Vacation to South Carolina and more

A few weeks ago we set out for what would turn into an unforgettable "Babymoon" vacation. We decided to visit a couple major cities in South Carolina as well as a day trip to Georgia. Our trip was fleeting but we managed to pack a whole lot of tourism into every day. Here's how it went:

Our home for three nights was Hilton Head, SC where we enjoyed lovely beaches that were not overcrowded. Strangely enough we only really had one poolside day and one sunset walk on the beach.

Our first day started early with a serene dubstep alarm. We set off for Savannah, Georgia. We arrived mid-morning and immediately boarded a trolley tour that taxied us around downtown with something like 15 stops including Paula Deen's famous restaurant. The trolley left us at a waterfront shopping district where we decided to stop and check out some of the local fare. We had a great pier-front lunch complete with crawfish and marmalade beignets.

Savannah was full of really cool architecture, restaurants, parks and boutiques including the one that Alexia is standing in with the hat on. That shop had a woman sitting in a window with a typewriter and her job was to just sit there and write out poetry or whatever inspired her... we miss this sort of thing only seen in larger cities. The city is dotted with parks and seems to be a point of pride and focus for the people of Savannah along with the very Southern live oaks and Spanish moss (which is neither Spanish nor moss as we found out).

A short(ish) drive back to Hilton Head to rest for the night. We woke up and went to The Skillet for breakfast as was our new tradition. For our second day trip we went to Beufort, South Carolina. We took a horse and buggy tour through a town full of breathtaking mansions and surreal live oaks. This town is home to many movie sets and full of inspiration.

The horse that pulled us sluggishly through the streets of Beaufort is named Merlin and we are told that he has been in countless movies including the latest Pirates of the Caribbean. Strangely enough I can't imagine this horse going any faster than 5mph but who am I to argue. A quick lunch at a local favorite eatery and some shopping concluded our visit to Beufort. This town is recommended to anyone interested in seeing the historic South. This was our last night in Hilton Head as we headed North to Charleston, SC. On our way home we happened upon a totally creepy burned down church in the absolute middle of nowhere. This place had a very creepy feeling about it and so I was obviously all about it:

We found a great little restaurant that night (also in the middle of nowhere). Quite an unassuming little place until I saw a Porsche Panamara S parked in the lot.... yikes. I had grilled fresh Wahu and alexia had probably the best fried chicken she'll have for a long time. We filled up and went back to Hilton Head for our last night before heading back North (or so we thought). The next morning we woke up and headed for Charleston, SC as planned. We arrived and decided to take a self-guided tour walking miles through the historic district which proved to offer infinite photo-ops.

It was very difficult to leave... and so we didnt't. We stayed an extra night and about 12 calls later we were able to get a last minute room at King Charles IV B/B in the heart of Charleston's shopping district. This place was awesome and is definitely recommended. I was lucky enough to have to carry our suitcases up 4 flights of stairs.

As we concluded our trip I wanted to make sure and get some photos of Alexia as her stomach is ever-growing and we are getting more and more excited about Ben's debut.

A late night dessert and the next morning's breakfast started our trip to Boone Hall Plantation which is just outside of Charleston. This plantation is the oldest working plantation in the US and is really a marvel to stand in front of. The drive up is breathtaking and is the plantation's claim to fame; "The Avenue of Oaks."

All in all we had an amazing time. The South and the Low Country cuisine are things to experience in person and with plenty of time. Lex and I were lucky enough to be able to spend five slow days living the life. We hope you all enjoyed this photo tour of our vacation and are excited to keep you all updated as news comes.

A 600 year old tree!!

The Latest At 265

Green (ness):

Alexia, her cousin Kevin, aunt Wendy and I have taken a 6x10 foot plot of our yard out and turned it into this season's garden plot. Enclosed in a repurposed (huge) chain-link dog enclosure, we tilled, fertilized and sewed. Alexia decided to plant cucumbers, snap peas, summer squash and green lettuce. I put my jalapeno plant in the ground outside of the cage so that it wouldn't get taken over by the vines of all of the other plants. We plan to add tomatoes later this week and plant some herbs as well. Somehow, the weather has decided to take a turn for the worst and 33F weather isn't too conducive to getting psyched about going outside. Last on the green list, we bought a crepe myrtle which will grow outside of Ben's window!

