Sunshine!

White Point Gardens, Charleston, SC 

For those of you having snow storms at the moment this was Charleston on my morning walk. We get our rain tonight and cold tomorrow but what a treat this sunshine was!

The Little Dancer

White Point Gardens, Charleston, SC 

I always pay a visit to the wee water fountain statue at White Point Gardens and it looks like everyone else does as well. Hello there Little Dancer!

Sunshine in the city

White Point Gardens, Charleston, SC

It's been torture looking out of my office window into the sunshine. It's lovely to see so many people walking along the battery enjoying Charleston.

You are invited to follow the travelling adventures of my niece Bonita and her fiance Dalaney who have fixed up a van to live in and have left Edmonton (in January? Why would they leave Edmonton?) to travel throughout the US. They have set up a new blog to record their trip. If you see them going by please do wave, offer a coffee or a hot shower. Travel safely kids! Their new site is called: Advantourers. 

Who are ya gonna call?

Phone booth, While Point Gardens, Charleston, SC   

A real live phone booth! It could be handy in a pinch - if we remembered any phone numbers!

White Point Gardens in the mist

White Point Gardens, Charleston, SC  

Break time! I'll be offline for a bit but you know I will miss you and you and you. Behave. Read past entries. Help yourself to a snack. Keep your feet off the coffee tables and use a coaster for Pete's sake. I'll be back before you know it with tales to tell and pictures to share.

Fountain water with a taste of mystery

Fountain, White Point Gardens, Charleston, SC   

It has to be pure! What germ would dare come out of that mouth? Our serpent dragon fountain friend is at the upper part of White Point Gardens offering fresh water with a taste of mystery.

Charleston - I love you this much!

White Point Gardens, Charleston, SC   

I know I have featured this little gal before but I love her. I visit her every time I walk at White Point Gardens and practically lay on my belly to get a picture of a different angle each time.

Did you have a good week? Did you get all your work done? I had a good week but was rushing like a race horse to get my work done. If you had any idea of the paperwork I have to have completed on every volunteer who works in a hospital you would...I dunno....maybe buy me a candy bar or something. It is completely unreasonable. I have over 350 good spirited folks volunteering and I have to keep current files on each and every one of them. Some days I feel like all I do is feed a data base.

Carolina Day - 2014

Carolina Day parade, Charleston, S.C.

New rule - seersucker suits for everyone on Carolina Day! To be accurate - seersucker suits & sun dresses. No exceptions. Start planning your wardrobe for next year.

Since Carolina Day is always on June 28th, it is usually on a work day and I miss this colorful photo op.

Carolina Day celebrates the American victory at the Battle of Sullivan’s Island on June 28, 1776. On this day forces under Colonels William Moultrie and William Thomson repelled assaults by the Royal Navy and the British Army. The first Carolina Day was celebrated in 1777, and the Palmetto Society and the South Carolina Historical Society continue the commemoration today.

More photos here: Carolina Day 2014 

What's going on at the edge of the town?

White Point Gardens, Charleston, S.C.

          James James
          Morrison  Morrison
          Weatherby George Dupree
          Took great
          Care of his Mother,
          Though he was only three.
          James James
          Said to his Mother,
          "Mother", he said, said he;
     "You must never go down to the end of the town,
      if you don't go down with me."

          James James
          Morrison's Mother
          Put on a golden gown,
          James James
          Morrison's Mother
          Drove to the end of the town.
          James James
          Morrison's Mother
          Said to herself, said she:
     "I can get right down to the end of the town and be
       back in time for tea"

          King John
          Put up a notice,
          "LOST or STOLEN or STRAYED!
          JAMES JAMES
          MORRISON'S MOTHER
          SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN MISLAID.
          LAST SEEN
          WANDERING VAGUELY;
          QUITE OF HER OWN ACCORD,
      SHE TRIED TO GET DOWN TO THE END OF THE TOWN-
       FORTY SHILLINGS REWARD!

           A. A. Milne 

Relaxation lowcountry style

White Point Gardens, Charleston, S.C.

This looks like the life! These hammocks have been popping up all over. They look quick to set up and down and so relaxing.

I picked up the West of Newspaper and it took me a few startled minutes of reading before it hit me that is was their April Fools issue. Enjoy! This article about renaming West Ashley cracked me up.

Tradition

Fountain at White Point Gardens, Charleston, S.C.

My after-travel ritual for many years has been to walk down to the tip of the peninsula and sniff the ocean. That is how I know I am home and this little gal welcomes me each time.

