Happy Little Cottages By The Sea

Cottage Charm, Coastal Calm

January 2009

A Tybee Saturday night, Champagne , Mink and Teva’s

We started the New Year off great with our now annual Mermaid Cottages January Celebration. ( we decided after last night this needs to be annual AND in January!) We included everyone who works with Mermaid Cottages, helps with Mermaid Cottages , stays at Mermaid Cottages , members of our Mermaid Cottages Facebook group and just other dear Tybee people and friends! Dutton Waller was the host cottage and people showed up! In droves! We had guests ranging from in age from the 80’s ( Mrs. Williams, Curly and Dee) to the single digits ( Nevon and Fallon.) The weather was perfect, cool, but not too cold, full moon and white lights all over the wrap around screened porch and as requested- positive attitudes only. No grouches! I decided that despite all the bad economic news, we’re going to treat our world as one full of abundance and we have what we need to not only survive, but to be very happy! And we were happy Saturday night!

The food served was munchies- there will be a completely separate blog on the Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding…. lots of good stuff including Back in the Day cupcakes, Mary Lou’s Gooey Butter Cake, Castaway Coconut Cake and Tiara Miso courtesy of Fio and Michael who are staying at Flip Flop Cottage. Champagne, beer and wine added to our cheerful attitudes!

I asked people to wear sparkles and many complied. Our favorite was the home owner of Fiddler on the Creek. Katie wore her mom’s 1950’s sparkly jacket with mink cuffs. Katie is a huge animal person but we all agreed your mom’s vintage jacket was ok to wear . She topped off her stunning jacket in true Tybee Style…. Teva Sandals.

Lots and lots of fun, so much so the party that ended at 11Pm didn’t end until after midnight. I literally was going around turning off the lights saying goodnight. Nevon and Fallon, our single digit aged guests actually found a bed to crawl in and fall asleep. Smart girls!

Now we’re on to planning our very first Mermaid Cottages parade entry …. stay tuned!

These pictures are courtesy of Sherri Simmons who takes pictures for Savannah Now. You can see all the party pictures by going to http://www.spotted.savannahnow.com/ Thank you Sherri!
Lastly, here is an excerpt from an email my very talented artist friend, Pam Martin sent describing the party that I’d like to share:
“I have to tell you that what I will remember most, is as I was leaving for the evening I looked back up at the home and actually paused in the driveway – the home was warmly uplighted, and the incredibly fat full moon was gazing at herself on the river, and you could hear the wonderful conversations and laughter carried on the Atlantic breeze. I actually thought to myself that the original owners of this home must have been very satisfied this night to know that their home was once again so loved by someone special like you and that happiness and life was flowing back into it. What a wonderful gift, indeed!”
Thank you Pam, I agree, Blanche Waller is smiling knowing that her beach house is full of happiness and love still!

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Road Side Food- Fried Chicken Livers!

As I continue to travel up and down the highways on my road trips during the slow season, I seek out unique places to stop and eat. Nothing againist the chain restaurants, but if I’m going to eat something that’s not really that good for me, I’m gone to buy local. BBQ is something I love to discover and all throughout the Carolina’s I find a place to eat. Maurice’s BBQ is my favorite because I love that mustard sauce!

Smithville, VA is not only the home of the Ava Gardner museum but the home of The Chicken Barn and fried chicken. AND……………. fried chicken livers….. My sister and I first found this place when we were heading south on I95 and needed a road break, we couldn’t resist the Ava museum but were overwhelmed by the smell from across the street of fried grease. We went inside and as the lady behind the counter said, our chicken is good, but you gotta try the chix livers! Now, every time I’m on 95 , I pull over. They flash fry them to order and serve them juicy and hot. Good thing I’m only in the area a few times a year!!!

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Sometimes you just can’t make this up. You gotta love Roland Burris.

I usually reserve try and blog about my adventures and life on Tybee. Sometimes things are so funny, un believable or just worth noting that don’t happen on our island that I have to comment! Even though this is not the Huffington Post or the O’Reilly Factor, I am a political junkie and since this is my blog, am allowed to observe! The drama behind the replacement of the Junior Senator’s Seat from Illinois is just too much fun to watch.

Doesn’t matter where you sit on this story, the man who has been appointed by the “Governor” of Illinois is an American we all can’t help but to love. Here is what happened today as it was reported by every major news organization in the country.

  • He left for DC today and held a press conference before he left. Couldn’t help it, there were hundreds of press following he and his wife. His wife , Berlean who was dressed to the nine’s including a great “go to church hat.”
  • Announced at the press conference that “I am the Junior Senator from Illinois and I will be reporting for work on Tuesday.”
  • Best of all, he took Southwest Airlines from Chicago to Baltimore! Cattle call and all, he paid for his ticket for he and his wife and off he flew!

You go Roland Burris! You are 71 years old and we’ll continue to watch and see what happens when you report to work on Tuesday like you have for years, ready to work hard and serve your country!

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Holiday Newsletters and good wishes, updates and kids growing up!.

I may be the only person in the world that really and truly loves receiving those holiday newsletters from friends and family. Since I just arrived home last night, I had a reading Marathon of cards and notes. Loved it!
I’ve lived so many places and have such a varied group of friends- many of which are so kind to keep me on their Holiday Card lists – I truly enjoy watching kids grow up yearly thru their Christmas Card. I always say to myself I need to send cards out next year, but never quite get to it… and now with my blog , my excuse is I can keep people updated daily on Tybee Life and adventures!

Besides receiving all the newsletters , I love to see the creativity of the cards sent. So many cards this years are focusing on the hope of change in our country. We all want to prosper and the focus on working together and moving forward was inspiring.

One of my favorite messages of good will was from my friend Cindy Lou who lives in Los Angeles. I asked if I could share and here it is. Very simple, but what great wishes for 2009!

meaningful friendships
eternal youth
fresh beginnings
epicurean fantasies
joie de vivre
beauty
restful weekends
good will
healthy living
compassion
great music
dancing ‘til dawn
cooking at home
sunny days
lasting love
starry nights
prosperity
a social whirl
fin de siecle
me-time
spiritual fulfillment
positive energy
enlightening journeys
faith
traditional values
wisdom
good health
sweet dreams


Happy New Year everyone! Here’s to an outstanding 2009!

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Yep, I"m back on Tybee

Two wonderful weeks of holidays, I really had a wonderful time with my family and friends! Made the long drive home, first dropping Katie off in Asheville , then finally arriving home today!

Driving through Savannah with those beautiful live oak trees, then down the Tybee road across all the marsh …. so good to be home! My back home routine always includes checking everything outs, so I drove the island, checking on the cottages and making sure everyone was fine . All is good! I was driving down S. Campbell Ave looking at Fiddler on the Creek and saw a true Tybee sight which made me not only smile, but realize, yep I’m no longer in Delaware!

Walking down the street pushing a baby stroller was a very normal looking lady. Hair was a little black as in Elvis dyed black ( the old Las Vegas Elvis, not the young slim Elvis), but hey, not a biggie. The dogs started barking like crazy and I realized that she was pushing her perisan cat in the cat cage, not a baby…. The cage was necessary because the cat may just not like being pushed down the street so that poor cat needed to be caged because gosh darn it, that cat was going for a walk rather she liked it or not! Tybee, it’s good to be home!

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