Well, I’m both moaning AND marveling this Monday morn.
I’m dealing with some frustratingly “I’m-getting-older!” arthritis issues, especially in my creaky knees.
My microwaveable heating pad is an indispensable MARVEL for temporary relief.
Benny is getting older as well—going on 16 now.
He needs the heating pad too.
My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.
1. The delicious simplicity of a good hot dog.
2. Completing 1800 meditation sittings with my Happier app.
SURELY I should be a little more enlightened by now?!
3. The ability to … Stretch. I’m having some arthritis issues, and simple stretching often helps with the pain.
4. My old front door. It has welcomed us home many a time.
5. Benny needing his rest this morn (on my I’m-still-wearing-them Christmas jammies).
I don’t know what it’s like in your stretch of the woods on this First Day of Spring 2025, but Savannah is …
And a Galleria of Azaleas we just saw on our First-Day-of-Spring Morning Walk …
Red Tip Photinias dazzling in the morning sunshine …
And a Miscellany of Marvelous, also on our Morning Walk …
Our sweet little Green Japanese Maple coming back to life …
This evening brought the second Lenten Taize service at our church, Asbury Memorial here in Savannah.
I love the almost somber beauty of Taizé.
Here’s the simple quiet chant we sang meditatively several times during the brief service:
(And if you, like me, from time to time have difficulty embracing the concept of a faithful God, perhaps just switch the wording of Lord to “greater than me” or “universe” or whatever works for you.)
We also recited together the powerful Prayer of St. Francis:
“Zeppole”
This morning, Robert and I headed over to our favorite Savannah bakery, Sweet Patricia’s, for a quick breakfast.
Walking up to the glass display case, filled with all sorts of Italian pastries, as well as savory delights …
… my eyes immediately went to these …
The beautifully delightful co-owner explained to us that they were Zeppoles, a traditional Italian treat served on March 19, Saint Joseph’s Day.
I had never heard of the treat or the day before.
“Saint Patrick’s Day, March 17th, is a day of celebration filled with parades, parties, and lots of fun, food and drink. Right on the heels of this Irish-inspired day of celebration is the Feast of Saint Joseph, which is celebrated on March 19th. Although this day may not be honored with parades, songs and green beer, it is celebrated with one of my all time favorite Italian pastries, Zeppole di San Giuseppe (Saint Joseph’s Cakes).” domskitchen.com
“Zeppole is an Italian cream filled pastry, similar to a cream puff. The cream fillings most often used are chocolate, vanilla, or ricotta. The pastries are usually topped with a candied cherry, and you must not forget the dusting of powdered sugar to finish it off!”
Beyond delicious!
… in one of my favorite Savannah squares (Greene) near us. Reading. And realizing that Spring is about to spring.
LIFE WILL!
It’s St. Patrick’s Day eve, and as Robert and I have done the last five or six years, we hightail it out of Dodge (well, Savannah).
“Why,” you may be asking. “Doesn’t Savannah have one of the nation’s largest and most celebrated St. Patrick’s Day bashes/parades?”
Yes, it does. And we have enjoyed them in the past.
But here comes the rub. I moved to Savannah back in 2009, as I was semi-retiring from Georgia Southern University (about an hour north of SAV). I have lived in two Savannah locations , and (incredibly) BOTH were directly on the parade route, which initially sounded great. And I suppose initially it was.
But as the years went by, I began to see aspects of the parade’s insanity. Don’t get me wrong, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations can be so much fun and meaningful: the Greening of the Fountains, the Celtic Cross Ceremony in Emmet Park, the Jasper Green Ceremony in Madison Square, etc.
Savannah’s population is around 150.000, and the parade usually draws at least that many more visitors. And living on the parade route, we have witnessed disappointing human behavior outside our door. Our potted plants being trampled, thrown and broken on the pavement, even urinated upon. (TMI?). Partiers loudly camping outside our door all night the night before the parade.
So anyway, we drove an hour or so south of us to St. Simons Island to a quaint little retro motel (not hotel). Queen’s Court Inn:
We are currently high-energetically super-celebrating St. Patty Eve.
My helpers:
And Robert’s:
It’s deliciously quiet here. And raining softly outside.
celebrate (with a small “c”).
NealEnJoy 