One Year Ago ...

One year ago we moved to our own little paradise... it's called Little Rockland. Our first guests were Randolph's best friend Woody and his girlfriend Jen.  The weekend consisted of Pumpkin Carving, Star Gazing, GEORGIA Football , and the FAIR ! This year will be a little different ... we have an action packed weekend planned  to include good food, good friends, more pumpkin carving , more Georgia football and this year .... a DANCE PARTY!  

We are excited to show off what we've done with the place .. the most fun thing is that we've turned Duchess Townsend's house into our home ... she must like what we've done with the place because all  (and  I do mean ALL) of the people who knew her swear her ghost lives here...and that she would let us know if she were upset with the progression of things.  I'm not convinced she likes our artwork as the pictures are always crooked , but otherwise I think she feels the love.  The stories of her life  are the BEST and I hope that we continue to learn more about her , the island, and this place.   In the meantime I'm simply excited for the annual Fall Visit of our good friends. I'm excited to come home to a place that I share with a loving black lab and a supportive loving guy. 

Talkin' 'Bout My Generation...

gen .er. a. tion ( noun )

According to Miriam Websters dictionary  a geneartion is   a body of living beings constituting a single step in the line of descent from an ancestor.

 I  often find my mind drifting to another time .. wondering once again where my roots are .... where did I come from ( I know for all of you wise-cracks out there ... from my mothers womb ...) but don't you ever wonder what it would be like to have a conversation with your great great great ....  I pull from my deepest memories sometimes to grasp on to the recollection of spending time with my Granny Carroll ... She was my fraternal  great great grandmother . I can barely remember now her home in Maryland but what I do remember was her huge hugs - burrying me in her bossom with her  white apron on ... She was quite the lady - certainly not too affectionate but definitely full of love ... a hard working , strong woman but gentle and kind... I remember the way her eyes twinkled when she would smile ... and I remember  ever so slighlty her immaculate home - wide porches and a fabulous winding staircase leading into a big entry parlor.  I remember being very small and in that very house when the Nixon scandal was ground breaking news... and I remember her cellar and the fish pond in her yard. .. I have always wished I could have spent more time with her sitting on her porch and hearing stories of her childhood ... I'd love more time  with my grandfather ... pictured here ..  I was his only grandchild and he treated me like a princess ... he was always patient ( probably due to a little help from his afternoon martini ) and always so proud to show me off to his friends ...  So when I received this old photo the other day those fond ole' memories flooded back and my heart smiled... Thanks for lifes lessons , thanks for your love, and ... thanks for the memories !  I love you still ....

Let it BEE

Nothing like a little sweet honey ....

Today when I woke up I had no idea the adventure we  were about to embark on ... I always have a list of things I want to experience but when I need to extract those options I seem never to be able to recollect my bucket list.  However ... today simply proved that my other half actually DOES listen .. one more reason why I love him so much .... so with no idea if I've dressed appropriately we hop in the car and off we go ... quietly I take in the surrounding route south ... we stop at a gas station for gas .. I don't know if this was to stump me or if we truly needed fuel ... but post stop we went "swurvin' down a dirt road ... ok... not really swerving but it sounds good ... we hugged the Edisto River ... and I thought I had an A-HA moment ... we are going to Bulls Island ... really ... I'm starving so as much as that would have been a great idea too  I'm glad we ended at ... Bee City ... there is a spot to get a hotdog there and as hungry as we were , that little nugget was as good as any steak would have been at the time ...
After our victuals we ventured through Bee City .. interesting ... very interesting ...they have more than just bee's at Bee City ... there are turtles and goats, and donkeys and goats, and monkeys and goats and exotic animals ... and did I mention goats ??   We also hiked the nature trail ... don't be too impressed ... the nature trail is a small little loop through the yard but when in Rome ... you know the deal ...  We did see some bee's and we even brought home some honey and I even saw how turtles "do it " ... don't ask ... it's not pretty... But I had fun and I have learned a few things today :
*  Randolph really does listen to me
*  I can check Bee City off the list
*  I don't really like to see animals   ( other than snakes which I'd really rather not see at all ) caged and out of their natural habitat.
*  And in the words of John Lennon ... There will be an answer ... let it be,,, let it be ...

PS.. I think this little guy liked my shirt too ... 

Cruising Through Lunch ...

It really can be done .... First you gather the friends who will push fun to the edge .. those who know you but wanna come along anyway ! Once you've rallied, let the fun begin ....

