Coco bark

(click for details!)

Isn't this amazing? This bark of the coco palm is usually cut off and thrown away, but I like to use it for lining my hanging baskets before adding the soil.

Going green for a long time...

Fort Amsterdam Sint Maarten

Due to the greyish weather I wrote about yesterday, our weekly day to the beach was different this time. Our plan was to visit the beach that is situated near Fort Amsterdam. And since it was long ago I had visited the ruins of what once has been a fortress, we decided to hike there first.

The island of St. Maarten does not have many monuments, and the few that are, are not properly taken care of I must say. Compared to the island of Curacao, which is also part of the Dutch Antilles, Sint Maarten's historic heritage has been neglected severely. It is a pity that I must say that. Which does not mean that I did not like the ruins, the remains.

There are a few small buildings on the fortress. This is what is left of the hospital, you can read the description if you click the first photograph. Being a fan of all things old, weathered and rusty, this was my favorite. When I strolled around and in it, my fantasy went wild, I could almost feel the loneliness of the soldiers that were being hospitalized here. Look at that endless Caribbean Sea ...

Old, weathered, to me so beautiful!

One of the canons, pointed to the south east of the island. Please ignore the ugly cruiseship, but hey, this is today...

This sailing ship seemed to be sailing here especially for us, the visitors of this historic spot. To make up for the most welcome, but ugly cruiseship of the former picture.

I was happy with the grey weather, with our visit to this beautiful place on the island where you can feel a bit how life must have been way back then. As a monument of Holland's history, there seem to be (or have been) a few more 'Fort Amsterdams' of which the one in New York is of course the most famous

Living close to the one of this island truly makes me feel connected!

Treasure

It was a grey Caribbean day. Gray-greenish waters, cooling down already a bit with only a few weeks to go in the hurricane season. The light outside was perfect for shooting photographs, which I did, oh yes, plenty of them. More about that tomorrow. For now just this treasure that I found on one of our beaches. Not knowing from what organic being it comes, most probably a shell or starfish, it fills me with gratitude. Gratitude for the beauty to be found in the most humble pieces of nature...

St. Maarten Day 2009

Caribe, caribe!

digital collage, click for details

The islands yesterday

(images are clickable)

This was my view yesterday while driving on a very steep and narrow road that is leading to one of our beaches at the east side of St. Maarten. The island in the distance is St. Barth's, it belongs to the French Antilles and it is said that several Hollywood celebrities have a home and like to spend some time there. I visited it in 1983 when it was not yet invaded by the jetset, it was a lovely island at that time and indeed very, very French. Yesterday I was captured by the grey sea and sky, which is pretty seldom here, and I must say that I always feel very happy when the sun decides to not show up for one day, reminds me of Holland...
I then get active and energized immediately (would this be something Pavlovian I wonder?)

picture: Historic Santa Fe, NM

But I would rather not return to such a grey climate! A little bit of turquoise and other colors will always be preferable, oh and some sun please!

with a little bit of fantasy, of which I am sure most readers have plenty, one could see this as a heart. I shot this picture in MAdrid along the Turquoise Trail, it could have been put there for me, how could I not see and make a picture of it?!

Today I decided to show this picture, because I just read that I am the lucky winner of Rayna Gillman's giveaway on her blog, you can read about it here
While I am a long time fan of Rayna and her art, you will understand that winning this beautiful scarf makes me very happy today, I will wear it happily and with pride.

Thank you so much, Rayna!

And on another note: the greyish weather made me start some new work. Last week I have been playing around with the sewing machine and made myself a jeansskirt. It has been ages since I made this kind of clothes, with all the accented seams and details like nails, but I must say that it was fun to do again. Then I saw a nice scarf (I am a scarf lover indeed) in Denyse Scmidt's book and made me one for our upcoming trip to the Netherlands. And finally I started some fiber art. It is in the very beginning phase, but I am thrilled to see if my plan evolves in the way I want, this may sound a little bit cryptical, but I am sure you get the idea. Will show results as soon as there are some

In the meantime I wish you a very good Tuesday!

Playing around

with my sewing machine, with my art journal and PS, and now we leave for the beach

Life is Good!

(click image for details)

Sunday collage

Thanks so much!

Jane Royal of Painted Hearts Studio has honored me with a Best Blog Award!

Though I am aware it has been forwarded to lots of bloggers before in the past,

I so much appreciate this gesture of online friendship

Thanks so much Jane, for the award and your ongoing support on my blog!

Go and have a look at her blog, you will be amazed of her watercolour works...

***

Upon receiving this award, I cannot help looking back at the very beginning of my blog and how my life has changed ever since. For quite some time I had my doubts whether I would be able to blog, would have enough to write about as my life here on this so very tiny island is not exactly exciting. That is, if you come from a bigger land (Holland is huge in comparison, can you imagine?) and are not a part of the working and/or artistic society, the latter hardly existing.

In the artistic/creative field I felt very lonely and this has been my big urge to start blogging myself. Quite a confession, is not it?!

Never I could have guessed to meet so many fantastic people and art online.

For this I will forever be grateful.

My life at present feels better than at the start of my blog. I now have a twofolded life (without being shizophrenic, don't worry :)) one where I live and try and manage more and more to be happy in, despite the hot climate and the limitations, and one online, where I have found and keep discovering a community of kindred spirits and friends.

Thank you all out there, thank you!

I have checked with Jane about the 'rules' of the award, about passing it on in return etc. Fortunately she assured me that there is no obligation at all. From the above you may have guessed that I consider all bloggers that have added to my artistic and/or spiritual well-being worth receiving the award, so I pass it on to you, you know who you are, don't you?

And for once, to support this rather personal post, I show some images of our tropical home, the house where we live, from where I love to communicate with the 'rest of the world'

Wishing you a wonderful and creative weekend!!