In the Storm

Yummy.

I am still catching up posting pages here on the blog that I created in August and this is another one (not to be confused with my September scrapbooking challenge). Jeff and I visited a new-to-Savannah restaurant Oak 36 located in Twelve Oaks shopping plaza and we were pleased with the atmosphere and service. They are still working on stocking food supplies so a few of their signature menu items were out of stock (and wouldn't you know it those were the very dishes I wanted to try). We went out on a limb and tried, for the very first time ever, fried macaroni and cheese bites with a yummy dipping sauce. While they were slightly cold inside we gave them grace, told the manager, and he thanked us - as they are still working out the - bugs. Totally understandable, at least in my book.

We'll definitely return and hopefully they'll have a fully stocked menu and when we try those mac & cheese bites again here's hoping they are pipping hot!

I kept this date night dinner super simple. Two 4 x 8 pages using Ali Edwards' Foodie collection and In a Creative Bubble digital products.

3 Reasons We Love Local Explorations

Savannah is a great place to live for finding local explorations and excursions. Jeff and I, on our most recent date night, reserved 2 spots on Mike's Dolphin Tours boat ride, the same company we visited several years past. We booked the 5 pm slot so we would be suitably hungry to visit Wiley's BBQ which is on our way back home from Tybee Island.

The tour is just about an hour total, riding out to the bay, dolphin hunting and spotting, and the return boat ride. For $15 per person it is worth it! Especially on this tour as the dolphin pods were prevalent and a couple of the dolphin's got a little playful. Jeff even captured a couple showing off by jumping out of the water.

In July when we visited St Simon's Island, we captured the thrill of battalions of pelicans flying overhead and I was thrilled to see several perched on the pier, along with a multitude of seagulls happily lounging, as we rolled back in to berth. It helped make for such a great day, and another reason we love Savannah.

Date Night.

Our date night last weekend on Saturday was simply Crystal Beer Parlor. One of our most favorite places to dine at, the parlor has been closed since the beginning of COVID quarantines and shut downs and they just re-opened the their store back up with the majority of the seating being outdoor, under a big top with checkered table cloths and quaint her-filled centerpieces. We chose to sit outside. The thick covering and hanging fans blowing everywhere, we were quite comfortable even with the 90-plus degrees Fahrenheit outside.  

And then there was the food. We devoured our main dish, Shrimp and Grits. As far as I am concerned Crystal Beer Parlor creates the most amazing Shrimp and Grits - the best I have ever eaten - and we love our Shrimp and Grits. Because they are a Greek owned and run restaurant they also serve Greek salads, side salads and full size. Their Greek salads are the best I have ever eaten, too! After asking the waitress if they sold their Greek salad dressing, because I noticed the used jar as our centerpiece that previously held the Greek dressing dry mix. Although they aren't selling it currently, when our waitress came back with our check she also brought several containers of dressing (which I applied on my salads throughout this past week).

We were thrilled by the food and the atmosphere and we are so thankful one of our favorite restaurants has re-opened.

July Stories 2020 | 1

I recently purchased a plethora of 4 x 8 albums in beautiful colors. When July rolled around, in order to get out of my slump, both as a human and scrapbooking, I thought it would be fun to create a mini-album for this month. Hey, maybe it will motivate me to create monthly mini-albums. When I do create other pages I still am putting those directly into our Stories 2020 album. 

This page is one of the first pages I created for the album, as I am creating pages in no particular order. I love the fun colors and the story is pretty good, too. We love The Breakfast Club on Tybee Island and they recently opened back up for dine-in seating. After a trip out to the beach to catch the sunrise - for my 31 Sunrises project - we got in line for a seat at The Breakfast Club. Normally, we seat at the counter directly behind the cooks and banter back and forth with them, however, because of COVID-19 social distancing the counter wasn't an option. 

The food was absolutely fantastic. We both ate our favorite go-to breakfasts with hearty delight.

Stories 2019 | Every Summer Has a Story

On a recent date night Jeff and I headed downtown to Betty Bombers for burgers and fries. Date nights are my 'cheat' meals. I don't always cheat, but if we go somewhere that isn't typically Keto friendly I don't sweat it and eat what I want rather than what I really don't want.

