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!
I took this photo several years ago on Mackinac Island, MI. My sister and I were on the West Bluff (behind the Grand Hotel). I love that stretch of grand homes with the most beautiful gardens ever. I am always respectful of people’s privacy, but did snap a photo of the garden. Another favorite location is the Pontiac Trail (and Pontiac’s Lookout) – I remember years ago a painting by Marlee Brown. Wow.
Most of Mackinac Island is state park, check out this cool map!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
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!
Mackinac Island, MI – no cars. It’s nice. No exhaust fumes, no loud rumbling, beeping or screeching of tires. Just a nice clip-clop of horse hoofs as they make their way around town. This is how they deliver groceries when they come off the ferry. Pretty cool, eh? They empty garbage in a similar way – horse and cart – no trucks. Can you imagine? That takes some major planning!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
I bought a few sheets of these stamps from the USPS – they are BEAUTIFUL! I’m in a bit of a dilemma because now I hate to use them, ha ha. I think this photo is a great one of a young Andrew Wyeth. So dapper looking (is that still a word?)
Just wanted to give you a heads up that these are available – what a cool find! There was a great write up about these stamps (and Andrew’s life) however the link is no longer available – These stamps were issued to commemorate the centennial of his birth – Cool indeed!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Link updated (removed) 1/23/25
Mackinac Island, MI – a fabulous place to visit if you haven’t been. Water, the smell of fudge (several fudge shops, all are wonderful), the clip-clop of the horses hoofs. No cars – only bicycles and horses/carriages. It’s a beautiful place – mostly a state park! Here is another link to check it out, from Pure Michigan!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
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!
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!
Mackinac Island, Michigan. I have such fond memories of Mackinac Island. The fun we had as kids. It was a place that all of us kids could hang out – and by hang out, I don’t mean stand around – we were busy. Busy exploring the island. We had to check in every so often, meet for lunch and dinner and then we were back out with our friends. Such FREEDOM. As a kid I never ventured to this part of the island. This photo was taken from the West Bluff, so what you are seeing is the back side of the Grand Hotel. Those skies! Lake Huron… cold water.
If you ever have a chance to visit the island, be sure to explore the backside of the island – it’s captivatingly beautiful! There are many interior trails, as well as the more well known trails around Arch Rock – which are pretty stunning themselves!
I hope i’ve piqued your interest! Catch you back here tomorrow!
Port Clyde, Maine – one of our favorite places on earth… I still remember the first time arriving in Maine. It was so different. So the way that I feel. I am not pretentious – I don’t try to be someone I’m not – I think that’s part of the appeal of Port Clyde (and most of Maine).
I remember the overwhelming feeling of not wanting to leave. I’ve never experienced that from anywhere I’ve ever been. Sometimes you’re sad to leave, or you’ve had such a good time it’s difficult to leave, but this was different. Kind of like my soul belongs in this area. Hard to explain unless you’ve felt that as well.
Read a bit about Port Clyde (HERE) from the Monhegan Boat Line website!
More interesting info from Wikipedia!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
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!
Twenty five years ago today I married the man of my dreams. A man so kind and giving. So caring and wonderful – How did I ever get so lucky? I am blessed, that’s for sure!
I wish you that same kind of happiness if you don’t currently experience it. Patience is a virtue. It was when we had both quit trying to find a significant other that we met. I remember it like it was yesterday…
I was dog sitting for a friend of mine, staying at her house while she was out of town during Easter. She had an older dog and a new puppy. I parked my car and she was telling me what was where when I spotted Fred go by on his way home a few doors down. I grabbed a leash and the puppy and took him for a walk – I didn’t realize it was the puppy’s first walk on a leash. He walked right up to Fred and sat down. Fred and I talked forever, he invited me to see his house, which was beautiful and I came home (I had carried the dog home before I went back – interestingly enough, the dog did not want to walk home, hence the carrying part). That was on a Thursday. We talked a little each night. On Easter Sunday I went out to get the paper in the driveway and noticed a large gift bag hanging on the door. Wow, pretty cool that my friend has people drop gifts off for her. I set it on the table and went back out for the paper. Then it hit me… I wonder if this could be for me??? Surely it can’t hurt to take a quick peek into the bag and there it was… a card with MY name on it!
Inside the bag was a beautiful card and a big stuffed Easter bunny. I called to thank him – I saw his degree hanging on the wall when he showed me his house. I remembered his name… looked it up in the phone book (ok, we are talking 25 years ago which was clearly pre-Google). We have been together since the day we met. My husband and best friend. I am so lucky…
I wish the same for you.
Catch you back here tomorrow!
This is the Pontiac Trail Overlook that I mentioned yesterday – Mackinac Island, MI. This is a fabulous place to visit – I love this little trail, the views are stunning once you round the corner. You can see the Mackinac Bridge as well as Lake Huron. You also will most likely have gone by the West Bluff – a favorite location behind the Grand Hotel!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
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!
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!!”
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!
ARTFOODHOME.COM 