Myrtle in her finest

Tradd St., Charleston, S.C.

It may be almost too hot and humid to bear in Charleston but there is lush, colorful eye candy everywhere you look.

I am off to jury duty, kids. This will be a new experience for me.

A last packed house for Gene Glave

Sunrise Presbyterian, Sullivans Island, S.C.

Gene could pack a house until the very end and was sent off in a way that would have delighted her. Friends from the theatrical world, Dragon Boat paddlers, church family and fellow nurses filled the church on Sullivan's Island this afternoon.

Gene's close circle of friends remembered that she claimed she wanted her funeral full of women in colorful prom dresses and facebook has been buzzing with messages posted from dressing rooms in Goodwill stores around town. Party City had pink boas. One gal wore her Mother of the Bride dress. One squeezed into her pink junior prom frock. I held out okay through the service but the sight of these loving women who have been feverishly distracting themselves from their sorrow by shopping to please Gene in this last request almost did me in.

More red, white and blue

East Bay St., Charleston, S.C.

I am having a lazy morning and getting ready to head out on my walk now. Here are a couple I missed sharing from the last weekend's patriotic show of color. I need to buy some red, white and blue bunting for holidays. The first photo is the little liqueur shop on East Bay and the one below of course is Hibernian Hall on Meeting St.

If anyone has any experience with solar attic fans holler at me. I've been thinking it might be a clever idea for my house.

2011 - the Year of the Crepe Myrtle

Crepe Myrtle trees, Charleston, S.C.

I've been living in Crepe Myrtle heaven. Wow! We've had just enough rain to make them gloriously heavy with blossoms, red, pink, white and purple. Between the Crepe Myrtle blossoms and real tomatoes the summer heat has lost a little of it's sting.

I need to take my camera down to that MUSC stretch of Calhoun St. across from Roper Hospital. Wow. It looked incredible this morning after the rain.

In this today's photo is the Goat, Sheep, Cow shop on Church St. Anyone been in yet? Goat cheese. Mmmmm.

I had a late lunch meeting at Cafe Fork and tried to leave my office relatively organized since I have jury duty next week. That should be interesting.

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance

Charleston, S.C.

Not my usual Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance but when my brother painted my house, he put a layer of protective varnish on the porch church pew and took a meditative moment. Thanks Jim! It looks great.

Floating down the Edisto

Edisto River, S.C.

I didn't do it myself but it looked so much fun I wished I had! The P & C reported on the increased number of people floating down the Edisto River and they anticipated huge crowds on July 4th.

I don't know if they had any trouble but I saw a lot of people having a grand time. I'm guessing there were some impressive sunburns and hangovers to deal with the next day.

Gene Glave - a sad loss

Gene Glave, Charleston, S.C.

Lights burned a little dimmer at Roper St. Francis Healthcare yesterday afternoon when we learned our darling Gene lost her battle with cancer. She passed away, fittingly on a Wednesday when coworkers regularly showed support by dressing in pink in her honor.

I got to know Gene best years ago after she happened to google her name and found sweet things I had said about her on my blog. I'd gather a happy gang of groupies to go to her theatrical performances. Going through the series of pictures I have of her wearing pink wigs, dancing, dressed in costumes, hugging people, I can at least say that we knew we had a treasure when we had her. She was appreciated, loved and supported by everyone who knew her, every day.

In true Gene style, she left a status update message on her Facebook status profile. Pediatric nurse, actress, blogger, dog lover, dragonboat paddler, character extraordinaire and best friend to so many she is going to be missed.

Hello everyone... I wanted to take a moment to talk about life, the greatest of journeys. You have all brought so much enrichment, meaning, love, and light to my life, and to share your laughter, your tears, your joys and frustrations has been a blessing and a privilege to me beyond any measure of thanks in words.

I have gone on ahead now in this journey of life but what I carry is a celebration of our friendships, camaraderie, and love. You can rest assured that we will meet again and until that time I will be watching over and sending my love to each and every one of you. The greatest success in life can simply be measured by how we treat each other along the way and I have been overwhelmed by your selflessness, your caring, your heartfelt love and concern.

