Valentine

Hearts, Flowers and Sweets for Valentines Day

These big tall gates are so lovely, so I stopped to make a picture here!

Have a sweet sweet day!!

Pretty Rutledge House

I made this picture of the house last spring

Saturday we walked granddaughter and the ponies over by Rutledge House. This is the first historical building I am teaching her about. The  three story home was built in 1763. It was originally a two story home and Thomas  Gadsen  later added the third story in 1853.  John Rutledge was a signer of our Constitution, and was also a Governor of South Carolina twice. He drafted part of our Constitution right up there, in one of the second floor drawing rooms! He held many many offices and was Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court as well.  

The home is now an Inn. Nineteen rooms and suites (some in carriage house), about $230.00 per night, complimentary breakfast and afternoon tea, evening brandy and sherry, and pet friendly. The piazza is lovely and I read they have a very nice private courtyard.

I love the fancy wrought iron ornamental work! It was done by the German-born blacksmith, Christopher Werner. Beautiful Italian marble fireplaces were added about the same time, as well as lovely parquet floors.

On the way, the ponies stopped for a "snack"!

Another interesting fact about the house is that She-crab soup was invented here!  Long after the Rutledge family, after Robert Rhett puchased the home, he entertained President William Howard Taft and his butler/cook, William Deas, created the delicious soup for him, in 1909. He added the orange crab eggs to give the plain crab soup color. I do love She-crab soup!
 Have you tried She-crab soup?--it's kind of a mix between a chowder and a bisque, and it's very rich and delicious, full of blue crab meat and the eggs of the female blue crab. It also has heavy cream, Worcestershire sauce, sherry, celery, and other good things.

Federal Eagle---a tribute to John Rutledge's service in federal and State government

John Rutledge built this big house for his nineteen year old bride, Elizabeth Grimke. Elizabeth grew up in a house on Tradd Street. They married on May 1, 1763, and had a long and happy marriage. They had ten children. Eight of them lived to be adults. One little girl (Sarah) died either at, or shortly after birth, and a son, Thomas, died young.
Elizabeth fled Charleston shortly before the city fell, during the Civil War. She spent the war years in Philadelphia and gave birth to her last son there. The family returned  to massive destruction in the city, and major damage to the home.The house took a direct hit from a big cannon ball in the War.

George Washington visited the house in 1791 and had breakfast with Elizabeth.

Ponies in their pretty spring dresses

this brave flower is trying to escape!

Sunday after church we took a Sunday drive.

Lots of people were out and about, enjoying the warm day

I had fun making pictures of this pretty car!

And then we drove over to the beach. I think it was in the 70's here this weekend, so nice--but when we stepped out on the beach, it felt FREEZING! LOL I was so glad to have a coat and my hat with me and immediately put it on.

Things bobbing in the cold gray waves:

Wow, what's that? You can barely see it. We only knew it's approach by the loud foghorn.

Lots of people aboard. They were singing and shouting and waving good-bye as they began their journey. I wonder where they were off to?

 Stopped at the thrift store:

a lovely blue chiffon skirt----swirly, twirly, soft!

.....and these pretty glass globes, heavy, and so pretty! I have one already, so now I have three.
Hope y'all had a real nice weekend and I also want to thank those of you who sent prayers and sweet messages and words of comfort this past sad week. We miss our sweet girl so much.

Cold day for a Walk

Checking out the weather before we go for a walk---it's sunny!

Put on one of my favorite skirts, sort of a "patchwork" velvet and a clean white shirt.....Tammie has her harness and Gentle Lead on (she's a puller and very strong. She gets excited and pulls if she sees other dogs!) But is it enough? OOOOOPs--nope. Back in we go to get more clothes! Lol Okay--that's better...sweater, coat, long gloves and my  new fur hat. Much warmer.

Tammie and I miss Gypsy so very much. It's sure been a sad week.

My girl Gypsy

Yesterday we lost our sweet Gypsy, my best friend and faithful companion for the past almost 16 years. Right now I am in such grief that I cannot even post a picture of her, but she has been in many posts over the years. I posted pictures of us just a few days ago out walking. Little did I know this would be our very last walk together.  She was sick, and we had just come from the vet. Our walk was short, maybe a block, but she sure enjoyed it and stopped to sniff a pot of pansies that intrigued her, along with other interesting things.
I stroked her long silky black fur and her floppy ears, and I was very happy that day, because the vet thought it wasn't anything serious. I was so relieved to hear that, as she was elderly and I kept a close watch on her health.
It wasn't meant to be and her health rapidly deteriorated this past week. I can't believe how fast the end came and I sure wasn't ready to say good-bye, that is for sure. 
I may or may not be posting for a bit, taking a break. I'll be reading though, as it takes my mind off it. I may not feel like commenting but I'll try to be back soon.
Please hug and pet your doggies and kitties today, in memory of my beloved Gypsy. The time just slips away.
Prayers are so appreciated. Thank  you my friends.