New Blogs of the Storytelling Kind

I like a good story, don’t you?  

Growing up my sister and I would often end up hanging around the dinner table while our mother would tell us stories about growing up.  She had tales about riding her bike up and down the streets of the cotton mill village where she lived, she would tell us about spending most of her Saturdays at the movie theater in town, and there were stories focusing on the memories she had spending time on the family farm belonging to her grandmother a few miles outside of town.  

Once we grew up we talked Mother into transferring her verbal stories to paper, so that we would have a record of them after she was gone.    Today those spiral notebooks she left behind filled with her stories are gold to my sister and I.  

Storytelling is important but this article from Adweek says it far better than I can…

Stories define us.  Since early cave dwellers left their graffiti in Lascaux, listening to and telling stories have moved people.  Stories are powerful.   They give meaning and context to what would otherwise be a collection of easily forgettable facts.  Stories invoke the imagination so that listeners begin to own them almost as much as the teller.  In fact, there’s a growing body of research that points to the power of narrative not just as a way to engage people, but as the only way to change deeply entrenched views. 

All of this focus on storytelling is no accident…..

I’m adding a couple of brand new blogs to the Georgia Blogroll and both are authored by great storytellers.

Phil Hanson comes from a family of of storytellers.   He really had no choice considering Ludlow Porch was his father and Lewis Grizzard was his uncle. 

 

Can you imagine having both of those Atlanta icons in your family?

Phil has recently started a blog called Living in the Shadows of Greatness where he is already entertaining us with tales of being a Marine and what it was like growing up with Ludlow and Lewis.  His most recent tale regarding Hank the Gator is hilarious.

My second addition involves a blogger who used the dinner hour much like my own mother to fill his son’s heads with stories regarding growing up in the 1970s.  Now that his boys are grown he’s decided to use a blog to record and share his stories.   Visit Dinner Table Stories where one of my favorite stories is “Hey Preacher”.   Anyone who has tried to maintain a little decorum with their young children during church will relate to this story.

I welcome these two new Georgia bloggers to the blogroll, and I’m eagerly anticipating future stories.  

More New Blogs

Here are a few new blogs I’ve added to the blogroll:

The Bees Knees Daily…..Wow!  I’m loving this site.  The Queen Bee states, “My blog is mainly transcriptions of old Georgia newspapers that include marriages, obituaries, society columns, property sales, etc.  Since I'm a history buff, I also like to add news articles related to American presidents, arts & entertainment and history in general.  I'm a member of Gene bloggers and add genealogy related posts several times a week as well.  Most of my ancestors lived in Georgia and can be traced back to the early 1800s.”    I’d like to add that many of her interesting postings involve items and pictures from her own family.    A great historical find!

Atlanta SKYriseblog…..The tagline states Atlanta’s Luxury Condo blog.    This site has wonderful images and a little information about many of Atlanta’s best downtown addresses presented by realtor, Kevin Grieco.  He considers himself a lifestyle consultant and states his job is to fully understand his clients’ needs and then help them create the environment they are looking for via in-depth consultations, maintaining accurate and current market statistics, creating proprietary research, and collaborating with other luxury lifestyle professionals.    I’m just thrilled I get to see a little of these fantastic places to live, and will bookmark a few, so that I know where I’m going when I make that first blog-million!

La Dulce Vida - The Sweet Life…..Our host at this site…Adriana Iris… states her interests are as diverse as her family...photography, painting, sewing, cooking, music, writing, flamenco, gardening, yoga, poetry…..trying to treat every day as a new adventure and holiday.  As I was reading her “about” page one thing struck a chord with me.  She says, “I use too many of (…) and make no apologies.”     LOL...I do too!  It just happens, and I can’t stop it.  It’s nice to know I have a partner in crime.

The Bishop House….Okay, at first click-through you will exclaim, “This isn’t even an active blog.”   Yes, I know.  It hasn’t been updated in a while, but the site is written by W. Jeff Bishop who has served as president of the Georgia chapter for the Trail of Tears Association.   This site is also a portal to some of his other sites.   If you are into history this link might be of interest to you.

Atlanta Historical Tidbits….interesting images, lots of genealogy links.  This site is owned by Jeanette McDonald…..Over the last few years she’s probably traced over 100,000 names, she states she is so familiar with the early colonists that she can just about open a discussion about any ancestor in the Southeast region.  She’s behind the wonderful Georgia Pioneers web site/resource.

The Society for Georgia Archeology…..no, it’s not a blog, but it is a new addition around here under my resource header.

New Blogs for the Blogroll

Here are four new additions to the blogroll…..all Georgia owned and authored as well as a couple of my own housekeeping details.

Oracle of HOTlanta…..a brand new blog regarding issues of the day dished up by the Oracle along with his predictions.   His first issue is near and dear to my heart since it concerns my little hamlet of Douglasville.    

The Diction of Politics…..political analysis, issues of the day, and as the tag line states in the blog header….."analysis of political word choice denotation versus connotation".     This should be a fun read….

Sarah Way Down South….Sarah explains her blog in just a few words, “Writing, culture, sports, politics, southern life and my life”.   It’s so much more than that…..go see.  

 Motherhood in the Raw…..It seems like the writer and I are on opposite ends of the mom spectrum, but I can sure relate….even though I’m sure we agree it’s the toughest job you will ever love.  Her tagline reads…..”If you were looking for the joys of parenting, you may want to leave this blog.”   She has the most important ingredient motherhood requires…..a sense of humor.

Hopefully these blogs will contribute to the Georgia Blog Carnival as I plan to revive it very, very soon.

Also….it recently came to my attention that the links to obtain an email subscription to Georgia on My Mind had been broken.....folks weren’t receiving updates….and new folks  who wanted to subscribe had no location to enter their email addresses.   Hopefully this has been fixed, and all is well.

Please remember to add Georgia on My Mind to your “likes” on Facebook, too!!!

New Additions to the Georgia Blog Roll

It's been a long, long time since I added new blogs to the blog list here at Georgia on My Mind, so what better way to get back into regular posting than by writing about one of my original purposes when I set this blog up....to serve as a hub for blogs owned and written by Georgians.

For some time I had wanted to get the 300 or so Georgia blogs I link to here into organized categories, but health concerns and other issues got in the way...plus at the time Blogger didn't make the process easy.  I had to monkey with the HTML that creates what you see here to "get r done", and it was tedious.  Now it's a little easier with Blogger's listing capability, so I'm ready to try again!

