On the road - Bluffton, SC

Bluffton, SC   

A couple more shots from Bluffton, SC before I tuck the photos away. 

Fripp Lowden House, Bluffton

Fripp Lowden House, Bluffton, SC  

This evening's shot is another sweet cottage from my weekend trip to Bluffton. It is the Fripp Lowden House and if I recall correctly there was work being done on it the last time I was there. That led me to google the property and I found this article describing heartbreak when a glorious but wild garden was tamed.

Local folks actually held a candlelight vigil to mourn the loss of the historic garden. Every article I pull up mentions the lush garden planted by Mrs. Fripp. Some of the camellias were over 100 years old and named after her. Let's hope the current garden grows to be as beautiful in it's own way.

Bed time, kids!

Pull up a seat

Bluffton, SC   

This scene looks more suited to the beginning of a weekend rather than the end. I took a day trip down the coast to Bluffton, SC this weekend and spotted the chair at the Oyster Packing shed.

It's getting late, kids. Time for bed. Hope everyone had a good weekend. 

On the Road - Palmetto Oak Sculpture Garden

Palmetto Oak Sculpture Garden, Blufton, SC  

I'd been to Bluffton before so this time looked for off the wall things to see and do and found this sculpture garden. The artist Steven Kishel wasn't home and it appeared to be at his private property so we made a quick phone call when we pulled up and he graciously gave us permission to explore on our own. What a colorful treat!

Bluffton Bottle Tree in Blue

Bottle tree, Bluffton, SC  

This gentleman has quite the collection of bottle tree information: Felderrushing.net

History of Bottle Trees: Although glass was made deliberately as early as 3500 B.C. in northern Africa, hollow glass bottles began appearing around 1600 B.C. in Egypt and Mesopotamia. Clear glass was invented in Alexandria around 100 A.D. Soon around then, tales began to circulate that spirits could live in bottles - probably from when people heard sounds caused by wind blowing over bottle openings. This led to the belief in "bottle imps" and genies (from the Arabic worddjinn) that could be captured in bottles (remember Aladdin and his magic lamp? This story originated as an Arabian folk tale dating back thousands of years, even before clear glass was invented). Somewhere in there, people started using glass to capture or repel bad spirits. The idea was, roaming night spirits would be lured into and trapped in bottles placed around entryways, and morning light would destroy them.

Teeny, tiny houses of the lowcountry

Tiny cottage, Bluffton, SC

This one is a cutie to add to our collection of teeny, tiny houses. I spotted it behind an impressive mansion in Bluffton. I spotted a steam of maids going in to clean the main house but it wouldn't take much to keep this little sweetie in order.

I am fat and full after a giant Fish Pie at Madra Rua and I have plenty of leftovers for tomorrow.

My favorite garden: Free admission to Magnolia will be offered on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, to active duty military personnel and their immediate family. This gift to those who serve America only applies to the general garden admission and not the separate tours of the house, swamp garden, nature boat, nature train and "Slavery to Freedom" program. Valid active duty identification is required.

Now I get to settle in and watch the last David Letterman show since I didn't stay up that late last night.

Rustic barn in Bluffton

Bluffton, SC 

My day trip down the coast to Bluffton was last weekend but I have photos stockpiled that haven't been featured yet and this old shed is one of them. We wandered through a store that had an art gallery and an artist was at work painting a picture of this old barn so I had to take a detour to get my version of it.

Since I went out for Mother's Day early it freed me up to invite a few ladies to brunch tomorrow so I've been cooking up a storm. Pear tart is out of the oven and potatoes simmering for tater salad. I hope we don't get rained out or I will be eating a lot of leftovers. Luckily I am only cooking things I would want to eat anyway.

 

Bluffton day tripping

Bluffton, SC 

The weather is so perfect right now that it is lovely no matter where you are. Yesterday a friend and I took a day trip to the sweet town of Bluffton on the May River. We wandered through antique shops, admired the beautiful historic churches, visited the Oyster Factory and had a tasty lunch on restaurant porch.

A Fine Fox Terrier

Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton, SC

A Fine Fox Terrier and Much Loved Companion.

I remembered the name of the seaside development where the little chapel I posted last Sunday was, Palmetto Bluff. This fantasy land village is on the water near Bluffton, S.C.

As usual the cemetery caught my eye but looked oddly laid out with each tombstone lined up perfectly, pine bark groomed, not a weed in sight. Odd, eh? Old cemeteries in South Carolina tend to be adventures in landscaping and this was simply too immaculate. Kneeling down to read the inscription I realized I was taking pictures of perhaps the most beautiful location for a pet cemetery in the world.

Hmmmm. Wonder if they would let me be buried in a pet cemetery? This is a sweet spot.