Well Wednesday found us both ambivalent about leaving Charleston. We had such a great first time ever in the city and the folks there treated us marvelously. Such a quaint and busy place and such history associated with the area some both good and bad depending upon which era you were in and what class of people you were at the time. There was much wealth and generated there from the land and mostly from the backs of folks who were indentured servants and slaves brought over from West Africa. Many of the original buildings still stand despite the fires, earthquakes and hurricanes that ravaged this low land property. The city may be facing another hurricane called Mathew which is the cause for concern and made out journey leaving yesterday on the interstate some what interrupted. I-26 leaving the city was blocked and backed up for miles with travel at a standstill. Luckily we found an exit near a Mickey D's then spoke with a deputy sheriff eating there as well and took a different route through the back roads and small towns along the way. We were an hour or so later than we planned but the scenery was well worth the drive through old farms, plantations and where the average country folks resided.
We started the day at the very nice Holiday Inn just across the historic district of Charleston. We decided after our usual morning routines with our hot drinks and a few minutes to honor our Creator to skip breakfast until later in the morning. The skies were gray and there was lots of warning about evacuations for the area and the roads were full of folks heading out of the city. There were several tour buses loading up as well in the parking lot when we said our good-byes and headed across the 2 plus mile bridge that separates Sullivan Island from the mainland, Yikes this is one high bridge and so reminds us of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in our area. The height is so great its almost like looking out the window of an airplane when looking at the area just after taking off. This area is surrounded by water and not much higher than a few feet above sea level and the water surge from a large hurricane will flood the land. Hopefully this monster will stay out to sea.
The trip was uneventful and when we reached the foothills the temps had changed drastically. Nancy was reaching for a lite jacket but I welcomed the change as the heat and humidity from the past couple of weeks soured me on sweating and left me with a chest cold. Hopefully I can get rid of this nagging cough in the cool temps of the mountains. Anyhow after a stop in Elkin for some groceries at the huge super Wal-Mart we headed back up the mountain to temps in the 60's and even high 40's for the morning lows. We instantly opened all of the blinds to let in some sunlight as the cabin was chilly inside and then Nancy wanted some heat. We have a portable tower heater which really puts out some heat on a 110 circuit. It was soon was cozy and warm but I headed out to check the gardens and yards after two weeks of being away. I had some giant cucumbers and a couple of smaller ones that were edible as well as tons of tomato's some on the ground and many ripe on the vine.
The 1/2 runner green beans are blooming as well as the October beans. The deer did eat the tops off of the beets plants but didn't damage anything else which I'm completely surprised. The okra pods were just to tough to eat but maybe I can save the seeds for next years planting. The jalapeno's pepper plant is once again loaded with fruit as is the green pepper plants. The herbs are doing great and the cuttings I made from the basil plant is doing quite well despite only having a little over an inch of rain since were gone. The grass will need mowing but isn't nearly as high as I had thought. It's so nice to visit and meet new folks but there is nothing like getting back to familiar digs, sleeping in your own bed of which by 9:30 I was horizontally reading a Ken Follett book until the sandman calleth at 10'ish. We had the covers piled high and the lack of any outside noises is almost hard to get use to.
Today Thursday we work the yards and gardens as many of the flowers need dead heading and to save the seeds for next years planting. I just love to set here at this computer looking out the window(although its dark as midnight) listening to the dew drip from the upper dormer onto the tin roof in the stillness of the morning knowing we are surrounded by all things GOD made. The trees, plants and mountains are so awe inspiring and we are so blessed. Please take a moment and lift up those who are in harms way of this monster storm as we know and love many folks who will be impacted to some degree, pray for some honest leadership for our nation that we will make America Great Again and most of all honor our Creator whose ideals and values so instilled those who founded this nation despite their faults, LATER