Even so the process  may take me awhile, but there's no time like the present to get started, right?   Check back from time to watch the lengthy blog list on the right sidebar slowly evolve into categorized lists.

So...here are the new additions to the Georgia blogroll here at Georgia on My Mind:

1. ATL Vino Wine Blog....the tagline at this blog states, "Drinkin' wine in the Peach State."  That should say it all, but  Katie further advises on her "About" page:  The ATL Vino Wine Blog is intended to take a look at wine from the perspective of the average Atlanta wine consumer - no wine snobs allowed!  I thought it would be more fun, and maybe less intimidating to explore how us "normal" folk can use wine to bring enjoyment to our daily lives.  I invite you to join me as I write about various wine topics ranging from experiments, ideas, how-tos, cool wine products, wine events (most related to the metro Atlanta area), or any other topic that I deem interesting or humorous.

2. Proper Southern Woman...At first glance I love the look - the atmosphere of this blog from the deep red background to the great pictures placed at the top.   This blog author had me hooked once I gazed upon the hydrangea and the Mason jar full of what else.....sweet tea!   This blog is a journey of a Southern woman who realizes in order to become "a proper Southern woman" she needs to learn all of those things her "Momma" begged her to learn years ago.   We are invited to follow her journey.....

3. The Georgian Revival....the tagline states this blog is "dedicated to the research and preservation of Georgia architects and architectural history."  Revival Construction, Inc. owns and updates this blog.  As a history educator and enthusiast this site makes my toes curl!

4. The Roycroft Report...the tagline explains this blog is for rants and random issues - PC free!  Roycroft writes...I created this blog as my way of venting.  Now it's become more than a hobby with followers growing everyday which gives me reason to keep writing.   I don't expect everyone to always agree with my views, but if everyone agreed then what's the point of me continuing?  It's all about provoking your thoughts.

5. Georgia Mysteries....a blog intended to provide a venue for the free discussion and discourse concerning strange and weird phenomena in Georgia...that could include haunting, cryptos, disappearances, UFOs, strange objects, etc. written by a college history professor.  The most recent posting asks the question..."Were Georgia's Creek Indians Originally  from New Mexico?"

6. Vanishing Threshold:  Garden Life Home....This is one of Tara Dillard's blogs.  Anyone who seriously gardens knows who she is, and if you don't she will inspire you to want to garden!

7. Sovereignty Farm....located in Woodstock, Georgia their Facebook page states we currently sell eggs - our chickens are pasture raised, organic fed and antibiotic free!  Chicken, veggies and much more to come as we get up and running.

Enjoy these blogs and check out the others listed in the blog roll!

New Updates for the Blogroll!!!!!!!

Here are a few new Georgia Blogs I’ve added to the blogroll:

1. Gena Knox...has one of the best cooking blogs on the Internet today. Gena states on her “about” page, “Like everyone who grew up in the south, my story is full of food, family, and tradition. Some of my earliest memories are of the smells and tastes from my grandmother’s kitchen. I remember the flavor of corn creamed as soon as it came off the cob, the smell of warm peaches, and the incredible sweetness of her caramel cake. All of them are still my favorites, although the caramel cake is a tough recipe that might take me a lifetime to master.”

2. Pink Roses and Other Passions…. Scrolling through this blog for the first time I quickly decided I would become a regular reader…..fantastic posts and the pictures are so inspiring…..I immediately came away with five or six ideas I could use for my home.

3. Plugged a business blog for RedBPower located in Statesboro, Georgia….a business offering powerful solutions for personal and commercial electrical needs.

4. Southern Georgia Living ….a blog that portrays family living in south Georgia…..Cairo, Georgia to be exact.

5.Vanishing South Georgia…..photography by Brian Brown....check out his blog index by county and by city to see all of the photographs. WONDERFUL!

6.View From a Hearse a blog by Bruce Goddard…..a humorist, motivational speaker, undertaker, and author. Lots of good reading here….

7. ….and finally, Rural Pen…..a blog that has been on the Georgia Blogroll for quite some time has been changed to Farmer South. In the “about” section the blog author states, "Trying to keep family farms alive in the face of corporate consolidation and sprawling land development.”

Georgia Carnival: Edition 57

Welcome to the Georgia Blog Carnival…

Just like June’s edition this is the edition that I could title the “Newbie Edition” as many of the blogs linked to are new to the Georgia blogroll. Instead of highlighting them in a “new additions” post I’ve elected to highlight them within the carnival along with two or three regular submissions from the past month.

Once again this month the Georgia Carnival has been swamped with submissions from non-Georgia blogs and blogs that do not fit the Georgia Carnival theme even though submission guidelines are clearly stated.

Not wanting to leave out a bonafide Georgia blog or a post that fits the criteria I checked each submission…..it took awhile.

Ok, on to better things…The bloggers featured here are all part of the extensive list of bloggers from Georgia I have listed in the right sidebar of this site. Any Georgia blogger can submit a post to the carnival, or a blogger from another state or country can submit a post for inclusion if the topic is Georgia related.The next carnival will be published here at Georgia on My Mind on Friday, August 14th . Submissions will be due Thursday, August 13th.

If you maintain a Georgia blog and would like to host the carnival at your site e-mail me to set up a date. It’s a great way to put your own personal spin on the carnival.The last edition of carnival can be found and t here, and the carnival archives are found here. Now on to the carnival:

Saving Your Cents – Wow, what a great savings blog this is! The blog’s author, Lissa, states, “As one we can find great savings…but as many we can find grand savings. I love all things at a bargain…it was only natural that I eventually figured out how to get toiletries and groceries for free!” Head on over for some great bargain news, and I’ve been told a second blog by Lissa is on the way. This recent post explains how you can get $10 worth of free food from Schwans.

Life as Leigh Sees It – Take one Georgia-based freelance writer and mix with humor and everyday life in the South and you end up with a great read. Check out one of Meredith’s latest postings called Chicken…whatever you are thinking…..that’s probably not what this post is about. :) Go read…enjoy!

Fieldtrips With Sue – Sue is a mother of three boys who dutifully follow her on her hometown adventures around Atlanta. She is also a contributing blogger for ATL Insider and Travel Savvy Mom in addition to working in marketing and public relations. A recent post at Fieldtrips With Sue titled, Are You Ready For Some Football?, provides some great info on how you can take the kids or just yourself to watch the practices in Flowery Branch as the Falcons get ready for the new season.