The Port purchased a fancy new gangplank which is air conditioned... key for keeping your good looks for that ship photo once on board...

 Make a quick stop in front of the mosaic tile wall ..
Photo Tip: All the Color makes a girl look skinny . 

A Quick Dash Through the Disco will help make room for the Luscious Lunch that Awaits... We choose to " Do the Monkey " .. our theme song ... 

Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil .. Just like Vegas what happens on the Ship, Stays on the Ship...



 

A 5 Course Lunch with Shrimp, Scallops, Beets, Goat Cheese, Lobster, Filet, and a Trio of Desserts - It's true that the way to a mans ( and woman's) heart is through the stomach then Carnival Cruises  has won our hearts !



It's OK if he doesn't speak English ...
He can just show us how the equipment works...




Yoo Hoo ... Is This Right ?







Check Matey!



FORE!



A Quick Run Through The All Day Buffet



American Idol Ain't Got Nothin' On Us!

Shore Excursions Never Looked So Good ..

Lucky 7's .. Come On ... I need some bar bucks !

Poster Girl !

Carnival Fantasy Ships Is Home Based Right Here in Charleston ... All Aboard !



Post Cards Ship to Shore.. Weathers Great .. Wish You Were Here...





I'm beat.... But it sure was fun ! Wonder if they have a great rate at the Courtyard Historic Distict ?

Yesterday we were treated to a tour and lunch on Carnival's Fantasy Ship ...  It brought a whole new meaning to the term " Lunch & Learn" ..  I learned that you can have a mini vacation during your lunch hour, meet tons of great new folks, see an awful lot of fun getting ready to take place on the ship, eat , eat, and eat... then run through a variety of fun activites before heading back to reality ... Thank you to Carnival for Choosing Charelston as a home port - your support of our community both economically and philanthropically is aplauded ... May we sail into many beautiful sunsets together ....



HE NEVER PROMISED ME A ROSE GARDEN ...

"Flowers are beautiful hieroglyphics of nature,
with which she indicates how much
she loves us " .. Wolfgang von Geothe 

My Wildflower Garden @ Little Rockland

Short Blog today , but I had to share my beautiful wildflower garden for those who can't come enjoy it in person...

To quote Rufus Wainwright .. " When you are smiling , the whole world smiles with you ... and when you are laughing the sun comes shining through ... "  I'm sure smiling in my little piece of paradise - come visit and stay for a while ... it's peaceful here ... the gentle breezes off the marsh will welcome you as much as Randolph and I do ... So Come On ... Walk in a Little Sunshine with us ... Boy It Feels Good ! 

"Earth laughs in flower" .. Ralph Waldo Emmerson

... to quote Sheryl Crow , "Love is like wildflowers... it's often found in the most unlikely places.. "  

Volunteerism ...

 I don't really know when it was that I became a volunteer... perhaps involuntarily in my youth when I didn't want to clean my room but was bribed ( back then allowance was only a quarter ... seriously - and you could buy an icee from IKES for ten cents ) .. but that's another blog... I distinctly remember however in college wanting more than anything to go to theater - I couldn't afford it on my quarter a week savings so I volunteered ... in the box office... back stage ... anywhere they could use me and I could see the shows for free...  I loved every minute of it and my efforts took me to places I'd never have believed ... I was a loyal theater volunteer for over 20 years and still reflect on the good friends made through that channel.. I learned , laughed and even shed a few tears over the years.... But it left me with so much more than I ever gave ... I learned about life ... about family ... about love ... and about overcoming obstacles ... it also made me really good at what I do today as so many of the techniques I learned are applicable in the hospitality field. 

As my interests have changed I have volunteered in other fields as well ...  fundraisers, with horse stables, in my Church, at regatta's .... each experience is as rich as the one before and each leaves me so thankful for the effort ... it's not so hard to make excuses sometimes - heck many times - but so many worthy agencies and people depend on volunteers to make a difference... take today for instance ... I volunteered at the Lowcountry Foodbank ... after a frustrating hunt for the place which was not on my GPS because they had just moved I finally stumbled on it and figured ... now that Im here I might as well go in ... I thought for a second of just calling my boss and saying that I'd gotten lost and needed to go to the office but I went in anyway knowing that he'd bee looking for me ... you see... I went to the Foodbank on behalf of my workplace ... they picked the Foodbank ... not me ... so this time volunteering wasn't as heartfelt ... or so I thought... 

