Covered Bridge Trip 2017

As Mom was saying on Monday, the start to our trip surely did not go as planned! But overall, we had a wonderful time! When we FINALLY got on the road, we shot up to Juliette first. Yes, we were trying to make it to the Whistle Stop before they closed. We ate there twice this weekend. Don't judge. Lol.

Then, we were off to Commerce, Georgia. The trek from Juliette to Commerce was beautiful. Full of farm land, and small towns. It was breathtaking. We decided to stay in Commerce after our experience in Athens, previously. While Athens is beautiful, it's full of one-way streets and metered parking. Both of which don't mesh well with the Sheffield girls. Commerce is just a hop and a skip away, and there are is a nice outlet mall there, and it has a privately owned movie theater, which was cool.

The next day, we started our treasure hunt of covered bridges. Y'all, as I've mentioned previously, in 2014, Mom and I had one of the coolest trips ever. We literally spent days driving around Mid and North East Georgia, searching for all of the covered bridges. I took some incredible photos on that trip. Since then, I have been dying to go back and see the bridges in the Fall. Unfortunately, it was hard to time it right. There was an early freeze this year, which effected some of the trees, and we went kind of late, so many of the leaves were starting to fall. Still, it was beautiful. 

Cromer's Mill Bridge

First, we went to the bridge in Commerce, Georgia: Cromer's Mill Bridge. This was a bridge that we hadn't actually been to before. It was so cute. And although you can't see many of the leaves in this photo, the leaves around that area were beautifully colored. 

Watson Mill Bridge

Next, we went to Watson Mill Bridge. This is the longest covered bridge in Georgia. It has a beautiful little waterfall on one of the sides of the bridge, and makes for some lovely photos. 

Howard's Mill Bridge

Howard's Mill Bridge is only maybe 10 minutes from Watson Mill Bridge. This is one of my favorites. This bridge had more of the color of the leaves visible around it. And the road leading to it was incredibly beautiful. 

Elder Mill Bridge

On our way back to Macon, we made one more stop at the Elder Mill Bridge in Watkinsville. I was disappointed with the photo here, because it simply did not do it justice.

Saturday night, we spent the night in Macon. We went shopping, at the Shoppes at River Crossing. A nice outdoor mall, really. The next day we went back to the Whistle Stop….I know, I know. But listen, around here the Fried Green Tomatoes just don't compare. I have to get 'em while the gettin's good. We enjoyed lunch, and then hit the road.

We made a stop on the Lane Orchard exit. A barn I'd once photographed was summoning me back. It even had an antique car underneath it. A little trespassing later, and I was a happy girl!

Our final stop was at Carrol's Sausage on Exit 82, I believe. Mom and Rheba are hooked on it. We'd made a stop there on our trip with the Hanchey's, and they just had to have more!

Our trip was great. Such sweet memories were made. The places were beautiful, but the time spent with Mom and Rheba was the best part!

The Streets of Juliette, Georgia

The Streets of Juliette

Okay, so, last week I began my love post about Juliette, and now, now y'all get to see all of my pictures.  I hope that you will enjoy.  This little town is so beautiful, I'm simply amazed that more movies depicting small, town Southern life have not been filmed here.  If we're in Georgia, and within--say 100 miles--we're going to Juliette.  This town has won my heart.  

Saturday In The South: The Whistle Stop Cafe

Okay guys...so I'm going to have to break my Juliette, Georgia post into two blog posts.  I had to rearrange my posts for yesterday's post regarding Veteran's Day happenings....And it is about to kill me, because I'm dying to show you all of my Juliette photos!  Alas, you will have to wait until next Friday for the remaining photos.  Something to look forward to, I suppose!

If you have never ventured to Juliette, Georgia, you simply must make a point to.  It's less than 15 miles North of Macon, and it is well worth the detour from I-75.  The Whistle Stop is a booming place, even 20 or so years after the movie Fried Green Tomatoes debuted.  People come from all over to make this stop.  Every time we've been in, it has been packed.  So, I would suggest getting there a bit early.

Y'all, I detest red tomatoes.  I hate them.  Don't want them on a sandwich.  Don't want them chopped up.  Hell, I'm not even real keen on marinara sauce.  The one exception is ketchup....because #EveryoneLoves Ketchup.  But a green tomato?  Fried?  Sign. Me. Up.  I love fried green tomatoes.  LOVE. THEM.

So of course...FGTs were the appetizer.  And my-my-my were they scrumptious.

