in late May to late June at Roan Mountain, 13 miles north of Bakersville, NC or at Craggy Gardens along the Blue Ridge Parkway north of Asheville.

• Flame Azalea - This is one of the showiest shrubs of the mountain forests and mountain balds. Color may range from yellow to red, but orange is predominant. It is a widely used garden plant that likes acid soils.

• Indian Paintbrush - The color of this plant is mainly on the leaf bracts. The actual flowers are hidden beneath the red-tipped leaves. The plant is semi-parasitic on the roots of grasses.

• Jack in the Pulpit - Actually a fairly common perennial in many areas, Jack in the Pulpit, Arisaema triphyllum, is found scattered throughout various terrains in the southern Appalachians but it can almost always be found near waterfalls or where water is running or splashing. Three fairly large leaves radiating out from the top of the stalk are usually the most noticeable feature and the flower is often hidden beneath. The flowers appear through the spring and into the summer. Later in the summer, the flower is replaced by a black seed cluster that turns red by autumn.

• Ladyslippers - Ladyslippers bloom from April through June. Occasionally, large numbers can be found in one area. Pink Ladyslippers are generally found in acid soils near Pine trees. These orchids rely on a particular fungus present in the soil for their growth.

• Large Flowered Trillium - The flower petals of these trilliums may be up to 2 inches long, but are distinguished from the Nodding Trillium by the fact that the flowers are held above the foliage. Spectacular colonies of these trillium's are often seen growing near small streams in rich woods of the mountains and upper Piedmont.

If you are looking for an easier way to find these flowers head on over to the North Carolina Arboretum.  It's a perfect place to take the young and old for easy, up close, and intimate views of the flowers.  Enjoy hiking, bike riding, picnics, exhibits, and special events at the Arboretum.  All you have to do is pay 8.00 for parking and you are free to enjoy the day! 
Head on over to their website for more information! - http://www.ncarboretum.org/

1. Get a great basic hot chocolate recipe that'll be good on it's own or dressed up (since that's the whole idea of the night!). We like the one on the back of the Nestle cocoa powder box
2. Think of all the goodies you can that would make a basic cup of hot chocolate better! Here's our list: Additions: Chocolate syrup, raspberry syrup, Kahlua (for grown up hot chocolate), milk/cream, if you want to get a little crazy you could also stir in a spoonful of Peanut Butter, or Nutella 'til it gets good and melty; vanilla, mint or chocolate ice cream. Toppings: Marshmallows (of all shapes and sizes), whipped cream (homemade or redi-whip), marshmallow cream, chocolate sprinkles, finely chopped nuts, chocolate shavings, mini-chocolate chips, etc. Stirrers: Chocolate spoons (see our recipe below), candy canes, chocolate covered mint sticks and pirouette cookies.
   
3. Create your guest list and assign each friend a couple of goodies to bring!
4. On the day of - make your hot chocolate, lay out all of your goodies like a make-your-own-sundae bar, set out plenty of games and other fun ways to pass the time, and enjoy!!

• chocolate chips of your choice: semisweet, milk, white
• plastic spoons

1. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or microwave, but stop before it's completely melted! Stir until totally melted
2. Dip each spoon in the chocolate to coat the spoon part really well
3. Place on wax paper and allow to harden

1. Change your light-bulbs! We know that energy saving light-bulbs seem expensive, but did you know that over the bulb's lifetime (which is anywhere from 8 to 15 times longer than a regular bulb) you can save up to $60? Not to mention it is much more energy efficient than a regular bulb which helps the planet out a great deal!
2. When it gets warmer, try hanging your clothing outside on a line or on a folding drying rack! Not only will they smell great and fresh after being in the mountain air, but you'll also save money and energy! By the way, a fun fact: one load of laundry uses the same amount of energy as it takes to make 250 pieces of toast! SO eat your breakfast and hang up your clothes and save yourself some money!
3. Unplug your TV! You'll have more money, more family time, AND you'll be using less energy! A TV that's plugged in and off is still using half the energy it uses when it's plugged in and turned on! If unplugging it's too much of a hassle, switch to a power strip and just flip the switch when you aren't in the room
4. You can save the world while brushing your teeth too! The average faucet runs at more than 2 gallons a minute... meaning that if everyone on your street brushes everyday, you and your neighbors could fill an Olympic size swimming pool every year! That is a lot of water. So turn the water off while you brush - it's as easy as that!
5. Invest in an electric tea kettle. Next time you need to heat water for tea or hot chocolate, whip out that electric tea kettle - it heats water nearly twice as fast as it's stove top counterpart! So save some time and energy and use one of these little guys! They're cheap too - starting at $10
6. Unplug your cell phone charger! These guys will get you! On average a cell phone charger only charges a cell phone for 5% of the time it's plugged in. That means that the other 95% of the time, the other 22.8 hours of the day, your cell phone charger is using power for no reason.... so unplug it! Or switch it to the same power strip as your TV from idea 3
7. Lastly, get to know your thermostat! First figure out what temperature causes your heating/ac to run constantly, then never set it that high again. Second, turn it down when you don't need it. When you leave the house for the day, turn it down. You can turn it back up when you get home and cozy up with a mug of your favorite hot beverage. Also, when you go to bed at night, turn the thermostat down. Consider putting on flannel sheets and an extra blanket for a snuggly warm bed, with out the cost of running your heat all night! We bet you'll sleep better too.....

