A Five-Leaf Clover

A Tucked Away Little Gem We Call Home

2012-01-22T13:33:00.000-05:00

Michael and I closed on our new house Dec.20th, which made for quite a hectic Christmas. We are all settled in now and had our first dinner guests last night, an impromptu event that lasted until about 4 AM. Great food, great conversation, and great company... I really don't feel so guilty for being in my PJs at noon this Sunday. Something about sharing a home cooked meal with friends really made our new place feel like home.

This was the realtor's idea... carrying me over the threshold. Love Michael's veins popping out of his head!

Here are some pics of the house before we moved in. The previous owners belongings...

A kitchen reno is first on our list. Hope to complete within the next 18 months.

Formal living room.

Den.

Upstairs guest suite. One of my favorite rooms, has a large window running alongside the wall you cannot see... best view in the house.

Back patio - Michael's favorite place.

Backyard.

One of two goldfish ponds. Spent yesterday afternoon scooping out debris with my hands and cleaning the pump/filter. I have no idea what I'm doing with this but the one thing I listed in the closing documents was that we wanted the fish along with the house. So by all means I am determined to keep them alive and happy. Ordered some test strips, a thermometer, and clarifier online this morning. Anyone familiar with fish ponds? I could use some advice!

Front fish pond. This one has 11 fish! They are adorable. I can imagine enjoying wine out here when the weather gets nice.

We have a well established garden and I am excited to find out what will be blooming come spring. These are winter camilias. There are several camilia bushes that are now blooming. Dormant are azaleas and crepe myrtles and I have no idea what the rest of it is. Some of the landscaping was meant to provide privacy to the front of the house. It looks like a lot of maitenance but I am in love with my new secret garden!

As for our first project, we have already replaced the carpet that is in the master and downstairs guest room. Michael actually picked this one out and it took a while for me to come around, but I think it has a classic, traditional feel to it and I like it a lot. We replaced an awful green carpet that looked original to the house, matching the green trim in the bedrooms.

New Year... stay tuned!

2012-01-02T12:03:00.001-05:00

We have finally gotten moved into our new house! Man it has been a crazy couple of weeks. Crazy. I do think I'll get back to this at some point, I do like keeping in touch with a few of my friends on here (and I think maybe some family?). There a few things to share with you in the days and weeks ahead... my new garden with amazing established plants and two goldfish ponds (eeee!!), our kitchen renovation, and all the quirks that come with buying an older home that needs some TLC. So stay tuned... and maybe there'll be a few surprises in between. Who knows! Happy 2012... hope yours is great!

It's Christmas Time!

2011-12-10T19:47:00.001-05:00

I've had and have an aversion to blogging lately. Not sure how much longer ol' blog'll last.

I took on a new role within my company back in October and... let's just say I asked for a challenge and I got what I asked for! Thankfully this will be my last week of work until after the new year, so here's to hoping I survive another week. And, Michael has finished up flu season. So now, here we are, trying to buy a house and move in during the holidays. My God, it never seems to stop. If all goes as planned, our new house in Vestavia Hills will be my seventh permanent residence in eight years. At this point I could die in this new house and be happy. That's the idea.

Hmm... ok so that's it. Merry Christmas ya'll!

Halloween Decor

2011-10-09T22:35:00.000-04:00

Is this turning into a food blog? I've had so much fun cooking lately and it all started with that turn of the weather with Tropical Storm Lee. I had a craving for something fallish and made some pumpkin cupcakes I found on Pinterest. Since then I've tried several recipes that I've found on Pinterest and also some from the new Food Network show, The Pioneer Woman. Between those two resources Michael has been pleasantly surprised with my efforts in the kitchen. If I'm not careful he might take a permanent seat on the couch. Note to self.

Enough food for now... here are some pics of our Halloween decor! Below is a crow wreath inspired by a photo from Pinterest. I already had the wreaths (these are two wreaths from Michael's wired together for a fuller effect) and simply added the moss and wired the crow (also from Michael's). I was a little worried the crow would scare off my other birds I try to feed but they keep coming back.

Comfort for the Weary

2011-10-02T21:12:00.000-04:00

My good friend, Carmen, sent me this book along with some Honduran coffee beans when she returned from her mission trip this summer to Honduras. I happened to be reading the book of Exodus, so it turned out to be a fantastic complement. Thought I'd share this quote for those of you who could use it today:

"He has promised never to leave you or forsake you, never to forget, never to abandon. His love never ceases, and His care never dims.

So if you find yourself in a difficult spot, remember: you are there by God's appointment, in His keeping, under His training, and for His time.

And all evidence to the contrary, there's no better place to be." -Robert J. Morgan

Homemade Pizza Dough

2011-09-25T20:57:00.000-04:00

Fig Prosciutto Pizza with Arugula

I'm not a big TV person, but I have started recording a show that I watch once a week now, Food Network's The Pioneer Woman. Ree Drummond is someone I would call an opportunitst, a person who makes the most of their situation. She won blog of the year and has a successful cookbook and now her own cooking show. I left many pictures out of this post because you can see them all at her website. For now, I want to share how you can make your own pizza dough, then give a recipe from her website for an unsual and delicious pizza - Fig Prosciutto Pizza with Arugula.

Sous Chef Sam with his apron on.

Battle CUISINE!

Pizza Crust

1 teaspoon Active Dry Yeast
4 cups All-purpose Flour
1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
1/3 cup Olive Oil

Preparation Instructions

NOTE: PIZZA INGREDIENTS IN THIS RECIPE ARE FOR 1/3 OF THE PIZZA DOUGH RECIPE. USE LEFTOVER DOUGH TO MAKE OTHER KINDS OF PIZZA! **I cooked 1/3 immediately, put 1/3 in the fridge, and 1/3 in the freezer (good for 2 3-4 days in the fridge and 2 weeks in the freezer).

Sprinkle yeast over 1 1/2 cups warm (not lukewarm) water for a few minutes.
In a mixer, combine flour and salt. With the mixer running on low speed (with paddle attachment), drizzle in olive oil until combined with flour. Next, pour in yeast/water mixture and mix until just combined. It will quickly take the form of a large sticky mess.

Coat a separate mixing bowl with a light drizzle of olive oil, and form the dough into a ball. Toss to coat dough in olive oil, then cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and allow to rise for 1.5-2 hours. Use right away or store in the fridge until you need it. ***It’s best to make the dough at least 24 hours in advance, and 3 or 4 days is even better.

Preheat oven to 500 degrees.

Roll out 1/3 of the pizza dough as thinly as possible. Place on a large baking sheet or pizza stone.

Drizzle lightly with olive oil and sprinkle lightly with kosher salt. Then add your own toppings. Bake 12-15 mins, until crust is golden and cheese is bubbly.

Sprinkle corn meal on your baking surface to keep the dough from sticking.

Empty wine/beer bottle doubles up as a rolling pin.

I love her recipe for the fig prosciutto pizza. We had some fig preserves in our pantry Michael's mom gave us for Christmas and I never knew how delicious they are until I opened them for this recipe. It forms the base of the pizza and is finger licking good. Even if you're not sure what you'd think about fig preserves, I strongly suggest giving it a try. The pizza turns out to have a salty sweet, crunchy chewy thing going on. Mmmm!!!

FOR THE PIZZA: (don't get caught up on exact ounces when buying ingredients)

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
4 Tablespoons Fig Spread Or Jam
Kosher Salt To Taste
12 ounces, weight Fresh Mozzarella, Sliced Thin
6 ounces, weight Thinly Sliced Prosciutto*
1 bunch Washed And Rinsed Arugula
Freshly Ground Pepper, to taste
1/2 cup Shaved Parmesan

Preheat oven to 500 degrees.

Roll out 1/3 of the pizza dough as thinly as possible. Place on a large baking sheet.

Drizzle lightly with olive oil and sprinkle lightly with kosher salt. Spread fig spread (or jam) all over the surface of the dough. Sprinkle lightly with salt.

Lay sliced of mozzarella all over the surface. Sprinkle lightly with salt and freshly ground pepper. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until crust is golden and cheese is bubbly.

Remove from oven and immediately lay prosciutto over hot pizza. Just before serving, sprinkle on arugula and Parmesan shavings. (the arugula seems to melt onto the pizza)

Cut into wedges or squares and serve immediately!

Happy 40th Anniversary!

2011-09-18T20:17:00.000-04:00

We spent Labor Day weekend in Gulf Shores and had a surprise guest, Tropical Storm Lee! Regardless of the weather, we enjoyed some family time together celebrating my parents' 40th wedding anniversary. CONGRATULATIONS mom and dad!! It was so nice sharing it with ya'll. Melissa took some great pics with her professional camera. Below are random pics from my cell, some via Instagram.

Pumpkin Cupcakes

2011-09-11T21:02:00.000-04:00

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Buttercream Frosting

I have been anticipating pumpkin season and had a little teaser of cool weather via Tropical Storm Lee. These pumpkin cupcakes were the perfect fix! The recipe was provided on Pinterest, a new online virtual pinboard. A photo of the butter cream frosting lured me in, and I'm here to say they taste as good as they look. I thought I'd post some photos for you to follow along, because I highly recommend that you try your hand at this recipe. The nice thing about baking is that there is not much room for recipe deviation. As long as you can follow directions, you should be okay. That being said, sometimes the recipe assumes the baker has a underlying understanding, and since that is not always the case, I hope the photos are helpful. The recipe claims to make about 18 cupcakes. I'd say more like 28 cupcakes, so if you don't have anyone to share these with, consider halving the recipe. Conveniently, most of these ingredients can already be found in your cupboard. I have added some notes to the recipe in blue font.

The original batter recipe is sourced from Marthastewart.com. The adapted version that I used can be found at MadeinMelsKitchen.com and is as follows:

Pumpkin Cupcakes

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon coarse salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg (I used ground nutmeg I already had in my pantry)

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

1 cup packed light-brown sugar

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled

4 large eggs, lightly beaten

1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake pans with paper liners; set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice; set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter, and eggs. Beat on medium speed until well combined. Add dry ingredients, and mix on low until smooth. Fold in pumpkin puree.

The batter before the pumpkin puree.

Adding the pumpkin puree. To fold, I used a spatula

and basically mixed it into the batter by hand

until it is consistent throughout.

Pumpkin batter before adding to the muffin pans.

Divide batter evenly among liners, filling each about halfway. Bake until tops spring back when touched, and a cake tester (toothpick) inserted in the center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes, rotating pans once if needed. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely. (I used both miniature and regular muffin pans and cooked the different sizes at the same time. I found they did well on the same temp, but the smaller ones were ready in 20 mins and the regular at 25 mins in my oven. I sprayed the mini pan with nonstick spray. Although all of the cupcakes were devoured, people seemed to really like the miniature cupcakes.)

Makes ~ 18 cupcakes

My sous chef, Sam, taking a break from all the baking.

These are the regular muffins.

And here, the miniature.

