Road Trip: Next Stop... In the Movies

Juliette Georgia

The location for one famous flick chick caught the attention of 3 Magpies. Juliette is situated just off I75 a couple of hours south of Atlanta. The movie set facade houses several small gift shops, but the cafe is no facade. It was refurbished and brought back to life for the filming and has been in the genuine restaurant business ever since.





"Whistlestop" Train Depot

Note the train moving through town behind the depot. Are we lucky or what?




The infamous railroad track of movie fame were particularly interesting to CeCe. She also captured a shot of the long since closed industrial building which now houses a Harley Davidson motorcycle museum... only open on weekends.















Of course we ordered Fried Green Tomatoes and we ate them up feeling quite nostalgic in doing so. The spicy crispy breading crunched with each bite and we left happy and full.











We give Fried Green Tomatoes (both the food and the movie) "thumbs-up"!

Life is Good!

Next Stop Summer Road Trip 2009

Atlanta Georgia






Atlanta Hyatt &
The Georgia Aquarium

We spent the

We spent the first night of our road trip in a fancy schmancy place in downtown Atlanta just blocks from the next morning's destination.





The accommodations were quite appealing and 3 Magpies slept well. Bella was enthralled with the balcony overlooking the sparkly lights of downtown after dark.

We were well prepared for the road trip and our itinerary was set with prepaid tics for the Georgia Aquarium, the Titanic exhibit and a 4D feature playing in the IMAX-like theatre inside the aquarium. The Georgia Aquarium is the largest in the United States. The largest display included three whales sharks. They are quite large and it was an amazing experience to see them up close. My favorite exhibit was the Beluga Whale feature. Hosting three Beluga's, one male and two female, the exhibit was mesmerizing. The whales were so graceful while swimming and frolicking. Beluga's have necks and facial expression, almost appearing human from time to time. They are quite amazing creatures.

Upon entering the Titanic Exhibit, each visitor is provided a boarding pass. These unique passes include the actual information of a passenger aboard the doomed luxury ocean liner. This made it interactive and more interesting. The passenger information included both personal information about the passenger such as name, age, hometown... and trip information including classification and location of accommodations. The lights were dim and a rumble, somewhat louder while touring through third class, made us feel we were aboard the ship. Recovered relics encased in acrylic display boxes provided a visual tour of the lifestyle of those living during the Titanic time era. Replications of staterooms in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd class were eerie to view. Recovered personal passenger papers, clothing, leather shoes and luggage were in remarkable condition. A crew member uniform was also recovered and displayed, complete with the brass buttons. A leather pouch containing perfume vials was my favorite recovered item on display. The stoppers in twenty or so of the vials were in place and the yellowed fragrance still inside. One wall in the final room of the exhibit listed each passenger and crew member by category of "survivor" or "perished". It was here we learned of the fate of the passenger listed upon the boarding pass we each received upon entering the exhibit.

4D was a term of which I was unaware when advance purchasing the theatre tickets. No explanation was given. The little Magpies and I discussed what the 4th D might be and concluded it must be touch or smell. The movie featured was really, really cute and we were somewhat surprised to get "splashed" during the movie presentation not once, not twice, but three times!!! That and the aqua blue stringers and occasional scented bubbles that floated around made the film more entertaining. We enjoyed it!

HOTlanta is awesome and life is Good!

Summer Fun 2009 Road Trip

First Stop

Kennesaw Georgia for a wonderful dinner with friends. It is always good to see old friends and even better for them to cook, well, grill to be more precise. We ate and ate, and ate. Great job Judy on the portabellas, Rick on the spicy rubbed chicken, and Gus on the chocolate cake all the way from Austria! We are still stuffed!

Sparkle and Fade

My little one talking about the 4th of July:

Bella: You know those things momma?
Me: What things Bella?
Bella: Those shiny things that are really pretty and you say BE CAREFUL when you give me them to hold. I usta just think they were pretty and fun til one of the shiny things fell on my foot. It burned my foot.
Me: Oh, I say, SPARKLERS.
Bella: Yeah, sparklers. Thanks for telling me be careful momma.
Me: You're welcome, Bella.

I got a BBBBBBIIIIGGGG hug and I give you a reminder: Always be careful with fireworks. 4th of July is hard on kiddos, injury-wise. Each year hundreds of Americans are injured by fireworks.

