Monday, March 27, 2017
Tuesday, February 21, 2017
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Fun Things To Do In Charleston!
Just a quick notation! Click on this site and find some fun things to do in Charleston. Whether just visiting for your first time or a Charleston native, there are lots of great opportunities to get out and find some fun in this great city of ours!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Holidays and Responsibilities. It's All in your Perspective...
So, what do the upcoming holidays and responsibilities have to do with each other? Well, too many things to mention! We all have things we have to do. Now that Halloween is over, we begin to think of Thanksgiving. Theres the turkey to buy and prepare, deciding what side dishes to make...and if you belong to my family, you have your favorites, as all families do I suspect. So that, in itself is somewhat of a responsibility. To fulfill the wishes of those that desire your cooking skills. The house will need cleaning and a bit of decorating. Some fall arrangements for the table and house, a few new pieces of china, silver, glasses or flatware. A guest list and a calendar so that you can plan all this out in a timely manner.
Then after Thanksgiving, we head on into the party window and all the great events that require our attendance. If you're throwing a Christmas or Holiday party, the cleaning begins again...and the menu and the guest list...well, you get the idea.
With Christmas and other holidays comes gift buying, decorating, tree trimming...
It's enough to have you exhausted before you even begin!
But before you get too overwhelmed, let me share this. One year we decided to forgo the homemade dinners and just go out to eat. The food was great, don't get me wrong, but the atmosphere lost something. The family intimacy and warm memories was the payoff for all the hard work done in making the house sparkle and preparing those fabulous calorie laden dishes.
So responsibility nets you something in return that you can't buy or muster up in any way other than giving back. Whether it be in hosting the next family dinner or party, all of your hard work gives you a feeling that only the Holiday Spirit can provide. So make this holiday season one of joy in preparing, joy in cleaning, joy in buying and joy in giving back. Invite someone who is far from home to join you. Share your family traditions with them. It's something you just can't buy!
Then after Thanksgiving, we head on into the party window and all the great events that require our attendance. If you're throwing a Christmas or Holiday party, the cleaning begins again...and the menu and the guest list...well, you get the idea.
With Christmas and other holidays comes gift buying, decorating, tree trimming...
It's enough to have you exhausted before you even begin!
But before you get too overwhelmed, let me share this. One year we decided to forgo the homemade dinners and just go out to eat. The food was great, don't get me wrong, but the atmosphere lost something. The family intimacy and warm memories was the payoff for all the hard work done in making the house sparkle and preparing those fabulous calorie laden dishes.
So responsibility nets you something in return that you can't buy or muster up in any way other than giving back. Whether it be in hosting the next family dinner or party, all of your hard work gives you a feeling that only the Holiday Spirit can provide. So make this holiday season one of joy in preparing, joy in cleaning, joy in buying and joy in giving back. Invite someone who is far from home to join you. Share your family traditions with them. It's something you just can't buy!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Critters and Marriage
It's Monday! All most of us can say about that is blah, blah, blah. But, I guess it's all in your perspective.
As you read the title of this blog, I'm sure you are asking, "What do critters and marriage have to do with each other?" Or..."where in the world is she going with this?" Just bear with me...
I recently posted on my Facebook wall that I was furious at squirrels. Yep, squirrels. My sons bought me a new Pawley's Island hammock for Mother's Day this past year. I was so excited! It had been quite a while since I was able to lie in my back yard staring up in the clouds, making pictures out of them. Yes, you know excatly what I mean. It wasn't like I could get away with laying in the grass in my backyard anymore, as I used to do as a kid. Then it was fine. Now, it might cause neighborly concern and the thought of calling the guys with the white jackets. Also, my black lab, Holly, would think something was wrong with me as well and never leave me alone. Ahhh, but the hammock. It was so nice. Holly would even manage to take all of her 65 pounds and jump up there with me. How relaxing, swaying in the breeze and daydreaming...but wait. Back to the squirrels. Yes, you guessed it. I came out one afternoon all ready to relax a little and there it was. My poor hammock laying on the ground with it's previously meticulously woven strings just hanging there all aloof. Eaten to bits by the squirrels. If that weren't bad enough, last year they ate my chair cushions off the porch. I used to think they were cute. Now, I just want to hire Bill Murray.
