Tag: Charleston

Charleston Photo: What do you suppose this is for??

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME8 Comments

WHAT is this?

The architecture downtown Charleston, SC will blow your mind. Every walk we take I see something else that is just so original… I’ve seen these before, what do you suppose this pointy thing is for?

To keep birds away from the door? To keep squirrels from running up to the above piazza? Hmmm, I’m not sure, I just know that it’s a pretty cool site on a gorgeous house downtown. The homes in Charleston are stunning. They. Are. Historic.

What do YOU suppose this is for? I’ll be back to my normal posts next week, in the meantime I’ll catch you back here tomorrow!

A Carriage Ride in the #1 Tourist Destination in the World… Charleston, SC!

On By Barbara StroudIn THOUGHTS1 Comment

Charleston, SC

Charleston, SC. What a fabulous city to visit! Most seasons have fabulous weather… there is so much to do and see it will boggle your mind. Food. Boy do we ever have the food, as well as the #1 Restaurant in America! History, culture and the arts… we are heaven on earth for those of you out there who adore art, dance, theatre, concerts, etc. We are people who get out and move. It’s no wonder that Charleston, SC was selected as the #1 TOURIST DESTINATION IN THE WORLD! The. World. Yep, you got it. People from all across the world visit Charleston and love it. This is the second year that Charleston has been voted the #1 tourist destination in the country. Last year we were number 3 in the W O R L D ! Now… Numero Uno folks!

Read more about this in a past post of mine…

A cool website to check out is Charleston Area Convention and Visitor Bureau – when you get to their site you’ll see different videos of Charleston that you can choose from, and they are magnificent!!

Remember, I’ll be back to normal posting next week with HOUSE PLAN THURSDAY… Enjoy your day and I’ll catch you back here tomorrow!

Charleston Photo: Old Oak Trees with Moss… beauty from another era!

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME1 Comment

Oak lines street in Charleston, SC

This is our street in the spring… in this little area of the world, with these grand old oak trees our spring is like fall (leaf-wise)… of course fall is also like fall, ha ha… during the spring the leaves drop (and new ones quickly form), then acorns drop and finally “squiggles”… these trees are a lot of work, but I wouldn’t trade them for all the tea in China! They are gorgeous with the resurrection ferns thriving on the limbs and the moss that really makes them pretty darn outstanding! When we’re on vacation in other parts of the country and come home after a period of time this always takes my breath away! Beautiful!

I have company in town, so I will get back to normal posting next week! Enjoy your day and I’ll catch you back here tomorrow!

Charleston Photo: WHAT’S THAT SMELL? Whew!

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, THOUGHTS2 Comments

Wisteria, Charleston SC

On my daily walk along the greenway in Charleston, SC I could see the wisteria beginning to bloom… no scent… yet. Then one morning on our walk we could smell it. There is no mistaking the scent of Wisteria, it’s heavenly. Especially when it’s all the way down a stretch of our walking path. What a nice spring treat! Smells nice and is beautiful with its pops of lavender peeking through the green vegetation… Oh, I love spring!

I have company in town, so I will get back to normal posting next week! Enjoy your day and I’ll catch you back here tomorrow!

Charleston Photo: McLeod Plantation, James Island, SC

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME4 Comments

McLeod Plantation

Pretty darn amazing, isn’t it? Charleston is such a cool city, there is so much history here that we take for granted. This is a photo of the slave cabins at McLeod Plantation (you can see the plantation at the end). This looks like it was taken years ago, but in reality, we were on our way back from Lowes (Why? Because Lowes Knows Value, hee hee… ) and the bridge was up to let a sailboat pass through. Traffic was backed up a bit which put our car right near the slave cabins. You would never know this beautiful old plantation sits on what is now a congested road… would you?

Charleston County Parks and Recreation acquired the McLeod Plantation for $3.3 million in 2011. The county plans to restore the site and open it to public use. Right now they have a fence up so that you can’t go on the property, so I hopped out of the car and snapped a few photos with my phone (how handy is it that phones have cameras… I mean really!), changed it to black and white and *POOF* looks like the 1800’s doesn’t it??

A little history about McLeod Plantation from South-Carolina-Plantations.com, for more info, check out THIS LINK… It’s so interesting! Here’s a little tease… for more, click on the link!

Buildings

  • Current status – Plantation house and 5 slave cabins still exist and are in relatively good condition.
    The old slave bell used to call slaves in from the field still hangs from an oak near the main house.The slave cabins, as well as the dairy and kitchen buildings, are believed to date from the Lightwood/Parker period (early 19th century).
  • Barn – Wooden structure possibly dating from late 19th century
  • Dairy – Unique in that the eastern half is on piers while the western half has an enclosed root cellar
  • Gin house – Two-story masonry and wood structure used to process cotton and maintained into the 1930s
  • House – “The main house is a three-story, wood-frame structure. The interior has a double pile floor plan with a central stair hall and two interior chimneys. Originally the house was oriented to the south with a one-story raised porch supported by square columns. In 1925, the principal fascade was reoriented to be the rear or northern side of the house. This renovation, in the Southern Colonial Revival style, included an addition of a projecting portico with a fan light supported by four fluted Doric columns on a raised concrete porch base. A single-story kitchen was also added at that time.” (Historic Charleston Foundation)
  • Kitchen – A central chimney divides kitchen in half. One side may have been used for laundry.
  • Slave cabins – 20′ by 12′ wooden structures sit on raised masonry pier foundations with exterior end chimneys.
    – Juneteenth Stay at Slave Cabin Offers Several Firsts – Joseph McGill, a program officer for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, documents his overnight stay in a slave cabin at McLeod Plantation in June 2010

I have company in town, so I will get back to normal posting next week! Enjoy your day and I’ll catch you back here tomorrow!

