After church I volunteered at Hanna’s Town; it was free admission day! The last few times I worked at the tavern site it was not too busy. Today it was crazy busy! They estimated about 200 people came through! I stood downstairs in the common room and greeted people and talked about life in the 1770-ish tavern and Hanna’s Town – for 3 1/2 hours without stopping! That’s amazing even for me. Here are a few of the pics:

One couple came through and commented on the flag: Don’t Tread on Me. She said that should be our motto today – we are all equal despite race, nationality, age, sex — We should respect all people equally. She said ‘Just leave us alone and let us be who we are – respectfully!’ Couldn’t agree more and it made my day!

I will share Kyle’s message from Hempfield today. Blaise Pascal said in the 17th century that all men seek happiness. But where do we find it? We often settled for far too less! Revelations 4 tells us about how amazing and awesome, rare, precious and beautiful heaven and our God is – almost indescribable. We all struggle with things in this life, and settle for less – but trudging through this life is worth it, because we will see God next! Stand strong and keep the faith. Look what’s waiting for you and is even with us right now. Through it all, God’s got you! It’s not too late to return to your first love. Only ONE in all eternity can fill you with happiness: God. he’s the source of every blessing. Don’t seek the gift; seek the Giver. A single glimpse of the Glory of God changes your eternity. That’s where your happiness is!

Our service this morning focused on our love for our country, and for God. The praise team led us in our National Anthem, pledge of Allegiance, and we watched a Marine video of Days of Elijah (OOYAH!). It’s very much worth watching! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjZ_IlP9c5A) Copy and paste if you are interested.

Below are a few obscure Independence Day quotes that you might find interesting…

ABRAHAM LINCOLN “Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

Hillary Clinton: “Freedom is never granted. It is earned by each generation.”

ELMER DAVIS “This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.”

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. “From every mountainside, let freedom ring.”

LOUIS D. BRANDEIS “Those who won our independence believed liberty to be the secret of happiness.”

ELEANOR ROOSEVELT “With freedom comes responsibility.”

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN “Where liberty dwells, there is my country.”

WILLIAM FAULKNER “We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it.”

WOODROW WILSON “The flag is the embodiment, not of sentiment, but of history.”

On this day in 1754 George Washington gave Ft. Necessity to France, and in 1776 according to popular legend the Liberty bell rang for the 2nd Continental Congress. In 1776 the US Congress proclaimed their Declaration of Independence, and independence from Great Britain – American is born! In 1796 the first Independence Day celebration was held and in 1802 the first US Military Academy opened at West Point. In 1803 the Louisiana Purchase was announced by Thomas Jefferson, and in 1826 both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. In 1831 America (My Country ‘Tis of Thee) was first sung in Boston, and in 1861 there was a skirmish at Harper’s Ferry WV. In 1863 General Lee’s army withdrew from Gettysburg, and in 1865 the first edition of Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll was published. In 1884 the Statue of Liberty was presented to the US in Paris and in 1964 the Beach Boys I GET AROUND went #1. Nathaniel Hawthorn, author, was born in 1804; Stephen Foster, composer, in 1826. James Anthony Bailey (Barnum and Bailey circus) was born in 1847, Calvin Coolidge – 30th President – in 1872; Neil Simon, playwright, in 1927. Andrew Walker – Hallmark actor – in 1967. John Adams – 2nd president – died at age 90 in 1826; Thomas Jefferson – 3rd president – at age 83 in 1826, and James Monroe – 5th president – at age 73 in 1831. Marie Curie (discovered radium) died in 1934 at age 66; Evan Gabor (Green Acres star) at age 76 in 1995, and in 1982 Ozzy Osbourne married Sharon Arden. Whew! Lots going on in history today!

TOMORROW July 5th is:

• National Apple Turnover Day
• National Graham Cracker Day
• National Hawaii Day
• National Workaholics Day
• National Bikini Day

I am so proud to live in this country, to be part of the USA, to be living in the greatest nation on earth – to celebrate independence and remember 1776!! God Bless — America!