This trip was a bit different, because we were able to have our friends, The Hancheys, come try it for the first time.  I'll be honest, I was on pins and needles waiting to hear their verdict.  Of course, a majority of them loved it too!

We all raved about our lunch.  It is hometown, Southern grub at it's finest.  With the daily sides being that of creamed corn, mustard greens, baby limas, mac and cheese, and the list goes on and on.  I had the baby limas and mac and cheese with my chicken, and it was wonderful.

Then...onto dessert.  Mrs. Pegi ordered the 7-layer lemon cake.  We ordered the pecan pie cobbler.  Both were out of this world.

To add to the charm of the Whistle Stop, one must walk the main street of Juliette.  You'll see what I mean next Friday ;)  And if ever y'all are near Macon, Juliette is a "Must Stop At," you hear?

Ellijay

Ellijay was beautiful.  The Apple Festival was incredible.  I will say, for any of you wanting to go in the future, it is best to get there EARLY.  We got there around 9:30, and it was so incredibly nice.  As the day went on, it got more and more packed.  Around 1, I began to feel like a sardine.  The festival had some really neat items.  Everything from adorable monogrammed signs, to doggy hankerchiefs, to hats, to carnival food....

Speaking of food.  The caramel apples?  To die for.  They peeled, cored, and sliced them there, poured caramel over them....oh. my. word. y'all.  So so good.  The festival was amazing.

This was a mountain with a tiny cross on it.  

After we left the festival, we were headed to an apple orchard.  The apple orchard was beautiful.  What we could see of it. We were all geared up to pick the apples from trees.  Boy, were we ready.  Unfortunately, after traipsing across a field, across a street, across another field, and waiting in line for about 15 minutes, we read a sign.  The sign said "No apples on trees.  Apples in Bins." So...we were expected to pay $2 to enter...to pick apples out of bins?  You mean, like we could do for free at Walmart?  Lol.  But it was all part of the experience...and something to laugh about.  This would completely be our luck.  

See...pretty right? 

Then, we were off to see the waterfall at Amicalola Falls State park.  Y'all, this was beautiful.  Completely beautiful.  If you ever have heard mine and Mom's Tallulah Falls hiking story, you'd wonder how we managed through this one.  Well, not well.  But this was much more stairs, which was doable, and less climbing over slippery rocks.  Going down was fine.  Going back up?  Well....we learned how out of shape we truly are.

We made it a majority of the way back up.  Mama started struggling with her knee, and Rheba wound up driving down an "Authorized Vehicles Only" driveway to pick us up.  Then, laughably, we found out that there was a parking area RIGHT by the Falls....so our hiking was not necessarily necessary.  Eh, oh well, we needed the exercise, and the laughs it brought on.  The view was incredible.  

Welcome to Woodstock

I'm not sure if you've ever heard of a little town just North of Atlanta, named Woodstock. If you have not, please take note, this will be one of those little towns you'll want to visit. 

I'd heard a few years back that Woodstock had undergone a bit of a City Re-vamping, where the town stayed alive fairly late on Fridays and Saturdays, as an attempt to build tourism. Y'all, this little town lives up to that. I instantly fell in love with it's charm, upon driving into town last Friday night. 

Like Trenton, their city participates in the scarecrows lining the streets. However, rather than being just 4-Hers, all of the little town's businesses get involved. The scarecrows were adorable. 

I also am a sucker for a town with little bakeries, and little boutiques, and little coffee stores lining the streets. This town had all of that! Nearly all of which were open at 7 and 8 on Friday night! 

The truffles and Macaroons I picked up at the little bakery in town.

It also has train tracks coming through the middle of town. And there is a train car on Main Street. (I'm a sucker for some train tracks…just see my post tomorrow ;).

This restaurant had some of the best mashed potatoes I'd ever eaten.  Oh. My. Word.

This town was chock-full of charm. I would highly recommend staying there on your next trip up that way.

Wordless Wednesday: Photos from Fernandina

KW and I at Fernandina Beach

Centre Street

Amelia Tavern

Quite possibly the largest pretzel ever.  LOL.  I'd ordered this thinking it would be pretzel bites and beer cheese dip.  When this came out, I was like "Please tell me that's not my pretzel."  But alas, it was...hanging on a banana hanger...in all of its glory.

Fort Clinch

Taken from the Beach at Fort Clinch State Park

The Beach at Fort Clinch State Park (truthfully, this was the nicer beach)

Oh how I love Little White Churches.  This one was in St. Marys, GA.

