Another Fowler Dining Room Experience

Well, we enjoyed another wonderful dining experience at the Fowler Dining Room of the Horry Technical College Culinary School yesterday.  I think this complete meal was one of the best I have had since we started to attend these lunches last year.



Spring Roll

 

New England Clam Chowder

 

Boston Bibb with Tomatoes & Peppers
with Crushed Walnuts in a Sweet & Sour Vinaigrette

 

Breast of Chicken with Tomato, Onion & Basil Sauce
served with Crusted Pear-shaped Potato and Green Beans

 

Tournedoes Duxelle (beef) with Choron Sauce
served with Crusted Pear-shaped Potato and Green Beans

 

Strawberry Shortcake with Raspberry Coulis

 

A table of Canadians with happy faces and full tummies.
It was an excellent dining experience, with friends.
(LtoR: Cal, Cathy, Paul, Me, Jackie and John)

 

 

Eastern Bluebirds, and More

It must be Spring, the Robins have arrived.  It has been a great week for bird watching, especially the Eastern Bluebirds, which are a treat for us as we do not get to see them at home.



A couple of Robins on the beach walkway

 

Eastern Bluebirds

 

My favourite photo of the week - the timing was just right!

 

This little bird was camera shy

 

Another little Bluebird

 

This is a Yellow-rumped Warbler

 

 

Look way up, and you will see this bird at the top of the Palm Tree
(cute, but no name)

 

Another couple of birds hiding in the Palm Trees
(I think they were Bluebirds)


 

 

Treasures from the Beach

Scallop shells are my favourite to collect, especially the red coloured ones

 

Even a piece of seaglass today

 

I was so happy to find this sea urchin as they are a different colour than the ones we find at home. 
 
Well,  when I got it back to the condo and started to clean out, what I thought was sand inside, I realized that there was a small live crab trapped inside.  Being a lover of the ocean and nature, I decided to bring the crab back to the beach, but fearful that it would fall prey to the shorebirds.  I tried to free it without breaking the urchin, but I had no luck.  After carefully cracking the shell with a pair of kitchen scissors, I put the sea urchin in a plastic bag and set out for the beach.

As soon as I stepped onto the sand, the seagulls swarmed me.  How did they know I was carrying something they might eat?  I had to scare them away and walk quite a ways north down the beach before I could find a small wet spot to free the crab.

As I walked away I saw a seagull walk toward the area where I released the little crab, but I did not look back as I wanted to think that the little crab was safe. 

Mission accomplished...

 

 

Heron on our Beach

 

 

 

 

Birthday Celebrations

February 17 was Paul's birthday, and we celebrated again this year at Surfside Beach.  His day started a little cooler than expected with a dusting of snow!  Yes, here is our condo window in our hallway.

Created by the west wind and lasting flurries

 

The start of his birthday on the deck with his newspaper

 

Next, a little beachcombing looking for sharks teeth

 

We enjoyed a great meal at the Rioz Brazilian Steakhouse with friends -
an once-a-year experience as there is so much food to try
(LtoR: Maddy, Don, Irm, Me, Paul and Bill)

 

A birthday treat compliments of Rioz

 

The Birthday guy's tummy was too full to eat more than the words
"Happy Birthday" so we took his treat home

 

More cake

 

We served Birthday cake and coffee at our condo for friends
(only one candle on Paul's cake as we did not want to start a fire
with the other 60!)

 

 

Shells & Seaglass from New Brunswick

 

 

Paul and I are members of the Grand Strand Shell Club here in Myrtle Beach.  Each year in February, the Club holds an auction to raise money for the Club and the members bring along items to auction off among themselves.  We decided to bring some shells and seaglass from our area of New Brunswick.  I wasn't sure if anyone would be interested in bidding on these items but I took a chance.  Well, surprising to us, the three baskets of shells and the four small bottles of seaglass raised more than $25. 

Not that Paul and I need an excuse to go beachcombing, but we will now have to go looking for more treasures to bring along for next year.
  

 

 

 

 

 

Seaglass

 

Paul helped out with the auction procedures this year

Come on folks, do I hear a higher bid?

 

Paul and I have been "snowbird" members of the Grand Strand Shell Club for four years now, and we have enjoyed the shell trips.  It's a great way to get to know the area and meet the local people.

 

 

 



 

 

South Strand Chapter of AAAA

 

 

Last week Paul and I attended our second Monthly Meeting of the South Strand Chapter of American Antique Arts Association here in Surfside Beach, S.C. and became "snowbird" members.  We thought it would be an interesting way to learn more of the history of the area, and the United States in general.

The meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month in the Meeting Room of the Tupelo Bay Golf Club.


 

The speaker this month was our friend, Don Cate.  His presentation was on the Evolution of Pottery South of the Mason/Dixon Line.  Don is a member of the Southern Pottery Collector's Society and he has been collecting southern pottery for over 30 years.  He discussed the origins of pottery in the South, starting with Edgefield, SC and tracing its development from functional to decorative and collectible.  He covered activity and potters in South and North Carolina, as well as Virginia and Alabama.

Items that Don brought from his collection

  

Don and his collection

 

A couple of pieces that I liked

 

This item is used to determine the kiln temperature.
The pieces melt as the kiln heat increases

 

 

 

Paul's favourite piece

 

Members admiring the pottery on display

  

A view of the practice green from the Meeting Room

 

I captured this interesting "golfer" on the green!
It is a White Ibis

Paul and I found the presentation on the pottery most interesting. We certainly learned some history of many of the potters, their movement through the country and identification markings of their work.

 

It is always nice to learn about new things.

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Valentine's Day