I received the latest issue of Garden & Gun magazine, December 2023 / January 2024 issue. This is a lovely national magazine focused on the South, ie food, music, sporting events, shopping, vacationing and more. As I am from the North, I enjoy learning about the South.
This particular issue had a focus on Florida travel. Makes sense, temperatures are dropping, it’s getting cold and many of us are dreaming of warm beach weather vacations during or after the holidays.
As I was perusing the magazine, my eye caught the title of a particular article. I pondered this… A chance career opportunity, a friendship changing a surfer and journalist’s life. WHO could this be about? SURFER, could this be about Jimmy Buffet? The cartoony picture had a man with blond hair and flip flops… maybe??
Yes, indeed!! Chris Dixon, the journalist, shares his chance meeting with Buffet and how the friendship evolved. Always under the radar, of course. Dixon pays tribute to Buffet, the friend v.s. the celebrity.
If you were a fan of Jimmy Buffet, you’ll enjoy reading this article and feel a bit of sadness too. Two guys surfing together! And Jimmy was 71, still going at it, no fear of the huge waves! Buffet was ill; but he was still trying to make the most of every moment until the end. A friendship that changed Dixon’s life.
In memory of Jimmy Buffet, we’re toasting you with a margarita this holiday season!
It’s that time of year again. Il Pandoro is out and I must have one. In fact, for Thanksgiving, I brought one to my Italian mother. She was so happy, hands clapping, ready to make coffee or tea and have a slice. I warned her though, for some reason, this year, the texture was “different.”
It’s an Italian tradition to have this. Usually, people buy the Panettone, which has the fruit inside. It’s not my favorite, by the time I pull out all that fruit, there isn’t much cake left.
My daughter and I bought Il Pandoro at Jewel (our grocery store). Sorry, I should have taken a picture. It was the Bauducco brand. The texture was strange. It was like a soft dinner roll, instead of bread like.
Every year, I buy one or more. I vow to remember the brand that is the BEST. Of course, every year, I forget and start this process again. This Balocco brand is pretty good.
Next stop, Trader Joe’s for a box of Baci candies. They sell out FAST!
I was in Indiana enjoying the fury of Lake Michigan. The temperatures dropped; it was cold and windy there. I realized I could see the Chicago skyline. I took this picture with my IPhone, but I couldn’t capture what I was seeing “in person,” a crisper and more distinct looking skyline.
Distance photos should be taken with a high powered camera.
Today is BLACK Friday. It’s the official start of the Christmas season. If you are shopping, I hope you find some GREAT deals out there.
I’ve been on the hunt for a pair of slippers. The problem, many are heavy, and have an extremely hard plastic bottom that doesn’t bend. Very uncomfortable.
At the store, I saw these pink glamour slippers. They reminded me of Marilyn Monroe. Practical, no! Fun and flirty, YES! I like pink, so was immediately enamored.
Searching online, I found these blue Ugg slippers. My first impression, soft and comfy. My second thought, fashionable. At least, they don’t look like granny slippers… DO THEY?
My Dad was a fanatic about slippers. He didn’t like bare feet or wearing just socks around the house, which he felt cleaned the floor. It’s true. If you don’t believe this, wear a pair of white socks around your house for a day. You will need a ton, and I do mean a ton, of bleach to make them white again.
I’m curious. How many of you wear slippers? If you do, what is your criteria for them.
Winter is coming, the leaves are falling. However, when I am walking, I see there are STILL some flowers alive and well. The colors are so vibrant for this time of year. Look at those ornamental cabbage plants. I rarely see those.
This is my favorite type of weather to walk in. It’s border line cold, but still fresh outside for a brisk walk. Allows time for creative thinking.
I leave you with this yellow rose. What does the yellow rose mean? Friendship??
Recently, I had a strange experience. My daughter and I went on a walk. A lady was raking. I enjoy Fall and raking, so I kidded her that I wouldn’t mind helping.
We joked about this, which led to conversations about the Food Pantry. She volunteers and said they were in desperate need of help. I’ve seen the long lines at a local church, I know there is a need right now. My daughter volunteers. So, I said I would look into this too. We were about to continue our walk…
The lady said, “Oh, I don’t have a piece of paper.”
