I’m back.
I was away.
St. Croix. And it’s amazing how quickly that relaxed feeling goes right back to stress and anxiety. So while I’m enjoying my last day of vacation before I go back to work tomorrow I will tell you a little bit about St. Croix. Pay attention. There could be a test.
St. Croix is one of the US Virgin Islands along with its popular big sister St. Thomas where the cruise ships go and it’s rich baby brother St. John where all the rich people go. St. Croix is the middle child that tries really hard but no one pays attention to. But that was ok. It wasn’t crowded with tourists since the “season” hadn’t quite started yet. We went to visit Bonnie who lives there now. She used to live in Manhattan. Bonnie is the creator of my motto “Owtside begins with Ow!” which I blatantly stole from her and am not giving back. She is also the author of the someday to be bestseller “I used to have a concierge, now I have a machete.” She is very funny. There were other friends there as well and a good time was had by all.
I was able to do a few paintings during the week in a watercolor sketchbook (5″ x 8″) I brought along with me. I would start a painting and then the lure of the waves called and I was back in the ocean. So there’s not as many as I would like. But I do have a few more to post.
When I wasn’t painting, I was determined to finish this Reversible Cable Knit Scarf. Yes, I was mocked. Who brings knitting to the Caribbean?
Oh. That would be me.
Carol King: drawing, painting, complaining 
23 comments
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November 16, 2009 at 2:12 am
kseverny
Ah, you’re back.
with palm trees.
Lucky you.
warm, vibrant paintings and you still need a scarf.
November 16, 2009 at 2:19 am
Carol King
LOL! Didn’t actually need the scarf till I got back home! Nice to see you here Kokot!
November 16, 2009 at 2:46 am
jimmyboi2
Wouldn’t St. Thomas be a BROTHER? I’m just saying. Beautiful painting! Those palm trees make me feel the NEED to get tropical again. “But Jim,” you say. “You’re already in Florida!” Nahhh! The Orlando area is filled to the brim with tourists, and the nearest beach is over an hour away.
Somehow I VAGUELY remember your mentioning St. Croix, or maybe Judy did, but I forgot. That’s because my house is turned completely inside out due to my tiling.
Welcome home! I’m not calling tonight because I can’t find the phone.
xoxoxox
November 17, 2009 at 12:12 am
Carol King
Maybe now your place will be cooler with all those tiles and I won’t have to burn out the a/c from that HOT Herculon Sofa!
November 16, 2009 at 2:58 am
Kung
Welcome home! I miss chatting with you. Hope you had a nice time (and tan). Did anyone require medical attention this time? No jammed toes or dolphin nudges? Call me during work tomorrow when you take a breather between catching up.
November 17, 2009 at 12:12 am
Carol King
Luckily this was NOT a medication vacation!
November 16, 2009 at 5:30 am
lesliepaints
The colors are so beautiful in both of these paintings, Carol. They give the impression of bright sunlight.I love how you captured the curve of these trees. Palm fronds are not easy and yours are totally believable. My Mother taught me to knit so I know some about it. Your knitting is much more consistent than mine ever was. I would have loose stitches and then tight ones. Your scarf is beautiful. I’m glad you are back!
November 17, 2009 at 12:14 am
Carol King
Thanks so much Leslie. I think these Palm trees are way better than the ones I did when I was in Curacao. So maybe I AM improving. Slowly….
November 16, 2009 at 6:40 am
AKLizzy
While you were soaking up the sand and sun, we were layering on our winter gear. It was a balmy -16 today. It warmed up to 15 by mid-day; practically a heat wave =)
The painting really captures the beauty of St. Croix! I’d love to visit! And the scarf is really lovely. Diane is enjoying the one you made for her last March.
Hope you had lots of drinks with little umbrellas!!!
November 17, 2009 at 12:17 am
Carol King
MINUS 16 DEGREES????? Are you mad, woman? Move back to where it’s reasonably cold!
Thanks for your comments on the paintings. I really enjoyed doing them right there on the beach. And I’m so glad Diane is enjoying her scarf that I knitted on the beach at Curacao. She’s lucky she got it. There was a beach waiter who was ogling it BIG TIME!
November 16, 2009 at 10:46 am
Bonnie Luria
Carol- you were more industrious than I thought- I hadn’t even seen these two.
