1. Having a bed. To lay my head on every night. What a blessing. And to share with my Robert.
The little black bedside lamp was a birthday gift to me from my parents when I was in junior high.
2. Memories—the beautiful as well as the not-so-pretty. They are all a part of our legacy of life.
3. The unique scent of pine.
4. Low country boil for lunch this week.
5. The many faces of pruning.
See them?
Morning walk around Lake Mayer here in Savannah.
May you catch glimpses of beauty this weekend.
1. Having lunch with our grandtwins at their new school for this year.
2. Slightly cooler mornings and evenings here in Savannah (in the 70’s), making our walks much more doable.
3. An alternative definition of “Pro-Life.”
On the bulletin board at our local health food store.
4. Reverent Dusk.
The spires of the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist near us on our evening walk last night.
5. Having Tybee Island (Savannah’s beach) just down the road from us.
I hope your weekend is filled with treasures.
1. Last night, making my Roasted Tomato Basil Soup (with fresh local tomatoes).
Beyond delicious, with Robert’s Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.
2. Being grateful for a car, my little vehicle which transports HR and me from one point to another.
I so often take my car for granted. Then driving through Savannah, I’ll look at the bus stops and see so many people who do not have cars.
3. My cute photographer husband.
Robert’s photography blog: Robert’sSnapSpot
4. Mr. Happy.
5. My chair in our study.
It’s where I sit just to sit. Or meditate. Or read. Or talk with Robert. Or argue with Robert.
May you sit in joy this weekend.
1. Robert’s beyond delicious Cast Iron Pizza with Fennel and Sausage …
2. Coming across one of my very favorite plants on the planet, a member of the elephant ear family. We found them creekside on a day trip over to nearby Bluffton, South Carolina. When I find them, I always have to touch them. I believe there is a magical and healthy joy there.
3. Waking up each morning to another day of discovery.
4. Brand new grand baby Novah Ti’amo.
5. Being okay with the realization that I have so much time on my hands I can ARRANGE breakfast fruit.
I hope you can arrange a beautiful weekend ahead!
1. Realizing that some broken things CAN be fixed.
My special wooden “N” (for Neal) that I somehow dropped and splintered.
But now it’s back on the top of my Desires Board, next to Mr. Happy and down just a bit from my Yes Stick. (Okay, I can see your furrowed brow. During the pandemic, HR and I traveled to a bunch of Georgia State parks, where we went on many a hike. I would often see a Y-shaped stick or tree branch on the trail and tell Robert it was a Yes Stick, to pause and think of something to say “Yes!” to. On one marvel-ous hike at Tugaloo State Park, HR saw this Y Stick, brought it home and shellacked it for us. Yes! TMI?)
2. The incredible ability to walk (which I usually just take for granted). To be able to put one foot in front of the other … and go forward! Try it!
3. Finally finishing with Robert this week the eye-, mind- and heart-opening A New Origin Story: The 1619 Project.
A difficult but so important read about the role that slavery and racism played in our nation’s founding—and continues to play in the U.S. today.
I wish its meticulously documented truths could be taught in every high school.
5. Butterflies
Callaway Resort and Gardens, Pine Mountain, GA
4. Soap. (For sensitive skin)
I wish you a joyfully clean weekend ahead.
1. My homemade pickled jalapeños … on everything.
This time a turkey, cheddar, lettuce, tomato and onion pita.
2. Truth …
3. Discovering Senior Citizens Inc. here in Savannah and attending a fascinating lecture, “The Rosenwald Schools: Challenge and Triumph.”
I bought the book!
4. Tomatoes, tomatoes, tomatoes.
5. My chair in our study! It has a personality of its own. It’s alive. It (he? she? they?) is a place of refuge for me. It’s where I read. And mediate. It’s where I sit in peace.
And where I often sit in not-so-peace when my anxiety, Truffles, comes a’knockin. (My anxiety protocol sheet is at the ready nearby in the magazine rack.)
And the checkered pillow?
I bought it for my father when he was in assisted living and early dementia.
When I lean back on it, I feel his strength.
May you sit in joyful peace this weekend.
1. Fresh local green beans.
2. Beautiful eyes.
3. The incredible ability to smell.
4. Peachy light and shadow.
5. Having a terrific therapist, Rubi, who consistently helps me lean toward healthy mental health.
May your weekend be one of peace.
1. Fresh South Georgia okra (my favorite summer vegetable—read more about that truth here) and corn. From Davis Produce not too far from us.
2. Grandtwins Madison and Matthew and their 10th birthday.
They are pure joy.
3. Understanding that each new day, when we wake up, is a gift. A gift to be cherished.
4. Robert and a black cat.
This is “Little Kitty,” my daughter Amy and son-in-law Scott’s cat. We took care of him when Amy and fam (big fam) were down at Universal Studios.
5. My little closet. It’s just mine.
And it reveals how I am a clothing minimalist (Do you really need more than about 30 items of clothing?) Actually I am an everything minimalist. But more about that later.
I hope your upcoming weekend is met with joy, good health, and wonder.
1. Celebrating with daughter Amy adding another physician to her medical company here in Savannah, Coastal Care Partners. This time a young new pediatrician.
So of course, Robert and I had to get in on the action (and free food). Here we are with Amy and her hubby, co-partner Scott at the ribbon-cutting.
2. The wind beneath my wings.
4. HR and I taking grandtwins Matthew and Madison, little Isabelle and ex-wife Donna to the Jepson Center for the Arts here in Savannah for a morning of exploration and joy.
4. The incredible ability to be thankful. And to recognize, celebrate all that we have — our lives, our breath, our hopes and dreams. Our feet and shoes to house them. Our fingers and their ability to touch.
5. HR letting me strategically place various items on his head for photographic practice …
… while he looks at a duck cookie sporting his name.
I hope you’re looking at a happy, healthy weekend ahead.
NealEnJoy 