The Great Healthcare Pumpkin Carving Contest 2013

Surgical Scene by Rehab Services

Each year in October I see a spike in blog hits and can track most of them to people searching for ideas for pumpkin decorating contests in hospitals. They land on my blog because clearly I have the most oddly talented coworkers in the world. Here is a full surgery scene decorated by our Rehab Department. Check out the close up of the top surgeon pumpkin below with his aspirating syringe of pumpkin pie filling.
 

Pumpkin Surgeon with aspirated pumpkin pie filling

Top prize went to the Emergency Dept.

I.S. Dept has a sense of humor!

Rave the Tatas! Women's Services

Last minute entry by Maintenance Engineering

Easiest costume ever! Where is Waldo? I am on the left.

Zombie Make Up Tutorial

   Zombie Makeup Tutorial from Modern Mediaworks on Vimeo.

Just for fun! This one is a few years old and from my brief stint as a Zombie actress in Brunch of the Living Dead. Just in time for Halloween! Heheh. I look so serious.

Reflections

Reflections, Charles Towne Landing, S.C.

I juggled multiple balls in the air all day today, kids and then ended my day visiting one of my volunteers who is home bound. She made me laugh with little doggies snuggled up and peaking out from her skirts and shirts. I pretty much crashed with a good book after I got home and now have to wake up enough to get myself to bed. Yawn.

This evening's pictures are from a recent walk at Charles Towne Landing.
The park is close to my house and always a good walk. I wish they rented bikes like they used to. I reckon I need to get a bike rack for my car sooner or later. Riding in traffic holds no appeal for me but the park is a perfect spot for a ride.

Y'all don't stay up too late and turn the lights out. 

Charles Towne Landing, S.C.

Here's looking at you, kid!

Seeing eye to eye on Broad St. , Charleston, S.C.

BLFs Forever! That would be Best Leopard Friends Forever.

In the summer of 2011 I wrote this entry after vandals had destroyed one of the pair of leopards in front of the Peoples Building on Broad St. The poor lonely leopard on the left was left alone with no partner to share a joke with or to catch his eye as they overlooked the passing traffic on Broad St. It was so sad to see his empty spot. This weekend as I drove by I almost hit a parked car when I spotted two leopards! I pulled over to say hello and got this shot.

The work on the replacement leopard is very well done. A year or so ago a stone mason in the upstate found my earlier images and asked for more so he could see clear pictures of the missing leopard. At that time he wasn't sure if he had the contract so I don't know if my shots were used for the new model but I am very pleased. Things are as they should be.

Attack of the giant spiders

Giant spiders, Charleston, S.C.

Attack of the giant spiders! I do love people who go all out for my amusement. Thanks folks!

I took my son to brunch at Madra Rua this morning to celebrate his thirty-first birthday. How did that happen? I swear he was just born a few years ago.

Dash for Trash - Charleston

Citadel Green Team - Dash for Trash, Meeting St., Charleston, S.C.

When I parked my car this morning I noticed groups of college students picking up trash and debris and filling up shopping carts. One of the students explained that they were participating in the Dash for Trash. What a great bonus for the city. Thank you, thank you! Later on I caught this group from the Citadel's Green Team and they were willing to pose for a quick photo.

Who: Student teams of 10 or less
What: Litter collecting scavenger hunt
When: October 26th 2013
Where: Liberty Square (in front of the aquarium), free parking
How: Register at  http://tinyurl.com/DashforTrash2013

Registration closes Wednesday October 16th

Volunteer student teams grab a grocery cart, garbage bags and gloves and dash into downtown Charleston to participate in the annual litter-collecting scavenger hunt. Teams of students scour the city for cigarette butts, used batteries, old hub caps and bagged dog litter to rack up points. Each type of litter has a different value associated with it and teams that find one of the Golden Tickets get to add even more points to their score. The student teams that show the most spirit, collect the most recyclables and accumulate the most points will win prizes.
Dash for Trash is an annual event that is co-sponsored by the College of Charleston Center for Civic Engagement and Keep Charleston Beautiful. Dash for Trash gives students the opportunity to help clean up downtown Charleston while enjoying some friendly competition with other students. Dash for Trash is aimed at preventing future littering through increased awareness of Charleston’s anti-litter laws.

Free Hugs at the Charleston Farmer's Market

Free Hugs, Charleston Farmer's Market, Charleston, S.C.

Free hugs! After I took the photo it was pointed out that there was a difference. One gentleman offered Free Hugs but the other specialized in Deluxe Hugs for $2.

Hmmmm. Decisions, decisions.

I took the Free Hug and gave them a buck for posing with me.

Cobblestones to Cocktail Shoes

Charleston Shoe Company, King St., Charleston, S.C.

Cute little store front for the Charleston Shoe Company. Did you know we had a shoe company? I've walked by frequently but it only settled in my brain recently that it was a local company. Here is their story. I even had this fun shot of the red boot (below) featured on a previous entry.

Teeny, tiny houses of Charleston

Wentworth St., Charleston, S.C.

It might not be that tiny but in comparison to the neighboring houses it counts. It is a sweetie, isn't it? I thought it might be for sale so we could check out photos of the interior but I believe the sign goes with the house on the right.

Delicious, cook weather! I'm not complaining.
 

What do you want on your tombstone?

She was the sunshine of our home

She took us to church

She looked well to the ways of her household

Home is the sailor, home from the sea and the hunter home from the hill

Beautiful, daring, exuberant and compassionate. Heaven has many riches.

Fall color in the lowcountry

Charles Towne Landing, Charleston, S.C.