You aced the top one- beautiful capture of a spot I could easily indentify.
You’re a woman of many talents- your watercolors, the knitting, and my favorite ceramic gigundo bowl in my kitchen that I use every day.
You might be interested to know that after you left, we’ve had more rain, lots of rain, every day.
You and Matt got the best of the weather.
( Jimmys’ comment about St. Thomas was a funny one ).
VI Tourism would proudly acknowledge your public service announcement promoting the lovliness of St. Croix.
We had a great time with you and Matt here.
November 17, 2009 at 12:18 am
Carol King
Bon Bon, Glad you liked the quick watercolor paintings. Unfortunately we didn’t get to paint together as planned. It all went so fast!
Happy to hear the rains came after we left. I hope those cisterns are filled to the brim. Hugs to Cuba, Cloud, Kitties and Kelly. xoxox
November 16, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Jennifer
Hey – I would take knitting, too. Love the scarf. It’s gorgeous. Sounds like you had a great time.
November 17, 2009 at 12:21 am
Carol King
Hey Jennifer! Nice to see you here.
I know YOU would have taken knitting. My next project is to try and knit a baby blanket. I went to your site to see if I could get an easy pattern. I’ve crocheted baby blankets, but hadn’t knit one. I’m going to give a knit one a shot. I may have to call you if I get into a dropped stitch panic!
November 16, 2009 at 1:43 pm
InkSplodge!
Mmmm! Lovely tropical paintings, better than any snapshot – the clouds and sea look sumptuously loose – can almost feel the sun, lucky you.
I’m a fellow knitter (or is that knutter?) so appreciate how beautifully even your tension is in this cable-knit….you knut! :lol:…taking that with you on a hot holiday! So glad you’re back as it was far too quiet around here.
November 17, 2009 at 12:24 am
Carol King
LOL! A knutter! No doubt I’m both a knitter and a knutter. A crocheter and crotchety.
Thanks for your comments. The beach was really lovely. Our room was right on the beach and we had a little screened in porch where we could sit and read in the morning staring out at the sand and the water. I wish I was back listening to the surf and sleeping in the sun. The noise on the subway just isn’t the same. I’m sure you’ve been on the London Tubes. Same noise. Same no sun.
November 16, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Cathyann Burgess
and you thought I was weird to clean away stress??? Knitting…in the VI???
OH-kay…
seriously, Carol, glad to see you are addicted enough to painting that a sketchbook found its way into the knitting bag. These are good studies. The top one is especially interesting with the cloud formation and brilliant blue sky. I like the the light touch in the water, too. Glad you had a good time away while we were awaiting Noah’s second appearance.
Welcome back…hope NYC is drier than VA is.
November 17, 2009 at 12:34 am
Carol King
I also knit a scarf for my niece when I was in Curacao. Yeah, weird. I haven’t knit in years and all of a sudden I just got the urge to start a few projects. I hope I can follow through and FINISH them.
I, too, was glad I brought that sketchbook with me. I figured I’d just carry it down there with me and then carry it right back. But… was happy that I actually took it out and worked a bit. It was hard to paint on the beach….those waves were SCREAMING for me. : )
November 16, 2009 at 7:30 pm
jaybastian
Love the palm trees. I particularly like the color scheme of the second painting. Its rare to see an analogous scheme that really work. I like the double-cable knit too.
November 17, 2009 at 12:35 am
Carol King
Hey Jay, Glad to see that baboon let you come over here and visit. Thanks so much for your comment. I liked the 3 palm trees and thought that it finally worked. There were a lot of sketches that went right in the trash.
November 17, 2009 at 12:54 am
asmalltowndad
Yep, no longer am I going to visit your blog… St. Croix, you went to St. Croix and you didn’t invite the blog crew? I guess I can forgive you this time and the paintings are really nice, But St. Croix… you went to St. Croix!
November 17, 2009 at 12:59 am
Carol King
Really Ryan, really? Go take a look at your masthead. And what lovely beach is THAT may I ask????
OK. Next time I go to St. Croix everyone is invited! Start packing!
November 17, 2009 at 1:38 pm
asmalltowndad
That was just a backdrop that I had painted. O.K. you don’t believe that and I know I’m not that good of an artist to paint something that beautiful. It’s Destin Florida, about a 10hr drive from here, but it isn’t St. Croix.