All That's Left

All That's Left, Charleston Farmer's Market, Charleston, SC

I was combining my morning walk with vegetable shopping at the Charleston Farmer's Market this morning when these clunky bracelets caught my eye. Unique!

He was using vintage buckles and clasps that his mother had bought in a large batch from a sale at Medway Plantation. What a great idea. The vendor's name is Steven Stafford and he has called his part of the business "All That's Left". Some of the bracelets were very tempting. Check them out at the Farmer's Market.

Nancy's Exotic Plants

Nancy's Exotic Plants, Hollywood, SC 

I have friends who concentrate on beautiful wildlife photography who are going to be so impressed with how close I got to this purple dinosaur. What can I say? When you got it, you got it. I am the Dinosaur Whisperer. Who knew?

Heheh.

Sadly Nancy's Exotic Plants was closed when I stopped by but that didn't stop me from grabbing a few photo ops.

Happy Friday, kids!

On the road - Ontario, Canada

Perry siblings minus one, Ontario, Canada

The main reason for my recent trip to Canada was to join the gathering of the Perry clan to recognize the occasion of my father's 90th birthday. He has been in failing health and suffering from Alzheimer's disease. I am so appreciative for the family members living close by and his wife Dianne who have cared for him so lovingly while others of us live far away. The top picture is of my siblings minus my brother Jim who is in India.

We had a birthday reception in the nursing home he moved to after a recent hospitalization. It melted my heart that he did indeed recognize me and certainly seemed aware that the event was in his honor. We ended the day with a feast at my brother Roger's home and gathered for our traditional group shot. I got to see a wealth of relatives in a very short visit.

On the road - Kingston, Ontario

Thousand Island Lakes, Canada

Can you imagine living here? Your friends could sail over to pay a visit. The Thousand Island lake area was just as beautiful as I had imagined. Wow.

From Toronto we took the Megabus to Kingston and met my sister Barbra and her family at sunset at a restaurant at Fort Henry overlooking the water. We had a day to completely play tourist in town - took the (free!) ferry to Wolfe Island for lunch, visited Sir John A MacDonald's home, drove through Queen's University campus and the Royal Military College.

The next day we took the boat tour of the Thousand Island lakes (oh my!), caught an afternoon theater performance, a delicious Indian dinner and back to her lakeside home for kayak ride at dusk. We squeezed a lot into our brief visit.

On the road - Toronto

Toronto Harbour, Ontario

I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. I headed up to Canada for the gathering of the Perry clan for my father's 90th birthday. Seven of my eight siblings were in attendance and I got to see many of my relatives. I started my journey meeting up with my sister Shirley from Edmonton in Toronto and we made the most of our brief stay.

First off I was able to pay for my hotel with Marriott points. Yipee! I never feel like I really get anything from collecting points but this time I did. Go Marriott Courtyard! I am now a fan. We took the zippy train directly from the airport to Union Station and walked up Yonge St. to our hotel. Can't get better than that. We had one full day so we bought tickets for the Hop on Hop Off bus and hit the touristy highlights. I went to college in Toronto but haven't had a chance to run around for many, many years.

We made stops at Casaloma, ate lunch at the top of the CN tower, took the harbour tour around Toronto Island, checked out Kensington Market, checked out the Tattoo exhibition at the Royal Ontario Museum and the next morning had lunch at the distillery district before catching our Megabus to Kingston.

Mennonite School House - Blackville, SC

Calvary Fellowship Mennonite School, Blackville, SC 

It was the lace curtains that caught my eye. My school didn't have lace curtains.

We spotted the school house on the way back from the Healing Springs in Blackville, SC. According to one site I found it says it is an elementary school with twelve enrolled students and one teacher.

Blackville train depot

Southern Railroad Depot (c. 1910) 
The former Blackville Railroad Station has been relocated to a new location and restored as the town library. I found this old photo on the scdepot site. 

Clearly I got enough material on last weeks drive in the country to last for quite a few days.

UFO Welcome Center - Bowman, SC

UFO Welcome Center, Bowman, SC 

I need a quick detour to check on the UFO Welcome center in Bowman, SC if I am ever in the area. It isn't a happy sight. The UFO is looking pretty shaky. The next good breeze might send it flying. Funny how these quirky scenes make it into every roadside wonder web site yet none of the locals pay any attention to them.

