An entire day outside

And, I earned it! Yesterday was all about house cleaning. Even the fringe on the rugs was combed out straight before I went to bed.

Today's event was Women in the Outdoors, a division of the National Wild Turkey Federation (headquartered in Edgefield). The weather was perfect -- crisp and sunny -- and about half way through the day I came to understand a wonderful and welcome feeling. I was breathing deeply and thriving!

Four classes: Dutch oven cooking (over a fire), an introduction to fly fishing (all equipment provided), survival skills (no reality TV scenarios) and air rifle (aka BB gun). What great fun. And, of the 50 or so people in attendance, I only knew one. So, new, interesting, people -- most of whom with talents I do not possess.

I actually went because of the fly fishing class. It was taught by Molly Semenik, master casting instructor, Montana outfitter and owner of Tie the Knot Fly Fishing in Livingston MT. Oh, what a teacher. I cannot say enough.

Tal's pleased with my new fishing knowledge and survival skills. And, he cannot believe his wife hit the target with a BB from an air rifle. But, imagine his bewildered surprise the day I build a fire in the backyard when it's time to start supper!

Wreath-making

Today has been full, a typical Saturday given the proximity of Christmas. It's on days like this that I am especially aware of the gift of retirement. Were it not for that I would have spent the day writing sermons, crafting bulletins, attending meetings, desperately not sending Christmas cards again this year, trying to cram in meal planning for Christmas guests. I won't go on. Instead, this pre-Christmas time includes shopkeeping for both Edgefield Regional Arts and the Art Association of Ridge Spring, sending personally designed cards, listening to Christmas music, deliberately, here at home.

And, today I attended a vine wreath-making class taught by a former parishioner, sponsored by and held at the National Wild Turkey Federation here in Edgefield. It was a great event, inspiring the creativity of everyone who participated. My finished wreath is shown here, with apologies for the photograph. The wreath itself is comprised of a number of different kinds of vine: grape, yellow Jessamine, wisteria, and the decoration includes cedar, holly, boxwood and cones from a white pine on the golf course at Pine Ridge Plantation.


Tal was genuinely surprised when I brought the wreath out of the trunk. I'd love to know what he really expected I'd produce and bring home.

New ambassador

Today has been great fun and I am too tuckered out to write more than a line or two. But, you are reading words written by one of Edgefield County and The South Carolina Heritage Corridor's forty plus newly minted ambassadors. Impressive, huh?

After a lovely breakfast at Oakley Park, an antebellum house museum and UDC Shrine, in Edgefield, our rolling classroom set out with Bettis Academy, the town of Trenton and Titan Farm on the morning itinerary. After a wonderful lunch at Riley's on Main in Johnston, we visited the Edgefield County Peach Museum just a few storefronts up the street and then reboarded the coach for the afternoon. By the time we arrived back at Oakley Park for a wine and cheese reception shortly after 5:00 we had visited the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Freshwater Coast Discovery Center, the Tompkins Library, the Edgefield County Archives and the offices of the Edgefield Advertiser (the oldest continually run newspaper in the state). I am going to sleep gratefully and well.

Here are few images made during the day.

Our rolling classroom, driven by Andrew Lott, was very comfortable, complete with TV screens on which the view from the front of the bus was displayed all day. We didn't have to fight for front seats. In fact, I quite enjoyed sitting in the back of the bus.

A fragile quilt on display at Bettis Academy and Junior College -- an institution founded in 1881 by the Rev'd Alexander Bettis, a former slave who was taught to read by his master.

This is part of the peach sorting apparatus in the packing shed at Titan Farm.

One of a visitor's first sights on entering the National Wild Turkey Federation is the floor at the threshold. The turkey fan inlay is comprised of seven different woods: black walnut, lace wood, Brazilian cherry, zebra wood, wenge, curly maple and Honduras mahogany.

This is a detail of the ceiling in the Tomkins Library on the square in Edgefield, home of the Old Edgefield District Genealogical Society.

At the end of the day my totebag was stuffed!