In October, we attended a wedding in Charleston, South Carolina. It has been many years since I was last there, but it is a charming and lovely as I remember. Perhaps what I will recall the most is the unwavering Southern hospitality and the architecture of this historic town.

Accommodations

Thanks to a recommendation from Janice Mullin @janice.mullin, we made reservations at Hotel Bella Grace. Nestled in the historic Ansonborough neighborhood, Hotel Bella Grace is located across the street from the Mother Emanuel AME Church and is an artistic blend of preservation and modernization. And Hotel Bella Grace is also conveniently situated only two blocks from the vibrant dining and retail scene of Upper King Street in Charleston’s Historic District.

I highly recommend this hotel, which is actually a Marriott-owned property. However, it is not like any other Marriott. From the beautifully appointed room to the artwork, this hotel has 50 new build modern guest rooms, arrival lobby, and a fitness center. Providing top-notch contemporary lodging in Charleston’s Historic District, Hotel Bella Grace is within walking distance to the best of downtown Charleston’s restaurants, attractions and things to do.

Architecture and History

What I enjoyed most (other than the wedding) is the ability to walk nearly everywhere in Charleston. If you love looking at houses and history, this is the place for you. I can only imagine how beautiful it must be during the holidays.

Why are most houses in Charleston built sideways? When the city’s first streets were laid out in 1680, residential lots were long and deep but had little street frontage. Placing the house sideways on the lot made the best use of space. This also allowed the home to take full advantage of the prevailing southerly breezes, necessary in the hot summer climate.This style of architecture is called a single house.

A side porch on a single house is called a piazza and is defined as ““a covered open porch or veranda supported by columns or pillars and attached to the outside of a building”. I certainly did not tire of looking into these narrow, deep lots and marveling over the beautifully landscaped gardens and decorated porches.

Notice in the above photo the pale blue painted porch ceiling. To learn more about haint blue ceilings, see a previous post here.

Other key characteristics to Charleston are the abundance of gas lanterns and gorgeous wrought iron gates and fences.

Since the homes are very close to the street, privacy and security are necessary. Ornate entrances are very common here.

Exploring

Grab a good pair of walking shoes and explore Charleston. In addition to gorgeous homes and stately streets, Charleston is home to over 400 churches of a wide variety of denominations. The skyline is punctuated with steeples in every direction. It’s rare to find a view of the Charleston skyline where you don’t spot a stately, soaring steeple. The city’s many churches date back to its founding as the colony of Charles Towne in 1670.

Of course, with many churches come many graveyards. Huge live oak trees and hanging moss are signatures of Charleston, and add to the mystery and history of the tombs.

If you are unable to walk long distances, there are other modes of transportation, such a horse cart tours or pedicabs and of course, ride shares. For some reason, the 2nd week in October is a very busy time in Charleston so I suggest you make reservations for nearly everything ahead of time.

Of course, our favorite part of the city is South of Broad, where all the huge mansions and estates are located next to the water.

Weather

The first two days after arriving, the weather was a bit on the warm side and humid. In literally one day, the temperature dropped significantly and the humidity disappeared for the balance of our trip. At night, it was cool enough for a jacket or wrap.

Restaurants

Again, I cannot stress the importance of reservations if you have more than 2 in your party. Fortunately, we were able to sit at the bar or get into places without reservations. Some of our favorites are:

Delaney Oyster House

Delaney Oyster House, which is right next door to Hotel Bella Grace is such a good restaurant that we visited twice. Not only is the food fabulous, but the bartender is memorable and terrific guy. Situated in an historic home, dining here feels like eating at a friend’s house.

Husk

Centrally located in historic downtown Charleston, Husk transforms the essence of Southern food. According tot their website, the executive chef reinterprets the bounty of the surrounding area, exploring an ingredient-driven cuisine that begins in the rediscovery of heirloom products and redefines what it means to cook and eat in the South. We could not get into the main restaurant but sat at the bar and enjoyed a limited menu. We didn’t feel this was as friendly as the Delaney Oyster House, but the food is good.

Fig

We took a chance and dropped into this restaurant on our last night in Charleston and luckily got a table right on the sidewalk. The evening weather was beautiful and we felt very cosmopolitan having our drinks and dinner out near the street!

All three restaurants are award winners and listed in the best category in Charleston. I highly recommend them.

Other Travels and Observations

We did some exploring in South Carolina (Kiawah Island, Edisto Island, Seabrook Island, Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton, Hilton Head), but I will need to tell you all about that at another time.

