Happy Fall Equinox!

Today we transition from summer to fall...at 4:44pm EST to be specific.  When I left the cabin on my road trip this morning, the temperature was falling and the moon was glorious...it looked full even though it wasn't...maybe the Universe's way of keeping the spirit of the Equinox going:)

 I arrived at the river house to this incredible blue sky with puffy and feathery clouds in the distance...

...not being at the cabin welcoming Fall, I'm happy being here on the river...can't wait for a moon dance with Jessi this upcoming weekend!

I'm keeping this post brief because I've been driving since 3:35am and have lots of tidying up to do...Happy Fall Equinox to you!

Thanks for reading my blog, you are the best f/f/r/s/f's, see you tomorrow,
Lise

Last Day of Summer

It's been grey and rainy on this last day of summer and the last time daylight is present longer than darkness for a while...

...a cold front is moving through.

It makes for a perfect day curled up by the fire...

Johny just got back from a camping trip with his buddies (they got out of there just before the heavy rains started) and we're chatting about what each of us did the past few days.  We're also making detailed plans to plant asparagus...takes a long time to have asparagus produce, so we want to get some in the ground this Fall...more about that to come!   

It's also perfect book reading weather...I'm reading Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins...it's the second book in the Hunger Game series...I haven't seen the movie and probably won't (I much prefer reading actual novels to movie versions)...but I enjoyed Hunger Games and am finding Catching Fire hard to put down.  I don't talk much about everything I read, I don't really know why, but in addition to reading science fiction, I really enjoy reading novels set in the southern Appalachian Mountains and written by local authors...one of my favorites is Vicki Lane. 

I'm also packing for another road trip to our river place...heading out early tomorrow morning...I'm looking forward to watching the first day of Fall awaken with the sun rising as I travel through the mountains, maybe I'll get some good photos!  I'm really excited because Jessi & Liam (and Trevor, Jessi's boyfriend) are coming next weekend...yippee, Liam time! 






What better way to spend a rainy day???

Thanks for reading my blog, you are the best f/f/r/s/f's, see you tomorrow,
Lise

Carrot Greens Pesto

Yesterday, after canning our beets and carrots I was left with the beautiful greens...

 ...and I couldn't bring myself to put them into the compost bin...you know what they say, waste not, want not!  They can be eaten raw in a salad and are quite tasty, but I had so much that I decided to make pesto. 

Carrot Greens Pesto

Ingredients:

1 cup carrot leaves, stems removed
6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 large garlic clove
juice of 1/4 lemon
1/4 tsp sea salt
3 tbsp toasted pine nuts
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
(this will make about 1 cup of pesto; I quadrupled the recipe because I had so many greens)

Directions:




Toast the pine nuts in a pan over medium heat, just until they start to brown.

Combine the carrot leaves, salt and garlic in a food processor, pulse to chop.

Add the rest of the dry ingredients and pulse until everything is combined.  Set the food processor on mince, and slowly drizzle the olive oil into the mixture until smooth.

I decided to make beet greens pesto as well...same ingredients but with the beet greens.

The carrot greens pesto is a beautiful bright green, the beet greens pesto a little darker.  I sterilized the containers and am freezing the pesto until we want to use it....can't wait to put this on some pasta...or make crostini... 

Thanks for reading my blog, you are the best f/f/r/s/f's, see you tomorrow,
Lise

Preserving Carrots & Beets...Part 2

I've spent much of today canning...beets and carrots, as promised...but let's begin at the beginning...

I shared the harvest basket yesterday, these are the washeded carrots...

 ...and beets.

 While the beets cooked to fork tender so I could skin them...

 ...I cleaned up the carrots...some were pretty funny looking!

  I got them cut up and put them in a bowl of water while I worked on the beets. 

I used a basic canning process for the carrots, and decided to follow the Ball canning book recipe for the pickled beets (click on the link for the recipe), but changed the 1 Tbsp of whole allspice to 1 1/2 tsp of allspice and 1 1/2 tsp of clove (I saw clove in another recipe so decided to modify a bit...you know me, the kitchen experimenter!). 

