February 12, 2007 – 7:56 pm
We cant believe the amount of progress Jeff made on the lower level. He sent us some pictures of what he has done so far.
He built a stairway to the downstairs from…..what used to be a closet!
December 24, 2006 – 1:48 pm
The weather was gorgeous during our time in Boone. It was sunny, but crisp and cool. The family took alot of walks and explored our river community.
We walked down to the New River, which is a lovely stroll from the cabin. We walked across the wooden bridge that connects River Ridge 1 with River Ridge 2. We discovered to our amazement that just on the other side of the bridge is a Christmas Tree Farm.
While it is too late and we will not be here long enough to enjoy a freshly cut christmas tree this year, we will be sure to keep it in mind for future Christmases.
December 22, 2006 – 12:59 pm
We managed to coordinate with 4 of our 5 children to spend a long weekend at the cabin at Christmas time. That is quite a feat considering 4 of the 5 are in college all over the country.
It was love at first sight for them too! Each of the kids carved out their own space and bedroom. The girls shared the ‘blue bedroom’, Jordan got the ‘plaid bedroom’ and Michael was thrilled to have the entire loft to himself. We even had room for Goo’s friend Amanda, who drove up from SC for 2 nights.
We know we will have many wonderful family get-togethers at Bearfoot Hideaway.
- Family Christmas at Bearfoot Hideaway Boone
- Christmas at Cabin in Boone
November 19, 2006 – 7:14 pm
The cabin is a 3 story structure. The main level is solid log construction with a kitchen, dining room, living room, MBR, full bath and laundry room. The top level is also log construction, with 2 BRs, a full bath and a huge loft with a fabulous vaulted picture window.
But the lower level is NOTHING, but a dirt floor (that follows the contour of the mountain), with A/C and heating systems. It has an exterior door, and (get this) a full wrap around deck!
It is RIPE for finishing, which is why we hired Jeff, our contractor, to finish the entire lower level. Jeff designed and is executing the build out.
We will be adding a HUGE rec room with a TV and sitting room and another area for a pool table. The level will have a full bathroom and an additional bedroom. We will be adding a hot tub to the lower deck, but we are having Jeff sink it into the deck, so we do not have to climb UP into it. It will also be very private on the lower deck.
He will begin the project right after Thanksgiving.
November 10, 2006 – 8:48 am
We flew into Charlotte yesterday morning. The trees were still a bit colorful down there.
I got this nice shot of a welcoming sign and some changing trees along the airport exit.
Autumn is just starting in Charlotte, but up in the mountainsof Boone, I think it is past peak. That is something we miss in Florida.
On the drive up 321, we stopped and bought a futon. The previous owners took theirs. (?) We are hauling lots of other things I bought such as cabin quilts and shower curtains. I don’t like their taste very much.
We stopped for a late lunch in Hickory. Hickory is the furniture capital of the East Coast. I have a feeling we will be there alot.
We got to the cabin in the dark, but our realtor was nice enough to come earlier and turn on the heat and lights for us.
We brought in food and had our first fire in our very own fireplace. Starter logs made starting it a cinch 🙂 We will have to hone our skills later.
We worked very hard and slept like babies. We think the bed in the master bedroom is the most comfortable we have ever slept in.
November 1, 2006 – 10:02 am
We are closing on the cabin today. It was the easiest closing I have ever been through.
We are going up next weekend to OUR new cabin!
October 26, 2006 – 5:17 pm
We decided to put the cabin into a rental program. We got a recommendation from our realtor for a rental company in Blowing Rock.
Considering we will only use it once a month at the most, it makes sense to rent it out for weekends and holidays.
I am not sure I like the idea of strangers in the cabin, using my things, but hopefully the people who use it will be as nice as the others we have met so far in NC.
We got a list of ‘items’ that we have to buy in order to rent it. It looks like it is going to be a big upfront cost. We need at least 2 sets of bedding, towels and dinnerware. We are required to provide a gas grill (and gas), and a hot tub is recommended. GEESH
October 6, 2006 – 10:54 am
As born and raised NYers who moved to South Florida, I guess we are inured to rudeness and indifference. While I have a special place in my heart for the NY attitude (which is really misunderstood), I realize they are too busy to pay attention to every passerby. However, South Floridians are just downright nasty and rude! Driving in South Florida is like navigating streets in a third world country. Restaurant staff is rude, neighbors unfriendly and service industry is non-existent.
Not so in the mountains! Dealing with all the people we have encountered in our cabin quest has been refreshing! With the exception of our first real estate agent, Nancy, the folks have been delightful. Our agent has bent over backwards to please us. Even the gov’t agencies we have called for information have been helpful. We have been able to ‘have a nice chat’ with the building department, code enforcement, etc.
Nice change. It will be a vacation home for sure.
September 22, 2006 – 12:42 pm
We made an offer on the cabin and after a counter offer, we have a deal. We really got a great deal. Considering all the furniture and furnishings the previous owners put into it, we think they lost money on the sale.
The cabin is a 3BR 2Bth solid log cabin with 2 floors and an unfinished lower level.
All 3 bedrooms have very comfortable queen beds. The beds have sheets and quilts with shams and bedskirts.
The main level has a living room with a high vaulted ceiling and picture windows, dining room, large kitchen, master bedroom and bath with laundry room. There is a wide wrap around deck on this level. The deck currently has a gas bbq grill and 2 white wooden rocking chairs. There are multiple views from this deck. One side looks out at the mountains, another side looks up the hill of our land and the other one looks toward the back of the cabin where there is some flat level land.
The upstairs has a large loft overlooking the living room with huge windows, the loft had a futon on it, but the owners are taking that with them. Go figure! There are 2 lovely large bedrooms and a double bath on this floor.
The bathroom is accessible from both bedrooms and has a lock out powder room on each side.
The lower level is unfinished and actually has an earthen floor. There is a large wraparound deck on this level also. Unfortunatley, unless you walk down the mountain, there is no access to this deck. We will probably finsih the lower level. Evan has big plans for a nice hammock right here.
September 18, 2006 – 7:43 am
We spent this past weekend visiting the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina.
Evan had every intention of talking me into a 2nd home purchase. He has been scouring the MLS listings in the Boone and Blowing Rock area ever since we got back from Vermont. I know he loves the mountains and longs to live there. Our trip to Vermont really got him started on his mission. NC is more accessible for us, so I went along for the weekend.
The drive from Charlotte to the mountains was a nightmare. We hit major traffic and were delayed for hours. I was bracing myself to hate the place. As we approached Blowing Rock on 321, the traffic lightened and the views were incredible. As we climbed higher on the mountain, I became more open to the idea. By the time we rounded the curve in the road on the outskirts and approached the quaint sign declaring we were in Blowing Rock, I was hooked!
We stayed in the Ridgefield Inn on 221. It was a charming motel/inn. Main Street, Blowing Rock was everything I loved, a low key, but upscale and artsy street, complete with adorable coffee shops, craft stores and art galleries. A lovely park with rec and green space is smack in the middle of town.
Thanks to Evan’s ‘research’ we had identified about 30 properties we wanted to view, everywhere from Mountain City TN, to Seven Devils, to Boone and Blowing Rock. We knew we found the location when we entered River Ridge!
There were 3 cabins for sale in the community. The one we settled on is less than 1 year old, is beautifully furnished and has a great mountain view, without being sunbaked.
We are going to make an offer on it this week. Keep your fingers crossed.