The past couple of weeks have been filled with busyness; so we decided on a day of exploring. Our country drive took us past peaceful scenes of green, pastures filled with cows, fields of hay just mown – and some just baled, and irrigation systems at work. We were headed to Molena and Woodbury, to check shops we like in those towns, and Zebulon to visit the bookstore.
We explored several antique stores. A few items came home with us but we mostly collected ideas. Ideas for the porches, for decorating, for repurposing some old crates and boxes and cans.
Most shops weren’t very busy (one of the perks of being retired and being able to shop on weekdays) so we had Interesting conversations with shop proprietors. There was the lady who had a midnight visit from a female cardinal in her workshop, there was the handyman who built a bench from an old spool bed, and we missed the Corgi named Macon in one of our regular shops. It seems her owner had errands to run before opening the shop today, so Macon got the day off. We met Macon on an earlier visit I shared here.
The other customers who did appear offered opportunities for people watching and people listening. I overheard a man say, “we could buy this and I could strip it down to the original wood.” He was referring to a table I’ve admired before. I admired it in part for its wonderful new chalk-paint finish.
Lunch was high on the agenda, because we remembered the fabulous food at The Blackbird Cafe.
The place is entrancing with tables and light fixtures made from pipes, peeling plaster revealing brick beneath, and condiments corralled in sewing machine drawers. The food is wonderful, too. Their homemade kaiser rolls were still warm from the morning’s oven and were just as heavenly as we had remembered. Yum.
We were there early, so the photos showing the space without people is misleading. The people did come. They do come. Every day.
More walking, more exploring, more driving about. Then we went to Red Oak Covered Bridge. It’s the oldest in Ga, and you still drive across it. We both marveled at the same feature – no graffiti. Wow. There is a sign saying “No Graffiti – $1000 fine”. Maybe Meriwether County officials enforce that.
Another day spent enjoying the world, seeing the beauty close to home, and treasuring the pleasure of the moment. Those are important goals since two funerals were included in our busyness recently. Death is a part of life, but when it comes to someone we know, especially when it’s unexpected, we are reminded to enjoy the everyday. Yesterday we did just that.
Yes, like “dirt road therapy,” traveling the back roads soothes the soul for this farm-raised gal. Glad y’all had a good day to relax and enjoy.