In other news, holy flooded streets Charleston! This has happened so often this year it is ridiculous. I can almost be glad that I moved off the peninsula and don't have to check tide charts before I head home anymore.

First day back in the office today and I spent most of it responding to the close to three hundred emails waiting for me. Sigh. Even though I had an "I am out of the country" away message some people wrote two or three times thinking that would make me change my plans and come back faster. Fooled ya!

Wedding Advice Needed

White Point Gardens, Charleston, S.C.

Wedding advice needed. No! Not for me. Yikes! This isn't the National Enquirer. :)

Y'all have helped readers plan honeymoons before and this time we have a request to help a couple in Wisconsin plan their wedding. I received this email yesterday:

Dear Joan Perry,

I hope you don't think it too odd that a complete stranger is emailing you, but I happened upon your blog while I was looking for pictures of the White Point Garden Gazebo. My fiancee and I plan to marry in that beautiful, historic gazebo this year. It will be a small wedding (with the limitations of Gazebo attendance) followed by a possible carriage ride and dinner for all in attendance (25).

Being from Wisconsin and only able to peruse Charleston via the internet, I was wondering if you could recommend a nice restaurant in/around Charleston for our wedding dinner. I trust the opinion of a local far more than any internet review/star rated system! Any suggestion you could provide would be greatly appreciated as I am finding it is very difficult to plan a 'destination' wedding from a distance!

Thank you kindly for your time and consideration.

If you don't mind, I would also like some suggestions regarding a local, affordable photographer.

Sincerely,
Katie & David

What do you think? They need suggestions on a place for dinner for 25 after a downtown wedding. Since we don't know their budget lets suggest the splurge and a more moderate suggestion. How about wedding photographers? Any suggestions?

I will pull out any of your comments from here or on facebook and start a list for Katie.

Here is what we have so far. I will keep adding as the suggestions come in:

Photographers:
Leigh Webber
Joanne Drolet
Tim Will Photography
Merideth Finney Garrigan with A Spot in Time photography

Dinner Locations
Poogan's Porch Close to the park.
California Dreaming (off the peninsula but waterfront)
Blossom Close to the park for your carriage ride. Their dining room lists for 22.
Confederate HomeGreat location and close to the park for carriage ride but I think you would need a caterer. We can suggest them too!


Cake
Lisa Sargent with Let There be Cake

Hair & Make-up
Tanesha Dupree with Affair Hair by Tanesha
Kelly Campbell with Charleston On-site Makeup
Stella Nova

Hello there, General!

William Moultrie, Charleston, S.C.

I marched straight down King St. to the water this morning and snuck up behind General William Moultrie who was gazing out over the harbor. The original Fort Sullivan was renamed Fort Moultrie in his honor and he is well known for using palmetto trees to build the fort which turned out to be very clever since they were so spongy they simply absorbed the canon balls that came their way.

General Moultrie had a busy career during the Revolutionary War and ended his career as the Governor of South Carolina. He is very much deserving of the statue put up in his honor at White Point Gardens in 2007. BUT. But, but, but....to my shame all I can think of when I walk past the statue is Dan Conover's column in XARK titled Moultrie - The Full Package, about how well endowed he was and I sneak a peak as I go by to see if it is true. And now you will as well.

Before & After - Bandstand

Bandstand, White Point Gardens, Charleston, S.C.

I am behind in bringing you the changes in the Holy City this winter but daylight savings time will take care of that. I walked a big loop of the peninsula this evening and still made it home before dark.

The White Point Garden bandstand renovations are complete and she is a sweetie! Paint Charleston Daily followed the progress and detailed construction. The Post & Courier reports that it could actually be used for bands again.

Interested in getting married in the shiny new bandstand? Premiere Charleston has the scoop: You can reserve the gazebo for a nominal fee – as little as $100 – for a party of up to 25 people. To reserve, contact the City of Charleston Recreation Department at (843) 724-7327.

Hmmmmph......

White Point Gardens, Charleston, S.C.

It's a bright and sunny lowcountry day and I woke to learn I'd been vandalized. Grrrr. Someone smashed through the wooden fence at the back of my property and completely trashed my backyard. Truth is I heard noise in the night and assumed it was the usual tipsy college students in the yard next to mine.

I've had things stolen from my yard through the years but having someone destroy my property for the pleasure of it is new and unpleasant.

Happy pictures unrelated to entry as usual.