Christmas year round

Christmas Trees, Hwy 61, Charleston, S.C.

I should save this sign for "Christmas in July" but truthfully they never do take it down.

Wow. The cheapest tickets to see Stephen Colbert in Charleston on July 1st are $67. Damn. I would have liked to go to that.

View of the Ashley River

Ashley River, Charleston, S.C.

Yesterday was the kind of day that makes lowcountry men without boats hurt deep inside when they cross the river. I need to keep a tissue handy. The sky was blue, the clouds billowy and the water still as a mirror waiting for a boat to make a ripple. I'm surprised there aren't more accidents on bridges.

I have a bad habit lately of coming home after a busy day, crashing with my dinner, being completely lazy until just before 9 p.m. and then I am refreshed and in the mood for a three mile hike.

Now, completely unrelated to anything except for the fact that both you and I like these kinds of things: Awesome people hanging together. Some of them are quite unexpected!

Patriotic Wear

Muddy Waters Coffee Shop, Hwy 61, Charleston, S.C.

I wore my best patriotic themed outfit for my walk this morning. Seems like someone could have offered me a ride.

:)

Memorial Day

Marion Square, Charleston, S.C.

This scene was taken a few years ago at Marion Square but worth reposting.

A commenter on Facebook this morning said something that felt very meaningful. He wrote, "I always try to make sure I act in such a way to make those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice proud. No one should lay down their life for me in vain." Amen.

And I'm proud to be an American,
where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.
~Lee Greenwood

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - Faith, Hope & Charity

Holly Hill, S.C.

I spent the day in the country with good friends and good food. Ribs....yum. It's a lovely drive at this time of year. The fields are green, the corn looks healthy and every time I turn the corner and see this pretty little church I am reminded of how grateful I should be. I've posted it before but this afternoon I stopped to revisit. I even like the name of the church, Faith, Hope and Charity Church. How charming is that?

Thanks to my companions for making it such a lovely day! I made them all look so awful in prank photos I mustn't show them here to protect the innocent. Ha! Let's just say I ordered these Photo Paddles and made them all use them. Saints, I tell ya, my friends are saints!

Random Piccilo Spoleto Festival

Goodness! I felt under dressed. I need to get some color on.

Charleston needs to do this!

C'mon Charleston! What can we do? This is Grand Rapid's response to being called a "dying" town. What fun!

What song would be perfect for Charleston? Who should be in it?

Let the Festival begin!

Customs House, Charleston, S.C.

I always miss the opening events but took advantage of the cheap tickets last night (free!) and detoured my evening walk to listen to the symphony and watch ballet at the foot of the Customs House. What a glorious evening. We could hear thunder but it didn't rain. On the way home I stood for a while and listened to the concert at the College of Charleston cistern. Spoleto Festival has arrived! Get your tickets here.

Someone called my name out and waved from a car on George St. and happily she left a comment leading me to this amazing set of pictures from the Family Circle tennis mixed doubles match in April. You must go see these pictures. Wowza! They are amazing. What a lucky find.

Okay kids - go have a great day. I need to make potato salad for a get together tomorrow and go to a 60th anniversary party this afternoon.

Friday Hodge Podge

Doors, Charleston, S.C.

I'd make for an odd profile if my car was searched this week: two Japanese swords, two knives with belts, helmet camera, box of pirate wear and a change of clothes that just happen to be all black. I have a good reason for each item but all together they look a little odd.

I will have fifteen minutes on Tuesday morning to dress three hospital CEO's as pirates and I couldn't bear to make them hold cheap plastic swords so I called in favors from my friends (hi Bill!) who had real antique weapons.

Blogspot has been messed up for me and a lot of other people but I think I have it fixed on my end finally. Blah. Things go along merrily and then you wake up and everything is screwed up.

Today's photos: Those worn doors are on my regular walking route and every time I see them without a car parked in front I have to grab a shot. The vines below are confederate jasmine at the community garden on Bogard St. and the chalk heart caught my eye.

I stopped to get my oil changed by the gentlemen at Sears at Citadel Mall on my way home and it gave me the exact amount of time to go to Sesame for grilled corn on the cob and ultimate grilled cheese. It's one of my favorite meals. The phone rang as I licked my fingers and paid my bill and I recommended that they advertise an "Oil Change Special" meal. Normally the Sears auto guys give me a certificate for $5 off a purchase at Sears and I buy myself a pair of panties while I wait. It's not a bad system. Fresh oil, grilled corn and new panties all in one trip.

Spoleto festival begins today. Any good ticket recommendations?

Friday's ball of fluff

Max, Mt. Pleasant, S.C.

