Sasee Magazine - December 2022

Page 1

CELEBRATING

YEARS

December 2022 December 2022
“Just remember, the true spirit of Christmas lies in your heart.” -The Polar Express
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About the Cover Artist:

Dita Omuri is a British painter, living and working in the UK. Her sketchbook was a constant companion throughout her childhood in her native country Albania. It was through art competitions she secured herself a scholarship to a School of Fine Art at the age of 14. In 1998 she moved to the UK to continue her studies with a Bachelor’s Degree in Art, where she has lived ever since. Her paintings have been exhibited and sold in both solo and group shows across the world. Her art is greatly influenced by her love of fashion and female figurative photography. She describes her style as “powerful and feminine, sensual and sophisticated, with a dash of glamour!” A painting to her is like a best friend – she gets your mind buzzing with motivation to look good and feel good.

To see more of her work, visit her socials on Facebook and Instagram

Instagram: artofdita

Facebook: www.facebook.com/artofdita

“In The Spirit” December 2022

Contents

Volume 21, Issue 12

Silver Bell by Jessica Marie

Historic Holiday Tours

Thrill of the Hunt

There’s No Such Thing as Too Much Tinsel by Debra Kuhns

Sasee Wish List

Waccamaw Sings in Hawaii 2023

Two “Scents” Worth by Diane DeVaughn Stokes

The Great Holiday Porcupine Meatball Pressure Cooker Escapade by Sue Fretwell

Pour Me Some Holiday Spirit

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at the Kaminski House Museum in historic Georgetown, SC NOVEMBER 7th - DECEMBER 31st HOLIDAY DESIGNERS’ SHOWCASE DECEMBER 3rd HOLIDAY VENDOR MARKET WREATH AUCTION FESTIVE BRASS OF MYRTLE BEACH “LIGHT UP THE LAWN” DECEMBER 8th CANDLELIGHT TOUR DECEMBER 10th YULETIDE TOUR (11 a.m. - 2 p.m.) DECEMBER 15th CANDLELIGHT TOUR DECEMBER 17th FAMILY NIGHT HOLIDAY EXPRESS (843) 546-7706 KAMINSKIMUSEUM.ORG Designer Lee Padgett Courtesy of Paula Supina

from the Editor

For many people around the world, getting into the holiday spirit can be brought on by the stunning sight of snow. For those of us who live along the Grand Strand, that’s a rare occasion. Although I was born in Texas, my family moved here when I was three, and that’s when I saw snow for the first time.

It was the year 2000 and we were renting a house in Murrells Inlet while building a home in Pawleys Island. My best friend at the time lived next door and on one cold winter morning, she came knocking at the door to ask if I could come outside and play. We did what all coastal gals would do and decided to build beach chairs out of the snow. I guess I have been warm-natured my whole life because I remember my mom having to continuously try to keep gloves on my hands. That was the most snow I remember ever having here, and although we do not usually get that joyous aspect, there are still many experiences that can get you into the spirit of the season.

Along the Grand Strand, I enjoy watching Christmas parades, listening to local groups sing holiday songs, and strolling through the many sparkling light displays. One of my favorite holiday traditions my mom and I have is to visit local homes where the owners have dressed their places all up for patrons to come and tour. Georgetown and Murrells Inlet both provide tours with several homes each that are all decked out in the most creative and festive decorations that leave you feeling inspired and very merry. In addition to these jubilant homes, many well-known historic properties also host holiday home tours, such as the Kaminski House Museum, Hopsewee Plantation, and Hobcaw Barony. Learn more about these events by reading the article included in this magical Sasee issue.

Happy Holidays,

Publisher

Delores Blount

Sales & Marketing Director Susan Bryant

Editor

Sarah Elaine Hawkinson

Account Executives Erica Schneider Gay Stackhouse

Art Director Patrick Sullivan

Contributing Photographer Chasing the Light Photography Web Developer Scott Konradt

Accounting Gail Knowles

Executive Publishers Jim Creel Bill Hennecy Suzette Rogers

PO Box 1389, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576 fax 843-626-6452 • phone 843-626-8911 www.sasee.com • info@sasee.com

Sasee is published monthly and distributed free along the Grand Strand. Submissions of articles and art are welcome. Visit our website for details on submission.

Sasee is a Strand Media Group, Inc. publication.

Copyright © 2022. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material, in part or in whole, prepared by Strand Media Group, Inc. and appearing within this publication is strictly prohibited. Title “Sasee” is registered with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office

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Silver Bell

When I was a kid, my mom, sister, and I would meet up at my grandma’s house with my aunts and cousins and we’d all go caroling around grandma’s neighborhood. Sometimes, it was so cold I swore my nose would fall off. Other years, we’d get a warm front and marvel at the stars.

No matter the weather, everyone knew we’d be out smiling and singing, laughing and swaying. That sense of community gave me so much love.

