A farm of a different kind

Big Ass Farm, Walterboro, S.C.

From my sign file. This one always made me smile!

Sleepy me. Y'all turn the lights out. Eight hours of meetings did me in. I keep nodding off on the couch.

Magnetic Enthusiasm!

Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital, Charleston, S.C.

There was an electric buzz of excitement at work today. After years of hard work by the nursing staff, as many people as could possibly squeeze in to the board room this afternoon held their breath and waited to hear if we had been awarded the prestigious national award of being designated a Magnet Hospital. Yipee! What fun! Of course we had!

According to the Center for Nursing Advocacy:

Magnet status is an award given by the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center (ANCC), an affiliate of the American Nurses Association, to hospitals that satisfy a set of criteria designed to measure the strength and quality of their nursing. A Magnet hospital is stated to be one where nursing delivers excellent patient outcomes, where nurses have a high level of job satisfaction, and where there is a low staff nurse turnover rate and appropriate grievance resolution. Magnet status is also said to indicate nursing involvement in data collection and decision-making in patient care delivery. The idea is that Magnet nursing leaders value staff nurses, involve them in shaping research-based nursing practice, and encourage and reward them for advancing in nursing practice.

The neat thing about Magnet Status is that it is nurse driven and gives responsibility for leadership, power and recognition to nurses and they were celebrating today. We are now in a prestigious group of 4% of the hospitals in the country and the only one in the lowcountry and I am proud as punch of the people I work with today.

Congratulations to the excellent nursing staff at Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital, Pennie Peralta, Tanya Lott and Pat Marquis who led our efforts. You are the best and amaze me every day!

Home is where.....

Warren St., Charleston, S.C.

I am pleased to see that one of my favorite houses is being renovated. There is something friendly looking about this house and I've been sad to see it sit empty for years. In honor of it's renovation I looked up some "home" quotes for us:

“The best way to keep children at home is to make the home atmosphere pleasant, and let the air out of the tires.”
Dorothy Parker

Ninety-eight percent of American homes have TV sets, which means the people in the other 2% have to generate their own sex and violence.”
Franklin P. Jones

“When you're safe at home you wish you were having an adventure; when you're having an adventure you wish you were safe at home”
Thornton Wilder

“Home is where you hang your head”
Groucho Marx

“Home is where you can say anything you please, because nobody pays any attention to you anyway”
Joe Moore

....and finally I was startled to see this one by Mel Gibson, movie star and gift to all women, included:

“A woman should be home with the children, building that home and making sure there's a secure family atmosphere”
Mel Gibson

Well! I hope everyone has had a good weekend. It has poured rain in Charleston and intersections were still flooded when I went for a short late walk. Time to settle in for the evening and watch Mad Men.

A peak at McLeod Plantation

McLeod Plantation, James Island, S.C.

I am itchy and twitchy, ready to go out for a brisk walk and it is pouring rain. I've swept the porch, replaced a light bulb ...blah, blah, blah. Weekends aren't really for housework are they? It's too wet to take a camera out at the moment but here are a few shots I took yesterday on my way home from my first zumba class (scary thought with my rhythm!).

I've driven past McLeod Plantation hundreds of times admiring the beautiful piece of property but never taken a pictures of it and yesterday I realized why. They have slapped "No Trespassing - This Means You, Joan" signs all over any easy access. I pulled around the corner and walked back but there is no sidewalk and I had to take my life in my hands walking on the edge of heavy traffic.

What a lovely spot. The line of old slave cabins leads up the avenue of the oaks to the plantation house. According to the 1860 census 74 slaves lived in 26 cabins. More here but this is a bit of the story:

William Ellis McLeod passed away at the age of 105 in the same room he was born in. In his will, he left his interest in the plantation to the Historic Charleston Foundation, with the stipulation that it be preserved as a "single family residence, to preserve the Oak Avenues, and to provide that as much of the property as possible be restricted to single family residence or residences having the lowest possible density".

It's an expensive property to maintain and if they have their way, the Friends of McLeod Vision for the Future includes:

Among activities suggested:

• Church services and concerts under the oaks on a Sunday afternoon.


• Confederate and Massachusetts 54th and 55th re-enactors setting up camp and cooking with open fires for breakfast or lunch.


• Saturday Farmer's Market selling authentic local produce.


• A James Island Founder's Day - a homecoming once a year for James Islanders.


• Cooking demonstrations, tours, story telling.


• Tours especially designed for school children.


• Restoration of the grape arbor and plantings around it for use as a small special events rental area.


• Religious, business and corporate retreats.

If anyone has any pictures of the inside of the house please steer me to them. Meanwhile, it looks like one more project for me to fix up when I win the lottery. The list keeps growing.

