It's Bristol Baby!

Last fall when Red Chair visited Eastern Tennessee and Western Virginia, Red had a great honor to sit in the stands along with fellow red chairs dreaming about "Bristol Baby" and the Border Battle.   Red is just sorry not to be here for the April and August races this year, but will be watching on tv I'm sure.

We still have some rooms available for the April race and we give you a secret back road which gets you out of the after race traffic so you are back at the Inn or Chalet or Lake House in no time at all. Give us a call at 423-768-2446 to reserve.

Spring is finally comin' round to the mountains.  The pastures and fields are turning bright green, spring peepers are noisy in the evenings, the daffodils are stretching to the sun, the red buds are just coming out way at the top of the limbs, and the cardinals are making sure Momma has plenty to eat.  I saw a male feeding his mate just yesterday.  Amazing!

Walking around the Inn property I've noticed that winter was very hard on fish, plants and the window boxes. The last two koi seem to have disappeared...raccoons or bears, I'm not sure.

I've checked with Wintergreen Farm but they said not quite time to plant pansies and other early flowering plants yet.  Darn!  I am in need of some color!  Went to Lowes and just looked at all the colorful pansies and phlox and Easter lilies...dreaming.

Also noticed a couple of dead bushes at the head of the driveway at the Lake House.  Looks like this year is going to be the year of replanting everywhere.  But I guess after 17 years, it's probably time to make some landscaping changes.

Those of you who have come up the driveway the past couple of months noticed it felt like a washboard.  Steve came today to smooth it out....motorcycles will have no problems coming up to the Inn or the Creekside Chalet now!  And my car will be able to get it's rack and pinion straightened out.

Looking forward to sharing the magic of the mountains with you this spring, summer, fall and winter!

Sunrise over Doe Mountain....come see it before the leaves cover the trees and the sunrise will be peeking through the leaves.  March and April are fabulous months in the mountains....no bugs, cool sunny days for hiking and a cozy log home at the end of a day of exploring.

So much do in this area: bike the Virginia Creeper Trail (wisteria in May falling down the sides of the rock faces) in nearby Damascus, VA; attend live professional theater at Barter in Abingdon, VA; "It's Bristol, Baby" the third weekend in April at the world famous Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, TN; wine tastings at Watauga Lake Winery and of course, hiking the famous Appalachian Trail or trails right on the Iron Mountain Inn property.

Something for everyone and if you want to bring the family...rent the entire Inn for a grand family reunion or group of friends to share the magic of the mountains.  Looking forward to your visit.

Christmas Tree Hunt for Iron Mountain Inn B&B

The Day After Thanksgiving and the family was all here.
Time to cut the perfect tree for the Iron Mountain Inn's front window, you see
Off to the mountaintop and Wintergreen Farm we go
The road winds round up to the top
And there are the trees...all covered with snow!

The day was coming to close so it was a search in a hurry
But just enough daylight to help in our search

From tree to tree we hurried, first this one's perfect, but no, that one's better. Oh dear, which one did we choose....they all seem so perfect!

Dad was our measuring rod - 7-8' would be perfect, that's him plus his arm raised high
After circling the trees and finding no faults, we picked the perfect tree to load on our car.

Simon came with the saw and the stick (to raise the lower branches while Todd did the work)
Another family also had chosen their tree, so both were loaded onto the wagon to be taken and shaken so no snow came home too

Bottom first the trees were loaded into the wrapping machine, then lifted and hefted onto the car.

A few more errands and then home to the Inn where the tree will stand in the window for all to see
As we celebrate this holiday and the start of another year.

Come share the magic of the mountains with us in December, mention this blog and take 15% off your stay.

Bacon

Did you know there is now an International Bacon Day?  Learn more about bacon by contacting the author who is looking for information:

query-43sv@helpareporter.net 

I'm writing an article for International Bacon Day (8/30/14)
about bacon's following around the world. I'm interested in how
bacon is eaten and celebrated in other countries. Bacon food
tours, bacon tastings, bacon festivals, bacon restaurants,
specialty or signature bacon dishes, and any interesting bacon
news in countries other than the US. 

Guess there are a few countries where this Bacon Day will not be celebrated....

I like bacon but not too fond of bacon ice cream.  Bacon wrapped around water chestnuts was very popular years ago as a cocktail appetizer, but you don't see it much anymore Sometimes it was wrapped around liver...now that was an interesting combination.

I like bacon in a BLT, but you also have to have really good L and T and Dukes Mayo to make this more than a routine blt.  For those who don't know Dukes...you may use Hellman's.

  

I like bacon with eggs especially fried eggs when they are fried in the bacon grease.  Not too good for the heart, but on a special occasion, splurge!

Bacon wrapped around a filet is also good.  Gives a little extra "bite" to the steak and when you unwrap the bacon from the steak you get those wonderful little pieces stuck to the bacon.

So remember....International Bacon Day is coming up!  Are you ready?

Doe Mountain Recreational Area in Doe Valley, Tennessee

 

Sunrise over Doe Mountain

Discovered by Daniel Boone as he rested on his way west, the valley formed by the Watauga River which came to be known as Doe Valley has been a majestic landmark in Johnson County, TN for hundreds of years.  Legend has it when Daniel Boone was traveling west, he stopped in this fertile valley, shot a doe and so named the valley Doe Valley and the creek he quenched his thirst from as Doe Creek.  Today it still provides water and fishing for the local inhabitants.

