Alice's Granddaughter Survives Earthquake!

For those of you who know Alice, you may also know her granddaughter, Patti. World traveler Patti was actually in California on Tuesday when the earthquake hit. According to an e-mail from Patti that afternoon:

Hi Everyone, I’ve just survived my 1st earthquake. It was a 5.8. I’m concerned Pam, Mom and Gram might see the news and be worried. I cannot get voice service right now from my mobile. I guess everyone is calling home. I am fine. We’re back in our meeting and the Calif folks are not rattled at all. Thanks! Patti

Alice Tries Another Church

This morning, Alice and her granddaughter, Beth, visited another small Baptist church, Eastside Baptist Church. (Who knew there were so many small Baptist churches in Forest Acres??)


Beth and Alice leaving for church. Beth says that Dad took this picture while he was sitting down - that is why she looks like a giant compared to Alice.



The church has a total of about 65 members, but the pastor said they average about 25 each Sunday. This is Alice with the minister, who is also a professor at Newberry College.

During the service, they had communion, which Beth did the Presbyterian way, not the correct Baptist way. Alice told Beth that she didn't eat the wafer at the right time. Beth surmised that the Lord wouldn't mind her doing it a little differently.

When asked if she would go back, Alice said," I liked it, I really did. But next week I'm going to Beth's church since she's been so good to take me to these others."

Ask Alice/Part Two and Saturday Shopping

Alice started Saturday as usual at Starbucks with the girls. Here are three Ask Alice questions. (There was no time to ask five - Alice made so many new friends, including the people sitting behind her in the picture.)

Where is your favorite place to shop in Columbia? "Dilliard's."

What about your favorite grocery store? "Fresh Market. Everything is so beautiful. The fruits are beautiful. And I love the coffee samples. Speed used to say that the samples tasted better than the full-sized versions."

Have you been to the State Museum yet? "No, I haven't had time. I've been so busy."

Afterwards, the granddaughters took their Dad to Pearl Fryar's topiary gardens, while Alice and her daughter, Shorti, shopped.

Alice finally got to go to Kohl's. Her thoughts? "It was fair. I wasn't crazy about it. I couldn't find anything good in the petite section."

They ate lunch at Sandy's, a great hot dog restaurant. But it looks like she enjoyed the Coke better!

After lunch, they went to Sam's, where you can see that Alice enjoyed the free samples.

Alice's Braves Buddy

Last night, John Douglas came over to watch the Braves game with Alice. His family doesn't get the channel that the games come on, and he's been trying to get over all summer.

Jon Douglas is Mary and Scott's teenage son - and Frances Anne and Will's brother - who just got back from a mission trip to Trinidad. He told Alice and Co. all about his trip during the game.

Unfortunately, JD had to leave before the game ended, but the Braves beat the Marlins, 9 to 4.

Ask Alice

As we continue the "Ask Alice" series, please help us by submitting your question(s) for Alice...

Post them to the Blog using the instructions on the page or send them to Mary Pat at winstonsgirl@hotmail.com.

Alice and Nancy

This is a picture of Alice and Nancy, one of the Starbucks regulars. Nancy is getting ready to leave for a two week hiking trip in Yosemite. She used to live in Los Angeles, where Billy Bob Thorton was her neighbor. She says that he wasn't very nice. But Nancy is!

To McBee or Not to McBee

On August 2, Alice and the girls will be roadtripping! Check out this e-mail from our fun Starbucks friend, Bob. Of course, we will have a full report on the Blog. (You may remember Bob from an earlier posting, S&S Excitement!)

On Saturday the 2nd of August, I will be heading 50 miles east to McBee, South Carolina, exploring Bigs, the meat market & sandwich shop and The McLeod Farms Roadside Market. The café offers homemade chicken salad purported to be the best in the state and other light fare including homemade (Really? We’ll see about that.) ice cream made from peaches and berries grown on McLeod Farm. Bigs also has a freezer of its signature casseroles ready to take home and bake.

The 92 year-old farm heralds thirty varieties of peaches! Blackberries will also be in season as well as sweet corn, squash, cucumbers, eggplant, bell peppers, okra, tomatoes, cantaloupes, watermelons, scuppernongs, and muscadines.

The Market Bakery has fresh pies, cakes and bread. Mac’s Pride Brand jars feature fruits and vegetables grown and packed on the farm. The boiled peanuts grew-up here as did those in the fresh-ground peanut butter.

I’m leaving Starbucks in Trenholm Plaza at 10:30 AM. We’ll have you back about 3 PM, soon enough to rest-up before your night on the town. Your $10 travel contribution is your only expense other than what you devour and what you tote home. I’m taking a small cooler in case I end up with a casserole, some peaches, a loaf of Pee Dee Rye, and a peanut. Feel free to do the same. Call me at 467-3782 in case you want to pile in.

All I can guarantee is South Carolina fun and adventure.