Every day I think I’m going to have more time, get more done, catch up on chores and sermons and writing and errands. NOT! But today was a good day, despite a small argument with my lawn mower. I got up, changed sheets on the bed and threw them in the washer, then went for a walk. Decided that before I got a shower I’d cut the grass. It was still damp – so it was getting clumped under the mower deck. When I tilted it sideways to clean it out, I flooded the engine – or motor, or whatever. I had to leave it sit for half an hour before it started; so I pulled weeds and trimmed a few shrubs and swept the steps. I was REALLY HUNGRY by the time I finished mowing and ate breakfast.

So this post is sort of a catch up from the week. I wanted to post the delightful gifts Nate and Jen and the girls got me for my birthday (3 weeks ago!). And also, a few fun things to celebrate the holiday.

Yesterday my neighbor had a huge tree cut down in their front yard. What a difference it made. They will probably miss the shade in the mornings – they will get direct early morning sun!

I went over to Kath’s for a picnic with her family. It was nice to visit with them, and the food was delicious! My favorites were the broccoli summer salad and corn bake. Millie liked the deviled eggs and the watermelon, and Sarah brought two festive cakes!

This weekend when you are thinking about the freedom we have in this country, and the amazing men and women who founded our nation – remember that true freedom is in Christ – that we not only have a wonderful homeland now, in 2021, but have a wonderful home to look forward to in God’s beautiful heaven!

On this day in 1754 George Washington surrendered to the French at Fort Necessity; in 1863 Gettysburg – largest battle ever fought on the American continent – ended in victory for the Union (Civil War). In 1890 Idaho admitted as the 43rd state, and in 1985 the movie Back to the Future was released. Tom Cruise was born in 1962. Trigger – Roy Rogers’ horse – died at age 25 in 1965, and Jim Morrison – singer/poet – died in 1971 at age 27.

TOMORROW July 4th is:

• Independence Day (USA)
• National Barbecued Spareribs Day
• National Caesar Salad Day

After church I am volunteering at Historic Hanna’s Town. I will be interpreting at the Tavern. Come on out – Proctor’s Militia will be there and there’s lots to see and learn! I’d love to see you! 12:30pm to 4:30pm! Happy Birthday American – born 1776! God bless…

I know there is a lot of controversy about neighborhood fireworks, but I love them. I just stood outside on my driveway and watched the beautiful display across the street that lit up the sky with light and colors. There were several other families setting them off across the hills. That will go on all weekend.

Since yesterday’s post was the last vacation day, I will write today’s post about YESTERDAY, because it was a very amazing day.

Kath and I headed to Albion to the farm (we decided to call it that since Mom nor John aren’t there…) and a day of chores and decisions. John’s son Jim (executor of John’s will) was home from Virginia and was meeting with the lawyer, and Barb asked for help cleaning out the food, etc, from the house.

We as step-siblings almost never saw each other – so to have Barb, Jim, Dick, Kath and I together would be something new – especially working side by side to begin the cleaning-out process and to sort through items of interest. We had no idea what to expect – from the lawyer or from each other.

Turns out we had a marvelous day! We worked together, talked, got to know each other (After 35 years!!), laughed a lot, sorted through what felt like thousands of items but barely scratched the surface. There are so many little things to go through – and all of us were really laid-back about choosing anything. We took almost nothing. This will be a long process, but now that we know we enjoy each other and can work easily together, it will be a blessing to get to know the ‘siblings’ that we only knew at a distance. God is good!

When we got there, Kath and I walked around the yard. It was tradition to go with Mom through the gardens to a ‘flower walk’ every time we went up (weather permitting). So it was like an honor walk! We found more flowers blooming than we expected – considering that Mom hasn’t been there to tend them in two summer, and John didn’t fuss with the flowers. We cut a big bunch of Black Eyed Susans, brought them home, and Kath dropped them off for Mom at the Manor. A little touch of home to touch her heart!

Today I worked both stores in the morning, got home mid-afternoon, then after lunch cleaned the house top to bottom. In addition to celebrating our great nation this weekend, I need to pay bills, mow grass, get groceries, do laundry and ironing, clean the oven, and take walks around the neighborhood after dark (fireworks!). I’ll hopefully be back on track tomorrow with the posting schedule – in the meantime, God loves you and wants the best for you. Keep looking up; there’s hope in the heavens!

