Welcome! I hope I bring a spot of calm and happiness into these uncertain times. I blog about my photography adventures, flowers, gardening, the importance of chocolate in a well lived life, or anything else on my mind.
The history of South Carolina intertwines with the history of the United States.
Charleston, South Carolina was the largest point of disembarkation for the trans-Atlantic slave trade, according to this article. The traffic officially ended in 1808 but the institution of slavery continued until February, 1865.
Battle of Cowpens, January 17, 1781 (painting in South Carolina state capitol, Columbia)
I will blog about the Battle of Kings Mountain (a huge victory for the colonials) in several days.
If you have seen the Civil War documentary series from Ken Burns, you will remember many quotes from a diarist, Mary Chesnut. Part of her book, Diary of Dixie, was written in this bedchamber at the former Bloomsbury Inn in Camden, South Carolina. I stayed in this room while it was a B&B but it hs since closed.
Reenactment of Battle of Bentonville, 150th anniversary, March 2015
I can not neglect North Carolina in this post. An important Civil War battle in North Carolina: the Battle of Bentonville. This was the last large battle of the Civil War, and took place about two weeks before Confederate General Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House (in Virginia).
Bennett Place State Historic Site
Finally, another major surrender took place after the Lee surrender at Bennett Place in North Carolina. This is much less well known but larger surrender of almost 90,000 troops, taking place on a farm and homestead owned by one James and Nancy Bennett near Durham, North Carolina. (This building is a recreation; the original farmhouse was destroyed years ago by fire).
There is a lot of history in the Carolinas and it is well worth your time to explore.
"H" day at the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My theme: Exploring South Carolina and the Eastern United States.
Who are the Music Moves Me bloggers? We are bloggers who blog about music
each Sunday or Monday and if you have music to share with us, you are most
welcome to join! (Music Posts Only-meaning at least one music video,
please!) Our head host isXmas Dolly, and our co-hosts are Cathyfrom Curious as a Cathy, joined by the knowledgeable Stacy ofStacy Uncorked and Yours Truly.
Why
not join our music loving folks? It's so easy. All you have to do is
join the linky above with a music post that contains at least one music
video. No music video? Your post may be removed, or may be labeled *NO
MUSIC*.
Every
other week has a theme. Today there is no theme - it's Music Free Choice.
Today, I'm thinking about Yesterday. Not yesterday as the day before today, but my Yesterdays.
When I was in eighth grade, this song helped me through some rough times. This song from 1965 is one of the most covered songs ever. Credited to Lennon and McCartney, this song was written by Paul McCartney, according to online sources. Paul, thank you so much for this song.
The Beatles and "Yesterday".
I heard this song in a store and it was an instant earworm. It's a song I haven't heard in years. From 1975, Ambrosia and "Holding On to Yesterday".
Not all songs about yesterday have to be sad. This hit from Chad and Jeremy is more upbeat - "Yesterday's Gone".
And another catchy tune from Neil Diamond "Yesterday's Songs" from 1981.
Here's one more song, an early childhood memory that goes back many yesterdays.
Back in 2016, I remembered a lullaby my father used to sing to me. I can still hear his
voice singing the refrain from the lullaby, in the language of his
parents (a language I, in turn, never learned). I said to myself,
"After all these years, I wonder if I can use You Tube and a search
engine to find the song?"
My father passed away over 35 years ago but I still remember him singing that song to me.
I have many childhood memories of my Dad. I remember, especially, walks
he would take me on some Sunday afternoons (no doubt, to give my stay
at home Mom a break). He would love to watch houses under construction,
and we would walk to the construction sites. He would look at the
houses-to-be. I would listen to Yankee baseball games on a tinny sounding
transistor radio.
Then, after my mother died, Dad raised me as a single father. Things
got rather stormy at times as I traveled through my teenage years, but he hung in
there.
Now, about that lullaby. It took about 20 minutes, but I found it, back in 2016. I'd like to reintroduce it to my readers. It seems there are quite a number of performances of this lullaby on You Tube.
We were traveling in February on I-85 south when I saw the peach water tower.
