Slow Down. Humans Present.

Coming St., Charleston, S.C.

This is an old favorite from my sign file. Someone took the trouble to paint their message on an imitation sign. It didn't last long but happily I caught a picture of it. The next time I passed it was in pieces on the ground. Not everyone got the message.

Busy but good day after an early start. I bought a cheapo "swivel store spice rack" at a fundraising sale today and have been organizing my drawer of spice bottles after a fast walk in the dark. I don't have much cabinet space so I am trying to be as efficient as I can.

I got tickets to the Rejoice! the Charleston Symphony's Holiday special. That always starts the season for me.  I do like to go to the concert that has the Gospel Choir performance. 

DeVine House

Duncan & Coming St., Charleston, S.C.

I checked on the vine crop growing on the house at Duncan and Coming and things are slow this year. This house is normally completely covered by the greenery by this time of year. Hmmmm. Did we have an early drought? One year I took pictures almost every week to follow the vine as it took over the house.

I saw the Lincoln movie yesterday and loved every minute of it. Daniel Day Lewis is the most perfect Lincoln. Wow. Catch it if you can. It did motivate me to come home and do more research on Lincoln, the period and his family. I wondered if he had any descendants and was startled to find the only possible descendant had been born six years after his father had had a vasectomy. I guess that child can't boast that Lincoln was his great, great granddaddy.

Rebeccah lists her favorite Southern Sentimentalities and I found myself nodding and saying, "that is so true!"

From bird dogs to bad dogs, I believe this writer/doggie event requires a reservations:

Literary Dogs & Their South Carolina Writers: Charleston authors and their canines will be on hand to celebrate the launch of Literary Dogs and Their South Carolina Writers at the Charleston Library Society on Tuesday, Nov. 27, from 5-7 p.m.  Mary Alice Monroe, Josephine Humphreys, Marjory Wentworth, Nicole Seitz, Beth Webb Hart and others will "meet and greet," present their dogs, and provide a panel discussion about writers and their dogs before the book signing and reception.  Blue Bicycle Books and Hub City Press join the Library Society as sponsors of this event.

In "Literary Dogs & Their South Carolina Writers" twenty-five of the Palmetto State's most beloved authors introduce you to their most memorable dogs. There is Padgett Powell's "Ode to Spode," Josephine Humphreys' paean to a poodle, and Roger Pinckney's Daufuskie Dog-ageddon. Meet Marshall Chapman's Impy, Mindy Friddle's Otto, Beth Webb Hart's Bo Peep, and more. From bird dogs to bad dogs, wild dogs to café dogs, get to know these canines and their literary companions. 

How many more work days in this week? TWO! Yipee!

Blossoms on Coming St.

Blossoms on Coming St., Charleston, S.C.

Thunder and lightening! Looks like I got home from my walk about town just in time. If there is enough wind these flowers will get a good watering. Someone had fun decorating.

Speaking of decorating, why are these HGTV home buying, remodeling shows so addicting? I have to finish the show to see how the house turns out.

Mystery Woman

Coming St., Charleston, S.C.

I waiting for the steam to blow in the right direction when the woman stepped into the scene and improved the shot.

Check out VanessaK's photos of the Tall Ships in Savannah. Wow.

Noah Moore wrote a lovely entry about his mother for Mother's Day.

I love it when Cocktails in Charleston features a tilt shift photo in lieu of a cocktail.

Good night kids. Someone turn the lights out.

Yipee for Fridays!

Hair's Best, Coming St., Charleston, S.C.

Such a cute little hair salon. I've never seen anyone go in or out but it looks like it is still in operation.


Weekends are a bit like rainbows; they look good from a distance but disappear when you get up close to them.  ~John Shirley

Weekends are already too short and this weekend we get shorted an extra hour.  It hardly seems possible that it is time to move our clocks forward already.

I've been in Columbia today hanging out with Directors of Volunteer programs from hospitals around the state and made it home to discover that I've already seen every matinee movie listed at the Terrace Theater. What?! Every time they discover an extra closet they turn it into another movie theater you'd think they could stay a step ahead of me. I skipped my movie ritual and just got back from a late walk about town dodging hoards of loud drunken college students. I thought they were supposed to be on spring break. Did we import a new crop for the week off?

