Chinese Lantern Festival - Charleston

Chinese Lantern Festival, Charleston, SC 

We were foiled on our first attempt to get to the Chinese Lantern festival by rain showers but we ended up having a perfect night for it this evening. Everything was perfect. We had a bite to eat at my house and headed that way. I'd had a sneak preview watching some of the workman creating the designs so it was a treat to see them lit and on display.

Is this my good side?

Baby gator, Magnolia Plantation, Charleston, S.C.

I stopped by the Autumn Craft Fair at Magnolia Plantation Gardens on Sunday and met this little fella. There were booths set up with handmade pottery and jewelry, art work and photography. The parking lot was full so I hope they had a good day. I caught my friend Leah Sparks grinning as she was holding cold hard cash earned from photography sales. Congrats!

A proper sit down

Bench at Magnolia Plantation Garden, Charleston, S.C.

I wandered briefly through the women's wear section at Dillards the other day to see if they might actually be giving away anything for free after the holidays. They weren't. There was another woman shopping and she had a little girl with her. I wasn't intentionally eavesdropping but couldn't help grinning when the tired toddler announced she was ready for a "proper sit down".  Someone has been listening to grandma talk! The expression sounded so cute coming from a little kid.

The photo is one of two tree benches at Magnolia Plantation. The cold tonight is going to put the finishing touches on a lot of the camellia blossoms. Stay warm, kids!

Faded Glory

Camellia Garden, Magnolia Plantation, Charleston, S.C.

Slept in, walked in the drizzle at Magnolia Plantation, caught an afternoon movie on the way home and then an early bite to eat at the Green Goat with my son. If this first day of the year sets the standard I will be quite pleased with 2014.

I walked through the Camellia garden and found myself, as I often do, pointing my camera at my feet as much as the sky.

Back to real life tomorrow, kids. Yikes!

Wednesday Hodge Podge

Magnolia Gardens, Charleston, S.C.

You know how much I love Magnolia Gardens. I feature it often enough and keep an annual pass for myself but, if you don't have an annual pass you can get into the gardens for free on Friday. Go for it! Take the day off too healthy to work. I'll write you a note (unless you work for me). Find the details here. I believe you need to print a coupon and it doesn't include guided tours or the Audubon Swamp garden. The coupon is good for National Public Gardens so if you don't live in Charleston it may still apply closer to home.

Yeah, yeah....happy Nurses Week! Today is Florence Nightingale's birthday. Let's have some cake.

We had some fun again doing Florence Nightingale photo ops with old Nursing props. It is amazing what an empty frame works for a picture. Everyone got to be the Lady with the Lamp even a couple "Floyd Nightingales".

Check this out - eight year old kid came up with an invention to keep your book from getting wet when you read in the tub. Brilliant!

I have had a love hate relationship with the news lately. This business of the kidnapping in Cleveland of the three girls is mind boggling but hard to turn off. The election results in my district disappointed me. In other news, it has stopped raining.

Crazy busy days at work lately. I stopped on the way home to buy gas and picked up a lottery ticket. I figure if I won the jackpot I'd still go to work - as a volunteer instead of the volunteer director. Harhar.

G'night kids.

Colorful Morning Walk

Magnolia Plantation Gardens, Charleston, S.C.

I go for a long walk every weekend morning and during the spring it is hard to resist walking through the gardens at Magnolia Plantation. Wow.....look at this. We aren't at peak blooming season yet but it is completely glorious. I did more stopping and admiring the flowers than I did quick marching.  I renewed my annual pass so I will be back frequently.

I hope everyone had a good weekend. If you didn't it wasn't because of the weather. Busy week ahead so I am lollygagging and watching the Army Wives sad episode. Sniff.

Dance like the photos not tagged.....

Dance like the photo's not tagged,
love like you've never been unfriended,
tweet like nobody's following.

Snitched from my friend Shawn Zehnder Rossi

Bursting into bloom at Magnolia Plantation Gardens

Magnolia Plantation Gardens, Charleston, S.C.

