Missing the parade, but the Fourth with friends on the banks of the May River ain’t bad

It made me sad that we could not have the Bluffton Children’s Fourth of July parade this year.

I always look forward to seeing the children and their decked out modes of transportation. It is an affair that is a quite short four blocks long, but full of Old Town charm. Next year we will Yankee our Doodle in grand fashion.

Later on the Fourth, we joined a wonderful group of friends we have known for years at a riverside celebration on the May River. We were all careful not to get too close to one another as children splashed and played in the water and big folks laughed and feasted on barbecue and all the fixin’s.

It was a very special treat to see June and Lee Simoneaux, Jane and Abe Hester with daughter Ansley Manuel, Louisa Harrison and Nikki and Brian Reiser fresh from a dip in the May River.

Later in the day, as the moon rose, fireworks lit up the sky and we all bid adieu to America’s birthday.

Fabulous compound

“One Man’s Folly: The Exceptional Houses of Furlow Gatewood” written by Julia Reed is a book I adore and turn to on dreary days. Dreary days when we are closeted in our house away from the world and those blasted germs.

Furlow Gatewood is a person I would love to meet. He is the most amazing designer — creator of such an unbelievably fabulous compound on his family property in Americus, Georgia.

Mr. Gatewood has been friends and has worked with Bunny Williams and her husband John Rosselli for many years. The trio have worked together on so many marvelous projects it makes my mind whirl. They had shops together in New York and traveled the world gathering wonderful treasures for others and themselves, the likes of which are now rarer than hen’s teeth.

Mr. Gatewood’s most magical creation is his house in Americus on land owned by his family. The book Miss Reed has written shares photographs and glimpses of the constant work being done at Mr. Gatewood’s compound, all of which is breathtaking.

What has been wrought out of bits and big pieces of relics hundreds of years old is nothing short of WOW. Mr. Gatewood is a true Southern treasure and bon vivant who spreads his charm like buttah on a hot biscuit.

Susan Woods, a fabulous lady who lives on Hilton Head Island, is from Americus. She has visited Mr. Gatewood and has assured me he is even more divine than I could ever imagine. I can’t imagine but I trust her.

If you would like to have the book, let me know and I will send one or bring one to you if you live near my store. Believe me, you will fall in love like I did with this dear person ... even his name is wonderful ... Furlow Gatewood.

Heartbreaking

I hope New York gets straightened out. I think everyone I know has been there at some time or other, especially at Christmas.

I feel so sorry for the discord too in other cities that threatens all who live or work there.

I trust some sensible people can come together and help work out their frustrations ... it is just heartbreaking.