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| See all the lights secured to the trunk and branches of this tree? |
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| Another post-card from Richard! (I LOVE this!) |
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| See all the lights on this building? |
From my last post, the photo of the building covered in Christmas lights was from "Crossroads" which is what they call the area just in front of Stone Mountain. There are shops and restaurants there and beginning the first week of November, they start covering all the buildings and fences, the trees and the bushes with thousands of lights. It is very pretty, especially with Stone Mountain in the background! (Every night beginning at Thanksgiving, I believe, there is a parade for children with a pretty snow angel and Santa Claus.) Stone Mountain Park is unusual in that, strictly speaking, it is owned by the state of Georgia but the same company who owns DOLLYWOOD in Tennessee, the Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation, has a long-term contract with the state so this company is responsible for all the shows, the cable-cars, the famous "Laser Show" on the Carving, the "Ride The Ducks" on the lake, the Snow-Mountain (they make snow for it), the train around the base of the mountain, and all the restaurants and places to shop. The Stone Mountain Memorial Association is responsible for all the NATURAL areas of the Park, which takes up two-thirds of Stone Mountain Park. You must KNOW that is what is most important to me! Which is wonderful since the park covers 3200 acres! You may read about SMMA here. And you may see the site about Stone Mountain just here. Anything that the theme park side of it wishes for Stone Mountain Park must be approved by the SMMA. Recently, when I read that a water park was planned for Stone Mountain Park, I was on the phone to make sure that none of the large trees would be cut down! I wish that there were more for people, especially for children, to tell them about the nature that is all around them and which a good many of them do not even notice.
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| This is where they make SNOW MOUNTAIN! (All must be dismantled in early March.) |
There, remember the big Christmas tree from my last post? Can you see it in that first photo above, behind the fence? It is really just wires strung over a big tree-like base but I am thankful for it. As I am thankful that the Stone Mountain Memorial Association is still in charge of all the natural areas here.
(All of these photos are from November 3, 2012 from Stone Mountain Park, Georgia, USA!)
Hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas day, wherever you are in the world! I appreciate you reading my blog and I am thankful for YOU!
What is the kiln-like part of the building for? Is it a kiln? They seemed to have found a good balance between keeping large part of the area as natural as possible while at the same time providing entertainment, shops and restaurants for people. I do hope that some who are attracted by the entertainment come back for the natural part and learn to find it even more attractive than anything humans could have made.
ReplyDeleteHey Meike!
DeleteThat building is where they have a glass-blowing demonstration. (See the word "Glass" on the front of the building?) http://www.artglassbymeyers.com/about-the-artist.htm
There, I found the website for the glassblower, his name is Bob Meyers. We might have walked once into that building in all the years we have been going, but we are always so eager to get on our hiking trails, we have no time to be inside buildings, unless we have to!!
I so agree with your last statement. If only they would!
Beautiful! I was wondering if that bottle-shaped structure was a kiln too -- I can't possibly imagine what else it might be?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Debra! See my answer to Meike above, it is for someone who is giving a glass blowing demonstration.
DeleteA blessed Christmas to you, and thank you for sharing all the lovely pictures. You always give me a smile.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mimi! And the same to you!
DeleteThat makes me smile to know that I make someone else smile! :-)
what beautiful photos!! wow..
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!
Oh Thanks! Hope you are having a happy Christmas time too!
DeleteMay the Christmas season fill your home with joy, your heart with love and your life with laughter.
ReplyDeleteBlessed Christmas, Ms Kay. God bless you and your family! *warm hug
Oh, thank you so much for your comment! I hope you have a wonderful time at your holiday. Happy Christmas to you and happy new year!
DeleteI, too, am curious about the kiln-like building. Given that there seems to be a lot of clay in the area and a few potteries it would seem logical that it's a kiln.
ReplyDeleteOh boy, you are so right about clay in this area, but that building is used for glass-blowing.
DeleteWe have potteries in North Georgia, in Clarkesvile, where I lived when I was a child.
Was lucky enough to visit Stone Mountain 30 years ago...a spectacular sight. Hope you had a great Xmas and look forward to following your blog in 2013!
ReplyDeleteHey Paul!
DeleteAnd guess what, it is still spectacular!
