WE BE Bloggin with LowCountry Joe®

A Different Sort of Sleigh

The shrimp boat looked like a Currier and Ives print with a single strand of white lights outlining the fifty three year old hull. The bulbs sparkled and reflected in the calm waters of Skull Creek and the beams of a mostly full moon silhouetted this soulful white vessel against the weather beaten dock. All was quiet on this special Christmas Eve, but that wasn’t the case earlier.

 

During the day all sorts of items were being delivered to Hudson’s dock…..sacks of corn, bushels of apples, bags of assorted nuts and even blocks of salt. The Captain was taking on special cargo under the request of a very special guy, St. Nick. It seems that over the years the “Rotund One’s” sleigh had been overloaded because of a larger Island population. Golf clubs had squeezed out goodies for his special friends, “The Island Critters” and he felt guilty. So this year was “make up” time.

Santa’s arrival was shaky at best, as Rudolph’s crew banked left and made a precarious landing in the tiny parking lot. The “old boy” made a bee line to the oyster bar for a quick bowl of his favorite chowder….and with Rudolph along for the ride, they were off.

 

Escorted by a family of smiling dolphins by water and a flock of gulls by air the entourage began their Intra-Coastal Holiday voyage. Santa rode at the bow looking like a masthead of an eighteenth century schooner. What a sight he was, with salt air blowing through his long white locks and laughing heartily as a gull made a circus type shrimp catch. Even brown pelicans got into the act showing off their dare devil dives, resulting in a hearty applause.

 

At every stop he was greeted by families of masked raccoons, possums, squirrels and deer. Proud parents would provide loving encouragement as the little ones shyly accepted their precious gifts. Loving hugs were also plentiful, even to a cute baby skunk.

 

The hold was empty, the makeshift sleigh headed for home and a bright star suddenly appeared above. It illuminated Santa’s face and guided them through the tricky waters of Calibogue Sound. Santa’s deeds, it seems, had been appreciated by more than the Island Creatures he loved so much.

 

May God’s light shine on you this Christmas and throughout the New Year.

 

Joe and Mary

"History Is Made".....History is Made"

December 20^th has come and gone. Empty Silver Dew Cab and North Carolina’s Duplin Winery Scuppernong bottles  that  provided traditional  “tastes”  have  been tossed randomly in an old bushel basket waiting for disposal in Daufuskie’s “trash retainment area”and  remnants of  opened Fuskie  oyster shells picturesquely lay piled against the base of a large palmetto tree. The first ever wine tasting and oyster roast  at the Winery made famous by Papy Burn and Pat Conroy is history….and Papy would have been proud.

You see Papy, the first licensed vintner of wine in South Carolina never made a penny selling the fruit wines he produced. But his beloved Silver Winery  finally,  after fifty eight (58) years  produced income. That specific time came just after noon when Maree Hanson, a Melrose homeowner and dear Friend, said “Joe…I would like to buy a bottle of Silver Dew Cab….and a bottle of Duplin Scupp too. I was waiting patiently for that moment and  began to screech and holler proclaiming to the small assembled mass that “History was made…History was Made”. As you might imagine they thought old LCJoe had finally gone off his proverbial  rocker but nodded in quiet approval as I  explained how Papy would have so loved to see this special exact moment in time.

So my lovely Bride broke out the camera to capture  pics of “the moment” , that would be passed down to future Silver Dew Winery owners and lovers of Daufuskie history. But it seemed that Maree “imagined” she was having a bad hair day….would have none of that….and opted instead to have  her other half, Pat, the fine Canadian Gentleman that he is, share in the Kodak moment. And share we did as portrayed in the included pic with Pat’s stylish new punked hair doo standing tall and old LCJoe’s hat kind of kaddywhompis and tilted in disarray. 

