2/25/2024

 

Weekly Update 2/25/2024

Here in Savannah, the magnolia trees are in bloom and the azaleas are just coming out. My allergies are also peaking, which is a bother.

Monday was the holiday. Since Kay didn’t have to work, we met for a walk and then to do some errands. She needed to get some kitty litter at Pet Smart. I had never been in a Pet Smart store, and I hope to never go again. A huge place to spend money on everything you can imagine (and a few things that are beyond imagining) for pets. I’m just not what I’m interested in spending my money that way and don’t really understand people who do.

One book club met this week. It was the Pooler Library group, and we’d all read Bayou Book Thief. It was certainly not great literature, but it was an easy, fun read.

A couple of lectures this week (and aren’t you happy I’m no longer posting photos of them?). Tuesday, The Victorian Society met at the Green Meldrim House and we listened to a talk by the new president of the Society about the enslaved quarters at the Green Meldrim House. It was ok, but I wasn’t totally convinced that John Norris and Charles Green held the people working at the house in high regard just because their rooms were a little larger than in some other properties in the city.

Thursday was a really busy day. I started by giving tours at GM. On my last tour, one of the visitors had on a Bills hat, so I stayed after to chat with that couple. They were visiting from Minneapolis, but he told me that his family has been Bills fans for a long time. We consoled each other about the loss to KC, and parted with thoughts of “next year”. I had all afternoon to kill before I was to attend a lecture, so I wandered down to the river, rode the water taxi for a circuit, and then went looking for the building that was where Anna Colquitt Hunter lived in the 1950s. I had an old photo and I’d always wanted to see if I could find the same building today. I never took the time until now, The photo was captioned 30 Bay Street, but that is where Vic’s on the River restaurant is now, so I didn’t think I had it right. As I walked further down the street, I saw a building that really did look similar, and the number was 230 Bay Street. I think this is it! I still had a little time, so I went to Gallery Expresso and treated myself to a delicious cup of chocolate brownie coffee and an apricot brie croissant. Finally it was time to go to the Juliet Gordon Low Birthplace for a talk about Nannie Helen Burroughs who worked as an educator, orator, religious leader, civil rights activist, feminist, and businesswoman. That was fascinating. In conjunction with Black History Month, I was glad to learn about someone I never knew about, but who was and is an important woman of color in American history.

I made myself sit down and file my taxes on Friday. Not a job I like or look forward to doing, but it’s over for another year. I will get a smaller return this year, but at least it’s something.

I put away all the snowmen that have been sitting around the apartment and got out my leprechauns. On the porch, I added the green lights that I’d purchased on sale after Christmas last year to my white ficus tree. My festive nature knows no bounds.

Annie’s birthday was Monday. Because they celebrated on the weekend when Jack’s family could visit, I don’t think they did a lot on the actual day. Isn’t it amazing how fast this year went by?

2/18/2024

 

Weekly Update 2/18/2024

This was an amazing week for me to learn new things. What a great week for lectures!

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were just normal days, but starting Thursday, I really had a lot of places to go and things to do.

The first one was a talk by Stan Deaton. He was giving a noon time lecture at 6 E State Street, a small space on Wright Square across from the Lutheran Church. I think it is associated with the church and in addition to being a meeting space, it also serves as a soup kitchen and place of advocacy for the homeless. Dr Deaton gave a marvelous talk about George Washington and his vision for the chief executive of the US government. Without pointing fingers at present day politicians, the talk was only about Washington’s desire to step back from governing in any form, and when pressed, how he formed the presidency and the term limits it still holds. Fascinating and informative.

That same evening, I went to Bethesda for another one of their lectures. This was given by Andrew Jones, a descendant of Noble Jones from Wormsloe Plantation. He talked about the early settlement of Savannah and how his ancestor was instrumental in helping to establish colony of Georgia. As a surveyor (among many other occupations) Noble Jones helped James Oglethorpe develop the Oglethorpe Plan of wards, squares and lots.

