More Charleston & Car Hooking ~

After our carriage ride, we took a half hour boat ride out to Ft. Sumter, which is where the first shots of the Civil War were fired on April 12, 1861.

Note the unusual configuration of the American flag.  You can read more about it here.

After our return to land, we headed to Patriots Point to see the USS Yorktown, an aircraft carrier built during WW II.  

We then toured the USS Laffey, a destroyer also built during WW II.

Sadly it was time to take the two hour drive north to our hotel without seeing all we had hoped to.  Upon arriving at the hotel, we needed to pack our bags in order to leave bright and early the next morning.

I got a lot of hooking done in the SUV heading south and then back home.  Had I cut enough wool, I would have gotten the raffle rug background done.  As they say, close but no cigar.  The background is actually a very dark blue, not black.  The rug has since been delivered to the hooker who will hook the leaves.

I then started on Scaredy Cat, another small mat that will be given away.  If this looks familiar, it is because I have hooked it several times.

Both of these have been finished since my return home, but nary a loop pulled on Askew 😢

I leave for rug camp Sunday and have been trying to get yard work done.  Too bad it never stays done . . . sigh.  Thankfully I know what rug I will be hooking and have most of the wool pulled that I plan to take.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊

Lauren

CHARLESTON ~

 My first sight in Charleston . . . 

I thoroughly enjoyed the carriage ride around the city with our guide Trey and our four legged guide, Ron.   

A few images from around town.

Too bad the wires are in the picture ;-(

Now I am going to climb on to my soapbox!!!  The Amish have the reputation of being a "kind and gentle" people, but if you would ever do an internet search, you will find they are notorious for horrible puppy mills and the mistreatment of their farm animals.  The draft horses used by the carriage company (the company we used - not sure about other companies) are bought at Amish auctions in both Ohio and Pennsylvania.  When they get to Charleston and begin to pull the carriages, there are strict rules that the stable owners must follow.  I'm sure the horses think they have won the draft horse lottery!  I hope you can enlarge and read this.

My computer is not playing nice today.  This post has taken far too long, so I will finish up our Charleston adventures in the next one.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs 😊
Lauren

Happy Second Day of Spring ~

Sweetgrass baskets were found throughout Charleston and the surrounding areas.  Coiled basketry, one of the oldest African crafts in America, appeared in South Carolina during the late 17th century.  The first known baskets in the Lowcountry were fanner baskets used for winnowing rice.  Bulrush, palmetto fronds and pine needles are the mainstays of coiled basketry.

Booths set up at the Old Slave Mart.  Baskets I saw ranged in price from about $15 to $3500 depending on the complexity of the weaving and size.  

Most booths also sold roses made from palmetto fronds.  Here a vendor is making them.  As the fronds dry, they will change color.

This is Laurie from whom I bought 3 small baskets.  The weaving is a family affair.  She says her husband and son also weave the baskets, but do not like doing the small ones.  Somehow I just can't picture either of my sons weaving baskets . . . lol :)

The smallest is only 2 1/2" in diameter.

The sweetest little quilt block from Jennie.  It measures a mere 3 1/2" x 4 3/4".  She does English paper piecing and I think this was made that way.  Thanks, Jennie. 

A couple treasures found at an antique shop.  I just couldn't come home empty handed :)

I just love this oyster shell angel.  I brought home a large bag of oyster shells I gathered on the beach and hope to make some of these.  

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Pug hugs :)
Lauren