Art by Claire Hollywell

I went to Mission School with this lovely lady. I love her work. It makes me cry. It moves me. Empowers me. Humbles me. Ignites me. Grieves me.

http://www.chollywell.zenfolio.com/

Originals and Prints for Sale

Tumi Sale

New without Tags- All Original Wrapping Inside/Brand New Tumi Sample

Style: Similar to the Ashley Collection City Satchel made of Napa Leather, but this one is a silky nylon, Leather Trim

Color: Carnelian (Orange) with Gold Buckles and Zippers

Retail: $349

For you: $99

It is a lovely bag. Pictures don't do it justice. I picked up two on my way down to Fernandina. One for you and one for me. jgracedavis@hotmail.com

If you are an out of town friend, residing in the United States of America, I will ship it to you.

Traveling with Pomegranates

I visited the Ponce de Leon Branch once again, to return the Half Broke Horses book and got sucked back in to the big shelves in the middle with all the brand new books. I was going to just return my book and leave. I don't like being obligated to return something by a certain date and don't want the words "Library" on my already overwhelming, growing To Do List. But the word is there. On Wednesday. I found this Sue Monk Kidd book there on the shelf, begging me to take it home. Pomegranates. Sue. Due back next Wednesday. Impending fines. Stress. Obligations. But new and hardback and co-written with her daughter, Ann.

Mama used to read to me from The Guidepost, most nights honestly. I think she herself liked to read the inspirational stories and used it as just a filler to get me to go to bed. I know I would do the same. Just read to the kid till she falls asleep and you may as well read something you enjoy instead of having to do all the B'rer Fox and B'rer Bear and B'rer Rabbit voices. Exhausting. So I got Guidepost. Sue Monk Kidd was a regular contributor and her tiny square picture showed a woman that looked a little like my mother and a little like Kathy Oliver, but you don't know her. Sue lived in Anderson and her biography told us that and she had two children, Bob and Ann, her daughter just a little older than me. She wrote about being a nurse, and wife and mother. Her husband's name is Sandy and I thought about Sandy Moore every time she would mentioned him, but you probably don't know him either, but he is sweet. So I imagined her Sandy to be sweet as well and loyal like orphan Annie's dog of the same name. Evidently, I did have a vivid imagination growing up, or perhaps I was just very bored because my mother read to me from a magazine. But, growing up I felt like I kind of knew this woman, who lived in the nearby town. Mom saw her a few times in the mall. She recalls one time in particular where Sue was angry and was walking far ahead of her husband and daughter at a fast pace and it was clear that she was mad. So, after the mall spotting I just imagined Kathy Oliver walking ahead of Sandy Moore all in a huff while little orphan Annie just sat there in her red dress with that shaggy dog. Wow. That is such a tangent. But pretty true.

So I got the book. It is good! I am enjoying it. Almost finished. I read her others as well. In this one, she and her daughter visit Rocamadour in France which I find so incredibly ironic because Mother and I have been there too!! It is about their travels and their finding themselves and their relationship. I can't say Mother and I found ourselves on our journey to Rocamadour. We didn't pray to the Black Virgin. I just prayed to Jesus to get us home because we flew over on buddy passes. But the book is good. Nice. Well written. Contemplative. Sweet. The fight in the mall musta blown over, because they now live in Charleston and she writes a little about that too. The marsh, the birds, the beauty. I like those parts. I think you will too.

Half Broke Horses

As my life is settling back down a little, I am falling back into my glorious routine of book reading. I think I have shared before, my love to read and snuggle up with a good book, far surpasses my love of the remote and reality TV. Despite a pretty steady love affair with the DVR and Housewives drama, I love to check out 4 or 5 books and read a chapter in each, decide on one, read until I feel like I can take a break, then choose a second to open and read until I need a break from the drama unfolding and then open a third and so on, taking breaks to nourish myself with meals in between.
Not long ago, I was in the library, the Ponce de Leon branch and a total stranger lady in a cardigan with glasses on a chain around her neck came up to me and said, "What is a really good book that you just LOVED that you have read lately"? At first I was a little surprised to have a stranger just come up and talk to me and then I just stood there with my mouth open as if she had asked me what is my favorite flavor of ice cream. Where do I begin? Then I started to blush a little as the last book I read was that kinda brainless one I bought in Publix- "Happens Every Day". If you want a morning of brainless, reality book reading, get it. But I could not tell the lady in the cardigan that I like brainless grocery store books. I tried to recall the last piece of true literary genius I had read, but by then she was handing me a stack of stuff off the New Books area and telling me what was good and how she didn't like smut. Oh well. So I withheld my suggestion of the new Emily Giffin book, which I have yet to read, and told her about Kaye Gibbons. But I felt so inept that I could not even think of a single book or title or anything good, and I wanted to ask if she had seen Bethenny Getting Married! or Top Chef, Washington, D.C., but I refrained.
I left her standing in front of the Fiction "G" and I left with her recommendation, Half Broke Horses. There is a second book by the author, Jeanette Walls, which is on my list The Glass Castle: A Memoir. But she insisted I read this one first. The book is a memoir of sorts. Written by Walls, but in first person, from her grandmother's perspective, based on stories her grandmother and mother verbally passed down. It is an interesting view into the world, about 100 years ago, set in the West. It reminded me a little of Granny Davis and her stories of riding bareback and life in the early 1900's and poverty and The Depression that came later on. It is all quite fascinating as it is all true and set in a day and place that I never knew. It makes me want to go out West and saddle up a horse and eat biscuits and jerky, even though I hate jerky. Walls grandmother is a fascinating, wild and crazy character, set in her ways and stubborn and a product of her upbringing. It is a very good read. Makes me want to write a similar "true-life novel", but not about me. That would be boring. Any volunteers?

Body Butter

My friend Jen in Seattle sent me this. I love it. I have this Coconut & Lime one. It is made with real coconut and lime extract, as well as Shea Butter and Cocoa Butter and Safflower Seed Oil. "Shea Butter can naturally improve skin tone, re-hydrate skin, promote cell rejuvenation, improve skin elasticity and lessen the appearance of wrinkles and stretch marks". And it smells good. In addition to the body butter Tree Hut also has scrubs, lotions and washes. Distributors include Kroger and Publix. I am all for good beauty products available at the grocery store. Two errands in one. www.treehutshea.com

Cloudland Canyon State Park

I went here last weekend with the family. Dad rented a cabin for us all. Carla brought the Publix Deli and a small produce stand and a good time was had by all. Mom & Dad brought a puzzle and I brought Skip-Bo and everyone was entertained. Mapquest says it is a little over two hours from Atlanta, but it took me much longer than that for some reason. It is up 75N, but then really an hour off the Exit. So prepare for that if you go. But the cabins are fine. Two Double Beds in each bedroom. Clean. Linens provided. And then there is The Canyon. The views are quite amazing and the 4.5 mile hike around the rim of the Canyon is one of the best hikes I have ever been on. But then again, I have not been on many hikes now that I think about it. Except in Europe and you know those are way better. But you hike through lots of wooded areas that are shaded and breezy with expansive views over the Canyon, it is very secluded and sometimes with the huge roots and large tree cover, it feels a bit like Narnia.



The Park Guides state that the hiking trails are strenuous, but I think that word might be a little harsh. It is a nice little work out. With fun trails. Nature. Scenery. Green. Lush. 2,000 miles above sea level. It would be worth a trip. Rent a cabin with friends and hike both the East and West Rim Loops. Take a board or card game. Eat peaches on the backporch. They have a coffee maker. What else could you need? Don't forget your iPod. All Canyons need a Soundtrack.