Friday night I went to the Mighty Eighth Museum for a screening of one episode of Masters of the Air, a current drama series showing on Apple TV (which, of course, I don’t pay for). It was graphic in it’s portrayal of a bombing mission meant to destroy a German military site. Following the movie, a 101-year-old WWII air veteran spoke. His memory lapsed from time to time in the talk, but overall, he did remarkably well in sharing some of his experiences. That was followed by a panel discussion. One of the actors, the producer and the author of the book that the television series is based on, discussed the filming and took questions from the audience. It was wonderful.

Saturday was a let down. I went tot he Book Fest. I haven’t attended in a few years, as I’ve been disappointed that I was not able to hear authors that I wanted to because there was not enough room to seat everyone. This year, a few new venues were added, including the Savannah Theater and the Cultural Arts Center, both of which are larger auditoriums. I was hopeful. I was able to get into the first book talk by Sy Montgomery. She spoke about her latest book, Of Time and Turtles. It was interesting, but was about snapping turtles, not the sea turtles that I have come to love. So, that was a little disappointing. After that, I walked as fast as I could to the next location, which was the First Baptist Church. I really wanted to listen to Alice McDermott because I had read book, Absolution, and I loved it. When I got there, the line waiting to get in was all around the block. I knew there would not be room, so I left. The Book Fest was so wonderful when I first moved here, but it’s gotten so big, I think I’m just going to have to pass on attending this event in the future.

Sunday, Bonaventure hosted Don Teuton talking about the Tattnall family. They owned the plantation that became Bonaventure Cemetery. The lecture was held in the Jewish Chapel at Bonaventure. The acoustics were horrible, and the microphone didn’t work, so I hardly heard anything. But I wanted to support Don and the BHS. I also got to remove the poinsettias from John and Dessie’s graves and put out spring flowers.

BUT – the highlight of my weeks was Annie. Her first birthday is Monday, February 19, but her party was on Saturday. Sarah and Jack set up a google meet, so I could attend the party! I bought a piece of cake at Publix, stuck a candle in it, and watched as Annie ate her cake and played with her balloons, and opened her presents. How cool is that?

2/11/2024

 

Weekly Update 2/11/2024

Another Super Bowl is history. I really did not care who won this game, but I had hoped that someone new team would become the champion. It wasn’t to be and the Chiefs outplayed the 49ers. It was a hard game to lose.

While waiting for the game to begin, I participated in Super Museum Sunday. It’s one day every year when most museums throughout Georgia are open with free admission. I was very pleased to see the Bloomingdale History Museum was going to be open. I drive past that building all the time, but it has never been open. When I asked today, I was told that they used to have meetings there about once a month, but they stopped during COVID and haven’t started up again. Some pool City worker must have drawn the short straw and was forced to be there today. She knew little about history, but tried valiantly to answer my questions. There’s only three rooms in the museum, and the items have all been donated by long-time residents. There were old kitchen appliances and utensils, a display of soldiers who served in WWII, some school photos, and old scrapbooks that I didn’t have time to go through. 

Then, I went to be a guide at Green Meldrim. Because it is used as a church hall, the museum was not able to open until after the coffee hour was completed and they had time to clean up. I was in the dining room for the afternoon, and there were over 200 visitors who came to tour the house in the three hours we were open. The time went quickly.

I almost felt as if it was homecoming week. As I was walking around downtown after being a docent at GM Thursday morning, I ran into two friends that I haven’t seen in ages. They live downtown, and like many other residents, are dissatisfied with the tourists, trolleys and air B&Bs. I thought they had moved. So it was great to see Kay and Dennis. Then, on Friday, as I was taking my walk in Daffin Park, I stopped a couple because he was wearing a Detroit Lions shirt and I needed to talk football. Then I realized I knew them as well! They used to own a B&B on Green Square, and I had been to a few gatherings there – a barbecue one summer day and a holiday party at Christmas many years ago. They are out of the business now, and have moved to the ‘burbs. It was nice to see Rob and Angela again and talk to them, too. Also, as I was at Daffin, I noticed that they are expanding Grayson Stadium, so who knows? Maybe I’ll be able to get a ticket to a Savannah Banana game this year!

