In the POD - the panhandle

Headed west off of 75 just around Ocala passing thru mostly dairy and cattle farms. Flat and mostly open vistas dotted with what looked to be tree farms of tall Southern White Pine.

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We even passed over the Suwanee River- better known as the 

Swanee River made famous by the Stephen Foster song. Who knew it was in Florida!?

We pulled into the Ochlockonee River State Park around 4pm and were more than delighted with this little campground! 

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Filled with walking trails the park also has kayaks for rent. The area was filled with birds, white squirrels, white deer and more!

We could easily have spent 3 days here. But we are on to New Orleans!

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in the POD - Pine Island

Pine Island Canals

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Pine Island - 18 miles long and 3 miles wide, a quiet spot in the intercostal just north of Sanibel. It is peaceful, made up mostly of farms (palms, exotic plants, mangos) and low density village like pockets of humans, dogs and way too many boats.  Surrounded by mangroves it is an island with no beaches; walkable, bike able, warm air filled with breezes off the sound, and an actual small scale bridge connecting it to the rest of Florida. 

Tim and I fell in love with this island 15 years ago. We bought a house here that was first our vacation home and then became our full time residence in 2005. 

It was heaven. 

We sold the house and moved on in 2010.....

because life changes.

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Kim and Claudia

Sunset cruise on Pine Island Sound

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So here we are back again and staying under a palm in the side yard of our very good friends Claudia and Kim. Claudia is a New Englander. She is a Rossi from Rhode Island....how could I not love her! A great cook, a force of energy, an optimist and a great friend. Kim is from Minnesota, by way of Arkansas, who, despite his Swedish roots is also a great cook, a amazing boater and ..... I cannot get enough of his laugh! 

Cooking together, relaxing, a little bit of work, walks in the morning sun, waking up to the cooing of the doves, the afternoon cries of the osprey looking for dinner, bikes out on the trail, and a bit of boating - all the good things.  So why does Pine Island feel so foreign now?

A motorcycle destination

Ragged Ass Saloon, Pine Island

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It feels like a place that time forgot - which might be cool if the time was a particularly amazing one! Or maybe each individual person that moved here brought with them a personal "best" time that they continue to relive and those that grew up here are like indigenous people of the rainforest .....never having had contact with outside world. 

I realized that while I lived here - and worked off island in a crazy business - coming home to Pine Island was my sanctuary, my peace. It made sense then. Wrapped in the cocoon of my little house with only Tim and the quiet to surround myself with - there was balance.

Tim enjoying the "no snow zone"

the new dock at Schooner Lane

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Tomorrow morning we pack up and head north along the Gulf of Mexico. We will be heading to Ochlockonee River State Park in Sopchoppy, FL. and then continuing along the waters edge into New Orleans. 

I am so glad to know that Pine Island is here. But for now there are

so many other places to see.

the POD at rest

Pine Island, FL

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in the POD - West Palm Beach

Tim, Alden and Cato, Janet and Stella, Donny

Backyard

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What a great way to start this journey.

Two days catching up with friends, re-learning how to relax, and slowly figuring out how 2 adults can comfortably exist in 19’x8’ - and not kill each other. 

And ….. how I can actually work in this space!

Yes, I am actually going to work over the next 2 months. I’m working for a company based in India designing artisan tops and jackets. Crazy. So far so good and as long as I have an internet connection it looks like this will really work out!

Of course, Tim was unprepared when I showed up with a suitcase full of fabric swatches…. Ahh, where to store them?

It’s an adventure.

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So the relax end of the spectrum.......Tim and I biked most of the afternoon along Lake Worth - part of the intercostal that separates West Palm from Palm Beach - and then over the bridge to Palm Beach proper, along the Lake Trail and then out to the beaches on the Atlantic. It was great to get out on the bikes, the air and sunshine on exposed (very pale….) skin was invigorating. 

