Happy Little Cottages By The Sea

Cottage Charm, Coastal Calm

My Car Free Weekend Adventures

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The price of gas jumped almost $1.00 a gallon from Wednesday to Friday! I decided to keep working on changing my behavior to help our country not be so dependent on oil . I know it’s a small step, but if all of us did one small step a day, it will make a big difference for all .
This weekend I only walking or riding my bike anywhere I need to go on the island. Definitely not a hardship at all, but pure fun. I always encourage all my guests to park their cars and ride a bike the entire time they’re here , so I decided to take my own advice!
BTW- we only recommend renting bikes from http://www.timsbeachgear.com/ Tim will deliver right to your cottage from door- doesn’t get any easier then that does it!

I started the weekend walking the dogs. What a walk! The Georgia Hog Rally is here on Tybee– Harley riders everywhere. FYI for all, this group is just great!!!! Any group that would have a loggerhead sea turtle as their logo for the weekend had to be terrific. Alot of our guests and potential guests were extremely worried about the noise, crowds and general craziness. No such problem. The Harleys and their riders are in full gear, here to enjoy the destination and have fun, but not disrupt anyone. We love these folks and hope they’ll return next year!!! Walking the dogs I saw a regular parade of riders pass us on Chatham Ave. The best was the “yellow lady”. Yellow Harley, Yellow Leather, Yellow Helmet and yes- YELLOW HIGH HEELS!!! http://www.gastatehogrally.com/

Saturday was also the day we were working to make sure everyone is registered to vote in the fall election. We were at North Beach Grill ( 912 786 9003) , great band, beautiful day – Thank you Big George offering your great spot to help people register to vote. Remember, you need to be registered by early October- doesn’t matter who you’re supporting- JUST VOTE! Here is a link if you not registered and need to know what to do. our new one-stop voter registration website.
I concluded Saturday trying a new recipe– Chocolate Apricot Cake- a dense fudge like cake… Apricots soaked in Bourbon starts the recipe…. if anyone is interested, post a comment and I”ll include the recipe for all in a future blog.
We’ll see what Sunday brings riding only on my bike !

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Another artist we love- Very Jeri! and today’s Market Bazaar

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Run don’t walk to a very fun event being held today – the Market Bazaar being held from 9AM- 2PM in the parking lot of the old Sears building parking lot in Downtown Savannah which is just around the corner from Forsyth Park which is the heart of the City. Very Jeri, one of our favorite artist’s , will be there featuring some of her new art ( these great cards made of all recyled paper and magazines) and of course her paper mache- this crab ornament being one of the standard Very Jeri greats. You can also purchase her art on Tybee at Debbie Brady Robinson’s shop, The Atlanta Beacon Gallery ( www.atlanticbeacongallery.com ) in downtown Tybee or on jeri’s blog and website www.veryjeri.blogspot.com

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My 3 Very Southern Friends, their Blogs & why I love them!

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I’m still pondering why I love Blogs and Blogging so much. It may be why I love reality TV shows, politics and people watching. It’s your chance to see people at their best. And I always believe we will see people this way if we try. I also just love to Blog. It’s my chance to be creative, to recap my life – as much for me to see what I’m doing and accomplishing as to share with others about life on the island.

I also love the fact that at mid life, I’m learning something new! I’ve always been ADD and school was always very hard when it came to studying, tests and the drama of grades . However, at this middle stage of my life, I’ve found great joy in the learning of how to set up blogs, social networks, posting pictures, searching the internet for info to enhance my blog ( the magic of youtube.com ) even how to use my hand me down digital camera ! I truly am amazed by this skill I’ve acquired at 52 almost 53 years of age!

Another part of the learning is the fun of discovering other people’s Blogs, both friends and complete strangers! Here are the blogs of three people I know, admire and think are just great!

Take some time, read about their adventures and enjoy. You won’t be bored, I promise!


Mary Kay Andrews – author Amy Rhodes- amazing person
Pam Martin- Artist

http://www.pamelamartindesigns.blogspot.com/

http://www.rememberwho.blogspot.com/

http://www.marykayandrews.com/

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Grits in my cake?

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I just love the Internet. I was invited to my dear friend’s home ( actually the home they were cat/ house sitting) for a mini cook out and watch the end of summer fireworks from their roof top . Incredible views from every angle! I volunteered to make dessert and since I had fresh blueberries and fresh peaches , I wanted to try a new recipe. After viewing several of my cook books, I went on line, tried http://www.myreceipes.com/ and typed in Summer Fruit dessert. Several recipes popped up, but this one looked the most interesting because it called for stone ground corn meal in the recipe. However when I went to my pantry, all I had were stone ground corn grits. Figured corn grits and corn meal were pretty close, so I used them. Mistake…… Dessert still tasted great ( fresh butter, sugar, fruit- what’s not to love) but the grits were just a bit to crunchy…. so try this recipe, but be sure you use Corn Meal – which I will do next time for sure!

Summer Fruit Upside-Down Cornmeal Cake
The wooden pick test isn’t accurate for this cake since the fruit makes it appear wet when it’s really done. Look for the cake to brown slightly as your best visual cue for doneness. Serve warm with low-fat vanilla ice cream.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups (1/4-inch-thick) peach slices

1 1/2 cups blueberries

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

Cooking spray

1 tablespoon butter, melted

1 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar, divided

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (5 1/2 ounces)

1/2 cup stone ground yellow cornmeal

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

5 tablespoons butter, softened

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350°.

Combine first 4 ingredients in a medium bowl; toss gently. Coat a 9-inch cake pan with cooking spray. Brush pan with 1 tablespoon melted butter. Sprinkle pan evenly with 1 tablespoon sugar. Pour nectarine mixture into pan in an even layer; set aside.
Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt in a bowl, stirring well with a whisk.
Combine remaining 1 cup sugar and 5 tablespoons softened butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well combined. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Add flour mixture to butter mixture; beat just until combined.
Spoon batter evenly over fruit mixture. Bake at 350° for 40 minutes or until cake is set and light brown. Cool in pan on a wire rack 5 minutes. Place a plate upside down on top of cake pan; invert cake onto plate. Serve warm or at room temperature.

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  • diane@mermaidcottages.com

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  • diane@mermaidcottages.com

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