As I'm walking I'm seeing all the shells. Thousands of shells. Every one different, every one altered by its journey through the surf. Thousands of shells affected by the tide differently. It made me think of life and how every one is broken. Every one is hurting. And yet there are people like me that come by and walk over the top of the shells enjoying the crack as I run across the beach.

But there are others like my mom who love shells. They pick them up and take them home. They wash them and prepare to show them in some way. Then I thought about how Christ picks us up and does the same. He cares for us. He sees our brokeness and knows that the brokeness is unique for each person, yet undeniably feels the pain of each one. He cares for us so much that He put to death His Son. And I am thinking how completely unworthy I am of his care. How completely undeserving I am just a little piece of all the shells on the shore.

I love the beach...

They say the true measure of another person's genius is how much they agree with you.  TB stumbled upon an article this week that was obviously written by a scholar and a gentleman, in that of his Great American Beach Towns, four were locales TB has visited and/or endorsed previously on this site. I haven't been to the other seven yet, but I'm saving them in my "to go" list of places to visit. You folks need to listen to TB, I won't steer you wrong. Anyway, here's the list:

1. Oganquit, Maine--This choice is intriguing because Maine's a long way off.  And I'm guessing swimming is uncomfortable most of the year.  But it's probably uncrowded, scenic and a place to have a pretty sweet fresh lobster picnic.  It's an unconventional selection, and that's right up TB's alley.  It's great fun to go somewhere very few folks that live near you have been, and when you bump in to someone who's been to the same place as you that's off the grid, you can immediately identify them as a person of discerning style and sophistication.
2. Mexico Beach, Florida--I have to admit I don't know where Mexico Beach is, but if it's number one in Florida, it must be pretty cool.  Florida is practically in TB's neighborhood, so I need to hit this town pretty soon.
3. Newport, Rhode Island--Another representative of the Northeast and in the smallest state to boot. Hitting this beach town would simultaneously knock off one of the more difficult of the 50 states from your list and make the visit a lot more worthwhile than hitting Providence for a quick lunch of spaghetti and gravy.  Trust me.
4. Folly Beach, South Carolina--I visited Folly in August and posted several times about it.  I do need to make one amendment to a post I made complaining about condos.  Folly is about 6 miles long and the condos only block about a half mile.  It's a great town.  Fido occasionally checks in here, so maybe he'll drop a story or two about his tenure as the island's social mayor. He calls Folly the best beach town on the East Coast.
5. Saugatuck, Michigan--My only knowledge of Michigan beaches comes from the classic coming of age film, American Pie II.  But I bet you can sit on the beach and knock back a few beers in relative comfort, and I'm sure the northern summer nights are a beauty.  And that cabin from American Pie was awesome.
6. Coral Bay, USVI--TB went here when I was an idiot teenager with his girlfriend's family.  It was awesome, though I didn't appreciate things then as now.  All I really recall is beautiful water, swimming behind a giant sea turtle, and wishing my girlfriend's kid brother would go to sleep so we could be alone.
7. Port Aransas, Texas--This is one that I question.  I've been here, but it was on a rainy December mid-week day.  I was not impressed.  My experience with Texas is that they have everything--rivers, deserts, mountains, and beaches.  And everything they have is a pale imitation of what a river, desert, mountain, and beach should really be.  Texas sucks.  But since I was in Port Aransas on a day when most any town would look dreary, I'll give the listmaker the benefit of the doubt.  But this town ain't on TB's "to go" list.
8. Santa Cruz, California--Like Mexico Beach, if Santa Cruz is ranked number one in a state like California, it must be pretty special.  Everything Texas is not, California is.  I love California, particularly the parts that are not Los Angeles. Rivers, deserts, mountains, and beaches--all beautiful in California.  Throw in the food, wine, and Redwoods, and its no wonder how California became our greatest state.  Santa Cruz is on the short list, so I better put some Beach Boys tunes on the Ipod.
9. Jekyll Island, Georgia--This is another town I visited this summer.  The greatness in Jekyll lies in what's not there:  no chains.  At all.  No national hotels, fast food, hell even the gas station was an independent.  Sea turtles nest at Jekyll and fishermen rush injured ones to a turtle hospital in town to aid the species.  Bicycles and golf carts are the preferred modes of transport.  And TB loves this--the main attraction of the island is a hotel that was once part of an estate owned by the Rockefellers and Carnegies and Duponts of the world and organized as a club.  It's still a place for the well heeled, but the grounds are owned by the state of Georgia which operates it as a state park, thus anyone can tramp about the beautiful grounds.  If you're lucky, you can get one of those privileged types to turn up her nose at your barbaric appearance and lineage.
10. Cannon Beach, Oregon--Cannon Beach is one of the most beautiful places these eyes have seen.  It is rocky, colorful and has a subdued 1970's vibe about it's architecture.  It's full of great bakeries, great walking trails and great wine.  It's a place to walk the beach at and after sunset with a glass in one hand and a girl in the other and cool enough to stay real close to either, or both.  I can't wait to go back.
11. Haleiwa, Hawaii--Part of the genius of this list is that it numbers eleven.  As to this town, I go back to what I said above about the highest rated towns in Florida and California.  The same applies here, but to an exponential degree.  Hawaii is paradise.  It's so much more than sand and surf.  I wish it weren't so far away, but no matter the distance, I plan to go back at least two or three more times in this life.  I'll have to make an effort to see Haleiwa while I'm there and see if it beats Paia or Hana or Hanalei.