On life:

Lex and I are experiencing "empty nest syndrome" as her mother moved out about a week and a half ago. Oh wait, she just went across the street LOL. I thought she was joking when she said she was going to hire a moving company... she wasn't. The two guys left much to be desired in the realm of movers and I am still moving boxes to her house as we speak. Her house is very nice with a generous deck and spacious rooms. Her new abode sports a very Southern porch (ceiling fan and rocker included). Funny enough, we can see that porch and deck from our kitchen windows. On that subject, Alexia and I have decided to put new windows in This Olde House... not to worry, there are only 32. I have decided that hiring someone to do them would take unnecessary stress off of our shoulders (and I've never done it :D).

On Ben's progress:

We can feel the baby kicking almost at any point these days. Hard to believe that Lex is 23 weeks along now. As those of you who follow my blog know, we have long since started decorating the baby room. As of late I have taken on the task of removing the glue from all of the wallpaper which has proven to be a task. A word to the wise- despite all of the home remedies, tips and tricks and secrets out there... soap and hot water with a sturdy sponge some elbow grease and a paint scraper is all you will need to successfully tackle tacking glue. Next I plan to repair cracks and then we will paint. Alexia has decided on a Beatrix Potter theme and has hired an Etsy.com lady to do some custom work. We are very excited and quickly seem to be running out of time!!

I have to go now as we are having guests over for Alexia's amazing shwarma and tzatziki. As always, thanks for reading! I'll check in again soon.

M

PS: Any guesses on what the picture at the top of the post is?

Listening to:

Buena Vista Social Club ft. Ibrahim Ferrer: "Compositor Confudido"

Tego Calderon: "Cosa Buena"

Fabri Fibra: "In Italia"

Thievery Corporation: "Until The Morning"

Weezer: "Say It Ain't So"

Drinking:

Traditional Hendrick's and Tonic

DIY seed starter! For the greenthumb in all of us.

Just a quick post to show how to incubate almost any seed... I grew cactus and jalapenos this way and was actually successful at growing to plants. Photos to come.

I get a medium sized Ball jar. These usually come in 3 useful components:

1. Jar

2. Flat metal part of lid

3. Round metal ring around mouth of jar

So here's what you do. I usually take a dremel tool and drill about 8 holes in the flat part of the lid. Do this then set it aside. Holes should be about as big as if you punched through them with a nail (don't really think it matters much).

Next take your jar and fill it about 1/2 full with Miracle Grow or your favorite fertilizer. Fill the jar with about halfway up the substrate with water (kinda soggy).

Next take about 5 cactus seeds which may be difficult to find depending on your area. I actually bought mine at a Home Depot so who knows... Take your finger and push down into the substrate to make about a 1/4 inch hole. Next drop your seeds in but make sure to give them ample space to grow apart from each other.

Next cover the seeds do not push substrate down onto them :) Just fill the holes.

Put your lids back on and the holes in the flat lid will aerate the plants sufficiently. You should put this jar on your favorite window sill and let sit for a while (long while). I haven't thought of a way to speed the process up. This incubator loves the sunshine.

The way I found out that this worked was a)Trying it and b) Forgetting about it. I actually thought that it didn't work until I went to throw the jars out one day. Defeated I looked in one last time and to my amazement I had 3 little Cacti growing!!! To date they are thriving in my kitchen. Love them. Only two made the cut but hey 2:5 I'll take it.

A few rules:

1) Only "water" the jar when you see it is getting REALLY dry or you will mold your seeds. Your jar will get really gross and your significant other will all but force you to throw the jar out.... Don't do it!!! Some green on the sides is normal. Slime is not.

2) Do check on your sprouts about once a week (a watched pot... LOL)

3. Once you see sprouts they will look VERY hardy as succulents do. I would say wait until they are about a 1/2 inch before attempting any reconnaissance missions aka replanting. Mine did not go into shock when replanted.

4. Don't overwater your cactus once they are getting older.. it's funny b/c you will see them kinda rise and fall depending on how much you give them (think desert). You don't want them to prune up though... hard to bring them back.

Hope you guys enjoyed this. Let me know what you decide to grow. Basil and other herbs are really easy to start.

