a few weeks ago some friends and i went away to the mountains for a few days, without our families...all of us are friends because we have children the same age, but also because we get together regularly to visit and knit (although i should add here that i myself am not a knitter, but i like watching my friends knit!). we went to one of my favorite places where i have gone since i was younger, a friend's house called latimer lodge, near dillard, georgia. owned by the same family for almost 100 years, this old homestead exudes beauty; you can hear its stories in the creaks of its floorboards...
i love the form of the house:
we started our day by going on a long walk through the woods. we passed through the hambidge center and were happy to see a swing sculpture by our athens friend, didi...we also explored the old spring house and peeked in an old silo...
we then crossed the road and hiked up to a series of waterfalls cascading down through a valley of rhododendron and laurel; you could feel the mist from the falls on your cheek...there were some wildflowers starting to peek out along the trail.
then, we meandered through a bare forest, the leaves were not quite out...we found an old homesite and spring house made of local stone...then walked along a stream and made note of a swimming hole to remember for the next time we come, when it is warmer...
everyone had gathered specimens on our walk. i love that i have friends who notice things like this. some of them became ingredients in the light drawings that we made later in the day out in the sun on the lawn...
then, we lounged and relaxed in the sun and worked on our projects...embroidery, knitting, reading...and feeling rejuvenated to return back home to athens, and family life!
words and photographs by rinne allen