Accordionists hit the streets!

Custom House, Charleston, S.C.

The American Accordionists Association Festival is in town! Who knew? Naturally they played "The Charleston" on the Custom House steps as I walked by. Lucky me.

Weekend Chores

Charleston, S.C.

Yard work Charleston style.

Heheh.

Superman does King St.

King St., Charleston, S.C.

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a bicycle rickshaw with a superman cape!

Soda Bottle Cap Art Mural

Bottle Cap Art, Fish Restaurant, Charleston, S.C.

I've always loved this mural made out of colored soda bottle tops that is on the wall in the dining room of Fish Restaurant. Isn't it amazing? Last night I was seated across from it so I made one of the other guests stand up and pose with the image. Wow. She was so beautiful! Thanks Nina :).

Bastille Day festivities - Fish Restaurant

Fish Restaurant, King St., Charleston, S.C.

When a best friend is French, Bastille Day festivities take on a high priority! This is the second year I've gone to Fish Restaurant and they get more creative each time - goats, dancers, even a mini guillotine for french fries. Most of the activity was in the bar area with the can can dancers but we enjoyed the fixed price dinner in the dining room entertained by strolling musicians. Fun evening. Thanks Andre'!

Tight Corners

Vanderhorst St., Charleston, S.C.

Some one took the turn a little too tightly. Not quite sure how they solved it but the easiest way might have been to take the sign down.

Jury duty continues. I have a sneaky feeling I won't be back to work this week. Ooooooh nooooo ;).

Thanks to the Charleston City Paper for printing my tribute to Gene Glave. It felt like such an honor and responsibility to do her justice and I appreciate all the loving feedback.

Super Duper Looper

Scarf with Sea Shell beads

I've met the most incredible caste of characters through the years because of this blog. Some I've met in person but many I haven't yet. One of the later is Mental Meatloaf. I can't tell you how often I come home from work and laugh out loud at the trail of comments she has left on my entries. We've followed each other for so many years I sometimes forget we've never actually met!

Last week I opened a box in my mail to find this beautiful hand crochet scarf. It is gorgeous, goes on for miles and the shells make a happy clinking sound. The enclosed note read, "I made this with you and the ocean in mind. Long Island is all about the ocean so I thought I'd send the spirit of my home to yours."

Thank you! I'll smile every time I wear it. :)

Signs of happy times

Mills House Hotel, Queen St., Charleston, S.C.

I love the look of colorful towels drying on a porch railing. It speaks so much of summer fun even when it's in a snazzy downtown hotel. I hope this family is having a wonderful lowcountry vacation.

Back from jury duty. I don't have to report each morning until 9:30 a.m. which almost feels like a day off in my world. I may get lazy and fat on this jury business since I've been eating out each day instead of my usual scrap of hospital cafeteria salad.

Today a few of my fellow well labeled JURORS walked down to G & M for their lunch special and I kicked myself for not going there more often. It was so yummy. I'll be back! Maybe tomorrow ;). Meanwhile, you know the drill - I can't talk about it.

Ice cold coffee on a hot day

City Lights Coffee Shop, Market St., Charleston. S.C.

I don't know for a fact that the coffee is better than anywhere else but it is a cozy little coffee shop that makes a welcoming ice cold ice coffee and carries the New York Times.

I went through the juror selection process this morning and then was dismissed early afternoon. Nice. I go back for 9:30 in the morning for my continuing adventures in jury duty. Hard to believe that that long drawn out process is repeated over and over again.

Jumping the tracks

Ridgeville, S.C.

This plane looks a little out of place in Ridgeville directly across from Duke's BBQ. Spotting the damaged wing I realized it was the plane that had landed on the railway tracks in an incredible emergency landing.

Small Plane Lands on Railroad Tracks:
RIDGEVILLE, S.C., June 20 (UPI) -- Emergency responders said a small plane made an emergency nighttime landing on railroad tracks in the town of Ridgeville, S.C.

Ridgeville Volunteer Fire Department Chief Herbert Cummings said the Piper Super Cub, which had been pulling advertising banners and was en route to Walterboro, S.C., landed on the tracks Saturday night, avoiding the surrounding buildings and power lines, The Post and Courier, Charleston, S.C., reported Monday.

