Field Trip! NYC

Strawberry Fields, Central Park, NYC

Okay, okay, these clearly aren't Charleston Daily Photos but I had a quick escape to New York City with my friend Mary to see the big city lights during the holiday season.

We only had three days but they were completely perfect. Saturday rained all day and we carried our trusty umbrellas logging ten miles walking on my step-counter app. We packed a lot into our brief stay. We saw Rockefeller Center, Times Square, the holiday decorated windows, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Bryant's Park and Central Park. We met a good friend and former co-worker Laura and walked the High Line in a chilly breeze. We ate burgers at the secret burger joint in the Meridian Hotel lobby....ssssh! We were treated to lunch at Brasserie 8 1/2. We got into MOMA for free and won prizes at Bergoff Goodman.  We saw Candice Bergen and Alan Alda in Love Letters. We stayed at the Salisbury Hotel which was conveniently located. All in all a great escape. Back to reality tomorrow.

Rockefeller Center, NYC

Central Park, NYC

View from the High Line, NYC

NYC Holiday Windows

In front of Brasseries 8 1/2, NYC

Nursing School reunion - 75 years later

I was tickled to see this picture I took last Friday on the cover of West Of newspaper on the stands this week. These two ladies were nurses who graduated from the old St. Francis Hospital Nursing School class of 1939. Marilla Powell - 97 and Mary Mayo - 96, were best friends and the only two left from that class. They came back to the current hospital to have a little reunion lunch in the hospital cafeteria last Friday.

What stories these ladies had to tell. They rhymed off names of physicians that sounded very familiar and were probably grandfathers, fathers and uncles of some of our current doctors. They brought their white nurse's caps and wore their school pin on a chain. They talked of mixing their own saline and sterilizing their glass syringes. Dr. Cuddy stopped by to say hello and Marilla Powell offered to be his "sponge nurse" in surgery. You can read the story here: West Of

Plantations of Christ Church Parish

Plantations of Christ Church Parish Map, Pitt St. Drug Store, Mt. Pleasant, S.C.

Lowcountry author (and map designer) Suzannah Miles finished her map of the Plantations of Christ Church Parish are just in time for holiday sales. I went by the old Pitt St. Drug St. to pick up my signed copy and found it rolled up in the bike in front of the drug store with my name on it. Suzannah left copies there in case you want one too.

Then I used my 40% off coupon for frames at Michael's and found one that fit perfectly. Bingo! Thank goodness for standard size prints!

Golden marsh

Shem Creek, Mt. Pleasant, S.C.

Decisions, decisions. Do I like it better lush and green or golden in the sunlight? It is always a pleasure to walk the boardwark at Shem Creek.

Last day for a great deal on Charleston Magazine subscriptions. $14.95 for a year. Go get 'em! Cyber Monday was extended to Cyber Tuesday.

jjj

World AIDS Day 2014

World AIDS Day, Charleston, S.C.

Today is World AIDS Day. The theme for World AIDS Day 2014 is “Focus, Partner, Achieve: An AIDS-free Generation.” We had panels of the AIDS quilt hanging in our hospital lobby today and every year it is emotional moment reading the panels designed in honor of people who have lost their lives to AIDS. 

Archie

Literary Dogs & Their South Carolina Writers

Cover dog Archie had his nose two inches from the pig roast table yesterday but did not go any further! That is not to say that he didn't flirt his way into some sneaky hand snacks under the tables.  Archie has his own sizable fan base on Facebook.

PIG!

Johns Island, S.C.

The directions included turning left at the church and continuing on the dirt road but the PIG sign took any doubt out of the next turn.

We drove past the wee little lowcountry cottage to the gathering area by the dock. I got there just as the pig was being lifted out of the pit for an appreciative audience. I felt fortunate to be invited to Josephine Humphreys and Tom Hutcheson's pig roast on Johns Island and to catch up with so many old and new friends. Besides the crispy roast pig and soup there were tables full of the most delicious pot luck dishes. I've been to this gathering before and each time I know that although I won't know most of the people there, they will each be fascinating in some way - writers, historians, photographers, tour guides, chefs etc. Tom and Jo have gathered the most interesting group of people in their piece of Johns Island heaven.

