Category: HOME

Christmas Tree… Fresh or Fake?

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, THOUGHTS3 Comments

2011 Christmas Tree...

Well, it’s that time of year… time to put up the Christmas tree! Have you ever had a tree fall over after you’ve decorated it? In the 20 years that we’ve been married we’ve had two trees topple over… devastating consequences… the first tree had lots of glass (beautiful) bulbs… only a few of the glass bulbs survived… it happened as soon as we finished decorating it. It was beautiful. We went to bed and CRASH! Ugh… hours of cleanup and then cement blocks to keep it from falling over. Over the years we finally gave up the cement blocks. Do we REALLY need those big heavy things? Nah… We decorated the tree and a few days later CRASH. Tree toppled… water was everywhere. We had one of those big heavy duty stands that seemed (at the time) to hold about 90 gallons of water! We UNdecorated the tree (sigh)… and moved it to the sunroom… if it floods in there all is well… then we put a little cup hook in the moulding and have tied the top of the tree to it. You can’t see it, but it’s keeping the tree from taking a dive! That (and the cleanup) is the downside of a fresh tree. But the smell, ahhhh… I guess it’s what you grow up with. We always had a fresh tree, so I can’t think of anything but.

Whether fresh or fake, Christmas trees and their beautiful lights can give off such a nice warm glow. I love that! The bonus is that we can see the Christmas tree that’s in our sunroom, but it’s in a cooler room away from the fireplace!

Enjoy your tree! Catch you back here tomorrow!

The little one… not yet fuzzy…

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, THOUGHTS4 Comments

This photo was taken three years ago, shortly after we got the little beast affectionately referred to as Charlie! This was before he got fuzzy… pretty soon the hair grew in front of his eyes and his coat got longer. He’s soft but much like a Swiffer… you know, those cloths that dust clings to? Yep, that’s Charlie… when he goes outside he comes in like a little Swiffer… have to de-swifferize him before he comes in the house, ha ha…

This is Charlie three years later…

Hope you have a wonderful Sunday. Are you getting your shopping done for Christmas…? Can you believe how quickly it got here this year… each year it seems to arrive a little earlier!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Holiday shopping… with the beast!

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I love dog friendly stores… there are quite a few in Charleston, SC. As long as the dog is well-behaved and listens to its owner it’s a good time! This weekend is a BIG shopping weekend… this isn’t a weekend I would take Charlie shopping. It seems like there’s barely enough room for humans! We aren’t big Black Friday shoppers, the deals would be nice, but…

Hope you are either out and about getting great deals or cuddled in front of a fire somewhere with a good book! Make sure to take time for a walk/jog so you don’t slip into a turkey induced coma… ha ha…

Catch you back here tomorrow!

WHAT are these? Bought these stamps at the Post Office via the do it yourself machine…

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, THOUGHTS4 Comments

Some people like pretty stamps, and others just get the basic “Forever” stamp. I’m in the pretty stamp group. Especially if I’m sending a card to someone, I like to choose a pretty stamp instead of the basic “Forever” stamp, (good for bills, or mailings that aren’t personal). We went to the Post Office on a weekend, Fred ran in to purchase a book of stamps from the machine. He came out with the flag stamps you see above. I thought something had gone screwy with their machine. There are numbers all over the stamps and they’re… well… ugly. So I ran inside and tried it… basically the same result. Flowers instead of flags.

If you’re old enough, you’ll remember when there was no such thing as “generic”. Then the grocery stores started carrying a few “generic” items, packaged in bright white. I think these stamps look GENERIC!

I created the “pretty” flower stamps. Humph! They come in sheets of 10 ($4.50). So beware, if you like pretty stamps, stand in line and go to the Post Office on a weekday! These look like something someone printed in their basement… but they work, I hope!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

The beauty of the greenway… Charleston!

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, THOUGHTS2 Comments

I  would like to congratulate the City of Charleston on a job well done! The job hasn’t been completed yet, but the results are amazing. The greenway used to be a great path if you had the type of bike that could handle the ruts and rocks. However, if you have a beach cruiser, it’s not a good time… I tried once… got about 5 miles out and back… parts fell off my bike and my guts were shaken. BUT… it was one beautiful ride! Especially towards the end, absolutely amazing! We’re so fortunate to have it so close! A quick two block walk and we’re there! This section has been paved, the barrier remains until they’ve completed it. So pretty at sunset with the big old oak trees.

