Leaving the city, Hiwassee River and the neighbors

- Arriving in the North Carolina mountains last Friday evening to an alternate universe.  The air turned cooler, a man even commented on that as I was getting out of my car at Ingles (grocery store).  Inside, employees were helpful and apologetic that there was no pita bread. There were even employees in the produce section making guacamole to order!  That's mine above - delicious.  I  began to feel relaxed already after being asked how I am at the checkout and being thanked for coming.  A wonderful place.

- Yard art featuring swimming fish marks the spot where there's a good fishing hole nearby.  Not that I do that.  Fish are safe from me - I just like to read and gaze at the river going by.  And eat guacamole.

- The farmer across the river, Mr. Martin, is in his 90s and still works his farm every day.  That's him on his red tractor in the field that will yield Silver Queen Corn.  He was on his knees in that field on Saturday, inspecting plants.  No sign of him on Sunday - he respects the Sabbath.  And on Monday, back to work, as you see here.

- A beautiful teal-headed duck surveys the river from a rock.  He and his mate like that spot out there and came to visit a number of times.  I loved seeing them fly in and come in for a landing.  A peaceful place - I love it there.  Can you tell?

Memorial Day 2012

- The little town near my sister's river house has this lovely memorial to its fallen heroes every Memorial Day.  I am grateful and thankful for the service of each one.  This photo was taken last year, but it's where I am right now (back home later today).

See you Wednesday with river photos!

How deep is your love, tater tots and carefree

- Quote spotted at Fontaine's Oyster House at lunch on Thursday. People either seem to love the Bee Gees or not.  I love them and am saddened again by the loss of another member of the disco generation.  My favorite Bee Gees song?  How Deep is Your Love.

- Ordering tater tots as the side item with my crab cake at lunch, mainly because it's fun to say "tater tots".  :)

- Sitting at the group condo mailboxes perusing my mail and watching a young neighbor lay down her bicycle and climb a tree on the afternoon of the last day of school.  I remember that carefree feeling and love the sign that it's almost summer.

Have a wonderful carefree weekend, my friends!  I'll be away from the computer most of the weekend, but will catch up on blogs when I get back.  Cheers!

Right at home, golden and bright

- Although an earthling created this dragonfly, it looks right at home in a friend's garden.

- Sitting in traffic behind a construction company van with the bumper sticker, "Old Guys Rule".

- On a crisp May morning, the sun is so bright that sunglasses are needed at 6:45am.

Bless her heart, country road and Pete

- Getting together with two sisters, their husbands and a niece for a weekend in northern Florida.  At dinner Friday night, my sister tells a story about something unfortunate that happened to an acquaintance and ends with, "Bless her heart!"  My brother-in-law observes that in the south it's OK to talk about someone and their troubles if you end with "bless their heart!"

- A Saturday morning walk with sisters along a remote country road. Only one speeding car disturbs our walk.  As it approaches, my sister says, "That must be the J___ girl, she drives too fast!"  In unison the three of us say, "Bless her heart!"

 - Pete comes and goes from the family garage through this open window and is always interested in family visitors.

And I made it back to Atlanta in time for my dinner guests to arrive.  Lots of fun this weekend, but I'm tired this morning, y'all!

Donna Summer, the neighborhood and legacy

- Forgive me for being sentimental today, but I loved Donna Summer.  May she rest in peace.

- Loving how the condo neighborhood is turning outdoors in the early evening now that the weather is nice.  Children on bikes, dogs frolicking, a neighbor holds another neighbor's newborn baby while they chat.  Coming back from a walk and being greeted by everyone is lovely.

- Polishing my grandmother's silverware, now my silverware, in anticipation of company coming for dinner over the weekend.  When mom gave it to me in a paper bag several years ago, it was tarnished black.  It was fun the first time it was polished to see the life and luster come back to it.  Mom says it wasn't for company, they used it all the time when she was growing up.

It's the weekend - yay!  I hope your weekend is wonderful!

Simple pleasures from niece, niece and aunt

Three things today that are simple pleasures - two from nieces who live far apart, one in Portland, Oregon and one in the wilderness of northern Florida.  And one from their aunt in Atlanta...

- A peaceful weekend boating trip on a lake in Florida for a niece and her boyfriend.  Love that sunset.  Photo by ALM.

- This is Skidmore Bluffs, the "place in Portland where high schoolers would make out after the prom in an '80s movie," according to niece's boyfriend.  He was there with another niece and friends.  Photo by RAJ.

- And in front of Bell Street Burritos on Howell Mill Road in Atlanta, the urban cowboy I've blogged about before here, but this time I got a "through the windshield" photograph.  There's a wonderful article I found about he and his horses you can read here.  It was lovely and unexpected to be sitting in traffic and see him come out of the restaurant and mount up.