I walked in heaven this morning. The city is like a garden right now and the gardens are glorious. My annual pass expires on 4/3 so I was just in time to scamper through the blossoms without paying an entry fee.

The place was swarming with photographers tripping over each other trying to get the perfect shot. The crowd mainly consisted of photographers and little old ladies so I fit perfectly in both categories!

Pull up a chair

Magnolia Plantation, Charleston, S.C.

My walk was foiled by rain so I've had extra time to play with my new computer and dip into a box of chocolates I haven't opened since Christmas. A friend asked for some Lowcountry prints to decorate his house with so I have been flitting through albums trying to pick what might suit and found this one I'd played with sepia tinting.

By the time it dried enough to walk, it was late and dark. I decided I shouldn't go out, and that irritated me. I try not to be stupid and walk the streets likely to be populated in the evenings but three young women have been mugged and assaulted in my neighborhood in recent weeks.

Caring people who know I march about town, ask me endlessly if what they read in the paper happened in my area and I have to admit it did. Then, as a rule they warn me not to go out at night, not to walk alone.

I want to say, yes, we should, we all should. We should turn our porch lights on and sit outside, visit across fences and play a little music. We shouldn't give away the neighborhood as soon as evil stakes a claim. Tonight however, without another soul in sight on my street, I stayed in. Blah.

Wet Saturdays

Magnolia Plantation, Charleston, S.C.

It's been a wet and drippy day in the Lowcountry and I left the house for the first time this evening to walk down to Grill 225 with my friend Debby who noticed they were dragging on their special restaurant week deals for an extra week. My belief is that if you walk to and from a dinner then you don't have to worry about the calories. Right? I'd never eaten there before and it was delicious. Long live Restaurant Week!

My big news is that I bought a new computer and a new router and I am so happy I can't stand it. I keep clicking just to enjoy the speed. I've been replacing bits and pieces for so long it is wonderful to have everything zipping along as advertised. My, my, my. I may be up all night surfing the web just because I can. I need to get some photo editing software lined up and I will be as pleased as can be. It was long overdue. Isn't it grand when things do what they are supposed to?

Vote for Best of Charleston

Magnolia Plantation, Charleston, S.C.

It is time to vote for the Charleston City Paper's Best of Charleston. Join in! There are a lot of categories and you have to place at least 35 votes for your entry to count. Log in and you can take your time and return to the site as many times as you like as long as you don't click "finish".

Go send some love to your favorite restaurant, hair salon, grocery store and mechanic. Spread the word!

I've won the Best Local Interest Blog award for the last two years. The award tickled me to no end and I am most appreciative. It is a bit surprising since although Charleston Daily Photo is certainly a Local Interest Blog, many, if not most of my readers are what Charlestonians describe as "from off". In fact, most of my readers are "Slightly Off from Off" and I like 'em that way!

The photo applies to this entry because I always vote for Magnolia Plantation for Best Attraction. Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital has won Best Place to have a Baby for the last 13 years and we like that too. :)

Go vote kids! Thanks to the Charleston City Paper for letting us thank the businesses that stand out in this town. I haven't clicked "Finish" yet so let me know if there is something I should consider voting for. Who do we love?!

A New Year - 2011

We will open the book. Its pages are blank.
We are going to put words on them ourselves.
The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.
Edith Lovejoy Pierce

A new year! What shall we do with it?! I spent the first day of 2011 alone in my favorite place - walking through the gardens at Magnolia Plantation. I can't count the times I've walked these paths and they delight me every time. Around each corner is a familiar friend, a tree, a flowering bush, a statue dressed in each season's color.

2010 has treated some of my friends very harshly. You know who you are. I hope 2011 is gentler and joyful. I wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year! Thanks for dropping by Charleston Daily Photo and leaving all the great comments. I've made many new friends this year!

The Bloomin' Swamp

Magnolia Plantation, Charleston, S.C.

The swamp is in bloom, kids!

