Viciously thorned, this wild rose bush covers a steep bank in our backyard where the southwest corner of our house sits.  It makes a fine home for brown thrashers and other small animals.  This rambling evergreen shrub is a favorite of mine, not only because attracts these birds but also because it doesnt require much attention (unlike *real* rose bushes).  Additionally, it is Georgia's State Flower.

I've tried planting other things, like a fig tree and some hydrangeas, but havent had much luck.  Wait, there is a Willow Tree (Father's Day gift from 2006) that's doing well.  There are some transplanted 30-yr old azaleas that need replacing.  I prefer the Sherwood Reds over the pinks and whites that are so prevalent these days.

The nicest part is that we have a stand of pre-existing hardwood trees on three sides.  That makes it hard to see the neighbors' houses even though we live pretty close to one another. 

What do you like about your yard?

BackPacker Magazine (May 2009) contains a list of the top 100 Day Hikes in America and Cloudland Canyon State Park is the closest one to me, only a two hour drive.  Last weekend I drove up to investigate and was able to join an informative wildflower hike, an easy 2 hr walk through a restricted area.  This past Saturday I headed back with a buddy to tackle a couple of walking trails.  In difficulty, the first is categorized as strenous, the second as moderate to strenous.

The first trail led to this waterfall.  The walk was a 2 mile in-and-out, but steep!  350-foot drop, or 1150 steps.  Going down was easy.  Coming back up?  Well, let's just say that my heart rate hit the maximum range.

The second trail, West Rim Loop Trail, is one of the most scenic hiking trails in the nation.  It is five miles long and it took us 3 hours and 15 minutes to complete.  The picture below shows that we'd made it to the other side of the canyon (gorge) but we still had a long way to go in order to complete the loop.

Cloudland Canyon State Park was established in 1938, and is located on the western edge of Lookout Mountain.  The West Rim Trail begins at Daniels Creek Bridge, climbs out of the canyon onto a plateau, and provides magnificent views of Trenton, Georgia and neighboring Sand Mountain.

When I get the chance to return, I hope to complete Sittton's Gulch Loop (6.5 miles) and see waterfall #2.  In addition, there is the Two-Mile Back Country Loop that features Spring and Summer wild flowers.

How are you testing your endurance these days?

In honor of Confederate Memorial Day which occurs this coming Monday, April 27th, I commend to your attention this fine sculpture.

The Sleeping Lion of the Confederacy guards the graves of the unknown soldiers at Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta.  Last Fall I took this photograph when a friend and I took a walking tour through this historic site. There is a large section devoted to the Confederate Dead, approximately 6900 including 3000 unknown, plus some Union soldiers.  Through much of of The War, Atlanta hospitals overflowed with men wounded in battles to the north.  The largest cluster of wartime hospitals was within half a mile of this cemetery.  As fighting moved closer to Atlanta and deaths mounted, land adjacent to the Cemetery was secured as a burial ground

The sculptor, Thomas M. Brady (1849 - 1907) of Canton, Georgia (my current hometown!) was both artist and politician. In the 1890s, he was commissioned by the Atlanta Ladies Memorial Association to create this monument. Made of Georgia marble and based on the Swiss sculpture "The Lion of Lucerne," Brady designed and sculpted the "Lion of Atlanta".  First he was a councilman before becoming Canton's mayor in the early 1900s. He died after suffering a stroke in 1907 and is buried in River View Cemetery still in downtown Canton.

For the nameless soldiers, the dying lion rests on the flag they followed and “guards their dust,” in the words of a commemorative poem.

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Convinced that he is special, Willie the Wood Thrush departs familiar environs twice in order to find his hidden art - only to discover that he is happiest at home.  Willie Was Different by Norman Rockwell is the author's only children's book, but it is arguably suitable for all ages. 

Combining three of my favorite topics:  birdwatching, music, and art, Rockwell pens and paints his way through this charming story about growing up.  With the help of a friend, Willie develops his creativity, shares it with others, but shys away from celebrity status.

The title of the book contains the moral of the story.  While Willie has a gift (genius) that may make him different, it was vital for him to realize that his status was not permanent.  We are all different (unique or special) - destined to find our talent and use it in service to others.

I highly recommend this book.

Check out my blog for a poem and video about wood thrushes aka brown thrashers. 

Saturday's weather was so inviting that I abandoned my indoor chores and headed for the hills, if you know what I mean.  Cloudland Canyon is a state park that I've wanted to visit for several years, but had never made the time.  But on this spur-of-moment idea, I threw caution to the wind and headed out ..... with a map, waterbottle, and good shoes. 

Truthfully, I intended only to investigate since I didnt have a buddy - you know, figure out where everything is, so that on the next visit, no time is wasted.  But I was fortunate and arrived at the welcome center just in time to sign up for the afternoon wildflower walk in an otherwise restricted area of the canyon.  Bingo!!  What could be safer than tromping through the woods with a group of people and a ranger?

