In the Storm

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. 

date night

Our date night consisted of dinner and Lowes. Yes, you read that correctly, Lowes. We checked out supplies for the front steps. Now, let's talk Sly's Sliders at Abercorn and 34th street downtown Savannah. A small eatery but on point sliders and fries. We ordered 4 different sliders, two for each person, but we both tried a bite of all 4. I liked the two I ordered and Jeff liked his two. Jeff had The Boardwalk and the Uncle Reuben while I had Li'l Angel and Pain Don't Hurt. Yum! We will definitely be back with plans to try the slider dogs next time.

We had the opportunity to buy a meal for a homeless man. He asked for cash but after he first said he was hungry. Jeff assured him he'd order him food (which we did) but he wouldn't give him cash. The man didn't want us to disrespect him. Buying him a meal I don't believe is disrespecting him at all.

This date night album is a 6 x 8 size which I have fallen hard for. Less overwhelming. Perfect for the few photos we normally take during one date night. I used One Little Bird and Paislee Press digital products, two of my go-to designers. 

date night album.

This story is in two albums, our December Daily 2015 and our date night album but the pages are certainly different. 

Date nights truly are a priority for us. While we generally just make it for dinner and maybe a movie, but mostly just dinner, sometimes one of us (read: Jeff) will have a grand surprise and we'll, yes, have dinner, but, then we'll do something that is just wonderful.

Jeff had heard on the radio that Savannah was having its annual Christmas River of Lights Parade on the Savannah River so after dinner at Vinnie Go Go's we walked the few blocks to River Street to catch the tail end of the parade but were in plenty of time for the display of fireworks that followed shortly afterwards. They held the fireworks to only about ten minutes but it was wonderful to watch. 

We weren't done. We walked back to Broughton and Whitaker to the Coffee Fox for a cup of coffee and sat outside and watched the eclectic people of Savannah and all its visitors go by. Just a fun evening!

date night album

I'm building a date night album one page at a time. Honestly, I haven't decided if I will gather all our date photos from past dates or just begin from today. I've already made pages of a ton of dates, regular 12 x 12 size but I've been so inspired by the 6 x 8 size album and I recently picked up a turquoise 6 x 8 leather album with protectors and I hadn't decided what to do with the album. I just knew at some point I'd make a 6 x 8 album.

So, a date night album it is.

This is the album front page cover. I used a stamp set from Ali Edwards' BUILD story kit and turned it into a chipboard set. I love how it turned out!

I even put together the first two-page 6 x 8 of our most recent date night. 

I absolutely love how it turned out. I'm not creative when it comes to embellishments so I'm pretty much going to keep it pretty clean and simple. 

Date nights are such an integral part of our life together that it seems only, well, necessary, to document this fun part. We've changed things up over the years from one night a month date night, then twice a month, and now we are dating once a week. It is our time together, even if it's just dinner, to relax, communicate, share a meal, decompress, watch a movie, walk the beach, whatever our hearts desire...and whatever our pocket book can afford.

We went to the Six Pence Pub on Bull Street, downtown Savannah, the night before Halloween no less, when lots of crazy's were out (in a good way). We had a lot to talk about, shared a great meal at the bar, I drank a Jameson Irish Coffee and watched the people come and go.

 

make a page monday | 11

Another Make a Page Monday and I must say I absolutely love this page. The old-time rustic feel fits perfectly with the photos and even the restaurant we visited on our day. I wanted to translate that early- mid 1900's feel because the beer parlor we visited opened in 1933 and I could just imagine the scene.

For this page I delved into my stash of templates, this one from Simply Yin that I modified slightly, along with some freebie alpha-letters that look like old newspaper, definitely lending to the old-time feel, a stitched piece of digital paper, along with the black and white, mixed with neutral photos. I don't think the page needs the embellishments but I'll probably leave them on. In all honesty I prefer the clean page without embellishments.

And here is another page for our 2014 album - although I really should create a 'date' album because most of my single pages thus far this year have been from date nights.

Make a Page Monday is the brain-child of Cathy Zielske a superb graphic designer/scrapbooker extraordinaire and I'm enjoying playing along.