Scenes from the Low Country

Standing pretty on an island just south of Charleston, SC

The shrimp boat coming in

Uhh, I really thought this was just a silly sand creature running around in circles.  Upon closer inspection, I now know why it was running around in circles.  

Scamp on his first family vacation!  My husband wanted this well-loved broken-down old dog to see the beach, so he carried him down the boardwalk, across the sand, and back home.  Click here for Scamp's story.  

Southern sweet tea.  Nuff said.

At the Marina the day before Tiger Woods'  25 million dollar yacht sailed in for the PGA Tournament.   The day his yacht came in, so did a funnel cloud (literally).  

A most adorable little nephew, wouldn't you say?

There's a cute wall hanging in the house we rent that says, "Don't be crabby, you're on vacation".  Always good to keep in mind!

Vacation Photos

This year's selection of vaca photos are mostly blunders, funnies, and outtakes. For more serious posts, see this post on the 1500 year old Angel Oak, or this one with a few photos of the "low country" landscape and a story of Spanish moss, or this one with some pretty scenes from the island.

Above and below, some sights along the road. See the mailbox above?

Only in the past few years have I seen flocks of pelicans flying in formation over the ocean. It is an awesome sight. We also enjoyed watching them feed. Here you see the pelican flying above, then gliding and eyeing a fish below, then a quick downward dive, then a little snack while resting on the water, finally back up he goes until he eyes another one.

Below: woodpecker holes surrounding the circumference of each trunk and branch of the tree. Above: This photo was taken accidentally. I was getting the self-timer ready for a family photo, and I guess the fam would rather have been making their way to the beach. Believe it or not, the very next photo was Christmas card worthy - winning "cheeeeeese" smiles.

Below: a 10 pound coconut cake. To die for. We had cake for dessert after every meal for almost a week.

You'd never imagine that someone camera shy would choose photos of herself in a bathing suit to post - especially after having a steady stream of coconut cake all week. We played for hours trying to jump on this hyperinflated raft - doing cannonballs onto it, jumping in standing position on it...this is me doing a sloppy "flying squirrel". You should have seen the air that some others in my party got!

Hope your summer has been as relaxing and fun!

Like butterflies?

I've been working on my aversion to butterflies. This annual visit to the Wings of Fancy show at Brookside Gardens was actually not so bad!

Delaware Gardens (part 3 of 3): 117 Federal Street

So when we left Mike's LARGE garden, I talked myself into believing that if I had lots of space at my disposal, I could create something really special too. I left with a shred of gardening self-esteem. That all went out the window when our bus stopped in front of this house that promised to be "small and mighty" with a mere 2000 square foot yard.

The entrance to the backyard garden.

When I passed by the railing boxes below, I knew I was about to see something really spectacular.

The yard is probably a pretty standard little rectangle, but the garden's curves and nooks add so much character. These photos do not do the garden justice at all. I love the use of golds, limes, chocolates, and oranges - and all the tropicals.

Here's something about my personality - I'm not a gusher. Not an ooooher and aaaahhhher. I don't love all flowers. In fact, I'm pretty particular. Even among gardens I like, I generally revel in quiet inspiration. Today though, I was among all the others who gasped upon stepping into the yard and gushed to the owner (oh yes I did) about how beautiful, gorgeous, and spectacular his little garden is.