On this day in 1505, after an encounter with a violent thunderstorm, Martin Luther declared he would be a monk! In 1776 at the Continental Congress, John Dickerson abstained from the vote that declared independence. In 1843 an alligator fell from the sky during a thunderstorm in Charleston SC (Boy, I’m glad that didn’t happen last week!!!), and in 1863 it was the second day of the battle of Gettysburg. The founding of the East London Christian Mission was in 1865 (now called Salvation Army); President James Garfield was shot in 1881 and died 79 days later; and in 1979 the Susan B Anthony dollar was issued, the first US coin to honor a woman. Richard Petty was born in 1973 and Lindsay Lohan in 1986. Ernest Hemingway died at age 61 in 1961, and Jimmy Stewart at age 89 in 1997.

July 3rd

• National Fried Clam Day
• National Eat Your Beans Day
• National Chocolate Wafer Day
• National Compliment Your Mirror Day
• Hop-a-Park Day

If I complimented my mirror it wouldn’t believe me. Ha. This is the beginning of one of my favorite holidays – my favorite year is 1776! Spend some time this weekend thinking about our country’s humble yet determined beginnings, and how blessed our nation is to be free to celebrate it! God bless … America!

Heading home! We slept in an extra half hour, just because we could. This hotel was the only one we stayed at that had a full, hot breakfast! I had eggs, bacon, and toast – and grabbed a banana for the road. And hot tea!

We were all just sort of quiet and contemplative on the drive home. A little conversation but mostly just listening to some music – when we could pull a station in through the mountains. I loved the scenery.

We stopped at the New River Gorge for a break, and Kath and I tramped down the many sets of wooden stairs to get pictures. Beautiful.

We stopped at McDonalds for lunch – my request! – as I wanted a chocolate milk shake and they are the only ones I really like! Once we ate, we took it on in and arrived home about 2pm. My house looked happy and inviting and perfect! I unpacked the car and my suitcases, did laundry, then washed and swept out the car. I said goodnight to the strawberry moon before climbing in my own bed for a good night’s sleep, tucked in my happy little house! It was a great trip and I would certainly go back! Thanks for coming with me as I shared my adventures and memories – It’s been fun having you along!

Today I will share Paul’s message from River Hill -If not for Grace – The law can’t save us – we can’t perfectly obey the law, but it makes us aware. Don’t question God’s word; the whole world will be held accountable. 1) The law is the law – if we break even one small point there’s a penalty. The wages of sin is death. A) All have sinned B) God is just! C)God promised salvation. 2)In old testament law almost everything was punishable by death. 3) Laws main focus was to point us to our need to be cleansed. The Law REVEALS sin, it doesn’t cleanse us. We are saved by grace through faith. We have to respond to God. It’s not what we D O — it’s what He’s D O N E: Jesus on the cross!

On this day (July 1st) in 1776 the first vote on the Declaration of Independence was taken for the North American Colonies, and in 1847 the first US postage stamps sold. The first Zoo – Philadelphia – opened in 1874, and in 1898 Theodore Roosevelt and the Rough Riders charged up San Juan Hill (CHARGE!!!). In 1904 the Summer Olympics were held in the US for the first time – St. Louis. In 1905 Albert Einstein introduced his theory of relativity. In 1908 SOS distress signal became the world wide standard for help. In 1916 Coco-cola brought the current coke formula to market, and in 1956 Elvis appeared on the Steve Allen show wearing a Tux. In 1963 ZIP codes were introduced to US Mail (Zone Improvement Plan), and in 1993 1 second was added to the clock. Olivia de Havilland was born in 1916, Diana Spencer in 1961. Harriet Beecher Stow died at age 85 in 1896, Marlon Brando at age 80 in 2004. Dwight Eisenhower married Mamie Doud in 1916, Hugh Hefner married Kimberly Conrad in 1989. In 1998 Barbra Streisand married James Brolin, and Maria Shriver divorced Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2011. And today is my youngest grandson’s birthday: Happy birthday Chase Emerson! You are smart and funny and love Goldfish and Strawberry Poptarts and playing video games – and Grammy’s INTERNET! Love you!

 “SOS” (· · · – – – · · ·) distress signal

TOMORROW July 2nd is:

• National Anisette Day
• National I FORGOT Day
• World UFO Day

I guess I’m supposed to know what Anisette is…. I’ll look it up. Maybe I DID Know, but I FORGOT! 🙂 Happy weekend – Happy 4th holiday – happy July!!! God bless.

