same song, different verse

We've had so much rain in the past few days...the creek is over its banks in Harry Griffin Park.




It's quite a different sight than when we were there painting not too long ago.

disappearing

Old barns can be seen beside secondary highways in this North Georgia area. Most have been abandoned, left standing simply because it costs too much to tear them down. There's beauty in the rusted tin roofs, weathered timbers and simple architecture. These structures are fast disappearing, and it's sad that we don't seem to see them at all. We're in such a rush getting from Point A to Point B that we hardly notice these icons of an era inhabited by our grandparents. I sometimes imagine a barn, newly built, with its farm implements hanging on hooks, the sweet smell of hay and the scurry of mouse feet.

Butterfly Award!!

Deborah Wilson gave me this wonderful Butterfly Award because she likes my photographs. I'm honored. You can visit Deborah's blog "Corridors" at http://deborahwilson.blogspot.com/. Now I'm passing along the award to some of my favorite bloggers...I'm working on the list now.

Southern Lights

This is another version of what I call Southern Lights. There is actually an atmospheric phenomenon of southern lights (akin to the famous northern lights) in the southern hemisphere. Georgia's Southern Lights are actually the setting sun reflecting off cloud formations. This makes an awesome sight just before sundown.

one more month

It's just one more month until Winter officially sets in. The trees are still showing scattered blazes of color, but more bare limbs are due very soon. It's sad to see the land 'close up shop' for a few months. There'll be no 'new grass green' greens for awhile, and the crocus won't peek through the frosty ground until early Spring. Just a few inches of snow fall is usually all we get here in the South. Maybe I'll post some Summer photos in February.

Fort Keys foliage

On this day, November 20th, last year I painted this 8"x10" oil. Several people asked if I had "tweaked" the foliage colors. I usually reply that I don't have to exaggerate Nature's coloring...I just have to see it with an artist's eye. The accompanying photograph shows an almost identical coloring in adjacent trees this year.
Contact me for purchase at beejw@charter.net. The price is $85 including shipping.

Crawfish Springs - November 2006

Crawfish Springs in November of 2006 was a fairyland of crystal water, reflected Fall foliage and sparkling sunshine. A few days ago I drove by and saw that it is almost overrun by the aquatic plants...and the water level is scarcely visible. The extended drought has left its effects.

Fort Mountain overlook

Yesterday my friend, Gail, and I had a girls' day out. You thought we went shopping, didn't you?? Actually we did...but not at the mall. We took an hour's trip across Fort Mountain from Murray to Gilmer County, GA. We just had to stop at this overlook and marvel at the rolling mountains, the layers of clouds and the endless colors of North Georgia in Autumn. Our trip took us to Mercier Orchards in Blue Ridge. It's worth a trip to Blue Ridge to see this gorgeous land. Click on the image to show detail.

gentle waters running

Except for the occasional passing car, the only sounds near the creek bank were the gurgle of gentle waters running and the rustle of Autumn leaves falling. It's as though the land is closing up shop for the season.

crossing the Mississippi

Remember how big everything was when you were a kid?? This little stream could be the Mississippi river through the eyes of a child. I sometimes slow down to remember how I perceived things when I was little. It's a version of 'thinking outside the box'.

on the morning side of the mountain

Recently while visiting Cloudland Station, I was reminiscing about Granddad's farm. I would play for endless hours on the old wagon. It was my pirate ship, my island, my playhouse...my special place. In my child's mind, it would always be there...but it was gone all too quickly. Now whenever I see an old farm wagon, I am transported back to those carefree days.

Did you bring your fishin' pole??

This brought back memories of fishing with my Dad when I was a little girl. We'd sit for hours with our lines in the water. When he wasn't looking I'd lift mine out of the water and inspect the dead worm...wondering why any fish would want that for lunch. I didn't catch many fish, but I did catch memories.

reflections of Fall

Hearing the babble of running water is always soothing to the soul. Sitting beside a stream, one can reflect upon the day's journey, the path chosen and the future unknown.

