And the Beat Goes On

Oftentimes, I have no clue where to begin relating the joy and blessings we find ourselves involved in. 

Here is the little couple of whom I speak, two lovebirds that go way, way, back.

For the most part we avoid selfies but every now and again, an occasion calls for it. Bruce drove us to Gibbs Gardens on Saturday and oh my, oh my, what a place in the spring. Before we get into that, is it any wonder I can't see as well as I might like? Look at those Price eyelids!! The hat is cute though. Actually I purchased it at one of the downtown shops last year, however, before this trip had worn it maybe once. Turns out it worked beautifully, keeping the glare of the mid-day sun from bothering those squinty eyes. 

I will talk a little about the gardens soon but first off, on Friday I made the mistake of going on a hike again because it was billed as a wildflower hike and seriously, how could I say no to that? Once again, the pre-trip talk was that it was an easy trip. So they said! No hike has been easy for me because it is all so new and why I keep trying to do new strenuous things at my age is downright silly. Dr. Dan Stroup, our leader and wildflower expert, is pictured here beside the lovely waterfall we came across.

Turn about is fair play, or so it has been said many times before, he took this very flattering photo of yours truly crawling over a huge log. Anita flanks my rear and D'Anna is carrying my poles and both are wondering why in the world am I on this hike!

But first we had to get there and I was lucky enough to catch a ride with Anita, who is not only good and kind, but fearless as she demonstrated driving through this heavy fog. Count me happy to have been in the back seat!

And as you can see by our ponchos the predicted rain fell but not nearly as much as we feared. Here's the whole group post poncho wearing time.

The Appalachian trail crosses the same land. Our hike was called Wasilik Poplar Trail and if you want to know more, click here.

Immediately we noticed the little plants that turned out to be a wildflower called Mayapple, although the ones we saw were not yet in bloom.

This one is called a Rue Anemone.

And here is one of the many Trilliums we saw, a plant that has many colors and is widely found, most especially in Appalachia.

It was super fun finding the flowers amongst all of the fallen leaves, if only I did not have to hike to see them!! Actually, if I can take my time, and I do not have an audience, I am not nearly as nervous as when I am with the group of experienced hikers, although isn't that the way it is with most things? 

The main thing is that I returned home intact with some fond memories of good folks.

Before we go on another excursion together, let's talk about home for a few moments. The CHAIR is done! Isn't it fantastic?? Yesterday afternoon, in good weather I sat in it on the porch while reading. 

I am super proud of Bruce ! Not that I am not always proud, but even more so because he's never done anything like it before. 

So those pesky squirrels forced our hand. They were enjoying a feast on the Bird Buddy. Bruce moved it away from any trees and here's where it is now.

He's pictured putting out topsoil ,but before that he dug the hole with the post hole digger he borrowed from John. After a little bit of drama, realizing we were very far from internet connection, we got that solved and here is some exciting news to round out this story. Bluebirds!!! Never has a bluebird come to our feeders before, and I do mean never. Our yard was bereft of bluebirds!  I tried luring them in and it seems to have worked! The bag of mealworms was just the ticket. Not only did I put them on the Bird Buddy tray, I put some atop both of the birdhouses. Time will tell if they decide to nest on Campbell Street, but obviously we hope that they will.

Friday afternoon the awards for Silver Arts were handed out in a small ceremony in the church fellowship hall. At the last minute I decided to enter a wall hanging. Here are the entries in quilting.

Can you pick mine? In short order I need to get over there to watch the entires while the public files through, should they care to see what us old folks are doing!! 

I am so loving my windowsill, however, by the time next week rolls around, my mountain view will be covered by the new growth on the trees outside the kitchen window. It has been so nice seeing the mountain.

The front living room window affords a view of the TREE that is gorgeous beyond words. We saw our fair share of Japanese Maple trees during our visit to Gibbs Gardens on Saturday. I know, right, a field trip??? 

It will not surprise you in the least to learn that I took a gazillion photos of every beautiful thing that I saw, and there was something at every turn!

There is a lot to say and see about that visit, and I hope I find time to document it because the weather was glorious, the company the same, and the drive there super special. I was hoping to see more tulips, but perhaps we were a wee bit early. Hard to say, but I did get this shot that I think you will like.

If any of my readers watched some of The Masters golf tournament, also in Georgia, the grass and azaleas are similar. In other words, out of this world!

I am done with my volunteering for the day, and now it is time to go grocery shopping. The cupboards are not so bare, but the fridge most certainly is! 

