A weekly round-up of various things that provided me with joy and happiness.
My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.
1. The joy of very simple food.
2. The joy of … fancier food.
3. The incredible sense of taste! What a blessing.
4. Colorful trash cans on a visit to Greene Acres Farm in Cochran GA.
5. The color of not-quite-ripe strawberries.
May you have a ripe weekend ahead.
My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.
1. Morning Glory.
2. Simple Beige Beauty.
3. The inhale and the exhale.
And the oft-forgotten mindfulness of the inhale and the exhale.
4. The Breath of Fresh Air Robert and I are experiencing with the television reality series, “Love on the Spectrum.”
“Overview: Seven adults with autism dive headlong into a dating group to explore the unpredictable world of romance, tackling misconceptions about both themselves and how they want to live.” (Series Website)
We recently stumbled upon season two and are working through it now.
5. Playing hide and seek with a Japanese Flowering Cherry tree near us here in historic district Savannah.
May you experience a Bit of Play somehow this spring weekend.
My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.
1. Walking to one of my favorite reading spots a couple of blocks from us here in Historic District Savannah on the bluff overlooking the Savannah River.
2. Being able to walk!
3. Friendly farm animals yesterday at Hunter Cattle Company in Brooklet GA, where we bought beautiful grass-fed ribeye steak.
4. More of Savannah’s Spring Beauty.
5. Looking for the Tree Spirits at various spots around Saint Simon’s Island (Georgia).
(I’m working on a post about the dozen or so “spirits” we found recently.)
May you spring into a Happy and Healthy Weekend ahead.
My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.
1. The delicious simplicity of a good hot dog.
2. Completing 1800 meditation sittings with my Happier app.
SURELY I should be a little more enlightened by now?!
3. The ability to … Stretch. I’m having some arthritis issues, and simple stretching often helps with the pain.
4. My old front door. It has welcomed us home many a time.
5. Benny needing his rest this morn (on my I’m-still-wearing-them Christmas jammies).
My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.
1. A small twig of rosemary I snatched from a mature bush and placed on our car’s dash.
A tiny bit of natural beauty and heavenly aroma.
(It obviously doesn’t take much to make me happy.)
2. This photo from daughter Emily on our family text thread this week …
And her accompanying comment: “Just me and my tiny lap dog.”
My response: “Can you still breathe?”
Emily: “Breathing is overrated.”
3. Truth I saw displayed on a church in Macon, Georgia, where we were visiting last weekend.
4. The ability to (still) walk up and down stairs.
Robert and I live in a mid-19 century building with steep, tiny stairs.
5. Pine.
May you find much happiness this weekend. Or at least a little.
My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.
1. Watching this beautifully tall and obviously-in-love couple leaning toward each other at Amerson River Park in Macon, GA yesterday. (Robert and I were taking a walk, waiting for time to check into our Airbnb.)
May they live happily ever after.
2. Finishing a fascinating novel about the timely subject of trans men and women. Both hilarious and heartwarming. I’m so glad we found the book.
This is the 198th book Robert and I have read together.
May we continue to be able to read what we want to read in this nation – and not only what “the government” wants us to read.
3. The ability to feel — physically feel. I have been struggling with more arthritis pain than usual lately. Frustratingly, in several areas of my body. And I’m a big baby when it comes to pain.
As I was moaning and groaning recently, HR reminded me that at least I can feel. Some people can’t even do that. After fighting off the urge to inflict pain upon him, I realized he is right.
4. Once we settled into our Airbnb (three rooms of a crumbling but still beautiful Southern mansion in Macon’s Old Town), we went out onto the huge shared front porch …
… and were promptly welcomed by the Friendly Neighborhood Greeter.
5. Our Travel Buddies (who go with us everywhere) hovering under the tulips HR picked up to brighten our Airbnb.
May you pick up something to brighten your weekend ahead!
My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.
1. Signs of approaching Springtime in Savannah.
2. The ability to hear. And to mindfully know, in the moment, that we are hearing.
3. Boardwalks. Especially as they weather and age a bit.
4. This cool sign we came upon this morn in Savannah’s eclectic and edgy Victorian District.
5. Rest.
May you have a restful weekend ahead.
My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.
1. The amazingly resilient beauty of Savannah’s Resurrection Fern.
The green plant growing on the live oak tree behind me, Pleopeltis polypodioides, commonly known as Resurrection Fern, is “a native plant known for its ability to survive extreme dehydration and revive when exposed to water. Appearance and behavior: During dry periods, the fern shrivels and turns brown, resembling a dead clump of leaves. It can lose up to 97% of its water content, while most plants can only tolerate a 10% loss.”
“When it rains, the fern uncurls and turns green within hours.” National Wildlife Federation
(I need a little of what it has!)
2. Recognizing that two out of three isn’t bad.
3. Going on a fascinating Savannah Port Tour this week.
Savannah has one of the busiest ports in the nation. We live a few blocks from the Savannah River, walk along it often but have never toured the port.
Fascinating!
There’s also a massive yacht repair facility …
What a fun couple of hours.
4. The joy of simple, delicious food.
I love being able to pull my grandmother’s large cast iron skillet off our cool, little rack …
… and toss in a couple of seasoned chicken thighs, along with whatever vegetables are on hand (cherry tomatoes, carrots and onions this time).
5. The truth of this little placard outside a business on a recent morning walk here in Savannah.
Whatever your definition of “good” may be, may you have it this day … and this weekend.
My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.
1. This beyond-delicious morning coffee at one of our favorite coffee shops here in Savannah, Origin Coffee Bar.
“Southern Frost: A cozy orange and cardamom flat white with your milk of choice.”
Of course, I didn’t really know the definition of a “flat white.”
Hello, Google.
“A flat white is an espresso drink made with steamed milk and microfoam, resulting in a velvety texture and creamy taste. It’s smaller than a latte or cappuccino, but stronger due to less froth and milk. The milk in a flat white is velvety and not diluted with foam, highlighting the coffee’s nuances. Flat whites are made with a 2:3 coffee-to-milk ratio, compared to 1:2 for cappuccinos.” coffeebeancorral.com
TMI?
2. The Joyful Ability to Walk!
3. Getting caught in a DOWNPOUR yesterday morning on busy Bay Street near us here in Savannah.
My thoughts earlier as we headed out the door, umbrella-less, into threateningly dark clouds: “Oh we have time to dash down the street for a twenty-minute constitutional.”
4. Laughter!
5. A Happy Valentine’s Day 2025!
My cards from HR …
May you have a sweet weekend ahead!
NealEnJoy 