Tag Archives: Amicalola Falls

Amazing Georgia.

I hate to sound like a broken record…but…the weather here is incredible right now.  Temperatures have dropped, the sky is bright blue without a cloud in sight – just amazing.  Unfortunately much of Saturday was spent inside the YMCA.  Poppy had her first swim meet.  We were incredibly excited and nervous as it’s a pretty big deal for a 6 yr old and her parents.  The great thing about the Y is that it’s not too intense – they a racing for fun – and the parents and coaches are all pretty relaxed.  However no one told me how many kids would be there nor how long we would be there!  If I tell you that Poppy’s races were #21 and #33 that will give you some idea!  I’m not sure how many different events there were in total, but safe to say a lot – relays, individuals, 50 and 25 – then multiply that by all age groups up to 17!  Some kids had event #70 written on their arm!!  All in all we were there from 1.30pm till 6.30pm for just 2 races – having said that we had a blast and Poppy loved it.  I was so proud of her dealing with it all – from the long lines for races to the pressure of a starting block start – she looked a real pro at just 6!  My heart was in my mouth for both her races but as always we tend to underestimate our children’s resilience and ability and she did brilliantly.

In order to get some fresh air after Saturday we headed up to North Georgia yesterday.  When we are out and about I always wish we did it more often.  Georgia truly is amazing and the mountains were stunning yesterday.  We headed to Amicalola Falls and needless to say after marching to the top and then using the many, many steps to walk down by the side of the Falls, my legs and butt are killing me today.  Stairs really do use muscles that no other exercise can!

It’s definitely layering weather as it was freezing at the bus stop this morning.  I took Tennyson for a walk this morning and it was lovely and brisk – when we were walking up the driveway back to the house I gasped as Bambi ran across the lawn – breathtaking and a brilliant way to start the week.

I opted for my fab Zara red jeans today – at just $35 they are a great price – but as always with Zara their sizing is random.  I was certain I’d be a US 8 as Zara tend to fit small but I ended up with a US 6 as there is so much stretch in these and I can’t stand jeans that get baggy over the course of a day.  I’m wearing them with my Express black tank, J.Crew black boyfriend cardigan from a couple of years ago, and my fabulous Sam Edelman Alvins in leopard print – probably the most comfortable shoes I own.

 

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MLK Day – another day off!?

When we first arrived in the States no one took MLK Day as a Holiday and now it seems the whole of the States closes down for the day including the schools. It always seems way too soon after the Christmas break to take another long weekend and I am never in any mood to have the children at home again – yesterday was no exception. So we decided to get wrapped up and pack a picnic and head an hour and a half North of Atlanta to Amicalola Falls.  The children were really excited about the impending adventure and with the amount of gear we had with us you’d think we were heading to the North Pole for a month. Needless to say our day out turned into one of the best family days we’ve had for a while.

My daughter is almost 6 and my son turns 4 in March so it has been difficult to walk too far with them as their little legs don’t get them anywhere quick…but yesterday they were real troopers in every sense of the word. They walked the mile up the mountainside then back down the 600 steps that take you right down the side of the Falls and across the Falls without any complaints.  We skipped, ran, walked and splashed in puddles.  DD did her Pocohontas impression and stopped every few hundred yards listening to the sound of the water getting closer.

We got back down to the car to enjoy our PB sandwiches and within no time both children were fast asleep in the backseat.  What a fabulous day and no complaints – at least not from them – my calves are still killing me today!!! I can’t wait for more fun family hikes in the North Georgia mountains – maybe we’ll get more adventurous each time and head off the beaten path! (N.B. leaving the beaten path has, in my experience with my parents, resulted in up to 10 mile hikes expectantly looking round every corner for the car park…)

Photo shows us taking a break up the hillside – I’m in my Hudson Collin jeans, green Hunters and Patagonia nano pullover.

Amicalola Falls