Which brings me to another critter. The possum or ah...opossum, I guess. He's been living under the detached garage now for a few weeks. Holly knows he's there. Of course, he never shows himself during the day, but at 3:00 in the morning Holly is FULLY aware that he is there. Thinking she needs to go out to do her thing, I groggily manage my way to the back door, open it to have her run crazily outside and get into a stare down match with this horrible creature. He, of course, playing possum. "This stare down could last all night", I think. Several loud and rather angry calls of Holly's name finally get her attention and she cowers back to the house thinking she's done something wrong. It's 3:00 in the morning. My dog has awakened me out of a deep sleep. I'm screaming loud enough to wake the neighbors (if so, sorry!) and somehow she has me feeling bad for yelling at her as she steps back inside the house with her head and ears all down.
As we manage to get back to bed and get just to the point of falling back asleep...what do I hear? The mosquito truck. I open my eyes and see the whirling yellow light meander past my window as he noisily gets rid of some annoying creatures. Finally some help has arrived, albeit the timing.
Ok, what does all this have to do with marriage? Isn't that the title of this Monday morning blog?
Just this...
Brides as you plan your special day with all the wonderful memories that it will create, please know that some days after the marriage has taken place, you will have annoying problems to deal with. I'm not trying to depress you or bring you down. Promise. But sometimes, some things WAY more annoying and problematic than any of these mentioned can crop up. If you hang in there and communicate with your spouse, it will be much easier to deal with. Communication is the key! (I sadly told the boys about their gift to me and that I really would love a new hammock for Christmas...and maybe a bb gun??? just kidding...no mean letters, please) and make sure you voice how you feel...all the while, putting yourself in the other person's shoes first ("Honey, I'm so happy that you had such a peaceful night's sleep last night, but can we buy a big trap?")
...and if you wait, and just be patient, the mosquito man will come!
Sweet Dreams!
As you read the title of this blog, I'm sure you are asking, "What do critters and marriage have to do with each other?" Or..."where in the world is she going with this?" Just bear with me...
I recently posted on my Facebook wall that I was furious at squirrels. Yep, squirrels. My sons bought me a new Pawley's Island hammock for Mother's Day this past year. I was so excited! It had been quite a while since I was able to lie in my back yard staring up in the clouds, making pictures out of them. Yes, you know excatly what I mean. It wasn't like I could get away with laying in the grass in my backyard anymore, as I used to do as a kid. Then it was fine. Now, it might cause neighborly concern and the thought of calling the guys with the white jackets. Also, my black lab, Holly, would think something was wrong with me as well and never leave me alone. Ahhh, but the hammock. It was so nice. Holly would even manage to take all of her 65 pounds and jump up there with me. How relaxing, swaying in the breeze and daydreaming...but wait. Back to the squirrels. Yes, you guessed it. I came out one afternoon all ready to relax a little and there it was. My poor hammock laying on the ground with it's previously meticulously woven strings just hanging there all aloof. Eaten to bits by the squirrels. If that weren't bad enough, last year they ate my chair cushions off the porch. I used to think they were cute. Now, I just want to hire Bill Murray.
Which brings me to another critter. The possum or ah...opossum, I guess. He's been living under the detached garage now for a few weeks. Holly knows he's there. Of course, he never shows himself during the day, but at 3:00 in the morning Holly is FULLY aware that he is there. Thinking she needs to go out to do her thing, I groggily manage my way to the back door, open it to have her run crazily outside and get into a stare down match with this horrible creature. He, of course, playing possum. "This stare down could last all night", I think. Several loud and rather angry calls of Holly's name finally get her attention and she cowers back to the house thinking she's done something wrong. It's 3:00 in the morning. My dog has awakened me out of a deep sleep. I'm screaming loud enough to wake the neighbors (if so, sorry!) and somehow she has me feeling bad for yelling at her as she steps back inside the house with her head and ears all down.
As we manage to get back to bed and get just to the point of falling back asleep...what do I hear? The mosquito truck. I open my eyes and see the whirling yellow light meander past my window as he noisily gets rid of some annoying creatures. Finally some help has arrived, albeit the timing.
Ok, what does all this have to do with marriage? Isn't that the title of this Monday morning blog?
Just this...
