The girls and I jumped in the car with all sorts of anticipation about this place called Social Circle (did I mention I just LOVE that name?). We figured it would be a town similar to Charleston, SC, but on a much smaller scale. We imagined interesting shops lining both sides of the street that we could go in and do some shopping...I mean, browsing! :) The ride there was very enjoyable...country back roads. It was a welcome change from all the Atlanta traffic!
Finally, we saw the sign that indicated we had arrived in Social Circle. Well, to say that it wasn't quite what we'd expected was an understatement. It was a quaint town, alright, but there was really nothing to see or do! There were a few shops, but none were open. We did find the restaurant that we'd heard about. It's called the Blue Willow Inn Restaurant and it's in a huge Antebellum looking home. There were quite a number of cars in the parking lot, so we figured it had to be good. Well, Chris and Abby decided to go inside to see what was on the menu before we committed to eating there. They came back out and said that it was very nice inside, but crowded. Plus, the cost was going to be $17 per person! Now, remember, I'm the kind of gal who takes pride in the fact that Chris can take me to eat at Chick Fil-A for the low, low price of 7 bucks! I'm sorry, but I just couldn't justify eating somewhere that would cost us over $70 for lunch! To me, it just wasn't worth it.
So, we started up the car and headed out in search of a place to eat...we were starving, by this time! We didn't see anything else in Social Circle that looked very "appetizing"...so we continued on. We ended up in Conyers, GA. and found a Cracker Barrel. SCORE! You really can't beat it for good country cooking. We all had fried chicken and it was FINGER LICKIN' GOOD! It really hit the spot! Of course, by that point, I could have gnawed my arm off and it would have tasted good!
We left and got back on the road to head home. Just a few miles down the road, we came across the park where Brittany ran in one of her first cross country races as a freshman. So, we decided to stop and go for a walk there. It's a horse park, so it was wide open terrain. Here's a few shots that Abby took with her new camera.
Sorry this one is a bit fuzzy. It shows Chris and Brittany walking together, talking about when she ran the course a few years ago...kind of bittersweet.
I was just being silly! How come I don't look like Heidi Klum when she smiles? :)
Brittany striking a pose...
Brittany snapped this one...
Here's one I took...
After our walk, we drove around in a few neighborhoods and "snooped" for a while. When we finally made it home...we were exhausted! Chris went down to the man cave, but I had tons of laundry to fold! I asked Abby if she'd like to whip up some banana pudding and she said, "Yes", but that she wanted to do it by herself. Not a problem! Here she is wearing the apron I embellished for her; it cost only $3 at Wal-mart and I just added some letters and rhinestones. Piece of cake!
I must say that the pudding, which was a new recipe, turned out better than any I've ever made. Hey, we may have something going here!This last shot was taken recently when the girls and I went to the mall to try to find Abby a dress for her dance. Brittany and I were waiting for her outside of the dressing room, so she decided to snap this picture of us...
I love any opportunity I get to take pictures with my girls! :)Well, I'm off to start another week...house cleaning, grocery shopping, laundry...you know the drill, I'm sure! Hope you have a terrific Monday!!! Is it Friday yet??? :)
33 comments:
those are beautiful pics!!! i think you look great in your photos even if you dont look like heidi klum... after all.. she's blonde!!! sounds like a fun afternoon!
Hi April, your day sounds so much like some of the times we had with our kids when they were still at home, getting in the car and driving to a new place looking for "adventure." Sometimes we found it and sometimes we didn't, but it's good just to be together for the afternoon. Your girls are great about letting you take their pictures too!
You have a good Monday friend!
The pictures are great! Sounds like you all had a great time even if it didn't turn out quite like you expected. Don't feel bad, I wouldn't spend that kind of money on lunch unless it was planned.
Daays like that are just perfect. I am sure the girls will remember it forever:0)
Happy Monday!
Ah, if only you'd taken a picture of the Blue Willow, this could've turned into a Blue Monday post!
You and your girls are so pretty; I can see why you take plenty of snaps.
Sometimes those lazy days without a lot of frantic "doing" are the best! I can still remember going for "Sunday drives" with my family when I was young, and the memories are good ones. I do love Cracker Barrel, too... especially the white beans and cornbread. Yum! And, you're blessed with a junior cook, just like me! My boy wants his own chef hat; maybe I'll have to personalize it like Abby's apron. Have a wonderful week!
Heidi Klum can't hold a candle to any part of you, April....inside or out! What a glorious tale of a sweet family outing. I enjoyed reading every word. Memories. Locked in time! xoxoxox
Your pictures are so great!!!! We live in a small town and on Sunday's there is not much open either. Well, our small mall is open and restaurants but none of the cute little stores in the downtown area. I'm always itching to go to a bigger area where they have LOTS of shopping and browsing to do....♥
Heidi, I mean April, my family and I love to take drives like that too. It's so much fun.
That's what family time is all about. Memories and great pictues.
Oh my...Social Circle is also know for the speed trap of GA...well next time have you ever been over towards Helen. My parents live at banks County and I LUV that place...shopping city...hehehe.
I have the Blue Willow Cookbook...it is a good book with lots of good Southern Foods...I love the fact that you go to places you have never been which I enjoy also riding to small towns in GA.
Love the apron! Lexi has been wanting on so I bought material and grandma is fixing it for her.
