Dot, dot, dot.....

East Bay Wine & Spirits, East Bay St., Charleston, S.C.

Red dots. There is a rash of them all over town. Must be catching.

Famous Charleston Quotes

Not my house, Charleston, S.C.

Scarlett: Rhett! Rhett, where are you going?
Rhett Butler: I'm going back to Charleston, back where I belong.
Scarlett: Please, please take me with you!
Rhett Butler: No, I'm through with everything here. I want peace. I want to see if somewhere there isn't something left in life of charm and grace. Do you know what I'm talking about?
Scarlett: No! I only know that I love you.
Rhett Butler: That's your misfortune.

Guess where in Charleston?!

Mural, Charleston, S.C.

Any clue where this mural is? Let's see if anyone knows and then I will post the location.

Edit: Correct answer in comments! Thanks folks. I need to get some prizes, don't I? This is a mural painted by David Boatwright on one of the renovated sheds down in the Market.

Soy, beans and sprouts, oh my!

Black Bean Co., 116 Spring St., Charleston, S.C.

Salad Caprese delivered to my door? I think so, yes. Charleston has a new healthy eating option with the opening of the Black Bean Co. on Spring St. Happy me. Check out the menu and let me know what is good if you get there before I do.

Like Sweets?

Plymouth United Church of Christ, Spring St., Charleston, S.C.

Like sweets? Try our Sundays!

I do like sweets! This sign made me smile.

Canadian Weekend

Perry Family, Beamsville, Ontario, Canada

I've been here and I've been there! I flew up to Toronto after work on Thursday and packed a lot into three days. My family doesn't live very close together but they gathered around and I got to see a lot of people I hadn't seen in a long time. I checked a few important things off my Canadian list....watched my family drink Tim Horton's coffee, ate a butter tart for breakfast every morning and grabbed a quick lunch at Swiss Chalet in the airport before I caught my plane! Thanks to everyone for their hospitality and showing me such a good time.

The top photo is of my immediate siblings with my Dad. My youngest brother Jim didn't make it but I've got photos and video on the way to him.


I made my brother stop for a photo op in front of Jacob Beam Elementary School where I went to kindergarten in case I ever write my memoirs. He said he wasn't going to write his so I get to make up anything I like.


My sister-in-law Elaine took me out on Friday and we explored cute little Niagara-on-the-Lake......


....and went winery hopping! There are wineries everywhere. They have all popped up in recent years. We found one with a lovely restaurant for lunch.


My brother Roger and his wife Cathy now live in my grandparent's old home in Beamsville and hosted us all for my Dad's 84th birthday and my nephew Caleb's birthday.


My sister Shirley is the musical one in the family. She came from Edmonton with her friend Alex and entertained us with a folk concert that evening. They have been invited to go to India to perform at a folk festival so tested out their songs on us.



I stayed with my brother Bob who is a Veterinarian in Dunnville and his wife Elaine in their cottage on Lake Erie. It was beautiful, green trees and cool crisp air. Elaine pulled off a surprise 50th birthday party for him and we stayed out late around the large campfire and were entertained again by our musicians.


We went for a drive along the coast of Lake Erie to Port Dover and had Lake Erie Perch for lunch. I had to laugh to see the palm trees stuck in the sand for the summer. They pull them out in the fall. Fun! More photos here. I hope everyone else had a good weekend. Back to reality in the morning. Ouch.

See y'all later, eh!

King St., Charleston, S.C.

Y'all behave. Keep the place clean. No wild parties while I'm gone. Pick up your beer cans, keep your feet off the coffee table. I am heading up to Canada for the long weekend for some family birthday festivities and the tenants are in charge.

I am one of eight siblings and hope to see as many of them as possible. My sister Shirley is planning a trip to India and offered to take anything we wanted to send to my brother. My part of his wish list? Paint brushes and rollers. My suitcase is full of the oddest things.

Later kids. Happy Labor Day!

Famous Charleston Quotes

Magnolia Plantation, S.C.

Scarlett: Cathleen, who's that?
Cathleen Calvert: Who?
Scarlett: That man looking at us and smiling. The nasty, dark one.
Cathleen Calvert: My dear, don't you know? That's Rhett Butler. He's from Charleston. He has the most terrible reputation.
Scarlett: He looks as if... as if he knows what I look like without my shimmy.

Eat Like a Pirate on 9/19

Buccaneer Restaurant, 5 Faber St., Charleston, S.C.