Living in the 5th largest city in the U.S., we have city problems. It was so refreshing to go to Charleston and not see graffiti, panhandling, homeless encampments, billboards or a plethora of digital signs. Granted Charleston is smaller than Phoenix, but it is apparent their residents take pride in their history and city as it is immaculate. The people are warm and welcoming too. It is a place I would definitely visit again.

Thanks for joining me today! Happy Wednesday! Please let me know if you have ever been to Charleston and if you loved it as much as I did!

As you are reading this, I am in Charleston, South Carolina. It’s been decades since I have been here and I would imagine that we are enjoying this historical town. Welcome to Saturday Meanderings, where we discuss all good things that happen this week. It’s been a bit of a whirlwind as I started this week in New Hampshire, mid-week in Phoenix, and now in South Carolina. Thanks for joining me and let’s get started!

Wedding Trip to Jackson, NH

So many weddings are being rescheduled due to the pandemic and my nephew’s was no different. We are so happy to be able to attend this one in beautiful Jackson, New Hampshire. I have never been there before and it is an extra treat to be there during the height of fall leaf peeping.

My sister and her husband held the wedding at their mountain home here. What a spectacular event! With a gorgeous view overlooking Mount Washington, the young couple exchanged vows in a late afternoon ceremony. The flowers are absolutely stunning as is the food, music and ambiance.

Getting together for a joyous occasion with family is well worth the rather difficult flight to get here. And to time it during the height of the fall foliage is magical. Jackson, New Hampshire has many lovely sites to see as well as fine restaurants and outdoor activities. Would definitely love to return.

Youth Quote

In cleaning out my late Aunt Gail’s home, I found many newspaper clippings, articles and quotes about life. Here is one to remind us all that age is just a number. Author unknown.

“Youth is not entirely a time of life. It is a state of mind. It is not wholly a matter of ripe cheeks, red lips, or suppleness. It is a temper of will, a quality of imagination, a vigor of emotion.

Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years. People grow old only by deserting their ideas. You are as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fears, as young as your hope, as old as your despair. In the control place of every beast, there is a recording chamber, so long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer and courage, you are young. When the wires are all down and your heart is covered with snows of pessimism and cynicism then, and only then have you grown old.”

My aunt was nearly 101 years old when she died. She lived alone and independently without any help until the day she passed. The State of Connecticut even renewed her driver’s license. I believe this was her mantra for living a long, healthy and happy life. The goal of my blog is to send messages of beauty, hope, and kindness. If you have a friend or family member who is unhappy, cynical and “old”, please feel free to share this quote with them.

New Book

With lots of air travel hours I am churning through many books. Don’t you love a book that catches you by surprise and has you pondering it long after you turn the last page? Well, Rock, Paper, Scissors did exactly that. I can’t recall the last time and re-read several chapters because the plot twist caught me off guard. Written by Alice Feeney, I highly recommend it. You can find it on Amazon here.

Lemon Verbena

One of the very few plants that survive the hot Phoenix summers is the herb, Lemon Verbena. Even though I did plant it in my garden, I really didn’t know much about it.

What is lemon verbena used for?

Lemon verbena is used for digestive disorders including indigestion, gas, colic, diarrhea, and constipation. It is also used for agitation, joint pain, trouble sleeping (insomnia), asthma, colds, fever, hemorrhoids, varicose veins, skin conditions, and chills. Who knew?

According to WebMD, Lemon verbena contains chemicals that might kill mites and bacteria, as well as chemicals that may reduce swelling (inflammation) and cause sleepiness.

I grow it because I love how it smells. Recently harvesting a large bundle of it, I made some herbal tea (just poured hot water over the bruised leaves). And I am also attempting to make another household cleaner where I am soaking lemon verbena leaves in white vinegar for 4-5 weeks.

Also, I did make lemon verbena simple syrup. If you haven’t made simple syrup is it very S.I.M.P.L.E! Just two cups of sugar, one cup of water and then add whatever herb you like (lavender, basil, thyme, mint) and heat until the sugar dissolves and the herbs steep. This syrup is so tasty added to lemonade or cocktails. We actually added a spoonful of this to the cocktail below as it is a bit too tart for us.

Lemon Verbena Gin and Tonic

This refreshing and light cocktail is made by muddling the limes, lemon verbena and gin together to blend the flavors. Strain and pour in a glass. Fill with tonic. Garnish with lime and a sprig of lemon verbena. Done. You can add lemon verbena simple syrup for more flavor or not. See recipe here.

The rest of the fresh lemon verbena I am drying for future tea use. If it helps with some of the ailments listed above (like insomnia), I will let you know.