Love all the pics with you and the girls..and yeah I believe I just saw Heidi in one of those.
Family memories April and that's what your girls will always look back on and share with their children.
have a great week!
seems like the day turned out perfect in the end despite the disappointment in the first stop. don't you love spontanious days like that? i have to say you and your girls are so adorable together!
Last summer we decided to do a similar trip here in Michigan. We ended up with the same results and finding (thank goodness!!!) a Cracker Barrel! Adventures can be very interesting!
What a wonderful day, April. And you have it over Heidi anyday. Actually, she may be a very nice person too...who knows? But you still have it on her!
Your loving moments with your girls are precious!
Love ya!
What a great post!!! Your family is just precious!! Next time you want to drive around, come on over! I'll feed your whole family for the low, low price of NOTHING! LOL!
How fun to take a family drive like that! Cracker Barrel never lets anyone down! And the photos of you and your girls are beautiful!
I love Cracker Barrel...we always stop at one when we travel. I think it calls my name (actually the country store is what I like). Those pictures are all so good. Your girls are truly beautiful and I love seeing them. The mention of banana pudding is making me hungry....about lunch time right now!
Beautiful pictures. You all are a adorable family:)
Wib.
Great pictures! You can't beat Cracker Barrel its so good.
April, do you have any idea how precious you are??? Let me tell you, you are!
I'm laughing about the long trip that ended in Cracker Barrel. LOL! Sounds like you still had fun, though. And your pictures really turned out well. You are all so pretty!
Loved reading this. It's sweetness warmed my day!
XO,
Sheila :-)
Oh, you're beautiful! You take a gorgeous picture. You are my kind of girl, with the $7 meals. I like to eat, but can't when it costs me an arm and a leg!!! You writing about your family outings has been reminding me of when my Dad would take us all out. We'd go to a winery or the mountains or over the Harbour Bridge (when we lived in Sydney) and walk through The Rocks (which you'd love!) and around to the Opera House. Great memories, so thanks for triggering them... kinda wish the four of us could do it again...
Have a fantastic day, and don't eat too much of that pudding (would Abbey like to spend her Summer here with me???!!! - It's our winter then and perfect for puddings, as you know!!!;)!!)
Hello April
Sounds like your day worked out well in the end. I love hearing about all the eating places you have over there, Cracker Barrell sounds great. All the pictures are beautiful, you are such a photogenic family (unlike us)!!! I love Abby's apron and how you trimmed it to spell her name. Glad you were able to re-visit the park and enjoy a walk. I love those kind of days where nothing is really planned. It's like an adventure.
Lindsay
Hi April!
This was a sweet & funny post! The hubby & I often take uncharted trips across the rugged terrain of Michigan looking for adventures in obscure towns! Most of the time they are unsucessful! Thank goodness for the Cracker Barrel, I love their food and the gift shop!
Your pic's are so cute & really show what a great day you had other than the few disappointments. I think you look like a doll in them and you and your daughter look sooo much alike!
Hey, send over some of that banana pudding!!
Thanks for leaving the sweet comment on my last post but please go there again-I left a note. Thanks
xoxo
Jane
April..I'm so bummed! I could just see - make that TASTE - this post leading to a review of Blue Willos...as soon as you mentioned Social Circle! I must say I was a bit disappointed! Ever since reading a cookbook from the Blue Willow that I saw in a gift shop in Mount Vernon, I have been wanting to eat there!! Well, at least I'm glad to know it still exsists - indeed, Social Circle is an actual spot on the map!!
Really enjoyed your pictures...such pretty girls!
A lot of my husbands family live in Conyers.
Despite the expensive restaurant it sounds like you all had a beautiful family day together!!!
Yes, I am familiar w/ Social Circle. We have given a gift to the Blue Willow Inn, and I knew it was pricey. Not what I would pick for us eating out since we try to be budget minded, sometimes it is the journey, and not the destination that makes the memories. Jackie
Thanks for sharing such lovely pictures.
Thanks for stopping by my blod the other day!
I used to do day trips every now and then. I'm going to get back in the groove and do another one really soon. My kids are a little younger than your, but they love stuff like that too. Thanks for sharing your day!!
Hey beautiful lady!
Happy LATE Monday to ya! I so enjoyed reading about your day spent yesterday. What precious memories of you and your family! Looks like you all had a fabulous time. And not to worry...I wouldn't have spent $70.00 for lunch either. LOL!!
Great pictures friend!
Thank you for sharing the pictures. Your family is lovely!
I have to admit that I hated taking little trips with my parents when I was younger. Of course, I was an only child and they would have conversations with one another. This left me and the back window to be great friends. HA!
The best part of the trip was we would ALWAYS get a Big Gulp for 70 cents! ;o}
Hi!
What a wonderful trip.....those are what we call Priceless Moments!
Love the pictures :)
Hi April...you and your daughters are so photogenic! You gave me a chuckle over the outrageous lunch price...we've done that before, but sadly it was after we had been seated that we got up and left..
;-) Bo
What a fun Sunday adventure!
I remember on Sunday's after church, my parents would always take us to this little old store out in the country. My sisters and I would always pick out a bottle of cream soda! Memories...
Yay for Cracker Barrel!! We don't have those out here in California. At least not in my area. I have been to a couple in Florida in the Fort Myers and Naples area.
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