Backroads wandering.....Lexington and Washington

The backroads were calling again on this beautiful, sunny Saturday, and I couldn't fight the urge! So after running by some estate sales and a barn sale on the way (I found some good stuff at these), I headed out to the historic town of Washington, which has lots of gorgeous old homes, as well as the old Fitzpatrick Hotel on the square (which used to be open for visiting and a wonderful meal, but has now closed--although I believe you still can stay on the weekends with advanced reservations). Sadly, there is only one shop left to pick from in town, and it mainly has garage sale stuff.


BUT-- and this is what I love about the thrill of the hunt--you never know what you will find, in even the least likely places!

This early "American Company" composition doll was sitting there among the yard sale stuff in the above shop, just waiting for me to discover her and take her home with me!! I really love the dirty little face, and wood shavings stuffed body and legs. Her head is in good condition for the age, and the arms and legs are intact as originally made, although I doubt the dress is original.

Isn't she sweet? (She should clean up nicely)


Worth the drive is the fun of seeing more wonderful old historic homes--so many of which had realtor signs in the front. Being pressed for time, I didn't get a chance to do a proper tour.
The above home, at the end of a pretty lane, is called "The Cedars" and is for sale. The economy has hit pretty hard out here, and I must remember to check out the prices--there might be a real bargain among them!

This house on the main street is also for sale!

There is so much history here, and I will definitely have to get back when I have more time!

On the way back I came through Lexington, which has an amazingly rich educational and political history....more fabulous old homes, and there is also a handful of antique shops and a nice little bakery cafe.

Lexington was once an important trade center, and was noted for the education, culture and refinement of it's citizens. It was home to Georgia's first private academy for boys, and later for girls, and was also home to some of the most notable lawyers and politicians in the state in the early 1800's.


This shop has a pecan shelling business in the back of the antique section, which is probably how they managed to stay open in this economy!

The first Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Georgia was established here, and below are the Presbyterian Manse built in 1817 (check out the boy peeking around the corner while I was shooting this pic) and the church built in 1893.


There are about 40 homes and buildings on the Lexington historic district walking tour and it's only a short drive East of Athens on 78. One of the shop owners said she is closing soon, because, as in Washington, it is just too hard for the antique shops to stay open in these out-of-the-way locations, in this economy.

A couple hundred years ago these once-vibrant towns were getting started, and I can't help but wonder what they will be like a few hundred years from now?

Georgia Aquarium

I FINALLY got a chance to get downtown and see the Georgia Aquarium, and it was more amazing than I expected! (It was so wonderfully un-crowded that day, which made it very easy to get around and see everything)

What an incredible place to view a mermaid's underwater dream world up close and personal--right here in Atlanta!!

Right inside the doors you can pet the rays and small sharks swimming in a shallow pool, and then choose between many different habitat entrances.

This was my absolute FAVORITE fish at the aquarium.....the Leafy Sea Dragon!! You have to go just to see these incredibly unique creatures!! I couldn't take my eyes off of them!


This tank was filled with so many multi-colored fish that it was like looking through a kaleidoscope....and you felt like you were swimming in the reef with them.

I loved all the aquariums in the ceilings! You walk UNDER the fish tanks in many places--these were the freshwater habitats.


The whale sharks and the gigantic rays are mesmerizing to watch, and the theater area is the best place to see them.

I forgot to get a pic of the Garden Eels (creepy, but fascinating) and the Beluga pics didn't turn out--photography can be tricky here!

Along the Antebellum Trail

On a beautiful autumn weekend in Dixie, football may be KING----but pickin' should at least be QUEEN, right? (That's ANTIQUE pickin' of course----most of the cotton around here has already been picked)

While everyone else was heading to the games or the mountains, I drove South---swapping the view of car bumpers for the view of stately homes along Georgia's historic Antebellum Trail---hoping to find two of my favorite things: good pickin' and architectural dereliction to photograph.

