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. 

Rooftop

Wentworth Mansion, Charleston, SC

It's been a day of thunderstorms and dramatic skies. I caught this view of the roof of the Wentworth Mansion on my walk this morning.

I hope everyone else is ready for Monday. I'm not. 

Meeting St. Firestation Pup

Meeting Street, SC

The fire-station dalmatian is kept freshly painted in front of the station on Meeting St. Until I got down low for the shot I didn't realize his eyes were heart shaped. Sweet!

Gothic Ice House

Ice house at Botany Bay, Edisto, SC

I always detour for a visit to the sweet gothic style ice house when I visit Botany Bay. 

Seashells by the Seashore

Botany Bay Beach, Edisto, SC 

I picked the perfect day for a trip to Botany Bay beach. The sun was shining, dramatic skies, tide was low and there was a lovely breeze. I smile at the sign asking visitors not to take home sea shells because instead of taking them home they decorate with them and it has become a seashell wonderland! I love it.

Bastille Day - Charleston

Bastille Day, Charleston 2019

It seems I've been posting a series of Independence Day posts in a row. Canada, US and now Bastille Day. The festivities were hosted by Chef Nico at Nico Oyster & Seafood on Shem Creek. Happy Bastille day folks! The oysters were delicious!

Reading of the Declaration of Independence

Reading of the Declaration of Independence, Charleston, SC 

I go to this even each year if I am in town. It's always hot and humid and very meaningful to hear the Declaration of Independence read aloud in the same spot it was so many years ago.

Happy Canada Day!

Butter Tarts, Charleston, SC

Happy Canada Day to one and all! With dual citizenship I get to celebrate both holidays. It was a good excuse to bake a batch of butter tarts and deliver them around the hospital. I think I have some converts! Someone asked for the recipe and I said if they googled, "Butter Tarts Canada" they'd find as many versions as we have of shrimp and grits!

Just no nuts though. I am firmly on the raisin team.