News From Them Thar Hills!

Volume 4, Issue 1, January 2013

Happy New Year!

Well, another year has once again passed. The trials and tribulations of 2012 have left their scars and imparted their lessons. But did we learn anything? As I look upon the world around me, I wonder…  Moving forward, we look ahead to the lessons to be learned in 2013. May they be less painful than the lessons of 2012. I am certainly thankful for my health. I realized this recently when I succumbed to the flu over the holidays. I didn’t have the real nasty one so many have had but it was bad enough. It’s only been about 13—15 years since my last run in with the flu. Not long enough! Luckily, Patti and I came down with it at the same time. Of course, Patti doesn’t feel very lucky in that regard.

We here at Complete Home Services are thankful for all of our clients. We picked up quite a few new ones in 2012, many from your referrals. We have also solidified our relationship with many existing clients. We know when you hire a company to provide services for your “home away from home”, that decision is accompanied by a certain amount of trepidation, and understandably so. We work diligently to earn the trust so graciously conveyed to us and will continue to do so in the coming years.

We have also had several personnel changes over the last year. We realize that some of you, especially when it comes to the cleaning crews, like to see familiar faces show up each time a service is scheduled. While we do try and have crews trained to specific routes and clients, illness (employee and/or child), accidents or no-shows make it difficult. Like any business, we do experience some employee turnover. It’s unavoidable and sometimes necessary. We have retained some very good employees and are working to find and hire more. Our standards and needs demand good, solid workers and at times they are hard to find. We soldier on!

We are also working on increasing efficiency. We are making equipment purchases that will facilitate greater efficiency for some of the work we do. Cindy and I are also working to complete different training courses to provide a greater level of service to our clients in several different areas. Finding the time to do this is quite the challenge but what would life be without a few challenges?

Cindy and I have discovered that Complete Home Services is a unique business concept. I know there are similar businesses, but we feel we have a unique approach. We do not view our clients as numbers on our computers. You have entrusted us with varying levels of access to your property and the possessions contained therein. That is an awesome responsibility, one that we cherish and will never shrink from. We hate giving bad news to clients when necessary, but it is part of our job. The other part is fixing the problem. When a property issue arises, and some can be severe, we do whatever it takes to stop whatever the problem is, jump into damage control mode, assess the issue and formulate solutions. We then work with the client to ensure resolution in a timely manner. For us it is a personal matter because it is your personal property and, most of the time, you are not here. Therefore, it is up to us to learn what your needs and wants for your property are so we may be of assistance in achieving the desired outcome. We are, in essence, your local surrogates. It can be as much personal as business. At least that’s the view from here.

Rain, Rain… and then MORE RAIN!

January 2013 has officially (according to my records) been the rainiest January in at least the last 7 years. The ground cannot soak up one more drop! Creeks are overflowing. Roads and bridges are washing out. Lake Nottely has risen quite a bit.

I have included a couple of photos of the bridge over the Valley River in Murphy, NC. It’s the one by Lowes. It was partially washed out earlier this week. With it went the water and sewage service for many local businesses and schools.   The bridge has been severely damaged and is “closed indefinitely”. And to think… January is not over yet!

Change For 2013

Hopefully, I will be able to have a bit more time in the coming year to work on better communication with our clients. To that end, we are looking at making some changes to the newsletter.

Basically, we would like to format it so we can send it in a traditional email form instead of an attached PDF file. There are several services and platforms available for me to work with. I probably won’t be able to play with pictures and graphics as much and the articles will be in short form, leaving you the option of clicking on a link at the bottom of each article if you wanted to read more.

Being busy ourselves, we realize that some of you may not want to slog through prolonged epistles once a month. And sure, some of the pictures are interesting but with the internet you can find them almost anytime. Interminable tales from the countryside of life have their fans but I will link them to my farm site* where you can read them, sans expurgations. I mean, who uses words like “expurgations” anyway?

I realize that many of my generation, and the ones that followed, have succumbed to the MTV-induced attention span of a gnat. Besides, long, graphic intensive newsletters don’t mesh well with tiny smartphone screens. Hey, we’ve got to keep up with the times and technology, don’t we?

News From Them Thar Hills!

Volume 3, Issue 9, September/October 2012

Grimy Wood?

This has been the year for staining! Our crews have been pressure washing and staining to beat the band!

Many times, folks wait until the wood is in such a state that, once pressure washed, it is obvious that an application of stain is warranted. Once the stain work is complete, you have a beautiful, new-looking home to enjoy. In order to keep it that way, all the stained surfaces should be pressure washed every 2-3 years. Considering that the earth is bombarded with cosmic debris 24/7 (to the estimated tune of 360,000 to 720,000 pounds per day!) our homes receive a regular coating over all the exposed surfaces. Add some rain to the mix and the once beautiful shining wood begins to take on a dull appearance. Once microorganisms get involved, they contribute to the degradation of the finish and then begin to work on the wood beneath. This can be  significantly hindered by the aforementioned regular cleaning.

