WE BE Bloggin with LowCountry Joe®

Men in Hats (A Conspiracy)

It's a hat conspiracy...that's what it is....Some writer from the Associated Press got almost a whole page in Lowcountry Life today about how "uncool" it is for men to wear a hat. At first I thought he was just talkin' about baseball hats but in the right column in bold letters it proclaims "MEN IN HATS". This AP "hat prognosticator" is tellin' us down here in the Carolina Lowcountry that when it comes to modern headwear it comes to three choices.

#1. Go Bearheaded.....Oh now that works out real well when temps in the Lowcountry are in the 90's and old Saul is attempting to blister your brain away...Come on down, Josh, and lets see how "dapper" you look after a day on the beach or on the water with no "lid".

#2. Switch to a grown up hat....OK ya got me on this one...what in the dickens is a "grown up hat"...do you mean like the top hats grown up President Lincoln wore....Ahh, can't you just picture it, teein' off at #1 at Harbor Town in a black top hat.....or better still, ridin' your bike down 278 in your flashy stovepipe and it's not Halloween.

#3. Wear a "darn" baseball hat, which he says everyone is wearing anyway. Well now, I do take exception to that.....not everybody wears them. I have been wearin' my big old oversized straw hat for over twenty years. For one reason I look goofy in a baseball hat and second my ears stick out and at the end of the day they look like a couple of crispy critters and I got an appointment with the skin cancer guy.

Well now that I have unleashed my furor about "hat journalism" I follow with a "hat story" I wrote years ago. And if "Josh L. Dickey visits the Lowcountry sometime soon I'm going to present to him an authentic OKEY DOKEY LowCounty Joe straw hat. And then I will take him to Hudsons, my favorite bar in the whole wide world, buy him a beer and "spin" a hat tale. And who knows after that, a story about that venture will be printed and maybe, just maybe, we will start a "fad" and the next thing you will see is guys "sporting" LowCountry Joe Hats on the red carpet.

See Ya on the High Tide
www.WeBeBloggin.com

*************************************************************************************

Welcome Back "Old Friend'

Mary and I just left our floating home and walked through one of those conveniently placed straw markets in the Caribbean. "Hey Mon" a brightly dressed local said "You would look good in one of my hats". My bride gave a nod of agreement, and instinctively, the smiling peddler knew he had his man. Well that started my love affair with chapeaus and I have owned over fifty since that fateful day. This is really the story, however, about one of those hats, a Plantation Style lid that is my favorite.

A gale was blowing this early Spring day, and as I would soon find out, wind is the enemy of all hats. You see, they really have personalities and transfer their feelings to the wearer. I got particularly close to this one and you can imagine my dismay when a gust of wind took away a close friend. I was visiting Ralph, a shrimper friend, when like in slow motion it sailed into the air. I made a fateful grab, but all I could do was watch as it slowly settled into the glistening waters of Skull Creek. The strong river like tide did its magic, and soon the only thing visible was the red band as it floated into the famous Carolina sunset.

It was gone, but I could only wonder about its voyage. Surely it would have a wonderful trip as it made its way towards the ocean. Friendly dolphins might check it out and maybe even flip it about in friendly antics. Wonderful bright white boats cruising the Intracoastal would give it a fun ride as their wakes pushed it towards the shore. Pelicans, egrets, herons and ospreys would keep it company as they soared over searching out their fishy meals. It would be met by glorious bright sunrises and retired with brilliant red sunsets….and if it had to perish it would feel comfortable nestled against the Spring green colored spartina grass. Goodbye old friend.
Weeks later while having a brew at Hudsons, my favorite old pub, in walks Ralph with a big grin. From behind his back he produces, you guessed it "The Hat" with the red band still attached. He found it floating all the way out in Port Royal Sound. Nibbled on by fish and soaked with salt water it had miraculously survived its maritime ordeal. "Drinks are on me" I told John the barkeep, as we spun the yarn and amazed ourselves with the tale.

Welcome back old friend.

USA Today Loves Daufuskie Golf

Whoaaaa Baby.........Just when ya think "The Press" has nothing good to say about anything and a friend passes along a superb USA Today "Golf Blog". Seems like Larry Olmstead, one of USA Today's "Golf Guy" writers really likes good old HHI golf and Daufuskie Island golf in particular. Along with posting Harbor Town in the top two dozen courses he has played in the good old US of A the last year,   he notes the following....."Daufuskie is a tiny Island just off Hilton Head, reached by Ferry and home to two very good golf courses that remain local secrets. Melrose and Bloody Point, which in my opinion are better than most of the famous courses on Hilton Head.".... "You Go Bro"...."Now We Be in High Cotton"!!!!!!!! Fuskie is "On the Map" and known for more than our funky Key West style hideaways and "Devil....yes I said Devil....crab". "Us Locals" have known this all along. We are quite knowledgeable about golf,  even though we are often characterized as a little "different cause we ride a boat back and forth to the mainland each day.

