We visited the Old Presbyterian Burying Ground in Camden, South Carolina
I can hardly believe that it has been a whole month since they were here.
But then I can testify that it has been a busy month.
Even so, it's time I told you about when Mari and Bob did us the great honor of coming to stay with us for two days.
They included us in their vacation which followed Bob's semi-retirement.
That first night there was vanilla pound cake with lemon icing for dessert
We looked forward to it for many weeks and no part of the experience in any way disappointed.
That's because you could search the universe for two more endearing friends and guests than these, and run out of time long before you found them.
Mari and I had teased one another for years about when one of us would descend upon the other for a proper visit.
Like for example, when she and Bob built that inviting porch onto their idyllic home place a few years ago.
Mari brought me this gorgeous blue glass ball for display outdoors or in
I've said, more than once: Watch out. One of these days you'll look out and I'll be standing on that porch.
Mari invariably responds: Come on! You're always welcome.
But distance and time is ever an issue and I have yet to stand (make that sit) on Mari's new porch.
Doesn't mean I won't, eventually.
She also brought this cute pink tee shirt for Dagny and a blue one for Rhett
We'd met Bob and Mari only once: for a too-brief lunch in the summer of 2017, when TG and I were in Northwest Ohio for a few days.
Bob and Mari drove east and we drove north, for a meet-up at a Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen in Lansing, Michigan. Seven whole years ago.
But these are the kinds of friends that you don't have to be around all the time, in order to love and cherish them.
Which makes it all the more special when they do show up.
Mari enjoys walking a cemetery as much as I do, and that's a lot
They arrived on a Monday afternoon. I was home alone when they got here and I was so excited when their rented Alfa Romeo turned in at our driveway, that I ran outside clapping.
Of course I had planned dinner, for them and for TG and me. I wanted it to be special but not too labor intensive, because I wanted to talk to Mari and Bob instead of working in the kitchen while they talked to TG.
I went with London Broil done in the Crock Pot, using the recipe for Mississippi Pot Roast. As in, I dusted the beef with one packet each of ranch dressing mix and au jus gravy mix, and dotted it with an entire stick of butter.
I left out the pepperoncini that are usually called for in this recipe. Because I didn't have any.
This was the entrance to one of the gifts shops we scoured
The sides were Crock Pot Creamed Corn and Easy Ranch Carrots, along with Ree Drummond's Crash Hot Potatoes.
The creamed corn is an old standby and a staple at our house; the carrots were a first-time try for me. I've done the crash hot potatoes only a few times.
These are all outstanding recipes, and so easy. Perfect for guests because there's not much work involved and lots of what there is, can be done beforehand.
For dessert I made this Vanilla Pound Cake which has become a favorite. I drizzled it with lemon icing for a little extra zing.
On the porch of the second gift shop, this velvety gray kitty cat relaxed
Because Mari is such a delightful person, she is easy to hang out with. Just as you would think, if you are acquainted with her from her blog. Girl knows her way around a kitchen.
She finished up the crash hot potatoes while I worked on the carrots.
After supper I cleared the dishes and we went outside to sit by the pool, and waited awhile before having our cake.
Mari presented me with a thoughtfully chosen hostess gift of a mouth-blown glass ball that hangs on either a stand-alone tabletop hook, or on a sturdy shepherd's hook outside.
This is at the entrance to Fort Jackson National Cemetery
I chose to hang it outside, where I can see it from my chair when I sit in the sun room. It is the color of the sky on a summer day.
She included a gift card, as usual opting to do more rather than less, in keeping with her generous nature.
It was warm and not too humid, and the tree frogs were singing, and when all of my solar lights winked on, it was beautiful and I could have sat there all night.
But we had an ambitious day planned for Tuesday, so it was not too late before we went to bed.
The Southwest Redoubt, a British fortification during the war
The next morning I was up early to get dressed and ready, after which I made breakfast: bacon, scrambled eggs, toasted homemade bread with jam, orange juice, and coffee.
By a little after nine o'clock, the four of us were on our way to Camden, South Carolina, where there is a considerable amount of Revolutionary War history to soak up.
It was a hot day but not too hot and not overly humid. Not the punishing heat and humidity that comes later -- like now -- making it hard to be outside for too long without shelter.
On the way to Camden, TG suggested stopping at the Fort Jackson National Cemetery. It was the sixty-ninth anniversary of D-Day and we felt privileged to walk there on that day, where so many heroes rest.
This sculpture pays tribute to the Boykin Spaniel, South Carolina State Dog
I cannot get away from a national cemetery without tears forming in my eyes, and this time was no exception. The reverence for patriots is palpable in such places, and it is a moving experience.
From there we made our way to Camden, and the first stop was the Quaker Cemetery. It has been a favorite haunt of mine for many years.
It has its own share of American heroes too, from the Revolutionary war onward.
TG had procured a map at the entrance and was intent on finding the graves of the three Roberts brothers, all of whom lost their lives in World War II. Two of them perished only three days apart in 1944.
Seriously old graves at the Quaker Cemetery
Edman was the first to go, on July 10, 1943, at twenty years of age. His body is not in this grave, as it was never recovered.
