Asleep in a tree

Magnolia Plantation Gardens, Charleston, S.C.

See the dark spot in the ancient oak tree? That is the final resting place of the former owner of Magnolia Plantation. John Drayton Hastie's remains are inside a container that is tucked inside the oak tree that was  planted by his ancestor three centuries ago.

Each year it seems to disappear a little more until soon, I imagine he will be completely enclosed within the tree. Not a bad resting place.

I Heart My City - Charleston

King St, Charleston, S.C.

Check this link to an I Heart My City entry on Charleston on the National Geographic site by Barrett Caldwell. It's fun to think of how you would answer the questions.

Ready for another National Geographic thing that tickles me to no end? They link to this blog on their Free Things to do in Charleston site. That is pretty cool for a long time National Geo fan like me.

Here's lookin' at you kid

Hollywood, S.C.

He is a giant treat waiting for you on a street corner in tiny Hollywood, S.C. Many years ago I first spotted him on the water side of the Charleston City Marina behind the Rice Mill building and I was pleased to see that he hadn't disappeared entirely. He is a established Hollywood personality now.

It is hard to get a feel for the size in the picture but years ago the business owner told me that it took a crane to move him to the location. Stop by and say hello. 

Gandhi visits North Charleston

Mahatma Gandhi, North Charleston, S.C.

I've been on the look out for a mural of Mahatma Gandhi that I heard was in North Charleston but no one seemed to know where it was. I finally asked a server at Evo's Pizza and was informed that it was on the wall inside a bar - The Sparrow.

It was early in the afternoon and with the establishment relatively empty the manager let me wander and admire. The artist is Douglas Panzone.

Charleston Battery soccer players run the Cooper River Bridge Run

Charleston Battery runners, Charleston, S.C.

There were a lot of fun costumes in the Cooper River Bridge Run this morning but these gentlemen from the Charleston Battery soccer team were actually in uniform. Run gentlemen!

Congratulations Cooper River Bridge Runners/Walkers!

Cooper River Bridge Run - 2013, King St., Charleston, S.C.

Amazing. They look like they are flying. The wheelchair racers were so fast most of them had already passed by when I arrived.  After the initial serious competitors, I love the sense of humor and outfits people wear to enjoy the day. Town is happy chaos and I am sure every restaurant will be full. I am sorry I didn't offer to make brunch for participants I knew. Maybe I will do that next year.

Spring time glory

Magnolia Plantation Gardens, Charleston, S.C.

Magnolia Gardens pulls me like a magnet at this time of year. It is impossible to resist and you can see why. How perfectly lovely. I did a quick walk through the blossoms and the swamp walk happily clicking away. Photographers were tripping over themselves today with all the latest equipment, long lenses and tripods. I slipped in between them, snapped a couple shots and skipped along my merry way.

Cooper River Bridge run in the morning, kids. Who is running?

Kindness

Be Kind, Charleston, S.C.

I love this quote from Roger Ebert. "Kindness" covers all my political beliefs." RIP Mr. Ebert.

Folly Beach Impressionist Art

Mural, Folly Beach, S.C.

Yikes, it has been a busy week. I need to run away. Maybe back to the beach.

Today's image is a mural on Folly Beach. It looks like an impressionist art piece, doesn't it?

The local internet community is a-buzz with the story of an upcoming reality show based in Charleston. Mostly a not very happy buzz but that might just be me.  Ewwww. When will the reality show stage pass? Soon please.

Spring Break Charleston Style

Marion Square, Charleston, S.C.

There is a early warm day in Charleston when Marion Square fills up with college students in bikinis, Frisbee players, happy dogs, picnickers and now hammocks. These must be the perfect trees. I left, walked around and came back and there was a different hammock in place. Happy Spring Break!

Spring Break Charleston Style

Blue Bicycle Books, King St., Charleston, S.C.

Blue Bicycle Books window display stays current with the passing of time but it doesn't keep sleeping kitty awake.

Uhoh. Luckily tomorrow is National Walking Day because I was a slacker this evening. I did do a quick mile loop around the hospital during my break this afternoon but couldn't make myself get back out this evening until it was much too late and dark.

“Walkers are 'practitioners of the city,' for the city is made to be walked. A city is a language, a repository of possibilities, and walking is the act of speaking that language, of selecting from those possibilities. Just as language limits what can be said, architecture limits where one can walk, but the walker invents other ways to go.”
― Rebecca Solnit, Wanderlust: A History of Walking

New entry to the Sandwich Honor Roll

Wich Doctor, Folly Beach, S.C.

I am enjoying my extra day off so much that I probably need to figure out a way to retire. Harhar. This is sweet. I walked on Folly Beach this morning after doing a few errands along the way. After the beach and boardwalk I found this place to grab a bite.

