Waiting for me at Home

Savannah Christmas Eve

I'm not in Savannah for Christmas Eve, but this is what it will look like. Imagine walking down her quiet streets, under the canopy of long live oak limbs dripping with spanish moss, glancing at the stoops and peering into the windows on Jones Street. Occasionally, the sound of laughter and gaiety echoes on the brick streets. The tour carriages and horses are stowed away and the residents of Savannah gather around their hearths to feel the warmth of family and faith, joyous because the Savior has been born, taught us how to live, died, and atoned for our sins. The perfect world in my mind's eye...Merry CHRISTmas to all, and to all a good night.

Savannah Christmas

The first Saturday of December is when Savannah neighbors come out to trim their squares.

I was busy running over the Talmadge Bridge (twice) with 2,000 other runners that morning, but as I walked back home after the race, admiring the burgeoning array of holiday decoration along the streets, I was greeted in my square by a gentleman wrapping pine boughs up the lamppost. He said, "How'd you do?" I said, "Not bad." I also ran into this coolgirl capturing these decorations with her polaroid - a good friend mistaken for a tourist...funny story...

I admire the neighborly efforts combined to dress up our treasured squares for Christmas and by the natural festive decoration on many homes. I love the garlands of magnolia leaves - shiny deep green on one side, rusty on the other. Woven together with white lights, it's beautiful. Another favorite is the small deciduous tree at the center of Chatham Square onto which neighbors have lashed pine boughs to simulate a Christmas tree (last photo). It reminds me of Charlie Brown's Christmas tree - awkward, misshapen, and loveable.

Savannah Recycles

This morning it was Christmas on Gordon Street,
residents waking up to find huge black and yellow plastic garbage bins parked in front of their stoops and porches. What a sight! They are crowding and blocking the sidewalk. It is hard, now, to squint and pretend you are walking down the street in the early 1900s. Oh - and watch out you don't run into the HUGE plastic bins.

"Christmas" to some, "Tax Day" to others.
Both times I went out to my car, parked on the street, I overheard sweet old lady neighbors muttering or grousing about the situation. ...What they make us pay for water! Eighty dollars a month for water! And now we have to pay for this! I don't want that thing! I knew they all was crazy, should be locked up in some loony hospital...bunch o' loonies....

Native Trees of the Lowcountry

Christy had an idea for a Christmas card a while ago...

And this is what I made of it.

(click to see larger)

This is the LAST Christmas card for 2008.

The other ideas are on the shelf until 2009.

Charleston - Savannah

WORK - IN - PROGRESS