Grandma loved the song, “Silver Bells.” It didn’t matter what time of year it was, when she did the dishes, she’d be singing about that “ring-a-ling.” The heat of summer...a rainy spring day...same song, same happy grin.

As her health failed, everyone got busy taking care of her and starting their own lives. After she died, her voice still sang to me, but the words grew softer. “Children laughing…people passing…meeting smile after smile…”

I missed caroling, but that seemed like a thing of the past. No one seemed to do it anymore. It was hard enough to get to know my neighbors in general. Everyone was so busy with work, play dates, this event and that. Plus, not everyone celebrates a holiday this time of year. Having found my spiritual home in Paganism, I love marveling at the start of winter on Yule and know how annoying it can be when people just assume that someone celebrates Christmas.

Instead of going door-to-door, I volunteered to bell ring for charity and sang the most universal carols during my shifts. It was impossible to keep from bouncing around, dancing like a wreath about to fall when singing Winter Wonderland, Frosty the Snowman, Jingle Bell Rock, and more.

The response was full of the same warmth and love I missed from my grandma’s neighborhood. The smiles and donations I received reminded me that celebrating the season is about sharing in life’s love no matter what our differences may be.

Then, when I became a mother, my children encouraged more singing. Whether quietly crooning lullabies or making up our own silly songs about stinky socks and trying not to sleep at bedtime, the music carried us through the worst of their earliest struggles and the best of their happy little cuddles.

So, we created our own new family tradition to sing to our neighbors without knocking on their doors and interrupting their lives. Every year, on the first day of winter (during our Yule celebration), we light a bonfire in the backyard. We circle around it and sing songs celebrating the season.

We belt Yuletide carols for everyone to hear, and dance around the flames in the cold. Thankfully, so far, no one has complained, and we keep it short and sweet. Sometimes people even open their windows and join in.

This keeps my grandmother’s tradition alive in our own way. After having lived in our neighborhood for a few years now, we’re set on inviting some neighbors this year because there is something about singing together that unleashes the true holiday spirit. It’s an inviting activity, raising your voice with others, that has become my “silver bell.”

Jessica Baumgartner is a homeschooling mother of 4. She is the author of Homeschooling on a Budget, The Magic of Nature, and The Golden Rule, as well as a member of The Missouri Writer’s Guild. Her work has been featured by, The St. Louis Post Dispatch, Missouri Conservationist, Chicken Soup for the Soul, and many more. Find her at: jessicamariebaumgartner.com.

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Historic Holiday Tours

The holidays along the Grand Strand are a beautiful time of year. Although many historical homes have tours and events all year long, the spirited season is extra special. All of these local properties are dressed up in festive décor and are ready to bring you a very merry time.

Kaminski House Museum

After two years of closed doors, the Holiday Magic at the Kaminski House Museum is once again taking place in historic downtown Georgetown. Tour hours are 11am, 1pm, and 3pm, and will extend through Saturday, December 23rd. A fabulous group of home design specialists was put together to help decorate. On top of touring the house decked out in glitz and glamour, the Friends of the Kaminski House are also hosting a Holiday Market, concerts, a wreath auction, rides on the Holiday Trolley, and their annual “Light Up the Lawn” event.

This year, the Holiday Market will be held on Saturday, December 3rd from 9am to 6pm on the lawn overlooking the Sampit River. This is the day when the Museum will present the wreath auction (4:30 - 5:30pm) and have a

special performance by Festive Brass of Myrtle Beach (56pm). At 5:30, all the guests will gather for a champagne toast as they flip that switch and “light up the lawn.” Featuring handcrafted ornaments and jewelry from local artisans and delicious holiday pies, cookies, and treats, the market is a wonderful opportunity to pick up a few unique gifts.

The Holiday Magic activities continue with candlelight tours on December 8th and 15th beginning at 5:30pm. Family Night will be held on Saturday, December 17th (47pm), and will feature rides aboard the Holiday Trolley to see the beautiful holiday decorations along Front Street and in the historic homes in Georgetown. For more information, call the Museum office at 843-546-7706 or visit www.kaminskimuseum.org.

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Designed by Carlton Whilden Designed by Rebecca Ceron Martin Designed by Lee Padgett

Just before the Georgetown bridge is the beautiful 16,000acre property known as Hobcaw Barony. To celebrate the holidays the old-fashioned way, the Belle W. Baruch Foundation is hosting a Lowcountry Oyster Roast on December 10th from Noon til 3pm at the Bellfield Stable, where the staff horticulturist and volunteers have decorated the stable with holiday elegance. Enjoy tours and interpretations of Bellefield Plantation including Southern customs and symbolism of Christmas greenery, plantation preparations of the 19th century, and the Baruch family’s hunting parties of the 20th century.

