Happy belated Father’s Day to all you Heron Bay dads out there. The Heron family had a wonderful day. It started when the kids brought me fresh lake critters to eat, straight from the 1,100-acre Cole Reservoir at Heron Bay. It really took me back to my days growing up in the woods. From there, we took it easy.

Spalding and I played a round of golf at Canongate at Heron Bay. He’s quite the golfer, but he still didn’t beat his old man. Then we stopped by John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods’ model home as we headed back to the nest. It was a beauty. I talked Spalding into stopping by because I’ve had friends who are interested in moving to Heron Bay, but they’re nervous about the market. They’re scared they’ll spend money on a home and then won’t be able to recoup the same amount out of it in 5 or 10 years, much less make a profit. When I checked out John Wieland’s page on the Heron Bay website, it mentioned “protecting the nest egg.” As a bird with an ever-expanding nest, I wanted to check it out.

Here’s what I found out. John Wieland has started a Value Protection Program. If you buy a John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods home today and it appraises for less than you paid for it after five years, John Wieland will pay you the difference. It’s very simple, but of course there are terms and conditions, so you’ll want to get a sales agent to spell it out for you.

And here’s the best part of my Father’s Day: The model home has a huge expanse of windows in the family room. They were so crystal clear that you felt like you could touch the blue sky. Well, while I was talking with the sales agent in the kitchen and Spalding thought no one was looking, he took off to fly, and crashed into the window. I could tell he wasn’t hurt, so I had to bite my tongue not to laugh. Yes, Spalding’s a good golfer, but I’m beginning to think that Haley’s the one that got all, and I mean ALL, the brains.

Please don’t say anything about this to Spalding the next time you see him at the pool.

You just never know what kind of fun a day at Heron Bay will bring. Spalding and Haley have been having a great time at the pool this summer. The mushroom fountains make them feel like they’re in a luxury bird bath, and they’ve made more friends than they can count. Having so many friends makes a difference on rainy days, too. With everyone living right here in Heron Bay, it’s always easy to find someone to play.

I have to admit that Spalding and Haley were unusually quiet when they came back from the pool the other day. You know how we birds of a feather stick together? Well, herons are nothing like chickens, but we’re still part of the bird family together. Imagine their shock when Chick-fil-A’s “Eat Mor Chicken” mascot arrived at the pool with chicken strips, samples of new Chick-fil-A sauces and more goodies for kids and parents alike.

In the end, Spalding and Haley became excited about the surprise guest. After all, it’s not everyday you see a giant cow at the pool, and I hear his appearance was quite moo-ving. Plus, their neighborhood friends were ecstatic about all the goodies. They even posed for a picture for Stacy Johnson, Heron Bay’s community information representative, who is always in the know.

That Eat Mor Chicken cow was pretty convincing. I hope he’ll stop by again – and next time bring along some milkshakes. Now that’s something a bird can enjoy!

Did you ever wish you could pick your neighbors? Now’s a good time to do it!

I’ve been talking to some of my friends about moving to Heron Bay, but they keep saying now is just not the right time for them; they want to wait a year or two. Well, anything’s possible at Heron Bay. Minerva Properties is now inviting buyers to purchase a home site in either The Links or Lakeview with the option of waiting up to two years to build. There are 50 sites available. Some of them are a half acre, and for those who like more room to spread their wings, sites go up to an acre and a half. Our new neighbors can choose to build their nests on an interior lot, next to the golf course, or even on the lakefront or with a lake view. Prices range from $74,000 to $387,000.

As you’re telling your friends about Heron Bay, remember to mention our pools and sports areas, our natural parks and walking trails, our proposed charter school, our town village, our social activities, our golf course, and all those other things that make Heron Bay great. And especially remember to tell them to visit this website to learn more about Heron Bay’s most famous resident – me. It’s not every place you can move and get a blogging bird for a neighbor.

For someone who flies high, you can count on me to always have the lowdown, and here it is: The new business opening soon in Heron Bay’s retail village is First National Bank of Griffin. A little bird told me it’s the largest locally-owned financial institution in Spalding County, with locations in Henry County, too. If you haven’t seen the building yet, there is a rendering on the bank’s website at https://www.fnb-griffinonline.com/home/home.

FNB Griffin has traditional banking products, plus a trust department, mortgage division and an active program for seniors. I’m looking forward to setting up accounts there because it’s nice to go to the neighborhood bank where you recognize the tellers and they recognize you, too. Sometimes I feel like I just blend in with the crowd, you know? Helen says that’s not possible with this big beak of mine, but I think she’s just trying to make me feel better. Take a look at some of my pictures on our Web site and let me know what you think.