Twain's in Decatur, GA -- The Dainty Saint

The Dainty Saint: an iced, summery concoction of imported St. Germain and vodka.

I spent my birthday alone under Twain's wisteria arbor while the boys played pool inside.

Not that I'm complaining.

There's a thin line between alone and lonely, and it's hard to feel the latter when you're sipping French liqueur {made of fresh elderflowers picked in the Alps} on a balmy evening, watching Decatur, Georgia, start to come to life.

My precocious little son suggests Twain's whenever we venture out of the suburbs and head south toward the city, and usually, if time permits, we oblige him. I'm never without a book or some nice stationery and fountain pens, so I just while away the time and let them do their boy stuff.

Dean's Store--The Woodstock Visitor's Center

There's a place you can go in my town's historic district to find out about all its going's on, both the official tidbits and those that are "off the record." In what was once the bus station and the first place you could buy Coke in Woodstock, Dean's Store is perfectly preserved and stuck in time to reflect its beginnings.

There are plenty of local brochures and magazines to help you navigate your time and way, but the best information can be found behind the counter while either Kyle Bennett or Juanita Hughes is on duty. They won't steer you wrong.

Dean's Store handed out American flags to a teary-eyed crowd along the funeral route of a fallen Woodstock soldier.

A group called "the boys" has been meeting at Dean's Store in the morning for years.

Old relics from a different time. This phone always reminds me of the phone scene in It's a Wonderful Life.

Enamored of.

Kyle always has cold bottles of Coke for visitors after a downtown Woodstock tour.

A Little Blue Today

Even though the weather is gorgeous in Georgia, I'm still in my room feeling a little blue today. I asked the Husband, {excitedly}, to come with me to the new Anthropologie (one of my greatest happy places) in Atlanta, but he went to his parents' house instead. So I'm home, streaming Adele on Pandora, and sprucing up the place a little with Meyer's Lavender cleaners. The scent always brings me back to the fabulousness of  {my}self. Like smelling salts for my soul.

Stuff of Dreams, Just Down the Road

On the road to buy groceries, I always get to pass by this car lot with some of most beautiful, curvaceous pieces of machinery ever to come out of America's yesterdays. I stopped by to talk to the owner a few days ago to ask my WWWH's (Why? Where? Who? How?) for a story in the Woodstock Community Guide.  He told me that when he was a younger man, he used to go there, then a gas station, for his RC Cola's and moonpies. When he saw it for lease, he knew what he had to do.

A String of Sarna Camel Bells ( A Gift to Myself)

Merry.

Mary Mac's Tea Room In Atlanta

Did you know that macaroni and cheese can be listed under "vegetables?"

My first taste of Potlikker!

Mudbugs...

Fried Okra...Reminds me of my mama. :)

Fried Chicken, Mac 'n Cheese, Sweet Potato Souffle, Fried Green Tomatoes, Greens, and Sweet Tea.  For Starters.

Bread Pudding  with Wine Sauce

Mary Mac's Tea Room in Downtown Atlanta

Home

Serenbe Photography Center in Palmetto, Georgia

This is the top of the stairs of the Serenbe Photography Center...closed on the Sunday I went.  I don't know what I would have done if it had been open.  I didn't have enough money to sign up for any of their mind-bendingly awesome workshops.  I guess I just wanted to stop by and say, "Hey, I think you're really great, and I'm glad you're here.  And someday very soon you're going to teach me things that will help me to be the best photographer I can be and fulfill all my hopes and dreams."  (Which probably would have come out a whole lot like:  "Hey, do you have any brochures?")   I walked away from the locked door and moved down the steps where the Little Guy was waiting for me on the Serenbe sidewalk.

Small strands of red consolations waited for me to turned the corner...

Brunch with the Little Guy

Enon Historic Cemetery Tour in Woodstock, Georgia

Linden in Woodstock, Georgia

Cotton Mill Deli in Woodstock, Georgia