2. One load at a time.
3. If you get a nice warm day, you can put the top down on your convertible and get LOTS more in it!
The trunk
The back seat
Let me know if you have a truck I can borrow...
Thursday, January 31, 2008
How to move when you don't have a truck
1. Slowly
2. One load at a time.
3. If you get a nice warm day, you can put the top down on your convertible and get LOTS more in it!
The trunk
The back seat
Let me know if you have a truck I can borrow...
2. One load at a time.
3. If you get a nice warm day, you can put the top down on your convertible and get LOTS more in it!
The trunk
The back seat
Let me know if you have a truck I can borrow...
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Focus
I used to have a funny book called "Everything I Need to Know I Learned from My Cat". It contained cute drawings of cats in a variety of poses, and pithy advice such as "while the public generally appreciates good grooming, they do not generally appreciate it in public".
The lesson I need to learn from my cats is how to focus. I have self diagnosed adult ADHD. Actually, I think it is work induced. Just when I get started on something and am managing to pay enough attention to the task to make progress, the phone rings, or I get an email, or...well you get the idea.
Anyway, today my cats were providing an excellent example of focus, sitting completely still and staring at the wall. A friend used to call this "communing with the mother ship" when her cats did it. Her joke was that they were listening for messages from outer space, and sending information back about the humans they were observing (that would be us).
My cats were not doing anything that interesting. They were watching an anole which was on the wall outside the screened porch. We see plenty of those little green guys around here. I shudder to think how many my kitties eat, but I guess that's the food chain.
Hope you are able to focus, wherever you are...
The lesson I need to learn from my cats is how to focus. I have self diagnosed adult ADHD. Actually, I think it is work induced. Just when I get started on something and am managing to pay enough attention to the task to make progress, the phone rings, or I get an email, or...well you get the idea.
Anyway, today my cats were providing an excellent example of focus, sitting completely still and staring at the wall. A friend used to call this "communing with the mother ship" when her cats did it. Her joke was that they were listening for messages from outer space, and sending information back about the humans they were observing (that would be us).
My cats were not doing anything that interesting. They were watching an anole which was on the wall outside the screened porch. We see plenty of those little green guys around here. I shudder to think how many my kitties eat, but I guess that's the food chain.
Hope you are able to focus, wherever you are...
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Underwater treasure
A small group of islanders went to the Community Center this evening to hear a presentation on deep sea habitats in this area. The talk was part of the "Know Your Park" series which the National Park Service presents on the island.
Dr. Steve Ross from UNC Wilmington provided a lot of fascinating information in a short time, starting with a short DVD full of beautiful underwater footage. I learned that there's an entire world, with coral mountains and hundreds of fish and plant species, under the ocean as close as 45 - 60 miles off the coast of Cape Hatteras. I was amazed by the incredible photographs Dr. Ross showed us in a PowerPoint presentation after the DVD. He had also brought a few examples of coral with him, which were lovely. It added a whole new dimension to the learning, to be able to touch and hold these (albeit dead and dry) examples of what I had just seen on the screen.
Here's the first slide in the presentation. Dr. Ross told us that all of the photographs, with the exception of the one in the lower left corner, were taken in the waters off North Carolina. The lower left one was taken off South Carolina. Bet you didn't know there was coral like that so close to home!
This was my favorite picture, an underwater view of sargassum seaweed and some of the fish which depend on it.
The coral samples.
Did you know that the inside of certain types of coral includes rings, similar to the growth rings on trees, which can be used to tell its age? The rings can be further analyzed to learn about what was happening in the deep sea habitat during different time periods.
There are researchers who are studying sponges from deep sea habitats hoping to find cancer treatments. These sponges never develop tumors of any kind, so scientists are studying the enzymes in them to determine whether a synthetic version can be created which would eradicate tumors in humans. If they are successful, that would be true underwater treasure, worth more than any of Blackbeard's booty!
Dr. Steve Ross from UNC Wilmington provided a lot of fascinating information in a short time, starting with a short DVD full of beautiful underwater footage. I learned that there's an entire world, with coral mountains and hundreds of fish and plant species, under the ocean as close as 45 - 60 miles off the coast of Cape Hatteras. I was amazed by the incredible photographs Dr. Ross showed us in a PowerPoint presentation after the DVD. He had also brought a few examples of coral with him, which were lovely. It added a whole new dimension to the learning, to be able to touch and hold these (albeit dead and dry) examples of what I had just seen on the screen.
Here's the first slide in the presentation. Dr. Ross told us that all of the photographs, with the exception of the one in the lower left corner, were taken in the waters off North Carolina. The lower left one was taken off South Carolina. Bet you didn't know there was coral like that so close to home!
This was my favorite picture, an underwater view of sargassum seaweed and some of the fish which depend on it.
The coral samples.
Did you know that the inside of certain types of coral includes rings, similar to the growth rings on trees, which can be used to tell its age? The rings can be further analyzed to learn about what was happening in the deep sea habitat during different time periods.
There are researchers who are studying sponges from deep sea habitats hoping to find cancer treatments. These sponges never develop tumors of any kind, so scientists are studying the enzymes in them to determine whether a synthetic version can be created which would eradicate tumors in humans. If they are successful, that would be true underwater treasure, worth more than any of Blackbeard's booty!
Monday, January 28, 2008
Not a cloud in the sky...
...got the sun in my eyes,
and I won't be surprised if it's a dream.
I'm on the top of the world...
I went to the new house today, sat on the floor in the center of the living room (there's no furniture in there yet) and just ... was grateful.
Riding my bike back, I noticed what a beautiful, sunny day it was. There wasn't a single cloud in the sky, which reminded me of the Carpenter's song "Top of the World". Perfectly appropriate for my current happiness!
The beautiful day brought out the shutterbug in me. Here are a few examples.
Springer's Point in the sunshine
It was such a peaceful day, Pamlico Sound was like a lake at sunset.
Shells under water (it was so still, you could see right through)
Wishing you sunny, peaceful days wherever you are...
and I won't be surprised if it's a dream.
I'm on the top of the world...
I went to the new house today, sat on the floor in the center of the living room (there's no furniture in there yet) and just ... was grateful.
Riding my bike back, I noticed what a beautiful, sunny day it was. There wasn't a single cloud in the sky, which reminded me of the Carpenter's song "Top of the World". Perfectly appropriate for my current happiness!
The beautiful day brought out the shutterbug in me. Here are a few examples.
Springer's Point in the sunshine
It was such a peaceful day, Pamlico Sound was like a lake at sunset.
Shells under water (it was so still, you could see right through)
Wishing you sunny, peaceful days wherever you are...
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Undone things
This blog may be dated Monday, since I am posting it after midnight, but as far as I'm concerned it's the blog for Sunday!
I didn't get much done today. Well, much that was on my to-do list. I actually did many other things today, all of which were important. I so often get caught up in the urgency of the to-do list that I miss doing the things which are more important in the long run. Today, the to-list went largely un-to-done, but I did spend time walking, worshipping, fellowshipping, celebrating, and just chatting with friends. I took a short walk before church this morning, and enjoyed being back home walking around my neighborhood again. After church, I rode my bike over to the Methodist Church Rec. Hall where they were having a community roast beef lunch (which was delicious). Almost directly from there, I went to DeepWater Theater to join the quilters in celebrating Eleanor's 92nd birthday.
After that, I did manage to get one of my to-do list items partially done: I removed all the ornaments from the Christmas tree. The lights are still on it and the tree itself is still up, but that part will go faster than removing the ornaments, which need to be identified and correctly sorted into boxes by year (I collect Danbury Mint gold ornaments). So I got the harder/more time consuming part done!
The reason I stopped in the middle of the "take Christmas tree down" task is because I went to Jamie's house for dinner and a movie. After the movie ended, Jamie and DeAnna and I sat and chatted for quite a while...which is why this blog is being posted so late.
When I walked into my bedroom and was reminded I still need to unpack my suitcases, I briefly chided myself for going out for the evening instead of doing what needed to be done. But then I thought: in ten years, it will be far more important that I have friends whom I love and enjoy spending time with than the fact (which will have long since been forgotten) that my suitcases remained unpacked for another day or two.
