Home At Last! with Patty Gironda

        Charming tree-lined streets, fun specialty shopping and plenty of restaurants are waiting for visitors in the quaint shopping district of Ocean Springs-just across the bay from Biloxi. Parking is plentiful, allowing for a leisurely walk through town. Featured in the photos above is The Candy Cottage! Filled with homemade candies and authentic New-Orleans-style pralines, a visiting youth group from Minnesota promises to never forget the sugary pecan candies!

        Downtown Newnan sprung to life today with spring activities across the city! Market Days returned to the square with artists, fundraisers, farmers, beekeepers and a new vendor turning out bags of hot, delicious mini-doughnuts with the aid of an impressive automated machine . . . gently turning those delicate puffs of golden goodness. . .I'm sorry, I drifted off! Market Days is a chance to catch up with old friends, neighbors and meet new neighbors! I always enjoy the variety of goods and was relieved to see some of our favorites making their way back; Wally and Lynn Bachelor with their fragrant local honey and delicate spun honey- a must-have for proper Southern biscuits. (As a child I love to mix spun honey and butter for biscuits!) I even took in a estate sell out of Smokey Road and scored heavily! When it comes to a great estate sale you must trust the force within and if you think you should've stopped. . . you probably should've. I scored two delica...

Another favorite winter pastime is bi-weekly trips to DeKalb Farmers Market, just outside Atlanta. Notoriously cold inside the market, I layer a light sweater over another light sweater, followed by a comfy lightweight coat and fuzzy gloves. I know one of you is shaking your head saying, "dummy, it's good for the vegetables and other perishables" but I have to wonder if it isn't a little sadistic entertainment for the office personnel-hovering high above the veggies-in their warm, cozy offices. Whatever. . . Last trip I was totally outwitted, peeling off layer after layer . . . on with the gloves-off with the gloves. The management had turned the heat up! I think they were having fun with the shoppers! No worries, I'm hardcore and over the years have adapted by packing an extra change of clothes-stuffing them in the 99 cent recycle bags-which are never in use for their intended purpose. If we have another freeze like last week I swear I'm wearing my fleece r...