Cruising Charleston

Market St., Charleston, S.C.

Most cruise ship visits seem to happen during the week when I am at work and I've barely noticed the impact. It is a startling sight to see the huge Carnival Fantasy pulled up right at the end of Market St. Usually I can tell when a ship is in town by the huddle of people clustered on the sidewalks around places that have free wifi. I don't what the arrival and departure times are but the streets were packed and restaurants were full today. Was something else big going on in town?

I had to reward myself for my morning of hard labor cleaning out my attic so I walked down and enjoyed a chicken pita pocket at Tabbuli Grill's new outdoor patio. By the time I left every table was full. 

Saturday Chores

Carolina Yacht Club, Charleston, S.C.

This is part of the Carolina Yacht Club on East Bay St. If I recall correctly this building used to be owned by the Shriners. I remember being at events there before it was absorbed by the Yacht Club.

Is everyone having a nice relaxing Saturday? I'm not. I roped my son into coming over to help me clean out the attic. Aaaaack. Why do people ever put things in the attic? We had boxes of books from twenty five years ago. I asked him if he wanted the dusty copy of Modern Electronics. Heheh.

I found the dolls I mailed home to my daughter from Hong Kong before the British turned it over to China. They were copied from the Cabbage Patch dolls and called Rice Paddy dolls and instead of birth certificates they came with British passports to get them out of Hong Kong before the change. Cute.

I think I need a long soak, a cuppa tea and a Klondike bar as a reward.

Don't cut the wires

Don't cut the wires, Charleston, S.C.

Found message:

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

Churches of Northeast India

Presbyterian Church of India, Arunachal Pradesh, NE India

I am taking you off the Charleston peninsula this evening for a tour of Christian Churches in Northeast India.
The first one was far north in Arunachal Pradesh and in a military encampment area. I nodded, tried to look innocent and showed my camera to the Indian Army soldier guarding the remote border area to let him know I simply wanted a photo of the church.

Meghalaya, India

I am not sure about this one. Any ideas? Certainly a surprising sight on a country road in the hills of India. The wording above the entrance is the latin "Venite ad me omnes" which means "Come to me all". I am guessing it is a Catholic Church.

Meghalaya, India

Meghalaya, India

This is an Anglican Chapel in the old British Cemetery in Shillong. There were relocated tombstones from the years of British occupation here.

Meghalaya, India

I spotted this one perched on the side of a hill on a hike up to the Khasi Sacred Forest.

House of Prayer, Arunachal Pradesh, India

This House of Prayer was in the mountain area far north and on an Indian Army base.

I thought this was in interesting collection and reminded me of many of the village churches I worshiped in as a kid.  No worries - I have albums full of Buddhist Monasteries as well!  You should be able to click on the image to get a higher resolution view.

Mushroom Run

Mepkin Abbey, Moncks Corner, S.C.

When PETA harassed the Franciscan Monks of Mepkin Abbey into giving up chicken farming they turned to mushroom growing. I had no complaints about them taking up mushrooms although I originally hoped they might decide to be the Fudge Making Monks of Moncks Corner. You must admit it has a ring to it!

The gardens are so beautiful it is worth a drive (check your directions) any time of the year and now you can pick up mushrooms. Here is the mushroom story and a link to the online store.  The monks are pretty high tech.

Okay kids. I need to get my shower and get to bed. Another day ends.

Heart Healthy Tips Circa 1972

Just for fun, these are some heart healthy tips from the Farmers' Almanac 1972 sponsored by J. Henry Stuhr, Funeral Chapel.  Truthfully they seem a little dated even for 1972 but perhaps they kept reprinting year after year without updating. I can live with these! Hi ho, hi ho, it's the lazy life for me!

Heart Healthy Tips - Circa 1972

 Don't run or walk fast to catch anything - train, bus, streetcar of any other vehicle.

Don't walk against a high wind as this throws an extra strain on the heart.

Don't do anymore climbing than is necessary.

Slow up - use moderation in everything you do. 

Get out of bed slowly.

Cut down the speed at which you work or work for shorter hours is possible.

Go to bed early. Take a nap, or at least lie down during the afternoon.

Maintain a serene, optimistic outlook on life. Accept the situation and adjust to it cheerfully.

The loneliest man no longer

John Doe, Charleston, S.C.