Mountain Cove barn

I know in photography as well as painting composition, the focal point should not be centered in the frame/canvas. However, this barn sitting on a hill's crest held such a commanding presence, I couldn't help putting it there. This is one of many barns located at Mountain Cove Farm in Walker County, GA. With the sky's bold blue canopy and surrounding Fall foliage, the barn appeared to glow in the late morning sunlight.

Mountain Cove Farm

Yesterday Sandra and I drove to Mountain Cove Farm located in Walker County, Georgia. It is over 1800 acres of beautiful farmland held by the county and State in their land preservation program. The Fall foliage was a wonder to see! The mountains were shrouded in a pale lavender mist early, but the striking colors became bolder as the day passed. We painted for several hours, then had a picnic under a tree. What a way to spend a glorious Autumn day!

view from the tree house

Of course you can't resist climbing into a tree house...no matter what your age. This view presented as I climbed onto the balcony of the Cloudland Station tree house. The child inside me shouted, "Look at me!!"

tree house at Cloudland Station

There's a fantasy land at Cloudland Station, just south of Flintstone, GA. A group of investors started this planned community on a 420 acre tract of land located "on the morning side of (Lookout) the mountain". This photo shows the tree house located beside a small creek. My camera took about 60 photos of the beautiful landscape, so you'll be seeing more here. If you'd like to visit the Firefly Communities website for more information, you can find it at http://www.fireflycommunities.com/. Four members of the Southern Plein Air Painters group took advantage of the 70+ degree day and finished several paintings en plein air.

Happy Halloween!!

This is the photo of a small (8"x10") color study done at the "Pumpkin Glow" festival near Flintstone, GA, on October 25th. The study is for a larger painting I'll do in my art studio. I didn't have my camera (forgot it) so the closest thing I could do was this oil on panel color study.
If you'd like to see more of my artwork, it's at http://beejw.blogspot.com.

fast upon us

Cool weather came fast this year. I was wearing shorts the weekend of October 11th at the Prater's Mill Country Fair. This morning there was a heavy frost. Next week is Thanksgiving and the week after that will be Christmas. Then it's 8 months until Spring...at least that's what it feels like.

This photo is of Chickamauga Creek, winding its way through Ringgold, GA. Enjoy the Fall colors while you can...

"Fall has fell"....Grandma

My Grandma had lots of 'old timey' sayings. "Fall has fell" was one of my favorites. This photo shows the orange/red maple trees located along the Southern edge of the Tunnel Hill battlefield. A few more frosty nights and the colors will blaze even more.

primary colors

As we learn in school, the primary colors are red, yellow and blue. Theoretically all other colors can be made by mixing these three colors in varying amounts. This photo was taken as I participated in a paint-out in Gainesville, GA. This scene with its blazing blue sky, red gas meter and yellow curb reminded me of the delicious colors in an 8 pack of crayons.

water wheel

At the Georgia Mountain Fair in Hiawassi, you'll see many items of historical significance. Water wheels use flowing water to grind grains into flour and meal. Capturing nature's energy is something we need to revisit.

mountain kin folk

This cabin is part of a historical setting at the Georgia Mountain Fair in Hiawassi. In the mid 1950's, I can remember visiting some distant relatives who lived in a cabin much like this. It was somewhat larger and had a porch running completely around the house, but it was made from logs with mud and straw filling the cracks. The honest, hardworking people who lived there were loggers -- cutting and hauling timber so the rest of us had building materials for our homes. And I remember them sharing a meal with us -- meat stew and cornbread. I wonder where their families are now......

You lookin' at me???

Several months ago Sandra and I drove along Burning Bush Road outside Ringgold, GA. We parked and ventured into the pasture of a friend's farm. In setting up our easels to paint, Sandra commented that the cows would be along shortly. Sure enough, within minutes curious bovine creatures descended upon us. They came almost close enough to touch, but shied away. Sandra said that once while she was painting in her pasture, a cow wandered up and actually licked the canvas she was about to paint on.