Stormy Weather

Do you ever feel blown away? Sometimes it is in a good way and sometimes .... not so good . This has been my month to be blown away , in both ways .So many friends lately are dealing with things that I have only read about in the papers . One friend found out that the pain he was feeling in his back was stage four cancer that had metastisized , I saw my brothers children for the first time since he took his life almost four years ago ...very emotional , a young friend of my daughter's drowned in a diving accident last week , I finally sold my mothers house in Blountstown after four years of being up for sale , I found joy in painting that I had only dreamed of , wow , its been a month ! I just have to hand this over to my Creator , knowing that it is in His hands that it is as it should be . I just have to readjust my sails , shake the salt water off of me and continue on . I can  move ahead and count my many blessings and not forget to thank God for His answers . Suz

Girl Talk



" Girl Talk " by Suzanne Conner



"The Sea,once it casts it's spell,holds one in it's net of wonder forever".  Jacques Cousteau

I love my girlfriends , we talk .... a lot , we drink wine together , we cry , and we laugh ..... a lot ! I think we women need this desperately , we are tied together in an invisible net together and amazingly as different as we are , we are all the same. We have the same hopes , fears maybe in different packages but they all boil down to the same things . I am grateful for this band of women and girls , we sustain each other and just remind us ...... that we are not alone in our feelings and it is no accident that God put us together . Suz

One Last Look

" One Last Look ( clear skies ahead ) "

After a much needed vacation in Apalachicola , I feel recharged and refreshed and ready to tackle much neglected projects. The weather was rainy but thats OK , I pulled out my copy of A Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindberg that although was written fifty years ago ,it seems like it still speaks to women today . The need for solitude and re examining the areas of our lives that maybe drain us and how to repair those areas . Anyway , the margaritas were an added bonus , the wonderful food and the sea captains cottage we stayed in was absolutely adorable ! This painting is called " One Last Look ( clear skies ahead ) " may seem a little off but I know a neat lady who is trying to look ahead and away from the past that was hurtful and toxic .I'm proud of her and admire anyone who wants better from this life and is willing to move forward to get it . Bravo Miss M ! Have a wonderful week end, Suz

One Little Indian

my grandfather as a youngster

                                       After a conversation today with Jim at http://www.outdoorsdownsouth.com/ about our common thread of being from Blountstown , I began to reminisce about my grandfather ,Uncle Snap . His real name was Carey but we all called him Uncle Snap , even his children and townspeople. He was quite a character and storyteller and Jim and I were sharing stories about him . When he was a youngster his parents divorced and was raised by his mother . Lucky for him he grew up outdoors and loved the pines and palmettos of Calhoun county . He was crippled from polio but that didn't slow him down at all , he became class president and was captain of the football team , he was amazing. He was also highly excitable and loved the vim and vigor of life . Mama told of him being gored by a bull once and she was notified during school but was not allowed to go home (even though they lived next door to the school ). She said she slowly walked home afraid that he had been killed by the terrible injury , the yard was full of cars .... she expected the worst. When she opened the door of the house she could hear the unmistakable laughter of her father down the hall , she often said it was the best sound she had ever heard in her life ! I have so many stories about him that I will share later , like the alligator in the bathtub and looking for buried treasure in Memaw's yard , the list goes on . But this wonderful man shaped my life , Al and I both say he was and still is our moral compass , and he made our childhood the most wonderful that a child could have . Hope you have a great week ! Suz

Being a river girl ain't easy !



" River Girl " by Suzanne Conner



                      When my now husband and I were dating , we had this conversation , "  Suzy ,how about going fishing at our pond , do you fish ? "  " Do I fish ? My goodness Bryant I grew up on the Appalachicola River, I'm a river girl!" Those words have come to haunt me for the past 20 years . Yes I grew up on the river , yes I love to fresh water fish , but it seems I can only catch them with a cane pole and a worm ...... which my husband thinks is ridiculous . Did I mention I can only fish on the bank or in a john boat ? Further ridiculousness ! I am the only person who has not caught a fish in the Conner pond , and I stand humiliated .....well ,  not really , because you see....... I'm a River Girl ! Have a great day, Suz







growing up on the Appalachicola River



New Olympic category !

" Turtle Games " by Suzanne Conner

                                I hope everyone had a great fourth of July ! It was strange it being in the middle of the week but we had a nice time regardless . Lu and her hubby Sonny came over for pulled pork sandwiches , corn on the cob and blackberry cobbler . We watched Rosemary and Thyme episodes on netflix and pulled out old photos and laughed and cried . I love getting together with my family. There aren't too many of us these days but the ones that are here , we love and cherish . You don't realize how important relationships are until they're gone sometimes . Now I savor every moment and I don't want to miss any thing ! I am getting ready for the next show at Polka Dot Press , session two of the Art of Summer Living the Market District is putting on . I look forward to the experience and truly enjoy Kim and Nancy there , they are wonderful and have so many great ideas . I have loved being at Bedfellows with Gina and the girls , they have been so great and gracious to me . Have a good week and enjoy , my painting is called      "Turtle Games " ( just in time for the summer olympics ! ) and is shown over at Sweet Patina on Thomasville Rd . If you haven't been in there yet , it is quite the treat for the eyes , I love it ! Suz

First Dance



my mother Carol at sixteen



                        This painting is called " First Dance" . I love the idea of outdoor parties and the lantern light illuminating the dresses and the pretty girls ! I thought you would get a kick out of seeing the inspiration behind my dressed up ladies , my mama . Here she was probably sixteen years old in my grandmother's living room . I love the gloves ....... mama said that when they would go to town , and we're talking Blountstown , they did not leave the  house without gloves and hats ! Can you believe it ? I have many more beautiful photos of mama and her sisters that I will share all along . But for now , its the fourth of July and I have my flipflops on and hamburgers to grill ! Happy Independence Day ! Suz



 







Goodbye to Andy

                                   I have to say I am sad today. Andy Griffeth died and I am sad . I grew up watching Mayberry and Andy all my life , still laughing at the reruns like the first time I saw it . It reminded me so much of my growing up in a small , country North Florida town . We had our Howard and our Barneys ,and even our Aunt Beas at our church who clucked over every detail imaginable. When our family moved to the unfamiliar big city of Orlando , I could turn on the tv and be transported back home . When people made fun of my southern dialect I knew there were more that sounded just like me and was reassured every time I watched .And to top it off my dad looked and sounded just like him , at least to us , so I guess I always associate Andy with my dad who passed away at sixty years of age . Well  anyway, goodbye Andy and thank you for bringing so much laughter , wise humor and southern antics into our homes....... at least for this homesick for her hometown girl.       Suzanne