The trout streams are beautiful in northeast Georgia. Last Saturday, Cocoa joy and I drove down one of our favorite roads that runs alongside this beautiful stream. And are there trout in these streams?

Oh, yes! The guy beside me had some bread and he began tossing it into the water.  Who would have thought the fish would have liked sourdough?

These guys sure did! BTW, they were well over a foot long.

I assured my friend Mary Erna that we could “hitch” the dogs to the fence at the top of the gorge, and they would be fine partly because we were right there with them, and we also were the ones that had treats and water in our possession. (There is no way Cocoa Joy would break free and leave food behind.) But the bigger reason, of course, is because they have been superbly trained by Xalina and Sandy at Dog School 101 in Atlanta.

I keep telling people that if they have a dog, they need to get in touch with these folks. They are “Cocoa Joy” approved, and they really can train your dog to heel and obey!

One of my favorite things is to walk with an obedient pack of dogs. Mary Erna reminded me on Sunday that Sandy always says, “Dogs that walk together don’t fight.” Our dogs walked together beautifully and had a great time doing it! Thanks DS101!

And here is the view from behind!

This is sort of a lonely photograph, but I don’t want you to feel that way. It is of an abandoned barn near the Sautee Valley. This past January, I photographed abandoned barns in western Pennsylvania and felt pretty sad when I posted those photos. But what I have discovered is there is a strong desire within me to record scenes like this one. They are a part of our history, a part of our past, and a part of someone’s memory. Memories, whether good or bad, can serve as sign posts for the future. This sun-drenched field almost begged for me (and Cocoa) to stop and take its photograph and also to remember that at some point in its past, it was a place that was full of activity. (PA Barn)

We saw this sign over the weekend near the Sautee Valley, and Chipley immediately wanted to know if it could be turned into wallpaper for the guestroom where he has a large stash of stuffed bears, cows, and monkeys. I know that doesn’t make sense but that room is the closest thing he has to “his own.” But it’s no to the wallpaper idea and no to the guestroom being his.

And I know you won’t believe this, but I’m going to tell you anyway: He takes his stuffed cow wherever he goes.

I know; I know: Ahhhhhhhhh!

Bad Dog!