The Primerica Blog - Primerica, the largest financial services marketing organization in North America has a blog….I’ve added their blog to the Georgia blogroll because Primerica was established in Georgia in 1977 and has always kept its corporate headquarters in the Atlanta area. The home office is currently located in Gwinnett County and employs close to 2,000 people. Priamerica has 100,000 representatives and serves 6 million clients in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, and Spain. The company sponsors a number of volunteer programs to help give back to the community. Primerica actively participates in Meals on Wheels and blood drives, the Gwinnett Relay for Life, school mentoring and other community programs.

In Upward Pursuit – This is the blog of Drew Powell, a young man I know personally. In Upward Pursuit is Drew’s own journey through his seminary training, his many mission trips including Nicaragua, and those first few years out of high school. Remember those????? They were pretty exciting, weren’t they? Drew’s latest posting provides pictures and descriptions of the recent SonShine Festival….3 days of Christian music.

Mara Davis – Mara is the morning DJ on DAVE-FM….I’ve been listening to her since the early 90s and consider her a friend even though we’ve never met. Mara states, “I love, love, love being on the radio and it never gets old for me. My job is a dream come true every day.” Check out one of her latest postings…In Studio With Alton Brown…yes, the food guy (I also love).
Downhome Traces – the about page at this site states, “this video blog is about history and places, most of which are connected to Atlanta and are often revealed through films, photographs, and other visual traces.” In a recent post the blog’s author, Steve Bransford, posted about the Winecoff fire….an Atlanta tragedy from years past….check it out here or you might be interested in the Allman Brothers archive.

A Is For Atlanta – This blog is written by a Southern Fried Yankee that knows his way around town…..he happens to be a realtor as well. In a recent posting at this site I discovered that the high school I graduated from…Woodward Academy….is the largest private school in the Atlanta area. Go War Eagles!!!!! Information regarding the Inman Park Dine Out can be found here.
Chop-n-Change – the tagline at this blog says it pretty well….”covering the Atlanta Braves like a swarm of gnats on a hot day”….now, that’s pretty good coverage. :) Find out more about the authors of this great fan blog here. Recent postings include For Pete's Sake regarding the ongoing Pete Rose saga and OMG: A Trade Rumor.

Submissions from long-time members of the Georgia blogroll include:

Satellite TV Guru provides a review of DirectTV here stating, “While traditional cable still exists, many would argue that it has been surpassed far and wide by the superior programming and service of satellite TV services, especially when it comes to price.”

Over at History Is Elementary I recently posted some thoughts on Overcoming Mountains and including a little history on the challenge early settlers faced along with some pictures I made during a recent trip through the North Georgia mountains.

Steve Williams, Georgia’s very own Georgia Road Geek is asking the question Could Rest Areas Go Away? Gee, I hope not. Over the weekend I used five different rest areas between Atlanta and St. Augustine, Florida.

Over at AMO A.M. Otwell shares Reflections.

Freddie J. Sirmans shares The Myth of Free Health Care stating, “That is the true problem in the medical profession today there is no market forces to help control prices, just like throughout the economy.”

Amy at The Q Family Adventures Travel Blog provides Family Friendly Water Parks in or Around Atlanta and 5 Family Favorite Outdoor Adventures Around Atlanta.

…..and finally…..How do you ATL???????? Vacations from home seem to be the latest craze as everyone is scaling back and cutting their entertainment dollar to the bone. Recently the folks at the Atlanta Convention and Visitor’s Bureau contacted me with the following information:

This year 58 percent of people who normally take vacations away from home will shrink their vacation spending, according to a recent USA Today/Gallup Poll. Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB) has created vacation packages for Georgia residents to stretch their vacation dollar and create memorable experiences close to home.

Hotel packages on Atlanta.net offer reduced rates and discounted admission to the city’s top attractions. Whether it’s unwinding in a private cabana outside the W-Atlanta Buckhead’s glamorous heated outdoor pool, taking a breathtaking 50-story elevator ride to the top of the iconic Atlanta Marriott Marquis, or ordering room service and watching a Dive-in movie at the Grand Hyatt Buckhead, visitors will find fun, family-inspired vacations on ACVB’s Web site.

“As people are reevaluating plans for a summer vacation, there is no better time for metro Atlantans to get out and explore the new and exciting hotels, attractions, restaurants and exhibitions right in their own backyard,” said William Pate, president and CEO of ACVB.
From July 8 through Aug. 5, residents of Atlanta’s 28 metro counties are encouraged to submit photos or videos that depict their favorite Atlanta pastimes. The week of Aug. 5, a panel of judges will select three semi-finalists from different metro Atlanta counties. The semi-finalists video or photograph entry will be displayed online at 11Alive.com and on Atlanta & Company Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to Noon. The week of Aug. 6, the public will be invited to vote on the winning entry at 11Alive.com.

The semi-finalist with the most online votes will have the unique opportunity to appear as a guest on WXIA-TV’s Atlanta & Company to share how he/she ATL’d. The grand prize winner will also receive a Backyard Vacation trip package to Atlanta which includes a two-night stay at the Westin Peachtree Plaza in downtown Atlanta, four CityPass booklets for front-of-the-line access to six of the city’s top attractions, and a $100 gift certificate to New York Prime in Buckhead.

For more information about the contest, visit Atlanta.net and click the How do You ATL? icon on the center of the homepage. Also on the page, play the How do You ATL? game to design a personalized, interactive picture of Atlanta based on your unique style and preferences, and turn your custom getaway into a reality by exploring the exclusive backyard vacation offers that pique your interest.

Sounds like fun, huh? Get busy….the deadline is fast approaching. For more more information contact ACVB Public Relations by reaching the following people:

Lauren Jarrell, Director 404. 521.6649 ljarrell@atlanta.net

Sarah Solomon, Specialist 404.521.6645 ssolomon@atlanta.net

Suzanne Forte, Specialist 404.521.6632 sforte@atlanta.net

Amanda Latson, Coordinator 404.521.6398 alatson@atlanta.net

Well, that’s it for this edition of the Georgia Carnival.

Please support these fine Georgia bloggers by letting them know you have visited them with a comment. Your continued support with your links and shout-outs at your site helps to alert others to what we Georgia bloggers have to offer.

