Pinnacle Mountain Newsletter
Kathy Johnson		May 2005 Issue 14
As most of you know, I will be stepping down from our board and the role as President on 16 July 2005 for personal reasons. I want to thank the association’s staff that has supported me over the last four years. Also, I am especially pleased with our progress in opening up communication with each of you through our web site and this newsletter, and the hard work done by both the Road and Architectural Committees. It is important that every association member has the opportunity to participate in the decisions that affect our mountain community. Thanks !!! Riley Presidents Message… Naturalist’s Corner… In your area… Your Neighbor… Cook’s Corner… Bobcat
	Presidents Message
	Naturalist’s Corner
	They see and hear very well and this helps them to hunt. They have very sharp claws inside their toes. So when they leave a footprint, there are no claw marks, such as a dog. Bobcats can run up to 30 miles per hour, but they usually walk. They put their back feet in the same spot where their front feet stepped. They way, they don’t make much noise by snapping twigs under their feet when walking. Bobcats are very good climbers. They can swim but do not like water. Bobcats live alone on a territory that is 5 to 50 miles long. rots. Their adult fur is light brown to reddish brown with streaks of black and spotted when they are young. The mother has two to three kittens in the spring. The father does not take care of the kittens, only the mother. She will bring to the den, live animals (such as mice) for the kittens to practice hunting skills. When the kittens are six (6) months old, they don’t need milk and can eat adult food, they are ready to live on their own. They are then half grown and weigh about 12 pounds. Bobcats have very short tails (3 to 7 inches long). During the last snowstorm on the mountain, Robert and I saw our first Bobcat on Pinnacle Mountain. Upon research, Bobcats are very interesting creatures. An adult Bobcat can grow up to Two (2) feet tall and weigh about 20 pounds. They are bigger than a house cat and are too small to hunt and eat people. They eat rabbits, rats. Squirrels, ground birds, turkeys or even a small deer. They will drag the food to a safe spot and eat about three (3) pounds at one time, after eating, the remainder is covered up but they will come back again until the meat

Pinnacle Mountain Newsletter
Robert Frick Southern Fried Chicken Frick’s Style	Mountain Laurel
	The Mountain Laurel to the local people that know it, has earned a far from flattering name. The call it poison laurel. That’s because honey made from the Mountain Laurel’s nectar has been reported to cause cardiac arrest, vomiting, mild paralysis and convulsions. It is commonly known as ‘mad honey’. Even the leaves have a poisonous effect on animals that eat them, especially sheep, goats, cattle and horses. The Mountain Laurel is the state flower of Connecticut and Pennsylvania those of the redbud and even the beautiful dogwood to shame. The plant is also called Kalmia. Because the Mountain Laurel never gets really large, its wood has never attained commercial importance except in one small way. the root. The root burls are used in the making of smoking pipe bowls. The wood is heavier, harder and denser that that in the tree, making it slow to burn from smoldering tobacco. Its production is a sizeable industry in the mountain communities of Western North Carolina. The Mountain Laurel is an evergreen plant that grows naturally in Eastern North America. It grows wild in the mountain foothills of the southeastern, Appalachian and mid-Atlantic coastal states. As a shrub, it stands 5 to 10 feel tall, and as it tree, it reaches 30 feet high. The Mountain Laurel has pink or white flowers, which may have purple markings. Its glossy, dark leaves are oblong and pointed at the ends. The plant has green leaves all year and usually blooms in May. Its large, umbrella-shaped blossoms put
	Your Neighbor
	Trumpet in the school band and is also in the Boy Scouts. Abby (age 10) is in the 5^th grade and is heavily involved with Soccer. We’re very glad to have Robert, Katie, Sam and Abby as neighbors. I	In Jaunary, Robert Frick was caught sledding with his son, Sam. So for his punishment: to be May Neighbor of the Pinnacle Mountain Newletter. Robert Frick, wife Katie, son Sam and daughter Abby live in Irmo South Carolina and have enjoyed their home on Pinnacle Mountain for the past 5 years. Robert is a Board Member of the Pinnacle Mountain Association and is District Manager for Biowatch Medical Inc. in Columbia. Katie is a Nurse and a Consultant in Gastroenterology. Sam (age 14) is in the 8^th grade, plays the
	Cooks Corner
	cover again, cooking 5 to 10 minutes. Remove cover. Lower heat and cook for 15 to 20 minutes longer, turn chicken only once. Remove from oil and place on paper towels to drain. Eat and Enjoy. Eat and Enjoy. Robert Frick 1 fryer, cut up 1 cup self rising flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon pepper Oil for frying Mix salt, pepper and flour, coat chicken with flour mixture. In large frying	pan, pour 2 inches of oil and heat oil until dash of flour thrown into the oil, sizzling in the pan. Place chicken in hot oil. Cover and cook 5 to 10 minutes. When underside is golden brown, turn and