Charleston views

The architecture of Charleston and Savannah was so beautiful, especially the various types of iron fences and gates surrounding the homes. 

 

CHARLESTON

Charleston, South Carolina, is a beautiful city. We arrived on Wednesday and immediately took a swim in the hotel pool. After cooling off we went to an Italian restaurant for dinner. It was cozy and had real Italian waiters. I had a dish of a trio of stuffed ravioli with pancetta sauce.




On Thursday we toured the town. We took a trolley to Market Street. In the center of the street for four blocks was a huge building housing all kinds of shops.
Here Linda is looking at the tablecloths from Provence. She and I both bought one, of course.


Charleston is famous for its seagrass baskets. It is a real art form there and we saw a lot of women making the baskets.


 

You can see the long market in these pictures and all the different kinds of wares they were selling.



We ate at Wild Wings. I got a kick out of this sign.



 

At every candy store someone was handing out free samples of pralines (fudge with pecans) and Linda stopped to buy some. It was really warm and we stopped by Ben and Jerry’s for ice cream.





The town itself was very historic with quaint courtyards, beautiful architecture and the most fascinating iron grill work surrounding the homes. 

     

I’m back from vacation

Please forgive me, dear reader, for not blogging in so long, but I’ve been on vacation.
   I’m still not fully recovered from all the walking and sightseeing and I have to put my life back together after the trip, but here are a few pictures to whet your appetite.
 
THINGS YOU DON’T FIND IN BRADFORD…OR “WHY I TRAVEL”


COBBLESTONE STREETS



BEAUTIFUL FOUNTAINS


 
LIVE OAK TREES FULL OF SPANISH MOSS


AGAPANTHUS, MY FAVORITE FLOWER


 
PALMETTO PALM TREES



QUIET COURTYARDS



GREAT RESTAURANTS



AND SO MUCH MORE…STAY TUNED FOR THE WHOLE STORY LATER.

happy Memorial Day!

Nothing beats having my family around. On Friday night Chris, Dan, and Scott came for the weekend. Chris brought his canoe and two kayaks and on Saturday we went over to Willow Bay and enjoyed a picnic and relaxing by the water. On Sunday Rose and our Eldred family came over to eat and play cards. We had a great time. I was too busy to take pictures. Dan however got out his camera and took some great shots at Willow Bay.

HERE IT IS…THURSDAY, ALREADY

Where did the week go? Anyone who knows me realizes that I go a mile a minute and multitask, but this week has been rediculous. I’m getting ready for my trip, cleaning up the house for company, working on the outdoor planting and getting committees for Literary Club. That along with calls to my doctor and dentist has kept me busy today. Yesterday I saide to Don, “We’re retired now. Why is it everyday when we wake up there is a list of things to do. This is just like working.” I know we are like ants in anthills as soon as the summer arrives getting everything done outdoors. But we need to relax. I guess that’s why I go on so many vacations. LOL



I didn’t have time to take a new picture..so here is one from a few years ago. Can’t wait to see my sisters.

Summertime..and the living is easy!

This is absolutely my favorite place to be in the summer…sitting on my porch swing and reading a book. I must say that since I’ve had eye problems I don’t do as much reading as I used to. I plan on sitting here a lot this summer!


How could you not say, “Ahhh” when you look at the photo. Sean was mesmerized with riding on the duck at Dollywood.


This is one of my favorite photos from vacation. It’s hard to believe that Sean just turned 2 in March. He is so tall.

Awesome!

Dan is a super photographer. He got a new camera for Christmas and since then he has produced some awesome pictures. I wonder how he did this?

IT’S ALMOST JUNE..AND YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!

This is the time of year we wait for all winter long. When the snowflakes fall and the wind whips we think about summer coming. We know that it will eventually come and with it the color of flowers. For a few days we have been working to get our courtyard ready for the season. We are not yet done but…would you like a preview?

This afternoon I was in my favorite summer spot…my porch swing. When my old one got so weak that I needed a new one my husband’s friend who is a carpenter said that he could make one for me. I wanted it exactly like my old one…the same dimensions. He not only made this wonderful, strong swing but actually planted the tree when he was a boy and later harvested the wood. It’s a calm place to sit and read while listening to the burble of the fountains.


The concrete planter with the fleur de lis is one of my favorites. This year I filled it with heliotrope and a white-ish vine. I love the new iron work. Don says I have too much iron work in the garden. You be the judge.


I especially like the new green felt liner they have out this year.



More heliotrope






There are still more flowers to be planted.


I thought I’d show you the “bad” side of the garden. Where the yellow flowers are it is all buttercups which are the only flower that loves that wet spot. We are working on designing something for this space.


Here is a shot of the fountain. I love the sandcherry which lends color as well as the yellow creeping jenny. Sadie of course runs to the pond everytime we turn on water. It is her private swimming pool.
 

Don’t you love the patina on this pineapple statue? I discovered a spray paint..oil rubber bronze…and sprayed anything that wasn’t moving.

Here is a rare shot of the waterfall minus Sadie.


It’s getting dark and the lanterns are lit. Won’t you join me for a drink?