Before shot

13 East Battery, Charleston, SC    

Let's assume this is a "before" shot and I will return to get the after. The shutters are off and there are paint samples being tested on the first floor. I predict a dramatic change. For a "before, before" view click the Charleston Museums link here to see the same house after earthquake damage in 1886. 

Afternoon travelogue

Beautiful silks, Edna May Fraser

I traveled around the world this afternoon without going any further than the Isle of Palms. I was invited to my friend Jill's home to see slides from her recent trip to Cuba and then to hear about textile artist Mary Edna Fraser's adventures in Japan. Thanks ladies! 

Visit Mary Edna's website to see more of her beautiful art both in batik and now paintings. 

Friendly looking home

Halsey Blvd, Charleston, SC    

Cheerful house! Water view. Gargoyle on the porch. What more could you ask for?

I've always admired this friendly looking home on Halsey Blvd./Lockwood when I drive by but it isn't on any of my usual walking routes so I made a point to detour to it yesterday morning. I hope the owners enjoy their home as much and more than I do! 

Walk with me - Gadsden St.

Gadsden St., Charleston, SC    

This morning's walk was along Gadsden St. which isn't a very long street going from Calhoun to just below Beaufain St. I like the mix of grand mansions and smaller cottages and that first photo is a darling home.

19 Gadsden is for sale if you want an inside tour: Thomas Hamlin House. If you have a couple million to spare and buy it there would be plenty of room for me to move in and you'd hardly notice me.

Every day I wake up without the flu is a good day and I hope y'all are staying healthy as well.

Sunshine in the city

White Point Gardens, Charleston, SC

It's been torture looking out of my office window into the sunshine. It's lovely to see so many people walking along the battery enjoying Charleston.

You are invited to follow the travelling adventures of my niece Bonita and her fiance Dalaney who have fixed up a van to live in and have left Edmonton (in January? Why would they leave Edmonton?) to travel throughout the US. They have set up a new blog to record their trip. If you see them going by please do wave, offer a coffee or a hot shower. Travel safely kids! Their new site is called: Advantourers. 

Get your joggle on!

Joggling board, Charleston, SC 

I introduced a young lady from Minnesota to a joggling board this evening and she started laughing with joy as we bounced. It wasn't this one. We had enjoyed dinner at HUSK restaurant and they have two fine joggling boards on the piazza. Isn't this a lovely one, though, in green that matches the shutters?

Flu count - everyone still healthy I hope?! Every day we wake up without the flu is a good day. 

Winter in Charleston

Waterfront Park, Charleston, SC  

This scene will look completely different in a month or so. This looks like winter! I will do an "after" shot as a follow up. What lovely weather we are having after that cold spell shocked us so.

Stay healthy my friends. People are dropping like flies with the flu. I wash my hands a million times a day hoping for the best. 

Who are ya gonna call?

Phone booth, While Point Gardens, Charleston, SC   

A real live phone booth! It could be handy in a pinch - if we remembered any phone numbers!

A bright sunny Sunday

Carolina Yacht Club, East Bay St., Charleston, SC   

How lovely to walk in the sunshine! What a perfect day. I even did a little yard work.

Many of my plants that make it through a normal winter look pitiful if not dead. Luckily I took a big bag of change I'd been collecting and ran it through the coin counting machine at Harris Teeter this morning and came away with a cash card for $30 to Lowe's so maybe I can pick up a few plants. The coin counting machine takes a percentage if you want cash but gives you the option of cash cards to a few restaurants and home improvement stores. 

The old Cavallaro

Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC    

The old Cavallaro restaurant on Savannah Highway has a fond spot in the hearts of Charlestonians as the classy spot for steak dinners and dancing to live music. It was the special event place for dates, anniversaries and celebrations.

It didn't get torn down but became a car dealership among many others on the West Ashley auto-mile. Wouldn't it be fun if the cars could be moved out and dinner served just one more time?

This morning's walk took my up Savannah Highway to Accuphoto to pick up my camera which I'd left overnight for their cleaning and calibration event. I imagined my workhorse camera at a sleepover overnight spa with all the other cameras. Nice to have her back. It wasn't the most scenic walking route along the highway but I did get to grab these shots with my cell phone.

Archie - the model dog

Archie, Johns Island, SC    

I had this shot of my friend Jo's Archie posing on a woodland path on Johns Island in my camera album. Slightly over a month ago it looks so warm and sunny. It was taken before our deep freeze. Archie improves any photo. Stay warm kids!