Yes, the day is over and as the discarded wine bottles make their way across Calibogue Sound to Beaufort County's landfill a new day dawns. A day when once again folks from around the world can traverse "the curve in the road" so elequently depicted by Pat Conroy in "The Water is Wide" and get a "taste of The Dew". Once again they can be cordially greeted, sit by the fire and feast on succelent Daufuskie oysters. Once again they can come together with visitors and "locals" alike and share in what is truly known as "The Spirit of Daufuskie....Papy surely would have been proud.

See ya on the high tide.

LowCountry Joe

Wreaths, Copperheads and Christmas

It’s almost Christmas in the Carolina Lowcountry and in keeping with the times I find myself walking the woods and gathering pine branches and cones for the wreath that will hang proudly on the Historic Silver Dew Winery. This pilgrimage  comes from my annual  tradition of  walking the woods on the hillside above our Pennsylvania log cabin, scraping away snow searching for long green ground ferns that made splendid Christmas garland.

Now up North the only sound to be heard was the crunching of the snow pack and the chirping of cute little nervous chickadees. And, except for evading the occasional limb made weak by layers of ice and falling on ones head,  this was a venture that was safe for “the person” and warm to “the soul”.   But down South, walking in the midst of tall standing  lob-lolly pines takes on a whole new meaning. On warmer than normal days like we have had recently,  all eyes are to the ground watching with careful eye for the beautiful colored Carolina copperhead that blends so magnificently with the gold and brown carpet of pine straw. Normally he/she would be taking a winters nap under an old pine log but with temps nearing eighty (80) this cold blooded creature finds solace in the warm Carolina sunshine.  I too, find that solace and at times stop my foraging and simply listen to the rhythmic sound of pine bough brushing against pine bough. Underneath that green canopy,  palm fronds, not to be outdone join the Southern symphony  along with sound of the oceans waves gently engulfing the sandy Daufuskie shore. It’s my very own “nature sounds” CD and  truly makes one realize how wonderful it is be alive.

 

With pine boughs to spare I load up my golf cart and traverse the bumpy root laden path that leads me from my forest enclave and to my Bloody Point home. Yellow fritterly butterflies awakened by nature’s abnormal  turn of events flit about in graceful escort and I feel engulfed with “white light” and peace. Soon the limbs so graciously given up by its parent trees will adorn and welcome all those that choose to enter the Winery’s  hand crafted old wood doors. Soon it will be Christmas in the Lowcountry.

See ya on the high tide….

LowCountry Joe

A "Taste of The Dew" and "Scuppernong Too" from LCJoe

Happy December from the Silver Dew Winery....

Well.....the license is on the wall....Vintner Papy Burn would have been proud....so now it's time for some fun and have  "A Taste of "The Dew". Next Saturday, Dec. 20. Rain, Snow or Shine,  I will have the Winery open from ten till six and offering "tastes" of my Hilton Head Island Wine-fest Award Winning Silver Dew Commemorative wines.  As an extra special treat and in keeping with Historic tradition,  I will also be offering "tastes" of a very fine scuppernong wine  from the  Fine folks at the Duplin Winery in Rose Hill, North Carolina. Scuppernong wine is made from  Scuppernong/Muscadine grapes and is the oldest wine in America. Scuppernong is "truely Southern"! This sweet wine  has graced many early Daufuskie and South Carolina Lowcountry Plantation tables.

 Also,  if you have a favorite wine, please give me a call.  I am establishing  contracts with all major South Carolina wholesalers and offering case prices that you will fine hard to beat anywhere. Call me before Thursday and I can have your wine available before Christmas.

Have a great day and please drop me a short note if you plan on stopping by.

LowCountry Joe

Owner/Silver Dew Winery Inc.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Noted in Pat Conroy's book "The Water is Wide"

South Carolina's First Licensed Winery

Joe@LowCountryJoe.com

1-843-684-4445

www.SilverDewWinery.com

www.LowCountryJoe.com

www.WeBeBloggin.com

 

 

 

 

Daufuskie Island's Historic Silver Dew Winery Receives Wine License

Noted author Pat Conroy wrote in his novel "The Water is Wide" ...."The first time I walked the road I was shocked to find two odd-looking structures in the curve of the road. There was a sign on one of the buildings that read SILVER DEW WINERY 1953". Other than a notation about swimming at Bloody Point's beach there was literally no other reference to the isolated Island of Daufuskie where the story unfolded and he called Yamacraw.  

