Kara's Blog

right now .  yes.  saturday night live is doing a tribute .  playing the show where george carlin hosted....  right now -  this show has survived for a long time.  so many generations, lol.  different phases in our lives.  funny to pretty much everyone.   just wanted to let y'al know that it was on.

what a great show.

what a funny man - he will be missed by many.

and this will be a great show with the young john belushi. 

let me know if u watched it!

.... I am really having a hard time finding the words here, lol.  It was just ‘one of those moments', you know.    One of those things that you could NEVER even IMAGINE happening.   And there it is - happening, right before your eyes, lol   :D

The pictures really speak for themself.    Take a look.      

                                           Just another HAPPY CLIENT stopping by to say hello :) 

Equestrian properties are our specialty!     

.... I am really having a hard time finding the words here, lol.  It was just ‘one of those moments', you know.    One of those things that you could NEVER even IMAGINE happening.   And there it is - happening, right before your eyes, lol   :D

The pictures really speak for themself.    Take a look.      

                                           Just another HAPPY CLIENT stopping by to say hello :) 

Equestrian properties are our specialty!     

THE ACADEMY ~ Aiken, South Carolina

The Academy gets its name from Saint Angela's Academy that used to occupy the grounds.

The Academy is newly constructed, yet exhibits the craftsmanship of a bygone era.

This 3.19 acre equestrian estate in Aiken's historic Winter Colony area has public gardens, museum, golf course and the 2,100 acre Hitchcock Woods all within walking distance.        

The barn and the elegant main residence have every modern convenience, comfort and luxury that the most discerning buyer could desire.  

Lady Banks Roses climb the terrace wall blooming into a sea of pale yellow.

 Just inside, the wet bar awaits an eager host.

The upstairs bedrooms are spacious and as well planned as the rest of the house with immense storage and a cedar closet.

The Master Suite's poolside loggia is ideal for morning coffee and a quick dip, a long soak in the Spa Tub, or a relaxing steam in the tile surrounded shower - however you wake-up, doing so at The Academy means luxury.

 A mahogany paneled library, coffered ceilings, a ladies' withdrawing room with a view of the stables, and a spacious orangerie overlooking the courtyard swimming terrace and the heated saltwater pool are but a few of the exquisite amenities.

The high ceilings throughout lend to the open and airy feeling of welcome that fills The Academy. 

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For more information on this listing, please contact the listing agent.

Jane Page Thompson of The Carolina Real Estate Company ~ Aiken, South Carolina. 

Office: 803-648-8660       Toll Free: 800-880-0108 

Email:  JanePage@CarolinaCompany.com  

The Worlds Largest Pond is Right Here in Amerca.  Yes you read that correct.  Isn't that awesome!  I am just like, dumbstruck.  As soon as I read that in some research I was doing, I was like WOW, I have to write about this, and yet I'm at a loss for words, haha. The largest pond in THE WORLD - here. Right here in The United States!!  Why didn't I know this ? ?

DID YOU KNOW?  OMG, did everyone in the world know this except for me??!!   Say it ain't so, lol. 

Langley Pond.   It is a few inches shy of being a lake, lol.  Langley Pond has the ONLY Olympic size rowing course in South Carolina.   Yup - the largest pond in the world, is in South Carolina - Aiken County (my county!!) - Langley.

  I knew it was a big pond, lol - I had no idea it was the largest.  

The US and other Olympic teams practiced on Langley Pond for the 1996 Summer Olympics held in AtlantaGA                                                                                    

Regattas are often held there.  One this weekend, in fact.

The  SE Regional Rowing Championships -The United States Rowing Association  

If you're in the mood - and within range for a day trip, I highly recommend coming to this event.

If you can't make it this weekend - go anytime.   The Langley Pond Park is great.  Picnic areas, playground, grills, bathhouse, boat ramp, concession stand, swimming....oh my gosh - so much to do.   Suggest hosting your Company Annual Event there!  Wouldn't that be fun.  

 About an hour from Columbia - about 3 hours from Atlanta..... directions

Have fun!

