Wild Kingdom of Harleyville, SC

Bear carving, Harleyville, SC

I always look for the bear carving when driving through Harleyville, SC. I almost missed him this time but sure enough, he is still there! There must have been a wood carver living in the town at some point because the eagle a little further up the road appears to be done by the same artist. Familiar roadside art work that I always look for.

The driveway gorilla was a new surprise and required squealing brakes and backing up for a shot. Thanks Harleyville!

Still dressed for Halloween

McClellanville, SC   

Someone is wearing his Halloween costume too close to Thanksgiving. Isn't there an etiquette rule covering this? No white after Labor Day, no fangs in November. 

Care for some water with your jail sentence?

Walterboro Water Tower, Walterboro, SC   

It is a dramatic water tower. I remembered a story about the base being used as a jail and according to this information that is correct. Multipurpose!

Atlas Obscura:  Constructed of reinforced concrete and standing 133 feet tall, the Walterboro Water Tower is one of only three standpipe systems in the state of South Carolina.There is a small door at the base of the tower that leads to a space that was once used as a county jail. Long since out of penal service, there are six small cells, and just a couple of windows. Some say that these cells later served as sleeping quarters for stranded travelers who needed a place to stay for a night. Not exactly five-star accommodations – or really any-star accommodations. Unless you count the star on the sheriff’s jacket that may have locked you up back in the day.  

Colorful tales of the traveling buoy

Traveling Buoy Park, Port Royal, SC   

In 1970 this adventurous buoy broke free from it's mooring in Port Royal Sound and traveled 6,000 miles - to Scotland! A British ship towed it to port. They charged 1.5 cents per miles to return it to Charleston. It was eventually returned to Port Royal and now sits in the Fraternal Order of Police Memorial Park where its light is kept burning in dedication to all officers who’ve lost their lives in the line of duty.

Another buoy recently took a shorter trip with Hurricane Irma ending up on Hilton Head island. According to the Post & Courier this one just went eight miles and ended up on the beach.

Tiny home option

Summerton, SC   

Downsize to a tiny home! Don't mind the neighbors. It's a bit run down and yet something still charming about the blue door, window trim and the curtain drawn back. Not quite move in ready, I admit.

We are all a turmoil stressing about Hurricane Irma. It's hard to know what to plan for on the South Carolina coast so holding tight and hoping for the best for the time being. I need to stay busy and distracted since there isn't really much to be done about it except watch and wait. Meanwhile I have my fingers, toes and eyes crossed. 

Confederate Statue - Kingstree, SC

Kingstree, SC 

Finally a Confederate statue that makes me grin with glee! It is a blooper. In front of the courthouse in Kingstree, SC is a statue honoring Confederate soldiers. There is a tiny discrepancy. The statue is that of a Yankee. The mistake is so delicious I had to get a picture for myself. Meanwhile no one seems to mind and the standard inscription honors Confederate soldiers.

KINGSTREE, SC — Around the turn of the 20th century, as veterans of the Civil War began dying off at a frightful rate, there was a burst of activity, both in South and North, to erect monuments to honor their dead and their veterans.
Williamsburg County was no exception, and May 10, 1910 was the great day of the unveiling of the Confederate soldier’s statue by the Courthouse in Kingstree. The statue was a result of much effort by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, who had raised the funds by holding many ice cream socials and strawberry festivals, and hired a noted Italian sculptor to create the monument.
According to local historian Bessie Swann Britton, there was a gasp of astonishment as the statue was unveiled and the crowd realized that it was the image of a Yankee soldier.As it turns out, the sculptor had mass produced many statues for towns all across the country, and he had switched the Kingstree statue with one intended for a Union memorial in York, Maine.
In York, the error was discovered before the unveiling ceremony, but the frugal New Englanders refused to pay for a second statue, and they went ahead to erect the Confederate statue in the center of town.
At the time, neither town knew where their intended statue had gone. Today, both statues remain in place, perhaps due to the cost of rectification, or maybe as a symbol that it’s time to let bygones be bygones.
The story is told, perhaps apocryphal, of a Confederate veteran who was present at the Kingstree unveiling, but had been imbibing freely ahead of time. When the statue was uncovered and he saw a Yankee soldier on the pedestal, he raised his arms into the air and cried, “Grant, I surrender!” before pitching forward into a ‘shine’ induced slumber.Posted by Brock Townsend at Thursday, February 06, 2014 

Mail call!

Salters, SC    

This is an original! Every once and a while I consider doing a series on fun mail boxes and then I forget about it. This one called for a quick turn around for a photo op. Send these folks a letter!

I can't help think of all the excited kids ready for the first day of school in Charleston County tomorrow. I'll be looking forward to all the first day at school photos on Facebook tomorrow. 

On the road - April's Playhouse

April's Playhouse, Florence, SC   

It's called Charleston Daily Photo but some days ya just have to get out of town. This was from Saturday's road trip to Florence, SC. My friend Rosie was driving and I knew I had seen this little structure when I had briefly been at McLeod Regional Medical Center at a workshop. With my confused directions we kept circling the medical facilities in the rain until I spotted it. What a cutie.

Hammer time!

Giant hammer, Scranton, SC    

Terrible things happened in the world and our country today but while the demonstrations were happening in Charlottesville, I was sailing along country roads under blue skies to Florence, SC. It seemed almost unbelievable to come home and turn on the news and be faced with the reality of hate in people's hearts.

