Thursday, December 24, 2009

Christmas Gift





One of my All Time Favorite gifts was this issue of "The Night Before Christmas" illustrated by Howard Finster, given to me by my beloved husband. Of course, the list of favorite gifts from many is too long to publish, but it is so fine to reflect back to gifts like this that keep on giving. The first Christmas we spent together, he gave me recordings of all the musical acts that we had seen together the previous year. It was truly one of the most thoughtful gifts I have ever received. He has brought much music to my life over these years.

God Bless Us Every One.
Wishing you Comfort and Joy.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Santa's Workshop



The elves are busy here at Claude's Cove, stitching and painting, cooking and concocting, spinning tunes to share with the hosts of the most festive occasions of the season.

We are so glad that we can be creative on a shoestring to share our love and thanks to the friends and family that mean so much to us. We're calling it a Homade Christmas this year. We're looking forward to visits from loved ones from afar and lots of good food and memories to share with all.

Making the list for the Christmas Eve dinner and wrapping up little things to send down the road for Christmas Day.





Rocco has settled in for his long winter's cat nap...and visions of sugarplums dance around his head.

Merry Christmas to All!!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Holiday Lights - II





TINY TOWN

The photo tour

As in any year past, it is always the coldest night of the year when we schedule this extravaganza. Even if we went all the twelve days of Christmas, each and every one would be the coldest night of the year. It adds to the ambience. There is a massive bondfire to back up to and get toasty. Then there's the tour to keep you moving...house after tiny house, filled with eclectic collections of toys, yard decor and ephemera. It is a wonderland that tops almost any that I have ever seen.

We had a delightful evening with the Munsons and friends, touring the Tiny, eating chili and watching football. Not to mention catching up with good friends.

I love the holidays, for all those reasons.

Stay tuned, more to come.

Happy December!



When what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a posse of Barbies, decked in rodeo gear!

Holiday Lights



Claude's Barn

Illuminated by Clara

What a beautiful sight right in our own backyard.

The lights and illuminations definitely make the season.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Waterfalling





Cody & Cinnamon lead a tour of the falls. Lake Jocassee, Thanksgiving.

What I have to be thankful for...a couple of friends with a new houseboat...a beautiful day in late November...a destination not so far away...and tons of beauty to take in. Oh, and a couple of furry friends to spice it all up.

Well, there is much more to be thankful for...and let me not forget to tell each and everyone thanks for being my friend, my counsel, my moral support, my confidant and for bringing much love and joy to my life.

I am blessed.



Thursday, November 5, 2009

Gloss and Glimmer



Glitz and glamour. True confession. I AM a confirmed 'zine-a-holic. The best outcome of that to date is that I have also become a collage-a-holic, so I am a vicious cycle of ripping the pages and reconstituting them into art and other great ideas.. All of that to say, that I still have piles of them lying around and do enjoy trading with friends and moms for scoring more visual stimuli, recipes and good ideas.

Last Wednesday, I visited the Asheville Farmer's Market trying to put the pieces together for a true "Martha" centerpiece of white pumpkins and gourds.



I'm pretty fickle when it comes to 'zine topic, be it food, decor, art, fashion... I may not be a fashion plate outwardly, but I love to see a runway line up and the latest Fall Fashion issue, believe it or not. I switch my subscriptions around just to experiment. It breaks my heart to see the publishing industry taking such a heavy hit in these trying times. It hits me harder than you know.

I love a slick front beautifully photographed book of high advertising, Vogue photo shoots by Annie Leibovitz, one of the greatest photographers of all times, current gossip and events, what to cook for Thanksgiving this year, and so on...

I subscribed to New York Magazine for years just for the weekly crossword and the chance to live vicariously through a "New York" window. My most mysterious 'zine experience has been receiving anonymous "gift" subscriptions to magazines that I most likely would have never ordered. I understand the concept that it is good to read magazines and books that you wouldn't normally read. However, it weirds me out that someone that I may or may not know has bestowed me with "Parents" magazine ( I have no children, only cats and dogs), "Backpacker" (let's face it, I'm an artist and a cook and my idea of "outdoorsness" is camping in a state park and taking a 30 minute walk in the neighborhood) and "Field and Stream" (okay, for as much as I don't mind eating it...I'm just not going to pull the trigger...and I still don't know how to bait a hook!).

