Random Photos of Charleston Visit

Pre-Sunset explosion of sunlight!

Window in Tommy Condon's Irish Pub.

Always looking out to sea.

What is the beach without a feather or two?

Even the trash cans have that "beachy" look.

Just chilling by the sea.

Look out below!

What mysteries lie beneath these waters?

There are several squirrel nests in the backyard pines.

There were many cardinals living in the back yard.

This one tried very hard to hide from me.

Weathered steps leading to the most comfortable screened in back porch where you can sit and watch the birds and squirrels play.

It amazes me how high these pines grow. They sway with the wind and seldom falter.

Pine cones scattered throughout the yard. Small miracles that remain in one piece after their fall from the sky.

Casey makes the best Bloody Mary!! I always ask for a "small" ~ he makes them quite spicy! I wish I was there having one right now. I guess I'll have to wait till next time.

South Carolina Creatures

I am back in cool Virginia after spending a glorious week in warm South Carolina! The weather was beautiful for driving both ways. On the way, I was filled with anticipation and wide awake. On the drive back yesterday, I could barely keep the peepers open. It is a 7 hour drive and those 7 hours seemed to tick by more slowly than normal. It is always sad to leave, and once on the road my thoughts were of all the things I would have waiting for me back home - laundry, mail, my online class, grocery shopping, and things that I was already behind on....

Mom and I both had a real nice time ~ it is always a treat to spend time with Casey and Amanda. The weather was beautiful all week - in the 70s and sunny. We went to several consignment shops and antique shops, ate lunches at great restaurants, spent some time in downtown Charleston, and went to Daniel Island and Johns Island. I went to the beach alone one morning and walked, took photos, and pondered on the beauty of the ocean and all its gifts.

I took 614 photos while on this trip. There is so much to see and I seem to always have the camera in hand. Today, I am posting photos of some of the creatures I encountered this past week. I'll post more photos of other things in the coming days.

This little pond is minutes from Casey's house. There are 2 alligators that live in this pond and one (sometimes both) of them is often sunning on the edge of the water. One was out every day while we were there.

He is always on the opposite side of the pond from where people walk and ride bikes. Lucky for them. Do you suppose he has a fear of people?

This cute sea gull posed for me while all of his friends ran in different directions.

I was happy to see a flock of Ibis had decided to hang around the pond just in front of Casey's house. I am always fascinated with these birds and I love their long beaks.

These two were at the pond right next to one of the restaurants we went to. We used to go there for lunch often when we lived in South Carolina and there were always a pair of ducks in the pond. Could these be the same two?

Cute!

There are so many ponds, creeks, rivers, and waterways everywhere, egrets are easy to spot. I like to watch them walk in their jerky fashion.

I passed a group of vultures one day. They were eating the remains of a small deer. I took pictures of many of them feasting, but didn't think you would care to see that. So, I am only posting this lone vulture in a tree watching the others eat, patiently waiting his turn.

This little guy spent a lot of time in Casey's back yard right underneath the bird feeder that Amanda had recently filled. They have many squirrels and birds living there. It is a wooded back yard and I enjoy sitting on the porch just watching all the little creatures playing.

This beauty was pulling one of the carriages filled with tourists on a tour of historic downtown Charleston.

I had to post a shot of the beautiful moon. It looked so big and clear down there in South Carolina.

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I must say, as wonderful as it is to visit, I am always happy to be back home.

♥ Audrey

Like a Dog

Handle every stressful situation like a dog. If you can't eat it or play with it, pee on it and walk away.

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Oh, if only life were so simple. (:

Just want to let you know that I will be off Blog for several days. I am taking Mom to South Carolina to visit my son and his wife. I hope to squeeze in a little time for consignment shopping and I plan to go to the beach and walk and ponder. I will also take many photos and share the beauty of the Charleston area with you when I return.

Take care.

Love

On this Valentine's Day, 2011,

I wish you LOVE.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

♥ audrey

Vintage Valentines and Post Cards

This post card, dated 1923, has movable parts. You can move the top dove ~ he is attached with a small metal screw/brad type thing which is engraved. The card itself is made of a heavy paper lace which has the look of mother of pearl.