Folly Beach, South Carolina, is an imperfect beach town.  The sand has a little to high a percentage of dirt mixed in, the water isn't blue.  Condos line the beach and block the ocean from view of anyone not in them. With all the condos, there is also a little too much car traffic and there are far too many realtors. I don't believe there is a bakery.  It might rain tomorrow.

As TB strolled around Folly this morning, I thought about what makes the perfect beach town.  Unlike "A Great Bar" a great beach town is not dependent upon which set of inhabitants are present at a particular moment.  It needs a mix of locals, young and old, rich and middle class.  It has to welcome travelers though shouldn't cater only to certain niches.  It ought to be equally navigable by car, golf cart and sneakers. The inland streets and yards should be encroached on by sand and the homes and yards should be alternately ramshackle and manicured.  There must be no national chains, save perhaps a solitary quick stop, but there needs to be a pizza joint, a burger joint and a juke joint.  I'd love to see a few cottages hidden by banana leaves, hydrangeas and ivy and shaded by palmettos or oaks or palm trees, and it would be nice if a few were available to rent.  A large public pier and a place to dine over the water would add a lot to the overall ambiance.  A great beach town needs a lighthouse. All of these are characteristics of Folly and they are enough to make it a damned fine beach town.  Of all TB's beach town sojourns, I'd rank it second only to Cannon Beach, Oregon.

But perfect, Folly is not.  Is any place?  Does it matter?  I think seeking perfection in a beach town, or completing a task, or in living a life is commendable so long as we recognize at the outset perfection is a goal that will never be met.  Yet we should recognize, appreciate and enjoy damned good when we see it. And at Folly I see it.  And if it weren't for those damned condos, I'd never have been able to come.

There are a few things about a vacation, and one to the beach in particular, that remind us: in the wake of Adam and Eve and their dreadfully poor judgement, there is no corner of the world that can be paradise complete.  A beach holiday is no exception.  

Is there anything more disagreeable than donning a wet swimsuit?  Possibly sand in your bedspread, which is a certainty after day one at the beach.  Also, ice melts really fast in the heat which means you need to drink up your beers as quickly as possible.  And I truly despise applying sunscreen, especially to the back of a brother-in-law.  Finally...well...I can't think of any other drawbacks.  I hope this has made you working stiffs feel a little better about your cubicle while TB enjoys the beautiful Folly Island surf and sun.

Wish you were here!

And, you must know by now, how relaxing it is to me, to meander along Folly Beach, with my feet in the surf, in search of the perfect seashell.

I take notice of all I see, hear and feel around me. Nature at its finest.

Freezing a moment in time in a picture...priceless! And brings warm memories during those cold, dreary winter months.

As you scroll through the interesting things I found along the shores of South Carolina...

Imagine...

The warm southern breeze blowing your hair, the trees, the swishing sound of the wild sea oats, the dry leaves of the downfall lying along the shore...

The mocking call of a laughing gull as it hunts for its next meal.

The roar of the ocean surf as it rolls and tumbles toward the sandy shore.

The warm, soft sand under your feet and between your toes. The cool surf as it envelopes your feet and legs.

The smell of the salty air.

Imagine these things as you gaze upon these frozen moments...

Wild sea oats.

The pier at Folly.

A two-story crab house.

A serene, majestic Palmetto tree.

A message to my family and friends.

Laughing gulls, searching for supper.

I found this seashell and thought it looked interesting, sitting there all by itself.

I wondered how it would look, if I took a picture through the hole in the shell.

I wondered if the camera would focus on distant objects through the shell.

The more I took, the more I wanted to take.

But it was late and the sun was setting. Putting an end to my experimentation.

Except for the pier, these pictures were taken at a part of Folly Beach that's not crowded or busy.

It's a quarter mile walk, or bike ride to this part of Folly Beach.

It's well worth the time it takes to get there.

 Has your imagination taken you on a trip to Folly Beach?

