Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 1/23/26

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. Robert MORE than enjoying his all-you-can-eat crab legs dinner at Tin Fin, a little seafood restaurant we discovered near where we are staying for a few weeks while our Savannah place is being renovated.

2. This old mailbox at our temporary country farmhouse.

See? Old can still be noteworthy and pretty, even with its age spots and creaky hinges.

3. Our amazing bodies, which are always trying to persuade us to appreciate them and to take care of them.

4. A Cute Coincidence …

But first a little background: HR and I agree on many things BUT NOT ABOUT COFFEE. He’s a Starbucks fellow while I love Dunkin Donuts. And here in Rincon GA, fairly close to the farmhouse, there is a Dunkin Donuts a few doors down from a Starbucks.

So here’s what we do when we go out for morning coffee: Pop in to Dunkin Donuts to get mine and then head to Starbucks for Robert’s — and to sit a spell with our iPads.

My blasphemous DD proudly (arrogantly?) holding his own inside a Starbucks.

Oh, and here’s the Cute Coincidence: My barista at DD is named Winter, while Robert’s at Starbucks is Autumn.

5. Yesterday HR and I took a day trip across the Savannah River (yes, we’re still close to the river, an hour away from our home, which is two blocks from the river!) over to the Webb Wildlife Management Area in South Carolina.

The Webb’s entrance … and Robert.
Majestic Pines 

And here’s a little recording of bird sounds at the Webb’s rookery. (LOTS of LOUD birdies but hidden from view in the thick brush.)

TIB (Truth in Blogging): I had to look up the definition of a “rookery.” I was getting it confused with a “bird blind.”

“A rookery is a crowded, communal nesting or breeding colony, most commonly referring to birds like herons, egrets, or rooks.”

Cypress “knees” in Lake Bluff.

May you hike into some joy this weekend.

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 1/17/26

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. Outdoor winter lunch at the farmhouse.

Voila! Hambone Soup

And it’s just warm enough to eat outside. It = weather as well as soup.

2. Reading/skimming through this beautifully delightful book about flowers.

And then going outside the farmhouse to practice …

Okay, maybe I won’t win any floral awards. But it was fun.

3. Being able to stay warm in the cold of winter. What a blessing!

Brrr. Savannah!

4. This ceiling light at a local indoor—outdoor restaurant.

5. The neat coincidence of Grandson Gabriel re-entering his recent high school basketball game just as an advertisement for his parents’ medical company flashed on the screen behind him.

http://www.coastalcarepartners.com

May you have some neat coincidences this weekend!

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 1/9/26

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. These gorgeous Paperwhite Narcissus jewels blooming in the yard of the old farmhouse (in January!) where Robert and I are staying while our kitchen and living room get a renovation.

2. Daughter Amy and her Hubby Scott being named one of Savannah’s “Power Couples” in the current issue of Savannah Magazine.

Old Proud Dad

3. Simplicity.

The older I get, the simpler I desire my life to be.

4. Good deals.

5. Anything Cardinal.

Sun catcher gift 

May you catch some joy this weekend.

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 1/2/26

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. Kitty Benny in black and white on my lap the other morning.

2. Blessings of the New Year waiting to be revealed.

3. The wonderful ability to Breathe Deeply.

4. Robert and my New Year’s Eve/New York Strip cookout.

It was warm enough to eat outside.

5. Remembering this festively pedaling Santa that HR and I saw in Manhattan a few weeks ago.

May you make some Memories of Good this first weekend of the New Year.

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 12/26/25

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. This little golden tree I saw on a walk the other day.

2. Robert’s Christmas Morning Breakfast …

Apple and Bacon Sundae Cups

Okay, maybe now it seems more like Christmas Breakfast/Dessert.

3. Holiday Joy.

4. Benny’s favorite gift …

Kitty Stocking Scratcher.

5. Granddaughter Madison … a beautiful gift.

Maybe a few more than Five Happy Bringers this Holiday Friday.

Holiday Bathroom

Incredible Christmas Lights Display in Downtown Macon, Georgia

HR continuing to show up in Christmas mirrors

May you show up in Holiday Joy this weekend.

