Wednesday Hodge Podge

Magnolia Gardens, Charleston, S.C.

You know how much I love Magnolia Gardens. I feature it often enough and keep an annual pass for myself but, if you don't have an annual pass you can get into the gardens for free on Friday. Go for it! Take the day off too healthy to work. I'll write you a note (unless you work for me). Find the details here. I believe you need to print a coupon and it doesn't include guided tours or the Audubon Swamp garden. The coupon is good for National Public Gardens so if you don't live in Charleston it may still apply closer to home.

Yeah, yeah....happy Nurses Week! Today is Florence Nightingale's birthday. Let's have some cake.

We had some fun again doing Florence Nightingale photo ops with old Nursing props. It is amazing what an empty frame works for a picture. Everyone got to be the Lady with the Lamp even a couple "Floyd Nightingales".

Check this out - eight year old kid came up with an invention to keep your book from getting wet when you read in the tub. Brilliant!

I have had a love hate relationship with the news lately. This business of the kidnapping in Cleveland of the three girls is mind boggling but hard to turn off. The election results in my district disappointed me. In other news, it has stopped raining.

Crazy busy days at work lately. I stopped on the way home to buy gas and picked up a lottery ticket. I figure if I won the jackpot I'd still go to work - as a volunteer instead of the volunteer director. Harhar.

G'night kids.

Nurses' Week - the Blessing of the Hands

The Blessing of the Hands, Nurses Week, Charleston, S.C.

Happy Nurses Week to all the nurses in my life. Love you ladies and gentlemen! Your love and friendship has made my life an interesting ride.

We begin Nurses Week with a Blessing of the Hands ceremony. It always brings home what nurses actually do, laying hands on people to heal and care for them.

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - Yonges Island

St. Mary's Catholic Church, Yonges Island, S.C.

I wish today was as bright and sunny as it was the day I took this photo. I let myself have a lazy start to my day and missed my brief window of walking time before the rain. Shame on me. I was hoping to do some yard work today.

Today's featured chapel in the Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance series is St. Mary's Catholic Church on beautiful Yonges Island. It is almost at the end of the road next to the Wadmalaw River.

Stay dry my friends! It is a rainy day in the lowcountry.

Dragon Boat Charleston

Dragon Boat Charleston, Charleston, S.C.

It wasn't the very best day for Dragon Boat racing on the Ashley river but that didn't seem to hamper the festivities at Brittlebank Park today. So many of our hospital units had teams participating I went by this morning to grab a few photos. The gang above is one of the best ICU staffs you will hope to never need, but if you do, they will take good care of you. Our Operating Room staff paddled in honor of Della, below. Della was one of their co-workers who passed away unexpectedly last year. Good fun for a good cause.

Bridge Walking - Charleston

Ashley River Bridge, Charleston, S.C.

I walked the bridge this morning. Yep. All the way over and back. No. Not that bridge. Fitness buffs hike and bike the Cooper River Bridge but I dodged traffic on the shorter less elevated bridge over the Ashley River. It has a lovely view of the marina and the Dragonboat festivities and I spied someone's secret picnic table below.

 

Philadelphia Alley

Philadelphia Alley, Charleston, S.C.

Busy week, kids but it is Friday and I have a belly full of Thai green curry and a glass of white wine so I can't complain.

I am back from my second day in Columbia this week. Today was for a professional society meeting. It was the gathering of the clans of volunteer management in hospitals in South Carolina. I didn't get back too late to walk but I got back too lazy to walk so this evening's photo was taken last weekend and is of Philadelphia Alley, the sweetest narrow alley in town.

What does everyone have planned for the weekend? I know the Dragon Boat races are tomorrow and I usually try to get a few action shots there since I know so many of the paddlers.

Remedy SC - Healthcare at the Statehouse

S.C. Statehouse, Columbia, S.C.

I joined other healthcare professionals at our statehouse in Columbia, SC yesterday hoping to encourage our legislators to consider passing the Medicaid expansion bill in South Carolina. I am not sure we made any difference but it was the largest show of support that they had seen in years. Check the Remedy, SC site for more information on the topic and if you are inclined, sign the petition. It is a complicated issue.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is now the law of the land. While many have differences of opinion on the new law, it is clear that some very important choices lie ahead for our leaders that will directly impact taxpayers and businesses in South Carolina. The choice for taxpayers. With the federal government offering $11 billion over the next 7 years to cover poverty-stricken families in South Carolina, our state would only pay about 10% of that cost. If South Carolina does not expand Medicaid, then billions of our taxpayer dollars will be spent on Medicaid recipients in other states.