The frosting recipe is orginally adapted from SprinkleBakes.com. Once again, the adapted version that I used can be found at MadeinMelsKitchen.com and is as follows:

Salted Caramel Buttercream

1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons water
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 stick salted butter
1 stick unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
2 cups powdered sugar

In a saucepan, stir together granulated sugar and water (a sauce pan is smaller than a saute pan, definitely helpful when making the caramel. I whisked the sugar and water until the sugar dissolved. It only took a couple of minutes). Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Cook without stirring until mixture turns a deep amber color (After it came to a boil I turned it down to medium heat and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes waiting for it to brown. While I was waiting, I sliced up the butter and let it sit in the mixing bowl, not that it needs to be room temp, but it wasn't quite so stiff). Remove from heat and slowly add in cream and vanilla, stirring until very smooth (whisk here). Let caramel cool for about 20 minutes, until it is just barely warm and still pourable.

Amber sugar water

Caramel. Fantastic.

In a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat butter and salt together until lightened and fluffy. Reduce speed to low and add powdered sugar. Mix until thoroughly combined (Make sure to scrape sides to incorporate powdered sugar).

Scrape down the side of the bowl and add the caramel. Beat on medium high speed until light and airy, and completely mixed (about 2 minutes). Mixture should be ready to use without refrigeration. If your caramel was too hot when added, it will cause your icing to be runny. If this happens refrigerate for 15-20 minutes.

Whipped buttercream

I spooned all of the icing into a gallon ziploc bag and cut a small hole in the bottom corner to pipe the icing. Or you could use a Wilton 1 A large round frosting tip. Whatever that is. Start at the outside corner and circle your way in for the regular cupcakes and for the miniature, just glob it on there. Needless to say, these were a hit. I think the icing would be awesome on chocolate cupcakes, carrot cake, you name it. Crackcream eh?

Happy eating.

Burlap Me

2011-08-13T20:59:00.001-04:00

We are beginning to get settled in Birmingham. When we first got here we were in the middle of spring, and the neighborhood kids were looking forward to summer. Admist the choir of the crickets it appears the summer is fading, and those same kids are excited about a new school year. My, time flies! I hate to ring the ol' cliche, so I'll stick to this... I'm looking forward to some pumpkins!! Man am I looking forward to some pumpkins.

Thought I'd share with you my burlap project. I love burlap, so functional and good looking in a rustic sort of way. It all started with this amazing piece of furniture from Mississippi that was once a cutting table, with a piece that hangs to the side that was cut for a trash can, so that you could slide the garbage to the end. I've only used it as a TV stand, with visions of a bar in time, but the wires were an eye sore.

So, for about $40 or so, I bought about six yards of burlap and a hot glue gun. Here we go...

I had them cut the burlap into 2 pieces, one to lay on top, and one to go across the front.

I simply hot glued the two pieces together

Then I cut a slit up the front to create access to the inside.

Ta daa!! The coolest part to me is that the remote controls for the satellite receiver work through the burlap. I was trying to figure out a way to velcro the burlap back so that the cable box was in clear view, but as it turns out it was not necessary!

I love...

2011-06-20T23:04:00.000-04:00

My all time favorite chocolate. Dark, but not too bitter, with roasted cacao nibs gives it a great taste and texture. It's truly my version of the perfect blend of chocolate. Think you can find it at Whole Foods and Fresh Market. Perfect for a bite after dinner! Yum!

Sharffen Berger Dark Chocolate Nibby

And, my latest read, The Help, by Kathryn Stockett. Can't wait till the movie comes out in August, starring Emma Stone. I want to be Skeeter's friend. Ahhh, so good!

Golfing

2011-06-08T07:41:00.000-04:00

Michael is excited about the Robert Trent Jones trails here in Birmingham. I got to go with him last time and steer the cart around and had a grand ol time! The course really was beautiful. Click on a picture to zoom in...

Surprise Guest (Artist)

2011-06-05T07:00:00.001-04:00

We had some surprise entertainment at our meeting in Dallas...

Congratulations Ryan!

2011-06-01T19:00:00.002-04:00

Ryan, Michael's brother, graduated with honors from law school at American University in D.C. Congratulations, Ryan! He is now studying for the bar in New York and taking some classes for a law masters.

The White House

Memorial Day Grill Time!

2011-05-30T19:03:00.000-04:00

Classic bruschetta: tomato, mozzarella, and ribbons of basil with olive oil, salt, and pepper. The grill gave it a nice smokey flavor. Some sangria with persecco in the background, and...

Sliders! These are so fun to eat! Topped with white cheddar, carmelized onions, avacodo, grilled mushrooms, and spicy brown mustard. YUM. Hope you had a chance to relax a little this Monday :)

Remembering Savannah and WDC

2011-05-02T07:30:00.001-04:00

Michael's last supper with his Savannah office

Merrick, Michael and Brian

Savanna and I picknicking at the Bluff (aka: bedrest)

Savanna 11 weeks

Our weekly taco tuneup at Jalapeno's

Jimi and I

Firepit at Jonathon and Kari's

Savanna and I

Our first snow

Summertime in our new home

Celebrating New Year's and our birthdays

Kari and Jonathon's wedding shower

*G and Eva are remembered as well! Can't find any photos...

Foto Friday

2011-04-29T07:30:00.000-04:00

(click on photo to zoom in)

This foto was taken in the summer of 2003, when I lived in Manhattan for a few months and interned at Broadway Dance Center. My family had come to visit and we were walking through Little Italy. I love this pic because of all the color and commotion, what's in focus and what's not... Zoom in and see what you find.

Front Porch Living

2011-04-27T07:30:00.002-04:00

Renting in Birmingham, we had to slow down on our gardening. I just can't make the investment in a yard that isn't ours. We do have a fantastic little porch though. After getting a few dollars back from our tax return I decided it was time to get some decent patio furniture and make ourselves a little outdoor retreat.

This is what we had to start with. A nice sized brick porch. And plastic green chairs that are tucked away in the basement for now.

We started with a five piece club chair set from Bed, Bath, and Beyond. Patio furniture in general is not cheap, but it makes a huge difference. Immediately, I was ready for wine on the front porch. A huge thanks to my parents who basically assembled them for us.

A couple of hanging ferns to give the front a traditional, uniform look.

And, some color on the side porch. In Savannah we had lots of sun with our new house in a new development. Here, we're dealing with full shade. I can't remember the name of these suckers but they bloom all summer. And the bird house is compliments of my mom, from an art festival in Mountain View, AR (where my grandmother lives). Not sure the size of the hole, and interested to see what type bird it attracts.

These hanging baskets include two iveys, which I hope will thrive and grow down the sides of each basket. Inside are two double impatiens, that sort of match the patio furniture. They also like shade and will bloom all summer.

View from the front. I think it looks quite cozy!

View from the front door. Bench is from Nadeau. Including the ottomans, will comfortably seat five, six if you double up on the bench. About six hours of preparation, the front porch has already become my new hangout. It's a great reading nook, and perfect, of course, for coffee and wine. Come on over!

Happy Easter

2011-04-24T17:04:00.001-04:00

We made it to church for the first time since we moved back to Birmingham. I had my eye on a church that my pastor in Savannah had told me about, The Church at Brook Hills, led by David Platt (author of Radical). I had already listened to some of his podcasts, formed some opinions, and wanted to check it out. It was a really nice service and I could see us going back, although I plan to visit a few others just to make sure we're in the right place. What I like about David Platt is that he speaks straight from the Bible, no hokey pokey stuff. What I haven't gotten used to is that he is a bit preachy in certain moments (think Catholic meets Baptist) and his message can be intense (rightfully so).

Two things I'd like to share on this Easter Day... these are things that should make common sense, but usually don't, and that have impacted my life in the past couple of years. David hit on these topics at today's service.

First, there's nothing you have to do to get into Heaven, outside of believing that Christ is our Saviour and trusting in Him with your life. That's what Easter is about. He stood in for our sins so that we could have a direct line to God. There's no way we could ever be good enough to get in on our own. Of all the religions in the world, Christianity might have the easiest access to the Kingdom. It is the only one that doesn't have rules to follow in order to be "saved".

And second, being a Christian is more than merely believing that Christ is God's son, who died for our sins. Interestingly, Satan also believed this to be true. Satan knew the scriptures better than Mother Theresa. It's about allowing Christ to take over our lives, "Yet I want your will, not mine" (Matthew 26: 39). When we accept Him as our Saviour, it changes everything.

If this is something you want for yourself, yet haven't felt the change inside of you, ask Him for that impact on your life, to know Him better, and see what happens. He knows the true desires of our hearts. As my old high school teacher, Bubba Booth, used to say, "There's a difference in wanting something, and wanting to want something". And, if you get hung up on the fact that you just can't live up to what it takes to be a Christian, know that none of us can, we are all sinful, degree and type of sin aside. Gotta get over that. Accept his death on the cross for your sin. Start with the first step. Let Him in.

Foto Friday

2011-04-22T12:22:00.000-04:00

(click on foto to zoom in)

This was from a cross-country trip I took with my friend, Laura, from Chicago to L.A. We made a pit stop at the Grand Canyon. What would you name this photo?

Grow Baby Grow!!

2011-04-20T07:00:00.005-04:00

A huge CONGRATS is in order to my bestie, Savanna Prevatt, and her husband, Brian! They are officially at their 12th week with this lil' fella waving at the camera. Well hello back little one... we all cannot wait to meet you! Each week is a milestone and every single day is truly a blessing. Savanna is going through a high risk pregnancy, so please keep her and her new family in your thoughts and prayers, for health, strength, and comfort.

(this is her latest ultrasound pic)

OUR RIDE AMONG THE STARS

For Baby Prevatt

Divine One

We live and breathe

Your great goodness.

Bless us

With your healing spirit.

Let It rest among us,

So that we may see

With restored vision

Ourselves,

The gift of life,

And our ride among the stars.

Shirley Kobar

Savanna's best rest support group

West Bound!

2011-04-17T22:58:00.002-04:00

Well hi there! Good to see you again! It's been a while. Things have happened. We're in a new state. We passed a pair of balls hanging from a pickup on our way to the A-day game and realized we'd crossed state lines. Headed west. We're in Alabama. Ahhh kidding. Not about the balls. Or the fact that we're in Alabama. To be more direct, we now live in Homewood (a neighborhood in Birmingham). Although if you happen to see a pair of balls hanging off a truck you might also be in Mississippi. I now find it interesting to note that I never saw said balls the entire time we lived in Georgia. I digress.

(where's the glory in big low hanging balls? you

should have worn your whitey tighties)

In reality I don't have much to say. Just thinking about something interesting I could blog about now that I've gone a few weeks without writing and a lot has been going on in our lives. Hmm... I got off facebook for Lent only to realize that I'm a victim of technology, and have once again been victimized, this time by Words With Friends (a cell phone app of Scrabble). You can find me at frankycaso.

Enough jibber jabber for one post. Here's a pick of us at Michael's company trip to Marco Island, FL. See you soon. Oh, and don't forget this is Holy Week. Do go get yourself a good read, Francis Chan's Crazy Love. And maybe an Easter treat, OPI's You Don't Know Jacque nail color. My new fave.

Crazy Love ( link )

A laugh and inspiration

2011-03-22T22:12:00.001-04:00

My friend, Savanna, turned me on to Keenan Cahill's videos. He's a little guy with a rare disease (MPS Type 6) who lip sings popular pop songs in such a way that I'm betting you've never seen before... ! I've included a link to his personal website in case you're curious. Don't watch this video at work unless it's OK to laugh out loud.

KEENAN CAHILL SITE

If you want to see more videos, go to You Tube. He actually has one with 50 Cent. Pretty cool kid!

