Recently, Robert, and I were in Atlanta for their annual Pride Festival. One morning we ventured over to the always-magnificent Atlanta Botanical Garden.
In addition to over 10,000 pumpkins (!) on display (I’ll block about that a little later), there was a new exhibit, “Enchanted Trees” woven through the garden’s incredible natural landscape.
Here’s one:
Amazing Beauty!
Marveling this morn.
Participating in the Savannah Photo Club’s Third Sunday Photo Walk yesterday, I came across this very mature, dead-looking rambling rose bush.
But as I got closer, i saw a defiant splash of red beckoning me through the branches.
A brilliant late-October duo.
“Old does not mean dead,” they said in unison.
September is here! And I am marveling this morning because it was 66° (!) when Robert and I headed out to one of our favorite coffee shops, Flora and Fauna. I actually wore a jacket! (I had to look around a bit for it.)
My coffee:
HR’s:
Happy September First!
Both moaning and marveling a bit this Monday.
Robert and I are grandson-, doggie- and house-sitting for Daughter Amy and Scott while they take Grandson Daniel off to his freshman year of college.
One of the duties is taking Coastal for walks.
And even though it’s less than a month from the beginning of fall, it’s still HOT here in Savannah — 88 with a real feel of 96 this afternoon.
So here I am walking Coastal this afternoon – Senior Citizen Edition.
Afterwards …
On my Monday morning walk today, I came upon a bit of a surprise: PINK AZALEAS (Savannah’s Springtime Sensation) contrarily blooming in the Heated Heart of August.
Good for them – and their rebellious nature.
I started to walk away, but then turned and asked them why on earth they were blooming NOW.
Their answer:
“Robert, please get me a lemon and some fresh thyme,” I said-pled, as we finished up some shopping, and I headed to the car, while he was trekking across the street to one of our favorite little independent grocers.
Back home I delved into magical alchemy …
Homemade simple syrup, fresh-squeezed lemon juice, orange slices and … some THYME.
Slash it all together with some Tito’s and voilà …
Wait, that is not the best shot!
That’s a little better.
But here, look at the lavender blooms of the thyme through the glass …
And here are photographer Robert’s photos …
It’s thyme …
I’m marveling this Monday morn at the absolutely amazing ability … TO READ! (As I often reiterate whenever I think about gratitude, everyone doesn’t have that for which I’m grateful.)
I love this little whatever-it-is. We saw it in the crafts section at Saturday’s fabulous Forsyth Farmers Market here in Savannah.
A delightful artisan creates beautifully quirky works of art from silver cutlery!
Sidebar: Robert fell in love with the tiny magnetic flower vases made from the hollow bottom sections of silver knives!
Okay, back to the “Reading” topic of this post. As I have shown before, here are our reading chairs in our study.
And here’s what I’m currently reading …
… a fascinating and “I-can’t-believe-I’ve-never-heard-of-this-before” look at the history of gay life in Brooklyn.
Because I’m sure you’re just dying to know, I usually read two books simultaneously: what I call my “short time read” (above) and my “long time read.” (The “long time read” is a book not intended to be read quickly or even from cover to cover.
Here’s my current “long time read”:
“Ohm. Ohm. Ohm. Ohm.”
My “long time reads” are often self-help about physical, mental, emotional or relationship health. Robert often says that one would think I would be in MUCH better physical, mental, emotional and relationship shape, having read “so much of this junk.” (I try to pay little to no attention to HR.)
I hope you find something that fascinates you this new day and week.
Happy Monday Marveling!
I’m marveling this morn, remembering our supper last night.
I prepared Neal’s Sunday Night Chicken, using a variation of Ina Garten’s Perfect Roast Chicken.
Prep the six-pound chicken …
Impatiently wait an hour and a half, as incredible aroma fills our humble abode.
In the meantime, make vegetable broth with parts of the veggies I did not use.
And take a little rest with Benny on the couch …
Voila!
Delicious Food Joy!
I’m Marveling this Monday Morn remembering our hike the other day at Skidaway Island State Park near us.
We saw our first alligator of the season. He (she?) was a young one. So we didn’t hang out around too long because Mama was probably somewhere close.
“Alligators are common in Savannah, as the area provides a suitable habitat for the species with its mix of freshwater and saltwater environments, as well as abundant prey. Alligators are found in many of the waterways and marshes surrounding Savannah, including the Savannah River and Skidaway Island.” savannahproper.com
Robert and I have learned to respect the large alligator population here in Coastal Georgia. They are not aggressive and will generally leave people alone, as long as we keep our distance (especially while walking a dog) and refrain from feeding them.
NealEnJoy 