I remembered vaguely about this water tower, and hurriedly snapped a couple of pictures of it.
The Gaffney Peachoid is a 135 (41m) foot tall water tower holding one million gallons of water. (Who knew? My spouse!) It was built in 1981 and is located near exit 90. Sadly, it is also the frequent target of vandals. Despite that, it has become a landmark on I-85. Because it's a major road between Charlotte, North Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia, there is a lot of traffic on this highway.
And yes, about that cleft in the peach. Some people call it the "Moon over Gaffney".
Why a peach? The county Gaffney is in (Cherokee County, South Carolina) produces more peaches annually than the state of Georgia, I've read.
How could I have forgotten about this roadside structure?
It was perfect for my theme: Exploring South Carolina and the Eastern United States.
"G" day for the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. Tomorrow, Sunday, is an "off" day and I'll resume with H on Monday.
(If you are looking for my Skywatch Friday post, please check out yesterday's post).
Fort Hill is one of the historic buildings on the campus of Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina. This was the home of 19th century politician John C. Calhoun and his family until Calhoun passed away in 1850. Calhoun was the Secretary of War under President Monroe and a Vice-President of the United States, and, at the time of his death, a United States Senator.
The modern Clemson University campus is, in part, the original grounds of the Fort Hill plantation, which consisted of about 1,100 acres. Some descendants of the enslaved people owned by these families still live in the Clemson area.
The Fort Hill Mansion. Thomas Green Clemson married one of the Calhoun daughters, move into Fort Hill, and was an ambassador to Belgium and later first acting Secretary of Agriculture. He willed 814 acres to the State of South Carolina for an agricultural and mechanical college, which is now Clemson University.
Piano. Many of the furnishings in the house are original to the house.
A clock.
Vase and portrait.
The master bedroom.
Inventory of Enslaved - Names and Ages- at Ft. Hill
1854
But there is also a history to Fort Hill that wasn't acknowledged until the past few years. The Calhouns and subsequent occupants of this house and plantation enslaved African-Americans to work in the house and on the plantation. Their story is now being researched and told.
We happened to visit during Black History month but the student tour guides assured us that plaques in the house telling their story were not just up for the month of February.
A PDF with what we know of African Americans that lived and worked on this property, both as enslaved and (after 1865) wage workers is available on the Clemson website. One of these families, the Reids, held a reunion at Fort Hill in 2007.
"F" day in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My theme: Exploring South Carolina and the Eastern United States.
Today, for the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, we visit Columbia, South Carolina where spouse, our son, and I visited for the August 21, 2017 Great American Eclipse.
On Eclipse Eve, we visited the State Capitol in Columbia. The building was closed but we were able to visit the grounds. We didn't stay long. I think the temperature was around 95F (35C). The clouds seemed to be coming out of the top of the building.
Countdown to Totality.
While you were waiting, how about a Total Eclipse FreakShake?
This is (or was) Busted Plug Plaza, which boasted a World's Largest Fire Hydrant art installation. This has a fascinating history. It's in storage as of February of this year, but is supposed to be relocated.
The next day, we set up at the state science museum where we were to watch the eclipse.
I forgot what these were skeletons of, but they were huge.
This was taken right as the eclipse began (taken 1:11 pm 8/21/17).
Taken 2:12 pm. As the eclipse progressed, the sky started to clear up where the sun was shining. The brutally hot sun got more bearable, too.
Totality!
Looks like sunset but it's only 2:42 pm. The streetlights were all on.
2:42 pm, totality! I wish I had a better camera than my iPhone 4S.
Right after the eclipse ended. In the lower left (hard to see) is a reflection looking like a crescent moon that many saw right before or after the eclipse on sidewalks or other surfaces.
"E" day in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My theme: Exploring South Carolina and the Eastern United States.
Before I begin, I've been having problems commenting on Wordpress blogs. I've tried to log in using two different methods. Some Wordpress blogs don't seem to permit commenting without a login. If you are waiting for a comment from me for the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, please be patient.
For "D" day in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, I am going to visit some downtowns in South Carolina.