One of this month's faves is "Country Living" Nov. '09 issue, which features a great food article "A Southern Thanksgiving" with Matt and Ted Lee from Charleston. (i.e., Lee Bros..Winning the "Throwdown" with B. Flay, Food Network on Nov. 4th, also demonstrating at Wms. Sonoma, Asheville on Sat. Nov. 21st..FYI) I have already tested their Pimento-Cheese Potato Gratin (which they also demoed on "Today" last week). Yum yum. It is a keeper! AND on the T'day menu.

Another charming article by Susan Orlean called "Polishing Silver", I found I related to in the way of loving shiny and dear things. I didn't grow up in the company of silver service tea sets and all that, however, I have inherited several sets of lovely old silver plate that our grandparents used for family holidays and dinners with special friends. I love to polish up these relics for same events with our family and friends. I have also collected a few choice small silver pieces to accent the mantle and other shelved collections to add a shiny glow to presentations.

May your Holiday Season be all aglow with shiny things, great food and loving gatherings with all those you love. We're getting cozy here at Claude's Cove.



It's a good thing!

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Autumn Views


painting: Yellow Ground

This was the first of my series of tree paintings from a few years ago. The vision introduced itself to me at this same time of year, when the leaves have fallen and the skeletal elements of the trees stand out in the various dramatic light of an autumn day.

I am ready to take this series farther and in to larger dimensions. I am glad that I have some time to concentrate on this venture and to have the time to enjoy some autumnal outdoorsness. I hope to have a collection to show publicly by spring or summer, and may have found a co-conspirator to show with. This makes me happy.

I have just planted my winter garden with collard green plants and seeds of lettuce, spinach, beets and radishes. The rain came just in time to water it all.

I've been gathering twigs of kindlin for starting the first fire of autumn in the fireplace. This will make the dogs happy. It is a good time of year to concentrate on coziness, hot cider and gathering with friends and family.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Abundance



Postcard from Germany -

Earlier this year, Annie the Nanny left Claude's Cove and journeyed across the ocean to live with the beautiful Lumia Rosamari Mulliganova. Annie traveled to Germany with Lumi's Aunt and Uncle where they had many great adventures while Lumi showed them many sights. I relished in seeing photos of their travels to museums, street scenes, cafes and stunning architecture. Best of all it does my heart good to see what abundant pleasure a visit with a new little family member can inject into the lives of loved ones.

**********

Last weekend the day finally came to hold little baby Charlie, our newest young family member. What a delight it is to see the family line cross in to a new generation.

Later in the week I had the privilege of making a new friend in sitting with 3 month old Stella. Stella lives in an awe-inspiring olive green house with aubergine trim and lovely views of pastures, animals and mountains. She was a treasure to spend time with. Holding such a loving bundle of warmth and affection, having her gently fall asleep in my lap and absorbing the peace and serenity of her simple nap, gave me such reward to care for this little person.

As the week passed we had the good fortune of visits from two old friends from North Carolina. It was a wonderful time of sharing music, reminiscing and taking in the crisp autumn air on our deck, appreciating long time friendship and the depth it gives to our lives.

This week of fresh new lives blending in to ours , and revisiting rich, long relationships gives us a comforting foundation for enriching our life together.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Pilgrimage










End of September, a crisp, cool fall day. Many years my family has journeyed to the hills of Western North Carolina to acquire mass quantities of the season's freshest apple crop. As a child I rambled through the barns, around the tractors and wagons and scuffled underneath heavy laden gnarly apple trees dodging bees and such.

Monday morning, Mom and I set out for a drive through the Dark Corner and the winding woodlands of the watershed. Out Highway 64 to Ednyville, the road is scattered with roadside produce stands and orchards. Apple trees with limbs bending to the ground loaded with golden and russet fruits.

The Lyda Farm has been our favorite destination for a long, long time. They offer an ample selection of vegetables and fruits. Gigantic pumpkins, winter squash and gourds. Ghostly white pumpkins, pale skinned amd bright orange. Giant cabbages larger than your head. Red tomatoes, green tomatoes, beets and cider. Ah, the pleasure of shopping in an open air market on such a beautiful day, to return home with the reward of freshly grown harvest for the table.