Azaleas will be gorgeous for the Flowertown Festival in Summerville, SC!

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME2 Comments

charleston rainy day azaleas

This photo was taken after a heavy rain, and the flowers held up beautifully! We’ve had a colder than normal spring which has extended our azalea blooming season quite nicely. Everywhere you look there is abundant color that you just wouldn’t believe!

Speaking of flowers… are you going to the Flowertown Festival in Summerville, SC today? There is always a large turnout (over 200,00 annually!). A busy week in Charleston, SC… Cooper River Bridge Run yesterday and Flowertown Festival this weekend… today is the last day, so get out and enjoy it! Click the above link for more information!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

 

Sanders Hot Fudge Cream Puff… oh paleeeez!

On By Barbara StroudIn FOOD1 Comment

Sander's - Mackinac Island, MI

You know how it is when you have something on your mind and it won’t go away? Like a song… or a commercial (even worse) or Sanders Hot Fudge Cream Puff… oh my gosh. How I wish I could get to a Sanders right now and make myself happy, ha ha… I remember Sanders when I was a kid growing up, what a treat! A few years ago my mom, sister and I went to Mackinac Island for a getaway… and Sanders was there! What a surprise! Is there something from your childhood that you remember that instantly makes you smile! Savor those memories!

For those of you who got out and ran the COOPER RIVER BRIDGE RUN, WOOHOO! I congratulate you! I think you deserve an ice cream… wish there was a Sanders here, but we have plenty of great ice cream shops… enjoy!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Artist… James Richards! Show this evening…

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist4 Comments

JamesRichards LightDance GalerieOnBroad

Light Dance by James Richards – Image: Galerie on Broad

I love the paintings by James Richards. Rarely do I have a problem selecting which painting to use in a post, but these are all so good! Charleston paintings with a different twist which I adore! This evening there is an art walk downtown (Charleston, SC), and James will have a show of his paintings at the Galerie on Broad (located on Broad Street) and (lucky us!) he will be doing a painting demo. Hope to see you there, I wouldn’t miss it! For those of you who aren’t in Charleston, you can check out his work via the gallery website or James Richards’ website!

One more… because I couldn’t resist…

JamesRichards NeighborhoodMarsh GalerieOnBroad

Neighborhood Marsh by James Richards – Image: Galerie on Broad

Read a blip about James from the Galerie on Broad website:

James Richards is driven by a passionate
connection with nature and a deep sense of
obligation to relay his vision in the most truthful
manner possible.  This ethic, manifested in his
work, is giving Richards paintings their own
place in the world of art today.

A self taught artist, James has spent years
studying the nuances of paint which has given
him a keen sense of understanding and control
over the medium.  James is an advocate of
painting from life and spends his time traveling
the world in search of new inspiration.

He has won multiple national awards and is
regarded as one of the top landscape painting
instructors in the country.  James Richards
paintings are internationally collected.

Here is some information about the art walk from CharlestonGalleryRow.com website, more info on their website… also other galleries in the area will be participating, so check it out!:

Located along Historic Broad Street, Gallery Row opens its doors for “First Fridays on Broad” and a variety of other events hosted by the 16 galleries, restaurants, and boutiques on the Row.
Description
Ellis-Nicholson Gallery, Hamlet Fine Art Gallery, Martin Gallery, COCO VIVO Fine Art |Design, UTOPIA, Edward Dare Gallery, Mary Martin Gallery, Bernie Horton Gallery, Spencer Galleries, Lambert Gray Gallery, Ella Walton Richardson Fine Art, Galerie on Broad, Robison Richards Gallery.
Immerse yourself in a rich tapestry of artistic vision created by local, emerging and nationally recognized artists… with a visit to Charleston’s Gallery Row on Historic Broad Street. Charleston was at one time the richest city in America. As such, Broad Street was the banking center of the busy port town, lined with grand old bank buildings from the 1800’s, Broad Street has been transformed into a street of the cities most diverse, fine art galleries, known as Gallery Row. 

Charleston has been named one of the top art destinations in America, with Gallery Row being a destination within itself. Stroll Gallery to Gallery, on our broad, pedestrian friendly street, browsing award winning, oil, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, mixed media, photography, clay, stone, pottery, art glass, sculpture, bronzes, outdoor sculptures, and many works by exceptional artists you will not find in any other fine art destination. The charm of the Antebellum South surrounds Gallery Row with the famed Rainbow Row, the Battery with its stately mansions, and gorgeous views. 