I love each and every one of you beyond measure. May God nurture and keep you, and may you keep each other until we meet again ;-) ALL MY LOVE AND THANKS !!! Gene

Fields of flowers & pineapple blossoms

Waterfront Park, Charleston, S.C.

Isn't this fun?! It is right down at the water front park at the Pineapple fountain. The flowers were bobbing in the breeze and kids were running around splashing in the water. It was perfect.

Did anyone else have a little trouble working today after the long weekend? I got a lot done but had to force myself. It will be a short week.

My house is painted. It looks crisp and fresh. My brother is the most efficient painter. Sadly he leaves tomorrow morning. Sniff. We are heading out to a last dinner before he heads to the airport in the morning.

Broad Street's Lonely Leopard

People's Building, Broad St., Charleston, S.C.

This is the saddest picture. I've taken quite a few photos of the pair of leopards guarding the doors of the People's Building on Broad St. but now this one is missing his mate. Vandals knocked over and destroyed his companion. I'd really like someone to solve this crime. The crime stopper number is at the bottom of the Post & Courier blurb below.

Vandals Destroy Leopard:

Vandals destroyed one of two marble leopards that have graced the entrance to a Broad Street landmark since 1957.

Sometime between 6 p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. Friday, someone smashed one of the leopards and left it in pieces near the front entrance of the Peoples Building at 18 Broad St., according to a Charleston police incident report.

The pair of centuries-old Italian marble leopards were taken down from their pedestals in 2003 for restoration. They were returned in 2004. Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked call Charleston police at 577-7434 or Crime Stoppers at 554-1111

Happy Birthday America!

Charleston, S.C.

Charleston is dressed in it's patriotic finest this morning and I let my camera hop from flag to flag for you on my walk. I get a bit sentimental about July 4th since this country laid out the welcome mat for me, gave me citizenship, rewarding work, warm friends and a place to call home. Happy birthday America!

Happy July 4th!

George St., Charleston, S.C.

Four days off in a row. What a gift this has been. I walk in the mornings while my brother finishes off the painting the house and then we hang out in the afternoons catching up on years of news.

Last night I invited a friend recently back from Iraq to dinner with his bride from Thailand. Between them, Andre' my favorite Frenchman and my brother Jim from India I had the world well represented. I made a big pot of chicken and sausage gumbo and rice and sat back and listened to hours of international adventure stories. It was wonderful.

Happy July 4th kids! Eat, drink and appreciate your freedom. I bet I can find some flag pictures for the occasion.

Sweet, sweet day off

Coming St., Charleston, S.C.

Sweet, sweet extra day off, I love you!

It is Crepe Myrtle season in Charleston, we are finally getting some rain and everything looks lush and colorful. Today was the day my brother painted the dangerously high peak of the house. It made me queasy to watch him high up that shaky ladder but he survived. Sheesh. I could never do it. I got a hiking harness and he roped himself to a beam through the attic window - just in case. I had an ear out for thuds on the sidewalk as I did yard work.

Happy Canada Day everyone! I meant to bake butter tarts but Harris Teeter didn't have enough of my favorite tart shells so I thought I'd make my brother something we both enjoy but doesn't have anything to do with Canada. It was a special occasion tradition when we were kids to boil a can of condensed milk under water for three hour to make Dulce de Leche. I'd been reading about a shortcut method in the microwave and thought I'd give it a try.

What a sticky mess! Mine boiled over immediately each time I turned the microwave on. Wow. I kept trying to scoop it back in the bowl so I would lose all the liquid gold but I ended up with about a third of the amount. I need to hose down the kitchen. Heheh. Still yummy though and you can picture me licking a spoonful as I type. Now I will need to wipe down the keyboard.

Anyone else going to the Stephen Colbert in Charleston show?

Fire at Bogard & Rutledge

Rutledge Ave., Charleston, S.C.

I can't even imagine waking up to this but luckily someone did wake up and got everyone else out. No one was hurt although I'm sure they lost almost everything. The Post & Courier site has a lot more photos here. Fire is always a worry with these old wooden houses.

