Daniel Island

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I think the Lowcountry of South Carolina is probably one of the greatest places for anything Halloween in the country.  Really old live oaks decorated with ghostly spanish moss loom over centuries old cemetaries. 

This was down a little trail on Daniel Island.  The monument is dedicated to one person, but there are others around.

Moved because of the Expressway

I think it’s amazing to see what would have been a very expensive gravemarker for the day [nicely carved marble] sitting in the middle of the woods, on the ground, with no visitors.  Well, I’m sure someone visits, but it’s funny to think of all the time, effort, thought, and skill put into gravestones.  I feel like they are undervalued or overlooked often.  It’s a good place to pause and think about your life, your impending death, and what this person’s life might have been like.  A good mediation on predecesors.

Not sure I would have wanted to live on this big island by myself like some of these folks did.  I think I’d be lonely.

Even this little guy is a little spooky!  :)

Thanks for visiting!

Scenic Sunday Hunting Island

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Hunting Island State Park is about 13 miles east of Beaufort, SC and has the only lighthouse in the state open to the public [which I didn’t know, so I didn’t go in, oops!].

We strolled down the trail and found this fellow having his lunch.

We also walked along the marshwalk.  On the state park’s website, they say that the Vietnam swamp scenes in Forrest Gump were filmed near by. 

We also walked down the fishing pier.  There are interpretive signs along the way that relate interesting facts about the ecosystem that surrounds you.  At the end of the pier we spotted this bufflehead with his mate.  She was taking her time, so she didn’t make it in this picture.

Hunting Island is a beautiful barrier island that has lush forests, and during the warm months, offers a good chance to see alligators [not unlike the rest of South Carolina!].  But because it’s a barrier island, it won’t remain unchanged, and the next large hurricane could wipe it clean.

This is on the north end of the island, where erosion typically occurs on barrier islands.

Alright, that was a lot of pictures!  Thanks for making it through and visiting!

Scenic Sunday South Carolina!

We made it! 

Taking a break from unpacking, we found a short segment of the Palmetto Trail to hike.  The trail goes all the way across the state of South Carolina, but we took the 7 mile segment that jots along the Awendaw Creek and gets close to the Intracostal Waterway.  Here’s a view from the trail:

We found this little guy sitting at the canoe launch at the beginning of the trail.  He was mum-less and was clumsy and awkward and not quick to respond.  I’m not that familiar with pelicans, so maybe that’s all normal, but I couldn’t help feeling sorry for him.  He was gone by the time we got back, so I hope all is well with him!  Or her!

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Oh Heavens!

I do apologize!  I missed both Sepia Scenes and Scenic Sunday last week!  But here they BOTH are!

I was travelling with the grandparents and looking for a new place to live in Charleston, SC, and unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to blog anything.  I did find a place and am very excited to relocate.  I’m also very excited for my husband to see the place I’ve been blabbering about for a week now and for the cats to get the space they need.

On to the pictures!  I am sure you can guess what the topic of this post will be, but if you can’t, it’s Charleston! 

Sepia Scenes first, and then Scenic Sunday contributions last but not least!

It was hard to turn this one into sepia just because of the fantastic pink that the building is painted in, but by doing so, you can see the architectural features a little easier.  For more Sepias, visit SEPIA SCENES!

This is a nice one to view in the larger size, and although it’s not as flashy as most of the buildings in Charleston, I do like the calm and clean scene it provides.

  And since I missed last week’s, I’ll throw in a sunset.  Surprise there, eh?! This was taken on Sullivan Island, SC right at Fort Moultrie southeast of Charleston.

 For more Scenic Sunday pictures, click HERE!

Thanks for visiting!  Happy New Year!  Here’s to a great and peaceful year!

Scenic Sunday: Sunsets Are Seldom the Same

It’s Scenic Sunday again!  I’ve gone with a sunset theme, and couldn’t pick just one picture. 

Thanks for visiting and I hope you enjoy!  As always, click on the pictures to enlarge them.

For more Scenic Scenes, go HERE!

Sun and Ice

Badlands Burning Clouds

Sinking Badlands Sun

It doesn’t matter where you are; to get a good sunset, you need the sun, some clouds, and a good view to the West!

Some crepuscular wildlife hoping around during sunset.  This is One Eyed Jack, a desert cottontail that lived in the Badlands over this past summer.  He had a rough little life and started out as a wee one that met some hungry predator with poor aim.  Jack roamed around and, amazing us all, made it into late summer with his one good eye.  This is the last time I saw him.  We had a report of a child picking him up outside the Visitor Center, which is where this picture was taken the night before that report, and we never saw him again.  Either someone took him home [can you imagine taking a WILD animal out of a National Park???  Two years ago, I confiscated a juv. swallow from some visitors that were taking him back to Chicago from YELLOWSTONE! wow!] or Jack and his one good eye couldn’t keep away from the Great Horned Owl below. 

Great Horned Owl with a Perfect Perch