Christmas in Marion Square

I forgot to mention that last weekend, John and I went to the Holiday Farmers Market in Marion Square. Marion Square has an awesome farmer's market every Saturday that we like to go to for the fresh fruits and veggies and the local shopping vendors. I always plan to blog about it, then forget to take pictures. Woops! I can't say I did a whole lot better this time.

The farmer's market was pretty much the same, with a few extra Christmas-themed booths and extended hours. They did have a band playing Christmas music and Marion Square had their Christmas decorations up. It was in the high 60s this day, so it was beautiful weather to hang out in the park.

John eating a crepe from the Charleston Crepe Company! Yum! We got breakfast crepes with eggs and veggies. Definitely worth the 20 minute wait at their little food booth.

Marion Square is also the home of the city of Charleston's Christmas tree, which is not actually a tree, but a light display in the shape of a tree.

I liked these little (real) trees they had along the walkways decorated by different elementary schools. Look, this one's just my size!

Just a beautiful day for relaxing in Charleston!

Lights of the Lowcountry

This weekend we went to check out one of Charleston's biggest holiday traditions: the Holiday Festival of Lights. This drive-through and walk-through light display is put on at the James Island County Park every year, which is right next to our house (you may remember I wrote about it here.)

Growing up in Tulsa, "light display" to me, equals Rhema. If you're not familiar with Rhema Bible College's "Christmas Lights Extravaganza!", check it out here. I've also been to the Festival of Lights in Chickasha (Oklahoma.) So call me a light display connoisseur if you will. And I hate to break it to you OK, but Charleston out did you.

They had a great driving loop of light displays as well as separate walking trails with their own lights. They also had a Santa's Village and Winter Wonderland that included marshmallow-roasting fire pits, hot chocolate, concessions, carousel rides, climbing wall (random?), and some holiday art made by local schools.

John and our friend Branden roasting marshmallows on the outdoor fire pits. This was probably my favorite part! That and the kettle corn!

Since the park makes their own light displays, everything was original and very Charleston-esque. Therefore, I present to you friends back home....

8 Things You Probably Won't See in Your Oklahoma Light Shows...

Ah, rainbow row (Charleston's most photographed spot) all lit up in lights. And headlights.

The Charleston Single House, the classic architecture style most associated with my new city.

Fort Sumter! Look out!

I love me some Palmettos (the tree, not the bug)

Arrrrgh, Matey! Charleston's got some pirate history, so why not include it? This was right up my alley.

A whole section of underwater fun! Because hey, we live next to the ocean! Woohoo!

Santa, in scuba gear, made out of sand....yeah this was a little weird for me, too.

And my favorite display of the whole night...

Live Oak trees with lights as Spanish Moss (sorry it's blurry) So pretty! And a much better use of those icicle lights if you ask me.

Charleston Bucket List

John came back from the pharmacy Mid Year convention in New Orleans this week with...dun dun DUN!.... a list of possible employers for next year. He did some interviews while he was there and is planning on applying for some jobs from Dallas to Denver to West Virginia. No word on any jobs for him in Charleston yet, so it's a strong possibility we will be moving again this summer.

So today I was thinking about how much I love Charleston and how many things I will miss when we don't live here anymore. It also made me think of all the things in Charleston I still have yet to do.

If we only have 6 or 7 more months here, I better get to making some more Charleston memories fast! Therefore I made a Charleston Bucket List. And of course, I made it into an art project because I'm cool like that.

Here it is:

Please excuse the pathetic attempt at drawings. But hey, that sailboat and martini glass didn't turn out too bad!

I'm sure I'll be adding more to the list and updating you with a blog entry when I check one off. Or better yet- out of state family and friends: Come visit me and help me complete a few!

Until then, I hung my new fancy list on the refrigerator so I'll remember to get out there and appreciate beautiful Charleston while I still have it!

Happy weekend everyone!

Boats Before Bedlam

This weekend was one of the best for holiday events in Charleston. There was the lighting of the city Christmas tree, a Christmas parade downtown, the annual Holiday Boat Parade and Katie got almost all of her Christmas shopping done! Wow!

Besides the Christmas shopping (that takes a lot of time, people!) I went to the holiday boat parade. Because after all, they have Christmas trees and regular-ol'-Christmas parades in Oklahoma. But I had never seen a parade of boats decked out in hundreds of twinkling Christmas lights before. Now I have!