On the way to Madison--my first stop on the AT (which runs from Athens to Macon)--I went through Bostwick, a tiny town known for cotton and cyclists (this being a favorite scenic route to ride) and guilt/envy already sets in....I should be out riding my bike! (I spend more time on two wheels WITHOUT an engine these days) But it's really hard to carry antiques that way, right?

Bostwick is home to the Cotton Gin Festival the first Saturday in November, and there were trailers full of newly-picked cotton behind the working gin that sits along the road.



Madison has the largest National Historic District in the state, and is a show-stopper with all the incredibly restored homes and the scenic downtown area.....but I crave dereliction, so I press on....

Eatonton and Milledgeville are next on the trail--Eatonton has a rich literary history (think Alice Walker, Joel Chandler Harris, and Andalusia, the home of Flannery O'Connor which is nearby) and Milledgeville used to be the state capitol, so it has some incredible buildings and stately homes.

(wonder what the INSIDE of this upper floor room loooks like!)

Love that classic Southern architecture! (Compared to the huge elegant mansions--this must have been a middle class home?)

While at the Eatonton Antiques Market (I did find a great chippy green table there), I asked the owner if he knew of any interesting "un-restored" historic homes in the area, and he told me about a cool place at the very end of a nearby road, and said, "you'll come to some gate posts, but just drive on in--I don't think any one lives there".

I drove to the gate posts, and was dying to go in....but what if someone DID live there? My curiosity got the best and I drove towards the house....

....it had an interesting roof-line and what seemed like unusual architecture for this area, but it was a bit hard to see with the overgrown bushes.

As I came closer, I noticed lace curtains in the windows and porch lights on, and decided to beat a hasty retreat---it was too pretty of a day to be shot at!



On a side street, south of Milledgeville was the KING of derelict mansions: an old "summer home" of an early 1900's governor.....
This place had the most incredible iron fencing and posts! and what a cool mansion! It looked empty, but apparantly someone did live here.....barking dogs soon came running out to protect it.

I couldn't get very good pics of the house and grounds, but it was really fabulous!
I'm so glad all these towns, homes, and history along the AT escaped Sherman's burning march to Savannah!

I didn't find much in the way of good pickin's, but I did get to meet some interesting people! (be sure to stop by "Jean's Antiques"-- in a little house just south of the gov's mansion above)

From the cotton fields and pecan groves, to the mountains and (my personal favorite) the coastline----I really heart this state!

Country Living Fair--Atlanta

For the very first Atlanta CL Fair--held at Stone Mountain-- I came with my son and daughter-in-law (veterans of the huge Yellow Daisy Festival held in this same location), and my two adorable punkin's.

It was pretty crowded when we got there, and I couldn't get any pictures of, or even GET INTO, some great booths......but these were the best pics I could shoot---- that didn't include the backside of a bunch of people!

I loved "French Vanilla"'s booth....

...especially the repurposed lighting....


....and I really enjoyed meeting Jeanne of Junxtaposition.....(oops, I guess I did get the backsides of some people)

Below are two of the sweetest girls from the jewelry booth "twist style"...

A unique vendor new to me was "Happy Chair"by Shawna Robinson (former race car driver) shown below in the apron (my daughter-in-law Devon is getting her card for me). She had some really unique, collaged fabric upholstered pieces.


There was Christmas, and Halloween....


(I liked the below banner with the lettering on burlap.....)
....and lots of primitive handmades (deja vu.....this is stuff we did 25 years ago??)

Kayla and I loved the fairy gardens...especially the Halloween one below....
Breaktime!! My son Matt, with Jaden and Kayla found a place to rest a minute.....
I couldn't get near several booths.....especially "Findings" (when you've been a dealer for so many years you're not as patient 'cuz you usually get to see everything before the show starts!) but I really enjoyed the "Earth Angels" booth-----although I didn't take pics 'cuz I felt like they wouldn't appreciate people taking pics of their artwork (even though just about everyone at our show takes pictures of our stuff) , and I was surprised to find that there were a lot of antiques which were reasonably priced....for the most part!