Road Trip - Helen, GA and Anna Ruby Falls

It's been hot in Tallahassee so we got an impromptu idea to head to the Georgia mountains for some cooler air.  We've never been to Helen, GA so that's where we headed.



Helen is just a short 6 hour drive from Tallahassee.  It's a little town that looks like an alpine village.
It's nice and quiet early in the morning, but afternoons are a different story.

It's complete with beer gardens

and windmills.

 

There is a beautiful stream that wanders through the town and tubing is the thing to do on a hot summer afternoon.

 

As the day wore on the number of tubes grew and grew!



This is what the end of the line looks like at the end of a busy day.





Part of the reason of going to Helen was to see the Appalachian trail.



I've been living vicariously through the stories of those who have hiked the trail, either part of or the whole 2100 miles.  Following the white blaze is the plot.



We located the trail and the white blaze and began to hike....up and up.



Needless to say, I will not be hiking the entire trail anytime soon!



Back in town in the late afternoon it is much quieter.  The tubers have gone home and the creek is again peaceful.

 

 

The next morning we headed out to Unicoi State Park.  This park is wonderful!  Hiking trails wind around lakes and through hills and valleys. 

Just beyond Unicoi is Anna Ruby Falls, a US Park.

The hike up to the falls is paved but all uphill.

Following the stream along the bank.

The falls were named after the two daughters of the original founder, Anna and Ruby.
We reached the top and were delighted with the view!

 

One last hidden treasure is not far from the falls.  We found the smallest covered bridge!

 

This bridge was featured in the 1951 movie, I'd Climb the Highest Mountain, staring Susan Heyward.

You can no longer drive through it but can cross it on foot.

 

A nice little hidden treasure!

 

 

                                                                   Until next time~

 

                                                                                 Terri

 

 

 

Summer Giveaway at 2 Bags Full

My dear friend Vicki at 2 Bags Full is having a giveaway! 



Vicki always amazes me with her creativity and generosity, and this is no exception.  These lovely journals are going to be given away to a few lucky readers who leave a comment on her post at Summer Love Giveaway.  So be sure to take a minute and stop by.  You will be glad you did!


Until next time~
Terri

More Pine Needle Pendants

More Pine Needle Pendants are finished!

 

I love to knit and crochet, but another passion (yes, I have a few :-) is creating baskets and jewelry using southern long leaf pine needles. 

 

When the weather gets hot (and it's in the high 90's here!) I seem to lean toward a cooler craft.  Creating with pine needles seems to satisfy my creative urge.  At least until a knit or crochet pattern comes along that I just can't resist.

For these pendants, large semi-precious cabochons are surrounded by several rows of pine needles.

Each one unique in its own way

I love the colors and designs in the stones.  Some look like cameos.

Black onyx to red jasper

Conversation pieces for sure!

Thank you to my dear friends that have made purchases. 
It warms my heart to send money from the purchase of my baskets and pendants
to be used for missions.

 

 

All are currently available in my Etsy Shop Pine Designs. 

 

Stop back soon.  Baskets are coming!

 

 

Until next time~

 

Terri

Bling Sweaters

A dear friend's daughter is expecting their first child.

It's a girl!!

 

I wanted to make a little something that had some bling to it and his little sweater and hair bow seemed like the perfect fit.

I used the softest yarns.

The bow still needs to be finished, but I have time.  The shower is next month.

After finishing the baby sweater I decided to make something for myself.

A friend shared this Chevron Lace Cardigan pattern.

Using Deborah Norville Everyday Yarn in multi-color, I got a bit of bling without much effort.

 

I really enjoyed this pattern.  Easy to follow but also enough change to

keep my interest.

I'll be travelling later this summer and am looking for a project that travels well.  Since we will be limited to 44 pounds of luggage it has to be small, but not fingerweight (too hard to see :-)
Any ideas?

Now back to work with some pine needles!


Until next time ~

Terri

Hidden Gems

I love finding hidden gems!  Especially when they involve travel and history.
And the history doesn't always have to be ancient for a place to be interesting.

Last week we stopped in Monroeville Alabama.  It's a very small town with a southern feel.
But it also had a feeling of familiarity. 

The streets were quiet.  Not much traffic.  But not surprising due to the fact that Monroeville is in the middle of nowhere.

There was a sense of history.  Something had happened here. 

 

 Does this building look familiar?

 

 

 

Monroeville is where the movie To Kill a Mockingbird was filmed.  Many of the local businesses are named Lee as Harper Lee had family here and that's why this town was chosen.

 

We weren't able to spend a lot of time in Monroeville but were told that the town reenacts parts of the movie each year.  Hopefully we can return to enjoy that and more sometime soon.

 

 

Until next time ~

Terri 

Crochet Projects

My nephew and his wife are expecting their first child!  It's a boy!

A baby boy deserves a cuddly, soft blanket.

 

It had to be blue, and the yarn as soft as a cloud. 

A crocheted shell stitch of my own design.  A simple creation starting with a center square
and then working around the edges.

Baby is due in April and for once I'm ahead of schedule.

Another project just completed is a shawl for a friend.

She's been fighting cancer and we will be visiting her next month.

A design creation using a simple ripple pattern. 

So soft and comforting.

A homemade gift always shows you really care.
 

There are a few more projects underway and those will be shared soon, so come back.

 

 

Until next time~

 

Terri