One more Holiday Tree

Coming St., Charleston, S.C.

Here is one last creatively decorated Christmas tree for you. This one is clearly in a college rental area. Fun!

Not a car in sight

Charleston, S.C.

This is a rare sight! Normally I have to worry about cars blocking my driveway but today the street is abandoned. It is so quiet in this college rental part of town it is almost spooky. I've hesitated doing my late night walk the last few evenings because it feels like I am alone in a ghost town.

I cooked what seemed like an extraordinary amount of food for my son and I. Luckily we both love leftovers so I am able to pack him off with food for the week. We just got back from seeing True Grit at the Terrace Theater in a packed theater.

It's been a perfectly nice day but I've had the most fun seeing all the pictures of kiddies excited about Christmas on blogs and Facebook. Enjoy those little rascals while you have them! They grow up and move across the country in a blink of an eye.

Lowcountry Christmas

Charleston at Christmas, Charleston, S.C.

My house smells delicious! I decided to get most of my cooking done this morning and then walk down King St. and enjoy being in the hustle and bustle without having to drive. I might even find a spot for a bite to eat.

I had a moment of panic when I couldn't get online this morning. I got rid of all of my cookbooks a few years ago and depend on googled recipe mix and matches for cooking now. I would have been in a fix.

Hope everyone is having a good Christmas Eve. Everything would be perfect if I could magically turn my children into 5 and 6 year olds again :).

Peeking through fences...

Legare St., Charleston, S.C.

There is always some secret new garden to discover by peaking down alleyways and through fences in Charleston and this one was wild and overgrown in it's charm. Waldo - I think I spy a joggling board in the green chaos!

I have my days mixed up this week and went to an afternoon matinee at the Terrace Theater today. I went to see The Black Swan without doing too much research. Yikes! I'll never look at a ballerina the same again. I was crouching in the dark, clutching my mug of tea and peaking through my hands while she did terrible things to herself.

Shame on me - my Angel Tree wish was granted! Thank you Chocolate Fairy for the delicious treats!

Love is.....

Radcliff St., Charleston, S.C.

Love is the magician, the enchanter that changes worthless things to joy.
It is the perfume of that wondrous flower, the heart,
and without that sacred passion, that divine swoon,
we are less than beasts; but with it, earth is heaven, and we are gods.

Robert G. Ingersol

Reindeer Games

King St., Charleston, S.C.

It's tradition. I have to post this timeless picture every holiday season. Yep. The reindeer know Victoria's Secret.

I was at the Mount Pleasant Hospital at 6:45 a.m. for a fund raising book sale. Yawn. I crashed on the couch with my soup and Facebook and then had to make myself go out for a very late walk.

This blog rolls over to Facebook and entries that get no comments on here get a bunch there and the other way around. Interesting. The other odd thing is that it takes hours for them to show up on Facebook. It must look like I have a very odd schedule.

Disclaimer: I did NOT pose them. They did it on their own. I walked early that morning and surprised them.

Dr. Oz recommends baby steps?

Charleston, S.C.

One of the things I like best about Charleston is that it is a walking town. Walking is the most practical form of transportation on the peninsula which isn't more than a couple of miles across at it's widest and there is always something new to see, some new alley to explore or secret garden to peak into.

I walk to get places and I walk fast. My legs get restless and dull feeling if I skip more than a day or two. It's always a happy relief for me to walk with someone who can match my stride. I walk about three miles most nights, often quite late and on weekend mornings I lallygag, stopping to take pictures and do my errands.

Dr. Oz' columns sometimes catch my eye since he seems to give practical advice so I clicked on his recent one about walking and was flabbergasted. His latest advice? Instant Weight Loss: Take Smaller Steps.

According to Dr. Oz: Here’s why: All walkers, no matter their height, use the same amount of energy per stride. But short people (including kids) have to take more strides more quickly to cover the same distance at the same speed as tall people. Simple math: More strides equal more calories.

Meaning, if you just take smaller steps but walk your usual distance in your usual time, you’ll burn more calories. To burn even more, break up those little steps with occasional bursts of skipping. More calories will go up in smoke, and you’ll feel like a kid again. (Come on, when’s the last time you skipped?)

