World Peace

Hwy 176, S.C.

I took a picture of the same truck a year ago and it had an entirely different message that seemed full of anger. The artist seems to have had a more peaceful change of heart. World Peace. Who can argue with that?

I hope everyone had a good weekend. As usual I have saved all of my chores for the last hour of my weekend. Wash is in, dishwasher running, bills getting paid while I watch the one night of good tv - Midwives, Selfridges and Mad Men.  

How hot is it?

Old Country Store, Hwy 176, SC 

How hot is it? This is a repeat entry with a few additions. Last year I made it until August before posting it but gosh it has been a warm stretch.

 

It's so hot in South Carolina that...

* A seat belt makes a pretty good branding iron....
* When the temperature drops below 95, you feel a bit chilly.
* It's so hot outside it will make you return things you never stole.
* It's hotter than a steel playground at noon.
* You can attend any function wearing shorts and a tank top.
* The best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance.
* Hot water now comes out of both taps.
* You actually burn your hand opening the car door.
* You realize that asphalt has a liquid state.
• It's so hot that it makes me want to take off my skin and sit in my bones.
• It's so hot the birds have to use potholders to pull worms out of the ground.
• It's so hot I saw two trees fighting over a dog.
* It is so hot even the sea breeze feels like a hair dryer...
• It was so hot today I saw a dog chasing a cat and they were both walking.
• It's hotter than a June bride in a feather bed.
• It's so hot that the trees are creeping around looking for shade.
• It's stupid hot!
• It is hot enough to cure tobacco.
• It's hotter than the devil's underwear.
• It's another one of those aluminum foil sweater days.
* Hotter than a whorehouse on nickel night.
• It's hotter than a ginger mill in Hades.
* It's so hot you could spit fire. But, please don't.

 These are always fun. Stay cool kids.

Roadside signs

Hwy 176, SC 

The side of this trucking container gets painted periodically. None of the messages have been cheerful but this is the saddest. Poor pup. 

Signs of the times

Hwy 176, S.C.

Tsk, tsk. Even vegetarians aren't supposed to spray paint messages on buildings.

Busy day kids. I've been everywhere but upside down.

From the American Heart Association CEO breakfast in North Charleston, to the hospital in time to dash for a photo of a nursing award, into town as an invited guest at the Marketing Association lunch meeting at the Marriott on Lockwood. I got out just in time to make it back to work for our monthly manager's meeting.

No worries, I tried to squeeze a whole day's work into the last forty five minutes and pretending it was the end of my week I made it to the movies with a girlfriend and ended up at JPaulz for the first time in a long time. Yummers. Now I am nodding off on the couch happy to be off tomorrow.

How hot is it?

Old Country Store, Hwy 176, S.C.

How hot is it?

It's so hot in South Carolina that...

* A seat belt makes a pretty good branding iron.
* When the temperature drops below 95, you feel a bit chilly.
* It's so hot outside it will make you return things you never stole.
* It's hotter than a steel playground at noon.
* You can attend any function wearing shorts and a tank top.
* The best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance.
* Hot water now comes out of both taps.
* You actually burn your hand opening the car door.
* You realize that asphalt has a liquid state.
• It's so hot that it makes me want to take off my skin and sit in my bones.
• It's so hot the birds have to use potholders to pull worms out of the ground.
• It's so hot I saw two trees fighting over a dog.
* It is so hot even the sea breeze feels like a hair dryer...
• It was so hot today I saw a dog chasing a cat and they were both walking.
• It's hotter than a June bride in a feather bed.
• It's so hot that the trees are creeping around looking for shade.
• It's stupid hot!
• It is hot enough to cure tobacco.
• It's hotter than the devil's underwear.
• It's another one of those aluminum foil sweater days.
* Hotter than a whorehouse on nickel night.
• It's hotter than a ginger mill in Hades.
* It's so hot you could spit fire. But, please don't.