I love seeing so many people with grocery bags, or bags from other stores. Which means they’re utilizing the Greenway by walking/biking to the store instead of hopping in a car… great for you, great for the world. If you haven’t checked it out yet, it’s mighty nice. You can park at South Windermere Shopping Center, go for a walk, and when you come back, you can grab a hot drink, some delicious food at one of the many places, pop in the antique store, the dog store, the library, Half Moon Outfitters, etc. etc…

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Oak trees and pavers… who knows what to do?

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, THOUGHTS3 Comments

Well, jeez, it looks like maybe I should get busy and scrape and paint this fence before the cold weather appears! Hey, a good job for a nice sunny day!… Years ago when we had a pool installed we had pavers put down. Lots and lots of them (which is why my neighbors always see me out sweeping. All those leaves drive me crazy, sweep, sweep, sweep… and YEP, we have a blower. It seems as if one is constantly going and I don’t want to add to it. Plus, I like to sweep… We had also planted a big live oak tree several years prior to that… as you may have guessed the roots from the tree are now lifting some of the pavers. What to do? Who knows if it’s ok to dig up the pavers (cannot imagine doing this) and cutting the root, then putting the pavers back down? I’m no expert and just wondered if (hopefully) someone out there might be?

I always have liked this view into our backyard… years ago we painted the wooden (natural) fence a dark green, same with the garage and they quietly blended into the landscape. No longer does the fence or garage stand out, yippee! The weather is great in Charleston this time of year. For that I am so thankful! Whew, we lived through another summer, woohoo!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

A pumpkin patch, Halloween candy and great memories!

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, THOUGHTSLeave a comment

Aren’t these the coolest pumpkins? When we were on Monhegan a group of locals were picking pumpkins (and assorted other goods) for a Farmer’s Market the next day… how festive is this!?

Are you ready for Halloween? Have you bought candy yet? If not… you might want to bop out and get some! I came close to getting some that I like (BABY RUTH, oh good grief), but I turned around and put them back. The candy is not safe alone with me, and I truly don’t need to be eating candy no matter how small it is, ha ha… Hopefully I will remember to run out at the last minute to get some! Long ago (17+ years) when we moved into this neighborhood, we were the “young” ones… now we’re the “old” ones… wow, how time flies. We moved in August 1995… we came from a neighborhood with LOTS of kids, so when Halloween rolled around I really needed to stock up. Halloween came in 1995 and I stocked up, and we had four kids trick-or-treat. Yikes. Our neighborhood is back to having quite a few kids, which makes Halloween a lot more fun. Some of these kids/parents can really get inventive with the costumes! Jeez and I used to get excited about a mask, ha ha… oh how things change!

I have fond memories of Halloween. Trick-or-treating up and down our street with my dad while my mom handed out candy to the kiddies… Do you remember collecting for Unicef about that same time? I loved doing that! Ah, good memories! Where’s my Zagnut, Bubbs Daddy and Slo Poke? Hee…

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Coastal Carolina Fair begins TONIGHT!

On By Barbara StroudIn HOMELeave a comment

Image: Coastal Carolina Fair

Well, it’s that time of year… the cool weather has arrived and to celebrate the Coastal Carolina Fair rolls into town! The fair opens today, October 25th through Sunday, November 4th, 2012! Hey, did you realize that the fair will be open TWO Sunday’s this year? First time ever! So get out and enjoy!

Here’s the Entertainment Lineup (via Coastal Carolina Fair’s website):

Lakefront Stage

Day Date Performer Time
Thursday
Oct 25, 2012
7:30
Friday
Oct 26, 2012
8:00
Saturday
Oct 27, 2012
8:00
Sunday
Oct 28, 2012
5:00
Monday
Oct 29, 2012
7:30
Tuesday
Oct 30, 2012
7:30
Wednesday
Oct 31, 2012
7:30
Thursday
Nov 1, 2012
7:30
Friday
Nov 2, 2012
8:00
Saturday
Nov 3, 2012
8:00
Sunday
Nov 4, 2012
4:30

 

With plenty of rides, food, entertainment, as well as a host of competitions (horse, art, pageant) I think you’ll find yourself quite entertained! Check out their website for Gate Hours and Ticket Prices!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Charleston, SC voted #1 tourist destination in the WORLD as well as the United States!

