Out on Cole Springs Rd. in Oconee Co. GA there are several neighbors who seem to be trying to out do each other with their Christmas light displays.  We drove by there last night and there were cars lined up on the road and people walking around the displays.

These photos do not do justice to the lights:

If you are in the Athens, GA, area, you really don't want to miss these!

Oconee County is still mostly rural, which gives it it's charm.  There is a creative Santa & wagon made of hay bales out on Colham Ferry Rd., placed by Jeff Bell.

Don't ask me how he got them there!

Here's a close up of Rudolph, who has a red light on his nose that shows up at night.

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from here in Oconee County, GA!

After a really long, hot summer, we have been rewarded with an unusually long fall.  Some years it seems that we go straight from summer into winter with just a few days of real fall, but this year it cooled off right after Labor Day and we have had a long stretch of cool, mostly dry weather.  The trees in my neighborhood, Hickory Hill, have popped with color in the last few days.  It reminds me of the song, "Let's go out in a blaze of glory".

Recently, a couple of our Hickory Hill Subdivision neighbors invited us over for a "honey extracting party".  They keep bees in their backyards and also take their hives to the north Georgia mountains for a time each summer for the sour wood honey.  They called us over a couple of weeks ago to witness (and help with) the honey extracting.  It was an interesting process and a lot of fun (until you got to the 100th frame).  There are quite a few backyard bee keepers here in Oconee County, GA.

After removing the frames from the hives, the first step is to slice open the honey comb.

Then the frames are placed into the extractor which spins and causes the honey to flow out of the comb and into the bottom of the extractor.

This is honeycomb from where the comb is sliced open.  Honey drains from this and some of it can be added to jars of honey.  When cleaned it can be used for making things like beeswax candles.

We had quite a few people helping at various times throughout the process.

The honey and home made biscuits were a hit with the children.

A field of cotton off of Hwy 53 in western Oconee County, GA

Although there isn't as much farming going on in Oconee County, GA as there used to by, the Dickens Family still plants some cotton each year.   If you drive down GA 53 between Watkinsville and US 78, you will see several fields of cotton ready to be picked.  There is also a field off US 441 south of Watkinsville at Bishop.  Many years ago there was a lot cotton grown and several local gins but only a few acres are planted these days.   A lot of visitors have never seen cotton growing in the field, and they are always fascinated when they do.

Recently, we were looking for something to do on a hot afternoon in Athens and came up with a couple of fun ideas.

First, we visited the newly reopened Georgia Museum of Art over on the East Campus of the University of Georgia.  Previously, we had seen several special exhibits there, but they did not have room to display many of their own collection.  With a beautiful new addition, there are a number of paintings now on permanant display.

Then we headed on over to the State Botanical Gardens located on South Milledge Avenue.  They were having a special exhibit of garden gates which were fun to discover.  We even ventured outside of the conservatory in spite of the heat to see some of our favorite gardens.

The Conservatory at the botanical gardens

Blue garden gate

Huge Angel Trumpet

Orchids are among my favorites

OK, I promise that this is the last orchid I pictured

The Heritage Garden has examples of early crops grown in Georgia as well as some heirloom varities.

This fountain almost makes you feel cool on a hot summer afternoon.

This plant that reminds me of Christmas was not labeled.  Can anyone identify it?

This bird house was covered with a purple hyacinth bean.

Yesterday Paul and I were out around lunch time and decided that we would try Oconee Co.'s new pizza restaurant.  Although they have a patio area outside, we decided that it was too hot, so we headed inside where it was quite busy even at 1:30.

At Your Pie, you essentially create your 10" pizza from scratch.  Once you decide on which dough you want (they even have whole wheat), there are several types of sauce to choose from including marinara and pesto, to name a few.  We both decided on the pesto sauce.  Next there are numerous toppings to choose from, as many regular as you want.  Then come the "premium toppings" which are sausage, peperoni, etc.  They are priced separately.  Then your pizza is baked and brought to you at your table.  There are daily specials and combos, and a few other menu items as well.  There are 4 beer selections on tap.  We were really happy with our pizzas, and will definitely be eating at Your Pie again soon!

By the way, Your Pie is located on Capital Ave. right off Hwy 53 near the Oconee Co. High School.

This morning we drove down to south Oconee Co. to see a friend's daylilies.  We had heard that he had a lot of them and many different varities, including a number that his mother had bred.  In spite of the heat and very dry weather, they were awesome!

 These were just too beautiful not to share with anyone who appreciates them.

We couldn't choose a favorite - can you?

This Saturday, May 7, will be the first Tour d'Oconee bike ride, otherwise known as "Tame the Lion" due to the shape of the map outline. 

Sponsored by the Oconee County Cycling Organization, the ride will depart from Rocket Field (200 2nd St.) in downtown Watkinsville, GA at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.  There will also be shorter options of  15, 25 and 35 miles and great SAG stops, so everyone can participate.  The whole town is excited about the ride and there will be live entertainment at Watkinsville's First Friday celebration on Friday evening starting at 6:00 p.m. 

Here's the catch - you need to register by midnight on May 5 (registration is $45).  For more information and registration go to http://www.active.com/cycling/watkinsville-ga/the-tour-doconee-2011 

Come and see what beautiful scenery we have in Oconee County and what a great place it is for cyclists.

Concerts at Ashford Manor in downtown Watkinsville, GA, under the stars are always magical.

This year Ashford Manor's Concerts on the Lawn won't just be on Monday evenings.  Concerts begin this week on May 4 with Grogus (Latin, Jazz and Salsa)

May 18 (Wednesday) Abbey Road Live,  Beatles Tribute)

May 30 The Splitz (Motown)

June 15 (Wednesday) Deja Vu (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Tribute

July 2 (Saturday) The Athens King (Elvis Tribute)

July 30 (Saturday) Sons of Sailors (Jimmy Buffet Tribute)

Sept. 5 Half Dozen Brass Band (traditional horns)

Sept 21 (Wednesday) Randall Bramblett Band (Soul, Funk, R&B)

Oct . 5 (Wednesday)A Tribute to Santana

Oct. 19 (Wednesday) Packway Handle Band (Old Time Bluegrass)

Tickets can be purchased online at www.amconcerts.com or at the gate.  The gates open at 5 p.m. and music starts at 6 p.m.

As always, you can reserve a table, bring your own chairs or blankets and picnic and even the kids if you want.  Everyone always has fun!