Happy New Year!  It's hard to believe its already January 27!  It seems only yesterday when I was spending New Year's weekend with my friend Janie in Tennessee.  It was a rainy weekend and not very picturesque, but Janie was willing to hold a huge golf umbrella while I made photographs on a back road near their farm.  The fog created  a mystical feeling and intensified the rust colored leaves. 

This old barn had a lot of character.  The support columns were made of stacked stone.  It's hard to believe it was still standing. The tidy white church on a nearby road had unusual architecture, with the steeple and bell tower at the corner of the structure between the gables instead of on top of the gable.  This church is in a little town called Cold Water. 

Tennessee Farm Trip

July 4th quilt by Marshall

Double Irish Chain by me

A weekend trip to Tennessee gave me an opportunity to shoot some new quilt photos in a rural setting.  My friends, Janie and Larry, live on a farm which has been in Larry's family since the 1800's.  The fences and the balcony of their restored home were perfect to hang quilts created by another friend, Marshall, and two of my quilts. 

Marshall's pinwheel quilt hanging on the balcony of Hamilton Hall

Hidden Treasure in Tennessee

In August, I visited my elementary school friend and college roommate, Janie Craig, who lives in Fayetteville, Tennessee. She agreed to accompany me to a Tennessee Natural Area called Short Springs near Tullahoma. Short Springs is on a country road a few miles outside the town of Tullahoma-if you blink you will miss the water tower and sign which mark the spot! The trail to Bobo Creek is an easy short walk to reach Lower Busby Falls. This area is unique because of the shale layers which look like someone has carved out steps on the edge of the creek and in the cascades.


After hiking down a steep trail to get to Machine Falls, we almost missed the falls. We had to walk along the edge of the creek and around a curve in the creek to see the 60 foot high Machine Falls. Even in the dry August, this area was lush and green and beautiful. I would never have expected such a beautiful area from the nondescript entrance to the area. I plan to go back in the spring when according to the website this is one of the "very best spring wildflower locations in the state".