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.

Mural puzzle

Coming St. Grocery, Spring St., Charleston, SC   

What is going on with the faded old mural on this building, kids? Any idea? Small patch left but it is brightly painted. Are they refreshening the entire building? The bottom photo is from a few years ago.

(Shots below are from earlier views)

Friday!

Coming St., Charleston, SC    

Real estate is selling like hot cakes in Charleston but don't worry, we still have plenty of fixer-up properties to temp the renovation soul. This home is on Coming St. I've never seen it for sale but it could use some luvin'.

Friday, payday! The only good thing about time passing so quickly is that pay days seem to come around faster and that is always handy. I like to get a quick start on my weekend and made it to a movie matinee at Citadel Mall to see the Florence Foster Jenkins movie. Perfect way to end a week. 

Lost & Found

Lost & Found, Charleston, SC  

Every hospital worker knows we have an endless issue with Lost & Found items. People move from department to department, awake, asleep, dressing, undressing, can't remember what they brought in with them, leave valuable items on the lunch trays. Daddy lost his dentures, mama lost her earrings, books, socks, phones.....on and on. Sometimes it feels hopeless and it takes a lot of nursing and staff time trying to track items down. It is an issue we are all aware of and struggle to improve, so this sign at the Cathedral of St. Luke & St. Paul on Coming St. made me smile. Who but church members would put a religious spin on it?! Love it.

Why was I in an Episcopal Cathedral on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, you may ask? I was there to witness a dear chaplain at our hospital Samuel Kennedy be ordained as a priest. It was quite a ceremony. I wasn't sure of the camera snapping protocol and controlled myself until he turned around to be introduced in his new role and I whipped my canon out and quickly grabbed a few shots. Congratulations Father Sam!

In other news, I sprained my leg a few weeks ago falling off a collapsible garden stool. I was working on my car carpets after the flood and as the stool folded under me, my leg twisted awkwardly under the car. I've been limping around and spending my evenings with a large ice pack I've become oddly attached to. Almost better now and ready to think of going out for a walk on this foggy morning. Happy weekend kids!

Duncan St. summer wear!

Duncan & Coming St., Charleston, SC   

I am talking about the house, not the girls. Here is the winter version of the same property. I believe the architect who owns the property is successfully saving the bee population. The house was covered in pink blossoms and swarming with busy bees. 

It is getting dark earlier and I don't like it. The shorter daylight is already nipping into my evening walking hours. Grrr. 

Before & After - Coming St.

Coming St., Charleston, SC   

Here is a colorful transformation. Wowza! If you saw this house on it's own you probably wouldn't immediately guess that it was in downtown Charleston.

A few years ago when I was selling and aiming to downsize I knew where every small house was on the peninsula on my walking route. At that time this mess above was for sale for $515,000. I have a sneaky feeling they did not get their asking price!

Self respecting Southerners

Pro Aris Et Focis, Coming St., Charleston, SC  

Just for kicks and giggles I asked Google about "self respecting Southerners" and this is what we came up with:

• No self-respecting southerner uses instant grits
• And one thing no self-respecting southerner should be caught without a properly stocked bar.
• After all, no self-respecting Southerner would dare vote for a Northerner
• No self-respecting Southerner would hop aboard a boat wearing black slacks.
• No self-respecting Southerner would think of leaving fresh pineapples out of their Christmas decorations
• No self-respecting Southerner would ever be without cheese straws
• No self respecting Southerner makes cornbread from a box” 
• No self-respecting Southerner, I boldly say, would let New Year's Day pass without at least one bite of black- eyed peas
• No self respecting southerner would say "ya'll guys"
• No self-respecting Southerner uses any mayo besides Duke's 
• No self respecting southerner would eat the biscuits you get out of a peel and pop tube
• No self-respecting Southerner who would serve baked possum would serve it without sweet potatoes
• No self-respecting Southerner would ever put bread crumbs in their macaroni & cheese
• No self- respecting southerner would be so rude as to hang up before saying a proper thank-you, followed by a goodbye

Thank you, and goodbye!

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.

Slow Down. Humans Present.

Coming St., Charleston, S.C.

This is an old favorite from my sign file. Someone took the trouble to paint their message on an imitation sign. It didn't last long but happily I caught a picture of it. The next time I passed it was in pieces on the ground. Not everyone got the message.

Busy but good day after an early start. I bought a cheapo "swivel store spice rack" at a fundraising sale today and have been organizing my drawer of spice bottles after a fast walk in the dark. I don't have much cabinet space so I am trying to be as efficient as I can.

I got tickets to the Rejoice! the Charleston Symphony's Holiday special. That always starts the season for me.  I do like to go to the concert that has the Gospel Choir performance. 

DeVine House

Duncan & Coming St., Charleston, S.C.

I checked on the vine crop growing on the house at Duncan and Coming and things are slow this year. This house is normally completely covered by the greenery by this time of year. Hmmmm. Did we have an early drought? One year I took pictures almost every week to follow the vine as it took over the house.

I saw the Lincoln movie yesterday and loved every minute of it. Daniel Day Lewis is the most perfect Lincoln. Wow. Catch it if you can. It did motivate me to come home and do more research on Lincoln, the period and his family. I wondered if he had any descendants and was startled to find the only possible descendant had been born six years after his father had had a vasectomy. I guess that child can't boast that Lincoln was his great, great granddaddy.