Almost finished

Charleston, S.C.

My brother is almost finished painting the house. Unfortunately what is left is the hardest, highest part. Yikes.

Pull up a bike and sit a spell

King St., Charleston, S.C.

Pull up your bike and sit a spell.

I never thought of bikes as seats. I don't think this is the first time these gentlemen have used them this way. They look quite comfortable.

Knock, knock, knockin'....

Door, Charleston, S.C.

Knock, knock, knockin' on the weekend! Yipee. I am home early and have a long weekend ahead. With my brother visiting I decided to tack Canada Day on one and and July 4th on the other. It is the perfect storm of a long weekend and I am so ready. I finished a couple of big projects and hit the road home.

Thanks to Ed Fennell from the Post & Courier for the article on my summer SCRUBS Camp today. Made me very happy!

You look familiar

Charleston, S.C.

I pause these days when someone says I look familiar. I try to look blank and say I don't know where they might have seen me. My hospital uses employees and volunteers for all their ads and commercials and with my white hair I've been used a couple of times lately. My face has popped up on tv and web ads in an Incontinence commercial. Yikes. Then, this has been in the paper recently.

At least I get an adorable grandchild in this photo!

I've suggested that they might want to prove that they can cure me. Surely they can't leave me leaking forever. I am picturing some happy healthy pictures taken on a beautiful resort beach or cruise to prove that our health system cures what ails you.

Truthfully it has all been good fun although as you can imagine, I've taken a lot of teasing lately.

Blue, bluer, bluest.

Charleston, S.C.

I've been coming home to dramatic changes. My house looks better every day. My brother Jim is a whirlwind of efficiency and is making the most of his Charleston visit painting my house. It is a big old barn to paint but it is coming along nicely. He still has the wicked high peak of the house to do tomorrow which makes me nervous. It gives me butterflies in the stomach just to think of climbing that high. I ordered a climbing harness for safety.

I can't imagine painting in this heat myself but he hasn't complained so far. I even cooked him a big dinner tonight.

Monday Hodge Podge

Dell's Deli, Cannon St., Charleston, S.C.

Dell's Deli makes a colorful scene on Cannon St. I walked too late for photos this evening but stocked up on my weekend marches.

We have Monday whipped, kids, and a long weekend to look forward to. Friday of course is Canada Day (y'all knew that, right?) and Monday, July 4th so I am recommending a four day weekend. If any other countries would like to toss in a bonus celebration I'll be happy to consider the offer and make a package deal.

An Evening with Stephen Colbert is on Friday night at Gaillard Auditorium. Can't wait!

In Their Eyes: Joshua Curry from the Charleston City Paper is heading to Haiti to teach what he does best - teach photojournalism, to street kids. More info here. I can't wait to see what he comes back with. He is accepting donations.

Woohoo...Caviar & Bananas is one of the shops open in the renovated Market Building. How can they open on a day when I am at work? The paper said it closed at 6 p.m. so I knew I wouldn't make it but their web site says 7 p.m. Maybe I could make it down there for coffee and dessert one of these nights. Have you tried their Duck Confit sandwich? Yummers. They are my new picnic packing pick up spot.

Local blogger and writer Andra Watkins has written a book and has it ready for publication. If you are on Facebook, click "like" on Andra's page and support her efforts. Go Andra!

A friend came by to visit me at work today after years in Iraq. He brought an album of the most incredible and frightening pictures and I kept staring at him and thinking, YOU, you are alive and safe. Thank God.

Time to settle in for the night. Y'all turn the lights out. Don't stay up too late.

Raining handkerchiefs

Read Brothers, Charleston, S.C.

Who uses cloth handkerchiefs any more? Not surprisingly Read Brother's on upper King St. must still have enough in stock that they can use them to decorate. Walking into Read Brother's is like entering a time warp of dusty sewing notions, toys and cloth, all next door to the stereo annex. I love this yelp review.

Their window decorations are whacky fun. If they have such a quaint and odd collection of items for sale on the shelves, I can't even imagine what is tucked away in the attic.

Monday morning is peaking around the corner, kids. Are you ready?