Kath and I chatted about the tour of the Exchange on our way down East Bay street to the Battery. We had learned more fun history, and we had a whole new perspective on the wars and how they affected the city, the lives, and the South in general. No wonder they are so unsettled about relationships with the North. We learned a lot of new names, heroes and facts.

Our second tour was the Edmondston-Alston House – built in 1825. There is a magnificent view of the Charleston Harbor. Dave, our tour guide, told us about the families and how they intermarried for generations to keep the land and houses (they owned three!) in the family. The first two floors (which could not be photographed) had original furnishing and were included in the tour. The third floor was occupied by the last descendant of the Alston family – it would then pass to the foundation at his death. An addition at the back served as a Bed and Breakfast. Dave was excited when he heard we were from Greensburg – his mother was born in Latrobe! Small world!

The piazza on the second floor was used by P G T Beauregard as he watched the fierce bombardment of Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, signaling the start of the Civil War. On December 11 the same year, the house gave refuge to General Robert E Lee after a fire at his hotel. The view from the piazza is stunning! More history!!

Paul txt Kathy that he found a place to eat – turned out to be the Hyman Seafood Co that my neighbor’s son worked at. So Kath and I trudged up about 6 blocks to meet Paul – then another 3 to Hyman’s! But the food was good and worth the walk and the wait (40 minutes). It was very near the Market, so we walked through there for about half an hour, where I bought my Charleston Historic Homes coffee table book.

Once we were seated and looking at the menus, I glanced down at the table to see ‘who sat at this table.’ There were photos (some autographed) of the famous and infamous people who had dined there. Imagine my delight and amazement when I was sitting where the BEACH BOYS had sat! Be still my heart! I felt like I didn’t even need dinner – just sitting there was enough. But…. I ate my hushpuppies and fish and chips anyway! What a fun lunch!

We were glad to get back to the car, but very sorry to leave Charleston to head home. I could have stayed several more days, easy! It had been a perfect morning – bright and sunny, not too hot, a lazy breeze off the harbor. The city was quaint and charming and easy to navigate, and felt welcoming and certainly not imposing! I would go back in a heartbeat! So if you want to go – call me! I can be packed in a hour!

We drove until about 9pm, where we stopped for the night at a Sleep Inn in Wytheville. My room had purple prints as headboards! Perfect! I fell asleep thinking happy thoughts of ‘my’ Charleston!

On this day in 1936 Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With The Wind was published, and in 1952 ‘The Guiding Light’ soap opera moved from radio to TV (My mom loved that show – watched it every day!). In 1955 the Johnny Carson Show debuted. Susan Hayward (actress) was born in 1917, and Mike Tyson (boxer) in 1966. In 1831 Robert E Lee and Mary Custis were married, and Cher married Gregg Allman 4 days after divorcing Sonny Bono.

TOMORROW July 1st is:

• National Postal Worker Day
• National U.S. Postage Stamp Day
• National Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day
• National Gingersnap Day

Half of 2021 is already done! Where is this year going? Ugh… Check in tomorrow for the LAST DAY of Vacation! God bless….

It was, sadly, our last day in Charleston. We had two adventures planned. The first one was at the Provost Office – The Exchange – The Dungeon. There was a couple that we met and kept bumping into each other again and again. They said how much they liked it so we did some research and put it on our schedule for first thing Thursday.

The Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon, also known as the Custom House, and The Exchange, is a historic building at East Bay and Broad Streets. South Carolina delegates to the First Continental Congress were elected here in 1774. The Declaration of Independence was presented to citizens from the steps. In addition, the U.S. Constitution was ratified in the Great Hall. President George Washington entertained here in 1791. The cellar was used as a Provost prison by the British during the Revolution. Pirates were imprisoned on this site in 1718.

The common room downstairs was bigger than the whole first floor of my house, and tastefully furnished. It would be nice to have that much room just to hang out! In the middle hallway was the post office, and upstairs were the meeting rooms. The views were great from the old, beveled windows. I even signed the Declaration of Independence!

