The Land I Love

People ask me all the time what it is that I love so much about Charleston, South Carolina. I've answered that question a hundred different ways. I could go on and on about the beaches, the historical landmarks, the museums and restaurants and hot spots. I've told you at length about The Tree that calls to you from the heart of Charleston. There's just something about this place, something magical, that fills my heart with gladness that we live here.


There's a feeling about Charleston, like a heartbeat, that creates a unique environment all its own. The oak trees, the Spanish moss, the sweltering heat and swarms of mosquitoes, the sweetness of its tea and the kindness of its people...there are a hundred reasons why I love Charleston as much as I do.


But sometimes, words don't do an adequate job of it. Sometimes, the land I love can only be captured in photos. And even in those photos, though you can catch a glimpse of what makes Charleston the most beautiful place on earth, you still miss that feeling, that heartbeat.


But I still try to capture it, each time we venture out of our home. You want to know why I love Charleston so much? Let me try to explain in pictures.

A Day At The Zoo (In Pictures)

I don't pretend to be a professional photographer. I'm really not. I barely consider myself an amateur. But I love taking pictures, especially when I can point my lens at something relatively interesting. And a rainy afternoon at the Riverbanks Zoo was just the excuse I needed to go all Ansel Adams on you guys. 


And so, I present to you my very first photo gallery, hosted by Abby Gabs. Enjoy.

Sri Lankan Fishing Cat

Meerkat

African Elephant

Juvenile Giraffe

Hamadryas Baboon

African Lion

Grizzly Bear

Red Kangaroo

They turned out great, didn't they? But it wouldn't be a true Abby Gabs gallery without a few candids...am I right?

Our zoo pals for the day, Steven and Arielle.

Abby and Arielle, finding shelter from the rain.

Steven feeding some very hungry Lorikeets.

My favorite picture of the day. Brian = Buffet.

Hanging out by the elephants, enjoying a frosty beverage.

Well, I may never be a paid professional photographer, but I try. Somehow I'm not surprised that the funny pictures turned out just as good (if not better) than the serious ones. Suffice it to say, a good time was had by all.

Even if we were emptying rainwater out of our shoes by the end of the day.

Is there anything more comical than huge white trash-bag ponchos bearing the silhouettes of zoo animals? I think not.

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PS: Gold! Diamonds! Money! None of these things are the grand prize for winning your vote in the Yeah Write challenge. In fact, we really only win bragging rights. And pride. And the rights to strut around for approximately 24 hours after the votes are tallied.  But your vote would still be greatly appreciated.  Head on over to Yeah Write to check out some awesome bloggers, and leave your vote by way of checking the little yellow star next to my entry, "Mood Swings." Make sure you vote for 4 others as well---you won't have a hard time finding blogs you love. They're all fantastic!!

Wishin', & Hopin', & Thinkin', & Prayin'...

I daydream about a lot of stuff that I don't have but I really, really, really want.

Like an adorable family, with an adorable house,
an adorable car, and an adorable book with my name on it.

While none of the things pictured seem to be anywhere in my near future, it didn't keep my husband from fulfilling a 9-year-old wish. Yesterday, I became the proud new owner of a DSLR camera.

I'm a Rebel with a Camera.

I've wanted a DSLR since I took photography classes way back in college. (You know, when the dinosaurs roamed the earth and cavemen were cool?) If my husband loses me in Best Buy, he always knows where to find me: drooling over the cameras. I've had camera envy for years, and would let anyone who owned a better camera than mine know it. (Usually in the form of asking if I could mess with their camera, then inadvertently shooting 163 pictures before giving it back.)


Finally, FINALLY, I have the starter camera of my dreams. One day, I hope to be able to produce gorgeous photos like these:

Source

Source

Source

But it looks like there might be a bigger learning curve than I expected, because most of the pictures I took last night, in my very first Big Girl Camera trial run, look like this:

BLURRY!!!!!!

I can't even explain how this one happened. But memory cards don't lie.

Every whisker on my Dad's chin is totally in focus. Darci? Not so much.

Looks like I'm off to Amazon to fulfill my next (small) dream...DSLR Cameras for Dummies.

I've Still Got Sand in My Shoes

Yesterday. Was. Magical.

Just me, the sand, the sun and the surf.

It served as a reminder:


1) Days in the sunshine are delicious.
2) The Atlantic Ocean is still, in fact, there. (It had been so long, I was beginning to wonder.)
3) SPF 50 is a slight exaggeration, especially when your skin is normally the color of skim milk.


Perhaps next Wednesday, I'll use SPF 1,000. (Or maybe I'll wear a tarp. A tent. A burka?)

The spot from which I blogged yesterday.

I spent the first 45 minutes of my beach trip snapping pictures, playing with camera angles and sunlight and framing...

A path into the sea

Sun rising on my Perfect Day

I kicked those insecurity beasties and took a few self-portaits as well:

...with wild flowers in her hair...

...she watched the tide roll in...

I spent the rest of my day swimming, reapplying sunscreen, reading, reapplying sunscreen, sleeping, reapplying sunscreen, and tweeting (more on that tomorrow). 


I had such a wonderful day, I'm thinking of making it a weekly ritual. Can you take more seashore-sent blogs every Wednesday of the summer, readers?


I promise not to rub it in too much.


And to spend each Wednesday filled with gratitude for having sandy toes.


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Talking about being grateful--a HUGE thank you goes out to my new friend, Simone--author of Great Fun 4 Kids--for introducing AbbyGabs to her readers today. I am truly humbled, touched, and grateful!! This wonderful author/photographer/mom deserves much more than a footnote, which she will get soon! I just wanted to say thanks so much for loving my silly little blog.