Pulling up for gas

Lake Marion, S.C.

Pulling up for gas. Luckily we didn't need any. 

What the heck is this sign doing in the middle of nowhere on a lake? I get such a kick out of these quirky sights that we paddled all the way around a little island to get a photo from the front. How funny. 

I had a perfect morning yesterday kayaking with my son. It was a cool weekend and none of the regular boaters ventured out. Birds were huddled under the trees as if they had forgotten that summer didn't last forever. I'd almost forgotten myself but this is sweet. I made a big pot of potato soup full of cream and bacon wickedness.

Weekend Fun

 

Marion Square, Charleston, S.C.

There was so much going on this weekend. Besides the Heart Walk, Scottish Festival  and the Bridge Ride, I walked back through all these fun activities going on at Marion Square. Children were playing music in the park and kids of all ages were playing games. This lady was a wiz with a hoola hoop!

Climbing the Francis Marion statue is a Charleston tradition. I am so proud of parents who can let their kids do something outside the normal safety net. The glee on that little gal's face when she climbed up was priceless!

I wonder if I have any clean clothes to wear for the week ahead. Sigh. Reality hits.

Lowcountry Heart Walk 2011

 

Lowcountry Heart Walk 2011

Another year! What a great gang of people turned out for the Lowcountry Heart Walk on Saturday morning. I am always touched by the survivors,  from babies in arms to seniors wearing red ball caps to show that they are survivors. It was crisp and cool - perfect for the event. Thanks to Prisca for leading the Zumba class, the vintage cars, my Pirate King and Queen, the Lifestyle Award nominees and winners, the cute kiddies, dogs and pets, the AHA staff and everyone who showed up and made it so much fun! Y'all are the best! 

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who contributed and helped me reach our goal! It is a cause we can all feel good about supporting.

David Quick from the Post & Courier did a nice write up. I've been in uploading hell with my pictures but I think most of them are now in this album so help yourselves, grab and tag: Lowcountry Heart Walk 2011

Sweet Friday evening

 

Aiken Rhett House, Judith St., Charleston, S.C.

Oh, my pretty little weekend. I love you.

It's been a non stop week but I was able to sneak out in time to do my very favorite thing - get to the Terrace Theater for a matinee. There is nothing that suits me better than sitting alone in the dark and letting the work week slip away on a Friday afternoon. I got my usual cuppa hot tea and since I've been a very, very good girl, I picked up a piece of the caramel cake. Ouch. They started selling the cake during The Help but I didn't plan on being tempted on a regular basis. Danger. This afternoon I saw The Guard which I liked very much and then sat outside next door at Savory and enjoyed a bowl of hot soup. The air is crisp and cool! It's a Charleston miracle.

I don't need to walk this evening since I will be walking to and from the Lowcountry Heart Walk in the morning. I am going to be completely lazy.

Today's photo is of the Aiken Rhett House on Judith St. It isn't on my regular walking route so I tend to forget it is there and then run into it and am stunned each time. Isn't it grand? I haven't done the tour since I first moved to Charleston. I should do it again soon.

The Aiken-Rhett House stands alone as the most intact townhouse complex showcasing urban life in antebellum Charleston. Built in 1818 and greatly expanded by Gov. and Mrs. William Aiken, Jr. in the 1830s and 1850s, the house has survived virtually unaltered since 1858.  A successful businessman, rice planter, distinguished politician and governor of South Carolina, William Aiken, Jr. was one of the state’s wealthiest citizens. Following a well-established tradition among Charleston’s elite, Governor Aiken and his wife, Harriet Lowndes Aiken, traveled in Europe and returned with magnificent fine art and furnishings. Today, visitors will find many of these objects in the same rooms for which they were purchased.

And now, because I've fallen into the habit of including colorful bikes in my shots, here is another view:

Self Portrait on North Market

North Market St., Charleston, S.C.

I've been missing in action lately. Whew. It is one of the busiest times of the year for me but things should let up shortly. I am a big American Heart Association supporter and the Lowcountry Heart Walk is this Saturday.  I love the advances that have been made in awareness of ways to prevent and treat heart disease. In the time I've been in healthcare the changes are incredible. I can't help feeling that I am on a winning team. On Saturday I intend to take over 500 people to the walk and by the skin of my teeth we will have raised $40,000.

