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Saturday, December 25, 2021
Christmas Morning
Sunday, December 19, 2021
Wood Stork A Nice Sight to See (Belted Kingfisher Too)
Since Hooded Mergansers came to my backyard pond a week ago I’ve been checking on them a few times a day. They are still here and the “Hoodie” pond population has been at 13 for a few days.
Another nice surprise was a couple days ago when I went out for my morning check and found a Wood Stork had joined the party on the pond!
Over the years I have seen Wood Storks at other golf course ponds in my neighborhood. This may be only the second time I have spotted one in “my” pond.
It seemed to find some good eating in shallow water along the far bank (above).
I have seen these Storks elsewhere in the Lowcountry. Here are a couple links that show other Wood Stork encounters: Magnolia Cemetery and in the ACE Basin.
The Stork had plenty of feathered company during the visit. In this photo there’s a Great Egret (left) and a White Ibis (Middle) with its trademark long curved orange bill.
Sunday, December 12, 2021
“Hoodies” Back in the ‘Hood!
A favorite migratory bird has been in my (the golf course actually owns it) backyard pond for almost a week now. These are Hooded Mergansers, “Hoodies” for short. This time of year (or earlier in the fall) they come south from as far away as Canada. Last Monday I counted five, four females and one male- he has the big white patches on his head. The last few days seven have been here more evenly distributed between boys and girls.
Friday, December 10, 2021
The Murdaughs of Magnolia Cemetery
If you haven’t heard about all this, here are a couple places that can help you catch up if interested: FitsNews investigative journalist Mandy Matney’s “Murdaugh Murders” podcasts or just Google “Murdaugh South Carolina” and the floodgates of coverage will pour in.
The Murdaughs buried here began, by virtue of one of their sons, the family’s legal dynasty in the southern part of South Carolina.
Pictured below, Josiah Putnam Murdaugh (1830-1912) and his wife Ann Marvin Davis Murdaugh (1847-1919) had several children. One of them was Randolph who, in 1920, would become the first of three generations of Randolph Murdaughs (RM Senior, RM junior and RM the third) to be solicitors (district attorneys) of South Carolina's 14th Judicial District that encompasses five rural counties. That 86-year reign of status and power is now being scrutinized in light of the deaths, scandals and controversies that embroil today’s Murdaughs.
Randolph Murdaugh Sr. died a violent death in 1940 when his car was struck by a train late at night at a railroad crossing in Hampton County where he lived and had begun the law firm that is today snarled in controversy. Ironically, the firm's website has on its homepage an image of two men, backs turned to the camera, walking on railroad tracks.
Thursday, December 2, 2021
Good Eats In Orangeburg!
That would be the place with the very distinctive sign out front (though the chicken- or is it a rooster- has lost some of its luster since I last dined here pre-pandemic a few years ago.)
Biddie Banquet is located at 220 John C. Calhoun Dr. not too far off Interstate 26 (if you're passing by).
This is a quaint place that does not seem to have a website. Unusual for the times. So I'm linking what Trip Advisor says about it.
I first learned of Biddie Banquet three or four years ago when then Charleston Post and Courier food writer Hanna Raskiin included the establishment in a big spread she did about where to find the best fried chicken in South Carolina.
Monday, November 29, 2021
Orangeburg Civil Rights Landmark is Being Restored
Friday, November 19, 2021
4 in the Morning? Great Time to View an Eclipse!
I was not planning to try to see the latest lunar eclipse- especially when the best viewing time is in the middle of the night. But this morning when I woke up at 4 or so I felt surprisingly well-rested. So out the door I went! This was a cool sight to see! Here are my two best shots.
Sunday, October 31, 2021
Little Blue and Great Blue Herons in Flight
I am fortunate to live by a golf course pond that is a wonderful ecosystem. It attracts a variety of wading birds (Egrets and Herons especially), turtles, frogs, alligators, and the occasional snake. And there are some fish in there too and residents and guests occasionally fish the pond. Over the years, though not lately because the pond is no longer stocked with bass, I have caught and released a number of bass, crappie and sunfish.
