Tag: Beauty

Posted in Beautiful Savannah

There’s a Story Here Somewhere

Posted on by Neal Saye

Walking through Savannah’s Colonial Park Cemetery this morning with HR, we came across this bench.

There has to be a story somewhere. Is the story’s central character Mary Helen Ray, whose name is on the bench?

Or maybe one of the nearly 700 folks who died during a yellow fever epidemic in Savannah: “The most macabre bit of history involves a subtly tweaked fact on a historical marker about the yellow fever. According to the marker, ‘nearly 700’ victims of the 1820 yellow fever epidemic were buried in a mass grave, but historical records allegedly show that exactly 666 people are buried in the grave. Nearly 700, indeed.” savannahnow.com.

Here’s a link to an interesting story about Colonial Park Cemetery: 

https://www.savannahnow.com/story/lifestyle/2021/08/04/savannah-history-cemeteries-colonial-park-yellow-fever-deaths-graves/5476392001/#

Oh, and for extra credit, here is Robert sitting in a bunch of ginkgo biloba leaves at one of the entrances to Colonial Park Cemetery …

That’s probably a story in itself.

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 2/21/25

Posted on by Neal Saye

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.

High School Basketballer Grandson Gabriel practicing three-pointers

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!

Here we are with our nee bestie tour buddies.

Captain Birdie’s flowing hair.

There’s also a massive yacht repair facility …

The white structure to the right is actually a large yacht which had been “shrink wrapped” for some kind of moisture-control work.

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).

Yum!

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.

Posted in Monday Moaning or Monday Marveling?

Monday Moaning or Monday Marveling? 2/10/25

Posted on by Neal Saye

Marveling this morning, remembering our beautiful visit to the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens in Jacksonville, FL last Friday.

It is one of our favorite art museums anywhere, but this time, because the weather was so beautiful, we decided to simply hang out in the gardens.

Pink camellias

Robert and a BIG oak tree …

Me, pausing by a reflection pool …

HR too …

See him?

Roses in February.

The gardens make up the “backyard” of the museum, along the mighty St. John’s River, with downtown in the distance.

MARVELOUS!

I think it’s important, perhaps now more than ever, that we finds things that cause us to pause and marvel.

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 1/24/25

Posted on by Neal Saye

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. My insanely delicious baked Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks for lunch yesterday. And so easy to make.

(I pretend they’re healthy, with the addition of the celery and carrots.)

2. Still marveling at our rare Snow-vannah we experienced this week.

Looking right and left outside the door of our old mid-1800’s apartment building …

What’s a snow shovel? And where on earth would you buy one? Or even want one? Isn’t snow supposed to melt the next day?

We also don’t have sleds or sleighs or whatever you use to careen playfully down snow-covered hills.

So you have to improvise. Here’s a little video of grandson Gabriel doing just that in his front yard.

That’s called Minimalist Sledding.

And other grandchildren in their backyard across the state from us in Columbus, Georgia …

But this morning, everything doesn’t look quite so angelically white and inviting. Why didn’t someone tell me the beautiful powder turns into gray and slushy mush?!

Who wants to slide in that?

3. The priceless blessing of a warm dwelling. I so often take it for granted, but I know that everyone is not so fortunate.

4. Lavender!

I love its restful, calming scent.

Dried lavender still smells good.

Beautiful Red Oak Lavendar Farm we visited recently up in Dahlonega GA

More dried lavender in our living room

H.R. and I have enjoyed chocolate-lavender candy bars, lavender cookies, lavender salt and lavender tea. Have you had lavender in other foods or drinks?

4. The ability to lean.

Mcmillan Creek Greenway, Jesup GA

May you lean into some Good Moments this weekend.

More years (decades!) ago than I care to admit.