All summer long, the children have been begging my wife to make her famous blueberry pie. So last weekend, we decided that we would get the whole family involved in the preparation by going to the “Greenleaf Blueberry Farm” in Hampton.

This family farm is ran by Mrs. Olmstead who takes care of it for her in-laws, who also live on the property. Mrs. Olmstead is a special needs teacher who is passionate about blueberries and opens the farm each summer to allow families to come and pick their own fresh berries.

We had so much fun! When we got there, Mrs. Olmstead gave us each a bucket and pointed us in the right direction. We were followed by some friendly dogs who seemed excited to see some new faces. We spent a while picking the berries and just enjoying the early morning weather. Once we had picked close to three gallons of berries, Mrs. Olmstead was friendly enough to package them for us for the quick trip home. She also shared a few secret family recipes with us, just in case we had some berries left over after we baked our pie.

Once we were home, we all worked together to wash the berries and bake the pie. My kids were so excited to be involved and it was great watching them work together.

We enjoyed the homemade pie after dinner with some vanilla ice cream. It was so delicious, and I could really taste the fresh, juicy blueberries. There’s nothing like fresh berries in a homemade pie! And the kids enjoyed it so much that we decided to take Mrs. Olmstead’s recipe and use the leftover berries the next morning.

Spending the day with my family at the blueberry farm was great fun. My kids really enjoyed it, and are already asking to go back! I would highly recommend that all of my friends and neighbors here at Heron Bay make a trip to the farm a summer tradition. Not  only do you get to spend a wonderful fun day with your family, but you get a yummy pie at the end of that day!

This past Sunday was a beautiful summer day, and so I decided to make the most of it. My family and I have spent quite a few hot summer days at the pool, so this time I had the shade of trees keep me cool, and got a little nature lesson in the process. Heron Bay has an extensive trail system that encompasses the entire community and offers beautiful views of the whole community, including the Cannongate golf course and the Cole Reservoir. There are so many trails to choose from – White Oak, Buckeye, Fern, Azalea and Hemlock, just to name a few – it was hard to make a decision. Luckily, each trail is marked with a difficulty level and the distance, helping me to narrow down the options!

I made the decision to try out the Oak Trail, which is an easy walk. I wasn’t really looking for exercise as much as I was trying to enjoy the natural surroundings. So, I was incredibly pleased to see that the trail markers tell me specifically what animal and plant species to look out for on the trail. I began my hike down the wooded path, eager to see a White Oak tree standing tall. Just often enough, I ran into trail markers, making the path quite easy to navigate.

I was about half way through when out of nowhere one of my kin popped out of the woods to say hi! It was a wild turkey, and I had no idea that any were even in the area. It was great to catch up and tell him all about the family and how we are now living at Heron Bay and loving it. He told me that he and his friends have run into Heron Bay residents while out and about, but had no idea that we were now in this splendid community.

All in all, it was a fantastic summer afternoon, and I recommend that all of my neighbors try out the nature trails for themselves – you just my run into one of my kin folks!

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.

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.

Because we herons – at least my cousins and I – catch most of our meals from ponds, we know quite a lot about outdoor water temperatures at various times of the year. Imagine my surprise when I dipped my toes in the water at the Heron Bay pool on opening day (May 10), and it didn’t cause a shiver. Am I ever glad our neighborhood has a heated pool? My cousins would be so jealous. They’re still trying to catch frogs and other pond creatures in cold, murky water, and there I was swimming for fun in a sparkling pool that was as warm as a down-filled nest. (Plus, I can go out to eat tonight in one of the many restaurants near Heron Bay – no frog catching for me!)

It won’t be long before music will be heating up the pool, too. The upcoming Jazz by the Pool event, planned by the Heron Bay social committee, will give us all a chance to warm up the pool deck with some dancing, or chill with friends if we prefer. Whether you like it hot or cool, this spring at the pool has something for you!

Our Social Committee and Heron Bay Community Association’s Activities Coordinator Carla Cooper sure know how to throw a party. I promise you they’re not just winging it. Being a proud resident at Heron Bay, I attend all the parties and events Carol and her team organize. They are so much fun, and they save me a trip to Atlanta. I mean, it gets scary flying around at night, especially on a weekend when you don’t know what crazy birds are in the sky. So, it’s really nice to know that all I have to do is head to the Lodge for a happening party on a Saturday night.

Like just the other weekend. Helen and I boogied down to those groovy 70s tunes. It was a huge trip down memory lane because every song took me back to the time when I was just barely out of the egg. Well, maybe a little older than that. And you should have seen the clothes! It was like stepping back in time with polyester suits, bell bottoms and styles whose names I can’t remember and never wanted to again. The Lodge was all retro-decorated with bright colors and records hanging on the wall. I can’t even remember the last time I saw a record – I thought that they were all extinct like the poor Do-Do. And, adding the final touch, there was a sparkling disco ball hanging from the ceiling and illuminating the dance floor.

We had to get a bird-sitter and leave the kids at home, as it was a more grown-up kind of party, and it was a great date night for Helen and me. The food was so good, catered by Little Momma’s Helper. For just an evening we were able to stop being adults by unwinding and dancing our cares away, just like we were teenagers again. They also gave away prizes - I was the runner-up for the male dance contest – everyone was really impressed with my John Travolta Saturday Night Fever moves. The best female dancer, the best 70’s outfit and the best 70’s hair all received $40, too. I’ll be flying on cloud nine until the next event!