Where the Magic Always Begins
When I was growing up, every year on the Fourth of July, something magical would happen.
Not just fireworks. Not just red, white, and blue. For our family, the day has always started with a treasure map — soggy around the edges, somehow washed up by the sea wall at Lake Oconee.
That’s when the pirate hunt begins.
Five grandkids in matching pirate shirts, armed with water guns and water balloons, piled into a pontoon boat-turned-pirate ship. Our captain? Poppy. Our behind-the-scenes mastermind? Nanny. Together, they made the world feel like a place where anything was possible.
We’d ride across the lake like true little pirates, hopping off at public camping spots, following clue after clue until we uncovered treasure: gold coins, candy, toys… whatever magic they had hidden that year. And every time — every single time — it felt real. Like they believed in the magic as much as we did.
The rest of the day? Pure summer excitement. Blow-up water slides in the backyard. Hot dogs and homemade ice cream. Sticky popsicles and sunburned shoulders. And then, as the day started to fade, we’d hop back on the boat, wrapped in towels, to watch fireworks burst over the lake. When we got home, sparklers waited for us on the dock ( because Nanny thought of everything).
Even now, though Poppy’s no longer with us, we come back to the lake. Every Fourth of July. Because the magic still lives here. Because we want to remember. Because we want to keep remembering.
This isn’t just a blog or a brand — it’s a love letter. To Nanny and Poppy. To the people who raised us to value family, tradition, and a little mischief. To the moments that matter and the memories that stick. To the magic that’s found in the simplest days, when you’re with the people you love most.
Welcome to Dear Poppy Co. A combination of moments, memories, and traditions shared with my best friend, Poppy.
Here, I’ll be sharing heartfelt blog posts, my favorite things, and a few treasures along the way — the kind you can hold onto, gift to someone else, or let inspire your own little traditions.
Because some stories are too good not to keep telling.
And this is where ours begins.
Key Takeaways:
Traditions are treasure. Whether it’s a pirate hunt, homemade ice cream, or sparklers on the dock — the little things become the big memories.
Joy doesn’t need to be extravagant. Some of the most magical days are made with hot dogs, lake water, and the people you love.
Legacy lives on through love. Even when someone we love isn’t physically with us, their joy, laughter, and traditions can still shape everything we do.
Family is everything. The people who know your stories (and still want to show up for them) are the greatest gift of all.
It’s okay to miss and celebrate at the same time. Holding space for both is what makes life so sweet.
