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HAPPY MOTHERS DAY 2025   Article and Photos without Photoshop or AI by Penelope Penn   As we wrap up our children’s school year, whether you’re filled with trepidation, anxiety, or sheer glee that your kids will be with you 24/7 soon, why not make plans to go a little wild.   May’s the perfect time to plan creative ways to entertain and bond and you’re never too young or too old to expand the scope of your explorations into wild South Carolina. While planning your summer adventures, don’t forget our diverse waterways, including the extensive seafood industry they provide.   We’re fortunate in SC that fresh seafood is ready to enjoy some place in the state year-round, whether it be in a restaurant, on a banana boat, or at the business end of a fishing rod. From coastal waters in the Low Country to our fresh water in the north, South Carolina’s been known for and celebrated its diversity of seafood, readily available for literally centuries. We know Beaufort’s...

Have you peeked into the Pearly Gates or Spent a Little Time on the Porch Dying on the vine is not how any of us want to leave this world and being remembered for something we've done or contributed is a good way to begin the last leg of your journey to the Pearly Gates.  That said, one thing I personally wanted to wrap up was what started as merely answering a couple questions for my kids, their kids and grandkids but quickly snowballed. I thought being able to tell them how and when our direct ancestors came to this country was my inroad into the questions about how our family came to America and when to pass along to my descendants. The more I got into the tedious research and challenges of the sites I visited, the more I was smitten and wished we'd been taught history this way vs merely remembering dates of wars. More importantly, confirming information I soon realized is a big challenge and can lead one down a path not even relevant to our own heritage and thus waste time ...

            Exploration to Inspire, Inspiration to Explore TM                                 Article and Photos without Photoshop or AI by Penelope Penn Curious formations and textures of the Superstition Mountains beckon, especially if you can wait until sunset, but their lore has been inspiring historians, explorers, and treasure hunters to look for far more. As an environmental journalist and wildlife photojournalist, this is an especially provocative mountain range to delve into both photographically and historically  

Happy International Womens Day  March 8, 2024 Look closely! The expressions of awe and disbelief on these players and ref's faces say it all, watching #15, the first female on this soccer team go for a head ball.  Her look of sheer determination reminds me of all the women - and men who never stopped pursuing their true passion or denied themselves their dreams. I'm so grateful for the choices and opportunities we have today  because those who came before us refused to be content with or to be bullied into accepting the status quo. My first official writing job was for Sports Journal - of all things. Luckily the Editor, who's since become a dear friend was open minded and a former athlete, always up for a challenge - no matter the tussles and flare ups they caused. He was cutting edge, and everyone that knows him honors and respects him for his fervor to take the industry up a notch, even if it meant venturing down heretofore unblazed paths and bold new ideas. I was not a...

This is How Courtin' is Done in The South Dragonflies have survived here for millions of years and they are the stuff of romance in their enthralling lore and captivating superstitions to many. Many perceive and adopt them as their "spirit animal" for this very reason. Their mating ritual however is anything but romantic, definitely not enjoyable for the female, and I wondered how the species has survived for so long.  Read on.  It was mid September in the south so I was on a hike and a mission to see what the last blast of summer would offer me.  At first I could only see a hint of what I thought may be a dragonfly. Dragonflies frequently mate mid air and the scientific term for their ritual is, "tandem linkage," for obvious reasons. What are the chances they would be in the precise time and destined place in their mating ritual that I could not only see them,but have enough time to complete this shot.  I think painting this would be very enjoyable, both in acr...

FULL DISCLOSURE: I RECEIVE NO INCENTIVES, MONETARY OR OTHERWISE TO PROMOTE THESE TOOLS TO YOU. I'M OFFERING THEM MERELY TO HELP YOU FIND THE JOY AND SATISFACTION I'VE FOUND IN TRACING MY ROOTS.  What Does "Tis the Season" Mean to You? It could be time for a trip to Grammas attic to see what photos and forgotten treasures you can                                                 discover like this one a new friend shared with me Every year starting at Thanksgiving, I set aside time to reconnect and give thanks to those in my life who have blessed me. A few years ago, I discovered "Finding Your Roots," the PBS television show with Dr. Henry Louis Gates and I realized how thankful I am to have discovered genealogy research. The incredible ancestors I discovered awaken my spirit and inspire me, but also new friends I've made and what has trickled down has be...