First Blog

I started this blog to keep friends and family posted on the happenings around the hill. And hill it is. We live in the foothills of NC near a gravel pit. Danny's family has lived in this area for over a hundred years but about 1965-66, the Thompson Brothers bought the land near the corner of Miller Rd and Maple Creek Rd and started blasting away to get to the mountain of gravel underneath. At that time, Pawpaw, Danny's Dad owned some land that was behind the area on the back side of the hill. The original driveway crossed the top of the hill behind the office and equipment yards that Thompson had set up. The property belonged at one time to an old black man and his family that sold the land to Danny's Dad around 1953. Pawpaw ran cows on the property which also connected to two other pieces of property he owned nearby. We moved back up to NC in 1983 from Florida and soon moved out here onto the hill. And we've been here since then. A number of years ago, Thompson had some test drilling done in our driveway ( which actually came over their land ) and found a huge supply of stone. They wanted this stone so asked us if they could build us another driveway, so they could get to the stone. We said yes but they had to make sure it was stable and they had to keep it maintained ( that's a law anyway ). The first try was a dismal failure. It was too steep in one area and the dam they build almost washed away the first really good rain we had. Anyway, nearly a year later they finally got it pretty right and we started using the new driveway. It's rained a few times and they have had to repair it several times but it's mostly been good. Anyway last winter they started to move the dirt from the old driveway and shift it over. In the picture you will see below, you can see the top of the mound they made in the photo. It runs almost the length of our new driveway. At one point, it is extremely close to our driveway. I asked them not to dump anymore dirt in that area but they kept at it. Well, we had two full days of rain this week and guess what. MUDSLIDE!!!! Yep, on the left hand side of the picture the mud is about three feet deep. But they came right out and cleaned it up and needless to say it will probably happen again.

Well, I thought you could see the top of the hill they built in one of these pictures but it must be on my phone. I'll try to take another pic tomorrow and show you the work they've done to try and clear this little mishap up. I just can't wait to see the next rain. Anyway, bye for now.