All my photos are posted in a Facebook album, so head over there to learn about spring-blooming woodland plants for north Georgia.  The dogwood is my favorite spring-flowering tree and this particular one was growing (amazingly) in rocky soil at the edge of the overlook.

Since I didnt get to see the two waterfalls for which the canyon is famous, I'll be returning very soon.  There are two trails that are calling my name.

Join me?

Spring Flowers                                                                Norman Rockwell

This 1969 piece is unusual for Rockwell because it contains no people.  There is obvious human presence - the blue shoes, the gardening gloves, the ribboned hat.  I am totally intrigued by the mystery presented.  I mean, where is the mistress?

The basket of flowers sitting on the cane chair (which by the way seems to nice to be housed in a garden shed) contains red tulips, yellow pansies, forsythia branches - and what other floral do you recognize? 

Surely the gardener is not going to leave them there.

But my absolute favorite part is the robin in the doorway.

Do you see  him, head tilted?  Peaking around the corner?

I think he's looking for his friend.

Update:  During the day I found the website for the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachussets.  In the gift shop, they sell a cross-stitch kit of this painting.  The description states that Molly, Norman's wife, was the inspiration for this singular still life.

Timely in it's opening this week when taxes are due, the movie, The Widow's Might, details the story of two young filmmakers who help a widow save her home from outrageous property taxes.  I cant think of a better storyline in light of our current economy.  And if you're confused about the variety and plethora of taxes our governments (federal, state, local) levy, read this poem which details a few of them.

Earlier this year, the film took the top prize at the San Antonio Independent Film Festival and has garnered more acclaim ever since. 

In this day and age when the majority of Hollywood-produced movies are not suitable for families, I hope their will be lots of support for The Widow's Might.

Check your local listings, invite your friends, and enjoy the show!

Is there such a thing?

I'm beginning to wonder.  Click here to read a cute poem about the number of taxes that an American citizen pays over the course of his/her lifetime. 

Boortz's book proposes a viable alternative and is at least worth your consideration.

The FairTax:

• Enables workers to keep their entire paychecks
• Enables retirees to keep their entire pensions
• Refunds in advance the tax on purchases of basic necessities
• Allows American products to compete fairly
• Brings transparency and accountability to tax policy
• Ensures Social Security and Medicare funding
• Closes all loopholes and brings fairness to taxation
• Abolishes the IRS

More than ever, knowledge is power .... and on this auspcious day, if the combined amount of tax you've paid to federal, state, and local governments is not on the tip of your tongue, then we are far from solving the problem.

The situation is out of control.

“No people ever recognize their dictator in advance.  He never stands for election on the platform of dictatorship.  He always represents himself as the instrument [of] the Incorporated National Will. ... When our dictator turns up you can depend on it that he will be one of the boys, and he will stand for everything traditionally American.  And nobody will ever say `Heil' to him, nor will they call him `Führer' or `Duce.' But they will greet him with one great big, universal, democratic, sheeplike bleat of `O.K., Chief! Fix it like you wanna, Chief! Oh Kaaaay!'" 

1937 quote from Dorothy Thompson, American journalist, who was noted by Time magazine in 1939 as one of the two most influential women in America.

Trifles are one of my favorite desserts and this recipe is no exception.  Pound cake, fresh berries, pudding, and whipped cream are the simple ingredients that layered in a pretty glass bowl, or individual stems, create a sensational end to any dinner party.

Try it!

You'll like it!

In this case, I'm linking to the Food Network recipe and adding my comments.  The main change?  I used twice as much fresh fruit as called for, plus a pint of raspberries.  I reduced the amount of liqueur used for moistening the dry pound cake, but tossed the berries in an almond-flavored white wine for flare.

Also, the trifle served 12 generously, not 6.

Added later for memories' sake - the pound cake was leftover wedding cake from DD#1's reception (12/06!!).

Aren't freezers wonderful?

Captivating on all fronts, The Shoe Bird is an entertaining and eductional way to spend an hour with a child or friend.  This musical fable is based on an 1964 novella of the same name by Eudora Welty.  Samuel Jones's adaptation for orchestra and choir invigorates the tradition of storytelling fun for the whole family.

Arturo, the parrot, is the main character and he drew me into the story immediately, because (as parrots do) he repeated exactly what he heard and passed on the words without understanding their meaning.  Gloria, the goose aka gossip, aids Arturo in his mission to adorn birds with shoes.  And all the while, Minerva, the wise owl, tries to shed light on the situation, a total comedy of errors.

There are a host of other characters (birds) complete with cute names and sounds, like Freddie the preyful cat.  I do enjoy the way instruments can imitate the sounds and songs of animals.  After all, Carnival of the Animals is one of my favorites.  Peter and the Wolf, a close second.  And The Shoe Bird deserves the same type of recognition.

Give it as a gift, buy one for yourself.

Just listen.

And learn.

By the way, today is Miss Welty's 100th birthday.  There are celebrations all around.

Here's a link to mine.