October-Stranger Things/Dracula

 

Covered bridges! There is just something so appealing about them, don't you think?

The covered bridge pictured above is at Stone Mountain Park.  Cars are allowed to drive on it but they have a space for folks to walk over it too. (We always walk!)  Funny I just told you about walking over the bridge in Chattanooga on my last post and now I have this one in Georgia! (This one was built almost at the same time, it was built in 1891.)

Does the change of leaves make me happy? You bet it does! Let me show you some of the beautiful photos from October from Georgia...

The most wonderful thing? Our leaves in the Metro Atlanta area do not peak until the first week of November, so we still have lots of color to come. I think I will just sit on this bench and watch til then.... dang, I am so funny!
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Hey! Y'all will never guess but my husband and I have finally watched the TV series "Stranger Things"! Yes, I know everyone else knows all about it but we have just been watching the shows and they are so good! The VERY best thing for me, the setting is supposed to be in Hawkins, Indiana but believe me, it was filmed in Georgia! I can't tell you how tickled I was to actually recognize places that are very familiar to me. I can't remember what season it was but there was a scene filmed at a 7/11 store and as soon as I saw it, I said, "That's in Conyers!".  Sure enough, I researched it and of course, I was correct! Very special to us though is that many of the scenes filmed in the woods were filmed at Stone Mountain! AND any of the scenes where the actors are walking on a train track were all filmed at the train track at Stone Mountain. (This was a very good thing too since the train there is only one that is run for tourists so therefore, the train rarely runs on the rails. So, very safe for the actors!)

The other thing I need to tell you- I read "Dracula" this month! Oh, I am sure you are saying that you know the story very well but admit it, have you ever read it?  If not, please do so!  It is such a wonderfully written book, I was that surprised at how much I enjoyed it.  I was dusting a bit at my home and since our son left a load of books at our house, my eye fell upon "Dracula" on his bookshelf.  I tried to read the paperback but my poor old eyes were not up to the fine print so I went to my local library and checked out such a beautiful copy that my dear husband has now ordered the very same book for me. It is a Penguin Classic. This book not only has the story of Dracula but it also has an interview that Bram Stoker did with Winston Churchill! It also has letters between Bram Stoker and Walt Whitman! And there is even a piece that was written by Bram Stoker's mother. Isn't that amazing? (You can guess that she also was a great writer.)

It seems to me that "Stranger Things" and "Dracula" have some parallels.  They both have characters that are interesting and that you really care about. They both have great friendships that try to overcome evil. Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not. Just as "Stranger Things" would make me happy to see scenes from Georgia, "Dracula" also has placenames in London that are familiar to me. (I realize that last bit is a personal thing for me, but hey, I am "Georgia Girl With An English Heart!")

Just in case Dracula comes around here, I have my cross ready!

Chattanooga (NOOGA)

 

Chattanooga, Tennessee!  Richard and I just visited in the month of September, and you know I have some photos to show you.  It is commonly called "Nooga" because honestly, that is a long word to type...C H A T T A N O O G A ! 

This was the view from our hotel room.  I loved this so much!

This very modern building is the Tennessee Aquarium and is well worth a visit! It is right beside the Tennessee River.  We took our son there when he was only 3 years old and the area around it has grown so much in those 30 years!

Several bridges cross the river in Chattanooga. The one pictured below is the Market Street bridge. Look at that lovely blue paint! There are cars crossing on that bridge along with pedestrians. 

The Walnut Street bridge is pictured above. Also called the John Ross bridge, it is a truss bridge and was built in 1890. It is now totally for pedestrians and bikes! No cars allowed! Isn't that great! I remember seeing it when we took our son there in the early 1990's and it was all rusty brown. Apparently, it was destined to be TORN DOWN! Can you believe it? A group of like-minded citizens got together and saved it. Along with the Aquarium, it is a jewel of the city. It is one of the longest pedestrian bridges in the country. Did I walk across it? You know I did! Richard and I both did!  It is 2,375 feet across, and we totally enjoyed every step of the way.

These two photos show views from the bridge. Can you recognize the Tennessee Aquarium at the far left of photo? 

On the other side of the bridge there is a lovely park with beautiful fountains. The sculptured animals are made in such a way that children can actually climb upon them. The building behind the fountains has a beautiful carousel inside it.  Had it not been such a gorgeous day, I would have ridden on it, seemed a shame to go indoors even for just a bit!

Next time I am there, I think those pretty painted horses will be seeing me! LOL!

Crossing back across the bridge, this is the view of the Hunter Museum. It is a lovely building built upon a bluff overlooking the river. (We didn't have time to visit there but hopefully we will next time!)

The Chattanooga Riverwalk extends for 16.1 miles along the southern banks of the Tennessee river. (Yes, I typed that correctly! Over 16 miles!!) There are lovely spots to enjoy the sunsets.

I just heard that Loretta Lynn died today. She was 90 years old. I've told you before how much I loved the film based upon her autobiography, "Coal Miner's Daughter"! It was one of my Daddy's favorite films too.   Loretta Lynn wrote most of own songs but one that was a big hit for her was the song "One's On The Way". It was written by Shel Silverstein,  the same man who wrote "A Boy Named Sue" for Johnny Cash. 

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Take care, my friends!  Enjoy "ever" single day! (That is how Lorretta Lynn said "every", just like my Daddy.)