A Shadowed Past

The works of Carew and Clay Rice are cherished treasures in the Lowcountry. Carew started cutting silhouettes in the early 1900's, recreating scenes from around the deep south. He passed this trait down to his grandson who now travels the country carrying on the art his grandfather taught him when he was just 6 years old. 

These intricate silhouettes, created by Carew in the 60's, are scenes that can still be found in Lowcountry today. The Bethel Presbyterian Church is easily spotted on a ride through downtown Walterboro; and the wrought iron cemetery gate at St. Michael's Episcopal Church is still in use and is likely one of the oldest pieces of wrought iron Charleston. 

Clay Rice has been cutting silhouettes for over forty years and is known for his successful children's books that feature his work. While traveling the country promoting his books, Clay creates silhouettes on-site for families at his book signings. I would love to catch one of these the next time he's in Charleston. 

Stars on the Water, featuring a shrimper with a cast net, is my favorite piece. I like that Clay's pieces are a little more wild. They remind me of the lowcountry that I know, perfectly imperfect and a little rough around the edges.

Lowcountry Luxe

Well, well, well. Who would've ever thought the smell of spanish moss would end up on Oprah's O List? Lowcountry Luxe, a small candle company in Savannah, GA, has romanticized the scents of the Carolina lowcountry and created a name for themselves with their Signature Collection. 

The Signature Collection features six scents: Charleston, Savannah, Spanish Moss, Gullah, Sea Grass and Living in High Cotton. While I secretly wanted Gullah to be my favorite scent, I didn't care for it at all. It must have been the "exotic Benzoin resin" in the candle that smelled a little too much like incense for me. Living in High Cotton was by far my top choice. Lowcountry Luxe has described this scent as: "A creation of citrus tress and pine and white dogwoods tea olive spiked with lemon and lime white grapefruit and peach."

If you can't choose just one scent, you can always go for the Travel Collection. This collection is a mini version of the Signature Collection and features each scent in a two ounce travel size.

Up the Creek

This weekend we went to Edisto to do a little fishing. Waking up a 4AM is never fun, but watching the sunrise when you get to your fishing hole makes it worth it every time. We anchored the boat and watched the tide go out and come back in. Spending the entire day in a salt water creek is something everyone should do at least once. The peacefulness of the birds breezing by and oysters popping in the water was a quiet reminder that the lowcountry is shared with all living things. 

Fresh Paint

Take a look at these new paintings by the talented Bluffton artist, Murray Sease. While these lowcountry-inspired scenes could occur anywhere along the South Carolina coast, they carry my mind straight back to Bluffton. When I see these paintings I daydream about the MayFest on Calhoun Street and the creeks of the May river. If you're ever in the area, stop by the Society of Bluffton Artists to see more of her work. My favorite piece is still the old Colburn's Liquor Store.

The Countriest Country Club

Saturday night we headed out to Harold's Country Club, a bonafide honky tonk in Yemassee, SC. This restaurant is truly in the sticks, but it is worth every minute of the drive.

Harold's was originally started as a Chevrolet dealership in The 1930's but in the 70's it transitioned from a service garage into a place for covered dish suppers on Thursday nights. Today you can find Deep Fried Turkey, Hot Wings or Ribeyes depending on what night you dine.

The Harold's experience is 100% pure American South. The family that runs this joint doesn't sugar coat anything except Mrs. Mary's Butter Pecan Cake. The restaurant decor is every bit as eclectic as the crowd that gathers. 

Harold taught his grandson Bobby how to cook up the steaks just right. You'll find Bobby behind the grill every Saturday night making your supper. You have to call ahead and order a steak to make sure you get one; but when you get there, they've got a paper plate with your name on it.

A night at Harold's isn't complete without round of karaoke. Hank Williams, David Allan Coe and Reba McEntire had some of the best songs played all night. While this might not be you're everyday party, it's certainly a party you don't want to miss.

Found 'em

Look who I saw hanging around on ebay. Remember these guys from my rainy days footwear post. For $30 these coral duck boots became mine. Thanks for voting on the last post but these were just too good of a deal. There's more where these came from in yellow, cream or dark green. This misty morning is begging for me to go four wheelin' or firewood hunting. Maybe an oyster roast later?

Hurricane Lanterns

I have lived on the Carolina coast my whole life and our family only had to evacuated a couple times. With all the chatter about Irene I've been trying to think about the bright side of Hurricanes. Although these wouldn't stand a chance in the face of a category 3 storm, those storms aren't around that much anyway. Of course I love the lantern with the oyster shells, but I think the driftwood one is my favorite. Which one would you choose to have with you to weather the storm?

