Charleston, the friendliest city in America?!!!

One of the friendly tow-truck drivers of Charleston.

I walked out of our apt. this morning to go check on Mom, and the sidewalk is blocked by tow trucks. A small one stuck in the mud blocking the sidewalk and this one that came to the rescue of the small one. I can only imagine their frustration. Meanwile their customers U-Haul is stuck in the mud outside their apt. blocking Mom's apt., what a morning. It rained all night, what kind of a fool drives on the yard in the low country after that much rain? They were all idiots. Check their green cards!

Just more fun in paradise. Now where's the rum?

Cold in Charleston

Cold and breezy but the water's warmer. Alright, I'm tired of this cold already. Lets get this holiday stuff over with so we can head South!

What the ...!?

Is that my Maria?

What is grandma doing to you?

Leave two girls alone together and look what happens!!!

Ok, enough is enough. Get them things out of your hair, we're going to the beach. I don't care if it is only 50 degrees. Lets get serious here!

Where's the rum and my ripe mango, I need a belt after this!

Wow!! Long time no post!

Location good, colour will work, make an offer!

View to Frederiksted from Cottages by the Sea

Old sugar mill turned into house. No longer allowed I hear, but cool!

South shore view

It December already!? I guess. What a great summer, nice and warm and no " big blows". Good for the islands, the gulf and the east coast. We spent most of the time with the grandkids at the beach, big suprise there, and a few adventures.

Our trips to St. Croix were enlightening and enjoyable. We were looking for a place to build our little bungalow retreat. We saw a few good sites, but the island just seems a little too big for that island feel. The people are friendly the shops had all we would need, rum, rice, and beans. But there were alot of people. Still have not ruled it out.

We also took a trip down to Sanibel & Captiva. This is a really neat place. I had heard of the fantastic shelling at Sanibel on The Travel Channel, so I said let's go. And we did. We had fun!! If you haven't read any of Randy Wayne White's books of Doc Ford's adventures in this area you really should. The discriptions are right-on and the stories exciting. Doc Ford's Bar and grill is good also.

We then took the water taxi/ferry to Key West, what a good time. Calm!!! seas good bar I would recomend it. Good Summer all-in-all!!! gotta figure out how to add more photos.

Planting time at last!!!

Finally!!!! Temperatures in the 80's. Been a damn long winter. Folks can now put there peppers out and plant their okra. You can see my priorities, fresh habaneros and fried okra, yes! Speaking of okra, while down on St. Croix I had some great fungi, grits with okra. the secret was to put the sliced okra in the grits about five minutes before serving letting the hot grits cook the okra. this keeps the okra firm but done. Now that with a dash or two of good habanero sauce, you can't beat Marie Sharpe's for hot sauce, but that sauce they have over there isn't bad if you like curry, is good eats! Alton should have done this on his okra show. I have eaten a bunch of hot sauces from all over the world, and I make a killer habanero relish/sauce, but the flavour of Marie Sharpe's is the best of ALL. Belize has it there for their One Barrel, Marie Sharpe's and of course Caye Caulker and their mangos ain't bad either.
Cheers!

Red Rice, Rantowles

I've been a lot of places and eaten a lot of rice, rice and beans, beans and rice, red beans and rice, but Low Country red rice is my favorite! Since being down here I've eaten a lot of red rice. The best by far is at this little sea food shop in Red Top, SC, off Rantowles Creek, The Fish Net. Great fried fish good prices, will cook what you buy fresh, but the best Red Rice.

I think I got the goods;
while the rice is cooking (2C. water, 1C. rice, white of course)
1C. diced sweet pepper
1C. diced onion
1C. diced smoked sausage
1 smashed garlic clove
enough oil to saute vegies, saute!
when tender add cooked rice, mix together gently
1can tomato sauce, combine (mix, not too hard we don't want goo!)
cover so flavors can come together~5-10min.
SERVE and enjoy!!!!

Best eaten with shrimp, oysters, fried fish or all by itself!!! How sweet and simple.

Cheers!

The Tropics

Ah! A warm sunny day and my mind can't help but think of the slow lazy day's in the tropics.Let's see, March 9 and we are in St. Croix again. Not soon enough. If we can't be on Caye Caulker, St. Croix will do. Before that though, we have a birthday party up in the mountains to put on this weekend for our grandson Erick. We rented a large cabin at Oconee State park for the event, Probably going to be cold up there, but the event will be great. Most of the family is headed up there. The Great-grandmothers, me and the better-half, Ericks dad, Jeremiah and his daughter,partner and her son; and Chris, Lief and Heather. What a crew!! Jude has duty this weekend so he stays. Oh well, somebody has to protect the nation. Someone might come along wanting our DEBT!

But, the tropics soon come!!!!!! We really can't quite figure-out what we are doing here. Yes! the mothers, they may have to come with us on the next adventure. The kids a "settled" now. So soon we are off on another chapter of "ADVENTURES with DAN and SUSAN!" If not back to Caye Caulker, then the VI, or the Bay Islands, But the tropics for sure!

Dreams of sweet mangos dance in my head, and that's about all!!

Sunny Day

It's a beautiful sunny day on John's Island today. About 21F last night but warming up nicely now. Should be great this weekend, Sun and more Sun. Man I hate these short days. I am one of those that need sunlight and warmth to feel normal. Summer will be here soon and all will be right with my little world. The "B-H" has to close today so I will have Fri. evening to my self. Well I will check on Mom, then coctail time!
Cheers

Cold in Charleston

It's a cold day in Charleston and on John's Island. Sunny and 28 oh boy! Lets go to the beach!
Just talked to friends down on Caye Caulker, just beautiful. Still worried about our friend Val that got her neck chopped during a theffing, her friend is out of hospital and back in Canada now, I hear. Val at least will testify at the trial, "hang the fucker" I say. How dare he fuck with the good people of Caye Caulker.

Oh Well, Mangoes are still best just before they rot.