The weekend of June 2-5 we flew down to beautiful and HOT Charleston, SC for a wonderful getaway that included a little bit of everything Charleston is known for - a plantation, deep sea fishing, the beach, fine food, history, southern hospitality and a touch of real romance!
Ashley R., daughter of our dear friends Mark and Janet, moved to Charleston last year, and she fortunately planned her destination wedding to Nathan U. close to her home. That provided all of the guests with a fantastic place to spend an early June weekend. 
The US Customs House is one of the most oft photographed landmarks in all of Charleston. We had dinner on Friday night at Fleet Landing, located on the water just behind the Customs House.
The US Customs House is one of the most oft photographed landmarks in all of Charleston. We had dinner on Friday night at Fleet Landing, located on the water just behind the Customs House. We arrived in Charleston early enough on Thursday to spend the entire afternoon touring Magnolia Plantation, ancestral home of the Drayton family and now owned by the 12th generation of that family who arrived on this site in 1676.
The main plantation house was built in the late 19th century to replace earlier homes lost to fire.
This magnificent lane of Spanish moss festooned live oaks leads one deep into the plantation.
The main plantation house was built in the late 19th century to replace earlier homes lost to fire.
This magnificent lane of Spanish moss festooned live oaks leads one deep into the plantation.
On Friday morning we headed south about 1 hour to Edisto Island where we spent a wonderful day on the water with Gabrielle, Dale's former boss at Thomasville Medical Center, and her husband, Spike.
We took Spike's boat, Miss, over 15 miles out into the ocean to fish, but the fish were not biting. While Spike was somewhat disappointed that no fish were caught, all agreed that the trip was so fun and relaxing that it did not really matter at all.
The view up the Edisto River from Gabrielle and Spike's Edisto house.
We took Spike's boat, Miss, over 15 miles out into the ocean to fish, but the fish were not biting. While Spike was somewhat disappointed that no fish were caught, all agreed that the trip was so fun and relaxing that it did not really matter at all.
The view up the Edisto River from Gabrielle and Spike's Edisto house.We enjoyed an absolutely delicious lunch of sliced homegrown tomatos,cucumbers and vidalia onions, homegrown peas mixed into a yummy potato salad and crabcakes made with the meat of crabs caught just off the pier in the river. Dessert was a fabulous blackberry pie made with berries from their own bushes and topped with Breyer's real vanilla ice cream. I was in foodie heaven!
After lunch we cruised across St. Helena's Bay and into the Intracoastal Waterway for some sightseeing. I have to say that riding in a boat on a beautiful sunny summer day makes me almost as happy as skiing down an a sunny mountain slope, almost.
Dale loved soaking up those rays and devouring his latest mystery novel.
Thanks Gabrielle and Spike for a truly awesome day!
On Saturday morning we drove down to Kiawah Island and Beachwalk County Park for a day relaxing on the beach before the late afternoon wedding. It was beautiful and breezy, and we spent a delightful day reading in our rental chairs and taking occasional dips in the very warm ocean water. I took a long speedwalk down the beach and was impressed with the way that Kiawah's developers have worked with the natural environment to make a resort that truly is in harmony with its magnificent surroundings.
Dale loved soaking up those rays and devouring his latest mystery novel.At 2:30 we packed up and left for our Hampton Inn to get ready for Ashley and Nate's wedding.
I was so inspired by the recent Royal Wedding that I had to find a Fascinator of my own to wear to this wedding. I was in Charleston, after all, dahlin!
The wedding was held on the Carriage House Grounds at Magnolia Plantation, and here are two of the stylish guests posing beside the Ashley River.
Promptly at 5:30 PM Mark, the proud father of the bride, left the Carriage House with Ashley on his arm.
The newly pronounced Mr. and Mrs. Nathan U.
Robyn and Christian with Ring Bearer Carter making their way up the aisle following the ceremony.
Ashley and 'Becca, the Flower Girl, rocking out to some early tunes.
The new Mr. and Mrs. cutting their yummy Red Velvet wedding cake.
I was so inspired by the recent Royal Wedding that I had to find a Fascinator of my own to wear to this wedding. I was in Charleston, after all, dahlin!
The wedding was held on the Carriage House Grounds at Magnolia Plantation, and here are two of the stylish guests posing beside the Ashley River.
Promptly at 5:30 PM Mark, the proud father of the bride, left the Carriage House with Ashley on his arm.
The newly pronounced Mr. and Mrs. Nathan U.
Robyn and Christian with Ring Bearer Carter making their way up the aisle following the ceremony.
Ashley and 'Becca, the Flower Girl, rocking out to some early tunes.
The new Mr. and Mrs. cutting their yummy Red Velvet wedding cake. We had a great time at the wedding, and the food, drink and music were exceptional. We danced the night away and just had so much fun!
On Sunday we went to Charles Towne Landing State Park, the site of the first permanent English settlement in South Carolina, founded in 1670.
The colonists lived in dirt floored homes just like this one. Note the wattle and daub chimney but the flat board construction. The colonists here had learned from those in older colonies such as Jamestown just what kinds of homes to build to provide for maximum protection and comfort.
Merchant ships from Charles Towne ranged as far north as Massachusetts and as far south as Barbados with their cargos of timber, rum, sugar cane, cotton and more.
Charles Towne has a wildlife preserve with all of the animals indigenous to the area when the colonists arrived. Wild Turkey are joined by Elk, Bison, Deer, Otters, Bobcats, Pumas, Egrets, Herons and more. Benjamin Franklin wanted the Turkey to serve as our national bird instead of the Eagle. After seeing this guy strut his stuff, Old Ben might have been onto something!
If this 700 year old live oak at Charles Towne Landing could talk, what tales it would be able to tell! We spent five hours touring Charles Towne Landing, and this history nerd must say that it is one of the better done museums of its type that I have visited.
On Sunday we went to Charles Towne Landing State Park, the site of the first permanent English settlement in South Carolina, founded in 1670.
The colonists lived in dirt floored homes just like this one. Note the wattle and daub chimney but the flat board construction. The colonists here had learned from those in older colonies such as Jamestown just what kinds of homes to build to provide for maximum protection and comfort.
Merchant ships from Charles Towne ranged as far north as Massachusetts and as far south as Barbados with their cargos of timber, rum, sugar cane, cotton and more.
Charles Towne has a wildlife preserve with all of the animals indigenous to the area when the colonists arrived. Wild Turkey are joined by Elk, Bison, Deer, Otters, Bobcats, Pumas, Egrets, Herons and more. Benjamin Franklin wanted the Turkey to serve as our national bird instead of the Eagle. After seeing this guy strut his stuff, Old Ben might have been onto something!
If this 700 year old live oak at Charles Towne Landing could talk, what tales it would be able to tell! We spent five hours touring Charles Towne Landing, and this history nerd must say that it is one of the better done museums of its type that I have visited.We had so much fun during our weekend in Charleston, and we thank Mark, Janet, Ashley and Nate for inviting us to share in their joy and celebration and for giving us a reason to make the trek southward!
May the new Mr. and Mrs. live happily ever after!
May the new Mr. and Mrs. live happily ever after!
1 comment:
The fascinator looks absolutely DAAAAHLIN!
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