Once inside we were greeted by the volunteer coordinator who efficiently shared the mission and statistics of the organization .. who knew that they were NOT a soup kitchen ?  or that they serve over 1000 meals a day at times... or that they organize, categorize , and distribute food to service organizations such as Salvation Army, East Cooper Meals on Wheels, Back Pack Buddies, Mentazonia ( a childrens program ) and more... Did you have any idea that 25000 volunteer hours last year made it possible for them to succeed ?   

I was lucky - I didn't wear sleeves -  I mean , it was only 102 degrees today by the time I got there ... they were lucky I wore pants ... but because of my sleeve ( or lack of them ) debacle I got SO LUCKY ... I was sent to the kitchen ( so I could wear a chef coat over my bare arms ) ... there I met and was inspired by the most amazing woman ... cheerful, organized, passionate, meticulous, caring, educational, thoughtful ... these are only a few words that describe the executive chef , Kimberly , at the Foodbank ... She is AMAZING - running the kitchen with a full VOLUNTEER staff... and DONATED product ... I promise you that her kitchen is the cleanest , most organized kitchen  I have ever seen ... Any restaurant or banquet facility should take a few lessons from her on how to run a kitchen or hospitality organization ... I cannot say enough about her gracious demeanor and tight ship there.   So after making, packing and distributing popcorn shrimp for 800 kids, 18 half pans of lasagna, equal number of ham and cheese casseroles , prepping hashbrowns creative formed from French Fries, and I don't even remember what else , I can tell you that you are only doing yourself a disservice my not helping out there ... It's an amazing place filled with love. Visit the website to learn more about it and better yet  visit the folks there and roll up your sleeves ... 

www.lowcountryfoodbank.org

They would be most appreciative but I bet you will be the one who leaves with the prize .. 

She Really is much more than a photographer ...

Wedding Photography  – you wouldn’t believe it even if I told you … though I really don’t know that I could make it all up so here goes…  I officiate weddings ... lots of weddings... and over the years I thought I'd seen it all ... until recently ...

I get to the wedding site the customary time  well before the affair … lightening cracking , skies opened up … it's an outdoor ceremony ...  but that wasn’t even the beginning…. I tromped through the wet grass after the rain burst , only to find THE FLORIST there setting up … WITH ALL OF THE GUESTS inside the reception hall  … they had all of their s*&t  flung out , van doors open and backed right up to the front door  like the guest of honor my friend … Caterers were still setting up too  … and guests were all just mingling – water only because they didn’t want to risk running out of bar bev’s… Maybe it was to be an interactive affair somewhat like a barn-raising ...Ok ... I like that concept...  So I wander off to find the bride and groom and of course the photographer in the designated "holding room "… Photowitch was in RARE form … barking orders at  everyone and bitching about E V E R Y T H  I N G  you could imagine… and even some things you can’t  imagine…

With  the bewitching hour now  upon us , the caterer and photowitch decided to seat everyone in the wet , humid, grassy ceremony area…puddled with fresh rainwater ...  I suggested we wait to make sure all important guests were present but NNNOOOOOOOO  it was time and dammit those guests were getting seated … like it or not … About this time the photographer reminds us all that she is so much more  than just a photographer...  so … we waited …. And waited … ho hummmm diddle dee dee … waiting ….. did I say , still waiting ?  At one point the dumpy DJ decided to use his dj voice to announce the brides father wasn’t here and basically that he was a sorry ass dad and piece of low life shit  ( this move  was directed by the photographer too )… nice … yes… REAL NICE … … still waiting .  BUT  after 90 minutes ( yes that is 1 ½ hours ) the brides dad showed up , we dried off her tears,  calmed down the groom  and were on our way … BUT NOT BEFORE the circus of getting everyone lined up  ( ever hear the saying hearding cats ) …. At this point , I am  just about OVER IT … I have gone way beyond my dreams of being patient, priestly, and whatever other persona I should exude in my role there…. I am now HIGHLY IRRITATED … but good southern girl that I am , I am still just standing and smiling ...  the photowitch directed me to make some “announcements “ before the ceremony started … yes … I am to announce that they throw the flowers petals located on the end of the aisles when the bride and groom recess ( oh , forgive me – they don’t’ know what that means so I am to use the words  “ WALK OUT” ) … but better yet … since it really IS all about the photowitch I am to announce that there is to be NO FLASH photography throughout the evening so as not to interfere with the photographers ability to take good pictures ) … PLEASE bring me the gun now … seriously ….

