Happy thoughts to all!

Barbara and her dad, Joe Fidler – sailing on Fiddle Faddle…

Fred and his dad, Carlisle Stroud at Rock’s Pond Campground, Eutawville, SC

Charlie and his dad… Fred!

H A P P Y  F A T H E R S  D A Y to my dad, Fred’s dad, Fred for being Charlie’s dad and to all the other dads in the world.

Good memories of the dads that are no longer with us as well as happy thoughts for those of you about to be dads.

And major gratitude to those of you who act as dads, helping other people’s kids out. You’re a blessing too!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Wonderful art… great cause… this is the perfect time to buy!

Update 4.18.2014:  (from the YouCaring.com website) Please keep Leigh and their daughter Ellen (and all of Seph’s family and friends) in your thoughts and prayers:

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Seph Limehouse Memorial Fund*, an education fund for Seph’s daughter Ellen. The Limehouse family is deeply grateful for your love and support during Seph’s long battle with cancer. *All donations made through this site will go directly to the Seph Limehouse Memorial Fund.

ORIGINAL POST…

I wanted to share with you an email that I received from the owners of Smith Killian Gallery in Charleston, SC. This is a fundraiser for a good cause. If you love art as much as I do maybe you’ll consider bidding on one of these pieces? I will let the email speak for itself… think about it…

In support of our gallery director Leigh Limehouse and her husband, Seph, we have put together a fundraiser featuring artwork by each of our Smith Killian artists.

Leigh and Seph, who is 36, recently found out that his cancer has returned and metastasized to his abdominal lymph nodes.  Seph was first diagnosed with Colorectal Cancer in the fall of 2009, while Leigh was pregnant with their daughter, Ellen.  After extensive surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation treatments at MUSC Seph was declared cancer free in 2011.The return of this cancer is devastating news for all of us, and we want to try and help with medical, travel, childcare and other expenses.

 

At the recommendation of his doctors at MUSC and MD Anderson in Houston, they will begin chemotherapy at Hollings Cancer Center in Charleston and will then return to Texas for surgery to remove the affected nodes.

Each gallery artist has generously donated a piece of their artwork for a Sealed Bid Auction.  Bids may be placed by email or by filling out a form and placing it in the sealed box in the gallery. Minimum bid is $300 and each bid will be kept secret until July 31st when the bids will be read. The highest bidder will receive the artwork.

100% of the proceeds will help Leigh and Seph.
We thank you for your continued support and your kind thoughts and prayers.

To keep updated on Seph’s progress you can click on the link below.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/SephLimehouse/guestbook

Many thanks,

Betty and Hume

To place a bid via email (note: email the gallery at info@smithkillian.com ) please include

Title, artist, name, phone and bid.

Donated pieces:

Betty Anglin Smith
Island Lagoon
30 x 30
$5700
Kim English
Taos
15 x 17 framed
$2500
Shannon Smith
Pink Boat on Folly
29 x 35 framed
$4600
Darrell David
Three Deep
Bronze
13″ tall
$1100
Jennifer Smith Rogers
Out on Folly
31 x 37 framed
$5100
Carl Plansky
Donated by Larry Elder of Elder Gallery
Ira Sitting
30 x 22
$4300
Felice Killian
Fire Bead Tulip Necklace
$196
Minimum bid ($50)
Hope a piece of this art “speaks” to you! Remember, it’s for a great cause! Catch you back here tomorrow!
All images via Smith Killian Gallery

Charleston Photo… Charlie’s momma…

When Charlie, our Jack Russell Terrier, starts acting crazy I tell him he looks like his momma… not me, i’m dog momma, thankyouverymuch… he looks like his real momma… Miss Oakley (pictured above). Sure she looks quiet and sweet in that photo… but she’s wild and crazy, all in a very good way. I believe this is who Charlie gets his wild moments from. They are hilarious.

Have to add a picture of our Charlie… can you see the resemblence?

Catch you back here tomorrow!

“Flag’ by Frank Gardner… an amazing painting!

