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 1/9/26

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 12/5/25

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 11/20/25

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. Robert’s little red hat under Burger King’s new lights … which look like a gargantuan burger. See the top bun on the right?

2. Remembering last Sunday and Savannah Photo Club’s Third Sunday Photo Walk. (Whew. That’s a mouthful.)

We met at the newly opened and very cool Laundry Diner …

… and walked about a mile around the Thomas Square neighborhood.

Most folks had these fancy cameras (including Robert), some with lens as long as my forearm, but I tagged along, head held high, with my trusty iPhone.

Perhaps the thing I love most about the monthly walk, other than the photo snapping and the socializing, is the opportunity to really SEE your city, up close and personal, which can only be done on foot.

Oh, we finished up the walk back at the diner, sharing a … little BLT.

3. The ability to walk. Oh my goodness, what an “I usually take it for granted” blessing!

4. Simple beauty.

Centerpiece on a lunch table recently

5. Attending an absolutely fascinating interview at our local Jepson Center for the Arts, featuring New York-based costume designer for stage and film Tracy Christensen.

After talking about the behind-the-scenes work involved in dressing characters, Tracy specifically delved into her collaborative role with Glenn Close and the Broadway reprisal of Sunset Boulevard in 2017.

Miraculously, Robert and I were in NYC and able to see the brilliant actress as Norma Desmond on the very final day of the production.

A few samples of Close’s archive of outfits she wore in various projects over the years on display at The Jepson.

Look! There’s HR, walking down his own pretend runway.

May Happiness and Good Health be your Costume this Weekend.

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 11/14/25

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. Buying my first bunch of mid-fall Southern fresh collards at our favorite little neighborhood grocer here in Savannah, The Red and White.

With hog jowls, adding the flavor of yesteryear and Granny. Dinner tonight with Beef Brisket and my jalapeño cornbread.

2. Napping with Benny.

3. The ability to REMEMBER.

What is something you remember with fondness this Friday?

Right now I’m remembering how excited Robert was last Christmas sitting between Santa and Mrs. Claus.

And I realize I’ve had almost a year now to tell HR that there is no real Santa, but with that smile, I just can’t quite bring myself to do it.

4. Pain medication when we need it.

5. The glorious Introduction to the Holidays Robert and I experienced today at the annual Holly Days Luncheon and Bazaar hosted by the incredible women of St. John’s Church here in Savannah.

We’ve been walking across the Historic District for years now to experience this delicious snd elegantly festive day.

The lunch was held at the church’s beautifully historic Green-Meldrim House, which …

greenmeldrimhouse.org

I opted for the BBQ plate, HR the salad trio.

We were GREATLY distracted while eating our lunch because of the Huge Dessert Table right next to us.

I chose the Red Velvet Cake with homemade whipped cream, while Robert got the Guinness Chocolate Cake with whipped cream and fruit compote. (He’s fancy.). He asked for a tall glass of glass of Guinness to go along with it, but he did not get what he asked for.

And post-lunch we loved walking through the Silent Auction area.

Look! A Nanny Bench! (Truthfully, I had never heard of such a thing before.)

See that little railing on the left side. That’s where Nanny plops down Baby so she can snooze a bit while rocking the bench.

Speaking of sitting, check out this beautiful little window alcove.

Let’s get closer and into the light.

Do you think it would be okay if I sat down for just a sec on that gigantic comfy- and angelic-looking pillow?

By the way, it was the golden mirror for sale, not the pretty pillow. My silent offer of $4.99 didn’t get very far, darn it.

But we did pick up a couple of books …

… and some homemade vegetable soup for another day …

We were certainly Well Fed in Every Way at this year’s fun-filled Holly Days.

May you have a healthy weekend and be Fed with a substantial Serving of Joy.

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 11/7/25

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. Realizing last Saturday night that I can, as Cher so desperately wished, turn back time.

Goodbye, daylight savings time.

2. Embracing (well not literally) the Joy of Candles! Especially autumnal pumpkin spice-smelling candles.

(My heart was a bit broken recently when I discovered that pumpkin spice really has nothing to do with actual pumpkins. It’s called “pumpkin spice,” of course, because those spices are frequently found in pumpkin pie. Wouldn’t you think someone my age would know that?)

3. The ability to smell. (Well, most of the time.)

4. Our little potted Japanese Maple (aka JM), stubbornly refusing to admit that it is now FALL.

Here’s our little fellow about this time last year …

I haven’t shown the photo to JM. I don’t want to rush him and be one of those parents who cause their kids to develop “hurried child syndrome.”

5. And finally, this is a follow-up to my post the other day about finding those little Jesus figurines (!) on the gas pump at Kroger. Remember?

Well, yesterday HR and I went to Publix for our weekly It’s-Wednesday’s-buy-one-get-one-free shopping spree.

We were minding our own business, when lo and behold, I looked down at the BOGO queso and saw …

Wait. Look closer.

See Him?!

Yet another Little Jesus! Seriously!

I made Robert snap a photo for documentation (quickly, because people were beginning to stare.)

Somebody must SERIOUSLY be on a mission here in Savannah.

And may you complete a Serious Mission to find some Autumn Happiness this weekend.