So we got the two kids hitched , everyone threw the petals , no one flashed the photographer … and the reception can FINALLY begin …

IT’s not over …

I went to say my congratulations and good byes … hugs … I am great… all that pizzazz… and now the photowitch is forcing her boyfriends cards on me …. She took a stack of them to pass out  AT THE RECEPETION … he is a MASSAGE THERAPIST … REALLY ????  I’m not really feeling it … I would like to state for the record however that I am retaining the rights to the B Movie and will use all characters playing themselves… reality tv has NOTHING on my experience …. And when I make my million off of the movie I’ll take you out for an iced cold skinny girl adult beverage on my new yacht ! HA!

I promise it  is ALL true …

Disclaimer:

In defense of the Bride & Groom ... she was truly gorgeous and he was a handsome saint... I feel certain they will have a long and happy life together ... it's simply  all about choosing the right players ...

Southern Gals...

What does it really mean to be a Southern Gal ?  Is it just being born south of the Mason Dixon line ? Is it simply being a member in good standing of the Junior League ... little black dresses , lily pulitzer,  Jack Rogers and Jackie O pearls ... I aspire to be much like Jackie in her style ( heck I would gladly take her bank account  and her slim profile too too ... ) but us southern girls don't evny what others have .. a true southern girl knows it's about family ... and good friends ...  about quality over quantity , about proper english, making your debut, and Irish diplomacy ... southern women are strong on the inside yet gentle in demeanor ... we are well rounded in both sports and social circles... Southern girls have grace ...Southern Girls also  have a good "go to " recipe from the Charleston Receipts Repeats of course - if not , I'm sure it will make the next edition -  ...  I am one of the lucky ones  - a Southern gal born in Virginia  and Southern by the Grace of God !   Lastly, a true southern girl knows the real meaning of Bless you Heart !
So to all my friends ... " Here's to the true hinges of friendship - swearing , lying , stealing, and drinking .
When you swear, swear by your country; When you lie, lie for a pretty southern woman; when you steal, steal away from bad company; And when you drink ... come drink with me ... !

Smile and the world smiles with you ....

What in the world possessed me to visit my dentist first thing this morning  ?  Clearly I was not thinking ... An early morning appointment means that you can't drink coffee on the way in ... and we all know that I need a huge kick of caffeine to get my morning personality going ....JEEZ ... so I hauled out of bed this morning dreading waking more than normal but excited to put a new condo on my vacant lot - I mean , have you priced out dental  work lately ??  It might as well be a condo ... .  I lost a crown a few months ago and thought perhaps I'd leave the gaping hole as a tribute to our move to the country ... after all ... you can't really see the absent tooth way in the back ... after a few days of gumming my food and chewing mostly on the right side of my mouth , I drew the line  - good dental hygiene is once again beckoning - call me a city girl or whatever you like ...  but I need my teeth !   I congratulate my new dentist on many things ... a friendly office, nice ambiance, good looking staff , and the most modern technology ... I mean , I've never had my blood pressure checked at the dentist office ?? I've checked it at a Doc In The Box, at the Regular Dr's office, a hospital, even at the CVS while waiting on a prescription fill , but until today .... never at the dentist office.  I was comforted to know that even after my temp. crown procedure I still have a really good blood pressure reading... I also feel confident that should you ever need it ... I could be identified by my thorough dental records though I sincerely hope you never have to resort to this ... So two hours and I won't even tell you how much money later I left with a new temporary crown , dental panorama shots of my mouth  including sinus cavities, the obligatory paste, brush ( for travel I suppose since I"m supposed to use my pricey sonicare brush ) , floss, and for some reason a pen ???  That must be to write the big hefty check -  The office name is printed clearly across the side so I don't mis-spell ...   I really wanted a boat ... or a vacation ... but I'll take my pearly whites  and keep  smiling ... 

I Thee Wed ...

