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Small Town Discovery

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Athol, MA
Small Town Discovery

We retired in 2022 and travel the USA in an RV. Sharing our love of unique small towns and places, and promoting kindness is our mission.
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Join us-there is always room for one more-you just need to move the beagle!!

08/09/2026

We are coming to the end of peach season here in Georgia and it has been a delicious 16 weeks! Even though we are called the “Peach State”, we don’t produce the most peaches in the U.S. -Georgia is actually 3rd. California and South Carolina have a bigger crop. Georgia produces an average of 30,000 tons of this tasty fruit annually. Peaches are a member of the rose family and were brought to the Georgia shores by Franciscan monks in 1571. I LOVE peach cobbler and the annual Georgia Peach Festival holds the record for the biggest one-11’x5’ and 8” deep! Peaches are also great in salads, jams, pie, sangria, salsa, ice cream & more! The peach state grows a tasty fruit no matter how you slice it!

08/02/2026

It's been a little too hot in Middle Georgia to walk around exploring small towns, but it's never too hot to eat! This week we went to Fincher's Barbecue. Some people claim this family owned restaurant makes the best BBQ in Georgia. They have 4 locations serving meals, BBQ to go by the pound, and catering. Their BBQ was even the first to go into space! Space Shuttle Discovery astronaut Sonny Carter had the unique opportunity in 1989 to pick a food to take into space for his Thanksgiving meal. He picked Fincher's barbeque! Their sauce is cooked low and slow so the flavors incorporate into one tantalizing spread, worthy of their fresh, daily smoked meats. The Fincher family has been using the same recipes, and producing the same quality products since 1935. We have eaten BBQ around the country and agreed that this was some of the best. The pork was tender with a nice smoky taste that didn't overpower the yummy sauce. If you find yourself in Middle Georgia, look up Fincher's. They are "first in space-best in taste"!

07/26/2026

We have another room reveal for you! This is our sun room/porch before & after! I painted it and then took a 3 week road trip up to New England. Paul put together furniture while I was gone-Brook (our beagle) supervised! We are thrilled with how it came together. For those of you that know me, the bright yellow won't surprise you! For those of you that are confused: yes, we travel to small towns across the country in an RV. On May 1st, we bought a home in Middle Georgia to use as a "home base". Once we get the house squared away, we will get back on the road. For now-here is another room put together!

07/24/2026

Being almost 65 years old, you would think I must have learned to be brave. When I look back on my life, there have been life-changing events where I had to regroup & move forward. Sickness, unexpected deaths, and tragic events have all come knocking on my door, and I had no choice but to let them in. I had to face them and figure out a strategy, so I wasn't defeated. I'm not sure that is being brave, however, that is life.

We all have silly things that scare us. I will kill a spider, but if a mouse runs across the floor, I am climbing on the nearest chair & screaming like a banshee! I am terrified of frozen ponds/lakes and see no reason to watch a horror film. Other people are fine with all of that but are afraid of other things. We all have things that make our hair stand on end.

There is a difference between what scares us and what makes us uncomfortable. I would never consider being a contestant on Fear Factor, but my semi introverted self has done numerous public speaking events. It makes me very uncomfortable, but I know doing uncomfortable things makes me stronger. I just did something that made me very uneasy. My husband and I were planning on a road trip and at the last minute, he was unable to go. So, I "put on my big girl pants", and drove 1,200 miles by myself! The first 500 miles were the hardest. I was gripping the steering wheel so hard my knuckles hurt, but I kept telling myself to be brave. Eventually, the nerves went away and I felt accomplished. I was able to drive from Georgia to Northern Vermont and back. I went for three weeks, and visited the kids, friends and family. It was wonderful.

The lesson I learned that I want to share is when something makes you uncomfortable, don't just write it off. Give it consideration and mull over the pros and cons. Sometimes, overcoming the doubt that lives in your head is the first step toward a great adventure. If there is something you are saying no to, try at least a maybe. Open the door just a crack and peek at what scares you. It may open a new world of possibilities.

07/12/2026

Paul & I have discovered many small towns across this vast United States. We have enjoyed towns of all shapes, sizes, climates, populations and landscapes. No state confuses us as much, however, as the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. There is only 1 incorporated town! The rest are cities (56), townships (1545), and 954 buroughs! For the most part, we just enjoy the ride and hope our GPS holds service. This week, I discovered the very unique burrough of Mt. Gretna, population 188. This adorable place began in 1883 as a railroad stop. It was a summer resort that was even visited by President Benjamin Harrison. It became a Chautauqua community in the 1890’s. Chautauqua was a national movement that began in New York State and spread across the country, with 200 communities involved at its peak. The focus is art, education, religion and recreation. As radio & TV evolved, the community-based Chautauqua vanished and today fewer than 20 remain. I felt like I stepped into a fairytale. There is a visitor parking lot with walking paths extending into beautiful woods. Lovely yellow buildings dot the path and warmly invite you to explore. There is a playhouse, post office, library, ice cream shop, restaurant, Hall of Philosophy, coffee shop, incredible art, history and so much more. Mt. Gretna has a lake/beach and hiking trails. Unfortunately, the day we visited was right after a severe storm and most of the businesses were closed due to lack of power. From what we experienced though, Chautauqua is still thriving through community, nature, creativity & fellowship. Mt. Gretna is a lovely burrough that deserves to be explored. If you find yourself in the Hershey/Lancaster area, get away from the tourists for a day and go discover the tiny village of Mt. Gretna. It is magical!

07/08/2026

Thanks JoJo's Pizza & Pasta Mechanicsburg, for delicious pizza and a super fun box! We don’t live in the area, but every time we visit, your Tuscano pizza calls my name!

07/05/2026

Discovering the beautiful state of Vermont needs to be on your bucket list. Nothing beats the small town charm, the scenic views and the unique history. From Lake Chaplain at the Canadian border to the Green Mountains to the farmland along the Connecticut River-Vermont is an enchanting destination. Other than spending time with my daughter, my favorite thing was ALL the maple! Maple lattes, milkshakes, seltzer, donuts, & my favorite-a maple “creamee” (soft serve)! Whether you are looking for a summer vacation, a foliage tour or a winter ski adventure, consider Vermont!

06/28/2026

It is currently watermelon season in Georgia. We watched these crazy bus/wagons drive by our house, loaded with melons, every half hour from sunrise to sunset. After about a week, we decided to follow them. “Oh my Lord-look at all the freakin watermelons!” That’s what Paul & I kept saying to each other when we visited the Cordele Farmer’s Market. Cordele is known as the “watermelon capital of the world”, producing 125 million pounds of melons every year! Georgia grows not only the popular red watermelon , but also orange & yellow varieties. It is common for a watermelon picked in the morning to be on a truck, headed to your supermarket, by lunch! Enjoy fresh, juicy watermelon from Georgia for your July 4th holiday!

06/21/2026

I am pretty excited to show you what we got finished this week. I found a New Home sewing machine base on FB Marketplace! For those of you not familiar, the New Home Sewing machine company was located in my home town of Orange, Massachusetts. The company dates back to 1860 and was quite successful until the Great Depression. It closed in 1930. To find a base down here in Georgia, felt like a sign that moving here was the right decision. I removed the plywood top, wire brushed it and repainted it. I found a beautiful piece of pecan wood at a local sawmill. I sanded it, stained it and we attached it to the old base. I learned a new craft and we have a beautiful table that reminds us of home 🧡

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