Batik Art by Mary Edna Fraser

Mount Pleasant Hospital, Mt. Pleasant, S.C.

I ended a busy day at the Mount Pleasant Hospital closing out a fundraising uniform sale and stopped with pleasure to see batik artist Mary Edna Fraser's art work displayed on the wall. What lovely images! Check here for more of her work and her website. Here is a previous entry from a visit to her workshop.

Harleyville Wildlife Center

Harleyville's carved bear, Harleyville, S.C.

I can't resist checking on the local wildlife anytime I drive through Harleyville, S.C. The bear and eagle are holding up. There used to be a giant eagle on the other side of the road but I think he had his beak clipped last time I was there and this time I didn't see him at all. There must have been a local chainsaw artist who left his mark.

As you can imagine, Harleyville had some trouble with people stealing their signs and finally decided to try to make a profit on it. They sell the signs for $20 a piece. I am not sure if this information is still current but it sure is fun and they would be a good gift idea for a Harley rider. 

Between the pillars

Market St., Charleston, S.C.

Election results are coming in and oddly some folks are winning even though I didn't put a check mark by their name. Go figure.

I had such a lovely dinner with good friends at Chez Nouz this evening.  It was perfect really.

Pssst: don't tell everyone but you can get into Magnolia Plantation for free this weekend if you are a local resident. Bring proof of residency and bingo, you are in one of my favorite places in the world.

College Corner

The College Corner, King & George St., Charleston, S.C.

I noticed that King & George St. corner was looking spruced up. The College of Charleston has opened a store front called The College Corner. It looks like they renovated the Sottile Theater sign as well. Things are looking sharp.

I finally got to meet fellow photo blogger Vanessa K. this evening at Med Eatery & Bar. We have been circling and enjoying each others blogs for years so it was wonderful to finally meet her in person. I know you will enjoy her photography at Photography by Vanessa K.

Get out and vote tomorrow, kids! I printed out my sample ballot and found a couple of categories I have a hard time checking anyone off in but will do my best. Besides the important positions please do vote yes on the raffle amendment that will allow my volunteers to raffle off a gift basket or quilt to raise money for a charity. Did you know that was illegal in South Carolina?

Halloween's Last Call

Madden St., North Charleston, S.C.

I have a weakness for wacky yard art and this was the jackpot! I saw a picture of this haunted house of horrors on a side street in North Charleston posted on Facebook and had to track it down. The owner said he had had between 2 - 300 hundred children come through the winding path in his yard on Halloween. I can't even imagine the squealing that must have been coming from that yard. He invited me to follow the path and wasn't at all surprised to have found me in his yard taking pictures. Boo!

 

Cold meets hot

Northbridge Park, Charleston, S.C.

The cold rain and wind is causing an uproar as it hits our warm waters. The Ashley River and Charleston Harbor look like a witches brew and after the lovely day we had yesterday it is cold out there! I stopped at the new Northbridge Park under the bridge to grab a few shots. Brrrr.

New street art - Queen St. Grocery

Queen St., Charleston, S.C.

I spotted a picture of this new bit of street art on the side of the Queen St. Grocery last night and had to go down to pay a visit myself this morning.

What a dreary day! The wind is wild. I think they actually closed the Farmer's Market this morning and folks in the upstate are posting pictures of snow. I had a good morning walk in town but it feels like a soup day for lunch.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween 2014, Charleston, S.C.

My merry band of hospital volunteers outdid themselves this year. They planned their costumes in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Wizard of Oz. We traipsed around the hospital passing out candy treats to the staff, visitors and the occasional patient who might be in the mood for festivities. What good sports!

I stopped by the St. Andrew's Parks & Recreation yard sale about a month ago and took advantage of them selling off their vintage baseball uniforms for $2 each. I asked for three of the "least stained" ones and they were perfect and easy costumes. Happy Halloween everyone!

Enter if you dare!

Enter if you date! S.C.

I don't think these folks need any other security system, do you?! Yikes. I pulled this out of my Backroads album for the looking for something Halloween related. I can assure you that I did not enter the drive to explore any deeper.

Have a good Halloween folks. I am looking forward to lots of fun kids in costume pictures on facebook.

Boo!

Boo! Francis Beidler Forest, Harleyville, S.C

This good lookin' fella was posing in the park ranger office window at the Francis Beidler Forest.

In other news, the Post & Courier invited readers to submit their favorite cemetery photos to this album.

Charleston Area Convention And Visitors Bureau invited a group of blogging women to experience Charleston. Photos from their visit to Charleston here.

This sign near Francis Beidler Forest could drive a person around the bend!

Sunny days & soups & stews

Charleston, S.C.

I've had a busy day but done absolutely nothing productive all evening. Luckily I came home to tasty leftovers so I was smiling on my drive from work. I eat a scrappy hospital cafeteria salad each day and come home starving no matter how early or late I come in the door. 

This weekend I made cookbook writer Holly Herrick's Chicken Braised in Pinot Gris with Mushrooms, Leeks, and Dijon Mustard, which she was kind enough to share on her blog The Permanent Tourist. The chicken simmers in three cups of white wine. What could go wrong with that? Nuthin' honey. Thanks Holly!  This recipe was from her most recent book - The French Cook - Soups & Stews.

