Sentinel of the Apalach

This painting was finished the week before Hurricane Michael made landfall.  I had started writing my thoughts...

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My Great-Great-Great Grandfather first arrived in the Florida Panhandle from Georgia in the early 1850's. What led him to Calhoun/Gulf County I can only speculate, but the beautiful land and what it provided is what I'm sure he stayed for.  I can imagine what the Panhandle looked like prior to the first large tree harvests and land clearing; dense and green.

Gulf County will always be tied to my Grandparents. It seems fitting this piece has an owl.  The owl represents several things; intuition, ability to see beyond deceit and wisdom. Don't we always tie wisdom with our Grandparents?   But an owl also represents change.

The last time I was home I walked over the bridge (Lakegrove Road) that used to be the Dead Lakes Dam.   It was early morning on this walk.  Dawn was just about to break.  Faintly, I heard the call..."who cooks for you...who cooks for you all..." drawing out the 'all' as it faded.  The call repeated one more time.   I fantasized this owl was a descendant of one that called out watching my Great-Great-Great Grandfather survey his property for the first time. Robert Lawson Whitfield paused to listen as well. Across nearly 150 years we were both surveying the dawn and the call of an owl.  Somehow, this owl and I were kin returning to a familial wellhead to check-in. 

What would Robert Lawson think of the area today.  Will my Great-Great-Great Grandson or Granddaughter stand on the same spot and wonder what I saw?  I hope one thing rings true across time, no matter what has changed this area will have meaning to us.

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I wrote that when Hurricane Michael was a little over a day from landfall. I never returned to complete it and won't.  It's no time for any flowery language about change.  Coming from the Panhandle they (we) are a resilient bunch.  The area will bounce back and yes it'll be different. One thing worth repeating...no matter what has changed this area will have meaning to us.

This piece is called Sentinel of the Apalach.  It's on a 1930's topographic map of the Kennedy Creek area along the Liberty/Gulf County line.   Hopefully the owl is still watching over the sloughs of the Apalach.


A wise old owl sat on an oak; The more he saw the less he spoke; The less he spoke the more he heard; Why aren’t we like that wise old bird?” ~Unknown