I had breakfast with a group of my hospital volunteers at the Sunflower on Hwy 61 this morning and since I was already heading in the right direction I walked through the garden at Magnolia Plantation. There is always something in bloom and it was heavenly to be there on such a bright and beautiful day.

Yesterday's Dr. Oz' column claims walking helps keep your brain from shrinking. They recommend 6 - 9 miles a week. With the amount I walk each day, my brain is soon going to be too big for my skull.

Famous Charleston Quotes

Magnolia Plantation, S.C.

Scarlett: Cathleen, who's that?
Cathleen Calvert: Who?
Scarlett: That man looking at us and smiling. The nasty, dark one.
Cathleen Calvert: My dear, don't you know? That's Rhett Butler. He's from Charleston. He has the most terrible reputation.
Scarlett: He looks as if... as if he knows what I look like without my shimmy.

Church Photo - Attended

Magnolia Plantation, Charleston, S.C.

This time it isn't my usual church photo in lieu of attendance. Fooled ya.

For the second weekend in a row I packed a picnic and took someone dear to me to Magnolia Plantation. This time I explained to my favorite Deacon - Andre' (Deacon at Christ our King as well as the GM of McCrady's Restaurant) that this is my church. What place can be more spiritual than this beautiful place? He will be in church this morning but I think he understood :).

The garden is in full glory and the egrets are settling into their nests in the rookery. If you haven't had a chance to go, take a day off work early this week and drive out. You won't regret it.

Hey - I just noticed the swirl of pollen in the water under the bridge kinda looks like a heart.

Blossom Worshipper's Paradise

Magnolia Plantation, Charleston, S.C.

I love Magnolia Plantation during every season but it is the most magical place right now. I packed a picnic, met my friend Pam D. and we made a morning of it. There are still some camellias in bloom and the azalea show is just beginning. By next weekend they should be in their full glory. Go, if you can.

We walked the flower garden first, and saw everything we should - a carolina wren building a nest, lazy gators and fat bumble bees. After our picnic we walked the Audubon Swamp Walk through the spring madness of the rookery. The egrets are building nests in all the trees and photographers with heavy long camera lens are staked out waiting for action shots. It is amazing.

Hop, hop, hoppin'....

Magnolia Plantation, Charleston, S.C.

It's that magical time of year when Valentine's candy is half off and Cadbury's mini Easter Eggs are on the shelves at the same time.

Here is some fun: the following are winners in a contest in which contestants were asked to take a well-known expression in a foreign language, change a single letter, and provide a definition for the new expression.

HARLEZ-VOUS FRANCAIS? - Can you drive a French motorcycle?

EX POST FUCTO - Lost in the mail

IDIOS AMIGOS - We're wild and crazy guys!

COGITO EGGO SUM - I think; therefore, I am a waffle

RIGOR MORRIS - The cat is dead

RESPONDE S'IL VOUS PLAID - Honk if you're Scots

POSH MORTEM - Death styles of the rich and famous

PRO BOZO PUBLICO - Support your local clown

MONAGE A TROIS - I am three years old

VENI, VIDI, VICE - I came, I saw, I partied.

VENI VIDI VISA - I came, I saw, I bought

ICH LIEBE RICH - I'm really crazy about fat food

VISA LA FRANCE - Don't leave chateau without it

CA VA SANS DIRT - And that's not gossip

AMICUS PURIAE - Platonic friend



And the gator shall lie down with the turtles...

Magnolia Plantation, Charleston, S.C.

Blogging, the internet and photography. It's a perfect match, isn't it? We are all out with our cameras finding treasures to bring back to present to you. Paul Lester went to Beidler Forest, Leah Sparks went to Hunting Island and Old Sheldon and I walked the Audubon Swamp Walk at Magnolia Plantation.

It was a bright day and all the swamp creatures were enjoying the sunshine. I had to smile at the way the gator was so relaxed that his jaw drooped right off the ramp. The turtles appear to feel quite safe. They must realize they are a crunchy treat rather than an everyday meal.

I'm watching the Olympic closing ceremonies. It's a good day to have shared Canadian/US loyalties.