Happy Halloween!

Halloween 2019, 70s theme, Charleston, SC 

I was hoping to find someone with a VW van or bug to park in front of the hospital for our 70's theme this Halloween but I did even better! My friend Libby had a 1972 Ford LTD convertible and let us climb inside and have fun with it!

We had a grand time roaming the hospital passing out candy treats. Thanks for the fun, folks!

Just stopping by to say, Boo!

Ghostly presence in Charleston

Broad St., Charleston, SC 

The reflection in the window across from the Cathedral on Broad St. confirmed all 

suspicions of ghostly presence in the Holy City. Boo! 

Charleston says, "Boo!"

Burbage's Grocery, Broad St., Charleston, SC - Halloween

 Happy Halloween from Charleston! 2019

Romantic Carriage Ride

State St., Charleston, SC 

I often try to include people walking, riding bikes and carriage rides to add some action to my photos. In this case I thought it was a lovely romantic carriage ride until I spotted the two giant cameras aiming at the couple.

I've been told they were filming for an Expedition Unknown episode about buried treasure.

State St. sweet spot

27 State St., Charleston, SC 

Uhoh. I've been letting the blog slip. Sorry folks. It's been a busy stretch. I've helped open a new hospital, participated in a Lip Sync Battle fundraiser (yep. me on stage. scary), and been to Columbia for the Governor's Volunteer Awards. It's all good stuff but hopefully things will settle down a little.

It is still endlessly hot and dry in Charleston with most days in the 90s. I am so ready for a little cool air.

This is one of my favorite sweet spots and I always seem to stop to admire it and grab a shot.

Hope you are all doing well. 

Here there be dragons

Charleston Garden, Charleston, SC 

I love peeping over fences and hedges into secret gardens and this one was a happy surprise. Dragons! 

Additions to the corner store series

Spring & Cannon St., Charleston, SC 

I tracked down a few additions to the Charleston corner store series.

Have I missed any? It's good to have a goal for a walk. 

Blue Bicycle Books - In memory of Dorothea Benton Frank, King St., Charleston, SC

Blue Bicycle Books decorated their window in memory of beloved author Dorothea Benton Frank. RIP.

Charleston Pride Parade 2019

Mayor & Sandy Tecklenburg. Pride Parade, Charleston, SC

Taking pictures at the Charleston Pride Parade has become a tradition for me. 

It's hard to miss with the colorful, joyful event!

Hurricane Dorian

Keeping her eye on the Charleston harbor, Charleston, SC

Hurricane Dorian seemed to have us all caught in a stress time warp as it lingered up the coast. It was going to hit us, it wasn't, it was. We were glued to news reports, weighing the location of the eye, the strength of the winds and the timing of the tides. Wednesday lasted a week. I decided not to leave. My current home is brick and a higher elevation than my last house. Neighbors said they had never had any trouble with water.

Bottom line is we got very lucky. The water surge wasn't as bad as feared. I had very impressive wind gusts and the noise made it hard not to keep wandering the house checking on everything. My yard was full of small tree limbs. Many people are still getting power back but I was fortunate in that regard and didn't have long periods without power.

I've spent the last few days cleaning the worst of the yard debris and I'm not done yet. We were fortunate and I have since gone online (now that I have wifi back!) and made a donation towards the Bahamas.

Hope you all did well! 

Dressing for the party no one wants to go to:

Hurricane Dorian prep, Charleston, SC

Here we go again! Stay safe and dry kids.

Seems like we've been glued to hurricane Dorian news for weeks. 

Corner stores - from another walk

Queen St. Grocery, Charleston, SC

Clearly I like neighborhood convenience stores. I missed some last week so directed my walk this morning to catch this series. I used to shop at the last one pictured on Pitt St. and was sad to see it empty but it appears to be under renovation.

Today is a watch and worry day to see what track hurricane Dorian decides to take. Watch and worry and hope it skirts the coast at a safe distance. Y'all stay safe and dry!

Corner Stores of Charleston

Charlie's Convenient Store, Jasper St., Charleston, SC 

I passed a few of the corner stores on my rambling walk this morning. All add to this collection next time I am in town. How nice to still be able to walk to the corner for eggs and milk although if the signs posted are a clear indication, the shoppers are more likely college students popping in for beer, cigarettes and lottery tickets.

The Righteous Gemstones

DB'S Cheese-steak Restaurant, Avondale, Charleston, SC 

I walked down to Avondale in between the thundershowers and got a look at the new murals promoting the Righteous Gemstones - HBO series being filmed locally and beginning tomorrow on HBO. John Goodman is the star and I believe Danny McBride the producer. Some of my friends have been extras. Sadly I don't have HBO so not sure when I'll get the chance to see it.

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - St. Michael's

St. Michael's Church, Meeting & Broad St., Charleston, SC

St. Michael’s Church is the oldest church edifice in the City of Charleston, standing on the site of the first Anglican Church built south of Virginia. In the 1680’s a small wooden church, the first in the new town of Charles Town, was built on this spot for the families of the Church of England, and named St. Philip’s. By 1727, the town had grown too large for the small church and a more spacious one was built of brick on Church Street, later destroyed by fire in 1835.By 1751, St. Philip’s had again proved too small for the increasing population, and another church was authorized by the General Assembly of the Province, to be built on the old site and to be known as St. Michael’s. The cornerstone was laid in 1752 and in 1761 the church was opened for services. Except for the addition of the sacristy in 1883 on the southeast corner, the structure of the building has been little changed.

It is simply too hot in Charleston. I need another weekend. Hope y'all have had a good one!

Flirty guard lions on Montagu

60 Montagu St., Charleston, SC 

Beautiful home on Montagu St. built in 1801. Thanks to Zillow we still get the inside tour: Zillow

It is so hot in Charleston it is hard to get motivated to go for my walk. Luckily I saved this shot from last weekend's walk...heheh!

Guard dog on duty

40 Montagu St., Charleston, SC

 Spot the guard dog on duty? 

Beautiful home. The current owners have certainly added bright color since the last google shot.