Blog as diary

Thai House, Santee, SC - 2009

I love it when this blog serves as a diary.

In 2009 I stopped at the tiny Thai House restaurant in Santee for green curry. They had a tradition of posting pictures of their customers on the wall and I turned the tables and had the family join me for a shot.

This weekend, ten years later, I realized that they had moved down the road into a larger building and stopped in again to find they still had some of the old pictures. Thanks to the search feature on this blog I was able to pull this shot on my phone and it caused such a joyful reaction. The grandparents had been visiting at the time of the photo and recently passed away. They were delighted to have this three generation shot. Too bad I am in the middle! 

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! 

Hello baby peaches!

Santee, SC   

I hope the chilly temperatures last night didn't hurt the peach blossoms. I spotted this orchard between Eutawville and Santee. Considering the number of peaches grown in South Carolina (more than in George, doncha know?), I don't very often see orchards of blossoms from the road and this was a pretty sight. 

Mounds of History

Santee Indian Mound, Clarendon County, SC 

When we pulled into the park to see the Indian Mound at Fort Watson across the bridge from Santee, the first thing I noticed was a small mound of dirt piled to display the historical plaques and I was NOT impressed. What the heck? Happily beyond the trees and field I spotted actual stairs built to climb a very impressive mound over looking Lake Marion.

The interesting thing about this particular mound is that it was used for numerous burials over time and grew higher and higher with the burial of different chiefs of the Santee Indian tribe between 1200 - 1500.

During the Revolutionary War, the British took advantage of the elevation and built Fort Jackson on top adding 30 - 50 feet in height to the mound. Our hero Francis Marion captured the fort by building a tower even higher in the woods in the dead of night and dealing with them from above. It is a beautiful and historic spot, peaceful, lush and green now with no evidence of the Fort.

Santee Indian Mound was part of a mound village complex; it was probably a burial and/or temple mound, likely constructed in some cultural period between 1200-1500 AD. Santee Indian Mound and a probable low earthwork remain intact except for the superposition of eighteenth- century fortifications on top of the mound. The fortification, British Revolutionary War post Fort Watson, was built from 30 to 50 feet high atop the mound. In 1780, Francis Marion and Light Horse Harry Lee decided to capture the fort. Bombardment was out of the question, for the Americans were without artillery, but Colonel Maham, one of Marion’s officers, proposed building a log tower higher than Fort Watson. Hidden by trees, men hewed logs and the tower was erected in a single night. At dawn a shower of lead poured down into the enemy enclosure, effecting a quick victory. Fort Watson was the first fortified British military outpost in South Carolina recaptured by patriot forces after the British occupation of 1780. There are no remains of Fort Watson on the site. Listed in the National Register July 29, 1969.

Hanging bottle store in Santee

S & G Liquor Store, Santee, SC   

I was with a friend in Santee, SC today and couldn't resist insisting that she visit the wacky hanging bottle S & G Liquor store. Don't go if you are tall! It's tricky avoiding all the bottles of booze dangling from the ceiling in the tiny shop. I don't drink much but must pay a visit for the pure joy of it.

Cheers!

Cheers! To the hanging liquor bottles of Santee!

Yes, those are hanging bottles of alcohol. 

My friend Mary Beth Rose asked if I had been in the tiny liquor store in Santee and since I had not 

I had to fix that. I walked in and laughed out loud. The door barely opened a crack and when I 

got inside it was hard to walk the narrow aisles. Bottles where crammed in everywhere but the 

most unusual way to fit more in the small space was by hanging them from the ceiling. 

They were hung with fishing line in singles and in bunches. 

The place was so full, we had to be told to look for the cash register in "the little opening". 

There is nothing special about the outside. It is a regular little ABC Package store in the Citgo gas station plaza but I will grin a little when I dribble a bit of vodka in my Moscow mules from now on. Thanks for the tip Martha Rose! 

Wild Kingdom of Santee

Santee, SC 

Just back from Lake Marion where the public boat landings looked like airport runways with boats lined up coming and going. Smith's parking lot in Santee was full and searching for a spot behind the building we happened upon this fun surprise - an elephant and a giraffe tucked away in the woods behind the building. I have no idea why but I loved it. 