Rebeccah lists her favorite Southern Sentimentalities and I found myself nodding and saying, "that is so true!"

From bird dogs to bad dogs, I believe this writer/doggie event requires a reservations:

Literary Dogs & Their South Carolina Writers: Charleston authors and their canines will be on hand to celebrate the launch of Literary Dogs and Their South Carolina Writers at the Charleston Library Society on Tuesday, Nov. 27, from 5-7 p.m.  Mary Alice Monroe, Josephine Humphreys, Marjory Wentworth, Nicole Seitz, Beth Webb Hart and others will "meet and greet," present their dogs, and provide a panel discussion about writers and their dogs before the book signing and reception.  Blue Bicycle Books and Hub City Press join the Library Society as sponsors of this event.

In "Literary Dogs & Their South Carolina Writers" twenty-five of the Palmetto State's most beloved authors introduce you to their most memorable dogs. There is Padgett Powell's "Ode to Spode," Josephine Humphreys' paean to a poodle, and Roger Pinckney's Daufuskie Dog-ageddon. Meet Marshall Chapman's Impy, Mindy Friddle's Otto, Beth Webb Hart's Bo Peep, and more. From bird dogs to bad dogs, wild dogs to café dogs, get to know these canines and their literary companions. 

How many more work days in this week? TWO! Yipee!

Blossoms on Coming St.

Blossoms on Coming St., Charleston, S.C.

Thunder and lightening! Looks like I got home from my walk about town just in time. If there is enough wind these flowers will get a good watering. Someone had fun decorating.

Speaking of decorating, why are these HGTV home buying, remodeling shows so addicting? I have to finish the show to see how the house turns out.

Mystery Woman

Coming St., Charleston, S.C.

I waiting for the steam to blow in the right direction when the woman stepped into the scene and improved the shot.

Check out VanessaK's photos of the Tall Ships in Savannah. Wow.

Noah Moore wrote a lovely entry about his mother for Mother's Day.

I love it when Cocktails in Charleston features a tilt shift photo in lieu of a cocktail.

Good night kids. Someone turn the lights out.

Yipee for Fridays!

Hair's Best, Coming St., Charleston, S.C.

Such a cute little hair salon. I've never seen anyone go in or out but it looks like it is still in operation.


Weekends are a bit like rainbows; they look good from a distance but disappear when you get up close to them.  ~John Shirley

Weekends are already too short and this weekend we get shorted an extra hour.  It hardly seems possible that it is time to move our clocks forward already.

I've been in Columbia today hanging out with Directors of Volunteer programs from hospitals around the state and made it home to discover that I've already seen every matinee movie listed at the Terrace Theater. What?! Every time they discover an extra closet they turn it into another movie theater you'd think they could stay a step ahead of me. I skipped my movie ritual and just got back from a late walk about town dodging hoards of loud drunken college students. I thought they were supposed to be on spring break. Did we import a new crop for the week off?

The Shrimp King

The Shrimp King, Coming St., Charleston, S.C.

The Shrimp King on Reb's Corner. Who is Reb and how did he get his own corner?

Yankees Go Home

Yankees Go Home, Coming St., Charleston, S.C.

It is such a relief to be Canadian. I've never read, "Canadians, go home, eh!" in the pavement. It looks like someone tried to rub this out but it was too late.

Through the attic window

Coming St., Charleston, S.C.

The gentleman in the attic is trapped and quietly signaling for help. Can you hear him through the glass? Heeeeeeelp me.

What can I put in my attic window?

De Vine House

Coming & Duncan St., Charleston, S.C.

This is a quick update on the house that gets eaten by the vines each year. I follow the progress until the owner has to cut a clearing to see out his windows.

I am in technology hell. Now my modem is on the blink (or rather, not blinking!). As with every contact with Comcast I am ready to shoot myself by the time I get someone on the line who is ready to get my contact information for the third time. At least they were willing to do a service call on a Saturday so here is hoping I will get a new modem by tomorrow night. Grrrrrr.

Meanwhile, y'all behave! There is a lot going on this weekend. I'll be at the Symphony rescucitation concert tonight and actually get to see the Beach Boys up close and personal on Sunday at the opening of the new Mt. Pleasant Hospital. Say hello if you see me!

College Drink Dispenser

Coming St., Charleston, S.C.

College of Charleston sidewalk drink dispenser.

The house that is eaten by the vine

Coming & Duncan St., Charleston, S.C.

It begins. By the end the summer the house will be completely covered with the vines. At some point the owner will trim around the windows to let a little light in. By winter he'll trim it back to the ground. I can't resist watching the progress each year.

So, what is the consensus? Do we have to try this work thing again tomorrow? If so, I need to get to my bed. Put your toys away, kids. Lights out.

If had a paint brush....

Coming & Vanderhorst St., Charleston, S.C.

There is a beehive of activity in my neighborhood today as this large house in a busy intersection is renovated. I can't resist taking a picture each time I go by.

I'm glad someone is working hard because I have no intention of doing anything productive. Shame on me. It used to be whenever I had a three day weekend I attacked some home improvement project. Maybe paying for air conditioning repair can count this time. Paint me lazy.