Finally Friday - End of May

I'll end my May posting with a step back to Cinco de Mayo in Folly Beach.  We had fun at Taco Boy

Here's Lori and Cherie.   I think David was off fetching more drinks 

 Ray and I cheered with margaritas.  It was a fun night out with drinks and tacos.  A DJ was blasting tunes.  Quite a festive energy. 

The next morning, my sister came back from a walk and reported that no one was passed out under any bushes at Taco Boy. 

Bueno!

Whatever Wednesday - Whoa! Now that's a big tree

"You have to go see The Angel Oak Park," said David and Cherie. Go see a tree?

Not just any tree. On St. John's Island SC, this is considered A Lowcountry Treasure - the largest Live Oak Tree east of the Mississippi.  It's 300-400 years old!!!

65 feet high.  25.5 feet circumference.  Shades 17,000 square feet

Branches are propped up a bit in places. 

 Lots of rules obviously.  Don't climb, carve, abuse, or do anything to harm this tree

Just gape in wonder. 

It's a damn big majestic oak
 

Monday Moments - Memorial Day

Fort Sumter - We took the harbor ferry out to the island for the tour.  Well done by our National Park Service.  They gave us the history, what built to that day that "started" the Civil War.  Shots fired on this Union fort and control by the Confederacy of Charleston Harbor beginning April 14, 1861

We were the first tour of the day and participated in the flag raising.  The Park Service emphasized the meaning of the flag - it flies over the United States of America and represents SO much

Ray hanging out with a cannon.  Sad to think that Americans shot at Americans from 1861 to 1865. Our official Civil War. 
 

Part of the reason we were in Charleston area was the birth of my grand nephew, Myles. He's my brother's first grandchild. One can only reflect on Myles' First Memorial Day, remember those lost in so many battles for so many reasons, and hope that there's peace for his lifetime.  So far - he's been being a baby for a month - up to nine pounds. 

And then there's the other side of Memorial Day - the opening of summer pools, beer cans, and the sizzle of burgers on a grill.  Here's an oldie flamingo picture.  We actually now have an Eagle floatie. 

Have a safe and memorable Memorial Day.  Pause and reflect on the meaning, salute the fallen. 

Peace

Finally Friday - Stroll the Grounds

 Prior  to the house tour, we strolled  the grounds.  I could  picture  men and women in their finery, enjoying the scenery. 

The money crop here was rice.  Dangerous  work for  the enslaved peoples who  worked the  land. 

Meanwhile, flowers

Tall  oaks

and the danger of alligators.   We took the nature tour tram, and this fellow was happy to pose. 

I did not take any pictures in  the  house, but it was quite spacious. It was on its third or fourth iteration due to fires. A lightning storm burned  the first homestead.  Civil War battle remnants and cannon  fire caused another house  fire. Each time it was rebuilt and  expanded due to growing families and wealth. The Draytons, of course, had a home in Charleston for the high season.  But it was nice to move the  party to  the  "country" too.  

Whatever Wednesday - Magnolia Plantation

 In  between beach times, we did venture out for some  history.  Magnolia Plantation and Gardens proved to be lovely and interesting. 

Greeted by a peacock

Maypole and flowers in one of the lush garden areas

I believe a cherub statue is a requirement

bird, bridge, and a bit of a boggy marsh area

Two tourists

Monday Moments - Beach Folly

Leap ahead to last day at Folly Beach.  We rode the golf cart to  the end  of the island and then  walked the next half mile  to the lighthouse view.  Lori scrambled like a mountain  goat to  do her yoga pose.  No, she did  not do any spray painting. 

Ray and  I - contemplating life?  (or maybe thinking  about lunch?)

Fun times

Lori and another rock pose

Ray.....Ray....come back!
 

Finally Friday - Vacation Posts Begin

Settle in folks for some Folly Beach, SC frolic and fun.   Ray and I flew into Charleston and my brother picked us up. My sister drove in.   Let the  games  begin. 
 

Walked to local pier for a lovely sunset

Fresh air smiles

More sunsets

And some churning waves on the beach.  It was a bit cold. I went up  to  my thighs.  Ray managed ankle deep.  But it was fun  watching surfers, seagulls, and sandpipers.   

More  to come.   Right  now just wriggle your toes in the sand. 

Have a good weekend. 

Whatever Wednesday - Celebrate Spring Arts Fests

Spring time in the DFW area brings arts festivals.  It's not too crazy hot. Whew!   

So - focus  on  this lovely bracelet,  not the horrible picture of my arm and hand.   The bracelet caught my eye at the Southlake Art Fest.  Designed by an artist, Ann  Marie, from Florida  - she uses old watch parts.  The colors and unique style caught my eye.  Ray said, "You know you want it.  Just buy it. "   So I did.  Happy to support this creativity and repurposing.  

 And  two weeks earlier - Main  Street  Art Fest  in Fort Worth.  So many fun  booths.  I bought the upper left hand  wood carved piece and created a little collage for  my bedroom.  These pieces worked together and made the wood piece pop.   Most evenings, I watch  tv in this room and can look and enjoy the display. 

So many talented people!   Go explore your local  art scene and spring festivals.  Enjoy it  all! 

