Family Biking on Hilton Head Island

All photos and written works copyrighted sstaas. All rights reserved.

What's the best part of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina?

Is it the weather? Is it the ice cream? Is it the Southern charm? Nope. It's the biking! Where else can you bike along the beach and throughout miles of beautiful trails?



The problem with where I live, in the suburbs, is that there are no sidewalks. You can't even walk without having to leap onto front yards anytime a car comes by. Bike trails? No sidewalks also means no bike trails. If that's not bad enough, it's hilly where I live. Not a pretty sight to see me huffing and puffing up hills, especially when I slither off the saddle to catch my breath! People pushing strollers certainly get a work-out as they stride up the hills and back down the other side.



Hilton Head Island, on the other hand, is family friendly. You can rent bikes of all sizes, including teeny tiny ones. You can also rent bikes with buggy thingys at the back, where toddlers can sit. Fancy a tandem? No problem. Prices are really reasonable too.



Just watch out for the alligators!!



Give me the beach and trails on Hilton Head Island any day! If you'd like more information about Hilton Head please check out my photo tour.

Memorabilia, 1970's

All photos and written work are copyrighted sstaas. All rights reserved.

Guess what? I finally purchased a new blender! Guess how old my old blender is? Well...I bought it in 1974. Yes, it's a veritable old relic from the seventies. And, it still works!

I don't use a blender all that much. I use it to make Gazpacho, but that's about all. I'm thinking I might use the new handy dandy one a lot more. It seems so sturdy and robust. In the eighties I used my old blender to make Pina Coladas and Brandy Alexanders, but mostly it was just one of those items you pack whenever you move, carefully wrapping it in newspaper and placing it deftly in a cardboard box. It's a well-travelled blender!

My blender from the seventies got me thinking about other items I seem to have not parted with since way back then as well. Here's an old glass, or tumbler, as some would call it. I should toss it, I know, but I think it's cute, unique even, in its cheery seventies style.



Here are two brass items from the seventies. I bought them in Spain, when I was really into collecting brass.





I have two odd things. Not sure what they are. Maybe they're paperweights? One has a boat inside him, and the other has shells inside it. They're not too heavy, so perhaps they're not paperweights. I do still like them, don't I?





Here's the little Frenchman. I bought him because I liked his clothes, as well as his lovely basket complete with baguettes. Over the years he's lost his baguettes, however. My lonely Frenchman who is baguetteless.



I have keys that I've accumulated from somewhere. Why do I keep them? They must open something, mustn't they?!



I still have this huge gaudy gold leaf painting that I purchased in the seventies. His frame has broken so many times, that I feel he's a survivor. It'd be a shame to toss him now, after all those years.



The new blender I just purchased is shiny, sturdy, full of grace, and sits very proudly on the kitchen counter. It is a star, a smugly perfect specimen, a role model, an inspiration. I kid you not. Who knew that a blender could be so astonishing?!

But how can I toss the old one? We've been buddies for so long! And he still works.

Oh well, whilst I ponder this grave question, let's listen to some music from the 1970's. seventies style

Mediterranean Cruise

All photos and written works copyrighted sstaas. All rights reserved.

I think I'm finally over jet lag! It's only taken me six days. Lol. Well, there was a six hour time difference, so I guess six days should have me back on schedule.



This was just our third cruise, so I'm far from being an expert on cruising. The first two cruises lasted for seven days and we experienced calms seas. Little did I know what could happen if there's a storm! In addition, seven days was enough to be using the teeny tiny bathroom you get onboard, not to mention the teeny tiny cabin. Even with a balcony, there's just not much space. This latest cruise lasted 12 days, so, at times, I was dying to find a real toilet. (The toilets on cruise ships are like the ones you get on a plane.) A real bathtub would have been great too! Anyhow, what's worse still is that on the last day of the cruise as we were sailing from Corfu back to Barcelona there were fifty mile an hour winds that lasted for the whole day into the evening. Guess what? I got seasick! Now I'm not keen at all to go on another cruise. :(



However, the itinerary was really good. We visited places we had been before years ago, which worked out well for we didn't feel rushed into running all over the place. Other places we visited we had never been before which was delightful as it's always fun exploring and discovering new locations.




We didn't take any of the tours as it's more fun to explore on one's own. However, one word of caution: if you really want to see Florence and Rome, then bear in mind that the ports of call, Livorno and Civitavecchia, are around two hours away from both cities. In the end, it's probably less stressful just to take the cruiseline's tours, especially for Rome.



There are benefits to taking a cruise. You get transported quite comfortably from one location to the next. All your food is included. If you like to get dressed up, you can do that on formal nights. If you have a reunion, then cruises are a great venue for there's plenty of room for everyone.

