Summa, Summa, Summatime

It has been such an enjoyable summer. Riverside is heaven. I tell you, after the whirl-wind European trip via planes, trains and automobiles, this has been a well-needed relaxing stay.

These hydrangea are from the front yard.

The sunflowers are from the local grocer.

A week or so back, I made lunch for Darlene and Linda, neighbors down here in 'bama. I must tell you later about the gorgeous set of dragonfly dishes Darlene found for me down here! (Later)

Dar and I having a blueberry lemonade martini. Oh soooooo good.

I made garlic pan-seared shrimp, fresh succotash, and a summer spinach salad with blue cheese-balsamic dressing. Bananas' Foster was dessert. Yum.

I started Anthony Bourdain's new book, Medium Raw. Gotta love that bad-arse. Lemonade on the dock to keep me cool.

Bella and I have been taking naps.

Of course, she is still quite the princess and needs several escorts a week down to "her" laundry room at 5 a.m. Geesh. (Yes, Frankie is here too.)

We've been watching frogs waiting near the porch light for bugs to eat. (Be my guest!)

And eating lots. Dean (Darlene's hub) made us a smoked chicken when the hub arrived last Saturday. We savored each and every piece of that baby, let me tell you. Those two are just the bestest people around.

There have been too many trips to the new custard place, Eskamoe's.

And we even a new addition to Riverside, Celie Mabel. Darlene, as I've mentioned, is a wonderful artist and she made this gorgeous paper mache eclipse for the house.

I'm in love.

Beth brought these white patty-pan squash from her garden, along with a bunch of other veggies. I couldn't resist photographing these cuties.

We've had rain most of the day today; but it was quite welcome. We needed a break from that hot sun. Maybe tomorrow will be a little cooler.

Serendipity

This week, I have been on a mission to find an engraver--a hand engraver for a very special gift. Do you know how hard it is to find one? Of course, I had a wonderful hand engraver in the DC area that did work for the White House, so I was all set back there. He was wonderful. Here? I went through three in person or by phone, all machine engravers, before I was finally given the name of one Joseph S. Rosa in Nashville.

Serendipity.
I found Mr. Rosa and his wife tucked away in an older building way off the road in Nashville. Up the stairs, down the end of the hall, right and then another right. Likened it to an old dentist office.

There I found this gentle man, thin and tanned. Sweet and precious. We talked about the tiny piece I needed done and my fascination of the art got the best of me, as it always does. I know it's a lost art. And I was talking to he and his wife about how wonderful it was to find them and how fascinated I am with the process, Mr. Rosa brought out a framed piece that his grandfather had done, sort of an engraving "final exam" if you will. How brilliant. Dating back to horology school in Philadelphia, dated 1902. Horology? Clock-making. His grandfather, Richard Rosa, came over from Italy. This was his livelihood. And, as in those days, his talent was passed on to his son and then on to the next generation, "my" Joseph Rosa.

Here is a piece that Joseph uses to practice on. Absolutely beautiful. There is no comparison between hand work and machine. Ever.

What a lovely couple. Through our conversation, I found out that Mr. Rosa has a terminal disease and is winding down yet enjoying life. He told me that just the other night, he and his wife couldn't sleep. "At midnight, as we lay in bed, I said, 'wouldn't an ice cream float be wonderful right about now?" He continued, "My wife got up, made us both a root beer float and we proceeded to eat them in bed, at midnight!" Mrs. Rosa piped in, "Ten years ago, we would have never done such a thing. Why? Life is short, enjoy it." Sniffle. Yes it is.

Serendipity.

