A Peek At The Beautiful Things in Life!

vintage earn, red berries, fence with roping for the holidays

Happy Wednesday! Where does the time go? It seems like it was just Halloween! Thanksgiving flew by and now Christmas is very, very close! For many of us there is so much to do to prepare. It’s good to start early, which I used to be good at, but now am running behind like most of you. It’s all good, we can only try to get everything on our lists done, right? Wondering what cool place I was at with such a beautiful view (in the image) – see below…

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Holiday Shopping in Charleston, SC!

Selfie in mirror at The Dewberry Hotel in Charleston, SC

I have to say, Charleston, SC is about as festive as can be. We haven’t been downtown in quite a while so it was nice to get out on a cool day, walk the streets, pop in the shops and check things out. Visitors in our own town. What can be better? You’re home in 5 minutes, no packing required!

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A Butterfly Magnet!

Skimming through my photos and I ran across this beauty – the epitome of fall. And, WHO doesn’t love fall? It’s my absolute favorite season because it means I’ve gotten through a very hot, humid summer. Although summer was very warm, we had a slight cooling after July. The weather wasn’t cool, it was still humid but not quite as hot (or at least to me), what a joy! #rejoiceinthelittlethings

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A Cool Shop To Visit: Digs Charleston!

Digs Charleston interior with chairs hanging on the wall, cool light fixtures, wonderful furniture, lighting and everything in between.

A few weeks ago we stopped for lunch at a favorite place and afterwards took a little walk around town. What a delight when we spotted a cool home store. They had the most delightful items, treasures! Furniture, lighting, candles, virtually anything that can make a house a home. Beautifully displayed, it was a treat to meander through the store. We look forward to getting back there soon. I love their vibe!

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The Fascinating World of Gargoyles vs. Grotesques (Biltmore House)!

Image of small section of Biltmore House, Gargoyle, Grotesque, carving

This stately piece of architecture is a cut above the rest (that I’ve had the pleasure of visiting). Dynamic, regal and historic. The amount of intricate detail is mesmerizing. There are a number of (what we would call) gargoyles – they’re everywhere and they’re all different. They are so creative and wonderful, you need to go visit for that reason alone! I’ve heard there is only one true gargoyle… Do you know the difference between gargoyles and grotesques?

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Biltmore House – A View of the Winter Garden!

Winter Garden at the Biltmore House, Atrium, Glass ceiling with wood, Stunning electric light fixtures hang from the ceiling, tropical plants, statue, arched openings

Biltmore – Asheville, North Carolina. Wow! Doesn’t even come close to the feeling when you are within the walls of this grand estate. The details, so many details on every single level. As I mentioned in an earlier “Biltmore” post, I snapped almost 800 photos in a two day span. I think I have photos from each of these arched openings. There were people here, I was just waiting to take a photo until the coast was clear.

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The Historic Charm of Charleston’s Older Neighborhoods…

antique pine table set against windows, outside are live oak trees and blooming azaleas, lamp and plant on table

We are so fortunate to live in such a beautiful area of Charleston, SC. This neighborhood will soon be 100 years old. Amazing the architecture and the quality of building. I love how, back in the day, they had the foresight to plant a live oak tree in front of each house. These magical trees make this area absolutely breathtaking.

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Architectural Splendor: 54 Tradd Street – Charleston, SC!

Historic home, with flags, hurricane bolts, worn patina, beautiful windows boxes with flower.

Isn’t this a stunning example of historic Charleston, SC architecture? The level of detail is astounding. The fact that this home remains so gorgeous nearly 285 years later is mind blowing. I love the aged patina, the black shutters, windows and doors and the beautiful window boxes that make this house pop!

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The Coolest Outdoor Chairs From Ikea!

two modern white plastic chairs, brick pavers, podocarpus, swimming pool, tall green shrubs, sunny day

Isn’t this the coolest outdoor chair? Last week we planted podocarpus at one end of our pool and it turned that end of the pool into a cozy retreat. Next stop… a table, but for now I am thrilled with this purchase! I’ve seen these chairs out and about for many years, here are the details…

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Spring has sprung: Lupine is here!

Lupine (plant) blooming, purple cone shaped flowers, green pointed leaves, striking combination
Lupine in bloom!

I’ve never planted lupine. I’ve never actually seen it blooming in Maine because we always used to visit in September (after they bloomed), but here it is in Charleston! Blooming beautifully and for sale. I love to visit shops with beautiful plants, we have several that I can think of and each is a dream!

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Koi Pond in Charleston, SC + a Reminder…

Aren’t these bright orange Koi against the green of the lily pads absolutely stunning? I took this photo at a garden shop in the Charleston area (info below) – gorgeous plants, trees, fountains, outdoor planters, accessories, etc. They also can create a vignette such as this for you. So serene!

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Bougainvillea in Charleston…

Bougainvillea in Charleston, SC

Such a pretty setting, isn’t it? All the pink blooms, with pops of white (and the cool blue chair) – all set in an English green space. Gorgeous! We stopped in Elizabeth Stuart Design (ESD) a week or two ago, looked around and then took a peek outside at the beautiful plants, furniture, etc. This setting is simply gorgeous! Bougainvillea’s are pretty amazing…

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Spring is springing up in Charleston!

Abide-A-While – Mount Pleasant, SC

Well, it seems as if spring is about to spring in Charleston, SC! One of our azaleas is blooming, camellias are always in bloom this time of year, and the garden stores are full of stunning and colorful plants. I know our garden centers get CrAzY around here, like we all need to get some pretty things planted after our long, hard winter (hehe). It IS always exciting to do just that! The anticipation of what you’ll find and how it will transform a space is always so much fun!

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Sun, shadows and a new (vintage) rug…

Charlie in the sunroom, one of his favorite places…

Sun and the shadows make for amazing photos. No matter the subject, the shadows are always so interesting to me. Shadows, reflections, different ways of seeing a view, they all pique my interest. Our sunroom has been one of the favorite rooms in our house, a special place to sit back (or at times, a great place to work). The sunroom is being updated so photos soon, I hope. We started with…

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