South Carolina

by Ashley Weeks Cart

It was a relaxing trip. Just what we needed. We stayed with James’ family at a home that his parents masterminded from scratch. It’s a miraculous place, to say the least. When we visited in October, it was not yet complete. This weekend we got the full effect. Needless to say, we look forward to years of our girls roaming those grounds and growing up basking in this view.

To be honest, we spent the majority of our time by the pool. Kaki kicking it in her floatie. Sunny daring to swim across the expanse free from the clutches of mommy and daddy, her lifey as assistance. Reading The Hunger Games in one sitting. Making a much anticipated beaded wrap bracelet. Drinking pitchers of beer in the hot tub…

Courtland sure can put ’em away.

We explored the new diggs.

The bunk room and bar proved to be favorites.

I oogled at the repurposed light fixtures and decor.

There were Easter crafts and hunts.

And most memorable of all was our run in with a Hog Nose Snake. Below it’s doing its best to look like a badass cobra.

Alas, a cobra it is not. Which means that we had no problem interacting and holding this little fella.

Of course we held it!

My father-in-law has his very own “Critter Room” for crying out loud. This is a man who delights in wildlife. Who rescues turtles and snakes from their fate as road kill. He has taught me to not be so screamish and skiddish about the creepy, crawly creatures among us. He’s the man who responded with utter joy rather than fear when I and his eldest granddaughter had our first run in with a Timber Rattlesnake.

I could feel the childlike enthusiasm emanating through the phone when James called his dad from the road to tell him that we’d just spotted a snake pretending to be a cobra. (Apparently cobra don’t live in North America, so no dice, snake, no dice).

Ben, too excited to even put on shoes, appeared by our sides within seconds. He grabbed the snake, ignoring the waterfall of poop that the snake reigned down in an effort to stimy Ben’s embrace, and taught us all about this particular critter.

They make great pets! Boom!

If you know my father-in-law, then you’ll understand when I say that this image is the embodiment of all things Ben.

My in-laws have mixed feelings about this blog so I tend to shy away from writing about James’ family, but I want to take this opportunity to say that it is an unbelievable pleasure to experience Ben sharing this passion of his with my daughters. Sunny has been telling anyone that will ask that she touched a Hog Nose Snake. And did you know that they eat toads? And they can’t bite! But they look like THIS to try and scare you… and then she does her best dang impression of a pig nose, her mouth hanging wide open like the snake’s… and it is nothing short of amazing.

So South Carolina, I look forward to seeing you again soon. With all of your squiggly, wriggly critters.

Photos: Courtesy of Ashley Weeks Cart