Good morning Atlanta

This morning, as i made my usual walk through Atlanta's midtown to the restaurant I'm a temporarily hostess at, it dawned on me that Atlanta is so much cleaner than other American cities. This point is highlighted by the constant absence of roaches and vermin. Although they may be seen from time to time (most frequently in the underground train tunnels), it is nothing compared to the sheer volume I have seen on my short visits to big cities like New York, Chicago and Dallas or older cities like Savannah, New Orleans and Little Rock.

It's lovely to wake up in the morning, pick up a coffee and walk along the white pavement of midtown Atlanta surrounded by clean gutters (does someone sweep them everyday? I've never seen anyone!), vibrant flowers and bright sunlight that's reflected off the brand new buildings.

it's nail day!

Another fun day at the salon with the fortnightly usual: maintenance and manicure!  Although I am normally quite adventurous, today I just felt like a bright red colour for my nails and toes.  I'm totally loving this Monsooner or Later shade from O.P.I who really do the BEST shades of red nail polish.

My day with the Fire Chief's wife

On Saturday I spent the day with the Fire Chief of Somerset's wife; Kim, since Will was busy all day, first hosting a presentation and then a training session that was attended by firefighters from three different counties.  Kim was a fantastic tour guide, having been born and raised in the area, she took me around to the hot-spots!

9am:  We started our day by leaving the fellas at the training facility and driving down to a country store for doughnuts and coffee.  This was no ordinary country store!  Being inside Meckley's was like stepping into a time warp to the 1950's!  It almost made us forget about any doughnuts as we were swept away with authentic trinkets, condiments, tea towels, handmade goodies, decorative items and vintage memorabilia. Photos below... 

10am: Once the doughnuts were bought, delivered back to the training ground and devoured by the pack of hungry fire fighters, we set out again; this time for Amish country.  Another time warp and truly a one-of-a-kind experience, we drove right into their community, past several properties and then into the yard of an Amish family that had a bakery set up on their land.  The bakery also sold raw, organic produce and cooking materials that they farm themselves.  Since they do not allow photos, I wasn't able to sneak very many; but here are the ones I did manage to sneak:

12pm:  Came back to the training ground to deliver water and check on the progress... still in full swing, so we set out for a winery and some local wine-tasting at the Cherry Creek Winery!

These were the ones I loved and bought...
All 3 bottles for $38!!

2.00pm:  Back at the fire station it was lunch time.  While the steaks and hot dogs were grilling, Kim put in a good word for me and I got to go for a ride in the fire truck!  

It was a wonderful, action packed day, thanks so much to Kim!  By 4pm, Will and I were on the road again for our next stop, Marshall Michigan: the town where he spent several years as a kid and where we would be spending the weekend.

Wildlife of Michigan

During my weekend in the State of Michigan, here are the animals I saw alive and running around:

Black Squirrels!  I was so fortunate to see a few of these
since locals told me they are only found in the counties
around Marshall and Battle Creek

Beaver
Photo thanks to: answersingenesis.org

White tail deer with antlers!
Photo thanks to: statesymbolsusa.org

Woodchuck!
Not the best photo but it's just how I saw the little guy:
running across a footpath
Photo thanks to: juliesickefoose.blogspot.com

Finches!
I saw blue and green ones too,
but these were the  best photos I took

Sand crane!
Photo thanks to: fishandgame.idaho.gov 

I also saw plenty of raccoons, possums, skunks and a vulture; but as they were laying along the side of the roads (next to the wildflowers) I feel that they don't count!

Wild flowers of Michigan

Just after lunch on Friday, we left Indianapolis and drove to Brooklyn, Michigan.  Although it has been a very dry summer up here, the foliage seemed lush to me and all along the sides of the freeway I saw the brightest and most beautiful flowers.

Queen Anne's Lace - gets its own collage
because it's my favourite of all 

  

A night in a train station

With shifts covered and Baxter dropped off at Aunt Amy’s, last night Will and I arrived in Indianapolis, IN and had a great dinner with friends at a restaurant downtown called Palomino.  This is the first time I’ve gone anywhere without Baxter for a whole week so I was trying to enjoy my scallops and not look compulsively at my phone for updates or missed calls from Amy.  I was anxious about my boy not eating or sleeping and moping around looking for me; but once the text came through that he was having fun playing outside and has eaten well, I relaxed, had a mojito and became part of the lively conversation.

This morning my plan was to explore the city, but I only have two hours before Will gets back from his meeting and we need to drive on to the next place; so I’m staying put. Honestly, I am intrigued with our hotel and want to explore it more.

We are staying at the Crowne Plaza, an historic building transformed from a train station into a hotel that has retained its train station appearance and simply moulded rooms into the original design!  The platform is now carpeted and rooms are built around it, where the tracks should be; I’ve never seen anything like it!  To make it even better, part of the original train station remains next door to the hotel.  Downtown Indianapolis Union Station is literally separated from Crowne Plaza by a wall, so when a train goes by you can hear it and feel the ground rumble for an authentic I’m at a train station vibe.  Hopefully these pictures from the booked.net web page will describe things better than I can.  In the meantime, I’m off to take some of my own!