Notes on Georgia: Has Spring Sprung? 02/2010

Has Spring sprung? One week ago, I would have laughed this question off. Atlanta received record snow fall, blanketing the city in puffy snow and leaving the streets a slushy mess. Matt and I headed straight to Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta, hoping for snow play time. The park was gorgeous. The lights from the buildings downtown reflected off the ice and it truly seemed as if the trees were sparkling. It was quite cold obviously, but Matt and I forgot about the temperature for awhile, and walked through couples making snow men, groups of kids having snowball fights and others who like us, were looking for white zen.

The snow started melting away the next day, and each day throughout the week seemed colder and colder. The prospect of Spring seemed so far away.

Yet Spring seems to have appeared suddenly, as if trying to prove us all wrong. The sun shines, there are Robins and Woodpeckers galore and people seem to be walking with a little more bounce in their step. The magazine covers all boast Spring decorating ideas, and I even read an article about forcing Spring blooms on tree branches to open!

I understand the romance of Spring a little more. In California there really is little to no distinction between seasons. Here, after several month of real cold, Spring seems like a warm and fresh gift from Mother Nature.

The forecast claims rain will begin again early next week, and maybe it will go back to being frigid outside. But today it feels like the world is flowering around us. The trees are still barren, but the kudzu is turning green. I've gotten a taste of the upcoming season and now I really can't wait for the sun to come out of hiding.

"Light Snow" 01/07/10

Starting yesterday evening, the major news topics here have been snow, snow and more snow. Each weather station claimed snow would begin to fall Thursday afternoon.

A severe weather warning has been running all day. Schools have closed in most counties and my husbands building may close as well.

As promised the snow did fall today. It started at about 3 p.m. We rushed out into the cold to be apart of this weather apparition! It was like a light sprinkling of snow. Tiny balls of ice blanketed the ground outside our home for about a half hour.

Schools are still closed, but weather forecasts now show "light snow" around Atlanta. It's still coming down here, but looks more like frost than anything else. Our entire neighborhood must know by now that we are from California. We stood out in the cold in jammies and took multiple pictures.

Tomorrow the snow should be gone, until further notice. We now deal with the other problems that come with freezing temperatures: black ice, ice in general on the roads, frozen pipes and hefty energy bills.

Snow days? 01/06/10

Once again I'm back to the topic of weather in Georgia.

If you had told me one year ago that I would be living in a place with temperatures that reach the low teens, I would have shrugged the idea off. However, here I am.

The temperature has reached the low 20's and into the low teens consistently for several weeks. The air is like something I've never felt before. Five minutes outside and my hands are frozen to the bone. The cold gusts of wind take your breath away and dry out my skin and throat. I'm constantly thirsty as a result.
As of recently, there is ice everywhere on the roads. Pipelines have burst all over the city and several freeways have been shut down because of the dangerous conditions.

I've personally come to appreciate a few items much more in the past weeks:

1) Slippers- I owned them but never wore them in San Diego. Here I wear them all day and night to keep my toes toasty.

2) Hot beverages- I'm loving the Chai Latte from Starbucks right now! The cup serves dual purposes. Hand warmer/tummy warmer.

3) Fleece- I'll buy anything made out of fleece at this point. It really keeps me warm! I tried to buy a set of fleece sheets to no avail. The Hubby quickly vetoed that idea.

4) Scarves, hats, ear muffs, mittens- It's not for fashion here people.

5) Vitamin C- in the past month I've had two colds and a stomach virus! The cold breeds germs apparently!


Tomorrow the weather forecasts snow. I'll be sure to take pictures and update the blog if this actually does occur!

Notes on Seasons. 12/28/09

One of my favorite parts of this move to Georgia has been the weather experiences I've had. From muggy days with thundery nights to frigid cold like I've never felt. I've also discovered the meaning of a wind chill factor.

With the ever changing weather comes the amazing seasons. I absolutely loved Fall. The colors and smells and feelings of warmth. I am still loving Winter. Crisp days and chilly nights make my home feel that much more comforting. Now I can't wait until Spring.

The stores here in Georgia are a bit ahead of themselves in this sense. The winter clothes, decor, etc are already on the clearance rack and bright springy colors are beginning to crowd the shelves. It's a constant reminder of what's to come. I must say, I really can't wait!

