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Hitch Hikers

Stuffed animals seen hitch hiking on a garbage truck...

Moores Mill Rd

On the left, hanging over the orange triangle, is the Cat in the Hat. To his right is a large fox in a riding outfit/jacket. Bottom center is a green frog. Top right is a doggy. 

Many thanks and a tip of the hat for this photo from Emily Bleke. As she says: "Very hysterical!"

Heart of Pine Yard Art

The phenomenon of yard art is very interesting to me. What drives people to decorate their yards? Why do they choose specific objects or arrange them in a certain way? What is it they are trying to convey to you, their neighbor or the random innocent person passing by?

I was out for a drive the other day, and I noticed that someone had placed a large, round saw blade in front of their house.  The owner of the house was mowing his lawn and I asked if I could take a picture.  As it turns out, the owner of the house was a very interesting gentleman who loved history and politics and who was a person of considerable stature in Atlanta.  He had been active in the community of Civil War artifact collectors and had known the famous Civil War historians and collectors of our region: Beverly DuBose (who bequeathed the nation's largest Civil War collection to all of us via the Atlanta Historical Society) and Wilbur Kurtz (who was an advisor to Hollywood film makers for 3 movies, and who was a wonderful painter, as well). 

The giant saw blade was not the only object that enhanced this gentleman's yard.  It was just the most obvious from the street since the yard was quite tidy. As I approached the saw blade to take my picture, I noticed other unusual objects. The walkway from the driveway to the front steps was lined with an interesting collection of twisted heart of pine stumps and limbs which he had found while on hunting trips in the Southern woods.  I perceived that their shape and texture - just the way they looked - gave him great pleasure.  The stumps were sometimes combined with household objects in interesting juxtapositions. Interspersed among these wooden sculptures were: Boat propellers, pet grave markers, a cannonball, a wagon wheel, a kettle and the large circular saw blade.  Something of history, something of place, and something of old friends.

Large Saw Blade

Tree Fork

Tree with Fox Head

Stump Sculpture

Boat Propellers

Cannonball

Pot

Wheel and Wood Sculptures

Yard with Art
Emerald Chase

Before I left, the owner of the house most graciously took me to see a wonderful thing, an actual cannon redoubt he had uncovered in his back yard while planting an orchard.  This was a Federal cannon placement for 2 cannons which would have aimed East toward the Confederates at Kennesaw Mountain. Apparently the historic record did not include his cannon redoubt, but Beverly DuBose had come to see it and had declared it authentic. Mr. DuBose also unearthed 3 cannonballs from the spot, justifying his declaration. 

Max Bacon

If you think about it, there's no better place for a sign that says "max bacon" than the side of a BBQ restaurant!

Windy Hill Rd

Viewrom the parking lot

Actually, Max Bacon has an outstanding public record... and hopefully a sense of humor.

Gentleman's Estate

I wonder what a "Gentleman's Estate" is (especially around here)... 

West Sandtown Rd

Mystery Mailboxes

Wonder what these mailboxes are made of.  They look like they were once the housings for railroad signals.

West Sandtown Rd

Gate Flag

West Sandtown Rd

Zombie Shoot

Austell Rd at Windy Hill Rd

The Big Chicken

If you visit the area, you will hear about our local celebrity, the Big Chicken. Though the Big Chicken is not a person, it does have personality and a certain "standing" in the community.  The Big Chicken has friends and admirers. It has inspired poems, plays and Halloween costumes.

Hwy 41 at Route 3

Locals use the Big Chicken to give driving directions. For instance, if you're coming from Marietta, a great BBQ restaurant, Williamson Bros. B-B-Q is just past the Big Chicken on the left. You can't miss it!  If BBQ is not for you, you might try the Cuban Diner, also just past the Big Chicken (and Williamson Bros. B-B-Q) on the right. On the other hand, you can't beat the Marietta Diner for good eats. Turn right at the Big Chicken and travel about 1/4 mile. It's on the right. Mr. George and Mrs. Marie will take good care of you. Check out their tasty cakes that are almost as big as the Big Chicken... well, almost!

   Route 3 (Roswell Rd) at Hwy 41(Cobb Pkwy)

When I was a kid, the Big Chicken had some big friends. After a long trip, I knew we were nearing home when we passed the Big Lady, the Big Rocking Chair, and then the Big Chicken. The Big Lady was a fiberglass cutie in a fiberglass bikini. She pointed the way demurely to the fun at Lake Allatoona. The Big Rocking Chair advertised Brumby Rockers, which are famous because President Kennedy had one in the Oval Office. The Big Chicken is, naturally, a restaurant that specializes in chicken dinners. The Big Lady is long gone and the Big Rocker disappeared in the 1990's. But the Big Chicken stands tall, "holding down the road" for posterity.

Exit Ramp at Christmas

This hand written message appeared amidst the commentary in our public forum the week of Christmas 2011.

Exit #260 North

Christmas Excuse

All I want for Christmas is an excuse!

Sessions St

Bed and Box

Friendship Church Rd

Pots As Yard Art

Happy New Year!

You might not know of it, but there is a tradition in “these parts” of making a special New Year’s meal.  This meal is typically eaten at midday (“supper”) and is composed of black-eyed peas, “greens” and cornbread. The black-eyed peas are meant to bring you luck in the coming year. Collard greens are meant to bring you money.  Cornbread is included because it’s just plain tasty (and you never eat greens without cornbread!).

There is another tradition in the rural South of decorating the front yard with an old kettle… specifically a pot for making Brunswick Stew .

Bells Ferry Rd near I-75

I often wonder how the humble kettle came to be a landscape celebrity. Was it a purely utilitarian choice?  A broken pot can serve as a container for flowers or herbs by the kitchen door... even when it can’t hold stew or “pot likker” any more. 

Hurt Rd near Powder Springs Rd

Perhaps it was a question of effort.  A cast iron pot is mighty heavy. Modern mobile families (2 parents plus 2.5 children) no longer need a big family pot. It would have been a lot of work to haul the pot to the refuse pile... and the pot only got as far as the middle of the front yard.

Hurt Rd near Powder Springs Rd

I think, however, there may be a different answer. The cast iron pot, with its beautiful black roundness  touches our hearts. The pot squatting in our yard welcomes us home without obligation. We don’t have to be famous or wealthy or erudite - we’re home.

Friendship Church Rd near Casteel Rd 

The pot in our yard reminds us of meals past, where family and friends gathered around the table and something wonderful and delicious could be made from the simplest of ingredients. There may not have been much, but there was enough, and companions to share it with.

Friendship Church Rd near Casteel Rd

So, whether or not you have a pot in your yard, may your upcoming year feel as warm and welcome as if you did.