Not a Food Column

Last Friday we drove up to the Atlanta area to see Kristen off to her freshman year at college. We stayed over the weekend, then returned home via Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia, spending a night at one of their inns. 

The previous week must have been jammed with tourists and visitors; but with school just starting the fall session, we were practically alone, both at the inn and visiting various attractions, the butterfly center, the horticulture center, the country store, the chapel. Sunday afternoon in the chapel, there was an hour long concert of hymns and other music on the Moller organ, which we thoroughly enjoyed and counted as our worship for the Lord’s Day.

In the butterfly center we saw butterflies of all sizes and shapes, brilliant colors, including a large blue one we didn’t know existed, beautiful. The butterflies flit comfortably among the visitors. No cameraman, I tried unsuccessfully to snap the Blue Morpho as it flew around me, then again as it sat feasting on an orange slice; but it kept its wings folded the entire meal, so I settled for a photo from the exhibit in the gift shop.  

Callaway Gardens is close enough to the Atlanta area that we may stay there on future visits instead of coping with the horrendous metropolitan traffic. Besides, there is much to see, and in the few hours we were there, mid-morning Sunday to early morning Monday, we didn’t get to enjoy all that the gardens have to offer. So, definitely more visits.

As usual for us, a traveling highlight was eating. Friday evening supper at R. L.’s Off the Square, a cajun restaurant in Covington, Georgia. It would take a back seat to no New Orleans restaurant we have eaten in. Saturday evening seafood buffet at Blue Willows Inn in Social Circle, Georgia. For years driving north or south, we have planned our trips for lunch or supper there. Now that the Sunday brunch buffet no longer exists in St. Andrews, going to Georgia for a seafood buffet seems the only way to help myself to all the fried oysters Linda will let me eat. Which is not many. Fried oysters, fried green tomatoes, lemon pie. Not to mention the small whole fried catfish. Fried is not my thing anymore, so this was a once a year splurge, SHMG. Sunday lunch in Callaway Gardens was at the Country Store, a window table with mountain view, the vegetable plate with a double portion of incredibly tender and delicious collard greens. Home Monday by noon.

During the recent illness and hospitalization of a long-time parishioner, we met his next door neighbor, who is part owner of The Sandbar at PCB, and ended up going there twice for lunch. Highway 79 between Front Beach Road and Back Beach Road. No fried for me, my lunch was steamed Royal Red shrimp. A new favorite, we’ll go again. 

This isn’t a food column, but another favorite stop at the beach is Bippy’s at Pier Park for the ten or so flavors of frozen yogurt, serve yourself and pay by weight. The flavors vary day to day. It’s a smiley place anyway, but my happiness soars when one of the flavors is chocolate. We stopped at Bippy's yesterday on the way home from Destin and my cup held mostly the Belgian Chocolate. 

TW+