The actual tour was in the dungeon. There were poster boards all around explaining who would have been held in the dungeon and why: British soldiers and their aids, pirates, soldiers and camp followers (women who traveled with the army). One man even dressed up a baboon to look like a soldier. Charleston also had their own Tea Party – but it didn’t get the attention that Boston did. They stole the tea, hid it in the Exchange, and later sold it and used the proceeds for the revolution!

The provost supervised comings and goings of shipments/goods, and also prisoners. There was also a powder magazine hidden in the back wall that was not obvious to British soldiers – it was kept carefully hidden for years!

The Exchange was also used for Slave Trade – one of the largest slave trade sites in the country. About 40% of all the slaves sold to the 13 colonies came through the port of Charleston. People’s fate were often decided here.

Again I will say that being raised in the North and then being immersed in Southern history gives our country’s history a whole new focus. When we left the Exchange, Paul headed one way to explore and sit on a shady bench while Kath and I went the other way – toward the Battery – to find our second destination.

Today I will share Micah’s message from Old Mahoning. Mind His Business. That will make us mind OUR business. Jesus instituted a plan specifically for us – be what God made you to be; Don’t copy others, be you! We are created for a purpose, follow Him & He’ll make you what He wants you to be. Bloom where you are planted; use your gifts. Don’t be distracted by looking at others. Focus on Jesus. Don’t delay – GET IT DONE! Don’t put it off; prepare for the future. He’ll go with you. You may not understand everything – just trust. Jesus said “FOLLOW ME” – Follow God’s plan for your life. It’s not always easy or good – but it’s right!

Check out Vacation Day #5, #2 – Post #8 for the rest of day five’s adventures!

On the road about 8am, heading to Savannah for the day. The first thing that was exciting was this very cool bridge! It was so high I had to shut my eyes going across!

Once we arrived at the Visitor’s Center, we got a few maps and some information, then chose a tour company. We picked Old Savannah because it was locally owned. And we really lucked out! It was the only tour bus we saw all day that had a costumed interpreter onboard! At several of the stops another costumed guide would climb aboard, and tell us a story about his/her life. We even met John Wilkes Booth’s brother Edwin – we got interesting information from him!

We heard about the 22 squares (parks) in the historic section, which is a mile square. About Jones street, which is the most desired street to live on in Savannah. Gertrude (our guide) also filled us in on the great rivalry between the cities of Charleston and Savannah. I would pick Charleston – but then, we only spent a short time in Savannah and it was 90 plus degrees and over 90% humidity! We drove past Forsythe Park and saw the fountain but ended up no going back down to walk around. We learned about the Resurrection Fern that lays dormant on the branches, etc, and only comes out after a rain – it lives 24 hours then disappears. We got to see it because it rained on Tuesday!

This was a hop on/hop off tour – but we were enjoying Gertrude so much we didn’t want to hop off! We waited until the next-to-last stop and did hop off at the Marketplace to get something to eat at the Café there. Building was quaint and the food was good – and it was air conditioned. There was a Prohibition museum there and I got a picture of the ‘gangster’ car on the street.

We got back to the motel a little earlier than most nights, and drove around for about 20 minutes trying to pick somewhere to eat! We finally picked Panera Bread – which was really good, and as their ads say, very fresh! I love their broccoli cedar soup. The moon was bright and the air considerably cooler.

We saw this cool sign on the side of a building…

And a few other things that we saw a shortage of – No tea bags at the motel. No straws at Panera Bread. We stopped at Walmart to get ice for the cooler. Paid for it and went to get a bag – and all there was were empty plastic bags floating in dirty water! It’s the little things….

Greg’s message was ongoing from Psalm 119. My Mind’s Made Up. We are chosen to follow, to love, to obey. CALCULATE your choices and direction. Study and meditate and practice every day, all the time. Play the course in front of you; i.e. live the life in front of you. Focus on God’s laws, not the world’s. Stay in the Word! Determine your path and be wise; keep His commands. Marry yourself to God’s character and you will be one with Him (like two boards nailed together). He never leaves you alone.

On this day in 512 a solar eclipse was recorded by a monastery in Ireland; in 1613 Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London burned down. In 1776 the Virginia State Constitution was adopted and Patrick Henry was made governor; and in 1863 the very first National Bank opened in Iowa.

