The Lead Up to the Big Day

When Flat Susan arrived Sandee set her up in the awesome lodgings of the Smokey Mountain Retreat. A beautiful bed and breakfast Inn where she could enjoy the mountainscapes of North Carolina. The forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee. Susan said she wanted to get a taste of our southern Appalachian culture.

Susan discovered that in North Carolina there are 1,600 growers producing an estimated 50 million Fraser fir Christmas trees growing on over 25,000 acres which represents 90% of all species grown in North Carolina. She was impressed that we are ranked second in the nation in number of trees harvested. 

After her educational tour of the Christmas tree farms, Susan took an afternoon to watch some local kids playing hockey at a nearby school

They invited her to their clubhouse where she was given the honorary title of the "only girl allowed". They also built a snowman and she loved playing in the snow.

Unfortunately, she could not get a grasp of the tire swing, and the boys said she wasn't fit to be a member and they kicked her out of the club because she was, after all....a girl.

 Susan, dejected and rejected from the boys club, went to visit Santa in the hopes that he would cheer her up.

Santa, having claimed that Susan was indeed a very good girl indeed let her ride one of his reindeer.

And the elves said that she could join their club any day and took her sledding with them and for hot chocolate afterward. They told her that they just like to smile, that smiling was their favorite thing...and Susan replied that the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear. :)

Next, Susan is on her way to visit Kimberley in Davidson, NC where she will have a great time.

Flat Susan's visit in GA

Hi Everyone. Gosh, I feel like I've hardly blogged for the last couple months. Well, I guess I haven't. Especially last month. Hopefully this month I can make up for it and get my cards, etc posted to share. 

In the meantime, I've had a little guest with me..her name is Flat Susan and you can find out all about her and her travels here. 

Last week she got a chance to play in the snow. I was completely shocked when I awoke the day before Thanksgiving to find snow had fallen. It was in the forecast for Atlanta, but I live about 30 minutes south so wasn't expecting anything. Well, I was wrong!!! 

I guess it was more of a snow/ice mixture. 

The next day we celebrated Thanksgiving. I made dinner and my sister, brother in law, and his mom came over. And Thanksgiving...was the coldest since 1911. Goodness gracious! 

Earlier this week we went to Callaway Gardens (about an hour south of my house) to see the Festival of Lights. It's one of the "Top 10 Places to See Holiday Lights" according to their website and National Geographic Traveler. Well it didn't disappoint...(but, it started raining, again, while we were driving through!)

Yesterday, Flat Susan got to pick out my Christmas Tree. We went to a tree farm to see what they have...

Oh, and remember the cold, snowy weather we had last week? Well, it was 70 degrees outside!!! Ca-razy weather (which just continues from spring and summer...). 

A Fraser Fir was picked out (pre-cut from NC). To me, they just seem more like a Christmas tree anyway. And here it is...

Flat Susan helped hang up some of my mom's ornaments. She used to make Lithuanian ornaments for years and years. Traditional ones are made with paper straw but these are made with white drinking straws.  

The crosses are my favorite. 

Today, Flat Susan left Georgia and is making her way to North Carolina. in the hills of North Carolina to be exact to visit with Sandee. I had the chance to meet Sandee last April. We had lunch and I saw where all her handmade goodies are displayed for sale at a fun artist's store. I have my 2 best friends that live quite close by so I stopped off to meet her. I'm sure FS will love her visit. Asheville, NC is gorgeous! 

Visiting Downtown Newnan, GA

Who is Flat Susan you ask? Find out all about her adventures here. 

Today I had a chance to take her out to downtown Newnan. (I've been a tad on the road so she's been minding herself...I had to make a quick trip to Texas where my sister was in the hospital!)

This is the old courthouse. Now there's a Visitor's Center as well as Probate Court and some other features. As you can see, they are getting ready for Christmas already. 

Newnan was established as a city in 1828. Quite young compared to all the cities in the rest of the world. During the Civil War, Newnan was considered a hospital city. 

Newnan is located in Coweta County and today it's very popular for filming TV shows and even movies. The courthouse can be seen in the movie Zombieland. Also, a very popular current TV show, The Walking Dead is filmed all over Coweta County.

This building was used as a "fight scene" in Walking Dead and is located only a couple blocks from the courthouse. Also, in this same area, they are currently (or just recently) filming for the 3rd installment of the Hunger Games. I saw some trailers on the other side of this building so they may still be here. 

