My Sweet Things

Friday was a gorgeous day and I felt like the luckiest girl to have the day off. I joined a few Trail Dames for a hike at Sopes Creek in Sandy Springs, Georgia. This hike was a bit different than our normal hikes as the Dames I joined all have a love for photography. Armed with our Canon’s and Nikon’s we hiked a slow pace, taking the time to stop and capture the textures and beauty of the land. It was wonderful, peaceful, and with a stop for reflection on the creek, indeed, I was the luckiest.

“Plant a seed of friendship; reap a bouquet of happiness.” ~ Lois Kauffman

It’s all good. ~ Donna

P.S. If you would like more information on the Trail Dames click here to see what we are all about! You can read more of my Trail Dames adventures here.

Hello Friends! I have had this post half done for a week. My new pup Maggie has changed my daily routine. The time I used to spend crafting, blogging and browsing Pinterest is now spent taking Maggie for walks, keeping her busy with chew toys and I sometimes just watch her sleep. The sweetest is when she is sleeping. So quiet! Anyhoo, Justin is keeping an eye out on her now and I just finished this post. Now, here is another Trail Dame Adventure!

Two weeks I had the opportunity to visit the New Echota Historic site and the Etowah Indian Mounds located near Calhoun, Georgia. The Trail Dames met up for another adventure and this one was not so much of hike but more of a history lesson. In 1825 New Echota was the designated Capital of the Cherokee Nation. Tribe council met here and there were many private homes, and stores.  It was a small thriving community that even had its own local newspaper. New Echota is the site where the “Trail of Tears” officially began. The Cherokee people were forced from their homeland in the Southeast to the Indian Territory in Oklahoma in the late 1830’s. Many lives were lost along the way due to the weather conditions and illness. The Trail of Tears is now a National Historic Trail.

Our next stop was to the Etowah Indian Mounds Historic Site located south of Cartersville, Georgia. This area was home to several thousand Native Americans from 1000 A.D. to 1550 A.D. The 55 acre site protects six earthen mounds. Etowah Mounds is the most intact Mississippian Culture site in the Southeast. These people enjoyed trading, they were accomplished craftsman and practiced their religious beliefs. Chief Priests governed their towns and lived in temples atop the large earthen mounds overlooking a central ceremonial plaza. Lesser leaders might have also lived on the mounds but the tallest would be for the Chief Priest.

The car ride to Etowah. GPS? Not. Map reading it is!

Love this red roof barn we passed along the way.

This lovely was above my head at our picnic lunch table.

Etowah Indian Mounds. Amazing. I had no idea I lived near such a historical site.

It was a super day and I am grateful to have experienced it with a great group of ladies.

Cheers! “We’re gonna dance upon this earth”. ~ The Trail Dames

It’s all good. ~ Donna