I had a hankering for crab legs Thursday.

The best I have found lately are at Captain Billy's Fish House in Franklin. So, I was sitting in wait for my husband when he arrived home from work. Usually, after an hour's drive home from Delta, he wants to do just about anything but get into a moving vehicle again. As it turned out he had the same craving.

The crab legs were as good as I expected they would be and, I declare, those parsleyed potatoes defy description. Not only is the food good, but the right table affords one an awesome view of the Chattahoochee.

As you enter the old building, there's an aquarium in front that immediately captures the attention of the little ones. Captain Billy's Fish House is just an all around good place for a family outing if you are hungry and like sea food and a casual atmosphere. The music that's piped over the PA system always appeals to me, too.

The sounds of Michael Kolmstetter's classical guitar was the entertainment Thursday night. While I listened to such timeless favorites as “Amazing Grace” and “Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory” playing softly in the background I observed that Captain Billy's is also a good place to celebrate a birthday.

The celebrating was down one level from us, and over a table or two, but still we could overhear the singing and the announcement that it was the honoree's 81st birthday. She didn't look 81. She didn't sound 81. She certainly didn't act 81 (though I'm not quite sure what that means anymore).

Uninvited, I sung “Happy Birthday” along with the family. Of course they never knew, but I wanted to wish her a happy day nevertheless. As they prepared to leave I left my table and walked over to ask her secret.

There was little or no hesitancy as she answered my question, “I drink two ounces of vodka every evening before supper. I told my doctor and he said just keep doing what I'm doing. And that's another thing, I always do what I want to do when I want to do it. I've been to Vegas five times and I go to church all the time. I walk three miles every morning and cut my own grass and clean my own house.”

Now, I have asked that question of many an octogenarian, but I don't think I have ever approached one who was so ready with an answer and downright sure of herself at that. Ah yes, I did enjoy my visit to Captain Billy's last week.

Talking about enjoyment... I can't begin to describe how much I enjoyed the wedding of our friends who got married last weekend at the Pine Hurst Tea Room in Stockbridge. I had seen the tea room ads and even visited their web site. But I was not prepared for such an enchanting country Victorian setting and phenomenal food.

I understand the house was built at the turn of the century by a descendant of Robert E. Lee. For years it was the home of the mayor of Stockbridge and remained in the Lee family until 1995 when the Dubbs family bought it. They had been in the catering business since 1979 and had thought for a long time that the old home would be an awesome location for a tea room, reception area and general special event facility. How right they were.

By the way, you don't have to wait for a special event to enjoy the Pinehurst Tea Room. They offer elegant luncheons daily, high tea on selective Wednesdays and Sunday brunch on the second Sunday of each month. Anytime you want to have a special time with friends, family or business associates and feel the need for just the right touch, Pinehurst should be on your list of options. You can reserve a table, room or the entire facility. (Reservations are required for high tea or Sunday brunch.) I'll go back again.

When you live in the middle of nowhere like I do now, you have to be prepared to drive a ways for special meals or functions. But that's all right. I am so blessed and thankful to be able to enjoy the peace and quiet of the country that I consider it worth the effort to drive an hour west to Franklin or an hour east to Stockbridge for a nice outing. Besides, the scenery in both directions is awesome and heaven knows it beats fighting the traffic and smog that always awaits me when I drive north into Atlanta.

That's not to say I won't and don't drive north. It's just that I'll take country living and country driving any day when afforded the choice. I know I have often complained that we have too many choices in America. Maybe I've been wrong. Perhaps I should just be thankful.

Back to News Home Page | Back to the top of the page