My recent modeling career ;)

My health care system uses employees and volunteers for all their creative ads and I've come in handy with my white hair.

Here I finally got hair and make up and it was for an Incontinence Ad. I've told them they need to cure me and do a photo shoot showing me cured, happy and dry on a cruise. Meanwhile, not only is it on tv but this ad has been popping up on web pages. I warn you - don't make me laugh. ;)

I am just the model, folks - you don't have to lay down a towel.

Moments Matter

American Theater, King St., Charleston, S.C.

Yes, they do.

Surfing on St. Philip St.

St. Philip St., Charleston, S.C.

Blogger was out of commission last night. For awhile a couple of entries went missing but things seem to be back in order for the moment.

It's Friday kids! My sweet, sweet Friday. I've already seen a movie at the Terrace Theater, eaten a bowl of portobello mushroom linguine at Mustard Seed and I am debating a walk. Whatcha all got up your sleeves for the weekend?

Pretty, pretty please!

Rutledge Ave., Charleston, S.C.

Nurses Week Festivities

Charleston, S.C.

The nurses at the Friendly Little Hospital across the River, hold a contest each year to Create a Nurse from supplies on hand. Check out bed pan head! You have to spend a little time close up and personal to realize the creative work that has gone into these new staff members.

Although they left these characters at their stations, the rest of the nurses gathered under the oaks in the garden this evening to celebrate earning Magnet Hospital credentialing. Woohoo! I do work with an impressive team.

Cafe Fork - Let's Eat!

Cafe Fork, Hwy 61, Charleston, S.C.

When I take a friend to Cafe Fork for the first time I point out my favorite things - look at the color! the paintings! the white marble table!

It is a happy lunch surprise at the end of a strip mall on Hwy 61 and I want to move in and live there. The bathroom is big enough for a tub and I could chop off part of the kitchen for a bed. I'd need the kitchen staff to stick around and work quietly bringing me tasty treats one after the other just like they do when I go for lunch.

Seriously, isn't it pretty? They are getting great reviews on Yelp for their food and I want them to decorate my home.

Sadly they took my favorite dish off the menu (sob) so I am going to have to start all over until I find my new signature Cafe Fork meal. They were a catering company and only serve lunch and the occasional cooking class dinner. I'm thinking the cooking class dinner might be fun.

Living Bridges of Meghalaya

Strangler Fig living bridges in Meghalaya, India from Christiaan on Vimeo.

This is the neck of the woods I grew up in. My daughter has suggested that it might be time for a visit and this video makes me think she is right. I haven't been back since I finished high school and it would be her first trip to the north east of India. Isn't this beautiful?

Keeping up appearances

Mills House Hotel, Meeting St., Charleston, S.C.

The photo of the beautiful Mills House hotel has nothing to do with my whining entry except that I simply want to move in and live there.

People asked all day if I had a good Mother's Day and I've been scowling and saying, "No". Grrrr.

Many of you know that I rent out the basement and upstairs back room in this old barn of mine. I'd love to sell my house and downsize to something smaller and manageable but that isn't going to happen for a while. Meanwhile, it's a great place to live, except that it is a very, very old house held together by a hundred and fifty years of paint layers, and I have to deal with tenants. I've been extraordinarily lucky with my tenants, but even though it's strictly forbidden, sometimes they leave. I must not be baking enough cookies.

Upstairs tenant left and was kind enough to recruit a replacement but after all these years I almost slip into a depression each time they turn over. I dread opening that door, cleaning another bathroom, wiping everything down, spackling nail holes, painting baseboards to freshen it up for the next occupant and that is what I did yesterday. Blah.

I finally called my handyman since the back door has been gradually settling in one direction while the house has settled in another. When he said, "Do you want me to finish sanding those walls and slap some paint on while I'm at it?" I almost hugged him in pathetic gratitude. I am too old for this.

Meanwhile, my son got back in town and took me out to Brett's Roadside Kitchen on James Island for dinner tonight. I just got back and I can hear my handyman humming while he works. Things are looking up.

Ride the Jolly Rancher!

Jolly Rancher, Magazine St., Charleston, S.C.

This trend of decorating cars makes me grin every time. Somebody likes Jolly Ranchers. Check out the missing "T" in Own Car. Lovely!

Happy Mother's Day Ladies!

Thomas St., Charleston, S.C.

Happy Mother's Day ladies! I took this photo on Mother's Day years ago around the corner from my house but I imagined the lady of the house in bed waiting for someone to bring her up the flowers and newspapers with her breakfast.

The Shoebox Blog - which always cracks me up, has: Advice From Their Moms

NEIL ARMSTRONG: “Take a jacket. It gets chilly up there on the moon at night.”

GEORGE CUSTER: “Wear clean underwear, just in case you have to get treated for sudden arrow holes.”

