The Treasures of Society Hill, SC

Today I went to Society Hill, SC founded in 1726.
Although  I went there almost every day for a couple years when I was working at the library there; I never thought much about that date.  After being in New Hampshire and seeing the towns there brag about their founding dates which were much later I am newly impressed with Society Hill's early start.

My buddy, Mr. Ashton Gandy had invited me to come see the family quilts he had stored in a cedar chest in his house.  He only knew they had been made by his father's family.  Mr. G is 92 so I know they are old.

 This is Mr. G and his faithful dog, Tim who is a standard rat terrier; a good bit bigger than our toy Scout.

 This is one of the four upstairs bedrooms in Mr. G's big old southern home.  He was raised in this house with his four sisters (all living).

 The rest of the pictures are at the new and much improved Society Hill Library which will open to the public in a week.  These are librarians who have been working hard to move all the books into the library.  We had at least a thousand books stored other places because the former library was only 900 square feet.

It was truly wonderful for me to see this building FINALLY come into reality after MANY, MANY delays!

Home, Home on Governor Beasley's Range

 We were fortunate to attend a birthday party here at former SC Governor, David Beasley's compound near Society Hill, SC.  This lovely building is called the club house and is used as party central. 

 Here are my daughter-in-law, Niki and her Mom, Bill, with my granddaughter Hannah, poolside.

 This is one of three log cabins the Beasley's have for guests.  They are committed Christians and host get aways for college kids and others.

                                               This is the fireplace area in the cabin.

                       The downstairs bedroom which opens to a screen porch facing a natural waterfall.

                                     There is a claw foot tub under that shower curtain to the left.

                                           The kitchen.

                                           Upstairs, three beds which Mary Wood, David's wife had embellished.

                                             The barn is as nice as the house.

                                                       It even has a little bunk house with a quilt.

                                                                 One view from the barn.

                                                        Chickens in one of the paddocks.

                                               A toy war room for boys.

                                           The view from the porch at the Beasley's own house.

There was much more I didn't show.  The pitching machine tent....the skeet shooting range, three more ponds, dirt  bike tract etc...


I want to say I taught David and Mary Wood's oldest daughter Mary Hunter and they were more that nice in every dealing I had with them.  David goes around the world helping with humanitarian issues.  They are just the kind of people you want to have the nice things they have because they share freely  (they were in Colorado when the party took place.)

The Bear and Granite State

This is beautiful Lake Sunapee.  It is a perfect day and everyone is enjoying the water.

Mary Ann's is a fifties restaurant here in Derry.  Waitresses wear poodle skirts and it is all oldie music.  PS.... the food is great as well.

Yesterday we went out to the coast.....NH does have a little bit of Atlantic Ocean coastline.  The have a huge sandcastle building contest.  Guess who won?

We went on Route 4 following Antique Alley.  There were so many antique shops I couldn't visit them all but enjoyed the ones I did visit.  I like to look at the old post cards from SC. 

This is Diamond the Samoyed dog we are house sitting.  Curtis just came up to the fourth floor where the computer is to tell me Diamond has been looking for me all over the house.  He has cataracts so it was slow going for him.  We will miss Diamond Dog when we head back to SC tomorrow.

Hope you enjoyed our tour of NH; we sure did.  What is your favorite state to VISIT?

North to New Port

Today Hubs and I took off North to Newport, NH.  We took a scenic route instead of interstate and were well rewarded by picturesque sights.  We came upon the lovely campus of New England College....a kind of Coker College of the North.  In a small town, except a river runs right by the college and they even have a covered bridge.

On the left is the covered bridge near Newport!  And guess what was on Main Street?

A wonderful quilt shop!  I was beginning to think there were no quilters in New Hampshire....Alas, I was so wrong, this shop was packed to the gills with everything a quilter could want and lots of fabric on sale :)

...And the Home of the BRAVE!



Yesterday Hubs and I scouted out a craft fair.  On our way there we passed by Lake Winnisquam.  Everyone was out in their boat with the red, white and blue flying flags.  There was a sand bar with boats moored and people picnicking.  The whole scene looked like it was taken from a movie.  I would love to rent a cabin on this lake.

The art fair was at a Ski Area.  A lot of vendors all with handmade items.  When I am home I will post some of the pics.  I liked one lady's quilts a lot.

The people here really go all out for the 4th.  We have had huge fireworks displays the last two nights here in "our neighborhood."  I wonder what they will do tonight?

Several places we have been people are talking about the "economy" and how bad it is.  (Personally I wouldn't be buying fireworks but I'm just sayin')  There are a lot of For Sale signs everywhere.

Tomorrow we are of to Newport, NH for the trip down memory lane.

How are you spending the 4th?