The next edition of the carnival will be found here at Georgia on My Mind on Friday, August 14th. Posts can be sent to gamind@mail.com or use the handy submission form.

Submissions are due by Thursday, August 13 by 6:00 p.m.

Thanks for your continued support of the Georgia Carnival!

Georgia Carnival: Edition 56

Welcome to the Georgia Blog Carnival…

This is the edition that I could title the “Newbie Edition” as many of the blogs linked to are new to the Georgia blogroll. Instead of highlighting them in a “new additions” post I’ve elected to highlight them within the carnival along with two or three regular submissions from the past month.

Once again this month the Georgia Carnival has been swamped with submissions from non-Georgia blogs and blogs that do not fit the Georgia Carnival theme even though submission guidelines are clearly stated.

Not wanting to leave out a bonafide Georgia blog or a post that fits the criteria I checked each submission…..it took awhile.

Ok, on to better things…The bloggers featured here are all part of the extensive list of bloggers from Georgia I have listed in the right sidebar of this site. Any Georgia blogger can submit a post to the carnival, or a blogger from another state or country can submit a post for inclusion if the topic is Georgia related.The next carnival will be published here at Georgia on My Mind on Friday, July 1oth . Submissions will be due Thursday, July 9th.

If you maintain a Georgia blog and would like to host the carnival at your site e-mail me to set up a date. It’s a great way to put your own personal spin on the carnival.The last edition of carnival can be found here and the carnival archives are found here.

Now on to the carnival:

Amy at the Q Family Adventures, a longtime submitter here at the Georgia Carnival shares Outdoor Adventures Around Atlanta and advises, “Take the kids out for great outdoor adventure this summer around Atlanta.”

ATLHistory.com is a blog that I’m very excited about as it mainly covers Atlanta history. A recent post…seen here…discusses books regarding Atlanta history that can be located and read online.

D-Day was June 6, and I remembered it over at History Is Elementary with several links in my post titled Remembering D-Day.

Live Apartment Fire’s tagline states, “Watching Atlanta’s news through somewhat averted eyes”. The “about” section states the purpose of the blog is to cover the news business in metro Atlanta (TV, radio, print). See more about the backstory of this interesting blog here. Recent postings include TV News Stinks and Duck and Cover Up concerning the attempts of one Atlanta reporter to interview members of the Fulton County School Board regarding excessive spending.

A Voice for Freedom is written by Zack Smith, a graduate of Kennesaw State University. In his most recent post, Seward's Folly Finally Realized With Sarah Palin, Zach makes a great point regarding how current events have long fingers that stretch back through history. He states in his post….”While the governor castigated big government bailouts for companies and people who were “imprudent” with their money, she failed to realize the man she praised bailed out a Russian empire in dire financial straits.” History does have a knack for irony, Zach!

PrimoroBlog specializes in medical practice management consulting topics. Recent postings include Patient Satisfaction and Internet Marketing. The main page for Primoro, Inc. can be found here.

Beautiful Fences is a blog all about beautiful fences. What else would it be? The blog has an extensive site index so you can find just about any topic regarding fences you might need. Micah has several other links to his fence sites listed on his profile here. Recent postings include a discussion regarding stone columns and another discussion regarding lattice fences.

The author of American History Blog is based in Atlanta. This site has a full site index to help you wander around the site, and new posts are added weekly on various topics. A recent posting discussed Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederacy. One of Jefferson Davis’ Georgia connections is the Union finally captured him right here in Georgia.

Straight from St. Simons Island comes Savings With Sadie. This page is full of alerts, coupon information, and just plain deals, deals, and deals. Here's a post discussing how you can get a free issue of Marlin magazine and Sadie’s most recent post asks Are you camera ready?

Well, that’s it for this edition of the Georgia Carnival.

Please support these fine Georgia bloggers by letting them know you have visited them with a comment. Your continued support with your links and shout-outs at your site helps to alert others to what we Georgia bloggers have to offer.

The next edition of the carnival will be found here at Georgia on My Mind on Friday, July 1oth. Posts can be sent to gamind@mail.com or use the handy submission form. Submissions are due by Thursday, July 9th by 6:00 p.m.

Thanks for your continued support of the Georgia Carnival!

Additions to the Blogroll

Here are a few more additions to the blogroll here at Georgia on My Mind:

Just Sharing a Story – This blog has a family connection of the most important kind. This blog promotes the new children’s book titled The Gift by Karen Craft. She just happens to be my sister. You can read my own book review of The Gift here, and if you visit Just Sharing a Story you can purchase the book at the site.

The Barefoot Photographer – Donna has a great blog centered around her love of photography. Her “about” states, “Her favorite subjects include old houses, spiders, cemeteries, and frogs. In 2006, Donna began teaching photography and formed the Fayette Photo Club. " Check out her website here where you can find out more about her photography classes.

You can see some of Donna’s work at the upcoming juried photography exhibit titled Nature Undisturbed from April 24 through May 3rd at Dogwood Gallery and Framer, 1175 Senoia Road, Tyrone, Georgia. The showing is to benefit the Southern Conservation Trust. The gallery can be reached at 770.774.3524 or visit the Dogwood Gallery website.

Green Peaches – The tagline at this blog states, “Atlanta, Environment, Sustainability, Life”, and the “about us” page states, “Green Peaches strives to provide interesting and useful information about environmental and sustainability issues in the Atlanta area.” Check out Michael's latest post regarding Earth Day events in Atlanta including events for the entire week.

If you have a Georgia blog and would like for me to add you to the blogroll please contact me at gamind@mail.com to request a link.

Please remember the next Georgia blog carnival will May 8th here at Georgia on My Mind. You can submit your post to the carnival here . Please remember to keep submissions down to two and they must be dated within the last 30 days to keep the carnival relevant.

A Few New Blogs in My Easter Basket

Here are a few more additions to the blogroll here at Georgia on My Mind:

Simply Susan Jewelry – Susan is a jewelry designer and creates some very beautiful things. Besides purchasing her jewelry online you can find her items at The Percolator coffeeshop in Summerville, Georgia. Check back often to see her new creations.

Vinings Jawja – Bleufalcon does a great job of posting all about Vinings, Georgia including past, present, and future. A recent posting titled Roy Braswell - 100 Years Old From Vinings is quite interesting….it includes some audio that’s a real treasure.