While I was in Fairhope a week or so back, I walked into a shop, looking for a specific piece to put on the front screened porch--a small door knocker, to be exact. As I walked in, the clerk was talking with a gentleman. The conversation was political, and I could tell by the gent's dress that he was European. He had a great camera criss-crossing his chest which of course caught my eye straight away. Well, being in the deep south, you know the conversation wasn't what I wanted to hear politically, so I was quite annoyed with overhearing the nonsense. But of course, as I put my find on the counter, she began to introduce me to this gentleman, Jacko, a professional photographer from Bulgaria. She was as sweet as could be and even apologized if she had offended me in her talk. I told her it was all fine, "We're in America--we can agree to disagree." One thing always leads to another with me, as you know; and Jacko and I began a conversation about photography and the such. The clerk and I were suggesting areas he should go to photograph and I mentioned how the mail was delivered in Magnolia Springs--one of the last places in America where the mail is still delivered by boat. Jacko brought out the above photo to show me how the mail is still delivered in Bulgaria. Precious. Beautiful. Priceless.

Haha, of course I was dressed riversorry, old sandals, cropped jeans, an old white t-shirt (probably dirty), hair pulled back, frizzed and wildly tucked under an old baseball cap. How American. Blech. So, he wants to take my photograph. EW. He did the best with what he had. lol Found a beautiful white linen apron which he covered my front with, gave me a lovely vase to hold, removed my hat, my glasses and moved me to the front of the store where he began to shoot. Oh my. The people walking by were probably thinking "If SHE'S a model, I CAN BE ONE TOO!!!" How hilarious.

Please take a look at Jacko Vassilev's site. Amazing stuff. No photoshop here, my friends. Again, another lost art which we spoke of.

Serendipity. I feel fortunate meeting up with both of these two marvelous human beings full of talent and doing what they love most. Beautiful and touching. How lucky am I.

Bliss

This trip has been therapeutic in so many ways. It's always nice to have the hub fly here into Riverside after an overseas trip so he can rejuvenate himself. That he is doing (sleeping).

There have been several art shows in town, one on the Bay (above) and one right down the road at Big Daddy's. How great is that? And it gets even better. When the kid and I arrived on Thursday, we saw our neighbor, Darlene, walking her dogs. She told us about the art show at Big Daddy's but I didn't know she was an artist! Love it! She was sweet and told us to come over one night after the hub arrived for some wine and to sit and chat. So last night, when she phoned, the hub and I went up river a couple of houses to do just that. What an absolutely delightful time! Both her and her husband are like long-lost friends. We sat on the river and talked about so many things and it was as if we had known each other for years. It's so refreshing to meet people and just click with them. I have found that very hard the older I get. Guess I'm set in my ways. But, what a delight these two were. First of all, their house is full of Darlene's artwork--everything from oil paintings to papier mache to pieces made from driftwood and on and on. I felt like I was in dreamland, everything was so wonderful. We sat on their dock and drank and talked for hours. Dean even had some pork butt smoking and once finished brought it out for an impromptu dinner! I love my bbq, but I have to say this is some of the best I have ever had. I even brought two "butts" home to freeze and have later. I absolutely love these people! As we sat, several turtles popped their heads up from the river, asking for a bite or two. It was so different than our little piece of the river. Their house overlooks the island which makes it private and cozy and oh so quiet. Can you tell I had a wonderful time?

This is at the pier in town. They have a lovely rose garden and the roses were delightful this time of year. The weather has been absolutely perfect. It was so clear, you could see Mobile (bottom, right-hand corner).

Perfect!

Today, we went over to Big Daddy's to see more of Darlene's delightful pieces. I loved the cover of her portfolio. The sun face sits in her house and I just ooh'd and ah'd over it. Isn't it precious? She is unbelievable with paper mache.

Look at these new pieces she just started making. She's trying to come up with names on what to call this type of medium. Canvassed memories? Any ideas? Don't you love it!

She took some old dress up clothes from her daughter's growing years and put them on canvas! If you could see them up close in person, you would be amazed. How fun!

These are antique doll clothes that she used here. I loved this piece. It is covered with wax, and you know how I love wax.

Some of her fabulous paintings.

And she is brilliant with papier mache. Looks like me and the hub! She pointed out the dress shoes and black socks. Love it!!

