I have shared this little virtual Christmas card on my blog before (I received it from a dear sweet friend several years ago), but it is just so very meditatively “Christmas Eve Simple Peaceful” that I thought I would post it again.
Bethlehem‘s in sight!
This morning, I am marveling at the memory of my Christmas Chili yesterday for Sunday Brunch.
It was just SO good!
With my Jalapeño Cornbread as supporting actor.
Tonight Robert and I started what we hope will become an annual holiday tradition: Having a Low Country Boil as a festive meal during the Christmas season.
What? You don’t know what I’m talking about?
“A low country boil is a beloved Southern dish with roots deeply embedded in the coastal regions of South Carolina and Georgia. This communal feast brings together a mix of seafood, sausage, potatoes, and corn, simmered together in a flavorful broth.” Alaskankingcrab.com
A Thousand “Yums”!
So today, HR and I had lunch with our dear friends Don and Jim at the salad-ly delicious Urban Deli within walking distance of us here in historic district Savannah.
Beyond yummy food.
Especially their salads.
I opted for the brussels sprouts salad, along with a healthy helping of their red beet salad.
I consumed it far too quickly, never thinking about taking a photo remembrance.
Afterwards, as we were sitting, stuffed, Savannah fall conversing, I looked down on my plate …
And saw a still life masterpiece.
My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.
1. Scrumptious beignets at Huey‘s, a New Orleans style restaurant on the Savannah River near us. (Well, not literally ON the river.)
And here’s HR, tackling the steep stairs heading back home.
2. Finding, at a Little Library (do you have those where you are?) over in Hinesville, Georgia, a delightfully funny children’s book that I used to read to my daughters when they were little ones.
3. The ability—and privilege—of being able TO READ. What a blessing!
4. Grandson Daniel singing “Bring Him Home,”accompanied by the Savannah Country Day School Orchestra at their Veterans Day assembly on Monday.
Here’s a fifteen second Instagram post:
5. Robert, ex-wife Donna and me, heading to our yearly beginning-of-the-holidays traditional lunch at St. John Episcopal Church here in Historic District Savannah …
St. John’s Green-Meldrim House next door, where the luncheon is held …
… has a fascinating history. Here are a few tidbits:
May a few tidbits of fascination find their way to you this weekend.
My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.
1. Enjoying the cooler fall weather here in Savannah.
2. Speaking of cooler weather, HR driving us over to Tybee Island yesterday evening to see/experience the beautiful Hunter Moon rising “from” the Atlantic ocean.
Get ready. Here she comes!
3. After the Moon Spectacular, we headed to the very ocean-hip Sea Wolf Tybee bar and restaurant …
… for their gourmet hot dogs. I stayed seawater simple with their Classic dog …
While Robert (as usual) got all fancy with their Chicago dog.
For some reason, I ALWAYS have to look into the restrooms at quirky restaurants. Why? Their bathrooms often mirror the quirkiness of the rest of the place.
Sea Wolf certainly came through. When you close the bathroom door, there is a hot dog costume hanging there. (I wondered if anyone ever tried it on and sashayed back to their table.)
And look what we found out on the patio.
A hot dog wreath, of course.
And hats for witches.
Or warlocks.
OK, I really need to stop this Frankfurter Foolishness.
4. Robert’s monochromal kitty Benny. 
5. And grandson Daniel in final rehearsals as young Shakespeare in the upcoming play Shakespeare in Love.
Hope you have a hotdog of a weekend ahead!
My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.
1. Savannah doors and windows showing off their living beauty near us.
2. The ability to recognize beauty as such.
3. My friend Riboclavin (long story about his unusual moniker, for another time) and his breakfast this morning in Munich, Germany where he is visiting.
4. Speaking of breakfast, my Apple Cobbler for Two this morning from provincial Savannah. 
5. Another look at Approaching Autumn (see yesterday‘s post) on my walk earlier this morning.

May you approach, and be approached by, Beauty this weekend. 
So a while back, grandson Daniel (young Savannah actor/singer—and now high school senior) played one of his most serious and evil roles so far. (And he’s been in over three dozen plays, since he started acting as a little kid.)
For this play, Daniel did not get a leading role. He was a supporting actor, the dastardly Mayor Josiah Dobbs, in Steve Martin’s very serious musical Bright Star.
Here he is (far left) in a light moment during rehearsals with his three best buddies, all in the play.
But Daniel’s character was anything but light. When the mayor’s son got a girl pregnant, Mayor Dobbs intervened and stole the baby from the mother’s arms. (More about THAT hideous heist in a minute.)
Robert and I went to opening night, and the play was VERY well done, especially for a high school performance.
The second night, too, went swimmingly.
But the closing matinee, well, was quite a different story.
Let me have Daniel explain. The short video below is actually part of D’s prescreens/prep for musical theatre college applications. For a portion called “the wildcard,” Daniel took a risk and decided to explain about what went wrong with the closing performance of Bright Star.
Yes, at least Daniel got to keep the head as a bizarre “souvenir”!
Next up, Daniel is Shakespeare in Shakespeare in Love here in Savannah.
P.S. Here’s the feedback Daniel got about his “wildcard” from the folks he’s working with in New York:
NealEnJoy 