Autumn Activities - Part Two

I remodeled my blog again. I like it so much better now! Hope you do, too. ;D

After our wonderful weekend in the mountains, we headed home on Monday, November 1st. We had been on the road maybe 30 minutes when we saw a sign that we had seen the previous Friday night, only this time it was daylight and well-lit. And we could see what was *behind* the sign: Goats On The Roof.

Say what?!

Yep, GOATS. Literally, ON THE ROOF. We promptly turned around and gleefully arrived at this wonderful place.

It's a series of buildings, specially-built for goats to live on the roofs. The buildings themselves consisted of a country store, an ice cream parlor, and a little restaurant. Normal stuff. Except there were goats. On the roof. :D

We thoroughly enjoyed walking around and visiting with the goats. Here are some pictures.







There is a pulley system in place where you can purchase some feed for the goats (from a machine similar to a gumball machine) and send it up to the goats. They LOVE this! :D



Very elaborate. And awesome.





The different roofs are connected by bridges and walkways for the goats to travel.







More goats. On the roof. :D



Outside the ice cream parlor, you could talk to the "Goat Whisperer". :)



There were beautiful fall displays of pumpkins and gourds as well.





This goat LOVED to stare. Here he is, staring at me.



Some rude kids sent the little feed cup up to him empty. He was quite displeased and promptly did this:



And gave them a little Goat Stink-Eye. (I gave them some regular Stink-Eye as well. Meanies.)



Brian was excited to find some RC in a glass bottle:



Another goat, waiting on the feed cup:



I love his bell. :D



Yay! Feed!!



Happy Goat!



And we were happy to have spent some time at this awesome place. We definitely want to go back. So much that the goats *know* us. :D

If you're up near Helen, GA, be sure to check this place out! :D

Autumn Activities - Part One

It has been a busy Autumn for us!

Over Halloween weekend, we went to the North Georgia mountains, to Sky Valley!! Our dear friends, Tia and Ken, were kind enough to invite us to join them and stay three days in a wonderful mountain house with gorgeous autumn views of the mountains! It was so much fun! Brian and I haven't gotten away on a vacation since our HONEYMOON, nearly 14 years ago! My sweet sister, Ginger, house and cat sat for us so we could go. She's the best!!

Anyway, we took so many pictures! I took over 600 with the DSLR and Brian took several rolls of film on his Yashicas. Still waiting for those to come back. Here are a few of my faves from the weekend!

This was our view each morning after stepping out onto the deck. Gorgeous!!



Here's another view from the deck:



Here we are on the first morning there. We had just seen that gorgeous view for the first time, because we had arrived the night before, in darkness. We are happy mountain folk!! :D



Later that morning, we ate breakfast at the Cupboard Cafe. Seriously, the best breakfast ever!



Next, we went to the railroad museum.



Mountain view at the railroad museum.





Tia, Ken and Dane.





Later, we walked around some antique shops. Brian and Ken had a rest outside in some rocking chairs. When I went to take their picture, Brian said to Ken, "Look at Ami" and this is the response I got. :D



That afternoon, we got some shots outside.
Here's a great family shot of Ken, Dane and Tia.



The little church in the valley. It played a chime each hour that was so beautiful and soothing. I really miss that!



That evening, Brian and I went out alone to capture the sunset. Here, we are chasing it down the winding mountain roads.





The glorious view from the bottom of the mountain.



These hay bales were everywhere. So cute!!



Gorgeousness.





On Sunday, we ventured out (and into North Carolina a bit) and ended up at Dry Falls. They. were. gorgeous!







We had SUCH a wonderful, relaxing trip! It was much-needed! On our way home, we discovered a wondrous place called Goats On The Roof. More on that in the next post. ;D

Kris

I remember joining Brian's family, some 17 years ago when we first started dating. I remember how he talked about this aunt -- his Aunt Kris -- who was so cool and awesome to hang out with. She was more than just an aunt, he had said. She was a friend, a confidante, and fiercely loyal. Soon after, I met her and she welcomed me with open arms. Since those early days, I have been proud to call Kris an aunt and a friend. Over the years, Brian and I became even closer to her and her husband, Phil. We all hung out, played cards, shopped, went to dinner together, house-hunted, helped each other and so much more.

