The Curious Case of Cumberland Island

March 7, 2016 | Coleen Patrick

Last week the hub and I drove to Georgia and took a ferry from St. Mary’s to Cumberland Island National Seashore.

We were greeted by a boulevard of trees.

Welcome!

The island is mysterious and kind of dreamy with it’s gnarled oak trees and Spanish moss, mansion ruins, unspoiled beaches—and wild horses.

We stopped to take a few photos, others disappeared into the maritime forest in groups and pairs.

Except an older woman, setting off solo, down the boulevard of trees.

Something about this woman had me looking over my shoulder for the rest of her party. But I didn’t see anyone else. She lagged behind them, taking it all in, I supposed.

We hiked the island. Trails led to ruins, wildlife.

The forest opened to marsh lands. Marsh turned to dunes, and then the unspoiled beach.

The ocean.

And there was the woman. Sitting on the beach. Alone. She had a book, or a journal. This time I noticed she looked to be about my mom’s age.

And again I was curious that she was by herself.

I wondered about her. And for a moment I considered myself in her shoes.

Because there are two familiar thoughts that I peck around at lately: freedom and need.

Pileated Woodpecker on Cumberland Island

Right now I feel like I’m in the thick of the “empty nest” transition.

There’s a lot of freedom in my life right now. Great, yes, but also unnerving to go from so much mothering responsibility to so little.

And I’ll admit my first instinct was just to jump right in and fill those spaces.

But I’ve started to realize the freedom has more to do with figuring out my identity now and where I want to fit…

and that takes time

and exploration

but then there’s these wide open spaces of needing to be needed.

And yeah, I want to fill those too.

But well, time, and exploration.

At the end of the day, after an exhausting, but exhilarating hike, I saw the woman again. At the ferry dock.

She was barefoot.

She got up and I overheard her ask someone about the bathrooms. When they didn’t know I pointed her in the direction. She then proceeded to carefully pick her way over the gravel and sticks.

It took her awhile and I wondered why she didn’t put her shoes on.

And I wasn’t the only curious one. Someone said something about her feet and the rocks, but I couldn’t hear the woman’s response. Only this from the other curious hiker:

“Well, sounds like there’s a story there!”

Curiouser and curiouser.

And here, my practical, yet need-to-make-you-smile-over-something-silly side, compels me to add that I also suddenly wondered how she got to the ferry dock without shoes. You only have to hike for 5 minutes to realize that the almost 200 wild horses on the island consider every footpath and sandy trail as not only their home but their bathroom.

Rocks and sticks aren’t the only landmines. Cumberland Island is very natural.

Anyway…

We got on the ferry and I only saw a glimpse of her after that: she

boarded the ferry barefoot, no shoes in hand.

I don’t know why I was so curious about this woman. I thought of my earlier emotions. Those conflicting feelings of freedom and need that came to mind when I considered a moment in her shoes.

Now her missing shoes.

And I came up with different stories. The first was imagining my heavy thoughts weighing her shoes down until she could no longer carry them.

Because I like to look for answers. And make things connect.

Or find meaning.

But some days I just like to take a hike and see wild horses in their element, and get a laugh out of hearing my husband yell, “Poop!” over his shoulder to warn me of another landmine as we walk.

Besides, maybe those shoes were in her bag

and she just wanted to be barefoot.

Do you make up stories about strangers? What do you think happened to her shoes?

HAPPY MONDAY!

Bird Watching and My Scattered Thoughts

February 26, 2016 | Coleen Patrick

Last month I tried meditating.

The kind where you sit in a quiet place and repeat a mantra.

It didn’t go so well.

Maybe I was a little too desperate for it to work, or maybe it was because my brain likes to tell stories and refute mantras in quiet moments. Either way it was kind of like trying to pat your head and rub your stomach while watching and waiting for a pot of water to boil.

I felt more anxious.

In the past, I found yoga calming, but sometimes those “yoga clouds” were not in fact carrying away my thoughts, but sorting into my to do list.

A black-capped chickadee slinging seeds (and perhaps thoughts).

And walking. I love walking. But I like to go over projects and stuff. Or whatever. I just like to break stuff down when I walk, not push it away.

Then last week I wanted to take some pics of the birds in our backyard. So I sat on my deck, about ten feet from the bird feeder. I had to sit still while holding my camera and somehow that stance forced me to keep an even breathing rhythm.

And so I watched the birds.

Or did they watch me?

I was still. Breathing nicely. And my thoughts were…I don’t know. Like scattered seeds on the ground? Because wherever they were they weren’t bothering me.

