Confederate Jasmine

If you're thinking of visiting Charleston, the absolute best time of year to arrive is early May.  The weather is wonderfully mild and there's the Jasmine.  Yes, this one particular flowering vine is completely worth the trip!

Right around Mother's Day, you'll find the gorgeous fluffy Jasmine beginning to bloom, and along with the white whimsical little blossoms, you'll be greeted with the most refreshing perfume. A good nose can smell the flowers a mile away, but it grows all over the Lowcountry, especially on the peninsula.

Walk out to the Battery, close your eyes, and breath in the mix of sweet Confederate Jasmine and salty harbor water.  It's just like heaven.

I hope y'all are having a wonderful week!

The best food on Edisto Island

If you've ever stayed on Edisto Island, you likely learned that there is just one tiny grocery store.  And, if you're anything like us, you planned to cook while you were there.  And if you're anything like us, you didn't bring everything you needed, either because you ran out of space in the car or because you just plain forgot an ingredient or two.  So you go to the teeny, tiny, typically overcrowded "grocery store".

I'll let you in on a little Edisto secret.  On Highway 174, just past the serpentarium if you're leaving the island, you'll find King's Market.  They have the best freshly made casseroles, lasagna, chicken pot pie, shrimp creole... you name it.  They also have cobbler or key lime pie depending on the time of year.  Pick up one of the casseroles,  pop it in the oven or on the grill, and Boom!, you're back in business.  Or, back to the beach.

Maybe you throw together a salad, maybe you don't.  King's Market also has pimento cheese and other dips so you can supplement your meal.  They also have fruits and veggies.  And cute little bunches of flowers.

Since our discovery of this little spot, we stop on the way into the island to pick up a few things.  And we stop again on the way back home because the casseroles make amazing busy night meals.

Quick Trip to Savannah and a Charming Cider Shop

If you love history and architecture, add Savannah GA to your 'must visit' list.  Thank goodness for the group of women banded together in the 1950s to save a bunch of buildings that would have otherwise been knocked down by developers and form the Historic Savannah Foundation.  I could have walked around taking pictures all day, if not for the crumby weather.

Then there are the beautiful oaks covered in Spanish moss.

Savannah also happens to be one of the country's largest seaports.  Even though a storm was brewing as we left the city, the container ships weren't slowing.

One of my favorite parts of the drive between Savannah and Charleston is stopping at the Carolina Cider Company.  There are two locations within a few miles of each other, one on each side of 17.  The tin-roof and other endearing touches on these buildings are cute, cute, cute!

I couldn't resist bringing home a couple of finds.  I highly recommend chopping up some of these Bread & Butter pickles and adding them to Sean Brock's Pimento Cheese.  The very sweet lady running the shop told me about a recipe for "Pluff Mud" and cheese.  Hmmm, never heard of it!  I suppose, I'll have to research that one a bit.  Anyway, these little sweetgrass baskets make perfect gifts and a perfect spot to drop odds & ends around the house so I picked up one of those too.

If you haven't already been, be sure to stop by Carolina Cider Company next time you're headed south on 17 outside of Charleston.

Wings Over Wayne 2015 and the Cutest Little Flight Suit

Do you ever have those moments where your heart is so full you feel sure it will burst?

We went to the Wings Over Wayne Airshow in Goldsboro, NC a few weeks ago.  My sister-in-law and her boyfriend spoiled us all during the visit, but especially my son when they presented him with his very own flight suit.  He put that thing on and he was so happy and so proud.  I couldn't get enough.

The Airshow was fantastic.  Tons of entertainment for the little ones.  If you go, be sure to bring earplugs and/or muffs for the kids.  There were many very loud moments during the air performances, made much more enjoyable due to muffling some of the noise.  Lawn chairs and blankets are also a good idea.  There were several planes on the ground that you could inspect quite closely - you could even walk through a couple of the cargo planes.  That was enough to fill up the day, but they also had a jump castle area if you wanted to get out of the sun or switch up the entertainment for a bit.

