Cemetery walking - Magnolia

Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, SC 

The colors were so bright and vibrant for cemetery shots I had to try this one in black and white. I never tire of walking through Magnolia and St. Lawrence cemeteries. I see something new each time. 

Cemetery Walking

Sycamore Rd., Charleston, SC  

Uhoh. It looks like I have been a slacker in the blogging department. I've been keeping up on facebook though, so hang out with me there if you are a participant.

I am still walking as much as I can, aiming for the 10,000 step goal. I don't make it every night but it's good to have a goal. In fact, I started old lady zumba class again no matter how uncoordinated I am.

I took this picture of the Jewish cemetery on Sycamore Rd. on last nights walk. I have good friends resting behind those walls. 

Tour of the KKBE Cemetery

KKBE Coming St., Cemetery, Charleston, SS

Thanks to the Charleston History Before 1945 group for coordinating a tour of the KKBE Cemetery on Coming St. We pass it all the time but the gate is locked so it was wonderful to be welcomed in to explore and hear the history stories of this historical cemetery. Thanks to our tour guides Randi Serrins and Anita Rosenberg who shared the history and even a good ghost story.

Home again, home again...

Sycamore St., Charleston, SC  

I made it home in time to walk down to meet friends at the West Ashley Farmer's Market and caught this sweet scene on my way home. It was just a quick cell phone shot but the light was hitting the trees in a lovely way.  They are the gates to the Synagogue Emanu-El Cemetery.

Cemetery accesories

Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, SC    

This particular cemetery statue was dressed for the occasion with a pearl bracelet. I've walked through Magnolia Cemetery so many times that I am always trying to look at it with fresh eyes and see some new details. Spotting a pearl bracelet made my morning.

Church Island Adventure

Church Island, Lake Marion, SC    

Ever since I learned there was an island with a historic cemetery on it on Lake Marion, I've been determined to get there. I don't have a boat and it seemed a bit far for a kayak adventure. It was. I found a fishing guide who was willing to take us on our excursion and filled his boat with friends looking for old tombstones rather than the giant catfish he is accustomed to. My friend Martha Rose already wrote a nice piece about our day so I will quote her here:

Church Island is the nickname given to a cemetery that is now only accessible via boat.
Church Island wasn’t always called “Church Island” - as it was never intended to be an island.
Back in the late 1930s and early 1940s, the S.C. Public Service Authority (commonly called Santee Cooper nowadays) began snatching up land and condemning it for the purpose of damming the Santee River to form Lake Marion for the purpose of a hydroelectricity project.
As a result of government greed, many plantations, burial grounds, Native American sites and more were lost to the waters of Lakes Marion and Moultrie.
Church Island is a fortunate example of graves that weren’t lost to the flooding efforts to create Lake Marion.
Originally, this site held an Episcopal church, which was sometimes called The Rocks Church, because of its proximity to the former Rocks Plantation.
Once the state government inundated properties and the nearby lands began to fill with water, the church deconsecrated the site as the place to house the church, but the site remained consecrated as the church cemetery.
The church relocated to Eutaw Village, now known as Eutawville, and is the current The Episcopal Church of the Epiphany.
It was a joyous day to see the cemetery and perfect weather for a boat ride with friendly souls.

It was a perfect day. The weather held, we enjoyed a stop for lunch at Sweatman's famous BBQ restaurant on the way, no one was bitten by a snake and we all enjoyed each other's company. Our Captain was terrific so if anyone is interested in lake fishing he is definitely your man. Check out his website at: Catfishinfool

She Made Good Gravy

She Made Good Gravy, All Saint, Pawley's Island, SC    

I had been to All Saint's Church near Pawley's Island before but learned later I had missed this tombstone and had to go back. My friend Rosie and I each started at opposite ends of the cemetery and although I spotted a few other interesting ones, she hit the jackpot. This lady was clearly well known for her gravy!

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - Salt Spring Island

Paul's Church, Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada

This evening's Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance is a quick shot from my recent trip to Salt Spring Island off the coast of western Canada. Before I travel I always take a look at Google images for an area so I had my eye out for it. It was built around 1880 by Father Donckele, the first Roman Catholic missionary to the Gulf Islands and was built by Hawaiian laborers. The materials were brought in by canoe  and then ox drawn carts. 

Kanakas, men from Hawaii, came to British Columbia around the year 1850, mainly as labourers for the Hudson’s Bay Company at Fort Victoria. Some of these pioneers settled on Portland, Russell and Coal Islands but the largest group chose south Salt Spring where they farmed, fished and logged. Many married native women and their children attended Beaver Point and Isabella Point Schools. They held Hawaiian luaus on Fulford Harbour beaches. They helped build St. Paul’s Church and members of several Kanaka families were buried in the cemetery. Some descendants still live on Salt Spring.

I wish I had spent a little more time exploring the tombs because the cemetery website lists this interesting inscription: 

Papa Francis William Coffey, Born: Angels Cove, Newfoundland August 29, 1947 Died: Old Monks Farmhouse, Salt Spring Isles October 10, 1998. Mine. Better shop short than fill to the brim. Oversharpen the blade and the edge will soon blunt. Amass a store of gold and jade and no one can protect it. Claim wealth and titles and disaster will follow. Retire when the work is done. This is the way to heaven.