Downtown Camden, South Carolina
Historic Camden, South Carolina is South Carolina's oldest inland city, and was the site for two Revolutionary War battles. This picture was taken just after sunset.
The Battery, Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina is the largest city in South Carolina, with a 2021 population of 151,600. Its metropolitan area includes Summerville, which I visited in my "A" post. The downtown has many historic buildings and is a "must see" attraction.
Mural at Charleston City Market, 2014.
A staircase in downtown Charleston.
Building on campus of College of Charleston.
Farmers Market, downtown Columbia, South Carolina, 2015
Columbia is the capital of South Carolina ,and I will be visiting it again tomorrow for "E" day in the Challenge.
Last, but not least, is Greenville, South Carolina, which spouse and I visited this past February. This is one of the most beautiful downtowns I have ever seen.
The downtown is full of art, some of which I'll feature in future posts. This is a statue honoring former Governor of South Carolina Dick Riley, the only Governor who came from Greenville. This is located at the downtown Peace Center and says "Education Really Matters". He was also a former Secretary of Education.
One more art installation in downtown Greenville.
Tomorrow, we visit the capitol of South Carolina for a special occasion.
Welcome to the Campus of Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina.
Clemson University, besides being one of the top public universities in the United States, is the home of the South Carolina botanical garden. Let's take a short walk through it.
Part of the garden is devoted to native plants, a number of which are carnivorous. We were only able to view one of them - the others may have been dormant.
I think this is a purple pitcher plant.
I must admit that part of the reason of my visit was to see the camilla garden. Camillas are not hardy where I live in New York State so I only get to see them down south.
In the third week of February in a mild winter, the camilla season was drawing to an end (they are winter bloomers), but I still got to see some nice specimens.
The white ones weren't in the best place to photograph but I did get this picture.
Overseeing this (you can't see it too well) was a green lizard. I believe this is a green anole.
Although "ice cream" doesn't begin with C, I couldn't leave the Clemson campus without sampling the ice cream made on campus. It was delicious.
We didn't have much time to explore the campus itself, which is a regret (parking can be scarce, like on so many College campuses), but I will be back in several days for my "F" post.
"C" day of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My theme: Exploring South Carolina and the Eastern United States.
Today, I am deviating from my theme for a special reason. I hope you will read on.
Years ago, I took a private oath that I would not allow a tragic event that took place in my New York State community on April 3, 2009 be forgotten, and it is time for my annual commemoration.
Today, I leave (I'll be back tomorrow) South Carolina. I should have been blogging about the topic I chose for this year's Blogging from A to Z Challenge:Exploring South Carolina and the Eastern United States. This should have been a happy post filled with art, flowers, or something else. But...
The fifteenth most deadly mass shooting (we are tied with
Columbine) in the United States happened blocks from where I worked for many years in
downtown Binghamton, New York on April 3, 2009.
What downtown Binghamton, New York looks like in early May
On that date, a troubled 41 year old immigrant walked into a
building housing the American Civic Association (ACA) on the edge of downtown
Binghamton. He shot the receptionist (she survived) and then entered an
adult classroom for immigrants. Seconds later, 14 people, including the
shooter (by his own hand), were dead.
Most of the victims were, themselves, immigrants.
Festival at the ACA, 2013
Since then, I have written other blog posts about this shooting.
The local memorial to this shooting
I've about run out of words to say, because there aren't words anymore.
Inside of ACA, 2012
But this year is especially tragic because of the May 14, 2022 shooting in a Tops grocery store in Buffalo, New York, which was targeted towards people of color. The 18 year old shooter drove over two hundred miles away from his home to Buffalo to commit this atrocity.
His home was a suburban area near Binghamton, New York. But now, his home is prison, as he pleaded guilty and has been sentenced.
He will serve 11 consecutive life sentences without possibility of parole, but it won't bring back the 11 innocents (including a security guard) who died that day. It won't salve the pain of the families, the friends, who will live with this burden for the rest of their lives.
There have been so many mass shootings in our country, how do we remember them all?
As for Binghamton, I will not forget April 3, 2009. I wish we could emerge from this national nightmare but it won't be today, and it won't be tomorrow.