Now I ain't the Mayor of Daufuskie....cause we don't got none....but I am offering good old Larry the Key to Fuskie in the form of a fine bottle of local Historic Silver Dew Wine the next time he visits. And I am also offering him a complimentary round of golf on my incredable course "Haig Point". It just seems like the right thing ta do...

See Ya on the High Tide........LowCountry Joe

www.WeBeBloggin.com

http://blogs.usatoday.com/golfersworld/

Wall Street Journal's Smart Money Magazine calls LowCountry Joe.....

That's right....They sure did, and not for a subscription either. It was for an article they were considering on Private Golf Memberships and they needed someone to quote. After quiet contemplation I "opted out". I was concerned in these "slow times" the complete article may not have reflected positively on our Local Market. But the fact remains. Smart Money Magazine did call, and they called me because of my Web Site.

Such is life in the new world of selling Real Estate. When I spend over an hour each morning doing my manual updates I sometimes wonder who is listening, but obviously someone out there is.  That also goes for my Blog. But a quick check of my view statistics and World geographic stats always makes me a true  believer. There is no doubt, a Top Notch Website and blogging on a regular basis makes the difference in being "successful" or being an "also ran" or in these days a "no ran".

But how does that success help you. If you have a listing with me the answer is fairly obvious. I owe it to my clients to present your listings first....and the more calls I receive the better chance I have of converting listings to a sale. If you are a potential purchaser, you can be assured I work diligently to present all offerings on a "fresh daily" basis. I also attempt to keep you current on local statistics and financing. This type of information is essential and invaluable in making an informed buying decision.

Oh, and YES, I did follow up with the fine folks at Smart Money advising them of my interest in future articles. And I did offer a free round of golf at Haig Point along with a tour of the LowCountry if they have an occasion to visit. After all, I didn't go to school to eat my lunch.

See ya on the High Tide.....LCJoe

Spring Cleaning and Pine Trees Just "Having Fun"

Ahhh....it's Spring in the Carolina LowCountry. Painted Buntings suddenly appear and flutter about in my yard playing havoc with hoards of flying insects.  This fine bird painted with blue is as sure a sign of Spring down South as the red breasted Robin was up North. And the sighting of both birds bring on a invigorating ailment "Spring Fever"..... Yes.... "Spring Fever".....

In Pennsylvania this "Spring Fever Feeling" meant it  was time to open up your windows, let the fresh air blow in to cleanse the house from all sorts of accumulated winter odors..... and Yes....do some Spring cleaning. And that's just what my Bride and I did, as newcomers to the South. We followed that old ritual only to soon find ourself and every blommin' piece of furniture in the house covered with fine yellow dust. What was this culprit that had invaded our abode we quizzically asked?....but one only had to look outside to the tall standing loblolly pines. There they stood like they have for centuries before, yellow pollen bursting from their cones and floating through the air like Summer dust on an old farm road.

After quickly securing every window and door while my Bride uttered some sort of unintelligible censored words, I found my way to the bookshelf and a cover called TideLand Treasure by Todd Balantine. This naturalist guide given to us as a house warming gift surely would explain the needle laden culprit. And sure enough...there it was in all its yellow lemon colored glory,  a whole page devoted to our nemeses......"Coastal Pines".

Now even to the most casual of Northern observer it was quite evident that what was happening in my yard was some sort of pollination. But what I didn't realize was that these pines were actually pollinating themselves. It seems that Female blossoms reside higher up while their Male counterparts crowd lower branches. It's a pine trees version of "the birds and the bees".

So the moral of the story...if there truly is a moral, the next time you find yourself in a middle of a Spring time lime yellow mist, just chalk it up to one of the experiences of living in the Carolina LowCountry. And then let your face break into a grin as you realize the pine trees are just "having fun".

LowCountry Joe doesn't "Spin"......

Well folks....if you have known me for long you know I am a "straight shooter". That's LowCountry Cowboy talk for "tellin' it like it is...ya'll". I was the "NO SPIN" LowCountry Sales guy long before Bill O'Reilley coined the phrase. But when I think about it, I always got sick on those fairground fun rides. 

