Friday, March 27, 2015

St. Patrick's Day at Avalon

my husband and our daughter at Avalon




In the past, my husband and I have always enjoyed St. Patrick's day celebrations in Virginia Highlands, but we thought we would do something different this year. October 2014, Avalon, an eat, live, play, shop community opened up providing a new type of shopping experience, and lucky me it is one mile from my parent's house. While picking up a few things at Pottery Barn Kids for my daughter, I read a sign promoting a family St Patrick's day celebration out on the lawn. I told my husband about it that night and we decided to check it out.
Celebrations began at 2pm, so naturally we got there at 2:20. The grassy field was packed with 
 little kids. The Avalon staff put out balls and hula hoops on the grass for the kids. The first thing we did when we got there was park our stroller and let our little girl run. And run she did. My husband chased from one end of the field to the other for almost two hours. Carter proved that she had a bit of fighting Irish in her as she went after every ball she saw. For Mom and Dad, there was Marlowe's Tavern offering to go cups of green beer and spirits to be taken out on the green field. My husband had a beer while I enjoyed a gimlet. At 4pm, a students from an Irish dancing school performed for everyone on the stage. We carried Carter to the stage so that she could see the little girls dance, she laughed and smiled. I wonder if I have a future Irish dancer in my midst.
This was a wonderful low key way to spend St Patrick's day especially if you have small children. Will we come here next year? Definitely.








Thursday, March 5, 2015

Chick Days

Right now in my neck of the woods it is chick season. Where is my neck of the woods? I live in beautiful northern Forsyth county, only a few miles south of  Dawsonville, GA. Starting in March,  local pet stores as well as farm equipment stores have baby chicks and baby ducks for sell. I love chick days, there is nothing cuter that a little fluffy chick, or better yet a fluffy yellow duck. This year was special because my daughter is 13 months old and loves animals.  Coming back from the library my husband saw a sign for baby chicks and of course we had to stop and show Carter these little darlings. She loved them. Personally, I would never consider taking one of these little cuties home with me, and I am very happy that my daughter is too young to beg for a pet chick. Baby chicks turn into chickens that smell really bad. Everyone hates the smell of a chicken coup. You are probably wondering if the chicks actually sell with the smell associated with them and my answer is yes. People have the fantasy of going out in their backyard and picking eggs that Sally the chick laid the other day. With all the concern over where our food is coming from, it is nice to know that the eggs for your omelet came right out of your backyard.
Carter with her daddy looking at baby chicks
baby chicks

baby ducks