Monday, August 18, 2014

Lane Orchard Farms-and peach cobbler

Early this week we (my family and I) went to Lane Southern Orchards in south Georgia. For future reference, I think perhaps they should consider moving the sign so that it doesn't directly face the beaming sun. Dad was on the phone (lol) so he missed that we were all stopping and taking pics. 

Mom

Me

Nece
Monnie

Am I the only one that is inspired by going on "field trips"? Lane Southern Orchards is advertised as a working farm. Perhaps because of the time of year and day we were there, we didn't see anyone out picking peaches or anything, but we did see beautiful rows and rows of peach trees and pecan trees. When you first walk in the doors, you're in a lobby, and to your left is a gift shop. Straight ahead is a little grocery store, but more novelty. They had old-fashioned style canned items, lots of preserves, bread mixes from old recipes and fresh fruit. In the back, is the area where they box things to send to other locations. The tour wasn't on the day that we were there though *sad face*. Since I was so hungry, I'm ashamed to say I was most interested in the restaurant over to the right. I practically ran in, and I ordered a big bacon burger. It was pretty huge, and hurt my jawbones lol. The potato chips that came with it weren't salty enough for me, but I'm a salt addict, and otherwise they were pretty tasty. 
After eating that (and sharing much of it with mom and dad), I wanted some ice cream and cobbler. They serve peach cobbler, apple cobbler, and bread pudding there as well as about five flavors of iced cream and cookies. I bought some a la mode. Ah...it was heaven. They knew what they were doing by not having this place anywhere near my home! It was delish! The hot peach cobbler (crumble top) made the butter pecan ice cream just melt and start pooling in the bottom. The ice cream was super creamy and buttery. Take me back! It was clear that they wanted you to enjoy the country feel of the place. There were rocking chairs and benches outside where we enjoyed our sweet treats. 
Where do you like to go for a day away?


Thursday, August 14, 2014

Vacation in PA!

I vacationed.

This is worthy of capital letters, but I'll make do with it prominently displayed at the top of the page in bold. I can certainly say that this is the first time that I've vacationed where the main point was to relax and do what I wanted. Who knew that that's what people normally do on vacations? 
I'm a part of a Christian team on Etsy (aka CAST) and I went to visit some friends from that team. Bear in mind that I have not only been on this team since 2009, but a couple years ago I met two of the team members I would be hanging with. 
I'd gone through a break-up six months previous, and as soon as that was "finalized" I started planning my trip to Pennsylvania. It had been so long since I'd done something solely for me. Not "for-me-because-someone-thinks-it's-what's-best" but just for me. My mom is like my bestie, and she lives with me (technically I live with her and dad but whatever), so she wanted in on the fun as soon as she heard. I was even more excited by that prospect! I went to work pretty fast looking at tickets, telling my entire team that I was going, contacting all the members in the area, and looking up places to stay. 

One of my castie friends, Sheila, had invited me numerous times to visit her. Over the years, since we'd both been on the team, we had exchanged many many emails and become close, so I was super excited about that prospect! She quickly offered to be our chauffeur and tour guide as well as opening her home up to us. She went grocery shopping with all the things that my mom and I liked in preparation-which was really sweet.
When the team found out I was going, three other members in the area offered places to stay or activities that they could take us to, while one-all the way in Indiana-decided she would drive ten hours to meet up with us! 
Meet Becky, Sheila, Angel (sleep-over at her house Sunday night), me on the end, and Kelly chillin' in our arms

Pennsylvania is a beautiful place, and for any lover of old barns (like me), it's the place to be. Our adventures included many visits to thrift stores, antique shops, specialty shops, sight and sound theatre with Becky, a smorgasbord (ham balls anyone), and a trip in the rain down a mountain and subsequent sleep-over at Angel's house.
Moses is the show we saw at Sight and Sound Theatre

Sheila, mom, and I in front of the fountain.
 Did you vacation this summer? If you did, I hope you had as much fun as I did!