Connecticut gal in the south

What a difference...  I'm a Connecticut native & last evening I experienced the south (again). Our kids live in North Carolina, but are from Alabama. What is the difference? Is it the deep southern accent... the chicken 'n dumplings, or their friend Bubba!

I'm used to the hussle & bustle & am a true "northerner". The contrasts of the south vs north... or I should say city/suburbs vs suburb/rural is dramatic. I get teased that I move too fast & need to slow down, last night I got a taste of slowing down. I've experienced this before and each time I do, I smile.

Last evening was the most dramatic.... after celebrating our granddaughter's high school graduation we went to dinner. There were people all around, cars, hustle & bustle... it was the center of town. When we left the restaurant & started walking to our car... there was nothing... silence... a stillness that I could only relate to that I had seen in a science fiction movie. I walked... no ran... into the middle of the street & started imagining being in a science fiction movie. You know that movie - the one where a comet had come screaming through the sky & contaminated the air & anyone that had been outside evaporated into dust... the only people that survived had fallen asleep in the movie theatre! All I exclaimed was... whoa... this is wild!

Silence vs noise... nature vs city, what do I prefer...  I'm not sure. I grew up in the suburbs in close proxcimity to a large city. That bustle & noise still hums in my ears, but the silence I experienced last evening had a "safe energy" to it that I rarely experience. I miss that "safeness"... the quiet times where I could walk alone & not hear a car driving down the street. Coming back to our kids home, I walked our dogs & experienced that quiet again. The stillness hung in the air & all I heard were the echoing voices of the bullfrogs sitting on the edges of the pond. Sweet - huh?

... I think I'll continue my thoughts on the south & what I experience today ..... let me know what you remember or experience? For now - I think I'll congratulate my granddaughter on her graduation from high school.... she just needs to remember the top 10 list that her teacher spoke of this evening at commencement... (hmmm - so do I)...

country seating in Milton, NC

Reviving the Creative Conversation

Back in January, the excuse for not contributing to our blog was I was busy - and then 6 months goes by, my conscious is "yakking at me"... you're not writing anything – not even sending out an e-newsletter... why? I guess - there is no excuse. So - let's revive the creative conversation, what do you want to hear? The events, trips, projects, and exhibits we've been involved in have been exciting and successful. It's time to share.

Business has been up & down, busy – not busy, exciting, boring (yes, I said boring)... but overall, our clients & projects have been great and we wouldn't change a thing. GC & I have both been exploring better ways of doing tasks and reevaluating how to do the best at our craft... that's design, photography, and illustration. I've also reconnected with old friends through Facebook – wow what an exciting ride. Some of our current and future happenings are:

• My new photos (Bermuda) are up at the Workhouse Photography Group – the show goes through July 18th.
• One of my photos (Wind) was juried into the Greenspiration show at the Workhouse. The show is through June 13th (see - I told you I was late in this post). Here are the works that are in the show. http://docs.google.com/present/view?id=ddz3k33s_178gwprbshd&interval=5
• But, an annual event that GC & I are getting excited to be a part of is the 6th Annual Manassas Wine & Jazz Festival on June 20th (Fathers Day). For more informaiton and tickets, visit: http://historicmanassas.mymediaroom.com/wire/events/viewevent.aspx?id=9133. GC will be exhibiting and selling some of his newest paintings – I'll have my photos and notecards. (some new stuff & older pieces... come early for some very special bargains on them!).

So, besides our "happenings" I ask myself daily one simple question... "how can we stay focused on the creative and get excited about stuff...?" I'm thinking it's the pleasant memories & images from our recent cruise to Bermuda (fresh air, bright colors, and that oh so beautiful crystal blue water) — but, it could also be our outdoor camping adventure in Harpers Ferry, WV this past weekend. Each day is new, every experience is new, and I am just thankful that I am sharing my creative adventures with my soulmate.

Here are some recent photos from our trips, including my piece "Wind" that's in the Greenspiration show.

Wind

Old Rider (this was taken in St. Georges, Bermuda)

Horizon (taken on the deck of our cruise ship)

harpers ferry wall

The confluence of the Potomac & Shenandoah River