...and what a night it was!   Downtown Aiken is the best :)     We had a beach blast last night - and after hours it ended with a beach party on our party street!  Yes, we have a 'party' street here in Aiken :)      All of our 'block parties', festivals, etc..are held right downtown on Newberry Street.   A great location!  And once the ends are blocked off - it is party time!!  

We even had a 'beach' on the street.   Yes - TOES IN THE SAND!!  I luv it :)      While the sun was still shining, the kids were playing in the sand....but after dark - look out --  the beach was taken over by the adults for a beach dance!  FUN FUN FUN!!     The shag is our state dance - and alot of fun.

The cruise-in was awesome - so many cool cars.    I wouldn't mind doing that every night!!

Can you guess which one was my fav??  Hahaha

and....I've had so many blog posts this week that I won't be getting any points for this.... but that's ok - I'm not in it for the points, lol.

I noticed this sign as I was headed to the office this morning.  I bet your town doesn't post these!   Or do they??    We even have street lights with the 'push here for green' button up high enough so it can be reached from horseback!  Pretty cool, huh.   

Only in Aiken!  The place I call home.

MORE THAN A ONE HORSE TOWN.......OR WE WOULDN'T NEED SIGNS LIKE THIS!!

Valerie has posted some tasty looking recipes and I was inspired to do some baking myself.  I remembered a cake recipe and thought I would share it with y'all.  I've had this recipe for a very long time, but I don't make it that often.   I have no idea why that is, because it is such an EASY recipe!   It couldn't be any easier, really.     It's called a Dump Cake - and here is how to make it.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Grease the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan

DUMP in 20 oz Crushed Pineapple. 

DUMP in 16 oz Cherry Pie Filling

DUMP SPRINKLE  1 package Yellow Cake Mix - dry - over the top.  

DUMP SPRINKLE 1 1/2 sticks of butter, sliced - over the top.

BAKE at 350 degrees till lightly brown, 45 mins  - 1 hour.   

Serve warm or at room temp.   (with or without ice cream, lol)

So, let's see....that was:    DUMP - DUMP - SPRINKLE -SPRINKLE - BAKE.    How easy is that!   And it tastes good, too.

(not sure how this will work in those higher altitudes)

     To give y'all a feel for my little city.  I'm sitting in my living room and I hear the clip-clop of horses hooves on the pavement.  Yes, I knew it would be a horse-drawn carriage, but I still rush to the window every time I hear them.  Well, it was the cutest thing.  It was a carriage - a small one, the lady driver and her two pups along for the ride :)  .....and..... there was a younger boy hitching a ride on the back of the carriage, and his horse was walking along behind them (on a lead, of course, lol).   I wish I could have gotten a picture.    I  hear the clip-clop all the time -  I live in the historic part of our city and very close to the Hitchcock Woods.  Check out an earlier blog of mine. It's called "more than twice the size of Central Park"   (if I knew how to put that little link here, I would)   You can hire a carriage and ride thru the woods, or downtown.   Now, it's NOT overrun with carriages.  Just enough to maintain the charm that is Aiken.   The place I call home. 

*****update......   well, it's about 10 minutes later and now I hear the rrrrrrrrrrr of the lawn mower outside, lol -  not quite as pleasant as the clip-clop, lol.

Just another reason to consider Aiken, SC if you are thinking of heading south!! 

Back in '99 a resolution was passed by the City Council to support the "Community of Character' initiative in Aiken.  THE FIRST IN SOUTH CAROLINA!! 

EVERYONE (schools, club members, businesses, chamber of commerce, the media....) is involved in encouraging good character among Aiken's citizens.    Each month a character trait is presented to the community to encourage citizens of all ages to become better role models of GOOD CHARACTER.   There is even an awards ceremony each year to acknowledge students who display positive character in the way they conduct their lives.

Promoting good character in the community helps develop strong families, friendships, and adds positive qualities to the lives of our younger generation as well as our adult citizens.

For more info on this, you can visit:  www.aiken.net

"Our city will be judged by the character of our citizens."

RESPECT  -  SINCERITY - ATTENTIVENESS - COMPASSION - LOYALTY - COURAGE - RESPONSIBILITY - CITIZENSHIP - TRUTHFULNESS - PATIENCE - FORGIVENESS - SELF CONTROL