The choice for consumers. Medicaid expansion will provide health coverage to approximately 250,000 uninsured, low income South Carolinians who cannot access health insurance. The vast majority of these uninsured citizens often rely on hospital emergency rooms as their primary source of healthcare, which generally leads to a higher cost of health care. With hospitals expecting more than $2.6 billion in cuts because of the ACA, increased cost-shifting to insured families and employers is likely if our state chooses not to expand Medicaid.

Moore Botanical Garden - Lake City, S.C.

Moore Botanical Gardens, Lake City, S.C.

A bonus happy surprise from my trip to Lake City was a quick stop at the Moore Botanical Gardens.
The garden wasn't open for tours but I enjoyed the drive in and a visit to the sod house on display near the entrance. The sod structure was designed and created by Herb Parker.

For a better tour, visit an earlier entry from Tales from the Laboratory with photos describing the entire garden.

Here is the good news - for folks interested in making the trip, there is an event coming up in May.

May Days: Plant sale and pig pickin’

For the first time ever, we’ll be combining two of our favorite things: Plants and BBQ!  Please join us in the garden from 8:30 am until 3:00 pm on both Friday, May 17th and Saturday, May 18th for this special open house. The plant sale will feature over 65 varieties of choice, hard to find and unusual plants from the garden. Some varieties will sell out quickly, so plan to arrive early for the best selection.

Artfields, Lake City, S.C.

Artfields, Lake City, S.C.

I don't need to ask if anyone else made the trip to the arts festival in tiny little Lake City this past week because the town was bustling with people touring the art displays. What a brilliant idea! Lake City is the home town of Darla Moore. Under her guidance, they renovated some of the buildings, encouraged business owners and announced an art festival with combined prizes of $100,000. That was enough to get people's attention!

The entire town seems in on the idea with paintings hanging in restaurants, shops and barbershops. Locals asked if I wanted to take pictures of them (I did!) and posed for me. The hostess of the buffet restaurant was amazing that she had a piece of art valued at $50,000 on her wall. Visitors were invited to vote on their favorites which meant every single one of us was welcome to traipse through each business. I loved the idea! I didn't have enough time to visit all the art but did a quick run through town and then headed out to Darla Moore's botanical garden.

Here is a quote from Charleston Magazine's recent interview:

But will the experiment work? Will visitors coming to see art be seduced by a quaint town’s quiet charms and stay a while, spend some tourism bucks? Maybe buy one of those 1910 fixer-uppers? Start a small business? A new hotel is already slated to open soon, a hopeful sign. ArtFields takes its lead from a similar event in Grand Rapids, Michigan, that had positive economic development outcomes, but the net gain for Lake City, besides the prize winning artworks that will stay in the city’s public spaces, remains to be seen. “Dr. George Washington Carver said, ‘Where there is no vision, there is no hope’,” says Lake City mayor Lovith Anderson Jr. “The people of Lake City and the surrounding communities are the beneficiaries of the hope and promise and progress which have sprung from the visionary effort and leadership of Darla Moore.”

My daughter took business and economics at USC and Darla Moore has been so generous in supporting her Alma Mater and the Darla Moore School of Business that I have been grateful fan for years. I will be delighted if this experiment works to revive a sleepy small town in South Carolina. Next year let's get some buses lined up to take people from Charleston for a field trip!

Through Charleston's gates

Bull St., Charleston, S.C.

I do a lot of peeking through Charleston gates into private gardens. Sometimes someone peeks back at me.

If you like wrought iron work as much as I do, pay a visit to VanessaK's amazing photos.

Farmer's Market season

Charleston Farmer's Market, Marion Square, Charleston, S.C.

 

 

Yipee! It is Farmer's Market season. Fresh tomatoes, zucchini and strawberries, oh my! The photos from last week show more booths than usual because some other festival tagged on but it is always good. Heck, now you can buy everything from fresh pasta to art work.

The aisles have spread out a little which I appreciate. With all the space I couldn't understand why we had to have the walk ways so narrow you could hardly move. All the time I am looked at fresh veggies I am consciously trying to keep myself from buying a bag of coconut macaroons from the Rococo German bakery booth. Oh yum.

State Street greenery

State St., Charleston, S.C.

This is one of the prettiest stretches of street in Charleston and I can't resist grabbing a shot when I go by.

I took this on Saturday which was lucky since it is pouring rain at the moment and the weather might mess with my evening walk.  This was national Walk at Lunch day so I did squeeze in a brisk march around the hospital campus at lunch which equals about a mile. This staying fit business is time consuming isn't it?  I've tried to get back in the routine of going to a zumba class but missed last night because I had forty kids learning about Obstetrical careers at Mount Pleasant Hospital.