This is the scene that greeted me at the entrance to Charles Towne Landing on Sunday. Wow. It was beautiful. Also below, a reminder that it is almost time for the annual Ginko Biloba party when the leaves turn bright yellow and twirl to the ground. Magic. Two of the very best are at the Charleston Library Society but Charles Towne Landing has a couple as well.

In other news, Pecha Kucha 20 tickets go on sale tomorrow at 6 .pm. I haven't had much luck being free to get there recently but the tickets sell in a snap so be ready to order if you want to go: Charleston Creative Parliament.

 

See the tree, dear?

Deer Head Oak, McClellanville, S.C.

See the deer? Nope. Neither do I. It is a magnificent oak tree but it is called Deer Head Oak Tree and although I squinted, stared and circled the tree, I can't see it.

The Deerhead Oak is both larger in circumference, 30.6 feet, and height, 67 feet, than the famed Angel Oak on Johns Island, SC estimated by some to be more than 1,500 years old and thought to be the oldest living thing east of the Mississippi River. Of course, it is hard to estimate the age of these ancient trees, which predate the discovery of America by the Europeans, because boring samples are not reliable due to a tendency for the live oaks heart wood to rot.
It takes some creativity to see the deer head, with its knobby eyes and nose and long antler branches, but no matter if you can't. The value in the tree comes not from its likeness to an animal, but from its beauty and history.

A giant oak stands in the town,
Its known as the Deer Head Tree.
Surely the oldest living thing
Within our community.
For centuries rooted in place,
Watching the seasons pass.
No telling just how old it is,
Or how long yet it may last.
I sometimes wonder if this old tree
Had senses and wit ad tongue,
What stories it might tell us,
Of events since it was young.
~By James O. McClellan

They are correct. If it is 1,500 years old it may have looked like a deer, five hundred years ago. It is a grand dear tree. 

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - St. James Santee Episcopal

St. James Santee Episcopal, Chapel of Ease, McClellanville, S.C.

It's been awhile since I've added to the Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance series but I have a lovely one for you today. This is the St. James Santee Episcopal Chapel of Ease in McClellanville, S.C.  I asked about the chapel location at the museum and was told the door would be open for my visit.

St. James Santee Episcopal Church: The church framework of South Carolina longleaf pine and cypress was handcrafted the "old way," mortised and tenoned together, and the black cypress shingles, which cover the roof and exterior sidewalls, were shaped with handsaws. The designs of the interior furnishings were the creations of Lucas, who drew them on longleaf pine boards for rendering with keyhole saws. His final touch was the installation of the chan­deliers. He died in 1914.

I hope everyone has had a good weekend. As usual I am doing all my chores in the last few hours of the weekend. I can do it. I can.

McClellanville, S.C.

McClellanville, S.C.

An hour up the coast McClellanville is a sweet oak tree shaded marsh front village. I loved it. I paid my $3 and walked through the museum, checked out the few artsy shops on Pinckney St., the Dear Head Oak tree, peeked in the Chapel of Ease and walked through the cemetery. More information here. I definitely need to marry someone in McClellanville and live happily every after, doncha think?

This little piggie

Tradd St., Charleston, S.C.

This little piggie looks like he is ready to nibble on the greenery. These folks on Tradd St. always have a lovely window display.

In other news, I bought a rowing machine. Gulp. I've never been an "indoor" exerciser but as it starts to get dark earlier, if I let myself crash after work it is pitch dark by the time I am ready to go out marching. So, we shall see. Will I, or won't I? I've rowed for half an hour three evenings in a row. Hopefully I can keep it up. I will expect to win every arm wrestling challenge in a couple of weeks.

Three reasons to come to Charleston

Conde Nast Traveler readers have again voted us the best city in America—here's the video the Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau produced (featuring American Idol alum Elise Testone) to secure our bragging rights. Thanks to Charleston Grit!

Through the ages

SCRUBS "U" Surgical Careers

It's been a busy couple of days, kids. From recognition of senior volunteers at the Charleston Rifle Club yesterday at lunch, listening to Lieutenant Governor Glen McConnell talk about Aging in Place in the Lowcountry at Charleston Landing in the evening, to hosting thirty teenagers interested in surgical careers in the Operating Room at Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital tonight. I think I might sleep well.

PS: That is just a piece of roast beef. I promise! We like the students to feel what it is like to cut and cauterize flesh.

Retired volunteers who sew and knit at home, Charleston Rifle Club

Celebrating Aging in Place event, Charlestown Landing, Charleston, S.C.

In honor of a favorite

Brick inscription, King St., Charleston, S.C.

Someone liked their dog well enough to pay for a brick inscription. The same person liked their whiskey enough to name their dog after it. I found a row of pet inscriptions on King St. The streets were closed to traffic on Sunday so I could actually look down without getting run over.

I'm not saying I made the best potato soup in the world this evening but it was darned good and I am full. Yum.

Here are some palmetto roses for you nice folks. Enjoy! I gave him all the change I had left to take the photo since I didn't actually want a rose. 

Second Sunday on King St.

Second Sunday, King St., Charleston, S.C.

I hope business owners are reaping the benefits of Second Sunday on King St. because it was jammed packed! I haven't walked through during the actual event for quite awhile and I was amazed. It was a hustle and bustle of activity.

I laugh at myself because I catch myself dodging crowds on a busy sidewalk when the whole point of the event is that automobiles are blocked so you are free to walk in the street. There were so many dogs on display by proud owners it could have been promoted as a dog walking event. Lots of sidewalk dining since the weather is heavenly at the moment and some great street musicians.