A New Garden Dilemma

If you have been following me, you know that recently I have been lovingly growing flowers from seeds in my kitchen. When we returned from New Hampshire, the seedlings are ready to plant in the garden. So I spent all of Tuesday morning this week planting them. Providing structures for the sweet pea seedlings and netting to keep away the birds, I am confident my garden will soon be lush with flowers.

The next day I go out to check on them and guess what? Every single one is chewed down and gone. Seriously?!? Apparently I didn’t secure the area enough and something is getting in and destroying all my good work. When we return I am on a mission to find out what critter(s) is eating his/her way through my garden.

In addition to my complete disappointment on the disappearing sweet pea seedlings, I find this! Back in 2016, my grapevines that create the arched entry into the garden, were infested with the Western Grape Skeletonizer which sounds like a ghoulish Halloween creature. Well, these black and yellow caterpillars are making an appearance again.

Here is what they do to the grape leaves:

As much as I don’t want these invaders, it is rather amazing that they can turn a leaf into lace. And I wonder why I haven’t had them since 2016 and they appear now in 2021….very interesting. Another gardening challenge to overcome.

To read more about these invasive creatures, see my original blog post here.

Fun Halloween Ideas and a Printable

Danielle at Finding Silver Pennies is a terrific artist and blogger. Her post this week is Wicked Good Halloween Ideas. From cookies to costumes ideas, there is also a free printable of her watercolor art, just in time for Halloween. I’ve never met her but I know if we lived next to each other we would become fast friends. See her blog post here.

A Peek into Charleston

We are here in Charleston for nearly 7 days and even though it’s been less than 24 hours, I am loving it! Our accommodations for the first few nights are at Hotel Bella Grace. Our room is stunning and it is in the heart of the historic district of this city. This boutique hotel, is owned by the Marriott corporation and the decor and details are stunning.

The architecture, history, graveyards, and churches are getting captured on my camera. Some of the burial grounds look like something you would see at the Haunted Mansion at Disney. And that moss hanging from the trees!

With 3 centuries of historic landmarks, Charleston is a timeless source of inspiration. If you follow my stories on Instagram @lifeatbellaterra.com, I hope to share more about this beautiful area while we are here.

Need to sign off as we are heading to a wedding! Have a beautiful weekend, my friends and remember, let’s be young together!!

Thank you all for such wonderful and insightful comments to my post this week on Kindness. If you missed that post, you can see it here. Welcome to Saturday Meanderings where we chat about all good things that happen this week. So pull up a chair, grab a beverage and let’s get started.

Though it is still SO hot here (107.5 degrees as I write this), I put up our Fall wreath this week. Surprisingly I still had the Spring wreath up on the front door, as this summer flew by so quickly and never really felt like summer to me. The autumn colors of the wreath against the blue door works somehow and just makes me happy. “If I build it they will come” is my mantra for hoping if I do some decorating, the season will change.

Grapefruit Peel Vinegar Cleaner

Inspired by Lisa, from Fresh Eggs Daily, I am trying my hand at making a cleaner that I could use in the hen house. Since chickens have sensitive respiratory systems, using bleach or other harmful chemicals would not be a good idea.

Apparently, the Orange Peel Vinegar cleaner is very popular on Pinterest, but at the time I didn’t have any oranges, but lots of grapefruits. Combining grapefruit, white vinegar, cinnamon sticks and vanilla beans, the concoction is ready to use.

I am trying it for a few weeks to see if it’s worth sharing with a longer, more detailed post. But I can tell you, it smells divine! Now let’s hope it works. To see Lisa’s post on this, click here.

A Great Haircut

What is it about getting a haircut that just makes you feel fabulous? I was so long overdue and looking a bit shabby. But my favorite stylist and long-time friend, Roscoe, just does his magic and voila! I have a fantastic haircut. I swear, if I could bottle him up and sell him, I’d make a fortune…he’s that good! Also it’s hard to take a selfie of the back of your head..ha!

New Shows to Watch

This movie, Gunsmoke Milkshake, reminds me of Lemony Snicket due to its interesting editing. With a strong cast of female characters, it has humor, relationships and a bit of violence. I did think it is well done and for someone who doesn’t watch movies often, it is entertaining. It can be found on Netflix.

My preference is to watch a television series, where I am only sitting for an hour at a time. Professor T on PBS is about eccentric criminal psychology professor with a brilliant mind, but also several neurological disorders, which makes him very complex and unpredictable. Enjoyable, so far!

My Next Home?

I am always dreaming of a home with a view like this. There is something about the water that I crave, which is interesting as I live in land-locked Phoenix. When I saw this photo (place and photographer unknown to me), I said “this is it!”. Does anyone recognize this photo or where it was taken? A girl can dream, right?

