To celebrate the start of fall, our family decided to enjoy all of Heron Bay’s outdoor activities in one day. I’m here to report that it can’t be humanly done. As herons, we were able to take shortcuts by flying, and even we couldn’t do it.

We started out with by going to the Canongate Grille for a filling breakfast.  Spalding and I had a putting contest on the practice green while we waited for the girls to finish eating. I hate to admit that he beat me three out five putts.

Our next stop was to enjoy some of the trails in the neighborhood. This time, Haley created a contest to see who could identify the most native plants. Over the course of the morning, our little environmentalist identified more flora and fauna than the rest of us could imagine. Luckily, she had brought along her plant guide, so Helen and I were able to verify her answers. Poor Spalding. He wouldn’t have had a chance at all if it hadn’t been for the markers Heron Bay has placed along the trails.

Next came a picnic at Lakefront Park. Helen had fixed lunch, and Spalding ate most of it himself in the sandwich-eating contest. Afterwards, the kids wanted to have a race to the playground. I beat both of them this time. While they challenged each other to everything from swinging the highest to crossing the monkey bars the fastest, Helen snapped pictures and I watched.

When Helen woke me up, it was time to head to the lake for a canoe trip. You wouldn’t believe who paddled the fastest – Helen! Once we got to our favorite, secluded spot, we just relaxed on the water awhile. The kids were tired, so Helen told them a story. While they napped, Helen and I enjoyed watching the other other birds, the dragon flies and all the other creatures who make their homes there. It really took us back to the old days.

That evening, we went to the Lodge and gathered around the outdoor fireplace with neighbors. The kids challenged the parents to a game of kickball on one of the playing fields, and, wouldn’t you know it, the kids won. Isn’t that always the way?

When the day came to a close – and you can tell it was a fast-paced day – we still hadn’t played golf (I would have won easily) or tennis (Haley’s the champ there). We hadn’t visited the trails at Cubihatcha Outdoor Center, which is just adjacent to us. And we hadn’t even played in our own backyard!

One thing is for certain: there’s no contest when you want to spend day enjoying the nice fall weather. Heron Bay is definitely the place to be.

They say the early bird gets the worm, and as a result I have not told you about Canongate Grill before now. I’m normally up at the crack of dawn, and I knew this little spot by the golf course opened at sunrise. It’s my favorite place to fly by for breakfast before I hit the links – and sometimes even when I’m headed somewhere else.

Well, as a heron, I was always taught that you keep your best fishing spots to yourself lest some other heron come along and get all your fish. Old habits die hard, and I have to admit that I was worried too many people might start eating breakfast at Canongate Grill and all the food might be gone. Was I ever wrong? You see, people, unlike birds, just keep the plates coming. Recently, I’ve gotten there as late as 11 a.m., and I learned that not only was there still plenty to eat, but they serve lunch and dinner, too. They have a large variety of food, including things the kids will like. Hamburgers, steak salads and their signature wraps are just a few. The prices range from $4 to $15, so it’s a great place to take the whole family.

For guests who can’t fly in, they have walk up service. You can also sit at a table if you have time. They have room to seat 80 inside, plus extras on the patio. I hate that I have missed some of the fun events they have for members, especially the seafood luau and the low country boil. There’s nothing better than having someone else do your fishing for you.

Canongate Grill is open seven days a week. They generally start serving breakfast around sunrise, but they don’t close until 7 p.m. I don’t think it will be my morning stop anymore – I think it’s going to be my stop-by-anytime place. They’re just that friendly, the menu is that good, and they’re not running out of food anytime soon.

I guess this is one case where the early bird isn’t the only one who gets to eat!

Spalding and I were just finishing up a round of golf with dinner in the Canongate Grill (our response to Helen and Haley’s request to accompany them shopping), and we decided to go for a short flight to finish out the day. We were hardly off the ground when we were over Meadow Glen. This is one of the many neighborhoods in Heron Bay, and we wondered how we had not made a point to stop there before, since it’s so close to our favorite place to eat.

We decided to land, and we ended up right in front of D.R. Horton Home’s model home. Spalding wanted to leave right away because he thought I was tricking him into going to the doctor, but I assured him that D.R. Horton Homes is “America’s builder,” and they’re known for their quality and integrity. We toured the model, and Spalding was careful this time not to fly into any windows (remember the Father’s Day incident?).

Like every home I’ve seen in Heron Bay, this one was beautiful. Visit the Heron Bay website, and you can see pictures of the two-story family room with tons of windows and the really nice owner’s suite with his and hers closets and even a sitting area. (In our house, I’d end up sitting while Helen filled up both closets. You know, there was a time when civilized birds didn’t even wear clothes.) The gourmet kitchen, the secondary bedrooms – they’re all roomy and well designed. The best part? D.R. Horton’s homes in Meadow Glen are all priced in the $200,000s!

For we birds who are less into clothes shopping and more into enjoying the outdoors, Meadow Glen is an ideal location. The neighborhood is in its own private enclave, surrounded by nature. It’s just a short stroll to a park and – don’t forget – to the Canongate Grill.

I can’t wait to see what new things we will discover next about Atlanta’s best place to live – Heron Bay.

I ask you – what more could a bird ask for than a night under the starry sky; a crackling campfire; the moon glistening on the lake; and marshmallows for roasting? Yes, you can have it all at Lakefront Park in Heron Bay.

Of course, when you add seven giggling girls to the mix, it’s a whole different experience.

