Scenic Sunday

The Hidden Green - 2009

"I still find each day too short

for all the thoughts I want to think,

all the walks I want to take,

all the books I want to read

and all the friends I want to see."

John Burroughs

Somewhere in the deepest wood of North Alabama a clear stream flows surrounded by luscious shades of green. On this day it was mesmerizing on both sides of the bridge from where I was standing capturing image after image. I've since been back and I've never seen it as beautiful as on that day. You can read my original post about this discovery with more images here and be sure to visit Scenic Sunday for more amazing scenes from around the world.

Mooresville, Alabama

Yesterday, I got out and away for the first time in a long, long, long time. My road trip bestest buddy Carroll, she of Eagle and White Pelican fame, called to invite me for lunch. We agreed to meet in the middle as The Hubs is now capable of spending some time by himself. He was probably as grateful for the break as I was! The Middle is Mooresville, Alabama, where they have a delightful cafe called Limestone Bay Trading Company.


The day was sunny and Just Right temperature-wise. Warm, but low humidity and low 80's. Perfect for gad-abouting and meeting a good friend. You've read my former posts about Mooresville and know how I love the place. I was looking forward to seeing it all duded up for Autumn, but apparently we were too early for autumnal decorations. But then again, the place is picture postcard worthy without decorations, and we were there to eat and gab anyway.


The pink muhley grasses were gorgeous! Mine have never, ever bloomed so I think a windy lakeside environment is not their favorite place to grow. Here, though, coupled with yellow lantana, merlot coleus and a sage (I think it was a sage) they basically steal the show.

Limestone Bay Trading Company's front porch.
Tall, aluminum containers held zebra grasses.
I loved this!

Cool-o, neat-o birding decorations dangled in the breeze, welcoming us.

An outdoor party area was surrounded by a forest green picket fence adorned with all manner of cuteness.

Separating the outdoor area from a party area was a tall rustic wooden fence fitted with pretty stained glass windows, topped with wisteria.

Garden-y decorations were everywhere.

After our yummy lunch - we both opted for the salad trio - we strolled one of the nearby streets. We were careful to stroll no faster than 15mph and knew a permit wasn't required for our purposes.



The original blacksmith barn, which is nestled in behind the original stagecoach stopover building. We imagined a saloon was involved as well in some capacity. Beer and bread.

Rustic ladder hanging on the side of the blacksmith barn.

That's the original stagecoach house on the left. A bus of senior citizens from Georgia was visiting on this day - you can see some of them walking way up ahead. It was the perfect outing with a delightful friend on a glorious day. I am beginning to feel more like myself again.

Historic Mooresville Post Office

Front Door

"Mail your packages early so the post office
can lose them in time for Christmas."

Johnny Carson

Perusing the world wide web for humorous quotes about holiday mail service I only found this one. Personally, I've found the postal service, and other delivery services, to be very efficient over the holidays. Shopping online is common in our home for the sheer convenience of sending to family far away and never once has a package arrived late. Well, that's not true. From time to time it's happened - not by fault of the delivery service but of the shopper - me. I tend to procrastinate when I'm not quite sure what I want to give.

While I enjoy the Act of Giving it's only truly special when the gift is absolutely perfect for that person. My husband is the King Of Christmas Eve Shopping, but I can't do that. I collect all year long. When I see THE PERFECT GIFT for that special person I buy it, hide it, and have the joy of expectation for a long time. Heartfelt gift giving doesn't have to cost a lot. In fact, it's best when it doesn't. It's also best when it's very personal to the recipient. For me, it's really more fun when I stumble upon that PERFECT GIFT in a shop and I touch it, feel it, smell it.

The Internet is filled with easy answers to holiday shortcuts. Want a letter to Santa? Download it here! Send your e-holiday-cards - click here! That kind of ticky tacky holiday stuff is just as smarmy as those horrid blow-up Christmas blobs that are showing up everywhere. The Plasticing of Christmas. Christmas Commercialization at its worst. (*Ed Note: IMHO)

Rant aside, I must say that I'm enjoying the peace and tranquility of a Christmas devoid of shopping and planning. The simple greenery smells wonderful, the little star softly glows, the house is quiet, the handmade cards are mailed, all is calm, all is bright.

