Lowcountry Local First's Chef's Potluck

Middleton Place, Charleston, SC   

I shouldn't need to eat for a week. My friend Jo and I went to Middleton Place for the Lowcountry Local First's Chef's Potluck benefit this evening and tasted so many delicious dishes. More than a dozen participating local chefs were paired with local farmers, fishermen and ranchers to create the tasty treats we enjoyed. 

Proceeds from the event benefit Lowcountry Local First’s “Growing New Farmers” Program.  Thank you to all the teams who worked their weekend to make this event so successful. Everything was perfect!

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - Pineville Chapel

Pineville, SC 

In the mid to late nineteenth century, Pineville was a busy little village with as many as a hundred buildings, including an academy, racetrack, library, churches and homes. People were attracted by the pine trees and thought it was a cooler and healthy environment. 

Sadly most of the town was burned by Union troops at the close of the Civil War in April 1865. Following the war, much of the land that made up the village was converted for use as farmland. There is a sign leading to the Pineville Historic District but it is a few scattered of buildings. The main one is this beautiful chapel on Matilda Circle. 

Confederate Jasmination!

Confederate Jasmine, East Bay St., Charleston, SC   

I had to do an errand in town this morning that led me to do my walk on the East Bay, Wentworth, Society St. route and the beautiful gardens made me want to come home and shape up my own little yard. The confederate jasmine is in full bloom.

I have nothing to compare to this glory but I did plant my caladiums this afternoon. I'll check to see if they have bloomed first thing in the morning. I am an impatient gardener.

Sadness at Cattle Creek

Cattle Creek Campground, Rowesville, SC    

I have visited a few of the tent campgrounds in South Carolina and consider myself fortunate to be have been invited to one during camp meeting week so I was heart broken last month when I heard that a fire had destroyed over a dozen of the historic wooden tent structures at the Cattle Creek campground.  The fire apparantly started as a grass fire but was considered suspicious. It broke my heart watching owners come to see their tent in ashes. Previous visit: Cattle Creek Campground

Dining out for Life

Pam Grier, Dining out for Life, Charleston, SC 

Today was Dining our for Life day when participating restaurants donate 15% or more to the Ryan White program here in Charleston which provides services for those with HIV/Aids. Actress Pam Grier is the spokesperson and she made a personal appearance at the Food Truck rally we had at lunch time. I had heard she was a dog lover so arranged for some of our Pet Therapists to be on hand. They were a big hit!

Thanks to all of my friends who then joined me for a delicious dinner at The Gathering Cafe. They also supported the cause with a donation of 15%. We had a great time!

Lucky rabbit foot

Huey Cooper, Lake City, SC   

Hmmm....looking up the details on this statue in Lake City, SC I discovered that he was a beloved pan handler who let folks rub his lucky rabbit good for a nickel. The other interesting fact is that the police department built him a little house and he lived to be 105. He sounds like a character that found a home in their hearts.

I realize I owe you some actual Charleston Daily Photos but I did get a good haul of blog fodder shots on my recent trip to Lake City. I'll bring you back home to the lowcountry shortly. 

The statue, created by Florence’s resident sculptor Alex Palkovich, is a bronze, larger than life portrait of Huey Cooper based on photographs of the man sitting in one of his favorite spots. Cooper became a Lake City icon with his lucky rabbit’s foot and walking cane, his requests for nickels and his whistling invitations.
Originally hailing from Williamsburg County, Cooper made Lake City his home and lived in many places throughout the town: in the shed at the back of one couple’s yard, in another behind one grandmother’s home, in a small home built for him by the city’s police department behind the now-gone Dairy Queen.
A familiar face in Lake City for decades, several generations of those growing up in Lake City have a story or two to share about Huey Cooper. Most can recall giving him nickels to rub his lucky rabbit’s foot – something today’s visitors can now continue. His statue proudly offers a rabbit’s foot for luck just as Cooper once did and a small coin slot in his pants pocket allows nickels to be deposited.

Monkey Photographer

Monkey Photographer, Cross, SC  

I passed this monkey years ago! When I spotted him again not far from Cross, SC I had to grab a shot. Sadly, during my absence he has lost an arm. Nice to see you monkey photographer!

Walking Quotes

Thoreau, Lake City, SC   

I found a few good walking quotes in a botanical display in Lake City, SC

Portrait Contest - Artfields

Artfields, Lake City, SC   

There was a respectful hush in the building where the portrait contest was taking place at Artfields in Lake City. The artists were painting their models on the ground floor and observers were allowed to walk in on either side and watch the work in progress. Most of the models had two different artists.

It was fascinating to watch. Twenty-four artists competed for "Best in Show" and over $1500 in cash prizes while creating portraits in three four hour timed rounds.

ArtFields 2017

Lake City, SC    

If you are artsy, all roads lead to Lake City this week. Since 2013, this week long art festival in little Lake City offers more that $120,000 in prizes and invites attendees to pop into almost every business in town from barbershops to boutiques to enjoy the art on display. Everyone in town seems to be in on the project. I particularly enjoyed the elementary and high school art. Some of it was pretty incredible. The festival continues through next weekend. Go if you can!

Artfields: An annual, nine-day art competition in Lake City, South Carolina – and the largest competition of its kind – Artfields awards more than $120,000 in cash prizes to artists from across the Southeast. And, it’s also infused new energy, creativity, and growth into Lake City and its surrounding communities.

Jasmine time!

Charleston, SC    

The Confederate Jasmine is in bloom and the perfume is everywhere. I don't have any in my garden and I probably should be fined for that in Charleston. 

Mirror, mirror on a ball

Charleston garden, Charleston, SC   

There are no dull walks on the lower peninsula. Every gate can hide a beautiful garden. They put me to shame and make me want to get home and get to work on my yard. This was lovely. I hope they didn't see me sticking my camera through their fence. :)

Easter colors

Charleston, SC   

The house colors looked so right for Easter and then I noticed the wreath on the door was egg themed.

Speaking of eggs, I ate my last Cadbury's Easter egg so I reckon it's time to wean off the seasonal sugar binge and straighten out my act. Back to oranges.

I've been doing some gardening trying to make a woodland pathway with ferns and shade plants on the side of my house. I worked on it yesterday afternoon and did a little this evening. I can tell you that bags of mulch have not gotten any lighter. Ouch.

More blossoms!

Colonial Lake, Charleston, SC    

I did a quick walk in town this morning and I'm glad I did. Charleston is a garden in bloom. The Parks Conservancy did a lot of work at Colonial Lake and today it is paying off. These brilliant pink roses are growing around all of the Palmetto trees at the lake and are in full bloom. It is quite a show.

Easter Blossoms

West Ashley garden, Charleston, SC 

I stopped by my friend Mary's home West Ashley yesterday morning to tour her garden. I knew she was a gardener and she'd offered to give me cuttings but I had no idea of the scale! It was beautiful. Both Mary and her husband had sections of the garden that they tended to and it seemed that almost every plant had a story.

Needless to say I came home with lot's of cuttings and spend today and $$ at Home Depot working on my own little yard. Thanks Mary!

I hope everyone had a good Easter. I do love seeing all the happy family photos on Facebook at this time of year.