There really is nothing like relaxing in the comfort of your own home after a week away!  As much fun as it is to get away, it’s always a good feeling when you step through your front door and just know that you’re finally home.

After my plane ride and of course stopping to pick up a cold refreshing beverage at Rutter’s to enjoy on the drive to my house, it was nice to unwind and take in everything that had happened within the past few days.  Whenever I go anywhere, the first thing I like to do when I get home is go through my pictures and show my friends and family what all I did while I was gone.  So, I thought that’s just what I’ll do for y’all!

If you ever find yourself in Georgia, make sure to bring your camera along. Trust me there are plenty of things to capture from beautiful outdoor scenes to detailed architecture; you won’t want to miss out!

Stone Mountain is a prime example of some great outdoor photography opportunities.  Known as the largest exposed piece of granite in the world, it is a great place to visit.  Old world charm is in abundance in the south, from stunning architecture to cobblestone streets, Savannah Georgia is just the place to showcase just that.  I very much enjoyed walking the streets and soaking in everything there was to see.  We even stumbled across a home that was modeled after the White House.  It wasn’t quite as large as the real thing, but it sure made you look twice and question what State you were in.   But if it’s the city you crave, then downtown Atlanta is just the place for you.  There is no lack of activities to take part in there.  Atlanta is home to some big names like Coca-cola and CNN, and has culture and personality as far as the eye can see.  One of my favorite places to explore while there was the aquarium, I would highly suggest visiting it if ever in the area.  Underground Atlanta is also a great place to explore, located in the Heart of Downtown; Underground Atlanta is bustling with activity, day and night.  There is daily entertainment, homemade candy, various dining choices and souvenir shopping.  Really just something for everyone!

Although I was able to see and do a lot on my trip, there’s so much more that I wish I could have squeezed in but like I said before, there’s always next time!  But until then I’m quite content in York, Pa.   It may not be the most exciting or glamorous place to live, but we sure do know how to make some delicious iced tea!  And I must admit it’s good to be home!

It’s kind of hard to believe that just a week ago I was anxiously waiting to take my first plane ride, and with a blink of an eye I’m sitting in the airport waiting to hop on an airplane back to Pa.  They say everything works at a slower pace in the south, but this week seems to have been the exception. For some reason no matter how long it is whenever you are on vacation, time seems to pick up speed. And let me just tell you, that’s just what it felt like this past week for me. Seven days felt like just a weekend jam-packed with fun and adventure.

Georgia really is a beautiful state filled with old world charm and lots to do. And I am very excited that I got to enjoy and take some of it in. I’m sure I barely even scratched the surface of what it has to offer, but that’s ok because it just gives me an excuse to visit again real soon! It has been a trip that I’m sure not to forget, and I’m very glad that I got to bring you all along for the ride!

And even though it all seemed to go by too quickly, I truly enjoyed myself and have much more of an appreciation for southern hospitality and the ever abundant catch phrase “hey y’all”. Honestly the only thing that could have made it better would have been some Rutter’s tea on those hot and humid Georgia days. But not to worry, I will be chugging down a refreshing Rutter’s tea in just a few hours!

For all those familiar with the south and their love for home cooking, it should come as no surprise that one of the major reasons we visited Savannah was to enjoy and experience what all the fuss was about.  So, after our five-hour drive to Savannah from Atlanta we visited a restaurant by the name of the Lady & Sons.  I’m not sure if you’re familiar or not with the food connoisseur Paula Deen, but if you are you know she is all about the southern cooking and she owns this restaurant in Savannah.  The atmosphere of the whole city along with the wonderful flavors of an asparagus sandwich (trust me, I know it sounds odd but it was very tasty) was really a great combination!

After eating or should I say indulging myself, we decided to get a better feel for the city itself.  Every street, yet all filled with just as old buildings as the block before, each one has its own unique feel and things to see.  Many corners are filled with small art galleries and cafes serving coffee, tea, and smoothies of your choice. There really is plenty to keep you busy.  The architecture is very detail oriented and ornamental and is a real treat to see in person.  We visited the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and I was amazed at how grand it really was.  I managed to get a brief video of the outside, but let me tell you it is nothing like seeing it up-close and in person.

But as much fun as I’m having here in the wonderful state of Georgia, I must say there really is no place like home.  I have yet to see a horse and buggy grace the streets of Atlanta and have yet to taste a coffee as good as the ones I get from Rutter’s.  Sometimes you really don’t appreciate the small things until you don’t have them anymore.

