Archive for the ‘The Bahamas’ category
September 11, 2011
I wrote this poem in the weeks following the tragedy of September 11th. My heart wanted to wrap everyone in the healing waters here in The Bahamas—the starfish I saw was such a stark contrast to the horrific devastation, such a reminder of how amazing life can be when we’re not terrorizing one other. The poem originally appeared in Grand Bahama Island Magazine—a welcome digest my husband and I published for many years. I post it here with prayers and remembrance on this 10th anniversary of September 11th, and blessings of natural wonder and grace and hope.
Out of The Blue
The waters of The Bahamas
shine so clear and blue
reflecting a kind of peace
that is eternal and renewed
Catching sight of a simple starfish
resting of the sand beneath the waves
there’s wonder and a sense God put it there
as a natural tribute, just for you
For everyone who lost their lives
and those who labor still
to heal and defend
the freedoms we all hold very dear
Where do we go for comfort
to find the strength within
to fight the good fight without fear
to find the peace again?
We lift our eyes up heavenward
and then look here on earth
for reminders of a paradise unlost
where hope can be rebirthed
… and under the liquid surface
of waters that sparkle true blue
we gaze upon a simple starfish
and find the courage to love and live anew.
— Paula Boyd Farrington
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Categories: by the sea, Grand Bahama Island, indescribable, inspiration, love, poetry, Sunday Inspiration, The Bahamas, writing
Tags: 10th anniversary of September 11th, fight the good fight, freedoms we all hold dear, hope, natural wonder, out of the blue, peace, prayer, September 11th, starfish, waters of The Bahamas, wonder
Comments: 6 Comments
August 20, 2011
simple island joys
dance brightly in lush greenness
nature’s love abloom
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Categories: cool stuff, favorite things, Garden, Grand Bahama Island, indescribable, inspiration, little luxuries, love, poetry, Sunday Inspiration, The Bahamas, writing
Tags: garden photos, Grand Bahama, Grand Bahama Island, nature, simple island joys, yellow tropical flowers
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May 30, 2011
The color BLUE dazzles in The Bahamas. Countless variegated shades of aqua, cyan, cerulean, azure, sky, royal, indigo, and sapphire surround us in the shifting seas and are celebrated in all kinds of art—including these artist trading card collages I created for the blue-themed ARTchix challenge.
I loved making these vintage Bathing Beauty mixed media collages. The backgrounds came from photos of tropical-water-hued fabric prints in my fashion wardrobe, photographed and printed onto paper, then layered with some retro-fun ARTchix Studio images and historic postcard text.
I love splashing into waves of blue and frollicking in art.
Tra-la.
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Categories: art, by the sea, collage, design, favorite things, Grand Bahama Island, inspiration, intriguing images, The Bahamas
Tags: art, art challenge, art fun, ARTchix, ARTchix Studio, artist trading card, artwork, azure, Bahamas, bathing beauty, blue, cerulean, collage, cyan, historic postcard, indigo, inspiration, mixed media collage, royal, sapphire, sky blue, The Bahamas, vintage bathing beauties, waters of The Bahamas
Comments: 8 Comments
January 11, 2011
Now here’s something you don’t see every day. In fact, after living here on Grand Bahama Island for over 20 years, I’d never seen one until a couple days ago. Looks more like an apple or a big plum, doesn’t it?! But look inside at the familiar creamy green …
Yes, it’s an avocado! (And a perfectly ripe and tasty one too.) A quick Google search shows it’s a Florida variety of avocado that turns red when it ripens. These beauties came from a tree in an out of the way area behind the guest cottage garden. This is what they look like growing way up on the tree …
(and yes, I drew the little arrow and circle on the photo so it’s easier to find the avocado, but other than that, all these photos of the avocados are straight out of the iPhone camera, no-retouching at t’all!)
I had no idea avocados could be red. But Miss Lue knew. Miss Lue is an amazing woman who hails from Jamaica originally and is the reason we have clean clothes around here every week. And clean everything, despite my creative clutter. We are truly blessed to have Miss Lue in our lives. In addition to her generous and helpful heart, she also has a green thumb and knows about all sorts of edible island garden treasures. I only knew we were already graced to have two different varieties of green avocados in our garden, but to find a new kind — a RED avocado (I just have to keep saying that because I’m so in awe of it) — feels like winning some sort of tropical arbor triple crown!
I’m so pleased to be at the stage of life where horticultural discoveries in my own back yard are my idea of Headline News. Worthy of a special report. All these amazing trees and plants, and I’m finally getting acquainted with them on a deeper level and asking their names and stories. Pleased to meet you, Red Florida Avocado.
red-when-they're-ripe avocados
so yummy
And thank you again, Miss Lue, for the introduction!