One client, who had their home refinished about 3 years ago, called to ask about the black, sooty substance on the exterior walls of their home. You could wet the end of your finger and it would rub right off. We suggested pressure washing and, voila, good as new!

Regular maintenance will head off more expensive work or repairs. Pressure washing is a lot cheaper than waiting until the finish degrades to the point where staining is needed. Crews are standing by!

Newest addition!!!

Wildlife Patrol!

A client told us about a site he likes to visit. It is part of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. It deals with Georgia Wildlife division law enforcement reports. They range from the mundane to the humorous.  Of course, in many of the reports, alcohol was believed to be involved.

http://www.georgiawildlife.com/enforcement/law-enforcement-reports

Pet (and Human) Alert!

A couple of weeks ago, as I was driving into the parking area at my cow pasture, I spotted a medium size raccoon sitting up and having a look-see. As it was 1:00 in the afternoon, I was “on alert” as this is out of the normal behavioral pattern for an otherwise nocturnal mammal. When I exited the vehicle the little bugger tried to run away but ended up falling over and flailing about. Suspicious behavior!?! Cautiously, I continued to observe and could clearly see that he was having trouble sitting or standing. Rabies??? After a few more minutes of observance, I decided to inform the landowner’s son-in-law, whose house is beside the parking area, that we may have a rabid ‘coon on the premises. After he came out and we watched and talked about it for a while, we decided to dispatch the poor beastie. Normally wild animals that approach you or seem to show no fear, have trouble with basic motor skills or the ever familiar “foaming at the mouth” should be suspected as rabid. Unless you have a way to dispatch them at a distance you should call your local or county animal control. You can even call the police or sheriff, since a rabid animal is an immediate danger to the human population in the vicinity. In this case, I was concerned for my cattle, which are susceptible to rabies.

Festival Time in the Mountains!

Octoberfest in Helen, GA

September 16- October 31

The south’s longest lasting Oktoberfest in Georgia’s own Alpine village. Live entertainment, Great German and Austrian food and drink. Nice ride from Blue Ridge. Begins, September 16th through November 1st. Thursday thru Sundays only. Beginning in October it runs daily.

For more information, call the Helen Chamber of Commerce, 800-858-8027

Cherry Log Fall Festival in Cherry Log, GA
October 6th & 7th and 13th & 14th

Just 5 miles east on 515 from Blue Ridge follow signs

First 2 weekends each October, the community of Cherry Log celebrates the harvest with the Cherry Log Festival. Serving delicious homemade breakfast and lunch, offering arts and crafts, homemade cakes, pies and canned goods, bluegrass, gospel and country music at the Cherry Log Community Clubhouse, 341 Cherry Log Street. Great food and entertainment. Fun for the whole family! Plenty of free parking is available.

For more information call;

706-635-1933

Indian Summer Festival in Suches, GA
October 6th & 7th
Woody Gap School
Car Show ~ Music ~ Pottery ~ Quilts ~ Home made Goodies ~ Leather Crafts ~ Needlework ~ Folk Art Jewelry ~ Furniture ~ ~ Photographs ~ Stained Glass ~ Whirligigs ~ More Free Parking, Admission is $4.00 Children under 6 are free.
Blairsville-Union County Chamber of Commerce
706-745-5789

Fall Festival at John C. Campbell Folk
School in Brasstown, NC
October 6th & 7th

Seven miles east of Murphy, NC, off U.S. Highway 64, just north of Georgia’s state line

One of the largest and most popular events of its type in the region and a short drive from Blue Ridge, Fall Festival is a celebration of our rich Appalachian heritage. Celebrate the rich heritage of the Appalachians at the 35th annual Fall Festival, featuring the craft of 200 craftspeople, continuous live music and dance on two stages, craft demonstrations, food, kid’s activities and much more. 10am – 5pm, Saturday & Sunday Admission: Adults: $5.00 Kids 12-17: $3.00 Under 12: Free

John C. Campbell Folk School   828-837-2775

Marble Festival in Jasper, GA
October 6th & 7th

Annual Marble Festival. Historic Tate Marble Quarry is open for tours only one time every year. This two-day celebration includes a road race, parade, motorcycle ride & expo, fine arts exhibit, arts & crafts booths, entertainment, children’s area, business expo and tours of the marble quarry. Tours ONLY given during the festival! Lee Newton Park. 30th Annual. Saturday, 10:30 AM-6 PM; Sunday, 10 AM – 5 PM.
Pickens County Chamber of Commerce
706-692-5600

Sorghum Festival in Blairsville, GA
October 13th & 14th and 20th & 21st

Meeks Park (located on Hwy 76 just before Blairsville City Limits on your right)
Georgia’s official Sorghum Festival, one of the longest running festivals (43rd annual) in north Georgia. A parade kicks off the 2 weekend event. Bluegrass music, cloggers plus many other forms of entertainment add to this event which features a variety of artists and craftsmen who sell handmade goods. Sorghum is the 3rd most popular cereal grain in the US, and a staple of early Georgia farmers going back to the early 1800′s. A very festive time and a great event for the entire family.
For more information including times call the Blairsville-Union County Chamber of Commerce
706-745-5789

