Tag: Happiness

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 3/6/26

Posted on by Neal Saye

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. Making it through this morning’s part two (of a three-part procedure) to—hopefully/fingers crossed—help my chronic lower back pain.

The fun description: “CPT 64493 – Left – Facet Injection, Lumbar/Sacral, a shot of pain numbing substance in one level of the lower back using imaging guidance or detailed pictures to diagnose or treat lower back pain.”

I’m such a baby that even with local anesthesia, I’m sort of out of it for much of the day. But I’m back to the land of the living now, working on this post.

2. Several cool outdoorsy photos Robert took a little while ago, probably to get away from me and my “recovery.”

Is it Spring yet?

3. Our bodies, which I continue to believe/hope know how to be well and are always trying to move toward wellness.

4. Pausing to appreciate the view from above.

5. Proud of Daughter Amy being named by the Savannah area’s United Way as one of the Women Who Rule panelists.

And this sweet text I got from great buddy Jamie Marie during the event …

May you have a weekend of things that bring you healthy pride.

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 2/27/26

Posted on by Neal Saye

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. Night beauty. Even at The Home Depot.

2. Coming across very neat posters.

I especially like the “Talk to the Flowers” suggestion.

3. The amazing ability to TALK and express ourselves.

4. Pets. If you’re a regular reader, I’m sure you get tired of seeing photos of Kitty Cat Benny. But what a positive difference pets can make to the quality of our lives.

5. My reading chair in our study.

Oh, the hours I have spent there exploring other worlds!

So much so that I have had to reupholster it. 

May you find somewhere to “sit in joy” this weekend.

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 2/20/26

Posted on by Neal Saye

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. Trying to get used to our new almost-finished violet/pink kitchen.

2. Having a blast at our church’s Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper (with its legendary toppings bar) the night before the beginning of Lent.

3. Our fantastic ability to TASTE. Have you expressed gratitude for that amazing joy lately?

4. HR contemplatively enjoying a muddy, but still beautiful, little pond.

5. At my old age, absolutely reveling in and enjoying the discovery of children books with powerful messages.

A book about the joy of food traditions in families

May you eat something this weekend that reminds you of … home.

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 2/13/26

Posted on by Neal Saye

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. Somehow finding moments of peace each day.

2. The Pride Flag returning to the iconic Stonewall Inn after the Homophobic and History-Erasing Trump Administration removed it.

cnn

(But who knows what the regime’s next move will be.)

3. The ability to feel sensations. Cold, warmth, etc. What a blessing.

4. Lap swimming at the beautiful Hinesville GA YMCA the other day.

I plan to make the U.S. swim team at the next Summer Olympics.

5. Our three “travel buddies” who go with us everywhere.

May you somehow “Travel to Joy” this weekend.

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 2/6/26

Posted on by Neal Saye

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 Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 1/30/26

Posted on by Neal Saye

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.

Posted in In Our Own Backyard

Slightly Swaying but NOT Shivering Magnolia

Posted on by Neal Saye

It is COLD here at the OLD farmhouse where Robert and I are staying for a few weeks.

When I woke up this morn, the temp was 21 with a Real Feel of 14.

Oh my goodness!

This is Savannah, NOT Alaska.

Back off, Winter!

When I looked out the screen door (Doesn’t that sound country-ish?), I saw her, standing resolutely, albeit shivering in the cold. A young, perhaps teen, Southern Magnolia tree.

I just felt so sorry for her. Until she said, a bit loudly I thought for early morning, “Don’t pity me, sir. I’m fine, more than fine. I’m a Steel Magnolia.”

And then I realized that she wasn’t shivering at all — she was dancing.

I asked if I could film her. She sighed, but I could tell she was game. She gave me her permission.

Even with her youth, she looked so at ease, at one with her world. Confident of her place, her space, her bearing.

And even though I’m old enough to be her grandfather (if I were a tree), I felt like I should ask her something.

But, finally, I didn’t. I just stood there watching, warmed and encouraged by her presence.

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 1/23/26

Posted on by Neal Saye

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.