Once again we had to breeze through Apalachicola (pronounced with six syllables) much too quickly. The town is a picturesque fishing village located at the mouth of the Apalachicola River and Bay. What initially drew me to this area is the small town atmosphere, maritime history, and varied historic architecture. Apalach, as it's called by locals, boasts over 900 historic buildings.
There's a multitude of Victorian era homes, many of which are restored to their former grandeur. I could have spent all day just walking the residential streets looking at all the porches, roof lines, gingerbread details, and gardens. Many of the homes are painted summery pastel colors like celery, peach, pink, and aqua and just looking at them gave me a happy feeling.
I did take a bit of time to visit a couple of art galleries. I was happy I stopped in at 49 Palmetto since I had a nice visit with the owner, Anna-Maria Cannatella. In her restored building there's a gallery, artist studios, and a vacation rental upstairs, called "The Flat". Unfortunately The Flat was rented or we probably would have stayed there. Anna-Maria talked about the current gallery exhibit and artists, the building restoration, and the town. When she learned I was a potter she referred me to another gallery where I could see the work of two local potters, Leslie Wallace-Coon and Katie McFarland.
Leslie's studio is located at 49 Palmetto. Leslie Wallace-Coon is known for her folk style animal sculptures, especially dogs, one of which is pictured in the first photo. Each dog has so much personality you just want to take them home with you. She occasionally does commissions of people's dogs too.
Katie McFarland's studio is located in another gallery, Hand Made in Apalach. Although both potters were otherwise occupied, I was able to see examples of each potter's work at Handmade in Apalach. Katie McFarland uses a combination of hand building and throwing for her slip decorated terra cotta pottery and her color palatte reminded me of the colors I saw on some of the buildings.
As you can see I love this town and want to go back for a longer visit real soon. Meanwhile getting up at 2 am and driving home has messed up my internal time clock. I did make one new sculpture last night but am only thinking of others today. I made a big pot of vegetable soup in the crock pot and threw everything in there except the kitchen sink, broccoli, collard greens, carrots, tomatoes, spices, you name it. I forgot to take a photo though. Gary's busy searching the internet for a camper. More later, comments are very much appreciated.
i love, love, love the second house pictured!
ReplyDeleteHi Michele, thanks, that's 49 Palmetto, the gallery, studios and flat.
ReplyDeleteLooove these houses, Linda. Haven't been to Apalach in years, but it seems to be as lovely as ever! Thanks for sharing the photos!
ReplyDeleteDid you grab that telephone number from the photo to the right on my blog...the one with FEMA trailers for sale? This could be a good deal as I think there's a deadline where they have to get rid of them. Don't know exactly when, but think it is pretty soon.
And, can I have a bowl of your soup? It sounds yummmmmmy!
Your food always sounds delicious! And I love those summer houses with porches. The pastels make me happy, too, when I see them.
ReplyDeleteOh how cool is all of that?! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THAT DOG!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Teresa, thanks, the soup was made so I didn't have to waste what was in the refrigerator, I even cut up the stems and it turned out good and made me feel I was really getting a good dose of vitamins, Ha.
ReplyDeleteHi Cindy, thanks, I hope you checked out her website, there were quite a number of real canine characters. Isn't he quite the charmer with his inflated head! Ha.
Hi Kittie, thanks, I had a comment to you and it has disappeared, this blogger is a real trickster sometimes. the town is full of wonderful buildings on every street. Gary said the fema trailers aren't really set up to travel in and the appliances are made only for electric not propane or battery which makes a difference if we want to stay outside of a campground, but thanks for thinking of us. I would be glad to share some soup with you, it really did have everything but the kitchen sink in it, even the stems and I cooked it a long time and yet the vegetables didn't get soggy, which was a surprise to me.
ReplyDeleteoh those houses are great- i have a weak places for great houses with great lines.
ReplyDeleteA camper- where will you go?
Don't you love the cool names of many Florida towns. I lived for years in Loxahatchee and recently left Okeechobee. Sometimes I think Fl kids are probably in middle school before they learn to spell the name of their town.
ReplyDeleteWhat beatiful homes and how nice you got to view the work of other potters.
I went there!!! for the first time, last year when I went to Florida! Just the name was fun... We didn't stop, cause we were on our way somewhere else, but I sure remember it! Too fun...
ReplyDeleteHi Meredith, thanks, we plan on using a camper when I go to shows and when we have to travel so we can have a more comfortable bed.
ReplyDeleteHi Patti, thanks, I am just now learning how to pronounce all the names and am really getting into them now, I love that they kept all the native American names here.
Hi Turquoisemoon, thanks, oh you have got to go back there it is just the cutest town and so much do and see there.
Looks like it was a lovely day~ and no snow banks to trudge through! I really need to get to Florida again, it's been years...(sigh)!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fun day! Love those homes and the gallery sounds so interesting, too. Now you've inspired me to make some vegetable soup. Perfect for this cold day!
ReplyDeleteHi Cathy, thanks, no snow banks, but we have had more than our share of them in the past that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteHi Marguerite, thanks, I am still amazed the vegetables didn't get all mushy like they do when steamed. this may be the way to cook all of them, in the crock pot.
Oops Kathy, I misspelled your name, sorry.
ReplyDelete