Silver City - A Colorful & Arty Town

View of the Main Street in Down Town - I loved this little hill town!

I don't know if this is the City Hall, I'm not sure

A pretty catholic church - in pink

Impressive sign for a music shop in Down Town - do you recognize all the musicians?

This mural looks good also with the cars in the front! :)

Indian - Mexican style deco on a private house wall

I'm sure if we would have spent more time in this pretty town, we would have discovered many more of this nice murals, like this one.

In the arty and gallery quarter was a coffee house - and some people enjoyed outside the warming spring time sun

Around the corner of the same coffee house were more inviting benches to sit down

A bunch of dried hot, red chili peppers - it makes a nice decoration on every wall!

In front of a gallery was this wonderful painted bench with New Mexico subject

Allover town you can see these tiles on walls, on steps or just in the paved board walks - what a wonderful idea!

Pretty view into a window

Cactus flowers

It's springtime also in Silver City at almost 6000 feet high in the mountains of New Mexico!!!

Hi my friends,

Thank you so much for all the wonderful comments and compliments to my last post! I'm behind with my postings a little bit.... but please stay tuned and have patience - my problems were again the Internet-connection.

I will have much more pictures to show you, beautiful pictures of landscapes we drove trough and places we have visited, everything was so overwhelming for me - I have to admit again and once more and I think it will be not the last time: this country is just surprisingly BEAUTIFUL - and endless BIG! :))

Susanne and David

The Basket Weaver Tradition in South Carolina

Sea Island basket weaving is a true African American art form whose origins date back to the end of the seventeenth century. This folk tradition was born out of the rise of South Carolinian rice cultivation during the 1680's. During this agricultural period, American slaves wove fanners, circular baskets approximately two feet in diameter, as tools used in winnowing rice. These slaves' knowledge of rice cultivation was attained from west Africa, a region that has contributed to rice cultivation since the first century A.D. For this reason, there is a great similarity that exists between baskets made in America and those made in west Africa. This African influence on rice growing and the fact that the majority of South Carolinian slaves came from Angola and Senegal have led historians to conclude that the roots from which Sea Island basket weaving has grown are planted in West Africa.

Although basket weaving and its techniques have changed very little over the past few centuries, there are some changes this folk art form has undergone that are worth noting. When baskets were first made on the Sea Islands, rush plant and white oak or palmetto were used to make a harder and stiffer product. Today, sea grass is the material basket weavers prefer when making the softer basket that currently comprises the majority of this folk culture. One other way basket weaving has changed is in the amount of creativity that is put into the final product. Baskets made in west Africa and during American slavery were very simple in form, while sea grass baskets of today are more decorative in style. In spite of these changes, basket weavers throughout the Sea Islands continue to carry on this folk tradition.

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My NEW CALENDARS 2009 are available now to buy,

* KEY WEST CALENDARS 2009

* CHARLESTON CALENDARS 2009

* FLORIDA CALENDARS 2009

* FLOWER CALENDARS 2009


DON'T BE LATE for a nice Christmas present!

At first cock-crow....

At first cock-crow the ghosts must go
Back to their quiet graves below.

~ Theodosia Garrison ~

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

A Symbol for Hospitality

The pineapple has been a symbol of hospitality since the days of the early American colonies. The legend began with the sea captains of New England, who sailed among the Caribbean Islands and returned to the colonies bearing their cargo of fruits, spices, and rum.

According to the legend, the captain would spear a pineapple on a fence post outside his home to let his friends know of his safe return from the sea. The pineapple was an invitation for them to visit, share his food and drink, and listen to tales of his voyage.

As the tradition grew, colonial innkeepers added the pineapple to their signs and advertisements, and bedposts carved in the shape of a pineapple were a common sight at inns across new England. The legend has continued to the present, and frequently one sees the pineapple symbol in hotels and restaurants to signal the presence of hospitality.

The Educational Institute of the American Hotel & Motel Association has chosen the pineapple symbol of hospitality to recognize and award a property’s effort to achieve the highest levels of guest and employee satisfaction.

By Harris Noble 1999

I'll be back soon my friends!

Guess what? We have changed our moving plans!

These pictures are to show you some first impressions from my new home, my new living and working place. A picturesque and very photogenic city with a lot of history, a lot of culture and a lot of love for artists and the arts, ideal place to be in the future for my husband and me. We are very excited to move there! (They were made on one of our previous exploration trips when we were thinking of moving).

Who can recognize this beautiful town?
Write me your guesses in a comment.


I'll be back online as soon as possible, after moving up North 750 Miles and after reinstalling our internet connection...please stay with me in the mean time, don't forget me and write me some comments.
It's very appreciated and THANK you for your loyalty.

A very special Restaurant and a MUST to visit!

Blue Heaven front view

The bar in the yard - always on Pina Colada time

Upstairs

Outdoor Gallery

Upstairs Balcony

The islands most quintessentially "Key West" restaurant has to be Blue Heaven. Like everything in Key West, it's got some history. The building once housed a bordello and later Hemingway refereed boxing matches there.

Located in the Bahamian neighborhood (Bahama Village), this restaurant is an absolute favorite with locals and visitors serving fine American cuisine.

During the day a few chicken and roosters roam the outdoor dining garden. By nightfall, they have moved to the trees to roost for the night while the cats come out to play.

The food is outstanding, the atmosphere funky and lively, and the experience should be memorable. Live music is gently offered by local musicians as diners enjoy the breezes caught in the shade sails.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
No reservations accepted (except for very large groups).
729 Petronia Street

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Renoir is Visiting Key West

An oversized sculptur out of the painting "Le Bal" or "The Dance" is placed in front of the Muesum of Art in Key West and is announcing the inside exhibition of Renoir's paintings. I have seen the original painting in the "Museum d'Orsay" in Paris.

Eine ueberlebensgrosse Skulptur aus Renoirs Bild "Le Bal" oder "Der Tanz" ist vor dem Kunstmuseum aufgestellt worden und weist auf die Ausstellung drinnen hin. Ich habe das Original davon im Kunstmueseum "Musee d'Orsay" in Paris gesehen.

If you would like to buy this picture please drop me an email to

susanne49@yahoo.com