Georgia Apple Festival in Ellijay, GA
October 13th & 14th and 20th & 21st

The Ellijay Lions Club, the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce, the cities of Ellijay and East Ellijay, and Gilmer County invite everyone to come and enjoy the 41st year of the Georgia Apple Festival. There are over 300 vendors with handmade, hand-crafted items, as well as many on-site demonstrations of how selected types of crafts are made. This year promises many new crafts as well as favorites from past festivals. There is a parade and antique car show each year. The antique car show is held at the Civic Center on October 13th. The parade is on October 20th and begins at 10 A.M.
Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce
706-635-7400

Georgia Mountain Fall Festival in
Hiawassee, GA
October 12th – 21st

Arts, crafts & exhibits. Clogging, singing, authentic mountain demonstrations, pioneer village, kiddie rides and a new show, Kay Rosaires Big Cat Encounter. Regional food and lots of fun for the whole family. Also included in this is the Ole Time Fiddlers Convention.
Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds
706-896-4191

Gold Rush Days in Dahlonega, GA
October 20th & 21st

Take Hwy 515 (76) south to Hwy 52, head east and follow signs to Dahlonega
The historic gold mining town of Dahlonega goes all out each fall in celebration of its rich mountain and gold mining heritage. Gold Rush Days is the largest arts and crafts festival in the NE Georgia mountains, with over 300 arts and crafts booths. Also look for demonstrations and competitions with traditional mountain pastimes like hog calling, a liars’ contest, crosscut sawing, clogging and buck dancing, and bluegrass music.
Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Chamber of Commerce
706-864-3711

Punkin Chunkin Festival in Hayesville, NC
October 27th & 28th

Craft & food vendors
Games, activities, live music
Chili cook-off
Beer & Wine Garden
Punkin Chunkin Competitions
For more information, contact Clay County Chamber of Commerce 877-389-3704

The Saga Of Bella—Part II

Most of you will remember the story of our cow, Bella, who abandoned her first calf. Those of you who haven’t heard can read about it here -  CHS Newsletter April 2011.

Well, now you can read the rest of the story.

Last November I decided to try a Fall calving season for 2012. So we divided our mama cows into two groups and put a bull in with each group. Fast forward to August 23rd. I had been keeping my eye on ol’ Bella as she was bagging up and getting that “funny walk” they get as their hips begin to spread in preparation for calving. I stopped by the pasture on Thursday, the 23rd, on my way to the house and, lo and behold, there was a calf on the ground. He was a thick little male and his right eye was very light in color. It has since darkened and his sight seems good. This calf, unlike Norman, looked like it was licked clean. I tracked down Bella, who was in another part of the pasture happily munching on grass with the rest of the herd. I tried to get her back to her calf but she didn’t seem interested. So I headed to the house to get my new calf supplies and back to the pasture with Patti in tow. We get the calf, now named Jack, weigh and tag him and then he lets out a little bawl, as calves are wont to do. From the back of the pasture come a screaming moo and here comes Bella! She’s at a full trot, engorged bag a-swingin’, heading straight for us. She arrives and calls out for Jack, who struggles to his feet and follows mama away from us. We thought that was a good sign and, after observing from a distance, left them alone. The next day Patti and I separately observed the pair several times and could never see the calf nursing. Bella also seemed to be spending a fair amount of time away from Jack. So on Saturday we caught Jack and Bella up in a ring of panels and tried to get Jack to suckle, which didn’t work out very well. Just when I was starting to get aggravated, I picked up Jack to move him and he let out a little yellow blob of poop. Patti exclaimed, “That’s milk poop!” It was indeed! It seems little Jack had been eating and now we were the ones interfering with mom and baby. We release them and off they go, trying to get away from us so they could resume their normal cow activities.

We are overjoyed! The prospect of hand raising another calf with our hectic schedule and selling Bella was disheartening indeed. Bella is the first of the momma cows we have been breeding for, and the best. To lose her would have been a setback. To wit: Once we get a good female calf on the ground it takes just over three years to get a calf out of her. That’s quite an investment of time and effort! Then that calf, destined for someone’s freezer, take two years to harvest. The only thing fast about cows is how fast they can run from you.

Fortunately, a happy continuation of the ongoing saga of raising a great herd of cows. In the end, we are really just grass farmers. The cattle do a fine job of raising themselves… mostly. If we provide them with all the high quality forage they can eat, in return they will provide us with a nice crop of calves every year. We will then provide our customers with some nice, nutritious freezer beef. Everybody’s happy!

Bella @ 1.5 years old

Bella w/Jack

Last week!

Sante Fe w/ Jack and Bella. Sante Fe thinks she is Jack’s wet nurse! Follows everywhere!

Blackie w/ Tank, born last week.

He’s huge!!!

Sire of both calves.

Valentino, the lover!(and the Beefcake)

…a note from Cindy

Fall is in the air and the leaves are beginning to show signs of color.The question we hear a lot this time of year is “When will the leaves be at their peak color?”We sure wish we knew the answer!So to help ya’ll out I am attaching some links from our good friend Karyn at Cozy Cove Realty to help you find the answer.

