C. Fawley Fjeran

LowTide 6 hrs  ·  Baby chicks. Who can resist? When we lived on our mini-farm, D felt the urge to raise chickens. From his source, the minimum order was 25. D wanted layers and chickens to eat. (Now that I put it that way, it does sound a tad barbaric.) The catch was the minimum order was per type. Fifty chickens? Yes, indeed. As I recall, we had enough eggs to feed a Marine platoon. D 'processed' one broiler and that was enough of that. Now, we glance at these irresistable images on our way  to Publix and keep on truckin'. We'll leave raising chickens to the homestead chics. ~ LowTide explorer, Carolyn Fjeran [LowTide is an eclectic collection of discoveries and reflective writings.]

LowTide September 21 at 6:33am  ·  What happens when the sidewalk ends? I like sidewalks--streets with billowy-tree-lined sidewalks. The neighborhood I live in is nice and walkable but I find myself gravitating to other neighborhoods that have sidewalks. The towns where I was raised all had sidewalks until we moved to the suburbs of Mobile, where the sidewalk ends. What happens when the sidewalk ends? Shel Silverstein knows a little about this. His book, "Where the Sidewalk Ends" is a delightful collection of poems for children. Contrary to Shel Silverstein's version, in my towns, smoke did not blow black, and the streets were light and bright. Children of yesteryear spent time on sidewalks riding bikes and scooters, skating, and playing hopscotch. We loved it. In the poem, where the sidewalk ends is where imagination begins. Perhaps. When I walk in my neighborhood--the one without sidewalks--I imagine getting hit by cars zooming around the corner. Maybe someday when I wa...

LowTide September 20 at 6:00am  ·  Again? Another hurricane? Harvey, Irma, Jose, Maria... Hurricane Camille hit the Gulf coast with a vengeance in 1969. Maximum wind speeds are estimated because the storm destroyed the wind recording instruments. Purportedly, speed reached 175 mph along the coast. Camille was one of three cat 5 hurricanes in the U.S. to make landfall. The eye came in near Biloxi and literally ripped the town to shreds. I lived 'next door' in Mobile and knew little about hurricanes. This was my first. Previously, when my head hit the pillow, I dreamed of snow drifts high enough to close area schools. When Camille rolled in, I slept like a clueless baby. After the storm, my family transported from our local church to Biloxi much-needed clothing and other donations. The trip informed me. I witnessed sections of the huge concrete slabs on the causeway that were lifted and shifted like a child's building blocks--the power of nature! Each year, we watch as hurric...

LowTide September 18 at 6:00am  ·  Lowcountry--subject to tropical storms, hurricanes, and flooding, but, in my estimation, worth it. ~LowTide explorer, Carolyn Fjeran [LowTide is an eclectic collection of discoveries and reflective writings.]

LowTide September 16 at 7:00am  ·  Serendipity: "the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way." I can't remember the last time I used this word. Serendipity is exactly what led to this image along the nature trail at Hunting Island State Park Nature Center in South Carolina. We were redirected there because our original destination entrance to the beach was closed--aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. "Okay. Sure, let's try the nature center." We discovered the 3-mile nature trail through the woods to the beach and back. After walking the beach and snapping several images, I lagged behind our group on the return walk to catch one last random picture. Of a stump. "Go ahead, I'm taking another picture." My expectations were low, but something compelled me to, "take it anyway." To my surprise, the shadows and reflective light created a magical effect. This image was taken 10 days prior to Hurricane Irma. All...

Are you afraid of snakes? Even pictures of snakes? Snakes were in the parked van awaiting entry to the Cooperative Extension office. The thought of it was more than Donna could bear. Donna, a Master Gardener volunteer, had to leave the office as soon as she heard the 4-H Herpetology Club had a meeting scheduled later in the day. I too had a healthy fear of snakes. As a Cooperative Extention Service employee, I had to overcome this fear. County residents regularly brought in samples for us to identify, including snakes. One of my greatest accomplishments in life occurred the day I was helping someone at the counter when I glanced down and saw a snake at my feet that escaped Jeff's control. My heart skipped several beats, but I didn't bat an eye--real Emmy level acting. I fantasize about living in a land where snakes are nonexistent. In my reality, we share habitat with snakes. I don't completely mind sharing distant spaces with nonpoisonous snakes as long as they keep their ...

"It's not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives, it is the one that is most adaptable to change." ~ Charles Darwin

After the storm, "I will lift up mine eyes..."