It is with that in mind that I bring you the latest "stats" on Villa Sales for the Area "see below" covered by the Hilton Head MLS in February. Stats on all aspects of he market  are published on a periodic basis by the "Island Packet" so I can legally pass them on to you.  Now I don't care how much LowCountry sugar you put on them, they just ain't pretty. But if you are a potential purchaser, that is totally another story. The opportunity to acquire the villa of your dreams and historically low prices awaits you. All you need is "the bucks", a nice high credit score and you will be sunnin' your buns and hittin' the LowCountry links in no time.

So here goes.....

Villa Sales February 2008

Total Sales (In Millions of Dollars)

2007......21

2008.....8

Units Sold

2007.....57

2008.....27

Average Price (In thousands of Dollars)

2007.........$373,000

2008........$310,000

Year to Date (In Millions of Dollars)

2007.........$45,000,000

2008.........$22,000,000

So...there you have it. Have a great day and Think Spring

LowCountry Joe

Prospective purchasers are warned that information herin though deemed reliable has not been verified by the Hilton Head Multiple Listing Service, and that publication herof is not a representation or warranty of any fact. Please be aware that this information only represents those member firms of MLS, and only the exclusive right to buy listing agreements. The Hilton Head MLS tracks exclusive right to Sell listing sales in Beaufort, Jasper, Allendale, Barnwell, Colleton, Hampton, Orangeberg and Bamberg COunties. The sales figures may not include new developer properties.

Anne of Green Gables……As a child I was delighted  and fascinated by the story created by Lucy Maud Mongomery from Prince Edward Island, Canada. Never in all my dreams did I believe, however, that I would find myself in the imaginative surroundings portrayed in her book. But by “fate” I found myself on “My Other Island” Prince Edward, and purchased a cute cottage with my very own bubbling brook.

Recently, I was sent the included “Press Release” from a dear Island Friend. It’s the 100th year celebration of the Anne of Green Gables publication. The Island is celebrating it in grand style with a “World Premier” theatrical production.

I present this information for no other reason than to bring back memories to those of you that may have been  captivated by Lucy Maud Montgomery’s writings like I was. And maybe, just maybe, you will find your way to what I call the “Island of 1000 Greens” and find your own “bubbling brook”.

LowCountry Joe

**********************************************************

(Georgetown, Prince Edward Island) – March 10, 2008: The Kings Playhouse is proud to announce the world premiere of The Nine Lives of L.M. Montgomery, a new musical on the life and characters of the quintessential Canadian author. The historic theatre in Georgetown will kick off a six-week run of this spectacular multi-media tribute June 20, 2008 – the 100th anniversary of the publication of L.M. Montgomery’s signature work, Anne of Green Gables. Opening night will include a gala reception, featuring a special appearance by former Premier Alexander B. Campbell, who will step into the role of his father, former Premier and Chief Justice Thane A. Campbell, to deliver the show’s closing speech. The Heirs of L.M. Montgomery, who have given their blessing to the project, are also expected to attend.

Emmy-nominated composer Leo Marchildon and published author Adam-Michael James have spent over two years developing what is perhaps the most ambitious and comprehensive account of Montgomery’s life to date, conducting extensive research and interviewing noted Montgomery scholars and descendants to assure accuracy. Epic in size and scope, The Nine Lives of L.M. Montgomery covers a 60-year period, from the composition of Montgomery’s first poem at age nine to being declared a Canadian of National Importance six years after her death.

Part biography, part fantasy, the show explores how the power of the imagination can be used negatively as well as positively. Montgomery’s fictional characters materialize to amuse, enlighten, and serve as sounding boards through difficult periods in the author’s life. Typical sets are replaced by rear-screen projection, allowing Montgomery to be shown against moving outdoor backdrops and authentic photos of the places where she lived and worked. Marchildon’s period-sensitive score adds to this cinematic feel, while, in the style of traditional musicals, the songs continually advance the plot and promote character development.

"Sunrise" over Calibogue Sound

The old alarm clock jingled,  rattled and awakened me from a very sound sleep. I smacked that snooze button as hard as I could and peered through cloudy eyes at the "hands of time". Six Thirty was the result....but how can that be, it's dark outside...I mean "pitch black"!!!!  It was then that I realized that yes...it was me, that turned those hands forward last night. Welcome Joe, to the annual ritual of "Time Change".