Brides as you plan your special day with all the wonderful memories that it will create, please know that some days after the marriage has taken place, you will have annoying problems to deal with. I'm not trying to depress you or bring you down. Promise. But sometimes, some things WAY more annoying and problematic than any of these mentioned can crop up. If you hang in there and communicate with your spouse, it will be much easier to deal with. Communication is the key! (I sadly told the boys about their gift to me and that I really would love a new hammock for Christmas...and maybe a bb gun??? just kidding...no mean letters, please) and make sure you voice how you feel...all the while, putting yourself in the other person's shoes first ("Honey, I'm so happy that you had such a peaceful night's sleep last night, but can we buy a big trap?")
...and if you wait, and just be patient, the mosquito man will come!
Sweet Dreams!
Monday, September 21, 2009
Ever had a "Hugo" storm in your life?
Today marks the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Hugo. Does it require capitalization? I say yes. Absolutely! What a storm!!
I remember that day very vividly as do most Charlestonians at the time, I suspect. My children, David and Johnathan were 8 and 5 and have little memory of Hugo. But let me digress for just a moment.I have no memories of having to leave town because of a storm when I was a child. Ever. I guess part of it was just that weather technology hadn't grown to such levels to warn us of the unbelievable danger that lurked just hours away. The other part was just that I was a kid and protected by my parents. They could protect me from anything. Thankfully, I have no memory of such a bad storm happening to us. And I use the word "happening" since that is what a storm does to you. It just happens to you and seems to come from out of nowhere.
The day of Hugo started out with all of us in the family hovered around the TV. Waiting and watching as we had done for the days leading up to the drama of that day. My husband and my father in law kept saying that all we really needed to do was to go West Ashley where my husband's grandmother lived and we would be safe. (We all lived on James Island.) So...that is what we did. And then, if some of you are old enough to remember...Mr. Charlie Hall came on TV and literally started to cry because he knew how bad this storm was going to be. Yes, tears actually rolled down the face of a man that had been doing the news and weather for many years in Charleston and no one had ever seen Charlie lose it. Charlie loved Charleston and he knew. Yes, he knew! And THAT is what did it for me. Now, don't get me wrong, my husband and father in law were the men in the family, but this "momma bear" had two little cubs that needed protecting and we all know what that means! LONG story short, we ended up in Barnwell (at the home of some family members) and waited it out. Sleep was difficult and pretty much nonexistent that night as we heard creaking and cracking noises all night, even there. The next day we ventured home to the biggest mess...and the saddest, I might add, that I had ever seen. The closer to home we became, the worse it got. Business signs on Savannah Highway blown down into the parking lots. Trees broken in half and laying in the road. The closer to James Island we ventured, the more scared I became. We started over the Wappoo Bridge and I remember holding my breath. Would it hold us? We drove slowly over it, as if it would help. The arms on the bridge that came down when it opened for boat traffic had been blown away...somewhere. We began to drive down "paths" that we had not driven before because we had to create those paths. The streets that we had long known were covered in debris. We went home in strange directions we had never gone before...and in doing so, all the while not knowing what we would find. Would our home, our sanctuary still be standing? So many weren't. And if they were, some had trees in the middle of their roofs, if they had a roof at all.
Finally we arrived. The house stood strong. Although the yard was unrecognizable and a huge oak tree laid in one corner of our garage,the house was livable. We had been blessed. Yes, blessed. We weathered the storm and survived. The storm was over, but then the clean-up and hard part had to begin...and all without electricity for 21 days. It was hot, muggy, dirty and tensions were left on our sleeves along with the sweat from our brow. But we made it. And not only did we make it through, we came out on the other side with a home pregnancy test reading positive by candlelight. No kidding. After the storm and the clean up came the biggest blessing!
So, in parallel...the Storms of Life... When you're a kid, you don't normally take much notice of them. Once you're grown, the storms of life do make us stand up and take notice. They show us that even the strong can cry. They scare us. They sometimes force us to move elsewhere. They make us sleep restlessly. They show us the sun does rise again despite our troubles. They never indicate what we are going to find when the storm is over. They show us that just when we think the worst is over, a huge mess has been left to clean up. They show us that cleaning up the mess is hard work and leaves us a bit raw. They show us that if our house is strong it can withstand. They make us unrecognizable even to ourselves. They show us we can live in a mess while we clean up, but that it's not fun or pleasant. And then they show us that out of the storm can come the biggest blessings!
Ahhh, the storms.