Before the feast, join the Hobcaw Barony staff for some family fun that morning (9:30 - 11am) with a hike through

a longleaf pine stand. Although pine trees are often used as holiday décor, most people are not aware of the many varieties of pine trees native to the South Carolina coast. Along the hike, learn about the longleaf pine life cycle, prescribed fire, and the endangered Cockaded Woodpeckers that inhabit the stand. Children will also get to create pine tree inspired crafts to take home.

The Hobcaw House will be decorated by the Georgetown Garden Club on December 15th through the week after Christmas for their holiday tours. All events require reservations so please visit the website for more information and to acquire tickets: www.hobcawbarony.org

Hopsewee Plantation

A National Historic Landmark with beautiful, wooded grounds along the peaceful North Santee River, Hopsewee Plantation also lies in the heart of South Carolina’s Lowcountry. The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) local chapter has decorated the home of Hopsewee for their holiday tours that will take place through December 17th. The tours are their usual time frame Tuesday through Saturday, every hour, 10am - 3pm.

Learn about the rich history of Hopsewee, its previous families as well as its current owners, the Beatties, and those who lived and worked on the grounds. You will also have the opportunity to learn about the Gullah Geechee people and the special significance of their creolized culture and

language. During your visit, make sure to appreciate the mossy oaks and river vista. Afterward, enjoy lunch or tea at River Oak Cottage, ranked as one of the state’s top tea rooms.

Go back in time and experience Hopsewee Candlelight Tours on Wednesday afternoons (5pm). As a Historical Interpreter for over 25 years, Author Elizabeth Robertson Huntsinger will be presenting stories of historical holiday traditions as well as ghostly legends of Georgetown County. Come a little earlier for Wine by the River Happy Hour to enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres as you browse the gift shop and get your book purchases signed by the author. To reserve tickets for these festive events, please visit: www.hopsewee.com.

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There’s No Such Thing as Too Much Tinsel

I wouldn’t say my mother is my muse; but her opinions, outsize personality, and lifestyle are an endless source of creative content. She is so larger than life, in fact, that one of my colleagues used an article I wrote about Mom as an example of character analysis in her 7th-grade literature class. Can you imagine, then, what the holidays are like with an over-the-top, glamorous, loud Italian mother?

Trimming the tree is the start of the season, and although my mom would put silvery branches in every vessel available around our house, the tree had a special spot in the center atrium of her 1980s sprawling ranch. At Christmas, it became our own personal Rockefeller Center. The ordinary atrium trees were never decorated but merely the backdrop for the annual Christmas concoction. The theme for the tree changed every year. Doves and peacock feathers. All peachcolored ornaments. Lace and beads. It would take her an entire week to furnish the most beautiful original Christmas tree in the days before Pinterest and YouTube tutorials. It was an elaborately tasteful twelve-foot confection worthy of the White House.

Of course, tree trimming requires festive music. Dean Martin, Bing, pretty much any fella with a big band behind him. Some of the music might have been holy, but it never sounded like church. We epitomized rockin’ around the Christmas tree and it was loud because that fancy ‘80s ranch with the atrium in the middle also had surround sound. Sinatra crooned from all 3000 square feet that we ought to have ourselves a merry little Christmas and my mom sang along with him.

The meals were everything you imagined when you first read the word Italian. Yes, there were seven fishes, soup with little veal meatballs, or sometimes fa-la-la-la-lasagna, and always ten thousand desserts, but what made my mom “extra” was the tableware. She had a different set of dishes for each course. She changed the tablecloth between those courses. The silverware was real, the centerpiece was fresh floral, and the napkins were white cloth. Martha Stewart would have been proud.

And now, my mother is an 88-year-old living in a condo in Florida. When she downsized, she gave away all the Christmas finery, but she remains glamorous and her décor is still flashy. Her Christmas tree is no longer a 12foot evergreen, but a gold metal spiral that sits on a tabletop festooned with leopard print ornaments and white doves. We store it fully decorated. She hangs mistletoe, and cherubs swing from the light fixtures. Sinatra now emanates from Alexa. She still stuffs artichokes, but she will bring them to dinner at my house where I will use one of her poinsettiaprint tablecloths. Mom will dress for Christmas dinner in high heels and shiny earrings. Her sweater will twinkle with sequins. She may have Martha Stewart’s knack, but her style is certainly not QVC.

Christmas at my house is hardly glam. I try to get in the spirit, but I don’t have a week to decorate, and you are more likely to find a Starbucks ornament on my tree than a peacock feather. All the whimsical items in my house are gifts from Mom – there’s an animated Santa, a winter ski lodge complete with a revolving ski lift, and a musical carousel sits atop our piano. Frankly, if my mom hadn’t given me the red tablecloths, we would probably eat off of plain, plastic placemats.

I’ll ask my mom to tweak my tree before the guests arrive. I’ll ask her to do whatever she can to help my house look less like the seasonal section of Walmart and more like her ‘80s ranch.

