Classic Style Using Authentic Treasures

It's all about living an AUTHENTIC life, being true to who we are and finding beauty and inspiration in our daily surroundings. Decorating our homes with found items and antique and vintage treasures, we create a personal ~ classic style ~ that defines who we are!

Monday, October 31, 2011

Here Lies Peter Pruitt

In the middle of an upscale neighborhood,
in rural North Georgia,
sets a very small, 
seemingly forgotten,
cemetery. 



















Multitudes of neighbors 
drive past this tiny cemetery on a daily basis, 
without casting a glance.

I wonder how many neighbors,
if any,
know anything about who rests here.


The cemetery is surrounded
by a decades, aged iron fence.

Each post,
acting with its brother as sentries, 
 protects the precious contents within.














Always in formation, 
they have served their duty well.






A family plot,
high on a hill, in God's country,
shaded by Oak trees.















No head stones at first, 
just a few rocks,
marked the remains of a family
who should not have been in Georgia.



You see, this family,
a family of Cherokee Indians, 
lived with the whites
and shouldn't be here~

~here in this cemetery~

~here when they died.

Somehow, 
no one knows exactly,
they were not forced, 
like the others,
to leave Georgia
during the Indian Removal Act
and travel the Trail of Tears.



Between 1790 and 1830 the population of Georgia increased six-fold. The western push of the settlers created a problem. Georgians continued to take Native American lands and force them into the frontier.

Cherokee had long called western Georgia home. The Cherokee Nation continued in their enchanted land until 1828. It was then that the rumored gold, for which De Soto had relentlessly searched, was discovered in the North Georgia mountains.



The Cherokees in 1828 were not nomadic savages. In fact, they had assimilated many European-style customs, including the wearing of gowns by Cherokee women. They built roads, schools and churches, had a system of representational government, and were farmers and cattle ranchers.

 In 1830 the Congress of the United States passed the "Indian Removal Act." Although many Americans were against the act, most notably Tennessee Congressman Davy Crockett, it passed anyway.

In one of the saddest episodes of our brief history, men, women, and children were taken from their land, herded into makeshift forts with minimal facilities and food, then forced to march a thousand miles.

 About 4000 Cherokee died as a result of the removal. The route they traversed and the journey itself became known as "The Trail of Tears" or, as a direct translation from Cherokee, "The Trail Where They Cried" ("Nunna daul Tsuny"). 



The descendents of Abraham Helton, 
Cherokee Indian,
otherwise known as 
John OWL, 
lie here. 

More than a century after their deaths, 
and yet, still decades ago,
a monument marker 
was placed in their memory.












A daughter, Malinda (Melinda) Helton, 
married a Peter Pruitt (Prewitt) in 1853.
  
Peter joined the 
Confederate States Army,
July, 1st, 1862.
He was captured 
during the Battle of Champion Hill, 
Vicksburg, Mississippi in 1863,
and became a prisoner of war ~


~ to be paroled, July, 1863.

I am not sure if he remained 
in the CSA 
or was sent home, 
but he died shortly after 
the war ended on January 25, 1866,
at the young age of 35.














Here lies Peter Pruitt,
a six foot, 4 inch tall, 
brown hair, gray eyed,
Civil War Veteran,
who fought for his way of life,
and loved his wife and family.




A family whose roots came from
those who inhabited this land
by birth and who by the
Grace of God
were "allowed" or "left" 
to live their lives here.

As I was leaving
the cemetery,
it began to rain ~

and seemed so appropriate,
as I thought of the Trail of Tears,
and the Indians who suffered so much ~

~ and the sadness 
Melinda Pruitt must have felt 
at losing her husband at such a young age.

I will never drive by this cemetery again,
without nodding my head in respect,
praying for the repouse of their souls,
and remembering this, often times,
overlooked family and their resting place.















































Resting, literally feet,
from twentieth century homes ~


~ Here lies Peter Pruitt ~
~ the Helton Family ~
the descendents of 
"John" OWL ~


~ May they Rest in Peace ~



Be the Authentic You!



Blessings,

Martha




Credits and Information:
http://www.generalbartonandstovall.com/MUSTER_ROLL_OF_COMPANY_G3.pdf
http://genforum.genealogy.com/helton/messages/3213.html



Thursday, October 27, 2011

Country Living Fair

I waffled!
I waffled some more!
So I woke up late, 10am, and thought,
 I'll go Sunday.

No, there won't be much left
I really should just go..it's a beautiful day!

So by the time I called a friend, 
showered, got ready, pulled out a tote bag 
and my wire cart, 
stopped to get gas and then on to the bank...
picked up my friend,
and drove an hour and a half~

~I arrived at the Country Living Fair ~ Glorious!











It was just before 2:30pm...
and they closed at 5pm!
So I shopped fast and
snapped a ton of pics and had an awesome time.





















I will definitely go back next year....
and plan on shopping ALL three days!

Even so, 
I was able to cover A LOT of ground!!