Miss Lue: Household Heroine, Wise Island Gardener & Patient Teacher of Natural Grace
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Categories: cool stuff, favorite things, Garden, Grand Bahama Island, intriguing images, The Bahamas
Tags: avocado, avocado tree, avocados, edible island treasures, Florida avocado, Garden, gardens, Google, Grand Bahama, Grand Bahama garden, Grand Bahama Island, green avocados, horticulture, island garden, red avocado, red avocados, ripe avocado, ripe red avocado, tropical arbor, tropical horticulture
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December 20, 2010
I love this book. It’s touching. Tender. Laugh-out-loud funny. It gives you a taste of island life that goes beyond the usual idyllic picture postcard images and gets straight to the heart of things. I love these vibrant, adventurous, warming, and humorous stories so much that I helped the author (a dear friend of mine—Marina Gottlieb Sarles) orchestrate the layout of the book for publication, and I’m pleased to say it has been received as a new island classic. Well into its 2nd printing, the book has garnered fans from around the world. It’s a wonderful gift any island lover will enjoy and a great introduction and insight into Grand Bahama’s beginnings—the author, Marina Gottlieb Sarles, is the daughter of the first village doctor and nurse—and draws storytelling inspiration from her childhood in The Bahamas.
Sand In My Shoes author Marina Gottlieb Sarles
You can learn more about this delightful book by clicking here. And it can be ordered online here or via Amazon.
On Grand Bahama Island, Sand In My Shoes is available at the Coldwell Banker James Sarles Realty offices at #9 Regent Center, at the beautiful new Art of Giving gift shop at The International Bazaar (beside Island Watch Repair near the arcade), at Oasis drug stores, and at the Underwater Explorers Society (UNEXSO).
Falling in love with the island and getting sand in your shoes is a true treat—enjoy!
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Categories: Books, by the sea, cool stuff, favorite things, Grand Bahama Island, inspiration, intriguing images, love, The Bahamas, writing
Tags: author Marina Gottlieb Sarles, Bahamas, book, collection of island stories, funny, gift, idyllic images, island book, island classic, island stories, island treasure, Marina Gottlieb Sarles, Sand In My Shoes, Sand In My Shoes book, storytelling, tender, The Bahamas, touching, village doctor and nurse
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December 10, 2010
Blue Bliss: Water Inspiration 8821 © christine matthäi
Artist Photographer Christine Matthäi has created an alluring and intriguing series of images inspired by the changing shades of blue and blissful reflections of what surrounds and supports us most—water. Her travels to Grand Bahama Island and watching the wind and waves create motion, reflecting the sunlight on our gorgeous clear sapphire seas, is certainly part of her ongoing inspiration and fascination with water—that life-giving source vital to us all. Take a look at these modern, contemporary art works:
Blue Bliss: Water Inspiration 9589 © christine matthäi
Blue Bliss: Water Inspiration 8789 © christine matthäi
Blue Bliss: Water Inspiration 9587 © christine matthäi
Blue Bliss: Water Inspiration 9592 © christine matthäi
Blue Bliss: Water Inspiration 8908 © christine matthäi
If you are interested in prints for your home or office, write to the artist at christinematthai (at) mac (dot) com and note the image number in the caption.
Or take a look at all Christine Matthäi’s gorgeous contemporary portfolios by clicking here.
I am fortunate to call Christine a friend, and am posting this because I admire her incredible talent and brilliant work. As with all things I enthuse about here, it’s simply because I enjoy it and like to make the world a brighter place by sharing the good stuff!
That said, I DO have a vested interest in my husband’s printing company—Freeport Advertising & Printing—a Grand Bahama-owned full service printing and graphic design business here since 1973. If you would like to win a big beautiful 24″ x 36″ inch, fomecore-mounted print of one of Christine Matthai’s images (your choice of the ones shown above), just click here to subscribe to their free Printer At Work newsletter. You can see a sample issue by clicking on the Printer At Work button on the bottom left side of the screen. The newsletter is a quick read, with great tips on marketing, design, technology, and ways to save money and increase business sales. It comes out every two weeks, so you won’t be getting tons of email or anything. There are even a couple fun cartoons in each edition. (And of course, your email address is safe with us and will be kept private.)
Okay, that’s it. If you’re already a subscriber or have an account at FreeportAdvertising.com, you’re already entered and eligible to win. Subscribe by January 1, 2011 to be eligible to win the print. A random entry will be drawn by over-caffeinated gerbils, or some objective technological wizardry, and the winner announced the following week.
If you want to leave a comment here letting me know you’ve subscribed, or which print is your favorite, or just to jump in and say the water’s fine, that would be wonderful, but is completely up to you.
