Theme Week: Water @Longwood Gardens /  by Dave Hileman

I still do not have glasses and so am limiting myself to how much time I spend on the computer. MAYBE this week. But if not by Tuesday, I will be out of town for a few days so arrival on Wednesday will not help immediately. But still welcome!

Longwood is known for the flowers and plants, however, plants need water and Longwood has lots of water.

National Park Unit #364, Reconstruction Era National Historic Park /  by Dave Hileman

Unexpectedly, I now have 364 parks completed. I did not realize that the Reconstruction Era park was open on the Sea Islands near Beaufort, SC. The park has three components, a downtown visitor center in an old fire station, the heart of the park, an educational facility in a complex called Penn School and a church built by enslaved people and after 1861 it is where they worshiped and learned. Reconstruction was an uneven process at best but here it worked as well as anywhere. The area was captured by the North early in the war and all the plantation owners had fled leaving the enslaved population and many more who fled to this community. .The north paid wages to them and eventually sold the land for back taxes to those who were now earning funds. Three women came from the north to set up schools and the building that we toured was a part of that school. Lots of current skills as we as academic classes were conducted. Many of the families that bought land in the mid-1860’s are still owned by their descendants. The small house in the photos was built as a retreat for Martin Luther King, Jr but he was killed before he could use it. It is now an artist and writers retreat house. More info here: https://www.nps.gov/reer/index.htm

Food - Holiday - Thanksgiving - Home /  by Dave Hileman

We had a small gathering for Thanksgiving dinner in Knoxville. Jill and I, her daughter, Carin and son-in-law, Evan (also the chef) and two friends, Rebecca and Paul. While the gathering was small the food was extensive and delicious. Turkey, naturally, brined and well-roasted with a pecan/honey sauce, sweet potatoes with cranberry, mashed potatoes, cranberry relish, gravy, oysters, honey glazed brussel sprouts, stuffing and home made rolls. All this was proceded by a wonderful squash soup and followed by raspberry cheesecake and pumpkin pie. Burp!

My restrained plate number one!

Food - Dessert Restaurant - Charleston - South Carolina /  by Dave Hileman

Jill and I did a guided walking tour of Charleston that was very well done. We both enjoyed it and learned a lot. Excellent guide. Our tour was at 2 so we came into town for a fine lunch (next Saturday’s post) and then off to the walk. The tour ended about 4 and we decided we had enough dinner and went to Kaminsky’s near the City Market. It is a nice upscale place for a sweet end to an excellent day. We shared a mixed berry cobbler with ice cream (of course). So good. They have pies, cakes, cookies, coffee, some alcoholic choices and milk shakes. Perfect end to a idyllic day.