Tiny Spaces ( Part 2 )

 Houses are not the only tiny buildings in Charleston. 

There are many tiny businesses too.

This has certainly got to be the tiniest hair salon I have ever seen.

Although, no longer in use this tiny building was once a post office in Mt. Pleasant, just outside of Charleston.

I just love the Shell House, which is on the campus of Ashely Hall & serves as a senior student center.

This adorable tiny building sells snacks. 

Here is a bright little building just waiting for a new life.

But oh my, the tiny eateries have to be my favorites. 

Most of these are right in my neighborhood & are within walking distance of my house.

Sugar Bakeshop, below,  is my all time favorite & really deserves a post all its own. 

Their jewel like cupcakes are simply to die for. 

Happy Belated Earth Day!

I am afraid I completely missed Earth Day, with all that has been going on lately. I usually like to commemorate it in some way here on the blog & have done so in years past. But this year I did not have anything prepared. My son recently sent me the following link, knowing about my interest in the small house movement. I am not sure if it is entirely appropriate as an Earth Day celebration, but I certainly enjoyed seeing the amazing way that this New York apartment made use of a very small space & thought maybe some of you would too.

GIZMODO - The Tiny Transforming Apartment That Packs Eight Rooms into 350 Square Feet from Gizmodo on Vimeo.

Before leaving Charleston I took some more photos of small spaces down there, which I will post soon too.

And since everyday, in fact, is earth day, I hope you have a happy one & are able to get out & enjoy the beauty this earth has to offer.

Preparing The Condo For Sale

Everywhere I look there is the clutter of a lifetime needing to be sorted through, packed away or discarded. This is not an easy task. Each familiar item holds some sort of memory, some story of the past.





However, in order to put the condo on the market the clutter must be dismantled. This process is as much about remembering as it is about organizing & therefore takes an inordinate amount of time.




One tends to hold on to so many things that are not really any longer useful but are loved & treasured just the same, or at least I do.




Old journals & letters are some of the hardest. I invariably stop to reread passages or entire letters, which can take a whole afternoon just to sort through a small pile.




And then there are old photographs of which I have many. Unfortunately, nothing is orderly & neatly placed in albums as they should be. I have closets filled with shopping bags & baskets over flowing with photos & other sentimental treasures, all now needing my full attention.

Stunning Developments in Boston

This has been a strange & chaotic week for Boston. Today the city of Boston is in a lockdown mode, while law enforcement search for the Marathon bombing suspect, who remains at large. Schools & colleges have closed. The entire public transit system has been shut down. Except for the presence of the authorities & the media the streets of Boston are empty. Most of the Boston population are now glued to the television as this unprecedented situation unfolds before us. Like so many others, I have so much to do, but find myself unable to tear myself away from the TV.

A Sad Return to Boston

The Boston Marathon, which is one of the most beloved marathons in the world, ended in tragedy on Monday. Even for those of us who are not runners the marathon is a point of pride & an occasion of celebration. This is a tragic day for all Bostonians as well as for the many dedicated runners who visit here every year from all across the country & around the world. It is for me a very sad home coming indeed. My heart goes out to all that have been so tragically touched by this event.

Photo Courtesy WHDH

Leaving Again

I hate to be leaving beautiful Charleston right now, but we are going to have to head back up north to Boston.

The agreement we had to sell our condo did not work out. So we are on our way back to put it on the market in ernest.

 In the meantime, I am looking around & thinking how sad to have to go at such a lovely time of year.

Happy spring everyone!

Diego & Frida

 Our  visit with our granddaughters also included a trip to Atlanta to see extended family. While in Atlanta, we were able to go to the Diego Rivera & Frida Kahlo exhibit 

at Atlanta's High Museum of Art .

 It was a wonderful exhibition that we were all able to enjoy. Our youngest granddaughter, Gracie, recently studied about Frida Kahlo in art class.

I was amazed at how large the show was. 

It covered the monumental murals of Diego Rivera as well as his paintings.

My favorites were & always have been those with his signature cala lilies.

But for me the real emphases  of the show was all about Frida.

Her starkly revealing self portraits tell the story in pictures of her often tragic life & her passionate yet tumultuous  relationship with her husband, Diego.

I was struck by how even her  beautiful, colorful still lifes have a provocative edge to them.

Together these two iconic Mexican artists created an enormous body of work in their lifetimes & this exhibition has done a wonderful job of curating it.

We enjoyed sharing this exhibit as a family

& 

well... you have to have a little fun too!

Sunday, Sun & Serena

It never ceases to amaze me, all that this area has to offer. Yesterday we were able to see the finals in the Family Circle Women's Cup on Daniels Island.

First there were the Doubles played by Andrea 

Hlavackova/Liezel Huber & Kristina Mladenovic/Lucie Safarova. 

The beautiful, fluid tennis was such fun to watch it hardly mattered who won but finally the titel was taken by A.Hlavackova & L.Huber. 

It was a magnificent sunny day & wonderful to be watching some great tennis.

 Next came the big final match between

 Serena Williams & Jelena Jankovic.

On Saturday, Serena had beat her older sister, Venus, in the semifinals  for the top spot.

Serena had claimed the title here in 2008 & again last year.

 Her opponent, Jankovic, had won the title in 2007 & was primed to stop Williams from a back to back win.

 It was great to have the opportunity to watch these two wonderful athletes play. 

Jankovic fought a hard battle but in the end it was Serena who took home the gold.

I enjoyed trying my hand at some amateur sports photography.

 I was almost as interested in all of the professionals & their giant lenses as I was with the game.

It was a fun day all the way around. 

I hope your Sunday was sunny too!