"They've got reason to celebrate," Cummings said. "It's a wonder that thing didn't nose right out."

The plane's owner, Gould Barrett of Atlanta, praised the pilot's skills and said he does not know why the plane went down.

"We're not sure what happened," Barrett said. "It could have been an engine problem."

Myrtle in her finest

Tradd St., Charleston, S.C.

It may be almost too hot and humid to bear in Charleston but there is lush, colorful eye candy everywhere you look.

I am off to jury duty, kids. This will be a new experience for me.

A last packed house for Gene Glave

Sunrise Presbyterian, Sullivans Island, S.C.

Gene could pack a house until the very end and was sent off in a way that would have delighted her. Friends from the theatrical world, Dragon Boat paddlers, church family and fellow nurses filled the church on Sullivan's Island this afternoon.

Gene's close circle of friends remembered that she claimed she wanted her funeral full of women in colorful prom dresses and facebook has been buzzing with messages posted from dressing rooms in Goodwill stores around town. Party City had pink boas. One gal wore her Mother of the Bride dress. One squeezed into her pink junior prom frock. I held out okay through the service but the sight of these loving women who have been feverishly distracting themselves from their sorrow by shopping to please Gene in this last request almost did me in.

More red, white and blue

East Bay St., Charleston, S.C.

I am having a lazy morning and getting ready to head out on my walk now. Here are a couple I missed sharing from the last weekend's patriotic show of color. I need to buy some red, white and blue bunting for holidays. The first photo is the little liqueur shop on East Bay and the one below of course is Hibernian Hall on Meeting St.

If anyone has any experience with solar attic fans holler at me. I've been thinking it might be a clever idea for my house.

2011 - the Year of the Crepe Myrtle

Crepe Myrtle trees, Charleston, S.C.

I've been living in Crepe Myrtle heaven. Wow! We've had just enough rain to make them gloriously heavy with blossoms, red, pink, white and purple. Between the Crepe Myrtle blossoms and real tomatoes the summer heat has lost a little of it's sting.

I need to take my camera down to that MUSC stretch of Calhoun St. across from Roper Hospital. Wow. It looked incredible this morning after the rain.

In this today's photo is the Goat, Sheep, Cow shop on Church St. Anyone been in yet? Goat cheese. Mmmmm.

I had a late lunch meeting at Cafe Fork and tried to leave my office relatively organized since I have jury duty next week. That should be interesting.

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance

Charleston, S.C.

Not my usual Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance but when my brother painted my house, he put a layer of protective varnish on the porch church pew and took a meditative moment. Thanks Jim! It looks great.

Floating down the Edisto

Edisto River, S.C.

I didn't do it myself but it looked so much fun I wished I had! The P & C reported on the increased number of people floating down the Edisto River and they anticipated huge crowds on July 4th.

I don't know if they had any trouble but I saw a lot of people having a grand time. I'm guessing there were some impressive sunburns and hangovers to deal with the next day.

Gene Glave - a sad loss

Gene Glave, Charleston, S.C.

Lights burned a little dimmer at Roper St. Francis Healthcare yesterday afternoon when we learned our darling Gene lost her battle with cancer. She passed away, fittingly on a Wednesday when coworkers regularly showed support by dressing in pink in her honor.

I got to know Gene best years ago after she happened to google her name and found sweet things I had said about her on my blog. I'd gather a happy gang of groupies to go to her theatrical performances. Going through the series of pictures I have of her wearing pink wigs, dancing, dressed in costumes, hugging people, I can at least say that we knew we had a treasure when we had her. She was appreciated, loved and supported by everyone who knew her, every day.

In true Gene style, she left a status update message on her Facebook status profile. Pediatric nurse, actress, blogger, dog lover, dragonboat paddler, character extraordinaire and best friend to so many she is going to be missed.

Hello everyone... I wanted to take a moment to talk about life, the greatest of journeys. You have all brought so much enrichment, meaning, love, and light to my life, and to share your laughter, your tears, your joys and frustrations has been a blessing and a privilege to me beyond any measure of thanks in words.

