Blueberries, Oh How I Love Ya!

On Sunday, June 23, 2013, Jeff and I headed out to McClellanville to see what the Blueberry Festival was all about. It was smaller than I envisioned, but there were PLENTY of blueberries! YUM!!!! Nice tall plants just chocked full of big, beautiful, organic, juicy fruit. They also have their own bee hives, so we bought some of their delicious raw honey as well. A sudden torrential downpour put a temporary halt to the lively music from the band and going from one vendor's tent to another involved more than mere puddle jumping, but, after about a half hour, the sun shone quite brightly and the music and berry picking recommenced. What fun!

A Dusky Blue-Gray Evening With a Touch of Pink

Views from the Pitt Street Bridge located in the Old Village of Mount Pleasant. Now that Belle (12yo with breathing problems and stiff hips) and Sophie (14yo and blind, deaf, arthritic with CCD= canine cognitive disorder= senile) can no longer enjoy strolling along the beach, I take them to the Pitt Street Bridge. Dogs, people, a violinist upon occasion, benches, people fishing at the end and, when the tide is low, folks crabbing- I've seen ibis and a myriad of other birds from the mundane grackel to the amazing skimmers. There's an asphalt path, short grass that's easy to walk in and palms stretch along the length. It's a simply wonderful place, especially to watch the sunset. I take a big, ole plastic child's wagon for Sophie's trip back to the car. At least she can smell all that's around her. And, Belle especially enjoys sticking her head out the window on the way there and back.

Trying to find a bit of the history and it's surprisingly difficult to find...

The park at the end of Pitt Street is popular among locals for walking, fishing, and relaxing. And, like Old Village itself, it has a history as well. From 1898 to 1927, a trolley connected Sullivan's Island to Mt. Pleasant via the Pitt Street Bridge. Since the park was developed on top of this bridge, it offers incredible panoramic views of the marsh and creeks.

The Old Pitt Street Bridge was once the troll bridge connecting Sullivan's Island with Mt. Pleasant. Various bridges were built here, beginning with The Bridge Of Boats during the Revolutionary War. The bridge was dismantled when the causeway was built to Sullivan's Island in 1935.

The original plank and barrel constructed footbidge later known as the Pitt Street Bridge at the foot of the Old Village area in Mount Pleasant is the point where the crew of H.L Hunley crossed on route to Breach Inlet to test pilot the famous submarine.(In 1864, the crew of the H.L. Hunley crossed the footbridge on the way to Breach Inlet to test drive the famed submarine. The historic vessel would go on to become the first combat submarine to sink an enemy warship. ) The original plank bridge was replaced by a trolley bridge in 1899, before a steel drawbridge was built for vehicle access between Sullivans Island and Mount Pleasant in 1929. The Pitt Street bridge was dismantled in 1945, and the remains can still be seen today in the Intracostal Waterway. The area has been maintained ever since as a park known as the Pickett Bridge Recreation Area,^[4] named after the town's doctor Otis Pickett. 

Hmmm....Love the Look of Green Felt On a Pool Table

Travis and Emory came home for a whirlwind weekend at the beginning of July to attend the engagement party of one of their friends. Sunday found Travis still studying hard for the bar (which he took on July 29th and 30th up in Virginia), but we got to spend some time together on Sat before he headed out with Em to the festivities. It had been years since we had shot pool together. Got him started at the age of 8 so he'd have a "manly sport." Personally, I adore shooting pool.Thought that I might be at a disadvantage since he had played only a couple of weeks earlier, but I wiped the table clean with him! haha    (included the pic of me just so there's be some kind of record of what I look like. I guess.)                                                                       

Furry blacks & browns, big pink tongues- and a person!

