For the third year in a row we towed our fifth wheel to Pine Lake Campground in Bishop, Georgia to attend a home football game at the nearby University of Georgia.
There have been a few upgrades to this great campground since our first visit. The new owners have been hard at work upgrading the facilities and are in the process of adding more sites. The staff is friendly and helpful and they always remember us. It’s become one of our favorite campgrounds.
Pine Lake Campground, Bishop, Georgia
Pine Lake Campground, Bishop, Georgia
Pine Lake Campground, Bishop, Georgia
On game day, we always enjoy tailgating with friends before the game on the University of Georgia campus.
There have been some major upgrades at Sanford Stadium since last football season. There is a brand new scoreboard and the new team locker room is at our end end of the stadium. Now the team enters the field right in front of us.
September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Teal is the color for ovarian cancer.
Did you know…
A woman’s lifetime risk of Ovarian Cancer is 1 in 75.
A pap test does NOT detect ovarian cancer.
There is NO early detection test for ovarian cancer.
Symptoms include but are not limited to:
Bloating
Pelvic/abdominal pain
Difficulty eating or feeling full after a few bites
Urinary urgency/frequency
Menstrual irregularities
Ovarian cancer awareness events take place every September all around the country. Buildings in some cities are displaying teal lights. Teal ribbons and wreathes are on display. Charity events such as runs, walks and races are held in many places.
This year I enjoyed participating in the fifth annual TEAL (Tell Every Amazing Lady) Savannah walk. As an eight year survivor, it was a very fun and extremely emotional day.
It was wonderful meeting other survivors and hearing their stories. And it was very uplifting to see the support these women have from their friends, family and community.
There were many inspirational stories but the one that still brings tears to my eyes is Simone who is going through treatment now. Her family members came from as far away as Tampa and New York to walk with her. I met her cousin who kept saying Simone was a fighter. Simone wore a hooded teal satin cape and boxing gloves to show her fighting spirit.
Camille is another survivor who inspired me. She is currently in treatment and with the support of her two daughters, son-in-law and friends she walked the entire walk.
Children and adults alike enjoyed meeting Wonder Woman and The Little Mermaid Ariel.
After the walk, Wonder Woman joined some of the survivors for a group photo.
Survivor Warriors!
My Story
Eight years ago this month I was in the middle of my first three rounds of chemo after major surgery and a diagnosis of Stage IIB ovarian cancer.
I’m one of the lucky ones. My cancer was caught early. Six days after a CT scan showed a large tumor, I was in surgery and began treatments a few weeks later. Thanks to early detection, modern medicine, the love and support of family and friends, and the power of prayer, I’m still here today eight years later.
Many women with ovarian cancer are not so lucky. Ovarian cancer is often called the silent killer because the symptoms mimic so many other diseases that it is sometimes misdiagnosed and the cancer isn’t found until it is in late stage.
I urge all of you amazing ladies out there to learn the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer. Know your body and if you suspect anything is wrong, please see your doctor as soon as possible!
From the T.E.A.L. website: Tell Every Amazing Lady About Ovarian Cancer Louisa M. McGregor Ovarian Cancer Foundation’s mission is to promote public awareness and education of the signs, symptoms and risk factors of Ovarian Cancer, while providing support to survivors and raising funds for research in order to find the cure for Ovarian Cancer.
Located near downtown Savannah, The Oatland Island Wildlife Center of Savannah is a wonderful place to view animals native to Georgia. Sadly, the center is currently closed after a tornado tore through the center in July, 2018. All of the animals were safe but many of the structures sustained damage.
When the center is open, there are many educational programs for students. For more information about the center please visit their website.
A few years ago we took our two oldest grandkids to Oatland Island to see the animals. It was such a great day we returned for a second visit a couple of months later.
Red-tailed Hawk
Red FoxBroad-Headed SkinkGray WolfAlligatorCougarGopher Tortoise
College football season is finally here! For the next three months, the Wandering Dawgs will be making the drive to Athens, Georgia to watch our University of Georgia Bulldogs play on Saturdays in Sanford Stadium.
Along with thousands of other UGA football fans and students, our favorite route to Athens is along Georgia Highway 15. One of the familiar sights of the trip is an old barn beside the highway in Tennile.
About eighteen years ago a message about Georgia Football had been painted on the sign for the first time. Ever since then, the message changes a few times during the year. Now whenever we travel that way we look forward to seeing what new message will be there.
It’s summer in the Peach State and that means fresh, sweet, juicy Georgia peaches.
Peach season always reminds me of my Dad. After he retired from the Air Force in the 1970’s, he and my Mom moved to a farm in middle Georgia. In addition to their summer garden they had a small peach and apple orchard. When the peaches were ripe Dad would call and we would drive the 200 miles to their house to pick some peaches. I can still remember the sweetness of the peach and the sticky juice running down my hands as I stood in the orchard eating a peach that moments before still been had on the tree.
These days I have to be content with buying peaches at a local produce stand. On a recent road trip we stopped at James and the Giant Peach Stand in Ellabell for some fresh Georgia peaches. As soon as we arrived at home I tasted one and them and then made a fresh peach cobbler for dessert. Another night I blended up some Peach Daiquiris.
Georgia Peaches from Ellabell, Georgia
Peach Cobbler made with fresh Georgia peaches
Peach Daiquiri with fresh Georgia peaches
Another Georgia summer treat is the Vidalia Onion. The Vidalia Onion was named the Official State Vegetable of Georgia in 1990. They cannot be sold until the Georgia Ag Commissioner chooses a Pack date, usually in April. The season continues through August of each year. These sweet onions are only grown in a few South Georgia counties. Tomato and Vidalia onion pie is one of my favorite summer side dishes.
Vidalia Onions
It’s difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato – Lewis Grizard
The best tomatoes in the world are home grown tomatoes. If you grow your own, you know what I’m talking about. I’ve never been successful growing slicing tomatoes so I buy “Davis Killer Tomatoes” from my favorite produce stand, Davis Produce in Savannah. On a sweltering summer day there is nothing better for lunch than a tomato sandwich. Sliced bread (traditionally white bread but these days I use multi-grain or wheat), mayonnaise (preferably Dukes), and sliced tomatoes with salt and pepper. That’s it! Deliciousness!
Tomato Sandwich
A favorite southern summer snack is boiled peanuts. I love sitting around the table with friends and family, a cold drink and a bowl of boiled Georgia peanuts.
Boiled Peanuts
Georgia is known for other produce the rest of the year. Did you know that the state of Georgia is one of the top blueberry producing states in the country? I look forward every spring to blueberry season. As soon as they were ready this year I bought a flat from a friend’s sister who owns an organic blueberry farm.
Georgia grown blueberries
Are you hungry yet for some Georgia goodness? I’ve never shared a recipe on my blog before but here is my favorite cobbler recipe.
Easy Fruit Cobbler
1 stick unsalted butter (use real butter)
1 cup self rising flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup milk
3 – 5 peeled and sliced peaches or 1 container blueberries + 1 TB sugar
Preheat oven to 350. Place the fruit in a bowl and mix with the 1 TB sugar. Set aside.
Put the butter in a 9×9 inch square baking pan (I use metal but a glass pan will work). Place the pan in the oven to melt butter.
While butter is melting, in another bowl mix the flour, sugar, and milk. Batter will be thin and milky.
When butter is melted, remove from oven and pour in the batter. Spoon fruit over batter. Bake at 350 for 50 minutes to 1 hour. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream if desired.
Wandering Dawgs 