I have gone on ahead now in this journey of life but what I carry is a celebration of our friendships, camaraderie, and love. You can rest assured that we will meet again and until that time I will be watching over and sending my love to each and every one of you. The greatest success in life can simply be measured by how we treat each other along the way and I have been overwhelmed by your selflessness, your caring, your heartfelt love and concern.

I love each and every one of you beyond measure. May God nurture and keep you, and may you keep each other until we meet again ;-) ALL MY LOVE AND THANKS !!! Gene

Fields of flowers & pineapple blossoms

Waterfront Park, Charleston, S.C.

Isn't this fun?! It is right down at the water front park at the Pineapple fountain. The flowers were bobbing in the breeze and kids were running around splashing in the water. It was perfect.

Did anyone else have a little trouble working today after the long weekend? I got a lot done but had to force myself. It will be a short week.

My house is painted. It looks crisp and fresh. My brother is the most efficient painter. Sadly he leaves tomorrow morning. Sniff. We are heading out to a last dinner before he heads to the airport in the morning.

Broad Street's Lonely Leopard

People's Building, Broad St., Charleston, S.C.

This is the saddest picture. I've taken quite a few photos of the pair of leopards guarding the doors of the People's Building on Broad St. but now this one is missing his mate. Vandals knocked over and destroyed his companion. I'd really like someone to solve this crime. The crime stopper number is at the bottom of the Post & Courier blurb below.

Vandals Destroy Leopard:

Vandals destroyed one of two marble leopards that have graced the entrance to a Broad Street landmark since 1957.

Sometime between 6 p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. Friday, someone smashed one of the leopards and left it in pieces near the front entrance of the Peoples Building at 18 Broad St., according to a Charleston police incident report.

The pair of centuries-old Italian marble leopards were taken down from their pedestals in 2003 for restoration. They were returned in 2004. Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked call Charleston police at 577-7434 or Crime Stoppers at 554-1111

Happy Birthday America!

Charleston, S.C.

Charleston is dressed in it's patriotic finest this morning and I let my camera hop from flag to flag for you on my walk. I get a bit sentimental about July 4th since this country laid out the welcome mat for me, gave me citizenship, rewarding work, warm friends and a place to call home. Happy birthday America!

Happy July 4th!

George St., Charleston, S.C.

Four days off in a row. What a gift this has been. I walk in the mornings while my brother finishes off the painting the house and then we hang out in the afternoons catching up on years of news.

Last night I invited a friend recently back from Iraq to dinner with his bride from Thailand. Between them, Andre' my favorite Frenchman and my brother Jim from India I had the world well represented. I made a big pot of chicken and sausage gumbo and rice and sat back and listened to hours of international adventure stories. It was wonderful.

Happy July 4th kids! Eat, drink and appreciate your freedom. I bet I can find some flag pictures for the occasion.

Sweet, sweet day off

Coming St., Charleston, S.C.

Sweet, sweet extra day off, I love you!

It is Crepe Myrtle season in Charleston, we are finally getting some rain and everything looks lush and colorful. Today was the day my brother painted the dangerously high peak of the house. It made me queasy to watch him high up that shaky ladder but he survived. Sheesh. I could never do it. I got a hiking harness and he roped himself to a beam through the attic window - just in case. I had an ear out for thuds on the sidewalk as I did yard work.

Happy Canada Day everyone! I meant to bake butter tarts but Harris Teeter didn't have enough of my favorite tart shells so I thought I'd make my brother something we both enjoy but doesn't have anything to do with Canada. It was a special occasion tradition when we were kids to boil a can of condensed milk under water for three hour to make Dulce de Leche. I'd been reading about a shortcut method in the microwave and thought I'd give it a try.

What a sticky mess! Mine boiled over immediately each time I turned the microwave on. Wow. I kept trying to scoop it back in the bowl so I would lose all the liquid gold but I ended up with about a third of the amount. I need to hose down the kitchen. Heheh. Still yummy though and you can picture me licking a spoonful as I type. Now I will need to wipe down the keyboard.

Anyone else going to the Stephen Colbert in Charleston show?