New Products

I did find these Chocolate Coconut Almonds at Trader Joe’s and quite frankly, I am afraid to buy more. It is very easy to consume the entire container. If you love Almond Joys, then this is the treat for you. You probably didn’t know that I used to work for Cadbury U.S.A. and we owned Mounds and Almond Joy. The fastest 5 pounds I ever gained was my first month working there~consuming candy bars fresh off the production line. These delicious morsels, that taste just like the candy bar, are good frozen, too.

Never go to Costco starving, which is what I did this week. In search of a new television, as ours was fried at the cabin due to a lightning strike, I grab this bag for something to nibble on during the ride home.

They are delicious with 10 grams of protein per serving and naturally lactose free~10 crisps equals 150 calories (but the crisps are rather big).

Made by Sonoma Creamery, there are other flavors too! Highly recommend as they would be delicious on a charcuterie board.

Dreamy Vacation Rental

Check out this dreamy English cottage which is available to rent in Devon, England. If making travel plans wasn’t so sketchy right now, I would be booking this for next Spring/Summer.

It looks like something out of a fairy tale. This cottage is owned and decorated by Elizabeth Hay, an interior designer who trained at Colefax & Fowler.  Immaculately restored and bursting with quintessential English country charm, the historic Grade II thatched cottage is surrounded by two acres of private grounds boasting orchards, a babbling brook, and a secret garden.

The cottage sleeps five, and guests have optional access to a beautifully decorated annex, a former livestock barn now converted to further sleeping accommodations. The annex provides ancillary sleeping space and will house an additional four guests. You can read more about this little slice of heaven here and learn more about booking reservations. 

Well that’s a wrap! Have a wonderful and relaxing weekend, my friends!

Even with 30 years on the east coast, I never visited Nantucket Island in Massachusetts. Nantucket is an island about 30 miles from the coast of Cape Cod. The name “Nantucket” is adapted from an Algonquian name meaning “faraway land or island”. Recently, our entire family took a trip to Nantucket.

Nantucket is a tourist destination and summer colony. Due to tourists and seasonal residents, the population of the island increases to at least 50,000 during the summer months (from 10,000 during the rest of the year). Very affluent, the average sale price for a single-family home is approximately $2.3 million.

Why Nantucket?

We won a charitable auction item to spend a week here, only to find out that the accommodations belong to our friends. What a pleasant surprise as not only are they lovely people, but they did happily share everything we need to know about Nantucket….and allowed us to extend our visit to 10 days.

With the children growing up and heading in different directions, my goal is to create an annual fun family vacation somewhere in the world where we can all gather. Naturally I am delighted that all three children could make time in their schedule. Also joining us on this trip is my son’s girlfriend, Delaney and Julianna’s dog, Hemingway.

How to Get There

Being an island, you can fly or take a ferry. Nantucket is served by Nantucket Municipal Airport (ACK), a three-runway airport on the south side of the island. The airport is one of the busiest in Massachusetts and often logs more take-offs and landings on a summer day than Boston’s Logan Airport. This is due in part to the large number of private planes used by wealthy summer inhabitants, and in part to the 10-seat Cessna used by several commercial air carriers to serve the island community.

Once we landed in Newark, we traveled to the Essex airport where our hosts flew us on their private plane to Nantucket. And then they spent the next few days showing us all the wonderful island spots. Lucky us!

The Ambiance

Cobblestone streets, window boxes filled with colorful flowers, and the classic shake siding are abundant here. The Nantucket rose is frequently seen climbing up a trellis, adding shades of pink to the rather gray exteriors.

Everyone’s home is uniquely named and properties range from sweet cottages to sweeping estates.

Lots of shops and interesting restaurants are common, but depending on the time of year, it may be difficult to get reservations.

Beaches and the Water

Being an island, there are many places to enjoy the water, either by boat, car or on foot. You can even drive on the beach with the proper permit!

My brother and his wife brought their boat from Rhode Island to the harbor for a few days~an extra bonus is being able to spend time with them too!

The Weather

Coastal fog is typical this time of year~similar to the June gloom on the west coast. Perfect for quiet mornings on the deck with a cup of coffee. We are surprised to find that different parts of the island have their own unique weather patterns, in spite of the small geographic area.

Things to Do

Besides boating, beaching, exploring, and eating, you can rent bicycles (which I highly recommend). There are numerous bike paths throughout the island. In addition a visit the Whaling Museum, Shipwreck Museum or the display of Nantucket baskets sheds light on the history of this island.

