July: Little Getaways and Unexpected Detours

Halfway through summer already! It happened so fast. I was thankful this July for a short beach getaway with our family, as well as a little belated anniversary trip with Beach. We managed to squeeze in some sweet summer memories along the way.
Our Fourth of July definitely did not turn out as planned. Actually, our plans seemed to evolve quite a bit throughout the day! I went for a walk that morning and, while walking through the grass, stepped into a completely hidden hole and went down. It was incredibly painful, as I knew it was sprained, and I just had to sit there for a few minutes as disappointment started to wash over me.

Along with the pain came the realization that our plans for the day were probably over, as well as my hopes that Beach and I could take a little hiking getaway we had planned for a couple of weeks later. To make matters worse, I was out on a trail and still had to walk myself home, which I knew wasn't exactly going to help the situation.

So I sat there for a few minutes, prayed, tried not to cry, and eventually got myself back up.

I did make it home, and we canceled our original plans for the day. Instead, we invited my parents over for dinner and games, which actually turned into a really fun evening. It also meant I could keep my ankle elevated and iced instead of hobbling around somewhere all day. Definitely not the Fourth of July we had planned, but still a sweet time together.

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Watermelon-eating boys on the back porch. A pretty perfect summer sight!

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The kids were also able to get some special time with Josiah while he was in town staying with my parents. They spent some time fishing together and were even successful!

So thankful they were able to squeeze in these memories together.

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Lauren and her family came over one evening to our house for one more last goodbye. It will most likely be a few years before we see each other again.

Attacking hugs are Josiah's favorite!

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The week before school started we had so many doctor's appointments....including eye exams.

And another earlier doctor appointment with an impromptu breakfast date with Shiloh afterwards.

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School started back soooo early this year, and Shiloh was representing for Meet the Teacher night.

Along with some of her friends.

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And, of course, the monthly roundup of random selfies I discovered on my phone!

July didn't necessarily go exactly as planned, but apparently that was part of the theme! There were changed plans, little getaways, family time, and plenty of ordinary summer moments mixed in. Summer is already winding down, and I'm thankful for the memories we managed to make along the way.

A Belated Anniversary Getaway

When both girls were able to head off to camp, Beach and I decided to sneak away for a couple of nights for a belated anniversary trip. Spraining my ankle a few weeks earlier had changed both where we could go and how long we could be away, but thankfully it had healed enough that I could do some walking.

I found a great deal at Middleton Place Inn on Travelzoo, somewhere I had had my eye on for quite some time. It looked so picturesque, and it ended up being an amazing getaway and a great value. Being only a couple of hours from home was a huge bonus, especially since this was somewhere I had never really heard about before.

The inn itself was beautiful and unique, with award-winning modern architecture tucked along the Ashley River. It felt secluded and peaceful from the moment we arrived.

After exploring the property, we walked along the river over to the Middleton Place gardens next door, which were included with our stay. Despite it being July in South Carolina, the weather was surprisingly tolerable, with beautiful skies and incredible landscaping to enjoy.

The gardens were gorgeous, and there was also a museum on the property filled with pieces of history, including a signed copy of the Constitution.

That evening, we headed back to the lodge, where they offered a complimentary charcuterie spread that was delicious. We enjoyed happy hour drinks, played a game, and took full advantage of having nowhere we needed to be.

After getting cleaned up, we headed back to the gardens for dinner at the restaurant.

We decided to splurge on their 250th anniversary dinner pairing, which was probably one of the fanciest dining experiences I have ever had. It was wonderful, but definitely a rare treat for us!

So pictureste, I couldn't help but take another photo.

As dusk settled in, we even spotted an alligator out the window. I naturally wanted to get a little closer for a better look after we ate. Beach naturally thought that was a terrible idea.

Back at the inn, we enjoyed the complimentary nightcap and macarons while catching the tail end of the sunset. Then we quietly retreated to our room before the mosquitoes discovered me more. I am a mosquito magnet, after all.

The next morning started with the inn's wonderful complimentary breakfast before we headed back to the gardens.

We wanted to take advantage of a couple of the included tours, one focused on the gardens and another on the lives and experiences of the enslaved people who lived and worked at Middleton Place. 

Both tours were incredibly informative and well done. It was sobering and important to learn more about everything that had taken place on the property and to think about the very different lives of the people who had lived there.

Sheep wondering through the grass field.

We also learned that a scene from The Patriot had been filmed at Middleton Place (as there was so much history there). I had never seen the movie, so we ended up watching it later that night. Having walked the grounds and learned some of their history earlier that day definitely made watching it more interesting and impactful.

That afternoon was wonderfully uneventful. We relaxed by the pool and along the river, which was exactly what I wanted from this little getaway.

After getting cleaned up that evening, we decided we didn't really need another big dinner. The charcuterie spread at happy hour sounded much more appealing than getting back in the car and searching for somewhere to eat.

So we stayed.

We ate, attempted a game, spent some time in the hammock, watched the sunset, and simply enjoyed being together. 

Nothing elaborate. Nothing we needed to accomplish. Just a calm evening appreciating the chance to slow down.

Enjoying God's handiwork.

On our way home the next day, we drove through Summerville. I had heard about the town's claim to the world's largest sweet tea, and we had even seen signs advertising it. Finding the actual display proved to be much harder than expected! It was tucked away between buildings, but after a little searching, we finally found it and, of course, had to stop for a photo. Then it was time to head home.

I'm so thankful we found this beautiful little getaway so close to home. What started as a change of plans because of my ankle ended up being exactly what we needed. A couple of quiet days together, beautiful surroundings, good food, history, sunsets, and time to simply enjoy each other's company made for a pretty wonderful belated anniversary celebration. I would absolutely recommend Middleton Place for a getaway, and I can only imagine how beautiful the gardens must be in the spring when everything is blooming.