“Make it Instagrammable,” I’ll beg.

Mom has always known how to create visual drama and had there been social media in her heyday, she would have been an influencer, I’m sure. Although she was not trained as a decorator, my mom has Christmas spirit to the nines and that has made all the difference in her displays. Her desire to place her family in a wonderland every year is her gift. When you enter her home, she wants you to feel the magic, the glitter in the air, the love. She wants you to be filled with joy because you have made her joyful.

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Mom may live alone, but she would never leave that fully decorated gold spiral tree in storage. She still writes over a hundred Christmas cards each December. Even without mistletoe, she will kiss you on both cheeks. And part of the reason for all the food is that each grandchild has a favorite dish that she will lovingly prepare even if it means another course, another tablecloth, or another pot to wash.

The glitz and Kardashian-level opulence is Mom’s way of telling us family time at the holidays is special; we are special. She is not trying to keep up with Kris Jenner, she’s not even watching Kris Jenner. Instead, she is glued to Hallmark until that formulaic kiss five minutes before the credits roll because Hallmark movies make us feel good even though they’re cheesy. Isn’t putting bird feathers and tinsel everywhere just a bit cheesy too?

So as mom and I try to zhuzh up my house this Christmas, I won’t gripe at the glitter all over my floors or the amount of time it will take to un-deck the halls. Instead, I will cherish the people who come to celebrate with us. We will marvel at my mother’s Christmas spirit and maybe, if we are lucky, we will learn to sparkle like my mom.

Debra Kuhns is a teacher who likes to read, write, visit estate sales and organize her closets. She lives in Florida with her husband and daughters. She has inherited seven boxes of Christmas décor, but not her mother’s sense of style.

Sasee.com :: December 2022 :: 17
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Wish List

Sasee is incredibly grateful for all of you, our devoted readers. We hope you understand just how important our advertisers are to our magazine. Our advertisers are all local and offer unique gifts for you and your loved ones, so please join us in supporting them this holiday season.

Inspired by “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” the Dash Away collection features Santa’s eight reindeer as well as their delightful elves, Santa, and Mrs. Clause. This Dash Away Dancer Reindeer Figure by Patience Brewster strikes a pose in her holiday ballet finery. Always on pointe and gently holding a tiny white dove, this design is often the talk of the holiday party.

Whimsy Roost

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Hand Engraved 14kt Gold Signet Rings

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Give your room a warm glow for the holidays with this darling, free-standing Decorative Snowman Sign that can be placed on the mantle or a shelf.

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Introducing the first of many puzzles created from Tanya Ackerman’s photography, Evening Cruise at Pawleys Island, South Carolina. The awardwinning photojournalist created Chasing the Light Puzzle Society in memory of her mother and dear friend Bindy Bock. There is nothing like spending the evening with friends or family around a puzzle, laughing, telling stories, and trying to find that one piece.

Chasing the Light Puzzle Society www.tanyaackerman.com

Named after the founder’s grandmother who instilled in her a love of treasure hunting for beautiful finds, these Estelle Colored Wine Glasses are tinted with vintage charm.

Barbara’s Fine Gifts 6914 N. Kings Hwy • Myrtle Beach 843-449-0448

Twinkling with a Swarovski crystal center stone, the Sterling Conway Clock Pendant is the greatest gift to pay homage to your beloved city.

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Take 10% off these Book Bundles of best-selling authors, stand-alone and backlist books. Some of our bundles are staff picks from a certain genre that come with a great recommendation!

Litchfield Books

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Enjoy your favorite beverage at its ideal temperature with BrüMate Drinkware, the most functional drinkware that is now offering new colors for the Holiday 2022 season - Hunter and Ruby. Designed with a leak proof lid, BrüMate offers a lifetime warranty and makes a great gift for anyone on your shopping list.

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With a natural fern design, this stunning Emerald Green Vase was handmade with love. Make a statement at your holiday party by showing off this décor as a single vase or as a pair. (only 2 available.)

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Stand out and make a statement in this Shimmery Blue Organza

Top! Worn on or off the shoulder, this versatile top is perfect to get or give this holiday season!

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Introducing our #1 best seller, the 13-piece Home Set comes neatly packed in a box which is great for both storage and shipping and is guaranteed to be a perfect gift.

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Using the fluffer stuffer, you are able to pick your very own Fluffie and have it stuffed on the spot in store and personalized with different outfits, hearts to put inside, and your very own Fluffie birth certificate.

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Exquisite, romantic, and luxurious, these Bathing Petal Soap Flowers are gloriously giftable! Made with Goat’s Milk & Shea Butter, each flower offers approximately 300 hand washes or 35 full body cleanses. For a luxury soak, simply toss a couple of petals in the bath. A surprise bar of soap is nestled at the bottom of the flower for when the petals are gone. Ready to gift, it comes in a classic white gift box with a description, directions, and a story inside.

