Happy Day!

COW POOP

We are home after a wonderful trip to South Carolina to attend Jeff and Anne's wedding.  I am posting some candid pics and hope to have more in the near future.
This has been a great summer, but some sad times for those in our family who have much-loved pets.  Many of them have passed over the "rainbow bridge," and we animal lovers feel for them. 
Right now we are basking in the cool, crisp autumn mornings (with a hot mug of coffee) and warm afternoons---what is not to love about fall?!
Below you will find my backlog of summer photos.  Sorry for the delay.

 

Jeff & Anne - September 8, 2012

 

The reception was held in Charleston, SC, at the Old Exchange Building and Provost Dungeon in the historic district.  The theme was "Welcome to Bavaria."  As you can see, the couple changed {after the ceremony} into the traditional German dirndl and lederhosen.
 

 Located at the intersection of East Bay and Broad Streets, the Old Exchange Building is a National Historic Landmark and one of Charleston's oldest buildings. Since it's construction in the 1760s as the customs and exchange house for Charles Town, it has played a part in the most critical periods of American history.

In the Provost Dungeon, you'll see where pirates and patriots were imprisoned and where tea was confiscated and gunpowder hidden from the British during the war. Most notably, the only remaining portion of the old city wall (from 1698) has been excavated and can be seen in the dungeon.

The halls of the Old Exchange were where SC declared independence from England and ratified the US Constitution, as well as later hosting George Washington on his southern tour. Fortunately the building survived two wars and the Great Earthquake of 1886, and Jeff and Anne were able to celebrate their wedding in its beautiful rooms.

 

I took this picture of the Old Exchange Building on a horse & carriage tour that Lew and I took on Thursday.

 

 Jeff and Anne gave gifts of OKTOBERFEST coffee mugs and beer mugs to many guests.  I love mine and so do Mary Ann and Lin.


One of the fun things for the guests to do was put on "bibs" that made them look dressed in the  Oktoberfest garb---it was lots of fun.



Mary Ann & Lin

 

 



                 Anne's parents, Don & Sally

 

Moi and Lew

 

 

The cake---YUM-O!

 

 

 

 

 

 Steve  & Claire with one of the ushers---Lacy---, Don's "brother."

 

The Cocktail Hour Before The Reception

 

A toast to George Washington

 

below:  Official tours of the Dungeon were given during the cocktail hour.

The guide told us that Blackbeard was even worse than his terrible reputation.

 

 

Do you recognize this flag?

Lin and wax figure of Christopher Gadsden

The flag was designed by and is named after American general and statesman Christopher Gadsden.

 

 

 

The Rehearsal Dinner -

We enjoyed a low country boil at the Sea Island Yacht Club on Wadmalaw Island.

After dinner, Anne and Jeff gave us a German trivia quiz with prizes from Germany.

 

 

Crackin' oysters.

 

 

***********************************

 

O u r  C h a r l e s t o n  V i s i t

 

 

In the horse barn:

 

Instead of horses, we had a team of donkeys, "Rhyme & "Reason," on our carriage tour.  This was taken right after we got off of the carriage.  The horses and donkeys go immediately to a watering station after completing their nearly one-hour tour.  They are also checked for body temp and overall condition. (Notice Lew in the background talking to our tour guide.)

****************

RAINBOW ROW (named for the pastel-colored, old homes in the historic district).

 

Pictures I took on our carriage tour:

Again, I got one of the donkeys pulling us as we approached The Old Exchange Building.

There was a large open market near our hotel.  At one entrance Charleston sweet grass baskets were sold---grass picked by locals and all hand made.  You can tell by looking at me that it was rather warm.

It just so happened that Sally presented me with this cute, little sweet grass basket before we left---the perfect keepsake!

 

********

 

 

The ANGEL Oak Tree on Johns Island

 

The Angel Oak is a Southern live oak tree located in Angel Oak Park, in Charleston, South Carolina, on Johns Island, one of South Carolina's Sea Islands. It is estimated to be 300-400 years old, stands 65 ft  tall, measures 28 ft  in circumference, and shades with its crown an area of 17,000 square feet.  Its widest crown spread point-to-point is 180 ft, which is longer than any other live oak in the country. Its longest limb is 105 feet in length. The tree and surrounding park have been owned by the city of Charleston since 1991.

Cultural significance

The Angel Oak is thought to be one of the oldest living organisms east of the Mississippi River. The oak derives its name from the Angel estate, although local folklore told stories of ghosts of former slaves would appear as angels around the tree. The tree has become a significant tourist attraction.
It has survived hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and human interference. Angel Oak was damaged severely during Hurricane Hugo in 1989 but has since recovered.
Development is beginning to encroach on the site of the Angel Oak. In 2012, plans to build a 500 unit apartment complex that would be as close as 160 yards to the Angel Oak were challenged in court by the South Carolina Coastal Conservation League. Environmentalists say building apartments nearby could kill the tree because it would affect available groundwater and nutrients.
Acorns from the Angel Oak have grown to produce authentic direct-offspring trees. Live oaks generally remain short in proportion to their outward growth.
The Angel Oak tree is featured prominently in the book, The Locket, by Emily Nelson. 
above taken from Wikapedia


Jeff took all these pictures and did a great job.

 

 

 

 

We also went to Fort Sumter---I did not have my camera but may get a few photos from Jeff which I will post.

 

 

FINALLY---Sunday evening we got together with Mary Ann and Lin for dinner.

 

Someone at the Hampton Inn highly recommended this BBQ place to Lin---we thought it would be a real treat.  Hopes were high as orders were placed.

 

 

 Mary Ann ordered the "Big Joe" plate and I ordered the "Little Joe."

All I can say is that I NEVER, ever want any MO' Joe again!!!!!!!!!

 

We expected the BBQ with red sauce and did not get it.  Maybe some people like this yellow (perhaps vinegar and mustard plus other stuff) sauce, but we all though it to be awful.

We picked at our beans and the single fried onion and quit eating.  I do have to say that we had a fantastic time laughing about it all---one of those times you won't forget. 

 

After dinner, Linwood went to the restroom and came back and said he used the ladies' restroom---okay, Lin---quit being a wise guy.

But . . .

 

when Mary Ann and I got up, this is what we saw:

 

 

Needless to say, this is our final review of the restaurant:

 

Since 1939?  Guess we just don't get it!

 

Determined to end the evening on an upbeat note, we went for ice cream.

 

All's well that ends well!

 

NOTE:  Timmy, Nancy, Cathy, Mayos, Dianne, Carol B. and others who sent me photos weeks ago, I will be working on them today and the rest of the week---so I have not forgotten you.  I appreciate your sending them!!