Rooftop view - Central Station

Central Station, Meeting St., Charleston, SC 

I am late to the game keeping up with all of Charleston's new restaurants but was recently invited to a birthday brunch for my dear friend Andre in the rooftop restaurant of the Grand Bohemian Hotel. Most pictures I have seen from the hotel have been of people lounging in the outdoor terrace but it was too cold for that the day I was there. I did go out to see the view and reached my cell phone over to grab this shot of the fire stations on Wentworth and Meeting St. Researching more information I came across a wonderful directory of historic Charleston fire stations with the background information below: 

Wonderful directory of historic Charleston fire stations: 

Central Station: 262 Meeting Street
Built 1887-88
On August 31, 1886, the city of Charleston was struck by an earthquake. 2,000 buildings were damaged, and between 60 and 100 people were killed. Many fire stations were also damaged, the city built a trio of larger and more strategically located fire stations. The three buildings were each designed by Daniel G. Wayne and built by Colin M. Grant.
The largest of the three was a double "double house" that opened at the corner of Meeting and Wentworth Streets in 1888. Considered the most important station in the city, because of its central location and straight passage from each end of the city, the new station housed four steam engine companies when it opened. 
In 1900, a drill tower was built beside the station. The 70-foot structure was replaced in 1916, and closed in 1935.
Since  1976, Central Station has housed the Fire Chief's Office. It presently houses two engine companies, a Battalion Chief, an Assistant Chief, and several pieces of antique fire apparatus.
The outdoor pavilion, built on the site of an 1846 Artesian well, includes monuments to fallen Charleston firefighters, and the bell from the Cannon Street station watch tower. Mike Legeros photo.

Sadness in Holly Hill

Holly Hill, SC   

Sadness in Holly Hill. These fires in big old buildings in small towns are so tragic. The building was
100 years old and had served as a boarding house in the 1920s according to the WISTV report. Even worse, it sounds like it may have been deliberately caused. 

Neighborhood Taste Tester

Pasta Salad at Mellow Mushroom, Charleston, SC   

I was invited to taste the new catering menu at Mellow Mushroom restaurant in Avondale tonight. Not a bad way to spend the evening! This is a trend I'd like to continue! Although Mellow Mushroom is primarily a pizza restaurant they have delicious salads, sandwiches and appetizers. From this selection my favorite was the chicken salad sandwich - no doubt. Thanks Mellow Mushroom!

Keeping up with the murals

Mural - Willow Salon, Liberty St., Charleston, SC 

Look ma! No more snow pictures. How about a colorful mural for a change? This spot has seen a few different murals through the years but I had to wait to catch this current version when a car wasn't parked in front of it. Thanks for the bright spot Willow!

Charleston finally defrosts

Charleston, SC   

We are melting, we are melting! I finally got to work and caught a little bit of snow left in the meditation garden. It has been hard not being in scenic areas to take pictures during this extraordinary snow event.

While I have you, here is a fun Charleston Ski Resort video that was quickly pulled together.

The kids get one last day out of school since many of the rural roads are still packed thick with ice but for the most part today was back to normal.

From the Perry family album:

Ontario, Canada

We walked to high school in India as a matter of course. Neighbors set clocks by Perry girls marching to class every weekday and for half day on Saturday. With book bags slung over our backs, we wore blue tunics, white shirts and socks with the mandatory two red stripes identifying students from St. Mary's High School in Laitumkrah. We climbed hill paths that turned into waterfalls during the monsoons and knew every short cut and path through the woods. We would pause at the foot of a hill during a rain storm in the rainiest part of the world, look up at the waterfall that was our usual path, balance umbrellas as we took off shoes and socks and pressed on.

My family returned to Canada for a year when I was finishing high school and I landed in what was then Grade 13 in Beamsville, Ontario living at my grandmother's house again close to three miles from the school.

Unfamiliar with Canadian winters and being our father's daughters we didn't consider how unreasonable this was and packed our bags - heavier now with thick hardcover chemistry and science books and started walking. My sisters and I had waist length braids and heading out in the morning after our showers the damp tips of our hair would freeze into sharp spikes handy to stab each other with.

We learned the new shortcuts, cutting through peach and pear orchards and rows of grapes. One heavily snowing day we discovered the little creek we usually hopped over was now a rushing river of ice. We sat in the snow and as we were used to, took our boots and socks off, rolled up pants and waded through the frigid river.

A teacher saw us walking in - Shirley, Sally and I, and greeted us with, "You Perry girls always have such healthy rosy cheeks!"

Yep. Frostbitten, frozen stumps for feet and numb toes but we looked so darn jolly and healthy.

Snow day - Charleston

Snow Day Charleston, SC 

This hasn't happened for years in Charleston! 

Happy snow day Charleston!

Charleston, SC   

We don't get much of this in Charleston! 

As long as we don't have to drive in it, the pipes don't freeze and the power stays on it is a treat to see. Stay warm kids!

Literary Neighborhood

Shelley & Browning intersection, Charleston, SC   

Write on!  Walking through my literary neighborhood makes me 

hope we have a few aspiring writers!