TOMORROW June 30 is:

• National Meteor Watch Day
• Social Media Day
• National Parchment Day 

Two more days! I’ll do our last day in Charleston on Vacation day #5, Post #6. God bless!

We had lunch at the café with the peacocks before heading off to Charleston. Our tour started at the Information Center and was a History Tour of Charleston in a mini-bus. We learned more facts about Charleston’s history, the houses, the people, the stories. Our guide had a definite accent but mostly we could understand him. He said one of the frequently asked questions on tours is ‘are these mansions multi-family homes?’ The answer is a resounding NO! Some of them are lived in by a single person!

One fact that we learned was that the city had strict regulations about what could be built or how buildings could be renovated. Everything had to fit in the era of the historic district. And no building could be taller than the steeple of the highest church. So as you can imagine, there were no sky-scrapers or modern office buildings or condos – it was all very charming and quaint. And it was nice to be on a comfy bus and not walking in the rain or heat.

One of the stops on the tour was the Citadel – The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, commonly known simply as The Citadel, is a public senior military college. Established in 1842, it is one of six senior military colleges in the United States. Our tour bus drove us all through the campus and we saw students practicing on the field.

One of the biggest decisions of the trip was always where to eat. There were so many different places and we all had different ideas. But no one wanted to make the decision. We took the recommendation of the information center clerk and checked out the Charleston Crab House. It was a 45 minute wait, but Paul sat on the wall and talked to another waiting couple while Kath and I went up the street to a little General Store. We also bought some pralines at Paul’s request. I tasted a bite – they were very sweet and melted in your mouth! We were seated upstairs on the outdoor deck – and of course ordered seafood/fish! I found the signs on the rest room doors to be very cute!

We had time back at the motel for Kath to swim for almost an hour. I sat on the edge with my feet in the water and researched ideas for our Savannah day (Wednesday). We had just finished our itinerary when they closed the pool. It was a fun day despite the rain and we were looking forward to a day in Savannah!

Mike’s message from Hempfield was finishing up the book of James. 1) Listen! Use your resources for others; treat people right and share your blessings. 2) Be patient – persevere and wait on the Lord. He will return but we must be patient, which is not easy! 3) Our word is our bond. Stand behind what you say. 4) Pray in faith. God hears prayers; prayers are powerful. Be a prayer warrior. 5) Save the lost – most important thing is to know Christ.

The dance/karate group from Hempfield did a performance after the service. They did a very nice job. It’s lovely to see our youth excited for using their talents for the Lord.

Vacation day 4, part 1 post #6 will post tomorrow! Be sure to check it out. God Bless!

We finally got to the motel rather late Monday Night – and I got to my room to find that it had not been cleaned. No towels, no sheets on the bed. I went back down to the desk, and the very apologetical desk clerk walked up to give me another room – which was not cleaned, either. We finally found one that was cleaned and made up, and I gratefully got organized and settled. They were very nice!

It was cloudy Tuesday morning as we headed to Magnolia Plantation, but it didn’t dampen our spirits. We arrived early, and the gates would not open for another half hour. We parked sideways along the road until a volunteer came by and said that was silly. She opened the gate and we followed her in. We parked right beside the ticket center, and were given free reign to walk around until we could buy tickets.

We had enjoyed driving down the long driveway, lined by Live Oaks with Spanish Moss and Palmetto trees, as well as shrubs and other trees. There was a Biblical garden, azalea gardens, a pond, kitchen gardens, and even a maze.

Our tour guide for the plantation was Sheryl, who was knowledgeable and personable and we learned facts about the plantation, the home, the family, the Ashley River. We walked back through the paths, past the river, through the gardens, past the burial monument. We just got back to the café by the pavilion when it started to rain. And rain. It POURED! We were glad to be under cover while waiting for the tour of the slave cabins (Slavery to Freedom Tour). The peacocks decided the rain wasn’t their cup of tea, either, and they wondered around in the pavilion with us — except for one crazy bird who sat up on the fence and just watched everyone. I was the only one with a poncho, so I zipped over to the car and got our umbrellas for good measure. The rain let up just as we had to head out to the Tram for our ride to the cabins. (Couldn’t take inside photos at the house.)

