Domestic Adventures

Among Charleston’s area attractions are several plantations dating back to the 1700’s. We visited Middleton Place, where upon entering the gates, a huge lawn spread before us dotted with sheep grazing freely. It was immediately a hit with the kids. “Look! Sheep! Can we see the sheep? We want to see the sheep! They have sheep here!” Besides sheep, Middleton Place has a whole stable yard full of other animals including horses, cows, water buffalo, goats, pigs, peacocks, a puppy, and the favorite of the day, two cats. Emmaline found a stray peacock feather and spent a good while teasing the cats with it.
We didn’t tour the main house, instead sticking to the gardens and trails. Settled along the Ashley river, the views were gorgeous and the differences in the landscapes amaze me. Look one direction, and you could be in the smokey mountains gazing up hilly trails through dense, green forest. Turn your head to see an unending expanse of marshland and palms.
The restaurant at the Plantation served low country fare, which was typical southern with a few extra shrimp thrown in.
On the way out, we strolled through the outdoor gift shop and I was so tempted to buy a beautiful purple hydrangea like the ones in the gardens. No room in the car, but I may be adding more flowers to the backyard soon.

I know you’re just dying to see the USS Yorktown…

Today we are home. The kids are glad to be surrounded by toys and space to play and not be dragged out to breakfast as soon as they wake up. The other evening as we were trying to decide on dinner plans, Micah started to cry a sad, tired cry. “I don’t wike restaurants anymore!” he sobbed. Poor Micah. We ordered pizza and ate in our hotel room.
Traveling with little ones is a whole different kind of vacation, and though at times we pressed them farther than they wanted to go, they endured the tours and the walking and all the eating out just fine. In fact, we all had a great time, but it’s still good to be home.

With Micah in tow, we couldn’t pass up the USS Yorktown, a retired aircraft carrier now at home at Patriot’s Point, Mt.Pleasant. We toured inside and out and climbed a hundred million or so steep narrow steps. Micah’s favorite part was climbing into the cockpit of an F9F Cougar, which was parked inside. Also at Patriot’s Point we toured a submarine, and would have gone through a coast guard cutter and a destroyer, but at that point, Micah had seen enough narrow stairs and nautical scenes to last his (current) lifetime, so he kindly asked us to fast-forward to the part where we tour the (air-conditioned) gift shop and let the kids pick out cheap trinkets.

While in the middle of “low country” we had to eat the local favorite — shrimp and grits. Yes, that’s what I said — Shrimp And Grits. (The capital letters are well-deserved.) So we found “Locklear’s Low Country Grill” and ordered the afore-mentioned dish.

Oh, my.

I must hold myself back in the description of “Shrimp And Grits”.

This is a dish that must be experienced to be enjoyed.

Also, there happens to be a beach here. We were so well organized in our beach-going, that only the kids managed to have bathing suits handy so us grown-ups waded in fully (and most unwisely) clothed. Emmaline loved the head-high waves. She bravely pressed out toward the ocean (clinging tightly to Mommy’s sopping wet skirt) then as each wave broke over her, she screeched and scurried back to dry sand. Meanwhile Micah was content to dig holes.

Currently technical difficulties preclude the posting of photos, but just wait, there should be some good ones.

This afternoon we took a Sandlapper boat tour in Charleston Harbor. We just escaped a sprinkle of rain as we headed out to Morris Island, a small, uninhabited island all the boat tours seem to visit. Since our tour was designated a “nature” tour, our guide stopped along the way to pull up a crab trap full of blue crabs. We had a chance to get up close and personal with the crabs, though Emmie and Micah both declined when given the opportunity to touch the crab’s hard shell. Wise decision. As we pulled close to the beach, dozens of dolphins played in the water around our boat. We even spotted a momma and her baby. Once ashore, Emmie and Micah collected every shell they came across. “Here’s another one for you!” they both excitedly shouted as they dumped shells into the bag I carried until it weighed about ten pounds.
It’s been a very full day, and the kids are wiped out, and ready for bed. I bet they’ll dream of dolphins.

… first stop: ice cream!

Emmie has a thing for sheep. She also has a thing for the color blue. Today I found this flock of mostly blue sheep (and a cat?) posted just outside our bedroom door. I think her love for sheep stems from the idea that they need taking care of. Emmie is a little mother always seeking someone or something to take care of. Sheep fit the bill rather well for her. She also loves to be taken care of herself, and for this reason the concept of God as our shepherd and us as helpless, foolish sheep resonates very well with her. It’s precious.

As a child I used to sneak bites of butter and pinches of sugar from the kitchen. Micah’s stealthily stolen treat… dry pasta. He sneaks into the pantry, closes the door, and scoops a handful of elbow macaroni or penne from the box. You can hear him in there crunching away. And even though he’s sneaky about it, I let him. Which makes me wonder why he sneaks. Maybe sneaking is what makes dry pasta fun.

I was hoping to get a good picture of Emmie and I in our new matching outfits, but it just didn’t happen. Instead, I’ll have to be satisfied with posting these catalog photos. These mother - daughter outfits from Hanna Andersson were part of my birthday gift from Trent. It was a surprise to Emmie too and we both love them (you know how I am with the whole matching thing). Emmie’s came with pink tights, which are absolutely adorable, and even though it’s July in Florida, she insisted on wearing them Sunday and made not one peep of complaint about the heat. One day we really need to get a picture of the two of us all matchy-matchy.

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