Do you meditate?

HAPPY WEEKEND! xo

We Bought a House! With an Inside Barn Door!

December 10, 2015 | Coleen Patrick

We bought a house!
It’s kind of in the country (or country-ish, as we’ve been saying).

So now we have a city and a country house. Not on purpose though. We actually need to sell the city house. Anyone looking for a big house in the capital city of Virginia?

It’s got refinished hardwood floors…

HGTV moment when we discovered we had hardwood under the vinyl in our foyer. #InstantCharacter
So in addition to the downsizing and the painting I mentioned last time I posted, we’ve been updating, renovating, cleaning, and moving.

And there’s been lots and lots of road trips, if you count driving 45 miles round trip between houses as a road trip (or the 60 miles round-trip to the large metro shopping area). Oh and if you count the many times I’ve accidentally passed our new exit. Because I’m not used to driving so many highway miles just to go home, I get in a zone, like I’m headed to Key West or something. And every time I do that, it’s a 12 mile mistake…with no beach or mojito.

Was probably thinking about Key West when I painted this canvas.

But our new house is cool. It’s smaller and has one less bathroom to clean, Yay!

Plus, IT HAS A BARN DOOR.

INSIDE!

It’s like my Pinterest boards came to life!

I’ve posted about my fascination with barns, I love them. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s like my main character Grace from my Chasing Normal series said:

There’s just something so stable about barns. 😉

So lately we’ve been living life like an episode of Property Brothers meets Fixer Upper. And it’s been fun and exciting, but a MAJOR change.

Dear hub likes to say, There’s no crying in moving/renovating. Oh but there’s been tears. Happy. Sad. All kinds. So much is different. After 20 years in the same house, we’re in a new one.
And get this, I have an outside mailbox.
Ok so most people probably do. But in our old house we had one of those mail slots in our front door, so basically I tripped over the mail every day.

Now I forget that I need to check the mail box.
Oh and I don’t know if this is a country-ish thing, but we have this spider that can play dead. And she’s living in our mailbox. She rolls onto her back when I open the mailbox. Of course I told her she can’t live in the mailbox and carefully prodded her with a leaf until she left.

But the next day I met her kids.
So I don’t get the mail if the sun has gone down.

Sunset behind our new country-ish neighborhood.

And considering I broke a finger when I was 18 during a spider encounter, I’d say this is PROGRESS.
And progress is good.

So is having my kids home for the holidays.

A Happy Thanksgiving photo op.

And planning a real road trip—we’re going to New York City in a couple of weeks to visit dear daughter and have some family fun.

Plus I’m making time to be creative. I’ve got a new book coming out soon and I’ve been doodling.

A doodle for Hanukkah

And painting. And decorating. And baking. And button gluing (turns out this is meditation for me).

I just like to make stuff.
That’s one thing that hasn’t changed at all.

What’s new with you?

Also, if you go outside to get your mail, are mailbox tenants something to be expected?

Happy Thursday!

Happy Halloween from the Dolls in My Attic

October 28, 2015 | Coleen Patrick

In general, I’m not afraid of dolls.

But they do have the potential to be super creepy.

I loved (but also kinda hated) this book in middle school.

And a recent trip to the flea market reminded me that I wouldn’t want to spend the night in a flea market.

She’s for sale! I dare you to take her home.

Now she looks sweet.

Still not having a slumber party here though.

Sure she’s smiling but all I can hear is a line from the Twilight Zone episode, Living Doll.

“My Name is Talky Tina, and you’d better be nice to me.”

Nope.

A doll selfie.

She was in my attic.

Apparently I have unknowingly been sleeping in a house full of dolls.

Not so scary. She’s tiny and I could outrun her.

Especially because she’d probably have to stop to pick up her hat.

And her hair.

But they’ve got their eyes on me.

So I’ll sleep with one eye open,

probably wondering where her other arm went…

but mostly trying not to imagine it stuck in a giant spider web.

If dolls don’t make you shudder, what creeps you out? I’d love to know!

Happy Halloween!

The Cheesy Finish to My Summer Road Trip and a Bit of Greige

September 18, 2015 | Coleen Patrick

Hey all!
Um, please excuse the paint.

Nine shades of greige

We’re sort of swimming in a sea of greige right now.

According to our realtor (and more importantly, Pinterest), greige is the BEST paint color to sell your house. So we’re awash in neutral.

