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.