brick building

photo by kristen bach

the little mailbox

at the acheson home, there is a tiny mailbox installed on the street. daughters beatrice and clementine receive little notes and special gifts from passersby. inside their house, they have a shelf full of the left treasures.

words and photographs by rinne allen

mimosa leaves

photo by Kristen Bach

Iris Beauty

we’ve had lots of rain this spring. the grass is green and the irises have been abundant. here’s a heavenly view of some afternoon iris.

photos and words by rebecca wood

southern soil

photo by Rebecca Wood

old graves

driving through the country the other day my eye caught a glimpse of this lovely grave yard.  i imagine it is a family plot on their farm land.  with the green of spring and the blue of the sky they really popped and still hinted a bit of mystery.  photos and words by kristen bach

grape vines

photo by rebecca wood

flower girl fleurs

photo by Kristen Bach

puddle + sky

photo by Rebecca Wood

hemlock sauce

the kinfolk flower potluck dinner was very special. the flowers, the fellowship, and the food. friend nathan brand outdid himself with his dessert: pink peppercorn ice cream topped with edible cornflower petals and fresh hemlock tassels.

nathan and his fiancé diana picked the tassels from our garden the night before, as the sun set.

words and photographs by rinne allen.

garden's edge

photo by rebecca wood

pressing flowers

we love pressing flowers.... it's a great way to preserve the season!  if you don't have a fancy flower press...press them inside of some books and place a big book or two on top.  wait a couple of weeks and enjoy!

photos and words by kristen bach

dew + grass

photo by Rebecca Wood

Snowballs in the Spring

one of my favorite spring shrubs is this japanese snowball.  this year the balls were bigger and more numerous than i’ve ever seen them.   so creamy and white!  love!

photos and words by rebecca wood

spring vines

photo by Kristen Bach

the quarry

we have been going to this particular rock quarry for 9 or 10 years- no one seems to remember exactly. each time we go, i am always, always taken aback by its beauty.

granite is underneath all of athens, and therefore the granite industry is a big one, especially in neighboring elbert and oglethorpe counties. we have family friends who quarry and we have granite around our yards, fashioning paths. i remember swimming in quarries throughout high school, a different one each summer.

our friends purchased this one and cleaned it up. divers surveyed it for hazards and gave it the all-clear. now, families gather here and get refreshed in the cool waters, or sit in the sun on the warm granite. the owners, in true deep DIY spirit, have fashioned an outdoor kitchen and a huge tarped shade area. we have eaten some of the yummiest food here, cooked over a fire or in the kitchen.

we are happy that our children get to roam here...and learn about the tiny flowers and mosses and piney woods, climb the rocks, and enjoy swimming with each other in one of Nature's prettiest spots.

thank you.

words and photographs by rinne allen.

maple

photograph by rinne allen

passion flower

passion flower, a.k.a. maypop

photographs by rinne allen

purple flowers

photograph by rinne allen

farmhouse pop-up

for the last two and a half years, kristen has had a little shop called treehouse that sells great things for kids, as well as craft supplies for all of their great classes (for kids & adults). over drinks a few months ago, a group of us conjured the idea of a special pop-up shop, just in time for mother's day. a corner of treehouse was transformed as we installed some special things made (or found) by local friends: kristen, rebecca, amanda, rinne, field trip, home.made, three porch farm, the national, double dutch, smokey road press, sweet olive farm, and many others! inspired by life on the farm, the items include special handmade goodies, edible treats, things for the garden, found treasures, and original art. the pop-up runs until may 13, so stop by to check it out and find something special.

words and photographs by rinne allen