Last tip: Get a pedometer, and aim to walk 10,000 steps a day, the amount it takes to be considered active. Make ‘em short steps, and you’ll soon be considered slim, too.

Huh? This seems like the craziest advice to me. He claims we should take tiny, steps to burn more calories. Don't worry about actually getting anywhere, don't walk for the pure pleasure of it, don't hope for the benefit of aerobic exercise, don't enjoy a natural brisk stride. Make yourself take tiny little mincing steps.

I can't imagine anyone is going to keep up that for long term exercise. Does this make sense to anyone?

Cemetery Walking

Unitarian Church Cemetery, Charleston, S.C.

It was a gray and overcast day here in the lowcountry, perfect for a walk through one of our old cemeteries and the Unitarian Church Cemetery is one of my favorites. It's always a bit wild and ungroomed looking with birds and the odd cat looking quite at home.

I found this poem on their web site:

Soul Of A Man
Won't somebody tell me, answer if you can!
Won't somebody tell me, what is the soul of a man
I'm going to ask the question, answer if you can

If anybody here can tell me, what is the soul of a man?
I've traveled in different countries, I've traveled foreign lands
I've found nobody to tell me, what is the soul of a man

Blind Willie Johnson

Festive Guard Dogs on Duty

Charleston Christmas, Charleston, S.C.

It's a festive guard dog Christmas! At least they are dressed for the weather. How about some little dog umbrellas to keep them dry?

I walked for miles this morning in the rain. I got lucky and came home to find that and one of my tenants fixed the other tenant's appliance problem this morning. Can't beat that!

I am snuggled on my couch catching up with all the Daily Show and Stephen Colbert shows that were recorded while I was out of town. Stay dry kids!

It's beginning to look a lot like....

Christmas in Charleston, S.C.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Charleston - even if it is raining!

It is so soggy out that Farmer's Market was canceled except for one farmer who got the message after he had already loaded the produce truck. I ended my walk there and bought enough zucchinis to make a yummy pot of curried zucchini soup. Now, I am thinking a nap might be in order.

Santas on the Edge

Folly Beach, S.C.

Santas on the Edge of America that is. I suspect this is someone's holiday card this year.

I've only worked two days this week and I've already been rewarded with a weekend. Not bad at all. I just got home from an oyster roast at my CEO's house and am nodding off at the keyboard. G'night kids.

Naughty or nice?

Charleston, S.C.

Isn't he the most perfect Santa? He can't resist coming back to the hospital before Christmas and we all love him. Did you get my list Santa?

Merry Christmas Charleston!

Merry Christmas Charleston! The Charleston Symphony orchestra coordinated this while I was out of town. So cool!

Chef Nico at the James Beard House

James Beard House, NYC

The primary reason for my trip to NYC was to attend Chef Nico Romo's, dinner at the James Beard House last night. How could I resist an opportunity like that?

It was cold and dark out last night and just a small sign let us know we were at the right brownstone. Chef Nico looked relaxed and I was happily impressed to learn how many of the guests had traveled from Charleston to support him.



There is a little entry area and then we all walked a narrow path past a tiny open kitchen area. The walls were lined with maps of the world and cooking accessories were hanging everywhere. Nico and his team of three had driven their truck filled with food and had arrived the night before.

Dec. 14, 7:00 P.M. French with an Asian Twist
South Carolina’s only Maitre Cuisinier de France (and one of the world’s youngest), Lyon native Nico Romo brings his je ne sais quoi and Asian accents to the sophisticated French cooking at Fish. A hot spot on Charleston’s restaurant scene, Fish is also known for its fine wines, which will accompany this Beard House debut.

The dinner had sold out promptly and all 85 guests squeezed into a tiny reception room at the back of the house. I sneaked upstairs early to check out the layout but didn't stay long since Nico's appetizers are one of my favorites things and I especially liked the tiny servings of curried crab soup.



Amazingly they did find a seat for everyone in the two rooms on the second floor. The building still looks much like a home with portraits of James Beard hanging over the mantles. Two thirds of our table was already filled with sparkling glasses for the wine pairings.



