I spent a really beautiful evening at the beach last week. Winter is finally over and Florida is getting back to that topical heat that I love when I'm in the ocean.  Hot sun above, turquoise water all around, on my board - one of the best feelings ever.  The water here in south Florida is often so clear you can see everything on the bottom too and well, it's just amazing. I love it.

So on this really mellow night last week I went out as the sun was setting and everything was beautiful. The waves were really small, but me and my longboard are good with that, and I got back that happy feeling I've been missing all winter.

Since that feeling is directly responsible for a lot of my drawings and style and such, I thought it might be worth sharing. When I'm stuck on something or can't draw a thing, spending some time in the ocean clears it up pretty well.  Looking forward to a long summer, full of art and surf and warm sea.

I used to live in an airstream. It was a 1973 Sovereign, mostly original and I got into it completely by accident. My husband and I were living near Asheville, NC and he had a job to do in South Florida. Months in a hotel sounded like not the most fun ever, so we got the Airstream and, having never camped before, decided it was going to be home. And it turned out that for about a year it was the coziest, most fun home we'd ever had.

It's been about 10 months since we came off the road and I was just sitting here remembering the good times. Yes, it's small. Sure, there are a few inconveniences. But assuming you're with someone who's company you enjoy it's actually really, really wonderful. The feeling of freedom is something you can't get any other way, you're in places you couldn't be otherwise and you spend so much more time outside in the fresh air. It feels really great. And, since you're not actually in a tent you can have your vintage dishes and such, which make all those picnics a little extra special.

Another benefit to airstream travel, easy pet transport. We lived with our cat Reef and dog Silas. They adapted just fine, as you can see, and snugged right in.

Summer vacation in Melbourne Beach. It was nice because the water was fairly close.

Cooking tikka masala over the coals outside. Some interior shots.

Trailer Trash. Stopped by the side of the road, somewhere in the middle of nowhere Florida, waiting for some friends.

So that's enough reminiscing for one day. It was a good time tho, an adventure, and I like to think I keep the same spirit with me even now that I have some roots down.