Saturday was a busy day for me. In the morning, I went to the dedication of the renaming of a Square for Suzy King Taylor. Until last year, it had been named John C. Calhoun Square, but like many other parks, and buildings, as well as some statues, it is the current trend to not honor Confederates and racists. Calhoun Square needed to find a new name. Suzy King Taylor was born a slave in Georgia in 1848, but in 1862, she escaped to Union occupied St. Simon’s Island, where she established a school. During the Civil War, she served as a nurse, laundress and teacher for the Union. After the war, she opened a school and worked as a domestic servant (at Green Meldrim House) until she moved to the Boston area in the 1870s. She died in 1912. The dedication was an opportunity to hear the story again, told by all the politicians who took credit for renaming the Square.

After I left that, I went to Wormsloe to attend the Colonial Faire and Muster. It’s one of my favorite programs and I try to attend every year. This was the first year that there was a fee, but I was able to get around that because I’ve got passes from both the CMA and membership to the Georgia Historical Society. I got there a little later than I usually do, and I had to rush through. I didn’t watch the musket or cannon firing exhibits, and I didn’t look in all the vendors tents. But I did go to the Colonial Life area to watch cooking, tea making, flax spinning, and blacksmithing. It was all so interesting. They also have a new center, and when I arrived at the arched entrance, the gates were closed. Because I’m not totally stupid, I finally read the sign that said the entrance had moved a short ways down the road. The new welcome center is lovely, and large. No wonder they need to charge people to get in. It’s been open only a month.

So, there was much to do this week. And not all my activities involved sitting in my recliner in front of my tv.

2/4/2024

 

Weekly Update 2/4/2024

I spent a lot of time Wednesday at the Mighty Eighth museum. There was an author talk in the morning. The book was titled Sgt Dinwiddle’s War. It was written by his son-in-law, who had numerous conversations about Sgt Dinwiddle’s fighter bombing and POW experiences during WWII. As there are not many WWII vets still alive, I was interested in this story, and thanked Terry Irwin, the author, after the lecture for writing the book. Then, in the afternoon, there was another lecture about acquiring and restoring the City of Savannah, a B-17 bomber that is now at the museum. The restoration was completed just 15 years ago, and the work was done entirely by volunteers. Amazing.

Thursday was Groundhog Day. Punxsutawney Phil (and all other groundhogs, including General Beauregard Lee in Georgia) did not see his shadow. I guess spring is on the way. That’s a good news, bad news story, as my allergies have already started. I watched the movie again and again this week.

With no NFL or tennis to watch this weekend, I finally got back to doing something that I’ve always enjoyed. I went to the Savannah Children’s Theater. The musical was My Son Pinocchio. As always, it was entertaining and I was in awe of the talents.

As I was driving home from Kay’s house this morning (and I travel the same roads all the time), I happened to notice a small family cemetery I’d never seen before. How did I miss that? And there were fake poinsettias on most of the gravesites, so it’s obviously still cared for. Go figure, but I stopped and wandered around. The oldest markers were made of wood, so the dates have disintegrated. Since the city of Bloomingdale, the closest city, was founded in 1840, I suspect it may have been the burial place for a family a farm around this time. The last burial I was was 2011, so it’s still active.  There were maybe 50 graves in the cememtery.  Ennis was name on most of the headstones, but I couldn’t find anything about the family on a google search. I found it captivating.

Annie is being prepared for the BIG 1^st birthday coming up on February 19. This week, she went to Build-a-Bear workshop to get her birthday bear. And she had her professional photos taken with her cake. Poor Adrian is having to take a back seat for a few weeks, but he’s a great Big Brother and I think he probably handle it well. And Sarah and Jack help him to feel important and loved, even when the focus isn’t on him.