Charleston In The Spring Part 1

On March 14th, 2020, I finished packing suitcases and set my alarm for an early flight the next day. Bags packed, plane seats chosen, book downloaded and plans in place for a beautiful week in Charleston. I woke up to a changed world. It was heartbreaking. I know many families suffered so much more than a missed vacation. We were quite blessed really, but it still hurt. Finally, two years later, we had the opportunity to put those plans into place. It was worth the wait. Some cities just grab your heart the moment you open your hotel room door. Annapolis is and will always be our beloved home town, but Charleston was like a home away from home. It was the perfect spring break destination.

Where we stayed. Our hotel, The Harbor View Inn, was the perfect location for downtown excursions. We were near the Battery, steps away from Rainbow Row, and a short walk to the City Market. It was beautifully appointed, served a wonderful breakfast to your room and generously provided wine and cheese at 5:00 and milk and cookies at 9:00 each day.

Strolling
Love this view

Where we shopped. Of course, King Street is a shoppers’ Mecca with beautiful boutiques, high end antiques and specialty stores of every kind. It was fun to window shop but most of our shopping was done at the City Marketplace, a fun place to find the perfect souvenir or gift. It is also a fun place to see local artists and sample well known Charleston treats.

You can sample all the cookie flavors.
The home of Charleston Chews.

We finished our day meeting a dear friend for diner at California Dreaming, a fun restaurant with great South Carolina dishes and flavors.

Such a fun atmosphere

Inspire me Monday. Inspire me Tuesday . Metamorphosis. You’re the Star. Tuesday with a twist. Wonderful Wednesday. Keep in touch. Beautifully made. Wednesday blog hop. Share your style. Grandma’s House DIY. Vintage charm.Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday. Grace at Home Thursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Home matters.Create bake grow. Happiness is homemade Create with joy. Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday Saturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About Home Flaunt it Friday Pink Saturday encouraging hearts and home Wednesday Centerpiece. Dare to share. heart and souls simple sunday silverado. The Fabulous Party. homestead blog hop traffic jam busy Monday. Love your creativity Karen’s Kottage. Crafty creations inspiration party share the wealth Sunday sunshine

Emily Dickinson’s ‘A Light Exists in Spring’

A Light exists in Spring
Not present on the Year
At any other period –
When March is scarcely here

A Color stands abroad
On Solitary Fields
That Science cannot overtake
But Human Nature feels.

It waits upon the Lawn,
It shows the furthest Tree
Upon the furthest Slope you know
It almost speaks to you.

Then as Horizons step
Or Noons report away
Without the Formula of sound
It passes and we stay –

A quality of loss
Affecting our Content
As Trade had suddenly encroached
Upon a Sacrament.

We were in Charleston, finally! More to come…

Inspire me Monday. Inspire me Tuesday . Metamorphosis. You’re the Star. Tuesday with a twist. Wonderful Wednesday. Keep in touch. Beautifully made. Party in your pjs. Wednesday blog hop. Share your style. Grandma’s House DIY. Vintage charm.Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday. Grace at Home Thursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Home matters.Create bake grow.. Happiness is homemade. Create with joy. Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday Saturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About Home Flaunt it Friday Pink Saturday encouraging hearts and home Wednesday Centerpiece. Dare to share. heart and souls simple sunday silverado. The Fabulous Party. homestead blog hop traffic jam busy Monday. Love your creativity potpourri Karin’s korner. Sunshine blog hop

A Little Bit Of Luck.

A restful weekend here in Annapolis, in no small part thanks to a crazy burned out electrical transformer that led to a blown out Verizon box that led to a service call to happen between 9am and 9pm that led to a mandatory day at home.  It is a wonder how we ever did anything without the internet…or Fios TV. Anyway, it did give me time to put together a St. Patrick Day mantel.  I have never attempted to capture the luck of the Irish in my decor, but like my Valentine’s mantel, I am quite pleased that the simplest additions really do have major impact.  Do you like the sparkly shamrock? I give the Princess full credit!


Some green depression, vintage postcards and a bunting of shamrock pennants gives homage to Old Saint Patrick.
A close-up of the gorgeous green of the glass.


Vintage St. Patrick postcards are known for their amusing nature and exuberant love of the perfect Irish lass! I love these examples of both.

After 2 years an Annapolis tradition is back! Our annual St. Patrick Day parade. A beautiful day for a festive parade.

Inspire me Monday. Inspire me Tuesday . Metamorphosis. You’re the Star. Tuesday with a twist. Wonderful Wednesday. Keep in touch. Beautifully made. Party in your pjs. Wednesday blog hop. Share your style. Grandma’s House DIY. Vintage charm.Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday. Grace at Home Thursday favorites. BFF open house. Morning Cup Of Joe. Home matters.Create bake grow.. Happiness is homemade. Create with joy. Creatively crafty Senior salon. Turn about Tuesday Saturday Sparks Farmhouse Friday All About Home Flaunt it Friday Pink Saturday encouraging hearts and home Wednesday Centerpiece. Dare to share. heart and souls simple sunday silverado. The Fabulous Party. homestead blog hop traffic jam busy Monday. Love your creativity potpourri Karin’s cottage