Flowers for Friday

Charleston, SC  

It's Friday!  Our afternoon thundershower has come and gone. 

The sadder and uglier the news, the more likely I am to post pictures of flowers. 

I aim to stock up on quirky images for you this weekend if things go according to plan. 

See the summer bouquet?

Colorful centerpiece, Sullivan's Island, SC 

Can you see it? 

I spotted this colorful and clever display at my friend Josephine's home and thought it would make a good table centerpiece. You can spot a glimpse of Archie the poodle in the side of the photo. 

Watching and reading the news is so awful these days I am sticking to light and funny posts. 

Nothing serious here kids. 

It is hot and humid in Charleston but I made yummy Shepherd's pie for my son and still got my 10,000 steps in. I think I am done. 

Bluffton Bottle Tree in Blue

Bottle tree, Bluffton, SC  

This gentleman has quite the collection of bottle tree information: Felderrushing.net

History of Bottle Trees: Although glass was made deliberately as early as 3500 B.C. in northern Africa, hollow glass bottles began appearing around 1600 B.C. in Egypt and Mesopotamia. Clear glass was invented in Alexandria around 100 A.D. Soon around then, tales began to circulate that spirits could live in bottles - probably from when people heard sounds caused by wind blowing over bottle openings. This led to the belief in "bottle imps" and genies (from the Arabic worddjinn) that could be captured in bottles (remember Aladdin and his magic lamp? This story originated as an Arabian folk tale dating back thousands of years, even before clear glass was invented). Somewhere in there, people started using glass to capture or repel bad spirits. The idea was, roaming night spirits would be lured into and trapped in bottles placed around entryways, and morning light would destroy them.

Hubcap Heaven

Mel's Tires, Florence, SC 

This one is a favorite from my Quirky, SC files. 

Mel's Tires in Florence, SC is a hubcap wonderland! 

Read the story here: Mel's Tires a Florence Landmark

I love it, love it, love it. 

From Dewey's Sketchbook:

Of architectural interest is the building itself. The Pure Oil Company built its gas stations in the 30's and 40's in a Tudor Revival style, attempting to blend with the residential neighborhoods in which they were built. This example still has the original circular blue enamel sign above the entrance, echoing the shape and size of the hundreds of hubcaps hanging on the building.

Technicolor Pachyderms

Magnolia Rd., Charleston, SC  

Pink elephants on parade

What'll I do? What'll I do?

What an unusual view!

I could stand the sight of worms

And look at microscopic germs

But technicolor pachyderms

                                         Is really too much for me

I am not the type to faint

When things are odd or things

are quaint

But seeing things you know that ain't

Can certainly give you an awful fright!

What a sight!

Chase 'em away!

Chase 'em away!

I'm afraid need your aid

Pink elephants on parade!

Pink elephants!

Pink elephants!

Okrafest!

All okra dinner, Sullivan's Island, SC  

I was invited to an all okra dinner on Sullivan's Island this evening. The challenge made everyone very creative!

Two versions of okra pilau, okra soup, okra rellenos with hot pepper cheese, roasted okra, okra succotash, pickled okra, okra slaw, okra oatmeal cookies and okra ice cream and bonus fresh trout. 

I was pretty proud of myself for coming up with an okra oatmeal cookie recipe but that got topped by okra ice cream. 

Who knew? Everything was delicious. 

A roaming we will go

Posing on a sago palm, Charleston, SC   

I spotted a tiny baby lizard clinging to my windshield wiper on my way home. 

He slipped between the brackets and held on for dear life for the ride. 

He ended up in my yard across town but safe and sound. 

It's the weekend, kids! It is still miserably hot leaving me too sluggish to plan much. 

I've been binge watching hours of Netflix with spurts of fast walking.

Bastille Day Charleston - 2016

Fish Restaurant, Charleston, SC   

It was shocking to be sitting in a room with so many French people as we heard of the 

awful and deadly attack in Nice yesterday. We were celebrating Bastille Day festivities at Fish Restaurant with Chef Nico Romo as they have done for years and I was with my favorite 

Frenchman Andre' Guillet as he learned the news on his cell phone. Perhaps it was the best place to be to be reminded that these terrible terrorist acts aren't just happening to strangers far away 

but to real people and touching friends and loved ones. I am thinking of France today. 

These wheels were made for rolling

Archdale St., Charleston, SC  

Neatly locked up in front of the Unitarian Church. 

I picture the owner of an adult three wheeled tricycle as a colorful character. I hope that is true! 

I'll make a note to make sure one is in my future. 

The Shady Side of the Street

Gillon St., Charleston, SC  

With due credit a little shady walking poetry: 

THE SHADY SIDE OF THE STREET

May 23, 2012 by PhotoPoetics™

Walking

On

The shady side of the street

Cools me

As

The clip of my stride

Quickens

Pumping

Blood

Through

My body

At

A rate

That

Would cause

Other liquids

To boil

Charleston's Summer Wear

Crepe Myrtle blossoms, Charleston, SC  

Charleston is wearing festive summer wear in this heat. 