So there they sit, partially blocking access to my closet.
I don't care...there are more important things in life than unpacking suitcases. Hope you can find time for the important in the midst of all the urgent to-do items in your life, wherever you are...
I didn't get much done today. Well, much that was on my to-do list. I actually did many other things today, all of which were important. I so often get caught up in the urgency of the to-do list that I miss doing the things which are more important in the long run. Today, the to-list went largely un-to-done, but I did spend time walking, worshipping, fellowshipping, celebrating, and just chatting with friends. I took a short walk before church this morning, and enjoyed being back home walking around my neighborhood again. After church, I rode my bike over to the Methodist Church Rec. Hall where they were having a community roast beef lunch (which was delicious). Almost directly from there, I went to DeepWater Theater to join the quilters in celebrating Eleanor's 92nd birthday.
After that, I did manage to get one of my to-do list items partially done: I removed all the ornaments from the Christmas tree. The lights are still on it and the tree itself is still up, but that part will go faster than removing the ornaments, which need to be identified and correctly sorted into boxes by year (I collect Danbury Mint gold ornaments). So I got the harder/more time consuming part done!
The reason I stopped in the middle of the "take Christmas tree down" task is because I went to Jamie's house for dinner and a movie. After the movie ended, Jamie and DeAnna and I sat and chatted for quite a while...which is why this blog is being posted so late.
When I walked into my bedroom and was reminded I still need to unpack my suitcases, I briefly chided myself for going out for the evening instead of doing what needed to be done. But then I thought: in ten years, it will be far more important that I have friends whom I love and enjoy spending time with than the fact (which will have long since been forgotten) that my suitcases remained unpacked for another day or two.
So there they sit, partially blocking access to my closet.
I don't care...there are more important things in life than unpacking suitcases. Hope you can find time for the important in the midst of all the urgent to-do items in your life, wherever you are...
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Movie day
It is gray, rainy and cold here today. This is what I call a movie day, because I just want to stay inside, curl up in a comforter and watch movies. I didn't do that (well, yet...we may still watch a movie this evening) today, though, because I had a long to-do list to work on instead! And I still need to unpack from our vacation! (Yes, we have been home for several days now and I still have not unpacked. John's theory on this is that I don't want to admit the vacation is over. He may be on to something with that...)
I thought you might be curious about movie watching on the island, since there isn't a movie theater here. So what do people do? A handful of things.
Sometimes islanders will ride the ferry to Hatteras and then drive to Avon to attend a movie in the four screen theater there. We have done that a handful of times. Before moving to Ocracoke, we went to see a movie in a theater about once a year, so living here has not really changed things much for us. In 2007, we went to Avon to see Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World's End. (I'm a HUGE Pirates fan.) I'm not sure what movie we'll see in the theater this year, but there will probably be one that I don't want to wait for it to come out on DVD.
Which brings me to the other thing that many islanders do to watch movies: they get them in the mail. We have been Netflix subscribers for years and I can honestly say I LOVE the service. I am a walking advertisement for it, frankly. I love being able to make a list of movies I want to see and then just wait for them to arrive. You can even put movies in your list which haven't yet come out on DVD. So if you see a preview and think "I want to see that", or a friend tells you about a movie that sounds good, you just add it to your queue and one day it shows up in your mailbox. After you watch it, you put it in the postage paid return mailer, send it back to Netflix, and they send you another one. Even out here on an island, we get our movies the day after they mail them. There are obviously many other people here on the island who use Netflix (or other DVD via mail services), as evidenced by this:
Yes, that's a specific outgoing mail drop in our post office for...well, you can read the sign.
There are a couple of options for viewing movies on bigger screens than a TV right here on the island too. The Assembly of God church shows movies (yes, with religious themes) about once a month. I have seen several good ones there: Amazing Grace, The End of the Spear, The Last Sin Eater, Nativity Story, and Noah's Arc (about a professional surfer from Hatteras).
And then there's this option:
Last year, a local started the Island Bijou to show movies on a recurring basis (I think approximately monthly) at DeepWater Theater, using the projector and screen there. The focus seems to have been on older classic movies or remakes of them. I haven't attended one of these showings yet, but might do so in the future. I like classic movies. Speaking of which, maybe I'll go watch my current Netflix selection (The Grapes of Wrath) now. Hope you have plenty of entertainment options, wherever you are.
I thought you might be curious about movie watching on the island, since there isn't a movie theater here. So what do people do? A handful of things.
Sometimes islanders will ride the ferry to Hatteras and then drive to Avon to attend a movie in the four screen theater there. We have done that a handful of times. Before moving to Ocracoke, we went to see a movie in a theater about once a year, so living here has not really changed things much for us. In 2007, we went to Avon to see Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World's End. (I'm a HUGE Pirates fan.) I'm not sure what movie we'll see in the theater this year, but there will probably be one that I don't want to wait for it to come out on DVD.
Which brings me to the other thing that many islanders do to watch movies: they get them in the mail. We have been Netflix subscribers for years and I can honestly say I LOVE the service. I am a walking advertisement for it, frankly. I love being able to make a list of movies I want to see and then just wait for them to arrive. You can even put movies in your list which haven't yet come out on DVD. So if you see a preview and think "I want to see that", or a friend tells you about a movie that sounds good, you just add it to your queue and one day it shows up in your mailbox. After you watch it, you put it in the postage paid return mailer, send it back to Netflix, and they send you another one. Even out here on an island, we get our movies the day after they mail them. There are obviously many other people here on the island who use Netflix (or other DVD via mail services), as evidenced by this:
Yes, that's a specific outgoing mail drop in our post office for...well, you can read the sign.
There are a couple of options for viewing movies on bigger screens than a TV right here on the island too. The Assembly of God church shows movies (yes, with religious themes) about once a month. I have seen several good ones there: Amazing Grace, The End of the Spear, The Last Sin Eater, Nativity Story, and Noah's Arc (about a professional surfer from Hatteras).
And then there's this option:
Last year, a local started the Island Bijou to show movies on a recurring basis (I think approximately monthly) at DeepWater Theater, using the projector and screen there. The focus seems to have been on older classic movies or remakes of them. I haven't attended one of these showings yet, but might do so in the future. I like classic movies. Speaking of which, maybe I'll go watch my current Netflix selection (The Grapes of Wrath) now. Hope you have plenty of entertainment options, wherever you are.
Friday, January 25, 2008
WE DID IT!
Here's a picture of that "major thing" I've been working on which I mentioned yesterday.
Yes, we bought a house! WOOOOOOHOOOOOOO!
So, what came down to the wire yesterday? Getting the cashier's check for the downpayment. John was literally (yes, literally) standing in the bank waiting for me to call him with the final total dollar amount (I was waiting for a call from the paralegal who was waiting for the corrected paperwork from the bank). I called him at 4:50, but then we realized we didn't know to whom the check should be payable. After several more frantic phone calls, I got that detail and called him back at 4:59. We had to get the check from the bank by 5 PM before they closed, because we had to take it with us on the 6:30 AM ferry this morning to Swan Quarter for the closing. Anyway, we made it, and then today we spent many hours on the ferry (went over on the 6:30 and back on the 1:00), but it was all worth it of course! It was FREEZING here this morning, and there was quite a bit of wind, which made the ferry ride less than pleasant (rocky in addition to cold). We then went to the courthouse to sign and/or initial many, many pieces of paper with many, many words of legalese on them. But that's what you have to do to buy a house!
I am amazed, humbled, and awed at the blessings that God continues to shower on my life. Hope your life is blessed too, wherever you are!
Yes, we bought a house! WOOOOOOHOOOOOOO!
So, what came down to the wire yesterday? Getting the cashier's check for the downpayment. John was literally (yes, literally) standing in the bank waiting for me to call him with the final total dollar amount (I was waiting for a call from the paralegal who was waiting for the corrected paperwork from the bank). I called him at 4:50, but then we realized we didn't know to whom the check should be payable. After several more frantic phone calls, I got that detail and called him back at 4:59. We had to get the check from the bank by 5 PM before they closed, because we had to take it with us on the 6:30 AM ferry this morning to Swan Quarter for the closing. Anyway, we made it, and then today we spent many hours on the ferry (went over on the 6:30 and back on the 1:00), but it was all worth it of course! It was FREEZING here this morning, and there was quite a bit of wind, which made the ferry ride less than pleasant (rocky in addition to cold). We then went to the courthouse to sign and/or initial many, many pieces of paper with many, many words of legalese on them. But that's what you have to do to buy a house!
