I used to love my Garden

Brookgreen Garden, SC

Rain foiled my evening walk so I had to row myself across the living room again on my rowing machine. It isn't quite the same as marching around outside, is it?

I had a plan for the evening but the entire plot was cancelled because of the recent daily thunderstorms. We meant to catch the watertaxi across the harbor and have dinner at the Fish House restaurant at Patriot's Point and then boat back. I had it all planned out and then wondered what happened if the boat stopped running in bad weather and we were stranded over there without a vehicle. Never-mind. We enjoyed an early and delicious dinner at Red Orchid instead. 

This evening's photo is a bit of fun from Brookgreen Garden. 

Pawley's Island Hammock Shops

Pawley's Island Hammock Shops, Pawley's Island, SC  

The Pawley's Island Hammock shop area is the perfect lunch spot on the way to Brookgreen Garden. Since I only get up there every couple of years it seems like there is a new restaurant in the same spot each year. It is too bad that it is so difficult to keep a restaurant going but we had a good lunch at BisQit.

It's always fun to wander through the the quaint building that are now shops and restaurants and the original Pawley's Island Hammock Shop.

In other news, check out my friend, author Josephine Humphrey's featured in the Post & Courier, this time for cooking! Like writing fiction, cooking for her is play and adventure.

Who else is doing a Planking Challenge? The staff at Roper Hospital held an Ultimate Planking Challenge and I was blow away by the participation. They finally called the end of the competition at ten minutes and two nurses were still holding the position. Wowza! Congrats ladies!

Gardener's little helper

Charleston, SC   

Dig in little fella! I appreciate the help. 

Praline Review

The Candy Cottage, Pawley's Island, SC 

I have been on a praline reviewing tour of South Carolina. Charleston, Savannah, Beaufort, Georgetown and now Pawley's Island. If they sell pralines it is my duty to buy one and do a taste test. I joke that I am writing the definitive critique of pralines. The catch is I haven't had one I didn't like yet. Mmmm....yep. That one IS good.

The other thing I am beginning to suspect is that they may all be made by River Street Sweets in Savannah and distributed to all the different candy shops so I am basically eating exactly the same thing each time.

I hope you don't think that will stop me?

Water Lilies

Brookgreen Gardens, SC 

Wash in, dishes drying. I am doing all my chores in the last hour of the weekend as usual. At least I don't need to water the plants after the regular downpours we've been having.

Don't you love it when you find a new series to love on Netflix? Indulging in another episode is like eating bonbons. Then, don't you hate it when you are watching the last episode? What will I do now? There is such nonsense on regular tv.  I am watching the last episode of three seasons of Rita, a Danish show about a school teacher. Rita is outspoken and rebellious and gets entangled in the lives of all the students she teaches. Be forewarned, it is subtitled and she is pretty outrageous. 

As much as I enjoyed the statues at Brookgreen Gardens yesterday I really loved these water lilies in the fountain and the fields of caladiums under the oak trees.

 

Brookgreen Gardens

Brookgreen Gardens, SC  

I often feature sculpture pieces so walking through Brookgreen Gardens sculpture garden is an exhilarating afternoon for me!  Brookgreen is just under two hours up the coast from Charleston and Pawley's Island Hammock Shops a perfect lunch spot before hitting the garden. The entry fee is good for a week which would be perfect if you were staying in the area since I never get to see the entire place.

Brookgreen Gardens is a sculpture garden and wildlife preserve, located just south of Murrells Inlet, in South Carolina. The 9,100-acre (37 km²) property includes several themed gardens with American figurative sculptures placed in them, the Lowcountry Zoo, and trails through several ecosystems in nature reserves on the property. It was founded by Archer Milton Huntington, stepson of railroad magnate Collis Potter Huntington, and his wife Anna Hyatt Huntington to feature sculptures by Anna and her sister Harriet Hyatt along with other American sculptors. Brookgreen Gardens was opened in 1932, and is built on four former rice plantations, taking its name from the former Brookgreen Plantation.^[3]

Prince Frederick's Episcopal Church

Prince Frederick's Episcopal Church, SC  

I did not take these shots today because I have been busy at work all day but I've had them tucked away in my Back-roads album waiting for a chance to be featured. These are some pretty dramatic church ruins to come across on a quiet country road.