Escargot dumplings (yum), bouillabaisse, red porgy, duck a l'orange, beef bourguinon and pan seared petite fillet, goat yogurt cake and banana creme brulee....it was a wonderful evening and I feel so lucky to be included. Chef Nico and his team earned a standing ovation and we were sent home with little gift boxes filled with treats.

There was an official James Beard photographer who was very welcoming and I didn't feel responsible for the official food plate shots so I could get the happy crowd pictures. I will upload more to this album but meanwhile I need to get to bed. Apparently there is this thing called 'work" that has to be dealt with in the morning.

Central Park Postcard

Central Park, NYC

There is just the perfect amount of snow in Central Park to feel like I was walking through a postcard this morning. I walked through the park and then back on Madison Ave. drooling on all the store windows and stopping for some hot soup. Tonight is the dinner at the James Bear House featuring Chef Nico Romo from Fish Restaurant - the main purpose for the trip. I can't wait!

Spider Man sends his greetings!

Have a Foodie Holiday!

Barney's, New York City

I thought you might like to the festive "Foodie" windows at Barney's on Madison Ave. Isn't this fun?! The window displays are absolutely incredible.

We walked and walked today and explored the MOMA museum. What an exciting time of year to visit New York.

I hope everyone is staying warm. Tomorrow the big chill arrives here and I saw a few flakes of snow this evening.

New City Field Trip

FAO Schwarz Toy Store, NYC

I am going to get kicked out of the "Daily Photo" community if I keep traveling! I have a little net book with me thinking it was travel lighter than my laptop but I am having trouble uploading photos so most will have to wait.

I am clearly not a local gal, wide eyed with delight at all the sights. Quick peak in St. Patrick's Cathedral, brunch at Brasserie 8 1/2, squeezed in the crowd to see the tree at Rockefeller Center, walked past the theater and got tickets to see Mama Mia - so much fun!

Haven't done any shopping yet except for one thing - there is a certain black hair clasp that I like that I can't find anywhere in Charleston. They must make random deliveries of Goodies hair products. We were in a Duane Reade drug store and I spotted them and bought all five they had. Since then I've been going in every one of the drugstores chains and buying up their stock on black plastic hair claws. Some people come to NYC for high fashion, I'm coming home with a backpack full of $5.49 hair claws. Heheh.

Stay warm kids!

NYC Field Trip

Metropolitan Museum, NYC

I am waking up on Park Ave in New York City and feel like Cinderella. I have the most beautiful guest room and private marble bathroom. Wowza! Seems I know people who know people. Our hosts have been so welcoming and took us for a quick walk through of the Metropolitan Museum yesterday afternoon. What an incredible treat this is. I can't wait to see what today brings.

Joyful Noise

Charleston, S.C.

It's an annual tradition - the pipes band from the Lowcountry Senior Center came to entertain us at the hospital today. It was a fun and festive affair.

Blog friend Suzie Townsend has started a new Charleston photo blog. Go visit at: My View of Charleston and the Lowcountry. This is such a beautiful part of the world it is hard to resist showing it off!

Plan to watch my friend and Best Chef in the South East, Chef Sean Brock on Iron Chef America on Sunday evening, 12/12 at 10 p.m. Yeah Sean!

Okay, kids, I need to go pack! I am off to New York City in the morning. Y'all behave while I am gone. No wild parties. Keep your feet off of the coffee table and pick up your beer cans. Most of all don't let my pipes freeze.

I may not be Martha Stewart....

Rusty Truck Chic, Backroads, S.C.

I may not be Martha Stewart but I believe you can toss a little greenery in almost any container and....oh, just be creative!

I've had this shot in my Backroads, S.C. album. It was taken in a nursery around Holly Hill if I recall correctly.

Wednesday Evening Walk-about

Rutledge Ave., Charleston, S.C.

I've been here, I've been there, I've been everywhere. I had an afternoon meeting at Roper Hospital and it hardly seemed worth driving all the way back out to my office so I grabbed an armful of work to do at home. I haven't touched it yet.