I am amazed, humbled, and awed at the blessings that God continues to shower on my life. Hope your life is blessed too, wherever you are!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Down to the wire
I have had a full day. This morning, I had to get caught up on all the mail that came in while we were on vacation, including paying some bills. I finished that just in time to go to the school for my weekly time with the first graders. I had missed them!
The class was attending a science lesson in the High School building when I first arrived. Mary Ellen (their teacher) had told me where they would be, so I joined them there. They were learning about the food chain, including the terms herbivore, carnivore and omnivore. At one point they had a discussion about chickens, including both roosters and hens. The thing that was really great about the conversation was that it included several of the kids offering personal examples of people they know on the island who raise chickens (one of the students has roosters and chickens at home and told the class about them as well). I loved these examples of how the small school and community both support the children's learning - not only do they get to go to the high school science lab room (how many first graders are in school settings which enable that?), but they also have a wonderful classroom - the entire island - in which to learn about nature and animals. Lucky kids!
After finishing up at the school, most of the rest of my day was spent on the phone with multiple people finishing up the final details of a major thing I've been working on for several months now. There was something which needed to be done by 5:00 PM today and it was completed at 4:59. Literally. (Yes, that is becoming a favorite word of mine, but at least I use it correctly, unlike these people!) So, what was this major thing I've been working on, and which came down to the wire to finish? I'll tell you tomorrow.
Here's the photo of the day. What is it?
If you guessed "it's a cupcake - Kati has finally gone over the edge and joined the crazy cupcake people", sorry to disappoint you. It's the top of a flower. A friend brought over the entire flower (stem and all) a couple of days ago, but it fell apart. I thought the splash of color was too pretty to waste (in the winter, I miss flowers) so I put it in a custard cup filled with water to keep it alive. I have enjoyed looking at it for the last few days. Hope your life is colorful, wherever you are!
The class was attending a science lesson in the High School building when I first arrived. Mary Ellen (their teacher) had told me where they would be, so I joined them there. They were learning about the food chain, including the terms herbivore, carnivore and omnivore. At one point they had a discussion about chickens, including both roosters and hens. The thing that was really great about the conversation was that it included several of the kids offering personal examples of people they know on the island who raise chickens (one of the students has roosters and chickens at home and told the class about them as well). I loved these examples of how the small school and community both support the children's learning - not only do they get to go to the high school science lab room (how many first graders are in school settings which enable that?), but they also have a wonderful classroom - the entire island - in which to learn about nature and animals. Lucky kids!
After finishing up at the school, most of the rest of my day was spent on the phone with multiple people finishing up the final details of a major thing I've been working on for several months now. There was something which needed to be done by 5:00 PM today and it was completed at 4:59. Literally. (Yes, that is becoming a favorite word of mine, but at least I use it correctly, unlike these people!) So, what was this major thing I've been working on, and which came down to the wire to finish? I'll tell you tomorrow.
Here's the photo of the day. What is it?
If you guessed "it's a cupcake - Kati has finally gone over the edge and joined the crazy cupcake people", sorry to disappoint you. It's the top of a flower. A friend brought over the entire flower (stem and all) a couple of days ago, but it fell apart. I thought the splash of color was too pretty to waste (in the winter, I miss flowers) so I put it in a custard cup filled with water to keep it alive. I have enjoyed looking at it for the last few days. Hope your life is colorful, wherever you are!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Overflow parking
Usually, meetings on Ocracoke which do not include food are not very well attended. Tonight, there was a meeting which was an exception to that rule. Over 50 people came out to the Community Center this evening, not to eat, but to discuss an issue. The Community Center parking lot only holds about 10-15 cars, so folks parked along both sides of Highway 12, and across the street at the Gas Station too. I tried to get a good picture of this parking overflow, but it was dark so the shots didn't come out too well. Here's one of the parking lot at the Community Center (the best one I got).
So what where all these people there to talk about? Garbage. Literally.
The issue of how trash is disposed of, who pays for this service, how much they pay, and how (through taxes, buying special trash bags, etc.) is a hot one right now on the island, and there were some very vocal people at the meeting tonight who made their views perfectly clear. One gentleman was so worked up he was nearly yelling, but most of the commenters were civil, even as they disagreed and expressed their concerns and annoyances with the proposal to move toward a "pay as you throw" solid waste management plan. (And yes, there were a handful of people who expressed support for the change, too.)
I actually enjoyed the meeting, for multiple reasons. First, it made me think (more than a mindless night of TV watching would have done, that's for certain!) Also, it was an example of good dialogue between community members about an issue which affects them. I like when this happens, as it is a reminder of how much people really care about this place. I wish it would happen more often, as there are several more topics which people could influence if they would participate in the process. That's a good thought for an election year: no matter your political preferences, participate. Vote!
So what where all these people there to talk about? Garbage. Literally.
The issue of how trash is disposed of, who pays for this service, how much they pay, and how (through taxes, buying special trash bags, etc.) is a hot one right now on the island, and there were some very vocal people at the meeting tonight who made their views perfectly clear. One gentleman was so worked up he was nearly yelling, but most of the commenters were civil, even as they disagreed and expressed their concerns and annoyances with the proposal to move toward a "pay as you throw" solid waste management plan. (And yes, there were a handful of people who expressed support for the change, too.)
I actually enjoyed the meeting, for multiple reasons. First, it made me think (more than a mindless night of TV watching would have done, that's for certain!) Also, it was an example of good dialogue between community members about an issue which affects them. I like when this happens, as it is a reminder of how much people really care about this place. I wish it would happen more often, as there are several more topics which people could influence if they would participate in the process. That's a good thought for an election year: no matter your political preferences, participate. Vote!
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Full moon ferry
Home! We took the 5 PM ferry from Cedar Island today and arrived home about 45 minutes ago. (Yes, I do realize that the fact that I am blogging before I have even unpacked may indicate something about my mental state. So be it!) The full moon rose while we were on the ferry, and it was a lovely sight. During the drive today, I began to feel less rushed as we moved away from traffic, stop signs, and billboards toward the quiet peace that is the Outer Banks. When we arrived at Cedar Island, I walked on the beach near the ferry landing, and (of course) touched salt water. The sound was perfectly smooth, adding to my sense of calm. The ferry ride was still and serene, as we motored along under the full moon. As we neared the island, the lights of the Coast Guard building and other structures around the harbor came ever more into view and focus. And, of course, my lighthouse was shining against the starlit sky. It was the perfect way to come home!
Last night, we stayed in a lovely Victorian B&B in Wilmington NC. I plan to go back and visit that city again, as there are several interesting things there I would love to see (Airlie Gardens, Screen Gems studios, an aquarium, a serpentarium, the USS North Carolina Battleship, and a handful of museums, among several other interesting sites). Anyway, looking around the B&B, I noticed several artfully displayed collections. The bathroom for our room was decorated with a collection of rubber duckies. The mantel in the dining room showcased a collection of glass candlesticks. But the collection which was my favorite was housed ingeniously in a secretary in the parlor. This particular collection made the shutterbug in me smile.
How far cameras have come, that I can share the photo I took - less than 12 hours ago - of these early ones with people all over the world.
Last night, we stayed in a lovely Victorian B&B in Wilmington NC. I plan to go back and visit that city again, as there are several interesting things there I would love to see (Airlie Gardens, Screen Gems studios, an aquarium, a serpentarium, the USS North Carolina Battleship, and a handful of museums, among several other interesting sites). Anyway, looking around the B&B, I noticed several artfully displayed collections. The bathroom for our room was decorated with a collection of rubber duckies. The mantel in the dining room showcased a collection of glass candlesticks. But the collection which was my favorite was housed ingeniously in a secretary in the parlor. This particular collection made the shutterbug in me smile.
