Into the Forest: Lake Seed, Georgia (And Why You Should Adopt A Dog)

“Don’t forget to stop by the garden on the way out,” my dad said this weekend, nodding down to rows and rows of emerald kale, Amish tomatoes, squash blossoms. We’d stopped off at his farm before embarking on the bends and twists of the road that winds around Lake Burton, to Lake Seed, to Lake Rabun. We left with the best cucumbers and tomatoes and greens which were shared all weekend with friends and family and each other as we basked in the Georgia sunshine and bathed in the cool waters of the headwaters of the Soque. It was a heavenly break from the stifling Atlanta heat.
It wasn’t until sifting through pictures this morning that I realized the weekend home marked my blog’s third birthday – and also that this time two years ago, we were just getting acquainted with a timid, tiny, extremely incontinent puppy named Mud Bug. We renamed her Pimms Cup and rehomed her out of a short lifetime of apparent abuse, neglect, and starvation. Ever since her best friend has been Kipper, who’s also an adopted pet. Five years ago Kip and I spent our first summer together growing vegetables at a produce stand along that same road to Lake Burton, and learning words like “no” and “sit” and how not to chew through leashes.
The trip to the mountains reminded me: Nearly every summer spent growing up in north Georgia, someone would drop a stray dog (or two) along the outskirts of dad’s farm. Maybe that’s where my inclination to rescue, repair, and recycle began (if you’re a frequent reader of R&F, my stubborn proclivity to educate the world on these topics is likely nothing new to you). Growing up with strays and shelter dogs, I have found nothing but incredible loyalty, intelligence, gratitude, and companionship in these sweet animals.
Last month was national adopt a shelter dog month and August brings us national dog day and DOGust, the universal birthday for shelter dogs. Before you shop for a pet, please considering adopting! Here’s a happy early birthday to Kipper and Pimms Cup, and a cheers to the folks who rescue, foster, adopt, and help make stories like this and this happen.

Thrifted Patagonia M Stand Up Short (Also here – shhh, they’re from the men’s department)
Thrifted wide-brim hat (similar on sale at Nordstrom and Amazon)
Lou & Grey Criss Cross white tank (similar here, here, here, here)
Lisa Marie Fernandez “Lauren” Zipper Bikini top (on sale at Shopbop, Revolve)
Ray-Ban Classic Aviators in grey-green and gold
Andover Trask Knox bag