I took a long walk while it was still light. The lady at Beads on Cannon graciously repaired my favorite glass bead necklace and refused to let me pay her anything. The gentlemen at Tabbuli Grill served me my favorite chicken kabob dinner with a glass of wine and the Charleston City Paper. The Tabulli Grill is my new favorite place to grab a quick bite now that Does Pita closed their downtown location.

I am going to New York City on Saturday and bouncing off the ceiling with excitement. Chef Nico Romo from FISH restaurant is hosting a dinner at the James Beard House on Tuesday evening and I get to go! Wowza! I can't believe how lucky I am. What a treat this is going to be.

New York City at Christmas. La..la...la! Suddenly I feel like a village girl with nothing stylish enough to wear in New York. Black, black, black, I know. I bought a hat and since my free range toes are barely getting used to not being in sandals I did my walk this evening in boots just to make sure I could. Boots!? I don't wear boots in Charleston. How easy it is to forget that I am Canadian! I don't know nuthin' 'bout no winter.

The photo is the Belvedere Bed & Breakfast on Rutledge Ave. by Colonial Lake dressed in holiday finery. Stay warm kids!

The gift for the folks who have everything...

Water Missions International, Charleston, S.C.

Yes! Buy them an outhouse! I's quirky, original, practical and fun. For a $100 donation to Water Missions International you can have a Sanitary Pit Latrine installed in a country where it is desperately needed.

Sanitary Pit Latrine: The Healthy Latrine is a low-cost yet sturdy, robust, aesthetic and durable type of construction developed by WMI as part of a state wide pilot Project in the Department of Colon, Honduras and used around developing countries to provide access to adequate sanitation facilities to needy families and households in rural and sub-urban settlements lacking any other type of sewage facilities.

This Latrine was developed to improve health and living conditions on children and adults because it is a well-known fact that about three quarters of poor families in developing countries lack these types of facilities. Lack of proper sanitation represents more than half the sources of gastrointestinal diseases caused by waterborne bacteria, viruses and worms.

Water Mission Internationl's primary project is building water purification systems. That is how I met them and got involved, eventually traveling to Kenya to document the installation of a system for a little hospital in Eldoret. When I was touring their facility on Savannah Highway I spotted this outhouse made out of poured concrete in the corner and was enchanted.

I grew up using outhouses and love this solution since it uses a gallon of back flush water from the purification system. Neato!

Seriously. I bought one last year for Christmas and intend to do it again this year. It would be the perfect fun/serious gift to give in people's names. I tried to talk WMI into personalizing them but they still suspect I am nuts. Wouldn't it be great to have a picture of your outhouse with your name on it? I can see a line of Joany Pony Potties. I'd probably go visit them.

Here is the donation link or just give them a call. The latrine is listed in their holiday catalog.

Pony up for a holiday potty!

Whole Chicken Dinner 50 cents

Whole Chicken Dinner, MacDaddy Landing, S.C.

It took me a minute to get what they meant, laughed out loud and told the cashier that I had to go out and get my camera. How funny!

I've had a good weekend. I kicked off the holidays with my annual tradition of going to the Symphony Gospel Choir with friends. There is nothing like the foot stomping, hand clapping choir members belting out spirituals to put me in the holiday spirit. They were soooo wonderful. Thanks to Debby and Andre for the good company. After the concert at St. Matthews we walked up to FISH for a drink. What a perfect evening.

I am snuggled in my favorite corner of the couch waiting to watch FIG restaurant Chef Mike Lata on Iron Chef America in a few minutes. I've had some of the best food I've ever had in my life at FIG. Watch it if you can! I know he will make Charleston proud.

Making magic out of scraps of wood

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

It's a good day simply not having to set an alarm clock. I always wake up before the alarm goes off but love, love, love not having to leap out of my warm nest.

The Farmer's Market is still in full swing and when I walked through this morning Ashley Harwood was turning the tiniest little pieces of wood on a lathe and making delicate ornaments with sea urchins. I asked how many she broke and she looked as if I had asked an odd question. Heck, I'd be snapping them off left and right and using them for fancy toothpicks. I guess that is why I am not a wood artist and she is.

They are beautiful aren't they? She makes bowls and other artwork as well and was recently featured in the Post & Courier.

Go visit at: turningnative.com