The Shrimp King

The Shrimp King, Coming St., Charleston, S.C.

The Shrimp King on Reb's Corner. Who is Reb and how did he get his own corner?

Yankees Go Home

Yankees Go Home, Coming St., Charleston, S.C.

It is such a relief to be Canadian. I've never read, "Canadians, go home, eh!" in the pavement. It looks like someone tried to rub this out but it was too late.

Through the attic window

Coming St., Charleston, S.C.

The gentleman in the attic is trapped and quietly signaling for help. Can you hear him through the glass? Heeeeeeelp me.

What can I put in my attic window?

De Vine House

Coming & Duncan St., Charleston, S.C.

This is a quick update on the house that gets eaten by the vines each year. I follow the progress until the owner has to cut a clearing to see out his windows.

I am in technology hell. Now my modem is on the blink (or rather, not blinking!). As with every contact with Comcast I am ready to shoot myself by the time I get someone on the line who is ready to get my contact information for the third time. At least they were willing to do a service call on a Saturday so here is hoping I will get a new modem by tomorrow night. Grrrrrr.

Meanwhile, y'all behave! There is a lot going on this weekend. I'll be at the Symphony rescucitation concert tonight and actually get to see the Beach Boys up close and personal on Sunday at the opening of the new Mt. Pleasant Hospital. Say hello if you see me!

College Drink Dispenser

Coming St., Charleston, S.C.

College of Charleston sidewalk drink dispenser.

The house that is eaten by the vine

Coming & Duncan St., Charleston, S.C.

It begins. By the end the summer the house will be completely covered with the vines. At some point the owner will trim around the windows to let a little light in. By winter he'll trim it back to the ground. I can't resist watching the progress each year.

So, what is the consensus? Do we have to try this work thing again tomorrow? If so, I need to get to my bed. Put your toys away, kids. Lights out.

If had a paint brush....

Coming & Vanderhorst St., Charleston, S.C.

There is a beehive of activity in my neighborhood today as this large house in a busy intersection is renovated. I can't resist taking a picture each time I go by.

I'm glad someone is working hard because I have no intention of doing anything productive. Shame on me. It used to be whenever I had a three day weekend I attacked some home improvement project. Maybe paying for air conditioning repair can count this time. Paint me lazy.

Agave Blossoms on Coming

Coming St., Charleston, S.C.

This Agave plant has been putting on such a show on upper Coming St. I kept trying to remember to get up there to get a picture but by this morning I had already missed the real show of blossoms. The folks at 53 Cannon didn't though! They caught it in full bloom.

Here is the scoop on this unusual plant: Agave or Century Plant Agave

The Agave americana is often called the century plant because was reputed to bloom only once in 100 years, but that's an exaggeration. It does only bloom once in its lifetime, but usually between 7 and 20 years. The main plant then dies, but most species produce shoots that will take over and grow to maturity. Beautiful flower spikes reach for the sky in many, including the Century Plant Agave americana which can have a bloom spike up to 40 feet (12 meters) high!

Perhaps one of the best known uses for agave is the production of tequila, which has long been a vital industry in Mexico. Tequila is made from the fermented and distilled juices, called aquamiel or "honey water," produced by the agave just before it flowers. In 1999, Mexico exported some 21 million gallons (80 million liters) of tequila to the United States, and the current annual value of these exports is about 200 million dollars. In fact, the agave plants grown on plantations are so valuable that they must be protected from agave rustlers!

I hope everyone is having a good weekend. I had brunch at the Med Bistro with my friend Estelle. Tried to go to Three Little Birds but I'm simply not willing to wait for a table for brunch and there was a crowd waiting at 11 a.m.

Before & After - Charleston

Coming & Morris St., Charleston, S.C.

Before & After, from Mel's Beauty Lounge to Dave's Seafood Carryout on Coming St. I've never actually eaten at Dave's although it is just up the street. According to the Yelp reviews I need to get in there for some fried shrimp.

Thanks for stopping by. Your bonus this evening is a Monkey Pool Party! Yipee! Everyone in the pool! I found the link where I've been finding a lot of smiles, on Bits & Pieces.