Where Myrtle Beach People Shop

Forget that overpriced mall. OK, we shop at the outlets too, but when we're too lazy to drive there, we come here: this is Seaboard Commons on Seaboard Street between 10th Ave. North (or Joe White Ave.) and 21st Ave. North, right in the middle of town! Seaboard Commons has a Target, Ross, World Market, TJ Maxx, Le Nails, and AC Moore. Next to it is also: Lowes, Sams Club, Office Max, Pier 1, One Stop Party Shop, and I'm probably forgetting a few stores here...

Speaking of Target, what kid doesn't love that $1 section in the front?! It's the one place where kids can always ask for stuff and never hear the word "no." 

Chapin Park

 It's right next to the library. And right near the Boardwalk too!

The fence features tiles designed by students.

Close-up of one of the tiles.

The Dog Park

Barc Parc (off 62 North and Bypass 17) is one of two dog parks in Myrtle Beach. This one is cleaner and newer. It's a very popular spot-- come here often enough ,and eventually you'll meet every dog in this city!

Chapin Library

Chapin Library

My favorite place in the whole world. The only public library in Myrtle Beach. Its biggest sections are the kids section and the large print section. The large print section is actually as big as the regular fiction section. I thought this was strange, until I realized how nice it was to read and not squint. http://www.chapinlibrary.org/

This horse is outside of the library.  I posted the horse because my little girl has been climbing onto it for years.

Spring is (almost) here, Part 2

Sweet Basil

Myrtle Beach weather, hot and humid 9 months out of the year, is perfect for growing sweet basil. I don't get enough sunlight in my home to save my basil during the winter months, so I just buy a new plant every spring. I just got this plant from Lowes, $3.50 because I suck at gardening and can't grow things from seed. This baby will be 2 feet high by summer's end and will add months of free delicious goodness to pestos, pastas, bread dips. I've got a black thumb but even I can't kill my herbs, thank goodness.

Tips:

1. Harvest frequently, to encourage bushy growth. Otherwise you will end up with a long skinny, sad looking basil plant. I do not look at this as work....that's more food for me.

2. The first time I grew basil, ants were eating up my poor plant. Seven dust works wonders.

 My Beloved Thyme Plant

This champion has been alive since last year when I carted him home from Lowes. I don't even water this thing, yet it mysteriously stays green, abundant, and most importantly, edible. Thyme smells lemony. It tastes good with everything.

I highly recommend growing herbs. They are basically weeds, so they are usually pretty hard to kill even for someone with a black thumb like me. I started growing my own herbs when I realized how much they cost at the supermarket. Getting a few herby leaves at the grocery store (which provides enough herbs for 2 meals) cost the same as buying the plant and growing it yourself (which provides enough herbs for your whole family forever) ! Well, I am not crazy about gardening but I love herbs in my food, so the cost-analysis there was a no-brainer.

Wow!

This is the first time I've ever caught this on camera!

Spring is (almost) Here!

My little 7-yr old took these--she's an avid photographer. Tip: if you give your little kid a camera to use, buy a strap to attach to the camera that's long enough to hook around their neck. You will thank me later.

That Hill at Market Commons

That little, gently sloping hill at Market Commons, next to the playground, on which all the kids love to roll/run down. Good times! For more information: http://www.marketcommonmb.com/

Cool Little Park

Holmes B Springs MD Park, Myrtle Beach

This little gem is about 2 acres and is great for walking dogs and shaded picnics! It looks even more amazing during spring and summer, when all of its flowers are in bloom.