Until next time, I remain,

your friend,

Gail

Gibbs Gardens it Is!

If you will, please let me know what you think of the new layout and if it works okay on all of your devices . I'm thinking it was time for a new modern look to go with our new old-fashioned life!

Last Tuesday was when I went to the gardens, which is where most of the focus of today's blog post will be directed, but before we head there, closer to home, just outside downtown Andrews I saw this beautiful sight.

If that does not say cozy and wonderful, I don't know what will! We were on our way home from visiting with D'Anna and David at their beautiful home when I spotted this and asked Bruce to please turn around, a request that he is very familiar with, having done so countless times over the years. Sometimes it is easy to laugh at that notion, but most of the time, a nature photograph can never be repeated, so get it while you can!! And that's a fact.

Closer to home, a walk along the river in beautiful weather amongst the fallen leaves.

Do you see what I see? 

And really close to home, as in across the street, I have been both happy and sad to see the gorgeous red maple leaves fill up Sandy's front yard. Because you have seen the tree yourself, in this very space, here's how it is looking over there in the here and now.

I have so many other things I want to show you, including a Halloween party at the Victorian house across the street, but as promised Gibbs Gardens will occupy center stage today.

Randy and David have become good friends and so when asked to accompany them to the gardens, where they are members, I jumped at the chance. Bruce declined because he had an appointment to get a new crown which actually did not happen because now they think he needs a root canal which is a real bummer.

And so it was that three of us took off after they picked me up, riding in comfort in David's truck, stopping for Bojangles egg/biscuit sandwiches which were very tasty indeed. It is their tradition and now I can appreciate why. 

For the last year or so I have been getting posts about the gardens in all seasons with beautiful photographs of the tulips and daffodils. I was very much excited to see what I could see of the autumn landscape. 

Prepare yourself for a feast of beauty! Before we head in, perhaps your interest has been piqued and you want to know more about this beautiful place in Ball Ground, GA? Click here my inquisitive friends! Now the photos on their website are outstanding, so mine do not measure up, but I did what I could in the bright sunshine of noon time. While there was color galore, I do think we missed the peak by about a week. 

With those silly disclaimers out of the way, let's take a walk.

Beautiful stone work, beautiful ponds, streams and bridges it is a feast for the senses with layers, colors, textures, reflections and the list goes on. 

Who knew that hydrangea leaves could be so beautiful?

The color of this type of Japanese Maple was so unexpected.

It was an amazing bright shade of yellowish, chartreusish (maybe not a word but you get my drift), that just popped out in the landscape. 

Not every color of the rainbow, but a bunch of them.

There is a manor house (their description, not mine), where the Gibbs actually live. 

Beautiful from the front and from the side. Fantastic benches with intricate ironwork as well.

Seriously, I loved all of the trees and plants, but this house is somehow getting three looks in this little travelogue. 

Apparently Mr. Gibbs is a celebrated landscape architect with a large practice in Atlanta. That's the condensed version for sure! 

Look at these vibrant colors.

More...

and more!

At times Randy and David were getting a kick out of how excited I was, but seriously, how could you not get excited? The view from the patio in front of the manor house.

Did I leave out sculptures earlier in this post? If so, there were a bunch, including this beautiful one.

It is so hard to imagine that aside from the hardscape, all of this will look decidedly different in a matter of months.

Because Randy and David have three Labrador Retrievers who were waiting at home, we did not see everything, but by now I was almost overwhelmed, even with the simplest of things like this striking pile of leaves, not a one of them the same as the other which is mind blowing in itself.

As we made our way towards the gift shop and exit, we passed by this display:

that included this pretty little tableau.

Fortunately, David spotted a sign posted on the glass door leading into the gift shop reading, Randy A. go to the register. Turns out he had dropped his Visa card, probably while getting his camera out of his pocket, and a kind soul returned it. Whew! 

Leaving the gardens, our next stop was Mercier in Blue Ridge, a large operation selling apples and products made with apples, and more apples, and vegetables, and baked goods. Whew!

Again, because our time was limited, we did not go into the orchards contenting ourselves with a little shopping, and seeing a very little bit of the operation.

Wasn't that just so fun? With terrific weather and excellent companions, it was a day to remember. There have been so many things happening of late I am woefully not keeping up, but when the days are short and filled with gray skies, I might just bring out some cheerful photos from this, our first full Autumn in North Carolina. 

Before I go and work on my quilt, and block out all election news while I am at it, look who I saw coming out of our chimney. Wonder what is happening up there?

May there be peace in our land on the morrow.

your friend,

Gail