Author: Neal Saye

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 8/8/25

Posted on by Neal Saye

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. Stone fruit still life.

And what Robert made with it …

Clafoutis.

“Clafoutis is a French dessert made with fruit covered in a batter that consists of eggs, sugar, milk, and flour. It’s a thick custard that is similar to flan in texture. It is usually made with cherries, but other fruits can be used as well.” prettysimplesweet.com

Oh my goodness! It was wonderful.

We invited Tillamook strawberry ice cream to join us for breakfast. 

2. Grandson Daniel, singing “Come What May” (from Moulin Rouge) with his girlfriend Amalie at a recent concert. Daniel’s last Savannah performance before his freshman year of college.

3. Realizing that every minute is a new beginning.

4. HR and purple.

5. Seeing this on my walk this morning. And realizing that it is a truth that life finds a way.

Even if we are not always happy about that outcome.

May you be happy about the outcome of this weekend ahead!

Posted in Delicious Joy

One-Word Wednesday 8/6/25

Posted on by Neal Saye

“Smoothie”

I love making smoothies without following any specific recipe.

This morn I noticed that our last Banana was on the Brink of Bereavement, so I asked if he would like to go for a final swim with his buddies Pineapple, Strawberry, Spinach, Turmeric, and Cayenne.

“ Yes, let me peel off what I’m wearing and I’ll jump right in!”

HR … trying to “encourage” Smoothie.

Posted in Monday Moaning or Monday Marveling?

Monday Moaning or Monday Marveling? 8/4/25

Posted on by Neal Saye

Well, I suppose that I am Marveling this morning, but with a side of Moan.

My favorite rose relief at Bonaventure

Yesterday morn, instead of attending our beautiful and inclusive Asbury Church here in Savannah, Robert and I played hooky. Since it was an unusually cool reprieve from our stiflingly serious summer heat, I suggested we drive over to Savannah‘s iconic Bonaventure Cemetery and do what we have not been doing much this summer … walk outside.

What a beautiful, old cemetery/park, along a bluff of the tranquil Wilmington River.

We took our time, walking quietly, almost meditatively, under the ancient live oaks and magnolias. A morning breeze (amazingly refreshing for early August!) invited the Spanish Moss to a ceremonial Dance of the Dead above our heads.

About an hour into this Sauntering Sunday Service, I somewhat wearily gazed through the overgrown and dark green “we-bloomed-months-ago” azalea bushes.

And saw it.

“Let’s walk over there, Robert.”

A small mausoleum, circa 1927, darkened and a bit crumbling with age and wear, the small double doors having patinated over the decades into a glorious, deep metallic green.

The Schroder family whispered us closer, even offering me a little sitting of rest (which I desperately needed).

‘Neal, look behind you,” HR quietly instructed.

Someone (who?) had placed a single, long-stemmed, radiantly red rose at the foot of the doors, below the two “S’s.”

(My last name is Saye, Robert’s is Smith, I for some reason thought.)

“Pick it up.”

I obeyed, trying to avoid the thorns.

I have been dealing with some frustrating physical issues (thorns!) lately—causing me to be a bit out of sorts with the world and with life.

73 years come with challenges.

Then again …

Anne Bronte

And I still crave the rose.

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 8/1/25

Posted on by Neal Saye

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. Our hibiscus FINALLY blooming.

2. This fancy butter at a new breakfast place the other day. (It doesn’t take too much to make me happy.)

3. Robert, sitting outside the new breakfast place, Bread and Butter—inside Auspicious Bakery. With leftovers.

4. Always having enough food to eat. What a blessing.

5. Finding fantastic pimento cheese at a local produce stand.

May you find a Fantastic Something this first weekend in August.

Posted in One-Word Wednesday

One-Word Wednesday 7/30/25

Posted on by Neal Saye

“Patriotism”

Browsing through the clearance section at Hobby Lobby today, I rsn across this …

“Robert!” I shrieked across several aisles where he was searching for dragonfly figurines in the garden gnome section (Don’t get me started). “Quick! Please! Come take my picture!”

Used to my impromptu requests, HR fairly quickly found me, put down his two garden figurines (which looked more like weird birds than dragonflies to me) and took this photo.

I love the Profound Truth of Twain’s Patriotic Proclamation!

In solidarity with many Americans, I am having a great deal of trouble supporting the current administration’s Dangerous Dismantling of Democracy.

And I wholeheartedly believe that we should and must make our dissatisfaction known.

Walking into our kitchen when we got home, I glanced at the fridge and thought to myself, “Yes, Mark Twain, I know you were being humorous, but you are also so very correct!”

And I make that … Refrigerated Proclamation as a Patriot of my Country, the United States of America.

Posted in Challenges

Staying Alive 🎶

Posted on by Neal Saye

The mid-summer heat is incredible down here in my Savannah, Georgia—as it seems to be in much of our weathered nation.

—————————————————-

Yesterday afternoon here in Savannah 

Real Feel of 114? Seriously?

cnn

On early morning walks (it’s far too hot for me to walk midday), I have noticed one resilient plant that seems to not only survive in this oppressive heat and brutal sunshine, but actually to THRIVE.

Crepe Myrtle

“Some plants perform best when the heat is on; Crape Myrtles revel in the sun and heat. They are summer show-offs.  In full bloom this beautiful shrub/tree radiates color, sporting a full head of crinkled, “crepe” like blooms in various shades.” aldenlane.com

May we follow crepe myrtle’s exemplary leadership in this very hot time in our nation.

It’s dangerously hot, but we will stay alive!

Posted in Monday Moaning or Monday Marveling?

Monday Moaning or Monday Marveling? 7/21/25

Posted on by Neal Saye

I’m moaning this Monday over an incredible injustice that happened recently near me here in South Georgia.

The librarian in the middle of the photo below, Lavonnia Moore, was fired from her position at the Pierce County Library.

“Why?” you ask.

Lavonnia oversaw a patron-led display of children’s books with the theme “Color Our World.” One book on display, When Aiden Became a Brother, features a beautifully loving trans young person.

I went to our local library, found the book, sat down with Robert and read it.

A heartfelt rendering of love, care and acceptance.

Here’s a link to an article about the firing injustice:

South Georgia library manager fired for trans-inclusive display

Add a link to another article about common sense folks who are trying to reverse the decision.

https://share.google/ZQYpEC31wmqtKuA7G

May our artists, poets, librarians, and readers continue to have freedom in these troubled United States.