Southern Mamas – the tagline at this blog states “a source for savvy moms in Savannah, the Lowcountry, and beyond”….recently Anne posted about the Savannah Arts Camp for kids. Southern Mamas was started nine months after Anne had her first child out of a need to have one resource to find everything the Savannah-Bluffton/Hilton Head Island area had to offer her children.

Anything and everything you could ever want to know about Laurens County history can be found at the following blogs…..Pieces of Our Past...Dublin and Laurens County History

History of Laurens County, Georgia

People Like Us

Laurens County Sports History

Laurens County African American History

While I find a few Georgia blogs on my own it’s a much easier process when the Georgia blogger contacts me directly and requests a link. You can contact me at gamind@mail.com to request a link.

Please remember the next Georgia blog carnival will post TOMORROW, April 10th here at Georgia on My Mind. You can submit your post to the carnival here . Please remember to keep submissions down to two and they must be dated within the last 30 days to keep the carnival relevant.

Georgia Blogroll Additions

This week’s additions to the blogroll are all very worthy and interesting reads depending on your personal interests.

Project Logic GA – The tagline at this site states ‘Southern Moderate African American Issues.” From the About page I thought this was interesting….”We believe that African-Americans have been conditioned for too long to think (politically) one way. Why should a person be ostracized because one supports a Republican or conservative? But on the other hand, why does one feel that if he considers himself a Democrat and he votes for a Republican, that it makes him a Republican?” In today’s posting titled T.I., the Barbership Talk, and Appalachia Slyram has an interesting spin on what is needed to help our nations’ youth. I found it very thought provoking and liked how the piece connected the wisdom of our fathers, a member of the rap culture, and the recent report by Diane Sawyer regarding the children of Appalachia.

Fred's Finds n Follies Blog – So, what do you do when you move from Arizona to Georgia? What else? You start a blog. Fred states, “To me, blogging is like writing a letter to myself. Others can read it, but only I know the full story.” How true! Follow Fred as he explores his new Southern home. Welcome to Georgia, Fred!

Jeff Owens: The Real Deal – Many thanks to my husband who let me know about Jeff Owens’ blog. This isn’t just a blog about the Georgia bulldogs…Jeff Owens is a member of the team. His most recent posting is the text from an ESPN interview with Chris Low. There’s nothing like getting the scoop right from the Dawg’s mouth!

North Georgia Street Team – This blog serves as a showcase hub for a group of local artists who sell their handmade items on the Etsy site. I like how they are keeping it homemade and keeping it local! You can take part in their Mardi Gras Challenge and win a prize.

The Beaded Lily – While this blog focuses on jewelry arts and beading you’ll find a little bit of everything as well …plus you can purchase Sarah’s lovely jewelry here.

Smelly Rhino Studio - The blogger at Smelly Rhino Studio is a member of two Etsy teams including the North Georgia Street Team mentioned above, and as her tagline states her blog consists of frequent rants of an artist, writer, and musician in need of a patron! See her Mardi Gras creations here.

While I find a few Georgia blogs on my own it’s a much easier process when the Georgia blogger contacts me directly and requests a link. You can contact me at gamind@mail.com to request a link.

Please remember the next Georgia blog carnival will post on March 13 here at Georgia on My Mind. You can submit your post to the carnival here . Please remember to keep submissions down to two, and they must be dated within the last 30 days to keep the carnival relevant.

A Few Newbies for the Blogroll

Here are a few Georgia blogs I've added to the blogroll:

Secret Agent Mama – per this mother’s tagline she “shoots from the hip” as she wears many different hats including coffee snob, photographer, home schooler, blogger, and lead foot taxi driver. One of her most recent postings deals with her lovely weekend among bloggers at the Blissdom Conference .

Jewelz Sightings - Julie is a homeschooling mom of five and she writes her blog is part of her spiritual journey into the heart of God, whom she calls “Papa”…Recently she wrote The Door is Always Open which begins As I stood at the edge of the threshold, a hush filled the room. What would He think when He saw me standing there? I don’t deserve to be here. Will He see me? Will He wonder why I’ve come? I don’t think I can bear to see the look of disappoiment on His face.

Organicasm – the about page at this site states Organicasm is dedicated to helping everyone live a healthy and organic lifestyle. We believe in products that are developed without use of pesticides, fertilizers, or other unhealthy additives. To help you, the consumer, make sense of all the different environmental and health information on the web, we provide you with only the best tools and resources to be more educated and conscientious individual. Make sure you check out their main page….OrganicCoupons.

Live the Life - Many bloggers end up over time having more than one site….currently I have three! Shell from Shell's Stuff (where she posts her creative endeavors with stamping and card making) also blogs over at Live the Life where the tagline states, “our story in pictures and words”, and that’s exactly what the site covers….her family’s activities. Recently she posted Princess Party x 2....Yikes where she relates an afternoon when her three-year-old had not one but two princess parties to attend. Yikes indeed!

Snapshots of South Georgia – now we all know what a picture blog is by now….I would hope, but this one has a slight twist. Snapshots of South Georgia is authored by Bishop James King, Episcopal leader of the South Georgia Annual Conference. The “about” section of his blog states, “This blog will provide ‘Snapshots of South ‘ as Bishop King and he has his camera in hand, watch out – you just might appear in the next entry of [his] blog!

Several weeks ago I mentioned the next two entries within a Georgia carnival edition and then promptly forgot to add them to the blogroll. I owe these two bloggers a sincere apology, however, I do have a good excuse. My health for the past six months has gotten in the way of many of my regular blogging pursuits, and my mind hasn’t been as sharp as it has been in the past. At any rate I’m finally linking to these two worthy sites…..
Braves Blog – this blog is authored by David O’Brien and is part of the blog family over at the AJC. So if it’s Braves you follow then this blog is for you. David’s most recent post involves Arod and a positive test

Laney Pottery – this is a great pottery site, and I’ve discovered the author and I have three things in common. First of all we both have more than one college degree, second….one of those degrees came from Reinhardt College in Waleska, Georgia. The third thing is that he knows Ron Cooper, also a potter from Canton, Georgia. I was with Mr. Cooper (no relation to my husband’s family) this very past Sunday at the 80th birthday celebration held for my father. It is indeed a small world. Check out Laney Pottery…he has a link there where you can purchase some of his work.