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Handcrafted in Austin, Texas, Consuela partners with artisans in Mexico for the braided straps, papiermâché charms, and handcrafted tassels. Make your gift ridiculously awesome with Consuela Handbags

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Made of ivory wax and battery operated with an LED light, this Candle Collection is poured into shimmering champagne hued glass jars. Available in additional colors, the LED flame technology creates an incredibly realistic and subtle flicker which glows 250 hours per set of AA batteries. You can even set convenient timers and adjust the glow with the optional remote control that is sold separately.

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When you purchase one of our Unique Lanterns, you will remember the story of Jesus and how he is the true light of the world. Just as we take a candle into a room to dispel the darkness, these unique lanterns are the perfect gift to let your light shine in those around you. Visit our store to see all of the beautiful and unique items we have in stock.

Nye’s Pharmacy

1600 10th Ave • Conway 843-248-5015

22 :: Sasee.com :: December 2022 You don’t have to be young to celebrate Christmas! 699 Prince Creek Parkway, Murrells Inlet, SC, 29576 www.stgabrielmurrellsinlet.com Assisted Living & Memory Care of MURRELLS INLET Call to Schedule your tour Today 843-353-1525 843-248-2624 • 317 Laurel Street • Conway, SC 29526 (Closed Sunday & Monday) Give a little piece of home this holiday season Merry Christmas from our family to yours

Waccamaw Sings in Hawaii 2023

Waccamaw High School Concert Choir has been selected to represent the state of South Carolina at the Pearl Harbor Memorial Celebration and Parade in December 2023, in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Choir is noted for their superior vocals in various state competitions and events. On top of performing at civic clubs, outreaches, holiday events, and more, they have also shared stages with high-caliber artists such as The Swingle Singers and The Texas Tenors. This award-winning concert choir is well-known for their spirit of excellence on and off the stage and now they need your support so they can travel to their biggest performance yet.

Based on their outstanding reputation, the Pearl Harbor Parade Committee appointed WHS Choir to be the official ambassadors of South Carolina for the 75th Anniversary of the WWII Commemoration. To honor the veterans, the students will perform with choirs from around the country with a performance of “God Bless America” next to the USS Arizona Memorial. As people around the world remember the 82nd Anniversary of Pearl Harbor, each student will experience a life-changing moment as they learn more about one of the most significant marks in American history.

For all of the talented Waccamaw Chorus students to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, they are on a mission to raise $120,000. By reaching local supporters of the arts and youth development, they are hoping to pave the way for at least forty WHS students to be able to attend this monumental event. These devoted students have been working hard to earn this opportunity and now they are seeking your help in reaching their goals.

In an effort to raise funds, the WHS Concert Choir, WHS Choralaires, and Waccamaw Middle School Chorus recently held their first Fall Gala. Featuring a silent auction, dinner, and entertainment by students and local artists, the Gala was an amazing success. The WHS Choirs will be a part of many upcoming music events in Pawleys Island, Georgetown, and beyond.

Your donation will directly benefit the students in their aspirations to spend six days experiencing history and the arts as well as the culture and life of the Hawaiian people!

All proceeds benefit the WHS Chorus Boosters.

For Venmo donations, please send it to: @WHSChoralBoosters

For check donations, please make payable to: WHS Chorus Boosters and mail it to: PO Box 2913, Pawleys Island, SC 29585

If you would like to donate or for more specifics on the trip, please contact:

Sylvia Plyler – Concert Choir Director 720-445-2740 splyler@gcsd.k12.sc.us

JoAnne Keister – WHS Chrous Booster President 814-494-1042 waccamawchorussings@gmail.com