Saying goodbye

Brothers saying farewell, Ontario, Canada    

My father lived a full life and I think we gave him a suitable farewell. He was one of eight siblings and he had eight children so the days were full of memories shared and stories told. He was a farmer, teacher, preacher, mechanic, carpenter, philosopher, gardener and beekeeper. He taught high school science, moved his young family to the hills of north east India to serve as a headmaster for fourteen years.

The service was very personal and it turns out I seem to be related in some way to half of Ontario. We were wrapped in love. I have so appreciated the many comments and notes and the chance to see so many family members and friends. My dad was buried in a historic, country cemetery and the photo shows his two brothers climbing the hill to his burial plot.

Back to reality in the morning!

Tomb of Francis Marion - the Swamp Fox

Francis Marion tomb, Pineville, SC    

As we were exploring the back roads of Berkeley County this past weekend it was proper to pay our respects to General Francis Marion - the Swamp Fox.

This interesting snippet is from an article in the Smithsonian magazine:

Marion's role in the war changed course after an odd accident in March of 1780. Attending a dinner party at the Charleston home of a fellow officer, Marion found that the host, in accordance with 18th-century custom, had locked all the doors while he toasted the American cause. The toasts went on and on, and Marion, who was not a drinking man, felt trapped. He escaped by jumping out a second story window, but broke his ankle in the fall. Marion left town to recuperate in the country, with the fortunate result that he was not captured when the British took Charleston that May.With the American army in retreat, things looked bad in South Carolina. Marion took command of a militia and had his first military success that August, when he led 50 men in a raid against the British. Hiding in dense foliage, the unit attacked an enemy encampment from behind and rescued 150 American prisoners. Though often outnumbered, Marion's militia would continue to use guerilla tactics to surprise enemy regiments, with great success. Because the British never knew where Marion was or where he might strike, they had to divide their forces, weakening them. By needling the enemy and inspiring patriotism among the locals, Busick says, Marion "helped make South Carolina an inhospitable place for the British. Marion and his followers played the role of David to the British Goliath."In November of 1780, Marion earned the nickname he's remembered by today. British Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton, informed of Marion's whereabouts by an escaped prisoner, chased the American militia for seven hours, covering some 26 miles. Marion escaped into a swamp, and Tarleton gave up, cursing, "As for this damned old fox, the Devil himself could not catch him." The story got around, and soon the locals—who loathed the British occupation—were cheering the Swamp Fox.

The quote that earned him his title was after Colonel Tarleton had chased him through swamps for over 26 hours and cursed, "As for this damned old fox, the Devil himself could not catch him." 

Cemetery details

Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, SC 

I did my walk yesterday morning at Magnolia Cemetery. It was so bright and contrasty that the pictures looked much too cheerful for a cemetery stroll so I played around with black and white and concentrated more on details. I was hopping and skipping with delight to see the bird's nest in the angel's book. Perpetual care indeed!

Open Faith, Open Hearts, Open Minds

Unitarian Cemetery, Charleston, SC  

Found wisdom on the steps in the Unitarian Church in Charleston. 

Animal Kingdom at Green Hill

Green Hill section, Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, SC   

I often head to Magnolia Cemetery for my weekend morning walks but rarely walk the back Green Hill section. Yesterday was one of those overcast mornings perfect for a cemetery ramble. Clearly this back section of the historic cemetery overlooking the Cooper River is where the animal lovers have congregated.

In other news, this is my new favorite banana bread recipe: Bon Appetite Best Banana Bread. The house smells pretty darn good. Thanks Bon Appetite!

On the road - making a wish on a baby's behind

Christopher Columbus Cemetery, Havana, Cuba

One of the first stops on the way into Havana from the airport was a quick tour of the Christopher Columbus Cemetery dating back to 1698. I could have spent the week there and been content but I ran around skipping the narrated tour to see as much as I could.

Now that I am home, I have been backtracking to read and learn about what I missed listening to. The guide said that wishes would be granted if you clanked the metal ring on the tomb three times, rubbed the baby's behind, walked around the tomb and clanked the ring on the opposite side. So many wishes had been granted that the space behind the tomb was filled with tokens of gratitude. Sadly I still didn't win the lottery.

City of the Dead Holds History of Havana: A much frequented spot, elevated almost to shrine status, is the burial place of Amelia Goyri de Adot, who died in childbirth in 1901. The infant, who also died, was buried at his mother's feet. Her husband commissioned a sculpture to commemorate Amelia's death, featuring her likeness leaning on a cross, holding her child.
 According to legend, when the bodies were disinterred - after two years bodies are usually removed to make room for new corpses - the infant had allegedly moved from her feet to her chest. Skeptics say the shift might have occurred as a result of settling. Believers say it was a miracle.
 Somehow, this story has come to symbolize a mother's mystical gift for intercession on behalf of children.
 Some say you will have luck if you rub the baby's bottom; other's say if you touch her skirt. Still others are trying to figure out how the death of a mother and child can be interpreted as lucky.