Weekend in Jasper, Georgia

It was a lovely weekend...wait, let me say it again, it WAS a lovely weekend.  My honey and I ran away for two days to play in the North Georgia mountains.  I so needed this and didn't realize how badly I did until we hit the road.  A more beautiful day we couldn't have requested.  Brilliant fall blue sky, warm weather with a gentle breeze and the leaves are changing colors.  Perfect.  We meandered through back state roads to Etowah Valley Sporting, in Dawsonville, so my honey could shoot a round of sporting clays before we headed to Jasper. 

 

 Lots of shooters had the same idea. Some brought there sweet and well trained hunting dogs who were adorable. 

 

Most of the walk areas were littered with acorns, branches and fallen leaves. Such a pretty carpet of natures best.

 Sporting clays is kind of like golf only with shotguns. You travel from stand to stand using a golf cart and each stand is set up for a different type of shoot. 

Each location has a great or interesting view but my favorite was station 7.  An old pickup truck, you stepped up into the bed and shot over the top at the two clay birds that would fly out. 

 Here is the sign that was taped to the back of the window. (they used a 

band aid...such a guy thing to do)  

 This pretty butterfly was resting on this tree root. 

Even the crushed granite and marble driveway had fall dropped all over it.  I like the burnt orange and browns of the leaves against the greys.  Following the shoot, we grabbed lunch at the local Mexi-restaurant for a light lunch and then headed down the road towards Jasper.

Jasper has a marvelous selection of antique shops and a local flea market.  We hit the flea market first, very small, very ... how shall I say ...  stuck in the 1980s.  Small trailers with bad flooring and wet smells and filled with items that seemed from the 1980s.  Think ceramic geese for the kitchen and lots of plastic bracelets and ugly little straw wreaths.  Still, there was one tailgate that had a few items that were interesting and I walked away with three pieces.

We entered the old business district area of Jasper and the first antique shop we found was Junktiques.  An inviting little home that was filled with great pieces and excellent prices for both the dealer and the collector.

 They also had a little shed out back that was filled with Americana primitives.

Junktiques carries a lot of decorative and usable furniture pieces and great prices.  If you are looking for items for your home, this is a great place to start.

Birdhouses are loved by southern folks and the South always seem to have the most interesting pieces.  From a country church to Americana clapboard homes, you will want each and every one.

Now here is a lamp my honey would enjoy reading by.  

 

Vintage piano sheet music.  When I saw the title, I immediately started humming the tune.  I found a few neat pieces here as well.  

 

We moved on to Nana's Out Back which was just two blocks above Junktiques.  Another inviting old home filled to the brim, top to bottom and every nook and cranny within.  Nana was outside sweeping the back entrance and with a wave and hello I was welcomed into her shop.  

 Room after room after room was filled with treasure.

 

The garden room was pure delight.

 The kitchen was filled with beautiful depression glass and vintage kitchen items.

A corner wall was filled with wooden displays and so many interesting smalls.

 

How clever is this repurpose?  They used vintage belts as woven material for a seat.  Sturdy and tight, this is so clever and if a repair is ever needed you are just a belt away. 

 Nana's had marvelous post Civil War pieces as well.  Fell in love with a gorgeous Civil War era nursing chair and this beautiful oil in monotones. Purchased a few items from Nana too.

From Nana's we drove to Golly, Miss Ollie, same road, just a little farther away.

 Miss Ollie's is a mix of antiques, garden and new gift items.  A one stop shop that if you are looking for a gift item for someone, you will find it here.  Prices, though, are higher than expected due to consignment pieces .  Lots of theme rooms and beautiful, handmade Santa Clauses in every type of design.

 A basket full of beautiful canes with deer horns as handles.

In the back was a Christmas themed room that was filled with these marvelous Santa's.  Small and very large, they are all one of a kind.

My favorite piece in the shop was this lovely American wall desk.  

It was now almost 6 in the evening and we needed to check in at the Woodbridge Inn.  Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Jasper, Georgia, this Inn is a hidden gem.

 Their water tower marks the spot and can be seen from town. 

 From the town's main street you then drive across the old railroad bridge to the entrance.  Such a marvelous sound as you drive slowly across the bridge.  

 

Entrance to the Woodbridge Inn.  Owned and run by award winning chef, Hans Rueffert, his story is an amazing one.  A chef who has lost his stomach due to stomach cancer, his story is uplifting and demonstrates the passion and love one has for their craft. 

 

The art sculpture at the entrance is dressed with pumpkins and brilliant red geraniums.

