Step right up!

Hampton Park, Charleston, SC

When people ask if they need to move out of my shot, I tend to day, "Step right in! Improve it!" and in this case they did!

This is the most colorful fall we have had in years. It really is a treat.

He shed, she shed...

Shed, Hampton Park Terrace, Charleston

I don't know who claims the shed but it is a sweetie! I walked past this one up near Hampton Park on a recent rainy morning.

Many thanks to the City Daily Portal for mentioning the longevity of this blog! Over ten years is a long time in blog years. I may be the grand matriarch of lowcountry bloggers :)! Thanks folks. It's been a fun journey and now serves as a diary of my walks, events and travel. 

Denmark Vesey, Hampton Park, Charleston, SC 

I always detour through Hampton Park to spend a few minutes with Denmark Vesey. How I wish this statue could come to life and talk to me. I suspect I'd still be there listening. More details on his story on this PBS site:

In 1771, fourteen-year-old Denmark Vesey was transported from St. Thomas to Cape Francais by slave trader Captain Joseph Vesey. Upon a return trip to Cape Francais, Captain Vesey was forced to reclaim Denmark, who his master said was suffering from epileptic fits. Denmark accompanied Captain Vesey on his trading voyages until the Captain retired to Charleston, never again showing signs of epilepsy.

In 1799, Vesey won the lottery and bought his freedom for $600. He could not purchase the freedom of his wife and children, however, and some claimed that this fact motivated his crusade to destroy the institution of slavery.

I worked yesterday since I had taken a few days off earlier in the week for my daughter's visit. Now I am completely confused. Happy weekend, kids!

Flower beds at Hampton Park

Hampton Park, Charleston, SC   

High-five to the gardeners of Charleston County Parks. Skip the purchased Mother's Day bouquet and take mom to Hampton Park. It is a colorful living bouquet at this time of year.

Buildings at Hampton Park

Hampton Park, Charleston, SC   

I expect it is an old park management building but it appears to be unused. It's a lovely building. 

Art in the Park - Hampton Park

Art in the Parks, Hampton Park, Charleston, SC

I had read about new art installations at Hampton Park so made that my walk destination this morning. I found all four of the pieces along the side of the walking path. It's a colorful start. I am ready for more! I am pleased to read that we may get more art along the Greenway and Bike Way as well. 

These were designed by art Joseph Dreher who worked with local students and the Boys and Girls Club to create the portraits. See the Charleston City Paper for more details. 

Plant Vitae, an installation featuring sculptures engraved with local children's drawings, maps of Charleston, and images of plant life, is now on display on the southern edge of Hampton Park, along Mary Murray Drive. The installation is part of the Art in the Parks program created by the Charleston Parks Conservancy in collaboration with Redux Contemporary Art Center and the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs.
The four large-scale pieces in Plant Vitae are made from wood and transparent cast acrylic, created by Georgia-based artist Joseph Dreher a.k.a. JOEKINGATL. Dreher worked with local students from schools near Hampton Park, as well as the Boys and Girls Club, to create the portraits found in the final pieces.
In a press release Dreher says, “People are my primary interest and it is my appreciation for people that informs so much of my creative work. My work is always multidimensional because I see a world where people are not flat. They are not obstacles, or heroes, or rogues, or saints. They are people — dimensional and deep. There are no strangers in your world when you meet people fully prepared to accept who they are.”

Walk with me - Hampton Park

Hampton Park, Charleston, SC 

Charleston is a garden at the moment with azaleas and dogwoods bursting into bloom. Yesterday morning I walked the Hampton Park area roaming all the side streets and up and down Rutledge. It looks peaceful enough in the pictures but lots of people were out enjoying the weather, playing sports and walking their dogs. More rain on the way but yesterday morning was glorious.

Hampton Park

Hampton Park, Charleston, SC  

I spotted this couple walking at Hampton Park this morning. There is something familiar about the gentleman but I can't pin it down.I feel like I've seen him before. Hope they had a nice walk. 

Walk with me - Hampton Park

Hampton Park, Charleston, SC  

I have noticed a recent personal trend of increased laziness and slow starts on weekends. Ooops. I need to watch that. Hate to let precious weekend time slip away. I did my morning walk around Hampton Park and then had such a lovely evening with friends - dinner at Charleston Grill and the festive Symphony Holiday Pops. I hope your day was good.

Picnic in the park

Hampton Park, Charleston, SC  

I come from a picnic packing family. My grandmother always had a hamper half packed and ready to go. We'd go to parks and rivers and as a child I have fond memories of packed lunches at Niagara Falls and on the other side of the world Ward's Lake. 

I asked for suggestions on Facebook for picnic location ideas and this is what was offered. I think I've been to each place even if I haven't spread a blanket and eaten at each of them. 