Mississippi friend

2011-03-18T22:21:00.000-04:00

My Mississippi friend, Laura Watson, visited recently from Chicago! We had a blast... love you Laura! Here, outside of Green Truck Pub. Check out her fashion blog at Scout and Lo.

Backyard Barred Owl!

2011-03-16T22:04:00.002-04:00

In the spring of 2010, both Sam and I woke up to the sounds of a magestic creature singing quite the tune. I couldn't figure out what on earth it was. Throughout the year it has been narrowed down to a single owl, but still quite magestic. Actually, our owl was spotted on the neighbor's fence this week. He's a barred owl, named so for the bars across his chest, and sounds exactly like the fella in this video. Sometimes he's called the "Eight Hooter" for his signature call. I'll miss him dearly.

Taking a moment.

2011-03-14T19:18:00.000-04:00

With my new found interest in gardening I've begun to appreciate the change in seasons in a new way. I am constantly amazed. With the rise in temperatures come the slightest hint of blooms almost everywhere. I can see them on my conferederate jasmine in my backyard, on the azalea bushes in the Starbucks parking lot, and my single hydrangea that's making a comeback, more beautiful than the year before. And then there's my lantana and blue glory bower that are still dormant, waiting for the blazing heat to wake up and shine.

I officially have three more weeks until I move back to Alabama. As a result I picked up a book called Garden Anywhere. I'm thinking containers for now. I started with a rosemary plant and a blueberry bush, both replanted in larger (very cheap) plastic pots, and both doing quite well (the rosemary has a pretty blue flower on it, always a sign of a happy plant, and the blueberry bush has doubled in size and sprouted new leaves, still only about six inches tall).

Sweetwater Blue is great warm weather companion when you're ready to chillax. From a brewery in Atlanta, it's made with real blueberries, but you can barely taste them. It's my blue version of the Abita Strawberry that I was lucky enough to get my hands on while in Birmingham last weekend.

I have a reading list I'm working on. Let me know if you have any feedback (I haven't bought the last three yet):

The Five Love Languages (Chapman)
The Help
Radical (David Platt)
Crazy Love (Chan)
Don't Waste Your Life (Piper)

The ice cream truck is sounding in the distance... do you remember those days?

Here's to taking a moment. Peace to you.

Springtime in Savannah

2011-03-08T22:02:00.002-05:00

Springtime in Savannah starts about mid-February. I'm amazed at how well established some of the old trees/shrubs are here. And I love seeing some of our traditional favorites covered in moss... all the more beautiful!

Have you ever seen a Dogwood that looked like this?!

(click on the photo for a more interesting view)

My neighborhood walk is coming back to life!

And beautiful Japanese Magnolia's...

I also saw Wisteria in bloom for the first time today, and the Azalea's are also out!

Dockside at AJ's on Tybee Island...

Mr.Sam turned 7 on March 4! Happy birthday Sam!!

And the Winner is...!

2011-03-07T00:00:00.000-05:00

GINGER!

Ginger is the lucky gal who gets to sample our home brew giveaway! And a special shout out to Lisa, at A Shower Fresh Garden, for spreading the news (even though it slimmed her chances).

Ginger, let me know how to get a hold of you, or just leave me your shipping address. Congrats!

P.S. I've been calling the liquor store every few days waiting to pounce on the Abita Strawberry :)

100th Post Home Brew Giveaway!

2011-02-27T16:11:00.000-05:00

I thought it would be fun to do a "Give Away" for our 100th post!

For Christmas, my brother, Lee, got Michael a home brew kit. One weekend Michael discovered the Savannah Home Brew Shop on Skidaway Rd. and stocked up on some ingredients to make one very hoppy beer, Stone Ruination IPA (along with ingredients, like malts and hops, Michael also got a magazine that included about 100 recipes). Accoring to the Stone Brewing Co., Ruination is described as follows:

"So called because of the "ruinous" effect on your palate! This massive hop monster has a wonderfully delicious and intensely bitter flavor on a refreshing malt base. One taste and you can easily see why we call this brew "a liquid poem to the glory of the hop!" Those who seek, crave and rejoice in beers with big, bold, bitter character will find true nirvana in Stone Ruination IPA!"

So, if you enjoy hoppy beers, and you want to see how his turned out, simply leave a comment with your favorite beer and why you like it. We're always up for trying out new stuff! And, no pressure, the winner will be selected at random. If we haven't met, be sure to leave some contact info (domestic US 48 states only). I'll announce the winner on Monday, March 7th!

Malt extract

Hops

Web based photo of Ruination to give you an idea of what his looks like poured.

News to Share...

2011-02-19T13:48:00.000-05:00

It's official! Michael and I are on the move... AGAIN!!! Heading back to Birmingham, AL!

We always wanted to get back to Birmingham one day, but didn't quite realize it would be this soon. Both of our companies had openings and we both got the position and found out our start dates only a few days ago. Michael will begin the first full week of March, and I will be a few weeks behind, beginning my new job in April. Michael will be managing the Birmingham branch of his current company, and I will be changing business units with my current company, going back into Diabetes and selling for the same district with the same reps I sold with only two years ago. CRAZY!!

So for now, our house is on the market, listed with MLS yesterday. Check out the listing HERE. Keep us in your prayers and spread the word if you know of anyone who may be interested in buying a house out in Sandfly (Savannah, GA).

We are definitely going to miss Savannah, and the great friends and neighbors we've grown close to (you know who you are). On the other hand, we're very excited about being close to our family and friends... going to see Michael's nieces and nephew in Montgomery, his family in Alabama, mine in Mississippi, football games in Oxford and Tuscaloosa, road trips to New Orleans!

Our last blowout in Savannah will be St.Paddy's day... stay tuned!

List for the Garden

2011-02-13T23:12:00.000-05:00

I'm a fan of Birds and Blooms on facebook. They recently posted an article with quite an extensive list, fifty to-dos to be exact, of garden chores that will keep you busy if you might have been wondering what you could possibly do in your yard this time of year. With spring just around the corner, it's time to get busy!

Click here to see the article: BIRDS AND BLOOMS

Hydrangeas are a favorite I'm looking forward to this spring, along with Wisteria and Crape Myrtles. What are you looking forward to?!!

Be bold.

2011-02-01T22:35:00.000-05:00

Matthew 10:32-33

"If anyone acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will openly acknowledge that person before my Father in heaven. But if anyone denies me here on earth, I will deny that person before my Father in heaven."

There is a saying among global missionaries... "If you are ever accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?"

My prayer for believers is that we become bold in our faith.

NapaStyle

2011-01-28T07:18:00.000-05:00

Bottega Copper Tumblers

When we ate at Michael Chiarello's Bottega Restaurant in Yountville, I adored these copper tumblers that they used for water. The copper keeps the water cold and they feel good in your hand. They can be found at Chiarello's home store, NapaStyle, where Chiarello personally selects many pieces that he believes have a story to tell. At NapaStyle you can find recipes, request a catalog, or browse the online shop. Have fun!

Reidel Vinum XL

2011-01-22T13:22:00.000-05:00

The Reidel Vinum XL Pinot

I'm still thinking about the idea, or some may say fact, that wine actually tastes different depending on the glass you drink it from. Certain glasses are actually designed to land the flavor in particular parts of your mouth, and optimize the nose on the wine, so that you get the best of what the wine has to offer with each sip. I personally think it either sounds CRAZY or is a mad science! Wine enthusiasts may have a cupboard dedicated to glasses designed for each type of wine... pinot, zinfandel, cab, merlot. Hope and Grace winery in Napa Valley uses and likes the new Reidel XL because it works well for many different types of wines, especially the reds of the Pacific Northwest. It has great reviews online, several from customers like myself who were introduced in a tasting room. All I know for sure is that it is a beautiful glass that is fun to drink with!

Right now the best offer is a set of two from BizRate (click HERE).

New Orleans Franco Style

2011-01-19T20:36:00.001-05:00

Two thousand and ten was the ninth annual Franco family Christmas in New Orleans. If you want more details, you can visit my brother's blog that chronicalizes each year, including the restaurants we ate at (the highlight of each trip). An interesting development is that it appears all happenings, including dates and restaurants and main events, are up for debate. First example is that you will notice my brother's post is titled, "10th Anniversary". Second, my dad still doesn't remember going to a Saints game in the Superdome during 2002. To his credit, he was doped up on opioids and muscle relaxers awaiting spinal surgery (...three hours at an NFL game? nothing?). Factual are the events recorded in this post, for now at least.

Gingerbread contest at the hotel. This was my pick. Click on the pic to see the details.

St.Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter.

Central Grocery, home of the New Orleans Muffaletta. I'm not into olives and salami so I opted for bags of tomato and basil seeds from Italy.

Mom and dad, aka: Santa Claus. He has come to accept his endearing new alias and when approached with a, "Hey Santa!" he now responds with, "I know what you want for Christmas!".

Our restaurant choice was Stella's. The food was good and I'm remembering a goat's cheese and chocolate ganache grilled sandwhich.

Our favorite for after dinner drinks, the carousel bar at the Hotel Monteleone.

Now this was a new discovery. A local told my mom to check it out. It's a breakfast (maybe lunch) spot that serves homemade breads and pastries and perfect coffees. We literally stopped long enough to grab a couple of almond croissants to go, but I will definitely be going back to sit for a while. Check out Croissant D'Or Patisserie on 617 Ursulines Ave. Kind of like Bottletree Bakery (MS), but a little less folksy and lot more French.

And this place I can literally remember going to since I was a small child. A good ol' family dining style restaurant with excellent fried catfish and other seafoods (shrimp, crab...). Off the Manchac exit, you'll diverge from the main drag going into or out of New Orleans.

Happy New Year 2011!

2011-01-16T19:38:00.000-05:00

I am married to a crazy man!

Tasting Clip

2011-01-12T18:54:00.000-05:00

The Napa Installments - Hopper Creek Winery

Our guide described this six-acre winery as "unpretentious".

We met the winemaker, and the farmer, who gave up everything he owned to head West. I'd recommend it... heading West that is.

*Video works best when you expand and select an HD setting.

The Napa Valley

2011-01-09T21:02:00.001-05:00

I've included a map of Napa Valley to put it in perspective. We stayed in downtown Napa, which is trying to get more of a "scene" about it. It's a big city with about 70,000 people but not quite what you would expect when you think of wine country. The most exciting town, as far as activity and food goes, is, from what we could tell, Yountville. This is the home of Washington Street, with the countless award-winning restaurants, including the one and only French Laundry. If we ever go back, we'd love to stay a couple of nights in Yountville, where you can easily walk between shopping, tastings, and restaurants.

Napa is about a 10 minute drive from Yountville.

Downtown Napa. Many of these spaces are

available for rent. Currently, Tyler Florence

and Morimoto have restaurants here.

An interesting process we learned about during our tastings is that a lot of wineries are beginning to purchase their grapes, leaving the growing to the farmers. I wasn't fond of this idea but it seems to be popular, as focus shifts to selecting the finest grapes and producing the best wines.

This painting reminds me of one of my favorite

MS artists, Jere Allen. It became the label for

Hope and Grace winery.

Michael had reservations at three excellent restaurants during our stay. We enjoyed all three and were surprised how affordable the menus were (comparable to eating a nice meal just about anywhere). They were, leading up to our favorite: Morimoto (Iron Chef), Bottega (Michael Chiarello), and Redd. Menu items that most stood out were the Duck Confit at Bottega, and the Lamb Bolognese and Pork Belly at Redd. Some of the best things we've put in our mouths.

