Let's all move here

St. George, SC   

Everyone wants to live in a friendly place! Clearly that is St. George, SC. They have it painted right on a wall in their park so it must be true. 

Although you've missed it for this year, St. George is the home of the Grits Festival and the crowning of Miss Grit and an opportunity to roll around in a giant tub of grits. 

History of the World Grits Festival
In 1985 The Manager of the St. George, South Carolina Piggly Wiggly Supermarket,  Bill Hunter was giving a broker of a large grits company an order.  The broker made a remark that his company sure shipped a lot of grits into St. George, considering how small the town was and its meager population(around 2000 at the time).  A week or two later another broker from another major grits company made a similar remark about his company shipping such a large amount of grits into this small town.  The Manager spoke to the two Owners of the Piggly Wiggly, John Walters and George Axson.  They all agreed that if it proved to be true, that we did consume a disproportionately large amount of grits, that they would do some research to find out just how much we did eat.
As it turned out, the people of St. George actually ate more grits per capita than any other place in the world!  We were the GRITS EATING CHAMPIONS!!!  Thus the World Grits Festival was born.  

Patriotic Peanut Party on Wheels

Boiled Peanuts, Ridgeville, SC 

At first glance Peanut the dog seemed to be staffing this patriotic peanut vendor's bus in Ridgeville this afternoon. I like how they always say "Boil Peanuts." This one added "Picled Eggs."

Boiled peanut stations are such slices of Americana they may justify their own post category. I'll try to capture them more often even if it does require making a purchase!

Morning at Mullet Hall

Mullet Hall Equestrian Center, Johns Island, SC   

I spent the morning watching my friend Jessica compete in the Sand Dollar Show Series at Mullet Hall Equestrian Center on Johns Island. She made it worth getting up so early on a Sunday morning by winning her event! Congrats Jessica!

What a beautiful spot. I'd never been to Mullet Hall before and had no idea it was a Charleston County Park with walking trails as well. I'll be back.

Neighborhood Plant Sale

Roots & Shoots Plant Sale, Charleston, SC   

A neighborhood native plant sale right in my neighborhood! How about that?! My friend Maria tipped me off and since my alternate plans changed I went up to check it out and came back with a few treats. Yesterday was payday after all. I figure if they are native plants and he grows them well a few blocks from my house, perhaps they will do well in my yard.

Old Citadel, Charleston

Old Citadel, Charleston, SC  

Isn't this a lovely, moody shot of Marion Square and the old Citadel building? It is dated 1941 and was being sold on eBay for $5. Now it is mine, mine, mine. 

Grand live oak tree

Live oak, Magnolia Plantation, Charleston, SC  

This wonderful live oak tree is at Magnolia Plantation in the part of the park where the Magnolia Cabin project tour "Slavery to Freedom" is.

Magnolia recognizes the importance of acknowledging the vital role that Gullah people and culture plays in any interpretation of Lowcountry history. By addressing this often overlooked part of the region's narrative, Magnolia seeks to respectfully afford credit where credit is due.
Visitors have the option to take a shuttle to the cabins, where they will experience an engaging and interactive discussion of the dynamic issues that shape this delicate inquiry. Afterward, time is given to allow everyone the opportunity to explore each cabin to appreciate the lengthy period in which the buildings were actively occupied - from the 1850s to the late 1990s. This arc of history conveys the tumultuous times continuously challenging African-American families from slavery, the Jim Crow/segregation era and through the modern Civil Rights period.

Play me a tune!

White Key Studio, Highway 61, Charleston, SC 

I pass this piano on the side of the street with musical instruments dangling from the tree every day on my way to work and intended to wander up and take a picture. When my niece Bonita and her fiance were visiting I suggested they pose in place and that improved the shot 100%!

After I posted the shot online someone asked where it was and the next day I drove by and say a model posing on top of the piano. At the moment the piano has a new brighter life in brilliant colored paint. What a fun signature for a music studio!

The business is White Key Studio which offers music lessons and a recording studio on Highway 61 

Washington Park

Washington Park, Charleston, SC   

I haven't been posting much but I have been on the run! It is tempting to grab a quick shot and post directly to facebook which sadly bypasses the blog. I took this picture of Washington Park at the end of azalea season. 

Washington Park: In the center of Washington Square Park, visitors will find a memorial that pays tribute to the Washington Light Infantry - an imposing 42' foot tall granite structure, and an 1891 addition, which is in fact a miniature version of the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. Even George Washington himself can be found at the park as a statue designed by acclaimed sculptor Jon Michel, which stands in the former site of an original William Pitt the Elder statue that was destroyed - or rather decapitated -by a falling tree branch in 1938.