And if you need some last-minute Christmas cards printed, or little notepads with people’s names on them as thoughtful gifts, I know just the place! (that was the last commercial plug–but aren’t imprinted personal things so cool?—okay that was it, really … I get on a roll and can think up all kinds of fun goodies to print!)
Enjoy the blue bliss of water that surrounds our wonder-filled island and makes us all fortunate in business … in beauty … in life … each and every day. In gratitude for the time and tides—Paula.
It's about the water. It's always about the water. Southern shore of Grand Bahama Island.
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Categories: art, by the sea, cool stuff, design, favorite things, Grand Bahama Island, inspiration, intriguing images, little luxuries, photography, quotes, The Bahamas, wonderful ideas
Tags: abstract designs, art, artwork, blue, blue bliss, Christine Matthai, colors, contemporary photo art, fine art photography, Grand Bahama, Grand Bahama Island, graphic prints, modernist images, photography, printing, reflections, The Bahamas, water, water inspiration, water reflections, waters of The Bahamas
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December 9, 2010
You only get a handful of occasions to really justify wearing winter boots on Grand Bahama Island.
Yesterday was one of those days.
Unseasonably low temps in the upper 30s kicked off the day. Clear and a couple degrees warmer than our U.S. neighbor, Florida, (just 68 miles to the west), but still nippy for those of us more accustomed to the kind of warmth and humidity that keeps air conditioners running all through the summer and early fall.
But by mid-afternoon, the thermostat had buoyed up to what I like to call “Goldilocks” weather … not too hot, not too cold …. it’s juuuust right.
I picked up my daughter and her friends from school and decided we would savor this sumptuous high-blue sky, silky-sunshine, and flat-calm, low tide afternoon at a casual beachfront restaurant called Banana Bay. It’s a laidback, delightful place where boots are seldom seen, and shoes in general are quite optional …
We claimed a spot overlooking the wide beach, put in an order for some burgers and salads that the attentive staff cooked while the kiddos explored the eddies and sandbars that emerge at low tide …
… all sorts of shells and sea patterns, sea weed and driftwood glisten …
… a sturdy hammock slung between two palms becomes an imaginary high-seas swaying ship with some help from youthful imaginations …
and then the magic of the low-slanting rays of late afternoon sun start to glow …
bathing everything in a golden winter warmth …
glowing everywhere …
with a dazzling finale!
If you’re reading this from somewhere that’s seen more than your fair share of snow already … I do heartily apologize.
But I just had to capture the soft enchantment of this best-of-both-worlds kind of day. Boots and Beach. A taste of two winter paradises in one.
And if you are in the midst of a snowy winter wonderland type of paradise, please make a snow angel for me. I love snow angels. They’re best friends with the sand angels and mermaid angels that live here by the sea.
Enjoy the wonders of wherever you are. Tra-la.
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Categories: by the sea, favorite things, Grand Bahama Island, inspiration, little luxuries, love, The Bahamas
Tags: Bahamas, Banana Bay, beach, beachfront restaurant, boots, casual beachfront restaurant, flat calm water, Florida, golden winter warmth, Goldilocks, Goldilocks weather, Grand Bahama, Grand Bahama Island, hammock, imagination, kiddos, late afternoon sun, low tide, no shoes, not too cold, not too hot, palm trees, sandbar, sandbars, shoes, thermostat, unseasonably cool, warm winter, winter boots
Comments: 16 Comments
October 7, 2010
A few years ago we were delighted to discover that our unassuming little home in Grand Bahama was born from famous blueprints—designed by Alfred Browning Parker, whose post-World War II contemporary modernist work in and around Miami made him one of the most sought-after architects in the U.S., garnering high praise even from Frank Lloyd Wright—a guiding influence in Parker’s organic architecture philosophies.
Originally constructed for a former chief executive of The Grand Bahama Development Company, our modest two-bedroom home shares architectural roots with a much grander home, built by one of Freeport’s founding families on Sea Shell Lane. This property was recently sold by Coldwell Banker James Sarles Realty and photographed by fine art photographer Christine Matthäi. Matthäi’s artful images capture the home’s classic oceanfront elegance and the timeless organic nature of Parker’s work.
Sea Shell Lane residence photographed by Christine Matthäi
Parker shared a passion with Frank Lloyd Wright for designs that worked with local climate and natural materials. In tropical climes that meant louvered shutters and windows that allowed prevailing ocean breezes to cool things down in the days before air conditioning became commonplace. Parker’s sensitivity and commitment to use of indigenous materials is also evident in the limestone rock that is incorporated into both our humble abode and the Sea Shell Lane residence.
Beautifully blending local materials, recycled materials with then-modern techniques like poured concrete was part of Parker’s modernist mission. His designs are still relevant today in the way they seamlessly merge the interior with the exterior—blurring the boundaries between building and landscape in classic organic architecture.
