To Tree or Not to Tree

I love the Christmas holiday season. And not just because of all the gifts that ultimately arrive with Santa’s visit! I enjoy the festivities, the parties, the cooking and baking and the decorations – both inside and out. 

The lights on Daniel Island are beautiful and up and down our streets from one neighborhood to the next yards and houses are lit up like, well…Christmas trees!

We won’t be home for a few days around Christmas this year so I’m struggling with if I should even put up a tree – something I look forward to doing every season. The feeling of uncovering beautiful old family ornaments is a special one that only comes once a year.

Time will tell. If we find the perfect tall, minimalist tree with just the right number of branches, I won’t be able to resist. If not, it just might be a treeless holiday.

Stay tuned!

#DanielIsland #DI #ChristmasTree

What’s Your Tradition

Daniel Island falls between two rivers – the Wando and the Cooper, and its a place that is almost close to perfect. That’s hyperbole – I know, but there are days when the the weather is so beautiful, the people are so kind and the stars seem to align that it seems so.

Walking through trails that extend over our marshes offering waterfront views today I was struck by how hard the young moms in our community work to make memories for their children. Not only are they there for their kids 24/7 for ALL the EVERYDAY things, but they make sure the SPECIAL THINGS are REALLY SPECIAL.

Tonight our Daniel Island Moms group organized an island-wide liminaria lighting. It was through the school PTA and Facebook with help from the kids. Not only was it beautiful to wander the neighborhoods, it was a lovely way to bond with neighbors and so much fun for the kids.

As the 3rd year for this beautiful project, it’s definitely become a Daniel Island Tradition and one that will continue.

So what’s your tradition?

#DanielIsland #Christmas #ChristmasTradition #DI #DILife

Thanksgiving 2016

A high of 81 degrees. Really? Not that many years ago I thought I would hate spending holidays in a warm climate. But today on Daniel Island couldn’t have been more beautiful. Low humidity, blue skies and lovely breezes.  Our family took an island  walk and we were accompanied by sightings of indigenous species like mallards, white ibis, great blue herons, and most exciting-for me anyway-was a big alligator in a pond we walk by EVERYDAY!

But the best part of the walk was the chance to say hello to so many Daniel Islanders and their friends and visiting family, all out enjoying the amazing day just like we were. All of us so thankful for the great good fortune we all enjoy. 

Do We Need A Memory Church on DI

I came to Daniel Island from Fairfield County, CT where NO roads are straight and traffic is seriously traffic! It’s the kind of place that many people stay for life, rarely leaving for southern climes as they grow older. So when one of the oldest area churches, Saugatuck Congregational in Westport, noticed that long-time worshiper affected by dementia – and their families, were no longer attending services, they wondered why.

They learned through research and interviews that withdrawing isn’t unusual with families of dementia patients. They also learned that there were very few faith communities offering “dementia-friendly” services or programs.

Saugatuck Congregational Church in Westport, CT

So, with that learning Saugatuck Church has created a special service.

This coming Sunday, March 13th they’re offering “God in the Now: Community Worship to Support Individuals and Families Affected by Memory Loss” for the first time. And non-church members are warmly invited to attend. I love that they’re inclusive of everyone touched by the disease…not just their parishioners.

They’ll focus on familiar hymns and prayers deeply ingrained in churchgoers’ memories, and the service will encourage participation from all. Shorter elements in the service will facilitate a high degree of focus as possible. And importantly, the sanctuary is wheelchair accessible.

So this is all by way of saying…what an amazing idea. Some of us have personal experience with dementia or Alzheimer’s and most know of someone who does. And often, those affected are elderly and may relate well to the church-related concept.

I’ve researched Charleston-area programs and haven’t seen anything like it in the lowcountry – except in the assisted living facilities. So for those caregivers who are home with loved ones suffering from this disease I wonder if something like the Saugatuck Congregational service would offer relief? comfort? compatibility?

Food for thought.

For more information on this special service click here God In The Now

 

In Our Own Backyard

I wonder if DeClare Cakes is the best kept secret on Daniel Island. We discovered them happily on my hubby’s birthday with the ring of the doorbell. What a delicious surprise was found beautifully enclosed in the perfect little box wrapped with a bow! Nothing generic there!

DeClare Cakes is operated by two local women out of an amazing professional kitchen found in a FROG at 9014 Merchant Street. Yes, I mean LOCAL!

Aside from the deliciousness they produce, they have a wonderful back story. Owner and master baker Deb, learned to bake from scratch from her mother-in-law over 35 years ago when mom-in-law (basically) said a Duncan Hines mix birthday cake would not do for her son! I love that! After following her passion of creating a high-end cake designing business (while raising her kids) Deb finally went on to earn her Baking & Pastry Certificate. Then she taught her daughter-in-law how to bake cakes from scratch (do we sense a theme here), and DeClare Cakes was born on Daniel Island in 2009. They specialize in wedding cakes but in addition, I think they do it all.

To learn more about Deb and her daughter-in-law, Alison you can visit them at  DeClare Cakes for lots of yummy goodness. Their site is beautiful and will make you want to schedule a tasting and/or order a cake!

February’s Like a Beach

Welcome to the lowcountry, said sarcastically. We live in this kind of paradise where we expect the weather to always be perfect and then it’s 27˚ when we wake up in the morning. So we think, “…didn’t we leave (insert much colder part of the country here) to get away from this kind of weather?

Walking along the Daniel Island paths is still beautiful and good for the soul…even if it’s cold outside.

I remember visiting family in Charleston years ago – many years before moving here permanently, and the weather in February – compared to Connecticut was absolutely balmy. We would bike, beach and even sunbathe. Once back in CT, my sister’s pat reply when I asked about the Charleston weather was always, “sweater weather.” And she’d continually badger me to move here, hanging the amazing weather over my head like a sort of sword of Damocles (with only good repercussions).