My wish for you and yours is a soft, peaceful, glowing season of love, laughter and the things that really matter in life. Blessings to all.

P.S. I'll bet you can pick out the banner shot in that last photo!

Cute little house in Mooresville, Alabama

"I sometimes think we expect too much of Christmas Day.
We try to crowd into it the long arrears of kindliness and
humanity of the whole year. As for me, I like to take my
Christmas a little at a time, all through the year.
And thus I drift along into the holidays -
let them overtake me unexpectedly -
waking up some find morning and suddenly saying to myself:
"Why, this is Christmas Day!"

David Grayson

The gray, misty Sunday was perfect for seeking holiday happiness. Surprisingly, and amazingly, I wanted to experience Christmas among people yesterday. Driving down to the local Christmas tree corner stand I purchased some cut off branches from a Frasier Fir tree and enjoyed a brisk, happy conversation with the owner who hails from Boone, North Carolina. North Carolina is one of my favorite states, from the Smoky Mountains (that actually straddle the Tennessee/North Carolina border) to its wild, beautiful beaches North Carolina has been my family's vacation destination for decades. Talking to this gentleman, whose eyes twinkled at my enjoyment of his home state, made me long for a lengthy, meandering road trip to North Carolina and back. A long weekend immersing myself in that culture, that beauty. But, I digress...

Fir branches tucked in the hatchback I head for the bookstore and other stores along a popular strip mall. Am I nuts? Decidedly. Walking into Pier 1 a cheerful girl asked if she could help me find what I'm looking for. "I'm looking for HAPPY!", I told her. I found it yesterday in the simple joy of people bustling about, which is what I needed to experience.....just for a bit.

I hope each and every one of you finds your own Happy ... not just this holiday season but every day of your lives.

Little house in Mooresville, Alabama

"What is Christmas?
It is tenderness for the past,
courage for the present,
hope for the future.
It is a fervent wish that
every cup may overflow
with blessings rich and eternal,
and that every path may lead
to peace."

~ Agnes M. Pahro

Peace sounds good about now. "Blessings rich and eternal" perfectly phrases my thoughts today about Christmas. If we could all just sit still that day in quiet repose and reflect on our blessings, count each one, write them down on a piece of paper and recite them to our loved ones - I believe our individual worlds would shift and each of us would feel rich and loved and blessed beyond all imaginings.

Cute little road signs in Mooresville, all decked out for the holiday!


"Once again we find ourselves enmeshed in the Holiday Season,
that very special time of year when we join with our
loved ones in sharing centuries-old traditions
such as trying to find a parking space at the mall.
We traditionally do this in my family by driving
around the parking lot until we see
a shopper emerge from the mall,
then we follow her, in very much the same spirit
as the Three Wise Men,
who 2,000 years ago followed a star,
week after week, until it led them to a parking space."

Dave Barry

I hate, hate, hate Christmas shopping. No way will I trudge to a mall and fight the crowds to save a buck....or so they want you to believe. Anyone here old enough to remember The Waltons? One scene in the original movie has stayed with me - the kids slipped out at night, dashing through the snowy fields to town because a lady was bringing toys for the children as a charity drive during this depression time. They defied their parent's wishes to do so because they were so anxious for "store bought" Christmas presents. When each received their present - only after having to recite a Bible verse - from the lady they dashed away in glee to open them. Their faces told the story. The presents were cast-off toys, broken and torn. The youngest girl's present was a doll, one eye missing. She screamed - the magic was broken. The toys were dumped into the snow and the children walked slowly back home.

The season isn't meant for banality, but for heartfelt moments, love of family and friends, giving and sharing. This year I'm reaching back into my heart to find those emotions I shut off long ago. Innocence and simplicity, love and light. Magic.