24 :: Sasee.com :: December 2022
WHS Sings Waccamaw HighSchool Perfection is Possible Support Your Waccamaw High School Chorus
Sasee.com :: December 2022 :: 25 800 Front Street, Georgetown, SC 29440 Mon-Fri 10:00-5:00 • Sat 10:00-4:00 www.doodlebugschild.com 843-546-6858 843-449-6282 • 6912 North Kings Hwy. • Myrtle Beach F rame Factory & Gallery Voted Best of the Beach since 1998 It’s never too late to get something FRAMED before Christmas! 843-449-0448 6914 N. Kings Hwy., Myrtle Beach • Next to Rose Arbor Fabrics Mon - Fri 10:00-5:00 • Saturday 10:00-4:00 FINE GIFTS
26 :: Sasee.com :: December 2022 Gift Cards make Great Stocking Stuffers 843-357-9175 Open Wed - Sat at 4pm (Closed Christmas Week) 4911 U.S. 17 Business, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576 www.hotfishclub.com Indoor & OutdoorAvailableDining Make your Holiday Reservations Now! Across From The Fresh Market in Pawleys Island 843-314-3316 RescuedTreasuresSC.org Tuesday - Saturday 10:00am - 4:00pm Your one-stop shop for holiday gift ideas. 843-237-8138 Fresh Market Commons • 11421 Ocean Hwy Unit D • Pawleys Island, SC 29585 www.litchfieldbooks.com Mon - Sat: 10am - 6pm • Sun: 1pm - 5pm We are more than books Beautiful Stationery, Cards, and Gifts for All Occasions
Sasee.com :: December 2022 :: 27 Trusted. Experienced. Compassionate. For All Your Probate Needs. Our Areas of Practice: Family Law Estate Planning Probate Administration Community Associations Corporations Civil Litigation Debt Collection Mediation (843) 650-9757 • GrandStrandLawyers.com • 1271 Glenns Bay Road, Surfside Beach, SC 29575 Sarah K. Stapleton • Elizabeth J. Saraniti • V. Lee Moore Sarah A. Johnson (retired) Moore, Johnson & Saraniti LAW FIRM, P.A. 916 N. Ocean Blvd., Myrtle Beach, SC On the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk one block south of the SkyWheel® 916 N Ocean Blvd Beach SC See the lights down the Boardwalk Nov. 17 - Jan 1 • FREE Parking at Gay Dolphin • 1000 Withers Dr.

Two “Scents” Worth

It’s really amazing how a scent can send you into another world and another time and place. Popcorn, for instance, can take me back a few decades to the movie, Bambi, where I begged my mom for a bag of it even though we were going out for dinner afterwards. Like most moms, she did not want me to spoil dinner but gave into my request. However, what I spoiled most were my red peddle-pushers that had a big grease spot at my crotch from the butter seeping through the bag as I held the popcorn on my lap. What an embarrassment as we left the theater! And every single time I smell popcorn, my mind wanders back to that greasy mess. Despite it, I still adore butter on everything!

The Christmas season is especially loaded with memorable scents like pine, cinnamon, peppermint, and apple pie. Yet, I have to admit there are two scents that probably no one except me feels a fondness for at Christmas and that is Noxzema Cold Cream and Old Spice Shaving Cream.

Here’s the story. When my grandparents each passed away, I had a friend make stuffed teddy bears for each member of the family out of Nana and Papa’s respective bathrobes and pajamas. Papa’s is made from his red plaid bathrobe that he wore all the time and Nana’s is from her favorite pink and blue rose PJ’s. For years later, I could pick up each bear and with one quick sniff I was transformed to a time when I was loved and nurtured by the world’s greatest grandparents. After all, my mom and I lived with her parents until she remarried, so Nana and Papa were second parents to me. Papa would always tell Nana that he felt like he was sleeping with a “medicated ghost” as she piled the thick white layer of Noxzema on her face nightly. Papa would tease her and occasionally call her “Casper,” yet well into her late eighties, Nana maintained a gorgeous complexion thanks to Noxzema.

No one loved the holidays like Nana, and she passed that passion, or should I say obsession, unto all of us. Every single nook and cranny had a decoration. Even the shelf on top of the radiator was covered with angel hair mimicking snow and adorned with cardboard characters and mini houses and trees resembling a Norman Rockwell painting. Most years, we had a live Frasier Fir, but one year, Nana got wild and

crazy and bought a Sears silver tree with a lighted color wheel that could change the color of the tree from silver to green, to red and blue in a matter of seconds. Papa thought she had lost her mind, but she told him she was saving money since we could use it year after year. Then she emphasized that it was also less of a fire hazard than a real tree and we would leave it up until mid-January, and we surely did!

My two precious bears come out of the attic before Thanksgiving every single year with all our other beautiful Christmas decorations. They take center stage beneath our artificial green tree, which is sadly necessary since I am allergic to the mold that forms on the trunk of a real tree. I know it may sound crazy, yet give me credit for admitting it, I douse each bear with the proper scent moments after they come out of hiding so that when I pick them up and hug them each morning during the holiday season, I am taken back to a magical time of my life filled with love. Sometimes I cry. Then I always feel guilty wrapping them up and storing them away after the holidays.

This year will be extra poignant, as the bears will have two siblings join them. Sadly, my mom is now in a memory care unit and we will have her two bears to add to the menagerie. Oh yes, we will certainly decorate mom’s nursing home room to the hilt for Christmas as we do for all holidays, but I’m afraid to put her bears on her bed as other residents like to “adopt” trinkets and things from neighboring residents and we may never see her bears again. They are too precious to lose, and you can be sure as they make their debut, together with my two, they will get refreshed with my favorite scents of Christmas.

Diane DeVaughn Stokes

is the co-owner of Stages Video Productions in Myrtle Beach and Host and Producer for the TV show “Inside Out” on HTC. Diane and her husband Chuck share passions for theater, travel, and scuba diving. She is the author of “Floating On Air - A Broadcasting Love Affair.”