I remember that day very vividly as do most Charlestonians at the time, I suspect. My children, David and Johnathan were 8 and 5 and have little memory of Hugo. But let me digress for just a moment.I have no memories of having to leave town because of a storm when I was a child. Ever. I guess part of it was just that weather technology hadn't grown to such levels to warn us of the unbelievable danger that lurked just hours away. The other part was just that I was a kid and protected by my parents. They could protect me from anything. Thankfully, I have no memory of such a bad storm happening to us. And I use the word "happening" since that is what a storm does to you. It just happens to you and seems to come from out of nowhere.
The day of Hugo started out with all of us in the family hovered around the TV. Waiting and watching as we had done for the days leading up to the drama of that day. My husband and my father in law kept saying that all we really needed to do was to go West Ashley where my husband's grandmother lived and we would be safe. (We all lived on James Island.) So...that is what we did. And then, if some of you are old enough to remember...Mr. Charlie Hall came on TV and literally started to cry because he knew how bad this storm was going to be. Yes, tears actually rolled down the face of a man that had been doing the news and weather for many years in Charleston and no one had ever seen Charlie lose it. Charlie loved Charleston and he knew. Yes, he knew! And THAT is what did it for me. Now, don't get me wrong, my husband and father in law were the men in the family, but this "momma bear" had two little cubs that needed protecting and we all know what that means! LONG story short, we ended up in Barnwell (at the home of some family members) and waited it out. Sleep was difficult and pretty much nonexistent that night as we heard creaking and cracking noises all night, even there. The next day we ventured home to the biggest mess...and the saddest, I might add, that I had ever seen. The closer to home we became, the worse it got. Business signs on Savannah Highway blown down into the parking lots. Trees broken in half and laying in the road. The closer to James Island we ventured, the more scared I became. We started over the Wappoo Bridge and I remember holding my breath. Would it hold us? We drove slowly over it, as if it would help. The arms on the bridge that came down when it opened for boat traffic had been blown away...somewhere. We began to drive down "paths" that we had not driven before because we had to create those paths. The streets that we had long known were covered in debris. We went home in strange directions we had never gone before...and in doing so, all the while not knowing what we would find. Would our home, our sanctuary still be standing? So many weren't. And if they were, some had trees in the middle of their roofs, if they had a roof at all.
Finally we arrived. The house stood strong. Although the yard was unrecognizable and a huge oak tree laid in one corner of our garage,the house was livable. We had been blessed. Yes, blessed. We weathered the storm and survived. The storm was over, but then the clean-up and hard part had to begin...and all without electricity for 21 days. It was hot, muggy, dirty and tensions were left on our sleeves along with the sweat from our brow. But we made it. And not only did we make it through, we came out on the other side with a home pregnancy test reading positive by candlelight. No kidding. After the storm and the clean up came the biggest blessing!
So, in parallel...the Storms of Life... When you're a kid, you don't normally take much notice of them. Once you're grown, the storms of life do make us stand up and take notice. They show us that even the strong can cry. They scare us. They sometimes force us to move elsewhere. They make us sleep restlessly. They show us the sun does rise again despite our troubles. They never indicate what we are going to find when the storm is over. They show us that just when we think the worst is over, a huge mess has been left to clean up. They show us that cleaning up the mess is hard work and leaves us a bit raw. They show us that if our house is strong it can withstand. They make us unrecognizable even to ourselves. They show us we can live in a mess while we clean up, but that it's not fun or pleasant. And then they show us that out of the storm can come the biggest blessings!
Ahhh, the storms.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Who doesn’t want A Wonderful Wedding?
From the time a girl is just old enough to play dress up, put on her Mother’s cute little (oversized) pumps and hang a pillowcase with delicate flowered hairclips from her head, she’s thinking, “I’m going to be the most beautiful bride in the world some day.” As she struts in front of the mirror she notices quite early which side is her “good” side. Ready for the day her photographer starts shooting those wedding photos. Topping it off with beautiful costume jewelry that her Mother may (or may not) have given her permission to rummage through and she’s good to go!