Monday Moments - Three Days in June by Anne Tyler

 Ooh!  A new Anne Tyler book!  I  popped  into the library last week  to return  some books, and I decided to browse the  new fiction  shelf. What  a treat to find - Three Days in  June by Anne Tyler is a very short delightful tale about  second chances. 

Friday - Gail Banes might have lost her job, or maybe just quit it. She wasn't invited to pre-wedding spa  day. And her  ex-husband, Max, shows up...with  a cat...and needs to stay for the  weekend. 

Saturday - daughter, Debbie, is  getting  married.  All  fine and  dandy, except some secrets have  popped out. Gail  thinks  it should  be a deal breaker.  Both Debbie  and  Max sorta say, "Hmm.  You,  of all  people, can  not  judge this situation."  

Debbie  does indeed say, "I do."    The wedding is pleasant, even though  the  new in-laws are almost  "too  much", in Gail's opinion. 

Sunday - well,  is  the cat staying...is Max  leaving?

Typical Anne Tyler writing. Humor.  Humanity.  She smoothly depicts a family and all its foibles. 

I  truly enjoyed this witty book. 

Finally Friday - Mother's Day Weekend Salute

Happy Mother's Day Weekend

Here's my mom  as a young girl.  She lived on a farm and hated  it - always solemn portraits

and my mom in  high school.   Yea...wow

 

And around the time she got married

She never liked having her picture taken.  But she was so pretty.  She had reddish brown hair.  Fair skin. 

She was a good mother  - very fair, always listened, and the  worst thing to hear was her saying, "I'm disappointed in  you."  OMG.   Me (the  oldest), David, and Lori - we can all vouch for "The Talk".   No shouting, no paddling (well,  maybe for David - ha!)....just the talk...about respect, being good, behaving. 

Oh, she was fast.  You never wanted to  hear her footsteps coming down to the rec room.  She heard everything and if she thought there  was trouble, she moved fast and was ready to lecture. 

She died at age 60 from stomach cancer.   Far  too soon.   She was thrilled when  Lisa was born - ready to spoil her first grandchild.  Alas, she passed when Lisa turned one.  She  would have loved her second grandchild - Jeffrey.    And  now, she'd be over the  moon  - Lisa just had a baby boy - Myles. 

Happy Mother's Day to all mothers and memories of the best. 

Whatever Wednesday - Say What? Yikes!

 "You like  it  darker? Fine. So do I," writes Stephen King in the afterword to this twelve story collection.

You Like  it  Darker by Stephen King is a masterclass in writing, in delving into lives - fate, mortality, luck, and the folds in reality where anything  can happen.  (cover blurb)

It's the creepy stuff, secrets, psychic flash, good luck, bad luck, unbearable  tragedy and more. 

He writes such believable dialogue. It's like you are listening in on a real conversation.  He touches on just  the right quirks that make a character unique. 

Sometimes, a short story is just the right  amount to read in a day.  King  offers the right amount of snack size sizzle that will have you turning  on  the lights and looking over your shoulder. 

Wait...did you hear that?

Um...did you see that?

Turn the page, my friends. 

Monday Moments Memoir - Eric Roberts

 Do you remember the first time you saw the actor, Eric Roberts, on screen?  His big break was King of the  Gypsies and he was gorgeous. And he could act, just  popped  from the screen.  Star 80, Pope  of Greenwich  Village, Runaway Train, and so many more. 

Runaway Train (or  the  story of my life so far) by Eric  Roberts (with Sam Kashner) is a no holds barred memoir.  cover blurb - In this brutally candid memoir, Academy Award and Golden Globe nominee Eric  Roberts pulls  no punches about  the ups  and downs of his career and his sometimes stormy relationship with his younger, more famous sister, Julia. 

Crazy childhood in Georgia, controlling abusive father. 

Seventeen - off to New York  City - worked and partied with the likes of Christopher Walken, Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis, Robin Williams

Hot star of  the era, affairs with famous actresses. 

Dark side of drugs - way too much cocaine and a horrifying  car  accident

Eric  Roberts has lived to tell the tale of his  life up to now - he is 66.  An actor's actor, he's worked with the best on stage and  screen, he's still active and in the game, and he's still working on his demons. 

I enjoyed the memoir and his sense of humor. What  a crazy life! (so far)

Finally Friday - The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

 The God of the Woods by Liz Moore is an "I absolutely could not stop reading this" book.  When I read the  last chapter, I truly said "Wow" out loud. 

cover blurb: Early morning, August 1975: a camp counselor discovers an empty bunk. Its occupant, Barbara Van Laar, has gone missing. She's the 13 year old daughter of the family that owns the camp, the summer home mansion, and employs most of the region's residents.

1961: Barbara's older brother, Bear, went  missing and is presumed dead. 

Now as the current panicked search begins, a thrilling drama unfolds.

This layered mystery book moves back and forth in time. We explore  the Van  Laar family - lots of secrets, sadness, and corners to poke.  Multi-generational dynasty of tensions, inheritance, second chances, and issues of family versus community. 

Liz Moore kept me guessing and the  pages turning. Lots of twists and turns and surprises. It truly pulled together with a few "whoa" moments. 

Now, stop reading this review and get in the queue for The God  of the Woods.  It  was worth the library waitlist.