Now this episode could very well have started my day off bad. But I have been on a positive "kick" lately....You know...like..."every day is a blessing"and "life is in the living, in every tissue of every hour of every day", that kind of stuff. So there would be no "Blue Monday" for me and with a renewed spirit I bound out of bed, head straight to the shower and begin singing like a bird. Once nicely cleaned and properly dressed, I give my Bride a soft kiss on the cheek and I am off to "take on the World".

Now one must understand that when I make my way to "take on the World",   it's a little different than most. My mode of transportation begins via golf cart....I live on Daufuskie Island....and then continues with a twenty five minute Haig Point ferry ride ending up at Hilton Head embarkation and the LowCountry Joe mobile.

The golf cart ride begins like a Steven King movie....low cart lights reflecting on hanging Spanish moss over narrow dirt roads.  But like in a fairy tale.... a spirit seems to take over....darkness turns to light, birds begin to sing, deer brazenly check me out from very close distance and a pair of  osprey circle above loudly chirping and squealing as if to say Joe...You are Alive....You Are Alive...

And if that wasn't enough to invigorate my soul, as I approach the dock the sun begins to break over Hilton Head. Red streamers, yellow bursts and golden arched clouds reflect in the calm waters of Calibogue Sound. Even though I a running a bit late and chance missing my "ride" I stop for a moment and reflect in God's awesome beauty. I reflect on younger days when I was an early bird. I reflect on casting that first floating lure just at sunrise came to Tamarack Lake, Pennsylvania and watching that bass explode out of the water. I reflect on days in Hilton Head Plantation when I watched the sunrise from the shore of Ribaut Island when development was non existent and it was just me and the rising sun reflecting off the shiny backs of frolicking dolphins.

I get the all aboard sign from "the mate" and the next segment of my Disneyesque voyage begins. The time has changed, moved forward if you will, but I will look forward to tomorrow...Yes look forward to waking up in complete darkness....only to realize that one thing will be sure, God willing, the sun will rise, the birds will sing, the dolphins will play and once again I will able to truly experience the unique beauty of watching the sun rise over Calibogue.

"A Little Bit of Water in Your Wine"

A" Little Bit of Water in Your Wine"......Ahhhh Yes.....It could be a distinct possibility at Hilton Head's WineFest  tomorrow....but after a check with the folks out there at Weather Underground and the weather prognosticators at The Weather Channel I think the Wine God's might be with us. And quite frankly how bad could it be if we had some liquid precipitation tomorrow and you got a little water in your wine.

I vividly remember pouring water in my Priest's Wine as a young Alter-boy many moons ago. But it never seemed to bother Father Richard,  actually I think he kind of liked it. But I always wondered why that was part of the ceremony...The wine was just fine as it was....I know because that's how I got introduced to "the grape", discretely taking a sip in my secret Sacristy hideout.

So, as I see it, If you do get some of Mother Nature's raindrops in your commemorative glass tomorrow, it may be cause for celebration, a spiritual experience if you will. You can then directly proceed to  the Silver Dew Winery tent and I can once again play Alter-boy and mix "the water" with  "the wine". I know Father Richard would have liked it and "just maybe" you will too.

LowCountry Joe 

Return of a Friend

Mary and I just left our floating home and walked through one of those conveniently placed straw markets in the Caribbean. "Hey Mon" a brightly dressed local said "You would look good in one of my hats". My bride gave a nod of agreement, and instinctively, the smiling peddler knew he had his man.

Well that started my love affair with chapeaus and I have owned over fifty since that fateful day. This is really the story, however, about one of those hats, a Plantation Style lid that is my favorite.

A gale was blowing this early Spring day, and as I would soon find out, wind is the enemy of all hats. You see, they really have personalities and transfer their feelings to the wearer. I got particularly close to this one and you can imagine my dismay when a gust of wind took away a close friend. I was visiting Ralph, a shrimper friend, when like in slow motion it sailed into the air. I made a fateful grab, but all I could do was watch as it slowly settled into the glistening waters of Skull Creek. The strong river like tide did its magic, and soon the only thing visible was the red band as it floated into the famous Carolina sunset.

It was gone, but I could only wonder about its voyage. Surely it would have a wonderful trip as it made its way towards the ocean. Friendly dolphins might check it out and maybe even flip it about in friendly antics. Wonderful bright white boats cruising the Intracoastal would give it a fun ride as their wakes pushed it towards the shore. Pelicans, egrets, herons and ospreys would keep it company as they soared over searching out their fishy meals. It would be met by glorious bright sunrises and retired with brilliant red sunsets….and if it had to perish it would feel comfortable nestled against the Spring green colored spartina grass. Goodbye old friend.