The heart with roses in the center of this post card is satin - so pretty. It lifts up and there is a message inside. Sweet!

These are a few of the vintage valentines and post cards in my collection. I have many more and might show some of them one day soon. Some of the older valentines are very cute and some of them are absolutely beautiful ~ intricate, lacy, and very romantic.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Valentines

I have collected Valentines for many years. I have recent valentines, vintage valentines, post cards, and other things that relate to Valentine's Day or Love. The ones I am posting today are from Hallmark's Historical Collection. They are reproductions of cards printed in the late 1800s. I managed a Hallmark Store for 10 years and then I was a Hallmark Traveling Merchandiser for a number of years. Each time Hallmark came out with a reproduction of a vintage valentine, I purchased one for my collection. I have many more, but thought I would share some today as they are so beautiful and Valentine's Day is near.

I also worked for American Greetings for a number of years as a Merchandiser. I enjoyed these jobs very much as I have always liked greeting cards.

I will post more Valentine related things tomorrow.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

How comforting to know He will wrap his arms around us if we only ask.

your face

these worn gloves

will not adorn my hands

when i next see you

it has been so long

i want to touch your face

i want to feel your warm skin

i want to feel the stubble

the wrinkles

your smile

i want to remember the feel

of face touching face

i will cast these gloves aside

not caring to wear them again

i want the feel of your face

to remain forever on my hands

Photo and Poem by: audrey

LOVEJOYFAITHHOPEPEACE

makes our friends a little dearer.

makes our hearts a little lighter.

makes our paths a little clearer.

makes our lives a little brighter.

brings us a little nearer.

All photos are compliments of the internet.

Cardboard and Quilts

Thursday evening was Art By Night in downtown Roanoke. I took Mom and my sister to the Taubman Museum of Art. I am a member, but they had never been to the museum. Along with the permanent collections that are hanging in the galleries, I thought they would enjoy the two traveling exhibits that are on display there right now: CORRUGATED FOUNTAIN and QUILT ART

It took James Grashow 2 - 1/2 years to complete this work of art that is made entirely of corrugated cardboard. 2007 - 2010. It is titled "Corrugated Fountain", is 14 feet tall, and fills the room it is exhibited in. There is only space enough for viewers to walk the exhibit around the perimeter of the room. These photographs are from small pamphlets provided by the museum and don't show a good closeup. We are not permitted to photograph while in the museum, so these pictures will have to suffice. While standing next to this, you can see the ends of the corrugated cardboard in some areas. The detail work is amazing. It truly is something to see.

THE TIME HONORED CRAFT OF QUILTING IS SHOWN IN A BEAUTIFUL AND INTERESTING TRAVELING EXHIBIT THAT RECENTLY OPENED AT THE TAUBMAN MUSEUM OF ART

QUILT ART: International Expressions

Irish quilter, Ann Fahy's "Continuum" (2004), is made from 12 eleven foot tall panels of pleated, dyed, and machine quilted linen. It takes up quite a bit of space on the gallery wall and is a beautiful sight to see.

Linda Colsh, of the United States, made this quilt titled "Grace of God" (2007). It is dyed, printed, and painted cotton fabrics machine pieced and machine quilted with the artist's photography.

This quilt, "Cutting the Carbs - Shedding the Pounds" (2004), was made by Bethan Ash of Wales. It is 100% cotton, improvisationally cut and fused, machine quilted and stitched with digital transfer text.

"Curve" (2004), is a painted, printed, and stenciled cotton quilt, made by Janet Twinn of England.

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There were many many beautiful quilted works of art to see. I wish I could share them all with you. There were no photographs of my favorite quilts in the pamphlet. I guess if you want to enjoy the beauty of this incredible exhibit, you will have to make a trip to Roanoke, Virginia, and make a stop at the Taubman Museum of Art which opened in November of 2008.
Be sure to click on the photos to get a bigger and better look at these works of art.

94 Years Young

My sweet Mom celebrating her 94th Birthday yesterday!

HAPPY 94th BIRTHDAY, Mom !!

I love you.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