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Readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine have awarded Charleston, SC the number one tourist destination in the world as well as in the United States… Here’s a blip from an article written by Warren Wise in our local Post & Courier newspaper, click HERE to read the entire article:

Charleston on top of the world in tourist ranking

Last year, Charleston was flattered. This year, it’s on top of the world.

Readers of Conde Nast Traveler not only named the Holy City the No. 1 tourist destination in the U.S. for the second year in a row, but also the top travel city on the planet.

“It was a giant surprise for us,” said Helen Hill, executive director of the Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “It’s an honor to be in the Top 3, but to be No. 1 twice in the U.S. is unbelievable and to be named No. 1 city in the world, you can’t do any better than that.”

Last year, Charleston came in third in the world, behind Sydney, Australia and Florence, Italy.

KUDOS Charleston! This is a great place to live, with plenty of restaurants, art galleries, beaches, shops, you name it, we have it! If you’re looking for a vacation destination, look no further!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Image: CondéNastTraveler.com

To do in Charleston… CHARLESTON TEA PLANTATION!

On By Barbara StroudIn HOMELeave a comment

OK, I’ve lived in Charleston for over 23 years now and I just made it to the Charleston Tea Plantation a few months ago! It was a wonderful place to visit! We visited during our staycation this summer. The grounds are stunning. You can watch things happening… all in our little Charleston! Literally a few minutes away, Charleston Tea Plantation is located right off Maybank Hwy on Wadmalaw Island. Visiting a tea plantation doesn’t seem like such a big deal until you realize that Charleston Tea Plantation/American Classic is the only place in North America that produces black tea commercially. It’s fascinating AND bonus… you can sample all the teas… and they have a wonderful gift shop!

This was one of my treasures from the gift shop… that and the peach flavored tea, a favorite in the summer for iced tea. You can buy this tea at some grocery stores under the AMERICAN CLASSIC name!

Look at these gorgeous old oak trees, they are all over the places. I wonder to myself… where are all the artists?? What a great place to paint! This is one place to bring a camera, that’s for sure! Lighting isn’t great, it was mid day and very hot, but you get the idea… those trees are gigantic!

Tea plants everywhere… more on the process in a future post, it’s so interesting!

From The Charleston Tea Plantation’s website:

ABOUT US

The Charleston Tea Plantation is located on historic Wadmalaw Island in the heart of the Lowcountry of South Carolina. The history of the Island dates back to mid-June of 1666 when it is believed that Captain Robert Sanford and the crew of the Berkeley Bay landed on the shores of what is now known as Rockville, South Carolina. On June 23, 1666, he and his crew claimed the land for England and the Lords Proprietors. Today, Wadmalaw is considered to be one of Charleston’s most unspoiled islands. It is approximately 10 miles long and 6 miles wide. The Island’s only connection to the mainland is a bridge that crosses over Church Creek.

Home to The Charleston Tea Plantation, Wadmalaw provides the perfect environment for propagating tea. With its sandy soils, sub-tropical climate and average rainfall of 52 inches per year, Wadmalaw possess idyllic conditions for the Camellia Sinensis plant. This plant is currently used to produce both black and green teas and exists in over 320 varieties on the 127 acre grounds of the Charleston Tea Plantation.

The Plantation sits right off Maybank Highway. Driving down Maybank is like taking a step back in time. Wadmalaw has not and cannot be commercially developed, therefore much of the land remains untouched. The Island is also home to other unique and historic attractions such as Irvin-House Vineyards, the only domestic winery in Charleston, South Carolina as well as theAngel Oak, a Live Oak tree that is believed to be over 1,500 years old.

Open 7 days a week, with the exception of a few holidays, the Charleston Tea Plantation is the perfect place to take a day trip. Bring the family, pack a lunch and enjoy the beauty of the tea fields. The experience is not only educational but more importantly one-of-a-kind. You will learn first-hand how tea is made during an informative Factory Tour. You can also take an enjoyable Trolley Ride through the tea fields, shop our unique Plantation Gift Shop and help yourself to all of the iced American Classic Tea you can drink.