Haley had a backyard campout with six of her closest neighborhood friends the other night, so we started with a campfire cookout at Lakefront Park. We built a fire in one of the fire pits, and the girls roasted hot dogs. Helen had packed all the fixings, which we spread out on a picnic table under the pavilion. The fans kept us cool and kept the bugs away, too.

As darkness fell, the girls caught fireflies and played flashlight tag. It was a picture-perfect evening. Then it was time to make s’mores over the fire. Do you know how much sugar is in marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers? The girls played the whole walk home, where tents for all of us were already set up in the backyard.

By “all of us” I don’t mean Helen. She regretted that she needed to sleep inside with the egg.

So there we were – seven six-year-old girls, Spalding (who came outside mainly to scare the girls) and one Great Blue Heron who is old enough to know better. Spalding tried to spook the girls with ghost stories, but they just kept giggling. Spalding got frustrated at first, but in the end, even he couldn’t stop laughing.

Eventually, everyone got tired. The girls all crammed into one tent, and Spalding and I shared another.

Then a wonderful, unexpected thing happened – everyone fell asleep! I crept outside the tent and looked around. No one’s ever accused me of being sentimental, but I have to admit that a tear fell from my eye. What more could a bird ask for than a night under the clear sky, the full moon shining and marshmallows for roasting, you ask? Just this: a happy family, dear neighborhood friends, and a wonderful place to call home – a place just like we’ve discovered at Heron Bay.

I took some time to fly around the neighborhood the other day and was hit in the head with a tennis ball! I flew down to take a look, and it was a lob by my own Haley, who’s working hard on her backswing. As I watched her finish up her lesson, a little birdie told me some great news: Heron Bay’s Summer Mixed ALTA Team won their B# Division! It was the team’s first year together, and they made it all the way to the third round of city playoffs.

There’s good news for others who want to get into the swing of things, too. In the fall, the Heron Bay Tennis Club will have a junior boys’ team, two men’s teams, and one ladies’ ALTA team. The Club hopes to have two ladies teams by winter.

Right now, the teams are playing at a really high level, so the Tennis Club plans to start some beginner and intermediate level teams as well. Haley’s hoping they’ll start a junior girls’ team by the time she’s old enough to join, but she needs to practice more first. Trust me. I have the black and blue knot on my head to prove it.

Haley, Spalding, Helen and I have spent recent late summer afternoons practicing our gallops. Galloping is okay if you’re a horse, but it’s a bit difficult for a heron. And we have to make sure we’re ready because the firth annual Goblin Gallop is October 25th – only a couple of months away!

The Goblin Gallop is Heron Bay’s fundraiser for the Hands of Hope Clinic, which provides medical and dental services to uninsured residents of Henry County. Last year, more than 230 of us participated and raised more than $20,000 for the clinic.

To prepare for this year’s Goblin Gallop, our family is doing a few critical things. Helen and I are preparing for the 6K run, and Haley and Spalding are gearing up for the one mile run. Haley’s planning on helping with the tot trot for some of her preschool friends, too.

Just as important as our training, we’re planning our costumes.  Spalding and Haley are both eager to win the prize for the most creative costume, so they’re working on something both unexpected and easy to run in.

The third thing we’re doing is recruiting our friends to run. After all, the Hope Clinic will get more money, and more of our favorite people will have the chance to fall in love with Heron Bay. When I mentioned it at work, I immediately ran into a snag with my friends who attended the University of Georgia – it would appear the Dawgs are playing LSU that day. A quick call to the folks at Heron Bay let me know they really do think of everything. They’re broadcasting the game on a plasma television during the race. And guess what – they’re going to raffle the tv off after the race! That’s more money for the Hands of Hope Clinic, and more hope for me finally getting the tv I’ve always wanted! Helen and I each got a raffle ticket just for registering for the 6K.

Anyone who wants to participate can pre-register at www.HeronBayInfo.com or for a slightly higher fee, register onsite the day of the event. The 6K is $15 ($20 at the door), and the one mile run/walk is $10 ($15 at the door). The 60-yard Tot Trot for ages five and under is free.

If you see our family training around the neighborhood, please stop and say hello. We’ll be the only herons who are attempting to gallop!

Have you noticed Haley’s been quiet about saving our environment recently? Well, it’s not that she’s been quiet; it’s just that I haven’t shared it with you. Every now and then, though, she comes up with something I truly can’t afford to ignore – she hits me in the wallet. And with this long, hot summer, our energy bills are making my wallet significantly thinner.

That’s where Haley stepped in with all sorts of facts she discovered on the Energy Star website. Did you know that energy use in the average home is responsible for twice as much pollution as the average car? And the average home has 30 light fixtures, so lighting accounts for nearly 20 percent of energy costs.

Haley learned we can use Energy Star qualified compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) to help out. They use two-thirds less energy than standard bulbs, and they last six times longer. Each bulb can save us about $25 in energy costs over its lifetime.

Of course, Haley came up with some facts that don’t directly impact our family budget, too. I have to admit they’re pretty impressive. If each U.S. household replaced just one incandescent light bulb with one that earned the Energy Star label, our country could save $600 million in energy bills. That’s enough energy to light 7 million homes and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 1 million cars.

Turning a CFL on and off frequently can shorten its life, so we chose to replace lights in the fixtures that we use the most. That means I need to sign off and get to work. I seem to be the only one in our home who can change a light bulb. At least herons don’t need to get a ladder, even for the two-story foyer!