Invasion of de body snatchers.

      Does anybody recognize this plant? I think the body snatchers have arrived on our planet again and are about to take over St. John. Actually, these 'pods' of something started to grow in the middle of our palm trees. We have two such palms and two such pods. Maybe they are bananas? At first I thought it was a big flower. But every day it has grown bigger and bigger. I'd say that each pod is about two feet in length. Then they opened up over night and these 'flower like objects' appeared. If they turn into bananas, can we eat them? I like bananas but this is crazy. There will be at least 48 of them on one tree alone. Maybe they're plantains, like from Puerto Rico. Carumba!
      Look pretty big, huh? Size does matter, right Jim?

      Changing subjects, I am painting away like a madman (not the TV advertising ones). I have only ten days left before the gallery opening. And I have three paintings unfinished that I'd love to exhibit. These last ones are a lot more sailboat intensive. Since I've sold one painting with sailboats, I'm betting that a few more couldn't hurt. See photo at left. Anyway, you can't rush these things, but I'm trying to. The large painting has about twenty-five yachts in it. And the details of the boats take time and a steady hand. Whatever.
      Sorry the blog has been quiet for a while. Jim is away on business and I'm just away, over my head!
      Keep watching, Jim will be home soon and then we'll start exploring the island again.

Be cool, mon.

Making De Social Ting

Hot Flash! Things are heating up here on de island. The social season has officially started, which means the locals are gathering to find out the latest dirt on the returning winter season residents. And the best gathering places are the private homes that are hosting the annual fund raisers for the local causes like the Animal Care Center and the Friends of the Park. Meaning the National Park. Two thirds of the island is a national park (land donated by Laurance Rockfeller). So, JimBob decided to get social and followed the recommendation of our first friends on the island, Rob and his British wife Lady Fairbarns, "You blokes bloody well get yourselves some tickets." We showed up at a showplace that looked more like a hotel than a house, complete with a private beach and a swim up bar. 

We of course dressed according to the theme for the event, "Snow Ball." We made paper snowflakes which we wore in the breast pocket of our blazers. The crowd was attractive (especially the woman in the skin tight backless dress) and friendly. We met a gent from Connecticut that's an old pal of one of Bob's neighbors, a fun and  exotically forthright lady who manages the construction of homes on St. John and my new tennis pal, Stephen. The buffet was delicious (which the crowd attacked like the starving dogs that benefit from the Animal Care Centers efforts on behalf of feral pets), and the entertainment exciting. Actually the live band wasn't so great since the lead singer screeched like a stray feral cat. But the fire dancers so inspired me that I had to get in on the act. See below. Aren't I hot?