You can come back any time you like.

Love ya,

TFP

If you would like to read my other posts about Charleston, SC...click here.

TB finds himself this peaceful Sunday morning in Folly Beach, South Carolina watching the birds and the sunrise and the ocean.  I never see the sunrise at home.  For one thing, the trees would block it until it was already too high to look upon; but more importantly, when at home I need my sleep.  Not so on vacation.  I know the idea of rising early when one isn't compelled to is anathema to many; but for me somehow the factors of choice and newness and the desire to see all I can of a different place overwhelms my usual desire to stay in bed as long as possible.  So at six I arose and went for a beach walk and gazed to the east until I had to look away.  Then I turned around and came back to report what I saw.

Before the orange ball appeared on the horizon, there were very few folks out.  Maybe a couple dozen looking both ways.  Ten minutes later the sun was bright and a couple hundred folks were out.  I wonder why they didn't get up just a bit sooner to see the best part of the show? 

I saw several distinct beach archetypes.  The leathery old guy jogger was first to catch my eye.  I swear to God, I think there is a secret society of these dudes.  Every beach I have ever been to has one.  One, no more.  Unlike the sith, they apparantly do not take on apprentices.  There are always a couple of locals, usually over seventy.  You can recognize them because instead of speaking when you pass they sneer as if to say, this is MY beach outsider--how dare you part timers sully my pristine privileged view. There were several shell stoopers.  There are a lot of pretty shells on the beach, and sometimes I pick one up.  But I never save them.  What would I do with them?  Two overweight girls were feeding seagulls.  I felt a bit sorry for them.  I imagine the beach can be a difficult place for girls like this.  But they seemed to be having a grand old time, so perhaps my sympathy was misplaced.  Another truism of early morning beach walks is that the girls who reign over the sandy world as high priestesses of sun worship do not take their prone thrones until several hours later.  The morning is for old guys and aging guys mostly, though not exclusively.  One of the almost aged guys on the early morning beach is also the metal detector guy.  In his navy shorts, short sleeved button down (with pocket) and sandals, he appears as the ever hopeful and expectant treasure hunter.  I wonder what kind of crap he finds?  Metal detecting kind of intrigues me.  But I'll never do it.  I don't like sandals.  Also, I think they may be a private club whose members agree to divide and stake their territories.  Never more than one of them on a beach at a time.  Say....could these guys be the missing apprentices?

Charleston is one of the most idyllic places to visit in the south. Its refreshing locale offers a splendid mix of history, nature, nightlife, and recreation. Originally Charles Towne, named after King Charles II of England, this destination is for lovers, friends, or families. Hailed as the “best-mannered” city in the US, Charleston was founded in 1670. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, it remained one of the biggest cities in the budding United States. Apart from its decorated naval and military history, it also has significant religious achievements. It was one of the few early cities to provide religious tolerance to the French Huguenots, as well as followers of the Jewish faith. Being the second most populous city in the state, Charleston gets considerable traffic from travelers, which makes it one of the fast growing destinations in the US! And with a variety of sights and activities to indulge in, it is very easy to see why.

From the shimmering coastline, one can look out at several islands bordering the city, including those that housed crucial forts and military bases during the American Revolution, and Civil War. Fort Sumter, where the American Civil War began, is now a national monument and a must-see point of interest for any visitor! Plan on getting some exercise in Charleston, as its battery flanking the Atlantic Ocean offers great paths for jogging or strolling! Sightseeing on foot is a must! One can walk the same palmetto-lined streets and scenic parks of those first Americans and get a great sense of their serene life there. The houses of Charleston are towering and spectacular. Most doubled as offices for their original owners, and offered lavish rooms and balconies on three or four levels for entertaining and family recreation! Those comprising the prominent “Rainbow Row” come in a myriad of tranquil colors; adjoining each other and separated only by picturesque side gardens, complete with wrought iron gates, fountains, draped arches, and window boxes of the most gorgeous bouquets you have ever seen! Its engagingly historic setting makes it an ideal location for catalog and celebrity photo shoots, as well as TV and movie filming crews! Take a drive (or jog!) along the newly constructed Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge and marvel at the nautical sights below! One can see beaches, striking estates, and numerous sailboats rocking placidly along their docks. The bridge connects downtown Charleston to the dynamic town of Mount Pleasant, a suburban area that offers camping, kayaking, golf, and a chance to see a famous World War II aircraft carrier, the Yorktown!

