Cheryl B. Dale's Blog: RANDOM MUSINGS, page 17
April 13, 2015
SWEET MEADOW FARM
Last week was busy. Relatives came to visit Monday and stayed till Friday. Then we had to travel up to North Georgia for another relative's wedding Saturday which meant a six hour drive.
Sweet Meadow Farm, in Tallapoosa, caters to weddings and is a beautiful place for nuptials. It was outside...luckily it didn't rain...and had sweeping lawns, fenced pastures, and a meadow across the pond where benches were set up under a tree for the ceremony.
Here's a view of the farmhouse up above as we headed toward the pond.
Turning around, you can see the pond below. If you have good eyes, start at the top's middle and look down about a fourth of the picture. Those little white specks between the trees are the benches for the ceremony. We walked down and across a little bridge to get to them.
Here's part of the crowd sitting on those benches, waiting for the ceremony to begin. You can see the farmhouse in the background by the tree, and to the right behind another small tree is the stable where the reception was held.
Coming back over the bridge and up to the stable, this is the side we saw in the photo above.
And here is the other side, where tables were set up and a dance floor was laid out. By this time it was dusk. A bar and hors d'oeuvre tables were placed inside, as later were the cakes. There was also a photo 'booth' so guests could paste pix into a book and sign for the happy couple to enjoy later.
These next two photos of the tables were taken earlier in the day as we headed down to the meadow beyond the pond for the ceremony.
And this one was taken after dinner, waiting for the toasts to begin.
We left after the toasts and cake cutting. Evidently we missed out on some really good dancing and other revelries but alas, we were exhausted from our six hour drive that morning.
.
If you're planning a wedding anywhere around Tallapoosa GA, this is a wonderful setting. Everything from the catering (great food) to the golf carts taking us to our cars went smoothly. The people were friendly and helpful. And the views were spectacular.
Here's their website: http://sweetmeadowevents.com/ in case you want to find out more.
And no, I don't know them and don't get a commission from referrals!
Sweet Meadow Farm, in Tallapoosa, caters to weddings and is a beautiful place for nuptials. It was outside...luckily it didn't rain...and had sweeping lawns, fenced pastures, and a meadow across the pond where benches were set up under a tree for the ceremony.
Here's a view of the farmhouse up above as we headed toward the pond.
Turning around, you can see the pond below. If you have good eyes, start at the top's middle and look down about a fourth of the picture. Those little white specks between the trees are the benches for the ceremony. We walked down and across a little bridge to get to them.
Here's part of the crowd sitting on those benches, waiting for the ceremony to begin. You can see the farmhouse in the background by the tree, and to the right behind another small tree is the stable where the reception was held.
Coming back over the bridge and up to the stable, this is the side we saw in the photo above.
And here is the other side, where tables were set up and a dance floor was laid out. By this time it was dusk. A bar and hors d'oeuvre tables were placed inside, as later were the cakes. There was also a photo 'booth' so guests could paste pix into a book and sign for the happy couple to enjoy later.
These next two photos of the tables were taken earlier in the day as we headed down to the meadow beyond the pond for the ceremony.
And this one was taken after dinner, waiting for the toasts to begin.
We left after the toasts and cake cutting. Evidently we missed out on some really good dancing and other revelries but alas, we were exhausted from our six hour drive that morning.
.
If you're planning a wedding anywhere around Tallapoosa GA, this is a wonderful setting. Everything from the catering (great food) to the golf carts taking us to our cars went smoothly. The people were friendly and helpful. And the views were spectacular.
Here's their website: http://sweetmeadowevents.com/ in case you want to find out more.
And no, I don't know them and don't get a commission from referrals!
April 4, 2015
CRIME BLOTTER
Oh, our local paper does have such interesting tidbits! In the last few weeks:
A car veered off the road and hit a sewer lift station, causing about five thousand dollars worth of damage. It left the scene but officers tracked it down. The owner said he'd loaned it to a woman. Hmm, likely story. Wonder if there was a problem with back-up in people's houses afterward?
Another car struck a parked car, then entered a car wash and struck the guidelines of a power pole. The driver ran off but police found the car owner. He said he loans it to the man involved in the accident on a regular basis -- in exchange for crack cocaine. Don't think I'd have told that!
Then a couple kept calling 911, using different names and giving different locations. When police traced down the house, the man said the woman wasn't there. Police found her hiding in a closet. The item said both appeared intoxicated. You think?
And this weird one: a man cut his hand on some glass and started spreading his blood on the walls and windows of a local business. Wonder if he broke the glass trying to rob the place?
Finally, someone broke into a man's apartment and stole a Templar sword and shield along with an art deco bronze statue, for a total worth of about three thousand dollars. Won't it be hard to fence something like that?
Just the usual interesting crime items. Our part of the country is never dull!