Through her open window, she hears the bouncing of a basketball vaguely down the street and some boy hollering to his Mom, “What’s for dinner?” And that’s how it starts. How it ends has many other factors involved, so let’s start at the beginning:
It’s the first day of high school and the most adorable boy in the class is sitting right in front of her. Luck scored her this seat! In between Mrs. Brown’s opening instruction on how to spot a run-on sentence and wondering how long it is until lunch, the daydreams begin. “I wonder what he eats for breakfast? A full breakfast of eggs and bacon or just a pop tart? And what kind of pop tart? Is he a fruity kind of guy or does he like the chocolate ones? Does he rise with the rock music from his alarm clock or does his mom wake him every morning? I’ll bet he has a dog. A cute little white Bichon Frise…no wait, that’s a girl’s dog. Probably a Labrador. Yep, a Labrador that he tosses the ball for every day after school. Perfect for him and his cute little self. She looks down at his shoes. Nike. Nice. He has taste. And is probably athletic. Love that. His collar is neat and tidy, not all wrinkled. Wonder if his mom ironed it or if it’s just a new shirt? If she irons, he’ll probably expect that for life, but...He has nice hands. Tanned and clean. At least he washes them and that’s a huge deal. His hair is cute. Wonder who cuts it?
“Maybe if I manage to drop my pencil near his foot, he’ll bend over and pick it up for me. Then we can make eye contact and I’ll smile at him. See what sort of response that gets me. I’ve gotta talk to this guy. Make friends with him. Let him know I’ve got his back. Yep, that’s what I’ll say…”Hey, I’ve got your back for the whole year.” (I am sitting behind him.) No, that’s too cheesy. Is that too cheesy???
The bell rings and the moment ends…waking her out of a deep dream as she hears the word homework utter from the teacher’s lips. “Homework? Did Mrs. Brown just say homework?” The cute guy turns around to her and says, “Yeah…where were you?” Now completely frozen, she just looks up at him and smiles. He spoke. Frozen is all she can do.
She hears a voice from across the room, “Hey Brad, wanna shoot some hoops this afternoon? And my mom’s fixing lasagna for dinner.”
“Yeah, man, cool. I’ll catch ya later.”
“I knew he was athletic.” she says.
And so it goes…
The way men and women think is completely different from the very beginning.
OK, Ladies...and Guys... Pipe in. Tell us the differences you see in the ways men and women think and react. We would love to know all your true stories! All the way to your own Wonderful Wedding. Looking forward to hearing it all.
Kathy
Through her open window, she hears the bouncing of a basketball vaguely down the street and some boy hollering to his Mom, “What’s for dinner?” And that’s how it starts. How it ends has many other factors involved, so let’s start at the beginning:
It’s the first day of high school and the most adorable boy in the class is sitting right in front of her. Luck scored her this seat! In between Mrs. Brown’s opening instruction on how to spot a run-on sentence and wondering how long it is until lunch, the daydreams begin. “I wonder what he eats for breakfast? A full breakfast of eggs and bacon or just a pop tart? And what kind of pop tart? Is he a fruity kind of guy or does he like the chocolate ones? Does he rise with the rock music from his alarm clock or does his mom wake him every morning? I’ll bet he has a dog. A cute little white Bichon Frise…no wait, that’s a girl’s dog. Probably a Labrador. Yep, a Labrador that he tosses the ball for every day after school. Perfect for him and his cute little self. She looks down at his shoes. Nike. Nice. He has taste. And is probably athletic. Love that. His collar is neat and tidy, not all wrinkled. Wonder if his mom ironed it or if it’s just a new shirt? If she irons, he’ll probably expect that for life, but...He has nice hands. Tanned and clean. At least he washes them and that’s a huge deal. His hair is cute. Wonder who cuts it?
“Maybe if I manage to drop my pencil near his foot, he’ll bend over and pick it up for me. Then we can make eye contact and I’ll smile at him. See what sort of response that gets me. I’ve gotta talk to this guy. Make friends with him. Let him know I’ve got his back. Yep, that’s what I’ll say…”Hey, I’ve got your back for the whole year.” (I am sitting behind him.) No, that’s too cheesy. Is that too cheesy???
The bell rings and the moment ends…waking her out of a deep dream as she hears the word homework utter from the teacher’s lips. “Homework? Did Mrs. Brown just say homework?” The cute guy turns around to her and says, “Yeah…where were you?” Now completely frozen, she just looks up at him and smiles. He spoke. Frozen is all she can do.
She hears a voice from across the room, “Hey Brad, wanna shoot some hoops this afternoon? And my mom’s fixing lasagna for dinner.”
“Yeah, man, cool. I’ll catch ya later.”
“I knew he was athletic.” she says.
And so it goes…
The way men and women think is completely different from the very beginning.
OK, Ladies...and Guys... Pipe in. Tell us the differences you see in the ways men and women think and react. We would love to know all your true stories! All the way to your own Wonderful Wedding. Looking forward to hearing it all.
Kathy
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