Outdoor Shower

I am so excited I can hardly stand it. After all these years, we finally got an outdoor shower at the farm. I think this is one of life's foremost necessities! During the day or at night, and especially if you have a patch of trees where you can hear the branches sway in the wind and the leaves bristle, the birds chirping all around. Everyone needs to bathe in the great outdoors under an open sky.

It also makes a great photo shoot location for my new "Instagram dress." That's what I call it, because I have a very stylish friend who is known for making late night Instagram purchases scrolling from her phone in bed, and then Voila, the next time you see her, she is looking so cool in her new dress or headpiece or whatever and low and behold it's from Instagram! Perfectly paired with my @rankandsugar vintage army top, fav silver boots and Ice, Ice, Baby trucker cap.

But let's be honest, the real genius here is my carpentry creative extraordinaire pal, Ric, who built the outdoor shower. In frames 4/5, you will see Ric brings a whole new meaning to the term wet bar. And the little crescent moon on the door!!!

Dress // Shirt // Hat // Boots

Photo: Richard Israel
Outdoor Shower: Ric Jones

Easy Pay Store

For this next chapter in a photographic homage to my Dad, family and heritage, @richardisrael and I took to downtown Fort Mill, the corner of Confederate and Main Streets, to visit the location of my Grandfather's store, The Easy Pay.

For 43 years my Grandfather owned and operated The Easy Pay. It was named this because he offered layaway to customers who needed this option for purchasing home goods and supplies. More or less the town general store, my Grandfather sold everything from paint to small appliances to hunting and fishing supplies, tools, toys, farming supplies, even Good year tires.

I remember as a child arriving to visit my Grandparents, we would go to The Easy pay first to put new tires on my Dad's car, a shiny silver 1977 Volkswagen Bug Convertible that I loved so much it basically was my sibling.

In an article published in The Fort Mill Times, at the time of closing the store, I love that my grandfather said if he had to do it all over again, he wouldn't change a thing. I always fondly recall my father telling me my Grandfather's mindset was competition breeds business. In the article he explains "the money is in selling things, but to stay in business you have to have good service." At the end of the day, it's how you treat people, no?

I always love going back to visit the store. For decades after Paw Paw closed the store, The Knife Shop existed in its location. The front of the house now plays home to @theimproperpig restaurant while the back of the house has more recently served as brewing headquarters for @amorartisbrewing. I enjoyed talking to management for a down home friendly tour where my Grandfather's office once was.

After reflecting there, I took Richard across the street to the Police Department to show him my Grandfather's plaque in the Fort Mill Hall of Fame. For almost two decades, he served on the once small-town school board. Just look at it now! I sure hope the town of Fort Mill will continue to do everything it can to preserve the historical integrity and charming architecture of its most darling downtown!

📸 @richardisrael
👒 @lucchese x @resistol1927

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On The Farm

Donna and I shot these family photos last spring at my Dad's house.  Paw Paw's Massey was parked in the shed, so cousin Russ drove his new big blue Ford over to Dad's for an all hands on deck photo shoot in efforts to get Garden & Gun Magazine's attention.  My dream job would be styling and/or writing for them. Don't y'all think they totally need me?  Hoping they'll soon bite in my relentless pursuit!  Take a look and let me know what you think.

Thanks so much for being here! 

-Whitley

PS-How cute are my people?  Hoping to get them ALL in a shoot together soon!