Charleston is home to several festivals throughout the year, including those for wildlife expositions, food and wine, arts and music, and maritime activities. Visitors can indulge in relaxing sports and recreation that guarantee fantastic days in Charleston. Tennis, golf, fishing, and sailing, outdoor markets featuring fresh foods and local crafts, museums, and tours are just a few of the things one can participate in to fully enjoy the city. Being a historical attraction in itself, there are museums, like Gibbes Museum of Art or Patriot’s Point Naval and Maritime Museum, and guided tours of its most noteworthy buildings and places. One can choose from several tours around town to learn more about Charleston’s captivating past. Walking, carriage, bus, boat, garden, plantation, and ghosts and graveyard tours are all offered to ignite the history buff in you. Charleston’s historic downtown is abundant with numerous galleries, as the city boasts a great appreciation for the visual arts.

Many of the hotels, restaurants and bars of Charleston have been celebrated throughout the US, on famous travel and food shows, and in major written publications. Travelers can treat themselves to an array of specialties of the region, from traditional southern dishes at Gullah Cuisine, to the freshest seafood at Coast Bar and Grill, and barbeque at Sticky Fingers or Bessinger’s; as well as dine uncommonly on dinner cruises, rooftop lounges, or houseboats converted into delightful restaurants! Charleston’s nightlife is exceptional. There is always a sense of cheer and merriment in the air. Whether people are dancing at Banana Cabana, catching a performance at Charleston Music Hall or the Village Playhouse, playing a game of pool at AC’s Bar and Grill, or just chatting around drinks at the Roof Top Bar at Vendue Inn or the Blind Tiger Pub, nights in the city are always memorable.

One of the biggest attractions of Charleston is the beach! Whether you want to camp, picnic, parasail, fish, bike, or Jet Ski, the radiant shores have a lot to offer. When weary travelers yearn to dip their toes in warm sand, tickled by the surf of the Atlantic, Folly Beach delivers! Referred to as “the edge of America”, Folly Beach is fifteen miles south of the city and is one of the more popular surfing spots on the east coast. Nature and wildlife enthusiasts thrill to discover loggerhead turtles, bald eagles, and frolicking dolphins. Hop over to the Isle of Palms for a truly glamorous experience! This palm tree populated island is peppered with swanky hotels, chic restaurants, ritzy bars, local shops, and luxurious beach properties. In contrast to the Isle of Palms is Sullivan’s Island, a quieter spot that offers no hotels but adequate beach rentals. Sullivan’s caters to the more laid back family friendly vacations, and counted author Edgar Allen Poe as one of its fans, during his time stationed in Charleston as a soldier! Each of these dazzling islands offers something for every kind of vacationer, and is sure to make for an incredible beach experience.

Charleston, South Carolina holds a special place in the hearts of millions of visitors and natives alike. The city provides a historic experience like no other, and is accommodating to everyone, from friends and lovers, to families and retirees. The antique structures, colorful houses, war and religious history truly take you out of reality to a charmingly magical place. Jovial faces and bright locales make your stay in Charleston truly extraordinary, and the lovely atmosphere invites you to take pleasure in the serenity and harmony of this remarkable city.

It's my favorite beach. Not that my sheltered country girl self has been to many beaches. But this is my favorite so far. It's where The Captain and I spent our honeymoon. So it has a special place in my heart.

We like to walk down Folly Road and check out all the little stores. Listen to the music of an open air bar.

Then, play in the water of the Atlantic Ocean.

I like to walk along the beach in search of the perfect seashell.

And in search of the perfect picture.

I like the feel of the sand between my toes, the wind blowing my hair and the ocean water lapping around my legs. It's peaceful and serene.

It's God's beauty. And it reminds you who is in control.

This is what is left of a structure after hurricane Hugo blew through.

You can no longer build on this end of the island. And swimming is not allowed here due to strong currents.

I could sit on the beach for hours. Listening to the wind, the waves lapping, the birds singing and children playing. It's when I am most at peace.

Where are you most at peace?

The beach, the mountains or another quiet retreat?

If you would like to read my other posts about Charleston, SC...click here.

We spent a lot of time outside at the campground, at the beach and around town.

A squirrel at the James Island County Park campground. I like to watch them scurrying about and jumping from tree to tree. Around here we call them tree rats or suicide squirrels.

 Crabs...large and small.

Baby crab.

They are funny in the water. They are brave little suckers. They will move away from you, but only so far and if you move toward them they don't back down. They will lift their pinchers and prepare to battle.

The birds are so graceful flying and swooping. Dipping into the water for fish. If there is an afterlife, which I doubt, I want to come back as a bird.

Here is a pigeon, downtown Charleston.

Pigeon, at the Coastal Carolina Flea Market.

Crows perched high.

Pelican, Charleston Harbor.

Laughing Gull, Folly Beach.

Laughing Gull, eating lunch, Folly Beach.

It sounded as if they were laughing at me while I was trying to take their picture.

 After all, watching the little critters go about their day is sightseeing, too!