Redd.

The kitchen at Morimoto's.

Chiarello's Bottega.

On my birthday, Michael reserved a wine tour through Platypus Tours. We were taken to four boutique wineries in a limo style bus with six other couples. It was a lot of fun because we were taken to places we never would have known about otherwise, including a barrel tasting where we got to mix our own wines right out of the barrel. The tour concluded with the six-acre Hopper Creek Winery, our favorite from the trip, where we got to meet both the farmer and the winemaker.

Judd's Hill Winery.

The winemaker at Bourassa Vineyards signed our bottle.

Hagafen Cellars.

Hoppert Creek Winery, pictured with the winemaker on the

left and the farmer on the right.

Sonoma

2011-01-06T22:53:00.000-05:00

The Napa Installments - Sonoma (I know you're rolling your eyes)

As we drove around the San Francisco Bay, we very quickly approached signs for Sonoma (I later found out that we missed the majestic giant Red Woods very near the Golden Gate Bridge). My mouth dropped open at the sight of the first vines. We were in Sonoma! And, there was vineyard after vineyard, winery after winery. Michael decided to just pull up to one and figure this thing out. Our first stop was Moondance Cellars.

At Moondance, we tasted nine different wines for $5 a person. Our next tasting had a free Christmas special. You could say Sonoma is somewhat more affordable than Napa Valley, and for that and other reasons there was not a suddle anomosity there, which kind of surprised me. Less commercialized than the Valley, Sonoma had a more rustic feel. We drove around the quaint town square with little shops everywhere.

An advantage of going in the winter months, post harvest (October), is that it's not uncommon for you to see the winemaker themselves serving in the tasting room. We saw a few of them. And, they are proud to sign your bottle! A trade out for the beautiful spring flowers I suppose.

They don't recommend driving from Sonoma to Napa Valley after a few drinks, and now we know why. The drive is a long windy road to the top of a mountain and back down the other side, about thirty minutes. We enjoyed it though.

I took this because of the wildflowers. I can only imagine

what it must be like during the spring...

Stayed tuned for more on Napa Valley and the food, as well as some footage from our favorite winery!!

The Napa Installments

2011-01-02T20:15:00.000-05:00

As most of you know, Michael surprised me with a trip to Napa Valley for my 30th birthday and it was truly a dream vacation. I didn't find out until we were actually at the airport and checked in that we were headed to California! I could not have been more surprised. And I must say, Michael did a fantastic job with the planning. He was so thoughtful!

We flew in and out of Sacramento (our flights got rearranged from San Francisco due to weather), but made the drive into San Fran on Christmas night so that we could at least see what the city was like. For those of you considering a trip to wine country, either airport would be just fine to fly into as they are both little more than an hour from Napa Valley. Our decision to drive into San Fran was a good one, as San Francisco might be the most beautiful US city I've ever seen. It's a colorful town built into the steep hills of the mountains. The streets are at such an incline that some of the sidewalks are actually steps. I can't imagine getting around like that on a regular basis, but it made for spectacular aerial views.

The view from our hotel.

This street looked more like a wall from a distance.

Notice the steps on the sidewalk, and the parking.

View from the famous windy Lombard Street.

Alcatraz.

We woke up the next day and ate lunch, a dungeness crab pizza and fresh crispy calamari, at a restaurant by the wharf, and it was amazing. They say you can't get bad food in San Francisco or Napa Valley, "We're spoiled like that". I would definitely agree with that statement. We were overwhelmed by the Golden Gate Bridge and the beautiful scenery surrounding it. As you cross the bridge and travel away from the city, you drive around the bay area, also very scenic, and very quickly are in wine country, first Sonoma...

You know I was freaking out at this point, leaning in

towards the console! Not sure if I could live out here...

without a chauffeur. Damn bridges.

Homemade Egg Nog

2010-12-23T19:23:00.001-05:00

My mom has an egg nog recipe, passed down from a friend, that she makes every year about this time. To be honest, I haven't found one that compares as of yet. When Michael asked where his egg nog was this year, I decided to half the recipe for the two of us and it turned out just as great. In the spirit of giving, I thought I'd share the recipe.

EGG NOG

6 eggs separated

1 cup and 1/4 cup sugar

1/2 t. nutmeg

1/2 cup whiskey

1/2 pint cream

1/2 gallon milk

1 T. vanilla

Beat egg yolks, sugar, nutmeg til creamy. Slowly add whiskey to egg mixture. Then add milk and vanilla. In a separate bowl, beat egg whites and 1/4 c. sugar til fluffy. Beat whipping cream and fold egg whites and whipping cream into egg mixture.

Makes more than a gallon.

This photo is compliments of my dear friend, Savanna Prevatt, who I just knew would do the visual justice. She made it for the first time today and garnished it with a sprinkle of nutmeg and clips from her Frasier Fir. Hope you enjoy and Merry Merry Christmas!

Christmas Come Early!

2010-12-15T14:46:00.000-05:00

Remember that post I wrote about Seychelles earlier this fall? Call it an early 30th birthday present to myself, Christmas come early, or call it what you like. They have arrived! ...and they fit like a glove.

Baby It's Cold Outside!

2010-12-13T21:41:00.000-05:00

Brrrrrr!!!

Tonight's low is 20 degrees and the wind is howling around the corners of the house at 32 mph! With winter a mere 8 days away, I'm wondering... are you ready for Christmas?! My favorite holiday of the year wouldn't be the same without a few favorite traditions.

*Mass with the family on Christmas Eve*

*Christmas Eve party at granny's house with my dad's siblings and cousins*

*Granny's authentic Italian meatballs and sausage balls*

and more recently... *Family trip to the Big Easy*

What are YOUR favorite Christmas traditions?

With all the merriment and holiday cheer, I can't help but think about the many people who struggle to make ends meet this Christmas, struggle to stay warm, and struggle to have hope. With so many advertisements geared towards the needy this time of year, there is no lack of medium for giving. So as I look within myself, I ask that you look too, and do what you can do. And may you stay warm this winter, belly full, and appreciate the comfort and peace the season brings.

via Chicago...

2010-11-16T22:54:00.003-05:00

Last month I was sent on a work trip to wo-man a booth at a conference in Chicago. Although I was only there for about 48 hours, I was determined to make the most of my time. Unusually warm at a lovely 70 something degrees, it was the perfect time of year to explore the city. I stayed right off of the ever-so-tempting Michigan Ave. and managed to walk away with only a shirt, A shirt, in tow. And, to top it all off, I got to visit with my Mississippi friend, Laura Watson, of Scout and Lo, over a yummy dinner in a new neighborhood restaurant.

Day 1: Dinner at Giordano's: the ultimate in Chicago's deep dish pizza. Apparently, that's debatable, but I didn't have a problem at all ordering and eating a deep dish for one. The flaky, buttery crust was truly impressive.

Day 2: Tour of the city via Bobby's Bike Hike. I really wanted to go kayaking but they only do kayak tours on Saturdays and Sundays. The bike tour was a fun way to take in the fresh air and see parts of the city I would never have known to check out otherwise. The photos below are from the three-hour bike hike. A great deal at only $35.00.

Day 2: Dinner with Laura at Ruxbin Kitchen, her local neighborhood hot spot. This quaint new restaurant was the perfect place to catch up with an old friend. We grabbed a window seat and both agreed the food was delicious! Check out Laura's design blog at Scout and Lo. We forgot to take a picture that night so here's one from our last visit, moving Laura across the ountry from Chicago to L.A.

Day 3: Breakfast at Yolk. Cafeteria-like. That's my review... disappointing. And, a much too quick visit to the Field Museum, a museum of natural history. Although my favorite is definitely the natural history museum in NYC, I did enjoy this one. And, Lisa, the woolly mammoth was already gone!! But I hope you like my tru-life mummy instead.

Happy birthday, Miele!

2010-11-14T00:13:00.001-05:00

In October, my cousin, Miele, came to visit for her first time to Savannah! She happened to have turned 21 a couple months prior to her visit, which, of course, called for a little birthday celebration. So we did it up right at our local Leoci's Italian restaurant. With the help of some Tiramisu!

And, a rasberry spritzer at Paris Market on Broughton.

As close to sisters as I could have, I love my little cousins: Miele, Molleigh, and Calli. Thanks for coming to see me, Miele! Muah :) See you at Christmas...

Miele and Calli

Halloween and Thanksgiving

2010-11-03T20:13:00.000-04:00

Michael's Halloween costume!

Thanksgiving front porch decorations...

Sexiest Man Alive

2010-10-28T23:27:00.003-04:00

Now here's something Michael and I can agree on...

Sassy Steel Magnolia

2010-10-23T11:19:00.000-04:00

Learn a few makeup tips from my friend, Jennie, at the Sassy Steel Magnolia. She gave herself some well deserved attention, collaborating with a professtional makeup artist to give herself a new look as she gracefully embraces her womanhood. I really enjoyed reading her makeup documentary and hope that you do too!

Check it out HERE...

Casey & Jennie at Casbah in Savannah

Blog Debut

2010-10-10T14:50:00.000-04:00

I'd like to take a moment to welcome my brother, Lee Franco, to the blogging world! See the link below for his first post and to check out his blog, say hello, etc. Lee currently lives in Richmond, VA, where he is a professor at Virginia Commonwealth (VCU). Although far apart in miles, Lee and I have grown from your typical siblings who grew up constantly fighting physically with each other, to great friends who are there for each other in the ebbs and flows of life. I'm very proud of him for the lives he touches through his passion for teaching and look forward to knowing him even better through his writing. Hope you enjoy!

Beautiful Sentences

Favorite Fall Beers

2010-10-09T13:21:00.000-04:00

As promised, a post on our favorite fall beers. Of the things Michael and I enjoy most together, it's cooking, eating, and drinking... in no particular order. I'm impressed with Michael's palette and even more impressed with how well he can transfer his desire for a particular food into a delicious meal on the table. His style is robust in flavor and his specialty is with spices, whether it be a dry rub or the perfect sauce. Together we have agreed that we like our beer to have lots of character. I strongly suggest you try at least one of these this season, even if you like your beer on the lighter side. They are perfect for fall and taste best when served very cold.

Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale

Tasting notes: Molasses, coffee, ginger, raisins, chocolate.

Obviously you can see this one pours out pretty dark, said to have a nice balance between malts and hops. To be honest, I just know what I like, I don't know all the technical jargon, and I like this beer because it isn't too sweet, nor too bitter, and is full of flavor. Although it is actually available year round, it works well on a chilly evening. Try the link above to see the finer details.

America's Original Pumpkin Ale

According to Buffalo Bill's Brewery, this Pumpkin Ale is brewed with baked and roasted pumpkins, using cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg to create what has been described as "pumpkin pie in a bottle". Available only in the fall, you can truly detect the spices in this one and it is a nice way to ring in the change of seasons!

Breckenridge Brewery Vanilla Porter

I couldn't find the Breckenridge Brewery website, so I uploaded the link to Beer Advocate. In our area, this is also only availabe in the fall. They use real vanilla beans in the brewing process, and though very dark, it goes down very smooth. Quite delicious.