I've been having problems with blogger and my photo storage site Smugmug lately so just a quick treat for you this morning - this adorable scrap of fluff is Max one of the first pet therapy dogs at the new Mount Pleasant Hospital. Isn't he adorable? Pet therapist Linda Baker gave me permission to make Max our daily photo. He makes me smile just looking at the picture so I imagine he is a perfect therapy dog.

Hang in there kids! One more day to finish all the work on the weeks "to do" list before a long weekend.

Sugar, sugar!

Cannon St., Charleston, S.C.

This colorful scene on the side of Sugar Bakeshop on Cannon St. caught my attention on my walk this evening. Sad things is, I haven't even been to the new bakery shops around town. When you are trying to behave and eat healthy it's hard to think of what I'd get to eat at a bakery, so I haven't even gone inside yet. What a shame. It's not like I don't have a sweet tooth. I do need to give them a try. Any recommendations?

Going camping this summer? How about a VW camper tent! Funny :)

If the shoe fits

Ashley River, Charleston, S.C.

This is pretty cool.

My friend Andre is a Deacon in the Catholic Church and because 1) he used to work in the restaurant business and 2) he is the coolest Deacon around, he is very much in demand to perform weddings for the most interesting people in town.

This evening Matt Galvin from Coastal Yacht Charters and his fiancee Sarah, invited us out on their boat at the end of the day. We nibbled on cheese and sipped white wine while they discussed wedding plans. What was important? That the marsh be green and the river at high tide when they said their vows. Gotta love people who have their priorities straight. A simple sweet wedding at Lowndes Grove overlooking the marsh followed by a party with their loved ones.

New Board of Charming & Quirky

St. Philip & Line St., Charleston, S.C.

Charleston has a Board of Architectural Review that reviews changes to historic building but after seeing scaffolding in front of another one of my old favorite hand painted signs, I hereby declare the establishment of the Board of Charming & Quirky.

Folks, you are simply going to need to apply before you paint over signs that are so much part of the character of the lowcounty. I LOVE the hand painted "Home of the Hand Wash" sign. Aren't there days when we could all use a gentle hand wash?

It looks like we are all going to have to get up and go to work tomorrow after all. I've been loving all the rapture jokes and photos.

Anyone else find the Charleston Farmer's Market so packed that it isn't much fun anymore? I used to love the market but now it is almost impossible to walk through the aisles, food lines are too long and hoping to find a place to sit down for a bite is out of the question. Can the stalls be spread out a bit, please? Pretty please? I do like my fresh tomatoes and peaches but lately the whole thing just makes me cranky.

Charleston Girl painted the Folly boat for her wedding announcement! It's been a long, long time since I've done that.

Suzie visited one of my old haunts - Magnolia Cemetery.

Friskies has made an iPad game for cats. Why not!

Spoleto Festival tickets are out. Whew. Hard to believe it is that time of year already.

Maybe I am wrong. Maybe they are repairing and repainting the Home of the Hand Wash sign. Have a good week kids!

Helmet Camera Needed

Vanderhorst St., Charleston, S.C.

Anyone have a helmet camera I could borrow/rent for a project? I need one that can record for about 2.5 hours bike ride. Let me know if you have any leads please!

Polaris Missile Drive By

Polaris Missile, Hwy 26, Charleston, S.C.

I was sitting on the passenger side heading up Hwy 26 yesterday and grabbed this quick shot of the Polaris missile that is visible around the Remount Rd. exit. This is a quick teaser for Eugene who intends to track it down and get a good photo of it this summer. I want to see it when he does!

Pied Pieper of Joyful Music

Charleston, S.C.

Check out the energy and joy in these kids faces. The students from the West Ashley High School Special Education Choir entertained us at lunch yesterday. I don't even know the teacher's name but he was amazing, giving each student a chance to shine - sing or dance and then led them on a merry parade. It was such a happy event.

Friday, sweet Friday

Unitarian Cemetery, Charleston, S.C.

The prayer flags in yesterday's picture reminded me of this one taken in the Unitarian Cemetery.

It's Friday kids! I didn't accomplish everything I intended to this week but I'm pleased to see the weekend. The Terrace Theater is showing movies at 4:30 p.m. now, and I've spent the last couple of hours letting the work week wash away while I sipped my hot tea, chewed black licorice and watched Potiche.

Tilted houses

Warren St., Charleston, S.C.

With old Charleston houses it's hard to tell if I've held the camera crooked or if the house is. I don't think it was me this time.

If the end of the world is on Saturday, I should take tomorrow off and have fun shopping, eh!

Dad's little helper

Thomas St., Charleston, S.C.

Dad's little helper. Learning recycling early.