If you would like to read my other posts about Charleston, SC...click here.

Here is where we stayed.

After setting up the camper.

We walked the dogs. Do ya think they're trying to tell me something? 

And began exploring the campground.

They have a lot to offer here. It's not on the beach, but it's close. They have a shuttle that will drop you off in downtown Charleston or at Folly Beach and pick you up about 4 hours later. Pretty cool if you don't know you way around or you don't want to fight the traffic. Charleston is a major tourist destination, so there is a lot of traffic.

We are lucky enough to have our own personal tour guide. My FIL and MIL have been to Charleston many times and they know their way arround. They know quite a bit of the history, too.

I won't bore you with all the little details of our trip, but I'll be your tour guide and show you all the interesting things that we encountered on our trip.

Until tomorrow...

 If you would like to read my other posts on Charleston, SC...click here.

I prefer to think of all of our travels as road trips, even mini road trips.  We always enjoy the roadside scenery and we are doing our best to avoid interstates whenever possible.  The generated directions would send us on I-26 to I-95 in order to get home from Folly Beach.  However, too much of our lives have passed on I-95.  Aside from South of the Border billboards, there is no entertainment.  On this trip, we chose to drive only state highways for the ride south and the ride north. On this route we encountered no traffic, very few traffic lights, interesting communities and towns along the way, and we saved on gas mileage.  The trip only took 30 minutes extra, though we had expected it to take one hour extra, which we wouldn't have minded anyway.

South Carolina Highway 41 to Highway 57 proved to be a more direct route to Folly Beach than the interstates anyway.  Highway 41 was the majority of our travels.  It takes you through the Frances Marion National Forest which means lots of trees, very few towns (and the few there are happen to be very small settlements), few cars passing by, and a pleasant drive. 

Some adventures can be qualified as a true road trip experience.  Stopping by Watford's Grocery / Exxon Gas Station proved to be such an example.  On a road trip I'll generally stop anywhere when nature calls or when we need a cup of coffee or some water.  I have been in many gas stations on my American travels. This gas station was marked pay first, so Vinny and I both went inside. Imagine walking in to a store with a plain poured cement floor, slightly smoky air, and a poorly lit atmosphere.  Refrigerators and freezers lined the back walls and the rows were stocked with typical on the go- gas station - convenience mart food.  Vinny figured he'd buy water and I looked around for the restroom. Without luck, I asked the woman at the counter and she directed me to go around the side, outside.  That didn't bother me; many places have bathrooms from the exterior.

These bathrooms proved an exception to the rule.  One door was closed so I peered into the other one, immediately noting the disgusting, beyond old look of the toilet bowl, the lack of toilet paper and the worst smell I've ever experienced from a restroom.  It took a few seconds but I walked away and went inside to find Vinny.  I told him I could not use those bathrooms, they were the most disgusting things I had ever seen.  Very few locations in my life have convinced me not to use a restroom.  On family road trips, one of my sisters was terrified of automatic flushing toilets, but as for me, I didn't mind. 

Vinny put the water bottles back in the refrigerator.  We started to walk out, Vinny saying that we'll just stop at the next one.  Before we left, an old man in a white and red striped vertical striped shirt asked me if I needed a restroom. He apologized for the condition of the exterior ones and said I could use the one in the store. He pointed to a door in the nearby corner and kindly said, just go on through there and all the way back.  I was very grateful since the next stop in rural South Carolina could have been in the next county.   

I walked into a living room/kitchen of sorts.  One child was watching television in this large, dark room.  A woman stood at the yellow laminate counter-island separating the kitchen and living area. An older child stood near her.  They may have been cooking. Unsure of what exactly I was walking into, I didn't dare stare so I said an appreciative thank you and walked to the bathroom. 

I have never seen such a scene as this bathroom. I closed the door and I may as well have stepped into a movie set.  This was not just any movie set either; it looked like something with good country western music tales about girls getting all dolled up, bright lipstick and big hair, either getting ready to perform onstage or going to the rodeo.  I wish I had my camera to photograph the sight.  Make-up, hair products, cleaning products, paper towels, all sorts of things lined the shelves high above the toilet.  An extremely large mirror hung above the counter sink, upon which also sat make-up and hair care products and lotions.  This bathroom clearly could suit all of your beauty needs of some decade, but it was not a modern glamorous place.  It held stories, dirt, and probably smoke lingering in the air.  When I turned on the faucet to wash my hands the entire faucet shook back and forth.   I was in awe.  Before leaving I said thank you, again, and silently marveled at the sight I had just seen.  Vinny bought water and gasoline and we were on our way again.