For any readers in the Savannah area, you may not be surprised to know you can get all of these and many more at Habersham Beverage.

Other beers worth mentioning that are great in cooler weather:

Lion Stout, from Sri Lanka
Ten Fidy, Russian Imperial Stout

This is dinner on a whim!

2010-09-26T20:22:00.002-04:00

I planned to do a post on Michael and I's favorite fall beers, but after coming home this evening from a long day of hard labor pricing thrift items for the Junior League, I had quite the pleasant surprise. Michael decided to whip up something for dinner. He loves to cook and will often (lucky me) at whim come up with just the thing to speak to my stomach, and, I believe, my heart. Bacon... all he needed was bacon.

So I'm bragging tonight on what makes me feel like a queen. Or, as I sometimes say, like it's my birthday. Might as well be.

That's a bacon wrapped scallop hanging

with the brussell sprouts.

He roasted some garlic in the oven and made this

delicious hummus. I thought it was cute that he decided

to put it in some pewter we got for our wedding.

And if you know Michael, you know there's always

a cocktail involved. How about some sangria!

Stay tuned for our favorite fall beers!!

Same Kind of Different as Me

2010-09-17T17:13:00.000-04:00

I exchanged Redeeming Love (see previous post) with a friend and co-worker, Kim Dunn, for her latest suggestion, Same Kind of Different As Me. I really enjoyed this book. Although non-fiction, it reads like fiction and is found in the biography section of the bookstore. It made me laugh and cry and think outside the box. There are two authors throughout the book whose lives integrate, adding to the book's interest as you get to know two different characters along with two different view points and dialects. One author is a wealthy white man who is married to a godly woman, the other, a poor black man, living as a modern day slave. Christian themed, I found this book very impactful. It's easy to get through but be prepared to feel some emotions, all well worth it! I highly recommend this book, but only with an open mind, for what it's worth, not to be scrutinized for hidden agendas. Hope you enjoy...

I love Seychelles!

2010-09-12T22:20:00.000-04:00

I'm obsessed with my latest shoe purchase. As cliche as this sounds, perhaps I should preface that statement with I'm not a shopper, and I still have shoes from high school in my closet. My favorite women's clothing store in Savannah, Terra Cotta, carries a shoe line called Seychelles (pronounced: say shells) and they manage to tempt my wallet every single time I visit. The style is a mix of vintage/classic/mod and they are always unusually comfortable and relatively affordable. Last year my loves were a pair of knee-high camel colored leather boots that I wanted to wear all throughout the summer because the winter simply wasn't long enough. And this year, I've been inspired by my new clay colored Peacock pumps. Check em out. And then go to your nearest shoe store, or the Web, and fall in love.

P.S. While looking for photos of my new pumps I found yet another, for... um... my Christmas list.

In the beginning...

2010-09-06T23:26:00.000-04:00

I started reading the Bible earlier this year with the intent of getting through the entire thing. I'm not on any sort of reading plan, but just reading at my own pace, skipping around at whim from book to book. Last week I finished the book of Genesis, and man was it action packed! Seriously. I had no idea so many stories were all in one book. To be honest, if I had to put money on it, I would be certain that it included the story of creation... and that's all I'd put my money on. I didn't realize that Noah and Abraham were in there as well, among other great leaders.

The Bible I own is a Life Application Study Bible, New Living Translation. It has been translated to be the easiest to understand as far as English goes (does not read like Shakespeare), and has tons of footnotes on every page that explains what's going on, mostly interpreting customs from thousands of years ago and what does this mean for me translations.

Two key concepts were central throughout, and I want to share them with you:

1. There were a lot of so-called great leaders that did a lot of sinful things. I can't tell you how many times I read about sexual exploitation, whether in the form of adultery, rape, or incest. I wondered how were these leaders any different from the men we constantly criticize today. The point, however, is that God has a plan and uses people, despite their short-comings, to fulfill His plan. "... God was with them despite their inadequacies" (footnote). And many times they aren't the people that by human standards we would pick ourselves to be leaders. So, He could use you for His purpose even knowing that you will make mistakes along the way.

2. When it comes to forgiving, we often wonder if the person deserves forgiving before we decide how and when we choose to forgive. God forgave everyone, even the wickedest of sinners, every single time. So, why are we so selective in who and when we choose to forgive? "... God graciously accepts us even though we don't deserve it. Because God forgives us even when we have ignored or rejected him, we should graciously forgive others" (footnote).

I've been using my new iPod to listen to podcasts when I drive for work during the day. I love to listen to Andy Stanley podcasts from his church in Atlanta. If any of you know where I can get more podcasts that you think are worth listening to, please let me know. As always, I'm open to your ideas!

Color & Comfort

2010-08-29T13:12:00.001-04:00

We moved into our new home last November, only nine months ago. Although we had a lot of furniture to combine we still didn't have enough to fill up our new house. And, definitely not in a way that coordinated. So after a yard sale and getting rid of the things we didn't need anymore there are parts of our house that are kind of bare. Such as, the bonus room upstairs, the "office", and... the living room. While we still are using TV dinner trays for bedside tables, my first priority is the living room. After careful financial planning (no credit cards involved), and design planning (it's an art to get Michael and I to collaborate on decor) (odd that he has such strong opinions on decor), I decided my goal was to complete the living room by the end of the year. I've already come a long way, but we still don't have a rug, or anything on the wall, which will be for another day and time. My underlying theme for the entire house is Color & Comfort. I try to keep that in mind when making purchase decisions, such as a blue and green plaid love seat instead of a neutral brown that I was first drawn to.

First things first, we needed more sitting room. Even if it is only one more spot. So the velvet striped chair and paisley dog bed went, and in came our new plaid love seat. I think it brightens up the room.

BEFORE

AFTER

We also needed another light source, so I got a new lamp (and moved this lamp to a different spot). Please don't make the same mistake I did and do go to your nearest Home Goods store and get yourself the perfect lamp at an economical cost. They have an impressive, affordable collection of lamps with great shades, too. I'm kicking myself for not having done this but lesson learned.

BEFORE

AFTER

A closer look at the side table. I got a basket from World Market to go under the side table and keep the clutter and also added a framed photo.

BEFORE

AFTER

The TV wires were all cluttered up in a corner, so I bought a corner piece that houses the electronics and displays accessories, also hosting my third light source. I don't have a before picture without the new piece of furniture, but basically imagine all the wires with nothing else.

BEFORE

AFTER

A little plant and a pillow to soften up the room.

BEFORE

AFTER

Currently in transit are plantation shutters (3" wide slats that let in more light) to go in the window to the right of the fireplace (more for the left side of the fireplace when I can save some more money). And for the future, like I mentioned, a rug and some wall art.

Hope you like it, and let me know if you have any more ideas for this space!

Spending my Sunday cleaning house for my next house guest, Miss Carmen Keys!! She'll be spending Labor Day weekend with us, her first time to Savannah, and I can't wait :)

Anniversary in Charleston

2010-08-18T21:47:00.000-04:00

Michael and I celebrated our one year anniversary a few weeks ago and decided to go to Charleston for a night away. During the 24 hours we were in town we ate at four tasty, distinctly different restaurants. When we arrived we happened upon 82 Queen on a side road off King St. They serve lowcountry cuisine and prepared the most delicately delicious crabcake either of us have ever eaten. For an afternoon snack, we detoured into Mercato, a trendy, social Italian restaurant where we had French Rosé and beef carpaccio, both en pointe. And, for Sunday brunch we stood in line at Hominy Grill for the Big Nasty, a fried chicken sandwich with cheddar and sausage gravy.

Hominy Grill

But dinner. Oooohh dinner. I will never forget the pasta I ate that night. I tried to find the perfect spot that met the criteria for atmosphere, food, and price, and found an overwhelming lot of restaurants with accolades online. My two foodie physicians that are customers of mine, but also friends, guided me towards a family owned Italian restaurant on King St. They couldn't remember the name but I knew I had found it when I came across Il Cortile Del Re. An underpriced, hole-in-the-wall, family owned Italian restaurant that served original family recipes without substitutions. This peaked my interest. And the online reviews only sealed the deal.

Our overly chatty waiter, John Scott, told us his life story but redeemed himself throughout his menu recommendations. For starters we had a special. It was a risotto with crab, asparagus, cheese... and some other items that were, at the end of the day, simply overshadowed by the entree, although the risotto was darn right soulful. We didn't leave a single grain in the bowl. For my entree, I had my eye on the Casoncelli Bergamo, one of grandma's recipes. Imagine this: homemade ravioli in a brown butter sage sauce with fried pancetta bits on top, stuffed with beef, pork and raisins. Intriguing, right? I was a little thrown off by the raisins but you couldn't define their texture and it was a perfect combination. As I'm savoring every little bite, I notice a hint of something more, something special. The waiter mentioned a secret ingredient but I thought I could figure it out so I told him to hold off. Cinnamon? Nutmeg? Hazlenut? Close. It's not uncommon for Italians to have stale amaretto cookies lying around in the kitchen and grandma used them in place of bread crumbs in this recipe. Damn. That's when I decided it was time to get nauseously full. Sweet and savory. Lush noodles and crunchy pancetta. Creative flavor combinations. Like I said, I will never forget this dish.

One down, 99 to go. Love you, Michael.

Bad blogger

2010-08-12T22:24:00.000-04:00

I've been a bad blogger these days. Just haven't made the time to sit and recollect. And, right now is no different. Just decided to drop in and say hello to my few readers. Things are moving right along these days.

Michael is making out with his new Sports Illustrated magazine and fantasizing about Alabama's repeat year and another national championship. He pointed out that they haven't lost an SEC game since 2007 and I pointed out that that was when he met me, his good luck charm. They lost to Auburn the weekend before we met. Now the power is in my hands as whether or not to jinx the whole thing.

I don't know about you but I'm ready for fall. I hate to wish away the time but I just want to be able to enjoy being outdoors again. I give it till November. Gotta love the South. Where else could you find a brand new Jaguar with a Nascar number plastered on the back and the people speak ebonics country style. That's what I found during my tour through the back roads of Baxley, Hazlehurst, Alma, and Jesup today. As for the weather, I have grand visions for a fall veggie and/or shade garden. The worms have found my compost which means soon the fruits of my labor will be growing like wildfire. More on that...

I still get that feeling of being picked up by the back of my shirt and placed down somewhere in small town, Georgia... still want a tattoo sleeve down my right arm... and still reaching new levels of enlightenment as I read my Bible and learn about 3rd wives and concubines among our great leaders. That's all I got for now.

My Sunflower Story

2010-07-11T10:45:00.001-04:00

As some of you know, I planted a $0.99 bag of mixed sunflower seeds eaarrly this spring (Feb., which was luckily after the last frost). In May, they were standing tall and had already begun their sunworshipping, although there were not yet any blooms. Then, magically, they began to open up, one by one, very slowly, by June, and they have been blooming ever since, some 8 feet tall!

They unfold, leaf by leaf, to say hello to the world!

This was the biggest one that bloomed this year. It was about the size of my head! And it's leaves... if you hold your hand up and spread your fingers wide, imagine five of your hands, fingers spread in the shape of a leaf. They were huge! Actually it was so large that after it opened it immediately began to droop. I tried to stake it with bamboo and that didn't work. But it was a show stopper anyway.

I still get comments from my neighbors about how lovely they are. Some have even told me they are going to plant their own next year. They definitely have a happy factor to them.

