Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - Old Sheldon Church Ruins

Old Sheldon Church ruins, Yemassee, SC  

It is well worth the detour on the way back from Beaufort to see the Sheldon Church ruins - each and every time you go to Beaufort because they are that special. Built 1745-55, burned by the British army 1779, rebuilt 1826, burned by the Federal Army 1865. Now it is beautiful just as it is.

To Hell W Sherman, Sheldon Church, Yemasee, SC

 

Beautiful Beaufort by the Sea

Beaufort, SC 

Beaufort is the perfect distance for a day trip and I am the perfect passenger - I hope! Exploring antique stores, walking the water front park and historic district, lunch at Paninis and a stop at the Chocolate Tree for a praline on the way home.

Day tripping - Cypress Gardens

Cypress Gardens, SC

There are some places worth annual revisits and Cypress Gardens in one of them. They have row boats to explore the lake but on the beautiful day I went, there was a line of costumers waiting for a chance to paddle through my pictures. Luckily I enjoy the walk around the garden just as much. Check out the Bat Hotel in the bottom shot. I wonder if it works.

Beautiful Cypress Gardens has been a preferred group and family destination since 1931. Visitors from all over the country come to experience this unique and exciting attraction, which has been featured in numerous national magazines and popular television shows and motion pictures including The Notebook and The Patriot.

Artsy Parky

Marion Square, Charleston, SC

I should just put a certain amount of money aside each month for art. I see it, I love it, I'm just not ready to pay the money for original art but I should. I just isn't the way I buy things. Normally I find something I like, I revisit it a few times. I trust my instinct and go back and buy it. So often with art, it needs to be a spur of the moment purchase and sadly I'm not very good with that.

I try to walk through the Piccolo Spoleto art show at Marion Square each year. It makes me feel better about not buying tickets for all the other shows. I love art but I still have trouble handing over my credit card and buying original art. Shame on me.

This lady stood out as new this year and I liked her paintings. Maybe I will go back and hand over my credit card. Her name is Kay Lybrand and she lives on Pawley's Island. She likes to kayak and paint. I liked her and I liked her work and that sounds like a pretty good life to me. I hope she has a successful introduction to Spoleto Festival. If you see her you can ask her if she remembers some wacky blogger taking her picture.

Teeny, tiny buildings of Charleston

The Taco Spot, Coming St., Charleston SC

Haha. The Taco Spot on Coming St. So tiny. I eat burritos bigger than their building.

Chez Nous!

Mine, mine, mine! Chez Nous, Payne Ct., Charleston, SC

How does that look? Just a little bit tasty! It's tiny, it's hidden, it only has two appetizers, two entrée choices and two desserts but Chez Nous is always a treat. On the way out take a look through the open window to see Chef Jill Mathias looking like she is preparing your dinner in a painting.

The last of the jasmine

Montagu St., Charleston, SC

I tried to buy some jasmine this weekend but everyone was out. Nothing to it but to walk with snippers and start my jasmine trimming service. No charge!

Traffic has been awful here after a tractor trailer overturned on the Cooper River Bridge. The bridges were closed for hours and the other options naturally got tangled up as well. It wasn't a bad day to live and work West of the Ashley. Wondering if the bridge is open or not? Thanks to Sean McCambridge you can check this site: Is the Cooper River Bridge Closed?

Two ladies who met online meet up to eat their way though Charleston. They covered a lot of bases! Well done. Read their photo laden blog here but don't read it hungry.

I was doing pretty well cutting back on sugar until I remembered someone had long ago given me a bottle of Godiva Chocolate liquor. Hello there! Sip, sip.

No jasmine but I spotted this new garden design on Ashley Avenue that will be fun to check back on.

Short week, kids! We can do it.

 

Patriotic display on Lockwood Blvd.

Memorial Day 2015, Lockwood Blvd., Charleston SC 

Thanks to the Evening Exchange Club for this annual patriotic display of flags on Memorial Day. I'd like to think a perfect day like this was what soldiers had in mind that felt worth fighting and giving up their lives for. Let's treasure, honor and protect it in their memory.

My mother was in the Royal Canadian Air Force stationed in London during World War II and her brothers, my uncles, were both pilots. My family was fortunate and they all came back alive. My mother's role was to gather information on lost and injured soldiers to notify families of their loss. I can't even imagine what a heartbreaking job that must have been and the gift those soldiers gave that we might enjoy days like this.

Dance like everyone is watching

Marion Square, Charleston, SC

These dancers put on a show most Saturdays during the Farmer's Market season but drew a big crowd yesterday since it is the beginning of the Spoleto Festival. Almost as much as the performers, I enjoy watching the delight on faces of the other performers as they admire the stunts and wait for their turn. I try to make a big show of dropping a donation in the bucket to encourage everyone else to support the team.

Marion Square, Charleston, SC

Marion Square, Charleston, SC 

John C. Calhoun just wanna have fun!

John C. Calhoun Balloon Ride, Charleston, SC

John C. Calhoun can't resist having fun with the Spoleto festival props and I can't resist documenting it. Check the back files to see his antics.

Hope everyone is having a good holiday weekend.

Owling good time!

