Long slog today through Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York and in to Connecticut. Awful traffic and lots of trucks. I DESPISE my former husband on days like these. . . . oh whatever. Not going to go into poor pitiful me, dealing with horrid traffic, lifting an 80-pound dog into the car every 2 hours and on and on ad infinitum. WHATEVER

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beautiful Federick, Maryland

So, here's yesterday with my BFF, Stacy. Rainy day in Frederick but no problemo as we went to one of our fave places, Delaplaine Arts Center. I was particularly interested in seeing the triaxial weaving by Mary Klotz. Pictures cannot describe. She uses 4mm satin ribbon and her creations are just amazing. I will just post this one only but really you have to see them in person or HERE.

We also saw the juried exhibit and here I post the first place winner. It will be sure to expose me as a total boorish snarky philisteen but I. Just. Don't. Like. It. It was titled "Skin". hmmmmm And for the record, Stacy didn't like it either. In my defense, I do realize that art is not entirely about the aesthetic and that the artist was probably exploring an emotion or making a statement but oh well. sorry but ick . . . 

 And another - particularly baffling - didn't win any award though so ... There was a compass rose in the pink thing, if that helps.

This is what greets you when you walk into the Delaplaine and it is so simple but effective: silver ribbons. So cool really! Simply beautiful and oh so creative.

 Rainy view out of the gallery window.

We were gone all day so loaded up the girls when we got home for a quick trip to the Cunningham Sate Park waterfall hike. A lovely walk and when we got up to the lookout, there was construction of a new walkway in evidence so we had to turn around. Still, it was a nice hike and we saw some lovely woods, heard the rushing water and, check it out: This place, part of the Applachian Mountains, was at one time the highest mountain range on earth! Higher than the Himalayas! Isn't that amazing? 

 Dinner time so we fed the girls in the parking lot after our hike.

So, today really sucked but looking at these pictures in my icky hotel room tonight, I am so grateful for the respite from the road with my friend and my girls. Tomorrow? Two gems.  First, breakfast with my smart and gorgeous and talented niece and then . . . MAINE: THE WAY LIFE SHOULD BE!!!

Stacy and I had a fabulous time in Frederick yesterday. After coffee at Cafe Nola, we headed to the Antiques Emporium where I bought a few pieces of silverware to augment my collection. Yup, that's what the first picture is of: a big round table filled with silverware. Amazing.

We hit all our favorite shops: Ecclectibles, the Muse, the tea shop, the book shop and on and on. Love shopping with my BFF! Had a yummy lunch at Isabella's, a tapas restaurant. We shared three plates: empanadillas, goat cheese coated with house breading with carmelized onions, and the pasta del dia which was packed with scallops, shrimp and salmon. Sorry, but I won't be eating any seafood until I get back to Maine or the Fabulous Florida Keys. What was I thinking? Not bad but not wonderful.

We got a warm welcome when we got home and took the girls for a jaunt down to the creek where they played and played and played, puppies again for an hour. Of course, that took it's toll and this is what they did for the next 14 hours.

Our last day in Frederick today and we are starting out at Family Meal, another fave restaurant and there are so many here. We are off to the Delaplane School of Art to catch the latest exhibits and shop the crafts.

A long day yesterday, including a couple of close calls with gynormous trucks traveling at high rates of speed. That's the problem with traveling narrow Rte 81. The other problem is the dense fog but I had none of that this year. Yay! I did have lots of beautiful verdant vistas

And speaking of verdant, Sophie was loving her some real grass for a change. Had a nice long roll in it during our lunch break.

 Arrived at the cabin in Maryland in the late afternoon and where it is really early spring. Nice for the girls (and me) to be off the road for a few days.

The road in

Sophie finds the water - but only goes up to her knees - brrrrr

In the woods - cool or creepy: you be the judge!

 Little Cabin the Woods.

My friend, Stacy, arrived in time for dinner and we had some delicious Rock Fish. No wifi or phone so a quiet night for catching up. Now we're at Cafe Nola in Frederick, Maryland catching up on our electronics. Then?  Shopping!  Yeah!

Happy trails

Greetings from Statesville, North Carolina tonight. Yesterday, I drove through rain storms to Palm Coast where it was a lovely wonderful fantastic 65 degrees! An easy day today and I could have gone another hour but I love this hotel and let's face it, this is the south and I'm scared of most of the motels in the area. And let me add, with good reason! But I digress . . .
First of all, have you seen my screened porch? So freaking cute! Of course, it's about 100 degrees out and 350% humidity so you can't really enjoy it or anything but I had to check that the windows were locked before I left so took a quick pic. I look forward to sitting here next winter. Woohoo!

Once again, my car is packed to the gills. I really thought this would be the trip where my front seat would be empty. NOT! Poor Sophie is fading with the heat but too afraid of being left behind to come in the house 'til it's time to go.

I took a shot on my way out of the Fabulous Florida Keys. Gosh it's good to have a camera again! Nothing like taking your life in your hands, taking pictures out the windshield whilst barrelling up the stretch! (whilst? like that!)  Seeya!

And here are the girls at our pitstop today. The weather was hot but no humidity, which was a blessing.

 And at our hotel tonight. Off to Maryland tomorrow.

So several people have mentioned in the last few days, my aversion to the South and I felt kind of bad about projecting that kind of negativity. So, while I was driving today I tried to focus on the good in Georgia and South Carolina and now, North Carolina. Beautiful wildflowers along the highway, lovely spring green colors in the trees and lawns, um, um, OK, I am literally sitting here staring at the wall and trying to think. I know there was something else. What the heck was it? . . . Was it that trucker who was honking at me, or the bug splats all over the car - wait, the moronic sermons on the radio? No, maybe it was the anti-abortion billboards with the disgusting pictures or the way the food went from McDonalds and Starbucks to Zaxby's and Southern Buffet. No, maybe it's the people. Wait - no, maybe not. I guess I'll have to get back to you on that . . .

Last water aerobics

We celebrated my last water aerobics with Sue in official capacity. She will retire next month and I am leaving . . . today!

Yesterday afternoon, in the heat and humidity that is Key Largo at this time of year, eight of us goddesses got together for a house clearing. Gloria presided over the smudging and blessing of my new house. So, I cracked the windows and doors and using a beautiful beeswax candle (from my niece, Sarah), Gloria lit the sage in it's abalone bowl (from Florence) and when it was lit, using a hawk's feather (from Julia), she chased away any negative energy, smudging every nook and cranny, every drawer and closet, inviting any and all spirits and energies that have lived here or attached to any person or thing in the house and not allied with my highest good, to take a hike, be gone (with best wishes, of course). Connie and her bells went in her wake and we all ended up in the deep end of the pool. Well yeah, it's still the yard for now . . .

Gloria explains the cleansing about to happen

forming our circle

 Here is some of what Gloria said:

This is a house of positive energy, creativity, and joy, where spirits supportive of Lizzie and her invited loved ones are welcome. This is a house of healing and love, where Lizzie, her invited guests and family will know peace and security. May this house be cleansed and all who live or visit within its walls, 2 legged or 4 legged, be blessed. 

We really did feel the clearing of the place right away and settled down for some champagne (from Maria), chit chat and charades. Girls gotta have fun!

Bless the House
in swirly gauze dresses 

sarongs and silk

they stand in a circle

blessed by the shade 

of a giant sheffalera

umbrella tree

sun soaked yellow grass

nearly steaming

goddesses 

in the future deep end

of the swimming pool

poem by Gloria