Inklings

I’ve always liked older women. Good thing, especially now that I “are one!” As a young girl my favorite author was Agatha Christie and her purported favorite detective Jane Marple was my special delight. Miss Marple, who was born at ...  full story

I am continually delighted at where I find delectable recipes. They’ve come from dinner parties, of course, at poolside, on a trip, in the grocery store and once, thank you Lord, in church. Recently I got one while having my nails done in an en ...  full story

I’ve had charm bracelets for 60 years, and loved them all. My late mother had them as does my sister Cynthia. Each charm is more than adornment; each is a story about us – where we went, what we did, what we like – who we are. Curio ...  full story

It’s not every day you can take a personal treasure and find out locally what it’s worth. That’s just the opportunity provided by the Arts, Business and Civic Coalition’s (ABCC) upcoming Critique My Antique event. It will be h ...  full story

Prologue: After extensive searching, I finally found what I hoped was a good gift for two of my favorite people. I bought it, had it gift wrapped and with a pile of other packages took them all home. When I arrived, that special gift was missing. Aft ...  full story

           Dateline: Summerville. South Carolina, Friday, December 17, 1847. There’s a quiet buzz in this tiny village, a week and a day before Christmas. It’s the holidays and celebration ...  full story

During my lifetime (which admittedly goes way back) it used to be the tradition to put up the Christmas tree on December 24. This way we were poised to celebrate December 25th’s Blessed Event for the next 12 days, ending January 6. On that day ...  full story

It was the last day of November in 1993 when the phone call came. I was in my Town Hall office and THE message rang out over the line loud and clear: I’d just been promoted to grandma! Naturally I handled this missive in a mature and befitting ...  full story

One of my earliest memories is hearing dad tell mom that I was certainly a “volubly verbal” young lady. I was so thrilled! What a nice thing to say, I thought, preening. And I loved the sound of those words and the way they rolled off his ...  full story

When our American flag is raised during Friday night Green Wave home games, you can always spot a tear in my eye. It’s not just the patriotism of the moment. It’s the patriotism of the man standing next to me and who’s been there fo ...  full story

Shortly after decanting from a cab when arriving at my all-girl college, I was unpacking in the freshman dorm with my newly acquired roommate, Anne. She was from the area and already knew the campus. I had ploughed my way through a steamer trunk and ...  full story

          There’s a new opportunity to have your photographic work judged and hung in Summerville Town Hall. The Cultural Arts Alliance of Greater Summerville (CAA) is mounting its second Fine Art Ju ...  full story

I’ve often wondered if Adam and Eve ever took separate vacations. Even if you live in paradise, you might enjoy the occasional change of scenery. Or maybe, after Eden’s First Couple and family increased and multiplied for a generation or ...  full story

So there I was sitting at the kitchen counter with a cup of tea at the ready, staring at a grocery list. Pen poised, I asked my husband what he would like me to have for him at the house while I was gone for the weekend. Quick as a flash he countered ...  full story

Front porches on houses are like eyes on faces: they preview what’s inside. Porches also define family living styles. This was brought home to me again last Sunday during the Scrumptious Kitchen Tour benefiting Children in Crisis, the Dorcheste ...  full story

Is there anything better than family recipes? Not according to Sandy and Jim Hamilton. And not according to me when Sandy described a couple of Hamilton culinary gems that have spanned three generations. My mouth has been watering ever since she firs ...  full story

I’ve recently been introduced to G.R.I.T.S – Girls Raised In The South. I bonded with this organization – created by Deborah Ford – because that’s what I am, a G.R.I.T.S, not a G.B.I.T.S – Girl Born In The South. I ...  full story

One sure way to get a good recipe is to ask a good cook. Thus I spoke to Joanna Mendrzycki, whose culinary fare I’ve been fortunate enough to sample. “What are some of your favorites,” I queried, “things that you fix often and ...  full story

Our kids give the most insightful gifts. They seem to zero in on what would be “just right” for us. They did not, alas, get this trait from me. I occasionally come across a “find” or get an inspiration. Mostly I bump along and ...  full story

There was much excitement in the Hill Household last month as our oldest grandson Jimmy arrived – along with 10,000 other anticipants – to audition for American Idol. Jimmy has played many instruments and sung for a decade and now writes ...  full story

I’ve always believed that whenever you ask “please” you remember to say “thank you.” This is most appropriate for the recent Quilt Show at Town Hall put on by the Cultural Arts Alliance (CAA) of Greater Summerville. Thi ...  full story

Most of us think of Christmas as our biggest gifting season. We make much merry then. For the Hill Clan the second most rejoicing we do is during the summer. Between the beginning of June and the end of August we have 11 family celebrations over four ...  full story

The other evening some friends got talking about kids and their sincerity in gift giving. And what better fit for this scenario than a little boy getting his mom (what he believed was) her heart’s desire? Thus I told once more, the story of Dav ...  full story

Fine art comes in many forms, even as basic as one stitch at a time. Some say stitching quilts began in ancient Egypt – and it’s as popular today – and right here in the Summerville area where we have a nationally recognized shop, P ...  full story

Authors often use genuine life circumstances and sometimes incorporate bona fide names in their works of fiction. Some situation or some person strikes a spark and real life fits neatly into narrative. Thus Summervillian Cathryn Mahon (pronounced &ld ...  full story

• Santee Cooper announces 2012 refunding bond sale
• Santee Cooper announces organizational changes in operation and finance departments
• Santee Cooper employees pitch in on Day of Caring
• Aerial herbicide treatment on lakes under way
• Santee Cooper Board Authorizes Rate Study
• Santee Cooper announces refunding bond sale
• Santee Cooper, Florida Municipal Power Agency enter into letter of intent for share of planned V.C. Summer Station units
• Santee Cooper, Duke Energy Carolinas enter into letter of intent for share of planned V.C. Summer Station units 2 and 3

For entertainment, I mainly go out in...