Yesterday we celebrated the marriage of our friends Betsy and Moyer....  I remember the first time I met Betsy ... Randolph and I were at Dunleavy's on Sullivan's Island ... we had just started "hanging out" ... certainly  not  "D A T I N G "... We  were truly hanging out ... having fun .. I was minding my business listening to Carroll Brown strum my favorite tunes ... of course I was feeling confident as I have known Carroll for years and he kindly ( thank you Carroll) called be by name making me feel loved and part of the "in" crowd with my new pursuit!    Just when everything was going great , enter Betsy - the cute petite  blonde who I wanted so terribly to hate... She was nice ... ok ... nice enough for a girl I am going to have to pee on like a big newfoundland on a pine sappling...   Well... as they say ... NEVER say NEVER ... Betsy truly is a beautiful girl ... inside and out ... jump forward a couple of years now and find two girls who have forged a great trust and the beginnings of a lifelong friendship ... How flattered was I when she asked me... yes ... ME to help her with her wedding plans... She came over soon after her engagement with a big bag of ideas and photo's she'd collected ... we poured over that book like little girls showing off new Barbies ... It was heartfelt and I am blessed that she would want my input and assistance... never mind this is what I do passionately for a living ... It's different when a friend  trusts you with the details of their vision for the most perfect , memorable day of their life ... Even better, Randolph would cater and we were off and running ... All of those plans came to fruition this weekend... We were invited to attend the rehearsal dinner hosted by Moyers family at Magnolia's ... there we quickly bonded with Moyers aunt and uncle over a common loved of Haps hotdogs... but equally as heartfelt was the toasting ... Generally  when you don't know all the folks present and don't have a lifelong knowledge of the memories being touted .. this is a treacherous journey where you are forced to listen to drunken stories, wanting to grab the "hook" to free the stage but this was different ... despite being the "newest" kid in this most intimate family gathering , I sat on the edge of my seat , soaking up every word of love and affection of this beautiful couple ... I was drawn to tears over many of the sentiments and totally absorbed in the love that seemed to warm the room ( no it wasn't the wine ... I 'promise .. )
Saturday rolls in and set up begins .. as I throw everything in the car in preparation for what could possibly present itself , timeline carefully crafted and in hand, I head to Boone Hall plantation where the Cotton Dock is  dolling up for the soiree... The day ran smooth ... even dare I say ahead of schedule...   guests all arrived right on schedule ... here comes the groom and his men ... all looking fine ! and then .... the bride... she pulled up in her limo with her girls ... her face truly glowed , the smile on his face was priceless ..  It was a truly priceless - the ceremony, the decor, the cake , the guests,  even down to the weather which for July was unheard of at 86 with an ( almost cool)  breeze...  As I watched Moyer look at Betsy all night  ... the dances... his careful watch that she had freedom to bond with her girlfriends but not ever be left wanting for a drink or companion... it makes my heart happy ...
Congratulations to our friends ... I can't wait to one day have you share in my joy on my own wedding day ... and yes Betsy ... everything was JUST FABULOUS!

Midweek Rambling ...

So this week has already been a crazy , exciting, updside down week where once again time has completely evaporated into thin air... complete hours have simply vanished ... Is it me or is it funny how time , while scientifically calculated is exact but in reality some time moves faster or slower than others ??? Take for instance... when you have big plans for the weekend or a vacation -  time seems to
C R E E P by .. nothing can speed it up ... but when it's time to actually go there never seems enough time to PACK, wash the dog, do the laundry so you can pack , stop the paper , water the plants, finish up the last e-mail at work  - the list goes on and on ... mind you I don't have any plans for vacation any time soon but am certainly trying to find the time to are work on that too ....  In the meantime , I long for those Norman Rockwell moments where time seems to slow down ... to sit in my new vintage style chairs that remind me of my great great grandmothers yard ... and sip sweet tea ( vodka but don't tell ) , and simply be....  So as we head into a long holiday weekend  my hope for all my friends is that you can hurry up getting everything done so that you can slow down and enjoy friends, family, burgers on the grill, iced cold beer, a few fabulous fireworks , and the independence our soldiers and those before them fight so hard to give us !

Finds....

Yesterday Randolph and I set  out with no real agenda other than to get to our debut at Harolds Country Club by 6:30 pm so we headed out for a  drive south in search of nothing really but time together... one of our favorite things... time and roadtrips ... we never like to take the highway - if there is a backroad that will get us there at least the same day ....we're off trail and running !  We find the most beautiful things , places and people this way.. and many times our best conversations on life , love and the pursuit of happiness occur on these drives ! 

Today we experienced all of the above. 

First stop ... a little shack on the side of the road in Adams Run .. we had been kicking around the idea of a new dining room table - not just any table ... one that would reflect our love of all things old, that would be a place where many friends would surround for a hearty home cooked meal and share laughter and stories ... one that could tell a few stories of its own .. you know the table ... the one that you will want to pass down and your grandkids would say... THAT was my grandmothers table and they would reflect on the many great memories made there. 

