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Undiscovered Stars in Blue Ridge Georgia

By Donna Yates

Real Estate Agent with BHGRE - Metro Brokers

June 21, 2013 01:54 AM

Undiscovered Stars

I love to run across local people in the Blue Ridge area of the North Georgia mountains and discover their unique gifts and talents. I think it's so important to promote local businesses, where you can find "gems" almost anywhere you go. These wonderful, undiscovered stars are not looking for attention, and are usually a little embarrassed when the focus is on them. I think I caught Alta off guard...

The other day, on the spur of the moment, I decided to have lunch at the local Pizza Hut on East Main Street in Blue Ridge. The lunch rush was over and I just wanted a quiet place to relax for a few minutes. Alta, my server was friendly and provided excellent service. While I awaited my pizza to arrive, I noticed a lot of photographs displayed throughout the dining hall of local spots around the mountains. I walked around, looking at each one (as though I was in a museum). I wondered who made the photos and how some were even made at all. I noticed the photographer's signature, "Alta".

When Alta came to my table with my pizza, she said, "I see you were looking at my photography". Well, with that, we struck up a really enjoyable conversation. Alta shared some of her stories behind making the various shots. I had to ask about the one I was most curious because I had seen this bridge a gazillion times but could never figure out how to make a picture from that angle Alta told me she walked a half mile to get to a particular spot for that angle and how to actually get there. I wonder if I will ever really make that half mile trip. Maybe...

I also found out that Alta quilts for charity and will do custom designs. Some of her creations are for sale and can be seen at ettsy.com/shop/altamae2013. She's also on Facebook, look for AltaMae. I am sure I put her on the spot when I asked if I could blog about her and post a picture but she was such a good sport about it. But I think modest about her talents.

Meeting Alta was an unexpected surprise that made what would have been just another routine lunch for me, very special. I know she thought I was crazy; she had to think that because I probably sounded a bit crazy when I asked her to sign my pizza box. I figured, I would have an original one of these days when she makes it big! But Alta is already a star in my book!