We went early enough that Betty's wasn't busy, although they usually back the house around regular meal times. They are definitely a local hot spot for simple fare. Good burgers and fries. We adore the atmosphere - 1940's World War II era, military-related décor, heavy on the female warriors because - Betty Bombers.

Then, we enjoyed a couple hours walking Forsythe Park with the occasional park bench excursion to gaze at the scenery and people watch. It was a good day, pain wise. Although, we had to pick up the pace when we walked or my hips would scream. But, then picking up the pace meant I got winded easier because - out of shape, here. We adjusted our sails and had a great evening.

We also visited the Armstrong Mansion - at least walked the outside, because it's all gated up and privately owned. It is gorgeous! Jeff's company recently did the upgrade interiors and additions to the property. He even worked the 'jobsite' occasionally, filling in for a superintendent here and there.

all about me | today

Not today today as in today but today as in Saturday today.

A Facebook friend created a page recently of no pictures just words of her 'feelings' of 'today' (whatever day she was documenting). I took her page more literally and documented my (our) day with broad strokes, same concept, different approach. I used digital stamps, stickers, and chipboard and quick blurbs about our day.

8/18/2018

I woke up with excruciating back, hip, wrist, and knee pain to the point of tears. After two weeks of near pain-free I was totally bummed the pain had returned.

I planned the meals for the week, made a grocery list and went to the commissary for our groceries.

I made a dozen egg cups for this weeks breakfasts: chopped ham, red pepper, onion, pickled jalapenos, and Monterey Jack pepper cheese

Jeff and Jarrod served at Compassion for the Journey set building that Jeff co-leads. Serving in this way is Jeff's sweet spot.

I washed our bedroom sheets. Nothing like clean, fresh-smelling sheets on the bed - glorious!

I organized my scrapbook albums.

I created 2 scrapbook pages and added tons of photos to my Blue Wall 4 x 4 template and folder on my computer. Once I get 286 photos in the folder I will have them printed and replace all the photos currently on the Blue Wall's frame in our living room with these freshly printed, newer photos.

Today was stinking hot and humid and I'm so thankful for air conditioning.

Jeff and I went on our weekly date night to Sugo Rosso Italian Kitchen, a fairly new spot in Savannah. Phenomenal! Unbelievably, amazing! I'm not sure what we did, or maybe our server was just ecstatic and generous, but she gifted us with a huge piece of the best (I'm not lying!!!) piece of cheesecake smothered in the best caramel sauce (I'm still not lying!!!) I've ever eaten.

 

all about me | date night

Almost finishing up a good things filled week with an amazing date night with Jeff. Easy going, leisurely, laughter filled, cheap fun, and really good food.

After a great Saturday of hard work we headed downtown Broughton Street to B&D Burgers. Nothing fancy. Somewhat typical chain restaurant food. But, they have outside sidewalk seating and we were in the mood for some cheap fun. People watching. It is the best cheap fun on the market. We were not disappointed. Savannah's people and her guests came out in full dress - and some in quite a bit less dress - and we were entertained throughout our meal and for some time after as we lingered over our drinks and the veritable sea of delight.

While waiting for Jeff to find a parking spot (he ended up getting a prime spot two blocks away along a square; prime spot because there was no parallel parking involved) I got us a table outside, ordered drinks, and just as the deep fried pickles were being brought outside to our table Jeff arrived and joined me. For me, deep-fried pickles are usually hit and miss. I can take them or leave them. Sometimes they're good, sometimes not-so-delightful. B&D Burgers' deep-fried pickles are order again another time worthy and were amazing!

All the while we people watched.

The food wasn't over the top but it definitely hit the spot and enjoyable. Service was top-notch!

And, the people watching...sometimes had us roaring, sometimes chuckling, sometimes, okay, a lot of times, shaking our heads or rolling our eyes. Modesty is out the window. One lady had a top on and I'm not sure why she even bothered because EVERYTHING was showing! Crazy!

Immodest dressing aside it was just a really wonderful evening.

After dinner we walked into one of the squares, took a bench, enjoyed the beautiful greenery, hydrangeas, people passing through, and the evening breeze that took a bite out of the heat.

Stories 2018 | The Vault

This probably will go in either our date night album, or Stories 2018 album, instead of All About Me. Haven't decided yet.

We recently visited The Vault Kitchen and Market on Bull Street and 37th, downtown Savannah and let's just say, I - we, were blown away. By the food. By the atmosphere. By the evening. We had such a good time.

