Greetings from the swamp!

Audubon Swamp Walk, Charleston, SC 

I intended to walk through the gardens and catch the camellia blossoms but drove up to a full parking lot and discovered I was there on Pirates & Mermaids day. Yikes! I made a quick turn and wandered through the swamp instead. 

Reflections

Calhoun St., Charleston, SC 

I parked and walked to a meeting at Gaillard Auditorium this morning and spotted this reflection of Mother Emmanuel Church on Calhoun St. and grabbed a quick cell phone shot. This afternoon I walked passed a group trying to get a good shot of the church and I said, "turn around, here is your best shot," and they squealed with delight and thanked me. 

Reflections

Reflections, King St., Charleston, SC  

As I waited to take pictures of the parade this weekend, I entertained myself with the reflection of a bright yellow bicycle in the honey shop. Coolness abounds. 

A recently opened fun shop on King St. is Lulu Burgess. They have had a store in Beaufort for years that I always tried to stop in so I was tickled to see a branch in Charleston. They have happy trinkets and toys as well as some jewelry and clothing. It is the clever toys and gadgets that delight my inner child. Who doesn't need hand finger puppets and super hero outfits for your fingers? I clearly did. 

Reflections

Reflections

I love reflections and am easily entertained.

Reflections

Reflections, Charleston, SC

Happy New Year! Today's image has nothing to do with Charleston but I had a puddle to play with and a miniature ship on hand. That lead me to google Reflections and I came up with a list of Year-end questions thanks to Michael Angier at appleseed.com. 

1. What did I learn?
2. What did I accomplish? A list of my wins and achievements.
3. What would I have done differently? Why?
4. What did I complete or release? What still feels incomplete to me?
5. What were the most significant events of the year past? 
6. What did I do right? What do I feel especially good about? 
7. What were the fun things I did? What were the not-so-fun?
8. What were my biggest challenges/roadblocks/difficulties?
9. How am I different this year than last?
10. For what am I particularly grateful?

I had a lovely early dinner out with friends at Angel Oak restaurant last night. Everything was delicious and I felt fortunate to share the evening with good friends. Thanks to everyone who has stopped by the Charleston Daily Photo blog this year and especially those of you who take the time to leave a comment. Happy New Year!

Reflections

Mirror Art, Eutawville, SC  

Aaaah....I do love my weekends. It's been a busy week with holiday luncheons for volunteers at three different hospitals. When I look at the rooms full of good people my heart swells. I am so fortunate to be surrounded with men, women, young and old who are dedicated to making a positive difference in people's lives.

Today's image is from a recent trip to the Lake Marion area. This gentleman enjoyed painting on mirrors and I caught his reflection in his own art work.

Mirror Lake

Charles Towne Landing, Charleston, S.C.

 Where it all began.

Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site sits on a marshy point, located off of the Ashley River, where a group of English settlers landed in 1670 and established what would become the birthplace of the Carolina colony. Charles Towne Landing introduces visitors to the earliest colonial history of Charleston.

For my photographer friends, there is a State Park photography contest in progress. As far as I can tell by the web site, we are in the period to submit spring themed photos. Summer photo submission will end in June. Prizes are being awarded and there are lots of great photos in their facebook gallery.

Reflections of the flowers you used to be

Reflections, Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, S.C.

I've been on a reflection kick lately. While all the photographers were aiming at the birds in the rookery at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, the tourists spotted me studying the water and assumed I was aiming my lens at a gator. This time I was waiting for flower petals to flow into an appealing pattern in the swamp.

Refelctions - Colonial Lake

Old Baker Hospital, Colonial Lake, Charleston, S.C.

Everyone who owns a camera was out enjoying the day today and at this time of night the best photos start flowing onto Facebook. You'd think we were all hunters boasting about our catches. Birds, sunsets, cute kid pictures....it is a treat and makes me happy to see that people are out enjoying nature and their families. I started the morning walking in town and ended up in a park in Dorchester County. Not a bad end to the weekend.

Want to make a difference and have a chance at a really fun evening? A $10 donation to water.org and the Eastern Congo Initiative gets you a chance to win an evening out with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck on an all expense paid trip to Hollywood. Win win! Go Out in Hollywood with Ben and Matt! I love that they are doing this. What a brilliant way to earn money for a good cause. 

Single House Reflections

Vanderhorst St., Charleston, S.C.

We had another flash storm this evening - in some parts of town while others stayed completely dry. Things have been very unpredictable lately. Sun, rain, sun, beautiful sunset. 

Check this out - a bakery called Butter Blossoms Shortbread Shoppe & Tea Party Room is set to open West Ashley. That is different! I am a shortbread gal although I try my best not to be. 

It's time to take advantage of the fall Restaurant Week. Check out the restaurants offering special deals here: Restaurant Week. 

The Charleston City Paper has a description of the Southern Season gourmet store/restaurant opening in Mt. Pleasant tomorrow. Sounds interesting.

Here another couple of shots that I have shared on Facebook but didn't make it to the blog.

A message from the Unitarian Universalist Church

Beleaf me or not

Reflections

I love these picture. Any one watching may have thought I was nuts. I kept waving my hand around watching the reflection in relation to the floating leaves. I am so easily entertained.

Reflections - Colonial Lake

Baker House, Colonial Lake

I met friends at Husk for brunch this morning and knew it would be a good idea to walk a bit before and after that delicious food. I parked at Colonial Lake and walked the loop around the lake before heading down Queen St. The still water made for dramatic reflections of the old houses and a nice start to my 2013 album.

Zoom, zoom, zoom!

Reflections, Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Someone asked if it was my bike. :)

Just back from a weekend conference in Myrtle Beach completely disorientated. It feels like Sunday night. Who am I? Where am I?

I did ride the giant beach sky wheel at dusk! The best part was seeing the neon light reflection of the wheel in the glass window front of the beach hotels nearby. Very impressive. It was oddly cool and windy for the end of April but lovely to be at the beach when it wasn't packed with tourists.

Myrtle Beach Sky Wheel

Through the glass window - upper King St.

King St., Charleston, S.C.

No movie star pictures today!

I walked up to the Meeting St. Piggly Wiggly yesterday to buy fresh blueberries for my pancakes. It was wild and windy but it wasn't a long walk so I just tucked my little pocket camera in my back pack. I held it up close to one dirty glass shop window to take a picture and got carried away. Click, click.

Today's series is a collection of snapshots taken though the glass windows on upper King St. Locals will recognize most of them. It's reassuring that we haven't been taken over by national chain stores, yet, eh?! We have a ways to go before complete gentrification.