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!