     Here's something for all of you who like to push the limits around the Black Mountain and Asheville area.... The Black Mountain Marathon and Mount Mitchell Challenge. Why is this different than any other marathon you may ask? Here's why: there's a near 3000' elevation change in the first half of the run! And that change would be a climb in elevation. Also, because the race date is set in late February (it'll be on the 26th this year), there's usually still plenty of ice and snow on the course.... as well as other hazards including possible encounters with bears and wildcats (you are running through wilderness that is their natural home), the nearly 100 percent chance that you will sustain an injury somewhere along the way due to the rough terrain.

     In case this isn't enough for you, the founders of this race also created the Mount Mitchell Challenge. 26.2 miles too short? A 3000' foot elevation climb to little? The idea of only climbing a peak that's 5,340 ft in elevation seem like child's play? Well, the Mt. Mitchell Challenge has got you covered! If you choose the challenge here's what you'll be faced with: starting at dawn, runners take trails from the starting point in Black Mountain to the summit of Mt. Mitchell - 6,684'! In case you don't want to do the math, that's a 4,324' elevation climb in the first 20 miles! From there runners will return to Black Mountain, persevering through the grueling terrain and the curve balls Mother Nature throws for another 20 miles!

Sound like your kind of adventure? To register visit http://www.blackmountainmarathon.com/

Here's our list:

1. The Blackbird Restaurant: Upscale (but not outrageously expensive) American Cuisine
     Here's why we love the Blackbird: They dish out consistently amazing food, with friendly service, and a great atmosphere! Oh, and the presentation is always spectacular as well. The fireplace is lit in the winter providing a cozy spot to enjoy your meal, an in the summer there is plenty of out door seating on their brick patio with whimsical lighting in the trees above. The Blackbird is located at the entrance to the Village of Cheshire, at 10 East Market St. A link to their hours and menu is posted below.

     Staff Favorites at the Blackbird

1. Arugula Salad with pinot poached pears, spiced pecans, shaved fennel and blue cheese
2. Lemon Seafood Risotto featuring the catch of the day
3. Everette Farm's Burger with pimento cheese, pickled red onion and shoestring potatoes

2. My Father's Pizza: Casual, Yummy, Italian food that's made from scratch in-house
     Why we love My Father's: 1. It's been around forever (meaning it's always good!), 2. Their specialty pizzas are some of the best around, 3. Everyone in the town eats there so you'll most likely see someone you know, 4. It has a wonderful, casual atmosphere - GREAT for families!, and last but not least, 5. They're now open on TUESDAYS! My Fater's is located on 110 Cherry St. with parking in the back off of East State St. A link to their hours and menu is posted below:

     Staff Favorites at My Father's:

1. White Garlic Pizza with chicken and Banana Peppers
2. Roasted Chicken Sub
3. Manzo Pizza
4. And.... garlic bread with extra cheese and honey mustard dipping sauce

3. Ole's Guacamoles: Fresh, Authentic, Mexican food
     Why we love Ole's: The food is consistently good, and authentically Mexican. In addition, the people are some of the nicest you'll meet and the atmosphere is vibrant, relaxed and friendly. Ole's is in their new location at 401 East State St. A link to their menu and hours is posted below:

     Staff Favorites at Ole's:

1. Fish Tacos
2. All fajitas - especially steak
3. El Tajin (Ice cream topped with cinnamon chips)

4. Oak House: the best Paninis you've ever had. Ever.
    Why we love the Oak House: The description above should be enough, but if you need further persuasion know that everything else on the menu is excellent - from the blackened salmon to the spinach salad to their amazing desserts! Also, if you go back more than once, you become family and really get to know the staff and owners (they're great!) The Oak House is located at 105 Richardson Blvd, across from the Black Mountain Post Office. They're fairly new in town, so they don't have a web site yet, but they are open every day but Sunday for lunch and dinner, and their phone number is (828) 669-2300.

     Staff Favorites at the Oak House:

1. French Dip Panini
2. Pimento cheese appetizer
   
3. Dill Potato Salad
4. The Reuben

5. The Morning Glory Cafe: Great fresh foods that hi-light local and organic ingredients
     Why we love Morning Glory: Morning Glory has a fun, semi funky vibe, with friendly staff and a laid back atmosphere. They have an absolutely stellar breakfast menu and are open for breakfast for 7 days a week! It's a great place to have a lunch meeting as well taking the whole family out for breakfast! They are also open for dinner, located at 6 East Market Street in the Village of Cheshire, and a link to their hours and menu are posted below:

     Staff Favorites at the Morning Glory

1. Veggie Melt
2. Stuffed French Toast
3. Bowl-of-Yoga
4. Mountain Man Breakfast

6. Dynamite Coffee: Coffee.... need we say more?
     Why we love Dynamite: These guys roast their own beans on site! Good coffee and a good atmosphere makes this our coffee house of choice! Dynamite is located at 3198 US Highway 70 West and a link to their website is posted below:

http://www.dynamiteroasting.com/index.html