Unfortunately, 
I did not get around to all of them
but have quite a few to share with you.
I met some wonderful, 
friendly vendors and shoppers and
saw some amazing wares!  
Let's go for a stroll, shall we?

Hope you are wearing comfortable shoes!

There's a lot to see!













The Charming Cherub
DebraFarley.com  ~  Debra@debrafarley.com



















Unchanging Grace  ~  270-842-1855
UnchangingGrace.etsy.com  ~  UnchangingGrace.BigCartel.com













Cottage Farm Chic  ~  678-480-8970
BNorris54@aol.com  ~  Beverly Norris, Owner







Artworks by Karen Fincannon  ~  770-557-0666
karen@karenfincannon.com  ~  www.karenfincannon.com



















Pamela Hall  ~  770-931-0644
PamSews247@yahoo.com







House About It  ~  Jill Clow, Owner  ~  404-561-5884
www.HouseAboutIt.com  ~  jillclow@gmail.com













www.KDVintage.com










Shari Replogle Designs
playswithpaper.blogspot.com  ~  
www.etsy.com/shop/staffordshiregarden















Silhouettes and Scherenschnitte  ~  Wendy Schultz Wubbels
www.wendyschultzwubbels.com  ~  
heartandhand@cox.net  ~  757-291-3772










 


The Potting Shed  ~  Carole Berg  ~  404-401-6531
Lakewood 400 Antiques Market  ~  CarolBerg@ymail.com










SassyTrashToo@yahoo.com  ~  www.SassyTrash.blogspot.com
www.etsy.com/shop/sassytrashantiques



















Vikki Fraker  ~  770-366-1039
vikki@recoveryshed.org










Bas Gallery of Gifts  ~  630-548-4003
info@bestartshop.com




The Art of Bonny Rochester
















A Creative Touch by Janet Cleary  ~  610-277-4862
ACTBYJC@comcast.net










 folk, funk & whimsy  ~  tammi floyd  ~  262-321-0758
 folkfunkwhimsy2@aol.com





















grit and grace  ~  Natalie Hayes  ~  678-378-0644
gritandgrace8@gmail.com










 Jenni Horne  ~  678-910-9747  ~  jennihorne@ymail.com
www.jennihorne.blogspot.com




Kathleen Taylor Studio  ~  678-339-0960  ~  paintedpieces@bellsouth.net
www.kathleentaylorstudio.blogspot.com










La Casita Home Decor  ~  puntopa@aol.com
Luz and Hernando Punto  ~  813-313-8002









The Little Art Studio  ~  Rebecca Stewart  ~  270-991-6475
thepaperdoodler@yahoo.com  ~  thelittleartstudio.etsy.com






















Parsley Pottery  ~  513-821-0696  ~  www.parsleypottery.com
info@parsleypottery.com













RebekahBlocher.com  ~  205-937-0064
RebekahBlocher.blogspot.com

























Sandy Erickson Wright  ~  www.ericksonwright.com

















Silhouettes and More  ~  Jan Blough  ~  810-750-2067
Silhouettesandmore.com




The Mill Branch Bar Soap Company  ~  Brenda Harvey  ~  millbranch@gmail.com  ~  www.millbranchsoap.com




























Twist Style  ~  Maryellen Kim, Owner  ~  804-796-7999
maryellen@twiststyle.com  ~  www.twiststyle.com







vikki paints  ~  Vikki Mancil Weigel  ~  706-325-6558
www.vikkipaints.com  ~  info@vikkipaints.com




























 Bloomsbury Loft - Bohemian Market  ~  
Judith Mercado  ~  614-477-8003
bloomsburyloft.com  ~  info@bloomsburyloft.com













 The Painted Fern  ~  Jocelyn O'Gorman  ~  jogorman18@hotmail.com



























French Harvest ~  
located at Queen of Hearts Antique Mall  ~ Alpharetta, Georgia
Ingredients For Your Home ~  Natalie Silver  ~  Natalie@ingredientsforyourhome.com































 Gathered Comforts  ~  www.gatheredcomforts.com
 Shannon Shelby - 270-853-6988  ~  Julie Bailey - 618-638-4397
www.gatheredcomforts.blogspot.com

























Happy Chair  ~  Shawna Robinson  ~  704-618-1960
www.shawnarobinson.com






















South Porch Antiques  ~  www.southporchantiques.com
Patrick Kenny - 585-721-3405  ~  Karen Kenny - 585-727-5432
www.southporchantiques@blogspot.com


Thank You to all the wonderful vendors 
who allowed me to take photos!

Here is a link to all the vendors and their information:
http://www.countryliving.com/2011-atlanta-vendors 


To my disappointment,
there were quite a few who would not allow it,
in fear of ideas being copied.

I understand their concerns,
but would have loved 
to share with you
 their creations and beautiful booths!

I missed at least a third of the fair,
but watch out next year ~ 
I may just have 200 shots to share!


This is the view of Stone Mountain 
as we left Stone Mountain Park -
beautiful day, beautiful surroundings!

I am so glad I went!