Headed to the Beach

Hey everyone, the fam and I are headed to the beach. I know what your saying, "didn't you guy's just get back?" Well, yes but we are south bound and down again and I wanted to let you know so you wouldn't be wonderin' where we were. I have a litttle something to share with you and hopefully it will make you feel like your sitting there on the beach with us. Enjoy, and we will be back home soon...maybe.

Follow this link and sing along!

http://www.cmt.com/videos/zac-brown-band/407684/toes.jhtml

A Walk in the Park

Yesterday afternoon Chris and I went for a walk in the park, and saw a few things that we thought were just fun. We met several puppies, which gave me dog fever, and ran into some people we knew and took a few photos. I wanted to share two in particular with everyone. The first is a photo of some wildflowers growing along the walking path and the second photo is of a sign that is posted on a tree. Chris and I have walked by this tree on several occasions but this is the first time we have seen this very sweet sign. The artist signed the photo, Always.

Thomy's New Girl

As I’m sure most or some of you know, Thomy got a tattoo after he graduated. I’m not too sure how I feel about it, but as most of you are aware, Elizabeth is well on her way to becoming the illustrated woman so I guess your wondering why so wishy-washy? When Elizabeth decided to get her first tattoo, it took a while to come to terms with her decision but afterward I was ok with it, so I guess I’m feeling the same way about Thomy’s tattoo. I’ll be ok with it just as soon as I get used to seeing it on his leg.

Thomy thought long (because I made him wait until he graduated) and hard as to what design he wanted “inked” and where on his body he wanted the tattoo and who, in regards to the artist, would have the honor. I don’t think it took him very long to decide that he wanted an old school pin-up girl that originated from an Alberto Vargas sketch. The Vargas Girls were beautiful renditions of women that could be found within the pages of Esquire magazine and were the inspiration for the pin-ups painted on fighter planes during WWII. These pin-up girls always remind me of Chris’ Uncle Bob who, until he passed away just a little over a year ago, kept framed pin-up sketches in his room at home and in his living quarters at the nursing home.

The Vargas sketch was transformed into tattoo form by Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins. Sailor Jerry was 19 when he joined the Navy and toured Southeast Asia where he was influenced by the cultures art and imagery. He only tattooed for twelve years but his designs were so copied that even now when you refer to his work, it is referenced as an Original Sailor Jerry design.

When I first saw the tattoo, I didn’t go with him when he had it done, I was very surprised at the size or how large the piece was. He said, “I told you it was going to be on the side of my leg.” I told him I didn’t realize how big his leg was and he responded, and I think he felt is was a consolation to me, “ Well Mom, her hair IS blonde".

Week-End Get-A-Way with Car-Lee

Back from a short but sweet va-ca at Sun Set Beach. As usual nothing worth having (or doing) is ever easy. No matter how much you look forward to or all the planning in the world can counter act the unforeseen forces of Murphy’s Law. We were off to a rocky start, to say the least, but after a melt down a postponement a tow truck a six pack and a borrowed vehicle from mom for Elizabeth (big thanks to mom by the way) we were finally off.

Quick question, have you ever downloaded an application on your cell phone? Well, on our way to the beach, which you know can be tricky we never go the same way twice; we decided to download the navigator application to my cell phone. For $9.99 we got the same instruction as a $100 GPS system that you would install in your car. I highly recommend this little application or at least give it a try prior to investing in a Garman or Tom Tom. The only suggestion I would make is you may need to get a car phone charger for any trip longer than four hours or the life of your battery charge.

Anyway, back to the beach, the weather was great on the 4th and we watched fireworks from the driveway but the rest of the weekend the weather just wasn’t cooperating. We did go out for some great homemade sugar-free ice cream one evening, out to an Irish Pub on the 4th and to the flea market on Sunday. If you didn’t know about ten miles north of Bare-Foot Landing you will find the North Myrtle Beach flea market. This is where Chris and I made a wonderful discovery, we found Ray Galoish.

Ray Galoish is a folk artist who’s many works are featured in and sold at the House of Blues Restaurants around the country. Mr. Galoish, to our surprise, displays and works out of a shanty at the flea market. I was shocked! He is a tall, slim man who is like a shadow in and amongst his artwork and ready available supplies that he utilizes, as well as, sells. There were no less than 500 hub caps and license plates chaotically organized in his catacomb of a display.

Mr. Galoish stood quietly in the shade talking with another vendor but when a patron wanted to speak with him, he disappeared back into a maze of short hallways built from chicken wire and 2x4’s which he used to display his artwork in the make-shift museum. His girlfriend, Car-Lee and yes that is how she spells it I asked, was more than happy to chat with you about his work and hers too. She was quite the character!

I would love to have taken home a few pieces of artwork but just because it’s a flea market don’t think you’ll be getting any bargains. Most of Mr. Galoish’s art work is priced around the $500.00 mark and I don’t think Car-Lee is up to doing much hagglin’. But, if you get down that way this summer you should stop by and enjoy, what I would consider, wonderful examples of distinctly original American Folk Art.