There are only a few days left before my trip is over and I want to know what Rutter’s product you think you would miss most if you were miles away from your favorite store.  Please feel free to comment below.  And make sure to check back to see where my last stop in Georgia is!

From left, contest winner Delane Smith, and Beth Himmelright, Rutter’s fleet sales representative.

And just as regularly, he enjoys a witty give-and-take with employees at the Rutter’s at Route 30 and Sherman Street.

“What can I do to get you to smile when you come in here?,” a Rutter’s clerk joked with him on a recent morning. Smith suggested that free coffee might do the trick.

“How about free gas for one year?,” the clerk said, explaining that Smith was the sixth of eight lucky Rutter’s customers to win free gas for a year in the company’s “Fuel Up Free!” contest, which ran through Sunday.

The final two winners will be announced in early September. The other winners are Linda Wells of York, Joe Kopp of Fairview Township, Doug Davis of West Manchester Township, David Wagner of Littlestown, and Mark Shaffer of Spring Garden Township.

During the contest, Rutter’s offered monthly food and beverage specials. Each purchase of a featured item earned a customer one contest entry. The more featured items purchased, the more opportunities to win.

The participating contest sponsors were Coca-Cola, Davis Beverage, Edy’s Grand Ice Cream, Glaceau, Jack and Jill Ice Cream, Kunzler & Co., Monster Beverages, Nestle Waters, Pepsi Cola, Pennsylvania Lottery, Red Bull, Rutter’s Dairy and S&D Coffee.

Family-owned and third generation-managed, York-based Rutter’s (www.rutters.com) operates 55 convenience stores in York, Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin and Lancaster counties.
###

Another factor in my decision is that my wife is a barbecuing fanatic and when I say fanatic I mean fanatic.  She’s been known to dawn her apron, gather her knifes and start the grill in the middle of winter in a full out snow storm.  But I’m not complaining her food is awesome!

I guess either way whether or not I go to the beach or stay at home for a cookout I better make sure I have propane for the grill.  And as luck might have it, AmeriGas has just launched “Save $2.00 off AmeriGas® Cylinder Exchange or Purchase” good at Rutter’s.  Click on the link above to printout the coupon or visit coupons.com for the offer.

Please feel free to let me know which option you’d pick or if you have any other suggestions, I’m still undecided…

I must admit that I was nervous the second I stepped foot onto the airplane, but I must also say that once I was on and up in the air looking down on all the clouds I just kept thinking, why did I not do this sooner?  My flight was a big success and I was very excited to be able to cross this off of my list of things to do.

Landing in Georgia was the easy part, once I was off the plane and walking out of my terminal all I could see were crowds of people waiting for their flights and streams of passer-by’s as they were hurrying around to go about their business.   Atlanta Georgia airport is one of the most used and busiest airports in the world.   So there is no surprise as to why I may have felt a little bit overwhelmed.  After asking for directions and making my way on their tram to where I needed to be, I finally reached the parking lot.  After breathing a sigh of relief, I was able to enjoy seeing and greeting my friend that I have not seen for quite some time.

Being that it was my first night in the great state of Georgia, we had to do something fun and something native to the state itself.  So we went to Stone Mountain Park.  This park is set around a confederate memorial that was carved out of the side of the mountain itself depicting three Confederate leaders of the Civil War, President Jefferson Davis and Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson.  Stone Mountain is more than five miles in circumference at its base and has granite that extends underground 9 miles.  It is argued to be the largest exposed piece of granite in the world.  It sure was a sight to see not only in daylight, but at night too.  Many nights out of the week they have a mountainside laser and fireworks show that is more than entertaining.  It draws large crowds every night its displayed and for good reason.  I highly recommend for anyone heading to Georgia to check it out.

Although the night was full of excitement and I really couldn’t have asked for much more I did find myself craving some Rutter’s Diet Orange Tea while sitting on our blanket watching the show.  Georgia is warm and humid and really who couldn’t use a nice cold refreshing drink on those kinds of days?  Even miles away there is nothing more refreshing that I can think of than a Rutter’s cold iced tea! So for all of you out there in my great home state of Pennsylvania, go out and grab your favorite refreshing drink from Rutter’s today and let me know what your drink of choice is! And be sure to keep your eyes on the blog for more adventures to come!

For all you blog followers out there, you may be surprised to be informed that I am out of the office this week, making my way down to the south to the peach state of Georgia. I am headed down that way to visit a friend and see what all it has to offer. And not wanting to leave you guys and gals behind, I thought it might be kind of nice to take all of you on the trip with me. And so I am taking the blog on the road with me and will keep you informed and up to date about all my adventures. I expect this trip to be full of excitement and fun, I can assure you of this because it will be my very first trip on an airplane! Yes, you read that right. In all of my twenty-four years on this planet, I have never flown on an airplane, so that in and of itself is already quite the adventure for me.

