Author: Neal Saye

Posted in My Saturday Evening Post

My Saturday Evening Post: 2/7/25  “A Farmhouse Goodbye”

Posted on by Neal Saye

So yesterday, Robert and I cleaned up the old farmhouse in Southeast Georgia where we have been staying for the last month while our downtown Savannah place was being renovated.

Did the last of the laundry (no dryer) …

I actually enjoyed (well, for a temporary time) the sensation of hanging wet washing on the clotheslines among the Spanish Moss.

We started loading boxes and bags in the kitchen for the return trip.

Looked down and saw him …

Benny in the Box.

He was ready to go home.

Enjoyed our last fire (the place had no central heat).

Enjoyed our unusual but FUN time in the snow a couple of days ago…

Sampled the “attractions” in the tiny town of Springfield GA (pop. 2,874) …

Our favorite Coffee/Bakery/Breakfast place …

And outdoor in January grilling and eating between the cold spells.

A Joyous Adventure. Thank you, Universe/God/Whomever for Such a Splendid Stay.

And that’s My Saturday Evening Post.

Saturday Evening Post
Saturday Evening Post
Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 2/6/26

Posted on by Neal Saye

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. Feeding the birds. In the midst of a bit of snow.

2. Benny on the old cast iron farmhouse bed.

3. Believing that tomorrow, though not promised, will more than likely occur.

4. Ms. Mop and Mr. Broom (a couple, I think) on the side porch at the farmhouse.

(More about their story later.)

5. HR entering a Valentine-y Kroger.

May you have a Weekend of Wonder.

Posted in One-Word Wednesday

One-Word Wednesday 2/4/25

Posted on by Neal Saye

“Yes!”

Y tree in the farmhouse yard.

I have this quirky (weird?) habit of noticing trees or bushes or sticks that are somehow divided into the shape of the letter Y.

Why the emphasis on Y, you ask?

Well, one time HR and I were hiking in the woods somewhere or other, and I was not feeling well. I might have been a tad frustrated at not feeling the way I wanted to feel.

I looked up from my self-pity and saw a bush that looked like a Y. Undoubtedly a very similar situation to Moses, the wilderness and the burning bush in the Old Testament.

For some reason, the Y bush made me think of the word “Yes.”

Which prompted me to think of what I wanted to be … Yes.

I wanted my health, my good health, to be “Yes!”

I can’t remember if I actually felt physically better after my Awakening in the Woods, but I do recall feeling better mentally. And maybe even laughing a bit at my childish wanting.

But the practice somehow stuck. And I see Y’s everywhere!

So …

Yes! … to good HEALTH.

Yes! … to daily opportunities to be KIND to others.

Yes! … to DEEP BREATHING and healthy lungs.

Yes! …

What would you like to say “Yes!” to today?

(P.S. I see Y’s in chicken bones too. Remember the pulley bone?)

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 1/30/26

Posted on by Neal Saye

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. The Joy of Sharing a Meal with Friends.

Peggy, Moi, Mike and HR at the very cool Public restaurant in Savannah.

2. Oh my GOODness, Tuesday’s breakfast at Ally’s Bakery in Rincon GA, near the farmhouse where we’re staying while our place in Savannah is being renovated.

Perfect quiche with oh-my-GOODness pastry

Made from scratch cinnamon rolls

Ally’s cakes and cookies are works of art. Check out some of her work/art on her website:

https://www.allysbakeryllc.com/

3. The amazing ability to SMELL! Walking into Abby’s the first time!

4. Laughing at discovering the outdoor shower at the old farmhouse where we are staying. The farm belongs to our friend Gordon who lives in Arizona but keeps his grandparents’ farm for visits to Georgia.

Of course it has been FAR TOO COLD try it out!

5. But wasn’t too cold for a tuna salad picnic outside the farmhouse the other day.

May it be warm enough for you to bask in some Weekend Joy ahead.

Posted in In Our Own Backyard

Slightly Swaying but NOT Shivering Magnolia

Posted on by Neal Saye

It is COLD here at the OLD farmhouse where Robert and I are staying for a few weeks.

When I woke up this morn, the temp was 21 with a Real Feel of 14.

Oh my goodness!

This is Savannah, NOT Alaska.

Back off, Winter!

When I looked out the screen door (Doesn’t that sound country-ish?), I saw her, standing resolutely, albeit shivering in the cold. A young, perhaps teen, Southern Magnolia tree.

I just felt so sorry for her. Until she said, a bit loudly I thought for early morning, “Don’t pity me, sir. I’m fine, more than fine. I’m a Steel Magnolia.”

And then I realized that she wasn’t shivering at all — she was dancing.

I asked if I could film her. She sighed, but I could tell she was game. She gave me her permission.

Even with her youth, she looked so at ease, at one with her world. Confident of her place, her space, her bearing.

And even though I’m old enough to be her grandfather (if I were a tree), I felt like I should ask her something.

But, finally, I didn’t. I just stood there watching, warmed and encouraged by her presence.