cranes

I spent a week in Florida this month…

…..spending time with my mom and sisters, while hubby was working and then off to a Softball training camp.

My sister lives in North Central Florida…a place that reminds me of the book, The Yearling.

…..Old Florida they call it.

My friend Ruth’s parents had two paintings…

…..painted by Hezekiah Baker…a “Florida Highwaymen” Painter.

Here is a brief history of these artists from: Floridahighwaymenpaintings.com

In the early 1950’s through the 1980’s a group of twenty-six African-American artists known as the “Florida Highwaymen” used vivid and bright colors to display the beautiful untouched Florida landscape. The Florida Highwaymen painted wind-bent palm trees, serene sunsets, churning oceans and bright red Poinciana trees. They painted from their garages and back yards on inexpensive Upson board and then on the weekends they would travel and sell their Highwaymen paintings to hotels, offices, businesses and individuals who appreciated the artwork for around $25 a piece.

Ruth’s father was downsizing and she acquired these paintings…

…..however, they did not fit in her “country decor”.

So my sister bought them and they fit so well in her “Old Florida” decor.

Aren’t they beautiful?!!..

Now this cabinet was where the organ is now…had to do a bit of rearranging to accommodate the organ.

A small curio was relocated to the dining room…oh that domino effect!

And what’s a Florida vignette without a great conch shell and red spiny coral…all real!!

My sister already had this great set of cranes…a perfect compliment to these paintings.

The frames are just plain moulding…painted white with brush strokes of gold…very simple.

Across the hall is an antique buffet…

We added the Ikea “lanternesque” container and filled it with Pottery Barn Shell potpourri…

Now why didn’t I pick up one of those pretties!…on my next Ikea visit!

The small curio landed in the dining room…we placed her Roseville lamp with that great shade…

…..along with her Roseville bowl and cute deer on the surface.

The next few pics are of a project that my brother in law’s FAA mechanic is working on:

He has a 1945’ish (I forgot) Piper Cub…along with a Cessna..

The green metal and wood frame are the wings that are being re-constructed..

A tedius process…

The next time I am there, I must show the rest of the hangar…as it also houses his man cave of a vintage pool table, a vintage coke machine, full bathroom…a real party place…the kids love it!..I swear the hangar is larger than the house..it may be….

And also while I was in Florida…I was able to attend my nephew’s confirmation…The Bishop came up from Orlando…