Is your brain being hacked?

Our WIFI was out for four days. Four. A big truck drove through the neighborhood and broke large tree branches and snapped a few cable lines. Of course you only lose service when you have a lot to get done, it’s the way of the world. We toughed it out and lived through it HOWEVER, it really made me think about a show on 60 Minutes that I watched not long ago. It was about how some apps are designed to create a habit so that we are constantly checking for email, for likes, for comments. I urge you to check it out – if nothing else it will make you a little more aware when it’s happening. After I watched that show I started reading again. At least at night, I’m going to take time away from the computer to escape.

We don’t want to live in a world where we cannot connect face to face. It’s all nice and convenient, but there has to be normal everyday interaction with people. Otherwise things are going to get a little weirder than they already are…

If this sort of thing interests you (it IS fascinating to me) – read about it HERE!

Of course I am thankful to the Comcast man who we found working on an unrelated job down the street – he worked to get our service restored. He went above and beyond. (It was a hot day, as you can see by the windows). I am thankful to have WIFI back, but also AWARE that I need to set limits. Do you? Is your brain hacked?

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Bless This House…

Over ten years ago we put down a walkway with pavers in our backyard. At that time there was a little edge that had concrete to hold the brick from shifting. I pressed this nickel-size “Bless This House” trinket into the wet concrete. Usually there is dirt right around it and plants, I brushed them out of the way to get a little shot… I love this!

Funny how I had this post scheduled for today – I wrote it last week (prior to knowing about Hurricane Irma) – so this photo seems really apropos, don’t you think? Not just for our house, but for the many, many homes that have been/are in/will be in Irma’s path. It’s been an exhausting several days of not knowing the direction Irma is headed. As I write this little blip (Friday 9/8) conditions seem more favorable for the Charleston, SC area, and less favorable for all of Florida. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who is enduring the wrath of Irma. I think we are all weather obsessed right now – we have hunted for stations that still had gasoline, we’ve got our supply of water, peanut butter, crackers, and, well hell, doughnuts. As of today we should feel the rain, wind and possible flooding mainly on Monday and Monday night. Prayers for those dealing with the devastation, recovery & cleanup. 

📸 IMAGES ARE MY OWN UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF INTERESTED…

Holiday week – posting photos daily for the many of you who are away from the computer. Not a bad idea, enjoy yourselves! Back to normal posting next week…

Have a great day and I’ll catch you back here tomorrow!

Mesmerized

What is it about the silent (and not so silent) effects of water? How is it that we can sit and watch water all day long. There is something mesmerizing about it. You get pulled in and lost in your thoughts. I believe this is called

R E L A X A T I O N . . .

There’s nothing like it! Now go relax! 😉

📸 IMAGES ARE MY OWN UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF INTERESTED…

Holiday week – posting photos daily for the many of you who are away from the computer. Not a bad idea, enjoy yourselves! Back to normal posting next week…

Have a great day and I’ll catch you back here tomorrow!

Oh that beautiful light!

Light makes everything so special. The way it hits the chair, the shadows on the brick and of course the sun filtering through the trees. Always makes a statement.

What do you have planned this Labor Day week? Do you have a day off tomorrow, or are you working on Labor Day?

Wishing you a happy week – Catch you back here tomorrow!

📸 IMAGES ARE MY OWN UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF INTERESTED…

College of Charleston – South Carolina

College of Charleston – Charleston, SC. I would think leaving home after high school and coming to a place like Charleston would be ideal. So much to do here in Charleston!

Read a brief history about this wonderful school!

One beautiful campus, that’s for sure! This college is rich in history.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

📸 IMAGES ARE MY OWN UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF INTERESTED…

Edisto, SC – Botany Bay

I know! I know! Look at this tree! It’s one of many huge, beautiful live oaks that are thriving at Botany Bay (this was taken a few years ago… need to get back there!) – If I remember correctly it had rained that morning, which would explain how dark the tree is. The lines are stunning! So grand and majestic. I wonder how old it is?

Catch you back here tomorrow!

