Charleston at Christmas

Charleston at Christmas, Queen St., Charleston, SC

It has been a busy stretch and I have a back log of pictures. It is often easier to quickly post a few to facebook and the blog gets neglected. 

I have been busy, I broke my toe which took a full six week (allowed by medical text books) to heal. My daughter visited for Thanksgiving. I've celebrated hospital volunteers in four different hospitals. Lots going on. We anticipate twenty four hours of rain and storms on the east coast so a little enforced laziness is welcome! 

These shots are from a recent walk down Queen St. to see the holiday decor. 

Merry Christmas from Folly Beach

Folly Beach, SC

As close as I live to the beach, I am most likely to be there in the winter when the rest of the country isn't. The crowds driving to the beach on a warm sunny day take much of the appeal away. Luckily we still get bright days in the winter. Someone decorated trees like this last year so I went hunting and sure enough, I found it! Merry Christmas!

Happy Charleston Holidoors!

Queen St., Charleston, SC

I tried to capture some of the Charleston doors decorated for the holidays this morning and had no trouble finding a good selection.

Folks on the peninsula do put in the effort to keep their properties in fine shape for us wanderers and I appreciated it. It made me come home and get out the rake to gather all the leaves in my own yard and plant a few winter blossoms. Happy long weekend, kids!

Charleston in festive holiday wear

Broad St., Charleston, SC   

I have been busy lately and late with my Charleston Christmas pictures but I made up for it this morning. Is there any city more beautiful than Charleston at Christmas? I could have wandered for hours and almost did. It inspired me to want to come home and decorate my little home but it is a bit too late for that now. 

Merry Christmas Eve to everyone! 

What are you grateful for?

Marion Square, Charleston, SC   

What are you grateful for? That was the question answered on the decorations on one of the trees at Marion Square. Note: I did NOT add that second one ;)

The square is a winter wonderland at this time of year with colored lights in the palm trees. We walked King St. and enjoyed the bright lights and holiday decorations and had a delicious dinner at Fish Restaurant. A perfect way to end a busy day at Christmas.

Christmas doors - Charleston

Charleston, SC   

I think the owners of these houses should earn a tax deduction for entertaining the folks who pass by and stop to admire their home. After all, that is why Charleston keeps winning tourism awards, right? The historic homes are maintained so beautifully, and it costs a fortune. Thank you folks. We appreciate it each time we walk by. Merry Christmas to you and thank you for your beautiful home which we all enjoy,

Charleston at Christmas

Dog & Horse, Church St., Charleston, SC   

I am getting slack. Who knew we had a Dog & Horse Fine Art & Portraiture store on Church St.? I didn't. Click the link to check it out. Dogs and Horses doggone it.

The Meeting St. Inn looks festive as always at Christmas but do you notice something missing from the frequently photographed windows on Tradd St.? The pig is gone from the window. The property may have changed hands but I don't believe city council voted to let them take the pig out of the window.

This little Piggy

Piggy holiday decor, Charleston, SC 

This little piggy dresses up for Christmas! So does his partner on the other side of the steps.

My understanding is that the home belongs to the owners of the former Piggly Wiggly grocery store chain and I always know they will do something fun with the guard pigs for the holidays.

Fogscape Charleston

Broad St., Charleston, SC 

Fog does funny things to camera buffs. I was tortured by the choice of places to go in this morning's mist. Magnolia Cemetery, beach, downtown? I settled on the peninsula because I've been tardy this year in capturing Charleston's Christmas festive wear. I made the right decision. Each corner I turned I got more excited with the scene.  What a beautiful city we live in.

Home to a refrigerator full of tasty holiday left-overs just the way I like it. I settled in with Moroccan chicken, roasted cauliflower and the Call the Midwife Holiday special.

Merry, merry!

Charleston, SC  

I had to look twice to determine if it was part of the wrought iron work. Hi little fella!

Merry Christmas to all!

Baby in waiting, Charleston, S.C.

By the looks of the pictures flowing in to social media, people had a Merry Christmas! Not having any little ones around myself, I live vicariously through all the happy family shots shared on facebook. Keep them coming!

My son and I slipped out of town yesterday afternoon and had a peaceful Christmas in a lakeside cabin. We read, ate good food and went for a walk this morning. It was perfect. We were only away for twenty four hours but it felt like a mini vacation.