(Prince Frederick’s Episcopal Church) Begun in 1859 and completed in 1876, Prince Frederick’s Chapel played a vital role in the religious life of the Pee Dee settlers in the latter half of the 19th century. With the decline of the rice economy, parishioners migrated to the more densely populated urban areas and the church suffered from lack of maintenance. The ruins of the chapel are all that remain of what once was a striking example of Gothic Revival architecture in South Carolina.

Cypress Methodist Camp Ground

Cypress Methodist Campground, Ridgeville, SC  

I've brought you here before and probably will again. The rustic wooden "tent cabins" circle the meeting structure in the center. Every time I have been here or to one of the other camp meeting grounds it has been completely peaceful.  I can't even imagine what it must be like during camp week with good food being shared and hymns sung.

Cypress Methodist Camp Ground is one of only a few campgrounds in South Carolina which, up until the time of its nomination, continues to host annual week-long camp meetings—a vestige of the Great Awakening in American religious life in the nineteenth century. Cypress is significant for its association with Francis Asbury, pioneer of American Methodism, and for its long, uninterrupted use as a site of revivalism for almost 200 years. The campground is in the general shape of a rectangle of 34 tents, or cabins, made of rough-hewn lumber. These cabins, rectangular shaped, are generally 1½ stories and contain earthen floors. The typical floor plan features a hall extending the length of the cabin with as many as three rooms on the opposite side. The second story is accessible by a small stairway or ladder. In the center of the rectangle is the tabernacle, an open-sided wooden structure that is the focal point of these revival meetings. Serving crowds too large for church buildings or homes, the campground responded to both religious and social needs. The tents allowed people to stay overnight, and the campground term remained even though tents were gradually replaced by the current rough-hewn cabins. Cypress Camp Ground was functional as early as 1794, and an adjacent cemetery contains graves from the early 1800s. Listed in the National Register April 26, 1978.

Sunny pictures for a rainy day

Pink House, Chalmers St., Charleston, SC   

It has poured rain in Charleston today flooding the usual downtown streets and making me relieved that I don't have to check the tide charts before driving home anymore. It was a real mess. Let's make up for it with some sunny and glorious Charleston pictures. I grabbed these shots on a recent weekend walk.

School is back in session, streets flooded, traffic a mess. We are on a roll.

We had a celebration at work today as we received the news that our hospital had earned designation as a Magnet hospital for the second time. I am very proud of my co-workers. Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital in Charleston is one of two hospitals in South Carolina with that designation. Hip, hip, hooray!

Georgetown totem pole?

Totem pole, Georgetown, SC  

I came to ask if anyone knew anything about the totem pole on the boardwalk in Georgetown but googling around came up with at least the artist's name - Roy Smith.

I've had a pretty lazy weekend after a busy week. I went up to the lake and slept like a baby and finally caught up with a few chores today. Back to school for all the South Carolina students in the morning!

Sunset at Shem Creek

Shem Creek, SC 

There is nothing like a walk on the board walk at Shem Creek at sunset to remind me why we all love Charleston. Sometimes it takes friends visiting to make us do these outings we should be doing all the time. The restaurants were packed and lively. We ate outside at Water's Edge and timed it perfectly to walk along the boardwalk. Glorious!

What is everyone doing this weekend? I've had a busy week and haven't had a thought other than crashing and sleeping in.

 

If not now, tell me when

If not now, tell me when, Charleston, SC   

I am nodding off at my keyboard. It's been a busy week full of work activities, new friends and laughter filled evenings. I just got home from a bite to week at Water's Edge on Shem Creek and walking the board walk at sunset. Not bad at all.

