Before & After - Snookies Little Sweet Shop

Bogard St., Charleston, S.C.

Ch-ch-changes!
Strange fascination, fascinating me
Changes are taking the pace I'm going through

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Oh, look out you rock 'n rollers
Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes
(Turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-Changes
Pretty soon you're gonna get a little older
Time may change me
But I can't trace time
I said that time may change me
But I can't trace time.

And just like that, Snookies Little Sweet Shop is no longer. Someone is living in a new aqua home in the spot it used to be in.

Charleston Gardens

Charleston, S.C.

My friend Linda Benedict was looking for something "Eastery" for her April issue of Island Life newspaper so my friend Kirsten met me in the hospital's garden early Saturday morning with her daughter MacKenzie. MacKenzie knew exactly where she wanted to sit. She gave me about five minutes to get the shot and then ran off to climb her favorite tree!

Speaking of gardens, thanks to Jess at Children of the Corm for this lovely entry featuring my blog. She took some time finding the shots she wanted to use and I really appreciate it. Thanks Jess!

Happy Volunteer Week!

Charleston, S.C.

Happy Volunteer Week! There is no way to properly thank the people who add that extra warm and caring touch to health care in this country. Every day, some working almost like full time employees, they are welcoming, comforting, rocking babies, passing meal trays, knitting baby bonnets, pushing wheelchairs and pouring cups of coffee for a patient's family member.

Volunteers are in action all over the Lowcountry but the team at Roper St. Francis Healthcare served over 88,000 hours just last year. They are a phenomenal group and I am fortunate to be allowed to work with them.

Besides that, they are a very colorful cast of rascals and characters! Love 'em all. I never have a boring day with this crowd. Picture me blowing kisses folks!

Dance like the photos not tagged.....

Dance like the photo's not tagged,
love like you've never been unfriended,
tweet like nobody's following.

Snitched from my friend Shawn Zehnder Rossi

One hundred and fifty years ago.....

Charleston Harbor, Charleston, S.C.

One hundred and fifty years ago, cannons firing in the harbor started the Civil War. I've missed most of the events recognizing the occasion including the sunrise service at the Battery this morning but when I got home in time to walk down to the waterfront this evening I headed out marching. I spotted Mary Elizabeth Booth posing for pictures in front of a cannon. She said she couldn't bear staying in Orangeburg while there where shots being fired in Charleston.

There was a small crowd gathered around the waterfront waving off the "no see ums", a party was going on in one of the mansions but truthfully, the most serious danger Fort Sumter was in this evening was from cannon fire from the Yacht Club.

Beware - Attack Dog!

Rutledge Ave., Charleston, S.C.

My friend Jerry used to cut my hair until I slipped into the bad habit of hacking away at my own bangs and piling the rest on top of my head. Now I never see him unless we get around to arranging dinner or I catch him out taking care of his garden. I am kicking myself that I missed catching his wisteria in bloom on that trellis.

Jerry let me explore the rest of the garden despite Sister the guard dog. Harhar. Sister's paws were wet from dangling them in the fish pond.

Bouquets on Bogard

Bogard St., Charleston, S.C.

How cool is this floral arrangement?! Love it.

Good food keeps coming to me

The Remedy Market, Spring St., Charleston, S.C.

Changes in the hood! I walked the Bee, Rutledge, Spring St. route this morning and spotted lots of changes going on. Seems like tasty food places are springing up all over in this neighborhood. I've been a slacker and haven't even been inside the Remedy Market yet. Any recommendations? Next time I'll try to walk by when it is open.

Yo ho, yo ho, it's an artist's life for me.....

Charleston, S.C.

I am on the run for a date with a little girl in an Easter bonnet but wanted to thank the folks at Quixotic RIE for including me in their series on artists. Wow! I feel honored to be included.

Here is the piece they did, as well as including quite a few photos: Quixotic RIE. Drop by and visit!

Mixology Magician!

Evan Powell, Fish Restaurant, Charleston, S.C.

I like it when something good is billed as the "first annual"!

This evening I went to what was called a Mixology Dinner at Fish Restaurant. Mixologist Evan Powell mixed the drinks and chef Nico Romo whipped up tasty treats to go along with them. The dinner was served in the upstairs room of the restaurant. I can't even guess all the ingredients that were in these drinks but I especially liked what Evan called the Rising Sun (described as being made with Aperol, Yuzu Marmalade, Brut sparking, and preserved orange slice) and his award winning winning Black Thai lemonade.

It was a lovely evening, good food, good drink and delightful company at our table. Thanks folks!

Evening Light

Dock St. Theater, Church St., Charleston, S.C.

This has been a rush, rush, rush week but the one advantage of ending my days with meetings in town is that I get home in time to walk while the light turns Charleston into a sparkling jewel box. These were taken on a Queen St./Church St. route but you can't go wrong lately, everything is so beautiful.

Bloggers get even better looking! A Picture a Day is off on a European adventure and left her sister in charge as guest blogger. Her sister happens to be Valarie, Miss South Carolina US. I met Valarie a few months ago when she graciously visited the friendly little hospital across the river, on Valentine's Day as an honorary volunteer and posed for a million photos with all of our staff and patients.



