Boone Hall Plantation, Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, USA

In 1743, the southern live oak trees at Boone Hall Plantation were planted, arranged in two evenly spaced rows on the approach to the house. The spectacular result is visible today and will stay in your memory for  a long time to come. (Picture the scene from the movie Forrest Gump when Forrest is running down the long driveway being chased by his schoolmates and Jenny says, "run Forrest run."  It wasn't filmed here but it's the same basic look.) It took two centuries for these massive, Spanish moss-draped branches to meet overhead, forming today's natural corridor. Boone Hall is also one of America's oldest working, living plantations. They have been continuously growing and producing crops for over 320 years.

This view is the side of one line of the trees away from the roadway.  Although I do not want to glorify anything from those days of slavery, the enduring beauty of these trees is still worthy of remark.

Let's sit a spell and chat on the front porch rockers.

This little lizard was hanging out on this 1923 Farmall tractor.

This cotton boll had just split open - roughly 4-5 months after planting.

This cotton boll is fully open and ready for picking and turning into our clothing.

And after a hard day being a tourist in the hot sun, what does a vegan have for dinner?  Roasted vegetables with whole wheat pasta and fire-roasted tomatoes and white beans.

And for an extra helping of antioxidants, a glass of California red wine, 2010 Malbec.  I think I can get used to this retirement lifestyle if I just keep practicing at it.