How far cameras have come, that I can share the photo I took - less than 12 hours ago - of these early ones with people all over the world.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Found one!
Finish this sentence: "everybody loves..."
Okay, now start a business based on that premise. Starbucks finished the sentence with "coffee". For eBay, it was either "a bargain" or "winning" or "finding really hard to find things". And there's a new (at least to me) fad started by finishing that sentence with the word "cupcakes".
There's a whole cupcake movement, I swear. Who knew? I first heard about this odd phenomenon from Sundae, who sent me a link to this blog. I was fascinated and amazed to see the examples of cupcakes on which people have obviously spent hours. I was completely flabbergasted when I learned that there are entire stores which sell only cupcakes. I'm not kidding. See the list on the blog linked above if you don't believe me - it shows more than 20 cupcakeries (I don't know if anyone else calls them that, or if I made it up...but it certainly fits) in New York alone!
Anyway, I saw a cupcake shop with my very own eyes so now I know for sure that America is crazy. The one I saw is in Savannah:
Okay, so clearly this place doesn't limit itself to cupcakes only, since it also sells "gifts", but it is obviously a cupcake-themed store and therefore fits the category. No, I didn't go in and check out the wares, so I can't give you a first hand account. I suspect they were, well, sweet and delicious, as all cupcakes are.
Now I'm going to go back to trying to finish that sentence, so that I can start a business and make a few million bucks. I can only wish!
Okay, now start a business based on that premise. Starbucks finished the sentence with "coffee". For eBay, it was either "a bargain" or "winning" or "finding really hard to find things". And there's a new (at least to me) fad started by finishing that sentence with the word "cupcakes".
There's a whole cupcake movement, I swear. Who knew? I first heard about this odd phenomenon from Sundae, who sent me a link to this blog. I was fascinated and amazed to see the examples of cupcakes on which people have obviously spent hours. I was completely flabbergasted when I learned that there are entire stores which sell only cupcakes. I'm not kidding. See the list on the blog linked above if you don't believe me - it shows more than 20 cupcakeries (I don't know if anyone else calls them that, or if I made it up...but it certainly fits) in New York alone!
Anyway, I saw a cupcake shop with my very own eyes so now I know for sure that America is crazy. The one I saw is in Savannah:
Okay, so clearly this place doesn't limit itself to cupcakes only, since it also sells "gifts", but it is obviously a cupcake-themed store and therefore fits the category. No, I didn't go in and check out the wares, so I can't give you a first hand account. I suspect they were, well, sweet and delicious, as all cupcakes are.
Now I'm going to go back to trying to finish that sentence, so that I can start a business and make a few million bucks. I can only wish!
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Examples
Last night, I blogged that I loved "the old buildings (including several lovely churches), brick streets, trees covered with spanish moss, and all the squares" of Savannah. Today we took a trolley tour of the city and saw several of all of the above, so I thought I would share a few photo examples.
Old buildings
This is one of the oldest buildings in Savannah. I don't remember what year our trolley driver/guide told us it had been built, but I do recall she said that it survived the fire of 1820.
This building has the courtesy to announce the year it was built right on its side:
One of the things I like about the old buildings here is the ironwork. This house is a good example, plus I like its spiral staircase.
The original Post Office building, now serving in another capacity (the guide told us what is in there now, but I didn't commit it to memory). I love the marble walls...they just don't build them like this anymore.
Lovely churches
This one was my favorite...
How about a lovely synagogue? This is Temple Mikveh Israel. I especially liked the decorative windows which are done with pretty green glass, although it is hard to tell in the picture.
Brick street
This is really more of a cobblestone street. There are brick streets here, too, but I didn't get a picture of any of those.
Trees covered with spanish moss
This is one of the largest trees I have seen
Here's a combo picture of a tree covered with spanish moss and and old building - the original armory (note the cannons on either side of the door), now one of the Savannah College of Art and Design buildings. SCAD has done a great job of restoring and maintaining many of the downtown structures.
Squares
One of many. Savannah has a total of 21 squares at present. You can learn more about them and see a satellite photo showing them here. The B&B where we are staying is right near Chatham Square, which is the bottom left one in the satellite shot.
I hope you've enjoyed this photo tour of Savannah. I recommend a visit here for a real tour, too!
Old buildings
This is one of the oldest buildings in Savannah. I don't remember what year our trolley driver/guide told us it had been built, but I do recall she said that it survived the fire of 1820.
This building has the courtesy to announce the year it was built right on its side:
One of the things I like about the old buildings here is the ironwork. This house is a good example, plus I like its spiral staircase.
The original Post Office building, now serving in another capacity (the guide told us what is in there now, but I didn't commit it to memory). I love the marble walls...they just don't build them like this anymore.
Lovely churches
This one was my favorite...
How about a lovely synagogue? This is Temple Mikveh Israel. I especially liked the decorative windows which are done with pretty green glass, although it is hard to tell in the picture.
Brick street
This is really more of a cobblestone street. There are brick streets here, too, but I didn't get a picture of any of those.
Trees covered with spanish moss
This is one of the largest trees I have seen
Here's a combo picture of a tree covered with spanish moss and and old building - the original armory (note the cannons on either side of the door), now one of the Savannah College of Art and Design buildings. SCAD has done a great job of restoring and maintaining many of the downtown structures.
Squares
One of many. Savannah has a total of 21 squares at present. You can learn more about them and see a satellite photo showing them here. The B&B where we are staying is right near Chatham Square, which is the bottom left one in the satellite shot.
I hope you've enjoyed this photo tour of Savannah. I recommend a visit here for a real tour, too!
Saturday, January 19, 2008
A pretty city
I don't generally like cities. I'm most comfortable in a very small town on an island, remember? Nevertheless, I have always wanted to visit Savannah Georgia. So I planned a couple of nights in that town, one of America's oldest, on our way back home from Florida. During the drive up I-95, I saw a sign that said something to the effect of "visit Savannah, Georgia's prettiest city". I thought "can a city be pretty?"
We arrived this evening, unfortunately after dark, and found our B&B. We then drove around a bit, looking for a light dinner. That's when I discovered that a city can, indeed, be pretty. Savannah is a pretty city (at least the downtown/historic area where we are staying is, anyway). I love the old buildings (including several lovely churches), brick streets, trees covered with spanish moss, and all the squares. I can't wait to see it in daylight! I think I'll take a walk around the neighborhood tomorrow morning to check it out some more.
On a "kindred spirits" note, I had a fun moment with the desk in our room at the B&B. Here's a picture of said desk:
How many drawers does this desk have? (You may need to click on the picture - view it full screen - to take a good look for a thorough search.) If you said 12, you missed several. If you said 13, you're doing pretty well at hidden drawer spotting, although the first one is a bit obvious. If you said 17, you are a kindred spirit with me and other hidden drawer fans. I laughed out loud when I found the note in one of the hidden drawers in this desk (yes, of course, I had to open them all!) which started "secret drawer society" and was signed by several guests who had found it. The last ones even left a Hershey's Kiss in the drawer for the next finders (which turned out to be me...lucky me, as I love Hershey's Kisses). And yes, of course, I also signed the note. Now, if you know where all the secret drawers on this desk are, DON'T post a comment explaining their locations to the world (oh, okay...to my handful of blog readers). They are supposed to be SECRET after all!
And a quick aside to all my faithful daily readers who have been enjoying the ongoing saga of my internet access challenges while in an otherwise-fantastic resort in Kissimmee: ah, the joys of simple, in-room, FREE wireless internet access. I feel like I've returned to the world!
We arrived this evening, unfortunately after dark, and found our B&B. We then drove around a bit, looking for a light dinner. That's when I discovered that a city can, indeed, be pretty. Savannah is a pretty city (at least the downtown/historic area where we are staying is, anyway). I love the old buildings (including several lovely churches), brick streets, trees covered with spanish moss, and all the squares. I can't wait to see it in daylight! I think I'll take a walk around the neighborhood tomorrow morning to check it out some more.
