Barnsley Gardens

We took Wood's mom to see Barnsley Gardens on Friday. It was built in the late 1800's by a wealthy cotton purveyor as a cool refreshing spread away from Savannah. Since we are about 5 hours from Savannah, I'd say they really wanted their distance. Now it is a really fancy resort with golfing, horseback riding and fancy restaurants. Normally the gardens are gorgeous and we saw great promise for a beautiful spring but right now they were in their winter slumber. So we toured the ruins of the house.

Nutcracker at the Fox 2006

Last night Wood and his mom and I went to see the Nutcracker Ballet at the Fox theater - we also saw it there in 2004. Before the show started we were entertained by the Fabulous Fox theater organ player all decked out in a sparkly silver jacket -( I snuck a picture...well me and about 200 other people)

As you can sort of tell he plays this HUGE pipe organ with more bells and whistles than you can shake a stick at. I would love to hear a Bach concert on this gem. Anyway that part is always great fun and definitely worth arriving early. The first half of the Nutcracker was a little bit of a snooze. It is a two hour production with a 20 minute intermission. All the really familiar songs are in the second half and it seems like the first half is just a long setting of the stage for her dream when all the good stuff happens. Although there is giant pig being chased by a butcher (for the families Christmas dinner) and the rat king part in the first half- I was thinking this might be a little scary in this version, but I guess it was just me, cause the little kids around me were laughing when he died- it was quite melodramatic. Wow, I have not seen such excellent dancing- the lifts and the twirls and the leg extensions and gee I don't know what you call it all, but I was on the edge of my seat. It was really quite thrilling! The costumes were gorgeous. Oh- Wood and I also joined a gym yesterday. We checked a couple out and then decided... this one has great equipment, better hours and is cheaper. We start Jan 2.

Feeling fine Frog

Anne and Mark gave us Feeling Fine Frog to help keep an eye on things.... I think he is laying down on the job

Right now he has a couple of friends helping out to make sure the pansies don't get out of line.

Pettit Creek Farms

Ooh how I wish I had taken pictures of this place. Last year we looked for Christmas trees here, decided they were a little too pricey and then regretted later that we didn't take the plunge and get one. So this year we drove over Monday afternoon to get a tree. Ok, this is just a Christmas tree lot on the side and really an animal rescue place for real. It is in Cartersville and they have who knows how many acres where they keep their rescued buffalo (0r are they bison- they have 2 now), camels (dromedary's- the one hump kind... they have about 5), the tallest pig I have ever seen, various goats, emus, ostriches, chickens, ducks (they may have arrived on their own though- when we drove by the little pond on the way out, they were all butt up under water eating- now that was quite a sight), reindeer, lambs, peacocks and the requisite dogs and cats. Not really sure if it is a rescue place or not, but they do collect a weird variety of animals and then make sure they are well taken care of. They have a hay ride thing at halloween and then they 'decorate' for Christmas and give car 'tours' through the property. It is all very down home and relaxed and fun. I made a fast friend in Duke, the black Great Dane, while we were picking out our tree. He is 5'9" when he stands up on his back legs, but he just loved melding in too my body (you know how a big dog just kind of leans and leans into you until you have to lean back or you will be knocked over) while I scratched his head and face. I love this place! maybe we will drive back so i can take pictures to post. Oh and Sarah, Stone Mtn is about an hour away.

Stone Mountain 3- the evening entertainment

I'm not sure who is telling whom "I told you so" in this picture but you know it is one of them! The 3 Confederate heroes chiseled on the rock (Lee, Jackson and Jeff Davis- no not our relative :-) ) We stayed in the freezing weather to see the Christmas lights, a show and a somewhat disappointing parade, but left before the fireworks (my decision). Thankfully Bry and Kim had leant Wood and me jackets and a scarf because it was freezing to death! Notice the almost full moon in the sky.

Stone Mountain 2

We had fun exploring the top Atlanta from the rock! Oh well you can't really see it from this photo but Wood is pointing to Red Top Mountain out there in the distance Atlanta through the pine trees. I guess pine trees really are the weeds of Georgia, but I still like them :-) A view on the way down in the gondola

Stone Mountain

We went to Stone Mountain with Bry and Kim yesterday to see the rock and the Christmas sights. We believe it is the largest outcropping of granite east of the Mississippi (outdone by Half Dome in Yosemite) Kim and Wood were really good sports about going to the top. I think they loved it once they got there. View from the gondola on the way up At the peak!

Lots of laughs

Although not the best picture of the lot, this one certainly did capture Bob, Brandon and Sheri having lots of fun before he left for his permanent station in the Army in Colorado. 

Welcome home sunset

I can't tell you how glad I am to be home from our trip out west. Wood got a twinkle back in his eye as soon as we landed in Atlanta. Our house welcomed us home and even the sky put on her best colors to remind us of the glorious sunsets that await us here. "Gee but its great to be back home..... home is where I want to be (courtesy Simon and Garfunkel)