I’ve lived here for almost a decade and in that time I really can’t say February has been a beach vacation. Good enough to not interrupt most morning walks, but beachy? What do you think?

Ad In!

Home Court Advantage!

I can hear all of my tennis-playing friends saying “Oh Joy” right about now as I just read the news about Bishop England’s plans/hopes to have tennis courts in place for the 2016-2017 school year. About time for a school that’s had championship teams year after year. They still have to raise a lot of money to make it happen, but they sound optimistic.

When I read the article in the online edition of the DI News, they called it “The Monsignor John L. Manning Tennis Center.” I couldn’t help but wonder… so I did a little digging.

I google so you don’t have to (I stole that!)…John Lawrence Manning was born in Charleston in April 1901.  He attended St. Patrick School and Bishop England High School, St. Charles Seminary (Catonsville, MD), and North American College (Rome).  The Monsignor was ordained by Archbishop Palicia in Rome in March 1927.

On his return to Charleston he served as associate pastor at Sacred Heart Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, and was appointed to pastorate and pastor emeritus at Sacred Heart in Charleston, until his death.  And while there Monsignor Manning also served as faculty at Bishop England High school, Chancellor of the Diocese of Charleston, the second Rector of Bishop England High School, and Vicar General of the Diocese of Charleston. Phew, he was very busy. (Not a wonder he has the new tennis courts named in his honor!)

Monsignor Manning (a poor resolution at best!)

Over his lifetime he was awarded two Ecclesiastical honors one by Pope Pius XII and one by Pope John Paul XXIII: the Domestic Prelate in 1944 and Prothanatary Apostolic in 1963.

Things get a little sketchy at the end of his life where most sources say he died in 1976. But one good source says he celebrated his Golden Jubilee in March 1977.  Maybe he did both!

Very interesting fact: A division of The Ancient Order of Hibernians Charleston, SC  is named in honor of Monsignor Manning, who like may good Catholics could trace his heritage back to Ireland.

If you’re interested in getting involved with fundraising for the new tennis courts there are lots of ways to do so. Just contact BE Alumni Relations Director, Kelly Duffy at kduffy@behs.com. She’ll be happy to hear from you!

Primary Season SC 2016

It’s that time of year when political candidates pander to us, inundate us with TV commercials and direct mail, email and phone calls – even robocalls in hopes of our vote. Yes, it comes every four years, the presidential election when even the most unlikely people believe they are all-of-a sudden qualified to lead our country.

This year we have candidates ranging from governors who have definite experience and the finesse to go along with that, to U.S. Senators who think that because they hold that august title they are entitled to govern the country, and even a few business people who have held high-ranking positions – some self-appointed (in their own companies) and others earned but then squandered by disappointing leadership results. Note: (Carly Fiorina and Chris Chris Christie both suspended their campaigns just this afternoon.)

Imagine the level of self-confidence that allows them to put themselves out there knowing there’s such a big chance their message won’t resonate, or the public won’t like them for some other reason (tone of voice, looks, clothing, venue, other..). Because let’s face it, at the end of the day, maybe it’s just a big popularity contest. I say this because lately so many friends have asked me, “Who do you like?” And I believe it’s true that “likability” has a lot to do who we eventually elect.

With few exceptions, I think Americans have rarely elected unlikable presidents – at least in recent history (Richard Nixon may be an exception.). It was said that Mitt Romney had a likability problem and we know how that ended. What do you think?

Doggone It!

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Daniel Island 29492

We all know how very lucky we are to live on Daniel Island and in the lowcountry in general. Starting with the weather…although this morning with temps in the low-30’s, it felt more like we lived in the northeast! But then we have those amazing sunsets over the marshes and through the grand oaks, the pluff mud, the beaches…

But those things are nothing without the people that make up our day-to-day experiences and interactions.

There’s a Facebook group of Daniel Island Moms that’s become a real community, one that’s meant to support, inform and sometimes – in a positive way – censure. It’s been “on the books” for several years and is no longer just “moms” but is comprised of citizens of every ilk, living in and around Daniel Island. Their main commonality is love of and concern for the island many of us call home.

This page is a…

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Doggone It!

We all know how very lucky we are to live on Daniel Island and in the lowcountry in general. Starting with the weather…although this morning with temps in the low-30’s, it felt more like we lived in the northeast! But then we have those amazing sunsets over the marshes and through the grand oaks, the pluff mud, the beaches…

But those things are nothing without the people that make up our day-to-day experiences and interactions.

There’s a Facebook group of Daniel Island Moms that’s become a real community, one that’s meant to support, inform and sometimes – in a positive way – censure. It’s been “on the books” for several years and is no longer just “moms” but is comprised of citizens of every ilk, living in and around Daniel Island. Their main commonality is love of and concern for the island many of us call home.

This page is a forum for not only information, but also asking for help. So when a precious pet is missing, it’s become the first place people post a plea for assistance in finding their beloved family member. And within Daniel Island Moms there are some really committed women who seem to rise to the occasion more often than not. I’m a dog lover and I’ve been amazed to see Brenda, Linnea, Christy and Stephanie go out of their ways to get on their bikes and roam their neighborhoods looking for lost pets. And Amy, Elke, Valary, Roe and Alicia all post updates or “capture” the found loved ones as soon as possible.

Annie…so far hasn’t escaped her fenced-in backyard.

There are far too many of these angels for me to name them all. But they know who they are. I know that when my Annie figures out how to get out of our fence, it won’t be long until some good Samaritan finds her and gets her back where she belongs, because the first thing I’ll do is to post her “escape” on Daniel Island Moms!