Posted in In Our Own Backyard, Where Happiness Finds You

Mr. Happy Goes to Charleston: A Photo Essay

Some of you may remember Mr. Happy (who is sort of my blog mascot).  Technically he is jointly owned by me AND grandson Daniel.  He lives in the back seat of my car (Mr. Happy, not Daniel) and helps me pick up Daniel from kindergarten a couple of days a week.

For months now, Mr. Happy has been nagging me for a train ride to Charleston, so early last Saturday morning, we hopped on board the 8:15 Amtrak bound for a one-night stay in the Holy City.

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Less than two hours later, we arrived  in beautiful Charleston, SC. (sister city of my hometown of Savannah).

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From the station, our Charleston taxi driver (who “drove” like a wild New York cabbie) whisked us to our hotel, the Best Western King Charles Inn in the historic district ( a very nice hotel–stay there sometime).

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The folks at the hotel treated us like royalty–especially Michael, Rhonda and Richard–and even gave us a beautiful upgrade … with rocking chairs on a balcony:

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After reading up on some sites to visit, Mr. Happy and I hit the road walking.

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We learned a bucketful of area history from guide extraordinaire Boyd Schuler when we toured the historic Edmondston-Alston House on the Battery overlooking the bay.

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I want that house to be MY house!  (If you have about four million extra dollars, please PayPal it to me ASAP.  Thank you.)

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We devoured some DElicious seafood at Hank’s.

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Went back to the hotel for a little rest …

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… before going to Godiva’s for some high-end chocolate.  Here’s Becky telling us about the latest Godiva and Charleston news:

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And co-worker Chris making chocolate strawberry footballs (WHY couldn’t the Falcons have won!!!):

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More touristing (is that an okay word?):

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And here we are at the Circular Congregational Church on Meeting Street.

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Pretending to preach:

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Time to go.

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A really fun trip for both of us.  See you next time.

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Posted in Life Experiences

Old and New

Over Christmas, I took this picture of my eighty-five-year-old mother, Geneva, and my five-month-old granddaughter Madison (of grandtwins Matthew and Madison fame).

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85 years.  5 months.  Two wonderful ages.  Old and young.

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“How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you were?”   ~Satchel Paige

Posted in Where Happiness Finds You

Amelia BeNEALia — Part Two

Evening view from condo on Amelia Island, taken with Iphone camera:

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Would you believe me if I told you I made this huge Christmasy gingerbread ship, the S.S. Ginger Amelia, all by myself?

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No?  Why not?

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And what a treasure it was!

Now look at the size of this Christmas tree compared to me!  (It’s right next to the ocean, by the way.)  Daytime pic:

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Night pics:

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Islands make me so very happy!

Posted in Holiday Joy, The Joy and Wisdom of Children

Santa, Baby

Grandtwins Madison and Matthew:

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Grandsons Gabriel and Daniel:

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Most awkwardly funny moment of the holiday so far–wait, let me set the scene.   We were in the incredibly beautiful and highbrow lobby of the Ritz-Carlton–Buckhead in Atlanta over the weekend.  Just past these Dickensian carolers:

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Resplendent Santa standing by the fireplace, creating a perfect Christmas tableau, with adoring children all around.  Without warning and with great, earnest conviction, five-year-old grandson Daniel yelling, “He’s a Fake!”  His parents threatening loss of Christmas coming.

Joyful Christmas to you!

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Posted in Savannah Joy

Jones Street

Jones Street, in Historic District Savannah, exudes grace, grandeur and the beauty of yesteryear at any season–but especially so at Christmas time.  Last night I took a holiday stroll down her brick and cobblestone sidewalks.

A sampling of the visual feast I enjoyed:

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It’s amazing what beauty you see when you look for it.

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Posted in Holiday Joy, The Joy and Wisdom of Children

Gratitude Turkey

I picked up Grandson Daniel (5) from school yesterday, and, hopping into his back seat, he excitedly showed me his just-completed Turkey Basket (well, that’s what he called it anyway).  As I soon learned, the turkey project was two-fold: first the cute little construction paper turkey itself.  But as you can see in the pictures below, the front housed a nifty envelope (basket?) which held little gratitude or thanksgiving cards.  For each note, Daniel and his classmates completed the statement “I am thankful for ____ because …” for their family members.

What a joy!  Little ones expressing their thankfulness so sincerely.  Below Daniel explains to me that his plan for Thanksgiving Day consists of waiting till “all the guests” have eaten “some of their turkey” and then “hand out the slips.”  And he did just that–for all fourteen of the folks at the table.  His mom helped him with some of the spelling, but the sentiments were exclusively his.

Here’s mine:

“I am thankful for Abu (that’s me) because he helps with decorations.”

(Okay, maybe that sounds a bit strange, but the day before, we had decorated for Thanksgiving with some outdoor lights.  And a month earlier we had carved two jack o’ lanterns.)

What Thanksgiving Joy!  We really all do have so very much to put in our Turkey Baskets.

[For more on “Abu” see “My Favorite Word Is Abu!” post.]

Posted in Breaking News, Where Happiness Finds You

Breaking News–Sir Riboclavin’s Castle!

Buddy Riboclavin (see #3 in yesterday’s Five Friday Happy Bringers) just sent more pics from his Irish holiday.

And.  He.  Is.  Staying.  In.  A.  Castle.

I just assumed he would be lodging at Ireland’s equivalent to Motel 6 or Sleep Inn.  But no–a real, live castle!  It’s called Ashford Castle.  When Ribo told me where he was staying, I hooted and asked him to find a throne or something to sit on and snap a pic, but so far these are what I’ve gotten:

I wanna be in a castle!  With a moat around it.  Maybe sitting outside in tweed, drinking mulled cider or grog.

Or perhaps wearing this:

Maybe listen to some music:

Rustle around a bit:

Eat a huge turkey leg:

Rest:

If you have a moated castle, let me know ASAP.  Thank you.