Stuffed Cabbage - it's what's for dinner.
With a side of beets.





Sunday, September 13, 2009

Rummage





To rummage, or to ruminate, that is the question.

Whether to pilfer through attics and cellars for the mere assumption that a piece discarded into a box or a corner might be a treasure worth a pittance to another is a subject of great irony. If, by chance, I have chosen to place it in such box myself, then why should I anticipate that another would want it, presumptuously for a price? I ask myself, why do I spend so much time and energy worrying about these kinds of things. Handling and dusting and washing and ironing, this is servant's work. All to end up giving a large portion of these trinkets away? What am I thinking...? At least there may be a tax deduction in the cards.

The best joy I got out of this experience was to unload the giveaways to the thrift collectors, to trade select items with my friend and to paint the battered frames and experiment with the colors and finishes and then have the zap of inspiration to make paintings to go in to said frames.

Otherwise it is an exhausting trial of deciding what to do with this stuff. I am an admitted junk collector. So is my husband. So was my father. So was my grandmother. So was my Aunt Ruby. Where do you think it all came from? I know I am in need of counsel, but with each revelation such as this, I start to realize the things that are most important to me. I do believe that it is time to eliminate the vast quantities of stuff and concentrate on the paint and the pen, my friends. I will, however, need support and encouragement.

painting: Edisto Marsh I

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

September. Oh Happy Day!

I walked out the front path through the morning glory garland and through the length and breadth of Claude's Cove choking on tears of joy and a hefty smile.

That baby boy is here!

As fate would have it, he made his mamma wait until September for his arrival. Could be he wanted a brand new month for his brand new day to start out his life.

He is the third great great grandchild of Claude. This weekend another one of Claude's great grandchildren will marry, and with the new year another great great grand will come. And so the family grows.

I stand on the dock and call out to the spirits waiting there that he is here. The cool breeze on my skin feels as if it could lift me up and send me soaring over the waters like a big blue heron. Crows call out from the treetops to spread the news.

On my walk home, a russet canna blossom lays on the pavement and asks for a drink. Shards from a broken coffee cup are strewn across the red clay shoulder.

I return to the chore of the day, and happily wield my paintbrush to whitewash the kitchen where grandma made us many meals of fried chicken, macaroni and cheese and fried apple pies.

I pull out my paint box of many colors and continue to work on tiny studies of cove paintings and tiny furniture painted in bright colors. I see things in tiny perspective and long to hold that baby and kiss him.

I am thankful for a new season coming round the bend, a new life in our family and a new season of change.



painting: Star of Yelta

Thursday, August 27, 2009

August




chicken bone on the pavement
sky so blue
my grief, my behavement
I cry for you

2004

********

Downy feathers float on shallow ripples up in to the head of the cove. A blue heron glides low into the bend. Back to school. A school of small fish linger by the dock waiting for their lesson or a bite.

Summer is fading. Dry heat. Beating sun. Soon the blue of the sky will change. After Labor Day. That baby will be here by week's end and holding in his grandmamma's arms.

This week ended Stella. This summer lolled along in melancholy like the summer we watched our Daddy dying. Nothing to do but wait and care. Care about so much time passed and whether you did enough. Loving and caring was the best we could do.

Stella loved being at Claude's Cove for thirteen years. Having her babies here. Running through the laurel thickets with Inez and swimming cross the cove. Laying in a pile of leaves all camouflage in her brindled prowess. Thanksgiving. Her spirit floats through like the downy feathers on the ripples of the waters at Claude's Cove.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Amusement



Recently my Uncle John recounted a memory of taking his daughter and me to the local State Fair when we were very very young. I imagine it was my first trip to such a fantastic place. He gave each of us fifty cents and we rode and rode the rides for hours. I remember driving tiny red sports cars around a track, and bumper cars, neon lights and cotton candy. A Big Night of Fun.

In contrast, our community held an annual country fair at the high school. On display were colorful, flamboyant and patterned poultry, pigs in their largess, mama cows with their heifers, canned goods, giant pumpkins, prize roses, quilts and coverlets, all from the hands and lives of folks only a few miles encompassing the festival. The elder men of my family gathered for days preceding to cook and chop hundreds of pounds of meat to make the annual barbecue, the main dish of the event.