Thank goodness for Crepe Myrtle blossoms.

Our annual "How Hot is it?" entry:

It's so hot in South Carolina that...

* A seat belt makes a pretty good branding iron.

* When the temperature drops below 95, you feel a bit chilly.

* It's so hot outside it will make you return things you never stole.

* It's hotter than a steel playground at noon.

* You can attend any function wearing shorts and a tank top.

* The best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance.

* Hot water now comes out of both taps.

* You actually burn your hand opening the car door.

* You realize that asphalt has a liquid state.

• It's so hot the birds have to use potholders to pull worms out of the ground.

• It's so hot I saw two trees fighting over a dog.

* It is so hot even the sea breeze feels like a hair dryer...

• It was so hot today I saw a dog chasing a cat and they were both walking.

• It's hotter than a June bride in a feather bed.

• It's so hot that the trees are creeping around looking for shade.

• It's stupid hot!

• It is hot enough to cure tobacco.

• It's hotter than the devil's underwear.

• It's another one of those aluminum foil sweater days.

* It's so hot you could spit fire. But, please don't.

Broad St. Blues

Broad St., Charleston, SC   

I can fritter away hours playing with filters and images. I did this one with a click of the mouse in  Dreamscope. Warning - don't start playing unless you have some time to spend. 

It's been too hot to do anything else. I walked this morning at Charlestowne Landing and even the poor animals in the Animal Forest were hiding in the shade. 

Cheers!

Cheers! To the hanging liquor bottles of Santee!

Yes, those are hanging bottles of alcohol. 

My friend Mary Beth Rose asked if I had been in the tiny liquor store in Santee and since I had not 

I had to fix that. I walked in and laughed out loud. The door barely opened a crack and when I 

got inside it was hard to walk the narrow aisles. Bottles where crammed in everywhere but the 

most unusual way to fit more in the small space was by hanging them from the ceiling. 

They were hung with fishing line in singles and in bunches. 

The place was so full, we had to be told to look for the cash register in "the little opening". 

There is nothing special about the outside. It is a regular little ABC Package store in the Citgo gas station plaza but I will grin a little when I dribble a bit of vodka in my Moscow mules from now on. Thanks for the tip Martha Rose! 

How much is that horsey in the window?

Old South Carriage, Charleston, SC    

Love this mural. 

I feel like the horse in the window sticking my head out to see of it is too hot to go out. 

Blah. Another 100 degree day. 

I can do it. I can make myself stretch my legs. 

I'll walk down to the Harris Teeter and buy the ingredients for this pasta salad. 

Gadsdenboro Park

Gadsdenboro Park, Charleston, SC   

I might hop from fountain to fountain during this heat spell. 

If it stays this hot I may just take a dip. 

I believe this is now called Gadsdenboro Park. 

It is across from the Maritime Center on Concord St. offering soccer fields, swings, 

playground and a fountain. It has everything that a 5.7 million $ renovation can offer!

Oldest House in Charleston

17 Chalmers St., Charleston, SC 

I often walk by the Pink House on Chalmers St. hoping to catch it without a car parked in front.

The July 4th traffic was lighter than usual and I got lucky. I was torn about moving

the blue trash barrel down the street but nudged it far enough to possibly crop out. 

Oldest house in Charleston and can be yours for an easy $995,000. 

While I have your attention here is a fun video of Stephen Colbert and Sturgill Simpson 

in the Charleston Waffle House. 

Stay cool kids! Luckily I walked over 8,000 steps at work today so a light evening

stroll this evening should take care of it.  

Kids, water & laughter

Waterfront Park, Charleston, SC  

If this heat continues we might need a map leading us from fountain to fountain. 

When this fountain at the waterfront park was first built my children wore their bathing suits under their clothes for most of the summer on the off chance we drove by and they could jump in. 

Tall Ship ARC Gloria

ARC Gloria, Union Pier, Charleston, SC   

It is hot and humid in Charleston today but I headed down to the Union Pier to see the tall ship ARC Gloria. Luckily I parked a distance away to make a walk out of it because the cruise ship Carnival was boarding in the same area causing traffic chaos. 

Colombia’s tall ship and the training ship of the Colombian Navy – the “ARC GLORIA” – will be available for tours July 3 - 5. Admission is free and open to the public. Colombian Ambassador to the United States Juan Carlos Pinzón will greet the crew on Tuesday, July 5th at 6:00 p.m.

Wild Kingdom of Santee

Santee, SC 

Just back from Lake Marion where the public boat landings looked like airport runways with boats lined up coming and going. Smith's parking lot in Santee was full and searching for a spot behind the building we happened upon this fun surprise - an elephant and a giraffe tucked away in the woods behind the building. I have no idea why but I loved it. 

PS: Smith's also carries Blenheim's ginger ale, mild, medium and HOT. 

Happy July 4th, kids!