 

 More happy geraniums are placed along the stone entrance.

  

Look carefully at this geranium pot...there are plum tomatoes growing with the geraniums.  How delightful.

 There is a nice pool outback and leave it to this Sea Witch to find water even in the mountains.  It was closed for the season and my honey and I decided we need to come back next summer to enjoy the pool and the Inn again.

Front porch is filled with tables and rockers for guests to enjoy the day. We booked their Dinner and Bed Package which includes 1 Night’s Stay and
a 3 Course Dinner for Two.

 Rooms overlook the North Georgia mountains and our pretty little deck had a pair of rockers waiting for us. We relaxed for a few hours on the deck with a drink and conversation before we left for our dinner reservations.

A change of clothes and we walked to the restaurant for our 8:00pm late supper.  Pretty lit candles could be seen through the windows and the restaurant was full.  The Woodbridge Inn is a family owned restaurant with a German heritage.  Everything about the Inn is clean, inviting and artsy.

I snapped this photo earlier in the day.  

We were greeted at the door by a lovely woman who brought us to our table. I cannot say enough about the attentive staff at Woodbridge.  Everyone, and I mean everyone, was friendly and welcoming and truly made it their job "one" to ensure that your dining experience would be memorable.  Our waiter, Derek, was attentive and friendly and had a running banter with my honey the entire evening.  Easy going and with a great sense of humor, Derek enhanced our meal experience.

 Each table had a plate with sesame crackers and a ramekin of imported cheese spread. With three courses to select from, my honey ordered the Onion Soup while I had the icy cold spinach salad.

The French Onion Soup Gratinée.  Rich and full of flavor, this is an Inn favorite.

The Inn comes with a German history so I had to have the  Wiener Schnitzel.  Thin, fresh veal cutlets are sauteed to a golden brown on a bed of homemade spaetzle and a side of Bavarian red cabbage.  An outstanding dish in every way.

 

My honey had the Filet Mignon Forestiere.
Grilled, lean Black Angus beef served with sauteed mushrooms and fresh baby carrots. Cooked medium rare to perfection, you could cut into this with a fork it was so juicy and tender.

Our third course was a selection from the dessert menu and we chose the Bananas Foster for the table side show that comes with it.

 

 Prepared at your table, the staff works the ingredients over a blue flame until the bananas are saturated in the sugar, cinnamon, butter and lemon confection and then they add rum which bursts into a giant flame. Within seconds it is out and then they serve the bananas over a rich, creamy vanilla ice cream.

 So good, it is a marvelous marriage of cold ice cream and hot bananas in the prepared syrup.  Lovely way to end the meal.  

Our stay at the Woodbridge Inn was perfect and we will be back again. Such a great little place to "run away to".  Like taking sand from the beach to ensure your return at a future date, Woodbridge Inn offers the visitor a "Walking Onion".  From their very own kitchen garden, you are invited to take a handful for use in your own next meal preparation or plant for future use.

Sunday morning was overcast and cooler and we are now off to purchase fresh picked apples from a few local orchards.

 First stop was at R & A Orchards for fresh cider and apples.  Got a bag of Winesap's and fresh cider.  As I was checking out, I picked up a fresh, out of the oven, loaf of cinnamon apple bread.  Heaven, I tell you. Additionally, they had apple cinnamon fudge.  Never heard of it so I got a small wedge of this to try.  Amazingly, it was not sweet and actually tasted like apple cinnamon strudel.

 We were still on the search for Arkansas Blacks so we stopped off at Hillcrest Orchards.  Parking lot was packed as this Orchard puts on a huge fall festival with petting zoo, clog dancers and live music and fresh barbecue.

 They have pick your own apples and loads of families were bringing back bushels of freshly picked apples.

 Granny Smith, Winesap's and Delicious. So many to select from...but we found our Arkansas Blacks.  It's not officially fall into my honey can get a bag of hot cider donuts.  Hillcrest Orchard offered them hot, out of the fat and rolled in sugar at their restaurant so I purchased two bags, one for my honey and the other for my sister.

 How good do these look?  With apples and donuts and cider, we headed on back home.  It was a weekend where I put my corporate world away for 48 hours and just relaxed and enjoyed the best that fall has to offer.  I didn't realize how much I needed the time away until we started our adventure on Saturday.  There really is nothing like spending time with someone you love.

I just realized that I forgot to place my watermark on these photos.  Still, you may use any of them should you choose.  I will share my treasure finds with you in my next post.  Didn't want to bog you down with too many images.  Have a wonderful week all and blessings to you and those you love. Sea Witch