Dancing in the Summer Sun

“Let us dance in the sun, wearing wild flowers in our hair…”
―Susan Polis Schutz

 

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This forgotten house

This forgotten house . . .

What stories have been worn into its walls?
What memories dwell within like lonely ghosts?
What secrets will it forever keep?

This abandoned home,
Once, was it filled with love and laughter?
Or heartbreak and sorrow?

Forsaken, does this house long for its past?
Mourn its lost occupants?
Weep as it crumples?

But do not be mistaken.
This forgotten house has not failed.
It is, simply, eloquently, telling its story.
And, as you know, all stories come to an end.

Sweet Pink Peony

How I wish, dear friends, I could send you the sweet fragrance of this pink peony! It would do your heart good.

Historic Homes: Charleston Architecture, Part II

This brick mansion situated on a prime corner lot on the harbour offers a delightful view of its three-tiered piazza. Imagine, too, the history it has witnessed directly across the river from Fort Sumter where the first shots of the American Civil War rang out.

Displaying two contrasting front piazzas, curvy and square, this southern belle models a decorative flair.

A handsome house built in the early 1800s by carpenter Robert Lindsay, this gem remains classic and contemporary.

How lovely it must be to call this charmer home!

As a final note, it would be amiss not to reveal that many of the magnificent mansions in Charleston’s historic district were built by highly skilled but unacknowledged, enslaved workers.

Single Houses: Charleston Architecture, Part I

No visitor to Charleston, South Carolina can resist the charm of this historic city. Its picturesque quality owes much to the distinctive architecture, in particular, a unique style of dwelling known as the single house.

Set close to the street, the single house, as its name hints, is only one room wide with a “front” door that opens not into the home, but a veranda, which locals call the piazza.

From one to three tiers, the piazza on the long side of the home creates open-air living space. It is also oriented to welcome cooling breezes from the harbour, a relief during the hot, humid summer. Often gardens and trees are planted alongside the piazzas, not only upping the beauty factor but offering shade and privacy.

Given that the single house has a long-standing history in Charleston, contemporary designs borrow from these traditional tall and narrow homes, preserving the unique flavour of residential architecture.

Long after leaving

“Long after leaving, the remembered light of these places
still warms the traveler.”
-Taylor Bruce

One day I headed south. An elusive spring here sent me in search of warmth, greenery, and blooms. I found Charleston, South Carolina. A warm and welcoming stop. Rich in history and architecture, it has endured fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, wars, and a tragic mass shooting. The city’s unbreakable spirit and famed southern hospitality imbue the very air, casting a spell on visitors.

The images capture “the remembered light” of Charleston that will linger and warm this traveler “long after leaving.”

 

 

A tulip is a tulip

“A tulip doesn’t strive to impress anyone. It doesn’t struggle to be different than a rose. It doesn’t have to. It is different. And there’s room in the garden for every flower.” -Marianne Williamson