Weeks later while having a brew at Hudsons, my favorite old pub, in walks Ralph with a big grin. From behind his back he produces, you guessed it "The Hat" with the red band still attached. He found it floating all the way out in Port Royal Sound. Nibbled on by fish and soaked with salt water it had miraculously survived its maritime ordeal. "Drinks are on me" I told John the barkeep, as we spun the yarn and amazed ourselves with the tale.

Welcome back old friend.

Give a Toast to Papy

Summer 1955

An excerpt from Billie Burns’s book “An Island Named Daufuskie”.

During Papy’s wine making days, he had repainted the Lighthouse kitchen so I went by to see how it looked. As my eyes circled the kitchen, I noticed two five gallon glass jugs of freshly squeezed scuppernongs perched on the wooden extension he had added to the sink, then my gaze lifted upward, and there on that freshly painted snow-white ceilings were bits of grape pulp and seeds where one had exploded. Shocked, I looked at Papy and said, Papy you didn’t!” He laughingly replied, that’s nothing, you should see the Winery. It looks like someone took a dose of salts and did cartwheels.”

Spring 2007

Hilton Heads WineFest, billed as the largest outdoor wine tasting event on the East Coast of the good old US of A is underway. The event kicks off the Island’s Spring Season and hundreds of wine lovers from around the world are streaming thru the gates. They are holding tightly to prized 2007 commemorative glasses…..their ticket to taste over 1000 fine wines, ports and champagnes from all over the world. At the Silver Dew Winery® tent adorned with a big Daufuskie sign I wait with true anxiety….Soon the crowd will get to me and from experience I know that its about to be a proverbial “goat rodeo”. Last year I went through four cases in “little” pours and never stopped talking once. It don’t take long….the first aficionado appears, the crisp clean white tablecloth sops up its first “cab” spill, corks are popping and soon I will hear the first of many comments…. “I didn’t know there was a Winery on Daufuskie……

Now normally the only break I take is to visit the delightful Village of Job Johnnies aligned neatly in a row at the back of the parking lot….This year, however, will be different. You see, the “WineFest Program” clearly is marked …2:15 “Give a Toast to Papy” and I have been asked by the Hospitality Association to “Give the Toast”.

I know this “toast” needs an explanation so please allow me to divert from the festivities a second for an explanation…..The phone rings…Hello Joe this is Ann-Marie from the Hospitality Association……I understand you own the Winery on Daufuskie and that the former Lighthouse Keeper Papy Burn was the first licensed vintner of wine in South Carolina….I pause…..Yes, I respond….Would it be OK with you if we were to give a toast to Papy at WineFest…..”paused controlled exhilaration” SURE…. I calmly say followed by the best set of cartwheels a 62 year old man “taking salts” can do.

OK we are back on WineFest grounds where the grass is now stained in hues of ruby….You must remember no-one can drink 1000 glasses of wine…even though I saw a guy last year that tried….so the rest is discretely distributed on the ground….a great day to be a worm.

Its 2:10 and I am met off stage by my friend and local esteemed radio personality Monty Jet. I have decided to let Monty do the toast with me “adding on” sort of like the TV commercial where the lady talks and the Celebrity does a professional retake. Its time….the band stops….we walk to the mike…all eyes are on us as the appreciative sea of onlookers raise their glasses in unison and proudly proclaim “A Toast to Papy”.

I never had the opportunity to meet Papy but if there was ever a time I felt he was “Close” it was at that moment. Billie Burn said he “had the wit” and the look of Will Rogers and had a twinkle in his eyes….My eyes didn’t have his twinkle but they had a tear. It was so wonderful to have this fine Daufuskie man that I feel so close to, honored in this way. His beloved Silver Dew Winery was finally being recognized and appreciated by folks around the world…… and it was only fitting that the Silver Dew Cabernet Sauvignon we toasted in his honor had just won a coveted WineFest Silver Award.

The festivities are over and I make my way across Calibogue Sound to “An Island Named Daufuskie”. I stop at what Pat Conroy called “an odd looking structure in the curve of the road”. The Silver Dew Winery sign he noted stands out in the moonlight and the bottle of Silver Dew I always leave in Papy’s honor stands alone in silent tribute. In the brick laden building he so loved I once again lift my glass in a “Toast to Papy".

Spring 2008

Once again I will have the distinct priveledge to "Give a Toast to Papy" at Saturday's
Wine Fest. Please join me at 2:15 and lift your glass to a true LowCountry Legend. Afterward, please visit me at the Silvery Dew Winery Tent for your own special taste of "Silver Dew".

LowCountry Joe