Red Dirt Farm and Studio

Here is a mermaid tale that starts out in Florida and makes its way back to Virginia.

Meet Lulu.

 

Is it ok if I share a long post today?

 

Over the years, during visits to Florida, I’ve been photographing Miss Lulu.   However, I just learned her name this past visit; when we were in Florida to clean up after Hurricane Irma.

  Like clockwork, between 3:00 – 4:00 every afternoon she makes her rounds.  She will come to the Lanai cage and look inside to see what we are up to and to visit with That Cat.  She stands on her hind legs and cups her front paws together leaning against the screen, peering inside.   It is beyond cute.  In recent years she had babies and they would tag along doing as momma did.  At night the critter cam would capture their antics too.  One particular visit I was awoken in the morning by a phone call telling me of my mom’s passing. I spent time that day losing my thoughts in as many was as I could, including watching Lulu feeding on the birdseed I put out.  That day, Lulu arrived early and stayed for a long time, not keeping to her regular schedule.  It was as if she knew I needed her to keep me distracted.

This past September, I found Lulu in our garage one day, I knew she was looking for food.  I noticed she was much thinner and did not have any babies.  I wondered if she lost her babies during the hurricane and was she having a hard time finding food.  The golf course where our house is located had been closed since the hurricane, and Lulu was accustomed to getting food that the golfers left.

Mr. Cottage mentioned to one of the neighbors that she had been in the garage and that is when we learned her name is Lulu.  Apparently one of the other neighbors had named her and she hand feeds Lulu bananas, they are her favorite.  After learning this, I put bananas out for her, they were gone when I checked, but I did not see Lulu eat them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I took the following photos looking out through the Lanai screen, so they aren’t very clear.  These photos were taken a few years ago, Lulu and her babies.  The babies loved playing with the wind chimes hanging in the mahogany tree.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sometime last year, I started playing with turning my photographs into watercolor images – totally through mermaid magic, because I am not a gifted painter.  As I often do, I left these unfinished projects for another time.  Recently, my screen saver brought up this watercolor image of Lulu.   I felt the time had come for me to move forward with those images.  I decided I would start by making some note cards and then move on from there.

 

 

An early morning doctor’s appointment brought me into town on Monday, someplace I rarely go anymore.  After my appointment, I treated myself to some creative time.  First I spent an hour in the bookstore and purchased some inspirational magazines.  While there I was pleased to see a spread in Haute Handbags Magazine of my friend Folk Artist Debra’s creative work.  That was lovely to see.  I then went over to the craft store where I lost myself strolling up and down the aisles looking at this, that, and everything in-between.  I purchased materials to make cards with my images.  I treated myself to a chicken sandwich and headed home full of inspiration.

Magazines that are inspiring me at this time include Daphne’s Diary – oh the beautiful watercolor images combined with lovely photos – swoon.  Where Women Create Business – inspirational stories from women following their creative muse and making a business out of it. And finally from Flow – 19 Days of Mindfulness, to help me quiet my mind and find my inner creative self – who has been on leave for a very long time and it is time she came back.

I’ve enjoyed making these cards this week and I’ve even sold a few of them already.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That’s all for today.  Thanks for being here.