Being Thankful

Thanksgiving, Charleston, S.C.

Thanksgiving thoughts are even more meaningful in a hospital. A roll of paper was laid out with colored markers inviting people to write their thoughts for Thanksgiving. Every time I walked by the paper was full and a new stretch rolled out.

I've been a bit of a blogging slacker lately folks. Feel free to join me on Facebook if you are on it. Sometimes I tend to toss up a quick photo there. 

Best Friend Homecoming

Best Friend, Charleston, S.C.

I am a bit of a train buff. I am not freaky about them, but I do like them and have ridden on some very cool trains and routes. It caught my attention the the Best Friend of Charleston replica was coming home and when I had dinner at Rue De Jean on Friday night I spotted the colorful engine in the building across the street and caught a picture through the glass with my handy pocket camera.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Charleston's second best friend is coming home.

An 85-year-old replica of the Best Friend of Charleston, the first train in the nation to offer regularly scheduled passenger service, returns to Charleston this weekend. The replica of the engine, tender and two passenger cars, based on the original plans, will be installed in a new free city museum in one of five old railroad sheds dating to the 1800s. The new museum is the last of the buildings to be refurbished during the past two decades; the first was the nearby city Visitor Center that opened back in 1991.

The replica "is an important part of Charleston history," Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr. said Tuesday. "We're very proud to install it in a historically appropriate and a very accessible place."

The steam-powered Best Friend of Charleston made its inaugural trip along a 6-mile stretch of track reaching northwest from Charleston on Christmas Day, 1830.  The Charleston Courier reported at the time that "the one hundred and forty-one persons flew on the wings of wind at the speed of fifteen to twenty-five miles per hour, annihilating time and space."

 The "Wings of Wind". How lovely that sounds.Welcome home!

Health Care Heroes Banquet - 2013

Health Care Heroes Banquet, Charleston, S.C.

I enjoyed a lovely evening last night when I was honored as a finalist at the Charleston Regional Business Journal's Health Care Hero recognition event at the Francis Marion Hotel. Wow. What an incredible group to be associated with. This gang includes nominees from Roper St. Francis Healthcare. I was included as a nominee in the Healthcare professional category - which absolutely blew me away.

Normally I am the one who writes nominations for these events and this time my friend Colleen Cooney surprised me. Thanks folks! I felt very fortunate.

Reflections of - Colonial Lake

Colonial Lake, Charleston, S.C.

I did a series like this last year but it is so pretty when the water is still it bears repeating. Shame on me for missing the Party in the Park that raised funds for the renovation of Colonial Lake. I'm in! I'm a supporter. I reckon I need to put a little money where my mouth is. It is a lovely spot and could use a little freshening up.

Don't let me forget that I need to be at a meeting in town at 8:30 a.m. I'm afraid my car will head West Ashley on auto pilot.

Sharing the Lowcountry Link Love

Charleston, S.C.

I have a couple of links to share this evening:

An article on Why Charleston is America's Favorite City by Christian L. Wright for Conde Naste Traveler.

Gorgeous photography at Lowcounty Scenes by Photographer Mic Smith available for purchase directly from his web site. We know it is beautiful here but Mic sure knows how to capture a mood in a photo. Wow.

Keep up with what is going on in the Lowcounty at Holy City Sinner - We're Good Guys but we can't be Good Every Night.

Charleston Grit.  Bold. Smart. Local. Now. Charleston Magazine's blogging neighborhood! Check it out. They even use some of my photos. What incredible taste :)!

Now, I got home too late to walk so I need to get on my rowing machine and row across the lake in my living room. I'll soon be able to challenge you all to arm wrestling matches. Behave, kids!

Things are looking up in Charleston

Charleston, S.C.

I tend to take a lot of pictures of the sidewalks and ground but it's worth raising up your eyes for the details in the skies. This was from yesterday's walk along the Broad, Trumbo, Tradd St. and Battery route.

Lazy morning so far so I'll need to leap into action shortly to make up for it. I've been catching up on old Sunday editions of the New York Times and watching recorded Daily Show and Stephen Colbert programs with my tea and toast. Have a good weekend kids!

 

  

Seeing Yellow - Charleston

Meeting St., Charleston, S.C.

Nothing dull and drab about fall in Charleston. These yellow blossoms brighten up the streets on the peninsula cheering up my walk this morning.

Poison ivy has left me afraid to garden so the leaves are piling up in my own yard. I have a very wooded lot and may soon need to claw my way out of a leaf pile :). Have a good weekend, kids!

Edit: Cassia Tree 

From the files - Chasing the Black Cabs of Charleston

Chalmers St., Charleston, S.C.

Some of my readers may be recent enough not to know that I used to hunt the elusive Black Cabs of Charleston and take pictures of them in their tranplanted homeland. It tickled me to no end to see the British Cabs in our lowcountry.

I took so many pictures of them that the owners at that time gave me use of a cab for a morning and let me instruct the driver where to park while I jumped out to get a picture.  I steered him all the way out to Folly Beach to get my favorite shots.

I don't see the cabs as much anymore. The company was sold and I believe they are primarily used for weddings and events now. Too bad.

 

Photography and the American Civil War

Charleston, S.C.

I was pleased to get a last minute invitation to the Art of Healing lecture at the Gibbes Museum this evening. The current show is Photography and the American Civil War.  Cardiologist Dr. Jeb Hallet led the talk and the panel included Dr. Walter Edgar and a current combat surgeon. It was fascinating. 

There is another talk on Thursday with Lieutenant Governor Glenn McConnell and the photography show continues and is well worth a visit. I got to town a little early and it was fitting to take this evening's photo of the battery where the war began. I was a good girl and didn't take any pictures during the talk.

