Kimberly's Official Class Photo

Diwali

We celebrated Diwali on November 2nd, 2014. Early preparations included rangoli in which I spent 3 hours decorating the front porch using a jar lid, candle holder, cd-rom and hula hoop as a stencil.

Drawing the tail feathers of a peacock

Completed design of a peacock

South Carolina Dec 8-14

South Carolina December 2013

Sunday:

Arrive in North Charleston airport

Monday: 

Fort Sumter 

Fort Sumter is a Third System masonry sea fort located in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. The fort is best known as the site upon which the shots which started the American Civil War were fired at the Battle of Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861.

The fort is situated on a man-made island. U.S. Construction of the fort named for the American Revolutionary War general Thomas Sumter, began in 1829 and was still in progress in 1861.  Britannica

The park service finished conserving 10 large siege and garrison guns, some of which were used by Confederates to lob shells from Moultrie into Sumter in Charleston Harbor in 1861 when the war erupted. Union forces surrendered 34 hours after the bombardment started as the nation plunged into a bloody war.

Pearlz Oyster Bar

Monday evening we enjoyed dinner at Pearlz Oyster Bar in downtown Charleston off of East Bay Street. We ordered a dozen oysters on the half shell which were absolutely delicious! Spritzing lemon juice and tabasco sauce, topping it with cocktail sauce as well, the oysters were a huge hit. 

Holiday Festival of Lights

Featuring over 700 displays and two million lights, the Holiday Festival of Lights is a cherished holiday tradition for many families throughout Charleston and beyond. Located at James Island County Park, this holiday festivity captured the magic of the holiday season.

At Santa's sweet shoppe, we purchased a Smores kit which consisted of a bar of Hershey's chocolate, graham crackers, marshmallows and a stick to toast our marshmallows.   Kris toasted the marshmallows while I assembled them together. Delicious treat to enjoy in the cold weather and an especially lovely way to complete our first day in South Carolina. 

Magnificent sculpture made from over 50 tons of sand

Tuesday:

Ghost Walking Tour: At 9:30p at night we met in the middle of Washington Sq Park for our ghost walking tour. Located in the middle of Charleston, the park at night already cast a leery feel as the long branches of the hundred year old oak trees surround us overhead. This walk visited the city's most haunted graveyards, alleys, and buildings. There were countless stories of hauntings occurring because of violent deaths, unmarked graves, and cemeteries. The stories told are consistent with the stories shared here: http://scaresandhauntsofcharleston.wordpress.com.  All the photos below are taken during daylight when we walked the town ourselves, but imagine viewing these sights at an hour or two to midnight. 

Zoe St. Amand - Ghost of Poogan's Porch

One of the most haunted restaurants in Charleston, Poogan's Porch is a haunted building occupied by a ghost who lived there over a hundred years ago. Testimonies say that she continues to walk the floors and look out the windows. The ghost is to be described as an older woman, dressed in black, and has been seen not only by employees and customers, but also by people staying at the hotel across the street. Our tour guide reported that a sighting of this ghost was seen not more than a month before our tour!

Sue Howard Hardy - Ghost of St. Philips Church

St. Philips church claims that their grounds are not haunted. However, in 1987 a local amateur photographer was snapping pictures around the cemetery and in the photograph he noticed something unusual. It appeared to be a shawled figure that appears to be bent over a grave. Some say that it is the ghost of Sue Howard Hardy who tragically passed away 6 days after giving birth to her stillborn baby. The photograph that was taken of her ghost was taken 99 years to the date that her baby died. St. Philips Church denies ghostly activity in their graveyard, in fact, they have a sign that says "The only ghosts at St. Philips is the Holy Ghost."

 The Whistling Doctor of Dueler's Alley

Philadelphia Alley is a secluded, one-block stretch nestled between Church Street and State Street. The practice of dueling dates back to medevial times, but dueling wasn't about killing, it was about chivalry and honor. Today, Philadelphia Alley is still known as Dueler's Alley. Many ghost tours stop in the alley and recount the story of Dr. Joseph Brown Ladd. Visitors have reported ghostly activity-from unexplained mist to the sounds of gunshots. Some have reported being nudged out of the way of invisible gunfire. Many have heard the young doctor's happy whistling all the way down the alley.

Other stories: Lavinia Fisher - America's First Female Serial Killer and Powder Magazine

Wednesday:

Charleston Museum

America's first museum founded in 1773. Exhibits include Low Country History Hall, Armory, Becoming Americans, Civil War - City Under Siege, Natural History, and Historic Textiles Gallery

This is an authentic slave badge from 1863.

Charleston Daily Walking Tour with Old Charleston Tours

A tour of Charleston's history and homes including churches, the waterfront, battle monuments and mansions. http://www.discoversouthcarolina.com/products/339.aspx

Postal Office

Typical homes seen in downtown Charleston. Often called Single-Pile Homes because they are rectangular in shape and are only 1 room wide. Single-pile homes have a detached carriage house made of brickstone containing the kitchen, slave quarters, and carriage. This design was created to prevent the spread of house fire from the kitchen. 

Old Exchange House

The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon is South Carolina's most historic building. Completed in 1771, it was the economic, social and cultural center of the colony. The Declaration of Independence was presented to citizens from the steps. In 1718, pirates were imprisoned on this site. 