....and that's it for now. If I've missed your email or haven't yet found your site please drop me a line requesting or in some cases "re-requesting" an add to the blogroll for YOUR Georgia blog. You can forward your request to gamind@mail.com .

Beginning 2009 with New Georgia Blogs

With the arrival of 2009 this blog is now officially two years old, and even with a few twists and turns and stops and starts...I'm still here.

What a better way to begin the New Year than with some new additions to the blogroll.

Here they are:

The Underwriter- This blogger writes about hip-hop culture, politics, death, sex, alcohol….well, really just about everything. In his own profile, The Underwriter states he is a crusader. He is not arrogant, but he is a brilliant genius and is God’s gift to the Internet. He rules over all fraudulent critics and he can destroy you with a single paragraph. In a recent post The Underwriter lives to see 2009.

The Georgia Conservative-Another great Georgia political blog! The Georgia Conservative is written by Bill Mauldin. In a recent posting Bill laments Cynthia McKinney Returns. Our Georgia Conservative says, The darling of Georgia, that modern day Scarlett O-Hara of the south has done it again. Yes, friends and neighbors, just when you hoped the nightmare was over, Cynthia McKinney comes out of the woods to embarrass us once again. It seems that causing a stir at the capitol with a little face slapping, losing her seat in Congress, and losing a bid for the White House as the first African American /female president (I’m sure Obama and Hillary were worried) just wasn’t enough. She has seemingly injected herself into a warzone, and as Gomer Pyle would say, “Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!, she’s on the wrong side.

Ken's Place- I found Ken’s blog through my weekly participation in the Wordless Wednesday meme. I recognized his header image as something local and discovered Ken is a Marietta boy. Ken uses his blog to post a picture a day, and in his everyday life he is a photographer. His professional blog can be found here. Did you see the night sky Friday night? Ken did. It’s a great shot.

Rose Cottage- This blog is related to Ken’s Place in that the author of Rose Cottage is Ken’s wife. The tagline states featuring the loquacious ramblings of Jamie: homemaker, homeschooler, tea-drinker, flower-gardener, bookworm, shutterbug, wife and mama….all rolled into one. Prior to the New Year Jamie wrote about the Ministry of the Mailbox….We are all called to encourage one another. As part of my intentional living, I want to become more of an encourager, and writing letters and notes is one way I can do this. Jamie….I couldn’t agree more. Jamie also blogs at Rambling Rose, a blog she uses as a Bible study tool.

Old Tybee Ranger-The writer of this blog tells me that if he were to characterize his blog he would say it is a commentary on politics, current events, cultural history, and the American experience. He goes on further to state he can’t narrow it down more than that as he was trained to observe and understand “the big picture” and spent almost 37 years in a career perfectly designed for that perspective. On the Tenth Day is a recent post that discusses the old Christmas favorite, ..A Christmas Story, by Jean Shepherd as well as Dylan Thomas who wrote A Child’s Christmas in Wales. Don’t miss the video Old Tybee Ranger included of Thomas reading Do not go gently Into that good night. Good stuff!

Southside Atlanta Memories- The tagline states…Living, moving around the south side of Atlanta, Georgia in the 20th century, looking, linking for a great 21st. Archival photos, links to songs, other media, and especially other fun ATL related sites. One post in particular caught my attention… Life Magazine Pics of Georgia Military Academy aka Woodward…I’m a 1980 graduate of Woodward Academy, and I love any old photos of the south side institution.

Keri's Korner- This blog is written by Keri, of course….a paralegal by day and many other hats all the rest of the time. Keri writes about her daily life including crafts and OMG… there's going to be a wedding! Check back often over the coming days and weeks for more wedding preparations. I just love weddings.

That's it for this week. If you know of a great Georgia blog that isn't already on the blogroll let me know by sending the url to gamind@mail.com ....and yes, you can tell me about your own great Georgia blog as well.

Three Additional Blogs

The following blogs have been added to the Georgia Blogroll here at Georgia on My Mind:

MarcusASmith.com – I love the header at this blog……just go look at it. Marcus states, “Our world is hungry for better public speakers. Being a good speaker never goes out of style. The movers and shakers in our world are all incredible speakers.” Head on over and check out the services he offers to help get you in that select group of people. Check out his interview with speaker and management consultant, Joe Cooke.

The Frisbee Report – The author of this blog, Michael Frisbee, is the Douglas County Chairman for the Constitution Party of Georgia. This blog provides Conservative Constitutional insights on today’s American government and those that govern her, as well as, the policies that they foist upon us. A recent post advises Paul is not a sore loser---He's just trying to wake America up!

My Vine Spot – You won’t be able to find this blog listed in the Georgia blogroll because this blogger hails from Virginia, however, you will be able to find his link within my blogroll for friends of Georgia. I found this site through some research I was doing and since I like wine, well…..I stayed around and read a bit. Seems this blog’s author’s mother lives in our fair state and he visits here in the land of plenty from time to time. Check out this post where Dezel shares how he attended the 20th Herndon Labor Day Jazz & Wine Festival in Virginia. Great food, great wine, and great jazz. What a combo!

If you are a Georgia blogger and would like for me to link to you please email me at gamind@mail.com .

Here's a Few for You...

If you are a Georgia blogger and would like for me to link to you please drop me an email at gamind@mail.com .

Here are this week’s new additions, and don’t forget to send in your submission to the next Georgia Carnival that will post here on August 15th. You can enjoy the last Georgia Carnival here.

Cathy's Grace Notes – Cathy wrote me and asked, “Could I be the southern most Georgia blogger!???” Well, the weather map at her spot indicates she’s in Bainbridge or close to it. I’d say that is pretty dead-up in the southern part of the state. Unfortunately, I don’t have the information I need about everyone on the blogroll, so I can’t say if Cathy’s site is the southern most blog on the list, but for now….we’ll give her the title. Cathy seems to have been blogging for about as long as I have…..she writes about all things Southern including religion. Recently she wrote about the five God days of summer.

Georgia Back Roads – Bill Mauldin is a candidate running for State House District 126, and he’s got a blog! Check out Bill’s brand new site where he’s already addressing education funding and Georgia's budget blues.

The Georgia Personal Injury Report – is a site that relates information regarding issues effecting personal injury victims in the Atlanta area. A recent article advised Georgia is ranked the fifth worst state for knowledgeable drivers. I believe it!

