Rain Check...

Hi all!  Today has been full of fun with friends...and another trip to the Athens Botanical Gardens during a quick rain shower.  I think it was almost more beautiful than the last time we walked the green spaces!  So, I'm going to make this a short post and wish everyone a Happy Tuesday...and I'll be back in the swing of things tomorrow.  Bye!

A Trip To The Georgia Guidestones...

A documentary about the Georgia Guidestones aka America's Stonehenge premiered here in Athens a few weeks ago and we couldn't stop talking about how we needed to go see the monument for ourselves.  So, this past Saturday we took an impromptu trip to the stones in the remote countryside of Elbert County...about an hour or so from Athens.  We ended up having a fantastic day and some excellent adventures!

The Georgia Guidestones are something of both a mystery and a controversy.  Built in 1979/80 by an unknown benefactor(s), the 19 foot tall stones are aligned with specific astronomical/natural events (eclipses, sunrise, noon hour, sunset, etc) and are inscribed with a series of 'commandments' in 8 languages.  The commandments include a cap on the population, a respect for nature, and a balance of personal and societal rights...interesting stuff.  Supposedly a time capsule is buried there too but the dates carved in the granite were left unfilled.  Notice that there's no grass right around the Guidestones?  That's because people bring shovels, sneak up in the middle of the night and dig for the capsule. 

The granite Guidestones have been defaced numerous times by a variety of methods - paints and acids mainly.  Some groups claim that the stones are the work of Satanists or Illuminati.  Other groups claim that stones are part of an organization that is preparing for the end of time or dealing with the fears of the Cold War.  There are so many conspiracy theories swirling around these things!  If you want to find out a bit more about the Guidestones and what they say and all about the controversies then start here.  There are also a number of interesting short films/documentaries on YouTube...

 

  

Regardless of the controversy of the stones, or maybe because of it, Brady and I really enjoyed our trip there.  The drive is a beautiful one...full of pastoral countryside and small towns and lots of rolling green hills.  Even the spot where the stones are located is quiet and peaceful...and the sky was blue and the jasmine blooming.

After having a blast running around taking pictures and talking to a couple of the very interesting folks hanging out at the Guidestones, we decided that we didn't want the day to end just yet.  So, we stopped by a few more places on the way back home...

Richard Russell Lake State Park is incredibly serene and immaculately kept.  We couldn't believe the clear green-blue water, made even more vivid by the red clay banks, that awaited us when we stopped.   There were a small number of people swimming, boating, kayaking, paddleboarding and skiing there...and I wanted to be in/on the water too.  It is still a novelty to swim in water where nothing will eat you up!  Remember the alligator infested kayak trip near Valdosta?  *shudder* 

We left the park and headed to the city of Elberton to see the historic downtown there.  Elberton is one of Georgia's oldest cities and boasts more granite signs and headstones than anywhere in the world.  Seriously, granite signs are everywhere!  There are even a few homes that appear to made of granite...

There were quite a few unique but empty buildings in the square.  Unfortunately, downtown Elberton is shrinking and was a bit of ghost town even on a Saturday afternoon.  It always makes me so sad to see local storefronts made of brick and marble granite go empty while big chain stores made of steel and ugly are booming down the street.  That's why I always try to shop local and budget in a few cents more in order to keep the hometown shops alive.  Coming from the only child of two small business owners, my opinions are strong on this one.  I think the Guidestones made my mental gears start churning a bit!

Our friends Brandi and Zane are coming to visit today and tomorrow so we just might take another trip up to Elbert County again in the next couple of days.  I hope so.  There were so many photo opportunities I missed since we had to hurry home to check on our critters.  They can only cross their legs for so long...

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Meet The Critters...

Vienna

That face.  I love that face so much.  It melts my heart.

Vienna was the first foster-then-adopt dog I ever took into my home...almost 14 years ago.

I need to start by saying that Vienna's story has a very difficult beginning.  I don't want to make anyone too sad but the reality is that bad things happen to good doggies.  That's why animal advocacy is such an important thing.  So, if you only want the happy stuff then I suggest you skip the following paragraph and move on to the other sections. 

Vienna's tale begins with her tied up in one bag and her newborn puppies tied up in another, and all were thrown from a moving car (containing super evil people) into the marshes of Glynn County, GA.  A kind person saw the incident happen, stopped to see what was going on, and when they heard Vienna barking they immediately risked their own life to try to save the doggies from the dark water. Vienna was rescued.  Her puppies were not rescued in time.  If anyone tells you that dogs are stupid animals and have no feelings, well, then that person is an idiot.  Vienna mourned her puppies for weeks and even took to carrying around a small stuffed doggy that she 'cleaned' regularly.  My heart still aches for her loss after all these years...

Completing heartworm treatments that seemed to last forever, Vienna was given a clean bill of health and had a pep in her step that hadn't been there before.  She became more active and started playing with my then boyfriend's dogs.  She became even feistier and ate jellyfish whenever we walked to the beach.  My Mother took an extra special shine to Vienna and would sneak into my house while I was at work and take her home with her.  Vienna was right by my side when I moved to Valdosta but she missed my ex's dogs.  A new influx of foster dog companions brought her happiness but nothing compared to how her life changed when Brady entered the picture.  She is obsessed with Brady and he loves her to bits.  Just look at this...

Yep.  She's Brady's girl.

Vienna smiles.  Her ears always stick up when she sleeps.  She has the gnarliest nails of any dog in the world because her quick is so long that we can't cut them short.  Tick-tick-tick on the floor let's you know where she's going...which is usually to the cat food bowl.  Sneaky girl!  She has a heart condition that is being controlled with medication and weight loss.  So, we are always tussling with her desire for extra, and very unneeded, food.  She sounds like a 100 pound dog when she barks but acts like a puppy when it comes to car rides.  Her snoring is so loud that I've actually been unable to sleep...pillow over my head and everything.  She's always the first to welcome you to the house.  Kitties are her friends...sometimes.

This dog is a pretty amazing creature and I'm lucky to have fostered/adopted her.  I highly suggest that you consider adoption or fostering instead of buying a pet from a puppy mill or pet store.  And, like Bob Barker always said, help control the pet population...spay and/or neuter your pet today!

My Life In Pictures...

In the last week or so I've had some amazingly simple yet super fun experiences.  It's the little things that count!

I made crafty things for the house and rejoiced in my new camera.

 

I sat on my porch and enjoyed the rain...and watched beautiful sunsets over my neighbor's tin roof.

I ate some of the best authentic Mexican food I've had since leaving San Diego twelve years ago.  So yummy!  I also learned the basics of bartering...and just traded an old skateboard for a new space heater.  Score!

I spent quality time with disgruntled kitties and new planners.

I drank amazingly crisp beer brewed with ginger and listened to Hawaiin music on the GA Theater rooftop.

I cleaned out our clay stained shed and wrote a guest post involving yet another Nana Farmer recipe.  Productivity, and caffeine, were coursing through my veins.   Oh, and the guest post will be up next week...I'll share it then.

 

It seems like only yesterday that I made homemade miso soup and listened to records (Andrew Bird, Tom Waits and Bill Withers) by candlelight.  Wait, it was yesterday.  Ha!  By the way, I'm thinking of adding how to whistle like Andrew to my 100 Before 40.

The next four days are going to full of fun, friends and family.  Today?  The Georgia Guidestones and a trip to one of the oldest cities in the state.  Tomorrow?  Brady's B's birthday.  Say that three times fast!  B is Brady's Grandmother in Marietta, GA.  Monday and Tuesday?  A visit from friends and lots of exploring and wine and laughs and porch time.  I cannot wait to get things underway!

What about you?  What are your weekend plans?  Share!

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My Womanifesto...

What is a Womanifesto?

"A written statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives, and views of its female author. May include themes of empowerment, independence, self love, consciousness, affirmation, and individual acceptance; your positive beliefs about yourself. Created to give self-described definition in regards to the innate beauty inside of every woman. Yes, even you."

Jes from The Militant Baker has created a wonderful linkup encouraging us to share those things that make us wholly unique. For me, I am a dichotomy of both good and bad...light and dark...sugar and spice.  Not everything beautiful is positive nor everything ugly is negative.  It all makes and breaks us into who we are.

Angry.  Loving.  Calm.  Basketcase.  Neat.  Sloppy.  Educated.  Unemployed.  I can be a contradiction in terms, in moods and in being me.

I believe that age is really just a number.  My number is 37 and I won’t shy away from saying it.

I will not grow old gracefully.  I don’t do anything gracefully.  Get ready for milkmaid braids and overalls and too much rouge at age 80.

Speaking of numbers, I’m a size 16.  I am happy with that.  I will not bow down to magazine ads or anyone that says I should be otherwise.  Nope.

I will be a wife but never a mother.  A partner but never a doormat.  A lover and a fighter.

I will drink too much wine in public and talked loudly with stained teeth.  And my lipstick will 
be perfect.

I will let you merge into traffic in front of me.  I will get angry if you don’t wave ‘thanks’.

I will wear dresses over my jeans.  I will show lots of cleavage. 

I will read Thich Nhat Hanh.  I will read Regency Romance. 

I will give second chances.  I won't give third chances.

I will critique religion.  I will uphold spirituality.

I will push my politics.  I will distrust your hidden agenda.

I will never stop hoping for the best and expecting the worse.

I will know when it’s time to make a change.  I will know when to find my groove.

I will be ready for that day when I find myself.  I won't even know that I was lost.

I’m ready to take on my world.  The world.
  
I'm ready.  I'm always ready.  To. Be. Me.

Thanks again Jes!

Hey, you should join too!  Click on the button above to find out more...but hurry...time's almost up...

PS There seems to be an issue with Blogger and my font.  I'm working to fix this ASAP.  Thanks!

Cleaning Shed! Or, What To Do In 100 Degree Weather...

Part of the put-to-the-side-to-do-list of yesterday was to clean out the shed in our backyard.

Don't you just love the horseshoe over the doors for good luck...and the tin roof?  This thing sure has some character...

So, this shed wasn't full of just character...it was also full of silly junk left by the last tenants who lived here as well as building/yard/paint supplies from the landlord.  The supplies remain but we did make a bit more organized space for our few things - bikes, bike rack and grill.  I'd hoped to make enough room so our tiny car could fit in there but, alas, it didn't happen this time.  I'm going to ask our landlords if we could barter the old wood and old toilet (???) that's taking up precious floor space.  Hopefully they'll be agreeable to that!  Then we could rake out the whole area and really clean up.  It still looks super cluttered and dirty.

I will say that I really enjoyed finding little hidden things in the shed.  Not the bugs, no, but definitely the graffiti hidden by a pile of crumbling boxes and the struggling vine that was caught up in the fencing wire.  The same fencing wire that managed to sneak into my gum boot, tear the lining and give me a good gouge.  Ouch!

There was more to be done but we had to stop after about 4 hours of work.  It was so hot today!  We chugged gallons of water and sweated and cursed and fed about 1,000 mosquitoes.  But I do feel so much better after getting a good amount of exercise.  Whew!  We'll finish things up next month for sure.

By the way, did you notice that Brady is up-and-about?  He's doing so much better lately (thanks physical therapy!) and can even do some light work...like break down boxes.  Yay!

Oh, and I'm keeping just enough old wood to build something that I've never built before...a birdhouse!  One of the 100 Before 40 adventures is on the verge of being done.  Woo!

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DIY Fail...

Today I woke up with a spring in my step and a mental to-do list a mile long.  Oh yeah, I was going to get things done!

And then this happened.

I got sucked into a supposedly easy DIY sewing project via Pinterest.  I found some overstock fabric at the thrift store, rustled up some thread and blew the dust off of my old machine.  I was ready.  Now, I haven't sewn for years, and I thought this might be a good foray back into the land of pinking shears and fast-moving needles.   Wrong!  Very, very wrong.