Today I took photos at the Chaplain student graduation ceremony at the hospital. I was snuggled into the corner of the chapel to get the right angle for the photos I needed and rather liked this shot of the words to the song with the singer in the background. Congratulations to all the Chaplain's and all the best to them in their new roles around the country. It is a special calling tending to the sick and dying.

G'night kids!

It's a caladium party at Marion Square

Caladiums, Marion Square, Charleston, SC 

Happy caladium chaos at Marion Square. The Charleston Parks Conservancy folks have been busy! Check their website to see other activities they are part of.

Changes on King St.

Morris Sokol, King St., Charleston, SC  

Going, going, almost gone. The giant furniture store Morris Sokol has been selling furniture on King St. for 94 years. Wow. They have certainly been a landmark as long as I have been in Charleston. I bought my daughter's mattress there and a couple of outside dining tables. Take a look at these pictures kids, things are changing faster that we can keep up.

Music, action!

Break Dancers at the Charleston Farmer's Market, Marion Square, Charleston, SC  

The break dancers at the Charleston Farmer's Market are amazing and perform for hours every week. I love watching them and love watching the expressions on the faces in the crowd while they dance. The Charleston City Paper had a good write up on the group here. What a treat. I always leave a tip in the bucket.

For a biscuit?

Callie's Hot Little Biscuits, 476 King St., Charleston, SC   

This crowd was lined up for biscuits?! What? Who has tried Callie's Hot Little Biscuits? I have not and I wasn't considering standing in a long line like this on a hot day, but it didn't stop these folks. I passed the tiny shop a couple of times and watched the line get longer and longer. These must be some tasty biscuits. 

Charleston City Paper: Biscuit maven Carrie Morey (of Callie’s Charleston Biscuits) shared with City Paper today her plans to open a new a counter-service restaurant, Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit at 476 ½ King (currently Parlor Hair). According to a press release, Morrie says, “Since the beginning of this business, fans of Callie’s Biscuits have urged us to open up a little shop — ‘a hot little biscuit shop’ they would say. 476 ½ King Street has just the right character, and we’re thrilled to squeeze into all 629 square feet of it and make it a destination, albeit tiny, for biscuit lovers near and far.” 

Callie's Hot Little Biscuits, 476 King St., Charleston, SC

Callie's Hot Little Biscuits, 476 King St., Charleston, SC

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - birdhouse style

Birdhouse, Georgetown, SC  

It isn't Sunday morning but today's featured church is a birdhouse up the coast in Georgetown, SC. You should hear the chorus!

Georgetown has a lovely boardwalk with restaurants overlooking the water. The photos below are taken from the water side looking through the gap left by the awful fire a few years ago. The space where the historic building burnt down is still empty.

Georgetown, SC  

Georgetown, SC   

Georgetown, SC  

Murder Mystery Cruise

Charleston, SC   

There is nothing like being out in the harbor breeze with a beautiful sunset. Wow. A couple of friends (thanks Linda, thanks Mindy!) invited me to go on the Harbor Murder Mystery cruise this evening. They leave from the Charleston Marina at 8 p.m. and return around 9:30 p.m.

They had a bar but no food so luckily I ate before we sailed. It was a perfect evening to be on the water. The murder drama was all fun but to be honest, I enjoyed the dolphins and sunset as much as the play.

Photo Club Presentation - Aug 12

The Edge of America, Folly Beach, SC  

My friend and fellow blogger Chuck is the host of the 21st Century Photography Club and meet-up group. Chuck asked me if I would present to the group next Wednesday, August 12.

I hemmed and hawed but finally agreed if he would let me talk about the photos of hand-painted, handwritten signs I have collected. Most are from local walks around Charleston, lowcountry backroads, some from international travel, Indian road signs and my fine collection of sidewalk graffiti. Join us if you like! Here are the meeting details:

Chuck says: 25-35 of our members meet on the 2nd Wednesday at 7:00 pm at the Carolina Ice Palace, a really fine centrally located spot in North Charleston by Northwoods Mall. I'm pleased to have launched this as the organizer and invite you to join us.

You pick 'em

Sunflowers, Eutawville, SC  

 You pick 'em sunshine, $1 each!