And they have become a part of the landscape architecture in my yard, standing tall now some at 8 feet.

So I took that giant sunflower I just mentioned and waited a few weeks until it dried out, then pick the seeds out for roasting and/or planting next year.

All of these came from one bloom, albeit my largest one.

I hope you enjoyed my sunflowers! Have a great week :)

Farm Box and recipes!

2010-06-27T21:06:00.003-04:00

One of the local restaurants in town, Cha Bella, has a garden associated with it that they serve organic entrees from. They began playing with the "locally grown" idea and formed a group called From Earth to Table that recruits local farmers to provide Farm Box's to Savannah residents. For a reasonable fee, you can have a bag full of home grown veggies, as well as a fresh loaf of bread, delivered to your door once a week. They now also offer local cheeses and seafood, with future plans for meat. We signed up for the bag of veggies and have had two deliveries so far. I have included pics from our first bag, along with some very tasty recipes! The peach salad may actually be the best salad I've ever made, and was a big hit with my neighbors. Hope you enjoy!

Red Speckled Runners

Corn and Avocado Salad
3 Corn cobbs - Grill and slice kernels off the cobb

2 Avocados - Diced

1 Tomato - Diced

Lime juice - juice from 1.5 limes

Olive oil

Salt & Pepper

*Michael makes this but he doesn't follow a recipe, he just mixes it all together. It's very summery fresh. We've already made this salad twice now.

Kickin Peach Salad

1 box of mixed baby greens (or whatever greens you prefer, I prefer a spinach mix to lettuce)

4 peaches - peeled and sliced into pieces large enough to grill but small enough to eat in one bite

Crumbled Feta cheese

Bacon - 6 slices cooked and diced (I prefer fried, it adds crispy texture to the salad)

1/4 c. of chopped pecans or pistachios (or whatever nut you like)

*Grill the peaches long enough to show grill marks (I used a panini press, make sure grill grates are sprayed with nonstick cooking spray). Mix all ingredients together.

For the dressing:

1/4 C. Olive oil

1 tbs. Balsamic vinegar

1 tbs. Honey

1 tbs. Lime juice

Salt & Pepper

*Whisk together until well blended. Taste and add whatever you think it may need more of. Toss salad! I really can't wait to make this again. It went so fast at the party.

something new to read

2010-06-04T09:11:00.001-04:00

Lately I have found lots of things to post about and I don't always get around to it. As far as reading goes, I decided to pick up the Bible. Growing up Catholic my relationship with the Lord has always been very private, and I pray that as I grow spiritually that will change. Fourteen years in Catholic schools familiarized me with the Bible, no doubt, and I respect and appreciate the person that I am for it, but it's time for me now to take personal responsibility and study it on my own. So, for however long it takes, I'm on a quest to finish the Book. And then start over again, who knows.

This morning I thought I'd share a verse I read that put a happy note on the start of the weekend. It basically advises to work hard only in order to serve the Lord (don't be a workaholic) but to also enjoy the other pleasures in life, which are also gifts from God. Accept what you are given and be glad in it. As my cliff notes state, "We can be content with what we have when we realize that in God we have everything we need."

So for the verse:

"Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat well, drink a good glass of wine, and enjoy their work - whatever they do under the sun - for however long God lets them live. And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life - that is indeed a gift from God. People who do this rarely look with sorrow on the past, for God has given them reasons for joy." Ecclesiastes 5:18-20

I'll cheers to that.

Other books worth mentioning that are currently being packaged and shipped to my house: The Art of Racing in the Rain, and J.D. Salinger's Nine Stories. More to come. Happy weekend!

Girls Weekend and Kayaking the Bull River

2010-05-31T16:47:00.001-04:00

This Memorial Day weekend commemorated the third annual girls weekend with my good friends, Lisa and Leah, with husbands in tow. What started out as a weekend adventure to Birmingham, AL, has made its way to Savannah, GA, with plans up in the air for 2011.

We managed to fit a lot into the the three day weekend. Friday night we went to the SCAD New Alumni Festival in Forsyth Park to see Galactic and G-love. It was a slam packed fun night under the stars! Saturday we started off with lunch at Back in the Day Bakery and then shopped along historic Broughton Street. We stayed in that evening and had a laid back dinner in my rarely used dining room. The menu consisted of Roy Finamore's stuff game birds with arugula and asparagus and lots of prosecco, red wine, and cigars! Good times... Sunday's fun included kayaking the Bull River (a first for Michael and I), local seafood at Tubby's, and a hearse ghost tour. It's amazing how many dead bodies are underneath this old city!

Lisa and Chip are outdoor enthusiasts and thought we'd all enjoy kayaking. It reminds me of a modern day version of canoeing, which I enjoyed growing up at camp. We started out paddling against the current in decent winds for the first 45 mins (that's my guess). It was discouraging to look to the land for a speed check because that's when I realized that as hard as I was paddling, I wasn't exactly gaining a lot of ground, or any at times. But when we finally turned into a marsh trail, the current stopped and we were able to relax in smooth waters and enjoy ourselves. And, the ride back in was nice and easy too. We did see a couple of dolphins right when we got in but I didn't get any pics because I couldn't quit paddling enough to take a photo. I definitely want to kayak again... and soon.

As far away as Savannah is from home, it means a lot to have my friends come and visit. Thank you ladies for making my holiday weekend! And to my readers out there, where do you recommend for Girls Weekend 2011?

Bull River Marina

Michael

Leah

Leah and Brian

Brian

Chip

Chip and Lisa

Lisa

Oysters! Three ecosystems present in this photo...

Interesting story, as the city expanded, they built right on top of the old graveyards. The bodies now have city buildings on top of them. The tombstones, however, were transferred to the remains of the cemetary, where this photo was taken, at least those tombstones that people could claim. For unclaimed tombstones, they recycled them into stone/brick for building supplies.

sunflowers in store!

2010-05-24T20:40:00.003-04:00

I planted an entire bag (~40 seeds) of sunflower seeds ($0.99) back in February and about 15 or so have really been showing off lately. While some are merely 5" tall, one is almost FIVE FEET TALL (which happens to be variegated and has a cool spotted stalk that I forgot to photograph) ! Haha, I get excited because they are the first sunflowers I've ever planted and I don't recall ever seeing them grow that big, although I know the jumbo variety can get as tall as 20 feet. It's been fun watching them worship the sun even though they don't have any blooms. And in my naivety I assumed each plant would produce only one flower, but as you can see here, that's not the case. I have special guests coming in town this weekend (Lisa & Leah) and am wondering if they are going to make a surprise appearance... we'll see!

This one doesn't look like it's gonna make it. I could be wrong...

Although out of focus, you can see the flower is arching around to get to the sun. Hehe...

Beach wedding!

2010-05-22T14:54:00.000-04:00

Last weekend was quite an exciting time around here. Our neighbors, who have become like family to us, Karianne and Jonathon, got married at Tybee beach, and they had a surprise guest, my good friend, Buffy!

It was my first wedding on the beach and it was very romantic and beautiful. They exchanged vows just as the sun was setting. About a hundred yards down the beach there was a memorial service and as Kari was saying her "I do"s, you could faintly hear a sweet rendition of "Amazing Grace" in the distance.

Buffy (aka: Ashley Buffington Bond) flew in from Nashville and we got to tour around downtown, eating brunch at both Soho and J.Christopher's. She gave me a facial Saturday night from her skin care line of Rodan & Fields, and I must say, my face felt fabulous!

NOLA Jazz Fest!

2010-05-08T11:34:00.000-04:00

Last weekend Michael and I ventured out on the road to New Orleans' Jazz Fest. It was a looong road trip but New Orleans is always worth it. We didn't spend much time walking around the city except for at night, as the festival ended at 7 PM. The highlight of the weekend was getting to see Pearl Jam play live, Michael's all time favorite band. I've added a link to a couple of one minute videos for you to check out. The show was great, although we both agreed we probably wouldn't go again just for Jazz Fest unless we lived closer. I bet next time we see Pearl Jam we won't have to literally fight the crowd. I was very impressed with Eddie Vedder's performance skills. He puts on a great show and he sang lots of old favorites... Daughter, Alive, Even Flow. And worth mentioning were the cajun food vendors. We devoured boudin balls, fried eggplant with crawfish sause, alligator po-boys, alligator pie, red beans and rice, seafood gumbo, etc, etc.!!!

Video #1 (Daughter)

Video 2

Speaking of the oil spill and the devastation it is continuing to cause... I was reading the book of Hosea this morning, after finishing Redeeming Love (see previous post), and read the following: Hosea 4: 1-3

"Hear the word of the Lord, O people of Israel! The Lord has filed a lawsuit against you, saying: "There is no faithfulness, no kindness, no knowledge of God in your land. You curse and lie and kill and steal and commit adultery. There is violence everywhere, with one murder after another. That is why your land is not producing. It is filled with sadness, and all living things are becoming sick and dying. Even the animals, birds, and fish have begun to disappear.""

Redeeming Love

2010-05-03T20:46:00.000-04:00

I don't consider myself a writer so I'm not exactly going to attempt a formal book review or anything. I just thought it might be fun to keep my few readers posted on the books I read in case you might be looking for something to pick up for yourself (or not, depending on the book). I'm at the point now where I'm reading about one book a month so I won't exactly be bombarding you in this category. I just finished Redeeming Love tonight and thought what better time to share a book with a high recommendation!

My close friend, Carmen, gave this book to me as a gift at Christmas. I'll admit, at first glance I wasn't too sure if I really wanted to read it. For starters I'm somewhat reluctant to open myself up to Christian anythings that I'm not familiar with (insert skepticism here). A hefty 450 pages I also wasn't too keen on the cover art. Thought it looked a bit boring. I made it through the prologue and read another book before I picked up Redeeming Love again. I am so grateful that I did.

The author notes that all characters, themes, and settings were inspired by Christ and after reading the book that makes a lot of sense to me. It's a story I've never heard before and truly exposes God for the unconditional love He offers whether we accept it or not. As a newlywed I found many applicable lessons I can apply to my marriage immediately. But it doesn't matter your relationship status as to whether or not you will get something out of this book. Without adding any spoilers I can only say that I would recommend this book to anyone to begin reading immediately. I hope you enjoy!

Purchase here: Redeeming Love

See book description and reader comments at the author's website here: Redeeming Love

Buds and Blooms!

2010-04-27T21:09:00.001-04:00

I noticed the buds emerged on my new butterfly bushes at least a week ago, which was in itself exciting. Everyday since, I've been anticipating their blooms. After a light shower this afternoon, I sat on the porch to talk to Carmen, and as I did, this is what I saw. Finally! I love this little bush :)

And for a few other buds and & blooms...

Still not quite sure what this little tree is but it is supposed to attract hummingbirds, I'm assuming because it's red. This was part of the initial landscaping that was done when we moved in and almost every house on our street has a few of these little trees, so I think it looks a little generic. And I'm not so sure I wanted the color red as the focal point. But hey, I'll give it a chance for now.

And here is my new elephant ear I planted this weekend. Felt like it gave the garden a fresh tropical look.

Buds from my oriental Magnolia tree. Does anyone know what those little white specs are? Some kind of mold perhaps?

I'm looking forward to her fragrant white flowers!

