Tuesday, October 7, 2025

From the Top of a Mountain

 ...to bird watching and so much more!!

It will surprise no one that the week has been full here at the house on Campbell Street. We did visit the top of a mountain in Georgia, the highest spot in GA for that matter,

on that same day that we did a drive-by of a local alpaca farm that Michelle wants to visit during their time here.

And a whole bunch more, so let's get to it, shall we?

How many amongst you have had erroneous activity on Amazon? Now we have. I spent so much time on the line with Amazon over the last three days that I want to scream. Has it been sorted out yet? The latest representative claims it has so we shall see in a few hours. Bruce tried to order something only to discover our account had been frozen. Hmmm.....what can that mean?  Fortunately it had not gone through the bank yet but I assured them I had not purchased a $400 Apple gift card for anyone I know. Come to think of it, maybe I did try to buy one over a month ago and it would not go through? No, they are just messing with me! Oh my goodness, the perils and pleasure of being digitally connected!! 

The kitchen is done!! I made some Heath Bar cookies for Soul Table and when I took the photo realized it showed off the new paint at the same time. 

As I mentioned I am trying to put some of the fixed elements together in a design sense so the new paint is a step in the right direction. The ivory colored dishwasher does not match but darn if it does not work so well that I really hesitate to replace it having had experience with new appliances that, while they look good, are not nearly as reliable as the pictured one. Third world problems, right?

As I recall, I spent time sewing last week and the result is that I now have the entire top put together and am still puzzling about the backing fabric. After some additional thought my original idea for backing is not going to work out. I am still trying to use only what I have on hand, so we shall see.

One evening I went to join the Chimney Swift observers and counters. Walking down our street this happened!

It happened so fast that the shot above is the only one I got, thus I have no clue what kind of birds these are.

I am far too slow to use a counter, but Alina seemed to think there were about 315 birds that went into the chimney that night.

Not a single photograph of the bird action was kept, however, this view of the alleyway and the nearly full moon remains was a keeper.

On Friday we missed pickleball to go on a recognizance mission looking ahead to when David and Michelle visit later in the month. Before we left the house though, Bruce filled the pantry after waiting a whole week for the paint to cure.

It is beautifully organized at the moment, but for how long before I mess it up, remains to be seen.

We drove to an area called Hanging Dog to check out the route to the alpaca farm and what a lovely nine miles it was. The day was beautiful as was the scenery.

There are pockets of changing leaves but the best is yet to come.  Booking our tour just today we all have something fun to look forward to! 

We got a sandwich at the Hanging Dog General Store. Before you ask me where the name came from I am not exactly sure but I believe it is from a Cherokee legend.

One of the young women that worked there asked me where I was from and I said Murphy. "Before that?" Apparently, my accent gave me away as an invader! Folks around here are of two minds. Some realize that growth and outside money can help the town, whereas others are fine with things the way they have always been. Sound familiar to you? Locals everywhere get it for sure.

Following that we drove a few miles beyong Blairsville to Brasstown Bald, as mentioned earlier, the highest point in GA. 

From the parking lot you would never know how high we were at 4.784 feet above sea level. The shuttle pictured took us that last leg although there are hardy souls who hike it.

Earlier in the day the skies were crystal clear and blue as can be, but by the time we made it to the top, clouds were moving in.  The provided link above has some very interesting facts to learn about the place. After having had several people recommend we take our family there, we decided to check it out first. The viewing platforms afford views of Tennessee, Georgia (below),

and both North and South Carolina. In a few weeks those green trees will all be various shades of goodness!

That night was the monthly art walk downtown and in spite of the ongoing renovations a good crowd turned out.

Next year when I post this same angle, there will be a park in the foreground and one across the street as well. 

The big event for the weekend though was the festival at the folk school, in fact the biggest event of the year. Traffic, something we are no longer accustomed to makes it is easier to get a little impatient as was the case in the parking lot with some folks. Cars as far as the eye could see.

Perfect fall festival weather...check! Big crowds....check! Artists having sales.....check!

Students stay on campus, having most of their meals prepared from this garden that was looking so pretty.

And how do I know artists had sales you ask? John had his double booth with furniture and especially Saturday, when Bruce sat with him a good part of the afternoon while I helped in our ladies group's booth selling water, snacks, popcorn and apples.

My post was standing next to Robin, pictured below.

Sarah June drove to the orchard in Blue Ridge to buy the apples and they were scrumptious. Crimson Crisp was the variety and I did my best to sell them at the low price of $1.00 each. This lady bit.

We had some lively entertainment across from us.

We arrived only two hours before my shift so I did not see nearly as much as I did. last year. For instance, the booth below was jam packed with goodies.

How does one not photograph this?

None of my buddies had ever been in a booth before and when I was telling Jonathan about it later, he said, they don't realize what a pro they had in their midst! Ten years! 

As we left the parking area looked like this, a far cry from seven hours earlier! 

The money raised goes to helping the children here in Cherokee County with all manner of things including school clothes and shoes. 

Bruce finished up the hand rail he made up for the stone steps out back. While we could navigate them fine, having a hand rail is always the best course of action.

Yesterday we went to Grayson's home soccer game.  Although we missed some away games, but since it is so close, why not? He's easy to spot now that he has some new blue cleats.

As you can see Grayson is not only one of the tallest boys on the team but one of the most athletic as well. We discovered that when he was learning to play pickleball and picked it up in an instant.

One of his coaches is not only a father of one of his team mates, but he is also the son of a family in town who once owned a very popular restaurant in town called Perrone's. It was just a block or so away from our house here on Campbell Stree,t but when they decided to close someone else took that location. Apparently they missed it so I think it is tomorrow that a new, highly anticipated, Perrone's is opening in a new location downtown. 