Thanksgiving Weekend

Pinckney St., Charleston, S.C.

Ooops. It looks like I've skipped a couple of daily photo submissions. Today's photo is of the charming and historic Andrew Pinckney Inn on Pinckney St.

I hope everyone has had a good Thanksgiving. I've had a lovely one despite a nasty head cold. I packed a Thankgiving feast picnic and my son and I headed up to Lake Marion area for the holiday. We had a lazy morning, good meal, met a Facebook friend in real life and enjoyed a lakeside walk. The best news is that we still have two more days off, yay!

Medical Memorabilia

Pitt St. Pharmacy, Mt. Pleasant, S.C

What a treasure trove of vintage medical memorabilia the Pitt St. Pharmacy is! It is like a museum. People often bring me things they can't bear to throw out. I'd love to have a display case like this at the hospital. What a quaint pharmacy this is. You can still get a milkshake and grilled cheese at the soda fountain.

Pitt St. Pharmacy: Washington "Wattie" Ziegler, RPh opened the Pharmacy in 1938 at 121 Pitt Street.  In 1951, the Pharmacy was moved a few doors down to its present location.  Dr. Ziegler died in 1982.  He left the store to his wife, Della, Gene Whitley, RPh and Lavern James, RPh.  Their commitment to the pharmacy lasted generations as Gene and Lavern worked here for 37 and 32 years respectively while Della continues to work here with over 50 years of service.

 

Throughout the years, scores of Mt. Pleasant children and teenagers have carved their name in the old black soda fountain counter, taking with them wonderful memories in return.  There is plenty about the Pitt Street Pharmacy worth remembering.  It's the kind of place where time seems to move at a slower pace, and people have time to be friendlier.

 

 

Our Lady of the Fence Post

Fence Post, Mt. Pleasant, S.C.

I walked in quaint and charming old Mt. Pleasant village on Saturday and spotting this little statue on a fence post across from the Pitt St. Drug Store. I had to do the wide angle view to show how tiny she is.

My house smells good. It will be me and my son for Thanksgiving so we are hitting the road and driving up to lake Marion area. I feel like I am preparing a Thanksgiving picnic. It is not an easy meal to keep simple!

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance

Huguenot Church, Church St., Charleston, S.C.

It has been a rainy and dreary day in the lowcountry but I walked enough yesterday to make up for a lazy day today. Today's church photo in lieu of attendance is the beautiful and often photographed French Huguenot Church at Church and Queen St. It used to be white but the pinkish color it was repainted in really showed up on this overcast day. The church has an interesting history and still holds one service a year in French.

History of the Huguenot Church: In April of 1680 the ship Richmond arrived in Charleston with 45 French Protestants (Huguenots) aboard. More refugees followed, and in 1687, a church was built on what is now the corner of Church St. and Queen St. in downtown Charleston. About four hundred and fifty Huguenots had settled in the Low Country of South Carolina by 1700.

The original church was destroyed in 1796 in an attempt to stop the spread of a fire, which had burned much of the surrounding area. The replacement for the original building was completed in 1800 and dismantled in 1844 to make way for the present Gothic Revival edifice, designed by Edward Brickell White and dedicated in 1845. The church was damaged by shellfire during the long bombardment of downtown in the War Between the States and was nearly demolished in the severe earthquake of 1886. 

Edit to add this postcard from 1946. The church had been painted white for many years but apparently it is closer to the original color now. 

 Short work week ahead, kids so something to be thankful already! 

Celebrity Chili Cook Off - Charleston Animal Society

Roper Hospital Chili Booth

The Charleston Animal Society hosted a Celebrity Chili Cook Off today and it was a huge success. The event was held at the Citadel's Johnson Hagood stadium which was a perfect location with plenty of parking. My friend Bob Rife had rallied a team and the Chef Mark from Roper Hospital was cooking up his special chile recipe so I wanted to dash by and show my support.

Checking their web site it looks like ABC News Channel 4 won the contest: Woohoo! Congrats folks!

