It’s never too early to start celebrating!

Re-posting some of my favorites from my research for “A Hellacious Belles’ Guide.”

“In the South, as in no other American region, people use language as it was surely meant to be employed; a lush, personal, emphatic, treasure of coins to be spent slowly and for value” — Time Magazine

“Summer in the deep South is not only a season, a climate, it’s a dimension. Floating in it, one must be either proud or submerged.”
― Eugene Walter, The Untidy Pilgrim

My parents won’t let me have a motorcycle, but they give me all the guns I want. I asked them for a motorcycle last Christmas and they told me I’d only kill myself. They got me this twelve-gauge instead.”
― Scott Thompson

“Growing up Southern is a privilege, really. It’s more than where you’re born, it’s an idea and state of mind that seems imparted at birth. Its more than loving fried chicken, sweet tea, football, beer, bourbon and country music. It’s being hospitable, devoted to front porches, magnolias, moon pies and coca-cola, and each other. We don’t become Southern, we’re born that way.” -Anonymous

“Magic of Southern expressions? Similes and metaphorical allusions. They are the yellow highlighter of conversation.”
― Tim Heaton

I borrowed this concept from the lovely Nerd in the Brain, who encourages you to steal this “exercise in gratitude” with “wild abandon” by sharing three things that made you smile this week and “fill your blog with the happy.”

Thing #1 Early Thanksgiving with David’s Family in Augusta last weekend.

We had a lovely and relaxing two days with his Mom, sister Debbie and brother-in-law, Joe.  It was fabulous to get away from work and all the stress and there was cornbread dressing and gravy.  ::yum::

Thing#2  Book Group!

We read The Night Circus, which was magical and enchanting.  Hanging out with the awesome Pace Cetters (the business networking and community service group I’m privileged to belong to) to eat, drink and discuss the book was equally enchanting.  It’s tremendously uplifting to spend time around truly positive people.

Thing #3 This week’s Sunsets

It was rainy and cloudy most of the week, but there were a few nice twilight moments to share!

I’m really looking forward to Sunday, when we are hosting a brunch for a bunch of friends at our house.  It’ll be wonderful to see everyone and hang out – it’s been a while since we’ve had people over.  And of course, Thanksgiving is next week – one of my favorite holidays.  I’ll be thrilled to see my parents, my sister and her family and my cousin Patti, who is driving down from Huntsville to have dinner with us this year.

And there you go!  Three things that made me smile and brought joy to my week.  Thanks as always, Nerd in the Brain, for the inspiration!

My post today was supposed to be my entry into this week’s microstory challenge over at yeah write.

I’ve been working on it since Sunday in draft form. The contest actually opened at midnight, so I went to post it this morning around 7:15 and my buddy, WordPress, somehow managed to hurl it backwards through time; posting it – yes, but in the process, date stamping it for Sunday, November 8th. 

At this point, I can only weep profusely and rend my hair and clothing, as I am now thoroughly screwed for a post dated for today.

I’m desperately scrapping around for a substitute and my day is already a hot mess of over-scheduling.

Ahhh…inspiration.

Since I work really high up in the sky and it’s the first sunshine Atlanta’s had in 11 days, please enjoy these delightful photos of the city as my “official” daily post, while I sniffle over-dramatically in the background. 

Stomp your feet in disgust

Curse the grey skies if you must

But you’ll find when you are done

Blue skies for everyone

– Bob Schneider

It’s been called the “wine of the South.”

source

“Alabama Ale.”

It’s mandatory for all meals and a big cold glass will perk you right up on a hot afternoon.

Teeth-numbing sweet, strong and icy.

From food.com, “Absolutely the Best Southern Sweet Tea”

• 6 lipton tea bags (regular size)
• 1 gallon water, very hot from tap (or you can boil it first)
• 1 ¹⁄₃ cups granulated sugar

You’ll be my sugar baby
I’ll be your sweet iced tea
You’ll be my honeysuckle
I’ll be your honey bee
-Blake Shelton “Honey Bee”

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge this week is about abstract photos.

I’m more of a “group hug!” photographer over anything cerebral (although my husband is great about capturing odd images at intriguing angles) but rummaging around in my unruly photo files, I came up with a few I felt could meet the definition she kindly offered:

Like abstract art, abstract photography concentrates on shape, form, colour, pattern and texture. The viewer is often unable to see the whole object. The subject of the photo is often only a small part of the idea of the image. Viewers may only know the essence of the image subject or understand it by what is implied.

Warning: Wildly random! Mostly I just liked them.

Thanks (as always) Cee, for inspiration to think “outside the box.”