On the road - Conway, SC

Conway, SC   

Almost two hours up the coast Conway, SC has a nice river walk along the Waccamaw black river and is the perfect distance for a day trip. After a lazy start on Sunday we arrived just in time for lunch at the Bonfire Taqueria and sat on the porch watching the boats go by. The smoked bbq was delicious and the portion too generous to clean my plate.

Shops on Main St. were closed but it looks like a lively downtown with a theater, bakeries, boutiques, historic City Hall and churches.

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - Prince Frederick's Chapel

Prince Frederick's Chapel, Plantersville, SC    

Not too far from Georgetown and well worth a detour on historic Plantersville Road is this dramatic chapel ruin. The gate was locked so I didn't go any further. I almost crawled through the hole in the fencing that has clearly been used before, but I didn't, okay. Happy now?

Prince Frederick’s Episcopal Church: Begun in 1859 and completed in 1876, Prince Frederick’s Chapel played a vital role in the religious life of the Pee Dee settlers in the latter half of the 19th century. With the decline of the rice economy, parishioners migrated to the more densely populated urban areas and the church suffered from lack of maintenance. The ruins of the chapel are all that remain of what once was a striking example of Gothic Revival architecture in South Carolina

Edited to add an older image showing the higher decorative pillars. 

Hero of Two Worlds

Marquis de Lafayette, Georgetown, SC   

You don't have to call me Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette. Just call me Lafayette. 

What a life of adventure he led. He sailed to America to lend a hand in the American Revolution and happened to pull up in Georgetown, SC. Can you imagine opening your door to find a Frenchman arriving to fight the British? This statue is near the rice museum in Georgetown. 

Landing of Lafayette: After LaFayette’s plan to join the American cause under the steam of his own ship was discovered by the British, the King of France was pressured to forbid his nobleman from leaving his homeland. In fact, the King ordered LaFayette to join his father in Marseille and was informed that failure to comply with the royal command would result in his imprisonment. Again, LaFayette was not to be dissuaded.

LaFayette set out for Spain. Disguised as a woman, he set sail on April 20, 1777 for America. Although the captain of the ship intended to stop over in the West Indies to sell some goods, LaFayette feared any layovers would open a window of opportunity for the British that would result in his arrest. To avoid this delay in his mission to America, LaFayette again opened his own purse and bought the cargo from the captain in exchange for the skipper’s promise to sail directly to America.

On June 13, 1777, the Marquis de LaFayette landed on North Island near Georgetown, South Carolina. This was almost as a momentous a landing as any other in American history. 

It is almost the 240th anniversary of his arrival on June 13, 1777.  Cheers to the freedom loving Marquis!

Rub a dub, dub...

Broad St., Charleston, SC    

Rub a dub, dub. This is a decent size tree in a tub.

I like that I spotted the scene on Broad St.

I have so much free time in the evening. I keep waiting for it to cool down so I can go for my walk and it never does.

Happy Independence Day!

Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, East Bay St., Charleston, SC   

It is tradition to read the Declaration of Independence from the Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon on July 4th and a good crowd was gathered in the heat this morning. A wreath was then carried to St. Philip's churchyard and placed on the tomb of Governor John Rutledge who first read the document to the citizens of South Carolina many years ago. The annual tradition of publicly reading the Declaration of Independence began in 2013 through the organizing efforts and planning from the Washington Light Infantry.

As I walked down I met an elderly British gentleman who was taking a break in the shade. He was on his own on his first trip to the states. I told him if he could make it as far as East Bay St. he would get to see the event. He said that was exactly where he was heading.  

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - Edisto Presbyterian Church

Presbyterian Church on Edisto, Edisto Island, SC   

There are beautiful historic churches on Edisto Island and the Presbyterian Church with it's tiny Praise Chapel is always worth a pause and visit. The historic cemetery comes with it's own ghost story. The congregation was founded in 1685 and the current church building was constructed in 1831.  The church sanctuary and manse (where pastors have lived since the 18th century) are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

It is a beautiful but hot day in Charleston. I went by the Sunday Brunch Farmer's Market on Maybank Highway and now have a carrot cake in the oven and feel I should be able to laze around for the rest of the afternoon. Zzzzzzz. I hope everyone is having a great holiday weekend. 

History Fair at Magnolia Plantation

History Fair, Magnolia Plantation, Charleston, SC     

I do get my money's worth out of my annual pass to Magnolia Plantation and this morning I stopped by the History Fair to listen to music, stroll through the history booths and listen to story telling from the Slave Dwelling Project.