The Vault is a restaurant that was retrofitted and re-furbished from a bank that closed. The store re-used much of the banks parts and pieces to include, the vault, the safety deposit boxes, money, teller boxes, hardware, and more. I don't think we even touched on the scope of re-use from our back corner table with a view of the right side of the 'bank' - I mean restaurant.

And, the food.

Oh my!

Totally yum! Truly delightful. Mouthwatering. Decadent.

Gorgeous food, right?

I'm telling you. If you're ever in Savannah, go to the Vault! It's amazing.

all about me | best pizza in town

I wrote this story for my 'On Savannah' series and never used it. For the journal for this page I decided to tell the story of the best pizza around the town and where we go for that pizza by way of an advertisement blip or insert rather than simply we had a date, we went to Vinnie's, we loved the pizza - although that did happen, we did go to Vinnie's and we did have amazing pizza.

In a rare evening, Jeff worked in the office for a superintendent's meeting so it was an earlier than usual work day and thus, when we were deciding on a place to eat for our date night - every Friday - we opted for Vinnie's on the square, in City Market, downtown Savannah. Without fail, the pizza is always good!
 

I had such fun putting this little advertisement together for the journal of my page as if I was telling a story for a blog post, or a magazine ad: Where to go for the best pizza in town

 

ON SAVANNAH | on a surprise outdoor date adventure

ON A SURPRISE LATE AFTERNOON OUTDOOR DATE ADVENTURE

For a sensational surprise outdoor date adventure, cleverly and cunningly arranged by your date (aka, my hubby), enjoy a dolphin boating tour, relax dockside for a meal at one of Tybee's most popular restaurant, and finish off the evening with a leisurely stroll hand in hand on the lush, sandy beach of Tybee Island - Savannah's eastward isle.

Do not pass up this terrific trifecta of an afternoon and well-into-the-evening engagement perfectly designed for two; enjoy the sun’s warmth on your faces, and the salt-water spray on your arms and wafting through your nostrils; allow the silky sand between your toes and the sea-foam and crashing waves at your feet. Come on, let's get started!

The excitement mounts as you climb onto the touring trawler at Captain Mike's Dolphin Tours , voted best adventure tour nine years straight, and depart Lazaretto Creek Marina heading up the channel and out into the gently breaking open waters towards the Atlantic Ocean. Every heart aboard is pounding with expectation as you pass shrimp boats and docks portraying the charm of an old fishing village hoping to be the first to sight a dolphin. 

Every eye is peeled, even as the Cockspur Lighthouse passes by and anticipating that first glimpse of a school of friendly, bottle-nosed dolphin to happenstance alongside the boat. The Cockspur Lighthouse, built in 1855, withstood a direct line of fire, 30-hour raging battle when the Confederate armies fell to the Union during the Civil War. The tour guide deftly maneuvers the boat by Cockspur Island for a panoramic view of  another historic monument and favored touring site, Fort Pulaski, that fell to the Union during the same 30-hour conflict. Then, approaching the North Beach of Tybee, the tour meets its half-way point with a scenic view of one of America's most intact lighthouses, the Tybee Lighthouse that has been guiding mariners with its nine-foot tall First Order Fresnel lens safely into the Savannah River for 270 years.

After an hour and a half in open waters your face is toasty warm from the sun and yet, a bit chilled from the cool waters spry, head onto Tybee Island proper to AJ’s Dockside restaurant tucked in off the beaten path, juxtaposed to the island's Back River where avid boaters park – well - dockside, and head along the pier and onto the dock to enjoy AJ’s highly rated seafood fare. First things first: You do not want to miss the simply southern appetizer of blackened shrimp and grits with just a touch of Cajun flare.

Following your leisurely, and truly delightful meal, head down to the beach where Tybee beach is a pay-to-park community accepting cash or credit cards and parking is free after 8 pm. Cross one of the many public wooden boardwalks, passing by the sea grass-laden sand dunes, take a stroll down to the western shore of the Atlantic Ocean hand in hand. Kick off your shoes, and enjoy a peaceful ramble along the gentle seashelled shore with waves lapping against your ankles and watch the final farewell to the day’s sun as you pass under the Tybee pier. Perfect ending to a perfect day.