In Living Color
The first porch vacation in May didn’t happen on the porch. It was too wet and cold Saturday morning, so we lolled around on the living room couch and watched the world from the window. Soon, I couldn’t contain my excitement. “Look, the bluebird of happiness!” I squealed to Joe, as I spotted a robin’s egg blue bird looking like something out of a fairytale and scratching around the birdfeeder. I’ve seen indigo buntings on Woods Gap Road on my ride to town, but this is the first time any have visited our yard. “Look! There’s two now! One for you and one for me!” I knew it was going to be a good weekend.
It warmed up enough to take a short walk, which was when I noticed that the Azaleas in our yard had bloomed. Walking hand in hand, we passed a neighbor, a single guy on a shiny new tractor working in his yard. As someone who likes tools and equipment, Joe looked longingly at the tractor. Not only does he not have one of his own, but he was worn out from the work week and feeling a little guilty about not having enough energy work in our yard. As if I was reading his mind, I squeezed his hand, looked at him and said, “Yeah … but you have a woman.” He laughed and felt better.
On Sunday, after cleaning up from working in the garden, we headed out for the Cinco De Mayo benefit for Ito, a Costa Rican friend of many in Floyd who recently lost his wife. She sadly died soon after giving birth to their daughter, who is doing fine. The community came out in large numbers. There were raffles, Guatemalan clothes, and food for sale. Kids spun across the wide open floor and twirlers in bright colors danced as bands took turns on the stage. Several bands played, including Solazo and hip-hop saxist Emily Brass (formerly of Foundation Stone). The Kusun Ensemble, a group from Ghana, now based in Floyd, were dressed in their traditional clothing. During their performance some of them jumped off the Winter Sun stage and danced.
We cooled down from dancing in the Café Del Sol, which was immersed in an ocean of blue with dolphins diving and swelling waves that any surfer would envy. It was 7:00 p.m. but still sunny enough to warrant wearing sunglasses inside. Laurel Cook, the artist whose work was displayed looked beautiful in orange against the blue of her paintings. Her daughter and my son, Dylan, were in the same class at Blue Mountain School years ago. She recently returned to Floyd from Hawaii. I guess the island inspired her work.
I ordered a soup, a beer, and some baklava. It the first Sunday of the month, so musicians were starting to gather for open mic. While paying for my food, I snapped a photo of the two-headed barista action figure that sits on the check out counter. Nice tattoo, huh.
May 8th, 2007 9:52 am
Colleen that is the Indigo Bunting…he is more like a finch. They are just getting back from Florida and will hang at feeders until the insects begin swarming. I love those guys…they were late this year and I was worried. Aren’t they the prettiest color?
You guys do such fun things in Floyd! I wish I’d had a cool Cinco De Mayo outing! Instead I was stuck her with Martin and a movie….at least I had my wine!
May 8th, 2007 9:57 am
every time you do a post like this, it makes me want to move to floyd! 🙂
sounds like a wonderful weekend! i love the little interaction between you and joe about the lawn tractor. very cute….. 🙂
my friend turned 30 on saturday, so her husband threw her a big cinco de mayo bash. we had mexican food, margaritas, and busted a pinata……
May 8th, 2007 10:46 am
Oh, I haven’t gotten the bird book for my birthday yet, Deana! I knew there were indigo buntings around here but I couldn’t tell them apart from the bluebirds. I’ll fix it. So they aren’t going to stay long? I’ve had the birdfeeder out for several years and this is the first year they found it. I love the way birds come in pairs. It seems to romantic.
May 8th, 2007 12:37 pm
The more I hear you talk about this cafe, and the sense of community and friendship that comes with it, the more it makes me want to seek my own little cafe.
~S
May 8th, 2007 1:41 pm
I just love your posts. You make Floyd sound like such a vibrant community that I want to visit.
Great shot of the blue bird, whatever kind if may be.
May 8th, 2007 4:48 pm
You have so much fun. Floyd and its inhabitants could be a movie!
May 8th, 2007 5:46 pm
What a lovely full day you and Joe had! I LOVE LOVE LOVE that you saw these Bluebirds and captured this one on film….So exciting!
Your pictures of your day everywhere give me such a feeling of being there with you, Colleen…I just cannot get over ALL the wonderful things that Floyd has to offer—creatively as well as the deep friendships that exist…Lovely, my dear, just lovely! And I love those photos of the Artist work…! Another rich post, Colleen, in every way.
May 9th, 2007 10:38 am
mmm! Baklava! A diabetic’s delight!!!
Is this the Eastern Bluebird with a red breast? I love them! They almost disappeared up here but are making a bit of a comeback. People put out special bluebird boxes in the country.
May 9th, 2007 9:40 pm
Duh! I don’t know why I gave you the name again when you said it in the post! I’m crazy sometimes.
May 9th, 2007 10:20 pm
Deana, I changed it after you clued me in!! You’re not as crazy as you think!