“Flag” by Frank Gardner – Image: Randy Higbee Gallery 6×6 show


I just want to express my deepest appreciation and gratitude for all of you who have served, are serving now, or have lost a loved one serving our country. Thank you just isn’t enough. YOU are what makes this country great! Just know that…

On a side note… I wanted to select a painting appropriate for today, and a house with a flag seemed to be spot on. I’ve always loved this little 6×6 painting. This was done by artist Frank Gardner. Just love his work… check it out! I LOVE a flag in a painting, it draws me right in!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… Laurie Meyer!

“And On It Goes” by Laurie Meyer

We have the most beautiful old oak trees here in Charleston, SC… boy, if only trees could talk, the stories they could tell! I think Laurie captured this one nicely!

Here’s more about Laurie from the  Wells Gallery website:

Laurie Meyer has lived and painted in Charleston, SC for over twenty-five years. Following careers in education and corporate sales, Laurie devoted her life to her first love – painting – in 1997. Life in Charleston has provided Laurie with countless subjects and rich inspiration for her award winning paintings. Her frequent travels have also given Laurie varied and interesting ideas for many of her works. She paints with rich color and broad “brushy” strokes and palette knife to express the unique and recognizable softness in her work. Art has also played a role in community involvement for Laurie. She is the past president of the Mt. Pleasant Artists Guild, serving two terms. Laurie also served eight years on the Board of Directors of the Alzheimer’s Association and originated the Art of Alzheimer’s exhibit, now under the auspices of the Charleston Artist Guild. Laurie is past Program Director and past Director of Artistic Growth for the Charleston Artist Guild.  She is a member of the Oil Painters of America, Charleston Outdoor Painters Association, the SC Watercolor Association, and the Portrait Society of America. Laurie resides on Daniel Island, SC with her creative and supportive husband.  Her three daughters, on their own or in college, are also creative with art and writing. “I am thankful to be blessed with the opportunity to do something I love. Painting has been part of me since I was a child and I still live for the artistic journey. I love rich color and textural strokes painted with gesture and spontaneity. I seek interesting designs with playful shadow structures in my street scenes and rich natural colors in my landscapes. Capturing light is a challenge and a thrill. Painting “en plein air,” nature’s studio, is a luxury and a great teacher, but weather and time constraints mean I also paint in the indoor studio. Either way, my challenge is to interpret what I see and express it in my unique style.”

We would like to wish Fred’s mom a very H A P P Y  B I R T H D A Y ! ! We hope it’s the best! xoxo US

Catch you back here tomorrow!

This will be Fred and I moving to Maine… 137 sq feet!

Tumbleweed Tiny Houses – Fencl Plan

This is how I picture Fred and I moving to Maine… we’ll pack up the house and find a nice little spot near water, a general store, a bakery, and a grocery store… ha ha. IS THIS NOT THE COOLEST PHOTO? Look at this house! This is one of the bigger in the Tumbleweed Tiny House plans... it’s the Fencl plan. Could you do it? I’m thinking we could maybe do it if we parked the U-Haul under a tree to store all of our stuff in, ha ha. Click on the link under the photo to see the interior shots (shown furnished). Is it ever SWEET! Take a look at the other houses they have, it’s just so interesting to me! I first heard about these tiny houses on Colin Pages Journal. Colin is a cool guy that mentions not only art, but all kinds of neat things, this being one of them! The smallest house starts at 65 square feet AND INCLUDES A KITCHEN AND BATHROOM! The larger cottages range from 261-874 square feet. These things are cool, check out the interior photos!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Let me start of by saying how thankful I am for having such an awesome mom. She’s the coolest of all moms, funny, sweet, loving and strong. Very, very strong. I bet she doesn’t realize that (do you mom?)… Anyone that can get through cancer is a tough cookie, and to go through it with a great attitude is a big accomplishment, as well as being such an inspiration. I think I’m going to start calling my mom “Grace”… she’s got lots of it!

I’m also thankful for my mother-in-law. I know there are the standard jokes about mother-in-laws being dragon ladies… I lucked out (again) and got a super sweet lady, just like me, hee…

I know some of you no longer have your moms… I’m so sorry, holidays can be so tough. I hope you are able to keep your mom in all your good thoughts. You do know she can still hear you when you talk to her, right? That’s a small comfort…

Lots of you are mom’s… hard work no doubt. Personally, I’m a dog mom. The cards didn’t fall in my favor with the ‘having a kid’ thing, so Mother’s Day has it’s moments for me as well… But I am Charlie’s mom (woof)… and I’m a good dog mom, ha ha… (PSSST, Charlie you’re a lucky dog!)