Stumptown, Ga. – Not sure where this is? I know. I grew near there in South Fulton. Stumptown is Forest Park, Georgia and the name stems from the fact that so many trees were cleared for the supply station along the railroad line (the same railroad that ran in front of my house in Red Oak) that the workers called the location “Stump Town”. Hannah, the blog author states, “I started this blog as a place to stash my observations when I moved back to Atlanta after spending a few years away in college and Brooklyn." I’m just glad to see some images of places I recognize like the old East Point swimming pool.

More Georgia Blogs!

If you are a Georgia blogger and would like for me to link to you please drop me an email at gamind@mail.com .

Here are this week’s new additions and don’t forget to enjoy the latest Georgia Carnival that posted Friday. You can reach it here.

LegalEagle Judgments – from the site……”Over the past four years, "Legaleagle" has contributed to more than 100 topics in "SavannahNow," Atlanta Journal & Constitution, New York Times, etc. More often than not, these opinions are read and approved by hundreds, based upon their emails, posts and comments. I strive to be accurate. I take sides after I have obtained knowledge of facts, details and accounts. Please do me the great honor of reading and responding; together we can make the United States of America a better place!” A recent post included We Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For….a bit of a background regarding Obama’s speech containing the words “We are the ones…”

Foodshed Plant – the tagline states nurturing sustainability, close to home and around the world (And other food for thought). Recently Patti observed, “The light is changing yet again and the sun streams in just so right after dinner, a little differently than even just a week ago. And like the swallows return to Capistrano, I have returned once again to soap-making, so in love am I with standing there at the stove in that fading, golden light, and stirring mindlessly, a book cracked open in my other hand, as the distant sound of children's laughter punctuates the air” in her post How Time Passes How Light Changes

Sustainable Dunwoody – This blog, also by Patti, is all about building a more beautiful city. In one post she advises Dunwoody Greenspace is one-third of what it should be.

Bombchell - In Atlanta – Bombchell lives in Atlanta. She’s a college grad and is currently spending her time not working, partying, watching movies and hanging out. Oh, to be in my 20s again…..She just got back from Dallas, Texas

Trailer Witch – Constance Cooper focuses on exploring rural Southern issues from a rural Southern perspective. Her site is dedicated to the “Trailer Witch”….strange little girls who grew up far from an interstate and, for reasons no one understands entirely, saw their bright little lives stagnate. A post that caught my eye included a video regarding an interview with a member of the DeWolfe family from Rhode Island. The interview revolves around a documentary concerning the family and their responsibility in bringing over 10,000 West Africans to the United States and Cuba in chains. Constance has an interesting take on the documentary.

Journey of Words – Eric writes about education and education technology. Hs post Fifth Grade State Standards Wordle Cloud appeared in the most recent edition of the Georgia Carnival.

Real Estate Investment Business Blog – Shane Wilson writes about investing in real estate and he also had a post featured in the last edition of the Georgia Carnival….Beginning Investors Guide To Making Money in 2008
.
Exurban Adventures – is a blog covering sports, music, concerts, events, and the Arts in Gwinnett County, Georgia brought to us by Buzz Brockway. Buzz’s post regarding Dave Ramsey was featured in the Georgia Carnival 41.

Lori Thornton’s blogs Mississippi History and Genealogy Notes and Smokey Mountain Family Historian have also been added to the “State and Place” blogroll.

New Georgia Blogs!

If you are a Georgia blogger and would like for me to link to you please drop me an email at gamind@mail.com .

Here are this week’s new additions and don’t forget to enjoy the latest Georgia Carnival here.

Moon Dreams & Day Beams – Christy Griner presents a lovely window to the whimsey old world of her favorite little fancies and obsessions. Her Banana Cream Desert predicts resounding yumminess.

First Baptist Church, Lithia Springs...A History – This blog is presented by the Historical Committee of the First Baptist Church, Lithia Springs. The project was implemented to share the rich history of the church with church members, the Lithia Springs community, and the world at large. Okay, I admit it….I’m a little prejudiced here because I’m on the committee, and I’m the blog’s webmaster. :)

GeorgiaDogs.com – This is the official athletic site of the Georgia Bulldogs. While it isn’t exactly a blog there is nothing like Bulldog news coming from the Bulldog’s mouth!

Southern Byways – written by Apryl Chapman Thomas, this blog covers the Interstates and backroads throughout Texas to D.C. Apryl has just announced new features for the site coming in August including “Doin the Town” and “Going Green in the South”. More new features can be found in Apryl’s post here. There are several articles regarding Georgia.

The Ubiquitous Librarian – Brian Mathews is the User Experience Librarian at Georgia Tech. Back in May, Brian reviewed a book by Emory professor, Mark Bauerlein, titled The Dumbest Generation. This comment of Brian’s really spoke to me about the business of libraries….” Personally, I don’t see the library as being in the information business. In fact, I don’t see us in the service business anymore either. We’re in the inspiration business, and everything that we do should drive their success.” Oh, I SO agree!

New Additions to the Blogroll

The blogroll of Georgia bloggers here at Georgia on My Mind just keeps getting longer and longer….

If you are a Georgia blogger and would like for me to link to you please drop me an email at gamind@mail.com .

Here are this week’s new additions and don’t forget to enjoy the latest Georgia Carnival here:

Why Do You Ask? – Ric Murry is an educator making the move this summer from the media center back to a 7th grade social studies classroom. One of his latest postings involved a word cloud and a discussion regarding the proposed standards for Georgia Social Studies instruction.

ChrisMoncus.com - Chris is an aspiring photographer (need a wedding photographer?) who also serves as the Associate Tech Director at St. Simons Community Church. His professional site is being revamped, but I urge you to stop by and view his portfolio for some very creative and interesting wedding shots. His Flicker page is here.

Next Stop...Decatur – The tagline at this site states Decatur and I are old friends. I’ve been there many times and it’s always been good to me. A recent post included an announcement of the McDonough Street Mark on July 18th and 19th. This blog promotes the lovely city of Decatur so well that I just might make it my next place to go explorin’.

Blog d'Elisson – The tagline states another monumental exercise in self-aggrandizement and time-wasteage. What Ellison forgets to tell you is his site is just damn entertaining……Krispy Kreme Bacon Cheeseburgers was the topic of a post just a few days ago complete with a picture.

