27th Annual Aiken Fall Steeplechase - 2018, Aiken, South Carolina

“Each handicap is like a hurdle in a steeplechase, and when you ride up to it, if you throw your heart over, the horse will go along, too.”

Lawrence Bixby

Joe and I met up with our friends at 9 am on Saturday morning and we helped load up the three vehicles and then took off about 9:30 following each other all the way. Aiken, South Carolina is beautiful horse country with beautiful estates and fenced acres with stately horse barns. We drove into Aiken down Boundary Road that is lined with the most beautiful live oaks. This is one of the most beautiful streets
ever and is wonderful driving under those majestic trees.

We pulled in the red gate per our parking pass, parked, and put up the party canopy. Then we unloaded all the wonderful food that Lynn prepared for the day. She prepared a wonderful gourmet Greek meal. She brought all her catering dishes and set everything up with sternos and it was truly wonderful. Lynn did an amazing job. I’m not sure how she does it but everything was just perfect. As the food heated up, we all sat around and enjoyed each others company while waiting for the races. It was a very cold and cloudy day in the morning with wind gusts that would make us go grab the legs of the canopy and hold on.

The Aiken Steeplechase Association is a nonprofit organization and they host two steeplechase races per year. There is the Imperial Cup in March (Spring Steeplechase) and the Holiday Cup in October and the organization gives back to the Aiken Community through donations to local charities. There is a volunteer board of directors and community members who support the steeplechase in Aiken.

The Steeplechase Association was founded in 1930 by a few influential horsemen like Thomas Hitchcock, Temple Gwathmey, and Harry Worchester Smith. The first race was run in Hitchcock Woods and over a thousand people watched it including children on ponies so they could get a better view. There was a 25 year break in the races due to war and civic development. It was started back in 1967.

So here we are today, shivering a little when the sun went behind the clouds but then it warms up nicely when the sun peaks out its head. Thousands of people come these races to watch the horses, picnic, and enjoy the day with friends. Today they had five races for the thoroughbreds and four of the races were over the jumps. They announce our National Anthem over the speaker and you hear a group of children singing it.   We all loved it.   It was so cute.   

This is a family event so along with the races they have the Village of Shops to go see and shop. They sell jewelry, art, clothing, and even pet adoptions. It is a nice place to walk around and I love the horse statue in the middle of it all. I walked around prior to the beginning of the races. They had a hat contest today that I didn’t see but I did notice there were not as many hats today as in the Spring time.

After walking through the shopping area, I notice the kids lining up for a stick horse race. How fun and the English announcer made it funny with his commentary. What a fun event for the kids. They had different age divisions racing but the littlest ones were the funnest to watch. There is also the Paddock Playground and crafts set up for the kids to do. They had a costume contest as well as trick or treating for the children.

When I got back to our rail site, dinner was ready. Lynn, made pork Gyros, Greek sausage along with a Greek salad, fruits, humus, and other sides. My oh my, it was great food and gourmet. There was no lack of food so we were very well fed. Thanks Lynn and James for doing such a wonderful job.

Check out the BBQ truck I spotted on my walk.   I love it. Walking around, most people were set up nicely with canopy’s decorated for the fall, flowers, Halloween decorations, pumpkins, linen tablecloths, and great food and drinks. Some even grill out while they are there. Most people have fancy meals set up for their group but some just brought it take out meals like chicken. You can also buy food there so no one goes hungry. Our rail site most definitely had the best food at the Park that day.

After a few friendly bets, the races started. This is such a great event as the horses come right up close to you and they are such gorgeous animals. It was exciting watching the horses jump the fake hedges.. They appear to fly for a short ways. I worry every time the horse jump that one will not make it over. I always say a silent prayer for their safety and the riders. The horses run so gracefully and are truly beautiful animals.

“Horses make a landscape look beautiful.” Alice Walker

After the first race was the Carriage Parade. That is always fun to watch. There were some beautiful carriages. So the tradition of the Steeplechase carries on. The very first race was in 1752 in Ireland and was a race over wager. Not much has changed.

The weather improved greatly by the end of the day and it was lovely spending the day with our friends. By the end of the day there were blue skies and sunshine. If you have never been, it is a great event and so worth going. Spring time will be here before you know it and another steeplechase to go and see.