North Georgia & South Carolina UpCountry

Smokey Mountain National Park

Western North Carolina

It is my favorite time of year and I hope you will be here to enjoy it!

News From Them Thar Hills!

Volume 3, Issue 8, August 2012

Dog Days Are Here!

The term ”dog days” seems to have originated from the ancient Romans’ observations of the constellations Canis Major and Minor. The brightest star in theses constellations is Sirius, which also happens to be the brightest star in the night sky. During the summer, Sirius rises and sets with the sun. This initiated the belief of the Romans that the star contributed to the extreme heat at this time of the year. Thus the 20 days fore and aft of conjunction were called the dog days of summer. One of the definitions of dog days in Marion Webster’s dictionary is “a period of stagnation.”

I know that the heat and humidity of this time of year certainly gives rise to feelings of stagnation for some. Personally, I find it a great time to be outside! The heat helps to focus on the task at hand, obliterating distractions of mind and spirit. This concentration serves as a cathartic salve for the agitation of the modern world and all of it’s disruptive influence. Hands in soil, on tool or caressing beast is that which can soothe the savage soul. The sun’s emanations causes the blood to flow and the pores to open, secreting the contaminants and anxieties absorbed within to exude and drip down into the waiting soil where they are consumed and forgotten, if only for the moment. At times, brief moments of clarity are that which retains sanity within our grasp. We certainly could use a bit more of that at present!

One of the less subtle effects of the increased heat is increased water needs of plants. We have had sporadic showers here but nothing near what we need. If you have plants that need watering in your absence, you should contact us so we can set that up. Lack of water and increased heat brings a great deal of stress to bear on landscape plantings. A nice healthy plant can turn ugly in just a short time under these conditions. Don’t wait until the leaves are brown and in a pile on the ground! If you are going to be up and need to water, remember that infrequent, deep watering is the way to go. A small stream of water from a hose placed at the base of the plant is the key. Give it time to fully saturate and go deep! You plants will thank you for it! You have but to listen.

Flora Planning!

As we wend our way through summer and fall approaches, our thoughts turn to landscape improvements. If you are thinking of having some work done, now is the time to start planning. Waiting to plant until the weather turns cooler in the fall results in less stress for the plants. Water needs are generally decreased. In the case of cold, blowing winds the water needs may increase. We don’t usually get those type of winds up here.

During the winter the top growth of the plants slows or goes dormant. This allows the roots to predominate the growth cycle. When planting, we add special types of amendments to the soil that not only assist with root establishment, but in acquiring the minerals and water that will be needed for the robust springtime cycle. One of these amendments is mycorrhizal fungi. We apply a mixture of several different species of this fungus in spore form, as well as some specialized bacteria, to the plant hole prior to placement of the plant. Once the spores come into contact with the root and their exudates, they germinate and colonize the root in one of two different ways. Endo Mycorrhizae spores actually penetrate the root and then send out fungal filaments, called hyphae, into the surrounding soil. Ecto Mycorrhizae form on the exterior of the root surface and are associated predominately with hardwoods and conifers. In both cases the hyphae extend outward into the surrounding soil and collect moisture and nutrients, returning them back to the plant roots for consumption. “What does the fungus get in return?” you may ask. As in all symbiotic relationships, there is always some form of equivalent exchange. In this case the plant, through photosynthesis, produces sugars which move downward through the plant to the roots as exudates which in turn feed the attached fungal mass. In a healthy soil with a robust fungal population there can be several miles of fungal filaments in a single thimble of soil!

Of course the spring is also cool, so why the emphasis on fall and winter plantings? Winter allows the root mass to expand while the top growth sleeps. Winter is followed by the somewhat warmer, but still cool, temperatures of spring. This allows the acclimation of the plant into a cycle of growth which will prepare it for summer’s onslaught of heat and a general decrease of available moisture. Spring plantings must support both upward and downward growth. While still in this pattern, summer’s heat can cause excess transpiration which places a fair amount of stress on the plant and greatly increases the need for regular supplemental watering regimens. It can be done but it takes more effort and can increase associated costs.

The bottom line is, this is the time for the planning stage of fall landscaping activities. Think about what you want to do and get with us so we can work together to improve and beautify your property. Cindy has her graph paper ready, is dusting off her protractor and sharpening her no. 2 pencil!

Mountain Happenings

Here are some links for events in Towns, Union and Fannin Counties as well as the surrounding area.

http://www.mountaintopga.com/calendar_of_events.asp

http://blueridgemountains.com/events.html

http://www.blairsvillechamber.com/Events.html

Benefit for Corbin Gibson

Corbin Gibson is the son of one of Complete Home Services’ employees, Jessica. He was hospitalized at Scottish Rites Children’s Hospital in Atlanta. He was being treated for MRSA and had several operations over a 2 week period. He has returned home while completing an antibiotic regimen, hopefully on his way to recovery. He will need more surgeries and skin grafts as well. At 7 years of age, he faces a long recovery period and some adjustment to his affected arm.