BARACK OBAMA: “Keep that birth certificate in a safe place. You never know when you might need it.”

LADY GODIVA: “Leave it long.”

COLUMBUS: “Sit down. Your friends can wait until you finish your geography.”

Unfortunately, my kids are out of town and I have to clean up and paint an apartment for a new tenant. Blah. Scrubbing a toilet and spackling nail holes are not my preferred way to celebrate.

ACBA Graduation - now go back to jail

American College of the Building Arts, Charleston, S.C.

Charleston has been swarming with graduates this weekend and my friend Becca asked me if I'd like to take the graduation photos for the American College of the Building Arts. This is a slightly different group to say the least. There were only to be five graduates - and I was to meet them at the jail where they hold their classes.

The American College of the Building Arts (ACBA) is dedicated to educating the next generation of building artisans and to preserving the building arts in a manner never before seen in America. Under the direction of our experienced faculty, students have the opportunity to receive a quality liberal arts education while they learn the skills needed to excel in their chosen field. This combination of education, training, and access to highly experienced faculty is available nowhere else in the United States. Courses include: Architectural Stone, Carpentry, Forged Architectural Ironwork, Plaster Working, Preservation Masonry and Timber Framing.

The students processed with their faculty from the old Charleston jail to Washington Park for the graduation ceremony and then - yes, back to jail for their lunch reception! Congratulations graduates!

More photos in this album.

Movies at Marion Square

Marion Square, Charleston, S.C.

John C. Calhoun is showing his disapproval of this evening's movie. Not gonna watch it.

Friday's message

Marion Square, Charleston, S.C.

Friday's message:

"Press yourself against whatever you find to be beautiful and trembling with life."

Still Life with Shells & Bottles

Rutledge Ave., Charleston, S.C.

Still life with shells and bottles.

No yard is safe with me. I'll spot the quirky character bits and save the photo for a day when I walk in the dark without my camera. I've been doing that a lot lately, coming home tired, crashing with my bowl of leftovers - getting noddy in my corner of the couch, and then finally getting in the mood to go for a hike long after I should. Luckily the downtown streets are still swarming with college students late into the evening.

What movie shall I see tomorrow afternoon, kids?

Fun with silver foil

Vanderhorst St., Charleston, S.C.

Everything is more fun wrapped in silver foil!

Bouquets on Bogard

Bogarden, Bogard St., Charleston, S.C.

Best "Use of an Empty Lot" award goes to the lush and colorful Bogarden Community Garden. I took photos of this experiment last year so nice to see it is still active.

Through the attic window

Coming St., Charleston, S.C.

The gentleman in the attic is trapped and quietly signaling for help. Can you hear him through the glass? Heeeeeeelp me.

What can I put in my attic window?

Bottle Brush?

Charleston, S.C.

Bottle brush plant? Is that what it is called? Tremendously cool.

I had dinner with the ladies last night but it wasn't a typical snack and gossip. It was one of the most fascinating groups of women I've ever shared a lemon chicken (yummy!) dinner with. The gathering included one well traveled navy wife, four women who had been in the foreign service, one in the British Foreign Service, myself and another lowcountry lady.

Wow. The conversation bounced from political uprisings, accidents in foreign countries to kidnappings and encounters with famous people in exotic locations. When one mentioned a country - Senegal, Qatar, France, Pakistan, China - I listened as the rest of them back tracked years to figure out if they might have crossed paths. These gals have seen it, been there and done it and I was delighted to be included.

Events of the day

Marion Square, Charleston, S.C.

When I was a kid and people discovered I was from a family of ten and one of eight siblings, they couldn't resist eagerly suggesting that we could play volleyball. Oh yippee. I couldn't care less about volleyball but these folks looked like they were having a lovely time yesterday morning when I walked through Marion Square.

I stayed up late watching the news last night and tried to stay up to speed all day by slowing my pace as I passed through hospital waiting rooms to catch a glimpse at CNN. I've shared almost every major world news event with random strangers in hospital ward waiting rooms and today was no exception.

I ended my afternoon by hugging a lady in the Women's Services waiting area who was proudly wearing her President Obama t-shirt as she waiting for the birth of her grand niece - a grand niece who will read about Osama Bin Laden and today's events in her history books many years from now.

My Adirondack Chairs

Adirondack Chairs, S.C.

Yeah! Aren't they pretty? I am pleased as punch. I bought these for $29 each at Home Depot and stained them in a mad rush yesterday afternoon.

I still have to paint a little side table and these could use some touching up (tough getting a brush in between all the slats) but I firmly believe you shouldn't work too hard on both weekend days. One day you paint, the next day you sit and relax and drink a Corona. They are very lightweight but seem sturdy enough and just as perfect as I had hoped.