John C. Calhoun sails in

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

I can't help it. I grab every chance I can to make John C. Calhoun squirm in his grave. His statue is conveniently placed on a pedestal so high that if I get down very low I can entertain myself by taking pictures of him in awkward situations. This time he sailed into town on a pirate ship.

Check out the rest of the John C. Calhoun moments here. Maybe I'll do a show. Heheh.

I enjoyed leftover Thai green curry and am back from my walk. It must be time for tea.

John C. Calhoun

Marion Square, Charleston, S.C.

Photography is about trying to see things from a different angle, right? No one could figure out what I was trying to take a picture of this morning when I spotted John C. Calhoun top of a giant lemon. Then he turned around and rode the Chick Fil A Cow.

I even have a snow dusted cloak shot.

From the back, John C. Calhoun always looks like he is flashing the city to me as he stands on top of his pedestal in Marion Square.

Shedding light on the subject

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

Tsk, tsk. John C. Calhoun appears to be flashing the sun. From the back he always looks like he is sweeping his coat open. This adds to my series of  John C. Calhoun antics.

Lake Marion, S.C.

I hope everyone had a good Christmas. This scene looks a bit dreary but it was a lovely day. I spent Christmas Eve and day in warm cabin by Lake Marion with my son. We were lazy and read, talked, ate well and watched a movie. I even got a morning bike ride in between the drizzle. It was a nice break. Thanks for all the lovely holiday greetings!

John C. Calhoun surveys the rubble

John C. Calhoun surveys the demolition of the old library, Marion Square, Charleston, S.C.

I like to mess with John C. Calhoun when I can and it can take a contortionists position to get him where I need him. Check here to see the other things he has done to keep me entertained.

John C. Calhoun just wanna have fun!

John C. Calhoun Balloon Ride, Charleston, SC

John C. Calhoun can't resist having fun with the Spoleto festival props and I can't resist documenting it. Check the back files to see his antics.

Hope everyone is having a good holiday weekend.

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!

John C. takes a stroll

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

The story goes that the statue of John C. Calhoun was so understandably hated by the black folk in Charleston that they deliberately carried things with them to toss when they walked by. Eventually it was raised on a pedestal overlooking Marion Square as it is now.

I don't go as far as throwing things at him but I do like to feature him in comical poses when there is a festival in town. Take that, Ye Defender of Slavery.

John C. Birdhead

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

I continue my efforts to make John C. Calhoun roll over in his grave. Check here to see the rest of the series.

Couldn't make myself go out for my walk tonight kids. It's me and my corner of the couch this evening. It's been a crazy day and my little brain crashed.

Strolling through the garden

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

I caught John C. Calhoun strolling through the garden at Marion Square. I like to pop up and surprise him and have a collection of photos to prove it. Boo!

Happy me! There is finally work being done on the building at Calhoun & King. It s one of the busiest corners in town and has been an empty eyesore for years. It is going to make so much difference when it is done and there is a hotel where the old library used to be. Progress is better than an abandoned shell.

Okay, kids. I just rowed across my living room for half an hour. Time to hit the recliner. I've been watching Top of the Lake. When you stream an entire season of a show on Netflix, it is like eating candy, you keep sneaking in just one more episode.

Charleston Farmer's Market

Charleston Farmer's Market, Marion Square, Charleston, SC   

Marion Square is a bustling and vibrant place these days as the Piccolo Spoleto Art show is set up at the same time as the regular Farmer's Market. Singers were singing, dancers were dancing, I bought a white hydrangea and John C. Calhoun took an art walk. I like to take an annual stroll through and drool on all the lovely paintings. It is all timed nicely to coincide with the perfect storm of deliciousness with SC peach season and silver queen corn.

John C. Calhoun goes for an art walk

John C. Calhoun framed

John C. Calhoun, Marion Square, Charleston, SC   

Framed! By the window that is. I caught this view from the parking deck across from Marion Square. Yep. That is how I get my exercise - climbing to the upper floors of parking buildings to see what I can see. I've treated our subject more kindly here than I usually do.

John C. walking in the garden

Marion Square, Charleston, S.C.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

John C. Calhoun walking in the garden that is Marion Square in the summer. Slightly more flattering that most pictures I take of him.

Unusual Blossom

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

His name is slapped on almost everything in South Carolina and every once and awhile he blossoms out of a palm tree to oversee the street named in his honor. John C. Calhoun was important politically - serving as Vice President and Secretary of War and Senator. The fact that he declared war on Canada in 1812 (hmmmmph) and believed that slavery was a positive good makes him the rare stink blossom in this scene.

Here are a few more views from my Calhoun Collection. He doesn't seem to mind posing:

Shepard Fairey decorates the Holy City

College Lodge, Calhoun St., Charleston, S.C.

Charleston artist Shepard Fairey is leaving his mark in an exciting way and I caught a few of the pieces of art and then happened on him in action. He was giving a talk at the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art  yesterday and then joined his team to finish the piece on King St. Photographer Bad Jon has a terrific series of the work being put up.

So far I've seen the one on College Lodge, on top of the Francis Marion Hotel and the one below on Groucho's Deli on King St. I understand there is another up by Butcher & Bee. I am loving this!

John C. Calhoun is very, very puzzled!

Shepard Fairey, Charleston, S.C.

How we do snow in the lowcountry

Vanderhorst St., Charleston, S.C.

No, we don't have snow but rumors of it made me look back on the fun shots I took after a perfect snow in 2010.

It was a Friday evening so I didn't have to worry about driving which was fortunate since Charleston closes down when we spot a snowflake. We had a couple inches of light fluffy snow and it was magical! It was the first snow many lowcountry children had ever seen. There was a snowball fight in front of my house and everyone was outside laughing and playing. I took these the next day.

Waterfront Park, Charleston, S.C.

No explanation for this one! Charleston, S.C.

John C. Calhoun needed his coat that night!, Charleston, S.C.

Lowcountry snow is so precious we guard it!

Help me! Charleston, S.C.

  

Charleston Food & Wine Festival

Marion Square, Charleston, SC   

The Charleston Food & Wine Festival is in full swing with participants wining and dining all over town this weekend and all the booths were getting set up for action as I walked through Marion Square this morning.  I spotted John C. Calhoun posing on top of the directional sign but no one tossed any food my way.

Movies at Marion Square

Marion Square, Charleston, S.C.

John C. Calhoun is showing his disapproval of this evening's movie. Not gonna watch it.