Angel Oak

Morris island Lighthouse

Cypress Gardens

Mepkin Abbey

Edisto Island

Cannon Park

Magnolia Plantation

Under the Ravenel Bridge

Old Santee Canal State Park

White Point Gardens and walk the Battery

Today we went to Hampton Park and it was fun to listen to everyone's memories of the park - from when it had a zoo to childhood birthday parties this lovely park has happy memories for so many. Great friends, good food, lovely weather and a beautiful spot. I am making the most of the last few days of 2015. 

Hampton Park poetry club

Hampton Park, Charleston, SC 

 “Grow the lawn and mow the lawn
always keep the TV on,
brush your teeth and kill the germs,
poison apples, poison worms.”    

― Trenton Lee Stewart, The Mysterious Benedict Society

Are you brave?

Hampton Park, Charleston, S.C.

Am I brave? I would have said, no, at least not physically brave and yet when I googled Brave Joan I found this lovely picture of me on a Cigar label. If it didn't cost $50, I'd buy it.

If you go down to the woods today....

Marlene Williamon, Teddy Bear's Picnic, Hampton Park, Charleston, S.C.

I spotted my friend Marlene setting up for the Charleston Parks Conservancy Teddy Bear picnic yesterday afternoon at Hampton Park. There are lots of cute pictures on their facebook page.

I can't help humming the Teddy Bear's Picnic song by Anne Murray. You know you want to hear it again too:

Floating Feathers

Hampton Park, Charleston, S.C.

I walked through Hampton Park this morning enjoying the sunshine but ended up spending most of my time tracking floating leaves and feathers in the pond.

Spring can't be far away!

Hampton Park, Charleston, S.C.

Spring can't be far behind with blossoms like this! What a treat to see after that recent ice storm.

Sun between the storms

Birdcage, Hampton Terrace, Charleston, S.C.

It's been tricky staying a step ahead of the thunderstorms lately but these are a few shots from a recent walk around Hampton Park and neighborhoods. A few of these made it to Facebook but not the blog.

At least we have been getting dramatic skies between the cloud bursts. Sadly it looks like rain ahead for the weekend as well.

Garden decorating ideas

Garden art, Charleston, S.C.

True. I was looking for garden ideas. I think those ducks are heading to the lake.

Hampton Park

Sunflowers in Hampton Park, Charleston, S.C.

I often feel like I go out hunting with my camera and feel good if I get a little exercise and bag at least one good picture. It gets me out and about noticing things around me. This weekend I parked at Hampton Park and walked the neighborhood and park for an hour. The flower beds were in their glory and I am stealing ideas left and right for what might work in my neglected yard.

I wasn't the only one enjoying the warm morning and it is clearly a comfortable spot for homeless and street people. There were blankets claiming spots under the wide tree branches and I was startled a couple of times by movement in the shadows. I marched on briskly through certain parts of the park. 

President Roosevelt Reviewing the Troops - Charleston 1902

An amazing bit of video by Thomas Edison of President Roosevelt reviewing the troops at the Charleston Exposition in 1902. Some of these films have been discovered and shared on Facebook and they are so wonderful I am passing them along. 
 
Summary
President Roosevelt is standing on a platform in front of an Auditorium, photographed from across the street. At his left is Mrs. Roosevelt, holding carnations. They review the army, navy, and marine corps foot soldiers at the opening of the Charleston Exposition. Other prominent individiuals shown are Captain F.W. Wagener, Mayor Smyth of Charleston, Governor McSweeney of South Carolina, and Governor Avcock.

Alternate title:
President Roosevelt reviewing troops, Charleston Exposition

Created/Published
United States : Edison Mfg. Co., 1902.

Notes
Copyright: Thomas A. Edison; 18Apr02; H16715.
Appearing: Theodore Roosevelt, Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt, Captain F.W. Wagener, Mayor Smyth, Governor McSweeney, and Governor Avcock.
Photographed in Charleston, SC in April 1902.

Subjects
Actuality--Short.

Related Names
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919.
Roosevelt, Edith Kermit Carow, 1861-1948.
Wagener, F. W.
Smyth, J. Adger.
McSweeney, Miles Benjamin, 1855-1909.
Avcock, Charles B.
Thomas A. Edison, Inc.
Paper Print Collection (Library of Congress)

Hampton Park Walking

Hampton Park, Charleston, S.C.

Many years ago I spotted a notice in the Post & Courier inviting bids to run this concession stand and I called to ask about it. That summer I could have pictured myself serving tasty snacks in this pretty little building. I was a Labor & Delivery nurse then you understand, but somehow I was confident I could run a concession stand. Heheh.