Well, here we are on the island in Florida. I hope you all are doing well and enjoying life, I know I am. The weather has been exceptionally warm for the past week which is just an added bonus. It is very remote and quiet where we are and there is no one else on the island, we have it all to ourselves. Some day I'm sure others will come and buy up the remaining lots (we only have a few acres and the island is very large) but until then we are enjoying the peace and solitude and primarily living off the land.
It's an inspiring place to paint. I have been painting Florida, of course, now that I am here. Seems I am always most inspired by my surroundings. Maybe that's because I've been fortunate enough to live in some pretty amazing places including Maine, Costa Rica, and Florida. Here is some of my latest art.
I've been to a local place to leave a few of my note cards and magnets. Going to try to establish a bit of a market here for my art as well. Would like to keep it exclusive with just this one great little fish market with tons of ambiance. The owner's daughter is interested and I know the owner likes my art because I gave her a little block painting of the place a few years ago and they still have it on the counter at the market. I've had some of my graphics and photos made into posters, cards, magnets, and such to sell. Here are a few of the designs and images I'm using.
Speaking of Costa Rica got fb invites today from children of a dear friend of mine in Costa Rica. Can't believe they are grown up enough to actually have their own fb accounts. My gosh, where have the years gone? Can't wait to get ashore and accept their invites as I am still using this old fill as you go phone and it's slow and not much use when it comes to anything other than a few tweets and checking my email.
Captain got a Christmas hog yesterday. That was also a nice surprise. We have a friend who has a smoker and smoked some ribs last year that were one of the most amazing things I've ever eaten. Gives one a whole new perspective on eating meat when you have to kill, dress, and cook it. Bet there would be more vegetarians out there if everyone did it. Maybe not, though, it's pretty good stuff. They have a show on about wild hogs in Texas but they sure look meaner than these ones around here. Apparently they become a real nuisance is left to overrun. The locals all still hunt around here, but then again, it is a fairly remote area. Farther north in Florida there are even more hammocks where the guys go hunting all the time for wild boar. They also get white tailed deer around here.
Really missed my son for Christmas this year. Told him next year we are having a good old fashioned Maine Christmas with the old ornaments and the old home movies. We always celebrated in a big way when he was growing up with a big tree we would go cut down on the captain's property in Maine and a tree with white lights in the dooryard for the fishermen who passed along the river on their way home. Of course there was Christmas dinner with all the fixings, too. Lots and lots of pies and all the traditional foods I had as a child growing up in Maine. No, Florida is nothing like Maine at Christmas.
So, we are getting ready to go to the mainland (I'm writing this on the island so I don't have to spend so long at the library on the computer) soon. Not too much to do today, just need a few odds and ends. Going to rain tomorrow with some thunder and lightening. We have the tarp up so we can spend time outside if it's raining. The cats are adjusting nicely and seem very happy and content. Me, too.
Have a safe, sweet, wonderful week, friends. Thanks for following the journey.