Painted Bunting - part 2

I am so excited!  I had a painted bunting in my birdbath today!!  I just stood where I was and bless his heart, Kirby ran for my camera.  This picture is not very good but I was shooting through the glass with my everyday lens and very excited.  As you can see in the picture, this beautiful boy just had a nice bath!

One Day Vacation

We headed out this morning to go to the Farmer's Market downtown Charleston but it was so crowded and parking was a problem that we decided just to "get our of dodge"!

I seem to be getting into the habit of taking pictures of the Ravenal Bridge whenever we cross it and I have my camera.  I never tire of it.

If you are looking for a little fixer upper here in Charleston, I have one already scoped out for you.  (remember - I am taking pictures out the window!)

And another picture out the windshield.  This is a draw bridge but I have never ever seen it open.  If one of my readers has seen it open, please leave a comment!

All the way out Maybank Highway - Johns Island and Wadmalaw Island we went and we deadended in Rockville. What a gorgeous drive through the marshes and the forests of pine and oak.

This is Cherry Point Landing and lots and lots of people were launching there boats there.  I loved this view of the shrimpers.

There were even a few sailboats around which of course warmed our hearts!  In fact - it warmed our hearts so much that we felt the need to go to Red's Ice House and cool down.  It was Jake's idea of course as it is his favorite restaurant!

A cold Corona was what worked for me.  And I added a nice chicken sandwich made with Old Bay seasoning and I agreed to the cheese and bacon but I didn't eat the bun and not TOO many of the fries!

See why Jake loves Red's so much!  He gets his own bucket of ice water with the cubes floating - all his own!

And then this afternoon we got to see our next door neighbor, Anne get dressed for her prom.  Just look at that dress!  She surely will be the bell of the ball!

Family Time

My sister, Joan, and her husband, Red, came for a visit this week!  We hadn't seen each other in years and had a fantastic time catching up - it took a lot of talking which of course women do so well!

We also had fun showing them around the Charleston area.  We started with a carriage ride downtown which I think is the best way to get to know the city and find out what you want to see more of.

 Of course we had to have lunch at Tommy Condon's.

 We also had a great evening with my daughter, Christie, and her family.

 On their last day we were going to visit a plantation but the rain got in the way.  We visited the visitor's center at Fort Moultrie and then went on to Red's Ice House for lunch.

Kirby would NOT cooperate at all with getting his picture taken!

Strawberry Chapel

I was really needing an outing so today Kirby and I put Jake and our bug spray in the old van and headed out on highway 41.  We went in search of the Strawberry Chapel.  Is that a cool name or what?  Strawberry Chapel was the church for the small but thriving community of Childsbury which was founded in 1707.  Back in the early 1700's there was also a tavern and a ferry landing to cross the Cooper River.  My reading said that there was even a horse track and of course a general store, school, tanner, shoemaker and a doctor.

 I think this clearing was part of the old town.  Don't you just wish you could see the houses and people as they really were back then.

 Since this isn't really a church but a Heritage Preserve, we had no idea there would be services today and expected to pretty much have the place to ourselves.  Now we know that there are 3 services a year held in the little chapel and today was one of them!  Because of that, I was able to go inside and look around and to my delight I was allowed to take pictures!  (Before the services began of course)

Of course this isn't the way it looked in 1707 - especially the writing on the wall - but it was still cool to get to go in and look around.  Strawberry Chapel today is maintained by the Ball and Harrelson family descendents.  I saw many tombstones with those names.

This tombstone wasn't Ball or Harrelson but I always love the ones with the Confederate Flag on them....so southern.  You know the flags must be placed there for the men who fought during the war between the states.

 UPDATE - I have had a reader who did not like the fact that I have posted anything about Strawberry Chapel and I understand.  There has been a lot of vandalism in the past and the concern is that any more publicity about the chapel will cause more visits by uncaring individuals who will destroy something that is a part of our past and our heritage as Americans.  I apologize to this person but I feel we have a right to enjoy what little is left of these simple reminders of our past.  When I visited Strawberry Chapel, none of my research indicated that it was private property and that I was not welcome.  I am very respectful when I visit something so precious as this lovely spot.  I want only to share the beauty with others.  My pictures are NOT for sale and I have not given the location of this quaint chapel.  I have removed one of the pictures as requested.

Anonymous - who did not want to leave a real name wrote the following - 

It was interesting to read your blog and see the photos you took recently of Strawberry Chapel. Please remove the image showing guests standing in front of the chapel before service, and request any other persons, blogs or entities sharing your photo, to do the same.
 

Strawberry is a special place; worshiping there is a sacred and personal experience, and a time to share with family and friends in privacy. The gentleman that allowed you to enter the property to take photos did not speak for all.  

The chapel is in need of donations for continual repairs due to vandalism and time; Anyone selling photos of the chapel, grounds or graves should consider contributing to Strawberry's Restoration Fund.

Due to recent and continued vandalism, every effort is being made to inform the general public, ghosts hunters, and curiosity seekers that Strawberry Chapel, its grounds, and burial plots are private property. It may seem harsh but: Anyone entering the grounds for any reason is breaking-the-law so subject to possible arrest or a fine for trespassing. Strawberry is an active place of worship; It is not abandoned.

