Flowertown

If you have never had the pleasure of visiting Summerville, South Carolina you are missing out on one of the South's most visually pleasing and charming small towns. I am lucky since my mom lives there, in a quaint 100 year old cottage across the street from the railroad tracks and within a short walk to some really great shops!  We recently visited mom and had a great weekend at the annual Flowertown Festival, which is has been held every spring since 1972 and now draws some 200,000 visitors.  


Walking the streets of Summerville awakens your senses.  Dogwoods, camellias, wisteria, hydrangeas, magnolia trees, azaleas, and many other fragrant and colorful blooms adorn the town and each of her beautiful historic homes. If you love historic houses like I do, you would find it very hard to find a favorite. It really is a wonderful little town.  Lots of shopping, great restaurants and parks and only a 25 minute drive to historic Charleston or the beach. If you are lucky enough to vacation in or around Charleston, definitely make a day trip to Summerville and get out and walk    around! 


Reagan loved the great shops! She's going to take after her mama and nanny! 

Let's walk inside On A Limb, one of my mom's favorite shops.  

Look at this beautiful, historic southern home. We had to stop and take a rest here.  What a perfect spot for us to cool off! 

Continuing our walk around the corner, we got a peak at the back side of the home. 

This is a great representation of the homes in Summerville and Charleston. There are so many like this, it is impossible for me to pick a favorite! 


One day I am going to own one of these homes! It may not happen until my next life but I will do it. The good people of Summerville should cross their fingers for me because if I never end up owning one of these homes I will take up residence in spirit form when I am gone from this earth! 


My visit with mom wasn't long enough but I plan to go back soon.  You should, too! There are plenty of bed and breakfasts to stay in, things to do, and great places to eat.  And if you need a good glass of sweet tea and great conversation, just go visit my mom across the street from the railroad tracks! 

If I had my camera with me on our family trip to the flea market on Saturday, you could join my pity party for the fabulous find I missed.

We were about to leave when I saw this great architectural piece.  It was standing up against a pole, taller than me, paint chipping off everywhere and in desperate need of a home.  It had three empty squares, where I knew there were once mirrors.  My jaw dropped several inches and I stopped and began a very animated, one sided conversation about the possibilities of that piece with my 16 year old son.  Like he cared.  "Oh my gosh.  Look at this, Jackson!  Do you know what I could do with this?  I could use it over my headboard.  I could use it for headboard.  I could put litte frames in it.  I could put a mirror in it.  Oh I love it!"  

"How much are you asking for this?"

"$25.00", said the man.  "It's an old piano mirror piece but the mirrors broke out.

Twenty five dollars?  Twenty five dollars!!??  
Oh my.  What a steal! 

As if on cue, hubby appeared looking somewhat flustered with Wild Man Weston (our six year old).  Both were clearly ready to leave.

I asked the man if he would be there tomorrow.  Why I didn't pay for the item right there, I'll never know.  I knew I couldn't take it with us because it would never fit in my car since we were all out for the day.  Normally, I can just put the 3rd row seats down but, with the entire family of five out for the day, I couldn't.  Still, I could have returned Sunday to retrieve it.

So on Sunday morning, I had a lengthy phone conversation with my mom about my flea market finds, the things she has decided to buy for her house in SC, etc  when I realized how crazy I was that I didn't get that piece.  I decided right then that I was going back and I needed to hurry.  


Brush teeth.  Put deodorant and bra on.  Do NOT take take the time to shower.  It's the flea market.  A little lip gloss and sunglasses and nobody will even notice that I practically just rolled out of bed.  Shoot...I have to stop to get gas in my car.  Darn.


The flea market is 30 miles away so I can't get there quickly enough.

You know the rest of the story.  It was gone.  Sold.  Here's the kicker.  It sold to a man who owns a shop that has GREAT stuff.  I have bought a number of things from them over the years.  And as I was brushing my teeth Sunday morning to go down and get my lovely find I thought to myself, "I cannot believe the people at Revival (name of shop) haven't come along and scooped that up."   And so they did.  I jinxed it!  Kicker number 2.  I approached Jodi at Revival about this piece that "Randy", the man outside, had just sold them and inquired as to how much they wanted it for.  I would have paid significanty more than the $25 at this point.  One, because clearly Revival needs to make a profit and two, because now I REALLY wanted it.  Nope.  They do not want to sell it.  UGH!

Have you joined my pity party?   Thanks for coming.  It's always better when a friend understands.

A Change is Gonna Come

With spring's fresh air knocking on my door, I have that urge to re-do.

Again.  

It was barely a year ago that I found a rug for the living room after searching for months.  It is soft underfoot...which is a nice treat for your feet when you have mostly hardwoods...and has shades of taupes, browns, and pale blues in it to tie the room together nicely.

Now I have the urge to lift it up, roll it up, and let it rest in the attic during the warmer months ahead.  Dilemma:  Purchase a soft sisal to replace it or go bare for the summer?  

If only I had a white linen sofa.  

If that were the case, I could go either way.  Unfortunately,  when it was time to purchase the sofa last year, my small budget and large family dictated that khaki microfiber was the only option for us.  It has worked...it's durable, neutral and attractive.  It's just that I don't love it.  I would love white linen.  I think.

The issue here is that I am afraid having a khaki colored sofa on a khaki colored rug in a room with khaki walls would be too bland.  But I feel the need to lighten the room for the summer.  Take some weight out.  Add some texture.  Leaving the floors bare would really look good. 

But...

It is not cozy for the kids. 

The floor is not protected. 

It is more for me to sweep and mop. 

Okay, then.  'Nuff said.  Decision made.  I think I will try the sisal.  Do you agree?  Thank goodness for free rug samples!

I just had to talk it out.  Thanks for listening! 

39 Candles

It's hard to believe that 1971 was thirty nine years ago.  Really?  It seems like the 70's were merely a decade ago.  In reality, the turn of the century was already a decade ago.  Crazy.

In honor of my birthday, I have decided to start a blog to write about things that move me, things I love, and network with the many creative and talented woman I have met or seen in the wonderful world of blogging.  So here's a Happy Birthday to Me,  and a wish that next year when I celebrate my 40th, I'll be a little better!