What a fun night! My friend, Anita Martini (names have been changed to protect the innocent), had a great idea and I’m so glad she included me. I’ll make this brief (did you just roll your eyes?) because it’s late and I’m tired - but I’m feeling guilty because Anita suggested that I have neglected this blog. Anyway, her great idea was a visit to a spot called The Art Mill. It’s just off the square in Lebanon, so only about a dozen miles from my front door, and they have paint there. Paint and canvas and brushes and ideas! You show up and hand over your money and they provide everything from the materials to the instruction. They post their calendar online with samples of pictures on each day, so you simply choose the one you want to paint and show up on that day. No surprise at all that it’s usually groups of women gathering to do this, but they also do art day camps for kids and all sorts of other things. Leesa…er…Anita didn’t have to ask twice if I wanted to give it a whirl. We decided to attend tonight’s session from 7-9pm.
I fed the mister a good dinner and bid the man and the hound adieu. It’s a long, dark drive down 840 before you reach civilization and it made me think of a television show we’ve been watching a lot of lately. Have you seen “Finding Bigfoot” ? It’s hilarious. I may have previously touched on Mickey’s fear of the Skunk Ape, so this reality show/ongoing documentary about a group of experts who are determined to find a Sasquatch seemed a good fit for us. If by us you mean me. They respond to sightings, travel coast to coast, use new-fangled equipment, and always just miss Bigfoot. But it’s their conversations that keep us entertained. Apparently their research has determined that Bigfoot is nocturnal (??) although all of the sightings have happened during daylight hours. So a great deal of the show is the crew deep in the woods at night looking at each other in alarm and asking, “Did you hear that?” Even better the exchanges almost always go like this:
Guy: Did you see something?
Other Guy: No.
Guy: Yeah, that’s typical ‘Squatch behavior - they hide.
later…
Guy: Did you hear something?
Other Guy: No.
Guy: Yeah, me either. Had to be a ‘Squatch, they’re quiet.
So when they don’t see or hear anything, they’re convinced that they have cornered the elusive Sasquatch. I find that logic utterly delightful. It’s become quite useful in our house. ”Did you hear something? No? Must have been a ‘Squatch.” It’s pretty much become the response to anything we miss…anything we don’t see or hear…must have been a “Squatch. And did I mention that there’s a guy on the team named Bobo? I’m not saying that a historic discovery couldn’t be made by a guy named Bobo, just that it’s unlikely.
Anyway…driving to Lebanon made me think of that show.
Plus, I didn’t see or hear anything…I was probably surrounded by ‘Squatch. ’Squatches? Squatchi?
I pulled into The Art Mill in one piece and went inside. Easels, paint, and COLOR everywhere…all signs pointed toward fun!
The gal giving the lesson took my money, handed me a canvas, and provided paint and brushes. Then we got busy. My pal and I chatted and painted and chatted and painted until we finally admitted that we should probably stop painting. I wish I’d taken a picture of her finished product because it was awesome! She’s very artistic and I was tempted to do the old “Hey look over there!” switcheroo but I like her too much. And mine was okay. Not my best work, but it’s been proven on many occasions that I can’t talk and create at the same time. I still had fun! It’s definitely something I’d do again.
At nine o’clock I hopped in the car and called Mickey to let him know that I was heading through ‘Squatch country and would be home soon. And away I went.
I was relieved to finally see the bright lights of Gladeville which meant I was nearly home!
I made it home without hitting a Bigfoot, only to find Mickey holed up in his office still working on problems. I felt a little guilty that I’d been out painting while he worked. So I served him an extra helping of peach cobbler and told him that he could have my masterpiece for his office. He only wanted the cobbler. Looks like it may go in the laundry room, although I’m seriously considering redecorating Coop de Ville and hanging it out there for the hens to enjoy.
I think they deserve a pin-up boy to moon over. This fella and some fresh paint on the nest boxes would really perk things up in there. Who knows, it might keep raccoons away too. Worth a try!
And that, my friends, is the end of this terrific Tuesday. A day filled with sunshine and warm weather and an evening spent painting with a friend. It doesn’t get a whole lot better. I’m off to dream sweet dreams - hope that yours are too.