The other day I photographed a Little Blue Heron that I have seen at the pond for a while. After popping off a few shots as I got closer and closer I set the camera to burst mode to see if I could capture a decent in-flight shot or two. Take note of the dragonfly in a couple of pond-side shots.
Friday, October 29, 2021
Defending My Favorite Watering Hole!
Charleston’s Dewberry Hotel on Meeting Street across from historic Marion Square is an excellent example of successful real estate repurposing. The original structure was built in the 1960s as a federal building housing offices most of us would rather avoid such as the FBI and IRS. (I went there to interview an FBI official for a news story I did at Channel 5 TV back in the early 1990s).
Monday, October 25, 2021
Fort Sumter Visit- Five New Things Learned
Since moving to the Charleston area more than 30 years ago I have been to Fort Sumter- target of the first shots of the Civil war- maybe five times. It is always a fun place on a nice weather day to take out of town visitors.
The ferry ride from Charleston’s Liberty Square is always very scenic. There is plenty to see in all directions.
Tuesday, September 28, 2021
Old Orangeburg Cemetery Reveals Interesting Finds
Thursday, Sept. 23's gorgeous weather was an excellent excuse to do something I have been itching to do for a few weeks: visit Orangeburg’s First Presbyterian Cemetery. Located downtown the small cemetery is just a short drive from SC State University where I teach.
A little harder to find was First Presbyterian Church located several blocks away. Curious to me was that the gravesite is not next to the church, hence it’s a cemetery and not a graveyard.
Ironically, there’s a large public cemetery across the street from the beautiful white church. The Presbyterian church was organized in 1835.
The cemetery opened the same year. The grounds are well kept with many large magnolia trees and other types providing nice shade in places.
Thursday, September 16, 2021
Can’t Buy This At Sears!
No it’s not a U.S. Navy or Coast Guard ship though it looks big enough to be.
This wasn’t Lampert and Fountainhead’s first visit to the Holy City. The Post and Courier had an article and photo of the yacht in the paper in August 2017.
Another Yacht steamed toward Charleston earlier in the day. This one is called Homecoming. She is 136 feet long. An online look did not reveal Homecoming’s owner but we did learn it was built in Taiwan.
Friday, September 10, 2021
Idyllic Labor Day Weekend at Folly Beach
We looked for sharks teeth and other fossils at Folly Beach the day before Labor Day. No luck with the fossils but the weather and water were great, and the vibe was relaxed and family friendly.
Saturday, September 4, 2021
Back in the Classroom!
It has been almost a year and a half since I taught students in a classroom at South Carolina State University.
In March 2020 I left campus for Spring Break. Who would have thought the rest of that semester then the next two would be taught remotely due to the terrible, deadly scourge that has been the Coronavirus pandemic?
It is finally safe, or safe enough, for students and their teachers to resume face-to-face instruction.
Other big changes have been that our communication classes and faculty/staff offices being moved out of the Harold Crawford Building due to water and mold problems.
My colleagues and I are now ensconced in Turner Hall. This is my new office that is slowly taking shape.
I’m back to being a road warrior driving from North Charleston to Orangeburg and back. It’s 66 miles and 70 minutes each way.
I’m again enjoying my favorite podcasts and the occasional amazing cloudscapes.
I use the free photo enhancement application called Snapseed to make these images really pop.
Here’s to safe travels and a great school year that will also be safe for students and teachers everywhere!
Sunday, August 15, 2021
Chicago Family Gathering
GETTING THERE & MEETING UP
Dateline Chicago- The fam came together for a long weekend in August- a weekend that stretched into a couple extra days in the Windy City due to flight and weather complications.
We, of course, flew in from Charleston to see Justin who lives in Chicago.