I took out my phone and said, “I can take your number.”
I texted her the next day. The standard message of “nice to meet you,” if you send me the number for the Food Pantry, I’ll see what help they need. I work during the week, so hope they need weekend help.
GUESS WHAT — She never wrote back. No message, nothing.
My daughter asked me too, “Hey, did you hear from the lady.”
My response, “No, not even a nice to meet you message.”
The reason this was so surprising was the fact that this lady was extremely friendly. Telling us about her neighbors, her kids, her grandkids, baking cookies, etc.
My daughter wanted to contact her, so asked for her number and wrote to her. The lady responded to my daughter, answering her question and saying, “I’ll get in touch with your Mom with the Food Pantry number.” The lady AGAIN re-iterated how desperate the Food Pantry was for help.
Isn’t this the silliest thing… Feels like High School. What is interesting is that I had not asked for HER number. She was the one who asked first.
So, I ask you… “What do you make of this?”
Recently, I stopped by church. During the week, they have a quick 30 minute mass in the morning. The school kids attend. It’s nice. The Priest will engage the children of all ages when he asks questions.
That day, he brought up the subject of kindness, meeting new people, etc. Wow, my ears perked up. How did he know I needed to hear this talk?!
He chose this subject to reach the children; however, it’s true even when we are older. Meaning, no matter what age, people can be superficial.
He talked about how our world has changed, especially since COVID. People want and need interaction, but because of the isolation we experienced during COVID, we have fallen into a dark hole. Everyone wants to remain anonymous. Our phones add to this, allowing us to hide behind them. We can talk to people on our phones, no “in person” interaction needed, we’ve grown comfortable with this.
The Priest made a case for showing kindness, helping others, putting the phones down, etc. EVEN HE needs to make more efforts. He said he got a new dog, which has opened the door to talking with people. If you walk your dog, other dog owners enjoy talking.
Anyhow…. PERFECT subject. I smiled, “Yes, we do like to be anonymous these days. Hide behind our phones/computers.”
This is why the coffee shops are engaging customers, knowing their names and what they order. Greeting them in the morning. In the end, people “do want” face-to-face human interaction. Good for repeat business.
It’s that time of year again. YES, when the Hallmark Channel starts showing Christmas movies. You need to have a tissue box close by for some of the shows. Then with other movies you can talk your heart out with other viewers, because the story line is S-L-O-W.
This past weekend, I saw on LIFETIME, “Reba McEntire’s Christmas in Tune.” It came out in 2021. I’m not sure how I missed it a few years ago. There was a lot of advertising around it. Well, it was during COVID. If you like country music, you’ll like this one, great songs.
Oh, and John Schneider, the main actor with Reba, he’s from the TheDukes of Hazzard days. I had no idea he sung country music too. So, the movie’s storyline of husband/wife country singers, who have been separated for 15 years, getting together for their daughter’s Christmas Charity, where old feelings are rekindled is a cute one.
Here’s one of the songs from the movie…
Have you started watching any Christmas movies? Which ones do you enjoy?
Do you have funny thoughts when you are walking? I went to visit a friend. We were walking the neighborhood. As we were talking, I stopped, giggled and had to take this picture.
I’ve always enjoyed gardening. Trimming the hedges, raking leaves, etc. I saw this bush, and immediately wished I had my gardening sheers with me. All those funny shoots sticking out, needed trimming.
Further on our walk, we came across this gigantic sunflower. Isn’t it amazing?
All alone, it grew so tall in such glory. There is a daintiness in this sunflower’s stance too.
There is beauty all around us. We just have to slow down to see it.
Are you IN or OUT? People have different opinions on this. If you don’t know what NaNoWriMo is, you can visit the website for details. Basically, every year for the month of November you challenge yourself to write a novel of 50,000 words.
Some people like this structure and sense of writing community. Others feel like they are being handcuffed and their creativity goes out the window. Suddenly no words, no ideas come to them.
I have mixed emotions about it. Do I need to put more pressure on myself for a month? I don’t think so. So, this year, I’ll be monitoring some conversations, but going solo. Who knows, I might just hit 50K!
Are you participating? Do you find value in this? Met other writers?
Brilliant Viewpoint 