Hodgepodge Carolina Style

Wow Wednesdays sure do roll around fast. The whole calendar is rolling around fast if you ask me! Wednesday means it's time for another edition of the Hodgepodge. If you've 'labored' over this week's questions add your link at the end of my post, then run say hi to your neighbor. Here we go-

1. Can you believe we're rolling in to the Labor Day weekend? What's a project you'll labor over this fall?

There are several things I need to tackle this fall but high on my list are getting our old VHS tapes transferred to DVD, finding a couch for my screened in porch, and coming up with a plan for my home office. Right now I have furniture in there from my previous house and it's not really working for me. I mean it works in that you can sit on it and there's a desk, etc but it's not the look I want for the room. 

2. Tell us about the best perks you ever had in a job?

This may sound funny to some of you, but I'm going to say it would be my job as a camp counselor while in college. The pay was next to nothing but the perks were second to none. I spent all day outdoors beside the Chesapeake, swimming, sailing, canoeing, etc. It was an opportunity to have a positive impact on the young teenagers in my care, I made lifelong friends, and I grew up a lot-not just emotionally, but spiritually as well. So much. The job was demanding in every sense of the word, the pay was lousy, and the perks? They were golden. 

3. August 31st is National South Carolina Day. Have you ever been to SC? Any desire to go? According to Southern Living, these are the top ten things to do in South Carolina...

Explore Charleston, bike, golf or relax on Hilton Head Island, see the beach and the boardwalk at Myrtle Beach, visit the state museum in the capital city Columbia, observe the wildlife and natural beauty of the Ace Basin, take a walk or hop on a trolley and check out Greenville's charming main street, visit Fort Sumter where the Civil War began, stroll through Pearl Fryar's Topiary Garden in Bishopville leaving time to check out The Button Museum, also in Bishopville, see Morgan Island (also known as Monkey Island)-home to nearly 4000 Rhesus monkeys. 

Which is most appealing to you today? If you're a SC native, resident, or frequent visitor what would you add to the list?

As it happens I live in the Palmetto State and I love it here. I've seen/done most of the 'top ten', but had to look up the Ace Basin as I wasn't sure of it's exact location. It's essentially between Beaufort and Charleston so I've been in the area, but haven't explored much in the way of wildlife there. I've never been to Morgan Island but I'm gonna go ahead and tell you now that monkeys en masse creep me out so I will likely give that one a miss. 

I think a trip to Bishopville might be in order as that's a new one for me. And as a resident of the state here's a tip-don't miss Greenville. She's an absolute gem! #yeahthatGreenville

4. Beef, pork, country-style, barbecued, baby back, spare or short...your favorite kind of rib? What's a dish you enjoy that really 'sticks to your ribs'?

Okay, so it's possible my ridiculous injury got me to thinking about how I could incorporate 'ribs' into a question this week, and while the question has nothing to do with the human skeleton it fits. Also, I can't imagine breaking ribs because my bruised ribs are miserable. 

Back to the edible kind-I like all of the above, but short ribs are my favorite. Something I enjoy that sticks to my ribs? Oatmeal with dried cherries and sliced bananas are a favorite breakfast here. 

5. What's one important skill you think every person should have? Why?

I think everyone needs basic social skills, should know how to budget their money and time, and have the ability to cook something. That's three things, but I couldn't narrow it down to just one. 

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

"For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear: 

I will help you." Isaiah 41:13

Thinking of all those struggling, suffering, and also those serving the hurting in some way right now in Houston. So many amazing acts of kindness, courage, and generosity are on display and it warms the heart, doesn't it? 

There are many organizations with boots on the ground that need our financial support to help with what will be a massive long term recovery effort. Here's a link to the donation page of one I like, but there are many-Samaritan's Purse. SP receives very high marks from Charity Navigator in terms of finances, transparency, and accountability. 




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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 319

Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here tomorrow to share answers with the universe. See you there!

1. Can you believe we're rolling in to the Labor Day weekend? What's a project you'll labor over this fall?

2. Tell us about the best perks you ever had in a job?

3. August 31st is National South Carolina Day. Have you ever been to SC? Any desire to go? According to Southern Living, these are the top ten things to do in South Carolina...

Explore Charleston, bike, golf or relax on Hilton Head Island, see the beach and the boardwalk at Myrtle Beach, visit the state museum in the capital city Columbia, observe the wildlife and natural beauty of the Ace Basin, take a walk or hop on a trolley and check out Greenville's charming main street, visit Fort Sumter where the Civil War began, stroll through Pearl Fryar's Topiary Garden in Bishopville leaving time to check out The Button Museum, also in Bishopville, see Morgan Island (also known as Monkey Island)-home to nearly 4000 Rhesus monkeys. 

Which is most appealing to you today? If you're a SC native, resident, or frequent visitor what would you add to the list?

4. Beef, pork, country-style, barbecued, baby back, spare or short...your favorite kind of rib? What's a dish you enjoy that really 'sticks to your ribs'?