📸 IMAGES ARE MY OWN UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF INTERESTED…

St. Matthews Lutheran Church – Charleston, SC

St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church – Charleston, SC against a stunning blue sky! If you’ve visited Charleston, SC, chances are you’ve seen this beautiful church – we have many stunning churches, this one is located across from Marion Square (where the Farmer’s Market is on Wednesdays). So much history in Charleston, SC!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

📸 IMAGES ARE MY OWN UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF INTERESTED…

A Little Bit of Michigan At Bowens Island – Charleston, SC

We found a little bit of Michigan while at Bowens Island Restaurant a few weeks ago (Charleston, SC). How cool is that? You NEVER know what you’ll find – that’s the cool part about that place – other than their food… AMAZING!

(Bowens is closed Sunday and Monday) – Catch you back here tomorrow!

📸 IMAGES ARE MY OWN UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF INTERESTED…

Bowens Island Photo – Looks Like A Painting!

A few weeks ago we had dinner at Bowen’s Island then perused the dock before we headed back to the car. I can ALWAYS capture great photos at Bowens Island – in addition to a fabulous dinner!

Looks like a painting, doesn’t it? Too cool!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

📸 IMAGES ARE MY OWN UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF INTERESTED…

The Conference On The Front Porch at Plein Air 2017

Recently I heard about a very “Art, Food, Home” type event. It’s called “The Conference on the Front Porch” and it’s being held at The Mill at Plein Air – in Taylor, MS – so if you are anywhere near Mississippi and want to be part of something really cool, you may want to check this out. This event is October 18-19, 2017.

Here’s a quick summation from Campbell McCool:

Our conference focuses on the significance of what the front porch represents. What forces drove it out of popularity after WWII. What brought it roaring back. How communities changed as a result.

This year John T. Edge is keynote speaker – head of Southern Foodways Symposium. Bill Dunlap is speaking on the front porch and art. Scott Baretta on how the blues came to be as a result of the front porch. Cooter Ramsay, (from Beaufort), on the resurgence of front porch communities.

As you’ll see from their website, this event celebrates the front porch – music & food, but even more than that – there are going to be some great speakers including:
John T Edge (writer and more), Scott Barretta (blue’s historian), William Dunlap (artist and sculptor), John Maxwell (theater), Cooter Ramsey (architect with Allison Ramsey Architects), Jay Watson (Professor of Faulkner Studies), Curtis Wilkie (journalist, college professor and historian), Tricia Walker (singer/songwriter), Garlan Gudger, JR (owner of Southern Accents – the South’s largest collection of architectural antiques), Michael Dolan (journalist, television writer/producer and author) and Ralph Eubanks (author). Read more about each of these speakers on their website!

This conference is open to architects, developers, planners, social historians and everyone who loves a porch. I usually try to feature house plans with at least one porch. Porches are vital living spaces – a place to congregate with friends or neighbors, a place to have your morning coffee and read the paper, or a place to spend the day. I grew up with a house with a porch overlooking the river in Michigan. In the summer it seems watching the river, the boats, the activity is much more fun than being inside watching the television.

Registration for this unique event include six meals, an evening porch concert and a porch play. This is so creative and sounds like such a good time!

Click HERE to register – this is the second year of this conference and it’s a hit! Registration is limited to the first 180 people who sign up.

Wondering where to stay – oh, so beautiful!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Image via TheConferenceOnTheFrontPorch.com, used with permission…

 

Another Year Wiser?

I skimmed my photos looking for a photo that doesn’t make it look like I am my age. Ha. Good luck with that. The fact is, as time goes on, even though you feel the same way you always have in your heart (well, add in a few aches and pains) it’s an undeniable fact that if you are lucky to still be on this earth, you are going to age.

I remember the exact day I discovered I was no longer “young”. My parents had flown in from MI and we were all going on a cruise out of Charleston, SC. We were on a shuttle full of young, very excited kids. I didn’t think anything of it until one young girl said Ma’am, I’m sure you’re wondering why you’re on a bus full of young people – it’s SPRING BREAK!!”

Oooohhh. Mmmmmm. Geeeeee. 😳

My first inclination was to turn around and look behind me. Surely there was a very old person sitting there. No… she was talking to me. Then it hit me. Wow. I AM NOT YOUNG. I really never thought of myself any other way, so that was a big HELLO! It didn’t make me sad, it made me laugh actually. I mean, really, what else can you do? (After a week with young college age kids on Spring Break let me tell you – I was never so happy to not be young. Ha ha… I am completely happy exactly where I’m at!)