Further north on Highway 41, this time near Centenary, I noticed something that caught my eye on the way down.  Luckily I had been looking out the window and I quickly asked Vinny to pull into the next dirt road.  However, slow reaction times on both our accounts called for a U-turn and then pulling into this dirt loop off the highway.  I had noticed these buildings that appeared to be a collection of store buildings, abandoned and neglected, leftover from an earlier time of local commerce.

It's not often that you easily see a collection of buildings from the highway, but I had seen a few while traveling Route 66 and now such things pop out to me.  What we found were three buildings and nearby visible houses that appeared inhabited.  (Had there been no houses nearby I would have gladly jumped out of the car and peered in the windows of these buildings. However, I do try to avoid trespassing, especially there are possible witnesses.)  We snapped a few photographs from the car and continued on our way.

One week later, I'm still thinking about these buildings and still wondering who the Davis Brothers were. Preliminary internet research looking for the Davis Brothers or B.F. Davis near Centenary, SC has yielded no results.  The records are likely in the Marion County Courthouse and just not digitized yet.  I would like to know if they were part of a family business, the nearby railroad, or the main street of a small rural community.  I don't know if these buildings are related to the houses nearby or with which community they were historically associated.  Information would make this find all the more meaningful, but for now it will have to stay in the collection of roadside mysteries. I hope somebody knows the stories to these buildings; they must be great.  I love these buildings.

Here is the pretty flower girl.

The Groomsmen walking down the stairs.

 
Bride with her father.

The groomsmen looking at the bride.

The Bridal Party are trying to break up the couple!

Bridesmaid and Groomsman walking toward the beach.

The family threw some flowers out into the sea.

Want proof that the cake is delicious?

We recently had the pleasure of outfitting Taco Boy with some festive new tequila menus. They were fashioned from old license plates. Talk about a fun way to recycle. Next time you head to Folly Beach, check 'em out. Just go easy on the tequila, lest you find yourself making license plates. Cheers!

Dear Kathie,

We just received our wrought iron cushions and fiberglass rib umbrella, and I have to say that I'm delighted!  When we started shopping online for our patio decor, we found a lot of online shops, but very little options.  The "other" stores offered what seemed to be good deals, and in today's economy, we where hard pressed take advantage, but then we found CushionsAndUmbrellas.com.  Wow!  I didn't know there where so many choices!  And really great prices!  No other shop offered different Wind Vents.  No other shop offered so many fabrics!  No other shop told us the benefits of each kind of cushion or umbrella.  Thank you so much!

Susan Herzog

Folly Beach, South Carolina.

Well, we do what we can.

So last weekend we had a BLAST on folly beach for Cousin's weekend! We drove up on Friday with Sean and Ness and ended up getting stuck in some wonderfully stopped ATL traffic - no surprises there. Oh, and we did have quite an adventure with Garmin Nuvi -- apparently the GPS isn't quite as smart as it seems to think it is. We were on "Low Fuel" which means Gertrude (our Jeep Compass) has 2 solid gallons to get us to a filling station without quitting on us. Well, we checked Nuvi and she told us that we could stop immediately - who does that?! - go 7 miles, or go 30 miles. Well, we decided 30 miles was too far but 7 miles sounded just about right. So we drive our 7 miles and pull off... "Welcome to Middle-of-Nowhere-Georgia - our population increases just b/c you stopped by" and we rely on Nuvi to get us to the gas station. Well as we come upon the "Finish Flag" on Nuvi's screen - we arrive at a worn out, torn down old... HOUSE! not a Citgo at all, unless the people there have the last name of Citgo Nuvi couldn't have been more wrong. So needless to say, we got back on the highway asap and drove 50mph for the next 20 miles to try and get the most miles to gallon as possible with EVERYONE and their grandma flying past us, honking, annoyed, etc until we arrived safely at a BP - clearly God knew best because he put a yummy Zaxby's across the street for us to grab for dinner. Yum! And thanks, Eagle Eyes! 

As far as the weekend itself, It involved lots of me doing this...

And Jeffrey doing this...

Which resulted in lots of fun!

We got to catch up and be filled in on what is going on in everyone's lives - and looks like the year will be full of newness and change all around! :) Very exciting! We got to see wyatt take some of his first 'intentional steps' - he is such a happy baby! Crazy how big he is already. Only 27 days until he turns 1!

While we were only able to spend a day and a half on the beach - I managed to come home with a burn that turned into a wonderful tan! Jeffrey didn't burn - thank goodness! And we both decided we miss the beach terribly and it might not be a bad idea to look for jobs a little closer to the shore. Although we're open to any shore -- not just the east. We'll see... :) Might be fun to dabble in the California sun for a few years - that would make my life coast-to-coast and back again!