 

Well, here it is, August- already! And, I haven't posted since June= tsk, tsk! I have been ever so busy. Running around with friends, the yard, photographing a baby shower, and I can't really think of all the things that occupy my time and make it just slip away. Happily, one of the things with which I have been busy is doing portraits!!!!! These are the ones that I have done since the spring. The first is for one of our new pharmacists= she had it done as a surprise for one of her best friends. The second is a dog which belongs to my vet. The third was a father's day gift to a young lady's husband and she happens to be one of Emory's best friends. The woman's portrait is a birthday gift from her husband with whom I work. She is a school principle and he got it for her to hang in her office. Lastly, is Boomer, who unfortunately got run over and died. His owner is the other half of one of my very good friends, and he is a tattoo artist and I am bartering with him to have some color added to the dragonfly tattoo on my right shoulder to make it all pretty.

RED - The Color of the March Against Monsanto

How has Monsanto gotten away for so long with their evil? Animals dying, crops failing to meet production expectations, increased use of pesticides, super-weeds, killing people as well as increased disease and mental conditions, suing innocent farmers, taking away their heritage and livlihood. Now, they're killing bees. Their pockets are deep,  ex-Monsanto  heads are situated in government positions. I've never felt so passionate about anything. It's beyond comprehension what Monsanto is doing to us and the world (they are being banned now in Europe, halleluah!) But, the fight will be long and hard. I want to be part of it, so I participated in the March Aganist Monsanto on Sat, May 25, 2013 being held here in Charleston. It was actually a world-wide held event, with thousands of concerned people globally marching on the same day. After Jeff read up on the company, he was on board as well and so succinctly and eloquently spoke to those that came up to us with curiosity and questions. How long till the people are victorious and we once again control our food- our nonGMO, organic, natural food.- and not some evil, greedy corporation? Time will only tell......

Flowing Emerald Green Graduation Robes

 Sunday, May 12, 2013 - traditional graduation day at William and Mary on Mother's Day. And, my baby boy, Travis Cory Gunn, was graduating from William and Mary School of Law. He and a couple of others had ranked #4 in the class of 219, but while he and I were wandering about in a book store, Trav received an email from the college saying that they had moved up to #2 in the class!!!! I started crying right there- hell, I didn't even cry at his wedding! But, what an accomplishment. The day before, we had gone to the awards ceremony and Travis, along with all other qualifiying recipients, was inducted into the Order of the Choi - those in the top 10% of the class. Plus he had been published, one of 10 accepted, into the William and Mary Law Review. And...a couple of weeks later, we learned that Travis had entered a legal writing competition and had won first place - and, $500!!!!  Proud doesn't even begin to express how I feel about his accomplishments, his intellect, his sense of humor and humility. And, to think that I maybe had a little bit to do with whom he is and still becoming - I am honored. Now, it's the ole nose back to the grindstone as he commences studying for the bar at the end of July.....

Nicole and Chris' Multi-Hued Charleston Visit

 

Well, one month ago today, on May 1, 2013, my niece, Nicole, and her husband, Chris came by for a 2 day visit on their way back from Myrtle Beach. Two of Chris' friends that he had known since childhood had moved here from New Hampshire to work at the fire department on Isle of Palms. After their short stay here, he was ready to move down as well (something about all the outside activities, the beach, and the lack of snow...) It was a bit of a whirlwind, trying to get everything South Carolina on the agenda. Had to share Shem Creek and Vickery's as well as Poe's Tavern on Sullivan's Island. Alas, the wind was beyond blustery, with gusts up to 48 mph, I believe they said, so the trip out to Fort Sumter was nixed. But, we did make it to Magnolia Gardens- a plantation with plenty of wildlife for the mega animal-lover that Nicole is, and the Audubon Swamp for Chris, who was delighted at the sight of that big ole 'gator. When visiting Charleston, one must enjoy sauntering its streets, which we did, ending up at the Robert Lange Studio where we got to talk with Robert Lange himself, who had lived in New Hampshire for awhile. Then, down to the battery, where we stood up to the gales and got to see, to everyone's joy, 3 dolphin swimming in the waves. Nicole and Chris are such a wonderful couple- I so enjoyed them- perhaps they can stay a little longer next time....