KW.  We were eating breakfast at Jack and Diane's on Centre Street (The Coco Chanel Crepe was heavenly).

Travelin' Tuesday

Every year on Father's Day, rather than staying at home and feeling a little down, we load up in the car and take off.  This year was no different.  We really had no idea where we were going to go as of Saturday night.  Rheba had suggested two things: Barbara Jean's for lunch and St. Augustine.

Originally, I was thinking going from the house to Fernandina back down to St. Augustine and then back home--all in one day--would be a little much.  In looking up Barbara Jeans, I found that there was another location in Ponte Vedra, only 25 miles north of St. Augustine.  That seemed much more doable.

So, the Sheffield girls loaded up on Sunday morning and took off.  Our first stop was Barbara Jeans for lunch.  Y'all, the cheese grits were as good as I had remembered.  Oh. My. Word.  If y'all have never been, I encourage all of you cheese grits lovers out there to do so.  Now, in all reality, Fernandina's location is still my favorite.  The parking is easier, the seating is laid out a little better, and I like the scenery better in Fernandina.  But that's just me.  The food is still spectacular.

After lunch, we made the trek back to St. Augustine to do a little shopping at the outlets.  We won't discuss how much was spent.  Ahem.  I had put myself on a budget (with two upcoming vacations on the horizon), and that kind of went out the window.  But I digress.  I can say with absolute certainty that the Sheffield girls ARE "Beach-Ready."

Mom got some kind of peanut butter pie

After our little shopping spree, we decided to finish off our trip by stopping by the Village Inn Restaurant for some pie.  I'm going to add a little something here... Have you ever known those people who urge you to try something new, even if you KNOW exactly what you want?  Yeah, I hate those people.  Lol.  (Kidding, kind of).  Well, I am one of those people who don't have any problem figuring out what I want for dessert.  At the Village Inn Restaurant, I knew exactly what slice of pie I would be getting...the French Silk.  Y'all, it was incredible.  My tastebuds were oh-so-happy.

Aside from the shopping and wonderful food, what truly made the day was getting to spend it with my two most favorite people.  I love them dearly, and any day spent with them is a good day.

Throwback Thursday: Sowin' Wild Oats in Carrabelle

In my early twenties, I would make the trek up to the panhandle about once a month…or once every couple of months. You see, I instantly fell in love with Carrabelle my very first visit.  

One of the shrimp boats around town

Carrabelle is much like Cedar Key. A little fishing town. Very low-key. Where you can either fish, go to church, or go to the bar. I’ve been known to do the latter two all in one weekend. You see, Carrabelle was where I sowed my wild oats.  

Krystle and I

Carrabelle was also within 30 minutes of Apalachicola, where we would spend many days walking in and out of little shops throughout the town. It’s also within 30 minutes of St. George Island, where we would drive the strip, and look at all of the beautiful houses; laze on the beach, and eat at the little sub and pizza place. If we felt inclined, we could make the jaunt to Port St. Joe, to shop; or even Mexico Beach to walk along the beach.

Many wild stories came out of Carrabelle, and the fact that I got to share so many of those memories with my best friend, I am forever thankful for. Some of my favorite memories were made up there. 

KW and the pirate at Harry's

We also made some life-altering decisions while up in Carrabelle. I don’t know what it was, maybe the clarity we found up there, maybe the salty air…but on several trips up there, before we’d get back, we’d decide to change jobs, change our major, decide to move, etc.  

Some man bustin' a move on the dance floor at Wicked Willie's.

And…I’m not sure if it’s the fact that we enable one another, but we also made some terrible decisions while up there.

The little town we found straight out of the Twilight Zone...We went several times, there were always cars, and yet we never saw anyone.  Ever.

Regardless, the memories will last a lifetime. Some of which include: Watching a pet turkey get run over by a golf cart; offering my womb up to carry a man’s baby; finding a little random town that was straight out of the twilight zone; sitting through a very anti-semantic sermon that made us uncomfortable; watching “Step-brothers” with Grandma Merle; watching fools out on the dance floor at Wicked Willie’s; going to Dog Island; and listening to Locomotive out at the Mud Bog. 

KW and I listening to Locomotive out at the Mud Bog

Now we are left with sometimes being asked about the little town and all that it has in store. To which I reply “It’s a quaint little drinking town with a fishing problem.”