On a "kindred spirits" note, I had a fun moment with the desk in our room at the B&B. Here's a picture of said desk:
How many drawers does this desk have? (You may need to click on the picture - view it full screen - to take a good look for a thorough search.) If you said 12, you missed several. If you said 13, you're doing pretty well at hidden drawer spotting, although the first one is a bit obvious. If you said 17, you are a kindred spirit with me and other hidden drawer fans. I laughed out loud when I found the note in one of the hidden drawers in this desk (yes, of course, I had to open them all!) which started "secret drawer society" and was signed by several guests who had found it. The last ones even left a Hershey's Kiss in the drawer for the next finders (which turned out to be me...lucky me, as I love Hershey's Kisses). And yes, of course, I also signed the note. Now, if you know where all the secret drawers on this desk are, DON'T post a comment explaining their locations to the world (oh, okay...to my handful of blog readers). They are supposed to be SECRET after all!
And a quick aside to all my faithful daily readers who have been enjoying the ongoing saga of my internet access challenges while in an otherwise-fantastic resort in Kissimmee: ah, the joys of simple, in-room, FREE wireless internet access. I feel like I've returned to the world!
Friday, January 18, 2008
Disney day
After a full day at Disney's Magic Kingdom park with three grandchildren, I am zonked.
Will blog more tomorrow! :)
Will blog more tomorrow! :)
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Big fun!
We (John, my Mom, me, plus John's son and our grandkids John-John, Jordan and Jacob) had a fun day at Disney Quest today. What's Disney Quest, you ask? Basically a HUGE arcade, only with much more fun games, including several virtual reality activities.
Here were our favorite things:
John-John - the design and then ride your own roller coaster, Cyber Space Mountain. I went on this one with him, and was really happy he only made us go upside down once!
Jacob - Pirates of the Caribbean Search for Buccaneer Gold virtual adventure - in which we shot cannons repeatedly and earned over 3000 pieces of gold. Unfortunately, it was virtual gold. Darnit!
Jordan - loved making her own keychain. She got a dog tag shape, which says Disney Quest on one side, and has her name IN ALL CAPS on the other side.
Grandma Kati - spending time with my sweet grandkids at Disney Quest. Aaawww.
Here are a couple of pictures.
Jordan, John-John, and Jacob on the giant pinball machine:
Jordan and Jacob learning to draw Donald Duck:
Hope your life includes big fun, wherever you are!
Here were our favorite things:
John-John - the design and then ride your own roller coaster, Cyber Space Mountain. I went on this one with him, and was really happy he only made us go upside down once!
Jacob - Pirates of the Caribbean Search for Buccaneer Gold virtual adventure - in which we shot cannons repeatedly and earned over 3000 pieces of gold. Unfortunately, it was virtual gold. Darnit!
Jordan - loved making her own keychain. She got a dog tag shape, which says Disney Quest on one side, and has her name IN ALL CAPS on the other side.
Grandma Kati - spending time with my sweet grandkids at Disney Quest. Aaawww.
Here are a couple of pictures.
Jordan, John-John, and Jacob on the giant pinball machine:
Jordan and Jacob learning to draw Donald Duck:
Hope your life includes big fun, wherever you are!
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
A blessed day
My mom and I went to a park here in Orlando today which is significantly different from all of the others in town. This one is called The Holy Land Experience, and it is designed to inform visitors about Israel and the history of Judaism and Christianity, while also entertaining and inspiring them. It was my second visit to the park (John and I went two years ago when we vacationed here), but I was still greatly moved and further educated.
I was especially blessed by several simple statements I encountered during our day.
Here's one:
The other one was a line from the original musical Centurion:
"He is so much more than you imagine."
And then there was this one, oft quoted and repeated, ignored and misunderstood by many, but world changing and important nonetheless:
Know you are loved, wherever you are.
I was especially blessed by several simple statements I encountered during our day.
Here's one:
The other one was a line from the original musical Centurion:
"He is so much more than you imagine."
And then there was this one, oft quoted and repeated, ignored and misunderstood by many, but world changing and important nonetheless:
Know you are loved, wherever you are.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Good (and funny) advice
We had a pretty relaxing day today, with nothing specific planned that we had to do. I went into a company location so I could connect my laptop to the network to resolve an issue with my email (which was causing the laptop to crash completely after about 5 minutes of attempting to work with my email). Anyway, the desk I sat at to work had a funny card tacked to the wall in it, with what I thought was actually possibly a good piece of advice. It said:
The next time someone says to you "Let me ask you this..."
yell "NO!"
before they can ask...
I have at least one person in my life who says "let me ask you this", usually in response to me attempting to change the subject of the conversation or actually asking them to not talk to me about a particular topic which I don't think is appropriate to discuss with me. I'm not sure I'll actually have the guts to yell NO! before they can ask, but it will give me a chuckle to think about this card the next time it happens anyway.
I did take a picture of the card, but I had to use my Treo to do so, as I didn't have my camera with me. And of course, I don't have the cable to connect the Treo to the laptop so I can't upload the picture yet. But I'll get it on here after I get back home.
I had to wonder what had happened in the person's life which led someone to give him that card, too. Guess I'm not alone in dealing with "let me ask you this"-ers.
If you're curious re: blogging location this evening, it's the downstairs lounge again. The zamboni guy just started up his routine, but there's no angry lady tonight. :)
The next time someone says to you "Let me ask you this..."
yell "NO!"
before they can ask...
I have at least one person in my life who says "let me ask you this", usually in response to me attempting to change the subject of the conversation or actually asking them to not talk to me about a particular topic which I don't think is appropriate to discuss with me. I'm not sure I'll actually have the guts to yell NO! before they can ask, but it will give me a chuckle to think about this card the next time it happens anyway.
I did take a picture of the card, but I had to use my Treo to do so, as I didn't have my camera with me. And of course, I don't have the cable to connect the Treo to the laptop so I can't upload the picture yet. But I'll get it on here after I get back home.
I had to wonder what had happened in the person's life which led someone to give him that card, too. Guess I'm not alone in dealing with "let me ask you this"-ers.
If you're curious re: blogging location this evening, it's the downstairs lounge again. The zamboni guy just started up his routine, but there's no angry lady tonight. :)
Monday, January 14, 2008
Leaving a legacy
Two years ago, when John and I visited Epcot Center, we had our picture taken for the "Leave a Legacy" wall. I wasn't sure at the time when we would ever get to see the picture. Well, we got to see it today!
First, we had to go to the Leave a Legacy Locator station to find out where our picture was (on which wall of the several walls). We received a card with a six step process to find ourselves: find the section (E), then the row (4), then the wall (G), then the panel on that wall (17), then count up 4 blocks and over 21 blocks. Whew! Well it took a bit of trial and error, but we finally found ourselves! (Photos below.)
John pointing to our tiny block amongst all the others in E-4-G-17:
The picture itself:
(Yes, that's me with the butterfly painted on my face. That had been done at the Animal Kingdom park earlier in the day. I figure if you're going to leave a legacy, have some fun with it!)
For those of you interested in the continuing saga of my internet access for blogging, tonight I'm sitting in my car in the parking lot of the River Island section of the resort. The actual building has closed for the evening, but the wireless works in the parking lot, and this area is closer to our villa than the main building where I have been going for the last few nights. The things I do to blog... :) It is quite chilly here tonight (especially for Florida!), so I'm heading back to the villa now for a soak in the tub (my feet ache from walking all over Epcot...)
Hope you are staying warm, wherever you are. I assume it must be cold everywhere since it's this darn cold here!
First, we had to go to the Leave a Legacy Locator station to find out where our picture was (on which wall of the several walls). We received a card with a six step process to find ourselves: find the section (E), then the row (4), then the wall (G), then the panel on that wall (17), then count up 4 blocks and over 21 blocks. Whew! Well it took a bit of trial and error, but we finally found ourselves! (Photos below.)
John pointing to our tiny block amongst all the others in E-4-G-17:
The picture itself:
(Yes, that's me with the butterfly painted on my face. That had been done at the Animal Kingdom park earlier in the day. I figure if you're going to leave a legacy, have some fun with it!)
