Window display - South Battery

Rutledge & South Battery, Charleston, SC 

I love this home at Rutledge & South Battery because I look forward to seeing their window display. It used to be ships and now it is horse themed. Thanks folks!

Happy July 4th!

Belvedere, Rutledge Ave., Charleston, SC  

I went on a patriotic flag search walk last time I was in town and the Belvedere Bed & Breakfast on Rutledge never lets me down. 

Happy Independence Day my fellow Americans! Thanks for welcoming this poor immigrant many years ago. You've given me a home, family, rewarding work and countless friendships.

PS: Making me go to Pittsburgh for a welcoming syphilis test was a little weird but happily I passed.

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.

Rising above the tide

42 Rutledge Ave., Charleston, SC   

It has been interesting to watch this historic Charleston home on Rutledge Ave. being raised to elevate it above rising water. What a complicated business. The Post & Courier did an article on the project and I've been keeping an eye on the progress for all of us.

Remuddled corner

Rutledge & Spring St., Charleston, SC

This Old House magazine used to have a page dedicated to a "remuddled" rather than a remodeled building and this one at Rutledge and Spring St. should win a prize. What the heck? There might be an attractive building or two under this hodge-podge mess.

Remuddle: (architecture, pejorative) To remodel a building or room in a way that obscures or destroys key aspects of the original design

Hmmm...I googled This Old House Remuddled feature and it may still exist. Perhaps I should submit this image for a chance at $100. 

I imagine it is pretty clear I took the image during the drizzle yesterday. 

Around the lake

Colonial Lake, Charleston, SC 

We've enjoyed dramatic blue skies and billowy clouds today. I often park on lower Rutledge when I march about town and carrying a camera makes me try to see the same sights in a fresh way. The red brick building was the former Baker Sanitarium and is now fashionable condos. 

Clothes washed, walking done, a few chores taken care of. I may have time to squeeze in a nap.

Remember that as Charleston Restaurant ends, Avondale Restaurant week begins. These are the restaurants that will be participating from September 19 - 25. Where shall we go? What shall we eat?

• Al Di La

• Avondale Wine & Cheese Bar

• Mellow Mushroom

• Mex 1 Coastal Cantina

• Pearlz Little Oyster Bar

• Triangle Char & Bar

Charleston Strong

Charleston Strong, Rutledge Ave., Charleston, SC  

Heading to a spot for my morning walk I was trying to dodge special event crowds. I headed up the peninsula to avoid the March of Dimes walk and I ended up in the lap of the Boat Show at Brittlebank Park. Ooops!

I've often driven past the Charleston Strong mural but this is the first time I walked along that stretch of flying doves painted after the shooting at the Emmanuel AME church last year.

To prepare for the Charleston Strong mural, the twelve foot high, 293 foot long wall lining the college’s former baseball field along Rutledge Ave., was repaired and given a double basecoat of paint. The first elements of the mural were painted by cadets who attend fine arts classes at the college, to enable members of the community to paint their doves around it.“The Nine Doves image is over ten feet tall and dark Citadel blue with the words "Charleston Strong" painted next to it in red,” said Tiffany Silverman, director of The Citadel Fine Arts Program. Silverman created the mural concept, then engaged the college’s Krause Center for Leadership and Ethics to help move it forward.  “Doves are not only a sign of peace but also a symbol of hope. We hope that the mural will be a powerful, visual reminder that the spirit of Charleston Strong will continue no matter what challenges lie ahead,” Silverman said.  See more at: http://www.citadel.edu/root/charleston-strong-mural#sthash.hD7drmtX.dpuf

I went to the Lowcountry Voices concert this evening and then out to dinner with my son at Lola's the recently opened Cajun restaurant in North Charleston. The weather was perfect to sit outside and enjoy a late dinner. So far so good on my weekend! Hope yours is going well.