Anyway, back to where I left off weeks ago. Which was that pretty cool Pacific Northwest road trip we took in early June. For weeks I’ve been blogging in my head about it (and other topics my mind would like to figure out, like how I might sell dust bunny crafts on Etsy, bc I’ve found OODLES of dust bunnies behind bookcases my friends), but as cool as you all are you probably can’t read my mind (this is a good thing, it’s dusty in there).

So without further ado, here’s the last bit of our trip.

The Oregon coast highway 101

The BEST part of this day was waking up knowing that the only thing on our agenda was getting from point A to point B, with miles of awesome stops and discovery along the way.

Sea monster on the beach…or driftwood?

The views on the other side of the road were spectacular too.

Netarts Bay. Loads of clams and crabs. And muck.

Dear mystery couple in the muck,

I’m sorry for taking your picture.

And for being entertained by you.

And for using you as entertainment here.

That’s all. xo

This is Nye Beach.

It’s like a million miles to the water’s edge here, but we stopped at plenty of beaches along the way. Including one with dozens of ladybugs on the sand.

Unexpected. And pretty cool.

Ladybugs are my jam.

We like factory tours. Tillamook was delightfully cheesy.

A Tillamook grilled cheese sandwich with gluten free bread. Yay!

Have you ever found something unexpected or interesting at the beach? Or been to a factory tour?

Happy Friday!

Finding the Big and Tiny on the Avenue of the Giants

July 13, 2015 | Coleen Patrick

Since we got home from our Pacific Northwest vacation last month, I’ve basically been busy in a “middle place”.

There’s been some ~~pulling books out of the brain~~ writing.

Saw this artwork – Allocation of Memory by Malia Landis – in a Eureka, California bookstore.

But there’s been more working at the library and house stuff. Did I mention we’ve started the process to downsize from the big house we’ve lived in for 20 years to a smaller one? #emptynestchanges

Yup, another winding, somewhat foggy journey.

But like the road above, the journey has got some cool stuff to discover.

Avenue of the Giants, California

Ever since we visited the Redwoods, the idea of big vs. small has been on my mind.

Especially because lately there’s been so much living in the in between space. There’s the daily work that has to happen–and even the stuff that perhaps doesn’t (the part where I become one with my TV).

A crab at Shelter Cove beach in California (Sometimes I’m crabby and like to hide too).

The middle, at least for me, is not really the place where I do creative stuff. But sometimes I really like when I have work that makes me feel mindless. Where I can take a break from thinking, I suppose.

Drive thru tree. Do not try this at home.

But then there’s that big and small thing. I love when I discover and enjoy those really small things. Maybe it’s a great cup of coffee. A new book. Or maybe, you happen upon a quirky realtor at an open house, who drives a mini Cooper (complete with British flags covering the side mirrors) and tells you a funny story (in an accent of course) and just makes you laugh.

Or you find a TINY snail on a leaf in the middle of all those giant Redwoods.

Then there’s the big. For me the Big Picture is made up of the dreams and hopes and awesomeness (read: whatever is your personal fairy dust) that honestly make me feel like ME.

When I first walked through the forest of gigantic trees, I thought, It’s nice to be tiny. I could breathe (and it wasn’t just the woodsy freshness). In that moment, I wasn’t in charge. And honestly, I felt relief.

I can just be.

But then lately, as I step away from the middle place and participate in my BIG: write, doodle, find the story in a photo.

Create.

I feel relief too. And I need to make the time for my big stuff–as well as note all the good in the tiny joys

Another Redwoods snail

–because then, not only can I just be,

I can just be me. 🙂

Note: The Avenue of the Giants has a picnic spot and Los Bagels in Eureka, California is a great spot to grab a gluten-free lunch before driving down.

They have giant gluten-free cookies too!

What tiny joys make you smile? Have you experienced the Redwoods?

Happy Monday!

When the Fog Lifts: Crater Lake National Park!

June 24, 2015 | Coleen Patrick

So driving, or rather co-piloting, on a foggy mountain road in the rain is kinda one of those life defining moments.

Turns out I’m sweet, patient, and my language completely complies with all FCC broadcast regulations.

Yup.

And here’s a beautiful view of Crater Lake:

June 1st at Crater Lake National Park Lodge, Oregon

Okay. So the view was non-existent (and I’m a nutcase when it comes to mountain roads).

The first 24 hours the weather was rain, freezing rain, sleet and then snow. But the worst was the fog.

I really wanted to see the lake!

A remnant of Mount Mazama after a volcanic eruption, Crater lake is the deepest in the United States, and a beautiful blue.

So they say.

