Tag: Photography

Posted in One-Word Wednesday

One-Word Wednesday 3/19/25

Posted on by Neal Saye

“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!

Posted in Holiday Joy, Holidays and Seasonal Changes

Sunday Evening Shenanigans

Posted on by Neal Saye

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”).

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 3/14/25

Posted on by Neal Saye

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. A small twig of rosemary I snatched from a mature bush and placed on our car’s dash.

A tiny bit of natural beauty and heavenly aroma.

(It obviously doesn’t take much to make me happy.)

2. This photo from daughter Emily on our family text thread this week …

And her accompanying comment: “Just me and my tiny lap dog.”

My response: “Can you still breathe?”

Emily: “Breathing is overrated.”

3. Truth I saw displayed on a church in Macon, Georgia, where we were visiting last weekend.

4. The ability to (still) walk up and down stairs.

Robert and I live in a mid-19 century building with steep, tiny stairs.

5. Pine.

May you find much happiness this weekend. Or at least a little.

Posted in Monday Moaning or Monday Marveling?

Monday Moaning or Monday Marveling? 3/10/25

Posted on by Neal Saye

I’m marveling this rainy Georgia morning at the mystery, the illusive and changing allure of clouds.

Above the Savannah River near us

HR and Columbus GA Riverwalk
High Falls State Park, Jackson GA

D.C.

Cummer Museum and Gardens, Jacksonville FL

NYC

Amerson. river Park, Macon GA

I can’t remember where.

And here’s a post HR did about clouds a while back …

A Portrait – I’ve Looked at Clouds From Both Sides Now
Posted in My Saturday Evening Post

My Saturday Evening Post: 3/8/25 “Gee, What an Airbnb!”

Posted on by Neal Saye

As I mentioned in Friday’s post, Robert and I drove up to Macon, GA, a couple of hours north of Savannah, and checked into a very cool and quirky Airbnb.

The purpose of our trip was to pick up our prizes for participating in the 2024 Georgia Farm Passport program.

Passport: https://search.app/9k7FNoMwS8SUNt2NA

But back to a few interesting features of our Airbnb.

First, look at its frig!

Guests leave notes about their stay.

And when you walk into the living room, you see this:

A simple set of stairs.

Or are they?

And I loved the old trees with Spanish moss in front of the Southern mansion (which had been divided into units for apartments and Airbnb rentals).

I found a description of the trees taped on one of the living room walls:

“The elegant specimen trees out front are Deodar Cedars. Deodar derives from Sanskrit that translates to “timber of the gods.” The tree is native to the Himalayas, where it has been known to reach 250′ tall. It was introduced to Europe in 1822 and to the United States nine years later. This tree is sacred in Hinduism. It produces rose-shaped cones and aromatic oil that naturally deters insects.”

I gathered some of the cones. They really do look like brown roses.

So much more fun than a Holiday Inn Express.

And that’s my Saturday Evening Post.