The beets looks absolutely beautiful coming out of the boiling water...

...and even more incredible after I skinned them (I've never done this before, anything with beets, but found myself totally engaged and excited by every step!)...

 ...I decided to include some onions with the pickling recipe (that was a long thought out decision, but in the end, picking won)...

...these things are a gorgeous red that turn your fingers and anything else they touch a pink color, but as I said, I enjoyed this first time process for me, and was tickled by everything turned pink!

In the end, I had 1 jar of sealed carrots, 1 jar that was not (I discovered a slight dent in the sealing ring, so those will have to be refrigerated and used in the near future), I had an extra jar of beet juice that I mixed with the pickling juice and will use somehow, and 3 jars of pickled beets with onions...I think they are going to be awesome!...If I do say so myself!

This living off the land thing is really starting to take it's hold on me!  Even though I don't have a big enough garden to provide everything we need, I do believe buying from fresh produce markets and canning is the thing for me! 

Thanks for reading my blog, you are the best f/f/r/s/f's, see you tomorrow,
Lise

Harvesting and Preserving Beets & Carrots

I'm proud to say I have successfully canned my first green beans!  I got a new gasket for my canner and now it works like a charm...click here to read more about my first attempt.  They look good!  I'm also proud to say I used the beans I put in the fridge when I first my first canning attempt didn't work to make a green bean casserole last night, and it was delicious...I have to say canning your own vegetables results in a far tastier product than what you get in grocery store canned veggies...I'm a true believer in canning! 

Being a beginner, I did forget to run a spatula around the edge of the jars before sealing them to get all the extra air out of the jar, so I could see the air bubbles once the canning was finished.  But the jars did produce that delightful popping sound after I took them out of the pressure cooker, and I will test them by removing the rings and making sure the seal is suctioned onto the jar once they cool, but I'm feeling confident they are sealed!

What does all this have to do with carrots and beets?  Well, I was so excited about my success that I decided to go ahead and harvest the carrots and beets to preserve them as well.

I knew we had a lot of carrots, but I didn't realize how many! They totally hide the beets that were on one side of my basket...so I separated everything so you could get a better look at the entire harvest...beets...

 ...carrots.

I'm planning on canning the carrots, some cut up and some whole (love roasted whole carrots), and I may pickle the beets.  I'll be doing that tomorrow and will share my photos then. 

Anyone out there have carrot or beet canning recipes you'd like to share?

Thanks for reading my blog, you are the best f/f/r/s/f's, see you tomorrow,
Lise

Thistles, Hornets & Crab Apple Jelly

Today I'm sharing a little about a few things in our day...

It's taken the Thistles a long time to show themselves this summer and we're happy to see them finally blooming...their stunning prickly looking pink petals are a complete contrast to the other ruffle-like flower petals that surround us...and butterflies and bees love them (though today is quite cool so the butterflies are few and far between)...

...even the web builders seem to find the buds attractive!

We often sit on the porch swing drinking our coffee in the morning, and despite the cool temperature, I bundled up in a few blankets (Johny's version of bundling up is long pants and a t-shirt) and enjoyed the what could be the last of mornings warm enough to not require a fire. While sitting there, I was fascinated by a Bald Faced Hornet...I heard her (I say her because the white markings on its gaster [tail section] appear to be that of a worker, which is an infertile female) buzzing about and then I heard nothing...I looked up and she was enjoying her breakfast of some type of flying insect (they prefer eating live prey to nectar), basically tearing it apart to eat the insides...I was totally captivated and had to share!

And then they were gone!  This Hornet is a mean looking creature, but as long as you don't disturb it (and you definitely don't want to do that, they are merciless if disturbed/attacked) it will leave you alone.  While I was mesmerized by her breakfast activities, I made sure I kept myself far enough away to keep myself from becoming her next target!