Listen up, me Hearties! The High Holy Day of Pirates is National Talk Like a Pirate Day - Sunday, 9/19.

The Buccaneer Restaurant at 5 Faber St. will donate 10% of their profits
that day to the American Heart Association. Aargh!

Find your eye patch, dust off your flag! Join your fellow pirates at any time during the day, enjoy the pirate theme restaurant and know you are supporting a worthy cause. Prizes will be awarded for best ($50 gift certificates) man, woman and ($25 gift certificates) child pirate costumes at 6 p.m. to participating dinners.

Make your reservations early and join the fun. Aaaargh!

Sunday, September 19, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The Buccaneer Restaurant, 5 Faber Street(843) 805-5065

Sea Shell Heaven

Botany Bay, Edisto Island, S.C.

One of the most frequently googled string of words searched for that lands people on this blog is "best beach for shells". It makes me very protective of our beaches and I hesitate to mention where they are. Sssshhh!

I can't resist this time though. Botany Bay is a shell lovers heaven and the worshipers have been at play. Shells were propped on the tips of giant driftwood branches and hung like christmas ornaments on skeleton trees.

There are signs asking visitors not to remove sea shells from the beaches so please respect that. Perhaps an exception can be made for the artist who painted the shell and brought it back to lay it on display in a tree trunk.

I skipped and danced from one display to the next. I love this place.

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - Botany Bay

Botany Bay, S.C.

I haven't been keeping up a strict weekly Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance lately but I definitely felt I was walking in a spiritual place on Botany Bay beach yesterday and when I saw this shell cross I knew it had to be my Sunday photo.

It was such an amazing place, I'll be back with more pictures shortly. While my pictures uploaded I was flipping through a Food Network magazine on an empty stomach and I am ready to eat the whole frig. Time to hunt and gather.

Larger version here.

Art Walking

McCrady's Restaurant, Unity Alley, Charleston, S.C.

Artist Gina Brown is doing a Charleston series again, with most of her paintings based on my photos. I love it! Check out her painting blog to see more of the series. This particular one features two of my favorite things - good food and the adorable British style Charleston Black Cab.

Gina shows locally at Shelby Lee Gallery on Church St. just off Market so if you are in town stop by. They look even better in real life.

Okay kids, enough lolly-gagging around. Who is going walking with me?

The Hand of an Old Friend

Botany Bay, S.C.

Ah, how good it feels! The hand of an old friend.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Writer's workshop and more....

King St., Charleston, S.C.

I love this old building on King St. Some day it will be a renovated eye catcher but I'm rather fond of it just the way it is, aren't you?

I've been doing Zuuuuuumba on Thursdays and Saturdays this month so I can learn some of the steps. Slow learner here. Heheh. So many of my friends have signed up we are soon going to need a bigger room.

These boots are exactly what we need in Charleston!

My friend and writer Stephanie Hunt is holding a writer's retreat and the topic made me smile:

Writing Raw: What revealing has to do with revelation, and how to write about family without being disowned.
Presenter: Stephanie Hunt
September 08, 2010, 7 - 9 PM
Tuition: Workshop - $25 in advance ~ $35 at the door.

Stephanie writes for SKIRT!, Charleston Magazine and House Calls. She pops up in everything I open to read and still seems to have a loving family so she may know what she is talking about!

Okay, kids! Have a nice weekend.

Legare St. rock garden

Legare St., Charleston, S.C.

Brilliant. Why didn't I think of this. Looks good and takes less work than potted plants.

Going, going, gone......

King St., Charleston, S.C.

Another King St. landmark is closing it's doors which is always sad. Here is the explanation from the owner's blog:

Fifty-Two.Five: Many people go through life without ever having a job that they love. For nearly fourteen years, I've loved what I do. I consider myself lucky. I recognize that my love of this job is only partially due to my love of music (and beer). By far the most enjoyable part has been coming in contact with so many wonderful people over the years. My work has been a pleasure and I am grateful to all of you for it.

Have I buttered you up? Good, because now I am going to ask for your help. The closest thing I have to a 401k is the money I have invested in the store. Now I need to cash it in.

The "going out of business sale" will begin on September 1st. All inventory will be discounted. Additionally, I'll be needing to sell a few items that until now have not been for sale. Please feel free to make an offer for any display item, store fixture, or piece of stereo equipment. Everything (almost) must go!

~ Clay

September 1st - time to build his retirement account. Pay back time.

