time and space: Sunny and 75

WHEN: July - September 2013

WHERE: Charleston, South Carolina

The irony is not lost on me that I am writing this post (all about summer) on the first day of winter, which officially begins at 12:21EST (which is when I posted this, of course). That's what I get for stepping away from my blog for six months. My last 5 posts this week have been about summer, but there's still a little more I wanted to capture here before finally saying goodbye to my favorite season.

I made the case early on in the life of this blog that I think summer is the most wonderful time of the year. Even with Christmas four days away, I still hold firmly that opinion. Don't hear me wrong, I love Christmas as much as the next person. I love the snow, much needed vacation, the traditions, time with family, even the bitter cold. I do love the Christmas season, very much, and I fully embrace it earlier than most.

I typically start listening to Christmas music in September and don't stop until December 25. This year was the same, except that I got burned out by the time Thanksgiving rolled around. As an alternative, I have been listening to my "Summer" playlist a lot the last few weeks, as a way to compensate. I think it's fair, since I've been known to listen to Christmas music every month of the year, including the summer. Between my posts and music choices, I seem to be living in some sort of time warp this month.

The past few summers Stacie and I have had what I might call a "summer theme song" that reminds us most of that summer. (Cheesy? Maybe, but we still love 'em.) This year it was country artist Joe Nichol's song Sunny and 75. Since it's been 75° or warmer seven days already this month and is supposed to be pushing 80° today and tomorrow, perhaps the song should be Sunny and 95. Otherwise, the song might as well be about December, in which case this post is not as misplaced as I originally thought.

Several definitions of summer at Page's Thieves Market on June 19 (the other side of the calendar, where I've been trying to live this month).

Even Bing Crosby sang about swaying palm trees in the Christmas song Mele Kalikimaka. I'd take a palm tree over a Christmas tree 364 days out of the year.

One of the new things we did this summer was go downtown on Friday nights, to the Charleston City Market. The market stays open until 10:30pm, for local artisans only. Our friend Cathy started selling her printmaking and watercolors artwork there this summer.

Downtown Charleston is especially charming at night (and beats the oven that it is during the daytime).

One of these nights we saw the Cinderella carriage for the first time.

The only such carriage in the state

We got to spend one weekend in July with our favorite Yorkie, "Sir Spur". He is my coworkers dog and is the cutest, most obedient dog there is. We have watched him many times over the past 15 months and he has completely been adopted into our family. As you can see, he likes very much to drive.

Sullivans Island at sunset

This is our favorite beach in Charleston and where we spend many of our weekends during the summer.

I think this was our first time going there at sunset

Sea oats and sand dunes

We prefer the sun to be in the sky when we're here, but the moon isn't bad either.

We also ate on the island for the first time (Poe's Tavern). Some of the best burgers (and fries) in town!

Nature Adventure Outfitters on Shem Creek
Perhaps our biggest theme this summer was something we tried on the water....stand up paddleboarding (SUP). It has been a popular activity in Charleston as long as we have lived here. We just never had a real interest in trying it...until this summer!

The paddleboard (and kayak) rental shop on Shem Creek.

This was our first day trying SUP (August 10). We paddled 4 miles this day, during our three-hour rental. We're sad we waited so long to try it. We're hooked now.

A great setting for paddleboarding, kayaking, boating, or dining. We love Shem Creek.

I went for 2-mile (barefoot) run on Sullivans this day after work. I can almost feel the warm sand between my toes in this picture.

One of the reasons we prefer Sullivans is that it is never crowded. It is used more by locals and is a very wide beach, which means plenty of room to spread out. This picture reminds me of a deserted island. Don't I wish.

Wide open and (mostly) tourist-free

My beach babe, all ready for her second SUP excursion. We met a bunch of coworkers this time, puppies included.

Spur was all suited up and ready to go in his brand new Fido Float.

Stacie getting the party started

I really hurt my back the day before and was not able to go this time. I really felt like a kid who missed out on the funnest party with all his friends because he was sick (or grounded - no pun intended). I brought my camera and made the most of the outing.

Always lots going on in Shem Creek during the summer.

That is Stacie, just to the left of the blue fishing boat.

Joe and Anna launching off

Matt (the seasoned pro) with his own board and paddle

Sam, Nikki, and Sanjay. Sanjay loves to go paddleboarding and will jump and swim from board to board to cool off and play. Spur, on the other hand, is a scaredy cat and prefers to stay topside. :)

Captain Sanjay, leading the way

She's on the coast of somewhere beautiful...trade winds blowing through her hair....sunlight dancing on the water...

It was a very windy day and the tide cycle was near its peak, which made for a very exhausting, three-hour rental. It was probably best I decided to sit this one out.

Stacie doing her best to fight the winds and current

Shem Creek fishing boats

Our friends Emily and Keith (Norah and Charlie) came to visit us the last week in August. Emily and Keith visited Charleston with Stacie and I in 2009, when we still lived in North Carolina. The kids (and adults) thoroughly enjoyed cooling off and playing in the spider fountain at Waterfront Park.

I got to see the Wentworth Mansion (built in 1886, now a hotel) for the first time.

We also went to Charles Towne Landing (State Park) for the first time. It is the site of the settlement on the Ashley River that the English established when they landed here in 1670. It was the first permanent English settlement in Carolina.

Walking the grounds of the state park

I always lagged behind with my camera, as usual.

It was interesting to see the naming origins of all the landmarks and regions we have become so familiar with in and around Charleston.

We have lived in two of the oldest settlements in America. We also hope to visit St. Augustine, Florida this spring, the oldest European settlement in America.

A popular wedding spot in the park
(Maybe next time we get married??)

Best friends since birth

Animals at the habitat zoo, which represent some of the indigenous wildlife that inhabited Charleston when it was established in 1670.

Puma at Charles Towne Landing

The summer heat got the best of Charlie

Thanks for visiting, Sandisons! We love to have guests.

Many know that I have a penny collection, which I started in 2nd grade. Labor Day weekend I sorted and filed away my current stash of pennies (2,285), which represent the pennies we have amassed since 2005 (over 8 years worth). I had to mention it here. :)

Banana spider
These arachnids (the size our your palm) come out in droves and usually signal that fall is right around the corner.

But Labor Day and spiders don't dictate when summer is over, and last I checked, fall doesn't start until September 23. So, we spent the next two weekends at the beach.

How we spent many of our weekends this summer...

...soaking up the sun at Sullivans...

...and splashing through the waves (not dashing through the snow).

The last Saturday of summer (Stacie's birthday weekend), we went paddleboarding one last time.

Just the two of us this time

I'm so happy she enjoys this as much as I do.

We paddled back as far as we could into the branches of the creek...keeping an eye out for alligators (who are more scared of us that we of them.)

Taking a break

I really miss these days

Paddleboarding on Shem Creek

See you in 4 months, SUP!

Taken from last summer's theme song

After paddleboarding, we got cleaned up and went out to dinner with our small group, to celebrate the three birthdays that week (September 22, 23, and 25).