Down on the farm, hard at work and the crops

More images from this past weekend in northern Florida...

- The area around my sister's house has a park-like look to me.  So beautiful with its trees dripping with Spanish moss.

- My brother-in-law's "man cave" - the barn, complete with a Gulf Oil sign that used to adorn the family business.

- Future son-in-law Brandon, who is a full-time farmer, happily helped my brother-in-law plant crops on long neglected fields on the weekends.  Here he was doing some maintenance on them (still on the weekend.)  It must be lovely to love ones work so much.

- They have planted corn, peanuts, sunflowers (for my sister), and benne (sesame seeds.)

- Sister and I took a golf cart ride (with baby Monroe) to survey the crops.  So different from my usual weekends.  I love it down there, but was happy to get back to the city, too.

Happy Wednesday!

Welcome sight, remembered and getting a wave

- Driving into Thomasville, Georgia (at the very tip of south Georgia) on an overcast day, to meet my sister and niece for lunch on Friday.  This would have been a more beautiful through-the-windshield shot without all the power lines and cars, but still beautiful to me.  There was a tour group (all holding paper fans) on the steps of that church.  And beyond that - two beloved women sitting in a restaurant waiting, a welcome sight after the long drive from Atlanta.

-  A woman in a shop remembers me, even though I haven't been there since last December - something I only seem to encounter in small towns.

- Getting a wave from everyone inside on-coming cars on the highway on the six mile trip to my sister and brother-in-law's farm.  Whether they recognize you or not - they are always friendly there anyway.

More photos on Wednesday!

Distinction Bridge, a walk in the park and street art

Update on the "under the bridge" sanctioned graffiti art and artist that I posted about here.  His name is Peter Ferrari and when I posted that I spoke to him here, turns out he was finishing up.  Found on the internet:  "Leafy old Collier Hills is using a large wildlife mural to fight a scourge of graffiti under a Beltline bridge.  The artist, Peter Ferrari, hopes taggers respect his five-week project and won't deface it.  The cost was $8,000, paid for by City of Atlanta grants and donations from the Collier Hills Civic Association."

Photos taken with iPhone yesterday, in order:

I love how the artwork blends with the trees and rocks around it.  The walking path goes right under the bridge, so it makes for a delightful walking experience.

Ferrari named the project "Distinction Bridge" and says he saw all the animals depicted in the artwork within this park.  If you have time, click here and watch the two minute film in which he talks about the "street art" project.

Thanks for going on my walk with me today.  :)  I hope you have a lovely weekend.  Cheers, y'all!

The Mitchell house, reflections and people watching

- This is the Margaret Mitchell House, now part of the Atlanta History Center.  Margaret Mitchell wrote her famous novel, "Gone with the Wind" in one of the apartments on the lower floor.  The house sure looks spiffy today - Mitchell referred to it as "The Dump" when it was located on nearby Crescent Avenue.  It was moved to its present location on Peachtree Street several years ago.

- I was there on Monday evening for a lecture from crime writer (and friend) Karin Slaughter, who has just published her 13th novel, "Unseen."  She walked in with a copy of "Gone with the Wind" and started off by reading a passage from it, the one in which Scarlett has killed a man who invaded and threatened she and her household, and ends with Melanie saying they need to bury the body.  She says that "Good writers know that crime is an entre into telling a greater story about character."  And this passage demonstrates that.  She went on to say that in every single book signing she has been to in countries outside the US, someone always asks about Atlanta and Gone with the Wind.  Fitting then, that this lecture and book signing was inside the very home in which GWTW was written.

- Karin spends a lot of time on the road and says that she ends up with tidbits for her books from just people watching in airports.  She put a bit in one of her books about a man clipping his nails in public and says she sees that all the time, and suggests that she hopes to not see that again.  :)

It was good to see my friend, who I just see about once a year at book signings now.  I read Unseen this past weekend - a great rainy day (or sunny day) read.

Hiwassee River, watching the world go by and purple

- It's almost as if it has forgotten how to not rain!  :)  It rained the whole time during the long weekend, but that's OK - the river is still gorgeous and serene, as always.

- This Carolina Wren always seemed to be watching the river go by from its perch on the deck beyond the screened porch.  See it?  Click to enlarge.

- Everything is so green after all the rain.  Love the purple flowers on the Hosta in front of the tree there.  I didn't want to leave, but it was good to get home, too. 

Morning walk, Daylilies, mailbox decor and home

Seen on a recent morning walk on the street where I live...

- These guys seem to be everywhere right now - Daylilies.  I used to see a therapist years ago after some trauma in my life and he was kind enough to let me come to his home for sessions (he was a family friend of a close friend).  His late wife had loved Daylilies and his back yard was full of them.  We used to walk the yard and he would tell me about each of them.  I realize  now that was probably part of the therapy - a gentle walk with quiet talk.  I will forever think of him when I see them blooming.

- Love the special decoration on this mailbox and wonder if the residents of the house behind it have a child who did that.  I like to think so.

- This pretty flower staunchly guards another mailbox along the way.  I spotted it in my first 1.5 mile up the street and snapped the photo on the return trip.

- And the best view of all - the driveway to my condos when my 3.0 mile walk was done.  A beautiful sight.

Happy 4th of July everyone who lives in the states!  And a belated happy Canada Day to my friends to the north.  :)

I'm heading to the hills tomorrow with no internet access, but will catch up with blogs on Sunday.

Getting ready, The B-52s and your heart's desire

- It had stormed in the late afternoon, and then it turned steamy, but with clouds looming, nothing could dampen the enthusiasm of the concert goers at The Atlanta Botanical Gardens.  A more than beautiful venue, the stage was being set up here for...

... The B-52s!  A band I saw the last time in 1989.  And of course, there was one of my favorite songs "Love Shack."  One of the singers (Fred) said we looked like a sedate dinner theater crowd, so we got on our feet when that one played.  :)  The rain held off until the encore song.  So much fun!

- And on Sunday evening, a Georgia Shakespeare sponsored play "Metamorphoses" - based on the myths of Ovid.  This one was thankfully indoors.  :)  There was a therapist character in one of the acts who says,  "So it remains important and salutory to speak...both privately and publicly."  And so in the lobby of the play venue, they asked patrons what they desire?  Click the photo to enlarge and you can read most of them.  My favorite, "A pony and a monkey."