Dorothy Gale came by.

Is that a lightning strike or just a tree scar?

Dorothy Gale came by and she brought her little tornado with her too. No word on whether her little dog paid a visit yet, but I am sure I will step in its droppings soon. 

Last night we had a little bad weather here at Dogwood Place. I called the local media, but they didn't want to do a photo op for some reason. Apparently, they wanted to cover the tree falling through the car in downtown Columbus, and the tree that fell on some poor sod's house. 

EXCUSE ME! EXCUSE ME! That tree fell on my dad's beloved antique jalopy. Those people can be so cruel sometimes. I fired my PR woman over it. 

My Family's Plantation Homes.

Pinebloom.

My great great great grandfather, General Hartwell Hill Tarver, built this lovely manorial estate in 1848. The house was built to preside over thousands of acres, including a large tract of land that 250 slaves worked. 

Tarver's daughter, Dorothy, later married Alfred H. Colquitt, who became a Confederate general, and then Governor of Georgia and United States Senator occupied Pinebloom around 1860. It was then known as The Governor's Mansion. 

Cypress Pond.

Cypress Pond belonged to my great great uncle, Paul Tarver, and was built in 1851. The house is located in present day Tarversville, Georgia, and sits on 1,200 acres. Supposedly, Confederate President Jefferson Davis stayed here when he was planning to counter Union troops. 

Tarva.

Tarva is my favorite plantation home owned by the family. My great great uncle, Henry Andrew Tarver, received the home as a wedding gift  in 1850 from my great great great grandfather, General Hartwell Hill Tarver. What's unique about this house is the two 16-foot-wide halls that cross the house, creating a very open living environment. 

I can see myself sitting on the (now glassed in) veranda sipping mint juleps and drinking an ice cold sweet tea. That's the Southern life. 

[source]: Antebellum Homes of Georgia, copyright 1990. Photographs by David King Gleason.