Posted by Sara on Sep 3, 2008 in
Collecting,
Georgia,
Southern Life This year I did something that is quite possibly very tacky. I wish I cared that it is tacky, but in this case the end justified the means.
I bought my own birthday gift.
The phone conversation went something like this last spring.
“Hey Kenny, I just found what I want for my birthday. Can I buy it for myself? We’ll put it in storage until my birthday.”
Silence. (You have to understand, Kenny is a very thoughtful gift giver. VERY thoughtful.)
“Um. Okay.” he conceded at last.
So guess what came out of storage this week? My beautiful birthday gift.
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Tags: Declaration of Independence Turkey Platter, Liberty Blue Historic Colonial Scenes, Quitman, Twisted Sisters
Posted by Sara on Jul 30, 2008 in
Georgia,
Restaurant Reviews Yeah. I did it. I went to a catfish restaurant and ordered…SHRIMP!
Who does that?
Here’s the deal. I’m a little scared of catfish. The whole catlike face just kind of freaks me out. And the whole bottom-feeder thing…let’s just not even go there.
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Posted by Sara on Jul 28, 2008 in
Georgia,
Restaurant Reviews For a minute I’m going to sound like a snob. I assumed, before my six month stint this year in Valdosta, Georgia, that it was merely a jerk-water southern Georgia town. You know, one of those I75 exits on your trip south to Disneyworld?
But no, no, no people! It’s cute! Really. It’s cute! Areas of Valdosta are really cute. Take the campus and surrounding neighborhoods of Valdosta State University for example or maybe the renovated downtown? They are really cute. If it’s mealtime and you want to see the real deal of a Southern town on your trip to Disneyworld, do stop in Valdosta.
And DO, most definitely DO, eat at The Bistro downtown. I had one of the best steaks there I think I’ve ever consumed in my life – a filet with a sweet bourbon reduction sauce on top. I think it melted in my mouth. I had a hard time picking from the menu, because all the food was elegant and enticing. The wine list was impressive as well.
The atmosphere of the bistro was very pleasant too. The restaurant had a modern loft sort of feel, as it’s housed in a renovated brick storefront downtown. Huge canvases of modern art covered the walls.
I’m sorry I don’t have pictures. I ate there before I was really in full blog-swing. Maybe if you’re in the area or planning a trip in the area, do check out the website here. The Bistro is Valdosta’s best-foot forward. I promise, you won’t be disappointed.
Tags: The Bistro Valdosta Georgia
Posted by Sara on Jul 25, 2008 in
Georgia,
Travel One evening during our visit to Savannah, Kenny and I drove to Tybee Island. I grew up near the Gulf of Mexico and nothing in the world makes me happier than a beach. All is right in the world when waves are crashing in front of me. I feel like I can conquer any dream when I can see all the way to the horizon. (Incidentally, driving country roads in Texas makes me feel this way too.)
That said, if you can help it, don’t plan a vacation to Tybee Island. Go to another beach. Which one? Any other one.
Why?
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Tags: Tybee Bomb, Tybee Island, Tybee Lighthouse
Posted by Sara on Jul 24, 2008 in
Georgia,
Travel Do you know Paula Deen of Food Network fame? Her restaurant Lady and Sons is in Savannah.
We didn’t eat there.
Why?
Eating at Lady and Sons requires a bit of planning. You have to stand in line early in the morning to get a reservation to come back to the restaurant for lunch or dinner. Then you stand in line at the time of your reservation waiting to actually get in the restaurant.
Since we only had one full day in Savannah, we didn’t want to spend all our time in lines.
Instead, we opted to spend time in the line at Mrs. Wilkes’ Dining Room.
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Tags: Huey's on the River, Lady & Sons, Leopold's Ice Cream, Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room, Paula Deen, River Street Sweets
Posted by Sara on Jul 23, 2008 in
Georgia,
Travel What do people do in Savannah? Why does it get attention as a tourist destination?
Well, honestly, I can’t answer those questions for the masses. I can only tell you why I liked Savannah.
SAVANNAH IS A HISTORICAL TOWN
Savannah was founded in 1733 by General James Oglethorpe. It has one of the largest historic districts in the country. Streets and streets are filled with gorgeous old row houses with wrought iron detailing. Towering beautiful trees shade everything.
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Tags: Forsyth Park, Fort Pulaski, Paris Market, Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah Squares, shopSCAD, Whitfield Square
Posted by Sara on Jul 22, 2008 in
Georgia,
Travel I have a curious interest in bed and breakfasts, which I will lovingly refer to as B&B’s. For many years I had a reoccurring daydream that I owned one.
Several years ago after a particularly bad day at work I started reading a few dummy guides to owning a B&B. I realized it is a nonstop job of cleaning and cooking. I’d be tied down at home to boot. Funny how those little details didn’t factor into my daydreams!
I had an attitude adjustment toward my day job. And I kicked the whole owning-a-B&B-dream off my favorite daydream list. I filled in with a substitute dream – someday I wanted to stay at one.
Savannah, Georgia seemed like the perfect location for my maiden voyage in B&B patronage. I browsed my favorite B&B online directory, www.bbonline.com, to look at our options. Unfortunately, we did not plan ahead and things fill up quickly in Savannah. Our options were very limited. However, after reading reviews on www.tripadvisor.com, we decided on the Azalea Inn & Gardens.
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Tags: Review of Azalea Inn & Gardens, Savannah Georgia
Posted by Sara on Jul 21, 2008 in
Georgia,
Travel If you haven’t been to Savannah, Georgia, don’t walk. Run! Go there now. It is a beautiful gem of a Southern city.
Since I became a Southern Living fan a few years ago, I’ve been hearing whispery rumors that Savannah is a city that should be on every United States traveler’s list. I added it to mine.
Check. Been there. Done that.
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Tags: Savannah Georgia
Posted by Sara on Jul 18, 2008 in
Georgia,
Travel Okay. Time for a little confession. I’m scared of alligators.
When I was a little girl I wouldn’t get out of my bed at night to go to the bathroom. I believed alligators lived in the sewer system in Louisville, Kentucky. I thought one might crawl through the toilet into our house and get me.
No, I’m not making this up. It’s true. If you ask my family, I’m not sure they will remember this phase in my life, because thankfully, I’m pretty sure it was short lived. However, that phase did exist. I was scared of gators.
I still don’t really like them. Something about the whole killing predator thing makes me shy away.
Noooooooooo…not Kenny. Not his mom. They’re apparently just fine with a few killing predators. Maybe 50 would be just about enough for them.
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Tags: Okefenokee Swamp
Posted by Sara on Jun 12, 2008 in
Georgia One gray day last December my family drove a forgotten state highway in Georgia. The cotton crop was ready for harvest, and the rusty plants covered in fluffy white were brilliant against the overcast winter sky.
Not putting two-and-two together, I spied a sign for a Georgia gin company.
“I didn’t know you distill gin here,” I said to my mother-in-law.
“Uh. Sara?” she looked at me with incredulous eyes. “Cotton gin?”
Right.
Tags: Cotton Gin, Georgia