waiting for Spring

Bunch, the cat, rests on the window sill and watchs for Spring.
She knows it will be here soon....the robins are playing in the trees nearby.

Mother Goose

The Georgia Renaissance Faire in Fairburn is a wonderful place to spend a weekend.

Nature's statement

It's Autumn here in NorthWest Georgia. The air is crisp, the sun is bright and the trees are showing their wonderfully bright colors.

Clisby Austin spring house

The Clisby Austin spring house sits glowing in the late afternoon sun. Rolling meadows and woodlands surround the pre-Civil War home located on 80+ acres in Northwest Georgia.

Barnsley Garden mansion ruins

Even in the Summer, there's a chill about the mansion ruins at Barnsley Gardens.
Don't believe me??? Go there yourself.....

Barnsley Gardens ruins

Although this photo was taken during Summer daylight, imagine it lit only by moonlight. These ruins of the Barnsley Mansion near Rome, GA, are said to be haunted.

butterfly weed and Queen Anne's Lace

I don't know the botanical names for these orange wildflowers. My grandmother called it Butterfly Weed, because the winged beauties just can't stay away. There was a chorus of crickets practicing for its sunset performance. Ah, living in North Georgia is the life...

Sunflower farm

Late one afternoon I came upon this sunflower farm in Catoosa County (GA) near Ringgold. I topped a hill and there it was spread out for acres and acres. I caught my breath and heard myself gasp, "Oh, my!"

Click on the image...then click again for a closeup.

Dalton (GA) Saturday Market

This fellow was selling delicious green beans at last week's Dalton Saturday Market. It's located at Dalton Green, a small park beside the courthouse. Market will be held there every Saturday 7:00am til 1:00pm through September.

Tunnel Hill GA covered bridge

This little covered bridge sits on Clisby Austin Rd as it crosses Tanyard Creek. Located on each side of the bridge are small viewing platforms. Looking out the left side, you can see trains running the Western & Atlantic route from Chattanooga TN through Dalton GA. To the right, the Clisby Austin House and Tunnel Hill Civil War battlefield can be seen from the bridge.

Perfect Fall Day

What a perfect Fall day in Tunnel Hill! The battlefield is dressed in its fancy Autumn finery.

at Barnsley Gardens

...looking at the fountain in the formal gardens from inside Barnsley Garden ruins..

learning to fly

Recently Sandra and I visited the Confederate cemetery in Resaca, GA. Just before leaving, we noticed something fluttering near the surrounding stone wall. There we found a fledgling trying his wings for the first time. Time and time again he bravely fluttered against the stones, trying to fly over the small wall. Time and time he fell to the ground. He rested for a bit on Sandra's shoe. As we were leaving, he was gripping the stones with his tiny feet as his wings beat furiously at the air. We're sure he made it...his parents were both on the overhanging tree limbs calling encouragement.

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.

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.