For those of you interested in the continuing saga of my internet access for blogging, tonight I'm sitting in my car in the parking lot of the River Island section of the resort. The actual building has closed for the evening, but the wireless works in the parking lot, and this area is closer to our villa than the main building where I have been going for the last few nights. The things I do to blog... :) It is quite chilly here tonight (especially for Florida!), so I'm heading back to the villa now for a soak in the tub (my feet ache from walking all over Epcot...)
Hope you are staying warm, wherever you are. I assume it must be cold everywhere since it's this darn cold here!
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Local wild life
This morning, I observed some of the local wild life in the resort. These cranes were hanging around outside the screened porch of our villa, and were quite cooperative about having their pictures snapped. I assume I'm not the first one to have done that to them!
This evening, we had a blast with another kind of wild life: grand kids! We swam in the pool, floated in the lazy river, ate a terrific meal including bananas foster for dessert (the first time the kids had seen a dessert set on fire!), and then played in the arcade until we were all just about ready to drop.
Flaming dessert:
A few minutes ago, I was a form of wild life. The &^%$#*&^@$% internet access at this place continues to be the bane of my existence! I decided this afternoon just to pay the fee for access for a whole week. I paid online, and got connected. Then, when I tried to reconnect, it prompted me for an access code (which I didn't have, as the system did not give me one when I connected the first time after paying). It also gave me the "buy" option. Well you can bet I wasn't paying the dang fee again! I went upstairs to the desk for assistance and was told repeatedly that there wasn't anything they could do. I responded repeatedly that that was not acceptable and they were going to have to figure something out for me. Finally, one of the staff people gave me a code to use.
I'm in the quiet lobby again tonight, only this time the mini zamboni man is cleaning the floor down here. And this evening, I was the angry lady! Grrr... Think I'd better go to bed before anything else wild happens. :)
This evening, we had a blast with another kind of wild life: grand kids! We swam in the pool, floated in the lazy river, ate a terrific meal including bananas foster for dessert (the first time the kids had seen a dessert set on fire!), and then played in the arcade until we were all just about ready to drop.
Flaming dessert:
A few minutes ago, I was a form of wild life. The &^%$#*&^@$% internet access at this place continues to be the bane of my existence! I decided this afternoon just to pay the fee for access for a whole week. I paid online, and got connected. Then, when I tried to reconnect, it prompted me for an access code (which I didn't have, as the system did not give me one when I connected the first time after paying). It also gave me the "buy" option. Well you can bet I wasn't paying the dang fee again! I went upstairs to the desk for assistance and was told repeatedly that there wasn't anything they could do. I responded repeatedly that that was not acceptable and they were going to have to figure something out for me. Finally, one of the staff people gave me a code to use.
I'm in the quiet lobby again tonight, only this time the mini zamboni man is cleaning the floor down here. And this evening, I was the angry lady! Grrr... Think I'd better go to bed before anything else wild happens. :)
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Dedication...and vacation peace
This blog is costing me $6. That's because the resort where we are staying in Kissimmee FL is several years behind the times and still charges for internet access! I told one of their representatives what I thought of that, in no uncertain terms, and he assured me they were working to resolve it. I hope they hurry. In addition, I had to drive for about 5 minutes to even get access. This place is huge (1400 acres, I think) and there is not wireless access which covers the entire resort. So I had to come to the clubhouse of the "West Village" (we are staying in the "North Village"), ostensibly to use the business center, which is supposed to be open until 11:00. It, however, is having some sort of issue and therefore closed at 7 PM this evening. So I am sitting, literally, on a bench in the lobby watching a man clean the floor with a mini-zamboni type thing and one very unhappy woman complain rather animatedly about her room. Now you know for sure that I'm dedicated to providing (or attempting to provide) for you, my fearless readers, a daily blog in 2008.
So now I can get on to what I really wanted to talk about today. I have a new theory about one of the reasons people feel relaxed and at peace while on vacation. It's not the travel part to get there, that's for sure. We drove for about four and a half hours today...not a bad drive at all, length wise, but we dealt with traffic around Jacksonville FL, a sudden downpour, and then Orlando traffic and which-side-of-the-road-will-our-exit-be-on confusion. We made it to the resort in one piece, only to discover a line (I'm not kidding...and it was about 40 people long) to check in to the place. I guess that should make us feel good about the popularity of this particular home-away-from-home, but honestly, standing in line was not what I had in mind as the way to start a relaxing visit. Finally, the check in process itself of course included the requisite arm twisting to go sit through the "buy a timeshare" spiel. (Yes, we're going on Monday morning...the deal on Disney tickets was too good to miss. They promised it will only take an hour. I'm leaving after an hour, even if they are still talking.) Anyway, I'm still quite pleased with the accommodations here, in spite of the not-free internet access and stressful check in procedure. Why, you ask?
(Quick aside - I've retreated to a lovely quiet lounge, escaping the noise of the mini zamboni guy and angry lady. In case you were worried about my mental health...)
So back to what I was saying. The reason I'm still very happy with the resort is the villa itself. We are staying in a two bedroom, two bath condo unit. It is very well laid out, with efficient use of space, and the decor is colorfully tropical but not annoyingly loud (at least in my opinion). Here's where I get to my theory: one of the reasons that people relax on vacation (a reason which, I'm sure, most of them are not even conscious of) is the fact that in hotels, B&Bs, resorts, and even well maintained motels, the rooms, suites, units, etc. are soothing to the eye. Everything matches. There is no (or very little) clutter to create "visual noise". The spareness creates a sense of order which is harder to maintain in our homes, where the artifacts of daily living tend to cause untidiness which leads to a sense of disorder and confusion.
Here's John in the colorful, matching, uncluttered living room of our villa:
So that's my theory, and I, as they say, am sticking to it. Even if it's not true for anyone else, it is certainly true for me. Maybe I should tidy up the place when I get home...
So now I can get on to what I really wanted to talk about today. I have a new theory about one of the reasons people feel relaxed and at peace while on vacation. It's not the travel part to get there, that's for sure. We drove for about four and a half hours today...not a bad drive at all, length wise, but we dealt with traffic around Jacksonville FL, a sudden downpour, and then Orlando traffic and which-side-of-the-road-will-our-exit-be-on confusion. We made it to the resort in one piece, only to discover a line (I'm not kidding...and it was about 40 people long) to check in to the place. I guess that should make us feel good about the popularity of this particular home-away-from-home, but honestly, standing in line was not what I had in mind as the way to start a relaxing visit. Finally, the check in process itself of course included the requisite arm twisting to go sit through the "buy a timeshare" spiel. (Yes, we're going on Monday morning...the deal on Disney tickets was too good to miss. They promised it will only take an hour. I'm leaving after an hour, even if they are still talking.) Anyway, I'm still quite pleased with the accommodations here, in spite of the not-free internet access and stressful check in procedure. Why, you ask?
(Quick aside - I've retreated to a lovely quiet lounge, escaping the noise of the mini zamboni guy and angry lady. In case you were worried about my mental health...)
So back to what I was saying. The reason I'm still very happy with the resort is the villa itself. We are staying in a two bedroom, two bath condo unit. It is very well laid out, with efficient use of space, and the decor is colorfully tropical but not annoyingly loud (at least in my opinion). Here's where I get to my theory: one of the reasons that people relax on vacation (a reason which, I'm sure, most of them are not even conscious of) is the fact that in hotels, B&Bs, resorts, and even well maintained motels, the rooms, suites, units, etc. are soothing to the eye. Everything matches. There is no (or very little) clutter to create "visual noise". The spareness creates a sense of order which is harder to maintain in our homes, where the artifacts of daily living tend to cause untidiness which leads to a sense of disorder and confusion.
Here's John in the colorful, matching, uncluttered living room of our villa:
So that's my theory, and I, as they say, am sticking to it. Even if it's not true for anyone else, it is certainly true for me. Maybe I should tidy up the place when I get home...
Friday, January 11, 2008
How to have a practically* perfect day
1. Wake up early and watch the sun rise over a salt marsh.
2. Eat a terrific breakfast, cooked for you by someone else.
3. Sit in a screened porch and watch the colors of the salt marsh change as the light grows brighter and clouds pass by.
4. Dance with your husband to the song that you danced to for your first dance at your wedding reception.
5. Go kayaking on the salt marsh.
6. Read a good book while sitting on a second floor balcony overlooking the salt marsh.
7. Give yourself* a facial. (This is the reason this list is called how to have a practically - not absolutely - perfect day. If it had been absolutely perfect, someone else would have given me the facial at a lovely, relaxing spa.)
