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!