A blog category of pics I’ve taken of HR (Hubby Robert) and … well, just about anything.
Robert and … Spring Wisteria in Savannah.
“Robert and … #34”
Tag: Photography
One-Word Wednesday: 3/22/23
“Stair-ing”
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.
Boopers’ “brother” Benny has also had a difficult time adjusting to life without Boopers. Especially at night. They often slept together.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“The Artful Dodger“ #17
A blog category about finding “art” in unexpected places and situations.
A little while ago, Robert and I were leaving our favorite little Atlanta breakfast place, Homegrown.
Walking toward the car, I heard them before I saw them. Detective-like, I quickly turned around.
They were casually (and somewhat seductively) leaning against the back shed of the little hole-in-the- wall jewel of a restaurant, singing, belting their hearts and souls out.
The Seven Sisters singing their way through The Great American Songbook.
I could’ve stayed there all day, reveling in the joy, the pathos, the excitement, the disappointment, the yearning fullness of their song.
They were us all—EveryWoman, EveryMan—leaning back and leaning into life. Our days, months, and years filled with living the truth of their diverse songs.
But HR finally made me get in the car.
“Neal, other people need to park.”
“And hear,” I thought.
So we made our way back to our midtown Airbnb, but not without the Sisters’ melodies still ringing in my ears and heart.
As we pulled up to our Airbnb, the most amazing thing REALLY HAPPENED, raising goosebumps on my skin. A young lady in a pick-up parked near us. When she opened her door, Robert and I heard her before we saw her—-singing joyfully. She made her way into the other half of the duplex that makes up our Airbnb. She continued to sing as she turned on the vacuum cleaner. Vocal joy. It actually felt a little quietly empty when she got in her truck and drove away.
2023 Escape from St. Patrick’s Day #3
My daily snapshot of Robert’s and my 2023 trip to get away from Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day parade and celebrations.
This morning, after checking out of our cabin at Red Top Mountain State Park in north Georgia, we headed to Atlanta and Emory University to see a couple of exhibits at the Michael Marcos Museum of Art. We visited it before, loved it and have wanted to return.
We never try to go through an entire museum in a single visit, instead spending a bit of time in only one or two areas that peek our interest.
I was especially fascinated by this Chicago street photographer’s black and white paired photos of Chicago’s poorer districts.
Next, Robert seemed to spend an eternity in the Egyptian afterlife exhibit. It really was fascinating. With real mummies!
And here’s HR in the current life interrupting a museum tour on the level below. See him?
I was eavesdropping on a docent-led tour below, and pretended not to know him.
Whew. The things I put up with.
The Egyptians made us hungry, so we headed to Mary Mac’s Tea Room for their southern fried chicken.
To burn off some of the calories and to get outside, we rushed over to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens to see the tulips and their new Trolls (!) installation.
I’ll tell you more about the Trolls in other posts.
What a fun third day on our Savannah Saint Patrick’s day escape trip!
2023 Escape from St. Patrick’s Day #2
My daily snapshot of Robert’s and my 2023 trip to get away from Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day parade and celebrations.
We started off the day in the cabin with beyond-delicious molten center brownies we had gotten in Savannah at our new favorite bakery, Sweet Patricias.
Bloated, we headed about an hour away to my small hometown of Ball Ground and the town cemetery where my parents are buried.
For as long as I can remember, having been taught by my folks, I have enjoyed “decorating the graves” of family members. Each changing season and holiday would find us heading to the various cemeteries and graveyards, spending time reminiscing and laughing at wonderful memories.
After a great lunch at a local meat and three, Robert and I spent a little while at Ball Ground’s small but beautiful botanical garden.
Here’s a bench in honor of my dad.
On the way back to our state park cabin, we stopped by the Georgia National Cemetery. I guess today we were thinking about those who have gone before us.
We left in great admiration and respect for our military service men and women.
Back at Red Top Mountain, HR grilled hotdogs, then we rested by the fire.
May you have a restful evening ahead.
NealEnJoy 