The hub and I went for a hike anyway. We walked the rim, trying to find the water, the blue, something.

A Clark’s Nutcracker (name derived from William Clark from the Lewis & Clark expedition)

This little bird wanted to hang out. Much to the worry (or quite possibly egging on?) of his/her family/friends. The other birds chirped loudly every time this bird perched near me.

Rebel bird (or the one who drew the short straw). 🙂

We moved on and well, like it does (even when it seems like you’ll never get clarity), the fog lifted.

Wizard Island. Magical.

Totally worth the wait (and okay, the scary drive on the mountain road).

This was what was behind all that mist and fog!!

Then we also walked the Sun Notch hike.

At the top there’s a viewpoint

The Phantom Ship

Crater Lake is awesome.

And right before we left, we really got to see the lake in full color

Blue.

Bye bye, Crater Lake.

Btw it’s easier driving on the non drop off side. 🙂

Note: The lodge at Crater Lake is really nice. Somehow I got the impression it would be rustic. So I was pleasantly surprised. Bonus, both the dining room and the casual eatery, Annie’s Creek restaurant had plenty of gluten-free options.

Next time: California! And if you missed the last stop click here: Columbia River

How do you feel about driving on mountain roads?

Happy Wednesday!

Gorging on the Columbia River Scenic Byway (and Doughnuts)

June 15, 2015 | Coleen Patrick

And the road trip continues…

Twenty four miles from Portland, Oregon is the Vista House at Crown Point

View from inside

Stairway to vistas

The Columbia River Gorge is gorgeous!

8 miles from the Vista house…

Multnomah Falls seems to be the must see waterfall in the Columbia River gorge area

but I really liked Latourell falls

even though the Multnomah stop had ice cream

It’s a quieter spot compared to Multnomah

and you could feel the spray of the falls. 🙂

After our hike we headed back to Portland,

and searched for a spot to watch the sunset.

Skidmore Bluffs overlook is tucked away in suburbia

and stay as long as you like because Voodoo Doughnuts is open 24 hours

Is it really necessary to put frosting on a fritter?

Okay, so that question may be sparked by jealousy, as Voodoo doesn’t have gluten-free treats.

But I found plenty in Portland, my fave being the Back to Eden Bakery (for regular eats with gluten-free options we also really enjoyed Teote and The Tin Shed Garden Cafe).

Next post: Snow in June? Stay tuned. 🙂

And if you want to see our first stop it’s here: Seattle

So do you think fritters should be frosted?

Happy Monday!

My (Almost) Summer Vacation

June 9, 2015 | Coleen Patrick

Warning: Vacation pictures ahead.

The hub and I just got back from a road trip (my favorite kind of trip!). We flew to Seattle and then rented a car

and drove 1700 miles in 7 days.

This is just the beginning…

Peaceful space above the clouds. A sharp contrast to the turbulence in my mind (I’m still a work in progress when it comes to zen and the art of flying).

Ah. Coffee. The best? Storyville Coffee at the Pike Place Market.

Note: We passed seven Starbucks (in less than one mile) to get to it.

So I’m conflicted as I post this pic seeing as I tend to post more lively photos of wildlife,

but it is a big part of the Pike Place Market in Seattle.

And I could not stop looking at the eyes on that pink fish!

And now in case you need soothing, here’s a monster cookie.

And bonus, if you need, it’s gluten-free, from Cinnamon Works.

(Another great gluten-free option at the market: Coffee & Specialty Bakery)

A more lively bunch of Salmon at the Seattle Aquarium.

This guy was a total ham for the cameras.

Mt. Rainier as we saw it from Seattle’s Great Wheel.

This was my hub’s favorite snack. A smoked mozzarella mushroom and broccoli pie.

He enjoyed it so much he immediately got back in line to buy the sweet cinnamon cardamom braid. 🙂

A good spot for eating your market snacks is the Urban Garden at Pike Place.

Whimsical, right?

This is a popular section of post alley at the market.

Reminded me a bit of Diagon alley from Harry Potter,

except if you look very closely at the walls

you will see

Gum. Lots of it.

Some of it artistic. Some philosophical like above. #chooselove

And yes, a wee bit gross.

So hypothetically, if you were to leave your gum mark in Post Alley, what flavor would it be?

Me? Cinnamon Trident.

Next stop: Portland, Oregon. I think. I haven’t gone through all my pics yet. But Oregon for sure will be represented!. In the meantime, it’s back to work!

Happy Tuesday!

Coleen Patrick

Coleen Patrick children's book author illustrator

photo essay