A benefit has been scheduled for Saturday, August 18th at The Lodge at Copperhead, from 1—5 p.m. in order to help with the expenses associated with his ordeal. The event will be held outdoors with a silent auction, raffle, live music and a performance by a Stunt Motorcycle Rider.

You can meet Corbin and his family there and see a photo album of his hospital stay as well. All forms of support would be greatly appreciated.

…a note from Cindy

Today is August 3rd and school has started here in Union County.It seems to be earlier every year.I hope you have made it to the farmers market this summer, I do think it is a terrific market with a nice variety of goods. Surely you can find room to eat one more summer squash!As summer winds down and the frequency of your visits to your mountain home may become less, remember a few important things to keep your home secure.Put some lights on timers, keep your yard maintained, make sure all doors and windows are locked.If you do not have us to check your house periodically please have a neighbor do so.We are still seeing break ins, the economy here is still down and this area is known as a vacation area.If you live on the lake they are slowly starting to pull the lake so keep an eye on that dock.If you hire us to check on it we will be starting to monitor it quite closely until we are at winter pool.Have a great August and stay cool!

Volume 3, Issue 7, July 2012

Fruit Fly Elucidation

Even if you keep house like June Cleaver, you’re bound to have a run-in with theses pesky little buggers! It doesn’t matter how tightly your house is sealed or how fastidious you are about cleaning. Truth is they, more often that not, are brought in on (or in) fruits of various types. Bananas are especially problematic. And, no, the flies are not in the fruit, but their eggs or larvae are! Mmmm-mmmm! (My G’ma always said a little extra protein never hurt anyone.)

If they are around your sink drains then they may not be fruit flies at all but drain flies or gnats. If your eyes are still good, or your spectacles are nearby, you can see the colorful eyes of the fruit fly. All of the aforementioned flies can, and will, breed in drains and garbage disposals. There are several good traps anyone can easily make to catch fruit flies. You can find them by clicking the fly below. While you are on that site, click on the discussions tab for some comedic relief. People can be quite humorous.

You are here

Spiders, Flies and Bats, Oh My!

This is a particularly “buggy” issue! The reason for that is we are having a particularly buggy year. The “winter that wasn’t” would be the main suspect behind this phenomenon.

We have been encountering lots of little nasties so far this year. On the other hand, I have also noticed an increase in the “good” bugs that prey on the “bad” ones. Lots of assassin bugs, dragonflies, hover flies, robber flies, ladybugs and green lacewings. Lady bug and lacewing larvae are some of the most ferocious predators in the country! Let us not forget the paper wasps and hornets. I know they can be a bit aggressive when bothered, but one of their favorite prey are caterpillars, which love to eat the plants we grow to eat!

So, without further delay, I will convey a few stories sure to inform, horrify and otherwise creep you out! (Mainly the ladies, if you are like my wife. The guys will probably just get a chuckle out of it.)

Customer Relations!

In another life, Patti and I had an antique shop west of Atlanta. We had leased an old building that was previously some sort of car dealership. I grew up in an antique shop so it was an inevitable evolution. The building was in rough shape when we leased it so we made a solid attempt to dress the place up a bit while retaining some “old building charm” to go with the aged collectibles placed therein.

One of the challenges we faced was a resident bat colony. The landlord did some repairs on the roof and left an opening for the bats’ nocturnal escapades. Once they were out, I sealed up the opening so they could find somewhere else to poop. Despite our best efforts, a few managed to find their way back in. I sealed up the offending breach and attempted a capture and release strategy. While mostly successful, there were a few knuckleheads that managed to evade my gentle persuasions. There was a drop ceiling in place that the bats resided above. Their favorite hangout was in the front corner of the store front.

One particularly slow day I had removed a couple of the ceiling tiles and was trying to extricate the remaining few when a customer walks up to the front door. “Some one is coming in!”, came the warning from Patti. Quickly I walked away from the corner, trying to retain some façade of mercantile professionalism as the door swung inward.

After an obligatory salutation, we implored her to have a look around. The first thing on my mind was ”Damn, it would have to be a lady.” No offense ladies, but most of you have a different vision of interaction with bats than most males do, in my experience anyway. Patti and I exchange glances at each other and nervously eye the dark opening in the corner where the flying rats resided. About that time, a bat drops out of the ceiling and starts flying around! I quickly walk towards the customer and ask if there is a particular item she is searching for. We strike up a small conversation as I watch the bat flit around behind her head. I had to deftly adjust my posti0n so she would face away from the vision of old world horror flying back and forth behind her head. Straining to keep the smile on my face while envisioning a hysterical customer crashing through the store with a bat tangled in her hair, while visions of lawsuits danced before my eyes, was almost too much to bear! Mercifully, she headed back up to the front as the bat literally flew right above her head to the rear of the store. She glanced around for a moment or two more and then bid us adieu.

