Posted in Holiday Joy, Holidays and Seasonal Changes

Sunday Evening Shenanigans

It’s St. Patrick’s Day eve, and as Robert and I have done the last five or six years, we hightail it out of Dodge (well, Savannah).

“Why,” you may be asking. “Doesn’t Savannah have one of the nation’s largest and most celebrated St. Patrick’s Day bashes/parades?”

Yes, it does. And we have enjoyed them in the past.

But here comes the rub. I moved to Savannah back in 2009, as I was semi-retiring from Georgia Southern University (about an hour north of SAV). I have lived in two Savannah locations , and (incredibly) BOTH were directly on the parade route, which initially sounded great. And I suppose initially it was.

But as the years went by, I began to see aspects of the parade’s insanity. Don’t get me wrong, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations can be so much fun and meaningful: the Greening of the Fountains, the Celtic Cross Ceremony in Emmet Park, the Jasper Green Ceremony in Madison Square, etc.

Savannah’s population is around 150.000, and the parade usually draws at least that many more visitors. And living on the parade route, we have witnessed disappointing human behavior outside our door. Our potted plants being trampled, thrown and broken on the pavement, even urinated upon. (TMI?). Partiers loudly camping outside our door all night the night before the parade.

So anyway, we drove an hour or so south of us to St. Simons Island to a quaint little retro motel (not hotel). Queen’s Court Inn:

We are currently high-energetically super-celebrating St. Patty Eve.

My helpers:

And Robert’s:

It’s deliciously quiet here. And raining softly outside.

celebrate (with a small “c”).

Posted in Beauty, Holiday Joy

Taizé One 3/12/25 “Light”

Tonight was the first of our church’s five Taizé services during the Lenten season leading up to Easter Sunday. (Asburymemorial.org)

I LOVE the quiet, almost somber, beauty of Taizé.

A little about the history of Taizé:

“The Taizé prayer service is from an interfaith community founded in Taizé, France in 1940. A Taizé service provides a meditative style of song and prayer known for its simplicity and focus on Christ. Today the Taizé community comprises those of Catholic and Protestant backgrounds from regions around the globe. At a Taizé service we pray as we sing, as we reflect on the Scripture reading, as we sit in silence, and as we offer our prayers to Christ.” jaxcathedral.org

TONIGHT’S INVITATION: “Come into this place of peace and let its silence heal your spirit; Come into this place of memory & let its history warm your soul; Come into this place of prophecy and power and let its vision change your heart.”

Tonight’s theme focused on light.

And the MUSIC/CHANT:

“Lord Jesus Christ, your light shines within us.

Let not my doubts, and my darkness speak to me.

Lord Jesus Christ, your light shines within us.

Let my heart always welcome your love.”

Whatever your belief, or lack of, may Peace be your Portion at this time of year.

Posted in Holiday Joy

Georgia Day

February12

Today is “Georgia Day,” which commemorates the 1733 landing of English explorer James Edward Oglethorpe and a group of settlers as they climbed up the bluff from the Savannah River onto what would become my hometown of Savannah.

(HR and I live a few streets over from that bluff.)

So Georgia is on my mind this morn. And here’s our Ray Charles singing about that very sentiment.

Posted in Holiday Joy

Christmas Morning Walk in Savannah

After we gobbled down our Christmas Toast, searched through our Christmas Stockings …

… and opened our Christmas Gifts …

Robert and I headed out for our Christmas Morning Walk here in Historic District Savannah.

Festive beauty had us marveling.

Now, that’s a bow!

Joyful Christmas Season to You!

Posted in Holiday Joy

Peaceful Christmas Eve To You All

I have shared this little virtual Christmas card on my blog before (I received it from a dear sweet friend several years ago), but it is just so very meditatively “Christmas Eve Simple Peaceful” that I thought I would post it again.

Bethlehem‘s in sight!