Country Living Weekend

The stone mountain at Stone Mountain Park, Georgia.

Ahhhh, a weekend of living in the country.  Yes, I know I already live a country life every weekend, in fact, every day is country living around Blooming Hill, so to speak. However, this past weekend was all about Country Living, The Magazine at Stone Mountain Park and resort area just outside of Atlanta, Georgia and it was a whirlwind weekend of country living, in spite of these wonderfully calm and scenic views.

Saturday, Peter and I traveled down gold, emerald and crimson tinged roads and passed by wildlife like Hokies and Tigers, (oh my!) on our way to beautiful Stone Mountain Park where we presented our Blooming Hill Business and product line to the folks at Country Living Magazine,  who were there for one of their famous Country Living Fairs there as well. We were among many crafters and vendors who were selected to "pitch" their products to the magazine.

In a nutshell, it was a bit like living through an early episode of American Idol where contestants sit in a room and wait to be called in front of a panel of judges who make a decision on you and your "craftiness" in five minutes or less. However, unlike the contestants on American Idol where their entire future seems to always be hanging in the balance, I think we "crafters" took this competition a little less seriously.   After all--we were all just presenting crafty ideas and not singing for our next meal.  There was, however, a lot of optimism, excitement and hope spilling out of the room as each of us waited to claim our own five minutes of fame. It will also be a few weeks before we are notified as to whether or not we have been selected by Country Living Magazine, for probably a picture and a nod to our crafts/products in their magazine. I'll let you know when I hear something...keep your fingers crossed!

My check-in time was 8:45am on Sunday morning and by 9:15am, I found myself in a small conference room in front of two judges "pitching" lavender bundles, soaps, sachets as well as eucalyptus wreaths and statuary with Peter (a.k.a. Vana White) holding up products as I talked as fast as I could without taking a breath. Before I could even blink, my presentation was over and I was actually able to say everything I wanted to say in that very short time. They smiled and said, "Thank you, we'll let you know."  I smiled back and said, "Thank you," and we left.  What next?...Disney Word?...Hardly. We went to see the Country Living Fair in full swing in another area of the park, full of great vendors and events which seemed to be straight out of Country Living Magazine. 

Take a look at the "Lazy Boy."  Enough said!

It was still early Sunday morning when we arrived at the fair so, it was easy for us to meander through the sunny fields and shaded paths and get a closer look at everything before the hordes of crowds began to make their way into fair.  I think most were still in bed and at least one by the name of Peter wished, at the time, that he was still in bed as well. However, once he finished power-napping, I think he found the sights at the Country Living Fair to be interesting, if not unexpected at times...

Country Living at it's finest right off of the beaten path, no less!

I'd like to have this artful pile of gourds in my own yard.

Lot's and lot's of vendors.  Some of whom  I recognized from Northern Virginia.

The Charlotte, N.C. skyline.

Me, "Rosemary" and Dean.

Then, were we off to Charlotte, North Carolina to spend the evening with our friends, Dean and Judy, minus Judy who was visiting her mother.  I could not get over how happy and healthy this humongous rosemary is, planted in the ground, in their backyard. What I would give to have a rosemary this size in my own backyard!  I think I'm a little jealous that even the hardiest of rosemary's in my yard cannot "weather" the winters as well as they can down in Charlotte, N.C.

Monday morning came and it was time to make the final leg of our trip back home to Blooming Hill where the sun always shines as did our drive through the autumn-painted mountains and countryside.  Thirteen hundred miles and three days later, my Country Living Weekend is now a happy memory and, hopefully, something will come of it...we'll see.  It was an honor for Peter and me to be included in such a talented bunch of people and, no matter what the outcome, I felt as though the whole "country living" experience was worth it. I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

Okay...this may be a bit premature...but you can't blame me for dreaming, can you?!...Thanks for the very spiffy and "spooffy" magazine cover, Dennis!  Now, that's what I call country living.