Saturday, February 7, 2009

Downtown Splendor

Warm temperatures beneath beautiful blue skies made for a wonderful day downtown.

Palm trees tower over the streetscape.

Red flowers grace a display of vintage bottles salvaged from the bottom of the river in an antique store window.

An old iron gate opens to one of the oldest churches in town, c. 1724.

This church steeple has stood guard over the church yard for almost 200 years.

Red tips color the entrance to another historic church.

The red tips really stand out against the blue backdrop of the afternoon sky.

Camellias continue to bloom.

A favorite haunt of mine downtown-a bookstore specializing in antique books.

Leather bound classics.

Hundreds of antique books line the shelves and make for hours of brousing.

Red glass yard stakes crowned with a fleur-de-lis add a touch of elegance to the garden.

Returning home from a glorious day in town, a freshly power-washed picket fence reminds me that next weekend I will be painting:)

17 comments:

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

What gorgeous images. You take beautiful photos and thank you for visiting me! Have a blessed weekend! Anita

Draffin Bears said...

Beautiful photos and I enjoyed seeing your Downtown and all its splendor.
I especially loved the white and red, always such a lovely combination.
Also the iron gates and the Antique books. Just the thought of the smell of the Antique books, is always nice.

Enjoy your weekend

Hugs
Carolyn

Karen ~ Cider Antiques said...

Lovely photos! What a beautiful downtown you have. That book store looks amazing. I could happily spend hours in there :)

Karen

Unknown said...

What a lovely place to visit! Thanks for "taking" me into town with you! :)

The Sweetbrier Cottage said...

Lovely pictures as usual. Enjoy the warm weather.

lorhen82 said...

Great photos! The church is beautiful, and the bookstore looks divine! ~Lori

Sea Angels said...

Is it really that warm....it is so very exotic so colourful...I am always amazed at the stunning world we live in, thankyou so much for taking the trouble to photograph it all...I might have lived and died without even knowing how beautiful your area is....I love the powdery picket fence love it.
Have a beautiful week.
Hugs Lynn xx

Jodie (everything vintage) said...

Kim...could you please stop by my blog soon??????
:)

Susan McShannon-Monteith said...

Tis not fair to show palm trees and blooming flowers to those of us in the north still blanketed in heavy snow... second thought it does help to warm the soul.
Perhaps you can pull a Tom Sawyer with your picket fence and entice passersby to pick up a paintbrush and help...
xo Susan

sepiadreams said...

Thank you for visiting my blog. It gave me the chance to meet you through yours. Love your photos and find them inspiring. I have a new friend...Talk to you later...Tiina...

Creations by Marie Antoinette and Edie Marie said...

What a wonderful sweet blog you have,Happy Valentine's Day Sweetie, XXOO Marie Antionette

Celestina Marie said...

What a beautiful inspiration of pictures. I so enjoyed my visit to your lovely blog.
So nice to meet you and thank you for your visit to my blog today and your kind comment.
Hope to see you again.
Blessings, Celestina Marie

Bumpkin Hill said...

how amazing to see palm trees when I've been jumping through the snow back home in England! I love old books and that store looks wonderful. I could loose myself for hours I'm sure. Thanks for your kind words about my latest illustration :) Hugs to you and Hamish, Catherine x

Kathi~Lavender, Lace and Thyme said...

What wonderful pictures you've shared, you are certainly in the south somewhere....You've given me spring fever with your precious pictures :)

Thank you for stopping by while I was ill, your thoughts and prayers mean so much to me.

Have a wonderful day,
Hugs,
Kathi :)

The Pink Birdhouse said...

Such beautiful pictures of your area. I LOVE seeing photos of areas that I have never been, makes me feel as if I have traveled there myself! Believe it or not, I loved the picture of the vintage bottles filled with the red roses, and for a specific reason. My aunts in IL used to collect bottles, and one aunt had an entire extra room built onto her house just to keep her wonderful old bottles in! I can still remember visiting IL in the summer months and getting to go hunting for bottles everywhere, and oh the joy of finding one! I have been fascinated with vintage bottles ever since! By the way, I have checked out your other blog, A Dickens of A bookclub, and I just love it. I may not be able to read all the books that are suggested, but I will check in once in a while and see what comments are given. I love the picture of Jane Austen and Elizabeth Gaskell on the blog! Two of my favorites!! What a lovely wonderful idea, to start a Book Club Blog!, Debby

Paula said...

I wandered upon your blog today after visiting "A Dickens of a Book Club," and I just love it. Beautiful photographs, posts and words. I look forward to exploring all corners of this lovely place, and I'll be back to visit again!

Paula
http://paulasserendipity.blogspot.com

The Pink Birdhouse said...

Such beautiful pictures of your area. I LOVE seeing photos of areas that I have never been, makes me feel as if I have traveled there myself! Believe it or not, I loved the picture of the vintage bottles filled with the red roses, and for a specific reason. My aunts in IL used to collect bottles, and one aunt had an entire extra room built onto her house just to keep her wonderful old bottles in! I can still remember visiting IL in the summer months and getting to go hunting for bottles everywhere, and oh the joy of finding one! I have been fascinated with vintage bottles ever since! By the way, I have checked out your other blog, A Dickens of A bookclub, and I just love it. I may not be able to read all the books that are suggested, but I will check in once in a while and see what comments are given. I love the picture of Jane Austen and Elizabeth Gaskell on the blog! Two of my favorites!! What a lovely wonderful idea, to start a Book Club Blog!, Debby