Well who would've thunk that our perfect table , all dressed up with just the right shade of shabby chic blue as if she were smiling at us &  saying - "take me home " ,would be waiting patiently for us in Adams Run!  After a little romance dance around the perimeter of the store we got closer... fearful that she may carry too high a price tag ... we didn't want to fall in love... not just yet ... what if she didn't fit ?

Again she called ... finally, as we prepared our exit Randolph made the approach ?  Do you want this table he asked ?  I don't know ... how much ?... he just said .. do you want it ??  I did but seriously ... we weren't out to actually BUY a table today ... but there she was like most great finds ... ready and waiting ... so love had already taken hold ... she was ours ... and she was out for her first big adventure ... All loaded up in the back of the Surburban we head further south to Walterboro ... Randolph had never been and I had not really wandered around Walterboro .. ever ... wouldn't you know ... we wandered into the most peaceful environment ... peaceful  like a  museum or library  ... the Artisan Center in Walterboro ....  There we found more clues in an artist named Bernadette Cali .  She knows   a store on Wadmalaw that we too have fallen for ... another romance in the making... this one however may take a lot of courting ... be patient dear ole' nine mile ... we will find our common ground in time !  However I do have high hopes of making another friend in Cali Arts ... a beatiful artist who seems to know much about our beloved store .. excuse me ... schoolhouse...  I can't wait to know you Ms. Cali and soak up your stories of island life and travel ...

Onward and upward we continue our adventure ... upward to the next store that is ... by now I'm getting hot and hungry ... but Randolph is now on a mission ... our girl needs chairs to complete the family... again ... in and out of stores ... lots of cool things ... then ... we spy the ones ... 4 beautiful ladder back chairs right in the window ... mismatched with a wobbly old table.  We came and went and came again after justifying .. I negotiated what I believe to be an incredible deal ... the family is complete... no more looking ... we are so excited ... and still hungry .. so we drove "the family" around some more ... when what did we find next ... DAIRYLAND ...retro and ridiculously yummy - chili dogs classic , onion rings, soft serve and iced cold coke with rabbit pellet ice ! My somach is jumping up and down in anticipation ... DAIRYLAND - you did not disappoint !  When it can't be Jacks Pink Rockets a trip to W'boro for Dairyland is worth the gas...

After filling up on chili dogs we head for Yemassee - more food ... but on the way  - one last stop for serenity at Old Sheldon Church ... That in itself is another blog but not to be forgotten ... What peace lies there in that beautiful place.



We did make a 15 minutes of fame stop in Beaufort to see if we wanted to make a day of it on another trip but now back to Yemassee and Harolds ...
Harolds is a delight ... we arrived and found parking right up front ... we dusted off, straightened our shirt tails and made our way in ... past the gas tanks and right in the front door ... first things first ... when you don't know anyone - go to the bar ... or the bathroom !  Rand gathered our liquid courage ( a bargain at $ 5 bucks )  while I visited the loo.   I loved the people watching but was in great anticipation of THE CALL ...  The call for dinner  that is ... Randolph called early, ordered our steaks as we had been instructed, and shortly the lline opened ... lord child ... you should have seen that place move - like the Dixie Stampede they ran .... old and young.... now being a veteran I'm not so sure what they were running for because once you pay up and get through the turnstile , Gladys finds your name on a sheet , highlights it , and hands over the goods... rib eye - well done - it's all well done thought they do let you believe that the three pans of steak hold med rare, medium and well just for shits and grins ... jokes' on you ... all well done ... but then again .. it's not grain fed texas kobe beef so ... probably a lesser health risk ... well done it is !   Move on to the salad bar - or shall I say ... iceberg ,  1000 island ,  baked potato and a roll.  There is a pile of A1, parkay spread and sour cream likeness... and don't forget the ketsup ... lord i've never seen so much ketsup on adult steaks in one place IN MY LIFE ...

So as much as we loved our Harold's experience , the new family was waiting ... we were excited to get home and make introductions ... and as etiquette goes, it's really not polite to stay too long anyway  - especially on your first visit .... We we thanked our hosts , bid adieu to Harold and headed back home ...  It was the PERFECT day .... and we are excited for our first dinner guests to share stories around the table ...

Lost time ...

WOW ...when you are young , an hour seems like a lifetime ... when you are older - you'd give anything for just another hour .  Time - just like pigs - really CAN fly .... Since my last post I have started a new job as a sales manager at the Courtyard by Marriott ... it's been fun getting to know new people , new methods, and have new motivations.  Thank you guys for a warm welcome .. I look forward to a long successful run with you all ...