Please feel free to call us for more information or questions-843-559-0383.

Another bonus!  If you aren’t in the area, check out their online gift shop (photo above) – NEAT stuff I’m telling you!

Hey, I think it’s tea time! Catch you back here tomorrow!

Photo Weekend: Charleston… a walk downtown…

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME6 Comments

For those of you who aren’t from Charleston… these shots are taken near Hominy Grill. Now if you’ve been to Charleston, SC you’ve most likely been to Hominy Grill. Nice restaurant, great breakfast, haven’t been there for dinner, but I’m sure it’s all good! If you take a walk around that area you can see the most amazing things. For instance, this house. You wouldn’t believe how narrow it is, but how incredibly charming is it? It’s quite like a treehouse! And lucky for them, they can walk to Hominy Grill!

This also happens to be very near the Ashley Hall Private Girl’s Day School. A prestigious school in Charleston that dates back over 100 years! Their grounds are beautiful from what I could see!

Look at this unique building on the Ashley Hall campus! I believe it’s called the Shell House? Very interesting! Take time to walk around and see what YOU discover!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

French Enamel House Numbers… Sharp!

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Years ago my husband found those cool French enamel house numbers at Williams-Sonoma, they no longer carry them, but plenty of places on the Internet do! Our house numbers are separate numbers, but I like the look of this very much! It’s a nice little touch to dress up your house… think of it as house jewelry

Here’s a blip from the Ramsign.com website:

The story about the blue enamel signs is fascinating. The blue enamel signs are the most popular and widely used enamel signs in Europe, and thus a deeply rooted part of our sign tradition. It is also the first enamel signs to gain massive popularity during the industrialization era. Already from the middle of the 1800s the blue colour was widely used across Europe for house numbers and street signs. The signs were just as beautiful as they were functional. One would really think, that the colour choice had to do with aesthetics. But the reason was, that only this colour was available for mass production, in addition to black and white.  To read in the rest, click HERE…

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Image: Ramsign.com

Shrimp Boats at Shem Creek Park

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Shem Creek Park is a wonderful place to take a stroll. Located right at, well… Shem Creek (Mount Pleasant Seafood, Vickery’s, all the seafood restaurants, etc.) it’s a lovely dock and it’s long enough to take a nice stroll and snap LOTS of photos! Especially at sunset!

The temps should be getting a little cooler now making it more bearable! Enjoy and I’ll catch you back here tomorrow!

 

Autumn in Wiscasset, Maine!

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, TRAVEL2 Comments

I looked back through my photos to find an autumn photo… this one is from 2009 and is a photo driving back from Rockland towards Wiscasset, Maine. Wiscasset is the prettiest little town. It has so much to offer, galleries, restaurants, antique stores, all kinds of good stuff!

You may have heard of Red’s Eats also located in Wiscasset, supposedly they have good lobster rolls. They must have something good, there is always a line! Enjoy your first day of Autumn, I am THRILLED that summer is behind us. Winter in Charleston, SC is pretty darn nice and I’m thrilled it’ll be here in another 3 or 4 months, ha ha… Enjoy your fall!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Resurrection Fern – I thought I was losing it!

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME1 Comment

One morning a friend and I were walking our dogs as we normally do… we were talking about the ferns in the trees. It seems they were so lush and green and now they were dying. In the photo above you can see the top ferns are starting to turn brown. That night my husband and I took the dog around the blog. I was telling him about the ferns in the trees turning brown. We looked up, and there they were, as lush and green as ever.  Ok… did I just dream that my friend and I had talked about the ferns turning crispy brown and dying in these large old oak trees? Google saved my sanity! I Googled “Resurrection Fern”… it wasn’t my imagination WOOHOO, the ferns turn brown and appear to be dead. When it rains they’re rehydrated and turn a lush green without a speck of brown! It is the most amazing thing! I read a neat ARTICLE that explains it. Apparently there is a special protein the resurrection fern has called DEHYDRIN which allows it to become lush and green only hours after receiving rain/water! These ferns last up to 100 years!

How cool is that? Can you believe that it goes from lush and green…

To crispy and brown… and back again as soon as it rains!

Amazing! Catch you back here tomorrow!