An obsession...

it's my parents' fault.

No, really it is...

see it all started when I was only a grade schooler....

They (the parents) started to take vacations,

really just weekend trips to 

Charleston SC.

I was,

and probably am..

a spoiled brat, and they had to get away 

every once in awhile, or they might 

strangle me.

So,

a babysitter or grandmother was retrieved and

paid, I suspect, and off they went on a Friday afternoon.

Not a long way mind you,

but far enough that not returning when I cried, was 

only reasonable....

There they had a wonderful time,

and because they are indeed wonderful themselves,

they would bring me "goodies"

gifts,

presents,

bribes....

That's when it started...

this obsession for 

baskets...

I cannot help myself.

I don't even try any more.

I am hopeless.

So,

here is a glimpse at my stash...

enjoy....

Some are old...

having been acquired from antique shops, or junque stores...

Some came from family members to me when
we cleaned out their homes, I cherish those the most-est...

Some are relatively new....

younger than me...

Some are really new...

brought to me last year after their trip...

Yes,

they still take those trips....

I am still a brat, so there is no reason to upset 

the status quo.....

smiles.

Did I mention....

that I am

 oh so

 ready for spring?

That I am completely 

tired of snow...

and 

that it is supposed to 

snow here in the next few days?

I want daffodils,

and tulips,

and crocus,

and 

red-bud trees,

and azaleas,

and 

well...

warm weather.

I want to 

sit on the beach with 

sand in my shoes...

I am a 

Carolina Girl at heart...

and 

when March comes around...

my thoughts stray

to the 

Carolina shore.

Some twenty years ago,

I was in a wedding,

as a bridesmaid,

on an island just south of Charleston, SC

the first weekend in March.

The weather was unseasonably warm,

in the 80's....

and we watched porpoises

just off the shore...

It was a magical weekend.

Live Oaks and Spanish Moss...

I am so ready for spring...

smiles

A Word about this video...

Click here to view this video

I was fooling around with a site called

Motionbox

and after a bit of playing around,

created this video....

My intention was not necessarily to "publish",

but to show my son what a great time

David and I had "touring" around

Brookgreen Gardens,

Huntington State Park, SC

and Atalya,

which is located within the park.

This all took place 2 weeks ago,

and confirms that fall is the best time to visit.

Uncrowded, cooler weather, and

quiet....

really quiet....

so quiet that on one of the tours we took...

I listened to my breathing....

birds chirping...

wind blowing thru the pines...

distant fishing boats....

eagles...

really quiet.

If you are ever in SC,

are a photog,

like plants,

like sculpture,

or

just want some quiet...

smiles.