Train Stop and "You Know You're in the South When..."

Our train excursion took us to the little town of McCaysville for some antique shopping. It's not only right at the border between Georgia & Tennessee, but in the border!

Hubby standing in two different states. The state line runs diagonally through the IGA grocery store parking lot!

There's just something wrong about this next item! Kinda funny, kinda disturbing. It was in one of the little antique/junk/vintage (depending on your viewpoint) shops.

YOU KNOW YOU'RE IN THE SOUTH WHEN...

 

Yep, for real. We checked it out. This pharmacy sells 'scripts, guns & ammo. T-shirts too! And people were buying. We just cruised through and right back out.

On the train and back to Blue Ridge, then up to the cabin for a relaxing evening.

View From the Train

We're still only on Day 2! After browsing the shops of Blue Ridge and having that great down home lunch, we boarded the train and took a leisurely ride through the countryside.

 

The road leads to a farm where two elderly sisters live; their family has lived here for generations.

 

The picture above is actually quite an interesting feature. It's an Indian fish trap. Our guide explained that a long time ago, the people stacked rocks in a V-shape to direct the water flow which trapped the fish, then they could easily spear or net them.

The innertube in the tree made me laugh. Though it looks like someone really got hung up, it's advertising a river float place.

Just some other views from the train.

I love these little train excursions. They're so pleasant and relaxing. I hate to sound like my mother, but the older I get, the more life at a slower pace becomes appealing!

Day 2 Continued "Down the Mountain & Into Town"

After enjoying coffee on the porch and watching that special sunrise (previous post), we ventured down the curving mountain road and into the cute little town of Blue Ridge.

Why no pix of town? They wouldn't do it justice. The shot I got just show cars parked on both sides of the street and not much of the buildings, which are very well kept.

Lots of antique shops, gift & specialty stores.

So my post today is just some artsy shots I took along the way.

Maybe I could make this next group a series, called "Between the Buildings" haha

We had the most delicious lunch at a Southern style house converted to a restaurant. Mmm, love down-home cooking!

After lunch it was time for the train. Coming up, next post. All aboard!

Sunrise Over Blue Ridge

Every morning the mountains put on a different show. I can't help but post just the sunrise pictures from our second day.

It was a beautiful view from this chair!

Mountain Getaway!

This was my view last week!

We were blessed to enjoy 6 days/7 nights at a luxury cabin in Blue Ridge, GA. It was a much needed rest. The last couple years have been a bit...full of life and its many ups & downs.

The mountains greeted us every morning with different special effects. I think I'll chronicle the days starting with a picture of that morning's sunrise.

We got up really early last Wednesday and drove all day. It was dark when we arrived. The drive up, up, up a winding narrow road in the dark was a tad scary. But wow, the starry nights up there were stunning.

Sorry about the blown out sky; these are just quick shots of cabin. The first day, we just cozied in enjoying the deck, the perfect weather, napping, reading and just relaxing.

I'll post each day's photos with a bit of commentary, but most of my pictures are scenery or artsy shots.

The cabin had 3 levels with porches on each one. The main floor was an open kitchen/dining/living combo.  The wall facing the mountains was floor to ceiling cathedral style windows.

Mountain cabins are usually decorated in country motif, either bears, moose, or Native American crafts. This one was "beary cute". Had to end with this shot of the black bear puppets hanging on the bannister. Aren't they adorable?

Check back for day two with it's gorgeous sunrise and train excursion!

Confessions of a Procrastinator

Sometimes life is just too fun and I don't get around to finishing things.

Like the base for a doll I made more than 8 months ago! Not making excuses, but by waiting til I found just the right thing, I think the base is niftier than it would have been otherwise.

I wanted something...not flat, not square, not round - but - whimsical. I kept my eyes open and finally saw this metal flowerpot on clearance at one of MFCSs (My Favorite Craft Stores). It was painted bright summer colors but I knew scrapbook paper & decoupage could start the Steampunk metamorphasis.

I covered the sloping sides in masking tape, then grunge-painted over it. Then the fun process began of adding doo-dads I've been collecting for the occasion. I love the phrase on that Tim Holtz piece: "possibility begins with imagination." Why the Scrabble "B"? It means "Begin" (a little nudge to that ol' procrastinator in me).

The big gear on the left is a spray-painted ribbon reel, covered in an old bracelet & some real gear parts.

The springs on the right are from a motorcycle my husband has been working on for weeks for a friend...but that's quite another story. Let's just say, after some mighty hard wrangling with that machine, the score was hubby:1 / bike:0.

And here's my sassy girl on her new stand! This is one of my favorite dolls.

She's from Barbara Schoenoff's pattern called "Circus Girl."  A friend asked me to make a doll for her granddaughter, who has red hair and her name is Scarlet Rose. I thought Circus Girl would be fun all done in red and juggling roses. I can't believe I never posted pictures of her!!!  I think I was in a hurry to get her shipped but I did do a montage for myself. This is Circus Girl in red:

While making her, I cut out double pieces of the basic body and started on my Steampunk version at the same time.

I'm annoyed with myself because, had I not procrastinated quite so long, I could've submitted her to Art Doll Quarterly for their Steampunk issue. Alas, the deadline whizzed past me Sept. 15.  Someday, I'll learn.....

Here's a closeup of her eclectic collection of things she just might need while she's juggling gears.

The gears are from Tim Holtz scrapbook elements line. The other items are also various scrapbook embellishments, old buttons, jewelry & clock bits.

The sleeves & bustle are fabric I was going to use on another doll, but it didn't look right. The tulle on the back of the hat is actually an organdy gift bag that I cut the bottom off. It held the black feathers on the hat as part of a supply kit from another doll workshop called The Raven. See - things never go to waste when making art dolls!

Well, now that that's finally done, I think it's time to start another project! Our next club challenge is to make a doll inspired by a piece of music. I thought I was so clever to come up with "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds" because, you know...I love sparkly things! But someone has already chosen that one. Maybe Steve Nick's "Leather & Lace." Or if I can find a belly-dance pattern, I might do U2's "Mysterious Ways."

Any suggestions??