A car veered off the road and hit a sewer lift station, causing about five thousand dollars worth of damage. It left the scene but officers tracked it down. The owner said he'd loaned it to a woman. Hmm, likely story. Wonder if there was a problem with back-up in people's houses afterward?
Another car struck a parked car, then entered a car wash and struck the guidelines of a power pole. The driver ran off but police found the car owner. He said he loans it to the man involved in the accident on a regular basis -- in exchange for crack cocaine. Don't think I'd have told that!
Then a couple kept calling 911, using different names and giving different locations. When police traced down the house, the man said the woman wasn't there. Police found her hiding in a closet. The item said both appeared intoxicated. You think?
And this weird one: a man cut his hand on some glass and started spreading his blood on the walls and windows of a local business. Wonder if he broke the glass trying to rob the place?
Finally, someone broke into a man's apartment and stole a Templar sword and shield along with an art deco bronze statue, for a total worth of about three thousand dollars. Won't it be hard to fence something like that?
Just the usual interesting crime items. Our part of the country is never dull!
March 29, 2015
FORT KING GEORGE LIVING HISTORY
Once again Fort King George had a living history festival last week. Reenactors came from all over to spend the weekend and play their parts. This was a shot of part of the encampment.
This soldier was on duty. Notice the water bottle that was out of character, but hey, it was a warm day!
This guy was showing off his pistol.
These people were looking at shirts from the seamstress.
This guy belonged to a blackpowder group. Their motto is "Save the Whiskey" he told me, translating the Celtic words on the sign. Kind of scary, if you ask me -- people imbibing around gunpowder!
This piper played for some lovely dancers. I noticed he wore a wrist watch so evidently he isn't too sold on authenticity!
Here he is with the dancers preparing to do their Scottish 'lilt' which isn't as rambunctious as the Highland flings and reels, according to their teacher.
And here they are in the dance itself.
Going into the fort itself, we find another bagpiper watched by some soldiers.
Also inside the stockade are these blacksmiths.
This guy looks like a villain, doesn't he? Made me shiver.
These people are cooking. The guy's actually cutting potatoes. The haggis was already done on the campfire.
This is a close-up of the lady sitting by the out-of-costume box.
And these soldiers were guarding the road as we wandered toward the exit.
There were more things, too. A Guale Indian encampment, a booth of spices and seasonings, a mock battle, cannon firings...
All in all, a tiring but happy day!
March 22, 2015
TWO OF COLUMBUS' SHIPS
This weekend, replicas of the Nina and Pinta visited Brunswick. We rode over to view them and found it worth the ride and the cost of admission. The ships are manned (and womanned!) by volunteers. They spend eleven months a year traveling from port to port, educating students and others interested in history.
Both ships are black because in their day, ships were made waterproof by coating them with pine tar. And both are terribly small for traveling over the ocean! It was hard to believe twenty-four men traveled on the Pinta and twenty men on the Nina. It was hard to believe Christopher Columbus had the gumption to set sail in them, even if the Santa Maria was larger! (They don't have a replica of the original flagship. Reasons given were that its hull would be too deep to get into ports they travel to and also it was lost before Columbus got back to Europe.)
Here's a picture of the Pinta from the side:
And here she is from the back (looking at her from the Nina):
And moored right behind her was the smaller Nina. This is a front view:
Here's a photo of her front lines:
And here are a couple of her crew members:
If you get a chance to see them, you should go!
Both ships are black because in their day, ships were made waterproof by coating them with pine tar. And both are terribly small for traveling over the ocean! It was hard to believe twenty-four men traveled on the Pinta and twenty men on the Nina. It was hard to believe Christopher Columbus had the gumption to set sail in them, even if the Santa Maria was larger! (They don't have a replica of the original flagship. Reasons given were that its hull would be too deep to get into ports they travel to and also it was lost before Columbus got back to Europe.)
Here's a picture of the Pinta from the side:
And here she is from the back (looking at her from the Nina):
And moored right behind her was the smaller Nina. This is a front view:
Here's a photo of her front lines:
And here are a couple of her crew members:
If you get a chance to see them, you should go!
March 14, 2015
EYES
So I have a problem with my eyes. Most of the time, they don't bother me but every two or three years, something happens. My old opthamologist explained it like this: "Imagine a callus growing over your cornea lens. It's hard to see through something like that. We'll take it off and you'll be able to see again."
I found out later that the 'callus' would grow back every few years, so then I get my cornea peeled or scraped or whatever. This time, since we moved, I'm using a new doctor. He looked at my eye and nodded his head and seemed to know what was going on so I felt confident when I went in to get it done. I pretty much expected the same procedure I've been through before.
Not exactly. To begin with, no nerve soothing IV. Just stretch out on the table, get a numbing drop, and we're starting.
I think: Okay. It doesn't hurt. I've been through this before. I'm fine.