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Sasee.com :: December 2022 :: 29 Mon thru Sat 10-5, Sun 12-4 (unless it’s a Holiday) 720 Sunset Blvd N, Sunset Beach, NC 28468 bleuboutique.blogspot.com (910) 579-5628 @BleuInCarolina #bleuatsunset Vi n t a g e Wa r e s | Wo m e n ’ s A p p a r e l Wo n d e r f u l G o o d s | B o u t i q u e C l o t h i n g L a b e l s THE SHOPS AT OAK LEA 11096 OCEAN HIGHWAY PAWLEYS ISLAND, SC 29585 (843) 237-8080 WWW.ELEANORPITTS.COM TRUNK SHOW FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9 SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10 10:00 - 5:00
30 :: Sasee.com :: December 2022 843.946.6644 • 6613 N. Kings Highway • Myrtle Beach, SC 29572 www.coastal-luxe.com Retail Therapy available Tuesday Friday 11:00 am 4:00 pm In Home or In Store Interior Design Consultation by Appointment New Construction & Remodel Material Selections (Cabinets, Lighting & Flooring) Coastal Luxe Interiors Better Living by Design 843-281-9650 312 Main St. N. Myrtle Beach, SC 29582 www.HopeTaylorCo.com Ladies Clothing, Jewelry, Accessories and Gifts!

The Christmas Star from Afar Set & Game

A family tradition that celebrates the true meaning of Christmas. A beautiful set including a hardcover book, a 14 piece colorful wooden nativity, and a wooden star. Complete with a hide-nseek game that encourages children to go on a hunt for their star, just like the Wise Men!

Sasee.com :: December 2022 :: 31
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32 :: Sasee.com :: December 2022 We wish you and your family a very happy holiday season 4905 Hwy. 17 Bypass South, Murrells Inlet www.ShadesAndDraperies.com Shades & Draperies SINCE 1980 Your Complete Source for Custom Window Treatments and Bed Coverings Shades • Shutters • Blinds CALL 843-651-8177
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The Great Holiday Porcupine Meatball Pressure Cooker Escapade

No one really knows how this tradition started in my family, but somewhere in her later years, my mother began serving porcupine meatballs as Christmas Eve supper. It was your basic Campbell’s tomato soup recipe from the 1950s, or earlier. She always made them in a pressure cooker, also from that era.

During a period when friends and family members dwindled down to just a few, we cut back on big fancy holiday meals. I think that’s when the meatball tradition took root, actually. My kids loved them, along with Mom’s traditional green gelatin with red cherries on top. Add some dinner rolls and that was dinner!

Then came some additional folks into the holiday family fold; a cousin, his paramour and her adult kids, an elderly neighbor, a new sister-in-law, and her college-age kids. You know, people who couldn’t quite feel the joy of porcupine meatballs and green gelatin for Christmas Eve dinner. The outspoken paramour, also a gourmet, expressed downright disgust, to a point bordering on anger. The others politely went along with the program until they realized there could be many years ahead of doing things Grandma’s way. Some gently suggested they bring additional dishes, others loudly demanded such, and eventually, the meal transitioned to ham, macaroni and cheese, fancy salads, and amazing desserts, all preceded by a long happy hour flowing with booze and some kind of exotic pate’ brought by the paramour. Oh. Mom insisted that she make the porcupines and green gelatin, too. Every year.

More people entered the family as time went on. My son married and had children, then came the Christmas my daughter brought her charming British fiancé to meet her grandma and the rest of the family. My daughter and the fiancé had not arrived yet, but my brother had declared the meatballs uneatable, as they had gotten stuck in the pressure cooker for about the past 48 hours. We were all standing around the kitchen and no one could get the top off the pressure cooker, not even the young men in the party. Tools and brute strength had been used to no avail. Secretly, we were all giving each other sideways glances of relief while my poor mother fretted as if the world had come to an end. Big brother said that even if we could get the pot open, the meat would have spoiled by now.

That’s when it happened. My daughter and her charming Hugh Grant look-alike arrived. After initial introductions, all still gathered in the kitchen, my brother announced he was taking the pressure cooker and its contents out to the

trash. Mom was about as crestfallen as I’d ever seen her, as she explained the problem to her granddaughter and Hugh Grant.

“Oh Grandma, I can get it open,” he declared in his Hugh Grant accent. A collective “NO!” rose from the group. He glanced from my mom to the group, back at my mom again, and grabbing the pot, ran out the door. Less than 2 minutes later, he walked back in with the lid in one hand and the pot in the other. My mother lit up like a candle and joyously proclaimed her gratitude. The rest of us glared at Hugh, who beamed devilishly at the points he had just scored with the matriarch of the family.