 I have also been busy performing some of the most beautiful weddings and tomorrow I once again attempt a dual language English - German ceremony ! If nothing else my sweet tea southern accent coupled with years between me and a schnitzel should break any nervous factor for the couple ... again ... a time I'd love another hour to practice my gutteral deutsch sounds ... ha!  It will be beautiful and if the wind continues to power through like it did at the rehearsal today , people will likely just think I have something stuck in my throat .. Heather - if you stumble on this post I hope you are laughing and not crying .. I promise I'll do my best... I love you guys ...

Speaking of nuptials , aren't Kate and William are all the buzz  with their big to do ... and to do .. and to do ... I mean isn't it about time for the TA DA !!??  and do they really have to do it at 4 AM ..??? Come on guys - get with the networks like any other sporting event and plan it around the media .. I mean are we going to be watching them set up the palace and polish the pews at the cathedral ??  All joking aside, thank you to kate  for providing our next wedding trends ...

Well other than the work and the weddings , and looking for more hours in the day ,  we've just been collecting eggs, enjoying endless enjoyment with the feathered ones - a topic worthy of it's own post very soon I promise...

I hope those of you who may find this blog are having great days and finding something in every day that makes you smile !

Until later...

Change

Change - by definition is to make different... I haven't written for a few weeks because of just that very thing ... I've been really busy with change ... lots of change ...change in my house in town, change in jobs for both Randolph and myself which leads to more change - ie the house may just have to have some judge hair on the floor.... I'm so happy for Randolph who is working hard in Jim - N - Nicks BBQ  management ... they are lucky to have him - and he seems to have found his niche and even despite some VERY early mornings ( we can now attest to the fact that 5 o'clock actually DOES come twice in one day - more change  ) he is really embracing his new digs ... I have one more week with Planters Inn & Peninsula Grill before going to Marriott - i'll only be a few blocks away- I always have a hard time with goodbyes and since I'll be back to officiate weddings it'll only be " see you later "   - I thank you guys for a great 2 years ..
I look forward to new chapters with Marriott and will write more about that later....
 Thank goodness for the  change in the garden - oh  how it is  growing... lettuce and radishes and onions, oh my! It makes for happy deer, happy rabbbits and a happy girl here ... Thank you to Rand and G for planting enough for us all ... Getting your hands ( and knees ) in the dirt is therapeutic.  I appreciate that the guys have done the hard work and let me come "play" when I need to get my "grounding" on...

So like Jimmy Buffet says, changes in attitudes can make all difference with  the changes in life ... and why not ... after all , life would be pretty boring without change!

Early Spring

Have you ever seen so much pollen in March ?? Seriously ?  It's so bad I had to recall my "out" shot against my opponent in Thursday nights match ... we were on hard courts but the pollen was so bad that I could see the ball mark ( and my mis-call ) ... UGH!
But it has certainly been the perfect weekend at Little Rockland - to catch you up , we took delivery of 10 Rhode Island Red laying hens Tuesday evening ... and they started laying eggs on Wednesday ! Not only are they the most entertaining girls - lined up on their roosting poles like the NY City Rocketts ... they are putting out some beautiful eggs ... They must feel at home in their designer digs ... Thank goodness ...
It's been a busy week at work and Randolph has started his job as the catering manager at Jim N Nicks - it seems a great fit with his passion for pork and his sincere support of the SFA, something that he and Jim N Nicks share  - and I'm certain that soon they will learn that he is most effective when he doesn't have to rise before the sun !  He has been a good sport about it however and Judge and I have enjoyed some early morning snuggling ...
The weekend brought my high school bestie and her family to the beach this weekend ... I can't believe her son is 16 and over 6 ft tall .. WOW ! What an amazing job she and Ed have done with him - They have got to be proud ... not many kids turn out like Wynn ... Kudo's to you guys !
Then the reunion brought old college friends - I could not be happier to catch up with my friend Valerie and her mom... Thanks to everyone for making the trip to our little piece of paradise !
So as I sit here and enjoy the breeze in the open windows, loving dog by side  - and handsome cook in the kitchen , I am once again pinching myself of the great life I have ... it's a simple life - but it's my life and I love it ... and I love that each of you take part in shaping my chapters ... with that - have a great week ...

Until next time.... C.

Music to my ears ...