There are magic potions and treatment to help reverse. I clearly don’t use them. I’m trying to be positive here, every wrinkle is from a life well lived. I am so fortunate to be married to such a wonderful man, have a great family who are all healthy – this is truly a gift, the best birthday gift you could ask for when you think about it!

So I spend my birthdays going forward feeling blessed, and thankful. Thankful for friends and connections made over the years, for the ability to spend time with my husband and little beast Charlie (and of course for the ability to write this blog 😉). I’m thankful for my parents and sister and all my family in MI and sprinkled throughout the country – I’m thankful for Fred’s parents and family, all nearby… When you wake up in the morning – it’s a good day! Be mindful of all you have to be thankful for. If you see someone in need, do your best to help, in whatever way is possible for you.

Now, when your birthday rolls around – remember these words – don’t stress about the small stuff. Life is short – enjoy each day…

As for the “another year wiser” – lets hope so!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

The Meridian Residence House Plan by Lake + Land Studio!

The Meridian Residence house plan by Lake + Land Studios

This is the The Meridian Residence House Plan by Lake + Land Studio. This plan is 1,894 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. This is a gorgeous home designed to be built like they used to build them. Quality and class. I think this plan has so much curb appeal. Especially since it DOES have a garage, you just drive behind the house to access it. So nice! Another bonus… those dormers – precious windows add so much character!

See more details HERE!

Meridian Residence house plan by Lake and Land Studio Main

The first floor plan starts with an large front porch, a place that expands the foot print of the house in terms of usability. (Can you imagine the time that can be spent on that wonderful porch?) The porch leads into the main area living/dining/kitchen area – note the side porch with an entrance to the master bedroom – wow! There is a nice size master suite, plentiful closets – I’m not sure if this is a viable option, but for us, we aren’t tub people, so I would see if there would be a way to move the laundry into the master bath and turn the existing laundry into a pantry.  This is a sweet plan, with great storage and livable options…

Meridian Residence House Plan by Lake and Land Studio 2nd floor

Upstairs only adds to the options… that bedroom on the front with the three dormer windows – LOVE IT! It could also make a good studio, that still leaves you with a guest room! I think it’s great that Lake + Land thought of using attic space for storage, we all need that… well, most of us!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

All images via LakeAndLandStudio.com, used with permission…
Images are not for construction or reproduction, they are property of the design firm.

 

Eclipse – Monday, August 21, 2017!

Are you going to be one of the many people to watch the eclipse next week (August 21, 2017)? If so you want to be sure you have safe eclipse glasses – regular sunglasses are in no way sufficient! (The eclipse glasses shown above are by American Paper Optics).

We have ours and are ready to watch! There is so much interesting information going around about what happens during an eclipse. I thought this was so interesting: Weird Things That Happen with a Total Solar Eclipse from a blog (Astro Maven).

Read more from NASA re: Eclipse 2017 Safety!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

The New Wyntuck House Plan by John Tee!

New Wyntuck (572) house plan by John Tee

New Wyntuck house plan by architect John Tee!

This is the New Wyntuck house plan (572) by architect John Tee. This gorgeous home has so much visual appeal with its stacked stone and cedar shingle siding! As always, there are modifications that can be made to this plan to better suit your needs if you desire. This plan is 2,638 square feet with 2 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms.

I do like how the garage on the left doesn’t look like a garage from the front. You enter from the side, very nice.

New Wyntuck (572) house plan by John Tee plan

Areas of this plan are open where others are not. Which comes in handy, especially if you have small children or pets that you need to contain at times. There is a bedroom/study on the front of the house that I would use as a library – a place to get away where it’s quiet. However, if you need another bedroom… Ta-da! Also notice the stairway, it’s an option – it can go down to a basement or upstairs to a loft/second floor. Without the stairway this could be configured into a very cool area. So many options!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

All images via JohnTee.com, used with permission…

Images are not for construction or reproduction, they are property of the design firm.