I’m not entirely sure of what this week is going to bring, but I can’t wait to share it with all of you. I am both excited and a little bit nervous, but I’m sure it’s going to be a great trip! So, please make sure to follow me for a week full of fun and adventure as I leave the great state of Pennsylvania to seek out the south.

I’ve heard great things about Georgia, but I have my doubts that any of its convenience stores can hold to the great standards that Rutter’s in my home state has. So, with that in mind before leaving for my flight I made sure to stop by Rutter’s to pick up some of my favorites and fuel up before beginning my weeklong excursion. Even though it may be out of sight, doesn’t mean it’s out of mind!

Please stay tuned to see what’s in store for me in the south, and make sure to stop by a Rutter’s today and tell me what items you would pick up if you were headed out of state!

Meanwhile, Rutter’s Holdings ranked second among private companies in York County, Pennsylvania. Rutter’s Holdings – the parent company of Rutter’s Farm Stores, Rutter’s Dairy and real estate holding company M&G Realty – ranked fifth in 2009.

Family-owned and third generation-managed, the York-based Rutter’s companies employ more than 1,400 people in central Pennsylvania.

Rutter’s (www.rutters.com) traces its roots to 1747, when William Penn’s grandson deeded farmland in York County to the Rutter family. Rutter’s Dairy, which began in 1921, serves Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey. Rutter’s Farm Stores, which debuted in 1968, has 55 stores in six Pennsylvania counties.
###

This is a Full-Time position with eligible benefits and paid time off. Your responsibilities include organizing, scheduling, and controlling preparation of food from beginning to end including ordering, selling, and tracking all food and food related items. High School Diploma or equivalent is desired. Additional Education in Food Service, Restaurant Management, and or Business is helpful. 2-4 years in Food Service is preferred. Basic accounting skills and experience in leading others is required

If interested please click on the ‘JOBS’ tab at the top of the screen to fill out an application. We hope to hear from you soon. Why go anywhere else?

From left, Robert Perkins, Rutter’s director of marketing; contest winner Mark Shaffer and son Camden; and Beth Himmelright, Rutter’s fleet sales representative.

You might say that Mark Shaffer’s tank was running on empty, figuratively speaking. Really he was running out of time to come forward as the latest winner in Rutter’s Farm Stores’ summer gas giveaway.

Shaffer, of Spring Garden Township, York County, had been away on vacation when his winning Rutter’s Rewards card number was drawn. Thanks to a clerk at Rutter’s North Hills Road store who recognized him, Shaffer was able to claim his prize before the midnight deadline.

Shaffer, an executive chef, has three cars, not counting his wife’s. When he’s not driving to work in New Oxford, he might be heading to Baltimore as a Ravens season-ticket holder.

“So it’s going to be used up pretty quick,” he said of his free gas.
Shaffer is the fifth of eight lucky Rutter’s customers who will receive free gas for a year in the company’s “Fuel Up Free!” contest. The contest runs through Aug. 29, with drawings held approximately every two weeks.

The other winners are Linda Wells of York, Joe Kopp of Fairview Township, Doug Davis of West Manchester Township and David Wagner of Littlestown.

During the contest, Rutter’s is offering monthly food and beverage specials. Each purchase of a featured item earns a customer one contest entry. The more featured items purchased, the more opportunities to win.

Customers who swipe their Rutter’s Rewards loyalty cards when they purchase the featured items automatically are entered into the drawing. Customers who purchase the featured items without using a Rutter’s Rewards card receive an entry form that can be filled out and dropped in a designated box at any Rutter’s.

A Rutter’s Rewards card is even more beneficial if it is registered. The contact information provided at registration will make it easier for Rutter’s to notify winners.

The participating contest sponsors are Coca-Cola, Davis Beverage, Edy’s Grand Ice Cream, Glaceau, Jack and Jill Ice Cream, Kunzler & Co., Monster Beverages, Nestle Waters, Pepsi Cola, Pennsylvania Lottery, Red Bull, Rutter’s Dairy and S&D Coffee.

The contest is open only to legal residents of Maryland and Pennsylvania who are at least 18 years old. No purchase is necessary to participate. Official rules are available at all Rutter’s stores and at www.rutters.com.

Family-owned and third generation-managed, York-based Rutter’s (www.rutters.com) operates 55 convenience stores in York, Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin and Lancaster counties.
###