Hello to everyone again! Even though I've been absent from this space several days, my blog hasn't "gone away." Instead, I've had a late winter break, visiting Charleston, S.C.
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| The Battery, a landmark defensive seawall and promenade in Charleston. It is famous for its stately antebellum homes. It is named for a Civil War coastal defense artillery battery at the site. The Battery stretches along the lower shores of the Charleston peninsula, bordered by the Ashley and Cooper Rivers. |
Along with my sister and two cousins, we spent a few days with a cousin who lives in Charleston. And what a wonderful visit we had.
Charleston is such a beautiful place. It was founded in 1670 as Charles Towne, in honor of King Charles II of England. The city is known for its rich history, well-preserved architecture, fine restaurants and mannerly people.
But we mainly visited Charleston for a cousin get-together, something that's become a regularly scheduled event. (We missed the ones who couldn't make it this year!)
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Charleston is known for the lovely Camellia bushes. We saw the gorgeous plant blooming in many colors. |
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| The Camellia bush grows to great heights |
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| One day we visited Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. Founded in 1676 by the Drayton family, it survived the centuries and witnessed the history of the nation unfold -- from the American Revolution through the Civil War and beyond. It is the oldest public tourist site in the Lowcountry, and the oldest public gardens in America, opening its doors to visitors in 1870 to view the thousands of beautiful flowers and plants. |
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| The Drayton family home at Magnolia Plantation. |
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| Along the riverbank at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. |
We took a drive to Kiawah Island. The others took a walk along the beach but I did not because it was so cold and the wind was so high. In fact, it was quite cold the entire time of our visit, unusual for the Carolina low-country.
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| The beach at Kiawah. |
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| All of us at Magnolia. Me, Henrietta, Becky, Darry and Edith |
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| Sitting on our host's deck with their beautiful garden in the background. |
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| Lunch at Slightly North of Broad, or S.N.O.B., restaurant. |
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| Trying to stay warm during an outing. Practically all these photos were shot by Darry. I was too cold to grab my camera and shoot. |
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| The Angel Tree, a Southern Live Oak located in Angel Oak Park on Johns Island. One source estimates the tree to be in excess of 1,500 years old, but the "official" age has been revised to 300-400 years old. Whatever the age, it's an awesome sight, measuring 28 feet (8.5 meters) in circumference, 66 feet (20 meters) tall and producing shade that covers 17,200 square feet (1,600 meters). From tip to tip, its longest branch distance is 187 feet. Said to be the oldest tree east of the Mississippi, it is thought to be among the oldest living things in the United States. |
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| A Charleston neighborhood. |
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| A church |
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| So many lovely flowers in bloom. |
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| A stately home. |
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| A charming back garden. |
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| Located in Waterford Park, the Pineapple Fountain represents the welcoming hospitality for which Charleston is so well known. |
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| Window garden that includes Swiss Chard vegetable. |
A few shots of our cousin Henrietta and husband Dennis' beautiful and wonderfully appointed home.
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| The hosts' back garden. |
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| My photo of the Angel Tree. |
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| An exterior of Henrietta and Dennis' home. |
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| One of Henrietta's camellias. |
My dogs, cats and hopefully my husband missed me It was a wonderful few days but as always, it's great to be back home again.
When I read that you were making those Rosemary Sachets for special people you were seeing the next week, I guessed you were going off with your sister. So I knew you'd be back eventually. Sounds like so much fun. I must visit Charleston soon, based on your report. I love that white necklace, and your cousin's furniture, and all those Camellias - I can almost smell their fragrance. Glad you had such a good time!
ReplyDeleteHaha. That was a subtle hint I was going away and you were very clever to pick up on that, Beryl. It was a fun visit and you really should plan a visit there! That necklace is one of my favorites.
DeleteWhat a great time we had and what a wonderful job you did capturing it with this blog. How lucky we all are to be a part of this family and share the friendship as well as the family ties. What a wonderful place Henrietta and Dennis have and the hospitality and sharing that they showed us was out of this world. We made a lot of memories here and wish all cousins could have been there.
