The other day Robert and I drove over to the Islands Library on Whitemarsh Island near us here in Savannah to pick up a book I wanted that wasn’t available at the library closest to us. (TMI?)
Entering the little library, we immediately saw a colorful display about the recent Banned Books Week.
HR trying to look all serious.
A quick Google search and AI explained to me that the theme of Banned Books Week was “Censorship Is So 1984. Read for Your Rights,” inspired by George Orwell’s novel and a call to action against censorship.
Robert and I plan to read through the top 10 most challenged books of 2024 …
Robert and I drove up to Atlanta last weekend for the city’s 2025 Pride Festival and Parade. This year‘s theme was …
decaturish.com
So Robert and I joined 999,998 friends on the sidewalks of Midtown Atlanta (two blocks from our neat little Airbnb) to watch seemingly endless bands, floats and various parade entries saunter down Atlanta’s famed Peachtree Street.
If you know, anything about Pride celebrations, you may be wondering why Atlanta Pride is held in October rather than the traditional month of June. It’s a Southern thing: the weather is simply far too hot in June.
There were quite a few political candidates running for various offices marching in the parade. But interestingly enough, all Democrats, not a single Republican bothered to show up and support gay rights.
The parade and the day exploded with joyous fun, camaraderie and much inclusive love.
Benny on a blanketHR under a ravishing skyMe reading in a blue chair, wearing blue clothes and sitting on a blue stone patio Blue nightBrighter blue nightPicnic blues
Like my somewhat odd obsession with colorful paper napkins (reminder: speak with therapist about this), I also love another kitchen item — the humble mug or cup.
For some reason (therapist note #2), I find mugs and cups comforting, substantial and grounding, especially when filled early morn with coffee and half and half, or if I’m in a adventurous mood, heavy cream.
Here a few more of my mugshots.
I asked Google AI about the difference between a mug and a cup, but I’m not sure she (?) he (?) got it quite right:
“A mug is a type of large, durable cup with a handle, used for hot drinks and without a saucer, while a cup is a smaller, more general-purpose drinking vessel, often more delicate, and might or might not have a handle or saucer. Mugs are designed for casual, everyday use with heartier beverages like lattes or hot chocolate, whereas cups are often favored for more formal settings with drinks like tea or coffee.”
Browsing through the clearance section at Hobby Lobby today, I rsn across this …
“Robert!” I shrieked across several aisles where he was searching for dragonfly figurines in the garden gnome section (Don’t get me started). “Quick! Please! Come take my picture!”
Used to my impromptu requests, HR fairly quickly found me, put down his two garden figurines (which looked more like weird birds than dragonflies to me) and took this photo.
I love the Profound Truth of Twain’s Patriotic Proclamation!
In solidarity with many Americans, I am having a great deal of trouble supporting the current administration’s Dangerous Dismantling of Democracy.
And I wholeheartedly believe that we should and must make our dissatisfaction known.
Walking into our kitchen when we got home, I glanced at the fridge and thought to myself, “Yes, Mark Twain, I know you were being humorous, but you are also so very correct!”
And I make that … Refrigerated Proclamation as a Patriot of my Country, the United States of America.
I know, I know. I’ve posted about okra before, but it really is my very favorite vegetable in all the world! And I also know that it is some folks’ very least favorite vegetable. (Although botanically, I understand okra is classified as a fruit.)
We picked up some local okra at the farmers market here in Savannah. And even though we don’t eat a lot of fried food, I simply HAD to fry the okra in the classically Southern manner.
I chopped the pods into beautiful little circles, added a hand sprinkle of water, a heaping tablespoon of flour, another heaping tablespoon of cornmeal, with several shakes of salt and pepper.
I then heated the oil until one of the little okra circles did a lively dance when I dropped him in my grandmother‘s ancient cast iron skillet.
The key to good Southern fried okra is to fry it in uncrowded batches. They like a little room as they swim in the hot oil.
Here’s a riveting video of my frying technique. Listen as the okra dances in the pan, similar to synchronized swimming.
I added Cayenne pepper for my second batch.
But what to serve with the fried okra?
Other fresh local vegetables, of course.
Vine-ripened tomatoes.
Red-eyed peas.
In case you didn’t know: “Red Eyed Peas” or “Red Peas” refers to a type of legume often described as an heirloom variety of cowpea, similar to black-eyed peas. They are a popular staple in Southern cuisine and have roots in West Africa. Google AI
NealEnJoy 