Hidden Magnolias

In a week, my dearest friend of 40+ years and I will be traveling to Savannah for Halloween week. We will be taking every ghost tour we can and there are bunches of them. We will eat in all my favorite places. Pirate's House -- yes, it is haunted. And the The Olde Pink House -- yes, it is haunted. And the 17Hundred90 Inn - yes it is haunted. We will be staying in a B&B that is haunted. Eliza Thompson House - yes, it is haunted and has haunted room. unfortunately, the haunted room is booked years in advance. Also, we will be nipping over to Tybee Island for a Dolphin Tour and to check out the adorable bungalows nestled around all the new development on that really crowded island.  But, some eye candy for you from my last few trips. (excuse some of them -- taken on the fly with an old iPhone) Happy Halloween!!! Pat

Have you seen Miss Fisher Murders Mysteries on PBS yet? It is a delightful series. She has great clothes, fantastic shoes, a clever wit, and a kind heart. (And a little golden gun that I have never seen her use.) But even better, she has the coolest house: The historic house “Wardlow” in Parkville, Victoria was used as the exterior of the Phryne’s house. I never thought about Melbourne, Australia having really neat houses, but they do -- plenty of them. The house above is "Labassa", owned by the National Trust. A 1890 French renaissance mansion significant for its richly decorated and finely executed interiors, including a grand staircase with a magnificent stained glass window and rare trompe l'oeil ceiling -- Ooh là là . Built in 1847, "Como House"  in South Yarra is an amalgamation of Australian Regency and Italianate architecture styles. The opulent property features sprawling lush gardens, a fountain, and even a croquet lawn....

If you have ever been to Savannah, you will understand. If you have never been to Savannah, you must go. If you live in Savannah, I envy you. Savannah is walking town, packed full of gorgeous buildings and luscious green squares. While there is a very relaxed and casual atmosphere about the whole place, it also whispers of ghosts, voodoo, mysteries and tragedies that all the opulence and wealth cannot cover up. Gracious, architecturally interesting houses line the 22 squares. Everywhere you look is something beautiful. It is no wonder Savannah is a favorite spot for filming movies--Forrest Gump, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and Cape Fear just to name a few.   Come on, let’s explore. There is intricate wrought iron all over town. Just one of the squares. This is the one directly across from Mercer House. It is called Monterey Square, but the monument features General Pu...