ReplyDeleteI felt rather badly that I didn't make more photos, except inside Henrietta's beautiful home. But thanks to Darry's photos, I was able to add some of the Charleston scenes. We visited during an "unseasonable" cold snap, but that didn't deter us from having a wonderful time, did it?
DeleteCharleston looks a charming place, beautifully laid out and with some wonderful gardens. It is really lovely that yourself, sister and cousins meet up and have a girls time together - you are very fortunate to have that good companionship.
ReplyDeleteOur cousins get together at least once each year, twice if we can pull it off. We are indeed fortunate to have each other and to have stayed "close" over the years.
DeleteCharleston is amazing. I was there once for a meeting and loved it. What a treat for you...glad you are back! : )
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mona. It's great to travel and experience new things but always good to be back home again. Charleston is a 10 1/2 hour road trip so it's a fairly exhausting drive. But there were were four of us traveling and we had fun along the way!
DeleteI don't think I have ever seen a photo of The Battery before. Amazingly beautiful. Thank you for sharing a bit of Charleston with us. So nice that your family members plan get togethers like this.
ReplyDeleteDarla
Charleston is a charming and gracious city. The summers are quite hot and humid, which is why we planned the trip early in the year. The coldness we experienced was unusual.
DeleteCharleston sounds such a Romantic place, Sanda. It always makes me think of Gone with the Wind. Wonderful to have a family expedition like that, and it looks like you girls had the best time. The photos are great, and thank you for sharing with us.
ReplyDeleteRhett Butler was from Charleston, wasn't he? Have you read "Scarlett," the sequel to Gone With the Wind? (approved by the Margaret Mitchell estate to be written) It has a lot of Charleston in it.
DeleteI so enjoyed walking through Charleston with you Sanda.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post.
In the photos, one can see that you are all related.
How great to get together .
The Angel tree is an amazing tree.
wishing you a happy Tuesday
val
Funny that you mention the family resemblance among all of us. We were in a coffee shop and the attendant asked if three of us were triplets! I guess we don't really see it but others often comment. I loved the Angel Tree too. Have never seen anything quite like it!
DeleteOh WOW!! You take such beautiful pictures. The Angel Tree is outstanding!!! I will probably never get to that part of the USA but I feel like I have visited vicariously through you. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteCharleston is quite a long way from Oregon but I hope you shall visit there someday. One could spend a full week or longer there to see all the beauty the place has to offer.
DeleteWhat a beautiful part of the USA you live in,I enjoy seeing this side of the country. Here we tend to forget what a variation of climates you have.
ReplyDeleteI almost expected to see Scarlet & Rhett by the Oak tree! Thank you for such a feast for the eyes.Ida
Ida, you just have to plan a visit to the U.S. Be sure to put Charleston on your list of places to see. Also, Savannah, Georgia, similar in many ways to Charleston.
DeleteHaha. I should take that live oak and photoshop Scarlett and Rhett onto it!
Sanda, thank you so much for the travel log of Charleston. I felt that I had a touch of it even though I couldn't be there. Beautiful city!! Henrietta's home is SO Charleston - a beautiful, laid-back city. Very interesting about the tea history. So happy for the safe trip. Thanks for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteI so wish you had been there with us. You would have loved it. Henrietta and Dennis have a beautiful home. She really does know how to put things together in such a lovely way!
ReplyDeleteWow, what a beautiful trip! I just can't believe the camellia bushes were in bloom. It looks like you ladies had a grand time and as always you are very perceptive and have a great eye for amazing details.
ReplyDeleteIt was a great winter get-away (although not a warm one). Charleston has a climate similar to that of Florida - not usually any freezing temps so the flowers bloom year round. There's so much beauty to absorb in Charleston that one can't miss, whichever way one aims the camera!
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