When I walked in they were asking for ID before putting bracelets on folks who might want to drink alcohal. I tipped my ball cap to show them my gray hair and said, "I don't need to show ID, right? I don't think people have started wearing gray wigs yet", and then I had to laugh when I spotted the gentleman below in the gray wig. Maybe he was just too young to drink and wanted a beer....heheh.

It was all good timing since my son delivered a couple of pounds of venison today and I promised to come up with a good venison chili recipe.

 

Partying with the Healthcare Heroes

Roper St. Francis Healthcare Heroes, 2014

I've had the most inspiring evening at the Charleston Regional Business Journal's Healthcare Heroes Awards Ceremony at the Francis Marion Hotel. Nominees were recognized in many categories including healthcare professionals, nurses, physicians, EMTs, service animals and volunteers.

I was there to celebrate them all but especially the young woman below who is one of my volunteers. The week after she learned CPR last year she was camping with her grandfather and saved the life of a toddler who drowned in a pond. I am so proud of Brittany I could bust. This gal will go far.

 

Secret Gardens

Garden Gate, Charleston, S.C.

It is difficult to take a boring walk in Charleston. Even quiet off the beaten path streets offer a glimpse of secret gardens.

I am fading fast. This week comes along with evening events almost every night. This evening I hosted forty teenagers interested in surgical careers. They were a great bunch full of energy and questions. There may be nothing more fun than teaching someone eager to learn. They drilled screws into chicken feet and X Rayed them, used a laser to write their names on tongue depressors, practiced cutting flesh in a large piece of steak and wore me out :).

West Ashley Optimist Club Honorees

Honored for Community Service, 2014

It's been a busy day hopping from meeting to meeting but I ended it on a high note at the West Ashley Optimist Club Youth Appreciation Awards Banquet. The Optimist Club bills itself as the Friend of Youth and each year they let organizations nominate a student for recognition.

I am pleased to present the honorees for 2014. From healthcare, parks and recreation to the aquarium this is an outstanding group of young people who have already left their mark in their community. Congratulations!

Prepare for Gingko Biloba party day!

King St., Charleston, S.C.

I am not downtown everyday so I am asking those of you who might be to keep an eye on those Library Society trees. Any day now it will be Gingko Biloba party time! All the leaves will turn bright yellow and spin to the ground.

And yes, Virgina, there is a Gingko blog. 

The Gingko Biloba family of trees are so old they are assumed to have been around for 230 million years ago. Darwin called them 'living fossils'. The trees are so hardy that one of them lived through the atomic blast that destroyed Hiroshima.

Ginkgo biloba - The maidenhair tree

With their neat parachute shape, the leaves tend not to fall in a tidy heap, but to catch on branches of surrounding bushes. The actual material of the leaf is still quite resilient when fallen, and if they land on still water do not lie flat, resembling not so much a dead leaf as a drunken drowning butterfly, or miniature capsizing yacht.

Who wants to go gingko hunting with me in Japan next year? 

Gaillard Performance Hall progress

Gaillard Performance Hall, George St., Charleston, S.C.

It won't be ready in time for the spring Spoleto Festival and I am sure it has been a huge inconvenience to residents in the immediate neighborhood but look at it! Wow. I haven't been walking in that part of town for awhile and this looks grand. You can check interior progress on the Construction Diary blog. I can't wait to attend a performance in the new venue.

George & Anson St. corner

George & Alexander St. corner

Rainy Sundays

Charleston, S.C.

Yes, that is a drop of rain on my lens.

Hmmmph. Rain. I had plans to go up the coast to Brookgreen Gardens today. It doesn't feel much like a field trip day. What is everyone else doing today? I've been slipping into lazy habits and watching sappy Hallmark movies (huh?) and visiting shopping sites online this morning.

Online reviews often keep me from spending money. The negative ones mention something I wouldn't like either and it saves me money. I did come across one of my favorite reviews ever. This was written for a rice cooker.

5.0 out of 5 stars rice man, January 4, 2014

By 

eddie - See all my reviews

Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Aroma 8-Cup (Cooked) Digital Rice Cooker and Food Steamer, Stainless Steel (Kitchen)

i put rice in
i put water in
i turn on
rice cooks
i eat
i happy
i satisfied
end

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Comments (11)

 

Hahah! I think I love him.

Stay dry kids.