5. What's one important skill you think every person should have? Why?

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

A Charleston Weekend

It's always a little bit hard to recap a weekend where we did a million and ten things, but I'm gonna try. Hopefully it will not require a million and ten words.

It might.

Hubs and I flew to Charleston on Thursday morning and I feel I must digress here for a minute and tell you that I cannot even remember the last time I took a flight inbound or outbound from Newark that was not delayed. ahem. 

Moving on...Daughter 1's fiance graduated from medical school on Thursday evening, and we were so happy to celebrate with his family as he walked across that stage, the letters M.D. now officially behind his name. Also now officially a Captain in the US Army, because gaining his M.D. meant a promotion in rank. Whoohoo!

Choosing to become a doctor is not a small thing, it truly is a commitment to a lifetime of dedicated service and continued learning. Next on the agenda is a five year residency, which I'm pretty sure is not a walk in the park either. He's excited and brilliant and so looking forward to this next chapter with our girl by his side.

We stayed through the weekend, spent time with his family, and enjoyed exploring this beautiful historic city in weather that could not have been more perfect. Hubs and I played tourist all day Friday, beginning with a walk through Riverside Park...

You can see Fort Sumter from the water's edge. We didn't get out there this trip because you can only do so much in a single weekend, but another time I hope.

The Civil War began at Ft. Sumter, so lots of history round every cobblestoned Charleston corner. It's pretty peaceful here now.

We did take a carriage ride around town...

...followed by a delicious low country lunch in a well known restaurant called Poogans Porch where we dined, appropriately, on their lovely upstairs porch.

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Funny story-standing in front of me when I stepped into the restaurant was a sweet friend I met via my blog. M lives in North Carolina and came to stay with me back in October along with another friend I'd met via my blog. She happened to be in Charleston for a couple of days with her daughter and another friend and we both ended up in Poogans Porch at the very same time.

'It's a small world after all....". Everybody sing!

Also you should know I'd just stepped off a carriage and it was breezy so my hair was crazy. I had a fried green tomato BLT sandwich with crab remoulade and it was positively delish. Hubs ordered their shrimp and grits, a dish he'd eaten for breakfast just a few hours earlier in another spot, but when in Rome, right?

NJ is not known for her shrimp and grits, so he fills up when he's down south. Plus, there are many variations to the recipe so it's not like you're actually eating the same dish twice. We agreed we should not live in Charleston because when someone sets a warm from the oven biscuit in front of you it's hard to say no thank you. Fortunately we logged a lot of walking miles this weekend!

Friday night we ate at Hank's Seafood which is another well known spot, famous for its seafood and maybe shrimp and grits, but we both had seafood. It was just the hubs and I, but we sat at a community table with people from Kansas City and discussed our mutual love of good BBQ. Food really is a universal language.

On Saturday we had a light leisurely breakfast in the East Bay Meeting House, a small coffee shop in the French Quarter that made me think of Europe. The fiance's family were all staying in a house over on Folly Beach, and had invited us to join them for a lunchtime low country shrimp boil.  I promise we did more than just eat all weekend.

That felt like it needed to be said.

The 'kids' picked us up, and we had an enjoyable afternoon chatting and getting to know his family a little bit better. There was boiled shrimp and baked grouper, corn and potatoes and a wonderful salad.  This post is a little heavy on food shout outs, but in all honesty, you can't go to Charleston and not talk about the food. At least I can't.

Saturday afternoon we drove back into Charleston so the fiance's sister's and her boyfriend, and another family friend could play tourist. The sister's boyfriend is not a local, so he wanted to see some of the area's historical sites too.

The homes in this town are to die for.  Seriously, I could just move right in, plop myself with a good book onto one of the umpteen covered porches and stay for a while.

I'd noticed a hotel's rooftop from the street level and wanted to check it out in person so Hubs and I, along with Daughter1 and her Dr. Captain rode the elevator all the way up inside the Market Pavilion Hotel late Saturday afternoon. The hotel lobby is quiet and elegant, so that's more or less what I was expecting to find rooftop.

The elevator doors opened and Whoa!

There's a pool! Literally right in front of you!  And lots of people and tables with umbrellas. It was lively and fun and the sun was shining so we sat up there soaking it all in. We talked and took pictures and enjoyed the lovely temperatures and maybe a glass of bubbly. There were views all across Charleston from up on that roof.

Saturday night we met Daughter1, the fiance, and his parents at a lovely restaurant called 82 Queen.  The restaurant's dining spaces are spread amongst three buildings with a beautiful patio in the center of it all. Our table was in a gazebo on the patio where an enormous magnolia tree grows, and the food and ambiance were delightful.

Hubs and I both said we needed a few more days, but the real world beckoned so we headed back home on Sunday afternoon. Home where we had to turn our heat on. Boo.

But happy for the memories made and for the exciting future awaiting the happy couple.