When I purchased this National Register of Historic Places structure and South Carolina Treasure a number of years ago  a concerted effort was made to restore its rotting timbers and announce to the world that this picturesque solid brick tinned roof building was indeed a Winery back in 1953. The story simply needed to be told.

Papy Burn, Lighthouse Keeper at the Bloody Point Light remodeled his favorite hideaway, once a Lighthouse structure itself built in 1883. He made wine from all sorts of local "fix-ins",  and succeeded through hard work and sheer determination to have the Winery licensed under South Carolina Law. Along with detailed ledger notes on costs and wine recipes Papy made proud reference to that special day Nov. 23, 1953 when he received his license after months and months  of government red tape". Papy had succeeded in licensing the very first Winery in South Carolina.

I have always held that old ledger page dear to my heart and was determined to someday bring the Silver Dew Winery back to the prominence he once envisioned. You see, Papy never succeeded financially in the wine business and was known to simply provide a "taste" and give his wine away to friends that passed by. It was with that thought that today, December 16, 2008 I am pleased and proud to announce that Papy's Winery is once again Licensed under South Carolina law to provide "off premise consumption"  of wine. The process was costly, tenuous and at times arduous but the fine folks at the Department of Revenue and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, (SLED) made up for Papy's tenuous efforts years past and courteously and professionally guided me through the long process of making South Carolina History. Once again folks making that curve in the road would be able to purchase a bottle  of wine, once again they could revel in the story of Papy Burn, the proud Lighthouse Keeper and Vintner.

Contacts are now being made to work with numerous wholesalers of wine in South Carolina to offer some of the finest wines available in the world. Silver Dew, a commemorative wine, which is actually bottled for me in California, will be offered like it has been for years. Scuppernong wines, common to the Carolinas, will also be available for the local taste/feel.  I will also be offering case lot discounts of your favorites and planning some fun events to avail you with all that will be available in the near future.

I look forward to meeting one and all as you make your way to Bloody Point,  that curve in the road noted by Pat Conroy and the Silver Dew Winery. I look forward to providing a friendly greeting like Papy did in the old days and offering wines that I am sure he would have been proud of. I look forward to providing folks that relish a true sense of History the opportunity  to raise a glass and "Give a Toast to Papy".

LowCountry Joe

Fall arrives in the South Carolina Lowcountry

Up North the snow shovels are out and sensual visions of smelling burning leaves on a cool Fall day are long past. But down here in the Carolina Lowcountry its the first week of December and we are now being blessed by a fine Lady, Mother Nature, with all that stands dear to me on an Autumn day.

My Bride and I missed out this year on leaf peeping on our special "other Island" Prince Edward way up in the Canadian Maritimes. Just by coincidence, however, we made up for it on a recent short jaunt to the North Georgia foothills. The valleys were ablaze with color....color the locals say they have not seen in years. We had hit it just right. Clear mountain waters forming the Chattahoochee River flowed passed our cozy cottage's quaint porch and leaves, brightly colored and perky rode the gently flowing waters like miniature boats  in a fine parade. I couldn't resist grabbing Mary's hand, kicking through piles of leaves on the adjoining narrow dirt road and fondly remembering  days of old in the Northwest Pennsylvania countryside.

Its been almost a month since that fine adventure and quite frankly I thought my fascination with brightly colored creations from God was long gone. But that lady with a name called Nature had different plans for me and the Lowcountry alike. Well below average temperatures,  an abundance of rain bringing us to normal for the year combined to give all that would care to see a true unique visual leaf spectacle indeed.

Now I am not here to tell you that the patchworks of red, orange and gold  compare to "leaf time" up North. I have always felt sorry for Southern folks that have never been "awed" by that form of absolute spellbinding Autumn beauty. But when one accents those muted multi-colored  beauties with a multitude of  green palmetto frauns and  Spanish Moss laden live oaks sporting their deep glossed never changing green leaves with a background of gold from the marshes and blue from the ocean,  one realizes that folks in the South have been truly blessed by another form of Mother Natures visual miracles.