Weekend in Mountain View

2010-04-21T21:40:00.000-04:00

I went to visit my grandmother and J.W. in Mountain View, AR, this weekend. They are doing great living up in the middle of the Ozarks (ok, maybe the foothills), elevation 1500 feet, and I got a chance to relax and enjoy the simple life. My parents met me at the airport in Little Rock and drove me the rest of the 2.5 hour trek up and through the curvy roads into the woods. I've called it the Twilight Zone before but it's actually a good time. Quite peaceful waking up in the woods and sharing a coffee and conversation with my mom and grandmother. I reflected in the moment and knew it was a special time I would not get often enough. While we were visiting they had a folk festival and the normal population of about 3,000 drew quite a crowd around their square. What makes it most unique are the musicians that gather into small groups to play country tunes, most I've never heard of. On any given night, granted the weather is good, you can choose among 10 or so groups from which to pull up your lawn chair and listen for a while.

Check out MY VIDEO from the hippies (as they call themselves) singing "Ghost Riders in the Sky".

Mom and I had lunch at the local pharmacy.

Granny at the basket booth. Her baskets were so cool!

I got one for our guest bath to hold toilet paper.

A view down one side of the square of the art vendors.

We had a corndog on day 2 for lunch. Delish!!

There were a lot of spring flowers in bloom. Took

this photo of the Japanese maple and the purple irises.

This is a Chinese snowball bush. The blooms have a

green tint early spring then turn bright white. They

resemble hydrangeas. Such a neat bush!

If you look closely here you can see a "hummingbird moth"

getting nectar from the phlox. At first I thought it was an

actual hummingbird but my grandmother knew what it was.

Garden photos

2010-04-10T23:35:00.003-04:00

These are pics of all the stuff I mentioned in the last post. Here, new growth on my confederate jasmine vine. I planted two, about 10' apart. Sam keeps peeing on the other one.

As you can see, it's struggling. Advice?

My coral honeysuckle vine seems to be doing fine. I love this plant. It reminds me of childhood and it smells like sugar.

My mom got this hydrangea plant for us for Easter. It's a little wilted from the rain we just had. I hear it's high maintenance. I also read something about changing the color of the blooms. I'll have to check that out.

Found this tin American flag on an empty lot in my neighborhood.

These are the beginnings of my new sunflowers!

One of two butterfly bushes. These are the ones that are supposed to have blooms that look like actual butterflies.

A view from the front of the house. Everything you see here was planted before we moved in, except the butterfly bushes. Notice the two butterfly bushes in the very back. I plan to condense the irises (tall spikey in the front) and fill the rest with a mix of something I haven't figured out yet. Ideas welcome. Just need to make sure it can handle full sun and take layering into consideration.

When I see this photo I see a lot of empty space for more flowers. But, every time I bring a plant home, Michael says he feels like he lives in a jungle.

This is the side front. Can you tell which plant wasn't part of the original?

Haha. This odd little sucker. This is a topiary rosemary bush I picked up for the house during Christmas, back when it was supposed to resemble a Christmas tree. Now it's found a home in the garden but I don't think this will be it's permanent place. Still trying to figure out what to do with these staggered bushes.

Today, I planted 6 one gallon Lantana plants. I got three different types, one is white/gold, one pink/yellow, one purple. I'm still trying to sort the irises around to make room for the Lantana.

I made a mistake and got the largest peace lilly they sold. When I came home and couldn't find space for it (4' in diameter), I immediately split it in half and potted both halves. This half doesn't look so bad.

This one looks pitiful. ???

My lame effort to root from cuttings. I probably needed a bigger branch. Not too concerned. Wisteria and azalea.

My next steps are to find something to fill the space in the front of the house. Let me know what you think would look good...

Once Upon a Garden

2010-04-05T22:50:00.000-04:00

Purchase of the week was my new gardening gloves. Amazing the difference they make! It's the little things like realizing my nails don't have to get dirty deep down into the cuticle each time I want to move around some dirt. I've also come to realize that if I'm going to enjoy my new found hobby I'm going to have to become patient and work within my budget, one plant (maybe two) a paycheck.

I'm starting with perennials this year and once satisfied, might move on to annuals. Or I might skip annuals and do some vegetable gardening and composting. Not sure what I think yet of plants that have to be thrown away at the end of the season. Doesn't seem too practical but I'm sure they have qualities that are well worth it. In my practicality I did plant some sunflowers from seed ($0.99) and they have sprouted and are about 3-4" tall. I can't wait to see their storybook blooms. I also have cutting of wisteria and azalea that I'm trying to root. I'd be surprised if that actually works, but I'll let you know. I just grabbed a couple of pieces during my neighborhood walk.

My latest purchases have been a coral honeysuckle vine, and two purple butterfly bushes. Everyone knows honeysuckle but apparently there are many variations of a butterfly bush. The ones I got should have blooms that actually resemble a butterfly! The picture I have is from the internet, but I have faith my two will meet expectations.

Perhaps one of the most exciting parts of my day was spotting the new growth from my Lantana plants that were planted before we moved in last fall. They were trampled on and seem to have died off before we even moved into our house but old faithful is making a comeback and making me happy! And, just when we were making comments about how the confederate jasmine hasn't grown, Michael pointed out about 3-4" of new growth! Sometimes you have to look closely to see what's really happening in the garden.

Michael has officially claimed one of two corners of the backyard. He wants to plant a real deal palm tree (which I was told will have to be driven in on a lift, two gate doors needed - we only have one) and build a stone fire pit. Sounds nice!

Perennials on my mind:

Hybrid or hardy hibiscus

more Lantana

Hydrangeas

Clematis

Sage

All thoughts welcome!

For a little inspiration, check out Lisa's gardening blog.

By the way, I'm sure you realize all photos in this post are taken from the net. My camera battery is dead and I'm lazy...

This one's for you, Jennie!

2010-04-01T19:21:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I splurged and got the very last ham and cheese croissant from Back in the Day... I considered myself lucky as they are usually sold out before noon. As you can see, it's sinful.

An evening with WILCO

2010-03-25T12:48:00.000-04:00

Back in January my friend Leah informed me that Wilco would be playing at the Savannah Music Festival this year. Unlike many music fests that are more of a free-for-all event with one paid for pass, Savannah hosts many artists in their own unique venue with ticket sales months in advanced. We got balcony seats in the Johnny Mercer Theatre just before they sold out. Michael's only response was, "On a Thursday night? Really?" Whatever lingering thoughts of disappointment will be no longer after his first live Wilco experience.

Aside from their music, the band deserves respect for the way they have handled the existence of their music. Documented in "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart" (2002), their record label allowed them to have freedom making their album "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot", yet when it was complete they wanted the band to make it more accessible, more mainstream. Wilco stood their ground, were dropped from Reprise (a subsidiary of Warner), and that very album won a grammy for best alternative rock album. Ironically, they were picked back up by yet another division of Warner. I have fond memories of my past two live Wilco shows, including my first show in Memphis when the band found out, literally while they were on stage, that they won their first grammy.

If I can get some pics from tonight I'll be sure to post.

Check em out: Handshake drugs video

St.Patrick's Savannah Style

2010-03-18T21:43:00.001-04:00

This was my first Savannah St.Patrick's Day experience and let me tell you this city does it UP! I'm convinced that outside of Ireland itself, Savannah definitely has the biggest St.Paddy's celebration, even though our parade is the second largest following NYC. And it might even be debatable as to which party is more fun, Ireland or Savannah.

As you know, the week long event kicked off on Friday at the Greening of the Fountain (see previous post). Saturday we ate lunch at a British pub, Six Pence, where we drank various versions of Irish beer with shepherd's pie. And yesterday we started off the "day of" activities with our new neighbors, Kari and Jonathan, with breakfast at McDonough's. Bloody Mary in hand at 8:30 AM, I'm pretty sure it was the earliest I've ever started drinking. The flatscreens in the bar were broadcasting St.Paddy's mass from the Cathedral led by the bishop. And after mass, Miss St.Patrick said her "hellos" to the city. Bellies full we headed to Wright Square, one of about 21 squares, to meet friends and watch the parade.

The tailgate very much reminded me of a football game in Oxford, MS - everyone going all out! People wore everything from blue jeans and green hoodies to green designer dresses. Best sights were of the dogs painted green and one even painted the colors of the Irish flag: green, white, and orange! The parade itself was about three hours long and my favorite groups were the bag pipe bands from Ireland! I was also surprised how many groups participated from New York and the surrounding areas (Jersey, Long Island, etc.). I tried to capture part of the spirit of the day in photos and I hope you enjoy!

This group was from Ireland

Also from Ireland!

Savannah Greening!

2010-03-12T16:04:00.000-05:00

These are a few pics from the Greening of the Fountain today at Forsyth Park. About 30 or so years ago some pranksters dyed the fountain green for St.Patty's. The city thought it was a good idea but one they wanted to control. Today it is an organized event for the entire family. The Grand Marshall led the ceremony with a walk around the fountain, followed by the St.Patty's Day committee. Young children who are family members of the committee got to pour green dye into the fountain. It was pretty cool seeing it turn green all at once! Today kicks off about a 10-day celebration, which likely will culminate this year on Wednesday, which is actually St.Patty's day. The parade starts at 10 AM Wednesday morning. Michael and I are still debating whether or not we're going to go. A lot of my customer's offices are closed so I might take a vacation day and take my camera with me. More photos to come!

Spring is in the Air!

2010-03-07T13:17:00.000-05:00

I'm somewhat surprised that I've discovered a newfound curiosity and excitement for gardening. And I can say that because it honestly has never really interested me before. Perhaps with the purchase of our first home and the warmer weather on the horizon that was all that I needed! I can't wait to turn our backyard into a plush, lively home for green, aromatic, flowering plants that attract lots of birds and butterflies. I bet I know what you're thinking... easier said than done!

The palms we planted last weekend have survived several nights with near freezing temperatures. Yesterday I planted two confederate jasmine climbing vines and wove them in and out of our shadow box fence. I have plans to buy many more but there were only two in stock at the store. I've heard lots of good things about how well they grow in Savannah. If any of you have suggestions for coastal gardening, send them along! I wanted to share a couple of photos so that I can track their progress over time.

Sam loved that we were playing outside all day!

Granny ROCKS!

2010-03-02T19:48:00.000-05:00

And so does my mom. One week I get homemade chocolate chip cookies in the mail. And a few weeks later, a homemade patchwork QUILT! I now officially have three quilts from my grandmother and I love them all. It's so neat because I recognize some of the scraps from when I was a little girl when granny used to make some of my outfits. This quilt is technically both Michael and I's, although I'm not sure anything will quite compare to his quilt from when he was a baby, made by his grandmother's friend.

Can you imagine what I did when I got home from work this afternoon? Why, sat on the couch with my quilt wrapped around me eating chocolate chip cookies, of course! At this point, I'm not sure if you spell "spoiled" with a "C" or a "Q" ;)

A Few House Touchups

2010-03-01T20:13:00.000-05:00

I've found a local garden shop, there are actually 2 within a mile radius, and I like them both. One of them is owned by an artist who created a wreath for me. I would have just bought a wreath at a store but it's difficult given the 8 foot size of our front door. A wreath two feet in diameter looks best. It was fun because she let me go around the store and pick out various flowers/greenery/herbs that I might want in my wreath. So I grabbed some ivy, rosemary, and hydrangeas. I'm very pleased with how it turned out. She said it was a "gardeny" look.

