January in South Carolina

Not too long ago, I told you all about Christmas in the South. Caroling and apple cider and water-skiing in the balmy South Carolina air....

Well, winter isn't that much different. In fact, it's exactly the same. I know I'm not the only one here on the Eastern Seaboard who's been enjoying the weather of late. Seventy-one, seventy-four...we even had a day recently where it got up to eighty degrees by mid-morning.

And so, Brian and I donned our flip-flops and decided to spend the day at a local park, The Boardwalk at Shem Creek, to take in the sights and the sunshine.

I would like to point out that the day started in a most-excellent manner. Not only was I super-cute in a new top from Old Navy, but I was having a good hair day AND I'd found a necklace my mother gave me back in high school, and was able to re-purpose it for present-day wearing. Score.

After much deliberation, I decided to leave my camera at home, because I wanted to focus on nature while we were there. But I wound up taking a million pictures and video with my iPhone instead. So sue me. You can take the girl out of the blogosphere for a day, but you can't take the blogger out of the girl. Or something.

Anyway, to say that it was a gorgeous day is really an understatement. The sun was shining, the seagulls were circling, and the breeze was salt-water-y. Much to our delight, as we approached the end of the boardwalk we noticed a fishing boat just coming in from the harbor. And any good beach-goer knows---where there are fish, there is wildlife. 

So we hunkered down for the next hour and watched the gulls, pelicans, and a family of dolphins, as they all enjoyed their lunch. 

And being a TRUE blogger, I got the whole damn thing on film. So, here's a few little snippets of our day.





I was so very pleased with myself (minus the thumb incident. That was kinda embarrassing.) I've been living 'at the beach' since 2002, and have never managed to get photographic evidence of dolphins in the Charleston waters. But to get them on video?? Unheard of. Now I know we have a spot to go dolphin-watching, and we'll be visiting it frequently in the warmer months.

Wind-blown, smiling, and happy, I shot this "self-portrait" moments before leaving the boardwalk:

The rest of the day progressed with shopping, lunch out, and general merriment with my husband.

By the next afternoon, we watched as a storm front moved in, covering the sky in gloom and doom. And in the span of forty-five minutes, the temperature dropped from 80° to a disappointing 51°. And by the time we went to bed, it was raining, foggy, and 45°. We actually had to set a drip last night as the temperature bottomed out at 28°.

Sad face.

But I take solace in the knowledge that the 80° weather will be back before long. And I'll be planting my garden, smearing aloe vera on my nose, and soaking up the rays at the beach.

And not to be a brat, or anything, but you'll probably still be shoveling snow out of your driveway. Don't be mad. Come visit instead. ☺

If you can't see the video above, click HERE or copy and paste the following link into your browser: http://youtu.be/r01jGK67C4Y

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.