4/30/2023

 

Weekly Update 4/30/2023

I had to get up early Monday to tidy up the apartment before the cleaning lady came. That makes no sense, but I didn’t want dirty dishes in my sink, or messy laundry hanging on doorknobs. Who cleans before the paid cleaners come?

I did another tour at the cemetery this week. I think this is going to be all for a while, but they appreciate that I’m willing. They may call again. I was also there Sunday morning to pass out maps and answer questions.

I never got to the Savannah Challenger Tennis tournament. I wasn’t sure if I’d want to go, because the price of tickets has gone up substantially (what hasn’t?) Every day that I was free, the forecast was for rain all day. Then it didn’t rain, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to risk it. So I stayed away. Maybe next year. We did have some terrific thunderstorms – large hailstones in the town just north of Port Wentworth, and much bright lightning and loud thunder that I watched from my porch – but they rolled in and went right back out again.

I did got out to walk a few times. I took this photo at a pond at another apartment complex not far from mine. Every community has a “pond” AKA large drainage ditch. I know there are turtles in my pond, but I haven’t seen them basking in the sun here.

Friday, I met the Green Square ladies for breakfast, and then went out to lunch with June. We drove all the way out to Love’s Seafood on route 17, but it was a nice day for a drive. Neither June nor I can hear that well, so pretty much everything that was said as we drove had to be repeated. I enjoyed being with her, and it’s something I don’t do often.

Saturday morning, I met Roseann at Laurel Grove cemetery. She had never been there, and she wanted to see the Davenport family plot. Luckily, I could find that plot, and we spend time there, trying to figure out who some of the people buried there are and how they fit into the family. It’s a lot of guess work, but I think we could identify most of the people because of the dates. That was interesting. Then, because she’d never been there, I suggested we should at least walk to the Confederate Soldiers area. That is quite impressive, and I think she liked it. We didn’t walk around much to any other graves because it was hot, and we really just wanted to do the Davenports. Unlike me, Roseann is still giving tours at DH. She told me that it’s been going well. I’ll have to decide soon if I want to go back.

After volunteering at Bonaventure Sunday morning, I continued on to Tybee Island to see a live play at the Post Theater. It was Something’s Afoot. It was a hoot, very funny, and very well acted! It was a satire on the murder mysteries of well known writers, particularly Agatha Christie. I have not been out to Tybee in a very long time, and this was worth the long drive.

Annie and Adrian are precious! The weather seems to be warming up some in Rochester, and they have been going out to the playground.

No blog next week because I’ll be visiting Allen. See you again in two weeks.

4/23/2023

 

Weekly Update 4/23/2023

Two book clubs this week. The library book club was “reader’s choice”. It was like eighth grade book report day, with everyone giving a synopsis of a book read and enjoyed. My book to share was Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty. It is not my favorite read ever, but it was the only one I’ve read recently that I remembered. I attended TLC book club as well. This was a discussion of Consolations, by David Whyte. The book is a series of essays on the meanings of certain words. Most of it went right over my head. I think I’m not smart enough to be in this book club, but I persevere.

I also attended two lectures. One was at TLC, and was given by Jamie Credle. That was a little difficult, and I couldn’t make eye contact with her. The talk was about Anne Colquitt Hunter, the leader in the founding of the Historic Savannah Foundation in 1955. The other was a panel discussion about the original Oglethorpe plan with the system of squares and wards and how can we (or should we) move forward with the plan in the 21^st century. Again, greater minds than mine offered ideas and solutions to problems that the City faces today.

I did a cemetery tour on Wednesday morning. There were three busloads of visitors, and five tour leaders were required, which is why I was pressed into action. The group was very interested, and it was a lovely day to be walking around the lovely monuments and talking about the people buried there. I had time before having to be at the Senior Center for the book club discussion in the afternoon, so I went to the iHop. I haven’t been there in a very long time. It hit the spot, and was just what I needed. I think I prefer Waffle House, but this was good, too.