St. George, S.C. - Mural Town!

St. George, S.C.

Mural town! No one guessed my last "Guess Where S.C.?" entry so I am adding some more of the murals that decorate this small town in South Carolina. I had featured it before in this entry about the train station mural. The train station was particularly cool because it featured the real people in the neighboring convenient store.

These are pretty amazing since rather than working with a large black wall, they include the switch boxes, doors and windows of the building. My impression is that the artist and his wife live in town and can't stop painting. Soon it will be a destination drive just because of the murals.

Here is his web site: Bibond Art

Hit counter rolls over 200,000

Charleston, S.C.

My theory is that if I walk a mile to and from dinner it takes care of all the calories. Right? Thanks to my friend Annette for hosting the "ladies who like to eat and gossip".

My ticker crossed the 200,000 hit mark today. Nice landmark considering I had to start from scratch with this blog when my old one crashed dead. Thanks to everyone who followed me here or found me since. I might not always have time to respond but so appreciate all the kind comments and feedback.

Now, go check out Chuck's before and after picture taken in Charleston in the mid 1950's.

Guess What SC Town?

Murals, S.C.

Can anyone guess what small town in South Carolina this is? It is becoming well known for it's murals and I am guessing correctly this is the artist's home. He had a long flowing beard and looked up from mowing his lawn to wave back at me when I stopped to grab a picture. I love the tree that grows right through the roof. Neato!

Uhoh. Thunder and lightening, oh my!

If the shoe fits - pink it!

Charleston, S.C.

I mentioned last week that friends of Gene Glave were going "pink" in support of her chemo treatments and I've been wondering what I could do to show my support for this special lady. I only own one pink shirt and have been tying to remember to wear it on Wednesdays when the Team Gene - Fight Like a Girl support team rallies on her behalf.

Walking up King St. I noticed the colorful chocolate stiletto shoes in the window of Christophe's Chocolatier. I told them what I needed it for and left it in their hands. Tuesday afternoon I picked up the coolest solid chocolate shoe in brilliant pink with silver details. Beautiful!

Thanks Christophe! It was a big hit. Go Team Gene!

God loves you, and so Do I

Vanderhorst St., Charleston, S.C.

Please, If you Don't want
or not going to donate, Don't
cut wires on electronics. They
are those who are less fortunate,
that TV could have been an upgrade
for someone. Thank you.
"God loves you, and so Do I"

I could do my own Found magazine.

Down memory lane - led by Grace

Grace Memorial Bridge, Charleston, S.C.

Here is a trip down memory lane for you. The photo above was taken when a parade of Model A Ford's were the first cars over the new Grace Memorial bridge crossing the Cooper River in 1929. When the bridge was closed in 2005 to make way for the Arthur Ravenel Bridge, a parade of vintage cars were the last to cross it.

I waited on the Mt. Pleasant side to get a re-enactment of the earlier view but the vehicles came across the bridge one by one with passengers waving, celebrating and taking pictures so it didn't work out quite the same. Still, it was a festive occasion and I'm glad I was there to capture it.

Does anyone else remember the old rickety roller coaster ride of a bridge? Nothing beats Frank Starmer's photo story of the building of the new Cooper River bridge and demolition of the old ones. The opening of the bridge and fireworks display was just grand and felt like a city wide party.

Sew me a bouquet

The Dressing Room, King St., Charleston, S.C.

Sew me a bouquet of flowers.....

I learned to sew on a foot pedal sewing machine like this. I loved the sound it made, my foot so in tune with the length of the stitch by rocking the pedal back and forth.

We were graded on sewing projects in school. Saturdays were half school days and usually included sewing class. I spent months doing drawn thread work on a fringed and embroidered tablecloth that was never used.

I sat in the back of the class with my friend Rani, tatting lace and knitting.

Our handiwork would be confiscated by irritated nuns and we'd start over again. Double shuttles, variegated cotton thread. It seems a lifetime ago when making handmade lace in geography class was considered "bad".

Summer Sundays

Fat Hen, Johns Island, S.C.

How is that I had never eaten at the Fat Hen before? The place was hopping for brunch this morning and for good reason if my crab crepe was any indication - it was delicious! It was a perfect summer morning relaxing on a dock and introducing friends to friends with interests in common. Good times!

Do we have to do this Monday morning thing again?

Mansfield Plantation

Mansfield Plantation, Georgetown, S.C.

Mansfield Plantation is a dreamy piece of property on the marsh of the Black River above Georgetown. I liked the fact that it had returned into the hands of a descendant of the original owners who operates it as a Bed & Breakfast. No worries - this is not one of the B & B cottages but one of the many decaying cabins on the property.