Next of the brothers to make the ultimate sacrifice was Gilbert, twenty-four, killed in action on September 29, 1944. His death was followed swiftly by that of the eldest brother, Wilbert, age twenty-six, on October 1, 1944. Gilbert and Wilbert were buried in the Quaker Cemetery in November of 1948.
(Gilbert's son, Gilbert Junior, who was six months old when his father died and lived to the age of fifty-five, is also interred at Quaker Cemetery.)
We found the three flag-decorated graves where the brothers rest beside one another. All four of us stood awed there for several minutes.
I was so grateful to TG for urging us to locate those graves, which I had not known were there.
Graves of the Roberts brothers, all lost in World War II
After that we went a few hundred yards to what remains of the Camden Oak, the Old Presbyterian Burying Ground, and a Revolutionary War Memorial just across the street.
Then across a larger main road, to the big Revolutionary War site, with many buildings and two gift shops.
Mari and I combed both gift shops looking for goodies. I wanted to get something for Alaina, Ruby, and Cassie that would be souvenirs of their grandparents' visit to South Carolina.
I ended up with t-shirts for Alaina and Ruby, and a stuffed bear dressed like Thomas Jefferson, for Cassie.
Kershaw County was a major player in the Revolutionary War
(I wish you could see the darling thank-you notes I received. All addressed to Jenny the Pirate.)
I will save the notes as mementoes and hope one day to give each of these precious girls a hug.
When we left Camden, it was still early, so TG drove us about twenty minutes away into downtown Columbia.
There we toured the stunningly gorgeous historic Trinity Episcopal Church graveyard, right across the street from the South Carolina State House.
This live oak is said to be at the geographic center of South Carolina, but that may not be true
At one corner of the graveyard stands an ancient live oak that supposedly marks the geographic center of South Carolina. I say supposedly because that may not actually be the case, but who's to argue?
Live oaks are awe-inspiring anyway, but this one is especially amazing for its location in the graveyard.
After rambling amongst several hundred very old graves, and taking some pictures, we walked across to the State House grounds.
In due time we had had enough of walking in the hot sun, so we climbed back into the car and headed for Elmwood Cemetery, a few miles away.
This beautiful building at the Revolutionary War site is available to rent for events and gatherings
This is is the historic cemetery where TG and I have bought grave plots. We drove towards the back (the one-hundred-fifty-year-old part of this cemetery is in the front, just inside the entrance) and pointed out the spot to Bob and Mari.
It makes me a trifle nervous to cast my eyes to where my remains will someday be buried, and I said as much, but I liked what Bob and Mari had to say in return:
She won't be there for long, said Mari. (Because the dead in Christ shall rise first.)
She won't be there at all, said Bob. (Because of body, soul, and spirit, only the body dies.)
As the pirate said: I'm good wiv it.
Mari and me posing in the Trinity Episcopal Church graveyard
From Elmwood we headed for home, because we were tired and hot and needed to rest up before Cherica with baby Rhett, and Audrey and Dagny, joined us for dinner.
That morning before we headed out, Mari had helped me with some preparation for the meal.
I put Crock Pot Baked Ziti into the slow cooker, and had planned our return home just in time to turn it on so that it could be ready for supper.
Mari zested and juiced the limes, made the custard, and put together the Lime Cracker Pie that we would have for dessert.
Another ancient grave from the Quaker Cemetery
Homemade bread would be made into spicy toast, plus we had a green salad.
The kids began to arrive. I wish you could have seen Rhett strut the length of the kitchen towards Bob, and I also wish you could have seen Bob's face as he watched that.
It was a moment. Bob is a prince of a man and his love for people -- especially children -- is evident.
And so is Mari's, for she had brought gifts for Dagny and Rhett. The most adorable tee shirts: blue for him and pink for her, with the words LAKE MICHIGAN UNSALTED on the front.
The impressive South Carolina State House, framed by magnolia trees and crape myrtles
She guessed their sizes perfectly and they both look so cute wearing the shirts.
So we enjoyed the baked ziti (actually penne, haha) and the salad and the bread, then went to sit outside again.
It was warmer on that night, but the solar lights were just as faithfully twinkling, and I lit citronella candles and incense to discourage mosquitoes.
In due time we enjoyed the Lime Cracker Pie and a pot of decaf coffee.
Our dear friends Bob and Mari
We were all tired so before it got to be too late, we all turned in. Mari and Bob planned to leave the next morning before nine, for the next leg of their journey which took them to West Virginia.
I made scrambled eggs on that Wednesday morning, with more toast and jam and juice and coffee.
When Mari and Bob had to go, I was sad but also grateful that they had come, and that we had had such a nice time together.
Bob and Mari know that they are welcome here should their travels bring them this way again. I encouraged them to come in cooler weather -- meaning, pretty much, December through March.
Rhett says bye until next time, Mr. Bob and Miss Mari
I hope they will be back, and I hope that we can go to see them before too much longer.
Meanwhile we have these wonderful memories, and the hope of making more to go with them.
June took off like a shot and there were several more parties and occasions and events and get-togethers and celebrations before many more days elapsed.
I'll tell you all about those soon.
And that is all for now except to say, I wish you a happy Fourth of July holiday with your family!
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Happy Monday :: Happy July