City Hall

Built in 1801, this building first housed the Bank of the United States and then became Charleston's City Hall in 1818. 

St. Michael's Church

Opening in 1761, the church is the oldest in Charleston and essentially unchanged over the years. The 18th-century English clock and ring of bells is though to be the oldest functional Colonial period tower clock in the country. Church archives record that President George Washington worshipped in the church during his tour of the country in 1791. 

Pub Crawl 

Visiting Charleston's most historic taverns and pubs including Blind Tiger pub and The Griffon. Our tour guide told us true tales of bootleggers, ghosts, revolutionaries, president and pirates who came to these pubs.

The History of The Griffon

Soldiers would leave off for war and to ensure that they could afford to buy a drink when they return, the soldiers left money at the bar with their name on it. This way, whether returning to town without a single penny in their pocket, the soldier can return to the Griffon and with the money they left behind, the soldier can buy themselves a drink. 

Designing our dollar bill to be stapled to the walls of The Griffon

Kris stapling our dollar bill to the wall.

The History of the Blind Tiger

In the 1800s, South Carolina's governor was determined to end the debaucheries that had been going on in the city since 1680. He established the state Dispensary, which was basically a State Government controlled monopoly on all alcohol sales. Charlestonians opened up illegal parlors of consumption, i.e. the speakeasy called "Blind Tigers." One legend claims that an admission fee was paid to this mythical beast, and "complimentary" cocktails were served to the crowd. The tiger never showed up, of course, and most of the patrons stumbled out blind. 

Thursday:

Cypress Gardens

Located in Goose Creek, South Carolina. Cypress Gardens featured a butterfly house, heritage room, swamparium, and walking trails. http://www.cypressgardens.info

Boone Hall Plantation

Boone Hall Planation was founded in 1681 when Englishman Major John Boome came to Charleston and established a lucrative planation and gracious home on the banks of Wampacheone Creek. The family and descendants of Major Boone were influential in the history of South Carolina, the colonies and the nation. Boone Hall Plantation is also one of America's oldest working, living plantations producing crops for over three centuries. http://boonehallplantation.com

Eight of the original slave cabins located on Boone Hall Plantation present different themes in telling the black history story. 

Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. presents "Black History In America" as part of the Boone Hall Experience. 

Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum, home of USS Yorktown

Built in 16-1/2 months at Newport News, Virgina, Yorktown was commissioned on April 15, 1943 and participated significantly in the Pacific Offensive that began in late 1943 and ended with the defeat of Japan in 1945. For it's service in WWII, Yorktown earned 11 battle stars. In 1958, Yorktown was designated an anti-submarine aircraft carrier and would later earn 5 battle stars for service off Vietnam. http://www.patriotspoint.org/explore_museum/uss_yorktown/

Captain's Chair

U.S.S. Yorktown bell

Friday:

Isle of Palms Beach

Located just 10 minutes from our hotel in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. The Isle of Palms Beach is an island that is said to be at least 25,000 years old, and first inhabited by the indigenous Seewee Indians. The Isle of Palms is now a six mile stretch of white, sandy beaches. http://www.iop.net/AboutUs/IslandHistory.aspx 

T 

Myrtle Beach

Located 2 hours north of Charleston, Myrtle Beach, also known as the Grand Strand, is a premier family and beach vacation destination. There is a boardwalk, amusement park, and many restaurants. During the month of December, it is very quiet, however, during the summer times it is said to be bustling with visitors and tourists. 

Nights of a Thousand Candles

Brookgreen Gardens located at Murells Inlet just south of Myrtle Beach hosted the Nights of a Thousand Candles. The gardens came to life as there was the soft glow of more than 5,500 hand-lit candles and countless sparkling lights. We celebrated the holiday festivities walking around the park and enjoying a nice cup of hot chocolate. http://www.brookgreen.org/NightsofaThousandCandles.html

Saturday:

Charleston Pirate Tour

In authentic costume, our tour guide shared stories of pirates who plundered, partied, and perished in Charles Towne. The Golden Age of Piracy was brought to life as stories of Blackbeard's siege of the city, the capture and execution of Stede Bonnet and other pirates, the romance between Calico Jack and Anne Bonny. Along the way, we learned about the city's most historical buildings to pirate history. 

This building was once a tavern and hangout for pirates. It is thought that pirates smuggled their goods underground to escape the townspeople. An underground tunnel exist under the streets and leads to this building. 

The Legend of Anne & Mary

Anne Bonney and Mary Read are the most famous - and ferocious - women pirates in history. Anne Bonney was a headstrong young woman "with a fierce and courages temper" and she met and fell in love with a swaggering Pirate Captain Jack Rackham. Disguising herself as a male, she began sailing with him. Mary Read lived her life in disguise as a man for quite some time. After enlisting in a foot regiment she fell in love with a fellow soldier in which she disclosed her true sex and began dressing as a female. However, after her husband died, she thought that life in the 1700s was much easier as a man than as a woman and so she started her life over, this time going to sea.  http://www.bonney-readkrewe.com/legend.html

Life in the Low Country!

John Ravenel Bridge

Mount Pleasant

Isle of Palms Beach

USS Yorktown

Cypress Gardens, Goose Creek