H A P P Y  M O T H E R’ S  D A Y ! ! !

Come on Charlie, lets go play in the sprinkler! Catch you back here tomorrow!

Vintage Image via: VintageScrapbooking.blogspot.com

Blessing of the fleet… a Charleston area event… this year held at Memorial Waterfront Park in Mt. Pleasant!

Isn’t this a fabulous photo I took… hee hee, (pat on the back)… looks like it should be in an advertisement! Well, this Sunday there is a festival event happening here in town… It will take place at the Memorial Waterfront Park in Mt. Pleasant. Shrimp, food, fun and a blessing for the fleet! If you’re in town you must check it out!

A blip from the CharlestonCocktail.com website..

Blessing of the Fleet & Seafood Festival
Sunday, April 29, 2012
11:30-6:00PM

The Blesssing of The Fleet and Seafood Festival at Memorial Waterfront Park in Mount Pleasant, SC

  Why not give our local shrimp and fisherman a bit extra this year?!  Join others in local tradition for this year’s Blessing of the Fleet and Seafood Festival.  This Charleston area event will be held at Memorial Waterfront Park under the bridge, on the Mt. Pleasant side. 

  The line-up for the festival this year has been beefed up with more maritime themed events including the main event, a boat parade and the official Blessing Of The Fleet.  It’s all held in an almost panoramic setting on the park’s pier, which jets out into the Charleston Harbor. 

  Also, at this year’s Blessing Of The Fleet and Seafood Festival, there is a shrimp eating and shag contest,  seafood “tastes” from local Mt. Pleasant restaurants, live music and children’s activities.  Bring the kiddies! 

With the main blessing held at 1PM, each individual shrimp and fishing vessel, that passes Mt Pleasant’s Waterfront Park, will get a kind reinforcement that the upcoming season will be a prosperous and safe one!

2012 Mt Pleasant Blessing Of The Fleet and Seafood Festival.  The clergymen give the local shrimp vessels and crew prayers of safety and prosperity in the 2012 shrimp season ahead.  Its not all business though. There will be plenty of South Carolina’s freshest juiciest shrimp and seafood!!  Make sure to bring your appetite with you!

You will get your fair share of shrimp and seafood at this year’s festival!  That’s for sure!  But, there is more fine restaurants and bars to sample on that side of the bridge!  Make sure to visit some of  Mt. Pleasant’s restaurants and bars, while you are in the area!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Photo: Charleston, SC – Turtles in a downtown Charleston fountain…

Another photo I took on Easter while out and about downtown Charleston, SC. Some of the yards are absolutely gorgeous, I got my lens through the gate to get a photo of the fountain and turtles… once I got home I’m not sure if they were real or not, ha ha… I need to go back and if they’re still there I guess I have my answer. I swear they looked real when I snapped this picture? Hmmm. Look at all that beautiful green grass! A rarity for downtown!

Hey… Happy Earth Day… do something green and environmentally friendly (like lose the gas blower and use electricity or rake and sweep… you burn calories at the same time, lots of them, then you get skinny and can eat forbidden foods, hee… at least that’s what I tell myself!)

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Photo: Sun streaming through a downtown Charleston gate…

Easter was a nice day. Ate too much. Got home and needed to move, otherwise I was going to fall into a coma. Fred and I went downtown and walked around and took photos. I was lost in the photo-taking moments, and we walked for over an hour, it was nice! Felt good to move AND we got a few neat shots. This photo of a gate on Legare Street reminds me of Heaven’s gate, although I always pictured it would be bigger, ha ha…

Have a good day, catch you back here tomorrow!

See… it IS possible… it CAN be good!

Look at this happy couple… this is Fred’s parents, Bobbie and Carlisle Stroud. Today my friends… is their 55th wedding anniversary. So you see, it IS possible to be married for a lot of years and still be happy! IT IS possible that life can be good when married to the same person for a number of years. We wish them the happiest anniversary day ever!

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.

~Marcel Proust

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Cooper River Bridge Run… March 31, 2012. Inspiration and Registration… (& Bridge Run RESULTS!)