Also, on Saturday, Michael and I pulled over at the other garden store where we had been eyeing some palms for quite some time now. We got two smaller ones to go in our backyard, on either side of our new deck. They give the backyard a more tropical feel. There are a few more nights of frost this week so we have to be careful with them. And, as I just mentioned, we got a new deck built while we were in Mexico last week. It was so nice to come home and there it was! Now if only we could get a little bit warmer weather I think we'll be spending lots of time out there.

Inside, I got some curtains made for our dining room. I think of the dining room as my project. We don't use it much but it's the first room you see when you walk in the house and I'm having fun giving it some personality. The curtains were a few inches longer than we expected, even though we measured it exactly, but tied back they are the perfect length. I also enjoyed picking out the fabric pattern from a little shop downtown. I have plans for the future of hanging one of Peyton Hutchinson's paintings in this room as the focal point. I've admired her work since I first saw it at Double Decker in Oxford, MS, about seven or so years ago. She spent some time in Tuscany after college and has some pretty awesome landscapes. Her newer work includes Mississippi landscapes, which I also like a lot.

Mexico!

2010-02-28T15:35:00.001-05:00

Last week Michael and I went to Cancun Mexico with other employees from Maxim who hit their goals for the year. The weather was cool and wet except for one day that we had sun. I got to swim in the ocean and it was clear and beautiful. When it rained we went into the city, "the real Cancun" according to our cab driver, and bartered for gifts at the local market. We also stopped at a restaurant that served authentic Mexican food. It was super delicious and super cheap. The food was fresher than our American Mexican restaurants and although we couldn't identify all of the meats on on our plates, we devoured them anyway!

One of my favorite parts of the trip was swimming with the dolphins. We got to the pet the dolphins, shake hands, kiss, and do a circus style trick. I laid on my stomach with my knees locked straight behind me. Two dolphins swam up behind me, nose to foot, and pushed me all the way across the pool so fast that I was standing vertically out of the water. It was so cool! They are such smart, affectionate, and friendly creatures. It was a great time!

Drake's Wedding in Florence!

2010-02-13T13:47:00.001-05:00

Last weekend we ventured off to Florence, AL, for Drake (Peter Drake) and Jennifer's wedding weekend. It was a lot of fun and when it was all over with I was completely spent! We arrived late to the rehearsal BBQ on Friday night, but just in time to get a few drinks, eat some grubb, and watch the slideshow. We even got recognized as the guests who drove the farthest and Drake presented us with a big bottle of vodka! We were surprised how thankful everyone was that we came but Michael and Drake are such good friends that we never even discussed the possibility of not going.

Florence was a more charming little town that I ever gave it credit for. All of the homes were old and picturesque. I wish my camera battery stayed charged long enough for me to take more photos but it died after only a few. The church was over a hundred years old and was a simple building with dark wooden rafters and original stained glass and pews. So beautiful. And, the reception was held at the bride's mother's home, which was settled right on the river (in the background of our photo above). They had a large tent placed outside with plastic drops and space heaters. Good thing because there were snow flurries that day! Shrimp and grits, fried green tomato eggs benedict, and fried oysters were the highlights of the menu. Add to that a jazz band, bloody mary's and good friends and we definitely had a good time!

Michael with Kaz and Josh

On our trek back we decided to stay with Freeman in Anniston, AL. Another charming city I never knew of. I've passed the exit on the interstate many times but off the exit you pass over a mountain and it's as if we'd passed through the wardrobe into Narnia when we came upon all the bright lights into Anniston. Another long night called for a stop at the Vortex in Atlanta on the way home. If you've never eaten at the Vortex, it's a must for your next trip through or to Atlanta. Best burgers anywhere, but be ready to gain a couple of pounds. I went for the Elvis burger, with fried plantains, bacon and peanut butter!

Our Secret Ingredient!

2010-01-30T17:49:00.005-05:00

In our home, we love to cook as much as we love to eat. And Michael is somewhat of a spice master. He's always making new concoctions and he has a BBQ sauce, nothing quite exact, of course, that he could definitely bottle. It dawned on me after many dinners that were always delish, that there is a secret ingredient common among most of them. Can you guess what it is???

Chili, ribs, steak, lamb... mostly red meats, but could surely work on other dishes - both sweet and savory (savory is the fun part!). Cinnamon is our secret ingredient!

According to Wikipedia, cinnamon "was so highly prized among ancient nations that it was regarded as a gift fit for monarchs and even for a god: a fine inscription records the gift of cinnamon and cassia to the temple of Apollo at Miletus. Though its source was kept mysterious in the Mediterranean world for centuries by the middlemen who handled the spice trade, to protect their monopoly as suppliers, cinnamon is native to Sri Lanka."

If you need more motivation to give it a try next time you start the seasoning process, "one teaspoon of Cinnamon contains as many antioxidants as a full cup of pomegranate juice and 1/2 a cup of blueberries" (Wikipedia). And, what's more, some even believe it to be an aphrodisiac.

If you're interested in the details!

2010-01-29T16:10:00.001-05:00

This blog started as a way to stay in touch with our dear family and friends who live quite far away. As you may have noticed, it's turned into a way for me to express myself (for which I enjoy while Michael makes fun). There is nothing super exciting happening with us right now. Most of the excitement from last year has settled and we are pretty much enjoying staying in, building lots of fires in our new fireplace, cooking/grilling/drinking wine, and occasionally getting out to get items for our home (like a bathroom mirror, etc.). It's really a lovely life. If I could change one thing, it would be to be closer to our family.

If you're interested in the details... next weekend we're venturing all the way to Tuscumbia, AL, for Drake's wedding. And mid-February we're going on an all expenses paid trip from Michael's company to Cancun! Yeah, I know that's exciting and we're both really looking forward to it. We got to select excursions and one day we'll be swimming with dolphins! An item I can check off my "Top 10" list :)

We both have friends coming to staying in March. Michael's will be here just in time for St.Patty's weekend celebration. A night with Wilco also awaits us in March. In April, I'll be visiting my grandparents in northern AR, and we'll both be going to New Orleans for Jazz Fest to see Pearl Jam! May brings my MS friends and their husbands over Memorial day weekend! And, in June, the Mims will be coming for a visit!

Back in the Day on Primetime!

2010-01-21T20:59:00.004-05:00

My friend, Cheryl, and her husband Griff, own a jewel of a bakery here in Savannah, Back in the Day Bakery. Cheryl just made her third appearance on the Food Network alongside the one Mrs. Paula Dean. She was fabulous and so was her cookin. The show featured biscones, a mix between a biscuit and a scone. Last Saturday, my friend Jennie, from the Sassy Steel Magnolia, tested out one of these biscones and we both agreed it was delish. Flaky, crunchy, and chewy all at the same time, it left us completely satisfied, yet wanting more. I know what I'm getting on my next visit to Back in the Day!

If you're not fortunate enough to swing by Savannah and check out the bakery for yourself, you can check out a few of Cheryl's recipes from Paula's Best Dishes, including her biscone recipe. Just click here. You can also get to know Cheryl herself, along with Griff, on their bakery blog.

The Transformation!

2010-01-17T22:22:00.010-05:00

You may have attended my wedding, but I thought you'd enjoy photos from the transformation of my wedding dress. I wore my mom's gown that she wore in 1971 when she was only 19. My dad was 20. Through plenty of ups and downs they are still married today, after 38 years. My grandmother sent my mom's dress to NYC to preserve it. I knew exactly the style I wanted and had an idea for my mom's dress when we pulled it out of its box. Tricia Copelin, an extremely talented designer who we were familiar with, knew exactly what I had in mind (it seemed she read my mind). She did most of the transformation while I was standing in the dress. Here, I'll walk you through it...

The dress in its original form. Basically lace upper on

top of a satin dress.

She cut the sleeves off first to make it cap sleeve. Notice the scallop on the end of the sleeve.

I took the dress off and she cut out a sweetheart neckline underneath the lace into the satin. I thought a sash around my waist would make the dress more form-fitting. Tricia literally grabbed a piece of silk fabric from a box and voila! The color added an antique look, which was exactly what I was

going for.

She put pins in to outline the V-neck that I wanted. I didn't realize she was going to cut the V-neck with me in the dress but when I got nervous, she simply wasn't worried about it. She didn't skip a beat!

Look closely... to the left, you can see the scallop that came from the end of the sleeves. That was Tricia's idea. It completely brought it all together.

The almost finished product. There was a train that hooked to the back of the dress. She adjusted the hooks so that the train attached underneath the sash. I also wore my mom's veil.

Yep, my mom was fr-eaking out! She is sitting next to the veil

and train.

And so here is the finished product. I tried to post a few different views... And, thanks to my maid of honor, Carmen, for documenting the transformation!

Mission and Music

2010-01-09T13:47:00.013-05:00

I'm sitting at my favorite local Savannah spot, Back in the Day Bakery. Dust from my fresh sliced bread that I've been dipping into my tomato basil soup is sprinkled all over the keyboard, and I don't mind. Every time I come I always notice the Old Savannah City Mission directly across the street (photo above). Always curious, today I decided to go in. I found out they feed the homeless 365 days of the year, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There was a huge mural that covered an entire wall in the dining room that depicted a version of the Last Supper I hadn't seen before. Jesus was in the center, surrounded by all his friends, a bunch of homeless dudes, arms around Jesus' shoulders and big smiles. Very cool. I left my name and number and am thinking this is somewhat of a start at accomplishing my personal goal of hands on volunteer work, not just for 2010.

When I sat down to eat, there was a Connect Savannah magazine on the table. On the front cover is a bare chested hipster who on first glance looked like he belonged inside the trailer he was standing in front of. Low and behold it is Ben Kweller. A name and face I haven't seen in many years. I used to play his album when I worked at Bottletree Bakery during my late college days back in Mississippi. A professor that was a regular patron always asked about his music and I remember giving him my one and only Ben Kweller album, Sha Sha, when the professor told me he and his family were moving away. Surely I could get another album. Out of sight, out of mind. Five years later, he's promoting his new album, Changing Horses (2009), right here in Savannah! However... I missed it. Sort of. He played the night of the National Championship and that was a great game! If you haven't heard his music before, try a couple of songs out on iTunes. I think you'll like it. He comes recommended by Jeff Tweedy, reads the article.

Speaking of, Leah informed me via text that Wilco is playing in Savannah at the end of March. I was lucky enough to purchase a couple of tickets yesterday as they are almost sold out! It appears Savannah actually does have good music afterall. I just need to stay current on the line up.

**Later this day I downloaded the entire Ben Kweller album, Changing Horses, and have listened to the whole thing twice. It's fun, upbeat, and cool. Kinda folk meets indie meets tweedy. What I like most is it doesn't make you sad.

Bama victory!

2010-01-08T17:13:00.002-05:00

Michael sent this photo from his phone from the National Championship game in Pasadena. What an emotional game. Congrats to Alabama! Does anyone know if Ole Miss has a quarterback prospect for 2010?

2010

2010-01-05T12:57:00.002-05:00

I sat down last night to write down a list of things I'd like to accomplish in 2010. My list was far from ambitious. As I tried to put a little more thought into it, my mind began reminiscing. In 2009 I moved to Savannah, started a new job, got married, and bought a house. So here's what I came up with for 2010: