Beach walking - Folly Beach

Let's hear it for Folly!, Folly Beach, SC 

As I like to do, I went to Folly Beach the day after the Folly Gras festival chaos and traffic jams. My nephew flew in from Canada late last night so a big bowl of shrimp and grits in the sunshine seemed the perfect lowcountry welcome. We had a great brunch at Rita's, walked the pier and then drove down to park and walk into see the lighthouse. The weather was cooler than yesterday's 80 degrees but couldn't have been more perfect. Welcome Caleb!

Best of the West 2017

Westie Awards 2017, Charleston, SC   

Meet the Best of the West! The West Of newspaper's annual award is a statue of a cow honoring a favorite local landmark and we love it. I won one myself a few years ago and now I am a regular nominator of community leaders and civic minded folks. It is good to see people recognized for the work they do.

Lining up for biscuits

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

Look at the line for biscuits! Callie's Hot Biscuits must have a winning recipe. I have some frozen ones in my freezer waiting for the right moment to pop in the oven.

I spotted the scene over the weekend so it was probably the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition crowd. Happy eating kids!

East Bay beauty

635 East Bay St., Charleston, SC    

Walking a different route gives a fresh look at buildings frequently passed in a car but which I've never had a chance to look at. This impressive home - now office space on East Bay was a tricky one to get a shot of because of the high fence and rushing traffic. I survived. What a beauty! Googling the address brought up an older photo of the Faber-Ward mansion on Pinterest. 

And more information on this site: Palmetto & Cannon

This stately house and compound was built ca. 1832 by one Henry F. Faber. 
Joshua Ward, a wealthy and famous rice planter and SC's Lieutenant Governor, purchased the house from Faber. 
The Faber-Ward house was converted into a hotel for emancipated slaves when the Union troops occupied Charleston during the War of Southern Secession. The hotel failed and the house again became a private residence.  Today the house has been converted to professional office use.

Will it build good will and better friendships?

Marion Square, Charleston, SC   

It was a shock to walk down King St. and see the red of the Confederate flag flying high over King St. It has become such a symbol of a painful past that it was a relief in recent years to have had it removed from our statehouse property.

We haven't seen the last of it yet and today folks from out of town placed it high on top of their vehicles and parked on the top deck of our public parking building. Protesters were already on site as crowds are thronged at the Southeastern Wildlife Festival at Marion Square wondering what is going on. Hopefully it will be resolved peacefully and soon.

It was the writing on the fountain sponsored by the Rotary Club that caught my eye, "Will it build good will and better friendship?" No. No, it won't.

How much is that doggie in the window?

Former Bob Ellis window, King St., Charleston, SC    

The Southeastern Wildlife Festival winds down today and everything is wildlife and animal related. I spotted these pups in the former Bob Ellis Shoe store window and then a block or so down the street saw the live version sponsored by Pet Helpers which was attracting a lot more attention!

King St., Charleston, SC   

Be there or be square. Wed 8 PM

Eutawville, SC   

Work has been all consuming lately and I escaped for a quick overnight at Lake Marion to begin my weekend. This little building is in Eutawville, SC and since I am never in the area on a Wednesday night I need someone to let me know what the heck happens there at 8 p.m. on Wednesdays. It is a mystery!

An early night, a book to read, good company, a quirky photo-op and breakfast at Bell's Marina. I started my weekend right and hope you have as well. 

Welcome to all the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition folks invading Charleston this weekend.

Wragg Square

Wragg Square, Charleston, SC  

Not a bad scene for mid February in Charleston. I took this shot on the weekend when it was bright and sunny unlike today with it's windy and dreary weather.

I started my day with brunch at the Marina Variety Store restaurant at a brunch honoring a group of volunteers. You really can't beat it for a full plate of food at a reasonable price overlooking the water, can you?

The news on the street in Charleston this evening is that Boeing employees voted today not to unionize and the fact that President Trump will be paying a visit to Boeing on Friday for the unveiling of the new 787-10 jet. Are we ready for this, Charleston?

I was pleased to see that a couple of my volunteers made the Post & Courier in a photo from Valentine's Day. Fun!

Valentine's day rounds

Valentine's Day , Charleston, SC   

It's our valentine tradition. Each year I contact Randall Dukes and without fail he summons up a beauty queen to serve as an honorary volunteer on Valentine's Day and pass out treats at the hospital. Tiara and sashes have an amazing effect on a beautiful gal. Children assume she is a princess and both men and women agree to pose for a picture.

This year's beauty queen is Reagan Mobley - Miss Charleston Southern University. She was incredibly gracious and walked for a couple of miles visiting nursing stations, offices and waiting rooms. Thanks Reagan!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Love is for all, you and me, Charleston, SC   

A valentine message in the pavement for all of us!

Farmhouse scene

Barn, SC  

This scene always catches my eye when I pass it heading to and from Lake Marion. Although the buildings are aging they are perfectly tidy and the colorful Ford truck is tucked away under shelter.

I hope everyone has had a good weekend. The weather has been glorious in Charleston and makes us believe that spring is around the corner.

I am playing with my new Instant Pot pressure cooker for dinner and have cauliflower soup under pressure. It's a new recipe for me so we shall see!

Firefly Distillery visit

Firefly Distillery, Wadmalaw Island, SC   

My son took me on a post birthday jaunt to the Firefly Distillery on Wadmalaw Island this morning where  the Cork Shucking Festival was a benefit for Windwood Farms. They had buckets of oysters, live music under the oaks and a tasting room for the locally distilled Firefly vodka. There were some interesting and unusual flavors!

Firefly Distillery, Wadmalaw Island, SC   The Firefly Distillery is the birthplace of Firefly Spirits. It is where the founders, Jim Irvin and Scott Newitt, came up with the crazy idea to build a distillery in the ‘middle of nowhere,’ and make the world’s first Sweet Tea Vodka. That crazy idea is now a destination known for its genuine southern hospitality, fine quality spirits and innovation. The Firefly Distillery is located on Wadmalaw Island, just 30 minutes outside of Charleston, SC. At the distillery, you will meet the ‘Firefly family’ and you can sample an array of fine spirits and get a taste of their southern hospitality at its best.

Tilting houses

Amherst St., Charleston, SC  

Oh, oh, oh, it is so tempting to try to straighten a shot in post processing but I resisted. In this case the street was on a slope and the pink house was tilted in the opposite direction. There would be no fair game of marbles on the floor of this home. I do love that houses are painted such bright and happy colors in Charleston.

My birthday is tomorrow and this group stopped by my office with a mini cake and balloon flowers. Thanks folks!

Fountain scene

Chapel St., Charleston, SC   

Charleston has lovely fountains. This one is in a little park on Chapel St.

It's been a busy week for me, kids. We do annual safety updates for all our volunteers so I have been hopping from one hospital to another. One more to go tomorrow. Luckily for me I have a very large team so it takes a little work to get everyone checked off.

It's been a beautiful sunny day in the lowcountry and my azaleas are blooming. It's almost time to order mu bulbs from Caladium World.

Pull up a chair in Wraggborough

Judith St., Charleston, SC   

Looks like folks like to get comfortable on Judith St. 

Little old house on the move

Amherst St., Charleston, SC   

In November I walked Wolfe St. to get a photo of this house as it was being prepared to be moved out of it's neighborhood. This weekend I walked Amherst St. on the east side to visit and see how it was settling into it's new location. Take your time, kid! Get to know the neighbors.

New location on Amherst St. 

Former location on Woolfe St. 

Pine cones keep falling from the sky

Pine cones, Charleston, SC    

Those are some giant pine cones, aren't they? Cute decorating project. 

I expect everyone is watching football and eating snacks right now. Carry on. 

Go Red for Heart Disease Awareness

National Go Red day, Charleston, SC   

Heart disease is still a leading cause of death. The good news is that most cardiac events can be prevented with lifestyle changes. We know that and most of us know what we should be doing to prevent heart disease. We don't always do it but we know what the goal is and can keep working towards better diet and exercise. It never hurts to be reminded how precious good health is and take some responsibility for it. 

Tuskegee Airmen of World War II

Tuskegee Airmen Monument, Walterboro, SC  

Sometimes I come across something so significant that I feel almost ashamed that I had no real awareness of it before that moment. That is how I felt learning about the black Tuskegee Airmen military aviators in World War II. This picture has been on my camera for a few months and I finally got around to uploading it and digging into a bit of the story. Wikipedia has a great article on the topic. 

I wondered what the Walterboro connection was but, although named for their origins at Alabama’s Tuskegee Institute, the pilots of the famed 332nd Fighter Group completed final training in Walterboro, South Carolina at Walterboro Army Airfield so it made sense to put the memorial here. 

The Tuskegee airmen were the first black servicemen to serve as military aviators in the U.S. armed forces, flying with distinction during World War II. Though subject to racial discrimination both at home and abroad, the 996 pilots and more than 15,000 ground personnel who served with the all-black units would be credited with some 15,500 combat sorties and earn over 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses for their achievements. The highly publicized successes of the Tuskegee Airmen helped pave the way for the eventual integration of the U.S. armed forces under President Harry Truman in 1948.

The 332nd’s reputation for aggressiveness in air combat was so widely-known that the Germans also had a nickname for them — Schwartze Vogelmenschen, or “Black Bird Men.” Seven of the famed Doolittle Raiders were also trained here and there was a compound for holding German prisoners of war, and it was also the site of the U.S. military’s largest camouflage school.

Backroads

Abandoned filling station, SC   

I expect this was a lively gathering place in times past and it catches the eye of anyone traveling with a camera as we go by. I've seen many versions of the same shot taken by other travelers. If I recall correctly it is tiny little Pregnall, SC in Dorchester county.

It's the end of the weekend, kids. Boo. Since I tend to leave all my routine chores until the last minute it is time for me to kick into action.

Note: See that? I didn't talk about politics at all. Whew.