DEBBI'S FRONT PORCH

I awoke today to the bright promise of a March Monday, and to the most charming note from a fellow blogger and friend---Debbi of the oh-so-inviting 

DEBBI’S FRONT PORCH in Charleston.   I’ve been a follower and avid fan of her sojourns around that beautiful city for quite some time now, with its graceful, colourful houses and the charm of centuries.   I’ve even marked “RESTORING CHARLESTON” on my TV schedule, and enjoy seeing the former beauty reclaimed through careful, nurturing restoration of  those proud, timeless homes and buildings.

From some of her many meanderings:

Her comment was in response to last week’s post on Nesting, and I always find it so rewarding and flattering to have someone find their own experiences and bits of their life history echoed in my own.   Hers was a sweet reminiscence of her family’s history, enjoyed every day through the collections of photos and albums and “bits and bobs” of the past saved and stored through the years by her own ancestors in their own hard-earned and carefully-kept nests.

From her comment on the Nesting Post:

"Oh I just love this post!

and I am definitely of this group---"THE PILES OF MAGPIE GLEANINGS" ha ha ha LOL

Trinkets, sparklies, junque, collections of many types and colors and sizes---pictures---so many pictures that tell of our family and our history and our own personal story. The old albums, the thick and heavy "scrapbooks" that became so popular back about twenty years ago and made "scrapbooking" a verb, LOL Even in a small space I just keep on, keeping on...collecting the things that speak to me and feathering our nest that way. I like the memories, and the stories that go with the memories, close by--the books, the photographs, the little dolls and bits of china and dabs of jewelry and maybe an old threadbare and thinning chenille bedspread--the kind our Ma-Maws had on their beds--or a soft patchwork quilt to wrap myself up in--something like that makes me feel safe and connected to the people who lived and loved before us. Isn't it so amazing how we can move about to and fro, hither and yon....be in a tiny cottage or a house that is grand in size, and still we "feather" our homes in a way that suits us best, no matter where we go--we bring our memories and ways of life with us, and like you said, we each have our own way, our own style. I am a magpie......"

Debbi’s taken me and all her readers on wonderful strolls and adventures and sight-seeing tours of so much of the beauty and fun and gracious welcome that Charleston has to offer.   I hope you’ll look in as well---you’ll be captivated by the warmth and the Lowcountry charm, and by her love of her roots and her city.  And the inviting array of sherbety rocking chairs on that porch, so sweet you can almost taste them, along with the promise of Sweet Tea---well, that's an invitation which can't be missed.