Carolina Blue

Carolina Blue glimmered this week —

On the sultry shores of the south —

On the week of the 4th the sea was murky, dismal, and gray —

I suppose the lack of storms accompanied with the intense heat

soothed the tumultuous seas.

Thank You, God, both the occasion —Blessed was I  to be there to see.

Amazing how things change in a matter of weeks — or, sometimes  minutes it seems — 

Ebbs Flow, Swells Swing, the Sun, Moon, and Stars sing  ever-changing songs of God’s Mood Ring —Beneath the Toiling Sea—Oceans of Emotion— and some of its own — but mostly revealed on the surface… Reflections of you and me.

 

Cloud Drops

Remember it well. 

The rain we saw pouring down.

Drops bigger than clouds.

 

Fernandes Project Follow Up

I almost forgot I’d promised to do a follow-up when the Fernandes face lift was complete…

Fernandes Project Here:

And seeing as I gave the guitar to my grandson for Christmas, I’m lucky I  took some pictures!

This is it:

Not the best pictures in the world, but, at least I did take a few.

The Village At Indian Springs

There are lots of interesting summer getaways across the Southeast, and the southern United States. And though I’ve yet to vacation, or even visit many of them, I have indeed seen my share of resort areas from Florida to West Virginia, from the mountains to the sea. For me, however, a Nature, History, and Native American enthusiast, few hold as much intrigue, as “The Village At Indian Springs.”

Replete  in early American history, dating from the Pre-Revolutionary, war era, Indian Springs, was held sacred among early Native American tribes from Alabama, to Canada, as well as from Carolina to Mexico. It had its skirmishes in the Civil War as well.

Today, It’s a must-see getaway. A memory making experience one will relive for a lifetime. And, with

The Village At Indian Springs offering everything from clean, comfortable, accommodations, and shopping conveniences, is the perfect place to spend an exciting, fun-filled family vacation. In fact, with nine different “Wedding Venues” to choose from, it’s a great place to start and raise a family.

Indian Springs is located just minutes from the Butts County, county seat, of Jackson, and I-75. Sort of a “Touch of Country” in the city kind of town, only without all the traffic and noise. There are two nearby state parks, including the oldest state park in America, Indian Springs State Park, and many lakes and falls.

Geographically, Indian Springs sits almost precisely in the center of the state of Georgia. And, like a scene from a Norman Rockwell painting, sitting wonderfully, quietly, nestled between the rolling hills of southern Appalachia, in the Piedmont area of the state, is a cozy stream valley resort called: “The Village At Indian Springs”

“The Village At IndianSpring’s”shops include, but aren’t limited to the  following services, and locales. 

• The Big Chief Country Store
• Daisy Pearl’s Boutique ( popular fashions & brands )
• Ladybugs & Tadpoles ( children’s clothier)
• Mrs. Lee’s Stagecoach Sweet Stop (Ice Cream & Sweets)
• Vintage Post Antiques
• Watkins Outfitters
• The Village at Indian Springs Amphitheater

Visit The Village At Indian Springs @

 The Village At Indian Springs.Com

The Fernandes Project

 

I know it’s a gamble stripping down a guitar with the sole intent of staining, and not painting… As we all know, when the chips are down on the assembly line; “Ugly Guitars Get Paint”. But, I figured if it was too ugly Well, there’s always … more paint. Obviously, like my workshop, this flea market find ( though an awesome playing little guitar ) definitely needs all the help it can get in the looks department. 

In my humble opinion, there are WAY too many black guitars out there, at least, in the Stratocaster style. Although, I wouldn’t likely change the color of a nice vintage Strat, or, Tele, regardless of the color. There are certainly a few Tele Custom and Deluxe models I’ve played out there that still look good in black. But, when it came to the Fergie, nothing has ever been cut and dried black and white. 

She’s been with me some time, and plays as good as she sounds… just didn’t have the same sex appeal to me in the looks department, so, I visited the old strip club…
She was a tough one to break, though. I had to use all three trusted methods (Chemical Solvent, Heat Gun, & Sand Paper) to cut through all the poly plastic, and paint before it was over.. and it’s actually not over yet, as I still have to dress her in a clear coat. And rewire, and mount the hardware, pickups and chrome of course. 

