Savannah

This morning several coworkers asked if we got rained on in Savannah - I gather it rained steadily all weekend here. We had very misty-moisty mornings, but no actual rain. We stayed at Skidaway Island State Park, about 10 miles south of the city, a pretty low-key park. Most of the other campers were in RVs, which I simply cannot understand. From my perspective, there are two reasons to camp: 1) cheapness (we paid $23 a night) and 2) enjoyment of nature. Camping in an RV you don't really get much nature, and RVs must be pretty expensive, right? These seemed like mostly youngish people, too, not retired people living full-time in an RV.

Friday night we ate at a not very good restaurant at "The Village" and observed the denizens of the local gated communities (we noticed on the Hwy 16 part of the drive large numbers of fancy cars - more BMWs than I've seen since I left CT!). We also learned about Spanish moss and palm trees, and played on the "fish playground" (with a fish-themed staircase and a plaque invoking Jonah) at a local church.

Saturday we visited the state historic site of Wormsloe and learned about the English colonization of Georgia and what "tabby" is (Roman-style cement, except for with oyster shells.) We saw two white herons (or one twice) and Casper collected a lot of natural materials. We went into the city and spent way too much time wandering aimlessly among people in green t-shirts and mardi gras beads with open containers of beer. We also had lunch, good ice cream at Leopold's, and played in Forsyth Park (green dye on the fountain!). We headed back to the campground and cooked hot dogs, played again at the fish playground, and watched My Neighbor Totoro on the laptop at bedtime.

Sunday we went to Tybee Island very early and spent a couple of hours playing on the beach and visiting the pier. We saw a fisherman catch a blowfish. The kids loved the beach and Casper wanted to go swimming (although it was overcast and there were huge waves and she can't swim). As we were leaving the sun came out, of course. We went back to Savannah for lunch and then took a carriage ride of the city, which I initially balked at because of the cost, but then was glad we did. The kids really liked it, although Dillo was scared at first. And one of the advantages of paying $23 a night to sleep is you can spend $50 on carriage rides occasionally.

I liked Savannah a lot, though it was a bit touristy and in future I'd avoid the weekend nearest St. Patrick's day. They are definitely ahead of us in terms of spring - lots of azaleas in bloom. It was already rather buggy at the campground, though, and I imagine in summer is a morass of mosquitoes. Hmm, maybe an RV.... (I kid, I kid!)

wedding clothes advice

Last week Casper emerged from my closet dressed in my cream-colored polyester half-slip with my black Patagonia long underpants wrapped around it at the chest and announced that she was wearing this outfit to the wedding (my brother's, in New Hampshire, in late May).

After disabusing her of this notion I did own that we could look for a "silky dress" for her to wear to the wedding. So I'm looking, and not finding what I want. There are silk dresses (J. Crew's kids line) but these tend to be highly structured and rather more formal than what I think she wants. She wants the silky feel, not necessarily actual silk. I've looked at Gap Kids, Olive Juice, Mini Boden, Gymboree, and Etsy, and am well familiar with the options at Hanna Andersson, Lands End, and LL Bean, but nothing seems to suit. What I want is either something simply styled in washed silk (like those Waldorf School silk playscarves), or something simply styled in a silky jersey knit. I'd prefer actual silk or a silk-cotton knit blend, but am willing to settle for woven polyester or a cotton-poly jersey. But I can't find anything right. Ideas? Am I going to have to resort to asking my mother to sew something?

Also, a late May NH wedding is a bit of a dilemma, style-wise. It is in the afternoon and the principals will be in full rig - and all their 10,000 attendants. I can't remember what the weather is like in normal parts of the country in late May - for Casper will it be white tights and black patent shoes, or sandals? For me, oh dear, my dress shoes consist of purple suede Danskos (in May? It's before Memorial Day...), black Mary Janes that are 15 years old, or my wedding shoes. And I have nothing to wear on my body. I suppose I need to go dress shopping, too. I would actually like to own a dress, but do not have high hopes for finding anything off the rack due to longwaistedness. I'll probably settle for separates.