Lake Worth from the bridge

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Kapok Tree 

Lake Trail 

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No visit to West Palm Beach is complete without a visit to Sea Shell City - at least according to our friends. It was, as expected, filled with shells, things covered in shells, paintings of shells, shirts emblazoned with shells, and all manner of Florida themed crap. The young proprietor grew up in Sea Shell City - his mother having owned the business for over 50 years. He was very happy doing what he was doing, a real bright spot among the multi color  selection of shells. Hats off!

Sea Shell City

West Palm Beach

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We then headed over to meet Bill, a good friend of Donny and Janet. He has a sweet little house in Old West Palm that looks like it should be the mountains of New England. Built in the 20’s, the inside is all dark tongue and groove paneling, wood floors, and a brick fireplace. The porch on the back looks out over an amazing raised vegetable garden. His dog, Bella, casually feeds herself throughout the day - feasting on collard greens, carrots and whatever else she fancies!

Also in the back yard is the Whaling Museum - a very small, but interestingly curated collection of whaling paraphernalia.  

Back Porch and Gardens

Old West Palm

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Cocktails at the Whaling Museum

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Bella digging for carrots.

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Friends. 

Sharing life, sharing all the ups and downs and the plans for the future. Laughing, cooking  and eating together. 

It is so comforting to know that we are all in this together.

Salmon on the grill

our last night in West Palm

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in the POD - and so it begins

Cozy in West Palm Beach

March 5, 2015

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I left the drizzle and slush yesterday morning and arrived in West Palm Beach that evening. 

Ahhhhh….. deep breaths. 

Slow down.

Tim and POD were already here waiting patiently for me. They left snow filled Providence two weeks ago - could not take any more of this winter. 

And now, together, we start our two months on the road. 

Nomads.

Exploring.

Staying small.

A POD life.

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We will stay in Florida for a week, east coast and then west, drive along the Gulf and spend some time in New Orleans. Flying out of Houston we will travel to Merida, Mexico for a visit with my sister, Donna, and Brian. 

Once back in the U.S we will drive to Yosemite for a few days, then on to the coast of Northern California, Oregon, Washington, into Idaho, Wyoming, S. Dakota…….. eventually making it back to New England by the end of April/early May. Maybe.

Somewhere in the neighborhood of 10,000 miles.

Somewhere.

As we ease into this adventure we are currently parked in the side driveway of our good friends, Janet and Donny, here in West Palm. Have not seen them in over a year … lots to catch up on!

Janet and Donny in the cutest cottage

West Palm, FL

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on the street - quiet city

after the snow

Providence, RI

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snow came

and the quiet spread so slowly 

top to bottom

it fell upon tree limbs and wires

it rested on my street

my yard

my house

and seeped in under the front door

no words

no noise

just 

here

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downtown reflection

Providence, RI

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smooth garden

Providence, RI

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waiting

Providence, RI

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in the studio - suddenly a rush

Not sure what provoked this sudden rush of art work - 

Maybe it came as a release after spending the last month or so immersed within the powerfully sad and crazy world of 

"The Glass Menagerie".

(yes, designs are completed and in the shop ... )

Maybe it is the realization that in less than 6 weeks we will be on the road traveling for 2 months.... with only a few necessary art tools.

Either way - I was thrilled to have been inspired and explore some 

of the new techniques I have been playing with!

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Diamond Valley - Figure #1

5"x7"

antique maps, paper, thread

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Revisiting - Figure #1

5"x7"

muslin, printed cotton, thread, marker

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2 days 

2 completed pieces

2 new ones being developed

All is well!

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end of the year and looking ahead

another year

lots of new

lots of old..... revisited, refashioned, re-examined

changes ahead

all amazingly good!

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barn study #2

5"x7"

mixed media collage

antique book covers, book pages, maps, digital print, and thread

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 Looking back I began the year in need of a serious re-boot and did just that. 

I believe that the courage came with reviewing "The Artist's Way",  making a commitment to spending time everyday in the studio and writing clear goals for myself. 

As I look toward the year ahead I am reminded that, again, I need to establish new goals, set time aside daily for creativity, and write to unlock it. But most importantly I need to live by this:

clear out

communicate

create

accept

prosper

one step at a time.

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Happy 2015 ahead!