There are 3 lighthouses on the island, which are also fun to see. After biking 12 miles in the morning, we did a 3.5 mile hike in very soft sand to the Great Point lighthouse. My calves are still aching.

Our 10 day Nantucket adventure was made extra special by our hosts and having our entire family together once again. I can honestly say that traveling by air is a bit challenging as the airports are packed and the flights full. But just seeing these beautiful pictures and creating new family memories made the journey worthwhile.

I am back home only to discover a failed air conditioning unit in the kitchen/mudroom/library area that will need complete replacement. Cha-ching. As I am writing this it is 90 degrees in my workspace, but better than the 107.5 degrees outside. It’s hard not to desire for those chilly mornings in Nantucket right now.

Happy Tuesday! Hope you are either on vacation or planning to take one soon.

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It is not very often in life when you get to go somewhere so magical, so unique that it leaves a lasting impression. Fortunately, for my birthday celebration, my sweet spouse arranged a visit to Castle Hot Springs. The kudos actually goes to my son who made us aware of this amazing destination (even though he lives in Washington, DC) based on this Wall Street Journal article.

History

Only 50 miles north of Phoenix, nestled in the Bradshaw Mountains, Castle Hot Springs opened in 1896 and was a wintertime retreat for Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, Pews, Astors and Carnegies. The WSJ states, “It’s like a tornado picked up a five-star resort and dropped it in the middle of a desert valley”. Tycoons and captains of industry would take a Pullman car and then a long stagecoach ride to stay for the season.

Rich in history, Castle Hot Springs gets its name from the mineral-rich thermal waters running beneath the property. The healing properties of these waters, which flow at a rate of 200,000 gallons per day would take “frail boys and girls and develop them into robust manhood and womanhood”. John F. Kennedy recovered here for several months after his combat injuries, as this also served as a military rehabilitation center after World War II.

In 1976, a devastating fire destroyed the main lodge at the resort and the resort lay dormant for the next 40 years.

Fortunately, a local businessman and his wife purchased the property in 2014 and spent millions of dollars bringing it back to life. Their 5 year “passion project” on this 210-acre parcel is now my birthday experience! Dubbed the cousin to Blackberry Farm in Tennessee, this all inclusive resort has 32 rooms. Expansion plans are anticipated.

What makes this idyllic retreat so appealing, is that it is so hard to get to. The hotel sits at the end of an unpaved 7 mile road, which is subject to flash floods. But when you arrive, the scene is breathtaking.

Farm to Table

I love to garden and the gardens at Castle Hot Springs provide a large percentage of the food for the guests. Taking the farm tour from Ian, the head agronomist, is a lesson in new varieties and experimentation. Ian plants different types of fruits, vegetables and herbs producing fresh results at every meal. Striving to grow the most unique and diverse ingredients, the garden is more like his laboratory.

At the end of the tour, we sample the vegetables~some completely new hybrids grown only here at Castle Hot Springs.

Even the bartenders go out and pick fresh herbs to garnish their beverages, while creating a beautiful, fragrant display at the bar.

Unique touches, like using the stalk of a fava bean plant as a straw, is what makes this place so special.

Activities and Adventure

Naturally, there is a plethora of hiking trails. The rocks rise like a cathedral in the Bradshaw Mountains. The air is so clean and clear.

With a long and illustrious past, we visit the Wells Fargo cave~where the money was kept and guarded from bandits.

From horseback riding to helicopter tours, there are many activities to choose. We did archery, Wild West shooting of replica guns from the 1800 and 1900s. But the star of the show is the hot springs. Three pools with varying temperatures are nestled in the rocks above the resort. And without the typical rotten-egg smell most often associated with hot springs.

Even though we only stayed two nights, this adventure is filled with rest and relaxation. There is something sacred about this secret location. A 90 minute massage is also responsible for starting this birthday celebration off correctly!

I cannot say enough about the staff. You can tell from their demeanor that everyone loves working in this environment. We did feel both welcomed and pampered~just perfect.

What made this location so unique is all the history, the trailblazing spirit of the owners over time and now the Watts family has revitalized an important part of Arizona history. Experiencing it is indeed the best of birthday gifts.

Happy Tuesday! I have a very busy week in store as we are expecting our son to visit with six of his friends. Nothing better than a household full!

Special thanks to the staff that made our stay at the Castle Hot Springs memorable:

Bevin~you need to write the Bodacious Beverages by Bevin book

Ryan and Josh~thanks for being patient with my ambidextrous shooting

Eric, Robert, Amber, Shane and Sarah-thanks for making each meal memorable

Marcin~thanks for the lemon slice tutorial

Bradley~for the archery and transportation

Christy~such powerful and therapeutic hands

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