A strange miniature world in the middle of nowhere, Georgia. 12/20/09

Miniature goats, donkeys, horses and roosters? Yup. In the middle of nowhere Georgia.

Today I set out to find Tanglewood Farm, a petting zoo that houses 100 plus strange and interesting miniature animals. The 10 acre farm is in the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains, in Canton (about an hour drive from Atlanta).

I must admit I did not set my standards high, especially as I drove through the "backwoods" of Canton. And upon arrival my car stood solitary in the parking lot. I made my husband venture ahead of me to "check out the place". You see, from where I was standing I was concerned about the farm becoming the setting for my very own horror film, starring Leather Face.

He came back and reported that the place seemed nice, and that the person he spoke with had given him directions, instructions and made him sign a waver.

I'm often surprised by these strange Georgia gems out in the middle of the woods. This trip was no exception. The grounds are set like a maze, each animal has it's own section. You walk from pen to pen and feed the animals, pick them up and cuddle them and snap photos. We were actually encouraged to pick up the animals, for the record.

I've seen a few petting zoos in my 25 years, but this one was different in every way possible. We fed the animals whole wheat bread from a tin bucket. The animals were sweet and ran straight up to you. We were followed by a herd of Miniature Minx cats that jumped from fence post to fence post. Basically, what I'm saying is....this place is a little circus-esque. You can't take your eyes off the beauty of the animals, and they melt your heart because of their strange tiny size.

To name a few miniatures we pet and fed: goats, horses, a cow (which was dressed up like a reindeer-moodeer?) rabbits, donkeys, pigs, turkeys, chickens, roosters and more. My favorite was definitely the alpacas. There was a new baby that I made friends with.

So if your looking for something really strange yet really cute....Tanglewood Farm is your solution! I imagine in spring it's really something, with all the babies.

http://www.tanglewoodfarmminiatures.com/

Kindness shines through in Georgia. 12/16/09

Being from California, I consider myself something of an expert on the topic of neighborly love. In California, this time of year especially, cold shoulders and dirty looks abound. Everyone is in a hurry. The stores are packed and the overall mood is....well let's just say "Christmas Spirit" is not all around.

From our first day in Atlanta I've noticed the vast differences in people's general attitudes. While I wouldn't say that the "southern hospitality" myth is completely accurate, I will say that striking up conversation with strangers in more likely here in the South. People say hello, nod when they pass each other, hold doors open, etc.

I'm not saying that California is a horrible place to live, or that Californians are a certain way. I just think that everyone is so wrapped up in their busy lives that they've forgotten the little things that make a community a community.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of Holiday shoppers here in Georgia, kindness shines through every where I go. From the neighborhood police officers enjoying coffee and conversation at the local Starbucks (there's only one in my town) to the large amount of companies running charities for families in need. In the last few weeks I've talked to more strangers than I have in the years I spent in California. Our town isn't decorated to the hilt. It's not so crowded you have to spend 45 minutes looking for a parking spot. And it's cold outside. Yet, the Spirit does seem to be everywhere around me. It's enough to warm the heart.

Sweetgrass. 12/01/09

Being a self proclaimed artist myself, I greatly appreciate other artist's skills and talents. I've seen all sorts of art from wood carving to sculpture to the layering of paper. I had never seen nor heard of sweetgrass baskets until we took a trip to Charleston, SC to visit my cousins.

400 years ago, the slaves in Lowcountry practiced the art of basket weaving. This is a tradition that was in essence, kidnapped and brought to America much like the slaves themselves. The tradition has been passed from generation to generation by word of mouth. In fact, there are very few instructional books or classes on this specific weaving because of the way it has been shared within families.

This is a dying art, as the artists themselves have fewer and fewer family members to teach the art to. Sweetgrass baskets are becoming increasingly rare.

The baskets themselves were originally created for practical reasons, as tools on a plantation. They were used to gather rice and cotton. Now, they are pieces of fine art.

Today, you can drive down the "Sweetgrass Basket Maker's Highway" in South Carolina, and see about 20 roadside stands selling the baskets. Each stand is run by family, often on the families property. As time goes by, there will be fewer and fewer stands.

A stroll through the old slave market in downtown Charleston will give you a much closer look at these baskets. Women sit on the ground and weave, and sell the baskets they have finished. A very small basket, about the size of an egg costs $35. A very large basket can run $400 or more.