Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Washed up

             

'Tis the season! Mercifully we took no direct hits from any hurricanes this year ( although there is still time as hurricane season doesn't officially end until November! ) The island closes down and empties out come mid August and that's when most property owners and employees take their annual vacation ranging from 4-16 weeks. People often ask, "where do you take vacation?" Lets see, New York, Burma, Africa, Canada, Australia, Bali, Ireland, Costa Rica......to name just a few. And then there are the years that we decide to stay and enjoy the island that we watch others enjoy all year long. We get it!! But with LOTS of time on our hands, we see things that you might not see..........like the absolute treasure trove of plastic that washes up onto the beach, especially with passing storms. It would seem that chefs with closed restaurants get extra creative in other areas during the off season! Baby Buoy is the creation of chef/owner Julie Lightbourne from Sip Sip and "Helga" and The Bahamian flag were created by chef Jennifer Learmonth from The Rock House.

Friday, August 17, 2012

Island Dream

        Dream the dream you want to dream and if you believe you'll live that dream..................

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Heavenly Bites

This post was entirely inspired by the wonderful capture by my most adored friend and photographer, Cookie Kinkead, who seems to be chronicling our lives at the moment in photographs and sees everything..........including my contribution to last night's dinner, Polenta griddle cake with caramelized onions, goats cheese and a drizzle of honey. I had actually started making these for my lunch that day and after eating one, I thought "no, these are too good to eat alone. I must share them." That's how I ended up encroaching on my husband's Wednesday night dinner gig with my offering. Time to share the love again............ I got this recipe from the good folks at Food52


Serves 8

For the Polenta:

2 cups whole milk

2 cups water

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 cup polenta

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil



For the Topping:

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon butter

1 yellow onion, halved and sliced in 1/4" slices

2 ounces goat cheese, crumbled

honey, to drizzle

Bring the water, milk, and salt to a boil. Slowly whisk in the polenta. Turn heat to low, and continue whisking for 5 minutes, or until polenta is smooth and creamy. Spread the polenta in a 9x9 baking dish, and set aside to cool.
While the polenta is setting up, add the butter and olive oil to a heavy-bottomed skillet set to medium-low heat. Add the sliced onions and a sprinkle of kosher salt, and cook, stirring occasionally until soft, golden, and caramelized- about 20-25 minutes.
Pour 1 tablespoon olive oil into another skillet, set over medium heat. Using a 3" round cookie cutter, cut out circles of the firm polenta, and place in the heated skillet. Cook until slightly browned and crusty on one side, about 2 minutes, then flip and cook the other sides another two minutes.
To assemble the polenta cakes, place on a plate, add one tablespoon of caramelized onions to each cake, top each with about a teaspoon of crumbled goat cheese, and drizzle with honey. Enjoy!

Friday, July 27, 2012

Island Life

A Library of Design's blog writer, design writer, former magazine editor, photographer and author of 18 books, including 15 architecture, interior design, travel and gardening books, and a bestselling memoir, Janelle McCulloch has a fabulous idea that has been brewing for a while..........Stories, flavours and family, yep, that's our Island Life       .......coming to a bookshelf near you......soon!

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Truth


There is One truth, beyond all faiths, beyond everything. Every religion is a river. The truth is the Sea.

Photo by Elena Kalis

Friday, June 8, 2012

From whence we came


We are all tied to the ocean and the sea. 
And when we go back to the sea, 
whether it is to sail or to watch-
we are going back from whence we came. 

John F. Kennedy

Friday, June 1, 2012

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Paradise

Follow your path, unburdened and free, and know paradise.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Rooster in magenta and gold


Choosing to focus on their beauty to balance out the murderous thoughts I have been having at their unholy crowing at 2 a.m that is akin to them pecking my eyes out!! Pretty hey?!
Rooster in magenta and gold by Amber Alexander

Monday, May 14, 2012

Simply beautiful

Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy. 


photograph by Elena Kalis

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Pimp My Ride

My manifestation/vision board is getting awfully empty these days - one vision and dream after the next coming true and being realized! So an aqua blue 57 Chevy it is - parked outside our dream house overlooking the harbour with it's white picket fence and the interior chock a block with love, authenticity and a fabulous collection of vintage chenille. I've got to get my landscaping pictures up on my board now! What I love most about my new car(t), which was a birthday present from my pretty amazing husband, is the reaction other people have when we drive by - huge smiles and delight......that's just how I like to ride!

