Hidden Magnolias

Talladega, AL.  We all know about the famous NASCAR racetrack located just off of 1-20. How could you not know with a movie like Talladega Nights? But drive about 6 miles south and you come upon the small town of Talladega. Chocked full of beautiful homes, this historic town is a delight and a surprise. In typical southern town layout, just find the First Methodist Church and the neighborhood adjoining it,  is often the Historical District. Talladega is no different. You immediately enter the "Silk Stocking Historical District." The Jones Mansion, c. 1880's ( cougar_6 Flicker) The McElderry-Malone Home, c1905 The Woods-Sims House c. 1891 The Samuel C Oliver Home c.1890 The Brown-Elliott Mansion c. 1912 Dr C.L. Salter home c. 1840 The Reynolds-McGee Mansion c. 1904 The Jamison-Purefoy House c. 1898 Side view And a post card of how the Jamison-Pure...

Last week I was at a real estate tech conference and I saw an adorable pair of shoes walk by. Never being shy, I ran over and inquired. They were Avarca sandals from Spain. The wearer told me about the website, so I immediately whipped out the trusty iPad and ordered a pair. I got these. Aren't they cute? Avarras USA Avarras USA Here is the other style and I am seriously contemplating. Avarras USA And they come in all these luscious colors. As well as tan, brown, beige, white and black. Avarras USA There is an interesting story about these shoes, but I will let you read it yourself on the their website. http://www.avarcasusa.com/bin/ourstory.php Pat

I’ve been gardening a lot lately. By which I mean I’ve been doing everything from mowing my lawn to pulling up weeds by hand to conversing with a bed of vegetables. In my earlier years,  I would have laughed in your face if you told me that one day I would get excited about little yellow flowers emerging from a tomato plant. Or, that I would be patient enough to plant biennials and wait two years for blooms. While I love the activity of gardening, the hobby itself is a little, well, odd.  I talk aloud to the growing things in my garden. I sometimes wear very strange miss-matched clothes – called “yard clothes.” I have given up on having my nail done. How can you have the perfect manicure when you get dirt under your fingernails? I hope for bees to visit. I study how old and dry manure needs to be before applying to the dirt. I buy any new product seen on TV. Like a Garden Weasel. The Weed Popper. The Pocket Hose, because:  ‘ To a gardene...

This weekend my husband and I did one of our Sunday drives.  We wound up in Rome, GA., and stumbled upon this beauty: Be still my heart.... In typical Pat fashion, I made my husband pull into the driveway in the back and I hopped out - I was gonna see this house. This is the Clairmont  Bed & Breakfast ,  open to the public like any B&B so I knew could go in and check their rates and perhaps have a quick tour.   That I found inside was a magnificent, very well cared for and preserved  1882 Victorian.  (I snapped pics with the old iPhone so they are not the best.) Staircase in the main hall.  View from first floor landing This house is a very preserved Victorian --all of the original woodwork is there -- the plaster walls -- the gorgeous built-ins -- even the door knobs and hinges. Chandelier in main hall.  Fireplace in Living room Child tricycle Built in in Dining Archway ...