I was in Franklin County this past weekend and noticed the strangest site. . . . Well, I didn’t actually notice it a friend did. As we rushed past an open field in the middle of nowhere, she said, “Huh. There’s an airplane.” Nothing really surprises me up here anymore. I live in the country where people do much crazier things than land airplanes in cow pastures. Still, I decided to turn around and take a look at what she had spotted.

Others were doing the same thing and the above snap shot is what we saw—the crash site of an older airforce plane whose pilot had made an emergency landing due to engine failure. (The engine is now in the field behind the plane.) Those at the site told me the pilot walked away and was okay. He was on his way from Florida to Indiana when he started having problems. He pretty much dropped the airplane into this field. Tall oaks were in front of him and power lines at his back. I still don’t know how he did it.

Dear Mrs. Anaya (the only other person on the planet who shares my love for antique chairs), I saw this one yesterday and thought I could not leave without it. But I did, I walked away.

Everywhere I turned there was another row or chairs. The ones on the left were in a group. The one across from them looked lonely. The two behind this group were a pair and the ones against the wall once belonged to a larger group and then there was the desk chair and the one behind the desk in this photo they were chairs with purposes.

There were chairs everywhere. These were very old and very expensive.

These two were orphan chairs. Pure and simple. Chances are no one will want to take them home. Even I moved on, I still could not forget the first chair. I drove away but I wondered who once had owned it? Who had shaped its pointed back and thick cane bottom? Soon, I found that I could not forget it. So today I drove back and . . .

I bought it!

I’ve long been convinced that I could “play by myself.” Yesterday, I wandered away from friends and into a side room of a wonderful old antique shop in Lavonia, Georgia, where I found this mirror and a vintage mink stole shrug that was just like one my mother once had.

Notice that I’m still using the Nikon D 40 even though I have a larger camera. It is just a fun camera to have. I can toss it into a side bag and take it anywhere and it will snap really good photos in almost any kind of light. (This photo was taken in very low light at ISO 800.) It’s been everywhere with me: England, white water rafting (in a water tight bag), late evening concerts, the beach (repeatedly), the top of mountains, and in dense forests.  I’m sure some of the newer Nikons do just as well and even a lot better. But for now, this little camera is still turning out great, fun photos and that is what it’s all about—finding time to have some fun in an otherwise stressful world.

A friend is one who walks in when others walk out. — Walter Winchell

I have a favorite Sunday afternoon ride, and it is runs along Bear Gap Road. I don’t travel it that often but when I do I’m always struck with the beauty of the woods and the solitude of this place. I could sit and wonder how the road got its name, but do I really need to ask? This is northeast Georgia, and we have black bears!