Enjoy your weekend, kids! I hosted lunch for 160 hospital volunteers today, stopped by the reception for the I Love West Ashley photo contest and had a lovely dinner with friends. I may just completely crash tomorrow. 

 

Calhoun St. beauty

Calhoun St., Charleston, SC 

This beautiful Charleston home on Calhoun St. is part of the MUSC campus and actually the current office of their general council. I googled to discover it is the Daniel Cannon House and the link shows images of the interior rooms. 

I Love West Ashley Photo Competition

I Love West Ashley, Charleston, SC   

I popped in the Honda Pre-Owned dealership on Savannah Highway to check out the I Love West Ashley photo competition. The challenge was that the photos had to be taken with a disposable box film camera. Tricky! No photoshop tweaking of these images! I am not sure if the adult or professional entries were any better than the kids efforts. What a fun challenge. 

Thanks to Accuphoto & Labs for sponsoring the contest. 

The "I LOVE W.A. Photo Competition" 

Opening Reception 

Where:

Honda PreOwned 

1539 Savannah Hwy.
Charleston, SC 29407

When: 

Saturday April 14th  5pm - 7pm

Many thanks to Fabulon for 

"hanging" and managing all the Finale details!

(hope Fabulon finds their forever home soon)

Thank You's to our Sponsors!

Hendrick Auto Group

Bon Secours - St. Francis Healthcare

Kevin Shealy Allstate

Steve Ellis Automotive

West Ashley United

The City of Charleston

This project was funded in part by the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs and the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Program through their joint administration of the Lowcountry Quarterly Arts Grant Program and the SC Arts Commission which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the John and Susan Bennett Memorial Arts Fund of the Coastal Community Foundation of SC.

Cooper River Bridge Run - Wheelchair Racers 2018

Cooper River Bridge Run, Wheelchair Race, Charleston, SC   

I am so impressed with the wheelchair racers that it motivates me to get up bright and early on bridge run day to catch them. They start the race early at 7:25 am and are first over. They basically cross the bridge with their arm muscle power. Incredible athletes. Congratulations to all!

Eggs for breakfast?

Lone Star, Santee, SC  

I assume this is a chicken coop? If that is correct, I picture my lazy home owner trying to reach out the window to feel around for a fresh egg for breakfast. Farm to table through the bedroom window! 

Morning sun

St. Philip's Church. Church St., Charleston, SC   

This was to be my jury duty week but I was released on the first day. Lucky me! Spring break week I suspect. Assigned to the courthouse on Broad St. I walked to the top of the Cumberland St. garage and caught this view of St. Philip's church in the morning sun. Not bad for a cell phone shot. 

Sweet fishing spot

Santee State Park, Santee, SC   

They weren't boasting about having caught dinner yet but that wasn't spoiling their pleasure in the day.

And even more blossoms!

Rutledge Ave., Charleston, SC   

I need to post a few more blossom shots before the azaleas pass their prime. This is one of my favorite homes on Rutledge Ave. and the neighboring house. I should be hired by the city to write fines for home owners of properties without azaleas planted.

I had jury duty this morning and reported to the court house on Broad St. as scheduled only to be dismissed promptly. My lucky day. Unfortunately I was mentally prepared for a week out of the office and now I need to get back on the saddle.

I did get home early and have spent the afternoon scanning in old family albums. It's been a happy trip down memory lane.

Searching for sinkholes

Santee St. Park, Sinkhole Trail, Santee, SC

I had been to Santee State Park before but clearly missed cool exploring opportunities. My friend English led us to the Sinkhole trail through the woods to a large limestone sinkhole pond - with a rather large lazy alligator standing guard. It was a beautiful walk through the woods with wildflowers and butterflies.

Fair warning that there may have been more water than usual and the trail isn't very well marked in the areas that water crosses it. No harm done since the walk isn't very far and if you missed a turn you could always back track. We ended up at even more dramatic and fenced in sinkholes and a sinkhole within a sinkhole.

Easter Bonnet

Coburg Cow, Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC  

When I am having a lazy weekend morning and looking for a shorter exercise route I sometimes park at Harris Teeter grocery store and walk the greenway path through to South Windermere. This morning I backtracked to grab a shot of the Coburg Cow statue dressed for the season in her Easter Bonnet. Thanks to the owners for keeping up this fun tradition of themed holiday wear.

After an iced coffee break at Earthfare - almost the only store open in the usually lively shopping center I headed back. It feels like a reasonable walk but only logged under 6,000 steps.