Posted in Countdown to Christmas

12/1/21 — Countdown to Christmas: Our Travel Tree & Georgia State Parks

Well before the pandemic, Robert and I had started exploring our state’s 48 State Parks and 16 Historic Sites. Georgia has an absolutely dizzying array of parks, from the North Georgia mountains, to the piedmont, on down to the coastal plain, where we live in Savannah.

After months waiting out the pandemic, and coming down with severe house-stir-craziness, we decided to venture out again … experimentally.

What a glorious time we had, getting reacquainted with or being introduced to our state’s natural splendors.

We would reserve a cabin for a Monday and stay several days before the weekend traffic arrived.

Oh, btw, here’s our nerdy state park magnet board …

Now that December is here, and we are on our Countdown to Christmas, Robert and I have put up our Travel Tree. What’s a Travel Tree, you ask? It’s a Christmas tree, with each ornament from one of our travels over the years.

For this new blog category, “Countdown to Christmas: Our Travel Tree & Georgia State Parks,” I plan to briefly highlight one aspect of a different Georgia State Park each day till the Big Day.

Starting with one of our favorite, Tugaloo State Park, way up in Northeast Georgia near Lavinia.

Perhaps our greatest joy about this park was our very own private dock down the hill from our cabin. The dock extended out onto beautiful Lake Hartwell on the South Carolina border.

And here’s an absolutely pitiful pic (thankfully dark) of me shivering in the morning cold with my coffee.

And here’s one of Robert, inexplicably taking a picture of my coffee.

State Park Happiness!

Joyful First Day of Countdown to You!

Posted in Holiday Joy

Have You Counted Your Holiday Blessings? (Part Two)

A couple of days ago I encouraged you to consider, and attend to, the blessings that are in your life.  I hope you have taken a brief break from the Christmas rush, and done so.

Here’s my Counting Continued:

6.  Sitting Down and Sitting Still for a few minutes.

7.  A Christmas Visit with my parents (father–91, mother 87).

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8.  Sparkly Lights.

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9.  Appreciating my local Savannah Police.  Our police men and women are the first folks we usually call when something goes awry in our homes, neighborhoods and cities.

THANK YOU, BLUE!

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10.  The ability to see.

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Are you counting your holiday blessings?

Posted in Encouragement, Holiday Joy

Have You Counted Your Holiday Blessings? (Part One)

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Have you done so this holiday?  Blessings come in SO many forms and dressings.  I urge you to take a sheet of paper and number your joys.  Here is a sampling of mine:

1.  I had to miss my seven year-old grandson Daniel’s first piano recital earlier this week.  (I was SO frustrated.)  Tonight at my family’s early Christmas dinner, I walked in the door and daughter Amy had arranged for Daniel to dress back up in his Calvin Klein suit and play Jingle Bells (as he did at the recital).  It melted my heart.

 

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(Okay, I’m not sure about the sunglasses either.)

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(Absolute grandfather joy.)

Here’s Daniel at the actual recital:

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2.  The ability to smell Christmas.

3.  Enjoying the power of silly.

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4.  Hosting a Holiday and Hot Toddy Chili Party Saturday night.

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What fun!

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Good buddies Ellie, Jamie and Brennan.

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I read “A Cup of Christmas Tea” to the twenty-something guests–and asked them to think about a person important in their upbringing to toast at the end of the story.  I urge you to do the same.  Who encouraged you along your way?

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“Let’s raise a cup of Christmas cheer, to family and loved ones far and near.”

So take a few moments, and with Bing, count your blessings:

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5.  Tree shadows on a wall during a walk the other night.

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What are a few of your Holiday Blessings?  Come on, share a few.

Posted in Where Happiness Finds You

Amelia BeNEALia — Part Two

Evening view from condo on Amelia Island, taken with Iphone camera:

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Would you believe me if I told you I made this huge Christmasy gingerbread ship, the S.S. Ginger Amelia, all by myself?

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No?  Why not?

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And what a treasure it was!

Now look at the size of this Christmas tree compared to me!  (It’s right next to the ocean, by the way.)  Daytime pic:

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Night pics:

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Islands make me so very happy!

Posted in Holiday Joy, The Joy and Wisdom of Children

Santa, Baby

Grandtwins Madison and Matthew:

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Grandsons Gabriel and Daniel:

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Most awkwardly funny moment of the holiday so far–wait, let me set the scene.   We were in the incredibly beautiful and highbrow lobby of the Ritz-Carlton–Buckhead in Atlanta over the weekend.  Just past these Dickensian carolers:

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Resplendent Santa standing by the fireplace, creating a perfect Christmas tableau, with adoring children all around.  Without warning and with great, earnest conviction, five-year-old grandson Daniel yelling, “He’s a Fake!”  His parents threatening loss of Christmas coming.

Joyful Christmas to you!

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Posted in Savannah Joy

Jones Street

Jones Street, in Historic District Savannah, exudes grace, grandeur and the beauty of yesteryear at any season–but especially so at Christmas time.  Last night I took a holiday stroll down her brick and cobblestone sidewalks.

A sampling of the visual feast I enjoyed:

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It’s amazing what beauty you see when you look for it.

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