I am on a peanut butter toast kick and I think it's time for a cuppa tea and toast. I am such a natural little old lady. G'night kids.

Family history by the book

Charleston, S.C.

I moved a bookshelf this weekend, emptying the dusty shelves onto a bed, throwing out Budget Travel magazines from ten years ago saved "just in case".

It's almost as good as reading a diary going through old books. The pile on the bed was a snapshot of interests that took me so far back into my childhood I tumbled down a rabbit hole of memories.

I shared common interests with my grandfather and have some of his old books. He loved art, music, birds and magic. I spent many an hour in his library drawing from sketchbooks, learning the escape secrets of Houdini and pondering hypnotizing my siblings to my advantage. I still have his books on British witchcraft, figure drawing and water colours of ships at sea.

I spent time as a kid, studying the faces in the "Beautiful Children" prints by the old masters, fascinated that the odd little people in the paintings were considered beautiful in their time. Through the years I added calligraphy and bird carving books which he would have liked, and I know he'd be proud of the magic and science tricks for kids from when my children were little.

My grandfather came from Scotland as Alexander Cameron Auchinachie. When no one in Canada could pronounce his Gaelic name without it sounding like a double sneeze he finally legally dropped it and went by his clan name Cameron. I am pleased to have at least one book signed before the name change.

Happy Birthday Florence!

Florence Nightingale, Sock Monkey, Charleston, S.C.

Blog statistics tell me that one of the most frequently search terms leading folks to Charleston Daily Photo is "Dr. Sock Monkey". Ha! That makes me very proud.

To even things out we had Florence Nightingale pose in front of the hospital for her official birthday portrait last week during Nurses Week. Now I can welcome visitors looking for Nurse Sock Monkey as well.

Tuesday Night Hodge Podge

Broad St., Charleston, S.C.

Time flies! I took this one on my walk last weekend. The parade of pretty young gals dressed for an event caught my eye.

The nice thing about the world ending on the 21st is that I won't have to pay my flood insurance bill. That is a relief.



Pecha Kucha 10 tickets are on sale for May 25th. Act fast if you want to go, they usually sell out quickly.

My new tenant emailed to say she found "claws and tails" in her oven. Oooops. Kinda looks like we practice voodoo witchcraft around here. The previous occupant liked to hunt and he left some odd bits and pieces drying under the gas pilot light warmer. I knew exactly what happened since he had given me a wild boar skull as a gift before he left but I am sure it was a little freaky.

It was this kind of weekend, wasn't it? I have random fire ant bites to prove it and a few splashes of blue paint left from painting a little table to match my Adirondack chairs. Sweet. I do shower, I promise, but I get streaks of paint in odd places and miss scrubbing them off until someone at work notices.

Governor's Volunteer Awards 2011

S.C. Statehouse, Columbia, S.C.

I have spent the whole day proud as punch. I wrote a nomination that won the Gardner family the Governor's Award for Volunteerism in the Family Category. Between the Gardner brothers Tom and Gary and Gary's wife Reggie these folks do so much to help in the Lowcountry it is mind boggling. With 5,000 hours of hospital volunteer service at Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital under their belts, they also work as Red Cross Disaster Relief Volunteers, staff the Navy Clinic, support the American Heart Association, Mended Hearts Support Group, serve as Poll workers and so much more. I can't think of any family more deserving.

I've been going to these annual awards for volunteers for many years and this year, for the first time, the Governor actually came to present the awards. Can you believe that? It never made any sense to me but I was delighted that Governor Haley took the time out of her schedule to join us and honor volunteers in South Carolina. She was gracious enough to stay around for photos ops after the ceremony and let us use the Lace House on the Governor's property grounds for our luncheon. I was very pleased.

The Lowcountry made us proud today, besides the Gardner family, MUSC's "CARES" Clinic (Community Aid Relief Education & Support) won the Volunteer Group Award and David Beasley, nominated by the American Red Cross brought home the Legacy Volunteer Award. Thanks to SCAVA and TUW for a wonderful day! More photos here.

PS: I didn't get your comments in time to take messages to the Governor but in this shot, it looks like I did! Heheh.

Decorative Shutters

Morris St., Charleston, S.C.

I am off to the State House bright and early. Any messages for our Governor?

Free money!

Spring St., Charleston, S.C.

I bet someone watches from a window laughing as people try to pick up the dollar bill. It is set in a puddle of clear acrylic. Heheh.

Dragon Boat Races are Coming to Town!

Dragon Boat Charleston, S.C.

This event is a phenomena, I tell ya - kids, tents, costumes, picnics, good looking men in Viking helmets, cancer survivors, athletes, so many friends! The whole thing is amazing. Congratulations to the organizers, paddlers and winners. More here.