Yesterday I held a day time silent auction at work. I had no idea how it would work since every auction I've ever been involved in required alcohol to loosen the purse strings. Heheh. We did fine and I set up a table and sold matted prints of some of my photographs. My office looks like a yellow bomb exploded with boxes of walk shirts and people have been handing me money as I walk through the halls. My little head is swimming. I made it to town in time to talk down to the Heart Association on King St. to turn in another cash filled envelope and felt pretty good about it. I am so grateful to the people I work with for making this project so much fun. Go team Pirates!

Here is the link in case anyone is inclined to join the festivities, walk, come take pictures or make a donation. We'd be glad to have you!

Today's photo is fresh off the pavement. There were a couple of chalk drawings but this one lined up perfectly. 

I need food. 

Calling all train fans!

 Winnsboro, S.C.


It's been years since I rode a steam engine train but for some reason the cooler air made me think of it. I checked the web site to confirm that they still offered the fall train ride in Winnsboro and tracked down these pictures from a few years ago. I did it all in time for you to make your plans for a day trip. See the schedule and link below. What fun!

I used to ride the old British steam engines in India with bits of coal dust floating in the windows. We'd buy sweet hot tea in thin clay mugs at station stops and then gleefully throw them out the window to crumble when we were done. It was much more satisfying than drinking from Styrofoam cups.
 
 Winnsboro, S.C. Train Ride


October 15, 16, 22 and 23, 2011 - Steam Train Specials

Fare Information:
Adult Ticket (Ages 12 and up):	$10.00
Child's Ticket (Ages 1 to 11):	$7.00
First Class Ticket (All ages - includes light refreshment and snack in relaxed atmosphere comfort)	$15.00
Fares subject to change without prior notice. There are no advanced ticket sales. The museum reserves the right to cancel, reschedule trains and operating days or to substitute equipment, or adjust the trip length as required or necessary.For more information, please call 803-635-4242 (9-5 Weekdays) or call 803-635-9893 (Recorded message only).

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - Mount Pleasant

Mount Pleasant Hospital Chapel, Mount Pleasant, S.C.

I was over at the new Mount Pleasant Hospital last week and peaked in the little chapel to see the art work that I'd heard had been hung. Artist Regina Bowling had done a beautiful mural for the hospital lobby so I was curious to see what she had come up with for the chapel. Wow. I loved it on first impression. I'll have to study the photos to understand what it all means.

It has been painted on a wooden frame that looks like it is covered in gold leaf and the colors are more brilliant than I have been able to show with my camera. it's definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.

Never Forget

Never Forget, Charleston, S.C.

Inscribed in the sidewalk in front of the Cannon St. Fire Station.

Saturday morning walkabout

Bogard St., Charleston, S.C.

I like to check on the floral arrangement in the orange traffic cone vase on Bogard. The plastic reptile with the blossom in his mouth is a happy new touch.

I walked the Spring, Bogard, King loop this morning and ran into Byron up around the Piggly Wiggly. I declined the offered chiropractic back treatment but did give him all the change I had. I hadn't seen him for a while and the update is that he is now banned from crossing Calhoun St. anywhere below Spring St. so his traveling area is narrowing.



It is a perfect Charleston day and everyone (everyone but me) gets out to do yard work and home maintenance. This fellow is putting the finishing touches on what looks like a new doughnut store called "Glazed Gourmet Doughnuts". If you like them on Facebook you can suggest a new doughnut flavor. Stores keep closing but new ones replace them just as fast.

Have a good weekend, kids. I am going to a friend's wedding this afternoon.

Muse - Restaurant Week

'
Muse, Society St., Charleston, S.C.

How pretty is this? I'd never been to Muse before but took advantage of it during Restaurant Week. It is a little jewel box of a restaurant. Sweet, sweet, sweet. I've owned an old home for too long. I kept looking at the elaborate painting and thinking, "damn, I'm glad I don't have to paint this room" but I am glad they do. It is gorgeous and the food was delicious.

The pictures are in reverse order starting with dessert but I'm not going to fix them because my companion happily ruined the budget restaurant week deal by ordering a good bottle of wine. Hic.