And I was. Until in the middle of scraping, he says: "A lot of scar tissue here. An awful lot. I don't know..."
Then he suddenly asks: "And you've been able to see after this procedure was done in the past?"
I say, heart aquiver: "Well, yes. To an extent. With glasses."
He goes back to scraping. Then: "I don't know. You may need a transplant but we'll do what we can."
And I'm thinking: EEEEK! You wait till I'm on the table, then bring this up? Why didn't we talk about this before now? Why didn't you notice all the scarring earlier? Why didn't you take pictures like my old doctor so you'd know exactly where to scrape and peel? What's going on here?"
It may be just me, but it seems I had a harder time recovering than usual. I'm dreading my check-up visit next week.
But it's gotta be done if I want to see. Sigh.
I found out later that the 'callus' would grow back every few years, so then I get my cornea peeled or scraped or whatever. This time, since we moved, I'm using a new doctor. He looked at my eye and nodded his head and seemed to know what was going on so I felt confident when I went in to get it done. I pretty much expected the same procedure I've been through before.
Not exactly. To begin with, no nerve soothing IV. Just stretch out on the table, get a numbing drop, and we're starting.
I think: Okay. It doesn't hurt. I've been through this before. I'm fine.
And I was. Until in the middle of scraping, he says: "A lot of scar tissue here. An awful lot. I don't know..."
Then he suddenly asks: "And you've been able to see after this procedure was done in the past?"
I say, heart aquiver: "Well, yes. To an extent. With glasses."
He goes back to scraping. Then: "I don't know. You may need a transplant but we'll do what we can."
And I'm thinking: EEEEK! You wait till I'm on the table, then bring this up? Why didn't we talk about this before now? Why didn't you notice all the scarring earlier? Why didn't you take pictures like my old doctor so you'd know exactly where to scrape and peel? What's going on here?"
It may be just me, but it seems I had a harder time recovering than usual. I'm dreading my check-up visit next week.
But it's gotta be done if I want to see. Sigh.
March 3, 2015
WITH A SONG IN MY HEAD
I bet everyone's had a song stuck in their head. Mine is "All About That Bass" and it's been driving me crazy since before Thanksgiving.
I first heard it when I saw a version by strings and a prim singer, as it would have been done in the thirties. It was catchy, so I looked for the original by Meghan Trainor, Then copycats started singing their versions. Then parodies started showing up: "All About That Baste" (with a turkey) and another version by NASA interns, and a version for moms: "I Also Need Some Space" and a bunch more.
Now it's March and I still find myself humming that darned tune! I can't take this much longer. I simply have to find another song to rattle my brains.
Not "Let It Go" though.
No.
I first heard it when I saw a version by strings and a prim singer, as it would have been done in the thirties. It was catchy, so I looked for the original by Meghan Trainor, Then copycats started singing their versions. Then parodies started showing up: "All About That Baste" (with a turkey) and another version by NASA interns, and a version for moms: "I Also Need Some Space" and a bunch more.
Now it's March and I still find myself humming that darned tune! I can't take this much longer. I simply have to find another song to rattle my brains.
Not "Let It Go" though.
No.
February 26, 2015
WINTER
Winter's still here. All my FaceBook friends up north are posting their snow pictures. In northern Alabama, they had ten inches. In north GA, they had a few inches, too. North Carolina and Tennessee are pretty used to it.
Down here, we had some cool weather. It got down below freezing a night or two. But the signs of spring will not be denied!
On our walk today, this white camellia was blooming defiantly.
Here you can see its companion, the red camellia. They seem to be vying for most optimistic flower!
And I'm totally ready for spring! Glad the sleet and snow and ice didn't get down here!
Down here, we had some cool weather. It got down below freezing a night or two. But the signs of spring will not be denied!
On our walk today, this white camellia was blooming defiantly.
Here you can see its companion, the red camellia. They seem to be vying for most optimistic flower!
And I'm totally ready for spring! Glad the sleet and snow and ice didn't get down here!
February 19, 2015
COLD WEATHER
When we first came down from north GA, we used to see people all bundled up in winter clothes while we were running around with a light jacket or sweatshirt. We'd laugh at them since it didn't seem cold enough for bulky coats and scarves.
But that was in 2005. How things have changed.
The winters started feeling colder a few seasons ago. Last year I actually bought a fake-down filled jacket. Now, with the low temperature in the thirties, I'm wearing it. No, I wouldn't have thought daytime forties and fifties were so cold ten years ago. But this is now.
Guess my blood's getting thinner. Wish my body was!
The azalea blooms that thought it was spring, are dead. The green buds on the trees are calling it quits. The Christmas cacti are having to be taken in or covered up. The birds going north are camped at our bird feeders.
The only good thing is that we have no snow.
But that was in 2005. How things have changed.