Darius Rucker, Come Back Song

Darius Rucker, Come Back Song

Beautiful song filmed in a beautiful place. This is going to make a few folks homesick.

Changes on Bogard St.

Bogard St., Charleston, S.C.

People used to express concern (not without good reason!) when I did my weekend walks and included pictures from Bogard St. I walked early in the morning when it was quiet and mostly church ladies were up waiting for their rides.

I never would have guessed that I'd see not only Trattoria Lucca in business but now a brand new wine bar called Enoteca ready to open this weekend. The times they are a changin'. Good luck folks!

Possible Sequels to Eat, Pray, Love

Charleston, S.C.

This entry on the Shoebox Blog cracked me up since I saw the movie yesterday:


Possible Sequels to the movie “Eat Pray Love”
* Yawn Scratch Burp
* Eat Digest Poop
* Stop Drop Roll
* Eat Get Fat Gym Membership
* Cheat Slay Hug
* Shop Buy Return
* Eat Drink Schmooze
* Get Over Yourself
* Diet Binge Purge
* Sleep Work Complain
_________________

Photo unrelated to entry again. These boys ride around town trying to find just the right palmetto fronds to make palmetto roses to sell to tourists for a buck or two.

Eyeball to Candleball

King St., Charleston, S.C.

I am occasionally tempted not to carry my camera on a walk but if I don't, I am always sorry. Who can anticipate running into an artist painting a skull on the side of a Taco Boy truck in the abandoned Bank of America building on King St.? What brilliant colors!

The artist, Michael said I had just missed mural artist David Boatwright who will be presenting at the Pecha Kucha session tomorrow evening. What a lucky catch for today's photo. Larger resolution view here.

Elderly Ladies

Vanderhorst St., Charleston, S.C.

I occasionally flick though the Craiglist "Strictly Platonic" Friends bulletin board. I can always respect someone looking for a compatible friend. Most of the postings are for young people but here is one my age:
___________________

Elderly lady seeking other elderly ladies for friends - w4ww - 55 (Charleston)
Date: 2010-08-14, 6:36PM EDT
Reply To This Post

Seeking elderly ladies cooped up in their house to chat with.
__________________

Yikes! Elderly ladies of 55 cooped up in their house?!!

The Big, Black, Bewildering Bike Rack

Calhoun St., Charleston, S.C.

I'm just not getting it, kids. This is described as a modern bike rack built by Clemson students and a city design team. For a cost of $10,000 it houses 9 city employee's bikes and has a few open spaces for the public. It is supposed to be a museum quality piece.

I was standing there scratching my head when a gentleman came up and reminded me that the City Paper had written an article on it so here is the link. I've seen some pretty creative bike racks in my travels and we certainly need them in Charleston, but I'm not feeling the love for this one.

Switchbox Love Letter

Charleston, S.C.

"and even after all these years I still treat my phone like you're gonna be the one to make it ring"

It's gone of course.

In other news, the next session of Pechu Kucha will be held Wednesday evening with an impressive line up of presenters. The $5 tickets usually sell out but so far it looks like tickets are still available. Go get 'em!

Places to see, things to eat.....

Queen St., Charleston, S.C.

Visitors to Charleston drop by this blog looking for things they should be doing and seeing and eating while they are here so I thought I would pass along this travel guide by popular blogger and former lowcountry resident Nothing But Bonfires. Enjoy!

Contrasts

Magazine St., Charleston, S.C.

This is an door in the old Charleston Jail on Magazine St. The rooms on the first floor are being used as offices for the American College of the Building Arts. For some reason they must have though the original lock didn't offer enough security.

We have welcome sunshine today after that downpour yesterday. I was driving into town just as the rain hit and it was too late to change my route before I was caught up in the flooded mess on Cannon St. I turned into the Burger King just in time and hung out with the rest of the soggy refugees until the water went down enough to get through. Close call!

Pluff Mud Gravy?

John's Island, S.C.

Care for a little pluff mud gravy? That's what it looks like you would get out of this old pitcher someone must have dug out of the marsh.

Just a quick image for you this morning. I am on my way to Zumba with the Oldies....not old tunes but me and the old gals! I was out at the Lowcountry Senior Center on James Island for a photo shoot a few weeks ago and saw Prisca leading a class. When I realized I could come as a guest to the Saturday zumba classes for $10 a month I handed over my cash. Can't beat that deal. I have absolutely no rhythm but this happy gang is having fun and I joined them!