John was out of town this weekend, so I had to go to this one solo. There was tons of people packed around the Battery though, so I wasn't lonely. Turns out a big part of the boat parade is waiting for the boats as they make their way through the harbor from Mount Pleasant.

While we waited for the big boats, some lighted row boats and kayaks came through singing Christmas songs and shouting "Merry Christmas" back and forth to the parade watchers on land. Other shouts could also be heard as the tide crashed against the brick retaining wall and drenched those standing at the railing above-- hilarious!

I tried to take some pictures of the boats, but it was pretty dark out there and my camera has a crappy zoom. BUT...I found a YouTube video of the parade with some much better shots. Here it is!

After the parade, I went home to watch a certain football game that I don't want to talk about. Let's just pretend that didn't happen, eh Sooners? At least I live somewhere where there are no OSU fans around to rub it in my face!

Home Sweet 'Homa

John and I were fortunate enough to get to go home to Oklahoma for Thanksgiving this year. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, so it meant a lot to me to get to spend it with family. We hadn't been home in sixth months, so this year I was thankful for every minute I got to spend with those I love.

Thanksgiving at my Mom's house.

Making gingerbread houses with the kiddos at the Hursts'. Love those little ones!

John preparing the Thanksgiving meal at his parents' - steaks!

Extra thankful for getting to relive our college days back in Norman at the OU v. Iowa State game. We even abandoned our bought seats to move over to the student section. Still seems more like home over there.

Celebrating another Sooner victory at The Mont.

I'm so thankful for all that God has provided for me and John this year. I remember last year being so worried and scared about what this year would hold. Leaving Birmingham, I had no idea what my life in Charleston would be like. But God has provided a nice home for us, a job for me that I love, perseverance for John as he finishes up his last year of residency, good friends and a wonderful city to explore and make memories in together.

I can't begin to say how thankful I am for His blessings, His faithfulness and His grace. But these lyrics from a song by Annie Johnson Flint do a pretty good job.

"When we have exhausted our store of endurance,

When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,

Our Father's full giving is only begun.

His love hath no limit,

His grace hath no measure,

His power hath no boundary known unto men.

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,

He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again."

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Now bring on Christmas!

Date night in the Old City Jail

Saturday the Sooners had a by week, so John took me out on a date Saturday night-- something that's very rare during football season! John's been super busy at work lately, too, so time together had been sparse. So we decided to spend our night together doing something out of the norm for us--bye bye dinner and a movie. We went to Jailbreak 2, a local art show held inside the Old City Jail.

Thanks Google Images for the pic...couldn't get a good one on my camera at night.

Part of the fun was just getting to explore the jail. It was used as the county jail between 1802 and 1939 and housed several pirates and criminals before their public hanging-- spooky! For the show, the cells were turned into art galleries, with pieces by local artists on display and for sale inside. In the back of the jail building, the courtyard area had a stage with live music, food, drinks and lots of jewelry vendors. We had a great time!

John checking out some of the local art

Do not pass Go, do not collect $100....

Hmmm, what's in here? The art was in many different cells on three stories of the building.

Loved the old iron-bar doors

After hanging out at the jail for a while, we headed down to King Street to do a little browsing.

John and the new car he found downtown.

We finished off the night with a pizza from Mellow Mushroom, and of course, watching a little football on the couch. Thanks honey for the great night!

Great Eats: Birthday Party at Rita's

This week, our friend and John's co-resident Branden celebrated his birthday. I signed up to make his birthday cake for John to take to work and I made a french vanilla cake with cream cheese frosting. I would have taken pictures of the cake, except I hate to say, it was not my best work. Lesson learned: when you're rushing to make a cake before going to bible study, you're likely to not let it cool all the way before icing and then the icing will get all melty. Oh well! Still tasted good!

Friday night we went out with all the residents to really celebrate Branden's birthday. We went down to Folly Beach and ate at Rita's, one of the Folly restaurants we had not been to yet.

Beach restaurant- food still good in the winter!

I had the Cantina Burger because it's served with guacamole on top, which I love! The fries were spicy and really good too! Ate way too much!

After dinner we went over to Loggerhead's Beach Grill for some drinks with the birthday boy.

Branden, Brittany and me

John and Matt being weird

Despite the placement of that beer bottle, I swear Connie, the pregnant lady, was not drinking!

Fun night out with friends!