Mercer House: Setting of the murder in Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil
I stayed here at the Eliza Thompson House. It’s a really neat B&B.
These pics are all from my visits to Savannah several years ago.
Hey ya’ll….said in my best Paula Deen voice! I don’t normally endorse a lot of books, but just had to mention this one. I just finished reading Paula Deen’s new memoirs, It Ain’t All About the Cookin’, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I really didn’t know the story of how she got started & how she ended up where she is now, but it truly is a remarkable story of tenacity & courage during the hard, tough, lean times she had getting started during her early beginnings. Did you know that she got started out of her house making lunches & had her sons selling them to businesses? Her first business was called The Bag Lady. I’ve visited Savannah a few times, but somehow missed out on going to The Lady & Sons restaurant & I sure wish I’d have gone. I had just started to hear her name when I was there several years ago. I think I’ll have to go back again to Savannah & make a special point to visit her restaurant. I was there just after the book Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil came out & did pick up a signed copy of it while I was there. Took the tour of the Bonaventure Cemetary & the historic district too. If you’ve never been to Savannah, you must go! Truly a delightful Southern city. After I read her book, it really made me want to visit again. You will laugh & cry right along with her. She came from a very closeknit, but somewhat poor family, married at a very young age & had her 2 sons. Their story is really all about the American dream & what you can do if you put your heart & soul into something. Paula is a little bawdy, but downright lovable, admitting her failures & mistakes right out there for everyone to see. You can just see yourself sitting down & talking to her. Of course, as I was reading the book, I heard her voice saying all the words. That so-so Southern accent of hers is just contagious. I’d love to meet her one day! I wonder if any of you have been to her restaurant? If so, what’d you think??
A great beach book or summer read…hope you get to enjoy it too. I checked it out at the library & couldn’t put it down!
Happy Summer reading!
Don't Miss a Post, join my list!
Love those photos, absolutely beautiful.
Paula is the best…and we LOVE Savannah. It is one of my favorite places to visit.
We stayed in Inns there and in Charleston and they were heavenly.
Thanks for sharing the pictures…
The book is so enjoyable and she is truly an inspiration!
Have a sweet weekend dear Rhoda.
Hugs,
Sue
Paula’s restaurant is delicious!! I couldn’t eat there everyday (goodness gracious, just think of the POUNDS!!!!), but it is good- especially the hoe cakes! YUMMMMMM!!!
Have you seen that Michael has a line of coffee out now? They are quite the entrepreneurial family!!
Your blog is very lovely!!!
His,
Mrs. U
Hi Rhoda,
You have such a lovely figure i can’t believe you cook! Well you must be cooking the right foods.
I don’t know anything about Paula Dean, but I am going to read her book now.
And I know a women from Savannah. She told me the garden has always been a little scary. That all of the locals know the house and the garden very well, even before the
crime and the book was written it was infamous.
We adore Savannah — the wonderful homes along the squares — the gardens — and the shopping! Out favorite restaurant is in The Pink House — the She-Crab soup is delicious! Love Paula Deen — she is certainly a wonderful ambassador for the city! Thanks for sharing such gorgeous photos — and your notes on her book! 🙂
Jan xox (teacats!) at a very hot and humid day at Rosemary Cottage
I want to get this book too Rhoda! Huge Paula fan here! I hope to visit Savannah one day and go to her restaurant – was there a long time ago. Great post, as always! Loved seeing your pics!
xo,
Kim
I guess I’m the only person in the United States of America who has never seen her show! I did eat at her brother’s seafood restaurant in Savannah last year. Food was great 🙂
Wow! I want to go to that B&B! How beautiful!
This is why I love a visit to your blog. I have never heard of her but I love a touch of bawdy now and again and I love folk that make a dream a reality. Thank you so much for sharing I shall have a look for the book online.
Love Cherry xx
Love visiting Savannah. It is the most interesting place. Hope to go again soon. It is always lots of fun to watch Pauls Deen. She’s amazing.
I watch Paula all the time! She makes food that I would actually eat.
Gorgeous photos of Savannah. I’d love to go back soon.
Oh, and I really like your leopard border!
I love Savannah. Dom and I went there a few years ago and I really want to go back.
You have done an awesome job! I could spend the day in Savannah…we could even stop at the Lady and Sons.
I first met Paula Deen years ago~ she reminds me of mom at the cafe!
If you ask me Savannah is the best kept secret of the south– keep New Orleans, I’ll take Savannah. You done a loverly tour here for us; Thanks.
Jenny
Great post……love, love Paula she cracks me up…so down to earth !!! Will have to put that book on my list. I heard that she didn’t come out of her house for years when her sons were small, she is one tough lady to overcome that phobia !!! Does she talk about that in the book??
We are thinking about a trip in the Fall.
Thanks again….
Kathy =)
ps Just finished reading “The Secret” have you read ???
Hi Rhoda
Love the photos. I haven’t been to Savannah in a long time, but love it and was just thinking the other day about it and wanting to go again soon.
I love Paula. We saw her back in January. She’s a real “hoot”. Very personable and so down to earth. Here’s two of my post about our trip with photos too.
http://justabeachkat.blogspot.com/2007/01/more-pics-with-paula-and-family.html
http://justabeachkat.blogspot.com/2007/01/paula-deen-and-family.html
Kat
Rhoda, I’m so glad you mentioned this book, I saw it recently and wondered how it would be. I beleive I’ll go back and get it. I love her story, you don’t hear of many ladies “pulling themselves up”w nowadays!Check my blog out, I think we have the same black and white plates in our homes!
Carol
http://ourreddoor.blogspot.com
I have been through, but not really to, Savannah or Charleston. We’re thinking of maybe going to one or both this summer, and your post makes me want to go all the more.
I’ll have to check out the Paula Dean book. I love to read. I just finished a really great book, “Redeeming Love,” by Francine Rivers. If you’ve never read it, Rhoda, you might want to check it out.
Thanks for the recommendation. It will go on my must read list. I love Savannah and have visited a few times. Sadly, it was before I really became aware of Paula so I haven’t yet had the pleasure of eating at her place.
Read it, loved it. I cried constantly too. Then again, I cry at the drop of a hat… I really respect this woman. Now Michael has a brand of coffee, she has her name on other products, not to mention all of her sons’ business opportunities she has created. I think they are all getting what they deserve for their hard work invested. She had a lot of guts to move forward, but I think we all know she has those. I have not had the opportunity to visit the restaurant, living in NYC, but I’ve been watching since the pilot, and probably saw her on Ready, Set, Cook and don’t remember. Oh, and thanks for the pics. Regards, Kim.