Tomorrow, back to South Carolina, and happier posts.
It's Sunday and it's time for music! Yes, I know I'm a day ahead of myself and my normally Monday themed posts. However, tomorrow, I will have a special post to commemorate the anniversary of a tragic incident in the city where I used to work.
Who are the Music Moves Me bloggers? We are bloggers who blog about music
each Sunday or Monday and if you have music to share with us, you are most
welcome to join! (Music Posts Only-meaning at least one music video,
please!) Our head host isXmas Dolly, and our co-hosts are Cathyfrom Curious as a Cathy, joined by the knowledgeable Stacy ofStacy Uncorked and Yours Truly.
Why
not join our music loving folks? It's so easy. All you have to do is
join the linky above with a music post that contains at least one music
video. No music video? Your post may be removed, or may be labeled *NO
MUSIC*.
Every other week has a theme. Today's theme was picked from an old, inactive site by Cathy at Curious as a Cathy: "Pick songs that express fragile emotions - yours or others".
We all have been through those times where life hands us something that makes us unsure, fragile, sad, damaged. Music can express these emotions or help us through telling us the story of someone who feels the same way as we do.
Let's start with the Beatles and "Eleanor Rigby", a song I identified with as a teen.
Continuing with the Beatles, "Yesterday", a song that came out when I was in junior high (now called middle school) and I also identified with. The teen years can be full of fragile emotions.
Elton John and his performance of "Candle in the Wind" at Princess Diana's 1997 funeral.
Johnny Cash's cover of Nine Inch Nail's song "Hurt" was considered a masterpiece by none other than the song's original performer, who proclaimed that the song was now Cash's.
"I Just Wasn't Made for These Times" from the Beach Boys.
Finally, to add a little cheer to this theme, I will close with "Happy" from Pharrell Williams, because that's one emotion we all want to have in our lives.
And that's a wrap!
Join me again next Sunday for another episode of Music Moves Me. I'll be posting my music on Sundays most of this month.
Tomorrow, the Blogging from A to Z Challenge continues with the letter "B".
Whether you are coming here due to the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, welcome to my blog!
Today is the first day of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, and that's no April Fools Joke. Today,
hundreds of bloggers start April 1 with a post whose topic begins with
"A". Every day, except Sunday, we will blog -Monday, "B", Tuesday,
"C", and so on, although Sunday, April 30, will be a blogging day for the letter Z.
My theme this year is: Exploring South Carolina and the Eastern United States.
I hope to blog about South Carolina mainly, but I wanted to give myself a bit of space if a letter gave me difficulty. Plus, my B and M posts will take place locally in my area because...you'll see.
Why South Carolina? After all, I've lived most of my life in New York State, hundreds of miles from South Carolina.
First, for a number of years, South Carolina has been a refuge for a week or so away from winter. I've been to several parts of South Carolina and wanted to share this beautiful state with you.
But more importantly, I am doing the Challenge this year in memory of a fellow blogger, Rena,
who passed away March 18 at the age of 53. Rena was a friend and an
inspiration to the many bloggers she befriended, and/or did work for.
She lived in South Carolina, which fit right in with my them.
I think Rena would have enjoyed today's post.
I am taking you today to Summerville, South Carolina, which is about 25 miles northwest of Charleston. Each spring, Summerville has an azalea festival with a lot of arts and crafts, called the Family YMCA Flowertown Festival. These pictures were taken in 2014, when the festival wasn't quite as large as it is today. These are pictures of the general area where the festival took place in 2014.
Art and Azaleas are together in Azalea Park. This artwork is called "Hop to It".
My favorite activity - reading a book. "For Wind and Waves" .
I love birds. "Heron and the Sun".
One of the many beautiful azaleas in Azalea Park.
Let's end with a pink azalea in bloom.
Tomorrow we have A to Z off and I will be blogging about music as part of a group we call "Music Moves Me". On Monday, I will hop back to New York State for a day of remembering, but after that it's back to South Carolina. I hope you like what you will see in the coming month, because South Carolina is a state that can be full of interest - and surprises.
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