In Scranton, SC we pulled over to grab a shot of this giant hammer in front of a salvage shop. The gentleman who built the hammer spotted me and came out to shake my hand. Meet Jerry Briggs.

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance - God Ain't Mad At Ya!

God Ain't Mad At Ya!, 

I had to get a picture of this sign. It is across from the popular Sweatman's BBQ restaurant in Holly Hill, S.C. 

Trying to stay ahead

McClellanville, SC   

I figured if they were going to have something like this on their property they wouldn't mind me taking a picture of it. Hello there! 

Edisto Mattress Swing

Mattress Swing, Edisto, SC 

The mattress swing on the side of the road is a familiar sight on the way to Edisto Beach. This is the most festive I've ever seen it. I am never sure of the etiquette - am I supposed to donate a couple bucks for the photo op? I'd be willing to but since I am never sure, I grab a shot and zip away.

Here is a link to some of the story: Edisto Mattress Swing. Sounds like it started when hubby had to sleep outside :)

Ketch up!

Burger Hut, Hollywood, SC    

Ketch-Up! You'll Relish the Flavor!

Pull up to the cutest little burger joint around in Hollywood, SC. It even comes with a religious message. "Taste and see that the Lord is Good". Fittingly, I was there on a Sunday and it was closed. 

Edisto mystery tree in it's summer glory

Edisto Mystery Tree, Edisto Island, SC   

The Edisto Mystery Tree is decked out in it's summer finery welcoming visitors to the island. I always look for it and try to grab a shot.

The tree stands a stone’s throw away from where Highway 174 intersects with Botany Bay Road. It’s nothing more than a scraggly little thing, but for generations it’s been decorated by locals and vacationers all throughout the year. During the peak summer months, it is commonplace to see beach chairs, sand pails, flip flops, Independence Day decorations, and a host of other items hanging from the tree. Like the seasons, the tree changes along with them. While the tree is ever-changing, the real mystery behind the tree is that nobody knows just who started the whole thing to begin with. In fact at one point some rebellious youths uprooted the tree and hauled it away, but lo and behold, some mysterious benefactor planted another similar tree in its place. Whether it was the same person who planted the original tree and started the decorative tradition or just a local who couldn’t stand to see the festive plant disappear, it appears that the Edisto Mystery Tree is not going away any time soon.

Hanging bottle store in Santee

S & G Liquor Store, Santee, SC   

I was with a friend in Santee, SC today and couldn't resist insisting that she visit the wacky hanging bottle S & G Liquor store. Don't go if you are tall! It's tricky avoiding all the bottles of booze dangling from the ceiling in the tiny shop. I don't drink much but must pay a visit for the pure joy of it.

On the road - Wells Japanese Garden, Newberry

Wells Japanese Garden, Newberry, SC    

We stopped for lunch in Newberry, SC and looked for the Japanese garden. We found it, a small sweet triangle of peaceful green on a roadside not far from City Hall.

The garden features a Temple, Torri Gate, Moon Bridge and Tea House. The posts of the Tea House originally held up the balcony at the Newberry Opera House prior to renovation of that structure in 1930. The site was totally closed off during World War II because of vandalism for being a Japanese style garden. The Wells Japanese Garden has been a City park since 1970. Reportedly, the Japanese Tea Garden at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco influenced Fulmer Wells when he was studying in California.

On the road - Travelers Rest

Sharing Library, Travelers Rest, SC   

What a happy surprise Travelers Rest was on our ride home from Greenville yesterday. We pulled up for a break and spotted this cute little reading park on the edge of a very active bike path. The bike path was on the route of coffee shops, boutiques and cafes and I suspect went all the way to the Furman University campus. It felt like a vibrant small town and I googled to discover that it is listed as a on of 15 of America's Coolest Small Towns. High five Travelers Rest!

Travelers Rest, SC (Population: 4,750) Travelers Rest gets its travel-mag-ready moniker from the pioneer days, when travelers followed a trail dotted with the occasional tavern or inn. But the town offers not only restful, comfy lodgings but also world-class outdoor activities.

Edit: I learned that the bike trail is part of the 19 mile Swamp Rabbit Trail that connects Travelers Rest to the city of Greenville. This is grand!

Monkey Photographer

Monkey Photographer, Cross, SC  

I passed this monkey years ago! When I spotted him again not far from Cross, SC I had to grab a shot. Sadly, during my absence he has lost an arm. Nice to see you monkey photographer!

Creative mailbox

Decorative mailbox, SC

It almost makes you want to write these folks a letter just to know they would reach into that cool mailbox to get it. In fact, if I can enlarge the shot enough to grab an address I might do that. I'll say, "Thanks for having such a cool mailbox. It's tempted me to stop and take a picture for years and I finally did it."

Be there or be square. Wed 8 PM

Eutawville, SC   

Work has been all consuming lately and I escaped for a quick overnight at Lake Marion to begin my weekend. This little building is in Eutawville, SC and since I am never in the area on a Wednesday night I need someone to let me know what the heck happens there at 8 p.m. on Wednesdays. It is a mystery!

An early night, a book to read, good company, a quirky photo-op and breakfast at Bell's Marina. I started my weekend right and hope you have as well. 

Welcome to all the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition folks invading Charleston this weekend.