It must have been a happy man who took it from the caveman grunt to broken english  to the Queens English then added tunes .... Isn't it amazing how a song can make you feel ?  It certainly can make you happy, sad ,even at times a bit angry .... It  evokes memories of friends or a place in time  -  it's all encompassing on the emotion scale... but I dare say any of us would agree we would be worse off without music in our lives...

I think I like not just one or two songs - but era's .. who could not possibly love Willie and Waylon, Bluegrass and Banjo's , Sotuhern Rock and Sultry Soul ???  I even have one friend who is teaching me to "hit da' flo" in some  apple bottom jeans ... reality I've seen her on a video clip and she can really hit get those " boots wid da fur" movin ' - you go Mel...

Isn't it  fun to really belt out a ringer sometimes  - Roadtrips, Showers , and how secure and happy I feel when I hear Randolphs deep voice ring through at Church ... and it makes me smile when he's singing those country songs at home - there tends to be a natural smile on his face when he's a country star ... now give it a few beers and that's a different story - it becomes less musical talent and more comical .. but that's what I love about him ! Whatever the moment he seems to smile when there's music and THAT makes me happy too !

Anyway,  I don't know who you were in the beginning but I thank all of the singers and songwriters for giving me one of the biggest joys of my life !

Sing on everyone ! Sing on ...

Water

I learned a lot this past weekend from two things that I love  ... cooking and water... Water is so complex and after my MANY ( try 15 ) attempts at icing for my Lady Baltimore cake ( more about that later )  my eyes were opened about the many uses  of water ... First ... I don't think I could live somewhere where there was not water close by ... even though I  probably take it for granted too many days , there is nothing like the calm that envelops  you when driving over the bridge into downtown on your way to work ,  waking to a high tide, seeing heron in the marsh ... you know the feeling...  Then comes the great feeling of water ... when you are cold a good hot shower can warm you right up , when you don't feel well a nice long bath can ease the pain , when you are hot  - a plunge into the ocean provides a refreshing reprieve ... and the fresh smell of your spouse just after a shower is pretty comparable to that of air dried linen on a sunny day ... Just the thought makes me feel all happy inside...  These things just scratch the surface about water but ...
To bring it full circle, I've been desperately trying to decide how I'm going to drop a few lbs before summer - really before April when Randolphs family visits... so as I was busily pulling bread out of the oven and attempting the Lady Balitmore cake from my trusty Charleston Receipts ( I know - not on the diet )  I realized that it's true what the diet demons say ... water will TRULY FLUSH FAT ...Insert the ATTEMPTED Lady Baltimore icing ... I used a flat ( 18) eggs , a bag of sugar, and 1/2 bottle of KARO light corn syrup trying to get that sticky perfection right - after each attempt , the only thing that would soak the pan clean was ..... you guessed it ..... H2O  - If it can get stuck hard sugar off of a pot it MUST be able to flush some fat through your body .... so it appears I"ve realized my first step on my ongoing journey to drop a little weight ... drink the water - just like they all say ... so bottoms up!

Living for the Weekend

Funny how on Monday the topic of conversation is " How was your weekend ? " , by Wednesday it's 1/2 way to the weekend and Friday - well Friday is technically the weekend !!!! YEAH!!!!    This week is a little different .... the week is rolling along like the whole thing is a weekend... the energy of the Wine & Food festival coming to town brings so many friends and more good food ..... We are excited to have friends visit this whole week ... Melany arrives today to experience  Little Rockland for the first time ... boy do I think she will be suprised.  Then Harriss arrives tomorrow for a 2 day stint in the country - bring on the good wine :-) ... the our good friend Jennifer will hit the "farm" on Sunday .... boy won't she just love the new chicken chalet ! We've been busy getting the place ready - a real work in progress but we find hours of fun building on our little piece of paradise each week... so pack your bags or even just your daypack and head on out ....

Walking on Sunshine

Driving in to work this morning it felt like spring - fog lifting off of freshly plowed fields ... high tides on Church Creek , the quiet before hitting the city and getting to work only to be trusted to plan Jessica and Michael's entire wedding  ... what a great feeling ...  I have a good life....  I look forward to a busy weekend ~  more to come....

stream of conscience

excited ; chickens; lab puppies; weekend plans; new friends; taste of the nation; wine & food festival; sunshine; warm weather; diet; raw food; whole food; just food ; organic; music festival; travel... so much to think about ... join me on the journey ... and share a smile along the way ....