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 12/19/25

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. Very neat seasonal looks everywhere you turn.

HR and buddy Ellie at our church’s Christmas Party

2. Holidays and Seasonal Changes.

3. Robert’s Recent Rescue.

So the other afternoon HR and I drove over to Jesup GA to one of our very favorite Christmas Tree farms, Days of Creation.

We bought a pretty fresh wreath.

When we got home, Robert put the wreath, along with some branches of spruce, in our shower (!) to freshen them up with some cold water. (Some things in a marriage you simply put up with.)

Oh, that’s his life-size Mr. Nutcracker he plastered on the shower door.

In another room, I heard him yell/squeal, “Neal, look!”

It took me a minute to see the little fellow.

“What are you doing?!” I asked.

“I’m rescuing him, of course.”

His new home outside our door.

4. These amazing little slider hotdogs we had yesterday for lunch at local Sly’s Sliders and Fries.

Holiday Yum

5. Nearby church spires at dusk here in Savannah.

May you look around and see some Peaceful Beauty this last weekend before Christmas.

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 12/12/25

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

Robert and I have been up in Philadelphia this week for an anniversary getaway, so most of my Happy Bringers are found within our travel.

1. First, a few photographic mistakes I made during the week. Which are actually sort of cool.

2. Delicious and messy Philly Cheesesteak at Pat’s King of Steaks (who supposedly created the iconic sandwich).

3. The Joy of being able to travel a bit. Everybody certainly doesn’t have the luxury.

4. Well, …

It was our anniversary after all.

5. Unbeknown to HR and me while planning our Philadelphia trek … landing smack dab in the center of Philly’s Gayborhood.

The blue dot is our hotel, Alexander Inn.

Iconic gay bookstore, Giovanni’s Room, a short walk away.

May you have a Grand and Gay Weekend ahead!

P.S. As I write this post, Robert and I are on the Midnight Train to Georgia. (We arrive in Atlanta early morn.)

[We’re] leaving (leaving)
On that midnight train to Georgia (leaving on a midnight train)
Hmm, yeah
Said [we’re] going back (going back to find)
To a simpler place and time (and when [we take] that ride)
Oh yes,
[we are]”

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 12/5/25

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. This photo I snapped yesterday of an elderly couple, holding hands and walking into Walmart. For some reason, it sort of melted my heart for a moment.

Even in Christmas colors! 

2. Robert and I attending last night‘s annual Christmas tree lighting at the Jepsen Center for the Arts here in downtown Savannah.

The event featured a Fabulous Harpist (who we have seen at another downtown event or two).

And here’s Robert bothering her while she’s trying to perform.

TIB (Truth in Blogging): They were chatting, and she was excitedly telling Robert about how she unexpectedly started getting email checks for her work that somehow made its way … to Russia! TMI?

Look, The Clauses! (Is that how you spell their plural last name?)

I think she was the real Mrs. Claus. 
Robert apparently did too. 

I got HR a quick part-time job, taking festive photos of other revelers.

3. The good-feeling ability to be excited about seasonal changes and holidays. I know that it’s a blessing because many people are not happy at this time of year.

4. Beautiful Camelias, the “Winter Rose,” blooming all over downtown Savannah.

Hiding behind a courtyard wall

5. Beautifully delicious coffee (peppermint mocha) at Origin Coffee Bar.

Robert got a cookie with his coffee too, but it dropped in and melted. I laughed, a bit too loudly. He tried to even the score by saying that his coffee was much better with the melted cookie. 

**********************

And here I am trying to be all bohemian coffee shop-artsy …

May your happiness this weekend be better than a melted cookie.

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 12/28/25

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. Pulling out my parents’ colorful and old metal Thanksgiving Platter. Still beautiful, even with its chips and dents from decades of use.

2. Time once again for Neal’s Citrus Cranberry Sauce!

Wash

Cook

Serve & Eat

3. The hope that tomorrow might be better.

4. After Thanksgiving lunch …

… Robert taking photos of Daughter Amy and her fam for their 2025 Christmas card.

5. HR and a spot of wine.

May you drink heavily from the spring of joy this weekend.