8. Buy a piece of art just because looking at it makes you smile, even though you are not sure where you are going to hang it and the colors don't match anything else in your house.
9. Sit in a comfortable adirondack chair in the shade while enjoying a peanut butter, banana and honey smoothie.
10. Learn something new. In my case, this was a visit to Old Fort King George outside Darien, GA. It is a fascinating site, with a reconstructed fort building, a small museum, an informative short film, and a nature trail. It is very well maintained and was highly educational about the history of this area, starting with the first inhabitants - the Guale Native American tribe - then continuing through the Revolutionary period and the sawmill industry which had a major economic impact on the area for a century. The high point of the visit for me was climbing to the top of the fort building and looking out over - what else? - the salt marsh.
11. Sit on a third floor balcony watching the salt marsh turn gold as the light shifts toward sunset. Listen to the sounds of the marsh at low tide - pops as air is released from the mud, and the cries of birds calling to one another.
12. Stand on the balcony one last time before bed, looking up at the stars in the dark sky, and down at them reflected in the water of the salt marsh.
13. Count your blessings.
Okay, so admittedly I love salt marshes and your perfect-day-list may not include quite as many salt marsh moments as mine did!
Here's a quote which seems the perfect way to end today's blog:
Ye marshes, how candid and simple and nothing-witholding and free
Ye publish yourselves to the sky, and offer yourselves to the sea.
S. Lanier
2. Eat a terrific breakfast, cooked for you by someone else.
3. Sit in a screened porch and watch the colors of the salt marsh change as the light grows brighter and clouds pass by.
4. Dance with your husband to the song that you danced to for your first dance at your wedding reception.
5. Go kayaking on the salt marsh.
6. Read a good book while sitting on a second floor balcony overlooking the salt marsh.
7. Give yourself* a facial. (This is the reason this list is called how to have a practically - not absolutely - perfect day. If it had been absolutely perfect, someone else would have given me the facial at a lovely, relaxing spa.)
8. Buy a piece of art just because looking at it makes you smile, even though you are not sure where you are going to hang it and the colors don't match anything else in your house.
9. Sit in a comfortable adirondack chair in the shade while enjoying a peanut butter, banana and honey smoothie.
10. Learn something new. In my case, this was a visit to Old Fort King George outside Darien, GA. It is a fascinating site, with a reconstructed fort building, a small museum, an informative short film, and a nature trail. It is very well maintained and was highly educational about the history of this area, starting with the first inhabitants - the Guale Native American tribe - then continuing through the Revolutionary period and the sawmill industry which had a major economic impact on the area for a century. The high point of the visit for me was climbing to the top of the fort building and looking out over - what else? - the salt marsh.
11. Sit on a third floor balcony watching the salt marsh turn gold as the light shifts toward sunset. Listen to the sounds of the marsh at low tide - pops as air is released from the mud, and the cries of birds calling to one another.
12. Stand on the balcony one last time before bed, looking up at the stars in the dark sky, and down at them reflected in the water of the salt marsh.
13. Count your blessings.
Okay, so admittedly I love salt marshes and your perfect-day-list may not include quite as many salt marsh moments as mine did!
Here's a quote which seems the perfect way to end today's blog:
Ye marshes, how candid and simple and nothing-witholding and free
Ye publish yourselves to the sky, and offer yourselves to the sea.
S. Lanier
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Salt water and bliss
It has been several days since I have been anywhere near salt water, and I have missed it. Today, that unfortunate circumstance was rectified: we drove to a small town called Meridian on the coast of Georgia. I haven't touched salt water yet (we arrived after dark and I didn't trust myself to find the edge of the salt marsh and then bend over to touch it without falling in!), but I am close enough to hear and smell it. As soon as we got out of the car at the B&B where we are spending the next two nights, I caught the unmistakable scent of salt marsh: a unique mixture of salt water, grasses, and plain ol' low country mud. I love it!
I make most of our travel plans using the internet. Sometimes I get a bit nervous and wonder what the accommodations will really be like. You never know if that picture of the room is 20 years old and the bed is now sagging. But I do a thorough job, reading not only the details on the individual property website, but often also the reviews by previous guests. And usually, I am perfectly content with everywhere we stay. (I tend to decide to be positive, rather than go in with a negative attitude, because I believe that you get what you expect.)
That said, every now and then I am blessed by a place that far exceeds my highest expectations, immediately putting me in a frame of mind that I can only call bliss. The Blue Heron Inn in Meridian GA is such a place. We are in a fabulous, huge room (the Blue Heron room) with a gorgeous, comfortable king size bed, a sitting area, and the most pampering, decadent bathroom I have ever seen. The bathroom has a long vanity with two sinks, an enormous jacuzzi tub, and a large walk in shower with double showerheads. And they even provided bubble bath. I love these people! Of course, after dinner I had to take a soak in the big tub, which was wonderful and relaxing. The only way it could have been better was if I had had a glass of champagne and chocolate covered strawberries too. (Maybe I'll buy both tomorrow.) I also spent a few minutes out on the balcony of our room, listening to and smelling the salt marsh and looking up at the stars. I am completely blissed out, and I haven't even seen the view yet!
My bubbly bliss:
Sign above the tub:
My sentiments exactly!
I make most of our travel plans using the internet. Sometimes I get a bit nervous and wonder what the accommodations will really be like. You never know if that picture of the room is 20 years old and the bed is now sagging. But I do a thorough job, reading not only the details on the individual property website, but often also the reviews by previous guests. And usually, I am perfectly content with everywhere we stay. (I tend to decide to be positive, rather than go in with a negative attitude, because I believe that you get what you expect.)
That said, every now and then I am blessed by a place that far exceeds my highest expectations, immediately putting me in a frame of mind that I can only call bliss. The Blue Heron Inn in Meridian GA is such a place. We are in a fabulous, huge room (the Blue Heron room) with a gorgeous, comfortable king size bed, a sitting area, and the most pampering, decadent bathroom I have ever seen. The bathroom has a long vanity with two sinks, an enormous jacuzzi tub, and a large walk in shower with double showerheads. And they even provided bubble bath. I love these people! Of course, after dinner I had to take a soak in the big tub, which was wonderful and relaxing. The only way it could have been better was if I had had a glass of champagne and chocolate covered strawberries too. (Maybe I'll buy both tomorrow.) I also spent a few minutes out on the balcony of our room, listening to and smelling the salt marsh and looking up at the stars. I am completely blissed out, and I haven't even seen the view yet!
My bubbly bliss:
Sign above the tub:
My sentiments exactly!
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Dining out
When you live on an island, and then you go on vacation, you might do the opposite of what many people do when they travel in terms of eating in restaurants. Before I lived on Ocracoke, I would eat in places that I couldn't enjoy while at home, which meant nothing that was a chain. I would look for unique restaurants which existed only in the area we were visiting, family owned and operated places which the locals recommended (and where they ate too).
Now that I live on an island, the rule is the same, but different. I still want to eat in restaurants that I can't eat in at home. But now, that means I do want to dine at some of the chain places. Oh, don't get me wrong, you won't catch me haunting McDonalds any time soon, but I do enjoy eateries like Outback Steakhouse, Cracker Barrel, and The Cheesecake Factory. And yes, I do still ask the locals where to eat, and take their recommendations, too.
Tonight we ate at Outback Steakhouse with John's daughter Mandy, her husband Rob, and their daughter, our sweet granddaughter Sophie. (If you've visited us, you've seen several pictures of her on our refrigerator.) We munched a blooming onion (I love those things!) and heartily enjoyed the warm, fresh baked brown bread. My salad had a delicious dressing called "spicy tomato" which was hot and sweet at the same time. My appetite was satisfied and I was happy before my entree even arrived!
Here's Sophie reaching for a bite of bloomin' onion:
And checking out the interesting Australian signs. Where are those wombats?
Now aren't you glad I didn't post pictures of the food itself and make you hungry?
