Welcome Home Gentlemen

Welcoming committee, Mt. Pleasant, S.C.

I was part of such an extraordinary homecoming event last night. My friend Mary Lamb had passed me in the hall at work last week and said if I wasn't doing anything on Saturday night I might like to take some pictures at a BBQ at her house. I didn't commit to anything until I took a look at the facebook page that had been set up. Holy cow. I was completely blown away and honored to be included.

A young man who they had known since childhood was coming back from serving in Afghanistan for eight months. He was landing with forty four other marines for their debriefing before they headed home. They were put up overnight at Wild Dunes and he got special permission to bring the entire group to Mary & Mark's home in Mt. Pleasant for a backyard BBQ.

When word got out the event blew up. Who gets to be part of something like this? We got to hug these boys before they even got home. A trolly was donated to pick them up, kegs of beer, welcome home cakes, a blue grass band and a motorcycle escort appeared. The VFW decorated the road with flags, kids painted Welcome Home posters. Neighborhood friends decorated and brought cookies. Publix, Piggly Wiggly, Gilligans and Atlantic Bread Company sent over platters of food among others. I emailed Channel 2 and Haley Hernandez was waiting to record the welcome.

The marines were completely stunned by the unexpected welcome. As one of the mothers waiting for news said on facebook, "this was the first real food they have had since January" and she thanked Mary and Mark on behalf of all the boy's mothers. Mary and Mark are pictured in the bottom photo on the right. Thanks for including me!

Cottage in Blue

Mt. Pleasant, S.C.

Oh, it looks like the perfect Cottage Magazine cottage doesn't it? This could be on a lot of dream house lists. I walked past it when I was wandering in the old village of Mt. Pleasant on Sunday. It is even my shade of blue. I hope the occupants are very happy.

Check out this amazing painting of a quilt. Wow. I found it because I was thinking of trying to paint a quilt but I'm so blown away by this it seems pointless. I should just finish sewing up the bits and pieces of a crazy quilt I have in a trunk and be done with it. I've gotten out of the habit of handicrafts ever since I .....ahem....got a laptop and it sucked all the hours out of my day.

Shem Creek Boardwalk Park

Shem Creek Park, Mt. Pleasant, S.C.

I finally got around to checking out the new Shem Creek boardwalk park this morning and it was a bright and sunny day for it. Shem Creek with all the picturesque commercial shrimp boat activity is always such a neat spot it's great to get closer to it.

The boardwalk is fresh and new and takes you from Coleman Blvd. to the opening of the harbor. There was plenty of parking this morning but I expect it can fill up fast. It should be a lovely spot to watch the sunset. Here is the link to the Post & Courier details. Ideally I would plan to stop in at Vickery's for brunch but since I was wandering on my own I skipped that this trip. Next time, my sweet blackened salmon caesar salad, next time.

Sew What??

Sew What??, Mt. Pleasant, S.C.

Facebook is the new water cooler! I mentioned last week that I had bought an evening gown on eBay. I took a chance knowing I wouldn't be able to return it but it was half the cost listed on Nordstroms. It wasn't bad! I felt very lucky but it was almost three inches too long.

Facebook friends came to the rescue - very helpful. Staples! Tape! Pinking sheers! Someone even suggested burning it with a flame. Yikes. Then my friend Cathy said, "My mom sews. Take it to her."

And I did.

Cathy's mom, Brooke Hallman is the wife of Mt. Pleasant's Mayor Harry Hallman who passed away just over a week ago. I drove my trailing gown to her last Saturday and met a really neat lady. Brooke had been a Labor & Delivery nurse, Paramedic, Ballroom Dancer and now has had her own sewing company called Sew What?? She was in the middle of a big project but took care of me. The hemming was a lot more complicated than I had guessed and it's lucky I didn't take the pinking sheers to it.

Brooke is accepting new business so feel free to give her a call or email her at gramedic@gmail.com, if you need a seamstress but don't be surprised if you find one long white hair! She has a couple of four legged assistants on stand by. :)) Thanks Brooke!

Now, I need to meet a workman at 1 pm. A friend recommended him on Facebook.