Fountains & Blogging Awards

Fountain, Charleston, S.C.

I am collecting fountains. We'll do a location quiz later. Study up!

Blogging awards. Sigh. What do we think about them? I've won 'em, I liked 'em, but I don't care to get involved with anything that smacks of asking people to participate in a voting frenzy anymore. Luckily this group doesn't have a photo blogging category and I don't mind asking people to vote for YOU!

I received an email yesterday inviting me to vote on a Carolina Blogger Award. Huh? It was the first I've heard of the group. I'm not sure if their blogroll is actually a blogroll or if it is a listing of attendees who have rsvp'd to a blogging luncheon in October but it appears to be primarily a Columbia group with a sprinkling of other areas and ONE from Charleston. It doesn't look like much of a representation of North & South Carolina Bloggers as billed.

So, here is your chance to get included, kids. If you are a blogger, care about awards or want to nominate a blogger this is the nomination link. You do have to have at least a url to vote and you only have until Monday, 9/12. There are a few categories including fashion, political, mommy blog etc. and they require nominations in three categories to count.

If you want to see the lowcountry represented by this group, I have a pretty good directory of lowcountry bloggers on my sidebar for you to explore. Go forth and vote if you are inclined.

Reclaiming the Home for Nurses

Calhoun St., Charleston, S.C.

Recognize this? It is the building to the right of Roper Hospital facing Calhoun St. This sign has always interested me. A home for nurses! We need one. Quick. Let's reclaim it. Install a bar, masseuse, a spa and restaurant. It's our house and we want it back. I am always looking for a place for parties and fundraisers.

I found this snippet in an old journal and had to correct their typo of Charlton to Charleston:

The Trained Nurse & Hospital Review: The R. A. Kinloch Home for Nurses has been completed in connection with the Roper Hospital, Charleston, S.C. Before the earthquake funds had been collected and set aside for this purpose, but the earthquake wrought such damage to the hospital property that it was removed to another site. The matter of the home for nurses was dropped for years, though the little fund in the bank kept slowly adding to itself. The present building is complete and well equipped, and is an altogether happy ending to a long delayed project.

Who is our hero, Dr. Kinloch? Dr. Robert Alexander Kinloch was born in Charleston on February 20, 1826. He was graduated from the College of Charleston in 1845 with distinction. After one “course” at the Medical College of the State of South Carolina he took his Medical Degree from the University of Pennsylvania (1848), then spent two years in the hospitals of Paris, London and Edinburgh. Returning home, he began to practice in his native city, but when the War broke out, he entered the Confederate army as a surgeon (July, 1861). During his military career he served at various times upon the staffs of Generals Lee, Pemberton, and Beauregard and was also detailed as a member of the medical examining board at Norfolk, at Richmond, and at Charleston. Subsequently, he held the position of inspector of hospitals for South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.

Upon the close of the War he resumed practice in Charleston and in 1866 was elected to the chair of materia medica in the Medical College of the State of South Carolina. He was First Surgeon at Roper Hospital and also attended in City Hospital, and later in St. Francis Infirmary.

Very impressive, Dr. K. I hope he approves of my plan.

That's what I call a Bicyskull

JLINSNIDER, 539 King St., Charleston, S.C.

I've been having fun including random bicycles in photos lately but this takes the cake. How amazing is this? The owner told me it was a zebra's skull. Naturally.

JLINSNIDER caters ready to wear for the avant garde, custom design, hand selected vintage, an organic bath line & top wardrobe styling for men, women & children. JLINSNIDER also offers an event courtyard featuring local artisans and musicians on the First Friday of every month. If you are an artist interested in selling your gems in the courtyard or a musician who would like to play, please email us at jlinsnider@gmail.com

Owner: Jamie Lin Snider

Blue skies over Charleston

Charleston Harbor, Charleston, S.C.

Bingo! I had an afternoon meeting at the Mount Pleasant Hospital which got me home earlier rather than later. You can't say I don't get around - I took pictures of physical therapists getting pie in the face to raise money for the American Heart Association and then nurses celebrating baby friendly initiatives with a milkshake party.

This shot was from yesterday afternoon's walk. The sky was gorgeous and the clouds white and puffy. It's still warm out but without the humidity we've lived with for so long and this weather can last as long as it likes.