LowTide September 9 at 11:49am  ·  Is it my imagination? I just returned from my morning run. Does the breeze in the Piedmont smell like the coast? ~ LowTide explorer, Carolyn Fjeran

LowTide September 8 at 6:00am  ·    Hoo was at the Farmers Market in Port Royal? We were pleasantly surprised to find a vendor at the farmers market with live owls perched on display. Kids flocked to see these creatures up close and personal. Link to learn about the Great Horned Owl at  http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/great-horned-owl ~ LowTide explorer, Carolyn Fjeran

LowTide September 7 at 6:00am  ·  Admiring Parris Island Marine Corps Base from the outside looking in and the thousands who have walked the walk from the other side. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/…/Marine_Corps_Recruit_Depot_Par… https://www.facebook.com/ParrisIsland/ ~ LowTide explorer, Carolyn Fjeran

LowTide   September 6 at 6:00am  ·                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                ...

September 5, 2017 Galette is a French term for flat, round, free formed or crusty cakes. We discovered these delicious cakes at the Farmer's Market in Port Royal, SC. Check out "20 Galettes to make for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Desert"  https://www.buzzfeed.com/…/sweet-and-savory-galette-recipes… ~ LowTide explorer, Carolyn Fjeran

September 4, 2017 "Nothing will work unless you do." Maya Angelou Labor Day, St. Helena Island style: tomato stakes are gathered in the fields in preparation for the next crop. Rather than bales of hay, the coastal agricultural fields along Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd. are dotted with bundles of tomato stakes. Thousands of stakes represent endless hours of hard work. If you feel industrious on Labor Day, use the planting calculator provided by The Old Farmer's Almanac, founded in 1792, for r ecommended planting dates  https://www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-dates/SC ~ LowTide explorer, Carolyn Fjeran

September 2, 2017 Are you ready to come by here? Draped in Spanish moss and surrounded by sawgrass marshes and acres of farmland, St. Helena Island holds much of its beauty in its rich Gullah culture. Gullah Geechee culture carries language and traditions from West Africa dating back to the 1700s. The distinction between Gullah and Geechee is location: Gullah identifies the islanders from South Carolina and Geechee, from the Sea Islands of Georgia. The Penn Center on St. Helena Island helps preserve the Gullah Geechee history and traditions. The center, which was founded in 1862, was the first school in the South for newly freed men and women. It later served as the only location in South Carolina where interracial groups could come together during the Civil Rights Movement.  http://www.sciway.net/afam/penn.html Although limited in locale to the southeastern coast, the Gullah Geechee influence is far reaching. Martin Luther King, Jr. met at the Penn Center with other thought leader...

August 31, 2017 Don't be fooled by the common name. Basketgrass is a forest grass that has no relation to the lovely baskets created in the Gullah-Geechee tradition. Sweetgrass is used to weave the beautiful baskets found in the Lowcountry. Basketgrass (Microstegium vimenium ) originated in Asia and invades our native areas. If you see Microstegium growing in your garden, remove it as soon as possible. There are no redeeming reasons to allow it to take over, and it will if left unchecked. Wal ter Reeves provides recommendations for control.  http://www.walterreeves.com/…/microstegium-basketgrass-sti…/ What about sweetgrass? You'll enjoy it best post production. ~ LowTide explorer, Carolyn Fjeran

August 27, 2017 Under the influence. Is that a bad thing? Under the influence can be good, depending on the source. Last night, I attended an awards dinner, in which individuals who have influenced the field of child welfare were recognized. The dinner was hosted by a nonprofit and came with a silent auction and the usual fundraising activities that keep the wheels turning. For me, the highlight of the evening was an impromptu story shared about one of the award recipients. Erica relayed a story from the director of a nonprofit agency who recalled a Christmas Eve many years ago. Child welfare providers were called together for an urgent meeting and Ron, one of last night's award recipients, noticed the director seemed to be carrying a heavy burden. He asked about it, and yes, she told him she had a homeless mother with four children housed in their office. The director was at a loss. What would Christmas be for this family without a home, sheltered in an office? Ron, said, "I ...

August 26, 2017 Do you enjoy the sound of a lawn mower? I hear my 'lawn guy' in the backyard this morning and realize I like the hum and whirr of the mower--it reminds me of summer days, especially summer days of childhood. Summer break from school was longer when I was growing up. We didn't return to school until after Labor Day. In the Midwest when lawn mowers fell silent, it signaled the end of summer. Back in the day, dads, granddads, and uncles were pushing the mowers. Pushing, not ridin g. I remember my grandfather's powerless push mower. Summer and family--that's what I'm talking about. I've taken my turn behind the mower. It's not a bad thing mindlessly strolling about the landscape with instant gratification from a job well done. And the smell of fresh cut grass! "When I go into my garden with a spade and dig a bed, I feel such an exhilaration and health that I discover that I have been defrauding myself all this time in letting others do f...