Island days. Cloudy. Cooler. Now Sunny!

The blog title says it. We've had varied weather. But the special part of our stay continues to be the large window and ocean view. So 'inside days' are cozy, but the sea is still with us.

Apropos of cloudy, cooler weather, along with collage, a lot of reading has occurred. But unlike our oceanside woman here, primarily through a Kindle app, which will never be as vibrant to look at as a stack of books! 

She has been reading The Sea Priestess by Dion Fortune; a mystical novel published in 1938.  Over the years, I have re-read that book many times when I spend time at the ocean.  The Hawk guardian is a Coopers Hawk, like the one who perches on trees right outside, but so far, not upon any books. There are indeed alligators on the island, but unlike our Reader's companion, they typically wouldn't be on the beach.

Cloudy Days At the Sea Collage

Hilton Head Island

At first I was reluctant to go to the Nakama Sushi Bar because the outside menu board said cheeseburgers and milkshakes were available. Did not compute! But as it was nearby, I decided to check it out on the Web and discovered that so many people were happy to have a sushi place they could take their kids to, hence, cheeseburgers and milkshakes!  We thoroughly enjoyed our tempura, dumplings and soup. As you can see, I loved the eclectic ambiance.

Nakama Sushi Bar

Hilton Head Island

Our time here is growing short. Till next time.

By the Sea!

We are having lazy days here in Hilton Head and our lovely ocean view from our rental enhances every moment.

You never know what you'll see out that glorious window.

Ocean Palms by Dior collage

Hilton Head Island, SC

Seawoman collage

Hilton Head Island, SC

Till another time!

      

At the beach!

We're spending some time at the beach on Hilton Head Island, SC; just a short travel from Savannah.  We did not go to our little town of Cedar Key, Florida, which is still recovering from hurricane damage.

HHI is a very different experience for us; accustomed to just parking the car and walking everywhere. I chose our rental because of the view and because  it was in walking distance to Coligny Square, a hub of restaurants and shops and the first such place built on the island.  Very fortunate choice, because most everything else requires a travel by car.  We ventured out a bit, but are mostly happy here in our little 'neighborhood'.

HHI is really only 54 years old and  planned with an idea of keeping the natural look, so architecture here is 'of a piece' in many ways. There are many parks and old wooded areas and of course the ocean and inlets, so nature is catching my eye instead of old Victorian homes.

The background here is the view from the window in our rental; amplified and altered, of course. It is a joy to see it all the time and we have a deck as well to be outside and hear the ocean as well as see it.  Windows evoke a bit of mystery to me and our enigmatic twins anchor that energy. Do they even notice our Octo Maiden? Perhaps not.

Sea Window collage

Hilton Head Island, SC

I came across this whimsical sculpture in a nearby park. Sandy Roads, by Mark Larkin. Our gentleman ponders it as I did.  There is a lot of public art here. I'm on the look-out!

Art In The Park Collage

Hilton Head Island, SC

Till next time!

 

Adieux Savannah 2025

Soon we'll be traveling on to some time at the beach.  I always experience Savanah as a 'heart home' and it never feels too long to 'live' here in our Winter travel. The familiar always reveals a touch of the new, another facet discovered. And there is always something fresh to find as well.  This year some favorite restaurants were gone; a art gallery we always enjoyed is now an event space and the shows at the major museums were in transition, so we saw less, but at least without an admission cost. And then there was snow!! A unique visit in many ways.  I hope you've enjoyed these 'postcards' from Savannah.

Frieze is a favorite shop of ours and as it says, it always has some treasures to look at in it's gallery-like setting. I always find a little treasure here.  The stylish gentleman is a nod to the most gracious owner, more like a host, of Firenze and yes, some of the objects are from the shop.

Frieze Exotic Gifts collage

York Street - Savannah

Quinn's Breakfast and Lunch is another favorite; breakfast with that diner feel.  It gets a nice local crowd, as well as travelers who find it.  One day we sat in a booth near the kitchen and I was able to get the shot of the cooks at work.  And although I would indeed add a giant flamingo and lush flowers to the background, they are actually part of a mural wall in the restaurant.

Quinn's Men At Work collage

Drayton Street - Savannah

Gingerbread House, as I call it, caught my eye with its detailed scalloped shingles. The day I photographed it, the sun was just at an angle to make the house a brilliant white. Cherry cheesecake seemed the perfect highlight. 

Gingerbread House with Cherry Cheesecake collage

Savannah

Thank you for traveling with me.

Till another time.

Howard Street - Savannah 2025

Recently we found ourselves walking along Howard Street. We've wandered the Savannah Historic District - North and South - for many years now, but this street seemed unfamiliar. There are other streets that parallel Howard, so it's possible we never went this way. In any event, it felt very fresh and new.

I was quite captured by the expanse of windows in this lovely Victorian. Our elegant lady holds a bit mystery with her Ouija-board teacup.

Windows on Howard Street

Savannah

The actual colors of 'Blue House'  and its shutters are almost as vivid as they are in this collage. Many of the Victorian-era homes sport these 'San Francisco' color schemes. In my collage world, pie is always welcome.

Blue House on Howard Street With Pie

Savannah

This is actually the front of the windows house. I was attracted by the architecture, but discovered there is history with this building.  It is the Bynes-Royall Funeral Home.  It is the oldest African-American owned business in Savannah as the first funeral home for African-Americans, established in 1878 by William R. Royall. In 1955, the business was purchased by Frank Bynes and his family continues to run it. I included the name on the portico awning and and a hint of a 1959 Cadillac hearse as a nod to its history.