CNN reports the following:
* Consumer Product Safety Commission put warning on fireworks out Friday
* 70 percent of fireworks accidents occur between June 20 and July 20, says CPSC
* Largest number of young people injured by fireworks are between 14 and 17

Have a Safe and Happy Holiday! Life is Good!

God Bless America

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE
TO THE FLAG,


OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,


AND TO THE REPUBLIC, FOR
WHICH IT STANDS,


ONE NATION
UNDER GOD,

INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY
AND JUSTICE FOR ALL!



America is Beautiful and Life is Good!

Legends

Iconic Sidekick


Iconic Beauty

Iconic Entertainer


God Bless America

My New Favorite Song

Dave Matthews Band
Funny the Way it is Lyrics:

Lying in the park on a beautiful day
Sunshine in the grass and the children play
Sirens passing, fire engine red
Someone's house is burning down on a day like this
And evening comes, and we're hanging out
On the front step and a car goes by with the windows rolled down
And that war song is playing, "Why can't we be friends"
Someone is screaming crying in the apartment upstairs

Funny the way it is, if you think about it
Somebody's going hungry, someone else is eating out
Funny the way it is, not right or wrong
Somebody's heart is broken, it becomes your favorite song

The way your mouth feels in your lover's kiss
Like a pretty bird on a breeze, or water to a fish
The bomb blast brings the building crashing to the floor
Hear the laughter while the children play war

Funny the way it is, if you think about it
One kid walks 10 miles to school, another's dropping out
Funny the way it is, not right or wrong
On a soldier's last breath, his baby's being born

Standing on a bridge, watch the water passing underneath
It must have been much harder when there was no bridge, just water
Now the world is small, compared to how it used to be
With mountains and oceans and winters and rivers and stars

Watch the sky, the jet plane so far out of my reach
Is there someone up there looking down on me
Boy chase a bird, so close but every time
He'll never catch her, but he can't stop trying

Funny the way it is, if you think about it
One kid walks 10 miles to school, another's dropping out
Funny the way it is, not right or wrong
On a soldier's last breath, his baby's being born
Funny the way it is, not right or wrong
Somebody's broken heart become your favorite song
Funny the way it is, if you think about it
One kid walks 10 miles to school, another's dropping out

Standing on a bridge, watch the water passing underneath
It must have been much harder when there was no bridge, just water
Now the world is small, compared to how it used to be
With mountains and oceans and winters and rivers and stars

Memorial Day (Reposted)

Sgt. William "Jack" Smith
U. S. Army 4th Infantry Division
November 8, 1917-June 6, 1944

KIA on June 6, 1944 during the amphibious invasion on Utah Beach in Normandy, France. He served along side Theodore Roosevelt Jr. Sgt. Smith was listed as MIA from June 6 - June 10, 1944 until his body was recovered and his status was officially listed as Killed in Action at that time. His remains were interred in Normandy at St. Mere Eglise Military Cemetery Number 2. His family, wishing to bring Jack home, asked for his remains to be returned to Grand Rivers, Kentucky four years later. His body was accompanied by a young soldier who remained with the Smith family until Jack's remains were laid to rest in Dixon Cemetery.

Jack's mother, Anne Smith, received some criticism from local folks for her decision to have Jack's remains returned to Kentucky. It was said to her that she would never know whether or not it was her son who was actually returned. Mrs. Smith told the critical doubters that while she would never know for sure, all she could do was hope and pray that if her son's remains were laid to rest by the hands of others, they would treat him with the same love, dignity, and respect as she had treated this soldier.

William Jack Smith's military portrait hung on the wall of his mother's house until the day she died. It then hung on the wall in my grandmother's (Jack's sister) house until she passed. The same portrait hangs on the wall of my brother's house... and will...until the day he dies. We will never forget the sacrifice.
William "Jack" Smith's nephew was my father. He is buried in Dixon Cemetery beside my grandmother and across from Jack. He served in the US Army in a time of peace. My brother served in both the Air Force and Army. My nephew is currently serving in the Army and has served two tours in Iraq.

God Bless America!!!

Saturday's Treasure

I Love Flowers



Just Created and Soon Available at: www.3magpies.etsy.com

Life is beautiful!

Fun Sunday Jewelry!

Think Green Earrings! Pressed Czech Glass and Mother of Pearl

Mother of Pearl Cross Pendant