I told you about making my Crab Apple Jelly a few weeks ago, and confessed that I added twice the amount of sugar than was needed.  While the jelly is good, it's very thick and quite sweet (no surprise there...someone suggested reheating it and using it as syrup for pancakes...sounds like a good idea to me) and I had to try one more time to see what this Crab Apple Jelly would taste like if done correctly.  I've just finished jarring the new batch and I'm hopeful the final product tastes as good as it did on the spoon!  I'll let you know.  The Pyrex container has 3 cups of remaining Crab Apple juice, not sure what I'm going to do with it yet, I'll probably freeze it for now and maybe make Crab Apple-ade...what do you think?

Mountain Man is currently off interviewing a few women who grew up on Pumpkintown Road and have several stories to share.   Have I ever told you he is writing a book about life on Pumpkintown, both way back when and now?  Folks around here are really interested in having these stories recorded!  I think it will be really awesome...and FYI, you pronounce this area as 'Punkintown'...I'll let you know when the book is published!

Thanks for reading my blog, you are the best f/f/r/s/f's, see you tomorrow,
Lise

The 9th Anniversary of the Peeks Creek Disaster

I wrote this post last year but thought it appropriate to share again today.  It's hard to believe it's been a year since I met with my friend Bob to discuss this terrible event in his family's life and the lives of all those living along Peeks Creek.  For some, this day will be forever haunting...for others, a memory pushed into the recesses of their minds with the hope of not having to remember.  I continue to hold healing thoughts for all those whose lives were changed on this day 9 years ago.  

~~~

Written September 16, 2012:

This post is dedicated to all the residents of Peaks Creek, permanent and part time, whose lives were forever changed 8 years ago today. 

On September 16, 2004, around 10:10 PM, the rain drenched earth slid down Fish Hawk mountain, collecting every tree, rock and boulder in its path, gaining mass and momentum every second.  The huge, 15 foot tall debris field plowed into Peek's Creek, demolishing everything in its way.  5 people lost their lives, 2 people suffered tragic injuries, and 15 homes were destroyed.  For everyone affected, life would never be the same.

This is what remains of my friend Bob's family home, as reported in the New York Times on September 20, 2004.  This is just one of the 15 homes torn from it's foundation, some being shredded to nothing but rubble.

You can click on this link for additional photos of the Peeks Creek disaster.


How Could This Happen

Fish Hawk mountain peaks at 4400 feet and has a smooth bedrock face.  Hurricane Francis dropped 11 inches of rain throughout western NC, and within 2 short weeks, Hurricane Ivan dropped yet another 11 inches onto an already rain soaked area.  The excessive rainfall soaked deeply into the soil, accumulating where the soil met the underlying bedrock.  This accumulation of water caused the earth to lift above the rock, decreasing it's ability to "hold on", which resulted in the down slope slipping of the earth along the rock.  (The space you see between the trees below is the path of the debris flow; this photo was taken 8/30/12, so much regrowth has occurred since the disaster, however you can clearly see the path.)

This slope failure began at the top of the mountain.  Evidence indicates that initially, the earth slid straight down the face of the mountain as a unified mass of trees (mostly oak, pine and poplar), soil and rock fragments, approximately the size of a football field.  Curved trees in the area adjacent to the initiation point indicate a creeping, slow down slope movement due to gravity.  The mountain's slope is very steep, 35 - 55 degrees, resulting in quickly increasing momentum as the mass progressed.  Further down the mountain, the earth material left erratic marks on the rock face, indicating the flow was turbulent.  As it sped further down the mountain, it collected more trees, boulders, rocks, gravel and dirt.  (Photos taken 8/30/12, notice the regrowth.  You can see the bedrock face in the first photo, this is the initiation point of the debris flow. The second is looking down from the bedrock face into the path the earth took down the mountain along the creek.)

As the giant mass entered the steep segment of the channel of N Peeks Creek, it's velocity and discharge rate continued to increase as it followed the ready made path of the creek.  Scientists were able to use the debris flow's banking on turns along it's path to estimate that the giant mass was moving at greater than 33 mph with a discharge rate of 45,000 cu ft.  This compares to 140 dump trucks pouring their loads all at one time onto your lawn, but while passing by @ 33 mph!  This debris flow took a total of about 6 minutes from the moment slope failure began to the time the debris flow crashed into Peeks Creek.  There was no warning of the nightmare about to befall the people of this gentle community.  When the sound of the freight train and the sight of things whirling were evident, the mountain was already upon them.