These aren't sharp photos but I was so tickled to get them I can't care about the quality. My birdfeeder has been a popular spot lately and the bear's head has become a landing pad before they dart in for dinner. I thought I'd hang out in the back yard for awhile and see if I could capture a cardinal on the bear's head.

I'll need to get a bit closer and before dusk but not only did I catch the little splash of red but look what landed right after him - an owl! This was fun. I need to set up a tripod and get a little closer.

Teeny, tiny houses of the lowcountry

Tiny cottage, Bluffton, SC

This one is a cutie to add to our collection of teeny, tiny houses. I spotted it behind an impressive mansion in Bluffton. I spotted a steam of maids going in to clean the main house but it wouldn't take much to keep this little sweetie in order.

I am fat and full after a giant Fish Pie at Madra Rua and I have plenty of leftovers for tomorrow.

My favorite garden: Free admission to Magnolia will be offered on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, to active duty military personnel and their immediate family. This gift to those who serve America only applies to the general garden admission and not the separate tours of the house, swamp garden, nature boat, nature train and "Slavery to Freedom" program. Valid active duty identification is required.

Now I get to settle in and watch the last David Letterman show since I didn't stay up that late last night.

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - Old Navy Chapel

Location of the Navy Chapel, Charleston, SC

Waaaa.....see those brick steps? That is all that is left of the old Navy Chapel. It was on my list of renovation projects to be completed when I won the lottery. Too late. It is gone. See below for what used to be there. It was in worse shape each time I visited. I've heard that it was dismantled to be reassembled somewhere else but I don't know where yet and am hoping for the best. Hang on kids, I'll buy another lottery ticket and take care of it.

Prom time!

Tunnel Road

Years of paint. The most recent artist gets attention for their message until someone else paints over it. I took my life in my hands getting the pictures hoping no one would race through the tunnel as I focused my camera. Alyssa loves Gregory, Bradley loves Amanda, I love Ken. I wonder how many of the couples are still together. Long live the moment!

Zoom, zoom, zoom!

South Battery, Charleston, SC

Zoom, zoom, zoom! Isn't this a cutie?!

I parked on the Battery and walked the lower peninsula yesterday morning. It was a glorious Charleston morning. The oleanders are in bloom and the sky was dramatic. I reached for my heavy camera and kicked myself when I discovered I had left the battery charging. I never do that! I always take one picture of either my office or my kitchen just to make sure everything is working - except yesterday. Grrrr.

Everything was so very fine that I took a few shots with my cell phone. I couldn't resist capturing that cute little car on South Battery. The other shot I took as usual but my phone took some freelance editing priviledges and turned it into what looks like a vintage postcard.

Interesting note - when I first came to Charleston, I rented the kitchen house behind the house in the top picture for a year. I did not have a car like that.

I am just back from a quick walk around the neighborhood to balance sitting on my butt in front of a computer half the day at work. I showed a couple of kids the step counter on my phone and they skipped along with me as far as they were allowed watching the numbers climb and then made me promise to circle the block to see how many steps I had added, and then again. I got my 10,000!

Still Life with Yak

Bedside Yak Attack

I picked up this lamp for $11 at Consign Charleston this morning and it found a spot on an end table by the little black yak. I travel lightly and don't bring much back but this odd mini yak came all the way home with me from the mountains of northern India. He is a long way from home and now has a lamp to snuggle up to.

 

Old Hobbies

Stamp collection, Charleston, SC 

I was cramming a few books into a bookshelf today and came across one of my old stamp albums. Does anyone collect stamps anymore?

My grandfather liked the fact that I was interested and sent me some of his old collection of British, Canadian and South African stamps. I have some of the silk and 3D stamps from Bhutan, Bangladesh when it was still East Pakistan and some cool tiny triangle stamps. I don't think my collection is worth much in dollars but it is a fond childhood memory.

Thursday Night

George St., Charleston, SC

The College of Charleston has such a pretty campus. On Mother's Day this is where graduation is held with the gentlemen wearing white suits and the ladies wearing white dresses and carrying red roses. Tradition.

I am loving the late light. I worked late this evening and still had time to march around the neighborhood before dark.

I've been watching Grace & Frankie a new Netflix series with Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda. I imagine it is designed to appeal to people of a "certain age" - their seventies. I am all for a drink now and then but these folks are swimming in it - booze, pot, peyote, cocaine. There isn't a single episode where they aren't slinging bottles around. They all look great, healthy and spry and they didn't get that way drinking and smoking for seventy years - or heck, they are actresses so maybe they did. 

I ran out of titles. Maybe I will start naming the posts after the night of the week. I am stumped.

Movie Night at Magnolia Community Garden

 Magnolia Community Garden

Movies at Magnolia 

When: Sat., May 16, 6:30 p.m.
Price: Free.  Join the City of Charleston Rec Department in a 8:30pm viewing of the film "Paddington" in an outdoor setting. There will be plenty of food trucks as the event kicks off at 6:30pm. You are welcome to bring a picnic, blankets or chairs. The Magnolia Park and Community Garden is located in West Ashley at the corner of Magnolia Road and Sycamore Ave.

 

Paddington might not be my movie of choice but I like the idea!