Mansfield Plantation:In 1718, a 500 acre plot of land was granted to a family on the outskirts of the bustling new village of Georgetown, South Carolina. Construction began on the main house fifty years later, and soon after Mansfield Plantation blossomed into one of the largest rice plantations in South Carolina.

Today, Mansfield Plantation covers nearly 1,000 acres and is recognized as "one of the most architecturally intact rice plantation in South Carolina." It is a member of the National Register of Historic Places and is now owned and operated by the descendant of the original Parker family owners, John Rutledge Parker and his wife Sallie Middleton, jr.

Guess where, South Carolina?

South Carolina

Anyone familiar with this spot?

I especially loved the fan design in the brick - it was so unusual. I could picture an evening in the fall with a fire in the fire pit and friends enjoying the evening. It wouldn't work for high heels at all. Very cool spot and I took more photos that I'll share shortly but thought I'd see if anyone else knew where it was first.

Sidewalk Footscapes

Charleston, S.C.

I used to have a commenter who would leave upset messages if my photos strayed too far from traditional historic Charleston homes and mansions. She was outraged that I took pictures of sidewalk graffiti when I lived in such a glorious city.

Walking this morning after the wild storms and winds we've been having I was again distracted by the colorful palette I was walking on. No worries. I'll be back with "pretty" Charleston in no time.

A little healing doggie luvin'...

Gene & Ellie, Charleston, S.C.

My friend Gene is going through a ruthless series of chemo treatments. When Gene went through breast cancer a few years ago, she created a one woman show about her year with cancer that was sold out at each performance, became a Piccolo Festival featured performance and she is still in demand as a keynote speaker at conferences.

Sadly, her story wasn't finished and she is bravely doing battle again.

Gene's friends have rallied and pronounced Wednesday's Fight Like a Girl - Team Gene Day wearing pink to work and offering support. I looked up this week to see that Pet Therapist Caroline Hunt had brought Ellie for a visit sporting a colorful pink bandanna.

Ellie was just the ticket. They snuggled and rubbed noses and then she melted into Gene's lap in the most perfect way as if she knew exactly what was needed. Gene gave us permission to post the photo on her Team Gene facebook site. Prayers and well wishes gratefully accepted. Go Team Gene! We love you!

Fish Restaurant's 10th Anniversary

Fish Restaurant, King St., Charleston, S.C.

Uhoh, my date didn't read the invitation to me and I thought we were simply going to take advantage of Fish Restaurant's tenth anniversary prix fixe deal of $25 for three courses. Turns out we were invited for the special invitation only party upstairs with the big kids. Woo hoo!

Check out the cake, fashioned after the restaurant. Neato!

I start my day early and am starving by the time I get home so I dug into the tasty appetizers they laid out. Sorry folks! We ended up at the bar downstairs making a meal out of the tomato and mozzarella, pork and artichoke hearts. Yummers. Delicious indeed. We didn't even bother ordering dinner.

Congratulations to Fish Restaurant and chef Nico Romo, owners and staff! Happy tenth anniversary! The special celebration deal goes on through Saturday so you still have a chance. Enjoy!

Knock, knock, knockin' .......

Hwy 78, S.C.

Plywood Jesus has been knocking on this door on the side of Hwy 78 for years. I'd keep my eye out for him as the car turned the corner and say to myself, "do these people still have Jesus locked out?!"

Someone finally let him in. Nothing to see now, folks. Someone let Jesus inside.

My Hero

Charleston, S.C.

Wow! I am impressed! I came home from my walk yesterday to see this on my porch. Damn! Talk about walking and chewing gum at the same time. He was almost able to keep a step ahead of my little pocket camera. If lizards can eat our giant lowcountry roaches I want them to know they are welcome on my property.

Monday Blog Hopping

Charleston Harbor, Charleston, S.C.

Janet's backyard is a "Freaking Disney Movie".

The story of a man who took a Polaroid picture every day - for eighteen years, until he passed away. What an incredible story of a life.

Roadside romance....made me laugh. You know how much I like signs.

Amazing little video about space saving furniture.

Charleston City paper has a Charleston Deals Blog. I like a deal!

Reasonably Swanky has a fun entry comparing Myrtle Beach and the Isle of Palms.

Happy Anniversary! To celebrate Fish's ten year anniversary on Upper King Street, the celebrated seafood restaurant is offering a $25 prix fixe menu from August 2nd through the 7th. I am aiming to be there on Thursday. Yummers.

Chuck went to Charlotte to see Paul McCartney and got some great pictures.

I need to get to bed. Y'all turn the lights out.