We stayed two weeks in Indiantown FL while Bill volunteered at the Habitat for Humanity build. Habitat arranges for Care-A-Vanners to stay at the Indiantown Marina, which is a scruffy place.
Aging boats dominate the yard
intermingled with some newer boats, ramshackle buildings, and RVs of various
conditions and sizes. The marina sits on the Okeechobee Waterway, a canal that
connects the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic via Lake
Okeechobee.
The town itself could use some revitalization. We see why
Habitat for Humanity chose this area. Like the build site we worked at last
November, Habitat is building a neighborhood of homes with about 5 new houses per
year and future home owners are required to work 300 hours on the build. Unlike our previous build, these houses are concrete block.
 |
| photo by Karen Kidd |
They withstand hurricanes well, but involve much more contracted
work. This build differed remarkably with our previous build in personality,
organization, spiritual emphasis, and quality of workmanship. Nevertheless,
Bill worked hard.
 |
| photo by Karen Kidd |
The bright light was interactions off the build
site. When we pulled into the marina we ran into another couple just arriving, Terry and Karen Kidd. They
are experienced Habitat Care-a-Vanners who worked on this build site twice
before. They are gifted and talented people who put their faith to action in
their commitment to Habitat and in their warm caring spirit. We thank them,
too, for inviting us over to their 5th wheel trailer for ice cream.
 |
| photo from Karen Kidd |
Another interaction started because Barbara’s father told us
to look for his friends’ boat –the “Little Dipper.” We weren’t too optimistic
about finding it, but we did.
Bill noticed that someone was on board, so we introduced
ourselves.
Several days later we drove back to Vero Beach, got Barbara’s
father, and took him to lunch at his friends’ house. They are an interesting
couple who lived many years on their boat. They moor at the marina to be in
fresh water, yet have access to either Atlantic
or Gulf. The wife, a painter, showed us her current commissioned work in
progress. Here is one of her paintings that Barbara’s parents own; it was a
perfect painting for Barbara’s mom, the Florida
birder.
 |
| painting by Sandy Odell |
Speaking of art, we have to also mention our neighbors. When
we pulled in we noticed the next door screened camping shelter filled with
stuff. Later a big van with a weathered utility trailer pulled in and we were
surprised when we realized they were living in the trailer!
Well come to find out they are artists who need the big van
and much of the trailer for their art.
 |
| sculptures by Jim Ardis |
They come to Florida from Michigan for 5 art shows:
the husband is a copper sculptor and his wife is a contemporary painter. Admittedly the
wife was anxious to get back to more comfortable accommodations, but they
roughed it to market his art. His amazing work can be seen at his website: ardisart.net.
Her work was cool, too.
 |
|
sculpture by Jim
Ardis from ardisart.net
|
Our time at Indiantown was topped off by a big bright rainbow, which had a faint second rainbow.
 |
|
This photo doesn’t
capture its brilliance.
|
