The Carriage House

Our recent trip to Charleston, Asheville, and Savannah sparked my creative juices.  There were so many opportunities for photographing beautiful architecture and nature.  

In Charleston, we stayed at the Rutledge Avenue Inn which was barely in the historical district, and north of Broad.  If you know anything about Charleston, "north of Broad" was considered less than the best, not the upper crust, "the other side of the tracks", socially unacceptable.  Anyway, we were north and we were still happy.

North or south, this charming Carriage House was our residence for four nights and it was delightful.   Built in the 1800's, it is a lovely cottage, perfectly appointed, totally updated, and comfortable.  We enjoyed our stay with our friends, John and Linda.  

This was our first visit to Charleston, S.C. and what an eye opener it was.  I knew of the beautiful antibellum architecture from magazines and books, but the surprise to me was the abundance of beautiful homes and their magnificence.  Knowing that just a few miles out in the country lay their other beautiful home at the plantation, for some of these, at least, was astounding.  There are a few of the "town" houses with square footages of over 10,000 feet. 

We took a horse carriage ride through the historical district whose tour route is determined daily by lottery from a basket of colored balls.  This way the routes don't get cluttered with all the tours.  So, you wait in line in your carriage behind the other carriages, until your turn at the twirling basket of balls.   Your route will be determined by the color of ball that pops out.  The wait is quick. The tour is very interesting, historically informative, and entertaining.  Highly recommend!

Oh! the tastes of the south!!  We so much enjoyed all the fabulous food as we ate our way across the south.   My husband compiled a list of all the restaurants we tried and presented it to the four of us to rate.  It was unanimous that the whole group's favorite restaurant was Magnolia in Charleston.  Delightful, luscious food.  My very favorite dish (which wasn't even mine...I just had a taste) was the fried green tomato appetizer, in such a way I cannot even accurately describe except they were fried to perfection and drizzled with this yummy sweet sauce, and, I believe, there were goat cheese crumbles on top.  Wonderful ambiance at Magnolia with a modern decor and "up a notch" southern cuisine.  

I could go on and on and on, but will stop before I bore all to death.  Too much of a good thing...

There's nothing like the south in so many ways.  If you're looking to take a trip that will delight all the senses, this one will do it!

My painting for this entry is my version of the Rutledge Carriage House, our cozy and comfortable "Home Away".  (rented through VRBO)  It is a 16 X 20 oil on canvas.

Road Tripping through the South

The Great Blue Heron in Spring Plummage

America sparkles with God's handiwork.  Recently we did a road trip to the Carolinas and Georgia...Asheville, Charleston, and Savannah.  What a fabulous time of sight-seeing historical places, grand architecture, enjoying the absolutely lucious cuisine of the South, the glorious scenery of the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Atlantic coast, the hundreds of moss draped stately live oaks and the forests decorated with blossoming magnolias.

Magnolia Plantation is just outside Charleston and has been in the same family since 1676 when it was founded by the Draytons.  It is one of the nation's oldest plantations and public gardens and the first ever to open its gates to visitors for the cost of a quarter, because hard times warranted a new way to keep the place afloat.  A truly fascinating place which offers the house, the gardens, and a genuine swamp with boardwalks for experiencing firsthand its birds in the rookery, numerous alligators and other reptiles..  

The walk through the swamp was totally fascinating as it offered a haven for herons and other larger birds (names escape me) to nest and fortunately for us, the young were out on display.  Simply beautiful.  Thankfully, a fence appeared to separate us from the reptiles which were very visible in the water.  The visible ones were alligators, and I don't even want to consider what the invisible ones were, which could slither right through that wire fence.

Strolling through the gardens, I was thrilled to come upon this Great Blue Heron who appeared to be so otherwise engaged in his prospective aquatic lunch that I was able to get very close for a photo without his taking flight.  For added attraction, he was displaying his spring plummage. This made a perfect opportunity for painting when I arrived home.  The background water and trees were of my own imagination.  I preferred a much brighter setting than the one Mr. Heron had chosen.

Open your eyes and look around.  Drink in the beauty of God's artistry.  He is the Master Artist. He is the original Artist.  He knows how to put it all together.  And, I mean all.

Please enjoy the other posts which display my artwork.  If you find yourself taken with any, please contact me.  mjwillis52@gmail.com.

The Harbor

One of the most peaceful places I've ever visited is the San Juan Islands off the coast of Washington state.  My last blog several months ago contained a painting of the market there.  

On our first full day on Orcas Island we scoped out the island via car, getting our bearings.  It was early morning, the skies were cloudy, the air was misty, and we pulled into this lovely cove whose name escapes me.  In every direction the views cried out for a camera. Wildflowers on the shore, the not so distant islands across the way, the fisher-people with their rods, the bench of solitude on the hill.  The sailboat anchored in harbor was beautiful and such a symbol of peace and security. That cove inspired this painting.

There is One who offers a Harbor of peace and security to all who will take refuge.  In the world we now live, that is a priceless offer.

I'm thankful for the Harbor.