Southern Charm

Even though I was born and currently live in California, I lived my middle years and have deep roots in the South. Both my parents' and each of their families, are all original Virginians. My father broke protocal and took his little family away from the South and went out west to attend Stanford. While in California, much to all four of my grandparents dismay, my little brother and I were both born native Californians. My parents did, however, return us, eventually, to the bosom of the South, albeit to North Carolina, Virginia's closest southern neighbor, where my father did his residency, and later practiced medicine.

12 years later, like my father, I too left the South, destined for California to attend school -- but unlike him, I went to Southern California, and I never moved away again. I go back and visit the South on occasion, and I do truly love it, and part of my heart will always belong to it - but my life and the rest of my heart is and always will be here in California.

When I think of the South, I think of these things - and through the photos of Mr. Greenjeans, I thought I'd share some memories of my childhood -- the beauty and the grace of Southern Charm.

Gorgeous Iron Garden Benches
The touch of cool metal is nice on a balmy Summer evening...

Artifacts of Life

The country roads were and are beautiful living Art.

Carolina Jasmine after the rain

One of the distinct smells of my Southern memories...

Conversations and Contemplations

Come on and sit a spell...

Rusted out iron benches and falling leaves -

The epitome of Autumn

Glorious and tasty Honeysuckle

It isn't a Southern summer without it

I Smell Biscuits Baking ...

From age 6 to 18 I had horses - some of my very best memories...

From the Gardens -

this photo is from deeper South than where I lived - we had no Spanish Moss - but I saw it when we'd visit St. Simons Island, and as long as you didn't touch it, it was beautiful. I found that out the hard way as a kid, and grabbed handfuls of it from the trees, and got a bad infestation of chiggers on my hands and arms!

Rock away the afternoon

Sweet tea and stories

The end of the day and days gone by.
There is just something wildly romantic about the South.

There is a certain grace and beauty found nowhere else.

I miss that.

...that and the storytelling...

I'll have to go back and visit.

Soon.

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Happy Valentines Day.

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Come see what everyone else is hooked on over at Julia's Hooked on Valentines Party!

All Photos taken by Mr. Greenjeans