THUNDERBOLT AND LIGHTNING - VERY VERY ... PEACEFUL

After a busy week of wrapping gifts and decorating all sorts of things around the house, we decided to get out and stretch our legs on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon.  Now, I was born and raised in South Carolina and didn't move away until I was 15.  I understand winter in the south.  I had done it for a long time growing up and I am on my third year back in the warmth. However, being able to go for a bike ride on December 6th with a t-shirt on and not even getting slightly cool is a truly remarkable thing.  I wouldn't trade that for scraping snow off my windows again!  The Savannah summer and I may not have the same great relationship, but that's something to worry about later.
Wes had recently gone on a longer ride on his own and in his attempt to not overlap anything too much he ended up in Thunderbolt.  It's right before the islands start on the way out to Tybee Island.  We decided to head out there.  Wes was especially excited to see what kind of pictures we could come up with since the scenery is pretty amazing.

 After Thunderbolt, we headed over to Bonaventure Cemetery.  We have been by a few times before but you can never get through everything and it really is a pretty place.  Every time we go I always swing by this one gravestone that just draws me in.  The statue is super detailed but also really creepy.  Look at her eyes!  

Of course we got hungry and bailed on taking pictures at Bonaventure to swing over to Coaches Corner for a late lunch before getting ready for the Savannah Bicycle Campaign Christmas party.  There was even a bike themed tree!

A WINTER WONDERLAND IN SAVANNAH

We were really excited to hear that the Savannah Holiday Lighting Parade was going on.  Wes and I realized that neither one of us had been to a proper parade in Savannah.  With the amount of road closures I have been a part of due to parades, I'm surprised that I haven't ever gone to at least one.  It was on Saturday night running from River Street up to Broughton so we grabbed the bikes and looked for a good spot.  I'm glad we decided to watch it on Broughton.  They have put up all of these amazing string lights over the street and Christmas trees everywhere.  Truly a winter wonderland in the south.

I took tons of pictures, mostly of Savannah's take on Christmas which is only mildly hilarious.  All of these jeeps covered in lights and presents and mud (these guys are affectionately called the Lowcountry Mud Rats); Tybee's chapter of the wonderful Parrot Heads; Armored vehicles topped with Christmas trees and a jolly chorus of children hanging out of the back. It really was a great sight to see.

We really had a great time seeing everything a Savannah parade has to offer.  There was a great turnout and everyone was in a festive mood.  I've got to say, a night like that really is a great way to get into the holiday spirit.  I'm so sorry I have taken so long to make a post; I've been busy getting ready for the holidays and I've been extremely busy being lazy lately so that could have something to do with it as well.  Anyway, hope you enjoy!

PRETTY IN PINK AND POLISHED METAL

We took the bikes out for a ride around town this weekend and decided to do a bit of an impromptu photo shoot.  If you ride a bike you get it; if you don't ride a bike all too often I will let you in on a little secret: we love our bikes and the way they look!  Pictures are always a must.  And never a bad idea to have at least one.  Always comes in handy if someone jacks your bike.  We were headed off toward Ardsley Park / Daffin Park area and decided to stop by the old Starland Dairy to take some shots.  

Enjoy!

Phew.  And that's a wrap.

GOBBLE, GOBBLE, SNOOZE

This year marks Wes and my second Thanksgiving together and our first Thanksgiving cooking everything on our own.  We decided to stay in Savannah for the holiday and give it a shot.  I love cooking.  I love Thanksgiving.  I now know that I love cooking for Thanksgiving!

I must quickly say that I also love HomeGoods.  I realized while at work Wednesday I would  need to pick up some serving dishes for Thanksgiving dinner.  I found everything that I needed and it was all so inexpensive!  I truly believe that a way to a girls heart is through a massive octopus bowl, so they did well.  Accidentally left out the platter for the duck, but you'll see it below.  Now, back to food.

Beginning to plan our first Thanksgiving and realizing that we only have to make the foods that we love and nothing more has to be the human equivalent of a puppy realizing that even when he eats your shoes you will still love him.  Queue the deviled eggs.  Now being that this was my first Thanksgiving taking over the kitchen, I didn't have all of the time I wanted to take pictures of everything I was cooking as I cooked it.  You will have to just enjoy the pictures of the feast at the (coffee) table.  Our menu broke down as:

Sweet roasted duck breast

Garlic and onion mashed potatoes

Homemade gravy

Stuffing

Cranberry sauce (obviously the good can shaped kind)

Dinner rolls

Pumpkin pie

Side note: I really wanted brussels sprouts, however everyone was sold out.  I guess I will have to get over the fact that there are no greens at our table this year.  That'll be tough...

I handled the eggs and potatoes on Wednesday night and left everything else for the day of.  I was even able to deep clean the house while cooking!  This may not sound like too much fun to some, but to me that is the idea of heaven.  

Everything turned out extremely well.  Never having cooked duck before, Wes and I were very proud of ourselves.  I gave the pie enough time to set up and taste great, and I finally perfected a homemade gravy when my protein won't allow for a pan gravy.  In the end, I would call the first Thanksgiving in our home a complete and utter success.  See below for proof.*

*models in this photo may not actually be sleeping.  They may have been asked to pose for the shot.