First, a short update on Bud is in order. Robotic resection surgery on 10/6 to remove 10″ of his colon that had turned to nearly concrete to starting back to work a little more than two weeks later with all systems go other than heaving lifting restriction. His surgeon found his recovery remarkable. Knowing that prayer warriors had been called in to do battle, Bud was not surprised and is very grateful to the Lord and all who offered prayers on his behalf. Thank you, QTree.
Let’s go with some ground report observations from the lowcountry during our fall frolic.
Less hispanic peoples were present, probably due to ICE presence. Per the locals, those from that background who were still there are probably legal; either on worker visas or citizens. I had my doubts with some as they acted evasive, albeit a MUCH smaller number than in the past. ICE has been busy in the lowcountry and moved more of their efforts further south recently. Like other places, no overcrowding in local schools now. If they register for school their parents and guardians are checked out.
Local crime is WAY down. Imagine that. Who da thunk exiting illegals along with a more visible law enforcement presence could have changed life that dramatically that fast? Well, actually, all of us real Americans. Add in taking out the trade routes of the cartels and things seemed, well, nice. Could it be that those 1000+ police departments and sheriff’s offices that have signed or intend to sign the agreement to be authorized to perform ICE duties are also interested in doing the other aspects of their jobs well? Sure appears that way. Inquiring minds only need to check to see if the local law enforcement agencies in their home areas have executed the agreement to know where things stand. If not, why not? You know the enemy by simply observing. Do not be deceived – they always self identify.
Overall, people were more friendly again. It even FELT safer to be out and about. The PDT effect is special. 👍
No masks. None. Even with COVID and flu around.
The No Kings rally was non-existent around there and a leftist boomer snoozefest in other lowcountry areas such as Savannah and Charleston. They might as well have been palmetto trees for all normal people cared. The local media tried ginning up interest with no takers apparently. The following day they never even mentioned it.
Staffing was down in restaurants and retail establishments, however, those who were there from all backgrounds and cultures were good and efficient everywhere we went. Food quality was off the charts good. The menu prices were actually down from last fall. Managers visited tables, asked about the meals, and thanked people for coming in; which was a nice turn of events. With no taxes on tips, the 5% discount option for paying bills in cash that had been available had gone away. Good servers can now make a living at the occupation regardless of tips in cash or on a credit card due to the tax law changes. Farm to table has been growing and was big around there due to the longer agricultural seasons as well as minimal storm disruptions for the seafood. It is all really working well now. Waygu beef grown on southeastern/midwestern farms is on many of the menus.
Triple tail, redfish, flounder, red snapper, sheepshead, grouper, swordfish and mahi were the orders of the day along with the Carolina shrimp, oysters and blue crab. The month of November kicked off a number of oyster fest events throughout the lowcountry.
Starting to see some development projects again, primarily residential. Commercial real estate development and occupancy was still soft. Some vacant storefronts, a number of which have been empty for a year or longer. Some of that is related to the increase in web shopping. Overall these long term vacancies will bring rental rates down.
Grocery prices were down from the past couple of years. Two dozen large eggs were $4.40 approx at Sam’s (now under $4). A lot of product price reductions and sales on aisles at Walmart, Krogers and Publix. Fuel was around $2.60 – 2.85 per gallon.
Drivers were stupid bad on the interstates and highways around there. Many had death wishes for themselves and others. Many more wrecks than in the past. Probably the effects of the jabs is part of it. However, the volume of local traffic was a lot less than previous years after the fall break kids and their families went home. At times it became so light that we thought we went back to the future.
Mild and temperate again for that time of year, which made beach conditions ideal. By comparison it had become very hot over the past couple of decades. Somehow most of the Atlantic storms miraculously turned northeast into the middle of the Atlantic this season. It’s a miracle!
😀
Our lodging had the pleasure of being beside a lowcountry thicket that ushered deer past our windows most mornings and evenings. Momma deer and I had several rendezvous in the mornings as I ventured out to our vehicle or returned to the villa. She seemed unconcerned with my presence even with her babies nearby. Then there was the young alligator who wandered from a pond to within about ten feet of Daughter and family on its way into another thicket at one of the miniature golf establishments. The grandsons loved it. Their Mom and Dad were not quite as enthralled.
Time to finish the SC signers.
Arthur Middleton
Our last signer from South Carolina was born in Charleston in 1742. Arthur Middleton was born and bred as a proper Englishman to parents Henry Middleton and Mary Baker Williams. The family members were wealthy owners of a large homestead along with 19 other plantations totaling over 50,000 acres with over 800 slaves. As time passed Henry embraced independence due to British taxation policies. Beginning in 1770 he increased his participation in the independence movement, resigning British appointments, and rose to President of the First Continental Congress. With his health worsening after a year of service he resigned in favor of his son’s participation, so that he could return to SC and live out his remaining years there.
Arthur was educated by tutors in Charleston until he was sent at age twelve to Great Britain to attend Harrow, Westminster, and Trinity Hall. He studied law at Middle Temple and traveled Europe afterwards enjoying the arts, music and literature. He returned and married Mary Izard in 1764. They settled into Middleton Place plantation outside of Charleston, SC where generations of Middletons lived. They had five children over the years.
Arthur was a more hard line independence minded person than his father. He became a leader of the American Party in the state and one of its strongest advocates for independence. He served on the Council of Safety and its Secret Committee. In 1776 he replaced his father as a member of the Second Continental Congress. He subsequently became a signer of the Declaration.
He and William Drayton designed the Great Seal of South Carolina. Although a loving and kind person with family and friends, he earned a reputation of being ruthless toward loyalists in direct opposition with fellow signer Francis Merion, who urged reconciliation after the war. Since Middleton served in battle at Charleston and was captured along with Thomas Heyward and Edward Rutledge, he probably had good reasons to feel that way. He was freed in an exchange of prisoners along with the other two. Per his Descendants site, Benjamin Rush described Arthur Middleton “as a man of cynical temper but upright intentions towards his country.”
Arthur chose to return to private life once victory was assured and he went back to Middleton Place, which had been devastated by the British during the war. He declined a return to Congress to focus on the homestead and plantation’s restoration. He did serve in the state legislature and as a trustee for Charleston College. He did not last long after that, passing away in 1787 at age 44. He is buried there in the Middleton Place Gardens & Tomb along with his wife, who passed away many years later in 1814 at age 66.
If you enjoy that sort of thing, you owe it to yourself to visit this National Historic Landmark. It is an American jewel.
https://www.middletonplace.org
Arthur was the son of a famous, respected patriot in an aristocratic family. He came from extreme wealth and privilege. It did not matter. He advocated for independence even more strongly than his father, served his fellow colonists, and put his life on the line in battle. During the war he endured prison and found the family’s wealth and properties ravaged by the British at its end. Instead of regret and wallowing in pity, he set about the rebuild and restoration. At his life’s early end after having suffered from fevers for the better part of a decade, he had accomplished his goal while still serving the citizens of SC in the legislature. We pay homage to his dedication to America and the cause of independence.
Please remember Wolf’s rules for our community. In general that means to be respectful to each other and to pull no shenanigans that your mom might find offensive or otherwise cause jail time. That said, free speech is honored here.
Be blessed and go make something good happen!