Spring garden with wisteria

Rutledge Ave., Charleston, SC  

I had hinted that my friend Jerry Lee on Rutledge Ave. shouldn't be surprised to find a trespasser in his garden when his wisteria bloomed - that I would only be taking pictures. He went the extra mile and invited me over for dinner on his piazza overlooking this scene last night. Isn't this glorious? We can't resist the show this year. I kept slipping away from the table to take another picture.

I am not the only one capturing the purple blossoms. Check out the Cotton Boll Conspiracy blog for some lovely photos.

Weight restriction gate

Rutledge Ave., Charleston, SC

The fact is, if you aren't relatively slender you aren't fitting through this gate. I wonder what they were thinking? Perhaps everyone in the immediate family was of small build. Anyone larger of frame or carrying packages would need to enter the property through the driveway.

Rutledge Avenue favorite

90 Rutledge Ave., Charleston, SC 

This house on Rutledge Avenue has always been a favorite of mine and now that it is for sale we can get a look inside. Time to buy a lottery ticket!

Whoops...just checked back and it is off market but we can still see the images. I am sure the new owner will invite me over.

Although it is lovely I am very much enjoying my downsized lifestyle. I may be more suited to my little Jolly Rancher after all.

Have a good weekend kids! It's been a whirlwind of a week so I am having a lazy morning and getting ready to go out for my walk now.
 

Charleston beauty

172 Tradd & Rutledge Ave. Charleston, S.C.

She is a beauty, isn't she? This house is tricky to get a good shot of because of all the foliage.This might be the best time of year to catch a photo.

Edit: Thanks to a kind commenter for leading me to Carolyne Roehm's blog that includes beautiful indoor shots of the renovation and design on this home. Wowza! This will be fun to follow.

More photos here of the Chisholm Alston Home and the sale details. 

I am nodding off. I had a group of co-workers over for a celebration for a friend. I thought I had made enough food for everyone and neglected to consider that since my buddies are nurses and hospital workers they can't not bring more food. Taking care of everyone seems to be ingrained and includes red velvet cake. I have plenty of leftovers for the next few days. What a great group of ladies I work with. The mermaid insists on being in every pictures. She is such a diva.

Narrow escape

Rutledge Ave., Charleston, S.C.

My favorite homes look even prettier with their holiday decorations. I dashed from work to see my dentist on Wentworth St. who had threatened a "procedure". Lucky for me she explored around, hemmed and hawed and decided I didn't need it done after all. Bingo! I can live with that.

I love this no-man's land of a week between Christmas and New Years. No meetings. Most of the big kids are out of their offices. It's time to close the year and get ready for the new one.  Hopefully I can squeeze in some major office cleaning.

Remember my mermaid? She got dressed for the season and refuses to take it off. 

Charleston Symphony Designer House

67 Rutledge Ave., Charleston, S.C.

One of my favorite houses on Rutledge Ave. is the Annual Designer Showhouse for the Charleston Symphony League this year. Hmmm.....should I break down and buy a ticket to see inside? Each room is decorated by a different designer.

The Charleston Symphony Orchestra League’s 37th Annual Designer Showhouse at 67 Rutledge Avenue is an antebellum treasure located in Harleston Village. Built in 1852, this elegant home is known for its broad porch with a gray and white marble floor and Moorish arches framed in latticework. 

 

The house features heart pine floors, etched glass windows, 10 fireplaces, a copper bathtub, and some of the first indoor plumbing in Charleston.  It includes a dependency that once housed a stable and carriage house, wash house, school room and kitchen. Now, this property has been transformed into a showcase by some of the Lowcountry’s most talented interior designers. 

 

From March 20 through April 19, the public will be invited to view their work from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, and from 1-4 p.m. on Sundays. Along with an exclusive boutique, and sales from designers’ rooms, guests can enjoy alfresco dining in the “Secret Garden” from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday. 

Now in its 37th year, the League’s Designer Showhouse has been a major fundraising event for the Charleston Symphony Orchestra and for student scholarships that total more than $30,000 annually.

 

Showhouse tickets are $20 at the door. For further information, please call (843) 723-0020 or write marilyn315@aol.com.