However, there are also drawbacks. There tend to be lots of people, especially on the huge ships. I think this latest cruise ship we were on had two thousand passengers. You may want to spend longer at certain ports, but you can't, for you have to get back to the ship. Don't want to miss the boat! There are extra costs that you may not be aware of - gratuities, wine, excursions, etc. These extras can really add up.



One website that's worth checking out is www.cruisecritic.com You'll get a lot of information about all the different cruise lines.

What I'd like to try is a river cruise. Yep. No stormy seas! Anybody know anything about river cruises?

Surreal Venice and the Gondoliers

We just got back from a Mediterranean cruise. Venice, Italy, was one of the places we visited. What is it about those gondoliers? They look as if they have stepped out of a movie, or the front page of some fashion magazine. They hang about, posing, their eyes down demurely, pretending not to notice the throngs of tourists taking their photos.

Photos copyrighted sstaas. All rights reserved.




Don't you think that the handsome, sexy gondolier in my photo looks sooo nonchalant, sooo amazingly modest and coy?! You wonder what he's thinking, all decked out his cute little outfit. For a second I thought I was in the Venetian in Las Vegas, so surreal he seemed, as did the canal in the background. I asked myself, is Venice real? Or, is the Venetian in Las Vegas more real?



Another cute, sexy gondolier appeared from underneath a bridge. Now, he was real, of that I'm sure. He was moving, steering his gondola out into the Grand Canal.



So many tourists, so many gondolas, canals, cameras and camcorders. Venice is like a movie. Even Coca Cola makes a splashing and spectacular entrance. The city appears as one gigantic movie set.



It was the pigeons and the sounds of the water lapping against the gondolas that brought me back to reality, that made me realise that what I was looking at was, in fact real.

We went in the month of August when it was really very hot and absolutely full of tourists. I think that May or September would be better months to visit if you want to avoid the crowds. We arrived on our cruise ship on this particular trip, but the first time I visited Venice I arrived by train. There are water buses and water taxis that will transport you around the city. Have fun exploring the narrow streets and being mesmerized by the all the activities on the Grand Canal!

In case you're planning a trip to Venice, here's a useful link that will give you lots of information: travel information

Steps and Stairs

All photos copyrigted sstaas. All rights reserved.

I love steps and stairs! If I could paint I'd make beautiful pictures of them, with all their intricate details and alluring shades. But, as I mentioned before in a previous blog, my skills at painting are zero. Drawing skills? Less than zero!

So, I photograph them. I had no idea how much I love steps and stairs until I noticed how many photos I have taken of them.



I used to think it romantic and ever so exciting to run up and down steps. You know the ones, outside museums or those fabulously famous cathedrals you see in Europe. You haven't lived until you've dashed up and down the cathedral steps in Amalfi, Italy. That's what I've always thought. Also, the stairs and steps you find in Savannah and Charleston are just bursting with southern charm and grace. Why, just putting your tiny toe on them makes you feel like a southern lady, gushing with pride and mystery.





What inspires you? What do you like to take photos of?

Shopping for Bargains

Today, I decided to go to AAA to purchase euros. I was planning on converting $400. In the end, I paid $418 and got 285 euros in return.




Now, I just hate it when I don't get a bargain. I had checked out today's exchange rate online and had found a better rate than what AAA was offering. However, who knows where you could actually get this better rate, nor how much you'd have to pay in fees?



After I got home, I mulled it over and then decided to call the bank at the airport and find out their rate of exchange. Gosh, was I a happy camper! Their rate wasn't any better at all than AAA's, in fact I would have had to pay $10 more for the same about of euros, plus a fee of $5.95.

Now I don't feel so bad. It wasn't a bargain at AAA, but neither was it a rip-off.


Talking of bargains, I once had a yard sale. I guess it was more of a driveway/lawn sale for I had my stuff on the driveway and front lawn. People drove up in their hordes and clambered over towards my tables all set up to look luring. Their eyes were glistening and glazed with anticipation of finding bargains. They yanked at everything, pulling, stretching, patting. I think they were about to shove my stuff in their mouths, hungry as they were for a good deal.

"How much is this?"
"How low can you go?"
"I offer you three bucks."
"Could you give me two for the price of one?"
"Anything free?"
"If I come back later, will you lower the price?"

I practically gave my stuff away that day. Much as I personally like bargains, I'm not just any good at selling.

Where do you feel are the best places for bargains? Online? Yard sales?

Fresh Fruit Tart and Mowing the Lawn

Would you like a piece of this frightfully fruity fresh fruit tart? Bet you would.
Full of vitamins and antioxidants, it's just soooo good for you. Something tells me it will be gone in minutes.

Temperatures have been all the way up to 92 degrees. That's Fahrenheit, not centigrade, in case you are alarmed that we may not survive such ridiculously high temperatures. But, it's still definitely hot, even in Fahrenheit.