1. Driftwood Hurricane 2. Outdoor Lantern 3. Cement Paper Hurricane 

4. Mercado Square Metal Lantern 5. Oyster Shell Lantern 6. Hurricane in Basketware Cage

Coastal Kitchen

Just when a tropical system rolls around I get to thinking about the change from Summer to Fall. The months that end in "R" are almost here! The change in season brings a transition from low tide crabbing to shrimp baiting and oyster picking. I'm anxious for oysters, but I'm also trying to be fully present in every moment. No need to go wishing time away right? 

On the last weekend of August I want to make a lowcountry boil. I couldn't go crabbing on Sunday because I missed low tide and I'm almost certain the crabs won't be biting this weekend. Hopefully we can stop at a seafood store and pick up a mess of crabs to go with the shrimp we have. We'll be going whichever way the wind blows us this weekend. Literally.

Below are a couple items I have and love, as well as a couple I really want. I never thought I would love a coaster so much, until we were given the nautical map coasters for our wedding. I am totally ga ga for those fish measuring spoons. 

They are gorgeous and practical! What item is a must have in your kitchen when cooking seafood?

1. Nautical Wine Cork 2. The Best Gullah Cookbook Ever 3. Fishy Measuring Spoons 

4. Old Bay (and a recipe) 5. Nautical Chart Coasters 6. Le Cruset Pot 7. Fishing Knot Tea Towel 

The Angel Oak

If trees could talk, this old lady would have a lot to say. The Angel Oak is located on Johns Island, SC in a quiet wooded area. The Angel Oak has a shade of over 17,000 square feet and is predicted to be over 1500 years old.  The tree is said to be the largest living thing east of the Mississippi. Growing up in South Carolina, you see a lot of gorgeous oak trees. I have never seen a tree so big. The Angel Oak is truly breath taking.  

Can you imagine all the things this tree has weathered? I have heard people say that you should travel to the Grand Canyon, look down and see how insignificant you really are. Well, travel no further than the Carolina lowcountry and stand under a tree that has been around for every hurricane in the past 1500 years. That's a pretty long ride. Take a trip out in the water and drive your boat so far into the ocean that  you can't see land anymore. Sit over the gulfstream and think about all the animals swimming around beneath your boat. It's comforting to know that we cant change the world.

Transfer of Grace

Transfer of Grace  is one of my favorite books of images from the Lowcountry. More moving than the photos are the words that accompany them.  The book speaks of this area and how it has been passed onto us. The land is shared with people, animals and weather. This area is ever changing... we should sit back and enjoy the area whenever possible.

My favorite quote from the book is: "The Lowcountry used to be a slow country. Its uniqueness depended on a certian pace, a lilt to life. Dogs could nap on dirt roads; grits weren't instant; conversations weren't measured in cell phone minutes. Killing time was never wasting time."

Old Bluffton

Coburn's Liquor Store, circa 1939 is the oldest liquor store in the state of South Carolina. On the heels of the national repeal of prohibition moonshiners and folks from Hilton Head would come to Coburn's to buy liquor for the weekend. Janie Coburn said the red dot used to stand for hours of operation - sun up to sun down. J.F. and Janie Coburn kept a pistol under the counter because people would wake them up to buy a bottle of liquor and you never knew who would show up.  


Murray Sease of Shine on Art painted the quaint liquor store and when I saw it in the Society of Bluffton Artists  gallery I knew couldn't live without it. After my mom and I bought the painting, we went for a glass of champagne at Vineyard 55. Dad drove up on his new Harley and we talked about our dear friend Graham Bullock. Graham passed his motorcycle on to my dad and wrote of this liquor store in his old newspaper the Bluffton Eccentric. He reminds us to cherish the days we have with one another as well as the heirloom establishments we have in our town. Our part of the world is a rapidly changing one, sometimes we need to sit back with a glass of wine and appreciate our surroundings. 

Porch Parties

Inspired by the book Porch Parites I made a Spiked Arnold Palmer when I came home tonight. The recipe is hard to screw up, with equal parts sweet tea vodka and lemonade. It feels like home when you add a sprig of mint from your garden for garnish. What makes this the perfect southern summertime cocktail: the sweet tea, the lemonade or the mint?

Coastal Treasures

"I have heard it said that an inoculation to the sights and smells of the Carolina Lowcountry is an almost irreversible antidote to the charms of other landscapes, other alien geographies. You can be moved profoundly by other vistas, by other oceans, by soaring mountain ranges, but you can never be seduced.”  Pat Conroy