The saucer-shaped UFO Welcome Center stands in Jody's yard. He began building it in 1994, intending it to be a place where aliens could be comfortable meeting people from Earth (it's 46 feet across, the same diameter as most UFOs, according to Jody). He later added a second, smaller saucer on top so that the aliens can take Jody with them when they leave. 

Best bathroom award!

Denmark, SC 

Discovering this bathroom in an antique store in Denmark, SC made me laugh. There was even an art show on the walls and I love the Chinese (?) rascals with the balls. I did not buy anything from the bathroom, but I could have! 

Lions and tigers, oh my!

Denmark, SC 

In the small rural town of Denmark, SC is the most amazing antique store. It was formerly the AT&T building but is now crammed full of furniture, paintings and chandeliers. I have no idea how they got those heavy pieced of furniture up the stairs in the building. Well worth a stop. Drop back by tomorrow and I'll show you my favorite room.

The Caroline Collection came into being over several decades of a couple's passion for things old! It began as an adventure to find pieces for themselves, and then became a growing business. Upon acquiring the grand old AT&T building, a home from which to market their extensive antique collection had been found.Their love of antiques and conviction that surrounding oneself with fine pieces gives great joy, makes the pursuit of acquiring new treasures genuinely fun!

Peek-a-boo!

This delighted me so much. It was one of the first shots of the day on my Saturday road trip and the camera lens misted up in the heat and humidity. I love people who do something simple to make folks driving by smile. In this case it worked!

The frequently photographed house below will let some people know the location. We all love this beautiful old house at the intersection that is slowly but surely being renovated.

Peek-a-boo!

Peek-a-boo!

This delighted me so much. It was one of the first shots of the day on my Saturday road trip and the camera lens misted up in the heat and humidity. I love people who do something simple to make folks driving by smile. In this case it worked!

The frequently photographed house below will let some people know the location. We all love this beautiful old house at the intersection that is slowly but surely being renovated.

Indian Cooking Class

Indian cooking class, Charleston, SC 

This was a fun way to spend an evening! My friend Karen gathered interested participants in her home for an Indian cooking class by Gita from the India Spice store. Good fun, delicious dinner and I have leftovers for tomorrow. Can't beat that. Except maybe with an Indian dessert cooking class?

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - Tabernacle Baptist

Tabernacle Baptist, Blackville, SC

The little scrap of decorative window in the abandoned church caught my eye and made it a worthy entrance in the Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance category. I believe it was on the drive out of Blackville, SC so will leave that as the title until further research proves me right or wrong. I need to carry a notebook and make a note of photo locations.

I hope everyone is having a good weekend. I have extra time to lollygag since I am skipping my long walks this weekend. I have a dressing on my ear and neck that I can't get wet until it comes off on Monday afternoon, so I can't wash my hair, so I don't want to drip sweat in this heat. I am hanging out in the cool house and need to get some chores done.

God's Own Acre

Healing Springs, Blackville, SC 

Three miles out of tiny, downtown Blackville, turn right at Healing Springs Road and right again at the Healing Springs Baptist Church to find an acre of land deeded to God. The bright blue sign reminds everyone to respect that fact and keep it clean. Cars pull up one after another with empty containers to fill from the pipes bubbling clear water from the ground. We parked next to a car load of excited young women who had driven hours out of their way on a trip from New Hampshire to fill large water containers and drink from the spring. Healing water!

According to the legend, four gravely-wounded British soldiers were found wandering the woods after the Battle of Windy Hill Creek. A group of Native Americans came across the men on the brink of death and took them to the spring.Amazingly, after drinking the water, all of the men made a full recovery and after only a few months, and walked back into their camp as if nothing had happened at all. The Natives gave all the credit to the Healing Well.

Over the years, the supposedly sacred land and mineral well have passed to many people, at least until 1944 when the owner, Mr. Boyston, deeded the land to God. Nope I'm not kidding. He did so, however, so that anyone in need of healing, either from a paper cut to a open wound, could grab a drink at the amazing healing well and be cured from all their ails