Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 3/31/23

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. Finishing with Robert perhaps one of the top three novels we’ve read together in the last ten years …

Oh my goodness, it’s hilarious, heartwarming, heartbreaking, a mystery, a treatise on our economy and banking system, a love story/love stories, an examination of the inevitably difficult dynamics of family. And a book FULL of surprises. I did not want it to end. I miss the characters. I highly recommend it!

What a joy to read a good book.

2. The 2023 Savannah Music Festival.

What a treat! Last night Robert and I went to a bluegrass event with incredible banjoes, fiddles and guitars.

(Just so you know, I played trombone in high school. Okay, I was 3rd chair. And I really never managed to march on the football field and play my instrument at the same time. But still.)

3. Air. Oxygen. Breath.

4. HR finally learning how to photograph me now that I’m 71.

5. This morning walking past my favorite old Savannah mansion which faces Forsyth Park.

May your weekend’s peace and joy be of mansion proportions.

Posted in Encouragement

“You”

So HR and I went to a new little cafe near us for lunch today.

It was raining, so we went inside.

Delicious sandwiches

But what warmed my heart the most was the little sign as we entered …

I’M SPECIAL!

YOU ARE TOO!

Posted in Humor, Pets

Hello HuggieKitty

So as some of you know, if you follow my blog, HR’s (Husband Robert’s) older cat Boopers passed away recently.

It was a tough transition for Robert.

Robert and Boopers

Boopers’ “brother” Benny has also had a difficult time adjusting to life without Boopers. Especially at night. They often slept together.

Robert and Benny

So Robert recently ordered a HuggieKitty … “companion” for Benny.

DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THESE THINGS?!

HuggieKitty has a heartbeat!

HuggieKitty can purr!

HuggieKitty even has an insertable heat pack to simulate body warmth!

My first thought when HuggieKitty arrived:

“Robert, do you really think Benny is stupid enough to think that is a real cat?! He is much smarter than that. He will have NOTHING to do with … HuggieKitty“

OKAY

P.S. I have ordered a HuggieKitty for myself in case Robert gets a job as a night watchman, or something.

Posted in Travel

2023 Escape from St. Patrick’s Day #6

My daily snapshot of Robert’s and my 2023 trip to get away from Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day parade and celebrations.

Today’s the final day of our escape. It was 32 degrees (with a real feel of 21) here in Atlanta this morning, so we hibernated inside for a while.

UPDATE on whether we were “transported” by last night’s encounter with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. YES! The opening piece, the Overture to Der Freischütz by Carl Maria von Weber, really was fabulous. With its huge orchestra swells, the overture made me realize what I love about classical music. (TIB: I sometimes go into a bit of a daze when the orchestra gets really quiet and slow. I have had to pinch myself savagely more than once to keep from putting my head on the HR’s shoulder.)

But back to TODAY—after our very lazy morn, HR and I pirouetted over to the spectacular Cobb Energy Center …

… to see men in tights—I MEAN TO SEE THE ATLANTA BALLET’S PRODUCTION OF DON QUIXOTE!

Oh my gosh. It was terrific. I just might become a ballet dancer! Granted, I have a few balance issues from time to time, but still, how hard could it be?

What a joyfully fun time we have had on our 2023 Escape from Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day Craziness. We head back to the SAV in the morn. And truth be told, I always look forward to home after being away for a week or so.

I hope you have found in your St. Patrick’s Day weekend a place of rest and peace.

Posted in Travel

2023 Escape from St. Patrick’s Day #5

My daily snapshot of Robert’s and my 2023 trip to get away from Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day parade and celebrations.

This Post-St. Patrick’s Day morn, after Robert and I finished our coffee in our little Airbnb, we embarked on a short day trip up to Toccoa, Georgia to take a gander at Traveler’s Rest State Historic Site. We have now visited all 48 of Georgia’s state parks, and all but three of the state historic sites.

“This stagecoach inn and plantation home was built around 1815 by James R. Wyly. He strategically located it along the newly constructed Unicoi Turnpike, a busy highway over the Appalachian Mountains. Wyly operated the inn until 1833 when he sold it to his neighbor Devereaux Jarrett, the “richest man in the Tugaloo Valley.” Jarrett continued to operate the inn, but doubled its size to make it the home place of his 14,400 acre plantation along the Tugaloo River. Three generations of Jarretts inhabited the site until the state of Georgia purchased the remaining few acres of the once-vast plantation for $8,000 in 1955.”georgiastateparks.org

Dynamic docent Billy showed us around and even gave us a suggestion for a local lunch, which we took him up on.

Tonight we’re getting all cultured as we melodically make our way to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

Here’s a little something I put together about it:

We’re going to … let the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra transport us into Nature’s realm with the rugged Symphony No. 2 by Jean Sibelius alongside the Overture to Der Freischütz by Carl Maria von Weber. In between, catch the U.S. premiere of a new saxophone concerto, For Wadada Leo Smith (2022), by jazz and classical multi-instrumentalist Tyshawn Sorey.

Okay, I lied. I copied all that from the program. And understood very little. But I do plan to be “transported” by it. I’ll tell you if I was in tomorrow’s post. That will give you something to look forward to.

Posted in Life Experiences, Travel

Five Friday Happy Bringers 3/17/23

1. Being able to say “Happy St. Patrick’s Day!” away from Savannah’s craziness today.

2. One of our local colleges, SCAD—the Savannah College of Art and Design—making the big time in Hollywood.

150!

I taught international students at SCAD as an adjunct after retiring from full time college teaching.

3. The unexpected joy when I find a little nook and cranny in Savannah’s historic district which I had never seen before.

4. Our sense of touch. It is raining where we are in Atlanta at the moment, and I’m so thankful to be able to feel the drops on my face and hands as we dash out of our car running around the city.

5. Grilled peaches.

May you have a peachy weekend ahead.