Mug Shot

And you thought I was going to post a mug shot of the Misfit! No, what you see pictured here is a different kind of mug, which also happens to be one of the newest and best-selling items in our gift shop. Without a doubt, we sold more of them during the O'Connor conference two weeks ago than any other souvenir. The mugs are hand-crafted for us by the Deneen Pottery Co. in St. Paul, Minnesota. They are available in two different designs and come in violet and peacock green. Because the process of making these mugs is so time consuming and labor intensive (24 pairs of hands touch each mug during production), they are slightly more expensive than our other coffee mugs, but well worth the $15.95 price. They are lead and cadmium free, as well as being microwave, dishwasher, oven, and freezer safe. What's more, the manufacturer assures us that the mugs are very, very durable. If you are interested in buying one (or more) of these unique Andalusia mementos, stop by our gift shop or give us a call at 478-454-4029.

- Mark

Fun Field Trips

Where is that bus going with all those happy children? To Andalusia, of course. It's that time of year again when we get lots of school groups. This week we have welcomed busloads of children from some of our local elementary schools. Today the grounds are abuzz with the joyful sounds of children from Creekside Elementary exploring the farm and learning something about the famous author that used to live here. As you can tell by our website we take our commitment to education seriously. There is so much for children to learn at Andalusia. While admittedly a five-year-old's appreciation of O'Connor's literature is limited, there is so much else here to capture a child's imagination, especially the animals one frequently encounters at this farm. The children are particularly fascinated with the peafowl and the birds, for their part, seem to be be equally intrigued by the children. They 're not sure what to make of 176 kindergartners running around the back yard...and neither are we! At any rate, we hope you have a happy Easter.

- Mark

Startling Figures

This past Wednesday, on a picture post card evening, we hosted a reception for all participants in the Flannery O'Connor Conference that is currently going on at Georgia College. Many of our guests sat in on presentations by Joy Farmer and Catherine Emanuel. Others watched a screening of the movie, The Displaced Person, that was preceded by a talk by Katy Leedy of Marquette University. Still others, as you can see in this photo, enjoyed the conviviality of the front porch. A good time was had by all 79 attending the event. The O'Connor conference wraps up tomorrow night at Georgia College with the Dave Perkins concert. Tickets are available for advance purchase at Andalusia and will also be available the night of the show. Finally, time is running out for bidding on the signed, first edition that we are auctioning off at Andalusia. The deadline for getting your bid in is tomorrow at 3:00 p.m.

- Mark

A Good Book Is Hard to Find

...especially if it's a signed, first edition of Flannery O'Connor's short story collection, A Good Man Is Hard to Find. Believe me, folks, I went to the web this week looking for one and there just aren't any out there. I checked the major used book sellers, e.g. Abebooks, Alibris, etc., and you simply can't find this volume anywhere. Fortunately, through the generous donation of one of our Friends, we are auctioning off a signed, yes signed, first edition of A Good Man Is Hard to Find at Andalusia next week. This silent auction will coincide with the Flannery O'Connor conference at Georgia College (April 13-16). Bidding on this rare book starts at $1,000 and must be done in person at Andalusia between 4:00 Wednesday afternoon and 3:00 Saturday afternoon. Autographed copies of O'Connor's works are rare. She just didn't sign that many books. So this is a unique opportunity for you to acquire a real collector's item. If you have any questions or would like more information on the auction, please call us at 478-454-4029. Whether you bid on the book or not, please feel free to visit us next week.

- Mark

Life's a Picnic

...at Andalusia. And what could be more perfect than packing a picnic basket and coming out to the farm on a beautiful spring day like this? We have picnic tables set up east of the main house and just off the nature trail. Or you might want to do as these visitors last week and spread a cloth on the front lawn to enjoy lunch al fresco amidst the unparalleled beauty of Andalusia. Today and tomorrow are supposed to be sunny and clear with temperatures climbing back to the upper 70s by Saturday. An ideal time, I'd say, to pack up some sandwiches and come out to the farm.

- Mark