A week ago today, on Monday, October 18th, Kris was taken from us far too soon, at the age of 49. She died suddenly and unexpectedly and it was a huge shock to us and all her family, friends, and her beloved Phil. Over the past week, Brian and I have been trying to accept her passing, but it's nearly impossible. She was so ingrained in our lives, so much a fixture that never wavered. She *couldn't* be gone.

But she is. Her funeral was Saturday, and that day was one of the saddest I've ever experienced. I just can't imagine a world without her in it. She was so caring, so generous, so friendly and kind. She loved to garden and take care of animals, especially her cherished horses. I know she would not want us to grieve. She would want us to carry on, to live our lives to the fullest, the way she lived hers.

So we will try. The sun won't shine as brightly without her here. The world is forever changed. But she would want us to remember and honor her by continuing our walk here, not in sadness, but in the joy that she brought us. That is her legacy to us. Her funny, sweet nature. Her talents and good taste. Her love and wisdom. Her good work and generosity. These are the things that we will take with us, and she will live on through them and in our hearts. Forever.




I came across this poem and couldn't believe how authentically "Kris" it was, and how I feel this is what she would want us to remember right now. I wanted to share it here.

* * *

You can shed tears that she is gone, 
or you can smile because she has lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that she'll come back, 
or you can open your eyes and see all she's left. 

Your heart can be empty because you can't see her, 
or you can be full of the love you shared. 

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday, 
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday. 

You can remember her only that she is gone, 
or you can cherish her memory and let it live on. 

You can cry and close your mind, 
be empty and turn your back. 

Or you can do what she'd want: 
smile, open your eyes, love and go on.
---David Harkins

* * *

So, sweet Kris, I will smile through my tears, I will love and go on. I will never, ever forget you. You left a mark on my heart that will never diminish.
Rest in peace, dear Aunt and Friend, and I will see you again someday.

All Aboard!! Scrap n' Art World Cardmaking Day Blog Train!

Welcome to the Scrap n' Art World Cardmaking Day Blog Train! If you haven't been with us since the beginning of the train, make sure you go to Angela's Blog to board. Our train is headed on a fantastic holiday tour and you won't want to miss any of the ten stops. We start out at Halloween, head on over to Thanksgiving and end our journey at Christmas. Each blog along the way has a word that you will need to write down. At the end of the line, post the sentence you gathered from the various blogs and you will be entered to win an amazing prize package! The train ride will be open until midnight Sunday (US Central Time Zone) and the winner will be announced on the Scrap n' Art Blog on Monday, October 4.

Welcome to Christmas!

Here is the card I created:

A couple closeups:

Supply List: Cardstock: Paper Accents "Muslin Vanilla 12x12 (8069)," Core'dinations "Core Essentials Collection"; Adhesive: Beacon Adhesives "Adhesive Squares, Zip Dry," GlueArts "Glue Glider Pro: High Tac"; Paper: Graphic 45 "Christmas Past: Carol of The Bells, Christmas Wishes, Deck The Halls, Tags, Victorian Greetings," Karen Foster Design "Green Stars"; Embellishments: Nunn Design "Snowflakes"; Stickers: Jenni Bowlin Studio "Chalkboard Alpha: Red," Sassafras "Apple Glitter Alpha"; Paint: Ranger "Stickles: Candy Cane, Frosted Lace"; Ink: Ranger "Tim Holtz Distress Ink: Vintage Photo"; Pens: uni-ball Signo "White," Zig Writer "Chocolate"; Color Spray: Tattered Angels "Glimmer Mist: Creme de Chocolat"; Misc: Ribbon

And here's a little peek at the prize pack you could win!

Thank you so much for stopping by! My word for you is Scrap n' Art. Next stop is Amy Hadley's Blog. Have a great journey!

Hey Jupiter

Last night, Brian and I ventured out to capture the last sunset of Summer and to catch a glimpse of the Super Harvest Moon we were supposed to have. Here are pics I took from the evening. (You can click the image to view larger.)