Seems just about everybody is cutting their grass. That happens in the suburbs. One person gets the lawn mower out, and the next thing other neighbours are out zooming around manicuring their lawns as well. The grass is always greener on the other side, isn't it? So, we all need to keep our grass trimmed, fertilized and really, really green!

Five things to do instead of cutting the grass:

1. Go back to bed and take a nice long nap. Maybe you'll dream about cutting the grass.

2. Peek outside at the neighbours who are mowing their lawns. Pretend they are really mowing your lawn.

3. Check to see if your lawn mower needs fuel. You never know, maybe there isn't any gas left. Great excuse for not mowing the lawn!

4. Check the weather forecast. Gosh, those huge rain showers out in California could be here in the east coast really soon.

5. Have a slice of this frightfully fruity frest fruit tart. Yum. Yum.

Which would you prefer to do? Mow the lawn or partake of this delicious tart?

What Mirage and What is Surreal?

It's been ever so hot and humid here in the suburbs. Sweat drips and drips and ice cream melts on the driveway. Even the planes seem to have stopped flying. Now, that is almost surreal. We're near a major airport and we hear airplanes taking off on a regular basis. I haven't heard any airplane today at all. Where are they all?!

Perhaps the heat is making me hard of hearing, as well as making me slide across the room!

I was up at the local shopping center earlier today, trying to look tall, slim and tanned as I pretended that the heat didn't bother me one bit. There, on display outside of one of the stores, were scarecrows. At first I thought it was a mirage. Yep, guess it's time to get ready for Halloween? It's still the month of August. Don't you think it's a teeny wee bit early to have Halloween stuffy stuff in the shops?




Halloween in August? Soon there will be Christmas stuff in the shops!

End of a Bush, a Mailbox and a Road Sign

Life here in the suburbs has been just too exciting for words. The other night I heard a strange noise. Burglar? Surely not. Not here, where nothing ever happens. I wasn't too concerned about an intruder as the noise was somewhere outside. Next day, first thing in the morning, lo and behold I noticed something really odd about the bush out front and the mailbox. There was no mailbox! And the bush had been damaged quite badly. There were tire marks on the front lawn and, upon closer scrutiny, I spied the remains of the mailbox scattered on our next door neighbour's yard. Not only that, the road sign out front was lying flat on its back. Golleee. Am I a Sherlock Holmes, or what?



Unfortunately, I hadn't brushed my teeth, nor washed, nor basically performed any ablution. At least I did have on clothes and not just night attire! Just then a neighbour drove by in his car and stopped.

"Hi! Good morning!!" Yikes! I can't stand people who are cheery first thing in the morning.
"Hi." I managed a plaintive smile along with the plaintive 'hi'.
"What happened here?"
I backed away, hand covering my mouth. I really couldn't be bothered answering, especially since I hadn't brushed my teeth.
"Have a nice day!" he yelled with a great big wave as he drove away.
Just as I was about to go back inside another neighbour miraculously appeared. Fortunately, it was just his head that appeared. You see, he had opened his window and was peering out it of it. "I heard a noise last night. I sure did. Didn't I?"

I assumed he was talking to his wife. Of course, maybe he was talking to himself. Strange things can happen in the suburbs.

Anyone else want to see me in this state of disarray?! I waved as merrily as I could to the neighbour hanging out of his window and decided I better call the police. After all, they'd want to investigate the squashing of the road sign. Thinking that the police would take for ever to turn up, I decided to make myself a coffee. Oops. I should have spent the time getting cleaned up. In just two minutes the police arrived and there was I outside again, looking as if I had been dragged through a bush. No pun intended.

All of this before seven a.m. And we never have found out who lost control of his or her car and smashed the bush, the mailbox and the road sign.

Now, where's the best place to buy a new mailbox? And how easy will it be to install? Hmmm.

Out of Business Stores

All photos and written works copyrighted sstaas. All rights reserved.

These long summer days here in the suburbs are adorned with butterflies and bonnie flowers. Even the weeds look nice and welcoming.

In the local village, however, people sip on their coffees and teas and bemoan the number of stores closed, gone out of business. They saunter about in sandals and cropped trousers, their shiny toenails flirting with the hot sidewalks.

"Not another store with a 'for rent' sign!"



"What about the lampshade store? Where did it go? I wanted to buy a new lampshade."

"Let's start at one end of the street and start counting. I think last week I counted nine. Nine stores gone out of business. I've never known this to happen before, never. Not in my whole life."

"Oh my. Where's the spray tan place? I swear it was here two weeks ago. What about my coupon? Do you think I can still use it?"

"They say that the parking meters are free on Saturdays. Maybe that will bring more people."

Some of the wealthiest people in the nation live in and around the village, but I guess they're not shopping here.

But, all is not lost. New ventures are sprouting forth, new ideas are floruishing, just like the flowers on the deck, and new enterprises are on the horizon. Evolution in progress.

