Tourist in my Town

We have friends from San Francisco visiting and have been touring them all over the Charleston area. We are off for more in just a little while. Here is one picture to whet your whistle taken while we wandered the street downtown.

Scottish Games and Highland Gathering

Yesterday Kirby and I attending the Scottish Games. This is our third time and we love going and watching all the pipers and the strong men at the games. Here are some pictures to show you what I can not explain!

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Different groups of pipers come from all over the country to compete. You love bagpipes like we do you would be in heaven!

Just look at all the different plaids!

Aren't these young men amazing? You can tell they love what they are doing!

This is the Charleston Police Department Pipe and Drum group. They lead the opening ceremonies.

REAL MEN DO WEAR SKIRTS!

The caber toss (which is our favorite game) is a traditional Scottish athletic event practiced at the Scottish Highland Games involving the tossing of a large wooden pole called a caber, similar to a telephone pole or power pole. It is said to have developed from the need to toss logs across narrow chasms to cross them. In Scotland the caber is usually made from a Larch pine tree. A caber typically is 19'6" tall and weighs 175 pounds.

I took this picture at a sales booth. I just loved the detail on these.

Even the wee ones get in on this. Just after I took the picture one of the kilts fell right down to the ground! Too funny!

Even Ronald McDonald showed up. The children loved getting his autograph and gathered all around him. I didn't realize he was so famous with the little ones!

Real Place - Fun Colors

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I haven't taken any pictures so I am playing with ones I already have. Fun, eh?

Spider Predators

This is one of the young spiders we had living in our yard earlier this summer. I think I counted about 7 at one time. I love these guys. They aren't really scary at all when you realize they only want to be left alone to eat MOSQUITOES!!

Now here is the problem. These guys (and gals) disappeared one by one until they were all gone. What do you think happened to them? I am not the best researcher around but I tried to find out what their natural predators are and I couldn't find it. I have to guess that it is birds but I don't know that. Can anyone shed some light on this?

Here is a picture of his mother that we took last year. Poor little guy never had a chance to get a big and beautiful as his mother!

Wine Time

I am so happy to have been fortunate enough to make so many wonderful friends since we have moved to Mount Pleasant. I don't think I have ever had so many "girl friends" and it makes me very happy. I think I am the old lady in the group - as usual - and the youngest in her early 30's. What wonderful friends they have all become.

Last night I hosted a group of my girl friends for "Wine Time". Everyone got to meet a few new people and we all seemed to have a really good time - I know I did. Thank you girl friends for coming to my Wine Time!! You are the BEST!

It's Just the Way Nature Works

But sometimes it is a little yukky - - - -

We spotted the vultures as we left the development this morning. They had breakfast right there on the road - ah, roadkill! Pretty gross but I was excited to get these pictures.

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Morning Walk

Jake and I went for a walk on the golf course yesterday morning early enough to see the sun come up. It was actually cool out and if felt so good. I think that fall might be in the air but I am afraid to trust it. The heat of summer might come back full blast. Last year we had no fall and no spring to speak of. We just went from summer to a very very long winter and then a short spring and back to summer. But I have to admit that this summer has been a pleasant one. Now we just have to get through Hurricane Season. This is our 4th one in South Carolina.

There were Ibis all over the golf course feeding on something. They looked like cattle grazing
until Jake spotted them. I think this was his first time to ever chase after birds and oh, my but he loved it. I took pictures and then rolled with laughter when I looked at them as it appears at first glance that he is flying.


Nothing planned for today. We will just take it easy and see what happens. I love having a 3 day weekend and nothing big planned.
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, USA

Fire

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I walked down the street this morning to get a new picture of the house that burned on about July 25. They are starting to tear it down now; only the back wall remains. You can see a picture from about a month ago by clicking here. The picture of the mattress under all the debris really gets me. The occupants were so lucky to escape.

Now we get to watch them completely clear the lot and build a new house! That part will be fun so follow along..........And have a great Labor Day Weekend! Yea! 3 days with now work!

Uncle Earl Didn't Visit This Trip

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Hurricane Earl passed by offshore this afternoon so we took a trip to the beach to see if there was good surf. We are from California - it never gets big here! But it was a lovely time. We found this great pier - it is private and we couldn't use it. Sucks. But it made a pretty picture!
I love the dunes and the dune grass.

I thought the sky looked just like it does from the satellite overhead when you see the fringes of a hurricane. From my viewpoint, Earl was very good looking.

I got myself under the pier for a great picture.

Here is more of that sky with the sun shining right through it so pretty.


And did I say anything about the other views there???

The surf may not be much but the views are great!

Commenting

I am getting really tired of this commenting thing that I can't do. I don't know why but I cannot comment on my blog or any one elses either. I can't figure out how to fix it. Any ideas?