Since I have joined the 365 Project I don't get to my blog very often and I apologize for that but not much is going on anyway. The big news this week is that we just celebrated our 11th anniversary. But when Kirby counts it up he comes up with something like 41 years. That is because he counts all the years we have been married - to anyone! He is so funny.

I am sitting here now absolutely stuffed. We went to brunch today to celebrate our anniversary. But that wasn't until after we visited the Swamp Garden at Magnolia Plantation. We never tire of it and it is never the same. We see different things each time we are there. And the big bonus for Jake is that he gets to go with us! He likes going but today he got really hot. We had water for him of course and there was a lot of shade. It is just the humidity. But Kirby and I don't let it slow us down - we just start early in the day. So we were there by 9 AM - before the crowds and before the bugs. It really was a lovely day with a gentle breeze blowing.

After we finished at the gardens we went to our favorite dog friendly cantina - Fuel. You have seen it here before and you probably will see it again. We were there last year for our anniversary so I guess it has become a tradition. Fuel is built in an old gas station and has a patio that is very, very dog friendly! Jake loves it and so do all the other guest that go there. Everyone gets along very well and we all have a good time. To say nothing of their great food. Kirby and I both decided on the Huevos Rancheros made with a quesadilla and black beans with salsa...very, very good. And they have my favorite pale ale - Drifter. (you can click on either "fuel" or "drifter" to go to their website.)

So, the hour is still fairly early, we have had fresh air and exercise and we have dined well. Great day so far!! Here are some pictures from our day.

Just Don't Smoke

I have a fellow classmate from high school who has been diagnosed with lung cancer. She has been very candid on Facebook about her condition and her treatments. Today I read her blog, "Just Don't Smoke". You can read it too by clicking on the title. Molly will tell you all that she has gone through in the past 9 months since learning that she had lung cancer. It will break your heart and it will educate you. She will tell you what it is like to not want to eat, to be sick for weeks on end and to depend on others for everything. Today she is a survivor. Listen to what Molly has to say.

Summer Vacation

I love road trips. Well, I did until yesterday when we returned from a long trip to Texas. It was a great trip....I just got tired of the riding. Can't really complain about the driving as Kirby did most of it. But, it really was a fantastic trip to visit friends and family. We left about 5 AM on Thursday and returned 8 days later. The majority of our time was spent in San Antonio with Ray and Lucy, our long time friends from boating days.

We really enjoyed downtown San Antonio with the river walk and all the Mexican markets and we especially loved all the great Mexican food that we had. We just can't get it like that here in Charleston and really miss it. I know - it is bad for us but we don't do it often!!

Our first day downtown we went to the Farmer's Market and then toured the new area of the river which our friend Cullen had designed - so we had a great tour since he was narrating for us! And then we returned on our last day and did the old town section of the river. Both are fantastic!

We also visited the cute little town of Gruene (prononced "Green"). I thoroughly enjoyed watching the river rafters coming down the Gruene River. And we had dinner at the Gristmill River Restaurant in New Braunfels.


We enjoyed visiting with Mac and Consuelo who now live in New Braunfels and also Marjorie and Luigi in their new home in San Antonio. We were so fortunate to be able to spend time with people who have meant so much to us.

From San Antonio we drove east to Houston to visit with Virginia - also a former cruiser that we had met in Mexico years ago. She and Jay were in Mazatlan on their 53' sailboat when we met them. Later we all spent a lot of time together when they built a home just south of San Diego on the beach and we were living in San Diego. Virginia has recently moved to the Houston area to be near her family. (She is family to us!!)
The next day we drove on east to Pensacola to visit my Aunt Lee and her family. My cousins Mike and Lori were there and I hadn't seen them in years and years so it was a wonderful reunion!

4th of July in the Hood

We had a really good time at the 4th of July celebration here in the "Hood". This little guy was celebrating and volunteered to be "sent to the moon"! On the second mail box blow up he finally made it! What we did was remove the real mailbox, replace it with a cheapie one and then blow it up. Then I was unsatisfied so they reconstructed it and put Mr. Frog onboard and did it again. It was great fun and I know...we are sick but did I ever say we weren't??

Senor Froggie

Ready for Blast-Off!

I think Senor Froggie had too much fun!

Some of the kids had their own party!

Christie (daughter)

"The Group!"

Kirby (husband)

Jake was very traumatized as were all the dogs.

Casey (grandson)

Brendan (grandson)

Yea!! We had sparklers!

We had so much food as I am sure everyone did! And the fireworks provided were just the best....always are! Phil and Michael came through with the best and the kids did a great job of orchestrating the whole thing! Thanks everyone for a great time!

Sculling

Kirby and I went to the local park yesterday for breakfast. If you have never enjoyed a breakfast picnic, you must try it. The day is fresh and cool and the colors wonderful. We had a little corner to ourselves and then took a walk over to the dock to see what was going on. We arrived just in time to watch the launching of a scull. I asked if I could take pictures (of course I had my camera!) and he didn't mind so what you are going to see here is his launch and then the beauty of sculling on one of our beautiful back creeks. Remember, you can click on the pictures to see the larger version.




He said is name was either Randall or Rando. I hope he finds this website so he can see the pictures I took.

Plantations!

In case you can't tell, I have become very involved in my 365 Project which you can see on the right at the top of this page. It consumes me and I have less and less time for my blog. I feel badly but I love photography so much that I have become addicted to this project.

Dave and Marcia came to visit last week from Seattle. Kirby met them about a hundred years ago and they have stayed in touch. We have been able to get together just a couple times over the past 10 years. We enjoyed their visit to Charleston so much and hope they will come back for more real soon!This beautiful Peacock was hiding in the bushes and DID NOT want to move, he was so hot. I got really close and he just sat there suffering in the heat!

Remember that you can click on any picture to enlarge it!

We had so much fun taking picture of the egret.
Discussion on which trail to take next!
Love, love love this picture of Kirby!

Marcia with the hydrangea!
Dave and Kirby taking a break.

Our Whirlwind Weekend

Ryan traveled from San Diego and we didn't stop from the moment he arrived until he departed. Thursday morning he, Christie and I headed off to the beach with my two yellow granddogs.

Click on pictures to enlarge

After lunch we took Ryan to Daniel Island to show him Christie and Michael "new house". Constructions is about to begin!! We got a little carried away exploring on Daniel Island and showing him around - so we didn't have a whole lot of time to prepare for Thursday night's graduation. We had dinner at a South Carolina Mexican restaurant. It wasn't too bad considering where we are! Then it was off to the coliseum to watch grandson Casey and over 700 young people graduate high school! In this picture - Casey and his girlfriend, Callie - both graduates now!
We were up way too late that night - it was back to the house for desert and "Presents"! Always the best part of graduating, right? Friday morning we headed out to Magnolia Plantation and Gardens - this time to tour just the Swamp Garden.

The most exciting part of the day was the VERY large alligator that was about to cross our paths but fortunately we noticed that the log looked a lot like an alligator. After much talk, yelling and excitement, the boys threw some pebbles at him which encouraged him to go back in the water! Thankfully none of the dogs wanted to play with him!
Kirby was the good guy and carried water for the dogs.
Friday night we had a barbecue and then played "Apples to Apples". Miss Photographer forgot to take pictures!

Saturday morning we were up and out early to Cypress Gardens. Wow, what a bargain! We toured the gardens, had a picnic, went out into the swamp in canoe like boats, visited the butterfly house and then watched a very large alligator have a rabbit for dinner. Ryan, Brendan, Michael, Casey and Kirby

The boys tried to upset some bats but nothing happened. Darn!


And a good picture of my favorite man!!