The weather had forecast rain all day for Saturday, so I was resigned to staying in and being lazy. But when the sun was out and the temps were rising in the late morning, I decided to go downtown. I had an errand to run for CMA that took me first to the Prohibition Museum. From there, I went to Bitty and Beau’s. I haven’t been at that coffee shop in a very long time, either. While Galleria is my favorite place for a coffee (because of the pastries they offer), Bitty and Beau’s is my favorite because of its program. If you don’t know what it is, google it – amazing. I sat in Ellis Square to enjoy my iced latte and people watch. Then I waddled up to Forsyth Park for the annual SCAD Sidewalk Walk Fest. It’s been a few years since I’ve been able to get to this event, but it was wonderful. Many talented artists showed off their skills with chalk on the pavement.

And, as if it’s not bad enough that dogs are allowed to join the crowd, how about a goat? Really?

Annie turned two months old on April 19. She’s just as cute as can be, rapidly approaching Adrian on the cuteness scale.

4/16/2023

 

Weekly Update 4/16/2023

A lot of shit hit the fan this week. On Tuesday, Jamie Credle was fired as director of DH. I didn’t find out until Wednesday. I was stunned. For me and many others, Jamie IS DH. NO reason was given, and from what I’ve learned, in Georgia, you don’t need to give a reason for firing anyone. So, I really don’t know what’s going on, but I think there is a difference of opinion about the direction the museum should be taking as it moves forward. I have always felt we had the best house tour in town, and that the information we gave was valuable. For twenty plus years, this has been what Jamie has been leading us to do. Now, apparently, a new approach is needed, and I’m pretty sure I don’t want to be a part of the lessening of history and the increasing money grabbing. I was scheduled to give tours Thursday, and I did those. But then I quit. I will not be going back. If any of my friends have not been on my tours, you will never get a chance now. I will be moving to another place, but not right away. I’m going to give myself some time to decide.

I’ve been down about that all week.

But you know what helps? Cadbury eggs! I made my annual pilgrimage to Walmart on Monday to buy the eggs at 50% off.

There was a very interesting lecture this week at the Victorian Society. Dr. Robin Williams, architectural historian at SCAD, gave a talk on Gothic Revival houses of worship in Savannah. He is one of my favorite speakers, and I was very interested in the topic. It was wonderful.

On Saturday, after reading a book to Adrian and seeing Annie for the first time on google meet, I met with my knitting group. We are still making caps for cancer patients, and I had finished three that I could donate.

After I put away all my easter bunny and basket stuff, and finished all the cadbury eggs, I got out my spring flowers.  I don't have as much to deocroate with as I do with most holidays, but i think my porch looks rather colorful.  

Adrian and Annie are perfect. Adrian had his first soccer try out. He’s not even two years old! Sarah said she just wanted to see how he did before she signed him up and paid money for the leaugue. I think they’re going to wait for another year. But I was surprised to hear they wanted to get into this. Watch out, Harry Kane!

All in all, it was a bad week for me. I’ll get over it; Jamie will get over it. But this week was very difficult indeed.

4/9/2023

 

Weekly Update 4/9/2023

Happy Easter

I got downtown a couple of times this week. I helped with a mailing at DH on Tuesday before I went to City Hall, and then I was back on Thursday for my tours. I’ve been doing these tours for so long, I really know what I like and what I don’t like – I don’t like when no one is there and I twiddle my thumbs, I don’t like small children who have no interest and sometimes do not behave, and I don’t like COMFORT ANIMALS! On my middle tour, I had a large group, and one family had three children and one family had a pet dog. The dog was small, but not small enough to fit in a purse. Angela, the DH person who sells the tickets told them that if they carried the dog so that the claws would not harm the wood floors, it would be ok. WHAT? She knows how I feel about dogs, and she even suggested that I let one of the paid staff do the tour so I wouldn’t have to. But, I’m a trouper, and I forged ahead. The dog was fine, the children were fine (for the most part; the dad had to take the littlest one out about half way though), and I had no problems. I don’t want to have to do that again – ever.

