Yesterday in my Five Friday Happy Bringers, I mentioned the delicious joy that can be found in simple food.
And these days, with the turmoil going on in our nation, I need bits of joy wherever they can be found.
Easy breakfast. Costco Apple Danish.
Okay, maybe HR sliced some fresh strawberries on top of the apples.
Thick-cut bacon with freshly ground black pepper and a dash of cayenne.
LOVE-ly morning.
My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.
1. The amazingly resilient beauty of Savannah’s Resurrection Fern.
The green plant growing on the live oak tree behind me, Pleopeltis polypodioides, commonly known as Resurrection Fern, is “a native plant known for its ability to survive extreme dehydration and revive when exposed to water. Appearance and behavior: During dry periods, the fern shrivels and turns brown, resembling a dead clump of leaves. It can lose up to 97% of its water content, while most plants can only tolerate a 10% loss.”
“When it rains, the fern uncurls and turns green within hours.” National Wildlife Federation
(I need a little of what it has!)
2. Recognizing that two out of three isn’t bad.
3. Going on a fascinating Savannah Port Tour this week.
Savannah has one of the busiest ports in the nation. We live a few blocks from the Savannah River, walk along it often but have never toured the port.
Fascinating!
There’s also a massive yacht repair facility …
What a fun couple of hours.
4. The joy of simple, delicious food.
I love being able to pull my grandmother’s large cast iron skillet off our cool, little rack …
… and toss in a couple of seasoned chicken thighs, along with whatever vegetables are on hand (cherry tomatoes, carrots and onions this time).
5. The truth of this little placard outside a business on a recent morning walk here in Savannah.
Whatever your definition of “good” may be, may you have it this day … and this weekend.
A blog category about finding “art” in unexpected places and situations.
So Robert and I were at Whole Foods today shopping for a few (emphasis “few”) things: his deionized water (don’t get me started), dried porcini mushrooms (don’t get me started, again — one of his recipes) and my white balsamic vinegar, which I REALLY needed for an incredible salad dressing that I have fallen in love with. (I’m a retired English professor, so I know better than to end a sentence with a proposition, but who cares? I’m retired.)
We were successful with finding the water and the white balsamic vinegar. And all went well until we got to the checkout counter.
For some reason when we tried to scan the white balsamic vinegar, it said “Price cannot be resolved” as if we were in some United Nations mediation.
The delightfully beautiful clerk went to try to figure out what the “Resolve” issue was. She came back, beaming and said “It’s free!“
So then (we’re back at Whole Foods now) we went onto our next item, fresh Turmeric!
Okay, explanation. I have been having a bit of an issue with high blood pressure lately. I have been trying to incorporate both fresh ginger and fresh turmeric into our diet.
I put the turmeric down on the scale thingy.
Walked a little closer.
Walked a little closer still and saw her.
Do you see her? She’s walking to the left with a healthy gait. Encouraging me!
HEALTHY ART! AT WHOLE FOODS!
A blog category of pics I’ve taken of HR (Hubby Robert) and … well, just about anything.
Robert and … a big hunk of Roquefort cheese.
TIB (Truth in Blogging): I have never bought a hunk of blue cheese before. I usually buy it as a container of crumbles. I was surprised at how much more succulently moist it was compared to my lowly crumbles.
Blue cheese seems to be one of those foods that people either love or hate. Similar to oysters.
TIB 2: HR doesn’t like oysters.
TIB 3: HR doesn’t like blue cheese.
TIB 4: I still like HR.
Here he is, dramatically explaining something or other. I can’t remember what. I wasn’t paying much attention. I was too focused on my blue cheese.
“Roquefort is one of the oldest known cheeses. It was reportedly the favourite cheese of the emperor Charlemagne, and in France it is called le fromage des rois et des papes (the cheese of kings and popes).” Brittanica.com
So what exactly is Roquefort cheese?
“Roquefort is a blue cheese with a unique flavor profile that originates from the picturesque Roquefort-sur-Soulzon region in France. Its distinctively rich, tangy taste and creamy texture have made it an enthusiast’s favorite among cheese lovers around the world. This cheese, aged for three to five months in local limestone caves, holds a protected designation of origin (PDO) status.” cheese.com
Marveling at these luscious hydrangeas HR and I saw on a walk near us here in Historic District Savannah …
In February!
Robert and I drove down to Jacksonville, Florida recently to pick up our new Series 10 Apple Watches. We were long overdue for upgrades. I had the old Series 4 watch, while Robert had the 6.
I’m still not sure I’m smart enough to understand “smart” watches. I remember a watch being this little device you put on your wrist to tell you the time of day. But, oh no, how yesteryear foolish that belief is! The current time is at the very bottom of the hierarchy of smart watch “capabilities.”
Wait. I can ovulate? I didn’t know that!
After we got our little computers attached to our wrists, HR and I headed over to The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens near Jacksonville’s Five Points neighborhood to sit a while in the sunshine by the St. John’s River and look cool and … timely.
Frustrated that no one was commenting on my coolness, I started walking around the gardens.
When, lo and behold, I suddenly came face to face with … Mercury!
Do you remember Mercury from your little bit of mythology in school? If not, here’s a brief review.
“Mercury was the Roman god of commerce, messengers, eloquence, travelers, and trickery. In the Roman polytheistic religion of many deities, Mercury was one of the most important. He even earned a rank amongst the Dii Consentes, the 12 most important gods and goddesses in Rome.” Study.com
I was pretty impressed with his resume, BUTT …
…he made no comment about my Apple Watch coolness, so I wasted no time and moved on.
I might have gotten the Cool Card …
… but I know who HR’s True Valentine is …
My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.
1. This beyond-delicious morning coffee at one of our favorite coffee shops here in Savannah, Origin Coffee Bar.
“Southern Frost: A cozy orange and cardamom flat white with your milk of choice.”
Of course, I didn’t really know the definition of a “flat white.”
Hello, Google.
“A flat white is an espresso drink made with steamed milk and microfoam, resulting in a velvety texture and creamy taste. It’s smaller than a latte or cappuccino, but stronger due to less froth and milk. The milk in a flat white is velvety and not diluted with foam, highlighting the coffee’s nuances. Flat whites are made with a 2:3 coffee-to-milk ratio, compared to 1:2 for cappuccinos.” coffeebeancorral.com
TMI?
2. The Joyful Ability to Walk!
3. Getting caught in a DOWNPOUR yesterday morning on busy Bay Street near us here in Savannah.
My thoughts earlier as we headed out the door, umbrella-less, into threateningly dark clouds: “Oh we have time to dash down the street for a twenty-minute constitutional.”
4. Laughter!
5. A Happy Valentine’s Day 2025!
My cards from HR …
May you have a sweet weekend ahead!
NealEnJoy 