Walk with me - Smith St. (part 1)

Smith St., Charleston, SC   

I am directing my weekend walks along specific street routes lately - beginning at one end and following to the other. The photos aren't in order since I do hop from side to side looking into gardens and over gates. I wasn't sure I'd make it this morning since it drizzled a bit off and on.

This morning I walked Spring St. which is a nice hodge podge of small houses, mansions and student rentals to add character. It's a fairly long street so I'll return later with Spring St. part 2.

On the road - West coast island hopping

Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada

The purpose of my trip to British Columbia was to celebrate my sister Shirley's birthday. She lives in Edmonton, I have nephews in Vancouver, my daughter in Portland and a nephew and family on Salt Spring island so we made that our destination for the festivities.

The weather was perfect. We explored my nephew's property, enjoyed the Farmer's Market, hiked the park, celebrated the birthday with a feast, kayaked to an island in the harbor, visited a winery and drove to the top of Mount Maxwell to enjoy the view.

On the road - Vancouver, Canada

Girl in a Wet Suit, Stanley Park, Vancouver, Canada

I've been here, I've been there, I've been everywhere. I flew to the west coast of Canada to help celebrate my sister Shirley's birthday. I had one full day to run around Vancouver with my daughter before taking the ferry to Salt Spring Island and we made the most of our time! We explored the waterfront, Gas Town, Stanley Park, Granville Market and Kitsilano. We saw the Digital Orca and visited a good friend who runs a wine making shop in Kitsilano. I was tickled to see the Girl in a Wet Suit modeled after the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen - this version with a wet suit to avoid copyright laws.

Vancouver, British ColumbiaAs part of a Vancouver urban renewal project, artist Elek Imredy asked the city of Copenhagen, Denmark, if he could make a copy of its famous Little Mermaid statue and place it just off the rocky shore of Stanley Park. Copenhagen said no. Inspired, Elek decided to give Vancouver a unique, updated version of the statue, and created the life-size Girl in a Wet Suit. She was placed atop her boulder in Vancouver Harbor on June 9, 1973.

Charleston Quotes

Chalmers St., Charleston, SC    

Charleston is one of the best built, handsomest,

and most agreeable cities that I have ever seen.” 

Marquis de Lafayette

Charleston Quotes

Charleston, SC 

Charleston has a landscape that encourages intimacy and partisanship. I have heard it said that an inoculation to the sights and smells of the Carolina lowcountry is an almost irreversible antidote to the charms of other landscapes, other alien geographies. You can be moved profoundly by other vistas, by other oceans, by soaring mountain ranges, but you can never be seduced. You can even forsake the lowcountry, renounce it for other climates, but you can never completely escape the sensuous, semitropical pull of Charleston and her marshes.

Pat Conroy

On the road - Bluffton, SC

Bluffton, SC   

A couple more shots from Bluffton, SC before I tuck the photos away. 

Fripp Lowden House, Bluffton

Fripp Lowden House, Bluffton, SC  

This evening's shot is another sweet cottage from my weekend trip to Bluffton. It is the Fripp Lowden House and if I recall correctly there was work being done on it the last time I was there. That led me to google the property and I found this article describing heartbreak when a glorious but wild garden was tamed.

Local folks actually held a candlelight vigil to mourn the loss of the historic garden. Every article I pull up mentions the lush garden planted by Mrs. Fripp. Some of the camellias were over 100 years old and named after her. Let's hope the current garden grows to be as beautiful in it's own way.

Bed time, kids!

Pull up a seat

Bluffton, SC   

This scene looks more suited to the beginning of a weekend rather than the end. I took a day trip down the coast to Bluffton, SC this weekend and spotted the chair at the Oyster Packing shed.

It's getting late, kids. Time for bed. Hope everyone had a good weekend. 

On the Road - Palmetto Oak Sculpture Garden

Palmetto Oak Sculpture Garden, Blufton, SC  

I'd been to Bluffton before so this time looked for off the wall things to see and do and found this sculpture garden. The artist Steven Kishel wasn't home and it appeared to be at his private property so we made a quick phone call when we pulled up and he graciously gave us permission to explore on our own. What a colorful treat!