Today's picture is actually from yesterday but I can't resist sharing. The tradition at our hospital is that Baby Jesus is not placed in manger until midnight on Christmas Eve. He is delivered into the care of the nursery nurses, lays in a crib warm and snug. At midnight a nursery staff member calls security to unlock the front door and they carry Him out and lay Him in the manger. I always try to catch a picture of him in the nursery.

Merry Christmas everyone!

'Twas the night before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas. Charleston, S.C.

The babies in the newborn nursery are in good company today. According to our hospital tradition Baby Jesus waits in the nursery crib until midnight when He is carried out and laid in the manger.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Charleston at Christmas

Charleston at Christmas, Charleston, S.C.

A reader emailed asking if I had Charleston Christmas cards from any of my pictures and not only do I not, I didn't even have any seasonal photos for this year. Thanks to this morning's walk I do now. Here is a start with more to come.

Want more now? You can check this album of Charleston Christmas pictures from past years. Enjoy!

Meanwhile, who has the best Caramel Cake recipe? I am feeling ambitious.

'Twas a couple of nights before Christmas

Festive Carriage Ride, Charleston, S.C.

I'd better use up the rest of my Christmas photos before the day has come and gone!

My house smells like gingerbread cake. Yum. I made the Smitten Kitchen recipe and it turned out great. I didn't have the bottle of stout that it called for along with the molasses so I tossed in a cup of spicy hot Blenheim Ginger-ale. I'm going to have to fatten up my son because I can't keep the whole cake around here for me to eat.

One of the best things about holidays in my opinion is sharing in everyone's family fun as Facebook pictures are posted. It's been a treat watching kids celebrate, bake cookies and sit on Santa's lap. Enjoy every minutes folks and keep the pictures coming, they grow up too fast!

I went to a brunch on the Isle of Palms and half way through I figured out I was seated next to the former Mayor and current House Representative Mike Sottile. Then I got to explore artist Carol McGill's studio and see her work. It was a good morning.

I hope everyone get's what they want for Christmas, because you know what? People are trying to make you happy. I walked through Citadel Mall on Friday night (big, big mistake) and was struck by all the shoppers intent on finding things to please their loved ones. They were holding things up, consulting friends, scratching their heads and digging deep in their pockets. They tried!

Christmas Quotes by Famous Folks

Charleston, S.C.

Christmas creates a happy and pleasant atmosphere for most people, but the Christmas atmosphere can be hard to describe in words. Here you have a series of great quotes about Christmas phrased by famous people.

1. Agnes M. Pharo: What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace.

2. Carol Nelson: Christmas is a time when you get homesick – even when you’re home.

3. Helen Keller: The only blind person at Christmastime is he who has not Christmas in his heart.

4. Harlan Miller: Probably the reason we all go so haywire at Christmas time with the endless unrestrained and often silly buying of gifts is that we don’t quite know how to put our love into words.

5. Shirley Temple: I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was six. Mother took me to see him in a department store and he asked for my autograph.

6. Norman Vincent Peale: Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.

7. Mary Ellen Chase: Christmas, children, is not a date. It is a state of mind.

8. W.J. Cameron:There has been only one Christmas – the rest are anniversaries.

9. Larry Wilde: Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall.

10. Charles Dickens: I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.

This little festive piggie....

Charleston Window Box, Charleston, S.C.

Oink, oink. The festive window piggie is decorated for Christmas. We don't lack for holiday color do we?

Lowcountry at Christmas

Nathaniel Russell House, Meeting St., Charleston, S.C.

Charleston is decked out in it's finest holiday wear. Meanwhile, I have volunteer holiday parties all week and have nothing festive to wear. Red and green don't seem to be my usual colors. When is the black and blue holiday? I have a closet full of those colors.

 

Christmas Elves hard at work in Charleston

Meeting & Tradd St., Charleston, S.C.

How perfect was it that I was walking up Meeting St. as this glorious house was being decorated? Perfect, perfect, perfect. This scene will be in a thousand photographs just as it is at Halloween but mine will be the first because I stood on the sidewalk with the owner of the property as she watched her elves adjust the hat designed by a sail maker for her house. What a gift of joy she gives to Charleston each year with the creative and original decorations. Thank you Rebekah!