And mermaids! She has mermaids everywhere in her house and these two were for sale! Well, you know where this is going, don't you?

Yes, I brought "Free Ride" mermaid home with me. She is absolutely perfect on the wall overlooking the river.

And a bonus. As the kid and I were leaving, Dean picked some Meyer lemons off their tree and Darlene some satsumas! Now that's being the best neighbors ever! I wish you could smell them.

Yesterday, I found these things--Bahama (star?) fruit at the local farmer's market. I had never heard of them nor seen anything like it. They are huge! Larger than cantaloupe. Yet, when you cut into them, the fruit is much smaller and quite like sweet pink grapefruit. Yum.

I will take pictures when I do cut into them.

Oh, and Darlene even gave me some of her Spanish moss to drape over our trees.

You know how I feel about that stuff too. I can't wait for it to grow so I can continue tossing it over limbs. It's like Christmastime around here!

Now it's nappy time, at least for some (Bella and the hub). Actually dinner time at this point. I could handle some more of Dean's bbq, let me tell you! Hmmmmmm.

It's starting to feel like home. Just in time to head back to Tennessee tomorrow, right?

Tennessee Arts & Crafts Fair

I was so excited to see that the TACA show was this weekend in Nashville. I needed something to get me out of the house and get my mind on some fun stuff. They show twice a year here, once in the spring and once in the fall. I believe I missed out on the spring show this year.

Some of my favorites were there including R. Michael Wimmer. His work is called "found object sculptures." I would love to have one! What fun stuff.

Then there was one of my favorite clay artists, a husband and wife duo Sandy & Ann Batton of Batton Clayworks out of North Carolina. Love their stuff!

These were new folks that I had either missed in previous years or were actually new to the show. Eco Art had some wonderful pieces.

When I saw this, of course I had to get it for Riverside!

Not sure if Maclone Clay was new or not, but I had not noticed them before. Loved their yard stakes and the little plaque about faeries.

I got this, also for Riverside, to cover up the old door bell hole in the wall by the back door. These are the only rules at Riverside.

It was a beautiful morning before the sun began producing the heat of the afternoon.

I skipped out on a demonstration by Akira Blount that I would have loved to have seen. Her "dolls" are incredible. More than incredible. It was beginning to get too hot and too crowded so I missed it. I'm bad that way. I was also afraid I may be tempted to purchase a piece with no money to buy it with!

I did come home with lots of papers to go through including a brochure from the Appalachian Center for Craft which lists classes! Classes!!! I am in desperate need of some classes! That is one of the things I miss the most after leaving the DC area, classes and workshops. They are very few and far between down here in Nashville. So, you can only imagine my excitement when I came upon their booth. They are about an hour and half from here, not too bad. There are two weekend sessions that I am thinking about--"Figure it Out," modeling a figure in clay and "Book Arts Galore," innovative formats to create our own books. Hmmmmmm. Ooops, already missed the clay class. Oh well.

Now, look at the pieces I brought home that I am really excited about! Remember last year, I bought the funky tea pot from Batton Pottery? Well, this year, they had a platter that was reduced for quick sale! Yep, I bought it very quickly. Look at how pretty!! Yay!

You know I'm a sucker for small things. And Sandy had more of his tiny little clay boxes. So yes, I bought a couple more to add to this one I got last year.

Precious little tea pot on top.

And who could resist eggs and bacon? Not me, for sure. Can you hear me squealing from there?

Then I splurged. I was being so good too. Really. But when I came back by Ben Caldwell's copper booth, I just couldn't help myself. You know me and my copper in the kitchen, right? I had found this great polenta pot on the bargain table at Williams-Sonoma a while back and I had just recently hung it behind my stove. I loved the acorn motif on the handle. Well today, there were these luscious copper ladles just calling my name. Ok, I bought the smallest one. And look at how utterly perfect it goes with my pot. Can you say "hot apple cider?" hehe.

It all is just making me happy. I need to be happy. Happy happy happy. Are you happy today?