Holiday Countdown

Church of Christ
Mooresville, Alabama
Built 1854

This year my family will not be decorating for the holidays. Well, let me be even more specific, I - myself - me - my personage will not be decorating for the holidays. Some greenery may appear on the mantle, perhaps a candle or two but beyond that, nada. I've not taken emotional ownership of the city house and look forward to returning to my house on the lake and the Giraffe Head Tree. I don't think of this as pouting or whining, or even being in denial. Instead, I consider this to be a frugal and energy-saving step on my part. Instead of concentrating on decorations and gift-wrapping my goal this year is to concentrate on the real meaning of the season which has less to do with Santa and gifts and consumerism than with spirit, caring and sharing.

As a child, in my household, it was all about the baby Jesus. It was a time for family, reconnections, reflection, Spirit. The family watched every Christmas movie and special on television together. My favorites were The Little Match Girl and Charlie Brown Christmas. Favorite Christmas Movie? "White Christmas," of course! I still love it! My mom still puts out the same little paper mache creche that adorned our home long ago. My grandfather gave us a set of bubble lights for the tree which, to me, were magical. The entire event was magical. Animals talking at midnight, holiday carols on the little radio playing as the house filled with scents of tangerines, fudge, divinity and pies. Those were special days. When my daughter was younger I pulled forth those memories and tried to recreate them in my own home. She loved it as much as I did. These days she doesn't have time for such "foolishness," and hubby doesn't much like it so I'm going to rest and recuperate and rethink things.

However, I decided this morning that I do need some sort of holiday cheer in some fashion. So, my blog will be my holiday outlet - lucky you! Recently, I took some photos of Mooresville all dressed up with greenery and fruits and bows. I'll post a photo a day, and will head into surrounding burgs to snap more holiday shots to share along with some poetry or prose. I hope you enjoy these as we count down to Christmas.

Merry Christmas, ya'll. (a little southernism to entertain you!)

Debi
The Giraffe Head Tree

Mooresville, Alabama

Another town I visited during my recent walkabout/driveabout was the historic town of Mooresville, Alabama. Mooresville is the first town incorporated by the Alabama Territorial Legislature on November 16, 1818. (I ripped that little piece of information right off their website) I've enjoyed visiting this town since I was a child. Nestled in a beautiful wooded area between Madison and Decatur, Mooresville is an active, working town. The architecture here is astounding. Some call it the "Williamsburg of the South." Driving in I noticed signs warning that photographers need a permit so I drove straight to the historic Post Office for information.

The lady there was very nice, gave me a permit application and granted me permission to take a few images since I was already there and assured her I wouldn't be selling them. She didn't ask me about blogging but I think this is okay.

I go gaga over old churches so my first image capture was of the Old Brick Church. Built in 1839 the front sports gorgeous columns covered with stucco. The bricks are made by hand. Inside is the original reed, or pipe, organ made in 1905. It's been a community church, Presbyterian, Methodist and once served as a Baptist mission. The United Methodist Church conducted a deconsecration service and passed ownership to the town October 1994. (another website diddy)

Instead of a cross the steeple supports a large wooden hand pointing to heaven. This is not the original hand. According to the website a replacement was carved and placed on the steeple during a ceremony in May 2005.

Down the road a piece is the Church of Christ. It was originally built in 1854 as the Disciples of Christ meeting house. General James A. Garfield, our 20th President of the United States, preached here in 1863.


Starlings flew past as I grabbed some images. There are many historical properties in Mooresville, each one just as beautiful as the next. The Mooresville Post Office is fascinating, being the oldest operational post office in the state of Alabama. I didn't get a photo of it or anything else that day out of respect for the nice lady who allowed me to take a few "snapshots" of the town. Check out the Mooresville, Alabama website for more details. They have walking tours and really gussy up at Christmas. I'll go take more photos then because I learned through the permit process that regular ole photographers like me do not have to have a permit. Dang...and the sugar maples were JUST RIGHT that day!!! Mooresville .... I'll be back!