For the past week we've all reflected on the 40th Anniversary of Woodstock...in that same year, I was relishing the celebration of my 7th Grade class trip to Charleston, basking in the sea air on the Boardwalk of Folly Beach, sipping cokes and eating hot dogs and making the rounds on the carnival rides. Later that summer, I scored my Woodstock souvenir at the T-shirt Shop on the Boardwalk of Myrtle Beach. The merrymaking continued at The Pavilion,with calliope music, rides upon rides, games and photos in the photo booth.

The Fairs and Festivals from year to year are the remnants of Americana that tie our memories into the quilted threads that hang over the grandstands with Blue, Red and White ribbons.



In my past travels between New England and the Carolinas, I followed a favorite band to Sullivan's Island one summer in the late eighties. Upon returning North, dodging a tropical storm, I ventured off course for a visit to Asbury Park. What a monument to beachside, boardwalk amusement and local, pure, all American fun.





I dream about what it may have been like to grow up in the shadow of a place like that.

What I marvel at most is how each visit to a Festival, a State Fair or an Amusement Park marks special times in our lives to remember. They go on like clockwork to indicate season's change, harvest, community fellowship and commemoration. As holiday lights and watching fireworks with family and friends, they illuminate us.

My most surreal trip to a State Fair was a pre-planned trip with my husband to the North Carolina Mountain State Fair in Arden. It was September 11, 2001. As ominous a day as it turned out to be, we felt like we should get out and do something. Certainly a shroud hung over the Fairgrounds, yet the show went on. The livestock, the funky chickens, the games, the rides were on stage for all who came. We walked around, saw "Asleep At the Wheel" perform, had a couple of corn dogs and called it a night. We never even rode one ride.

Of all the greatest times at these Grand Places, my fondest recollections are those tiny red cars we drove when we were tiny little girls, the Demolition Derbys, and most of all, riding the elephant with my best girlfriend.

Friday, August 7, 2009

Babes in the Woods





Girls camping trip. A spontaneous road trip to White Oak Camp at Table Rock. Summer days. Rain drops fall. Hanging out under makeshift tarps by a sizzling campfire. Keeping company with ferns and mossy embankments. Boulder stepping stones lead in to chilly waters fed by cascading falls. July ends.





Coffee brews in an Italian pot on the new camp stove we broke in at supper time the night before. Peaceful hours knitting, drawing, collaging and talking. We are a million miles from home.

Our only commitment, to rest and relax and enjoy the scenery. Surrounded by forest, it is cool and refreshing. Unusual for the middle of summer.



Sunday, July 26, 2009

Trip to Venus



A week ago I ran away to visit my dear friend, Venus, and her family.

A drive down beautiful country roads, past sprawling farms and small pristine churches, I arrived in the early afternoon, bearing fresh plantains for our Jamaican feast of the evening.

An afternoon of girls gabbing, catching up and finishing off the kitchen work so the next few days would be all play and no work. Later we fancied our Jamaican Jerk chicken, fried plantains and a luscious garden salad.

The following day the picnic basket packed, we trailed off to the Daniel Stowe Garden. There, on the patio, we dined before our tour, then set off down the serpentine paths under arched fountains, awestruck by the beauty of a paradise of floral and botanical wonder. Intermixed in the plan were sculptures, topiary and a larger than life bird cage that emanated as from a fairy tale, filled with brightly colored birds, flitting and flirting and posing. The finale of our tour was a venture through the orchid house exhibition, so much more loveliness than I have words to describe.

Back to home, we relished in some communal studio time, building clay, sewing and more chat. Breaking in the new studio space, giving it soul, filling its space with the love of creation and being together. Friends who have long loved the artistic link that binds us.

Another great dinner of homemade garden pizza ended our day.

Watering the garden, walking on country roads, reading, we spent the next day mostly out of doors.



Venus sensed a large truck approaching.
We accepted delivery from Mr FedEx of a couple of Way Cool chairs for the new studio. A gift for the lovely lady, from the lovely Mr. C.

Girls night out at the Patti-O Bar and Grill. Big Juicy Patti-Melts and brews and still more girl chat. These girls can talk. A Blue streak. A mile a minute. All day and All night.

It's a beautiful thing!

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Act II


For my next act, I will become a mermaid.

note to self: sign up for swimming lessons