Charleston Restaurant Week: I made reservations at Muse for this week and I'm trying Oak for the first time next week. Finger lickin' fun! Let me know of any other can't miss suggestions and go forth and eat! Maybe I'll see you out there!

Check out and welcome the newish Holy City Sinners blog.

I'm going out hiking kids.

Scoopful of color

SCOOP Studios, Broad St., Charleston, S.C.

SCOOP Studios Contemporary Art window displays always make me smile. Silly bunny.

Swim, little fishy swim!

191 King St., Charleston, S.C.

Back to work, kids. Sigh. When I am queen every weekend will last for three days.

I took this beautiful scene through the window of Birlant's Antiques on King St. It was on a platter in the King St. window. You can imagine how gorgeous it is in real life. I think they are swimming against the tide. Hope that isn't how this week goes.

Yard Art on Legare St.

Legare St., Charleston, S.C.

Someone with a green thumb is having fun decorating. I can't help peaking through the fence to see what is new each time I walk by.

These boots are made for walking

Charleston Shoe Co., 161 King St., Charleston, S.C.

These boots are made for walking...all over the building apparently!

Oh, shucks. It was nothing.

Rutledge Ave., Charleston, S.C.

Aaaaawww. Who knew they cared?

I had to cover the initials with a leaf so I could pretend it was from my kids. Heheh. You can too!

Here is the unleafy version in case your initials happen to be BA and you want to send it to your mother and claim it.

My Bird Heaven

I've been kayaking a couple of times this summer and have my own red tupperware tub now. They are lighter and more manageable than canoes used to be but still heavy enough to be frustrating to handle alone. I ordered some wheels on eBay and this morning was my test trip to see if I could enjoy kayaking alone.

Naturally it was one of the busiest days at any landing and boats were lined up like airplanes ready to take off. Seniors holding scrappy dogs pulled up their golf carts to watch me but I did it! I stayed out for hours sneaking up on squawking birds. I saw an osprey take off with his catch, egrets soar, a red headed woodpecker, wood storks and countless birds I can't name. It was glorious and I was in heaven.

Yipee for long weekends!

Meeting St., Charleston, S.C.

A couple of sweet spots on lower Meeting St. Lovely iron work on that first one. I'm going to do a collection of fountains in Charleston so make a note of this one. There is going to be a quiz when I gather them all up.

The Post & Courier did a fun Before & After series on Charleston houses as they were after the earthquake and as they are now. Hey - that was my hobby tracking down the old shots!

The CNN documentary "The Last Heart Attack" shows fon CNN Saturday night at 8 p.m. Let's watch and see if we really all have to become vegans. Bummer.

It's the weekend, kids! Yipee!

Bicycle Races are Coming to Town

Queen St., Charleston, S.C.

Bicycle races are coming to town...lalalalah lah....

I don't why I started including bikes in pictures but now I consider them a happy addition, especially when they are so brightly colored.

There really is a bicycle race and spinning event coming to town:

The Bridge Ride

Start: Saturday, September 17, 2011 @ 6:30 AM
Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park, Harry Hallman Blvd Mount Pleasant, SC

$25 registration fees to secure a spot. Receive your active giving page and start fundraising to compete for great PRIZES!

Registration Closing Date: Thursday, September 15, 2011 @ 5:00 PM PST

Party, Vendors, LIVE music at the Park during the spin session, while the cyclists arrive and after. Celebrate the success of the Bridge Ride and cheer on the participants! FUNDRAISER for ECCO

PRIZE UPDATE: Gift certificates to ESAC and a guitar signed by Hootie and the Blowfish. Must fundraise to win!

After registering, you'll get your Active Giving page, to raise money from your family, friends, and colleagues. This ALL goes to ECCO and our Free Dental Clinic to help our neighbors in need. Raise money to compete for GREAT prizes and be part of an important cause.

Riders under 16 must be accompanied by an adult aged 21 or older.
Start Times-ALL Take Place at Mt P Waterfront Park

An outdoor cycling ride (approximately 70 miles) starting and finishing at the Mount Pleasant Waterfront Park. Starting at 6:30 a.m.

Check the East Cooper Community Outreach web site for more details. Good luck folks!