Posted in The Artful Dodger, Unexpected Art

“The Artful Dodger“ #28

A blog category about finding “art” in unexpected places and situations

So recently Robert and I were enjoying our breakfast at the Huddle House over in Springfield GA. I chose the more-than-I-could-ever-eat Two Eggs and Country Ham Plate (Platter!) …

After about thirty minutes of diligently working on my feast, I got a tad bored and began playing with my food (I started that habit as a wee one decades and decades ago).

He emerged from the Huge Ham so I named him Hugh.

But WHAT is he? Some kind of little OtherCreature looking down at his stolen jewel?

And looky here, a little while later I saw Mama, pensively perched on her nest.

Who knew breakfast could be so, so FULL-FILLING-ly Creative?

Posted in One-Word Wednesday

One Word Wednesday 2/11/26

Blocked

Take a quick look at this three-second video of Grandson Gabriel (#2 in white and green) in his high school basketball game the other night in Savannah. He attempts to block the rival player from scoring and falls flat on his back!

You may have to watch it a couple of times since the video is so short and G is so small.

Ouch!

G’s (painful looking) end-of-game block was called a charge on the opposing Savannah Christian kid and was a big part of Country Day’s win because the basket didn’t count, stopping them from coming back.  

And here are the players’ reactions to the win against perhaps their biggest “enemy.”

That’s Gabriel directly in the center.

Youth, energy and excitement!

May we all win at something today!

Posted in Monday Moaning or Monday Marveling?

Monday Moaning or Monday Marveling? 2/9/26

Marveling this morning, at this INCREDIBLE meal I enjoyed recently at El Ximador, a little unassuming Mexican restaurant in the tiny South Georgia town of Springfield.

An acquaintance highly recommended that I try their potato tacos. I had never heard of potato tacos. The words “potato” and “taco” didn’t seem to go together to me.

But you only live once, so I ordered them.

Tacos De Papa: Crispy fried potato tacos filled with seasoned mashed potatoes, served shredded lettuce or shredded cabbage and sour cream.

I had mine topped with Carnitas (traditional crispy pork tenderloin).

Oh. My. GOODness! They were so very delicious.

Robert opted for their chimichanga …

… and raved about it too. But I didn’t really believe him. He kept sneaking bites from my plate when he thought I wasn’t paying attention.

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 2/6/26

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. Feeding the birds. In the midst of a bit of snow.

2. Benny on the old cast iron farmhouse bed.

3. Believing that tomorrow, though not promised, will more than likely occur.

4. Ms. Mop and Mr. Broom (a couple, I think) on the side porch at the farmhouse.

(More about their story later.)

5. HR entering a Valentine-y Kroger.

May you have a Weekend of Wonder.

Posted in One-Word Wednesday

One-Word Wednesday 2/4/25

“Yes!”

Y tree in the farmhouse yard.

I have this quirky (weird?) habit of noticing trees or bushes or sticks that are somehow divided into the shape of the letter Y.

Why the emphasis on Y, you ask?

Well, one time HR and I were hiking in the woods somewhere or other, and I was not feeling well. I might have been a tad frustrated at not feeling the way I wanted to feel.

I looked up from my self-pity and saw a bush that looked like a Y. Undoubtedly a very similar situation to Moses, the wilderness and the burning bush in the Old Testament.

For some reason, the Y bush made me think of the word “Yes.”

Which prompted me to think of what I wanted to be … Yes.

I wanted my health, my good health, to be “Yes!”

I can’t remember if I actually felt physically better after my Awakening in the Woods, but I do recall feeling better mentally. And maybe even laughing a bit at my childish wanting.

But the practice somehow stuck. And I see Y’s everywhere!

So …

Yes! … to good HEALTH.

Yes! … to daily opportunities to be KIND to others.

Yes! … to DEEP BREATHING and healthy lungs.

Yes! …

What would you like to say “Yes!” to today?

(P.S. I see Y’s in chicken bones too. Remember the pulley bone?)

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 1/30/26

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. The Joy of Sharing a Meal with Friends.

Peggy, Moi, Mike and HR at the very cool Public restaurant in Savannah.

2. Oh my GOODness, Tuesday’s breakfast at Ally’s Bakery in Rincon GA, near the farmhouse where we’re staying while our place in Savannah is being renovated.

Perfect quiche with oh-my-GOODness pastry

Made from scratch cinnamon rolls

Ally’s cakes and cookies are works of art. Check out some of her work/art on her website:

https://www.allysbakeryllc.com/

3. The amazing ability to SMELL! Walking into Abby’s the first time!

4. Laughing at discovering the outdoor shower at the old farmhouse where we are staying. The farm belongs to our friend Gordon who lives in Arizona but keeps his grandparents’ farm for visits to Georgia.

Of course it has been FAR TOO COLD try it out!

5. But wasn’t too cold for a tuna salad picnic outside the farmhouse the other day.

May it be warm enough for you to bask in some Weekend Joy ahead.