I think I’ve found my new favorite place in Heron Bay: Lakefront Park. It’s got all the human aspects my family has come to love, like a pavilion with fans to cool you off, picnic tables, swings and peaceful pergolas. And of course, we Herons love the lake. It reminds us of the old home place and allows us to see some of our woodland friends.

Even better, I’m thinking Lakefront Park is going to be a place to hang out with our new friends and neighbors. If Saturday’s grand opening was any indication, they enjoyed the park as much as we did. Apollo Entertainment provided a variety of foods – hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hotdogs and even jerk chicken (personally, I’m not a big fan of chickens, but I have stopped short of calling them jerks). Haley and Spalding especially enjoyed the Repicci’s Italian Ice. Between them, they tried every flavor and kept cool for the afternoon. The pavilion has a speaker system, and someone brought along an IPOD so we could listen to favorite songs. I even saw some of the little ones dancing along.

Haley wants to have her next birthday party at Lakefront Park, and Helen has already e-mailed her family about a reunion there. It may turn out that I have to be out of town that particular day, whenever it is. But other than that, I foresee spending a lot of time with old and new friends there, year round. It’s just one more great thing about living in Heron Bay.

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.

It’s hard to believe that July 4th is already here. Spalding is walking around whistling “Yankee Doodle,” and Helen has Haley all dressed up in red, white and blue with matching ribbons and sparkles in her hair. It’s hard not to get caught up in the spirit.

To celebrate and to feel a part of our larger community this weekend, we’re planning to visit the Georgia Independence Day Festival at Nash Park in Hamilton. It starts at 3 p.m. on both Thursday, July 3rd and Friday, July 4th, and it lasts until dark. We’re going on the 3rd, and if the kids really enjoy it, we’re going back again on the 4th. It’s only $5 for Helen and me, then $2 for the children. We may take one of our cousins, who is younger than 5 and will get in free.

The whole event, which is sponsored by the Henry County Parks and Recreation Department, focuses on Colonial days. They’ll have scenes of the Revolution, strolling actors in costume, live Colonial music, dancing, food and more. There will be a Kids Zone with pony rides and face painting to keep Spalding and Haley happy. (Have you ever seen a Great Blue Heron on a pony? It’s a sight to see.) Plus, Helen will want to explore the booths and shopping opportunities. As for me, I’ll be happy just watching people and meeting more neighbors.

Each night, the evening will conclude with a Fireworks Extravaganza. Our family can’t wait to see you there. You’ll know us from the crowd – we’ll be the ones wearing red, white and blue.

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!