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.
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.
1. My insanely delicious baked Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks for lunch yesterday. And so easy to make.
(I pretend they’re healthy, with the addition of the celery and carrots.)
2. Still marveling at our rare Snow-vannah we experienced this week.
Looking right and left outside the door of our old mid-1800’s apartment building …
What’s a snow shovel? And where on earth would you buy one? Or even want one? Isn’t snow supposed to melt the next day?
We also don’t have sleds or sleighs or whatever you use to careen playfully down snow-covered hills.
So you have to improvise. Here’s a little video of grandson Gabriel doing just that in his front yard.
That’s called Minimalist Sledding.
And other grandchildren in their backyard across the state from us in Columbus, Georgia …
But this morning, everything doesn’t look quite so angelically white and inviting. Why didn’t someone tell me the beautiful powder turns into gray and slushy mush?!
Who wants to slide in that?
3. The priceless blessing of a warm dwelling. I so often take it for granted, but I know that everyone is not so fortunate.
4. Lavender!
I love its restful, calming scent.
Dried lavender still smells good.Beautiful Red Oak Lavendar Farm we visited recently up in Dahlonega GAMore dried lavender in our living room
H.R. and I have enjoyed chocolate-lavender candy bars, lavender cookies, lavender salt and lavender tea. Have you had lavender in other foods or drinks?
On our drive back from Baltimore the other day, Robert and I stopped off at DC for a couple of hours to go to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. We had never been before and were eager to do so.
“The National Museum of African American History and Culture has accomplished what once seemed like an impossible dream: opening a museum dedicated to a people’s journey and our nation’s complete, unvarnished truth.” (museum website)
We only had time to explore the lower floor, which curated the horrific exploitation of slaves from West Africa. Fascinating. Disturbing. Meticulously documented.
“Slavery and Freedom uses first-person accounts and striking historical artifacts to tell an incredibly complicated tale. The exhibit traces slavery from 15th century Africa and Europe to the Civil War and Reconstruction in the United States. This vital history emphasizes that American slavery and freedom are deeply intertwined, and that the story of slavery is in fact a shared one that resides at the core of American politics, economics and daily life to this very day.” (washington.org)
The wonderful fellow who introduced us to the museum at the entrance suggested that after we explore for a while, we go to the Contemplative Court to “wind down and reset” after the museum’s lower floor trauma.
1. Discovering Buc-ee’s (that people seem to rave about) on our recent drive to Baltimore.
Robert and I have never been to one before.
This is a gas station?!
2. Athletic Grandson Gabriel, along with teammate Peyton, earning the All Tournament Team award AS FRESHMEN after Savannah Country Day School won their Holiday Basketball Tournament.
3. The wonderful ability to HEAR. What do you hear right now?
4. These World Famous (or so the menu said) Diner Chips at a little diner I found in Raleigh, North Carolina on our way back from Baltimore yesterday.
5. HR in front of this cool mural near the Inner Harbor in Baltimore.
1. Taking a photo of a glorious ginkgo biloba tree.
2. HR in a somewhat … regal moment.
Gainesville GA Botanical Garden
3. Always having enough food to eat.
4. Grandson Daniel on a weekend trip to New York, accompanying his Catholic girlfriend Amelie to mass at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, and out of the blue being asked to help take up the offering!
Here’s what his mother texted me:
5. A quiet moment with Benny.
May you have some quiet moments of joy this weekend.
NealEnJoy 