Goodbye, Summer. :D

And here is that big, gorgeous Harvest Moon!!







And the last picture is of Jupiter. We couldn't believe we got such a good, bright shot of Jupiter and its moons. We were just giddy!!

hey jupiter
nothing's been the same
so are you safe
now we're through
thought we both could use a friend to run to
hey jupiter
--tori amos



So, happy first full day of Fall! Hopefully the weather will catch up to the calendar really soon!!

Summer's Last Stand

Whew. Y'all. Summer is not going down without a fight. Today is the last full official day of Summer, so Fall is just around the corner. Well, on the calendar, that is. It's still ridiculously hot here, hotter than average even for us (in Georgia). We should be in the low-to-mid 80s by now, but today? 95 freaking degrees.

Our driveway is starting to show some signs of Fall...




And the backyard longs to be covered in leaves...



And my Fall magazines and catalogs are arriving...




And beautiful, golden Fall light is coming into the house...



...but Fall is still more than just a day away. :(
I will still pull out the rest of my Fall decorations by the end of the week, though. And I will enjoy this week, as it is the main week for Fall premieres! Tonight, it's Glee!!

So, we will keep the air conditioning blasting, and decorate for and dream of those cool, crisp days of Fall.

I Can't See New York

I will never forget September 11, 2001. I was working at the Medical Center in a doctors' office. Brian also worked at the Med, and he had just dropped me off at my building. I got on the elevator with one of the doctors from my office and we rode up together. He mentioned that he had overheard on the radio that a plane had hit the World Trade Center. I don't think it even registered to me at that point, and I sort of brushed it off like it was an accidental plane crash.

A terrorist attack never crossed my mind.

We got into the office, and the buzz about it began to grow. We turned on the TV and then the second plane hit. We stayed glued to it all day long. And we heard who they thought had done it. And we were learning how and why. To this day, I think we still are.

I will never, EVER forget that day. I will never forget the TV coverage that went all day that day, and all day for weeks afterward. The lives lost, the devastation.

Soon after, I was introduced to the music of Tori Amos (thanks, Melinda!) and the first album of Tori's that I bought was Scarlet's Walk. On it, there is a song called "I Can't See New York". It has always made me think of 9/11 from the first listen. Every year, on 9/11, I play it and remember all the people who died that day. I remember how helpless I felt that day, watching people die and suffer on TV and not being able to help them.

But I will never forget them.

I found "I Can't See New York" on YouTube, as a video with pictures from that day of devastation and loss. I wanted to share it. You can see it here.

Lyrics Here:
I Can't See New York
by Tori Amos

From here
no Lines are drawn
From here
no lands are owned
13,000 and Holding
swallowed in the purring
of her Engines
tracking the Beacon here
"is there a Signal
there on the other side"
on the other side?
what do you mean
the side of what things?

and you said
and you did
and you said
you would find me here
and you said
and you would find me
even in Death
and you said
and you said
You'd find me

But I can't see New York
as I'm circling down
through white cloud
falling out and I know
his lips are warm
but I can't seem to find
my way out
my way out

I can't see New York
as I'm circling down
through white cloud
falling out and I know
his lips are warm
but I can't seem to find
my way out
my way out
of this Hunting ground

From here
crystal meth
In metres of millions
In the end all we have,
soul blueprint.
and did we get lost in it
do we conduct a search for this
"from the other side"
from the other side?
what do they mean
side of what things...

and you said
and you did
and you said
you would find me here
and you said
that you would find me
even in Death
and you said
and you said
You'd find me

But I can't see New York
as I'm circling down
through white cloud
falling out and I know
his lips are warm
but I can't seem to find
my way out
my way out

I can't see New York
cause I'm circling down
through white cloud
and I'm falling out and
I know your lips are warm
but I can't seem to find
my way out
my way out
of your Hunting ground

you again
It's you again
I can't see
I can't see New York
I can't see
I can't see New York
from the other side
I Hum from the other side

Good Fall Bunting

Ready for some Fall decor? Check out a Good Fall Bunting I made, today on the Scrap n' Art Blog!

Here's a peek (click to view larger detail):


Head on over for the full story and pictures!!