Bridge Run 2011 {Image}

Hello again… Here’s an update to this post… the bridge run is over… click HERE to get the results. It’s a searchable site, so you don’t have to scroll through 43,00+++++++ names!  Just click whether you want to see the wheelchair results or the Searchable site to check results… Great job everyone!

Yes. The March 31, 2012 Bridge Run in Charleston, SC IS. SOLD. OUT. Well… almost… you still have a chance for a ticket, but it’ll cost you! The flip side of that is that it’s for a good cause… the money goes to charity. This year they capped the regular registration at 43,000 people (good grief that’s a lot of people!), it sold out 23 days before the race (according to an article in the Post and Courier). I went to the Bridge Run’s website and indeed they have sold out, BUT for $150 (that you can raise for a charity) you can buy a Charity Connection Registration (mail/fax or in person only). There is a cap on the number of Charity Connection Registrations, it’s set at 1200! So it’s still possible to participate! From the BridgeRun.com website… this is the info on the Charity Connection Registration:

Charity Connection 

Along with registration, the Bridge Run offers participants the opportunity to help raise money for 12 charities.  It can be scary choosing a charity to donate to.  In this economy, every dollar counts. You want to be sure your hard earned donations are going to the cause described, and not squandered.  The bridge run has done the research for you.  We’ve found, among many, 12 well deserving charities.  Along with the larger, more reputable non-profits, we’ve found other smaller less exposed ones, that also, need and deserve your help. Just one dollar can make a difference!  What do you get with your donation, large or small?  Each participant who donates to one of our charities receives an additional, specialized bib, showing your support, of a good cause. Here’s how… click HERE for a list of charities, visit the Bridge Run website for details…

  • Now, you can leverage your run to raise money via crowdrise.  It’s super easy to join and all the money you raise will contribute the charity.
  • Choose your donation amount with regular registration. Register online or via paper registration, for $30 (before 2/01/12) and donate any amount from $1 up.  You may also donate separate amounts to multiple charities. For example, you may choose to donate $1 to charity x, and $20 to charity y. 
  • Register through a specific charity, for $150, set fee.   When donating $150 or more to the Charity of your choice you will not only get the delight of making an impact, but you will also receive a specialized Cooper River Bridge Run Charity Bib, free entry into the Race, and free packet mailing before 2/23/12.
 There was another article in the Post and Courier (newspaper) that told an inspirational story of two men who lost weight the hard way. Exercise and healthy eating. It’s a must read, if that won’t get you off your duff nothing will! These two guys are doing the bridge run… Clinton Terrill who started at 500 pounds and is now down to 238 (and still dropping) and Bryan Ganey who started at 577 pounds and is at 287 and still dropping… KUDOS TO YOU GUYS! If nothing else the bridge and the bridge run inspires people to M O V E! You’ve got to admire hard work!
Catch you back here tomorrow!

Photo: a balcony at the Island Inn, Monhegan Island, Maine…

Several years ago we stayed in a room at the Island Inn that had a balcony… it was a delight, sitting out there in your own chairs overlooking the most gorgeous view EVER! The room was nice, but much smaller (which is fine, we don’t spend much time in our room at all). We’ve tried all different rooms and all seem to be fabulous! This year we’ll be on the third floor, so that will be nice and quiet… and you get a bonus workout each time you walk the three flights to your room, ha ha… helps burn off all the tasty food… although it seems like all we do is hike, walk, well… and  e a t! This surprise shot showcases our little bag of treats on our porch… can’t remember what it was but i’m sure it was good!

Enjoy your Sunday… catch you back here tomorrow!

Photo: Azalea’s in Charleston… Happy Spring!

H A P P Y  S P R I N G ! Can you believe it’s SPRING already?? Time flies… I mean it’s whizzing by at such a pace I can barely believe it… Maybe because it’s been like spring in Charleston most of the winter. It still comes as a shock that today is the first day of spring, or should I say… one season closer to summer, ahhh! Like those of you in cool climates dread winter, I dread summer… here’s hoping that this will be an unusually cool summer (woohoo! That hasn’t happened since 1989 when I moved here, but winter has never been so mild either, so… there’s hope)!

It’s a beautiful time here in Charleston, everything is blooming. It seems that everyone has azaleas, and the street is lined in pink blooms. Very pretty indeed!

Catch you back here tomorrow!