We had an unusually heavy frost last night and the forecast calls for some brisk winds and light rain. Soon all that will be left will be painted memories of the heavily forested Lowcountry forests. So its time to quit work and go home early. I plan to  grab Mary's hand, tell her dinner can wait,  and take a long walk on Daufuskie Island's tree canopied dirt roads. Once again we will smell the special fragrance that is Fall, trudge through  and kick leaves like we did back in Pennsylvania while giving thanks to God and Mother Nature for this special moment in time.  I will then hold these memories dear till next year when Fall returns to Pennsylvania, Prince Edward Island and my  South Carolina home.

 

Daufuskie Fire

Another Thanksgiving has come and gone in the Carolina Lowcountry. Turkey breast sandwiches complete with white gummy bread smothered in real mayonnaise are the order of the day and long walks on isolated beaches once inhabited by visiting family members awaken and nourish the soul.  It's on these walks when one has time to reflect on another passing holiday ......gone seemingly with the blink of an eye.

My Bride and I spent this one, like most, together in the cozy confines of the Historic Bloody Point Lighthouse.  Mary's turkey was succulent, the cranberry sauce perfect and the dressing just right. But unlike years past I simply wasn't as hungry as normal. Now don't tell Mary, but I had been a "bad boy" just a few hours earlier,  and its all because of a Daufuskie fire.

Now this fire wasn't any old fire and no-one disturbed our three (3) man fire department from an early afternoon nap.....it was my fire and mine alone. Earlier that morning I decided that after one hundred and fifteen (115) years without a fire pit the old Silver Dew Winery deserved one. I knew that Lighthouse Keeper Papy Burn had a wood stove inside the Winery evidenced by a round gaping hole in the thick wall but a fire pit had never graced its presence. But that would change....and change it did. Bricks from the old Haig Point Mansion given to me by Frank Burn, Papy's Son, were rescued from their "hidings" under an Historic live oak tree and Walahhhh....a fine fire pit.....an upstanding fire pit.....a grand fire pit...... that Papy would have been proud of graced the grounds of the picturesque brick structure.

So now if ya got a fire pit you need wood for the fire. Well it just so happens one of Papy's fine pear trees that he alone planted met its demise this Summer and crashed into the side of the Lighthouse. I didn't have the heart to dispose if it in a normal way simply to decay in a Daufuskie ditch, so I set it aside. But now was its time to re-emerge with dignity. So with saw in hand select branches and limbs were trimmed and soon a crackling fire never seen before graced the Winery....What I felt quite strange,  is that its smoke mysteriously rode the light winds and floated South towards the Lighthouse even though the prevailing winds were out of the West.

OK....here comes the part where Mary wonders why I didn't have that normal second helping of my favorite dressing. Well it has to do with the idea that ...if ya got  a fire one should cook something on a fire....sounds logical right, but considering the fact that the nearest grocery store is accessible only by ferry I opted to improvise....to do what the Indians would have done... hunt up a passel of clams and oysters on the Bloody Point beach and marsh. With bushel basket in hand and after immersing myself in saltwater the ocean gratefully gave up its bounty. It was as if the Coosawhatchie Indians were saying "its your turn Joe" and soon these fine crustaceans were steaming over an old cast iron stove door that seemed perfect for the purpose.  Pat Conroy once  quoted now passed Local Jake Washington  in a recent book that "eating a Daufuskie oyster was like tasting the tide". Was he ever right.

So the next time you are on the Island please stop by and check out my 'Daufuskie Fire". You can bring some hot dogs if you like or maybe some marshmallows for "the kid in us". You will go home smelling like smoke and probably not yearning for dinner but I promise to fulfill you with a welcoming smile, pleasant conversation and a passing farewell.

See ya on the high tide....LCJoe