Luckily, underneath all that aged polymer ( in my opinion) was some pretty decent wood grain. 

 

I’m not settled on the pick guard yet either, but, had one I’d tried to paint up a while back; or actually tried to copper relic, ( which I learned doesn’t work so well on flat objects) But, who knows…

I’ll be replacing the POT knobs with a more antiqued, or, bronzed looking ones most likely, and I need to make some type of input jack grommet, But other than that … she’s about done.

Pizza Pizza – Its What’s For Dinner

I was famished when I threw this one together, so, its by far not the best looking, or, tasting pizza I’ve ever made for sure – but, its quick and easy to make, as both my pizza dough, and sauce recipes reveal. I didn’t make my sauce this time though, as I picked up a ready-made jar at the market: (Wal-Mart’s Great Value ) earlier. (a brand I now “Strongly” suggest “NOT” to use. Toppings are a personal preference, or, in my case what one has on hand. I used peppers, onions, ground beef, pepperoni, salami, and a Mexican blended cheese for this one. Use own recipe, and topping choices-but:  Pizza Pizza!   

Pizza Dough: = 1 cup bread flour, & 1 cup all-purpose flour: (APF)
1/2 teaspoon sugar (optional)
1/2 to 1 teaspoon kosher salt (optional)
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 package dry yeast: ( or 2 and 1/4 teaspoons )
1/3 cup hot tap water (no more than 110 degrees Fahrenheit)
(I added thyme, garlic powder, and fennel seeds to this particular dough, also optional of course)

( One method of making the dough is to add yeast to water and oil first, lightly stirring till milky before adding dry ingredients.) Otherwise:= Combine flour, sugar, salt, and yeast in a bowl and mix well. Slowly add water and olive oil while folding. Gently knead into a ball, (if too sticky add more flour a teaspoon full at a time/if too dry, add a little olive oil)… cover in a lightly oiled bowl and let sit in a warm area of the kitchen for at least one hour. Ball should double in size… roll out on lightly floured paper, or board, and, or just press out on a lightly oiled pizza pan.
As I stated earlier.. I was hungry… so unfortunately, I DIDN’T let this one sit to proof long enough) It was still good to me though.

Just as with the dough, one can get creative with ingredients with the sauce, and of course if you use canned tomato sauce, the more you simmer it the more the flavor comes out.. but for a quick, fresher version… this doesn’t have to be pre-cooked.
(optional) 1 can (14 oz., or 1 3/4 cups) chopped or diced tomatoes (including juices) – ( Or,  1- 14 ounce can of tomato sauce simmered in pizza sauce.)
1 can (6 oz.) tomato paste
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves
1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon chopped garlic
salt to taste ( optional)
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar ( optional)



Sriracha and red pepper flakes, with graded Parmesan Cheese on finished product is also optional… but delicious.

Fender Squier Special Run Telecaster (Nashville Cats)

“Native Woods Art”

“Waccamaw Snake”

“Croatan Hawk”

Inspired by the first ( documented ) European child born on American Soil ─ Virginia Dare, and the Croatan Indians:  

    “Coharie Slough”

From times of Colonial script ─ troubles, and Indian lore ▒ A people then called “driftwood ,” along southern swamps and shores.

Strong enough to fight when pushed─ brave enough to stand.  Smart enough to live in peace─for a piece of what was once their land.

They fought one side or the other, in every “New World” war─ vested forthwith, the only gift ─ black-water, and the gift to drift no more.

Stories are endless, and many.  Archives misconstrued… But between the lines of Carolina pines, The Croatan  still stand true.

                                                                                                  

Originally, the Croatan inhabited the present day Island of Hatteras,─ part of the North Carolina Outer-Bank ─ formerly known as Croatoan. More  written on the Croatan Tribe, and Virginia Dare, of the lost colony here: ─ Colony Lost From the Start