Compilation of previous hot summer posts plus a few facebook additions. These are always fun. Stay cool kids.

Recording the Memories

Not my grandmother's house, Hwy 176, S.C.

When I rush to take a picture of a new building I realize that what I wish I had was photos of what used to be there. I'll see the new place for the rest of my life but it is immediately hard to remember what used to be there.

I've been taking pictures long enough to have recorded some "before and afters" but this morning's Dear Abby column struck me as such a brilliant idea that I want you all to do it before it's too late. The writer recommends taking pictures of every room in your grandparent's home. I wish I had that!

I'm always talking about my grandparent's home in Beamsville, Ontario. They had glass front lawyer style bookshelves with large carved birds perched on top. They treated themselves to a bird carving to celebrate each wedding anniversary. The arched entry into the living room had a hoya plant with the little wax blossoms growing from one end to the other and oval frames on the wall of my Scottish deep sea fisherman great-grandfather with his pierced ear.

I wish I had good pictures of all these memories but it isn't too late for you. Borrow a wide angle lens if you need to and capture the memories!

ABBY: After Grandma passed away at 101, the thought of disman­tling her home and dispersing her belongings was heart­breaking because her house had remained unchanged for so many years. I knew we couldn’t keep everything, but never seeing her house again was too much to bear.

I asked my cousin to take photos of every room, every hallway, every closet and every view inside and out, so I could make an album of “Grandma’s House.” Now I have an album of photographs that makes me feel like I’m standing in the middle of it again. My cousin even photo­graphed the auction in which we sold the things none of the family wanted or couldn’t fit in their homes.

With all these reality TV programs that deal with hoarding and clutter, I wanted to share this idea as a healthy alternative to keeping “things” in place of memories. Looking at my photo album is even better than having the actual items because everything is in the setting I remember. What I’m trying to convey is, sometimes you really can’t take it with you, and a picture is the next best thing. — JULIE IN BRA­DENTON, FLA.

DEAR JULIE: Thank you for a valuable suggestion. I’m sure I’m not the only grand­child who wishes that she had thought of it when my grandparents’ home was be­ing dismantled. I’m sure that looking at your album brings back a multitude of happy memories.

AC in use

Old County Store, Hwy 176, S.C.

This is one of my favorite handwritten signs. Computer generated signs took so much fun out of life. Sadly this particular Country Store is closed.

My theory is that you don't ever get used to the heat. You simply get used to sweating in public. Drip, drip, drip.

It's so hot in South Carolina that...

* A seat belt makes a pretty good branding iron.
* When the temperature drops below 95, you feel a bit chilly.
* It's so hot outside it will make you return things you never stole.
* It's hotter than a steel playground at noon.
* You can attend any function wearing shorts and a tank top.
* The best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance.
* Hot water now comes out of both taps.
* You actually burn your hand opening the car door.
* You realize that asphalt has a liquid state.
* It's so hot you could spit fire. But, please don't.

He has a Point

Sign on Hwy 27, S.C.

He has a point, or two or three but I don't know what any of them are. Goodness. This took some effort and is right where Hwy 27 joins Hwy 176 in the lush and green back roads of South Carolina. At least we can agree with "Adopt your own trash."

Hope everyone is having a good Sunday. It is quickly slipping through our fingers.

This House

Hwy 176, S.C.

This House

This old house has seen the sunshine
of many different years.
This old house has seen some happiness
This old house has seen some tears.
This old house now seems so empty
Since you left with last goodbyes.
The smiles and talk, the happy laughs
Echo above the lonely sighs
Whether leaves are green in springtime
snow leaves lightly on the ground
This old house will hold the memories
Of all the old families sounds.

Edna Howard White

From my "South Carolina back roads" album. I don't believe I even got out of the car to grab the shot. I check for changes if I am traveling that way and the house has been worked on lately.

It does seem dark and late doesn't it? Thank you for all your kind comments and emails. They make my day.