Veterans Memorial Park - Dawsonville Georgia

Yesterday my husband and I took Colt, our toddler, to Veterans Memorial Park in Dawsonville. We have been passing by this park on a fairly regular basis for more than a year but we have never stopped in. The reason we have never stopped is because we just thought this was the Dawsonville pool. We never really looked at the sign and we never really looked beyond the pool. We came across the park because we were driving on GA-400 and saw one of those brown road signs that point you in the direction of a place of interest. The signs led us to Veterans Memorial Park.


This park is definitely a kid-friendly establishment. As mentioned, there is a pool - which is of decent size for the community. The park has several baseball fields and two football fields, one of which has a surrounding track. There are two playground areas and another set of swings at the track. One of the playground areas is designed for 2-3 year old children in mind, but my 15-month old enjoyed it too. The park includes a really nice covered gazebo area that can be reserved for potlucks, family gatherings, birthday parties, or whatever. The gazebo is equipped with a really nice stone kitchenette, grill, and sink with running water, restrooms, chairs, and plenty of picnic tables.

Another feature to the park which I really liked, and which looks to be relatively new, is a 8/10 mile paved walking/biking trail. The trail travels through the entire park so you can park in any one of the half a dozen parking lots and walk the trail back to your car! Near the gazebo, which the trail passes by, are several fitness stations. Each station works on a different muscle group and provides complete instructions on how to conduct each exercise. These fitness stationed would be appropriate for older children to senior citizens.

Lastly, the memorial set up to remember Veteran's is small but very attractive and well kept.

In all I was very impressed with this park and I am glad we "discovered" it.

Playing at the park

He is growing so fast!

Thomas the Train is coming to Georgia

My toddler loves Thomas the Tank Engine. I was excited to hear that Thomas is coming to Georgia....but quickly disappointed to learn he is coming to Cordele....which is in Southern Georgia. However, I may still consider making the trip...but we will see.

HERE is the link to Thomas the Tank Engine coming to Georgia.

Corn Chip Chewies - Coffee and Camera

Recently I have been making my 12 year old plan one meal a week. His responsibilities are to find a recipe that he wants to make, check to see which ingredients we need to buy, make a list for the store (and search for coupons or sales if available), gather materials, and make the meal or whatever he has chosen.  A few days ago he made homemade pepperoni pizza and he wanted to make a dessert to go along with it but we ran out of time. So, two night ago he made his dessert. I was a little concerned about how the dessert was going to turn out because it called for corn chips (Fritos) but let me tell you - these are really good!! Peanutty, sweet, salty, crunchy, and chewie. This is definitely a treat we will make again....the best part -- your older kids can make it with assistance. The only part the parent needs to do it boiling the sugar and syrup!!

Corn Chip Chewies

10 ounces corn chips, crushed
1 cup roasted peanuts, divided & optional -- (My son used honey-roasted)
1 cup corn syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Put half of the corn chips and half of the peanuts into a greased 13x9x2-in pan. In a saucepan, combine corn syrup and sugar, bring to a boil then remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter. Drizzle half of the syrup mixture onto the corn chips. Mix remaining corn chips and peanuts into the syrup mixture. Pour mixture into pan and lightly press down. Sprinkle chocolate chips over warm mixture. Cool. Yield: 2 dozen

I wish I would have taken pictures but my toddler put my camera into a cup of coffee. My son is currently searching out his next recipe.

In the meantime, I guess I will research cameras.

Free Entrance to More Than 100 National Parks

We love to take the kids hiking in National Parks. State and national parks always seem to be cleaner and safer than wondering through any random forest. Not to mention that state and national forests often times have a visitor's center with restrooms, picnic areas, maps, and other areas of interest. Typically there is a small fee to enter state and national parks.

Here in Northern Georgia we have visited several national/state park areas -- our favorite so far being Amicalola Fall State Park.


More than 100 National Parks will be offering fee-free days in August, September, and November. These are the Georgia parks that are participating:

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area***
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park ***
Cumberland Island National Seashore
Fort Frederica National Monument
Fort Pulaski National Monument

The websites provide maps, links for things to do, background on the park, and a variety of other information.


*** = Northern Georgia/Southern Tennessee

Planning a Day Trip to Blue Ridge GA

Planning a trip - even day trips - is difficult with my husband's job. His hours vary each day. So I don't know exactly what day we are going to take this trip and I might not even wait for him. I don't know that he will be that interested anyways.

The Destination:  Blue Ridge, GA. It looks to be about an hours drive north of us - on the Tennessee border.
The Purpose: Peaches and apples
The Place:  Mercier Orchards
The Plan: To make peach jam and apple butter with the produce I buy

I am not exactly sure how kid-friendly the orchard is but from what I have read it is worth a shot. If nothing else, my toddler can run around and expend some energy!

I am hoping to make the trip sometime next week.

In the meantime, I need to get my canning stuff together.

Making a list....checking it twice....

I am currently making a list of kid-friendly things that we have done, or plan to do, in Northern Georgia. The link is at the top of this blog. As I get this blog established I plan to write some better reviews of the places we have gone.

Work in progress....

Dare I?

Dare I start another project? Isn't enough to be a wife, mother, student, and dog owner. I am quite certain that I do not have the time or energy for another project. Yet, something is telling me to go for it.

My original goal was to use this as a way to gather up all of the things to do (or lack thereof) here in Northern Georgia. I am constantly searching for things to do with my kids. Things that they both might enough (12 yr old & 1 yr old).

I figured though since I am putting time and energy into this that perhaps I would include other topics as well. So here goes...another project.

In the meantime, I really need to find places to take my kids to get out of the house.