Meanwhile, back at the ranch.....

...we had this epic flood. Last week it rained....and rained, then the sky opened and torrential downpours brought all the streams, rivers, lakes and even aquifers and springs up to record-breaking levels in minutes. The damage in Cobb, Paulding and Douglas was horrific. Some bridges and and roads are still closed because they simply are no more. Today Mike and I helped out at Church of the Good Shepherd at 6216 Love St. in Austell, GA., if you want to Mapquest it and go down there, yourself to help out. Notice the mudline on the bushes to the right of the house. And there is mud on the roof, so this one is condemned, but there are many just like this and some worse, actually lifted off their foundations, All of this with no wind, no huricane, just rain. A whole lotta rain!!

The lady in pink has been keeping the church open so that flood victims can come by and pick up clothing, food, cleaning supplies, children's things, blankets, etc. Often, she simply keeps it open so folks have a place just to sit under a roof, in a clean, mildew-free ambience and eat a hot meal or simply rest and chat. Miraculously, this church was spared, even though it's right in the midst of the stricken neighborhood. Today she was interviewed by Fox News.

This little lady in brown has been on several news channels. Her home, (just a block from Good Shepherd, so use GS's Mapquest address to drive to this location to help) is situated just a tad higher than most on her street and was also spared. As a result, she is running a grass roots distribution center in her yard and it's really taken off. She and her helpers du jour are there from 8 am until dark and she also cooks and feeds her stricken neighbors.

FLOOD NEEDS:

Good Shepherd: Shoes for kids and adults, especially sneakers and water proof shoes. Laundry deterg, bleach and cleaning supplies, food, toiletries.

Micki's Front Yard Center: tarps, canopies, HELPERS, HELPERS, HELPERS! Anytime!

The Survivors: All of the above, plus tents, tarps, camping stuff, inclement weather stuff because it's getting cooler and sooner or later, it's gonna rain again, everything and folks just to sit with them and give them hugs and hope.

Prince Edward Island.....singing in the rain...

We spent 4 wonderful days at the PEI KOA but thanks to Tropical Storm Danny, two were pretty much of a wash for campfires and weenie roasts, which had been the plan. However, I did sing for the Pancake Breakfast.....and I even had a fan! Is this not one of the cutest little guys you ever saw?!

Hopewell Rocks, NB; the Sequel

Okay, this is how it's supposed to go........

Hah! Even though this time, we timed the tides right (not easy, on the extreme Bay of Fundy), drove two hours from our campsite, checked the weather for storms in the area, the wind came up and as soon as we put our kayaks on the water, dumped about 9 gallons inside the cockpits before we could even raise a paddle. Sigh.....maybe next year....

But we did meet a nice couple; she is from Costa Rica and he's from Nova Scotia. They were in Monckton for 6 weeks for her cancer treatment, so of course, we bonded instantly. The common language for the 3 of us was French! No, they sure weren't kayaking, just visiting the park and taking a day off of treatment. Please keep Flore in your prayers.

Wringing out my frustrations along with our soaked clothing after our useless attempts to kayak here. The two-men sea kayaks got out ok, but we had to sign waivers in which we even had to describe what we were wearing, so help them identify, well, you get the picture.... Wisely, we gave up early on so they wouldn't need those waivers. We're not stupid - Fundy is a challenge on a calm day!

Arts 'n' Crafts Farewell

It always happens like this - we're wandering back to Ga., thinking it's all over, sigh, and then we stumble on yet another hidden gem. This time, it was a little scribble on the Atlas up in the top of MD., just beneath PA. and not far from W.VA. Penn Alps, an artists community created to promote the artists and craftspeople of the Allegheny Mts., set in spruce-studded mountains and also featuring a man-made historic icon, as well. It reminded us of the Foxfire Village.

The above-mentioned icon, the Casselman Bridge, a stone arch bridge; the longest single span bridge existing on the National Road after it was built in 1813 and a photographer's dream.

Fall was, well, falling up in Canada, Maine and even in places in New England, so we get to experience two autumns this year!

Leaving Penn Alps and thinking that well, guess that's it for this trip, my brother in law suggests stopping at Blenko Glass Factory in southern W. Va., since it's almost to Ky, our eventual goal, so of course, we do so.

Another WOW moment. Although most of us associate Blenko with blown glass vases, the square water jug and pressed glass, they feature a gift shop, a factory tour and a small exhibit with some of the most exquisite stained glass we've ever seen.

The colors are spectacular in all these works of art, but gotta tell ya....

...the dump pile ain't bad, either!

The spouts, handles and other scraps of glass snipped, peeled or broken off the glittering products create quite a treasure, themselves.

Why We Travel.....

You're kidding, right?

Well, heck, we figured you knew by now.....

...to visit our friends and loved ones!

Mystic, CT.