Something to keep in mind as you visit a local merchant. Most try to keep a pleasant demeanor about them despite perhaps having a bad day, no sales, a migraine that just won’t quit or trying to distract you from the “Sword of Damocles” ever so delicately balanced above your head.

Let us not forget that bats are a very important segment of our ecosystem. They can consume thousands of small insects each, every night! They are very important to agriculture the world over.

So, if you are enjoying a cozy night at your vacation home and hear a high-pitched screech accompanied by the soft brush of leathery wings, give us a call on your way to the hotel room that your significant other will insist on departing for. We’ll be there first thing in the morning to remove the offending little beastie. Been there, done that!

For Whom Does the Widow Weep?

The Black Widow spider weeps for no one. She is even known to kill her mate post copulation, or if he merely attempts same in a manner that doesn’t please her. Harsh!

While executing some pre-4th clean-up at a clients home, Richard ran across some spider webs adorning the pickets along the deck. They ranged from the simple to the massive Funnel Spider webs. As he was using a stick to wrap the webs around to facilitate the web removal, he noticed that several of them housed black widows. Black widows usually prefer dark, hidden locals in which to await their prey. During periods of hot, dry weather black widows are known to venture out into the open. In fact, most of the funnel web spiders were dried husks in their own webs, falling victim to the black widow which now resided within. We have even discovered a black widow inhabiting the back our mailbox! I alerted our client to the 10 or so black widows discovered in the open along his deck so he wouldn’t be surprised to find one of his guests mummified in the morning.

I have very recently read that the black widow has garnered some serious competition. The Brown Widow spider is showing up more and more and seems to be displacing the black widow in southern California, Florida, Georgia and some other locales as well. While the black widow will venture out into the open, the brown widow gravitates toward more hidden areas such as underneath patio furniture, the recess underneath your garbage can handle and even the down-turned edge of a flower pot. Their bite is also less toxic than their shadowy relative. Small comfort to the arachnophobes among you, I’m sure.

So whilst relaxing in your deck furniture, yakking it up with friends and relatives, don’t let the languid days of summer lull you into mindless complacency. Especially that which allows your hand to wander underneath the lip of the of the lounge chair in which you are relaxing. Bwahahaha!

…a note from Cindy

I hope everyone has had a wonderful 4th of July holiday.It was great hearing from all of you in need of our services.We want to thank you for your business and hope that you were satisfied with our work.The 4th of July is our busiest holiday of the year followed 2ndly by Thanksgiving.So, if you think you will need our services in November let us know as soon as possible.

You may be interested in this miscellaneous information of things we have been seeing this year.Chiggers and ticks have been bad and are continuing to remain so. Black ants have been a common site in many of our client’s homes, yet the ladybugs this year have been few.Carpenter bees have been very abundant this summer.With the hot, dry weather you can expect scorpions in your basement.The bear population in the area along with coyote is on the rise. If your black piping or downspouts have been torn up, it was probably a bear trying to make the small animal that crawled into the pipe its snack.Keep an eye on your cats or small dogs as coyotes will nab them, although they generally only hunt at night or early morning.If your basements are musty, please consider installing a dehumidifier to run into your tub or shower.It is amazing what a difference it can make in your home.

If you have not gotten to the farmers market you must go.It is great, the food is fresh, inexpensive and your dollars are a huge help to the local farmers.Saturday morning is the best time but you can also go on Tuesday afternoon from 3-7PM.

Hope you continue to enjoy your summer and we look forward to talking to you soon.

News From Them Thar Hills!

Volume 3, Issue 6, June 2012

Dost Thou Cup Runneth Over?

Whilst one’s cup running over is generally viewed as a positive aspect of financial well-being, what about your bowl? Toilet bowl, that is.

When you flush your toilet, do you have to jiggle the handle to get the water to stop running? This is a sign of a potentially serious problem. Case(s) in point: A client reported a rather large water bill and asked had we noticed any leaks or wet spots in or around the house. We had not. Upon their next visit they discovered the toilet was running. They turned the water to the offending toilet off and requested a repair, which was effected right away. The bad thing was their water bill reflected an increase in water usage… to the tune of several thousand gallons!!!!

Another client had scheduled a whole house pressure wash. The wash could not be started because the water pressure was almost non-existent. The crew also reported hearing water running somewhere in the crawl space under the house. Upon inspection I discovered the upstairs toilet had been running, evidently for some time. The toilet repair was done but the water pressure was still bad. Since they were on a well, the well service folks came out and determined that a new pump was needed. The pump was replaced just two years earlier!!! The well company said that a running toilet could easily burn a pump up in 2 to 4 weeks. The running was probably occurring for a bit longer than that as the client had not come up in a while.

Some facts to consider regarding water leaks (from the EPA):

The amount of water leaked from U.S. homes could exceed more than 1 trillion gallons per year. That’s equivalent to the annual water use of Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami combined.

Ten percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day.

Common types of leaks found in the home include leaking toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and other leaking valves. All are easily correctable.

A leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year.

A showerhead leaking at 10 drips per minute wastes more than 500 gallons per year. That’s enough water to wash 60 loads of dishes in your dishwasher.