Gallery Row offers many culturally abundant events to include, first Friday art walks, the first Friday of every month, October’s Taste of The Arts, sponsored by Charleston’s famed Restaurant Association, February’s Blues On Broad, a yearly December brunch, customer appreciation dinners, “Meet the Artist” events, artist workshops, special event venues, gallery tours and much more.

A trip to Charleston by art lovers will not be complete without a stroll down this street, There is convenient parking located at both ends of “The Row.” Within walking distance of Gallery Row are some of Charleston’s most charming hotels, Inns , Bed And Breakfasts and award winning restaurants. 

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Featured Charleston Artist… Charles Williams!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Featured Artist2 Comments

CharlesWilliams cewpaintings

Painting by Charles Williams

Charles Williams is an immensely talented artist. I love how he blends his realistic paintings with a contemporary twist. Pizazz! His paintings are wildly realistic, and I swear you can FEEL the movement from them… especially the Ocean Works… After viewing a few I think that I came close to needing a Dramamine (in a good way!)! How cool to have something still show movement. Very talented!

Check out Robert Lange Studios Fine Art Gallery for more of Charles’ work!

Read a blip about Charles from his website:

Charles Williams is a professional contemporary realist painter from Georgetown, South Carolina and a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in Savannah, Georgia with a Bachelors Degree in Fine Art. From utilizing oils for the basis of landscapes, each painting captures his reflection of human emotions in response to and in sync with the natural environment. Recent achievements and awards include a Hudson River Landscape Fellowship, featured work in the Artists Magazines 28th Annual Art Competition, honorable mention from Southwest Art Magazines 21 Emerging Under 31 competition, 2012 Winner of the Fine Art Category from Creative Quarterly, 2013 selected artist for 28th Positive Negative juried art exhibition at East Tennessee State University, juror/curated by Michael Ray Charles from PBS Ar21, one of 25 selected artists for 2012 Dave Bown Project in Chicago, juror/curated by Karl Hecksher, owner K5 Editions, New York, Andrea Karnes, curator at Modern Art Museum, Fort Worth, Mary Kate O’Hare, curator American Art, Newark Museum, 2nd place Bluecanvas Publication international competition “Environments,” and featured cover artist of Composite and Professional Artist Magazine. Williams’ works has been shown in American Art Collector, Empty Magazine, Charleston Magazine, Grand Strand, Studio Visit, Bluecanvas and other national publications. He was recently interviewed and broadcast on ETV/ NPR station, entitled: Nature Through the Eyes of an Artist. His contemporary landscapes have been exhibited in group and solo exhibitions in galleries in New York, Vermont, California, Georgia, South Carolina and several other southeastern states.

Statement of Purpose

 I explore the relationship between human emotions and the natural environment. These parallel perspectives are the basis for my landscapes channeled onto canvas. Often, it’s my perception thatI feel compelled to paint a specific landscape. These feelings inspire me to capture honest moments, showing others a glimpse of what’s beneath the surface.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Meeting for coffee…

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, THOUGHTS2 Comments

Kate!

Meet my new friend and fellow blogger, Kate Mura. Kate has an interesting daily photo blog (it’s not easy to post something daily!), VISUAL ST. PAUL, check it out if you get a moment!

What a nice lady! We met at Cafe Medley on Sullivan’s Island. What a cool place! Hint, hint… GREAT coffee! They had some good looking food, bottles of wine, all kinds of delicious treats! I see a future post for sure! Fred and I will have to go back in the name of research ;)

Kate is cool. She is so interesting and full of wise words. I hope that I’ll be like that one day! It was nice to meet you Kate! I look forward to meeting you again next time you’re in Charleston!!

Kate and Barbara

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Enamel garden sign at South Windermere Antiques…

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME1 Comment

Enamel garden sign

Look at the cool little garden sign we picked up a while back at the antique store in South Windermere (Charleston, SC)… (Matthew’s booth for those of you who are locals). An enamel sign sure looks much nicer than anything else you could possibly hang there to remind people to close the gate! Inexpensive and I think it’ll be around for a long, long time!

Gee, who painted the gate so nicely? Hmmmm, what a hard worker, hee hee… Note to self: next gate will have no scrolley things to paint… yikes! A project I thought would take 30 minutes took a good bit of the day, mostly in positions similar to the game TWISTER, anyone remember that? Fun when you’re young… I tend to get stuck now, hee hee…

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Charleston Photo: Bowens Island Sophisticate building…

On By Barbara StroudIn FOOD4 Comments

James Island-20111028-00856

Bowens Island Restaurant… Simply the best seafood in a cool, relaxed (as in very relaxed) atmosphere. It’s a good time, every time!

This is one of the outbuildings, the restaurant is upstairs and the all you can eat oysters are downstairs (different building). There is an eclectic assortment of buildings on the premises. All add to the charm and character for sure!

If you’re in the area, be sure to check it out! Need a menu? Here’s a link back to my August post that includes the menu… It may have changed… I need to get back there… all in the name of research, hee hee…

Catch you back here tomorrow!