That is the thing about living in a small town, there are so many connections. I will be writing about a few things in my next post how that is so true, even for us who have been here for only two years. Two years already!

your friend,

Gail 

p.s. Should you have missed last week's post, here is a link. 

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Here it Comes!!

With the first day of October arriving tomorrow, the town is beginning to look a lot like Autumn. I think the local merchants, which, btw, is all of them, decorate for the seasons, but possibly none so much as for Autumn? Floridians flock to the mountains at this time of year and dare I say buy property once they see the magnificence of the miracle of changing leaves? 

Can you tell that I can't wait? 

Speaking of Floridians, Michelle messaged this morning that she and David are coming to Murphy in a few weeks for the first time since we moved here!! To say that we are thrilled is an understatement. Furthermore, our friends Keith and Patty are coming as well so it looks as if the Pecks are going to be a busy duo! 

Oh wait, we already are!

I mentioned the loofah from Sara June; maybe there are some amongst you who want to know what it looks like before it drys out over the winter? Of course you do!

We shall see how it changes as time progresses.

Rain happened a few days last week which left wet courts which left the Pecks doing projects around the house.

One of the backyard trees, what it is I'm not really sure, but a good deal of the leaves have already fallen.  One good thing about that tree is it only drops leaves.

Unlike the chestnut tree that gifts us with hundreds of what I am calling "spike balls" because they are covered with super sharp spikes. As you recall I am using a bucket and long tongs to rid the yard of their menacing presence. To date I would guesstimate we have picked up at least ten buckets full. I don't think I've shown you the black walnuts on the tree so now is a good time to do so. Nix that idea because I can't readily find the photograph, however when I was looking for it, I came across this adorable photo of Jonathan and Alissa while they were at Coney Island during their New York City visit to see Oasis. 

Oh yes, they also went to the US Open! I just love it.  Can I call it adorable when they are in their mid 40's? Why yes I can and will. :)

While I continued working on my latest quilt,

Bruce began an ambitious project as is his wont. Unbeknownst to me, the pantry construction was a little too crude for his liking so while the kitchen was slated to be painted, why not the pantry too?

Trim where it was needed, both serious sanding and caulking, to the tune of four tubes worth.

And  now we wait for the special paint to cure before loading it back up. In the meantime there are about six large boxes in the dining room that I have been rummaging through to prepare meals.

The pictures do not do it justice but trust me, it looks so nice now, but what else would I have been expecting with Mr. Peck at work? The color is not wildly different than the previous one but I think Dixie approves.

Dixie for those new to the blog is my new favorite cowgirl who is looking on. This morning he met with Grayson but is now painting away. All of the rooms he has painted have had their challenges and the kitchen has been no exception. I won't go into details, but suffice it to say that Bruce is up for the challenge, as he always is. 

Mostly I holed up with my sewing machine while he worked on the floor below.

Still I found time to watch the hummingbirds who are still loading up on sugar for their long journey. While I thought I was done making nectar, I thought wrong. 

One day as I watched a bee was attracted as well and kept bugging the hummingbird, sort of like blue jays rams into owls to make their presence known. A little size difference I grant you that, but still the same concept. The hummingbird kept batting its' wings until the bee flew away. Then they shared.

While there I noticed I have a few strawberry flowers!

The tomatoes are small but mighty!

I used one in a tomato and grilled cheese sandwich yesterday and I was pretty darn excited. Now I am channeling that excitement onto the broccoli plants I put in the ground yesterday! I most certainly will keep you posted on their progress.

An early morning walk on the riverwalk revealed this spider.

It kind of gives me the creeps, how about you?

Just when you thought to yourself that we had stayed home all week long, here she goes detailing the goodness of friends. Seriously, we have been so lucky in that regard. D'Anna invited us along with Randy and David for dinner on Friday night. Of course we said yes, especially when they offered to drive. Don't ask me how I sat on the wrong side of Randy's MINI Clubman because I did, so I just took whatever photo I could of the glorious fields and mountains.

Along the way we began noticing how the color was just beginning to change as we rose in elevation. Once we got to their home, at 3,100 feet ,we saw even more.

As you are probably well aware of now, she loves her seasonal decorating! I am trying, really I am.

David made a yummy chili, followed by her surprise dessert.

Banana pudding under those Clubman cookies! D'Anna pulls out all the old-school southern desserts she learned from her mother in Atlanta and there is a reason they have stood the test of time.

Saturday evening we went to the Hearne's charming property in nearby Brasstown. If you have been following this blog for any length of time you are undoubtedly familiar with Julie and Harry, both potters from the folk school. Plus Harry is heavily involved with pickleball. So now that you have them in mind, let's visit. As soon as I stepped out of the car, the sight of all of the goldenrod in the late evening sun was so beautiful.

All these wildflowers have appeared since I last took a photo of a nursing doe and her fawn when this was a green meadow. 

The lights are all strung between the trees, and it was cool enough for a fire and who in the world does not love a fire?

The kitchen of two artists is not like mine!

Their home is filled with eclectic art and interesting touches everywhere. It's heaven for me to visit.

Look who is there for the second night in a row. Would that be David next to Bruce.? Why yes it is.

And what was the occasion you ask? Maybe the beginning of Autumn? They are so hospitable I think it was merely because they could.

The giant gift basket Bruce won included a gift card to a local restaurant called Rib Country so Sunday after church seemed like a good time to check it out.

Plenty of folks doing the same. All the yummy barbecue joint favorites to choose from. I was also somewhat smitten with the art work because, well, I can't really say why.

Perhaps it is because I am looking for some art for the kitchen? 

Well that is all the news from Murphy and the house on Campbell Street.  Dare I say there will be more to come? Lord willing and the creek don't rise .

your friend,

Gail

From the Top of a Mountain