It was my birthday Thursday, November 10th….I had 4 days off….seriously!….4 days!…it would be a full moon that evening and I was on my way to Tybee Island as a guest of a media event to promote the island and its lovely Tybee Wedding Chapel  http://tybeeweddingchapel.com/… and  yes i had a Gypsy Faire Tent in tow! Mint Julep was her name and she was mint and turquoise perfect for a seaside event! 

When we arrived my sweetie had a surprise birthday dinner for me planned at Elizabeth’s on 37th in Savannah http://www.elizabethon37th.net/ not too shabby. The evening in Savannah was perfect the food divine service impeccable..happy birthday to me.. happy birthday to me…

We slept in Friday morning after settling into our lodging on the island very late the night before but when we looked out our window the ocean lay right at our feet so we got to scrambling those feet! Beach walking is so soothing..the waves crashing… the sun rising up out of the ocean…birds swooping -we took  it all in! The next two days are a blurr because we just chilled out…we took walks…had great talks.. even took a few naps…. the mts of Georgia behind us the coast was embracing us. What a wonder to live in a state with such diversity. We had left the mountains and were literally standing at the oceans edge in less than 6 hours.

On Saturday the social events began. A great advantage of being with a media group is the hosts  are going to show the island off and all its best food and sites! Saturday evening we had a progressive ‘sip and nosh’. In our neck of the woods we call it bar hoppin:)

Tybee is eclectic the culture there is right up our alley having come from The Martyn House. They sure love those bright beachy colors and they do not hesitate to paint them on everything everywhere. Many of the residents and biz owners we met were long time Tybee dwellers, they like us decided to escape the big city and live a more alternative life with the ocean as their backdrop instead of the mountains.  They wear bright colored island shirts , sported salt and pepper pony tails and had smiles on their suntan faces. Life in the slow lane….

The following morning we had a brunch in the beautiful home of Lannie and Stacye Jarrell two of the warmest hosts you’ll meet and huge supporters of this little island paradise.  http://oceanfrontcottage.com/ Their home overlooked the wetlands or what is known as the Georgia Coast barrier islands. Golden colored marshlands as far as the eye could see,  if one did not know better you would have thought we were looking out onto a  Nebraska prairie.

That same evening was the REAL treat as  7 chefs from Georgia decended upon this little island for some chef jammin! The highlight of each course was none other than Georgia’s very own  “Sallies Greatest” Jams http://www.salliesgreatest.com/index.html I had the privilege of sitting across from Sallie and Garden and Gun art director Marshall McKinney. So as each course was served I got to see Sallies response to the creative endeavor each chef had made with her jams and of course remind Marshall what a great feature The Martyn House and Gypsy Faire tents would be for their magazine  ! A funny story about Sallie is that she was high on the corporate ladder when G&G discovered her homemade jams (which by the way was a passion and hobby of hers). She entered a contest they had for FUN and she won! OK really??? ….YES i kid you not!  You remember what I preach about living life fully? -do what you love and the dream will unfold HA!! and she never looked back quit her job and she just hopped on that road less traveled and launched her Sallies greatest!

First course served up was by Brittaney Blackshear of Savannahs ‘Crepe by Crepe A Diem’..http://crepeadiem.com/it was a crepe sushi with smoked salmon and of course Sallies greatest Blueberry lavender jam infused cream cheese in wasabi crepes and that was just the beginning! Next course showcased Libbie Summers Bacon beignets with lemon thyme curd and yes of course Sallies blueberry lemon thyme Jam. Now here’s the really great part of her course, if your little pig napkin was orange and not pink you got a FREE cookbook -Libbies very own ‘The Whole Hog Cookbook’ So when i saw  Rick sportin his sassy orange napkin i promptly replied “orange ya gonna give me that cookbook as a birthday weekend gift?”  don’t ya just love to extend those birthdays another day or two or three or …yeah why not celebrate the entire month! yes that means gifts are still welcome:). http://www.libbiesummers.com/

I could go on and on about the roasted lamb with 4 cheese ravioli and fennel crusted ahi tuna, spiced port poached seckel pear…..but instead i will just say..” chefs take a bow!”

All and all it was a pretty amazing weekend as Rick and I  got renewed and inspired by the relaxation of the ocean air and so many culinary delights.

We were happy to return to our mountains and our puppies and kitties but alas the lesson of the weekend?  Take time away from your life even if you already live in paradise like we do…seeing what is happening outside your own fortress is inspiring and gives one a renewed  outlook for their own ventures..so LOOK OUT.. and be sure to sign up for The Martyn House Newsletter  http://themartynhouse.com/join-mailing-list/ as we will be posting very soon our 2012 events, new products and services and of course lots more Glamping~!

until then …. live inspired creative lives and keep jammin!