The winters started feeling colder a few seasons ago. Last year I actually bought a fake-down filled jacket. Now, with the low temperature in the thirties, I'm wearing it. No, I wouldn't have thought daytime forties and fifties were so cold ten years ago. But this is now.
Guess my blood's getting thinner. Wish my body was!
The azalea blooms that thought it was spring, are dead. The green buds on the trees are calling it quits. The Christmas cacti are having to be taken in or covered up. The birds going north are camped at our bird feeders.
The only good thing is that we have no snow.
February 12, 2015
LOCAL EXCITEMENT
It's been a hard few weeks without our sweet boy cat. My girl cat is gradually getting accustomed to being on her own but she's hanging out a lot with us. And still occasionally yowling like someone's stepped on her. I think she remembers him and wonders where he is and wants him back.
But we're all getting better. The local paper is helping take our minds off our boy. Especially when the front page headline features Ben Affleck.
Yep, that Ben Affleck. Seems he was in town scouting locations for a new movie. The people he ran into who recognized him were deliriously ecstatic. He was even kind enough to allow them to take pictures with him. We, of course, weren't among the favored ones. We never hear about anything when it's happening. That's okay. We're used to being behind times and styles and whatever's going on.
Anyway, the movie is supposed to take place in Boston during the Roaring Twenties. Wow! Our town will be perfect! We have all these criminals running around like that period did!
Well, maybe slapping your boyfriend's ex or beating on your momma's door or shoplifting a steak by putting it in your pants isn't quite reminiscent of Boston back then. But I'm sure we can come up with something! After all, we're imaginative and innovative!
Pick us, Ben Affleck! Please pick us!!!
Hmmm. Does Boston have any palm trees?
But we're all getting better. The local paper is helping take our minds off our boy. Especially when the front page headline features Ben Affleck.
Yep, that Ben Affleck. Seems he was in town scouting locations for a new movie. The people he ran into who recognized him were deliriously ecstatic. He was even kind enough to allow them to take pictures with him. We, of course, weren't among the favored ones. We never hear about anything when it's happening. That's okay. We're used to being behind times and styles and whatever's going on.
Anyway, the movie is supposed to take place in Boston during the Roaring Twenties. Wow! Our town will be perfect! We have all these criminals running around like that period did!
Well, maybe slapping your boyfriend's ex or beating on your momma's door or shoplifting a steak by putting it in your pants isn't quite reminiscent of Boston back then. But I'm sure we can come up with something! After all, we're imaginative and innovative!
Pick us, Ben Affleck! Please pick us!!!
Hmmm. Does Boston have any palm trees?
January 31, 2015
CAT
Our sweet boy cat is gone.
Our girl cat is not taking his absence well. She joined our family when she was a kitten and has never been without her brother before. She can't understand why he isn't here and keeps going through the house looking for him. Sometimes she yowls for no reason. Her appetite has dwindled.
After a couple of weeks hoping she'd get better, I took her to the vet. He's a new vet--very nice--who bought the practice from our old vet, so he hasn't dealt with our baby before. I explained that she's a temperamental cat. That she's missing her brother and has never liked strangers--she actually bit the old vet who laughingly referred to her as a "*itch"--and that I always took her out of her carrier and held her during examinations.
Making me out a liar, she behaved beautifully. When we had to leave her for a couple of hours while he ran a blood test, I was afraid she'd act up, but we reluctantly went off.
When we came back to get her, the vet said she'd been fine. He'd given her a shot and she hadn't tried to scratch or bite or anything. She'd been a perfect lady.
I don't know if he's lying, but he didn't look upset and he had no visible wounds. If he's telling the truth, this is probably the first time in her life she hasn't threatened a vet. Maybe she's taken a fancy to him?
Our girl cat is not taking his absence well. She joined our family when she was a kitten and has never been without her brother before. She can't understand why he isn't here and keeps going through the house looking for him. Sometimes she yowls for no reason. Her appetite has dwindled.
After a couple of weeks hoping she'd get better, I took her to the vet. He's a new vet--very nice--who bought the practice from our old vet, so he hasn't dealt with our baby before. I explained that she's a temperamental cat. That she's missing her brother and has never liked strangers--she actually bit the old vet who laughingly referred to her as a "*itch"--and that I always took her out of her carrier and held her during examinations.
Making me out a liar, she behaved beautifully. When we had to leave her for a couple of hours while he ran a blood test, I was afraid she'd act up, but we reluctantly went off.
When we came back to get her, the vet said she'd been fine. He'd given her a shot and she hadn't tried to scratch or bite or anything. She'd been a perfect lady.
I don't know if he's lying, but he didn't look upset and he had no visible wounds. If he's telling the truth, this is probably the first time in her life she hasn't threatened a vet. Maybe she's taken a fancy to him?