Official 5 Month Photo Op

After a rare Saturday together, Alexia and I decided to run out and take a few photos just before sunset. She was exhausted but eventually humored me and caved. A couple quick notes: Those are not our daffodils LOL they belong to the neighbors who weren't home. Alexia was afraid that they were watching us through the windows so I was only able to get these two. Also, the trees don't belong to us either... they are at the park in our neighborhood. We would have included the dog in a couple of these photos but he doesn't play well with strangers. Lastly, you won't see me in any of these pictures because I just worked two consecutive night shifts so I look like a lazy zombie with a bad attitude. Hope you all enjoy the photos!

A Ben In The Oven

Lex and I went outside today and took a couple of pictures in the front yard to accentuate her new belly :) We haven't really gotten the chance to do an all out photo shoot but due to familial pressures (threats) we have decided to do some documentation. Alexia has felt pretty well so far without any major difficulties. She describes her pregnancy as "average" so far. As for strange cravings, Lex hasn't had any. Honestly, I was hoping she would crave dirt or something so I could have some solid ammunition later on. Our last appointment at the women's clinic yielded promising news that the pregnancy is progressing as planned and on schedule which is always a good thing. We will be sure to update everyone as we get news... For the moment it's a waiting game and we have a whole lot of work to do on the baby room. Little Ben is about four and a half months away from his debut. We can't wait and are very excited. Stay tuned.

Missing Summer

The forecast here in Greenville, North Carolina says that the high for today will be 82f. Not bad, however, I just went outside and it isn't there yet. Having grown up in a small town (at least it used to be) in California, I am used to sweltering heat. I can remember days that would reach 113f! But the heat was dry so any amount of shade would quell the blistering heat. Our first summer out here was definitely a shock especially given the fact that we moved here from Boston, Massachusetts. I can't say that we were necessarily ready for the humidity that we encountered upon moving down here. The humidity index likes to hang out at around 95% for a few weeks before it finally takes pity on us all and lets go in sheets of torrential downpour. Not that I don't like monsoons LOL. All in all it is a great place to spend a summer. Personally I could live in the heat 100% of the year and be happy. I do enjoy small (controlled) exposure to snow and ice, however, it is rarely something that I seek out for enjoyment. I was never any good at snowboarding or building snowmen. During the summer here you can find me, Lex and Chorizo at Indian beach, Nags Head, Manteo and anywhere in between. The sand in NC is not gritty like it is up North and the environment seems to be less commercialized than out West. Wouldn't be a bad place to retire. I've yet to surf out here but the water can be a little crazy out near Buxton and Rodanthe. We visited our friend's parents' house out there last year and learned quickly that riptides and jellyfish are an ever-present danger. Nonetheless, we will continue to make our homage to the coast as we do every year and stop at our favorite places along the way. Until then, we will be weathering the rest of the cold and looking forward to a very exciting summer.

__________________________

While I was typing I listened to:

Bachelors Of Science- Song For Lovers

Ben Sage- Geisha

Ben Sage & Savvy- Sleepless (VIP)

It's A Boy!!!!

I really don't know why I had such a hard time coming up with the title of this post LOL. Alexia and I went for our second and last ultrasound today with the goal of determining the sex of our chalupa. The beginning of the appointment was pretty standard with questions galore and a little lube to get everyone in the mood. The ultrasound technician dimmed the lights and we were able to see the first signs of life- namely all the chambers of a heart! Pretty cool and of course I had a million geeky questions to ask. We were able to see ribs, a femur, lots of cranial shots and a very defined spinal column. We were both getting pretty anxious about finding out the sex of the baby and we were assured that we would know in "no time." We saw the baby shadow boxing and what looked like a mean left hook. This was our first indication. The second ultrasound technician came in and took the helm and was quick to verify Alexia's assertions. A boy!! We were both relieved to hear that things are progressing well and that we are on schedule for everything. Below are some pictures that probably won't make much sense, but luckily the important ones are labeled.

Hope you guys enjoyed the photos. You kinda have to use your imagination for some of these but the details are there. To those of you hoping for a girl (maybe next time) for those of you hoping for a boy... you were right!!! It's an exciting time. Lots of aunts and uncles out there.