I go to Historic Beaufort and meet a real Southern Belle(s)

So Mom's been making some side trips without me lately - she went over to Bluffton, SC, a cool, kinda funky artsy village and over to Savannah with Nutty Buddy's Mom to see "Avatar 3-D" (note from Mom: worth seeing in 3-D, fantastic technology, not so much on the storyline. Think "Dances with Wolves" in space.) Ahem...anyhow, as I was saying...I got to go on a roadtrip to Beaufort, SC. Now here's something interesting - there's a "Beaufort" in both North and South Carolina. In NC, it's pronounced like it's French - "Bow-fert" and in SC it's pronounced "Bue-fert."

Mom's good friend that she's known for a million years lives in Beaufort (SC). I've met Nannette when she's come to New York to buy things for her store and when she's come to visit us on the Island. But this was the first time I got to go visit her at her marvelous store - Lulu Burgess!

What a welcome I got!!!

I immediately set off exploring the store, in case there were any errant tennis balls lying around.
If my tail looks blurry in a lot of shots, it was because I was wagging it non-stop the whole time I was in Beaufort.

There are all sorts of wonderful things to buy at Lulu Burgess (www.luluburgess.com)—clothes and shoes and jewelry and funny books and candles and handbags and fun things for your house and great gifts. I could go on and on!

Here's Nannette giving me the grand tour. She knows I'm a fashion hound!

Then - OH BOY!!! - she brought out the bestest treats called Bit o' Luv! Well, I bit 'em and I loved'em!
So much so, that I did a bit of shoplifting...and got caught in the act! When no one was looking, I snuck behind the counter and found a whole box of dog cookies. And just as I started to help myself, I was apprehended.

I was afraid I might be sent up to the Big House, since Nannette's husband, Mister Lulu, is a town councilman and he used to be a Deputy! Yikes!!!

But instead, I got some more cookies! Talk about Southern Hospitality!!!

Nannette put me to work, testing some of her dog items in the store. Check out this neat little hatbox. It's really a set of travel bowls. How chic!

I gave it a big "AAAROOOOOHHH!" of approval!

Oh yeah, there's some great stuff for people and dogs at Lulu Burgess!

All those (24) cookies made me thirsty, so I rattled the bowl like I do at home when Mom's not fast enough to refill it.
And sure enough, Nannette took me back to the secret storage room filled with delicious paper that would be soooo much fun to shred and got me a nice cool drink of water.

Now back to my shopping report...how do you like this cute nightshirt? It comes in pink and blue.

Hmmm, all that water made me hungry. Pssst! Hey Lady! When you're through with those pesky customers, how about tossing me a cookie or twelve?

In the meantime, I'm going to get my hair "photo-ready" in front of this fan, like I see the big time fashion models do...
Okay - Lulu Burgess just in an amazing array of fabulous sun hats! I know some of you are up to your bellys in snowdrifts, but it's practically Springtime down here.

She also had lots of funny (and some naughty!) Valentines gifts. Including a frog that turns into a prince! Reminded me of my Halloween costume.

Mom liked these sparkly earrings - even more when she found out they were only $38! (There's still a pair there in black for your Moms!)

This dishtowel made us laugh - ain't it the truth?

For some reason, we couldn't get these next two photos to rotate! This first one sure is true for me...

And I know Mica believes this one!

Here's a huge blown-up old-fashioned photo of Nannette's Mom and Dad, Ned and Trannie, when they were newlyweds. Isn't it a wonderful photograph? Mom knew them both and they were wonderful, lovely people.

I didn't think this tote bag was particularly religious but when Mom saw it she said "Amen to that!"

Ah rats! They've moved the cookies out of reach. Better refluff my hair before lunch.

Hmmm, I love a sale! Ummm - time for lunch!

Since it was so nice and sunny outside, we decided to eat at a casual restaurant named Nippy's so I could join the ladies. There was a nice little Pomeranian named Bear dining there as well. He recommended the fries.

YUMMY! On the left is a Shrimp Dog! No, that's not just a teensy tiny doggie - it's a sausage made of seasoned shrimp, served on a hot dog bun with tartare sauce. It's the house specialty!

Mom had a shrimp roll with delicious fresh-caught local shrimp. Delicious! And lots of crispy cole slaw - a feast! I stayed under the picnic table because Nannette was sneaking me french fries the whole time. Best of all, for a long time, Mom didn't know so she dropped a few fries for me as well.

Ahhh, I've got these two wrapped around my little paw! Doesn't Nippy's look like a swell place to have lunch on a sunny afternoon?

Nannette lives nearby so we walked over so her dog LuluBelle and I could finally meet, nose-to-tail! Mister Lulu found LuluBelle when she was just the fuzziest puppy, abandoned on a construction site. He brought her home, nobody claimed her and she's been defending the Love Compound ever since. She's very protective of her estate, so we met at the end of the driveway.

For awhile all was well, then I asked about her hoopskirt and she called me a Yankee peeing-on-the-carpet bagger and we grrrrrrr'd at each other and snapped our teeth.

So our Moms' put us in time out and we got to sniff each other again. Then things were fine.

Look at the funny face LuluBelle makes when you say "Kitty!" I don't think Mica will be accepting her invitation to come visit anytime soon.

I liked this very official sign posted on the walls of the Love Compound.

Look at LuluBelle's marvelous estate! It used to be just the little house on the right side of the photo, but then Mister Lulu built this huge addition all by himself! It's just beautiful, with antique windows and a tin roof and a fireplace and french doors and dark hardwood floors and a bathtub with feet! It was on the Candlelit Tour of Homes this fall! At least, that's what Mom told me. I was a bit nervous to go inside and see for myself.

LuluBelle sure is a lucky gal, don't you think?

We walked Nannette back to the store, then wandered down Bay Street, the main drag. If you saw "The Big Chill," it was filmed here and this is the street that William Hurt and Kevin Kline walked down early in the morning.

It's very beautiful and historic and peaceful here in Beaufort, overlooking the water.

Nannette and Mister Lulu and LuluBelle live in the historic Old Point area of downtown. It's filled with antebellum homes, some dating back to before the Revolutionary War.

Does this house look familiar? It's Tidalholm, where they filmed "The Big Chill" and "The Great Santini." "Prince of Tides" and "Forrest Gump" were also filmed here. And the author Pat Conroy has written lots of his books about his hometown.

If you ever visit Charleston, Savannah or Hilton Head, you have to drive over to Beaufort and go on a carriage ride through the Old Point and learn all the history that's occurred in this town.

Including "the day Petey came to town!"

Mom couldn't help sharing the temperature --
actually, it had just changed from 70 degrees! In January!

Thanks Nannette and LuluBelle for a swell day!!!