Inscription for a Garden Gate

Pause, friend, and read before you enter here

This vine-clad wall encloses holy ground.

Herein a mellowed garden dreams

away the years,

Steeped in serene, sweet light

and muted sound.

Herein tranquility and peace abide,

For God walks here at cool of

evening-tide.

Pause, friend, and strip from out your heart

All vanity, bitterness, all hate;

Quench, for this hour, the fever of your fears.

Then, treading softly, pass within this gate.

There, where the ancient trees wait

hushed and dim,

May you find God and walk awhile with Him.

Pearl Council Hiatt

Anna Hyatt Huntington selected this poem to be used at the gate of Brookgreen Gardens in 1959.  It was written specifically for Brookgreen in homage to its splendid avenue of live oak trees. 

I recently spent a beautiful morning admiring the oaks, the floral bounty, the wildlife, the many fountains and sculptures of Brookgreen Gardens.  I also took a meditative stroll through the labyrinth.  If you have plans to visit coastal South Carolina, I highly recommend this beautiful, serene garden.  Brookgreen also has an extensive aviary and butterfly house.  The entry fee allows you to come to the gardens all week.  A very good deal for $12.00





Putting on the Super G Mom Cape

Ah...the glorious month of May...Mother's Day, dance recitals, school programs, hot and sunny days.
My sweet daughter and her husband took an early anniversary/birthday jaunt to Vegas early in the month.  The granddarlings stayed with us part of the time.  In the midst of the everyday stuff we took opportunities for crafting and playing.  We painted flower pots for Mother's Day.  I love, love, love to watch children create! 

I taught at a Montessori school for ten years.  The process was always more important than the finished product.  I try to remember that for myself as well.  My grandson decided to paint trees as well...his story and he is sticking to it..." I am painting this tree because it is my special tree then I can find it again" 

Skip forward a bit.  I took care of my daughter as she was recovering from surgery, then handed her off to her husband and collected the grandchildren.  When did getting children fed, dressed and off to school get so hard?  Oh yeah, I think it is because I am 30 years older.  I am part of the sandwich generation... the filling between generations...caring for aging parents and spending time with grandchildren. 

A bit of a respite was had between all the craziness of May.   Darling Husband and I escaped to the coast for a weekend.  He even pretended to enjoy the sculpture gardens.  This spot right here...it is calling me back...I can hear my name crashing into the surf...Connie, come back...

Wishing you a beautiful Spring day!  I am planning a little porch renovation for the weekend...Do you have any special projects in the works?

The Floozies take on Edgefield

We gather monthly to celebrate another turn around the sun.  Jeanne's birthday was celebrated at The Edgefield Grill.  A delightful afternoon of buzzed bees,er bees buzzing, lunch on the veranda and much laughter to the hum of thousands of cicadas emerging from the earth to mate.  Imagine the whump, whump, whump of the Mothership...the cicadas have that alien sound.  It is great sport to keep the cicadas out of your hair, mouth or food.

The town of Edgefield is the turkey capital of the state.  It is/was hometown to countless politicians...is that a coincidence or what?  Handpainted concrete turkeys line the streets of this quaint town.  We attempted to shop however the town apparently closes at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.  No one told us!   Floozies are a persistant lot and we soon found ourselves being educated at Edgefield Pottery.

This gentleman told us the history of pottery in Edgefield. The shop houses quite an extensive collection of artifacts. 

I have found there is no better way to spend a Saturday afternoon than to laugh, talk, shop and eat!  We do that extremely well.   Friends enrich you and bring JOY to life!

Hazelnut Chocolate Ganache...Fried Green Tomato Salad with bacon crumbles and cucumber-wasabi dressing.
Ellen tried to keep us out of her delightful sorbet...too bad we are NOT germaphobes!

Happy Birthday Jeanne and act SURPRISED!  Jeanne expressed a lovely thought...each time she wore the Silpada bracelet...she would think of us. 

  

Yep, it is a two seater!

What mischief has come your way lately?  Laissez bon temps rouler!!! 

Getting Trashed or a little bit of This and That

Columbia Design League's 2011 Runaway Runway...featuring fashion designed solely from trash and recycled materials...no new products allowed. 

A couple of friends joined me Friday evening for an avant garde fashion show and event.  All outfits were made from 100% post consumer trash.  Ranging from recycled cemetary flowers to coffee bags, pepsi cans, car parts...you name it!  I have been interested in participating for years.  The Lady Chablis (of the movie Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil) was in attendance and that is one funny character.  Musical numbers were performed by various artists including a group of drag queens.  The spectators were almost as colorful as the performers.   The youngest designer was nine years old and there was a grandma or two in the mix as well.  I apologize for the blurry photos...I needed a reminder that I would like to design something for next year!  I am looking at trash in a new way.

Dear Husband and I visited the "Who Shot Rock and Roll" photography exhibit at our local art museum.  DH was in attendance during some of the concerts depicted and he had a bit of a stroll down memory lane.

