A few weeks ago while hiking with Mary Erna, we looked up and saw what we instantly knew was an Indian Marker Tree. While researching these trees, I learned that they usually are much older than they look. Native Indians created the odd shape by pruning back some the the tree’s limbs and then by tying down other limbs with leather straps so that the tree grew into a certain shape. The tree they used most often was a white oak sapling.

Marker trees can be spotted all across north Georgia because hundreds still exist. They are usually found along trails that lead to sources of water or on pathways that were viewed as important Indian footpaths. The one in this photo is located in Unicoi State park not very far from the stream that flows away from the base of Amicalola Falls.

I’m still visiting the Old Clarkesville Cemetery in hopes that I will find the grave of William Haddock, who was the father of the man connected with the original building located on the campus of Toccoa Falls College—Haddock Inn. That building was constructed on land once owned by John Haddock. It was an old summer hotel and a highlight for visitors from around the country who came to this mountainous area. Verandas provided magnificent views of the 186-foot high Toccoa Falls. While this marker is not Haddock’s, I think that it was beautiful with the morning sunlight washing down on it. I’m sure with a little more searching, I’ll find William’s grave and the graves of his family.

I discovered this little red wagon in an “ancient of days” hardware store in the middle of nowhere last week. I love wandering into places like this—places that are frozen in time.

These two (Cocoa Joy and Chip) had to go for their Sunday afternoon walk alone—meaning without Michael and Raphael. Last week we had tons of fun with Mary Erna and her dogs. But this week, we headed out on our own and ended up at Anna Ruby Falls. This is a really cool short hike that we did earlier in the spring. It’s close so we can do it easily on a Sunday afternoon. These are two really good Dog School 101 dogs. Sit, stay, and watch—well sort of. Chipley is watching another dog as it goes down the pathway.

Anna Ruby Falls is really spectacular. It lies in the heart of the Chattahoochee National Forest and is about an hour and a half north of Atlanta. The quiet coolness of the area is broken only by the thundering rush of water flowing over the rugged cliff face. The Falls marks the junction of Curtis and York Creeks. Both creeks begin on Tray Mountain and are fed by underground springs, rain, and snow. Curtis Creek drops 153 feet and York Creek 50 feet to form the twin waterfalls known as Anna Ruby Falls. From the falls, Smith Creek tumbles downhill to Unicoi Lake and then to the Chattahoochee River. It’s journey continues south, eventually joining the Appalachicola River in Florida and ending its 550-mile journey in the Gulf of Mexico.

Sometimes, it’s just plain fun to take a photo of simple things like this collection of gourds that serve pretty well as bird houses.