FYI, Holly Herrick does have a cooking class coming up at Southern Season in Mount Pleasant on Saturday, November 1 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. and will be be signing books after the class.

This green campus

College of Charleston campus, Charleston, S.C.

I am always happy to take a short cut through the College of Charleston campus. One quiet Sunday years ago I did this same walk and a security officer spotted me with my camera and let me wander through the Sottile House. It is beautiful with stained glass windows and dark wood paneling.

Can't stay long this evening because I got my three day alert that my downloaded book will disappear from my tablet. I forget about them until I get the warning and then read nonstop racing to beat the clock. Three day reader, that is me! I'd best not download any real long books. 

 

Hay there!

Eutawville fall hay fun, Eutawville, S.C.

Driving the country roads of the lowcountry right now I've been seeing lots of white fields and large bales of cotton but these ones were made of hay. I love people with a sense of humor who go to all this trouble just to make people smile as they go by. And I did.

Boardwalk Walking

Francis Beidler Forest, S.C.

What a bright sunny day! I dropped off my little car for an oil change and new fan belt and had an early birthday brunch with my son at Sesame . This afternoon I walked down the new boardwalk at the Francis Beidler Forest in Harleyville. 

I love all the little hidey holes in the cypress knees. Doesn't it look like a secret door in the one below?
 

Let the season begin!

Sermet's, King St., Charleston, S.C.

Sermets Restaurant on King St. is joining in the Halloween fun. It makes me wish I had a couple of skeletons for my own yard. I need to plan a South of Broad walk soon to catch the usual Halloween themed properties. Check out my past entries to get the idea of what to look for: Halloween.

October afternoons

Charleston Harbor, Charleston, S.C.

Charleston has once again ranked highly in the Conde Naste Reader's Choice Best Cities listing - as it should. I use the list to see where else I still need to go.

In other news, here is an article titled, "In All the Ancient Circles”: Tourism and the Decline of Charleston’s Elite Families" by Jack Trotter giving another look at what tourism on such a successful scale has done to the lowcountry.

Heritage - Chef Sean Brock

Chef Sean Brock, Book Signing, Charleston, S.C.

Holding the book just like that it looks like the tattooed covered arms are around my neck! Tonight was the first book signing party for Chef Sean Brock's long awaited first cookbook Heritage and I was one of the first in line to get mine signed. The recipes look pretty complicated but there are a few I am willing to try and I know anything Chef Sean comes up with will be worth the effort. What an exciting day! Congratulations Chef!

Sean Brock is the chef behind the game-changing restaurants Husk and McCrady’s, and his first book offers all of his inspired recipes. With a drive to preserve the heritage foods of the South, Brock cooks dishes that are ingredient-driven and reinterpret the flavors of his youth in Appalachia and his adopted hometown of Charleston. The recipes include all the comfort food (think food to eat at home) and high-end restaurant food (fancier dishes when there’s more time to cook) for which he has become so well-known. Brock’s interpretation of Southern favorites like Pickled Shrimp, Hoppin’ John, and Chocolate Alabama Stack Cake sit alongside recipes for Crispy Pig Ear Lettuce Wraps, Slow-Cooked Pork Shoulder with Tomato Gravy, and Baked Sea Island Red Peas. This is a very personal book, with headnotes that explain Brock’s background and give context to his food and essays in which he shares his admiration for the purveyors and ingredients he cherishes.

Imaging that!

The power of the magnet!

I hosted a group of teenagers interested in careers in Imaging this evening. They got a glimpse of what the staff in MRI, X Ray, CT and Ultrasound do on a daily basis. A very patient lady let five groups of students see her baby on ultrasound.

Whenever it gets quiet in the MRI room I ask them to demonstrate the power of the magnet with a pair of scissor on a band just because I get such a kick out it. I learn something each time I do one of these career evenings. The staff in this area all seem to enjoy their jobs and each technologist thinks their equipment is the best. I suspect we sparked some career interest this evening. Thanks to the team in the Imaging Department at Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital!

Future health care professionals from Ft. Dorchester High School

Travel Tuesday - Iceland

Eggs in Happy Bay, Djupivogur, Iceland

On Tuesdays I allow myself a field trip and dip into old travel albums. How about them eggs! The outdoor sculpture of 34 stone eggs known as "Eggin i Gleoivik" (Eggs in Happy Bay) are by the celebrated artist Sigurour Guomundsson, They represent the thirty-four local birds found in Iceland. They are all the same size except for the single larger one. What a happy artistic surprise in a small village. 

More Murals

Murals at Avondale, Charleston, S.C.

I especially like it when real greenery tumbles and grows over painted murals. I don't have much time this evening so I'm sharing a quick splash of color! In fact, some bloggers feature a Mural Monday theme so it all fits.

I attended the city planning report on the future of my part of town - West Ashley, this evening. West Ashley has been left out of the revitalization that has been going on the upper peninsula and Mount Pleasant. They showed lots of fancy dreams and hope for the Citadel Mall area, the Bees Ferry traffic circle and Sam Rittenburg Boulevard. If a quarter of it comes true I will be pleased!