He was interested in the musicians portrayed...I was interested in the photography techniques...win, win.  I saw a college of cut and pasted photos that inspired me to create something in that direction as well.  I continue to be amazed by what a slight change in perspective can do for your creative life.  Sometimes all it requires is a tilted head to see something from a different angle.

Here are my little creative genius granddarlings...leftover 3D glasses and booklamps...they clipped them on and proceded to play dentist.  Anna selected one of my knitting implements to examine my teeth...I am happy to report that I have no cavities and all teeth are still intact.

Anna was in a dance pageant recently...when asked if she was sad that she didn't win she said " I won a trophy, I had a lot of fun and I did something really hard"  My little precious is only five and one wise little girl!  She performed a solo dance to a Justin Bieber song in front of a pretty large crowd!

So what excitement have you been up to lately?

A Little Audrey...anyone?

The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain...

I pretty much cannot take a photo with a cell phone...Michelle and Heather at the Koger Center

My daughters and I went to see the musical "Grease" at the Koger Center for the Performing Arts.  Michelle loves to sing, dance and act.  She played Frenchy in a high school version of the play.  In the foyer we noted the upcoming season at the Koger Center.  Could it be?  Yes, Yes indeed...My Fair Lady (one of our all time favs) will be here in November!  I think perhaps the most celebrated would be the movie version starring Audrey Hepburn.  Audrey Hepburn exemplified inner and outer beauty.  I have noticed a maybe not so new trend but new to me...many younger ladies are emulating Audrey Hepburn and ladies of her era.  Is that refreshing or what?  I loved her sense of style, grace and all encompassing beauty.  Googling along the way, I found some favorites:

What's not to love...bring out your inner Audrey!

and one more quote from Audrey:

Laissez les bons temps rouler

One Big Pot...One Fabulous Neighborhood...50 pounds of live crawfish...Lots of Assorted Goodies...Beverages...Music...Children of All Ages...Toss with a huge dose of various cultures...A Good Time was had by All!

Trust me...she would rather play with the live crawfish, cooking and eating them held little appeal!

Sorry, my little pretty it is in the pot for you...my initiation into the JOYS of cooking crawfish...did I mention they are live when tossed  in the boiling water? 

"Try at least one"...a valiant effort was attempted and later a hasty retreat to the nearest trashcan!

Bargaining for ice cream...how many???

Playtime...

Our top o the hill neighbors, she originally hailing from Louisiana and he of Tunisia host this annual event.  My ever so helpful neighbor D showed me how to twist the tail off the body, suck the head and proceed to pry a teeny tiny bit of meat from the tail.  To be a good sport I attempted sucking the juice one time after which I ate a few more...I am not really the squeamish type however the already prepared shrimp and grits and other goodies beckoned me! 

We have lived in our neighborhood since 1991.  Neighbors have come and gone...at one time we knew everyone on two streets...now, not so much.  It was a pleasure and delight to meet the newbies!  The parents of the children I see walking dogs, riding bikes or passing in cars.  Once predominately good ole Southern boys and girls...now a melting pot of diversity...I LOVE it!  Many continents and countries were represented...an afternoon, late into the night celebration of friendship...perhaps the world leaders could take note...break bread, come together in fellowship...celebrate our diversity!

I baked a cake and made the following salad which can be used as a side dish, topping or dip.

Black Bean and Corn Salad/Salsa

4 - 6 tomatoes chopped small

1/2 large red onion, diced

choice of sweet peppers, red, yellow etc., hotter varieties may be included as well, about 1 - 1 1/2 cups

1 package of white shoe peg corn thawed (small bag)

1 can black beans, rinsed

2 avocadoes, diced

 mix all diced, chopped ingredients and toss with lime cilantro dressing

Lime Cilantro Dressing:

juice from two limes, zest a little of the skin as well

1/8 teaspoon cumin (or more if you like lots)

handful of chopped, fresh cilantro

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (or more to taste, if too acidic)

salt and pepper to taste

Makes enough for a huge crowd and it is a crowd pleaser!  I prepared this for the crawfish boil on Saturday and again on Sunday for our family get together. 

"Let the Good Times Roll"



I think it's coming...Spring is coming!

Spring is in the air!  We saw our first daffodils down south on Saturday!  After a harrowing attempt to feed two cranky children, daughter # 2 and I took the lovelies to Swan Lake.  We walked on the boardwalks through the swamps, admired the cypress "knees" and all the abundant flora and fauna.  

The grandchildren were particularly fond of this old man and he was quite willing to hang out and beg for a morsel or two of something tasty. 

Swan Lake is one of our favorite parks and is home to eight species of swans. Other inhabitants of the park include the Canada Goose, myriad varieties of ducks, herons, turtles and fish.  The park hosts an annual Iris festival.  Camelias, Japanese tulip trees and a few other trees were blossoming.  I love the eerie feel and shadows that the Cypress trees and Spanish Moss cast upon the black waters. 

We are enjoying some lovely weather despite some terrific winds and a howling rainstorm or two.  The grandchildren and I have some plans to build a fairy house or two on Friday...so do come back and take a look.  Happy March Everyone!

(daughter#2 took the photos with a Canon powershot)