Good Stuff in Georgia

Were I to review this week's activities...well... you would be bored. Instead, I choose to share my adventures from last week. I was very fortunate to spend a fun and relaxing few days in Athens with my aunt, uncle and cousins (one of whom was in from Australia, it was a rare and awesome treat to see her!). Think good food, good wine, and lots of good conversation. We ate breakfast at The Grit - a ridiculously good vegetarian place.

There was time to take a run around Athens and do some "hunting" in Chamblee on the way home. The Ice House offered  a gorgeous 50's sofa and a set of really nice set of Danish Modern Chairs (only $140 for all four!)

At Antique Factory, I spied the craziest and most awesome tile-top coffee table I've ever seen, and a set of Blakely Arizona Cactus dinnerware (I thought this motif was only present on tumblers!).

Last weekend was spent celebrating Mr. Cheese's birthday in a low key way: a run in the Chickamauga Battlefield, a walk around downtown and the riverfront, watching lots of sci-fi movies, eating good food, and a trip to Gateway Antique Mall in Ringgold, Georgia, where we spied mod concrete patio chairs, a Krystal restaurant tupperware set, and a fantastic 10 foot long 60's era stained glass window.

It all added up to a delightful week! 

This weekend's plans include a possible visit to our town's annual Brewfest and stuffing ourselves with my mother-in-law's famous tacos. What are you up to this weekend?

National Lighthouse Day

Hunting Island State Park - October 2011

Did you know that today is National Lighthouse Day? On August 7, 1789, Congress signed an act for the establishment and support of lighthouses, beacons, buoys, and public piers. 

Oh, and it's also my birthday.

Sadly, I'm not within striking distance of a lighthouse today, but I encourage my coastal friends to play hooky and visit a lighthouse today in my honor.

The World's Largest Treehouse

Yesterday my friend Megan and I made a trip to the world's largest treehouse in Crossville, Tennessee. I had visited the treehouse with Mr. Cheese last summer, but I could return to this remarkable place a hundred times and still find something new to see. 

The (awesome) grafitti collection continues to grow and grow. Names, quotes, and little drawings cover the interior walls of the treehouse, left by visitors from all over the country (I even saw a couple of passages in German). Those images will appear in a future post - it's a collection good enough to stand on it's own. A winter trip to the treehouse is definitely in order, as the trees mask the bulk of the structure.

Oh, and a word to the politicians out there: I could totally see one of you guys ripping off my flag/Jesus field image for a political ad. Don't.

An offer of explanation...

My old friends, I owe you an apology for my sudden disappearance and lengthy absence. Contrary to popular belief, I have not become a cave-dwelling hermit. I have visited your blogs from time to time, quietly peeking into your goings on without making mention of my presence. It has been a strange and sometimes difficult time, causing me to withdraw from public appearance on the interweb.  Care for a recap of my year?

Last year I moved into a very stressful position at my company. Thus began the formation of many new wrinkles, and after long days on the computer at work, caused the breaking point of my blogging and tweeting. I was laid off 6 months later, along with 39 coworkers. This began an ongoing period of self-employment and the so-far-futile search for a decent job.

Lots of tornadoes swept my area last year. An F1 came through our neighborhood. We were very lucky - no damage to our house, but we lost some trees and had a squirrel fatality.

We lost a dear family member and truly good man - at far too young an age. My Mom experienced a serious illness for almost a year (thankfully she is now recovering).

I was lucky to spend a lot of time with my side of the family during trips to Athens, Texas, Louisiana, and Hilton Head (Mr. Cheese was along for some of these trips). We spent time with Mr. Cheese's side of the family in Tennessee.

We took side trips to Savannah, Tybee Island, and Beaufort. I'm so in love with the Lowcountry and the friendly locals that the area holds a special place in my heart. We took one whirlwind trip to Jacksonville/Amelia Island to see friends and walk the beaches. I took another trip to JAX for fun and therapeutic chick-time with one of my oldest friends, who has since moved to Maryland.

We went to the cabin, and visited the world's largest treehouse.

 Mr. Cheese and I have a new niece!

 I started running and became addicted to it. Unfortunately a hip injury has suspended my runs for the past 6 weeks. I was just able to walk two miles for the first time this week, so it will be a long road back. Boo.

That's a summary of my journeys (both physical and emotional) over the past 15 months.  I will soon be resuming regular posts and will be catching up with what you Lovelies have been doing! I know that there are new addresses, new babies, new business ventures, and so much more. Here's hoping that life is good for all of you!

XO,

Marsi

Wanderlust: the Treasury

Wanderlust. (My newest treasury - inspired by me & Mr. Cheese's love of road trippin' and vintage stuff).

See something you like? Visit the live treasury here.

Montclair Made

I just discovered the shop Montclair Made, which offers lots of great travel-themed (and other cute) handmade items.

Gift Tags made from Vintage Empire State Building Postcards $5
Paper Airplane Embroidery $20
Road Trip Mini Notebook (with repurposed Brown Paper Bag Cover) $5
Custom Mini Map Garland - Your State or City $5

I have no real plans for the weekend other than catching up on blog reading, working in the garden, and (hopefully) working on the Etsy shop - all of which I'm looking forward to after being on the go pretty much the whole summer. What are your weekend plans?

A Big Surpise in little Micanopy

Micanopy is a small town a few miles south of Gainesville, Florida. The town is rich in history, charm, and natural beauty, and is the second oldest U.S. settlement in Florida. This was our third visit to Micanopy (we like to camp at the nearby Payne's Prairie State Park and ride our bikes into town). I imagine the view of the town's main street is quite lovely viewed from this turret.
This screened portico looks like a wonderful little place to hide away for an afternoon and read.
Amazing handmade brickwork. This large building has been vacant for as long as we've been visiting the town, about five years. But the outside looks well-maintained.
I love this scene, and keep taking pics of this old car from different angles each time we're in town.
Pretty old church shaded by the Live Oaks and Spanish Moss.
The Herlong Mansion, now a Bed & Breakfast, and the only place to stay in Micanopy other than one divey chain motel near the highway, or camping at Payne's Prairie. Rumored to be haunted by a friendly ghost.
The Garage - one of several good antique stores in the historic district.
Another antique store, I can't recall the name of this one.
And the surprise I mentioned in this post's title? Signed Charley Harper prints from the 70's! We were delighted to find that O. Brisky Books was open on a Monday (the store generally opens now only on Saturdays and Sundays). The shop owner just happened to be there, shipping a package. This is an amazing, quite large, bookstore filled with new, used, and rare books. His selection of Florida books can't be beat. The Charley Harper prints were at the back of the store, tucked away as if they were quite unimportant.
Unfortunately, the cardboard that the prints were backed with is not acid free, and three of the four prints had condition issues. They were priced at $250 each (except for the one which was heavily spotted, it was $125) - a fair price for the large print, a little high for the smaller ones. We just weren't in the position to buy them at the time. I can't stop thinking about the print below. I almost hesitated to share these with you guys, because I selfishly want the prints to be mine one day. However, I realize that they just need to go to a good home as soon as possible before their condition declines further in the not-so-well-conditioned store.
Are you enjoying the journey through Florida? I'll take a break to share some interiors, and resume with Cedar Key pics in a few days.