For many years the 8600 acre mountain named Doe Mountain was used as a wildlife management area as well as a place for the local hunters of Johnson County to hunt deer, turkey, and bear.  In about 2006 it was sold to a developer who planned to turn it into high end homes on secluded lots, build a large 20 acre pond for fishing and there was even talk about making a golf course on the mountain.

Then the recession arrived and the market fell out for second homes, especially high end ones and the developer went bankrupt.  Rumor had it that he had turned down $35M for the property a few months before the bottom dropped out.  Oops!

There the mountain sat.  Not bringing any tax income to the county which could have used it, not being used for hunting, hiking or anything else, just sitting there waiting for someone to buy it from the bank.  Along came a timber company which offered the bank $1.5M and the timber company planned to clear cut the mountain.  ARGH!

Although this is a protected quarry, this is what the mountain might look like once all the trees were cut down and the stumps removed.  Luckily our county Mayor, Larry Potter, was not going to let this happen to an important natural resource right in the center of the county.  And so he began to search for funding to purchase the mountain and save it from destruction.The Nature Conservancy came to the rescue, bought the property and then after due diligence sold it to the State who gave it to Johnson County.

Now the volunteers, county officials and outsiders who want to use the trails are working to make Doe Mountain the recreational facility it can be.  Already there are ATV trails, hiking trails and soon, once the insurance comes through, horseback riding trails will be created.  The biggest need right now are funds to hire a supervisor, but the permit fees haven't justified filling a full time position....but one will be hired soon.

So if you like to hike, bike, ride an ATV or explore the geology and plant life of this unique property, come stay at the Iron Mountain Inn B&B, Creekside Chalet or House on Watauga Lake which are all about 10 minutes from the mountain.

Fabulous Food Glorious Food Enticing Food

Food is something about which we all have opinions and which we cannot do without.  But what I find fascinating about food is that in your entire life, you never have to eat the same thing twice if you don't want to.  Now, you may be using the same ingredients, but what you do with them makes the outcome different than the time before.

Since I like to try new/different dishes often, I'm always looking for new recipes and ingredients.  The internet is a great resource for this!  The following recipe I got from friends who tail gate in Connecticut and love good food and drink.And I think they got it from a George aka Ed who got it from Mario TailGates NASCAR Style.  And since I'm close to Bristol Motor Speedway, "the last great Colosseum this is a very appropriate meal.

Eggs From Hell

INGREDIENTS:

4 TBLS extra virgin olive oil

1 medium onion coarsely chopped

6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

4 jalapeno peppers, seeded and cut into 1/4 inch dice

1 tsp hot chili flakes (or a few drops of Mazi Piri Piri sauce - known at the Jersey shore)

3 cups basic tomato sauce

8 farm fresh eggs

1/4 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano or Pecorino Romano cheese

PREPARATION

Place 10" cast iron skillet on stove (or outdoor grill) over medium heat

Add olive oil and heat until just smoking

Add chopped onion, garlic, jalapenos and chili flakes and cook until softened and light brown.  Takes about 7 minutes

Add the tomato sauce and bring to a boil

Immediately lower th heat to a simmer and carefully crack the eggs one by one into the tomato sauce.

Cook until set to your liking

Remove the pan from the heat and sprinkle with cheese.

It will be cool enough to serve by the time you transfer the eggs to a plate and then to the table.,

Serves 4

Sausage or other ingredients may be added during the cooking period.

Once you try this and I'm sure each of you will adapt it to your taste it will become a mainstay in your recipe box.

We get our eggs from a local farmer who has chickens which lay blue, green and pink eggs. These are green... at least some of them are!

Spring Race at Bristol

Won't be long until the trucks, trailers, campers and cars will start arriving at the Bristol Motor Speedway for the Spring Race!  As always...the "last great .... well I can't spell Collesium....so if someone reads this, please let me know!

Anyway, we are a short 45 minutes from the track and we give a "secret" back road so you don't get caught in the after/before race traffic.  Leave your seats, walk to your car and you'll be back up the mountain in no time at all!  So give us a call before all the rooms are gone and enjoy the weekend at the Iron Mountain Inn B&B.,  Have a few friends coming with you?  Why not either rent the entire Inn (4 bedrooms and 4.5 baths) or the Creekside Chalet (3 bedrooms 2.5 baths, hot tub under the stars) or the House on Watauga Lake (3 bedrooms 3 baths and a fishing dock at the end of the lawn).

Of course, many guests enjoy relaxing at the Inn with full breakfast each morning, snacks and drinks on your return from the track,,in fact, dinner may be ordered in advance so once you return to the top of the mountain you don't have to leave,

And what a view you have from the mountaintop!  First timers always stop, get out of their car and then stop to look.  At night...it's often the stars which are so close you can reach up and grab a handful they seem so close.  Sunsets are spectacular as the last light of sun slides behind Iron Mountain.  Even cloudy days have a beauty all their own..

So check out the website: www.ironmountaininn.com, send us an email or give us a call.  We look forward to sharing the magic of the mountains with you...either for the Race Weekend in March, or August, or anytime you need a break from the 9-5!