Sea Shell Lane photos by Christine Matthäi. 2010 ChristineMatthai.com
In our little part of paradise, the grand old trees that surround the property are visible everywhere and bring a particular kind of contentment and sense of well being found only in the shade of their longevity. Our stands of mature trees were planted by Lila Gonsalves—the first President of the Freeport Garden Club—and I send her quiet thanks on an ongoing basis for the green goodness we regularly enjoy in the garden. Sir Jack Hayward also had a hand in our arbor abundance, having given the now towering 40-foot tall Royal Poinciana tree that graces the front entry, to the original home owners in a coffee can—a tiny sapling housewarming present that bursts out in dazzling splendour every May & June.
Royal Poinciana entryway tree in full bloom
A kiss of the sun for pardon
The song of the birds for mirth
One is nearer God’s heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth.
— Dorothy Frances Gurney
Our small home and the Sea Shell Lane property are the only two known surviving residential works of Alfred Browning Parker on Grand Bahama—a tie to modern day Freeport’s history that still smiles on the ideal of harmony between human habitation and the natural world—an essential element in preserving our island’s inherent beauty and grace as we make our way into the future.
Related Alfred Browning Parker Links:
Alfred Browning Parker: The Master of Coconut Grove:
Modernism Magazine (Volume 11, No. 2 | Summer 2008)
House Beautiful Magazine
The legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright commented on a home Alfred Browning Parker built for himself in the Coral Ridge area of Miami, featured as House Beautiful Magazine’s 1954 Pace Setter House:
“This Florida house aims at the highest goal to which architecture may aspire: organic architecture. Along this new but ancient way a home where the enlightened mind can flower, where people can develop their fullest potentials, is still a possibility.”
Slide Show: More of Christine Matthäi’s photographic images of Sea Shell Lane residence, click here.
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Categories: art, design, Garden, Grand Bahama Island, The Bahamas
Tags: 1954, 1960s, Alfred Browning Parker, architect, architecture, Bahamas, beauty, blueprints, Christine Matthai, Coldwell Banker James Sarles Realty, contemporary 1960 architectural design, Dorothy Frances Gurney, fine art photography, Frank Lloyd Wright, Garden, Grand Bahama, Grand Bahama homes, Grand Bahama Island, grand old trees, home designed by Alfred Browning Parker, House Beautiful Magazine, humble home, limestone, Miami, Modernism magazine, modernist architecture, natural harmony, organic architecture, The Bahamas, trees, tropical architecture
Comments: 17 Comments
August 27, 2010
It’s hot and humid here on the island in August, but when you’ve got beauties like these growing on a tree in the back yard, you start to appreciate whatever makes lush tropical abundance conditions possible! These avocado pears (I had never heard them called “pears” until I moved to The Bahamas, but it’s apt — they are pear shaped!) means there’s guacamole ahead this weekend and slices of creamy rich pear-adise in my salads! Trees make me swoon anyway, but trees that bear treats … they bliss me out almost beyond words. Yes, happily, I am easily impressed and amused with the natural wonders of our world. Enjoy whatever slices of green goodness surround you this summer in your own bit of paradise …
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Categories: favorite things, Garden, Grand Bahama Island, little luxuries, The Bahamas
Tags: abundance, avocado pears, avocado trees, avocados, Grand Bahama Island, green, green goodness, guacamole, pears, summer, The Bahamas, treats, trees
Comments: 5 Comments
August 21, 2010
That Bahama-blue water color — turquoise — is the theme of this week’s ARTchix challenge for fun and prizes. Here are a couple “inchies” (1″x1″) collages made from ARTchix images and aqua bits of a shopping bag.
The flutterby collage ATC’s (artist trading cards) feature new images from ARTchix’s Hot & Cool Butterflies sheets, along with some of their lovely vintage ladies! (and some recycled Daytimer refill sheets and magazine clippings!)
Let your art take wing!
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Categories: art, collage, The Bahamas
Tags: aqua, art, ARTchix, ARTchix Studio, artist trading card, butterflies, butterfly, collage, Daytimer, flutterby, magazine clippings, recycled shopping bag, The Bahamas, turquoise, vintage images
Comments: 4 Comments
I wrote this poem in the weeks following the tragedy of September 11th. My heart wanted to wrap everyone in the healing waters here in The Bahamas—the starfish I saw was such a stark contrast to the horrific devastation, such a reminder of how amazing life can be when we’re not terrorizing one other. The poem originally appeared in Grand Bahama Island Magazine—a welcome digest my husband and I published for many years. I post it here with prayers and remembrance on this 10th anniversary of September 11th, and blessings of natural wonder and grace and hope.