Vote for a friend - Mad Men Casting Call

Crepe Myrtle, Charleston, S.C.

It has definitely been a Crepe Myrtle year.

Do me a favor if you would, vote for my bloggie buddy Marcheline for a spot on Mad Men. Mad Men is my favorite current show to watch and it would be a real kick to see a friend on it. It is easy to do, you don't have to register or promise your first born child. Simply click here to vote!

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - St. Luke's

St. Luke's Chapel, Ashley Ave., Charleston, S.C.

I took this picture fairly late in the evening and then noticed the bird on the cross. Check that out! I am sure someone here knows what kind of bird it is. Osprey? Not the clearest shot but here is a larger view.

St. Luke's is the Medical University of S.C. Chapel and as always when I post a picture and google around for info to include, I learn something myself:

St. Luke's Chapel: This popular non-denominational wedding location, located at the corner of Ashley Avenue and Bee Street, was originally part of a Federal arsenal built between 1825 and 1832 by the United States government. It was later obtained in 1879 by the Reverend Anthony Toomer Porter for the education of boys orphaned or left destitute by the Civil War. In 1883 Dr. Porter converted the artillery shed into a chapel. The building served Porter Academy students from 1883 to 1965.

The Medical College (now Medical University) of South Carolina took possession of the property at that time. The Chapel was rededicated on April 17, 1966, and renamed to honor the important biblical figure, St. Luke the Physician.

In September of 1989, Hurricane Hugo severely damaged the building, and most of its contents were destroyed or made useless. The rebuilding of the chapel began as soon as possible and it now meets modern standards of comfort and efficiency while retaining almost all of the building's historical appearance.

This Little Piggie

Charleston, S.C.

Beware! Attack Pigs!

A farm of a different kind

Big Ass Farm, Walterboro, S.C.

From my sign file. This one always made me smile!

Sleepy me. Y'all turn the lights out. Eight hours of meetings did me in. I keep nodding off on the couch.

Magnetic Enthusiasm!

Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital, Charleston, S.C.

There was an electric buzz of excitement at work today. After years of hard work by the nursing staff, as many people as could possibly squeeze in to the board room this afternoon held their breath and waited to hear if we had been awarded the prestigious national award of being designated a Magnet Hospital. Yipee! What fun! Of course we had!

According to the Center for Nursing Advocacy:

Magnet status is an award given by the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center (ANCC), an affiliate of the American Nurses Association, to hospitals that satisfy a set of criteria designed to measure the strength and quality of their nursing. A Magnet hospital is stated to be one where nursing delivers excellent patient outcomes, where nurses have a high level of job satisfaction, and where there is a low staff nurse turnover rate and appropriate grievance resolution. Magnet status is also said to indicate nursing involvement in data collection and decision-making in patient care delivery. The idea is that Magnet nursing leaders value staff nurses, involve them in shaping research-based nursing practice, and encourage and reward them for advancing in nursing practice.

The neat thing about Magnet Status is that it is nurse driven and gives responsibility for leadership, power and recognition to nurses and they were celebrating today. We are now in a prestigious group of 4% of the hospitals in the country and the only one in the lowcountry and I am proud as punch of the people I work with today.

Congratulations to the excellent nursing staff at Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital, Pennie Peralta, Tanya Lott and Pat Marquis who led our efforts. You are the best and amaze me every day!

Home is where.....

Warren St., Charleston, S.C.

I am pleased to see that one of my favorite houses is being renovated. There is something friendly looking about this house and I've been sad to see it sit empty for years. In honor of it's renovation I looked up some "home" quotes for us:

“The best way to keep children at home is to make the home atmosphere pleasant, and let the air out of the tires.”
Dorothy Parker

Ninety-eight percent of American homes have TV sets, which means the people in the other 2% have to generate their own sex and violence.”
Franklin P. Jones

“When you're safe at home you wish you were having an adventure; when you're having an adventure you wish you were safe at home”
Thornton Wilder

“Home is where you hang your head”
Groucho Marx

“Home is where you can say anything you please, because nobody pays any attention to you anyway”
Joe Moore

....and finally I was startled to see this one by Mel Gibson, movie star and gift to all women, included:

“A woman should be home with the children, building that home and making sure there's a secure family atmosphere”
Mel Gibson

Well! I hope everyone has had a good weekend. It has poured rain in Charleston and intersections were still flooded when I went for a short late walk. Time to settle in for the evening and watch Mad Men.