peeping frogs in February

Like the photos on the Rose Hill website home page, this photo is copyright by Harold Jerrell. You can buy some of his beautiful prints at Rosemary's Specialty House in Rose Hill.

Anyway, the frogs are peeping this week! It's only the first week of February, and sure enough, while I was hauling off my trash on a warm sunny afternoon to the convenient Rose Hill convenience station, right by that creek, I could hear those frogs peeping! I associate that wonderful sound with early Spring. Strange to hear it this time of year. What do they do, crawl back into the mud when the next Winter weather spurt hits? It's supposed to be snowing again this weekend. I also saw a bluebird this week, which surprised me again. Word has it though, that the bluebirds are staying over during the Winter cuz folks are feeding them at bird feeders. Anyway, it was unseasonably warm here some this week, and now the frogs are peeping, bluebirds are flying around, and my Spring flower bulbs are popping up out of the ground.

Shame it's going to be snowing this weekend, cuz Harlan County Ridge Runners ATV Club is sponsoring a Sweetheart Ride on Saturday. Sounded fun! They've got lots of great events planned already for 2008, and we'll have more information posted in the events section soon.

Joan

River Place on the Clinch (new lodging options!)

Kyle's Ford TN is not too far away from Rose Hill, just over 30 miles. It's probably alot shorter distance "as the crow flies." My ancestors lived in the Kyle's Ford TN/ Blackwater VA vicinity, and I just love that whole area. It appears there's a real push for some eco-tourism development in Kyle's Ford. They're touting a retreat center, several cabin/cottage rental facilities, seasonal canoe rentals, a market, and a cafe. Check out the website at www.clinchriverecotourism.com. The online menu for the cafe is pretty nifty. It appears that you can get a cheeseburger for only $1.69! Want some fries with that? French fries cost only 79 cents! I'll bet you get excellent service with a smile too. Sounds like the perfect destination for one of my scooter tours this Spring. Okay, who wants to go with me to get a cheeseburger and some fries in Kyles Ford? At those prices, I'll even buy your lunch!
Joan

Study suggests a Rose Hill hotel

There's an article in today's Kingsport Times News with the headline, "Study suggests Duffield, Rose Hill as possible sites for hotel." The article explains that Lenowisco Planning District Commission presented a report that may help spawn growth of hotels and motels in the western corner of the Commonwealth. The report explains that The Wilderness Road State Park (which is primarily comprised of a replica of the original Martins Station fort, which was located at the present-day Rose Hill), which opened in 1997, brought in 118,000 visitors in 2006. The park has averaged a annual 25% increase in visitor traffic since 2000. The park is now one of the region's fastest-growing attractions. Lenowisco's Senior Planner, Frank Kibler, explained that the study can be provided to developers to promote the construction of a hotel.

Resident Tourist

I've lived here in Rose Hill for almost five years now, but I've yet to learn much of the backroads around here. It's beautiful everywhere around here, and I'd like to tour about these backroads a bit more, take some time to learn my way around in the vast countryside surrounding downtown Rose Hill. So I got myself a toy for Christmas... it's a scooter! Gets about 80 miles to the gallon! So now I feel that between my rugged off-road "two-wheeler" and now my road legal scooter, I can go tour around about anywhere! In spite of it being wintertime, I managed to put over 100 miles on that thing one day. Went plumb past Mulberry Gap over to Vardy! Yep, rode that thing right over Newmans Ridge. The scooter maxes out at about 8 mph going up the mountain and about 35 mph coming down the mountain. It's a great way to see the local countryside! You can take alot in at 8 mph! I was laughing about my scooter and "two-wheeler" adventures recently, and a nice "native" Rose Hill resident declared me to be a "resident tourist." haha! I liked that little phrase. Perhaps it's an apt description. This scooter was previously a rental scooter for tourists at a little resort down in the Great Smoky National Park. I think it likes going up and down mountains! haha! I think the scooter population in Rose Hill is up past 6 now. I wasn't the first one in Rose Hill running around town on a scooter, and I sure ain't the only one either. We'll have a scooter club and Saturday rentals running in town before too long. hehe!

Inside Rose Hill Library

This photo was taken inside the Rose Hill Library computer center, just before it opened in June. The new library wing and computer center were developed through the USDA Community Connect grant. Folks are using the computers now and attending the free workshops provided in the center.

Hidden Holler General Store

The Hidden Holler General Store has opened in downtown Rose Hill. We'll get it added to the business directory here soon. They sell all kinds of nifty stuff from Raleighs salve (YES! You can still buy "old-fashioned" Rawleighs products!!) to handmade dulcimers to Moonpies. Matter-of-fact, seems like you might can swing thru and get a Moonpie AND a Pepsi to go with it, for only a dollar! It's a great, new downtown store.

Springtime blossoms at the post office

Okay, I must have taken the winter off from blogging. No, it's not really Spring here yet... this photo was taken last year. I like it because the tree at the post office is in bloom.