If your toilet is running constantly, you could be wasting 200 gallons of water or more every day.

Of course this doesn’t even begin to cover the unknown leakage due to crumbling infrastructure!

Even though over 70% of the earth’s surface is covered with water, less than 1% of it is available for human consumption!

Technological Challenges!

As technology advances, the inevitability of apparatus conflict is a given. Every software update I do elicits a wince.

Here at Complete Home Services we are not immune to this discord. We have noticed that email sent from a phone or other mobile device doesn’t always come through as intended. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause but it is the gods of  technology who are to blame.

If you send an email from a mobile device and don’t receive a timely response, please give a call or email from your computer. We either didn’t receive it or I’ve fallen and can’t get up. Either way, we don’t want to miss a single missive from you, our most valued of clients!

Another Cog in the Wheel!

In 2011, and this year as well, Complete Home Services has added several employees. In order to ensure the continuing quality of service you have come to expect, we have been through even more.

This year we had to break down and bring in someone to do some data entry and accounting for us. She seems like a nice lady and does a pretty good job. She usually does most of our billing, so if you get 6 copies of your invoice, you know who to call! Actually, she’s pretty good at what she does. She has run several offices, has some skills and has a pleasant phone voice to boot. Her name is Patti… and did I mention she is also  my bride?

If you have issues with or questions about your invoice you can email her at patti@gahomeservices.com .

Mountian Goins-On

The North Georgia mountain area has been experiencing some gorgeous weather for sure! The temps here at the beginning of summer are unusually nice. Moderate temps during the day and a tad bit of cool in the evening. Weather like this helps the garden grow well. Be sure and get up here and enjoy it before it turns too hot.

The birds have been singing like it’s one big springtime day. The murder of crows that live on the lower part of our land has a couple of new additions this year. They are so very cute as they hop about begging to be fed. I know that crows have a bad reputation for eating corn and bean plantings but they don’t cause any problems in our garden. The trick is to provide a designated spot in away from your garden where you throw non-meat scraps so they can scratch though the pile and get a few tasty morsels. And I talk to them. Crows have a very complex social structure and language as well. Whenever I put some scarps on our woodland pile I always use the “come and check this out” call. They answer back and are at the pile a few minutes later. If they do get out of hand I can always fall back on my .22 caliber “thunderstick” and scope!

Our garden is looking especially nice! The seven varieties of seed garlic we purchased and planted last year are nearly ready for harvest. We won’t be selling any this year and eating very little. We will be using the largest bulbs for re-planting in the fall and begin selling garlic next year. Our potatoes’ top growth is huge and the ground is beginning to swell at the base of the plants indicating the potato growth is well underway. We have many heirloom strains of tomatoes, some of which we have been saving seed for a number of years. We will be growing them in our new greenhouse while participating in a season extension study in partnership with the FSA and USDA. I’m about to set out the last of our pepper sauce peppers so we can have enough stock to make our warm, not hot, pepper sauce.

We are also working to complete our second year obligations to satisfy a NRCS grant we were awarded to improve our pasture and put in several engineered water accesses. We still have a lot of fence work to complete along with some over-seeding in the fall. We hope to secure management rights to another sweet piece of pasture owned by one of our clients. It’s a little further from the house and might primarily be used for the cutting of hay at first. Then, who knows?

The cattle herd is moving along nicely as well. All the adults are as fat as ticks on a sleeping dog! Last years’ calf crop are all weaned and growing nicely. The bull calves have all been relieved of their testicular burden and are getting along nicely with each other. (Maybe that could be the secret to world peace. Whenever the leader of some backwater nation decides to invade their neighbor, I could head over with my Calicrate bander and… voila! Everyone would be back to playing nice.)

We will be evaluating the female calves during this year to see if they have what it takes to become a momma cow. We have to be quite strict about this as it will determine the productivity of our herd for the future. Those that fail to make the grade will be headed for the freezer, as most of the calf crop will each year. With record high live cattle prices at the sale barn it might be just as profitable to sell them there. But then that would deny  our customers that tender, tasty beef they love so much.

I’ll leave you with a picture I took yesterday with my cell phone (not the best quality) of my two best momma cows and a heifer that we will be keeping as well. The middle cow is Blackie and she is the mother of both the others. The one to the right is Bella. Most of you probably remember the epistle I wrote regarding Bella’s abandonment of her first calf, Norman. If she abandons her second then it’s off the sale barn, where she is sure to fetch a sweet bounty. The heifer on the left is sweet Maggie. Maggie is the third calf Blackie has given us, each one a winner! We have high hopes for Maggie as she is the heaviest birth-weight calf we have ever had (85 lbs.) She is structurally sound and her body type is correct for producing beautiful calves. The rest is up to the bull!

News From Them Thar Hills!

Volume 3, Issue 5, May 2012

Whither the Weather?