“I believe in angels, the kind that heaven sends. I’m surrounded by angels, and I call them my best friends.” Pamela Daranjo

Halloween Porch Crawl, Olde Town, Augusta, Georgia October 2018

“Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn and caldron bubble.”

Shakespeare’s Macbeth

Our Olde Town neighborhood friends in Augusta, Georgia are an amazing group.   They do many get togethers throughout the year downtown and we have been blessed to be a part of this special group of friends, since we come in from outside Olde Town.

Today was the Annual Halloween Porch Crawl. This is a brilliant idea of what you can do in a neighborhood that is full of friends. Four different houses hosted this event this year and they each offer a specialty beverage of their choosing and a snack. Since most of our friends are caterers - it was hardly a snack at each house but rather a meal. Each house had a 35 minute window to entertain. Since it was near Halloween many friends dressed up for the occasion.

The crawl started promptly at five at our friends, Carol and Birkie’s house. The porch was all decorated with Halloween lights, candelabras, and great props like a super amazing phone that if you pick up the receiver you would here phrases like: “I know where you are”, scary laughter, and a few other phrases.They had a fire pit burning in the backyard to sit near and warm up. Carol made an hors d’oeuvre with a tiny potato with steak on top that were wonderful. They were so full of flavor and lovely. The specialty drink of the house was Caramel Apple Mimosas. What a wonderful drink for the fall. Cheers to our friends and good times.

We walked down to the next house which was Deborah and Barry’s home. They had a lovely spread with small taco shells, tasty taco shredded beef, Mexican dip, chips, and Halloween cookies. She also made a wonderful scary drink called A Dead Man Walking. They added a bit of dry ice to it which gave it a great look with the punch bubbling and the white smoke pouring out of the picture. There house was decorated with skulls and candelabras. The food was great and everything was lovely. What a great time hanging with all our buddies. This is their beautiful banana tree in their back yard.  We so enjoyed it all.

On our way to Lynn and James house, our group stopped in the park in the middle of Broad Street to see Carol's bench that she designed for the city to honor our veterans.   She did a lovely job and this is some of our group giving thanks. This is in the area that has all the veterans monuments at the corner of 4th and Broad.   Thanks Carol for the great job. 

Then we mosied over to Lynn and James house. They had their house all decorated with ghosts, skeleton bones and spiders. They made Empanadas with a lovely spicy white sauce to go on them and a great dip. She also made the cutest dessert with small Reese's cups topped with whipped marshmallows on top and decorated as little ghosts. The serving table was set up nicely with skeleton bones laid out on the table and a skulls. The punch they made had a great flavor and they called it  the Sledgehammer. I believe it would have hit me like that so I just sipped a small amount. Wonderful food and drink.

As we walked to the next house on the crawl we passed many homes that were all decorated up for fall and Halloween. It was lovely walking around Old Town with our group of friends. Now it was getting dark and the night was lovely with the stars out and a partial moon glowing. We walked up to the next house which was Becky’s home.

Beth and Becky were the host of this home and they had it set up lovely in her back yard with white lights draped over the table. They made Walking Tacos. What a great and creative idea. You buy small bags of Nachos and slice the bag open after crunching the chips up some. Then she had all the toppings for tacos. You can put ground beef, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, guacamole, lettuce, tomatoes, and taco sauce and then eat it with a fork right in the bag. What a great idea. Their drink was a help yourself to vodka, club soda, and sprite. They also had nice Halloween cookies also. Everything  was wonderful. Our thirty-five minutes went fast and time is up.  Now onward to our final destination.

Our last stop was back to Carol and Birkie’s home for a fire pit and to watch scary movies outside. As the movie was playing, there was comedic comments throughout making the movie more lighthearted.  It was as if we were watching Mystery Science Theater. Carol had also made Shrimp and Grits, Chili, and a chocolate dessert for munching on just incase we were still hungry. The shrimp and grits were to die for and not that any of us were hungry, but we had to have some of Carols shrimp and grits. Yummy. None of us will eat for a week.

It was a wonderful fun evening spent with the best of friends. It was a night full of laughter, fellowship, and the best food and drinks in town. There is nothing like having great friends. Thanks to all who hosted this event. We had a blast.  Happy Halloween to all and to all good night. 

“I love the spirit of Halloween and the energy that comes with it.” Katherine McPhee