Aufgrund der damaligen englischen Steuer pro Zimmer, besitzte das Hauptgebäude lediglich 3 Zimmer pro Etage und jedes Zimmer hatte mehrere Zwecke. So war da eines, welches als Bibliothek, Aufenthalts- und Studierzimmer genutzt wurde. Ein weiteres als Esszimmer und ein dritten in welches wir allerdings keinen Einblick nehmen durfte. Witzigerweise wurde damals die Küche aus dem Haus outgesourct, wie es so schön Neudeutsch heißt. Das hatte den einfachen Grund, dass die Küche immer der Gefahr eines Feuers ausgesetzt war und jährlich 1-2Mal abbrannte. Gewöhnlich dauerte ein Essen damals immer um die 2 Stunden, na klar Fernseher, Computer, Playstation & Co waren damals ja noch nicht erhältlich.

Das Hauptgebäude selbst erlebten wir als Führung und nach den beiden bereits erwähnten Räumen ging es weiter in einen Zubau, der alerdings erst wesentlich später angebaut worden ist. In diesem war wieder eine Art Wohnzimmer zu finden, aber auch einige Dokumente und Fotos an den Wänden. Ein Foto darunter war von Patrick Swayze und anderen Darstellern der einst beliebten Bürgerkriegsserie "Fackeln im Sturm", wo seinerseits auch ein paar idyllische Südstaaten- und somit ProSklaverei-Szenen direkt in der Boone Hall Plantation gedreht wurden. Weiters bekamen wir die Info, dass dieses Gebäude eines der ersten in ganz South Carolina war, welches den Genuss von Elektrizität und somit elektrischem Licht genießen konnte.

Doch jetzt genug vom Gebäude, was war sonst noch zu finden auf dem Anwesen: Einige Sklavenhäuser, die zum Teil auch noch "möbliert" waren. Möbel hießen in diesem Fall Holzbänke, Betten mit Seile als Matratze und weitere derartige rustikale Einrichtungsgegenstände. Außerdem konnten wir noch einem Vortrag beiwohnen, wo uns die Sklaverei etwas nähergebracht wurde. So, war man damals der Auffassung, dass Schwarze sehr gut in das subtropische Klima South Carolinas passten, da es sehr dem Klima ihres Heimatgebietes Westafrika ähnelt. Außerdem bringen sie einen natürlichen Schutz gegen die teils intensive Sonneneinstrahlung mit, nämlich ihre dunkle Hautfarbe. Last but not least war man der Ansicht, dass sie auch gute Farmer sind und sich im Anbau von Reis, Baumwolle etc. auskannten und demnach auch als derartige (unentgeltlich) eingesetzt wurden. Dadurch, dass die Sklaven keine Schulbildung bzw. Englischunterricht genießen durften, erarbeiteten sich eine eigenen Sprache, die man Gullah nennt und als Englisch mit westafrikanischen Einfluss gesehen werden kann. Das Ende des Vortrags bildete eine Geschichte eben in Gullah, die wir aber nur zum Teil verstanden und auch nicht übersetzt wurde.

Das schönste an der Plantage war allerdings eindeutig der Creek, der wie ein kleiner Stausee war und an dessen Ufer wir einige Zeit verbrachten, um ein paar schöne Schnappschüsse zu machen. Schlussendlich quälte uns dann so der Hunger, dass wir eine Kleinigkeit zu uns nahmen. Anschließend hatten wir die Möglichkeit entweder die Erdbeerfelder zu besichtigen - Andy schloss sich dieser Gruppe an - oder gleich den Heimweg anzutreten, welches ich bevorzugte, hatte ich doch ein Teammeeting am frühen Nachmittag angesetzt. Summesummarum war der Besuch der Plantage nicht einmal das Eintrittsgeld von nur $ 15,- wert, denn die erste Führung war äußerst lausig und auch der zweite Vortrag war recht lustlos. Das Anwesen selbst war nun auch nicht so mitreisend, denn im Grunde war es nur ein Haus. Das einzig Interessante bildeten die Sklavenhäuser, die leider allerdings großteils leer waren und als Sehenswürdigkeit wohl zu wenig aufweisen. Wenigstens war die Natur in Form von Bäumen und Creek wirklich schön anzusehen.

Abends nutzten wir dann die Gunst der Stunde, dass der International Club Autos gemietet hatte und genossen wiederum ein gemütliches Abendessen. Dieses Mal allerdings in der Nähe von Sullivan's Island in einem Sea Food Restaurant namens Red's. Die Atmosphäre war hier wirklich super, war das Lokal doch direkt am Pier und der Meereswind blies einem ins Gesicht. Das Essen pflichtete seinen Teil bei und so war es ein sehr schönes Ambiente, welches durch Gespräche mit den Internationals aus Frankreich, Deutschland, Italien, Slowakei, Polen, Italien und auch einem Amerikaner humorvoll abgerundet wurde.