I imagined John Doe to be a solitary, lonely gentleman but perhaps not. Married to Jane Doe?! Who knew?

According to Wikipedia, in the UK, Australia and New Zealand they use the name Joe Bloggs as we use John Doe? These are other "place holder" names: Average Joe, John Smith, John Q Public, Joe Shmoe and Tommy Atkins.

Below, I guess we can imagine what the Deaconess' favorite expression was.  "Do Jesus." May she rest in peace. Do Jesus.

Rainbow on a gloomy day

Rainbow Row, Charleston, S.C.

There are so many trees on this stretch of East Bay St. that it is hard to get a good picture of the row of houses that make up Rainbow Row. It is a little easier during the winter with some of the trees bare. Check out all these google images: Rainbow Row.

Rainbow Row: After the Civil War, this area of Charleston devolved into near slum conditions. In the early 1900s, Dorothy Porcher Legge purchased a section of these houses numbering 99 through 101 East Bay and began to renovate them. She chose to paint these houses pink based on a colonial Caribbean color scheme. Other owners and future owners followed suit, creating the "rainbow" of pastel colors present today. The coloring of the houses helped keep the houses cool inside as well as give the area its name.

Common myths concerning Charleston include variants on the reasons for the paint colors. According to some tales, the houses were painted in the various colors such that the intoxicated sailors coming in from port could remember which houses they were to bunk in.

 This vintage car happened to come by at just the right time!

Thank You Umbrella Girl!

College of Charleston, Charleston, S.C.

I was taking the short cut through the College of Charleston campus back home and this gal with an umbrella was kind enough to walk right into the perfect spot. Thank you!

Rainy day. It always seems to rain during the Southeastern Wildlife Exhibition but this year we happy to see it. I've been going through closets and piling old clothes into give-a-way bags. It is long past time to clean up around here.  I put an ad for five minutes on Craigslist and a lady my size is supposed to come by and pick them up off my porch.

I walked to Harris Teeter this morning and it seems to me the price of eggs has gone up. I'm talking Cadbury's of course. Yum.

Sunset on Meeting St.

Meeting St., Charleston, S.C.

I admit I didn't take it this evening since it is raining at the moment. This was Thursday evening when the light was so pretty.

These famous paintings improved by cats cracked me up: Famous Paintings Improved By Cats

Need to get your business online - for free? Google is sponsoring a one day workshop on Tuesday at Memminger Auditorium. Get the info here: americagetonline.com/south-carolina

Eugene reviewed the new Heart Woodfire Kitchen on James Island.  Eugene always makes me hungry.

An Apology for My Twenties by a gentleman blogger in his thirties.

Wow. A couple of big new apartment complexes planned for Charleston. I'd better go take some "before" pictures quick.

Did everyone go get wild at the Southeastern Wildlife Exhibition today? I walked through Marion Square so early they actually asked me to leave the tents since they were still setting up. Oooops.

Bill & Bob?

SEWE, Marion Square, Charleston, S.C.

Sweet little things. They were catching a last minute snooze before the Southeastern Wildlife Exhibition crowds descend on them. Zzzzzzz.

They are both male and still need names. What would suit two little goat boys?

Ride 'em, cowboy!

John C. Calhoun, Marion Square, Charleston, S.C.

I'm not a big fan of John C. Calhoun. In years gone by they raised his statue on a pedestal to keep people from throwing things at it.

I may not throw things at him but I do enjoy making him roll over in his grave by posing him in comical poses even if I have to lay on my belly to do it. This morning he was riding into town for the Southeastern Wildlife Festival on the Wells Fargo Carriage. Check here for the rest of the series of John C. Calhoun and his antics. Ride 'em cowboy!

Bloggers Walking

Bloggers Walking, Beaufain St., Charleston, S.C.

This isn't like my usual "Blog Hopping" category where I link to local blogs. This time I actually bumped into two of my favorite local bloggers! Left is Kristen Walker from Charleston InsideOut  and in the middle is Jessica from Children of the Corm - a Charleston garden blog. We asked a couple passing by to take our picture. How fun is this! I was pleased that they recognized me as I marched by.

Wentworth Mansion, Charleston, S.C.

I had my camera ready and in hand because I had just snapped a picture of the Wentworth Mansion. The impressive building used to be an insurance company when I moved here and now is winning awards left and right as a top destination hotel. What a great building.