We also popped into Hobby Lobby, a large craft store in the U.S. I left with only 2 items. Shocking. For me at least!! LOL. 

Afterwards, I took her for a treat...we had a spa pedicure!! Ahh. 

Settling Down in Georgia

Hi Everyone. So, I have a special guest visiting with me here for a little bit. Her name is Flat Susan. She's traveling the world and meeting all sorts of new people. You can see all her adventures here. She just left sunny, warm Florida visiting with Nan. 

Here she is at my front door. We're all ready for November and Thanksgiving now with the mums, scarecrow, and fall wreath. :-)

Unfortunately I've been working since her arrival but she's spent some time with my dogs and hanging around. The weather unfortunately isn't as nice as Florida. We are having a cold spell with lows in the 20's yesterday and today. And it was really windy yesterday. But, my Sunday hopefully back to a high of 70. 

Last night she finally saw my craft room. We sat down to work on TH tag for November and make a couple cards for Thanksgiving. 

Here's the beautiful tag Nan made for me. I love the soft green colors used. So pretty!! Thanks Nan!! We are enjoying a cup of coffee this morning and than we'll have to take her out and about. 

Downtown ...

...where all the lights are bright. Downtown! as the Petula Clark song goes.

My small town, however, doesn't know the song. :) It's lights out and the sidewalks rolled up at 5:00 p.m. folks! (Pic heavy post)

So FS and I went for a walk early Friday morning. It's a nice peaceful place to walk at 9:00 am before the businesses are open and the tourists flock in.
It's also a one stoplight town....that's small. :)


Looking down Donnelly Street on the west side of the street.


We've crossed Donnelly and are headed south.


A few early risers enjoying breakfast on the outdoor deck above.
A restaurant that I think FS and her countrywomen would like


The Windsor Tea Room was established by a British ex-pat. Continuing down Fourth Avenue we come to the newly finished pedestrian mall. It's only one block long. Told ya, we're a small town!



This is the original 1880's train depot now our Chamber of Commerce building. At the end of the pedestrian mall is the yacht club and new docks with a seating area for viewing the sunsets. More about those tomorrow.


Turning around and heading north we come to the building that housed our stamp store. Where I once worked and taught classes. Sadly, it's been closed for four years.


The posts are wrapped with lighted garlands ...getting ready for Christmas.
At the corner we turn right and we're back on Fifth Ave almost where we started. Here we find this interesting store facade from the 1950s.





Let's go up the hill and see what's going on, shall we?



Ah, power company workers stringing more lights. My little town puts up over a million and has a big extravaganza on the last Saturday of November to Light Up Mount Dora.

Hope you enjoyed the tour. :) See you tomorrow for sunsets over the lake.

Celebrate where you live!

A Day in Florida with Nan of Froggy Designs

Happy 2nd of November! We have had splendid weather whilst Flat Susan has been here. Although, today we're having some much need rain.

Today's post is a photo montage of our walk along the Boardwalk on Lake Dora. My first attempt at putting this together. I hope it runs for you.
 
Enjoy.    
iPad users you can enlarge the usual way. For laptops click Boardwalk Photos or the tab above labeled Boardwalk to Palm Island. Click on the first pic will enlarge them and you can scroll thru at your leisure.

Celebrating friendships!

Flat Susan is now in Florida having flown across America.  Gosh, what a busy passport she will have when she gets home.  Hope there are enough pages.

Nan is linking up with Elizabeth and Bleubeard for T for Tuesday and her visitor from across the pond via California is none other than.....Flat Susan!! Here's what Nan has to say:  

I am so excited to be hosting her for a visit to central Florida.  She actually arrived on Saturday and was such a dear to wait patiently while I finished my cleaning chores this weekend.

So here's Flat Susan with all of her traveling gear and a few pieces of my art and since it's T day, my beverage glass.

 We awoke this morning to a beautiful sunny Florida day. To celebrate FS's arrival and our planned activities, I presented her with her very own Harley Davidson! The next pic shows FS standing next to her motorcycle ready to go!

In the corner you see a bit of a gorgeous tag. Here's a better pic of this fabulous tag that Krisha has sent me. I love it, Krisha! Thank you!

Well, we're off to enjoy this lovely day and see what we can see around my hood. Have a wonderful day!