Turning Leaves In Highlands

Unlike so many of her friends growing up in Atlanta, Sara’s parents really did not travel to North Georgia or North Carolina - they preferred to go back towards her mother’s family in the Northeast and/or her father’s family in the Chesapeake Bay. The course of her wanderings shifted in her twenties, when her sister wove her life with a family that held a stunning weekend home in Cashiers. The house, a grand spectacle, stood proudly on the verdant expanse of High Hampton's golf course, a resort renowned for its breathtaking vistas, invigorating hikes, and refreshing swimming spots. Drawn into the embrace of her sister's new family, Sara and her immediate kin found themselves part of wondrous weekend retreats and jubilations in this magical home, a treasure trove of curiosities old and new. Owls, a recurring motif, punctuated the décor, providing amusement for Sara's children who, on rain-drenched days, would embark on a quest to tally the feathered figures, always finding a few had eluded their vigilant count.

Mountain Feast of Plenty, by Sara Anderson

Together Sara and her family explored and discovered the beauty of Cashiers and Highlands and all that they had to offer. Known as a refuge from Atlanta's sweltering summers, it was also a haven for impromptu winter escapades. News of impending snow would set them off, eager to experience the exhilarating thrill of sledging down the slopes of the golf course. If you’ve never sledded on a golf course, try it! They went for Fourth of July picnics and horseback riding, they listened to Christmas concerts in quaint little churches and they would pick buckets and buckets of gorgeous berries.

A special place in Sara's heart was reserved for The Stone Lantern, a charming, now gone, boutique. She loved to go in and see the different patterns of ceramics and the little Japanese garden in the back. There was a room that had some of the Japanese prints that she loves so dearly and then, of course, there was the absolutely gorgeous jewelry: pearls and stones; they were delicious.

The Stone Lantern

While things have changed a bit, to this day, a favorite day in the mountains for the whole family starts with a frigid swim at Silver Run Falls, a leisurely stroll through Highlands, and a delectable meal at the Highlander Inn. And of course, the day would be incomplete without a detour to Kilwin's for a decadent piece of chocolate or a creamy ice cream.

The Highlander Inn

These places, repositories of cherished memories, also serve as the muse for Sara's artwork. Through her Autumnal mini collection, she extends an invitation to you to partake in these memories. Perhaps, you'll even spot a feathered friend, the beloved owl, hiding in her work.