Author Archives: mlwilkie

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About mlwilkie

Software Developer, Mother, Wife with keen interest in art, design and crafts of all kinds.

Tips + Boone Hall Plantation, Mt Pleasant, South Carolina (Part 1)

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Charleston has been amazing so far. We had a great day today, discovering must go places…two of the food/beverage places were kind of ordinary from the outside but phenomenal food/coffee and service.

  • Sunrise Bistro – about the only breakfast place on Johns Island. The service was warm and friendly. Food was delivered to the table in a timely manner, and it was correct. The coffee was amazing, I had roasted coffee with taste of pecans…mouth watering even now when I think about it. We all enjoyed our meals of kids french toast, a breakfast sampler (ham, eggs, potatoes, french toast) + Smoked Salmon Bagel. Price was very reasonable – under $25. http://www.sunrise-bistro.com/
  • Southern Brews Coffee – a drive thru coffee stop. We arrived at 4:15pm, but unfortunately it closed at 4pm. You won’t believe this but the manager came to the drive thru window and still served us as we were visiting. I got an Iced Nobel Prize Latte (which is english toffee and vanilla flavored) and the hubby got a Strawberry Banana Smoothie. It was delectable, I might have to go back tomorrow and try one of their Blended drinks with the cream on top 🙂  http://www.southernbrewscoffee.com/
  • Oh and that coffee I liked at Sunrise Bistro was by King Bean Coffee Roasters based in Charleston. They are selling the beans at Whole Foods in Columbia and Mt Pleasant only. They did not have the Southern Pecan Flavor but I did pick up a Brazilian (Decaf), Plantation and Columbia.

The main part of today, we spent at Boone Hall Plantation, Mount Pleasant. I would again definitely recommend it, there was so much to do….a coach tour round the plantation, cafe with homemade ice cream, house tour, and slave quarters with a history of slavery and freedom. My favorite parts were the longest avenue of oaks, and the gardens.

Below are photo’s of the natural surroundings of Boone Hall Plantation. I am splitting my photos across two posts. The next post will be of Boone Hall’s buildings and structures on the property. Enjoy!!

Avenue of OaksBooneHallPlantation_OakAvenue

Amazing foliage BooneHallPlantation_Plant

Tidal salt marshBooneHallPlantation_SaltMarsh2

Fresh water lake (with alligators)BooneHallPlantation_FreshWater

House gardensBooneHallPlantation_Gardens1

 

 

WiP Wednesday…Catch-up Wednesday

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I have so many projects that I have not got to recently, and I have been feeling so behind. Today, I feel like I have made some in roads to clearing that backlog. Yippee!!!

Project 1: Triple Zipper Pouch Swap
First off, I am part of the Triple Zipper Pouch Swap going on over on Flickr, here. Posting of the Triple Zipper Pocket is due on the August 17th and it has taken me forever to get started. I finally have all the pieces cut and ready for sewing.

Fabric Choices:

  • Lining: Straw hat blue, Cloud 9 (purchased from Joann)
  • Small pocket front: Flirty Flowers Tonal Dots in Pink, Robin Zingone, Robert Kaufman (purchased from Fresh Modern Fabric)
  • Small pocket front: Crosshatch in Plum, Architextures, Carolyn Friedlander, Robert Kaufman (purchased from Westwood Acres)
  • Back + large front pocket: Hexo in Kryptonite, Technicolor, Emily Herrick, Michael Miller (purchased from Fat Quarter Shop)
  • Zippers (purchased from Zipit)

TripleZipper_WiP_Swap

Project 2: Kiwi Cushion/Pillow
I have promised for at least the last two months one of my blogger friends a kiwi cushion in reds and browns. The kiwi (a NZ native bird) is a paper piecing pattern designed by Juliet @ Tartan Kiwi. Her free pattern is now on Craftsy. The pillow front will look similar to this one, except I am using these red and brown improv blocks. The red block for the body and the brown for the legs and beak.

Kiwi_RedScrappyBlock Kiwi_BrownScrappyBlock

Project 3: Tula City Sampler – Blocks 1, 2, 3
So, I have started the Tula City Sampler Blocks Quilt Along…well the first three are cut. Boy, I did not realize what 6 1/2 inch blocks would mean….the pieces are tiny.

Fabric Choices:

This fabric line spoke volumes to me when I saw it. Normally, I am not a flower kind of person but the colors and design are fabulous. Perfect, in my opinion, for the Tula City Sampler project.

Block 1:
TulaCitySampler_Block1_Pieces

Block 2:
TulaCitySampler_Block2_Pieces

Block 3:
TulaCitySampler_Block3_Pieces

They are my current WiP’s I am catching up on while on vacation. I am linking up with Lee @ Freshly Pieced for WiP Wednesday.

Heavenly French Toast

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Of course, while on vacation, we have more time to do things like make french toast for breakfast, go sight-seeing and hopefully get some reading and sewing in. For some reason though, I am falling behind in my replies to comments but I plan (and promise) to catch-up tonight. Maybe I am falling behind due to that craving of French toast???

FrenchToast_Breakfast

 

Ingredients

  • 2 eggs
  • 2 Tbsp milk
  • 4-6 slices of toast bread
  • butter
  • 2-4 Tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon

Lightly beat the eggs and milk together (I use a fork or a whisk). Pour mixture into a flat square/rectangle dish. Place the bread in the dish, leave each side for a few seconds (no more than a minute) to evenly coat the bread and let it soak in. Turn the bread over with a fork and coat the second side. The bread should soak up most of the egg mixture.

Mix the sugar and cinnamon together in a bowl. Sprinkle some of the sugar mix onto a plate. Carefully take a slice of bread out of the egg mixture and place on the sugar mix to coat. Repeat with second side.

Place about a 1/2 tsp butter in a warmed skillet. Spread the butter to evenly coat the skillet. Place the coated bread in the skillet, once browned and sugar is starting to caramelized use a fork to turn the bread to caramelize the other side.

Repeat with all slices of bread. Serve immediately with maple syrup or whipped cream or a fruit compote (blueberries or raspberries works well). I also like to add caramelized banana’s on top with a Tbsp of maple syrup.

Charleston_OldSouthCarriage

We have also been sight-seeing in downtown Charleston, as mentioned yesterday. Above is the Old South Carriage Company we used yesterday for the tour around Charleston. Below, is an amazing little Inn, close to the old market city – I just love that mustard color exterior. Charleston_Inn

Unique architecture can be found all over Charleston, but the most common characteristic is the Single House, a style from the English row houses…look at the privacy door. It is just a door to the Piazzas (veranda’s). They are so quaint and definitely contribute to the historic nature of the Charleston.Charleston_SingleRowHouse

Then of course there are the mansions which have been used in all kind of period films and now selling for $4 million USD on average.Charleston_Mansion Charleston_Mansion2 Charleston_Gates

We couldn’t believe the number of churches – Catholic, Lutheran, Jewish, Unitarian….and moreCharleston_Church

So that is what we do when we have that extra time….what things do you take time doing while on vacation??