PS: Smith's also carries Blenheim's ginger ale, mild, medium and HOT. 

Happy July 4th, kids!

Just charge it!

Tesla charging station, Santee, SC   

The news about the 276,000 pre-orders for Tesla electric cars that haven't even been built yet is a fascinating turn of events, isn't it? Maybe I should order one! It will take long enough to build that many I might even have enough time to save up for it.

Worldwide deposits for the new lower-priced Tesla electric car hit 276,000 over the weekend, surprising even the company's CEO, who says it may force Tesla to open another factory.  CEO Elon Musk posted the number Sunday on his Twitter feed and said if the trend continues, Model 3 orders could hit 500,000 and would require another factory in Europe to meet demand.

When my friend Martha Rose told me the first Tesla charging station had been built in Santee, I had to check it out. Sure enough - there were two Tesla's plugged in behind Clark's restaurant and hotel. I am not sure I had even seen one before. The Model 3 cars will have glass top and come with attractive tax credits. I'll take a blue one please!  

Countryside Honky Tonk

Lone Star BBQ & Mercantile, Santee, SC  

I was at Lake Marion with friends this past long weekend and stopped at the Lone Star BBQ & Mercantile for a plate of BBQ. We were delighted to see that the 14th Annual Blue Grass Honky Tonk festival was in full swing. Three kind ladies were going in to get their dinner and offered us the loan of their chairs so we settled down in comfort to listen to the music. It was a treat. According to their web site they have live music every Saturday night. 

I always roam the buildings when I am there, looking at the old pictures and collection of memorabilia they have on the shelves and visit the wee cabin in behind the restaurant buildings.  

Lone Star BBQ & Mercantile

Lonestar BBQ & Mercantile, Santee, S.C.

It is still cloudy and raining in Charleston but I haven't yet featured these shots from my day trip to Santee last weekend. After wandering through Elloree, S.C. we headed to Santee to treat ourselves to some BBQ at Lone Star. The Lone Star BBQ & Mercantile is a series of old buildings moved to the property and joined together to host a restaurant and store. I wasn't too impressed a few years ago when I ate there but was encouraged to give it another try. It certainly is an interesting spot with old buildings salvaged and gathered on the property. There was a family reunion going on while I was there but we got through the buffet line before they said grace so we were cool. The setting is almost like a museum with shelves full of vintage items.Behind the buildings is the tiny little cottage in the last picture.

Apparently, the entire property is for sale so if any of you are inclined to run a restaurant in rural South Carolina near a state park this is your chance!

Lonestar BBQ & Mercantile

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Lonestar Mercantile & BBQ, Santee, S.C.

When a friend told me about Lonestar, my initial reaction was doubtful there there could be something quite as cool as he was describing that close to Charleston that I didn't know about. How could that be?

Your Destination for Food, Fun & Old-Time Charm. Go back in time at Lone Star Go back in time as you dine and shop at Lone Star Barbecue & Mercantile. Selected #1 for "down home cooking" by The State newspaper, Lone Star has earned a reputation for its tasty food, cooked just like Grandma used to fix it. In addition to its barbecue and other featured entrees, there is always a good selection of fresh vegetables, salad selections and desserts. Relive the past as you enjoy some of the best country cooking the South has to offer!

Buildings at Lone Star Lone Star is a "one of a kind" restaurant and general store that is comprised of four old frame buildings that served as rural country stores and farm commissaries in the late 1800's, on into the 20th Century. In fact, Zeaglar's Store was in operation as a post office and mercantile until 1997.

The old wooden houses were moved to this location and joined together by a passage at the back of the buildings so you can walk through from one to the other. The buffet and general store are in the first one. The buffet consists of the usual pork and chicken bbq, tomato pie, soggy over-cooked squash, banana pudding sweet iced tea and meals are eaten surrounded by an amazing collection of memorabilia.

Thanks for the tip Bobby! It's nice to know there are still cool spots out there to explore. Now, I need to get to my bed or I will sleep away the rest of my weekend. I hope everyone is having a good few days off.