Merry Christmas!

I'm taking a break from my blog for a bit!

Christmas is less than a week away and I'm super busy!

PLUS...it's been raining for days and I haven't been able to

get any cool photos.

PLUS....my laptop is acting all crazy on me.

I'll be back soon!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

The Best Time To Go Shopping....

....is on Sunday morning.

This is what the mall parking lot looked like last Sunday morning around 10:00 a.m.

I was a little surprised, especially since there are only a limited number of shopping days left before Christmas.

I left the mall around 1:00 p.m., and there wasn't a parking spot to be found!

Thank You For Banking with BB&T

I did a double take as I pulled up to the drive-thru last week at BB&T. At first I didn't even think he was real. As I pulled a little closer, I saw that he was real and he even stood still for me to take his picture.

I've found that my favorite pictures are the ones that take me by surprise....the ones that I don't go out looking for!

Poor Richard...

I have passed by the sign on the side of this building several times and said I needed to take a photo.

I'm not even sure Poor Richard's is open any more. From the looks of the upkeep of the parking lot, I would say probably not.

What Kind of Coke Do You Want?

In the South, we don't call soft drinks soda or pop. If you call them that, you'll be punished to the fullest extent of the law.

Down here, everything is called Coke. For example:

"What kind of Coke do you want?"
"I dunno.....Dr. Pepper, I reckon."

I Wish....

...I was as creative as these folks when it comes to decorating for Christmas! They have used these snowmen on their front porch for many years and I've always admired them.

You Might Be A Redneck...

....if you have chickens running around in your front yard.

I'm just sayin'.

Whatever!

The artist who painted this is quite talented, don't you think?

This mural is painted on the front of the Whatever building on Stone Avenue in Greenville.

Little Texas Grocery

This store has been around for some time. It's my understanding that it's been around since at least 1958, and perhaps even longer. The day I took this photo, was a cold one. Notice the smoke coming out the chimney?

Fore!

I did a double take when I saw this giant golf ball just sitting in the middle of a back yard.

I wonder if there is a matching putter that size to go with it?

Furman's Fountain

I drove through Furman University's campus recently and snapped this photo of one of their fountains.

My Christmas Tree Thru Holiday Specs...

If you've never looked thru Holiday Specs at Christmas lights, you gotta do it! It's a whole new experience! Holiday specs are holographic lenses, sort of like the 3-D glasses from years ago.

To get the full effect, click on the picture and you'll see what I'm talking about.

I took this photo with the specs in front of my camera lens!

Bo-Nats

Bo-Nats has been around for as long as I can remember. I'm glad they have never replaced their sign, because you just don't see many like this one anymore.

I'm all about vintage signs, so it's a no-brainer that this would eventually end up on my blog!

Bo-Nats is located at 2614 Poinsett Highway in Greenville.

It's Amazing....

what a difference a month makes. If you remember, I took a photo of this church on November 5th. It looks totally different now, doesn't it?


(Go ahead..... go back and look at November 5th's entry! )

Shinola?

This shop has been on my radar for some time now. Art, antiques, funk...all right up my alley! The name "shinola" has intrigued me though, so I thought I'd look it up to see what it means.

It seems that shinola was a brand of wax shoe polish available in the 1920's. Shinola is also used in a phrase that I can't believe I'm not familiar with: "You don't know shit from shinola!". Apparently, it means much the same as "You don't know your ass from your elbow!"

ANYWAY...their shop is located at 19 Mohawk Drive in Greenville.

Let The Decorating Begin!

Thanksgiving is over and I will finally allow myself to decorate for Christmas! Here's a bowl of Christmas balls I threw together!

I Prefer A Banana Seat & Sparklys On The Handlebars

You can't be in Upstate South Carolina very long and not see this sight! It's not something you'd ever see 15 years ago.

I'm certain that George Hincapie, a resident of Greenville and one of this nation's top cyclists, helped make Upstate South Carolina a popular spot for these athletes.

I took this photo on S. Main Street in Travelers Rest.

The Cafe At Williams Hardware

So it seems The Cafe at Williams Hardware has finally opened. Formerly a hardware store, this now serves as a gift shop and cafe. The Swamp Rabbit Trail backs up behind it.

The Cafe at Williams Hardware is located at 15 S. Main Street in Travelers Rest.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Brrrrrrrrr! Turn up the heat! It's been in the 20's the past few mornings here! Unless it's going to snow, I don't like this cold weather!

I snapped this photo of the frost in my yard, a few mornings ago. If you click on the photo, you can really see the ice crystal up close & personal!

Music Is Good For The Soul

The guys on this mural sure seem to think so anyway!

This mural is in the parking lot behind Horizon Music on the corner of Stone Avenue and North Main Street in Greenville.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Trans-Siberian Orchestra came to Greenville last weekend. If you've never seen this show before, you should make an effort to do so next year! It's a fabulous show!