The future could well be as superb as a butterfly.

Better grasp it before it flies away.

Are there stores going out of business where you live?

Mr Whippy, Hot Dogs and Ice Cream

All photos and written works are copyrighted sstaas. All rights reserved.

I would love a nice yummy ice cream just now. It's hot and humid here in the suburbs. Not only that, this morning I mowed the grass out back, way out back next to the woods. I usually charge full steam ahead, stomping my feet as I go, making as much noise as possible, that way, any snakes lurking about will take off. I still haven't seen any this year as yet though. That's a nice suprise. Then, this afternoon, I decided to paint one of the bathrooms. All the bending, stretching, and cursing each time I splashed paint on the floor has made me really ready for something cold. But, how many calories are there in an ice cream?!



It's still nice to look at Mr. Whippy's ice cream and my polaroid manipulation of the Hot Dogs and Ice Cream sign. I took the Mr. Whippy photo in Edinburgh, on one of many trips back home. The Hot Dogs and Ice cream I made in South Carolina.

Gazing at these photos is a lovely break from all this yard work and decorating. Now I have to go give the bathroom a second coat of paint. And unless it rains I'll have to water the garden. Now that the bathroom is looking nice, I think the hall could do with a coat of paint. This is never-ending! And in a day or two I'll need to cut the grass out front. The bushes need to be trimmed as well.

So much activity here in the suburbs. It's exhausting. Maybe a teeny tiny ice cream topped with some nice red wine is in order? Then I'll imagine I'm sitting on the beach underneath the Hot Dogs and Ice Cream sign enjoying a Mr. Whippy ice cream cone. Sure, why not?!

How do you like to spend a hot summer day?

Bird Bath and Soliciting

Life is good in the land of the suburbs.

The plants are growing nicely, and the colours are vibrant. So far the deer haven't appeared to gobble up the hosta. So far the bunny rabbits have not gobbled up the impatiens. There's a lot more sun at the side of the house where we had the trees removed last year. Means the tomatoes should be happy campers. And, most importantly of all, so far the black snakes haven't appeared. Well, I personally haven't seen any. Guess they could be lurking around somewhere! They're harmless, but I still don't like them.



I love my bird bath! Every day my 'pet bird' flies by and takes a bath. He usually hangs out in the crabapple tree out front, or on the bushes. It's difficult, if not impossible, to take a photo of him when he's having his bath. I think he might be shy! Next to the bird bath is the lavender. He's doing exceptionally well this year, and has even created himself a baby.

I happened to see someone walk up the pathway to our front door, and immediately thought he could be one of those odd people who insist on trying to persuade you to attend their church. Things like that happen in the suburbs. But, instead all he did was hang an ad. for a local pizza place on the door knob. Such excitement! If I lived in New York, I would miss out on these suburban exquisite slices of life.

But, there's one problem with the pizza people, and all the other people who come by and leave ads. or flyers or free newspapers. What they leave behind are dead giveaways that you're out of town. You're really dependent on a kind neighbour picking them up and disposing of them. I'd just as soon have no solicitors wandering around my neighbourhood. If I want to attend a church, I will. I don't need to be persuaded. If I want to purchase a particular brand of pizza, I will. And, if I want a newspaper, well, I already subscribe to one.

What do you think of soliciting?

Garden Society Communication

Who says life in the suburbs is boring?! Yesterday the whole neighbourhood was buzzing with excitement. The sun was shining, the sky was blue, the temperature was around seventy. Flowers were blossoming, grass was being cut, new roofs were being installed. And let's not forget the gardeners who were outside pruning and weeding, admiring their colourful creations. Each person was involved, dedicated to enhancing his or her property.



But, did they notice one another? Hmm. I guess a feeble wave and a loud "Hi!" means communication was also buzzing. And they say New York is a tough city where nobody cares about anybody.

Just wait until the icecream van jingles by. Then there is even more excitement. Sometimes we get two icecream vans. Yes, in the one day. Imagine. They play different tunes as well.

I walk most days throughout the neighbourhood and have 'met' tons of people throughout the years. They always wave and give me a huge, gigantic grin as if we were old friends. I haven't a clue who they are. I just know where they live and I've never had more than a ten second conversation with them. Lots of times, people honk their horn as they drive by. I haven't a clue who they are either. Heck, I can't even see them. And unless I recognize the vehicle there's no way that I can tell who they are.

When I first moved to the United States I used to think that Americans were ever so friendly for they always greeted me exuberantly, unlike the British who tend to take a while to warm up to someone. But, that's as far as the communication seems to go - big waves, huge grins and a loud 'hi'. Granted, since I don't know these people well, that's about all that can be expected. But, why take the trouble to give these big waves and grins and honkings of the car in the first place?

Do you wave and greet people you've never met before?