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

With my 3 year old in her panties and my 14 year old in an oversized t-shirt, we set out on a golf cart adventure to collect one of every different kind of flower we could find on the island. So wonderful to have the opportunity to see familiar things with new eyes. We counted petals, looked at the different stamen, were almost blinded by the brilliant colors, saw flowers that we had never seen before and squealed in delight at finding tiny little flowers that would have gone by unnoticed had we not been paying attention. I had Louis Armstrong playing in my head. We ended our adventure at the house of a wonderful woman from The Ukraine eating freshly made brioche and playing bingo.........but that's a whole other story :-) Happy May Day!

Saturday, April 28, 2012

The Kiss


Drown in the ocean of ecstasy ......................

Thursday, April 12, 2012

The Sweetest of Dreams.

Talk about a surprise! My beautiful husband planned this for months after seeing my post about this being my fantasy~ yep, award winning husband! It was a perfectly magical evening, filled with love, laughter, music, dance, rose champagne and pink sand...........dreams do come true. Extraordinary island life.




Saturday, March 31, 2012


Still Reflections
~ Michel Brosseau
matte oils on raw linen

This really struck me.........how in the stillness we can see our reflection, the clarity in/of the stillness, the peace and calm in/of the stillness, the light in/of the reflection. Time to be a little more in/of that stillness to better see myself.


Thursday, March 8, 2012

The last full moon of winter, marking the impending and abundant spring.......basking in the fullness of her cool light, on a bed of pink sand, under a blanket of stars. Roaring, swirling goddess energy within, echoed by the ocean without. Vast breaths like rolling waves. Purged. Strewn. From form to formless. Sanctified.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Rainy Days and Mondays...........

O.k, so maybe it wasn't terribly overcast if you look at this photo, however, my youngest had a tummy bug and was unable to go to school - cue the dark clouds, thunder, lightening and rain tears! - especially as they were starting this week's letter, which was U "and that's in my name mummy" she sobbed. Magical teachers at our amazing school brought the Uppy Umbrella song to us - right outside the gate, so that r U by would not miss out ( it's pretty handy to live 66 steps away from your school )............Did I mention how much I love where I live?!

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Low Tide

When the tide is out, stop swimming.

The same actions that propel you when you’re in the Flow can dig a hole on dry land.

Seasons and cycles determine environment and context.

Actions require context to be effective.

Timing can be everything; and Time is outside your control.

If you’re not sure what to do right Now, then maybe Now is not the right time.

www.sladeroberson.com

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Let there be light!

It's so exciting when one is inspired to create and everything you need is on hand - which is very important at 11:30pm in the best of places and even more so here, where there is no shop to pop into to get what you need. Christmas lights, sea urchins ( from our many many Eleuthera beach adventures and date days ) a semi rusted hoop left over from one of my daughter's bed canopies long ago that I just KNEW would come in handy one day, a hot glue gun and some garbage bag ties............and then of course, the best secret ingredient, a creative partner in crime. Husband on guitar with some nice chords was an added bonus - we were in the flow, in the groove.........and then, how delightful, at the end of it all, to bathe in the soft beautiful glow of our light!

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Fantasy island

I have a fantasy..........it's slightly Fellini-esque and Ben Simmons and his team at Little Island Design www.littleislanddesign.com brought it to life (photos are his as well).



Saturday, February 4, 2012

The Law of Attraction

I love the people that this island attracts. Today, Michel Brosseau , walked into my shop/office/life and lit me up from head to toe.
He paints in Bordeaux and The Cape. www.michel-brosseau.com
Mainly matte oils on raw linen featured here but he has an amazing array of styles and subjects. The light - oh the light!! So looking forward to being neighbours and seeing what inspires him on our fair shores..............





Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Earth Angels

..........on Harbour Island..........appearing at sunset........halos aglow.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Front row couch

How cool is it that our children are growing up thinking that it is normal to lie on your couch on the porch and watch junkanoo!? I so love where we live.