The cabins were 150 plus years old – and the four cabins each represented a different time in the plantation’s history – from the 1700’s through the 1990’s. Even after slavery was abolished, free workers on the plantation lived in the cabins. There was a fire pit in front of one, a replica of one that would have been used by the early slaves to cook and bake. There was a live oak at the corner that was absolutely huge! We were sorry to leave – there was so much else to see and do – but we (of course) had another tour scheduled for the afternoon! The rain let up, and by the time we got back to Charleston it was sunny and clear.

Check for the rest of day #3 on post #5 – where Mike’s message from Hempfield will be posted.

On this day in 1762 – first reported counterfeiting (Boston); in 1776 the final draft of the Declaration of Independence was submitted to the Continental Congress. In 1776 Charleston South Carolina repulsed the British Attack, and in 1935 FDR ordered a federal gold vault to be built at Ft Knox KY. In 1976 the first woman was admitted to the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs; in 1982 Prince Charles and Lady Diana named their baby William. And in 2003 The Pirates of the Caribbean premiered at Disneyland. Henry VIII (King of England) was born in 1491; John Wesley in 1703; Mel Brooks in 1926, and Kellie Pickler (Country singer) in 1986. James Madison (4th President) died at age 85 in 1836, and in 1919 Harry and Elizabeth Truman were married (he was 33rd President). Merle Haggard married Bonnie Owens in 1965.

TOMORROW June 29 is:

• National Camera Day
• National Waffle Iron Day
• National Almond Buttercrunch Day ** I love buttercrunch donuts!

A little interesting fact I leaved from a documentary of Magnolia gardens: There are basically two kinds of gardens 1) Formal Gardens – Controls Nature. 2) Romantic Gardens – CO-operates with Nature. Everything else is somewhere in between!

And a post note: If we were in Charleston today we could be part of their huge celebration every June 28th: Carolina Day! The Battle of Sullivan’s Island. Among other things, they ring church bells, have a huge parade, and purchase their Palmetto State Flags. Wish we were there!!!

This is part 2 of day 2 – 3rd vacation post – continued!

We had done our homework, and had another tour booked for later that afternoon. We had just the right amount of time to get from Liberty Square to the second tour on Anson Street. We actually had time to look for the Pineapple fountain that was along East Bay street. When we finally found it we all took off our shoes and socks and waded around, cooling off! We drove around the city looking at houses and taking pictures and walking in the cooler evening breeze. Paul was a good navigator and we found everything we wanted to see, and still got to the Old South Carriage Ghost tour on Anson Street in time.

We had time between the fountain and the carriage tour to walk around a few streets – and my favorite was Rainbow Row! At one time it was a slum section, and the renovations included bright and pastel colors on the exteriors. I loved this street and took way too many photos!

Mac was our horse for the tour – and the guide had a good knowledge of the city, history, and the hauntings, murders, deaths and betrayals. Lavinia was the most famous – she and her husband would kill the guests at their inn, chop them up, and hide them in the city. When it came time for them to be hung, Lavinia said she couldn’t be killed – because women were ‘property’ and as she was married she ‘belonged’ to her husband. So the judge executed him first, which made her a widow and she could be hung. She paraded through the streets in her wedding gown, trying to get someone to marry her. No takers – wonder why? So her quote before her death was “If any of you have a message for the devil, tell me now, for I shall be seeing him shortly.” Lavinia’s ghost still haunts the Jail and has reportedly been seen by many.

Being on the cobblestone streets and riding through the historic section among the houses and buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries had a very appealing charm. I loved the stories and the homes and the beauty and charm of the city – in everything we did!

We grabbed a quick supper at ‘Pizza by the Slice’ and headed back to the motel. It would be another early wake-up time in the morning. We would head to Magnolia Plantation. Good night…

Jim’s message from First Pres in Inverness FL – Peace be Still. Jesus and his disciples were still in mourning from the death of John the Baptist. They needed to get away, to find peace and quiet to mourn. But the crowds followed, and were hungry, and Jesus fed the 5000 plus. Then the disciples set out on the lake and a storm whipped across the lake – they were frightened. When Jesus walked to them on the water, Peter wanted to walk to him – but he looked down and started to sink. Jesus called for the storm to be still – Peace. We needed to keep our eyes on Jesus – He will help us walk through the storms and give us peace.

Now it’s off to get reorganized to start Day 3! God bless….