The Soldiers Are Coming

 Yesterday when I was at school the children began to buzz.....the soldiers are coming....the soldiers are coming!
  Fortunately, these were men dressed in reenactment uniforms that had come to talk to the students about the mechanics of the Civil War.  I am by no means a Civil War Buff but I have been to a reenactment (faithful readers will remember that blog) and read some historical fiction that takes place during the war.  But I did learn some new things yesterday.

The three men were all in correct uniforms of the day.  Obviously the navy blue was the yankee uniform but the other two were both Confederate Uniform.  The man on the right portrayed an officer....they did not carry rifles....they carried a pistol on their left hip.  All three have haversacks or rucksacks on their right hip.  Really it was a man's purse.  In their they carried their orders, a frying pan, any mail they might have received, their money and perhaps a newspaper or dime novel, maybe even a small Bible.  (And men talk about us and our purses....but they were going to be gone four years not an hour or so.)

 The small tent was folded up and carried in their back pack.  If it was torn or destroyed too bad you slept on the dirt.

 The infantry man has only a blanket which wore while marching.  The officer had perhaps a pillow in his bedroll.

 In the large tent eight adult men would sleep.  Believe me I wouldn't want to be in there with more than one other person.

They told some sobering facts about the Civil War which still stun me.  Over 100,000 men died in a single battle.  Out of 100 men from a county who went off to serve only 8 might return.  Hope this Memorial Day you remember the soldiers who fought in war for your freedom.

Donnamo's Ping Pong List Item #1

Done!

Love, Gabby

Moore's Garden

Moore is a woman raised on a small farm in  Lake City, a small town in South Carolina.  She made it big as a stock broker and has given generously to the University of South Carolina and other entities.

She has a wonderful garden she opens it to the Master Gardeners of SC to visit.  I have been twice in the past six years and there are new things to see each year.  This is the informal area in her garden designer's office. 

 One of the interesting things about her garden is the way they use common everyday plants (and weeds).  The large "dog" standing by the pine tree is a branch that they found in the garden and saw its potential as an ornament.

 The back porch has the waterfall flowing down the steps into an over sized apostrophe shaped pool.

 This little cement doggie hiney reminds me of home....this is frequently the view I get of our dog Scout.  The dog digs for hours each day and all you see is her rear.

 On my last visit architecture students from Clemson were on site laying the foundation for this Japanese style building.  The shutters you see are ten feet and can be turned to manipulate the breeze or the shade.  All four sides of the building have these woven wood shutters for walls.

This huge stone basin overflows into a trough lined with pieces of ceramics and it spirals around the grassy area.

This is just a small sample of the treats that await visitors to this garden.  I was inspired to buy some plants and add to my garden.  Have you ever been to a garden that inspired you?  Tell us about it.

Sallie's Mountain Garden

 Hubs and I went up to Meadows of Dan (Don't you Love that name?) Virginia for the weekend to visit our friends Sallie and Andy Macauley.  Sallie's garden was in full bloom with the lushness that comes from lots of rain.  The statue is of St. Fiacre, (http://saintspreserved.com/fiacre.htm) the patron saint of gardeners.  He has really done his job with this garden.

 The plant by the faucet is a rhododendron; this pic does not do its lovely pastel colors justice.  The native rhododendron were also in bloom on the mountain sides...gorgeous!

Sallie was a garden designer here in Hartsville; in fact my English garden was the first garden she designed.  These plants look so lovely with the gravel and rocks.

We went to a chili cook off and mountain music sing while there as well as schlepped around  a quaint mountain town  (Floyd, Va that has become an artist's colony of sorts.  Also visited Salem United Methodist Church which was built from a single poplar tree before the Civil War. The tree was given by a member of the RJ Reynolds family before they made their millions in tobacco and moved to Winston-Salem.

I'm Blessed, I'm Blessed, I Am Blessed.....

 I had the privilege of having my grandson, Gates, with me Monday and Tuesday.  His mom, Niki, was preparing to take her liscensure exam.....(which, praise God she passed).  Gates wanted to go to school with me like his sister did.  Here he tries out the Star Student Seat!

 I couldn't resist taking a snap in front of this part of the mural I had painted when I was principal of Plainview.

 This is was taken at Niki's hooding ceremony in Columbia Friday.  300 master's degree of social work grads.....and we need every one of them....Amen?  Amen.

 Yesterday, hubs and I went on a birding expedition in Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge. The three ladies on the left are Candace Holcombe, Ronna Askins and Kaye McElveen.  Ronna, Kaye and I were all principals....how rare is that?

 This is hubs checking out one of the many ponds.  The green building is a photo shelter where you can hide and take pictures of the wildlife.  Our guide and teacher, Dr. Bill Alexander has taken many a picture here.  He is a teacher at the Governor's School for Math and Science which is located here in Hartsville.  I hope one of my grands will qualify to attend here....an awesome opportunity...nice and close to Nana!

You can't see them but there are about two dozen bobolinks perched in these wildflowers.  They migrate here from Argentina on their way up to Canada for the summer.  They only come by in May and we were blessed to see them.

You can see why my soul sings, "I'm blessed, I'm blessed.... I am blessed!"  Truly God has been sooooo good to this orphan girl....He has met my every need and all of my wants....it is my honor to love and serve Him.

How has God taken care of you?

Mother Daughter Tea Party

 Today the United Methodist  Women of Bethlehem United Methodist Church held a tea party for the women of the community.  The younger women did all the prep and let me tell you they know how to throw a party.  Almost everyone wore a hat.  After Friday's wedding of Kate and William, everyone was really into it.  This is a cousin, Dale Chapman Parker looking lovely in her chapeau.

                                          Another cousin Becky Warren Haire is looking lovely.

                                          This is Becky's daughter Lyvian  with her grandmother Mama Di.

                         Dianne Warren's hat looked like it might have been worn at the wedding yesterday.

                These two lovely young ladies purchased their fasionista hats at Roses.  Who knew?

            Several hats were of the fun variety.  Jennifer Marshall designed these for her mother, Joy, and niece Alana.  You can't see the garden implements on Joy's hat but trust me they were there.

Jennifer's had had file folders, a huge pen, and memo stand.....she works with her husband in their car painting business.  Due to the recent hail here they are overwhelmed with vehicles to be painted.  I told her she could go into hat designing if she had any spare time.  On the left you see Marie Gainey wearing her original wedding veil.

I should have photographed the refreshments as well.  Tea, tiny tea biscuits, pettifors, tiny cheese biscuits, chicken salad cups, and other delectables were served.

Have you ever been to a tea party?   Have you ever worn a hat?