So happy that you remember it fondly!
Hope you are having a great holiday and I thank you so much for your support. Look forward to reading about your races and your music!
What a beautiful place. There are still so many places left in the States that I have not seen. Hope you had a great Christmas.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Chris!
DeleteStone Mountain is a jewel. We love it!
Hope you are enjoying your holidays! xx
Hello. I wanted to send you a personal christmas emil greeting like I did with my online buddies, but since I couldn't find it anywhere...well, I'm just going to post it here. Albeit late... Sorry. I wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas (just pretend it's not yet over) and a prosperous new year! Stay happy, stay awesome, eat more food! XD
ReplyDeleteHey Denise!
DeleteHappy to see your comment here from the other side of the world!
And in my church, we celebrate the full 12 days of Christmas, so you are quite right in wishing us a wonderful Christmas! And Happy new year to you too!
The pursuit of happiness is written in the American Constitution, so I will try my best! :-)
Hi Kay, you've made us all love Stone Mountain, that's for sure! Wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteYES! I am glad you have been paying attention! You are really one smart cat though, aren't you?
DeleteHappy New Year to you and yours also! :-)
Lovely - My "fix" of Stone Mountain is back. Thank you so much Kay and those trees - wow!
ReplyDeleteHey Pat!
DeleteGood, I was hoping this post would get your attention!
I hope you saw my last post, and saw the very nice Christmas card on there! xx
It always amazes me how we have to fight to keep our natural resources safe and our parks beautiful. This looks like a wonderful place to visit..even without a water park! Hope you had a very Merry Christmas day!
ReplyDeleteThat water park! I was so afraid that it would be one of those huge things, with tons of water. Turns out, they just cut down a few pine trees and it is "Geyser Towers", water just shoots out, and the kids love that, I am sure it helps to cool them down in hot Georgia!
DeleteHappy New Year!
Dear Kay,
ReplyDeleteI hope you had a wonderful and warm Christmas. I've never heard of Stone Mountain. What an incredible setting. So beautiful! If I'm ever in the area, will plan a visit.
Very best,
Loi
Oh yes! If you are ever in the Atlanta area, please make sure that you make it to Stone Mountain. I like it best in the Spring and Fall, but anytime is nice!
DeleteHappy New year to you!
I loved your garden from your last post. I also love Dusty Miller and the bare bark of Crepe Myrtles in the winter.
Merry Christmas allready at November 3.:-)
ReplyDeleteI like this red bushes. And behind the fountains it looks like a great climbing wall!
Happy New Year to you:-)
Yes, I know that is what I said on Nov. 3rd, when we took these photos!~ So I just took the photo of the ornament saying "Merry Christmas" and waited until December to use it!
DeleteBehind the fountains...do you mean the stone wall just behind it, or the mountain itself? The stone wall is around a monument (and there is another one on the right side) and Stone Mountain itself, you are not allowed to have mountain climbers on it, there are have deaths of people who go beyond the fenced area at the top.
I appreciate your comments on my blog,thank you!
Happy new year to you!!
Hi Kay, I enjoyed visiting your blog today and have become a follower and have also added you in my blog roll. The last time I was at Stone Mountain was back in the early 1980s, so this has been a lovely trip down memory lane. Thanks for visiting me, I look forward to coming back here. Happy New Year to you and your English Hubby :)
ReplyDeleteOh thank you, Denise! Thanks so much, I really appreciate you following me!
DeleteYou should come back and visit Stone Mountain again!
If you get a chance, look back at my blog and see the Yellow Daisies from September, they were just breathtaking!
Yes, please do visit me again and often!
(Once again, I LOVED your possum photos!)
I'm still catching up with all the great posts I missed over Christmas. I was very intrigued with your pictures of Stone Mountain itself. A granite pluton! The Bucket List just got longer! I'll have to walk around it and climb it! I never know what to expect from your posts which always makes them interesting.
ReplyDeleteIf you are ever in the Atlanta area, people will tell you about all the expensive restaurants and shops, but don't listen to them...just go straight to Stone Mountain, it is the BEST thing here, I would not steer you wrong! :-)
DeleteAnd you find my posts interesting, thank you so much, you must be very wise and intelligent. ;-)