The CMA monthly meeting was on Wednesday. The usual meeting place is at the temple, but since it was Passover, they could not have us there. We met at Massie School. Massie doesn’t have kitchen facilities. I’m used to paying for the catered lunch, but this week I had to take my own sandwich. Again, it’s not what I like to do, but I sucked it up, put some chicken salad between two pieces of bread, and went ahead.

There was a lecture at Ships of the Sea Museum on Thursday evening. It’s been a long time since I’ve been there, and that garden is one of my favorite spaces for attending a talk. There is a traveling exhibit of artwork painted by Arthur Beaumont, who was the official artist of the US Navy in WWII and beyond. Most were watercolors, but there were a few oils as well. I had a chance to tour the exhibit before the lecture, which was given by Geoffrey Beaumont, the artist’s son. Very interesting, and the pictures of aircraft carriers, submarines, and destroyers were very good.

It rained all day Friday and Saturday, so I wasn’t able to get out and walk. And I didn’t miss not walking at all. When I finally was able to get out again this morning, I was angry to see that the security gates at the front entrance were again broken. I don’t know if some drunk ran into the gates, or if it was just someone who maliciously destroyed them by breaking the bars, but who knows how long they’ll be open now. They had been broken since last October, and were fixed less than two weeks ago! So much for security!

Denise had invited Jane, Helen and me to her house for Easter dinner. It was delicious! I think she’d wanted to cook a lamb, but we rather discouraged that, so she made a wonderful pork loin. And broccoli salad, sweet potatoes, deviled eggs, asparagus and rolls. We had both red velvet cupcakes and chocolate layer cake for dessert. I had made little Easter baskets with chocolate candies, Denise had a bunny for everyone, and Helen gave us each a little plant. It was great to be with those good friends.

I believe that Adrian and Annie also had a great Easter. Adrian was hunting for eggs, and Annie was just looking cute, but not all that interested in the goodies in her basket.

4/2/2023

 

Weekly Update 4/2/2023

My hearing right hearing aid went belly up again this week. This is really getting old – it’s hard enough for me to get out and walk, but if I don’t have my tunes to listen to, it’s impossible. I’ve had only one ear working as I made my way through the different walking paths this week. Buddy Holly and the Rolling Stones don’t sound the same if they’re not in stereo! I made an appointment at Beltone on Tuesday, and I was ready to do battle. She was very nice, and didn’t even fight with me at all. She just took the hearing aid, and she’s going to return it and get a replacement. I hope to have it back this week.

After I left the Beltone store, I walked over to the Tanger Outlet. I try to find places to walk to when I’m out to keep myself from being too bored walking around the same neighborhoods all the time. I had no intention of buying of anything, but I found a t-shirt in Old Navy that was only $3, so I couldn’t resist that. I also found a rather nice dress that I think would be suitable for The Wedding. This was a very strange store, however, as the sizes were 0, 1, 2, and 3. I guess 0 is the same as small, and 1 is medium and so on. I should have a bought it in size 3 (X-Large) just to have it in my closet with the big 3 on the back label! I may go back.

I didn’t need to go to DH on Thursday, as someone else had requested to do tours that morning. They called Friday morning, however, as someone else wasn’t going to be able to show up in the afternoon. So I went in for those tours. It was just like old times – a Friday afternoon full of tours. And, when I finished, I went to The 90. Yup, just like old times.

Since there wasn’t a lot on my calendar for the week, I wanted to see what I could find out about Helen’s house, and Jane and Catherine Deveaux. I went to the main library on Bull Street twice, to the Georgia Historical Society Research Center once, to my own library to search Ancestry.com, and to Laurel Grove South Cemetery. I couldn’t find much information about the women or the school that they had. It was interesting to see what I could find. I think I’ve hit a dead end, but I may look a little more later.

Adrian and Annie attended an Easter Egg hunt on the weekend. I’m not sure just how much Adrian understood about it, and Annie just slept. It looked like a good time, though.