KRISPY KREME

I admit it: I'm a fast food junkie. Hamburgers, french fries, fried chicken, biscuits...

But I love Krispy Kreme doughnuts best.

When I was young, I lived in Atlanta and every day as I walked to work, I'd stop at a little hole-in-the-wall cafe and have two doughnuts for breakfast. Then early one morning, before dawn and after a night of bowling, friends took me to Krispy Kreme where the HOT sign was on. They were turning out fresh doughnuts and they were...Sigh.

Oh my goodness! I was hooked.

KK places used to be scarcer than they are today and there were years I went without a warm doughnut. But when we moved back to north Georgia, we found one very near where we live. Passing by one morning, the HOT sign was on.

My guy bravely made a sharp turn into the parking lot. It was almost full--lots of people stop when the HOT sign is on--but he edged into a small space between two cars parked on the lines. We rushed inside and there they were. Freshly cooked doughnuts, riding through the glaze and coming down the runway!

And then a sweeping U-turn so the workers could scoop them up and put them into boxes:

The worker asked if she could help me. "Um, yes, please. I'd like two. No. Make that four."

We ate them right then and there. Afterward, we peered at the display case and ended up getting blueberry cake doughnuts to take home. But they weren't nearly as good as those glazed ones straight out of the cooker.

I won't tell you how many pounds I put on that day. I prefer to forget.

ECCENTRICS

Now that we're in North Georgia, I'm happy to report we have our strange folk here, too. I once did a blog on a truck covered with stuffed wildlife we found parked at a fast food place on the island. The other day we ran across another decorated truck up here.

We saw the back first.

Walked up to inspect it.

Took a closer look.

Couldn't help myself. Had to go around to the front.

My, my. We do have our eccentrics everywhere, don't we? But life would be so...bland...without them!

AUTUMN LEAVES

In coastal Georgia, we had a little autumn color but not like north Georgia. It's quite nice to be back where most of the trees have leaves that turn in the fall.

These trees line a road going toward our house:

And these are pix of our pond:

And these are some geese on our pond just as the leaves started turning. They were only here for a couple of days so I guess we were just a stopover as they flew further south for the winter.

I loved our island home but you can't beat autumn in north Georgia!

MERCIER APPLES

While we were up in north Georgia for a wedding, we took a detour the next morning, going north to Blue Ridge, so we could pick up some apples at Mercier's Apple House.

Inside, an old truck met us, loaded with apples.

We'd gotten up early (they open at 7 am) so we could eat breakfast in their cafe. My guy had a waffle but I had one of their fried peach pies. It wasn't crowded. Then.

Afterward, we ambled toward the apple room:

There we tasted apples before deciding which ones to buy. They were all good, some sweet, some tart, some just right! And no, I don't know these people.

After we picked up a bag to take home, we wandered around some more. They keep knocking out walls and putting stuff in. They have a honey section, a section of canned stuff, a section for jams and jellies, a section for different juices--not just apple but things like muscadine--and ciders--not just apple but other fruits like cherry--and all kinds of things like soaps and candles. There is also, I noticed, a place for tasting hard cider. But at eight o'clock in the morning, and a three hour drive in the rain ahead of us, we decided to forego that treat.

I don't remember what part this was, but you can see the hanging sign listing different departments:

Besides the apples, we also got a jar of chow chow and a bag of stone ground grits. And some more fried pies to take with us. Apple and peach, although they have a bunch of flavors. I found out recently that Mercier's supplies fried pies to places like The Varsity. (If you're not from Georgia, you won't know what that is but it's a famous fast-food place started by a Georgia Tech drop-out that has now spread over the state.)

Mercier's has muffins and banana bread and other things, too, but the fried pies are a specialty. Here's the bakery case: kind of empty since it was so early but stuff was coming from the kitchen. The pies we bought were still warm!

By the time we left about eight thirty, even with rain putting a damper on pick-it-yourself apple buyers, people were flocking in. There wasn't a single parking place left in the closest parking lot. Good thing we came early.

We ate the last apple yesterday and it was still good. I just love Mercier's! If you're ever in North Georgia, this is the place to go.

FARMHOUSE WEDDING

More happy stuff to take our minds off hurricanes, fires, massacres and other bad things happening in our country.

A relative got married last weekend in North Georgia. Not at a resort or event location, but at the place she'd chosen as a child.

For years, her grandparents have looked after an old farmhouse for the absent owners, who allow her grandfather to grow hay and cows on the fields. The bride, helping with chores around the farm from her childhood, always said she wanted to be married there one day.

Last Saturday, that day came. Other than a few occasional raindrops, remnants of Hurricane Nate skirted the hilltop house where a crowd of friends and relatives gathered, while the pleasant autumn afternoon was not too warm and not too cold.

Some pix my guy took beginning with the lovely bride escorted down the farmhouse steps...

...to meet her dashing groom and say vows overlooking fields below:

The wedded couple retreating back into the house:

Inside, gathering for photos:

Outside, playing with some of the children. I believe the two older girls are nieces of the groom while the baby is the niece of the bride: (The baby has two older brothers and their hair is red, too. We are taking bets that any children from the newlyweds will have red hair!)

The horse trailer was cleaned up so we could put purses and coats and camera cases inside. Canned drinks are in the low container on the left while a table holds iced tea, lemonade and water.

The dining tent was set up by the barn. To the right is the corner of a smaller tent where the buffet is spread out. You can't see the cows behind the big tent until...

...this picture from inside:

We left at dusk, before the cake was cut and toasts drunk. The younger crowd intended to party into the night, and we were tired. Many of them stayed in the house with its six or eight bedrooms, but we went to a motel to get some sleep before heading up to Mercier's Apple House early the next morning.

Such a picture-perfect wedding and such nice people make things almost seem normal.

Almost.

TINY DISASTERS

We've had a strange year. Unexpected things keep happening.

The first of the year, we lost one cat and soon after, the other. Then I had a broken tooth that had to be crowned. Then the transmission of my car broke and needed replacing. Then both cars needed new tires. The plumber had to come because the toilet tank would ony fill when the bathroom sink faucet was turned on. We got a rat in our bird feeder and had to take them down. My eyes started acting up again.

The first of this month, my guy's old car started having problems just before a trip to north Georgia. At thirteen, I guess it had good reason to fall apart. I wish it could have waited another year but...So we bought a car.

Then the back bedroom sprung a leak after a record rainfall that had streets impassable and the backyard flooded. Then our door from the garage to the house decided it didn't want to be opened. My guy took off the door knob but the lock wouldn't come out. The door didn't budge. The locksmith fortunately had tools and said, yep, the mechanism was broken but the knob was okay. So he replaced the innards.

Finally, up in north Georgia, waiting in the eye doctor's office seven hours from home, the lights went out. We sat there two or three hours, refusing to leave since we'd have to reschedule and make another trip. Luckily, the lights did come back on and several people had left so we were able to get out about dark.

None of these things were terrible calamities but when they just keep coming, I can't help but wonder if I'm living wrong! I'm hoping next year will be better.

And the back bedroom still has a trashcan under the hole in the ceiling for water to drain. We've not yet been able to get anyone in to check out the leak.

Sigh.

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.
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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!

TRAVELS

Went to a class reunion in north Georgia. We'd stayed at a chain motel the last time we went, but it wasn't the best experience. The only other lodging in the area was Serenity in the Mountains, a small spa/resort -- like thirteen rooms -- but the price was the same. I figured we'd try it and at least we'd know which one to stay at the next time. I had no idea it was featured in an issue of "Everyday with Rachel Ray" some years back. Was I surprised!

Didn't look like much on the outside because it's right in town, crammed in behind a gas station. No view, no swimming pool, no exercise room, no complimentary breakfast. Just the rooms on the lower level and the spa on the upper. A one-way driveway on one side to register, and another drive on the other side to park.

But the rooms weren't rooms. They were suites. Condos, actually. We walked in and gaped. To our left was the kitchen (photo was taken standing in the living area):  

The dining area was on the right and the living area was straight ahead. Note the fireplace and you can see the edge of the large screen TV. A rocking chair is also just out of sight. The door leads to the bedroom:

The bedroom boasted a hanging TV not in the photo but easy to view lying in the king-sized bed. Guess you can see we'd already had a nap! But hey, it took us seven hours to get up there. We were pretty beat. And also not seen in the photo is the door to the right leading back into the bathroom.

Did I say bathroom? A Jacuzzi tub and an open shower with a tiled seat. I'd trade the cats off just to have that shower in my house! You can see the shower head on the left if you look hard. The towels (used; yes, I waited till we'd settled in to think of taking pix) are hanging off the glass half-door and surrounding wall.

Of course there were the obligatory bear pictures (even one over the toilet paper roll) and other trappings of a mountain cabin. There were also robes in the closet for our free visits to the steam room/sauna. The other spa features had to be paid for, but alas, we had no chance to enjoy any of them. We got in, rested a half hour, showered, went off to the dinner, came back, crashed, got up and left early the next morning for a family reunion further down the road

Nice we could do both reunions in one trip, though. We'd have had to skip one otherwise.

But our stay at Serenity in the Mountains was great. Bet we go back. I can't wait. Maybe we can get there a day early to fully enjoy the services!

TRAVELS

Setting off again for north Georgia. We plan to visit relatives, go to the shooting range, and see our tax guy.

Yes, the dreaded income tax deadline is getting nearer. We heard the IRS didn't have its computers tuned up for the latest tax changes at the first of the year, so we've put it off. I hope they're ready for us now.

I took a course in figuring income taxes once and vowed never again. It seems to me, if we have to give up part of our income to it, the government could make the whole thing easier. Like just taking our blood to sell or something.

But then I guess the CPA's and tax firms like H&R Block and Hewlett Jackson would be out of business. Not to mention all the government employees.

Oh, wait! Then we'd have to pay to support them!

Never mind.

And here are the babies, crushed that we're leaving them. They actually woke up from their nap long enough for me to record their devastation.

Not. They're looking forward to seeing the catsitter. She thinks they're perfect.

INTERNET WOES

Up at the lake house, AT&T personnel were rude to us when we tried to talk to them about cell coverage (none) and what we could do (they said nothing; I complained and we got a microcell...after a lot of hassle...and it worked just fine) Miffed with them, we went to Comcast's internet and TV up at the lake house for a year. No problems.

So now we're down at the coast. We go with Comcast for TV and cable (feeling guilty since the AT&T people down here have always been great to work with). Monday the internet was down. Called several numbers for Comcast. Found one that worked. After some punching of buttons, got to a disinterested rep. Rep sets up an appointment for a tech to come out. On Thursday afternoon. Arghhh!

We don't have a contract with Comcast; it's a month to month thing. So Tuesday we go over to the mainland and talk to the people at AT&T (and find they're still the nicest, most helpful sales people we've dealt with in a long while; totally unlike the AT&T up in N GA). They're due this morning to connect us up to internet and TV. We'll see how that goes.

In the meantime, our internet came back up yesterday afternoon. Too late.

Technology is grand when it works.

LONG WEEK

Monday morning, Memorial Day, we got a call of a problem in the family. We hurriedly threw clothes into the car and took off in rain from Beryl. We got to west Georgia the middle of the afternoon and spent two nights there.

We'd been scheduled to go up to north GeorgiaThursday or Friday for a family reunion, so instead of driving six plus hours back to the coast, we drove two hours into Alabama to visit a relative there for two nights. Then drove six or seven hours Friday to spend the night with another relative north of Atlanta. Finally, Saturday morning, we went up to Whitestone - a really gorgeous place with rolling hills and country roads - and enjoyed aunts, uncles, siblings, cousins, and other people we didn't recognize. You know how reunions are.

Then about three thirty we left Whitestone and drove six and a half hours home in time to sleep in our own bed. Ahhh.

Boy, were we tired! And do you think the cats were glad to see us? They were not. Evidently the catsitter gives them beaucoodles of treats. Since we don't, they were not at all pleased to see us return.

Worse thing was I put on several pounds. I think it was that last day at the family dinner. Maybe the barbecue or ham. Maybe the rice and beans. Maybe the fresh creamed corn. Probably the luscious pound cake or the banana pudding like Granny used to make.

Yeah, it was the desserts.

TRAVELS

Took a day off last week and went up to Anna Ruby Falls near Helen. We stopped at the Cleveland McDonald's to grab a biscuit and they have the cutest display of Cabbage Patch Kid dolls! Guess it's 'cause Babyland General, their 'birthing' place is located here. Maybe you can see something from my phone pix.

And then on to the falls! They're gorgeous. Although the photo makes them look like three waterfalls, they're actually twins, separating at the top and falling below into two distinct falls before merging back together.

TOCCOA FALLS COLLEGE

A couple of days ago we went to Toccoa Falls in north Georgia so my guy could photograph the falls. (He's been on a waterfall kick the past year.) I wandered along and noticed a plaque about a Revolutionary War soldier, William Wofford, who owned the property. Evidently he settled in while it was still Cherokee territory and is buried near the falls.

Further along were signs about Toccoa Falls College, current owner of the falls. The theological school was founded in 1907 in North Carolina but moved to Toccoa Falls in 1911.

One large sign tells about a tragedy that occurred in 1977. A dam, originally built by the school for electric power production, failed after nine days of rain. The forty-acre lake behind the dam surged over the falls and engulfed a dormitory and several trailers. Thirty-nine people died and 60 were injured, all with ties to the college. A monument listing the dead is a somber memorial; many of them had the same names and were doubtless family members.

The falls lie just outside the gift shop, about a hundred yards of easy walking. Worth a visit to anyone traveling through north Georgia.

And no, these pictures aren't the ones my guy took. His photos look great while mine... Well, they're from a phone. What do you expect?

NEW WATER HEATER

Okay. So the kitchen stove wasn't working properly when we moved back to N GA. We've had it worked on. Took them a while but...

Then we had to buy a new washer and dryer. The washer was dancing around the floor, the dryer refused to cut off. But after twenty years, what do you expect?

Then the heat didn't work. Got it fixed. Then this summer, the air didn't work. Got it fixed. Then the heat wouldn't work again. Got it fixed. Had to put in a new handler and rewire but hey...It's working now.

Then the dishwasher refused to cycle properly. I had to set it on wash, turn it off, drain, and set on rinse to get the dishes washed. Got it fixed. Sears forgot to tell the repairman he had to replace another part so it blew the board. And he had to come back and replace it.

The icemaker on the refrigerator didn't work so we got it fixed. Not much more to go wrong, right?

Went back to the coastal condo to check on things and guess what. The hot water heater was leaking out the bottom. Not ten years old but we had to get a new one.

I think all that's left is the fridge. And I'm afraid it's time for it to go, too. If 2012 isn't better than 2011, I'm ready to surrender and go to a boarding house somewhere. With or without the cats.

COLD WEATHER

So it got down below freezing last night. Brrr. We'd hoped to be back at the beach by now. Instead, we're still in north Georgia.

So we go to bed -- my guy, the girl cat, the boy cat and me -- and pull up the blanket. He wants the comforter pulled up on him, too. I don't and push it aside.

He says, "You better not kick the covers off tonight," as I sometimes do during the night.

I say, "We might have to buy an electric blanket with twin controls."

He says, "Then the cats would pee on us and we'd be electrocuted."

I get to laughing so hard the cats stalk up and down angrily till I can stop and they can settle back in their usual places.

I didn't kick off the covers though. Too cold.

AMICALOLA FALLS

Went up to Amicalola Falls in north Georgia yesterday for my guy to take photographs. The falls were gorgeous and the weather a perfect autumn cool. Colors not so great because a lot of the leaves have already fallen, probably because of the drought this summer.

Anyway, here's a photo of the top part of the falls. Unfortunately, the other two are of trash people left that collected in the pools below.

Darn litterbugs are bad as chiggers.