The History Fair is free. Guests who purchase the $20 general admission to the gardens will be treated to special programming, including a storyteller, brick-making demonstration and access to a living history program. "Living History Through the Eyes of the Enslaved," an outreach of the Slave Dwelling Project founded by Joseph McGill, Magnolia's history consultant. Living History will present blacksmith and cooking demonstrations and storytellers. This part of the program will be staged at the former slave cabins.

Joseph McGill

Summertime

Charleston piazza, Charleston, SC   

Beach towels hanging over porches say summertime to me. The colleges might be on break but that is a good number of bicycles. It looks like some good times happen here. 

Need a Notary?

Notary Services, Bogard St., Charleston, SC    

Cutty's is a neighborhood bar across from a pizza restaurant at St. Philip's & Bogard St. The Notary Public sign caught my eye but I didn't notice the hours of operation until I got home. That is funny. Now check out the wee figure perched on top of the light fixture.

A former members-only club reborn as a boozy community center for Charleston's creatures of the night. We're divey and proud of it. Entrance on Bogard St, across from D'Al's Pizza.

Shutter art

Morris St., Charleston, SC   

They have seen better days but these decorative shutters always make me pause and smile. Thank you, dear builder for taking the extra trouble to cut in flowers that entertain me still so many years later.

Shem Creek Boardwalk

Shem Creek Boardwalk, Mt. Pleasant, SC   

Walking the boardwalk at Shem Creek park is like an instant vacation. Shrimp boats, kayaks, stand up paddlers, fishing and dolphins bobbing in the creek.

Pitt Street Bridge

Pitt St. Bridge, Mt. Pleasant, SC   

Say "Oh" what a beautiful morning. The forecast predicted rain but I had a delicious brunch at Water's Edge on Shem Creek and a walk down to the end of the Pitt St. bridge and got home before I heard the rumble of thunder.

Walk with me - Bogard St.

Bogard St., Charleston, SC   

 Join me on my morning walk on Bogard St. Let's catch up with the changes!

When I first moved to Charleston it would not have been on my regular walking route but now it has well known restaurants - Trattoria Lucca, George Art gallery, D'Allesandro's Pizza, a new restaurant opening called Chubby Fish, the Catfiddle St. project, students moving in and out and a variety package of new and old homes.

Edisto Mattress Swing

Mattress Swing, Edisto, SC 

The mattress swing on the side of the road is a familiar sight on the way to Edisto Beach. This is the most festive I've ever seen it. I am never sure of the etiquette - am I supposed to donate a couple bucks for the photo op? I'd be willing to but since I am never sure, I grab a shot and zip away.

Here is a link to some of the story: Edisto Mattress Swing. Sounds like it started when hubby had to sleep outside :)

Ketch up!

Burger Hut, Hollywood, SC    

Ketch-Up! You'll Relish the Flavor!

Pull up to the cutest little burger joint around in Hollywood, SC. It even comes with a religious message. "Taste and see that the Lord is Good". Fittingly, I was there on a Sunday and it was closed. 

Edisto mystery tree in it's summer glory

Edisto Mystery Tree, Edisto Island, SC   

The Edisto Mystery Tree is decked out in it's summer finery welcoming visitors to the island. I always look for it and try to grab a shot.

The tree stands a stone’s throw away from where Highway 174 intersects with Botany Bay Road. It’s nothing more than a scraggly little thing, but for generations it’s been decorated by locals and vacationers all throughout the year. During the peak summer months, it is commonplace to see beach chairs, sand pails, flip flops, Independence Day decorations, and a host of other items hanging from the tree. Like the seasons, the tree changes along with them. While the tree is ever-changing, the real mystery behind the tree is that nobody knows just who started the whole thing to begin with. In fact at one point some rebellious youths uprooted the tree and hauled it away, but lo and behold, some mysterious benefactor planted another similar tree in its place. Whether it was the same person who planted the original tree and started the decorative tradition or just a local who couldn’t stand to see the festive plant disappear, it appears that the Edisto Mystery Tree is not going away any time soon.

Tool Collage

Vintage Tools, Summerville, SC 

Old doors and more! Vintage South in Summerville has all kinds of vintage odds and ends and it's hard to resist stopping by to see if they might have a fancy door handle or cast iron skillet that you didn't know you needed.