An analogy was given that this event was similar to standing at the top of a steep slide when you were a child; you sit to begin coasting downhill and quickly accelerate, banking around the curves until you abruptly hit the ground...except imagine having a thin layer of water beneath you, propelling your descent with astonishing speed, and the incline is so steep that when you hit the bottom, the force compacts your body into the ground.  Such was the Peeks Creek debris flow.

You can click on this link to the NC Geological Survey for further details about the geology of the disaster.


The Human Experience

It is impossible to convey exactly what the victims of this terrible night felt and experienced.  I can only share what I have learned from having read the different reports and articles thus far, as well as what I learned from my friends Bob and Art.  I am deeply grateful for the time they spent showing me Peeks Creek and taking me to the the beginning point of the debris flow on Fish Hawk Mountain.  And I am honored that Bob shared the details of his personal experience of loosing his family home with me, and all that that encompassed for him and his family.

Out of respect for the victim's privacy, I am not sharing names.  My hope is not to open any deep wounds or bring up difficult memories; only to help others understand what occurred and the enormity of the horror of that night. 

Several residents who eye witnessed the confusing events of the night said it sounded like a bunch freight trains;  it was the only analogy that came to mind in the darkness.  For those who heard it, the sound was frightening enough to cause them to move from where they were into a direction they could only assume was safe. For those who lost their lives, no one will ever know if they heard a thing. 

One gentleman noticed an abnormal rise in the creek on his way to work that evening and after some thought, turned back to go home to tell his wife.  As soon as he arrived at the house, they heard the horrifyingly unusual sound, raced out the back door and up the hill with just enough time to turn and watch their home get crushed and and pushed away by a swiftly moving mountain of earth filled with trees and boulders.

Another gentleman who suffered both serious injury to himself and lost his home, described seeing a tornado, watching as his roof was blown off then feeling himself spinning in the tornado while seeing his dog, his refrigerator, his wood stove and a maple tree spinning about with him, thinking to himself "my God, this is a chasm" and then blacking out. 

A young woman lost her mother in law, young son, unborn child and also suffered serious injury to herself. 

A young couple evacuated from their home in Florida to escape the danger of Hurricane Ivan.  Their destination...Peeks Creek, to the family's trailer situated near the bank of creek.  The young man was actually on the phone with family when the debris flow demolished the trailer and killed he and his wife.  Later, the family member shared that one moment he was chatting with him, the next, the phone went dead.

Generations of families enjoyed life in this peaceful holler; for all it would never be the same.

A Travesty Within a Tragedy

Residents were in shock and despair.  Their homes were destroyed, friends and neighbors were dead or missing, and recovery workers were finding body parts within the rubble.

Bob shared that his mother received a call from officials asking if anyone was in their residence on the evening of September 16th (they were calling all residents as part of the rescue and recovery efforts to ensure everyone was accounted for).  Once learning that no one was present in her home that evening, they then informed her that her home was destroyed by the debris flow.  Once Bob learned of this, he  immediately drove from Florida to their much loved mountain home of 50 years, but with no real concept of what he would find.  On his drive, he received a call telling him that a photo of the family home was on the cover of the New York Times (first photo at the beginning of the blog) and that half of their home was gone.  The concept of what that really meant was hard for Bob to grasp.  Only when he arrived at Peeks Creek and saw the massive destruction, the totally changed landscape, and the recovery efforts taking place did the reality and stinging blow of the nightmare hit.  He was not prepared for the scale of the disaster.