At least it is staying light later so it is more tempting to get back outside after my initial post work crash and burn. Stay healthy my friends.

Ghost hunting in Charleston

St. Philip's, Church St., Charleston, S.C.

Ghost hunting in historic Charleston? You are in luck at the churchyard cemetery of St. Philip's. They boast about their Ghost and invite you to learn more.

Teeny, tiny houses of Charleston

Bull St., Charleston, S.C.

Here a couple more shots to add to the series of teeny, tiny houses of Charleston taken on a Bull St. walk this weekend. They might not really be so small in square footage but they are in respect to the large neighboring homes. Cute little things indeed.

My Canadian niece Elizabeth is studying this year at the University of Essex in the UK. Peak in on her travels and say hello on her blog: Keep Calm and Travel On.

Take a moment and vote for Bernie Ditter on the Salute to Senior Service link. Bernie is an extraordinary volunteer not only for the Juvenile Justice Dept. but for Roper Hospital. This is an easy vote and you can repeat daily if you are inclined: http://www.salutetoseniorservice.com/volunteer-contest/entries/bernie-d/

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - French Huguenot Church

French Huguenot Church, Charleston, S.C.

Hello - something is different here. The beautiful French Huguenot Church used to be a brilliant white and now it is pink. Apparently it was damaged enough during the restoration of the Dock St. Theater across the street that is went through an entire renovation and while they were at it they went back to match the original shade of pink. I was not consulted.

Restoration in Progress: The current restoration project began due to damage caused to the church by other construction done in the area, namely from the Dock Street Theatre, which underwent a multi-million dollar renovation, completed in 2010. While work has been going on for quite some time now, a major change just took place. The color of the exterior stucco, which as most of you will remember, used to be white, has been reverted back to its original pale pink.

Powder Magazine celebrates 300th birthday

Powder Magazine celebration, Cumberland St., Charleston, S.C.

These cute little gals were posing for me but kept their eyes on their mothers behind me. There was a crowd lined up to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the Powder Magazine and the festivities were getting ready to start as I walked by this morning.

The small brick building on Cumberland Street is distinctive for its three-feet-thick walls, four groin vaulted arches, and a pyramid roof, architectural necessities in case the loose gun powder stored there in the 1700s exploded.
“It was very well built,” said retired USC art and architectural historian John Bryan. “And the proof of that is the fact that it is still there.”
The magazine was completed in 1713 under the Lord Proprietors rule and was part of the walled city called Charles Towne. That city was four blocks wide and two blocks long, bordered by the present Meeting, Cumberland, East Bay and Water streets.

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2013/04/18/2730582/powder-magazine-celebrates-tricentennial.html#storylink=cpy

Thank a volunteer - Lowcountry Senior Center

Lowcountry Senior Center, James Island, S.C.

Next week is Volunteer week but we've been pro-active and held volunteer recognition events this week. I've been party hopping and have been hugged by so many wonderful people I should be radiating good will.

I've helped host volunteer award luncheons for Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital, Mount Pleasant Hospital, Roper Hospital and today I attended a recognition brunch for the Lowcountry Senior Center volunteers on James Island. What a great group. Joe Hanf, pictured getting the smooches above has volunteered for over 10,000 hours for the Senior Center.

Events unfold

Magnolia Plantation Gardens, Charleston, S.C.

I've spent the entire evening watching the story in Boston unfold, amazed at the work done by law enforcement, FBI, EMS, hospital staff and the city of Boston. My heart is full of gratitude for everyone who worked tirelessly to bring this awful incident to some closure.

Need something to read?

Window Books, Hollywood, S.C.

I lightened my load and got rid of so many things when I moved downsizing to a smaller house last year. The only thing I have caught myself regretting has been that I gave away so many of my books. I had boxes of books that had been in my attic since my move before that - over twenty years earlier. I gave away all of my recipe books now that I google all recipes. If the internet is down, I am completely helpless and unable to make a meal.

I spotted this window full of books in Hollywood, S.C. in Robert Sarvo's Antique Store. Maybe I should buy a few. 

Travel Tuesdays - Endebess, Kenya

Kenya

On Tuesdays I allow myself to stray out of the lowcountry and dip into old travel albums. These shots were  from a trip I took a few years ago to document the installation of a water purification system designed by Water Missions International for a community hospital in Kenya. The hospital I work for raised the money and sponsored the project and I was fortunate to be part of it.

After the commissioning ceremony we traveled a bit and visited other hospitals, clinics, schools and a school for the blind.  I took these between Kitali and Endebess if my memory serves. It was a market area that sold veggies and piles of used clothes and repaired bikes. I was a quick hit taking pictures of the market ladies and kids and showing them their image in the back of the camera to whoops of laughter.