Posts to pillars, pillars to posts

McClellanville, SC   

These aren't your usual white porch pillars. It took me a second glance to realize they were bare unpainted tree trunks. Well done McClellanville!

Church Photos in Lieu of Attendance - McClellanville, SC

McClellanville United Methodist Church

Not everyone goes to church on a Thursday afternoon but tag along with me as we admire the churches of McClellanville, SC. We had an official escort after meeting the new Methodist pastor Reverend Tim Saucy who had the keys to let us snoop around after enjoying a bowl of crab chowder at TW Graham & Co. restaurant.

We started with one of his new churches, the historic McClellanville United Methodist Church in the center of the little coastal village. A black cat welcomed us, the lady doing the cleaning knew the church history and the hurricane Hugo high water mark plaque on the wall was terrifying.

The children of McClellanville have had free use of all the churches for Vacation Bible School week so we also walked over to visit the beautiful Episcopal Chapel of Ease.

Our final stop was down Highway 45 to the tiny little Wrens Chapel another Methodist church. I believe my immediate family would fill it up. It was built in 1865 to replace an even older church burnt during the war between the states.

Walk with me - West Ashley Greenway

West Ashley Greenway, Charleston, SC    

I often walk the east end of the West Ashley Greenway popping out at the South Windermere shopping plaza but this was the first time to drive to the south trail end off Main Rd. and walk in from the direction. The tide was out and I passed folks carrying fishing rods and clearly set up for a morning of crabbing. It was never crowded but I saw dogs, bikes and babies on this beautiful stretch of trail.

I was in search of a tree that people have been throwing their sneakers on to. I heard it was on the part of the path but although I walked for a couple of miles I never spotted it. Phewy. I need to find the other access spots further in and try again. Meanwhile I got my 10,000 steps in and saw beautiful scenery. Well worth a visit.

Edit to add the picture below. I walked all that distance to find the tree with all the shoes tossed over branches, gave up and walked out. A kind reader on Facebook suggested that I look closely on the photo above. I was standing right under the tree in question. Duh me. I assume the original image that sparked my interest had been taken in the winter without all the foliage on the tree. 

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - Brick Church at Wambaw

Brick Church at Wambaw, St. James Santee Parish

The chapel is set in a peaceful pine tree forest. The last time I was there was in the evening with all the windows open, listening to the talented gentlemen from the Charlestones group sing to me. I had reminded myself then to come back in the daylight for pictures and was grateful for gentle light yesterday. It is a tricky spot to photograph in bright glaring sun. The church was built in 1768 and you feel immersed in history on the property.

About the Brick Church at WambawAlthough Wambaw Church stands alone on the old King’s Highway among the pines and oaks of the forest, it was once the center of a busy and prosperous community.  North and south along the Santee River were rice plantations whose Carolina rice became famous all over the world and the prosperity of the planters is reflected in the beauty and proportions of Wambaw Church.  The body of the church was built of brick imported from England, but the columns of   the portico were constructed of local wedge-shaped bricks.  The pews were made of hand-pegged cypress, the flagstone floor has withstood the  ravages of two wars and the vaulted ceiling still retains the original plaster work. 

Trying to stay ahead

McClellanville, SC   

I figured if they were going to have something like this on their property they wouldn't mind me taking a picture of it. Hello there! 

How hot is it?

Charleston, SC    

Our annual "How Hot is it?" entry:

With a heat index of 106, it's already 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.

Mural fun

Home Team BBQ, Williman St., Charleston, SC    

What a fun mural I spotted on the side of the downtown location of Home Team BBQ just off Morrison Dr. on Williman St. You know how murals and sidewalk graffiti bring me joy. I am almost too easy to please. Thanks Home Team! 

Chalmers St.

Pink House, Charleston, SC    

I frequently pass this darling home on Chalmers St. that is often described as the oldest home on the peninsula but rarely find it without a car parked right in front of it. No car blocking the view and crepe myrtle trees in bloom - my lucky day!

A short walk down the street I always stop to admire my initials in the author Josephine Pinckney's home. JP! How considerate.