Photography and the American Civil War
Tuesday, November 12, 6pm

• A conversation with combat surgeon Dr. Darrin Clouse (Colonel, United States Air Force and Professor of Surgery, Univ California, Davis) and South Carolina historian Dr. Walter Edgar, moderated by Dr. Jeb Hallett, Roper St. Francis surgeon. Panelist will explore the connection between art and healing as it relates to the impact of war captured through the camera's lens.

Cards for Heroes

Cards for Heroes, Charleston, S.C.

Veteran's Day seemed like the right time to participate in the Red Cross Cards for Heroes program. I rallied my volunteers who I knew were veterans themselves and between us all we wrote holiday messages on 1,000 cards to be delivered to active military during the holidays. Watching other retired service men and women stop by and share stories with these gentlemen was quite emotional. Thank you Veterans.

Teeny tiny business buildings

King St., Charleston, S.C.

I alternate between featuring teeny, tiny houses of Charleston and teeny, tiny business buildings. I love how they are squeezed in between other buildings. Some of them look like they may have started as alleyways and got walled to sprout a new business. This one is a hair salon named Parlor at 476 King St.

I met friends at The Macintosh for brunch this morning and had my favorite dish - the "Mac Attack" which includes pork belly and a poached egg. Oh my. I may never need to eat again. 

I love the upper porch at Fish Restaurant with the brick wall. Isn't it beautiful?

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

Not sure what the event was but these bikers were already posing for photos so I grabbed one too. After brunch we headed up to the North Charleston Performing Arts center and saw the Jersey Boys Off Broadway show. Old tunes are playing in my head now. Not a bad weekend at all.

Okay kids, are we brave enough to go back to work tomorrow?

Garden Gate

Garden gate, Charleston, S.C.

I've been a blogging slacker this week. I've been so busy at work lately that I can hardly bear to sit at a desk and face a computer again in the evening. I have a tablet and browse web sites and read but it isn't so tempting to blog or leave comments on a tablet I find. Anyway, we made it through the week to a bright and sunny weekend.

I have some extra time to ponder all the leaves landing in my yard because I broke out in another horrid case of poison ivy from raking leaves last week. That is all I did....rake leaves. No weeding or gardening. It is very discouraging. Hmmmph. I am not happy at all. I have sprinkles all over but had some on my neck and my eyes were puffy. Luckily it seems to be subsiding without actually blistering on my face. I thought I might have to buy a burka to wear to work so I wouldn't scare people. 

Y'all have a good weekend. This hurricane in the Philippines makes me realize how many wonderful Filipinos we have in the Lowcountry especially working in healthcare and I hope their loved ones are safe and sound.

Bear with me

A moment in the sun, Walterboro, S.C.

Walterboro gets a lot of bad press because of it's high crime rate. It's too bad since it isn't far from Charleston and I have to tell you they have some great antique stores. Check out the bear! I've been wanting a chain saw carved bear for my back yard and while this fella came from an amusement park at least he was light enough to be moved. Luckily he cost too much for me to see if he would fit in the back seat with his head sticking out the window.

I bought the cool frame below for the frame ($19) thinking I could enlarge a print to go in it. I hung her up and I find myself getting attached to her. The sketch was drawn when I was three years old so she would be my age now. Maybe it's me! I brought home the platter as well and can see a small turkey on it for Thanksgiving.Now, I wonder if I can find a used bulletproof vest so I can go back to Walterboro? I hope they solve some of this crime soon so y'all can check out the deals.

Pretty in Pink

Charleston, S.C.

Here is another sweetie in pink with nice clean lines. This is probably the back view that you see from behind Gaillard Auditorium.

I liked having an extra hour yesterday! Can we do this every day? Imagine what I could do with an extra hour a day.

Read. Lately that is what I have been doing. I used to be a bookworm but after computers and laptops I fell out of the habit. Lately I've been downloading books and reading again and I have no control over myself. I charge through a book as if I am afraid someone is going to steal it from me if I stop. I read into the middle of the night and wake up early and read some more. Oddly, I am on a North Korea streak...The Orphan Master's Son, Escape from Camp 14. Lord have mercy. It is hard to believe such a awful place exists in this time. It is horrifyingly fascinating. How very fortunate we simply to be born where we are.

Here is another similar home one in pink. 

Following the Swamp Fox Mural Trail

Mural Trail, Manning, S.C.

Did you know we had a mural trail in South Carolina? Throughout rural towns in Clarendon County, murals painted on the sides of buildings tell the story of Revolutionary hero General "Swamp Fox" Francis Marion.  Not everything is open on the weekends but I can recommend D & H BBQ for some yummy barbeque, cat fish stew and pecan pie.

Swamp Fox Murals Trail Society

   The Swamp Fox, General Francis Marion and his engagements with the British in 1780-81 in St. Mark's Parish,  now Clarendon County,  depicting history on Historic murals in Manning, Paxville, Summerton & Turbeville.  Every mural tells a story of the events of the American Revolution in South Carolina. 

A little bit of Ireland in Charleston

Irish Memorial, Charlotte St., Charleston, S.C.

The Irish Memorial was completed in June of this year but this is the first time that I walked down to the end of Charlotte St. to check it out. Post & Courier has an article about the opening ceremony. Speaking of the Post & Courier, why do I have to answer stupid questions to view their online albums when I am a subscriber? Hmmmph.

I did learn that an early Charleston arrival from Ireland was James Hoban, an architect in Charleston who later designed the White House. I hope the sponsors are pleased. I couldn't help thinking we might have come up with something a little more interesting. I can't think it is an attraction that will really draw attention or visitors. 

Irish Proverb "Your feet will bring you where your heart is".