I know you've already seen the traditional seaport/village shots of Mystic, so here are some not so traditional photos for your entertainment. As the daughter of an engineer, I feel duty-bound to always include a dam, a lock or a bridge so here you go. We crossed this bridge on foot, marvelling at what an antique is was and how cool it must have been when it actually functioned as a drawbridge, shaking our heads pityingly at its coating of rust, etc., and then learned that 40 minutes after every hour of the day, it still goes up. Everyone gathers to watch this.....

....gaping at the counter weights, the size of Volkswagons, then the whistle blows and a quiet engine starts to hum.....the big wheels barely turn, the piston moves like the hour hand of a watch....but lo and behold, as the counter weights inch closer to the pavement, the sucker goes up! Three swans glide through, the crowd roars with the hilarity of that, but they are followed by a tall masted sailboat. And the bridge comes back down! And we all applaud because well, heck, we thought it gave up the ghost decades ago!

Well, yeah, of course we had to go to Mystic Pizza. After all, Julia Roberts was a Georgia girl! There are photos from the movie on the wall and you can purchase A Slice of Heaven sweatshirt, tee shirt, ball cap, key chain, etc., but ya know what? It's really good pizza....worth the wait.

Even if you're waiting in the rain.

Back to New Brunswick

Weird trees and thrashing waves were the features at Burntcoat Park, consisting of picnic tables, a cliff and a lighthouse simply indicated on the N.S. map with a star which signified "Attraction." Difficult to find, easy to miss but worth the effort!

No, we didn't attempt to put our kayaks in here. We learned our lesson at the Hopewell Rocks!

Rather than take the ferry on Labor Day, we drove back up the N.S. coast into N.B. where we camped at yet another NB Provincial Park, our 5th! If you camp at 3, you get the 4th free, and since they're all under $30, it's a really good deal. Plus, they are all also gorgeous! Even the late afternoon sun on the marsh grass rates a shot!

The first photo is a momument dedicated to the crew of a boat that was lost at sea. The vessel itself is sort of silk-screened or etched into the marble.

NS Creativity, Con't.

The mistress of the house turns every little knothole, etc., into a work of art.

The master of the house has fashioned the exterior to be as charming as the interior.

The view from the kitchen window as one makes dinner, is of the pasture and eventually, the sea. I can't believe they are trying to sell this gem. I loved it and felt as at home in it as I do in the Turnip Farm. If I had pots of $$, it would already be my house!

Nova Scotia Creativity

This charming home was created from an old pre-existing but unimaginative house which the artist/builder simply gutted and re-created with artsy touches from both him and his wife, a stained glass artist.

The pebbles came from the nearby beach and the artist calls this her 'kitchen-beach."

What a warm welcome into this post and beam bedroom.

Stay tuned for more photos of the house in my next blog.

At home in the Anapolis Valley.

This is the fertile Anapolis Valley, bordered by the Bay of Fundy and breadbasket for N.S.

Gotta love the Farmers Market in the village of Anapolis Royal....they really enter into the spirit of the thing. This guy sold Indian style flutes, but had several with two mouthpieces and he blew both at the same time, playing in harmony with himself. Why the kilt? Not a clue.

Here I am with The Town Crier, same market, same day. Like I said, they get into it here. Oh yeah, they sell produce, too! GOOD produce...seafood (of course), veggies, fresh breads of all kinds, in addition to art, jewelry, carvings, etc., all near the dock with picturesque scenery across the bay...you've seen this blog so you know the drill. What's not to love???

Keeping in touch with an old friend...

My friend Wendy and I went through grade school together and still keep in touch, even though she lives in Nova Scotia and I'm in Georgia.

She has 2 loves in her life.....raising apples, (she has her own variety, I guess you'd say....Firestorm - above),

And her Bouv-dog, Boadie.

Maybe 3 loves....her old friend, Deb!

Our Inukshuk

One sees these little (or big, usually) prehistoric looking stone men all over the Maritimes. Folks told us it was a form of communication...like "Kilroy was here," in First Nation language. It's now the mascot for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games. This was another windy day that never got over 60 degrees, still a nice change from Atlanta August!

Roadside PEI

This oddity was created by an Acadian fisherman after he retired. There were 3 bottle buildings on this bayside property, surrounded by beautiful flower gardens and overlooking the water. The US no longer corners the market on Roadside Attractions.

The artist's daughter now runs the show and her son is getting involved in the art of bottle-building.

More PEI & New Brunswick

Our New Bruswick campground on Murray Beach.

It's been a few days since I've blogged, due to no Wi-Fi so enjoy the beauty of Prince Edward Island and Murray Beach, NB.

This little guy hangs around the light house, hoping for hand-outs.

These little guys hang around us and GET hand-outs!

The sun came out around 3 PM so naturally, we headed to the beach....Souris Beach on PEI.

PEI...The East Coast

Red clay is peculiar to PEI, just as it is to GA. Therefore, erosion is eating the shoreline back at an alarming rate.

This mansion was built by a Cincinnati businessman and now belongs to Parks Canada and functions as an Inn.

The lighthouse at East Point.

More red cliffs and windy seas. I'll post the rest later, as download speeds just dropped off big time here.