It. Is. Hideous.

When a mere bundle of brightly colored fabric can suck two hours of your life away and reduce you to tears, it may be time to put down the to-do list and go have a lunch splurge at one of your favorite restaurants.  Like I am.  And then you should go see a $1 movie.  Like I am...with my sweet (and very confused...Jen, why are you crying?) husband.  And then maybe, and most probably, everything will be better, and you can accomplish all the things you wanted to do and more!  Including fixing that monstrosity of a dress.  *fingers crossed*

I hope that everyone has a great day today...and has much better luck with crafting than I did.  It wouldn't take much.  Ha!

I'd also like to thank all of you who responded so kindly to my Two Things post.  Your support means so much to me.  And I loved that so many of you shared things about yourself!  Getting to know each and every one of you is the highlight of my day...

UPDATE:  Mood much better despite the fact that the dress was not salvageable at all.  I used the material to make a couple of bean snakes and I'm now working on a different project making a skirt/tank combo.  *fingers crossed*

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It's My Bag...

I don't know about you but I love when other bloggers do a post about what's in their bags and/or purses!  Most of the time I'm in awe of their organizational skills and ability to pick beautiful/cool/amazing goodies to carry around.  I'm lucky if I can find my keys half the time...

So, today I decided to join the ranks of those who've dumped their personal contents on the floor and started snapping photos.

And I swear, this is exactly what I have in my everyday bag.  Really!  Even I was shocked...and Brady was beyond surprised.  He always calls my purse a 'Mary Poppin's bag' since I usually pull out books, an outdated issue of the Flagpole, an umbrella, a mason jar and/or something other useful thing.  I did a big purge over the weekend but I'm still surprised that I hadn't junked it up.

1.  A very simple but well-made messenger style bag from bayan hippo.  I love that you can choose the color of your lining (turquoise for me!) and that each bag comes with an evil eye pendant to carry with you.  And it's washable...a must for a regularly used bag of mine.

2.  Epi-pen...so I won't swell up and explode from hives after eating/drinking something that disagrees with me.  Bleh.

3.  Burt's Bees lip gloss in a shimmery red tint.  I rarely wear lipstick during the summer so this is the only color my lips get this time of year...and it makes them feel very soft.

4.  Newman's Own organic ginger mints.  My obsession with all things ginger knows no bounds!

5.  Dr. Bronner's lavender hand sanitizer, which uses natural products and is free of GMO-alcohol.  It smells absolutely amazing and doesn't cause an allergic reaction on my hands.  The latter, unfortunately, is something that happens often with chemical laced products.

6.  The ever elusive set of keys!  I bought the hand-stamped keychain off of Etsy but I can't seem to find the seller.  If I do, then I'll post later.

7.  My vintage straw case for my eyeglasses and sunglasses.  This thing has been around for 3 long years and is starting to show a lot of wear and tear.  I won't part with it until it falls apart completely...which may be tomorrow.

8.  Scratch paper with a list of things I meant to buy/barter yesterday, won't buy/barter today, but will hopefully buy/barter tomorrow.

9.  My brand new vintage stock wallet that I bought at the tiniest thrift store in Valdosta.  The place is the original stone Catholic Church for the area and now sits on the back part of the property where the newer, and much larger, church is today.  And it's only open 6 hours during the entire week!  The little old ladies who work there are both extremely nice but incredibly no-nonsense.  Sweet and tart all rolled into one. 

10.  Mechanical pencil.  Lately they've been my writing utensil choice over ink pens.

11.  My little notebook for jotting down quick notes and lists.  I can't believe it isn't beat to heck and back...yet.

If only I could get my Mom to do this.  She has a purse full of stuff that MacGyver could use to make a plane or something.  Really...that bag's contents are amazing!

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PS I was not paid or encouraged to endorse any of these products.  I did so because I love them and use them.  The End.