Charleston Academy of Domestic Pursuits

Walking on sunshine with the Power Suit. JMC on King Street Charleston has the power suit in yellow, green and pink.

Snack time

Good Night

Sunday morning on the Battery.

The view on a Wednesday 🤍🤍🤍

Being part of the Charleston Literary Festival has added to my life in many ways, including deepening my interest in reading and igniting my curiosity about how books are written. Listening to our visiting authors discuss the process behind their work is such a privilege. I loved Lisa Taddeo's conversation about writing entire books in coffee shops (Three Women), while Louis Menand's The Free World: Art and Thought in the Cold War revealed that he doesn't make an outline or even a draft, but rather just starts with the first sentence. Read more from Suzanne's article for
VIE Magazine entitled "Embrace the Conversation "now on the blog! link in bio…

One summer I committed to baking a pie each week and the love I got in return was phenomenal. You could actually change the world, definitely your world, one pie at a time. A pie is meant to be shared. It’s for gathering. Acts like a magnet. Who among us does not love a piece of pie? Becoming a skillful pie maker is a worthy endeavor and a vehicle to connect with others. Tonight is peach pie night 🍑

Choosing stoves, sinks and tubs🤗. Thank You Stephanie.

I thought about an ideal honeymoon years ago, without having a man to marry. It became a metaphor for so many things. I never thought it could live up to my romantic vision. But the man and the honeymoon in Hydra were better than anything I could imagine. Photos show afternoon swimming spot, backgammon and Aperol Spritzers, favorite restaurant, the moment in the 200-year celebration of Greek Independence when the ship burns and the fireworks start, a Jeff Koons yacht and a Jeff Koons sundial, room with a view. 🍯🌙

Honeymoon has begun.

Suzanne and Don beginning their married journey. 🤍

Good Morning Charleston Battery

“I ate at Lebanese restaurants every Sunday during my eighteen years of growing up in Africa, and I’m still convinced that Lebanese food is the best anywhere in the world. Known as the ‘land of milk and honey’ for its natural abundance, Lebanon’s fish is always freshly caught, its coffee is so strong your brain stands to attention, and its falafel is unlike anything in America.

One late afternoon in Baalbek, we wandered into the only open restaurant—empty except for a table of men playing backgammon. They looked up with shock when two women entered. Autumn asked for food, but we were offered only water. It seemed the place wasn’t open after all (it may not have even been a restaurant). Still, in a gesture of hospitality not often seen in the West, one man from the table came over and arranged to have roast chicken, hummus, salad, yogurt, olive oil, French Fries, and Pepsi brought to us from a place nearby. He then motioned for me to move over so he could play backgammon with Autumn, playing like a military commander. We learned enough from him to beat most people in the US. He turned out to be a member of the politically militant group Hezbollah.”

Read more from Suzanne’s article for VIE Magazine entitled “Blessed Journeys with Friends” (plus a few other 2023 publications) now on the blog! Link in bio…

love where you live 🤍 Gardinias blooming, beautifing and perfuming one block of Church Street.

Some fascinating quotes from successful men about their mothers. “She clearly had this belief that I could be brilliant at whatever I was doing, so I felt the need to live up to that.” Chairman and CEO of BBDO advertising agency, Andrew Robertson

“There was no party line at home about what we should do when we grew up. Follow the star— whichever star we found the most alluring.” Writer and academic, Niall Ferguson

She was very beautiful, kind of Elizabeth Taylor style of looks. Under that pretty and very friendly disposition she was very tough and I’ve always admired that. Director and CEO of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Tom Campbell

Blue ceilings. Thank you Maurice & .kamal.ayyildiz

Thank you Donatella and Giulio for a perfect pasta party. Instead of Giulio and I making the pasta (see last photo from an earlier dinner) a Michelin star chef from the Bvlgari Paris showed us REAL PASTA making.

A Phony Negroni 🥰

Welcome to the neighborhood.

A Winter Pop Up. Freezing, delicious and warm in friendship 🥳

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A warm, special and memorable Christmas Eve. A movable feast starting with hot toddies overlooking the Holy City.

A warm special meaningful Christmas Eve. 🎄A moveable feast. 🎄Dinner in three places starting with hot toddies overlooking the Holy City. 🎄

Art tour in the Virginia Executive Mansion with art advisor . The Virginia Governor's Mansion is the oldest occupied governor's mansion in the United States. Watching paintings being hung, a dining room Christmas tree decorated with silver chalices, pitchers, salt dishes, and two paintings hung on back to back walls by Queena Stovall (Baptizing – Pedlar River 1957) and Queena’s great-granddaughter Annie Laurie Gushman (Resolute 2020)

The aftermath

A little Hanky Panky for Friday night cocktails. One perfect way to entertain. Sit 3 people on a tiny a balcony with a cheese plate from and serve a surprise cocktail cool enough to talk about. The Hanky Panky cocktail was created by the first woman bartender at the Savoy Hotel, Ada Coleman. She presided over the bar from 1903 to 1925. Actor Charles Hawtrey requested something a little ‘punchy’. After his first sip he exclaimed “By Jove! That is the real Hanky Panky!” Gin, sweet vermouth and just a tiny hit of Fernet-Branca (the bartender’s handshake) with the healthy addition of an orange twist 🤣. 1 1/2 ounces of gin and sweet vermouth, 2 dashes of Fernet-Branca (1/4 teaspoon) and orange garnish.

Mid morning snacks while choosing which Charleston Literary Festival sessions to attend. All! @ La Chambertin

My seatmate, the fabulous Carolyn Murry from -TV enjoying a fascinating fun lunch for . Women today can wear sequins or plaids to a lunch and look just right! Thank you

No matter the season, carbonara is the favorite Academy Sunday Supper. Esp with chunks of rendered Guanciale & freshly laid chicken eggs & parmigiana & really really good pasta like . Little trick - drain pasta in colander over the pasta bowls. The hot water heats the bowls while you whisk the sauce and twirl in the pasta.

Hurricane prep. Charleston literary prep. R&R. Remove chairs from balcony. Read. Relax before storm.

Cookbook Connections! ✨📚Last Fall, took a cookbook class with The Academy taught by and their connection via cookbooks blossomed into a terrific article on Mary’s blog for the whole scoop! We love it when our classes carry on

A+ to the cherry pie girls who learned how to make a pie on FaceTime.

Thank you for bringing us back to Lebanon Dolly and Leyla’s. A feast to remember.

Dessert for breakfast.

A beautiful beginning of the day in

Parlor donuts - awesomeness. Island & Toni Ricker ❤️❤️❤️❤️