Later, after the recovery efforts were under way, Bob's second stinging blow was the demolition letter Macon County sent, stating that the house "was condemned" and it was "illegal to enter".  50 years of family life obliterated by a mountain of debris, leaving only fond memories.  The family was grateful however, to not have lost life or limb.

When the dust had settled and the residents of Peeks Creek were continuing to pick up the pieces, they learned that no insurance payment would be made because the policies had an "earth movement exclusion"..."damage due to debris flow from heavy rain, flooding and landslide"..."we can not extend converge for the damage to your property at Peeks Creek".  Despite the efforts made by the home owners to make their case, the insurance companies won the fight.

Fortunately, the State of North Carolina decided it was imperative to provide State Hazard Abatement funds to assist in the recovery to ensure that no further imminent hazards would exist when families rebuilt their homes. Total damages were $1.6 million.  Furthermore, as part of the hazard abatement, no further development would ever be allowed in the area.

Nature's Recovery & Peeks Creek Today

Peeks Creek will never be the same.  What was once a small stream is now gouged out as wide as 50 feet in some spots.  Nature has taken over and almost obliterated the stream from view in some spots.  But it will always be Peeks Creek.

The following pictures were taken on 8/30/12.  They show different areas of the path the debris flow; to see photos immediately following the disaster, click here Peeks Creek disaster, they are not necessarily of the same spots along the creek as the pictures I took, but will give you an idea of nature's regrowth over time.

This photo gives you a sense for how steep the descent is.

Here you can see the creeks flow and how the path of the debris flow did not actually get very wide toward the top of the mountain, rather followed the creek.

Notice the narrow creek now flowing, but all the rocks littering the path; this was not how the creek originally looked.

The creek used to be seen clearly from the road, and if you were standing at the creek, the road would have been about at the height of your knee.  As you may be able to tell here, now the road level is about 5 feet above the creek; the debris flow gouged out the earth and deepened the creek's path significantly.  It did not, however, increase the depth of the water.  You can also see how nature has filled the land with wildflowers and saplings, healing itself after having everything on it's surface violently scraped away.

Notice all the rock, dirt and silt piled up along both sides of the creek.

These photos are nearing the area where the homes that were destroyed once stood.  It is also beginning to approach the bottom of the creek where it eventually joins the Cullasaja River. Again notice all the large rocks and boulders; they were not always there.

Please note that I am not an expert on Peeks Creek.  I am a person who was deeply touched when in October 2005, I learned about this tragedy, and visited the site.  I was filled with tremendous sadness, even though I did not know anyone who had been personally affected at that time.  I was also astonished by devastation I saw.  And extremely curious about how this could happen.  I am no stranger to natural disasters.  In fact, I was directly involved with Florida's recovery efforts (through my work at the time) in all the 2004 hurricanes...Charlie, Francis, Ivan and Jean.  Honestly, I did not enjoy it.  Not because I didn't want to help, but because it is difficult to be focused on others when you yourself have been affected (I am extremely fortunate that I had only minor damage to my home from the hurricanes, I can not imagine the impact of sustaining major damage).  Perhaps this is one of the connections for me, being that the same storms created disasters 600+ miles away from me...what a small world we live in. 

Now, years later, when I visit Peeks Creek, I am once again astonished by nature.  But this time, because of it's ability to recover, renew & revitalize.  In many ways, nature is creating a new Peeks Creek.  My hope is that for all those affected by this nightmare, they may find peace in the resumption of their new lives.

Acknowledgements: 
New York Times, September 20, 2003
Franklin Press, September 21, 2004
Asheville Citizen Times, September 17, 18 & 22, 2004
"The Day the Earth Didn't Stand Still" DVD, HOPE Fund
NC Geological Survey
Much gratitude to the search and recovery teams and volunteers who assisted in the aftermath of this disaster.

And a very special thanks to my friend Bob for sharing your story with me!  (Art, next time we go for a Jeep tour, you can have the front seat, LOL!)

Thank you for reading my blog, you are the best f/f/r/s/f's, see you tomorrow,
Lise