4. My (and your) ability to make decisions. To weigh pros and cons.
5. The Joy of Friday. Maybe it’s because I am a retired educator, but every Friday morning brings me a bit of unfiltered joy, the beginning of the weekend!
May this Friday introduce a joyous weekend ahead for you.
1. So Robert and I LOVE our local Bull Street Library. We are there FAR more often than normal people. Recently we discovered the library has a little program called The Spice Club. (I’m so glad it isn’t The Fight Club.) They feature a different spice every month or so. And they give you a little history of the spice, two or three recipes, and the spice itself!
Our first spice upon “joining” was Galangal. Okay, I know, I had never heard of it either. It’s a kissing cousin of Ginger. The recipe we chose to make was a delicious salmon dish.
The second spice … Black Peppercorn. We made two of the recipes. First, South African Chocolate Pepper Cookies. Differently Yum!
Here you go …
The second recipe, Citrus Melon Caprese with Black Pepper.
It was a hit! We will make it again and again.
We just got the latest spice … Dill. Here’s the little package you get each time there’s a new spice.
I think I’ll run for President of the Spice Club! Will you vote for me?
2. Our sense of Smell. Spices have such incredible aromas! Make a dash into your kitchen and take a whiff of two or three.
3. Dahlias.
4. The beauty of wood.
5. This fifth Happy Bringer may be a tad demented.
As you may remember from my “Hello Anxiety” posts, I drive about an hour north of Savannah every other week to see my therapist … “Rubi.” (What?! You don’t remember that?)
His office is in a beautiful old house on one of Statesboro’s main streets. And there’s something about the physicality and energy of the place that often grabs my attention when Robert drops me off. (On second thought, maybe I’m just trying to get my labored breathing to calm down a bit before “the talk” and more Neal-revelations.)
Well, yesterday I walked up the steps onto the screened porch and saw this:
Lo and behold. The vine (Virginia Creeper? Surely not a poison something or other!) had somehow trickishly/roguishly made his (her? Virginia’s?) way up through the porch floorboards and onto the innocent ivory rocking chair. WHERE CLIENTS/PATIENTS ARE SILENTLY INVITED TO SIT BEFORE VENTURING INSIDE.
Well, I had left my Hazmat suit back in the closet in Savannah, so I said No to the Sit and hightailed it through the door of the Amityville house to the reception area, locking the door securely behind me.
But there is something eerily wondrous, even edgy beautiful, about the determined little vine, don’t you think?
May you have a weekend Peppered with Joy and Peace.
We went down to Plant Riverside, had dinner, watched the ships and enjoyed a terrific jazz concert.
3. Being thankful for a new chiropractor who is helping me with my lower back and arthritis issues. I walked out of his office yesterday morning with NO PAIN for the rest of the day.
4. Laughing at the craziness of both Halloween and Thanksgiving already making an appearance. And in this summer heat!
Kroger near us
5. Tomato sandwiches!
I hope you have much to be “thanksgiving for” this weekend!
HR’s cool pasta salad, with tomato and turkey sandwiches at lunch yesterday (The red wine, brown sugar pickled beets might have stolen the show.)And a very yummy summer salad at our favorite neighborhood bar hangout, Midtown Sports, here in Savannah.
2. Discovering and hanging out at the Smallest Church in America (or so it proclaimed) an hour or so south of us near coastal Darien, GA
HR loudly ringing the smallest church’s bell. (Fun fact: I am actually an ordained minister.)
3. Baked Beans.
4. Love rocks!
5. Bell peppers.
The trio were featured prominently in HR’s sweet and sour pork supper.
May you have a coloful, bell-ringing weekend ahead!
NealEnJoy 