Craigslist Charleston

Rutledge Ave. beauty, Charleston, S.C.

Luckily I remembered the Charleston Marathon chaos likely to be happening right now before I headed downtown for a walk. I think I will pass! I took this shot last weekend. It is one of my favorite houses on Rutledge Avenue.

How do you know you are reading Craigslist Charleston? Check out these items featured in the Antiques section:

General Francis Marion "Swampfox" on horseback

Missile Carrying Case

Military Sword

*Note: The owner has TWO of the missile carrying cases in case you need to tot an extra. 

Home renovation Charleston style

Rutledge Ave., Charleston, S.C.

Hmmmm......I don't know about you but I suspect this might be an undocumented laborer.  I spotted the green gentleman helping out with yard work on Rutledge Ave. My camera soon got the attention of the cuties below. The new owners are fixing up the beautiful property and said they had plans for more of the frog statues to be in place soon. I will check back!

Okay, kids, it's bright and sunny outside and I need to stretch my legs.

Through the fence

Rutledge Ave., Charleston, S.C.

This fence made a pretty frame even if it is a bit cobwebby. This was taken through the iron fencing surrounding the Ashley Hall School for girls on Rutledge Avenue. In the photo below you can see the shells on the shell house.

How is everyone's week going? From all the posts around Charleston it feels like everyone but me is spending their days eating, drinking, partying and enjoying the Spoleto Festival while I've been cooped up in my office. Hmmmph. For someone who has a "people" job I seem to spend a lot of time at my desk clicking away at my keyboard. 

For the record, my school campus didn't look like this, did yours?

Travel Plans

Rutledge Ave., Charleston, S.C.

This is one of my favorite houses on Rutledge Ave. draped in spanish moss. I am getting used to making do with my little pocket canon camera on most of my evening walks now rather than the heavier DSLR. I was beginning to walk lopsided from the weight.

I got on the phone with my daughter in Portland last night and we coordinated booking tickets to India for November. Woohoo! First off - how wonderful to have a daughter who is able to pay for her own ticket. Although I have been back to India, this will be the first time I go back to the hills in the far north east where I grew up since I graduated from high school. It's is going to be a sentimental journey indeed. Now, shall I make any effort to refresh a language I haven't spoken since I was seventeen? Yikes.

I had to be at work bright and early to sell some pot. Pots. I sponsored a fundraising cookware sale in this heat and did very well, thank you. The profits allow me to play lady bountiful and buy wheelchairs, blanket warmers and training mannequins for the hospital.

Thanks for all your great comments. It takes great self discipline not to respond to them while I am at work but they do delight me!

Fire at Bogard & Rutledge

Rutledge Ave., Charleston, S.C.

I can't even imagine waking up to this but luckily someone did wake up and got everyone else out. No one was hurt although I'm sure they lost almost everything. The Post & Courier site has a lot more photos here. Fire is always a worry with these old wooden houses.

'Mornin' Judge

Hominy Grill, Rutledge Ave., Charleston, S.C.

Good news for the brunch crowd lined up every weekend in front of Hominy Grill on Rutledge Ave. They are expanding. Sometimes I feel so bad for the throngs of customers waiting in the heat to get in when I walk by, I am almost tempted to wave for them all to follow me home and offer to make pancakes. Almost. Not quite.

I am starting my Spoleto activities as the festival winds to a close. I went to see Trombone Shorty at the College of Charleston cistern last night. It was so cool! I've never been to an official night time event under those grand oak trees with the lights on the old buildings. The temperature was perfect, my companions delightful and the music lively. I didn't risk taking pictures although I do have the same fake press pass that Chuck has. Chuck gave me one for my birthday and I leave it causally tucked in but visible in my backpack so I look semi official if no one examines it too closely.

I am off for a late morning walk. I got up early to meet a gentleman in a parking lot to do a deal and we both left happy.

Pretty, pretty please!

Rutledge Ave., Charleston, S.C.