Charleston finally defrosts

Charleston, SC   

We are melting, we are melting! I finally got to work and caught a little bit of snow left in the meditation garden. It has been hard not being in scenic areas to take pictures during this extraordinary snow event.

While I have you, here is a fun Charleston Ski Resort video that was quickly pulled together.

The kids get one last day out of school since many of the rural roads are still packed thick with ice but for the most part today was back to normal.

Winter in the Meditation Garden

Meditation Garden, Charleston, SC  

I hate to boast but I walk past this scene every day as I was from my car to my office. The light was perfect this morning and I took a detour through the garden. I do have a picture of a layer of snow in this garden but that won't be happening this year. We have unseasonably warm weather.

Is everyone ready for Christmas? I am taking a holiday mid January so I have been working like a fiend to get things done ahead of time. Check, check, checking off my list. I couldn't find a receipt for reimbursement this morning and almost had to stoop to cleaning off my desk.

Foggy mornings

Foggy morning in Charleston, S.C.

These foggy mornings have all of us reaching for our cameras. The fog had almost lifted by the time I got West Ashley but this is from my walk across the parking lot to the hospital. Our garden with it's giant oak trees is one of the most beautiful places on earth.

I have ginger snaps in the oven and it's smelling pretty good in here!

Deperately Seeking Oak Tree

Split Oak Tree, Meditation Garden, Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital, Charleston, S.C.

I've featured this grand split oak tree before but it is so rare to catch it without cars parked around it that I can't resist snapping a photo when I go by. Today's picture is to bring to your attention a reader's plea for help in finding another tree. I hope she doesn't mind me sharing her note. Let us know if the tree she is seeking rings a bell! I am mentally replaying all the sidewalks of Charleston trying to figure out which one she means. Help her if you can:

I was hoping you could help me with something. My mother & I visited Charleston many years ago and have a single picture that, unfortunately, has disappeared of an old oak tree in Charleston. It was in a residential neighborhood of Peninsular Charleston and it was so unique because it had grown through/around the wall and the iron fence of the property. And it was a HUGE tree! A lot larger than you normally find in Charleston! We are now back in Charleston - permanently - and have started the search for this tree. I know you have walked nearly every inch of the peninsula and was wondering if you had any knowledge and/or pictures of this tree. Unfortunately, our discovery of this tree was nearly 15 years ago and we realize it may be gone by now, but if you have any knowledge of it - or know anyone who does - I would be so appreciative! My mother is longing to find this tree again!

Love the blog!

Fog in the Garden

Charleston, S.C.

John Prince asked in comments if I'd taken any fog pictures. He likely asked the question as I detoured through the hospital's meditation garden on my way in to work this morning. How lucky am I to work in a place like this?

Today is Volunteer Program Manager's Day. You didn't hear about it because we don't blow our own horns. We celebrated privately and took care of ourselves....volunteer managers from hospitals, aquariums, parks, outreach missions, food banks and senior centers...hundreds of thousands of hours of service flow through us in this town alone. So cheers to me and my hard working partners! Happy Volunteer Program Manager's Day!