“How did you do it?” Mom asked in bewilderment. “Oh, I simply plunged it into the snow for a few seconds and the contraction popped the lid right off. But Grandma,” he said ever so kindly and gently, “the meatballs can’t be eaten, of course.”

And that is how the first and only Christmas Eve dinner in a couple of decades had no porcupine meatballs. But Grandma had her beloved pressure cooker back and you can bet there were meatballs the following year. Even Hugh Grant might have regretted his choice then! ***

One of my earliest memories of dinner preparations as a child was hearing a great explosion followed by my parents thundering down from the attic to find a mess of tomato sauce and bits of meatballs hanging from the ceiling of the small kitchen of our post-war-type bungalow. I was afraid of pressure cookers from then on, but as an adult I learned to make porcupines in a saucepan, having little imagination or interest in the meal prep department myself. We have them every Christmas Eve, along with the green gelatin and red cherries.

Sue Fretwell is a retired ESL teacher who lived in Southport, N.C. before moving west to be near her grandkids. After nine years, she returned to N.C. to enjoy her second round of grandchildren.

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Sasee.com :: December 2022 :: 35 1600 10th Avenue • Conway, SC 29526 Pharmacy - 843-248-5015 • Fountain - 843-248-2611 Serving Conway for over 50 Years Pharmacy • Drugstore • Gift Shop 843-357-0862 860 Inlet Square Drive, Murrells Inlet “Your Hometown Auto Repair” Carolina Car Care Locally Owned & Operated for 27 years Merry Christmas from our family to yours! 843-780-1136 Visit us at our NEW LOCATION • 1468 Hwy 17 • Little River Mon-Sat 10am-5pm Named Best Consignment Shop 13 years in a row

Pour Me Some Holiday Spirit

Pomegranate Mimosa ~ Run a slice of lime around the rim of a champagne flute • Dip glass rim in sugar • Add sparkling wine to glass • Top with pomegranate juice • Add a spoonful of pomegranate seeds and a spring of fresh rosemary.

Christmas Margarita ~ 2 oz Cranberry Juice • 1 oz lime juice • 1.5 oz Blanco Tequila • .5 oz Cointreau (optional) .25 oz Simple Syrup. Combine all ingredients in a shaker filled with ice. Shake until outside of shaker is frosty and cool. Pour into a salt rimmed glass over fresh cubes. Garnish with cranberries & lime.

Santa’s Turn ~ 1.5 oz Bourbon • .25 oz Oloroso Sherry • .25 oz Benedictine. Stir together over ice, strain, and garnish with orange peel.

Mistletoe ~ 1.5 oz Vodka • .75 oz Cherry Brandy • Juice of 1 Lime. Rim a martini glass with sugar. Fill your shaker halfway with ice and pour in the ingredients. Shake until chilled and strain the mixture into the glass. Garnish with two raspberries and sprig of rosemary.

Snowstorm ~ 4 Parts Vodka • 2 Parts Kahlua • 5 Parts Coconut Milk. Add all ingredients in cocktail shaker with ice cubes. Shake until chilled and strain the mixture into glasses.

Cranberry Bramble ~ 1.5 oz Gin • 1 oz Cranberry Sauce • .75 oz Lemon Juice • .5 oz Orange Juice. Stir and serve over ice. Garnish with rosemary sprig.

Special Thanks To: For These Sasee Spirits

AIM | Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine 39

Angelo’s Steak & Pasta ........................ 37

B. Graham Interiors ............................ 17

Barbara’s Fine Gifts 25

Bleu 29

BloominGail’s Consignment ............... 35

Brightwater ........................................... 7

Brookgreen Gardens 23

Carolina Car Care 35

Christopher’s Fine Jewelry .................... 3

The Clean Up Club 38

Coastal Luxe Interiors 30

Doodlebugs ........................................ 25

Dr. Grabeman .................................... 25

Dr. Sattele’s Rapid Weight Loss & Esthetics Centers ............................ 11

Eleanor Pitts Gifts & Jewelry 29

Fourth & Main on Laurel 15

Frame Factory & Gallery .................... 25

Gay Dolphin ...................................... 27

Good Deed Goods 31

Grady’s Jewelers 22

Hope Taylor........................................ 30

Hot Fish Club .................................... 26

The Kaminski House 5

The Lakes at Litchfield 7

Litchfield Books.................................. 26

Long Bay Symphony 38

Moore, Johnson and Saraniti 27

Nye’s Pharmacy

Physicians Weight Loss Centers .......... 33

Pink & Red 40

Prodigy Kitchens & Baths 8

PruittHealth

Rescued Treasures

Rover Tours 31

Shades & Draperies 32

Shop Ravel

Small Town Toys

St. Gabriel Assisted Living & Memory Care

Sunspace of Myrtle Beach 33

Surf Unlimited Mercantile 9

Whimsey Roost

38

38 :: Sasee.com :: December 2022
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