Moonshine & Wanderlust

... a cosmopolitan view from a southern perspective

Summer 2015 Bucket List

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It’s that time again… bucket list season! If you’ve not read one of my seasonal bucket lists before they’re just like any other bucket list… things you haven’t done before except broken down into seasons so they don’t get too overwhelming. I think I miserably failed my winter list so with some newfound gusto I’m reading to start checking things off my list! If you have any good ideas – share them!

☀ Go horseback riding

☀ Go mudding (okay – this might be the only thing in my entire life I have never Googled. Because… I just want to experience it! I don’t want to read about it or know what to expect. I just want to go and get dirty).

☀ Shoot an AR at an outdoor range

☀ Ride a motorcycle (this one is going to take some prodding but I wanna do it!)

☀ Go to another beach besides HH

☀ Go tubing

☀ Go camping for an entire weekend.

☀ Play laser tag

 ☀ Paintball!

☀ Messy Twister

☀ Go fishing (okay I’ve done this one before, but still…)

☀ Have a full spread picnic

☀ Rent a boat and spend a day on the river

☀ Go skinny dipping

☀ Make a garden

☀ Go to a professional sporting event

☀ Try a new exercise class

☀ Bake and cook more – and give it away to friends

☀ Spend an afternoon in the library

☀ Go canoeing (okay did this once but want to do it again!)

Winter Bucket List

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As far as I’m concerned, “winter” and the Christmas season doesn’t start until the day after Thanksgiving. However, I have decided to be enough in the holiday spirit to create a winter bucket list! There are so many great ideas on Pinterest and they gave me some good ideas, but I really tried to stick with things I have never done, minus volunteering. Helping others never goes out of style. Below are my goals for this winter season and maybe they will help jumpstart your own list!

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Winter Bucket List

❄ Go ice skating

❄ Host a winter party

❄ Go to a Predators game in Nashville

❄ Go skiing

❄ Volunteer for a Christmas event

❄ Send a Christmas package to a soldier

❄ Attend a Christmas Eve service

❄ Have a Christmas movie marathon with popcorn & hot chocolate

Mercier Orchard

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Fall is coming to an end (I’m still in heavy denial) and I am happy to say I have checked a few things off of my Autumn Bucket List – I’m planning on checking off a few more in the next couple weeks as November closes. One of my favorite things I did (and the one I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to do!) was visit a picking apple orchard.

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Mercier Apple Orchard is located in Blue Ridge, GA. It’s a beautiful drive full of rolling hills and crisp fall colors lining the way. The weather was absolutely perfect the day I went and made for a very enjoyable afternoon. In my mind, I pictured a simple orchard with towering trees, but I was shocked at how large the operation is. Started in 1943, the family owned orchard not only has plentiful U-Pick opportunities, classes, fishing,and cooking demos but an enormous (and, delicious smelling) store complete with a deli that makes some of the most delectable sounding sandwiches.photo 2-3

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The views are magical – I can’t wait to go back this spring to U-Pick fruit… and maybe even do some fishing!
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I picked 1/2 peck to start me off and it turned out to be plenty of apples! We got a ride out to the orchards and given some instructions of what types of apples were ready for picking and we were off! The trees weren’t the towering variety I had imagined, but more stout which was fine by me because I didn’t have to worry about falling out of any trees. Not that I would have tried climbing, but you know… a girl can dream.

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The best part? Eat as you go! A sample of this, a sample of that…

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I got a few apples of each variety – they were all so good! It was really everything I had hoped it would be. That sounds corny, but it was a fun experience for this gal. There were a lot of families there – it’s a great outing for friends, families, couples… you can’t go wrong. For $10 you can spend a fun afternoon walking through rows of beautifully grown creations and make some lasting memories.

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You know I have to throw in if Mercier Orchard is pet friendly or not… While pets are not allowed in the orchard, they are allowed around the lake and near the store. I saw several individuals with small pups hanging outside of the store while they enjoyed their fall day walking around the property and waiting on others in their party.

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Be sure to check our Mercier Orchards Events on the Farm page for upcoming events and a schedule of U-Pick varieties!

until next time… xoxo, patty lauren

Autumn Bucket List

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Oh, fall! Drifting, dried leaves floating through the air, the crisp bite of morning air, cozy get togethers, football, pumpkin patches… I mean, what is there not to love about autumn?

It’s always been my favorite season and this year I am more ready than ever to start it! Yes, I love summer and will miss our warm days but if you live in the South, you know when the heat has outworn it’s welcome.

In an effort to relish every drop of fall, I’ve decided to create an “Autumn Bucket List” – I’ll be adding to it over the next few weeks, but below is my start. I would love input for ideas or see your own fall bucket lists!

1. Visit an authentic pumpkin patch

2. Host an “Autumn Toast & Roast” party

3. Go to at least one TN football game, but I’m shooting for more

4. Have a scary movie marathon complete with popcorn and candy

5. Make Butterbeer

6. Go to an apple orchard and pick apples

7. Go camping (I cringe.)

8. Make gourmet style caramel apples

9. Plant flowers and decorate front porch

10. Have an outdoor movie night with blankets

… I’ll be working on doing some of these things soon, but in the meantime give me some of YOUR favorite fall activities!