I have a few favorite sandwiches around town - the Eggplant & Goat cheese at Hominy Grill, the Portobello Mushroom at Five Loaves and the Duck Confit at Caviar & Bananas but this Jerk Caribbean pork with plantains, mango ketchup & grilled scallions formally joined the honor roll today. It was so good I soon had some company at my table.

First paddle of the year

Lake Marion, S.C.

With both of my children with me this weekend and it was good to wet the paddles for the first time this year. Bike rides, a bonfire and lazy evenings reading. I am a fortunate woman. 

Even better - I worked Friday so I could take today off. Woohoo!

Happy Easter!

Meditation Garden, Charleston, S.C.

Happy Easter!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Easter weekend. As always lately on holidays I enjoy watching the pictures of family get-togethers and happy children streaming in on Facebook. I was blessed myself this year since I have both of my children with me and I am feeling very fortunate.

Today's photo is from the meditation garden at Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital. I thought it was the perfect image for Easter Sunday.

Through the window

King & Broad, Charleston, S.C.

This gal was prancing around in the window of the art gallery at Broad & King St. having a perfectly joyous time. The photo below is of her hand from another angle. I believe it is the Mary Martin Gallery. I need to start walking with a pen and notepad.

Yeah Friday! I got so much done today working peacefully without the phone ringing or hundreds of emails to respond to. I might start working on every holiday. My daughter arrives after midnight tonight (can't wait, can't wait!) so I am planning to sneak a couple of days off next week.

Corner Stores of Charleston

Corner Store, Charleston, S.C.

I've done entries on corner stores of Charleston before but had to take another shot of this one with the vintage car in front of it. There is something so much more charming about a corner store over a chain convenience store, isn't there?

I believe the lottery sign on the door advertises that jackpot I had plans for but didn't win.

Who is up for a long weekend? Not me yet. I am going to work tomorrow and take Monday off instead since my daughter is coming home. Woohoo!

Wisteria in the churchyard

St. John's Lutheran Churchyard, Charleston, S.C.

Wisteria-Hysteria

No fair maid of Algeria,
muchacha from Iberia,
has beauty that’s superior
to flowering wisteria.
Some call her purple, some say mauve,
I fancy her, for she is fauve.
Wisterially, I’m feeling chauv-
inistic for her in her grove.
With blossom purple and imperious
she beckons to me, mauve, mysterious,
and draws me to her, mute but serious,
and wonderful and wild, wisterious.
Gershon Hepner

As I searched for a Wisteria related poem to go along with my images, I discovered that McClellanville has an annual Wisteria parade. I couldn't find any dates listed for this year but they may not be trying to draw outside attention to it. Cool!

Mini Libraries

Mini Library at Black Tap Coffee Shop, Beaufain St., Charleston, S.C.

I have been enchanted with some of the mini libraries people have been creating lately to make books available. This link shows them made from old newspaper boxes. Check out these images of little libraries built for yards. So cute! I haven't seen any like that but I was tickled to come across this box of books in front of Black Tap Coffee Shop on Beaufain St. Thanks folks!

Fruit ID

Charleston, S.C.

Curious here....what are the orange fruits hanging low?

I am off to bed early. I have some sleep to catch up with. You kids turn the lights out. Don't stay up too late.

The Midnight Train to Georgia

Savannah, GA

Not quite the midnight train but close enough. My sister Barbra and her husband emailed to say they were taking a snow break weekend in Savannah. Since they had come all the way from Canada I didn't want to miss the chance to see them. We expected rain all weekend so I had the brilliant idea to take the Amtrak train down the coast. It is a brilliant idea and everything went smoothly except for that fact that the train pulls up at 5:06 am (yawn).

I arrived before sunrise and shared a cab into town with a couple of SCAD students on their way back from New York City. It was too early to awaken a couple on holiday so I wandered the cobblestone riverfront streets, grabbed a cup of coffee and visited the waving girl statue. It was great to see family and catch up. We had a yummy brunch, walked around Forsythe Park, took the movie tour and had a great dinner at Sage before they dropped me back off at the train station. The train was easy, efficient and clean. The only snag was the both routes up and down the scenic coast were done in the dark at this time of the year.

Walk for Water 2013

Charleston Walk for Water, Charleston, S.C.

The rain held off just long enough for the 7th annual Walk for Water sponsored by Water Missions International to be a grand success. Raising money to provide safe water around the world, walkers carried empty buckets and filled them up half walk through the walk. I saw lots of familiar faces, co workers and friends. Thanks to everyone who supports this cause.

I was one of the lucky ones who has seen this put into action when I went to Kenya a few years ago to document the installation of a water purification system for a small hospital and community. It has been grand hearing about the different clean drinking water has made.