Hope our wishes are not misunderstood by those that may read this. Thank you very much. BHG

St. Paul Comes to Charleston

I am not even sure how to begin this post.  This is Kate Mura and me sitting at a table at Red's Ice House last night.  Kate is a blog friend from St Paul, Santa Fe and Mazatlan.  You can read her blog by clicking HERE or on my side bar.  I stumbled upon her blog some time ago and was intrigued by the fact that they had lived in Mazatlan at one time. (You know how I love Mexico)  I have continued to read her blog and this winter followed her to Santa Fe, New Mexico where they stayed for the winter.  When I read in her blog that they would be coming to Charleston for a visit I knew we had to get together!  Last night we did! What fun it was to meet these two wonderful people. 

Kirby was laughing at me as we waited at the table for them saying things like "I can't believe we are having dinner with people we have never met" and "Do you even know what they look like?".  He is used to me doing things like this though and is patient.  When they arrived, it was Kirby they recognized right away - you can't mistake my Kirby! 

We had a beer at Red's amid the crowds of Friday night warm weather partiers and then went on to Coleman Public House where it was quieter and we could talk easier.  It was a great evening and we only regret that Kate and Jim don't live here so we could repeat and repeat.  We really enjoyed their company.  Enjoy the rest of your stay in our fair lowcountry, guys and hurry back!

Easter

Ah, something other than food!!

What fun Easter is - even if your kids - and your grandkids are grown!  I love decorating Easter Eggs so we all gathered at the Shumbie's house with all the cups of dye and tools for the trade.  We aren't all that fancy with what we do; just eggs and dye and maybe a little of the wax crayon.  Some played with tape and that was pretty cool.

Even red-neck boys can have fun decorating the eggs!  He was very intent and I couldn't get his face...just that big hat!

The counter is all set up and ready for decorating the eggs.

This is Lacy and Jake - wanting their own basket of goodies.

Above you can see Casey, Brendan with his famous stare and Christie.


This last picture was taken Easter Day after our brunch.  Casey was about to leave to head back up to Clemson for another 4 weeks before he finishes up on his second year.

Lemon Cake

This is turning into a food blog.  I need to get a life!  But for now - It is what it is!  This is a wonderful simple cake that I just prepared for tomorrow - Easter.  I didn't want a rabbit cake but I also wanted something light for spring and lemon just seemed perfect.  I made it a bundt cake because I happen to like bundt cakes but you don't have to.

• 1 pkg yellow cake mix
• 1 small lemon jello
• 4 eggs
• 3/4 C. canola oil
• 3/4 C. water

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and beat with electric mixer for 5 minutes, scrapping the sides of the bowl often.
3. Pour into your pan of choice - 9 x 13 or bundt (grease the pan or if it is non-stick, then spray with pam.
4. For the 9 x 13 inch pan, bake for 35 minutes.
5. If you use the bundt pan, bake for 45 minutes.

Make a glaze of the following -

• 2 Cups powdered sugar
• Juice of 2 large lemons

When the cake comes out of the oven (for the bundt pan method) while still in the pan use a large meat fork and poke holes in the cake.  Pour some of the glaze around on it.  Let it sit for another 5 minutes and then place on a cake plate.  Now use the fork on the top of the cake.  Slowly pour the glaze all over the top of the cake letting as much as possible soak into the cake.

Enjoy the rave reviews you will get!

Old Fashioned Meatloaf

Wonderful, simple, easy, comforting MEATLOAF!  Don't we all just love it?  I spent years and years trying to make a good meatloaf that didn't fall apart on me.  They always seemed to crumble on me! Finally I tried the recipe on the oatmeal box!  Yea!  It was great!  I have tweaked it a little through the years but it still is the basic recipe that I found 25 years ago.  My friend Arlene told me that I should post all of my recipes and I told her that sometimes what I cook is just simple home cookin' and nothing special.  But, for Arlene, I will post my meatloaf (although she told me she loves the recipe she uses and that she makes little meatloaves with cheese.  That sounds really good!)  Anyway, she gave me the idea of splitting my recipe into two loaves - because we were sitting outside enjoying a glass of wine and it was getting late to start a meatloaf.  Two small loaves cook faster than one!


And I just realizd that I have never written down the process - just the ingredients!  So here goes, folks!

Suzie's Meatloaf

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees
Line a shallow pan with aluminum foil (so you won't have to clean a pan!)

• 3/4 lb ground pork
• 3/4 lb ground beef (fat in the beef is bad for you but adds the flavor)
• 1/3 C. oatmeal - the quick cooking is the best
• 1/2 C. chopped onion
• 1/4 C. ketchup
• 1 egg
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• salt and pepper to taste
• Barbeque Sauce

In a large mixing bowl mix all the ingredients together with your hands.  A spoon will not work.  Knead it well so that the beef and pork are combined.

Gather it all up into your hands and shape it into a loaf. ( I kind of toss and shape, toss and shape to pack it together nicely.)

At this point decide if you are going for one large loaf, two smaller or little individuals.

On the top press an indentation all along the length of the loaf.  Fill this with barbeque sauce.  Of course if you don't have barbeque sauce you can use ketchup.  We just like barbeque sauce better.

For one large loaf, bake at 375 degrees for about an hour to an hour and 15 minutes. Adjust cooking time for smaller loaves.

After 10 minutes remove the loaf to a serving plate and carefully slice.
Enjoy with mashed potatoes and a green veggie.