Mrs. Nespy's Frugal World – This blog was included in the last Georgia Carnival. Kaye’s post topics center on different ways to save money. Recently Kaye has been writing about teaching children about money. In her four part series Kaye discusses credit, giving, spending, and saving money.

More Georgia Blogs for the Blogroll

A Servant's Journey- As I began to prepare this post I opened up my email to discover overnight Servant had sent me a note letting me know he had found Georgia on My Mind and wanted to join our community. Head on over and welcome Servant as he writes about being a servant to One as well as a servant to all. A recent post at his blog is titled We are of the Second Man where Servant states, “Jesus is known as the Last Adam. In that, He took all that was of Adam, our fallen nature, to judgement and death on the cross.”

Photographic South- This is a brand new photography blog brought to us by BJ Wright. The tagline states, “Images of the Southern USA including historical notes, observations, related stories.” I particularly enjoyed BJ’s image of the backroad to the Tunnel Hill battlefield seen here. BJ’s other blog, Foothills & Highlands, is already on the Georgia blogroll here at GoMM.

BlogBrunswick- Many thanks to the administrator of this new blog for bringing it to my attention. The tagline states, “An online resource for Brunswick, Saint Simon’s Island, Jekyll Island, Little Saint Simon’s Island, and Sea Island.” I look forward to finding out more about an area of the state people like me (Atlantans) don’t get to as often as they should. If you are a Georgia blogger and live in any of these areas this is also a great resource for you as the administrators have a great local bloggers list going as well. This recent post concerns a fire on beautiful Cumberland Island.

Around the first of June I posted a new category for the left-side bar for music blogs. Rich over at Cable and Tweed let me in on some other great Georgia blogs for music. In my classic snail-like fashion it’s taken me a bit to “git-r-done” but here they are:

OhmPark- The OhmPark Staff have been busy all weekend at the Corndogorama in Athens which I take it to be more about music than corndawgs.

Confessions of a Music Addict- Wouldn’t ya know it? Just as I get my act together to do the add….they go on hiatus. Hey, that’s ok. I’m linking anyway cause it appears there’s still some great stuff to explore here….for example, this recent concert review for Ladytron.

That Truncheon Thing- this blog is also on hiatus….probabably permant, but like their
Good Night and Good Luck post states, “[we are keeping the blog up because] it’ll be like a time capsule for music in 2007.” Sounds good to me….

Underneathica- first of all since I’m a word freak and love language….this is a cool mash-up of words for the title. You’ll find lots of music stuff including great postings and lots of links.

Blank Crisis- Again, this blog is inactive, but if you like music you may find some great links and other stuff to explore here.

Captains Dead-a “lots a music stuff blog” with over 537 readers with Feedblitz….wow, I’d like that kinda stat over History Is Elementary. A recent post includes Titus Andronicus' the Airing of Grievances.

Fear of Arthropods- the tagline here says, “Music and wordsmithery…not necessarily in that order.” A recent post includes Paste Band of the Week: Bowerbirds

Paste Magazine- their website states they are one of the fastest-growing independently published entertainment magazines in the country and I’m told they are are based right here in Decatur, Georgia. Their website also states they pride themselves in being the premier magazine for people who still enjoy discovering new music, prize substance and songcraft over fads and manufactured attitude, and appreciate quality music across a broad stylistic spectrum---indie rock, Triple-A, Americana, folk, blues, jazz, etc. Check out the website for many, many different BLOGS.

The last two additions are band blogs….

Deer Hunter...the Band-currently on tour you can see them in action here and their Wikipedia page here

The Black Lips – they also have their own Wikipedia page here

If you have requested an ad and I have forgotten you please accept my apologies. Please remind me by contacting me at gamind@mail.com.

A Few New Things

Here are a few new additions to the blogroll here at Georgia on My Mind:

Couldn't You Just Di? – “Thoughts and feelings” exemplifies what Di’s blog is all about. She says you’ll get a bit of everything here. It’s just me being me. I’m vocal, a bit eccentric and very “odd”. Take a minute, get to know her and bask in the world that is my crazy life!!!

Austin in Peru and Chasing God – Both blogs are authored by young men from my church. They left this week for a two month trip to Peru. They will be leading worship, going to villages that have never heard about God, and leading Bible studies.

Family Travel...See the World With Your Kids – No, this isn’t a Georgia based blog, but Shelia Scarborough recently contributed to the Georgia Carnival with a post regarding FDR and Warm Springs, Georgia. This is an interesting blog with lots of information regarding interesting places and travel advice. Make sure you check out the links to Shelia’s other writing spots as well.

Travel - Eat - Sleep - is a blog authored by Atlanta’s own Tushar Mathur. His about page explains this site aims to provide our readers with reviews of various restaurants, our experiences while traveling various airlines and staying in different hotels around the world. Tushar recently reviewed Stone Mountain for the Georgia Carnival, but his posts include other locations such as Maui and travel advice as well. He also authors Invest in India and Everything Finance.

Now Showing – is a blog authored by Paw Paw Bill and involves movie news regarding films that are captioned for the hearing impaired.

Never Clever Whatsoever – This blog author states I’m some random teenager who thought it was a good idea to start writing about random things in a blog. Believe me when I say the writing at this site is hardly random for a teen….He’s got some great and entertaining stuff over there.

Knitternall – Thanks to the Dunwoody North Civic Association for letting me know about this blog which is primarily about knitting, but check out this thought provoking post titled What If We Had to Stay Home?

Science on TV – At first glance you would think this blog isn’t a Georgia blog, but it is. The author, Shana, is based in Atlanta, and she is a self-confessed science geek. Science isn’t her only love…..she’s also into music. Check out her Carribbean Music TV, Jamaican Music TV, Puerto Rican Music TV, and Brazilian Music TV blogs. She’s also a freelance writer and a consulting epidemiologist at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. Whew! I thought I was busy!

Atlanta's Blah Girls – Sara explains this blog better than I can so in her words………I've been documenting this charming Blah Girl street art for over a year now and posting photos up on my personal blog Ashes and Glass. After a recent reflourishing of Blah Girl art around town, I decided she needed her own space to stretch her cute little arms and get cozy.

That’s it for now, but believe me there are many, many more Georgia blogs waiting in the wings. If you have contacted me in the past to request to be added to the blogroll please contact me at gamind@mail.com if I haven’t done it yet. Also, while I have quite list of additions I’ve discovered on my own, you do get bumped to the front of line if you email a request to me. :)