Slater Mill

In 1927 "Sam Slater and Sons" built a mill above Travelers Rest. The area later became known as Slater. During World War II, the plant made the material for parachutes used by the Armed Forces. Both of my grandparents worked at this mill. Over 80 years later, this mill is still in use today

Slater Hall was constructed in 1931 and served as a recreational and social facility for the mill's employees and their families. It is one of the few remaining mill-related structures in Upstate South Carolina. It is currently undergoing renovation and is slated to be reopened in June 2009.

Slater Hall is located at 5 Whitney Street.

Table Rock

I truly believe I live in the most beautiful place in the world. This is Table Rock, located just 10 minutes from where I live.

I took this photo from Highway 276.

One Man's Junk...

...is another man's treasure. Some people would call this an antique store. Other people might call it a junk store. I myself have found a few treasures here over the years, so I think it's a pretty cool place!

It's located on Highway 276 (Geer Highway) in Travelers Rest.

Operation Christmas Child Shoe Boxes!

My Mom and I packed our shoe boxes and dropped them off yesterday! By now they are somewhere on their way on journey to wherever they will eventually end up...in a child's hands! If you weren't able to participate this year, keep in mind this opportunity for next year!

Many churches serve as drop off locations, but I learned that just this year, Chik-fil-a started serving as a drop off location as well. They also give you a free coupon for a Chik-fil-a sandwich!

They Call Me Mellow Yellow....

This piece of sculpture sits on Stone Avenue. It's yellow and it's on Stone Avenue. That's all I know about it. :)

Antiques!

I'm a sucker for these kinds of signs!

This is on the side of the Greenville Furniture Exchange Building on Poinsett Highway.

Travelers Rest First Baptist Church

I drive by this church every day and have really admired these wreaths on the door. I knew I had better stop soon and get these photos before they swapped them out for Christmas wreaths! Located on McElhaney Road, Travelers Rest First Baptist Church was established in 1913.

I Just Never Know...

...what I might see that will catch my eye. I think I'm training myself to look for weird and interesting things! This wall belongs to Palmetto Drum Company at the end of Wade Hampton Boulevard where ivy is (and was) once growing.

Lone Leaf

This lonely leaf was found on a Crepe Myrtle tree in my front yard in Travelers Rest.

Pink Bee

I was out and about on an errand for work recently and this storefront caught my eye. There are a lot of cool looking stores downtown these days. This particular one is on the West End. The Pink Bee is located at 105 Augusta Street.

Rainy Day

There weren't too many people out along the corner of Main Street and Beattie Place on Friday afternoon. Who could blame them though? It was the perfect afternoon to be at home under a blanket!

Who Knew?

I recently started noticing this pyracantha bush on the roadside on my way home from work. I always believed their berries to be poisonous. That's not true at all! Their berries are sometimes used to make jelly! Hmmm...wonder what that tastes like? I took this photo on Wayne Drive in Greenville.

Polkeeeee Dots

I have always loved this mailbox! I wish I was so crafty! I took this photo on Bradley Boulevard in Greenville.

Headlights In The Sky

Yes, my Mama did teach me better than to take pictures while driving down the road, but this was too cool of an opportunity to pass up!

Plus.....I really needed to get this photo blog up and running again!

I took this photo last night on my way home from work on North Pleasantburg Drive/Highway 291.

Operation Christmas Child!

Every year, I try to pack a shoe box (or two, or three) for Operation Christmas Child. OCC is a project of Franklin Graham's Samaritan's Purse. Every year in November and December shoeboxes filled with small toys, toiletries, and candy are collected and sent overseas to children who may otherwise receive nothing for Christmas. I can't tell you how much fun it is to shop for the items that go in the shoeboxes. I take a lot of time and effort picking just the right things. For about $15 you can fill a shoebox. They also ask that you put in a check for $7 to help with the overseas shipping or by using the online donation option called EZGive. So for less than $25 you can make a child smile. Last year, OCC collected over 7.6 million shoeboxes that were distributed in 95 countries. While I will never see the children that open my shoeboxes, I can only hope that I've made their lives, even if for just one day, a happier one. The mission isn't only to give toys and toiletries...according to their website the mission of Operation Christmas Child is "to demonstrate God's love in a tangible way to needy children around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ."

Please visit their site!

Operation Christmas Child


The site gives step by step instructions on what type items to pack in a box and where to drop off your box. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me! November 17-24 is National Collection Week though, so we don't have much time!

Back Among the Living!

I'm back among the living, but I'm still behind as far as taking photos! Hopefully the blog will be up and running this week!

Dear Reader...

Due to some health concerns, I haven't been able to keep up with my photo blog. Hopefully I'll be up and about soon!

Travelers Rest United Methodist Church, Part II

I like these views of the door and steps.