Queen St., Charleston, S.C.

Eat Your Way to Enlightenment

Roti Rolls, SC Aquarium, Charleston, S.C.

I didn't catch what was written on his shirt until I looked at the photo. I did in fact, enjoy eating myself to enlightenment and for a good cause this evening. I just got back from the Japan fundraising event at the SC Aquarium. What a perfect place for a party. Sadly they locked me out of the otter room but other than that it was a pleasant evening and I hope they made a lot of money for the cause.

Restaurants throughout the Lowcountry will delight your tastebuds with their spin on Japanese cuisine. If you were planning on donating money to aid in Japan, now is our opportunity to come together as a community and make a difference. Enjoy an evening of musical entertainment, delicious and unique food and beverages, while surrounded by the beauty of the South Carolina Aquarium.

Thanks to everyone who sponsored and donated to the cause. There was even a Japanese story teller to entertain us.

WWJS

King St., Charleston, S.C.

Sidewalk Curator reporting in from King St. Not sure what to say about this one!

Philadelphia Alley

Philadelphia Alley, Charleston, S.C.

I ended my day at a meeting in town and arrived home in time to walk while it was still light out which is a treat. I googled Philadelphia Alley to link you to some general info of this quaint little lane and came up with a picture I took myself a few years ago - thank you Google! Then I happened upon another picture I took on this blog describing a trip to Charleston. Photos do get around!

I have a carrot cake in the oven for a birthday treat tomorrow and it is smelling pretty good in here. Yum.

A glimpse of the rare caged joggling board

Joggling Board, Charleston, S.C.

The rare caged joggling board.

For Waldo who is fond of joggling boards. Soon we will have them all photographed and tagged.

Here is the history of this lowcountry tradition: Joggling Board.

I Love All of You

Hutson St., Charleston, S.C.

Someone left a message for y'all on Hutson St. I'm just the messenger.

Wild weather reported for tomorrow but I have my windows open so the wind can whip through tonight.

This is very cool: Jess at Children of the Corm aged a statue for her yard. Clever!

Sucker Jeans: Southern Style! Has anyone tried them? Should I?

Our seersucker is all seasons, heavyweight and in solid colors like black and denim blue. And from our exclusive fabric, Sucker™ brings you the world's first, denim alternative, heavyweight, premium-cut, five-pocket, copper riveted, seersucker jean. Our seersucker jean is made even better by our totally unique, proprietary fit that combines a wide, contoured waistband, with a tilted rise and narrow yoke.

Mixology Dinner at Fish Restaurant on Friday. I ain't never been to no Mixology Dinner before. Let's do it!

I will answer emails, kids, I promise. I'm just drowning in them.

The end of the weekend

John's Island, S.C.

I took a lot of photos at a surprise party for my friend Gene Glave last weekend but this was one of my favorites. These little gals were in a world of their own not far from where a couple of hundred people were celebrating.

Thousands of people headed to Charleston this weekend for the Cooper River Bridge Run so I escaped in the other direction and this is what I spent my time looking at. Lovely. And now, I have twenty minutes to wash clothes, pay bills and get my shower to be ready to look Monday in the eye. I hope everyone has had a good weekend.

I am NOT Incontinent!

Tradd St., Charleston, S.C.

I am going to keep loading you up with flower pictures for the time being.

I mentioned a few weeks ago that the hospital had asked me to participate in one of their commercials. I had done it before and it was fun. Last time I played the wife of a tv gentleman who had a rash on his arm. This time? I play Miss Incontinent Charleston. Yikes!

The spots are to start playing this month so I may as well give you a heads up. I know I will be hearing about this. People will probably lay down a towel before they let me sit. People - I am NOT incontinent! I am playing a role.

Here is the link:Commercials. Scroll down to Commercials and then select Burning Question #3. My only line is: "When I laugh, I leak!"

If you go to page 2 of the Commercials and choose "Need a Doctor Today" you can see the old one.

I am hoping that people will be so distracted by my long hair that they won't hear what I am saying. Right? Right?

Wisteria Lane

Meeting St., Charleston, S.C.

Wisteria Lane turns out to be Meeting St. I like this little gal who couldn't resist smelling the fragrance.

Whew. I earned my keep this week. I feel like I have been on a race course everyday and still left my desk a mess when I escaped. All good stuff but lots of it.

Check out this article in Vanity Fair about the 2011 Food & Wine Festival and calling Charleston "America's Paris". I do wish they had used some of Paul Cheney's pictures to go with the article.

I'm laying low and staying out of the crowds this weekend. Y'all have fun! Bridge run, Flowertown Festival. Happy chaos all around.

Thank you to everyone who emails for permission to use my photos. I appreciate the courtesy and it is nice to know where my photo trail leads.

Favorite Trees

Tradd St., Charleston, S.C.

This sweetie on Tradd St. is on my "favorite trees" list and I stop to say hello when I pass by.

While we are on the topic of trees, here is link to the beautiful journal
South Carolina Lowcountry Nature Journaling & Art by Pam Johnson Brickell. She has pages dedicated to her favorite trees. Enjoy!