This flight suit getup would make a great Halloween costume, don't you think?

Sources -

• Flight suit - Pre-flight by Flyboys (super realistic and made to last)
• Aviator sunglasses - GAP kids.  Update 05.16.17 - these are our new favorite kids sunglasses!
• Blue earmuffs from Amazon

Charleston Farmers Market and Sweet Onion Salad

Every spring I fall in love with Charleston all over again.  There is a perfect little farmers market in Marion Square on Saturdays with gorgeous fruits and veggies from nearby farms and fascinating pieces of jewelry and art.  A friendly mix energy from regular farmers market goers (last year I bought produce from Fields Farm alongside Joe Riley) and people on vacation just checking out what's going on.  Dogs out for fresh air and kids eating delicious King of Pops popsicles.  Going for a little walk down King Street and maybe even strolling beyond to to inspect a Philip SImmons gate or historic doorway with the most beautiful wreath.  Spring in Charleston makes you feel so alive.

A few pictures from my farmers market visit last weekend:

 Sweet Onion Salad

Ingredients

• 2 Wadmalaw Sweet Onions (also called Spring Onions, pictured above), sliced thin on a mandolin
• 1 cup Buttermilk
• 2 Tbs Sour Cream
• 2 Tbs Dukes Mayo
• Juice of 1/2 Lemon
• 1 dash of Tabasco
• 1 Tbs chopped dill
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 4 slice ripe tomatoes
• Salt and pepper

Directions

1. Mix buttermilk, sour cream, mayo, tabasco, lemon, sugar & dill.  Season with salt & pepper.
2. Toss this mix with the onions and let sit for at least 30 minutes.
3. Arrange the tomato slices on a plate and season with salt & pepper.
4. Top the tomatoes with the onion mixture.

This is a perfect appetizer or side for a delicious steak or piece of grilled chicken.  Enjoy!

A look back to Ellijay, Georgia

A few years ago, we visited Ellijay, Georgia and to this day, it is one of my favorite vacations.  It was so low-key.  Lots of porch sitting, inner tube floating, hot tub going, cooking, eating & watching fireflies fill the night time air.  While I love a trip to a big city for shopping, gourmet restaurants & shows, I really appreciate a relaxing vacation without an agenda.

I'd love to go back to Ellijay.  Maybe next time we'd go in the fall for the infamous Apple Festival.  In the meantime, here a few pictures to remember our oh so very picturesque holiday.

8 things to do with kids in Edisto Island, SC

Edisto Island, SC, about an hour south of Charleston, is the perfect place to get away if you're looking for a low-key, family focused vacation.  It's a lazy little beach town where you can rent a house and enjoy the salt air.  And, there are plenty of ways to keep little ones entertained.

1. Beach time, of course!

The beach on the west side of the island (between Louise and Ebbtide streets) offers the most sand even at low tide.  It's also a great spot if you want to capture some sunset pictures.

2. Visit the Edisto Island Serpentarium

Worth going to... once. :)  The kids, even the little ones enjoyed it.  Most of the animals are outside so choose a day when the weather is nice.

3. Look for deer

There are deer all over the island.  We saw them roaming in between beach houses around sunset every night.

4. Rent a golf cart

As far as our three year old was concerned, we didn't even need to rent a house.  He could have spent the entire trip going to and fro on the golf cart.  We rented ours for the entire week through Palmetto Cart Rental.  They were friendly, reasonably priced, and dropped the golf cart off at our beach house before we arrived.

5. Go crabbing by boat

If you don't have a crap pot and want to invest, you can get one at the True Value on the island.  Also, be sure to check out the crabbing regulations through DNR.  You do need a salt water fishing license.

6. Go crabbing without a boat

There are several pools of water around the island, just drive around in the golf cart.

7. Make a lowcountry boil.  (check out my past post for a great recipe)

8. Visit Botany Bay

Free to visit but closed on Tuesdays.  There is a nice little nature walk so it's a fun way to spend and afternoon and there are several photo worthy views.

What would you add to this list?