Road trip!

I am getting ready to hit the road for a summer road trip! Ultimate destination is Boston to pick up my daughter who has been in a summer program at the School of the Museum of fine Arts. I will be making a few stops and plan to visit family and friends with a side trip to Cape Cod to eat some fried clams. Was there 20 plus years ago and ate so many I had to stop. Plan on trying to recreate that clam heaven. If you have any favorite joints or shacks in the northeast let me know. Here are a couple of paintings I finished up this week.

Mango

Here is before and after shots of one of the mangoes. This mango was from a yard in Sugarloaf and it was so sweet and delicious. I think I will have to paint more! and eat more, before they are all gone!

The Red Tent

Read another good book this summer. I got new glasses so its been way more pleasurable. The Red Tent was another great book and at first it seemed daunting with all the family history and names and mothers and sisters and such but it was deep and rich with history and wonderful family legacy.

Thursday Painting

Its near the end of mango season and at painting today there were several mangos just perfectly ripe and smelling soooo good, I had to paint them. I added the Sugarloaf back country and the summer clouds were gathering. I will eat one of those mangoes for dessert tonight, yum.

Night Blooming Cactus

This is what greeted me this morning as I put my socks on for my walk. I knew it was a bout to bloom but forgot last night to look at it, luckily I was up early to see it still in bloom as this is a night blooming cactus. I have it up in the trees all over my yard and there were blooms everywhere. I went for my walk and it sprinkled and there was a rainbow over the tidal flats and as soon as I got home the sky opened up and it poured for about 30 minutes. Now its nice and steamy. Ah the rainy season in south Florida!

New Paintings

Painted these while I was away and just placed in the gallery yesterday. This is "The Yellow Book" The canvas is 8"x10" so with the frame it is a bit larger $425.00

"The Green Chair" again the canvas is 8"x10" with a wide frame added, I kind of like the change of a white frame. $425.00.

"Sunset Palm Island" "Night Palm Island" both 5"x7" $125.00 each.

Had drinks at Bobby's Monkey Bar last night. Locals will know Tom Luna, who is working there. Had a great gab fest and walk down memory lane with him. I was his wife, Eunice, in the play Streetcar Named Desire in 1990. My only other stage presence was I played Frosty the Snow man in 3rd grade. Tom looks great with a new biker look and the bar is a hoot not changed in 30 years. Also had dinner with fellow artist in town from Atlanta, Lynne Fischer. Check out her web site for beautiful botanicals and coconuts http://www.lynnefischerstudios.com/. Had dinner at El Siboney, great as ever, love that cassava! http://www.elsiboneyrestaurant.com/index.htm

On the drive home tonight the moon was so bright and reflecting off the water. Hope you are all looking at it.

Books

Read a couple of books while away. Thought I would share them with you.

This one my son suggested and I thoroughly enjoyed this photographers search for himself as well as his search for the elusive glacier blue bear. Wonderful looks into the rugged place Alaska is.

The Mermaids Chair was a good light read by the same author as "The Secret Life Of Bees" Good summer read.

Back from Bumpy Road

Here is Bumpy Road. I am back and feel refreshed and ready for July. I painted and swam and played and shopped and fluffed and the week went too fast.

A walk in the woods, oak leaves on the forest floor.

Path with caladiums and four o'clocks with jasmine above my head.

My little grove. Kumquat, red navel, grapefruit, tangerine and some kind of orange. They all had fruit on them, lets hope it stays till December.

The live oaks dripping with Spanish moss.

Impromptu studio.

Bedroom.

Stairs to loft.

Kitchen with Wayne's stained glass.

If anyone ever wants or needs a getaway place let me know. I am planning to rent this out for a vacation rental. The town is 2 miles away and there is some great plein aire painting in historic Melrose with loads of Victorian houses and lots of little lakes with cypress dripping with Spanish moss. There a great farm stands and Gainesville is just 20 miles away with wonderful restaurants , shopping, museums and lots going on with the University.