Citadel, Charleston, South Carolina, USA

The Citadel is a public, coeducational college established as the Military College of South Carolina in 1842. Since its inception in 1842, The Citadel has sought to prepare its graduates intellectually, physically and morally to be principled leaders and productive citizens in all walks of life. It emphasises core values of Honor, Duty and Respect.

Almost every Friday afternoon when classes are in session, the cadets conduct a parade or award ceremony. The public is welcome to observe. It is quite a visual treat. It is great to see young people with an eye on a future of high standards and leadership - we need leaders to make positive things happen - and hopefully develop thoughtful alternatives to war.

One of the barracks across the street from the parade ground.

Visual definition: Stand up straight with your shoulders back.

The Citadel's own Regimental Band and Pipes leads the parade and provides accompaniment for the National Anthem and other marching tunes while the cadets march past the reviewing stands.

The Citadel Regimental Band and Pipes was the only U.S. band in Edinburgh, Scotland, for the 2010 Diamond Jubilee of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, a month-long nightly festival of music, pageantry and demonstrations by military organizations from around the world.

Eye on the drum major.

White spats and kilts on the pipers.

And what parade would be complete without multiple firing of the cannons. Maybe next time I can time my photo to catch the fire from the muzzle...........

20,000 Views !

The above photo shows my computer screen this afternoon. Today I reached 20,000 pageviews of my blog! Thank you to everyone for spending a little time with my blog over the past couple years. I hope these 60-second vacations of the mind and eye have been fun for you - it sure has been for me.

Today, Isle of Palms (and the whole area) received almost 3 inches of rain in 24 hours. As the storm cleared an hour before sunset, the air was fresh and clear and warm - it was wonderful.

Whenever I see the spume blowing off the tops of the waves, it reminds me of a poem by John Masefield that has been stuck in my brain since 5th or 6th grade in school:

"I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,

And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,

And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,

And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide

Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;

And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,

And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,

To the gull's way and the whale's way, where the wind's like a whetted knife;

And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,

And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over." 

Good night and thank you!

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." The movie wasn't filmed here but it's the same basic look.) It took more than 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.

The Avenue of Oaks

Outside the Avenue of Oaks.

Another live oak elsewhere on the property, adjacent to the marsh/river.

And in the gardens - poppies.....

.....and daffodils already blooming in mid-February.

One of the more aloof horses.

Two of the more friendly horses.

 Seated in front of a former slave cabin, a presentation about the Gullah people is conducted by Bob who is assisted by an audience member in demonstrating a typical rhythm to which the slaves would work at a consistent pace. Gullah is a language, a culture, and a people living in the lowcountry coastal region of South Carolina and Georgia. The Gullah trace their roots to the slave ships from western Africa in the 17-1800's. 

On the Water, Charleston, South Carolina, USA

One of the features of the low country is that even in drought conditions, water is everywhere. The daily rhythm of the tides always a reminder of the dynamic system of nature, the narrow channels snaking back and forth through the marshes, sometimes full of water, sometimes drained to the mud.

Sailing on Charleston Harbor, the Ravenel Bridge in the background.

Shem Creek in Mt. Pleasant.

Also Shem Creek.

The USS Laffey at Patriot's Point in Mt. Pleasant.

Sunset over Charleston Harbor as viewed from Sullivan's Island.

It's mostly water (with a little alcohol)  - three vacationers from New England enjoy a cold one.



Day in the Life, Isle of Palms, South Carolina, USA

Today featured cloudy and showery weather - but the temperature  will be close to 70 degrees Fahrenheit so I can't complain much.

Sunrise.

Early morning.

Mid afternoon.

Late afternoon.

Evening.



Bird Houses, Charleston, South Carolina, USA

In conjunction with the Southeast Wildlife Exposition, the Kids for Conservation Birdhouse Display showcases original designs of natural and/or recycled materials by area high school age students. The houses were on display at the main library in downtown Charleston. They were crowded onto or under long tables so it was difficult to get a clear and well lighted photographic angle. Here are a few examples:

Books

Bottles

Corks

Records

Tongue depressors and coffee stirrers

Soda pop cans

Circuit boards

I'm not sure real birds would actually inhabit these creations but they are fun to enjoy nevertheless. I am also intrigued to imagine that the raw materials for these projects reflect the home life of the young artists and the cultural affects in their lives. Maybe I'm reading too much into it.........



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

The majestic Southern Live Oaks (Quercus Virginiania) and adjacent horse pasture run parallel to the entrance road to Boone Hall plantation.

If I could just get a horse to stand by the railing and hang his/her head over the fence........where's Mr. Ed when you need him?

Looking through the gate near the main house, the Avenue of Oaks dramatically lines the entrance to Boone Hall plantation.

Today, Gullah is a language, a culture, and a people living in the lowcountry coastal region of South Carolina and Georgia. They trace their roots to the slave ships from western Africa in the 17-1800's. The presenter shown above, Jacqui, provided a powerful rendition of Gullah experience for visitors to the Boone Hall plantation.

This slave cabin is typical of the 27 that were built on the plantation during the years of slavery. Usually 15 persons lived in such a building. Most slave cabins on other plantations , unlike these, were built of wood, lacked windows, and had dirt floors.

Bricks were also a product of the Boone Hall plantation in addition to crops such as rice, indigo, and cotton - all based on the labor of slaves.

Sweetgrass baskets are popular local products.  They are handmade mostly by descendants of the Gullah people.



Charleston, South Carolina, USA

It may be cold enough for gloves and coats but, it's not too cold to sit outside at a rooftop restaurant for a midday snack. (Note: not many others of like mind).

Crisp light on a bright winter day.

On the second Sunday of the month, King Street is closed to traffic in the afternoon and transformed into a pedestrian mall.  In spite of the cold  temperatures and wind, many folks were still out to enjoy the day.

The main lobby of the U.S. Post Office on Broad Street at the "Four Corners of Law." The four corners refers to the presence of federal, state, municipal, and canon law offices. It is still a working post office, the brass and marble cared for regularly.

A small lane south of the "four corners."

What treasures sometimes hide below the surface.

This city park is the Wragg Mall located outside the Aiken-Rhett house.