Kurz vor dem Nachhausefahren, kam dann noch die spontane Idee einer kleinen Beachparty auf Folly Beach, welcher zwar nicht unmittelbar in der Nähe war, aber schöner als der lokale Strand galt. So, ging es um etwa 10 Uhr ab nach Folly Beach an den Strand, wo wir noch eine gute Stunde im Dunkeln dem Meeresrauschen zuhörten und wiederum jede Menge Spaß hatten. Wie jeder Tag hat auch dieser sein Ende gefunden und wir fielen irgendwann doch recht geschafft ins Bett.

[gallery]Breakfast on the Beach, Day 7 Folly Beach, SC

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.”  Matthew 5:6  What’s interesting about this verse is the original Greek translates “for they alone shall be filled”…

Breakfast on the Beach commenced early today…I wanted to embrace the sunrise over the sand.  It’s quieter here and though I’m not a runner I felt freedom to play along the shore, racing to beat incoming waves to a predicted spot on the beach.  The sand is so wet & hard-packed my bare feet left no prints.  It’s almost as if I flew above the firmament.  My time alone this week has been so permeated with the presence of the Lord I felt my burdens lifted and my heart is no longer heavy…the absence my footprints in the sand is a picture of my inner calmness as I imagine the Lord carrying me & we are floating together. 

A few hours ago a woman passed me as I was strolling and praying on the water’s edge.  I noticed she was carrying a bag and I watched in curiosity as she repeatedly bent down to pick things up.  At first I thought she was collecting shells and then I heard her mutter to herself something about winning the lottery of sand dollars.  Sand Dollars…hmmm, hadn’t even occurred to me.  Sadly, in an instant my prayers were cut short as my own personal quest for sand dollars overtook me.  Greed ensnared me as I felt compelled to gather in “my share” of the bounty.  It didn’t take long to realize that chasing after them was more than frustrating.  For starters, there were plenty of seashells but sand dollars were much more elusive.  My eyes ceased to focus on the splendor of the sun reflecting on endless sea, my ears no longer marveled at the roar of the mighty ocean, the cool breeze blowing across my face was forgotten.  I was on a mission—to collect as many sand dollars as I could possibly gather. 

Surely God would understand.  There’s always time to pray & I can do that anywhere, right?  But rarely does an opportunity like this come along.  I had to make the most of seeking my fortune while I could.  I scoured the beach for the treasure I sought and soon found my first sand dollar.  Delighted at my discovery, a large black one, I scooped it up and smiled at my good fortune.  “Nice one,” I congratulated myself.  Yet no sooner had the words crossed my lips than the treasure crumbled in my hand.  “Wow, fragile little things,” I thought to myself.  “I’ll have to be more careful with the next one.”  Another 5 minutes or so elapsed before I discovered the second one, carefully picked it up & laid it gingerly in a napkin I’d brought along with breakfast.  I must have devoted 20 minutes searching for my sand dollar lottery before I realized how crumbly they are when they dry off.  I managed to find 5 or 6 in all but the outcome was the same…not one of them remained intact.  They cracked & crumbled like week old crackers and all that remained were flakes & grains of sand & pieces of dollars that scarcely hinted of their former design.  Disillusioned, I headed back up the beach where I had earlier abandoned my breakfast & my Bible.  Embarrassed by the distraction, I apologized to my Lord who was waiting patiently to resume our breakfast on the beach.

Gently the Lord reminded me how foolish it is to go chasing after earthly treasure.  It’s not wrong to want nice things.  God does not begrudge our possessions.  On the contrary, I believe He delights in blessing us.  Still, we are to “hold loosely” to the things of this world lest they crumble like sand dollars to be carried away on the wind.  “ Take heed and beware of covetousness; for a man’s life consists not of the abundance of things he possess.”   Luke 12:15 

We are free to accumulate wealth but at what cost?  "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul?"  Mark 8:36    

God calls me to a different kind of riches, “Lay up for yourself treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust corrupts…for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”  Matthew 6:20

 The woman I spotted earlier just passed me again, her bag bulging with the bounty of beach combing…I wondered as she carelessly dropped another sand dollar into her collection bag what will be her reaction when she arrives at her destination to find a bag full of worthless fragments?  No small irony that this is called Folly Beach.

“Lord, give me neither poverty or wealth.  Provide me only with the food I need…”   Proverbs 30:8 

Thank you Lord for meeting me once again for breakfast on the beach.  And thank you for reminding me that as I hunger & thirst after righteousness, you are the Bread of Life that nourishes my soul until I am filled.