The Botanical Gardens

I will be taking a blogging break.

I am feeling a little uninspired these days, understandably so.

I am thankful those I know and love are safe and healthy.

It is wonderful to visit the Riverbanks Botanical Gardens again.

We intend to stroll here every Sunday morning throughout the summer.

However I think there may  be another much needed shut down in our area. 

This is a happy place for Jim and I.

  

Oh the pretty pink!

 

 

The huge bamboo teepees should be covered in vines by the end of fall which will be a treat to see.

Seeing so much color along with the variety of flowers and plants is always a mood lifter. We seem to discover something new with each visit.

I hope you are hanging in there ok too. My escapism has been music, books and movies. Movie apps and the ease of downloading books are also things I am very thankful for these days.

Thank you for stopping by! ~Val

An Actual Outing!

Jim and I had our first outing since the outbreak! The Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Gardens are open for reservations. This is phase 1 of re-opening.

 

Now we must be aware of standing 6 flamingos from each other.

The animals have no idea what humans are dealing with right now.

Certain beasts probably enjoy people watching again.

High touch zones are well labeled with "caution".

Bronze statues throughout are blocked off since these are also high touch items used for photo ops.

We always have to stop by the meerkats since they are smile inducing creatures.

These two were deep in conversation of the intellectual sort.

White rhinos are still due to arrive in the fall, as scheduled. The habitat is coming along.

Frogs were enjoying themselves this day too. This big guy looks like an ornament but was real.

It felt good to simply be out again. With the limited capacity it was a quiet, peaceful day at the zoo.

I hope you are able to find things to enjoy too. This is one place where we feel safe since it is easy to keep distance from others. It may be months before we feel comfortable enough to eat in a restaurant again since case numbers are still on the rise here.

Thank you for stopping by! ~Val

Keg Cowboy

Back in the day when one could dine out, we visited the Keg Cowboy in downtown Lexington, SC and were quite pleased.

This restaurant/bar has a very rustic, casual inside.

One would not expect the menu to be as gourmet as it is.

It is handwritten on a chalkboard hanging on the wall so changes can be made based on the fresh ingredients that chef can get his hands on.

We started with the yummy KC pretzel which is house made and comes with grainy mustard and dijonnaise. 

My tasty lunch was the shroom panini. A delicious sandwich on house focaccia with roasted portabello, herbed goat cheese, IPA onions, basil and mayo. No french fries in this joint. My side was yummy asparagus.

Jim's choice was the Cuban Refugee. This is smoke pork loin, pickled red onion, gruyere and dijonnaise on house focaccia. The side here is the braised greens.

Our taste buds were very pleased! Our server, Charlie, was fantastic! I love a bar that brings us a large carafe of water so we don't have to ask for it.

The micro brew selection is small but there is a bit of everything for varying tastes. We enjoyed the light, crisp Allagash White from Maine.

There are bits of whimsical decor about. The quote from Jesus below reads "don't be a dick".

If you go, this treat is located at 108 E Main Street in Downtown Lexington, SC. I would recommend checking hours before going as the restaurant is not open all day. Hopefully when our world regains some normalcy, we will be able to revisit this delicious spot.

A shout out to The Haven Coffee House, also downtown here, that we stopped in while waiting for the Keg Cowboy to open. It is a great place for a cup of coffee and a bite to eat while hanging out.

I really hope these small, local businesses survive and thrive once we see life getting back to normal. 

Stay safe and healthy! 

Thank you for stopping by! ~Val

Recent Zoo Visits

It is always a treat walking thru the Riverbanks Zoo.

We never know who will model for us.

Apparently these guys don't need much to be entertained. A Budweiser box will do the trick!

Big daddy came right up to the window. It is amazing to be inches from such a magnificent beast.

Cute baby action was occurring while it was brunch time.

The squirrel monkeys enjoy the top of their habitat to soak in the warm sunshine during the cooler months.

Porcupines can be petted. I had no idea this was possible until seeing a caregiver hand feeding this little guy while petting in between bites.

Since I have always been a cat person, the black footed cat is a favorite to see. Since felines love their sleep, this is a rare sight!

It was feeding time for many of the animals which is always entertaining.

I hope some of these made you smile today while our world is in chaos.


Thank you for stopping by! ~Val

It's Alive! - Part II

More fun from the It's Alive exhibit at the Columbia Museum of Art.

This replica figure was created in 2011 but is wearing an original collar by Paul Blaisdell for Invasion of the Saucer Men, 1957.

Art Director, Robert Kallis of American International Pictures, and his team would create film titles and complementing artwork, occasionally sending them to movie studios. If the studios were excited by what they saw, they created a movie around it. I think this explains why some of the movies were wacky!

Costumes have come a long way over the decades! This green number was from Invaders From Mars, 1953.

Worn by a 7 foot actor made for an imposing figure.

When I first caught a glimpse of this Frankenstein toy I thought "Oops, his pants fell down".

Blushing Frankenstein, Lewis Galoob Company, 1960s

Apparently that is what is supposed to happen!

Here we have the Great Garloo.

The Great Garloo, Louis Marx and Company, c. 1961

Toys for the mellow child like myself. Puzzles and paint by numbers.

Dracula Paint by Numbers, A.A. Gaffney and Sons, 1960s

This Zapatron Prop was used in mad scientists labs to create cool crackling and lightening effects.

Zapatron, Kenneth Strickfaden, mid 20th century

Bela Legosi's jacket and vest from White Zombie, 1932. The silicone figure was created by Mike Hill in 2010.

Below is Boris Karloff's suit from The Black Cat, 1934. Edgar Ulmer, the director, wanted Karloff for this film but had a feeling he would not want the role since it was sadistic. However he was able to lure him in with his stylishly designed fashions for the character. This silicone figure was also created by Mike Hill.

This gorgeous artwork is Dracula Meets the Wolf Man by Frank Frazetta, 1966.

Horror is not my favorite genre since I watched too many scary films at inappropriately young ages. One being The Shining. I never expected to ever see Jack's ax in my lifetime but here it is! Made of foam, metallized sheeting, foil tape and wood grain paint, it was lightweight so it could easily be swung in mad ways to scare the audience.

Some of Kirk Hammett's guitars are also on display. These custom lovelies were created by the ESP Custom Shop in Japan. The artwork featured is from the amazing posters.

Part of the exhibit allows those musically inclined to play 1 of 2 of Hammett's guitars in the museum auditorium for just $5.

Due to the exhibit's connection with music, here is one of my favorite haunting Metallica tunes. Hammett's guitar playing in the beginning came to mind while enjoying the exhibit.

Leaving you with this photo taken while strolling through Soda City that day. Perhaps the most adorable canine outfit ever made, overalls.

If you go, located at 
1515 Main Street
Columbia, SC
open daily 10am - 5pm (closed Mondays)
general admissions is $10 ($5 during Soda City Market on Saturdays)
Exhibit runs thru May 17, 2020.

Thank you for stopping by! ~Val