Mermaid Sighting

Stunning work of art seen in Hilton Head, South Carolina. 

Side view of the mermaid

The work is a mixed-media collage made of clippings from magazine articles and images, with five real starfish. The canvas is actually a wooden door.

Straight-on view of the mermaid

The artist is Julia Miltiades, who made the work "in honor of her muse," her mother. The real starfish are from her daughter's birthday party.

Beautiful and original!

Dress Like a Cow

Friday the 13th was "Dress Like a Cow" Day at our local Chick-Fil-A fast food restaurant.  Our neighbors, young and old(er) had a lot of fun making their costumes and admiring each other's creativity.

Chick-Fil-A customers

Powder Springs Rd at Macland Rd, Marietta

The whole family joins in

Can you guess what I am? Hint: "Moo!"

Courteous.  Thanks for holding the door!

Fashionable and lovely

Serious contenders with "real" cow costumes

Happy fun for families and friends

Every costume detail perfect

From spots and dots

To tails

A tender moment

Between friends

Let's do this again next year!

Gee! Those ice cream cones went fast!

Don't forget the lemonade!

Fanciful Face Jugs

Found lurking in the display shelves of the Swan House fine art gallery...

West Paces Ferry Rd, Buckhead

Actually... Southern potters have made face jugs since the late 1800's. The first face jugs may have been made in Edgefield, SC, by slave potters. These pots were 5 to 9 inches tall, with small white rocks for teeth. Their purpose is unknown, but they might have served as a connection to ancestors or as grave markers. 

White potters took up the tradition and made it their own. I have heard that grotesque face jugs were used to scare evil spirits and kept them from entering a house. I have also heard that face jugs most often contained corn whiskey. In this case the faces deterred thieves.

Face jugs became quite fashionable in the 1960's and '70's as exotic/fun items to collect. Many potters throughout the South still sell traditional face jugs, and it is clear that the tradition has gained new momentum!

Many thanks and a tip 'o the hat to Emily for her good eye and quick reflexes! 

Favorite 4th of July Float

The 4th of July parade in Marietta was good fun. The community turned out to see their neighbors, cheer for the beauty queens and politicians, wave flags and eat.

Here are some pictures of my favorite float - the one designed by kids.

Cherokee St, Marietta Square

I like this float because it has everything a float needs: Kids, a flag, bubbles, and a monster. But mostly I like it because it is creative and fun.

Oh, yeah... it has a tank, too!

Closer view of the float

One of the float's creators

Another one of the float's creators

I'm sorry I didn't get a good view of the third brother

The monster

Congratulations, guys, on a job well done!  (Congratulations, parents, too!)

Decorating for the 4th of July

At twilight, a few days before the 4th of July I passed our old governor, Roy Barnes, and his wife, Marie's, home.  I noticed that they had made some additions to their holiday decorations.

Ten flags line the road at the edge of their property.

A string of red, white and blue lights grace the entry to their  home.

View of the house from the street

Whitlock Ave, Marietta

Christmas-style trees behind the house are covered in lights.

Closer view of the house

Holiday balloons in the shape of teddy bears welcome visitors.

Ribbons and pinwheels enhance the festive mood.

Closer view of the entry

Red, white and blue bunting is hung along the porch railing.

On the side of the house lighted holiday balloons form a line.

For some reason, this bothers me. Why are the holiday balloons in a line by the garage? Why are they not out "playing" in the front yard? Surely the American eagle deserves to be front and center! Uncle Sam and his rocket should be on the roof!  And what about the donkey?

On these issues, however, I must defer to the governor and his wife. It is their house, after all, and I am not a decorator, only the person in the street.

Dawgs in Festive Attire

In anticipation of the 4th of July...

St Mary's Lane, Marietta

Note: The little flowers dance cheerfully in their pots