History on Howard Street

Savannah

Our Savannah stay is coming to a close, but I have a couple more images I'm working with, so we'll see what's next.

Till next time.

Snowy Days in Savannah!!

As you may have seen on the news, snow came to the South, including Savannah.  We've been here when there was a cold snap, but never snow and apparently there has never been this much snow here.  Only 3" total, but here everything stops.  Only major streets get plowed; sidewalks aren't cleared because who has snow shovels or salt! The main plan is to wait until temperatures rise and everything melts. So we've been snug in our vacation rental since Wednesday.  But the bonus is uninterrupted collage time!

Kustom Hustle Tattoo has such a wonderful facade; evoking old-school tattoos, which I assume is intentional as they advertise 'Traditional Tattooing.'  

Kustom Hustle Tattoo

MLK Jr Boulevard - Savannah

The green door is  next to our place and it is almost as vibrantly green as in this collage. The 'lady' planter always catches my eye, especially her somewhat stern face, and here she is in full flower abundance.

Green Door on Jones Street

Jones & Whitaker - Savannah

Eyes on the House includes some 'purloined' art from photos I've taken in various shops and restaurants.  Some of the 'eye' wall was a single display, but I've embellished things and added other photos. The wonderful woman with houses is from a painting in our favorite breakfast place, but here she is amplified.  I especially like the woman, as I myself often use over large figures in my collage.

Eyes on the House

Savannah

Night-time snow scenes from our condo windows.

We hope to venture out this afternoon as temperatures warm to the mid-forties. But I'm happy with my photos and thinking of the next piece.

Till next time.

More Savannah 2025

The many styles of architecture here in Savannah continues to inspire me. Our daily walk-abouts always have a new discovery even after all these years.  

Forsyth Park is almost a daily stop. This coat of many colors, vibrantly pink, orange and more,  totally caught my eye. She enjoyed greeting the various dogs walking through, so here in her many versions, are some companions.

Coat of Many Colors

Forsyth Park -  Savannah

This  antique shop is on my daily route.  The blue chair with flowers is part of its decor,  Our 1920's parasol lady enjoys the scene.

Antiques on Jones and Bull

Jones and Bull Streets - Savannah

On Saturday each week there is Farmer's Market at Forsyth Park - food and crafts. Tusk Coffee provides fuel for shopping and coffee to go.  They call their traveling coffee truck, 'to go Jo'.

Coffee in the Park

Forsyth Park - Savannah

More out and abouts to come.

Savannah, Georgia 2025!!

I'm fortunate to be Wintering in Savannah once again. We've been coming here for 10 years in varying lengths of stay, since we first stopped overnight on our way to St Petersburg, Florida. 

It's colder here than usual, but nothing compared to the wintery temps in other places.  We're still doing our usual rambles and people-watching in Forsyth Park, but the cooler temps makes us want to be cozy at home in the afternoons, which is a perfect time for collage.

I delighted in the 'Roly Poly' sign and knew it was a perfect collage background for me.  I found the colorful figure on a vintage blog; she posts herself in her retro outfits. I think she'd find the little dog a perfect companion.

Roly Poly Cafe

114 Barnard St ~ Savannah

Our dear friends, Morris and Elizabeth, met up with us on their way north to Asheville, NC from Florida.  We had a lovely lunch and a wonderful long chat at the Rancho Alegre Cuban Restaurant, one of our long-time favorite places.

Morris & Elizabeth @ The Cuban Restaurant

402 MLK Jr Blvd ~ Savannah

I read about Kim's Cafe in a great Savannah food blog, Eat It and Like It, by Jesse Blanco.  You may have heard of it as well, since Kamala Harris visited there last summer.  Great  'down home' breakfast and we're looking to go back for dinner. I'm up for the Meatloaf!  The Cafe also does a lot of community work with programs for youth and providing free meals weekly at a local church.

Kim's Cafe

714 MLK Jr Boulevard ~ Savannah

Till next time!

Merry Merry! Happy Happy! Joy Joy!

 Wishing all of you all good things in all ways.

Holidays...

Retro Christmas

Yule Man Michael

Winter Fairy

Festival of Light - for Amy & Sadie

Solstice

Lou & Patti Happy New Year

Happy Everything!

Flowering Women Beings and Men In Chairs

Each of these collages emerged from a single image that caught my eye.  The image became the anchor of the piece and a theme emerged; a typical working flow for me.  I didn't intend to do these as companion 'women and men' pieces, but they did follow each other, so maybe they are all part of the same tribe.

The anchor in Flowering Women Beings is the center image of the woman in the blue coat with the large fuschia flower. The original image had an oversized flower, which I expanded and also used as a motif. 'Ladies' of all styles and eras came my way. And then the flowers joined in. It was an advernture.   I don't recall when oversized flowers became one of my image totems, but they seem here to stay. The Crows don't mind.

Flowering Women Beings collage

Pharrell Williams standing next to a yellow chair was the first 'men in chairs'.  I liked  the amplified color in the image and was amused by the single chair. I thought it would be a great element in a collage, but somehow, I thought of  adding another 'man in chair' and I was off.  Some of our 'men' were already in my collection, like this particularl David Bowie. The hunt for chairs was also great fun.

Men In Chairs collage

Till next time.