Well, It started off as the winter that wasn’t. Then came the spring and heat in the 80’s. Then came a frost and then heat and then another light frost. As far as we can tell, the crepe myrtles in the area were severely, and in some cases irreparably, damaged by the successive late frosts. Some have begun to recover but the ones that were not previously pruned seemed to have suffered the most. Most of the poplars in the area still have yet to leaf out fully. The new growth on most landscape plants were damaged. Some fared better than others but even the small and large leaved hollies were damaged.

Of course, the warm winter got some folks all twitchy with anticipatory excitement. They just couldn’t wait to get out there, armed with a plethora of annuals and early veggies, and get the planting season started. Up around these here parts, most of us know it is generally safe to plant after April 15th. May 1st is an even safer bet, but that’s just for the chicken-hearted. So they come home from the Depot or some big box store with their plants and fertilizer and what-not, ready to tame the wilds of their garden beds and break out the Ben-Gay afterwards. Then in sneaks a quick little frost. The next morning they are running all over their yard bemoaning their bad luck. Then it’s off to the plant store to buy another round. Ever wondered why the big stores get all of their plants in way too early for them to be planted out? Cha-ching!!!    Does that make me cynical?

Insurance Assurance

I know many view insurance as one of those necessary evils that one  must endure. Some view it as just plain evil. Regardless, there are times when insurance is certainly essential, especially in business. Many clients want to know that we carry liability insurance, which we do. Others, especially businesses, want to know that we have a workers comp. program in place, which we do. The costs associated with insurance are one of the “costs of doing business.” Of course, there are many “associated business costs” that any business must bear. Insurance is just a particularly onerous one!  So you might want to keep that in mind as you seek companies to do work for you. If the bid comes in a good bit lower that another, there is probably a good reason for that. After all, you do get what you pay for, mostly.

Dam Movement

According to a story that ran in The News Observer on May 3rd, Lake Blue Ridge is not expected to reach full pool this year. It is currently at 1,672 feet. Normal summer pool is 1,687 feet. According to the story: “On March 7, TVA put the project on hold because of a long crack that was discovered in the new material on the downstream side of the dam. Since then engineers have been monitoring data from seismographic instruments around the crack. On April 22 another smaller crack was found on the same side of the dam. Both cracks are considered surface cracks, according to TVA.”

A news release by the TVA: “May 1, 2012 — TVA will continuing holding the water level in Blue Ridge Reservoir at approximately 1,672 feet (its current elevation) at least through the end of July 2012. This means the reservoir will remain below normal summer pool for this year. Blue Ridge Dam is safe and stable. There is no change in the dam’s ability to hold water. Because public safety is TVA’s number one priority, we are being overly cautious and holding the reservoir at this level after we saw unexpected ground movement on March 7, 2012. This movement occurred during the completion of the two-year Blue Ridge Dam rehabilitation project. To ensure long-term dam safety, we are conducting significant monitoring, testing and analysis on the earlier ground movement at the dam. Holding the reservoir steady provides TVA consistent conditions for collecting the data necessary to complete a full engineering evaluation. It removes the variable of fluctuating water pressure against the dam from monitoring readings. This will allow us to determine if additional long-term stability work is necessary before completing the dam rehabilitation project.”

I don’t imagine folks located on Lake Blue Ridge are enthralled with the TVA. Dealing with the near draining of the lake and the subsequent low lake levels the last couple of years have worn thin the patience of lake residents. As far as the TVA goes, I suppose erring on the side of caution is best.

…a note from Cindy

Soon Memorial Day will be here as well as many of our friends and clients.It is the kick of off the Summer Season with lots of things to do from Festivals to Memorial Day parades. Think about hiking as it is the perfect of year, or maybe you would like to go for a swim.Check out the beach at Poteet Creek Recreation Area Park near Lake Nottely Dam or spend some time at Vogel park and go for a dip.If you will be here thru the first week of June you will be able to do some of that grocery shopping at the Union Counties Farmers Market as it will be the first week open.Have you checked out the new Union County Chamber of Commerce and Community Center?If not you need to go and take a look, it is beautiful!You can find brochures for all kinds of places in the area, play a round of golf or have lunch with an incredibly beautiful view.It is located at the Butternut Creek Golf Course located in Blairsville.

We want to wish you a safe and happy Holiday hope you can make it up here to the hills for a little down time, rest and relaxation!!!!!!

We were up for the afternoon last Saturday and the house was beautiful!!  Thank you so much for such a great job.  The porches were unbelievable–they looked brand new.

I had mentioned to Becka to have Donald check for carpenter bees.  I’ve seen a few flying around, but have not seen any sign of drilling.  If he didn’t do that, would it be possible for him to check it out for signs of destruction.

The check is on it’s way and thanks again to you and your crew for such wonderful service.

Lou Daffin

Wow am I sore =) … mentally I feel better than I have in years … amazing how I think all the stuff was weighing on me mentally, and physically I am sooo out of shape … but thank you times 100 for your help yesterday … we certainly exceeded our own expectations.

We are having a staffing issue this week and with taxes due on Tuesday we are going to opt out of Saturday. We will talk later in the month when things stabilize a bit.

Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Diane Oliver

Carla Murphy