It's the weekend kids! Celebrate.

Waterfront Park Walking

Waterfront Park, Charleston, S.C.

I spent part of my day at the Mount Pleasant Hospital in meetings and ended up home early enough to walk in the pretty light. I did a good loop, found myself down at the Waterfront Park and walked along the Battery.

A lot of people were out although I seemed to catch the scene looking abandoned. Tents are being put up for Southeastern Wildlife Festival festivities. I almost forgot that was this weekend. The animal lovers and animal hunters are coming to town!

Corner Stores & Groceries

Bull St. Gourmet, Bull St., Charleston, S.C.

You listen to me talk about eating at the Bull St. Gourmet on King St. but this is the original Bull St. Gourmet location. It is still a popular spot actually on Bull St.  Food writer and cookbook author Holly Herrick wrote about both locations on her blog: Holly Herrick.

It is getting harder and harder for me to go for a walk knowing the tasty treats inside all of these locations.

I've heard so many people say they liked the Notebook. Now I know why!

Poet Marcus Amaker has a new website.

I need to go see these paintings of the image in a reflection ball at the Robert Lange Studio. Gorgeous!

G'night kids! My couch is whispering my name.

Sharing the love, and raising our sugar levels

Thanks to Alexandra Seabrook, Miss College of Charleston for putting on her tiara and heels and spreading smiles all over the hospital this morning. She was such a great sport and I marched her all over the building passing out candy treats and posing for pictures. She had the most dramatic high heel shoes on, her feet must have been numb.

I stayed up late last night baking coconut cupcakes for the Valentine Cupcake decorating contest. I never enter to be judged but I feel I should support the project since it is a fundraiser for my favorite charity - the American Heart Association. There was no doubt who was the clear winners were. Look at these amazing cupcakes!

Guess where Charleston?

Can anyone guess what lovely restaurant this is now?

I had dinner here this evening with my friend Jo and her husband Tom and it was wonderful. I watched it change from the abandoned Patio Famous Tea Room to an upscale neighborhood restaurant. I wonder if anyone else remembers when it looked like this.

Check out these pictures of dogs going after toys underwater. They look ferocious!

I am baking coconut cupcakes for a Valentine Cupcake sale tomorrow. The house smells yummy.

Edit: The answer is Trattoria Lucca on Bogard St.  It was guessed quickly on Facebook. Monday is family style service with platters delivered to the table to pass around and share. Salads, pasta, meat and dessert. It was all delicious.

Baby Elephant Tries to Walk

Sweet! I took this snippet of video at the Kaziranga Sanctuary on my trip to India in November.

The Grande Dames of East Bay St.

East Bay St., Charleston, S.C.

East Bay St., Charleston, S.C.

East Bay St., Charleston, S.C.

East Bay St., Charleston, S.C.

The sky was so brilliantly blue yesterday it made me look at everything with a fresh eye. I never think of East Bay as a beautiful street but look at these grand houses. They are incredible. Cars move quickly along here so we aren't as likely to appreciate how glorious these buildings are.

I've mentioned that my own house (not one of these) is for sale. I have a big old wooden historic house built in 1840 and share it with two tenants who are kind enough to contribute monthly to my tax and insurance bills. My hope is to downsize to something small and low maintenance.  I don't expect it to sell anytime soon in the current market and remind myself that downtown Charleston isn't the worst place to be stuck. True. Two blocks from the Farmer's Market, King St., restaurants etc. Life could be worse, eh?!

Meanwhile, someone looked at the house yesterday and wants to come back today so I am cleaning up and getting ready to go out for my walk. If I'd won the $325,000 lottery last night none of this would matter.

Stay warm kids!

Down the Garden Path

Pirates Courtyard, Charleston, S.C.

I've passed this alleyway on Church St. time after time but always assumed it was private property and never actually entered through the gate. Apparently there is a courtyard at the back of what is called the Pirate's House. This travel photography website has more information: History Trekker.

Holy cold toes, kids! It is chilly out there. It has been a lovely day but walking out this evening in the wind is wicked cold. I hope all of our budding blossoms make it through the night. I have my electric blanket heating up.

I went to the symphony tonight and was so pleased to find a packed house. We were all there to hear Yuriy Bekker play the million dollar Stradivarius violin and play it he did. What a great treat! More info in the Post & Courier story.