Now that I live on an island, the rule is the same, but different. I still want to eat in restaurants that I can't eat in at home. But now, that means I do want to dine at some of the chain places. Oh, don't get me wrong, you won't catch me haunting McDonalds any time soon, but I do enjoy eateries like Outback Steakhouse, Cracker Barrel, and The Cheesecake Factory. And yes, I do still ask the locals where to eat, and take their recommendations, too.
Tonight we ate at Outback Steakhouse with John's daughter Mandy, her husband Rob, and their daughter, our sweet granddaughter Sophie. (If you've visited us, you've seen several pictures of her on our refrigerator.) We munched a blooming onion (I love those things!) and heartily enjoyed the warm, fresh baked brown bread. My salad had a delicious dressing called "spicy tomato" which was hot and sweet at the same time. My appetite was satisfied and I was happy before my entree even arrived!
Here's Sophie reaching for a bite of bloomin' onion:
And checking out the interesting Australian signs. Where are those wombats?
Now aren't you glad I didn't post pictures of the food itself and make you hungry?
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Acting young, feeling old
We spent a couple of hours today with Julie and her son Alex, before hitting the road again for our next destination. Alex is a sweet baby. He is also a BIG baby. He was born weighing nearly 11 pounds! I fed him yesterday and again today, and boy does he eat! He sucks down the contents of his bottles as if for dear life. It was a joy to spend some time with him and see how much he has grown and learned since he was born on Oct. 16th. It was also good exercise to lift and carry him. :) Here's a picture of him. What a cutie!
This afternoon, we drove to Greenville SC for a visit with John's daughter Mandy, son-in-law Rob, and our granddaughter Sophie. I had a blast jumping with Sophie on her new trampoline! Then we went upstairs and played school with her dolls. Finally, we read a chapter of one of her books before it was time to enjoy the delicious spaghetti and garlic bread dinner that Mandy had made for us.
I love spending time with babies and children. Watching them learn and observe the world is a joy. I have a blast acting like a child myself - from jumping on a trampoline to reading books I read when I was a child. But my knee aches a bit tonight, my body's way of reminding me that I'm not as young as I feel at heart. Oh, well...I'm not that old in body yet that I can't still enjoy acting like a kid!
Here's to finding and enjoying the child in yourself. Just don't hurt your adult body too badly while doing so!
This afternoon, we drove to Greenville SC for a visit with John's daughter Mandy, son-in-law Rob, and our granddaughter Sophie. I had a blast jumping with Sophie on her new trampoline! Then we went upstairs and played school with her dolls. Finally, we read a chapter of one of her books before it was time to enjoy the delicious spaghetti and garlic bread dinner that Mandy had made for us.
I love spending time with babies and children. Watching them learn and observe the world is a joy. I have a blast acting like a child myself - from jumping on a trampoline to reading books I read when I was a child. But my knee aches a bit tonight, my body's way of reminding me that I'm not as young as I feel at heart. Oh, well...I'm not that old in body yet that I can't still enjoy acting like a kid!
Here's to finding and enjoying the child in yourself. Just don't hurt your adult body too badly while doing so!
Monday, January 7, 2008
History and mystery
This morning at breakfast, we learned a great deal about the history of Bingham School (the B&B is on its former campus and uses some of the original buildings). We even got to see the walls of a log cabin built in 1790 (previously exterior, the walls now form part of the interior kitchen walls). After breakfast, I took a walk around the grounds and enjoyed looking at the old brick walkways, a silo, a barn, an old well, and the milk house (which is now a suite). Even though the part of the B&B our room is in is more modern (it had to be rebuilt after a fire), the owners have maintained the historical design, with wood plank walls and simple furnishings. Outside the door to our room is a very-old-looking-but still-sturdy wooden bench, on which we sat and enjoyed the mild day (the high was approximately 70 degrees today, a welcome warmup after the cold of last week). I am not sure whether this is true or not, but John and I imagined that the bench had been here in the early 1800s when this was a preparatory school for young men planning to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (the first public university to begin instruction in America, in 1795).
This afternoon, I went to the NC Museum of History to see the exhibit "Mysteries of the Lost Colony". It was fascinating and very well presented. Some of the most interesting things I saw were a coin from 1585, a 2800 year old canoe, the collection of watercolor paintings done by John White during his time with the colony on Roanoke island, a picture of Senator Marc Basnight at about age 8, and several of the remaining few surviving costumes from the Lost Colony musical which is presented each summer at the Waterside Theater in Manteo, near the spot where the colonists lived over 420 years ago. (The other costumes were destroyed in a fire in September. See this blog.) The exhibit didn't solve the mystery of course, but it did present some interesting evidence and encouraged the visitor to draw his or her own conclusions. If you are going to be in Raleigh in the next few days (the exhibit runs until January 13), and you are at all interested in America's first unsolved mystery, I would recommend a visit to the museum to see this display. You will definitely learn something, and how often do you get a chance to look at watercolors which are more than 400 years old?
The picture of the Inn at Bingham School which is in our room:
The old bench:
...still sturdy enough for our weight!
This afternoon, I went to the NC Museum of History to see the exhibit "Mysteries of the Lost Colony". It was fascinating and very well presented. Some of the most interesting things I saw were a coin from 1585, a 2800 year old canoe, the collection of watercolor paintings done by John White during his time with the colony on Roanoke island, a picture of Senator Marc Basnight at about age 8, and several of the remaining few surviving costumes from the Lost Colony musical which is presented each summer at the Waterside Theater in Manteo, near the spot where the colonists lived over 420 years ago. (The other costumes were destroyed in a fire in September. See this blog.) The exhibit didn't solve the mystery of course, but it did present some interesting evidence and encouraged the visitor to draw his or her own conclusions. If you are going to be in Raleigh in the next few days (the exhibit runs until January 13), and you are at all interested in America's first unsolved mystery, I would recommend a visit to the museum to see this display. You will definitely learn something, and how often do you get a chance to look at watercolors which are more than 400 years old?
The picture of the Inn at Bingham School which is in our room:
The old bench:
...still sturdy enough for our weight!
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Pageantry
Today is the twelfth day of Christmas, and even I have to admit that the holiday season is officially drawing to a close. Darn. Well, I now have next year to look forward to, right?
To finish out the season with a bang, we attended a holiday pageant called "The Boar's Head and Yule Log Festival" at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Kinston this afternoon. We arrived more than an hour and a half before show time, which paid off in front row seats. The show was very well done, the costumes were beautiful and authentic (period), and the choir was excellent. If you would like to know more about this holiday extravaganza, get your hands on a December 2007 issue of Our State magazine, which has an article about it, including several pictures.
We drove from Kinston to Mebane, where we are staying at a B&B called The Inn at Bingham School. Our room has a cozy gas fireplace that turns on with a switch (my favorite kind!) and a lovely tiger maple pencil post bed. Which I think I'll go get in now, as I am tired!
St. Mary's Episcopal Church - outside:
And inside:
The high point of the show was when the two sides of the picture opened to reveal a live nativity scene, with a sleeping infant (not a doll). Unfortunately, photography during the performance was not allowed.
Cozy room at the Inn at Bingham School:
Sleep tight!
To finish out the season with a bang, we attended a holiday pageant called "The Boar's Head and Yule Log Festival" at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Kinston this afternoon. We arrived more than an hour and a half before show time, which paid off in front row seats. The show was very well done, the costumes were beautiful and authentic (period), and the choir was excellent. If you would like to know more about this holiday extravaganza, get your hands on a December 2007 issue of Our State magazine, which has an article about it, including several pictures.
We drove from Kinston to Mebane, where we are staying at a B&B called The Inn at Bingham School. Our room has a cozy gas fireplace that turns on with a switch (my favorite kind!) and a lovely tiger maple pencil post bed. Which I think I'll go get in now, as I am tired!
St. Mary's Episcopal Church - outside:
And inside:
The high point of the show was when the two sides of the picture opened to reveal a live nativity scene, with a sleeping infant (not a doll). Unfortunately, photography during the performance was not allowed.
Cozy room at the Inn at Bingham School:
Sleep tight!
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