My Own "Steamboat Shenanigans"...Sorta. (Part 1)

     PART THE FIRST: An Evening With My Friend's Friends and Tea For One.

Yes, "Steamboat Shenanigans" is a Steam Powered Giraffe song!  Did you even have to ask?!  I haven't listened to the radio in a little over a month.  SPGs 3 CDs are just in constant rotation, streaming through my headphones/car speakers/iTunes.

     There has been a LOT going on here in the last couple of weeks; it's been difficult to juggle everything, and blogging has had to take a little bit of a backseat while I get stuff sorted.  But I did want to share my recent trip to Savannah with you...
   
     About 5 minutes after I published the Wed, June 6 post, I packed a bag and drove down I-75 South and 116 East to go visit my good friends Bobby and Nikki.  They live within about a 20 minute drive of Historic Savannah Proper.  (I am 14 shades of green over this!! LOL)

Isn't it pretty! (Source)

     Nearly the moment I arrived, Nikki whisked me away to a get-together with some of her colleagues for an end-of-the-school-year celebration (she's a science teacher).  It was so much fun!  They had a "Wine and Whine" bit, where everyone gets a glass of wine (I don't drink alcohol, so I had a glass of Glaceau Vitamin Water) and you write your gripes on strips of paper and put them in a bucket.  They get mixed up and the bucket gets passed around and people randomly read them out loud, find out who wrote it, commiserate sympathetically and then raise a toast to dealing with the issue in a positive way with good wishes for better days to come.  It was so funny when my few were read, because I was the only non-teacher there and everyone knew instantly which belonged to me ("19th Century corsets are bloody difficult to sew and even harder to wear" and "Don't you love when the sleeves won't set in properly?!" etc, etc).  Everyone was very nice, and we had a great time. :)

     Thursday morning dawned humid and rainy, but that didn't dampen my spirits any.  I dressed in a flowy skirt and ruffled top (I get tired of jeans and "Mommy clothes"!), and set out for Savannah proper.  From Nikki's, it's more or less a straight shot, and very soon I found myself searching for parking along Bay Street.  I parked in the horseshoe curve behind Emmet Park, fed the time-keeping machine to ensure my van would still be there when I returned (by legal means, at any rate), and set off with my iPhone Maps App in hand.  The little blue tracking dot glowed cheerfully through the drizzle as it directed me up and over a few blocks to a place I've been wanting to visit for well over 5 years now:

The Savannah Tea Room

(Sorry for the bad iPhone pic- was trying to
juggle an umbrella and my purse too!)

     Every time before now that I've wanted to visit, either we didn't have time, or they were closed, or something.  Finally, I was marking it off my bucket list and treating myself to an early birthday brunch.  I was seated in a comfy wingback chair at the fireplace.  Being as it's summertime, there was a wrought iron tea light holder in the fireplace rather than an actual fire.  (Though I bet that's cozy in winter!!)  I was asked whether I had a favorite tea and upon my answer of Earl Grey, the server recommended their specialty house blend called "Savannah Grey".  It has a double helping of bergamot and a hint of lavender.  I readily agreed, adding an order of crumpets and fresh fruit to it.  In a few moments, everything arrived and it was just scrumptious!  The crumpets were especially lovely, since Publix stopped carrying them and I can't find ANY close to home!

Lovely blue and white china and a darling
mini white cow cream pitcher.

The lighting was terrible, so it's all grainy, but
here I am in the cozy chair! :)

My view opposite.

     After tea, I purchased 2 ounces of the Savannah Grey blend to take home, and a few postcards that featured an artist's rendering of the front entrance.  Two of them I know will definitely be going to friends in England.  The other couple... not sure yet. :)  

Stay tuned for part 2 (which actually features the "steamboat" reference)!